1. CDS (I) 2014: overall Analysis
  2. Span of current affairs
  3. Economy MCQs solved with explanation
    1. Business / labour related [4MCQ]
    2. Taxation related [1MCQ]
    3. Poverty, inflation, planning [3MCQ]
    4. Misc.GK: authors vs concept [1MCQ]
  4. International relation/IR related [5MCQ]
  5. Defense related [3MCQ]
  6. PIN: Persons in News [5MCQ]
    1. [PIN] Awards
    2. [PIN] Books/Authors
    3. [PIN] Sports

CDS (I) 2014: overall Analysis

This the final article in CDS- Answerkeys. You can find remaining parts under Mrunal.org/CDS

CDS- Trend of last 3 Exams

CDS 2014 (I) 2013(I) 2013(II)
Geo + EnB 26 22 26
Science 26 28 23
History 23 18 26
Polity 23 14 11
Economy 9 14 16
IR 5 10 6
PIN 5 14 11
defense 3 0 1
total 120 120 120
  • You can see that PIN has drastically reduced. Same is the scenario in CAPF. In other words, UPSC is following the same trend of ignoring trivial current affairs- just like they have been doing in CSAT.
  • Atleast 5 MCQs on books- Authors: Gandhi’s Hind swaraj (History), Silent spring (Environment), Adam Smith (Economy), Doris Lessing (PIN)
  • Usually, deceased people are not asked in competitive exams but CDS is an exception (Doris Lessing)- Similar pattern in previous exams.
  • Anyways,from above breakup, it is clear that your first priority must be Geography, Science, History and Polity.
Area Base material
Geo + EnB NCERT
Science NCERT
History Tamil Nadu State EDU. Class- 11 and 12
Polity M. Laxmikanth

Span of current affairs

Area Current MCQ
History 0
Science 0
Geography + Environment
  1. Haiyan typhoon
  2. Kasturi Rangan report
Polity Only one MCQ- SC’s judgment about cooperative societies
Economy
  1. Food inflation
  2. Nominal capital
Defence
  1. Pragati missile
  2. Dhruv helicopter
IR
  1. Ocean RIM
  2. UNESCO BAN
PIN 5
Total out of 120 14
  • Barely 12% of the paper has current affairs. Meaning your first priority must be to cover static portion from standard reference books.
  • At the same time it doesn’t mean current affairs are useless. You need to be well versed in National and International affairs for group discussion and interview at SSB level.
  • You should maintain a list of PIN- persons in news, Books, sports and awards. It will help you in CAPF, SSC, IBPS as well.
  • Keep a habit of reading one English newspaper every day- it will also help you build up vocabulary, para-jumbles and speed reading skill for the English paper.
  • You don’t need to read The Hindu. Any English newspaper will work just fine.

Economy MCQs solved with explanation

Economy CDS1-2014 CDS2-2013 CDS1-2013 CAPF-2013 CSAT-2013
Economy 9 14 16 21 18
total MCQs 120 120 120 125 100
% 8% 12% 13% 17% 18%
  • For CDS, the weightage of economy has remained steady around ~10% each time.
  • But at the same time, unreliable in terms of cost:benefit. For example, last time, majority of the portion from microeconomics, this time, nothing from microeconomics.

Toughness:

out of the 9 economy MCQs, I classify following four as tough because rarely anyone prepares economy this deep for CDS!:

  1. Nominal capital definition as per Companies Act 2013.
  2. Taxable income under corporate tax
  3. Inflation in food articles vs food products.
  4. Economist vs famous book. Most players don’t prepare list beyond Adam Smith= Wealth of nations.

Economy: Booklist/strategy for next CDS exam

Just selective reading of NCERTs class 11 and 12. Beyond that, the cost:Benefit is no really good. Your time is better invested in history, science, polity and geography.

anyways, let’s check start solving:

Business / labour related [4MCQ]

Q1. Classification of an enterprise into public or private sector is based on

  1. number of employees in the enterprise
  2. ownership of assets of the enterprise
  3. employment conditions for workers in the enterprise
  4. nature of products manufac­tured by the enterprise

Pretty easy. Answer is (B). Anyways, for the sake of reference

NCERT Class 11 ch. 3 page 9.

PRIVATISATION implies shedding of the ownership or management of a government owned enterprise. Government companies can be converted into private companies in two ways (i) by withdrawal of the government from ownership and management of public sector companies and or (ii) by outright sale of public sector companies.

In other words, ownership of assets of the enterprise=decides whether given enterprise is public sector or private sector. hence answer (B).

Source #2: Page 391 of Lucent GK.

Q2. In India, mergers and acquisition of firms are regulated by

  1. National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council
  2. Competition Commission of India
  3. Security and Exchange Board of India
  4. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion

As per India Yearbook page 358 answer is (B).

Q3. According to the Companies Act,2013, ‘nominal capital’ implies

  1. such part of capital, which has been called for payment
  2. the maximum amount of share capital of a company
  3. such part of capital, which has been received by a company from its shareholders
  4. such capital as the company issues from time to time for subscription

yaar itnaa detail mein kaun prepare kartaa hai?

According to the official act uploaded on http://indiacode.nic.in/acts-in-pdf/182013.pdf

nominal capital” means such capital as is authorised by the memorandum of a company to be the maximum amount of share capital of the company.

Hence answer (B)

Q4. Which of the following statements about India’s unorganized sector are true?

  1. Labour is more in number than that in the organized sector.
  2. Job security and work regulation are better in unorganized sector.
  3. They are usually not organized into trade unions.
  4. Workers are usually employed for a limited number of days.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1, 2 and 4
  2. 1, 3 and 4
  3. 3 and 4 only
  4. 1 and 3 only

Ramesh

  • Page 21.18: Roughly 85% of workforce is engaged in informal sector.=>1 is right. C is eliminated
  • Page 21.19: They earn less, more vulnerable to human rights violation. they’ve little job security . =>2 is wrong. A is eliminated.
  • #3 and #4 are correct from common understanding.

Hence answer (B)

Taxation related [1MCQ]

Q2. Corporation tax in India is levied on income of a company. Which one of the following does not include Corporation tax?

  1. Profit from business
  2. Capital gain
  3. Interest on securities
  4. Sale proceed of assets

Ref: business.gov.in/taxation/computation_income.php

Corporation tax is levied on the taxable income of a company. Taxable income of a company includes

  1. Income from House Property, whether residential or commercial, let-out or self-occupied.
  2. Profits and Gains of Business or Profession.
  3. Capital Gains.
  4. Income from other sources including interest on securities, winnings from lotteries, races, puzzles, etc.
  5. Also, income of other persons may be included in the income of the company. But, income under the head ‘Salary’ is not included under company.

from this, we can see A, B and C are taxable income. That means answer has to be “D”.

Poverty, inflation, planning [3MCQ]

Q1.Inclusive growth is a phrase used in India’s

  1. 9th plan
  2. 10th plan
  3. 11th Plan
  4. 12th Plan

Answer choices

  1. 1,2,3
  2. 2 & 4
  3. 3 & 4
  4. 4 only

Ramesh

  • page 5.23: 11th FYP emphasises on the idea of inclusive growth
  • Page 5.25: the theme of 12th FYP is “faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth”.

Hence 3 and 4 are right. Only one option where both are given together =>answer C.

Q2. In India, contribution of food inflation to overall inflation is around 1/3rd to 2/5th. Within food inflation, contribution of food articles is higher because price rise in food articles is

  1. higher and their weight is also higher compared to food products
  2. higher but their weight is lower compared to food products
  3. lower but their weight is higher compared to food products
  4. lower and their weight is also lower compared to food products

this gets confusing. first know that within wholesale price index, there are two separate entities

PRIMARY ARTICLES MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS
food articles (fruit, veggies, milk, meat, onion etc.) food products

Now, We’ve to check the official data of wholesale price index. I’m only comparing Nov2013 data, assuming that MCQ was set on or before November.

weight given price rise in Nov2013
primary articles food articles (veggies, onion, egg, meat etc.) 14.** 19.**
manufactured products food products 9.** 2.**

let’s do the data interpretation

price rise compared to Food products weight compared to food products
food articles’ higher (19 vs 2) higher (14 vs 9)

Hence answer (A).

Q3. Share of food in total consumption expenditure-has been coming down as per capita income grew, over time in last sixty years because

  1. People have been purchasing less food.
  2. People have been preferring non-cereal items in their food basket.
  3. Growth in food expenditure has been lower than growth in per capita income.
  4. Percentage of the poor in population has increased over time.

You start eliminating options,

A.People have been purchasing less food. wrong. actually reverse is happning.
B. people preferring non-cereal items wrong. because in that case, % should increase because non-cereal food such as sugar, milk, edible oil, meat, eggs, vegetables=they’re more expensive than cereal food (like wheat and rice.)
D. % of poor population increased. wrong. (atleast from official records.)

Thus we are left with answer (C).

Misc.GK: authors vs concept [1MCQ]

Q1. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

List-I(Author) List-II(Concept/Book)
  1. Hobbes
  2. Rousseau
  3. Locke
  4. Adam Smith
  1. Natural Law
  2. Might is Right
  3. Discourse on Inequality
  4. The Wealth of Nations

Answer choice:

answer choice A (hob) B (rou) C (lok) D (adm)
a 2 1 3 4
b 2 3 1 4
c 4 3 1 2
d 4 1 3 2

Correct pairs

B3: Rousseau = Discourse on inequality Ref: Sparknotes
D4: Adam Smith wealth of nations. Ref: class12 sociology ch4 page62

There is only one option where this pattern fits=> answer (B).

International relation/IR related [5MCQ]

Internal breakup

theory / static 3
current (all from November month) 2
total 5

Prep. source: NCERT political science + newspapers for current.

Q1. The concept of hegemony is used to understand the capacity to ‘manufacture consent’. Here hegemony implies

  1. class ascendency in ideological spheres
  2. deploying-ideological resources to shape behaviour of weaker States/powers
  3. provision of global public goods by a dominant power
  4. military dominance in relative and absolute terms

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1 and 2
  2. 2 and 3
  3. 4
  4. 1 only

NCERT Class 12 political science: contemporary world politics, Ch3

Page 38. First meaning of hegemony relates to the relations, patterns and balances of military capability between states….The bedrock of contemporary US power lies in the overwhelming superiority of its military power. American military dominance today is both absolute and relative.

Meaning statement 4 is right. => hence answer (C).

Q2. Non-military Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in a peace process include

  1. people to people contact across borders
  2. literary and cultural interac­tion under governmental and non-governmental agencies
  3. increase in travel facilities
  4. joint initiatives to tackle common socio-economic problems

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 2 and 3 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

According to this research paper of UN allied site, page1

Examples of Non-military confidence building measures are people to people contacts; joint solutions to humanitarian problems; cultural, educational and sports exchanges; joint economic projects.

Accordingly #1, #2 and #3 are definitely right. There is only one option where this fits=>answer D.

Q3.Which of the following is/are the objective(s) of Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana?

To encourage and enable the overseas Indian workers by giving Government contribution to

  1. save for their return and resettlement
  2. save for their old age
  3. obtain a life insurance cover against natural death for the entire life of the worker

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1,2,3
  2. 1 and 2
  3. 1 only
  4. 2 and 3 only

First two statements are correct as per official site of MOIA
The 3rd statement is wrong. Insurance cover is not given to the entire life of the worker. but only during the period of coverage.
Hence answer (B)

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Indian Ocean Rim Association:

  1. The 13th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Association was held in November 2013 in Perth.
  2. India was elected Chair of the Association from 2013 to 2015.
  3. There are twenty member nations in the Association.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Ans- 32 C)

As per Hindu report

  • The 13th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) was held on November 1 in Perth. => 1 is right.
  • At this meeting, Australia took over as Chair of the Association from India, which has been Chair since 2011.=>2 is wrong.
  • IORA consists of 20 member-states.=>3 is right.

Final answer C: only 1 and 3.

Q5. Which of the following nations were recently suspended with regard to the voting rights by the UNESCO for not paying their dues to it?

  1. USA
  2. Israel
  3. Iran
  4. Iraq

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 3 and 4 only

Answer is B as per Indianexpress / TheHindu

This news also happened on Nov 2013.

Defense related [3MCQ]

Q1. Indian Navy commissioned its first Advanced Light Helicopter Squadron at Kochi in November 2013. What is the name of the helicopter?-

  1. Chetak
  2. Dhruv
  3. Rudra
  4. Cheetah

Answer is B Dhruv. Ref: TheHindu report.

Q2. Internal Security Academy is located at

  1. Nashik
  2. Mount Abu
  3. Hyderabad
  4. Pune

Answer is B, as per the official site isacrpf.gov.in

Q3. Consider the following statements about Pragati missile system of India

  1. It is a short range solid fuel missile system.
  2. It has all weather day and night operational launch capability.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

This was in news on 29th October 2013. But most newspapers were silent on its detailed features.

We’ve dig DRDO, and the answer is Both correct C.

PIN: Persons in News [5MCQ]

  • Here also, span of current affairs = 3 months. (every MCQ asked from November 2013, and exam was taken in Feb 2014)
  • CDS has a “trend” of asking about Dead persons in news. It has continued even in 2014’s exam (Doris Lessing.)
Awards 3
books 1
sports 1
total 5

[PIN] Awards

Q1. Consider the following statements about UN Frontline Workers Global Leadership Award

  1. Martha Dodray, an auxiliary nurse and midwife from Bihar, was conferred the Award in the year 2013.
  2. Martha Dodray was awarded for her dedicated service in the bird flu affected areas of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both I and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

first statement is right but she is polio worker, and not bird flu worker=>answer (A) only 1.

Ref. Indianexpress, Nov 2013

Q2. Which of the following statements about Prof. ,C. N. R. Rao is/are correct?

  1. He is considered to be an international authority in ‘solid-state and structural chemistry.
  2. He is the first Indian to reach the H-index of 100, reflecting the economy of the body of his published research work.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both I and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

As per NDTV report from Nov2013

  1. Prof. Rao is best known for his work in solid-state and structural chemistry.
  2. CNR Rao, became the first Indian in April this year to reach the h-index of 100

hence both options right. Answer C

Q3. Consider the following statements about Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Develop­ment:

  1. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, was selected for the Prize for the year 2013.
  2. The award is accorded annually to individuals only.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

This news also happened in Nov 2013.

  • first statement right as per Indianexpress / Hindu
  • But second statement wrong as per http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=92281
  • … Every year, we recognize serious, creative efforts by individual or an entity for working towards the ideals thatShrimatiIndiraGandhi embodied
  • Meaning organizations (entity) also eligible.
  • Final answer (A) only 1.

[PIN] Books/Authors

Q1. Carefully read the following passage and identify the person referred to in that:

Her best known works are The Golden Notebook’, ‘Memoirs of a Survivor’ and ‘The Summer Before the Dark’. She was the oldest recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

  1. Alice Munro
  2. Doris Lessing
  3. Herta Muller
  4. Elfriede Jelinek

Answer is (B) as per Indianexpress report. She died in November 2013 hence in news.

[PIN] Sports

Q1.Heena Sidhu, who recently won a World Cup Gold Medal for India, is associated with

  1. Shooting
  2. Archery
  3. Weightlifting
  4. Boxing

Answer is A, as per Indianexpress / Hindu

This concludes the [Answerkey] of CDS (I)2014 Exam.

Any correction/update- mention in the comments. But avoid Wikipedia as reference source.Visit Mrunal.org/CDS for more on Combined defense services exam and SSB interviews.