Tuesday 23 May 2017

Objections in the official answer key of NTSE Stage II 2016-17

I have sent this mail to ntsexam.ncert@gov.in,
I request students who have appeared in the NTSE Stage II 2016-17 to forward this mail to the concerned authorities. If you have allready sent the objections it's good, if not please send it before 29.05.17

Respected Sir,
NTSE Stage II level question paper this time was too much complicated. Other than mistakes in the answer key, it also contains lots of questions which are nowhere in the periphery of the syllabus covered in this exam. Though the fact remains that there is no prescribed syllabus for NTSE Exam, but still going by the previous years experience its clear that so far NCERT has been asking questions from the syllabus of Class IX and X NCERT books only.
But this time many questions were there which were beyond the syllabus of Class IX and X, no such announcement was made in advance about such change in the exam pattern.
Yesterday only in the decision given by Honorable High Court of Delhi

(CBSE Board Results 2017: Allow grace marks for 2017 exams, change policy from next year, Delhi HC tells CBSE)

has remarked that - "rules cannot be changed after the game has begun".




The court said the students who took the exams "ought to have been put to notice" as they have the "right to know" what the Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE) was doing.

"These children, who have worked so hard and have burnt the midnight oil, are entitled to some stability and the only stability they know is the system. Do not instill insecurity in them. Don't do it (withdrawal of the policy) this year," the bench said.

"You cannot play with the future of students," it said, adding "we are deeply concerned by the timing of the policy."

I hope keeping in the mind the wider interest of the students and the order of the Honorable High Court, authorities will consider the given below objections in the official Answer key of NTSE stage II issued by NCERT

Q. No. 6. (MAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 4, the correct answer should be 3

Q. No. 34. (MAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 3, the correct answer should be 1




Q. No.65 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given by NCERT is 1 i.e. Statement I is true and Statement II is wrong. But both the statements are true.  Statement II does not provide explanation of Statement I. Correct answer should be 4
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page 54 of class IX History book (chapter - Nazism and the Rise of Hitler). Second paragraph under the heading 'The Years of Depression' says - The German economy was worst hit by the Economic crisis. Paragraph on page No. 55 says - Another defect was Article 48, which gave the President the powers to impose emergency, suspend civil rights and rule by decree.

Q. No.66 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 3 i.e. Both statements are true and Statement II is the explanation of Statement I. The correct answer should be 1
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page No. 84 of Class IX, History (Chapter - Forest Society and Colonialism) says - The 1878 Act divided forest into three categories ; reserved, protected and unclassed. The best forests (here it is not mentioned best for people or for commercial purpose) were called Reserved forests. Villager could not take anything from these forests, even for their own use.

Q. No.68 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 4 i.e. Both statements are true and Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I. The correct answer should be 3
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page No. 148 of Class IX, History (Chapter - History and Sport - The story of Cricket) First paragraph says - Cricket remained a colonial game, limited to countries that had been once part of the British Empire. In these colonies, cricket was established as a popular sport either by white settlers or by local elites who wanted to copy the habits of their colonial masters, as in India. 

Q. No.72 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 4 i.e. Both statements are true and Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I. The correct answer should be 3
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page No. 32 of Class X History book, Chapter - 'The Rise of Nationalism in Indo-China' says - The French began by building canals and draining lands in the Mekong delta to increase cultivation. The vast system of irrigation works – canals and earthworks – built mainly with forced labour, increased rice production and allowed the export of rice to the international market. Vietnam exported two-thirds of its rice production and by 1931 had become the third largest exporter of rice in the world.

Q. No.75 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - This question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - In the Population chapter of Class IX, Geography State wise growth of population is not been discussed. Is the NCERT expecting class X students to learn the population data of all 29 states and that also of all census from 1951 to 2011 ?

Q. No.76 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - This Question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - River Alaknanda has been mentioned only as tributary of Ganga, is not been mentioned anywhere not even shown in map. The question asks about the tributaries of Alaknanda, that also on map. Direction of the flow of the river is also not clear from the map. 

Q. No.78 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - This Question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Meghalaya as a state is not been taught anywhere in the syllabus till class X. Though option 2 & 4 are mentioned in class IX Geography book but students were totally unaware about option 1 & 3.

Q. No.79 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - This Question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Oil Refineries have not been discussed in our syllabus. On page no. 60, Chapter - Mineral and Energy Resources, Class X, Geography only Oil fields has been discussed. Seems NCERT is expecting Class X students to act as GOOGLE, ask whatever u want to ask and it will answer it immediately.

Q. No.87 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - This Question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page No. 16, Civics book, Chapter Federalism clearly says ''The Constitution declared India as Union of States" but the answer declares India as a federation. India has features of Quasi-federal structure, but we cannot term India as a federal state. In India the center has clearly advantages over states - Union list has more subjects of national importance, in concurrent list Constitution gives more power to the centre, in India we have single citizenship only, emergency powers clearly gives advantage to the centre.  Political systems of Germany, France has not been discussed anywhere in syllabus.

Q. No.88 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 1, but the correct answer of this question should be 3
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. Its exclusive original jurisdiction extends to any dispute between the Government of India and one or more States or between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more States on the other or between two or more States, if and insofar as the dispute involves any question (whether of law or of fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends. In addition, Article 32 of the Constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in regard to enforcement of Fundamental Rights. http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/jurisdiction.htm
heading 3.1  Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
http://lawmin.nic.in/ncrwc/finalreport/v2b2-2.htm

-- 
Vinod Kumar
Social Science Faculty
Kota
Contact no. 91-9460079449

Allow grace marks for 2017 exams, Delhi HC tells CBSE

The evaluation for the class 10 and 12 board tests this year shall be done as per the grace marks policy that was in vogue when the students submitted the examination forms, the Delhi High Court ordered on Tuesday.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Pratibha M Singh refused to allow the CBSE to withdraw its moderation policy for the exams held this year, saying "rules cannot be changed after the game has begun".

Under the moderation policy, grace marks are given to the students in exams for difficult questions or errors in the question paper.

The court said the students who took the exams "ought to have been put to notice" as they have the "right to know" what the Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE) was doing.

"These children, who have worked so hard and have burnt the midnight oil, are entitled to some stability and the only stability they know is the system. Do not instill insecurity in them. Don't do it (withdrawal of the policy) this year," the bench said.

"You cannot play with the future of students," it said, adding "we are deeply concerned by the timing of the policy."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/allow-grace-marks-this-year-change-policy-from-next-year-delhi-hc-tells-cbse/articleshow/58809341.cms

Thursday 18 May 2017

Corrections in the Official Answer Key of NTSE Stage II 2016-17

Q. No. 6. (MAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 4, the correct answer should be 3

Q. No. 34. (MAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 3, the correct answer should be 1




Q. No.65 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given by NCERT is 1 i.e. Statement I is true and Statement II is wrong. But both the statements are true.  Statement II does not provide explanation of Statement I. Correct answer should be 4
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page 54 of class IX History book (chapter - Nazism and the Rise of Hitler). Second paragraph under the heading 'The Years of Depression' says - The German economy was worst hit by the Economic crisis. Paragraph on page No. 55 says - Another defect was Article 48, which gave the President the powers to impose emergency, suspend civil rights and rule by decree.

Q. No.66 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 3 i.e. Both statements are true and Statement II is the explanation of Statement I. The correct answer should be 1
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page No. 84 of Class IX, History (Chapter - Forest Society and Colonialism) says - The 1878 Act divided forest into three categories ; reserved, protected and unclassed. The best forests (here it is not mentioned best for people or for commercial purpose) were called Reserved forests. Villager could not take anything from these forests, even for their own use.

Q. No.68 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 4 i.e. Both statements are true and Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I. The correct answer should be 3
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page No. 148 of Class IX, History (Chapter - History and Sport - The story of Cricket) First paragraph says - Cricket remained a colonial game, limited to countries that had been once part of the British Empire. In these colonies, cricket was established as a popular sport either by white settlers or by local elites who wanted to copy the habits of their colonial masters, as in India. 

Q. No.72 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 4 i.e. Both statements are true and Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I. The correct answer should be 3
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page No. 32 of Class X History book, Chapter - 'The Rise of Nationalism in Indo-China' says - The French began by building canals and draining lands in the Mekong delta to increase cultivation. The vast system of irrigation works – canals and earthworks – built mainly with forced labour, increased rice production and allowed the export of rice to the international market. Vietnam exported two-thirds of its rice production and by 1931 had become the third largest exporter of rice in the world.

Q. No.75 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - This question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - In the Population chapter of Class IX, Geography State wise growth of population is not been discussed. Is the NCERT expecting class X students to learn the population data of all 29 states and that also of all census from 1951 to 2011 ?

Q. No.76 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - This Question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - River Alaknanda has been mentioned only as tributary of Ganga, is not been mentioned anywhere not even shown in map. The question asks about the tributaries of Alaknanda, that also on map. Direction of the flow of the river is also not clear from the map. 

Q. No.78 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - This Question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Meghalaya as a state is not been taught anywhere in the syllabus till class X. Though option 2 & 4 are mentioned in class IX Geography book but students were totally unaware about option 1 & 3.

Q. No.79 (SAT)


Observation/Feed - This Question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Oil Refineries have not been discussed in our syllabus. On page no. 60, Chapter - Mineral and Energy Resources, Class X, Geography only Oil fields has been discussed. Seems NCERT is expecting Class X students to act as GOOGLE, ask whatever u want to ask and it will answer it immediately.

Q. No.87 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - This Question should be declared as BONUS
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - Page No. 16, Civics book, Chapter Federalism clearly says ''The Constitution declared India as Union of States" but the answer declares India as a federation. India has features of Quasi-federal structure, but we cannot term India as a federal state. In India the center has clearly advantages over states - Union list has more subjects of national importance, in concurrent list Constitution gives more power to the centre, in India we have single citizenship only, emergency powers clearly gives advantage to the centre.  Political systems of Germany, France has not been discussed anywhere in syllabus.

Q. No.88 (SAT)
Observation/Feed - Answer given in the official answer key is 1, but the correct answer of this question should be 3
Brief Description of supporting facts/evidence/explanation - The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. Its exclusive original jurisdiction extends to any dispute between the Government of India and one or more States or between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more States on the other or between two or more States, if and insofar as the dispute involves any question (whether of law or of fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends. In addition, Article 32 of the Constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in regard to enforcement of Fundamental Rights. http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/jurisdiction.htm
heading 3.1  Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
http://lawmin.nic.in/ncrwc/finalreport/v2b2-2.htm

fill up the above objections in the excel format
http://www.ncert.nic.in/programmes/talent_exam/pdf_files/Feedback_Format_16_5_17.xlsx
provided by NCERT and send it to ntsexam.ncert@gov.in
it should reach NCERT before 5.30 pm on 29.5.17
in case of any doubt, feel free to contact me on
09460079449 by what's app, sms or call
or drop an email on viduvinod09@gmail.com

Wednesday 17 May 2017

CBSE class XII marks likely to dip this year

The average marks in this year's Class XII results of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools are likely to decrease by up to 10% following the board's decision not to 'moderate' or 'standardise' — CBSE's terms for inflating marks. The drop in average marks could be different for different subjects. "Marks, both aggregate and subject-wise, will drop. The average drop could be from 6% to 10%, depending on the marks scored in each subject," the official said. In nine subjects, marks were 'standardised' by more than 10%. As a result, a student with 77 marks in mathematics may have ended up getting 93 marks. CBSE gave as many as 16 extra marks in the Class XII Maths exam in 2016 in the all-India set of papers and 15 marks in the Delhi set during the process of 'standardisation'.In 2016, the pass percentage for CBSE had touched an all-time high of 83.05% and over 80,000 students scored 90% and above.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/class-xii-marks-likely-to-dip-bringing-down-du-cutoffs/articleshow/58724561.cms

Sunday 14 May 2017

Blunders in NTSE Stage II paper 2016-17

National Talent Search exam (NTSE) is quiet popular among the talented students at secondary school level, as it is the only talent search exam held by Government of India which not only recognizes the talent but also provides them scholarship. The most talented students of class X level aspire for this exam, which provides scholarship to top 1000 students at all India level
This year the National level of this exam i.e. NTSE Stage II 2016-17 was held on 14th May 17.
Overall the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) paper was tough, but specially Social Science section which consist of 40/100 questions was beyond the limits of even meritorious students. Generally the syllabus of Social Science covers the syllabus of Class IX and X NCERT Social Science books, but this year many of the questions asked were much beyond this syllabus. Some of the questions asked were not even possible to be solved (without taking the help of internet) by experts who have been teaching in this field for years.
for e.g. Q. 74 & 75. Concept asked in this question has never been taught to students till class X and is not mentioned anywhere in the NCERT books. Even the experts has to take the help of material available on internet to get the answer of these question (each and every material available of Internet cannot be termed as authentic, many a times NCERT doesn't accepts the answers taken from the material available on Internet)
Q. No. 85. Option 1 & 2 are so close that anyone of them can be termed as the correct answer, but only one option is to be selected as the correct answer
Q. No.78. Option no. 2 and 4 are mentioned in the NCERT syllabus of class IX and X, but option 1 and 3 are not given anywhere. Female ULTIMOGENITURE, I am sure that this concept would not be clear to even teachers teaching at school level. State wise Potato production in India is not discussed anywhere in the syllabus
Q. No. 76. Alaknanda river is not mentioned anywhere even in the maps. Only thing written in NCERT book is Alaknanda and Bhagirathi gets merged at Devprayag to form Ganga. Karn Prayag, Rudra Prayag, Nand Prayag, Vishnu Prayag are not mentioned anywhere. From the picture given it is also not clear that in which direction is the river flowing. I am very much sure that this question cannot be solved even by teachers teaching in class XI and XII
Same way Q.No 77 was not a part of NCERT class IX and X syllabus
Q.No. 87. Constitution declares India as Union of States, India cannot be termed as a Federal country. Types of Government is never been taught to students at this level. Just the name of USA was mentioned in the Federalism chapter of class X. Types of Government in U.K, Germany and France is not even mentioned anywhere at Secondary level. This question have been asked earlier in UGC/JRF level and NCERT has asked this question to class X level students
Q.No. 90 Features of Socialist mentioned in Class IX - Constitutional design chapter, deosn't discusses any of the option mentioned in this question.

Q.No. 96. In the chapter People as Resource of class IX, NCERT only Seasonal, Disguised and Structural unemployment were discussed. Frictional and Cyclical unemployment is not mentioned anywhere in the syllabus
Keeping in the mind the wider interests of the students at this level and the level of above questions and many more questions like these, we request the NCERT (institution responsible to conduct NTSE Stage II level) to frame a committee of  subject experts to scrutinize the SAT paper of  NTSE Stage II 2016-17. If the committee feels that these questions can be asked and can be solved by the students of class X level, then only NCERT should come up with the Answer key of NTSE Stage II 2016-17. Or BONUS MARKS should be allotted for these questions

please forward the above content to
deme.ncert.nic.in
esdhead@gmail.com
esdhead.ncert@gov.in
ncert.media@gmail.com
pd.ncert@nic.in
secy.ncert@nic.in
director.ncert@nic.in
chmn-cbse@nic.in
pisabu.cbse@nic.in
minister.hrd@gov.in
pstohrm@nic.in
hrm@nic.in
ce.cbse2014@gmail.com
cvo.cbse@nic.in
rti-pmo.applications@gov.in

I request students who appeared for NTSE Stage II 2016-17 to forward the above content through email to the email id's given. We definitely need to pressurize the authorities to work in an TRANSPARENT manner (that was something our syllabus thought us in Outcomes of Democracy chapter of class X, Civics)
I have filed a complaint in this regard to http://pgportal.gov.in/pmocitizen/Grievancepmo.aspx
Registration Number is : PMOPG/E/2017/0281932 

Saturday 13 May 2017

NTSE Stage II 2016-17 Answer Key, Paper Solutions, Paper Analysis

"ALL THE BEST" to all the #NTSE2017 (Stage-II) Aspirants.
Last year's cut off for General Category was 86/150. This year anything about 100 would be a good marks, but I will suggest you to ensure a minimum of 110 marks. No need to attempt each and every question, many of the questions act as trap, they will either waste your time or will lead you to negative marks, and most important, minimum 40% marks are required in each paper (LCT, MAT & SAT) to qualify for NTSE Merit list
NTSE 2017 Stage-II Answer Key, Paper Solutions & Paper Analysis prepared by ALLEN PNCF Division's expert faculty team will be available on 14th May after 4:30 PM Here: http://www.allen.ac.in/ntse/ntse-stage2-answer-key-and-paper-solution.asp


Wednesday 3 May 2017

Sample Paper for NTSE Stage II (Social Science)

1. Assertion - Political executives enjoy more power in comparison to Permanent Executives
Reason - There is no minimum educational qualification or experience criteria for political executives
1. Assertion is true but Reason is wrong
2. Assertion is wrong but Reason is true
3. Assertion and Reason both are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion
4. Assertion and Reason both are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion

2. Which of the following factors led to subsistence crisis in France during the old regime ?
a. Rise in population led to a rapid increase in the demand for foodgrains
b. Price of the bread which was the staple diet of the minority rose rapidly
c. Wages did not keep pace with the rise in prices
d. Things became worse whenever drought or hail reduced the harvest
1. (a), (b) & (c)        2. (a), (c) & (d)          3. (a), (b) & (d)        4. (b), (c) & (d)

3. Mark the following events according to the correct chronological order -
i. Olympe de Gouges criticized the Jacobin government for forcibly closing down women's club
ii. Robespierre was convicted by a court, arrested and on the next day sent to the guillotine
iii. National Assembly voted to declare war against Prussia and Austria
iv. Slavery was finally abolished in French Colonies'
v. Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of France
1. (iii), (i), (iv), (ii), (v)     2. (iii), (ii), (i), (iv), (v)   3. (ii), (i), (iii), (iv), (v)   4. (iii), (i), (ii), (v), (iv)

4. Which of the following is true about the contribution of Garibaldi in Unification of Italy
(a) a large number of armed volunteers under his leadership joined the fray
(b) through a tactful diplomatic alliance with France engineered by him, Sardinia-Piedmont succeeded in defeating the Austrian forces in 1859
(c) in 1860, they marched into South Italy and the Kingdom of the two Sicilies and
(d) succeeded in wining the support of the local peasants in order to drive out the Spanish rulers
(e) in 1861 Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed king of the united Italy
1. (a), (b), (c) & (d)   2. (a), (c), (d) & (e)  3. (b), (c), (d) & (e)    4. (a), (b), (d) & (e)

5. There were a variety of cultural processes through which nationalism captured people's imagination.
(a) the identity of India came to be visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata
(b) idea of nationalism also developed through a movement to revive Indian folklore
(c) Mahatma Gandhi declared that swaraj would not come for a hundred years, if untoucability was not eliminated
(d) nationalist leaders became more and more aware of such icons and symbols in unifying people
(e) creating a feeling of nationalism through reinterpretation of history
Which of the above contributed in the creation of a sense of collective belonging ?
1. a, b, c & d       2. a, b, d & e     3. a, c, d & e        4. All of the above

6. Assertion - Before the age of machine industries, silk and cotton goods from India dominated the international market in textiles  .
Reason - Coarser cottons were produced in many countries, but the finer varieties often came from India .
1. Assertion is true but Reason is wrong
2. Assertion is wrong but Reason is true
3. Assertion and Reason both are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion
4. Assertion and Reason both are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion

7. After which event Russia signed a peace treaty with Germany and withdrew from First World War?
1. 1905 Revolution
2. Feb 1917 Revolution
3. Oct 1917 Revolution
4. Civil war

8. Assertion - Starting around 1991, government started removing barriers or restrictions on foreign trade and foreign investments.
Reason - Government felt that competition would improve the performance of the producers within the country since they would have to improve their quality.
1. Assertion is true but Reason is wrong
2. Assertion is wrong but Reason is true
3. Assertion and Reason both are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion
4. Assertion and Reason both are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion

9. Assertion - In the hundred years between 1450 and 1550, printing presses were set up in most countries of Europe  .
Reason - Sixteenth century saw 20 million copies of printed books flooding the markets in Europe .
1. Assertion is true but Reason is wrong
2. Assertion is wrong but Reason is true
3. Assertion and Reason both are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion
4. Assertion and Reason both are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion

10. Arrange the Indian States along the border of Myanmar from North to South
1. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram
2. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram
3. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura
4. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura

11. Enactment of ....................... has led to the setting up of separate departments of Consumer Affairs in central and state governments
1. Right to Information
2. Right to be heard
3. Right to seek redressal
4. Consumer Protection Regulation Act

12.
1. a-vi, b-v, c-iv, d-ii, e-i, f-iii                    2. a-v, b-iv, c-vi, d-ii, e-i, f-iii  
3. a-v, b-vi, c-iv, d-i, e-ii, f-iii                    4. a-v, b-iv, c-vi, d-ii, e-iii, f-i



Answer - 1.(3), 2.(2), 3.(4), 4.(2), 5.(2), 6.(3), 7.(3), 8. (3), 9.(1), 10.(2), 11.(4), 12.(2)
in case of any doubt, feel free to call, msg or what's app on 9460079449