Pastoralists in the Modern World

In this chapter you will read about nomadic pastoralists. Nomads are people who do not live in one place but move from one area to another to earn their living. In many parts of India we can see nomadic pastoralists on the move with their herds of goats and sheep, or camels and cattle. Have you ever wondered where they are coming from and where they are headed? Do you know how they live and earn? What their past has been?
In this chapter you will see how pastoralism has been important in societies like India and Africa. You will read about the way colonialism impacted their lives, and how they have coped with the pressures of modern society. The chapter will first focus on India and then Africa.

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/vinodkumar712714-2309686-pastoralism-modern-world/

NTSE Stage I (SAT) Mock Test

For the students who want to practice NTSE Stage I (SAT) paper here I am uploading a few papers with answer key.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/244978445/NTSE-Stage-I-SAT-Mock-Test
https://www.scribd.com/doc/244980387/NTSE-Stage-I-SAT-Mock-Test
https://www.scribd.com/doc/244979925/NTSE-Stage-I-SAT-Mock-Test
https://www.scribd.com/doc/244980313/NTSE-Stage-I-SAT-Mock-Test

NTSE Stage II (SAT) 2014 with Solutions

This year NCERT made a change in the NTSE Stage II, now other than Language, a student also needs to clear the paper of MAT to be overall clear the NTSE Stage II Exam.
MAT paper was much tougher, in comparison to SAT. We can say marks scored in MAT will be the deciding factor, weather a student is going to be a NTSE Scholar or not.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/244859768/NTSE-Stage-II-SAT-2014-With-Solutions

Manufacturing Industries

Manufacturing is production of goods in large quantities after processing raw materials to more valuable products.
2. Classification of Industries is done on the basis of their main role, capital investment, ownership, source of raw materials and the bulk and weight of raw material and finished goods.
3. Large Scale Industries employ a large number of labourers.
4. Small Scale Industries employ a small number of labourers.
5. Heavy Industries use heavy and bulky raw materials.
6. Light Industries use light raw materials.
7. Manufacturing  is  considered  the  backbone  of  development  in  general  and  economic development in particular.
8. The NMCC (National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council) was set up when it was felt that, with appropriate policy interventions by the government and renewed efforts by the industry to improve productivity, manufacturing can achieve its target over the next decade.
9. Industrial locations are influenced by availability of raw materials, labour, capital, power and market. It is rarely possible to find all these factors available at one place.
10. Agro-based industries : Industries based on agricultural raw materials. For example, cotton textiles, jute textiles, woollen textiles, silk textiles, synthetic textiles, sugar industry.
11. Cotton textiles : It occupies an unique position in Indian economy, contributes 14% of industtrial production. Provides employment to 35 million persons directly. Earlier the cotton textile  industries  were  located  in  Maharashtra  and  Gujarat. Today,  they  are  spread  over
80 towns and cities of India. Scarcity of good-quality cotton, obsolete machinery, erratic power supply, low productivity of labour and stiff competition are some of the problems faced by the cotton textiles industry.
12. Jute textiles : There are about 70 jute mills in India and most of the jute is produced in West Bengal. Mainly in the Hugli basin produced in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Assam and Tripura.
13. Sugar : There are 460 sugar mills in the country. 50% of them are found in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are also important producers of sugar in the country.
14. Mineral-based Industries : Industries using minerals as their raw materials - iron and steel, cement, chemical industries, aluminium smelting, copper smelting, fertiliser industry, etc.

Iron and Steel Industry :
(i) The iron works of Kulti, Burnpur started local production in 1870.
(ii) The first modern steel plant was set up at Jamshedpur in 1907.
(iii) Today there are 10 primary integrated iron and steel plants and around 200 mini steel plants in the country.
(iv) Raw materials used in this industry are iron ore, coal, limestone and manganese ore.
(v) The  location  of  this  industry  is  decided  by  the  availability  of  raw  materials. All  the important iron and steel plants are located in the north-eastern and southern parts of the Indian Peninsula.
(vi) Only Visakhapatnam has a coastal location.
(vii) These plants are managed by the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL)
(viii) India produces about 32.8 million tonne of steel and ranks ninth among the world crude steel producers.
Aluminium Smelting :
(i) Aluminium is a good conductor of heat and electricity. (ii) It is used as a substitute of steel, copper, zinc and lead.
(iii) In  the  production  of  one  tonne  of  aluminium,  6 tonnes  of  bauxite  and  18,600 kwh  of electricity is required.
(iv) The availability of electricity and bauxite decides the location of this industry.
(v) The 8 aluminium plants in the country are located in Orissa, West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
(vi) India produces over 600 million tonnes of aluminium per annum.

Chemical Industry :
(i) Heavy inorganic chemicals include sulphuric acid, nitric acid, alkalis, caustic soda and soda ash. They are widely spread around the country.
Sulphuric acid is used in the manufacture of fertilisers, synthetic fibres, plastics, paints and dyes.
Soda ash is used in the manufacture of glass, paper, soap and detergents.
(ii) Heavy organic chemicals include petrochemicals which are used in the manufacture of synthetic  fibres,  synthetic  rubber,  plastics,  dyestuffs,  drugs  and  pharmaceuticals. These chemical plants are located near oil refineries and petrochemical plants.
(iii) The chemical industries contribute 14% of the production of entire manufacturing sector.

Fertiliser Industry :
(i) The first plant was set up at Ranipet in Tamil Nadu.
(ii) With the setting up of a plant at Sindri by the Fertiliser Corporation of India (FCI) in 1951, the production of fertilisers increased.
(iii) With the onset of the Green Revolution, this industry was set up in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Kerala.
(iv) Other  important  producers  are Andhra  Pradesh,  Orissa,  Rajasthan,  Bihar,  Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal, Goa, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
(v) There are 57 fertiliser units manufacturing nitrogenous fertilisers, 29 for urea and 9 for ammonium sulphate as a by-product, 68 other small units produce single super phosphate.
Cement Industry :
(i) Cement is used for the construction of buildings, houses, factories, roads and dams.
(ii) The raw materials used are limestone, silica, alumina and gypsum, coal and electric power are also used.
(iii) The first cement plant was set up at Chennai in 1904. At present, there are 119 large and over 300 mini cement plants in India.
(iv) Indian cement is in great demand in South and East Asia, Middle East and Africa because of its superior quality.
15. Automobiles  :  Commercial  vehicles  like  trucks,  passenger  buses,  cars,  motor  cycles, scooters, etc., are manufactured in large numbers. India is the second largest producer of three wheelers. The industries producing bicycles, scooters and bicycles are distributed around Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Hyderabad, Jamshedpur and Bengaluru.
16. Electronic Industry : Bengaluru has emerged as the electronic capital of India. Other major electronic goods producing centres are Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Kanpur, Pune, Lucknow and Coimbatore. Many Software Technology Parks have also developed.
17. Industries create four types of pollution, namely air, water, land and noise.
18. Air pollution is caused due to the presence of carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide. Dust, fume, mist spray and smoke contain both types of particles.
19. Water pollution : Coal, dyes, soaps, pesticides, fertilisers, plastics and rubber are some common pollutants. The principal industries which create water pollution are paper pulp, textiles, chemical, petroleum, refinery, tannery and electroplating.
20. Thermal  pollution  of  water  occurs  when  hot-water  from  factories  and  thermal  plants  is drained into rivers and ponds before cooling.
21. Noise pollution means unwanted, extra, noise created due to industrial machineries etc.
22. Measures to Control Environmental Degradation :
(1) Proper fuel selection and utilisation.
(2) Use of oil instead of coal in the industries. (3) Treatment of liquids in three phases :
(i)  Primary treatment by mechanical process.
(ii)  Secondary treatment by biological process.
(iii)  Tertiary treatment by biological, chemical and physical processes. (4) Pollution of land and soil can be controlled by three activities :
(i)  Collection of wastes from different places.
(ii)  Dumping and disposing the wastes by land-filling. (iii)  Recycling of wastes for further use.

Popular Struggle and Movements

Case Study of Nepal
• Won democracy in 1990.
• Formal power was with the King Birendra.
• Real power with elected representatives.
• 2001 – Massacre of Royal Family, Gyanendra took charge.
• 2005 – Dissolution of Parliament.
• 2006 - Popular control over Govt. headed by the King.
• 7 Party alliance called for a 4 day strike. Maoists & other organisations joined.
• 21st April, King conceded to all demands leading to :
• Restoration of Parliament.
• Seizure of power from the Ruler.
• To make Koirala Prime Minister.
• Maoists & SPA came to an agreement about a new constituent assembly to be elected.
Case Study of Bolivia
Fight against Privatization of Water
• World Bank pressurised Government to give up control of Municipal Water supply.
• Sale of rights to a MNC for the City of Cochabamba.
• Company raised the price of water 4 times.
• 4 day general strike by Labour and Human Rights and Community leaders.
• Government agreed to negotiate.
• Power of the people forced MNC to flee & made Government to concede to all demands.
• Water supply was restored to municipality at old rates.
Struggles in Nepal and Bolivia
Differences -
         The movement in Nepal was to establish democracy, while the struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, democratic government. The popular struggle in Bolivia was about one specific policy, while the struggle in Nepal was about the foundations of the country's politics. Both these struggles were successful but their impact was at different levels.
Similarities -
         Instances of political conflict that led to popular struggles, struggle involved mass mobilisation. Public demonstration of mass support clinched the dispute, both involved critical role of political organisations

We can draw a few conclusions from the examples of Nepal and Bolivia :
(i)     Democracy  evolves  through popular struggles. - Defining moments of democracy usually involve conflict. These moments come when the country is going through transition to democracy, expansion of democracy or deepening of democracy.
(ii)    Democratic conflict is resolved through mass mobilisation - conflict is resolved by using the existing institutions. But when these institutions themselves get involved in the dispute. The resolution has to come from outside, from the people.
(iii)   These conflicts and mobilisations are based on new political organisations. - These include political parties, pressure groups and movement groups.

Organisations in Nepal & Bolivia
         Nepal - call for indefinite strike was given by the SPA or the Seven Party Alliance in Nepal. The protest was joined by the Nepalese Communist Party (Maoist) which did not believe in parliamentary democracy. The  strug gle  involved  many organisations other than political parties. All the major labour unions and their federations joined this movement. Many other organisations like the organisation of the indigenous people, teachers, lawyers and human rights groups extended support to the movement.
         Bolivia - The protest against water privatisation in Bolivia was led by an organisation called FEDECOR. The movement was supported by the Socialist Party.  In 2006, this party came to power in Bolivia.

Organisations play their role in two ways - 
(i)     Direct participation in competitive politics, done by creating parties, contesting elections and forming governments.
(ii)    Indirect ways in which people can get governments to listen to their demands or their points of view, by forming an organisation and undertaking activities to promote their interests or their viewpoints. These are called interest groups or pressure groups.

Pressure  Groups-
         Pressure groups are organisations formed when people with common occupation, interest, aspirations or opinions come together in order to achieve a common objective, they attempt to influence government policies. But unlike political parties, pressure groups do not aim to directly control or share political power.
Are of two types -
(i)     Sectional Interest Group - They represent a section of society: workers, employees, business- persons, industrialists, followers of a religion, caste group, etc. Their principal concern is the betterment and well-being of their members, not society in general. Trade unions, business associations and professional (lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc.)
(ii)    Public Interest Group - Represent some common or general interest that needs to be defended. The members of the organisation may not benefit from the cause that the organisation represents. The Bolivian organisation, FEDECOR. They promote collective rather than selective good. They aim to help groups other than their own members. For example, a group fighting against bonded labour fights. BAMCEF (Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation).

Movements - Movements have a loose organisation. Their decision making is more informal and flexible. They depend much more on spontaneous mass participation.
are of two types -
(i)     Issue specific movement - Issue-specific movements seek to achieve a single objective within a limited time frame. Narmada Bachao Andolan started with the specific issue of the people displaced by the creation of Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river. Its objective was to stop the dam from being constructed. Movements of this kind tend to have a clear leadership and some organisation. But their active life is usually short.
(ii)    Genric Movement - Movements that are long term and involve more than one issue. The environmental movement and the women's movement are examples of such movements. There is no single organisation that controls or guides such movements. All of these have separate organisations, independent leadership and often different views on policy related matters. Yet all of these share a broad objective and have a similar approach. That is why they are called a movement. Sometimes these broad movements have a loose umbrella organisation as well. For example, the National Alliance for Peoples' Movements (NAPM) is an organisation of  organisations.
Pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics in a variety of ways:
(i) They try to gain public support and sympathy for their goals and their activities by carrying out information campaigns, organising meetings, filing petitions, etc., try to influence the media into giving more attention to these issues.
(ii) They often organise protest activity like strikes or disrupting government programmes.
(iii) Business groups often employ professional lobbyists or sponsor expensive advertisements, may participate in official bodies and committees that offer advice to the government.
Relationship between political parties and pressure groups can take different forms -
(i) The pressure groups are either formed or led by the leaders of political parties or act as extended arms of political parties. For example, most trade unions and students' organisations in India. Most of the leaders of such pressure groups are usually activists and leaders of party.
(ii) Sometimes political parties grow out of movements. For example, Asom Gana Parishad. The roots of parties like the DMK and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu can be traced to a long-drawn social reform movement during the 1930s and 1940s.
(iii) In most cases the relationship between parties and interest or movement groups is not so direct. They often take positions that are opposed to each other. Yet they are in dialogue and negotiation.
Is their influence healthy?
Not healthy -  A democracy must look after the interests of all, not just one section. These groups wield power without responsibility. Political parties have to face the people in elections, but these groups are not accountable to the people. Pressure groups and movements may not  get  their  funds  and  support from the people, pressure groups with small public support but lots of money can hijack public discussion in favour of their narrow agenda.
Healthy - Have deepened democracy. Governments can often come under undue pressure from a small group of rich and powerful people. Public interest groups and movements perform a useful role of countering this undue influence and reminding the government of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens.Where different groups function actively, no one single group can achieve dominance over society. If one group brings pressure on government to make policies in its favour, another will bring counter pressure not to make policies in the way the first group desires. They lead to a rough balance of power and accommodation of conflicting interests.