Pursuit of Happyness..

Christopher Gardner: Hey. Don't ever let somebody tell you... You can't do something. Not even me. All right?
Christopher: All right.
Christopher Gardner: You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it.

And finally, it takes off.

Read the first chapter of ES.It is an introduction, overview and further prospects of Indian economy  in a nutshell. Often, I found my comprehension disturbed due to foreign words and attention deficiency, but I kept reading at a faster pace. 

Interesting to know that India has a external debt of 390 billion USD.Of which around 78% is pvt sector debt and rest Govt.What I fail to understand is that, India has 300 billion USD forex reserve why is it not paying off its debts??

Further It has spoken about reviving the Industries by bringing in more investment.Importance of having more productivity in Agriculture & of having a good savings culture.

Current account deficit has increased is a cause of concern and the need to transfer the burgeoning fuel bill to the consumers, which would entail them knowing the scarcity of the fuel.

Need to be more attentive while reading and further has to retain more.

A Quick Review.

And, since I don't think  will read ES today.

Let me be plain and try answering few questions.


1.Have you lost interest in UPSC??
No, it is just that I have failed to sustain my studying habits.Need to be more consistent and keep up to the planned-system.further has to built some good reading skills.

2.loneliness boon or bane??
Both, sometimes, wished your were here.

3.What keeps you going?
Desire to help, see more people smile &  live with dignity.

4.There are so many other ways to help ppl, so why UPSC?
You can reach a larger number of people effectively

5.Through NGO's also you can do that is int it??
Not to the same extent as capable for a state apparatus. In the case of NGO, you need to raise capital and gather, further resources yourself. But, when selected for a civil service post, it invariably grants you state machinery and authority, .So a good intended person can do many meaningful things at the ordinary people's level.

6.The same rhetoric is echoed by majority of aspirants only to turn corrupt and malicious.

Well, its true that the system pulls and pushes you to change for self centric and vested needs.However, if you are sincere with your principles, you can definitely make a positive change in the system.Not a radical sudden change but rather a realistic, slow and permanent change.

And when everyone thinks for the good of the society,  we all gain.

Hope, you keep that fire burning of  goodness and sincerity.And, when god is with you no one can be against you.

Wasted Time

I thought I would dive into the Economic Survey, but, surprisingly kept surfing till now.Read through some random news and blogs.Between, not random blogs, its those I discontinued reading ever since jumped on to this deep sea challenger known as UPSC prep.Still a long way to go.....

5th April 2012: Kannan Chettan's visit

Today Kannan chettan came.He had to buy some magazine & most importantly Economic Survey.Had a good chat with him and cleared some doubts on  economics concepts.He spoke about the appalling medical examination drill he went through(last stage of UPSC exam). However, I think its almost the same as that of SSB, but for a first timer its shock of his life time....further..... censored.

And , apparently, he has high BP as recorded by the medical board.Well, to be frank his demeanor does not support this claim.Though, scientific facts can defy common understanding. I hope this does not affect his ranking or service option and as silver lining their is one more medical test after the rank list is published.

In all, felt nice talking to him, as its been a long time spoken to someone.

Further, it was heartening to know that he was going on a picnic to Ranikhet.And,I guess it would  be change for Himani chechi also, from her mundane house-office life.Furthermore, trip will help kannan chettan to maintain a good state of mind.Its been a long journey for him.

In this marathon race,  I believe its the one of the most important thing one should have - a good state of mind And,a good state of mind entails that one may be able to absorb the maximum(information & further knowledge).

Undoubtedly, the exam span of UPSC discourages even the most determined.Its a year long exam and even after the mains exam one has to prepare for the next year prelims as the final results would be published only few weeks before the prelims.So in case one fails to clear he should be in position to compete for next year(surely if only he intends to).

hmm.. so thats how it goes... it will be interesting to see how long I persists.

Also, got some useful tips from kannan chettan & hopes it will come handy in the preparation.

Anyways, bye for now; intents to read 1st chapter of ES today.

So, good night.

Between checked out Ranikhet on google.- Looks like its a beautiful place.Hope to visit it some day.

4th April 2012: "coup"..

Its been an odd day.Started off with a farce "Coup" story on IE.Can't believe IE did that, first page news which read like an shoddy writing defying all rational dispositions.

Further, the US announcing a bounty of 10 million USD on Saeed Hafeez is a positive development for India.But, interesting was Hafeez's reply.He said" I'm a free man in Pakistan, if US want, they can come and meet me". That's a strong slap on Obama Administration.

Tellingly, world can do nothing to Saeed Hafeez without Pakistan's support.And, since now US has a strained relation with Pakistan I don't see much materializing with this bounty rhetoric.

EC's countermanding of Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand  was a necessary decision.It is know fact that money power was controlling election in general and buying of  RS seats in particular.So, India was not baffled by this news.However, undoubtedly, it is a shame on our democracy.

Mission I'mpossible- Reading the Economic Survey completely.And, I start this mission today.The major hurdle is understanding the terms and concepts being used.Furthermore, only then, I would grasp crux of survey. It will be time consuming exercise and hope to complete it...

So... bye ... more update on that later. 

3rd April,2012.

Talked to Vipin chettan afer a long time.It seems like he was in Culcutta, on the way back home.Apparently, he has completed his IIM course.And could not talk to him further, as his phone switched off.He sounded somewhere outside, probably with hangover of last night with a phone with low battery charge.Nevertheless, the brief chat chat with him was nice.He has got into some retail firm in kuwait.Though, he sounded not so happy, he said would join the firm.Seems-like, he prefers to be some Indian company. Nice to hear that , atleast some IIM grad wants to stay in India(for whatever the reson outcome is important here).

Otherwise, was learning about Current Account and Capital account today.

Current account contains Balance of Trade(BOT) and Balance on Invisible(BOI).

BOT is the net trade on "Goods" ie. export-import.

BOI is the same thing wrt to services.Also, net Remmitence,net tourism,net education and medical treatment also fall under BOI.

Total of BOI and BOT if "positive" then we have a surplus and if "negative" we have a deficit.This is famously known as CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT(CAD).

The third and the final account through which foreign exchange is managed is Capital account.

Investments, borrowings,NRI deposits, External assistance are accounted in this account.

Our  CAD is finaced through Captital a/c inflows.
If a country fails to stem the deficit then it is in a Balance of payament crisis.

Most often countries borrows to meet their deficit, as they dont have the sovereignty to print money( like the option available in the case of fiscal deficit).

Currently India is going through a high CAD crisis.It is as high as 4.3% of GDP.With its deficit brother(Fiscal deficit) also at alarming level, needless to say  Indian economy is in a bad shape.

Only good news is that he have enough Foreign reserve to hedge the current crisis, but forex is depleting with intimidating Capital a/c inflow.
And, China has a Current account surplus.




       

Bye Bye 2nd April 2012.

Its been a long day.Had tried to grasp some economy concepts, though not completed as I have liked to. However,its  after some days that I have put in some decent work on economy.So quite happy about that.

Still some concepts are not very clear in my mind.Probably with time and usage it would get better.

Between, withdrew 8K from  my a/c for the Rent payment.Each time I see my bank balance it send shiver down my spine.

Tough times ahead.And, definitely don't want to think about my Educational loan which have undoubtedly rendered into a Non Performing Asset for the bank.

Also, my father retires from service on 20th of Jan 2013. By then I should have more certainty on my Life.

Hope, all ends well. Good night.

Khan Academy; Hats Off.

http://www.khanacademy.org/

Amazing work by Mr khan.A large repository of teaching videos.Maths,Physics,Chemistry plus lot many.

Really impressed I am that i spent my last 1 hr surfing through the videos.

Long live Slaman Khan.

2nd APRIL,2012; Stopped THE HINDU

Reading two papers was too much for me.When I look back to my last few months, all I have done probably is reading two newspaper.And now, prelims exam so near I am really hard pressed for time as Geo,history , Eco staring at me.So, I have decided to drop one newspaper- The Hindu.

Meanwhile, bought economic survey- huge book; with my  speed  I would take atleast 15 days to complete that.And further, I think I should drop the plan of reading Year Book.Its a mt.Everest in itself.

I need to accept I am bogged down in the uncertainties of the subjects.This is where a good tutor comes handy.
A guiding light when we lose sight & tend to stray away from the path.

I have changed a lot, I found my myself alone in the crowded tea shop today. People around were so happy to be, discussing current affairs topic & like wise stuffs.Everyone had someone to talk to.

How did I become content with myself so much??- Its a mystery per se.