राज्यसेवा पूर्व परीक्षा २०१४ - Paper 2

Question number 21 to 23 :
   There are several products of genetic engineering now available in the market viz. interferon, human growth hormone and human insulin. In 1982, human insulin produced by rocombinant bacteria was released for sale in the market. All of these proteins were previously purified from animal tissues. But human forms were available only in very minute quantities.
   Before 1982, all insulins which were utilized for diabetics were purified only from bovine of cattle and Porcine of pigs pancreas. These insulins were made available as by-products of meat industry. The insulin supply was, thus a function of supply and demand in the meat market. The commercial production of human insulin in recombinan E. Coli cells eliminated concerns regarding possible shortage of insulin in the future. In addition, this human insulin, was of particular importance to some diabetics who were allergic to bovine and/or porcine insulin.
   Recombinant DNA techniques play an essential role in gene therapy which involves the direct manipulation of genetic material.

Question number 24 to 27 :
    Chemistry is all around you. The air you breathe, the food you eat, the clothes you wear, chemistry touches virtually every aspect of our lives. More than any other science, it has transformed the world in which we live, bringing us abundant food, better health, stronger materials, softer fabrics, brighter colors, cleaner homes, safer transport, greater energy efficiency etc. Our body is a complex mixture of chemical substances (65% mass is due to the chemical compound, water) and we are kept alive by chemical reactions taking place in our cells. As a society, we use chemicals as medicines when we are sick, whether we use 'natural remedies or pharmaceutical products, chemical reactions keep us warm, cook our food and power our transport. But chemistry also has its darker side and that has been in discovering and developing substances which are potentially harmful. Bioterriorism and chemical war are curses of the advances in science. Toxicology is a science which studies all such materials which become a threat to the mankind. Now a days, it is almost impossible for an ordinary person to obtain toxic chemicals, and it is almost impossible for a poisoner to escape detection after the use. Poison is a weapon which is usable bothways and by those who wish to kill, may do so in such a way that the victim is unaware of it. Such deaths are sometimes shown as natural deaths.

Question number 28 to 32 :
   In studying the Indian Constitution and the process of nation-building a fundamental principle of diversity is noted time and again. As per this principle the different regions and linguistic groups can protect and conserve their own culture. We had decided to live a united social life without losing the distinctiveness of the numerous cultures that constituted India. Indian nationalism has sought to balance the principles of unity and diversity. The nation does not mean negation of a region. In this sense the Indian approach was different from that adopted in some European countries where they saw cultural diversity as a threat to the nation.
   India adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity. Democracy allows the political expression of regional aspirations and does not look upon them as anti-national or antidemocratic. Besides, democratic politics allows parties and groups to represent the people on the basis of their regional identity, aspirations and specific regional problems. Thus, in the course of democratic politics, regional aspirations get strengthened. At the same time, democratic politics also means that regional issues and problems will receive adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process.
   Such an arrangement may sometimes lead to tensions and problems. Sometimes, the concern for national unity may overshadow the regional needs and aspirations. At other times a concern for region alone may blind us to the larger needs of the nation. In the countries where national integration is given top priority political conflicts over the issues of powers of the regions, their rights and their existence often crop up.
   After independence our nation had to cope with many difficult issues like partition, displacement, integration of princely states, reorganisation of states and so on. Many observers, both within the country and from outside, had predicted that India as one unified country cannot last long. Soon after independence the issue of Jammu and Kashmir came up. It was not only a conflict between India and Pakistan. The question of the political aspirations of the people of Kashmir valley was associated with it. Similarly, in some parts of north east, there was no consensus about being a part of India. First Nagaland and then Mizoram witnessed strong movements demanding separation from India. In the South, some groups from the Dravid movement briefly toyed with the idea of a separate country.
   These events were followed by mass agitation in many parts for the formation of linguistic states. Today's Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujrat were among the regions affected by these agitations. In some parts of Southern India, particularly Tamil Nadu, there were protests against making Hindi the official national language of the country. In the north there were strong pro- Hindi agitations demanding that Hindi be made the official language immediately. From the late 1950's people speaking Punjabi language started agitating for a separate state for themselves. The demand was finally accepted and the Punjab and Hariyana states were created in 1966. Later, the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand a Uttarachal (now Uttarakhand) were created. Thus the challenges of diversity were met with by redrawing boundaries of the states.

Question number 33 to 37 :
   The roots of superstition lie in ignorance. If we want to get rid of this menace it will be of no use to blame, ridicule or brand superstitious ignorant. It will only demoralise them. We will have to tell them skilfully in a restrained manner how the superstition takes roots, in which conditions it grows. Through clever and tactful discussions we have to convince them that superstitions if not restrained will bring only misery and disaster, and that therefore we should get rid of it. The task needs consistent efforts and should be carried on with determination and perseverance until such a person does not lose his faith in the superstitions and turns around. Superstitions can be eradicated with the help of rational principles and practical thinking. Legislation will obviously make the efforts stronger. An ordinance has been issued by the Government. It is expected that it will be passed in the coming session.
   We live in the age of science. We make use of the most advanced equipments and discuss in the IT age. But in our personal lives we have not become rational yet. Even when science is giving us answers to questions regarding all kinds of happenings from the most common illness to untimely rains, it is difficult to comprehend, why people are still persisting with unscientific answers to the problems. Therefore though we have progressed materially our mental development has not kept pace with it.
   It is a scientific truth that, the universe has evolved from five elements called as 'Pancha mahabhuta' but some have managed to create myths about it giving it a ritualistic nature.
   The resources developed by science and technology are being discreetly as well as blatantly used for spreading superstitions and rituals. The computers are being used to tell the people what will happen in the future. Had there not been advanced scientific resources like telegrams, telephones, fax, e-mail how would the Ganesh idols all over the world have milk on the same day. We should ask this pertinent question to ourselves. These persons who claim that they are so powerful and blessed that they can have a direct dialogue with the God, why should they need such trivial things like mobile and internet?

प्रश्न क्रमांक 38 ते 42 :
   माणूस हा इतर प्राण्यापेक्षा वेगळा प्राणी आहे. हे त्याचे वेगळेपण केवळ दिसण्यापुरते आहे, असे नाही; तर त्याच्या या वेगळेपणाचे नाते थेट त्याच्या असण्याशी आहे. विशेषत: आकलन शक्तीशी आहे. मेंदूशी आहे. त्याच्या विचार करण्याच्या शक्तीशी आहे. माणसाला विचार करता येतो. त्याला चांगले-वाईट कळते. आणि ही गोष्ट माणसाच्या दृष्टीने अत्यंत महत्त्वाची आहे. मात्र त्याचबरोबर माणसाचे माणूस असणे ही बाबही जाणीवपूर्वक लक्षात घेण्यासारखी आहे. हे माणूस असणे फारच विचित्र आहे. काम, क्रोध, मोह, लोभ, मद व मत्सर हे सगळे विकार माणसांत आहेत. सगळीच माणसे या विकारांसह जगतात. फार तर तीव्रता कमी जास्त असते. मोह, प्रेम, क्षुधा, पिपासा, ... या माणसांच्या ऊर्मी आहेत; हे कसं विसरता येईल? माणूस सहजप्रेरणांच्या प्रभावातून मुक्त होत नाही. माणसांनी काम, क्रोध, मोह, लोभ, मद व मत्सर हे मनुष्याचे दुर्गुण मानले; पण खरे तर ही माणूस असण्याची लक्षणे, तेव्हा त्यास केवळ दुर्गुण ठरवून मोकळे कसे होता येईल? हा प्रश्नच. माणूस या लक्षणांसह जन्मतो, जगतो आणि मरतो, सत्य, परोपकार, अनालस्य, अनसूया, क्षमा आणि धैर्य हे माणुसकीचे गुण मानले जात असले; तरी वस्तुस्थिती अशी की, या गुणांचा माणसांत अभावचे जास्तीचा आढळतो. माणसे वरील विकाराचे बळी ठरतात. हे बळी ठरणे सहज मानता येईल; मात्र दुसरी महत्त्वाची गोष्ट म्हणजे निसर्गत: माणसात जसे विविध विकार आहेत, तसा प्रत्येक माणसाला एक मेंदू आहे. निसर्गाने माणसाला विचार करण्याची स्वतंत्र क्षमता दिली आहे, तरीही माणसे विचार न करता इतरांच्या म्हणण्यावर विश्वास ठेवतात, आपल्या विचार करण्याच्या क्षमतेचा वापर करत नाहीत. बौद्धिक मानसिकदृष्ट्या गुलाम होतात. माणसाला लाभलेले शरीर आणि इंद्रिये लक्षात घेता माणसाने अशाप्रकारे इतरांचे गुलाम व्हावे, असा निसर्गाचा हेतू असण्याची बिलकुल शक्यता नाही. माणसाने तर्कनिष्ठ विचार करावा, आपल्या आणि इतरांच्या हिताचा विचार करावा, जाणीवपूर्वक विकारांवर नियंत्रण ठेवावे; असा निसर्गाचा हेतू नसेल का?
   माणसाला विकारमुक्त करण्याचे स्वप्न पाहणे, म्हणे केवळ स्वप्नच होय. सामान्यत: माणूस विकारवश आहे. तो त्याच्या प्रेरणा-प्रवृत्तींसह जगत आला आहे, आणि जगताहे; हे नाकारता येणार नाही. सध्या माणसे आपली स्वत:ची ओळख कोणत्या ना कोणत्या धर्म, जाती, पंथ, संघटना इत्यादीच्या आधाराने करून देताहेत, ही वस्तुस्थिती आहे. पण माणसांनी हे विसरून चालणार नाही की, मानवी संस्कृतीचे अस्तित्व त्याच्या विकारवश जगण्यावर अवलंबून नाही तर त्या विकारांवर नियंत्रण ठेवण्यावर अवलंबून आहे. तेव्हा माणसांनी जाणीवपूर्वक विकारांवर नियंत्रण ठेवणे आणि नाती, नीती पाळणेही
आवश्यक आहे. अर्थात हे आपोआप घडणार नाही, पूर्वीही कधी घडले नाही. मानवी जीवनाच्या इतिहासात माणसांवर नियंत्रण ठेवणारी कोणती ना कोणती व्यवस्था होतीच, हे विसरता येणार नाही.