Group Discussion in GTO Test : SSB Interview Selection

Introduction:

Group Discussion (GD) is the first test in GTO Tests. It is a friendly and informal talk on the topics of common interests but of controversial nature. GD is similar to what you do sitting with your friends in the canteen of your school/college or units of your regiment etc.

Generally there is confusion between Debate and Group Discussion but unlike Debate there is no chairperson, you are permitted to say what you like, when you like and as many times you feel like, and No Conclusion is to be reached, there is no restriction except that not more than 1 Person should speak at a time.

What more important is how the candidate put across his views rather than language used

At Service Selection Boards you will be discussing on 2 topics within your group.

Group Discussion No.1

For the First Group Discussion, your group will be given 2 topics out of which the group will have to choose one topic for discussion (your group will be given approx 15-30 Seconds time to select the topic).

Seating arrangement for first Group Discussion.

Once the topic is decided then GTO will Repeat the topic and your group will discuss for approximately 15 Minutes and thereafter GTO will interrupt you saying that “it was a nice discussion”even if your group members were selling their fish in the market.

INDO-CHINA RELATIONS : POST DOKLAM STANDOFF

Introduction:

1. The 2017 China India border standoff or Doklam standoff refers to the military border standoff between the Indian armed forces and the People's Liberation Army of China over construction of a road in Doklam, known as Donglang, or Donglang Caochang (meaning Donglang pasture or grazing field), in Chinese.

On 16 Jun 2017 Chinese troops with construction vehicles and road-building equipment began extending an existing road southward in Doklam, a territory which is claimed by both China as well as India's ally Bhutan. On 18 Jun 2017, around 270 Indian troops, with weapons and two bulldozers, entered Doklam to stop the Chinese troops from constructing the road. On 28 August, both India and China announced that they had withdrawn all their troops from the face-off site in Doklam.

Background

2. Doklam is an area disputed between China and Bhutan located near their tri-junction with India. Unlike China and Bhutan, India does not claim Doklam but supports Bhutan's claim. China's claim on Doklam is based on the 1890 Convention of Calcutta between China and Britain.

3. China asserts that by this Convention, the starting point of the Sikkim-Tibet border is "Mount Gipmochi on the Bhutan frontier" and that this clearly defines the tri-junction point. As per Chinese claims, Doklam is located in the Xigaze area of Tibet, bordering the state of Sikkim. However Bhutan was not a party to the Convention.

Plastic Money – Merits & Demerits

Background :-

In general, debit cards & credit cards are called as plastic money. Plastic money has provided us with the ease of conducting transactions in our day to day life. It has definitely replaced cash transactions to a great extent all over the world and has emerged as an essential form of ready money. It has made it too easy for us to buy things we normally could not afford and in such a scenario it is important to understand the merits and demerits of plastic money.

Merits :-

Reduces the need to carry cash: Plastic money has not only provided us with convenience, but it has also eliminated the inconvenience that is caused in carry cash. For instance, when the job of a working executive involves a lot of inter-state travel he/she has to entail numerous expenses like travel, stay, food etc. In such a case it is not only troublesome to carry money but also there is a risk of theft.

Reduction in crime: With credit or debit cards’ being used, one benefit is the reduction in thefts and crimes. It is very difficult to hack the PIN of a card, for which a person needs to know specific techniques. Thus the credit card holder can be sure about the safety of his/her money to some extent. Also in the event the card is stolen, the credit or debit card holder can ask the bank to block the card as soon as possible.

How To Write Effective & Good Stories In PPDT

PPDT is the test that is conducted on the very first day of SSB screening day where major crowd is eliminated. Hence the screening day is called the rejection day also which eliminates the non serious crowd of the people who visit the SSB.  This round is conducted after the aptitude /written test. This test has two parts:

1.    The first part is where aspirants need to write the story where certain things are expected and a complete story is needed at the end.

2.    This part has a detailed discussion on the basis of the stories written by the individual where each one in the group is first provided with the opportunity of narrating the individual stories and then the GD happens in the group. How to perform in the GD can be seen in my previous article.

In this portion we will see how to write best in stories as there are few expectations from the side of examiners that needs to be fulfilled. Also whosoever survives in this round only gets a chance to stay for four more days and live the complete life at SSB. The following might be helpful when aspirants prepare for these rounds:

3.             Utilize the 30 second given to frame the context in which you story will lie and your hero survives. This time is sufficient to do so, so utilize wisely.

·         Also in PPDT you need to fill a box provided in the answer sheet with the exact replica of the picture you percept. This is also important because knowingly the picture shown to you is made hazy which makes it difficult for everyone to percept in their own way.

·         Here only the psychologist quickly judges aspirant on the basis of thinking and ability of viewing a material. This haziness only makes stories different for different people and brings interest while doing GD where everyone fights for getting their own stories accepted by the group.

·         A title needs to be defined for the given picture. Remember that title if read should be such which tells the complete essence of your story. So design the title carefully.

·         Now the main work of writing the story starts where it is expected that the aspirant will describe the following :

·         Age

·         Sex

·         Character

·         Mood

·         Past of the story which led to the present scene

·         Present scene description and what happens in and around

·         Future that will happen

·         Hero should be there

·         General description

·         While drawing the replica in the box instruction of the assessor should be correctly followed and do listen how he/she describes the markings that needs to be done.

·         Write stories genuinely and mention essential facts.

Note– Please remember this PPDT is not a story writing competition where you just describe a scene. It’s a process where you try to reveal yourself through the depicted story. Also prepare hard for PPDT so that the preparation of TAT is automatically done.

INDIA AND PAKISTAN BEGIN HIGH-LEVEL TALKS ON INDUS WATERS TREATY

1.  Present Situations:

 In a stern message to Pakistan New Delhi has decided to stop the flow of its share of water to Pakistan from rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. The announcement was made on 21 February by Union minister Nitin Gadkari after the attack generated series of strong reactions across the country. Similar demands or to say sentiments to stop the flow of India's share of Indus water to Pakistan were echoed after the Uri terror attack in 2016.

Now, after announcing the stopping of water to flow its share to Pakistan the government has also reiterated that water would be diverted from eastern rivers to Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

2. Past meeting:

(a) The two-day high-level talks on technical issues of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) began between India and Pakistan in Washington, United States on 14 Sep 2017.

(b) According to a spokesperson from the World Bank, the meetings between two countries took place between 14 and 15 Sep.

Rules for GTO Tasks In SSB Interview Test

GTO outdoor tasks are in form of various games. As every game has some rules, same is the case with Group Testing Officer’s (GTO) tasks. These rules are to be followed by the entire group otherwise there will be a penalty. In case any of the rules are broken then candidates are required to move back to the previous structure and restart from there again (you have to move to the previous structure from the structure of which you broke the rule you don’t have to move to start line again).

Group Rule

This rule states that till the entire group (6-10 candidates), the helping materials and the load cross the finish line of one obstacle the group can’t move to the next obstacle.

Distance Rule

This rule says that any distance of 4 feet or more may be horizontal, vertically or diagonally can’t be jumped across. The candidates have to either bridge the distance or reduce the distance to less than 4 feet and then cross it.

 Colour Rule

There will be various colours painted on the structures, each colour has it’s own significance and some rules which are to be followed by the candidates. Carefully read the following rules regarding colours at Service Selection Boards.

White Colour – Structure painted white are

GTO Test Dress

GTO outdoor tasks are performed in GTO Dress which is White coloured Short, White coloured T-shirt with collar, PT Shoes or Sports Shoes Preferably white in colour and Socks of white colour. Simply you have to wear all white colour dress.

Your T-shirt must have a collar.

Friends some of you might say that I have a T-shirt which is having a strip which is not white or you have a T-Shirt or Short which is not exactly White, or you have Sports Shoes which are not White, then we would suggest you buy new ones, Gentlemen you are going to attend SSB Interview, even attending it is many’s unfulfilled dream you got a chance to perform there so go there and give your best. More importantly if you wear anything among T-shirt, Short, Shoes or Socks which is not white in colour or not according to specification then no one is going to point you, but GTO will do all the talking with his pen and also you yourself showing that you are not made for Defence by not following rules which you have been told to wear a particular dress code and you are not obeying that code. The onus is yours but we suggest you wear the above-mentioned dress code.

If you wear glasses then you must make sure that you do not lose your specs while doing these tasks as it will create problems for you.

The Choice is yours whether to take White Sports or PT Shoes, but we suggest Sports Shoes as they are more comfortable while running or doing a Task.

INDIA - SRI LANKA RELATIONS : Background, Key Highlights & About Hambantota

1. Background.

(a) The credit line was declared by Narendra Modi during his first visit to Sri Lanka as the Prime Minister of India in 2015.

(b) The visit, which was the first standalone bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister since 1987, had come in the backdrop of increasing Chinese presence in the nation. 

(c) China has been investing heavily in Sri Lanka, developing mainly ports that could potentially be used as a base for its navy.  

(d) China, however, claims that the investments are part of its Belt and Road Initiative that aims to link it with Europe and Africa through the Indian Ocean.

(e) India has been Sri Lanka's major development partner in the South Asian region for over 40 years.

(f) Over the past years, Indian foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka has expanded considerably.

(g) Presently, Indian development assistance mainly focuses on improvement of infrastructure, livelihood development, education, healthcare, and capacity building.

2. Current Update.

(a) India signed an agreement with Sri Lanka on 6 Jun 2017 to provide fresh  assistance of USD 318 million as a line of credit for the development of the nation‘s railway sector.

(b) The agreement was signed by RHS Samaratunga, Secretary, Ministry of Finance  and Mass Media and David Rasquinha, Managing Director of India's Export-Import Bank  in Colombo. India has previously provided four lines of credit to Sri Lanka to develop its railway sector, amounting to approximately USD 966 million. These credit facilities were

utilised to improve the country‘s Southern and Northern railway lines and for the  procurement of rolling stocks.

(c) According to Sri Lanka's Ministry of Transport, improving passenger transportation facilities is urgently required to attract passengers towards railways, which is a cost - effective mode of transportation. India, Sri Lanka Sign MoU to Build 1200 Houses In Hambantota

3. Background.

(a) India on 26 Oct 2017 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sri Lanka to build 1200 houses in Hambantota, a southern port city of Sri Lanka. 

(b) The MoU was signed by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Sri Lanka's Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Construction W.K.K.

Athukorala.

4. Key Highlights.

(a) The 1200 houses will be constructed through 50 model villages using Indian grant assistance of Rs 600 million. 

(b) Out of these 1200 houses, 600 will be constructed in the Southern Province, while the remaining will be constructed across Sri Lanka with one model village in each of the 25 districts.

(c) The project will target low income landless and homeless beneficiaries. (d) A cash grant of Rs 500000 will be provided to each beneficiary in five installments.

(e) These projects are in continuation of India's commitment to assist Sri Lanka in the development of housing infrastructure. 

(f) India has already committed 50000 houses in the North and East Sri Lanka, out of which nearly 46000 houses have been completed.

(g) Construction of 4000 houses is currently on-going in the plantation sector in Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka.

(h) In May 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed another 10000 houses for beneficiaries in the plantation sector.

5. About Hambantota.

(a) The coastal city of Hambantota gained strategic significance after former President Mahinda Rajapaksa built a massive port and an airport with huge Chinese loans. In July 2017, Rajpaksa government sold majority stakes of the port to China to manage outstanding USD 8 billion debts it owes China.

(b) Local residents, including supporters of Rajapaksa, earlier protested the selling of national assets to foreign entities. 

(c) Earlier in October 2017, protesters clashed with the police outside the Indian  consulate in Hambantota after media reported government‘s move to lease out a nearby airport to India.

INDIA - BHUTAN RELATIONS

1. Background.

(a) The new bilateral Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit between India and Bhutan came into force on 29 July 2017. It aims to strengthen the bilateral relations between India and Bhutan.

(b) The Agreement provides for a free trade regime between the territories of India and Bhutan. It also provides for a duty-free transit of Bhutanese merchandise for trade with third countries.

2. Key Highlights.

(a) The agreement was last renewed on 29 July 2006 for ten years.

(b) The validity of the same was extended (with effect from July 29, 2016) for one year or till the new agreement comes into force, through the exchange of diplomatic notes.

(c) The new agreement was signed on 12 November 2016 by the Minister of State(IC), Ministry of Commerce and Industry on behalf of the Government of India.

(d) As per the pact‘s provisions, it has come into force with effect from 29 July 2017, a date that was mutually decided by the two nations.

(e) The new pact will help strengthen the bilateral trade relations between India and Bhutan.

(f) Further, the new agreement removes the requirement of having an annual consultation between India and Bhutan for the transit of goods of both countries along with the goods originating in third country.