CHEMISTRY

PAPER-I
1.Atomic structure- Quantum theory , Heisenberg’s uncertainity principle, Schrodinger wave equation (time independent). Interpretation of wave function , particle in one – dimensional box, quantum numbers , hydrogen atom wave functions . Shapes of s, p and d orbitals .
2.Chemical bonding – Ionic bond, characteristics of ionic compounds, factors affecting stability of ionic compounds, lattice energy, Born – Haber cycle; covalent bond and its general characteristics , polarities of bonds in molecules and their dipole moments. Valence bond theory , concept of resonance and resonance energx. Mnlectlar orbhtal thenry (LCAN method(; bnnding in holonuclear molecular ; H2 +,H2 to Ne2, NO, CO, HF , CN , CN-, BeH2 and CO2 . Comparision of valence bond and molecular orbital theories, bond order , bond strength and bond length.
Solid State – Forms of solids , laws of constancy of interfacial angles, crystal systems and crystal classes (crystallographic groups). Designation of crystal faces, lattice structures and unit cell . Laws of rational indices. Bragg’s law . X-ray diffraction by crystals . Close packing , radious ratio rules , calculation of some limiting radius ratio values . Structures of NaCl, Zns, CsCl, CaF2, Cdl2 , and rutile . Imperfection in crystals , stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric defects , impurity defects , semi- conductors. Elementary study of liquid crystals.
4.The gaseous state – Equation of state for real gases, intermolecular interactions, liquefication of gases and critical phenomena , Maxwell’s distribution of speeds , intermolecular collisions , collisions on the wall and effusion .
5.Thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics – Thermodynamic systems, states and processes , work , heat and internal energy; first law of thermodynamics, work done on the systems and heat absorbed in different types of processes; calorimetry, energy and enthalpy changes in various processes and their temperature dependence.
Second law of thermodynamics; entropy as a state function , entropy changes in various process, entropy – reversibility and irreversibility , Free energy functions; criteria for equilibrium, relation between equilibrium constant and thermodynamic quantities; Nernst heat theorem and third law of thermodynamics.
Micro and macro states; canonical ensemble and canonical partition function; electronic, rotational and vibrational partition functions and thermodynamic quantities; chemical equilibrium in ideal gas reactions.
6.Phase equilibria and solutions- Phase equilibria in pure substances; Clausius- Clapeyron equation; phase diagram for a pure substance; Phase equilibria in binary systems, partially miscible liquids- upper and lower critical solution temperatures; partial molar quantities , their significance and determination; excess thermodynamic functions and their determination.
7.Electrochemistry- Debye- Hucket theory of strong electrolytes and Debye- Huckel limiting Law for various equilibrium and transport properties .
Galvanic cells, concentration cells; electrochemical series, measurement of e.m.f. ofcell and its applications fuel cells and batteries.
Processes at electrodes; double layer at the interface; rate of change transfer , current density; overpotential ; electroanalytical techniques- voltameter , polarography, amperometry , cyclic- voltametry , ion selective electrodes and their use.
8.Chemical kinetics- Concentration dependence of rate of reaction; differential and integral rate equations for zeroth, first, second and fractional order reactions. Rate equations involving reverse, parallel, consecutive and chain reactions; effect of temperature and pressure on rate constant . Study of fast reactions by stop flow and relaxation methods. Collisions and transition state theories.
9.Photochemistry- Absorption of light; decay of excited state by different routes; photochemical reactions between hydrogen and halogens and their quantum yields.
10.Surface phenomena and catalysis- Adsorption from gases and solutions on solid adsorbents , adsorption isotherms Langmuir and B.E.T. isotherms; determination of surface area, characteristics and mechanism of reaction on heterogeneous catalysts.
11.Bio- inorganic chemistry – Metal ions in biological systems and their role in ion- transport across the membranes (molecular mechanism), ionophores, photosynthesis – PSI, PSII; nitrogen fixation, oxygen- uptake proteins , cytochromes and ferredoxins.
12.Co- ordination chemistry – (a) Electronic configurations; introduction to theories of bonding in transition metal complexes . Valence bond theory ,crystal field theory and its modifications ; applications of theories in the explanation of magnetism and electronic spactra of metal complexes.
(b) Isomerism in coordination compounds; IUPAC nomenclature of coordination compounds; stereochemistry of complexes with 4 and 6 coordination number ; chelate effect and polynuclear complexes; trans effect and its theories; kinetic of substitution reactions in square- planar complexes; thermodynamic and kinetic stability of complexes.
(C) Synthesis and structures of metal carbonyls; carboxylate anions, carbony 1 hydrides and metal nitrosy1 complexes.
(d) Complexes with aromatic systems, synthesis , structure and bonding in metal olefin complexes, alkyne complexes and cyclopentadieny1 complexes ; coordinative unsaturation , oxidative addition reactions, insertion reactions, fluxional molecules and their characterization . Compounds with metal- metal bonds and metal atom clusters.
13. General chemistry of ‘f’ block elements- Lanthanides and actinides; separation , Oxidation states, magnetic and spectral properties; lanthanide contraction.
14. Non- Aqueous Solvents- Reactions in liquid NH3 , HF, SO2 and H2SO4.
Failure of solvent system concept , coordination model of non- aqueous solvents. Some highly acidic media, fluorosulphuric acid and super acids.
PAPER- II
1.Delocalised covalent bonding – Aromaticity, anti- aromaticity; Annulenes, azulenes, tropolones, kekulene, fulvenes, sydnones.
2.(a) Reaction mechanisms- General methods (both kinetic and non- kinetic of study of mebhanhsm nr organhc rdacthons illtstr`ted by dxamples- use of isotopes, cross- over experiment , intermediate trapping, stereochemistry ; energy diagrams of simple organic reactions- transition states and intermediates; energy of activation ; thermodynamic control and kinetic control of reactions.
(b) Reactive intermediates- Generation , geometry, stability and reactions of carbonium and carbonium ions, carbanions , free radicals, carbenes, benzynes and niternes.
(c) Substitution reactions- SNI, SN2, SNi, SN1, SN2, SNi and SRN1 mechanisms; neighbouring group participation; electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions of aromatic compound including simple heterocyclic compounds- pyrrole, furan thiophene , indole.
(d) Elimination reactions- E1, E2 and E1 cb mechanism; orientation in E2 reactions- Saytzeff and Hoffmann; pyrolytic syn elimination- acetate pyrolysis, Chugaev and Cope eliminations.
(e) Addition reactions- Electrophilic addition to C.= C and C= C; nucleophilic addition to C= O, C=N, conjugated olefins and carbonyls.
(f) Rearrangements- Pinacol- pinacolune , Hoffmann, Beckmann, Baeyer- Villiger , Favorskii, Fries, Claisen, Cope, Stevens and Wagner- Meerwein rearrangements.
3. Pericyclic reactions- classification and examples , woodward- Hoffmann rules- electrocyclic reaction, cycloddition reaction s (2+2 and 4+2) and sigmatropic shifts (1,3,3,3and 1,5)FMO approach.
4. Chemistry and mechanism of reactions- Aldol condensation (including directed aldol condensation), Claisen condensation, Dieckmann, Perkin, Knoevenagel, Witting, Clemmensen, Wolff-Kishner, Cannizzaro and von Richter reactions; Stobbe , benzoin and acyloin condensations; Fischer indole synthesis, Skraup, synthesis, Bischler- Napieralski , Sandmeyer, Reimer- Tiemann and Reformatsky reactions.
5. Polymeric Systems- (a) Physical chemistry of polymers- Polymer solutions and their thermodynamic properties; number and weight average molecular weights of polymers. Determination of molecular weights by sedimentation , light scattering, osmntic prersurd , viscnsitx , dnd froup an`lyshs mdthods.
(b) Preparation and properties of polymers- Organic polymers – polyethylene , polystyrene, polyvinyl 1 chloride, Teflon, nylon, terylene, synthetic and natural rubber. Inorganic polymers- phoshonitrilic halides, borazines, silicones and silicates.
(c) Biopolymers- Basic bonding in proteins , DNA and RNA.
6. Synthetic uses of reagents- OsO4, HIO4, CrO3, Pb(OAc)4, SeO2, NBS, B2H6, Na- Liquid NH3, LiA1H4 NaBH4n-Buli, MCPBA.
7. Photochemist- Photochemical reactions of simple organic compounds, excited and ground states , singlet and triplet states, Norrish- Type I and Type II reaction .
8. Principles of spectroscopy and applications in structure elucidation
(a) Rotational spectra- Diatomic molecules; isotopic substitution and rotational constants.
(b) Vibrational spectra – Diatomic molecules, linear triatomic mole- cules, specific frequencies of functional groups in polyatomic molecules.
(c) Electronic spectra- Singlet and triplet states. N-> ^* and ^ ->^* transitions; applications to conjugated double bond and conjugated carbonyls – Woodward- Fieser rules.
(d) Nuclear magnetic resonance- Isochronous and anisochronous protons; chemical shift and coupling constants; Applications of H’ NMR to simple organic molecules.
(e) Mass spectra- Parent peak , base peak, daughter peak, metastable peak, fragmentation of simple organic molecules, a cleavage , McLafferty rearrangement.
(f) Electron spin resonance- Inorganic complexes and free radicals.

Nanavati Commision Says Godhra Train Carnage A Conspiracy

The Nanavati Commission , set up by the Gujarat Chief Minster, Mr. Narendra Modi’s Government in 2002 to inquire into the fire on coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express train in Which 58 Kar Sewaks Were burnt alive , has concluded that the fire was a “ pre-planned conspiracy” by local Muslims. The report of the commission totally contradicts the conclusion of the U. C. Banerjde Bommhssinn , appnintdd bx thd Rahlwax Minster, Mr. L`lu Prasad Yadav, which stated that the fire was “ purely accidental”. The Banerjee Commission report was made public but is yet to be tabled in the Parliament because of a stay order by the Gujarat High Court .
The first part of the Nanavati Commission’s 168- page report was tabled in the Gujarat Assembly on Septerber 25, 2008 by the Chief minister, Mr. Narendra Modi The first part, of the report, which exclusively deals, with the train carnage , and not the post –Godhra communal riots, gave a clean chit to the Chief Minister , Mr. Narendra Modi , the members of his the then Council of Ministers and police officers . It also ruled out the involvement of any religious or political organization in the fire .
The report stated that the Commission has come to the conclusion that “there was a conspiracy to burn coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express train coming from Ayodhya and to cause harm to the Kar Sewaks traveling in that coach”. The conspiracy hatched appears to be a “part of a larger conspiracy to create terror and destabilize the administration”. the report stated.
The report also rejected the allegations that the Gujarat Government failed to comply with the recommendations and directions given by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The report of the Godhra riots would come later in the second part yet to be finalised by the Commission.
The evidence recorded by the Commission also claimed that a mob of Muslims attacked the train and stoned the coaches so heavily that the passengers could not come out. This was to ensure maximum casualties when the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express train was set a fire.
The Commission, in its 168-page report , stated that the conspiracy was hatched by some local Muslims at the Aman-Guest House in Godhra the previous night . The conspirators immediately made arrangements for collecting about 140 litres of petrol from a nearby petrol pump on the night of February 26, 2002. The next day when the train arrived in Godhra , ond person knov by the namd Harsan Lala, after forbibly opening the vestibule between coaches S-6 and S-7, entered S-6 and threw burning rage setting it on fire.
According to the report , setting fire to the train was part of a larger conspiracy to instill a sense of fear in the administration and create anarchy in the State. It ,however, has not named the architects of the larger conspiracy. The Commission disagreed with the contentions of the Benerjee Committee and the Jan Sangharsha Manch, which represented the riot victims before the Commission , that alarm chains could not be operated from outside under the modified system introduced by the Railways in 1995. The Commission stated that the passengers of the train were attacked the second time some three hours after the stone throwing and burning incident when the train was being shunted to detach the two affected coaches.
The Commission claimed that there was no evidence to justify the contention that the Kar Sewaks had been fighting with Muslim vendors at stations before Godhra as alleged earlier , though there were some minor scuffles with three Muslim vendors on the Godhra platform . But there was no reliable evidence to show that any attempt was made by the Kar Sewaks to spread violence. It dismissed as not worthy of any credence the Manch theory that there was no crowd ,except a small group of curious onlookers, no stone-throwing and no conspirational setting on fire. Without mentioning the Benerjee Commission report , the Nanavati Panel rejected the accidental fire theory. It stated that the reasoning that a fire was caused by fire the overturning of a burning stove used for cooking by some Kar Sewaks in the compartment or that it was set off by an electric short circuit was baseless. There was no space for anyone to light the stove in the overcrowded coach carrying more than 200 passengers and any spill- over of kerosene from the stove , though out the question ,could not have caused such heavy fire and damage. Dismissing the short circuit theorx, the Cnmmirsion st`ted that in such an event the p`ssengers would not have climbed up to the upper berths to protect themselves as electric lines were going through the top of the coaches , and rather they would have climbed down on the floor. In such an event , the windows on the platform side of the coach would not have been closed or the windowpanes broken by stone throwing. The smoke before fire did not necessarily mean electric short circuit as propounded by the Manch; instead , the fire was caused by some inflammable materials thrown on the floor from outside, the report concluded.
Now one looks forward to the second part of the report and the findings of the Supreme Court- appointed special Investigation Team (SIT) , for a more comprehensive view of what happened during the terrible days of carnage in Gujarat in 2002, But as things stand, the Nanavati Commission report raises some questions. In the first place, Gujarat’s Forensic Science Laboratory had conducted a study of the Godhra train carnage and concluded that the inflammable liquid that caused the fire was spread from inside , not outside the coach. Both the Benerjee Commission’s and forensic laboratory’s versions of the train fire are contradicted by the Nanavati Commission's version.

BANERJEE VS NANAVATI REPORT

Justice Banerjee Commission Report
1. Not deliberately inflicted, but accidental
2. Petrol theory ruled out , fire sequence against it
3. Fire not caused by outsiders, Intelligence agencies had no Information about Kar Sewaks coming
4. Doors closed a misconception
5. Deaths due to toxicity and suffocation
6. Large number nf whtnerses exalined,but no clue about cause of fire
7. Railways failed to conduct a statutory inquiry
Justice Nanavati Commission Report
1. Pre-planned, a conspiracy and not accidental
2. 140 litres of petrol purchased to burn bogey
3. Umarji conspired, Hassan Lala threw burning rags inside the bogey
4 Door of S-6 and S-7 bogey forcibly opened
5. Kar Sewaks burnt to death,conspiracy hatched at Aman guest house
6. 1,106 witnessds, 46,000 affidavits
7. No evidence to show that the Gujarat CM, Mr. Narendra Modi, any minister or police officers played a role

INDIAN ECONOMY

Growth Hit, Market Plunges

(Essential Reading material for Civil Services General Studies Paper- I & II and extremely useful for MBA and other Competitive Examinations, Group Discussion and Interviews.)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on October 10, 2008 announced a surprise one percentage point cut in reserve requirement of commercial banks- Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) – so as to inject more liquidity into the system. This cut, coupled with the helf a percentage point cut announced on October 6, 2008, would release about Rs. 60,000 crore into the system.India’s industrial production seemed to hit rock bottom on October 10, 2008 , as the economy registered the slowest growth in 14 years . What made the situation worse was the global financial turmoil that sent the Sensex into a nosedive . Also , the fall in the value of rupee compounded the worries ,as the rupee turned out to be the most vulnerable of Asian currencies touching a record low of 49.26 per dollar.The recent developments in India’s economic scenario have clearly signalled the onset of a slowdown bordering on recession. The possibility of an economic recession was further accentuated by the dismal 1.3 percent industrial growth rate which the economy registered in August 2008. It represented a drastic downslide in industrial growth as compared to the 10.7 percent growth logged during the same month in 2007. As markets around the world tumbled amid deepening fears of a global recession , more evidence surfaced which showed that India, too was taking a bigger than expected hit. The impact of the global financial crisis, so far limited to the stock market and a couple of other export- centric businesses, now appears to be cascading into the real economy. It is evident that the ongoing global financial crisis has taken its toll in India as well. The financial turmoil , coupled with the monetary tightening measures put in place to check inflation, contributed in worsening the crisis . Analysis opine that a possible fall in industrial growth has for quite sometime been around the corner in view of the high interest rates and decreasing demand in both domestic and international markets. However , the magnitude of the fall has come as a surprise to many.Meanwhile ,almost all sectors of the economy continued to suffer as the global financial crisis triggered a number of spill-over effects. It included stock markets, rupee value and other such aspects. Sensex tanked by 800 points to 10,527 points on October 10, 2008 , which was the lowest in two years. The rupess touched an all-time low and the inflation rate was at11.8 percent for the week ended September 27, 2008 . The financial situation also markedly affected the fortunes of Indian business conglomerates, as the top five Indian companies suffered huge value erosion. Reliance (Mukesh Ambani) Group’s net worth went down by 49.1 percent ,Anil Ambani-led Bharti Group by 28.4 percent, KP Singh-led DLF Group by 75.3 percent , and Azim Premji-led Wipro Group slid by 46 percent.However to India’s credit, controls on capital flows and banking transactions have relatively insulated the country from the kind of turmoil that financial institutions are facing in the US and elsewhere. The economic slowdown in the US is not an abrupt development . This is basically a credit crisis which stems from skyrocketing expectations of financial services companies that made them overindulge in the risky business of trade in derivatives. Derivatives usually project overstated earning estimates, which , if used as an instrument for gauging returns, may happen to be a fallacious premise . The US financial majors like the Lehman Brothers, now in the dock , banked overmuch on such innovative patterns as trade in Futures & Options . In the long run, the rick factors associated with such ventures caused their failure. As a result , markets around the world took a tumble. India has so far been comparatively immune to the global turmoil because of the fact that the country’s financial and banking set – up revolves around old- world and time- tested principles involving savings deposits, mutual funds, equity shares and the likes. These instruments have a lower risk of inducing across the board failures and that is why Indian economy appears relatively safe as of now. However , there is concern at the highest level that though the US meltdown has not had a substantial impact in India, a prolonged crisis may take is toll on our economy as well. Globalisation has interlinked all nations and economies to the extent that no single country can sustain immunity for long in the wake of a global crisis . In some sectors such as IT and in the overall corporate scenario , the impact of the turmoil is already visible. Experts are unanimous in their opinion that if such a situation continued for long , it will be foolish to expect that India will remain insulated in the long run. Referring to emergency liquidity injection by central banks around the world , Union Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram said that India would also take the necessary steps to bring the situation under control. He added "We will take steps to infuse liquidity because we recognize that flow of credit efficiently and smoothly through the system is vital to the stability of the financial system".