[Official] ForumIAS SFG 2021 - Level 1 Details and Important Updates
Important Update : LIVE Session for SFG 2021 - Level 1 General Discussion and Way Forward - 19th January 2021 at 4:00 PM. (Click Here)
To check the instructions on how to write SFG 2021 - Test 1 :
Important Dates:
Date of Entrance Test 2 - 3rd January 2021 (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM)
End Date Registration for Entrance Test 2 – 2nd January 2021 | 5 PM
Please click on the link for instructions regarding attempting the Entrance test.
Result of Entrance Test 2 –4th January 2021
Commencement Date of SFG Level 1 – 7th January 2021
Syllabus of SFG Entrance Test - Candidates can expect 30 questions equally distributed across History, Polity, Economy, Environment and Geography. Further 15 questions will from Current Affairs of October, November and December months and 5 questions from CSAT.
SFG Level 1 Calendar: https://go.forumias.com/sfg21-calender
SFG – How it works
- Select Focus Group (SFG) is a small group of students who are selected by ForumIAS every year for coaching them to clear the UPSC Prelims Examination. Every single candidate selected and retained consistently in the group with Top ranks has cleared the Prelims examination in the past.
- 100 Students will be selected for the Select Focus Group, through the SFG Entrance Test, who will be required to report at 7 AM every day 6 days a week to write an hour-long test based on a pre-planned syllabus, followed by a discussion on the same.
- Candidates who are unable to make it to the SFG, will be maintained in a Reserve List, who can also write the tests. Candidates who couldn't clear the cutoff and are unable to make it into both SFG and RLG can register for the 2nd Entrance Test
- Tests are conducted daily and results are provided within 8 hours of test with Name and Rank list for candidates and parents to evaluate their daily performance. On the basis of rankles, about 50% of bottom performing students from SFG are migrated to the reserve list on a weekly basis, and an equal number of students from reserve list (RLG) are moved into SFG.
- The decision of the management in this regard is final and not subject to dispute. Please note that this migration is done not keeping in mind the overall merit list but moving away bottom 50% from SFG and picking up an equal number of people from RLG.
- Thus those who may be getting more than RLG students, but are bottom 50 in SFG will be moved to RLG.
- Every month, the bottom 20% or so non-performing students are eliminated from the program to maintain the quality of competition.
- All candidates writing the CSE 2021 are eligible to apply for the entrance test.
This year we introduce some changes as to how we conduct the SFG exam. Please note that changes that we bring are always in response to the examination pattern, the student feedback and our own learning with respect to how to best enable a serious candidate to clear the exam
Covid 19 Update:Keeping in mind the Covid situation, SFG – 1 entrance Test and the SFG program will be conducted in the online mode only for the year 2021. SFG – Level 2 may be conducted offline as per government guidelines and this decision will be taken at a later date.
This year SFG will be conducted in two levels as below:
SFG Level 1 (Foundation)
The SFG Level 1 is for beginners, freshers, first-timers, or simply those who have not cleared the Prelims examination ever before. The objective of the SFG Level 1 Program is three things
- Students know the basic books and basic concepts back and forth
- Students complete coverage of the syllabus through self-study
- Students are thorough with previous years papers
- Students develop the discipline and time management skills that are needed to clear the exam
The SFG Level 1 Tests will have book based / text-based / notes-based tests. By the end of SFG Level 1, you can expect that your coverage of the syllabus is complete, and you have done previous years questions well.
SFG Level 2 (Advanced)
SFG Level 2 is for people who have completed the reading and revision of the basic books and are now ready to take on the exam. The objective of the SFG Level 2 is as below
- Developing problem-solving skills for solving analytical, conceptual and thought based questions.
- Developing skills to solve questions based on the application of the reading that they have done for Level 1
- Mastering the art of handling questions from unknown areas and applying concepts from their wider reading which is relevant for the Civil Services Prelims Examination.
- Developing time management skills, and being through with the syllabus
- Providing a reliable, time-bound framework for revision just before the examination.
Current Affairs:
SFG Level 1 will provide coverage of current affairs from January 2020 to November 2020.
SFG Level 2 will have complete current affairs relevant for the Prelims examination 2021 integrated into the course.
CSAT:
CSAT tests will be integrated with SFG Level 2. There will be no CSAT tests in SFG level 1.
Application Procedure
- Admission to the SFG and RLG are based on the rank of the candidate in the merit list of the SFG Entrance Test. Students can apply for the program by registering for the Entrance Test by paying a fee of Rs. 500+ GST. Candidates can register by visitinghttp://academy.forumias.com
- The candidate must appear for the entrance test on the designated date and time, subsequent to which he/she will be admitted to the Select Group or the Reserve List.
- The candidate must pay the monthly fee as per the group he/she is allocated.
Note: Admissions to the SFG / RLG Group will only be on the basis of merit position of the candidate in the entrance test. Entrance Test will be held on 23rd December 2020. Candidates must register for the SFG Entrance Test by visiting the website http://academy.forumias.com before12 PM, December 22nd.
No admission will be granted to the candidate without appearing for the Entrance Test.
Fee Structure and Details:
- The course duration is of about two months and fees is charged on a monthly basis. Fees for the full duration of the program cannot be paid at one go.
For students selected in SFG- Rs. 1300 + GST (18%) per month. For Payment,Click Here.
For students selected in RLG- Rs. 1900 + GST (18%) per month. For Payment,Click Here.
- Fees are to be paid once the candidate is selected for the program. A fee of Rs. 118 is to be paid additionally for the I-Card by all students.
Wishing you Success,
Always
ForumIAS Academy
Spock,
@Jack__Sparrow @Neyawn Sir, include cutoffs along with the rank list (as done in simulator tests). It will be easier then to assess our performance. If possible, pls look into it.
Micro,
Please ask faculty to address these below conflicting points in the video (if not shot already)
Q13: CCoPA is now headed by M o Defence, not MHA
Q25: Option d is also possible
Q27: Governor can reserve ANY bill right? irrespective of being a central list or state list item; Also, where is such a list of constitutional discretions w.r.t bills given?
Q30: SC in BP Singhal case said Governor is not agent or employee of CG; Option 2 cannot be true
Q37: aid and advice of TAC?
Q50: In case of Art.163 conflict between G and State Govt w.r.t Advice, as G need not listen to the advice, how is it resolved?
Thank you.
@Jack__Sparrow if possible plz provide the segregation of solutions on the portal under tabs like correct/incorrect/marked/not attempted. It makes filtering easy and effective.
@ishitatri Federalism here means govt at national and state level . I dont believe local government will come into picture. Moreover there's no division of power between state level and local level. There's devolution of power which depends on states discretion . Also vidhan prashad was never envisaged for giving a platform to local govt. On the other hand, the main purpose of formulation of Rajya Sabha was to give voice to States.
Thanks so much, that makes sense!@ssver2 you can check this explanation too.
ssver2,
@forumiasacademy In Q 4, option 2 (Lokpal and Lokayukta have their own inquiry wing) has been marked as correct.
The central act makes this provision for only Lokpal, leaving Lokayukta for state legislatures.
Please resolve..
ssver2,
@forumiasacademy Sir Please Check Ques 2 and 4 ,the Ans for both the ques should be (D) .
ssver2,Please ask faculty to address these below conflicting points in the video (if not shot already)
Q13: CCoPA is now headed by M o Defence, not MHA
Q25: Option d is also possible
Q27: Governor can reserve ANY bill right? irrespective of being a central list or state list item; Also, where is such a list of constitutional discretions w.r.t bills given?
Q30: SC in BP Singhal case said Governor is not agent or employee of CG; Option 2 cannot be true
Q37: aid and advice of TAC?
Q50: In case of Art.163 conflict between G and State Govt w.r.t Advice, as G need not listen to the advice, how is it resolved?
Thank you.
Q.13) Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs - Where did you find that it is headed by MoD? According to PIB and reconstitution of the new cabinet committee, It includes Prime Minister. Also, informally it is referred to as Suber Cabinet.
Please refer to this link. https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1573622
Q.25) This is a previous year's UPSC question. Also, refer to the Explanation. It is clear enough from that.
Q.30) The judgement says that It is thus evident that a Governor has a dual role. The first is that of a constitutional Head of the State, bound by the advice of his Council of Ministers. The second is to function as a vital link between the Union Government and the State Government.In certain special/emergent situations, he may also act as a special representative of the Union Government.He is required to discharge the functions related to his different roles harmoniously, assessing the scope and ambit of each role properly. He is not an employee of the Union Government, nor the agent of the party in power nor required to act under the dictates of political parties.
The judgement says that he not the agent of the party in power. But he may be representative of theUnion Government.
What your contention is what the petitioners were arguing.
Also IGNOU material mentions the same- https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/132593/12/12_chapter%204.pdf
ssver2,@forumiasacademy Sir Please Check Ques 2 and 4 ,the Ans for both the ques should be (D) .
Yes, I think they will change it soon.
@forumiasacademy SFG test 4 ,Q.2 - Answer should be D. As 42nd amendment enabled the PRESIDENT to limit the operation of a National Emergency to a specified part of India... ..not the Parliament
@sagarg25 +1@forumiasacademy please verify
It will be changed soon I think.
I have a doubt in Q27. When a Bill endangers position of State HC, its reservation is obligatory on the part of Governor. Thus, making his 'justification to reserve/not reserve' inconsequential. So statement 2 should be incorrect.As far as 3rd statement is concerned, a matter concerning local bodies, shouldn't the Bill be opposed to DPSP A 40 (Though that concerns only villages), and thus by that logic, a justified reason for Governor to reserve the Bill?In that case, the correct answer should be Option B (statement 1 and 3 correct). Please guide?
Q.27) Your contention that just because it is obligatory on part of the Governor under Article 200 then justification is inconsequential is not correct.
You need to see things simply. Follow this train of thought:
Can the Governor reserve a bill that endangers position of State HC ------>Yes
Is he justified in doing so ------>Yes
Why or How ------>Because it is mentioned in Article 200
Article 200 - The Governor shall not assent to but shall reserve for the consideration of the President, any Bill which in the opinion of the Governor would, if it became law, so derogate from the powers of the High Court as to endanger the position which that Court is by this Constitution designed to fill.
Source) https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1580975/
DPSPs are non-justiciable in nature. Also, the 73rd and 74th Amendment acts, state that the State LegislatureMAY devolvesome functions to the Local bodies. This is a voluntary feature, not a compulsory feature.
Rest lets wait for the discussion class.
ssver2,Porus
i misread "india" not "state". :)
@forumiasacademy in Q40 option 2 says, "Vice president can act as president only for a max. period of 6 months". however that is only in case when the office is vacant. VP can act act a president for more than 6 months also in case the President is ill/absent. So the ans should be "b" and not "a". Plz clarify
There is a difference between vacancy in the office of the President and when the "sitting" President is not able to "discharge his functions".
In the case of vacancy, the Vice President "acts" as the President and in the case of the "sitting" President's absence, the Vice President "discharges the functions of the President". Thus, the maximum limit of 6 months is applicable when the Vice President "acts as the President". In other cases when the Vice President "discharges the functions of the President", there is no such time limit. Since the Statement 2 in the Question 40 is saying that the "The Vice President can act as President only for a maximum period of six months. ", it is correct.
The Vice President acts as President only when there is a vacancy in the office of President. In such a case the Vice- President acts as the President and this period has to last for a maximum of six months.
There are two types of situation envisaged in the Constitution -
1. When the sitting President unable to discharge his functions due to absence, illness or any other cause – in this case the Vice President discharges the functions of the President until the President resumes his office.
2. When a vacancy occurs in the Office of President due to his resignation, death, impeachment or otherwise – in this case the Vice President acts as the President until the new President is elected. Since the election of the new President has to take place within six months of the occurrence of such a vacancy, the maximum period for which the Vice President can act as the President is six months.
When two Presidents, Dr. Zakir Hussain and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, died in office, the then respective Vice- Presidents, V.V. Giri and B.D. Jatti acted as President. The Vice-President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan discharged the functions of the President in June 1960 when the then President Dr. Rajendra Prasad was on a 15-day tour to the USSR and again in July 1961 when he (Dr. Rajendra Prasad) was very ill.
I hope this helps.
@forumiasacademy plzmention which are the ids of faculty ... it’s not clear if answers are given by faculty and shud b made note of ...or by students based on their individual understanding..also it will b helpful in tagging dem in doubt
Q7. Isn't art 75(1) rw art 75(3) requires the President to appoint the leader of party/group commanding majority in LS? I guess, that's obvious and that's how SC interprets it. It's not amereconvention, but the constitutional scheme.
eg. "Article 75(1) envisages a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President... Only a person who, the President thinks, commands the confidence of the Lok Sabha would be appointed the Prime Ministerwho in turn would choose the other Ministers. "
https://indiankanoon.org/doc/802583/ S.P. Anand, Indore vs H.D. Deve Gowda
GreenArrow,
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