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[Official] ForumIAS SFG 2021 - Level 1 Details and Important Updates

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)


Dear Friends,

we enter the 3rd year of SFG – Select Focus Group – one of our most innovative programs for successfully cracking the Prelims Examination. Based on your feedback, we continuously innovate and update our programs, keeping in mind the dynamic nature of the Civil Services Examination, the rising standards of Civil Services preparation, and increasing competition – partly because of capacity development and fast-paced self-learning programs like SFG.

To check the instructions on how to write SFG 2021 - Test 1 :  

https://go.forumias.com/264


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.

https://go.forumias.com/254

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

 

 

curious_kid,ssver2and35 otherslike this
717.3k views

1.7k comments

@ishitatri

then why gopuram of nayaka was the climax... ?

3.6k views

PE14said

Can anyone explain , which dynasties are considered as TURKISH dynasty in India?


Well first of all its Turks and not Turkish. The basic difference is Turks belong to modern-day Turkmenistan whereas Turkish belongs to modern-day Turkey. 


The Delhi Sultanate had a total of five dynasties... Mamluk, Khilji, Tughlaqs, Sayid, Lodis.


1) Mamluk - Turks in origin (1206 to 1290)

2) Khilji - Turks origin but their ancestors had shifted their base to Afghan. Hence contradicting information is available regarding their origins. However IGNOU notes mention them to be of Turks in origin hence I will consider that as authentic info. It reigned from 1290 - 1317/1318.

3) Tughlaqs - Turks in origin (1320-1398)

4) Sayids - Again no definite source of their origin. Their founder Khizr Khan was a military commander of Timur who himself had Turco - Mongol origin and hence it is safe to consider Sayids as Turks. Khizr Khan adopted the title of Sayid as he claimed descendence directly from Prophet Muhammad and dynasty came to be known by this title only.

5) Lodis - Completely of Afghan Origin (1451- 1526)


Mughals were of Uzbek origin since they belong to modern-day Uzbekistan.

iskool,ishitatriand2 otherslike this
2.9k views

PE14said

@Thinker  qn 13 BIBI KA MAQBRA  was built by Mhd AZAM  SHAH

Might be..there can be many Bibi Ka Makbara in India. However, the most famous one is of Aurangabad, Maharashtra which was built by Aurangzeb in memory of his late wife.

PE14,
2.9k views

iskoolsaid

i for sure know 3rd statement is wrong and 1st is right. but no option.🤔🤔🤔

how come the third is not correct..........??

The explanation was self-sufficient here.

2.9k views

Hi,

There is an error in the following question, hope this will be covered in corrigendum 


Yes, an avoidable mistake...The question will be changed...The question should have been which among the following were introduced during the era of Delhi Sultanate. Corrigendum will be put for this.

2.9k views
@Thinker mughlas were either turks from timur side or mongol from mother side.... when babur took over the throne he had a fierce rivalry with uzbeks..also uzbeks were looked down upon by timurids since they were converted muslims.

plss correct if anything is wrong will make changes in my notes

2.5k views
@Thinker mughlas were either turks from timur side or mongol from mother side.... when babur took over the throne he had a fierce rivalry with uzbeks..also uzbeks were looked down upon by timurids since they were converted muslims.

plss correct if anything is wrong will make changes in my notes

the geographical area is probably present day Uzbekistan.

MarcusA,
2.5k views

Q26

Art of Stupa didnt reach its climax during ashoka. Although he constructed 84000 caves... Climax means the best not the most .

please clearify.



Yes, it did because:

1) Large scale patronage of Ashoka. He was the ruler of almost entire South Asia and in that capacity, he built as much as 84000 stupas (the number I personally believe to be false but shows the magnitude of patronage) dispersed across India.

2) Stupas or simply the burial mound was Vedic tradition but Ashoka gave them concrete forms such as Anda, Pradakshinapath, Torana having Jatakas carved on them, Harmika, Chattra..literally all features of Stupa developed during his reign or trace their origins to Ashokan reign.

3) Yes, magnificent stupas were built during the time of Kanishka such as Sha Ji ki Dheri Stupa (which was mentioned by Fa Hein as having 13 stories) and at Amravathi (Stupa of Marble with spoked wheels) but they all had Ashokan features with slight decorative modification.

So by and large the statement can be considered true. I hope it helps.

 

2.9k views
Isn't manjira non-drum percussion instrument?

This I will check..

DesiJonSnow,
2.9k views

SFG 2.0 Test 33 Q 46 

Consider the following statements regarding basic aspects and elements of Indian Classical Dance:

1. Lasya emphasizes rhythm and movement in the dance form.

2. Nritta is pure dance where body movements do not express any mood.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

a 1 only
b 2 only
c Both 1 and 2
d Neither 1 nor 2


Nritta - It refers to the basic dance steps, performed rhythmically but devoid of any expression or mood.

It Must be correct because Nritya refers to the sentiment and the emotions evoked through dance .

@Thinker  Answer msut be "A" .

This I will check

2.9k views

Torquesaid

@grv_346910 IMO the word itself is derived from Sanskrit. Due to this reason I thought it is derived from Sanskrit.

Even the previous SFG (Dec'19) had a similar ques and the solution said "apabhramsha did not find its origin in Prakrit".

@thinker can you please confirm.



I will check why this discrepancy is there..

2.9k views

Q26

Art of Stupa didnt reach its climax during ashoka. Although he constructed 84000 caves... Climax means the best not the most .

please clearify.



Yes, it did because:

1) Large scale patronage of Ashoka. He was the ruler of almost entire South Asia and in that capacity, he built as much as 84000 stupas (the number I personally believe to be false but shows the magnitude of patronage) dispersed across India.

2) Stupas or simply the burial mound was Vedic tradition but Ashoka gave them concrete forms such as Anda, Pradakshinapath, Torana having Jatakas carved on them, Harmika, Chattra..literally all features of Stupa developed during his reign or trace their origins to Ashokan reign.

3) Yes, magnificent stupas were built during the time of Kanishka such as Sha Ji ki Dheri Stupa (which was mentioned by Fa Hein as having 13 stories) and at Amravathi (Stupa of Marble with spoked wheels) but they all had Ashokan features with slight decorative modification.

So by and large the statement can be considered true. I hope it helps.

 

 The pradakshinapath, torana, etc were made in post- Mauryan period. Only basic structure was made during Asoka reign. They were elaborated by Post Mauryan kingdoms..sungas, satavahanas, even till guptas.

2.5k views
@Thinker mughlas were either turks from timur side or mongol from mother side.... when babur took over the throne he had a fierce rivalry with uzbeks..also uzbeks were looked down upon by timurids since they were converted muslims.

plss correct if anything is wrong will make changes in my notes

Nopes they can safely be considered Uzbeks as Babur himself called him Uzbek in Tuzuk-i-Babari, the book which he himself wrote. The rivalry was not with Uzbeks as such but with his cousins only. However, the origin you provided is right. Their Mongol ancestry gave them the title of Mughals.

UPSC will hardly ask questions on origins since its always difficult to trace. But just incase,  keep all these facts in mind so that you can tackle the question accordingly. 

MarcusA,UK01and1 otherslike this
2.9k views
@Thinker thank you sir!!
Much needed clarification.


Thinker,
3.4k views

@Thinker  7 natural Unesco site is final answer..... It seems no change!!!

From the comments it was inconclusive, so I am asking again.....@grv_346910 !!!

2.4k views

iskoolsaid

@Thinker  7 natural Unesco site is final answer..... It seems no change!!!

From the comments it was inconclusive, so I am asking again.....@grv_346910 !!!

https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/in


When in doubt, check official sites. Here it is clearly mentioned.30 Cultural Sites, 7 Natural Sites and 1 Mixed Site.

Rise from Ashes,iskooland1 otherslike this
2.5k views

iskoolsaid

@Thinker  7 natural Unesco site is final answer..... It seems no change!!!

From the comments it was inconclusive, so I am asking again.....@grv_346910 !!!

Yes, it will not change. Since the UNESCO itself mentions 30+7+1 Cultural, Natural, and mixed heritage sites respectively it has to be considered final.

iskool,UK01
2.6k views

@forumiasacademy 

Forum app has suddenly adopted to a new feature... it asks for scrolling down as we open any thread. i.e. it shows 50 days post first... and its too hard to scroll down.
Please reverse this or people will not be able to use the thread in app easily. 


Thinker,
3.1k views

What happened to the rank list of today's test? @Thinker 

2.2k views
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