INDIA 2014

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INDIA 2014
-Publication Division,
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
Government of India

Publication Division’s India 2014 is a comprehensive book with information about every policy initiative of our government. It is a comprehensive digest of our country’s progress in various fields, a giant yearbook with over a thousand pages and over thirty chapters of national interest in all areas of development like economics, sports, environment, science and technology, art and culture, health and defence.

India 2014 is a reference annual published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. It is an oft-prescribed reference book for civil service and other exams aspirants, as it attempts to condense and present the current Indian situation from a bureaucratic point of view. The reliability of data is assured as it is published by the government itself. It is filled with charts, tables and lists with data from the latest census and socio-economic surveys conducted by various government departments.

This year’s edition is especially important as elections are just around the corner, and we need to be well-informed. Elections are the only time when everyone is a political pundit, and everyone has an opinion on every matter. Well, that is our democracy. Due to the much respected universal adult franchise, every adult has the right to express opinions and to cast vote. Hence, knowing the facts and policies, rather than believing the 5-minute speeches made during these times, is definitely the better option. It is probably the only correct way to be active participants in a democracy.

A few positives in this year’s edition are the addition of the latest census data and the obvious reduction in the number of pages. A lot of unnecessary data has been removed and seems more reader-friendly.

However, it is not a regular non-fiction which can be read front-to-back. It is strictly a reference annual. Moreover, it does not contain analyses of policies or their outcomes. It is a mere collection of facts with no opinions or views. It only provides all official data with long detailed explanations of all government policies and activities. Nevertheless, there are a few topics which are lacking in the book. Like, according to me, what is not given comprehensively is, India’s relations with other countries. It just mentions a few lines with respect to every country in a very sugar-coated manner.

Although everyone, and especially those about to give competitive exams, should definitely go through it, it is only for knowledge of facts and policies. After reading this, you have to critically analyze them and form your own opinion to make the most of it.

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