GS-1 The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country
GS-2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
GS-3 Indian Economy
GS-4 Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections
HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?
Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.
A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.
You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.
Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.
If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th October is uploaded on 11th October then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis
If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th October is uploaded on 13th October, then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.
We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.
*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*.
“When I decided to prepare for UPSC-CSE, I knew I was not in a position to quit my private job. The work load was high at my present company, I was left with doubt if I could clear UPSC-CSE or not. That’s when I decided I needed a highly experienced personal mentor who will not only provide me study materials or evaluate test-series and mock interviews, but also won’t hesitate to motivate me whenever I felt uneasy or anxious. I found that in Civilsdaily mentor, Pravin sir. He was my go to mentor for Mains and Interview. I always made it a point to visit him weekly once and vent my feelings to him. After speaking to him, the clouds of negativity drifted away. I became confident to complete my studies for the day. It took me 3 attempts to fulfill not only my dream but my family’s dream.”
Harvinder Singh’s life was filled with many hardships. Not because of UPSC-CSE preparation, but due to the unpredictable turn of events. When he was a three year old kid, his hand accidently fell into a pan of boiling hot oil in the kitchen. Due to this, three of his fingers have been severely impaired. As a 12th standard student, Harvinder studiously prepared for both AIEEE and NDA exams. Though he successfully, cleared the former exam, he failed the medical round of NDA (due to his fingers). Dejected that he missed an opportunity to serve the nation, Harvinder thought he cannot overlook supporting his family. His dad worked both as a farmer and truck driver to make ends meet. However, as a graduate in J&K, he found it extremely difficult to find a job.
In 2013, he started his work as an engineer for a private company in Allahabad. Well settled, Harvinder thought of fulfilling his dream of serving the nation. If he couldn’t do it through Army, he could through civil services. After failing the prelims in first attempt, mains in second attempt, he finally cleared the exams in his third attempt to be an IAS officer. “I feared that in my third attempt, I will fail the personality round”, Harvinder jokes. Despite back to back failures, Harvinder always looked forward to his next attempt like it was his final attempt.
Free to Attend (with mandatory registration) Ask me Anything Session with Harvinder Singh IAS
As a result of which, the same lad who once suffered unemployment and other issues in J&K, is working to bring changes to J&K for the poor, needy, vulnerable and youth.
This Thursday, Harvinder IAS is going to take some time off his busy schedule to address Civilsdaily aspirants. He will not only be talking about the specifics of UPSC-CSE journey, but also answering all your questions. If you are getting stuck due to any comprehension or consistency issue, it’s time to take Harvinder IAS sir’s help to solve them. And the good news is webinar is absolutely free for all to attend!
Key Takeways of Ask me Anything Session with Harvinder Singh IAS
1. Complete study booklist of Harvinder Singh IAS. For Prelims & Mains. Do you want to check if the current booklist you have are the right sources to prepare for UPSC-CSE?
2. Complete timeline of UPSC-CSE Preparation as a working professional. When did Harvinder IAS prepare for Prelims, Mains and Interview?
3. The art of making notes. What topics require notes and what topics don’t.
4. Harvinder Singh IAS during Mains examination. What kind of questions came and how did he answer it?
5. Hardwork in right direction vs Hardwork in wrong direction. Can only studying hard make you successful?
6. Normal, standard and frequent revision techniques. What are they?
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IAS officer Harvinder Singh.
They say, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. For UPSC aspirants, there is a small tweak. When your preparation gets tough we’ll be there for you.
How Successful has Civilsdaily been in Mentoring Aspirants?
In UPSC 2020, Civilsdaily helped 80+ students secure ranks in their exams. In the top 100, every 3rd ranker was a Civilsdaily student. To know how all of them cleared the exam with our mentorship, visit the UnherdPodcast.
Now that results are announced for UPSC 2021 Prelims, out of 15 out of 25 students of Santhosh Gupta sir have been recommended to Mains. One such student, Rahul expresses his gratitude and extends his appreciation —
Most of our Mentors like Sudhanshu sir, Sajal sir, Santhosh sir, Pravin sir, Parth Verma sir and Sukanya Ma’am were UPSC aspirants themselves and have attended UPSC Mains more than five times and UPSC Interview more than twice. Hence their mentorship is always a blend of the best test series, comprehensive notes and current affairs knowledge.
All of them dedicate their time weekly to give 1-on-1 mentorship to every student where they discuss last week’s performance and next week’s approach.
Remember there is always light at the end of the tunnel and if you want to get out of the tunnel you have to follow the direction of the light! Our mentors’ give you direction which is divided into daily modules. All you have to do is study and complete them on time.
As every year passes by, we don’t get confident by the previous years’ performance and become laidback. Instead, we become more hungry to convert all our students into toppers.
How are Current Civilsdaily Students Gearing up for UPSC-CSE 2022?
Initially, our Civilsdaily student Smriti wasn’t confident about Prelims when she began her preparation. Though she had joined Civilsdaily in 2020, she started studying for UPSC-CSE back in 2019. At that time, Smriti had enrolled in multiple institutes. Though, most of these institutes had promised a personal mentor, she was unable to get in touch with them on a daily basis. Also those mentors never scheduled test-series on a weekly basis. Hence, despite preparing for a year, Smriti had scored only 35 marks out of 200 in her first test series by Civilsdaily.
She then started writing 20-25 test series over the course of UAP 2021 and in her last test, her scores have drastically improved. She now scores in the range of 130-135 marks in prelims’ and 110+ in mains’ papers.
In Smriti’s own words she describes her Samanvaya Mentorship Experience to be —
“Our parents provide us financial and emotional support, friends provide us moral support and the right mentor gives you logistic and logical support for UPSC. There are days when I felt I won’t be able to compete against lakhs of aspirants. That’s when my mentor, Ravi sir reminded me of my improvement and encouraged me that I can crack it with the same consistency. We need someone, who tells us we are performing well especially when we cannot see that ourselves. The mentorship at Civilsdaily helped me become mentally stronger as a person. In other institutes, mentors are allotted only for doubt resolution. But at Civilsdaily, I am getting end-to-end support, be it value added notes, classes, test series and detailed evaluation.“
Why Do You Require Mentorship?
Preparing for the UPSC exam is a race against time. You have to complete an answer within 8 minutes, complete Prelims mock test within 2 hours and most importantly complete the syllabus in a span of 8 months. The syllabus is so vast that most students feel overwhelmed within just a few weeks of starting their preparation.
We confirmed this last month, in our Samanvaya Mentorship program by counselling over 3500 students. The 2 biggest problems students said they face while preparing for this exam are:
Syllabus Management
Time Management
As an aspirant, you can either spend a lot of time and effort trying to figure out how to cope with your syllabus and manage time or you can simply speak with our mentors and get the right study plan and timetable custom-made for you!
Every aspirant needs a different strategy than the other. One might be struggling in prelims, other in mains. One might find history a piece of cake and geography a tough nut to crack and for the other it will be vice-versa. For an aspirant preparing full-time, they might get demotivated on a regular basis as they have no Plan B to fall back on. A working professional might be too exhausted to study by the end of the day. There is no one-size fits all solution.
That’s why you need to register for Samanvaya free 1-on-1 counselling session to understand what study plan and study materials work best for you! Samanvaya 1-on-1 Free mentorship will help you stick to one approach of studying rather than switching plans through trial and error.
Still you want a general idea how to manage time and your syllabus? Here’s what you can do!
Syllabus Management—
Go through the entire syllabus thoroughly.
Mark the topics you feel comfortable with and those you aren’t familiar with.
Break down the syllabus into small parts and prioritize them in order.
Gather the relevant study material for the syllabus and start studying them in order.
Figure out where you need guidance – Is it with the subject matter? Do you need help with organizing your syllabus? Or you just aren’t sure how to begin?
. Time Management—
Prioritize your study material
Complete the easier topics first.
Allocate at least one hour to answer-writing
Allocate at least one hour to MCQ practice
Make notes on Current Affairs while reading the newspaper
Allocate at least 2 hours for your optional.
A Popular Time Management Technique—
The Pomodoro Technique is followed by toppers like Srusti Jayant Deshmukh (UPSC 2019 AIR 5), Manoj Madhav S (UPSC 2019 AIR 105) and Namita Sharma (UPSC 2018, AIR 108)
Developed by consultant Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is a time management tool that breaks work into 25-minute sessions to help you stay focused and get more done.
Step 1
Choose a task
Step 2
Set a timer for 25 minutes
Step 3
Work on the task until the timer goes off
Step 4
Once the timer goes off. Check off the item on a piece of paper
Step 5
Take a short break
Step 6
Every four Pomodoros, take a longer break
How is Samanvaya 1-on-1 Guidance Program Structured?
Our guidance program is designed as solutions to your challenges. We speak with students personally and understand their concerns on a one-on-one basis. Our mentors spend time understanding the individual requirements of our students and teach students how to break down the syllabus and create a plan they can stick to. Our mentors don’t advise you with run of the mill stories, they help in scripting your story!
We will discuss the important ways in which you can crack this exam through the following methods:
Personalized study plan – Make a list of the tasks that you need to accomplish that day, and note in upcoming meetings or deadlines as you become aware of them. As you complete your list, make sure to tick off the tasks you have completed.
3. Tracking your progress – The key to time management success is to know your deadlines and set reminders. We suggest setting a reminder 15 minutes before a meeting or event so you can prepare and gather your things.
4. Investing in topics with good ROI – First and foremost, turn off your email notification. Set 30-minute blocks to check your email every couple hours instead of checking it every 15 minutes. Make sure you minimize non-work distractions such as your cell phone, social media, or your favorite online store.
5. Focusing on smart study – On your daily list of things to do, pen in how much time you think each task will take you. If you don’t finish, stop when the time you allotted ends, and come back to it later. Sometimes moving on to different responsibilities and then coming back gives your mind a fresh start and a new perspective.
So, get all your UPSC demands addressed by a seasoned mentor, get one point source study materials, have regular engagement via calls and WhatsApp, adapt to course-correction strategies and follow a syllabus completion-cum-revision plan every month.
“When I decided to prepare for UPSC-CSE, I knew I was not in a position to quit my private job. The work load was high at my present company, I was left with doubt if I could clear UPSC-CSE or not. That’s when I decided I needed a highly experienced personal mentor who will not only provide me study materials or evaluate test-series and mock interviews, but also won’t hesitate to motivate me whenever I felt uneasy or anxious. I found that in Civilsdaily mentor, Pravin sir. He was my go to mentor for Mains and Interview. I always made it a point to visit him weekly once and vent my feelings to him. After speaking to him, the clouds of negativity drifted away. I became confident to complete my studies for the day. It took me 3 attempts to fulfill not only my dream but my family’s dream.”
Harvinder Singh’s life was filled with many hardships. Not because of UPSC-CSE preparation, but due to the unpredictable turn of events. When he was a three year old kid, his hand accidently fell into a pan of boiling hot oil in the kitchen. Due to this, three of his fingers have been severely impaired. As a 12th standard student, Harvinder studiously prepared for both AIEEE and NDA exams. Though he successfully, cleared the former exam, he failed the medical round of NDA (due to his fingers). Dejected that he missed an opportunity to serve the nation, Harvinder thought he cannot overlook supporting his family. His dad worked both as a farmer and truck driver to make ends meet. However, as a graduate in J&K, he found it extremely difficult to find a job.
In 2013, he started his work as an engineer for a private company in Allahabad. Well settled, Harvinder thought of fulfilling his dream of serving the nation. If he couldn’t do it through Army, he could through civil services. After failing the prelims in first attempt, mains in second attempt, he finally cleared the exams in his third attempt to be an IAS officer. “I feared that in my third attempt, I will fail the personality round”, Harvinder jokes. Despite back to back failures, Harvinder always looked forward to his next attempt like it was his final attempt.
Free to Attend (with mandatory registration) Ask me Anything Session with Harvinder Singh IAS
As a result of which, the same lad who once suffered unemployment and other issues in J&K, is working to bring changes to J&K for the poor, needy, vulnerable and youth.
This Thursday, Harvinder IAS is going to take some time off his busy schedule to address Civilsdaily aspirants. He will not only be talking about the specifics of UPSC-CSE journey, but also answering all your questions. If you are getting stuck due to any comprehension or consistency issue, it’s time to take Harvinder IAS sir’s help to solve them. And the good news is webinar is absolutely free for all to attend!
Key Takeways of Ask me Anything Session with Harvinder Singh IAS
1. Complete study booklist of Harvinder Singh IAS. For Prelims & Mains. Do you want to check if the current booklist you have are the right sources to prepare for UPSC-CSE?
2. Complete timeline of UPSC-CSE Preparation as a working professional. When did Harvinder IAS prepare for Prelims, Mains and Interview?
3. The art of making notes. What topics require notes and what topics don’t.
4. Harvinder Singh IAS during Mains examination. What kind of questions came and how did he answer it?
5. Hardwork in right direction vs Hardwork in wrong direction. Can only studying hard make you successful?
6. Normal, standard and frequent revision techniques. What are they?
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IAS officer Harvinder Singh.
GS-1 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
GS-2 Executive and Judiciary
GS-3 Indian Economy, Applications of Science and Technology in everyday life
GS-4 Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?
Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.
A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.
You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.
Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.
If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th October is uploaded on 11th October then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis
If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th October is uploaded on 13th October, then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.
We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.
*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*.
They say, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. For UPSC aspirants, there is a small tweak. When your preparation gets tough we’ll be there for you.
How Successful has Civilsdaily been in Mentoring Aspirants?
In UPSC 2020, Civilsdaily helped 80+ students secure ranks in their exams. In the top 100, every 3rd ranker was a Civilsdaily student. To know how all of them cleared the exam with our mentorship, visit the UnherdPodcast.
Now that results are announced for UPSC 2021 Prelims, out of 15 out of 25 students of Santhosh Gupta sir have been recommended to Mains. One such student, Rahul expresses his gratitude and extends his appreciation —
Most of our Mentors like Sudhanshu sir, Sajal sir, Santhosh sir, Pravin sir, Parth Verma sir and Sukanya Ma’am were UPSC aspirants themselves and have attended UPSC Mains more than five times and UPSC Interview more than twice. Hence their mentorship is always a blend of the best test series, comprehensive notes and current affairs knowledge.
All of them dedicate their time weekly to give 1-on-1 mentorship to every student where they discuss last week’s performance and next week’s approach.
Remember there is always light at the end of the tunnel and if you want to get out of the tunnel you have to follow the direction of the light! Our mentors’ give you direction which is divided into daily modules. All you have to do is study and complete them on time.
As every year passes by, we don’t get confident by the previous years’ performance and become laidback. Instead, we become more hungry to convert all our students into toppers.
How are Current Civilsdaily Students Gearing up for UPSC-CSE 2022?
Initially, our Civilsdaily student Smriti wasn’t confident about Prelims when she began her preparation. Though she had joined Civilsdaily in 2020, she started studying for UPSC-CSE back in 2019. At that time, Smriti had enrolled in multiple institutes. Though, most of these institutes had promised a personal mentor, she was unable to get in touch with them on a daily basis. Also those mentors never scheduled test-series on a weekly basis. Hence, despite preparing for a year, Smriti had scored only 35 marks out of 200 in her first test series by Civilsdaily.
She then started writing 20-25 test series over the course of UAP 2021 and in her last test, her scores have drastically improved. She now scores in the range of 130-135 marks in prelims’ and 110+ in mains’ papers.
In Smriti’s own words she describes her Samanvaya Mentorship Experience to be —
“Our parents provide us financial and emotional support, friends provide us moral support and the right mentor gives you logistic and logical support for UPSC. There are days when I felt I won’t be able to compete against lakhs of aspirants. That’s when my mentor, Ravi sir reminded me of my improvement and encouraged me that I can crack it with the same consistency. We need someone, who tells us we are performing well especially when we cannot see that ourselves. The mentorship at Civilsdaily helped me become mentally stronger as a person. In other institutes, mentors are allotted only for doubt resolution. But at Civilsdaily, I am getting end-to-end support, be it value added notes, classes, test series and detailed evaluation.“
Why Do You Require Mentorship?
Preparing for the UPSC exam is a race against time. You have to complete an answer within 8 minutes, complete Prelims mock test within 2 hours and most importantly complete the syllabus in a span of 8 months. The syllabus is so vast that most students feel overwhelmed within just a few weeks of starting their preparation.
We confirmed this last month, in our Samanvaya Mentorship program by counselling over 3500 students. The 2 biggest problems students said they face while preparing for this exam are:
Syllabus Management
Time Management
As an aspirant, you can either spend a lot of time and effort trying to figure out how to cope with your syllabus and manage time or you can simply speak with our mentors and get the right study plan and timetable custom-made for you!
Every aspirant needs a different strategy than the other. One might be struggling in prelims, other in mains. One might find history a piece of cake and geography a tough nut to crack and for the other it will be vice-versa. For an aspirant preparing full-time, they might get demotivated on a regular basis as they have no Plan B to fall back on. A working professional might be too exhausted to study by the end of the day. There is no one-size fits all solution.
That’s why you need to register for Samanvaya free 1-on-1 counselling session to understand what study plan and study materials work best for you! Samanvaya 1-on-1 Free mentorship will help you stick to one approach of studying rather than switching plans through trial and error.
Still you want a general idea how to manage time and your syllabus? Here’s what you can do!
Syllabus Management—
Go through the entire syllabus thoroughly.
Mark the topics you feel comfortable with and those you aren’t familiar with.
Break down the syllabus into small parts and prioritize them in order.
Gather the relevant study material for the syllabus and start studying them in order.
Figure out where you need guidance – Is it with the subject matter? Do you need help with organizing your syllabus? Or you just aren’t sure how to begin?
. Time Management—
Prioritize your study material
Complete the easier topics first.
Allocate at least one hour to answer-writing
Allocate at least one hour to MCQ practice
Make notes on Current Affairs while reading the newspaper
Allocate at least 2 hours for your optional.
A Popular Time Management Technique—
The Pomodoro Technique is followed by toppers like Srusti Jayant Deshmukh (UPSC 2019 AIR 5), Manoj Madhav S (UPSC 2019 AIR 105) and Namita Sharma (UPSC 2018, AIR 108)
Developed by consultant Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is a time management tool that breaks work into 25-minute sessions to help you stay focused and get more done.
Step 1
Choose a task
Step 2
Set a timer for 25 minutes
Step 3
Work on the task until the timer goes off
Step 4
Once the timer goes off. Check off the item on a piece of paper
Step 5
Take a short break
Step 6
Every four Pomodoros, take a longer break
How is Samanvaya 1-on-1 Guidance Program Structured?
Our guidance program is designed as solutions to your challenges. We speak with students personally and understand their concerns on a one-on-one basis. Our mentors spend time understanding the individual requirements of our students and teach students how to break down the syllabus and create a plan they can stick to. Our mentors don’t advise you with run of the mill stories, they help in scripting your story!
We will discuss the important ways in which you can crack this exam through the following methods:
Personalized study plan – Make a list of the tasks that you need to accomplish that day, and note in upcoming meetings or deadlines as you become aware of them. As you complete your list, make sure to tick off the tasks you have completed.
3. Tracking your progress – The key to time management success is to know your deadlines and set reminders. We suggest setting a reminder 15 minutes before a meeting or event so you can prepare and gather your things.
4. Investing in topics with good ROI – First and foremost, turn off your email notification. Set 30-minute blocks to check your email every couple hours instead of checking it every 15 minutes. Make sure you minimize non-work distractions such as your cell phone, social media, or your favorite online store.
5. Focusing on smart study – On your daily list of things to do, pen in how much time you think each task will take you. If you don’t finish, stop when the time you allotted ends, and come back to it later. Sometimes moving on to different responsibilities and then coming back gives your mind a fresh start and a new perspective.
So, get all your UPSC demands addressed by a seasoned mentor, get one point source study materials, have regular engagement via calls and WhatsApp, adapt to course-correction strategies and follow a syllabus completion-cum-revision plan every month.
“When I decided to prepare for UPSC-CSE, I knew I was not in a position to quit my private job. The work load was high at my present company, I was left with doubt if I could clear UPSC-CSE or not. That’s when I decided I needed a highly experienced personal mentor who will not only provide me study materials or evaluate test-series and mock interviews, but also won’t hesitate to motivate me whenever I felt uneasy or anxious. I found that in Civilsdaily mentor, Pravin sir. He was my go to mentor for Mains and Interview. I always made it a point to visit him weekly once and vent my feelings to him. After speaking to him, the clouds of negativity drifted away. I became confident to complete my studies for the day. It took me 3 attempts to fulfill not only my dream but my family’s dream.”
Harvinder Singh’s life was filled with many hardships. Not because of UPSC-CSE preparation, but due to the unpredictable turn of events. When he was a three year old kid, his hand accidently fell into a pan of boiling hot oil in the kitchen. Due to this, three of his fingers have been severely impaired. As a 12th standard student, Harvinder studiously prepared for both AIEEE and NDA exams. Though he successfully, cleared the former exam, he failed the medical round of NDA (due to his fingers). Dejected that he missed an opportunity to serve the nation, Harvinder thought he cannot overlook supporting his family. His dad worked both as a farmer and truck driver to make ends meet. However, as a graduate in J&K, he found it extremely difficult to find a job.
In 2013, he started his work as an engineer for a private company in Allahabad. Well settled, Harvinder thought of fulfilling his dream of serving the nation. If he couldn’t do it through Army, he could through civil services. After failing the prelims in first attempt, mains in second attempt, he finally cleared the exams in his third attempt to be an IAS officer. “I feared that in my third attempt, I will fail the personality round”, Harvinder jokes. Despite back to back failures, Harvinder always looked forward to his next attempt like it was his final attempt.
Free to Attend (with mandatory registration) Ask me Anything Session with Harvinder Singh IAS
As a result of which, the same lad who once suffered unemployment and other issues in J&K, is working to bring changes to J&K for the poor, needy, vulnerable and youth.
This Thursday, Harvinder IAS is going to take some time off his busy schedule to address Civilsdaily aspirants. He will not only be talking about the specifics of UPSC-CSE journey, but also answering all your questions. If you are getting stuck due to any comprehension or consistency issue, it’s time to take Harvinder IAS sir’s help to solve them. And the good news is webinar is absolutely free for all to attend!
Key Takeways of Ask me Anything Session with Harvinder Singh IAS
1. Complete study booklist of Harvinder Singh IAS. For Prelims & Mains. Do you want to check if the current booklist you have are the right sources to prepare for UPSC-CSE?
2. Complete timeline of UPSC-CSE Preparation as a working professional. When did Harvinder IAS prepare for Prelims, Mains and Interview?
3. The art of making notes. What topics require notes and what topics don’t.
4. Harvinder Singh IAS during Mains examination. What kind of questions came and how did he answer it?
5. Hardwork in right direction vs Hardwork in wrong direction. Can only studying hard make you successful?
6. Normal, standard and frequent revision techniques. What are they?
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IAS officer Harvinder Singh.
Nepal has once again raked up the border issue in Pithoragarh district by claiming three villages in the Kalapani area, raking up an issue that reared its head last year when Kathmandu published a new map showing India’s Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limipiyadhura as part of its territory. The move comes in the context of the country’s ongoing census.
Let us learn about the India-Nepal relations in detail.
Nepal: India‘s immediate Himalayan neighbor
Nepal and India share an open border of about 1,880 km (1,168 miles).
The two countries have finalised maps covering 98% of the boundary, but the Lipulekh pass, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in western Nepal are among the areas that remain contested.
Various outstanding issues
[I] Issue of Simultaneous floods in Bihar and Nepal
Some of Nepal’s biggest river systems originate in the Himalayan glaciers which then flow into India through Bihar.
During the monsoons, these river systems flood causing many problems for Bihar.
It is a necessity that there is process-driven coordination between the Centre and the Government of Bihar to handle the flooding in Nepal’s Terai and North Bihar (largely the Mithilanchal region).
Which are those flooding rivers?
Nepal’s three biggest river systems—Kosi, Gandaki and Karnali—originate in the high mountain glaciers, flow through the country and then enter India through the state of Bihar.
During the monsoon season, these river systems often get flooded due to heavy rains/landslides in Nepal which create floods in India’s most flood prone state—Bihar.
Measures: Joint flood management program
As part of the long-term measures to address the problem of massive and recurrent floods in Bihar, the Joint Project Office (JPO), Biratnagar, was established in Nepal in August 2004.
It aimed to prepare a detailed project report to construct a high dam on the Nepal side (on the Kosi, Kamla and Bagmati rivers).
Despite the best efforts made by the Government of Bihar, the task remains unaccomplished even after 17 years.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has convened several meetings with Nepali Authorities.
However, what is evident is Nepal’s lack of prompt reciprocation. India has long-standing water sharing issues with Nepal.
[II] India-Nepal Border Issue
Construction of an 80-km-long road through the Lipulekh Pass got the 2 Himalayan neighbors into the fighting arena. The road was constructed with the purpose to reduce the travel time for Indian pilgrims visiting the religious shrine at Kailash-Mansarovar in Tibet. Nepal claims it to be a violation of its borders.
So, what is the issue?
The inauguration of the “new road to Mansarovar” by India has strained the relations between Nepal and India.
While India argues that Kalapani is a part of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, Nepal claims it falls in its Darchula district.
The 1816 Sugauli Treaty between Nepal and British India placed all the territories east of the Kali (Mahakali) river, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh at the northwestern front of Nepal, on its side.
Lipu Lekh pass is 4 km northwest and Limpiyadhura 53 km west of Tinker pass. The borders of Nepal, India and China intersect in this area.
Given the situation in 1961, Nepal and China fixed pillar number one at Tinker pass with the understanding that pillar number zero (the tri-junction of Nepal, India, and China) would be fixed later.
Why is Lipulekh important for India?
For India, the Lipulekh pass has security implications.
After its disastrous 1962 border war with China, it was concerned about a possible Chinese intrusion through the pass and has been keen to hold on to the strategic Himalayan route to guard against any future incursions.
The link road via Lipulekh Himalayan Pass is also considered one of the shortest and most feasible trade routes between India and China.
The Nepalese reaction would probably have triggered in response to Chinese assertion.
Various facets of India-Nepal ties
1. Cultural ties
While enjoying their own peculiarities, both India and Nepal share a common culture and ways of life.
Religion is perhaps the most important factor and plays a predominant role in shaping the cultural relations between these two countries, marked by a cross country pilgrimage on Char Dham Yatra, Pashupatinath Temple and some Buddhist sites.
A considerable section of Nepalese comprises of Madhesi population which has familial & ethnic ties with states of Bihar, UP.
2. Strategic ties
Nepal is a buffer state between India and China.
Several Nepali Citizens are also deployed in Indian defence forces as well.
3. Political ties
Constitutional turmoil is not new in Nepal. India has played a vital role in the democratic transition in Nepal against the monarch King Gyanendra.
Nepali Congress (NC) is one of the country’s oldest parties which supports relations with India, but the communist parties show a tilt towards China.
4. Economic ties
Nepal is an important export market for India.
Himalayan rivers flowing through Nepal can be used for Hydroelectric power projects which will benefit border states of UP, Bihar and other adjacent areas.
There are three major water deals between Nepal and India, namely the Kosi Agreement, the Gandak Treaty and the Mahakali Treaty. India also exports Power to Nepal.
Also, Nepal is the largest borrower of Indian Currency in South Asia.
India’s importance to Nepal
India is the nearest foreign employer to Nepali Citizens, which provides various avenues of work and ease in assimilation into a foreign culture.
Nepal’s reluctance to Mandarin has overturned several Nepali students into Indian universities.
India is the only potential neighbour who could harness Nepal’s hydropower.
Moreover, Indian tourists are the major movers of Nepal’s tourism sector.
Major Irritants in bilateral ties
1) Nepali nationalism and Anti-India sentiments
Anti-India Sentiment in Nepal is largely politically motivated as it is wrongly perceived as India’s backing to Monarchy.
The widening gap in understanding each other’s concerns has helped feed Nepali nationalism and create a dense cloud of distrust and suspicion between the two countries.
The gap widened after India chose to impose an economic blockade in response to Nepal’s sovereign decision to promulgate a democratic constitution.
2) China factor
Increasing Chinese presence in Nepal is one of the major concern for India. China’s move to extend the rail link to its border with Nepal can reduce its dependence on India.
Fundamentally these Chinese agencies are building up anti-India sentiments in Nepal.
Nepal’s assent for “One Belt One Region” (OBOR) initiative of China is viewed by India with suspicion.
Nepal has been slowly fallen prey to China’s inroad debt trap policy.
3) India has ignored the changing political narrative for long
The reality is that India has ignored the changing political narrative in Nepal for far too long.
For too long India has invoked a “special relationship”, based on shared culture, language and religion, to anchor its ties with Nepal.
The 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship which was sought by the Nepali authorities in 1949 is viewed as a sign of an unequal relationship, and an Indian imposition.
4) Open borders
The issue of open borders has also been a point of debate in Nepal in recent years- Nepalese people argue that India is benefiting more from it than Nepal.
It has an open border with India which leads to problems such as illegal migrants, counterfeit currency entry, drug and human trafficking.
5) Madhesis Issue
Madhesis share extensive cross-border ethnic and linguistic links with India. India’s involvement in Nepali politics and the upsurge in Madhesi have deep roots in history and unless resolved.
Madhesis protest and India’s blockade soured the relations for the worst.
Way Forward
In the best spirit of friendship, Nepal and India should restart the water dialogue and come up with policies to safeguard the interests of all those who have been affected on both sides of the border.
It is time the two friendly countries come together and assess the factors that are causing unimaginable losses through flooding every year.
The onus is on India to rethink on a long-term basis how to recalibrate its relationship with Nepal provided Nepal should not ignore its relations with India.
Broader engagement from both sides is essential towards finding a solution that satisfies both sides.
There are many possible modalities. Maybe it could include joint military deployment, special access rights for Nepali citizens or even a free-trade zone with China.
The India-Nepal border issues appear more easily solvable, so long as there is political goodwill and statecraft exercised on both sides.
The way to move forward is to formally approve the strip maps, resolve the two remaining disputes, demarcate the entire India-Nepal boundary, and speedily execute the work of boundary maintenance.
Conclusion
Water cooperation should drive the next big India-Nepal dialogue, and despite the challenges, wisdom should prevail to turn the crisis into an opportunity, for the sake of development and environmental protection.
The Indian road was not built overnight and the Nepal government was surely aware and monitoring the situation in Kalapani over the preceding months and years.
As both countries are laying claim to the same piece of land, the time has come for both countries to sit for talks to solve this issue.
India may continue to defuse the crisis through back channels but this is no longer sustainable as the dispute had become a “permanent irritant” after Nepal’s new map.
They say, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. For UPSC aspirants, there is a small tweak. When your preparation gets tough we’ll be there for you.
How Successful has Civilsdaily been in Mentoring Aspirants?
In UPSC 2020, Civilsdaily helped 80+ students secure ranks in their exams. In the top 100, every 3rd ranker was a Civilsdaily student. To know how all of them cleared the exam with our mentorship, visit the UnherdPodcast.
Now that results are announced for UPSC 2021 Prelims, out of 15 out of 25 students of Santhosh Gupta sir have been recommended to Mains. One such student, Rahul expresses his gratitude and extends his appreciation —
Most of our Mentors like Sudhanshu sir, Sajal sir, Santhosh sir, Pravin sir, Parth Verma sir and Sukanya Ma’am were UPSC aspirants themselves and have attended UPSC Mains more than five times and UPSC Interview more than twice. Hence their mentorship is always a blend of the best test series, comprehensive notes and current affairs knowledge.
All of them dedicate their time weekly to give 1-on-1 mentorship to every student where they discuss last week’s performance and next week’s approach.
Remember there is always light at the end of the tunnel and if you want to get out of the tunnel you have to follow the direction of the light! Our mentors’ give you direction which is divided into daily modules. All you have to do is study and complete them on time.
As every year passes by, we don’t get confident by the previous years’ performance and become laidback. Instead, we become more hungry to convert all our students into toppers.
How are Current Civilsdaily Students Gearing up for UPSC-CSE 2022?
Initially, our Civilsdaily student Smriti wasn’t confident about Prelims when she began her preparation. Though she had joined Civilsdaily in 2020, she started studying for UPSC-CSE back in 2019. At that time, Smriti had enrolled in multiple institutes. Though, most of these institutes had promised a personal mentor, she was unable to get in touch with them on a daily basis. Also those mentors never scheduled test-series on a weekly basis. Hence, despite preparing for a year, Smriti had scored only 35 marks out of 200 in her first test series by Civilsdaily.
She then started writing 20-25 test series over the course of UAP 2021 and in her last test, her scores have drastically improved. She now scores in the range of 130-135 marks in prelims’ and 110+ in mains’ papers.
In Smriti’s own words she describes her Samanvaya Mentorship Experience to be —
“Our parents provide us financial and emotional support, friends provide us moral support and the right mentor gives you logistic and logical support for UPSC. There are days when I felt I won’t be able to compete against lakhs of aspirants. That’s when my mentor, Ravi sir reminded me of my improvement and encouraged me that I can crack it with the same consistency. We need someone, who tells us we are performing well especially when we cannot see that ourselves. The mentorship at Civilsdaily helped me become mentally stronger as a person. In other institutes, mentors are allotted only for doubt resolution. But at Civilsdaily, I am getting end-to-end support, be it value added notes, classes, test series and detailed evaluation.“
Why Do You Require Mentorship?
Preparing for the UPSC exam is a race against time. You have to complete an answer within 8 minutes, complete Prelims mock test within 2 hours and most importantly complete the syllabus in a span of 8 months. The syllabus is so vast that most students feel overwhelmed within just a few weeks of starting their preparation.
We confirmed this last month, in our Samanvaya Mentorship program by counselling over 3500 students. The 2 biggest problems students said they face while preparing for this exam are:
Syllabus Management
Time Management
As an aspirant, you can either spend a lot of time and effort trying to figure out how to cope with your syllabus and manage time or you can simply speak with our mentors and get the right study plan and timetable custom-made for you!
Every aspirant needs a different strategy than the other. One might be struggling in prelims, other in mains. One might find history a piece of cake and geography a tough nut to crack and for the other it will be vice-versa. For an aspirant preparing full-time, they might get demotivated on a regular basis as they have no Plan B to fall back on. A working professional might be too exhausted to study by the end of the day. There is no one-size fits all solution.
That’s why you need to register for Samanvaya free 1-on-1 counselling session to understand what study plan and study materials work best for you! Samanvaya 1-on-1 Free mentorship will help you stick to one approach of studying rather than switching plans through trial and error.
Still you want a general idea how to manage time and your syllabus? Here’s what you can do!
Syllabus Management—
Go through the entire syllabus thoroughly.
Mark the topics you feel comfortable with and those you aren’t familiar with.
Break down the syllabus into small parts and prioritize them in order.
Gather the relevant study material for the syllabus and start studying them in order.
Figure out where you need guidance – Is it with the subject matter? Do you need help with organizing your syllabus? Or you just aren’t sure how to begin?
. Time Management—
Prioritize your study material
Complete the easier topics first.
Allocate at least one hour to answer-writing
Allocate at least one hour to MCQ practice
Make notes on Current Affairs while reading the newspaper
Allocate at least 2 hours for your optional.
A Popular Time Management Technique—
The Pomodoro Technique is followed by toppers like Srusti Jayant Deshmukh (UPSC 2019 AIR 5), Manoj Madhav S (UPSC 2019 AIR 105) and Namita Sharma (UPSC 2018, AIR 108)
Developed by consultant Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is a time management tool that breaks work into 25-minute sessions to help you stay focused and get more done.
Step 1
Choose a task
Step 2
Set a timer for 25 minutes
Step 3
Work on the task until the timer goes off
Step 4
Once the timer goes off. Check off the item on a piece of paper
Step 5
Take a short break
Step 6
Every four Pomodoros, take a longer break
How is Samanvaya 1-on-1 Guidance Program Structured?
Our guidance program is designed as solutions to your challenges. We speak with students personally and understand their concerns on a one-on-one basis. Our mentors spend time understanding the individual requirements of our students and teach students how to break down the syllabus and create a plan they can stick to. Our mentors don’t advise you with run of the mill stories, they help in scripting your story!
We will discuss the important ways in which you can crack this exam through the following methods:
Personalized study plan – Make a list of the tasks that you need to accomplish that day, and note in upcoming meetings or deadlines as you become aware of them. As you complete your list, make sure to tick off the tasks you have completed.
3. Tracking your progress – The key to time management success is to know your deadlines and set reminders. We suggest setting a reminder 15 minutes before a meeting or event so you can prepare and gather your things.
4. Investing in topics with good ROI – First and foremost, turn off your email notification. Set 30-minute blocks to check your email every couple hours instead of checking it every 15 minutes. Make sure you minimize non-work distractions such as your cell phone, social media, or your favorite online store.
5. Focusing on smart study – On your daily list of things to do, pen in how much time you think each task will take you. If you don’t finish, stop when the time you allotted ends, and come back to it later. Sometimes moving on to different responsibilities and then coming back gives your mind a fresh start and a new perspective.
So, get all your UPSC demands addressed by a seasoned mentor, get one point source study materials, have regular engagement via calls and WhatsApp, adapt to course-correction strategies and follow a syllabus completion-cum-revision plan every month.
They say, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. For UPSC aspirants, there is a small tweak. When your preparation gets tough we’ll be there for you.
How Successful has Civilsdaily been in Mentoring Aspirants?
In UPSC 2020, Civilsdaily helped 80+ students secure ranks in their exams. In the top 100, every 3rd ranker was a Civilsdaily student. To know how all of them cleared the exam with our mentorship, visit the UnherdPodcast.
Now that results are announced for UPSC 2021 Prelims, out of 15 out of 25 students of Santhosh Gupta sir have been recommended to Mains. One such student, Rahul expresses his gratitude and extends his appreciation —
Most of our Mentors like Sudhanshu sir, Sajal sir, Santhosh sir, Pravin sir, Parth Verma sir and Sukanya Ma’am were UPSC aspirants themselves and have attended UPSC Mains more than five times and UPSC Interview more than twice. Hence their mentorship is always a blend of the best test series, comprehensive notes and current affairs knowledge.
All of them dedicate their time weekly to give 1-on-1 mentorship to every student where they discuss last week’s performance and next week’s approach.
Remember there is always light at the end of the tunnel and if you want to get out of the tunnel you have to follow the direction of the light! Our mentors’ give you direction which is divided into daily modules. All you have to do is study and complete them on time.
As every year passes by, we don’t get confident by the previous years’ performance and become laidback. Instead, we become more hungry to convert all our students into toppers.
How are Current Civilsdaily Students Gearing up for UPSC-CSE 2022?
Initially, our Civilsdaily student Smriti wasn’t confident about Prelims when she began her preparation. Though she had joined Civilsdaily in 2020, she started studying for UPSC-CSE back in 2019. At that time, Smriti had enrolled in multiple institutes. Though, most of these institutes had promised a personal mentor, she was unable to get in touch with them on a daily basis. Also those mentors never scheduled test-series on a weekly basis. Hence, despite preparing for a year, Smriti had scored only 35 marks out of 200 in her first test series by Civilsdaily.
She then started writing 20-25 test series over the course of UAP 2021 and in her last test, her scores have drastically improved. She now scores in the range of 130-135 marks in prelims’ and 110+ in mains’ papers.
In Smriti’s own words she describes her Samanvaya Mentorship Experience to be —
“Our parents provide us financial and emotional support, friends provide us moral support and the right mentor gives you logistic and logical support for UPSC. There are days when I felt I won’t be able to compete against lakhs of aspirants. That’s when my mentor, Ravi sir reminded me of my improvement and encouraged me that I can crack it with the same consistency. We need someone, who tells us we are performing well especially when we cannot see that ourselves. The mentorship at Civilsdaily helped me become mentally stronger as a person. In other institutes, mentors are allotted only for doubt resolution. But at Civilsdaily, I am getting end-to-end support, be it value added notes, classes, test series and detailed evaluation.“
Why Do You Require Mentorship?
Preparing for the UPSC exam is a race against time. You have to complete an answer within 8 minutes, complete Prelims mock test within 2 hours and most importantly complete the syllabus in a span of 8 months. The syllabus is so vast that most students feel overwhelmed within just a few weeks of starting their preparation.
We confirmed this last month, in our Samanvaya Mentorship program by counselling over 3500 students. The 2 biggest problems students said they face while preparing for this exam are:
Syllabus Management
Time Management
As an aspirant, you can either spend a lot of time and effort trying to figure out how to cope with your syllabus and manage time or you can simply speak with our mentors and get the right study plan and timetable custom-made for you!
Every aspirant needs a different strategy than the other. One might be struggling in prelims, other in mains. One might find history a piece of cake and geography a tough nut to crack and for the other it will be vice-versa. For an aspirant preparing full-time, they might get demotivated on a regular basis as they have no Plan B to fall back on. A working professional might be too exhausted to study by the end of the day. There is no one-size fits all solution.
That’s why you need to register for Samanvaya free 1-on-1 counselling session to understand what study plan and study materials work best for you! Samanvaya 1-on-1 Free mentorship will help you stick to one approach of studying rather than switching plans through trial and error.
Still you want a general idea how to manage time and your syllabus? Here’s what you can do!
Syllabus Management—
Go through the entire syllabus thoroughly.
Mark the topics you feel comfortable with and those you aren’t familiar with.
Break down the syllabus into small parts and prioritize them in order.
Gather the relevant study material for the syllabus and start studying them in order.
Figure out where you need guidance – Is it with the subject matter? Do you need help with organizing your syllabus? Or you just aren’t sure how to begin?
. Time Management—
Prioritize your study material
Complete the easier topics first.
Allocate at least one hour to answer-writing
Allocate at least one hour to MCQ practice
Make notes on Current Affairs while reading the newspaper
Allocate at least 2 hours for your optional.
A Popular Time Management Technique—
The Pomodoro Technique is followed by toppers like Srusti Jayant Deshmukh (UPSC 2019 AIR 5), Manoj Madhav S (UPSC 2019 AIR 105) and Namita Sharma (UPSC 2018, AIR 108)
Developed by consultant Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is a time management tool that breaks work into 25-minute sessions to help you stay focused and get more done.
Step 1
Choose a task
Step 2
Set a timer for 25 minutes
Step 3
Work on the task until the timer goes off
Step 4
Once the timer goes off. Check off the item on a piece of paper
Step 5
Take a short break
Step 6
Every four Pomodoros, take a longer break
How is Samanvaya 1-on-1 Guidance Program Structured?
Our guidance program is designed as solutions to your challenges. We speak with students personally and understand their concerns on a one-on-one basis. Our mentors spend time understanding the individual requirements of our students and teach students how to break down the syllabus and create a plan they can stick to. Our mentors don’t advise you with run of the mill stories, they help in scripting your story!
We will discuss the important ways in which you can crack this exam through the following methods:
Personalized study plan – Make a list of the tasks that you need to accomplish that day, and note in upcoming meetings or deadlines as you become aware of them. As you complete your list, make sure to tick off the tasks you have completed.
3. Tracking your progress – The key to time management success is to know your deadlines and set reminders. We suggest setting a reminder 15 minutes before a meeting or event so you can prepare and gather your things.
4. Investing in topics with good ROI – First and foremost, turn off your email notification. Set 30-minute blocks to check your email every couple hours instead of checking it every 15 minutes. Make sure you minimize non-work distractions such as your cell phone, social media, or your favorite online store.
5. Focusing on smart study – On your daily list of things to do, pen in how much time you think each task will take you. If you don’t finish, stop when the time you allotted ends, and come back to it later. Sometimes moving on to different responsibilities and then coming back gives your mind a fresh start and a new perspective.
So, get all your UPSC demands addressed by a seasoned mentor, get one point source study materials, have regular engagement via calls and WhatsApp, adapt to course-correction strategies and follow a syllabus completion-cum-revision plan every month.
GS-1 Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times
GS-2 Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
GS-3 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
GS-4 Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?
Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.
A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.
You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.
Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.
If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th October is uploaded on 11th October then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis
If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th October is uploaded on 13th October, then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.
We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.
*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*.
They say, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. For UPSC aspirants, there is a small tweak. When your preparation gets tough we’ll be there for you.
How Successful has Civilsdaily been in Mentoring Aspirants?
In UPSC 2020, Civilsdaily helped 80+ students secure ranks in their exams. In the top 100, every 3rd ranker was a Civilsdaily student. To know how all of them cleared the exam with our mentorship, visit the UnherdPodcast.
Now that results are announced for UPSC 2021 Prelims, out of 15 out of 25 students of Santhosh Gupta sir have been recommended to Mains. One such student, Rahul expresses his gratitude and extends his appreciation —
Most of our Mentors like Sudhanshu sir, Sajal sir, Santhosh sir, Pravin sir, Parth Verma sir and Sukanya Ma’am were UPSC aspirants themselves and have attended UPSC Mains more than five times and UPSC Interview more than twice. Hence their mentorship is always a blend of the best test series, comprehensive notes and current affairs knowledge.
All of them dedicate their time weekly to give 1-on-1 mentorship to every student where they discuss last week’s performance and next week’s approach.
Remember there is always light at the end of the tunnel and if you want to get out of the tunnel you have to follow the direction of the light! Our mentors’ give you direction which is divided into daily modules. All you have to do is study and complete them on time.
As every year passes by, we don’t get confident by the previous years’ performance and become laidback. Instead, we become more hungry to convert all our students into toppers.
How are Current Civilsdaily Students Gearing up for UPSC-CSE 2022?
Initially, our Civilsdaily student Smriti wasn’t confident about Prelims when she began her preparation. Though she had joined Civilsdaily in 2020, she started studying for UPSC-CSE back in 2019. At that time, Smriti had enrolled in multiple institutes. Though, most of these institutes had promised a personal mentor, she was unable to get in touch with them on a daily basis. Also those mentors never scheduled test-series on a weekly basis. Hence, despite preparing for a year, Smriti had scored only 35 marks out of 200 in her first test series by Civilsdaily.
She then started writing 20-25 test series over the course of UAP 2021 and in her last test, her scores have drastically improved. She now scores in the range of 130-135 marks in prelims’ and 110+ in mains’ papers.
In Smriti’s own words she describes her Samanvaya Mentorship Experience to be —
“Our parents provide us financial and emotional support, friends provide us moral support and the right mentor gives you logistic and logical support for UPSC. There are days when I felt I won’t be able to compete against lakhs of aspirants. That’s when my mentor, Ravi sir reminded me of my improvement and encouraged me that I can crack it with the same consistency. We need someone, who tells us we are performing well especially when we cannot see that ourselves. The mentorship at Civilsdaily helped me become mentally stronger as a person. In other institutes, mentors are allotted only for doubt resolution. But at Civilsdaily, I am getting end-to-end support, be it value added notes, classes, test series and detailed evaluation.“
Why Do You Require Mentorship?
Preparing for the UPSC exam is a race against time. You have to complete an answer within 8 minutes, complete Prelims mock test within 2 hours and most importantly complete the syllabus in a span of 8 months. The syllabus is so vast that most students feel overwhelmed within just a few weeks of starting their preparation.
We confirmed this last month, in our Samanvaya Mentorship program by counselling over 3500 students. The 2 biggest problems students said they face while preparing for this exam are:
Syllabus Management
Time Management
As an aspirant, you can either spend a lot of time and effort trying to figure out how to cope with your syllabus and manage time or you can simply speak with our mentors and get the right study plan and timetable custom-made for you!
Every aspirant needs a different strategy than the other. One might be struggling in prelims, other in mains. One might find history a piece of cake and geography a tough nut to crack and for the other it will be vice-versa. For an aspirant preparing full-time, they might get demotivated on a regular basis as they have no Plan B to fall back on. A working professional might be too exhausted to study by the end of the day. There is no one-size fits all solution.
That’s why you need to register for Samanvaya free 1-on-1 counselling session to understand what study plan and study materials work best for you! Samanvaya 1-on-1 Free mentorship will help you stick to one approach of studying rather than switching plans through trial and error.
Still you want a general idea how to manage time and your syllabus? Here’s what you can do!
Syllabus Management—
Go through the entire syllabus thoroughly.
Mark the topics you feel comfortable with and those you aren’t familiar with.
Break down the syllabus into small parts and prioritize them in order.
Gather the relevant study material for the syllabus and start studying them in order.
Figure out where you need guidance – Is it with the subject matter? Do you need help with organizing your syllabus? Or you just aren’t sure how to begin?
. Time Management—
Prioritize your study material
Complete the easier topics first.
Allocate at least one hour to answer-writing
Allocate at least one hour to MCQ practice
Make notes on Current Affairs while reading the newspaper
Allocate at least 2 hours for your optional.
A Popular Time Management Technique—
The Pomodoro Technique is followed by toppers like Srusti Jayant Deshmukh (UPSC 2019 AIR 5), Manoj Madhav S (UPSC 2019 AIR 105) and Namita Sharma (UPSC 2018, AIR 108)
Developed by consultant Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is a time management tool that breaks work into 25-minute sessions to help you stay focused and get more done.
Step 1
Choose a task
Step 2
Set a timer for 25 minutes
Step 3
Work on the task until the timer goes off
Step 4
Once the timer goes off. Check off the item on a piece of paper
Step 5
Take a short break
Step 6
Every four Pomodoros, take a longer break
How is Samanvaya 1-on-1 Guidance Program Structured?
Our guidance program is designed as solutions to your challenges. We speak with students personally and understand their concerns on a one-on-one basis. Our mentors spend time understanding the individual requirements of our students and teach students how to break down the syllabus and create a plan they can stick to. Our mentors don’t advise you with run of the mill stories, they help in scripting your story!
We will discuss the important ways in which you can crack this exam through the following methods:
Personalized study plan – Make a list of the tasks that you need to accomplish that day, and note in upcoming meetings or deadlines as you become aware of them. As you complete your list, make sure to tick off the tasks you have completed.
3. Tracking your progress – The key to time management success is to know your deadlines and set reminders. We suggest setting a reminder 15 minutes before a meeting or event so you can prepare and gather your things.
4. Investing in topics with good ROI – First and foremost, turn off your email notification. Set 30-minute blocks to check your email every couple hours instead of checking it every 15 minutes. Make sure you minimize non-work distractions such as your cell phone, social media, or your favorite online store.
5. Focusing on smart study – On your daily list of things to do, pen in how much time you think each task will take you. If you don’t finish, stop when the time you allotted ends, and come back to it later. Sometimes moving on to different responsibilities and then coming back gives your mind a fresh start and a new perspective.
So, get all your UPSC demands addressed by a seasoned mentor, get one point source study materials, have regular engagement via calls and WhatsApp, adapt to course-correction strategies and follow a syllabus completion-cum-revision plan every month.
Nilesh Gaikwad has a come a long way, just like his UPSC preparation.
He started in the year 2015 and fulfilled his dream in 2020. This however does not mean he is not academically inclined. Nilesh cleared the tough IIT-JEE examinations in his first attempt and graduated from IIT Bombay. After working for a year at a private firm, Nilesh quit to follow his UPSC-CSE dream. Why did he want to prepare for UPSC-CSE just when he had achieved the ‘middle-class’ settled life?
As a college student, Nilesh was never interested in UPSC-CSE. However, as an employee in an IT firm, Nilesh looked upto his boss. He wondered what motivated his boss to wake up everyday and navigate through the rigors of work. He understood that his boss had found the purpose of his life in his job.
That’s when Nilesh realized he was unable to fulfill his purpose or express his passion in a private job. “Owning a car, buying fancy gadgets and earning in lakhs — this did not drive me. Unfortunately, a private job just gives you that and nothing more.”, Nilesh said. Hailing from a small town, Nilesh wanted to go back to roots and do something for many such small towns in India. After a quick research, the idea of UPSC-CSE struck him.
He left his fulltime job to prepare for UPSC-CSE and gave nearly 4 attempts. In his 3rd attempt, he got selected for Indian Defence Accounts Service post. While undergoing training, Nilesh prepared once again under the guidance of Civilsdaily mentor Pravin Sir and finally became an IPS Officer.
Open to All, Free to Attend Ask me Anything Session with Nilesh Gaikwad
This Sunday, Nilesh will be enlightening all Civilsdaily aspirants in an Ask me Anything Webinar. This webinar is absolutely free for all to attend and everyone can air their questions to Nilesh Gaikwad IPS.
But since there is only a limited slot of one hour, invitation for the webinar is by registration only. Confirm your presence by filling the form below.
1. How to develop perseverance and self-confidence while preparing for UPSC CSE?
2. How to work on weaknesses and overcome them?
3. The right approach for Mains.
4. What to study in last 25 days for Mains 2021?
5. How to score good marks in the Personality Test (Interview)
6. Tips for beginners.
7. Importance of ‘right guidance with right direction’ to sail through the exam.
Webinar Details
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IPS officer Nilesh Gaikwad.
Nilesh Gaikwad has a come a long way, just like his UPSC preparation.
He started in the year 2015 and fulfilled his dream in 2020. This however does not mean he is not academically inclined. Nilesh cleared the tough IIT-JEE examinations in his first attempt and graduated from IIT Bombay. After working for a year at a private firm, Nilesh quit to follow his UPSC-CSE dream. Why did he want to prepare for UPSC-CSE just when he had achieved the ‘middle-class’ settled life?
As a college student, Nilesh was never interested in UPSC-CSE. However, as an employee in an IT firm, Nilesh looked upto his boss. He wondered what motivated his boss to wake up everyday and navigate through the rigors of work. He understood that his boss had found the purpose of his life in his job.
That’s when Nilesh realized he was unable to fulfill his purpose or express his passion in a private job. “Owning a car, buying fancy gadgets and earning in lakhs — this did not drive me. Unfortunately, a private job just gives you that and nothing more.”, Nilesh said. Hailing from a small town, Nilesh wanted to go back to roots and do something for many such small towns in India. After a quick research, the idea of UPSC-CSE struck him.
He left his fulltime job to prepare for UPSC-CSE and gave nearly 4 attempts. In his 3rd attempt, he got selected for Indian Defence Accounts Service post. While undergoing training, Nilesh prepared once again under the guidance of Civilsdaily mentor Pravin Sir and finally became an IPS Officer.
Open to All, Free to Attend Ask me Anything Session with Nilesh Gaikwad
This Sunday, Nilesh will be enlightening all Civilsdaily aspirants in an Ask me Anything Webinar. This webinar is absolutely free for all to attend and everyone can air their questions to Nilesh Gaikwad IPS.
But since there is only a limited slot of one hour, invitation for the webinar is by registration only. Confirm your presence by filling the form below.
1. How to develop perseverance and self-confidence while preparing for UPSC CSE?
2. How to work on weaknesses and overcome them?
3. The right approach for Mains.
4. What to study in last 25 days for Mains 2021?
5. How to score good marks in the Personality Test (Interview)
6. Tips for beginners.
7. Importance of ‘right guidance with right direction’ to sail through the exam.
Webinar Details
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IPS officer Nilesh Gaikwad.
Nilesh Gaikwad has a come a long way, just like his UPSC preparation.
He started in the year 2015 and fulfilled his dream in 2020. This however does not mean he is not academically inclined. Nilesh cleared the tough IIT-JEE examinations in his first attempt and graduated from IIT Bombay. After working for a year at a private firm, Nilesh quit to follow his UPSC-CSE dream. Why did he want to prepare for UPSC-CSE just when he had achieved the ‘middle-class’ settled life?
As a college student, Nilesh was never interested in UPSC-CSE. However, as an employee in an IT firm, Nilesh looked upto his boss. He wondered what motivated his boss to wake up everyday and navigate through the rigors of work. He understood that his boss had found the purpose of his life in his job.
That’s when Nilesh realized he was unable to fulfill his purpose or express his passion in a private job. “Owning a car, buying fancy gadgets and earning in lakhs — this did not drive me. Unfortunately, a private job just gives you that and nothing more.”, Nilesh said. Hailing from a small town, Nilesh wanted to go back to roots and do something for many such small towns in India. After a quick research, the idea of UPSC-CSE struck him.
He left his fulltime job to prepare for UPSC-CSE and gave nearly 4 attempts. In his 3rd attempt, he got selected for Indian Defence Accounts Service post. While undergoing training, Nilesh prepared once again under the guidance of Civilsdaily mentor Pravin Sir and finally became an IPS Officer.
Open to All, Free to Attend Ask me Anything Session with Nilesh Gaikwad
This Sunday, Nilesh will be enlightening all Civilsdaily aspirants in an Ask me Anything Webinar. This webinar is absolutely free for all to attend and everyone can air their questions to Nilesh Gaikwad IPS.
But since there is only a limited slot of one hour, invitation for the webinar is by registration only. Confirm your presence by filling the form below.
1. How to develop perseverance and self-confidence while preparing for UPSC CSE?
2. How to work on weaknesses and overcome them?
3. The right approach for Mains.
4. What to study in last 25 days for Mains 2021?
5. How to score good marks in the Personality Test (Interview)
6. Tips for beginners.
7. Importance of ‘right guidance with right direction’ to sail through the exam.
Webinar Details
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IPS officer Nilesh Gaikwad.
Nilesh Gaikwad has a come a long way, just like his UPSC preparation.
He started in the year 2015 and fulfilled his dream in 2020. This however does not mean he is not academically inclined. Nilesh cleared the tough IIT-JEE examinations in his first attempt and graduated from IIT Bombay. After working for a year at a private firm, Nilesh quit to follow his UPSC-CSE dream. Why did he want to prepare for UPSC-CSE just when he had achieved the ‘middle-class’ settled life?
As a college student, Nilesh was never interested in UPSC-CSE. However, as an employee in an IT firm, Nilesh looked upto his boss. He wondered what motivated his boss to wake up everyday and navigate through the rigors of work. He understood that his boss had found the purpose of his life in his job.
That’s when Nilesh realized he was unable to fulfill his purpose or express his passion in a private job. “Owning a car, buying fancy gadgets and earning in lakhs — this did not drive me. Unfortunately, a private job just gives you that and nothing more.”, Nilesh said. Hailing from a small town, Nilesh wanted to go back to roots and do something for many such small towns in India. After a quick research, the idea of UPSC-CSE struck him.
He left his fulltime job to prepare for UPSC-CSE and gave nearly 4 attempts. In his 3rd attempt, he got selected for Indian Defence Accounts Service post. While undergoing training, Nilesh prepared once again under the guidance of Civilsdaily mentor Pravin Sir and finally became an IPS Officer.
Open to All, Free to Attend Ask me Anything Session with Nilesh Gaikwad
This Sunday, Nilesh will be enlightening all Civilsdaily aspirants in an Ask me Anything Webinar. This webinar is absolutely free for all to attend and everyone can air their questions to Nilesh Gaikwad IPS.
But since there is only a limited slot of one hour, invitation for the webinar is by registration only. Confirm your presence by filling the form below.
1. How to develop perseverance and self-confidence while preparing for UPSC CSE?
2. How to work on weaknesses and overcome them?
3. The right approach for Mains.
4. What to study in last 25 days for Mains 2021?
5. How to score good marks in the Personality Test (Interview)
6. Tips for beginners.
7. Importance of ‘right guidance with right direction’ to sail through the exam.
Webinar Details
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IPS officer Nilesh Gaikwad.
Nilesh Gaikwad has a come a long way, just like his UPSC preparation.
He started in the year 2015 and fulfilled his dream in 2020. This however does not mean he is not academically inclined. Nilesh cleared the tough IIT-JEE examinations in his first attempt and graduated from IIT Bombay. After working for a year at a private firm, Nilesh quit to follow his UPSC-CSE dream. Why did he want to prepare for UPSC-CSE just when he had achieved the ‘middle-class’ settled life?
As a college student, Nilesh was never interested in UPSC-CSE. However, as an employee in an IT firm, Nilesh looked upto his boss. He wondered what motivated his boss to wake up everyday and navigate through the rigors of work. He understood that his boss had found the purpose of his life in his job.
That’s when Nilesh realized he was unable to fulfill his purpose or express his passion in a private job. “Owning a car, buying fancy gadgets and earning in lakhs — this did not drive me. Unfortunately, a private job just gives you that and nothing more.”, Nilesh said. Hailing from a small town, Nilesh wanted to go back to roots and do something for many such small towns in India. After a quick research, the idea of UPSC-CSE struck him.
He left his fulltime job to prepare for UPSC-CSE and gave nearly 4 attempts. In his 3rd attempt, he got selected for Indian Defence Accounts Service post. While undergoing training, Nilesh prepared once again under the guidance of Civilsdaily mentor Pravin Sir and finally became an IPS Officer.
Open to All, Free to Attend Ask me Anything Session with Nilesh Gaikwad
This Sunday, Nilesh will be enlightening all Civilsdaily aspirants in an Ask me Anything Webinar. This webinar is absolutely free for all to attend and everyone can air their questions to Nilesh Gaikwad IPS.
But since there is only a limited slot of one hour, invitation for the webinar is by registration only. Confirm your presence by filling the form below.
1. How to develop perseverance and self-confidence while preparing for UPSC CSE?
2. How to work on weaknesses and overcome them?
3. The right approach for Mains.
4. What to study in last 25 days for Mains 2021?
5. How to score good marks in the Personality Test (Interview)
6. Tips for beginners.
7. Importance of ‘right guidance with right direction’ to sail through the exam.
Webinar Details
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IPS officer Nilesh Gaikwad.
Nilesh Gaikwad has a come a long way, just like his UPSC preparation.
He started in the year 2015 and fulfilled his dream in 2020. This however does not mean he is not academically inclined. Nilesh cleared the tough IIT-JEE examinations in his first attempt and graduated from IIT Bombay. After working for a year at a private firm, Nilesh quit to follow his UPSC-CSE dream. Why did he want to prepare for UPSC-CSE just when he had achieved the ‘middle-class’ settled life?
As a college student, Nilesh was never interested in UPSC-CSE. However, as an employee in an IT firm, Nilesh looked upto his boss. He wondered what motivated his boss to wake up everyday and navigate through the rigors of work. He understood that his boss had found the purpose of his life in his job.
That’s when Nilesh realized he was unable to fulfill his purpose or express his passion in a private job. “Owning a car, buying fancy gadgets and earning in lakhs — this did not drive me. Unfortunately, a private job just gives you that and nothing more.”, Nilesh said. Hailing from a small town, Nilesh wanted to go back to roots and do something for many such small towns in India. After a quick research, the idea of UPSC-CSE struck him.
He left his fulltime job to prepare for UPSC-CSE and gave nearly 4 attempts. In his 3rd attempt, he got selected for Indian Defence Accounts Service post. While undergoing training, Nilesh prepared once again under the guidance of Civilsdaily mentor Pravin Sir and finally became an IPS Officer.
Open to All, Free to Attend Ask me Anything Session with Nilesh Gaikwad
This Sunday, Nilesh will be enlightening all Civilsdaily aspirants in an Ask me Anything Webinar. This webinar is absolutely free for all to attend and everyone can air their questions to Nilesh Gaikwad IPS.
But since there is only a limited slot of one hour, invitation for the webinar is by registration only. Confirm your presence by filling the form below.
1. How to develop perseverance and self-confidence while preparing for UPSC CSE?
2. How to work on weaknesses and overcome them?
3. The right approach for Mains.
4. What to study in last 25 days for Mains 2021?
5. How to score good marks in the Personality Test (Interview)
6. Tips for beginners.
7. Importance of ‘right guidance with right direction’ to sail through the exam.
Webinar Details
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IPS officer Nilesh Gaikwad.
The recent killing of civilians by security forces in a case of alleged mistaken identity in Nagaland has once again rekindled the debate over the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Six civilians said to be workers in a coal mine were killed by security forces in an area between Tiru and Oting village in Nagaland’s Mon district. The incident triggered violence in the area in which eight more civilians were killed after security forces allegedly opened fire.
The killing of civilians has been condemned by local civil society organizations, Naga outfits, national political parties, and the state government itself. The Government has promised an inquiry by a Special Investigation Team.
What can be the impact of the killings?
Retard the peace process: It can stall the ongoing Naga peace process and has the potential to revive the narrative of India versus the Naga people.
Threat to internal security: The incident can be used by the insurgent groups to recruit and even strengthen the positions.
Resentment among groups:
NSCN(I-M), the key Naga group negotiating with the Centre, has already declared the incident as a “black day” for all Nagas.
While, Naga National Political Group (NNPG) has blamed the continued implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 for such incidents.
Demand for repeal of AFSPA: There have been mounting demands for repeal of AFSPA in the Nagaland region.
Multiple views of the incident
Opportunity for Naga separatists to push their demands: For those sympathetic to the rebel Nagas, this is an opportunity to tarnish the image of the Army, demand its withdrawal from the area, and push their agenda to demand a separate Constitution and a separate flag for the Naga separatists.
Difficult task for security forces amidst insurgencies: It must be remembered that the security forces are performing an extremely difficult and complicated task in the midst of multiple insurgencies in the Northeast.
Counterinsurgency operations are full of uncertainties and in such a situation, mistakes and blunders happen.
Political failure: In fact, they are paying the price for our political mis-management and blunders since the mid-fifties when trouble erupted in the Naga Hills.
Other international examples of such mishaps: In Iraq, on March 1, 2017, during a strike on ISIS near Mosul, there was an unintentional death of 14 civilians because the blast set off a secondary explosion.
Recently, on August 30, a drone strike by the US forces killed 10 civilians near the Kabul International Airport.
Proper enquiry is must: However, it cannot be denied that the incident was negligible, but it needs to be carefully investigated, and if there was any malafide or excessive use of force, the guilty must be punished.
Let us learn about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 in detail.
AFSPA: A Backgrounder
The AFSPA, 1958 came into force in the context of insurgency in the North-eastern States decades ago.
It provides “special power” to the Armed Forces applies to the Army, the Air Force and the Central Paramilitary forces etc.
It has been long contested debate whether the “special powers” granted under AFSPA gives total immunity to the armed forces for any action taken by them.
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958
Armed Forces Special Powers Act, to put it simply, gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas.”
AFSPA gives armed forces the authority use force or even open fire after giving due warning if they feel a person is in contravention of the law.
The Act further provides that if “reasonable suspicion exists”, the armed forces can also arrest a person without warrant; enter or search premises without a warrant; and ban the possession of firearms.
What are the Special Powers?
The ‘special powers’ which are spelt out under Section 4 provide that:
(a) Power to use force, including opening fire, even to the extent of causing death if prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons or carrying arms and weapons, etc are in force in the disturbed area;
(b) Power to destroy structures used as hide-outs, training camps, or as a place from which attacks are or likely to be launched, etc;
(c) Power to arrest without warrant and to use force for the purpose;
(d) Power to enter and search premises without a warrant to make arrest or recovery of hostages, arms and ammunition and stolen property, etc.
What are the Disturbed Areas?
A disturbed area is one that is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA.
As per Section 3, it can be invoked in places where “the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary”.
Who can declare/notify such areas?
The Central Government or the Governor of the State or administrator of the Union Territory can declare the whole or part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.
A suitable notification would have to be made in the Official Gazette.
Presently ‘Disturbed Areas’
AFSPA is currently in force in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, 3 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and areas falling within the jurisdiction of 8 police stations in Arunachal Pradesh bordering Assam.
In Jammu and Kashmir, a separate law Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 has been in force.
AFSPA: Is it a License to Kill?
While the operation of the Section has been controversial in itself, it has attracted much criticism when actions have resulted in the death of civilians.
Power to kill: Section 4 of the Act granted officers the authority to “take any action” even to the extent to cause the death.
Protection against prosecution: This power is further bolstered by Section 6 which provides that legal can be instituted against the officer, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government.
The case for repeal of AFSPA
The repeal of AFSPA is necessary not just for restoring constitutional sanity, but also as a way of acknowledging dark history of our conduct in Nagaland.
If the moral case for repealing AFSPA is strong, the political case points in the same direction as well.
Need for ensuring individual dignity: The political incorporation of Nagaland (and all other areas where this law applies) will be set back if the guarantees of individual dignity of the Indian Constitution are not extended.
Not state of exception: We often describe AFSPA in terms of a “state of exception”.
But this theoretical term is misleading. How can a law that has been in virtually continuous existence since 1958 be described as an “exception”.
Why AFSPA is counterproductive to Army
Distortion of choice: First, giving wide immunity to the forces can distort the choice of strategy in counter insurgency operations.
Reduce professionalism: Second, wider immunity can often reduce rather than increase the professionalism of the forces.
Against federalism: Third, we are constantly in the vicious circle that leads to central dominance in a way that undermines both Indian federalism and operational efficiency.
Powers and limits under AFSPA
The Act grants extraordinarily sweeping powers to the armed forces of search, seizure, arrest, the right to shoot to kill.
No blanket immunity: It is true that AFSPA does not grant blanket immunity.
The SC guidelines: The Supreme Court laid down guidelines for the use of AFSPA in 1997; and in principle, unprofessional conduct, crimes and atrocities can still be prosecuted.
But this will run into two difficulties.
Lack of accountability mechanism: As the Jeevan Reddy Committee that advocated the repeal of AFSPA pointed out, the accountability mechanisms internal to AFSPA have not worked.
In 2017, the Supreme Court ordered a probe into 1,528 extra-judicial killings in Manipur.
At the least, this order seemed to suggest the problems with AFSPA were systemic.
But there have apparently been no hearings in this case for three years.
Lack of human empathy: At the heart of AFSPA is a profound mutilation of human empathy.
Our discourse is a rather abstract one, balancing concepts of human rights and national security.
Supreme Court’s Observations over AFSPA
These extra-judicial killings became the attention of the Supreme Court in 2016.
It clarified that the bar under Section 6 would not grant “total immunity” to the officers against any probe into their alleged excesses.
The judgment noted that if any death was unjustified, there is no blanket immunity available to the perpetrator(s) of the offense.
The Court further noted that if an offense is committed even by Army personnel, there is no concept of absolute immunity from trial by the criminal court constituted under the CrPC.
Constitutionality of AFSPA
Attempts have been made to examine the constitutionality of the Act on the grounds that it is contravention to the:
Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21) and
Federal structure of the Constitution since law and order is a State subject
Recommendations to repeal AFSPA
(1) Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy Commission
The 2004 Committee headed by Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy, the content of which has never officially been revealed by the Government, recommended that AFSPA be repealed.
Additionally, it recommended that appropriate provisions be inserted in the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 (UAPA) instead.
It also recommended that the UAPA be modified to clearly specify the powers of the armed forces and paramilitary forces and grievance cells should be set up in each district where the armed forces are deployed.
(2) ARC II
The Administrative Reforms Commission in its 5th Report on ‘Public Order’ had also recommended that AFSPA be repealed.
It recommended adding a new chapter to be added to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
However, the recommendation was considered first and then rejected.
Other issues with AFSPA
(1) Sexual Misconduct by Armed Forces
The issue of violation of human rights by actions of armed forces came under the consideration of the Committee on Amendments to Criminal Law (popularly known as Justice Verma Committee) set up in 2012.
It observed that- in conflict zones, legal protection for women was neglected.
(2) Autocracy
The reality is that there is no evidence of any action being taken against any officer of the armed forces or paramilitary forces for their excesses.
The caution given by the Supreme Court
A July 2016 judgment authored by Justice Madan B. Lokur in Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association quoted the “Ten Commandments” issued by the Chief of the Army Staff for operations in disturbed areas:
Definite circumstances: The “power to cause death is relatable to maintenance of public order in a disturbed area and is to be exercised under definite circumstances”.
Declaration preconditions: These preconditions include a declaration by a high-level authority that an area is “disturbed”.
Due warning: The officer concerned decides to use deadly force on the opinion that it is “necessary” to maintain public order. But he has to give “due warning” first.
No arbitrary action: The persons against whom the action was taken by the armed forces should have been “acting in contravention of any law or order for the time being in force in the disturbed area”.
Minimal use of force: The armed forces must use only the “minimal force required for effective action against the person/persons acting in contravention of the prohibitory order.”
Empathy with perpetrators: The court said that: the people you are dealing with are your own countrymen. All your conduct must be dictated by this one significant consideration.
People friendliness: The court underscored how the Commandments insist that “operations must be people-friendly, using minimum force and avoiding collateral damage – restrain must be the key”.
Good intelligence: It added that “good intelligence is the key to success”.
Compassion: It exhorted personnel to “be compassionate, help the people and win their hearts and minds. Employ all resources under your command to improve their living conditions”.
Upholding Dharma (Duty): The judgment ended with the final Commandment to “uphold Dharma and take pride in your country and the Army”.
Conclusion
Despite demands by civil society groups and human rights activities, none of the recommendations have not been implemented to date.
It is high time that all parties come together to repeal AFSPA. It will also be in the fitness of things if all parties got together to acknowledge the trauma in Nagaland and elsewhere.
This will strengthen, not weaken, the comatose Indian constitutional project.
Try this question for mains:
Q. Evaluate the need for AFSPA in disturbed areas. Discuss in the context of the recent Nagaland incident.
Nilesh Gaikwad has a come a long way, just like his UPSC preparation.
He started in the year 2015 and fulfilled his dream in 2020. This however does not mean he is not academically inclined. Nilesh cleared the tough IIT-JEE examinations in his first attempt and graduated from IIT Bombay. After working for a year at a private firm, Nilesh quit to follow his UPSC-CSE dream. Why did he want to prepare for UPSC-CSE just when he had achieved the ‘middle-class’ settled life?
As a college student, Nilesh was never interested in UPSC-CSE. However, as an employee in an IT firm, Nilesh looked upto his boss. He wondered what motivated his boss to wake up everyday and navigate through the rigors of work. He understood that his boss had found the purpose of his life in his job.
That’s when Nilesh realized he was unable to fulfill his purpose or express his passion in a private job. “Owning a car, buying fancy gadgets and earning in lakhs — this did not drive me. Unfortunately, a private job just gives you that and nothing more.”, Nilesh said. Hailing from a small town, Nilesh wanted to go back to roots and do something for many such small towns in India. After a quick research, the idea of UPSC-CSE struck him.
He left his fulltime job to prepare for UPSC-CSE and gave nearly 4 attempts. In his 3rd attempt, he got selected for Indian Defence Accounts Service post. While undergoing training, Nilesh prepared once again under the guidance of Civilsdaily mentor Pravin Sir and finally became an IPS Officer.
Open to All, Free to Attend Ask me Anything Session with Nilesh Gaikwad
This Sunday, Nilesh will be enlightening all Civilsdaily aspirants in an Ask me Anything Webinar. This webinar is absolutely free for all to attend and everyone can air their questions to Nilesh Gaikwad IPS.
But since there is only a limited slot of one hour, invitation for the webinar is by registration only. Confirm your presence by filling the form below.
1. How to develop perseverance and self-confidence while preparing for UPSC CSE?
2. How to work on weaknesses and overcome them?
3. The right approach for Mains.
4. What to study in last 25 days for Mains 2021?
5. How to score good marks in the Personality Test (Interview)
6. Tips for beginners.
7. Importance of ‘right guidance with right direction’ to sail through the exam.
Webinar Details
If you are studying hard but are unsure that you are studying right, then its time to get some assurance from the topper himself! Register for thisfree webinar by IPS officer Nilesh Gaikwad.
