💥Mains Ready By December. Smash Mains & Smash PYQ Admissions Open

Category: Ranker Webinars

  • PRELIMS MAHASANGRAM 2022 || 40 Days Prelims Revision Plan

    PRELIMS MAHASANGRAM 2022 || 40 Days Prelims Revision Plan

    Play Along with Your Favorite WAR COMMANDERS

    As the Prelims is getting closer, many tasks line up like static revisions, attempting mocks and wrapping up your current affairs. Quick revisions can help you remember the factual information on the final day.

    To take care of your quick revision plan, Civilsdaily is introducing Prelims Mahasangram 2022.

    The program will focus on targeted coverage of syllabus; Daily Discussion with Q&A; weekly zoom calls.

    Program Starts on Monday 18th April, 2022.

    Your War Commanders are Core mentors from Civilsdaily. They mentored around 50 Aspirants in 2021 and more than 22 Aspirants cleared prelims following their Strategy.

    Now that the battleground is ready, Are you ready for the Mahasangram?

    • Complete the most important books like Laxmikant, Spectrum, NCERTs etc with  Prelims Battle: Gamified. 
    • Win daily, weekly and eventually final War with your favourite War Commanders.
    • Be the top on the weekly Leaderboard and arrange a strategy session on Google Meet with your War Commanders.

    Major Components of The Program

    • Detailed Plan: You War commanders will provide you with a broader, Weekly and daily plan. They will also set Daily Accountability to ensure Consistency. Every morning you will be given a target to complete, which will be eventually taken up for discussion in the evening.
    • A Roadmap to secure 105 marks in Prelims 2022: You are not supposed to score 200 but just 100+ to secure a seat for mains 2022. Reading Everything in detail right now will create confusion and panic. Your War Lords will give you their smart strategy which helped their older spartans to clear prelims with flying colors. They will tell you the perfect plan to reach this milestone.
    • Daily Sessions: Evaluation is necessary after you complete your targets. Your War commanders will conduct daily sessions and ensure you do not miss any relevant topic. These session will be based on Q&A method on our Official Civilsdaily Space, Habitat.
    • Strategy: Strategy will definitely help you to plan your study for the next 45 days in a more efficient manner.You War commanders will provide you subject wise strategy specifically for prelims.
    • Daily and Weekly Leaderboard: Follow the daily schedule and earn reward points. 
    • Weekly Rewards: Those who get the top 5 spots on the weekly leaderboard will get a personal session with the mentors over google meet.
    • TIKDAM: Learn the Art of Elimination and Be the warrior who will win the war. Ravi Sir is one of the pioneers of Tikdam and he will help you in developing logics. These logics will definitely help you clear the exam. There will be 10 Tikdam sessions.

    You can get the joining and payment details for the program on the link given below:

    See How Tikdam Works even with the toughest questions:

    Q. Consider the following statements: 

    1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.

    2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. 

    Which of the above statements is/are correct? 

    (a) 1 only 

    (b) 2 only 

    (c) Both 1 and 2 

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Statement-1:  It is a part of culture therefore it should be UNESCO not UNICEF. Also by TIKDAM Rule-1, Above statement should be incorrect.

    Statement 2: Present Bangladesh was a part of the then Pakistan. The statement does not say for the first time or only in the Assembly but a general statement that the demand was raised which sounds logical because East Bengal was a part of it as well. Therefore this statement should be correct.

    Q Consider the following statements: 

    1. Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree. 

    2. The Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia.

    3. In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce. 

    4. India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa. 

    5. Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels. 

    Which of the statements given above are correct? 

    (a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 

    (b) 3, 4 and 5 

    (c) 1, 3 and 4 

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 5

    Almost every Indian has seen the Moringa Trees(Mungna, Saijan in hindi). They drop their leaves as we have seen. This means they are not evergreen. By eliminating we can get B as an answer.

    Q What is blue carbon? 

    (a) Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems 

    (b) Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricultural soils 

    (c) Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas 

    (d) Carbon present in atmosphere

    We all know blue is used for Water/Oceans. Now option A has Ocean. 

    Q. With reference to the book “Desher Kather” written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements : 

    1. It warned against the Colonial States hypnotic conquest of the mind. 

    2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs. 

    3. The use of desh‘ by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal. 

    Which of the statements given above are curt? 

    (a) 1 and 2 only 

    (b) 2 and 3 only 

    (c) 1 and 3 only 

    (d) 1, 2 and 3 

    Anything in the context of Bengal used to start as ‘Bang.’ For example Bang Bhasha Prakashak Sabha, Bang Bhang, Bangladesh etc. Therefore Desh should not be in the context of Bengal. Now by simply eliminating S3 we can get the answer.

  • Personalized DAF questionnaire we prepared for AIR 16 and 17 UPSC 2020 (inside), get yours now!| Schedule your FREE Mock + DAF questionnaire | Limited seats

    Personalized DAF questionnaire we prepared for AIR 16 and 17 UPSC 2020 (inside), get yours now!| Schedule your FREE Mock + DAF questionnaire | Limited seats

    Book your slot for UPSC Mock interviews (paneled by ex UPSC members) and get a dedicated mentor, on-call DAF analysis, DAF-based personalized questionnaire, and Situational questionnaire (FREE) | Call @ 8668582260

    Detailed Application Form (DAF) is one of the most important documents that you might have filled for UPSC interviews. A major part of the interview will revolve around the information and details provided in the DAF. It is more than your CV.

    Your ability to defend your DAF before the panel is going to decide your success. Anticipating and preparing for the questions based on your DAF is an essential part of the interview preparation.

    As a part of Transcend Interview Guidance Program for UPSC 2021 we’ve prepared and compiled a high-quality comprehensive questionnaire.

    upsc mock interview 2021

    Upcoming Mock interview and session

    This week’s mock interview dates have been fixed.

    • Mock interview this week 13th April onwards – (Book your slot)   
    • Time: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.  
    • Mode: Online/Offline 

    Do You Know That Civilsdaily Has a 75% Success Rate In UPSC Interview?

    Interview slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Panelists for Mock Interviews: 

    1. Shri Shankar Aggarwal, IAS (retd.)
    2. Dr. Noor Mohammad, IAS (retd.)
    3. Dr. P.K. Agrawal, IAS (Retd.)
    4. Shri T. N. Thakur, IAAS (retd.)
    5. Shri V. P. Singh, IRPS
    6. Mrs.Aditi Gupta, Corporate Leadership Specialist
    7. Prof. U.M. Amin, Jamia Milia University
    8. Mr. S. D. Singh, IFoS (Retd.)
    9. Mr. Kunal Aggarwal, IRS
    10. Mr. Debraj Das, IPS

    Tentative: Shri Harsh V. Pant (Observer Research Foundation), Shri SN Tripathi, IAS (Director IIPA), Shri Yogesh Narain (Retd. Defence Secretary), Shri Dipankar Gupta (Indian Sociologist), and others.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is WhatsApp-Image-2022-03-15-at-4.15.52-PM.jpeg

    Transcend Interview Guidance 2021: Program inclusion

    1. Mock interview and detailed analysis + feedback
    2. Most important issues coverage – current and structural
    3. DAF 2 curation
    4. Personalized mentorship
    5. DAF analysis and one-on-one sessions with mentors
    6. DAF based personalized questionnaire
    7. Situational and Roleplay questionnaire

    Do You Know That Civilsdaily Has a 75% Success Rate In UPSC Interview?

  • Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| Join the Webinar

    Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| Join the Webinar

    Open to all, Free Live Webinar by IPoS Officer Vikas Palwe (CSE 2020)

    Vikas Palwe has a special command over UPSC Prelims. In all his 5 attempts, He scored 120+ marks consistently. Now, with prelims coming up in few days, he would be happy to share his mantras and techniques to scoring high in prelims with future aspirants.

    If you are attempting this year’s prelims then do not miss this opportunity. Attend the webinar to gain topper’s insights on prelims and clear your personal queries with him.

    Webinar Details

    This Ask me Anything session is free for all aspirants to attend but is perfect for anyone looking for a refreshing break from their grueling studies. Only limited slots are available, so register ASAP.

    Date: 15th April, 2022 (Friday)

    Time: 5 to 6:30 PM

     
    Live Webinar on YouTube on April 15, 2022 @ 05:00 PM

    https://youtu.be/uFWFZwhh4nw

    Webinar follows with Q&A Session with Vikas Palwe on zoom : @ 06.00 PM

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81604773635?pwd=RnRZMlFvRmluZ255SXlmUjlmaTlOQT09

    Meeting ID: 816 0477 3635

    Passcode: 601298

    What will you Learn in This Free Live Webinar by Vikas Palwe(IPoS CSE 2020)?

    1. What changes should you make in your prelims preparation if you don’t score well?

    2. What are the current revision materials, both online and offline?

    3. How should I take notes right now from a Prelims perspective?

    4. What are the study techniques you must employ in the final 50 days of the Prelims, and which should you avoid?

    5. How do you revise a subject in a week?

    6. What are the CSAT topics with the highest weightage that will earn you the most points?

    7. What are the techniques for recalling information while reading a difficult question in an exam hall? (With an actual demonstration)

    Learn from the experts before it is too late!!

  • Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| SEATS ARE RUNNING OUT || Register to get the JOINING LINK

    Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| SEATS ARE RUNNING OUT || Register to get the JOINING LINK

    With Less than 60 days remaining for UPSC 2022 Prelims, your preparation must revolve around revision and attempting tests. At this stage, aspirants become more stressed and anxious than when they first started their preparation. Having a foolproof strategy for the last few days can work wonders — especially for those falling on the borderline, scoring between 80-90 marks in the mock test series. Now is the time to focus on improving your performance and boosting your scores.  

    While many of you, would have felt easier following a timetable for an entire year, you might not be sure how to revise every topic in the syllabus along with test series and current affairs of 1.5 years in last few days. 

    Open to all, Free Live Webinar by IPoS Officer Vikas Palwe (CSE 2020)

    Vikas Palwe has a special command over UPSC Prelims. In all his 5 attempts, He scored 120+ marks consistently. Now, with prelims coming up in few days, he would be happy to share his mantras and techniques to scoring high in prelims with future aspirants.

    If you are attempting this year’s prelims then do not miss this opportunity. Attend the webinar to gain topper’s insights on prelims and clear your personal queries with him.

    Webinar Details

    This Ask me Anything session is free for all aspirants to attend but is perfect for anyone looking for a refreshing break from their grueling studies. Only limited slots are available, so register ASAP.

    Date: 15th April, 2022 (Friday)

    Time: 5 to 6:30 PM

    What will you Learn in This Free Live Webinar by Vikas Palwe(IPoS CSE 2020)?

    1. What changes should you make in your prelims preparation if you don’t score well?

    2. What are the current revision materials, both online and offline?

    3. How should I take notes right now from a Prelims perspective?

    4. What are the study techniques you must employ in the final 50 days of the Prelims, and which should you avoid?

    5. How do you revise a subject in a week?

    6. What are the CSAT topics with the highest weightage that will earn you the most points?

    7. What are the techniques for recalling information while reading a difficult question in an exam hall? (With an actual demonstration)

    Learn from the experts before it is too late!!

  • Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| SEATS ARE RUNNING OUT || Register NOW

    Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| SEATS ARE RUNNING OUT || Register NOW

    With Less than 60 days remaining for UPSC 2022 Prelims, your preparation must revolve around revision and attempting tests. At this stage, aspirants become more stressed and anxious than when they first started their preparation. Having a foolproof strategy for the last few days can work wonders — especially for those falling on the borderline, scoring between 80-90 marks in the mock test series. Now is the time to focus on improving your performance and boosting your scores.  

    While many of you, would have felt easier following a timetable for an entire year, you might not be sure how to revise every topic in the syllabus along with test series and current affairs of 1.5 years in last few days. 

    Open to all, Free Live Webinar by IPoS Officer Vikas Palwe (CSE 2020)

    Vikas Palwe has a special command over UPSC Prelims. In all his 5 attempts, He scored 120+ marks consistently. Now, with prelims coming up in few days, he would be happy to share his mantras and techniques to scoring high in prelims with future aspirants.

    If you are attempting this year’s prelims then do not miss this opportunity. Attend the webinar to gain topper’s insights on prelims and clear your personal queries with him.

    Webinar Details

    This Ask me Anything session is free for all aspirants to attend but is perfect for anyone looking for a refreshing break from their grueling studies. Only limited slots are available, so register ASAP.

    Date: 15th April, 2022 (Friday)

    Time: 5 to 6:30 PM

    What will you Learn in This Free Live Webinar by Vikas Palwe(IPoS CSE 2020)?

    1. What changes should you make in your prelims preparation if you don’t score well?

    2. What are the current revision materials, both online and offline?

    3. How should I take notes right now from a Prelims perspective?

    4. What are the study techniques you must employ in the final 50 days of the Prelims, and which should you avoid?

    5. How do you revise a subject in a week?

    6. What are the CSAT topics with the highest weightage that will earn you the most points?

    7. What are the techniques for recalling information while reading a difficult question in an exam hall? (With an actual demonstration)

    Learn from the experts before it is too late!!

  • Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| LAST CHANCE|| Register NOW

    Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| LAST CHANCE|| Register NOW

    With Less than 60 days remaining for UPSC 2022 Prelims, your preparation must revolve around revision and attempting tests. At this stage, aspirants become more stressed and anxious than when they first started their preparation. Having a foolproof strategy for the last few days can work wonders — especially for those falling on the borderline, scoring between 80-90 marks in the mock test series. Now is the time to focus on improving your performance and boosting your scores.  

    While many of you, would have felt easier following a timetable for an entire year, you might not be sure how to revise every topic in the syllabus along with test series and current affairs of 1.5 years in last few days. 

    Open to all, Free Live Webinar by IPoS Officer Vikas Palwe (CSE 2020)

    Vikas Palwe has a special command over UPSC Prelims. In all his 5 attempts, He scored 120+ marks consistently. Now, with prelims coming up in few days, he would be happy to share his mantras and techniques to scoring high in prelims with future aspirants.

    If you are attempting this year’s prelims then do not miss this opportunity. Attend the webinar to gain topper’s insights on prelims and clear your personal queries with him.

    Webinar Details

    This Ask me Anything session is free for all aspirants to attend but is perfect for anyone looking for a refreshing break from their grueling studies. Only limited slots are available, so register ASAP.

    Date: 15th April, 2022 (Friday)

    Time: 5 to 6:30 PM

    What will you Learn in This Free Live Webinar by Vikas Palwe(IPoS CSE 2020)?

    1. What changes should you make in your prelims preparation if you don’t score well?

    2. What are the current revision materials, both online and offline?

    3. How should I take notes right now from a Prelims perspective?

    4. What are the study techniques you must employ in the final 50 days of the Prelims, and which should you avoid?

    5. How do you revise a subject in a week?

    6. What are the CSAT topics with the highest weightage that will earn you the most points?

    7. What are the techniques for recalling information while reading a difficult question in an exam hall? (With an actual demonstration)

    Learn from the experts before it is too late!!

  • Important Groupings Related to India

    Now Free Tikdam Sessions on our Space

    Dear Aspirants,

    This Spotlight is a part of our Mission Nikaalo Prelims-2022

    JOIN THE SPECIAL SESSIONS ON OUR OFFICIAL SPACE

    Morning 12:00 PM  – Prelims Spotlight Session

    Evening 06:30  PM  – MCQs Session

    Noon 04:00 PM – Special Session by Shubham Sir

    Evening 08:00 PM  – Tests on Alternate Days

    Evening 09:00 PM – TIKDAM: Art of Elimination Session.

    Download Habitat app from the Playstore Join our Official Civilsdaily Space for GS and CSAT Here

    15th Apr 2022

    Trans-Pacific Partnership

    • The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), or the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), is a trade agreement between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States (until 23 January 2017) and Vietnam
    • The TPP began as an expansion of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPSEP or P4) signed by Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, and Singapore in 2005
    • The TPP contains measures to lower both non-tariff and tariff barriers to trade and establish an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism
    • The agreement will enter into force after ratification by all signatories if this occurs within two years
    • APEC members may accede to the TPP, as may any other jurisdiction to which existing TPP members agree. After an application for membership is received, a commission of parties to the treaty negotiates conditions for accession.

    BRICS

    • BRICS is the acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
    • Originally the first four were grouped as “BRIC” (or “the BRICs”), before the induction of South Africa in 2010.
    • The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on regional affairs; all are members of G20.
    • Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits. China hosted the 9th BRICS summit in Xiamen on September 2017, while Brazil hosted the most recent 11th BRICS summit on 13-14 November 2019.

    New Development Bank and the Fortaleza Declaration

    • During the sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014), the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB).
    • In the Fortaleza Declaration, the leaders stressed that the NDB will strengthen cooperation among BRICS and will supplement the efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global development, thus contributing to collective commitments for achieving the goal of strong, sustainable and balanced growth.
    • The bank was established in July 2015 by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
    • The aim of the bank is to mobilize funding for infrastructure and sustainable development.
    • Its ownership structure is unique, as the BRICS countries each have an equal share and no country has any veto power.
    • In this sense, the bank is a physical expression of the desire of emerging markets to play a bigger role in global governance.
    • NDB was created to help fill the funding gap in the BRICS economies and was intended to grow its global scope over time.
    • The bank, with its subscribed capital base of US$50bn, is now poised to become a meaningful additional source of long-term finance for infrastructure in its member countries.

    Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

    • The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a trade deal that was being negotiated between 16 countries.
    • They include the 10 ASEAN members and the six countries with which the bloc has free trade agreements (FTAs) — India, Australia, China, Korea, Japan, and New Zealand.
    • The purpose of the deal is to create an “integrated market” spanning all 16 countries.
    • This means that it would be easier for the products and services of each of these countries to be available across the entire region.

    RCEP – India

    • It comprises half of the world population and accounts for nearly 40% of the global commerce and 35% of the GDP. RCEP would have become the world’s largest FTA after finalisation, with India being the third-biggest economy in it.
    • Without India, the RCEP does not look as attractive as it had seemed during negotiations.
    • Divided ASEAN – ASEAN has been keen on a diversified portfolio so that member states can deal with major powers and maintain their strategic autonomy. ASEAN member states have tried to keep the U.S. engaged in the region.
    • Act East policy has been well received. With China’s rise in the region, ASEAN member states have been keen on Indian involvement in the region.
    • Indo-Pacific – India’s entire Indo-Pacific strategy might be open to question if steps are not taken to restore India’s profile in the region.
    • Rejected China’s dominance – India signalled that, despite the costs, China’s rise has to be tackled both politically and economically.

    Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

    • After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.
    • The original Shanghai Five were China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
    • The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
    • Since its formation, the SCO has focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority:
    • The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism has become its mantra.
    • Today, areas of cooperation include themes such as economics and culture.

    India’s entry to the SCO

    • India and Pakistan both were observer countries.
    • While Central Asian countries and China were not in favour of expansion initially, the main supporter — of India’s entry in particular — was Russia.
    • A widely held view is that Russia’s growing unease about an increasingly powerful China prompted it to push for its expansion.
    • From 2009 onwards, Russia officially supported India’s ambition to join the SCO. China then asked for its all-weather friend Pakistan’s entry.

    The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)

    • The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising seven Member States lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity. This sub-regional organization came into being on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
    • The regional group constitutes a bridge between South and South-East Asia and represents a reinforcement of relations among these countries.
    • BIMSTEC has also established a platform for intra-regional cooperation between SAARC and ASEAN members.  The BIMSTEC region is home to around 1.5 billion people which constitute around 22% of the global population with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 2.7 trillion economies. In the last five years, BIMSTEC Member States have been able to sustain an average 6.5% economic growth trajectory despite a global financial meltdown.

    SAARC & SAARC Countries

    • The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia.  Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.  SAARC was founded in Dhaka in 1985.
    • Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu.
    • The organization promotes the development of economic and regional integration.
    • It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006.
    • SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nation as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities.
    • Observers Of SAARC: – States with observer status include Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius Myanmar, South Korea and the United States.

    Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

    • The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries
    • It promotes Pan-Asianism and intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational and socio-cultural integration amongst its members and other Asian countries
    • It members are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam
    • ASEAN shares land and maritime borders with India, China
    • ASEAN is an official United Nations Observer.

    The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

    • The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of two sets of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports.
    • One of the critical elements for inclusion into the NSG is that the member countries need to signatories of the NPT, a proposal which India has categorically disagreed.
    • However considering India’s history of nuclear non-proliferation, the US and subsequently the NSG have shown some recognition and granted India with the waiver of dealing with other countries for nuclear technology.

    Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

    • OPCW is an intergovernmental organization and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, which entered into force on 29 April 1997
    • The OPCW, with its 193 member states, has its seat in The Hague, Netherlands, and oversees the global endeavour for the permanent and verifiable elimination of chemical weapons
    • The organization promotes and verifies the adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use of chemical weapons and requires their destruction
    • Verification consists both of evaluation of declarations by member states and onsite inspections
    • The OPCW has the power to say whether chemical weapons were used in an attack it has investigated
    • The organization was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize “for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”

    The Australian Group

    • The Australia Group is a multilateral export control regime (MECR) and an informal group of countries (now joined by the European Commission) established in 1985 (after the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in 1984) to help member countries to identify those exports which need to be controlled so as not to contribute to the spread of chemical and biological weapons
    • The group, initially consisting of 15 members, held its first meeting in Brussels, Belgium, in September 1989. With the incorporation of India on January 19, 2018, it now has 43 members, including Australia, the European Commission, all 28 member states of the European Union, Ukraine, and Argentina
    • The name comes from Australia’s initiative to create the group. Australia manages the secretariat
    • The initial members of the group had different assessments of which chemical precursors should be subject to export control
    • Later adherents initially had no such controls
    • Today, members of the group maintain export controls on a uniform list of 54 compounds, including several that are not prohibited for export under the Chemical Weapons Convention but can be used in the manufacture of chemical weapons
    • In 2002, the group took two important steps to strengthen export control
    • The first was the “no-undercut” requirement, which stated that any member of the group considering making an export to another state that had already been denied an export by any other member of the group must first consult with that member state before approving the export
    • The second was the “catch-all” provision, which requires member states to halt all exports that could be used by importers in chemical or biological weapons programs, regardless of whether the export is on the group’s control lists.
    • Delegations representing the members meet every year in Paris, France

    WTO

    • US, UK and a few other countries set up, an interim organisation about trade named GATT (General Agreement on Tariff and Trade) in 1947
    • GATT was biased in favour of the developed countries and was called informally as the Rich men’s club.
    • So, the developing countries insisted on setting up the International Trade Organisation (ITO)
    • That’s the reason, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was set up in 1964 as an alternative, on the recommendation of the UN committee
    • Next development comes in Uruguay Round of GATT, it sought to expand the scope of the organisation by including, services, investment and intellectual property rights (IPR)
    • Agreements were ratified by the legislatures of 85 member-countries by year-end 1994.
    • On such rectification, the WTO started functioning from Jan 1, 1995, < Marrakesh Agreement>

    Functions of WTO

    • The WTO deals with regulation of trade in goods, services and intellectual property between participating countries.
    • It provides a framework for negotiating trade agreements and a dispute resolution process aimed at enforcing participants’ adherence to WTO agreements, which are signed by representatives of member governments and ratified by their parliaments.

    G20

    • Formed in 1999, the G20 is an international forum of the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies.
    • Collectively, the G20 economies account for around 85 percent of the Gross World Product (GWP), 80 percent of world trade.
    • To tackle the problems or the address issues that plague the world, the heads of governments of the G20 nations periodically participate in summits.
    • In addition to it, the group also hosts separate meetings of the finance ministers and foreign ministers.
    • The G20 has no permanent staff of its own and its chairmanship rotates annually between nations divided into regional groupings.

    Aims and objectives

    • The Group was formed with the aim of studying, reviewing, and promoting high-level discussion of policy issues pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability.
    • The forum aims to pre-empt the balance of payments problems and turmoil on financial markets by improved coordination of monetary, fiscal, and financial policies.
    • It seeks to address issues that go beyond the responsibilities of any one organisation.

    Member Countries

    The members of the G20 consist of 19 individual countries plus the European Union (EU).

    • The 19 member countries of the forum are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.
    • The European Union is represented by the European Commission and by the European Central Bank.

     Who are the G20 Sherpas?

    • A Sherpa is the personal representative of a head of state or government who prepares an international summit, particularly the annual G7 and G20 summits.
    • Between the summits, there are multiple Sherpa conferences where possible agreements are laid out.
    • This reduces the amount of time and resources required at the negotiations of the heads of state at the final summit.
    • The Sherpa is generally quite influential, although they do not have the authority to make a final decision about any given agreement.
    • The name is derived from the Sherpa people, a Nepalese ethnic group, who serve as guides and porters in the Himalayas, a reference to the fact that the Sherpa clears the way for a head of state at a major summit.

    G7

    • The G7 or the Group of Seven is a group of the seven most advanced economies as per the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
    • The seven countries are Canada, USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Italy. The EU is also represented in the G7.
    • These countries, with the seven largest IMF-described advanced economies in the world, represent 58% of the global net wealth ($317 trillion).
    • The G7 countries also represent more than 46% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) based on nominal values, and more than 32% of the global GDP based on purchasing power parity.
    • The requirements to be a member of the G7 are a high net national wealth and a high HDI (Human Development Index).

    Clueless about 2023 Preparation? Talk to your Friend, Philosopher and Guide.

    Fill up this form to schedule a free on-call discussion with senior mentor from Civilsdaily. Once submitted we will call you within 24 hours.

    Fill the Form HERE

  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: The Sri Lankan Default

    UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

    Context

    • After weeks of economic turmoil, Sri Lanka announced that it would be defaulting on all of its external debt worth $51 billion.
    • After running out of foreign exchange for imports, Colombo called the move a last resort.
    • The island nation is grappling with its worst economic downturn since independence, with regular blackouts and acute shortages of food and fuel.

    Sri Lankan Crisis: A backgrounder

    (1) Fragility of Sri Lankan Economy

    • Post-independence from the British in 1948, Sri Lanka’s agriculture was dominated by export-oriented crops such as tea, coffee, rubber and spices.
    • A large share of its gross domestic product came from the foreign exchange earned from exporting these crops. That money was used to import essential food items.
    • Over the years, the country also began exporting garments, and earning foreign exchange from tourism and remittances (money sent into Sri Lanka from abroad, perhaps by family members).
    • Any decline in exports would come as an economic shock, and put foreign exchange reserves under strain.

    (2) Series of BoP Crises

    • For this reason, Sri Lanka frequently encountered balance of payments crises.
    • From 1965 onwards, it obtained 16 loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
    • Each of these loans came with conditions including that once Sri Lanka received the loan they had to reduce their budget deficit, maintain a tight monetary policy, cut government subsidies for food for the people of Sri Lanka, and depreciate the currency.
    • But usually in periods of economic downturns, good fiscal policy dictates governments should spend more to inject stimulus into the economy. This becomes impossible with the IMF conditions.
    • Despite this situation, the IMF loans kept coming, and a led the economy soaked up more and more debt.
    • The last IMF loan to Sri Lanka was in 2016. The country received US$1.5 billion for three years from 2016 to 2019.

    The conditions were familiar, and the economy’s health nosedived over this period. Growth, investments, savings and revenues fell, while the debt burden rose.

    (3) Terror attack changed the course

    • A bad situation turned worse with two economic shocks in 2019.
    • There was a series of bomb blasts in churches and luxury hotels in Colombo in April 2019.
    • The blasts led to a steep decline in tourist arrivals – with some reports stating up to an 80% drop – and drained foreign exchange reserves.
    • Second, the new government under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa irrationally cut taxes.
    • Growth demands stability and stability lies on effective leadership which is totally blurred in Sri lanka which is suffering from ongoing financial crisis.

    (4) Pandemic

    • In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
    • In April 2021, the Rajapaksa government made another fatal mistake. To prevent the drain of foreign exchange reserves, all fertiliser imports were completely banned.
    • Sri Lanka was declared a 100% organic farming nation.
    • This policy, which was withdrawn in November 2021, led to a drastic fall in agricultural production and more imports became necessary.
    • A fall in the productivity of tea and rubber due to the ban on fertiliser also led to lower export incomes.

    (5) Immediate triggers of the crisis

    1. Leadership issues: Another instance that proved detrimental for Sri Lankan leadership is government where few members of the cabinets were immediate relatives of the Prime Minister (Rajapaksas).
    2. Ukraine War:  The invasion of Ukraine has further exacerbated the economic calamity of the country as Russia is the second biggest market to Sri Lanka in tea exports and its tourism sector is heavily reliant upon these two nations as most of the tourist arrivals are from Russia and Ukraine.

    All these factors led to the implosion of Sri Lankan economy.

    Is China the real culprit behind?

    • Many believe Sri Lanka’s economic relations with China are a main driver behind the crisis.  The United States has called this phenomenon “debt-trap diplomacy”.
    • This is where a creditor country or institution extends debt to a borrowing nation to increase the lender’s political leverage – if the borrower extends itself and cannot pay the money back, they are at the creditor’s mercy.

    A reality check

    Sri Lanka’s economy, in recent months, started experiencing, what economists refer to as a ‘twin crisis’: in form of a combined balance of payment and sovereign debt crisis. 

    (1) Debts

    • The most “burdensome debt” in terms of maturity and rates is typically owed to international sovereign bonds.
    • Loans from China accounted for only about 10% of Sri Lanka’s total foreign debt in 2020.
    • The largest portion – about 30% – can be attributed to international sovereign bonds.
    • Japan actually accounts for a higher proportion of their foreign debt, at 11%.

    (2) Losses from Ports

    • Defaults over China’s infrastructure-related loans to Sri Lanka, especially the financing of the Hambantota port, are being cited as factors contributing to the crisis.
    • But these facts don’t add up. The construction of the Hambantota port was financed by the Chinese Exim Bank.
    • The port was running losses, so Sri Lanka leased out the port for 99 years to the Chinese Merchant’s Group, which paid Sri Lanka US$1.12 billion.

    Repercussions of the crisis

    • Sustenance crisis: For Sri Lankans, the crisis has turned their daily lives into an endless cycle of waiting in lines for basic goods, many of which are being rationed.
    • Energy sources exhausted: Soldiers are stationed at gas stations to calm customers, who line up for hours in the searing heat to fill their tanks. Some people have even died waiting.
    • Sacking of the public savings: Even members of the middle class with savings are frustrated, fearing they could run out of essentials like medicine or gas.
    • Public outrage: Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has imposed several curbs on social media and news flow, its stock market and currency is sharply down. Unrest is brewing, so police action, possibly brutal, looks inevitable.

    What’s next for Sri Lanka?

    • In all probability, Sri Lanka will now obtain a 17th IMF loan to tide over the present crisis, which will come with fresh conditions.  
    • Sri Lanka is now seeking financial support from the IMF and turning to regional powers that may be able to help.
    • Earlier, President Rajapaksa had weighed the pros and cons of working with the IMF and had decided to pursue a bailout from the US.
    • Sri Lanka has also requested help from China and India, with New Delhi already issuing a credit line of $1 billion in March.

    Lessons to be learnt

    (1) For India

    While the Sri Lankan economic crisis may not directly impact India for now, the crisis itself offers useful political economy lessons for the Indian government. 

    • Populist freebies has a dear cost: A majoritarian government announcing populist measures amidst a low-growth performance cycle creates macroeconomic crisis scenarios over time. 
    • SL had fared better than India: Unlike Sri Lanka, India’s per capita income and performance in social sectors like healthcare, education and social security is worse.
    • Long term inflation is risky: India’s unemployment and joblessness crisis is far worse – in aggregate. Inflation too has remained high with the RBI struggling to keep consumer prices low.

    The idea here is not to compare Sri Lanka with India as like-with-like. They are two different and geographically distinct nation-states with different social, political and economic features. 

    (2) Other SAARC members

    • Nations are collapsing: From Afghanistan and Pakistan, and now, Sri Lanka (with Nepal in queue), each nation’s political economy landscape appears to be in a depressing situation. 
    • SAARC has become dysfunctional: Besides India, no other South Asian countries have offered any form of support or assistance to Sri Lanka, which raises alarm over the absence of regional cooperation in South Asia.

    Way forward

    • Fiscal consolidation and discipline: What the Lankan economy would need is a robust path towards revenue based fiscal consolidation.
    • Near-term monetary policy tightening: It is needed to ensure that the recent breach of the inflation target band is only temporary.
    • Institution building reforms: such as revamping the fiscal rule, would also help ensure the credibility of the strategy, as the IMF report suggests. 
    • Flexible exchange rate policy: Other (longer-term) reforms would need to include the creation of a flexible exchange rate policy and a medium-to-long-term debt reduction strategy, while ensuring most government spending in targeted social areas continues for developmental objectives.

    Conclusion

    • It is no doubt that the over-dependence on China for economic development could be a miserable option for any country, and the latest examples of it, are Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
    • Also, Sri Lanka is a prime example of a third world country led by a post-colonial elite on the brisk of collapsing as a nation.
  • Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| Register for Free Webinar

    Prelims 2022: How to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency || Learn from 120+ scorer in Prelims || Vikas Palwe(IPoS, CSE 2020)|| Register for Free Webinar

    With Less than 60 days remaining for UPSC 2022 Prelims, your preparation must revolve around revision and attempting tests. At this stage, aspirants become more stressed and anxious than when they first started their preparation. Having a foolproof strategy for the last few days can work wonders — especially for those falling on the borderline, scoring between 80-90 marks in the mock test series. Now is the time to focus on improving your performance and boosting your scores.  

    While many of you, would have felt easier following a timetable for an entire year, you might not be sure how to revise every topic in the syllabus along with test series and current affairs of 1.5 years in last few days. 

    Open to all, Free Live Webinar by IPoS Officer Vikas Palwe (CSE 2020)

    Vikas Palwe has a special command over UPSC Prelims. In all his 5 attempts, He scored 120+ marks consistently. Now, with prelims coming up in few days, he would be happy to share his mantras and techniques to scoring high in prelims with future aspirants.

    If you are attempting this year’s prelims then do not miss this opportunity. Attend the webinar to gain topper’s insights on prelims and clear your personal queries with him.

    Webinar Details

    This Ask me Anything session is free for all aspirants to attend but is perfect for anyone looking for a refreshing break from their grueling studies. Only limited slots are available, so register ASAP.

    Date: 15th April, 2022 (Friday)

    Time: 5 to 6:30 PM

    What will you Learn in This Free Live Webinar by Vikas Palwe(IPoS CSE 2020)?

    1. What changes should you make in your prelims preparation if you don’t score well?

    2. What are the current revision materials, both online and offline?

    3. How should I take notes right now from a Prelims perspective?

    4. What are the study techniques you must employ in the final 50 days of the Prelims, and which should you avoid?

    5. How do you revise a subject in a week?

    6. What are the CSAT topics with the highest weightage that will earn you the most points?

    7. What are the techniques for recalling information while reading a difficult question in an exam hall? (With an actual demonstration)

    Learn from the experts before it is too late!!

  • 275 marks in 30 mins! | UPSC Interview Guidance 2021: Mocks, DAF analysis, and questionnaire | Slots available, register now

    275 marks in 30 mins! | UPSC Interview Guidance 2021: Mocks, DAF analysis, and questionnaire | Slots available, register now

    Book your slot for UPSC Mock interviews (paneled by ex UPSC members) and get a dedicated mentor, on-call DAF analysis, DAF-based personalized questionnaire, and Situational questionnaire (FREE)

    A typical UPSC interview generally clocks for about 30 minutes, and this half an hour can make or break the dream to become an IAS.

    Giving mocks is just one part of the interview preparation strategy. You need to be prepared from multiple fronts.

    Civilsdaily is always at the forefront when it comes to ensuring that your prep is rapid, focused, and effective.  We help make you understand how the panel at UPSC thinks, what they would expect from you (as per your DAF), and how to gear your preparation towards the 200+ marks target. 

    Do You Know That Civilsdaily Has a 75% Success Rate In UPSC Interview?

    Transcend Interview Guidance 2021: Program inclusion

    1. 2 Mock interviews, detailed analysis + feedback
    2. Most important issues coverage – current and structural
    3. Personalized mentorship
    4. DAF analysis and one-on-one sessions with in-service officers and panelists
    5. DAF based personalized questionnaire
    6. Situational and Roleplay questionnaire

    To give you a real feel of the panel that you will be facing in your real UPSC interview 2021, CD has brought together a mix of the most experienced and valued panelists for your mock interview.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is WhatsApp-Image-2022-03-15-at-4.15.52-PM.jpeg

    Panelists for Mock Interviews: 

    1. Shri Shankar Aggarwal, IAS (retd.), former Secretary
    2. Dr. Noor Mohammad, IAS (retd.), former EC
    3. Dr. P.K. Agrawal, IAS (Retd.), former Ch. Secy
    4. Shri T. N. Thakur, IAAS (retd.), former Dy CAG
    5. Shri V. P. Singh, IRPS
    6. Mrs.Aditi Gupta, Corporate Leadership Specialist
    7. Prof. U.M. Amin, Jamia Milia University
    8. Mr. S. D. Singh, IFoS (Retd.)
    9. Mr. Kunal Aggarwal, IRS
    10. Mr. Debraj Das, IPS

    Tentative: Shri S. Y. Quraishi (former CEC), Shri Harsh V. Pant (Observer Research Foundation), Shri SN Tripathi, IAS (Director IIPA), Shri Yogesh Narain (Retd. Defence Secretary), Shri Dipankar Gupta (Indian Sociologist), and others.

    Upcoming Mock interview and session

    This week’s mock interview dates have been fixed.

    • Mock interview this week 15th April onwards – (Book your slot)   
    • Time: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.  
    • Mode: Online/Offline 

    Interview slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Do You Know That Civilsdaily Has a 75% Success Rate In UPSC Interviews?

    As a part of Transcend Interview Guidance Program for UPSC 2021 we’ve prepared and compiled a high-quality comprehensive questionnaire.