Now that UPSC CSE prelims results are out, you would have started answer writing practice for mains. Keep in mind that answering for mains is not like answering your university papers. Over here, examiners expect pointers, examples, flowcharts, mind maps, diagrams than long paragraphs. Given the time and word limit, it’s better not to beat around the bush while answering.
Open to All, Free Webinar on 20 Best Practices of Answer Writing
Sajal sir will share his experiences of scoring 120+ in all the UPSC 2017 GS papers through a webinar. This webinar about the new age formula to ace UPSC Mains is absolutely free for all to attend.
For a better understanding on the format of the webinar, here’s Sajal sir’s explanation on how to approach a sample question.
It is commented that Electoral bonds instead of cleansing India’s electoral system distort India’s democracy. Do you agree? Critically analyse.
Sajal Sir Suggests: Understand the key demand of the question. Don’t get swayed by only seeing the theme of the question. Question is not about electoral bonds only. Many aspirants write everything they know about electoral bonds. You need to first mention how it will cleanse India’s electoral system. After that, link it with democracy. How it violates key features of democracy like transparency, accountability and level playing field. Writing only Pros and Cons will not fetch you marks.
Do you know that toppers use certain techniques of answer-writing to score higher marks? Are you aware of the PESTLE approach or the 7-5-3 technique of answer writing? If not, then its time you attended this webinar
Sajal sir in the past 7 years has mentored over 400 students who went onto become UPSC toppers. Apart from this, his course SMASH Mains 2020 had a turnover of 80% interview recommended candidates.
This is how the UPSC Toppers scored in test series before Sajal sir’s intervention —
They had tried everything but were not able to score high in the exams. From their approach to answering to the body of answers, they faced problems. They faced problems with things like putting proper headings, how to frame dimensions, introductions, conclusions, etc. They never even got the right feedback which could have helped them!
And this is how they improved after learning the best answer writing practices from him —
Anyone who is going to attend UPSC mains now or 2022 UPSC Aspirants, will gain valuable insights from this webinar. Register now for an invite. And, keep the date saved in your calendars!
GS-1 Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times.
GS-2 Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
GS-3 Government Budgeting.
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*.
Prelims Super-25 Program is back after a thumping success in Prelims 2021. Out of 25 students Santhosh sir has mentored, 15 have cleared prelims this time.
Do you want to practice medium to tough test series regularly? Before attending a test do you want to revise the right notes with integrated current affairs? And, after a test do you want an experienced mentor to discuss your answers and motivate you?
If yes, then this is the right program for you! The registrations are open for all UPSC 2022 aspirants.
Is Prelims the Toughest Exam of UPSC-CSE?
Toppers like Pranav Vijayvergiya (AIR 65) and Swati Sharma (AIR 17) have found Prelims to be tougher than Mains. In fact, Pranav failed to clear Prelims thrice. But, in his fourth attempt he had cleared Mains and Interview in one shot!
What makes prelims tough? It’s because the paper is unpredictable. If this year, science questions are a breeze then the next year you will have to answer advanced concept based questions.
Unlike Mains, Prelims has negative marking. One has to be good at elimination methods to choose the right option amongst two similar ones.
Our Super 25 Prelims Program started as a pilot project last year with an aim to introduce step-wise improvement in our chosen 25 aspirants. Over a period of 2 months, Santhosh sir inculcated confidence in aspirants who were either newbies or gave too many attempts.
This year, we achieved a remarkable 60% success ratio. Next year, we have set our eyes on 100%. Yes, we are ambitious and aspirational just like any other UPSC aspirant.
How do Students find Santhosh Sir’s Mentorship?
Santhosh sir has always been more than a guide. He has always walked with aspirants in their UPSC journey than ahead of them. Whenever our students were demotivated, this is how Santhosh sir lifted their spirits —
Testimonials by students who successfully cleared UPSC 2021 Prelims —
The program has three pillars and every aspirant who enrolls for Smash 2022 Prelims has access to all of them.
Pillar-1
Prelims Tests:
40 (12 Basic + 6 Advanced + 10 CA tests + 8 Full tests + 4 CSAT)
Sl No.
SUBJECT
NO. OF TESTS
1
Polity
3
2
Modern History
2
3
Economy
2
4
Geography
3
5
Environment
3
6
Science & Technology
1
7
Ancient and Medieval India
2
8
Economic Survey
1
9
Schemes and India Year Book
1
10
Current Affairs
10
11
CSAT
4
12
Full Length Test
8
Pillar-2
Value Additions Notes and Classes by Santosh Gupta Sir
Polity
Santhosh Gupta sir will conduct two sessions covering all the Polity Fundamentals, a session analyzing past year papers, another session on important current affairs related to polity this year and will discuss your test solutions.
History
Santhosh Gupta sir will conduct a session on Sectoral Developments in Modern History, a session analyzing past year papers and test discussion.
Economy
There will be sessions on economic survey, trend analysis, discussion of most important economic current affairs, past year paper analysis and economy final test discussion.
Geography
Santhosh sir will conduct sessions on the most difficult aspects like Geography Mapping, Economic Geography and Indian Agriculture.
Environment
Santhosh Gupta sir will cover sessions on Environment innovatively. Key concepts like vegetation and biome, Indian wildlife, conventions and protocols, national parks and sanctuaries, agriculture and sustainable development and environment current affairs will be covered.
Science & Technology
This year’s prelims paper questioned on the basic concepts of science. Keeping this in mind, Santhosh Gupta sir will conduct 2 sessions on One basic concepts and current affairs of science and technology.
Other Value Additions
1. Decimate Prelims-2022 Content: 2 years of current affairs notes for all topics + Videos
2. Civilsdaily Current Affairs Magazines for 1 year
3. Civilsdaily compilations of Yojna, Kurukshetra, PRS and RS TV.
4. Civilsdaily Budget And Economic Survey Summary.
Pillar-3
Santhosh Gupta sir’s mentorship programme will have these special features for aspirants.
1. Monthly zoom session by Santosh Gupta for doubt clearance and continuous improvement.
2. 1-1 mentor calls after tests.
3. Habitat/Whatsapp support from mentors.
4. Frequent sessions with toppers for support and guidance.
If you have any doubts regarding the program, pleasefill the formfor a call back.
Aspirants who don’t want the full program can opt for Smash Prelims-2022: Mini version. This will not have value added notes. Prelims tests + individual mentorship + monthly zoom sessions by Santosh Gupta sir will be available for this plan.
The year 2021 marks a crucial juncture for charting the future of climate action.
And for this all eyes are set on two events in particular – the G20 Summit in October end followed by the 26th UN Climate Change Conference or COP26 in November.
In this article, we will discuss the significance of public perception on the issue of climate change and how will it impact the decision-making process on actions which need to be taken to tackle this challenge.
About 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 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.
India has been a member of the G20 since its inception in 1999.
Members: 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.
G20 countries map
G20 and Climate Change
The G20 accounts for over 80% of global GDP, 60% of the world’s population, and more than 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In the run-up to the G20 Summit and COP26 the UNDP and the University of Oxford have published the G20 Peoples’ Climate Vote.
The G20 Peoples’ Climate Vote
The G20 Peoples’ Climate Vote was polled over 689,000 people across 18 of the G20 countries from October 2020 until June 2021.
It focussed on various aspects of the issue of climate change including Climate Finance Policy, Cutting emissions and climate adaptation policy.
According to this report, on average 70 per cent of young people in G20 countries believe that we are in a global climate emergency.
Adults are also not far behind, with 65 percent overall believing the same.
What defines the public perception of climate change?
Climate change perception is a complex process that encompasses a range of psychological constructs such as knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and concerns about if and how the climate is changing.
Perception is influenced and shaped, among other things, by the individuals’ characteristics, their experience, the information that they receive, and the cultural and geographic context in which they live.
Therefore, measuring climate change perception and trying to find its determinants is not an easy task.
The short-term variations in the local weather tend to be more salient than long-term trends and hence can have a key impact on the formation of climate change perceptions.
The perceptions of those that directly depend on the weather, such as farmers, tend to be more accurate than that of their counterparts.
Life experiences influence perception; individuals who have been directly affected by extreme climatic events tend to report that the probability of such event happening again is relatively high.
It is important to make aware specifically those people whose livelihood is threatened due to climate change issue.
Proportion reporting knowing “something” or “a great deal” about global warming in 2007–08. Darker areas indicate a greater proportion of individuals aware, yellow indicates no data.
What is the significance of public perception of climate change?
It is very important that people are getting aware of climate change and it’s not actually the awareness per se but factually it is about the sufferance of people to make the think about climate change.
The new generation and the youth are going to face the consequences of climate change and thus they think that the coming COP26is the opportunity where effective and speedy action will result.
It forces world leader to take immediate and effective action and should contain the global warming which has the wide ranging consequences.
It also impacts what people do at an individual level to contain the global warming.
It needs to take some tougher decisions by leaders and the public perceptions shows how much appetite people have to accept such decision.
What are the expected tangible achievements of the COP26 in terms of public perception of climate change?
Climate change is the global issue and need commitment of all the leaders to do justice in terms of responding to the menace of climate change.
COVID-19 has refocused priorities and caused individuals and governments alike to pay closer attention to the environment. As many countries look to rebuild their economies in the wake of the pandemic, there has been a major emphasis on ‘building back better’ through a green recovery.
COP26 is being viewed as the successor to COP21 where the Paris Accord was signed, arguably the greatest success from the UNFCCC in recent years.
COP26 is seen as the summit to both address what has and hasn’t been achieved since 2015, while also setting concrete plans to reach the Paris Agreement targets.
The UN Environment Programme has warned that climate commitments are already falling far short of what is needed to meet these goals – but there is hope from net-zero pledges. This should be a “thundering wakeup call” for leaders ahead of the summit.
So it’s expected from countries around the globe to put forward ambitions in terms of GHGs reduction, net zero commitments, etc. As the window is very short, it is the high time that countries take harsh decisions.
The transition from carbon economy to carbon-less economy requires capital which many developing countries are lacking. Thus the carbon justice has to be brought.
This requires the developed countries to raise $100 billion which was supposed to be done by 2020 but is still not done.
The carbon neutrality or net zero is important but what is more important than this is deep cuts which are required first and the necessary financing required to install alternative energy sources which are renewable.
Conclusion
We are running short of time and the issue of climate change is a very serious problem and everyone across the globe has to work together for this and it is very important to see the summits like COP26 takes the harsh decisions required for containing the global warming and resolving financing issue as soon as possible. Public perception plays a major role in motivating global leaders to work towards a sustainable and climate risk-free global world.
This is for students preparing for UPSC Mains with Anthropology optional.
Unlike popular opinion, scoring marks in Anthropology is not that easy anymore. Many aspirants still are confused about the right strategy to prepare for anthropology optional. It is not just studying but studying in the right direction. Writing answers that fetch you marks.
Rinku Lather sir has launched his exclusive Anthropology club wherein he will be guiding you on a 1-to-1, personal level. He will be sharing tips and his process that helped him to score consistently high marks in Anthropology optional.
https://youtu.be/oc7aLdeao6o
About the Anthropology Marks Enhancer by Rinku Lather, IAS
Anthropology topic-wise discussion to improve score.
Google meet classes with Anthropology rank holder and UPSC Topper.
One-on-one discussions every week.
Doubt clearing sessions
Important notes, reference material, etc. will be suggested by Rinku sir
Mentorship to guide you in understanding the demand of the question, structuring of answers and content enrichment.
Program Inclusion
Exclusive membership to Habitat club- Only for Mains written aspirants
Civil Services Examination result 2020 was released on 24th September 2021. Civilsdaily is proud to announce its toppers. In 2020, we took 50 Students for Mains exclusive one-to-one mentorship program and 80% got interview calls with 50% making it to the final list.
Even Toppers of Civil services examination 2020 were impressed by the quality of questions from the Mains Test and Mentorship provided:
A personal note by Karishma Nair, AIR 14 (2020)
Quora Review by Pranav Vijayvergiya, AIR 65 (2020)
A talk with Vaibhav Rawat, AIR 25 (2020)A talk by P Srija, AIR 20(2020)
Here’s a look at some questions from our FLT Tests:
FLT 1 PAPER 1
Q. While there are several theories about why the Indus Valley Civilisation declined, climate change appears to be the most likely scenario. Discuss in what way the decline of IVC could be related to climate change aspects of that time. Draw an analogy of how past experiences can prove to be lessons to our future generations.
Model Answers:
More than 4,000 years ago, the Indus Valley Civilisation thrived in the Indus river valley of what is now modern Pakistan and north-western India. They built sophisticated cities, invented sewage systems, and even engaged in long-distance trade. However, by 1800 BCE, this advanced culture had abandoned their cities, moving instead to smaller villages in the Himalayan foothills.
Various causes have been suggested for the decline of the civilization which includes:
Aryan invasion theory- Very little evidence.
Decreasing fertility- Due to increasing salinity of soil
Sudden subsistence or uplift of land- Causing floods
Tectonic disturbances- caused earthquakes
Climate change- Most accepted theory. A new study titled ‘Neoglacial climate anomalies and the Harappan metamorphosis also supports this.
Climate change and decline of IVC:
Wetter winter monsoon- Between 4,500 and 3,000 years ago, strong winter monsoons were characterised by early neoglacial anomalies (ENA) that are characterised by changes in wind and precipitation patterns that are evident across the eastern Northern Hemisphere and tropics. This may have led to urban Harappan society turning into a rural one, as inhabitants migrated from a summer flood-deficient river valley to the Himalayan plains.
Decline in the winter monsoon- This could have played a role in the demise of the rural late Harappans.
Shift in temperatures and weather patterns- This caused summer monsoon rains to gradually dry up, making agriculture difficult or impossible near Harappan cities.
Neo-glaciation- A general cooling, occurred between 2,500 and 4,500 years ago. Records for the last 4,500 years generally indicate that temperatures were lower than the Holocene thermal maximum.
Less predictable floods in the Indus and tributary rivers- This affected the Indus people who depended a lot on inundation agriculture.
Changing character of the Indian monsoon- Affected atmospheric temperatures and the flow of rivers originating in the Himalayas. Both the changing temperature and the changes in river flow would have influenced the crops that were grown in the region.
Drying up of Ghaggar-Hakra- The probable course of the Saraswati river, dried at the same time.
The Indus story is important today because it provides us with a vivid example of what climate change could do to people. Some analogous examples observable in modern times are:
Migration due to climate change– The study provides a powerful lesson for today as the migration out of Syria, Venezuela and African countries has some roots in climate change.
Sea level rise- The sea level is rising at a rate of 12 mm per year in the western Pacific and has already submerged eight islands.This can lead to huge migrations from the low-lying regions or from hurricane-prone regions in the southern U.S.
South Asia- Increasing temperatures, more frequent cyclones, flooding of river systems fed by melting glaciers, and other extreme weather events along with rapid economic growth and urbanization are accelerating and magnifying the impact and drivers of climate change
The Harappans could cope with the change by migrating but owing to the existing rigid political boundaries with the increasing tendency of protectionism, this option is nearly closed in today’s global scenario which ultimately can cause political and social convulsion. Multilateral institutions, development agencies, and international law must do far more to resolve the impending crisis in line with the sustainable development goals.
FLT 2 PAPER 2
Q. Involving local communities along with the welfare of women can prevent malnutrition in the country effectively. Elaborate.
Model Answer:
While India’s malnutrition rates have improved over the recent years, the country is still facing a Triple burden of Malnutrition i.e. undernutrition, Hidden hunger, and Child overweight. In Global Hunger Index 2021 India ranked 101 among 116 countries under the Serious Level category, whereas the report of the WHO positioned India as the world’s third most obese nation after the USA and China.
The Core Strength of a nation is vested in the capabilities of its people. Malnutrition inflicts the very human resources base, severely limiting the socio-economic development of a nation. In this regard involvement of the local community along with the empowerment of women becomes essential in tackling the issue of malnutrition.
Role of Local Community in preventing Malnutrition:
Ensuring accountability and Avoiding Leakages- using methods like surveys, social audits, local community’s checks both inclusion and exclusion errors and ensure accountability and better targeting thus improving the delivery of food and nutrition. Eg. ‘Collective Action for Nutrition’ (CAN) social audit program in Odisha.
Making Govt. interventions culturally adaptable– involvement local community build trust and cooperation that ensures various Govt. interventions are culturally appropriate and holistic in terms of design and implementation thus making it easier to adapt in fighting against Malnutrition. Example- fish, egg, and dry fruits in mid-day meal program of states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Lakshadweep.
Checking discrimination: There is a correlation between discrimination based on gender, caste or religion and poor nutrition. With participation and active sensitization of the local community, such discrimination can be checked which in turn helps in fighting malnutrition.
Acting as Role Model: Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) recommended by both WHO and UNICEF, has shown positive results in the Nandurbar district of Maharashtra that led to rapid reduction of malnutrition among children between 2015-16 (NFHS-4) to 2019-20 (NFHS-5). it has the potential to be scaled up anywhere in India.
Support system: This collective action by communities imparts a sense of psychosocial well-being, self-efficacy and confidence to the group members along with the creation of a protective environment that helps in fighting malnutrition. Eg. the Proliferation of various community kitchens was conceived, organized, and run by the people in various states to tackle food security crisis during the lockdown.
Promotion of nutritional behavior: Synergy between the local community and various govt. departments can help in making the public aware of nutritional behavior.
Eg. SAAMAR (Strategic Action for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anemia Reduction) campaign to tackle malnutrition in the state of Jharkhand.
Welfare of women and Malnutrition
Mother’s Literacy: Mothers empowered with knowledge and a facilitative environment, as the decision-maker in the house they can ensure proper dietary diversity, breastfeeding immunization and other interventions which is crucial for reducing malnutrition.
Ending gender discrimination- female members of the household tend to be treated as inferior and receive a relatively lower share of nutrition. Women end up eating the last and the least. Undernourished mothers give birth to an undernourished baby thus perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of under nutrition. To break this circle, the welfare of women is imperative.
Empowered women farmers can help fight malnutrition- Given financial support and choice in crop selection. A report of CARE India suggested that women farmers preferred crops that would contribute to household dietary diversity while promoting food and nutrition security rather than being more inclined towards cash crops.
Political empowerment- Role of women Sarpanchs in states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh showed that Women in leadership positions tend to take up issues related to health and hygiene on priority hence fighting rather effectively with menace like Malnutrition.
In the fight against Malnutrition India needs a change of perspective where malnutrition is seen as a social issue rather than as a health problem. An integrated approach involving all the stakeholders along with the robust framework of service delivery can help India to achieve the aim of the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
Mains Guidance Plus is a wholesome package for UPSC Aspirants. The aim behind this program is not just to provide students with Model tests, but to cover multiple needs of students. From Mentorship to current affairs, the program has all the necessary elements needed for mains 2021.
PROGRAM INCLUSION:
Sectional Tests: 8 sectional tests to cover your static portions in detail. The scope will spread over your core subjects like History, economics, and polity, etc.
Full-length tests: 12 FLTs to help you practice for the final Mains examination. These FLTs are patterned on UPSC Examination and have medium to high-quality questions. They will surely boost your preparation and test your analytical skills.
One on One Mentorship: After every test, a call with a mentor will be arranged and you can clear your doubts on the paper. This is important as with your mentor you can discuss your weakness and strategize for the next paper.
Quality Enrichment Program Notes: QEP is an intensive and holistic program for IAS Mains 2021 GS papers. We aim to cover up to 250 most relevant issues with a 360-degree view, covering all dimensions of each and every topic. Not only you’ll learn and analyze these issues but will also understand how to utilize them via Daily Answer Writing and Mains Test Series.
Mains Super 50 is a program apt for those aspirants whose focus lies on clearing Mains 2021. Those Students who have been practicing some answer writing and want to directly start with FLTs should opt for this. This program also has complete mentorship support.
PROGRAM INCLUSION:
Full-length tests: 12 FLTs to help you practice for the final Mains examination. These FLTs are patterned on UPSC Examination and have medium to high-quality questions. They will surely boost your preparation and test your analytical skills.
One on One Mentorship: After every test, a call with a mentor will be arranged and you can clear your doubts on the paper. This is important as with your mentor you can discuss your weakness and strategize for the next paper.
Weekly Zoom Call with Sukanya Ma’am: These calls will focus on paper discussion and students can as well raise their queries.
Mentorship is a forte of Civilsdaily and once you experience it, you will believe it. Mains Guidance Mini is a program focused on mentorship-based improvement. You can appear in any Test series, we will provide you the mentorship on that paper.
PROGRAM INCLUSION:
10 Test Discussion: You can discuss 10 FLTs in which you have appeared recently. These tests can be from any institute. Just mail to us and we will provide you the guidance.
One on One Mentorship: After submitting a test, a call with a mentor will be arranged and you can clear your doubts on the paper. This is important as with your mentor you can discuss your weakness and strategize for the next paper.
GS-1 Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times.
GS-2 Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
GS-3 Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
GS-4 Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships
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*.
Prelims Super-25 Program is back after a thumping success in Prelims 2021. Out of 25 students Santhosh sir has mentored, 15 have cleared prelims this time.
Do you want to practice medium to tough test series regularly? Before attending a test do you want to revise the right notes with integrated current affairs? And, after a test do you want an experienced mentor to discuss your answers and motivate you?
If yes, then this is the right program for you! The registrations are open for all UPSC 2022 aspirants.
Is Prelims the Toughest Exam of UPSC-CSE?
Toppers like Pranav Vijayvergiya (AIR 65) and Swati Sharma (AIR 17) have found Prelims to be tougher than Mains. In fact, Pranav failed to clear Prelims thrice. But, in his fourth attempt he had cleared Mains and Interview in one shot!
What makes prelims tough? It’s because the paper is unpredictable. If this year, science questions are a breeze then the next year you will have to answer advanced concept based questions.
Unlike Mains, Prelims has negative marking. One has to be good at elimination methods to choose the right option amongst two similar ones.
Our Super 25 Prelims Program started as a pilot project last year with an aim to introduce step-wise improvement in our chosen 25 aspirants. Over a period of 2 months, Santhosh sir inculcated confidence in aspirants who were either newbies or gave too many attempts.
This year, we achieved a remarkable 60% success ratio. Next year, we have set our eyes on 100%. Yes, we are ambitious and aspirational just like any other UPSC aspirant.
How do Students find Santhosh Sir’s Mentorship?
Santhosh sir has always been more than a guide. He has always walked with aspirants in their UPSC journey than ahead of them. Whenever our students were demotivated, this is how Santhosh sir lifted their spirits —
Testimonials by students who successfully cleared UPSC 2021 Prelims —
The program has three pillars and every aspirant who enrolls for Smash 2022 Prelims has access to all of them.
Pillar-1
Prelims Tests:
40 (12 Basic + 6 Advanced + 10 CA tests + 8 Full tests + 4 CSAT)
Sl No.
SUBJECT
NO. OF TESTS
1
Polity
3
2
Modern History
2
3
Economy
2
4
Geography
3
5
Environment
3
6
Science & Technology
1
7
Ancient and Medieval India
2
8
Economic Survey
1
9
Schemes and India Year Book
1
10
Current Affairs
10
11
CSAT
4
12
Full Length Test
8
Pillar-2
Value Additions Notes and Classes by Santosh Gupta Sir
Polity
Santhosh Gupta sir will conduct two sessions covering all the Polity Fundamentals, a session analyzing past year papers, another session on important current affairs related to polity this year and will discuss your test solutions.
History
Santhosh Gupta sir will conduct a session on Sectoral Developments in Modern History, a session analyzing past year papers and test discussion.
Economy
There will be sessions on economic survey, trend analysis, discussion of most important economic current affairs, past year paper analysis and economy final test discussion.
Geography
Santhosh sir will conduct sessions on the most difficult aspects like Geography Mapping, Economic Geography and Indian Agriculture.
Environment
Santhosh Gupta sir will cover sessions on Environment innovatively. Key concepts like vegetation and biome, Indian wildlife, conventions and protocols, national parks and sanctuaries, agriculture and sustainable development and environment current affairs will be covered.
Science & Technology
This year’s prelims paper questioned on the basic concepts of science. Keeping this in mind, Santhosh Gupta sir will conduct 2 sessions on One basic concepts and current affairs of science and technology.
Other Value Additions
1. Decimate Prelims-2022 Content: 2 years of current affairs notes for all topics + Videos
2. Civilsdaily Current Affairs Magazines for 1 year
3. Civilsdaily compilations of Yojna, Kurukshetra, PRS and RS TV.
4. Civilsdaily Budget And Economic Survey Summary.
Pillar-3
Santhosh Gupta sir’s mentorship programme will have these special features for aspirants.
1. Monthly zoom session by Santosh Gupta for doubt clearance and continuous improvement.
2. 1-1 mentor calls after tests.
3. Habitat/Whatsapp support from mentors.
4. Frequent sessions with toppers for support and guidance.
If you have any doubts regarding the program, pleasefill the formfor a call back.
Aspirants who don’t want the full program can opt for Smash Prelims-2022: Mini version. This will not have value added notes. Prelims tests + individual mentorship + monthly zoom sessions by Santosh Gupta sir will be available for this plan.
Paper 4 aka Ethics is the most dynamic General studies paper out of the lot. There is no “ONE WAY approach” in ethics. In our experience of working with 1000+ students, ethics is a gamechanger for the UPSC examination. As compared to other paper, it has less syllabus and require less time to master but can be very rewarding.
The TRICK is to learn the static portion, link them to current affairs and bring it in writing. So, ethics needs hold over ART OF ANSWER WRITING as well as STATIC MATERIAL.
The Smash ethics program will focus on both the needs of answer writing and static coverage of the syllabus.
REMEMBER: General studies paper 4 is the only paper where you can score 110+ marks easily. Considering the fact that the syllabus is least out of all the other General studies papers. The amount of time this paper requires is also relatively less. Thus, this paper can play a major role in boosting your score in the final mark sheet.
TRENDS IN ETHICS PAPER
Shift towards more conceptual questions than direct static questions
Consider the first questions of 2 years:
What do you understand by ‘values’ and ‘ethics’? In what way is it important to be ethical along with being professionally competent? (PYQ 2013)
Discuss the role of ethics and values in enhancing the following three major components of Comprehensive National Power viz. human capital, soft power, and social harmony. (PYQ 2020)
The difficulty level of paper has more or less increased. This requires more practice and smart work.
More current affairs focused
The number of questions linked to current affairs is increasing. So, here you have to be careful to link the theory with current affairs.
“Education is not an injunction, it is an effective and pervasive tool for all-round development of an individual and social transformation”. Examine the New Education Policy, 2020 (NEP, 2020) in light of the above statement. (PYQ 2020)
There is a view that the Official Secrets Act is an obstacle to the implementation of the Right to Information Act. Do you agree with the view? Discuss. (PYQ 2019)
Complex case studies
Parmal is a small but underdeveloped district. It has rocky terrain that is not suitable for agriculture, though some subsistence agriculture is being done on small plots of land. The area receives adequate rainfall and has an irrigation canal flowing through it. Amria, its administrative center, is a medium-sized town. It houses a large district hospital, an Industrial Training Institute, and some privately owned skill training centers. It has all the facilities of a district headquarters. A trunk railway line passes approximately 50 kilometers from Amria. Its poor connectivity is a major reason for the absence of any major industry therein. The state government offers a 10 years tax holiday as an incentive to the new industries.
In 2010 Anil, an industrialist decided to take benefits to set up Amria Plastic Works (APW) in Noora village, about 20 km from Amria. While the factory was being built, Anil hired the required key labor and got them trained at the skill training centers at Amria. This act of his made the key personnel very loyal to APW.
APW started production in 2011 with the labor drawn fully from Noora village. The villagers were very happy to get employment near their homes and were motivated by the key personnel to meet the production targets with high quality. APW started making large profits, a sizeable portion of which was used to improve the quality of life in Noora. By 2016, Noora could boast of a greener village and a renovated village temple. Anil liaised with the local MLA to increase the frequency of the bus services to Amria. The government also opened a primary health care center and primary school at Noora in buildings constructed by APW. APW used its CSR funds to set up women’s self-help groups, subsidize primary education to the village children and procure an ambulance for use by its employees and the needy.
In 2019, there was a minor fire in APW It was quickly extinguished as fire safety protocols were in place in the factory. Investigations revealed that the factory had been using electricity in excess of its authorized capacity. This was soon rectified. The next year, due to a nationwide lockdown, the requirement of production fell for four months. Anil decided that all employees would be paid regularly. He employed them to plant trees and improve the village habitat. APW had developed a reputation for high-quality production and a motivated workforce.
Critically analyze the story of APW and state the ethical issues involved. Do you consider APW as a role model for the development of backward areas? Give reasons. (PYQ 2020)
Not only the length but also, complexity levels of the case studies has also increased.
Lengthier paper
Gone are the days when solving Ethics papers within the time limits without practicing mocks seemed achievable. Today, with lengthy case studies and tricky Section A questions, this paper demands more answer writing practice.
Here’s what the program includes:
VIDEO LECTURES
Structured video lectures of Paper 4 for a concrete understanding of the syllabus. Our novel methodology accompanied by an in-depth explanation ensures comprehensive coverage of every topic in the syllabus. Added to this, we have made sure to add that extra element of fun.
Here’s a snapshot of the lecture for you:
8 FLT TESTS
FLT tests will help to bring together the ideas and concepts to the art of answer writing. Practice full-length tests to evaluate your levels. With every test and discussion on strategies to follow, one can improve with every test.
Questions framed are from the most important UPSC relevant themes and papers are based on the latest pattern of UPSC. Get model answers covering all the aspects of a question and providing enriching points to the student.
MENTORSHIP SUPPORT ON ZOOM CALL
A schedule is created where dedicated days are kept to discuss your doubts regarding each test and lecture. Weekly zoom calls can help boost ideas and discussion on various techniques, also among peers so that one can get a lot of exposure on various answer writing techniques and points to write in the answer.
Also, the best answer copy of the week can be taken for discussion so that you can get an idea of how to write better.
CIVILSDAILY’S HANDHOLDING
You’ll be given membership to an exclusive group on Civilsdaily’s Habitat. The group will be headed by Sukanya ma’am herself. From doubt resolution and discussion will be done by Sukanya ma’am only. Here you can directly connect with ma’am.
Habitat is where everything comes together learning, doubt clearing, mentor’s support, and a focused community. You’re going to learn and discuss it like never before.
Program inclusion
Comprehensive Video Lectures covering Paper 4
8 FLT tests with dedicated days for test discussion
Mentorship support over weekly zoom calls by Sukanya ma’am
Membership of Ethics group (exclusive) on Civilsdaily’s Habitat
*Note: The test in the module will be uploaded as per the 2021 schedule…2022 students can follow their respective schedules or flexible ones*
About the mentor:
Sukanya Rana:
Sukanya ma’am has firsthand experience of 4 mains and 2 interviews of UPSC. She has also appeared in the State PCS interview. Before she has worked as an officer in a public sector bank and now as a Mentor at Civilsdaily, she aims to guide future aspirants in finding success.
Sukanya Ma’am has scored consistently 100+ marks in ethics and in 2019 her marks were 140 in GS 4. In 2020, under her mentorship, many smash mains students were able to secure 110+ marks.
GS-1 Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc, geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
GS-2 Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
GS-3 Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it.
GS-4 Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships
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*.
