Maintaining consistency is one of the biggest issues faced by IAS Aspirants. Streak’s initiative is to help Aspirants in their day-to-day preparation. You can follow the monthly, weekly, and daily timetables and continue this streak until you find yourself on the final list.

Please register for Streak Initiative (free) through this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/streak-daily-initiative/

You will get following study material:-

1. Questions (PDF).
2. RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
3. Burning issue (PDF).
4. Subject specific (PDF).
5. Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.

_____________________________________________

UPSC Daily Study Plan For 2021 and 2022 || STREAK – by Ravi Ranjan

CSAT for UPSC Prelims || Free CSAT Sessions by Civilsdaily – by Ravi Ranjan

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) Which of the following can cause DNA damage and mutations in humans?

a. Absorption of UV – A and UV – B

b. Absorption of UV – B

c. Absorption of UV – A

d. Absorption of UV – A and UV – C

Q2) Consider the following statements:

1. The objective of the Minamata Convention is to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.
2. The treaty also addresses the direct mining of mercury, its export and import, its safe storage and its disposal once as waste.
3. Dental fillings which use amalgam are also regulated under the convention.

Select the correct option:

a. 1 only

b. 1 and 2

c. 1 and 3

d. 1, 2 and 3

Q3) Consider the following statements about ozone hole over Arctic 

1. It has reached a maximum extension of around 1 million sq km. 
2. Recently, the German Aerospace Centre observed the closure of ozone holes mainly because of the reduced pollution levels due to covid-19 lockdown. 

Which of the above statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4) Consider the following statements with respect to Deepor Beel Lake 

1. It is a permanent freshwater lake, in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River. 
2. It is the only wetland in Assam designated as a site of importance under Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q5) Consider the following statements with respect to Galathea National Park 

1. It is located on the island of Great Nicobar in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
2. It is an iconic nesting site in India of the enigmatic Giant Leatherback, the world’s largest marine turtle. 
3. The park is home to the indigenous Shompen community. 

Which of the statements given above are correct? 

a. 1 and 2 only 

b. 1 and 3 only 

c. 2 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2 and 3

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Most Probable Questions on Environment & Ecology – by Santosh Gupta

Q1) Which of the following are regarded as ‘Ecosystem services’?

1. Soil formation
2. Nutrient cycling
3. Habitat for wildlife
4. Climate regulation
5. Tourism 

Select the correct answer using the code

given below.

a. 1 and 2 only

b. 3, 4 and 5only

c. 1, 2 and 3 only

d. All of them

Q2) Which of the following is/are the causes of coral bleaching in India?

1. Excessive sedimentation in the reef
2. ecosystem
3. Excess nutrients like ammonia and
4. nitrates entering the reef system
5. Increased exposure to Ultraviolet (UV)
6. Radiation
7. Repeated EL- Nino and La- Nina

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a. 1 and 3 only

b. 1, 2 and 3 only

c. 2 and 4 only

d. All of them 

Q3) Which of the following contribute in the Cultural eutrophication?

1. Excessive use of fertilisers
2. Untreated sewage
3. Detergents containing phosphorus
4. Discharge of industrial waste
5. Acid rain 

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a. 2, 3 and 4 only

b. 1, 2 and 4 only

c. 1 and 3 only

d. All of them 

Q4) Which of the following is/are the reasons for ozone depletion by polar stratospheric clouds?

1. They convert free radicals of halogens to oxide which then reacts with ozone causing its depletion. 
2. They remove gaseous nitric acid which reacts with oxides of halogens. 

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. 1 and 2 

d. None of them

Q5) Consider the following statements

1. The acidified ocean water leads to reduction of sulphur which may lead to decreased cloud formation and raising global temperatures. 
2. Ocean acidification occurs through the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere only

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. 1 and 2 

d. None of them

Daily Dose: Complete Snapshots of Everyday News – by Shweta Mishra

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02 Sept 2021

A strait is a naturally formed, narrow, typically navigable waterway that connects two larger bodies of water. Most commonly it is a channel of water that lies between two landmasses. Some straits are not navigable, for example, because they are too shallow, or because of an unnavigable reef or archipelago.

1. Strait of Hormuz

• It links the Persian Gulf (west) with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea (southeast).
• On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman. 
• The strait is 35 to 60 miles (55 to 95 km) wide and separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula.
• It contains the islands of Qeshm (Qishm), Hormuz, and Hengām (Henjām) and is of great strategic and economic importance, especially as oil tankers collecting from various ports on the Persian Gulf must pass through the strait.
• OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the Strait
• Qatar, the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, sends almost all of its LNG through the Strait
• The UAE and Saudi Arabia have sought to find other routes to bypass the Strait, including building pipelines.

2. Strait of Malacca

• Strait of Malacca connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
• Stretching about 800km, it is the longest straits in the world and facilitates not just shipping and the movement of people in the surrounding communities but is a confluence of trade, cultures, ideas, and knowledge between the East and West.
• It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular (West) Malaysia and extreme southern Thailand to the east and has an area of about 25,000 square miles (65,000 square km).
• The strait derived its name from the trading port of Melaka (formerly Malacca)—which was of importance in the 16th and 17th centuries—on the Malay coast.
• As the link between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca is the shortest sea route between India and China and hence is one of the most heavily travelled shipping channels in the world.
• Singapore, one of the world’s most important ports, is situated at the strait’s southern end.
• The global shift in economic power from the West to the East coupled with burgeoning trade, investments, and production in areas spanning the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions has given increasing importance to this region.

3. Bab-el-Mandab

• The Bab al-Mandab strait is the narrow waterway that separates the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa.
• It links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
• At its narrowest point, the strait is only 29 km wide between Yemen on one side and Djibouti and Eritrea on the other.
• It is a key strategic channel for commerce and trade, with an estimated 4 percent of global oil supply passing through it.

4. Palk Strait

• It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with Palk Bay in the southwest.
• The strait is 40 to 85 miles (64 to 137 km) wide, 85 miles long, and less than 330 feet (100 metres) deep.
• It receives several rivers, including the Vaigai (India), and it contains many islands on the Sri Lankan side.
• The Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP) is a 167 km long shipping canal, and envisages the creation of a navigable canal from the Gulf of. Mannar to the Bay of Bengal to facilitate the movement of ships.
• The Adam’s Bridge is a series of sand shoals created by sedimentation over a period of time.
• All islands are made up of a calcareous framework of dead reef and sand.
• In India, the Gulf of Mannar region in Tamil Nadu is one of the four major coral reef areas and the others are Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, Lakhsadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands.
• With its rich biodiversity of over 4,000 species of various flora and fauna, part of this Gulf of Mannar between Rameswaram and Tuticoirin covering 21 islands and the surrounding shallow coastal waters was declared as a Marine National Park in 1986.

5.Sunda Strait

• It links the Java Sea (Pacific Ocean) with the Indian Ocean (south).
• Sunda Strait, Indonesian Selat Sunda, is a channel, 16–70 miles (26–110 km) wide, between the islands of Java (east) and Sumatra.
• The Sunda Strait is an important passage connecting the Indian Ocean with eastern Asia.
• The strait stretches in a roughly northeast/southwest orientation, with a minimum width of 24 km (15 mi) at its northeastern end between Cape Tua on Sumatra and Cape Pujat on Java.
• It is very deep at its western end, but as it narrows to the east it becomes much shallower, with a depth of only 20 m (65 feet) in parts of the eastern end.
• It is notoriously difficult to navigate because of this shallowness, very strong tidal currents, sandbanks, and man-made obstructions such as oil platforms off the Java coast.
• The strait’s narrowness, shallowness, and lack of accurate charting make it unsuitable for many modern, large ships, most of which use the Strait of Malacca instead.

6.Mozambique Channel

• It is located between the island nation of Madagascar on the east and Mozambique on the African mainland (west).
• About 1,000 miles (1,600 km) long, it varies in width from 250 to 600 miles (400 to 950 km) and reaches a maximum depth of 10,000 feet (3,000 m).
• The Comoro Archipelago marks the northern entrance, and the islands of Bassas da India and Europa lie in the south.
• An important route for shipping in eastern Africa, it receives all major Madagascar rivers and has the ports of Mahajanga (Majunga) and Toliary (Tuléar) on the same coast.
• Along the opposite coast are the mouth of the Zambezi River and the ports of Maputo (formerly Lourenço Marques), Moçambique, and Beira.
• The Mozambique Current passes through the strait.

7.Gibraltar Strait

• It is a channel connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, lying between southernmost Spain and northwesternmost Africa.
• It is 36 miles (58 km) long and narrows to 8 miles (13 km) in width between Point Marroquí (Spain) and Point Cires (Morocco).
• It is one of the most significant global sea lanes because it provides a means of seaborne transit for shipping between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and via the Suez Canal into the Indian Ocean and beyond.
• After the English Channel, the Strait is the world’s busiest shipping lane.

8. Bosphorus strait and Dardanelles strait

• Bosphorus,also known as the Strait of Istanbul, is a narrow, natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in northwestern Turkey.
• The Bosporus connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, and, by extension via the Dardanelles, the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.
• It is the world’s narrowest strait used for international navigation.
• Dardanelles is a narrow, natural strait and internationally significant waterway in northwestern Turkey that forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia, and separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey.
• The Dardanelles connects the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, while also allowing passage to the Black Sea by extension via the Bosphorus.
• The Dardanelles is 61 kilometres (38 mi) long, and 1.2 to 6 kilometres (0.75 to 3.73 mi) wide, averaging 55 metres (180 ft) deep with a maximum depth of 103 metres (338 ft) at its narrowest point abreast the city of Çanakkale

9. Yucatan Strait

Joining seas/ Water Bodies : Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

Location: Mexico-Cuba

10. Mesina Strait  

Joining seas/ Water Bodies : Mediterranean Sea

Location: Italy-Sicily

11. Otranto Strait

Joining seas/ Water Bodies :Adriatic Sea & Ionian Sea

Location: Italy-Albania

12. Cook Strait 

Joining seas/ Water Bodies :South Pacific Ocean

Location:  New Zealand (North & South Islands)

13. North Channel

Joining seas/ Water Bodies :Irish Sea & Atlantic Ocean

Location: Ireland-England

14. Hudson strait     

Joining seas/ Water Bodies : Gulf of Hudson & Atlantic Ocean

Location: Canada

15. Magellan strait   

Join: Pacific and South Atlantic Ocean

Location: Chile

16. Makassar Strait

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: the Java Sea & Celebes Sea

Location: Indonesia

17. Tsugaru Strait 

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean

Location: Japan (Hokkaido-Honshu Island)

18. Tatar Strait  

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: Japan Sea & Okhotsk Sea

Location: Russia (East Russia-Sakhalin Islands)

19. Fovex Strait 

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: South Pacific Ocean

Location: New Zealand (South Island- Stewart Island)

20. Formosa Strait  

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: the South China Sea & East China Sea

Location: China-Taiwan

21. Taurus Strait

Joining seas/ Water Bodies:Arafura Sea & Gulf of Papua

Location: Papua New Guinea — Australia

22. Bass Strait

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: the Tasman Sea & South Sea

Location: Australia

23. Bering Strait

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: the Bering Sea & Chukchi Sea

Location: Alaska-Russia

24. Bonne-Fasio Strait

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: Mediterranean Sea

Location: Corsica — Sardinia

25. Davis Strait  

Joining seas/ Water Bodies : the Baffin Bay & Atlantic Ocean

Location: Greenland-Canada

26. Denmark Strait 

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean

Location: Greenland-Iceland

27. Dover strait  

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: The English Channel & North Sea

Location: England-France

28. Florida Strait

Joining seas/ Water Bodies: Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean

Location: USA-Cuba

---

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Context

• Bureaucracy is the backbone of the administrative machinery of the country which forms the permanent executive branch of the government.
• From a reading of the historical literature, public administration in India can be traced back to the manuscripts of Arthashasthra written by Kautilya.
• In the next major phase, Bharat witnessed the rule of the Guptas also termed by many historians as the ‘Golden Age.’
• The discussion on ‘Historical Perspectives on Indian Bureaucracy’ begins with an overview of the history of civil services in India.

What are Civil Services?

• The Civil Services refer to the career civil servants who are the permanent executive branch of the Republic of India.
• Elected cabinet ministers determine policy, and civil servants carry it out.

If humans as a species are made to survive independently, then why administer them?  What would be the need for public administration? Does the public need to be administered or the administers are needed for the sustenance of public and society, at large? Is it merely about managing resources or it involves greater functioning of the systems?

Why do we need Civil Services?

• In the Indian context, in society as vast and heterogeneous, equitable distribution of resources and services is the key to the prosperity of all.
• Gandhiji’s Talisman, ‘Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]’ gives the necessary direction to this discussion.
• Public administration is a system to ensure that these steps are contemplated and implemented for the growth, well-being, and prosperity of all including that poorest face.

History of the Civil Services in India

• The original conception of the ‘civil service’ can be traced back to the Royal Charters which gave the East India Company, the powers to raise a cadre of troops – for both civilian and military purposes.
• The introduction of competitive exams in the mid-1800s was an important development which gave primacy to merit-based appointment as opposed to the privilege-based appointment through a referral system.
• The commissions that were set up in reforming the public services – from the Macaulay Committee to the Islington Committee to the Lee Commission, strongly suggested that the Statutory Public Service Commission be brought into force.
• During the Constituent Assembly Debates (CAD), there were detailed discussions and arguments about the continuity, the role and loyalty of Indian civil servants.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was single-handedly responsible for setting up the Civil Services in Independent India and is, therefore, rightly called the ‘Iron Man of India’.

Note: We shall not dive deeper into the evolution of Civil Services in India. That is better learnt in your Modern History Sources

Early Indians in the Civil Service

• The first Indian to clear the ICS exam was Satyendra Nath Tagore in the year 1864.
• It is important to remember that until 1922 post the Montagu Chelmsford Reforms, the exam was conducted only in London, which greatly restricted the access of Indians to clear the examination.
• However, there was a fair share of Indians who started clearing the exams.
• The notable names being Bihari Lal Gupta and Romesh Chandra Dutt, who later became the President of the Indian National Congress in 1899 and wrote the pioneering book on ‘The Economic History of India ‘.
• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose did not join the Indian civil service even after clearing the exam that sheds light on the strong ideological stance Bose took during the freedom struggle.
• Sir Benegal Narasinga Rau was another eminent personality among the ICS who was appointed as the Constitutional Advisor on 1st July 1946 over a year before India became independent. Later, he became the first judge of the International Court of Justice from India.
• Sukumar Sen, India’s first Chief Election Commissioner, who later went on to become Sudan’s first Chief Election Commissioner as well, was one such hero.

Constitution and the Civil Services

• Articles 310, 311, and 312 of the Indian Constitution pertain to Services under the Union and State.
• Article 310 enshrines that civil servant of the Union and All-India Services are appointed by the President of India and civil servants at the State level are appointed by the Governor of the State.
• They continue to hold office as per the pleasure of the President and Governor, respectively. Therefore, they have the security of tenure.
• Article 311 mentions the procedures and conditions for removal, dismissal from service, and reduction in rank, thus ensuring due process of law. This ensures that civil servants are protected from political interference and undue harassment.
• Article 312 lays down the All-India Services of India. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the State Public Service Commissions are constitutional bodies.

Related Information

• Every year April 21 is ‘Civil Services Day’ to call on civil servants to renew their dedication and commitment to public service and excellence in work.’
• On this day, the Prime Minister’s Excellence Awards are given to recognize and acknowledge outstanding work done by Districts/ Organizations of the Central and State Governments for outcome-oriented performance.

Challenges and Reforms in the Civil Service

• Post-independence, India adopted the socialist-welfare model of development which increased the scope of government’s interference in all key sectors of the economy.
• Some of the fundamental tenets of a good bureaucracy are political neutrality, objectivity in decision-making, empathy, equity, etc. As an officer appointed to serve the public, one cannot take any political affiliation or alignment but do one’s work objectively and impartially.
• Therein, constitutionalism matters because every civil servant must be guided by the letter and spirit of our Constitution.
• Ethics in public administration are important because civil servants are often holding offices that give them a lot of power and authority. Therefore, an officer’s moral compass is key for good governance.

Reforms in the CS

• Various committees over the years have suggested changes and improvements to the civil services regarding recruitment, mid-career training, capacity-building, the impetus for specialisation, efficiency, accountability, etc.
• The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (headed by Veerappa Moily) discussed the shortcomings and suggests improvements regarding recruitment, performance, and result-oriented bureaucracy.
• In the last decade, several reforms have been undertaken.
• Be it the introduction of lateral entry to have expert consultants at the Joint Secretary level, the regular training programmes of training at various levels for career civil servants and a record of performance evaluation.

Debate over lateral entry

• A more recent debate about the bureaucracy, especially the administrative service, is about ‘generalists’ versus ‘specialists’.
• The role of an administrator is to ensure fair, equitable, and efficient administration of her/his unit, right from the sub-division, district and up to various departments and Ministries at the State and Central levels.
• Therefore, a broad understanding of the various issues, departments, roles and responsibilities is sine qua non for quick and Effective redressal of public grievances.
• So an officer who can effectively handle all areas of administration and policy from health to agriculture to defence, and ensure that work is done at levels junior to oneself needs to be one with ‘general skills’, although some say that the ability to administer well is in itself is a unique skill.

However, specialization may be considered higher up in the ladder based on the officer’s qualifications, interests and work experience depending upon the needs and exigencies at that time.

As technology develops and the socioeconomic changes transform India, we need to ensure that these changes do not outpace policy reform.

Conclusion

• Many fresh graduates from HTs, IIMs, NLUs and other professionals like doctors, chartered accountants, etc. appear for the UPSC Civil Services every year.
• This has brought fresh energy and ideas into the bureaucracy. They bring with them their professional expertise adding richly to public administration.
• Therefore, more and more young professionals from varied socio-economic and academic backgrounds need to enter the civil services to enrich it further and take part in nation-building.

Maintaining consistency is one of the biggest issues faced by IAS Aspirants. Streak’s initiative is to help Aspirants in their day-to-day preparation. You can follow the monthly, weekly, and daily timetables and continue this streak until you find yourself on the final list.

Please register for Streak Initiative (free) through this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/streak-daily-initiative/

You will get following study material:-

1. Questions (PDF).
2. RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
3. Burning issue (PDF).
4. Subject specific (PDF).
5. Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.

_____________________________________________

UPSC Daily Study Plan For 2021 and 2022 || STREAK – by Ravi Ranjan

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) Consider the following statements:

1. Tropical forests have poor soils.
2. Undergrowth in tropical forests is abundant.

Select the correct option:

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. 1 and 2

D. None

Q2) Which of the following is known as crustaceans?

1. Jellyfish
2. Crabs
3. sea anemone
4. Krill

Select the correct option:

A. 1, 3, 4

B. 1, 2, 3

C. 2 and 4

D. 3 and 4

Q3) Stockholm+50 is a high level meeting that will primarily focus on which of the following areas? 

A. Arms control and disarmament. 

B. Counter Terrorism and Cyber Security 

C. Wildlife Conservation 

D. Environmental Conservation

Q4) Consider the following statements with respect to Biological Diversity Act, 2002

1. According to the act only the central government can notify a location as Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) in the official gazette. 
2. The State Government in consultation with the Central Government may frame rules for the management and conservation of BHS. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

A. 1 only 

B. 2 only 

C. Both 1 and 2 

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q5) Which of the following statements are correct with respect to Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020? 

1. It was designed by the Rhino Task Force with a target to achieve a rhino population of 3,000. 
2. Worldwide Fund for Nature India (WWF-India) and Bodoland Territorial Council are part of this initiative. 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

A. 1 only 

B. 2 only 

C. Both 1 and 2 

D. Neither 1 nor 2

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Most Probable Questions on Environment & Ecology – by Santosh Gupta

Q1) Identify the correct statement/s in context to the arctic tundra. 

1. The plants in the arctic tundra have a long life. 
2. Mammals here have small body size to avoid the loss of heat from the surface. 
3. Insects in this region have short life cycles.
4. All mammals go into hibernation in winter to avoid cold

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1, 2 and4

B. 1, 2 and 3 

C. 1 and 3 only

D. All of them 

Q2) Which of the following statement/s is/are correct with respect to boreal forest? 

1. It is characterized by evergreen plant species. 
2. These forests are found in regions with high rainfall, long summers and short winters. 
3. The soils found here are alkaline in nature.

Which of the above statements is/are true?

A. 1 and 2 

B. 2 and 3

C. 1 only

D. All of them

Q3. Identify the correct statement/s in context to estuaries. 

1. They are located where the river meets the sea. 
2. They act as a shelter for animals. 
3. Estuaries are Ecotone

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1 and 2 

B. 2 and 3

C. 1 only

D. All of them

Q4) Consider the following statements in context to coral reefs. 

1. They occur near the source of freshwater, which is nutrient rich. 
2. The corals are very fast growing colonies of animals. 
3. They are referred to as ‘the Tropical Rainforests of the Oceans’. 

Select the correct code from the codes given below.

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1 and 2 

B. 2 and 3

C. 1  and 3 only

D. All of them

Q5) Consider the following statements about sea weeds and sea grasses

1. Sea grasses  are specialised marine flowering plants , while Seaweeds are a type of macroalgae
2. While sea grasses are attached to the bottom, sea weeds are floating on the surface. 
3. Both are source of carbon sink

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. All of them

 

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01 Sept 2021

Major Rivers in India

Indus River System

Indus	Ancient name → Sindhu Origin → Bokharchu Glacier, Near Mansarovar In Tibet, Called Singi Khamban / Lion’s mouth Enters In India through Ladakh, flows only in J &K Enters Pak through hairpin bend of Nanga Parbat Finally Discharges in Arabian Sea Flows approx. ( 709 / 2880 ) Km in India India uses 20 % of its water by Indo  Pak water treaty of 1960
Shyok	Originates from Rimo Glacier Known as river of death flows through Ladakh in India A tributary of the Indus River
Jhelum	Ancient name → Vitasta Origin → Verinag Spring (Kashmir) Tributary of Indus flows only in J &K Flows Northward to Wular Lake Cut through the gorge in Pir- Panjal range to reach Muzzafarabad (POK)

Chenab	Ancient name → Akshani / Iskmati Origin → Bara Lacha Pass (Himachal) Known as chandra-bhaga in Himachal Chandra River → Water flowing south from the pass Bhaga River     → Water Flowing north from the pass Flows Northward & parallel to Pir –Panjal Range for some distance Cut through gorge in Pir – Panjal & Turns southward Largest tributary of Indus, Flows through Himachal & J & K Famous Projects → Duhasti, Baglihar & Salal hydroelectric project
Ravi	Ancient name → Purushni Origin → Kullu hills near Rohtang Pass (Himachal) Tributary of Chenab Smallest of 5 rivers Flows through Indo – Pak boundary Flows northward b/w Pir – Panjal & Dhauladhar Ranges Cut a gorge through Dhauladhar range & flows southward
Beas	Ancient name → Vipasha Origin → Beas kund near Rohtang Pass, Himachal Tributary of Satluj Only river flowing entirely in India Runs southward, Cut a deep gorge in Dhauladhar & turns west to meet Satluj near Harike (Punjab) Famous Project → Pong Dam
Sutluj	Ancient name → Shatadru Origin → Rakas lake, Tibet, near Mansarovar Enter Himachal at Shipki La Pass Collects water from Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum & Beas to join Indus near Mithalkot (Pak) Famous Projects → Naptha Jhakri Project & Bhakra Nagal Dam with Govind Sagar Reservoir

Ganga River System

• Origin → As Bhagirathi from Gangotri Glacier (Uttarkashi – Uttarakhand)
• Alakananda unites with Bhagirathi at Devprayag, Uttarakhand → Henceforth known as Ganga
• Passing through Rishikesh, it debounches in plains of Haridwar
• From Haridwar, it flows Southward to reach Allahabad where it joins the Yamuna
• Near Rajmahal Hills, it turns southeast & bifurcate at Farraka into Hoogly (Kolkata) & Padma (BD)
• At Bangladesh, Ganga merges with Brahmputra (Known as Jamuna in Bangladesh) at Goalundo Ghats
• Mixture is known as Padma River

• Then it merges with Meghna & finally falls in the Bay of Bengal
• Meghna → Known as Barack river in India
• Major tributaries → Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son & Punpun

Ghaghara	Origin → Bharchachungar Glacier (Rakas lake) near Mansarovar Joins Ganga at Chhapr. Known as Manchu or Karnali in Nepal. Known as Saryu or Ghaghra in UP Perennial river Major tributaries → Sarda & Rakti
Gandak	Origin → Sino – Nepal Boundary (Dhaulagiri range) Known as Kalyani in Nepal Major River of Nepal Joins Ganga at Sonpur, Bihar
Kosi	Origin → Gosainath peak (Tibet) Merges with river Ganga at Bhagalpur (Bihar) Consists of 7 streams & known as Saptakoshi in Nepal Main stream → Arun, Tamur & Sun Koshi Formerly Known as Sorrow of Bihar Major Projects → Kusha Dam
Son	Origin → Amarkantak Plateau (Near north of origin of Narmada) Flows through Kaimur Range to meet Ganga at Patna
Gomti	Originates from Gomat Taal / Fulhaar jheel – Pilibhit A tributary of Ganga
Yamuna	Origin → Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarkashi – Uttarakhand) Largest Tributary of Ganga After cutting deep gorge across Shivalik, it enters into plains near Tajewala Flows southward up to Agra & then turns southeast to meet Ganga at Allahabad Famous tributaries → Chambal, Sind, Betwa & Ken
Betwa	Major Tributaries → Tributary of Yamuna, rises from Vindhya range, MP Major Projects       → Matatila dam & Rajghat dam
Ken	Rises from Kaimur hills in Satna (Madhya Pradesh), a tributary of Yamuna Famous for its Shajar stone &  Raneh waterfalls
Chambal	Origin → Vindhya Range (Mhow, MP) Passes through Kota & Dhaulpur (Rajasthan) Merge with Yamuna at Etawah (UP) forms boundary between Rajasthan & MP Major tributaries       → Kali Sindh, Parvati & Banas Main Power Projects → Gandhisagar, Rana Pratap Sagar & Jawahar Sagar
Banas	Originate from eastern slopes of Aravali Tributary of Chambal
Damodar	Origin → Eastern part of Chhota Nagpur Plateu Meets Hoogli at Falta Power Projects → Talaiya, Maithan, Barakar & Panchet

Brahmaputra River System

• Origin → Chemayungdung Glacier (Kailash Range, Tibet)
• In Tibet, known as TSANG – PO
• In China, known as YARLUNG ZANBO

• Forms grand canyon in Tibet
• Turns southward near Namcha – Barwa
• Enters Arunachal Pradesh as Dihang River at Sadiya, emerging from the mountains
• Joined by Dibang river from the north & Lohit river from the south → Known as Brahamputra
• Turns at Dhubri to enter into Bangladesh
• After joining Teesta, known as Jamuna in BD
• Joins Ganga & Megna → Merges to BOB.
• Forms many river island of which Majuli is world 2^nd largest one
• Major tributaries → Dihang, Lohit, Subansiri, Teesta, Meghna (Barack in Assam), Manas

Teesta	Major tributary of Brahmaputra Rises from Sikkim Known as lifeline of Sikkim
Lohit	Tributary of Brahmaputra Flows through Arunachal Pradesh Along with river, Dihang merges into Brahmaputra, at Sadia town (Arunachal Pradesh)

Peninsular Rivers India – Flowing East to West

Luni	Desertic river, also known as the Sagarmati Rises from the western slopes of the Aravalli Range near Ajmer Ends in the marshy lands of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat Inspite of high salinity, it is a major river in region Serves as a primary source of irrigation
Sabarmati	Rises from Dhebar lake in Aravalli Range of the Udaipur (Rajasthan) Flow Route: Udaipur → Gulf of Khambat → Arabian Sea via Estuary
Mahi	Rises from Vindhya range (MP) flows through MP, Rajasthan & Gujrat & drains in Gulf of Cambay Famous Projects → Banswara Dam & Kadana dam

Narmada	Origin → Amarkantak, Shahdol, MP Also known as Rewa River Flows through rift valley of Vindhya & Satpura Flow Route: MP → Bharuch (Gujrat) → Gulf of Khambat (Gujrat) → Arabian Sea via Estuary Longest among all east to west flowing rivers Known as Life line of MP Forms Duandhar falls at Jabalpur Only tributary → Hiran River Aliabet → Largest Island in Estuary Famous projects →Sardar Sarovar Dam, Maheshwar Dam, Indira Gandhi Sagar Dam
Tawa	Rises in the Satpura Range of Betul (MP) Narmada’s longest tributary
Tapi	Origin → Mahadev hills, Satpura range, Betul district, MP Flow Route: MP   → Maharashtra → Gulf of Khambat or Cambay → Arabian Sea via Estuary Famous projects → Kakrapar Dam & Ukai Dam
Periyar	Rises from Western Ghats in Kerala Flows towards west & drains in Arabian Sea via an estuary

Peninsular Rivers India – Flowing West to East

Mahanadi	Origin → Dandakaranya Hills, Raipur Flow Route: Chhattisgarh → Orissa → EGs → BOB Famous Project : Hirakund Dam
Godavari	Origin → Triambakeshwar Plateau, Nashik, WGs Largest Peninsular River Known as Dakshina / Vriddha Ganga Flow Route: Nashik  → Andhra Pradesh → BOB Famous Tributaries → Penganga, Sabri, Wardha & Indravati Famous Projects     →  Poochampad,  Jayakwadi, Polavaram
Penganga	Rises from Ajanta hills (Maharashtra) a tributary of River Wardha which finally merges into Godavari

Krishna	Origin → Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, WGs Flow Route: Maharashtra → Andhra Pradesh → BOB Famous Projects → Koyna, Tugrabhdra, Srisailam & Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Tungabhadra	a major tributary of Krishna Rises from Western Ghats
Bhima	Rises from Balaghat range (Maharashtra) Tributary of Krishna
Kaveri	Origin → Brahamgiri hills, Karnataka, WGs Flow Route: Karnataka → Kaveripatnam (TN) →BOB Perrenial River Forms Shivasundaram Waterfalls Famous projects → Krishnaraja Sagar & Mettur
Penner	Rises from Karnataka Flows b/w Krishna & Kaveri Drains into BOB
Vaigai	Rises from Palni hills (TN) A seasonal river flows through TN Drains in Gulf of Mannar

Important Rivers of the World

Sr. No.	RIVER	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION
1.	River Amazon	South America	It is the second longest river which flows through Peru, Columbia, Brazil and drains into the Atlantic Ocean.
2.	River Mississippi	North America	It forms a bird-foot like a delta at the Gulf of Mexico, River Missouri is an important tributary of it.
3.	River St. Lawrence	North America	It drains into Gulf of St. Lawrence which is an important transport corridor of North America.
4.	River Orange	South Africa	Longest river of South Africa and contains diamond beds along its mouth.
5.	River Congo	Africa	This river crosses the equator twice and drains into the south Atlantic Ocean.
6.	River Nile	Africa	It is the longest river in the world, originates near Lake Victoria and drains in the Mediterranean Sea.
7.	River Rhine	Western Europe	It flows through Germany and Netherlands. It is one of the busiest waterways of Europe.
8.	River Danube	Europe	It passes through Germany, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, Romania and drains into the Black Sea.
9.	River Volga	Europe, Russia	It is the longest river in Europe, it drains into the Caspian Sea.
10.	River Tigris	Turkey, Iraq	Cities like Mosul, Baghdad, Basra were located along its banks and it drains into the Gulf of Persia.
11.	River Euphrates	Turkey, Syria, Iraq	Main source of water for Syria. It drains into the Persian Gulf.
12.	River Irrawaddy	Myanmar	Drains into Gulf of Martaban
13.	River Mekong	China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam	It is also called ‘Danube of the east’, and it merges with south china sea.
14.	River Yangtze	China	It originates from the Tibetan plateau and ends in east china sea. It is the longest river in China.

Important Lakes of the World

Sr. No.	NAME	LOCATION	FACTS
1.	Titicaca lake	South America	It is the highest navigable lake in the world located in the Andes mountains.
2.	Great bear lake	Canada, North America	It is a big glaciated lake in Canada. The Eskimos of Canada camp here during the summer season.
3.	Great lakes	North America	This comprises of five large lakes of North America such as Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario. Lake Superior is the second largest lake in the world.
4.	Lake Malawi	Central Africa	It is the third-largest lake of Africa and borders Tanzania, Mozambique.
5.	Lake Tanganyika	East Africa	It is the deepest and second largest lake of Africa.
6.	Lake Victoria	Africa	The largest river of Africa and passes through the equator.
7.	Lake Kainji	Africa	Largest manmade lake of Africa, used for irrigation purposes.
8.	Dead sea	West Asia	It is bordered by Jordan in the east and Palestine, Israel in the west. It is known for its high salinity.
9.	Aral Sea	Central Asia	Located between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It is shrinking rapidly in recent years.
10.	Lake Baikal	Russia	It is the largest freshwater lake in Asia and the deepest in the world.
11.	Caspian Sea	Eurasia	It is the largest lake in the world and is surrounded by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan.

Important Mountain Ranges and Peaks of the Worlds

Sr. No.	Mountain Range	Important/Highest Peaks	Location	Description
1.	Rocky Mountains	Mt. Elbert (highest peak in the Rockies)	North America	It is one of the longest fold mountains in the world and extends from Canada to the Western US (New Mexico State).
2.	Appalachian Mountains	Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina, US (highest peak of Appalachian Mountains)	North America	It is a fold mountain rich in mineral resources.
3.	Alps	Mont Blanc (French –Italian border)	Europe	It is a folded mountain and source for rivers like Danube, Rhine, etc.
4.	Sierra Nevada	Mt. Whitney	California, USA	Habitat for many Red Indian tribes
5.	Alaska Range	Mt. McKinley	North America	Mt. McKinley highest peak in North America
6.	Altai Mountains	Belukha mountain	Central Asia	Young folded mountain which extends from Kazakhstan to northern China.
7.	Andes Mountains	Mt. Aconcagua	South America	Longest mountain chain in the world
8.	Atlas Mountains	Mt. Toubkal	Northwestern Africa	Young fold mountain spreading over Morocco and Tunisia.
9.	Drakensberg Mountains	Mt. Lesotho	South Africa	Young folded mountain
10.	Caucasus Mountain	Mt. Elbrus	Europe	Located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea
11.	Ural Mountains	Mt. Narodnaya	Russia	This mountain range act as a boundary between Europe and Asia.
12.	Hindukush Mountains	Mt. Trich Mir	Pakistan and Afghanistan	Folded mountain with rugged topography which makes it difficult for transportation.
13.	Himalayas	Mt. Everest	Asia	Young fold mountains in Asia which separate Indian sub-continent from the Asian plains
14.	Arakan Yoma	Mt. Kennedy peak	Myanmar	It extends from north to south direction. Shifting cultivation is practised.
15.	Kunlun Mountains	Mt. Muztag	North of Tibetan plateau and western China	It is one of the young folded mountains.
16.	Vosges	Mt. Grand Ballon	Eastern France, Europe	Famous for the cultivation of grapes and manufacture of wines.
17.	Great Dividing Range	Mt. Kosciuszko	Australia	This range is the source for the rivers Darling and Murray.

---

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Civilsdaily is bringing a 30 days revision and guidance program for conquering UPPCS Prelims 2021. With the increased focus that UPPCS has been getting in the last couple of years, it’s imperative that aspirants get expert guidance in the trickiest part of the whole process and this program focuses on that aspect.

Importance of Prelims in UPPCS:

• A lot has changed since UPPSC bought in changes in its examination pattern for Uttar Pradesh Combined State/Upper Subordinate Exam or popularly known as the UPPCS examination. 
• The syllabus has changed, the pattern for Mains examination as well as interview weighatge has changed. Because of the above-mentioned changes, a lot many aspirants of UPSC Civil Services, as well as various State PSC’s Examinations, are also vying for UPPCS examinations these days. 
• But what has remained constant is the UPPCS Preliminary Examination. So far it is still a concoction of old age UPPCS Prelims with a hint of tadka of few changes!!!

How to easily crack UPPCS Prelims in 30 days?

• Civilsdaily is bringing in a 30 days program for all those serious aspirants who have a solid background in UPSC Prelims but are still finding their feet in the UPPCS prelims examinations. 
• The program will be headed by Parth Sir and Shweta Mam (Rank 22 in UPPCS 2019) and it will focus on those important elements which are a must for clearing UPPCS Prelims Examination. 
• Parth Sir has given 4 UPPCS Mains and 2 Interviews and has scored one of the highest marks in the UPPCS 2018 Interviews. He achieved all this by altering his UPSC Preparation a bit and since then, he has been guiding students in UPPCS Preparations with great success. 
• Shweta Mam has been a true warrior and apart from giving UPSC Interviews multiple times, she is rank 22 in UPPCS 2019 Examination.

We need to prepare with a tweaked trajectory of what we were doing for UPSC Prelims and we are good to go. What are those trajectories? 

1. Focus on factual elements in Current Affairs (we focus on Analytical elements in UPSC Prelims);
2. keep a tab on Miscellaneous Section (we totally skip it in UPSC Prelims) and;
3. prepare Static Subjects keeping the demand of the last 5 years of UPPCS Prelims (Sources for UPSC Prelims remains the same but their reading becomes different for UPPCS Prelims) in mind;
4. and give many mock tests for your STAR Preparation (Well this element remains the same for all examinations!!!)

What will the program entail in the next 30 days?

• Parth Sir and Shweta Mam will take care of all these elements in these 30 days. 
• We will provide you with 15 months of Current Affairs (May 2020- August 2021) which are prepared keeping UPPCS Prelims 2021 in mind. Parth Sir and Shweta Mam have curated this content.
• There will be 10 Mock Tests with quality as good as UPPCS Prelims Question Paper. 
• It will help you in aligning your preparation with the real UPPCS Prelims Examination. 
• We will provide you with certain static subject notes that are curated for last-minute revision for the UPPCS Prelims examination. 
• There will be doubt resolution as well as discussions with Parth sir and Shweta mam for micro preparation strategies on static subjects as well most important themes for the upcoming UPPCS Prelims 2021 and a Google Meet session after every test for macro preparation strategy.
• Access to Civilsdaily’s UPPSC Prelims 2021 club on Habitat for Daily Discussions and Peer to Peer Learning.

The program starts on the 5th of September and will go on till the 6th of October. The timeline of the tests schedule is given below. To join the program and more details, click on the link below. 

Date of Test	FLT	Topics
5th Sept 2021	Government Schemes and Current Affairs	This test will cover important schemes, policies and programs of the Central government as well as the Uttar Pradesh Government. The current affairs will cover May 2020 till July 2020.
9th Sept 2021	Miscellaneous and Current Affairs	This test will cover National, International organisations, Indices, Reports, Surveys, Census, Urbanisation data, Crop and its varieties and diseases, Data on Agriculture and Mineral production, Animal census etc. The current affairs will cover August 2020 till October 2020.
12th Sept 2021	Uttar Pradesh and Current Affairs	This test will cover Uttar Pradesh GK. The history, economy, culture, polity and geography of Uttar Pradesh will be covered through this test. The current affairs will cover November 2020 till January 2021.
16th Sept 2021	Economic Survey, India Year Book, Budget and Current Affairs	This test will cover the Union Budget as well as the Uttar Pradesh Budget of 2021-2022. Other parts can be covered through the Economic Survey and India Year Book. The current affairs will cover February 2021 till April 2021.
19th Sept 2021	Full-Length Test -1	Full Syllabus
23rd Sept 2021	Full-Length Test -2	Full Syllabus
26th Sept 2021	Full-Length Test -3	Full Syllabus
30th Sept 2021	Full-Length Test -4	Full Syllabus
3rd Oct 2021	Full-Length Test -5	Full SyllabusThe current affairs will cover May 2021 and June 2021.
6th Oct 2021	Full-Length Test -6	Full SyllabusThe current affairs will cover July 2021 till Mid September 2021.

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The Supreme Court’s Artificial Intelligence Committee a few months back in April has launched its Artificial Intelligence portal SUPACE.

What is SUPACE?

• SUPACE is an acronym for Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Courts Efficiency.
• It is a blend of human and artificial intelligence, and as clarified by Bobde, will not be used in decision-making.
• The role of AI will be limited to the collection and analysis of data.
• The courts fully retains the autonomy and the discretion of the judge in deciding the case, though at a much, much faster pace because of the readiness with which the information is made available by the AI.

Salient features of SUPACE

• SUPACE facts and arguments relevant to judging a particular case are intelligently presented in a matter of seconds—done manually, this would have taken months—adjudication could become that much faster.
• SUPACE is customizable, that is, it can behave uniquely like an individual user, learning from and mirroring user behaviour; to illustrate, imagine a system that learns to glean relevant data and present it in a structure that a judge/legal researcher finds easy to comprehend or present.
• As it is with all AI, as the system ‘learns’, efficiency leaps exponentially.
• The SUPACE system also includes a chatbot that can give the overview of a case, respond to elementary questions, while switching between documents and prompting further questions to sharpen the user’s understanding of a case.

Need for AI in Judiciary

• India’s judiciary is mired in backlogs.
• According to the data available with the National Judicial Data Grid, around 3.81 crore cases are pending in India and more than one lakh cases have been pending for more than 30 years.

Other such initiatives

• SCI-Interact: In 2020, the Supreme Court developed a software called, SCI-Interact, to make all its 17 benches paperless. This software helps judges access files, annexures to petitions and make notes on computers.
• LIMBS: Earlier, the Department of Legal Affairs has introduced a web-based application called LIMBS or Legal Information Management & Briefing System. The idea is to track the entire life cycle of a case efficiently.
• SUVAAS: In November 2019, the Apex Court launched an indigenously engineered neural translation tool, SUVAAS, to translate judicial orders and rulings from English to vernacular languages faster and efficiently.

Global IT solutions in Judiciary

• The criminal justice system of the US uses algorithms to estimate the risks of habitual offence.
• Many courts in the country are also actively embracing online dispute resolution (ODR) initiatives.
• Unsurprisingly, China has also been adopting AI in the judiciary. The country reportedly has more than 100 robots in courts to recover case histories.

Applications of AI in Judiciary

• AI could be used in cases of a repetitive nature that fit a strict pattern such as bouncing of cheques, civil violations or drunk driving.
• Pre-judicial work, such as case management, random allocation of matters to benches, case-law indexing and analysis, administrative work linked to a court can lean on AI to streamline and reduce pendency.
• Judging involves human emotions too. No scientific tool has any moral issue attached to it, said Justice Srikrishna who helmed the study for India’s data protection policy.
• AI has not been programmed to delve into human emotions.

Debate over SUPACE

• SUPACE has opened up a debate of sorts on how much AI can be used to dispense justice.
• The core job of a judge is judging. That cannot be outsourced, said former Supreme Court judge B N Srikrishna.
• Nuances of judging a person’s state of mind are beyond a bot, said jurists.
• Judicial work cannot be handed over to a machine, even one with AI or programmed to read and understand law, said Justice Srikrishna.

Limitations of SUPACE

• For now, in India, SUPACE will be used for administrative purposes and not decision making.
• Automated fairness is not possible to be achieved because ML-based systems do not know how to explain or digest the information they learn.
• A mere idealistic approach to estimate things would not take the initiative further.

Possible applications of SUPACE

• AI has abilities to identify fact patterns easily and compare them with precedents.
• Traffic violations and drunken driving cases or some civic violations can be dealt with by AI.

Way forward

• The ethical and responsible use of AI and ML for the advancement of efficiency enhancing can be increasingly embedded in legal and judicial processes.
• The Supreme Court has laid a strong foundation basis which efficiency enhancement can be accelerated across functional processes.
• This is one of the key reasons why justice delivery in India is poised for transformative change.

Conclusion

• SUPACE will produce results customized to the need of the case and the way the judge thinks.
• This will be time-saving. It will help the judiciary and the court in reducing delays and pendency of cases.
• AI will present a more streamlined, cost-effective and time-bound means to the fundamental right of access to justice.
• It will make the service delivery mechanism transparent and cost-efficient.

Maintaining consistency is one of the biggest issues faced by IAS Aspirants. Streak’s initiative is to help Aspirants in their day-to-day preparation. You can follow the monthly, weekly, and daily timetables and continue this streak until you find yourself on the final list.

Please register for Streak Initiative (free) through this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/streak-daily-initiative/

You will get following study material:-

1. Questions (PDF).
2. RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
3. Burning issue (PDF).
4. Subject specific (PDF).
5. Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.

_____________________________________________

UPSC Daily Study Plan For 2021 and 2022 || STREAK – by Ravi Ranjan

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Most Probable Questions – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) Nitrogen fixation is done naturally by

1. Azotobacter and anaerobic clostridium
2. Rhizobium
3. Anabaena and spirulina
4. lightning 

Pick the correct option:

A. 1 and 2

B. 1, 2 and 3

C. 2 and 4 only

D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2) Consider the following statements:

1. A. Boreal Forest is a biome characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces, and larches.
2. B. The taiga is the world’s largest land biome.
3. C. Soils in boreal forests are usually fertile due to high decomposition activity.
4. D. The productivity and community stability of boreal forest is low.

Select the correct option:

A. 1, 2, 3

B. 1, 2, 4

C. 1, 3, 4

D. 2, 3, 4

Q3) Consider the following statements with respect to Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) 

1. It is globally identified as a tool for sustainable and integrated ocean management. 
2. It will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) for India. 
3. In its primary phase, India will conduct marine spatial planning in Lakshadweep and Puducherry in cooperation with Russia. 

Which of the statements given above are correct? 

A. 1 and 2 only 

B. 1 and 3 only 

C. 2 and 3 only 

D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4) Consider the following statements with respect to Platypus

1. It is one of the five species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to young ones. 
2. It is endemic to South America, including Costa Rica , where it is classified as an vulnerable species 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect? 

A. 1 only 

B. 2 only 

C. Both 1 and 2 

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q5) Consider the following statements with respect to Diatom Test 

1. Diatoms are photosynthesizing algae which are found almost anywhere moist. 
2. It is used to confirm the cause of death by drowning. 
3. The test is considered positive only when the number of diatoms recovered from the body is more than a minimal established limit. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

A. 1 only 

B. 1 and 2 only 

C. 2 and 3 only 

D. 1, 2 and 3

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Most Probable Questions on Environment & Ecology – by Santosh Gupta

Q1) Identify the correct statement/s in context to the arctic tundra. 

1. The plants in the arctic tundra have a long life. 
2. Mammals here have small body size to avoid the loss of heat from the surface. 
3. Insects in this region have short life cycles.
4. All mammals go into hibernation in winter to avoid cold

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1, 2 and4

B. 1, 2 and 3 

C. 1 and 3 only

D. All of them 

Q2) Which of the following statement/s is/are correct with respect to boreal forest? 

1. It is characterized by evergreen plant species. 
2. These forests are found in regions with high rainfall, long summers and short winters. 
3. The soils found here are alkaline in nature.

Which of the above statements is/are true?

A. 1 and 2 

B. 2 and 3

C. 1 only

D. All of them

Q3. Identify the correct statement/s in context to estuaries. 

1. They are located where the river meets the sea. 
2. They act as a shelter for animals. 
3. Estuaries are Ecotone

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1 and 2 

B. 2 and 3

C. 1 only

D. All of them

Q4) Consider the following statements in context to coral reefs. 

1. They occur near the source of freshwater, which is nutrient rich. 
2. The corals are very fast growing colonies of animals. 
3. They are referred to as ‘the Tropical Rainforests of the Oceans’. 

Select the correct code from the codes given below.

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1 and 2 

B. 2 and 3

C. 1  and 3 only

D. All of them

Q5) Consider the following statements about sea weeds and sea grasses

1. Sea grasses  are specialised marine flowering plants , while Seaweeds are a type of macroalgae
2. While sea grasses are attached to the bottom, sea weeds are floating on the surface. 
3. Both are source of carbon sink

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. All of them

Daily Dose: Complete Snapshots of Everyday News – by Shweta Mishra

Click Below to Watch a Complete Strategy Video

https://youtu.be/-L2eBDdEamY

Civilsdaily is bringing a 30 days revision and guidance program for conquering UPPCS Prelims 2021. With the increased focus that UPPCS has been getting in the last couple of years, it’s imperative that aspirants get expert guidance in the trickiest part of the whole process and this program focuses on that aspect.

Importance of Prelims in UPPCS:

• A lot has changed since UPPSC bought in changes in its examination pattern for Uttar Pradesh Combined State/Upper Subordinate Exam or popularly known as the UPPCS examination. 
• The syllabus has changed, the pattern for Mains examination as well as interview weighatge has changed. Because of the above-mentioned changes, a lot many aspirants of UPSC Civil Services, as well as various State PSC’s Examinations, are also vying for UPPCS examinations these days. 
• But what has remained constant is the UPPCS Preliminary Examination. So far it is still a concoction of old age UPPCS Prelims with a hint of tadka of few changes!!!

How to easily crack UPPCS Prelims in 30 days?

• Civilsdaily is bringing in a 30 days program for all those serious aspirants who have a solid background in UPSC Prelims but are still finding their feet in the UPPCS prelims examinations. 
• The program will be headed by Parth Sir and Shweta Mam (Rank 22 in UPPCS 2019) and it will focus on those important elements which are a must for clearing UPPCS Prelims Examination. 
• Parth Sir has given 4 UPPCS Mains and 2 Interviews and has scored one of the highest marks in the UPPCS 2018 Interviews. He achieved all this by altering his UPSC Preparation a bit and since then, he has been guiding students in UPPCS Preparations with great success. 
• Shweta Mam has been a true warrior and apart from giving UPSC Interviews multiple times, she is rank 22 in UPPCS 2019 Examination.

We need to prepare with a tweaked trajectory of what we were doing for UPSC Prelims and we are good to go. What are those trajectories? 

1. Focus on factual elements in Current Affairs (we focus on Analytical elements in UPSC Prelims);
2. keep a tab on Miscellaneous Section (we totally skip it in UPSC Prelims) and;
3. prepare Static Subjects keeping the demand of the last 5 years of UPPCS Prelims (Sources for UPSC Prelims remains the same but their reading becomes different for UPPCS Prelims) in mind;
4. and give many mock tests for your STAR Preparation (Well this element remains the same for all examinations!!!)

What will the program entail in the next 30 days?

• Parth Sir and Shweta Mam will take care of all these elements in these 30 days. 
• We will provide you with 15 months of Current Affairs (May 2020- August 2021) which are prepared keeping UPPCS Prelims 2021 in mind. Parth Sir and Shweta Mam have curated this content.
• There will be 10 Mock Tests with quality as good as UPPCS Prelims Question Paper. 
• It will help you in aligning your preparation with the real UPPCS Prelims Examination. 
• We will provide you with certain static subject notes that are curated for last-minute revision for the UPPCS Prelims examination. 
• There will be doubt resolution as well as discussions with Parth sir and Shweta mam for micro preparation strategies on static subjects as well most important themes for the upcoming UPPCS Prelims 2021 and a Google Meet session after every test for macro preparation strategy.
• Access to Civilsdaily’s UPPSC Prelims 2021 club on Habitat for Daily Discussions and Peer to Peer Learning.

The program starts on the 5th of September and will go on till the 6th of October. The timeline of the tests schedule is given below. To join the program and more details, click on the link below. 

Date of Test	FLT	Topics
5th Sept 2021	Government Schemes and Current Affairs	This test will cover important schemes, policies and programs of the Central government as well as the Uttar Pradesh Government. The current affairs will cover May 2020 till July 2020.
9th Sept 2021	Miscellaneous and Current Affairs	This test will cover National, International organisations, Indices, Reports, Surveys, Census, Urbanisation data, Crop and its varieties and diseases, Data on Agriculture and Mineral production, Animal census etc. The current affairs will cover August 2020 till October 2020.
12th Sept 2021	Uttar Pradesh and Current Affairs	This test will cover Uttar Pradesh GK. The history, economy, culture, polity and geography of Uttar Pradesh will be covered through this test. The current affairs will cover November 2020 till January 2021.
16th Sept 2021	Economic Survey, India Year Book, Budget and Current Affairs	This test will cover the Union Budget as well as the Uttar Pradesh Budget of 2021-2022. Other parts can be covered through the Economic Survey and India Year Book. The current affairs will cover February 2021 till April 2021.
19th Sept 2021	Full-Length Test -1	Full Syllabus
23rd Sept 2021	Full-Length Test -2	Full Syllabus
26th Sept 2021	Full-Length Test -3	Full Syllabus
30th Sept 2021	Full-Length Test -4	Full Syllabus
3rd Oct 2021	Full-Length Test -5	Full SyllabusThe current affairs will cover May 2021 and June 2021.
6th Oct 2021	Full-Length Test -6	Full SyllabusThe current affairs will cover July 2021 till Mid September 2021.

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