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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.

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

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

Q1) Consider the following pairs Indian Defence Operations – Purpose

1. Operation Pawan – IPKF operation against LTTE

2. Operation Rainbow – Against Chinese offensives on Cho La 

Which of the pair(s) given above is/are correctly matched?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2 

Q2) Consider the following statements with respective to DAVINCI+ Mission

1. It will try to understand Venus‟ composition to analyse the formation and evolution of the planet.

2. It will try to return the first high resolution photographs of a geological feature that is unique to Venus.

3. It will also determine if active volcanoes are releasing water vapour into the atmosphere.

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

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3) With respect to UNESCO Science Report (USR), consider the following statements:

1. It is a flagship publication of UNESCO, released for every five years.

2. The report states that India has made solid progress towards investment in research but failed to progress towards SDG targets.

3. India has one of the lowest Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research (GERD) / GDP ratios among the BRICS nations.

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 Green Hydrogen

1. Hydrogen when produced by electrolysis using renewable energy is known as Green Hydrogen.

2. The production cost of Green hydrogen is very low when compared to the production costs of grey hydrogen.

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 respective to Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

1. Single-wall carbon nanotubes are one of the allotropes of carbon, intermediate between fullerene cages and flat graphene.

2. They have ultra-high strength, and low weight and possess high conductive electrical, thermal properties.

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

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Most Probable Questions on Science & Technology by Santosh Gupta

Q1) Consider the following statements about India’s  aircraft carrier IAC-1:

1. It is  named as INS Vikrant
2. It is completely designed and developed in India
3. The 40,000t IAC Vikrant is capable of accommodating MiG 29K fighter jets and helicopters.
4. India will now have three Aircraft carriers. 

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1, 2 and 3

B. 2, 3 and 4

C. 1, 3 and 4

D. All of them

Q2) Which of these ships have been inducted recently by the Indian Navy at Eastern Naval Command capable of Anti-Submarine warfare?

A. INS Arihant

B. INS Kamorta

C. INS Kadmatt

D. INS Kavaratti

Q3) Which of the following is correct about the Global Positioning System?

1. It is a position indicating satellite system of USA
2. It has a total 24 satellites revolving in 6 orbits.
3. Précised system of GPS is known as DGPS.
4. Russian equivalent of GPS is COMPASS

Select the correct option/options given below:

A. 2  and 3 only             

B. 3 and 4 only

C. 1,  2 and 3 only          

D. 1 and 3 only

Q4) Consider the following statements regarding IndCEPI

1. IT is one of the initiative under Atal Jai Anusandhan Biotech Mission
2. It aims to develop affordable vaccines for pandemic diseases
3. Innovative Technology interventions for Swachh Bharat.
4. Affordable generic medicines for all branded medicines

Which of the above statements is/are true?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. 1 and 2 

D. All of them

Q5) Consider the following statements with respect to CMS-01.

1. It is a radar imaging satellite. 
2. It will function as the continuation of the GSAT-11 satellite. 
3. The mission life of CMS-01 is around five years. 

Select the correct code from the codes given below.

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. All of them

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

 

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27st Aug 2021

Constitutional bodies

	Appointment	Tenure	Removal	Process of removal	Eligibility for reappointment w/i govt.
Attorney general (Advocate general)	President (governor)	Pleasure of President (governor)	President (governor)	No reason needs to be mentioned	Yes
Election Commission (SEC)	President (governor)	6 years/ 65	President	CEC and SEC by a special majority Other ECs on the recommendation of CEC	Yes
Finance commission (SFC)	President (governor)	Specified by president	NA	NA	Yes
UPSC (SPSC)	President (governor)	6 years/ 65	President	After enquiry by supreme court	Members can become Chair, state members can become chair or member or chair of UPSC
CAG	President	6 years/ 65	President	Special majority	No

 

Statutory bodies

	Appointment	Committee members	Other members	Tenure	Removal
NHRC (SHRC)	President (Governor)	6 (PM + LOP Lok Sabha)	Speaker, Deputy CP RS, LOP RS, home minister	3 years*/ 70	President after Supreme Court inquiry
CIC (SIC)	President (Governor)	3 ((PM + LOP Lok Sabha)	Cabinet Minister nominated by PM	As prescribed by the Central Govt*./ 65	President (governor for SIC) after supreme court inquiry
CVC	President (governor)	3 ((PM + LOP lok sabha)	Home minister	4 years/ 65	President after Supreme court inquiry
Lokpal	President	5 (PM + LOP lok sabha	Speaker, CJI, eminent jurist	5 years/ 70	Like a Supreme Court judge

* After amendments in the respective acts in 2019.

In the news: 

1. Amendment to the RTI Act (July 2019)

• Section 13 of the original Act sets the term of the central Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners at five years(or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier). The amendment proposes that the appointment will be “for such term as may be prescribed by the Central Government”.
• The amendment proposes that the salaries, allowances and other terms of service of the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners “shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government” which was earlier at par with Chief Election Commissioner.

2. Amendment to Protection of Human Rights Act (July 2019)

• It reduced the term of the Chairperson and Members of the Commission and the State Commissions from five to three yearsand shall be eligible for re-appointment.
• Provision was added which says a person who has been a Judge of the Supreme Court is also eligible to be appointed as Chairperson of the Commission in addition to the person who has been the Chief Justice of India.
• The amendment made provision that a person who has been a Judge of a High Court is also made eligible to be appointed as Chairperson of the State Commissionin addition to the person who has been the Chief Justice of the High Court.
• It conferred upon State Commissions, the functions relating to human rights being discharged by the Union territories, other than the Union territory of Delhi, which will be dealt with by the Commission.

 

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Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1    Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).

GS-2   Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries.

 GS-3   Food Processing and Related Industries in India- Scope’ and Significance, Location, Upstream and Downstream Requirements, Supply Chain Management.

GS-4    Case Studies

Questions:

Question 1)

 

Q.1 Giving a brief account of distribution of cotton textile industry in India, identify the factors responsible for localization of this industry in Ahmedabad–Mumbai–Pune region. (10 Marks)

 

Question 2)

Q.2 Has the first-past-the-post system polarised Indian politics? What are the advantages of this system and suggest ways to deal with the issues with the system. (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.2 Is Iron-fortified rice an answer to the anaemia prevalence in India? What are the issues with such a policy? (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 A woman employee has leveled allegations of sexual misconduct on social media against the Head of Operations in the company where you are in-charge of human resources department. This has been in the context of the recent phenomenon of women coming out against powerful men who have sexually harassed them in the past. Given the frenzy around the issue, your company is under immense pressure to act quickly against this person. You have the following options before you: (a) Accept the statement of allegations and take departmental and legal action quickly. (b) Investigate the matter through an internal complaints committee and take action after it submits its findings. Analyse the given options and argue which course of action would you choose? Also suggest what measures would you take to prevent occurrences of such instances in your company in future. (20 Marks)

 

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Context  

• Bilateral ties between New Delhi and Paris cover a gamut of issues including defense, maritime, space, security, and energy.
• The two nations have managed to carve out a forward-looking partnership that is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on issues such as terrorism, climate change, sustainable growth and development, infrastructure, urbanization, and science and technology.

Background

• France-India have a ‘special relationship’ with each other, so much so that by August 2019, France has been called “India’s new best friend” by a researcher of the Hudson Institute.
• Both nations have a centuries-old history of trade relations.
• From the 17th century until 1954, France maintained a colonial presence in the Indian subcontinent; Puducherry, one of its former Indian territories, is a popular tourism destination for French travellers to India.
• India has largely referred French constitutional principles in its constitution making

Highlights of the recent meet

• India and France explored ways to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, including under a trilateral mechanism with Australia to address emerging challenges in the maritime and space domains.
• The two foreign ministers held extensive talks covering all aspects of the bilateral strategic ties as well as regional and global challenges.

Key areas collaboration

(A) Strategic cooperation

• France has decided to be part of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
• Both nations have explored ways to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
• This includes the India-France-Australia trilateral mechanism, addressing emerging challenges in the maritime and space domains and working together in the area of climate action and biodiversity protection.

(B) Trade

• Bilateral trade with France has witnessed a steady rise in the last decade reaching USD 10.75 billion in 2020.
• The two sides also recognised the importance of fast tracking the discussions on an India-EU trade and investment agreement.

(C) Defence collaboration

• The defence and security ties between India and France are on an upswing in the last few years.
• India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore.
• Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafales, has delivered 14 jets to the Indian Air Force so far.

(D) Technological collaboration

• The first space agreement between France and India dates back to 1964. Existing partnerships between the two nations cover almost all areas of space activity.
• Space agencies of India and France inked an agreement for cooperation for the country’s first human space Mission Gaganyaan.
• The agreement provides for CNES to support implementation of a scientific experiment plan on validation missions, exchange information on food packaging and the nutrition programme, and above all the use by Indian astronauts of French equipment, consumables and medical instruments.
• ISRO will also be launching the joint Oceansat 3-Argos mission this year.
• With the new agreement, France will be taking part in the great technological and human challenge that is the Gaganyaan programme.

Energy

• India-France alliance is the main pillar of the International Solar Alliance launched by India.

(E)Cultural ties

• Indian culture enjoys wide following amongst the people of France. An Indian Cultural Centre, named Vivekananda Cultural Centre, is being opened in Paris.
• The International Day of Yoga has been organized by the Embassy of India in Paris and other cities of France since 2016 and have received wide acclaim and press coverage.

Conclusion

• India and France both share the same vision for a new balanced multipolar world, which must be based on the rule of law.
• They also share the same vision on the main challenges of the times, be they security developments in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, or combating international terrorism. But it is by possessing the capability of ensuring national security and making strategic choices that most efficiently defend their shared principles and visions.

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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 PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Science and Technology by Sukanya Rana

Q1) Consider the following statements with respect to the Broadbalk Experiment.

It aims to study the optimum nutrition requirements to improve crop yield.

1. It tests the effects of different organic and inorganic fertilisers on soil fertility.
2. The experiment result states that effects of soil-borne pests and diseases are minimised in case the field gets a two year break.

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

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2) Which of the following statement(s) is/ are correct with respect to Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)?

1. It is used as a common treatment for acute pain and rheumatological diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis.
2. It blocks the production of certain body chemicals that cause inflammation.
3. It may lead to higher rates of death or severe disease in patients who are hospitalised with Covid-19.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 3 only

D. 2 and 3 only

Q3) Consider the following statements with respect to Uranium Mineral.

1. It is listed under minor minerals, the rulemaking powers on uranium have been delegated to the States through Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.
2. Significant quantities of Uranium reserves were available in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana between Seshachalam forest and Srisailam.

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

Q4) Which of the following statement(s) is/ are correct with respect to FLEUDA Test:

1. It uses the gene-editing tool Crispr-Cas9 to target and identify genomic sequences of the novel coronavirus.
2. It is costlier and takes longer time to produce results than RT-PCR tests.

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

Q5) Which of the following statement(s) is/ are correct with respect to White Fungus?

1. It can be caused by the unsterile use of oxygen cylinders or the overuse of steroids.
2. It predominantly attacks body parts such as lungs, skin, nail, brain, kidney, mouth etc.
3. It is treated with antifungals and white fungal infections may eventually require surgery.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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 Science & Technology by Santosh Gupta

Q1) Consider the following statements regarding NASA’s Mars  exploration 2020 Mission:

1. The name of the rover is Perseverance
2. The space shuttle will land on Jezero Crater.
3. It also carries a Mars Helicopter  called Zhurong to test whether the helicopter can fly in the sparse atmosphere on Mars.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 

B. 2 and 3

C. 1 and 3

D. All of them

Q2) Consider the following statements regarding China’s Chang’e-5 Mission:

1. It is a manned spacecraft sent to the moon to bring back rocks to be brought back to Earth.
2. Till now only the United States was able to retrieve lunar samples.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q3) Consider the following statements about Tiangong space station

1. It is  second space station being built by China to be ready by 2022
2. Recently  Shenzhou-12 delivered first crew to Tianhe module

Which of the above statements is/are true?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4) Consider the following statements about India’s Interplanetary missions: 

1. Mangalyaan-3 will be a manned mission to Mars in 2030.
2. ISRO has planned three missions to space by 2023
3. ISRO is also planning a mission to Jupiter, tentatively called Shukrayaan.

Which of the above statements are true?

A. 1 and 2

B. 2 only

C. 1  and 3 only

D. None of them

Q5) This mission of NASA will map and explore the moon’s resources on and under the lunar surface, particularly water-ice.

The mission in the question refers to?

A. VIPER 

B. New horizons

C. Voyager-2

D. Hope Mission