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Score higher by studying smarter!
Revise with your peers and you’ll never forget important details.
Remain focused by practicing MCQs everyday.
Save time by focusing on the most important matters, everyday.
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On 1st May 1960, the separate Marathi speaking state of Maharashtra was created. Located in the western region of India, Maharashtra is the third-largest state in India in terms of area and the second-largest in terms of population. The State has been recognized as the country’s industrial powerhouse and maintains the position of being the most industrialized state.
Mumbai—the capital of Maharashtra, is seen as India’s financial capital, but is literally the Gateway of India-secular, progressive yet rooted.
Historical perspective
[A] Ancient
Many Chalcolithic sites are located in present-day Maharashtra and some like Inamgaon (1300 BCE to 700 BCE) were extensively excavated.
The Satavahanas ruled in regions belonging to present-day Maharashtra between the 1st century BCE to 3rd century CE.
International trade with the western world was in full swing during this period. The ports in Maharashtra played a major role in this.
The result can be seen in the excavation of many Buddhist rock-cut caves like Bhaja, Pitalkhore, Karla Nasik, etc. patronized mainly by the trading community.
After the decline of the Satavahana rule, many small kingdoms were established in different parts of Maharashtra like the Abhiras, Traikutakas, etc.
In the 8th century CE when the Rashtrakutas came to power, they were involved in creating the world-famous caves at Ellora.
[B] Medieval
The Yadavas (10th century to 13th century CE) were the next rulers in the state. The Shilahara rulers were contemporary to them ruling in western and southern Maharashtra.
Allauddin Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate defeated the Yadavas. Muhammad bin Tughlaq shifted his capital to Daulatabad (Devagiri) from Delhi for some time.
This period marks the efflorescence of the temple building activity in Maharashtra.
After the decline of the Tughlaqs, the Bahmani Sultanate started ruling over Maharashtra in the 14th century CE. After the disintegration of the Bahamani empire, the Nizam Shahi and Adil Shahi ruled over different parts of the state.
In the 17th century CE, Chhatrapati Shivaji established his independent rule in Maharashtra. Maratha Empire lasted until the British took over it in 1819.
[C] Modern
Maharashtra played a major role in the struggle for independence.
The year 1885 saw the establishment of the Indian National Congress in Bombay.
The establishment of the first Indian newspaper Darpan also happened in the state.
Maharashtra has been a pioneer of women’s rights and the Indian feminist movement.
From the early 19th century onwards, the state saw a host of thinkers and reformers who campaigned against child marriage and Sati, while simultaneously upholding women’s education and widow remarriage.
Prominent names include the late Justice MG Ranade, Savitribai Phule, and Pandita Ramabai.
India’s first female doctor, Late Anandi Bai Joshi comes from the state of Maharashtra.
As early as the 1930s, cities like Pune was also known as a prominent educational hub and as the ‘Oxford of the East’.
Geography of Maharashtra
The modern state of Maharashtra is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the West, Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the Northwest, Madhya Pradesh to the North & North East, Chhattisgarh to the East, Karnataka to the South, Andhra Pradesh to the Southeast and Goa to the Southwest.
Physical features
The Western Ghats form the source of several major rivers of Maharashtra, notable among them being the Godavari and the Krishna.
The Sahyadri Range is the defining geographical feature of Maharashtra. The Konkan, lying between the Arabian Sea and the Sahyadri Range, is a narrow coastal lowland.
The Satpuras, hills along the northern border, and the Bhamragad Chiroli-Gaikhuri Ranges on the eastern border form physical barriers.
Apart from the mainly occurring rock Basalt; other rocks like Laterite are found in the coastal humid and tropical region.
Natural resources found
Maharashtra is rich in ore deposits. Granite, Granite gneiss, Quartzite, Conglomerates are found in the basement regions of the Konkan Rivers.
Kamti of the Nagpur region is famous for coal.
The Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, and Nagpur Districts form the main mineral belt, with coal and manganese as the major minerals and iron ore and limestone as minor minerals.
Heritages
[A] Rock-cut caves and temples
Ajanta and Ellora, in the vicinity of Aurangabad, are world-famous heritage sites. All these have been carved out of solid rock.
Buddhist rock-cut caves like Bhaja, Pitalkhora, Karla and Nasik are also equally famous rock-cut caves in the state.
The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves on Elephanta Island.
[B] Folk art
Musical forms like Powada, a song praising the valour of a great ruler and graceful dance forms like Lavani are popular art forms of the state.
The Koli dance form is also famous in the coastal region of the state.
[C] Social-cultural reforms
The Bhakti movement—a medieval movement spread all over the country between the 13th and 17th centuries found resonance in Maharashtra as well.
Famous personalities of the Bhakti movement includes saint poets like Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, and Chokhamela.
The Warkari movement every year in June-July sees a plethora of farmers and myriad believers in Vitthoba (an avatar of Lord Vishnu) converge to Pandharpur in an annual pilgrimage.
Related Previous Year Questions:
Q.There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings? (CSP 2010)
(a) Bagh caves
(b) Ellora caves
(c) Lomas Rishi cave
(d) Nasik caves
Q. In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around
1. Women’s right to gain education
2. Age of consent
3. Restitution of conjugal rights
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (CSP 2019)
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1,2 and 3
Q.Satya Shodhak Samaj organized (CSP 2016):
(a) A movement for upliftment of tribals in Bihar
(b) A temple-entry movement in Gujarat
(c) An anti-caste movement in Maharashtra
(d) A peasant movement in Punjab
Q.Consider the following pairs:
Famous place Region
1. Bodhgaya : Baghelkhand
2. Khajuraho : Bundelkhand
3. Shirdi : Vidarbha
4. Nasik (Nashik) : Malwa
5. Tirupati : Rayalaseema
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 2 and 5
(d) 1, 3, 4 and 5
Q. Among the following, who was not a proponent of bhakti cult?
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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 1st June is uploaded on 1st June 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, 1st June is uploaded on 3rd June, 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 @Swatantra so that the mentor is notified about your answer.
*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. Swatantra Sir’s tag is available, tag him.
Join the other serious aspirants at Habitat and engage deeply with the syllabus. Discuss hot topics with your peers, and practice answering questions under the guidance of our expert mentors.
Score higher by studying smarter!
Revise with your peers and you’ll never forget important details.
Remain focused by practicing MCQs everyday.
Save time by focusing on the most important matters, everyday.
This is an opportunity to boost your prelims score by joining the Habitat club for FREE! No hidden charges, just open discussions and learning! Don’t miss it!
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 1st June is uploaded on 1st June 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, 1st June is uploaded on 3rd June, 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 @Swatantra so that the mentor is notified about your answer.
*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. Swatantra Sir’s tag is available, tag him.
Hydrogen is all set to play a significant role in decarbonizing energy systems. Green Hydrogen has no carbon footprint through several challenges remain in its usage at a wider level. National Hydrogen Mission was announced by the center govt in this year’s Budget to tackle all these challenges. In this edition, we will discuss and analyze all aspects of this issue.
Green Hydrogen: Fuel of the future
Hydrogen is primarily used in the petrochemicals and fertilizer industry and is produced largely from natural gas, thereby emitting enormous amounts of carbon dioxide.
Depending on the nature of the method of its extraction, hydrogen is categorized into three categories, namely, grey, blue and green.
Green hydrogen gas is produced by splitting water (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolyzer that may be powered by electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
This gives hydrogen the edge over other fuels to unlock various avenues of green usage.
However, challenges lie in terms of technology, efficiency, financial viability, and scaling up which the summit will aim to address.
What is National Hydrogen Mission?
The Union Budget for 2021-22 has announced a National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM) that will draw up a road map for using hydrogen as an energy source.
The initiative has the potential of transforming transportation.
Why shift for Hydrogen?
India has a huge edge in green hydrogen production owing to its favorable geographic conditions and presence of abundant natural resources.
Presently India has around 6 million Metric tonnes of Hydrogen production every year which is almost 8% of the global hydrogen production.
Hydrogen also offers an opportunity to decrease the dependence on Fossil fuel.
The fertilizer, Steel, and transport sector need a lot of energy so we can decarbonize by using green hydrogen. Thus future of clean energy depends a lot on Green Hydrogen.
The growth of solar has given a unique advantage for the growth of green hydrogen.
Cheap solar tariffs mean the cost of powering the electrolysis process through surplus electricity at peak hours to generate hydrogen remains low.
Setting up hydrogen generation plants near solar parks will further reduce transmission costs.
Major challenges
Overt regulations: Currently, multiple regulatory authorities regulate hydrogen use. The MoRTH regulates vehicle’s fuel carrier specification, MNRE regulates renewable energy sources, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board regulates pipelines and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization regulates explosive substances, storage and fuel station’s specifications.
Economic sustainability: One of the colossal challenges faced by the industry for using hydrogen commercially is the economic sustainability of extracting green or blue hydrogen. Furthermore, the maintenance costs for fuel cells post-completion of a plant can be costly, like in South Korea.
Technological limitations: The technology used in production and use of hydrogen like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen fuel cell technology are at nascent stage and is expensive which in turn increases the cost of production of hydrogen.
Lack of investment: The commercial usage of hydrogen as a fuel and in industries requires mammoth investment in R&D of such technology and infrastructure for production, storage, transportation, and demand creation for hydrogen.
Although, the draft regulations of NHM are expected to contain details pertaining to hydrogen technology, including storage, R&D, pilot projects, and other specification and safety standards.
Going Forward
De-carbonization: We need to decarbonize many Industries to shift towards green hydrogen technology.
De-regulation: Hydrogen being a versatile resource will require coordination among the various ministries and regulators.
Collaboration: Proactive industry collaboration with the government is key to creating a hydrogen economy in India. This will help bring best-in-class hydrogen technology, equipment, and know-how to create a hydrogen supply chain in India — in many cases, these could be “Made in India”.
Infrastructure: Hydrogen is highly explosive so storage must be highly secured. The NHM should aim to establish appropriate physical infrastructure and legal framework for the usage of hydrogen. India also plans to extend the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing electrolyzer, which are used for producing green hydrogen.
R&D: The NHM can also highlight the need for global cooperation and generate opportunities for exchange of technology. To augment the NHM, constructive synergies among leading industries from different sectors like automobiles, power generation, refining, chemicals is necessary.
Capacity building: Hydrogen generation cost is very high. The draft regulations for NHM shall have a roadmap for affordable targets and capacity installation. Designated hydrogen hubs can be established to attract investment by providing infrastructural support like pipelines and renewable electricity for production, storage and transportation of green hydrogen.
Global cooperation: Global hydrogen initiatives have been gaining traction. The year 2020 saw 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, the USA, Japan, and Germany, announce hydrogen policies. India should ramp up international collaborations for more effortless transfer of technology and resources related to hydrogen.
Conclusion
Green hydrogen is one of the most promising fuels in the efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
India should aim to reduce the cost of hydrogen to less than $2 by 2030. By doing so, the demand is expected to increase by at least five times today’s demand to 30 million tonnes per annum by 2050.
At this juncture, with calibrated approach, India can uniquely position itself to take advantage of increasing investment in R&D, capacity building, compatible legislation, and the opportunity for the creation of demand among its vast population.
Suppose you started reading Laxmikant to prepare for questions on Indian Constitution.
What do you do? You read through it, answer the questions in the book, and gradually complete the syllabus.
What do you do next? You pick up mock questions and try solving them.
While solving the question paper, you realise that you have missed some points. What do you do then? You go back to Laxmikant and read that chapter again.
Now, this is not a one time thing. Every time you discover that you have missed a concept or cannot solve a particular question, you go back to the book and read it again. Basically, you spend a lot of time reading the same material over and over again without feeling confident that you will definitely solve the questions. Is this the smart way of preparing for your exams or could there be a better way?
And you are not alone. Most of the students do the same thing and waste a lot of time and effort in reading the same things without feeling completely confident about it. Would it not be better if you could spend this time on reading some other material or preparing for your optional subject? Wouldn’t it be better if you read the syllabus once or maybe twice and felt confident about it?
What if we tell you that you can gain absolute mastery over the subject, not only constitution but all of them, without going through the same material multiple times? What if we tell you that there is a better way, a smarter way?
So, what is the smarter way?
We spoke with hundreds of aspirants who have cracked the exam and they revealed the secret that helped them succeed. The secret was ‘discussion.’
In fact, every aspirant who has succeeded will tell you that they engaged with their peers and mentors in numerous discussions to understand the topics comprehensively. Successful aspirants will tell you that they got a comprehensive understanding of the topics by participating in thorough discussions with other aspirants.
Why do they do this?
Engaging in discussions helped these successful candidates in clearing their doubts. It helped them get a broader perspective on the subject and it helped them find new ways of answering questions without having to read the same material over and over again.
They learned through conversations!
How can you do the same?
Well, at Habitat, we have highly focused aspirants engaging in thorough discussions on the most relevant topics, everyday. They are guided by experienced mentors who engage in the conversation and keep it concentrated on the topic. We make sure that every aspirant on Habitat learns at their own pace but in an efficient manner.
The aspirants in our clubs get the following benefits:
Completion of the syllabus? No problem
Intense revision? Done
Detailed discussion? Of course
Answer writing practice? Yes
A focused approach to studies? Indeed
Doubt clearing? Obviously
We make sure that you have everything that you need to succeed!
All you need to do is give it a shot! So, go ahead and try out one of our clubs. Or just speak with us for free!
We promise that you will find learning much easier and feel more confident going for your exam.
Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook by Dr Vipin Garg (UPSC Rank 20) on your registered email.
The preliminary Stage is the first step to your LBSNAA dream. More than 5 lakh candidates appear for prelims every year. But only 10,000 to 13,000 students make it for Mains. This stage is known for its BRUTAL ELIMINATION.
Many toppers have struggled with prelims !! Even the level of questions in prelims have been raised by UPSC – It is becoming more tricky, less factual, and more conceptual.
WHAT IS THE BEST STRATEGY FOR PRELIMS?
Never forget your basics.
Revision: Your static syllabus should be revised at least 2-3 times before you sit for your prelims paper. Make no mistake of thinking that only current affairs can help you sail through the examination. The static portion has its own importance, don’t ignore it.
Attempt UPSC previous year paper: It is a crime if you go for prelims paper without attempting the last 10 years UPSC prelims papers, Period
Attempt Mock Tests: More mocks means more practice, more revisions, and fewer mistakes on the D – Day.
If you are secure with these basic steps then what’s next?
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO SECURE PRELIMS?
Mentorship: Mentorship can help you prepare more efficiently for prelims. Both 2021 and 2022 students can benefit from Mentorship.
For 2021students, the prelims is within 3.5 months. You still have 1 month, where you can plan and strategize for prelims. Our mentors can gauge your level of preparation, help you with your doubts and suggest the last-minute MUST preparatory tools for prelims.
For 2022 students, it is important that you start on the right path. Get in contact with our mentorship program to take benefits of customized schedule, on-call doubt resolutions, and weekly calls for performance evaluation.
Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook on your registered email.
Tikdam: UPSC is an intelligent test taker. It not only wants to test your comprehension (of syllabus) but also your ability to perform under pressure (& lack of information). How would you solve a “factual” question which gives an illusion of the necessity of “rote-learning”? By ensuring that your core fundamentals are strong and then using the Art of Tikdams to go for the best approximation among the answer choices!
We have been hammering on the importance of logical thinking and the art of Tikdam along with sound preparation as essential ingredients to clear prelims examination for quite some time now.
Make no mistake, this is a GOLDMINE of practical wisdom.
Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook on your registered email.
This is an advanced level compilation on choicest IAS Prelims questions, penned down by Vipin Garg, AIR 20 (CSE 2015).
These 20 pages contain elaborate expositions on the application of what we at Civilsdaily refer to as TIKDAMS.
With 19 questions & unique explanations using the 3 types of Tikdam approaches, we present to you this unprecedented piece of literature in the history of IAS Prelims Approach Methodology.
Mock Interviews at Civilsdaily form a crucial part of UPSC interview preparation. The quality and diversity of the panel help prepare an aspirant for the actual interview at UPSC.
Aspirants have benefited greatly from the mock interview and the feedback they get from the panel members after their mock interview. At the same time, we work with the aspirants to improve upon the areas highlighted by the panel.
Upcoming Mock interview and session
This week’s mock interview dates have been fixed.
Mock interview this week- 27th June onwards(Book your slot)
Aspirants will also get a personalized DAF-based questionnaire based on extensive research and linkages with the issues of national and international importance.
DAF questionnaire
Detailed Application Form (DAF) is one of the most important documents that you might have filled for UPSC interviews. A major part of the interview will revolve around the information and details provided in the DAF. It is more than your CV.
Your ability to defend your DAF before the panel is going to decide your success. Anticipating and preparing for the questions based on your DAF is an essential part of the interview preparation.
