Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 15th February

GS-1  Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc. 

GS-4 Case Studies.

Question 1)

Social control and socialization are two faces of same coin. Do you agree? Critically analyse. 10 marks

Question 2)

What are the objectives of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill,2020. What are the concerns with some provisions of the bill? 10 marks

Question 3)

What are the factors that make Uttarakhand vulnerable natural disasters? Suggest the steps that need to be taken to deal make the state disaster resilient? 10 marks

Question 4)  

What are some of the key sources of ethics and their ideals in India? Discuss. 10 marks

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Reviews will be provided in a week. (In the order of submission- First come first serve basis). In case the answer is submitted late the review period may get extended to two weeks.

*In case your answer is not reviewed in a week, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. If Parth Sir’s tag is available then tag him.

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Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 12th February

GS-1  Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

GS-4 Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders.

Question 1)

Economic upliftment is one of the most enabling elements to release women from oppression, violence and powerlessness. Discuss and also throw light on how far India has been successful in empowering women. 10 marks

Question 2)

As in the historical past, Asia is big enough for both Asian giants to have complementary roles, share prosperity and be independent of each other and of the West. In light of this, examine India’s challenge in aligning its foreign policy in view of China’s rising global stature. 10 marks

Question 3)

What are the salient feature of National Rail Plan for 2030 and how it will benefit the Indian railways? 10 marks

Question 4)  

In light of rapidly changing societal dynamics, examine the role of educational institutions in shaping the future of children especially when rise in crime among children has lately been observed. 10 marks

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Reviews will be provided in a week. (In the order of submission- First come first serve basis). In case the answer is submitted late the review period may get extended to two weeks.

*In case your answer is not reviewed in a week, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. If Parth Sir’s tag is available then tag him.

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Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 11th February

GS-1  Role of women and women’s organization.

GS-4 Ethics and Human Interface.

Question 1)

‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ has been the guiding light for Indian family system. Comment. 10 marks

Question 2)

What are the different mechanisms through which the Parliament can examine whether a government bill adheres to the constitutional principles? Also, examine the important role played by the parliamentary committees in examining the various provisions of the bill. 10 marks

Question 3)

Discuss the role played by the construction of dams in the recent floods in Uttarakhand. 10 marks

Question 4)  

Elucidate the human values and their types with special reference to Patanjali’s classification of virtues. 10 marks

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Reviews will be provided in a week. (In the order of submission- First come first serve basis). In case the answer is submitted late the review period may get extended to two weeks.

*In case your answer is not reviewed in a week, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. If Parth Sir’s tag is available then tag him.

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UPSC by design is an exam that should take just one attempt to crack it. Any further attempt after that must be just to improve your rank. And to accomplish this feat you must perform extremely well in GS mains papers.

Sajal sir here in this video will help you analyze the UPSC Mains 2020 GS paper 3, explain the changing trend and discuss the strategy for UPSC Mains 2021.

He also talked about Smash Mains 2021 in the video. Below are the details of the program.

Mains Program 2021: https://bit.ly/MEP_2021

Samachar Manthan 2021: https://bit.ly/SM2021_NP

About Smash Mains 2021

Smash mains is a highly personalized and intensive handholding program for the crème-de-la-crème (veterans) amongst UPSC aspirants (the intake is 50 students).

Note: The Entry Restricted to those who have given mains in the past 2 years and have failed to score high marks.

It’s a three-phased program under personalized guidance by Sajal sir. The focus is on identifying and highlighting the issues with your preparation (information / analysis / utilization). According to your strength and weaknesses, a tailor-made strategy is developed. And it is worked on under Sajal sir’s strict monitoring, aiming for incremental improvements every day, after every session with Sajal sir.

Sajal sir’s marks in UPSC 2017 GS Mains paper were:

• GS Paper 1 – 132
• GS Paper 2 – 125
• GS Paper 3 – 130

It’s a three-phased program under personalized guidance by Sajal sir. The focus is on identifying and highlighting the issues with your preparation (information / analysis / utilization). According to your strength and weaknesses, a tailor-made strategy is developed. And it is worked on under Sajal sir’s strict monitoring, aiming for incremental improvements every day, after every session with Sajal sir.

Program inclusion:

1. One-to-One mentorship by Sajal sir.
2. Mains Test Series
3. Samachar Manthan – For holistic and comprehensive coverage of Current Affairs.
4. Decimate Prelims Crash Course
5. Prelims Full-Length Tests – To prepare you for prelims.
6. Exclusive membership to Smash Mains group in Civilsdaily’s Habitat.

The fact that you have been missing the cut-off with a small margin (repeatedly) tells that there are some fundamental issues with your approach. The answers to which you might or might not have. For bringing the change you have to work upon its execution as well. (Realization is not enough). And bringing that to fruition is not possible in isolation. Now onwards, it should be a guided process under a meticulously designed plan.

It is all about redesigning the machinery which is unable to convert your knowledge and analysis into marks in Mains. And you know it – Fewer marks in mains, very low chances of seeing your name in the final list.

What makes Smash Mains unique?

Individual attention and approachability are the USPs of this program.

Not putting Penguins among the Fowls – You already know how to write an average answer (you’re missing it by a few marks actually). You want to know how to increase your score from 90 to 110-115. The approach followed by other institutes in their Test series is the same for a veteran and a complete newbie and here lies the problem. Without personalized one-to-one interaction with someone like Sajal sir (who has scored these awesome marks), it will be difficult for you to rectify these minute yet very important shortcomings.

Evaluation is a strength of this program and we put it on a high priority. Sajal sir himself is involved in the process, unlike other institutes where evaluation is outsourced to those who themselves might not have appeared for mains (It’s bizarre). It shouldn’t be based on ‘model answers’ as there are 3-4 ways of approaching an answer. Only a seasoned player will be able to go beyond these model answers and be able to appreciate your approach (If it’s innovative) even if it differs from the model answers provided.

Test copies get checked in a time-bound manner. The questions, answers and material provided are of the highest quality.

Always on time and insightful discussions end with a reality check and motivation to perform better in the next test.

Emphasis on execution and utilization of knowledge – Mains is not only about knowledge but the way you express the relevant knowledge in the most optimum manner.

Sajal sir’s interventions are highly specific and not generalized. Sitting right in front of you he walks you through each and every question. Always there, he will not let you lose your focus.

We deliver what we promise.

Progression of the program:

Phase 1: Identifying the fundamental flaws in your Answers. Working on them with Sajal sir.

Phase 2: Prelims- This is the first hurdle. Decimate Prelims course will be provided here. We’ll work on strategy and the way to attempt a prelims paper here.

Phase 3: After Prelims- Mains Test series each followed by one-to-one detailed and in-depth interaction with Sajal sir. Final refinements are done in this phase. Value addition material, as well as pointers, will be provided here.

What you have to do?

As it’s a limited intake program a sieving process has been put in place by us. Please do the following:
1. Send your last Mains scorecard to sajal@civilsdaily.com .
2. We’ll send you one Civilsdaily’s GS Mains test, write it, submit it. It’ll be followed by evaluation and an on-call discussion with Sajal sir.
3. Or send your already attempted and evaluated test copies (at least 3) to sajal@civilsdaily.com

What our students have to say about Smash Mains?

Read this answer here. Other answers here

Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 10th February

GS-1  Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. 

GS-4 Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world. 

Question 1)

Present a sketch of major Sufi orders in India. What was their goal? Explain. 10 marks

Question 2)

India has been at the receiving end of the international criticism for some of its internal affairs. Suggest the measures to avoid such criticism. 10 marks

Question 3)

The Union Budget has provided a stimulus to growth by focusing on the infrastructure. But this there are several concerns about such a push. In light of this, examine how the Budget provides a stimulus to the growth and what are the concerns about such provision in the Budget. 10 marks

Question 4)  

Define emotional intelligence and explain its major components. 10 marks

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Reviews will be provided in a week. (In the order of submission- First come first serve basis). In case the answer is submitted late the review period may get extended to two weeks.

*In case your answer is not reviewed in a week, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. If Parth Sir’s tag is available then tag him.

For the philosophy of AWE and payment, check  here: Click2Join

• In the early hours of day, Myanmar’s military, also known as the Tatmadaw staged a bloodless coup which brought the country’s recent and limited experiment with democracy to an end.
• Tens of thousands of protesters poured onto the streets across Myanmar in the biggest anti-coup rallies with deteriorating situation amidst internet ban.

India voiced a strong condemnation of the deeply disturbing developments in Myanmar.

Myanmar: A backgrounder

• Myanmar, also known as Burma, is in South East Asia and neighbours Thailand, Laos, Bangladesh, China and India.
• The biggest city is Yangon (Rangoon) but the capital is Nay Pyi Taw.
• The main religion is Buddhism. There are many ethnic groups in the country, including Rohingya Muslims.
• The country gained independence from Britain in 1948. It was ruled by the armed forces from 1962 until 2011, when a new government began ushering in a return to civilian rule.

Myanmar under Suu Kyi

• Aung San Suu Kyi became world-famous in the 1990s for campaigning to restore democracy.
• She spent nearly 15 years in detention between 1989 and 2010 after organising rallies calling for democratic reform and free elections.
• She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while under house arrest in 1991.
• In 2015, she led the NLD to victory in Myanmar’s first openly contested election in 25 years.

Her crackdown on Rohingyas

• Suu Kyi’s international reputation has suffered greatly as a result of Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya minority.
• Myanmar considers them illegal immigrants and denies them citizenship. Over decades, many have fled the country to escape persecution.
• Thousands of Rohingya were killed and more than 700,000 fled to Bangladesh following an army crackdown in 2017.
• Ms Suu Kyi appeared before the International Court of Justice in 2019, where she denied allegations that the military had committed genocide.

The ‘infamous’ Coup

• The military is now backing in charge and has declared a year-long state of emergency.
• It seized control following a general election which Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by a landslide.
• The armed forces had backed the opposition, who were demanding a rerun of the vote, claiming widespread fraud.
• The election commission said there was no evidence to support these claims.
• Suu Kyi is thought to be under house arrest. Several charges have been filed against her, including breaching import and export laws and possession of unlawful communication devices.

Public has outraged

Suu Kyi has urged her supporters to “protest against the coup”. The nights that followed the military takeover saw people show their dissent by banging pots and honking car horns.

• The military blocked access to Facebook, which is widely used across the country than Twitter and Instagram. But that failed to stop large nationwide protests on Saturday.
• The rulers then ordered a full internet blackout. Protesters, again, took to the streets to denounce the coup.
• Next day saw the country’s largest protests since the so-called Saffron Revolution in 2007, when thousands of the country’s monks rose up against the military regime.

What has the international reaction been?

Experts say that the real motivation behind the military’s action is Suu Kyi’s popularity and growing power, which it believes could erode its control over critical policy domains.

• The UK, EU and Australia are among those to have condemned the military takeover.
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres said it was a “serious blow to democratic reforms”.
• US President Joe Biden has threatened to reinstate sanctions.

Someone seems ‘pleased’

China neither condemned nor expressed any concern. It just said that reconciliation is needed between the civilian set-up and Myanmar military or Tatmadaw.

• China blocked a UN Security Council statement condemning the coup.
• The country, which has previously opposed international intervention in Myanmar, urged all sides to “resolve differences”.
• Its Xinhua news agency described the changes as a “cabinet reshuffle”.
• Neighbours including Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines, have said it is an “internal matter”.

The two vastly different stances adopted by India and China offer a glimpse into who stands to gain as military rule returns to Myanmar after 10 years of gradual, albeit limited, political opening.

An analysis: India-Myanmar Relations

India-Myanmar relations are rooted in shared historical, ethnic, cultural and religious ties. As the land of Lord Buddha, India is a country of pilgrimage for the people of Myanmar. The geographical proximity of the two countries has helped develop and sustain cordial relations and facilitated people-to- people contact.

Both share a long land border of over 1600 km (approx.) and a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.

A large population of Indian origin (according to some estimates about 2.5 million) lives in Myanmar. India and Myanmar signed a Treaty of Friendship in 1951.

India’s interests

• The geographically strategic location of Myanmar makes it a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• India needs a good working relationship with the Myanmar government for its diplomatic and strategic initiatives.
• This is especially due to China’s nefarious designs in Myanmar, which wants to develop it as a geopolitical base against India.
• Despite Myanmar being ruled by military junta over the years, India has developed close ties and shares a good relationship with Tatmadaw.

(a) Strategic relations

• Last year, despite facing shortage of its own, India handed over INS Sindhuvir, a submarine, to the Myanmar Navy.
• Tatmadaw responded well to Indian overtures and even allowed India to conduct counter-interagency operations against Indian insurgents groups in Myanmar border areas.
• Both nations seek to cooperate to counteract drug trafficking and insurgent groups operating in the border areas.

(b) Economic relations

• India and Myanmar are leading members of BIMSTEC, SAARC and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, along with Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, helping India develop its influence and ties amongst Southeast Asian nations.
• Some of the sanctioned projects include:
• India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral highway
• Kaladan Multi-modal transit transport network
• Planned Special Economic Zone at the Sittwe deep-water port
• Also, the Myanmar government recently hinted at delaying and cancelling BRI projects and developing some big ticket projects with India.

(c) HADR operations

• India responded promptly and effectively in rendering assistance after natural disaster in Myanmar such as the earthquake in Shan state (2010) Cyclone Mora (2017), and Komen (2015).
• India offered to help in capacity building in disaster risk mitigation as well as strengthening Myanmar’s National Disaster Response Mechanism.

What defines China-Myanmar relations?

China has its own designs and wants to use Myanmar as another base in its ‘string of pearl’ strategy against India. Through the string of pearls approach, China intends to encircle India by developing military bases in India’s neighbouring countries and Myanmar has long been on China’s radar.

(a) Debt traps

• Burdening Myanmar under Chinese debt trap is the first step of the plan.
• Under China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China is funding and developing many big projects in Myanmar that can be used as military bases in future.
• These infrastructure projects have put Myanmar in massive Chinese debt trap, and accounts for over 40 per cent of the current $10 billion national debt.

(b) Political interference

• The second Chinese step was to control the political machinery.
• Like in Nepal, where China maneuvered to install a pro-Beijing and anti-India group government, Myanmar is expected to witness the same thing with military coup.
• Geostrategic experts say China instigated Nepal to start the border dispute with India.

(c) Trade dependence

• With this second step done, the third step comes into play: making a country your economically held scapegoat.
• When it comes to bilateral trade with India, it stood at just $1.5 billion dollars in 2019-20, nowhere near that of China.  With China, the bilateral trade is worth $12 billion dollars.
• But if we go by an official Chinese report quoting the Ministry of Commerce of China, export and import between China and Myanmar was worth $168 billion dollars in 2019.
• That is huge for a small country like Myanmar.

Through the prism of Coup

(a) Impact on India

While the coup invited international condemnation, not much will change for India as it has built ties with the Tatmadaw over the years.

• The handing over late last year of INS Sindhuvir, a kilo-class submarine of the Indian Navy, to the Myanmar Navy, was the most recent sign of the deepening ties between New Delhi and the Tatmadaw.
• India and China have been competing for influence in Myanmar.
• If India hadn’t agreed to help Myanmar meet its naval requirements, it would have meant a greater Chinese presence in the Bay of Bengal.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (behind this coup) has made multiple visits to India over the last few years, most recently in 2019, when he met our PM.

(b) Impact on China

• India was the largest supplier of weapons and other military equipment to Myanmar in 2019, the last year for which records are available in the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database.
• Tatmadaw exported military hardware worth $100 million from India that year while it spent only $47 million on Chinese military equipment the same year.
• This is significant because China has been the largest supplier of weapons to the Southeast Asian country over the decades.
• The General has also been critical of China, accusing Beijing of providing support to certain insurgent groups in the country, including the Arakan Army in Rakhine state, which the Tatmadaw has been fighting.

Many rebel groups in Myanmar have been using Chinese-made weapons against the military. This, experts say, rules out a tight embrace of China in the near term.

Repercussions of the Coup

• And with over 50 years of military rule and an isolated status in the world, it seems that most of the relations are held by China alone.
• If the US goes ahead with its threat of sanctions because of the coup, Myanmar will have to turn to Beijing as a shield.
• In a nutshell, Myanmar’s economy is largely dependent on China, and with a pro-Beijing government in place, Myanmar may well fall finally into Chinese debt trap by allowing China funded BRI projects.
• If that happens, Myanmar will be reducing to a mere economic scapegoat of its largest trading partner China, and a hostile neighbour for India’s geopolitical interests.
• This in turn will emerge as a deterrent in the global vision of Indo-Pacific.

It may be often tempting to describe India’s Myanmar policy as suffering from a dilemma between values and interest.

Wait….. India never acts blindfolded

India’s interest in Myanmar has always been guided strategically by the centrality of democracy to ensure deeper ties.

India has also learned to accept that “the liberal democratic paradigm will not automatically come about” in Myanmar, nor in any other part of India’s politically volatile neighbourhood.

So while Indian policymakers have always been clear about their democratic endgame in Myanmar, they also recognise that pragmatic adjustments are sometimes necessary to engage with the military, which remains the ultimate guarantor of internal stability and order.

Since Nehruvian times….

60 years ago, the Burmese armed forces, the Tatmadaw, first took over power to end a decade of democratic reforms in the 1950s.

• The coup of March 1962 was a severe setback for India’s investment in a federal, democratic Burma under the leadership of Nehru’s great friend U Nu.
• However, with the democratic regime in deep crisis, it made sense to engage General Ne Win to protect Indian interests, including cross-border insurgencies, China’s influence and the safety of the larger Indian diaspora.
• Despite his personal distress at the imprisonment of his friend and the end of democracy, Nehru gave the green light for India to become one of the first countries to recognise the military regime, even before China.
• For the time being, India will push for democracy in public domain but in private it will pivot to engage with Myanmar’s new military regime.

The road to democracy in Myanmar lies through its military

• Sixty years later, the situation is strikingly similar.
• This marks a return to India’s dual policy of the 2000s, when it built a relationship of high-level trust with the Myanmar military while also nudging and supporting the Generals to embrace democratic reforms.
• This approach was first crafted in the late 1990s by Shyam Saran, then India’s ambassador in Yangon, and executed in 2000 with a rare display of successful defence diplomacy led by Army chief VP Malik.
• This was no easy task. Western analysts criticised India for blindly engaging Myanmar.
• At the UN India came under attack for not supporting sanctions and condemnatory resolutions, especially during the failed 2007 democratic uprising.

Despite such pressure, India stood firm and also paid a price for it. PM Manmohan Singh, for example, declined two invitations and only visited Myanmar in 2012, after the democratic opening.  

Way forward

• The carefully calibrated policy of the 2000s will serve India well today, where circumstances are even more favourable.
• Thanks to the rise of China, the US and the EU are now more wary of isolating Myanmar.
• And the Tatmadaw is now also less enamored of China and keen to deepen relations with India.
• But New Delhi will still have to work hard to pursue its democratic realist policy in Myanmar.

For India to play a role

(a) Domestically

• The first challenge will be to preserve trust with the Generals even while keeping up the pressure to restore a democratic order.
• Delhi will have to keep the relationship going at the highest level to ensure that the Generals respect India’s core concerns.
• This includes the Naga peace process, keeping an eye on China’s activities, and cross-border connectivity initiatives.

(b) Internationally

• The second challenge will be for India to coordinate its position internationally and buy itself manoeuvering space to engage Myanmar.
• The US and the EU are still likely to be less understanding of India’s position than the Association of South-East Asian Nations and Japan.
• Especially at the UN Security Council, India could play an important role to bridge differences and develop a common platform to nudge Myanmar back on to the democratic track.

Conclusion

• Among the first countries to react, India’s statement was crystal clear, expressing “deep concern” about the future of democracy and the rule of law.
• Such harsh words are not just out of moral solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi and other democrats detained.
• They reflect India’s long-held understanding that democracy is the only model for Myanmar to achieve political stability, internal security and sustainable development.

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References

https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/myanmar-july-2012.pdf

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55902070

https://swarajyamag.com/world/explained-how-the-military-coup-unfolded-in-myanmar-and-what-it-means-for-india

https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/indias-long-game-with-the-generals-101612444928293.html

Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 9th February

GS-1  Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. 

GS-4 Emotional Intelligence.

Question 1)

What is “Love Jihad”? Critically analyse the issues associated with the law against love jihad. 10 marks

Question 2)

Being the largest democracies and unions of linguistically, culturally and ethnically diverse States, both the EU and India are well suited for a special relationship, but the reality is that the status is one without any spark of mutual chemistry. In light of this, examine the factors that explain the lack of mutual chemistry. 10 marks

Question 3)

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 has been criticised for liquidating rather than rescuing the companies. Do you agree with this criticism of the Act? Give reasons in support of your argument. 10 marks

Question 4)  

For effective functioning of civil services, what should be the main characteristics of aptitude? Elucidate with justification. 10 marks

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Reviews will be provided in a week. (In the order of submission- First come first serve basis). In case the answer is submitted late the review period may get extended to two weeks.

*In case your answer is not reviewed in a week, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. If Parth Sir’s tag is available then tag him.

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