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This Masterclass concluded for CivilsDaily’s UPSC Mains 2022 students only.

The 1750 marks of the Mains exam will decide your IAS destiny. Though UPSC has given a very detailed and crisp syllabus, it can’t resist the urge to add surprising elements in questions every year to keep candidates on their toes and to test their mettle.

UPSC 2022 Mains are here. You must have covered everything by now, all notes revised or in the final lap, filling up the gaps and adding answer writing tricks/hacks, etc. Content or information-wise we are convinced that you are well equipped. However, in the exam hall, it is about the execution of whatever information you have read, gathered, scavenged, understood, and analyzed.

Aspirants can boost their Mains score by more than 100 marks. And that is enough to make the difference where a single mark can decide success and failure. This Masterclass was designed for CivilsDaily’s students only.

Acknowledging the need to ensure removing difficulties, the students face, we conducted an on-demand MASTERCLASS. How to boost your mains Score 2022, sticking to the basic sources, and practicing answer writing in expert-prescribed ways, even after many things are pending.

UPSC Score Booster Masterclass concluded on 8th September (Thursday), 7 PM

Main points were discussed:

1. Identifying and tackling directive words and tail words in the Mains Question. There are more than 30 directives and you must answer according to that only. We will discuss how to approach an answer wrt to these directives

2. When, where, and how to use diagrams, flowcharts, tables, etc?

It is a common notion that more diagrams = more marks, but this is not true. You must draw diagrams/flowcharts to address certain parts of the question only. 

3. Understanding the core and non-core parts of the questions. 

There is one part of the Mains question that is directly asked and is an obvious question. The non-core part at times might not be obvious but you must address that. 

4. How to use anecdotes, facts, data, examples, and case studies? – even using the most common ones in the most impactful manner, in such a manner that it fetches you more marks

5. How to answer a question with limited content or knowledge? Basically – Bouncer/googly questions. Keywords in questions: Thoroughly explain what each keyword means. Analyzing critically is different from explaining or elaborating. So, how to read the question carefully and then start answering?

6. How to complete the paper in 3hours? And what should be the correct sequence of answering sections in the Mains paper? 

This is very essential to maintain your speed as well as consistency in your thinking process. 

7. Making a trade-off between quality and quantity in your answers. You might now be able to recall every info for all the answers.

8. When to write answers in Paragraph form and when to write in heading, subheading, and points? What should be the ideal length of a sentence, paragraph, and number of points?

9. What should be your strategy for the last week before Mains 2022?

10. How to go about the Final Revision before Mains 2022? Focus on making more revisions: If you can’t remember any points, how to put things in your notes during the exam. What are the exact ways to revise at least 10 times before the exam? Things must be your tips.

What The Hindu mentioned about Civilsdaily Mentorship

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1        Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.

GS-2        Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

GS-3        Indian Economy

GS-4        Case Studies

Question 1)

Q.1 Battle of Plassey was a watershed moment in history marking the end of middle ages and beginning of modern phase in India. Comment. (10 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 Why is the role of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) becoming important in NGO funding? What are the issues with CSR funding? Discuss the way forward. (15 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 Recent data shows India’s exports declined marginally in August on a year-on-year basis, while it contracted by about 9 % sequentially. Highlighting the reasons for falling exports and rising imports., mention its impact on the Indian economy. (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 You have recently started playing online chess at a popular Internet-based gaming platform. The platform has online lessons on tricks and tips for improving skills in the game. These lessons have helped you improve a lot in a short time. You are also amazed at the possibility of playing with players of all levels of skills from all over the world. The platform provides you analysis of your games and suggests areas of improvement. While testing and improving your chess skills on the platform, you have made friendship and acquaintances with many competitive chess players from different parts of the world. Of late though, racial, religious and stereotypical remarks have started being thrown at you on the online platform by other players. Initially you ignored such things as childish tactics by an opponent to distract you during the game. Later you would try to engage with such people to dispel stereotypes. But increasingly such experiences are making you sad and bitter. Now you block such people as you encounter them. The online game which started as a fun and stimulating experience for you, has become a source of negativity in your life. In your discussions with other people, you come to realize that others have also experienced similar racial and religious slurs, and many people have left the platform to avoid the abusive experience. You also realize that this is not an issue specific to the gaming platform but is part of the generally seen behavior on social media. You used to consider online trolling as harmless puns, but after experiencing its dark side as a victim you are realizing its negative impact. Given this information, what are your thoughts on the following: a) How should one deal with the issues of on-line abuse such as in the case above? What options are available to you? b) What values should guide online behavior? Do these values differ from values governing offline conduct? (20 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. 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.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

Topics for Today’s questions:

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

GS-2        Issues relating to Poverty & Hunger

GS-3        Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping

GS-4        Probity in Governance: Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

Question 1)

Q.1 Accounts given by foreign travelers are as important as the evidence obtained from inscriptions and coins in reconstruction of ancient Indian history. Elaborate with examples. (15 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 What role does supply chain play in nutritional security? Discuss the constraints in supply chain along with way forward. (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 Highlight the challenges associated with the new ‘One nation, One fertilizer’ policy? What should be the way forward? (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 Ethical work culture increases employee job satisfaction and ensures organizational success. Elaborate. In what ways can ethical culture be incorporated in an organization? (10 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. 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.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

Context

• Colonial administration tried to discourage the ideas against the established system.
• Despite the suppression, human civilizations and culture have developed along with the freedom of ideas and resistance.
• Literature against colonial rule reflects the zeal for freedom of the country and sacrifices to achieve the goal and suffering in the process.

Various moves by the British to suppress the Indian Press/Literature

Before 1857:

1. The First Censorship of Press Act, 1799 by Lord Wellesley
2. Licensing Regulations Act , 1823
3. Press Act/Charles Metcalfe Act, 1835
4. Licensing Act, 1857
5. Lala Lajpat Rai was sent to jail in Burma under Regulation III of 1818

After 1857:

1. Several newspapers in various Indian languages were banned or penalized during the 1857 war.
2. Mirza Bedar Bakht, an editor of the ‘Payam-e-Azadi’ paper was publicly hanged for supporting the war.
3. Sedition law was introduced in 1870 under Section 124A of IPC.
4. Sedition law was used to silence the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
5. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was charged with sedition for exciting disaffection through an article he published in the Kesari. The Lokmanya was sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months.
6. The Vernacular Press Act (VPA) of 1878 was designed to ‘better control’ the vernacular press and effectively punish and repress seditious writing.
7. The Official Secrets Act, 1898, Indian Post Office Act, and Indian Customs Act, Indian Press Act, 1910, all controlled the books and publications.

Examples of Literature against Established Rule

• Numerous poets and writers have written about several incidents of freedom struggle such as – 1857 War of Independence, 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, 1922 Chauri Chaura incident, 1927 Kakori robbery, and 1942 Quit India Movement.
• ‘Sare Jahan Se Acha’, an Urdu language patriotic song for children written by poet Muhammad Iqbal in the ghazal poetry of Urdu Poetry. The poem was published in the weekly journal ‘Ittehad’ on 16 August 1904.
• ‘Jhansi ki Rani’ by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.
• ‘Pushp Ki Abhilasha’ by Makhanlal Chaturvedi.
• ‘Jhande Ka Geet’ by Shyamlal Gupt Parshad.
• Revolutionaries like Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan wrote several poems expressing the innermost expressions of revolutionaries against British rule.
• ‘Bharath Prashasthi’ by Rabindranath Tagore.
• ‘Pyara Hindostan Hamara’ by poet Hamdam depicts Hindu-Muslim Unity during the freedom struggle.

Conclusion

• The press played a notable role in the freedom struggle.
• They helped in the dispersal of revolutionary ideas which helped in forming an opposition against the British government.
• The newspapers also helped in spreading awareness about the extreme measures taken by the colonial government which further incited protests and revolutionary acts against the British.

UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

Topics for Today’s questions:

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

GS-2        Constitution of India—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

GS-3        Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment; Agriculture and related issues

GS-4        Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity

Question 1)

Q.1 Mauryan empire achieved greatness not only through its territorial conquest but also through the cultural developments. Discuss. (10 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 What do you understand by the doctrine of harmonious construction? How has it helped in balancing religious rights with other fundamental rights in India? (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 A growing global population increasingly living in cities has led to a spiralling rise in the extraction of sand and aggregates, with serious environmental, political and social consequences. Examine. (15 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 Distinguish between rules, regulations and laws. Do you agree that objectivity of rules should be complicated by the subjectivity of conscience to achieve justice? Discuss. (10 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. 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.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

Context

• India can become an upper-middle-income country by 2047 if it manages to achieve a sustained growth rate of 7 to 7.5 percent for the next 25 years.
• And at this growth rate, India can become a 20 trillion dollar economy by 2047.
• This was asserted by the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the PM, Bibek Debroy, while releasing ‘The Competitiveness Roadmap for India@100’.

What is the news?

• With a GDP of 2.7 trillion dollars, India is currently the world’s sixth largest economy and is classified as a developing nation.
• PM has set an ambitious target of making India a developed nation by 2047.

So what will it take India to achieve the status of a developed nation? What should be the roadmap for the country for the next 25 years?

What one means by a Developed Country?

• A developed country is typically characterized by:
• A relatively high level of economic growth,
• General standard of living, and
• Higher per capita income as well as
• Performing well on the Human Development Index (HDI), which includes education, literacy and health

Highlights of the Report: Competitiveness Roadmap for India@100

The roadmap, which is a component of the India Competitiveness Initiative, will assist in the development of roadmaps for certain Indian states and industries.

The competitiveness framework created by Professor Michael E. Porter serves as the foundation for the Competitiveness roadmap for India@100.

The India@100 roadmap, which is based on a competitiveness strategy, lays the path for India to achieve high-income status by 2047 by implementing sector- and region-specific policies based on the “4 S” principles. The competitiveness strategy emphasizes productivity as a source of sustained prosperity.

What are the “4 S” guiding principles?

It emphasizes the need for prosperity growth thus redefining the approach to achieving prosperity:

1. to be matched by Social progress
2. to be shared across all regions of India
3. to be environmentally Sustainable and
4. to be Solid in the face of external Shocks

Key Points

1. The roadmap forecasts that India’s economy will reach USD 20 trillion by 2047, assuming average annual growth between 7 – 7.5% over the next 25 years.
2. The competitiveness framework that underpins the roadmap provides a strategic viewpoint on how to transform the diagnostics on a country’s competitiveness principles into valuable insights.
3. It will be the bedrock of India’s economic and social policies in order to sustain long-term economic growth.
4. It provides a complete diagnostic assessment of India’s current competitiveness level, the key issues faced, and growth potential.

Major maladies to the Indian Economy

• Low per capita income
• Huge dependence of population on agriculture
• Heavy population pressure
• Existence of chronic unemployment and under-employment
• Slow rate of Capital Formation
• Inequality in wealth distribution
• Poor Quality of Human Capital
• Digital divide
• Under-utilisation of resources

Major highlighted challenges

The competitiveness diagnostics have revealed three particular challenges that India will have to address:

(1) Shared prosperity challenge

• India’s headline GDP growth has been strong and even accelerating.
• But weak social progress, rising inequality, and a lack of convergence across regions suggest that this growth has failed to translate into the expected improvements in quality of life for many Indians.

(2) Jobs challenge

• India has a vast demographic opportunity with a young and growing working-age population.
• But it has increasingly struggled to create jobs for a large part of its labour force, especially women and the less skilled.

(3) Policy implementation challenge

• India’s government has pursued an ambitious agenda of economic reforms, largely focused on the relevant issues and based on mostly sound conceptual principles.
• But the impact on job creation terms of job creation and the growth of firms has fallen short of ambitions.

(4) Others

• India is facing a shifting external environment with rising geopolitical tensions and changing patterns of globalization, climate change and policies to achieve the transition to net zero, digital transformation and other technological changes all embedded in a complex macroeconomic context.

Way forward

• India’s growing labour force, low debt levels and low household leverage have helped the economy escape major scarring from an exigency like coronavirus.
• The push for Self-Reliance will also propel India’s growth trajectory in the future.
• The undercurrents of change in the geopolitical arena have also put India in an advantageous position.
• The coronavirus pandemic has made most of the developed countries see China as an adversary and the Indo-Pacific region is increasingly becoming a place what Middle East and Europe were at different points in time.
• India now has become pivotal to Western economies in terms of strategic thinking.

UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1        Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone. etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. 

GS-2        Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

GS-3        Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment; Agriculture and related issues

GS-4        Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity

Question 1)

Q.1 Impact of climate change on Himalaya poses far reaching threats to biodiversity, food, water and energy security of India. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 Religious appeals during elections continue to be practiced despite Supreme Court directives and provisions within Representation of Peoples Act (RPA) 1951 against it. Highlighting the various checks against communalization of politics, discuss why appeals to religions continue to be a part of electioneering. (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 Solar power sector is not only leading the mitigation efforts against climate change, but the innovations in solar power can also accelerate adaptation of agriculture to a new reality of changed climate. Discuss. (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 Some people argue that corruption emanates from the incentive structures within the society, while others see corruption as a purely administrative problem. Which view do you think is more appropriate? Justify your answer. (10 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. 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.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1        Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone. etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. 

GS-2        India and its neighbourhood- relations.

GS-3        Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

GS-4        Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

Question 1)

Q.1 What is a bomb cyclone? Discussing the mechanism of their formation and highlight their impact on the weather pattern of the affected region. (10 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 Relations between India and Bangladesh have seen a steady progress over the years. Do you agree? Also, mention some of the challenges in the relationship. (15 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 How can India achieve “Energy Atmanirbharta” by 2040- an ambitious target stated by the PM? What are the challenges in achieving this goal? (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 The recent Covid 19 pandemic has reinvigorated the debate about ‘compassionate capitalism’. Define the concept and explain its importance in the present times. (10 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. 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.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: