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  • CivilsDaily’s UPSC material and Notes: FREE UPSC Materials for you

    Welcome Guys

    How can we help you!
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    Unfortunately, the internet is packed with countless free E-books, PDFs, videos, etc for UPSC. But, the question is how many of them are actually helpful! 

    Ensuring the needful, team Civilsdaily has brought all the exam-centric resources to one place for you.

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    Are your basics not clear? Do you need conceptual clarity? Don’t go anywhere. Start off with NCERTs. 

    We provide all types of free UPSC materials

    Let your best foot forward and let’s help plan your UPSC Prep Strategy.

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    Download NCERTs

    As you start your preparation for the IAS/ UPSC exam, you would be advised to give a good read to the standard NCERT textbooks before catching up on the advanced material.

    download NCERTs

    Download PYQs

    From toppers to Mentors, none can deny the importance of the previous year’s question papers. They are important from different angles. 

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    Daily MCQs

    1. In the comments section, share your score and also let everyone know the logic you’ve used to mark certain answers. This will trigger intelligent discussions benefitting everyone.

    2. Completing the test should be your top priority. Focus on accuracy rather than simply attempting more questions. Give enough thought to each question, we have increased the time limit so you can do this.

    3. At the end of the test, click on ‘View Questions’ button to check the solutions.

    *You can attempt the test multiple times for your own practice but only your first attempt will be counted for rankings.

    Practice now

    Daily Answer writing

    Our Daily Answer Writing Enhancement (AWE) focuses on the daily answer writing needs of UPSC candidates.

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    Special GK

    We provide consolidated GK notes for UPSC

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    Current affairs

    All the burning issues for UPSC CSE

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    Webinar PDFs

    We conduct weekly 2-3 online workshops hosted by Toppers, Senior IAS Mentors and teachers.

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    Smash mains

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    Magazines

    Around 29,000+ students subscribed to our previous combo and benefitted from our news analysis.

    Encouraged by your love and trust, this time we are offering these magazines with a targeted focus on Prelims and Mains.

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  • (It’s LIVE) Zoom link inside | Special Webinar in Marathi | Integrated preparation for MPSC and UPSC by Vaibhav Kajale, AIR 325, UPSC 2021 | LIVE from CD Pune center | Register now and get CD special Prelims Package

    (It’s LIVE) Zoom link inside | Special Webinar in Marathi | Integrated preparation for MPSC and UPSC by Vaibhav Kajale, AIR 325, UPSC 2021 | LIVE from CD Pune center | Register now and get CD special Prelims Package

    Join using this Zoom Meeting link
    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88262925250?pwd=MWJsWkxVUXpOMzRUM0ZRdWhlTkM1UT09

    Meeting ID: 882 6292 5250
    Passcode: 321231

    Special Webinar for aspirants in Maharashtra: Integrated Approach for UPSC and MPSC | 19th July 2022, 4 pm | Register and get relevant study material

    (click and register) webinar: Integrated preparation for MPSC and UPSC | vaibhav kajale, air 325, Upsc 2021

    A houseful seminar was conducted by CivilsDaily a few days back. The foundation stone for a balanced success in UPSC, along with MPSC has been successfully placed in Pune. Yes, Civilsdaily has reached Maharashtra (Pune).

    Sajal sir addressing aspirants from Maharashtra

    CivilsDaily is back with the promise of helping you meet rankers from Maharashtra. This time we have our student and would-be-IAS Vaibhav Kajale who secured an AIR 325, UPSC 2021.

    (CLICK AND REGISTER) WEBINAR: INTEGRATED PREPARATION FOR MPSC AND UPSC | VAIBHAV KAJALE, AIR 325, UPSC 2021

    Webinar details: 19th July, 4 pm

    Note: This webinar will be in Marathi predominantly.

    (click and register) webinar: Integrated preparation for MPSC and UPSC | vaibhav kajale, air 325, Upsc 2021
    1. Changed pattern of MPSC
    2. Implications of this change
    3. CivilsDaily’s Maharashtra students and their performance in UPSC 2021
    4. CivilsDaily IAS in Pune
    5. How the Pune Center will help aspirants from Maharashtra?
    6. Some of the UPSC rankers from Maharashtra
    7. Register for webinar by Vaibhav Kajale, AIR 325, UPSC 2021

    MPSC changes pattern: Aligned with UPSC, to be implemented from 2023

    Maharashtra PSC has recently released a notification citing changes in the pattern. Now the main examination will be subjective/descriptive in nature (essay type answers) instead of objective (MCQ type) questions. Also, an Ethics paper has also been introduced, modern history will also be included.

    From earlier 6 papers in MPSC Mains now we will have 9 papers, with total marks now standing at 1750 in Mains, closely resembling UPSC’s pattern.

    PapersSubjectsMarksNature of papers
    Paper 1Marathi300Descriptive (Qualifying)
    Paper 2English300Descriptive (Qualifying)
    Paper 3Essay (Marathi or English)250Descriptive
    Paper 4GS 1250Descriptive
    Paper 5GS 2250Descriptive
    Paper 6GS 3250Descriptive
    Paper 6GS 4250Descriptive
    Paper 8Optional Paper 1250Descriptive
    Paper 9Optional Paper 2250Descriptive
    1750 Marks
    Closely resembling the UPSC pattern

    Implications of this change

    It has certainly made MPSC mains more comprehensive, requiring a wide-based knowledge just like UPSC.

    • It will be easier for UPSC aspirants to prepare for MPSC and vice-versa.
    • It improve the percentage of Marathi candidates appearing and clearing UPSC as the paper pattern is almost the same.
    • It will give equal opportunity to those from rural as well as urban areas. Now every candidate must play on a level playing field.
    • For those UPSC aspirants who have exhausted their attempts, they would find it easier to appear and crack MPSC.
    • Aspirants who will reappear in 2023 will have to consider it as a fresh attempt as they have to study almost from scratch.

    All these pose an opportunity as well as a challenge for aspirants but for sure it calls for a change in strategy.

    (CLICK AND REGISTER) WEBINAR: INTEGRATED PREPARATION FOR MPSC AND UPSC | VAIBHAV KAJALE, AIR 325, UPSC 2021

    CivilsDaily’s performance in UPSC 2021 and an overwhelming number of our Rankers from Maharashtra

    UPSC 2021 results were released a few days back and it was a major validation of CivilsDaily’s student-centric approach, personalized mentorship, and commitment to your goal – cracking the UPSC IAS exam.

    ..amazing observation was the overwhelming number of rankers from Maharashtra.

    This was evident from 200+ rankers, including 30+ in the top 50 in the UPSC 2021 exam. Another amazing observation was the overwhelming number of rankers from Maharashtra. 

    Moreover, we have thousands of CivilsDaily students from the state.

    On the insistence of CivilsDaily’s alumni (ex-rankers) and our students from the state, opened our first center in Maharashtra, in Pune.

    How is the Pune center going to help UPSC and Civil Services Aspirants from Maharashtra?

    Saves you from the trauma of relocation

    Aspirants have to leave their home state to Delhi, Karol Bagh for UPSC prep. It seriously dismantles their mental peace and continuity in preparation.

    Now you no longer have to leave your state and come to Delhi for UPSC preparation.

    Financially

    Financially, by saving huge expenditure incurred in Karol Bagh on renting and tuition fees.

    Now prepare for both: UPSC and MPSC

    Recently the notification for MPSC was released and since the pattern is similar to UPSC now, we will be helping you prepare for MPSC as well.

    Live lectures, Offline 1:1 Mentorship, Testing centre in Pune

    We will be providing the best classroom lectures; UPSC-relevant tests and study material; experienced mentors and dedicated faculty. 

    CivilsDaily will always remain committed to a personalized and student-centric approach and will live for its vision of making UPSC and government service exam preparation simpler, effective, result-oriented, and affordable to every aspiring student.

    Some of our Ranker from Maharashtra

    (CLICK AND REGISTER) WEBINAR: INTEGRATED PREPARATION FOR MPSC AND UPSC | VAIBHAV KAJALE, AIR 325, UPSC 2021 | How the new MPSC pattern gives you an extra edge on your UPSC Preparation

  • Science and Technology for UPSC

    Hello dear aspirants,

    Are you an IAS aspirant? If the answer is ‘Yes’, you must not take the subject of science and tech for granted. Don’t think that we should read this subject only to clear our exam, we should love this subject because the science of today is the technology of tomorrow. This is the way of our future. This is the only process that takes us from confusion to understanding in a manner that’s precise, predictive, and reliable, a transformation for those lucky enough to experience it. And that is empowering and emotional.

    click:- register (free) and let us plan upsc preparation strategy for you

    After mentoring 5000+ students, we feel that science and technology is a pain for non-science background students. Acknowledging this and removing all difficulties, we, the Civilsdaily senior IAS mentors team have prepared a workable strategy and booklist for this subject. Let’s have a look…

    Table of Content:

    Science and Technology in UPSC

    There is a good weightage of Science and Technology in UPSC-CSE.

    • In Prelims, 12 to 16 questions are asked every year.
    • In Mains, 25% of GS-3 consists of Science and tech questions.

    So, taking this subject lightly may cause disaster. 

    How to prepare for Science and Tech for UPSC

    This is the 2nd most unpredictable and complicated subject in the UPSC syllabus. Average 15 questions you can expect and 15 out of 100 MCQs truly matter when it is the UPSC-CSE prelims.

    How to deal with Science and Technology:

    There are 2 sections

    • Science and Technology (relates to Current development)
    • General Science (Biology, Human Health, Physics, and Chemistry in daily life.)

    Now the question is which one of the above sections is more important!

    Analyzing the previous 5 years’ question papers, it’s clear that the majority of the questions come from Science and Technology (relates to Current development). But, because of the super dynamic nature of UPSC, we should prepare both sections smartly. 

    5 steps to prepare Science and Technology for UPSC

    A list of repeatedly asked topics

    1. Current Development + Contemporary Affairs (Past 2 years developments)
    • Space Research
    • Defense Technology
    • Blockchain
    • Blue Carbon
    • Higgs Boson Cortical
    • Light and Energy related daily life events
    • Singularity String Theory
    • Organic Lights (LED)
    • Blackhole
    • LED and Sodium Lamps
    • Polycarbonates
    • Vaccines
    • Nanotechnology
    • 4G, 5G
    • IoT
    • Nuclear Development
    1. General Science (Biology, Human Health, Physics, and Chemistry in daily life.)
    • Pandemic related
    • Human Health
    • Medical development
    • Etc.

    Books and Resources for Non-Science Background Students

    • NCERT – Class: VIII (Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
    • NCERT – Class IX (Chapters: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
    • NCERT – Class XII (Chapters: 11 and 12 biotechnology)
    • Science and Tech – Ravi Agrahari
    • Science and Technology in India – Kalpana Rajaram – Spectrum
    • General Science for Civil Service Preliminary – S. A Majid
    • Science and Technology – Neeraj nachiketa
    • Civilsdaily Website Daily Current Affairs

    Books and Resources for Science background students

    • Science and Tech – Ravi Agrahari
    • Science and Technology in India – Kalpana Rajaram – Spectrum
    • General Science for Civil Service Preliminary – S. A Majid
    • Science and Technology – Neeraj nachiketa
    • Civilsdaily Website Daily Current Affairs

    Get a personalized IAS mentor and let them make a plan, strategy, and booklist for you

    Guys, though we have provided above the most comprehensive booklist for your IAS preparation, we would like to recommend you to have a selective reading from these books and not cover to cover.

    Getting confused? connect with us. We will help you to make out.

    click:- register (free) for an online workshop with senior ias mentors on upsc prep strategy, etc.

    CLICK:- REGISTER FOR AN ONLINE WORKSHOP WITH SENIOR IAS MENTORS ON UPSC PREPARATION, ETC.

  • Consolidating multiple FIRs

    Context

    The Supreme Court’s (SC) refused to consolidate multiple FIRs filed in several states against former BJP spokesperson.

    When are multiple FIRs clubbed?

    • In 2001, the SC, in TT Antony vs. State of Kerala, made it clear that only the earliest information in regard to the commission of an offence could be investigated and tried.
    • In Babubhai vs. State of Gujarat (2010), the Court explained that the test to determine the sameness of the offence is to identify whether “the subject matter of the FIRs is the same incident, same occurrence or are in regard to incidents which are two or more parts of the same transaction”.
    • the SC extensively relied upon TT Antony while granting similar relief to two journalists.

    Reasons given by the SCs for refusal to club the FIRs

    •  The bench said that party spokespersons and journalists cannot be treated identically.
    • The Constitution creates no hierarchical difference between journalists and ordinary citizens when it comes to the enforcement of fundamental rights.
    • The right to approach the SC under Article 32 is in itself a fundamental right.
    • Nor did the SC craft any distinction on the basis of the status or affiliation of the accused in TT Antony.
    • Second, the bench said that she has not unconditionally apologised for her remarks and her political clout is apparent from the fact that she has not been arrested despite an FIR being filed against her.
    • This view is again misplaced. Whether or not the person has tendered an apology is not germane to the issue at hand.
    • Seeking or tendering an apology may be a mitigating factor while deciding punishment but only after the guilt is proved.

    Why the multiple FIRs should be consolidated

    • Abuse of statutory power of investigation: Filing of successive FIRs amounts to an abuse of statutory power of investigation and is a fit case for the SC to exercise its writ powers under Article 32 because high courts cannot transfer cases from one state to another.
    • Wastage of state resources and judicial time: Prudence demands that state resources and judicial time are not spent on a multiplicity of proceedings.
    • The multiplicity of proceedings would result in violation of fundamental rights under Article 21 as parallel investigations would result in her being forced to join investigations in different police stations in different states.
    • This serves no practical purpose because ultimately it is only one of the police reports that would be tried by a court of law.

    Conclusion

    In the absence of strict guidelines, some degree of caution is necessary on the part of judges to work within the confines of judicial propriety.

     

  • The Ukraine war and the return to Euro-centrism

    Context

    The Russian aggression against Ukraine has led to an unmissable feeling of insecurity in Europe, particularly in Germany.

     Euro-centric world order and new security consciousness

    • For centuries, Europe imagined itself to be the centre of the world — its order, politics and culture.
    • What contributed to its decline? Decolonisation, the emergence of the United States as the western world’s sole superpower, and the rise of the rest dramatically diminished the centuries old domination of the European states and their ability to shape the world in their own image.
    • The political and military aftermath of Russia’s war on Ukraine could potentially tilt the current global balance and take us back to a Euro-centric world order.
    • US dominance: For sure, the U.S. continues to dominate the trans-Atlantic security landscape and this is likely to remain so.
    • And yet, the new security consciousness in Europe will reduce Washington’s ability to continue as the fulcrum of the trans-Atlantic strategic imagination.
    • If wars have the potential to shape international orders, it is Europe’s turn to shape the world, once again.
    • The United States, fatigued from the Iraq and Afghan wars, does not appear to be keen on another round of wars and military engagements.
    •  A pervasive sense of what some described as “existential insecurity” has brought about a renewed enthusiasm about the future of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
    • The European Union (EU) Commission has backed Kyiv’s bid for EU candidature.
    • This new military unity is not just words, but is backed with political commitment and financial resources from the world’s richest economies.
    • Berlin, for instance, has decided to spend an additional €100 billion for defence over and above its €50 billion annual expenditure on defence.

    Implications

    1] Weakened faith in the institutions and globalisation

    • Germany, the engine of this new security thinking in Europe, is coming out of its self-image of being a pacifist nation.
    • There appears little faith in the United Nations or the UN Security Council anymore in Berlin, they have decided to put their faith in a revitalised EU and NATO.
    • European states are deeply worried about globalisation-induced vulnerability and this has set in a rethink about the inherent problems of indiscriminate globalisation.
    • The combined effect of European re-militarisation (however modest it may be for now), its loss of faith in multilateral institutions, and the increased salience of the EU and NATO will be the unchecked emergence of Europe as an even stronger regulatory, norm/standard-setting superpower backed with military power.

    2] Unilateral and Euro-centric decision making

    • The EU already has a worryingly disproportionate ability to set standards for the rest of the world.
    • Instruments such as the Digital Services Act and the Digital Assets Act or its human rights standards will be unilaterally adopted, and will be unavoidable by other parts of the world.
    • While these instruments and standards may in themselves be progressive and unobjectionable for the most part, the problem is with the process which is unilateral and Euro-centric. 

    3] Euro-centric worldview

    • A euro-centric worldview of ‘friends and enemies’ will define its engagement with the rest of the world.
    • India is a friend, but its take on the Ukraine war is not friendly enough for Europe.
    • The EU will lead the way in setting standards for the rest of us and we will have little option but to follow that.
    • For sure, Europe will seek partners around the world: to create a Euro-centric world order, not a truly global world order.

    4] Dilemma for India

    • This unilateral attempt to ‘shape the world’ in its image will also be portrayed as an attempt to counter Chinese attempts at global domination.
    • To oppose or not? When presented as such, countries such as India will face a clear dilemma: to politically and normatively oppose the setting of the global agenda by Europeans or to be practical about it and jump on the European bandwagon.

    Conclusion

    The key message from the European narratives about the Ukraine war is that European states would want to see their wars and conflicts as threatening international stability and the ‘rules-based’ global order.

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

  • The Comprehensive list of Best Books for UPSC Preparation | Don’t skip or regret later

    click:- register for online workshop with senior ias mentors on upsc preparation, etc.

    Table of Content:

    Hi Guys, 

    If you learnt ‘How to utilize Previous Years’ Question Papers’ judiciously through the entire journey of becoming IAS, we are sure you are looking for the list of best books for UPSC preparation.

    To tell the truth, there is no definition of Best books for UPSC preparation. Instead you should know that the books which UPSC itself prefers to make question from, are considered to be the best.

    After mentoring 5000+ IAS aspirants, the Civilsdaily senior IAS mentors team has made a list of those Best Basic and Advanced reference books that are considered the best, and UPSC, itself prefers to make questions from them. So, let’s have a look:

    click:- register for online workshop with senior ias mentors on upsc preparation, etc.

    Best Basic Books for UPSC

    Apart from the advanced books, a candidate ought to cover some basic academic books. Because UPSC sometimes asks direct questions from them.

    For Economy: (New Version)

    1. Macroeconomics NCERT, Class-12th standard
    2. Indian Economic Development, Class-11th standard

    For Ancient History: 

    1. Old NCERT by Satish Chandra (Selective Reading)

    Medieval History: 

    1. Old NCERT by Satish Chandra (Selective Reading) 

    Modern Indian History:

    1. Old NCERT by Bipin Chandra (Selective Reading) 

    Art & Culture: 

    1. An Introduction to Indian Art- Class XI NCERT
    2. Heritage Crafts: Living Crafts Tradition of India- NCERT.

    Geography: (New Version)

    1. Fundamental of Physical Geography- XI NCERT
    2. India: Physical Environment-XI NCERT
    3. Fundamentals of  Human Geography- XII  NCERT
    4. India: People and Economy- XII NCERT 

    Best Advanced Books for UPSC

    Polity:

    1. Indian Polity For Civil Services Examination. Authored by M Laxmikant.

    Economy:

    1. Indian Economy for Civil Services. Authored by Nitin Singhania

    Ancient & Medieval History:

    1. Ancient and Medieval India. Authored by Poonam Dalal Dahiya.

    Modern Indian History:

    1. A Brief History of Modern India. Spectrum Publication
    2. Indian Struggles for Independence. Authored by Bipin Chandra

    Indian Art and Culture:

    1. Indian Art and Culture. Authored by Nitin Singhania

    Environment and Biodiversity: 

    1. Shankar IAS Book

    Geography: 

    1. Indian Geography. Authored by Majid Hussain or Indian Geography authored by D. R Khullar (Read as per your choice)
    2. Certificate Physical and Human Geography:- GC Leong

    General Science:

    1. General Science Books of class-9 and 10 standard

    Current Affairs:

    1. Read a good newspaper. (The Hindu or Indian Express)
    2. Govt. Schemes- CIVILSDAILY Website
    3. Daily Current Affairs- CIVILSDAILY Website
    4. Civilsdaily YouTube Channel

    Additional Materials for Mains

    GS 1 – 

    1. India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

     1. India After Independence by Bipan Chandra

     2. Ancient India by RS Sharma

     3. History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra

     4. From Plassey To Partition And After by Sekhar Bandyopadhyay

     5. Introduction to Indian Art for Class XI (NCERT)

    GS 2 –

     6. Governance – Current affairs from SM and M. Laxmikanth

     7. India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri

    GS 3 – 

     8. Economy – Mrunal handouts 

     9. Environment and Disaster Management – Tata McGraw Hill

     10. Challenges to Internal Security of India – Ashok Kumar

    GS 4 – 

    1. DK Balaji – Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
    2. 2nd ARC: 4th ethics in governance

    Get a personalized IAS mentors and let them make plan, strategy and booklist for you

    Guys, though we have provided above the most comprehensive booklist for your IAS preparation, we would like to recommend you to have a selective reading from these books and not cover to cover.

    Getting confused? connect with us. We will help you to make out.

    click:- register for online workshop with senior ias mentors on upsc preparation, etc.

  • Top IAS books | Skip at your own risk

    “An IAS aspirant must always be careful of right selection of books and what is inside them, for words have the power to make us an IAS”- Civilsdaily

    click:- attend online live workshop with senior ias mentor on ias preparation strategy

    Hi Guys, 

    We hope you read about ‘How to utilize Previous Years’ Question Papers’ through the entire journey of becoming IAS. But, only PYQs are not enough to have a grip on the UPSC preparation. After analyzing those question papers comprehensively, the next immediate step is to have some important text books for IAS preparation. 

    Frankly speaking, the previous year’s question papers are not complete without reading the textbooks, similarly, the work will be useless if you read the textbooks without having a grip on previous years’ question papers. 

    After mentoring 5000+ IAS aspirants, the Civilsdaily senior IAS mentors team has made a list of those Basic and Advanced reference books that are considered the best, and UPSC, itself prefers to make questions from them. So, let’s have a look:

    Table of Content:

    History: 

     1. A Brief History of Modern India – Spectrum 

     2. Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania

     3. Our Past – NCERT series (Ancient & Medieval)

     4. Themes in Indian History Series (NCERT)

    Geography:

     5. NCERT – 11 & 12

     6. Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong

     7. PMFIAS notes

     8. Atlas – Oxford School Atlas (India) and Orient Black Swan (World)

    Environment:

     9. PMFIAS 

     10. 12th Biology NCERT (Last 4 topics)

    Polity:

     11. 11th and 12th NCERT 

     12. Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth

     13. Contemporary World Politics (NCERT)

    14. PM Bakshi: the constitution of India (for articles)

    Economy:

     1. Macroeconomy (NCERT)

     2. Indian Economic Development (NCERT)

     3. Indian Economy – Nitin Singhania

    Additional Material for Mains – 

    GS 1 – 

    1. India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

     1. India After Independence by Bipan Chandra

     2. Ancient India by RS Sharma

     3. History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra

     4. From Plassey To Partition And After by Sekhar Bandyopadhyay

     5. Introduction to Indian Art for Class XI (NCERT)

    GS 2 –

     6. Governance – Current affairs from SM and M. Laxmikanth

     7. India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri

    GS 3 – 

     8. Economy – Mrunal handouts 

     9. Environment and Disaster Management – Tata McGraw Hill

     10. Challenges to Internal Security of India – Ashok Kumar

    GS 4 – 

    1. DK Balaji – Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
    2. 2nd ARC: 4th ethics in governance

    Get a personalized IAS mentors and let them make plan, strategy and booklist for you

    Guys, though we have provided above the most comprehensive booklist for your IAS preparation, we would like to recommend you to have a selective reading from these books and not cover to cover.

    Getting confused? connect with us. We will help you to make out.

    click:- attend online live workshop with senior ias mentor on ias preparation strategy

  • Does Tropical Ozone Hole exist?

    A new ozone hole has been detected over the tropics, at latitudes of 30 degrees South to 30 degrees North, a recent study claimed. But some experts are divided over this.

    Do you know?

    The Antarctic ozone hole — one of the deepest, largest gap in the ozone layer in the last 40 years — has closed, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

    What is Ozone and Ozone Layer?

    • An ozone molecule consists of three oxygen atoms instead of the usual two (the oxygen we breathe, O2, makes up 21% of the atmosphere).
    • It only exists in the atmosphere in trace quantities (less than 0.001%), but its effects are very important.
    • Ozone molecules are created by the interaction of ultra-violet (UV) radiation from the Sun with O2 molecules.
    • Because UV radiation is more intense at higher altitudes where the air is thinner, it is in the stratosphere where most of the ozone is produced, giving rise to what is called the ‘ozone layer’.
    • The ozone layer, containing over 90% of all atmospheric ozone, extends between about 10 and 40km altitude, peaking at about 25km in Stratosphere.

    Why need Ozone Layer?

    • The ozone layer is very important for life on Earth because it has the property of absorbing the most damaging form of UV radiation, UV-B radiation which has a wavelength of between 280 and 315 nanometres.
    • As UV radiation is absorbed by ozone in the stratosphere, it heats up the surrounding air to produce the stratospheric temperature inversion.

    What is Ozone Hole?

    • Each year for the past few decades during the Southern Hemisphere spring, chemical reactions involving chlorine and bromine cause ozone in the southern polar region to be destroyed rapidly and severely.
    • The Dobson Unit (DU) is the unit of measure for total ozone.
    • The chemicals involved ozone depletion are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs for short), halons, and carbon tetrachloride.
    • They are used for a wide range of applications, including refrigeration, air conditioning, foam packaging, and making aerosol spray cans.
    • The ozone-depleted region is known as the “ozone hole”.

    Tropical Ozone Hole

    • According to the study, the ozone hole is located at altitudes of 10-25 km over the tropics.
    • This hole is about seven times larger than Antarctica, the study suggested.
    • It also appears across all seasons, unlike that of Antarctica, which is visible only in the spring.
    • The hole has become significant since the 1980s. But it was not discovered until this study.

    What caused an ozone hole in the tropics?

    • Studies suggested another mechanism of ozone depletion: Cosmic rays.
    • Chlorofluorocarbon’s (CFC) role in depleting the ozone layer is well-documented.
    • The tropical stratosphere recorded a low temperature of 190-200 Kelvin (K).
    • This can explain why the tropical ozone hole is constantly formed over the seasons.

    Significance of the finding

    • The tropical ozone hole, which makes up 50 percent of Earth’s surface, could cause a global concern due to the risks associated with it.
    • It is likely to cause skin cancer, cataracts and other negative effects on the health and ecosystems in tropical regions.

    Back2Basics: Antarctic Ozone Hole

    • The Antarctic “ozone hole” was discovered by British Antarctic Survey scientists Farman, Gardiner and Shanklin in 1985.
    • It was caused by the chemical reactions on polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) in the cold Antarctic stratosphere caused a massive.
    • Though localized and seasonal, an increase in the amount of chlorine present in active, ozone-destroying forms.

    Role of PSCs

    • The polar stratospheric clouds in Antarctica are only formed when there are very low temperatures, as low as −80 °C, and early spring conditions.
    • In such conditions, the ice crystals of the cloud provide a suitable surface for the conversion of unreactive chlorine compounds into reactive chlorine compounds, which can deplete ozone easily.

     

    Try this PYQ

    Q.Consider the following statements:

    Chlorofluorocarbons, known as ozone-depleting substances are used:

    1. In the production of plastic foams
    2. In the production of tubeless tyres
    3. In cleaning certain electronic components
    4. As pressurizing agents in aerosol cans

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

    (b) 4 only

    (c) 1, 3 and 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

     

    Post your answers here.

     

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  • Iran, Belarus to be newest SCO Members

    Iran and Belarus are likely to be the two newest additions to the China and Russia-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) grouping.

    What is SCO?

    Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): a Formidable Alliance and its Significance for India - Olive Greens Institute Blog- Olive Greens Institute SSB | NDA | CDS

    • After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.
    • The original Shanghai Five were China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
    • The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
    • Since its formation, the SCO has focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority.
    • The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism has become its mantra. Today, areas of cooperation include themes such as economics and culture.

    India’s entry to the SCO

    • India and Pakistan both were observer countries.
    • While Central Asian countries and China were not in favor of expansion initially, the main supporter — of India’s entry in particular — was Russia.
    • A widely held view is that Russia’s growing unease about an increasingly powerful China prompted it to push for its expansion.
    • From 2009 onwards, Russia officially supported India’s ambition to join the SCO in 2017.
    • China then asked for its all-weather friend Pakistan’s entry.

    Why expand now?

    • China and Russia are looking to frame the grouping as a counter to the West — particularly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
    • China wishes to draw a sharp contrast between the SCO and NATO.

    Changing narrative of SCO

    • There has been discussion in the international arena that the trend of non-alignment is back.
    • NATO is based on Cold War thinking.
    • The logic of NATO is creating new enemies to sustain its own existence.
    • However, SCO is a cooperative organisation based on non-alignment and not targeting a third party.

    India and SCO: Present status

    • India will host the SCO summit next year, and Varanasi has been selected as the SCO region’s first “Tourism and Cultural Capital”.
    • India will also be chairing the summit.

    Try this PYQ now:

    In the context of the affairs of which of the following is the phrase “Special Safeguard Mechanisms” mentioned in the news frequently?

     

    (a) United Nations Environment Programme

    (b) World Trade Organization

    (c) ASEAN- India Free Trade Agreement

    (d) G-20 Summits

     

    Post your answers here.

     

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  • Public Capex Plan key to long-term growth: FM

    Finance Minister said India’s long-term growth prospects were embedded in public capital expenditure programs.

    What is the news?

    • FM has raised capital expenditure (capex) by 35.4% for the financial year 2022-23 to ₹7.5 lakh crore to continue the public investment-led recovery of the pandemic-battered economy.
    • The capex last year was ₹5.5 lakh crore.

    What is Capital Expenditure (Capex)?

    • The government’s expenditure is categorized into two:
    1. The one which results in asset development or acquisition known as CAPEX,
    2. Another is utilized to cover operating costs and obligations but does not result in asset creation known as Revenue expenditure.
    • Capex is defined the as money spent on the acquisition of assets such as land, buildings, machinery, and equipment, as well as stock investments.

    What attributes to capex?

    • The portion of government payments that goes toward the construction of assets such as schools, colleges, hospitals, roads, bridges, dams, railway lines, airports, and seaports amounts to capex.
    • The acquisition of new weaponry and weapon systems, such as missiles, tanks, fighter planes, and submarines, necessitates a significant financial outlay.
    • The defense sector receives over a third of the central government’s capital spending, primarily for armament acquisitions.
    • Despite the fact that defense spending is classified as a capital expenditure, it does not result in the development of infrastructure to support economic growth.
    • Also includes investments that will produce earnings or dividends in the future.

    Significance of Capex

    • Economic recovery: This action is crucial in light of the economic slowdown induced by the Covid-19 epidemic, as well as a dip in the employment ratio.
    • Value creation: Capital asset formation provides future cash flows for the economy and contributes to value creation.
    • Multiplier Effect: Capex is expected to have a Multiplier Effect (a change in rupee value of output with respect to a change in rupee value of expenditure).
    • Increased employment: Capital spending creates jobs and improves labor productivity as a result of the multiplier effect.
    • Macroeconomic Stabilizer: Capital Expenditure serves as a macroeconomic stabilizer and is an excellent instrument for countercyclical fiscal policy.

     

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