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  • 18th October 2021| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1    Population and associated issues, poverty, and developmental issues

    GS-2    Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.

    GS-3    Money laundering and its prevention

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

    Questions:

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 Tribal population has fared poorly in various health indicators at the national level. In this context, highlighting various reasons for poor health of tribals and suggest suitable steps that need to be taken to address the same. (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 What are the issues with the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) being the sole and mandatory requirement for medical admission? Suggest the way forward to deal with the issues. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 What are the consequences of illicit financial flows to the economies? What are the challenges in curbing illicit financial flows? (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 “Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value”- Albert Einstein. Bring out what this statement means to you in the present context. (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  October is uploaded on 11th October 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 October is uploaded on 13th October, 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*. 

    For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

    CLICK HERE To join Daily AWE

  • Only 1 in 100 Aspirants clear Prelims||Not clearing prelims is tough BUT don’t let that stop you from chasing your dream

    Only 1 in 100 Aspirants clear Prelims||Not clearing prelims is tough BUT don’t let that stop you from chasing your dream

    Prelims is the most brutal stage of the UPSC Examination. Lakhs of students out of the race in one go. Lakhs of dreams shattered in one go!!

    Not clearing prelims can be tough. A whole one year of preparation suddenly seems like a waste. The worst is when you start questioning your own capability – What good I am when I could not clear even the first stage of the UPSC exam? Should I start considering option B? What am I doing wrong?……

    CLICK HERE FOR FREE MENTOR CALL TO DISCUSS FUTURE STRATEGY

    STOP Get out of this Loop FAST
    Questioning your abilities is never the solution to any problem, let alone not clearing prelims. Even ranker holders like Swati Sharma AIR 17(2019) consider Prelims to be scary because let’s face it – it is a dicey game.


    So, don’t get into this philosophical loop like what will I do with my life now that I have failed prelims. “Just buckle up, and deal with it. Prepare harder and prepare better”. Seems like tough love advice but we are here to help you out.

    Pranav Vijay AIR 65(2020) didn’t get disheartened after not clearing prelims 2 times in a row. He identified his issues, prepared smarter, and excelled with flying colors.

    CHECK YOUR ISSUES:

    Revise the paper: Go through the prelims 2021 paper again, you can’t chart out your future strategy without knowing where you messed up in the first place. While you do this, gather data on how many were careless mistakes, random guesses, or wrong because you did not properly revise.
    Identify your weakness/strengths: Mark the subjects where you feel you don’t have a proper holdover. Weakness can be even in strategy, time management, or lack of revisions. In order to improve knowing your weakness is important. Strength can be a subject or the art of intelligent guessing in prelims, you have to make sure you retain that for the next prelims.
    Start preparing comprehensively: The ultimate aim is not just clearing prelims but getting your name in that final pdf. In order to achieve that you have to make sure that you start both your prelims and mains preparation together.

    CLICK HERE FOR FREE MENTOR CALL TO DISCUSS FUTURE STRATEGY

    WHAT CAN CIVILSDAILY DO FOR YOU?

    Make your preparation more structured and rational: Clearing prelims and mains are completely different skills. Toppers like Tina Dabi were great at the mains stage but barely passed the prelims examination. This is where your mentor comes into play who can ensure your preparation is a balanced approach to fulfill the requirements of both examinations.

    CLICK HERE FOR FREE MENTOR CALL TO DISCUSS FUTURE STRATEGY

    Retrospect on your previous preparation to prepare the future plan: If you are a beginner then your strategy would be different from a person who has written mains 2 times. Personalize attention is necessary to cater to the demands of each and every student. Our mentors are up for any challenge that students face in their preparation journey.

    CLICK HERE FOR FREE MENTOR CALL TO DISCUSS FUTURE STRATEGY

    Mentor at every step: At Civilsdaily, we believe that one bad result is not the real judge of your abilities. The very first thing that our mentors do is building up your confidence and your faith in yourself. Mentors here will be your friend, philosopher, and guide in the real sense.

    Prelims is over but this does not have to be the end to your dream. Connect with us and let us help you out in planning a better and efficient strategy for the future.

    CLICK HERE FOR FREE MENTOR CALL TO DISCUSS FUTURE STRATEGY

  • Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020

    Context

    Most discoms are deep into the red as high aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses are chipping into their revenues. Against this backdrop, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill of 2020 is a game-changing reform.

    Why the Electricity (Amendment) Bill of 2020 is a game-changing reform

    • De-licensing power distribution: This will provide the consumers with an option of choosing the service provider, switch their power supplier and enable the entry of private companies in distribution, thereby resulting in increased competition.
    • In fact, privatisation of discoms in Delhi has reduced AT&C losses significantly from 55% in 2002 to 9% in 2020.
    • Open access for purchasing power: Open access for purchasing power from the open market should be implemented across States and barriers in the form of cross-subsidy surcharge, additional surcharge and electricity duty being applied by States should be reviewed.
    • Issue of tariff revision: The question of tariffs needs to be revisited if the power sector is to be strengthened.
    • Tariffs ought to be reflective of the average cost of supply to begin with and eventually move to customer category-wise cost of supply in a defined time frame.
    • This will facilitate a reduction in cross-subsidies.
    • Inclusion in GST: Electrical energy should be covered under GST, with a lower rate of GST, as this will make it possible for power generator/transmission/distribution utilities to get a refund of input credit, which in turn will reduce the cost of power.
    • Use of smart meters: Technology solutions such as installation of smart meters and smart grids which will reduce AT&C losses and restore financial viability of the sector.
    • The impetus to renewable energy: The impetus to renewable energy, which will help us mitigate the impact of climate change, is much needed.
    • Despite its inherent benefits, the segment has shown relatively slow progress with an estimated installed capacity of 5-6 GW as on date, well short of the 2022 target.
    • The Bill also underpins the importance of green energy by proposing a penalty for non-compliance with the renewable energy purchase obligations which mandate States and power distribution companies to purchase a specified quantity of electricity from renewable and hydro sources
    • Strengthening the regulatory architecture: This will be done by appointing a member with a legal background in every electricity regulatory commission and strengthening the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.
    • This will ensure faster resolution of long-pending issues and reduce legal hassles.
    • Authority for contractual obligation: Provision in the Bill such as the creation of an Electricity Contract Enforcement Authority to supervise the fulfillment of contractual obligations under power purchase agreement, cost reflective tariffs and provision of subsidy through DBT are commendable.

    Conclusion

    Early passage of the Bill is critical as it will help unleash a path-breaking reform for bringing efficiency and profitability to the distribution sector.

    UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

  • Bhutan-China Border Agreement

    In a step towards resolving their boundary disputes, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on a three-Step roadmap to help speed up talks to “break the deadlock” in negotiations.

    Bhutan-China Border Issues

    Bhutan shares an over 400-km-long border with China.

    • Doklam: China wants to exchange the valleys to the north of Bhutan with the pasture land to the west (including Doklam), totalling 269 square kilometres.
    • Jakarlung and Pasamlung valleys: located near Tibet to Bhutan’s North, which measure 495 sq. kms.
    • Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary Project: China claims this area (near to Arunachal Pradesh) in eastern Bhutan as its own.

    What is the recent agreement?

    • The roadmap “for Expediting the Bhutan-China Boundary Negotiations”, is expected to progress on the boundary talks process that has been delayed for five years.
    • It was stalled due to the Doklam standoff in 2017, and then by the Covid Pandemic.
    • Although China and Bhutan do not have official diplomatic relations they have engaged in 24 rounds of ministerial-level talks to resolve their border dispute.

    Implications for India

    The boundary issue between China and Bhutan is special because it not only relates to Bhutan but also has become a negative factor for China-India ties.

    • China control much of the Doklam: Since the 2017 stand-off with India, Beijing has already strengthened its de facto control over much of the Doklam plateau, located strategically along the India-China-Bhutan trijunction.
    • Bhutan supports it: This agreement has been equally endorsed and appreciated by Bhutan and China.
    • Deadlock at LAC talks: Its timing is particularly significant New, given India-China border talks on their 17-month-old standoff at the Line of Actual Control appear to have hit an deadlock.
    • India’s strategic risks: This has big implications for India, since the Doklam swap would have given China access to the strategically sensitive “chicken neck” of the Siliguri corridor.

    India’s interest

    (a) Doklam

    • The Doklam plateau remains hugely critical for India due to the Siliguri Corridor that lies to the south of Doklam.
    • The corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, is a 22-km wide major arterial road connecting mainland India with its northeastern states and thus it is a highly sensitive area for China.

    (b) Sakteng: the hotspot

    • The Sakteng sanctuary adjoins West Kameng district and Tawang disticts in India’s Arunachal Pradesh state.
    • Its strategic value lies in its proximity to Arunachal Pradesh, where China claims around 90,000 sq km of Indian territory.
    • Tawang, the major bone of contention between India and China in the eastern sector of their border dispute, lies to the northeast of the Sakteng.

    Conclusion

    • Bhutan has to balance its ties with India as well as China.
    • We need to explore channels that India can activate with Bhutan when it comes to the highly sensitive matter of settling the boundary dispute between them and China.

     

    UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

  • COP26 Climate Conference and Why it is important

    The UK will host the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference from October 31 to November 12.

    Conference of Parties (CoP): A Backgrounder

    • The CoP comes under the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC) which was formed in 1994.
    • The UNFCCC was established to work towards “stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.”
    • It laid out a list of responsibilities for the member states which included:
    1. Formulating measures to mitigate climate change
    2. Cooperating in preparing for adaptation to the impact of climate change
    3. Promoting education, training and public awareness related to climate change
    • The UNFCCC has 198 parties including India, China and the USA. COP members have been meeting every year since 1995.

    COP1 to COP25: Key takeaways

    COP1: The first conference was held in 1995 in Berlin.

    COP3: It was held in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, the famous Kyoto Protocol (w.e.f. 2005) was adopted. It commits the member states to pursue limitation or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

    COP8: India hosted the eighth COP in 2002 in New Delhi. It laid out several measures including, ‘strengthening of technology transfer… in all relevant sectors, including energy, transport and R&D,  and the strengthening of institutions for sustainable development.

    COP21: it is one of the most important that took place in 2015, in Paris, France. Here countries agreed to work together to ‘limit global warming to well below 2, preferably at 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.’

    Significance of COP26

    • The event will see leaders from more than 190 countries, thousands of negotiators, researchers and citizens coming together to strengthen a global response to the threat of climate change.
    • It is a pivotal movement for the world to come together and accelerate the climate action plan after the COVID pandemic.

    COP26 goals

    According to the UNFCCC, COP26 will work towards four goals:

    1. Secure global net-zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach
    • The UNFCCC recommends that countries ‘accelerate the phase-out of coal, curtail deforestation, speed up the switch to electric vehicles and encourage investment in renewables’ to meet this goal.
    1. Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats
    • Countries will work together to ‘protect and restore ecosystems and build defences, warning systems and resilient infrastructure and agriculture to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and even lives.’
    1. Mobilise finance
    • To deliver on first two goals, developed countries must make good on their promise to mobilise at least $100bn in climate finance per year by 2020.
    1. Work together to deliver
    • Another important task at the COP26 is to ‘finalise the Paris Rulebook’. Leaders will work together to frame a list of detailed rules that will help fulfil the Paris Agreement.

    What India could do to reach its targets?

    • Update NDCs: It is time for India to update its Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs. (NDCs detail the various efforts taken by each country to reduce the national emissions)
    • Effective planning: Sector by sector plans are needed to bring about development. We need to decarbonise the electricity, transport sector and start looking at carbon per passenger mile.
    • Energy transition: Aggressively figure out how to transition our coal sector
    • Robust legal framework: India also needs to ramp up the legal and institutional framework of climate change.

    Try answering this PYQ:

    With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
    2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2 degree Centigrade or even 5 degree Centigrade above pre-industrial levels.
    3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate dollar 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 and 3 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 2 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

    Post your answers here.

     

     

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  • Zeolite Oxygen Concentrators: Chemistry in 3-D

    To meet the demand of oxygen supply in the country during the peak of pandemic, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had chartered the Air India to import ‘Zeolite’ from different countries.

    What are Zeolites?

    • Zeolites are highly porous, 3-dimensional meshes of silica and alumina.
    • In nature, they occur where volcanic outflows have met water.
    • Synthetic zeolites have proven to be a big and low-cost boon.

    Uses in Oxygen Concentrator

    • One biomedical device that has entered our lexicon during the pandemic is the oxygen concentrator.
    • This device has brought down the scale of oxygen purification from industrial-size plants to the volumes needed for a single person.
    • At the heart of this technology are synthetic frameworks of silica and alumina with nanometer-sized pores that are rigid and inflexible.
    • Beads of one such material, zeolite 13X, about a millimeter in diameter, are packed into two cylindrical columns in an oxygen concentrator.

    How does it work?

    • Zeolite performs the chemistry of separating oxygen from nitrogen in air.
    • Being highly porous, zeolite beads have a surface area of about 500 square meters per gram.
    • At high pressures in the column, nitrogen is in a tight embrace, chemically speaking, with the zeolite.
    • Interaction between the negatively charged zeolite and the asymmetric nucleus (quadrupole moment) of nitrogen causes it to be preferentially adsorbed on the surface of the zeolite.
    • Oxygen remains free, and is thus enriched.
    • Once nitrogen is captured, what flows out from the column is 90%-plus oxygen.
    • After this, lowering the pressure in the column releases the nitrogen, which is flushed out, and the cycle is repeated with fresh air.

     

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  • Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2021

    The 17th edition of the India-U.S. bilateral exercise, Yudh Abhyas 2021, got underway in mountainous terrain and cold climate conditions of Alaska, US.

    Yudh Abhyas 2021

    • Exercise Yudh Abhyas is the largest running joint military training and defence cooperation endeavour between India and USA.
    • The exercise aims at enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the two armies.

    Why it is significant?

    • Interestingly, this is the only India-U.S. service exercise continuing in bilateral format.
    • The India-U.S. Malabar naval exercise became trilateral with the addition of Japan in 2015 and further brought in all the Quad partners together with the inclusion of Australia in 2020.
    • Similarly, Japan joined the India-U.S. bilateral air exercise, Cope India, as an Observer in 2018 and the plan is to make it trilateral in phases.
    • Other than the Malabar, Japan had sent observers for the first time during Cope India 2018 as an Observer in 2018. s

     

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  • 18th October 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

    [WpProQuiz 812]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 812]

  • How Civilsdaily Mentorship helped AIR 132 Lakshay Kumar Chowdhury || Unherd Shorts || Civilsdaily Mentorship Program: Toppers Testimonials (Link Inside)

    How Civilsdaily Mentorship helped AIR 132 Lakshay Kumar Chowdhury || Unherd Shorts || Civilsdaily Mentorship Program: Toppers Testimonials (Link Inside)

    For One-on-One Mentorship from Civilsdaily IAS, fill this form:- https://bit.ly/talk_to_toppers_mentor

    Enroll into our new Samachar Manthan Program with this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/samachar-manthan-yearly-2022-batch-2/

    Check out Lakshay’s excerpt on how he cleared UPSC 2020:-

    Civils Daily is different than all the other online learning platform when it comes to comprehensive preparation for CSE. Lakshay Chaudhary came in contact with CivilsDaily in the year 2016. Back then he utilized open and free support for current affairs and contemporary issues from Civils Daily. He is undergoing IRAS training.

    In the 2020 attempt Lakshay improved his rank and maintained a consistent success with AIR even as a working professional. Here, Civils Daily’s Smash Mains and 250+ Proobable Questions helped him to score high in main GS exam.

    Role of Mentorship under Sajal Sir has given definite shape to the smart work by Lakshay. With his clarity of thoughts we prefer to have discussions for specific strategies for all the stages.

    Heartiest congratulations to Lakshay Kumar Chowdhury
    AIR 132
    UPSC Civil Services 2020

  • Free mentorship provided by Sajal sir (GS Topper 2017) to students who have just missed the mains cut off off by a whisker ||Aim for 100 marks above cut off in Mains with Smash Mains 2021 : New Batch || Invite only program (only 3 seats remaining) || Register here

    CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF SMASH MAINS PROGRAM

    With over 80% enrolled students in 2020 attending UPSC interviews, Smash Mains is back again. This is an invite-only program that will start on October 24th, 2021.

    Mentorship will be provided free of cost by Sajal Sir. Only administrative cost will be charged. To enroll click here

    About Smash Mains 2021

    Dear Students,

    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. You might be aware or not about this. But just realization is not enough, you have to work on its execution as well. And bringing that to fruition will be possible through a guided process under a meticulously designed plan.

    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). Right now we have only 5 seats left.

    Note: The Entry is Restricted to those who have appeared in UPSC interview in the past 2 years or have missed the mains cut off by a whisker.

    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. Under Sajal sir’s strict monitoring, incremental improvements are aimed every day, after every session.

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

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

    Progression of Smash Mains 2021

    After completing the Mains Test series, you will have a one-to-one detailed and in-depth interaction with Sajal sir. Final refinements are done to every answer. Value addition material, as well as pointers, will be provided here. We will work with you to ensure you have enough material for value addition. Our focus will be on providing tips that add the missing X factor to your answers.

    Why is Smash 2021 the best way to prepare for mains?

    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.

    Why UPSC toppers are convinced that Smash Mains helped them succeed?

    Read other answers over here.

    CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF SMASH MAINS PROGRAM

    The Batch of Smash Mains Program will start from 24th October.

    To Enroll Click Here.

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