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  • Streak Daily Compilation of Questions & Videos – Sep 8, 2021

    Maintaining consistency is one of the biggest issues faced by IAS Aspirants. Streak’s initiative is to help Aspirants in their day-to-day preparation. You can follow the monthly, weekly, and daily timetables and continue this streak until you find yourself on the final list.

    Please register for Streak Initiative (free) through this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/streak-daily-initiative/

    You will get following study material:-

    1. Questions (PDF).
    2. RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
    3. Burning issue (PDF).
    4. Subject specific (PDF).
    5. Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.

    _____________________________________________

    UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Polity – by Sukanya Rana

    Q1) Consider the following statements with respect to E-Courts Project 

    1. It is a pan-India Project, monitored and funded by the Department of Justice. 
    2. It is one of the National e-Governance projects being implemented in District and Subordinate Courts of the Country. 
    3. The project has been implemented by the eCommittee, Supreme Court of India along with Department of Justice and National Information Centre. 

    Which of the statements given above are correct? 

    a. 1 and 2 only 

    b. 1 and 3 only 

    c. 2 and 3 only 

    d. 1, 2 and 3

    Q2) Consider the following statements with respect to Star Campaigners 

    1. The expenditure incurred on campaigning by „stars‟ is exempt from being added to the election expenditure of a candidate. 

    2. In India there is no law governing who can or cannot be made a star campaigner. 

    Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect?

    a. 1 only 

    b. 2 only 

    c. Both 1 and 2 

    d. Neither 1 nor 2

    Q3) Which of the following statements are incorrect with respect to Provisions under Tribunal Reforms Ordinance 2021 

    1. Under this Chairperson and Members of the Tribunals will be appointed by the central government on the recommendation of a Search-cum Selection Committee. 

    2. It amended the Cinematograph Act, 1952 by which abolished the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT). 

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

    a. 1 only

    b. 2 only 

    c. Both 1 and 2 

    d. Neither 1 nor 2

    Q4) Consider the following statements with respect to National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) 

    1. It is a constitutional body established under Article 338 of Indian Constitution. 

    2. The members of the commission are appointed by the President by warrant under his/her hand and seal. 

    3. The conditions of service and tenure of office of members of NCSC are determined by the President. 

    Which of the statements given above are correct? 

    a. 1 and 2 only 

    b. 1 and 3 only 

    c. 2 and 3 only 

    d. 1, 2 and 3

    Q5) Which of the following statements are correct with respect to Right to Freedom of Movement

    1. It is protected against only state action and not private individuals. 

    2. It is guaranteed under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution. 

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

    a. 1 only 

    b. 2 only 

    c. Both 1 and 2 

    d. Neither 1 nor 2

    Daily Dose: Complete Snapshots of Everyday News – by Shweta Mishra

  • ESCAPE THE SNOOZE MODE IN YOUR UPSC-CSE PREPARATION

    ESCAPE THE SNOOZE MODE IN YOUR UPSC-CSE PREPARATION

    We talked to 8000+ aspirants in the last one year and their answers will surprise you.

    Inconsistency in UPSC preparation is like getting up at 5 am. A night before you set up your alarm. The motivation to get up is high at this point. But in the morning, when the alarm rings, we swipe it to the right with a thought “IN 5 MINUTES…FOR SURE!!”. This snooze cycle usually continues for some time till we realize it is 8 am. Already a bad start to the day! To add to it, you will spend the whole day repenting upon not being able to get up early, instead of focusing upon the time we have. The same goes for UPSC preparation. You set your targets but one slight glitch and your whole preparation go off track. Till the time you yourself realize this mismanagement, it is a bit too late. Anxiety builds up, performance levels fall. You are not able to achieve even 10% OF YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL on the D-day.

    WE ASKED 8000+ STUDENTS ONE SIMPLE QUESTION –

    “WHAT IS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE THAT YOU ARE FACING IN YOUR UPSC PREPARATION?”

    YOU WILL BE ASTOUNDED THAT ONE ANSWER WAS COMMON IN REPLIES – INCONSISTENCY.

    They are Consistently Inconsistent. Meaning, they go through these highs and lows in their preparation. They are able to study for days, week but they hit a sudden gap in preparation. Then, they find it very hard to come back. The good news is that we have the solution.

    Click here to register for personalised guidance

    Our philosophy behind MENTORSHIP is to get you out of this Snooze cycle. This ensures that you are the BEST VERSION of yourself in this journey. If you are under the impression that mentorship is weekly calls you attend, then you are mistaken, my friend. Trust us, your mentor will be your ‘FRIEND, PHILOSOPHER AND GUIDE’.

    How Mentorship can fight inconsistency in preparation?

    TO EACH THEIR OWN – Every aspirant is different. Their strengths and weaknesses are different. Their time availability is also different. Identifying this is important so you don’t end up making unrealistic targets and lose momentum. Your mentor will make sure you start slow but remain consistent to build your confidence. Making your schedule structured based on our experience of working with 2500+ students is our first priority. 

    TRACK YOUR PROGRESS – When you see yourself grow, it becomes easier to motivate yourself to push boundaries. Tracking your progress can happen in many ways like mentorship calls or chat sessions or by regular tests. The idea is to ensure that you don’t go off track in your preparation, and even if you do, we have your back.

    Get 1-1 mentorship now, register here

    EVOLUTION – A constant guidance is important to bring consistency to your UPSC preparation. Guidance is not about clearing your doubts or asking you to study when you don’t. It is also about the evolution of your preparation. This is where you and your mentor work as a team. A constant effort to PLAN AND BUILD UP YOUR ABILITY to learn in a faster and more efficient way.

    Receive personal guidance for upsc (register here)

    TALK IT OUT – The biggest hurdle in achieving your highest level of consistency is the emotional part. Every now and then, you. surround yourself with negative thoughts, you feel scared and depressed. Instead of resolving these emotional issues, you avoid them as it seems like a waste of your precious time. You have to understand that ignoring emotional troubles does not solve them. What your doing is building an emotional time bomb that may burst a week before your mains or prelims! This is where your MENTOR AS A FRIEND comes in. All our mentors have been through this journey. We understand your fears and anxieties. So, TALK IT OUT.

    Don’t let inconsistency keep you away from your dreams.

    Fill up the SAMANVAYA form given below. Let us know your problems and we will find a solution to it, just like our students say ” TOGETHER WE CAN AND WE WILL”.

    Register here to get personalised guidance

  • 08th Sept 2021 | Art and Culture Test 02

    [WpProQuiz 771]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 770]

  • World Climate and its Characteristics

    08th Sept 2021

     

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

     


    (1) The Hot, Wet Equatorial Climate

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    It is found between 5º and 10º north and south of the equator. It is dominantly found in the lowlands of the Amazon, the Congo, Malaysia, and the East Indies.There is great uniformity of temperature throughout the year. The mean monthly temperatures are always around 24 to 27ºC, with very little variation. There is no winter. The diurnal and annual range of temperature is small. Precipitation is heavy between 6o inches and 10 inches, and well distributed throughout the year. The double rainfall peaks, coinciding with the equinoxes are a characteristics feature of it.It supports a luxuriant type of vegetation – the tropical rain forest. Amazon tropical rain forest is known as Selvas. It comprises a multitude of evergreen trees that yield tropical hardwood, e.g. mahogany, ebony, greenheart, cabinet wood. And dyewoods. Lianas, epiphytic and parasitic plants are also found. Trees of single species are very scarce in such vegetation.The equatorial regions are generally sparsely populated. In the forests, most primitive people live as hunters and collectors and the more advanced ones practice shifting cultivation. Some plantation crops are also practiced like natural rubber, cocoa, etc.

    (2) The Tropical Monsoon & Tropical Marine Climates

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    It is found in the zones between 5º and 30 º and 30º latitudes on either side of the equator. It is best developed in the Indian sub-continent, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, parts of Vietnam and South China, and northern Australia. Tropical Marine climate is found in Central America, West Indies, the Philippines, parts of East Africa, Madagascar, the Guyana coast and eastern Brazil.Though the mean annual temperature is fairly high but summer and winter seasons are sharply differentiated due to the northward and southward movement of the sun.
    The average temperature of warm dry summer months ranges between 27ºC and 32ºC. Most of their annual rainfall occurs through cyclonic and orographic types of rains.
    The average annual rainfall is around 150 cm but there are many variations in the temporal and spatial distribution.
    Most of the annual monsoonal rainfall is received through moisture-laden South-West monsoon winds.    		Trees are normally deciduous.
    The forests are open and less luxuriant.
    Most of the forests yield valuable timber like teak. Other kinds of timber are sal, acacia, and eucalyptus.    		People are mainly engaged in agriculture.
    Agri-crops are rice, cane sugar, jute, etc.

    (3) The Savanna or Sudan climate

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    It is located between 5”-20” latitudes on either side of the equator.
    It is a transitional type of climate found between the equatorial forests and the semiarid and subtropical humid climate.
    The most characteristic areas of savanna climate include the Llanos of Orinico valley, the Campos of Brazil, hilly areas of Central America, southern Zaire, etc.    		The Savanna climate is characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons.
    Mean high temperature throughout the year is between 24ºC and 27º C.
    The annual range of temperature is between 3ºC and 8ºC.
    The extreme diurnal range of temperature is a characteristic of the Sudan type of climate.
    The average annual rainfall ranges between 100 cm and 150 cm.    		It is characterized by tall grass and short trees.
    Trees are deciduous and hard.
    The grass is tall and coarse like elephant grass.
    Scrubland is well represented by a number of species in Australia like mallee, mulga,  Spinifex grass, etc.    		Many tribes live within the Savanna lands.
    Some tribes live as pastoralists like the Masai and others as settled cultivators like the Hausa of northern Nigeria.
    However, agriculture is not much developed.

    (4) The Hot Desert and Mid-latitude Desert Climates

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    Deserts are regions of scanty rainfall which may be hot like the hot deserts of the Saharan type or temperate as are the mid-latitude deserts like the Gobi.
    The major hot deserts of the world are located on the western coasts of continents between latitudes 15º and 30ºN and S.
    They include the Sahara Desert, the largest single stretch of desert, which is 3,200 miles from east to west and at least 1,000 miles wide.
    The next biggest desert is the Great Australian Desert which covers almost half of the continent.
    The other hot deserts are the Arabian Desert, Iranian Desert.
    Thar Desert, Kalahari and Namib Deserts.In North America, the desert extends from Mexico to USA and is called by different names at different places, e.g. the Mohave Sonoran, Californian and Mexican Deserts.In South America, the Atacama or Peruvian Desert is the driest of all deserts with less than 0.5 inches of rainfall annually.The Patagonian Desert is more due to its ranshadow position on the leeward side of the lofty Andes than to continentality.    		The hot deserts lie astride the Horse Latitudes or the Sub Tropical High-Pressure Belts where the air is descending, a condition least favorable for precipitation of any kind to take place.
    The relative humidity is extremely low, decreasing from 60 percent in coastal districts to less than 30 percent in desert interiors.
    Rain normally occurs as violent thunderstorms of the convectional type.
    The deserts are some of the hottest spots on earth and have high temperatures throughout the year.
    There is no cold season in the hot deserts and the average summer temperature is around 86ºF.
    The highest shade temperature recorded is 136ºF on 13 September 1922 at Al Azizia, 25 miles south of Tripoli, Libya, in the Sahara.
    The annual range is 44ºF.
    The diurnal range of temperature in the deserts is very great.    		All deserts have some form of vegetation such as grass, scrub, herbs, weeds, roots, or bulbs.
    The predominant vegetation of both hot and mid-latitude deserts is xerophytic or drought-resistant scrub.
    This includes the bulbous cacti, thorny bushes, long-rooted wiry grasses, and scattered dwarf acacias.
    Plants that exist in deserts have highly specialized means of adapting themselves to the arid environment.
    Most desert shrubs have long roots and are well spaced out to gather moisture, and search for groundwater.
    Plants have few or no leaves and the foliage is either waxy, leathery, hairy or needle-shaped to reduce the loss of water through transpiration.    		Despite its inhospitality, the desert has always been peopled by different groups of inhabitants.
    Some, like the Egyptians, have attained a high level of civilization, others like the Bedouin Arabs have fared quite well with their flocks of sheep, goats, camels, and horses.
    The Bushmen of the Kalahari and the Bindibu of Australia remains so primitive in their mode of living that they barely survive.
    Of the primitive tribes, the Bushmen and the Bindibu are the best known. Both the tribes are nomadic hunters and food gatherers, growing no crops and domesticating no animals.
    The Bushmen roam the Kalahari Desert.
    The Bindibu or Aborigines of Australia live in very much the same way as the Bushmen.
    They domesticate the dingo, a wild dog that assists them in tracking down kangaroos, rabbits and birds.
    They live in wurlies, simple shelters made of branches and tufts and grass.
    The Bedouin of Arabia ride on horses and live in tents; the Tuaregs of the Sahara and camel riders and dwell in grass zeriba, while the Gobi Mongols ride on horses to herd their yaks and live in portable yurts (a kind of tent).
    The Bedouin are the best examples of a desert group who have fared well as nomadic herdsmen.
    The lure of mineral wealth has attracted many immigrants into the desert.
    It was gold that brought immigrants scrambling into the Great Australian Desert.
    Some of them like Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie have become towns of considerable size.
    In the Kalahari Desert, the discovery of diamonds and copper has brought many white men to the ‘thirst land’ as it is called.
    Even in the aridest Atacama, in northern Chile, large mining camps have been established for the mining of caliche (cemented gravels) from which sodium nitrate, a valuable fertilizer, is extracted and exported to all parts of the world. Besides nitrates, coppers are also mined.
    Chuquicamata is the world’s largest copper town.
    In the deserts of North America, silver is mined in Mexico, uranium in Utah, and copper in Nevada.
    In recent years, the discovery of oil in many parts of the Saharan and Arabian Deserts has transformed this forgotten part of the globe.

    (5) Mediterranean Climate Distribution

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
      A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin.
    This climate type prevails in much of California, in parts of Western and South Australia, in southwestern South Africa, and in parts of central Chile.
    The climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
    Mediterranean climate zones are associated with the five large subtropical high-pressure cells of the oceans, the Azores High, South Atlantic High, North Pacific High, South Pacific High, and Indian Ocean High    		All regions with Mediterranean climates have relatively mild winters, but summer temperatures are variable depending on the region. For instance, Athens, Greece experiences rather high temperatures in the summer (48.0 ºC has been measured in Eleusina), whereas San Francisco has cool, mild summers due to the upwelling of cold subsurface waters along the coast.
    Since all regions with a Mediterranean climate are near large bodies of water, temperatures are generally moderate with a comparatively small range of temperatures between the winter low and summer high.
    In the winter, the temperatures range from mild to very warm, depending on the distance from the open ocean, elevation, and latitude.
    During summer, regions of the Mediterranean climate are dominated by subtropical high-pressure cells causing no or little rainfall.
    During winter the polar jet stream and associated periodic storms reach into the lower latitudes of the Mediterranean zones, bringing rain, with snow at higher elevations.
    As a result, areas with this climate receive almost all of their yearly rainfall during the winter season, and may go the summer without having any significant precipitation.    		  Mediterranean vegetation includes the following:
    Evergreen trees such as cork oak and eucalyptus, jarrah and karri (in Australia).
    Evergreen coniferous trees are pines, firs, cedars, and cypresses.
    Bushes such as myrtle, rosemary, lavender, arbutus, thyme, and laurel.
    Scrubs are Maguis in southern France, Macchia in Italy, Chaparral in California, mallee in Australia, and Garigue.    		Earlier the Mediterranean shorelands were once the cradle of world civilization.
    Nowadays, the area is important for fruit cultivation, cereal growing, wine-making and agricultural industries as well as engineering and mining.
    The Mediterranean lands are also known as the world’s orchard lands.
    A wide range of citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, citrons, and grapefruit are grown.
    Of the Mediterranean oranges, perhaps, the best known are the Sunkist oranges of California, exported for table consumption and for making orange squash. The Seville oranges of Spain are small but very sweet and are particularly suitable for making marmalade.  The Jaffa oranges of Israel are equally delicious and are specially grown for export.
    The Mediterranean lands account for 70% of the world’s exports of citrus fruits.
    Cereals are also grown in the Mediterranean lands. Wheat is the leading food crop. The wheat grown is mainly hard, winter wheat. It is mostly used in making food products such as macaroni, spaghetti, and vermicelli. Barely is the next most popular cereal.
    Viticulture is widely followed in the Mediterranean lands.


    (6) The Temperate Continental (Steppe) Climate

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    Bordering the deserts, away from the Mediterranean regions and in the interiors of continents are the temperate grasslands.
    In the northern hemisphere, the grasslands are far more extensive and are entirely continental.
    In Eurasia, they are called the Steppes.
    There are isolated sections in the Pustaz of Hungary and the plains of Manchuria.
    In North America, the grasslands are also quite extensive and are called prairies.
    In the case of the Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay, the grasslands extend right to the sea and enjoy much maritime influence.
    In South Africa, the grasslands are sandwiched between the Drakensberg and the Kalahari Desert and are further subdivided into the more tropical Bush-veld in the north, and the more temperate High Veld in the South.    		Their climate is continental with extremes of temperature.
    Summers are very warm.
    Winters are very cold in the continental steppes of Eurasia.
    In contrast, the steppe type of climate in the southern hemisphere is never severe.
    The annual range of temperature is great, a direct result of continentality.
    In its continental position, the annual precipitation of the Steppe Climate can be expected to be light.
    The average rainfall may be taken as about 20 inches, but this again varies according to the location from 10 inches to 30 inches.    		The term ‘steppe vegetation’ geographically refers to the scanty vegetation of the sub-arid lands of continental Eurasia.
    Their greatest difference from the tropical savanna is that they are practically treeless and the grasses are much shorter.
    Where the rainfall is moderate, above 20 inches, the grasses are tall, fresh, and nutritious and the better described as long prairie grass.
    Where the rainfall is light (less than 20 inches) or unreliable, or the soil is poor, as, in the continental interiors of Asia, the short steppe type of grass prevails.
    The steppe grass can lie dormant throughout the prolonged drought.
    The appearance of temperate grasslands varies with seasons.
    In spring, the grass begins to appear green, fresh, and blooming with small, colorful flowers.    		The temperate grasslands were once the home of grazing animals; wild horses in the Asiatic Steppes, swift-footed bison in the Prairies, and untamed buffaloes in the Pampas.
    Even as recently, as the last century, these grasslands were dominated by nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples like the Kirghiz of the Asiatic Steppes.
    The grasslands have been plowed up for extensive, mechanized wheat cultivation and are now the ‘granaries of the world’. Besides wheat, maize is increasingly cultivated in warmer and wetter areas. The tufted grasses have been replaced by the more nutritious Lucerne or alfalfa-grass.


    (7) The China Type Climate OR     Temperate monsoon

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    This type of climate is found on the eastern margins of continents in warm temperate latitudes, just outside the tropics.
    It is, in fact, the climate of most part of Chinaamodified form of monsoonal climate. It is thus also called the (Temperate Monsoon) or China Type of climate.
    It is sometimes referred to as the Gulf type of climate.
    In the southern hemisphere, this kind of climate is experienced along the warm temperate eastern coastlands of all three continents: in New South Wales with its eucalyptus forests; in Natal where cane sugar thrives; and in the maize belt of the Parana- Paraguay-Uruguay basin.    		The Warm Temperate Eastern Margin Climate is typified by a warm moist summer and a cool, dry winter.
    The mean monthly temperature varies between 40ºF and 78ºF and is strongly modified by maritime influence.
    The relative humidity is a little high in midsummer when the heat becomes oppressive and can be very trying to the white settlers, e.g. in Natal.
    Rainfall is more than moderate, anything from 25 inches to 60 inches. The Warm Temperate Eastern Margin Climate supports a wide range of crops.
    An important feature is the fairly uniform distribution of rainfall throughout the year.
    Rain comes either from convectional sources or as orographic rain in summer or from depressions in prolonged showers in winter.
    Local storms, e.g. typhoons and hurricanes, also occur.    		The eastern margins of warm temperate latitude have a much heavier rainfall than either the western or the continental interiors and thus have luxuriant vegetation.
    The lowlands carry both evergreen broadleaved forests and deciduous trees quite similar to those of the tropical monsoon forests.
    On the highlands, are various species of conifers such as pines and cypresses which are important softwoods Conditions are well suited to a rich variety of plant life including grass, ferns, lianas, bamboos, palms, and forests.
    The well-distributed rainfall all year round makes the regions look green at all times.
    In eastern Australia, the most important are eucalyptus trees.
    From the forests of south-eastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina comes valuable warm temperate timbers such as the Parana pine and the quebracho (axe breaker) and wild yerba mate trees, from which the leaves are gathered for making Paraguay.
    In Natal, the warm Mozambique current encourages heavy precipitation along the coast and many species of palm tree thrive.
    The highlands yield extensive forests of chestnuts, ironwood, and black woods.
    The forests of China and southern Japan also have considerable economic value and include oak, camphor, camellia, and magnolia.
    The Gulf states of the USA have lowland deciduous forests.    		The warm temperate eastern margins are the most productive parts of the middle latitudes.
    Rice, tea, and mulberries are extensively grown in monsoon China.
    Elsewhere are found other products of economic importance, e.g. cane sugar in Natal, coffee and maize in South America, and dairying in New South Wales and Victoria.
    The Chinese peasants raise ‘wet padi’ or ‘swamp rice’ n flooded fields.
    Farming is usually on a subsistence basis.
    Agriculture in the Gulf states of America differs from that of monsoon China.
    The most important crops are corn, cotton, and tobacco.
    The chief food crop raised is. In fact, corn of maize.
    Of the cash crops grown in the Gulf States, none is comparable with cotton.
    The Gulf type of climate is undoubtedly the best for cotton growing.
    Its long, hot growing season with 200 days frost-free and a moderately high temperature of about 75ºF permits the crop to grow slowly and mature within six months.
    The Sea Island cotton grown in the Islands off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina is long stapled and is the best in the world.
    Another interesting crop closely associated with the Gulf type of climate is tobacco.
    The humid atmosphere, the warmth, and the well-drained soils of the Gulf states enable tobacco to be successfully cultivated in many of the eastern states of the USA.
    The Cool Temperate Western Margin Climate DistributionThe cool temperate western margins are under the permanent influence of the Westerlies all round the year.
    From Britain, the climatic belt stretches far inland into the lowlands of North-West Europe, including such regions as northern and western France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, western Norway, and also northwestern Iberia.
    There is so much oceanic influence on both the temperature and the precipitation that the climate is also referred to as the North-West European Maritime Climate.
    In the southern hemisphere, the climate is experienced in southern Chile, Tasmania, and most parts of New Zealand, particularly in South Island.


    (8) The Cool Temperate Continental Climate/Boreal Climate OR Taiga Climate OR Siberian Climate

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian) Climate is experienced only in the northern hemisphere where the continents within the high latitudes have a broad east-west spread.
    On its poleward side, it merges into the Arctic tundra of Canada and Eurasia around the Arctic Circle.
    Southwards, the climate becomes less severe and fades into the temperate Steppe climate.    		The climate of the Siberian type is characterized by a bitterly cold winter of long duration, and cool brief summer.
    Spring and autumn are merely brief transitional periods.
    The isotherm of 50°F for the warmest month forms the poleward boundary of the Siberian climate and the winter months are always below freezing.
    An annual range of 54°F is common in the Siberian type of climate.
    The extremes of temperature are so great in Siberia that it is often referred to as the ‘cold pole of the earth’.Some of the lowest temperatures in the world are recorded in Verkhoyansk.
    The interiors of the Eurasian continent are so remote from the maritime influence that annual precipitation cannot be high.
    Generally speaking, a total of 15 to 25 inches is typical of the annual precipitation of this sub- Arctic type of climate.
    It is quite well distributed throughout the year, with a summer maximum from convectional rain.
    In winter the precipitation is in the form of snow.    		No other trees are so well adapted as the conifers to withstand such as inhospitable environment as the Siberian type of climate.
    The coniferous forest belts of Eurasia and North America are the richest sources of softwood.
    The world’s greatest softwood producers are USSR, the USA, Canada, and the Fennoscandian countries.
    There are four major species in coniferous forests.
    Pine, e.g. white pine, red pine, Scots pine, Jackpine, lodgepole pine.Fir, e.g. Douglas fir and balsam fir,Spruce.Larch.    		The coniferous forest regions of the northern hemisphere are comparatively little developed.
    The various species of pine, fir larch, and spruce are felled and transported to the sawmills for the extraction of temperate softwoods.
    There is little agriculture as few crops can survive in the sub-Arctic climate of these northerly lands.
    Only in the more sheltered valleys and the land bordering the steppes are some cereals (barley, oats, rye) and root crops (potatoes) raised for local needs.
    Many of the Samoyeds and Yakuts of Siberia and some Canadians are engaged in hunting, trapping, and fishing.


    (9) The Cool Temperate Eastern Margin/Laurentian Climate

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    The Cool Temperate Eastern Margin (Laurentian) Climate is an intermediate type of climate between the British and the Siberian type of climate.
    It has features of both the maritime and the continental climates.
    Laurentian type of climate is found only in two regions. One is north-eastern North America, including eastern Canada, northeast USA. This may be referred to as the North American region. The other region is the eastern coastlands of Asia, including eastern Siberia, North China, Manchuria, Korea, and northern Japan.
    It may be referred to as the Asiatic region.  
    In the southern hemisphere, this climatic type is absent because only a small section of the southern continents extends south of the latitude of 40ºS.
    The only possible location is in eastern Patagonia, south of Bahia Blanca to Terra del Fuego.    		The Laurentian type of climate has cold, dry winters and warm, wet summers.
    Winter temperatures may be well below freezing point and snowfalls to quite a depth.
    Summers are as warm, as the tropics (70º- 80ºF).
    Though rain falls throughout the year, there is a distinct summer maximum from the easterly winds from the oceans.
    Of the annual precipitation of 30 to 60 inches, two-thirds come in the summer.    		The predominant vegetation of the Laurentian type of climate is cool temperate forest.
    Generally, the forest tends to be coniferous north of the 50ºN parallel of latitude.
    In the Asiatic region, the coniferous forests are, in fact, a continuation of the great coniferous belt of the taiga.
    South of latitude 50ºN, the coniferous forests give way to deciduous forests. Oak, beech, maple and birch are the principal trees.    		Lumbering and its associated timber, paper, and pulp industries are the most important economic undertaking.
    Lumbering has always been a major occupation of this sparsely populated part of eastern Asia and timber is a leading export item.
    Agriculture is less important in view of the severity of the winter and its long duration.
    Potatoes thrive over large areas of the podzolized soils, while hardy cereals like oats and barley can be sown and successfully harvested before the onset of the cold winter.
    A number of other interesting crops are produced in the Asiatic region such as soya beans groundnuts, sesame, rapeseeds, tung oil, and mulberry.
    In the North American region, arable farming is not carried out on a sizable scale, except in the more favored localities.
    Farmers are engaged in dairy farming, hay cultivation, and in mild maritime areas, fruit growing.


    (10) The Arctic or Polar Climate/Tundra Climate/Polar Climate/Arctic Climate

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    The polar type of climate and vegetation are found mainly north of the Arctic Circle in the northern hemisphere.
    The ice-caps are confined to Greenland and to the highlands of these high-latitude regions, where the ground is permanently snowcovered.
    The lowlands, with a few months ice-free, have tundra vegetation.    		The polar climate is characterized by a very low mean annual temperature and its warmest month in June seldom rises to more than 50°F.
    Winters are long and very severe, summers are cool and brief.
    At the North Pole, there are six months without light in winter.
    The ground remains solidly frozen for all but four months, inaccessible to plants. Frost occurs at any time and blizzards, reaching a velocity of 130 miles an hour are not infrequent.
    Precipitation is mainly in the form of snow, falling in winter.
    Snowfall varies with locality.
    Convectional rainfall is generally absent because of the low rate of evaporation and the lack of moisture in the cold polar air.    		In such an adverse environment as the tundra, few plants survive.
    The greatest inhibiting factor is the region’s deficiency in heat.
    There are no trees in the tundra.
    Such an environment can support only the lowest form of vegetation, mosses, lichens, and sedges.    		Human activities of the tundra are largely confined to the coast.
    The few people who live in the tundra live semi-nomadic life.
    In Greenland, northern Canada, and Alaska live the Eskimos.
    They used to live as hunters, fishers, and food gatherers.
    During winter they live in compact igloos and in summer when they move out to hunt they pitch portable tents of skins by the side of the stream.
    Their food is derived from fish, seals, walruses, and polar bears.
    In the Eurasian tundra are other nomadic tribes such as the Lapps of northern Finland and Scandinavia, the Samoyeds of Siberia, Yakuts, Koryaks, and Chuckchi of northeastern Asia.


    (11) British Type of Climate/North-West European Maritime Climate

    DistributionClimateNatural VegetationEconomy
    The cool temperate western margins are under the influence of the Westerlies all-round the year.
    They are the regions of frontal cyclonic activity [Temperate Cyclones].
    This type of climate is typical to Britain, hence the name ‘British Type’.Also called as North-West European Maritime Climate due to greater oceanic influence.    		The mean annual temperatures are usually between 40°F and 60°F.
    The warmest month is 63°F and the coldest month is just around 40°F, thus giving an annual temperature range of only 24°F.
    Summers are, in fact, never very warm.
    The climate is ideal for maximum comfort and mental alertness.
    Winters are abnormally mild.
    The British type of climate has adequate rainfall throughout the year with a tendency towards a slight winter or autumn maximum from cyclonic sources.
    Since the rain-bearing winds come from the west, the western margins have the heaviest rainfall.
    The amount decreases eastwards with increasing distance from the sea.    		The natural vegetation of this climate type is deciduous forest.
    Some of the more common species include oak, elm, ash, birch, beech, poplar, and hornbeam.
    In the wetter areas grow willows, alder, and aspen. Elsewhere are found other species, e.g. chestnut, sycamore, maple, and lime.
    The deciduous hardwoods are excellent for both fuel and industrial purposes.
    In Tasmania, the temperate eucalyots are also extensively felled for the humbering industry.    		A very large part of the deciduous woodlands has been cleared for fuel, the timber of agriculture.
    Fishing is particularly important in Britain, Norway, and British Columbia.
    Though market gardening is practiced throughout the world wherever there is a large urban population, nowhere else is it so highly specialized as in North-West Europe.
    In north-western, Europe intensive market gardening is carried out in many specialized areas e.g. the Vales of York and Evesham in the United Kingdom.
    It is no wonder the Australians nicknamed Tasmania the ‘garden state.
    Throughout Britain and northwestern Europe, farmers practice both arable farming and pastoral farming.
    Amongst the cereals, wheat is the most extensively grown.
    The next most important cereal raised in the mixed farm is bare.
    The most important animals kept in the mixed farm are cattle. North-western Europe was originally the home of many world-renowned cattle breeds.
    Britain is the home of some of the best-known sheep breeds, e.g. Leicesters, Lincolns, and Southdowns.
    In the southern hemisphere, sheep rearing is the chief occupation of New Zealand, with its greatest concentration in the Canterbury Plain.

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  • Why Afghanistan is Graveyard of Empires?

    What is Samachar Manthan?

    Samachar Manthan is our flagship program designed to help you develop a solid command on your newspaper reading and current affairs analyzing skills. We’re are also going to focus on imparting skills required to utilize current affairs. Since it builds your core, it is important for both Prelims and Mains. 

    Program inclusion

    1. Weekly 3+ hours video lecture

    2. High-quality Notes and reference material

    3. Membership to Samachar Manthan Habitat club – doubts,  discussion, and mentorship session.

    4. Weekly Current Affairs based Mains Test (10 Questions) and Evaluation

    5. Current Affairs Monthly Prelims Test package

    6. Marathon Revision sessions on Habitat before Prelims and Mains

    7. Frequent Google meet Sessions to check on Student’s Preparation status

    8. Micro notes to help you make your notes.

    Duration of the program:

    This program will continue till UPSC Mains 2022

    About the faculty leading this program:

    Sajal Singh

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    Sudhanshu Mishra

    Sudhanshu sir has firsthand experience of 3 mains and two interviews of UPSC. He has served in the defense ministry for 10 years with keen interests in regional and global geopolitics and has ample experience of various other competitive exams as well.

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  • Needed: A tribunal for CAPF

    Context

    There have been numerous cases of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers overstaying leave. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to issue orders to the CRPF headquarters to “include the provisions of Security Force Court (SFC), for initiating disciplinary action against the delinquent officers.

    Departmental enquiries Vs SFC

    • The SFC is a purely judicial process where the guilt must be proved beyond reasonable doubt and the charged official is at liberty to engage a legal practitioner to defend him.
    • Departmental enquiry is a quasi-judicial proceeding where the mere element of the preponderance of probability is enough to determine guilt.
    • Though the Central Reserve Police Force Act of 1949 provides for conducting judicial trial by a Commandant in his capacity as a Magistrate, seldom is it exercised as it gets into the realm of the judicial process.
    • Hence, the conduct of a departmental enquiry is the better option.

    What leads to delay in departmental enquiries against gazetted officers?

    • CRPF rules lay down the procedure for the conduct of departmental enquiries against non-gazetted ranks, and in normal circumstances, the departmental enquiries are completed within three to six months.
    • But when gazetted officers are charge-sheeted, the time taken to order the enquiries is longer.
    • Delay due to getting the views of other institutions: In the case of a gazetted officer, the other institutions like the Union Public Service Commission, the Central Vigilance Commission, the Department of Personnel and Training, and the MHA are also roped in for their views and legal opinion.
    • Dealy due to postponement: When the delinquent officers appear before the inquiring authority presence of the presenting officer and the defence assistant of the charged official is also required.
    • Even if one of them fails to appear for the hearing, the conduct of enquiry must be postponed.
    • Procedural delay: Often, the enquiry is conducted ex parte (without the presence of the charged official), so the recorded statements and other documents must be sent to the charged official.
    • Quite often, delays occur in providing certain prosecution documents to the charged official who may demand them for preparing his own defence.
    • Postal delays further aggravate the matter.
    • Since most officers are busy with operational matters, which gain priority over everything else.

    Way forward

    • Appoint retired officers as inquiring authorities: The solution lies in appointing retired officers as inquiring authorities, who can afford to devote their time to the conduct of enquiries as is being done in most departments of the government.
    • Tribunal for CAPF: With increasing cases being filed in the High Courts across the country in service matters, it is high time the government considered the setting up of tribunals for the CAPFs on the lines of the Armed Forces Tribunal for defence services.
    • Retired officers of the rank of Inspectors General and Additional Directors General from the CAPFs could be part of these tribunals along with retired judges of High Courts.

    Conclusion

    Taking the steps suggested here would ensure the speedy delivery of justice and reduce the burden of the High Courts.

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  • The economic reforms — looking back to look ahead

    Context

    The economic reforms, so far, have been more focused on the technical nature of the economy than the system, process and people. The fundamentals need to be set right with a focus on human capital, technology readiness and productivity.

    Benefits and limits of economic reforms of 1991

    • Economic reforms of 1991 — and from time to time, subsequent interjections for liberalisation of economy and trade — have enabled some credible gains for the country.
    • Benefits: Foreign exchange reserves (over $600 billion), sustained manufacturing contribution in GDP, increased share in global exports (from 0.6% in the 1990s to 1.8%), robust software exports, and sustained economic growth in the range of 6%-8% are clear indicators of its success.
    • Limits: Primary drivers of the economy — human capital, technology readiness, productivity, disposable income, capital expenditure, process innovation in setting up businesses, and institutional capacity — have not got enough recognition.

    Issues affecting the Indian economy

    1) Lack of Human resource capital formation

    • The human resource capital (HRC) formation, a good determinant of labour productivity, has been missing over the entire period of reforms.
    • The HRC rank for India stands at 103; Sri Lanka is at 70, China at 34, and South Korea at 27, as brought out by the Global Human Capital Report, 2017.
    • Factors responsible for low HRC: The lack of quality education, low skilled manpower, and inadequacies in basic health care have resulted in low HRC.

    2) Low disposable income

    • The World Bank database on GDP for 2019 indicates the low per capita GDP in India, at $2,104 (at $6,997 in PPP terms, ranked 125th globally) against the world average of $11,429 (at $17,678 in PPP terms).
    • Low per capita GDP has direct links to low per capita family income.
    • Low wages: The report by Deloitte (Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index in 2016) reflects that the hourly wages in India have been $1.7; they are $38, $24, $20.7, and $3.3 for the United States, Japan, South Korea, and China, respectively.
    • Low wages have a direct bearing on the disposable income of families, affecting demand.

    3) Low R&D expenditure

    • India’s research and development expenditure stand at 0.8% of GDP, for other fast-emerging economies such as South Korea, it is (4.5%), China (2.1%), and Taiwan (3.3%).
    • Reduced technology readiness: This low expenditure is resulting in lower capacity for innovation in technologies and reduced ‘technology readiness’, especially for manufacturing.

    4) Low labour productivity: Result of low HRC and lack of technology readiness

    • The lack of HRC and low technology readiness have impacted labour productivity adversely.
    • World Bank publication of 2018 indicates that India’s labour productivity in manufacturing is less than 10% of the advanced economies including Germany and South Korea, and is about 40% of China.
    • Low productivity has unfavourable consequences for competitiveness, manufacturing growth, exports and economic growth.

    5) Long time and more cost in setting up a business

    • There are difficulties in acquiring land for businesses, inefficient utilization of economic infrastructure, and in providing business services.
    • This results in a long time and more cost in setting up enterprises, resulting in a loss of creative energy of entrepreneurs.

    Way forward

    • Investment in human capital and technology: First, to attract large investment in manufacturing and advanced services, at a basic level, investment in human capital and technology is a prerequisite.
    • Technology readiness: The reports by McKinsey and the World Economic Forum on advanced manufacturing suggest that Industry 4.0 will be defined by new technologies such as robotics, 3-D printing, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of things (IoT), etc.
    • Consequently, efforts for technology readiness are very essential to stay competitive.
    • It demands enhancing public research and development expenditure to 2% of GDP over the next three years.
    • Strategies to enhance per capita income: There is a need to work on strategies to enhance per capita income by more wages for workers through higher skills and enhancing minimum wages, besides improving the social security net.
    • Promote business-centric approach: Using insights from the work of Nobel laureate (1993) Douglass C. North, it is necessary to build the capacity of public institutions to create a good environment for business and industry.
    • Policy reforms should lay an emphasis on process innovation and promote a business-centric approach to create a friendly ecosystem and for efficient internal supply chain management to integrate with the global supply chain.
    • Innovative nature in public policymaking: The future of the economy should be particularly viewed in the backdrop of a significant and irreversible shift in terms of reliance on the global supply chain as a result of the knowledge-intensive nature of businesses and exponential effects caused by advanced technologies under Industry 4.0, since the 2010s.
    • Therefore, the strategies adopted since the 1990s till now may not ensure adequate returns and call for innovative approaches in public policymaking.

    Consider the question “The economic reforms, so far, have been more focussed on the technical nature of the economy than the system. This resulted in fundamental deficiencies. Suggest the way forward to deal with these deficiencies.”

    Conclusion

    In sum, it necessitates a systemic approach for policy reforms for setting the economic fundamentals right and to achieve higher growth.

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  • How right Mentorship and assessment can instantly improve your Prelims and Mains score

    How right Mentorship and assessment can instantly improve your Prelims and Mains score

    As Prelims approaches fast, how do you make sure that you crack the Prelims exam in one attempt? By practicing mock tests…a lot of them. There are some distinct benefits of attempting mock tests that help students improve their performance in the exam. For example, it helps in simulating exam-like conditions, trains your mind to remain sharp under pressure, helps in the revision process, and provides the ideal condition to practice the tips and tricks you learned to improve your accuracy.

    Most students, however, make one big mistake even if they practice a lot of mock tests. Once they complete the test, they simply check the answers to the questions they got wrong (or did not attempt) and move on. And this is where the importance of a mentor comes into play.

    The comprehensive assessment of these tests is as important as the tests themselves. It’s the small details that matter the most. And here, we focus on HOW our mentors help students analyse the tests effectively to extract even more value out of these tests.

    Register here to learn the tricks from Our Mentors

    How to extract more value out of your tests:

    1. Revision strategy: The aim of your tests should be the clear identification of the areas where you are struggling. Make precise notes of chapters/topics that you struggled with or could not recall and mark those topics in your book. This will help you focus your time and energy into strengthening your weak areas in the next revision.
    2. Focus on all the options: When you are going through the solution don’t just focus on the right answer. Read through all the options and try to understand how they may be related to the topics. Quite often, UPSC has taken options from one year and framed a question on that in the next year. A question and the different options to it form a question ecosystem that you should completely explore before moving on.
    3. Identify types of questions: We have noticed that quite often, certain students face difficulty with certain kinds of questions (match the following, reasoning, comprehension, etc.). Identify the format of the question that you struggle with while you are practicing mock tests. Spend a few more minutes with these questions trying to frame a better way of solving them.
    4. Value addition: Use the solutions to find new points on the topic and add them to your handwritten notes. This will enrich your notes, add value to your preparation, and will act like a quick revision of that topic too.
    5. Don’t get dejected: Low marks in mock tests should not be a cause for dejection. You need to remember that the UPSC Prelims paper may be entirely different from the ones you attempted. The point of mock tests is not to focus on the marks but to identify the weak areas of your preparation and improve upon them. 
    Register here and our mentors will help you out

    While you can use these methods to improve your self-assessment, a mentor’s presence adds another dimension to your preparation as we explain below in the highlights of our program.

    Highlights of Ultimate Assessment Program

    UAP is our flagship program which involves personal mentorship. During the mentorship, our mentors conduct a detailed analysis of your performance. They help you create targets based on your learning pace and help you remain focused. They enrich your preparation by correcting your mistakes, sharing tips and tricks to improve your performance, and identifying the weaknesses that are holding you back. Here’s what students had to say about the program:

    This entire process helps you remain consistent with your studies and use your limited time judiciously. With the mountain of the syllabus to be covered for UPSC the expert guidance of our mentors can help you scale the summit in your first attempt itself.

    Now, as you take the tests and assess your performance, remember to keep the above-mentioned guidelines in your mind to improve the chances of success in the Prelims. And if you feel like you need an added advantage or an edge over your competition, our mentors are always here to help. Just fill the Samanvaya form linked below to experience the highly successful 1-1 mentorship program. When you want to succeed, every bit of help matters!

    register here and speak with our mentors for free
  • How right Mentorship and assessment can instantly improve your Prelims and Mains score

    How right Mentorship and assessment can instantly improve your Prelims and Mains score

    As Prelims approaches fast, how do you make sure that you crack the Prelims exam in one attempt? By practicing mock tests…a lot of them. There are some distinct benefits of attempting mock tests that help students improve their performance in the exam. For example, it helps in simulating exam-like conditions, trains your mind to remain sharp under pressure, helps in the revision process, and provides the ideal condition to practice the tips and tricks you learned to improve your accuracy.

    Most students, however, make one big mistake even if they practice a lot of mock tests. Once they complete the test, they simply check the answers to the questions they got wrong (or did not attempt) and move on. And this is where the importance of a mentor comes into play.

    The comprehensive assessment of these tests is as important as the tests themselves. It’s the small details that matter the most. And here, we focus on HOW our mentors help students analyse the tests effectively to extract even more value out of these tests.

    Register here to learn the tricks from Our Mentors

    How to extract more value out of your tests:

    1. Revision strategy: The aim of your tests should be the clear identification of the areas where you are struggling. Make precise notes of chapters/topics that you struggled with or could not recall and mark those topics in your book. This will help you focus your time and energy into strengthening your weak areas in the next revision.
    2. Focus on all the options: When you are going through the solution don’t just focus on the right answer. Read through all the options and try to understand how they may be related to the topics. Quite often, UPSC has taken options from one year and framed a question on that in the next year. A question and the different options to it form a question ecosystem that you should completely explore before moving on.
    3. Identify types of questions: We have noticed that quite often, certain students face difficulty with certain kinds of questions (match the following, reasoning, comprehension, etc.). Identify the format of the question that you struggle with while you are practicing mock tests. Spend a few more minutes with these questions trying to frame a better way of solving them.
    4. Value addition: Use the solutions to find new points on the topic and add them to your handwritten notes. This will enrich your notes, add value to your preparation, and will act like a quick revision of that topic too.
    5. Don’t get dejected: Low marks in mock tests should not be a cause for dejection. You need to remember that the UPSC Prelims paper may be entirely different from the ones you attempted. The point of mock tests is not to focus on the marks but to identify the weak areas of your preparation and improve upon them. 
    Register here and our mentors will help you out

    While you can use these methods to improve your self-assessment, a mentor’s presence adds another dimension to your preparation as we explain below in the highlights of our program.

    Highlights of Ultimate Assessment Program

    UAP is our flagship program which involves personal mentorship. During the mentorship, our mentors conduct a detailed analysis of your performance. They help you create targets based on your learning pace and help you remain focused. They enrich your preparation by correcting your mistakes, sharing tips and tricks to improve your performance, and identifying the weaknesses that are holding you back. Here’s what students had to say about the program:

    This entire process helps you remain consistent with your studies and use your limited time judiciously. With the mountain of the syllabus to be covered for UPSC the expert guidance of our mentors can help you scale the summit in your first attempt itself.

    Now, as you take the tests and assess your performance, remember to keep the above-mentioned guidelines in your mind to improve the chances of success in the Prelims. And if you feel like you need an added advantage or an edge over your competition, our mentors are always here to help. Just fill the Samanvaya form linked below to experience the highly successful 1-1 mentorship program. When you want to succeed, every bit of help matters!

    register here and speak with our mentors for free

  • India appoints Sherpa for G20 Summit

    The government has appointed a union minister as Sherpa for the G20 summit.

    Who is a Sherpa (in IR context)?

    • A sherpa is the personal representative of a head of state or government who prepares an international summit, particularly the annual G7 and G20 summits.
    • Between the G7 summits, there are multiple sherpa conferences where possible agreements are laid out.
    • This reduces the amount of time and resources required at the negotiations of the heads of state at the final summit.
    • The name sherpa—without further context—refers to sherpas for the G7 summit, but the designation can be extended to different regular conferences where the participation of the head of state is required.
    • The sherpa is generally quite influential, although they do not have the authority to make a final decision about any given agreement.
    • The name is derived from the Sherpa people, a Nepalese ethnic group, who serve as guides and porters in the Himalayas, a reference to the fact that the sherpa clears the way for a head of state at a major summit.

    About G20

    • Formed in 1999, the G20 is an international forum of the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies.
    • Collectively, the G20 economies account for around 85 percent of the Gross World Product (GWP), 80 percent of world trade.
    • To tackle the problems or address issues that plague the world, the heads of governments of the G20 nations periodically participate in summits.
    • In addition to it, the group also hosts separate meetings of the finance ministers and foreign ministers.
    • The G20 has no permanent staff of its own and its chairmanship rotates annually between nations divided into regional groupings.

    Aims and objectives

    • The Group was formed with the aim of studying, reviewing, and promoting high-level discussion of policy issues pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability.
    • The forum aims to pre-empt the balance of payments problems and turmoil on financial markets by improved coordination of monetary, fiscal, and financial policies.
    • It seeks to address issues that go beyond the responsibilities of any one organization.

    Members of G20

    The members of the G20 consist of 19 individual countries plus the European Union (EU).

    • The 19 member countries of the forum are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.
    • The European Union is represented by the European Commission and by the European Central Bank.

    Its significance

    • G20 is a major international grouping that brings together 19 of the world’s major economies and the European Union.
    • Its members account for more than 80% of global GDP, 75% of trade and 60% of population.

    India and G20

    • India has been a member of the G20 since its inception in 1999.

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