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  • Strategy for next 50 days for Prelims-2021

    In UPSC prelims, it is not the number of questions that you attempt but the number of mistakes you make decides whether you will score above 120 plus or even qualify at all. 

    Based on attempts in practice tests and number of mistakes in tests, you fall into these categories:

    1. Red Zone category:- mistakes 25 and above
    2. Orange zone category:- mistakes 15 to 25
    3. Green zone category:- mistakes less than 15.

    A. RED ZONE CATEGORY: You may continue to attempt only 100% sure options until you have clarity in topic and have enhanced understanding. Once you have revised the content multiple times through keywords and notes, you can increase the number of attempts. There is no space for elimination and guesswork. Watch daily videos of Streak posted by Sukanya mam or me on Civilsdaily YouTube channel and revise the topics covered in those videos.

    B. ORANGE ZONE CATEGORY: This category aspirants need to bring mistakes below by 15. Complete short keyword notes for all subjects by 5th September. Avoid guess work and learn and practice the question solving techniques such as FCE (Factual Conceptual and Elimination) approach. Watch daily videos posted on YouTube by Sukanya and me for prelims. We have covered questions on most probable topics on economy, polity, and science & tech discussion. Revise those topics if need be.

    C. GREEN ZONE CATEGORY: Complete all your keyword notes by September 1st. Move on to the full test only after you have completed all keywords for static and current affairs. Continue to interlink them, do 360 exercises. and bring mistakes to below 10.

    WAY FORWARD FOR ALL FOR PRELIMS-2021 in the next 50 days:

    1. There are no mistakes such as silly mistakes you make because either you are not reading properly or don’t remember them. Also, it happens when you are under confident or overconfident.

    2. Only intelligent elimination should be opted and that also can only work if you have clarity of topics and learn things holistically.

    3. Revision should be holistic. If you have not done an in-depth study of Polity, History and Environment even once, then it is high time. Do it now before September 1st and then continue revisions. Keep making a mental map of everything you study and do it actively – not passively. Keep pen and paper always ready while reading anything and note down important keywords.

    4. Do not take new sources for revision. Do not fall into the trap of grabbing and learning from new materials for the same topic.

    5. No need to go for a bulky compilation for Current Affairs just before exam or right now. Focus on the monthly magazine of CD or any other which you have already been referring to but “ONLY ONE SOURCE.” 

    The weightage of CA in prelims has declined to less than 20%; and if you continue to waste your valuable time on bulky round the year compilations, then it is not a good cost-benefit analysis. Focus on the concept part of any CA topic and link with it. 

    6. Try to learn from the tests as much as while solving paper and FCE approach while analysing the paper. This exercise will continue up until your last test.

    7. There is no need to panic even if you score less in tests. My advice would be to go back to your sources, revise it again, and try to memorise whatever you are not able to remember easily. Then, again come back and give the test and analyse the paper and note down what you do not know.

    8. Enhance your knowledge and understand and learn topics by revising previous-year papers multiple times.

    9. Confidence is a function of knowledge, revision, and testing. If you have not done all these three, you will never feel confident. Hence, please make it your utmost priority. Some of my students who are part of ongoing super-25 have improved their confidence and more assured towards success in prelims

    10. Prelims is something which you can only qualify with proper well-planned process – no element of luck here. All you have to do is follow the process discussed above.

    This has worked for me to score up to 145 twice and always 120 plus in all 6 attempts. So, I am confident that it will work for you too. 

    Only barrier between your success and your failure is YOU. If required, change yourself and keep working on your strengths and weaknesses.

    Please reach out to me if you face any issue or if you need any kind of support.

    Thank you all.

    Santosh Gupta

    Prelims Coordinator, Civilsdaily

    Course Coordinator for Super-25 program for Prelims-2021

    To know more about UPSC Prelims 2021 Super-25 and prepare under my complete mentorship, click the link: https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/upsc-prelims-2021-super-25/

    For remaining days of Prelims-2021, you may join 60-day plan under my overall guidance: https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/60-days-intensive-plan-for-focused-revision-2021/

    A quick bit about Santosh Gupta Sir:

    Santosh Gupta sir has scored up to 145 twice in UPSC prelims and always 120 plus in all 6 attempts. He wrote all 6 mains and appeared for Interviews 3 times. He has qualified UPSC EPFO and BPSC 56-59th also. He has been teaching and mentoring UPSC aspirants for the last 5 years with tremendous interest in environment and ecology and Polity. 

  • Economic criterion not sole basis for Creamy Layer: Supreme Court

    The basis of exclusion of ‘creamy layer’ cannot be merely economic, a Supreme Court Bench has observed in their judgment, while referring to the court’s Indra Sawhney verdict of 1992.

    What was the case?

    • The court was hearing a petition challenging some notifications by the Haryana government sub-classifying backward classes solely on economic basis while fixing the criteria for creamy layer.
    • The notifications said children of persons having “gross annual income” of up to ₹3 lakh annually would get the benefit of reservation in services and admission in educational institutions.
    • The remaining quota would go to those from backward families, which earn between₹3 lakh and ₹6 lakh per annum.
    • The sections earning over ₹6 lakh annually were considered as ‘creamy layer’ under Section 5 of the 2016 Act.
    • The apex court held that the Haryana’s notifications have violated the law declared in the Indra Sawhney judgment by identifying creamy layer only on the basis of income.

    Defying Indra Sawhney Verdict (1992)

    • The case had declared that ‘creamy layer’ in a backward community should be excluded from reservation so that the more deserving were able to come up.
    • Explaining this verdict, court said that such persons were to be treated as ‘creamy layer’ without any further inquiry.

    Who else would be excluded from such reservation?

    • Likewise, people with sufficient income who were in a position to provide employment to others should also be taken to have reached a higher social status and therefore, should be treated as outside the backward class.
    • Similarly, persons from backward classes who had higher agricultural holdings or were receiving income from properties, beyond a prescribed limit, do not deserve the benefit of reservation.

    Key takeaways from the Judgement

    • The Supreme Court has held that the government cannot deny reservation to a person belonging to a backward community solely on the ground that he or she is rich.
    • Social advancement, higher employment in government services, etc, played an equal role in deciding whether such a person belonged to the creamy layer and could be denied quota benefits.
    • The court had illustrated that ‘creamy layer’ would include persons from backward classes who occupied posts in higher services like IAS, IPS, and All India Services.
    • These persons had reached a higher level of social advancement and economic status,and therefore, were not entitled to be treated as backward.

    What is the Creamy Layer?

    • Creamy Layer is a concept that sets a threshold within which OBC reservation benefits are applicable.
    • While there is a 27% quota for OBCs in government jobs and higher educational institutions, those falling within the “creamy layer” cannot get the benefits of this quota.

    Basis of Creamy Layer

    • It is based on the recommendation of the Second Backward Classes Commission (Mandal Commission).
    • The government in 1990 had notified 27% reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) in vacancies in civil posts and services that are to be filled on direct recruitment.
    • After this was challenged, the Supreme Court in the Indira Sawhney case (1992) upheld 27% reservation for OBCs, subject to exclusion of the creamy layer.

    How is it determined?

    • Following the order in Indra Sawhney, an expert committee headed by Justice (retired) R N Prasad was constituted for fixing the criteria for determining the creamy layer.
    • In 1993, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) listed out various categories of people of certain rank/status/income whose children cannot avail the benefit of OBC reservation.
    1. For those not in government, the current threshold is an income of Rs 8 lakh per year.
    2. For children of government employees, the threshold is based on their parents’ rank and not income.
    3. For instance, an individual is considered to fall within the creamy layer if either of his or her parents is in a constitutional post; if either parent has been directly recruited in Group-A; or if both parents are in Group-B services.
    4. If the parents enter Group-A through promotion before the age of 40, their children will be in the creamy layer.
    5. Children of a Colonel or higher-ranked officer in the Army, and children of officers of similar ranks in the Navy and Air Force, too, come under the creamy layer.
    6. Income from salaries or agricultural land is not clubbed while determining the creamy layer (2004).

    Back2Basics: Indira Sawhney Case

    In the famous Mandal case (Indra Sawhney Case, 1992), the scope and extent of Article 16(4), which provides for reservation of jobs in favor of backward classes, has been examined thoroughly by the Supreme Court.

    • Though the Court has rejected the additional reservation of 10% for poorer sections of higher castes, it upheld the constitutional validity of a 27% reservation for the OBCs with certain conditions.
    • The advanced sections among the OBCs (the creamy layer) should be excluded from the list of beneficiaries of reservation.
    • No reservation in promotions; reservation should be confined to initial appointments only. Any existing reservation in promotions can continue for five years only (i.e., up to 1997).
    • The total reserved quota should not exceed 50% except in some extraordinary situations. This rule should be applied every year.
    • The ‘carry forward rule’ in case of unfilled (backlog) vacancies is valid. But it should not violate the 50% rule.

  • Arresting a Cabinet Minister

    The Maharashtra Police has arrested the Union Minister for MSMEs for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the CM.

    Procedure to arrest a Cabinet Minister

    • If Parliament is not in session, a cabinet minister can be arrested by a law enforcement agency in case of a criminal case registered against him.
    • As per Section 22 A of the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business of the Rajya Sabha, the Police, Judge, or Magistrate would, however, have to intimate the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha about the reason for the arrest, the place of detention or imprisonment in an appropriate form.

    What is the procedure to be followed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha in case of an arrest?

    • The Chairman is expected to inform the Council if it is sitting about the arrest.
    • If the council is not sitting, he/she is expected to publish it in the bulletin for the information of the members.

    What about the privileges of the Rajya Sabha members vis-a-vis arrests?

    • As per the main privileges of Parliament, in civil cases, they have freedom from arrest during the continuance of the House and 40 days before its commencement and 40 days after its conclusion, as per section 135 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
    • The privilege of freedom from arrest does not extend to criminal offences or cases of detention under preventive detention.

    Can a person be arrested from the precincts of the House?

    • No arrest, whether of a member or of a stranger, can be made within the precincts of the House without the prior permission of the Chairman/Speaker and that too in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Home Ministry in this regard.
    • Similarly, no legal process, civil or criminal, can be served within the precincts of the House without obtaining the prior permission of the Chairman/Speaker whether the House is in session or not.

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    Back2Basics: Parliamentary Privileges

    • Article 105 and Article 194 grant privileges or advantages to the members of the parliament so that they can perform their duties or can function properly without any hindrances.
    • Such privileges are granted as they are needed for democratic functioning.
    • These powers, privileges, and immunities should be defined by the law from time to time.
    • These privileges are considered special provisions and have an overriding effect in conflict.

    Freedom from being arrested

    • The member of parliament cannot be arrested 40 days before and 40 days after the session of the house.
    • If in any case a member of Parliament is arrested within this period, the concerned person should be released in order to attend the session freely.

    Right to exclude strangers from its proceedings and hold secret sessions 

    • The object of including this right was to exclude any chances of daunting or threatening any of the members.
    • The strangers may attempt to interrupt the sessions.

    Right to prohibit the publication of its reporters and proceedings 

    • The right has been granted to remove or delete any part of the proceedings that took place in the house.

    Right to regulate internal proceedings

    • The House has the right to regulate its own internal proceedings and also has the right to call for the session of the Legislative assembly.
    • But it does not have any authority in interrupting the proceedings by directing the speaker of the assembly.

    Right to punish members or outsiders for contempt

    • This right has been given to every house of the Parliament.
    • If any of its members or maybe non-members commit contempt or breach any of the privileges given to him/her, the houses may punish the person.
    • The houses have the right to punish any person for any contempt made against the houses in the present or in the past. 

    Article 105(3) and Article 194(3) states that the parliament should from time to time define the laws or pass the laws on the powers, privileges and immunities of the members of the parliament and members of the legislative assembly.

  • Saroop of the Sikh Holy Book

    A union minister has received one of the Saroops of the holy Guru Granth Sahib flown in from Afghanistan.

    What is Saroop?

    • Saroop is a physical copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, also called Bir in Punjabi.
    • Every Bir has 1,430 pages, which are referred to as Ang. The verses on every page remain the same.
    • The Sikhs consider the Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib a living guru and treat it with utmost respect.
    • They believe that all the 10 Gurus were the same spirit in different bodies, and the Guru Granth Sahib is their eternal physical and spiritual form.

    Compilation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib

    • It was the fifth Sikh master, Guru Arjan Dev, who compiled the first Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib in 1604, and installed it at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
    • Later, the tenth Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, added verses penned by the ninth master, his father Guru Tegh Bahadur, and compiled the Bir for the second and last time.
    • It was in 1708 that Guru Gobind Singh declared the Guru Granth Sahib the living Guru of the Sikhs.
    • Guru Granth Sahib is a compendium of hymns written by six Sikh gurus,15 saints, including Bhagat Kabir, Bhagat Ravidas, Sheikh Farid and Bhagat Namdev, 11 Bhatts (balladeers) and four Sikhs.
    • The verses are composed in 31 ragas.

    What does the act of carrying the saroop on one’s head signify?

    • The installation and transportation of Guru Granth Sahib is governed by a strict code of conduct called rehat maryada.
    • As a mark of respect, the Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib is carried on the head, and the person walks barefoot.
    • Whenever a devout sees the Bir of Guru Granth Sahib passing by, s/he removes her shoes and bows.
    • A ceremonial whisk is waved high over the Guru Granth Sahib either on the move or while reading from it.
    • Gurdwaras have a separate resting place for the Saroop, called ‘Sukh Asan Sthan’ or ‘Sachkhand’ where the Guru rests at night.
    • This takes place at the end of the day when the holy book is ceremoniously shut and rested. In the morning, the saroop is again installed in a ceremony called ‘prakash’.
    • Many tourists specially come to watch the prakash and sukha asan ceremony of the Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple.

    Where are copies of the Guru Granth Sahib published?

    • There was a tradition among Punjabis, both Sikhs and Hindus, to copy the Guru Granth Sahib by hand and produce multiple copies.
    • The Udasi and Nirmla sects also played a role in making handwritten copies of the Birs until the British introduced the printing press.
    • Nowadays, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has the sole rights to publish the Birs of the Guru Granth Sahib, and this is done at Amritsar.

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    Try answering this PYQ:

    Consider the following Bhakti Saints:

    1. Dadu Dayal
    2. Guru Nanak
    3. Tyagaraja

    Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over? (CSP 2018)

    (a) 1 and 3

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 2 and 3

    (d) 1 and 2

     

    Post your answers here:

  • [pib] Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA) Project

    NITI Aayog and World Resources Institute (WRI), India, jointly launched the ‘Forum for Decarbonizing Transport’ in India as part of the NDC-Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA).

    Transport Initiative for Asia

    • The NDC Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA 2020-2023) is a joint programme that will engage China, India, and Vietnam in promoting a comprehensive approach to decarbonizing transport in their respective countries.
    • The project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
    • NITI Aayog is the implementing partner for the India component of the project.
    • The project aims at bringing down the peak level of GHG emissions (transport sector) in Asia (in line with a well below 2-degree pathway), resulting in problems like congestion and air pollution.

    Why need such initiative?

    • India has a massive and diverse transport sector, which is also the third most CO2 emitting sector.
    • Data suggests that within the transport sector, road transport contributes to more than 90% of the total CO2 emissions.
    • The NDC-TIA India component focuses on developing a coherent strategy of effective policies and the formation of a multi-stakeholder platform for decarbonizing transport in the country.

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  • [pib] E-Shram Portal:  National Database on Unorganized Workers (NDUW)

    The Union Ministry of Labour & Employment will launch the e-Shram portal – National Database on Unorganized Workers (NDUW).

    What is the E-Shram Portal?

    • The government aims to register 38 crore unorganized workers, such as construction labourers, migrant workforce, street vendors and domestic workers, among others.
    • The workers will be issued an e-Shram card containing a 12-digit unique number, which, going ahead, will help in including them in social security schemes.
    • The government had earlier missed deadlines for creating the database, inviting criticism from the Supreme Court.

    How will the registration for workers happen on the portal?

    • The registration of workers on the portal will be coordinated by the Labour Ministry, state governments, trade unions and CSCs.
    • Awareness campaigns would be planned across the country to enable nationwide registration of workers.
    • Following the launch of the portal, workers from the unorganized sector can begin their registration from the same day.
    • A national toll free number — 14434 — will also be launched to assist and address the queries of workers seeking registration on the portal.
    • A worker can register on the portal using his/her Aadhaar card number and bank account details, apart from filling other necessary details like date of birth, home town, mobile number and social category.

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  • Places in news: Corbett Tiger Reserve

    The Delhi High Court has asked the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to consider as a representation a petition to stop the alleged illegal construction of bridges and walls within the tiger breeding habitat of the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

    Jim Corbett National Park

    • Jim Corbett NP is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
    • It is located in Nainital district and Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and was named after hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett.
    • The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.
    • It has sub-Himalayan belt geographical and ecological characteristics.
    • Dense moist deciduous forest mainly consists of sal, haldu, peepal, rohini and mango trees.
    • Forest covers almost 73% of the park, while 10% of the area consists of grasslands.

    Try answering this PYQ:

    Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat” ? (CSP 2020)

    (a) Corbett

    (b) Ranthambore

    (c) Nagarjunasagar- Srisailam

    (d) Sunderbans

     

    Post your answers here:

    Back2Basics: National Tiger Conservation Authority

    • The NTCA was established in December 2005, following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister of India.
    • The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was amended in 2006 to provide for constituting NTCA responsible for the implementation of the Project Tiger plan to protect endangered tigers.
    • It works for the reorganized management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India.
    • A program for protection called, ‘Tiger Protection Program’ (popularly known as Project Tiger) was started in 1973, by the GOI in co-operation with WWF.

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  • Why India needs an NHS-like healthcare model

    Context

    Even after the pandemic, the Indian government continues to budget less than 1 per cent of GDP for healthcare, one of the lowest in the world.

    About NHS

    • Every year, Britain’s legendary health network National Health Service (NHS) cures 15 million patients with chronic ailments, at a fraction of the cost spent by the US.
    • The NHS funded by direct taxes is also the fifth largest employer in the world, after McDonalds and Walmart.
    • One of every 20 British workers is employed as a doctor, nurse, catering and technical personnel.

    Public healthcare in India

    • Even after the pandemic, the Indian government continues to budget less than 1 per cent of GDP for healthcare, one of the lowest in the world.
    • In contrast, China invests around 3 per cent, Britain 7 per cent and the United States 17 per cent of GDP.
    • So, 62 per cent of health expenses in India are paid for by patients themselves
    • This is one of the main reasons for families falling into poverty especially during the pandemic.
    • In India, hospitals are beleaguered with absentee staff.
    • As per a Niti Aayog database, in the worst state of Bihar in 2017-18, positions for 60 per cent of midwives, 50 per cent of staff nurses, 34 per cent of medical officers and 60 per cent of specialist doctors were vacant.
    • Those on the job, despite being handsomely paid, are chronically overworked.

    Conclusion

    In the 21st century, not much has improved in India’s public hospitals. Still, in India doctors are often equated with gods. What India needs in NHS like healthcare model.

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  • 25th August 2021| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1    Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent)

    GS-2   Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.

     GS-3   Disaster and Disaster Management.

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

    Questions:

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 Which are the major iron ore producing regions in the world? With examples, discuss the factors that influence the location of Iron and Steel industry. (15 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 Indian lawmaking is in the need of more scrutiny and less speed. Comment. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 The frequency of devastating cyclones is increasing, with increasing consequences for India. In light of this, examine the impact of cyclones and suggest the long term measures to deal with them. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 What are the problems arising out of declining ethical standards among public servants? Suggest certain strategies to address the same. (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 1st August is uploaded on 1st August 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, 1st August is uploaded on 3rd August, 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

  • 25th August 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

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