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  • Crack UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Exam In 10 Days || Exam’s Almost Here, Limited Time To Crack It || Join Immediately

    Crack UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Exam In 10 Days || Exam’s Almost Here, Limited Time To Crack It || Join Immediately

    click here to enroll in CAPF revision club by Rohit sir

    Complete Coverage, Daily Practice, Revision, And Most Expected Questions || Link for FREE CAPF session at 9 pm below

    Dear aspirants,

    The UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant exam is on August 8. There is not much time but you can still increase your score by over 30 marks and crack the exam in 10 DAYS! Join OFFICERS CLUB by Rohit Sir immediately.

    Join free capf session by rohit sir (9:00 pm)

    Here’s what you will get in the Officers club:

    1. 10 Days intensive session with complete coverage.
    2. 18 months Current Affairs. 
    3. Daily Habitat discussions and doubt sessions (chat-based).
    4. Video lectures on important topics.
    5. Google meet session.
    6. 10 Essays, 5 Precis, 4 Notice.
    7. Complete revision

    And more…

    Don’t let this opportunity slide away! Clear the exam in ONE-SHOT!

    Rohit sir is also taking FREE session today at 9:00 pm.

    What do you have to do?

    free capf revision session by rohit sir
    1. Join Habitat For Absolutely Free Sessions!
    2. Read The Discussions Happening On The General Page.
    3. Click On The Blue Box To Join The Discussion.
    4. Participate, Ask Questions, Engage, And Learn!

    Here is a list of topics and discussions you can join immediately:

    Revise Economics for IAS PrelimsRavi Ranjan11:00 am
    Essay WritingAnand Prakash12:30 pm
    Science and TechDr. Keerti1:00 pm
    Samadhan CSATRavi Ranjan2:00 pm
    UPSC EPFORohit Yadav3:00 pm
    Chat pe News: Current AffairsAnjum Sharma4:30 pm
    Polity Laxmikant Amoghavarsha5:30 pm
    Indian society and Social IssuesSiddharth 6:00 pm
    Samvad: Indian AgricultureRadhika Didwania7:30 pm
    Prelims HeistParth Verma8:30 pm
    Officer club for CAPF AC Rohit Yadav9:00 pm
    Environment MCQsIshika9:30 pm

    And many more…

    Whatever you need, we have it here.

    Join the club of your choice here (for free)

    How to join a discussion?

    After you have joined/registered on Habitat for free, go to the General club. Click on the blue box of the session you want to attend.

  • Score 120+ In UPSC CSAT For Absolutely FREE || Learn The Tricks Of Cracking CSAT With Ravi Sir For No Charge! | 2 pm

    attend free csat sessions by ravi sir

    Dear aspirants,

    Be extra-ready for UPSC CSAT with Ravi Sir and smash the exam with a score of 140+ Learn all the tips, tricks, and techniques of scoring high in CSAT for absolutely FREE!

    Join now and you will get:

    1. Daily CSAT practice session.
    2. Tricks to solve problems accurately.
    3. Time-management techniques.
    4. Tips to improve your score.
    5. Detailed analysis of CSAT paper.

    And more…

    Prelims is just around the corner. Grab this opportunity to crack CSAT for absolutely Free!

    Join samadhan csat session by ravi sir (click)

    Parth sir’s session starts at 2:00 pm

    What do you have to do?

    1. Join Habitat For Absolutely Free Sessions!
    2. Read The Discussions Happening On The General Page.
    3. Click On The Blue Box To Join The Discussion.
    4. Participate, Ask Questions, Engage, And Learn!

    Don’t Miss Out On The Questions That May Help You Succeed!

    Here is a list of topics and discussions you can join immediately:

    Revise Economics for IAS PrelimsRavi Ranjan11:00 am
    Essay WritingAnand Prakash12:30 pm
    Science and TechDr. Keerti1:00 pm
    Samadhan CSATRavi Ranjan2:00 pm
    UPSC EPFORohit Yadav3:00 pm
    Chat pe News: Current AffairsAnjum Sharma4:30 pm
    Polity Laxmikant Amoghavarsha5:30 pm
    Indian society and Social IssuesSiddharth 6:00 pm
    Abhyaas: Answer WritingGarima7:00 pm
    Samvad: Indian AgricultureRadhika Didwania7:30 pm
    Prelims HeistParth Verma8:30 pm
    Parakram Answer Writing sessionRohit Yadav9:30 pm
    Post dinner MCQs for IAS prelimsAmitB10:15 pm

    And many more…

    Whatever you need, we have it here.

    Join the club of your choice here (for free)

    How to join a discussion?

    After you have joined/registered on Habitat for free, go to the General club. Click on the blue box of the session you want to attend.

  • Implications of EU’s new GHG emissions law for Indian industry

    Context

    On July 14, the European Union introduced new legislation, Fit for 55, to cut its GHG emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050.

    Implications of Fit for 55

    • Legal backing: It turns the EU’s announcement into law, protecting it from the winds of political change.
    • Opportunity for India: It opens new markets for Indian industry, for example for electric vehicles.
    • CBAM: However, it also introduces a potentially adverse policy called the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM).
    • CBAM is meant to discourage consumers from buying carbon-intensive products and encourage producers to invest in cleaner technologies.

    What is CBAM?

    • The EU has had a carbon emission trading system since 2005.
    • With Fit for 55, the EU’s carbon price is likely to go up.
    • High carbon price will make the EU’s domestic products more expensive than imports from countries that do not have such rules.
    • The new CBAM is meant to level the playing field between domestic and imported products.
    • CBAM will require foreign producers to pay for the carbon emitted while manufacturing their products.
    • The adjustment will be applied to energy-intensive products that are widely traded by the EU, such as iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser, and electricity.

    Why CBAM is a cause for concern for India?

    • India is Europe’s third-largest trading partner, and it does not have its own carbon tax or cap.
    • So, CBAM should be a cause for concern for it.
    • A UNCTAD study predicts that India will lose $1-1.7 billion in exports of energy-intensive products such as steel and aluminium.
    • India’s goods trade with the EU was $74 billion in 2020.

    Way forward for Indian Industry

    • Clean technology partnerships: Indian Industry should enter clean technology partnerships with European industry.
    • Invest in renewables:  Indian companies should invest in more renewable electricity and energy efficiency.
    • Incentivise low-carbon choices: They can adopt science-based targets for emission reduction and internal carbon pricing to incentivise low-carbon choices.
    • Schemes and Government financing: The government can extend the perform-achieve-trade scheme to more industries and provide finance to MSMEs to upgrade to clean technologies.
    • WRI India’s analysis shows that carbon dioxide emissions from the iron and steel industry can be reduced from 900 million tonnes to 500 million tonnes in 2035 through greater electrification, green hydrogen, energy efficiency, and material efficiency.
    • Diversify export: India can try to diversify its exports to other markets and products.

    Consider the question “What is carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) introduced by the EU? What are its implications for Indian industry?” 

    Conclusion

    At present, the CBAM may seem obstructionist. But over the long-term, it can provide regulatory certainty to industry by harmonising carbon prices, and Indian industry can position itself as a strong player in the trade landscape of the future.

    Back2Basics: UNCTAD

    • UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964.
    • Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and have offices in New York and Addis Ababa.
    • UNCTAD is part of the UN Secretariat.
    • IT report to the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council but have own membership, leadership, and budget.
    • It is also part of the United Nations Development Group.

  • SAARC

    Context

    Despite the framework SAARC provides for cooperation amongst South Asian nations, it has remained sidelined and dormant since its 18th summit of 2014 in Kathmandu. No alternative capable of bringing together South Asian countries for mutually beneficial diplomacy has emerged.

    Common challenges facing South Asia

    • The region is beset with unsettled territorial disputes, as well as trans-border criminal and subversive activities and cross-border terrorism.
    • The region also remains a theatre for ethnic, cultural, and religious tensions and rivalries besides a current rise in ultra-nationalism
    • Nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan are at loggerheads.
    • US military withdrawal from Afghanistan has fuelled fears of intensification of these trends.

    Significance of SAARC

    • As the largest regional cooperation organisation, SAARC’s importance in stabilising and effectively transforming the region is becoming increasingly self-evident.
    • SAARC is needed as institutional scaffolding to allow for the diplomacy and coordination that is needed between member-states in order to adequately address the numerous threats and challenges the region faces.
    • Though SAARC’s charter prohibits bilateral issues at formal forums, SAARC summits provide a unique, informal window — the retreat — for leaders to meet without aides and chart future courses of action.
    • The coming together of leaders, even at the height of tensions, in a region laden with congenital suspicions, misunderstandings, and hostility is a significant strength of SAARC that cannot be overlooked.
    • In March last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seized the Covid-19 crisis and utilised SAARC’s seal to convene a video conference of SAARC leaders.
    • Such capacity to bring member-states together shows the potential power of SAARC.

    What role SAARC can play in Afghanistan

    • Commitment to get rid of terrorism: The third SAARC summit in 1987 adopted a Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and updated it in 2004 with the signing of an additional protocol.
    • These instruments demonstrate the collective commitment to rid the region of terror and promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
    • Using the network of institutions: In 36 years of existence, SAARC has developed a dense network of institutions, linkages, and mechanisms.
    • SAARC members are among the top troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions.
    • Joint peacekeeping force: With the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, a joint peacekeeping force from the SAARC region under the UN aegis could be explored to fill the power vacuum that would otherwise be filled by terrorist and extremist forces.

    Consider the question “What role SAARC can play in stabilising the region after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan? Is SAARC still relevant for the region?”

    Conclusion

    Allowing SAARC to become dysfunctional and irrelevant greatly distorts our ability to address the realities and mounting challenges facing SAARC nations.

    Back2Basics: About SAARC

    •  In 1985, at the height of the Cold War, leaders of South Asian nations — namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — created a regional forum.
    • The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the goal of contributing “to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems.”
    • Afghanistan was admitted as a member in 2007.

  • 26th July 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 711]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 711]

  • 26th July 2021| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1 Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

     

    GS-2  India and its neighborhood- relations.

     

    GS-3  Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

    GS-4 Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; 

     

    Questions:

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1) Regional aspirations in the North East have been dominated by demands for autonomy, movements for secession, and opposition to ‘outsiders’. Discuss with relevant examples. (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2) Regionalism can be a confidence-building measure to produce a common resolve to navigate common challenges. In light of this, list the common challenges facing the South Asian countries and also examine the role SAARC can play in stabilising the region after the US exit from Afghanistan. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3) What is the significance of jointness in the military? What are the challenges in bringing about jointness in Indian armed forces and suggest the measure to deal with these challenges. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4) What are the various sources through which humans can judge the correctness of their actions? In the context of public life discuss how these sources are important in offering a clear and practical guidance. (10 Marks)

    NOTE- Since it’s a two month program last date to write answers is July 30th. All the questions will be evaluated latest by August 5th.
    After that this program will end as we need to focus on Prelims. So write all the answers before 30th July.

    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 June is uploaded on 1st June 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 June is uploaded on 3rd June, 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 @Swatantra so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

    *In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. Swatantra Sir’s tag is available, tag him.

    For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

    CLICK HERE To join Daily AWE

  • STREAK DAILY INITIATIVE (Free initiative by CD for UPSC Preparation)

    STREAK DAILY INITIATIVE (Free initiative by CD for UPSC Preparation)

    Guru Dronacharya had instructed the cook at the ashram to not serve his students’ food at night. One day, however, the dinner got delayed. While everyone was eating at night, suddenly, the lights went off. As Arjuna ate in the dark, he realized that there was automatic coordination between his hands and mouth. He did not require vision to put his hand into his mouth. This was an amazing discovery for him. This meant that he could orient himself to shoot the target even in the night, through his other senses. He immediately took up his bow and arrow to practice in the dark. And from then on, the entire month, he would practice day and night!

    Day and night- just practice.

    If you want to ace the UPSC examination, then PRACTICE is your only option. Arjuna had practiced for decades before his real test in the Mahabharata war. Even you need the same discipline, consistency, and hard work to clear this examination.

    On a daily basis, UPSC Aspirants faces a lot of issues like

    • What to read, what not to read and how to read?
    • Whether our timetable is realistic to not only finish, but also provide space for revision?
    • Whether we are on the right track or not? 

    Sometimes, despite putting 12-16 hours in a day aspirants don’t feel satisfied.

    Click the link below to register on the streak course page for Samanvaya form to access the free streak study material.

    Register on our course page to access Free Streak study material

    STREAK INITIATIVE AS A SOLUTION

    We plan to solve the puzzle of inconsistency to achieve daily, weekly and monthly targets through this STREAK initiative. 

    Have a look at the video below by Ravi sir to understand WHAT STREAK INITIATIVE IS ABOUT? And how it can help you on a daily basis.

    On a weekly basis, a schedule will be given to you which you can finish. This will ensure proper guidance to finish the syllabus.

    Then in the evening, we will post questions to practice. Then later on daily basis videos dealing with these questions, from Prelims and Mains will be released.

    Prelims will be handled by Santosh Sir and Mains by Sukanya Ma’am.

    Click the link below to register on the streak course page for Samanvaya form to access the free streak study material.

    Register on our course page to access Free Streak study material

    A quick bit about Sukanya Ma’am

    Sukanya ma’am has the first-hand experience of 4 mains and 2 interviews of UPSC. She has also appeared in the State MPPCS interview. Before she has worked as a Probationary Officer in a public sector bank.

    At Civilsdaily, she is the Mains Initiative Coordinator and has worked as an Ethics Mentor in Smash Mains program, which had an 80% success rate in UPSC mains 2020.

    A quick bit about Santosh Gupta:

    Santosh Gupta sir has scored above 140 twice in UPSC prelims and always 120 plus in all 6 attempts. He wrote all 6 mains and appeared for Interview 3 times. He has qualified UPSC EPFO and BPSC 56-59th also. He is presently working as Assistant Commissioner in Commercial Tax Department in Government of Bihar. He has been teaching and mentoring UPSC aspirants for the last 5 years with tremendous interest in environment and ecology and Polity.

    Click the link below to register on the streak course page for Samanvaya form to access the free streak study material.

    Register on our course page to access Free Streak study material

  • The Caste Census Debate

    The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that it was decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in Census.

    What kind of caste data is published in the Census?

    • Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes.
    • Before that, every Census until 1931 had data on caste.
    • However, in 1941, caste-based data was collected but not published.

    Why is there a demand for caste census?

    • In the absence of such a census, there is no proper estimate for the population of OBCs, various groups within the OBCs, and others.
    • The Mandal Commission estimated the OBC population at 52%, some other estimates have been based on National Sample Survey data.
    • Some political parties make their own estimates in states and Lok Sabha and Assembly seats during elections.

    How often has the demand for a caste census been made?

    • It comes up before almost every Census, as records of debates and questions raised in Parliament show.
    • The demand usually come from among those belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) and other deprived sections, while sections from the upper castes oppose the idea.
    • On April 1, the constitutional body National Commission for Backward Classes urged the government to collect data on the population of OBCs “as part of Census of India 2021 exercise”.

    Need for caste census

    • There is a central list of OBCs and a State-specific list of OBCs.
    • Some states do not have a list of OBCs; some States have a list of OBCs and a sub-set called Most Backward Classes.
    • There are certain open-ended categories in the lists such as orphans and destitute children.
    • Names of some castes are found in both the list of Scheduled Castes and the list of OBCs.
    • Scheduled Castes converted to Christianity or Islam are also treated differently in different States.
    • The status of a migrant from one State to another and the status of children of inter-caste marriage, in terms of caste classification, are also vexed questions.”

    Back2Basics: Census of India

    • The decennial Census of India has been conducted 15 times, as of 2011.
    • While it has been undertaken every 10 years, beginning in 1872 under British Viceroy Lord Mayo, the first complete census was taken in 1881.
    • Post-1949, it has been conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
    • All the censuses since 1951 were conducted under the 1948 Census of India Act.
    • The last census was held in 2011, whilst the next was scheduled to be held in 2021.

  • Telangana’s Rudreswara Temple inscribed as a World Heritage Site

    India’s nomination of Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Mulugu district, near Warangal in the state of Telangana has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. This would be the 39th site in India.

    Also read:

    [pib] Declaration of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO                 

    Rudreswara Temple

    • The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire by Recharla Rudra, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva.
    • It is also known as the Ramappa temple, after the sculptor who executed the work in the temple for 40 years.
    • The main temple is flanked by the collapsed structures of the Kateshwarayya and Kameshwarayya temples in Palampet, about 220 km from Hyderabad.
    • An inscription dates the temple to 1135 Samvat-Saka on the eighth day of Magha (January 12, 1214).

    Its architecture

    • The temple, known for its exquisite craftsmanship and delicate relief work, is a savvy blend of technical know-how and materials of its time.
    • The foundation is built with the “sandbox technique”, the flooring is granite, and the pillars are basalt.
    • The lower part of the temple is red sandstone while the white gopuram is built with light bricks that reportedly float on water.
    • The temple complexes of Kakatiyas have a distinct style, technology, and decoration exhibiting the influence of the Kakatiyan sculptor.
    • The temple stands on a 6 feet high star-shaped platform with walls, pillars, and ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that attest to the unique skill of the Kakatiyan sculptors.
    • European merchants and travelers were mesmerized by the beauty of the temple and one such traveler had remarked that the temple was the “brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temples of the Deccan”.

    Surviving through ages

    • According to the temple priest, some of the iconography on the temple was damaged during the invasion of Malik Kafur in 1310.
    • Treasure hunters vandalized the rest
    • But the biggest test for the temple was an earthquake in the 17th century (one of the biggest was that of 7.7-8.2-magnitude on June 16, 1819).

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom? (CSP 2017)

    (a) Kakinada

    (b) Motupalli

    (c) Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam)

    (d) Nelluru

    Back2Basics: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

    • A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area, selected by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for having cultural, historical, scientific, or other forms of significance, which is legally protected by international treaties.
    • The sites are judged to be important for the collective and preservative interests of humanity.
    • To be selected, a WHS must be an already-classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance (such as an ancient ruin or historical structure, building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake, monument, mountain, or wilderness area).
    • It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity, and serve as evidence of our intellectual history on the planet.
    • The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing, unmonitored/uncontrolled/unrestricted access, or threat from local administrative negligence.
    • The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 “states parties” that are elected by their General Assembly.

    UNESCO World Heritage Committee

    • The World Heritage Committee selects the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.
    • It monitors the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund, and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.
    • It is composed of 21 states parties that are elected by the General Assembly of States Parties for a four-year term.
    • India is NOT a member of this Committee.

  • Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021

    The Minister of State for Defence has introduced the Essential Defence Services Bill in the Lok Sabha.

    Essential Defence Services Bill

    • Essentially, the bill is aimed at preventing the staff of the government-owned ordnance factories from going on strike.
    • Around 70,000 people work with the 41 ordnance factories around the country.
    • It is aimed to provide for the maintenance of essential defence services so as to secure the security of the nation and the life and property of the public at large and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

    Why need such a bill?

    • Indian Ordnance Factories is the oldest and largest industrial setup that functions under the Department of Defence Production of the Ministry of Defence.
    • The ordnance factories form an integrated base for indigenous production of defence hardware and equipment, with the primary objective of self-reliance in equipping the armed forces with state-of-the-art battlefield equipment.
    • It is essential that an uninterrupted supply of ordnance items to the armed forces be maintained for the defence preparedness of the country and the ordnance factories continue to function without any disruptions.

    What does it allow the government to do?

    • The Bill empowers the government to declare services mentioned in it as essential defence services the cessation of work of which would prejudicially affect the production of defence equipment or goods.
    • It also prohibits strikes and lockouts in “any industrial establishment or unit engaged in essential defence services”.

    Why does the government feel its need?

    • In June the government announced the corporatization of the Ordnance Factory Board.
    • The OFB was directly under the Department of Defence Production and worked as an arm of the government.
    • The government has claimed that the move is aimed at improving the efficiency and accountability of these factories.
    • The Bill mentioned that there is a threat, though, that the employees of these factories can go on a strike against the decision.

    Also read:

    Ordinance Factory Board corporatization gets Cabinet approval

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