💥UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (April Batch) + Access XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF

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  • Mains Essential Program 2022 launched | Program starting from 4th July 2021 | Enrollment open

    Mains Essential Program 2022 launched | Program starting from 4th July 2021 | Enrollment open

    Is UPSC 2022 examination your Goal?

    Then MEP 2022 is your solution to practicing Mains Answer writing. Don’t procrastinate answer writing, developing a skill does not happen magically after you clear prelims.

    Mains is the most important stage of the UPSC exam. It’s also becoming more and more unpredictable, analytical and dynamic than ever before.

    PROGRAM STARTS 4th JULY 2021.

    ENROLL TODAY TO START EARLY.

    22 TOTAL TESTS (10 SECTIONAL + 12 FULL LENGTH TEST)

    What is MEP 2022?

    Mains Essential Program 2022 is a Mentor guided comprehensive and intensive program for GS Mains papers. The focus is on making students understand the requirement of Mains Question, its elements, using information, and imparting answer writing skills for that.

    Our previous year Mains tests have had an exceptional hit ratio in 2019 and 2018 UPSC Mains.

    In 2020, 80% of students in our smash mains program were able to clear the mains examination.

    Program inclusion:

    1. 10 Sectional tests: The whole syllabus will be divided into portions like history, economics, and geography. The test will be spread for a period of 7 months. This will ensure that your basic static preparation happens on a continuous basis alongside your mains answer writing program. Killing two birds with one stone!
    2. 12 Full-length tests: After the prelims, it is time to go full gear.
    3. Live Video discussion: You doubt why you are scoring less or how you can improve your score for the next paper. No worries! After every test, a live video discussion on the test will happen where you can raise your queries. And if by any chance you miss it, the recording will be made available to you.
    4. Civilsdaily’s handholding: You will be provided membership to Mains 2021 club on Habitat. There you can put up your doubts and queries. Also can be used to interact with peers on strategies to improve your mains writing. You can also contact mentors like Sajal sir, Sukanya ma’am, Sudhanshu sir and Ajay sir. They all have interview-level experience, so utilize their experience to your benefit.
    5. Civilsdaily magazine: Your current affairs will be covered with access to our 1-year subscription.

    Why MEP 2022? (Our Philosophy)

    1. Question Formulation

    It happens under a team of experienced Civilsdaily’s faculty. Questions framed are from the most important UPSC relevant themes and papers are based on the latest pattern of UPSC.

    Our questions specifically state:

    • Whether they are straightforward or thought-provoking/analytical.
    • Whether they have subparts.
    • Why this question – similar previous year questions, the importance of the theme, etc.

    CD Innovation – Red-green highlight – to let you know about the necessary and innovative points.

    2. Live Video Discussion

    Just writing a mock is not enough. You need to discuss your issues and ways through which you can improve. This is where our Live video discussion comes in handy. Raise your queries as the mentor discusses with you the structure of answers and how to enhance your answer writing.

    3. Answer Checking

    Our evaluation focusses on multiple dimensions and parameters like structure, flow, presentation, contextuality, relevance to question, analytical excellence, and cross-domain inter-linkages than simply on superficial, memory-based lapses.

    UPSC IAS Mains test series 2020 2021

    Evaluated answer copy – 1 (Click to download)

    Evaluated answer copy – 2 (Click to download)

    Read more about our methodology here.

    4. Model Answers

    More than just simply providing information, our model answers cover all the aspects of a question and provide enriching points to the student. They also include:

    • For ‘thought-provoking/analytical’ type of questions, we’ll provide the best way to approach them.
    • Alternate introductions
    • Sub-headings and categorization to enhance readability and answer structure.
    • Colour coding for main arguments, reports, data, scholars, etc.
    • OTB – Out of the box points for additional marks

    5. Civilsdaily’s Handholding 

    You’ll be assigned to a special group on Civilsdaily’s Habitat, there you can interact with different mentors like Sajal Sir, Sukanya ma’am, Ajay Sir, Sudhanshu sir, and others.

    Habitat is where everything comes together learning, doubt clearing, notes, references, mentor’s support, and a focussed community. You’re going to learn and discuss like never before.

    6. Value-added material

    Current affairs magazines – Civilsdaily’s Magazines are the best in terms of comprehensive coverage, superb design, and high readability. Get them here.

    Listicles and other relevant study material – Supplementary content provided will be helpful in covering multiple related questions.

    This is what our students have to say..

    Kunal Aggarwal Civilsdaily IAS UPSC Mains
    IAS Mains 2020 2021 UPSC Civilsdaily Mains Test series
    From Quora’s answer. (Read the full answer here)

    Mains Test Series Community: Testimonials

    PROGRAM STARTS 4th JULY 2021.

    ENROLL TODAY TO START EARLY.

    22 TOTAL TESTS (10 SECTIONAL + 12 FULL LENGTH TEST)

  • National Maritime Heritage Complex

    In order to showcase the maritime heritage and history of India, a National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) will be developed in the Lothal region of Gujarat.

    National Maritime Heritage Complex

    • It is to note that the National Maritime Heritage Complex will be made within the ASI site of Lothal that is located 80 km away from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
    • The project, once completed, will be made an international tourist destination in India where people from across the countries can take a look at the maritime heritage of India from ancient to modern times.
    • The government is aiming to showcase this via an edutainment approach where the latest technology would be adopted to spread awareness.
    • The development will be done in an area expanding 400 acres.
    • The complex will have many offerings including National Maritime Heritage Museum, Heritage Theme Park, and Light House Museum.

    About Lothal

    • Lothal was one of the southernmost cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization located in Gujarat.
    • Construction of the city began around 2200 BCE.
    • According to the ASI, Lothal had the world’s earliest known dock, which connected the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati river on the trade route between Harappan cities in Sindh and the peninsula of Saurashtra.
    • Lothal was a vital and thriving trade Centre in ancient times, with its trade of beads, gems, and valuable ornaments reaching the far corners of West Asia and Africa.
    • The techniques and tools they pioneered for bead-making and in metallurgy have stood the test of time for over 4000 years.
    • The Lothal site has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its application is pending on the tentative list of UNESCO.

    Answer this question from CSP 2019 in the comment box:

    Q. Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?

    (a) Chanhudaro

    (b) Kot Diji

    (c) Sohgaura

    (d) Desalpur

  • [pib] Space-time induces Neutrino Oscillations

    Indian scientists have shown that the geometry of space-time can cause neutrinos to oscillate.

    What are Neutrinos?

    • A neutrino is a subatomic particle that is very similar to an electron but has no electrical charge and a very small mass, which might even be zero.
    • Since neutrinos are electrically neutral, they are not affected by the electromagnetic forces which act on electrons. Hence, they are also called Ghost Particles.
    • Neutrinos are affected only by a “weak” sub-atomic force of a much shorter range than electromagnetism and are therefore able to pass through great distances in matter without being affected by it.
    • They are also one of the most abundant particles in the universe. As they have very little interaction with matter, however, they are incredibly difficult to detect.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.The known forces of nature can be divided into four classes, viz, gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force and strong nuclear force. With reference to them, which one of the following statements is not correct?

    (a) Gravity is the strongest of the four

    (b) Electromagnetism act only on particles with an electric charge

    (c) Weak nuclear force causes radioactivity

    (d) Strong nuclear force holds protons and neutrons inside the nuclear of an atom

    Finding of the new research

    • Neutrinos are mysterious particles, produced copiously in nuclear reactions in the Sun, stars, and elsewhere.
    • They “oscillate”- meaning that different types of neutrinos change into one another – as has been found in many experiments.
    • Probing of oscillations of neutrinos and their relations with mass are crucial in studying the origin of the universe.
    • Neutrinos interact very weakly with everything else – trillions of them pass through every human being every second without anyone noticing.
    • A neutrino’s spin always points in the opposite direction of its motion, and until a few years ago, neutrinos were believed to be massless.

    What makes this possible?

    • The geometry of space-time can cause neutrino oscillations through quantum effects even if neutrinos are massless.
    • Einstein’s theory of general relativity says that gravitation is the manifestation of space-time curvature.
    • Neutrinos, electrons, protons and other particles which are in the category of fermions show a certain peculiarity when they move in presence of gravity.
    • Space-time induces a quantum force in addition to gravity between every two fermions.
    • This force can depend on the spin of the particles and causes massless neutrinos to appear massive when they pass through matter, like the Sun’s corona or the Earth’s atmosphere.
    • Something similar happens for electroweak interactions, and together with the geometrically induced mass, it is enough to cause oscillation of neutrinos.
  • Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India

    The Union Environment Ministry has released the latest version of “Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India.

    Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas

    • It has been published by Space Application Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad.
    • The Atlas provides a state-wise area of degraded lands for the time frame 2018-19.
    • It also provides the change analysis for the duration of 15 years, from 2003-05 to 2018-19.
    • It would provide important baseline and temporal data and technical inputs.

    Content of the atlas

    • This Atlas presents state-wise desertification and land degradation status maps depicting land use, the process of degradation, and severity level.
    • This was prepared using IRS Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) data of 2011-13- and 2003-05-time frames in the GIS environment.
    • The area under desertification/land degradation for both time frames and changes are reported state-wise as well as for the entire country.
    • The outputs are helpful in prioritizing areas to be taken up for minimizing the impact of desertification and land degradation.

    India and desertification

    • Desertification and land degradation are major threats to agricultural productivity in our country.
    • India hosted the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September 2019.
    • India is striving towards achieving the national commitments of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and restoration of 26 million ha of degraded land by 2030.
    • India has been at the forefront of bringing the issue of land degradation to the core of relevant international alliances for the protection and conservation of the environment.
    • India has adopted a collective approach for making progress towards achieving the national commitments related to land restoration.

    Answer this PYQ from CSP 2016 in the comment box:

    Q.What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?

    1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive inter-national partnerships.
    2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions.
    3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • [pib] Chennai–Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC)

    The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Centre have signed a $484 million loan to improve transport connectivity and facilitate industrial development in the Chennai–Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC).

    About CKIC

    • CKIC is part of India’s East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), which stretches from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu.
    • The project will upgrade about 590 km of state highways in the CKIC influence areas that cover 23 of the 32 districts between Chennai and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
    • It connects India to the production networks of South, Southeast, and East Asia.
    • ADB is the lead partner in developing ECEC.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q. With reference to Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), consider the following statements:

    1. AIIB has more than 80 member nations.
    2. India is the largest shareholder in AIIB.
    3. AIIB does not have any members from outside Asia.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    Significance of CKIC

    • The project is part of the priority infrastructure projects identified for corridor development under the ADB-supported CKIC comprehensive development plan.
    • Enhanced connectivity of industrial hubs with hinterland and ports will particularly help increase the participation of Indian manufacturing in global production networks and global value chains.
    • The project will also strengthen road safety improvement programs through advanced technologies for road monitoring and enforcement.
    • In addition, the project will help improve the planning capacity of Tamil Nadu’s Highways and Minor Ports Department.

    Back2Basics: Asian Development Bank

    • The ADB is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966 which is headquartered in the Ortigas Center located in the city of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.
    • The company also maintains 31 field offices around the world to promote social and economic development in Asia.
    • From 31 members at its establishment, ADB now has 68 members.
    • The ADB was modeled closely on the World Bank and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions.
  • A new era of partnership in social innovations that can benefit all South Asians

    Pandemic know no borders. So, dealing with it has necessited global cooperation. The article introduce us to some of the cross-country collaborations in dealing with the pandemic, igniting the hope for new era social partnership to the advantage of South Asia.

    Regionally-coordinated strategy against pandemic

    • Containing Covid pandemic has necessitated global cooperation.
    • The deadly pandemic surge in 2021 makes a regionally coordinated, evidence-driven strategy critical.
    • It is necessary to construct multi-stakeholder regional coalitions to devise new solutions and frugal innovations that can be applied across South Asia.
    • Given our shared and mostly similar social, economic and cultural contexts, local successes must be amplified across South Asia.
    • Despite wide variation in how nations have responded to the pandemic, the most successful strategies find commonality in their adherence to science and attention to local context.

    How successful interventions could be applied across the subcontinent

    • Beliefs, priorities, traditions and aversions to behavioural change are more similar across South Asia.
    • This means that interventions that are successful in changing behaviour in one place are highly likely applicable in other parts of the subcontinent.
    • For example, Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) campaigns to solve the problem of open defecation, developed by Bangladeshi NGOs in partnership with an Indian consultant is now broadly applied across South Asia and beyond.
    • The Grameen Bank microcredit model was an indigenous South Asian innovation that spread rapidly.
    • India’s digitised social protection ecosystem with Aadhaar ids and Jan Dhan accounts serves as a model for the region.

    Changing social norm around mask-wearing

    • The new pan-South Asian consortium in response to Covid-19 evolved out of an experiment conducted in Bangladesh around mask-wearing in rural communities termed as NORM.
    • It was observed that a combination of no-cost distribution, information, reinforcing the message, modeling and endorsement by community leaders (NORM) leads to large, sustained increases in mask usage.
    • NORM implementation teams based in Lahore, Ahmedabad, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Delhi are learning from each other’s successes and failures.
    • The Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) quickly implemented the model to reach over one million members in Gujarat.
    •  Additional 1.5 million masks were shipped from Bangladesh to support SEWA’s outreach to other states.
    • Lahore’s commissioner worked with the research team to adapt the NORM model to an urban setting.
    • To manage mild and moderate cases of Covid-19 in rural India, where institutional health care access is limited a host of physicians, scientists and community-based organisations created the Swasth Community Science Alliance.
    • The Masking-Treatment-Vaccine Preparation (MTV) approach offers a sensible strategy to mitigate the pandemic until universal vaccination is achieved.

    Conclusion

    We need to come together to solve problems that affect us all. Let the lasting legacy of this pandemic be a new era of partnership in social innovations that can benefit all South Asians.

  • Mains Essential Program 2022 launched | Program starting from 4th July 2021 | Enrollment open

    Mains Essential Program 2022 launched | Program starting from 4th July 2021 | Enrollment open

    Is UPSC 2022 examination your Goal?

    Then MEP 2022 is your solution to practicing Mains Answer writing. Don’t procrastinate answer writing, developing a skill does not happen magically after you clear prelims.

    Mains is the most important stage of the UPSC exam. It’s also becoming more and more unpredictable, analytical and dynamic than ever before.

    PROGRAM STARTS 4th JULY 2021.

    ENROLL TODAY TO START EARLY.

    22 TOTAL TESTS (10 SECTIONAL + 12 FULL LENGTH TEST)

    What is MEP 2022?

    Mains Essential Program 2022 is a Mentor guided comprehensive and intensive program for GS Mains papers. The focus is on making students understand the requirement of Mains Question, its elements, using information, and imparting answer writing skills for that.

    Our previous year Mains tests have had an exceptional hit ratio in 2019 and 2018 UPSC Mains.

    In 2020, 80% of students in our smash mains program were able to clear the mains examination.

    Program inclusion:

    1. 10 Sectional tests: The whole syllabus will be divided into portions like history, economics, and geography. The test will be spread for a period of 7 months. This will ensure that your basic static preparation happens on a continuous basis alongside your mains answer writing program. Killing two birds with one stone!
    2. 12 Full-length tests: After the prelims, it is time to go full gear.
    3. Live Video discussion: You doubt why you are scoring less or how you can improve your score for the next paper. No worries! After every test, a live video discussion on the test will happen where you can raise your queries. And if by any chance you miss it, the recording will be made available to you.
    4. Civilsdaily’s handholding: You will be provided membership to Mains 2021 club on Habitat. There you can put up your doubts and queries. Also can be used to interact with peers on strategies to improve your mains writing. You can also contact mentors like Sajal sir, Sukanya ma’am, Sudhanshu sir and Ajay sir. They all have interview-level experience, so utilize their experience to your benefit.
    5. Civilsdaily magazine: Your current affairs will be covered with access to our 1-year subscription.

    Why MEP 2022? (Our Philosophy)

    1. Question Formulation

    It happens under a team of experienced Civilsdaily’s faculty. Questions framed are from the most important UPSC relevant themes and papers are based on the latest pattern of UPSC.

    Our questions specifically state:

    • Whether they are straightforward or thought-provoking/analytical.
    • Whether they have subparts.
    • Why this question – similar previous year questions, the importance of the theme, etc.

    CD Innovation – Red-green highlight – to let you know about the necessary and innovative points.

    2. Live Video Discussion

    Just writing a mock is not enough. You need to discuss your issues and ways through which you can improve. This is where our Live video discussion comes in handy. Raise your queries as the mentor discusses with you the structure of answers and how to enhance your answer writing.

    3. Answer Checking

    Our evaluation focusses on multiple dimensions and parameters like structure, flow, presentation, contextuality, relevance to question, analytical excellence, and cross-domain inter-linkages than simply on superficial, memory-based lapses.

    UPSC IAS Mains test series 2020 2021

    Evaluated answer copy – 1 (Click to download)

    Evaluated answer copy – 2 (Click to download)

    Read more about our methodology here.

    4. Model Answers

    More than just simply providing information, our model answers cover all the aspects of a question and provide enriching points to the student. They also include:

    • For ‘thought-provoking/analytical’ type of questions, we’ll provide the best way to approach them.
    • Alternate introductions
    • Sub-headings and categorization to enhance readability and answer structure.
    • Colour coding for main arguments, reports, data, scholars, etc.
    • OTB – Out of the box points for additional marks

    5. Civilsdaily’s Handholding 

    You’ll be assigned to a special group on Civilsdaily’s Habitat, there you can interact with different mentors like Sajal Sir, Sukanya ma’am, Ajay Sir, Sudhanshu sir, and others.

    Habitat is where everything comes together learning, doubt clearing, notes, references, mentor’s support, and a focussed community. You’re going to learn and discuss like never before.

    6. Value-added material

    Current affairs magazines – Civilsdaily’s Magazines are the best in terms of comprehensive coverage, superb design, and high readability. Get them here.

    Listicles and other relevant study material – Supplementary content provided will be helpful in covering multiple related questions.

    This is what our students have to say..

    Kunal Aggarwal Civilsdaily IAS UPSC Mains
    IAS Mains 2020 2021 UPSC Civilsdaily Mains Test series
    From Quora’s answer. (Read the full answer here)

    Mains Test Series Community: Testimonials

    PROGRAM STARTS 4th JULY 2021.

    ENROLL TODAY TO START EARLY.

    22 TOTAL TESTS (10 SECTIONAL + 12 FULL LENGTH TEST)

  • Balancing right to be forgotten with fair criticism and accountability

    The article discusses the interplay between right to be forgotten and the right of the public to access courts of record, concepts of fair criticism and accountability.

    Context

    The Delhi High Court recently ordered the removal of one of its own judgments from easy access. The High Court recognised that the petitioner may have a right to be forgotten, which must be balanced with the right of the public to access courts of record.

    Right to be forgotten

    • In 2017, the Supreme Court recognised the right to be forgotten as being under the ambit of the right to privacy (specifically, informational privacy) under the Constitution.
    • The Supreme Court observed that a lot of personal information may serve no “legitimate interest”, was “incorrect”, or was not “necessary” or “relevant”.
    • For now, individuals may request data hosts to take down some content, and it may be taken down based on the policies of the respective hosts.
    • There is a general consensus that people should be allowed to modify or delete information uploaded by themselves.
    • However, whether this extends to information uploaded by third parties is uncertain.
    • The right to be forgotten is, generally, the right to have information about a person removed from public access.

    Balancing between right of the public

    • The Delhi High Court recognised that the petitioner may have a right to be forgotten, which must be balanced with the right of the public to access courts of record.
    • Judgments are published for good reasons.
    • Trials held under public scrutiny act as a check against judicial caprices and help in enhancing the confidence of the public in the fairness and objectivity of the administration of justice.
    • The Supreme Court has made is clear that the right to be forgotten was subject to reasonable restrictions based on countervailing rights such as free speech.

    Consider the question “What is right to be forgotten and how it is related to the right to privacy? Examine the issues related to the implementation of the right to be forgotten.”

    Way forward

    • The High Court could have ordered that the name and personal details of the petitioner be redacted while maintaining public access to the judgment itself.

    Conclusion

    The right to be forgotten needs to be studied along with the concepts of fair criticism and accountability.

  • 17th June 2021| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1  Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India

    GS-2 Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

    GS-3  Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics,  nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

    GS-4  Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service;

    Questions:

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1) The caste system is the bane for the Indian society. It has brought many evils in the society. What are the steps taken by the Indian Government to overcome the harms of the system? Suggest measure to bring about true equality among the people. (15 marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2) What is right to be forgotten and how it is related to the right to privacy? Examine the issues related to the implementation of the right to be forgotten. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3) As the world moves towards the global taxation reforms, what are the factors India needs to consider? Also examine the significance of the imposition of equalisation levy by India on non-resident e-commerce operators. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4) “Emotions are irrational, unproductive and subjective. They should never guide administrative actions”. Do you agree?

     

    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: 

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