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

Civilsdaily

Login

Search results for: “”

  • ‘Sea Snot’ outbreak in Turkey

    There has been growing environmental concern in Turkey over the accumulation of ‘sea snot’, a slimy layer of grey or green sludge in the country’s seas, which can cause considerable damage to the marine ecosystem.

    What is ‘Sea Snot’?

    • ‘Sea snot’ is marine mucilage that is formed when algae are overloaded with nutrients as a result of water pollution combined with the effects of climate change.
    • A ‘sea snot’ outbreak was first recorded in the country in 2007. Back then, it was also spotted in the Aegean Sea near Greece.
    • But the current outbreak in the Sea of Marmara is by far the biggest in the country’s history.
    • The nutrient overload occurs when algae feast on warm weather caused by global warming. Water pollution adds to the problem.
    • Environmental experts have said that the overproduction of phytoplankton caused by climate change and the uncontrolled dumping of household and industrial waste into the seas has led to the present crisis.

    Where has it been found?

    • Turkey’s Sea of Marmara, which connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, has witnessed the largest outbreak of ‘sea snot’.
    • The sludge has also been spotted in the adjoining Black and Aegean seas.

    How badly can the crisis affect the marine ecosystem?

    • The growth of the mucilage, which floats upon the surface of the sea like brown phlegm, is posing a severe threat to the marine ecosystem of the country.
    • Divers have said that it has caused mass deaths among the fish population, and also killed other aquatic organisms such as corals and sponges.
    • The mucilage is now covering the surface of the sea and has also spread to 80-100 feet below the surface.
    • If unchecked, this can collapse to the bottom and cover the sea floor, causing major damage to the marine ecosystem.
    • Over a period of time, it could end up poisoning all aquatic life, including fishes, crabs, oysters, mussels and sea stars.

  • RSTV AND YOJANA SUMMARIES INITIATIVE

    UPSC Civil Services preparation demands a deep and holistic understanding of various current social and economic developments around us. Just reading one newspaper may not give you that edge in UPSC mains or interview. Keeping this need of students in our mind, Civilsdaily is starting with a new initiative – Rstv and Yojana Summaries Initiative.

    Why Yojana?

    Yojana is a monthly magazine published by the Government of India that covers socio-economic issues in India.

    • It represents the government’s point of view on issues and also provides data and analysis for the same.
    • It is a golden treasure for UPSC Mains and Interview Preparation.
    • Mains answers in subjects like General Studies Paper 2 and Paper 3, Essay paper and public administration can benefit a lot from this magazine.
    • It usually provides a neutral and unbiased view
    • You can also find out information about recently launched government schemes, government initiatives, policy initiatives, etc.

    Why RSTV?

    • Diverse viewpoints on a single topic. Experts from the field are panelists so, the content has in-depth coverage.
    • You can quote the name of the panelist in your mains answers.
    • These videos are important to develop the right understanding from the interview point.
    • You can get to know about the standpoint of the government, civil society, and politicians on a topic.

    But we do understand that covering so many sources can be a nightmare for aspirants. With the paucity of time, aspirants can be left with no choice but to drop these sources.

    From this week, we will start with 2 articles from RSTV videos and 1 article from Yojana every week. These articles will be selected based upon the content’s relevance with respect to the examination.

    We hope that these initiatives will enrich your preparation further.

    All the best!

    Team CivilsDaily

  • LIVE UNHERD WEBINAR @ 12PM|| FROM REPEATED FAILURES TO AIR 377: PRABHAT’S STORY OF RESILIENCE

    LIVE UNHERD WEBINAR @ 12PM|| FROM REPEATED FAILURES TO AIR 377: PRABHAT’S STORY OF RESILIENCE

    We are starting with the LIVE unherd Webinar with Prabhat Singh, AIR 377 at 12PM.

    This is an open invitation for all to join. The link for the webinar is given below.

    Zoom Meeting Link:


    https://zoom.us/j/95699178645?pwd=b1FVYW9MbE1FcUxWeWZuM01Na1J2dz09

    Meeting ID: 956 9917 8645
    Passcode: 873070

    FOR THOSE WHO JOIN US, WE HAVE PLANNED SOMETHING SPECIAL:

    Webinar Samarth 2022 Scholarship

    Exclusive 15% scholarship on our mentorship programs

    Note:- Scholarship is valid for 48 hours and only for webinar attendees.

    In this webinar, you can expect:

    • Prabhat own success story and guidance tips
    • An interactive Q&A session with Prabhat Singh
    • Important Civilsdaily softcopies takeaway for exam preparation.
    • Civilsdaily Joining Bonus ( Only for Sunday registrations )

    See ya all!

  • LIVE UNHERD WEBINAR @ 12PM|| FROM REPEATED FAILURES TO AIR 377: PRABHAT’S STORY OF RESILIENCE

    LIVE UNHERD WEBINAR @ 12PM|| FROM REPEATED FAILURES TO AIR 377: PRABHAT’S STORY OF RESILIENCE

    There has never been a success story without a Failure and lessons along the way. Each one of us is fascinated by the glitters of success, without caring much about the pains and struggles behind it.

    Click HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR


    Today we bring to you one such story. The story of Prabhat Singh who secured AIR 377 in Civil Services Examination 2019.


    Prabhat started his preparation for UPSC in 2012 after finishing his graduation. In his first 2 attempts, he was not able to clear Prelims. After facing back-to-back failures, Prabhat decided to take a break and focus on his PLAN B. He pursued law from Delhi University for the next 2 years. Despite pursuing law, his UPSC dream calling never faded and after 2 years he decided to attempt again. But as fate had it, again in the 3rd and 4th attempt, Prabhat could not clear Prelims.
    At this stage, he had 2 options – Leave the preparation or complete change of strategy(because obviously, something was not working). Looking back now, Prabhat thank his lucky stars that he chose the latter.


    So, WHAT WAS THIS STRATEGY CHANGE? HOW DID HE KEEP HIMSELF MOTIVATED DESPITE FAILURES?

    Get these answers from PRABHAT SINGH himself this Sunday.
    CivilsDaily presents Unherd Webinar edition with Prabhat Singh, AIR 377.

    Click HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR

    Join Prabhat in a live webinar where he will share his lesson learned and take your queries.
    DAY: 6th JUNE 2021, Sunday
    TIME: Starting from 12 PM

    In this webinar, you can expect:

    • Prabhat own success story and guidance tips
    • An interactive Q&A session with Prabhat Singh
    • Important Civilsdaily softcopies takeaway for exam preparation.
    • Civilsdaily Joining Bonus ( Only for Sunday registrations )

    How to join?

    • Register in the form given below.
    • The links for zoom meet will be emailed to you.
    Click HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR

    So, guys mark your calendar for this Unherd webinar on Sunday.

    See ya all!

  • Verdict on Maratha reservation ignores inequality within intermediate castes

    The article highlights the issues with Maratha reservation judgement delivered by the Supreme Court which rejected the positive discrimination of lower classes of dominant caste.

    About the verdict

    • The Supreme Court rendered a unanimous verdict on the validity of the SEBC Act, 2018 that was to grant reservation to Marathas.
    • The court held that the classification of Marathas as a socially and educationally backward class was unreasonable.
    • Court held that Maratha belonged to a politically dominant caste with significant economic resources.

    Justification for 50% limit

    • The court also concluded that the majority opinion in the Indra Sawhney case was correct and that the limit of 50 per cent for caste-based reservation did not need consideration by a larger bench.
    • The court justified the fixed quantitative limit on caste-based reservation by postulating that it was intrinsic to the fundamental principle of equality.
    • The court highlighted the need to safeguard the interests of unreserved sections and said that all sections have progressed after 70 years of independence.
    • Based on this, the court rejected the state’s argument that the breach of the limit was necessitated by the fact that the population of backward classes was over 80 per cent.

    Missed opportunity to acknowledge growing socio-economic differentiation within the dominant castes

    Growing income difference

    • If in 2011-12, the average per capita income of the Marathas was second only to the Brahmins at Rs 36,548, against Rs 47,427.
    • Their highest quintile -20 per cent of the caste group- got 48 per cent of the total income of the Marathas with a mean per capita income of Rs 86,750.
    • The lowest quintile earned 10 times less (Rs 7,198) and the 40 per cent poorest got less than 13 per cent of the total income of the caste — and were lagging behind the Scheduled Castes elite.
    • In fact, the mean incomes of the highest Dalit quintile, Rs 63,030, and that of the second-highest, Rs 28,897, were above those of the three lowest quintiles of the Marathas.

    What explains growing income difference

    • This is partly due to changes on the education front. 
    • The percentage of graduates among Dalits in 2004-05 was 1.9 per cent and has more than doubled to 5.1 per cent in 2011-12.
    • The corresponding figure for the OBCs was 3.5 per cent and has doubled to 7.6 per cent, while for the Marathas it was 4.6 per cent in 2004-05 and has come up to 8 per cent in 2011-12.
    • Correlatively, the percentage of salaried people among the Dalits was about 28 per cent in Maharashtra in 2011-12, as against 30 per cent among the Marathas.

    Issues with the Maratha quota judgment

    •  The Court refused to recognise the need for positive discrimination of the lower classes of the dominant castes which continue to be seen as a dominant bloc.
    • It fails to admit the complexity that the role of class has introduced in post-liberalisation India.
    • This is unequivocal confirmation of a dated approach to social realities and a purely arithmetic limit that finds no expression in the Constitution.
    • The judgement also raises the issue of judicial supremacy in the broad area of social policy as it could lead to undesirable exclusion of beneficiaries.
    • The court seems to have forgotten its own observation in NM Thomas case that functional democracy postulates participation of all sections of the people and fair representation in administration is an index of such participation.

    Conclusion

    The Supreme Court has rejected the determination of Marathas as backward by holding that their relative deprivation and under-representation with regard to other sections of the general category did not entitle them to affirmative action.

  • Enabling financial inclusion

    The article takes an overview of the progress made by India in the financial inclusion and role played by JAM trinity in it.

    What is financial inclusion?

    Financial inclusion is defined as the availability and equality of opportunities to access financial services. It refers to a process by which individuals and businesses can access appropriate, affordable, and timely financial products and services. These include banking, loan, equity, and insurance products.

    Growing adoption of digital payment in India

    • India overtook China to register the highest number of countrywide digital payments.
    • Real-time transactions crossed 25 billion, much higher than China’s 15 billion in 2020, as per the report of ACI Worldwide.
    • The report also stated that digital payments in India are set to account for 71.7 per cent of all payments by volume by the year 2025.
    • The digital payment boom is indicative of a larger paradigm shift in the ease of access to financial services.

    What are the contributing factors

    • More and more people, across all strata, are adopting digital payments as it is convenient, safe and limits exposure.
    • It is also a result of the nudges and diligent policy and technology frameworks created by the central government in the last few years.
    • By building the Jan-Dhan-Aadhar-Mobile (JAM) and Universal Payment Interface (UPI) platform, the government has been creating the ground for greater financial inclusion.

    Significance of JAM trinity

    • While Jan Dhan was the first pillar of the ambitious JAM trinity, Aadhaar card seeding and bank account linkages to mobile numbers have empowered people in hitherto unimagined ways.
    • The JAM trinity has helped people know their account status, receive scholarships and fellowships, get fertiliser and LPG subsidy, disability pensions and farm income support — directly into their accounts.
    • The trinity also helped eliminate middlemen, frauds, and leakages due to corruption.
    • In the past one year alone, Rs 4.3 lakh crore was transferred, in over 477 crore transactions under 319 schemes.
    • With an estimated saving of Rs 1.8 lakh crore, the success of DBT is a big thumbs up for the central government.
    • The aid that reached people during the pandemic under the PM Garib Kalyan package is indicative of the success of the government’s financial inclusion and digitisation efforts.

    Conclusion

    The unmissable digital and financial revolution that has been unleashed is hard to miss for anyone. The digital journey, however, is long and one hopes to see the positive trends sustaining given their transformative impact on the lives of Indians.

  • 5 June 2021 | Nikaalo Prelims Quiz- TS 24- Geography Test 3: India Mapping

    [WpProQuiz 656]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 656]

  • 5th June 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 663]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 663]

  • LIVE UNHERD WEBINAR|| FROM REPEATED FAILURES TO AIR 377: PRABHAT’S STORY OF RESILIENCE|| LAST DAY TO REGISTER

    LIVE UNHERD WEBINAR|| FROM REPEATED FAILURES TO AIR 377: PRABHAT’S STORY OF RESILIENCE|| LAST DAY TO REGISTER

    There has never been a success story without a Failure and lessons along the way. Each one of us is fascinated by the glitters of success, without caring much about the pains and struggles behind it.

    Click HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR


    Today we bring to you one such story. The story of Prabhat Singh who secured AIR 377 in Civil Services Examination 2019.


    Prabhat started his preparation for UPSC in 2012 after finishing his graduation. In his first 2 attempts, he was not able to clear Prelims. After facing back-to-back failures, Prabhat decided to take a break and focus on his PLAN B. He pursued law from Delhi University for the next 2 years. Despite pursuing law, his UPSC dream calling never faded and after 2 years he decided to attempt again. But as fate had it, again in the 3rd and 4th attempt, Prabhat could not clear Prelims.
    At this stage, he had 2 options – Leave the preparation or complete change of strategy(because obviously, something was not working). Looking back now, Prabhat thank his lucky stars that he chose the latter.


    So, WHAT WAS THIS STRATEGY CHANGE? HOW DID HE KEEP HIMSELF MOTIVATED DESPITE FAILURES?

    Get these answers from PRABHAT SINGH himself this Sunday.
    CivilsDaily presents Unherd Webinar edition with Prabhat Singh, AIR 377.

    Click HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR

    Join Prabhat in a live webinar where he will share his lesson learned and take your queries.
    DAY: 6th JUNE 2021, Sunday
    TIME: 11 am to 1 pm

    In this webinar, you can expect:

    • Prabhat own success story and guidance tips
    • An interactive Q&A session with Prabhat Singh
    • Important Civilsdaily softcopies takeaway for exam preparation.
    • Civilsdaily Joining Bonus ( Only for Sunday registrations )

    How to join?

    • Register in the form given below.
    • The links for zoom meet will be emailed to you.
    Click HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR

    So, guys mark your calendar for this Unherd webinar on Sunday.

    See ya all!

  • Cropping Patterns in India

    04th June 2021

    Cropping Pattern in India

    What is Cropping Pattern?

    Cropping Pattern mean the proportion of area under different crops at a point of time, changes in this distribution overtime and factors determining these changes.

    Cropping pattern in India is determined mainly by rainfall, climate, temperature and soil type.

    Technology also plays a pivotal role in determining crop pattern. Example, the adoption of High Yield Varieties Seeds along with fertilisers in the mid 1960’s in the regions of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh increased wheat production significantly.

    The multiplicity of cropping systems has been one of the main features of Indian agriculture. This may be attributed to following two major factors:

    1. Rainfed agriculture still accounts for over 92.8 million hectares or 65 percent of the cropped area. A large diversity of cropping systems exists under rainfed and dryland areas with an overriding practice of intercropping, due to greater risks involved in cultivating larger area under a particular crop.
    2. Due to prevailing socio-economic situations (such as; dependency of large population on agriculture, small land-holding size, very high population pressure on land resource etc.), improving household food security has been an issue of supreme importance to many million farmers of India, who constitute 56.15 million marginal (<1.0 hectare), 17.92 million small (1.0-2.0 hectare) and 13.25 million semi-medium (2.0-4.0 hectare) farm holdings, making together 90 percent of 97.15 million operational holdings.
    3. An important consequence of this has been that crop production in India remained to be considered, by and large, a subsistence rather than commercial activity.

    What are the types of cropping Pattern?

    Different types of cropping systems are adopted on farms depending on the resources and technology available. The different & basic types of cropping System is explained below:

    Mono-cropping

    If only one crop is grown in the land season after season, it is referred to as Monocropping. Example: Wheat will be planted year after year in the same field. 

    Crop Rotation

    In this method, the type of crops grown in the field is changed each season or each year. farmers also change from crops to fallow. Example: Maize will be planted in the first year and beans in the second year. This Crop rotation system is a key principle of agriculture conservation as it improves the soil structure and fertility. It also helps to control weeds, pests, and diseases.

    Sequential Cropping

    This system involves growing two crops in the same field, one after the other in the same year. Example: Planting maize during long rains, then beans during the short rains. 

    Inter-cropping

    Growing two or more crops in the same field at the same time is called Intercropping. Examples: Planting alternating rows of maize and beans, or growing a cover crop in between the rows. 

    Mixed Intercropping

    In this method, seeds of two crops are distributed or dibbling the seeds without any row arrangement. This method is called mixed intercropping. This method is easy to sow but makes weeding, fertilization, and harvesting difficult. 

    Multiple-Cropping

    In this cropping system, farmers grow two or more crops on farmland in one year with intensive input management practices. It includes inter-cropping, mixed-cropping, and sequence cropping.

    Row Intercropping

    In this method, both the main crop and the intercrop in rows are planted. The row intercropping makes weeding and harvesting easier than with mixed intercropping.

    Stir Cropping

    This type of cropping involves planting broad strips of several crops in the field. Each strip will be 3–9 m wide. On slopes, the strips are laid out along the contour to prevent erosion. The farmer can rotate crops by planting each strip with a different crop in the next year. Example: Alternating strips of maize, soybean, and finger millet are planted. 

    Relay Cropping

    In this method, one crop is planted and another crop, usually a cover crop, is planted in the same field before harvesting the first. It avoids competition between the main crop and the intercrop. Relay cropping uses the field for a long time since the cover crop usually continues to grow after the main crop is harvested.

    In Indian agriculture, three types of Cropping System is used. They are:

    • Mono-Cropping

    • Inter-cropping

    • Multiple-Cropping

    Factors Determining Cropping Pattern in India

    Types of Crops in India

    30 most important cropping patterns in India

    Specific Issues Related to the Cropping Pattern

    Crop Pattern Region/State Issues Related to Crop Pattern
    Rice-Wheat UP, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh. Over the years there is stagnation in the production and productivity loses.

    The main reasons for stagnation are:

    Over Mining of Nutrients from the soil.

    Declining Ground Water Table.

    Increase Pest Attacks and Diseases.

    Shortages of Labour.

    Inappropriate use of Fertilizers.
    Rice-Rice Irrigated and Humid coastal system of Orrisa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. The major issues in sustaining the productivity of rice-rice system are:

    Deterioration in soil physical conditions.

    Micronutrient deficiency.

    Poor efficiency of nitrogen use. Imbalance in use of nutrients. Non-availability of appropriate trans planter to mitigate labour shortage during the critical period of transplanting.
    Rice- Groundnut Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orrisa and Maharashtra. The major issues in the pattern are:

    Excessive Rainfall and Water Logging.

    Non-availability of quality seeds.

    Limited expansion of Rabi Groundnut in Rice grown areas.
    Rice-Pulses Chhattisgarh, Orrisa and Bihar. Factors limiting Productivity are:

    Droughts and Erratic Rainfall distribution.

    Lack of Irrigation.

    Low coverage under HYV Seeds.

    Weed Attacks.

    Little attention to pest attacks and diseases.

    Marginalisation of land and Removal of Tribal from their own land.
    Maize-Wheat UP, Rajasthan, MP and Bihar The Reason for Poor Yields are:

    Sowing Timing.

    Poor Weed Management.

    Poor Plant Varieties.

    Poor use of organic and inorganic fertilizers.

    Large area under Rain Fed Agriculture.
    Sugarcane-Wheat UP, Punjab and Haryana accounts for 68% of the area under sugarcane.

    The other states which cover the crops are; Karnataka and MP.

    		 Problems in Sugarcane-Wheat system are:

    Late Planting.

    Imbalance and inadequate use of nutrients.

    Poor nitrogen use efficiency in sugarcane.

    Build-up of Trianthema partu lacastrum and Cyprus rotundus in sugarcane.

    The stubble of sugarcane pose tillage problem for succeeding crops and need to be managed properly.
    Cotton-Wheat Punjab, Haryana, West UP, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. Problems in Cotton-Wheat system are:

    Delay Planting.

    Stubbles of cotton create the problem of tillage operations and poor tilth for wheat.

    Cotton Pest like Boll Worm and White Fly.

    Poor nitrogen use efficiency in cotton.
    Soya bean-Wheat Maharashtra, MP and Rajasthan Constraints limiting the soybean production and productivity are:

    A relatively recent introduction of soybean as a crop.

    Limited genetic diversity.

    Short growing period available in Indian latitudes.

    Hindered agronomy/availability of inputs at the farm level.

    Rainfed nature of crop and water scarcity at critical stage of plant growth.

    Insect pests and diseases, Quality improvement problems.

    Inadequate mechanization and partial adoption of technology by farmers have been identified.
    Legume Based Cropping Systems (Pulses-Oilseeds) MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The major issues in Legume based system are:

    Lack of technological advancement.

    Loses due to erratic weather and waterlogging.

    Diseases and Pests.

    Low harvest index, flower drop, indeterminate growth habit and very poor response to fertilizers and water in most of the grain legumes.

    Nutrient needs of the system have to be worked out considering N-fixation capacity of legume crops.

    Horticulture Crops in India

    India has made a good place for itself on the Horticulture Map of the World with a total annual production of horticultural crops touching over 1490 million tones during 1999-00.

    The horticultural crops cover about 9 percent of the total area contributing about 24.5 percent of the gross agricultural output in the country. However, the productivity of fruits and vegetables grown in the country is low as compared to developed countries.

    Vegetable Crops in India

    Vegetable crops in India are grown from the sea level to the snowline. The entire country can broadly be divided into six vegetable growing zones:

    Low productivity is the main feature of vegetable cultivation in India as farm yields of most of the vegetables in India are much lower than the average yield of the world and developed countries.

    The productivity gap is more conspicuous in tomato, cabbage, onion, chilli and peas. The preponderance of hybrid varieties and protected cultivation are mainly responsible for high productivity in the developed countries.

    Constraints in vegetable production:

    1. Lack of planning in Production

    2. Non-availability of seeds of improved varieties.

    3. High cost of basic production elements

    4. Inadequate plant protection measures and non-availability of resistant varieties.

    5. Weak marketing facilities

    6. Transportation limits

    7. Post-harvest losses

    8. Abiotic stresses.

    Samanvaya: Free 1-to-1 mentorship for UPSC IAS

    Fill up this form to schedule a free on-call discussion with senior mentor from Civilsdaily. Once submitted we will call you within 24 hours.

    Civilsdaily Samanvaya 1-On-1 Mentorship Form

    Field will not be visible to web visitor
    Yes I want Mentorship

    FAQs

    What is the cropping pattern in India?
    Cropping patterns in India refer to the arrangement and distribution of various crops grown in a specific area during a given time. They play a crucial role in agricultural productivity.

    Where can I find notes on cropping patterns in India for UPSC?
    You can find comprehensive notes on cropping patterns in India on educational websites like UPSC Preparation forums, online courses, or platforms like Civilsdaily.

    What is multiple cropping?
    Multiple cropping is the practice of growing two or more crops on the same land during a single growing season, enhancing productivity and income for farmers.

More posts