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  • The wait is over: The best Preparation of UPSC current affairs with the best teacher begins today (4th June) | From video lectures to micro notes, Samachar Manthan guarantees your success

    The wait is over: The best Preparation of UPSC current affairs with the best teacher begins today (4th June) | From video lectures to micro notes, Samachar Manthan guarantees your success

    Resource consolidation till Mains 2023 – Video lectures & notes; Mains answer writing; Habitat club; Google meet sessions; Magazine

    New Batch Starting on 4th June 2022. So, without further delay enroll as soon as possible.

    Note- There are two variants of Samachar Manthan – Till Prelims and Till Mains

    What do toppers have to say about Samachar Manthan

    Srija, AIR 20
    Shahansha AIR 142, student of Samachar Manthan
    Dilpreet Singh, AIR 237, student of Samachar Manthan
    samachar manthan for prelims: enquiry
    SAMACHAR MANTHAN FOR MainS: ENQUIRY
    register here to talk to our teachers and get details on the course
    contact us directly for the samachar manthan program

    Current affairs are an integral part of every phase of the UPSC-CSE exam. Understanding the significance of current affairs is just one part of the UPSC riddle. For solving the whole riddle, we keep presenting Samachar Manthan Plus Yearly Classes for 2023 aspirants.

    Why are current affairs so important?

    Up to 2020, UPSC used to ask more questions directly about current affairs.

    But in 2021, trends are seen as more dynamic. The number of direct questions from current affairs was less but the current theme-based questions came in more number. Almost 40% of MCQs in Prelims were mixed with current affairs. And in the mains, approximately 50% of questions were connected with current affairs.

    An irresistible reason to join ‘Samachar Manthat’ is that it’s more important to understand the analysis of news rather than to only recognize the facts for the upcoming UPSC-CSE 2023.

    Why current affairs are crucial in the Interview?

    In Personality Tests often your opinions are asked on various issues. Current Affairs make you aware of the surroundings and allow you to give practical answers to the problems faced by the country.

    Do you know how our SM helped 2021 aspirants?

    • 85% of 2021 GS 2 Mains Questions Are From Civilsdaily Smash Mains & Samachar Manthan Test Series!! Click Here to know
    • 60% of 2021 GS 1 Mains Questions Are From Civilsdaily Mains Test Series!! Click Here to Know

    register here to talk to our teachers and get details on the course
    contact us directly for the samachar manthan program
    Srija, AIR 20
    Shahansha AIR 142, student of Samachar Manthan
    Dilpreet Singh, AIR 237, student of Samachar Manthan

    What is Samachar Manthan?

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

    SAMPLE LECTURES:

    Program inclusion

    1. Weekly 5+ hours live video and offline lectures

    2. High-quality Notes and reference material

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

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

    5. Current Affairs Monthly Prelims Test package

    6. Marathon Revision sessions on Habitat before Prelims and Mains

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

    8. Micro notes to help you make your notes.

    Duration of the program:

    This program will continue till UPSC Mains 2023

    register here to talk to our teachers and get details on the course
    contact us directly for the samachar manthan program

    What Differentiates Our Samachar Manthan Course?

    Civilsdaily’s Samachar Manthan is evidently one brand that sets us apart from any other institute in this Domain.

    Our Samachar Manthan Program helps you in 11 key components of your UPSC current affairs preparation:-

    • 5-stage structure of Lecture-Notes-Testing-Review-Mentoring

    Our unique five-stage methodology helps ensure maximum retention and rock-solid preparation. Each component has been meticulously crafted which is repeated every week to create a virtuous cycle.

    • Diversified and Comprehensive coverage

    We let news develop over a week, and a team under Sajal Sir daily covers it from various sources which include newspapers (The Hindu, The Indian Express, LiveMint, etc.), magazines (Yojana, Kurukshetra, EPW, Down to Earth), important websites (PIB, PRS, govt ministries, IDSA, etc.).

    UPSC is a generalist exam. It’s important to cover more issues than to cover a few, in more depth. Samachar Manthan ensures a fine balance of comprehensive news coverage and detailed discussion on the most important topics.

    • Videos and Notes

    Carefully selected relevant news is analyzed and delivered in a weekly lecture spanning over 5+ hours. You will be getting high-quality, well-designed notes. They are detailed with proper categorization of news into the Mains and Prelims category.

    Our focus is on conceptual clarity, simplicity, relevance, and making interlinkages between current affairs and the basic/static part of the syllabus. 

    Samachar Manthan will also help you understand how to utilize current affairs in all your Prelims and Mains papers. A part of which is done by tests.

    • Weekly Mains mini Test and Evaluation in an audio-visual way

    Because learning is not enough, you must apply. Every week a 10-question UPSC level current affairs test follows with video and notes. The focus here is on Mains’s answer writing skills and practice.

    It’s a skill that is learned, honed, and perfected gradually. And this is why it should be done regularly. Our team of subject experts evaluates your answers and provides you with feedback. Answer enhancement is one of the objectives of this exercise.

    Samachar Manthan Weekly Notes (Click to download)

    Samachar Manthan Micro-notes (click to download)

    • Guest lectures by in-service officers and domain specialists

    Apart from comprehensive coverage of current affairs from all dimensions by our faculty, Other Senior Bureaucrats and toppers will also be joining us for various lectures and guest sessions. Their persuasive advice will dispel all doubts. Samachar Manthan is now going to be the optimum ingredient, needed for absolute growth.

    • Current Affairs Monthly Prelims Test package

    This was feedback that we had received from our students. Now every month we provide a Current Affairs prelims test package.

    All this completes a study loop and enhances your retention.

    • Civilsdaily Handholding and mentoring: 

    Our team led by Sajal sir is there to provide handholding support all through your UPSC expedition. Increased interaction with the faculty and teachers from Civilsdaily will help you align your preparation and make it more appropriate. You can reach out to Sajal sir and other teachers on Habitat.

    • Google meet sessions

    Another important component we have added this year is Google meet sessions. These sessions will be conducted on a regular basis with the aspirants. After almost every class, we will meet our students on the premium live webinar.

    • Samachar Manthan 2023 -Habitat club

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

    How will your queries be resolved?

    • The moment you have a query, you post it in the group. At 11 PM, 3 AM, doesn’t matter. No need to schedule a call, or drop an email. Just drop a chat. Once our team is up, it will be resolved.
    • More often than not, your peers will take part in your doubt discussions adding a lot of value.

    Besides doubts, what else is there on Habitat?

    • #DDS sessions – We have dedicated sessions every day to resolve doubts in real-time. Never keep a doubt to yourself. 
    • An ecosystem for co-learning and active learning.
    • A highly motivated community to bring flexibility and consistency to your preparation.
    • Marathon revision sessions before Prelims and Mains

    To consolidate your coverage and revision we take revision sessions on Habitat.

    • Checked Copy Discussion On Phone / In-person

    True ease in writing comes from art and not by chance. So, your writing copies will be checked by our highly qualified & experienced teachers. And they will discuss your checked answers individually with you over the phone or in person. It will help you thrive as a writing prodigy.

    Evaluated answer sheet – 1 (Click to download)

    Evaluated answer sheet – 2 (Click to download)

    register here to talk to our teachers and get details on the course
    contact us directly for the samachar manthan program

    The Highly experienced faculty leading this program:

    Sajal SinghSudhanshu Mishra
    Sajal sir is known to make Economics and IR as easy as a cakewalk. He scored one of the highest marks in GS in the 2017 UPSC exam. Under his guidance, more than 80 percent of students qualified for the UPSC interview 2020 Smash mains Program.Sudhanshu sir has firsthand experience of 3 mains and two interviews of UPSC. He has served in the defense ministry for 10 years with a keen interest in regional and global geopolitics and has ample experience in various other competitive exams as well.
    sajal@civilsdaily.comsudhanshu@civilsdaily.com
    Sukanya RanaPoornima
    Our Civilsdaily Mains Program Head Mrs. Sukanya Rana earlier worked as a PO in Canara Bank. She has an experience of 4 mains and 2 interviews of UPSC. In 2019, she had scored 140 in ethics paper 4. She is part of Smash Mains as an Ethics Mentor. Graduate from Miranda house in Geography and did MA from JNU in Geography. She is also a qualified Net JRF in Geography. So, she will comprehensively cover all the current affairs issues regarding Geography.
    sukanya@civilsdaily.compoornima@civilsdaily.com
    • Other Senior Bureaucrats and toppers will also be joining for various lectures and guest sessions.

    Shri V.P. Singh Sir, IRPS

    Virendra Pratap Singh did his B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur in 2003. He joined the services with immense experience in the Private Sector working across domains in high-profile companies like Tata Steel, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, and Tata Motors. He has consistently scored very high marks in interviews. His 2009 score of 213/300 was among the toppers.

    Himanshu Arora

    Himanshu sir has a wide experience in the field of both academics and policy-making. He has earlier taught Economics at both undergraduate and Post-Graduate levels at Delhi University. Currently, he is working at the Prime Minister’s economic advisory council. He also writes columns regularly in prestigious newspapers like The Hindu, Indian Express, and Millenium post.

    SD Singh

    Dr. S D Singh sir, Retd IFoS, 1988 Batch, Uttarakhand Cadre.

    He is currently employed with MoEF as a senior consultant. He has 33 years of experience in forestry, environment, wildlife, and biodiversity conservation.

    register here to talk to our teachers and get details on the course
    contact us directly for the samachar manthan program

    This is what our students have to say about Samachar Manthan and Sajal Sir & other faculties.

    Feedbacks from our students.

    Samachar Manthan Civilsdaily IAS Current Affairs UPSC

    Toppers and Samachar Manthan

    Shahansha AIR 142, student of Samachar Manthan
    Dilpreet Singh, AIR 237, student of Samachar Manthan
    register here to talk to our teachers and get details on the course
    contact us directly for the samachar manthan program

  • Imp: Must Read Polity Fundamentals For Prelims 2022

    Talk to our mentors for a Roadmap to 2023 Attempt. Click Here

    Form of Government:

    1. Autocracy/ Absolute Monarchy – Concentration of power in one unelected hand
    2. Democracy – government on the basis of elections
    3. Constitutional Monarchy – head of state is king/ queen but acts on the aid and advice of elected council of ministers
    4. Republican Govt.- head of state is elected not a monarch

    Democracy

    Direct -people vote on every issue, they make laws for themselves

    Indirect/ Representative – people choose their representatives who make laws on their behalf

    Referendum -people voting on certain important issues in representative democracies

    Plebiscite – vote where people choose whether or not they want to remain in a state

    In representative democracy

    Written constitution – Laws can not be in violation of constitution. Constitution is supreme. Two types of laws – ordinary laws and constitutional laws

    Unwritten constitution – Laws framed by parliament is supreme i.e parliament is supreme. Ordinary law and constitution law one and the same

    So constitution basically limits the power of state. It has to abide by the constitution

    Who will interpret the constitution – Judiciary. It can review laws and policies of govt – not violative of constitution i.e Judicial review

    Legislature will frame the laws.

    Who will implement – Executive

    Two systems here

    1. Parliamentary form – Executives/ ministers come from Parliament/ must get themselves elected within 6 months.
    2. Presidential form – Executive is not part of legislature
    System of Govt Presidential Parliamentary/ Cabinet form
    Executive Not part of legislature Part of legislature
    Separation of Power Complete Incomplete
    Responsibility to legislature Not responsible Responsible to LokSabha
    Term Fixed term of both legislative and executive Loksabha and cabinet can be dissolved any time
    Govt and state Both head of govt and state Head of state, head of govt is PM, real power vests in PM

    Titbits

    1. In parliamentary form, head of government is prime minister while head of state is president (republic) or monarchy (constitutional monarchy) whereas president is both head of government as well as head of state in presidential form
    2. Incomplete separation of power in parliamentary form; complete separation of power in presidential form

    Form of Govt

    1. Unitary – Only 1 tier of govt for the whole country. Units do not get any power directly from the constitution. There may be local bodies and provinces but parliament delegates power to them
    2. Federal – more than 1, generally 2 tier. Units i.e states/ provinces derive power directly from the constitution

    Shades of Federalism:

    Federal features Unitary features
    Written constitution Area, names, boundaries of states can be changed
    Dual govt, Separate lists – union, state and concurrent Governor
    Judicial review Integrated and unified Judiciary – Supreme court at top
    Rigid constitution – when amending articles having interest of state Emergency provisions
    Bicameral legislature – RS is council of state CAG, EC, All India services, Single citizenship, single constitution

    Note:

    1. Federal government is possible only in countries with written constitution
    2. 3rd tier of governance i.e Panchayati Raj and Municipalities is not federalism but more decentralisation and local self governance.

    Various constitutional doctrines

    1. Separation of Powers – among legislative, executive and judiciary so that no one becomes all powerful
    2. Checks and Balances-  among the three: for instance, judicial review is judicial check on executive and legislature
    3. Doctrine of repugnancy – state law on concurrent list liable to be struck down if inconsistent with central law
    4. Doctrine of harmonious reconstruction – Constitutional provisions interpreted not in isolation but to be construed as to harmonize with those other parts
    5. Doctrine of pith and substance – finding out the true nature of a statute, an act or a provision created by the State is valid if the true nature of the act or the provision is about a subject that falls in the State list
    6. Doctrine of colorable legislation- Whatever legislature can’t do directly, it can’t do indirectly It is most commonly applied wrt article 246 (3 lists)when a Legislature does not possess the power to make law upon a particular subject but nonetheless indirectly makes one
    7. Basic Structure – Constitution has some basic structure which can not be amended even if all members of both the house vote to amend that provision (Keshvananda Bharati Case)
    8. Judicial review – Constitutional courts to examine whether laws or policies violate the constitution

    Historical background

    Timeline

    1. Regulating Act, 1773 – Governor of Bengal became Governor General of Bengal (not india) i.e Bombay and Madras presidency subordinate, Supreme court in Calcutta
    2. Pitts Act 1784 – Board of Control for political affairs, 1st time called British Possession in India
    3. Charter Act of 1833 – Centralization complete, Governor General of Bengal became that of India, law member introduced in the council
    4. Charter Act 1853 – Open competition for civil services
    5. Government of India Act 1858 – Act for good govt, abolished EIC, under direct rule of British govt/ crown now, Secretary of state post created
    6. Act of 1861 – Recognition to portfolio system, some indians nominated to council
    7. Act of 1892 – same story
    8. Act of 1909/ Morley – Minto – element of election introduced, 1st Indian in executive council of viceroy, Separate Electorate
    9. Act of 1919/ Montagu – Chelmsford – Dyarchy or dual govt in provinces – transferred and reserved subject, Bicameral legislature
    10. GOI Act 1935 – Federation, Autonomy to provinces, 3 lists, residuary powers in viceroy

    Titbits:

    1. From 1858 under direct control of British govt. Therefore, GOI acts, before that charter act (EIC charter) and regulating act
    2. Concurrent list was borrowed from GOI act 1935 as well as Australian constitution. Residuary power vests with centre now while it vested in viceroy in GOI act 1935
    3. 1st name is secretary of state and 2nd name is viceroy i.e Montagu and Morley are secretaries
    1st Governor General (GG) of Bengal (1773) Warren Hastings
    1st GG of India (1833) William Bentinck
    Last GG and 1st Viceroy (1858) Lord Canning
    1st law member (1833) Macaulay
    1st Indian to Viceroy’s executive council Satyendra Sinha

    Features from other constitution (Only Imp things)

    USA Federalism, Bill of rights, Judicial review, due process of law
    Britain Parliamentary system, Rule of law, Bicameralism
    Russia Fundamental duties, Justice
    France Republic, liberty, equality, fraternity
    Ireland DPSP, Nomination to RS
    Australia Concurrent list, Joint sitting
    Canada Federation with strong centre, residuary powers with centre, office of governor.

  • Why transfer of case to district judge by Supreme Court sends the wrong signal

    Context

    The Supreme Court order of May 20, transferring the suit on the Gyanvapi Masjid dispute from the civil judge (senior division) Varanasi to the district judge casts aspersion, though unintended, on the competence of civil judges in general.

    Background

    • The matter had reached the Supreme Court on a petition filed by the Mosque Management Committee, which challenged the civil judge’s orders.
    • The order permitted inspection, survey, and videography of the mosque’s complex to collect evidence about the alleged existence of idols of Hindu deities inside the mosque, which is adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
    • The Mosque Management Committee had filed an application before the civil judge seeking the rejection of the plaint on the ground that it was barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
    • Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 prohibits individuals and groups of people from converting, in full or in part, a place of worship of any religious denomination into a place of worship of a different religious denomination, or even a different segment of the same religious denomination.
    • It was argued before the SC that given the said Act, the suit was liable to be rejected at the threshold as the civil judge had no jurisdiction to entertain the same, much less to pass the aforesaid interim orders.
    • The SC has not found any fault with the order of the civil judge, though there is also a view that it was mandatory on the part of the civil judge to have first passed an order on whether he had the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
    • However, it appears that in the SC’s view, this was not a serious infraction.
    • So, in a way, the SC has affirmed the orders of the civil judge.
    • The civil court had territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction to deal with the matter.
    • The question that arises is: Why has the Supreme Court transferred the matter to the court of the district judge?

    Issues with the SC transferring the case to the district judge

    • The SC has seemingly declared civil judges to be not competent to decide a matter alleged to be complex.
    • When the Civil Procedure Code, the High Court Rules and Orders invest a civil judge with jurisdiction, why take it away merely on the plea that the matter is complex?
    • Unhealthy precedent: Fransfer of the case to the district judge has set an unhealthy precedent and will have a demoralising effect on the subordinate judiciary.
    • In the recent past, many lower-level judicial officers have passed outstanding orders in matters concerning the liberties of the citizens, which are under threat as never before.
    • The subordinate judiciary provides the foundation of our judicial system.

    Conclusion

    Supreme Court order inadvertently casts aspersions on competence of subordinate judiciary. District court should not be weighed down by SC observation.

    UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

  • Supreme Court’s ruling on GST deepens the churn in the tax regime

    Context

    Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that the decisions taken by the GST Council are merely recommendations with “persuasive value” and are not binding.

    GST as a advisory body

    • The court has rejected the Centre’s contention that the entire structure of GST would crumble if the Council’s decisions were not treated as enforceable.
    • In some ways, the verdict states the obvious.
    • Article 246-A inserted after the 122nd constitutional amendment states, “Notwithstanding anything contained in articles 246 and 254, Parliament, and, subject to clause (2), the Legislature of every state, have the power to make laws with respect to the GST imposed by the Union or by such state.”
    • Thus, the power to levy the central GST (CGST) vests with Parliament, the power to levy state GST (SGST) vests with state legislatures and Parliament has exclusive power to make laws with respect to the GST on items that are part of inter-state trade or commerce.
    •  Thus, the GST Council is only an advisory body and the actual decisions regarding model GST levies, principles of levy, apportionment of GST levied on inter-state supplies, principles relating to place of supply, exemptions and rate structure and any special provisions will have to be taken by either Parliament in the case of CGST and IGST or the states in the case of SGST.
    • In effect, decisions on the structure and operation of the tax can be made by the Centre and individual states without discussion and deliberation in the Council and both can ignore any recommendation made by the Council.
    • The judgment reiterates that the sovereign right to levy the tax still exists with the Union and state governments and it is for them to consider the recommendations of the Council.
    • The chance of having a harmonised GST and reforms in the tax regime will crucially depend upon continued negotiation and bargaining between the Union and states.
    • Intergovernmental cooperation has been kept alive to ensure a harmonised GST and unless both the Centre and the states see the gains, reforms will be hard to come by and if the Centre desires the reforms more than the states, it will have to ensure a “buy in” from the states to agree for the reform.

    Implications of the judgement

    • Given that the GST Council has been declared as only an advisory body with a persuasive value, what happens to the dream of having a harmonised one nation, one tax, if a state or a group of states decides to deviate?
    • But the judgment paves the way for more intensive bargaining and negotiations, placing states on an equal footing with the Centre in taking decisions on the structure and operations of the tax.
    • At present, decisions get approved in the GST Council when passed by a majority of three-fourths of the weighted votes of the members present and voting, with the Centre having one-third weight and individual states (and UTs) having an equal share of the remaining two-thirds weight.
    • However, in the past, all decisions in the Council have been taken by consensus (except in the case of determining the rate on lotteries), and the Supreme Court decision reinforces this convention.
    • The immediate impact of this will be bargaining by states for extending the period of compensation for the loss of revenue.
    •  As the five-year period of compensation gets over at the end of June, this decision will now help the states to bargain hard for the extension.

    Way forward

    •  Though the period of collecting compensation cess has been extended till March 2026 to meet the interest and repayment requirements of the funds borrowed from the RBI to meet the compensation requirements, the lasting solution lies in increasing the revenue productivity of the tax by pruning the list of exempted items, rationalising the rates and taking administrative measures.
    • These reforms will require strengthening the cooperative spirit.

    Conclusion

    This has come at a time when reforms have to be set in motion and hopefully, the Court’s decision will strengthen the cooperative spirit in reforming the domestic consumption tax system in the country.

    UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

  • Direct joining link for Webinar by Shubham Nagargoje, IPS 2020 | Don’t read every NCERT for UPSC, do only the important ones | attend free live webinar to know the toppers’ approach to NCERT

    Direct joining link for Webinar by Shubham Nagargoje, IPS 2020 | Don’t read every NCERT for UPSC, do only the important ones | attend free live webinar to know the toppers’ approach to NCERT

    Feel free to join with UPSC 2020 Topper & know actually how many NCERT books to read/How to read & what to read.

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89908021391?pwd=WktmbVNSZkxqQ2xjZXlqRnRyZ2RUdz09

    Meeting ID: 899 0802 1391

    Passcode: 185807

    Civilsdaily Team is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
    *Don’t read every NCERT for UPSC, do only the important ones || by Shubham Nagargoje, IPS 2020*Date & Time: *May 26, 2022 @07:00 PM (Start Login by 06:45 PM) India*

    (click) register for free live webinar on how to read ncerts | ask me anything session with ips shubham nagargoje

    Can we avoid NCERT for UPSC?

    That would be a severe mistake. NCERTs are essential and the best place to begin your UPSC preparation. They form a fundamental foundation and can help you understand basic and critical concepts more quickly. But, Are all NCERTs to be read? Finding reliable sources for this information can be extremely difficult.

    If you have to command over UPSC exams, you hold command over NCERT books first. These books are the weakest point of UPSC, it must be your strong point. So, to know which NCERTs are a must & which are not, follow this topper’s footprint.

    Attend this free live webinar conducted by Civilsdaily’s topper IPS Officer to get certain value-added insights on which NCERTs are heaven for Clearing UPSC-CSE.

    Webinar Details:

    Grasp the opportunity to get outstanding tips on ‘what are the best strategies to choose NCERTs ’, and ‘how to read & what to read from them’. This entire webinar is free. All aspirants are wholeheartedly welcome to attend.

    Date: 26th May 2022 (Thursday)

    Time: 7 PM to 8 PM

    register for free live webinar on how to read ncerts | ask me anything session with ips shubham nagargoje

    Infallible ideas & Tips in This Free Live Webinar by Shubham Nagargoje!

    1. Best, minimum NCERT materials for UPSC-CSE Preparation. Do’s & Don’t, Understanding the science behind how society works is important, so what are the best 3 to 5 NCERTs to read. Don’t forget NCERTs are even going to help you in your optional too.
    1. For a foundational preparation for prelims and mains, students can start with NCERT history books, to begin with, their history preparation. What are those books that have proven to be extremely beneficial in the case of students that come from commerce or science backgrounds?
    1. It is critical to understand Indian and global geography. Maps and information about different climatic regions provided in NCERT Geography books help in answering many questions about geography. How to learn & what maps/diagrams/footnotes are not to be ignored will also be discussed.
    2. Political Science covers the country’s legal and fundamental aspects, which makes it an extremely important subject. How to & what to cover from NCERTs so that ‘Laxmikant’ becomes easier to read and revise.
    3. The subject of the Indian Economy covers India’s current and past economic aspects, which makes it an important topic. Knowing its fundamentals is crucial for UPSC exams. So, What is to be learnt by heart & which NCERTs are fit for the economy will be comprehensively discussed.
    4. What is the difference between ‘The Old Version NCERTs’ & ‘The New Version NCERTs’ & for which subjects, which versions of NCERTs you should focus on,  will also be discussed thoroughly in this ask me anything session? 
    5.  The untold secret of ‘how & from where UPSC asks direct questions from NCERTs. How to build command over NCERTs is going to be another crucial point of this awesome session.
    register for free live webinar on how to read ncerts | ask me anything session with ips shubham nagargoje
    About Shubham Nagargoje:

    UPSC 2020 Topper–IPS Officer Shubham Nagargoje lived by this saying during his entire UPSC and RBI Grade B preparation three years. Hence, failing to clear the UPSC Prelims twice didn’t deter him. He finally got appointment letters both as an RBI Grade B officer and an IPS officer.

    register for free live webinar on how to read ncerts | ask me anything session with ips shubham nagargoje

    Wish you all the best.

  • How to secure score 110+ in UPSC Prelims 2022 with 100+ most probable topics with detailed solution | register at the earliest to get the full list

    How to secure score 110+ in UPSC Prelims 2022 with 100+ most probable topics with detailed solution | register at the earliest to get the full list

    FREE REGISTRATION FOR TARGET PRELIMS 2022 100+TOPICS

    UPSC IAS prelims 2022 will be held on June 5 in pen and paper mode. The IAS preparation is the interaction of important UPSC Syllabus topics. Check out the list of important topics for the UPSC prelims below and pave the way to score 110+.

    REGISTER AT THE EARLIESTTO GET THE FULL LIST OF UPSC-PRELIMS 2022 100+ TOPICS IN YOUR INBOX
    CONTACT US DIRECTLY TO TALK TO OUR MENTORS AND GET DETAILS SUGGESTIONS FOR 100+ TOPICS

    Certain topics seem to be important for the UPSC prelims exam, but they are not asked in the exam. The UPSC primarily inquires about the context of current events. Ideally, UPSC asks about four aspects of a topic in one question with multiple options, with only one correct answer. Only those perplexing questions can be answered by the candidate who has a firm grasp on the subject. Candidates should balance their preparation in static General Studies topics and current affairs topics so that they can connect the two. 

    REGISTER AT THE EARLIESTTO GET THE FULL LIST OF UPSC-PRELIMS 2022 100+ TOPICS IN YOUR INBOX

    Prelims is an elimination round. Those who learn & analyze everything may get eliminated. It’s all about utilizing your subjective recognition rather than critically analyzing.

    The syllabus for the prelims exam does not go into great detail about the topics. Candidates should understand the prelims’ demand by analyzing the UPSC syllabus and question papers concurrently. Overall preparation necessitates over a year of focused preparation in the right direction with the right strategy. Important Prelims exam topics are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the syllabus. Important topics guide will guide preparation in the right direction to sit for UPSC Mains 2022.

    So, our highly experienced toppers’ teachers & mentors group has prepared the most trusted list of the most important topics. 

    Expect many questions in UPSC civil services Preliminary exam – 2022 (also in mains 2022). You need to prepare 4-5 points on each of these topics keeping in mind the nature of questions that were asked in Prelims 2020 & 2021. 

    Must Read Topics For Prelims 2022 (Static + Current Affairs & Combination of Both)

    Polity

    Electronic voting machine (EVM) 

    Balance of rights and duty 

    Recent amendments and Bills 

    One election- one nation- Amendments required 

    RPA 1951 and 1950 

    Office of the governor and discretionary powers 

    PESA Act, 1996 

    ETC.

    Economy

    Inflation (2 questions expected- conceptual) 

    Conceptual questions based on interlinking between fiscal policy, inflation, and monetary policy (2-3 questions) 

    Banking in India 

    Money market 

    Taxation (1 question) 

    GDP Estimates (1 question) 

    ETC.

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    Modern Indian Hist.

    -Personality (1 question)- focus on prominent freedom fighters, social reformers, viceroys 

    – Chronology- focus on the time between 1925-35 and 1939-47 

    – British wars 

    – NCM, CDM, quit India 

    – Congress sessions 

    ETC.

    History & Culture

     -Adi Sankaracharya 

    Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple 

    Moplah Rebellion 

    Sun Temple of Konark (In the news) 

    Architecture (1 question on temple, 1 from medieval history) 

     Dance (classical and folk)

    ETC.

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    Geography

    World Physical Geography: 

    – Geomorphology- landforms and major terminologies, origin and evolution of the earth, volcanism and earthquake, plate tectonics and continental drift theory – Oceanography – warm and cold currents, and rests other chapters.

    Mapping

    Indian Physical Map 

    Rivers: Pannchnad, Himalayan rivers(Ganga, Brahmaputra, Yamuna), Peninsular rivers(Damodar, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Periyar)- Tributaries b. North to the south alignment of mountains in Eastern ghat and Western ghat c. Major Cities in India 

    World Physical Map as well of various places & regions according to Current Affairs.

    Government Schemes 

     Recent schemes on Agriculture, Vulnerable sections, MSMEs, Banking, ETC.

    Science & Technology 

    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) 

    Electric Vehicles 

    Dark Genome 

    Biotechnology 

    Assistant reproductive technique 

    Emerging technologies (5G, AI, Machine learning) & ETC.

    Social Issues

     Digital education issues 

    New acts and amendments (1-2 question) 

    ETC.

    Environment 

    India State Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 

    Red sanders 

    Zero Budget Natural Farming 

    Heat Dome 

    Net Zero Producers Forum

    Glasgow summit 

    National parks and wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and wetlands (mapping)

    Reports and indices (1 question) 

    Development induced displacement 

    Pollution related current affairs & Many other hot topics.

    Security Issues

    Reverse Engineering 

    Top defense dealers and importers 

    India’s missile program 

    Recent amendments in NIA, UAPA acts etc. 

    We have covered all these issues in both test series and current affairs. But if you can give special focus on these topics, you will definitely reap extra benefits.

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    All The Best.

  • 26th May 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 1019]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 1019]

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  • Understanding the nature of US-Taiwan Relations

    The US President made a controversial statement on whether the US will come to the aid of Taiwan militarily in case of an invasion by China.

    What is the Taiwan issue?

    • Taiwan is an island territory located off the coast of mainland China, across the Taiwan Strait.
    • After their defeat to the communist forces in the Chinese civil war (1945-1949), the ruling Kuomintang (Nationalist) government of China fled to Taiwan.
    • They transplanted the Republic of China (ROC) government in Taiwan, while the Communist Party of China (CPC) established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the mainland.
    • Since then, the PRC considers the island as a renegade province awaiting reunification by peaceful means, if possible.

    Game changer: Cold war affiliations

    • Meanwhile, the ROC retained its membership at the United Nations and its permanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC).
    • The cross-strait relations became strained as a result of the Cold War, with the PRC allying itself with the Soviet Union (USSR) and ROC with the U.S.
    • This resulted in the two Taiwan Strait crises of the 1950s.

    The US and One-China Principle

    • With the shifting geopolitics of the Cold War, the PRC and the U.S. were forced to come together in the 1970s to counter the growing influence of the USSR.
    • This led to the US-China rapprochement demonstrated by the historic visit of then US President Richard Nixon to PRC in 1972.
    • The same year, the PRC displaced ROC as the official representative of the Chinese nation at the UN.
    • Diplomatic relations with the PRC became possible only if countries abided by its “One China Principle” — recognizing PRC and not the ROC as China.

    Rise of Taiwan

    • Taiwan transitioned from a single party state to a multi-party democracy.
    • At the same time that China reformed its economic system under Deng Xiaoping, and by the end of the Cold War they became economically entangled.
    • Nevertheless, they continue to compete for international recognition and preparing themselves for the worst possible scenario.

    How has the US’s stance on the Taiwan question evolved vis-à-vis China?

    • The very foundation of the US rapprochement as well as its recognition of the PRC is a mutual understanding on the Taiwan question.
    • This has been outlined in three documents — the Shanghai Communique (1972), the Normalisation Communique (1979) and the 1982 Communique.
    • According to the 1972 communique, the US agreed to the ‘one China principle’, with an understanding that it “acknowledges” and “does not challenge” that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait.
    • It maintained that there is one China and Taiwan is a part of China.
    • However, the US also established unofficial relations with Taiwan through this communique in the name of the people of both the countries.

     Why is the issue significant today?

    • As Taiwan’s democracy flourished, the popular mood drifted towards a new Taiwanese identity and a pro-independence stance on sovereignty.
    • The past decade has seen considerable souring of ties across the Strait, as the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) became the most powerful political force in Taiwan.
    • The DPP government has been catering to the pro-independence constituency in Taiwan and seeks to diversify economic relations away from China.
    • China has always seen Taiwan as a territory with high geopolitical significance.
    • This is due to its central location in the First Island Chain between Japan and the South China Sea, which is seen as the first benchmark or barrier for China’s power projection.

    Why is China so obsessed with Taiwan?

    • Taiwan is at China’s geostrategic calculus.
    • Moreover, its reunification will formally bury the remaining ghosts of China’s “century of humiliation”.
    • China under Xi Jinping seems to have lost its patience and currently sees very slim chances of a peaceful reunification.
    • China usually makes aerial transgressions in Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
    • Also, this build-up of tensions is happening simultaneously and drawing parallels with the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.

    Is US strategy towards Taiwan witnessing a major transformation?

    • The US strategy towards Taiwan in light of the unresolved nature of the cross-Strait relations has been marked by what has been called “strategic ambiguity”.
    • This is under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979.
    • As per the TRA, the US has stated clearly that the establishment of bilateral relations with the PRC rests upon “the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means”.
    • It also states the US policy to maintain the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardise the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.
    • Hence, there is no clear guarantee here that the US will militarily involve in a situation where China attempts to invade Taiwan, short of supplying “defensive weapons”.

    Enjoying the ambiguity

    • The US has for long utilized this strategic ambiguity with its own interpretation of the ‘one China principle to maintain its strategic interests in the Western Pacific.
    • It is in this context that Mr. Biden’s statements have made controversy.

     

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  • Monkeypox Virus: Origins and Outbreaks

    With cases being reported from across the world, monkeypox has caught everyone’s attention.

    What is Monkeypox?

    • Monkeypox is not a new virus.
    • The virus, belonging to the poxvirus family of viruses, was first identified in monkeys way back in 1958, and therefore the name.
    • The first human case was described in 1970 from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
    • Many sporadic outbreaks of animal to human as well as human to human transmission has occurred in Central and West Africa in the past with significant mortality.
    • After the elimination of smallpox, monkeypox has become one of the dominant poxviruses in humans, with cases increasing over years along with a consequent reduction in the age-group affected.

    How is it transmitted?

    • Since the transmission occurs only with close contact, the outbreaks have been in many cases self-limiting.
    • Since in the majority of affected people, the incubation period ranges from five to 21 days and is often mild or self-limiting, asymptomatic cases could transmit the disease unknowingly.
    • The outbreaks in Central Africa are thought to have been contributed by close contact with animals in regions adjoining forests.
    • While monkeys are possibly only incidental hosts, the reservoir is not known.
    • It is believed that rodents and non-human primates could be potential reservoirs.

    Does the virus mutate?

    • Monkeypox virus is a DNA virus with a quite large genome of around 2,00,000 nucleotide bases.
    • While being a DNA virus, the rate of mutations in the monkeypox virus is significantly lower (~1-2 mutations per year) compared to RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
    • The low rate of mutation therefore limits the wide application of genomic surveillance in providing detailed clues to the networks of transmission for monkeypox.
    • A number of genome sequences in recent years from Africa and across the world suggest that there are two distinct clades of the virus — the Congo Basin/Central African clade and the West African clade.
    • Each of the clades further have many lineages.

    What do the genomes say?

    • With over a dozen genome sequences of monkeypox, it is reassuring that the sequences are quite identical to each other suggesting that only a few introductions resulted in the present spread of cases.
    • Additionally, almost all genomes have come from the West African clade, which has much lesser fatality compared to the Central African one.
    • This also roughly corroborates with the epidemiological understanding that major congregations in the recent past contributed to the widespread transmission across different countries.

    Does it have an effective vaccine?

    • It is reassuring that we know quite a lot more about the virus and its transmission patterns.
    • We also have effective ways of preventing the spread, including a vaccine.
    • Smallpox/vaccinia vaccine provides protection.
    • While the vaccine has been discontinued in 1980 following the eradication of smallpox, emergency stockpiles of the vaccines are maintained by many countries.
    • Younger individuals are unlikely to have received the vaccine and are therefore potentially susceptible to monkeypox which could partly explain its emergence in younger individuals.

     

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  • What is the Service Charge levied by Restaurants on Customers?

    The Centre has called a meeting of restaurant owners over service charge levied by them on customers.

    Why in news?

    • The restaurants are collecting service charges from consumers by default, even though collection of any such charge is voluntary and at the discretion of consumers and not mandatory as per law.

    What are the components of a food bill?

    • A restaurant bill in India comprises food charge (from the menu), with an addition of service charge (anywhere between 5 to 15 per cent) and a 5 per cent GST on this amount (IGST+SGST).
    • This is for all kinds of standalone restaurants.
    • In case a restaurant is located inside a hotel wherein room rate is upwards of Rs 7,500 (mostly in case of five-stars), the GST would be 18 per cent.

    Nature of Service charge

    • While the GST is a mandatory component as per law, the service charge is supposed to be optional.
    • It is the equivalent of what is known as gratuity around the world, or tip, in casual parlance.
    • Most restaurants decide the service charge on their own, and print it at the bottom of the menu with an asterisk.

    Policy measures

    • The Ministry of Consumer Affairs had come out with “Guidelines on Fair Trade Practices Related to Charging of Service Charge from Consumers by Hotels/ Restaurants”.
    • Here it was clearly mentioned that a component of service is inherent in the provision of food and beverages ordered by a customer.
    • Hence the pricing of the product is expected to cover both the goods and service components.
    • It said that the bill “may clearly display that service charge is voluntary, and the service charge column of the bill may be left blank for the customer to fill up before making payment.”

    What do the restaurants say?

    • The levy of service charge by a restaurant is a matter of individual policy to decide if it is to be charged or not.
    • There is no illegality in levying such a charge.
    • Once the customer is made aware of such a charge in advance and then decides to place the order, it becomes an agreement between the parties, and is not an unfair trade practice.
    • GST is also paid on the said charge to the Government.

    Where does the fund go?

    • Restaurants claim that a major chunk of the service charge thus collected goes to the staff, while the rest goes towards a welfare fund to help them out during good and bad times.
    • It’s a default billing option, even as customers can choose not to pay it if they don’t want to.
    • Of course, they are paid the salaries but the service charge works as an incentive for them.
    • Restaurateurs also say that patrons can decide not to pay the charge and tip the server directly, but in this case, the backroom staff doesn’t get anything.
    • A service charge ensures all staff members are rewarded evenly.

    What is the issue then?

    • The issue is that almost all restaurants have put service charge (fixed at their own accord) as a default billing option.
    • And if a consumer is aware that it is not compulsory and wants it removed or wants to tip the server directly, the onus is on them to convince the management why they don’t want to pay it.
    • The department says they received several complaints saying it leads to public embarrassment and spoils the dining experience since at the end of it, they either pay the charge quietly and exit the place feeling cheated, or have to try hard to get it removed.
    • Also, there is no transparency as to where this charge goes.
    • The officials also say that collecting service charge on their own and paying GST on it to the government doesn’t make it authorised.

    Problems faced by customers

    • It is this component which has come under dispute from time to time, with consumers arguing they are not bound to pay it.
    • It also said that hotels and restaurants charging tips from customers without their express consent in the name of service charges amounts to unfair trade practice.

     

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