Check out Lakshay’s excerpt on how he cleared UPSC 2020:-
Civils Daily is different than all the other online learning platform when it comes to comprehensive preparation for CSE. Lakshay Chaudhary came in contact with CivilsDaily in the year 2016. Back then he utilized open and free support for current affairs and contemporary issues from Civils Daily. He is undergoing IRAS training.
In the 2020 attempt Lakshay improved his rank and maintained a consistent success with AIR even as a working professional. Here, Civils Daily’s Smash Mains and 250+ Proobable Questions helped him to score high in main GS exam.
Role of Mentorship under Sajal Sir has given definite shape to the smart work by Lakshay. With his clarity of thoughts we prefer to have discussions for specific strategies for all the stages.
Heartiest congratulations to Lakshay Kumar Chowdhury AIR 132 UPSC Civil Services 2020
With over 80% enrolled students in 2020 attending UPSC interviews, Smash Mains is back again. This is an invite-only program that will start on October 24th, 2021.
Mentorship will be provided free of cost by Sajal Sir. Only administrative cost will be charged. To enroll click here
About Smash Mains 2021
Dear Students,
The fact that you have been missing the cut-off with a small margin (repeatedly) tells that there are some fundamental issueswith your approach. You might be aware or not about this. But just realization is not enough, you have to work on its execution as well. And bringing that to fruition will be possible through a guided process under a meticulously designed plan.
Smash mains is a highly personalized and intensive handholding program for the crème-de-la-crème (veterans) amongst UPSC aspirants (the intake is 50 students). Right now we have only 5 seats left.
Note: The Entry is Restricted to those who have appeared in UPSC interview in the past 2 years or have missed the mains cut off by a whisker.
The focus is on identifying and highlighting the issues with your preparation (information / analysis / utilization). According to your strength and weaknesses, a tailor-made strategy is developed. Under Sajal sir’s strict monitoring, incremental improvements are aimed every day, after every session.
Sajal sir’s marks in UPSC 2017 GS Mains paper were:
GS Paper 1 – 132
GS Paper 2 – 125
GS Paper 3 – 130
Progression of Smash Mains 2021
After completing the Mains Test series, you will have a one-to-one detailed and in-depth interaction with Sajal sir. Final refinements are done to every answer. Value addition material, as well as pointers, will be provided here. We will work with you to ensure you have enough material for value addition. Our focus will be on providing tips that add the missing X factor to your answers.
Why is Smash 2021 the best way to prepare for mains?
Individual attention and approachability are the USPs of this program.
Not putting Penguins among the Fowls – You already know how to write an average answer (you’re missing it by a few marks actually). You want to know how to increase your score from 90 to 110-115. The approach followed by other institutes in their Test series is the same for a veteran and a complete newbie and here lies the problem. Without personalizedone-to-one interaction with someone like Sajal sir (who has scored these awesome marks), it will be difficult for you to rectify these minute yet very important shortcomings.
Evaluation is a strength of this program and we put it on a high priority. Sajal sir himself is involved in the process, unlike other institutes where evaluation is outsourced to those who themselves might not have appeared for mains (It’s bizarre). It shouldn’t be based on ‘model answers’ as there are 3-4 ways of approaching an answer. Only a seasoned player will be able to go beyond these model answers and be able to appreciate your approach (If it’s innovative) even if it differs from the model answers provided.
Test copies get checked in a time-bound manner. The questions, answers and material provided are of the highest quality.
Emphasis on execution and utilization of knowledge – Mains is not only about knowledge but the way you express the relevant knowledge in the most optimum manner.
Sajal sir’s interventions are highly specific and not generalized. Sitting right in front of you he walks you through each and every question. Always there, he will not let you lose your focus.
The Tamil Nadu government has passed an Act seeking an exemption from treating NEET as the sole and mandatory requirement for medical admission in the state. The Act, which is yet to get approval from the President.
NEET issue in Tamil Nadu
The Justice A K Rajan committee was appointed by the state government of Tamil Nadu to examine whether NEET is an equitable method of selection.
Its report lends credence to the belief that NEET tends to give an advantage to students from privileged backgrounds.
It also observed that NEET, in terms of orientation, is biased towards the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
In the section titled ‘Size of coaching market’, the report brings out two poignant facts.
One, by inadvertently creating a “market for coaching”, NEET has helped to create an “extractive industry of coaching” as an essential condition for clearing it.
Two, the coaching fees are not only high, but are beyond the reach of many, especially the poor and marginalised.
Acting upon the committee’s recommendation, the Tamil Nadu government has passed an Act seeking an exemption from treating NEET.
The Act, which is yet to get approval from the President.
An educational intervention which was introduced as a solution to foster equality of opportunity has turned out to be the primary cause of deepening inequality of participation and opportunity.
Important questions
There are at least two important questions.
Equality of opportunity: First, does NEET help foster equality of opportunity for everyone without unduly advantaging or disadvantaging anyone?
Second, is NEET’s bias towards CBSE justifiable in an immensely diverse country like ours, where varied school curricula coexist with a highly unequal access to financial and educational resources and opportunities?
The question here is: How can NEET promote parity of participation when aspiring first-generation students from marginalised and poor households participate from a highly unequal position in the first place?
NEET disregards the fact that the terms and conditions of participation are highly unequal and biased.
Way forward
The National Education Policy (NEP 2020) envisions a curriculum and pedagogy which will promote holistic learning, social responsibility and multilingualism, among other things.
It is important, therefore, to significantly restructure the focus of NEET keeping in mind the spirit of NEP and varied school curricula in regional languages.
Conclusion
A restructured NEET, which does not require intensive and repeated coaching as a prerequisite and is not biased towards any board, can go a long way in promoting the parity of participation and nourishing the capacity to aspire, especially of the poor and marginalised.
Civilsdaily has become a force to reckon with. With our bold initiatives and maturing innovations, we are pushing the boundaries even further constantly thinking about bettering the learning outcomes for so many students.
Inviting applications for open positions is a rare event for us. We don’t remember the last time we did something like this. This means it is an extremely rare opportunity for you.
A career in education with Civilsdaily empowers you to help students, to be respected by them and by others, and to experience job satisfaction in a way that is impossible in many other careers.
Our awesome offices at 1 LGF Apsara Arcade will leave a lasting impression on you.
Please do not fill the application incorrectly. Most candidates say they are applying for a full-time position just to get an interview call. It’s really a turnoff.
Failing to qualify Prelims does not mean that you give up! There have been top rankers in the history of UPSC who failed to qualify Prelims multiple times but learned from each mistake and kept improving themselves. Pranav Vijayvargiya (AIR Rank 65) 2020 is the biggest example of this. He failed consecutively in 2 prelims but he kept himself motivated and finally got (AIR Rank 65) under the guidance of Sajal sir.
Fear of failure keeps you from learning and this is not the time to lose hope! It may be a tough situation but there’s still a lot you can learn from it.
Sajal Sir has helped over 400 aspirants secure ranks in the last 6 years. He has helped 30 students secure ranks in the top 100 in UPSC 2020. He knows about success but he also knowshow success is built from lessons of failure. He knows how bad the situation may become if you don’t qualify for Prelims but he also knows how to use that learning to crack the exam. And that’s the secret he will share with you in an absolutely free webinar.
Failing to qualify Prelims does not mean that you give up! There have been top rankers in the history of UPSC who failed to qualify Prelims multiple times but learned from each mistake and kept improving themselves. Pranav Vijayvargiya (AIR Rank 65) 2020 is the biggest example of this. He failed consecutively in 2 prelims but he kept himself motivated and finally got (AIR Rank 65) under the guidance of Sajal sir.
Fear of failure keeps you from learning and this is not the time to lose hope! It may be a tough situation but there’s still a lot you can learn from it.
Sajal Sir has helped over 400 aspirants secure ranks in the last 6 years. He has helped 30 students secure ranks in the top 100 in UPSC 2020. He knows about success but he also knowshow success is built from lessons of failure. He knows how bad the situation may become if you don’t qualify for Prelims but he also knows how to use that learning to crack the exam. And that’s the secret he will share with you in an absolutely free webinar.
Check out Shahansha’s excerpt on how he cleared UPSC 2020:-
Here we have a fighter who used to love uniforms over all other forms of services and hence his only preference for services was IPS this time. He was already serving the nation as an IRPS but his desire to get into an all India Services found expression when he found his name up in the list.
He used to follow Civilsdaily IAS for a long time and he liked the guidance with respect to preparing for services. Like many other toppers, he found the free and mentored content top-notch. Even during his everyday transits to the office and back, he used to rely on CDs Application for furthering his preparation.
A go-getter attitude coupled with an optimistic personality is what Shahansha is very much about. Rest lets listen in to him to understand him better.
Heartiest congratulations to Shahansha K S AIR 142 UPSC Civil Services 2020
In his speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meet last month, PM Modi stressed on commitment for increasing its connectivity with land-locked Central Asia.
What is the Central Asia Region?
Central Asia is a region in Asia which stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north.
It includes the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
India-Central Asia Ties
India has decades-old wish to connect with the resource and fuel-rich Central Asian nations.
Since the emergence of the Central Asian Republics as independent countries in the early 1990s, New Delhi has been trying to establish ties with them.
Trade and collaboration
India’s trade with the five Central Asian Republics—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan—was below $ 2 billion in 2018.
The potential areas for collaboration include construction, sericulture and pharmaceuticals to IT and tourism.
Much of this trade was routed through Iran, Russia or the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Efforts for connectivity
Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline
Development of Iran’s Chabahar Port
Zaranj-Delaram Highway
International North-South (Transit) Corridor (INSTC)
About INSTC
In 2000, India, Iran and Russia agreed on a new route for trade that later came to be known as INSTC.
It was aimed at cutting the costs and time in moving cargo between Russia and India.
The pact was ratified in 2002 and the original multi-modal route linked Mumbai in India to Bandar Abbas and Bandar-e-Anzali in Iran, then across the Caspian Sea to Astrakhan, Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia.
Over the years, more countries joined the INSTC.
In 2003, India and Iran announced the development of the Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province.
China’s opportunism: Based on proximity
China’s trade with Central Asia was $50 billion-$60 billion in the same period.
The obvious advantage in China’s favour is geographical proximity.
Hurdles for India
Lack of mutual trust: Unfortunately, many connectivity options are not open to them today due to the lack of mutual trust.
Pakistan factor: Tensions with Pakistan mean there is no viable land route towards Central Asia.
Iran and the US sanctions: Efforts to look for a circuitous route via Iran (and Afghanistan) have stalled due to US sanctions on Iran.
Issues in Iran-Afghanistan bypass route
Recent events acquire broader geopolitical relevance for India in this route:
Taliban takeover of Afghanistan: The takeover of Afghanistan by the Pakistan-backed Taliban has severely set back India’s plans in Central Asia.
Iran’s bypassing of India: Iran’s overtures has been clearly visible after itself allocating Farzad-B Gas exploration contract to another company bypassing India.
Central Asia’s importance for India
Fossil fuels: While Central Asia is seen as fuel-rich and, hence, important for an energy-starved India.
Mineral richness: Central Asian states are also mineral-rich, and Kazakhstan, for one, has been a source of uranium for India’s nuclear power plants.
Market for India: A country like India which is seen as a major economy has to have a presence in these markets. INSTC also offers a safe and cost-effective route to the EU (European Union) market.
Convergence against Terrorism: India can forge a common position on terrorism and radicalization, which is a matter of concern to the region as much as it is to India.
India’s recent engagement
Defence collaboration: In recent years, New Delhi has engaged with Central Asian Republics in the defence sphere through military exercises (say Ex Kazind).
Engagement at UN: Political and economic engagement is also important, given the imperatives of working together at a body such as the United Nations (UN).
Technological ties: India has set up universities there—Sharda and Amity are examples.
Scope for expansion
Dairy Sector: There is scope for collaboration in the dairy sector.
Pharma: Indian firms have been setting up pharmaceutical units in Russia that can serve these countries as well.
Info Technology: IT and IT-enabled services are two other areas.
Cultural connect: Bollywood movies are quite famous in these countries.
Way forward
India needs to develop into stronger bonds of trade and commercial bonds which will be possible once the INSTC crystallizes.
Conclusion
The road ahead in the short term is difficult as India doesn’t seem to have any real leverage to get the connectivity projects with Central Asia going.
India has been negotiating with individual bilateral partners though.
The PM has inaugurated the GatiShakti — National Master Plan for infrastructure development aimed at boosting multimodal connectivity and driving down logistics costs.
GatiShakti — National Master Plan
PM GatiShakti is a digital platform that connects 16 ministries — including Roads and Highways, Railways, Shipping, Petroleum and Gas, Power, Telecom, Shipping, and Aviation.
It aims to ensure holistic planning and execution of infrastructure projects.
The objective is to ensure that every department now has visibility of each other’s activities providing critical data while planning and execution of projects.
Through this, different departments will be able to prioritize their projects through cross-sectoral interactions.
Notable features
Geospatial data: The portal will offer 200 layers of geospatial data, including on existing infrastructure such as roads, highways, railways, and toll plazas.
Protected areas management: It would also geographic information about forests, rivers, and district boundaries to aid in planning and obtaining clearances.
Realtime monitoring: The portal will also allow various government departments to track, in real-time and at one centralized place, the progress of various projects.
Monitoring mechanism
The National Master Plan has set targets for all infrastructure ministries.
A project monitoring group under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will monitor the progress of key projects in real-time.
It would report any inter-ministerial issues to an empowered group of ministers, who will then aim to resolve these.
Need for such Project
Avoiding poor infrastructure planning: Examples of poor infrastructure planning included newly-built roads being dug up by the water department to lay pipes.
Creating a multi-modal network: The government expects the platform to enable various government departments to synchronize their efforts into a multi-modal network.
Timely completion of infra projects: It is also expected to help state governments give commitments to investors regarding timeframes for the creation of infrastructure.
Inefficient connectivity: Currently, a number of economic zones and industrial parks are not able to reach their full productive potential due to inefficient multi-modal connectivity.
Easy clearance: The portal allows stakeholders to apply for these clearances from the relevant authority directly.
Logistics costs in India
Studies estimate that logistics costs in India are about 13-14% of GDP as against about 7-8% of GDP in developed economies.
High logistics costs impact cost structures within the economy by making it more expensive for exporters to ship merchandise to buyers.
Benefits offered by PM-GatiShakti
Collaborative planning: It would incorporate infrastructure schemes under various ministries and state governments, including the Bharatmala and inland waterways schemes, and economic zones.
Logistics boost: It would boost last-mile connectivity and thus bring down logistics costs with integrated planning and reducing implementation overlaps.
