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How did our Toppers pick the right study material? What did they study to get RANKS, and how?
Do you know the one area where UPSC aspirants lose a lot of time and waste a lot of their efforts? It’s finding the right study material to begin their preparation. There are literally thousands of books available in the market and most students end up buying a lot of books without realizing that most of them are not useful.
In fact, an analysis of the last ten years’ papers has revealed that around 50% of the effort in cracking the exam lies in the strategy. And if you know how to pick the right study material from the start, your chances of cracking the exam increases by 50%.
The biggest problem new aspirants face is deciding what to study and what not to study. This wastes their time, and the syllabus starts piling up. So, what can you do to identify the right material as you start your preparation? We have spoken with over 400 rankers from the last 2 years to create the most effective and suitable study material.
- History – Students often buy and read multiple books like Bipin Chandra, Grover, Sumit Sarkar, Chattopadhyay, etc. But if History is not your optional subject, you really do not need to read each of these books. You need to be highly selective and use the most important source that can help you get marks in the exam. A quick review of the previous year’s question papers would give you an idea about the kinds of question that come from History. Eliminate the idea of reading everything, read only the books that matter.
- Geography – While NCERTs are a must read for any UPSC aspirant, there are specific books like G.C. Leong, Savindra Singh, Majid Hussain, etc. For example, there are many technical chapters in Savindra Singh like isostasy, drainage patterns, etc. Are they important? No! Should you spend time on them? No. Limit your study material but read the selected ones in detail. Instead, you can simply speak to our mentors and reduce your reading material to only the most important chapters.
- Art and culture – UPSC asks a lot of questions from Art and Culture but there is no one book that is completely helpful. Often, UPSC asks some questions that you may not find in most of the popular books. For example, if you are reading Nitin Singhania, you do not have to read the chapters on Cinema and Circus. You do not have to read every chapter in every book!
- Current affairs – Yes, it is important to read the newspaper but how do you identify what to read in a newspaper? Is everything important? No! Should you make a note of everything that comes in the newspaper? No! Try to identify only those topics that will fetch you marks, everything else will waste your time.
- Environment – Most students read Shankar IAS for environment. But the questions from environment often have Current Affairs element in them. So, while you should read the basic concepts from this book, you will have to tie it with Current Affairs to score.
- .Science and Tech – Science and tech has a huge syllabus. It contains everything from Biology to Sattelites. But can you read and remember everything? Is it important to know the names of all the human bones? No! It may be important to know India’s space program but do you need to know every sattelite’s details? No! You have to learn to differentiate what is important and what isn’t.
- Economics – 15 questions were asked from Economics in Prelims 2020. But Economics cannot be completed by reading one book. These questions can only be solved by reading the basic concepts and tying them with current affairs. There is no book that does this perfectly. What will you do? It is best to speak with mentors who know which areas to focus on to get maximum marks. They can help reduce your workload to very specific reading points.
- Government schemes and plans – You have less than a year to prepare for the exam, can you afford to read all the Yojana, Kurukshetra, etc. before the exam? Should you spend so much time reading topics that may or may not come in the exam? No! Only focused study fetches you marks.
This is an exam of elimination. You can only succeed when you know which study material to eliminate and which to pick. Otherwise, you will have a library of books that are completely useless for your preparation. All your time, money, and efforts will be wasted and you will start feeling overwhelmed by the syllabus.
Remember: Smart work is needed to clear the exam. It’s better to read a particular book many times rather than reading multiple books without revision.
After speaking with over 400 rankers from the last 2 years, our mentors have created the most suitable study material that is selective and highly effective. Speak with our mentors. They will tell you exactly which books and which chapters to read. Don’t waste time, read only the focused material.
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Pranav Vijayvergiya | From repeated Prelims failures to UPSC AIR 65 | Story of Perseverance & Self Belief
Pranav, a name until now very common, is now different. Little did he knew that on 25th September evening, he will be set free. Free from years of academic hard work, mentally strenuous sessions and sacrifices. Now, he is delighted.
Perhaps! he now knows that life has offered him a vantage where from he can reflect and design for what he wants to do. He is now Republic of India’s collector. The famous position most of us started out aiming for. The search for an ultimate job ends, at least for now.
For free 1-1 Mentorship call, fill this form:- https://forms.gle/C3z4jUjD28rze1nE7
We, at Civilsdaily IAS family are equally thrilled and overjoyed. We wish Pranav Vijayvergiya, all the very best. This turn around which he has experienced in his life, may he reflect upon the society.
During his earlier stints with Civil services in 2018 and 2019, he couldn’t manage to step past the prelims. For which he blamed his constant nagging for “know it all” attitude, which was unnecessarily creating an added pressure and compromised his performances. Trust us as eyewitness, when in 2020, he decided that he will believe upon his hardwork and keep his nerves till the very last minute.
Guys, let’s hear more from Pranav himself and try to learn what a common aspirant learns in this quest to cross the threshold.
Heartiest congratulations to Pranav Vijayvergiya
AIR 65
UPSC Civil Services 2020 -
Join Now! Zoom Link Inside || The Live Webinar on Modern History made Simple with Asif sir, a serving officer || Free webinar for UPSC aspirants
Dear aspirants,
Almost every year UPSC is consistently asking for quite a significant number of questions from Modern History – Preliminary and Main Exam. Modern History is a very complicated subject and there is a lot of confusion as to how this subject is to be prepared. This Webinar has very clear objectives to streamline your preparation in this subject if you have just started it and to give you the direction if you are going to start it now.
It is extremely important to cover modern history as more than 17 questions can come from this subject.
Webinar offers:
The contour of the syllabus: Which sections of the syllabus need to be read intensively and which part requires summary reading.
Source: It includes what to read and in what sequencing as without that one may continue reading history without any significant increment in the output.
Process Orientation: Methodology to study for prelims and what kind of approach is required for mains.
Answer Writing: Outlining the importance and approach of answer writing, especially in the mains.
The webinar will also have a Q&A session for specific queries.
This live webinar is going to be one of the best ways to start or rejuvenate your preparation in this subject.
Overall this is the first step to rationalize your preparation and maximize the probability of cracking UPSC CSE.
The webinar is absolutely free.
Date: 26/9/2021 (Sunday)
Time: 7 P.M.
About the mentor:
Asif sir is a serving officer and cleared the UP PSC exam.
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Registration Closing in 1 Hr || Join the Live Discussion at 7 PM Today || How to Make History Simple with Asif sir, a serving officer || Free webinar for UPSC aspirants
Dear aspirants,
Almost every year UPSC is consistently asking for quite a significant number of questions from Modern History – Preliminary and Main Exam. Modern History is a very complicated subject and there is a lot of confusion as to how this subject is to be prepared. This Webinar has very clear objectives to streamline your preparation in this subject if you have just started it and to give you the direction if you are going to start it now.
It is extremely important to cover modern history as more than 17 questions can come from this subject.
Webinar offers:
The contour of the syllabus: Which sections of the syllabus need to be read intensively and which part requires summary reading.
Source: It includes what to read and in what sequencing as without that one may continue reading history without any significant increment in the output.
Process Orientation: Methodology to study for prelims and what kind of approach is required for mains.
Answer Writing: Outlining the importance and approach of answer writing, especially in the mains.
The webinar will also have a Q&A session for specific queries.
This live webinar is going to be one of the best ways to start or rejuvenate your preparation in this subject.
Overall this is the first step to rationalize your preparation and maximize the probability of cracking UPSC CSE.
The webinar is absolutely free.
Date: 26/9/2021 (Sunday)
Time: 7 P.M.
About the mentor:
Asif sir is a serving officer and cleared the UP PSC exam.
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Registrations to Close Soon || How to Make History Simple with Asif sir, a serving officer || Free webinar for UPSC aspirants
Dear aspirants,
Almost every year UPSC is consistently asking for quite a significant number of questions from Modern History – Preliminary and Main Exam. Modern History is a very complicated subject and there is a lot of confusion as to how this subject is to be prepared. This Webinar has very clear objectives to streamline your preparation in this subject if you have just started it and to give you the direction if you are going to start it now.
It is extremely important to cover modern history as more than 17 questions can come from this subject.
Webinar offers:
The contour of the syllabus: Which sections of the syllabus need to be read intensively and which part requires summary reading.
Source: It includes what to read and in what sequencing as without that one may continue reading history without any significant increment in the output.
Process Orientation: Methodology to study for prelims and what kind of approach is required for mains.
Answer Writing: Outlining the importance and approach of answer writing, especially in the mains.
The webinar will also have a Q&A session for specific queries.
This live webinar is going to be one of the best ways to start or rejuvenate your preparation in this subject.
Overall this is the first step to rationalize your preparation and maximize the probability of cracking UPSC CSE.
The webinar is absolutely free.
Date: 26/9/2021 (Sunday)
Time: 7 P.M.
About the mentor:
Asif sir is a serving officer and cleared the UP PSC exam.
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25th September 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions
UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
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[Burning Issue] Asset Monetization & Value Creation
UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
Sustained economic growth is the key to India’s power. Infrastructure without a doubt lies at the heart of this growth story. Infrastructure is inextricably linked to growth by its inherent ability to supports livelihoods, drive businesses, generate employment, and in effect determine the quality of life. Top-quality well managed Infrastructure holds the key to growth and job creation.
Recently, the government has announced an ambitious program of asset monetization. It hopes to earn ₹6 trillion in revenues over a four-year period. At a time when the government’s finances are in bad shape, that is money the government can certainly use. Getting asset monetization right is quite a challenge, though.
The creation of the National Monetization Pipeline (NMP) is the government’s pioneering initiative and a step in the right direction to establish a medium-term pipeline along with a roadmap for “monetization ready” assets.
Covid pandemic and its effect on economic activity in the country
- Need of infrastructure investment: With the COVID taking an unprecedented toll on the economic activity in the country, significantly enhanced level of infrastructure investment is required for reviving growth.
- Sustainable infrastructure systems: Covid has also bought to fore, the need for resilient, sustainable and advanced infrastructure systems.
- Need for Long-term capital: Investing huge sums into creating world class infrastructure will lead to a high trajectory of growth, but this essentially hinges on availability of long-term capital at scale.
- Financing of infrastructure thus requires a diversified set of alternatives, especially so in economies at the cusp of transformation such as India.
- Meeting the required scale of infrastructure spending can only be made possible through a re-imagined approach.
In this context, Asset Monetization merits a seat on the table.
What is Asset Monetization?
- In asset monetization, the government parts with its assets — such as roads, coal mines — for a specified period of time in exchange for a lump sum payment.
- At the end of the period, the assets return to the government. Unlike in privatization, no sale of government assets is involved.
- By monetizing assets it has already built, the government can earn revenues to build more infrastructures.
- Asset monetization will happen mainly in three sectors: roads, railways and power.
- Other assets to be monetized include: airports, ports, telecom, stadiums and power transmission.
What is the objective of Asset recycling and monetization?
Asset recycling and monetization serves two critical objectives –
1) Firstly, it unlocks value from public investment in infrastructure, and;
2) Secondly, it taps private sector efficiencies in operations and management of infrastructure.
How it is different from privatization?
- In privatization, there involves sale of public assets to private sector like land, Public Sector Enterprises, etc. But this is not the case with asset monetization.
- Government doesn’t transfer ownership of assets to private entities in asset monetization.
- Asset Monetization at its core, is a distinct shift from ‘privatization’ and ‘slump sale’ of assets to ‘structured partnerships’ with private sector within defined contractual frameworks.
- The driver for Asset Monetization is beyond its fiscal impact.
- It is not just a funding mechanism, but an overall paradigm shift in infrastructure operations, augmentation and maintenance.
Why private sector is important in infrastructure development?
- India has made massive strides in creating a mesh of infrastructure through flagship build-out programmes in recent years.
- For most sectors, this has been driven by the public sector or public funding. Today, India holds one of the largest brownfield stocks of fixed assets in the world.
- However, while public sector can build infrastructure, it is rarely able to run it efficiently. It is a widely accepted fact the private sector has much greater resource efficiencies, when it comes to developing and managing infrastructure.
- Increasingly, therefore, government looks to partner with the private sector as a partner. However, for effective co-working between the public and private sector, PPP models are now demanding a reboot.
India and PPP ecosystem
- India has a robust PPP ecosystem involving institutional mechanisms, model contractual frameworks, regime of standards and financing institutions.
- Concepts such as preservation of ownership with government, transfer back of asset at the end of concession and key Performance Indicators are well engrained in our PPP eco-system.
- However, over the last few years there has been reduced appetite of private sector and debt financiers for Greenfield infrastructure.
- This necessitates innovative mechanisms, structured around mature brownfield assets, for tapping private investment.
- Asset Monetization, therefore strives to tilt the axis from greenfield to brownfield models.
- Increased appetite for brownfield assets is evidenced by the flow of private and institutional capital into sectors such as roads, power and telecom.
- Private sector has very effectively utilized risk managed structures to monetize assets such as toll roads, transmission towers, pipelines and telecom towers thus bringing in a new investor class into India’s Infrastructure.
Recent successful examples of asset monetization:
- From the public sector, NHAI has monetized close to 1,400 km of toll roads through TOT concessions and has raised Rs. 17,000 crore.
- Powergid successfully launched the first ever public sector InvIT monetizing its first batch of transmission assets and raising Rs. 7,700 crore.
- Airports Authority of India successfully monetized 6 brownfield AAI airports through OMDA model raising upfront proceed and private investment towards augmentation of the airports.
- Indian Railways also launched the strategic foray into PPP in station redevelopment and running of passenger trains.
Role of Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) & Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
- Innovative structured vehicles such as Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) & Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are a capital market play.
- They are created and operated under the regulatory framework of SEBI and targets pooled long term capital.
- Since the launch of regulations for these vehicles by SEBI in year 2014, India’s private sector has very effectively unlocked its invested equity by employing these vehicles and bringing in capital from global pension and sovereign funds.
- Assets Under Management (AUM) of Rs. 1 lakh crore from the private sector alone, is held by these vehicles.
- Through the Asset Monetization programme, public sector entities will also tap into long term institutional capital and build on the recent success of PowerGrid’s InvIT.
- More importantly, India’s common public can also invest in InvITs and REITs as retail investors.
- These models interest a different investor class comprising of global pension and sovereign wealth funds and also retail investors.
- The SEBI Regulations bring transparency for investors and also efficiency in asset management.
What is National Monetization Pipeline (NMP)?
- The NMP comprises a four-year pipeline of the Central Government’s brownfield infrastructure assets.
- It will serve as a medium-term roadmap for the Asset Monetization initiative of the government, apart from providing visibility for the investors.
- Incidentally, the 2021-22 Union Budget, laid a lot of emphasis on Asset Monetization as a means to raise innovative and alternative financing for infrastructure.
- It has to be noted that the government views asset monetization as a strategy for the augmentation and maintenance of infrastructure, and not just a funding mechanism.
Framework
The framework for core asset monetization has three key imperatives:
- The pipeline has been prepared based on inputs and consultations from respective line ministries and departments, along with the assessment of total asset base available therein.
- Monetization through disinvestment and monetization of non-core assets have not been included in the NMP.
- Further, currently, only assets of central government line ministries and CPSEs in infrastructure sectors have been included.
- Process of coordination and collation of asset pipeline from states is currently ongoing and the same is envisaged to be included in due course.
Estimated Potential
- The aggregate asset pipeline under NMP over the four-year period, FY 2022-2025, is indicatively valued at Rs 6.0 lakh crore.
- The estimated value corresponds to ~14% of the proposed outlay for Centre under NIP (Rs 43 lakh crore). This includes more than 12-line ministries and more than 20 asset classes.
- The sectors included are roads, ports, airports, railways, warehousing, gas & product pipeline, power generation and transmission, mining, telecom, stadium, hospitality and housing.
- The top 5 sectors (by estimated value) capture ~83% of the aggregate pipeline value. These top 5 sectors include: Roads (27%) followed by Railways (25%), Power (15%), oil & gas pipelines (8%) and Telecom (6%).
Implementation & Monitoring Mechanism
- As an overall strategy, significant share of the asset base will remain with the government.
- The programme is envisaged to be supported through necessary policy and regulatory interventions by the Government in order to ensure an efficient and effective process of asset monetisation.
- These will include streamlining operational modalities, encouraging investor participation and facilitating commercial efficiency, among others.
- Real time monitoring will be undertaken through a separate dashboard.
What are the challenges involved?
- Realizing adequate value: The First and foremost criticism is whether adequate value from the assets will be realized or not.
- This depends on the quality of the bidding process and whether enough private players are attracted to bid.
- Ensuring sufficient participation from bidders: The only way of ensuring that asset monetization doesn’t lead to cronyism is to make the bidding conditions such that the people eligible to bid are not a small, predetermined set.
- However, because of the capital intensity of the project, not everybody is going to be able to bid. Even so, you can ensure that there is sufficient participation.
- Execution Risk: There will be execution risk in such a large programme. However, this is exactly why NMP is not adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Issue of Taxpayers’ Money: The taxpayers have already paid for these public assets — and, so, why should they pay again to a private party to use them.
- Suboptimal Contractual Enforcement: A criticism is born out of scepticism about a sub-optimal contractual and judicial framework to make such a plan a success.
- Monopolistic Outlook: A few business houses will corner the bulk of the assets offered under NMP.
- Right and targeted policy planning and implementation: There is a need to systematically adopt these initiatives across varied asset classes and streamline the frameworks and modalities of such alternatives in a programmatic manner which can be readily absorbed, evaluated and replicated.
- Involvement of states: Any of the center’s objectives can’t go in full throttle without apt cooperation from the states. The growth of the states is a precondition for the overall growth of India.
Conclusion
- A well laid out pipeline gives a comprehensive view to investors & developers of brown-field investment avenues in Infrastructure and helps them plan their fund raising and due-diligence activities.
- A diverse and sustained National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) not only provides visibility to the investors on potential financing opportunities but also driving preparedness of public authorities to structure and launch transactions in a systematic and transparent manner.
- Contribution of States is essential: States are an equal partner in India’s Infrastructure story. India cannot grow faster unless states grow at higher rates and hence there is a need to work closely with states.
- States, too present a significant potential for leveraging assets such as tolled State Highways, Transmission towers, discoms, bus terminals, sports stadiums and state warehouses to mobilize capital for Infrastructure investment which can have multiplier effects on the state economies.
- Recognizing the criticality of enhanced capital expenditure, the “Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure” to boost capital expenditure by state governments reeling under the financial impact of COVID-19 pandemic, is a path breaking measure.
- Under the Scheme, incentive is provided to the States in the form of 50-year interest free loan.
- In order to give the needed fillip to the monetization initiative, following three aspects need concerted efforts and interventions.
- Firstly, a relentless focus on implementation is the key.
- Secondly developing brownfield models and frameworks will provide the needed pace.
- Lastly, driving states and partnering with them in undertaking monetization in a structured manner.
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Streak Daily Compilation of Questions & Videos – Sep 25, 2021
Maintaining consistency is one of the biggest issues faced by IAS Aspirants. Streak’s initiative is to help Aspirants in their day-to-day preparation. You can follow the monthly, weekly, and daily timetables and continue this streak until you find yourself on the final list.
Please register for Streak Initiative (free) through this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/streak-daily-initiative/
You will get following study material:-
- Questions (PDF).
- RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
- Burning issue (PDF).
- Subject specific (PDF).
- Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.
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UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Geography – by Sukanya Rana
Q1) Consider the following statements with respective to Chambal River
1. It is the biggest tributary of Yamuna and largest of the rivers flowing through Rajasthan.
2. It is the natural habitat for Gangetic Dolphin and Freshwater Gharials.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Q2) Consider the following statements with respective to Heat Dome
1. It is essentially a mountain of warm air built into a very wavy jet stream, with extreme undulations.
2. It develops when there is a large poleward shift in the jet stream.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Q3) Consider the following statements with respective to Trojan Asteroids
1. It is a type of Asteroid that shares an orbit with a larger planet.
2. NASA has reported the presence of Jupiter, Neptune and Mars Trojans and an Earth Trojan as well.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Q4) Which of the following are the main factors governing inter-annual variations of South West Monsoon?
1. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
2. North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)
3. Pacific Decadal Oscillations (PDO)
4. El Nino Southern oscillation (ENSO)
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a. 4 only
b. 1 and 4 only
c. 1, 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
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How toppers improved over time? A Case study of 5 toppers
The UPSC results for 2020 are out and 25 out of the top 100 rankers were from Civilsdaily! Not only that, more than 78 (still counting) students from Civilsdaily secured ranks and cracked the exam! As we congratulate our toppers, we would like to share with you how we helped our students succeed.
We will take the example of 4 of our toppers and explain how we helped them. Download and read their answers before they joined Civilsdaily.
They had tried everything but were not able to score high in the exams. From their approach to answering to the body of answers, they faced problems. They faced problems with things like putting proper headings, how to frame dimensions, introductions, conclusions, etc. They never even got the right feedback which could have helped them!
The first thing we did was ‘unlearning.’ We identified the mistakes they were doing, the poor reading practices they had, and all the wrong ideas they had learned from other sources. Before we helped them learn, we helped them unlearn everything that was not practical.
We personalized their study plan – We believe that each student needs a different approach to study. What to study, what not to study? How to pick the right study material? How to make notes for revisions? How to cope with the syllabus? These questions often come into aspirant’s minds.
We assessed each of our students to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Based on their learning abilities, we created unique study plans for each student. We focused on providing only the most relevant study material so that students can save time and revise more. This helped our rankers understand the concept better and improve their retention abilities through regular revisions.
We personalized their timetable – Every student studies at different times. Some may be in college, some may be working professionals, and some may be preparing full-time. We spoke with each aspirant in detail and created a timetable for them that they can follow easily. Our toppers consistently stuck to that plan and were able to cope with the syllabus easily.
Each student got a dedicated mentor – We believe that every aspirant needs a friend, philosopher, and a guide who can help them throughout their preparation. Each of our students gets a mentor who speaks with them, evaluates their progress, guides them, and helps them remain motivated. We provided them with a support structure that understands the students and cares for them.
Download and read how their answers improved after guidance from our mentors.
Our mentors make sure that each student keeps progressing every day. And all our students need to do is stick to the study plan to get the top results.
Our mentorship program is becoming more efficient every day. We had 15 in the top 100 in UPSC 2019. Now, we have 25 in the top 100 in 2020. Our mentorship program is getting results because we care for each of our students and work with them every single day!
Trust in our process and you will succeed, just like our toppers! Register now to speak with our mentors and get the perfect guidance for your exam.