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Prelims is almost here. Preparation would be at full swing. It goes without saying, you have to best utilize these ten weeks to maximize your score in prelims and crack it without any hiccups. As time is of essence, I would not waste any more time on introduction and niceties and come straight to the task at hand. And the task is how to best utilize these last 10 weeks and how to approach prelims paper.

This blog is primarily based on a talk delivered at Visionias. Here I would add to those points and give more examples to drive home the essence of the entire talk.

First thing first, nobody can afford to flunk CSAT paper. There is simply no excuse for flunking that paper. To make sure, you don’t flunk the paper, just solve last 4 years UPSC CSAT papers, match your answers with official answer keys and if you score >90 <24 marks cushion over cutoff to discount for a tough paper and bad day> in all 4 papers, you need not touch CSAT.

If you are scoring <80, you need to do some work. You can decide for yourself what needs to be done if you score b/w 80-90.

With CSAT out of the way and whole game being based on general studies, our task in these last 10 weeks is to organize our studies in such a way that examination feels like an extension of our daily routine and we can score maximum marks.

By now, most of you would already have done at least one reading of all the standard books <NCERTs plus Laxmikant, any one book for modern India, G.C Leong, climatology part, Highlights of budget and Eco survey, Current affairs at least from jan to may and later june>. If not, don’t waste any time and finish these books first.

Before moving forward, I take it that basic books are done.

Now some Do’s and Don’ts

Prioritize – Don’t spend disproportionate time on one or two particular subjects or topics <often aspirants spend too much time on art and culture and Environment and ecology with very poor return on your invested time>. Please remember it’s okay to leave a few questions. No body gets all 100 correct and all the questions are of equal marks. So, if you get easy questions wrong and difficult ones correct, it’s not gonna help you.

For instance, You can not get this question incorrect

To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India” is a provision made in the

(a) Preamble of the Constitution
(b) Directive Principles of State Policy
(c) Fundamental Rights
(d) Fundamental Duties

Or This

Which one of the following is the best description of the term ‘ecosystem’?

(a) A community of organisms interacting with one another.
(b) That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living organisms.
(c) A community of organisms together with the environment in which they live
(d) The flora and fauna of a geographical area

Or Fortaleza declaration or non plan expenditure, repo rate, Basel Committee, Cabinet Mission Plan, Rowlatt Satyagraha etc.

Marking them incorrect is simply criminal and punishment is 1 year rigorous jail term

But it’s okay if you got this wrong

Kalamkari painting refers to

(a) a hand-painted cotton textile in South India
(b) a handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North-East India
(c) a block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region of India
(d) a hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India

Or This

Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical  Indication’ status?

1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3. Tirupathi Laddu

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)  1 only
(b) 2 and  3 only
(c) 1 only 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

You just can not remember all the things that have been accorded GI tag. If your guess turn out to be right, well and good, if not, don’t be too livid on yourself.

Always remember not all questions are doable, your 1st aim should be to mark all doable questions correctly.

2. Solving Question papers– Solve at least 2 papers every week till last Sunday of UPSC <1 test series paper and 1 past year UPSC paper>.  There’s no harm in solving 4 papers every week either. You know where to get papers from <you know all about copyrights law enforcement in India, I am not getting paid by coaching industry, wasn’t paid by vision either, no conflict of interest>

Analysis of paper -But just solving isn’t enough. Analyse the paper. Analyse your mistakes. Jot them down in your notebook <doesn’t matter if you have to jot down 80 mistakes>.  You would soon realize there’s pattern to your mistakes. Rectify the though process which makes you commit those mistakes.

Go back to standard books and read the topics which you find yourself weak at and improve upon them.

Demolish the myth of negative marking holding you back– In the question paper itself, mark those questions which you are not 100% or even 80% sure <this 100%, 80% is subjective, we all know> and see if marking them benefits you or harm you. Also you would get the knack of marking dicey options correctly.  <this exercise is very important, as many of the questions which we solve by calculated guesses turn out to be correct but we attribute them to our knowledge while all the wrong ones are attributed to guesses and then we trash this whole exercise of calculated/ informed guessing>

Practice elimination method and informed guessing

For instance, if the question is-

• Which of the following country is not a member of Mercosur
• Options are – Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico

Now even if you don’t remember much about Mercosur but could recall reading about it in an article about trading blocks at CD, you would be able to vaguely remember that it had members from South America and Mexico is in central America or North but not in South so this could be the answer.

Very conservatives among you would not mark such options but IMHO, one should definitely mark such options. It’s not tukka, it’s not cheating. It’s calculated/ informed guessing.

But in exam you may develop cold feet while marking such options, hence it;s important you apply this in test papers, see the benefits for yourself and become confident.

Similarly sometimes you would be able to eliminate two options, it’s advisable to mark a tukka b/w the two options <You can do the math of probablity for CSAT>

Consider this question (Pre 2015)

Consider the following statements

1. The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.
2. The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

• Everyone should know that 1st statement is incorrect <if you don’t know this, no need to do PHD in art and culture but immediately go back to Laxmikant>
• Statement 2 even if you don’t know IMO, you should mark either b or d after doing akkad bakkad bambe bo <you can do the math of probability>

What if you are able to eliminate one option?

You should mark based on your preparation and risk appetite

For instance this question ( Pre 2015)

In the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight?

(a) Coal production
(b) Electricity generation
(c) Fertilizer production
(d) Steel production

Anyone with slightest knowledge, commonsense and logic can easily eliminate fertilizer <agriculture’s contribution to GDP <18%, fertilizer ka kitna hoga> with  more logic you can reach to electricity, I applied but reached to steel and my answer turned out to be incorrect <don’t mark in 1/3 if you feel you are comfortable in prelims, no point in going for glory>

In tests as also in exam, read every question and every option carefully. Don’t leave a question even if you don’t have much idea about without reading the options. Apply all your previous knowledge and all the logic at your disposal to see if you can arrive at correct answer or if you can eliminate at least two options.

For instance this question (prelims 2015)

Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept’?

(a) Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others
(b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost
(c) Earmarking  some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds
(d) Identifying the entrepreneurs in village and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies

Many of you would leave this question just after reading seed village concept. I didn’t have any idea either. But let’s read the options

• 1st options seems like a BS option. Why should anyone discourage farmers from buying seeds from others if they are of good quality
• 3rd option, is it even possible to earmark some villages exclusively for seed production i.e leave your animal husbandry, farming, other activities just produce seeds.
• Now you can choose from b and d. In the exam I chose d which was incorrect but the point I am trying to make is don’t move without reading all the options

Some important red flags which should alert you to the possibility of statement being wrong. In such situations, you should pause and think about that possibility. I am not saying that statement with red flags would always be incorrect, what I am saying is you should pause and think about that possibility.

Such red flags are

• Broad sweeping statements – all, always, only
• Unnecessary negative sentence which seems odd or seems logically incorrect
• Too much over exaggeration

Now I discuss such statements and questions asked in last year’s exam

1. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, consider the following statements:

1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.
2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Discussion- Look at the statement 2 –Maritime security only. You should observe this and think if it can be false. It’s actually false as this organization has noting to do with security <economy actually>. Also if it had to focus on maritime security only statement could have been, It is an alliance meant for maritime security.  <ye to nhi likha hoga naa that can’t talk about anything except security>

Now look at the statement one – very recently <could it not be recently, it’s a very lame reason actually> but you should think, be skeptic, mark them right if you are sure they are right.

Also statement 1 and 2 contradict each other. Accident of oil spills are not related to maritime security.

Imp.- You should know that this organization is focused on economy and both the statements become incorrect automatically and no such tikdam required

2. With reference to inflation in India, which of the following statements is correct?

(a) Controlling the inflation in India is the responsibility of the Government of India only
(b) The Reserve Bank of India has no role in controlling the inflation
(c) Decreased money circulation helps in controlling the inflation
(d) Increased money circulation helps in controlling the inflation

• Option 1 only should make you think, <it’s logical that inflation would be the responsibility of both govt and RBI, yes primary responsibility of RBI but even only RBI would be incorrect>
• Also if statement one is true, two has to be true and both can’t be true simultaneously <single choice answer>
• Statement c and d are opposite so one has to be true unless money supply has no role in inflation

Note– Very easy question, done your NCERT, solved all economy questions I solved for you in the forum, no need for any tikdam

3. With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following  statements:

1.The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by a fungal inoculum.
2. Ammonia and water vapour are the only end products in this decomposition which are released into the atmosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Option 2- why only water vapour and NH3, why not CO2 and other gases. Stands to reason. Again it should make you think. You should not mark a statement incorrect just because you see only.

Note- I don’t think anyone would remember all the gases which are released so this question is apt to be solved by our tikdam after thinking about the statement

4. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)?

1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government.
2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.

Look at the exaggeration in the statement 2. High advanced scientific research with highly advanced foreign institutions. This made me think and I recalled that NIF was actually for grass root level innovation. Again the point is I knew about NIF but I was still going with the flow and marked the option as correct until I focused on exaggeration. So, imp think is stopping and thinking

NOTE- Knowing about NIF was imp. These tikdams work only when you are well prepared.

5. With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.
2. Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement concrete.
3. Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.

Look at the statement 3. Why can’t there be anything else in fly ash? I didn’t know much about that but I thought if that was the case, they should have written made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide, what was the need of silly only?

6. With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/an; correct?

1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
2. It is found along the entire coast of India.
3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only

Look at the statement 2. It should at least make you think, at least 1 km stretch mein to nhi milta hoga. Now you can say what if the statement was deer is found everywhere in India?? Tikdam is only to stop you and make you consider the other possibility

Some questions where logic can help you

7. Which one of the following issues the ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report periodically?

(a) The Asian Development Bank
(b) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(c) The US Federal Reserve Bank
(d) The World Bank

Global report should be published by a global body, right. You can easily rule out Fed and European Bank. Asian bank can also be ruled out similarly <though there is a possibility of even regional institutions publishing global reports>

8. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a Public Limited Government Company.
2. It is a Non – Banking Financial Company.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 or 2

Option 1 you can mark correct by name of agency, option 2 if you know it’s function

9. Kalamkari painting refers to

(a) a hand-painted cotton textile in South India
(b) a handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North-East India
(c) a block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region of India
(d) a hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India

Kalam means pen, option c is easily incorrect but if you don’t know difficult to mark in 1/3

10. Consider the following statements :

1 The Legislative Council of a State in India can be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular State
2. The Governor of a State nominates the Chairman of Legislative Council of that particular State.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

If you don’t remember the exact provisions, think what would be the purpose of making a law if size could be more than half. If it can be more than half, it can be anything. Provisions are made to limit size (<15% size of CoM, <1/3 size of councils>

Note- Again better to know exact provisions so that tikdam is needed only in difficult questions

11. With reference to Indian economy, consider the following statements:

1. The rate of growth of Real Gross Domestic Product has steadily increased in the last decade.
2. The Gross Domestic Product at  market prices (in rupees) has steadily increased in the last
decade.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c)  Both 1 and 2
(d)  Neither 1 nor 2

I don’t need to say anything about this question. Whether you know anything or not, this question can not be marked incorrect

12. The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of

(a) an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence
(b) India’s satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim
(c) a scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region
(d) India’s underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region

Name se clear hai India and Arctic. option D

13. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

(a) Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
(b) Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
(c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
(d) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Whenever Bt cotton or BT brinjal issue comes up, environment ministry pange karti so obviously EPA

Note– This should be known so no need for tikdam

14. With reference to the Union Government, consider the following  statements 

1. The Department of  Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget that is presented to the Parliament.
2. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without the authorization from the Parliament of India.
3.  All the disbursements made from Public Account also need the authorization from the Parliament of India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Apply all and no principle, think. If you mark it incorrect without thinking, you would be wrong. If you stop and think you would realize statement 2 is correct, If you don’t know you would mark statement 3 also as correct which is a incorrect statement

Moral of the story-  Red flags are to make you stop and think, not for marking indiscriminately

15. With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential elements of the feudal system?

1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority
2. Emergence  of administrative structure based on control and possession of land
3. Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c)  3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Statement 1, see the exaggeration. Very strong, very weak. It’s a red flag. Pause and think. If you think, you would realize it actually makes sense, correct statement but if you mark indiscriminately based on red flags only, you would be in trouble

16. With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

(a) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubneshwar
(b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
(c) Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram
(d) varaha Image at Udayagiri

Eliminate option 1, temple would not be constructed before rock cut architecture. This is the question, you can mark incorrect. No need to go after such questions. It’s important to focus on high yielding topics.

Some questions from prelims 2014

1. The scientific view is that the increase in global temperature should not exceed 2 °C above pre-industrial level. If the global temperature increases beyond 3 °C above the pre-industrial level, what can be its possible impact/impacts on the world?

1. Terrestrial biosphere tends toward a net carbon source
2. Widespread coral mortality will occur.
3. All the global wetlands will permanently disappear.
4. Cultivation of cereals will not be possible anywhere in the world.

Look at option 3 and 4 <all, anywhere> Pause and think, obviously incorrect

2. Consider the following countries:

1. Denmark
2. Japan
3. Russian Federation
4. United Kingdom
5. United States of America

Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council ‘?

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 3 and 5

Everyone would know UK is incorrect. Choice b/w option a and d that is b/w USA and Japan. Even if you don’t know anything tukka laga do

3. Which reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2. It is fueled by liquid propellant only.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.

Statement 2, pause and think, it could be correct also. actually it’s incorrect. Statement 3 is also incorrect <even Agni 5 does not have that much range>

4. With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coal bed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the following ‘statements:

1. Coal bed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
2. In India abundant coal bed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found

Look at the statement 1 only, pause and think why only propane and butane. Actually mainly methane hota hai

Similarly statement 2, no shale gas source, not even one? pause and think

5. Consider the following international agreements:

1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
3. The World Heritage Convention

Which of the above has / have a bearing on the biodiversity?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2. and 3

Common sense, all 3, statement 1 mentions genetic, statement 2 desert, statement 3 heritage, natural heritage sites

6. What are the significance of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as ‘Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative’?

1. Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
2. Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.
3. There is no application of chemical/ inorganic fertilizers at all in this.
4. The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 1, 2 and 4 only
3. 2, 3 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Statement 3, no chemicals, none at all, pause and think, this could be true but read the question again practical method. <practical mein to thoda scope hoga hi chemicals ka>

7. Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganges River Dolphins?

1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers
2. Increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers
3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally
4. Use of synthetic fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Look at option 2, pause and think, crocodile seriously?

I think, with these examples it would be amply clear that one need to finish basic books, read questions and options carefully, pause and think when red flags so indicate, practice test papers, revise weaker topics etc. etc.

What to do in Exam Hall

1. Don’t go in the exam hall with any pre-conceived notion of number of questions to be attempted. Attempt as many as you know, make informed guesses, use elimination method, mark where you are able to eliminate two options
2. Don’t speculate cut off in the exam hall itself. Your task is to maximize your score. 10 extra marks wouldn’t hurt you
3. Don’t make mistakes in bubbling the circles <keep ample time for that>

What not to do after Prelims 

1. Don’t engage in futile speculation of cutoff
2. Don’t try to correct your wrong answers by sending 100 URLs to your friends
3. Take a few days break and start studying for mains

My prelims marks 

• 2015 – 142 + 182 <rank 20>
• 2014 – 125 +157/ 175 <interview, back to square one>
• 2013 – 118 +192 <interview, back to square one> <2013 and 2014 marks could be +- 2 either side>

P.S. As I have clearly said, there’s no substitute for hard work and studying standard books. Once you are done with them, practicing papers help in knowing our weak areas and taking corrective steps. Red flags and tikdams are like check lists which enable us to pause and rethink and prevent us from making mistakes

P.P.S.  Constructive criticism is welcome but please don’t get personal. Leave a comment if you appreciate the article. Too lazy to leave a comment, just order a pizza for me.

Best Luck

---

 

From Civilsdaily

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This lecture is meant to help students relax and overcome anxious thoughts.

Please note down the tips and make sure to practice them.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph59h_BZrzE

 

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1.RISAT-2B: An all-seeing radar imaging satellite

• he PSLV-C46 is set to launch RISAT-2B from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

RISAT Constellation

• RISAT-2B, short for “Radar Imaging Satellite-2B”, is the second in a series of satellites used to observe weather conditions on Earth using radar imagery.
• RISAT-2 was the first satellite in the series, launched for the purpose of surveillance. RISAT-1 was launched later, to become India’s first all-weather radar imaging satellite.
• RISAT-2B is to be followed by RISAT-2BR1, 2BR2, RISAT-1A, 1B, 2A and so on.
• ISRO orbited its first two radar satellites in 2009 & 2012 and it plans to deploy four or five of them in 2019 alone.
• A constellation of such space-based radars means a comprehensive vigil over the country.
• Once operational, the satellite will be capable of monitoring weather day and night, in all weather conditions.

2.Phase 4 of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)

• The Union Cabinet has approved ongoing GSLV continuation programme Phase-4 consisting of five GSLV flights during the period 2021-2024.
• The will enable the launch of 2 tonne class of satellites for Geo-imaging, Navigation, Data Relay Communication and Space Sciences.
• It will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency up to two launches per year, with maximal participation by the Indian industry.

About GSLV

• GSLV Continuation Programme was initially sanctioned in 2003, and two phases have been completed and the third phase is in progress and expected to be completed by Q4 of 2020-21.
• GSLV has enabled independent access to space for 2 tonne class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• One of the significant outcomes of the GSLV Continuation Programme is the mastering of the highly complex cryogenic propulsion technology, which is an essential technological capability to launch communication satellites to GTO.
• This has also paved the way for the development of a high thrust Cryogenic engine & stage for the next generation launch vehicle i.e. GSLV Mk-lll.
• With the recent successful launch of GSLV-F11 on 19th December 2018, GSLV has successfully orbited 10 national satellites.
• GSLV with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage has established itself as a reliable launch vehicle for communication, navigation and meteorological satellites and also to undertake future interplanetary missions.

3.Mission Shakti (Anti-Satellite Missile Test)

• In an incremental advance, India has successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile test, named Mission Shakti.
• India becomes the fourth country in the world to demonstrate the capability to shoot down satellites in orbit.
• So far, only the United States, Russia and China have this prowess.

Mission Shakti

• While Mission Shakti may have targeted an object in outer space, India has long developed the ability to intercept incoming missiles.
• In 2011, a modified Prithvi missile mimicked the trajectory of a ballistic missile with a 600-km range.
• The DRDO-developed Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor Missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a ‘Hit to Kill’ mode.
• The interceptor missile was a three-stage missile with two solid rocket boosters.

4.Young Scientist Programme (YUVIKA)

Young Scientist Programme

• ISRO has launched a special programme for School Children called “Young Scientist Programme” “YUva VIgyani KAryakram from this year.
• The Program is primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger ones with the intent of arousing their interest in the emerging areas of Space activities.
• The residential training programme will be of around two weeks duration during summer holidays and it is proposed to select 3 students each from each State/ UTs to participate in this programme covering state, CBSE, and ICSE syllabus.
• Those who have just finished 9th standard (in the academic year 2018-19) and waiting to join 10th standard (or those who have started 10th Std just now) will be eligible for the programme.
• The selection will be based on the 8th Std marks.
• Students belonging to the rural area have been given special weightage in the selection criteria.

5.PSLV-C45/ Emisat Mission

• For the sheer number of ‘firsts’ to its credit, the scheduled PSLV-C45/Emisat mission scheduled will be a memorable one for the ISRO.

PSLV-C45/Emisat

• C-45, which is set for lift-off from the second launchpad at Sriharikota, will mark the 47th flight of the PSLV.
• It is meant for electromagnetic spectrum measurements, according to the ISRO.
• It will be released into an orbit at 749 km.
• EMISAT is primarily based on on the famous Israeli spy satellite called SARAL or (Satellite with ARgos and ALtika), and inherits its SSB-2 bus protocol for conducting sharp electronic surveillance across the length and breadth of India.
• The satellite would serve as the country’s roving device for detecting and gathering electronic intelligence from enemy radars across the borders as it circles the globe roughly pole to pole every 90 minutes or so.
• For the third successive PSLV mission, the ISRO plans to reuse the rocket’s spent fourth stage or PS4 to host short experiments.

6.ISRO, French agency to set up maritime surveillance system

• ISRO and its French counterpart CNES has sealed an agreement to set up a joint maritime surveillance system in the country.
• The two nations will explore putting up a constellation of low-Earth orbiting satellites.

Oceansat-3-Argos Mission

• The system will be augmented with the launch of Oceansat-3-Argos mission in 2020 along with a joint infrared Earth-observation satellite.
• These will identify and track movement of ships globally – and in particular those moving in the Indian Ocean region where France has its Reunion Islands.
• Before that, they will initially share data from their present space systems and develop new algorithms to analyse them, according to the Paris based National Centre for Space Studies.
• They work together for the design and development of joint products and techniques, including those involving Automatic Identification System (AIS), to monitor and protect the assets in land and sea.

7. Use of Space Technology in Agriculture Sector

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has been pro-active in using the space technology in agricultural sector. Take a look of various initiative in the aid of farmers:

Various institutional measures

1. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare established a Centre, called Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre, in 2012.
2. It works for operationalization of the space technology developed in the Indian Space Research Organization, for crop production forecasting.
3. The Soil and Land Use Survey of India uses satellite data for soil resources mapping.

8.India’s communication satellite GSAT-31 launched successfully

GSAT-31

1. It was launched in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 250 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 35,850 km, inclined at an angle of 3.0 degree to the equator.
2. With a lift-off mass of 2536 kg, GSAT-31 will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit.
3. The satellite will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.
4. GSAT-31 will provide DTH Television Services, connectivity to VSATs for ATM, Stock-exchange, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and e-governance applications.
5. The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunication applications.
6. It is the India’s 40th communication satellite which is configured on ISRO’s enhanced ‘I-2K Bus’, utilising the maximum “bus capabilities” of this type.

9.ISRO launches Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru

Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC)

1. The HSFC, the hub of ISRO’s future manned missions, was inaugurated at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru.
2. Announced on August 15 2018, the country’s first crewed mission is set to happen by 2022, the 75th year of Independence.
3. HSFC shall be responsible for the implementation of Gaganyaan project — which involves mission planning, development of engineering systems for crew survival in space, crew selection and training and also pursue activities for sustained human space flight missions.
4. HSFC will take the support of ISRO centres to implement the first developmental [crewed] flight.

10.ISRO’s first mission of 2019 to put military satellite Microsat-R in space

• ISRO’s first mission of 2019 will put into space a 130-kg military imaging satellite, Microsat-R.
• C-44 will be launched from the older First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

 Details of Launch

1. The satellite would be placed within 15 minutes after take-off in a polar orbit 274 km away from Earth.
2. This is much lower than any of its civil Earth observation spacecraft, which fly pole to pole over the globe at between 400 km and 700 km.

Payload Details

Microsat-R

1. Microsat-R and its payload come assembled from a handful of laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
2. It is meant for military use.
3. The satellite was assembled outside and ISRO only interfaced it” with its own systems and the launch vehicle, just as it treats any customer satellite.

11.Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training Programme of ISRO

NNATI Programme

1. It is a capacity building programme on Nanosatellite development.
2. It is an initiative by ISRO to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space (UNISPACE-50).
3. The programme provides opportunities to the participating developing countries to strengthen in assembling, integrating and testing of Nanosatellite.
4. UNNATI programme is planned to be conducted for 3 years by U.R. Rao Satellite Centre of ISRO in 3 batches and will target to benefit officials of 45 countries.

About UNISPACE+50

1. It is an event marking the 50th year of the first UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
2. It is an initiative of United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
3. Three such conferences held earlier recognized the potential of space and laid the guidelines for human activities and international cooperation related to outer space.

11.ISRO successfully launches hyperspectral imaging satellite HysIS

HysIS

1. HysIS stands for Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite.
2. The objective of the probe is to provide observations within the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
3. The imaging tools will help the HysIS satellite monitor atmospheric activity and climate change, while also assisting studies of Earth’s magnetic field.
4. These observations will have a host of applications, prime among which relate to agriculture, forestry, water management, and coastal patterns.
5. The satellite’s payload also consists of a 730W power backup, and a 64Ah Li-ion battery.
6. It will continue to make observations till 2023, when the mission ends.
7. After this launch, the next big event for the Indian space organisation will be its awaited mission to the moon – Chandrayaan-2 – in early 2019.

12.GROWTH-India telescope’s first science observation

GROWTH-India Telescope

1. The GROWTH-India telescope was commissioned six months ago soon after which it saw first light, on the night of June 12.
2. It is part of a multi-country collaborative initiative – known as the Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) – to observe transient events in the universe.
3. The fully robotic telescope is designed to capture cosmic events occurring over relatively shorter periods of the cosmological timescale: years, days and even hours.
4. Universities and research institutes from the US, the UK, Japan, India, Germany, Taiwan and Israel are part of the initiative.
5. Their primary research objective is time-domain astronomy, which entails the study of explosive transients and variable sources (of light and other radiation) in the universe.

13.ISRO telemedicine nodes for soldiers in high-altitude areas

Telemedicine Nodes by ISRO

1. In a major effort to improve emergency medical support to soldiers posted in high-altitude areas, especially Siachen, the Integrated Defence Staff of the Defence Ministry and the ISRO signed a MoU to set up telemedicine nodes in critical places across the country.
2. ISRO will establish 53 more nodes in the first phase over and above the existing 20, in various establishments of the Army, Navy and Air Force across the country.

14.Chandrayaan-1 data confirms presence of ice on Moon: NASA

NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) is testimony

1. M3, aboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, launched in 2008 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was uniquely equipped to confirm the presence of solid ice on the Moon.
2. Scientists used data from NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument to identify three specific signatures that definitively prove there is water ice at the surface of the Moon.
3. It collected data that not only picked up the reflective properties we would expect from ice, but was also able to directly measure the distinctive way its molecules absorb infrared light, so it can differentiate between liquid water or vapour and solid ice.
4. Most of the new-found water ice lies in the shadows of craters near the poles, where the warmest temperatures never reach above minus 156 degrees Celsius.
5. Due to the very small tilt of the Moon’s rotation axis, sunlight never reaches these regions.

15.ISRO set to launch its TV channel

1. The ISRO is all set for a year-long Vikram Sarabhai centenary celebration starting in August 2019 to honour the visionary scientist and its legendary founding father.
2. In a few months’ time, it plans to roll out a dedicated ISRO TV channel showcasing space applications, developments and science issues, targeting young viewers and people in remote areas in their language.

Satellite launches now open to public

1. As it strengthens its public outreach, ISRO will shortly start allowing the public to watch satellite launches from its Sriharikota launch centre.
2. Selected students of classes 8 to 10 will be the trained at ISRO for a month and taken to various laboratories and centres across the country.

Vikram Sarabhai- the legend

1. Sarabhai, the architect of the Indian space programme, the first ISRO chief and renowned cosmic ray scientist, was born on August 12, 1919.
2. ISRO’s tributes to Sarabhai start with naming the first Indian moon landing spacecraft of the Chandrayaan-2 mission ‘Vikram’.
3. Sarabhai was only 28 when he sowed the seeds of a space agency around the late 1940s and 1950s.

16.Upgraded Vikas engine will soon boost ISRO’s rockets

Adding more thrust

1. The Vikas engine will improve the payload capability of PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk-III launch vehicles.
2. The space agency has improved the thrust of the Vikas engine that powers all of them.

Main beneficiary: GSLV Mk III

1. The main beneficiary of the high-thrust Vikas engine is said to be the heavy-lifting GSLV-Mark III launcher, which ISRO expects will now put 4,000-kg satellites to space.
2. This would be the third Mk-III and the first working one to be designated Mk III Mission-1 or M1.
3. The first MkIII of June 2017 started with a 3,200-kg satellite and the second one is being readied for lifting a 3,500-kg spacecraft.
4. The Vikas engine is used in the second stage of the light lifting PSLV; the second stage and the four add-on stages of the medium-lift GSLV; and the twin-engine core liquid stage of Mk-III.

17.ISRO’s PRL scientists discover an ‘EPIC’ planet

India in elite planet-spotting club

1. A team from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, has spotted for the first time a distant planet six times bigger than Earth and revolving around a Sun-like star about 600 light years away.
2. EPIC 211945201b (or K2-236b) is the name given to the planet by the discovery team. The host star is named EPIC 211945201 or K2-236.
3. With this discovery India has joined a handful of countries which have discovered planets around stars,” PRL’s parent ISRO has announced.
4. The discovery was made using a PRL-designed spectrograph, PARAS, to measure and confirm the mass of the new planet.

About EPIC

1. EPIC was found circling very close to the Sun-like star, going around it once in about 19.5 days and unlikely to be inhabitable because of its high surface temperature of around 600°C.
2. The team found the planet to be smaller in size than Saturn and bigger than Neptune.
3. Its mass is about 27 times Earth’s and six times that of Earth at radius.
4. The scientists estimate that over 60% of its mass could be made up of heavy elements like ice, silicates and iron.

 

1.Phyto-Pharma Plant Mission

Objectives

• Rs 50 crore Mission aimed at conservation and cultivation of endangered and threatened endemic medicinal plants, and discovery of new botanical drugs for unmet medical needs using the rich traditional ethno-botanical knowledge and biodiversity of these states and at the same time also improve availability of authentic and quality botanical raw material on sustainable basis for a boom in the phyto-pharmaceutical industry
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Science & Technology

 

2.Brahmaputra Biodiversity and Biology Boat

Objectives

• B4 will establish a large barge on the river with a well-equipped laboratory for analysis of all components of the entire ecosystem of the river and surroundings. The B4 will link to all the local research institutions along the river, as well as national and international laboratories
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Science & Technology

 

3.Secure Himalaya

Objectives

• To Conserve Snow Leopard, Uplift Mountain Community Launched

 

4.Namami Gange

Objectives

• Aims at Ganga Rejuvenation by combining the existing ongoing efforts and planning under it to create a concrete action plan for future. It is an ambitious Union Government Project which integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a comprehensive manner
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Water resources

 

5.INSPIRE (INNOVATION IN SCIENCE PURSUIT FOR INSPIRED RESEARCH)

Objectives

• To attract talent to Science.
• To communicate to the youth of the country the excitements of creative pursuit of science, attract talent to the study of science at an early age and thus build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the Science & Technology system and R&D base.
• It does not believe in conducting competitive exams for identification of talent at any level.
• It believes in and relies on the efficacy of the existing educational structure for identification of talent.
• INSPIRE has three components:
• i. Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent (SEATS)
• ii. Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)
• iii. Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC)
• The Inspire Awards have been renamed as MANAK

 

6.JIGYASA –

Objectives

• Student-Scientist Connect Programme
• connecting school students and scientists so as to extend student’s classroom learning with that of a very well planned research laboratory based learning.
• CSIR + Kendriya Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)

 

7.VAJRA

Objectives –

• The Government of India recently launched VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty scheme by the Department of Science and Technology which enables NRIs and overseas scientific community to participate and contribute to research and development in India. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body of the Department will implement the Scheme.
• International Faculty / scientists/technologists including Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) / Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) are offered adjunct / visiting faculty positions in Indian Institutions / Universities for a period of 1-3 months under this scheme. The faculty can also undertake the role of teaching /mentoring apart from R&D.
• Public funded institutions and national laboratories are allowed to host the VAJRA faculty.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Science & Technology

7. National Initiative for Developing & Harnessing Innovation (NIDHI)

Objectives

A programme to address the complete chain of innovation ecosystem right from scouting to mentoring to scaling up innovations. launched by DST. Establishment of a research park at IIT Gandhinagar has been supported at a cost of Rs.90 cr.

 

8.Surya Jyoti

Objectives

• In order to capture day light and concentrate the same inside a dark room, particularly in urban slum or rural areas which lack electricity supply, a low cost and energy efficient Micro Solar Dome (Surya Jyoti) has been tested and developed. -Potential users of this device are10 million households.
• According to preliminary estimates, if this technology is adopted in 10 million households only, it has the potential of saving 1750 million units of energy.
• It would also lead to an emission reduction of about 12.5 million ton of CO2 equivalent, hence giving a fillip to the mission of ‘Clean India, Green India’.
• The manufacturing process, being labour-intensive, would also generate huge job opportunities in the economy.
• Nodal Ministry – Department of Science & Technology.