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  • [Prelims Spotlight] Important summits, conventions and Declarations (Part 2)

    1.Convention on biological diversity

    The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity has been in force since 1993.

    Objectives-

    • It has 3 main objectives: The conservation of biological diversity.
    • The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity.,fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
    • The CBD, one of the key agreements adopted during the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, is the first comprehensive global agreement which addresses all aspects relating to biodiversity.

    2.Asia Lpg summit 2019

    The summit will offer a unique opportunity to the global LPG industry to interact with development agencies, NGOs and non-profit organizations who have facilitated last-mile access to LPG for the beneficiaries.

    Objectives-

    • The summit will also bring together academia and private sector to exchange their views on the use of LPG and how pathbreaking initiatives such as ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ can bring remarkable socio-economic transformation.
    • The WLPGA promotes the use of LPG to foster a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous world.
    • With over 200 members and presence in more than 125 countries, the WLPGA represents the interests of private and public companies from the entire LPG value chain under one umbrella.
    • The WLPGA provides a platform for the exchange of best practices, facts and figures among its members.
    • The Association regularly organises interactive meetings between technical experts, members and key stakeholders to demonstrate the benefits of LPG.

    3.Global Digital Health Partnership Summit

    The Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) is an international collaboration of governments, government agencies and multinational organisations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of their citizens through the best use of evidence-based digital technologies.

    Objectives-

    • Governments are making significant investments to harness the power of technology and foster innovation and public-private partnerships that support high quality, sustainable health and care for all. The GDHP facilitates global collaboration and co-operation in the implementation of digital health services.The GDHP is committed to improving health and care through promoting its principles of equality, co-operation, transparency and responsibility.
    • Equality: All participants will have an equal opportunity to participate and contribute to the development of the GDHP deliverables and share in the lessons learnt and outputs of the GDHP.
    • Co-operation: Participants are helpful and supportive and participate in debates thoughtfully, constructively and respectfully.
    • Transparency: Participants act with openness in their engagement with fellow participants to contribute to improved health services, promote innovation and create safer and healthier communities.
    • Responsibility: Participants are responsible for their country’s input through their active contribution to GDHP activities that are guided by the annual work plan. Each participant shall endeavour to ensure that outcomes from meetings, such as tasks appointed to them or in general, are carried out effectively and efficiently. Participants will make decisions and participate in discussions in a transparent and fair manner, using evidence, and without discrimination or bias, ensuring they act in the public interest and not for commercial purposes.

    4.TIR

    The Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets is a multilateral treaty that was concluded at Geneva on 14 November 1975 to simplify and harmonise the administrative formalities of international road transport.

    Objectives-

    • The TIR Convention establishes an international customs transit system with maximum facility to move goods:in sealed vehicles or containers;
    • from a customs office of departure in one country to a customs office of destination in another country;
    • without requiring extensive and time-consuming border checks at intermediate borders;
    • while, at the same time, providing customs authorities with the required security and guarantees.

    5.International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

    The workshop aims to i) identify good practices of disaster risk management in key infrastructure sectors, ii) identify specific areas and pathways for collaborative research on DRI (Transport, Energy, Telecom and Water), iii) discuss and co-create the broad contours of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as well as a notional roll-out plan for the next three years, and iv) build a forum for members to work on areas of common interest and make specific commitments.Various international agreements have also reiterated the importance and long-term benefits of investing in resilient infrastructure.

    Objectives-

    • The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), 2015-2030, which is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, identifies investing in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for resilience and to build back better in reconstruction as priorities for action towards reducing disaster risk.
    • Similarly, Goal 9 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognizes disaster resilient infrastructure as a crucial driver of economic growth and development.
    • Besides reducing infrastructure losses, disaster resilient infrastructure will also help achieve targets pertaining to reduction in mortality, number of affected people and economic losses due to disasters.

    6.International Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

    The Chemical Weapons Convention is an arms control treaty that outlaws the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and their precursors.Key points of the Convention

    Objectives-

    • Prohibition of production and use of chemical weapons
    • Destruction (or monitored conversion to other functions) of chemical weapons production facilities
    • Destruction of all chemical weapons (including chemical weapons abandoned outside the state parties territory)
    • Assistance between State Parties and the OPCW in the case of use of chemical weapons
    • An OPCW inspection regime for the production of chemicals which might be converted to chemical weapons
    • International cooperation in the peaceful use of chemistry in relevant areas

    7.Convention on Supplementary Compensation for nuclear

    Damage (CSC)

    The Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage is a 1963 treaty that governs issues of liability in cases of nuclear accident. It was concluded at Vienna on 21 May 1963 and entered into force on 12 November 1977. The convention has been amended by a 1997 protocol. The depository is the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    Objectives-

    • The Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC) aims at establishing a minimum national compensation amount and at further increasing the amount of compensation through public funds to be made available by the Contracting Parties should the national amount be insufficient to compensate the damage caused by a nuclear incident.
    • The Convention is open not only to States that are party to either the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage or the Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy (including any amendments to either), but also to other States provided that their national legislation is consistent with uniform rules on civil liability laid down in the Annex to the Convention.

    8.Hague Code of Conduct

    The International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, also known as the Hague Code of Conduct (HCOC), was established on 25 November 2002 as an arrangement to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles.

    Objectives-

    • The HCOC is the result of international efforts to regulate access to ballistic missiles which can potentially deliver weapons of mass destruction. The HCOC is the only multilateral code in the area of disarmament which has been adopted over the last years.
    • It is the only normative instrument to verify the spread of ballistic missiles.
    • The HCOC does not ban ballistic missiles, but it does call for restraint in their production, testing, and export.

    9.Refugee Convention

    The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention, is a United Nations multilateral treaty that defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum.In the general principle of international law, treaties in force are binding upon the parties to it and must be performed in good faith. Countries that have ratified the Refugee Convention are obliged to protect refugees that are on their territory, in accordance with its terms.There are a number of provisions that States parties to the Refugee Convention must adhere to.

    10.Biological weapons convention

    The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the production of an entire category of weapons.

    Objectives-

    • Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never in any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain:
    • Microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes;
    • Weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.”
    • The United States Congress passed the Bioweapons Anti-Terrorism Act in 1989 to implement the Convention. The law applies the Convention’s convent to countries and private citizens, and criminalizes violations of the Convention.

    11.Sendai Framework

    The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) is an international document which was adopted by UN member states between 14th and 18th of March 2015 at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in June 2015. It is the successor agreement to the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005–2015), which had been the most encompassing international accord to date on disaster risk reduction.

    Objectives-

    • The Sendai Framework sets four specific priorities for action:
    • Understanding disaster risk;
    • Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk;
    • Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience;
    • Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

    12.Outer Space Treaty

    The Outer Space Treaty, formally the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, is a treaty that forms the basis of international space law. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans the stationing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in outer space, prohibits military activities on celestial bodies, and details legally binding rules governing the peaceful exploration and use of space.

    13.Kyoto Protocol

    The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty which extends the 1992 UNFCCC that commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that

    (a) global warming exists and (b) human-made CO2 emissions have caused it.

    Objectives-

    • The main feature of the Protocol is that it established legally binding commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases for parties that ratified the Protocol.
    • The commitments were based on the Berlin Mandate, which was a part of UNFCCC negotiations leading up to the Protocol.
    • Minimizing Impacts on Developing Countries by establishing an adaptation fund for climate change.

    14.U.N. Frame Work Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

    Objectives-

    • A framework for international cooperation to combat climate change by limiting average global temperature increases and the resulting climate change, and coping with impacts that were inevitable.
    • The primary goals of the UNFCCC were to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions at levels that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the global climate.
    • The convention embraced the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities which has guided the adoption of a regulatory structure.

    15.Basel Convention

    1. The industrialized world in the 1980s had led to increasing public resistance to the disposal of hazardous wastes, in accordance with what became known as the NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) syndrome, and to an increase of disposal costs.

    2. This in turn led some operators to seek cheap disposal options for hazardous wastes in the developing countries.

    3. Environmental awareness was much less developed and regulations and enforcement mechanisms were lacking.The objectives of the convention are to reduce trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes, to minimize the creation of such wastes and to prohibit their shipment from developed countries to the LDCs.

    16.Montreal Protocol

    Objectives-

    • The protocol set targets for reducing the consumption and production of a range of ozone depleting substances.
    • In a major innovation the protocol recognized that all nations should not be treated equally.
    • The agreement acknowledges that certain countries have contributed to ozone depletion more than others.
    • It also recognizes that a nation‘s obligation to reduce current emissions should reflect its technological and financial ability to do so.
    • Becauseof this, the agreement sets more stringent standards and accelerated phase-out time tables to countries that have contributed most to ozone depletion

    17.World Conservation Strategy

    Objectives-

    • It set out fundamental principles and objectives for conservation worldwide, and identified priorities for national and international action.
    • It is considered one of the most influential documents in 20th century nature conservation and one of the first official documents to introduce the concept of sustainable development.

    18.Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention)

    Objectives-

    • Aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avianmigratory species throughout their range.
    • The Convention facilitates adoption of strict protection measures for endangered migratory species, the conclusion of multilateral agreements for the conservation and management of migratory species, and co-operative research activities.

    19.World sustainable Development summit

    • WSDS has replaced TERI’s earlier called Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS). The first DSDS was organised in 2005. It underscored need for businesses and private sector to take lead in poverty reduction and to ensure rapid and sustained adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
    • It had brought together Nobel laureates, decision-makers political leaders from around the world to deliberate on issues related to sustainable development.
    • The aim of the summit is to provide various stakeholders a single platform in order to provide long-term solutions for the benefit of the global community.

    20.Kigali Agreement

    The Kigali Amendment amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol to

    now include gases responsible for global warming and will be

    binding on countries from 2019.

    Objectives-

    • It also has provisions for penalties for non-compliance.
    • It is considered absolutely vital for reaching the Paris Agreement target of keeping global temperature rise to below 2-degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial times.
    • Under it, developed countries will also provide enhanced funding support estimated at billions of dollars globally. The exact amount of additional funding from developed countries will be agreed at the next
    • Meeting of the Parties in Montreal in 2017 to reduce the emissions of category of greenhouse gases (GHGs) which leads to hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs)
  • Last days to join our Super Intensive Prelims (Mini) with Advanced Lectures on Budget

    Detailed Timetable can be obtained from here

    Starts on 10th April. The program has 4 components. Scroll down to read.

    Dear Students,

    Last minute revision is the key to cracking the exam. If you don’t spend ample time revising topics, you will find it hard to recall what you have studied.

    We are excited to announce our Crash Course program for Prelims – Super Intensive Prelims (SIP) (Mini).

    The program is designed for extensive coverage and the right amount of depth as per the requirement of the prelims exam to help you with maximum retention and ensure a better performance in Prelims.

    Here’s what we are offering.

    The program is divided into 4 components

    1. Current Affairs – ( From May 2018 – April 2019) 40 hours

    2. Budget (2019) – 5 hours

    3. 11 Current affairs monthly prelims test (From June 2018 – April 2019)

    4. Samanvaya (Mentorship)

    Key features of the Program

    1. Current Affairs (Videos and lectures)

    We will cover it in 2 phases

    1st phase – Till December 2018

    2nd phase – After December 2018

    The focus of the lecture will be on the following areas

    Prelims Specific Trivia

    What, When, Where, Why, How.

    Similar question asked in the last 4-5 years

    Subjects covered will be –

    1.Polity

    2.Governance

    3.Economics

    4.International Relations – Terms in news, Places in news, Trade Routes, Choke Points, Conflict Zones, Ethnic groups in news

    5.Environment – Environmental terms in news, maps for all reserves, marine protected areas, wetlands.

    6.Sc & Tech

    7.International Organizations(covered in ppt format) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZTYLkxalE7IdQVcMXDWOUnoCMC9zVN1Y)

    8.Schemes (covered in ppt format)

     

    2. Budget

    – Video lecture by Himanshu Sir who works at Prime Minister’s economic advisory council.

    – Short and crisp Summary of Budget 2019.

     

    3. Current affairs Monthly prelims test

    -Current affairs monthly prelims test (From June 2018 – April 2019) (Note: Only SIP(mini) Plus subscribers will get this).

     

    4. Samanvaya (Mentorship)

    CD has earned a reputation for giving personalized attention to students and helping them actualize their true potential. While other institutes are bombarding you with more and more questions, we are more concerned about teaching you the right things and helping you retain more and retain better.

    -Private Telegram Group: All your queries solved within 24 hours

    -1 on 1 calls Sessions basis merit of participation within the group


    Faculty 

    V.P. Singh, IRPS 2009

    Himanshu Arora, Economist, Prime Minister Economic Advisory Council

    Sajal Singh, MS & MA Economics, Core faculty, Civilsdaily

    Rakesh Dalal, MBA, MA, Core faculty, Civilsdaily


     Detailed Timetable can be obtained from here
    On popular demand, a variant on discount is as follows –
    Old Student Discount Applicable
    Prime TS and SM students get 20% discount – *Please ensure you are enrolled in those courses first*
  • [Video Analysis + Top 10 Ranks] 08 April 2019 | Prelims Daily with Rakesh Sir

    Dear students,

    Here’s a link to the Prelims Daily Quiz Analysis Video. Watch this after you have attempted that day’s Prelims Daily questions [on this link]

    https://youtu.be/333SQJjJv9Q

    The full playlist is available here [click2watch]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 51]


    We need your comments, likes, and shares on these videos. The aim of this series is to help you revise news via questions. PLEASE spread the videos.

    What’s wrong with the student’s study habits?

    Only 5% of our students who read news attempt PD. This beats the purpose of reading the news. Even those 5% who attempt PD are unable to get the most out of the initiative. They are either guessing or doing the tests just as a routing activity without engaging in it.

    What’s CD doing to maximize your efforts?

    Now, we have moved one step further with the launch of analysis videos of Prelims Daily (PD). These videos will reveal the critical nitty-gritty surrounding every PD question. It is an unfortunate reality that no single question can be framed to cover all the possible angles.

    The analysis videos will plug this hitherto inevitable gap, thereby making your preparation more methodical, holistic and foolproof. Nothing can be more valuable than experience, and that is precisely what the PD initiative and the analysis videos offer. These will be valuable for both newcomers and senior players in the field.

    PS: We want to be 100% certain that the time and energy spent on making these videos is helping you in your UPSC Prelims preparation. So, pls click on the videos, like, share and comment and let us know your thoughts

  • [Prelims Spotlight]Nobel and other Prizes

    1.PM conferred with Seoul Peace Prize

    About the Seoul Peace Prize

    1. The prize has been awarded to those who have made their mark through contributions to the harmony of mankind, reconciliation between nations and to world peace.
    2. Established in 1990, the Seoul Peace Prize was an effort to crystallise the Korean people’s yearning for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of the world.
    3. It was initially established to commemorate the success of the 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul, Republic of Korea – an event in which 160 nations from across the world took part, creating harmony and friendship and a worldwide atmosphere of peace and reconciliation.
    4. Previous winners of the award include former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and renowned international relief organizations like Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam.

    2.UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) Award

    Shri Manoj Jhalani, Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been conferred with the prestigious UNIATF Award for his outstanding contribution towards prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related SDGs.

    United Nations Interagency Task Force (UNIATF)

    1. The UNIATF on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases was established by the UN Secretary-General in June 2013 and placed under the leadership of WHO.
    2. It aims to support governments, in particular in low- and middle-income countries, to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.
    3. Following the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, UNIATF’s scope of work was expanded in 2016 to include “NCD related SDGs” – i.e. mental health, violence and injuries, nutrition, and environmental issues that impact on NCDs.
    4. The World Health Organization acts as a Secretariat and lead for the Task Force.
    5. The UNIATF coordinates the activities of relevant UN organizations and other inter-governmental organizations to support Governments to meet high-level commitments to respond to NCD epidemics worldwide.
    6. The Task Force reports once a year to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

    3.Nobel Prize in Medicine

    • The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been jointly awarded to James P. Allison from the US and Tasuku Honjo from Japan.
    • By stimulating the inherent ability of our immune system to attack tumor cells Nobel Laureates established an entirely new principle for cancer therapy.
    • Tasuku Honjo discovered a protein on immune cells and revealed that it also operates as a break, but with a different mechanism of action.

    4.Nobel Prize in Physics

    • Three scientists Arthur Ashkin of the U.S., Gerard Mourou of France and Donna Strickland of Canada won the Nobel Physics Prize.
    • Mr. Ashkin, 96, was honored for his invention of “optical tweezers” that grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells with their laser beam fingers.
    • In 1987 Mr. Ashkin used the tweezers to capture living bacteria without harming them.
    • Mr. Mourou and Ms. Strickland won for helping develop a method to generate ultra-short optical pulses, “the shortest and most intense laser pulses ever created by mankind”.
    • Mrs. Strickland is the third women ever and the first woman in 55 years to receive the prestigious award.
    • Their technique is now used in corrective eye surgery and in making surgical stents. Recently, attosecond lasers have even made it possible to observe individual electrons.

    5.Nobel Prize in Chemistry

    • Ms. Frances Arnold US, Mr. George Smith, both from the US and Mr. Gregory Winter of Britain were awarded the prize for pioneering science in enzymes and antibodies.
    • For the first time, scientists harnessed the power of evolution to produce novel proteins used in everything from environmentally friendly detergents and biofuels to cancer drugs.
    • Ms. Arnold is the fifth woman to win a chemistry Nobel. Her research on enzymes led to the development of better industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

    6.Nobel Peace Prize

    • Who is awarded?
      • “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” (Excerpt from the will of Alfred Nobel)
    • The Nobel Peace Prize for 2018 has been awarded to Congolese gynecologist Dr. Denis Mukwege and Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.
    • Dr. Denis Mukwege has helped in the treatment of women who were raped by rebels during the civil war in Democratic Republic of Congo.
    • Ms. Murad is one of an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who were victims of rape and other abuses by the Islamic State.

    7.Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences

     

    • William Nordhaus and Paul Romer, from the US, won the 2018 Nobel Economics Prize for work in integrating climate change and technological innovation into economic analysis,
    • William D. Nordhaus was awarded for integrating climate change into the long-run macroeconomic analysis.
    • William Nordhaus was the first person to create a quantitative model that described the interplay between the economy and the climate.
    • Paul M. Romer integrated technological innovations into the long-run macroeconomic analysis.

     

  • 1-1 interaction with toppers – Wednesday(tomorrow) 2PM at Delhi

    Dear students,

    Civilsdaily will be hosting a session with KAMYAA MISRA (AIR 172 ) and KUNAL AGGARWAL (AIR 211)  tomorrow in New Delhi.

    We have 5 slots remaining that we want to open to our community.

    These are available on first come first serve basis. Interested students are required to email us on hello@civilsdaily.com with their phone numbers and educational background.

    Soon after they will be sent a confirmation email. Since this interaction is free, we see a tendency among students to back out at the last moment. Hence, we request only those students to apply who will be able to make it.

     

    Thanks

     

     

     

  • Topper Testimonial: Daljeet Kumar, AIR 660 | Sharp & Committed

    Students like Daljeet are a pure delight.

    He was extremely focused, sharp and committed to his goal.

     

    Checkout:  Foundation 2020: Take a Big Step Towards Comprehensive & Personalised Learning for IAS 2020

  • 5 ‘must-do’ things in the 60-day period before the prelims by Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, AIR 44

    The 60-day period before the prelims is a nerve-wracking time for every aspirant. Whether one is appearing for one’s first prelims or one’s last; everyone is going through some kind of dilemma or struggling with nightmares like these:

    • Is my preparation up to the mark?
    • Have I completed all the important portions of the syllabus?
    • What if the question paper is vague?
    • Competition is so tough and the success ratio is so minuscule! Will I be able to make it?
    • How to overcome the silly mistakes I keep repeating?

    If these thoughts are crossing your mind every now and then, don’t worry; you are not the only one. Almost everyone is in the same boat. The only thing you need to remember that ‘the last mile’ is always the toughest one. So keep calm, take a deep breath; and try to follow these 5 must-do things to make the most of this last window of preparation.

    1. Have a well planned Time-Table

    Failing to plan is planning to fail. Keeping this in mind, ensure that you have planned your 60 Days in detail. Some inputs regarding this planning are:

    1. Plan backward- Start planning from last week of May and plan backward. Eg; Revision of Test papers, maps, national Parks, your short notes in last week and so on.

    Planning backwards help you in:

    • Prioritising syllabus according to the availability of time and urgency.
    • Ensuring that you do not study as per your whims and follow what is required.
    • Avoiding the frustration and panic associated with haphazard prep.

    B. First plan your weeks, then break them into days. Finally, break your days into hours. You should behaving targets for each and every hour! Fix precise targets like ‘finish 40 pages of laxmikanth by 4.40 pm’ rather than vague objectives like ‘do 2 chapters of laxmikanth and 2 chapters of geography today’. Even if you set broad objectives for the day, you must set hourly-targets.

    C. Follow the Pomodoro technique to utilise your time in a better manner. (Google Pomodoro.)

    2. Solve and Revise UPSC Previous Years Papers and Test Series

    A. It doesn’t matter how sharp your axe is if you don’t know how to use it. Solving previous year papers will help you in knowing:

    • Areas that need attention.
    • Your strengths and weaknesses.
    • Questions can and do get repeated.
    • ‘Revision’ cannot be substituted by any number of ‘Sources’. So instead of solving 100 test

    papers, revise 3-4 times the ones you have already done. Accuracy comes from revision. Try to gradually increase the share of revision in your time table towards the end of your 60-day window. Keep last week solely for revision and avoid any new “yellow books” or any “indispensable free PDF”.

    3. Do not ignore the Conventional Static Portion

    Some difficult and obscure questions prompt students to focus on obscure architecture, minute details of technical inventions and so on. The input to output ratio is low in these areas. This also leads to a lack of revision in conventional and static parts such as geography, polity, history. Make sure that you don’t falter in questions like Fundamental duties, the age of contesting panchayat elections, cabinet mission etc. Everyone else will be getting these right. Your aim is to clear the cut off and not to get the highest marks in prelims. The conventional static part is of utmost importance. Do not ignore it for more difficult sections where after consuming loads of information you might only get one question correct.

    4. Sleep, Exercise, Meditate, Healthy Diet, Study and repeat

    Clocking many hours of studying at the cost of your sleep and other healthy activities won’t be much beneficial. A foggy mind is not productive. Hence have minimum 7-8 hours of sleep. If not much, allocate 15 minutes to exercise and 10 minutes to meditation in your schedule. Results will be exponentially better due to increased alertness of your mind. Also, the ‘night owls’ should try to correct their schedule so that they are at their peak on the D-day.

    5. Confidence

    Last but not the least, prelims is a game of confidence. Wear your confidence like armour in this battle and you will emerge victorious. Very few people will know the correct answers to more than 50 questions. People who clear prelims repeatedly are no wizards. They just believe in their ability to take calculated risks, have faith on what they have studied. They don’t doubt their preparation at the drop of a hat.

    When you have confidence you know that even after not knowing a single thing about a question; options, structuring of the question, and a little analysis might give you the right answer. This confidence comes from hard work and intense practice only. If you have revised static and current affairs religiously, solved 50 test papers, revised them 3-4 times, be confident that you will succeed. It doesn’t matter how tough and vague the paper is, you will succeed. So whenever you get anxious and your heart beats out of control, believe that “ All is well’. You are already doing everything that can possibly be done. Eventually, it will turn out good for you.

    In the end ” Jao aur Jee bhar ke ye 60 din padh lo kyuki koi tumse ye 60 din nahi cheen Sakta.” (Study wholeheartedly for these 60 days; for no can snatch these from you). With all due credits to Coach Khan from Chak De India.

    All the best,

    Abhilash Baranwal, AIR 44 (CSE 2017)


    Important announcements with links:

    1. Mission Prelims Nikalo for Prelim 2019: Free revision course | List of daily questions
    2. Foundation 2020: Flagship Course for your IAS 2020 preparation

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