[WpProQuiz 41]
Search results for: “”
-
[Video Analysis + Top 10 Ranks] 05 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/afEbhvqnkMc
The full playlist is available here [click2watch]
[WpProQuiz_toplist 40]
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]Government Bodies related to environment conservation in India
Government Bodies related to environment conservation in India
Central Pollution Control Board
Established: It was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Objective: To provide technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Key Functions:
- Advise the Central Government on any matter concerning prevention and control of water and air pollution and improvement of the quality of air.
- Plan and cause to be executed a nation-wide programm for the prevention, control or abatement of water and air pollution
- Co-ordinate the activities of the State Board and resolve disputes among them
- Provide technical assistance and guidance to the State Boards, carry out and sponsor investigation and research relating to problems of water and air pollution, and for their prevention, control or abatement
- Plan and organise training of persons engaged in programme on the prevention, control or abatement of water and air pollution
- Organise through mass media, a comprehensive mass awareness programme on the prevention, control or abatement of water and air pollution
- Collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data relating to water and air pollution and the measures devised for their effective prevention, control or abatement;
- Prepare manuals, codes and guidelines relating to treatment and disposal of sewage and trade effluents as well as for stack gas cleaning devices, stacks and ducts;
- Disseminate information in respect of matters relating to water and air pollution and their prevention and control
- Lay down, modify or annul, in consultation with the State Governments concerned, the standards for stream or well, and lay down standards for the quality of air.
- Perform such other functions as may be prescribed by the Government of India.
National Biodiversity Authority
Established When: It is a statutory autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India established in 2003, after India signed Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992
Headquarter: Chennai
Objective of the body: Implementation of Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Key Functions:
It acts as a facilitating, regulating and advisory body to the Government of India “on issues of conservation, sustainable use of biological resources and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources.”
Additionally, it advises State Governments in identifying the areas of biodiversity importance (biodiversity hotspots) as heritage sites.
National Tiger conservation authority
Established: It was established in December 2005 following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister of India for reorganised management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India.
Headquarter: Delhi
Objective:
- Providing statutory authority to Project Tiger so that compliance of its directives become legal.
- Fostering accountability of Center-State in management of Tiger Reserves, by providing a basis for MoU with States within our federal structure.
- Providing for an oversight by Parliament.
- Addressing livelihood interests of local people in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves.
Key Functions:
- to approve the tiger conservation plan prepared by the State Government under sub-section (3) of section 38V of this Act
- evaluate and assess various aspects of sustainable ecology and disallow any ecologically unsustainable land use such as, mining, industry and other projects within the tiger reserves;
- provide for management focus and measures for addressing conflicts of men and wild animal and to emphasize on co-existence in forest areas outside the National Parks, sanctuaries or tiger reserve, in the working plan code
- provide information on protection measures including future conservation plan, estimation of population of tiger and its natural prey species, status of habitats, disease surveillance, mortality survey, patrolling, reports on untoward happenings and such other management aspects as it may deem fit including future plan conservation
- ensure critical support including scientific, information technology and legal support for better implementation of the tiger conservation plan
- facilitate ongoing capacity building programme for skill development of officers and staff of tiger reserves.
Animal Welfare Board of India
Established When: It was established in 1962 under Section 4 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960.
Headquarter: Ballabhgarh, Haryana
Objective: To advise Government on Animal Welfare Laws and promotes animal welfare in the country.
Key Functions:
- Recognition of Animal Welfare Organisations: The Board oversees Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs) by granting recognition to them if they meet its guidelines. The organisation must submit paperwork; agree to nominate a representative of the Animal Welfare Board of India on its Executive Committee; and to submit to regular inspections. After meeting the requirements and an inspection, the organisation is considered for grant of recognition.
- The AWBI also appoints key people to the positions of (Hon) Animal Welfare Officers, who serve as the key point of contact between the people, the government and law enforcement agencies.
- Financial assistance: The Board provides financial assistance to recognised Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs), who submit applications to the Board. Categories of grants include Regular Grant, Cattle Rescue Grant, Provision of Shelter House for looking after the Animals, Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme, Provision of Ambulance for the animals in distress and Natural Calamity grant.
- Animal welfare Laws and Rules: The Board suggests changes to laws and rules about animal welfare issues. In 2011, a new draft Animal Welfare Act was published for comment. Guidance is also offered to organisations and officials such as police to help them interpret and apply the laws.
- Raising awareness: The Board issues publications to raise awareness of various animal welfare issues. The Board’s Education Team gives talks on animal welfare subjects, and trains members of the community to be Board Certified Animal Welfare Educators.
Forest Survey of India
Established When: It is a government organization in India under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for conducting forest surveys and studies. The organization came into being in, 1981.
Headquarter: Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Objective
The objective of the organization is monitoring periodically the changing situation of land and forest resources and present the data for national planning; conservation and management of environmental preservation and implementation of social forestry projects.
Key Functions
- The Functions of Forest Survey of India are:
- To prepare State of Forest Report biennially, providing assessment of latest forest cover in the country and monitoring changes in these.
- To conduct inventory in forest and non-forest areas and develop database on forest tree resources.
- To prepare thematic maps on 1:50,000 scale, using aerial photographs.
- To function as a nodal agency for collection, compilation, storage and dissemination of spatial database on forest resources.
- To conduct training of forestry personnel in application of technologies related to resources survey, remote sensing, GIS, etc.
- To strengthen research & development infrastructure in FSI and to conduct research on applied forest survey techniques.
- To support State/UT Forest Departments (SFD) in forest resources survey, mapping and inventory.
- To undertake forestry related special studies/consultancies and custom made training courses for SFD’s and other organizations on project basis.
Forest Survey of India assesses forest cover of the country every 2 years by digital interpretation of remote sensing satellite data and publishes the results in a biennial report called ‘State of Forest Report'(SFR).
Central Zoo Authority of India
Established: It was established in 1992 and constituted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act.
Headquarter: Delhi
Objective
The main objective of the authority is to complement the national effort in conservation of wildlife.
Standards and norms for housing, upkeep, health care and overall management of animals in zoos have been laid down under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992.
Key Functions
- Since its inception in 1992, the Authority has evaluated 513 zoos, out of which 167 have been recognized and 346 refused recognition.
- The Authority’s role is more of a facilitator than a regulator. It, therefore, provides technical and financial assistance to such zoos which have the potential to attain the desired standard in animal management. Only such captive facilities which have neither the managerial skills nor the requisite resources are asked to close down.
- Apart from the primary function of grant of recognition and release of financial assistance, the Central Zoo Authority also regulates the exchange of animals of endangered category listed under Schedule-I and II of the Wildlife (Protection Act) among zoos.
- Exchange of animals between Indian and foreign zoos is also approved by the Authority before the requisite clearances under EXIM Policy and the CITES permits are issued by the competent authority.
- The Authority also coordinates and implements programmes on capacity building of zoo personnel, planned conservation breeding programmes and ex-situ research including biotechnological intervention for conservation of species for complementing in-situ conservation efforts in the country.
-
[Burning Issue] Concerns with Electronic Voting Machine
Context:
- Recently, opposition parties discussed future course of action on the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs. They raised their concern regarding EVMs with Election Commission.
- Credibility of EVMs were questioned in the previous General elections of Parliament and State Assemblies.
About:
Out of 120 democratic countries only 25 have experimented with or used electronic voting machines to elect their governments. It indicates that EVM is not a dominant choice globally for recording votes in elections.
Background:
- India is the world leader in the use of EVMs.
- The Election Commission has been conducting all elections through EVMs since 2001.
- The Indian EVM is a direct recording device, which is a stand-alone machine.
- The Election Commission has clarified several times that Indian EVMs don’t talk to any machine outside its own system – be it through wired network, internet, satellite, and WiFi or bluetooth.
- The EVM is not connected to server, so cyber hacking of Indian EVMs is not possible unless an authorised person acts with malafide intention.
- In 2014, a whopping 55.38 crore people cast their votes in EVMs in the parliamentary elections.
Arguments that are in favour of Paper Ballot
Following arguments question the EVM system and support Paper ballot.
- We invariably come across reports of malfunctioning EVMs.
- The only way an EVM can be tampered with is by physically opening it up and replacing the chipset inside it. The chipset used is non-reprogrammable and data is ‘burnt’ into the device. So, today it is possible to replace the chip if we have access to EVMs
- On the VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail) front too, there are reports of malfunctioning. Also, as per the rules, paper ballots and VVPAT machines are not counted until the Returning Officer asks for it.
- The outcome of the recent Uttar Pradesh civic polls suggests that tampering could be happening.
- Oldest democracy, US, still uses paper ballot system for the presidential elections as Americans feel safer in using paper ballots as compared to electronic voting machines.
However, there are problems with paper ballot.
- Transporting them and guarding them is a problem.
- Ballot boxes can be captured.
Arguments in support of significance of EVMs
- EVMs led to a significant decline in electoral fraud, particularly in politically sensitive States as rigging elections became extremely expensive.
- Research has shown a link between luminosity and growth rate, suggesting that EVMs contribute to development.
- EVMs empowered those from the weaker sections of society who were victims of political or electoral violence. In particular, women, lower castes, and those less educated were more likely to participate in the electoral process when EVMs were used.
- EVMs made the electoral process more competitive.
- There has been a significant decline in the incidence of re-election, and winning margins have reduced dramatically.
However, this does not imply that we lower our guards. The very idea of democracy is based on trust and belief in the fairness of the electoral process where the losing party lives to fight another day. Any erosion of this trust and belief would be an irreversible process with an uncertain outcome.
EVM challenge: Forensic Lab test for EVMs
- Throughout these years, the Election Commission has denied all the claims of EVM tampering and in 2017, it got a scientific proof to back up its claim.
- In May, the Bombay High Court had ordered an examination of EVMs from the ‘Parvati constituency in Pune’.
- The order was issued to rule out tampering during elections to Maharashtra legislative assembly in 2014.
- One control unit, one ballot unit and two batteries were sent to the lab. An EVM comprises a control unit and a ballot unit.
- As per the report received from the lab, the machine is a stand-alone, non-networked, one-time programmable unit, which is neither computer controlled externally nor could be connected internally or to any network.
- The report was made public after being submitted to the high court.
- The Election Commission had also thrown open EVM hackathon challenge to prove that the machines are incorruptible. But no political party showed interest.
How the world has dealt with EVMs:
USA:
- The US is the oldest modern democracy in the world but it does not have a uniform voting system.
- Several states continue to use ballot papers, while others have shifted to electronic voting.
- A critical point in electronic voting experiment in the US has been that its voting machines are connected to a server and operate using the internet. This makes them vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
- In the last presidential election, some invisible Russian hand was suspected in influencing voters’ choice.
Germany:
- Electronic voting was introduced in 2005 in the largest democracy of Europe.
- Germany imported voting machines to conduct its elections from a private company in the Netherlands.
- The machines were later reported to have several layers of deficiencies.
- In 2009, the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany held that the use of electronic voting machines in elections was unconstitutional and observed that such a practice lacked transparency.
Estonia:
- Became the first country to enact a law making electronic voting using the internet mandatory in 2005.
- Estonia claims to have conducted the first internet-based national election in 2007. It went for three days.
Latin America:
- Brazil and Venezuela have been using electronic voting on a large scale quite successfully.
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)
-
- Following a PIL by Subramanian Swamy, Supreme Court asked EC to introduce VVPAT.
- VVPAT is a slip generated in a printer-like a machine attached to EVM and flashes voter’s choice of candidate and party. Generated slip is shown for a few seconds to the voter to cross check before it falls into a sealed drop box which can be opened during counting. Under VVPATs, initially, election results are announced based on the recording of votes given by EVMs. If the election results are disputed, then the votes recorded under Paper Trail System shall be counted and announced. If there is any discrepancy between the two results, then the result given by VVPAT will prevail over the EVMs.
- The Supreme Court has supported the EC endeavour to use VVPATs in a phased manner to usher in more transparency in voting.
When the solution became the problem: The controversy over failing VVPATs –
- Reports emerged of large-scale malfunctioning of the voter-verifiable paper audit trail machines during by-elections to four Lok Sabha and ten State Assembly seats.
- The malfunctioning was so widespread that the Election Commission ordered re-polls in 73 booths of the Kairana parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh, 49 booths in the Maharashtra seat of Bhandara-Gondiya and one booth in the Nagaland Lok Sabha seat.
- The chief election commissioner blamed the malfunction of the VVPAT machines on excessively hot weather and exposure of sensors to light.
- This is rather worrying, because when the trials for VVPATs were conducted in 2011 and 2012, they were subjected to extreme weather conditions.
- The second reason provided by the CEC—the inexperience of the staff, who were handling these machines for the first time—seems more plausible.
- It is important to mention that it was precisely to remove the last remnants of doubts regarding EVMs that VVPAT machines were introduced, after an all-party meeting in 2010.
- In fact, in 2013, the Supreme Court of India appreciated the EC’s initiative to introduce VVPATs and directed the government to provide adequate funds for the same.
- However, the government delayed sanctioning the funds for over three years, which has almost jeopardised the production of the required number of VVPAT machines to fulfil the EC’s commitment last year in an affidavit to the Supreme Court that it would provide the machines at every polling station during the 2019 general election.
Corrective measures taken by EC:
- The new VVPATs are to have sensors with hoods over them to protect from direct exposure to light.
- Humidity resistant paper will be obtained for use in humid areas. The decision was made by the Electronics Corporation of India, one of the two state-owned companies that manufacture VVPATs.
Conclusion
The EC’s role in ensuring the people’s faith in democracy is paramount. The loss of public faith in democracy and its protector institutions spells nothing but disaster. But one must have no doubt that EVMs have made India the proud global leader in the field of elections. After the introduction of VVPATs, our system is now full proof.
-
Interview transcript – Mangesh
Board: Bassi Sir
Chairman
– Mangesh, You have done electronics engineering a having political science optional also currently working in Bank. ( And Looked at me)
– I said, “Yes Sir” ( I thought he is checking my confidence).
– Tell me about Venezuela crisis
– Tell me about the Yemen crisis
– Developments in Nepal. Why Nepal important for us?M1
– The different frequency band in communication? Many subsequent technical questions
1G 2G 3G 4G difference.
– GSM vs CDMA? Why CDMA not popular over GSM. Anything to do with licencing?M2
– Use of robotics in Army?
– Introduction of robotics vs job losses. Opinion
– Why Afghanistan unstable? What are sectarian divisions? Why not normalcy restoredM3
– Why demand for Marathwada statehood? Reasons.
– Difference between Marathwada movement and Vidarbha movement for statehood .
– Similarity between Marathwada and Telangana demand.
– What are disadvantages of adverse sex ratio ? To men and to women?
– Why development in Bangladesh important for India?
– Role of India diaspora.M4
– What is exposure of SBI in recent PNB fraud?
– Tell me about PNB fraud ?
– Who should bear loss of it ?
– What was wrong on part of other banks ? Their mistakes
– Difference between LC and LoU.
– What is NPA ? Steps taken for its resolution ?
– What is insolvency and bankruptcy code ? Detailed discussion
Chairman– Tell me about Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana? Details of it
– Talk on MSP . Talk more. Any committee on it
– Is this your photo? It’s a lovely photo Mangesh.Thank you.
-
We are still compiling our results: 80% success rate of our interview program. 12 out of top 20 rankers used our platform on a regular basis
Dear students,
Civilsdaily is known to push the boundaries and make incredibly great contributions to students preparing for this exam.
2 out of every 3 selected candidate has been a regular user of our app at some point in the preparation.
The success rate of our interview program remains unmatched. (yes you should watch the interview sessions. They are a pure delight).
The first edition of our Mains Test Series saw maximum repeat questions. The list though incomplete is as follows –
Interview Program
Rank 5 – SRUSHTI JAYANT DESHMUKH
Rank 129 – DHOOT SAIPRASAD KIRANKUMAR
Rank 145 – NAMITA SHARMA
Rank 304 – HIMANSHU GUPTA
Rank 359 – HEMANT GUPTA
Rank 378 – LAKSHAY KUMAR CHOWDHURY
Rank 431 – ANIL KUMAR JHAJHARIA
Rank 630 – ISHWARYA R
Rank 660 – DALJEET KUMAR
Rank 695 – K Shashikant
The Interview Program Series can be found here. More interviews will be uploaded.
Mains Program (we had launched only the first edition with 3 rounds of full-length tests)
Rank 172 – KAMYAA MISRA
Rank 211 – KUNAL AGGARWAL
12 out of 20 from monthly magazines, app and mentorship initiatives
Rank 2 – AKSHAT JAIN
Rank 3 – JUNAID AHMAD
Rank 4 – SHREYANS KUMAT
Rank 5 – SRUSHTI JAYANT DESHMUKH
Rank 8 – VAISHALI SINGH
Rank 10 – TANMAY VASHISTHA SHARMA
Rank 12 – NAMRATA JAIN
Rank 14 – ANKITA CHOUDHARY
Rank 15 – ATIRAG CHAPLOT
Rank 17 – RAHUL SHARANAPPA SANKANUR
Rank 18 – RISHITA GUPTA
Rank 19 – HARPREET SINGH
Rank 20 – CHITRA MISHRA
We will be holding video sessions soon and uploading them for the benefit of everyone.
Students who we have missed, we humbly request them to reach out to us at hello@civilsdaily.com
-
5th April 2019 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions
[WpProQuiz 40]
-
[Video Analysis + Top 10 Ranks] 04 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/NMrx7hnENg8
The full playlist is available here [click2watch]
[WpProQuiz_toplist 21]
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
-
8PM – Nikaalo Prelims Revision Test Polity 1
Dear Students,
As a hint, please do revise topics like emergency provisions, fundamental rights. We are seeing questions on
Try to get over 12 questions correct in this test.
[WpProQuiz 27]
Entire details of the program can be found here –
-
UPSC Results Declared – 2018 view pdf here
Dear Students,
We have gotten hold of the pdf which seems authentic. However, it is still not available on the UPSC website.
We know for sure that Kunal, Kamyaa and few others are our students so this list seems authentic.
Please view your result here – 5_6140786069060190421
Congratulations to all.
This post will be followed by our list of students and topper blogs. In the unlikely event that this is not the list, we will publish the official list.
Regards.