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  • 26 June 2018 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions with Answers

    Q.1 Consider the following statements:

    1. Inter Bank Offer Rate is short-term interest rate to be charged on the loans offered to other banks.
    2. Healthy functioning of IBOR signifies quick loans in the market at little cost.
    3. Mumbai Interbank Offer rate (MIBOR) rate is for Indian inter-bank market, and is calculated on quarterly basis by RBI.

    Which of the following statements is/are correct?

    a) All of the above
    b) 1 and 3
    c) 1 and 2
    d) 2 and 3

    Source : http://www.bankoncepts.in/2015/02/libor-mibor-mibid.html

    Q.2 Consider the following statements about plastic ban in India:

    1. India has planned to completely phase out use of plastic bags by the end of 2019 under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
    2. Maharashtra is the second state after Goa to completely ban use of plastic bags.

    Which of the followings statements is/are correct?

    a) Only 1
    b) Only 2
    c) Both
    d) None

    Source : https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-reduce-segregate-on-plastic-ban/

    Q.3 Consider the following statements about International Solar alliance (ISA):

    1. International Solar alliance (ISA) seeks to mobilize $1 trillion of investments with AIIB finance alone by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy.
    2. The fund will be used to insure solar power projects against risks such as default in payment by electricity procurers, foreign exchange fluctuations and regime change.

    Which of the following statements is/are not correct?

    a) 1 only
    b) 2 only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) None of the above

    Source : https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/isa-plans-global-solar-bank-to-finance-150-billion-of-power-projects/

    Q.4 Which of the following statements is correct about Suryashakti Kisan Yojana?

    1. For the first time in the country farmers will be able to produce solar energy, consume as much as they need and sell the remaining under this scheme.
    2. Using solar panels, which will be connected to the feeders, farmers would get 24 hours of power supply for their pumps.
    a) Both 1 and 2
    b) Only 1
    c) Only 2
    d) None of the above

    Source : https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/suryashakti-kisan-yojna-gujarat-govt-launches-solar-scheme-to-double-farm-income/

    Q.5 Which of the following represents the correct West to East order of the following islands?

    a) Comoro-Assumption-Reunion-Agalega
    b) Assumption- Comoro- Agalega- Reunion
    c) Comoro- Assumption- Agalega- Reunion
    d) Agalega- Reunion- Assumption- Comoro

    Source : https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-seychelles-talk-of-mutual-welfare-on-assumption-island-project/

    Q.6 Consider the following statements about Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY):

    a) It is the responsibility of the state discoms under UDAY to ensure last mile connectivity through grids.
    b) However, it is Centre’s responsibility to ensure 100% electrification to all household of remotest village in the country.

    Which of the following statement is/are correct?

    a) Only a
    b) Only b
    c) Both a and b
    d) None of the above

    For Solutions – Click Here

  • 26 June 2018 | High Relevance vs Low Relevance News , Govt. Posters for easy recall

    Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

    We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

    Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

    Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

    Click on news headlines to read the full news

    High relevance news

    [op-ed snap] Reduce, segregate: On plastic ban

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-reduce-segregate-on-plastic-ban/

    Maharashtra has recently decided to ban plastic use. Taking the ‘ban’ culture forward, this decision also gives rise to debate whether blanket bans are a solution to the problems that have accumulated over years and what are solutions to these problems.

    Read the editorial to get such solutions and quote them in related Mains answers

    ISA plans global solar bank to finance $150 billion of power projects

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/isa-plans-global-solar-bank-to-finance-150-billion-of-power-projects/

    Another major international institution in the offing after ISA. Know all the stakeholders that are involved in this new solar bank.

    A potential material for Prelims question

    India, Seychelles talk of ‘mutual welfare’ on Assumption Island project

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-seychelles-talk-of-mutual-welfare-on-assumption-island-project/

    Seychelles has been swinging in its decision of providing access to Assumption island.

    Note the island’s location and all other important ports marked in map shared along with the newscard

    Centre cannot guarantee power supply to all villages, says official

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/centre-cannot-guarantee-power-supply-to-all-villages-says-official/

    This newscard is a perfect example of on paper implementation of schemes vs the ground reality.

    Even after 100% electrification, people are unable to access electricity. Note the reasons for it. A question can be asked in Mains based on these lines.

    Low Relevance News

    India gifts patrol aircraft to Seychelles

    India has gifted a Dornier maritime patrol aircraft to Seychelles which will enhance the surveillance capabilities of the island nation

    The only important detail in news: The Do-228 can be used for multiple purposes like EEZ monitoring, maritime surveillance, pollution monitoring and control, search and rescue and commuter services

    Maldives leader seeks India’s help

    Ahmed Naseem, a leader of the Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has said that if President Abdulla Yameen returns to power, he will allow a full “takeover” of the islands by China

    Nothing important in news from UPSC perspective

    Govt. Poster for easy recall

  • 25 June 2018 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions with Answers

    Q.1 Consider the following statements about State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report for 2017:

    1. It is released by FAO.
    2. The report says that child under-nutrition rates continue to drop, although one in four children is still affected by stunting.
    3. Climate Change and regional conflicts are one of the major causes of food deprivation.

    Which of the following statements is/are CORRECT?

    a) 1 only
    b) 1 and 2
    c) 2 and 3
    d) All of the above

    Source-  https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-for-nutrition-security-on-undernourishment/

    Q.2 Consider the following statements about Census of India:

    1. Census was first held in India in 1871.
    2. SCs, STs, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and upper castes are exclusively defined using data from 1931 Census only.
    3. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011 was not the first of such kind conducted in India.

    Which of the following statements is/are CORRECT?

    a) 1 and 2
    b) 2 and 3
    c) 1 and 3
    d) All of the above

    Source- https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-the-tools-for-counting/

    Q.3 Which of the following statements is/are not correct about Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT)?

    1. Recently Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy have agreed to institute a Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) as an annual feature of maritime exercise.
    2. It is aimed to curb smuggling  activities in the Bay of Bengal region
    a) Only 1
    b) Only 2
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) None of the above

    Source- https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-bangladesh-navies-to-join-hands/

    Q.4 Consider the following statements about Generalised System of Preferences:

    1. It is a WTO programme established by the General Agreement in Trade and Services , 1995 in the Uruguay Round of meeting
    2. Under this, a member country grants Most Favoured Nation (MFN)status to other members.
    3. Recently US is considering India for its GSP eligibility.

    Which of the following is/are CORRECT?

    a) 1 and 2
    b) 1 and 3
    c) 3 only
    d) All of the above

    Source- https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/gsp-win-win-for-indo-u-s-trade/

    Q.5 “It is a four-day fair to mark the annual menstruation of the goddess. The doors of the temple are shut for visitors to let the goddess go through her period. Erstwhile it’s the only temple where a female genital is worshipped.  And attainment of puberty is celebrated as first marriage among the local girls.”

    Which of the following best describes above discussed place?

    a) Mansa Devi Temple, Uttarakhand
    b) Dakshineshwar Kali temple, West Bengal
    c) Karni Mata Temple , Rajasthan
    d) Kamakhya Temple, Assam

    Source- https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/celebrating-the-goddess-who-bleeds/

    For Solutions – Click Here

  • [Prelims Spotlight] International Solar Alliance, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

    Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

    B2B #1: From news – ISA plans global solar bank to finance $150 billion of power projects

    International Solar Alliance

    1. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 121 countries, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
    2. The primary objective of the alliance is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels
    3. The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization
    4. The alliance is also called International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA)
    5. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is to be headquartered in India
    6. The initiative was launched by PM Narendra Modi at the India Africa Summit and a meeting of member countries ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015

    Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

    Name : World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

    Objective : To encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world

    Members : 186 of the UN member states as well as the Cook Islands, Holy See and Niue are members of WIPO

    Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland

    Year Founded : 1967

  • Why we stopped Target Mains

    Dear Students,

    As you know, Civilsdaily has been expanding its offerings. Its portfolio now consists of many products – Prelims TS & Samachar Manthan have already created a name for themselves. SIP was a huge hit and our Mains Program,  though in its first year, has already got huge enrollments.

    We get a lot of emails on a regular basis asking us to resume Target Mains – Daily Answer Writing program and provide answer evaluation. You will agree that we are very prompt at taking feedback and incorporating it. We included prelims tests in Samachar Manthan and have come out with numerous other materials which students have demanded. So when students ask us for Target Mains, we obviously want to go for it. They indeed provide value in terms of writing practice and help in visualizing how questions on certain topics can be framed.

    However, there are many issues that make it ineffective

    1. Forming questions from today’s news – Questions asked in UPSC are generally on an overarching theme. Very rarely will you find a question whose basis was just one single op-ed or news item.
    2. Repetition of questions – As an issue updates with time, the answers become obsolete. That is why it is more important to frame questions on issues when 3-4 articles have already been written on them.
    3. Quality of both questions and answer checking – If we are making questions every day, they will not be intelligent. They will come directly from op-ed/news headings.
    4. The unreliability of peer reviews – Peer reviews cannot be relied on and show a lot of variabilities. It is very important that you get a feedback from someone experienced when it comes to your style, substance, and presentation.

    We know that re-starting Target Mains will get us a lot of participation. In our previous versions, we had over 200 students submitting their answers on a daily basis. But ultimately such initiatives had very limited returns. 

    We have included weekly mains tests in our Samachar Manthan module to help students develop their writing competency. Formal reviews at such low costs do not exist anywhere. We want to

    Further, we will be putting down a list of questions on every story on the story pages itself to help you visualize how questions can be framed. This will also prevent question overloading where only the most deserving questions make it to the list.

  • 25 June 2018 | High Relevance vs Low Relevance News , Govt. Posters for easy recall

    Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

    We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

    Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

    Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

    Click on news headlines to read the full news

    High relevance news

    India, Bangladesh Navies to join hands

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-bangladesh-navies-to-join-hands/

    Note about CORPAT exercises and all the countries that India conducts these exercise with. Also about the importance of all such endeavors

    GSP: win-win for Indo-U.S. trade

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/gsp-win-win-for-indo-u-s-trade/

    The US wants to review GSP status of India and this could affect India’s exports in a big way. Make notes about all such impacts and why this system should continue as is to be beneficial to both India & USA

    Celebrating the goddess who bleeds

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/celebrating-the-goddess-who-bleeds/

    Important news for Art & Culture. Ambubachi Mela or related facts can be asked in Prelims

    [op-ed snap] The tools for counting

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-the-tools-for-counting/

    Editorial discusses the gaps left in SECC & how Census 2021 can be planned in order to get a holistic picture of Indian society and its changed pattern over the years

    Low Relevance News

    Haksar doctrine set tone for better ties with Beijing, says book by Jairam Ramesh

    News discusses the fact that it was the former diplomat and civil servant P.N. Haksar who “invented” the formula in 1987 that India and China could cooperate in other areas even as they addressed their differences on the boundary question

    Nothing important from UPSC perspective as this doctrine is less discussed in India-China relations but since UPSC is always ready to give surprises, just keep in mind the name of doctrine and broad details about it for Mains

    India cuts export quotas for Maldives

    India has lowered the limits on the export of certain essential commodities such as potatoes, onions, and eggs to the Maldives

    No important act included in the news apart from the 1981 agreement between India and Maldives.

    Govt. Poster for easy recall

  • [Burning Issues] Manual Scavenging

    Related image

    Meaning of manual scavenging (MS)

    • Is a caste-based occupation involving the removal of untreated human excreta from insanitary (or ‘dry’) latrines
    • It has been officially abolished by law in India as a dehumanizing practice – the Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act (MSRA, 2013) has replaced the 1993 Act.
    • There are three types of MS
      1. Manual Scavengers
      2. Sewerage workers/septic tank cleaners
      3. Sweepers

    Caste Census 2011 Figures / Appraisal of govt efforts

    1. >1.6 lakh households had at least 1 member working as a MS. This puts the number of manual scavengers in India at ≅1.7 lakh (mostly women).
    2. ≅12k manual scavengers were identified across India in 2016 – 82% of these are in UP (Ministry of Social Justice figures, 2016)
    3. There exist 2.6 Mn insanitary latrines. 72% of these are in Andhra, Assam, J&K, Maha, TN, UP and WB

    Problems with the profession / Why it should be banned

    • Undignified life (all the 6 Fundamental Rights are compromised, directly or indirectly)
    • It perpetuates casteism
    • Modern, secular india has no place for such “professions”
    • Doesn’t suit India’s rising global profile – ‘super power’ aspirations
    • Women empowerment (most manual scavengers are dalit women)

    MSRA 2013

    Prohibits

    • the employment of manual scavengers,
    • the manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks without protective equipment, and
    • the construction of insanitary latrines

    Fixes responsibility on each local authority, cantonment board and railway authority to

    • survey insanitary latrines (i.e latrines without water) within its jurisdiction and
    • construct sanitary community latrines (demolition cost to be borne by the owner of such latrine)

    Offenses under the act are non-bailable

    • punishable with fines and jail

    Seeks to rehabilitate manual scavengers, and

    • provide for their alternative employment

    Anti-MS Efforts

    By the centre (govt of India)

    • Legal measures
      • budgetary support for the implementation of MSRA, 2013
    • Policy support
      • Scholarship schemes for children of those engaged in MS
      • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

    By the states

    • MSRA, 2013
      • primary responsibility for its implementation
    • UP govt
      • ‘Daliya Jalao’ initiative freed almost 10% MS (of the state’s total MS burden) within a year (spillover effects in terms of control over polio and diarrhoea)

    Institutional action

    • NHRC reprimanding states
    • National Cmsn for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) – welfare functions

    Why manual scavenging persists

    Govt apathy

    1. poor implementation of the MSRA, 2013
    • 2.6 Mn insanitary latrines still exist (NGO Safai Karamchari Andolan, Census 2011 data)
    • 72% of these are in Andhra, Assam, J&K, Maha, TN, UP and WB
    • 1.3 million Dalits (mostly women) make living as manual scavengers (NGO data)

    2 99% reduction (2014 vs. 2017) in budgetary allocations by the centre

    • This is despite goi’s commitment towards sanitation and a dedicated cess

    Indian Railways

    1. continues to be the largest employer of MS (no data available about the no. of MS employed)
    2. typically employs MS through ‘contractors’

    Societal prejudice

    1. popular insensitivity towards the issue
    2. the notion of caste and pollution
    3. stigmatisation of the dalits

    Way Forward

    • Civil Society
      1. more intense activism is needed
    • Judiciary
      1. judicial activism should be resorted to
      2. if the SC can ban liquor stores on highways, why is MS being ignored?
    • Vigilant Media
      1. can pressurize govt into action by animating the issue of MS
    • Govt
      1. strict implementation of MSRA, 2013

  • 23 June 2018 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions with Answers

    Q.1 Consider the following about Section 29 of the Aadhaar (Targeted delivery of financial and other subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016:

    1. No core biometric information, collected or created under this Act, shall be shared with anyone for any reason other than authorities like UIDAI for generation of Aadhaar number.
    2. Aadhaar number or core biometric information collected or created under this Act in respect of an Aadhaar number holder can be published in case of ardent criminals wanted in case of serious crimes.

    Which of the following statements are true?

    a) Both 1 & 2
    b) Only 1
    c) Only 2
    d) None

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/aadhaar-biometric-data-cannot-be-used-for-crime-investigations-uidai-clarifies/

    Q.2 Consider the following statements about International Asteroid Warning Network:

    1. It is a specialized agency of NASA in collaboration withUnited Nations.
    2. It forms an international association of institutions involved in detecting, tracking, and characterizing NEOs (Near Earth Objects) to provide the best information available on the NEO hazard and any impact threat.

    Which of the following statements are not correct?

    a) Only 1
    b) Only 2
    c) Both 1 & 2
    d) None

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/nasa-unveils-program-to-defend-earth-from-asteroid-attack/

    Q.3 “Third Neighbour” is a term referring bilateral relations with India by which of the following country?

    a) Afghanistan
    b) Uzbekistan
    c) Myanmar
    d) Mongolia

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/mongolia-launches-construction-of-first-oil-refinery-with-india-aid/

    Q.4 Consider the following statements about Indo-UN Small Satellites Programme (UNSSP).

    1. It is a UN initiative for capacity building asserting India to open its satellite-building expertise to engineering graduates chosen from other countries.
    2. It is to be conducted marking the 50th year of the first UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space — called UNISPACE+50.
    3. ISRO will launch the small satellites built during the programme if they are up to the standards.

    Which of the following statements are correct?

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

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-to-teach-satellite-tech-to-students-from-abroad/

    Q.5 Consider the following statements about Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB):

    1. AIIB is the second largest multilateral development bank after World Bank.
    2. It is an initiative by Chinese government for regional economic development.
    3. India is the largest recipient of AIIB Credit.

    Which of the following statements are correct?

    a) All of the above
    b) 1 and 2
    c) 2 and 3
    d) 1 and 3

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-third-aiib-annual-meeting-2018-mumbai/

    Q.6 Consider the following statements about Sakhi Suraksha Advanced DNA Forensic Laboratory:

    1. It is a series of advanced forensic labs to set up for forensic analysis of sexual assault cases.
    2. Special forensic kits for rape cases will be provided to all police stations and hospitals under this initiative.
    3. The funds for these kits will be provided from Nirbhaya Fund.

    Which of the following statements are not correct?

    a) 1 only
    b) 1 and 3
    c) 2 and 3
    d) None of the above

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-ministry-of-women-child-development-receives-the-best-performing-social-sector-ministry-skoch-award/

    For Solutions – Click here 

  • [Prelims Spotlight] Generalised System of Preferences, NITI Aayog Action Agenda, Jeevan Pramaan

    Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

    B2B #1: From news – GSP: win-win for Indo-U.S. trade

    Generalised System of Preferences

    1. The GSP is one of the oldest trade preference programmes in the world, and was designed to provide zero duties or preferential access for developing countries t o advanced markets.
    2. The U.S. GSP programme was established by the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, and promotes economic development by eliminating duties on thousands of products when imported from one of the 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
    3. In April 2018, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it would review the GSP eligibility of India, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.
    4. The proposed review for India was initiated in response to market access petitions filed by the U.S. dairy and medical device industries due to recent policy decisions in India, which were perceived as trade barriers.

    B2B #2: From news – [op-ed snap] Countering India’s labour market imbalances

    NITI Aayog Action Agenda

    1. The draft “Three Year Action Agenda” of the NITI Aayog been released in 2017  for 2017-18 to 2019-20.
    2. It focuses on seven key areas that include revenue and expenditure, economic transformation in major sectors, regional development, growth enablers, and reforms in governance, social sectors and sustainability.
    3. Itis said to be a phasing out of FYP as a concept.

    Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

    Name of the scheme : Jeevan Pramaan

    Salient Features : It is an Aadhaar based Biometric Authentication System for Pensioners. The system provides authenticity to Digital Life Certificate without the necessity of the pensioner being present in person before his/ her Pension Dispensing Authority (PDA).

    Nodal Ministry : The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

  • Optional Telegram Groups – Inviting Moderators

    Dear Students,

    We have moved our discussion forums for optional subjects to the following telegram groups. It was evident that telegram had many smooth features which were beneficial for optional discussions.

    From time to time, we will try to get Rankers and Mentors to communicate with you and solve your queries. It should be noted that these are self-moderated groups where you can collaborate and communicate with your fellow peers. Students interested to become Moderators so they can streamline the conversations are more than welcome to write to us.

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