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  • UPSC Interviews 2020: Schedule your Mock + DAF questionnaire | Important topics inside

    UPSC Interviews 2020: Schedule your Mock + DAF questionnaire | Important topics inside

    Click here for DAF questionnaire and here for Important Topics

    Schedule your mock interview + DAF questionnaire

    Mock Interviews at Civilsdaily form a crucial part of UPSC interview preparation. The quality and diversity of the panel help prepare an aspirant for the actual interview at UPSC. 

    Aspirants have benefited greatly from the mock interview and the feedback they get from the panel members after their mock interview. At the same time, we work with the aspirants to improve upon the areas highlighted by the panel.

    Aspirants will also get a personalized DAF-based questionnaire based on extensive research and linkages with the issues of national and international importance.

    Upcoming Mock interview and session

    This week’s mock interview dates have been fixed.

    • Mock interview this week- 23rd May (Book your slot)   
    • Time: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.  
    • Mode: Online 
    SCHEDULE YOUR MOCK INTERVIEW + DAF QUESTIONNAIRE

    Interview slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 

    Panelists for Mock Interviews: 

    1. Shri Shankar Aggarwal, IAS (retd.)
    2. Dr. Noor Mohammad, IAS (retd.)
    3. Dr. P.K. Agrawal, IAS (Retd.)
    4. Shri T. N. Thakur, IAAS (retd.)
    5. Shri V. P. Singh, IRPS
    6. Mrs.Aditi Gupta, Corporate Leadership Specialist
    7. Prof. U.M. Amin, Jamia Milia University
    8. Mr. Himanshu Arora, Economist, JNU, PMEAC 
    9. Mr. Kunal Aggarwal, IRS
    10. Mr. Debraj Das, IPS

    Tentative: Shri Harsh V. Pant (Observer Research Foundation), Shri SN Tripathi, IAS (Director IIPA), Shri Yogesh Narain (Retd. Defence Secretary), Shri Dipankar Gupta (Indian Sociologist), and others.   

    SCHEDULE YOUR MOCK INTERVIEW + DAF QUESTIONNAIRE

    DAF questionnaire

    Detailed Application Form (DAF) is one of the most important documents that you might have filled for UPSC interviews. A major part of the interview will revolve around the information and details provided in the DAF. It is more than your CV.

    Your ability to defend your DAF before the panel is going to decide your success. Anticipating and preparing for the questions based on your DAF is an essential part of the interview preparation.

    DAF-based-questionnaire-Sample 1Download
    DAF-based-questionnaire-Sample 2Download

    As a part of Transcend: Interview Guidance Program for UPSC interviews we provide you a personalized and elaborate DAF-based questionnaire.

    Fill the form below for DAF questionnaire.

    SCHEDULE YOUR MOCK INTERVIEW + DAF QUESTIONNAIRE

    Important interview topics

    Most important Interview Topics 2020Download
    • Report of 15th Finance Commission
      • Do you agree with the new criteria defined under Terms of Reference by FC?
      • What are the major challenges being faced by several states?
    • Monetisation of deficit
      • What do you understand by Monetisation of Deficit?
      • Is it a Feasible solution for an economy like India?
    • Better Relations: Onus on Pakistan
      • What responsibility does India have on this?
      • Does the Onus lie on India’s side also to extend the hands of friendship? 
    • Delhi: LG’s role redefined
      • What is the major area of tussles?
      • Do you think such steps might lead to erosion of federation and a spot on elected parties having full-fledged legislature? 
    • Reservation: reviewing 50% cap
      • Is this still needed?
      • What can be the other alternatives?
    • Regulating Social Media Influencers
      • Why such regulation needed, despite Media being considered as the 4th Pillar of democracy?
      • Spread of Fake News is because of Unaware citizenry? What’s your view on this?
      • What are the other causes?
    • Need for Agricultural reforms
      • Is the Farmer Protest right?
      • What is the cause for such unrest? 
      • Why is there such a trust deficit?
    • Nota and option of Re-Election
      • Is the option of NOTA effective in Indian Democracy?
      • What can be done then to reduce the money and muscle power? 
    • Climate Change and India
      • Why such urgency now? Immediate reasons?
      • What is India’s position in terms of mitigating CC impact? 
      • Why the burden on developing countries? 

     

    • Time to implement Uniform Civil Code
      • Do you think UCC is now the need of the hour?
      • Any challenges in its implementation? Why?
      • What is the Constitutional mandate on this?
    • India-UK bilateral ties
      • Does Brexit change the equations between India and EU?
      • What major impact can India have after the whole Brexit scenario?
    • France: Liberty and fight against terror
      • Debate on secularism and its type?
      • Is India a perfect example for positive secularism? 
    • Atma Nirbhar Bharat 3.0
      • Is this Atmanirbharta possible in India?
      • Then why 1991 LPG reforms were brought at the first instance?
      • Where are we lacking exactly?
    • Education Sector reforms
      • Will NEP fill all the existing gaps in the Education sector?
      • Is RTE successful in India?
      • Providing education in Mother Tongue- do you find some relevance in it? 
      • Then why so much focus on english medium?
    • Empowering women
      • What is the most im[ortant factor for making women really empowered?
      • Will it improve the status of the female population in the country? 
      • What are the main hindrances in empowering this section of society?
    • Monetise and Modernise Mantra for PSUs
      • Privatisation or not? Why?
      • Why not improve the existing structure rather than going for privatisation?
    • Strengthening our start-up ecosystem
      • Is India ready for a startup ecosystem?
      • Then why do they get merged with MNCs after a few years and why not they themselves striving to become a MNC?
    • Raising marriageable age for women
      • Why such notions in India?
      • Will it improve the position of women in families?
      • Do you agree with marrying a woman older than you?
    • Emerging Technologies- Global Challenges
      • Why is it creating so much of fuss?
      • A day without INTERNET and COMPUTERS/SMART DEVICES?
    • India’s Humanitarian Diplomacy
      • Why so much focus on soft diplomacy?
      • Has it provided any advantage to India in International arena?
    • Quad Summit: India’s gain
      • What gains will it bring?
      • Can it be seen as a counter attack on China?
    • India’s engagement with Africa
      • What are the stakes for India in Africa?
      • How can India take a stronghold against China there?
    • Biden Presidency and India-US ties
      • How will it be different from Trump’s Presidency?
      • Any relief for India?
      • What can be the major challenges? 
    • Afghan Peace Talks and India
      • India’s stand on Taliban?
      • Should India change its stand?
    • Relations with Nepal in Covid Era
      • We can choose our friends but not our neighbours- its relevance in nepal’s context?
    • India’s leadership in Post-Covid world
      • What are the major areas where India should focus first?
      • Can we be able to beat China on any front ?
    • India’s Vaccine Diplomacy
      • What is the idea behind this?
      • Is it not Fiscal Imprudence?
    • Challenges for India as a global power
      • Major areas of conflicts?
      • How can  India emerge to be a winner on these fronts ?
    • India and G7 summit
      • Do you think the invitation has some relevance for India?
    • RCEP: Challenges and way forward
      • What could have been the scenario if India would have joined it?
      • Is it a mature step from India’s perspective?
    • Cyber security and India’s preparedness 
      • Is India prepared on this front?
      • What are the ethical challenges involved?
      • Need for Responsible technology? How?
    • LAC pullback: nothing conceded
      • Where does India stand now after this whole stand-off scenario?
      • Will it bring some respite in the near future?
      • Why do the issues remain unresolved?
      • Can it be considered as a historical mistake?
    • Contempt of Court
      • Difference between Civil and Criminal Contempt.
      • Should it be removed?

    SCHEDULE YOUR MOCK INTERVIEW + DAF QUESTIONNAIRE
  • (Live) Samarth 2022: Webinar for Working Professionals | How to clear UPSC exam by studying 5 hours everyday? | Registration open

    (Live) Samarth 2022: Webinar for Working Professionals | How to clear UPSC exam by studying 5 hours everyday? | Registration open

    Click here to register for the webinar

    • Webinar date: 23rd May 2021, Sunday
    • Time: 3 PM afternoon
    • Zoom link will be emailed to you.

    It’s not anybody’s guess why in general life army personnel are highly disciplined. Their precision in every field of life is emulatable. They almost internalise these everyday learnings and develop them as lifestyle traits.

    The case is very similar with the civil services aspirants too, who take up the task of clearing one of the toughest exams in India, in addition to being a working professional. Given the rigours of life, they are subjected to, they already know what they have to sacrifice and what regime they need to follow.

     Click here to register for the webinar

    If we sift through the previous year results, we can easily come across such examples. Aspirants facing the harshness of the work environment are bound to earn the incentives of time management, critical thinking and discipline. I mean, who would not remember Anu Kumari here. Despite being a working woman, a wife and a mother, she proved many of her naysayers wrong. Mind you, she was not just working but was also a lady in many life roles with a two-year-old kid wanting the comfort of a mothers presence.

    Now if she is not enough motivation, what else is! She is a shining star in our Hall of Fame. Okay, let me mention another bright example, Kunal Aggarwal. He was very well sorted and settled with a decent life at Goldman Sachs. Dream job for many. Navigating all the odds at work and busy schedules, he managed to follow the guidelines provided by Civilsdaily, he made it through in stages. There’s a story we will discuss in our webinar. He is again an example worth following. Our hall of fame is actually full of many such names.

     Click here to register for the webinar

    We can go on and on with a lineup that may never end. But the bottom line, which most of our successful working aspirants agreed with, was the time management and course curriculum they were made part of while at CD. The able guidance team and the evidence-based entire training structure pays at the end when the final recommendation list comes out. Trust me, we are elated. At times more than the students.

    So, let me invite you to the webinar which I am specifically holding for Working Professionals or Junta on the coming Sunday 23rd May at 3 PM afternoon. It will be epic in many ways. We will discuss many doubts faced by the working junta over a one-to-one live chat. Also, we will come to know about the specifics of the exam and the evolving pattern.

    Summarily, in this webinar, you can expect to learn about:

    • Mistakes that can cost you an attempt?
    • What to do to master the IAS-Exam being a working professional?
    • How to clear the exam, adhering to a “5-hour Step-by-Step learning plan”?
    • An interactive Q&A session with an experienced audience?
    • Important Civilsdaily softcopies takeaway for exam preparation.
    • Civilsdaily Joining Bonus ( Only for Sunday registrations )

    Moreover, if UPSC 2022 is your first attempt, I will call you personally.

    But for that, book your seat in this webinar by filling up a small form with your details and one specific query which you want to get addressed.

    Meet you soon!

    Click here to register for the webinar

    A quick bit about Sudhanshu Mishra:

    Sudhanshu has the first-hand experience of 3 mains and two interviews of UPSC. He has served in the defense ministry for 10 years with keen interests in regional and global geopolitics and has ample experience of various other competitive exams as well.

     Click here to register for the webinar

    For any queries reach out to hello@civilsdaily.com

     

  • The outdated nature of bureaucracy

    The second wave of Covid has exposed the inherent weakness of the bureaucracy in India. The article highlights the necessity for reforms in the way bureaucracy functions in India.

    Features of traditional bureaucracy

    • Preference to generalist: Weberian bureaucracy still prefers a generalist over a specialist.
    • Preference to leadership of position: The leadership of position is preferred over leadership of function in the traditional bureaucracy.
    • The leadership of function is when a person has expert knowledge of a particular responsibility in a particular situation.
    • The role of the leader is to explain the situation instead of issuing orders.
    •  Every official involved in a particular role responds to the situation rather than relying on some dictation from someone occupying a particular position.
    • Lack of innovation: The rigid adherence to rules has resulted in the rejection of innovation.

    Covid exposed limits of traditional bureaucracy

    • A generalist officer IAS and State civil service officials are deemed an expert and as a result, superior in traditional bureaucracy.
    • Specialists in every government department have to remain subordinate to the generalist officers.
    • The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the weakness of this system.
    • Healthcare professionals who are specialists have been made to work under generalist officers and the policy options have been left to the generalists when they should be in the hands of the specialists.
    • The justification is that the generalist provides a broader perspective compared to the specialist.

    Is privatisation and private sector managerial techniques an answer?

    • The reform often suggested in India is new public management.
    • This as a reform movement promotes privatisation and managerial techniques of the private sector as an effective tool to seek improvements in public service delivery and governance.
    • But this isn’t a viable solution in India where there is social inequality and regional variations in development.
    • It renders the state a bystander among the multiple market players with a lack of accountability.
    • Further, COVID-19 has shown that the private sector has also failed in public service delivery.

    Way forward: Collaborative governance

    • The most appropriate administrative reform is the model of new public governance.
    • Work together: In collaborative governance, the public sector, private players and civil society, especially public service organisations (NGOs), work together for effective public service delivery.
    • As part of new public governance, a network of social actors and private players would take responsibility in various aspects of governance with public bureaucracy steering the ship rather than rowing it.
    • As part of new public governance, the role of civil society has to be institutionalised.
    • It needs a change in the behaviour of bureaucracy.
    • Openness to reforms: It needs flexibility in the hierarchy, a relook at the generalist versus specialist debate, and an openness to reforms such as lateral entry and collaboration with a network of social actors.
    • All major revolutions with huge implications on public service delivery have come through the collaboration of public bureaucracy with so-called outsiders.
    • These include the Green Revolution (M.S. Swaminathan), the White Revolution (Verghese Kurien), Aadhaar-enabled services (Nandan Nilekani) and the IT revolution (Sam Pitroda).

    Consider the question “What are the weaknesses of bureaucracy in India? Suggest the measures to improve the quality of public service delivery in India.”

    Conclusion

    New public governance is the future of governance, especially public service delivery.

    Back2Basics: The Weberian Model of bureaucracy

    • The classic model of bureaucracy is typically called the ideal Weberian model, and it was developed by Max Weber, an early German sociologist.
    • Weber argued that the increasing complexity of life would simultaneously increase the demands of citizens for government services.
    • Therefore, the ideal type of bureaucracy, the Weberian model, was one in which agencies are apolitical, hierarchically organized, and governed by formal procedures.
    • Furthermore, specialized bureaucrats would be better able to solve problems through logical reasoning.
    • Such efforts would eliminate entrenched patronage, stop problematic decision-making by those in charge,, impose order and efficiency, create a clear understanding of the service provided, reduce arbitrariness, ensure accountability, and limit discretion.

  • The fault line of poor health infrastructure

    The poor public health infrastructure in India hits the poor hard. The article examines the factors responsible for poor public health infrastructure and suggests the measures to deal with it.

    Poor state of health infrastructure

    • World Bank data reveal the poor state of India’s health infrastructure.
    • It reveals that India had 85.7 physicians per 1,00,000 people in 2017.
    • In contrast, it is 98 in Pakistan, 58 in Bangladesh, 100 in Sri Lanka and 241 in Japan.
    • India had 53 beds per 1,00,000 people.
    • It is 63 in Pakistan, 79.5 in Bangladesh, 415 in Sri Lanka and 1,298 in Japan.
    • India had172.7 nurses and midwives per 1,00,000 people in contrast to 220 in Sri Lanka, 40 in Bangladesh, 70 in Pakistan, and 1,220 in Japan.

    What are the factors responsible for poor health infrastructure?

    • Stagnant expenditure: Analysis by the Centre for Economic Data and Analysis (CEDA), Ashoka University, shows that health expenditure has been stagnant for years.
    • Lack of expertise with states: Despite health being a state subject, the main bodies with technical expertise are under central control.
    • The States lack corresponding expert bodies such as the National Centre for Disease Control or the Indian Council of Medical Research.
    • Inter-State variation: States also differ a great deal in terms of the fiscal space to deal with the novel coronavirus pandemic because of the wide variation in per capita health expenditure.
    • Kerala and Delhi have been close to top in years from 2011 to 2019-20.
    • Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, States that have been consistently towards the bottom of the ranking in the same years.

    Out-of-pocket expenditure and its impact on the poor

    • Due to low levels of public health provision, the World Health Organization estimates that 62% of the total health expenditure in India is OOP, among the highest in the world.
    • Some of the poorest States, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha, have a high ratio of OOP expenditures in total health expenditure.
    • Impact on the poor: High ratio of OOP means that the poor in the poorest States, the most vulnerable sections, are the worst victims of a health emergency.

    Way forward

    1) Coordinated national plan

    • The inter-State variation in health expenditure highlights the need for a coordinated national plan at the central level to fight the pandemic.
    • The Centre already tightly controls major decisions, including additional resources raised specifically for pandemic relief, e.g. the PM CARES Fund.
    • The need for a coordinated strategy on essential supplies of oxygen and vaccines is acute.
    • The Centre can bargain for a good price from vaccine manufacturers in its capacity as a single large buyer like the European Union did for its member states.
    • Centre will also benefit from the economies of scale in transportation of vaccines into the country.
    • Once the vaccines arrive in India, these could be distributed across States equitably in a needs-based and transparent manner.
    • Another benefit of central coordination is that distribution of constrained resources like medical supplies, financial resources can internalise the existing disparities in health infrastructure across States.

    2) Form Pandemic Preparedness Unit

    • There is a need for the creation of a “Pandemic Preparedness Unit” (PPU) by the central government.
    • PPU would streamline disease surveillance and reporting systems; coordinate public health management and policy responses across all levels of government.
    • It will also formulate policies to mitigate economic and social costs, and communicate effectively about the health crisis.

    Consider the question “India has among the highest out-of-pocket expenditure in the world, which is the result of poor public health infrastructure. Examine the factors responsible for poor public health infrastructure and suggest the ways to deal with it.”

    Conclusion

    As and when we emerge on the other side of the pandemic, bolstering public health-care systems has to be the topmost priority for all governments: the Centre as well as States.

  • THE BRUCE LEE MANTRA

    THE BRUCE LEE MANTRA

    “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

    You must have read this famous quote by Bruce Lee. There is a reason why Bruce lee became one of the most renowned martial arts fighter in the world. This quote by him emphasizes the importance of focused practice and a high level of proficiency. 

    Just like Bruce Lee, Practice and Proficiency can be ingredients for your success story as well.

    NO! WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO BECOME SOME WORLD CHAMPION, LET US LEAVE IT FOR ANOTHER DAY. But using the Bruce Lee mantra can help you with your UPSC CSE examination for sure.

    Remember PRACTICE doesn’t mean repeating the same mistakes every time but it means ASSESSING your flaws and improving every time!

    In our previous blogs, we have talked about Inconsistency and Incomplete syllabus attempts. In this blog, let us tackle the third major problem that students face – LACK OF ASSESSMENT.

    Despite finishing the syllabus and revising basic books, many students score average in prelims and mains. So, WHAT IS MISSING HERE? If you are not assessing your performance on a regular basis and practicing in an aimless way then I am sorry to say YOUR CHANCES OF CLEARING THIS PAPER ARE LESS.

    Fill the SAMANVAYA form given below and we will contact you.

    Civilsdaily Samanvaya 1-On-1 Mentorship Form

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    Yes I want Mentorship

    In our interaction with 8000+ students, Lack of assessment as an issue that manifests in many ways:

    AIMLESS MOCKS: You have heard toppers say that practice as many mocks and write as many papers as possible. But APPLY LOGIC here if you are not analyzing your mistakes and attempting the tests in the same manner then you are just practicing the same mistakes over and over again. You need a mentor not only to push you to practice more but at the same time provide you with the right assessment after each test.

    DISCIPLINE: Rome was not built in one day. Similarly, your assessment is not a one-time activity. Aspirants make the mistake of thinking that assessment is limited to getting feedback on your mains copy. Nope! not that simple. Your mentor has to work with you on a regular basis to analyze your performance. This will ensure that if you are getting unproductive, we can bring you back in the right direction as soon as possible.

    ACCOUNTABILITY: Self-accountability is necessary for this examination. But if you are also accountable to a mentor then your efficiency levels can improve faster. Don’t believe us, try it yourself.

    Already an aspirant is burdened with so much syllabus and mock tests, because of which assessment suffers. Give our Mentorship program a chance. Neutral assessment of your preparation in terms of finishing the syllabus, revision and test results can be a game-changer in your preparation.

    Let our mentors focus on your assessment, you just focus on your studies. Fill the SAMANVAYA form given below and we will contact you.

    Civilsdaily Samanvaya 1-On-1 Mentorship Form

    Field will not be visible to web visitor
    Yes I want Mentorship

  • Centre’s decision to provide security to MLAs raises questions

    The article deals with the issue of the Home Ministry’s decision to provide security to BJP MLAs in West Bengal.

    Context

    Recently, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decided to provide security cover to 77 MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who were elected earlier this month after the West Bengal Assembly poll.

    Issues with the decision

    1) Threat perception discussed for a group and not one by one person

    • Decisions to provide security to persons under threat is taken by a committee in the MHA.
    • The committee comprises officials from the MHA, the Intelligence Bureau, Delhi Police and senior officials of the Central Armed Police Forces.
    • In the meetings of the committee, the threat perception of each of the person to be secured is discussed one by one and not collectively for any group as such.
    • However, in the decision to deploy CAPF personnel for the 77 MLAs, threat perception for each of the persons was not discussed.

    2) Law and order is a state subject

    • Law and order being a State subject, West Bengal is duty-bound to protect every citizen of the State, more so the MLAs.
    • By deploying central forces, the Centre has sent a clear signal that it does not rely upon the State government to provide fool-proof security to the BJP MLAs.
    • This is not a good sign for Centre-State relations.
    • The Central government’s distrust of officers who are considered close to a State’s ruling dispensation does not bode well for police officers across the country.

    3) Burdening the security forces

    • The number of protected persons has increased in recent years.
    • In 2019, as many as 66,043 police and CAPF personnel were deployed to protect 19,467 persons against the sanctioned strength of 43,556 personnel, as per the Data on Police Organisations.
    • Constant deployment of CAPF personnel on protection duties impacts their training schedule.

    Curbing the tendency to have security as status symbol

    • To curb the tendency of demanding security personnel around themselves, leaders and prominent persons should be asked to bear the expenditure.
    • Similarly, Members of Parliament and leaders with criminal records should be charged a fee for the security personnel deployed to protect them.

    Conclusion

    The Centre’s decision to provide security to the MLAs would set a wrong precedent and does not bode well for federalism.

  • THE BRUCE LEE MANTRA

    THE BRUCE LEE MANTRA

    “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

    You must have read this famous quote by Bruce Lee. There is a reason why Bruce lee became one of the most renowned martial arts fighter in the world. This quote by him emphasizes the importance of focused practice and a high level of proficiency. 

    Just like Bruce Lee, Practice and Proficiency can be ingredients for your success story as well.

    NO! WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO BECOME SOME WORLD CHAMPION, LET US LEAVE IT FOR ANOTHER DAY. But using the Bruce Lee mantra can help you with your UPSC CSE examination for sure.

    Remember PRACTICE doesn’t mean repeating the same mistakes every time but it means ASSESSING your flaws and improving every time!

    In our previous blogs, we have talked about Inconsistency and Incomplete syllabus attempts. In this blog, let us tackle the third major problem that students face – LACK OF ASSESSMENT.

    Despite finishing the syllabus and revising basic books, many students score average in prelims and mains. So, WHAT IS MISSING HERE? If you are not assessing your performance on a regular basis and practicing in an aimless way then I am sorry to say YOUR CHANCES OF CLEARING THIS PAPER ARE LESS.

    In our interaction with 8000+ students, Lack of assessment as an issue that manifests in many ways:

    AIMLESS MOCKS: You have heard toppers say that practice as many mocks and write as many papers as possible. But APPLY LOGIC here if you are not analyzing your mistakes and attempting the tests in the same manner then you are just practicing the same mistakes over and over again. You need a mentor not only to push you to practice more but at the same time provide you with the right assessment after each test.

    DISCIPLINE: Rome was not built in one day. Similarly, your assessment is not a one-time activity. Aspirants make the mistake of thinking that assessment is limited to getting feedback on your mains copy. Nope! not that simple. Your mentor has to work with you on a regular basis to analyze your performance. This will ensure that if you are getting unproductive, we can bring you back in the right direction as soon as possible.

    ACCOUNTABILITY: Self-accountability is necessary for this examination. But if you are also accountable to a mentor then your efficiency levels can improve faster. Don’t believe us, try it yourself.

    Already an aspirant is burdened with so much syllabus and mock tests, because of which assessment suffers. Give our Mentorship program a chance. Neutral assessment of your preparation in terms of finishing the syllabus, revision and test results can be a game-changer in your preparation.

    Let our mentors focus on your assessment, you just focus on your studies. Fill the SAMANVAYA form given below and we will contact you.

    Civilsdaily Samanvaya 1-On-1 Mentorship Form

    Field will not be visible to web visitor
    Yes I want Mentorship

  • 6 UNESCO heritage sites added in India

    Six sites have been added to India’s tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

    Which are the 6 sites?

    1. Ganga ghats in Varanasi
    2. Temples of Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu
    3. Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh
    4. Maratha military architecture in Maharashtra
    5. Hire Bengal megalithic site in Karnataka and
    6. Bhedaghat-Lametaghat of Narmada Valley in Madhya Pradesh

    [1] Ghats of Varanasi

    • The Ganges riverfront of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has been vying for the UNESCO tag for several years now.
    • The Ganga river with its riverfront ghats also fulfil the criteria of Cultural Landscapes as designated in Article 1 of the Convention and specifically that of a cultural landscape/
    • It retains an active social role in contemporary society closely associated with the traditional way of life, and in which the evolutionary process is still in progress.

    [2] Temples of Kanchipuram

    • Synonymous with spirituality, serenity, and silk, the temple town of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, is dotted with ancient temples that are architectural marvels and a visual treat, states incredibleindia.org.
    • Situated on the banks of River Vegavathi, this historical city once had 1,000 temples, of which only 126 (108 Shaiva and 18 Vaishnava) now remain.
    • Its rich legacy has been the endowment of the Pallava dynasty, which made the region it’s capital between the 6th and 7th centuries and lavished upon its architectural gems that are a fine example of Dravidian styles.

    [3] Satpura Tiger Reserve

    • Located in Madhya Pradesh, the Satpura National Park is home to 26 species of the Himalayan region including reptiles, and 42 species of Nilgiri areas.
    • It is the largest tiger-occupied forest and also has the largest tiger population.
    • The website also states the place has more than 50 rock shelters with paintings that are 1500 to 10,000 years old.

    [4] Maratha Military Architecture in Maharashtra

    • There are 12 forts in Maharashtra dating back to the era of the 17th-century Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji.
    • They are namely Shivneri (the birthplace of Shivaji); Raigad (the capital fort rebuilt for the coronation of the Maratha king), Torna (the first fort of the Maratha empire), Rajgad, Salher-Mulher, Panhala, Pratapgad, Lohagad, Sindhudurg, Padmadurga (Kasa), Vijaydurg and Kolaba.
    • This highlight how the formation of Military Landscape in the form of hill and sea forts as a response to hilly terrain in the area is of outstanding universal value.

    [5] Megalithic site of Hire Benkal

    • The 2,800-years-old megalithic site of Hire Benkal in Karnataka is one of the largest prehistoric megalithic settlements where some funerary monuments are still intact.
    • The granite structures are burial monuments that may also have served many ritual purposes.
    • Due to the extremely valuable collection of Neolithic monuments, the site was proposed for recognition.

    [6] Bhedaghat-Lametaghat in Narmada Valley- Jabalpur

    • Bhedaghat, often referred to as the Grand Canyon of India, is a town in the Jabalpur district, around 25 km from Jabalpur.
    • It is known for its marble rocks and their various morphological forms on either side of the Narmada River which flows through the gorge states whcunesco.org.
    • It has also been observed that the magical marble mountains assume different colours and even shapes of animals and other living forms as one moves through them.
    • Several dinosaur fossils have been found in the Narmada valley, particularly in Bhedaghat-Lametghat area of Jabalpur. In 1828, the first Dinosaur fossil was collected from Lameta Bed by William Sleeman.
    • River Narmada narrows down on its way through marble rocks and plunges in a waterfall giving out the appearance of a smoke cascade.

  • FinMin grants ‘infrastructure’ status for convention centres

    The Finance Ministry has granted ‘Infrastructure’ status for exhibition and convention centres, a move that is expected to ease bank financing for such projects.

    Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre

    • ‘Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre is included in the Harmonized Master List of Infrastructure sub-sectors by insertion of a new item in the category of Social and Commercial Infrastructure.
    • The benefits available as ‘infrastructure’ projects would only be available for projects with a minimum built-up floor area of 1,00,000 square metres of exclusive exhibition space or convention space or both combined.
    • This includes primary facilities such as exhibition centres, convention halls, auditoriums, plenary halls, business centres, meeting halls etc.
    • As of now, the major projects underway in the sector are backed by the government – the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centres at Dwarka as well as Pragati Maidan in the capital.

    What is the Master List?

    • The Harmonized Master list approved by the cabinet committee on infrastructure has five main sectors and 29 infra subsectors.
    • The five sectors include transport, energy, water sanitation, communication and social and commercial infrastructure.
    • The infra tag allows certain benefits including access to easier borrowings overseas, the ability to raise funds through tax-free bonds, tax concessions, and access to dedicated lenders such as IIFCL, and the debt funds.
    • Last August, the government had added affordable rental housing projects to the list of sectors recognised as infrastructure.

    Benefits of the move

    • The infrastructure tag no longer involves significant tax breaks but would help such projects get easier financing from banks, said experts.
    • India doesn’t have large convention centres or single halls with capacities to hold 7,000 to 10,000 people, unlike countries like Thailand that is a major global MICE-destination.
    • Becoming a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination can generate significant revenue with several global companies active in India but it will take time to become a preferred destination.

  • Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

    The US government has decided to waive sanctions on the company behind Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Europe.

    Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

    • It is a system of offshore natural gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.
    • It includes two active pipelines running from Vyborg to Lubmin near Greifswald forming the original Nord Stream, and two further pipelines under construction running from Ust-Luga to Lubmin termed Nord Stream 2.
    • In Lubmin the lines connect to the OPAL line to Olbernhau on the Czech border and to the NEL line to Rehden near Bremen.
    • The first line Nord Stream-1 was laid and inaugurated in 2011 and the second line in 2012.
    • At 1,222 km in length, Nord Stream is the longest sub-sea pipeline in the world, surpassing the Langeled pipeline.

    US sanctions

    • Nord Stream projects have been opposed by the United States as well as by several Central and Eastern European countries because of concerns that the pipelines would increase Russia’s influence in the region.
    • The US resistance to Nord Stream 2 is also influenced by the country’s increased production of natural gas, which gives the US economic incentive to resist the Russian supply of gas to the EU, in favour of US shale gas.

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