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  • Last Minute Tips Before Mains 2018

    With the vacancies for this year being around 782, the cut-off for Main is expected to be even higher. Thus, a sound preparation strategy is crucial, not only to clear the cut-off but also to secure a higher rank.
    While what constitutes a sound strategy will differ from one individual to another, what should be the same for anyone preparing for the Civil Services (Main) exam is their attitude.
    Watch this video by Sajal sir for last minute tips to gain those extra marks in Mains

     

    If you are in need of expert guidance before Mains 2018, don’t hesitate to ask. Mail us on hello@civilsdaily.com and we will connect you to our experts in order to help you become better prepared and relieved before the exam

    Overall strategy

    Keenly analyse the previous five years’ question papers. Pinpoint the focus areas in each. Thereafter, develop your own strategy for the different sections based on your findings.

    Keep the timetable of the Main exam in mind. This year, for the first time, aspirants will be getting a week and a gap for optional subjects. So, try and allot time in a balanced manner to optional subjects as well as the GS papers.

    Try and cover the entire syllabus. The exam has a reputation of being unpredictable. One way of tackling this is to analyze the previous years’ papers. To do that, you first need to cover the syllabus of all the four papers of GS, as well as the optional papers.

    Current Affairs

    Undoubtedly, a consistent point of concern for almost all CSE aspirants; mainly due to the vast syllabus, which makes it difficult to prepare all the relevant topics.

    A word of caution: most students end up cramming the present year’s current affairs; when, in reality, it has been observed that at the Main level UPSC includes current affairs related to the past 2-3 years.

    You can take help from our 100 Probable Issues for Mains Compilation: Click2Get

    Essay

    Develop an in-depth understanding of burning issues. Watching, or listening to, quality debates will be of immense help.

    Read important burning issues here: Click2Read

    Ethics (GS-4)

    Connecting, at a deeper level, with the society around you will surely help in coming up with better answers and solutions. Delve into the reasons behind the thoughts of important personalities.

    For case studies, track issues from our day-to-day lives. Keep challenging yourselves with various problems plaguing the society; and try to come up with your own, genuine solutions. This, in turn, will help you a lot in case studies.

    Answer Writing

    Your knowledge serves little purpose if you cannot communicate it well to the examiner. So, it is of utmost importance to hone your answer-writing skills.

    Remember, writing answers that catch the eye of the examiner and compel them to read is an art. And like any other art form, rigorous practice is needed to present your views in limited words, but in a balanced manner

  • 22 September 2018 | High Relevance vs Low Relevance News

    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

    UNDP report lauds India’s strides in reducing poverty in past decade

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/undp-report-lauds-indias-strides-in-reducing-poverty-in-past-decade/

    Read about MPI and its 2018 report findings. Can be asked in Pre as well as Mains.

    Now outsourced eco-impact checks

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/now-outsourced-eco-impact-checks/

    Make notes about EIA. Important from Mains point of view.

    Who is at risk from China’s Belt and Road Initiative debt trap?

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/who-is-at-risk-from-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-debt-trap/

    Read and remember about Paris Club. Terms like these are favourite of UPSC for Prelims.

    [pib] National Board of Examinations

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-national-board-of-examinations/

    Make notes about NBE. Important for Prelims

    Low Relevance News

    Reinstated staff can’t have back wages: SC

    An employee has no right to back wages merely because the court has set aside his dismissal and returned his old job, the Supreme Court held in a judgment

    No important points in the news from the exam point of view

  • 21 September 2018 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    Q.1) Nikshay Version 2.0 a web based application is related to which of the following issue?

    a) National Tuberculosis Programme

    b) National AIDS control programme

    c) National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)

    d) Non-communicable Diseases

    Inspired by: [pib] Health Ministry launches sputum sample transportation Through Dept of Post

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-health-ministry-launches-sputum-sample-transportation-through-dept-of-post/

    Q.2) With reference to the Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna (ABVKY), consider the following statements:

    1. It is an initiative of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
    2. It seeks to provide insurance to its subscribers, who are mainly formal sector workers and who have become unemployed for whatever reason.
    3. This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to their Bank Account in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement.

    Select the correct codes:

    a) Only 1

    b) 1 and 2

    c) 2 and 3

    d) None of the above.

    Inspired by: [pib] Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna approved

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-atal-bimit-vyakti-kalyan-yojna-approved/

    Q.3) The Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response (ICR-ER) to be set up with the ISRO is set to be located in –

    a) PMO

    b) Ministry of Defense

    c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

    d) Ministry of Home Affairs

    Inspired by: [pib] MHA signs MoU with ISRO to set up an Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-mha-signs-mou-with-isro-to-set-up-an-integrated-control-room-for-emergency-response/

    Q.4) With reference to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards, consider the following statements:

    1. These are a system of inspection and verification of the peaceful uses of nuclear materials.
    2. It is part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
    3. It contributes to nuclear arms control and disarmament.

    Which of the given statements is/are correct?

    a) 1 and 2

    b) 2 and 3

    c) 1 and 3

    d) All are correct.

    Inspired by: India puts four more nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-puts-four-more-nuclear-facilities-under-iaea-safeguards/

    Q.5) Recently first-of-its-kind National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) was launched to store names and details of people convicted for various sexual offences across the country. With reference to the NDSO, which of the given statements is/are correct?

    1. India is the first Asian country to do so.
    2. The database will include offenders convicted under charges of rape, gang rape, Protection of Children from Sexual Offenders Act (POCSO) and eve teasing.
    3. It will be maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau which will also track whether the State police were updating the records on time.

    Select the correct codes:

    a) All are correct

    b) 2 and 3

    c) Only 2

    d) None of the above.

    Inspired by: Sex offenders’ registry launched with 4.4 lakh entries

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/sex-offenders-registry-launched-with-4-4-lakh-entries/

     

    For Solutions – Click Here

    Prelims Daily Archive – Click here

  • [Burning Issue] Forest fires problem in India

    Why in News?

    In recent times there are various instances of the forest fire in India, which has huge consequences.

    Regions where forest fires occur in India

    1. The bulk of forest fires in India happens in the tropical dry forests.
    2. About 70% of forests in India composed of scrub, grassland, dry and moist deciduous forests.
    3. Every year in March, forest fires happen in the dry deciduous forests in India, especially in A.P, M.P, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Assam

    Causes of forest fires

    Natural causes

    1. Temperature, level of moisture in soil and atmosphere, duration of dry spells, lightning, spontaneous combustion and volcanic eruption.
    2. The friction of tree branches swaying due to high-velocity wind or rolling stones that causes sparks and ignites fires in leaf litter.

    Man-made Causes

    1. Arson or open flame, discarded cigarettes, power-line sparks and sparks from equipment.
    2. Ignition of wildfires through contact with hot rifle-bullet fragments.
    3. It can also be ignited in shifting cultivation areas such as north-eastern regions and eastern coastal regions.
    4. It has been estimated that 90% of forest fires in India are man-made, when people enter forests to graze cattle, collect fuelwood, timber and other minor forest produce.

    How is policy responsible?

    1. The main cause of the forest fire crisis is due to the blanket implementation of no-fire forest policy.
    2. This approach of fire protection is not suitable to the ecology of India’s tropical dry forests.
    3. For example, the fires in Bandipur Reserve were difficult to control because of sufficient fuel supplied by the invasive species Lantana Camara.
    4. The no-fire policy was responsible for the spread of Lantana in the first place.
    5. Regular, low-intensity forest fires could have stopped the spread of Lantana in the past.
    6. But for now, the future forest fires will be difficult to control until Lantana is physically reduced first.

    Consequences

    1. Forest fires cause serious health hazards by causing smoke and noxious gases by affecting the local climatic setup.
    2. They also result in increased CO2 levels and contribute to climate change.
    3. Loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitat affects the ecological setup that may cause problems with other natural resources like drying up of water resources, loss of soil fertility etc.
    4. Frequent forest fires in forested areas decrease the natural regeneration capacity of the environment.

    Way forward

    1. Awareness should be created among the villagers residing near the forests with respect to the long-term ill effects of forest fires.
    2. Measures to prevent forest fires have to be taken before summer season when fires are prevalent.
    3. Local people should be given skills to use online portals or mobile apps in order to monitor the forests for fires and inform forest authorities regarding the same.
    4. The government should make available the alternatives for greener pastures.
    5. Village people should have access to employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities through better connectivity and infrastructure.
    6. Officers at ground level shall work together with local people to bring a holistic solution

    Practice question

    1. There are growing instances of frequent fires in the forest regions of India. What do you think are the causes and what measures would you suggest to resolve it?

  • 21 September 2018 | High Relevance vs Low Relevance News

    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

    Sex offenders’ registry launched with 4.4 lakh entries

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/sex-offenders-registry-launched-with-4-4-lakh-entries/

    With the rise in sexual offences against women and children, the registry was necessary. Note the details. Important for Pre as well as Mains.

    India puts four more nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-puts-four-more-nuclear-facilities-under-iaea-safeguards/

    Read about IAEA and impact of its safeguards on India’s nuclear program. Can be asked in Prelims.

    [pib] Health Ministry launches sputum sample transportation Through Dept of Post

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-health-ministry-launches-sputum-sample-transportation-through-dept-of-post/

    Read about Nikshay. Important for Prelims.

    Low Relevance News

    BSF opens hotline in Delhi to talk to Pakistan Rangers

    The Border Security Force (BSF) has opened a new hotline in Delhi to communicate with the Pakistan Rangers

    After large-scale ceasefire violations in 2015, the BSF and Pakistan Rangers put in a system to resolve through effective communication any flare-up on the border. At least 14 hotlines were activated along the Pakistan border from Gujarat to Jammu. A hotline between the Directors-General of Military Operations (DGMOs) also exists.

    No important points in the news apart from the above fact.

  • 20 September 2018 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    Q.1) The global telecom body International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recently decided to set up its local area office for South Asia in New Delhi. Which of the following statements about ITU is/are correct?

    1. It is United Nations specialised agency for Information and Communication Technologies.
    2. Its entry is open for all countries, Private Companies as well as institutions.
    3. India has been member of ITU since 1869.

    Select the correct codes:

    a) All are correct

    b) Only 3

    c) 1 and 3

    d) 1 and 2

    Inspired by: ITU South Asia area office and tech innovation centre to be set up in Delhi

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/itu-south-asia-area-office-and-tech-innovation-centre-to-be-set-up-in-delhi/

     

    Q.2) With reference to the Upgraded Akash Missile Systems, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. It is made by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
    2. It is procured under Buy Indian Programme.
    3. It has a large operational envelope, from 30 metre to a maximum of 20 km.

    Select the correct codes:

    a) All are correct

    b) 2 and 3

    c) Only 1

    d) Only 2

    Inspired by: [pib] DAC Approves Procurement of Equipment worth Rs 9,100 Crores

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-dac-approves-procurement-of-equipment-worth-rs-9100-crores/

    Q.3) Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) is a project aimed to improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams and mitigate risks to ensure safety of downstream population and property.

    Which of the following statements about DRIP is/are correct?

    1. It is aided from IMF funds.
    2. It was launched in 2012 by Central Water Commission (CWC) under Ministry of Water Resources.
    3. It is operated in all states and union territories of India.

    Select the correct codes:

    a) All are correct

    b) 1 and 2

    c) Only 2

    d) Only 3

    Inspired by: [pib] Cabinet approves Revised Cost Estimate of Dam rehabilitation and Improvement Project

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-cabinet-approves-revised-cost-estimate-of-dam-rehabilitation-and-improvement-project/

     

    Q.4) Article 123 of the Constitution of India confers power to the President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Parliament. Which of the following statements about this power is/are not correct?

    a) The decision of the President to issue an ordinance can be questioned in a court of Law.

    b) Ordinance issued by the President must be laid before both the houses of Parliament when it reassembles.

    c) From the date of reassembly the ordinance is valid for a period of six months.

    d) Ordinance cannot be issued to amend the constitution.

    Inspired by: Triple talaq is criminal offence

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/triple-talaq-is-criminal-offence/

    Q.5) Which of the following state(s) or UT(s) is/are a part of Southern Zonal Council?

    1. Andhra Pradesh
    2. Puducherry
    3. Karnataka
    4. Telangana

    Select the correct codes:

    a) All of the above

    b) 1, 3, 4

    c) 1, 2, 4

    d) 1 and 4 only

    Inspired by: Union Home Minister chairs Southern Zonal Council Meeting

    Press Information Bureau

     

    For Solutions – Click Here

    Prelims Daily Archive – Click here

  • Samachar Manthan Week 11: Turkey Crisis & it’s impact on India

    To know more about our Samachar Manthan course which deals with enhancing your Mains answer writing skills along with Current Affairs preparation, read & Subscribe here: https://www.civilsdaily.com/samachar-manthan/

     

  • [Burning Issue] Free-fall of Rupee and its impact on Indian economy

    Why in news?

    Recently rupee witnessed a significant depreciation in its value. It’s value against the dollar has fallen by more than 5% since the start of 2018 and the fall is continuing to gain momentum. India is not the only country to face currency depreciation, but also others like Indonesia, Argentina, Mexico, and Turkey.

    Causes of depreciation

    The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to tighten its monetary policy stance further through slowing down the growth in U.S. money supply is considered as the main reason. The slowdown in the growth of U.S. money supply affects the value of other currencies in two ways

      1. Interest rates in the U.S. will begin to rise as the Federal Reserve’s demand for different assets begins to decrease. This causes a rush among investors to sell their assets in other countries and invest the money back in the U.S. where they could earn higher returns. The resultant flow of capital from emerging markets to the U.S. rise the selling pressure on emerging market currencies and buying pressure on the dollar.
      2. When the Fed tightens the money supply, the availability of dollars in the global market begins to decrease which increases the demand for dollars among speculative traders and a decrease in demand for other currencies.

    Negative Impacts

    1. It keeps the cost of oil imports high. India imports more than 70% of its crude oil requirements. Thus fall in rupee value, means India have to give a higher amount to buy oil from suppliers.
    2. Falling rupee increases current account deficit since import expenditure will be higher than export earnings.
    3. It will increase inflation in the country since the increase in oil import costs would mean higher fuel costs and it will cause pressure on overall economic activity, thus increasing inflation.
    4. The declining rupee would impact corporate revenue due to higher import costs. This would means lower wages or salaries for employees, thus affecting the standard of living.
    5. Fall in rupee value will affect the inflow of foreign investments.
    6. Importers and oil marketing companies are the biggest losers since they import their main raw material, that is, crude oil.

    Positive impacts

    1. A cheaper rupee will incentivise Indian companies to export more. It will also help them substitute some of the costlier imported goods in the domestic market with local products. Thus, rupee depreciation can help in developing the manufacturing base of the economy.
    2. Travel to India gets cheaper and the tourism industry may benefit from it.
    3. Indians working abroad can gain more on remitting money to their family in India. Ultimately, this will result in reducing the current account deficit to an extent.

    Way forward

    1. To solve the currency problem, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) can influence the value of rupee through effective regulation of money supply through its monetary policy stance.
    2. Benchmark interest rate can be used effectively to attract the foreign capital into the country and in result increasing the value of the currency.
    3. Direct intervention of RBI in the forex market can also help reduce the selling pressure on the rupee

    Practice question

    1. What do you understand by the currency depreciation? How does the fall in rupee affect Indian economy? Discuss.

  • Economics Demystified: The Beginning of Macroeconomics (Part 2)

    This video is a part of our Demystifying Economics- Core & Current Affairs Buildup Lecture Series

    This part of the lecture will cover the evolution of macroeconomics as a subject. The story of economics starting from mercantilist era to Classical and finally the Keynesian era. it also covers basic concepts of macroeconomics like growth, inflation and unemployment

    Know more about the program and join here: Click2Join

  • 19 September 2018 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    Q.1) The ‘e-Sahaj’ portal for grant of Security Clearance is an initiative under which of the following ministries?

    a) Ministry of Defence

    b) Ministry of Home Affairs

    c) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

    d) Ministry of External Affairs

    Inspired by: [pib] ‘e-Sahaj’ portal for grant of Security Clearance

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-e-sahaj-portal-for-grant-of-security-clearance/

    Q.2) Recently government has launched C-DAC Information Media Server (CIMS) for enhancing Good Governance. Which of the following statements about CIMS is/are not correct?

    a) It is an initiative under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

    b) It is a dedicated computer appliance having specialized application software to provide audio and video on demand.

    c) It does not require any special purpose internet service provider or data connectivity.

    d) It is built with single board computer having powerful and energy efficient multi-core processor.

    Inspired by: [pib] C-DAC Information Media Server (CIMS)

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-c-dac-information-media-server-cims/

    Q.3) With reference to the chemical properties of elements, consider the following statements:

    1. All isotopes of a given element have the same number of protons in each atom but different number of electrons.
    2. The number of protons within the atom’s nucleus is called atomic number and is equal to the number of electrons.

    Which of the given statements is/are correct?

    a) Only 1

    b) Only 2

    c) Both 1 and 2

    d) All are incorrect.

    Inspired by: [pib] Medical Cyclotron Facility Cyclone-30, Kolkata

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-medical-cyclotron-facility-cyclone-30-kolkata/

    Q.3) Cyclone-30 is a-

    a) Medical kit for treatment during nuclear hazards

    b) Equipment used for generating radio-isotopes

    c) Radiotherapy equipment for Cancer treatment

    d) A Radioactive -isotope used for burning Cancer tissue

    Inspired by: [pib] Medical Cyclotron Facility Cyclone-30, Kolkata

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-medical-cyclotron-facility-cyclone-30-kolkata/

    Q.4) With reference to the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), consider the following statements:

    1. C-DAC is an autonomous Scientific Society under Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
    2. It was the nodal agency in the making of India’s first supercomputer PARAM.

    Which of the given statements is/are correct?

    a) Only 1

    b) Only 2

    c) Both 1 and 2

    d) All are incorrect.

    Inspired by: [pib] C-DAC Information Media Server (CIMS)

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-c-dac-information-media-server-cims/

    Q.5) Exercise Aviaindra is an Air Force level exercise between India and which of the following countries?

    a) Rwanda

    b) Romania

    c) Russia

    d) Republic of Congo

    Inspired by: Exercise Aviaindra-18 Commences at xxxxxx

    Press Information Bureau

     

    For Solutions – Click Here

    Prelims Daily Archive – Click here

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