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Q.2 Politicians and economists have a love-hate relationship; they can’t do without each other. In the context of this examine the issues with policymaking in India and why the role of the domain expert is important in policymaking today. (10 Marks)
Mentor’s comment-
- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/political-input-in-policy-making-for-india-7777204/
- In the intro, mention the emphasis on policy continuity in the budget this year.
- In the body, mention the challenges in policymaking as an interplay between the experts and the politicians, this is more prominent in the case of economic policies. In the next part mention the important role of experts in policy-making and institutions.
- Conclude by mentioning the need to include more and more experts in the institutions to achieve the objectives set by it.
February 17, 2022
Q.1 Based on their geological age, present a brief account of the classification and distribution of coal reserves in India. Also, discuss the ongoing stress in the coal sector in India. (15 Marks)
Mentor’s Comments-
- Present a brief introduction about the coal reserves in India, also highlight its significance.
- Present the twofold classification of coal reserves in India based on their geological age.
- Explain the distribution of coal reserves in India.
- Highlight the reasons for present stress in the coal sector.
- Conclude accordingly.
February 17, 2022
A case for a more federal judiciary
Context

The article examines the need to strengthen the federal nature of our judiciary.

Federalism in India
- India is a union of States.
- Part of basic structure: The Supreme Court of India has held that the federalist nature of our country is part and parcel of the basic structure of the Constitution.
- A midpoint between unitarism and confederalism: Federalism is a midpoint between unitarism which has a supreme center, to which the States are subordinate, and confederalism wherein the States are supreme and are merely coordinated by a weak center.
- Role of judiciary: An integral requirement of a federal state is that there be a robust federal judicial system that interprets this constitution, and therefore adjudicates upon the rights of the federal units and the central unit, and between the citizen and these units.
Nature of judiciary in India: Federal judiciary
- The federal judicial system comprises the Supreme Court and the High Court in the sense that it is only these two courts that can adjudicate the rights of federal units.
- The Indian Federation though a dual polity has no dual judiciary at all.
- Single integrated judiciary: The High Courts and the Supreme Court form one single integrated judiciary having jurisdiction and providing remedies in all cases arising under the constitutional law, the civil law, or the criminal law.
Equality of power of High Court judges and Supreme Court judges
- The Indian Constitution envisaged the equality of power of High Court judges and Supreme Court judges, with a High Court judge not being a subordinate of a Supreme Court judge.
- Superior only in the appellate sense: The Supreme Court has, on many occasions, reiterated the position that the Supreme Court is superior to the High Court only in the appellate sense.
- A delicate balance is required to be maintained between the Supreme Court and the High Courts in order for the constitutional structure to work.
- This balance existed from Independence onwards, until the 1990s. Since then, however, it has been tilting in favor of the central court.
Erosion of standing of High Court
- In recent years, three specific trends have greatly eroded the standing of the High Court, leading to an imbalance in the federal structure of the judiciary.
- 1] Collegium system: The Supreme Court of India today, by playing the role of a collegium, effectively wields the power to appoint a person as a judge to a High Court or to transfer him or her to another High Court, or to appoint (or delay the appointment) of a sufficiently senior High Court judge as chief justice or as a judge of the Supreme Court
- The practical impact of this in the power dynamic between a High Court judge and a Supreme Court judge leaves little to be said or imagined.
- 2] Parallel judicial systems: Successive governments have passed laws that create parallel judicial systems of courts and tribunals which provide for direct appeals to the Supreme Court, bypassing the High Courts.
- These laws lead to the creation of parallel hierarchies of courts and tribunals, whether it be the Competition Commission, or the company law tribunals, or the consumer courts
- In all these cases, the High Courts are bypassed.
- Laws have been drafted such that the High Court has no role to play and the Supreme Court directly acts as an appellate court
- 3] Interventionist Supreme Court: The Supreme Court has been liberal in entertaining cases pertaining to trifling matters.
- This has inevitably led to the balance tipping in favor of the centralization of the judiciary.
- An aggressively interventionist Supreme Court leads many to approach it directly as a panacea for all ills befalling the nation.
- We see the Supreme Court interfering in matters which are clearly of local importance, having no constitutional ramifications.
Impact on the federal structure
- The greater the degree of centralization of the judiciary, the weaker the federal structure.
- In the United States, empirical research shows that the U.S. Supreme Court is far more likely to strike down a state statute as unconstitutional than a federal statute.
- Courts face much weaker constraints when they strike down state legislation, especially state laws that are disapproved of by national political majorities.
- In Nigeria, a similar federal country, research has shown that the Supreme Court favours the jurisdiction of the central government over the State units.
Conclusions
- Federalism is a midpoint between unitarism which has a supreme centre, to which the States are subordinate, and confederalism wherein the States are supreme, and are merely coordinated by a weak centre.
- An integral requirement of a federal state is that there be a robust federal judicial system which interprets the constitution
- The federal judicial system comprises the Supreme Court and the High Court in the sense that it is only these two courts which can adjudicate the above rights.
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February 17, 2022
Target UPSC CSE 2023 – How to Get the Basics Right & Start the Preparation like a Topper? || Free Live Webinar By UPSC 2017 GS Mains Topper and Civilsdaily Academic Head Sajal Sir|| Limited Slots Available, Register Now

REGISTER HERE FOR FREE LIVE WEBINAR BY SAJAL SIR

UPSC-CSE 2021 results have shaken the long held belief that the examination can only be cleared after multiple attempts. Most of the UPSC-CSE toppers like Satyam Gandhi (AIR 10), Ria Dabi (AIR 15), Yash Jaluka (AIR 4), Mamta Yadav (AIR 5) and Shashwat Tripurari (AIR 19) cleared the exam as fresh graduates in their very first attempt. How were they able to do it?

If you watch their strategy videos, you can find a common pattern — they started 12-24 months in advance before the exam.

UPSC Toppers who Have Benefited From Sajal Sir’s Guidance

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AIR 14, UPSC 2020 Karishma Nair

AIR 25, UPSC 2020 Vaibhav Rawat

AIR 65, 2020 Pranay Vijayvergiya

Rajiv Kumar IPS

Kunal Aggarwal IRS

Open to All Webinar by Civilsdaily Mentor Sajal Sir

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One of the benefits of starting your preparation early is the time you would get to revise and practice test series upon completing the syllabus. Also, you would get ample time to pay attention to every subject. There are totally 9 papers in UPSC-CSE Mains and 2 papers in Prelims exams. Not to forget, the daily current affairs. Many aspirants need time to figure out how they can prepare in an understandable manner. That’s why starting your preparation eight months before the exam is not advisable.

However, what’s the best way to prepare, if you aren’t a fan of making mistakes and figuring it out along the way? We understand how annoying it might be for you if you were to study in a certain way for months together and then realize that it doesn’t align with the UPSC-CSE way of doing things.

Do you know an ideal preparation would be divided into five phases and spread across 18 months? This means each phase will be about three to four months long.

This is what Civilsdaily mentor and UPSC 2017 GS Mains Topper Sajal sir would be discussing in the upcoming webinar. Backed by years of experience and ongoing research & analysis of the civil services exam, Sajal sir has developed a refined strategy which will he will be sharing to all the newcomers.

Key-Takeaways of the Free Q&A Webinar with Sajal Sir

1. The first phase – Studying the Core Subjects. How to read every topic in the syllabus from 2-3 sources in the first reading and prepare a 1-2 page notes? And in your second reading, stick to only one source while using your notes as reference.
2. The second phase – Studying Mains Specific Subjects & Optional. How to follow the ritual of reading, writing summaries and answering topic-wise previous year questions?
3. Discussing 2-3 Revision Strategies which you can follow. Why should you not go more than 20 days without revision?
4. Live demonstration of making the perfect notes. How to not copy line-by-line of everything you read & only note down the 5 dimensions of a topic?
5. Why is the third phase of preparation the shortest of all? What should you ideally do after completing the Prelims and Mains subjects?
6. About the fourth phase. How to improve your accuracy 3 months before the Prelims exams?
5. The last phase. What must be done 3 months before the Mains exams?
6. Including statistics and relevant data. What are the subject-wise important committee reports you should read?
7. Three readings per subject. How do you study during each revision phase?

Sajal Sir will also hold a Q&A Session where beginners and veterans can clarify their doubts.

Webinar Details

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If you want to get the nuances of UPSC-CSE preparation right in the first go, then this free webinar is for you! Just fill the form and let us know the question you want to ask Sajal sir in the one hour long session on Sunday.

Date: 20 February 2022

Time: 7 PM

February 17, 2022
Issues related to Tribunal
The Supreme Court has warned that even after the judicial intervention, the government made abrupt efforts to fill vacancies in tribunals some time back and nothing after that.

What is the case?
- The apex court said that it is getting requests for extension of time for NCLT (Nation Company Law Tribunal) matters, etc.
- Some knee-jerk appointments took place and nothing after that.
- The govt earlier had introduced Tribunal Reforms Bill in 2021, which abolishes nine appellate tribunals and revives provisions of an ordinance struck down by the Supreme Court.
What are Tribunals?
- Tribunals are specialist judicial bodies that decide disputes in a particular area of law.
- They are institutions established for discharging judicial or quasi-judicial duties.
- The objective may be to reduce the caseload of the judiciary or to bring in subject expertise for technical matters.
Do you know?

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was established as the first Tribunal in India back in 1941.

Creation of Tribunals

In 1976, Articles 323A and 323B were inserted in the Constitution of India through the 42nd Amendment.
- Article 323A: This empowered Parliament to constitute administrative Tribunals (both at central and state level) for adjudication of matters related to recruitment and conditions of service of public servants.
- Article 323B: This specified certain subjects (such as taxation and land reforms) for which Parliament or state legislatures may constitute tribunals by enacting a law.
- In 2010, the Supreme Court clarified that the subject matters under Article 323B are not exclusive, and legislatures are empowered to create tribunals on any subject matters under their purview as specified in the Seventh Schedule.
SC stance on Tribunals
- The Supreme Court has ruled that tribunals, being quasi-judicial bodies, should have the same level of independence from the executive as the judiciary.
- Key factors include the mode of selection of members, the composition of tribunals, and the terms and tenure of service.
- In order to ensure that tribunals are independent of the executive, the Supreme Court had recommended that all administrative matters be managed by the law ministry rather than the ministry associated with the subject area.
- Later, the Court recommended the creation of an independent National Tribunals Commission for the administration of tribunals.
- These recommendations have not been implemented.
Issues with tribunals
- Pendency: Whereas the reasoning for setting up some tribunals was to reduce the pendency of cases in courts, several tribunals are facing the issue of a large caseload and pendency.
- No appointment: With over 240 vacancies in key tribunals where thousands of cases were pending, not a single appointment had been made by the government in any of these tribunals till date.
Back2Basics: National Company Law Tribunal
- The NCLT is a quasi-judicial body that adjudicates issues relating to Indian companies.
- The tribunal was established under the Companies Act 2013 in 2016 and is based on the recommendation of the V. Balakrishna Eradi Committee.
- All proceedings under the Companies Act, including proceedings relating to arbitration, compromise, arrangements, reconstructions and the winding up of companies shall be disposed off by the NCLT.
- The NCLT bench is chaired by a Judicial member who is supposed to be a retired or a serving High Court Judge and a Technical member who must be from the Indian Corporate Law Service, ICLS Cadre.
- It is the adjudicating authority for the insolvency resolution process of companies and limited liability partnerships under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
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February 17, 2022
[pib] Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED)
The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified, Nomadic, and Semi Nomadic Communities (SEED).

Who are the DNTs?
- The term ‘De-notified Tribes’ stands for all those communities which were once notified under the Criminal Tribes Acts, enforced by the British Raj between l87l and I947.
- These Acts were repealed after Independence in l952, and these communities were “De-Notified”.
- The DNTs (of whom most are the medieval period Banjaras) are the most neglected, marginalized, and economically and socially deprived communities.
- Most of them have been living a life of destitution for generations and still continue to do so with an uncertain and gloomy future.
SEED Scheme
- Under the scheme, the government seeks to provide free coaching to students for civil services examinations, competitive exams for admission to professional courses; health insurance; livelihood support and housing.
- It has been formulated for families having income from all sources of Rs.2.50 lakh or less per annum and not availing any such benefits from similar Scheme of Centre Government or the State Government.
- The Scheme will be implemented through a portal, developed by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment.
- Post verification, the funds will be transferred directly to the beneficiaries in their account.
- The other implementing agencies are Ministry of Rural Development, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and National Health Authority (NHA).
Components of the scheme

The Scheme will have the following four components:

[I] Free Coaching
- A component of free Coaching for DNT Students has been envisioned for the educational empowerment of these communities.
- The objective of this component is to enable them to appear in competitive examinations/ admission to professional courses like medicine, engineering, MBA, etc for obtaining an appropriate job in the Public/Private Sector.
- The selection of the candidates for each course will be based on system generated merit list through the portal.
- Approximately, 6250 students will be provided free coaching under this component in five years. The total funds spent in the five years will be Rs.50 crore.
[II] Health Insurance
- Members of these communities are likely to have little or no access to medical facilities and other benefits available under the mainstream health policies.
- The primary objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to National Health Authority (NHA) in association with State Health Agencies (SHAs).
- These agencies will provide a health insurance cover of Rs.5 lakhs per family per year for families as per norms of “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
[III] Livelihood Initiatives
- The decline of traditional occupations of DNT/NT/SNT communities has exacerbated their poverty.
- A focus to support livelihood generation for these communities is required.
- The primary objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
- It would enhance productivity growth in key livelihood sectors for employment generation through investments in institutional support, technical assistance.
[IV] Financial support for Housing
- Considering the shortage of houses for DNTs, it has been proposed to earmark a separate outlay for PMAY to support specific importance in providing houses only for DNTs living in rural areas.
- It is for those who have not taken benefit of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as SC, ST, OBC and are living below the poverty line.
- The admissible support is Rs 1.20 lakhs in plains and 1.30 lakhs in hilly areas (per unit assistance).
Why need such a scheme?
- DNTs escaped the attention of our developmental framework and thus are deprived of the support unlike Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- Historically, these communities never had access to private land or homeownership.
- These tribes used forests and grazing lands for their livelihood and residential use and had “strong ecological connections.
- Many of them are dependent upon various types of natural resources and carve out intricate ecological niches for their survival.
- The changes in ecology and environment seriously affect their livelihood options.
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February 17, 2022
[pib] New India Literacy Programme for Adult Education
The Union Government approved a new scheme “New India Literacy Programme (नव भारत साक्षरता कार्यक्रम) for the period FYs 2022-2027 to cover all the aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy 2020.

New India Literacy Programme
- The scheme will cover non-literates of the age of 15 years and above in all states/UTs in the country.
- The target for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for FYs 2022-27 is 5 (five) crore learners @ 1.00 crore per year by using “Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (OTLAS)”.
- A learner may register him/herself with essential information like name, date of birth, gender, Aadhaar number, mobile number, etc.
- The scheme will be implemented through volunteerism through online mode.
- The training, orientation, workshops of volunteers, maybe organized through face-to-face mode.
- All material and resources shall be provided digitally for easy access to registered volunteers.
Objectives of the scheme

The objectives of the scheme are:
- To impart foundational literacy and numeracy
- To cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of the 21^st century such as critical life skills (including financial literacy, digital literacy, commercial skills, health care and awareness, child care and education, and family welfare)
- Vocational skills development (with a view towards obtaining local employment)
- Basic education (including preparatory, middle, and secondary stage equivalency)
- Continuing education (including engaging holistic adult education courses in arts, sciences, technology, culture, sports, recreation, etc.)
Salient features of the scheme
- The school will be a Unit for implementation of the scheme
- Schools to be used for conducting a survey of beneficiaries and Voluntary Teachers (VTs)
- Foundational Literacy and Numeracy will be imparted through Critical Life Skills to all non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above
- Performance Grading Index (PGI) for State/UT at the district level
- CSR/Philanthropic Support may be received by hosting ICT support, providing volunteer support
Need for this scheme
- As per Census 2011, the absolute number of non-literates of the country in 15 years and above age group is 25.76 crore (Male 9.08 crore, Female 16.68 crore).
- Even after the Saakshar Bharat program was implemented during 2009-10 to 2017-18, it is estimated that currently around 18.12 crore adults are still non-literate in India.
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February 17, 2022
One Rank One Pension (OROP) Policy
The Supreme Court has said that the Centre’s hyperbole on the One Rank One Pension (OROP) policy presented a much “rosier picture” than what is actually given to the pensioners of the armed forces.

What is OROP Policy?
- OROP means the same pension, for the same rank, for the same length of service, irrespective of the date of retirement.
- The concept was provoked by the then decision by Indira Gandhi-led government, in 1973, two years after the historic victory in the 1971 Bangladesh war.
How did the issue escalate?
- The Rank pay was a scheme implemented by the Rajiv Gandhi-led govt in 1986, in the wake of the 4th Central Pay Commission.
- It reduced the basic pay of seven armed officers’ ranks of 2nd Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, Majors, Lt. Colonel, Colonels, Brigadiers, and their equivalent by fixed amounts designated as rank pay.
How was it reviewed?
- In 2008, Manmohan Singh led Government in the wake of the Sixth Central Pay Commission (6CPC), which discarded the concept of rank-pay.
- Instead, it introduced Grade pay, and Pay bands, which instead of addressing the rank, pay, and pension asymmetries caused by ‘rank pay’ dispensation, reinforced existing asymmetries.
Issues with this pension policy
- The causes that inform the OROP protest movement are not pension alone, as armed forces veterans have often tried to make clear, and the parliamentary committee recorded.
- The issues, veterans emphasize, are of justice, equity, honor, and national security.
- The failure to address the issue of pay-pension equity, and the underlying issue of honor, is not only an important cause for the OROP protest movement but its escalation.
Present status
- PM Modi-led government has accepted the OROP.
- It has already released Rs. 5500 crores to serve the purpose, but still, there are some grievances from the veterans’ side.
- It refined Pensions for all pensioners retiring in the same rank as the average of the minimum and maximum pensions in 2013.
- The veterans noted governments’ proposal as one rank many pensions since the review of 5 years would lead to differences in pension between senior and a junior.
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February 17, 2022
Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).
Telangana CM in harsh words has criticized the Prime Minister over Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).

Why such a gesture by Telangana CM?
- Telangana has been particularly vocal about the “increasing burden” forced upon states by the Centre on account of the clean energy cess imposed on coal and the RPOs (Renewable Purchase Obligation).
What are RPOs?
- Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) is a policy instrument to catalyze the development of renewable energy.
- It is a market-based mechanism that will help the states meet their regulatory requirements (such as RPOs) by overcoming the geographical constraints on existing renewable potential in different states.
- Under RPO, power distribution companies purchase a certain percentage of their requirements from renewable energy sources.
REC Mechanism
- REC mechanism is a market-based instrument to promote renewable energy and facilitate compliance of renewable purchase obligations (RPO).
- It is aimed at addressing the mismatch between availability of RE resources in state and the requirement of the obligated entities to meet the RPO.
- 1 REC is treated as equivalent to 1 MWh.
How many types of RECs are there?

There are two categories of RECs, viz., solar RECs and non-solar RECs.
1. Solar RECs are issued to eligible entities for the generation of electricity based on solar as a renewable energy source.
2. Non-solar RECs are issued to eligible entities for the generation of electricity based on renewable energy sources other than solar.
Issues highlighted by Telangana
- Mandatory purchase: The CM has raised the issue of mandatory purchase of renewables reducing the Plant Load Factor (PLF) for existing thermal power projects.
- Only solar RPO: The CM questioned the mandate to procure a certain percentage of power from solar energy noting that Telangana had hydropower projects producing over 2,500 MW of power from rivers.
- Not all states have ample renewables: States have thus far not been able to meet RPO targets, with over a dozen states and UTs achieving less than 60% of RPOs.
- Penalty for non-compliance: There is a (small) penalty for not meeting RPO obligations. The Centre has proposed to increase penalties on states for non-compliance with RPOs in the draft electricity amendment bill.
Clarification from the centre
- States were free to hold their own bids and buy green energy from any developer instead of procuring power based on bids by the SECI.
- They can choose to have their own bids.
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February 17, 2022
What are Eat Right Campuses?
Four police stations of New Delhi district have been certified as ‘Eat Right Campus’ by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Eat Right Campus
- Eat Right India is a flagship mission of FSSAI, which aims at ensuring that the citizens of the country get safe and nutritious food.
- The ‘Eat Right Campus’ initiative led by FSSAI aims to promote safe, healthy and sustainable food in campuses such as schools, universities, colleges, workplaces, hospitals, tea estates etc. across the country.
- The objective is to improve the health of people and the planet and promote social and economic development of the nation.
- The initiative is not mandatory to adopt.
Evaluation Criteria
- Benchmarks have been created on four different parameters based on which campuses are evaluated and certified as ‘Eat Right Campus’.
- These parameters include
1. Food safety measures, steps to ensure the provision of healthy, Environmentally sustainable food, and Building awareness to make the right food choices.
2. These practices include mandatory steps such as licensing and registration of food service providers in the campus and compliance to food safety and hygiene standards as per Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.
Benefits of Eat Right Campus
- It can provide immense benefits to the campus and the individuals on the campus not only in terms of health but also economics.
- Safe, healthy, and sustainable food on the campus would reduce the incidence of food-borne illnesses, deficiency diseases, and non-communicable diseases among the people on the campus.
- This means less absenteeism and loss of working hours and greater wellbeing, motivation, and productivity of people.
- This would also reduce the burden of healthcare costs for the workplace, institution, hospital, jail, or tea estate.
Back2Basics: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- The FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
- It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
- It is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
- It is headed by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
February 17, 2022
In news: Tarapur Massacre of 1932
Bihar CM has announced that February 15 would be celebrated as “Shahid Diwas” in memory of the 34 freedom fighters who were killed by police in Tarapur town of Bihar’s Munger district 90 years ago.

Why such move?
- The Tarapur massacre was the biggest carried out by the British police after the one in Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar in 1919.
- The freedom fighters had never got their due, the CM said.
- PM Modi too had referred to the Tarapur massacre in his Mann ki Baat radio address of January 2021.
Tarapur Massacre: Course of events
- On February 15, 1932, a group of young freedom fighters planned to hoist an Indian national flag at Thana Bhavan in Tarapur.
- Police were aware of the plan, and several officers were present at the spot. Around 2 pm, even as the police carried out a brutal lathicharge, Gopal Singh succeeded in raising the flag at Thana Bhavan.
- A 4,000-strong crowd pelted the police with stones, injuring an officer of the civil administration.
- The police responded by opening indiscriminate fire on the crowd.
- After about 75 rounds were fired, 34 bodies were found at the spot, even though there were claims of an even larger number of deaths.
Trigger for protest
- The hanging of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru in Lahore on March 23, 1931, sent a wave of grief and anger around the country.
- Following the collapse of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the Mahatma was arrested in early 1932.
- The Congress was declared an illegal organization, and Nehru, Patel, and Rajendra Prasad were also thrown in jail.
- In Munger, freedom fighters Srikrishna Singh, Nemdhari Singh, Nirapad Mukherjee, Pandit Dasrath Jha, Basukinath Rai, Dinanath Sahay, and Jaymangal Shastri were arrested.
- A call given by the Congress leader Sardar Shardul Singh Kavishwar to raise the tricolour over government buildings resonated in Tarapur.
Back2Basics:

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/explained-jallianwala-bagh-massacre/

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February 17, 2022
MEETING LINK INSIDE, Join After Registering ||How I cleared UPSC Prelims by Following this Approach in the Last 4 Months?||Free Live Webinar by Civilsdaily Mentor & UPSC-CSE 2017 Topper Megha Gupta|| Limited Slots, Register Now

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How I cleared UPSC Prelims by Following this Approach in the Last 4 Months? || by Megha Gupta, UPSC 2017 Topper

Date & Time: Feb 16, 2022 @07:00 PM (Login Starts by 06:45 PM) India

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Are you at that stage of prelims preparation where you are devoting 50-60% of your time in solving MCQs and test series? While, some of you might be scoring above 100 marks, others might be struggling to answer questions effectively.

While answering an MCQ, are you able to atleast eliminate two options correctly, but are confused with the rest two? Are you finding it difficult to recall the required information within 1-2 minutes of reading a question? Do you think you are making mistakes while interpreting the meaning of a question? Certainly, there are keywords that change the entire meaning of the question which you need to look for.

Open to All, Free Live Webinar by UPSC 2017 Topper & Civilsdaily mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am

In the last four months, many aspirants make notes that will help them revise the important facts of a topic right before an exam. Are you on it already? Have you taken notes on the important judgements of this year, the constituional amendments, the wildlife conventions, sancturies and the international rankings of this year? If not, how must you go about this?

When it comes to current affairs sources, online reports and standard books, it’s not only important what to read but how to read them as well. Since, there are many crash course study materials in the market, which are the reliable ones? If you haven’t yet started preparation for a subject, how should you read it’s book effectively to be able to cover the entire syllabus within a week?

If you are yet to find answers to all these questions and want to know the roadmap for the next four months of your UPSC-CSE Prelims preparation then you must register for the free live webinar by UPSC-CSE AIR 674 2017 Topper and Civilsdaily Mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am.

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What will you learn in this free live UPSC Prelims Webinar by Megha Gupta Ma’am?

1. What are the changes you need to make in your prelims preparation if you are unable to score well?
2. What are the high weightage topics in CSAT which can fetch you maximum marks?
3. What are the online and offline revision materials one needs to study right now?
4. How to make notes from Prelims persepective right now?
5. What are the study technqiues you must use in the last 4 months of Prelims and what should you avoid?
6. How to complete revising a subject in one week?
7. What are the methods to recall information while reading a tricky question in the exam hall? (With live demonstration)

Webinar Details

Study hard, break your limits. Then, get used to it. That’s how you prepare for UPSC-CSE. We hope this webinar will help all 2022 aspirants implement the suggestions of Megha Gupta Ma’am.

Date: 16 February 2022 (Wednesday)

Time: 7 P.M

REGISTER FOR UPSC TOPPER & CIVILSDAILY MENTOR MEGHA MA’AM’S FREE LIVE PRELIMS ORIENTATION

February 16, 2022
Webinar Today @ 7PM, Registrations Closing in 1Hr||How I cleared UPSC Prelims by Following this Approach in the Last 4 Months?||Free Live Webinar by Civilsdaily Mentor & UPSC-CSE 2017 Topper Megha Gupta|| Limited Slots, Register Now

REGISTER FOR UPSC TOPPER & CIVILSDAILY MENTOR MEGHA MA’AM’S FREE LIVE PRELIMS ORIENTATION

Are you at that stage of prelims preparation where you are devoting 50-60% of your time in solving MCQs and test series? While, some of you might be scoring above 100 marks, others might be struggling to answer questions effectively.

While answering an MCQ, are you able to atleast eliminate two options correctly, but are confused with the rest two? Are you finding it difficult to recall the required information within 1-2 minutes of reading a question? Do you think you are making mistakes while interpreting the meaning of a question? Certainly, there are keywords that change the entire meaning of the question which you need to look for.

Open to All, Free Live Webinar by UPSC 2017 Topper & Civilsdaily mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am

In the last four months, many aspirants make notes that will help them revise the important facts of a topic right before an exam. Are you on it already? Have you taken notes on the important judgements of this year, the constituional amendments, the wildlife conventions, sancturies and the international rankings of this year? If not, how must you go about this?

When it comes to current affairs sources, online reports and standard books, it’s not only important what to read but how to read them as well. Since, there are many crash course study materials in the market, which are the reliable ones? If you haven’t yet started preparation for a subject, how should you read it’s book effectively to be able to cover the entire syllabus within a week?

If you are yet to find answers to all these questions and want to know the roadmap for the next four months of your UPSC-CSE Prelims preparation then you must register for the free live webinar by UPSC-CSE AIR 674 2017 Topper and Civilsdaily Mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am.

REGISTER FOR UPSC TOPPER & CIVILSDAILY MENTOR MEGHA MA’AM’S FREE LIVE PRELIMS ORIENTATION

What will you learn in this free live UPSC Prelims Webinar by Megha Gupta Ma’am?

1. What are the changes you need to make in your prelims preparation if you are unable to score well?
2. What are the high weightage topics in CSAT which can fetch you maximum marks?
3. What are the online and offline revision materials one needs to study right now?
4. How to make notes from Prelims persepective right now?
5. What are the study technqiues you must use in the last 4 months of Prelims and what should you avoid?
6. How to complete revising a subject in one week?
7. What are the methods to recall information while reading a tricky question in the exam hall? (With live demonstration)

Webinar Details

Study hard, break your limits. Then, get used to it. That’s how you prepare for UPSC-CSE. We hope this webinar will help all 2022 aspirants implement the suggestions of Megha Gupta Ma’am.

Date: 16 February 2022 (Wednesday)

Time: 7 P.M

REGISTER FOR UPSC TOPPER & CIVILSDAILY MENTOR MEGHA MA’AM’S FREE LIVE PRELIMS ORIENTATION

February 16, 2022
Webinar Today @ 7PM, Registrations Closing in 3Hrs||How I cleared UPSC Prelims by Following this Approach in the Last 4 Months?||Free Live Webinar by Civilsdaily Mentor & UPSC-CSE 2017 Topper Megha Gupta|| Limited Slots, Register Now

REGISTER FOR UPSC TOPPER & CIVILSDAILY MENTOR MEGHA MA’AM’S FREE LIVE PRELIMS ORIENTATION

Are you at that stage of prelims preparation where you are devoting 50-60% of your time in solving MCQs and test series? While, some of you might be scoring above 100 marks, others might be struggling to answer questions effectively.

While answering an MCQ, are you able to atleast eliminate two options correctly, but are confused with the rest two? Are you finding it difficult to recall the required information within 1-2 minutes of reading a question? Do you think you are making mistakes while interpreting the meaning of a question? Certainly, there are keywords that change the entire meaning of the question which you need to look for.

Open to All, Free Live Webinar by UPSC 2017 Topper & Civilsdaily mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am

In the last four months, many aspirants make notes that will help them revise the important facts of a topic right before an exam. Are you on it already? Have you taken notes on the important judgements of this year, the constituional amendments, the wildlife conventions, sancturies and the international rankings of this year? If not, how must you go about this?

When it comes to current affairs sources, online reports and standard books, it’s not only important what to read but how to read them as well. Since, there are many crash course study materials in the market, which are the reliable ones? If you haven’t yet started preparation for a subject, how should you read it’s book effectively to be able to cover the entire syllabus within a week?

If you are yet to find answers to all these questions and want to know the roadmap for the next four months of your UPSC-CSE Prelims preparation then you must register for the free live webinar by UPSC-CSE AIR 674 2017 Topper and Civilsdaily Mentor Megha Gupta Ma’am.

REGISTER FOR UPSC TOPPER & CIVILSDAILY MENTOR MEGHA MA’AM’S FREE LIVE PRELIMS ORIENTATION

What will you learn in this free live UPSC Prelims Webinar by Megha Gupta Ma’am?

1. What are the changes you need to make in your prelims preparation if you are unable to score well?
2. What are the high weightage topics in CSAT which can fetch you maximum marks?
3. What are the online and offline revision materials one needs to study right now?
4. How to make notes from Prelims persepective right now?
5. What are the study technqiues you must use in the last 4 months of Prelims and what should you avoid?
6. How to complete revising a subject in one week?
7. What are the methods to recall information while reading a tricky question in the exam hall? (With live demonstration)

Webinar Details

Study hard, break your limits. Then, get used to it. That’s how you prepare for UPSC-CSE. We hope this webinar will help all 2022 aspirants implement the suggestions of Megha Gupta Ma’am.

Date: 16 February 2022 (Wednesday)

Time: 7 P.M

REGISTER FOR UPSC TOPPER & CIVILSDAILY MENTOR MEGHA MA’AM’S FREE LIVE PRELIMS ORIENTATION

February 16, 2022
16th February 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)
Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1 Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)

GS-2 Constitution of India -historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

GS-3 Issues related to agriculture in India, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

GS-4 Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance

Question 1)

Q.1 Give an account of the deposits of different types of minerals found in the ocean relief across the world. (15 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 To safeguard and uphold the freedom of speech and expression in India, it is imperative to adequately reform colonial laws that curtail free speech. Discuss. (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 Identifying the need for a climate resilient agriculture in India, discuss how it can be achieved. (10 Marks)

Question 4)

Q.4 Bring out the differences between the ethical issues faced by government and private institutions and the reasons therein. (10 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?
1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.
2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.
3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
4. Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.
5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.
6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis
7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.
8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.
*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*.

For the philosophy of AWE and payment:

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February 16, 2022
Q.4 Bring out the differences between the ethical issues faced by government and private institutions and the reasons therein. (10 Marks)
Mentor’s Comments-
- Briefly explain in introduction why ethical issues arise in an organisation.
- Explain the difference between the ethical issues faced by both institutions – public and private, along with the reasons.
- Conclude accordingly.
February 16, 2022
Q.3 Identifying the need for a climate resilient agriculture in India, discuss how it can be achieved. (10 Marks)
Mentor’s Comments-
- Define the term ‘climate resilient agriculture’ in the introduction.
- Mention the need for climate resilient agriculture in India.
- Explain the strategies to achieve it.
- Conclude briefly.
February 16, 2022
Q.2 To safeguard and uphold the freedom of speech and expression in India, it is imperative to adequately reform colonial laws that curtail free speech. Discuss. (10 Marks)
Mentor’s Comments-
- Briefly discuss the infringement of freedom of speech and expression in India.
- Write the issues related to colonial laws in this context.
- Mention some reforms needed to safeguard and uphold freedom of speech and expression in India.
- Conclude on a balanced note.
February 16, 2022
Q.1 Give an account of the deposits of different types of minerals found in the ocean relief across the world. (15 Marks)
Mentor’s Comments-
- Briefly highlight the different locations in oceans where minerals can be found.
- Give an account of the deposits of different minerals found in different types of ocean relief across the world.
- Conclude on the basis of above points.
February 16, 2022
Caste census
Context

Last month, the Supreme Court upheld the 27% quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the All-India Quota seats for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test and reiterated that reservations for backward classes were not an exception but an extension of the principle of equality under Article 15(1) of the Constitution.

Multiple dimensions of reservation
- The judgment highlighted how open competitive exams give the illusion of providing equal opportunity in ignorance of the widespread inequalities in educational facilities, the freedom to pursue such education, and societal prejudices.
- Psychological and social effects: The Court pointed out how such disparities are not limited to the issue of access to good education or financial constraints alone, but also to the psychological and social effects of inherited cultural capital (communication skills, books, accent, academic accomplishments, social networks, etc.), which ensures the unconscious training of upper-caste children for high-grade performance.
- The Constituent Assembly held a similar philosophy while introducing constitutional provisions which enable the government to make special provisions for the uplift of the “lower castes”.
Importance of justifiable data
- The politicisation of issue: Political parties often promise reservation for communities on being brought to power without any credible data collection exercises to justify the decision.
- It can be said that the faith of our citizens cannot be restored until credible exercises of data collection are undertaken regarding caste.
- Lack of data on OBC: Even though data concerning the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been included in the Census, there is no similar data on OBCs.
- Proper assessment: In the Indra Sawhney case, the Supreme Court held that the States must conclude the “backwardness” of a particular class of people only after proper assessment and objective evaluation.
- It held that such a conclusion must be subject to periodic review by a permanent body of experts.
- The National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993, provides under Section 11 that the Central government may every 10 years revise lists with a view to exclude those classes which have ceased to be backward and include new backward classes.
- This exercise has not been done to date.
- Impartial data and subsequent research might save the bona fide attempts of the uplift of the most backward classes from the shadow of caste and class politics and be informative to people on both sides of the spectrum – for and against reservation.
- Calls for caste data in Census: Last year, many calls were made for the inclusion of caste data (including that of the OBCs) in the 2021 Census, and the matter reached the Supreme Court.
- However, the government took the stand that the 2011 SECC was “flawed” and is “not usable”.
Conclusion

Caste data will enable independent research not only into the question of who does and does not need affirmative action but also into the effectiveness of this measure.

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February 16, 2022

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