Africa’s Great Green Wall (GGW) program to combat desertification in the Sahel region is an important contribution towards combating climate change, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a study.
Note the countries swept by the GGW project on the African map.
About GGW Program
The Great Green Wall project is conceived by 11 countries located along the southern border of the Sahara and their international partners, is aimed at limiting the desertification of the Sahel zone.
Led by the African Union, the initiative aims to transform the lives of millions of people by creating a mosaic of green and productive landscapes across North Africa.
The initial idea of the GGW was to develop a line of trees from east to the west bordering the Saharan Desert.
Its vision has evolved into that of a mosaic of interventions addressing the challenges facing the people in the Sahel and the Sahara.
Why was such project incepted?
The project is a response to the combined effect of natural resources degradation and drought in rural areas.
It aimed to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030; only four million hectares had been restored between 2007 and 2019.
It is a partnership that supports communities working towards sustainable management and use of forests, rangelands and other natural resources.
It seeks to help communities mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as improve food security.
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A quick bit about Santosh Gupta:-
Santosh sir has scored above 140 twice in UPSC prelims and 120 plus in all 6 attempts. He has written all 6 mains and has appeared for Interviews 3 times. He has qualified UPSC EPFO and BPSC 56-59th also.
He is Prelims coordinator at Civilsdaily and also course coordinator for ongoing Smash Prelims program for UPSC Prelims-2022.
He has been teaching and mentoring UPSC aspirants for the last 5 years with tremendous interest in environment, ecology, and polity.
Though, you can prepare for UPSC and give your attempts anytime till 32 years, the optimal time to begin your preparation is during the college days. A graduation degree is for 3 years and almost all toppers have prepared for the same amount of time to get the success they now enjoy.
One of the biggest advantage for a college student is that they can easily switch to study mode as there are no other additional family responsibilities or expectations. Plus, an IAS officer who clears the exam within 23 years is more likely to hold the highest position of cabinet secretary than someone who cleared it in their late twenties. Youthful enthusiasm is the biggest internal motivation that college students possess which can help them in clearing this exhausting exam.
So, now that you have broken the news to your parents about wanting to write the UPSC-CSE exam, you might be now wondering — what is UPSC-CSE? How to prepare for it? Should I attend a coaching institute? What is the syllabus? How many hours to study… the list is endlessand daunting.
However, you would have missed the obvious question— What kind of questions come in the paper and what kind of answers UPSC expects from an aspirant?
Is UPSC CSE really about reading Unlimited Sources?
Some of us will ask advices from all our friends and family on how to prepare for the exam, resulting in confusion in following through the UPSC syllabus. Don’t let these questions play the devil and make you postpone your UPSC preparation by a few more years. Having the right direction and guidance can help you save 2-3 critical attempts in UPSC. Listen to our Civilsdaily student and AIR 132 2020 UPSC topper Lakshay Chaudhary on how he improved his performance after 2 attempts with the guidance of civilsdaily mentors.
Without much ado, register yourself for our free 1-on-1 counselling session at Civilsdaily known as Samanvaya. Your counsellors are trained mentors who have given the Mains exam six times and have attended UPSC interview multiple times. Experienced mentors like Sajal sir and Ajay sir have nearly mentored 500+ students.
What are the other mistakes in UPSC preparation first-time aspirants are likely to make?
About 60% of the UPSC toppers have mostly prepared the wrong way in their first attempt. This could range from books, notes to time and consistency. If you want to start in the right direction, then it’s about time you booked a slot with your Samanvaya mentor.
First time aspirants often make the mistake of reading many sources for a single subject. If there is a new book in the market, they will not hesitate to buy it. UPSC preparation is not about reading multiple books, but one book multiple times. Few others, answer the essay paper in a very academic and technical manner. Most of the first time aspirants skip studying for the language and CSAT paper. In the first few months of preparation all of us read the entire 24 pages of newspaper and waste 3-4 hours time. Some of us are over-confident of clearing the exam with our own preparation or by our institute’s coaching. We might be making notes but we will not be updating them or revising them. First time aspirants struggle to understand what to skip in a book or what to cover. They take atleast 2-3 months to finish books like Laxmikanth and yet don’t have conceptual clarity.
You can go through this video over here to get a basic understanding of the UPSC preparation.
Toppers were once Beginners. And they began with Samanvaya.
We, at Civilsdaily, are extremely proud to announce the incredible success of our students who have made their dreams come true. Today, we celebrate the hard work, commitment, and dedication with which they prepared for this exam, and succeeded! They are the heroes of today and leaders of tomorrow, and we are extremely glad to have been a part of their journey.
We are also happy to announce that 78 Civilsdaily students (and counting) are now rank holders in UPSC. Our success rate has increased by 77% from last year in terms of rank holders. Civilsdaily is proud to say that 20 of our students are in the top 100 ranks. And this is a phenomenal 25% increase in our success rate for the top 100 positions since last year.
And finally, we are extremely proud of our mentors whose tireless efforts helped our students become officers today. Their daily guidance, skilled mentorship, round-the-clock support, and dedication to work with the students day-in and day-out has led to this wonderful occasion where we celebrate the success of our students together!
How is Samanvaya, UPSC Counselling Session Planned?
At Civilsdaily, your assigned mentors interact with you on a daily basis. They are not just teachers, but coaches, philosophers, and guides. And this is how they will help you succeed:
Motivating you for one whole year and pushing you to complete the modules on time.
Helping you restart preparation despite low scores in test series.
Helping you study for 6 hours everyday if you are working.
Guiding you on how to revise the whole syllabus 3 months before prelims and mains.
Providing you topic-wise notes.
Teaching you elimination techniques, tikdams and helpful strategies like 4-2-4 model of preparation.
Keeping you updated on what to study and from where to study.
1.30 minute counselling session:Once you fill the form, our senior mentors get on a 30-40 minute call with you to understand your preparation level, study constraints, your strategy for the last 6 months, and create measurable targets for next week, next month and so on. You will hear back from us within 24 hours. The first counselling session is absolutely free for all, however there are limited slots available. So please register now.
2.Access to our invite-only chat platform, Habitat: This is where you can post your daily doubts, discuss your test questions and have real-time, live discussions on news and op-eds, and connect with other aspirants in your optional groups.
3. 1 on 1 mentor allotment: The mentor will be available on scheduled calls with you throughout all the stages of your UPSC preparation and will daily assess, evaluate, and plan the next module according to the available time. We will help you pick the right books, make you practice answers daily, evaluate them and design practical & personalstrategies that you can follow everyday
Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering.
Nanotechnology proposes the construction of new nanoscale devices that possess extraordinary properties as they are lighter, smaller and less expensive, and more precise. Materials reduced to the nanoscale can show properties compared to what they exhibit on a macro-scale, enabling unique applications.
Two main approaches are used in nanotechnology:
Bottom-up approach – materials and devices are built from molecular components that assemble themselves chemically by principles of molecular recognition.
Top-down approach – nano-objects are constructed from larger entities without atomic-level control.
Why do we need it?
(1) Health sector
Nanomedicine: It has healthcare applications such as treatment and diagnostics of various diseases using nanoparticles in medical devices, as well as nanoelectronic biosensors and molecular nanotechnology.
Smart pills: Nano-level electronic devices that are shaped and designed like pharmaceutical pills but perform more advanced functions such as sensing, imaging, and drug delivery.
Cancer detection and treatment: Regular chemotherapy and radiation damages body’s healthy cells during the treatment. New nanomedicine approaches are being used in the treatment of skin cancer, which enables efficient delivery of drugs and other therapeutic treatments to specific tumor sites and target cells with low toxic side-effects.
Nanobots: Nanobots are micro-scale robots, which essentially serve as miniature surgeons. They can be inserted into the body to repair and replace intracellular structures. They can also replicate themselves to correct a deficiency in genetics or even eradicate diseases by replacing DNA molecules. Nanobots can also be used to clear artery blockages by drilling through them.
Nanofibers: Nanofibers are being used in wound dressings and surgical textiles, as well as in implants, tissue engineering, and artificial organ components.
Nanotech-based wearables: Such wearables have embedded nanosensors in the cloth that record medical data such as heartbeat, sweat components, and blood pressure. It helps save lives by alerting the wearer and medical professionals of any adverse changes faced by the body
(2) Food Industry
Nanotechnology provides the potential for safe and better quality food and improved texture and taste of the food.
A contamination sensor, using a flash of light can reveal the presence of E-coli.
Antimicrobial packaging made out of cinnamon or oregano oil or nanoparticles of zinc, calcium, etc., can kill bacteria.
The nano-enhanced barrier can keep oxygen-sensitive food fresh.
Nano-encapsulating can improve the solubility of vitamins, antioxidants, healthy omega, etc.
Nanobarcodes are used to tag individual products and trace outbreaks.
(3) Electronic components
Nanotechnology has greatly improved the capacity of electronic components by:
Reducing the size of the integrated circuits’ transistors
Improving the display screens of the electronic devices
Reducing power consumption, weight, and thickness of the electronic devices.
(4) Energy-efficient
This technology can improve the efficiency of the existing solar panels. It can also make the manufacturing process of solar panels cheaper and efficient.
It can improve the efficiency of fuel production and consumption of petroleum materials.
It is already being made use of in many batteries that are less-flammable, efficient, quicker-charging and are lightweight and higher power density.
(5) Textile industry
Nanotechnology has already made revolutionary changes in the textile industry and is estimated to make a market impact worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
Nanoscience has now produced stain and wrinkle resistant cloths and may further improve upon the existing innovations.
(6) Environment
It has the potential to address the current problem of pollution.
It can provide for affordable, clean drinking water through swift detection of impurities and purification of water.
The nanotechnology can be used to remove industrial water pollutants in the groundwater through chemical reactions at a cheaper rate.
Nanotechnology sensors and solutions also have the potential to detect, identify, filter and neutralise harmful chemical or biological agents in the air and soil.
(7) Transport
Nanotechnology contributes to manufacturing lighter, smarter, efficient and greener automobiles, aircraft and ships.
It also allows various means to improve transportation infrastructures like providing resilience and longevity of the highway and other infrastructure components.
The nanoscale sensors and devices can also provide for cheap and effective structural monitoring of the condition and performance of the bridges, rails, tunnels, etc. They can also enhance transportation infrastructure that makes the drivers avoid collisions and congestions, maintain lane position, etc.
(8) Space
Materials made of carbon nanotubes can reduce the weight of the spaceships while retaining or increasing the structural strength.
They can also be used to make cables that are needed for the space elevator. Space elevators can significantly reduce the cost of sending materials to the orbit.
The nanosensors can be used to monitor the chemicals in the spacecraft to look into the performance of the life support system.
(9) Agriculture
The nanocapsule can enable effective penetration of herbicides, chemical fertilizers, and genes into the targeted part of the plant. This ensures a slow and constant release of the necessary substance to the plants with minimized environmental pollution.
The nanosensors and delivery systems can allow for precision farming through the efficient use of natural resources like water, nutrients, chemicals etc.
The nanosensors can also detect the plant viruses and soil nutrient levels.
Nano-barcodes and nano-processing could also be used to monitor the quality of agriculture produce.
Carbon Nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylindrical molecules that consist of rolled-up sheets of single-layer carbon atoms (graphene).
They can be single-walled (SWCNT) (dia<1nm) or multi-walled (MWCNT) (dia>100nm), consisting of several concentrically interlinked nanotubes. Their length can reach several micrometers or even millimeters.
Like their building block graphene, CNTs are chemically bonded with sp2 bonds, an extremely strong form of molecular interaction
Applications:
Used in electric wires to reduce losses
It can replace silicon made transistors as they are small and emit less heat and it can revolutionise electronics
Can be used in solar cell
Graphene
Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb-like pattern. Graphene is considered to be the world’s thinnest, strongest and most conductive material – of both electricity and heat.
All of these properties are exciting researchers and businesses around the world – as graphene has the potential to revolutionize entire industries – in the fields of electricity, conductivity, energy generation, batteries, sensors and more.
Issues in Nanotechnology
The nanotechnology may pose a potential risk to the environment, health and other safety issues.
Since this field is still at its nascent stage, the likely risks are contentious. As for whether or not this technology requires special government regulation, the issue is still debated.
The regulatory authorities like the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commission have started assessing the potential risks posed by the nanoparticles.
The organic food sector is the first to be regulated so that the engineered nanoparticles are excluded from the organic produce. It has been implemented in Australia, UK and Canada as well as all the food certified under the Demeter International Standards.
Nanotoxicology is the study of potential health risks of nanomaterials. The human body can easily take up the nanomaterials as they are small in size.
However, there is a need for detailed research on how it would behave inside an organism. The behaviour of nanoparticles based on their size, shape and surface reactivity must be thoroughly analysed before launching them into the market.
Nanopollution is the generic term that is used to describe the waste generated by the nanodevices or nanomaterials during the manufacturing process.
Nanowastes may be of risk due to their size and different properties and interactions. Since the man-made nanoparticles are not naturally made, living organisms may not have the appropriate means to deal with them.
The risk of nanotechnology on health, environment, society, economy, security, and trade is not yet fully assessed. This in itself is a threat.
Government Measures
Nanotechnology regulatory board to regulate industrial nano products
Nano technology institutes like Indian Institute of Nano sciences at Bangalore,Mumbai,kolkata
Nano technology initiatives program by Department of Information technology and for nano electronic products
Nano mission:1000 crore allotted for 5 years for development of nano technology
Department of Science and Tech-Nanomission (nano-biotechnology activities) through DBT, ICMR, and CoE in Nanoelectronics by MeitY support nanoscience, nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and nanoelectronics activities.
Eighteen sophisticated analytical instruments facilities (SAIFs) established by DST across India play a major role in the advanced characterization and synthesis of nanomaterials for various applications.
The Center of Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology established by DSTNanomission helps research and PG students in various thrust areas.
Thematic Units of Excellence (TUEs) for various areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology play a major role in product-based research to support nanotechnology.
Visveswaraya Ph.D. fellowships offered by MeitY supports various nanotechnology activities in the country.
INSPIRE scheme supports research fellows to work in interdisciplinary nanotechnology, nanoscience, and nano-biotechnology areas.
DST-Nanomission supports more than 20 PG teaching programs to create a baseline for nanoscience and nanotechnology in India, out of about 70 PG programs currently running in India.
Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission)
Launched in 2007.
It is as an “umbrella capacity-building programme”.
The Mission’s programmes will target all scientists, institutions and industry in the country.
It will also strengthen activities in nano science and technology by promoting basic research, human resource development, research infrastructure development, international collaborations, among others.
It will be anchored in the Department of Science and Technology and steered by a Nano Mission Council chaired by an eminent scientist.
Outcomes and significance of the mission
As a result of the efforts led by the Nano Mission, today, India is amongst the top five nations in the world in terms of scientific publications in nano science and technology (moving from 4th to the 3rd position).
The Nano Mission itself has resulted in about 5000 research papers and about 900 Ph.Ds and also some useful products like nano hydrogel based eye drops, pesticide removal technology for drinking water, water filters for arsenic and fluoride removal, nanosilver based antimicrobial textile coating, etc.
The Nano Mission has thus helped establish a good eco-system in the country to pursue front-ranking basic research and also to seed and nurture application-oriented R&D, focused on useful technologies and products.
Conclusion
Nanotechnology provides a bright future for humankind. However, much is yet to be known about its impacts and risks. The government, before indulging in the promotion and launch of this new technology, must invest more in basic research to understand this field.
Parliament’s “performance” is assessed at the end of a session, typically in terms of bills discussed and passed. It is equally necessary to take stock of the issues facing the country and set expectations about what Parliament should be doing when the session is to commence.
Analysing the repeal of laws from the standpoint of the parliamentary system and the functioning of Parliament
In the current session, three farm Acts will probably be presented for repeal.
Not referred to select committee: Three Acts were passed earlier amidst demands to refer them to a select committee.
This Lok Sabha — increasingly the Rajya Sabha as well — poses a riddle for the theory of representative democracy.
The ruling majority has a handsome majority — a 300 plus representation in the Lok Sabha — and by the standards of the FPTP system, a reasonable vote share of over 37 per cent.
Yet, laws passed by Parliament are increasingly being seen as unacceptable.
This non-acceptance is, perhaps, restricted to a small section. But the arguments put forward by them remain persuasive.
The “majority” government seems less representative than many minority governments of the past.
The government may have the majority in numbers, but does not have the capacity to take the majority along.
At this juncture, an important responsibility lies with the Opposition.
Suggestions
1] Role of the opposition
Coordinate: In Parliament, the Opposition will need to ensure coordination on common issues, strategise on parliamentary procedures and above all, endeavour to represent voices that have been suppressed by the current regime.
Avoid disruption: Acrimony might be unavoidable given that the current regime doesn’t give adequate respect to differences of opinion.
But it is incumbent on the Opposition to avoid creating pandemonium merely as a tactic.
Noise and sloganeering cannot replace the responsibility to represent.
Pandemonium is only a cover up for bad coordination and lack of homework.
2] Role of the ruling party MPs
Probe the executive: The role of ruling party MPs is not merely to ram through the House whatever the government wishes but to also probe the executive delicately.
Assert the role as a representative: In allowing the government to sidestep all opposition, the MPs from the ruling party create an atmosphere wherein they lose any semblance of authenticity in their role as representatives.
Independence of ruling party members is connected both to intra-party democracy and to intra-party factionalism.
Need for intellectual position: It is also important that they have an intellectual position of their own.
The litmus test to their independence will be in how they express themselves in Parliament.
In any case, for Parliament to regain its representative character, ruling party members need to be more sincere about the parliamentary system, and unafraid of executive power.
3] Role of civil society
Protests have played, and will continue to play, a critical role in forcing us to confront the issue of representation.
It must be reiterated that no democracy can exist without a robust civil society.
Its tension-ridden relationship with party politics must be recognised.
In that sense, the rising antinomy between Parliament and protests is more because of the unrepresentativeness of Parliament than due to the rebellious ways of civil society.
Consider the question “What is the significance of the opposition to the laws enacted by the legislature? Suggest the steps need to be taken by the various participants in democracy.”
Conclusion
All the participants in the democracy need to recognise their role and ensure the the smooth functioning of democracy.
“I followed multiple strategies, multiple sources and asked advices from multiple people when I began my preparation in 2016. Yet, I felt a lack of guidance. By 2020, I followed a single strategy, a single source and took guidance from only Civilsdaily. And finally I cleared the exam after 2 attempts. ”
Lakshay Chowdhary was an ardent follower of Civilsdaily current affairs from 2016. In 2018, he took the help of our Mains Answer Writing program and reached till the level of interview. However, by a few marks his name didn’t feature in the final list. That’s when he decided he will not prepare full-time but will take a job, support his family and prepare for UPSC-CSE once again. He decided to take mentorship for all the 3 stages from Civilsdaily mentors Santosh sir and Pravin sir. That’s when, he achieved the remarkable feat of clearing the exam with a high All India Rank of 132.
Free Open for All, Q&A Webinar by Lakshay Choudhary
They say, it’s better to get guidance from those who have failed than those who won. Because, those who have failed will know what mistakes they have made. However, for UPSC we would like to tweak this a little bit.
“It’s better to get guidance from someone who has given several attempts and then went onto become a UPSC Topper”
This Ask me Anything session by UPSC Topper Lakshay Choudhary will give all UPSC aspirants clarity on the right process to prepare the exam and the right strategy to excel. Lakshay, an aspirant from commerce background was confused like anyone initially. He chose the wrong optional, he started answer-writing practice after prelims, he was a subject expert but not an overall player, he studied for 12 hours everyday and never took breaks.
So, what did he do that reduced his stress and prepare with limited sources yet achieve maximum marks? What did he do because of which he left only one question in 2020 Mains exam, while previously he couldn’t answer 2-3 questions from every paper? How did he clear the exam with just 6-8 hours of daily preparation when he couldn’t replicate success with 12 hours daily preparation in 2016? Attend his webinar on Monday to find out.
Key Takeways of Ask me Anything Session with Lakshay Chowdhary
1. When to start writing Mains answers. Is it better to practice 2-3 answers everyday even if there is a year more for UPSC exam?
2. How many times in a month did Lakshay write Essay answers? Why practicing Essay Paper is important even as a beginner?
3. Preparing for Current Affairs as a working professional. How did Lakshay reduce his newspaper reading time by using the Civilsdaily app?
Consolidated notes from mentors and developing his own. How did Lakshay manage to create 1-2 pages of notes for the most important topics from every subject which helped him finish an answer within 250 words?
Preparing without fear-factor. Why is it less stressful to prepare for UPSC as a working professional?
Prelims, Mains and Optional — all in a day. How did Lakshay divide his daily schedule into three sessions?
Negotiables vs Non Negotiables. What is required for UPSC exam and what is not?
Be a practical risk-taker. When is it okay to switch an optional and why should you wait till the next attempt to change your study materials?
Webinar Details
Be ready with your list of doubts and get them clarified once and for all on Monday! Register for thisfree webinar by Lakshay Chowdhary(AIR 132).
The recent partial opening of land borders between India and Pakistan signals a thaw in the troubled relations between the two South Asian neighbours.
How normalising relations with Pakistan help India?
Reduce India’s vulnerability to China: From the Indian standpoint, as a Centre for Policy Research report argues, a continuing freeze in relations with Pakistan will “enhance India’s external vulnerability to other actors, in particular, China”.
Impact on bilateral trade: After the Pulwama terror attack, bilateral trade between the two countries plummeted from around $2 billion in 2017-18 to a paltry $280 million in 2020-21 (April to February).
Steps to normalise relations
1] Pakistan needs to revoke suspension of trade with India
Pakistan needs to revoke the unilateral suspension of trade with India undertaken in August 2019 due to India’s decision to dilute Article 370.
Suspension against GATT and SAFTA: The trade suspension by Pakistan is inconsistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement — the two international law instruments that regulate trade between India and Pakistan.
GATT, as part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), allows countries to adopt trade-restraining measures on certain grounds such as public health and conservation of exhaustible natural resources (Article XX) and for national security purposes (Article XXI).
Neither the WTO nor SAFTA permits a country to suspend trade with another member country on grounds that it disapproves a domestic law enacted by the latter.
2] Pakistan needs to confer MFN status on India
Pakistan needs to reverse its practice of not according the most favoured nation (MFN) status to India.
MFN is a principle of non-discrimination in trade given in Article I of GATT.
Breach of GATT: Pakistan is in breach of Article I of GATT towards India since the formation of the WTO in 1995.
3] India should restore Pakistan’s MFN status
India should restore Pakistan’s MFN status that it revoked after the Pulwama terror attack by hiking the tariff rates on all Pakistani imports to an unfeasible rate of 200 per cent.
Such a move by India will put the ball in Pakistan’s court.
If Pakistan fails to reciprocate, India should exert pressure on Islamabad by mounting a legal challenge.
4] Explore the special trading arrangement under GATT
Article XXIV.11 allows India and Pakistan to enter into any special trading arrangement without fully complying with GATT conditions that typically apply to countries signing free trade agreements.
This merciful rule that only India and Pakistan enjoy, out of 160 odd WTO members, was incorporated in GATT to enable the two sides to overcome the economic hardships caused by Partition.
Consider the question “How normalising trade relations will India and Pakistan? Suggest the steps both the countries need to take in this regard.”
Conclusion
India should appreciate that the rise of China, not Pakistan, poses the graver threat. Strengthening bilateral trade can be an important lever towards establishing a working relationship with Pakistan.
“I followed multiple strategies, multiple sources and asked advices from multiple people when I began my preparation in 2016. Yet, I felt a lack of guidance. By 2020, I followed a single strategy, a single source and took guidance from only Civilsdaily. And finally I cleared the exam after 2 attempts. ”
Lakshay Chowdhary was an ardent follower of Civilsdaily current affairs from 2016. In 2018, he took the help of our Mains Answer Writing program and reached till the level of interview. However, by a few marks his name didn’t feature in the final list. That’s when he decided he will not prepare full-time but will take a job, support his family and prepare for UPSC-CSE once again. He decided to take mentorship for all the 3 stages from Civilsdaily mentors Santosh sir and Pravin sir. That’s when, he achieved the remarkable feat of clearing the exam with a high All India Rank of 132.
Free Open for All, Q&A Webinar by Lakshay Choudhary
They say, it’s better to get guidance from those who have failed than those who won. Because, those who have failed will know what mistakes they have made. However, for UPSC we would like to tweak this a little bit.
“It’s better to get guidance from someone who has given several attempts and then went onto become a UPSC Topper”
This Ask me Anything session by UPSC Topper Lakshay Choudhary will give all UPSC aspirants clarity on the right process to prepare the exam and the right strategy to excel. Lakshay, an aspirant from commerce background was confused like anyone initially. He chose the wrong optional, he started answer-writing practice after prelims, he was a subject expert but not an overall player, he studied for 12 hours everyday and never took breaks.
So, what did he do that reduced his stress and prepare with limited sources yet achieve maximum marks? What did he do because of which he left only one question in 2020 Mains exam, while previously he couldn’t answer 2-3 questions from every paper? How did he clear the exam with just 6-8 hours of daily preparation when he couldn’t replicate success with 12 hours daily preparation in 2016? Attend his webinar on Monday to find out.
Key Takeways of Ask me Anything Session with Lakshay Chowdhary
1. When to start writing Mains answers. Is it better to practice 2-3 answers everyday even if there is a year more for UPSC exam?
2. How many times in a month did Lakshay write Essay answers? Why practicing Essay Paper is important even as a beginner?
3. Preparing for Current Affairs as a working professional. How did Lakshay reduce his newspaper reading time by using the Civilsdaily app?
Consolidated notes from mentors and developing his own. How did Lakshay manage to create 1-2 pages of notes for the most important topics from every subject which helped him finish an answer within 250 words?
Preparing without fear-factor. Why is it less stressful to prepare for UPSC as a working professional?
Prelims, Mains and Optional — all in a day. How did Lakshay divide his daily schedule into three sessions?
Negotiables vs Non Negotiables. What is required for UPSC exam and what is not?
Be a practical risk-taker. When is it okay to switch an optional and why should you wait till the next attempt to change your study materials?
Webinar Details
Be ready with your list of doubts and get them clarified once and for all on Monday! Register for thisfree webinar by Lakshay Chowdhary(AIR 132).
GS-1 Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times
GS-2 Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
GS-3 Indian Economy
GS-4 Attitude: Content, Structure, Function; its Influence and Relation with Thought and Behaviour; Moral and Political Attitudes; Social Influence and Persuasion.
HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?
Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.
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.
You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.
Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.
If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th October is uploaded on 11th October then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis
If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th October is uploaded on 13th October, then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.
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*.
In the intro mention the NPA percentage of the public sector banks in India.
In the body, mention the functioning of NARCL which give it a distinct edge such as faster aggregation of distressed assets, its SR carrying sovereign assurance etc.
Conclude by mentioning that the major challenges lies in execution.
The Union Government has decided to revisit the criteria set out for eligibility for its 10% reservation under the economically weaker sections (EWS) category within a month.
Context
The decision came after the Supreme Court closely questioned it on how it arrived at the income figure.
The Supreme Court is considering a case to the implementation of 27% reservation for the Other Backward Classes and 10% for the EWS under the all-India quota for medical admissions.
How was EWS reservation introduced?
The 10% reservation was introduced through the 103rd Constitution Amendment and enforced in January 2019.
It added Clause (6) to Article 15 to empower the Government to introduce special provisions for the EWS among citizens except those in the classes that already enjoy reservation.
It allows reservation in educational institutions, both public and private, whether aided or unaided, excluding those run by minority institutions, up to a maximum of 10%.
It also added Clause (6) to Article 16 to facilitate reservation in employment.
The new clauses make it clear that the EWS reservation will be in addition to the existing reservation.
Significance of the quota
The Constitution initially allowed special provisions only for the socially and educationally backward classes.
The Government introduced the concept of EWS for a new class of affirmative action program for those not covered by or eligible for the community-based quotas.
What are the criteria to identify the section?
The main criterion is that those above an annual income limit of ₹8 lakh are excluded.
It accounts income from all sources such as salary, business, agriculture and profession for the financial year prior to the application of the family, applicants, their parents, siblings and minor children.
Possession of any of these assets, too, can take a person outside the EWS pool:
Five or more acres of agricultural land
A residential flat of 1,000 sq.ft. and above
A residential plot of 100 square yards and above in notified municipalities, and
A residential plot of 200 square yards and above in other areas
What are the court’s questions about the criteria?
Reduction within general category: The EWS quota remains a controversy as its critics say it reduces the size of the open category, besides breaching the 50% limit on the total reservation.
Arbitrariness over income limit: The court has been intrigued by the income limit being fixed at ₹8 lakh per year. It is the same figure for excluding the ‘creamy layer’ from OBC reservation benefits.
Socio-economic backwardness: A crucial difference is that those in the general category, to whom the EWS quota is applicable, do not suffer from social or educational backwardness, unlike those classified as the OBC.
Metropolitan criteria: There are other questions as to whether any exercise was undertaken to derive the exceptions such as why the flat criterion does not differentiate between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.
OBC like criteria: The question the court has raised is that when the OBC category is socially and educationally backward and, therefore, has additional impediments to overcome.
Not based on relevant data: In line with the Supreme Court’s known position that any reservation or norms for exclusion should be based on relevant data.
What is the current status of the EWS quota?
The reservation for the EWS is being implemented by the Union Government for the second year now.
Recruitment test results show that the category has a lower cut-off mark than the OBC, a point that has upset the traditional beneficiaries of reservation based on caste.
The explanation is that only a small number of people are currently applying under the EWS category — one has to get an income certificate from the revenue authorities — and therefore the cut-off is low.
However, when the number picks up over time, the cut-off marks are expected to rise.
Way forward
The per capita income or GDP in all States, or the difference in purchasing power in the rural and urban areas, should be taken into account while a single income limit was formulated for the whole country.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has published a draft framework for cross-border insolvency proceedings based on the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) model under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.
About Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)
The IBC, 2016 is the bankruptcy law of India that seeks to consolidate the existing framework by creating a single law for insolvency and bankruptcy.
It is a one-stop solution for resolving insolvencies which previously was a long process that did not offer an economically viable arrangement.
The code aims to protect the interests of small investors and make the process of doing business less cumbersome.
Cross border insolvency proceedings
Cross-border insolvency proceedings are relevant for the resolution of distressed companies with assets and liabilities across multiple jurisdictions.
A framework for cross-border insolvency proceedings allows for the location of such a company’s foreign assets, the identification of creditors and their claims.
This helps establishing payment towards claims as well as a process for coordination between courts in different countries.
Current status of foreign stakeholders and courts in other jurisdictions under IBC
While foreign creditors can make claims against a domestic company, the IBC currently does not allow for automatic recognition of any insolvency proceedings in other countries.
Current provisions under the IBC do not allow Indian courts to address the issue of foreign assets of a company being subjected to parallel insolvency proceedings in other jurisdictions.
The UNCITRAL model
The UNCITRAL model is the most widely accepted legal framework to deal with cross-border insolvency issues.
It has been adopted by 49 countries, including the UK, the US, South Africa, South Korea and Singapore.
The law allows automatic recognition of foreign proceedings and rulings given by courts in cases where the foreign jurisdiction is adjudged.
Recognition of foreign proceedings and reliefs is left to the discretion of domestic courts when foreign proceedings are non-main proceedings.
The model law deals with four major principles of cross-border insolvency:
Direct access to foreign insolvency professionals and foreign creditors to participate in or commence domestic insolvency proceedings against a defaulting debtor.
Recognition of foreign proceedings & provision of remedies.
Cooperation between domestic and foreign courts & domestic and foreign insolvency practitioners.
Coordination between two or more concurrent insolvency proceedings in different countries. The main proceeding is determined by the concept of Centre of Main Interest (COMI).
The COMI for a company is determined based on where the company conducts its business on a regular basis and the location of its registered office.
It is designed to assist States in reforming and modernizing their laws on arbitral procedure so as to take into account the particular features and needs of international commercial arbitration.
Issues with Indian framework
The framework for cross-border insolvency adopted in India may require reciprocity from any country which seeks to have its insolvency proceedings recognized by Indian courts.
This would allow Indian proceedings for foreign corporate debtors to be recognized in foreign jurisdictions.
Back2Basics: UNCITRAL
It is an affiliate organization to the UN made up of business and legal professionals.
This group develops model standards and procedures for dealing with issues affecting international business.
Perhaps most notably, UNCITRAL promulgated the Convention on International Sale of Goods (CISG).
The CISG is a model law commonly used as the governing provisions in contracts between parties from different nations.
A group of researchers has been able to collect bones and teeth samples of over 2,000 such ancient specimens from regions from where domestic horses could have originated.
Research on horse domestication
The research has studied fossils from the Iberian Peninsula in the southwestern corner of Europe, or the western-most edge of Eurasia (Spain and its neighbours), Anatolia (modern Turkey), and the steppes of Western Eurasia and Central Asia.
These collective data have led them to decide that until about 4200 BCE, many distinct horse populations inhabited various regions of Eurasia.
Key findings of the research
A similar genetic analysis has found that horses with the modern domestic DNA profile lived in the Western Eurasian Steppes, particularly the Volga-Don River region.
By around 2200–2000 BCE, these horses spread out to Bohemia (the Czech Republic of today and Ukraine), and Central Asia and Mongolia.
These horses were bred by breeders from these countries to sell them to countries that demanded them.
Riding on horses became popular in these nations by around 3300 BCE, and armies were built using them, for example, in Mesopotamia, Iran, Kuwait and the ‘Fertile Crescent’ or Palestine.
The first spoke-wheeled chariots emerged around 2000-1800 BC.
Indian story
Horses were never native to India.
The only animals native to India were the Asian elephant, snow leopard, rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Sloth bear, Himalayan wolf, Gaur bison, red panda, crocodile, and the birds peacock and flamingo.
Thus, it seems clear from these sources that horse is not native to India.
Horses must have come into India through inter-regional trading between countries.
Indians might have traded their elephants, tigers, monkeys, birds to their neighbours and imported horses.
When did India get its horses?
Horse-related remains and artefacts have been found in Late Harappan sites (1900-1300 BCE).
Horses did not seem to have played an essential role in the Harappan civilization.
This is in contrast to the Vedic Period, which is a little later (1500-500 BCE).
The Sanskrit word for horse is Ashwa, which is mentioned in the Vedas and Hindu Scriptures.
These are roughly towards the end of the late Bronze Age.
Try this PYQ:
Q. With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements correct?
Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The Good Samaritan scheme, meant to encourage and felicitate those helping road accident victims, has received a poor response from the states more than a month since its launch.
Good Samaritan Scheme
The Road Transport and Highways Ministry announced this scheme so that taking a road crash victim to hospital is not just hassle-free but there is also the incentive of a reward and recognition.
Historically, Indians are reluctant in taking victims to hospital because of associated legal processes and investigations that follow.
To address that, the Centre inserted Section 134A in the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, which deals with “Protection of Good Samaritans”.
Need for such scheme
India witnesses around 5 lakh road accidents and 1.5 lakh deaths from them every year.
As per several government assessments and independent studies, a large number of deaths occur because the victims did not get medical help within the golden hour.
Key features of the scheme
Non-liability: Under the scheme, a good samaritan will not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury to or death of the victim of an accident involving a motor vehicle.
Reward: The scheme entitles any person, who helps save a life by taking a road crash victim to the hospital during golden hour, to a reward of Rs 5,000 per accident.
Anonymity clause: The new law is that the “Good Samaritan” is free to not disclose their name to the hospital or law enforcement authorities; they can also choose not to take part in any legal process.
Issues with the scheme
Ans. Poor response from the states
Despite the Centre willing to give an initial grant of Rs 5 lakh for it, states have not even opened bank accounts to get the money.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has sent several reminders to states to operationalize the scheme.
A new lineage of SARS-CoV-2 has been designated as a Variant of Concern (VoC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and has been named Omicron.
Behind the name: Omicron
The WHO has been using Greek letters to refer to the most widely prevalent coronavirus variants, which otherwise carry long scientific names.
It had already used 12 letters of the Greek alphabet before the newest variant emerged in South Africa this week.
After Mu, the 12th named after a Greek letter, WHO selected the name Omicron, instead of Nu or Xi, the two letters between Mu and Omicron.
The WHO said Nu could have been confused with the word ‘new’ while Xi was not picked up following a convention.
Why is the Omicron variant interesting?
The Omicron variant is interesting due to the fact that it has a large number of mutations compared to other prevalent variants circulating across the world.
This includes 32 mutations in the spike protein.
Many of these mutations lie in the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein, a key part of the protein required for binding to the human receptor proteins for entry into the cell.
It can thus play an important role in recognition by antibodies generated due to a previous infection or by vaccines.
What do spike mutations do?
Many of the mutations in the spike protein have been previously suggested to cause resistance to antibodies as well as increased transmission.
Thus, there is a possibility that this variant could be more likely to re-infect people who have developed immunity against previous variants of the virus.
The behavior of the virus is not yet accurately predictable based on the evidence on individual mutations.
Does the variant result in vaccine breakthrough infections?
Some of the initial individuals identified to be infected with the variant have been vaccinated for COVID-19 and therefore the variant can indeed cause vaccine breakthrough infections.
This should not be of concern, since the prevalent variants of concern including Delta have been shown to cause breakthrough infections.
Whether the variant causes more breakthrough infections than Delta is not currently known.
How can we be prepared for the variant?
Enhanced surveillance and genome sequencing efforts are essential to detect and track the prevalence of the Omicron variant.
Rapid sharing of genome sequences of the virus and the epidemiological data linked with it to publicly available databases will help in developing a better understanding of the variant.
Existing public health and social measures need to be strengthened to control and prevent transmission.
Enhancing vaccination coverage across different regions along with access to testing, therapeutics and support will be essential for combating the new variant.
Equitable access to vaccines would be key to controlling the Omicron variant, and slowing down the emergence of any future variants.
If built on time, Jaitapur Project in Maharashtra would be the largest nuclear power generating station in the world by net generation capacity, at 9,900 MW.
Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project
Jaitapur Project is a proposed nuclear power plant in India.
The power project is proposed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and would be built at Madban village of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra.
It is being built with technical cooperation from France.
Project description
It is proposed to construct 6 European Pressurized Reactors designed and developed by Framatome (former Areva) of France, each of 1650 MW, thus totaling 9900 MW.
These are the third generation pressurized water reactors (PWR).
The cost of building the plant is about ₹20 crore (US$2.7 million) per MW electric power compared with ₹5 crore (US$660,000) per MW electric power for a coal power station.
A consortium of French financial institutions will finance this project as a loan. Both French and Indian government will give sovereign guarantee for this loan.
Issues with the project
(I) Liability for nuclear damage
The lack of clarity on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 passed in Indian Parliament in August 2010 is a hurdle in finalizing deal.
This Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 has a clause that deals with the legal binding of the culpable groups in case of a nuclear accident.
It allows only the operator (NPCIL) to sue the manufacturers and suppliers. Victims will not be able to sue anyone.
(II) Clearance issue
Environmental effects of nuclear power and geological issues have been raised by anti-nuclear activists of India against this power project.
Even though the Maharashtra state govt completed land acquisition in 2010, only few people had accepted compensation cheques.
(III) Seismicity of the area
Since Jaitapur is a seismically sensitive area, the danger of an earthquake has been foremost on the minds of people.
According to the Earthquake hazard zoning of India, Jaitapur comes under Zone III. This zone is called the moderate Risk Zone and covers areas liable to MSK VIII.
The presence of two major creeks on the proposed site has been ignored while clearing the site.
(IV) Nuclear waste disposal
It is not clear where the nuclear waste from the site will be shipped for recycling or removed for disposal.
The plant is estimated to generate 300 tonnes of used nuclear fuel each year.
