Gist & timeline of Caste politics in India; read once slowly and you will never forget! :)

Mandal Commission

• Set up by PM Morarji Desai (1979), report implemented by PM VP Singh (1990)
• Recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in government services and educational institutions

Indra Sawhney Case 1992

• Filed against the implementation of the Mandal Report
• Concept of creamy layer in OBCs introduced, 50% ceiling
• Allowed for OBC reservation in public employment & educations institutions
• Govt. notification offered 10% reservation in govt. jobs to Economically backward, struck down in this case

Interestingly, 103rd Amendment Act of 2019 provided 10% reservation to EWS

Economically Weaker Sections. Those from the General category who deserve social justice but left out due to caste criteria. This was brought back what SC struck down in 1992 case

In 2022, 30 years later, SC upheld the 103rd Amendment thus making it a law

What's current debate of caste census?

For: "To better understand the population share of caste groups and thus transfer the benefits"
Against: "Will lead to division on caste basis along with increased reservation demands"

Not like it was not done with census. 2011 census counted caste but the data was not made public.

But is reservation not set at 50%, how will new demand spring up, CSEWhy?

In some cases, states breached the ceiling and found SC validating the same.
As per Article 141, SC judgements lay down a law in itself.

Therefore, the demand will accentuate caste consciousness and cleavage.

As they say, Jaati nahi jati, it is important for #UPSC aspirants to develop an informed opinion on sensitive issues

How to form such an opinion? List down the important facts and develop a rational approach.

To gain an edge over others and save your time in this process, simply follow @CSEWhy

Note: Lucknow, Bhopal & Delhi aspirants, are you coming to CSEWhy Bookclub meetups tomorrow? Register here to join

🚨 14 October 2023 | Saturday 🚨

Subscribe to my high value blog for UPSC aspirants with your email: blog.csewhy.com


Mains Keywords✍️🏼

1. Keywords by Claudia Goldin

a) Quiet Revolution
• To reflect the inter-generational changes in women's quotidian attitudes towards their eduction and employment

b) Greedy Work
• Careers that require significant time and attention & more likely to reward those who are available at all times
• Like doctors, lawyers, senior corporate executives
• Mostly by men, who forgo time with family, as women forgo career


Mains Keys🗝️

1. Ferry services started between India (Nagapattinam Port, Tamil Nadu) & Sri Lanka to enhance connectivity (GS2, IR; India-SL)


Stats📈

• Adult literacy rate (2011 Census)
- Women: 50.6% (rural) ; 76.9% (urban)
- Men: 74.1% (rural) ; 88.3% (urban)


Quotes💭

• The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you ~ B B King
• Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it
• Justice hurried is justice buried


Reading Recommendations🗞

IE
1. A bleak spot (GS2, Social Justice)
2. Babasaheb's conversion (GS1, Modern History)
3. Bound by history, geography (GS2, IR)
4. In SC, questions of foetal viability & right of unborn child (GS2, Social Justice)
5. Hostage-taking as terror tactic (GS2, IR; GS3 Terrorism)

TH
1. Balancing policy (GS2, IR)
2. A war that ends the Saudi-Israel 'normalisation' process (GS2, IR)

PS: Hit ❤️ to confirm you are reading newspaper daily!

Note: Dr. Kalam's birthday today. Here's a story I wrote about him visiting my city. Read!

🚨 15 October 2023 | Sunday 🚨

Have you subscribed to my blog with your email? blog.csewhy.com


Mains Keywords✍🏼

1. Thrust Faults (aka reverse faults)
• Form due to horizontal compressive stresses and so called shortening of crust
• All 3 earthquakes that struck Afghanistan on Oct 7 were these

2. Green Credit
• A unit of an incentive provided for specified activities that deliver a positive impact on environment
• New GoI scheme to have individual/entity earn tradable green credits

3. Indian Philosophy wrt Indian Ocean
• Should be maintained as a "free, open and inclusive space"
• With "respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity" based on UNCLOS


Mains Keys🗝

1. Deep learning helps classification of tumour during surgery (GS3, Tech & health)
2. Egypt becomes first country to achieve "gold tier" status on path to elimination of Hepatitis C: WHO (GS2, Health)


Pre-related📄

1. Cheriyapani
• High speed craft deployed for resuming ferry services between India & Sri Lanka after 40 years
• Earlier was conducting inter-island services in Lakshadweep along with occasional services to Kochi

2. Gray Whale
• Also called Gray back whale, Pacific gray whale, Korean gray whale, California gray whale
• Type of baleen whale, i.e. filter food from water through special bristly structures in their mouth
• Stay close to shore and feed in shallow water
• IUCN: Least Concern


Reading Recommendations🗞

TH
1. Some FCRA-listed NGOs fail to show the right area of work, Page 7 (GS2, Role of NGOs)
2. How a 6.3 magnitude quake caused another of same intensity (GS1, Geography)
3. How is the IORA a key bloc for India? (GS2, IR)
4. Why are abortion laws in the spotlight again? (GS2, Social Justice)
5. Silk Roads at a crossroads (GS2,IR)


PS: Hit ❤️ for yourself if you are studying even on a Sunday

A look at different faults of the earthquake for visual memory

Friends, I am no more anonymous.

For last few weeks, I was curating Bal Buddhi Vidya t-shirts, notebooks, posters and more.

It's all live now for you to take home

Also, to see who runs CSEWhy, visit BalBuddhiVidya.com and scroll slowly to the end & click on this (image for reference)

Sunday Special ❤️

4 recommendations to utilize the weekend right!

1. Article 244 simplified | Click here to understand better

2. China doesn't want territory it wants | Click here to broaden your perspective

3. 27 maps compilation | Click here to save to your notes

4. Logical Tricks to remember all SDGs | Click here to memorise

A CSEWhy exclusive! :)

Note: Did you checkout my new website?

🚨 16 October 2023 | Monday 🚨


Mains Keywords✍️🏼

1. Estivation (or Aestivation)
• Biological phenomenon whereby animal enters a long period of dormancy, or inactivity
• Survival strategy in response to high temperature or maybe even drought-like conditions
• Example: West African lungfish,
Desert tortoises, snails

2. Deepfake
• A video of a person in which the face or body is altered to make one appear to be someone else
• Typically used to spread false information

3. Classification of subatomic particles
a) Fermions: Building blocks of matter
b) Bosons: Particles that carry the forces acting between them

4. Zionism
• Movement of trying to establish a Jewish homeland


Mains Keys🗝
(Use as examples in Mains answers)

1. Ama Gaon, Ama Bikash initiative: Odisha CM's direct interaction with panchayats through video conferencing, sanctioning of projects according to their needs (GS2, e-governance)

2. Borders to have radiation detection equipment to check trafficking of radioactive materials for possible use in making nuclear devices (GS3, Internal Security & Tech)

3. Bihar govt survey to assess mental health needs of teachers, to tackle teacher absenteeism & inability (GS2, Education)


Pre-related📄

1. Dhanauri Wetlands
• Located in Greater Noida
• Mapped in National Inventory of Wetlands
• Home to over 150 Sarus Crane, UP's state bird

2. Goan Cashew (kernel)
• Native to northeast Brazil, introduced to Goa by Portuguese in 1570, mainly as a crop for afforestation and soil conservation
• Granted GI Tag

3. World Food Day
• Observed on October 16
• Theme this year: 'Water is Life, Water is Food'


Quotes(s)💭

• Terror is not always the effect of force and an armament is not a victory ~ BR Ambedkar


Reading Recommendations🗞

IE
1. Keep water at the centre (GS3, Agriculture & Environment; read for importance of water)
2. Lessons from deluge (GS3, Disaster Management)
3. How Jews first migrated to Palestine, and how Israel was born (GS2, IR; read as per your awareness discretion)

TH
1. The world needs to stop taking water for granted (GS3, Environment)
2. Israel, Hamas and laws of war (GS2, IR)
3. UN approved Kenya-led mission to Haiti (GS2, International fora; reading gist would suffice)


PS: Getting more regular with posting daily message before 11am to make it easy for you. React ❤️ to appreciate the effort

Note: Get 10 year or 14 year Prelims PYQ notes from here

🚨 17 October 2023 | Tuesday 🚨


Mains Keywords✍️🏼

1. Palliative Care
• Branch of medicine aimed at improving quality of life of those having life-limiting illnesses
• Like cancer, diabetes complications, etc

2. Vicarious liability
• Liabililty incurred for other's wrong
• Situation in which one party is held partly responsible for unlawful actions of a third party


Pre-related📄

1. Sir Syed Ahmed
• Work: Causes of Indian Revolt
• Journal: Aligarh Institute Gazette
• Read about him here


Reading Recommendations🗞

IE
1. It's not just nine months (GS2, Social Justice)
2. On the upswing (GS3, Economy)
3. Doublespeak on terror (GS2,IR)
4. Can AAP be an accused in excise policy case? (GS2, Polity)
5. After 40 yrs, India-SL ferry services (GS2, IR; focus on potential impact)

TH
1. The Indian Himalayan Region needs its own EIA (GS3, EIA)
2. Confronting the long-term risks of AI (GS3, S&T)
3. Delay as tactic (GS2, Polity)
4. Palliative Care, Page 9 (GS2, Health)

PS: Hit ❤️ to confirm you are reading newspaper daily!

Note: Get the Daily CA Compilation access in one place from point no. 2 of the pinned message

🚨 18 October 2023 | Wednesday 🚨

Revise important SC cases for LGBTQIA+ rights here on CSE Why Blog

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Red Tide
• Phenomenon of seawater turning red, harmful for marine life
• Due to abundance of algae, result of being more nutrients in water
• Recently observed in Puducherry


Reading Recommendations 🗞

IE
1. Why Egypt is keeping Gaza's Rafah border crossing shut (GS2, IR)
2. Two views on four key issues (GS2, Social Justice)

TH
1. Centralised procurement as a powerful health idea (GS2, Health)
2. When tigers and jackals get the same protection (GS3, Environment)
3. How synergistic barriers are affecting progress on SDGs (GS3, Environment)


PS: Hit ❤️ to confirm you are reading newspaper daily!

Note: Join @CSEWhyPlanB to find opportunities to help you make money with UPSC Prep

🚨 19 October 2023 | Thursday 🚨

Read life story of MS Swaminathan here

Mains Keywords✍️🏼

1. Cognitive Warfare
• Using technological tools to alter the cognition of human targets, who are often unaware of such attempts
• Among elements of modern warfare

2. Artificial General Intelligence
• AI that is equal or superior to human Intelligence
• Will replace human judgement, intuition & creativity

3. Bioacoustics
• Use of sound to learn more about animal life and habitats


Mains Keys🗝
(Use as examples in Mains answers)

1. Chhatisgarh's Mitaan Yojna: Door to door government services like getting government documents available through toll free number (GS2, Governance)

2. Tribal Youth Exchange Program: MHA's program of taking tribal youth from LWE affected areas on tour to major cities across the country (GS3, Internal Security)

3. Management Development Programme: IIM-powered crash course for entrepreneurs from Maoist-hit districts (GS3, Internal Security)


Pre-related📄

1. Marsquakes

• Reasons for occurence
a) Tectonic activity: Active faults as its surface is slowly shrinking & cooling (but no active plate tectonic processes, unlike earth)

b) Meteorite impact


Reading Recommendations🗞

IE
1. OBCs and subcategories (GS2, Social Justice)
2. Lagging behind (GS1, Society)

TH
1. The explosion of digital uncertainty (GS3, S&T)
2. The BRI at 10, some hits, many misses (GS2, IR)
3. The measure of working woman (GS1, Society)
4. The Aboriginal referendum in Australia (Read to understand Australian Parliamentary functioning)
5. How quantum algorithms solve problems that classical computers can’t (read first para for understanding of algorithms)

PS: Writing essays and need help with evaluation? Send them to me for feedback at whycse@gmail.com

Note: I let go off anonymity to reveal my face here

🚨 20 October 2023 | Friday 🚨


Mains Keywords✍️🏼

1. Nakba
• Arabic for "catastrophe"
• Expulsion/fleeing of ~ 700,000 Palestinians from what is now Israel in 1948 war

2. Feeder area & school cluster concept
• Each secondary school function as the nordal guardian institution for all primary & middle schools that come under its 10 km radius
• Secondary schools, acting as "cluster centres", responsible for infra in primary & middle schools


Quotes💭

• We shouldn't destroy our species-rich ecosystems to cook our development dinner. ~ EO Wilson
• Vriksho Rakshati Rakshatah: Those who protect trees will be protected by them
• Believe you can, and you're halfway there ~ Theodore Roosevelt


Reading Recommendations🗞

IE
1. Agents of prosperity (GS3, Agriculture)
2. Safety test for Gaganyaan (GS3, Space)
3. PM to flag off RRTS, Page 15 (GS3, Infrastructure)

TH
1. The shape of climate justice in a warming India (GS3, Environment)
2. An opportunity to recast India's food system (GS3, Agriculture)
3. Are southern states being punished for their success? (GS2, Polity)
4. Why SLLs also need to be reformed (GS2, Polity)
5. Why are earthquakes frequent in Afghanistan? (GS1, Geography)
6. Seeing the magic of AI applications in ophthalmology (GS3, S&T)

PS: Hit ❤️ to confirm you are reading newspaper daily!

Friends, I have simplified important 100 Articles of Constitution in easier words for #UPSC

This can save 3 days of your hard work to revise faster 💯

You can access this sheet for Free by clicking here

Note: Join India's top educators & civil servants for strategy, booklist, and timetable for UPSC 2024-2025

🚨 21 October 2023 | Saturday 🚨

Collegium in news, revise here

Mains Keywords ✍🏼

1. Fast Radio Burst

• A pulse of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation
• Lasts a small fraction of second, but outshines most other sources of radio waves in universe


Mains Keys🗝
(Use as examples in Mains answers)

1. Delhi police to use video conferencing facility to examine witness in cases (Tech based solution)


Reading Recommendations🗞

IE
1. Middle East, middle ground (GS2, IR)
2. Reaching out to include (GS2, Social Justice)
3. At stake for Israel (GS2, IR)
4. The green finance challenge (GS3, Environment)
5. Questions in Parliament (GS2, Polity)

TH
1. Not just a case about improving investigation (GS2, Polity)
2. The politics of a caste census, its impact on secularism (GS2, Polity)


PS: Checkout new updates on BalBuddhiVidya.com

Weekend is here!

Free Essay evaluation only for serious #UPSC aspirants

4 topics in this post, write on any one this weekend & mail it to whycse[at]gmail[dot]com for feedback

Deadline: 11:59 am of 23rd Oct 23

Topics👇🏻

1. Many will start fast, few will finish strong

2. The root of all suffering is attachment

3. Those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him

4. No structure can stand for long when it rots from within

Ensure that title of the essay is written on the top

Note: Part time opportunities for aspirants coming up at @CSEWhyPlanB

🚨 22 October 2023 | Sunday 🚨

Subscribe to my high value current affairs blog for Free with your email: blog.csewhy.com


Mains Keys🗝
(Use as examples in Mains answers)

1. Durga puja pandals have idols designed from non-recyclable materials with message on sustainability (GS3, Environment & GS1 Culture)

2. All schools in Odisha directed to install lightning arresters (GS3, Disaster Management)


Pre-related📄

1. Project Udbhav
• Collaboration between Army & United Service Institution of India (defence service think tank)
• Aims at integrating ancient wisdom with modern military pedagogy to develop an "indigenous strategic vocabulary"
rooted in India's philosophy and culture

2. Paintbrush Swift
• A rare butterfly spotted for the first time in Himachal Pradesh


Reading Recommendations🗞

TH
1. Does India need to relook the Dam Safety Act? (GS3, Disaster Management)
2. Why did SC not allow same-sex marriage? (GS2, Social Justice)
3. Will Sikkim flood impact the hydel projects? (GS3 Infra and Disaster Mgmt)
4. Between occupation and the deep blue sea (GS2 IR, read for awareness)
5. A wake-up call (GS2, International Treaties)

PS: Hit ❤️ for yourself if you're reading newspaper even on a Sunday!

On Sundays, you sit alone after writing a test

It’s a break day other than test

You start reflecting on the purpose.
You start asking yourself Why?

Why? Why CSE? CSE, Why?

You think of your age
You think of your ageing parents

It leaves you uncomfortable
You open Instagram for a break from reality

That guy who scored lesser than you in college just bought a new car

The person you dated briefly in college is happily married

The junior class neighbour you taught is now working in an MNC

The people who you played cricket with are all doing ‘great’

“Instagram is just an illusion” you tell yourself and throw the phone away

You sit back again with your eyes closed

The scenes keep coming back to you

That junior, that friend, that classmate, everyone.

What wrong did I do?

“I left home to become an officer but here I am, nothing”

N-O-T-H-I-N-G

It resonates in your mind with a slight pain

Pain somewhere. You don’t know where but it gets to you!

“What do I do?” It feels dark. You see no way forward

On such days, sit down with a pen and paper

Write down things
• you have done
• you want to do
• you are good at
• you would want to learn

There’s no glory in spending youth preparing for an uncertain exam

There’s no shame in quitting if you aren’t making it to the list

Maybe you’re just a fish trying to climb the tree

On this paper, towards the end:

Write down what YOU will want to do!

If #UPSC, give it one last serious attempt and forget everything else

If you want to do something else, start small on the side and try

Remember, you are on your own.

Whatever happens to you is your responsibility

It’s your responsibility to take a challenge

It’s on you to enhance your Bal. Buddhi. Vidya.

Make a decision and stick to it

Make a decision and act on it

Make a decision and Do it! Whatever it takes 💪🏻

Sunday Special ❤️

4 Recommendations to utilize the weekend right!

1. Operations to bring back Indians since 2014 | Click here to revise

2. Nataraja, India's new diplomatic symbol | Click here to dig a little deeper

3. CSAT for 2024 | Click here to have a look at basics

4. CSE WHY Flowcharts | Click here to save to your notes

A CSEWhy exclusive! :)

Note: Subscribe here on my YT for the upcoming Masterclass by H'nble chairman of Estimates Committee

🚨 23 October 2023 | Monday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍🏼

1. Carrying Capacity

• Based on the max population size that an ecosystem can support over a specific period without causing significant harm to its natural resources & overall health

2. Fluorescence
• When an object absorbs some light of higher energy (like blue colour) & releases it at lower energy (like red colour)


Quote(s)💭

• There are no military solutions- Dialogue and diplomacy are the only guarantee of lasting piece ~ Martin McGuinness


Reading Recommendations🗞

IE
1. Towards a politics of presence (GS2, Social Justice)
2. Vienna Convention (GS2, International Treaties)
3. Has Bidenomics worked? (Read for awareness on American economy)

TH
1. The Court's 'no fundamental right to marry' is wrong (GS3, Social Justice)
2. Restoring the ecological health of the Himalayas (GS3, Environment)
3. Have earnings grown post-pandemic? (GS3, Economy)
4. Cyber insurance critical for small, medium enterprises (Remember Prelims Q on cyber insurance?)


PS: Aspiring for 2024/2025 UPSC? Join this Free webinar today evening from India's top educators & AIR 04 (2016) Ms. Saumya Pandey

Note: Become a leader for tomorrow. Host CSEWhy Meetups in your city! Apply here to become an Associate Partner

🚨 24 October 2023 | Tuesday 🚨

Subscribe to my Current Affairs blog for UPSC aspirants: blog.csewhy.com

Mains Keywords ✍🏼

1. Dust suppressants
• Salt of calcium or magnesium that can absorb moisture
• To be used in Delhi


Reading Recommendations🗞

Nothing major here. One good article on Vienna Convention, I have summarised detailed info on it in a blog post here for you to revise with ease from UPSC pov


PS: Less things on newspaper today. Ease things with a break! Happy Dussehra :)

Geography NCERT of 11th and 12th Class has 22 maps of India

To make it easier for you to revise quickly, I have compiled these 22 maps in one PDF

React ❤️ if this makes it easy for you

Note: Struggling with Daily CA? Get my daily CA Compilation from point no 2 of Pinned message

🚨 25 October 2023 | Wednesday 🚨

Have you subscribed to my blog with your email?
blog.csewhy.com


Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Ball Lightning (aka Globe Lightning)
• A ball of luminosity that usually occurs near the impact point of a flash & moves horizontally at a speed of a few centimeters per second
• Occurs at times of intense activity in atmosphere
• These balls are said to be plasmas

2. Deterministic Chaos
• It essentially means that future can be predicted only if the present is known with a great degree of accuracy
• ~ Butterfly effect: Some system is highly sensitive to its starting condition, small changes in these can lead to large changes in way system evolves


Mains Keys🗝

1. AI to help construction industry face challenges and add value at all project stages from design & financing to construction etc (GS3, Application of AI)

2. Food labels to have QR code with comprehensive details about product to help visually disabled (GS2, Social Justice)


Quote(s)💭

• History is who we are and why we are the way we are ~ David McCullough
• War must be fought without mercy but not without rules


Reading Recommendations🗞

IE
1. Breathless in Mumbai (GS3, Environment)
2. Officer and Prabhari (GS2, Separation of Powers; Role of Civil Services)
3. World in flux, where India stands (GS2, IR)
4. Telangana law under scanner: how preventive detention works (GS2, Polity)
5. Behind Mumbai's poor air (GS3, Environment)

TH
1. An India-Canada bonding that is in danger of snapping (GS2, IR)
2. Mitigating tragedies in the Himalayan region (GS3, Environment)


PS: Hit ❤️ for yourself if you're reading newspaper daily!