Note: Revise PM Vishwakarma Scheme from UPSC perspective here

🚨 11 December 2023 | Monday 🚨

Pre-related 📄

1. ELIZA Effect

• When people think computer programs/systems are capable of human emotions/functions due to way they respond to user input
• Example: Meaningful interaction with ChatGPT comparable to human conversation


2. Fractals

• Ones which exhibit self-similarity
• Irregular, complex patterns at all scales & in all views, near or far
• Example: Design of human fingerprints, stumps of tress, shells of snails, human veins etc


3. Pinna Nobilis (Noble Pen Shell)

• Huge Clams that filter sea water, allowing other organisms to flourish
• Context: Surge in numbers in Adriatic waters near Croatia (earlier was on verge of extinction)


4. Prayers at monuments

• ASI Rules: Allowed at protected sites only if they were "functioning places of worship" at time of taking charge
• Example: Namaz at Taj Mahal every Friday


5. Operation Storm Makers II

• Interpol exercise a/g fraud schemes fuelled by victims of human trafficking


Stats 📈

• 39/50 Most polluted cities in the world are Indian (World Air Quality Report 2022)


Quotes 💭

• The basic structure of our Constitution, like a north star, guides & gives a certain direction to interpreters & implementers of the Constitution when the path ahead is convoluted
• Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act ~ Albert Einstein


Reading Recommendations 🗞

IE

1. A new judicial imagination (GS2, Polity)
2. What is Universal Declaration of Human Rights (GS2, Polity & Social Justice)
3. 'Historic' deal by EU (GS3, S&T)

TH

1. Calibrating a strategy for India's future growth (GS3, Economy)


PS: Hit ❤️ to appreciate my daily efforts!

Note: Read about Article 370 from UPSC perspective here

🚨 12 December 2023 | Tuesday 🚨

Revise important reports of global agencies here

Mains Key 🗝

1. Pakadwa Vivah

• Social evil a/g law, in Bihar
• Marriage of groom by abduction
• Eligible bachelors, mostly in 20s, can 'command' dowry upto ₹25 lakh


Pre-related 📄

1. Multi-function Crypto-asset intermediaries

• Individual firms/group of affiliated firms
• Offer crypto based services, products, functions
• Primarily revolve around operating of trading platform
• Example: Binance, Bitfinex, Coinbase


Quotes 💭

• The greatest injustices proceed from those who pursue excess, not by those who are driven by necessity ~ Aristotle


Reading Recommendations 🗞

IE

1. All that can be saved (GS3, Environment)
2. Constitutional integration (By PM Modi)

TH

1. Can Bihar increase its reservation pool? (GS2, Polity)


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

Friends, Indian Express has released 12 Maps this year relevant for UPSC

To make it easier for you, I have compiled these 12 in one PDF :)

Note: IB ACIO Free Expert sessions today evening at 08:30 pm; Register Here

🚨 13 December 2023 | Wednesday 🚨

Aspiring to register for LAMP Fellowship?
Listen to this expert session before applying

Mains Keywords✍🏼

1. Anarcho-capitalism
• Political philosophy calling for abolition of state
• Law & order to be controlled by pvt companies in free market

2. AI canvasser
• An AI robot kinda figure capable of real time conversations with people
• Knows 20+ languages, analyzes data faster & quicker decision making
• Used in American elections; classis Generative AI example

Reading Recommendations🗞

IE
1. Eyes on Kashmir (GS2 IR)
2. The go-to nation (GS2 IR)
3. Kidney transplants in India (GS1 Society, GS2 Policy)
4. Advocates Act (GS2 Acts)
5. Food vs fuel: case of sugar (read for awareness)
6. Pompe disease (read symptoms for awareness)

TH
1. Patent exclusions: Madras HC shows the way (GS3 IPR)
2. India's extreme rainfall corridor (GS3 Disaster)

Need any help? Talk to me directly at whycse@gmail.com

Note: Revise top news from CoP28 from UPSC perspective here

🚨 14 December 2023 | Thursday 🚨

Mains Keyword ✍️🏼

1. Consultocracy

• Permeation of consultants into very heart of government
• Diminshes traditional role, functions & capabilities of public servants


Pre-related 📄

1. Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)

• Tech to capture CO2 at a source of emissions before it is released into atmosphere
• Sources like fossil fuel industry, industrial processes (steel, cement production)


2. CO2 Removal (CDR) Technologies

• Direct air capture: machines mimic trees & absorb CO2 to store it underground
• Enhanced rock weathering: Chemical breakdown of rocks


3. Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)

• 29 member group largely led by democratic world
• To adopt a global risk-based approach to AI
• Includes India, US, UK etc
• Adopted New Delhi Declaration


4. International Tennis Hall of Fame

• Leandar Paes: Player category
• Vijay Amritraj: Contributor category
• First 2 Indians to get the honour


Reading Recommendations 🗞

IE

1. The Consultocracy (GS2, Polity & Policy)
2. Power play in Ladakh (GS2, Polity)
3. How 2 men leapt into LS, what the House security rules say (GS3, Internal Security)
4. Revised criminal reform Bills in Parliament (GS2, Polity)
5. COP28: Much done, but still not enough (GS3, Environment)

TH

1. End the uncertainty (GS2, IR)
2. Indians vulnerable to climate change-induced health issues (GS3, Environment)
3. How Islam got tangled in the web of global warfare (Read for awareness)
4. The limitations of CCS and CDR and their grip on future climate (GS3, Environment)


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

Friends, AI is in news again

I have written a detailed blog post from my notes for your Mains Answers

Read & save as a PDF by clicking here

Note: Multiple state PCS openings listed at @CSEWhyPlanB

🚨 15 December 2023 | Friday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Asymmetric Federalism

• Special status to some state over others
• eg: JnK had w/ A370, Article 371A-I, Article 239AA

2. Infocalypse

• Information/communication crisis
• Driven by faster spread of word via social media


Pre Related 📄

1. Barracuda
• world’s fastest solar-electric boat
• Named after a fish; located in Alappuzha



Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE

1. The nature of future (GS2 diplomacy of envt)
2. Article 370 verdict & the world (GS2 diplomacy)
3. Allahabad HC allows survey of Mathura Idgah (GS2 polity & judiciary)

TH
1. Urgent need to control use of e-cigarettes: WHO (pg16)
2. Did COVID vaccination have a positive impact on mental health? (page- II (last page u/ Science section))


PS: Hit ❤️ to appreciate my daily consistent efforts!

Note: Learn 100+ articles of Indian Constitution here

🚨 16 December 2023 | Saturday 🚨

Pre-related 📄

1. AI Declarations

a) Bletchley Park Declaration

• Focussed on minimizing risks
• Emphasis on security & safety risks, as well as risks beyond frontier AI

b) GPAI New Delhi Declaration

• Middle path between promotion & regulation
• Supports innovation in tech in various sectors like agri, healthcare etc

2. Subsea Permafrost Thawing

• Subsea Permafrost: Frozen soil under seabed that contains organic matter
• Thawing:
- Organic matter decays
- Releases CO2 & methane
- Causes global warming & ocean
acidification

3. Krutrim

• Sanskrit for 'Artificial'
• 'Made in India' large language model & generative AI platform
• Launched by AI Venture of Ola co-founder


Reading Recommendations 🗞

IE

1. Why green push needs balancing, COP coal breather is key (GS3, Economy)
2. How hottest Arctic summer impacted region (GS3, Environment)
3. On AI, innovation vs safety (GS3, S&T)
4. Why Bombay HC pulled up EC over Pune bypoll (GS2, Polity)
5. Patience & Vigilance (GS2, IR)
6. A journey for organs (GS2, Health)

TH

1. Opportune moment to rediscover Chennai's hydrology (GS3, Environment)
2. A time-honoured connect that will help bridge the Gulf (GS2, IR)


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

Actual map of National Capital Region

• Haryana: 14 districts
• Rajasthan: 2 districts
• Uttar Pradesh: 8 districts


..and most importantly👇🏼
• Delhi: 7 districts

Samajh aaya? ❤️ react karke batao!

Note: Save 50 days of your time with my Prelims PYQ analysis here

🚨 17 December 2023 | Sunday 🚨

Mains Key 🗝
(Use as examples in Mains answers)

• International School of Peace & Happiness in Assam to instill human values in conflict-affected areas
(GS1, Society; GS2 Education)


Pre-related 📄

1. Logistics Performance Index

• Indicator of efficiency of logistical services imp. for exports & growth
• LEADS Report by Union Commerce & Industry Ministry
• Categories like 'Achievers', 'Fast Movers', 'Aspirers'


2. White-bellied pangolin

• World's most trafficked mammal
• Illegal trafficking routes from origins in Africa to markets in Asia
• Their scales believed to have medicinal properties, esp in China


3. Hatti

• Tribals in Himachal Pradesh
• Context: Protesting for implementation of tribal status granted in August 2023


4. Reassortment

• Process where co-infecting viruses swap genomic fragments
• Lead to emergence of new influenza viruses


Reading Recommendations 🗞

TH

1. How will Article 370 verdict impact federalism? (GS2, Polity)
2. Is the world closer to phasing out fossil fuel? (GS3, Environment)
3. Textile sector distress damps wages, sparks worker exodus, Pg 16 (Focus on challenges of textile sector)


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

Note: Gears slowly shifting to Prelims. Need help? Talk to me directly at whycse@gmail.com

🚨 18 December 2023 | Monday 🚨

Pre related 📄

1. Revise ECOWAS here

Reading Recommendations 🗞

IE

1. The algorithm-savvy regulatory (GS2 Role of civil services in democracy)
2. Looking to the black sea (GS2: IR)
3. The agri terms of trade (GS3: Agri)

TH
1. The stormy red seas, the complexities of global events (GS2 IR)
2. One person, one vote, one value (GS2- delimitation)
3. An overview of the European Union’s AI Act (read for awareness)
4. What led to coup attempt in Sierra Leone? (GS2 + Prelims; reading gist will suffice)


PS: Hit ❤️ if you're reading newspaper on a day of Monday blues!

Note: Find All Prelims 2022-23 PYQs on Africa here

🚨 19 December 2023 | Tuesday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Value investing

• Involves buying assets like stocks, bonds etc at a price below their instrinsic value
• To sell them at a higher price in future

2. Cosmic Dawn

• Period when first stars & galaxies were born in universe


Reading Recommendations 🗞

IE

1. It is India’s time (GS3, Eco)
2. For richer dividends (Read for new perspective)
3. How MPs are suspended? (GS2, Parliament working)

TH

1. A blow for the rights of legislature in law making (GS2, Governor role)
2. Grass root democracy as a bulwark against Maoists (GS2, Grassroots democracy)
3. What does COP28 means for cities? (GS1, Urbanisation)
4. Customised mRNA is next frontier in personalised medicine (Prelims; GS3, S&T)


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

Note: Read a comprehensive post on mRNA here!

🚨 20 December 2023 | Wednesday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) Foods

• Such foods cause health issues
• Increased risk of obesity, diabetes & high BP


Mains Keys 🗝
(Use as examples in Mains Answers)

• Dance as a tool to tell Mozambique’s story
(GS1, Art & Culture)


Pre-related 📄

1. Places in news: Gansu

• Chinese rural province
• Struck by high magnitude earthquake


Quote 💭

• Opposition is not necessarily enmity ~ Sigmund Freud


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE

1. Between Trump and Putin (GS2, IR)
2. Saving Punjab from paddy (GS3, Agri)
3. Telecom bill (GS2, Policy; GS3 Infra)
4. Illegal Delhi colonies (GS2, Policy)

TH
1. Tax ‘HFSS’ foods, view it as a public health imperative (Must read)
2. India’s ethanol conundrum (GS3, Environment)
3. Revolutionising interfaces: journey of touchscreens from concept to ubiquity (GS3, S&T)
4. Dharavi revamp in turmoil (Read to understand how same party behaves differently when in power & when in opposition)


PS: Hit ❤️ to appreciate my consistent efforts! :)

Note: Last date to apply for HPSC today! Apply here

🚨 21 December 2023 | Thursday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Shifting Baseline Syndrome

• When conditions of the natural environment gradually degrade over time, yet people falsely perceive less change
• due to constraints of memory, community knowledge & language

2. Greenwashing

• Revise here

3. Sovereign AI

• Revise here


Pre-related 📄

1. Inflation

a) Demand driven: When unexpected changes in prices & quantities of goods aligns in same direction

b) Supply driven: When unexpected changes in prices & quantities of goods move in opposite directions

c) Disflation: Slowing in the rate of inflation


2. Public & Private Investment

a) Crowding out: Rising public sector spending drives down pvt investment due to higher interest rates

b) Crowding in: Rising public sector spending leads to an increase in pvt investment due to higher aggregate demand


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE

1. Beyond app & coaching (Ed-tech & India)
2. The nature of growth (read for current macroeconomics)
3. Centre to step up compute capacity, offer free services to startups (pg1)

TH
1. A security breach that must lead to sweeping changes (GS3, Internal Security)
2. India's defece budgeting and the point of deterrence (Defence budgeting)
3. Outcomws of the COP-28 climate summit (GS3, Environment)


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

Every word you utter
Every phrase you write
Every action you perform

Everything has a cost

Aspirant life kills this knack of time for you

Comfort kicks in!

Life in ORN like places become stagnant

You don’t know but you’re detached from real world

Anything beyond Karol Bagh metro station feels alien,

You wait.

Year after year,
To step into this alien world..

..after you crack THE exam

It never happens!

“You are left alone, always”

You murmur

But truth is, you didn’t make an effort

You chose to become a prisoner of sunk cost fallacy

You sit back, waiting for magic
Life goes on, magically.

Bottom line: recognise your opportunity cost.

You’re young
You’re promising
You’re creative but..

..not enough!

How to be enough?

• Put yourself out there
• Experiment with ‘alien’ life
• Make new friends away from UPSC

It’s okay. You’re okay.
You’ll be okay. You’re okay.

Don’t settle, refuse to be stagnant

You’re enough. You got this!

Note: Download my 100+ articles handwritten list to revise here

🚨 22 December 2023 | Friday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Salwa Judum

• Militia of tribal persons mobilised for resistance against outlawed armed CPI (Maoist)


Pre-related 📄

1. Places in News: Ennore Creek

• Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Cafeterias (feeding stations) to be set up for oil-spill hit birds

2. UNESCO's 2023 Prix Versailles

• Focuses on intelligent sustainability as a cultural driver
• Context: Has awarded T2 of Bengaluru's Kempegowda Int'l Airport with special prize for interiors

3. Namdapha Flying Squirrel

• A nocturnal, arboreal mammal
• Context: Resurfaces in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh after 42 years


Stats 📈

• 35% of subordinate court judges are women (India Justice Report 2022)


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE

1. IMF's message (GS3, Economy)
2. What are volacnoes - and why do they keep erupting in Iceland? (GS1, Geography)
3. IPC to BNS, what has changed? (GS2, Polity & Policy)

TH
1. Questionable searches under Money Laundering Act (GS3, Internal Security)
2. Should an All-India Judicial Service be created? (GS2, Polity)
3. Analysing the Post Office Bill, 2023 (GS2, Policy)


PS: Hit ❤️ if you know what & when Winter Solstice is! :)

Note: Wind up Ethics in Last weekend of December with these simple tips

🚨 23 December 2023 | Saturday 🚨

Nothing much in newspaper today. Use time to revise current affairs on blog.csewhy.com


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE

1. Grand gesture, small details (GS2, IR)
2. In Charan Singh's footsteps (GS3, Agri)
3. How India chooses Chief Guest for Republic Day (read for awareness)
4. Credit ratings: the Govt view (GS3, Economy)
5. A product of wartime: Evolution of modern passport (read for awareness)


PS: Facing any issues regarding UPSC Prep? Talk to me directly at whycse@gmail.com

Note: Pre 2023 had 10 Envt questions. Analysis here!

🚨 24 December 2023 | Sunday 🚨


Mains Keys 🗝
(Use as examples in Mains Answers)

• Lakshmir Bhandar : Flagship schemes of WB Govt - cash incentives for women (GS2, Social Justice)


Pre-related 📄

1. Aerogels

• Polar bear fur inspired fibre suited for advanced textiles
• Mechanically robust with insulation properties
• Knittable, washable, dyeable, durable

2. Places in News: Sierra Leone

• West African country
• Alleged coup attempt


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

TH
1. Predicting extreme rainfall using probabilistic forecasts (GS1, Geography)
2. How is the UK cracking down on immigration? (GS2, Diaspora)
3. What's the latest blip in India-Maldives ties? (GS2, IR)
4. India's $60 bn man-made textile sector reels from Chinese imports glut (Pg17)


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

Note: Telecom Bill 2023: One stop resource here

🚨 25 December 2023 | Monday 🚨

Revise ransomware & cyber security from UPSC perspective here

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Kaldor-Verdoorn coefficient

• Reflects extent to which labour productivity growth rate responds to o/p growth rate
• Considered higher than avg for India's non-agricultural sector
• Accounts for jobless growth in India


Pre-related 📄

1. Nematocyst

• Specialised cell, consists of a capsule with coiled, thread-like tubule & bulbous structure w/ toxins
• Crucial role in feeding & defence strategies of esp cnidarians like jellyfish, corals, hydras etc

2. Revise Lingayatism here


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE

1. Last mile delivery is key (By former VP V Naidu)
2. The changing Indian village (GS1, Society)

TH
1. India's jobs crisis, the macroeconomic reasons (GS3, Economy)
2. The evolving role of the Colombo Security Conclave (GS2, IR)
3. Unpacking the first ever COP 'Health Day' (Climate Change & Health)
4. India's revised criminal law proposals (GS2, Polity & Policy)
5. Why ransomware attacks on Indian IT firms are a cause for concern? (GS3, Cyber Security)


PS: Hit ❤️ to appreciate my consistent efforts! :)