Africa based question source in Prelims? Yahan milega 👇🏼

https://youtu.be/hgEx3Z-WzGE

Note: Maldives vs Lakshadweep - Read here

🚨 20 January 2024 | Saturday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Theocracy

• Govt deriving authority from religion
• Usually invoking the authority of a religious deity

2. Airshed

• Area where local topography & meteorology limit pollutant dispersion


Pre-related 📄

1. Ayodhya

• World's largest 'solar powered street lights line' estbd
• ~10km stretch from Guptar Ghat to Nirmali Kund

2. North Eastern Council

• u/ Ministry of Development of NE Region
• Nodal agency for eco & social development of 8 State region
• Chaired by Union Home Minister

3. Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center

• State-of-the-art campus in Bengaluru
• American aerospace major's largest such investment outside US
• Boeing Sukanya Programme: To help more girl children join aviation sector

4. Mule Accounts

• Revise here


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE

1. The capex push (GS3, Economy)
2. A green blueprint (GS3, Environment)
3. Use & overuse of antibiotics: why regulator has stepped in (GS2, Health)
4. Nagara style of temple architecture (GS1, Art & Culture; Prelims)

TH
1. The problem with India's science management (GS3, S&T)


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

Note: Revise Ramsar Sites for Pre2024 here

🚨 21 January 2024 | Sunday 🚨

Add imp tourism keywords to your Mains notes from here

Mains Keyword ✍️🏼

1. Nature Tourism

• Tourism based on natural attractions of an area
• Focus on environment conservation & local welfare


Pre-related 📄

1. Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme

• To promote unique conservation values of Ramsar sites
• To enhance livelihood opportunities for local communities
• Through harnessing nature-tourism potential of such sites
• Training facilitators:
- Tourism Ministry
- MoEFCC

2. Free Movement Regime

• With Myanmar, since 2018
• Allow residents of both countries living along border to travel upto 16 km into each other's territory without a visa


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

TH
1. Urbanisation in Bhubaneswar impacts winter temperatures (GS3, Environment)
2. Why are conflicts spreading in West Asia (GS2, IR)
3. What are the labour rules for workers abroad? (GS3, Economy)


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

Friends, Jan 22 is an auspicious day to shift to Prelims 2024 journey

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🚨 22 January 2024 | Monday 🚨

Mains Keyword ✍️🏼

1. Quasi-pedagogical

• Used by sociologist Basil Bernstein
• For digital technology in context of Education
• Wherein education becomes a process of transmission
• And provider is often unaware of consequences of such transmission


Mains Key 🗝
(Use as examples in Mains answers)

1. NAMO Drone Didi Scheme

• Rural women as drone pilots
• Use of an e-vehicle to spray fertilisers & pesticides in agri fields
(GS3, Agri)


Pre-related 📄

1. Madhika

• Unique language of 'untouchables' Chakaliya community, Kerala
• Blend of different languages, largely influenced by Havyaka Kannada
• Context: No script, just 2 speakers, on brink of extinction

2. "Watch" group antibiotics

• Group classified by WHO
• Medicines reserved for only severe infections
• Context: India among nations overusing these

3. Mosquitofish

• US-origin Gambusia species, introduced in India (1928)
• Used in biological control of mosquitoes by govtal org like ICMR
• Has become invasive in India

4. Mpemba effect

• Hot water can freeze faster than cold water in similar conditions

5. Places in News:

(i) Arichal Munai Point

• Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu
• At tip of Indian mainland
• Said to be place from where Ram Setu was built

(ii) Russia-Ukraine conflict region

a) Donetsk
• City in Russian-occupied Ukraine

b) Ust-Luga
• Russian port in Baltic Sea

(iii) Zambia
• Copper-rich southern African country


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE
1. Under the Digital Gloss (GS2, Education)

TH
1. Post Office Act, its unbridled powers of interception (GS2, Policy)
2. The growth of India-Bangladesh ties (GS2, IR)


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

Friends, it is an auspicious day to shift gears for Prelims 24

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Mark a fresh start on this auspicious day!

Any query? Talk to me at whycse@gmail.com

Indian Express today had an article on History of Ram Mandir

I had made a video 3 years ago documenting the story since 1528

This video will give you entire chronology of things leading to January 22.

Watch at 1.5x :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbilFUrr9Sc

Note: Did you check out this new development on PlanB?

🚨 23 January 2024 | Tuesday 🚨

Mains Key 🗝
(Use as examples in Mains answers)

1. Pradhan Mantri Suryoday Yojana: to install rooftop solar systems in 1 crore houses (GS3, Environment)


Pre-related 📄

1. Batadrava Than

• Sacred site for Assamese Vaishnavites
• Birthplace of reformer-saint Srimanta Sankardeva
• Ek Saran Naam Dharma:
- Sankardeva's philosophy
- worship in form of bhakti to Lord Krishna
- through singing & congregational listening of His name & deeds
- instead of idol worship
- estbd monastic institutions: Thans/Sattras

2. Kumki Elephants

• Trained captive elephants
• Help to trap, rescue, tranquilise wild elephants
• Can be deployed for forest patrolling & rescue operations
• Context: Odisha has sought assistance from Tamil Nadu (has successful model)

3. A23a

• World's oldest & largest iceberg
• Broke off Antarctic coast in 1986
• Currently drifting b/w Elephant Island & South Orkney islands
• Heading north, where it may melt away


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE
1. Drivers of food inflation (GS3, Economy)
2. Free Movement Regime along Myanmar border (GS3, Internal Security)
3. WEF meeting in Davos 2024 (GS2, IR)

TH
1. Tax contribution by States needs to be revisited (GS2, Polity & Policy)
2. Fired up and plugged in (GS3, Environment)
3. On equal access to benefits for all SCs (GS2, Social Justice)
4. Why was FCRA registration for several NGOs cancelled? (GS2, Role of NGOs)
5. Intersectionality of gender & caste in women's participation in labour force (GS1, Society; GS3, Economy)


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

Note: Read about temples recently visited by PM Modi here

🚨 24 January 2024 | Wednesday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Horizon 2047

• Framework for India-France cooperation
• In defence, nuclear energy & other areas

2. Rent-seeking

• Term by Anne Krueger
• Manipulating public policy or economic conditions to increase profits


Mains Key 🗝
(Use as examples in Mains answers)

• DK Basu judgement (1996) against police abuse & custodial violence (GS2, Polity)


Pre-related 📄

1. Karpoori Thakur

• Former Bihar CM, socialist leader & freedom fighter
• Son of a marginal farmer from Nai community
• Named 'Jannayak', seen as architect of social justice plank in politics
• Implemented reclassification of backward classes as per Mungeri Lal Commission in Bihar
• Context: Would be awarded Bharat Ratna ( & birth centenary)

2. Gini coefficient

• Standard measure of inequality
• Ranges from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality)

3. Torkham Border

• A key trade crossing B/w Pakistan & Afghanistan
• Context: Reopened after talks; visa, passport not needed


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE
1. Karpoori Thakur Ji's vision as effective governance model (Pg8, by PM Modi)
2. Challenge for Modi Macron (GS2, IR)
3. The most powerful safeguard (GS2, Polity)
4. The rooftop solar plan (GS3, Environment)

TH

1. The larger message to New Delhi from Red Sea (GS2, IR)
2. Analysing the rising gap in incomes (GS3, Economy)
3. Gender equity in education (GS2, Education)


PS: Hit ❤️ to appreciate my consistent efforts!

Note: Learn 100+ Articles of Indian Constitution here

🚨 25 January 2024 | Thursday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍️🏼

1. Safe Harbour

• Principle that websites are not fully liable for the content posted by third party users


Pre-related 📄

1. Arambai Tenggol

• Started as a cultural outfit in 2020 in Manipur
• Soon transformed into a radical org
• One of the 2 hardline Meitei org suspected to be involved in Meitei-Kuki clashes (Other one - Meitei Leepun)

2. Operation Sarvashakti

• Launched by Army in Rajouri-Poonch sector of J&K
• Deployment of additional forces on both sides of Pir Panjal Range
• To target terrorists attacking troops
• Earlier operation: Operation Sarpvinash (2003)


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE
1. Covering the distance (GS2, IR)
2. Watching the budget (GS3, Economy)
3. BSF jurisdiction extended (GS3, Internal Security)

TH
1. Reconsidering the free movement regime (GS3, Internal Security)
2. An overview of national elections of Bhutan (Understand electoral system)


PS: Need any help wrt UPSC Prep? Talk to me directly at whycse@gmail.com

Republic | गणतंत्र

The beauty of convention is its absence reminds you of its need

26/01/1950 to 26/01/2024

Small step for a man, giant leap for the mankind 🇮🇳

Happy Republic Day 💪🏻

Note: Revise Rebel Groups & Conflicted Regions for Pre2024 here

🚨 26 January 2024 | Friday 🚨

Quote 💭

• The Constitution is not a mere lawyer's document, it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age ~ BR Ambedkar


Reading Recommendations 🗞️

IE
1. The women before us (GS1, History)
2. Bright arc of India-France ties (GS2, IR)
3. From Ram to Buddha, Akbar to Gandhi, the artwork of the Constitution (GS1, Art & Culture)

TH

1. Why is there no snowfall in Kashmir? (GS1, Geography)
2. What is the legal dispute over AMU's minority status? (GS2, Polity)


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

Note: Learn 100+ Articles of Indian Constitution here

🚨 27 January 2024 | Saturday 🚨


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


PS: Need any help wrt UPSC Prep? Talk to me directly at whycse@gmail.com!

Note: Revise Rivers & Lakes of Africa for Pre2024 here

🚨 28 January 2024 | Sunday 🚨

Pre Related 📄

1. Oil Sands (aka Tar Sands)

• Unconventional petroleum deposit
• Contain a mixture of sand, clay, water, and bitumen
• Athabasca, Canada: one of the largest deposits

2. Rohan Bopanna

• Won men's doubles, Australian Open with Matthew Ebden
• Only 3rd Indian to win men's doubles Grand Slam title (after Leander Paes & Mahesh Bhupathi)
• Became oldest Grand Slam Champion in men's tennis at 43

3. Rare Golden Tiger

• A Bengal tiger with rare color variant due to mutation
• Exceptionally rare in wild
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Context: Spotted in Kaziranga National Park

4. Western Equine Encephalitis Virus

• Mosquito-borne infection
• Reservoir: Passerine birds
• Intermediate hosts: Equine species
• Mostly asymptomatic, may show neurological symptoms due to brain inflammation
• No specific treatment
• Context: Outbreak in Argentina


Reading Recommendations 🗞

TH
1. Why is Punjab in court over BSF's powers? (GS3, Internal Security)
2. What is Ladakh's demand on Gilgit-Baltistan? (GS3, Internal Security)
3. Can malaria vaccine rollout be scaled up? (GS2, Health)


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

Har din mushkil hai, mujhe pta hai
Har aaj ki mushkil, mera kal behtar banaegi

Mujhe pta hai 🙏🏼

Note: Watch this video to know tricks to learn FRs for Pre2024!

🚨 29 January 2024 | Monday 🚨

Mains Keywords ✍🏼

1. Sapinda Marriage

• B/w individuals who are related to each other within a certain degree of closeness
• Hindu Marriage Act: Banned, within 3 generations on mother's side & 5 generations on father's
• Sole exception: Allowed if custom permits

2. Wolf Warrior Diplomacy

• China's aggressive & confrontational style of coercive diplomacy
• Involves denouncing of perceived criticism of Chinese government and its policies


Pre Related 📄

1. Melanistic Tigers

• A royal Bengal tiger with unique lineage
• With higher than normal melanin level
• Has black & yellow interspersed stripes
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Context: Melanistic Tiger Safari near Similipal Tiger Reserve (Only found here)

2. Places in News: Africa

a) Burkina Faso, Mali & Niger

• Context: Have quit ECOWAS (were suspended after coups)
• Military regimes struggling with jihadist violence & poverty
• Joined forces in Alliance of Sahel States through Liptako-Gourma Charter in 2023

b) Kenya

• East African nation
• Context: Protests a/g Femicides


Quote 💭

• Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, but brains save both


Reading Recommendations 🗞

IE
1. Shaastra & Shastra (GS2, Policy)
2. The burden of malnutrition (GS2, Health)
3. Red lines in neighbourhood (GS2, IR)

TH
1. A closer look at Myanmar's discontent (GS2, IR)
2. Analysing China's ties with Africa (GS2, IR)
3. What is end-to-end encryption & how does it secure information (GS3, S&T)


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

The two parties as seen from lens of H’nble CM Sh. Nitish Kumar 😅