Some popular melas with relevance for Prelims taken from July’s episode of Mann ki Baat

As you are aware, I share imp keywords from speeches of PM in a google doc, I’ve updated the relevant speeches for the month of July-August here.

Visit and take your prep to next level. You can thank me by reaction to this post.

Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bZdGapi9dJDtv4kyRnxq22PD3fiAg2vsDUuGW2dQKYg/edit?usp=sharing

pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!


🚨 August 26, 2022 : easy Friday🚨

1. gungi gudiya
In context of women law makers who let their husbands run the show or are a mere token in the chair with their role, action and speech determined by the male seniors. (Something similar to sarpanch pati)


Reading recommendations
- Rajiv Bhatia’s article on Indian diplomacy in IE
- Mrinal Pande’s ‘Ladoo Gopal’ article in IE. While I don’t appreciate equating Gandhiji and Lord Krishna on similar norms, the flow of her article will help you with essay writing. Read it for the flow and see how she switches the context


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World map questions are a cakewalk if you’ve a visual memory. How to form that visual memory?

You need just ONE tip that I’ve shared in this video. Watch!👇

https://youtube.com/shorts/Ljffba8zYg8?feature=share

pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

Did you checkout my new video sharing a simple tip on how to prepare the world map?
Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/Ljffba8zYg8?feature=share

🚨 August 27, 2022 : Super Saturday🚨

1. On ‘revadi’ debate

India needs to move away from Competitive electoral freebie-ism -> smart subsidies that address market failures (e.g. health, education, clean-air etc) & minimise distortionary effects.

use in
GS3: Indian economy

2. On Gorkhas in Indian army (good explainer in IE, check it out)

The remittances sent by Gorkhas back to Nepal facilitate social modernisation in remote villages of the country.

Use In
GS2: Indian relations (economic impacts on neighbors)



Reading recommendations
- if you’re new to UPSC game, checkout TH article on AFSPA (can note Jeevan Reddy Commission recommendations)
- Lumpy Disease in IE (relevant for economics of animal rearing GS3)
- Practo app to be made **divyang** friendly after the court order


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pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

🚨 August 28, 2022 : Smooth Sunday🚨

Surprisingly, didn’t find anything too significant in today’s newspapers except TH Science edition. Just take a note of this fact and enjoy your Sunday


1. OTT platforms set to be 12,000 CR industry by 2023; to overtake multiplex business. (SBI report)

A cultural shift, imp point to be noted

use in
- GS1: Society & culture
- GS3: Indian economy




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4 days to September from when the last 4 months of 2022 start. If you still haven't started your prep or lack a direction, here are some practical tips!

https://youtube.com/shorts/nBoA_xeEXxQ?feature=share

I hosted Sh Anupam Sharma, IFS on “The Aspirants Show” yesterday. He gave some good insights into what to look at while analysing PYQs.

I’ll strongly recommend you check that segment out. The podcast is on Spotify.
Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7qt9EqdAYSED7wd7q27GMy


🚨 August 29, 2022 : Mutual Monday🚨

3 prime notes today:

- Militarisation of Taiwan Strait used by India for first time

- Take a look at flood situation in Pak (explainer page of IE: relevant wrt tributary of Indus, climate change and environment topics of GS3)

- SC cases on 2 topics, both on Text & Content page of TH:
1. aadhar-Voter ID linkage (Lal Babu Hussain and Puttaswamy judgement)
2. Freebies (Balaji case)



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pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

🚨 August 30, 2022 : from freebies to environment, trending Tuesday 🚨


1. On freebies
a) TT Ram Mohan’s article on freebies in TH
- freebie: subsidised consumption
- case of merit v/s non merit goods
- productive v/s unproductive expenditure

b) M. Suresh Babu’s article on freebies has a relevant set of two things:
1. Points of discussion in fiscal federalism
2. Way forward

Will recommend you read these two. Easy language, great follow and all points concluded well. Something that our essays shall be like!

use in
- GS3: Indian economy in context of revadi debate

2. cloud seeding
Injecting chemicals in clouds to force precipitation

Iran has accused UAE & Israel of making “Iranian clouds not rain”

3. Zombie ice

Zombie or doomed ice that’s still attached to thicker areas of ice but is no longer getting fed by those large glaciers. Why? Parent glaciers getting less replenished snow

Seen as dead ice, will eventually disappear from ice sheet

2 & 3 use in
- prelims
- GS2: International relations
- GS3: environment


Reading Recommendations
- On ‘Bail’, Text and Context page of TH


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“How to prepare current affairs?”

I asked this question to Anupam Sir (IFS) on my podcast. He gave a precise answer and I’ve converted it to a video of just 2 mins.

Watch and learn 👇🏻

https://youtu.be/ULv8Tv-3LNo

pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

September starts tomorrow. If you still haven’t made a plan for UPSC, watch this video on how to plan next 4 months: https://youtube.com/shorts/nBoA_xeEXxQ?feature=share



🚨 August 31, 2022 : August ends! 🚨


1. Some concepts emerging post pandemic in Indian consumer market
a) revenge concept in economy post pandemic
- revenge travel
- revenge shopping

b) Hyper lapse consumerism
‘Want the things and want them now’


use in
GS3: Indian economy

2. decentralised governance
One of Abhijit Sen’s core idea

Use in
GS2: Federalism

3. Busiest airports (GS3 Infra- Civil Aviation)
DEL>BOM>BLR>MAA>KOL


Quote
1. There can’t be adequate soft power without hard power and to be able to project soft power, we need to concurrently develop hard power capabilities

use in
GS2: Indian Relations
GS3: Security

2. “On the field, track, mat or in the ring, only merit, fitness, and hard work matter”

- MC Mary Kom

Revise
- El Niño and La Nina in IE pg7
- Target Olympic Podium scheme





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When preparing at home without coaching, we all wish we had a mentor who could have helped us with prelims PYQ analysis.

This problem has been solved to a large extent now! Sh. Anupam Sharma, IFS gave precise 4 point strategy on how to analyse Prelims PYQ by yourself. Watch 👇🏻


https://youtu.be/uMyQtNjScis

pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

I welcome you to join a silent revolution brewing on my youtube. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/channel/UCXerjAejlf8hmj2ZJXoYpjA

🚨 September 1, 2022 : New Month🚨

1. Post pandemic emerging concepts
- The Great Resignation
- Quiet Quitting employees doing only what’s expected of their job and nothing more

2. Anti radiation pills (Potassium Iodide (KI))
- Pre centric
- GS3: hazards of Nuclear energy and security

Reading recommendations

- economic numbers around GDP, Urban labor force and core sector output
- NDPS act on explainer page
- Somit Dasgupta’s “power and its discontents” editorial



PS: appreciate my efforts by reacting to this message ♥️

pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

I welcome you to join a silent revolution brewing on my youtube. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/channel/UCXerjAejlf8hmj2ZJXoYpjA

🚨 September 2, 2022 : 🚨

1. GST collections 1.4 lac cr+ for 6th consecutive month.
Reasons?
improved reporting, strong enforcement and economic recovery

Use in
GS3: Indian economy

2.Might of India, Made in India
wrt INS Vikrant but relevant key word that can be used in Make in India, Aatmanirbhar initiatives, Amrit kaal type references in answers

3. KL HC comments on society and marital relationships shall be read from GS1 perspective.

It also said “Today’s generation see WIFE as Worry Invited For Ever in place of Wise Investment For Ever

Relevance in
GS1: Society


Quote

Authority has value only when it’s based on reason

Reading recommendations

TH
- Single Use Plastic Explainer (GS3)
- Academia Research and Glass Ceiling in India (GS1, GS3)
- China-Taiwan article (GS2)

IE:
- The noida problem (GS1)
- the new growth normal (GS3) [to understand base effect, if you’re a new aspirant]



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pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

🚨 September 3, 2022 : Fun weekend🚨

1. India’s world view is consultative, democratic and equitable, but must find clearer expression

said by MEA Sh. S Jaishankar

use in
- GS2: Indian relations

2. Jalmev yasya, balmev tasya
Meaning: He who rules over the seas is all powerful

use in
GS3: security answers (wrt SAGAR, QUAD and free, open and inclusive Indo Pacific)


Quote

1985 Reagan-Gorbachev Declaration
“nuclear war can not be won and must never be fought”

Reading Recommendations

1. The Hindu
- NPT article by Rakesh Sood for brief history and what’s happening on nuclear front (GS3
- Cyber infrastructure article- RK Vij for pointers on what needs to be done in this direction (GS3)

2. Indian Express
The vaccination success story (GS3)

3. All about INS Vikrant (Prelims + mentions in GS3 security, GS2 Indian relations)

4. Sea Cucmbers https://t.me/EnvirForUPSC/923


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While aiming for IAS/IPS, have you considered IFS? How’s life in IFS? Why shall you aim to be one?

Hear from IFS Anupam Sharma as he shared life of an IFS and if it’s a career for you?! 👇🏻

https://youtu.be/pGkql3_nCJA

pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

🚨 September 4, 2022 : Intellectual Sunday🚨

Today, we’ve more reading recommendations. Creative economy is a term per se and not the keyword.

Enjoy reading :)

creative economy
- Comprises of arts and crafts, audio and video arts and design, visual arts
- $121bn export in 2019

Reading recommendations
1. The Hindu

a) factors to consider when migrating individuals for conversation efforts (largely microbial study, can be considered reading wrt India-Namibia cheetah 🐆exchange)

b) Bail for women (w/ special focus on section 437 and 46 of CrPC)
Relevant in GS1/GS2 topics <check>

c) No Indian navy at Vostok-22, why?
Do checkout 4 messages given in this article towards the end
GS2: Indian relations

d) diff inflation rates in states, explained
If you’re new in the game, this is a good article to understand variance and factors of inflation in urban/rural setup
GS3 economy

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pre script: I organise all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

🚨 September 5 2022 : Monday Morning🚨

1. Energy Diplomacy
Indian diplomacy shall add arrows of ‘energy diplomacy’ to our quiver. Why? Energy dependency

use in
GS3: Infrastructure (energy)

2. Precision Farming and people, planet and political economy of policies
Two key words: one sharing efficiency and other reflecting on need of collaboration for three in agri

use in
GS3: agriculture

3. Egot
A term for collection of 4 awards: Grammy, Emmy, Oscar and Tony

use in
Prelims

4. Track 1/1.5/2 diplomacy
if you’re new in the game, figure what are these 3?

use in
GS2: Diplomacy


Reading recommendations
1. Indian Express
a) Vikram Mehta’s article (energy diplomacy is taken from this. Precise points, highly relevant)
b) Ashok Mehta’s article (precision farming and people, planet and political economy of policies from this one. Read to develop an understanding)
c) China-Taiwan relations (checkout Montevideo Convention)
d) “why launches have windows?” (Take a read to understand how space launches are scheduled)

2 The Hindu
a) 5G article on Text and context page (I am collecting all relevant 5G articles will prolly collect all notes in one place)
b) IMF-SL agreement (quick read to understand terms that are involved in IMF financing)
c) Lokayukta controversy (see it as a revision for Lokayukta)



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Shared this on Twitter and got requests to post this on telegram, too. So, here you go! 🙏🏻💪🏻

How to approach reading articles to extract maximum value?

One example:
This is about ‘dark sky reserve’ coming up in Ladakh. This article, other than dark sky reserve info, shares 4 other imp details.

I’ve written them at the bottom

- Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (location, diversity, species)
- ‘Homestays’ of ladakh (economy & culture aspect)
- UNESCO certification (revise world heritage sites and biosphere reserves
- light pollution (be curious enough to learn more about this and if you know it already, revise the concepts)

Total 5 value points. 4 above and 1 for which the text is really about: Dark Sky Reserve

pre script: I organize all these keywords in a google doc daily to save your time on note making. How can you access that doc? Check pinned message!

🚨 September 6 2022 : Terrific Tuesday🚨

1. From Japanese PM Fumio Kishida's speech
Realism diplomacy to meet new security challenges via pragmatism and firmness

Use In
1. GS2: International Relations (Indo-Japan relations)


2. Chinese strategy with neighbors and in Indo-Pacific
territorial expansionism and military assertiveness

Use In
1. GS2: International Relations (Indo-China + Taiwan-China + SCS etc)



3. 4As in public health work
Academics, Activism, Administration and Advocacy

Use In
1. GS2: Welfare schemes for the vulnerable
2. GS3: Health Infra


Reading recommendations
1. Indian Express
a) C Raja Mohan's article: Rethinking Defence
b) Dark Sky Reserve (as shared in previous message)

2 The Hindu
a) Public Health article by Anand Krishnan

Pick any (IE or TH) to take a look on Seat Belt norms in the country


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How to map 22 languages of 8th schedule via visual memory. Did a thread on this on Twitter.

I promise after learning from this Twitter thread, you’ll be able to answer all 22 languages even in your sleep.

Link to thread: https://twitter.com/CseWhy/status/1567125713597366273?s=20&t=V1Gv6WcTelZo8Me2ACnoqA