🚨 30 March 2024 | Saturday 🚨

Quotes 💭
" I think the Music reflects the state of that society is in...poets & musicians.. reflect that age" - John Lennon


Mains Keywords ✍🏻

Cyber slavery: It is emerging as a form of organized crime of unprecedented severity and scale.
(GS3, security)


Pre Related News 📄

1. INS Sumedha & Trishul

•INS Sumedha (P58) is the 3rd Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, by Goa Shipyard Ltd
•INS Trishul (F43) (Trident) is the 2nd frigate of the Talwar class of the Indian Navy.
• intercepted & free hijacked Iranian vessel Al Kambar
• Near Socotra island, Yemen

2. Surrogate Ads

•A marketing technique used by companies to indirectly promote their products or services, which are prohibited or restricted from advertising directly.


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

Reading Recommendations 🗞

IE

1. Power threat to bustards
(GS3, Environment, Great indian bustards threats & way forward)

2. Why US allowed UNSC resolution on Gaza ceasefire to pass
(GS2, IR, UNSC & Gaza)

3. Africa at the centre
(GS2, IR, Global South strategy, Africa)

4. From special to equal
(GS2, Polity, A370 abrogation, wayforward)

TH

1. Bonds, big money, & an imperfect democracy
(GS2, Polity, Electoral bonds, cronyism)

Pre note: Revise 6th schedule & Article 371 here

🚨 31 March 2024 | Sunday 🚨

Pre Related News 📄

1. Bohag Bihu:

• Marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year
• Revise North-East Festivals asked in UPSC Prelims from here

2. Otoliths:

• Bio-mineralised ear stones that help fish hear
• Used to identify the species, size, age, growth rate, and season of death of an individual fish

3. Bail

• Governed by Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (CrPC, 73)
• Regular Bail, Interim Bail, Anticipatory Bill. Revise from Here

4. Diabetes

• Pancreatic endocrine disorder due to insufficient insulin secretion.
• Type 1 diabetes: autoimmune reaction that stops your body from making insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes: does not use insulin well & can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels.
• Gestational diabetes: Insulin-blocking hormones that are produced during pregnancy


PS: Revise weekly current affairs on my blog

Reading Recommendations 🗞

TH

1. Why is unemployment high among the youth?
(GS3, Growth & Development)

2. Will global forest expansion hit tribals?
(GS3, Environment, Biodiversity, PESA)

3. Tropical cyclones of higher intensity demands a new category
(GS1, Geography, Cyclones & Climate Change)

4. Many countries yet to fully implement steps to prevent misuse of virtual assets, says FATF
(GS3, Internal Security, Money Laundering & Intl Cooperation)

IE

1. 1920 The Start of India's Election Journey
(GS1, History, Montague Chelmsford Reforms )

2. India & Philippines @75: A Relationship Resurgent
(GS2, IR: South-South Cooperation, Act-East Policy)


PS: Get my all tweets compiled in a FREE PDF here

Article 371 in news consistently!

Did not find a good graphic to summarize it, made my own 😉

Click here to save this image in high resolution

Friends, I have compiled all my Tweets of March 2024 in a PDF.

I call it t-Vidya, (twitter-Vidya)

Please fill details here to get this one delivered in your inbox for Free.

Pre Note: Get 15 years of PYQ Analysis notes here

🚨 1 April 2024 | Monday 🚨

Pre Related News 📄

1. Genetic profiling:

• Revise Genome India Project in News from here
• DNA fingerprinting: Shows genetic makeup of a person/other living things
• More than 99.9 % of everyone’s genome is exactly alike/similar (100% for identical twins)

2. GI Tags:

• Nationally Governed under GI Act 1999 under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Globally Governed under WTO's Trade-Related Aspects of Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement

3. Nuclear Energy Summit

• Initiative of IAEA’s ‘Atoms4Netzero’ program
• Revise Nuclear Power Plants of India with a Map from here
• Nuclear power emits 4 times less carbon than solar or other renewable sources


4. 100 years since Vaikom Satyagraha

• First Temple Entry movement in India
• Led by Ezhava leader T.K. Madhavan, editor of Deshabhimani paper
• Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha & Leaders like Periyar & C. Rajagopalachari


PS: Revise weekly current affairs on my blog

Reading Recommendations 🗞

TH

1. The ART of India’s HIV/AIDS response
(GS3, SNT, AIDS & ART, GoI Mission & Way Forward)

2. Compounding crises
(GS1, Geography, Water crisis in South, reservoirs depleting)

3. Workers, not tech, should be state’s priority
(GS3, Economy vs Employment, MGNREGS, Rising Inequality)


IE

1. Manifesto for Naari Shakti
(GS1, Role of Women, Read this to know the context)

2. Viksit must be inclusive
(GS3, Agriculture & Climate Change, Way Forward)

PS: Learn 100+ Articles of Indian Constitution here

🚨 2 April 2024 | Tuesday 🚨

Pre Related News 📄

1. Judicial Custody

• Accused in the custody of the concerned Magistrate & is locked up in jail
• Police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect in Judicial Custody (can do only if court allows)


2. Autonomous District Councils (ADCs)

• Under 6th Schedule: 10 ADCs - Assam (3), Meghalaya (3), Tripura (1) & Mizoram (3)
• ADCs Composition: 30 members with a term of 5 years, 4 nominated by Governor, rest elected
• Also make regulations for money lending & trading by non-tribals (such regulations require assent of governor)

Note: Click here to Revise 5th Schedule & Art 244 for Prelims

3. Art. 293 - Borrowing Limit Case Kerala

• State power extends to borrowing within the territory of India upon the security of the Consolidated Fund of the State
• Article 293(3): requires states to obtain the Centre’s consent to borrow if the state is indebted to the Centre over a previous loan


PS: Revise weekly current affairs on my blog here

Reading Recommendations 🗞

The Hindu

1. Solar surge
(GS3, Energy, OSOWOG, India & Renewable Efforts)

2. AI in elections, the good, the bad and the ugly
(GS3, SNT, Applications of AI, paradigm shift in all sectors)

3. No Man's Land
(GS2, IR, Covered Entire Katchatheevu details, read from here)

Indian Express

1. RBI @90: Snapshots from History
(GS3, Statutory Bodies, Role of RBI in Banking Reforms)

2. How India's First Solar Observatory was setup in Kodaikanal 125 Years ago
(Can be quoted in Essay & GS-4 Ethics, Example of Scientific Advancements)

3. An Imperfect Farm Solutions
(GS3, MSP & Issues, Balanced approach & Way forward)

4. The Importance of Hope
(GS1, Population & Associated Challenges, Declining Fertility)

Pre Note: Download Notes of 35+ Species asked in last 15 years in Prelims here

🚨 3 April 2024 | Monday 🚨

Pre Related News 📄

1. Heat Wave Criteria:

Plains and Hilly Regions:

• Max temp ≥ 40°C (Plains) or ≥ 30°C (Hilly)
• Heat Wave: 4.50°C to 6.40°C departure from normal
• Heat Wave (Actual Max Temp) ≥45°C & Severe Heat Wave (Actual Max Temp) ≥ 47°C
• Criteria met in more than 2 stations in a subdivision for more than 2 consecutive days

Coastal Areas:

• Max temp departure ≥ 4.50°C.
• Actual Max Temp: ≥37°C for Heat Wave.


2. Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

• u/ Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
• Established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
• FSSAI is responsible for the Food Certification & carry out food import controls


3. Purchasing Managers Index

• It measures activity at the purchasing or input stage
• Economic indicator, which is derived after monthly surveys of different companies
• The index shows trends in both the manufacturing and services sector, does not capture informal sector


Stats 📈

1. State of the Global Climate by World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• 2023 was the hottest year in the recorded history of the planet
• Close to breaking the agreed limit of 1.5 °C

Mains Keyword ✍🏻

1. Kalkakkadal: Coastal Flooding during Pre Monsoon, swell surges in Malayalam


PS: Revise weekly current affairs on my blog

Reading Recommendations 🗞

TH

1. India risking demographic dividend
(GS1, Population, Unemployment & Demographic Dividend)

2. The Gaza war needs a smart exit strategy
(GS2, IR, Covered India-Israel in detail here)


IE

1. How Delhi Maps the World
(GS2, IR, Indo-Pacific, SAARC, SCO)

2. Aatmanirbhar in Defence
(GS3, Internal Security, Indigenization of Armed Forces)

3. The Katchatheevu Story
(GS2, IR, India-Sri Lanka, History)

4. The Importance of Hope
(GS1, Population & Associated Challenges, Declining Fertility)

Pre Note: Get 15-Year PYQ Analysis Notes here

🚨 4 April 2024 | Thursday🚨


Mains Keywords ✍🏻

1. Geopolitical Premium: Refers to the additional cost added to commodity prices, such as oil, due to geopolitical factors and uncertainties


Pre Related News 📄

1. Voter verifiable paper audit trial (VVPAT)

• Attached to an EVM, allows the voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended
• Vote cast → Slip printed with candidate info → Slip visible for 7 seconds → Slip automatically cut, falls into sealed box → Printouts available for counting if needed


2. Atomic Minerals

• Thorium: Reserves (IND>BRZ>USA) , derived from minerals like monazite
• Uranium: Reserves(AUS>KZK>CAN), Kazakhstan Leads in Production
• Other Minerals with Atomic Content: Zirconium, Lithium, Ilmenite, Beryllium etc


3. Foreign Contribution Regulation Act

• Revise Key Features in detail from here

4. El Nino & ZImbabwe

• Zimbabwe President declares El Nino drought a national disaster
• Occasional development of warm ocean surface waters along the coast of Ecuador and Peru
• Brings drought to the western Pacific, rains to equatorial coast of South America, storms and hurricanes to the central Pacific.

5. Surrogacy Regulations

• Revise Amendment to Surrogacy Rules from here
• Arrangement where a woman, known as the surrogate, agrees to carry & delivera baby for another couple, known as the intended parents

PS: Revise weekly current affairs on my blog

Reading Recommendations 🗞

TH

1. India risking demographic dividend
(GS1, Population, Unemployment & Demographic Dividend)

2. Should State Governments borrow more?
(GS2, Fiscal Federalism, FRBM Act)


IE

1. An Af-Pak Warning
(GS2, IR, Iran & Pak, Explained in the easiest way possible, click here)

2. The Demographic Window
(GS1, Population & Skilling for Demographic Dividend)

3. Risk from Glacial Lake Floods
(GS1, Geo, GLOFs & Mitigation)

4. Path to Viksit Bharat: Why India should Target Per Capita, Not Aggregate GDP
(GS3, Eco, PCI & National Income, Know the relevant Words)


PS: Need any help? DM me on Twitter here!

Pre note: Revise Bhakti Saints with mnemonics & mapping here

🚨 5 April 2024 | Friday 🚨

Pre Related News 📄

1. Election Symbols

• u/ Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, by the ECI
• EC can decide disputes of a recognized political party staking claim to its name and symbol
• For splits in registered but unrecognised parties, EC usually advises to resolve their differences internally


2. 📍Sudan

• Gedaref city many people displaced from here
• Also known for the Darfur Crisis, Heglig Crisis (B/w Dinka & Nuer Tribe)


3. Essential Medicines

• Essential Medicines are those that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population (WHO)
• National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) caps medicine prices, changed only after WPI Inflation increases

4. Agni Prime

• New Gen Nuclear Capable Ballistic Missile
• 2-staged canisterised missile, capable of delivering several warheads at separate locations at a distance of 1,000 - 2,000 km
• Ballistic Missile: uses a projectile motion, Launched till space/orbit & uses Gravitational Force to drop, easy to intercept, uses less Fuel

5. Project Akashdeep + Akashteer

• Bolster India Army's Air Defence Capabilities
• Automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System
• Sarang systems: An Advanced Electronic Support Measure system for helicopters of the Indian Navy, developed indigenously

6. Exchange Traded Currency Derivative

• Derivatives: Financial contracts that derive their values from price fluctuations of their underlying assets
• Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETDs): Subject to standardised T&Cs, hence, traded in the stock exchanges (SEBI regulated)
• Over the Counter (OTC) derivative: It is traded between private parties, in the absence of a formal party & Intermediary

PS: Revise weekly current affairs on my blog

Reading Recommendations 🗞

TH

1. Is the urban water system breaking?
(GS1, Urbanization & Challenges, Climate Change)

2. Universities must budge on college autonomy nudge
(GS2, Education, Autonomy to Colleges)


IE

1. The Healthcare Promise
(GS2, Health, Universal & Primary Healthcare)

2. Charging Up
(GS3, Energy, EV & Globalization)

3. Before SC: Can State Levy excise duty on Industrial Alcohol
(GS2, Fiscal Federalism, Concurrent List)

Friends, I am coming out PYQs course to help you with

a) Video Classes analysing every Q 2009-2023
b) PYQ analysis notes all 15 years [massively updated]

Please fill this form in Just 2 mins if you'd want to be among firsts to get this & crack Prelims2024

Pre-note: Clear Prelims 2024, fill this form to skip the queue for the updated PYQ Course

🚨 6 April 2024 | Saturday 🚨


Quotes 💭

" Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness, it is the key to growth" - Jesse Jackson


Pre Related News 📄

1. Standing Deposit Facility

• Collateral-free liquidity absorption mechanism implemented by the RBI
• SDF will allow banks to store surplus liquidity with the Reserve Bank at their discretion
• SDF Deposits will not be included as balances eligible for the CRR under the RBI Act of 1934 but will be counted as an eligible asset for the SLR under the Banking Regulation Act of 1949


2. 📍Rakhigarhi

• Largest Indus Valley Civilization site; Seen all 3 Phases of IVC
• Located in the Sarasvati river plain, near the seasonal Ghaggar river
• Global Heritage Fund, declared Rakhigarhi one of the 10 most endangered heritage sites in Asia.


3. Human Rights Council

• Seats in Council: Africa(13), Asia-Pacific(13), Latin America(8), West Europe(7), East Europe(6)
• 47 Member States elected directly every year, not eligible for immediate re-election after serving 2 consecutive terms
• Seats are equitably distributed, with 1/3 of the members being renewed each year. Each member serves a 3-year term

4. Green Hydrogen

• Produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources
• Fuel Cells: Devices that convert the chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy
• Electrolysis process splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, and the hydrogen produced can be used

5. 📍Gaza

• Erez crossing & Ashdod Port
• Others: Karni Crossing, Rafah Crossing, Kissufim Crossing


PS: Revise weekly current affairs on my blog