21 Days PYQ Challenge | Day 14

I am most fascinated by the question around Constitution. So much so that while studying constitution, I tend to imagine myself sitting in the Constituent Assembly.

Today's Qs will expose you to how UPSC is asking Qs on Schedules of Constitution

Find these Qs compiled in one place with answers here

Subject wise Marks breakdown of #UPSC Mains

M = Marks
Q = Question

1. General Studies 1

• World History: 2Q - 30M
• History (A&M): 3Q - 35M
• Geography: 7Q - 85M
• Society: 7Q - 90M
• Modern: 1Q - 10M

2. General Studies 2

• Governance & Social Justice: 6Q - 75 Marks
• Polity: 10Q - 125M
• IR: 4Q - 50M

3. General Studies 3

• Disaster Management: 2Q - 30M
• Internal Security: 4Q - 50M
• Environment: 2Q - 20M
• Economy: 8Q - 100M
• S&T: 4Q - 50M

2024 Q Paper GS1 GS2 GS3 GS4 here

Pre note: Big day, big power! Get WHYPower

🚨 4th October | Friday 🚨

Pre notes

1. Status of SBM 2.0

• Launched: Oct 2021 to manage legacy waste until 2026

• Goal: Convert all dumpsites -> green zone + garbage free cities by 2026

• Till now: ~20% dumpsites fully remediated

Health & Environmental Risks from Legacy Dumpsites

Health Hazards:

• Irritated throat & nausea from emissions

• Risk of TB, asthma, diabetes etc. for residents nearby

• Ragpickers face skin allergies & respiratory issues from long term exposure

Environmental Impact:

• GHGs like methane and CO2

• Leachate: contaminates air & water

• Long term ecological risks contribute to urban development challenges

Current Situation

• 3k+ dumpsites in India covering valuable land

• Govt Action: Plans worth ₹23,226 crore approved for remediation efforts

• State Performance: TN leads in area reclaimed; several states lag with <10% remediation progress

Mains keywords

1. Chagos Island & Diego Garcia

• UK cedes sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

• Retains control of Diego Garcia for 99 years, vital for military ops of UK/US

• Historical Background:

- Uninhabited until 18 century, Britain acquired in 1814

- 2k+ residents removed in 1970 who will now be resettled here

• India supports Mauritian claims to promote regional security

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. The American alternative (Ideas page)
(GS2: IR)

2. Inevitable, inescapable: why North Bihar sees flood every year (Explained)
(GS3: Climate and development)

3. India and W Asia crisis (Explained)
(GS2: IR)

The Hindu 🗞

1. Should EC ensure internal democracy in political parties? (Opinion)
(GS2: Bodies)

2. Why Italy matters to India?
(GS2: IR)

PS: Wanna make money on the side with UPSC Prep? Join @CSEWhyPlanB

Friends, Classical Languages are back in news

We saw a Q on languages in 2024 Prelims as well

This blog will teach you everything about Classical Languages that you need to know

21 Days PYQ Challenge | Day 15

Friends, today we are going to learn Simple Tips & Tricks to remember all Articles of Constitution important for UPSC.

Coaching institutes charge over a lac to teach what you will learn today for Free

Visit: https://x.com/CseWhy/status/1595410622166237185

Pre note: Less in paper today, revise Prelims PYQs 2020-2024 here

🚨 5th October | Saturday 🚨

Pre notes

1. Blog on Classical Languages here

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. Plugging the global skill gap
(GS2: Policy)

2. Feeling the heat
(GS3: Disaster Management)

3. How elephants are counted
(GS3: Environment, Qs on elephants seen in 2020)

The Hindu 🗞

No recos in TH today

PS: Apply for these govt. internships while preparing for UPSC on side

21 Days PYQ Challenge | Day 16

Since Languages are in news, here's a 2024 PYQ for you to attempt.

Answer below

Pre note: Sunday is to revise from blog.csewhy.com :)

🚨 6th October | Sunday 🚨

Pre notes

1. Halari donkeys (Halar region, Saurashtra, Gujarat)

• White colored endangered species with <500 population

• Consumes bajra (millets) & forms good social bond with humans

• Price ₹1 lac+; gives sweet milk fetching upto ₹7,000 in int'l market

• Needs extensive research & more of state resources to increase their numbers

2. Shompen tribe ( PVTG w/ 229 population on Great Nicobar, India)

• Semi nomadic patriarchal hunter gatherers relying on hunting, gathering & horticulture

• Diet: Staple food is pandanus fruit (larop)

• Language: Unique dialects, often unintelligible to outsiders

@CSEWhy Recommendations

The Hindu 🗞

All 3 articles on Page 12 FAQ

PS: Join @CSEWhyPlanB

21 Days PYQs challenge | Day 17

Today, we look at 10 Qs on Money Bill, Ordinary Bill & Constitution Amendment Bill

Find them all listed here

PS: You will find 2009-2024 (1600+ PYQs) video explanations & PDF notes in CSEWhy course here

Guys, you will thank me for compiling this blog

All about Great Indian EV Saga here

Pre note: Subscribe with your email for Free for top CA Notes on blog.csewhy.com

🚨 7th October | Monday 🚨

Pre notes

1. Gold

• Acid test: Gold doesn't dissolve in strong nitric acid unlike other metals

• Dissolves in Mercury, some alkaline solutions & Royal water (Nitric Acid + Hydrochloric Acid)

• Malleable, ductile, corrosion-resistant, and good conductor of electricity

• China biggest producer today, S. Africa & Ghana also in the list of top 6

• Nobel Prize Medal made of electrum (gold-silver alloy) plated with 24-carat gold

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. Why has Israel invaded Lebanon? (Explained page)
(GS2: IR)

The Hindu 🗞

1. The status of the civil war in Sudan (Text&Context)
(GS2: IR + Prelims)

2. How has Telegram changed its stance on content moderation policy? (Text&Context)
(GS2/GS3: Policies and Cybersecurity)

PS: Participate in this giveaway to win free books :)

Pre note: Wait no more, gain the right UPSC power with WHYPower

🚨 8th October | Tuesday 🚨

Pre facts

1. MVD: Marburg Virus Disease

• Hemorrhagic fever by Marburg virus (first seen in Germany, impacts Africa mostly)

• Spread via infected bats, human body fluids -> huge risk for med workers

• Symptoms: Flu like symptoms -> diarrhea, vomiting, hemorrhaging -> death in 8-9 days often

• No approved vaccines or antiviral treatments; supportive care is crucial

Pre notes

1. Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur)

• Native to South Asia; Herbivorous, Near Threatened (IUCN)

• Habitat: Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch

• Behavior: Social animals living in family groups; known for high speeds (up to 70 km/h)

• Conservation Efforts: Initiatives include increasing water holes and fodder plots; potential reintroduction sites identified in Rajasthan.

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. Middle path in Middle East (Ideas page)
(GS2: IR)

2. MicroRNA: tiny RNAs that hold the key to this organisms develop (Explained page)
(GS3: Science)

3. Agri sector report card (Explained page)
(GS3: Agri economy)

The Hindu 🗞

1. Unpacking the Centre’s affidavit on marital rape (Editorial)
(GS2: Policies)

2. On ‘casteist’ provisions in prison manuals (Text&Context)
(GS2: SC Judgements)

3. How high-performance buildings are the next step towards a sustainable future (Text&Context)
(GS3: Climate & SnT)

PS: Join @CSEWhyPlanB

21 Days PYQs Challenge | Day 19

On this second last day, here's a blast from the past

2022 saw a confusing question
Where was the answer? See for yourself! :)

Get yourself equipped with this power of PYQ at master.csewhy.com/whypower :)

Pre note: Aaj hum late hai, aap deri matt kijiye: blog.csewhy.com par jaakar revise kijiye

🚨 9th October | Wednesday 🚨

Pre notes

1. Charon [wrt James Web Space Telescope]

• Pluto's Moon discovered in '78, JWST recently found CO₂ & H₂O₂ here

• Prev mission: Mapped by New Horizons in 2015; found water ice & ammonia

• Chem Procs: H₂O₂ indicates solar/cosmic ray impacts, suggesting surface dynamics.

• Imp: Insights into Kuiper Belt evolution & potential astrobiology

Mains notes

1. SC Judgement on discriminatory prison laws

• SC struck down caste-based rules in prison manuals, deemed unconstitutional

• Rules assigned degrading jobs (e.g., cleaning) to marginalized castes while higher castes did cooking

• Rules stem from colonial-era laws labeling certain tribes as "criminal"

• Breached Articles 14 (equality), 15 (non-discrimination), 17 (abolition of untouchability), and 21 (right to dignity)

• States ordered to revise manuals within three months; caste references to be removed from records

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. To accommodate start-ups, MeitY relaxes AI procurement norms (Economy page)
(GS3: Economics)

2. Making machines learn (Explained page)
(GS3: Science)

The Hindu 🗞

1. Sunset for the U.K.’s coal-•red power, lessons for India (Editorial)

2. Global Digital Compact: advancing digital innovation in a sustainable fashion (Text&Context)
(GS2: IR and policies)

PS: Join @CSEWhyPlanB

21 Days PYQs Challenge | Day 20

Didwana seen in 2021 only to drop a hint long back!!!!!

Do you think you'd have read it if not for PYQ?