Pre note: Sunday morning session; plan your week well :)

🚨 13th October | Sunday 🚨

Pre facts

1. Greening

• Antarctica's Warming twice the global average

• Antarctic Peninsula heats 5x faster than global rates

• Vegetation cover expanded; acceleration of over 30% from 2016-2021

• Increased frequency of heat events; record temperatures observed, with anomalies of up to 10°C above normal in winter

• Future Implications: Enhanced plant growth may lead to soil formation and ecosystem changes, raising concerns about invasive species

Pre notes

1. Oropouche virus

• First found in Trinidad (1955)

• Spread by Culicoides paraensis (midges) & Culex quinquefasciatus (mosquitoes); no human-to-human

• Endemic to Amazon; outbreaks in Brazil, Panama, Peru, Cuba (2024)

• Symptoms: Fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, nausea, rash; lasts 2-7 days

• Complications: Rare neuroinvasive diseases (meningitis, encephalitis)

• No specific antiviral; symptomatic management; most recover in a week

• Public Health: Neglected tropical disease; potential for outbreaks in vulnerable areas

@CSEWhy Recommendations

The Hindu 🗞️

1. The many myths about protein deficiency in people in India (Science page)
(GS2/GS3: Social issues and Science)

Complete FAQ page
(GS3: SnT)

PS: Checked this?

Kya padha aaj?

Pre note: Focusing on PYQs? Check this

🚨 14th October | Monday 🚨

Pre facts

1. Dragon drones

• Low-flying drones that release thermite, a molten metal incendiary, burning at approximately 2,427° C

• Thermite = aluminum oxide + iron oxide; used for its intense and rapid burning properties

Pre notes

1. Factors leading to fall of rupee

• Rising oil prices due to geopolitical tensions & other factors

• Foreign investors selling Indian stocks to buy Chinese ones after China's economic stimulus

• Higher demand for USD from foreign banks and a strong USD index

• Less hawkish RBI and cautious US Fed

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. The problem with free food (Ideas page)
(GS2: Policies)

2. Let's follow the money (Ideas page)
(GS3: Internal security)

3. Issues in the treatment of rare diseases, and what the govt can do (Explained page)
(GS2: Policies)

The Hindu 🗞️

1. China, India and New Delhi’s Quad dilemma (Editorial)
(GS2: IR)

2. What is Wayanad’s new X-band radar?
(GS3: SnT)

PS: UPSC Queries? Check this

Pre note: blog.csewhy.com

🚨 15th October | Tesday 🚨

Quote(s)

In human life, economics precedes politics or culture

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. Why nations fail or succeed
(On Nobel Prize Eco Winners)


The Hindu 🗞

1. Ensuring a proper safety net for the gig worker + On Samsung worker's right to unionise
(GS2: policy)

2. Haber-Bosch process (give a rough read, just)

PS: Join @CSEWhyPlanB

Pre note: CSEWhy app launching soon! :)

🚨 16th October | Wednesday 🚨

Terms in News

1. Ossification (bone formation process)

• Stage of ossification can help determine human age using X-Rays

• Use case: Criminal justice system (for age determination)


2. Ticket Scalping

• Using bots to bulk buy tickets from licensed sources to be sold at a profit

• In news due to Diljeet, Coldplay & other concerts

3. Revise THAAD here

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. Pakistan's other front (ideas page)
(GS2: IR imp. article by C Raja Mohan)

2. Abetment of suicide (explained page)
(Read to learn SC cases & legalities of the issue)

3. Greenwashing Guidelines
(Term seen in UPSC Prelims, make a 1 pager note for Mains)


The Hindu 🗞

1. 2 food articles in editorials
(Imp. read on World Food Day in sync with SDGs)

2. Need to make more containers
(Interesting read for GS3 Infra pointers)

3. Coastal flooding harms different tree species differently
(S&T, last page)


PS: CSEWhy app will make a lot of things easier for you :)

Pre note: Get yourself set ready for the CSEWhy App :)

🚨 17th October | Thursday 🚨

Pre facts

1. Europa Clipper

• Europa Clipper (EC), launching in 2024 via Falcon Heavy (FH)

• Study Europa's ice shell, subsurface ocean (SO), and assess habitability (HA) while searching for biosignatures (BS)

• Includes Ice-Penetrating Radar (IPR), Color & Spectrograph Cameras (CSC), Magnetometer (MAG), and Mass Spectrometer (MS) for surface composition mapping (SC)

• Conduct multiple flybys (FB) of Europa over approximately 3.5 years

Significance: Investigate potential for extraterrestrial life (PEL)

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. As the world warms and cools (Ideas page)
(GS3: Climate)

The Hindu 🗞

1. Spotlighting the work of the Economics Nobel winners (Editorial)
(GS3: Economics)

2. What does the Global Hunger Index 2024 state about India? (Text&Context)
(GS2: IR, Reports and Policies)

PS: revise at blog.csewhy.com

Pre note: Read, learn and conquer. Simple mantra, long term implications!!

🚨 18th October | Friday 🚨

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. 4-1 SC upholds citizenship provisions for migrants to Assam from East Pak (Front page)
(GS2: SC Judgements)

2. Four issues in Assam verdict (Explained page)
(GS2: SC Judgements)

The Hindu 🗞

1. SC upholds Section 6A of Citizenship Act as valid law (Front page)
(GS2: SC Judgements)

2. A modified UBI policy may be more feasible (Editorial)
(GS2: Policies)

PS: Follow @CSEWhy on X & IG?

New blog details opinions and pointers on Marital Rape

Read below and do subscribe for Free with your email

https://open.substack.com/pub/csewhy/p/286-marital-rape?r=1prj68&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Pre note: What are your views on marital rape? Answer here

🚨 19th October | Saturday 🚨

Pre facts

1. Super Insulin

• Scientists have developed “smart insulin” called NNC2215 that responds dynamically to blood sugar (BS) levels

• Type 1 = No insulin prod by pancreas; Type 2 = Insulin resistance (IR), requiring higher doses

• Insulin overdosing can cause hypoglycemia (low BS), making constant BS monitoring necessary

• Old tech = Glucose sensors & insulin pumps; insulin stored subcutaneously, released based on BS sensors

• NNC2215 = On-off switch; reacts to BS fluctuations. Glucoside holds insulin inactive when BS is low; glucose triggers activation at high BS

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian Express 📰

1. Lady justice: Roots in ancient Greece, not always blindfolded (Explained page)
(GS2)

2. India and the Science Nobels (Explained page)

The Hindu 🗞

1. Forecasting better in India, come rain or shine (Editorial)
(GS3: SnT)

PS: The week is about to end. Are you happy with your progress?

Pre note: Sunday sessions you shouldn't miss: newspaper, introspect, reflect.

🚨 20th October | Sunday 🚨

Pre facts

1. Kala-Azar

• India seeks WHO certification for Kala-azar elimination, with <1 case per 10k in PHC blocks for 2 years

• Major hotspots: Bihar, Jharkhand, WB, UP; 70% of cases from Bihar, Jharkhand, WB, and UP; symptoms like fever, weight loss, and anaemia

• Cases dropped: 595 (2023) vs. 339 (2022)

• NHP targets shifted from 2010 to 2030; Bangladesh is the only other certified nation

•Strategy: Early diagnosis, case mgmt, surveillance, and tackling poverty/sanitation

• PKDL cases post-recovery pose long-term challenges

2. Mining dust enhances carbon capture

• Alt Carbon uses basalt dust from Rajmahal mines for fast-tracking CO2 capture via rock weathering

• 3-4 tonnes of basalt trap 1 tonne of CO2 in 2-4 years, compared to 1,000 years naturally

• The dust enriches soil on Darjeeling tea estates and boosts carbon absorption

• Raised $5M from carbon-credit firms; partnered with Frontier (McKinsey, Meta)

• Key basalt sources: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand, WB

• Sequestration helps meet IPCC goals to curb temp rise by 2050

@CSEWhy Recommendations

The Hindu 🗞

1. What are the stress factors for Indian Railways? (FAQ page)
(GS2: Social issues)

2. How will a classical status help languages? (FAQ page)
(GS2: Policies)

PS: Have a PlanB. Join @CsewhyPlanB

Bhai sunn,

Tyohaar aa rahe hai.
Study break hoga hi hoga.

Kaise enjoy bhi kare ghar par aur padhai bhi manage karni hai,

Thoda sa plan kar le dost

Baaki Diwali hai, do spend time with family 🥰🪔

Pre note: Turant solutions ke liye, apne doubts yaha pucho

🚨 21st October | Monday 🚨

Pre facts

1. New Lady Justice

• Reflects Indian identity, emphasizing fairness by "seeing" cases directly

• Scales show balanced judgment, sword symbolizes justice's power

• Urgent reforms needed: delayed judge appointments, lack of diversity (women <15%, backward classes <25%), and 60L+ pending cases

• Courts operating at ~60-70% strength; govt urged to speed up appointments for timely justice

2. Largest Marine protected area

• Azores approved the largest marine protected area (~300k sq km) in the North Atlantic

• Aims to meet intl conservation targets ahead of time

• Area protects underwater mountains and vulnerable marine ecosystems

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian express 📰

1. A nascent but welcome thaw (Ideas page)
(GS2: IR)

2. $1 Trillion over 30 years: Cost of pivoting away from coal (Explained page)
(GS2/GS3: Policies and Climate)

3. Comeback of Krishi in Bharat (Explained page)
(GS3: Agri economy)

The Hindu 🗞

1. India’s choices in a world becoming bipolar again (Editorial)
(GS2: IR)

2. On climate finance to developing nations (Text&Context)
(GS2/GS3: Climate & Multinational policies)

3. What d o the Atlantic Ocean hurricane forecasts foretell for India? (Science page)
(GS3: Climate and Science)

PS: Hafte ki shuruaat kaisi hai dosto? React with ❤️ to manifest a great day :)

Pre note: blog.csewhy.com

🚨 22nd October | Tuesday 🚨

Pre facts

1. Spectrum allocation

• No territorial limits in satellite spectrum

• Coordinated by Int'l Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• In India, regulated under Telecom Act 2023 allowing both auction & admin allotment

• Benefits of SATCOM:
- Use array of satellite network in place of cable network
- wider coverage & more resilient network
- less prone to damage

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian express 📰

1. Berlin-Delhi reconnection
(GS2: IR)

2. A terror attack, many signals (Ideas page)
(GS3: Internal security)

3.Entire ideas page, super interesting today!!!

The Hindu 🗞

1. On sanctions and shadow fleets (Text&Context)
(GS2: IR)

PS: Shall I make the daily notes more elaborative or just the recommendations are good?

Pre note: CSEWhy app this Diwali! 🪔

🚨 23rd October | Wednesday 🚨

Mains Notes

1. Mission Mausam

• Aim: Improve weather forecasts & manage weather events

• Cloud Chamber (cc) to come up at IITM, Pune for cloud physics research

• CC injects water vapour & aerosols to create clouds u/ controlled humidity & temperature

• Helps study cloud seed particles forming droplets or ice

2. Madarsas & Secularism

• Madarsa Act created UP Board focusing on Muslim community education offering courses from Maulvi to Fazil

• HC: Madarsa's impose religious instruction keeping mainstream subjects optional
• Govt: Madarsas deny quality eduction u/ R2Education Act

• Madarsa Board granting degrees contradicts UGC's authority over universities

• SC challenged HC March, 2004 verdict of striking down Madarsa Act (2004); reserved verdict on case

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian express 📰

1. An agreement, some questions (Ideas page)
(GS2: IR)

2. The biodiversity COP (Explained page)
(GS2/GS3: Multilateralism & Climate)

The Hindu 🗞

1. On Section 6A of the Citizenship Act (Text&Context)
(GS2: Laws & Acts)

2. Why are Big Tech companies such as Google scouting for nuclear power? (Text&Context)

PS: Join @CSEWhyPlanB

Pre note: Heavy newspaper today! Go slow.

🚨 24th October | Thursday 🚨

Pre facts

1. Cyclone in news: Cyclone Dana; Bay of Bengal; Will affect eastern Odissa and West Bengal

2. SC: Stubble burning goes against right to live in pollution-free space

Pre notes

1. Kambala

• Traditional buffalo race held annually in the coastal regions of Karnataka and Kerala

• Conducted by Tuluva community in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka; part of temple festivals & rural traditions to appease the gods for good harvests

• Criticized by animal rights activists; Banned by SC in 2014

• Jallikattu, a similar traditional sport in TN was banned by SC in 2014 in Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja case

2. Article 21: Right to life

• No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law

Mains Notes

1. Geoengineering

• Large scale efforts to change natural-cycle of earth to combat global warming

Broadly, 2 methods of Geoengineering are:

1. Solar Radiation Management (SRM): Materials are thrown off in space which reflects back sunlight

• Various elements are proposed but diamond dust tops the list

• 5 million tonnes of diamond dust is required; concerns for unforeseen damages to nature prevail

2. Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): Capturing and stabilising CO2

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian express 📰

1. Indian Ocean churn (Editorial)
(GS2: IR)

2. Learning & nation-building (Ideas page)
(GS2: Social issues)

3. Taxing Industrial alcohol (Explained page)
(GS3: Economics)

The Hindu 🗞

1. The Manipur crisis, the issue of managing diversity (Editorial)
(GS2: Social issues)

2. On Boeing 737’s ‘defective’ rudder system (Text&Context)

3. Ancient meteorite was 'giant fertilizer bomb' for life on earth (Science page)
(GS3: Science)

PS: Queries? Tell me

Pre note: Started adding detailed notes from articles limiting the Reading Recommendations. Study hard! :)

🚨 25th October | Friday 🚨

Mains Keywords

1. Landfall of a Cyclone

• Cyclone Dana to landfall near Bhitarkanika National Park & Dhamra Port

• landfall = when eye/centre cross the coast (not every cyclone sees a landfall)

• Landfall duration = 5/6 hrs, cyclone loses intensity post rainfall due to lack of moisture

Pre notes

1. Artificial Insemination

• Places sperm directly into female reproductive tract; boosts fertility w/o natural mating

• Types include IUI (Intra-Uterine Insemination) & ICI (Intra-Cervical Insemination).

• Advantages: Avoid disease transfer, controls conception timing, & addresses male infertility.

• In news: Great Indian Bustard conversation, at Sudasari Great Indian Bustard breeding centre in Rajasthan

Mains Notes

1. Local weather forecast

• Panchayat-level 5-day weather forecasts, updated hourly, are now available nationwide, launched by MoPR & MoS for rural preparedness, covering 2.55L panchayats

• Data is accessible via e-GramSwaraj, Gram Manchitra, and Meri Panchayat apps

• Helps farmers with planning sowing, irrigation, and harvesting to tackle unpredictable weather changes

• Aim: boost climate resilience, safeguard livelihoods, and enhance disaster prep at the grassroots; coz predicting localised event is harder

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian express 📰

1. Not another BRICS in the wall (Editorial)
(GS2: IR)

2. When parliament isn’t in session (Ideas page)
(GS2: Administrative issue)

3. The India-China agreement (Explained page)
(GS2: IR)

The Hindu 🗞

1. Meal costs are rising faster than earnings (Text&Context)
(GS2/GS3: Social issues & Economics)

2. Why did the Central govt. sanction a 50% hike in prices of commonly used drugs? (Science page)

PS: blog.csewhy.com

Pre note: Do you need help regarding your optional? Let me know

🚨 26th October | Saturday 🚨

Mains Notes

1. Protected areas are losing biodiversity than non- protected ones

• NHM study shows BII fell 1.88% (2000–2020)

• CBAs: Unprotected lost 1.9%, protected 2.1%

• PAs focus on species, not ecosystems

• Degradation, mining, oil, gas in PAs (e.g., Congo park 65% occupied)

• 30x30 conservation goal must continue with better ecosystem focus

@CSEWhy Recommendations

Indian express 📰

1. A nudge towards clean air (Editorial)
(GS2: Social issues)

2. The unaspiring millions (Ideas page)
(GS3)

3. Greenback’s naysayers (Ideas page)
(GS2: IR and International policies)

4. The right to die with dignity (Explained page)
(GS2: Policies)

The Hindu 🗞

1. Sharpen the anti-defection law, strengthen democracy (Editorial)
(GS2: Policies)

2. A Nobel in hand, but where AJR’s model falls short (Editorial)
(GS3: Economics)

PS: Affirm with conviction - 'I can and will do it'

Pre note: Sunday morning calls for introspection and reflection. Don't forget that!

🚨 27th October | Sunday 🚨

@CSEWhy Recommendations

The Hindu 🗞

1. What does H5N1 virus in cattle, humans portend? (Science page)

2. How will LAC agreement pan out on border? (FAQ page)
(GS2: Agreements and Pacts)

3. What is the flight protocol for a bomb threat? (FAQ page)

PS: Revise important current affairs of the month :)