Category: Strategy Sessions

Context

• Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has asked the committee of Privileges to investigate an alleged breach of privilege by some MPs under rule 203 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.
• The MPs are accused of shouting slogans and obstructing proceedings in the Upper House Rajya Sabha.
• The committee will also investigate alleged breach of privilege arising from non-adherence to the Chair’s directions.

In this article, we will discuss and understand various aspects of the rules of procedure and conduct in Parliament.

Rules of Conduct

• The Committee on Ethics of Rajya Sabha drafted the Code of Conduct for MPs, which was adopted by the House in 2005.
• These rules are prescribed by the House for its members and adopted by the House.
• These are self-governing rules of conduct.
• The rule book also provides the Chairman/Speaker of the House with certain powers to ensure that there is an orderly conduct of business proceedings.

Quick backgrounder

• Codes of conduct for high constitutional functionaries and representatives of the people have been discussed for long.
• A code for Union ministers was adopted in 1964, and state governments were advised to adopt it as well.

Provisions for such rules

• Article 118: The Indian Constitution empowers each House of Parliament to make rules governing its procedure and conduct of Business, Article 118 (1).
• Article 105: It deals with “powers, privileges, immunity etc. of the Houses of Parliament and of the members and committees thereof. There is freedom of speech for the members of the parliament and they are exempted from any legal action for any statement made or act done in the course of their duties.
• Handbook: There is a handbook for members of the parliament which has a number of rules regarding etiquette, conventions and conduct of members. There are dozens of such rules which are strict and meant to govern the dignified conduct of the members in the House.

Key issue: Disruptions in Indian Parliament

There have been continuous disruptions of parliament by members.

• Some members are habitual of disrupting the functioning and jumping in the well for political gains and rivalry.
• Disruptions, sloganeering and moving in the well decreases the productivity of the House.
• Frequent disruptions lead to adjournment of the House.

Why are disruptions so frequent?

There are various reasons for disruptions in the Indian Parliament, including:

• Political differences: Opposition parties often use disruptions as a tactic to voice their opposition to government policies or to press their demands. Similarly, ruling party MPs may also disrupt proceedings to counter opposition criticism.
• Controversial issues: Discussions on certain issues, such as religion, caste, and regionalism, can lead to heated debates and disruptions in Parliament.
• Personal or party agendas: MPs may resort to disruptions to further their personal or party agendas or to gain media attention.
• Lack of decorum: Sometimes, MPs may engage in unruly behavior, including shouting, throwing papers, and obstructing the Chair, leading to disruptions in the House.
• Parliamentary procedures: Disputes over parliamentary procedures and rules can also lead to disruptions and adjournments.

Significance of Parliamentary discussions

• Policymaking: Parliament is responsible for enacting laws and policies that affect the lives of citizens. Through discussions and debates, MPs can shape these policies to better meet the needs of their constituents.
• Checks and balances: Parliament plays a crucial role in overseeing the functioning of the executive branch of government. Through discussions, MPs can hold the government accountable for its actions and decisions.
• Representation of the larger population: Parliament provides a platform for MPs to represent the views and concerns of their constituents. By raising issues and concerns, MPs can ensure that the government addresses the needs of the people they represent.
• Education of citizens: Parliamentary discussions can educate citizens on important issues, policies, and legislative processes. This can help citizens make informed decisions and participate in the democratic process.
• Constructive criticism: Discussions and debates in Parliament can help resolve conflicts and differences of opinion among MPs. This can lead to better decision-making and policy outcomes.

Reasons for such behaviour

• Reduced number of sittings of legislatures
• Poor quality of debates
• Avoidance of accountability by the ruling govt.
• Increasing number of legislatures with criminal records
• High absenteeism of legislators
• Inadequate representation of women
• Lack of inner democracy in the functioning of the political parties

Watchdog of Parliamentary dignity: Privileges Committee

• It is a parliamentary committee present in both Houses of the parliament.
• Its functions are semi-judicial in nature.
• Its function is to examine every question involving breach of privilege of the House or of the members of any Committee thereof referred to it by the House.
• Under rule 203, Chairman can refer any question of privilege to the Committee.

Way forward

Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu introduced a 15-point reform charter for parliamentary reforms to enable effective functioning of parliamentary institutions. The charter includes-

• Political Conscience: Call for a new political consciousness amongst legislators to review their roles and responsibilities.
• Ensuring Quorum: Political parties must ensure attendance of at least 50% of their legislators throughout the proceedings of the Houses by adopting a roster system.
• Liberalizing whip system: Review of Whip system which hinders the freedom of expression of the legislators. This will allow a reasonable degree of dissent without impacting the stability of the government.
• Effective functioning of Department Related Standing Committees: Measures for effective functioning of these Committees like longer tenure (instead of the present one year), promoting specialization, etc were needed.
• Legislative Impact Assessment: A detailed framework for pre and post Legislative Impact Assessment was needed. Every legislative proposal must incorporate a detailed account of social, economic, environmental and administrative impact for wider awareness and subsequent legal assessment.
• Responsible government and opposition: Need for responsive governments positively acting on the concerns of the opposition and the need for responsible and constructive opposition while resorting to available parliamentary instruments.
• More women legislators: Enacting for reservation of women in legislatures. It helps maintain decency and modesty of the House of parliament.
• Rules and Regulations: Making rules that automatically take action against erring members in case of interruptions and disruptions. Need for timely and effective action against legislators for non-ethical conduct.
• Transparency & Accountability: Regular publication of reports by the Secretariats of Legislatures on the attendance of Members and their participation in debates.
• Decriminalization of Politics: Addressing the concern of a rising number of legislators with criminal records.
• Increased number of sittings: A minimum number of sittings for both the Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures per year need to be appropriately prescribed.

Conclusion

• There must be strict adherence to the code of conduct for MPs so that disruptions of the proceedings don’t happen.
• It is important to spend more time on deliberations and discussion rather than on disruptions to increase the productivity of the House.
• Government and opposition must come to an understanding and move forward for the betterment of the nation. The government must be responsive and for that the opposition has to be responsible.
• Certain reforms are needed to increase efficiency of the House and ensure that the members attend the house to contribute to the discussions instead of hijacking the functioning of the House with repeated disruptions.

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Context

• An American billionaire’s recent comments on India have come under heavy criticism from all sections of India.
• Much recently, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had warned against doctored narratives becoming hurdles in India’s growth.

Doctored Narratives: Motive behind the term

• The term “Doctored Narratives” typically refers to narratives or stories that have been intentionally altered or manipulated in some way to mislead or deceive people.
• This can involve-
  • Changing key details
  • Omitting important information
  • Fabricating events altogether
• Influences are exerted by the powers that be through various means – subversion, funding the nefarious elements, planting certain theories through various literature, devising frameworks in academic setups somewhere and foisting those on unique problems in other countries.

Characterizing such narratives

• Mass provocation: Doctored narratives often include misleading information that is designed to distort or misrepresent the truth. This could involve taking statements out of context or selectively presenting only certain facts.
• Fake news: They may contain outright false information that is designed to mislead the audience. This could involve fabricating events or presenting false statistics or data.
• Emotional appeal: They may be designed to play on the emotions of the audience, using fear, anger, or other strong emotions to influence their opinions.
• Conspiracy theories: Such narratives may promote conspiracy theories or alternative explanations for events that contradict widely accepted facts or evidence.
• Political manipulation: They may appeal to people’s pre-existing beliefs or biases, reinforcing their existing opinions and making it difficult for them to consider alternative perspectives.

In the age of social media, doctored narratives can spread quickly and easily, making it more important than ever to fact-check and verify the information we come across before accepting it as truth.

Narratives against India

Unfortunately, doctored narratives against India are not uncommon, and there have been several instances where misinformation or propaganda has been used to target India. Some examples include:

• Misinformation surrounding the Kashmir conflict: The conflict over the disputed territory of Kashmir between India and Pakistan has been the subject of doctored narratives, with false information being spread on social media to misrepresent the situation and promote anti-India sentiment.
• Alleged ‘murder’ of Democracy: Some doctored narratives have promoted conspiracy theories about India’s government, such as claiming that the government is involved in human rights abuses or that it is suppressing dissent. Ex. Accusing our PM of being anti-minority.
• Misinformation about Indian religions: False information has also been spread about Indian religions, such as claiming that Hinduism is a violent religion or that Sikhism is a separatist movement or associating terrorism and radicalism to a particular religion.

Why such narrative build up against India?

• Western Diktat: There are powers that want the world order to remain as per their vision, their perception of reality, and their ideas of social and economic balances. Be it individual freedom or anything. The sees this through its prism.
• Political meddling: India has been the target of interference by foreign powers seeking to influence its domestic politics and foreign policy. This interference may take the form of funding political campaigns or supporting certain groups or individuals.
• Economic competition: India’s emergence as a major economic power has led to competition and rivalry with other countries. The narrative often portrays India as a threat to the global economy and accuses it of unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft.
• Contention with India’s rise: The present-day Indian leadership has been successfully steering India through the rough waters of International diplomacy while enjoying friendships with competing world powers and still protecting India’s interests.
• Destabilize internal peace and security: India has some treacherous neighborhoods like Pakistan and China who allegedly strive to ‘bleed’ India with ‘thousand cuts’. Ex. Khalistani separatism movement.
• Notion of far-right nationalism: The rise of Hindu nationalism in India has been criticized by some as a threat to secularism and minority rights. The narrative often portrays India as a Hindu supremacist state that discriminates against Muslims and other minorities.

Recent incidences

One can quote various recent examples of how ‘doctored narratives’ took shape of mass protests that aimed at destabilising India from within-

• BBC documentary on PM Modi
• Hindenburg report on Adani Groups
• Communal angle to recent crackdown of Assam Government against child marriages etc.

Why is it an emerging threat?

• Fast spread through social media: Those influenced by ‘doctored narratives’ spread through social media platforms, kept championing the cause of protesters without even paying any heed to logic.
• Political opposition:  Framing charges against the PM is the easiest way. Many examples may still be visible in time to come, depending upon political convenience of the ‘ecosystem’ peddling ‘doctored narratives’.
• Highly opinionated population: Doctored narratives may appeal to people’s pre-existing beliefs or biases, reinforcing their existing opinions and making it difficult for them to consider alternative perspectives.
• Create a socio-political divide: Such narratives can promote division and conflict, inflaming tensions between different groups and creating a sense of “us vs. them.” This can contribute to social unrest and undermine the social fabric of communities.
• Security threats: Such falsification pose security threats, particularly in the form of cyberattacks and other forms of online manipulation. These threats can undermine critical infrastructure, steal sensitive information, and compromise national security.

Conclusion

• Political leaders often have supporters and detractors, and opinions can vary widely depending on a range of factors, including political ideology, social and economic issues, personal beliefs, and cultural background.
• It’s important to approach information with a critical eye and to seek out diverse perspectives before forming an opinion.
• It’s also important to engage in respectful dialogue and to avoid spreading false information or promoting divisive narratives.
• We should strive to create a culture of open and honest communication, based on accurate information and a commitment to progress and positive change.

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UPSC 2024 special | 4th March (Saturday) at 7:30 pm
⭐What you should expect in 1-1 Live with Areeba Ma’am?

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Areeba, AIR 109 believes there are just two clues: UPSC Syllabus and UPSC PYQs that are out in the open for any aspirant to set the direction of their preparation.

Most of you might have pasted a hard copy of the UPSC syllabus on your study tables and highlighted it, but never cared to read it. Almost none of you understood the linkages and patterns in the UPSC syllabus.

UPSC is a very rational body and its syllabus defines the expanse of the landscape from which questions will be asked. One who has demystified the pattern conquers the UPSC exam.

IPS, Areeba Nooman will take a LIVE 1-1 session where she will help you decode the UPSC syllabus in its entirety.

⭐What you should expect in 1-1 Live with Areeba Ma’am?

Webinar Details

Topic: UPSC 2024 Syllabus decoded: Finding Patterns and Linkages

• Date: 4th March 2023 (Saturday)
• Time: 7:30 P.M.
• Mode: Online (Zoom Meeting Link will be sent through email)

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Key-Takeaways of Free 1-1 Live Session with Areeba

1. Understanding the philosophy, pattern, and linkages in the UPSC syllabus. What to target for prelims 2024? For those who have started their UPSC preparation only this month onwards.

2. What are conceptual subjects and what are factual subjects? How to prioritize Major conceptual subjects in the first 10 months? And how to finish minor factual subjects for Mains after finishing conceptual subjects?

3. How to make a 10: 20 study plan to complete the syllabus in an easier way? How to focus more and more in the last 5 months before Prelims 2024?

4. What are 60, 45, 25, and 15 rules to crack prelims in the very 1st attempt?

5. Most appropriate sources as per UPSC syllabus

You can’t afford to miss such an awesome LIVE session if you’re a UPSC 2024 aspirant.

⭐What you should expect in 1-1 Live with Areeba Ma’am?

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CivilsDaily’s FREE Webinar package

Post-webinar we will share important PDFs, timetable framework, and notes.

Other than this a strategy package will be emailed to you.

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What The Hindu opined about Civilsdaily Mentorship

4th March (Saturday) at 7:30 Pm | LIVE, ask me anything session on How to Cover UPSC 2024 Syllabus cover to cover from scratch? by UPSC Topper AIR-109, IPS, Areeba Noman

WATCH LIVE UPSC Prelims 2023 Session by Pravin sir.

⭐What Should You Expect in 1-1 LIVE with Pravin Sir.

Nobody will dare to gainsay that clearing UPSC Prelims isn’t the result of hardcore revision and knowledge. And it’s also true that even after burning the midnight oil 99% of Aspirants start doubting their own accuracy because they can’t cross 90 marks barrier in their UPSC Prelims Mock Test itself. 

As a result, overthinking, depression, and the fear of failure engulf 99.99% of candidates far before the Real Prelims exam. 

Not just this but aspirants also start compromising with their mock test marks in the false hope that they will score better in the real exam.

It never happens.

Pravin sir, Head of Civilsdaily Pune Branch and Mentor of 500+ successful candidates, opines that those who understand the importance of Mock-Tests and score at least above 100 marks in them are able to clear UPSC Prelims with flying colors.

He also says that scoring 100+ in at least 60% of Mock tests is the only indication of your Prelims Readiness.

As per the need, Pravin sir is hosting a 1-1 LIVE masterclass on How to cross 90 marks barrier in UPSC Prelims Mock-tests.

Webinar Details:

Topic: 10-steps proven strategy to cross 90 marks in UPSC Prelims Mock Tests

• Date: 26th Feb 2023, Sunday
• Time: At 6 P.M
• Mode: Online (Zoom Meeting Link will be sent through email)

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Key-Takeaways of Free 1-1 Live Session with Pravin Sir

1. What are the previous toppers’ proven ways to utilize and analyze the mock test to perform far better in the next?
2. How to cross 90 marks barrier in UPSC mock tests spontaneously.
3. What are the top 10 ways to evaluate your performance and identify your weak areas?
4. What are the different approaches to attempting subject-wise and full-fledged preliminary tests?
5. How to develop intelligent guessing by attempting only 60 questions with 100% accuracy rather than attempting 90 questions with blind guessing?
6. How many rounds are actually needed to attempt any mock test paper?
7. Untold best strategies to deal with offbeat questions

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About Pravin Sir:

Pravin sir is a senior IAS mentor with CivilsDaily for nearly 4+ years and is now Working as a Mentor Head and CivilsDaily’s Pune center head. He has cleared all 6 UPSC Prelims, appeared for two UPSC interviews. Last year 138 students under his mentorship crossed UPSC Prelims stage and wrote Mains 2022.

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CivilsDaily’s FREE Webinar package

Post-webinar we will share important PDFs, timetable framework, and notes.

Other than this a strategy package will be emailed to you.

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What The Hindu opined about Civilsdaily Mentorship

26th February (Sunday) at 6 pm | LIVE, ask me anything session on How to cross 90 marks barrier in UPSC prelims mocks? 10-steps proven strategy by Pravin sir.

A year after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, there are signs of escalation everywhere.

Why did Russia invade Ukraine?

The reasons behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are complex and multifaceted, and there is no one single cause for the conflict.

• Geopolitical Interests: Ukraine has long been considered a strategically important country for Russia, both as a buffer zone and as a source of natural resources. Russia has historically sought to maintain its influence in Ukraine and may have viewed the pro-Western government that came to power in Ukraine in 2014 as a threat to its interests.
• Ethnic Tensions: There are significant ethnic Russian populations in Ukraine, particularly in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Russia has claimed to be protecting the rights of these populations, although Ukraine and other countries have accused Russia of fomenting separatism and supporting armed groups in the region.
• Historical Ties: Russia and Ukraine have a long history of cultural and economic ties, and the two countries were part of the Soviet Union until Ukraine gained independence in 1991. Russia has claimed that it has a duty to protect the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine, while Ukraine and other countries have accused Russia of using this as a pretext for its actions.
• Territorial expansion: The invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea were widely popular among the Russian population, and they helped to boost the popularity of Putin. His commanders had said, on record, that Russia wanted to take the whole of Ukraine’s east and south.

Present status of the ongoing war

• West arms Ukraine: The West has recently announced the supply of more advanced weapons to Ukraine, deepening its involvement in the conflict.
• Escalation towards nukes: As the war is extended, risks of a direct confrontation between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) both nuclear powers, are also on the rise.

Russian advances

• Increased offensive: In response, Russian President Putin, has already reinforced positions along the 1,000-km long frontline in Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of troops.
• Suspending security alliances: It announced the suspension of his country’s participation in the New Start treaty, which could trigger a nuclear arms race.  

Who could win the war?

• Huge counter-offensive by Ukraine: Given the power asymmetry between Russia and Ukraine, Russian troops’ performance in the battlefield was underwhelming.
• No decisive victory for Russia: If one looks at Russia’s declared goals and what they have achieved in the 12 months of fighting, it’s not difficult to see that they are still far from meeting those objectives.

How has the West responded?

• The West’s approach has been two-fold:
• Punish Russia’s economy through sanctions
• Weaken the war machine  

Western support has played a critical part in Ukraine’s resistance by-

• Military aid by US: The US is Ukraine’s biggest aid provider — it has pledged military and financial assistance worth over $70 billion.  The EU has pledged $37 billion and among the EU countries, the UK and Germany top the list.
• Advanced weapons: West came to Ukraine’s rescue once again, with more advanced weapons, including missile defence systems, armoured vehicles, tank killers, battle tanks and precision bombs.  

How Russia is escaping Sanctions?

• Exploring alternative markets: Russia took a hit, but it found alternative markets for its energy exports in Asia, redrawing the global energy export landscape.
• Emerging energy giant: Despite sanctions, Russia raised its oil output by 2% and boosted oil export earnings by 20%, to $218 billion. Russia also raked in $138 billion from natural gas, a nearly 80% rise over 2021 — and this was in spite of the European push to cut gas imports from Russia.
• Growth forecasts by IMF: The Russian economy was estimated to have contracted by 2% in 2022, but, according to the IMF, it is expected to grow 0.3% this year and 2.1% next year.

Possibility for a negotiated settlement

• Grain initiative: In July, Turkey brokered a deal on taking out Russian and Ukrainian food grains through the Black Sea.
• Prisoners exchange: Warring parties had also reached some prisoner exchange agreements.

Issues needed to be addressed to stop this war

• For any peace plan to succeed, two complex issues should be addressed —
• Ukraine’s territories
• Russia’s security concerns

India’s subtle approach on the war

India’s tightrope walk on the Ukraine war has been described as “strategic ambivalence”. Its position has been articulated by its diplomats through several statements-

• Slight condemnation: The needle moved after the Bucha massacre in which innocent civilians were killed and India joined the western chorus in condemning the incident, and even asking for an international probe.
• Dint resent Russia: India had said it was “deeply disturbed”, but did not name Russia at all. Our PM took courage to tell Mr. Putin in a live conversation that “this is not an era of war”.
• Immediate cessation of violence and hostilities: India had maintained that cessation of hostilities is a broader term that is more permanent in nature, and had used it instead of a ceasefire— which is perceived as a narrow term.
• Shown respect for territorial integrity: It called for respect for “territorial integrity and sovereignty”, and respect for UN charter and international law.
• Advocating talks and diplomacy: It maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the path forward. This has been Delhi’s prescription when it comes to its own border standoff as well.

Why is India siding away from Ukraine?

Ukraine should not try to moralize India’s stance over the ongoing war because-

• Ukraine blatantly condemned India’s nuclear tests of 1998.
• It had sold (rather donated) Pakistan T-80 tanks worth $650 mn during Kargil War.
• Ukraine voted several times against India at the UN over the nukes and rebutted India’s bid to get a permanent seat at UNSC.
• It has openly voiced for UN intervention in the Kashmir issue and holding a plebiscite on Pakistan’s terms.

Reasons behind India’s soft corner for Russia

• All-weather dependable partner: Russia is viewed as having been a sturdy friend of India’s going back to 1955, when Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev publicly declared Moscow’s support for Indian claims over Jammu and Kashmir.
• Time-tested friendship: Moscow did not ally with or arm Pakistan against India; it supported New Delhi against U.S. pressure during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war; and it has never criticized developments in Indian domestic politics, unlike the US.
• For permanent UNSC seat: India’s reluctance to denounce Russia, even when its actions are deemed objectionable and at times detrimental to India’s crucial interests, is strengthened by the need to maintain Russia’s support by respecting its veto power.
• Dependence for arms: India’s continuing dependence on Russia for military equipment only deepens its reluctance to alienate Moscow in any way. This aspect has received a shot in the arm since the war broke out.

Risks accompanying India’s ‘neutrality’

• Skewed neutrality: India’s positions expose the inconsistency in commitment to protecting the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific over that in Europe.
• Sino-Russian growing affinity: Indian ambition to have Russia in its efforts to checkmate China may yet fail. It is rumored that China is helping its ‘iron brother’ Russia by sending some mercenary troops.

Conclusion

• There is little doubt that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has confronted India with difficult strategic choices.
• Consequently, its decision to avoid all public criticism of Moscow is, in the estimation of Indian policymakers, the best of the bad choices facing New Delhi

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Smash Prelims Super-25 Program is back after a thumping success in Prelims 2022. Out of 25 students Santosh sir has mentored, 23 cleared prelims last time. Our students were kind enough to take time out of their hectic Mains preparation and let us know how Santosh sir’s mentorship benefitted them in the exams.

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Table of content:

1. About Smash Super 25 by Santosh sir
2. Structure of Super 25 program
3. Four pillars of Super 25
4. Approach of Super 25 program
5. Program Inclusion
6. What students told us about Santosh sir?
7. About Santosh sir

90% success rate in UPSC Prelims under this program

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Why Your Focus for the Next 3 Months Must be About Scoring Above Cut-Off Marks in UPSC-CSE Prelims? Isn’t the last 1 Month Enough for This?

Every year, the competition for UPSC-CSE is increasing while vacancies are decreasing drastically. Total vacancies this year have been increased but you have to consider IRMS as well. This is why right now, it’s important to start having an Olympic Athlete mindset. You need to daily focus on scoring above the cut-off marks in your test series.

Civilsdaily Student and 2019 UPSC-CSE AIR 8 Topper Abhishek Saraf had practiced nearly 6000+ MCQs under us to clear prelims!

What makes prelims tough? It’s because the paper is unpredictable. If this year, science questions are a breeze then the next year you will have to answer advanced concept-based questions. Unlike Mains, Prelims has negative markings.

Toppers like Pranav Vijayvergiya (AIR 65) and Swati Sharma (AIR 17) have found Prelims to be tougher than Mains. In fact, Pranav failed to clear Prelims thrice. But, in his fourth attempt he took Civilsdaily mentorship and cleared Prelims, Mains and Interview in one shot!

Are you feeling low that you are unable to get the required cut-off marks in your test series. Worry not, for about 65% of the UPSC toppers have said that they scored below cut-off marks till December. But by June, they were able to boost their marks to get through the prelims hurdle. It’s time to be like them now. The two mentors allotted to you at Civilsdaily will discuss notes, sources, and test scores and even counsel you on your mental health.

How will Super-25 Program be structured?

We have neither diluted the criteria for selecting aspirants nor the core strategy. In fact, this year Super-25 will be a much more effective version of last year. 

Four Pillars of Super- 25 Program

1. It is a mentorship-led test series and value addition program over 90 days. 

2. Intensive Mentorship: You will have one dedicated mentor during the entire journey, in the form of Santosh Gupta sir. Santosh sir will give mentoring on a 1-1 basis. He will also be taking weekly zoom sessions. It would ensure that you do not fall back at any cost and benefit from the experience of two mentors who have cleared the exam 6 times. We will ensure that you achieve not your weekly targets but the target of clearing prelims. 

3. A number of tests: 60 practice tests (50 questions) + 40 Full-length tests ( 12 Basic + 6 advanced + 10 Current affairs tests + 8 FLTs+ 4 CSATs). It means every day you can give a test. With this, we will ensure that you revise your syllabus 3 times in three months at least. 

4. Current affairs: Entire Current affairs of 1.5 years ( Jan 2022 – April 2023) will be covered by Core faculty, comprising of Santosh sir, Sajal sir, Sukanya ma’am, and Dimple Ma’am. You will learn how to link current affairs with static topics on the go.

5. Strategic Value Addition Sessions: They say that a woodcutter sharpens his axe for 8 hours to cut 1 tree. This is the most popular session around taken by Santosh Gupta sir to enrich your knowledge base and analytical ability. 

Approach of Super-25

1. Keyword approach to revise syllabus of 1 subject in 2-3 hours.

2. Focus on FCE approach ( Factual, Conceptual and Elimination ) to enhance your score.

3. Critical gap filling sessions and notes, learning to link static with current affairs and vice versa.

4. Evidence based questions to ensure 360 degree testing.

5. Weekly monitoring of targets by dedicated mentor and your strategic mentor Santosh Gupta.  

How Super-25 will help you

1. Setting a clear strategy for the next 90 days to get 120+ score in Prelims.

2. Revising the whole syllabus in an effective manner.

2. Filling critical gaps in preparation.

4. Practice tests to enhance your chances of qualifying prelims.

5. Covering the entire current affairs from a prelims perspective.

Who can be part of the Super-25?

1. Only those who are struck in the range of 80-90 marks in last 2-3 attempts and are desperate to write mains.

2. Those who have given prelims at least once.

3. Those willing to give 100% or nothing less. 

There are no secrets to success, it is a result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. Are you willing to learn from failures? Let’s start together. 

Program Inclusion

1. One to one Mentorship over a call and Weekly Zoom sessions
   • Make strategy – micro and macro for the remaining days till Prelims
   • Incorporate syllabus coverage, tets series, revision in it
   • Make sure you are executing the plan efficiently
2. 60 Tests
   • 12 Basic tests
   • 10 Current Affairs
   • 14 Practice tests
   • 6 Advanced
   • 8 Full-Length Tests
   • 4 CSAT tests
3. 50 Value additon classes and notes covering
   • Static syllabus linked with
   • Entire Current affairs of 1.5 years (Jan 2022 – April 2023)
4. Budget and Economy survey of 2023 (Handouts + Videos)
5. Strategic question-solving sessions – 500 Questions to be solved LIVE

Self Preparation with Mentorship: What do Civilsdaily Students think of Santosh Sir’s Mentorship for UPSC-CSE Prelims?

We asked Santosh sir’s students about their opinion on mentorship — if it was something that saved their time or wasted their time in studies and this is what they had to say:

Kamini: “If I can say in one word, then Santosh sir’s mentorship is unique. Before I joined his program, I used to score 90 marks in Full Length Test Series. Santhosh sir had done an depth analysis of my test papers and suggested ways to reduce the negatives. Right now I am able to score 100+ in advanced test series of not only Civilsdaily but other institutes. He is always available to clear my doubts and solve my issues on call or phone. No issue is too big enough for Santosh sir. He has always told me after you finish a test series, read the same topics again and take another test series the same day to see if your marks improve. From Santosh sir’s polity and economic survey notes, we got questions in the 2021 and 2022 Prelims. I always feel it’s better to do self-studies with mentorship than join coaching institutes and get spoon-fed with information.”

Sweetie Raj: “I am a banking professional, living with a joint family. Attending coaching classes is out of the question because I won’t have time to read the books myself. Santosh sir helps me self-study by providing me mentorship daily. I study daily from 9 PM to 3 AM. Santosh sir has been available for 1-hour strategy calls even during this time. No other teacher would have wanted me to succeed as much as he wants me to. I can understand concepts by myself and don’t need help in that. I want someone who pushes me to complete the target modules, checks if I did my mains answer writing for the day and analyses the previous year question papers with me. Because of Santosh sir, I understood that its just not enough reading one book but at the same time I dont have to waste time reading many books. He tells me the topic-wise sources to refer. Also he has designed a study plan for me that I can follow every week. Once, I told Santhosh sir I was missing test series discussion classes as it was conducted at 7PM. Immediately, he provided me recorded videos and kept the session at 8.30PM.”

Samples From Smash Super-25 Program

Sample 1-on-1 Mentorship for Smash Prelims

Sample Notes

Sample Test Series

Sample classes on CSAT & Topic Wise Analysis

Sample Notes & Handout Material

Toppers’ Speak: How Civilsdaily Mentorship Helped Me Clear UPSC?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSwO38weHAA

About Santosh Gupta Sir

Santosh sir has scored above 140 twice in UPSC prelims and 120 plus in all 6 attempts. He has written all 6 mains and has appeared for Interviews 3 times. He has qualified for UPSC EPFO and BPSC 56-59th also. As the Prelims coordinator at Civilsdaily, he has helped 15 out of 25 students clear the prelims examination this year.

Context: Aero India 2023

• Being held under the theme – The runway to a billion opportunities – Aero India 2023 is seeing the participation of over a 100 countries.
• More than 700 exhibitors from India and abroad are taking part in the event.

The PM described Aero India as an example of India’s growing potential, saying it’s not only a show, but a reflection of India’s self-confidence and capabilities.

What is Aero India?

• Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru, India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station.
• It is organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence.
• The Aero India is the largest air show in Asia.
• It showcases India’s defence prowess and its capabilities in the aerospace sector.

Key highlights of Aero India:    Showcasing of domestic defence technologies

(1) India’s next-gen indigenous aircraft

India’s futuristic indigenous aircraft models which are in different stages of development showcased at Aero India 2023 included-

• 5th Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
• Naval Twin Engine Deck-based Fighter jet etc.
• LCA Mark2

(2) Light Combat Helicopter Prachand

• It is an Indian multi-role, light attack helicopter designed and manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under project LCH. It has been ordered by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army. Its flight ceiling is the highest among all attack helicopters in the world.

(3) Jetpack Suits

• A model of a soldier wearing a jetpack being developed by an Indian start-up was inaugurated.
• The Indian Army has issued a tender to buy 48 jetpacks for troops deployed along the northern borders.

(4) Hindustan Lead in Fighter Trainer (HLFT)-42

• HLFT-42, is a project conceived by defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
• It is the ‘Next Gen Supersonic Trainer’ will play a critical role in modern combat aircraft training.
• It is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics like Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) with Fly By Wire control (FBW) system.

Significance of the event

• Biggest event in Asia: It is the biggest-ever event till date likely to witness the participation of 98 countries, the defence ministers of 32 countries, air chiefs of 29 countries and 73 chief executive officers of global and Indian original equipment manufacturers.
• Make in India push: The focus of Aero India-2023 this time will be on putting on display indigenous equipment/technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies, in line with ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision.
• Showcased India’s manufacturing ability: The 2023 edition of Aero India showcases the country as a rising hub for manufacturing military equipment, military aircraft, helicopters and new-age avionics.
• Exchange of information: Aero India 2023 provided a unique opportunity for exchange of information, ideas and new technological developments in the aviation industry.
• Facilitation of CEOs meet: The big draw at Aero India is the ‘CEO’s Round Table’ which would allow the Ministry of Defence to showcase opportunities for global and domestic industry to invest in ‘Make in India’ initiatives.
• Defence collaboration: A Defence Ministers’ Conclave is hosted on February 14. Defence Ministers of friendly foreign countries participated in the meeting, which has been organised on the theme ‘Shared Prosperity through Enhanced Engagements in Defence (SPEED).’
• Huge investments received: The event witnessed the forging of 266 partnerships, including 201 memorandums of understanding, 53 major announcements, nine product launches and three transfers of technology (ToTs), worth around Rs 80,000 crore.
• Defence exports: Aero India is an example of the expanding capabilities of India. Many nations have extended their interests in- Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH),

How is India enhancing its defence prowess?

• Power projection: India has made significant strides in building its defence capabilities over the years. It has the world’s fourth-largest military, comprising of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force, with over 1.4 million active personnel and approximately 2.4 million reserve personnel.
• Modernization of India’s defence equipment and technology: India has also been investing heavily in modernizing its defence equipment and technology to ensure the country’s national security.  Some of the major achievements of the DRDO include the development of the Agni series of ballistic missiles, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.
• Achievements in space technology: India has also made significant progress in the field of space technology, with the ISRO being a prominent player in the global space race. ISRO has successfully launched several satellites and is also involved in developing a manned spacecraft for future space missions.
• Multilateral defence collaborations: In recent years, India has also been actively pursuing collaborations with other countries to further enhance its defence capabilities. It has signed various defence deals with countries such as the United States, Russia, Israel, and France, among others, to procure advanced defence equipment, technology and to undertake joint military exercises.
• Realizing significance of maritime domain: India’s defence prowess also extends to its strong maritime capabilities, with the Indian Navy having a fleet of advanced warships, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft. The Navy is also responsible for the safety and security of the Indian Ocean region, which is strategically important for the country.

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Why is defence a “strategic imperative” for India?

• Protecting the ‘Emerging Economy’:  A country known as the fifth largest economy of the world cannot afford to be largely dependent on big arms producing countries, especially in critical defence systems. India is able to withstand global uncertainty only because of its resilient economy.
• Global arms race: The Ukraine war has upended the global arms industry and the fast emerging Indian defence industry cannot afford to lag behind. In fact, as far as India is concerned, the Ukraine war is a stark reminder of the urgent need to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers for arms.
• Making sovereign decisions: As the Ukraine war created a dilemma before Indian policy planners to show their loyalty either to the US or Russia, the Indian government maintained neutrality and continued its cordial relationship with Russia.  This is by no means possible if India were at the helms of these nations.
• Geopolitical dynamics and its uncertainty: The example of the US withdrawing its technical support to Tarapur nuclear power plant in the 1970s had haunted the Indian leadership for long. The US also imposed sanctions on the transfer of dual use technologies to Indian entities. There is no guarantee that the US side will not stop technical or maintenance support to US-supplied weapon systems.
• Obsolesces of defence alliances: If India puts all its eggs in the Russian basket, it also cannot engage in the same manner with the US. Hence, Indian policy planners are working towards making India a defence production hub for major arms companies of the world.  
• Rising threats: In the current international scenario, security challenges to India are also mounting. From the Sino-Indian borders to high seas in the Indian Ocean and up to the South China Sea, India needs to be well equipped to defend its national economic and strategic interests. This can only be best served by self-reliance in defence, which will make India free from any strategic compulsions.
• Strategic autonomy: Defence prowess empowers the country with strategic autonomy, which becomes relevant in the times of any big international crisis. If India is self-reliant in defence systems, it would not be subject to domination/subjugation/manipulation by any country.

Way forward

By implementing these measures, India can move forward towards achieving self-reliance in defence, building a robust domestic defence industry and becoming a major player in the global defence industry.

• Encourage and support domestic defence production: The Indian government should continue to implement policies such as the Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) and launch initiatives like the Defence Investor Cell and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to encourage and support domestic defence production. This will help reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and build a robust domestic defence industry.
• Foster innovation and research in emerging technologies: India should focus on fostering innovation and research in emerging technologies in defence, such as artificial intelligence and unmanned systems. This will enable the country to develop cutting-edge technologies and maintain a competitive edge in the global defence industry.
• Collaborate with other countries and build strategic partnerships: India should continue to build strategic partnerships with other countries in the defence industry, both in terms of exports and collaborations. This will help the country access new technologies, markets and build its reputation as a reliable partner.
• Invest in the education and skill development of the workforce: India should invest in the education and skill development of the workforce to build a strong talent pool in the defence industry. This will ensure that the country has the necessary skills and knowledge to develop and produce critical defence systems indigenously.

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10000+ aspirants are going to appear for India’s biggest UPSC Mock Test

Even before you start preparing for UPSC 2024, you should have a certain aptitude and bent of mind to be a worthy aspirant. Get a check on your current level and situational awareness wrt this exam.

• Date: 29th April 2023
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In this article, we will discuss Operation Dost and India’s increasing profile as a first responder and net security provider.

Context

• On 6th of February, a massive earthquake struck southern Turkiye and Syria affecting millions of people in the region.
• Immediately on receiving news of this tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed that all possible assistance be extended to the affected people.

What is Operation Dost?

• Operation Dost is an ongoing search and rescue operation initiated by India to aid Syria and Turkey, after the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake devastated both countries on 6 February 2023.
• The Indian Army prepared its rescue teams with relief materials within 12 hours after disaster struck (much before the Turkish Army was mobilised).

How swiftly did India respond?

• Rescue ops: The NDRF has already flown close to 100 rescue workers along with dog squads to help with efforts, using specialised CSSR (Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue) equipment and techniques.
• Doctors’ dispatch: A military medical contingent has set up a field hospital in Turkiye for a 30-bed facility and specials, x-ray machines, ventilators, generators and ambulances
• Relief material: About 25 Tonnes of relief material, protective gear, clothes, emergency medicines, medical items have already reached, more to follow
• Tech support: India provided Garuda Aerospace’s drones to the most affected areas to identify those trapped under rubble, along with modified Kisan drones carrying medications, food, and supplies.

Central Idea: HADR Diplomacy

• Disaster relief diplomacy, also known as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) diplomacy, refers to a country’s efforts to provide aid and support to other countries affected by natural disasters or conflicts.
• This approach to diplomacy involves a country’s deployment of personnel, resources, and aid to provide assistance to those in need.
• It involves the sharing of expertise, resources, and knowledge to provide relief and support during times of crisis.

Features of HADR Diplomacy

• Multipronged approach: HADR diplomacy is typically a multilateral effort, involving partnerships between multiple countries, international organizations, and local authorities. This approach allows for a coordinated response to a disaster and promotes international cooperation.
• Capacity-building: HADR diplomacy involves building up a country’s capacity to provide assistance during times of crisis. This includes training personnel, acquiring equipment and supplies, and developing disaster response plans.
• Focus on vulnerable populations: HADR diplomacy is often focused on supporting vulnerable populations affected by disasters, such as women, children, the elderly, and those with disabilities.
• Long-term support: HADR diplomacy goes beyond immediate disaster relief efforts and often involves long-term support for affected communities. This can include rebuilding infrastructure, providing healthcare and education, and promoting economic recovery.
• Emphasis on communication and information sharing: HADR diplomacy involves effective communication and information sharing between different agencies, governments, and organizations. This is essential for coordinating a response to a disaster and ensuring that resources are used effectively.
• Respect for local culture and customs: HADR diplomacy involves an understanding and respect for local culture and customs. This helps ensure that relief efforts are culturally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of the affected population.

Why is it used?

• Soft power tool: It is mixed with solidarity and empathy at a time when suffering populations require as much help as possible.
• Building ties: Disaster relief diplomacy can be used to build strong ties between countries and promote international cooperation.
• Responsible global actor: Disaster relief diplomacy can also serve as a means to demonstrate a country’s commitment to global humanitarian efforts and help build its reputation as a responsible global actor.

India and HADR Diplomacy

• India’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) capacities tying into its diplomacy have grown significantly. It began after the 2011 Tsunami.
• The Quad was also conceived out of an initial blueprint to build disaster response systems in the region.

Instances of India sending aid to natural disaster-hit countries

• Maldives: After the 2004 Tsunami, the Indian government announced a composite package worth five crore rupees. Under “Operation Castor”, 50 sorties were undertaken and four aircraft and two Naval ships were engaged in relief operations. Repairing and restoring generators and communication, providing drinking water, and setting up medical camps on ships was also done.
• Sri Lanka: India sent its forces to carry out rescue operations, called “Operation Rainbow”, in Sri Lanka hours after the Tsunami struck the country on December 26, 2004. Not only this, India provided medical assistance to thousands of victims by setting up medical camps in coordination with the local civil and military health authorities. Preventative medication and vaccines were also supplied.
• Myanmar: When cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in 2008 killing at least 20,000 people, India was among the first countries to send aid to them. It gave 125.5 tonnes of relief material, including medicines, clothing, utensils, water tanks, tents and tarpaulin.
• Japan: The 2011 Tsunami wreaked havoc in Japan. Apart from providing relief materials, India also sent 46 members of the NDRF to search and rescue in the town of Onagawa. It was their first overseas operation. The team included a doctor, three officers, six inspectors, two paramedics and constables and carried 9,000 kg of equipment and food.
• Nepal: In the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquakes, the NDRF deployed 16 of its urban search and rescue (USAR) teams, which comprised more than 700 rescuers in the country. They rescued 11 injured persons and retrieved 133 dead bodies from the rubble. The teams also organised six medical camps and attended to 1,219 persons. Indian authorities sent more than 1,176 tonnes of relief materials to Nepal.

India’s traditional rivalry with Turkiye

Ankara’s long-standing stance on Kashmir and backing Pakistan, especially at the United Nations (UN), pushed some to ask why India was offering aid if Turkiye did not back India’s sovereignty.

Setting differences aside, why is India helping Turkey?

• In the case of India providing earthquake relief to Turkey, there are several factors that likely influenced India’s decision:
• Humanitarian considerations: The primary reason for providing assistance in times of disaster is to help those in need, regardless of political or strategic considerations. The earthquake in Turkey was a humanitarian crisis, and India likely felt compelled to provide assistance to help alleviate the suffering of those affected.
• Diplomatic reset: Disaster relief efforts can also serve as a means of promoting diplomatic relations between countries. By providing aid to Turkey, India may have been seeking to build goodwill and improve its relationship with the country.
• Shared interests: Despite past disagreements and conflicts, India and Turkey share some common history, culture and interests such as economic and strategic ties. Providing aid to Turkey may have been a way for India to demonstrate its commitment to these shared interests.
• International reputation: As a rising global power, India likely sees disaster relief efforts as a means of demonstrating its commitment to global humanitarian efforts and building its international reputation. By providing HADR, India has established itself as a responsible global actor.
• Cultural and people-to-people ties: India and Turkey share cultural and historical ties, with both countries having a rich cultural heritage. Ex. Ankara granting e-visa facilities to Indian tourists and Bollywood films being popular among Turkish masses.

While past conflicts and disagreements may influence international relations, countries often engage in aid and diplomatic efforts with countries they may have had past grievances with for a variety of reasons.

Diplomatically, what did India gain?

• Bilateral ties reset: In this case, India’s assistance to Turkiye comes at a time when ties are still tense- particularly over unwarranted Turkish statements and aids to radicalists in Kashmir.
• Global responder image: Especially in the year of India’s G20 presidency, India’s assistance burnishes its image as a leader of the developing world.
• Military capability on display: This disaster portrayed India’s swift response to rescue operations by mobilizing transporters, field hospitals, and technical teams within hours. It somehow portrays India’s preparedness for War.
• Improves response time: Op dost would help India with future calamities in India or anywhere in the world.
• Economic benefits: India’s HADR diplomacy has also brought economic benefits to the country. By providing aid and support to other countries, India has developed trade and economic relationships, and gained access to new markets and resources.

How can Turkiye benefit from this?

• Preferring India over appeasing Pakistan: It is becoming increasingly obvious that Turkey is getting disenchanted with Pakistan by and by, the most important factor behind its animosity towards India. The number of illegal Pakistanis.
• Battling domestic economic crisis: Turkey, which is undergoing a big economic crisis with historically high inflation of 80 percent, has to be pragmatic, not ideological, so as to win more friends than foes.
• Attracting more Indian tourists: Indians are now the third-largest Asian tourists in Turkey after China and Indonesia. Indian businesses, from food to technology, have been gradually expanding their presence in Turkey.
• Rebuking its ideals of Khilafat: Turkey perhaps realizes now its failure to emerge as the leader a grouping consisting of Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, and Qatar, in an attempt to break Saudi and UAE’s ideological supremacy within the Islamic world.
• Rebuilding ties with Israel: Turkey re-established diplomatic relations with Israel after more than a decade of tensions that erupted in 2010 when Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish activists in Gaza. India can help them come closer.

Conclusion

• Providing relief and aid to not just neighboring, but in the extended neighborhood of West Asia bodes well for the kind of diplomacy India is aiming to conduct in the future.
• Public diplomacy, such as HADR capacities, remains one of the most effective tools to build capacities on a people-to-people level, conduct of which needs to be done in a humble way.

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👉What you should expect in 1-1 Live with Shubham Nagargoje sir?

Should you start with NCERTs? or directly Standard books? maybe start with just the newspapers first…. like these, there are a lot of questions in the minds of aspirants who are starting their UPSC 2024 preparation.

UPSC IAS-IPS-IFS is a dream of many but only a handful of them can make it a reality.

Every year millions of aspirants start from zero. But only a few can sit on a DM’s chair & the rest are stuck in the labyrinth of the gigantic syllabus or a cycle of repeated failure.

So, a seamless beginning matters.

Guys, there is a saying, “Well begun is half done.” so, don’t start UPSC 2024 Preparation just for being part of the rat race or to ‘gain experience’.  Instead, your start of IAS 2024 prep must be in such a way that it guarantees your destination, LBSNAA.

UPSC Prelims 2024 will be scheduled between May and June. That’s just 17 months away. As an aspirant, even if you are a beginner you might have already started preparation, but you must understand the criticality of the next 17 months. Everything that you do must be under a plan, a strategy.

To help you strategize we have planned a Masterclass by UPSC Topper, IPS, Shubham sir.

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UPSC 2024 Masterclass Details:

Topic: How to start UPSC 2024 Prep from scratch? Level ‘0’ Strategy for a top 10 rank on the very 1st attempt

• Date: 20th February, (Monday)

• Time; 7:30 PM.
• FREE strategy + UPSC 2024 study package by IPS Shubham sir
• Mode: Online (Zoom link will be emailed to you)

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What you should expect in 1-1 Live with IPS, Shubham sir

1. How to start UPSC 2024 Preparation like a topper and take level ‘0’ advantage.
2. Avoiding a random one, How to select the right NCERTs to start preparation and build a strong subjective foundation for Both Prelims and Mains
3. How to understand the syllabus and work on that.
   • What is the easiest way for all background aspirants to complete the UPSC syllabus?
4. How to divide your time for Daily newspaper, NCERTs, Advanced books like M. Laxmikant Etc.
5. How to make current affairs notes and update later by removing redundant information.
   • There are only two consolidated sources for current events. What exactly are they?
6. How to utilize PYQs for both Prelims and Mains.
7. How to manage time? because time management with consistency is the only thing for success in UPSC
   • How do you start your Optional Subject? and in how many months do you have to finish it?
   • How to pick conceptual subjects first and finish them one by one by December 2023
   • How to start minor subjects as soon as the conceptual subjects are finished
   • How to focus on only Prelims after December 2023 and revise by following 60, 45, 25, and 15 rules.
8. How to stick to the bare minimum sources so that your revision will be maximum?
9. Complete UPSC-CSE Preparation Timeline for a Working Professional
10. Recognize the UPSC requirement. What kinds of test series are useful? Which mock test series should be avoided?

You won’t afford to miss such an awesome LIVE webinar.

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What The Hindu opined about Civilsdaily Mentorship

20th February (Monday) at 7:30 Pm | LIVE, ask me anything session on How to start UPSC 2024 Prep from scratch? Level ‘0’ Strategy for a top 10 rank on the very 1st attempt by UPSC Topper Shubham Nagargoje sir.

Context

• Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly was on a two-day visit to New Delhi, and both sides hope to cast a reset in their bilateral relations.
• These have been rather lukewarm despite many enduring linkages of their past histories, politics and people.

India-Canada Relations: A quick recap

• India established diplomatic relations with Canada in 1947.
• In recent years, both countries have been working to enhance bilateral cooperation in a number of areas of mutual importance.

History of migration

The history of Indian migration to Canada has a long, complex history, beginning in the mid-19th century and continuing to the present day.

• Indentured labour: The first recorded Indian migrants to Canada were indentured labourers brought to British Columbia in the late 1860s to work in the rapidly expanding lumber industry.
• Population measures: These workers were largely from Punjab, India, and they were part of a larger wave of Indian migration spurred by the British government’s encouragement of emigration in the hope of relieving population pressures in India.
• Less restrictive immigration: In the mid-20th century, the number of Indians migrating to Canada increased dramatically due to the Canadian government’s introduction of less restrictive immigration laws.

Today, the community includes people from all regions of India, as well as second and third-generation Canadians of Indian descent.

Indo-Canadian’s contribution in Freedom Struggle

[A] Ghadr Party

• The Ghadr party, also known as the Hindustan Ghadr Revolutionary Party nationalist revolutionary organization founded in May 1913 in San Francisco, California, with the aim of securing India’s freedom from British rule.  
• The party drew its membership mainly from Punjabi Sikh immigrants in the United States and Canada, but also included Hindu and Muslim immigrants from other parts of India.

[B] Support to INC

• Canada was one of the first countries to recognize the Indian National Congress and its aims.
• Canadian political leaders and public figures publicly expressed their support for the Indian struggle and advocated for India’s independence.
• In the 1940s, Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King publicly voiced his support for India’s independence and called for a peaceful transition to self-government.

[C] Open support for freedom

• Canada also provided moral support to the Indian struggle. In 1947, the Canadian Parliament unanimously passed a motion expressing support for India’s independence.
• This motion was a strong statement of solidarity with the Indian people and their struggle for freedom.
• Canada was an important supplier of resources to India during World War II, providing critical material such as food, clothing, and ammunition.
• Canada also provided financial aid to India’s independence movement, and Canadian citizens raised funds to support the cause.

Komagatamaru Incident: The Komagata Maru incident was an incident in 1914 involving the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru, carrying 376 Indian passengers who were denied entry to Canada. They had sailed from Hong Kong, intending to immigrate to Canada, but were refused entry at the port of Vancouver due to the Canadian government’s continuous journey regulation. The passengers, mostly Sikhs from Punjab, were forced to return to India, where they were met with violence and harassment by British colonial authorities. The incident has become a symbol of Canada’s history of racist immigration policies aimed at excluding Asians.

Significant collaborations

• Trade: Canada is India’s second largest export destination and is the third largest source of imports for India. It is a major source of FDI for India, with total investments of nearly USD 5.5 billion.
• Investment: India and Canada have strong bilateral relations which have been further strengthened by the India–Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), signed in 2009.
• Collaboration on STEM: India and Canada are also engaged in several joint development projects in the areas of science and technology, health, education, and climate change.
• Energy: India and Canada have recently signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the Field of Renewable Energy.
• Security: India and Canada are also cooperating in the field of defence, with joint military exercises and training programs.
• Global institutional reforms: India and Canada are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the G20, and cooperate on several international issues.

Recent souring of ties

[A] Racist Policies

• Canada’s perceived shift away from its traditional stance of neutrality has put at odds with India’s traditional non-alignment policy.
• Additionally, Canada’s criticism of India’s human rights record has been seen as offensive by many in India, leading to strained diplomatic relations.
• Additionally, Canada’s failure to exempt India from visa requirements has also been seen as a sign of disrespect.

[B] Open support of Khalistan movement

• Over 100,000 Canadians recently took part in voting for the Khalistan Referendum in Brampton, Ontario on 19 September which was organised by pro-Khalistani.
• Visuals on social media showed a huge number of men, women queueing up to vote in for Khalistan Referendum. 
• Indian government had warned Canadian govt against the anti-India forces growing in the country.
• However, the Canadian government refused to stop them from expressing their views by holding the Khalistan Referendum and linking it with a “peaceful and democratic” process.

[C] Other Impediments

• Trade decline: India-Canada bilateral trade has been declining since 2013 and currently stands at around $7 billion. There is room to increase this trade and investments in both directions.
• Illegal immigration: Canada has been increasingly concerned about illegal immigration from India, as well as the backlog in processing applications for legal immigration, both of which have caused tension between the two countries.
• No security consensus: India and Canada have been working to enhance their defense and security ties, but the two countries have yet to sign a formal security agreement.
• Under-utilized agriculture: Canada and India have been in negotiations to open up the agricultural sector to more trade, but disagreements over import restrictions and subsidies continue to be a major obstacle.
• Human rights allegations on India: India and Canada have also clashed over human rights issues, with Canada criticizing India’s policies on religious minorities, freedom of speech, and other human rights issues.

Why is Canada suddenly recognizing India’s importance?

[A] Indo-Pacific Strategy

• First is Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy that was issued last November. While it calls China “an increasingly disruptive global power,” it describes India as Canada’s “critical partner” for its regional and global objectives. This is music to Indian ears.
• Indeed, this 23-page report mentions India 27 times, underlining their “shared tradition of democracy and pluralism, a common commitment to a rules-based international system.”

[B] Merchandise trade

• Canada and India have strong economic ties, with two-way merchandise trade between the two countries reaching $9.5 billion in 2019.
• Canada is also India’s second-largest source of foreign direct investment, and Indian investments in Canada have grown significantly in recent years.

[C] Cultural ties

• Canada and India also have strong people-to-people ties, with the Indian diaspora in Canada estimated to be more than one million strong.
• Sikhs constitute a significant proportion of the Indian diaspora, they make up less than one percent (a little over 500,000) of Canada’s total population.
• Cultural tourism is boosting between the two countries.

[D] Newfound enthusiasm

• This newfound enthusiasm was visible in the press release issued in Canberra on the eve of the Canadian foreign minister’s visit to India.
• India’s growing strategic, economic and demographic importance makes it a critical partner for Canada in the Indo-Pacific.
• In turn, Canada can be a reliable supplier of critical minerals, a stronger partner in the green transition, as well as a major investor.

Why is Canada important for India?

• Destination for Indian students: Canada is one of the top sources for foreign students for Indian universities. India is the second largest source of immigrants to Canada.
• 2^nd largest trade partner: Canada is India’s second-largest trading partner, and trade between the two countries has been growing steadily.
• Vibrant diaspora: Canada is home to a large and vibrant Indian diaspora, and the two countries enjoy strong people-to-people ties.
• Source of FDI: Canada is also an important source of foreign direct investment for India, and provides an important source of capital to Indian businesses.
• Liberal visas and citizenship: Canada is also an important source of skilled immigrants for India and is a popular destination for students and professionals from India.
• Trade partnership: Both nations look forward to their proposed Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) before they finalize their CEPA.

Way forward

• Strengthening diplomatic ties: India and Canada should work towards strengthening their diplomatic ties, by engaging in more frequent diplomatic exchanges and dialogue. This could include increasing the number of high-level visits between both countries, and exploring opportunities for collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, and education.
• Enhancing trade relations: India and Canada should focus on enhancing their bilateral trade relations, by exploring the potential for increased exports and investment. This could involve investing in joint initiatives that promote economic growth, as well as taking steps to reduce barriers to trade and investment.
• Nurturing people-to-people ties: India and Canada should aim to encourage more people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. This could include increasing the number of students and scholars studying and teaching in each other’s countries, as well as promoting cultural exchanges and tourism.
• Enhancing security cooperation: India and Canada should work together to enhance their security cooperation, by increasing information sharing and collaboration on countering terrorism, cyber-security, and other common security threats.
• Technology collaboration: India and Canada should explore new areas of collaboration, such as in the fields of renewable energy, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. This could involve engaging in joint research and development initiatives, as well as exploring opportunities for joint ventures.

Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers

(Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89192905948?pwd=cGVqQlR5Tjd3NTQ3RnRtcXh1cnR0UT09

Meeting ID: 891 9290 5948
Passcode: 510163

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UPSC Prelims 2023 is 100 days away and this is for you if don’t feel secure w.r.t. your prep.

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Most of the aspirants at this point in time tend to go haywire in their preparation, not knowing how to prioritize and what to study and what to avoid, how to evaluate and measure progress, make improvements, which often leads to confusion, frustration, and in many cases, repeated failures.

Session by Santosh sir: Last 100 days strategy for UPSC Prelims 2023. Filling critical gaps in your preparation.

Santosh sir needs no introduction when it comes to UPSC Prelims. He is the Prelims guru for CivilsDaily’s thousands of aspirants who cleared Pre last year with thumping success.

Santosh sir will be sharing with you a strategy and a blueprint for the remaining 100 days.

1. What 10 things you must be doing to secure prelims 2023
2. How to fill critical gaps in your preparation?
3. Avoiding pitfalls in your preparation, especially 3 months before prelims.
4. How to solve the current affairs based static questions
5. Most important themes for UPSC Prelims 2023

Date: 17th Feb || Time: 7:30 pm || Mode: Online

Mode: Online (Zoom link will be emailed to you)

Contact here: +91 7303316700

2 Day UPSC Prelims 2023 special sessions

We will have a special 2-Day session by two UPSC toppers, Prabhat sir, AIR 377 & Santosh sir, Asst Commissioner, GST who themselves have faced UPSC Prelims multiple times and cleared it with 120+ scores.

They will help you define the strategy and approach for the last three months of UPSC Prelims preparation. They will also help you with these things:

1. Bringing awareness on what your preparation at this stage looks like and how to bridge the critical gaps – in syllabus completion (GS and Current Affairs) and approach.
2. Making improvements and assessing prep level wrt mocks.
3. Last 100 days’ strategy
4. Sticking to the bare minimum for the most optimum UPSC pre-2023 preparation.

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Day 1 with Prabhat sir: Studying what’s important and ignoring the rest. Optimizing preparation like a Topper.

Prabhat sir will discuss how he approached the last 3 months of his preparation for Prelims. He will discuss basically two things:

1. Sticking to the bare minimum wrt current affairs and GS subjects.
2. Following the 80/20 rule, there are 20% of the themes from which you can actually take your success rate up by 80%
3. The art of attempting mocks for UPSC Prelims
4. Avoiding 5 mistakes in assessing UPSC Mock tests.

Date: 15th Feb || Time: 7:30 pm || Mode: Online

Mode: Online (Video link will be emailed to you)

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CivilsDaily’s FREE Webinar package

Post-webinar Santosh sir will be sharing:

1. 100 most important topics for UPSC Prelims 2023
2. Smash Prelims PDF Notes for FREE
3. Smash Prelims 3 Mock Tests
4. One-to-one mentorship session with senior mentors from Civilsdaily

What The Hindu opined about Civilsdaily Mentorship

Context

• Academic cheating has become a major problem in many countries, including India.
• To address this issue, the State of Uttarakhand in northern India has recently enacted new anti-copying laws to curb cheating in exams.
• We will take a closer look at India’s strictest Anti-Copying Law which has come into force in Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Competitive Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Ordinance

• The new anti-cheating law in Uttarakhand is legislation that aims to reduce cheating during exams and promote fairness in the educational system.
• This comes after the UKPSC paper leak which led to cancellation of exams for around 1.4 lakh government job aspirants and to understand the implications of this law.

Key provisions

• 10 year ban: Under `Anti-copying law’, candidates involved in cheating will be punished and a `ban of 10 years` will be imposed on them.
• Fine and imprisonment: There is a provision to impose a fine of 10 crore along with life imprisonment or 10 years in jail for the copycat mafia. 
• Property confiscation: Apart from this, there is also a provision to attach the property of the copying mafia.

Need for the law

• Integrity of the educational system: It undermines the integrity of the education system and the value of educational qualifications, and it also detracts from students’ learning experiences.
• Prevent opportunism: The laws aim to ensure that students can obtain their qualifications through honest and fair means and to promote a culture of academic integrity.
• Create level playing field: The objective of the law is to create a level playing field for all students and ensure that educational achievements are based on merit and hard work rather than cheating.

Issues with academic cheating/copying

• Induces culture of Dishonesty: Cheating encourages a culture of dishonesty and opportunism, leading to a lack of respect for the academic process and for the institution as a whole.
• Compromises merit: The new laws were introduced in response to concerns about the high levels of academic dishonesty in the State and the negative impact it has on the education system and society as a whole.
• Promotes imposters: Cheating and copying can lead to a lack of understanding of the subject, which can lead to poor performance at work.
• Curse for the talent: Cheating undermines the educational system. It devalues the hard work of those who have studied and learned the material legitimately.
• Unfair advantage: Exam cheating gives students an unfair advantage over those who choose to work hard and study for their exams. This puts those who don’t cheat at a disadvantage and can lead to feelings of resentment and frustration.
• False sense of accomplishment: Cheating and copying can lead to a false sense of accomplishment, as students may not learn the material fully and may perform poorly on exams or assignments.
• Discourages hardwork: Cheating can lead to a lack of motivation, as students may not feel the need to work hard and learn when they know they can simply copy or cheat.
• Lack of personal growth: Cheating on an exam does not help students learn or grow, as it does not provide any real understanding of the material. It also does not help students develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their academic and professional careers.
• May lead to dropouts: Cheating erodes the trust between faculty and students, as faculty may become suspicious and less willing to invest in their students.

Benefits provided by the Law

The new anti-cheating law in Uttarakhand is a step in the right direction, for it provides several benefits:

• Fairness and integrity: The law aims to reduce instances of cheating and promote fairness in the educational system. By imposing severe punishments on those who cheat, it creates a level playing field for all students and ensures that educational achievements are based on merit and hard work.
• Credibility of the educational system: The new law helps to maintain the credibility of the educational system and ensures that educational degrees and certificates are recognised as legitimate and reflective of actual knowledge and skills.
• Discouragement of cheating: By imposing severe punishments on those who cheat, the law is intended to discourage cheating and promote a culture of honesty and hard work. This can lead to an overall improvement in the quality of education in the state.
• Increased value of educational achievements: With fewer instances of cheating, the value of educational achievements are expected to increase. This can improve the job prospects of students and increase the overall competitiveness of the state’s workforce.
• Improving academics quality: Many schools and colleges are now taking steps to improve the quality of education and reduce students’ stress levels in best possible manner.
• Broader message: In addition to addressing the issue of academic cheating, the new anti-copying laws in Uttarakhand are also having a wider impact on the education system in the entire nation. The new laws are also helping to promote a more ethical and responsible attitude among students, both in Uttarakhand and in other parts of India

Criticisms of the legislation

• Coercive punishments: Some students and parents have criticised the laws, arguing that they are too harsh and that they unfairly penalise students. We as a nation pardon death penalty but attenuate such petty mistakes.
• Doesn’t address root cause of cheating: They also argue that the laws do not address the root causes of cheating, such as the lack of quality education and the high level of stress and competition faced by students.
• Performance pressure on marginalized students: The new law could lead to some unintended consequences, such as increased pressure on students to perform well and avoid cheating, which could negatively impact their mental health and well-being.

Way forward

• Taking all stakeholders to table: In the long term, the success of the laws will depend on the ability of educators, students, and parents to work together to create a supportive and ethical learning environment that values knowledge, hard work, and integrity.
• Provide quality education: This requires a commitment to providing quality education, reducing the stress level faced by students, and promoting a positive and ethical attitude among students and other members of the education community.
• Address mental health of students: It is important to ensure that the law is implemented in a way that strikes a balance between promoting fairness and protecting the well-being of students. Ex. Pariksha pe Charcha by PM.

Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers

(Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83267454882?pwd=SnE0MGgxTXFJcmNCTVhqcFZHWlFXQT09

Meeting ID: 832 6745 4882
Passcode: 347487

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UPSC Workshop for 2nd Day: Decoding How to start UPSC 2024 preparation like a Topper? | Register 1-1 Live Session With 2 UPSC Rankers to get a free PDF of the most value-added notes

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UPSC has a very rational approach w.r.t. the IAS-IPS exam. In every stage of the exam- Prelims, Mains, and Interview it has certain expectations from the candidate, you in this case. Whether you are worthy or not is then judged by the exam set by UPSC.

The issue that most of the aspirants face is the lack of clarity about what the UPSC really expects from them. They tend to go haywire in their preparation, not knowing how to prioritize and what to study, which often leads to confusion, frustration and in some cases, repeated failures.

The solution to this problem lies in understanding the expectations of the UPSC at each stage of the exam. Knowing what the UPSC wants from the aspirants will help in shaping up their preparation, making it more effective and result-oriented.

By having a clear understanding of the UPSC’s expectations, aspirants can align their preparation accordingly, prioritize their study material, and set realistic targets. This will not only help in saving time and effort but also increase the chances of success. In addition, it will bring consistency to their preparation and make it more productive.

13th Feb 2023 (Monday), 5:00 pm

Mode: Online (Zoom link will be emailed to you)

What you should expect after Day 2

• How 99% of aspirants crowd follow the traditional way to start UPSC preparation blindly. And so the ultimate success rate is 0.0053%. But, how do toppers avoid this, start UPSC preparation &  acquire a day ‘0’ advantage?

• Having a Clear Understanding of the UPSC’s expectations, syllabus and pattern.
• Different approaches you should be having for different stages of UPSC CSE and integrating those approaches.
• Following 80/20 principle for UPSC prep
• Make a Study Plan and Stick to It 

• Learn How to Manage Time, Resources and prioritize tasks
• Break Down the Syllabus into Revision-Manageable Parts
• How to read newspapers and magazines regularly
• Make Notes & Use Flashcards
• Analyze Your Weakness and Strengths
• Understand the Pattern and Marking Scheme

Do’s and Dont’s; and breaking the myths around UPSC. Eg. Aspirants from rural or non-engineering backgrounds are at a disadvantage

Contact here: +91 7303316700

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Get recorded session of Day 1: How to crack UPSC with 5hr/day prep? Time management for Working UPSC 2023 & 2024 aspirants

👨‍🎓By Soham sir, AIR 267, Super Mentor- Civilsdaily

11th Feb 2023 (Saturday), 7:30 pm

Soham Mandhare, IRS and a Super Mentor at CivilsDaily will be LIVE for a 1-1 LIVE webinar to discuss practical and proven Time-Management strategies to bring productivity and efficiency to your UPSC preparation, with just 5 hours of study time.

What you should expect on Day 1?

• How to manage time for UPSC Preparation if you’re a working Professional? How to utilize the time, left in your hand, in the best possible way?

• UPSC preparation timetable and schedule with just 5 hrs of daily study time?

• How to identify those people or things that deplete your energy and waste your time?

• How to break down the syllabus into small chunks, and develop an effective & workable study strategy for UPSC preparation.

• How to complete the syllabus, in a short time! 

• How to prioritize conventional topics/subjects?

• How to divide your time and keep a balance between Prelims and mains preparation?

• Selective reading or studying: How to deal with the ocean of current affairs and a mountain of GS?

• How to tackle Optional subject preparation, Making Notes, and improving answer writing habits in a short time

• Many more untold tips and techniques that only a topper can elaborate

Time: 7:30 pm onwards

Mode: This Workshop will be held online mode. We will share a Zoom link in your email. Please register.

Contact here: +91 7303316700

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CivilsDaily’s FREE Webinar package

Post-webinar we will share important PDFs, timetable framework, and notes.

Other than this a strategy package will be emailed to you.

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What The Hindu opined about Civilsdaily Mentorship

Context

• The Indian banking sector remains resilient and stable.
• Various parameters relating to capital adequacy, asset quality, liquidity, provision coverage and profitability are healthy.
• That’s the statement from the RBI amid heightened concerns about the exposures of banks to a business conglomerate.

Why in news?

• The Budget 2023-24 has no provisions for capital infusion.
• This reflects the confidence of the government in the robust position of the Indian banking system.

Key indicators from Financial Stability Report (December 2022)

• High aggregate deposits: The Indian banking sector recorded a healthy growth in deposits and advances during FY 2022, with the aggregate deposits of the scheduled commercial banks rising by 11.7% and the aggregate advances increasing by 10.2%.
• Decline in NPAs: The gross non-performing assets (NPA) ratio of all scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) declined from 9.1% in March 2021 to 8.2% in September 2022, driven by a reduction in NPAs of public sector banks (PSBs).
• Adequate capital: The Indian banking sector is well capitalized, with the capital-to-risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) of SCBs at 13.3% as of September 2022, higher than the regulatory requirement of 11.5%.
• Credit growth increased: Credit growth of banks remained strong during FY 2022, with the credit growth of SCBs increasing from 8.4% in March 2021 to 10.1% in September 2022.
• Moderate liquidity: RBI liquidity management operations during FY 2022 provided significant liquidity support to the banking system and helped to maintain overall financial stability.

What led to improvements of banking prospects?

• Non-impacted by global recession: The financial system remained resilient to external shocks as the overall capitalization of the banking sector improved and credit growth remained strong.
• Stable Rupee: The Indian rupee (INR) remained largely stable during FY 2022, with the rupee depreciating by 0.8% against the US dollar (USD) during the year.
• Stable equity markets: The Indian equity markets performed well during FY 2022, with the BSE Sensex recording a gain of 24.2% during the year.
• High forex reserves: The foreign exchange reserves of India stood at US$ 574.2 billion as of December 2022, a rise of 13.5% over the level at end-March 2021.
• Healthy credit ratings: International rating agencies like Moody’s Investor Service and Standard & Poor’s global rating have upgraded their outlook for the Indian banking system based on its performance in the last couple of years.

What contributes to resilient and stability in Indian banking system?

• RBI’s prudency: The RBI as a regulator is excellent and it is well-recognized in the world. It handles the regulation and supervision of such a heterogeneous system involving cooperative banks, foreign banks, and even NBFCs with great efficiency.
• RBI’s global stature: The respect the RBI commands in the world is extremely high. For instance, the Federal Reserve, Washington invited officers of RBI in 2009 after the collapse of the Lehman Brothers.
• Timely assessment: RBI is extremely watchful at the macro, institutional, and individual levels and releases periodical reports like the Financial Stability Report.
• Checks and balances: The Asset Quality Review which RBI initiated in 2018 is crucial in identifying and plugging the loopholes. The banks have deployed a risk assessment department and risk assessment officers. RBI has made various provisions and starts flagging the risks ex. Special Mention Account.

Achievements of the Indian Banking Sector

• NPA crisis under control: The issues of NPA and Twin Balance Sheet problems were addressed through proactive measures of government and RBI like Recognition, Resolution, Recapitalization, and Reforms.
• Credit Growth: The credit growth in the banking sector has been very impressive in the past few years. The credit to GDP ratio has increased from 48.3% in 2008 to 74.3% in 2018. This has led to increased availability of credit to businesses and individuals.
• Expansion of banking services: The banking sector in India has seen tremendous growth in the past decade. The number of bank branches has grown from around 80,000 in 2000 to more than 1,50,000 in 2018. This has led to an increase in the access of banking services to the masses.
• Financial Inclusion: The banking sector has also played an important role in making financial services accessible to the unbanked population of India. The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) launched in 2014 has been a major success, with more than 32 crore accounts opened so far.
• Digitization: The banking sector has seen a rapid digitization, with banks providing various digital services such as mobile banking, internet banking, and cardless cash withdrawals. This has enabled customers to access banking services from anywhere, anytime.
• Financial Innovation: The banking sector has also seen a great deal of financial innovation. Banks have introduced various new products and services such as credit cards, debit cards, and mutual funds. These products have helped customers to access a wide range of financial services.

Systemic risks to Indian Banks

• Non-Performing Assets (NPAs): With the rise in NPAs, banks are exposed to the risk of defaults, write-offs and losses.
• Credit Risk: Banks are exposed to credit risk when borrowers are unable or unwilling to repay their loans.
• Interest Rate Risk: Banks are exposed to interest rate risk when their assets and liabilities have different maturities and/or interest rates.
• Regulatory Risk: Banks are subject to stringent regulations and changes in regulations can significantly impact their profitability.
• Operational Risk: Banks are exposed to operational risk from a variety of sources, including technical failures, fraud, and human error.
• Cybersecurity Risks: As banks become increasingly reliant on digital systems and processes, there is an increased risk of cyber-attacks and data breaches.

Way ahead

• Privatization in near future: After addressing key concerns like the NPAs and recapitalization, the government is moving towards the substantive reform of privatization. It was also announced in the Budget speech of 2022-23 that the idea is to have a few big banks.
• Increased monitoring and compliance: RBI is also constantly improving its ways and mechanism of monitoring and regulation to be risk-proof in the future. Banks are also in compliance with the Large Exposure Framework (LEF) guidelines issued by the RBI.
• Leveraging technology: In the mechanisms deployed by the RBI, there is a red alert in case of any discrepancy in the system. Technology can help to a great extent in increasing the frequency and time efficiency of addressing such red alerts. Thus, RBI should leverage technology.

Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers

(Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

Soham Mandhare, IRS and a Super Mentor at CivilsDaily will be LIVE for a 1-1 LIVE webinar to discuss practical and proven Time-Management strategies to bring productivity and efficiency to your UPSC preparation, with just 5 hours of study time.

⭐Get Soham sir’s Timetable and Notes

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Being one of the most prestigious and sought-after careers in India, Civil Services is a dream for many. We’ve seen UPSC toppers who chose these over their high-paying corporate jobs.

However, for many working professionals, aspiring to be an IAS-IPS, balancing a demanding job with their aspirations to crack this exam can be a tough task. And they can’t quit becoming a full-time aspirant.

Isn’t this the usual story?

• 9 hours office, 1 hour in travel, 1 hour for washing and eating, 8 hours for sleep. 19 hours just GONE!

• Time left → 24 hours – 19 hours = 5 hours. Where to start, what to read & revise in these 300 minutes. 

• How to complete the syllabus, and attempt mock tests in such a short time?

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Preparing with a full-time job was the best decision…and CivilsDaily made it easy for me.

Mantri Mourya, AIR 28, UPSC 2021

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Responsibilities and financial independence must not stop you from following your passion and making your dream come true.

With long work hours and limited time to study, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and like you’re not making progress. Unmanageable preparation takes a toll on your mental-physical health and UPSC attempt/efforts.

If you can’t increase the study time then better spend those 5 hours under a solid strategy where you are able to maintain a razor-sharp focus, gradual improvements, and are able to measure progress.

Soham Mandhare, IRS and a Super Mentor at CivilsDaily will be LIVE for a 1-1 LIVE webinar to discuss practical and proven Time-Management strategies to bring productivity and efficiency to your UPSC preparation, with just 5 hours of study time.

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Masterclass on 11th February, (Saturday) at 7:30 PM.

Mode: Online

Link: Zoom link will be shared on email post registration

FREE Entry but limited seats

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Important Takeaways:

• How to manage time for UPSC Preparation if you’re a working Professional? How to utilize the time, left in your hand, in the best possible way?
• UPSC preparation timetable and schedule with just 5 hrs of daily study time?
• How to identify those people or things that deplete your energy and waste your time?
• How to break down the syllabus into small chunks, and develop an effective & workable study strategy for UPSC preparation.
• How to complete the syllabus, in a short time! 
• How to prioritize conventional topics/subjects?
• How to divide your time and keep a balance between Prelims and mains preparation?
• Selective reading or studying: How to deal with the ocean of current affairs and a mountain of GS?
• How to tackle Optional subject preparation, Making Notes, and improving answer writing habits in a short time
• Many more untold tips and techniques that only a topper can elaborate

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CivilsDaily’s FREE Webinar package

Post-webinar we will share important PDFs, timetable framework, and notes.

Other than this a strategy package will be emailed to you.

Note: Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited seats are available.

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What The Hindu mentioned about Civilsdaily Mentorship

Soham Mandhare, IRS and a Super Mentor at CivilsDaily will be LIVE for a 1-1 LIVE webinar to discuss practical and proven Time-Management strategies to bring productivity and efficiency to your UPSC preparation, with just 5 hours of study time.

Why in news?

• Digitization initiatives in India and the work with digital public goods have been extraordinary, said Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella.

Context

• India’s digital infrastructure has not only changed how Indians live and operate but it has also caught the fancy of other countries around the world.
• In this article, we will focus on a global technology commons that has the ability to address some of the world’s toughest challenges which India has much to contribute.

What are Digital Public Goods (DPGs)?

• Digital public goods are public goods in the form of software, data sets, AI models, standards or content that are generally free cultural works and contribute to sustainable national and international digital development.
• Several international agencies, including UNICEF and UNDP, are exploring DPGs as a possible solution to address the issue of digital inclusion, particularly for children in emerging economies.

How is it different from physical public good?

• Abundance: The nondepletable, nonexclusive, and nonrivalrous nature of digital public goods means the rules and norms for managing them can be different from how physical public goods are managed.
• Everlasting: DPGs can be infinitely stored, copied, and distributed without becoming depleted, and at close to zero cost.
• Inclusiveness: DPG is a good that is both non-excludable (no one can be prevented from consuming this good) and non-rivalrous (the consumption of this good by anyone does not reduce the quantity available to others).

Examples of DPGs

1. Wikipedia
2. DHIS2, an open source health management system.
3. Free and open-source software (FOSS), since FOSS is licensed to allow it to be shared freely, modified and redistributed, it is available as a digital public good.
4. Open educational resources, which by their copyright are allowed to be freely re-used, revised and shared.

Digital public goods in India

• Aadhaar: Built on the foundation of Aadhaar and India Stack, modular applications, big and small, are transforming the way we make payments, withdraw our PF, get our passport and driving license and check land records, to name just a few activities.
• Unified Payment Interface (UPI): To give an example, consider the surge in UPI-based payments in India. This kind of growth doesn’t happen with a few entitled and privileged people using UPI more and more; it happens with more and more people using UPI more and more.
• DIKSHA Portal: The use of DIKSHA, the school education platform built on the open-source platform Sunbird, has followed the same trajectory — today close to 500 million schoolchildren are using it.

Key Indian initiative: ‘India Stack’

• India Stack is a set of (application programming interface) APIs that allows governments, businesses, startups and developers to utilize a unique digital Infrastructure to solve India’s hard problems towards presence-less, paperless, and cashless service delivery.
• The Open API team at iSPIRT has been a pro-bono partner in the development, evolution, and evangelization of these APIs and systems.

APIs included in India Stack:

The following APIs are considered to be a core part of the India Stack-

• Aadhaar Authentication
• Aadhaar e-KYC
• eSign
• Digital Locker
• Unified Payment Interface (UPI)
• Digital User Consent – still work in progress.
• GSTN –Goods and Services Tax Network
• BBPS –Bharat Bill Payment System
• ETC – Electronic Toll Collection (known under the brand FASTag)

Why need DPGs?

• Cost Effectiveness: The cost of setting up an open source-based educational infrastructure, to supplement the physical infrastructure, for an entire country is less than laying two kilometers of high-quality road.
• Lower investment required: The investments required for transporting digital public goods are minuscule in comparison and there is no chance of a debt trap. Also, the code (platform) is highly reusable.
• Instantly visible outcomes: Unlike physical infrastructure such as ports and roads, digital public goods have short gestation periods and immediate, and visible impact and benefits.
• Faster service delivery: Processes get streamlined and wait times for any service come down dramatically. Issuances of passports, PAN cards and driving licences are such examples.
• Plugging the leakages: It eliminates ghost beneficiaries of government services, removes touts collecting rent, creates an audit trail, makes the individual-government-market interface transparent and provides efficiencies that help recoup the investments quickly.
• Wider outreach: Productivity goes up and services can be scaled quickly. Benefits can be rapidly extended to cover a much larger portion of the population.

Most significant utility of DPGs: Digital Diplomacy

 (1) Boost India’s Image as a leading technology player

• It will take made-in-India digital public goods across the world and boost India’s brand positioning as a leading technology player in the digital age. 
• India’s digital diplomacy will be beneficial to and welcomed by, all emerging economies from Peru to Polynesia, from Uruguay to Uganda, and from Kenya to Kazakhstan.

(2) Enhancing the productivity of emerging economies

• Emerging economies are characterized by gross inefficiencies in the delivery of government services and a consequent trust deficit.
• Digital public goods spread speed, transparency, ease and productivity across the individual-government-market ecosystem and enhance inclusivity, equity and development at scale.

Challenges associated with DPG Diplomacy

• Privacy issues: Potential violations of privacy and possible weaponization of data is a primary issue related to such digital initiatives.
• Increase in Inequalities: Success in the digital provision of services is dependent on many underlying factors, including digital literacy, education and access to stable and fast telecommunication services.
• Cybersecurity threats: While channels and databases used by the Government for transmission and storage are usually secure, other players in the ecosystem may not possess the requisite expertise or security to prevent and respond to breaches.
• Unserved remote areas: With digital services not being uniformly distributed, communities in remote areas often require on-ground staff to deploy and supplement digital tools.

Global liaison over DPGs: Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA)

• The DPGA is a multi-stakeholder initiative with a mission to accelerate the attainment of sustainable development goals in low- and middle-income countries by facilitating the discovery, development, use of, and investment in digital public goods.
• It is a UN initiative launched in 2019.

Way Forward

• Data localization: India needs to ensure that digital goods diplomacy doesn’t become an exercise to gather data and provisions must be made for data localization.
• Training of Individuals: Individuals across the countries need to be trained in cyber security for successful digital goods diplomacy. A lead can be taken up by CERT-In.
• No Authoritative nature: India needs to ensure that data with the state doesn’t lead to authoritarianism in these countries. Decentralized and distributed storage using Blockchain technology can be used by India.
• Ensuring Inclusivity: Digital ecosystems should be guided by factors of availability, accessibility, affordability, value and trust.
• Citizen-Centralism: There is a need to ensure the design is citizen-centric and ensures inclusive access to services at the last mile will help drive adoption and sustain these ecosystems.
• Data privacy robustness: Designing privacy-protection and secure databases are critical. It is, therefore, imperative that regulations governing any digital initiative must take into account provisions of the Personal Data Protection Bill.

Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers

(Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

Concluded successfully on 6th February (Monday) | A must for non-science/ non-engineering background aspirants | Get FREE PDF, Telegram group link, and mentorship session

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As a UPSC aspirant, you’re no stranger to the pressure and competition that comes with preparing for one of the most prestigious exams in the country.

But the mysterious, unpredictable, and devious nature of CSAT paper can send shivers down the spine of even the veteran UPSC aspirants. AIR 109, Areeba; IPS Shubham Nagargoje; and many such aspirants have failed to clear Prelims due to CSAT in their UPSC journeys at one point in time or the other.

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15 Golden Hacks by Zeeshan sir will help in balancing CSAT-GS preparation for UPSC Prelims 2023

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Also, you’ve likely heard the myths: only engineers or those with strong math and English skills can succeed in CSAT. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, anyone with the right strategy and bent of mind with smart preparation can score 90+ in CSAT.

That’s why we’re thrilled to announce a special masterclass with Zeeshan Sir, who has demonstrated this time and again.

This masterclass is completely free and open to all UPSC aspirants, but seats are limited. Don’t miss your chance to learn from the best and take your CSAT preparation to the next level.

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Don’t let CSAT kill your UPSC dream.

Outcomes aren’t in your hand but efforts are.

CSAT MASTERCLASS DETAILS

Date and Time: 6th February, 7:30 pm (Monday)

Link: Zoom link will be shared on email post registration

FREE Entry but limited seats

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Important Takeaways:

1. 15 Golden Hacks by Zeeshan sir. We will also share a PDF of these so please register.
2. Trend analysis of the last 4 years of CSAT paper. How UPSC CSAT has been evolving, changing patterns and difficulty levels?
3. How to deal with maths and logical reasoning questions irrespective of your academic background?
4. Balancing CSAT and GS preparation? Avoid over-preparing or under-preparing for CSAT.
5. How do select topics and sections which are high scoring and have a high return of investment wrt time spent during preparation?
6. List of super easy topics for CSAT that you must not ignore.
7. From where and how to start reading and practicing comprehension. How many comprehensions you should try to solve in the paper?
8. How to approach the CSAT paper for best time management and high score?
9. How to use smart elimination techniques in CSAT paper? The most important part of this webinar masterclass.

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CivilsDaily’s FREE Webinar package

Post-webinar we will share important PDFs, timetable framework, and notes.

Other than this a strategy package will be emailed to you.

Note: Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited seats are available.

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What do our students have to say about Zeeshan sir’s CSAT and Prelims sessions?

6th February (Monday) | 1-1 LIVE Masterclass on Clearing CSAT is easy even if you are terrible in maths and belong to a non-science or engineering background by Zeeshan Hashmi sir.