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Mar 20, 2022 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [18th March,2022] Day 47: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE SYNOPSIS [18th March,2022] Day 47: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies) 1. There is no separation of mind and emotions; emotions, thinking, and learning are all linked. Do you agree? Substantiate your views. Approach Candidates need to write about the emotions and how there is no separation between emotions and mind how thinking learning emotions are interlinked. Introduction Emotion is often defined as a complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence mind, thought and behavior. Emotionality is associated with a range of psychological phenomena, including temperament, personality, mood, and motivation. Body Emotion is what helps us to reflect on our place in this whole scheme of things. Most people don’t even know that they have all these emotions and mind have a reciprocal exchange and how it impact life. There is no separation of mood mind and emotions. It’s is rather integration of all what we have learned how much we have internalized and how much we have thought on it and it creates our opinion. These opinion, expression, learning is reaction or an extension of our emotions towards the issues in society and also towards our personal problems. Most of us we are victims of our emotions; we don’t have any control over our emotions. When sadness takes over us, we simply have to react in a depressed manner. In such situation our thinking and learning also gets affected. When we stuff our feelings, they quickly build into the uncomfortable sensations of tension, stress and anxiety. Unaddressed emotions strain the mind and thinking process. Imagine a person lost his job. An emotionally smart person might perceive their emotions as cues to take action, both to deal with the challenges and to control their thoughts and feelings. Whereas people who fail to use their emotional intelligence skills are more likely to turn to other, less effective means of managing their mood. Emotional management is the power to exercise your choice to stop an emotion and channel it in any direction you want it turns out to make our thinking and knowledge base. One can understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, pick up on emotional cues, and change the mind set accordingly feel comfortable socially, and recognize the power social dynamics. Conclusion Social-emotional skills are so critical because they provide person with skills to help in thinking process and learning to succeed later in life. It teach person how to recognize and understand their emotions, feel empathy, make decisions, and build and maintain relationships as there is no separation between mind and emotion. 2. Emotional intelligence is your ability to recognise and understand emotions in yourself and others, and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships. Illustrate the significance of the given statement for public administration. Approach Students are expected to write about Emotional intelligence and as per questions demand illustrate the significance of EI with recognition and understanding of one and others emotions in public administration. Introduction Emotional intelligence refers to the capability of a person to manage and control his or her emotions and possess the ability to control the emotions of others as well. In other words it is the assimilation of the head (cognitive abilities) and heart (emotion). Body EI generally said to include three skills: Emotional awareness, including the ability to identify your own emotions and those of others; The ability to harness emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problems solving; The ability to manage emotions, including the ability to regulate your own emotions, and the ability to cheer up or calm down another person Significance of EI in public administration: Understanding the need of the public: For instance, the government came up with PM-KISAN just when the growth of agriculture sector was low and there existed rural distress. There is understanding of genuine demands and requirements of people with emotional connect. Effective Decision Making- While delivering or implementing the welfare schemes there is resistance among a group of people or even political pressures, but how he effectively manages to curb all that stress to finally overcome and deliver success needs emotional intelligence. Selection on the basis of Eligibility: Targeting the right people is the utmost priority for a civil servant. Therefore being emotionally headstrong is fundamental to this idea as emotionally weak may succumb to pressure and therefore compromise his position. Managing his team: An emotionally intelligent administrator would be very effective in managing his team. For instance, Abhishek Pallava IPS Officer in Naxal hit area has a very strong team with him which has achieved tremendous success in the respective region. Even the officials of his department reach out to him when in need to effectively come out of their problems. This overall, improves their functioning in service delivery in the area. Strong Motivation: For instance, with good emotionall intelligence, the administrator can motivate people to use toilets more-often within their homes rather than defecating in the open, this would improve the health and cleanliness of the whole region. Conclusion Understanding and handling one’s own and others’ emotions is a critical aspect at every stage of the service delivery task: engagement, assessment, observation, decision making, planning and intervention. It is also an essential skill for administrator who need to ‘develop and maintain a practice which is self-aware and critically reflective. 3. As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership. Comment. Approach Students are expected to write about artificial intelligence entering into the world and how more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership with it. Introduction With AI pilots sprawling everywhere, companies, consultants and technology firms need to rethink their approaches to transformation. To successfully implement AI projects that drive impact at scale, great AI models and algorithms are necessary, but not sufficient. One of the most important success factors is a design-led approach to human change that deeply fuses new AI capabilities with how humans prefer to engage with tools. Companies that ignore this are likely stuck with collections of AI pilots that don’t amount to any real impact. As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership. Emotional intelligence (EI) has been known to be a critical success factor in professional success, even more than performance or qualification. Indeed, the ability to connect and perceive with deep empathy gives a clear advantage in a world where more of our success depends on influencing other people. We are presented with hundreds of "A/B" squares every day: sometimes the "A/B" is a candidate selection, or an investment, or a product selection. People with high EI naturally have empathy to understand our context, relate to us better, and persuade us to see their desired choice as our darker square. EI has been a hard skill to teach, and one that has not been "programmable" into technology – until now. Concurrent with the progress of AI in the last two decades, EI has also developed significantly with advances in neuroscience and tools, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Currently, emotional intelligence separates us from machines in many ways. Customer service is one of the examples of the type of work that artificial intelligence might not be able to perform as effectively as humans. There are three types of conditions in customer service where emotional intelligence is an important requirement for a successful outcome: dealing with anger and impatience, dealing with surprise, happiness, and gratitude or dealing with disappointment and frustration. The rise of artificial intelligence thus, makes emotional intelligence that much more important in humans today. In the future, artificial intelligence will already fill roles that require traditional intelligence. In the future, many of these jobs could even become obsolete for humans. Humankind will then have to develop or adapt its skills to stay relevant in a changing environment. Conclusion With artificial intelligence (AI), change management and process reengineering get reinvented. What was once a one-way street has become a two-way street: we can now teach technology to relate to people, as much as we train people to use technology. Going forward, getting this human-centric design right is the biggest factor in the success or failure of AI-driven transformations. TLP Synopsis Day 47 PDF

Mar 20, 2022 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Philosophy Vs Reality – Inspirational Educative Articles

Philosophy Vs Reality: A philosopher searches for answers in ideas, concepts, and words. He rarely explores the nature of reality around him experientially, but he inquires through the process of thinking. A philosopher can get so deep into his thought process that he can begin to feel that his ability to think is his greatest possession. He can conclude for himself that without thoughts, life is simply meaningless, and can even come to a preposterous conclusion like Rene Descartes did and say, “I think, therefore I am.” A philosopher just surrounds himself with words. He tries to substitute language for reality, forgetting that language is just a symbolic representation of Truth. Language is only meant to point us in the right direction; it can never replace our search for Truth. Philosophy is not altogether useless, however. Philosophical inquiry can help us to move from certain blinding, ignorant ideologies of life, toward those that are liberating. Philosophical inquiry can even help us break the bondage of our limiting ideologies, belief systems, and concepts of life, but no matter how much time we spend playing with words, we can never get to the Truth that hides behind them. Philosophizing can bring us to a theoretical understanding of life. The more time we spend with words, the more we will believe that we have a superior understanding of life compared to that of others. Without the experience of Truth that is rooted in love, compassion, and a sense of connectedness with everything around us, philosophizing will always remain empty and meaningless. Possessing knowledge about something, yet not experiencing it, can drive us crazy. Knowledge that is not rooted in a personal experience of Truth is just madness: This is what has happened to our society. We are suffering from our philosophies, our knowledge, and our intelligence. Modern man is suffering from a severe overdose of thinking. The simple solution to this problem is learning how to be more rooted in the present moment. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Nirvana Foundation and IASBABA.”

Mar 19, 2022 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [17th March,2022] Day 46: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE SYNOPSIS [17th March,2022] Day 46: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies) 1. What is virtual reality? What are its applications? In this light, examine the significance of Metaverse. Approach- Candidates need to write about the virtual reality and how it has several application. Also highlight and examine the virtual reality in the light of metaverse. Introduction Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-generated environment with scenes and objects that appear to be real, making the user feel they are immersed in their surroundings. This environment is perceived through a device known as a Virtual Reality headset or helmet. Body Application of virtual reality: The first thing which comes to our mind when we think about VR is gaming, but applications of VR are not limited to just gaming. We are using this technology in the field of military, healthcare, education, fashion, business, sports, media, engineering, entertainment, scientific visualization, architecture, among others. For example in Education sector has adopted VR for teaching and learning situations. It has the potential to revolutionise learning, retention and content delivery exponentially. For example in military It is used to train soldiers in a simulated battlefield. This gives soldiers the opportunity to learn without the risk of being killed or injured. Also in engineering and architecture VR plays a major role in simulating 3-dimensional models or designs of infrastructures, which can provide a real-life experience of the physical designs of infrastructures beforehand. With the help of VR, cars, machines, aeroplanes etc. Can be virtually designed and pretested for factors. Metaverse with VR: Metaverse is the next version of the Internet focused on social connection. It can be defined as a simulated digital environment that uses Virtual Reality (VR), along with concepts from social media, to create spaces for rich user interaction mimicking the real world. It can be imagined as a 3D virtual world, with ever-evolving aspects which are collectively shared by its inhabitants – a virtual world with real-time events and an online infrastructure. Virtual communities, activities, events, all seamlessly accessible without the need to sign into multiple apps. One can sign into his virtual office with metaverse as a virtual avatar of himself, meet a client, take a break or play a sport – virtually all in one place. Conclusion Technology of meta verse is still evolving it could also lead to new scrutiny of old issues like privacy and managing who does what to whom in a virtual world. The government’s involvement in Metaverse is also a significant aspect as it may change the whole dynamic of the virtual spaces. Therefore requirement of preparatory infrastructure is needed for the transition to a digital economy and to the metaverse. 2. What is the meaning and significance of Ct Value in an RTPCR test? Explain. Approach Students are expected to write about the Ct value it’s meaning and significance in the test of RT PCR. Introduction Among various scientific terms that the Covid-19 pandemic has made part of the public vocabulary, one is the ‘Ct value’ in RT-PCR tests for determining whether a patient is positive for Covid-19. Body Meaning: According to the ICMR advisory, the Ct value of an RT-PCR reaction is the number of cycles at which fluorescence of the PCR product is detectable over and above the background signal. Put simply, the Ct value refers to the number of cycles after which the virus can be detected. Significance: According to the ICMR, a patient is considered Covid-positive if the Ct value is below 35. In other words, if the virus is detectable after 35 cycles or earlier, then the patient is considered positive. If the benchmark were to be lowered to 24 the value mentioned by state of Maharashtra it would mean that Ct values in the range 25-34 would not be considered positive. Ct value determines the detectable level of the virus in a given sample based on which it is decided if the person is COVID positive or negative. A benchmark of 35, therefore, means that more patients would be considered positive than we would get if the benchmark were 24. The ICMR has said lowering Ct threshold parameter may lead to missing several infectious persons. One can think of Ct value as a measure of transmission potential. So if there is more virus in my throat and nose, I will transmit it better. Although Ct value is inversely correlated with viral load, It does not have any bearing on the severity of the disease, experts have said. A patient can have a low Ct value, which means her viral load is high enough to be detected rapidly, but she may still be asymptomatic. The Ct value tells us about the viral load in the throat and not in the lungs. Conclusion While whether Ct value alone can determine the risks, severity and infection level in an individual still remains debatable, many clinicians, researchers consider it as one of the many parameters that hold potential in determining the dynamics of the infection and in efforts to control the transmission. 3. What is quantum key distribution technology? What can be its possible applications? Discuss. Approach Candidates need to write about the quantum key distribution technology and discuss about its possible applications. Introduction The concept of quantum key distribution (QKD) was first proposed in the 1970s. The idea was incredibly simple yet it still took until the 1990s, when the connection was made to entanglement, that physicists started to get really interested. Since then, the progress has been remarkable and it is now perhaps the most mature quantum technology, being commercially available for over 15 years now. Quantum key distribution technology Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), also known as Quantum Cryptography, is a mechanism for developing secure communication. It enables the distribution and sharing of secret keys, which are necessary for cryptographic protocols. The conventional cryptosystems used for data-encryption rely on the complexity of mathematical algorithms, whereas the security offered by quantum communication is based on the laws of Physics. Applications of quantum key distribution technology The whole responsibility of QKD networks is to transfer keys between parties who wish to communicate securely. QKD is essential to address the threat that rapid advancement in Quantum Computing poses to the security of the data being transported by various critical sectors through the current communication networks. There will be applications where QKD is ideal – replacing trusted couriers, for example – and others where the benefits are not so clear – e.g., CNP and online banking, which need a huge quantum ATM infrastructure to allow it to work, but get added security as a result. Business decisions are never easy. It is especially good at creating long random keys from a short input – key extension functionality which could be invaluable for OTPs. The technology would be useful in enabling various start-ups and small and medium enterprises in the domain of quantum information. It will enable security agencies to plan a suitable quantum communication network with indigenous technology backbone. Conclusion The power of start-ups and Big Tech corporations involved in developing quantum technology and applications must be harnessed. The focus should be to develop an overarching strategy for the next 10-15 years. The strategy must ensure that there is no misallocation of resources and that the efforts put in are concentrated in key areas that provide both economic and strategic benefits. TLP Synopsis Day 46 PDF

Mar 19, 2022 Motivational Articles

[MI-STORIES]MOTIVATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - Letting Go!

For Previous Story -> CLICK HERE Inspirational Stories: Here is the story for this week from the new series of Inspirational and Motivational stories. One of the oldest known forms of communication is story telling. There is something primordial within us that loves stories and their tremendous impact. In this series, we aim to bring you the best of real-life stories that can inspire and motivate you. Stories always try to teach us something useful. It is one of the best ways of learning from other's mistakes and avoiding our own. Although each story has its own moral, in the comments section you can share your opinion on the moral of the story. If you are able to see something that others might have missed, you can share it for the benefit of all. Apart from just reading these awesome stories, you can also share some of the stories that have inspired you. If we find the story appropriate and useful, we will share it with all. More importantly, read these stories every week without a miss, and stay inspired. So Here is the story for this week - Letting Go! “Do you know how hunters of old used to trap monkeys?” A man asked his child. “Rather than chasing them up a tree or shooting arrows from below, they’d put a heavy glass jar with a narrow neck on the floor, which had the monkeys’ favourite food inside. They’d then step back and hide, waiting for the unsuspecting animal to approach. When it did, the monkey would reach inside, clench a fist around the food, and try to pull it out. However, the narrow neck of the jar would stop the poor monkey from getting its hand out! It’d pull and pull, but to no avail. There was simply no way to get its hand out of the jar without releasing the food. Rather than letting go, though, the monkey would persevere, refusing to drop its dinner. The hunters would then approach and catch it to enjoy a meal of their own.” “Don’t be like that monkey,” warned the man, “In life, to fight another day and grow as person, you must know when to quit, when to move on, and when to let go of whatever’s holding you back.” Moral of the story: Sometimes you have to let go and give up what you have now in order to receive something better in the future. Don’t let stubbornness be your downfall!

Mar 19, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 19th March 2022

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Part of: Prelims and GS-II Constitutional body Context: A parliamentary committee has said in a recent report that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has been dysfunctional for the past four years and has not delivered a single report to Parliament. According to the commission’s website, in the financial year 2021-22, it has met only four times. Its rate of pendency of resolution of complaints and cases that it receives is close to 50%. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) NCST was set up with effect from 19th February, 2004 by amending Article 338 and by inserting a new article 338A in the Constitution through the 89th Constitution Amendment Act, 2003. Hence, it is a constitutional body. Powers: It oversees the implementation of various safeguards provided to STs under the Constitution and to evaluate the working of such safeguards. The commission is vested with all the powers of a civil court while investigating any matter on inquiring into any complaint relating to deprivation of rights and safeguards for the Scheduled Tribes Composition: It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and 3 other Members who are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. At least one member should be a woman. The Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the other Members hold office for a term of 3 years. The members are not eligible for appointment for more than two terms. News Source: TH Poisoning of Himalayan griffons vultures Part of: Prelims and GS-III Biodiversity Context: At least 100 vultures — all Himalayan griffons — died of suspected poisoning in Assam. Such incidents have been happening since many years. Himalayan griffon The Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) or Himalayan griffon vulture is an Old World vulture native to the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan Plateau. Old World vultures are vultures that are found in the Old World, i.e. the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. They belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, buzzards, kites, and hawks It is one of the two largest Old World vultures and true raptors. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. A study by the Bombay Natural History Society and other organisations in the 1990s found that the population of the Gyps group in India and Nepal declined from about 40 million by 99.9% in just two decades. Himalayan griffon, white-backed and slender-billed are among its members. News Source: TH Deep ocean mission (DOM) Part of: Prelims and GS-III Science and Technology Context: India will soon scour the ocean bed to unravel the mysteries of the origins of life as scientists are set to travel up to 6,000 m below the sea surface under a deep ocean mission (DOM). Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences Key takeaways Initially, the Rs. 4,077-crore mission will entail scientists travelling to a depth of 500 m to test various technologies being developed for the purpose before taking a deeper dive into the unknown. The DOM will also help India map the ocean bed, which is a rich source for metals and minerals. The mission will help scientists identify and demarcate resource-rich areas which could be exploited later when suitable technology is available for deep sea mining. The exploration studies of minerals will pave the way for commercial exploitation in the near future as and when such a code is evolved by the International Seabed Authority. This mission is also directed towards development in marine biology which will provide job opportunities in Indian industries. News Source: TH (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: India and its neighbourhood. GS-2: Impact of politics of other countries on India On the UN mission in Afghanistan Context: The U.N. Security Council has approved a robust mandate for its political mission in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover last August. What is the new mandate? The new mandate authorizes the U.N. mission, known as UNAMA, to promote gender equality, empowerment of women and girls, human rights of all Afghans and an inclusive and representative government. The Norwegian-drafted resolution was adopted by a vote of 14-0, with Russia abstaining. Russia criticized the council for not consulting the host country (Afghanistan) on the U.N. presence, saying that “substantive cooperation” between UNAMA and the Taliban would help the U.N. achieve its objectives. The U.N. mission’s mandate also includes coordination and delivery of desperately needed aid. The council authorized UNAMA “to facilitate dialogue between all relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders, the region and the wider international community.” Security Council sent a clear message that the UNAMA “has a crucial role to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and in supporting Afghan people as they face unprecedented challenges and uncertainty.” What are the present challenges in Afghanistan? Access to education for girls: With US withdrawal after 20 years of war (2001-2021), Taliban took over the country. Taliban who is in power have denied girls and women rights to education and barred them from public life. The Taliban are now allowing girls to go to elementary school but older girls are still denied education. Restriction on working women: Barring some sectors such as health care and education, Afghanistan’s vast number of working women are not allowed to go to their workplaces. Intolerance towards minorities: There are reports of reprisals against former government officials, as well as attacks and intimidation against minority groups and civil society and detentions and enforced disappearances. Fear of supporting extremist group: The Taliban are yet to demonstrate that extremist groups are no longer able to flourish in the country Power Sharing: The new Taliban rulers promised an inclusive government. However, the Taliban-appointed Cabinet remains overwhelmingly Pashtun and without women. The Taliban shows no signs of sharing power or respecting the basic rights of Afghans. Economic Crisis: Before the Taliban takeover, two-thirds of the Afghan government’s expenditure came through donations. As no country has recognised the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, these donations have dried up since August hampering the government functioning. Mass Starvation: Only 2% of Afghanistan’s 38 million people have enough food, according to the World Food Programme. Rising Poverty: Afghanistan’s economy is expected to contract by 30% this year and nearly every Afghan citizen could be living in poverty by mid-2022, according to the UN. Reluctance of International Actors: The international community is reluctant to step in over fears that the Taliban would use the aid to consolidate their power and resist further demands for reforms. Way Forward International community cannot just look away when Afghans face mass starvation. With the fresh mandate, which got the support of almost all the major powers, the UN mission should start engaging the Taliban. This does not mean that the member countries should offer quick recognition to the Taliban regime. They should offer humanitarian assistance to the Afghans in consultations with the Mullahs, while at the same time putting pressure on them to accept at least short-term reforms and take measures to respect basic human rights. Connecting the dots: Afghanistan and India’s Evacuation efforts US Exit from Afghanistan INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: International Events and important international institutions What Quad can learn from NATO’s Blunders Context: The recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Russian President Putin’s version is that it was a “special military operation”, akin to India’s police action against Hyderabad in 1948. What did the West fail to recognise? Putin has had a dramatic rise in the political hierarchy of Moscow and his first two achievements were ignored by West stabilisation and increase in oil production and export that hugely increased the Russian GDP, his successful suppression of the Chechnya revolt West was busy with civilianising and militarily downgrading NATO. As Eastern European nations clamoured to join the EU, the western leaders dismantled the military intellectual content of NATO headquarters, reducing NATO forces to a rapid reaction force under the political control of a civilian secretary-general. The West, therefore, failed to connect Putin’s invasion of Georgia with his continuing vision to fight the regime change in Ukraine in 2015. What can the Quad learn from NATO? The Indo-Pacific is not continental Europe and war in the Indo-Pacific will be a maritime war fought in accordance with maritime strategy and space assets. To call the Quad a “diplomatic grouping” is a similar error that NATO did by civilianising and militarily downgrading post 1991. Confusing Beijing by calling it a diplomatic grouping will certainly lead to a misunderstanding of the Quad nations’ resolve and possible Chinese adventurism. What measures are needed to make QUAD more effective? Quad is all about maritime domain awareness, underwater domain awareness, and information sharing — all of them purely naval activities, which need continuous communication. QUAD because of significant role in maritime domain needs a command organisation and a secretariat, neither of which is there because it is a diplomatic grouping. The Quad needs to be represented by the owners of the maritime assets used to obtain domain awareness and a staff with command communications and a depth of intellectual planning. Quad meetings should be headed by naval officers, with diplomatic support, so that they don’t produce irrelevant communiqués like the one in February 2022 that spoke of dealing with Covid, climate change and natural disasters. Connecting the dots: Ukraine Crisis and Economy India-Russia Military alliance Indo-US defence deals (Down to Earth: Climate Change) March 16: Monsoons can go for a toss. What will that mean to us? - https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/monsoons-can-go-for-a-toss-what-will-that-mean-to-us--81969 TOPIC: GS-3: Environment, Conservation, Climate Change Monsoons can go for a toss. What will that mean to us? Context: Monsoon in India and West Africa — the most significant monsoon rainfall systems — may be in for changes due to greenhouse gases, new research has warned. The changes may be rapid or gradual in the present as well as near future. This is the reason why scientists have included both, the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) and West African Monsoon (WAM) under climate-tipping points. These are critical thresholds in massive Earth ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest or the Greenland Ice Sheet that, when crossed, can lead to abrupt and irreversible changes in the systems. The systems are also interrelated, which means that a collapse of one can lead to a cascading effect on the others. Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) and West African Monsoon (WAM) Both ISM and WAM have remained relatively stable for thousands of years, with intermittent abrupt and gradual changes in the intensity and distribution of rainfall due to natural climatic causes such as changes in solar radiation. WAM shifted northwards between 14,500 and 5,000 years ago, which increased rainfall in the northern and western parts of Africa. One of the prominent results of this increased rainfall was the increase in vegetation in the Sahara desert, the evidence of which can be observed in the region’s paleoclimate records. The northward shift of the WAM had also caused significant changes in the social and cultural life of human settlements at the time, especially along the Nile river. Similarly, the ISM has undergone changes at various times in the past few thousand years. The destiny of the Indus Valley Civilisation was closely intertwined with that of the changing monsoon patterns. Paleoclimate records in the form of sediments in the ocean or lake, limestone formations in caves, fossilised tree rings and ice cores give an estimate of how the climate behaved hundreds, thousands or even millions of years ago. Cataclysmic changes Recent research has indicated that previously unknown factors are influencing both, the ISM and the WAM. A research paper showed that marine heat waves (MHWs) in the Indian Ocean region are impacting the ISM. Such heat waves are caused by an increase in the heat content of oceans, especially in the upper layers. The MHWs in the North Bay of Bengal and the western Indian Ocean reduce monsoon rainfall over central India, the study established. The occurrence in the North Bay of Bengal increases rainfall over the southern peninsular area. MHWs are huge patches of warm water and they change the way the atmospheric circulation works. The availability of more heat and moisture during an MHW makes the air move upwards which is known as ‘convection’. To compensate the rise of convection with warm moist air, there is a subsidence of rainfall in other regions. The rising convection creates a low pressure below which pulls in the moisture-laden winds from other areas. When there are MHWs in the western Indian Ocean region, they pull the moisture-laden monsoon winds towards that region, not letting them move towards the Indian subcontinent. This weakens the monsoon system leading to dry conditions, mainly over central India. In the case of MHWs in the North Bay of Bengal, because of the location, more rainfall occurs over southern peninsular India while central and northern India remain dry. Worldwide, MHWs are one of the major results of human-induced global warming. But research on their impacts started only about a decade ago. During an MHW, the average temperatures of the ocean surface (up to a depth of 300 feet) goes 5-7 degrees Celsius above normal. Around 90 per cent of the warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions is absorbed by the oceans. The year 2021 broke all previous records for ocean heat The increase in marine heat waves was due to rapid warming in the Indian Ocean and strong El Nino events. The West African Monsoon, on the other hand, is getting affected by a host of inter-linked factors such as dust emissions from the Sahara desert, evaporation from the lakes of the region and moisture feedbacks from vegetation. Another important factor in the case of WAM is a climate tipping point called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The Gulf Stream ocean current usually carries warmer water from the tropics to higher latitudes and brings back colder water. But now, evidence suggest that the Gulf Stream is slowing down, which will lead to changes. The collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) might change the wind and rainfall patterns of the WAM which could lead to disruptions in the lives of 300 million, mostly agricultural people of west and central Africa who depend on the rainfall. The West African Monsoon is powered by the temperature difference between the cooler tropical Atlantic Ocean and the warmer African continent. It has three distinct seasons with onset between March and May, high rainfall between June and August and southward shift from September to October. The balance in temperatures on land and in the ocean which drives rainfall during these seasons may get disturbed by the slowing down of the AMOC as the heat transfer from northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere becomes inefficient and warms up the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The greening of the Sahara due to intensification of the WAM can lead to impacts on El Nino, tropical cyclone activity and even the Indian Summer Monsoon rainfall. Can you answer the following questions? The destiny of the Indus Valley Civilisation was closely intertwined with that of the changing monsoon patterns. Discuss. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1 Consider the following statements regarding National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) : It is a constitutional body. It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and 3 other Members who are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. Which of the above is or are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Deep ocean mission (DOM) is being carried out by which of the following Ministry? Ministry of Earth Sciences Ministry of Science and technology Ministry of Jal shakti Nine of the above Q.3 IUCN status of Himalayan griffon is Vulnerable Threatened Near Threatened Extinct ANSWERS FOR 19th March 2022 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 A 3 C Must Read On COVID-19 vaccines and patent rights: The Hindu On the interests of various players in Ukraine war: The Hindu On India-Japan relationship: Indian Express

Mar 19, 2022 Important Articles

[INTERVIEW] DAF SESSION (as part of IASbaba’s Interview Mentorship Program) by Sunil Oberoi Sir (Retd. IAS) on 20th March (Sunday) at 5PM

Dear Students, UPSC has announced UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2021 Results. We congratulate all the aspirants who have cleared the Mains Exam and wish you the best for UPSC CSE Exam – Personality Test. DAF Filling forms a very important part of the Interview Preparation but is often neglected by the candidates. The most important step right now is filling up your Detailed Application Form (DAF). Your DAF introduces you to the board before you get to introduce yourself. And utmost care is needed to ensure that you do not make blunders in filling it up. We are conducting a DAF-II LIVE session on 20th March 2021 (Sunday) at 05:00 PM to guide you on filling the DAF. The session shall be conducted by SUNIL OBEROI SIR (Retd. IAS). SUNIL OBEROI SIR has worked on Civil Services Reforms in India with UNDP and DoPT. He was a government nominee in interview boards and an examiner in various government exams. He was also associated with induction training of new entrants of Civil Services and In-Service training of Senior Civil Servants. The Session will be live and recorded video will be shared with the registered students. Details about the DAF-II Session - Part of Interview Mentorship Programme (IMP) The session is FREE!! Date - 20th March (Sunday) Time - 5 PM (IST) Agenda - DAF-II Session. Initially, you'll be told about DAF-II in general, post that we will take questions from the participants. The Session will be held live on Zoom and the access will be subject to Registration only. IASbaba’s Interview Mentorship Programme (IMP) It is the most comprehensive initiative for the personality test. The program has helped many previous year rankers to qualify for the Civil Services Exam. We have designed IMP in such a way that it is not just a ritual that has to be done by the aspirants but personal attention will be given to each and every candidate and guidance will be provided according to the individual needs of the candidates. IMP is built on the following pillars: DAF Sessions: Dedicated sessions by previous year toppers, Ex Bureaucrats, Mohan Sir to help you with the detailed application form, with particular focus on the selection of services, cadre preference, hobbies, achievements, extracurricular activities, etc. Panel Mocks An expert panel of retired and serving civil servants, subject matter experts, and other distinguished personalities from varied fields to give you a near real feel of the interview board, complemented with detailed feedback and recordings. One to One Mocks & Mentorship with Mohan Sir: A wonderful opportunity to get a detailed assessment of your answers and preparation by none other than Mohan Sir, who is hugely popular among interview candidates for his succinct and precise analysis and boosting the interview scores by a significant margin and helped a lot of them achieve a 190+ Score. One on one discussion with Mohan sir is the most important aspect of the IMP as Sir identifies the issues in your preparation and guides you to fill those loopholes. DAF Questionnaire: Detailed discussion on your DAF with particular stress on probable questions and focus areas. The DAF discussion helps you analyze your DAF and expect probable questions in the interview and be prepared to face such questions. The mentor will help you generate a question bank covering your native place and state, educational background, work experience, hobbies, accomplishments, etc. Current Affairs: Current issues are the most important domain from which Panel members ask the questions. You must have studied Current Affairs for your mains and prelims however, the orientation of questions in the interview is different. In order to tackle this, highly focussed sessions will be conducted to give you an analytical perspective on important current affair topics to prepare you for facing questions by the interview board. Schedule for Special Current Affairs Session – DOWNLOAD Open Mocks A unique technique developed by IASbaba that can do wonders for your confidence. In this process, Mock interviews are conducted in front of other candidates. Observing others giving their interview helps you understand the common mistakes to be avoided in front of the board. Open mocks help you develop the right attitude to be carried to the interview. Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP): A biweekly initiative meant to serve as the regular dose of self-assessment through probing questions on your personality, along with analytical questions on current affairs to keep you on toes for your preparation. To Know more about TRP – CLICK HERE We believe that IMP with its ingredients can dramatically enhance your chances. The trick is to start early and start strongly. Our team is working really hard to make IMP your best companion. Please join us to start a challenging yet exciting journey towards success. To Know More about INTERVIEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME (IMP) & TESTIMONIALS FROM TOPPERS - CLICK HERE REGISTER HERE - CLICK HERE OFFLINE & ONLINE DAF Session with Mohan Sir (Founder, IASbaba) Mohan Sir will be interacting one on one with all the registered students regarding DAF-II and Interview Preparation in General. Date - 21st March (Monday) ONLINE DAF SESSION - The Session will be taken by Mohan Sir from 11 AM. Venue - TLP Centre, Bangalore from 12 PM to 5 PM on 21st March (Monday). PANEL MOCKS An expert panel of retired and serving civil servants, subject matter experts, and other distinguished personalities from varied fields to give you a near real feel of the interview board, complemented with detailed feedback and recordings. We are starting the Panel Mocks in Bangalore, Delhi and in Online Mode from 27th March. To Know More about INTERVIEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME (IMP) & TESTIMONIALS FROM TOPPERS - CLICK HERE Register Here for Panel Mocks - CLICK HERE IMPORTANT NOTE: Students, who have filled the Registration Form, can use the DISCUSSION ROOMS at Bengaluru, Delhi and Lucknow Centres. The Discussion Rooms will be specially reserved for interview purposes. Also, to make the discussion more streamlined, a mentor will oversee the discussions. For further queries with regard to the interview, you can mail us at imp@iasbaba.com or call us on 8549000077 (10 am to 5:30 pm). All the Best IASbaba Team

Mar 19, 2022 हिन्दी - Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 19th March 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE करेंट अफेयर्स के प्रश्न 'द हिंदू', 'इंडियन एक्सप्रेस' और 'पीआईबी' जैसे स्रोतों पर आधारित होते हैं, जो यूपीएससी प्रारंभिक परीक्षा के लिए बहुत महत्वपूर्ण स्रोत हैं। प्रश्न अवधारणाओं और तथ्यों दोनों पर केंद्रित हैं। दोहराव से बचने के लिए यहां कवर किए गए विषय आम तौर पर 'दैनिक करंट अफेयर्स / डेली न्यूज एनालिसिस (डीएनए) और डेली स्टेटिक क्विज' के तहत कवर किए जा रहे विषयों से भिन्न होते हैं। प्रश्न सोमवार से शनिवार तक दोपहर 2 बजे से पहले प्रकाशित किए जाएंगे। इस कार्य में आपको 10 मिनट से ज्यादा नहीं देना है। इस कार्य के लिए तैयार हो जाएं और इस पहल का इष्टतम तरीके से उपयोग करें। याद रखें कि, "साधारण अभ्यर्थी और चयनित होने वाले अभ्यर्थी के बीच का अंतर केवल दैनक अभ्यास है !!" Important Note: Comment अनुभाग में अपने अंक पोस्ट करना न भूलें। साथ ही, हमें बताएं कि क्या आपको आज का टेस्ट अच्छा लगा । 5 प्रश्नों को पूरा करने के बाद, अपना स्कोर, समय और उत्तर देखने के लिए ‘View Questions’ पर क्लिक करें। उत्तर देखने के लिए, इन निर्देशों का पालन करें: 1 - 'स्टार्ट टेस्ट/ Start Test' बटन पर क्लिक करें प्रश्न हल करें 'टेस्ट सारांश/Test Summary'बटन पर क्लिक करें 'फिनिश टेस्ट/Finish Test'बटन पर क्लिक करें अब ‘View Questions’बटन पर क्लिक करें - यहां आपको उत्तर और लिंक दिखाई देंगे। To take Test - Click Here

Mar 19, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 19th March 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken, and solutions. To take the Test - Click Here

Mar 19, 2022 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s Think Learn Perform (TLP - Phase 1) 2022 - UPSC Mains Answer Essay Questions [19th March, 2022] – Day 48

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Everyone, TLP being an integral formula for success for many toppers over the years including Rank 1 is no secret. In their ‘must to-do' list for the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination, TLP by far occupies the first place. The popularity stems from the unparalleled quality of questions and synopsis posted in TLP. We strive hard to ensure that you get the real feel of UPSC standard before you write the actual Mains. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, we will post 3 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (12 for this one). We follow a micro plan that is designed to give you daily targets. The questions are from the day’s syllabus and also from current affairs and you are expected to write the answers and post them on the portal. From this year we have integrated the TLP free answer writing page in the main website itself, unlike previous years. So all the answers should be posted under the questions for the evaluation. Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. To Know More about TLP -> CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. The true losers in life, are not those who try and fail, but those who fail to try. जीवन में सच्चे हारने वाले वे नहीं होते हैं जो कोशिश करते हैं और असफल होते हैं, बल्कि वे जो कोशिश करने में असफल होते हैं। 2. Any person capable of angering you becomes your master. कोई भी व्यक्ति जो आपको क्रोधित करने में सक्षम है, वह आपका स्वामी बन जाता है। 3. Men who do not turn to face their own pain are too often prone to inflict it on others. जो अपने दर्द का सामना नहीं करते हैं, वे अक्सर इसे दूसरों पर थोपने के लिए प्रवृत्त होते हैं। 4. We are dangerous when we are not conscious of our responsibility for how we behave, think, and feel. हम खतरनाक होते हैं जब हम अपनी जिम्मेदारी के प्रति सचेत नहीं होते हैं कि हम कैसे व्यवहार करते हैं, सोचते हैं और महसूस करते हैं। P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other's answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

Mar 19, 2022 60 Days Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series

[DAY 6] 60 DAY RAPID REVISION (RaRe) SERIES हिन्दी for UPSC Prelims 2022 – Sci and Tech, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT; Test Series, Videos & Notes!

Archives Hello Friends 60 दिनों की रैपिड रिवीजन (RaRe) सीरीज IASbaba की एक महत्त्वपूर्ण पहल है जो टॉपर्स द्वारा अनुशंसित है और हर साल अभ्यर्थियों द्वारा सबसे ज्यादा पसंद की जाती है। यह सबसे व्यापक कार्यक्रम है जो आपको दैनिक आधार पर पाठ्यक्रम को पूरा करने, रिवीजन करने और टेस्ट का अभ्यास करने में मदद करेगा। दैनिक आधार पर कार्यक्रम में शामिल हैं उच्च संभावित टॉपिक्स पर दैनिक रैपिड रिवीजन (RaRe) सीरीज वीडियो (सोमवार – शनिवार) वीडियो चर्चा में, उन टॉपिक्स पर विशेष ध्यान दिया जाता है जिनकी UPSC प्रारंभिक परीक्षा के प्रश्न पत्र में आने की उच्च संभावना होती है। प्रत्येक सत्र 20 मिनट से 30 मिनट का होगा, जिसमें कार्यक्रम के अनुसार इस वर्ष प्रीलिम्स परीक्षा के लिए महत्वपूर्ण 15 उच्च संभावित टॉपिक्स (स्टैटिक और समसामयिक दोनों) का तेजी से रिवीजन शामिल होगा। Note – वीडियो केवल अंग्रेज़ी में उपलब्ध होंगे रैपिड रिवीजन नोट्स परीक्षा को पास करने में सही सामग्री महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाती है और रैपिड रिवीजन (RaRe) नोट्स में प्रीलिम्स विशिष्ट विषय-वार परिष्कृत नोट्स होंगे। मुख्य उद्देश्य छात्रों को सबसे महत्वपूर्ण टॉपिक्स को रिवाइज़ करने में मदद करना है और वह भी बहुत कम सीमित समय सीमा के भीतर करना है Note - दैनिक टेस्ट और विस्तृत व्याख्या की पीडीएफ और 'दैनिक नोट्स' को पीडीएफ प्रारूप में अपडेट किया जाएगा जो अंग्रेजी और हिन्दी दोनों में डाउनलोड करने योग्य होंगे। दैनिक प्रीलिम्स MCQs स्टेटिक (सोमवार – शनिवार) दैनिक स्टेटिक क्विज़ में स्टेटिक विषयों के सभी टॉपिक्स शामिल होंगे - राजनीति, इतिहास, भूगोल, अर्थशास्त्र, पर्यावरण तथा विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी। 20 प्रश्न प्रतिदिन पोस्ट किए जाएंगे और इन प्रश्नों को शेड्यूल में उल्लिखित टॉपिक्स और RaRe वीडियो से तैयार किया गया है। यह आपके स्टैटिक टॉपिक्स का समय पर और सुव्यवस्थित रिवीजन सुनिश्चित करेगा। दैनिक करेंट अफेयर्स MCQs (सोमवार – शनिवार) दैनिक 5 करेंट अफेयर्स प्रश्न, 'द हिंदू', 'इंडियन एक्सप्रेस' और 'पीआईबी' जैसे स्रोतों पर आधारित, शेड्यूल के अनुसार सोमवार से शनिवार तक प्रकाशित किए जाएंगे। दैनिक CSAT Quiz (सोमवार –शनिवार) सीसैट कई अभ्यर्थियों के लिए परेशानी का कारण रहा है। दैनिक रूप से 5 सीसैट प्रश्न प्रकाशित किए जाएंगे। Note - 20 स्टैटिक प्रश्नों, 5 करेंट अफेयर्स प्रश्नों और 5 CSAT प्रश्नों का दैनिक रूप से टेस्ट। (30 प्रारंभिक परीक्षा प्रश्न) प्रश्नोत्तरी प्रारूप में अंग्रेजी और हिंदी दोनों में दैनिक आधार पर अपडेट किया जाएगा। 60 DAY रैपिड रिवीजन (RaRe) सीरीज के बारे में अधिक जानने के लिए – CLICK HERE Download 60 Day Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series Schedule – CLICK HERE Download 60 Day Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series Notes & Solutions DAY 6 – CLICK HERE Note – Comment your Scores in the Comment Section. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come. It will help us come out with the Cut-Off on a Daily Basis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzyVrXql-bM Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) You can post your comments in the given format (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test To take the Test - Click Here All the Best IASbaba

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