IASbaba's Flagship Course: Integrated Learning Programme (ILP) - 2024  Read Details

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[Day 38]: UPSC PRELIMS 2021- Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series

Highlights/Features of Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series:  It is a FREE initiative! Program Duration - 120 Days (31st May, 2021 to 27th September, 2021). 1. Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation There will be a separate dedicated portal to help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined for the next 120 Days. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. 2. 120 Days Integrated (Prelims + Mains) Time Table This year’s RaRe Series will include Integrated Revision Plan (IRP) where we will be syncing your mains and prelims syllabus together over next 120 Days. The Revision Plan is designed by integrating IASbaba's famous flagship initiatives - 60 Day Plan and TLP Mains Answer Writing. 3. Daily RaRe Series (RRS) Videos on High Probable Topics (Monday - Friday) In video discussions, special focus is given to topics which have high probability to appear in UPSC Prelims Question Paper. Each session will be of 20 mins to 30 mins, which would cover rapid revision of 10 high probable topics (both static and current affairs) important for Prelims Exam this year according to the schedule. 4. Daily Prelims MCQs from Static (Monday - Friday) Daily Static Quiz will cover all the topics of static subjects – Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment and Science and technology. 10 questions will be posted daily and these questions are framed from the topics mentioned in the schedule and in the RaRe videos. It will ensure timely and streamlined revision of your static subjects. Note: Should be integrated with the 60 Days Plan 2021. This will expose you to diverse questions from the same topics. 5. Daily Current Affairs MCQs (Monday - Saturday) Daily 5 Current Affairs questions, based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, would be published from Monday to Saturday. Note: Current Affairs questions covered in the 60 Days Plan and Daily Quiz Monthly Compilations should be covered retrospectively. 6. Daily CSAT Quiz (Monday - Friday) CSAT has been an achilles heel for many aspirants. Daily 5 CSAT Questions will be published. 7. Daily Mains Answer Writing (Monday - Friday) GS Mains will be covered along with Prelims in an integrated manner. Daily three Mains questions will be covered syllabus-wise according to the topics mentioned in the schedule. In total, it covers 250+ Mains Questions along with synopsis. 8. Brainstorming on Ethics & Essay (BEE) (Saturday & Sunday) Each week, Sunil Oberoi Sir (Retd. IAS) will take 3 sessions, two for Essay and one for Ethics. The two sessions earmarked for Essay will have a topic-based discussion where he will discuss the approach to write issue-based and philosophical essays. The topics will be picked from previous year question papers of UPSC and TLP initiative of IASbaba. 9. Full Mocks 3 GS Paper 1 Full Mocks will be provided along the lines of UPSC Prelims. 3 CSAT Paper 2 Full Mocks will be provided so that you are not overwhelmed during the D-Day. 10. Rapid Revision (RaRe) Notes Right material plays important role in clearing the exam and Rapid Revision (RaRe) Notes will have Prelims specific subject-wise refined notes. The main objective is to help students revise most important topics and that too within a very short limited time frame. Day-38 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

AIR

India-Bangladesh Relations and the Road Ahead

ARCHIVES Search 3rd March, 2021 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood India was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971. The relationship between India and Bangladesh is anchored in history, culture, language and shared values of secularism, democracy, and countless other commonalities between the two countries. It is based on sovereignty, equality, trust, understanding and win-win partnership that goes far beyond a strategic partnership. In the last decade, India-Bangladesh relations have warmed up, entering a new era of cooperation, and moving beyond historical and cultural ties to become more assimilated in the areas of trade, connectivity, energy, and defence. Border Settlement Bangladesh and India have achieved the rare feat of solving their border issues peacefully by ratifying the historic Land Boundary Agreement in 2015, where enclaves were swapped allowing inhabitants to choose their country of residence and become citizens of either India or Bangladesh.  Security & Insurgency The Bangladesh government has uprooted anti-India insurgency elements from its borders, making the India-Bangladesh border one of the region’s most peaceful, and allowing India to make a massive redeployment of resources to its more contentious borders elsewhere. Economic & Trade relations Bangladesh today is India’s biggest trading partner in South Asia with exports to Bangladesh in FY 2018-19 at $9.21 billion and imports at $1.04 billion.  India has offered duty free access to multiple Bangladeshi products. India extended three lines of credit to Bangladesh in recent years amounting to $8 billion for the construction of roads, railways, bridges, and ports. Act East Policy Bangladesh allows the shipment of goods from its Mongla and Chattogram (Chittagong) seaports carried by road, rail, and water ways.  This allows landlocked Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura to access open water routes through the Chattogram and Mongla ports. Tourism Bangladeshis make up a large portion of tourists in India. Bangladesh accounts for more than 35% of India’s international medical patients and contributes more than 50% of India’s revenue from medical tourism. Concerns in India-Bangladesh relations Unresolved Teesta water sharing issue looms large.  Border killings are yet to stop. National Register of Citizens across the whole of India reflects poorly on India-Bangladesh relations. China, in lieu of its cheque-book diplomacy, is well-entrenched in South Asia, including Bangladesh, with which it enjoys significant economic and defence relations. Recent Meeting between India and Bangladesh India and Bangladesh recently signed 5 MoUs in the fields of Disaster Management, trade, NCC, ICT and setting up of sports facilities recently.  Key takeaways  Foundation stone was laid for infrastructure development for power evacuation facilities from the Rooppur Nuclear power plant. The Bangladesh leg of the Banagabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition was inaugurated by the two Prime Ministers.  It will be taken to other parts of the world including the UN. Both the leaders also unveiled the foundation stone for the construction of a memorial at Ashuganj honoring the martyrs of Indian armed forces in the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. India gifted 109 life support ambulances to Bangladesh and also 1.2 million doses of the Covishield vaccine. Three border haats were also opened along the India-Bangladesh border. Other announcements made: A direct passenger train named ‘Mitali Express’ will run between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri. Indian Prime Minister invited 50 young entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to connect with India’s start up ecosystem 1000 Subarno Jayanti Scholarships were announced for the Bangladeshi students to study in India at the Undergraduate and postgraduate levels. A Bangabandhu Chair will be established at Delhi University to facilitate Bangladesh studies. Both countries agreed to start a new area of cooperation in the Civil nuclear and space sectors. Following places were visited by Indian Prime Minister on his Bangladesh visit: Birthplace of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara.  Jeshoreshwari temple in Satkhira.  Harimandir in Orakandi and addressed the representatives of the Matua community. Conclusion Both Bangladesh and India have great opportunities to resolve all the outstanding issues. India as a regional super power needs to take initiative and Bangladesh requires cooperating with India for fixing outstanding issues. Both the counties have to think for the economic ties instead of valuing the domestic politics. Central political objectives must supersede the regional or the state objectives for continuing and establishing the future relations. Connecting the dots: China twist in Teesta Challenge If Indo-Bangla relations are to move to “newer heights”, then unresolved issues have to be dealt with soon. Discuss.

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 7th JULY 2021

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

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 3 Questions [7th JULY,2021] – Day 128

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 3 Questions [7th JULY,2021] – Day 128 TLP (Phase 1) just got over on 8th May (Saturday) and we are extremely thankful for your active participation to make this program a success. Well, though TLP (Phase 1) got over, ‘Picture abhi baaqi hai mere dost’. There is a surprise for you. Since prelims is bound to get delayed once again this year, its not wise to leave the writing practice just now. Hence, we are extending the TLP program  We will be posting 3 questions per day (Monday to Friday). The questions will be based on Current Affairs, so that you don’t have to invest your time separately on exclusively mains oriented topics. So, keep practicing and keep improving. To Know More about TLP  -> CLICK HERE For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. What are land banks? What purpose do they serve? Examine their potential in India (10 Marks) भूमि बैंक क्या हैं? उनसे कौन सा उद्देश्य पूरा होता है? भारत में उनकी क्षमता का परीक्षण करें। 2. Lands reforms were implemented to bring about a change in economic conditions of the poor and downtrodden in the country, but did it serve the intended purpose? Critically Examine (10 Marks) भूमि सुधार देश में गरीबों और दलितों की आर्थिक स्थिति में बदलाव लाने के लिए लागू किए गए थे, लेकिन क्या इससे इच्छित उद्देश्य पूरा हुआ? समालोचनात्मक जाँच करें। 3. What is a loan guarantee scheme? How does it operate? What are its pros and cons as an economic instrument? Discuss. (15 Marks) ऋण गारंटी योजना क्या है? यह कैसे काम करता है? एक आर्थिक साधन के रूप में इसके पक्ष और विपक्ष क्या हैं? चर्चा करें। AWARE ( Answer Writing REdefined) Series - 7 Steps to Master Answer Writing Skills by Mohan Sir - CLICK HERE P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm 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 :)

SYNOPSIS [6th JULY,2021] Day 127: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [6th JULY,2021] Day 127: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. The Vedic literature is an epitome of lyrical excellence and intellectual depth. Elucidate.  Approach  The candidate needs to first mention what is meant by Vedic literature in brief.In next part address both the demands of question on how Vedic literature is epitome of lyrial excellence and how it has intellectual depth.Try to make use of examples to elucidate your points. Introduction The word ‘Veda’ is derived from the root ‘vid’, which means ‘to know’. In other words, the term ‘Veda’ signifies wisdom, knowledge or vision. There are four Vedas and Rig Veda was composed in the early Vedic period while the other three Vedas were written in the later Vedic period. Besides the Vedas, there are other sacred works like the Brahmanas, the Upanishads, the Aranyakas and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Body Vedic literature as epitome of lyrical excellence: Vedic literature was written in Sanskrit language. It was followed and regulated by the strict rules of grammar and used in refined manner by the learned scholars from the very early period. Lyric poetry attained a high stage of development even in very early period of the Vedic literature. The whole of Rig-Veda is an example of excellent lyric poetry. It has used effective imagery and proper meter without violating sanctity of texts. Vedas were transferred from one generation to other through oral traditions. It was formed in way to help everyone to remember hymns after recitations.  Hymns of Vedas were formed in way to serve specific purpose. The Sama Veda was dedicated to method in which it should be sung. In the later period, It was represented by remaining Vedas like Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda some advance was made towards the formation of a literary prose style which was revered for uniqueness and effective themes. Epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana are example of lyrical excellence achieved by Vedic literature.  This lyrical excellence and heritage is recognised by UNESCO intangible heritage. Intellectual depth of Vedic Literature: Vedas are mostly focused on issues of materialistic nature and Upanishads explains philosophical message deducted from Vedas which are written in question answer format. Intellectual depth of Vedic literature can be witnessed in various philosophies originate through Vedas such as ‘Samkhya’, ‘Vaisheshika’, ‘Mimansa’, ‘Nyaya’, ‘Yoga’ and ‘Vedanta’. Upanishads discuss fundamental questions of human existence and its purpose, creator of universe.  Brihadarnyaka Upanishad was first to mention ‘Doctrine of Transmigration’ i.e. cycle of birth and death in which soul changing different bodies and elaborations on afterlife. ‘Karma theory’ closely associated with the idea of rebirth . Human birth is culmination of good deeds of last life and bad deeds will be repaid in this life or in coming lives. Various upvedas associated with main Vedas also talks about specific subjects. E.g. Ayurveda associated with Rig-Veda is dealt in medicine. Dhanurveda in archery. Conclusion Philosophies of Vedic times still reverberate into the various ideologies of different sects. Pool of knowledge in Vedic literature is so vast that every Indian religion has its roots in debates of Upanishads. Intellectual depth of such texts became torchbearer of social reform in modern times.  2. What are the essential teachings of Buddhism & Jainism ? How did Buddhism spread in different parts of the world? Examine.  Approach  The candidate needs to have basic knowledge on Jainism and Buddhism to answer this question.In introduction one needs to write in which period and what conditions these two religions emerged.In body part focus on three specific directions of writing essential teachings of Jainism, Buddhism and how did Buddhism spread.In conclusion write what was their overall contribution and current relevance. Introduction Buddhism and Jainism are ancient religions that developed during the days of Ancient India. Buddhism is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, while Jainism is based on the teachings of Mahavira.These two Indian religions that developed in Magadha (Bihar) and continue to thrive in the modern age. They emerged as the most potent religious reform movements in the 6th century B.C against the extreme rituals and sacrifices recommended by the Brahmanism. Body Essential teachings of Jainism Mahavira rejected Vedic principles which included rejection concept of God and rituals which are mentioned in the four vedas. It did not believe in God’s existence. According to him, the universe is a product of the natural phenomenon of cause and effect. It believed in Karma and transmigration of the soul. The body dies but the soul does not. One will be punished or rewarded as per one’s karma.Therefore there should be constant pursuit to decrease the accumulated bad Karma and get liberation. Advocated a life of austerity and non-violence.The clothing was not seen as essential for one’s living and non violence is most essential tenet of Jainism where even stones are said to be classified with jivas. Stressed on equality but did not reject the caste system, unlike Buddhism. But he also said that man may be ‘good’ or ‘bad’ as per his actions and not birth. Asceticism was taken to a great length. Starvation, nudity, and self-mortification were expounded. The  triratna of jainism includes Right faith, Right knowledge ,Right conduct. The five vows of Jainism include Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (no stealing), Parigraha (no acquiring property),Brahmacharya (abstinence). Essential teachings of Buddhism  Buddhism believed in path of moderation. Buddha asked his followers to avoid extremes and choose between severe penance and self-indulgence. It believed sorrow is intrinsic to human existence. According to Buddhist philosophy world is ‘anicca’ i.e. transient and nothing is eternal and it is also ‘anatta’ i.e. soulless. Buddha emphasized individual agency and righteous action to attain self-realization and ‘nibbana’. Buddhism propounded ‘eightfold path’ which is right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation to achieve ‘nibbana’ i.e. end of desires and end of sorrow too. Buddhism consider social world as creation of humans and advised to be humane and ethical. It avoided fruitless controversies of ‘atman’, ‘brahman’ and focused to address worldly problems. Spread of Buddhism: Buddha had two kinds of disciples – monks (bhikshus) and lay worshippers (upasikas). The monks were organized into the Sangha for the purpose of spreading his teachings. The Sangha was governed on democratic lines and was empowered to enforce discipline among its members. Owing to the organised efforts made by the Sangha, Buddhism made rapid progress in North India even during Buddha’s life time. After the death of Buddha, his followers traversed on his path of meditation and roamed throughout the countryside. For 200 years Buddhism remained overshadowed by their Hindu counterparts until the advent of Great Mauryan King – Ashoka. After the bloodbath in his Kalinga conquest, emperor Ashoka decided to give up the policy of worldly conquest and adopted Dhamma conquest. Ashoka during the third Buddhist council dispatched various Buddhist missions to different areas such as Gandhara, Kashmir, Greece, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Egypt, and Thailand. Through his missionary effort Ashoka spread Buddhism into West Asia and Ceylon. Thus a local religious sect was transformed into a world religion. Conclusion The rise of both Buddhism and Jainism started as reform movement against the contemporary ritualistic and sacrificial nature of Brahmanism.Further it went to have great influence on the architecture, paintings, culture and social life of India.Even the freedom movement which was spearheaded by Gandhi was based on the tenets of these two religions.Therefore there is a need to preserve the teachings of these religions and include these in family and schools curriculum for a more reason based and harmonious society 3. What are some of the most recurring themes of  cave paintings in India? What are the most characteristic features of these paintings? Discuss. Approach  The question is straightforward on the cave paintings.Therefore first define what are cave paintings and attach an example.In next part mention different themes of Indian paintings in different eras. In the last part write what were the features of these paintings with help of examples Introduction Painting and drawing were the oldest art forms practiced by human beings to express themselves, using the cave walls as their canvas. Cave paintings of India date back to the prehistoric times like Bhimbetka. The finest examples of these paintings comprise of the murals of Ajanta, Ellora, Bagh, Sittanavasal etc. which reflect an emphasis on naturalism. Body Themes of Cave paintings in India : 1)Mesolithic period People hunting in groups Hunting armed with barbed spears, pointed sticks, arrows and bows. Primitive men with traps and snares probably to catch animals. Depiction of animals: The Mesolithic artists loved to paint animals. Depicted animals include elephants, bison, tiger, boar, deer, antelope, leopard, panther, rhinoceros, fish, frog, lizard, squirrel and at times birds. Social life: The young, old, children and women equally find place in these paintings.In many of the rock-shelters we find hand prints, fist prints, and dots made by the fingertips. 2)Chalcolithic period Battle scenes :There are many paintings of men riding horses and elephants with men carrying bow and arrow, indicating preparedness for skirmishes. Other paintings from this period also have depictions of musical instruments like the harp. Some of the paintings have complex geometrical shapes like the spiral, rhomboid and circle. 3)Age of civilisation  In first and second century paintings in caves of Ajanta and Ellora had themes of religion and urbanisation. It had scenes from court life and monarchy. The art life of music instruments and dance forms were depicted very vividly in this period across the caves of India. Some of the characteristic features of the early cave paintings are: A long-snouted animal, a fox, a multi-legged lizard are main animal motifs in the early paintings. Wavy lines, rectangular filled geometric designs and a group of dots also can be seen. Superimposition of paintings – earliest is Black, then red and later White. Human beings are represented in a stick-like form.in the late historic and Neolithic period the subjects of paintings developed and figures like bulls, elephants, sambars, gazelles, sheep, horses, styled human beings, tridents and rarely vegetal motifs began to seen. The features of cave paintings can be classified into three different phases:   Paintings are linear representations, in green and dark red, of huge animal figures, such as Bisons, Tigers, Elephants, Rhinos and Boars beside stick-like human figures.  Examples of cave paintings  Ajanta Paintings Ajanta caves are located at a distance of approximately 100 km from the city of Aurangabad. Most of the paintings seen in the Ajanta Caves, date back to the period of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. The themes of most of these paintings revolve around the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. This includes the Jataka stories related to the various lives and incarnations of Buddha. Calligraphic lines characterize these paintings, which can be classified into portraits, narrative illustrations and ornamental decoration.  Ellora Paintings Ellora caves are nestled amidst the Chamadari Hills, lying approximately 18 miles to the northeast of Aurangabad city. Paintings can be found in five caves. However, all of them are today preserved only in the Kailasa temple. The rock paintings of Ellora were painted in two different series. The first series, which were done when the caves were carved, revolve around Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. The second series, painted centuries later, illustrate procession of Shaiva holy men, Apsaras, etc.  Bagh Paintings  Bagh caves, situated on the banks of the Bagh River, have been excavated on the rock face of a lofty hill. The wall paintings of these caves date back to period between 5th and 7th century. These paintings represent the mast exquisite traditions of Indian art form.  Sittanavasal Paintings Sittanavasal is the site of an ancient Jain Monastery, located at a distance of around 58 km from Trichy. The monastery is known for housing some of the most exquisite frescoes in a rock cave. Most of these cave paintings are based on the Pandyan period of the 9th century. The themes of these paintings include animals, fish, ducks, people collecting lotuses from a pond, two dancing figures, etc. Apart from that, one can also find inscriptions dating back to the 9th and 10th century. The ceiling of the Ardhamandapam is adorned with murals from the 7th century. Conclusion  The rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years, Indian art’s origins can be traced back to Indian cave paintings and rock-cut structures that reflect the ingenuity and skill of their masters.They act as windows to the minds of our ancestors.Therefore its necessary to preserve them and also make them more widely accessible to the modern generation to provide them a sense of history and evoke awe for ancient culture of India. TLP Synopsis Day 127 PDF

AIR

50 Years of Bangladesh Liberation War - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES Search 26th March, 2021 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood March 26 marks 50 years since the start of Bangladesh’s liberation war, a bloody nine-month campaign that culminated in the nation’s independence on December 16, 1971. It was a violent birth, with some of its roots in the 1947 partition of India – when Pakistan was created as a separate nation. As the British Empire left the subcontinent, an estimated 200,000 to 1.5 million people were killed in sectarian violence associated with the partition and 10 million to 15 million were forcibly displaced. Newly independent Pakistan comprised two separate geographical areas separated by over a thousand miles of Indian terrain. While both regions included significant Muslim populations, West Pakistan was made up largely of Punjabi, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Baloch and other smaller ethnic groups. In contrast, the population of East Pakistan, which became modern-day Bangladesh, was predominantly ethnically Bengali, as the territory was formerly part of the Indian region of Bengal. Each of these factors – particularly the differences in language and political and economic inequities – laid the groundwork for Bangladesh’s independence struggle. Challenges faced by East Pakistan Just eight months into Pakistan’s existence, Jinnah had arrived in Dhaka and addressed two rallies. He declared Urdu the state language of West and East Pakistan. He forgot that the people of East Pakistan did not speak Urdu — they spoke Bangla. The seeds of the Bangla Language Movement — as well as the Bangladesh Liberation War — could be traced to Jinnah’s proclamation. The Urdu-only policy aimed to create a single identity out of two culturally distinct regions united by a common religion – Islam. More broadly, it aimed to consolidate the national identity of the recently independent Pakistan. In East Pakistan, the declaration was followed by the banning of Bengali books, songs and poetry by Bengali Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Bangla language as the medium of education and primary mode of instruction was also banned. All currency and official documents, including postal stamps and railway tickets, were printed in Urdu. A major reason for this was significant economic disparities between the two regions. West Pakistan controlled the country’s industry and commerce while East Pakistan was predominantly the supplier for raw materials, setting up a situation of unequal exchange. West Pakistan deprived and coerced East Pakistan in more areas than one. Jute — and other crops — cultivated in East Pakistan had their prices determined in West Pakistan; a mere half of the profits trickled back to East Pakistan. Apples, grapes or woollen garments produced in West Pakistan were sold at 10 times the price in East Pakistan. Discrimination was such that the slightest of dissent branded one an enemy of Pakistan or of Islam. Persecution, arrests, incarcerations were the order of the day. In 1959-60 the per capita income in West Pakistan was 32% higher than in East Pakistan. By 1969-70, it was 81% higher in West Pakistan. Investment policies including in educational infrastructure consistently favoured West Pakistan. East Pakistanis had little access to the Central government, which was located in the West Pakistani city of Islamabad. They were severely underrepresented in politics. West Pakistani political leadership did not see Bengalis as “real” Muslims. Both in political circles and socially, Bengali cultural practices were considered of a lower social status. The efforts to “Islamise” East Pakistanis through Urdu and “purify” Bengali culture from “Hindu influences” resulted in massive nonviolent demonstrations and strikes. The seeds of Liberation Bhasha Andolon: On February 21, 1952, students and other activists launched a language movement called the “Bhasha Andolon,” which demanded Bangla be recognized as the state language for East Pakistan. Thousands of school and college students protested, defying Section 144 of the Criminal Procedural Code, which prohibited assembly of five or more people and holding of public meetings. The crackdown that followed claimed several lives. From 1950 to 1969 it also galvanised a growing movement for autonomy across East Pakistan. 1969 uprising: A mass uprising in 1969 was brutally put down by police and led to the imposition of martial law. Cyclone Bhola: In 1970, a devastating cyclone called “Bhola” in East Pakistan claimed 300,000 to 500,000 lives. The indifferent response of the West Pakistan government further inflamed tensions. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won national election: A big turning point came the same year when the sole majority political party in East Pakistan, led by Bengali politician Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory in national elections. The Pakistani leadership was reluctant to accept the results because it did not want an East Pakistani political party heading the federal government. This resulted in the start of a civil disobedience movement in East Pakistan. Launch of Operation Searchlight: As the demand for Bengali autonomy grew, the Pakistani government launched Operation Searchlight, a military operation to crush the emerging movement. According to journalist Robert Payne, it killed at least 7,000 Bengali civilians – both Hindus and Muslims – in a single night.  On March 26, Bangladesh was declared independent and the liberation war began. The Birth of Bangladesh At midnight on March 25, Pakistan unleashed genocide in Bangladesh. Refugees streamed into India. On December 3, India officially entered the war on the side of Bangladesh. As Pakistan’s atrocities increased, then PM Indira Gandhi decided to take action and ordered the Indian Army to launch an offensive against Pakistan followed by a full scale war against its neighbor. Indian Army captured around 15000 km of Pak territory with the war lasting around 13 days and ending with the fall of Dhaka and the public surrender of Pak military. On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani military surrendered to the Indian Army, marking it as Bangladesh’s Victory Day. As the genocide began on the night of March 25-26 is commemorated as the day of liberation. The numbers The Pakistani military and its local collaborators specifically targeted Hindus, who in the 1961 census represented 18% of East Pakistan’s population of 50 million. An estimated 10 million Bengalis became refugees in India. A further 20 million were internally displaced. An estimated 200,000 to 400,000 Bengali women were systematically raped. Independent research estimates 500,000 to 1 million people were killed in the genocidal campaign. The Bangladesh government maintains that 3 million Bengalis were killed in the war.

[Day 37]: UPSC PRELIMS 2021- Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series

Highlights/Features of Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series:  It is a FREE initiative! Program Duration - 120 Days (31st May, 2021 to 27th September, 2021). 1. Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation There will be a separate dedicated portal to help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined for the next 120 Days. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. 2. 120 Days Integrated (Prelims + Mains) Time Table This year’s RaRe Series will include Integrated Revision Plan (IRP) where we will be syncing your mains and prelims syllabus together over next 120 Days. The Revision Plan is designed by integrating IASbaba's famous flagship initiatives - 60 Day Plan and TLP Mains Answer Writing. 3. Daily RaRe Series (RRS) Videos on High Probable Topics (Monday - Friday) In video discussions, special focus is given to topics which have high probability to appear in UPSC Prelims Question Paper. Each session will be of 20 mins to 30 mins, which would cover rapid revision of 10 high probable topics (both static and current affairs) important for Prelims Exam this year according to the schedule. 4. Daily Prelims MCQs from Static (Monday - Friday) Daily Static Quiz will cover all the topics of static subjects – Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment and Science and technology. 10 questions will be posted daily and these questions are framed from the topics mentioned in the schedule and in the RaRe videos. It will ensure timely and streamlined revision of your static subjects. Note: Should be integrated with the 60 Days Plan 2021. This will expose you to diverse questions from the same topics. 5. Daily Current Affairs MCQs (Monday - Saturday) Daily 5 Current Affairs questions, based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, would be published from Monday to Saturday. Note: Current Affairs questions covered in the 60 Days Plan and Daily Quiz Monthly Compilations should be covered retrospectively. 6. Daily CSAT Quiz (Monday - Friday) CSAT has been an achilles heel for many aspirants. Daily 5 CSAT Questions will be published. 7. Daily Mains Answer Writing (Monday - Friday) GS Mains will be covered along with Prelims in an integrated manner. Daily three Mains questions will be covered syllabus-wise according to the topics mentioned in the schedule. In total, it covers 250+ Mains Questions along with synopsis. 8. Brainstorming on Ethics & Essay (BEE) (Saturday & Sunday) Each week, Sunil Oberoi Sir (Retd. IAS) will take 3 sessions, two for Essay and one for Ethics. The two sessions earmarked for Essay will have a topic-based discussion where he will discuss the approach to write issue-based and philosophical essays. The topics will be picked from previous year question papers of UPSC and TLP initiative of IASbaba. 9. Full Mocks 3 GS Paper 1 Full Mocks will be provided along the lines of UPSC Prelims. 3 CSAT Paper 2 Full Mocks will be provided so that you are not overwhelmed during the D-Day. 10. Rapid Revision (RaRe) Notes Right material plays important role in clearing the exam and Rapid Revision (RaRe) Notes will have Prelims specific subject-wise refined notes. The main objective is to help students revise most important topics and that too within a very short limited time frame. Day-37 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 6th July 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) CoWIN Platform Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II - International relations; Health and GS-III - Technology In news: The Indian Prime Minister recently addressed the CoWin Global Conclave where India offered the CoWIN platform as a digital public good to the world to combat COVID19. What is CoWIN? CoWIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Work) is the Indian government’s web portal to register for COVID-19 vaccination. It displays slots of COVID-19 vaccine available in the nearby areas and can be booked on the website. It is a secure and trustworthy proof helped people establish when, where and by whom they had been vaccinated. In totality, CoWIN is a cloud-based IT solution for planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of Covid-19 vaccination in India.  This allows the system to monitor the utilisation, wastage, coverage of Covid-19 vaccination at national, state, district and sub-district level. CoWIN system tracks on a real time basis the vaccination drive in India. The portal also provides vaccination certificates in digital format CoWIN is essentially an extension of eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network).  Do you know? CoWIN has become the fastest tech platform in the world to amass over 200 million registrations in a record four months, and then 300 million registrations in a mere five months. What are highlights of the recent PM address? The decision to make CoWIN platform open source and offer it  as a digital public good was guided by the approach of ‘One Earth, One Health’. It is also a part of CoWIN Global Outreach Programme The software is customizable as per the local requirements of the interested countries. More than 50 countries including Nigeria, Canada and Mexico have shown interest in CoWIN platform Source: TH AYUSH sector Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II - Health In News: The Minister of AYUSH launched Important Portals in the Ayush sector. What are the launched portals? E-Medha (electronic Medical Heritage Accession) Portal Online public access catalog for more than 12000 Indian medical heritage books through NIC’s e-granthalaya platform. AMAR (Ayush Manuscripts Advanced Repository) Portal It has digitized information on rare and hard to find Manuscripts and catalogues of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa in libraries or in individual collections across India or in other parts of the world. SHAI (Showcase of Ayurveda Historical Imprints) Portals This portal showcases inscriptions, Archeo-botanical Information, Sculptures, Philological sources and advanced Archeo Genetic studies.  This portal will be of tremendous use in understanding of Indian Knowledge system with a focus on indigenous health care practices. CCRAS-Research Management Information System (RMIS) A collaborative effort of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences(CCRAS), this portal will be a one stop solution for Research and Development in Ayurveda based studies. Source: PIB National Mission for Clean Ganga Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Policies and interventions In news A policy document from the National Mission for Clean Ganga has instructed Cities situated on river banks to incorporate river conservation plans when they prepare their Master Plans. The recommendations are currently for towns that are on the main stem of the Ganga. There are 97 towns encompassing five States — Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal. Some of the norms emphasised in the policy document are Clarifying land ownership issue, restrictions on the Floor Area Ratio, increasing green cover in the vicinity of the river by creating green buffers, removing concrete structures and employing green infrastructure. Facilitating the use of state-of-the-art technologies for river management - Satellite-based monitoring of water quality; Big data for river-health monitoring and Drones & AI for riverine biodiversity & floodplain mapping.  What is the National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG)?   The National Ganga Council, also known as the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of River Ganga was set up in 2016. It replaced the National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA). NGRBA was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986.  The National Ganga Council, chaired by Prime Minister, has been given overall responsibility for the superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including Ganga and its tributaries. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation arm of national Ganga Council.  NMCG is registered as a society in 2011 under the Societies Registration Act 1860. The aims and objectives of NMCG are: To ensure effective control of pollution and rejuvenation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral coordination for comprehensive planning and management. To maintain minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development. Source: TH UDISE+ 2019-20 Report Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II - Education In news Recently, the Union Education Minister released the Report on United Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2019-20 for School Education in India. What are the key findings of the Report (2019-20)? Total Student Strength Pre-primary to Higher secondary Total Student Strength in this category has crosses 26.45 crore This is higher by 42.3 lakh compared to 2018-19. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) GER at all levels of school education has improved in 2019 20 compared to 2018-19 Upper Primary level- 89.7% (earlier 87.7%) Elementary Level- 97.8% (earlier 96.1%) Secondary Level - 77.9% (earlier 76.9%)  Higher Secondary Level- 51.4% (earlier 50.1%)  Earlier = 2018-19 data Teacher Strength In 2019-20, 96.87 lakh teachers have been engaged in school education.  This is higher by about 2.57 lakh compared to 2018-19. Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR)  PTR has improved at all levels of school education. PTR for primary is 26.5 (earlier 2012-13) PTR for upper primary is 18.5 (earlier 2012-13) PTR for secondary is 18.5 (earlier 2012-13) PTR for higher secondary is 26.1 (earlier 39.2) Earlier = 2012-13 data Enrolment of girls In 2019-20, enrolment of girls from primary to higher secondary is more than 12.08 crore. This is an increase by 14.08 lakh compared to 2018-19. GER of girls in 2019-20 at  Upper Primary level is 90.5% (from 88.5%),  Elementary Level in 98.7% (from 96.7%) Secondary Level 77.8% (from 76.9%)  Higher Secondary Level is 52.4% (from 50.8%) (from 2018-19). Inclusivity Enrolment of Divyang students has increased by 6.52% over 2018-19. Between 2012-13 and 2019-20, the Gender Parity Index (GPI) at both Secondary and Higher Secondary levels have improved Infrastructural Facilities More than 80% (schools in India in 2019-20 had functional electricity (73% in 2018-19)  Number of schools having functional computers increased to 5.2 lakh in 2019-20 from 4.7 lakh in 2018-19. Number of schools having internet facility increased to 3.36 lakh in 2019-20 from 2.9 lakh in 2018-19. More than 90% schools in India had handwash facility in 2019-20 (only 36.3% in 2012-13) More than 84% schools in India had a library/reading room/ reading corner in 2019-20, an improvement of nearly 4% compared to the previous year What are Some Important Government Initiatives for promoting Education? New National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Mid Day Meal Scheme. Right To Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Source: PIB Fly Ash Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Policies and interventions and GS III - Conservation In news  National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) for sale of fly ash, in its endeavour to achieve 100% utilization of fly ash, from the designated plants of the Middle East and other regions. What is Fly Ash? Fly Ash is a byproduct from burning of coal in the thermal power generation. It is called fly ash because it is transported from the combustion chamber by exhaust gases. Composition: silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3), ferric oxide (Fe2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO). Uses: In concrete and cement products, road base, metal recovery, and mineral filler among others. Harmful Effects: Toxic air pollutants which can trigger heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and stroke. When combined with water they cause leaching of heavy metals in ground water. Affects the root development system of trees. What is Fly Ash Utilisation Policy? To promote the use of Fly Ash bricks in building construction, NTPC has set up Fly Ash brick manufacturing Plants at its Coal based Thermal Power Plants. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) has focused on new construction technologies such as using fly ash bricks that are innovative, and environmentally friendly. Maharashtra was the first state to adopt the Fly Ash utilization policy. A web portal for monitoring of fly ash generation and utilization and a mobile based application titled “ASHTRACK” has been launched by the Government. GST rates on fly ash and its products have been reduced to 5%. Pic courtesy: Researchgate Source: PIB Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) Part of: GS Prelims and GS III - Economy In News: Survey-based June PMI for services sector shows second successive contraction at 41.2 What is PMI? It is a survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception about key business variables as compared with the previous month. It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is constructed.  The PMI is a number from 0 to 100.  PMI above 50 represents an expansion when compared to the previous month; PMI under 50 represents a contraction, and A reading at 50 indicates no change. f PMI of the previous month is higher than the PMI of the current month (as is the case mentioned above), it represents that the economy is contracting. The PMI is usually released at the start of every month. It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity. Also, since the official data on industrial output, manufacturing and GDP growth comes much later, PMI helps to make informed decisions at an earlier stage. PMI provides information about current and future business conditions to company decision-makers, analysts, and investors.  (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY Topic: GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.  Crafting a unique partnership with Africa Context: Critical to its foreign policy matrix, New Delhi’s engagement with the African continent has been multifaceted. India should prioritise and channel resources into augmenting its partnership with Africa in agriculture sector because: Unexplored Potential: 65% of the world’s uncultivated arable land is in African continent that provides huge potential for India to collaborate in Agricultural sector through supply of machinery, acquisition of farmlands, institutional & Individual capacity building etc. Centrality to global food security: As Nations across the world faces dangers of declining agricultural productivity in the wake of Climate Change, Africa’s underdeveloped agriculture sector is a ray of hope for global food security. Business prospects: Indian farmers have purchased over 6,00,000 hectares of land for commercial farming in Africa, which has scope for further investment. Also, Africa provides golden opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs in agri-tech sector (the sector enjoyed a 110% growth between 2016 and 2018) Countering China: India’s engagement in Africa’s agriculture sector provides credible alternatives to the increasing involvement of Chinese stakeholders in the sector. Analysing Chinese engagement Biggest Economic Partner: China is among Africa’s largest trading partners. It is also Africa’s single biggest creditor. Its corporations dominate the region’s infrastructure market and are now entering the agri-infra sector. Primary Drivers for China’s engagement with Africa: Access to Africa’s natural resources, its untapped markets and support for ‘One China Policy’ are primary drivers of Chinese engagement with the region. Relocation Site for Chinese Firms: Chinese-built industrial parks and economic zones in Africa are attracting low-cost, labour-intensive manufacturing units that are relocating from China (as labour costs are increasing in China impacts the competitiveness of Chinese goods) Learning Experience: Chinese operations in Africa are important to accumulate global experience in management, risk and capital investments.  Building Brand China: Chinese are willing to overlook short-term profits in order to build ‘brand China’, but they want to dominate the market in the long term, which includes pushing Chinese standards in host countries.  Alternate to traditional western powers: Beijing’s model, if successful in Africa, could be heralded as a replica for the larger global south. This will catapult China as leader of Global South weaning thee countries away from their dependence on USA. Evolving Engagement in Africa’s agricultural landscape: Chinese firms are introducing agri-tech (drones), setting up Technology Demonstration centres (TDC), collaboration with locals on developing new crop varieties, skill training, ecological parks etc What mistakes Chinese are committing in Africa which India should avoid repeating it? Growing, insular Chinese diaspora in Africa Lopsided trade Looming debt Competition with local businesses  Chinese and African experts working in Agricultural TDCs are operating in silos leading to ineffective outcomes Technology taught in China is not available locally. Inability to implement lessons learnt due to the absence of supporting resources.  Aggravating socio-cultural stresses due to larger commercial farms being run by Mandarin-speaking managers and the presence of small-scale Chinese farmers in local markets. Way Ahead for India While India’s Africa strategy exists independently, it is important to be cognisant of China’s increasing footprint in the region. Prominent African voices have emphasised that their own agency is often overlooked in global discourse on the subject. India’s engagement should not lead to dilution of African agency. India’s stand that the development partnership has to be in line with African priorities should be continued & should be showcased as an alternative to Chinese Model (Chinese priorities overtake Africa’s priorities)  Connecting the dots: Pandemic in Africa and opportunity for India India-Africa Relationship Asia-Africa growth Corridor ECONOMY/ INTERNATIONAL/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.  GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests OPEC’s output pact proposal Definition: The latest round of meetings among the OPEC+ group of oil-exporting countries has stalled as the UAE has pushed back proposals making an increase in crude oil supply conditional on an extension to an output agreement.  What is the background? Low Oil Prices in wake of Pandemic-induced global slowdown: The price of Brent crude hit an 18-year low of under $20 per barrel in April 2020 as economic activity around the world crashed as countries dealt with the pandemic.  Production Cut to boost Prices: As a result, OPEC+ group of countries had, in April 2020, entered into a two-year agreement, which entailed steep cuts in crude production (reduction in supply leads to increase in prices) Subsequently in November 2020, the price of Brent crude started climbing and has, now, risen to $76.5 per barrel —buoyed by the steady rollout of vaccination programmes around the world. Continuance with Production Cut: OPEC+, however, maintained lower levels of production despite crude oil prices reaching pre-Covid levels, with Saudi Arabia, notably, announcing a further cut in production of 1 million barrels per day for the February-to-April 2021, which helped boost rising prices even further Criticism on rising Oil Prices: The OPEC+ group ran into sharp criticism from developing economies, including India, for deliberately maintaining low supply levels to raise prices. This was in turn slowing down the economic recovery of countries post the pandemic. Gradual Increase in Oil Production: Amidst the growing criticism, OPEC+, in April 2021, agreed to gradually increase crude production as prices reached $64.5 per barrel. What is the issue? UAE agreed that there was a need to increase crude oil production from August, but did not agree to a condition by the OPEC Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) that the two-year production agreement be extended by six months. The UAE’s key objection to the existing agreement is the reference output used to calculate the total production apportioned (allotted) to each oil-exporting country. The UAE noted that the baseline production level reference used in the current agreement was not reflective of the UAE’s production capacity and, therefore, led to the UAE being apportioned a lower share of total production of crude oil. How will this impact India? If the UAE and other OPEC+ nations do not reach an agreement to increase production in August, expected relief in the form of lower crude oil prices could be delayed.  India is currently facing record-high prices of petrol and diesel (near to Rs 100/ltr). If oil prices do not come down, petrol/diesel prices will further increase which in turn will lead to inflation hampering economic recovery (as purchasing capacity lowers) Connecting the dots: Oil Price Rise 2020 Oil Market meltdown India’s GDP fall (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Consider the following statements about National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) It acts as implementation arm of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga National Ganga Council is under the chairmanship of Prime Minister of India Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding new portals launched by Ministry of Ayush: E-Medha Portal is an Online public access catalog for more than 12000 Indian medical heritage books through NIC’s e-granthalaya platform. AMAR Portal has digitized information on rare and hard to find Manuscripts and catalogues of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa in libraries or in individual collections across India or in other parts of the world. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Which of the following is not a Harmful Effect of Fly Ash: Toxic air pollutants  Leaching of heavy metals  Affects the root development system of trees None of the above ANSWERS FOR 5th July 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 D 3 A Must Read On All India Judicial Services: The Hindu On Nationalism in India and China: Indian Express On Zoonotic diseases: Hindustan Times

SYNOPSIS [5th JULY,2021] Day 126: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [5th JULY,2021] Day 126: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. What status was the environment accorded during the Vedic period? How do Vedic symbols encapsulate the spirit of environment? Discuss.   Approach  First in Introduction give a brief introduction of Vedic period and then contextualise the environment part to it as its demand of question.In body part address both the demands of status of environment and symbols representing the role of environment.In conclusion with the summary try to contextualise to the current times for better impact. Introduction The Vedic Age was between 1500 BC and 600 BC. This is the next major civilization that occurred in ancient India after the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization by 1400 BC. The Vedas were composed in this period and this gives this age the name. Further the Vedas have several references in them on environmental protection, ecological balance, weather cycles, rainfall phenomena, hydrologic cycle, and related subjects that directly indicate the high level of awareness of the seers and people of that time. Body Status of Environment Ancient treasures of vast knowledge reveal a full cognizance of the undesirable effects of environmental degradation, whether caused by natural factors or human activities.  The protection of the environment was understood to be closely related to the protection of the dyaus or heavens and prithvi or earth. Between these two lies the atmosphere and the environment that we refer to as the paryavaran.  Many of the Rig Vedic hymns therefore vividly describe the Dyava Prithvi that is, they describe Heaven and Earth together.  The Rig Veda venerates deities like Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Maruts and Aditya, that are responsible for maintaining the requisite balance in the functioning of all entities of Nature whether the mountains, lakes, heaven and earth, the forests or the waters.  Seers recognised that changes caused due to indiscreet human activities could result in imbalances in seasons, rainfall patterns, crops and atmosphere and degrade the quality of water, air, and earth resources.  There are many hymns seeking the blessings of the five basic gross elements or the pancha mahabhoota of Nature: akashor firmament, vayu or air, agni, tejas or fire, apah or water, and prithvi or earth. People were careful to refrain from activities that could cause harm to Nature's bounties. It was understood that the well-being of Mother Earth depended on the preservation and sustenance of the environment.  The Rig Veda makes a clear reference to the presence of a protective layer which we know now to be the ozone layer that filters the harmful rays of the sun and protects the earth and praises the radiation that enters the atmosphere that is responsible for the health of the environment. Therefore the Vedic society which was nature worshiping society as they were in awe of day to day phenomena of seasonal changes , the moon and the sun.This led them to name various forces of nature as gods and goddesses.This system of worship is still followed in many parts of India. Following symbols summarize the importance of spirit of Environment: Concept of Panch mahabhootas: The universe consists of five basic elements viz. earth or land, water, light or lustre, air and ether. The nature has maintained a status of balance between and among these constituents or elements and living creatures. Divinity to Nature: Vedic Gods and Goddesses conceptualized from the natural elements of Environment. E.g. Vayudev (AIr), Varundev (Rain). They used to perform various yadnyas (religious activities) and sacrifices to please natural forces.    Concept of Water as Apah and Air as Vayu: According to Rig-Veda the water and air is essential to all forms of life. Their curious nature towards Environment helped them to identify certain plants as Osdhadhi i.e. medicinal plants. Their belief in ‘Sacred groves’ indicate protective attitude towards forest ecosystem. The protection of the environment was understood to be closely related to the protection of the dyaus or heavens and prithvi or earth. Between these two lies the atmosphere and the environment that we refer to as the paryavaran. Many of the Rig Vedic hymns therefore vividly describe the Dyava Prithvi i.e. Heaven and Earth together. Conclusion People of Vedic times considered every stakeholder in the environment as sacred. Their belief of God as creator of everything added dimension of purity to their approach towards environment. Way of life in those times itself was in harmony with environment which automatically helped in preservation and conservation.Therefore the present society in India and world can emulate the sustainable practices of Vedic period which can help them to live with harmony with nature.  2. Examine the advancements made in the fields of urban planning and architecture during the Indus Valley Civilisation. Where do we find the marvellous examples of Indus Valley cities and architecture?  Approach  It’s a question based on basic topic of Indus valley civilisation.In this the candidate can start with brief introduction of Indus valley civilisation and urban nature of its planning.In next part write in detail major features of the urban planning and architecture.In next part write some examples of these to substantiate.In conclusion write a summary based and contextual conclusion. Introduction The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), also known as the Indus Civilisation, was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature form from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.It is the oldest urban culture excavated in Indian subcontinent as of now. Archeological excavations at various places such as Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro and Rakhigarhi indicate planned city settlements with several elements of uniformity in all Indus valley civilisation sites. Body Advances made in the fields of urban planning and architecture: 1. Streets and Roads The streets were straight and cut each other at right angles. They were 13 to 34 feet wide and were well lined. The streets and roads divided the city into rectangular blocks.  Archaeologists have discovered the lamp posts at intervals. This suggests the existence of street lights. Dustbins were also provided on the streets. These prove the presence of good municipal administration. 2. Drainage System  One of the most remarkable features of the Indus valley civilization is that the city was provided with an excellent closed drainage system.  Each house had its own drainage and soak pit which was connected to the public drainage. Brick laid channels flowed through every street. They were covered and had manholes at intervals for cleaning and clearing purposes. Large brick culverts with corbelled roofs were constructed on the outskirts of the city to carry excess water.  Thus Indus people had a perfect underground drainage system. No other contemporary civilization gave so much attention to cleanliness. 3. The Great Bath The most striking feature in Mohenjodaro is the Great Bath. It consists of a large quadrangle. In the centre, there is a huge swimming pool (approximately 39 ft long, 23 ft wide and 8ft deep) with the remains of galleries and rooms on all four sides.  It has a flight of steps at either end and is fed by a well, situated in one of the adjoining rooms. The water was discharged by a huge drain with corbelled roof more than 6 ft in depth. The Great bath had 8 ft thick outer walls. This solid construction has successfully withstood the natural ravages for 5000 years. There were arrangements for hot water bath in some rooms. 4. Granaries The largest building in Mohenjodaro is granary which is 45.71 mtrs long and 15.23 mtrs wide. In Harappa there are a series of brick platforms which formed the base for two rows of 6 granaries each.  In the Southern part of Kalibangan brick platforms have also been found. These granaries safely stored the grains, which were probably collected as revenue or store houses to be used in emergencies. 5. Buildings People of Indus valley civilization built houses and other buildings by the side of roads. They built terraced houses of burnt bricks. Every house had two or more rooms. There were also more than one storied houses.  The houses were designed around an inner courtyard and contained pillared halls, bath rooms, paved floors, kitchen, well etc. Besides residential quarters, elaborate structures have also been found.  One of these buildings has got the biggest hall measuring 80 ft long and 80 ft wide. It might have been a palace, or temple or hall for holding meetings. The workmen quarters are also found.  There was an excellent system of water supply. There were public wells by the side of streets. Every big house had its own well. They also built a dockyard at Lothal. 6. Dockyards There was a dockyard built in Lothal.It was supposed to be mean as an inland port for the ships which were a feature of urban trade and economy of the period  Marvellous examples of Indus Valley cities and Architecture: Harappa: It is on the banks of Ravi River. Trade routes towards Afghanistan                    used to pass located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. There are two rows of six granaries with big platform found in Harappa. Mohenjo-Daro: It’s on the banks of Indus River. It’s one of the largest harappan site. Great bath and great granary found here. Rakhigarhi: It’s located in Haryana. Recent excavations made it the largest harappan site excavated till today. Dholavira: It’s located in Kutch region of Gujarat. Giant water reservoir, unique water harnessing system with dams and embankments, stadium located here. Lothal: It’s located in gulf of khambat. Finding of dockyard and terracotta model of ship indicate Lothal used to be port city for sea trade. Conclusion This Indus valley civilisation had all the features of near to modern town planning and scientific thrust on architecture.This needs to be again be brought in Indian town planning as there is less focus on town planning and ad hoc cities are getting created without efficient drainage system which has led to urban flooding and dumping of garbage on the streets.This will help India achieve the targets of UN habitat program which envisions urban life with ease of living. 3. Recreation was an integral part of people’s lives during ancient times. Illustrate with the help of suitable examples. Approach  It is a straightforward question.First define what is meant by recreational activity and what purpose does it serve.In next part write various examples of recreation which were present in India with help of examples.In conclusion write what was function of these recreational activities. Introduction: Recreation was inseparable part of human existence since prehistoric times even before the start of settled life and empire building. It played vital part to present different identity of human traits from other animals. Several games now familiar across the world owe their origins in India, particularly, the games of chess, ludo (including ladders and snake), and playing cards. The famous epic Mahabharata narrates an incidence where a game called Chaturang was played between two groups of warring cousins.This shows the emphasis given by people of ancient period to recreation.  Body There were different ways of entertainment in ancient India such as painting, dancing, playing various games, singing and sculpturing. Painting: Cave paintings of Bhimbetaka continued since Palaeolithic times till 2nd century BCE. It evolved into complexity, scale and quality. Ajanta cave paintings are examples of mural painting; some of them are religious and some for recreational activities. The other caves paintings which are of importance are of Bagh canes, Sittanavasal caves, Ellora caves, these show how painting was practiced as recreational as well as with artistic fervour. Dance:Bronze sculpture of dancing girl from Harrapan culture indicates dancing may have been prominent aspect of recreational activities during harappan times.Various classical dance forms evolved in temples such as Bharatnatyam, Mohiniattam which are mentioned in classical text of Natyashastra these were mainly for kings and courts. Various folk dances evolved over a period of time for entertainment of ordinary people. E.g. Chhau, Raslila. Music:India has rich tradition of music. Kings used to have royal musicians and singers in their courts for entertainment purpose. Gupta emperor Samudragupta issued coins with imprint of him playing veena- musical instrument.Indian classical music evolved into two schools such as hindustani and carnatic music. People used to enjoy folk music such as Baul, Powada, Lavani.  Games:Mahabharata, Ramayana and various puranas mention about hunting expeditions of Kings for recreational activities. Ashokan inscriptions talks about ban on hunting of certain animals on certain occasions for recreation. Mahabharata mentioned chess like game which continued till it evolved into chess.       Many historians believe chess is descendant of an Indian game played in the 7th century AD. Martial arts : Martial arts are known by different names all over India.The name of Kalaripayattu a martial arts were a native of Kerala. Kalaripayattu consists of a series of intricate movements that train the body and mind.Others such as Thangta and Silamban are also famous. Puppetry: is one of the ancient forms of entertainment. It also used for educational and philosophical purpose in India. It became part of mass culture in India.Various festivals provided opportunity for people to come together and celebrate with various community activities. Conclusion: Recreation promoted a sense of joy and provided purpose to the life and living to people. Many times political changes made people’s life miserable but easy access to popular recreational activities in rural areas isolated people from outside impacts.Further many of these recreational art forms are fading from public memories which are of immense heritage value.Therefore the government, civil society and local administration should form a repository of these ancient recreational elements and also include these in school syllabus to make new generation aware about the ancient heritage of India. TLP Synopsis Day 126 PDF

[INTERVIEW INITIATIVE] Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) [DAY 21] 2020 for UPSC/IAS Personality Test!

ARCHIVES (of TRP) - > CLICK HERE Those who have appeared for UPSC Mains 2020, fill up the Google form given below. Students who fill the form will be added to a telegram group so that there can be healthy discussions with other students who will be appearing for the Interview/Personality Test. Also, Mohan sir, Bureaucrats and Ex-Bureaucrats will be interacting one on one with all the students who will be appearing for the same. REGISTER HERE – CLICK HERE   Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 21 Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes on this set of questions.  What does ‘sense of service’ mean to you?  Is having a ‘sense of service’ essential for human beings?  How much significance do you accord to the ‘sense of service’ as a virtue of a civil servant?  Set 2: Analyse the following issue:  Do you think India has emerged as a global leader in the field of digital technology? Can you talk about few of India’s achievements in the field of digital governance and management? What role should India play in as an emerging global leader? Do you see any limitations holding back India’s potential as a digital superpower? Try framing a balanced response.  We expect you to discuss the above question (Set 2) in the comments below and come out with a balanced view of the issues. Thank You IASbaba