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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th October 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Heron-I unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)  Part of: Prelims and GS III - Defence and Security  Context The Army Aviation has recently got control of Heron-I unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the eastern sector. This brings all aviation assets under one roof which will augment its ability to keep an eye on Chinese activities across the border. In the future battlefield, manned and unmanned aircraft teaming will reap huge dividends.  The aviation Brigade at Missamari, Assam, operates the Cheetah and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv utility helicopters, Rudra weaponsied ALH and Heron-I UAVs. What are the possible benefits of this move? Optimised employment of remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs)/UVAs  Upgradation of flight safety management and practices Boost to training infrastructure  Better maintenance and serviceability by optimising the supply chain  Smoothening of the command and control process during operations. WHO group to consider emergency use listing of Covaxin Part of: Prelims and GS - II - Health and GS-III - Sci and tech  Context The World Health Organization’s technical advisory group will consider the Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of Covaxin. What is Emergency Use Listing (EUL)? The WHO Emergency Use Listing Procedure (EUL) is a risk-based procedure for assessing and listing unlicensed vaccines, therapeutics and in vitro diagnostics. Aim: Expediting the availability of these products to people affected by a public health emergency.  This also assists interested UN procurement agencies and Member States in determining the acceptability of specific products The following criteria must be met: The disease for which the product is intended is serious or immediately life threatening. Existing products have not been successful in eradicating the disease or preventing outbreaks The product is manufactured in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The applicant undertakes to complete the development of the product and apply for WHO prequalification once the product is licensed. What is Covaxin? Covaxin is India’s first indigenous, whole-virion, inactivated vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV). It has been formulated with ‘Algel-IMDG’, which contains chemically absorbed TLR7/8 as an adjuvant onto aluminium hydroxide gel to generate the requisite type of immune responses without damaging the body.  China tests nuclear capable hypersonic missile Part of: Prelims and GS II - International Relations and GS-III - Defence and Security  Context China’s military has carried out its first-ever test of a “nuclear capable hypersonic missile”. It circled the globe through low-orbit space before speeding towards its target,  demonstrating an advanced space capability  Only the U.S, Russia and China were developing hypersonic glide vehicles that are launched on rockets and then orbit the earth at their own speed.  They are difficult to track because unlike ballistic missiles, they “do not follow the fixed parabolic trajectory”. Challenge for USA: The weapon could, in theory, fly over the South Pole which would pose a big challenge for the U.S. military because its missiles defence systems are focused on the northern polar route What is a hypersonic missile? Hypersonics are defined as being able to travel at velocities of at least five times the speed of sound — Mach 5, or more than 6,100 kilometres (3,800 miles) per hour.  They can also manoeuvre in mid-flight, making them much harder to track and intercept than traditional projectiles. By cutting flight times, they also reduce the opportunity to respond. Depending on the design, they can be capable of carrying nuclear warheads or conventional only, and have the potential to alter the strategic balance. Which countries possess them?  Russia, USA and China Russia is generally seen as the world leader in technology so far, developing a range of new hypersonic weapons that In July it successfully tested the Zircon, a ship-launched hypersonic missile travelling at seven times the speed of sound. It already has Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles and the air-launched Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles in its arsenal. A novel target to treat prostate cancer identified  Part of: Prelims and GS-II - Health and GS-III - Sci and tech  Context Researchers at the IIT, Kanpur, have discovered that a particular gene (DLX1) has an important role to play in the growth and development of prostate cancer. DLX1 plays an important role in the development of jaws, skeleton, and interneurons in the brain. It is also expressed at higher levels in the prostate cancer cells Key findings   The team of researchers at the institute has now found that the DLX1 protein has a huge role in the growth and development of the tumour and the spread of the cancer to other organs in the body (metastasis). Using small molecules as inhibitors, the researchers have shown in mice a new therapeutic strategy to treat people with DLX1-positive prostate cancer. What is Prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate.  The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that surrounds the urethra just below the bladder.  Most prostate cancers are slow growing. Factors that increase the risk of prostate cancer include older age, family history and race. The DLX1 protein is found at elevated levels in prostate cancer patients, the reason why the DLX1 protein has been used as a urine-based biomarker.  First movie shoot in space Part of: Prelims  Context Russian film crew returned to Earth after spending 12 days on the International Space Station (ISS) shooting scenes for the first movie in orbit. The filmmakers had blasted off from the Russia-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome in ex-Soviet Kazakhstan earlier this month, travelling to the ISS to film scenes for ‘The Challenge’ . The Russian movie’s plot centres around a surgeon who is dispatched to the ISS to save a cosmonaut. (News from PIB) e-Shram Portal Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-II- Governance In News: More than 4 crore unorganized workers have been registered at e-Shram Portal, India’s first national database on unorganized workers. Highest number of registrations: Odisha, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh Largest number of workers register from agriculture and construction sector Registration at E-shram will facilitate unorganized workers to get the benefits of various social security and employment-based schemes  4.09 crore workers have registered on the portal. Of these around 50.02% beneficiaries are female and 49.98% are male. e-Shram portal  It is a portal through which the government aims to register 38 crore unorganised workers, such as construction labourers, migrant workforce, street vendors and domestic workers, among others.  The workers will be issued an e-Shram card containing a 12-digit unique number, which, going ahead, will help in including them in social security schemes. Significance of e-Shram portal – National Database on Unorganized Workers (NDUW) Targeted identification of the unorganized workers was a much-needed step and the portal which will be the national database of our nation builders will help take welfare schemes to their doorstep, who are the builders of our Nation. Targeted delivery and last mile delivery, has been a major focus of the schemes of government of India and the National Database of Unorganised workers (E-Shram portal) is another key step towards that. News Source: PIB Miscellaneous World Food Day: 16th October Prime Minister of Norway: H. E. Jonas Gahr Store Mitra Shakti: Joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army (Mains Focus) ENVIRONMENT/ INTERNATIONAL GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Indian Economy & Challenges Building Water Security Context: PM Narendra Modi spoke of the need to focus on long-term water security at the recent launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission app. Water Crisis in India As per the Groundwater Resource Estimation Committee’s report (from 2015), 1,071 out of 6,607 blocks in the country are over-exploited; this is likely to have worsened over the years. More than a third of the country’s population lives in water-stressed areas, and this number is expected to shoot up.  Per capita water availability in the country had fallen to just under a third of 1950 levels by 2011, both because of rising population and increasing unsustainable use. 82% of rural households in India do not have individual piped water supply and 163 million live without access to clean water close to their homes. Reasons for Water Crisis in India Agriculture:  Agriculture accounts for 78% of all freshwater used annually in the country, with 64% of this chunk being from groundwater  The rapid rise in tubewell-irrigation and the acreage under water-guzzling crops like sugarcane and paddy has left India under acute groundwater distress. Over half of India’s cultivated land is under water-intensive crops. Fifty-four percent of India’s 141.4 million hectares of cultivable land is under water-intensive crops—rice, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton. Poor Water efficiency: India uses at least twice the amount of water to grow one unit of food versus comparable countries Growing Population: By 2030, India’s water demand will exceed supply by two times, indicating severe water scarcity in the country.  In fact, 820 million Indians living in 12 river basins have a per capita water availability close to or lower than 1,000 cubic metres—the official threshold for water scarcity.  The average all-India per capita water availability is expected to be 1,341 cubic metres by 2025, and touch a low of 1,140 cubic metres by 2050, close to the official water scarcity threshold. Slow Implementation of Schemes: The Atal Bahujal Yojana (ABY) dashboard shows that the expenditure against the targets set under various heads, as also the release of funds, has been alarmingly low for the past as well as the present year. Other factors include wastage of water due to lack of awareness, lack of water conservation methods in Industries, poor water recycling & inadequate usage of rainwater. Way Forward National Water Policy 2020 gives the “highest priority to groundwater governance and management” through a “Participatory Groundwater Management (PGWM)” approach. All stakeholders have to implement this policy in right spirit. Government needs to stop encouraging (via MSP-led procurement, SAP/FRPs) cultivation of water-intensive crops; crop diversification is a crucial step towards this. 2018 PM-AASHA (Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan) proposes up to 40% procurement of crops that are not as water-intensive (millets, nutricereals)  Pricing of water, timely data on usage/availability/depletion, etc, also need policy attention. Connecting the dots: Ensuring Water Security Jal Jeevan Mission Can you answer this question? Enlightened water policy needs infrastructure. But more than that, it requires institutions with local and village ownership. Analyse. GOVERNANCE/ HUNGER GS-2: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.  GS-2: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Hunger: Analysis of GHI Context: In the recently released Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranking, India ranked at 101st out of a total 116 countries (India’s 2020 rank was 94). This year’s slide in the rank assumes significance especially in the context of COVID-19.   India is also behind most of the neighbouring countries. Pakistan was placed at 92 rank, Nepal at 76 and Bangladesh also at 76. The government has questioned the methodology and claimed that the ranking does not represent the ground reality.  This calls for careful scrutiny of the methodology, especially of the GHI’s components. What are the components of GHI? The GHI has four components.  Components Applicability Weightage Data Sourced from 1. Undernourishment (Insufficient Calorie Intake) All age groups 33.3% Food and Agriculture Organization’s Suite of Food Security Indicators (2021) 2.  Wasting (low weight for height) Children under five years 16.6% WHO, UNICEF and World Bank, complemented with the latest data from the Demographic and Health Surveys. 3.  Stunting (low height for age) Children under five years 16.6% WHO, UNICEF and World Bank, complemented with the latest data from the Demographic and Health Surveys. 4.  Mortality Children under five years 33.3% UN Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.  India’s wasting prevalence (17.3%) is one among the highest in the world.  Child stunting in India declined from 54.2% in 1998–2002 to 34.7% in 2016-2020,  Child wasting remains around 17% throughout the two decades of the 21st century. Had the GHI been estimated using the latest data on calorie intake, usually provided by the National Sample Survey Office, things might have looked even worse given that the leaked report of 2019 indicated that consumption expenditure in India declined between 2011-12 and 2017-18 by 4% (rural India by 10%) Issues with GHI Conceptually, the GHI is largely children-oriented with a higher emphasis on undernutrition than on hunger and its hidden forms, including micronutrient deficiencies. The first component — calorie insufficiency — is problematic for many reasons.  The lower calorie intake, which does not necessarily mean deficiency, may also stem from reduced physical activity, better social infrastructure (road, transport and healthcare) and access to energy-saving appliances at home, among others. For a vast and diverse country like India, using a uniform calorie norm to arrive at deficiency prevalence means failing to recognise regional factors. For instance: Larger proportion of population in developed states like Kerala & Tamil Nadu may require less calorie due to high levels of mechanisation of economy. Hence, they can be wrongly counted as undernourished. Relation between Stunting & Wasting Stunting is a chronic, long-term measure of undernutrition, while wasting is an acute, short-term measure.  Child wasting can result due to immediate lack of nutritional intake and sudden exposure to an infectious atmosphere.  Quite possibly, several episodes of wasting without much time to recover can translate into stunting.  A higher order of priority should be accorded to stunting as it is a stable indicator and does not oscillate with minor changes in circumstances, while wasting does. If India can tackle wasting by effectively monitoring regions that are more vulnerable to socioeconomic and environmental crises, it can possibly improve wasting and stunting simultaneously. There seems to be no short-cut way of improving stunting without addressing wasting.  India’s better tackling of Child Mortality Studies suggest that child undernutrition and mortality are usually closely related, as child undernutrition plays an important facilitating role in child mortality.  India’s relatively better performance in child mortality merits a mention.  India’s child mortality rate has been lower despite it having higher levels of stunting This implies that though India was not able to ensure better nutritional security for all children under five years, it was able to save many lives due to the availability of and access to better health facilities.  Conclusion This ranking should prompt us to look at our policy focus and interventions and ensure that they can effectively address the concerns raised by the GHI, especially against pandemic-induced nutrition insecurity. Connecting the dots: 2020 Global Hunger Index Hunger Hotspots Report (Sansad TV – Perspective) Oct 13: GatiShakti: Push for Multi-Modal Connectivity- https://youtu.be/wMqQ1k5zW-E  TOPIC: GS 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation GS 3: Infrastructure & Economy GatiShakti: Push for Multi-Modal Connectivity In news: ‘PM Gati Shakti Master Plan’ – a national master plan for multi-model connectivity and extension of holistic governance which will give impetus to 21st century India, has been launched. A target of making India energy independent by 2047 has been set – by replace petroleum with other forms of energy  National Hydrogen Mission has been announced noting the country spends Rs 12 trillion on energy imports every year. What is Gati Shakti Master Plan? It is a Rs. 100 lakh-crore project for developing ‘holistic infrastructure’. It will be a digital platform that connects 16 ministries — including Roads and Highways, Railways, Shipping, Petroleum and Gas, Power, Telecom, Shipping, and Aviation — with a view to ensuring holistic planning and execution of infrastructure projects. It is aimed at easier interconnectivity between road, rail, air and waterways to reduce travel time and improve industrial productivity. The push for infrastructure is in line with the government’s efforts to step up capital expenditure in infrastructure to promote economic growth. What are the focus areas of the project? Source of employment opportunities for the youth in future. Will create a multiplier effect with every rupee invested, yielding much higher returns. Raise the global profile of local manufacturers and help them compete with their counterparts worldwide.  Increased possibilities of new future economic zones. Increase both manufacturing and exports Significance Logistics Grid: With Gati Shakti, India will be able to build an integrated, harmonised transportation and logistics grid. Such a grid will help bring down logistics & supply cost of India. Enhances Supply Chain Efficiency: It helps build new supply-side capacities & enhances supply chain efficiency that can set the wheels of growth in motion and move towards the ambitious mission of a $5-trillion economy Coordinated Governance: To have all utility and infrastructure planning under an umbrella framework will ensures coordinated planning, cut down ministerial delays, and leads to faster decision making. Attracts FDI: Having an umbrella framework under Gati Shakti provides clarity & stability to investors thereby attracting Foreign Direct investment into infrastructure sector. Scope for New Economic Corridors: Increased investment by domestic & foreign investors for new infrastructure creations open the doors for new future economic zones Improves Connectivity: It will ensure last-mile connectivity to economic zones in a definite timeframe.  Increased Competitiveness of exports: Supply chain inefficiencies add to product costs, and thus, run the risk of making our exports uncompetitive vis-à-vis other international export players. Dedicated infrastructure development under Gati Shakti, therefore, improves India’s infrastructure capacity and global export competitiveness with regard to manufacturing in India.  Data for Policy Making: The geographic information system (GIS)-enabled digital platform under Gati Shakti will provide useful data — including a region’s topography, satellite images, physical features, maps of existing facilities and so on — for ministries, thus, helping them save on funds and time for approvals. Enhances India’s share in cargo business: India’s share in the international cargo business was worth ₹1,686 crore in 2019-20, which rose to ₹2,644 crore in 2020-21 (a 57% increase). Having a harmonised & integrated logistics hub will help increase this share. Some concerns The effectiveness of a platform in ensuring better coordination among ministries is debatable. Breaking down bureaucratic silos may prove to be harder than expected.  Critical to the success of some of these infrastructure projects will be the participation of state governments. The Centre will need to devise political interventions and ways to coax and incentivise state government participation and cooperation. Conclusion By bringing together 16 ministries to help remove the hurdles in project implementation, the Gati Shakti digital platform could provide an effective mechanism for closely monitoring the public sector infrastructure projects. This technology-led integrated approach could help align all stakeholders, ease the problems with attaining clearances, and bring about greater coordinated action across government departments. Can you answer the following question? Will Gati Shakti prove to be the dawn of a new age in infrastructure development? (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. Q.1 Emergency Use Listing (EUL), recently seen in news, is associated with which of the following? Buffer stock of India  Foreign exchange reserves  Coal crisis Vaccines Q.2 consider the following statements regarding Arecanut: The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that surrounds the bladder just below the urethra.  Most prostate cancers are fast growing. It usually affects young males. Which of the above is or are correct  1 and 2 only 2 only 2 and 3 only None of the above  Q.3 Which of the following is not true with regard to Hypersonic missile?  Hypersonics can travel at velocities of at least three times the speed of sound. They can manoeuvre in mid-flight. They are known to reduce the opportunity to respond. Depending on the design, they can be capable of carrying nuclear warheads or conventional only. ANSWERS FOR 16th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 D 3 D Must Read On manual scavenging: The leaflet On decentralisation: The News Minute

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 18th October 2021

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 the Test - Click Here

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 18th October 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 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [18th October, 2021] – Day 1

Hello Students   TLP has been an integral ingredient of success for many toppers is no secret. In the ‘must do’ list for the civil services exam, TLP is by far the most popular initiative. 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 Mains.   You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, in the TLP initiative, we post 5 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (11 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.   This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (RaRe Series) which students loved and appreciated. The Portal will help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. We are charging a token amount of 10/- for registration to the dedicated portal. We are doing it because we want to create a community of sincere aspirants who are focused and motivated till the Mains Examination. Please don’t take it otherwise. It is our honest effort to give you the best and at the same time expect students to come with the same energy and dedication to the dedicated platform specially designed for YOU! Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. UPSC 2022 Aspirants are encouraged to participate as well. Register Here - CLICK HERE  To Know More About TLP 2022 (Phase 2) - CLICK HERE To Access Day 1 Questions - 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 

IASbaba's Courses

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OPTIONAL TEST SERIES for UPSC 2021 by Adesh Sir

Hello Everyone, It is heartening to announce that students have acknowledged our Public Administration test series to be one of the bests in India. Further, amongst the most difficult questions present in Public Administration Question Paper of Civil Service mains 2020; nine questions were very similar to those asked in our test series. Hence, here is another opportunity for the students to make the best use off. All India Public Administration Test Series 2021 Program is divided into 6 modules. Printed notes will be provided (for the syllabus specified in the module) in the beginning of every module. There will be a syllabus-specific test at the end of each module. Model answers and detailed discussion videos of the test will be uploaded soon after the test. 2 full-length tests will be provided after the completion of all the modules. We assure timely evaluation with effective feedback. The program also contains Individual Mentorship. Benefits: There is no full-fledged single study material for public administration all over India. Every chapter and every keyword in the syllabus will be covered in the notes. The tests contain high-quality questions that match the UPSC standards. Videos will contain good value addition for all the questions. Precise evaluation and feedback. Hands-on mentorship with adaptive, reformative, and motivational guidelines. Note: Once you enroll, inform to the faculty by calling the number given below. So that you will be added to the peer group. All India Public Administration Test Series starts from - [From 24th October 2021 to 26th December 2021] DOWNLOAD TEST SERIES SCHEDULE - CLICK HERE TO ENROL (ONLINE) - CLICK HERE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FOUNDATION COURSE - CLICK HERE Faculty Profile Adesh M H is known for having great expertise in not only teaching public administration but also in planning the study, selection of resources, revision, and training the students in writing the best quality answers. He has the credentials of scoring 140 plus (in paper 1-2015 CSE) and 170 plus (in paper 2-2017 CSE) in many of his attempts in the UPSC civil service exam. FOR ANY QUERIES (Related to Public Administration foundation course and All India Public Administration Test Series 2021) You can reach us on Email ID: adeshmhhassanalike@gmail.com Contact Adesh MH: 8892911673

IASbaba's Courses

GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL TEST SERIES for UPSC 2021 by Atyab Ali Zaidi Sir

Hello Everyone, For those candidates who want to polish their optional answer writing, we are starting a Geography Optional Test Series. The test series will be starting from 24th October and its validity will be up to the Mains 2021 exam. Components of Geography Test Series: A total of 8 Tests with 4 Sectional Tests and 4 Full-length Test. (Online and Offline – Delhi) All the students will get personal mentorship. Mentor will point out the individual mistakes and help in overall guidance. Quality Evaluation of the Answer Sheets and detailed feedback. Value Add notes for some specific topics will be provided. Note: The Geography Optional Test Series will be available both ONLINE and OFFLINE (DELHI) Students who are unsure of their preparation can enroll in the Geography Optional Classroom program for 2022. DOWNLOAD TEST SERIES SCHEDULE - CLICK HERE TO ENROL (ONLINE) - CLICK HERE TO ENROL (OFFLINE - DELHI) - CLICK HERE GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL FOUNDATION COURSE - CLICK HERE Faculty Profile The Faculty needs no introduction due to his immense popularity with UPSC aspirants for geography. The Programme will be conducted by Atyab Ali Zaidi Sir. He is an alumnus of NIT Allahabad, Chemical Engineering, and is one of the Core members of the IASbaba team. He has been mentoring UPSC aspirants for the past 5 years and many of his students have qualified for this prestigious exam with flying colors. For any queries, you can reach us at atyab@iasbaba.com or can directly call us on 95911 06864

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Information is not Knowledge – Inspirational Educative Articles

Information is not knowledge: Information should be acquired and used only when a particular situation demands it. You should never get attached to the information that you have acquired. When you cling to the idea that you need to acquire more information in order to understand life better, you will always remain uncertain, and you will become more isolated from life. You will be right if you say that your knowledge is stopping you from enjoying life, and it is blocking your pure perception of life. But, it is not your knowledge that is stopping you, it is information. Right from your childhood, you have been gaining both knowledge and information. So, let’s try to understand the difference between these two. If I were to ask you certain details about your life - “Where were you born? Who are your parents? What are your friends’ names? What did you learn in your science class?” - You would answer with information. You would tell me names, places, dates or other details. You have saved all this information in your memory and you simply recollect and reproduce it. This is how you typically deal with information. Knowledge however, is an altogether different matter. Knowledge is a consolidation of your entire life’s experiences. Whether you can recollect it or not is not important. Since your knowledge is a distilled wisdom of your experiences of life, and since it has become a part of you, you can respond appropriately to different situations by using this knowledge. Notice how it is impossible for you to respond to your present day situations of life in the same way you responded to them during your childhood. Experientially, through the process of living, you have gained something much more important than information. That something more is what you are seeking when you are trying to learn more about yourself. That something more can never burden or block your perception of life. That something more is true experiential wisdom or knowledge. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Nirvana Foundation and IASBABA.”

IASbaba's Courses

[NEW BATCHES] Baba’s Foundation Course (FC) 2022 CLASSROOM PROGRAM for Freshers (ONLINE & OFFLINE) – Starting from 25th October 2021

Hello Everyone We are happy to announce that we will be starting new batches for Baba's Foundation Course (FC) 2022 from 25th October in DELHI, BANGALORE and LUCKNOW, and ONLINE mode as well. Baba’s Foundation Course (FC) 2022 is an integrated course that covers the entire General Studies (GS) syllabus of Prelims and Mains. All the subjects will be taught right from the basics till the UPSC level. The entire Syllabus will be finished well in advance so that you have exclusive three months to prepare for Prelims 2022. Admissions are open and since we have to maintain social distancing, seats are limited. SO ENROL NOW!! Features of Baba's Foundation Course (FC) 2022 Integration of Online Programme with Offline Classes:  Offline Classes will be complemented with Online Content which would contain Babapedia (Current Affairs) and ‘Value Add’ Notes (VAN). Catering to Prelims, Mains and Interview: The classes will be conducted keeping all the 3 Stages of the examination (Prelims, Mains, Interview) in mind. All GS papers will be covered before Prelims. Prelims and Mains Tests: Prelims (GS + CSAT) and Mains Tests are incorporated into the programme. The tests will be designed keeping a fresher’s preparation in mind. Accordingly, there will be a gradual increase in the difficulty level of the test. The test series has been designed keeping the ‘learning-curve’ of the students in mind so that there is an improvement in their performance in every single test. GS & Current Affairs Test: Students will have a weekly GS test of 50 questions and Fortnightly Current Affairs test of 50 questions. That means you will be solving 300 questions per month. Prelims Tests: 24 Subject Wise Mini Tests + 27 Current Affairs Tests + 9 Full Revision Tests + 5 Mock Tests + 10 CSAT Tests – A total of 75 Tests Mains Tests: 24 Mains Test + 10 Essay Tests – A total of 34 Tests Daily Mains Answer Writing: Daily one Mains question will be discussed in the class by the mentor. Daily Mains Answer Writing Practice (150+Questions) (Including Current Affairs). Weekly Current Affairs Classes: In tune with the demand of UPSC, there will be weekly Current Affairs Classes/Discussions and Test. Mentorship: We have the best mentors for the programme who will guide you throughout with the best possible support. High Calibre Faculty: IAS rank holders, IIT, IIM, NIT, and RV College alumni who are extremely talented, experienced, dynamic, friendly and accessible who will be providing vastly superior inputs. Unique Pedagogy: End to end integrated preparation with tests, discussions, and quizzes modelled in the programme. Module wise completion of the syllabus: Highly focused and micro module planning with an aim to cover your syllabus in an integrated manner by the end of February 2022 so that you get adequate time for revision and solving mock tests. Online support: IASbaba is the only institute to sync offline and online programmes in the most systematic manner. Series of Interactive Lectures: Eminent personalities from various fields and previous year toppers invited to take value add sessions on important issues to enrich your preparation. Extracurricular activities: To make the classroom a vibrant and energetic place, extracurricular activities will be arranged during the course duration. ASHISH KUMAR MISHRA (AIR 52, UPSC CSE 2020) IASbaba's Foundation Course (FC) Student To Know Complete Details about Baba’s Foundation Course 2022 – CLICK HERE No Cost EMI Facility We are aware that, due to the pandemic a few of us are facing income losses and hardships. So, we have come up with a ‘No Cost EMI Facility' for Students enrolling in Baba’s Foundation Course 2022. Please note that there will be no processing fee involved and no hidden costs when you avail the EMI facility. For More Details/Queries Email us at: support@iasbaba.com Mobile No: 91691 91888 (Please call between 10 am – 6 pm ONLY) DELHI CENTRE: IASBABA, 5B, Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi – 110005. Landmark: Just 50m from Karol Bagh Metro Station, GATE No. 8 (Next to Croma Store) BENGALURU CENTRE: IASbaba Admission Centre: No.38, 3rd Cross, 1st Phase, 2nd Stage, 60 Feet Mains Road, Chandralayout, Bengaluru-560040. Landmark: Opposite to BBMP Office/ CULT Fitness LUCKNOW CENTRE: IASbaba, B-1/66, Sector J, Aligunj, Lucknow – 226024. Landmark: Near Mr Brown / Opp to Sahu Studio (9335740145/05224305956) Regards IASbaba

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 16th October 2021

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 the Test - Click Here

[MOST TRUSTED] TLP (Phase II)- ONLINE FREE Initiative for UPSC Mains 2021 – Daily Mains Answer Writing Programme- Starting from 18th October!

What if we told you that devoting 30 minutes to a daily ritual can transform your fate in the civil services exam? Sounds like a fabulous deal, right? But wait. What if we also told you that it takes a lot more dedication and willpower to put aside 30 minutes for a daily ritual? It sounds really easy to carve out a small portion of your routine but in practice, it is really challenging. Since you are really smart, you must have gotten the idea that we are talking about one of IASbaba’s most popular initiatives- the Think, Learn and Perform (TLP). While this initiative is free of cost, it does demand your time and attention. The building block is really simple. We post 5 questions each day and expect you to write the answers in 30 minutes. 30 minutes, is what we feel, can ensure that you develop the skills to finish the real paper within time- accurately and efficiently. The significance of answer writing can’t be overemphasized for the Mains examination. It hardly matters that you have covered everything in the syllabus or you have read hundreds of books in your civil services preparation. Without a solid backing of at least 50 hours of answer writing practice, your thoughts won’t come out easy in the real exam. You will feel friction while attempting your answers. The cure is again those 30 minutes that we ask you to devote to TLP. If you are a fitness enthusiast, you would know that your weight lifting exercise starts from the smaller weights. You can’t lift the heavier ones without months of practice. Consider the Mains exam as that weight lifting exercise. You can’t excel unless you have a history of regular practice behind you. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, in the TLP initiative, we post 5 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (11 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. You also get access to hundreds of other answers written by your fellow aspirants. We encourage peer-to-peer feedback for mutual learning and personal enrichment. We post high-quality synopsis also to provide a ready reference for your future use. We try our best to provide feedback to the answers written by our students to make them understand their mistakes and possible areas of improvement. The idea of TLP is to develop a community of sincere candidates who come together to learn and grow with each other. While civil services is a competitive exam, you can gain tremendously if you have a community of like-minded individuals who are sincere and dedicated to the process. That TLP has been an integral ingredient of success for many toppers is no secret. In the ‘must do’ list for the civil services exam, TLP is by far the most popular initiative. 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 Mains. This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (RaRe Series) which students loved and appreciated. The Portal will help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. We are charging a token amount of 10/- for registration to the dedicated portal. We are doing it because we want to create a community of sincere aspirants who are focused and motivated till the Mains Examination. Please don’t take it otherwise. It is our honest effort to give you the best and at the same time expect students to come with the same energy and dedication to the dedicated platform specially designed for YOU! Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. UPSC 2022 Aspirants are encouraged to participate as well. Click Here To Register For TLP (P.S: If you have issues regarding login/registering to the program, please mail us on ilp@iasbaba.com) Download The Schedule All the Best IASbaba Team