1. Why the Tonga Volcano Was So Violent, and What It Tells Us About Future Eruptions READ MORE
2. Sundarbans is cyclone capital of India: IMD report READ MORE
3. Middle East: Running Out of Water READ MORE

1. Tribals and their Religion READ MORE
2. Cover-up: A few Karnataka colleges are debating whether girl students should be allowed to wear hijab READ MORE
3. The devastating impact of school closure READ MORE

1. Rights-duties conundrum READ MORE
2. FSSAI GM regulation puts health in a soup READ MORE
3. Why a Gender Sensitisation Training is the need of the hour READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Houses of Parliament to work in shifts READ MORE
2. The US Fed’s Aggressive Monetary Policy Tightening and New Headwinds for Emerging Markets READ MORE
3. Sundarbans is cyclone capital of India: IMD report READ MORE
4. Explained: What Australia hopes to achieve with its unique Online Safety Bill READ MORE
5. What are subsidies and why countries need it? READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. Tribals and their Religion READ MORE
2. Cover-up: A few Karnataka colleges are debating whether girl students should be allowed to wear hijab READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Rights-duties conundrum READ MORE
2. FSSAI GM regulation puts health in a soup READ MORE
3. Why a Gender Sensitisation Training is the need of the hour READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

4. The devastating impact of school closure READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India’s challenge in European geopolitics READ MORE  
2. Testing time ahead for Indian diplomacy READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Dealing with the macroeconomic uncertainties: The Union Budget needs to maintain an accommodative fiscal stance to support the sustainability of economic growth READ MORE
2. Helping Indian economy down the road to recovery READ MORE
3. Wanted: A job guarantee scheme for cities READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Why the Tonga Volcano Was So Violent, and What It Tells Us About Future Eruptions READ MORE
2. Sundarbans is cyclone capital of India: IMD report READ MORE
3. Middle East: Running Out of Water READ MORE

SECURITY

1. India needs a national security document too. But don’t do a Pakistan READ MORE

TECHNOLOGY

1. Avoidable delay: India would have gained from an early 5G roll-out READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. True dharma begets peace, purity and prosperity READ MORE
2. Classrooms as sites of ahimsa: Compassionate mode of listening can encourage appreciation of plurality READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The right and the duty are meaningful only in conjunction. Do you agree with the statement? Justify your view.
2. Prolonged school closure in India during pandemic is unreasonable and unscientific. Critically analyse.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The good that violence seems to do is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.
• Education is a constitutional right. By closing schools for this long and providing a poor substitute with online education, we have violated children’s right.
• Rising unemployment needs to be addressed through an urgent policy response that strengthens job guarantee programmes. The welfare models of the Government in providing food security to poor households and designing gender budgeting in energy infrastructure are also welcome.
• The Union Budget needs to maintain an accommodative fiscal stance to support the sustainability of economic growth.
• Greater engagement with Europe and dealing with its multiple contradictions must necessarily be important elements of India’s international relations today.
• Public investment in infrastructure is a major growth driver. Bringing down the fiscal deficit to threshold levels can be detrimental to the recovery.
• The Constitution allows the freedom to practice religion, but the law limits the protection to practices found essential and integral to religion.
• India’s soft power has not only been its ancient achievements such as yoga but also its modern democratic traditions which flow from the Indian renaissance. The country will pay an external cost too if these traditions are diluted.
• The government must use fiscal policy to the best of its ability to push growth & create jobs.

50-WORD TALK

• As Subhas Chandra Bose’s statue rises at India Gate, his rightful status as freedom movement icon must not devolve into idol-worship. Was his silence on Nazi and Japanese war-crimes justified? How important was his armed struggle to winning freedom? Enough time’s passed to discuss the truth, with all its greys.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. A dirge for secularism in India READ MORE

1. Brrr…: La Nina is mainly responsible for the freezing dip in temperature across northern India READ MORE
2. A stellar fallacy: Assessment of environmental costs, benefits of projects should not be done in haste READ MORE
3. S.R Subramanian committee recommendations READ MORE
4. All-India environment service: More powers to existing agencies a better step READ MORE

1. Remove All Weaknesses READ MORE
2. An attempt to criminalise compassion READ MORE

1. False dichotomy: The top court’s view that quotas ensure equal opportunity is a blow for affirmative action READ MORE
2. Why police should be less creative to be more efficient READ MORE
3. Combative federalism: Proposed IAS rule change weakens Centre-state relations READ MORE
4. Who Should Control Where IAS Officers Serve? READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. PM interacts with DMs of various districts on the implementation of key government schemes READ MORE
2. Two species of fungi associated with basal stem rot found READ MORE
3. Kerala gets its first ever scientific bird atlas READ MORE
4. Peru declares environmental emergency following oil spill READ MORE
5. Fund ‘Statue of Equality’ gets final touches READ MORE
6. Explained: Why thousands of anganwadi workers are protesting in Haryana READ MORE
7. Plastic Park project gets final approval READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. Brrr…: La Nina is mainly responsible for the freezing dip in temperature across northern India READ MORE
2. A dirge for secularism in India READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. False dichotomy: The top court’s view that quotas ensure equal opportunity is a blow for affirmative action READ MORE
2. Why police should be less creative to be more efficient READ MORE
3. Combative federalism: Proposed IAS rule change weakens Centre-state relations READ MORE
4. Who Should Control Where IAS Officers Serve? READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Under Biden, stability in ties READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Striking a balance between big data analytics and confidentiality READ MORE

 ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. A stellar fallacy: Assessment of environmental costs, benefits of projects should not be done in haste READ MORE
2. S.R Subramanian committee recommendations READ MORE
3. All-India environment service: More powers to existing agencies a better step READ MORE

SECURITY

1. India needs a national security document too. But don’t do a Pakistan READ MORE

TECHNOLOGY

1. Avoidable delay: India would have gained from an early 5G roll-out READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Remove All Weaknesses READ MORE
2. An attempt to criminalise compassion READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Despite being a fundamental right, freedom of expression can’t be allowed for adverse impacts on society’. In the light of the statement, discuss whether the government should regulate social media platforms for the well-being of society? Argue your view.
2. How far do you agree with this view that banning Cryptocurrency is not a viable solution and there is need for the regulating them? Analyse your view.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.
• The competitive examination may be necessary for distribution of educational opportunities, but it does not enable equal opportunity for those competing without the aid of social and cultural capital, inherited skills and early access to quality schooling.
• Good performance in an examination does reflect hard work, but does not always reflect “merit” solely of one’s own making.
• Too much religion and religiosity would destroy our nation.
• It’s high time that our interpersonal and social conduct is regulated by a uniform system of rules and regulations.
• The objectives of using big data must be clearly spelt out, as also its cost of operation and maintenance.
• The progress of development works has raised the question of sustainability and minimising man-made disasters.
• Environmental issues may need an active approach which includes harnessing of resources, ensuring sustainability, creating awareness and an early warning system to minimise risks.
• Targeting NGOs that are providing humanitarian service to the most needy sections has more than financial implications and can have grievous consequences.
• While posting all-India service officers to the Centre, approval of the state government should not be done away with.

50-WORD TALK

• The impact of backwardness, the court has said, does not simply disappear because a candidate has a graduate qualification and does not create parity between advanced classes and backward classes. The latest judgment marks another notable addition to the body of affirmative action jurisprudence.
• Calculating the risks and the benefits of industrial projects vis-à-vis their environmental impact is understandably hard. The way forward is to take steps to increase trust in the system and ensure that all States have competent experts who can conduct appraisals without fear or favour. A list of empty rankings is the least advisable way to bring about this.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. Wrong remedy: States have rightly raised questions about proposed rule changes on IAS, IPS deputation READ MORE
2. The ground rules of ‘the one land of many’: Today, some in positions of power in India seem to be questioning those rules — which makes it crucial to reaffirm them READ MORE
3. How to fix the anti-defection loophole READ MORE
4. The medium: To teach in English or in mother tongue? A multilingual approach is the answer READ MORE
5. Why the Supreme Court Said Reservation is Not at Odds With Merit READ MORE

1. Income and Livelihood Promotion through Individual Assets under MGNREGA READ MORE
2. Tagore and Development READ MORE

1. States have an important role to play as India sets sights on net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 READ MORE
2.  How the Quad can help climate action READ MORE

1. The way to be free from worldly pressures READ MORE
2. Tagore and Development READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Amar Jawan Jyoti now merged with National War Memorial flame, says Government READ MORE
2. Brent at 7-year high: how are economy, markets and investors impacted? READ MORE
3. Explained: The concern over 5G and flight safety READ MORE
4. Why India is unwilling to discuss forests at international fora READ MORE
5. India-Israel to widen scope of Industrial R&D & Technological Innovation Fund READ MORE
6. RBI holds special repo auction as GST outflow tightens liquidity READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Wrong remedy: States have rightly raised questions about proposed rule changes on IAS, IPS deputation READ MORE
2. The ground rules of ‘the one land of many’: Today, some in positions of power in India seem to be questioning those rules — which makes it crucial to reaffirm them READ MORE
3. How to fix the anti-defection loophole READ MORE
4. The medium: To teach in English or in mother tongue? A multilingual approach is the answer READ MORE
5. Why the Supreme Court Said Reservation is Not at Odds With Merit READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1.  How the Quad can help climate action READ MORE
2. How Ukraine standoff can impact India READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. FCRA, NGOs and the Question of Which Foreign Funding Is in National Interest READ MORE
2. The Gandhian path can help farmers and consumers READ MORE
3. Income and Livelihood Promotion through Individual Assets under MGNREGA READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. States have an important role to play as India sets sights on net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Why India needs a single agency to guard its borders READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. The way to be free from worldly pressures READ MORE
2. Tagore and Development READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘If India polity wants to get rid of open corruption, it needs to take urgent steps to fix the Tenth Schedule’. In the light of the statement discuss how to fix the loopholes in anti-defection?
2. ‘Effectively confronting climate change as a shared responsibility of the Centre and the state as a collaborative effort within the federal system represents our best hope’. In the light of the statement, discuss how states can play an active role in achieving net-zero by 2070?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The Constitution cannot protect us unless we protect the Constitution.
• States have rightly raised questions about proposed rule changes on IAS, IPS deputation.
• The idea of India as a modern nation based on a certain conception of human rights and citizenship, vigorously backed by due process of law, and equality before law, is a gift of the Constitution.
• In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value.
• If our polity wants to get rid of open corruption, it needs to take urgent steps to fix the Tenth Schedule.
• The most commendable commitment is their focus on increasing the Indo-Pacific region’s resilience by improving critical climate information-sharing and disaster-resilient infrastructure.
• In a country where most children live their lives in two or three languages, multilingual teaching methods provide a level playing field for diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds while reconciling the desires of both parents and the NEP.
• If foreign funding promotes an agenda inimical to the national interest, what about foreign investment which the government has been welcoming.
• If merit is a social good that must be protected, we must first critically examine the content of merit.
• In response to the global and national discourse, climate change is increasingly becoming a priority for state governments.
• Effectively confronting climate change as a shared responsibility of the Centre and the state as a collaborative effort within the federal system represents our best hope.
• Despite the tremendous potential for livelihoods based on the creativity of villagers and particularly women in this work, this path has been steadily abandoned.

50-WORD TALK

• Supreme Court should be applauded for its landmark judgement separating quotas from merit. Its call to socially contextualise merit couldn’t have been more timely considering the new learning faultlines the pandemic has created. It also deflates all the hype about competitive exams. This should settle the reservation debate for now.
• Nitish Kumar government’s move to amend Bihar prohibition law to dilute irrational and draconian penalty provisions is overdue. Frequent hooch tragedies exposed the failure of this law while courts choking with bail applications underlined its arbitrariness. Kumar must cut his losses and stop investing political capital in a failed law.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. About Good Governance READ MORE
2. Has the pandemic fundamentally changed our ethics? READ MORE

1. Counting trees properly: How to read biennial forest surveys? The best way is decadal data produced by same methods READ MORE
2. India’s new National Water Policy: A paradigm shift READ MORE
3. Green go-ahead: Encouraging hasty eco clearance an unwise step READ MORE
4. New Draft NCR Regional Plan Dilutes Protection for Green Cover in the Aravalli READ MORE

1. Clubhouse and the Fantasy of Sexual Violence Against Muslim Women READ MORE
2. Explainer: Why is marital rape not a crime in India – and can the courts make it one? READ MORE

1. Explained: IAS officers and central posting READ MORE
2. Drop the IAS cadre rules amendments: States are right in perceiving the planned amendments to Rule 6(1) to be an infringement of their rights READ MORE
3. Court and compensation: On ex gratia to kin of COVID-19 victims READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Supreme Court upholds validity of OBC quota in NEET admissions READ MORE
2. Rare pristine coral reef found off Tahiti coast READ MORE
3. The study by Hyderabad scientists identifies genetic risk factors for heart failure READ MORE
4. India successfully test-fires Brahmos missile READ MORE
5. RBI: Digital payments up 39.6% in Sept 2021 READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. Counting trees properly: How to read biennial forest surveys? The best way is decadal data produced by same methods READ MORE
2. Clubhouse and the Fantasy of Sexual Violence Against Muslim Women READ MORE
3. Explainer: Why is marital rape not a crime in India – and can the courts make it one? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Explained: IAS officers and central posting READ MORE
2. Drop the IAS cadre rules amendments: States are right in perceiving the planned amendments to Rule 6(1) to be an infringement of their rights READ MORE
3. Court and compensation: On ex gratia to kin of COVID-19 victims READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Indian Ocean new Chinese sphere of influence READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The formal economy – and not just the informal sector – is in distress READ MORE
2. The centrality of data equity in tech policy and reform READ MORE
3. Govt equity in VodaIdea a poor solution READ MORE
4. Why it seems impossible to actually regulate cryptocurrency READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. India’s new National Water Policy: A paradigm shift READ MORE
2. Green go-ahead: Encouraging hasty eco clearance an unwise step READ MORE
3. New Draft NCR Regional Plan Dilutes Protection for Green Cover in the Aravalli READ MORE

SECURITY

1. India’s N-project going strong: Capable of meeting challenges faced by national security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. About Good Governance READ MORE
2. Has the pandemic fundamentally changed our ethics? READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘In a federal setup, the differences and disputes between the Centre and the States should be resolved in the spirit of cooperative federalism and keeping the larger national interest in mind’. Comment on the statement in the light of recent conflicts between center and states.
2. ‘While examinations are a necessary and convenient method of distributing educational opportunities, marks may not always be the best gauge of individual merit’. Discuss the statement in the light of recent quota related debate.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Morality, like art, means drawing a line someplace.
• States are right in perceiving the planned amendments to Rule 6(1) to be an infringement of their rights.
• States are right in perceiving the proposed amendments as a serious infringement of their rights to deploy IAS officers as they deem best, especially when the cutting edge of policy implementation is mostly at the State level.
• In a federal setup, it is inevitable that differences and disputes would arise between the Centre and the States. But all such quarrels should be resolved in the spirit of cooperative federalism and keeping the larger national interest in mind.
• Data equity focuses on ways in which data is collected, assembled, stored, scrutinised, evaluated, processed, and distributed.
• Only as the inner lives of citizens are transformed will the vision of an aatmanirbhar Bharat and the integrity of governmental and public institutions be safeguarded.
• The government cannot ignore that the treatment of telecom revenues has caused several debilitating disputes of the past.
• Virtual currencies need oversight. But with anonymous transactions spanning country borders and a volatile market, the challenges are significant.
• An open competitive exam only ensures formal equality and does not end widespread ingrained inequalities in the availability of, and access to, educational facilities to certain classes of people, including the OBC.
• The rhetoric surrounding merit obscures the way in which family, schooling, fortune and a gift of talents that the society currently values aids in one’s advancement. Thus, the exclusionary standard of merit serves to denigrate the dignity of those who face barriers in their advancement which are not of their own making.
• While examinations are a necessary and convenient method of distributing educational opportunities, marks may not always be the best gauge of individual merit. If a high-scoring candidate does not use their talent to perform good actions, it would be difficult to call them meritorious merely because they scored high marks

50-WORD TALK

• Giving full authorisation to Covishield and Covaxin but not allowing their sale in the retail market will make the former meaningless. India’s third wave graph is volatile and needs more people to get boosters, and faster. Insisting the process remain restricted seems like health bureaucrats are more interested in control.
• The disruption of global airline operations due to the introduction of 5G services in the US reflects poorly on American planning and foresight. Global travel has suffered enough due to Covid. The last thing it needed was battered airlines having to change altimeters and flyers having to face new uncertainty.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the main points of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. Action without conflict READ MORE
2. Why a Karnataka college’s hijab ban is an assault on the fundamental right to religion READ MORE

1. Explained: What is the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’? READ MORE
2. Untimely January rain damages rabi crop, vegetables in Odisha’s Nuapada READ MORE
3. Ministry’s Draft Changes To Act Undermine How India Protects Its Wildlife READ MORE
4. Thaw of permafrost has vast impact on built environment READ MORE

1. States weigh options on IAS cadre rule changes READ MORE
2. Democratise and empower city governments: The general approach towards urban empowerment, including financial capabilities, has remained piecemeal in India READ MORE
3. The marital rape exception must go READ MORE
4. Devas imbroglio: SC order gives government hope of winning arbitration battle READ MORE
5. Food for thought: Starvation deaths remain a stark reality even in this time and age, and the Govt must not shut its eyes READ MORE
6. Revisiting the NJAC judgment for credibility READ MORE
7. NALSA was supposed to be India’s beacon for legal aid. But it’s stuck in a systemic rut READ MORE
8. Failing Collegium and a Weakening Judiciary Are Undermining the Administration of Justice READ MORE

1. NFHS data offers a reality check for claims of Swachh Bharat success READ MORE
2. Stats of the nation: Not just death counts or data on malnutrition, India’s statistics are poor across categories READ MORE