UPSC CSE Why

Pre note: Watch this aspirant's rant on UPSC CSE 2025 🚨 02nd June | Monday 🚨

Daily Notes 🗒

1. Asian Development Bank (ADB) • Estd: 1966, to promote socio-economic dev in Asia-Pacific w/ HQ at Manila, Philippines • India founding members, membership: 69 members (50 Asia-Pacific, 19 non-regional) • Objectives: - Economic growth, poverty reduction, sustainable development. - Regional cooperation and integration. • Functions: - Loans, grants, technical assistance. - Policy advice, private sector support, regional integration. • Governance: - Board of Governors: One per member. - Board of Directors: 12 members (8 regional, 4 non-regional). - President: Masatsugu Asakawa (since Jan 2020, Japan). • Shareholding: - Top: Japan (15.6%), USA (15.6%), China (6.4%), India (6.3%), Australia (5.8%). - Weighted voting based on capital subscriptions. • Finance: - Funds from member contributions, bonds, earnings. - Asian Development Fund (ADF): Low-interest loans for poorest nations. - Focus: Infrastructure, health, education, energy, climate resilience. • ADB & India: - 4th largest shareholder, largest borrower since 1986. - Focus: Metro rails, highways, urban services, renewable energy, climate projects. - Recent: $10B for urban transformation (2025-30), $1.5B for COVID-19 response. - Total aid: $52.6B (as of 2022). • Key Initiatives: - Strategy 2030: Poverty eradication, inclusive growth, climate focus. - IF-CAP: Climate finance facility. - ADB-JSP: Scholarships in 10 countries. • Criticism: - Japan-US dominance. - NGO concerns over local insensitivity. • ADB vs AIIB: - AIIB (2016, Beijing) focuses on infrastructure; ADB broader (poverty, social). - India: 2nd largest AIIB shareholder (7.5%) 2. India’s Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) Revolution Crypto Market Growth in India: • India leads in grassroots crypto adoption for 2nd year (Chainalysis 2024). • $6.6 billion in crypto assets invested, creating 8 lakh jobs by 2030 (NASSCOM). • India ranks high in VDA activity despite regulatory challenges. Regulatory Challenges: • Supreme Court (May 2025): Questions lack of clear crypto regulation; notes banning may not reflect ground reality. • India’s strict capital controls hinder VDA frameworks (RBI). •RBI (2018): Banned VDA-related entities; overturned by Supreme Court (2020). • Government shifted to taxation (2022) instead of a ban. Taxation Policies: • Income Tax Act: 1% TDS on VDA transactions above ₹10,000 (Section 194S); 30% capital gains tax (Section 115BBH). • No offsetting losses between VDAs; transparency measures ineffective. July 2022-Dec 2023: • ₹1.03 trillion traded on domestic platforms; ₹2.63 trillion on offshore platforms. • ₹2,488 crore uncollected tax; offshore trading loss: ₹60 billion. • Offshore platforms: 91% of VDA trades; 9% on domestic exchanges. • 60% of offshore trades non-compliant (e.g., URL blocking ineffective). Impact on VDA Platforms: • Offshore platforms dominate due to tax evasion and fewer restrictions. • Domestic platforms face losses; users shift to VPNs, mirror platforms. • Trade volumes on blocked exchanges rose 57% post-restrictions. India’s VASP Ecosystem: • Indian VASPs (Virtual Asset Service Providers) show resilience. • Collaborate with FIU, FATF to combat money laundering, terror financing. • Post-2024: $230 million loss due to non-compliant offshore trades. • Enhanced cybersecurity measures and industry-wide guidelines proposed. Need for a Framework: • Global bodies (IMF, Financial Stability Board, FATF) advocate harmonized VDA regulation. • Domestic VASPs critical for safer digital asset ecosystem and economic growth. • Current policy: High taxes, lack of regulation; discourages compliance. • Need balanced framework for comprehensive regulation to mitigate risks.

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express🗞 1. Inside the 'human-made' hunger crisis in Gaza: scale, causes, effects (GS2: IR) 2. A rain check for our cities (GS1: Urbanisation) PS: Avoid speculations around result days.

First Sunday after Pre25 What did you do? How did you spend it?

Pre note: chill day 🚨 01st June | Sunday 🚨 You can skip reading newspaper today, nothing too significant. PS: Keep smiling.

Friends, I’m recording a new video series documenting experiences of aspirants & struggles away from home Today, I’ll be talking to few aspirants in Old Rajendra Nagar, Delhi. If you’re in ORN and will want to share your story with me, please drop a YES here. Will DM :)

June starts tomorrow. Aisa nahi lag raha ki abhi toh New Year hua tha, 5 long months passed in a jiffy, no?

See left to right in Nepal: DAM mnemonic for Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu (Everest & Kanchenjunga follows)

Pre note: Today's notes are a must read! 🚨 31st May | Saturday 🚨

Daily Notes 🗒

1. National Florence Nightingale Award • Institution & Purpose: estd 1973 by MoHFW to honor exceptional nursing professionals for outstanding contribution to healthcare, nursing education, and public service. • Eligibility & award: Open to nurses; 1 lac cash + medal by President (Int'l Nurses Day: May 12) • Selection process: Committee of healthcare experts to ensure merit based recognition of impactful nursing services 2. Two imp. Economy terms & their formula🤔 a) Gross Domestic Product • Consumption (C) + Investments (I) + Government Spending (G) + Net Exports (EXIM) • C>I>G>EXIM (order of contribution to GDP) b) Gross Value Added Looks at supply side measuring contribution of each sector; sums up value added (or income) at each production stage GDP & GVA relation?😮 • Measure same economic performance via diff routes • formula relation: GDP = GVA + (taxes earned by govt) - (govt subsidies) Note: Both provided by MoSPI in nominal (present day prices) & real terms (minus inflation effect)

Mains Keywords 🗒

1. India is • Geopolitical Giant • Indispensable security actor (Use these two keywords in GS2 IR answers)

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express🗞 1. Setting sail on our own (Develop basic understanding) 2. What latest economy data show (refresh your Macroeconomy) 3. Going beyond AQI: toxicity in air pollution (Study for general awareness) PS: Follow CSEWhy on Instagram

Pre note: Subscribe to CSEWhy free blog at blog.csewhy.com 😉 🚨 30th May | Friday 🚨

Daily Notes 🗒

1. Inter-Services Organisations Rules 2025 (India) • Statutory: u/ 2023 Act to enhance command, control & efficiency of Inter-Services Organizations (ISOs) • Integrates Army, Navy, Air Force personnel (eg Andaman & Nicobar Command, Defence Space Agency) • Commander-in-Chief/Officer-in-Command oversees personnel, ensuring discipline across services • Aligns w/ Army, Navy, Air Force Acts (1950s) for joint operations and coordination • Promotes operational synergy, addressing multi-domain threats (China, Pakistan) and modern warfare needs • Builds on historical recommendations (Kargil Review, 1999) and initiatives like Integrated Defence Staff (2001) 2. Death Anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (May 27, 2025) • Marks 60 years since India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, passed away on May 27, 1964 • Born on November 14, 1889, in Prayagraj; joined Congress in 1912, became Allahabad Secretary in 1919 • Key role in freedom struggle: Congress President in 1929, passed Purna Swaraj resolution, led 1939 Lucknow session • Contributions: Drafted Fundamental Rights (1929-31), led 1931 Karachi session, advocated for INA soldiers’ defense in 1946 • Post-independence: Formed States Reorganisation Commission, launched Five-Year Plans, led Non-Alignment Movement • Awards: Bharat Ratna (1955), World Peace Council Prize (posthumously, 1970); authored books like The Discovery of India 3. Guru Arjan Dev • Fifth Sikh Guru: 5th guru succeeding his father Guru Ram Das (age: 18 • Adi Granth Compilation: Compiled Adi Granth in 1604, contributed 2218 hymns (most by any Guru) • Golden Temple Development: Completed Harmandir Sahib construction (initiated by his father Guru Ram Das) • Martyrdom: First Sikh Guru to be martyred (1606 by Jahangir) for refusing to convert to Islam (and for supporting Jahangir's rebel son, Khusrau) • Masand System: His father started this, he strengthened encouraging Sikhs to donate 1/10th of their income for community welfare (aka dasvand) • Legacy: Authored Sukhmani Sahib (prayer for peace); his martyrdom led to militarization of Sikhs u/ his son Guru Hargobind to resist opression PS: Analyzing Pre25, do you want a video or a twitter thread? 😯

2009-2013-2015 PYQs UPSC Pre on Dugongs

Pre note: Dugong detailed blog post here😉 🚨 29th May | Thursday 🚨

Daily Notes 🗒

1. Press Trust of India • What: Statutory, Quadi-judicial body u/ Press Council Act, 1978 • First established 1966, re-established 1979 (post emergency) • Aim: Ensures press freedom and maintains journalistic standards for print media • Limitations: No punitive powers & regulates ONLY print media w/ unenforceable decisions • Members: 29 (1 Chair who's retired SC judge + 28 others w/ 3 year term) - Members are from RS/LS MPs, Media, & Literature, Law & Culture - RS MPs nominated by Chairman, LS MPs by Speaker, Literature member by UGC, Culture member by Sahitya Akademi & Law member by Bar Council 2. Dhole • Overview & Status: Endangered (IUCN) Schedule II (WPA72), inhabits Central, South & East Asia w/ highest in India (Western Ghats, Central India & NE) • Ecology & Habitat: Apex predator prefers evergreen forests & needs low human disturbance 3. District Reserve Guard (in news for killing Basvaraju) • Mission & Vision of DRG: To destroy the long running perceptions • Community Engagement: Winning the hearts of local is at heart of DRG • Composition: ex Naxals making 15-20%, 40% locals of Bastar, 20% female • Recruitment: u/ State Govt, part of local police, report to SP • Training: Well trained in tech like Navigation & Maps 4. 7 Summits (Explained in the image below)

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express🗞 1. Good news in single digits (The Ideas Page) (GS3: Economy) 2. Why Nigeria is witnessing a resurgence of Boko Haram (explained) (Global terror) 3. Size of Economy: India v/s others (GS3: Economy) PS: Dugong asked 3x in PYQs 😯

Pre note: Covering most exclusive CA, are you ready to participate?😉 🚨 28th May | Wednesday 🚨

Daily Notes 🗒

1. Queen Ahilyabai Holkar (Contributions) • Cultural & Religious Contributions Celebrated for temple restoration (including sacred Kashi Vishwanath), patronage of art, architecture and religious sites • Developmental Initiatives: Supported development of temples, infra & cultural preservation across India especially Indore & Maheshwar • Women’s Empowerment: Promoted women education, supported widow & encourage participation in governance & cultural activities • Governance & Legacy: As a just ruler of Malwa, she fostered peace, prosperity & cultural symbolism. This earned her a title of philosopher queen 2. Madden Julian Oscillation • A moving system of wind, cloud & pressure influencing wind rainfall [impact in tropics 30 N to 30 S] • Travels eastwards at 4-8 m/s speed, covering globe in 30-60 days on average (can also take 90 days) • As it moves, it splits planet in two parts (Active & Suppressive) • Enhances rainfall in active phase & suppresses in weak [aided early rain in 2025] • Some evidences of relation of Strong El-Nino with Strong MJO but not definite 3. Why Seagrass Matters • Definition & Role: An underwater flowering plant (not seaweed) that stabilizes the seafloor, supports fisheries, captures carbon, and shelters marine life like turtles and fish. • Importance for Dugongs: Healthy seagrass meadows are essential for dugongs, providing food and habitat critical for their survival. • Carbon Sequestration: A 2022 study by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management notes India’s 516.59 sq. km of seagrass sequesters up to 434.9 tonnes of CO₂ per sq. km annually. • Distribution in India: - Gulf of Mannar & Palk Bay: Largest seagrass meadows, supporting 13+ species (highest diversity in the Indian Ocean). - Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Rich seagrass beds with high biodiversity. - Lakshadweep & Gulf of Kutch: Patchy but ecologically significant; Kutch faces threats from port activities and pollution. - Andhra Pradesh & Odisha: Minor seagrass beds in estuaries, not extensive or suitable for dugongs. Food to Dugong: Learn all about Dugong in this blog post

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations 📑

Indian Express🗞 1. Needed, a crypto strategy (GS3: Terror funding) 2. How FTAs with US, UK, EU could impact India's agricultural trade (Agriculture Trade Policy) PS: What are you upto? Mains prep, move on or crying about May 25?

🤔 this Q must be in your memory and on tips by now. Can you analyze this PYQ in replies?

For those who are starting Mains prep, you'd need 5 year GS PYQs. Find video lectures and PDF notes with model answers from 2020-2024 GS1 to GS4 PYQs on CSEWhy App. Download: app.csewhy.com (relevant for 2025, 2026 and further)

Today’s CA Question. Quiz in next message

Current Affairs Discussion Forum - 27/05 Kya naya seekha aaj iss message mein se? Koi notes banaye ya daily yahan hi refer karoge

DNA well summarized in today's IE :)