UPSC CSE Why

🚨 5th January | Sunday 🚨

Pre notes 📔

1. National Security Act [🗓️ Passed on 23 Sept 1980] • Provides preventive detention for 3 months (extendable up to 12) • Applicable across India (except J&K; until 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated) • Central and State Govts empowered to issue detention orders Key Criticisms: Lack of Judicial Review; Vague Grounds; Potential for Abuse 2. Jallikattu • Bull-taming sport, part of Tamil Nadu’s Pongal celebrations • Historical Roots: 2,000+ yrs old, linked to Tamil Sangam literature • Native Breeds: Helps conserve cattle breeds like Kangayam • SC Ban (🗓️ 2014): Cited animal cruelty under PCA Act, 1960 • Mass Protests (🗓️ 2017) led to TN amending PCA to allow Jallikattu 3. Polavaram Project What is it? • A multi-purpose irrigation project on Godavari River in A.P • Declared a National Project u/ Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 Objectives: • Provide water to 7+ lakh hectares • 960 MW power generation • Supply water to 540 villages & Visakhapatnam • Mitigate flooding in the Godavari basin 4. Dr. R. Chidambaram [1936-2025] • Prominent nuclear scientist; key architect of Pokhran-II (1998) • Former AEC Chairman (1993–2000); ex-Director, BARC • Designed India’s thermonuclear weapon • Principal Scientific Adviser (2001–2018) • Awards: Padma Shri (1975), Padma Vibushan (1999) 5. Ebola Virus Disease [Severe illness caused by Ebolavirus] 🗓️ 1976, near Ebola River, DRC • Transmission: Animal-to-human (fruit bats), human-to-human (bodily fluids) • Symptoms: Fever, muscle pain, vomiting, bleeding in severe cases • Fatality Rate: 25%–90%, depending on strain and healthcare

Mains notes 📄

1. INSV Tarini [Indian Navy's sailing vessel] • Part of the Navy's Ocean Sailing Node initiative • Named after Tara-Tarini, the goddess of Odisha (symbolizing strength & courage) • 2nd in the series after INSV Mhadei Key Achievements: A. Navika Sagar Parikrama (2017-2018): First Indian all-women naval crew completed a circumnavigation of the globe

Places in News 📍🌏

1. Nilgiri Hills [📍Junction of T.N, KL, KA] • Part of Western Ghats: Biodiversity hotspot, UNESCO-listed • Elevation: Avg. 2,000–2,600m; highest peak is Doddabetta (2,637m) • Rivers💧: Bhavani, Moyar, Kabini originate here • Flora & Fauna🌼: Shola forests, Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque • Tribal Groups🧔: Todas, Kotas, Irulas; unique culture

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

The Hindu 🗞️ 1. Why public health nutrition policies need precise targeting (Science page) (GS2/GS3: Policies and Health) 2. Why is rupee weakening against dollar? (FAQ Page) (GS3: Economics) 3. Is India’s forest cover growing enough? (FAQ Page) (GS3: Climate) 4. Why was the no-detention policy rolled back? (FAQ Page) (GS2: Policies)

Friends, for those already on app, you can now update it from playstore for a classic update Every issue reported till now has been fixed. It’s a small new year gift for those studying hard fot 2025 😀 Those who haven’t downloaded, this is your chance 👇🏼 Link to update/download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.csewhy.app1&hl=en_GB

Pre note: Sunday toh fir se aagya. Revision kaisi chal rhi hai? 🚨 4th January  | Saturday 🚨

Pre notes 📔

1. What is HMPV? • Respiratory virus in the Paramyxoviridae family, related to RSV • Identified in 2001 in the Netherlands • Transmission: Respiratory droplets, contact w/ infected surfaces Indian Context: • Surveillance under ICMR to monitor respiratory pathogens • Testing protocols include RT-PCR for HMP 2. Exercise Varuna What is it? • Indo-French bilateral naval exercise; started in 1993 • FOR? To Boost interoperability, maritime security, and strategic ties • 2023: Held in the Arabian Sea; 25th anniversary of the partnership • It Focuses on: ASW, air defense, live-fire drills, and maritime interdiction ops • Assets: Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft, Rafale-M jets, and warships involved 3. RoDTEP • Introduced in 2021 to refund unrebated taxes on exports • Replaces the MEIS • Covers taxes like mandi tax, electricity duty, and fuel taxes • Benefits provided via transferable duty credit e-scrips

Mains notes 📄

1. Shree Narayan Guru (1855-1928) • Kerala-based social reformer, philosopher, and spiritual leader • Advocated “One caste, one religion, one God for mankind.” • Fought casteism, untouchability, and promoted education for marginalized communities • Founded SNDP Yogam in 1903 for Ezhava upliftment 2. French Aircraft Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Centered around France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle Charles de Gaulle: • France’s only aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2001 • Displacement: 42,000 tons; Speed: 27 knots • Aircraft: Operates Rafale-M jets, E-2C Hawkeye AWACS, and helicopters • Europe's only nuclear-powered carrier Recent Deployment: • Exercise Varuna (India-France Naval Drills) • NATO missions in the Mediterranean and Black Sea • Anti-terrorism missions u/ Operation Chammal (Middle East)

Places in News 📍🌏

1. Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site • Declared TN’s 1st BHS in Nov 2022 • Established u/ the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which allows states to notify unique ecosystems Ecological Importance: • Granite-rich landscape; Hosts over 250 bird species, including critically endangered Egyptian vulture & Indian eagle owl • Known as the "water capital of Madurai," the area includes 7 waterbodies

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

Indian express 📰 1. How to tranquilise and capture a tiger in the wild (Explained) (A good read for GS3) 2. Tsangpo dam, India’s option (Explained) (GS2: IR) 3. How trans persons can change name, gender identity in official documents (Explained page) (GS2: Policies) 4. Year of the economy (Ideas page) (GS2: IR) PS: Why are you missing out from the growing community of CSEWHY app?

Pre note: Get yourself in right space of place(s). It's your year, you are bound to win. 🚨 3rd January | Friday 🚨

Pre notes 📔

1. Winter Char Dham Circuit [ 📍UK] • 🗓 December 8 to boost off-season tourism Winter Seats of Char Dham: • Gangotri: Winter seat at Kharsali (Uttarkashi district) • Yamunotri: Winter seat at Mukhba (also Uttarkashi district) • Kedarnath: Winter seat at Ukhimath (Rudraprayag district) • Badrinath: Winter seat at Pandukeshwar (Chamoli district) Economics: Char Dham generates over ₹200 crore daily for the state

Mains notes 📄

1. Panama Treaty Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty (1903): Allowed U.S. to construct & control Panama Canal • U.S. controlled Panama Canal Zone • Criticized for undermining Panama’s sovereignty; signed w/o Panamanian representatives’ consent Torrijos-Carter Treaties (1977): Transferred control of the canal to Panama by 31st Dec 1999 • Symbolized end of U.S. colonial-like control

Species in news 🐵🌍

1. Pallas’s cat [Otocolobus manul, 📍Ladakh] • Native to Central Asia • Feeds on pikas, voles; active during twilight hours • Near Threatened (IUCN); faces habitat and prey loss

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

Indian express 📰 1. Dis-Agree Column (Ideas page) (GS2: Policies) 2. How in-flight internet works (Explained page) (GS3: SnT) The Hindu 🗞 1. Remembering the impactful legacy of wise leadership (Editorial) (GS3: Economy) PS: Sab theek? Kaisa raha new year?

Pre note: 1,000+ smart aspirants downloaded CSEWhy app yesterday. Have you? 🚨 02nd January | Thursday 🚨

Pre notes 📔

1. Binodini Dasi [(1862–1941), Noti Binodini, Bengali actress] • Key figure in Star Theatre; now renamed Binodini Mancha • Retired early (23); wrote Aamar Katha, first Indian woman’s autobiography 2. Sangita Kalanidhi • Prestigious Carnatic music award by Chennai's Music Academy (since 1929) • Honors excellence in vocal/instrumental/musicology • Esteemed awardees: M. S. Subbulakshmi, T. M. Krishna, Bombay Jayashri 3. Revise SpaDeX

Pre Notes 🐵🌍

1. Ultrablack Brazilian Velvet Ant • Flightless wasp, Mutillidae family; not a true ant • Absorbs 99.9% of light, aids camouflage and mimicry • Found in Brazil, parasitic, targets ground-nesting bees/wasps • Studied for bioinspired light-absorbing tech

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

The Hindu 🗞 1. Tackling delimitation by reversing population control (Editorial) (GS2: Policies) 2. Four UN environmental summits fell short in 2024. What happened? (Science page) (GS2/GS3: IR and Climate) PS: Let your fears be a thing of past. Need any help? DM me here

Haan bhai, naya saal hai Aur sunn, 2025 tera hi saal hai Dum laga ke mehnat kar raha hai na? Toh tera selection ab zarur hoga Tera nahi toh kiska hoga? Almost there, ab May tak jaan laga de!

Bhai new year ho gya hai start! No more excuses. Day 01, today, start with smart decisions & download CSEWhy app to clear UPSC 2025 👇🏼 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.csewhy.app1 Any questions? Drop in comments!!

Pre note: Happy New Year Doston :) 🚨 1st January  | Wednesday 🚨

Mains Keywords 🖋️

1. Belly landing • Aircraft lands on its fuselage due to gear failure or emergency decision • Common causes: Hydraulic/pilot error; gear deployment failure • India cases: SpiceJet (2022), Air India Express (2019); no casualties • Notable global event: Hudson River Landing (2009)

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

Indian express 📰 1. Challenges of a complex world (Explained page) (GS2: IR) 2. Between two worlds (Editorial) (A good read on GS2) 3. In search for resturs (Ideas page) (GS3: Economy) The Hindu 🗞️ 1. The nature of dissent in the Indian judiciary (Text&Context) (GS2: Indian Judiciary) 2. India must protect and preserve its hard-won freedoms (Text&Context) (A good read on Indian Society) 3. Willow is a small chip for Google but a quantum leap for computing (Science page) (GS3: SnT) PS: Naye saal par taiyari krne kaa isse acha tarika kya hoga?

Before you get busy, Hi! Happy New Year. Breathe. 2025 will make things better. Don't stress! You will sail well :)

Pre note: easier newspaper today, relax a bit; spend time with fam! 🚨 31st December | Tuesday 🚨

Pre notes 📔

1. NASA's Parker Solar Probe [ 🗓 2018] • Aim: To study the Sun's corona and solar wind • In news for closest approach: 6.2M km from Sun, speed: 700,000 km/h. • Instruments study solar wind, magnetic fields, coronal heating • Aiding space weather prediction; complements India's Aditya-L1 mission

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

The Hindu 🗞 1. States and the danger of poorly manufactured drugs (Editorial) (GS2: Policies) 2. Three foreign policy choices that shaped Carter presidency (World Page) (GS2: A good read on IR) PS: Join @CSEWhyPlanB

145 days to #UPSC Prelims 2025 today If 2024 was bad for you, let it be! Start afresh from today If it was great, double down!! 💪🏻 Aayi baat samajh?

Pre note: Its last week of 2024. Give it a grateful good-bye :) 🚨 30th December  | Monday 🚨

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

Indian Express 📰 1. Rising above the AI line (Explained page) (GS3: SnT) The Hindu 🗞️ 1. One Nation One Election and representative democracy (Editorial) (GS2: Policies) 2. The challenge of holding judges accountable (Text&Context) (GS2: SC Judgements) PS: You liked the CSEWhy app? Yes? Lmk with a ❤️

my father always tell me: “if you want to go for a run, go for a run without looking for a company. Don’t seek permission. Just do it!” and only recently have i realized that this principle works everywhere, even more in UPSC! Just do it! 💯

Pre note: Aage ki padhai likhai toh chalti rahegi. Revision bhi time zaruri hai. 🚨 29th December  | Sunday 🚨

Pre notes 📔

1. Tigress Zeenat [translocated from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to Similipal Tiger Reserve; 🗓️15 Nov 2024] • Monitored via radio collar, drones; capture attempts ongoing • Translocation aims to boost genetic diversity in Similipal's tiger population 2. Project: Formula-E • All-electric racing series promoting EV technology and sustainability • Achieved net-zero carbon emissions through offsets and renewable projects • Hyderabad hosted India's first Formula E race in Feb 2023; added $84 mil to Hyderabad’s economy

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

The Hindu 🗞️ 1. Why better prediction of cyclone intensity, heavy rainfall is needed (Science page) (GS3: Climate & SnT) 2. Why will India’s foreign policy be a tightrope walk? (FAQ Page) (GS2: IR) 3. Why inflation will matter more in 2025 (FAQ Page) (GS3: Economy) PS: Sunday ki shaam ka kya plan hai? : 😉

Pre note: UPSC queries? Your BhAI will help you 🚨 28th December  | Saturday 🚨

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

Indian express 📰 1. Manmohanomics, in his own words (Explained page) (GS3: Economics) The Hindu 🗞️ 1. Rules that still manacle the captive elephant (Editorial) (GS3: Environment) PS: If you're an online aspirant what problem do you face that is unresolved? LMK by replying to this text.

Manmohan Doctrine - Foreign Policy Notes 1. India's relations with world are shaped by our developmental priorities The single most important objective of Indian foreign policy has to be to create a global environment conducive to the well-being of our great country. 2. Greater integration with the world economy will benefit India and enable our people to realize their creative potential. 3. Seek stable, long term & mutually beneficial relations, with all major powers We are prepared to work with the international community to create a global economic and security environment beneficial to all nations. 4. Indian sub-continent’s shared destiny requires greater regional cooperation and connectivity. Towards this end, we must strengthen regional institutional capability and capacity and invest in connectivity. 5. Indian foreign policy is not defined merely by our interests, but also by the values which are very dear to our people. India’s experiment of pursuing economic development within the framework of a plural, secular and liberal democracy has inspired people around the world and should continue to do so. Attempt unlimited MCQ Mocks on Indian Foreign Policy here

Pre note: weekend here, don't forget to breathe a bit! :) 🚨 27th December | Friday 🚨

Pre notes 📔

1. Brahmaputra river • Origin: Angsi Glacier, Tibet; flows through Tibet, India, Bangladesh • Tributaries: Dibang, Lohit, Subansiri, Teesta, Manas • Potential: High hydropower potential (~50,000 MW in India) • Biodiversity hotspot: Gangetic dolphins, riverine birds • China's upstream dams raise water security concerns • In news: China commissioned construction of world’s largest dam on Brahmaputra river 2. Revise Ken-Betwa River linkage project

Mains notes 📄

1. Right to Information Act, 2005 • Enhances transparency, accountability in governance • Applies to all public authorities, NGOs receiving govt aid; National security, foreign relations, privacy (Sec 8) are exemptions • Response time: 30 days (48 hours for urgent cases) • Hierarchical appeals: PIO → Appellate Authority → Info Commission • Success: Exposed scams (2G, CWG); improved access to welfare • 2019 amendment diluted Information Commissioners' independence 2. Fisheries in India • India, 2nd largest fish & aquaculture producer, supports nearly three crore fishers, with a record production of 175 lakh tons (2022-23) • u/ PMMSY, these serve as one-stop centers offering training, disease testing, and capacity-building • Sagar Mitras: Act as intermediaries, aiding data sharing on market trends, regulations, and fishing practices

@CSEWhy recommendations 🧑‍🏫

Indian express 📰 Full of Former PM MMS's work. Feel free to read at your discretion The Hindu 🗞 1. Tapping into Kazakhstan’s rare earths potential (Editorial) (GS1/GS2: Geography and IR) 2. Should assisted dying be legalised? (Text&Context) (GS2: Policies and Social Issues) PS: Did you know? It is first time EVER that India does not have either a serving a former PM who came from INC.

Prayers for Dr Manmohan Singh.🙏🏻

these daily texts might be a bit boring in daily stuff. However, the details in here are where the real questions in exam come from All of these are found in interactive format on the CSEWhy app, as well. Don't let noise hamper you from focusing on the basics. Samajh rahe ho?