UPSC CSE Why

The kind of quality content you'd find on CSEWhy blog. Subscribe for FREE with your email: blog.csewhy.com

Pre note: Women in combat roles 🚨06th June | Friday🚨

Daily Notes🗒

1. Khichan & Menar | New Ramsar Sites (total 91, 4 in RJ) • Khichan (Phalodi): famous for migratory Demoiselle cranes • Menar (Udaipur): bird village famous for community led bird conservation efforts 2. Anji Khad Cable Stay Bridge • Reasi, Jammu over Anji river, part of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) • Anji is tributary of Chenab, key part of Indus River system

Quotes💡

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals" - Immanuel Kant

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express 🗞 1. Reimagining the classroom (GS2: Education & Policy) 2. State of ungulates: health of tiger depends on health of its prey (GS3: Environment) 3. Hydrology of the Brahmaputra (GS3: Environment, GS2: IR) PS: What did you study today?

Pre note: Starting Mains Prep? Start here 🚨05th June | Thursday🚨

Daily Notes🗒

1. Malayalam Film Industry & Justice Hema Committee • Justice Hema Committee: Formed in 2017 after a sexual assault case naming a prominent Mallu actor • Finding: The report highlighted pervasive sexual harassment & gender inequality in Malayalam film industry • Issues: 'Culture' of sexual harassment prevails, no casting couch regulations & systematic issues • Response & Challenges: Report was not released till a RTI campaign, released with 63 pages redacted; no concrete outcome 2. Exposomics (study of exposome) • It encompasses all environmental exposures an individual experiences over lifetime and how these exposures interact w/ genetic & biological factors to influence health & disease. • Purpose: Map exposures to understand cumulative impact on health outcomes using tools like biomarkers, sensors & omics tech 3. Census pointers: • First: 1872, first completed: 1881, first caste census: 1931 • Conducted by: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner u/ MHA • Legal basis u/ Census Act 1948 • Next census: conclusion expected by 2027, last census in 2011

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express 🗞 1. What Dhaka needs? (GS2: IR- India Bangladesh relations) 2. The Census of 1931 (GS2; Read for how the last caste census was 1931) PS: What did you study today?

Dams of India | Add Almatti Dam to this for revision :)

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express🗞 1. The great churn in Asia (Miss nothing from this writer) 2. The Centre for the states (GS2: Centre-State Relations) 3. New protections for Ladakh (GS2: Special areas) PS: Avoid speculations around result days.

4. Civil Services Reforms • Historical Context: The UPSC exam format, rooted in the 1854 Macaulay Report, emphasizes merit and talent transferability, with the Kothari Committee (1975) introducing a three-tier structure (pre, mains, interview). • Initial Format Issues: Preliminary exam had optional subjects and General Studies (GS) papers; post-prelims, only shortlisted candidates’ marks were considered, favoring urban students with English proficiency and coaching access. • Concerns with Format: High qualifying marks and Paper-I’s focus on English disadvantaged rural candidates, leading to protests; questions often lacked merit for assessing civil servants. - Reconsider 6 attempts restricting to at-most 3 - Consider upper age limit to 27-29 as against current of 32 - Can include work ex mandatory of 1-2 years before appearing for UPSC CSE Pre - Need more admin focused Qs, feedbacks on scores & optional reforms - Aberration needs to be corrected w/ optional replaced by compulsory subjects for all 5. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) • Concept: Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) integrates solar panels into buildings to serve dual purpose of building material & power generator (unlike BAPV Building-Applied-Photovoltaics i.e. panels added post construction) • Benefits: Offers energy efficiency (on-site power reduces grid dependency), cost savings (lowers electricity bills), aesthetic appeal, and sustainability (reduces carbon footprint). • Applications: Used in facades (as cladding), roofs (solar tiles/shingles), and windows (semi-transparent panels), replacing conventional materials. • Challenges & Scaling in India: High initial costs; requires policy support (subsidies, tax benefits), awareness campaigns, R&D investment, and integration into urban planning (e.g., smart cities). 6. Metal based nanozyme • Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) at IISc to address abnormal blood clotting in conditions like pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). • How?: Nanozyme mimics natural antioxidant enzymes, controlling reactive oxygen species (ROS) to prevent excessive platelet activation and thrombosis (clot formation). • Significance: Targets thrombosis, a major cause of morbidity/mortality, with potential applications in preventing ischemic stroke caused by clogged blood vessels.

Pre note: Did you know about this? 🚨 04th June | Wednesday 🚨

Daily Notes 🗒

1. Axiom-4 (Ax-4) Mission • Overview: 4th pvt astronaut mission to ISS; uses SpaceX Falcon 9 & Crew Dragon • Crew: Astronaut nationalities include US, India, Poland, Hungary • Objectives: Conduct ~60 microgravity experiments, test spacecraft tech, promote commercial space initiatives, and engage in STEM outreach. • Significance: Boosts India's Gaganyaan, supports Axiom's commercial space station vision & fosters global space collab. • ISS Context: Modular LEO station for microgravity research, operated by U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada, Europe. space. 2. Enemy Property Act • Overview: Enemy Property Act 1968 governs properties left by Pak/Chinese nationals post-partition, 62/65/71 war and is managed by Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI). • Definition: Covers movable (shares, gold) and immovable (land, buildings) assets of enemy subjects/firms (Pakistan/China nationals). • Key Provisions: Enacted under Defence of India Rules, 1962; CEPI manages ~13,252 properties worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore, mostly Pakistani-owned. • 2017 Amendment: Expands enemy to include heirs (even Indian citizens); denies succession rights; ensures properties remain with CEPI. • Disposal: CEPI auctions vacant properties, offers occupied ones to occupants, sells movable assets; proceeds to government (e.g., Rs. 3,407 crore from shares, 2018–22). • Significance: Enhances national security, supports economic monetization, resolves legal disputes (e.g., Raja of Mahmudabad case) 3. Mount Etna Eruption • Overview: Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano producing ash, smoke, and rock fragments several kilometers high. • Location: Situated on Sicily’s east coast, Etna is Italy’s highest peak south of the Alps, with five summit craters and frequent flank eruptions. • Eruption Details: Classified as a Strombolian eruption (moderately explosive, gas-driven bursts) by INGV Etna Observatory; some experts argue it was a Plinian eruption (more explosive, reaching stratosphere). • Impact: Spectacular display with no reported injuries, damage, or flight disruptions, despite near-constant activity (60+ flank eruptions since 1600). • Historical Context: Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, has a 500,000-year eruptive history, with documented activity for 2,700 years. • Scientific Insight: Eruptions driven by gas pressure and magma chamber activity; Strombolian eruptions involve sudden gas bursts, while Plinian eruptions are more explosive.

In 2025, people born in • 1993 are 32 • 1994 are 31 • 1995 are 30 • 1996 are 29 • 1997 are 28 • 1998 are 27 • 1999 are 26 • 2000 are 25 You’re no more a kid with potential. Surface that potential! Quit the habits messing up your life

Pre note: Will cover detailed notes tomorrow 🚨 03rd June | Tuesday 🚨

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express🗞 1. entire explained page PS: Avoid speculations around result days.

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