UPSC CSE Why

Pre note: New things coming on CSEWhy Instagram, follow here 🚨16th June | Monday🚨

Daily Notes🗒

1. PM Modi in Cyprus, why? • Age-old dispute w/ Turkiye (known to support Pak during Op Sindoor) • Cyprus consistently backs India on Kashmir & cross border terror stance • To-be-President of EU Council aligning w/ Indian efforts to strengthen EU ties 2. Environmental Pollution and Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) • Flue Gas Composition: byproduct of fossil fuel combustion having CO₂, SO₂, NOx, PM etc. • SO₂ Impact: Major GHG causing global warming & respiratory issues in humans. • FGD Installation: Costly affair; Central Electricity Authority estimates approximately ₹1.2 crore per MW to install. • Environmental Concern: Highlights the need for pollution control measures in industrial emissions. 3. Relaxation of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Rules i) Background and Rationale • SEZ rules relaxed to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing, crucial for the digital ecosystem. • Government initiative (T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan) to reduce import dependency. ii) Economic Impact • Pre-2022: Imported semiconductors; 2022 programme (₹76,000 crore) launched. • Post-relaxation: Aims to attract global players, enhance export share. iii) Key Steps and Policies • June 9, 2024: Ministry of Commerce modified SEZ Rules, 2006. • Board of Approval (BoA) can relax conditions, e.g., land reduced to 10 hectares. iv) Manufacturing and Incentives • Minimum land: 10 hectares; tax exemptions, duty-free imports. • Players: Micron (Gujarat, 73.64 hectares), Hubbali Durabable Goods Cluster. v) Challenges and Modifications • Eased land/ownership rules to encourage investment amid global supply shifts. vi) Strategic Importance • Vital for AI, electronics; promotes self-reliance in semiconductors. • These notes retain all key points for UPSC, focusing on policy and economic strategy. 4. DNA Analysis Methods | CSEWhy Explained blog

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express 🗞 1. Centre's rationale behind MGNREGS spending cap, the concerns with it (GS2: MGNREGA, Policy & Social Justice) 2. Why Punjab is struggling to diversify from paddy farming (GS3: Agriculture) 3. Infrastructure of dignity (GS3: Inclusive growth) 4. An alternative nationalism (GS1: Indian Society) 5. After Op Sindoor, a collective duty (GS2 & GS3: Global trade, IR, Infra) 6. The rearming of Europe (GS2: India Europe relations) PS: Starting Mains prep? Find GS resources & strategy in this playlist

Too much chaos in the world How’s your emotional being? Are you stable? Mann pareshaan toh nahi?

Pre note: Sunday reads, pay attention to hyperlinks! 🚨15th June '25 | Sunday🚨

Daily Notes🗒

1. Ship Sinks, International politics, & India • Recent Accidents: MV Wan Hai 503 (Singapore) off Beypore; MSC Elza 3 (Liberian) sank off Kochi. • Bill of Lading: Legal doc issues by carrier to shipper to serve as receipt/contract for transportation • IMO Role: Regulates global chipping, enforcing conventions like SOLAS (safety) & HNS (Hazardous Substances Liability) • India’s Compliance: As IMO signatory, India adheres to conventions (e.g., 2004 Ballast Water, 2010 HNS) via Directorate General of Shipping. • Liability: Ship owner liable for cargo loss and environmental damage; HNS Convention ensures compensation. • Salvage Responsibility: Nairobi Convention (2007) mandates ship owner to salvage sunk vessels; state may intervene if risks persist. • Sinking Causes: Human errors, structural failures, or natural disasters; IMO standards aim to mitigate risks. 2. Vegetable oil to recover silver from e-waste • Silver Recovery from E-waste: Cooking oils (e.g., sunflower, groundnut) used to extract silver from mobile phones (100-200 mg) and laptops (350 mg), reducing reliance on strong acids. • Usage & Demand: Silver is critical in clean energy (10% from coal, 1.4 billion phones), with demand rising due to rooftop solar (GW) and electric vehicles. • Innovation: Finnish researchers (Smirnova, Repo) developed a solvent-free method, potentially increasing silver recovery by 170% and avoiding toxic waste. • Environmental Impact: Method uses organic fatty acids from daily oils, offering an efficient, eco-friendly alternative for urban mining of electronic waste. 3. Mallakhamb • Origin: blends aerial yoga and gymnastics on a pole, cane, or rope; from "malla" (wrestler) and "khamb" (pole). • History: Traced to 2nd century BCE pottery and Xuanzhang’s records; revived by Balambhatta Dada Deodhar in 19th century for Peshwa army. • Types: Pole (sheesham wood), rope, and hanging versions; pole debuted in competitions 1937, nationals since 1962. • Significance: Madhya Pradesh state sport (2013); Maharashtra hub; World Championship 2019, U.S. centers established. • Modern Era: Featured in Khelo India (2021) and National Games (2022); U.S. coaches target 2028 Olympics inclusion. 4. Soft Matter • Definition: Branch of science studying materials w/ weak forces, enabling shape changes & energy absorption • Examples: Includes building blocks of soft matter like: - heating can easily displace - nanoparticles in milk staying evenly mixed. - long polymer chains becoming entangled to make plastic flexible • Applications: To design better bike helmets w/ energy-absorbing foams, control ice cream crystals, air bubbles & stronger but light materials like aerogel nanolattices 5. Jumping Spider (Spartaeus karkiqi) • New Species Discovery: Identified in Karnataka, previously known only in SE Asia & Africa • Habitat: Spotted in rocky outcrops and egg clutch sites in Naduvilpuram (Tamil Nadu) and Karnataka. PS: Be a good friend, share these notes with a friend @CSEWhy

Pre note: Today is an auspicious day, start new things if you wish to! 🚨14th June '25 | Friday🚨

Daily Notes🗒

1. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) • Role & Structure: u/ Mo-Civil Aviation & a statutory body w/ 14 regional offices • Functions: Oversees aviation safety, licenses pilots and engineers, certifies aircraft, enforces Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), regulates air transport, and coordinates with ICAO for global standards. • Recent Developments: Improved ICAO safety score (85.49%, 2022), issued drone certifications (e.g., Kisan Drones), fined Air India (Rs 90 lakh, 2024), and launched eGCA platform for efficient services. • Proposal: Plans to replace DGCA with a financially autonomous Civil Aviation Authority to enhance staffing, efficiency, and alignment with global standards, pending implementation. 2. Passage Exercise (PASSEX) • Event & Purpose: India & UK Navy exercise in North Arabian Sea to enhance interoperability, communication, and strategic collaboration for Indo-Pacific maritime security. • Key assets: INS Tabar (Talwar-class stealth frigate with BrahMos missiles) & P-8I (long-range patrol aircraft with a 1,200+ nautical mile range) showcasing advances naval capabilities (see above image for all major Indian exercises) 3. CSEWhy Blog on Global Gender Report

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express 🗞 1. Old Conflict, new front (GS2: Iran-Israel nuclear run) PS: It's an auspicious day today, start new things if you wish to!

India has joined Khaan Quest exercise in Mongolia (22nd edition) of what started as a US-Mongolia and is now a multination activity. Compiled list of Indian Joint Military Exercises now that UPSC is asking Qs on it :)

Don't miss this from Arjun Sengupta today. You should know about Natanz, N-facility and also focus on the given map here. (Clip from Indian Express)

Pre note: blog.csewhy.com is where you'd find CSEWhy blog :) 🚨13th June | Friday🚨

Daily Notes🗒

1. Black Box (aka Flight Recorder) [2 FRs comprise a black box: Cockpit Voice Recorder - CVR, and Flight Data Recorder - FDR] • What? Mandatory flight recorders capturing pilot conversations, flight data & engine noises • Evolution: Dr. David Warren's 1950s design; they evolved from photographic film to solid-state memory, w/ orange coloring & durable materials for recovery 2. Why AC temp. at 20-28°C range? • Energy Impact: Every 1°C increase in AC temperature = 6% savings • Public Health & Safety: Low temperatures from excessive AC use case hypertension & respiratory issues

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express 🗞 1. Why AP & Karnataka are fighting over Mangoes? (Totapuri Mango in Qs; read to note where it's grown) PS: Times are heavy across the world, take good care of thyself!

As you start waking up in 🇮🇳, here’s what is happening in Middle East: • Israel bombed parts of Iran including Tehran • Reports of targeted assassinations of political & military leadership • Israel’s Op Strength of a Lion w/ goal of eliminating nuclear ‘threats’

Bit about Neutrinos, imp. for both prelims and mains

Brief about Neutrinos, imp. for both Pre & Mains

Pre note: GS1 Mains PYQ Q paper here 🚨12th June | Thursday🚨

Daily Notes🗒

1. Eurasian Otter • Overview:semi-aquatic carnivore, keystone aquatic species, feeding mainly on fish. • Habitat & Distribution: Eurasia, N. Africa, India (Himalayas, W. Ghats, Central India) • Conservation Status: IUCN Near Threatened; Wildlife Protection Act (Schedule II) & CITES Appendix I. • Recent Developments: Sighted in Kashmir (2025, after 30 years), Kerala (2023, first record), and Pune (2024); radio-tagging in Satpura. 2. Golden Visa: Malta Scheme • European Court of Justice (ECJ) struck down CBI (citizenship-by-investment) • Malta commodified EU citizenship via CBI & RBI (Residency-by-Investment) • Chinese, Russians & West Asians made most use of it to become EU citizens 3. World Day Against Child Labour (estd Jun 12 2002 by ILO) • 2025 theme: “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: let’s speed up efforts!” • Aligns with SDG 8.7 to end child labor by 2025 • Indian context: ~ 1 cr child labourers (2011 census) mostly in agri - acts: Child Labor Act (2016), RTE 2009 & schemes like NCLP Revise women reservation act here

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recommendations📰

Indian Express 🗞 1. A new axis of stability (GS2: Multilateralism b/w India & Europe) 2. Fuel for a Green Viksit Bharat (GS3: Nuclear Energy through Thorium & Uranium) 3. Why Census 2027 is critical for India's economic growth & development (GS2: Policy and also read for answer writing approach) 4. Drone warfare & India (GS3: Security, will do a detailed blog post on this topic soon) PS: Don't stress about result, control only what you can control: YOUR MIND.

Friends, it is a tough day but life gotta keep going! I am releasing a simple PlanB DAF where you have to apply with your Admit Card Purpose is to help you with upskilling & getting a right job Waste no time, fill it here: https://cseplanb.in/

Common Query: Resources for better prep in 2026 1. Prelims: Listed on CSEWhy blog 2. Mains: Strategy, resources & relevant details 3. PYQs: app.csewhy.com These 3 will be your guiding light along with syllabus (which is also listed in the app)

Friends, I am answering queries myself from aspirants for way forward on @CSEWhy07

Also, if you didn’t make it, get a PlanB. I’ll help, Join @CSEPlanB

Share your attempt number and struggle story of UPSC here 👇🏼