Month: January 2021

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Insights into Editorial: India must integrate its UNSC engagement with broader national goals

  Context: As India enters the United Nations Security Council for the third time since the end of the Cold War, India finds a very different dynamic than the one it encountered during the earlier stints in 1991-92 and 2011-12. India, too, has changed over the last decade. The range of Indian interests has expanded …

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[Insights Secure STHIR– 2021] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 8 January 2021

Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers. How to Follow Secure Initiative? How to Self-evaluate your answer?  STHIR – 2021: YEARLONG TIMETABLE Join IPM 3.0 to get an assured review of 2 secure answers everyday   General Studies – 1   Topic:  Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the …

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Explain the key principles of probity. Mention its significance.

Topic: Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; 7. Explain the key principles of probity. Mention its significance. (150 words) Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications. Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4. Directive: Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed …

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Mr. Julian Assange was indicted in 2019 on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act of U.S.A for obtaining and publishing secret military and diplomatic documents. He was charged with violating the Computers Fraud and Abuse Act in the U.S. The publication of the material exposed wrongdoing by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, and rights groups have hailed their release as valuable information for the public. Mr. Assange’s promotion of government transparency has made him a hero to many, but he has also been criticized as a publicity seeker with an erratic personality. On the other hand, the U.S. government considers Mr. Assange an individual who has put lives at risk by revealing names of U.S. personnel and informants who provided valuable information in dangerous places like war zones. In 2012, Mr. Assange entered the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to escape an extradition request from Sweden, where he faced rape accusations. He spent seven years in the embassy, but was arrested by the British police in 2019, and later sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for skipping bail when he entered the embassy. The charges in Sweden have been dropped, and Mr. Assange has completed his 50-week sentence. He is not accused of any crime outside the United States, but he remains at the Belmarsh prison in London while Britain decides on his extradition. His bail requests have so far been rejected. Several doctors have said that Mr. Assange suffers from depression and memory loss and could attempt to kill himself if he were extradited. Personal liberty still eludes WikiLeaks founder and Editor-in-Chief Julian Assange, despite a ruling by a United Nations legal panel that has declared his confinement “arbitrary and illegal”. Analyse ethical issues involved in the above case. Should Mr Julian Assange be pardoned? State your opinion

Topic:  Case Study 6. Mr. Julian Assange was indicted in 2019 on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act of U.S.A for obtaining and publishing secret military and diplomatic documents. He was charged with violating the Computers Fraud and Abuse Act in the U.S. The publication of the material exposed wrongdoing by the United States …

Continue reading “Mr. Julian Assange was indicted in 2019 on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act of U.S.A for obtaining and publishing secret military and diplomatic documents. He was charged with violating the Computers Fraud and Abuse Act in the U.S. The publication of the material exposed wrongdoing by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, and rights groups have hailed their release as valuable information for the public. Mr. Assange’s promotion of government transparency has made him a hero to many, but he has also been criticized as a publicity seeker with an erratic personality. On the other hand, the U.S. government considers Mr. Assange an individual who has put lives at risk by revealing names of U.S. personnel and informants who provided valuable information in dangerous places like war zones. In 2012, Mr. Assange entered the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to escape an extradition request from Sweden, where he faced rape accusations. He spent seven years in the embassy, but was arrested by the British police in 2019, and later sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for skipping bail when he entered the embassy. The charges in Sweden have been dropped, and Mr. Assange has completed his 50-week sentence. He is not accused of any crime outside the United States, but he remains at the Belmarsh prison in London while Britain decides on his extradition. His bail requests have so far been rejected. Several doctors have said that Mr. Assange suffers from depression and memory loss and could attempt to kill himself if he were extradited. Personal liberty still eludes WikiLeaks founder and Editor-in-Chief Julian Assange, despite a ruling by a United Nations legal panel that has declared his confinement “arbitrary and illegal”. Analyse ethical issues involved in the above case. Should Mr Julian Assange be pardoned? State your opinion”

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What is Avian Influenza or Bird Flu? Explain the steps taken by the government in order to tackle recurring instances of Avian Influenza in the country.

Topic:  Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; 5. What is Avian Influenza or Bird Flu? Explain the steps taken by the government in order to tackle recurring instances of Avian Influenza in the country. (250 words) Reference: The Hindu Why the question: Just three months after India declared itself …

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In an unequal world, any shock impacts people unequally. So has this pandemic, as was the case with demonetization and their combined effect has exacerbated inequalities and misery of the poor. Policymakers should act with urgency to shield them from further suffering. Justify.

Topic : Issues relating to poverty and hunger; 4. In an unequal world, any shock impacts people unequally. So has this pandemic, as was the case with demonetization and their combined effect has exacerbated inequalities and misery of the poor. Policymakers should act with urgency to shield them from further suffering. Justify. (250 words) Reference:  …

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With eccentric and unstable Trumpism coming to an end, a Democrat control over the Senate, Congress and the presidency is also a welcome change for the world and India. Discuss.

Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora; 3. With eccentric and unstable Trumpism coming to an end, a Democrat control over the Senate, Congress and the presidency is also a welcome change for the world and India. Discuss.  (250 words) Reference: The Hindu  , The Hindu  Why the …

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There were certainly some limitations in the Home Rule Movement but nevertheless it did have a concrete and profound impact on the national movement and changing the mood of the country. Analyze.

Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues; 2. There were certainly some limitations in the Home Rule Movement but nevertheless it did have a concrete and profound impact on the national movement and changing the mood of the country. Analyze. (250 words) Reference: …

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The ‘reforms’ of 1909, institutionalized communalism in India. Critically Analyze The Indian Councils Act of 1909.

Topic:  Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues; 1. The ‘reforms’ of 1909, institutionalized communalism in India. Critically Analyze The Indian Councils Act of 1909. (250 words) Reference: India’s struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra. Why the question: The question is part of the …

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INSIGHTS करेंट अफेयर्स+ पीआईबी नोट्स [ DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB Summary in HINDI ] 7 January 2021

  विषय – सूची  सामान्य अध्ययन-I 1. नए ‘अनुभव मंटपा’ का शिलान्यास   सामान्य अध्ययन-II 2. क्षैतिज एवं ऊर्ध्वाधर आरक्षण कार्यप्रणाली   सामान्य अध्ययन-III 1. विज्ञान, प्रौद्योगिकी और नवाचार (STI) नीति 2. राष्ट्रीय अवसंरचना पाइपलाइन (NIP)   प्रारम्भिक परीक्षा हेतु तथ्य 1. स्टॉक एक्सचेंजों की स्थापना हेतु प्रवेश मानदंडों पर विचार 2. मैग्नेटोटेल्यूरिक-एमटी सर्वेक्षण 3. …

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INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY- 7 January 2021

InstaLinks help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static …

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Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy

Topics Covered: Awareness in Science and Technology. Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy: Context: The draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy released on Jan 1. It could be game-changers for not just the scientific research community, but also for the way ordinary Indians interact with Science. What is the overall philosophy behind the policy? Unlike …

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How horizontal vertical quotas work; what Supreme Court said?

Topics Covered: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. How horizontal, vertical quotas work; what Supreme Court said? Context: The Supreme Court in Saurav Yadav versus State of Uttar Pradesh case has clarified the position of law on the interplay of vertical and horizontal reservations. …

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Foundation stone laid for ‘New Anubhava Mantapa’

Topics covered: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. Foundation stone laid for ‘New Anubhava Mantapa’: Context: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for the ‘New Anubhava Mantapa’ in Basavakalyan, the place where 12th century poet-philosopher Basavanna lived for most of his …

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