05-04-2024

05-04-2024

Table of Contents
No. Article Newspaper Syllabus
@beginning of the
1 Previous Year Question discussion
video
Verification of a statistically significant sample of VVPAT
2 The Hindu GS - 2
slips should suffice

3 Govt. to record parents’ religion to register births The Hindu GS - 2

4 Is the urban water system breaking? The Hindu GS - 3

5 How are symbols allotted to political parties? The Hindu GS - 2

Other Articles:
a) March Services PMI survey signals activity grew to strongest since 2010’ - TH
6 C19
b) Govt. body hikes prices of essential medicines again, says ‘it’s miniscule’ - TH Sci
page

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PREVIOUS YEAR
QUESTION DISCUSSION

UPSC prelims – 2023

Set – A
• India depends on coal for most of the
production.

As per the data - Ministry of coal, the

major production of electricity is
achieved through coal based thermal
power plant.

The data shows that it accounts for

about 75% of the total power
generation.

• Even low-enriched uranium with 3-5%

concentration of U-235, can be used to
produce fuel for producing electricity.

• correct option is option (C)

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Previous Year Question – Prelims 2023

Q. With reference to India's projects on connectivity,
consider the following Statements:
1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral
Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and
Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh - China - India - Myanmar Economic
Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with
Kunming in China.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) One only
b) Two only
c) All three
d) None

Golden Quadrilateral Project:

• Major highway development project in

India that aims to connect the four
major metropolitan cities: Delhi,
Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

• East-West Corridor - connects Silchar

in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat.

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India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral
Highway (IMT Highway):

• Connects Moreh in the Indian state of

Manipur with Mae Sot in Thailand,
passing through Myanmar.

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Previous Year Question – Prelims 2023

Q. With reference to India's projects on connectivity,
consider the following Statements:
1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral
Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and
Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh - China - India - Myanmar Economic
Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with
Kunming in China.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) One only
b) Two only
c) All three
d) None

NEWS ARTICLES

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The Hindu
Pg: 14 – C
Pg: 12 – B
Pg: 8 – D
Pg: 10 – H
Pg: 6 - T

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)

• Introduction & use of VVPAT & EVM -

Increase the credibility of the process
Part B—Main Examination
• Practice of counting VVPAT from 5 random
PAPER-III polling booths in every assembly constituency

General Studies‐II : Governance, Constitution, & match with the EVM

Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
• Critics question the reliability of EVMs &
• Salient features of the Representation of call a complete recount of all VVPATs
People’s Act.
• Supreme court agreed to list a series of
petitions – ECI to mandatorily cross-verify
the count in EVM with VVPAT

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• No concrete evidence of tampering with

Basis - Population size or focusing
EVMs in Indian elections
on seats with narrow victory
• Discrepancies between VVPAT recounts and margins
EVM counts - Minimal & largely attributed
Enhance the transparency of the
to procedural errors rather than malicious
electoral process without resorting to
intent
an excessive & impractical full
• Recommendations recount of VVPATs

Increasing the sample size of VVPAT

recounts in specific constituencies

Practice question- prelims

Q. Consider the following statements: (2013)
Attorney General of India can
1. Take part in the proceedings of the LokSabha
2. Be a member of a committee of the Lok
Sabha
3. Speak in the Lok Sabha
4. Vote in the Lok Sabha
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only

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The Hindu
Pg: 1, 14 – B
Pg: 1, 16 – C
Pg: 1, 12 – D, H
Pg: 1, 8 - T

Changes in Birth Registration

Part A—Preliminary Examination
• New rules require recording the religion
Paper I - (200 marks)
of both parents separately.
• Current events of national and international
importance. • Registration of Births and Deaths

• Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, (Amendment) Act, 2023

Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy,
Civil Registration System (CRS)
Rights Issues, etc.
Part B—Main Examination • Official system for recording vital life
PAPER-IV events: birth, death, and stillbirths.
General Studies - II: Governance, Constitution,
Polity, Social Justice and International Relations • Important for informed government
• Government Policies and Interventions for decision-making on healthcare, education,
Development in various sectors and Issues and social services.
arising out of their Design and Implementation.
• Part of the Concurrent list, allowing both
state and central governments to legislate.

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Registrar General of India

• Established in 1961 under the Ministry of

Home Affairs.

• Responsible for organizing and analyzing

demographic surveys, including the Census of

Importance of CRS Data India.

• Helps in planning for increased demands • Provides a comprehensive view of India's

in social services based on demographic demographic and linguistic diversity.

changes. • Overseeing demographic surveys and census

• Data could update national databases operations.

like National Population Register, • Data analysis for policy making and social
Aadhaar, voter rolls. sector program evaluation.

Position and Significance

• Held by a senior civil servant, typically at

the rank of Joint Secretary.

• Crucial for collecting and analyzing

demographic data for national planning.

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Practice Question – Mains

GS – II
Q. Discuss the significance of the Civil
Registration System (CRS) in the formulation
of public policy in India. Additionally, evaluate
the role of the Registrar General of India in
managing demographic data and its impact on
socio-economic planning.
(250 words, 15 marks)

The Hindu
Pg: 15 – C
Pg: 13 – B
Pg: 9 – D
Pg: 11 – H
Pg: 7 - T

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Part A—Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks)
Current events of national and international
importance.
Practice Question – Mains
General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-
diversity and Climate Change - that do not GS - III
require subject specialization. Q. “Strategy for water resource management
Part B—Main Examination
require new approach and not the
continuation of failed policies of the past.”
PAPER-III Comment.
General Studies‐III: Technology, Economic
(150 words, 10 marks)
Development, Bio diversity, Environment,
Security and Disaster Management.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and
degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Introduction
Issues leading to water crisis
• Water scarcity is a human-driven factor • Unplanned urbanization
that occurs when the total amount of • Deficiency in monsoon rainfall due to
water consumed exceeds the total amount climate change

of renewable water available. • Fragmented governance and lack of

coordination
• Water scarcity in India has been
addressed by implementing a variety of
practices, including: Rainwater harvesting,
Watershed management, investing in water
treatment systems, and Improving
irrigation techniques.

• But the unplanned urban expansion leads to

lack of coordination and mismanagement of
water resources prompting the need to
revisit the past policies.

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• Reduction in water quality New approaches:

• Paradigm shift towards integrated water
management.
• Prioritizing ecological restoration efforts.
• Developing strategies to build resilience to
climate change impacts.
• Fostering community participation.

Conclusion

• There is a clear disconnect between

water, society and economy. Currently,
we are interested in laying large
networks, constructing huge storage
dams, fetching water from 150 km and
above, which involves a huge carbon
footprint.

• We need to promote a decentralised

approach, with a key focus on water
conservation, source sustainability,
storage and reuse wherever possible.

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The Hindu
Text & context III

Rules governing - Status of the political

parties.

• Election commission of India - Election

Part B—Main Examination Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order,
PAPER-III 1968 (Symbols Order) registers & grants
recognition as national or state parties.
General Studies‐II : Governance, Constitution,
Polity, Social Justice and International relations. Basis - Poll performance.

• Salient features of the Representation of • Other parties - Registered un-recognized

People’s Act.
parties.

• Recognition – gives Privileges like Allocation

of the party symbols, access to electoral
rolls etc.

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• Symbols - major role in the Elections, as it

has higher visibility than even candidate. • ECI - certain symbols as ‘reserved symbols’
which are reserved for the recognized
National party - allotted a symbol
parties.
exclusively reserved for its use throughout
the country. Others as ‘free symbols’ which are given
for other candidates.
State party - allotted a symbol
exclusively reserved for its use in the • Common symbol - Allotted to registered-

state or states in which it is unrecognized parties.

recognized. Condition - party contests in two Lok

• Other Registered-unrecognized parties - Sabha constituencies or in 5% of seats

select a symbol from a list of free symbols. to the Assembly of a State.

Current issue regarding symbol.

• Rule 10B - Symbols Order.

Concession of a common free symbol will

• Application - During the period of six
be available to a ‘registered
months prior to the expiry of the term of
unrecognized party’ for two general
the Lok Sabha or State Assembly.
elections.

• Eligible for a common symbol, only if it had • Symbols are allotted on a ‘first-come-first-

secured at least 1% of votes polled in the served’ basis.

State on the previous election.

• Unrecognized party - apply for a symbol

every time in the prescribed format.

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Practice question- prelims

Q. Consider the following statements: (2017)
1. The Election Commission of India is a five-
member body.
2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides
the election schedule for the conduct of both
general elections and bye-elections.
3. Election Commission resolves the disputes
relating to splits/mergers of recognised
political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only

OTHER ARTICLES

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The Hindu
Pg: 19 – C
Pg: 11 - T

Pg: 17 – B
Pg: 15 – D, H

The Hindu
Pg: Science II

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PRACTICE QUESTIONS
DISCUSSION

Practice question- prelims

Q. Consider the following statements: (2013)
Attorney General of India can
1. Take part in the proceedings of the LokSabha
2. Be a member of a committee of the Lok
Sabha
3. Speak in the Lok Sabha
4. Vote in the Lok Sabha
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only

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 05-04-2024

Practice question- prelims

Q. Consider the following statements: (2017)
1. The Election Commission of India is a five-
member body.
2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides
the election schedule for the conduct of both
general elections and bye-elections.
3. Election Commission resolves the disputes
relating to splits/mergers of recognised
political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only

Practice Question – Mains

GS – II
Q. Discuss the significance of the Civil
Registration System (CRS) in the formulation
of public policy in India. Additionally, evaluate
the role of the Registrar General of India in
managing demographic data and its impact on
socio-economic planning.
(250 words, 15 marks)

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