1. Abbreviations
  2. MayW1-IR, Diplomacy
  3. MayW1-Economy
  4. MayW1-Polity, Governance
  5. MayW1-Environment, Agro
  6. MayW1-Science Tech, Defense, IT, Healthcare
  7. MayW1-History & Culture
  8. Download Excel File

Abbreviations

This page contains important news and current affairs developments from theHindu and Indianexpress newspaper and similar sources. Since UPSC civil service examination is conducted in three stages viz. Prelims (CSAT), Mains and Interview, the News topics are classified accordingly for faster revision. Here is the abbreviation table for reference:

P Only important for prelim only
P+M important for prelim and mains
M+I Important for mains, essay and interview but has none or negligible utility in prelims.
OLF One line fodder point that can be quoted in some descriptive answer, essay, interview or Group discussion. But doesn’t warrant an article by itself.
Ignored Because (A) I see bad:cost benefit in pursuing it OR (B) I don’t think it’s important for UPSC exam given the trend in last few years.

MayW1-IR, Diplomacy

P Only French President Francois Hollande becomes first Western head of state to attend GCC summit @Riyadh. France to supply 24 Rafale jets to Qatar for 7 billion $.
P+M Pranab Visit to Russia to commemorate 70 years of end of WW2. Hindu gone crazier than usual, running daily report recycling the same sentences as if nothing else to report. ⇒ US and EU leaders had attended 50th and 60th commemoration but not attending this one to protest against Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. ⇒ 25 nations including BRICS, will participate though. India participating because Russia too had supported us in our ‘difficult’ times.⇒ Military parade on 9th May. Russia to display latest T-14 Armata tanks. India’s Nine Grenadiers to participate in parade, with Russia’s Red Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army.
P+M Modi’s visit to China, South Korea and Mongolia in May week2.  He’ll visit Russia twice in 2015: BRICS  summit @July and Bilateral India-Russia Summit in November.
M+I Dynasty politics is not confined to India alone. Even in USA, ~20 years the Presidential post is held by Clinton and Bush families. ⇒ Professional politicians like George Bush, Hilary Clinton, David Cameron, Ed Miliband et al are surrounded by political professionals: spin doctors, image-makers and polling experts- but These “coaching-walla” try to make the candidates electorally appealing but often junta finds their speeches Hollow and phony. ⇒ Therefore, global economic downturn has been accompanied by a global democratic downturn.
OLF MEA refuses to give RTI information on cost of Obama visit in January 2015, Saying it will affect sovereign relation between two nations, hence immune from Public disclosure under Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act 2005
Ignored Modi opens account in Weibo. Weibo is Chinese quivalent of Twitter ⇒ Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). They’ve released a video clip and named Modi in it. so intel agencies tightened surveillance.⇒ US to Passenger Ferry service with Cuba, which was set down after Cuban Revolution in the early 60s. ⇒ Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani advises law enforcement to stay away from enforcing Islam in the territory.
Ignored John Kerry becomes first U.S. Secretary of State to visit Sri Lanka after end of LTTE in 2009. He urges Sri Lanka to cooperate with UN to keep theHindu in good humor ⇒ Maldives after arrest of ex-pres. Nasheed. Kenyan president Kenyatta accused of electoral violance, yet ICC dropped case against him and Now Kerry met him as well. ⇒ Kerry surprise visit to Somalia. ⇒ seems Kerry is on world vacation tour like Pratibha before her term was over. Only agony is Hindu gone crazy covering this topic.

MayW1-Economy

Atal Pension Scheme Current Affairs

Banking-Finance P Only Most bank use magnetic stripe based credit / debit cards. RBI ordered them to switch to only EVM chip-based and PIN-enabled cards from 1st September because Sept.1 because they protect against counterfeit (skimming) and lost and stolen card fraud. ⇒ State Bank of India (SBI) in association with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched ‘State Bank RuPay Platinum Debit Card’ for high networthy individuals. It gives 5% cash-back on utility bill payments, 1% fuel surcharge waiver and complimentary airport lounge access.
BoP OLF USTR’s Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property Rights for 2015. India still kept under “Priority Watch List” for his failure to protect IPR of American companies. Matter already covered in old article on the same topic.
Fiscal Policy M+I Money scams & laundering: ⇒ 6 crore peoples’ 80,000 crores stuck in ponzi schemes. While Enforcement Directorate (ED) confiscates the money, it’s not quickly given back to investors. ⇒ 3 main challenges in money laundering are (1) Hawala trade (illegal transfer of funds by skirting the legal banking route (2) TBML: Trade-based money laundering (TBML) i.e. under-invoices or over-invoices the trade receipts (3) accommodation entries i.e. criminal sets up a company only on paper. Launches IPO at face value, later ‘jack up’ its value several times to escape capital gains tax.
Fiscal Policy OLF Niti Ayog full time member Economist Bibek Debroy suggests we should shift the start of financial year from 1st April to Diwali because of our agricultural seasons.
HRD Ignored ⇒ 3 SAI athletes attempt suicide after alleged ragging by seniors at Water Sports Centre at Punnamada. ⇒ DU student organization promoting “Kaali stories” against Fairy tales. Theme will be same- people live happily every after but they’ll brown / black skinned instead of fair white skin.
HRD P+M Cabinet approves 3 social security schemes (1) Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) (3)  Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) (3) Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
HRD P+M Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): 1 year accidental death-cum-disability cover. ⇒ 2 lakh for death ⇒ 2 lakh if both eyes, hands, legs gone ⇒ 1 lakh if 1 eye,hand,leg gone. ⇒ 18 to 70 y.o. savings account holders eligible. ⇒ Premium of Rs.  12 per annum per subscriber, auto-debited from your bank account. Breakup: 10 Rs. To insurance company, 1 rupee to agent, 1 rupee to bank ⇒ Validity 1 year, can be renewed. ⇒ General insurance companies – public and private sector, will be implementing this.
HRD P+M Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana: (PMJJBY) ⇒ 1 year life insurance cover worth Rs.2 lakh rupees ⇒ Death by any reason eligible ⇒ LIC and other life insurance companies to implement ⇒ premium: 330 per year per person, auto debited from bank savings account. Breakup: 289 to Insurance co. Rs.30 to agent, Rs.11 to bank ⇒ eligible 18-50 years savings account holder. If he has multiple savings account- he can join only once.
HRD P+M Atal Pension Yojana (APY): ⇒ for unorganized workers, pension after 60 years age. ⇒ Rs.1k, 2k, 3k, 4k and 5k per month, depending on contribution by the client. ⇒ eligibility: 18 to 40 years ⇒ PFRDA to implement, money autodebited from your bank account ⇒ Government to contribute equal amount in the fund, if you’re not an income tax payer, and not covered in any other social security scheme of Government such as EPFO, Coal Mines, Tea plantation, Seamen’s provident fund, J&K employee PF etc. ⇒ Previous Swavlamban scheme had similar feature- Government to co-contribute in unorganized sector worker’s NPS account. Now all those Swavlamban accounts to be migrated to Atal Pension Yojana, unless the client wants to opt out. Then he’ll continue in NPS.
HRD OLF National Food Security Act, 2013 wants to give Subsidised food grains to 67% of the population. But so far only 11 states Complied with the legal provisions such as identifying beneficiaries, computerisation of PDS, setting a vigilance committees, modern storage infrastructure etc. therefore union Government has asked the remaining states to hasten the process of implementing NFSA. Government also clarified they are not going to follow FCI-Shanta Kumar Committee suggestion to curtail NFSA to only 40% of the population.
industry-agro OLF CAG criticizes implementation of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) launched in 2007. Saying 62% of the projects failed to achieve targets. And tones of cases where Benefits did not reach the intended beneficiaries
Industry-MFG OLF Under Handloom (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985 – certain garments and traditional handloom items can’t be copied by powerloom/machine operater textile companies. But under pressure from powerloom lobby, Government aiming to repeal this law, so powerloom operators can make cheap version of those handloom items. Pro= cheaper the better. Anti=livelihoood of weavers.
Industry-Service OLF Competition Commission of India (CCI) gives clean chit to online retail majors — Flipkart, Snapdeal, Amazon, Jabong and Myntra for lack of evidence in predatory pricing /cartel formation etc.⇒ Amazon India launches ‘Service Provider Network’ (SPN) to help MSME sell their goods through Amazon website. ⇒ Andhra Government talking with flipkart, snapdeal, amazon to help sell handloom products online.
infra OLF Virtual Network Operator (VNO) is an operator giving services to an end consumer by using the underlying network of an NSO (Network Service Operator). VNO works like a reseller for telecom operators and bill directly to customers. TRAI recommended Government to allow such entities in India.
infra OLF Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Aims to auction ~135 FM radio frequencies for Metro and small cities. Government aims to collect around 1500 crore rupees from this. Although target is challenging because FM radio operations have become very expensive because music companies demand too much royalties for playing the songs. Advertisement revenue is becoming unsustainable to continue running the channel for free.
infra P Only Kazi Nazrul Islam (KNI) Airport in West Bengal is India’s country’s first private greenfield airport. PM Modi planning to  Inaugurate it and become first passenger.
infra P+M Inland waterways: China, Europe >40% goods moved through inland waterways, while in India hardly 3%. ⇒ We’ve Total inland water way >14,000 kms. ⇒ Cost of transporting goods per kms: road- Rs.1.5, Rail-Rs.1, inland waterway just 30 paise. Till now we had five laws for five inland water ways viz. (1) Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system (Allahabad-Haldia-1620 km); (2) Brahmaputra (Dhubri-Sadiya-891 km) (3) West Coast Canal (Kottapuram-Kollam) along with Udyogmandal and Champakara Canals-(205 km) (4) Kakinada-Puducherry canals at Godavari and Krishna rivers (1078 km) (5) East Coast Canal at Brahmani river and Mahanadi delta rivers (588 km). ⇒ National Waterways Bill 2015 consolidates them into a single law. ⇒ 7th Sch. Entry 24 allows union to make laws on inland waterways- their shipping, navigation. ⇒ this new bill wants to create 101 waterways.

MayW1-Polity, Governance

P Only Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill 2014 passed in Lok Sabha. ⇒ Teens between 16-18 ages be tried as adults for heinous crimes such as murder and rape. But Juvenile Justice Board (including psychologists and social experts) will decide on case by case basis, whether given teenager should be tried a ‘child’ or as an ‘adult.⇒ Such 16-18 y.o. juvenile will remain in Borstal. Borstal is an institution meant adolescent offenders. If post-21 years any signs of reform seen then their sentence will be reduced. ⇒ no provision for death sentence or life imprisonment. ⇒ If minor did crime in 16-18 age but was caught post-21 age, then he’d *not* be tried as an adult. It all depends on board decision.
P Only Gujarat cadre IAS officer Achal Kumar Jyoti appointed as Election Commissioner.
P Only 1941: Delhi special police Establishment act. 1963: CBI setup via home Ministry resolution. D.P. Kohli was the founder director of the CBI (1963).
P+M JJ Bill Pro Arguments: ⇒ National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics says 3,887 juveniles committed heinous crimes in 2013 alone. ⇒ SC itself asked Government to relook into this. ⇒ Yes in poverty and envy the teens may commit crime but its no justification they should not be punished.
P+M JJ Bill Anti Arguments: ⇒ Teens from SC/ST and other sections will be persecuted. ⇒ hardly ~1400 juvenile rape cases. (5% of total rape cases). And in many those cases, matter was of elopement / consensual sex.  So, it’s a misconception that juveniles rapists are rising in number. ⇒ 80% juveniles criminals come from <50k /per year income group., 50% of them did not finish primary school. So better focus on their education and vocational skills first. ⇒ SC upheld present system in Swamy vs Raju (2014) and Salil Bali vs Union of India (2013) ⇒ Juvenile criminal involved in the Nirbhaya gangrape, was a misguided teenager with traumatic childhood, who received no support from child welfare agencies, and therefore and developing the bad company of crooks. ⇒ Today’s ads, TV & movies encourage children towards sex, alcohol and drugs.
P+M 119th Amendment bill 2013: ⇒ was pending in Rajya Sabha since 2013. Finally passed. ⇒ It operationalizes the 1974 India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement. ⇒ Land transfer to occur at West Bengal, Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam. ⇒ India will get 2,777.038 acres and transfer 2,267.682 acres to Bangladesh. ⇒ 90% fencing finished. But work delayed thanks to land acquisition, wildlife clearance and protests by locals. ⇒ In 1974, India had transferred Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka. Now DMK, CPI et al demanding Government to take it back because the transfer was against SC verdict on Berubari case.
OLF France Parliament to new law to allow authorities to spy on the digital and mobile communications of anyone linked to a “terrorist” enquiry. They won’t even need approval from a judge. They can force Internet service provider and mobile phone companies to share data. Police will even help power to install Security cameras in private premises and install keyloggers to spy on private computers.
OLF Under Salva Judum movement , Ex-Congress leader Mahendra Karma had started using tribals private militia to fight against Maoist. But It led to mass-displacement and extra-judicial killings in Bastar and Dantewara regions of Chhattisgarh. 2011: Supreme Court said it was illegal. 2015: His son Chhavindra Karma began similar new movement called “Vikas Sangarsh samiti”.
OLF Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), 1988 follows penological philosophy which has no room for sympathy or leniency towards a public servant convicted of corruption. So, if he’s convicted he can’t rejoin, he he automatically loses his job.
OLF SC says Judicial activism is our duty against legislative adventurism and executive excesses. Adoption of separation of powers is partial and not total.  Legislature and judiciary are independent, yet judiciary can interpret, review and implement laws made by the legislature.
OLF Apart from Mr, Mrs, Miss and Ms, Oxford dictionary planning to introduce new title Gender neutral title “Mx” for transgender people and anyone else who does not identify with a particular gender.
OLF Cabinet clears amendment for Whistle Blowers Protection Act of 2011. National Security matters are now kept out of this act’s purview. Activists say this will lead to harassment of defense deal whistleblowers as it happened in Bofors, Scorpene, Tatra truck and AgustaWestland scams.
Ignored ⇒ Salman jail again bail again. ⇒ Rahul vows to protect middle class from builder lobby Home Ministry says it will look into the demand for lifting the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Arunachal Pradesh ⇒ Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav was named in FIR in Vyapam scam. But HC removed FIR against him saying Governor enjoys enjoyed immunity while in office. ⇒ Pappu Yadav removed from RJD, because Lalu allegedly wants to handover power to his own son. ⇒ Rajya Sabha private member bill to allow Valmiki (SC) to become priests in temple after job training. ⇒ GST Bill passed in lok sabha. Ignored because matter covered in ppt and videos. ⇒ The Hindu takes break Sri Lanka bashing, but goes crazier than usual covering NJAC hearings ball by ball. Ignored till final verdict is out. ⇒ PIL lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma was instrumental in exposing the coal scam. But recently in the court he said parliamentarians are corrupt inhouse criminals. Annoyed SC is thinking about barring him from filing PILs.⇒ Baba Ramdev says “Putra-Jivak” medicine is classical Ayurvedic name and deals with infertility issues. It does not has been sex selection of the foetus. Baba asks Member of Parliament is to withdraw their criticism. ⇒ California State Senate passed a resolution condemning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as genocide organised by the then government and law enforcement officials. ⇒ Jharkhand High Court has longest case pending for 57 years. ⇒ Supreme Court says live-in partner is also entitled to maintenance. ⇒ U.S. ambassador to India Richard Verma worried about persecution of NGOs in India such as Ford foundation and Greenpeace International

MayW1-Environment, Agro

P Only Antarctica is surrounded by Southern Ocean. This ocean accounts for 10% of the world’s oceans and 50% of marine mammal biomass. It has multiple species of pinnipeds and whales ⇒ Examples of Pinniped- walrus, sea lions and seal. They have whiskers & legs are modified flippers. ⇒ Ocean is in news because of Adelies penguins. ⇒ Adelies penguins are migratory species, feed on krill & fish, smallest penguin in this ocean.
P Only Threats to Taj Mahal ⇒ 50k visitors a day, causing wear and tear to the marble floor. ⇒ Because of SC intervention, sulphur dioxide emission is reduced. But still carbon particles from vehicles and industries present. Given the heat, Mineral impurities of marble get oxidised and create brown stains. ⇒ Agra lies in a semi-arid zone, with ~49C in Summer. Hot winds have abrasive effect on marble ⇒ Rain causes chipping, cracking and weathering effect on marbel. ⇒ The iron dowels used to fix the marble slabs on the building are getting rusted. get rusted and the rust flows down with rain, getting deposited on the marble.
P Only The 2016-Simhastha Kumbha, to be held in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Following eco-friendly measures taken ⇒ ban on plastic ⇒ only bicycles and battery-operated vehicles allowed.
P Only Gotland islands belongs to Norway and located in Baltic sea. But Facebook showing it in Norway, hence controversy. Location becomes important for world Geography MCQ
P+M A new concept called ecological engineering to reduce pests. Ecological engineering concept by Hyderabad research institute. ⇒ Focus on pest management through biocontrol agents and bio pesticides. No chemical spray is required.
P+M At present Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund gives tax exemption to donors. But this money can be used only to help Indian citizens. ⇒ Modi asked people to donate here for Nepal earthquake so, So than guidelines have to be amended. ⇒ Although under India-Nepal Friendship Treaty (1950), our government can give “national treatment” to Nepalis for property and commercial rights. So PM is free to use his discretionary powers to extend the fund for Nepali citizens,
M+I Nepali citizens launch campaign against Indian media, with twitter hashtag #GoHomeIndianMedia. Reason ⇒ Indian journalists present in every IAF helicopter. When supplies dropped off, they record people scrambling to collect it, to portray ‘big brother’ image of India. Nepalis feel their sovereign nation is treated like a ‘satellite state’ of India, and Indian media recording it like a family serial ⇒ Journalist occupying space in IAF helicopter- that space could be used for carrying supplies or injured victims. ⇒ IAF pilots not coordinating with the local officials and creating problems with management of relief efforts, some of the food sent from India had fungus, breads had crossed expiry date. ⇒ Scholarly studies on ‘The CNN Effect’ show that television reporting has far less impact on foreign policies than the journalist believe. ⇒ On the other hand, China Central Television covering the relief operation in a prosaic and staid manner. ⇒ Nepali RBI (Nepal Rastra Bank) will give interest free loans to victims of earthquake. 25 lakh Nepali rupees for Kathmandu valley and 15 lakh NR for other area.
OLF TRAFFIC, WWF-India and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) jointly started new campaign to stop illegal trade in non-charismatic species like pangolins, monitor lizards, tokay gecko, turtles and tortoises, lorises, birds, corals, sea cucumbers etc.
OLF The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Forests Is unhappy because budget allocated for MoEF is cut down by 50% this will severely affect ongoing wildlife conservation programs such as Project Tiger

MayW1-Science Tech, Defense, IT, Healthcare

Defense P Only Indo-French naval exercise (VARUNA) concluded at Panaji, Goa. 1983: joint exercises begin. 2001: renamed as Varuna. 2015: fourth edition of the joint exercise.
Defense P+M Mid 90s: Dr.Kalam proposes ballistic missile defense system (BMD) i.e. a missile that can shoot down enemy missiles. DRDO began working since Late 90s to provide cover for Delhi, Mumbai etc. Anti-arguments ⇒ tests failed last month ⇒ will encourage Pak. to produce more missiles, to simultaneously attack multiple targets in India ⇒ US Senate report says BMDs have only 30% success rate, yet costs are prohibitive e.g. for Each Indian city such missile defense shield to cost ~1 lakh crore minimum. ⇒ for a fully functional BMD, you need radars, command-control-centre and geo-stationary satellite- we don’t have that satellite yet.
e P Only Asthma: airways shrink, because of immunological response to an allergen such as dust, food additives etc. Allergan vary from person to person⇒ Narrowed airways means difficulty in breathing. ⇒ Asthma is not curable but fully controllable, with proper treatment. ⇒ Asthama inhalers contain Bronchodilators & similar anti-inflammatory agents that help relaxing the airway ⇒ May 5 World Asthama Day.
IT/electronics OLF Ridlr- an Indian app to help people locate the nearest bus stop and metro station and get instant information on the latest time-tables of all available modes of transport. You can save favorite routes and travel hassle-free.
IT/electronics OLF IIT Kharagpur develops new password system. Instead of typing password, you’ve to answer secret questions depending on your daily online social activity.
IT/electronics P Only Blackberry (Canadian Company) had aquired Movirtu for virtual identity solutions provider. Blackberry now sought permission from Indian Government to launch Virtual SIM cards that will allow customers to use nine different numbers through a single SIM ⇒ system already started in Africa. ⇒ this system works with all type of smartphone whether android, iphone or windows based.
IT/electronics OLF Jana startup Co. from USA designed app “mcent’. if you download apps through that ‘mcent’ app, you get data credit, which you can use for surfing other sites of your choice. Jana is seen as counter to internet.org
IT/electronics OLF Japanese senior citizens will be given ipads with custom apps that will help them remember when to take medicine
Medical OLF National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had asked all pharma firms to register themselves with Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System (IPDMS) in Sep-2014 but only 41 out 100 registered. NPPA issues warning to remaining companies.
Medical P Only Autism= auto+ism. It’s a complex neuro-development disorder ⇒ problem in language skills & communication. ⇒ Symptoms begin at age of 3. ⇒ Government recognizes it as a disability.
Medical P Only Opto Circuits India is a Medical devices maker. Its product Powerheart G5 AED got approval by USFDA ⇒ AED =Automated external defibrillator (AED). ⇒ During Cardiac arrest, defibrillators give electrical shock to revive the heart.
Medical OLF TB Joint Monitoring Mission 2015 has criticized Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). Because ⇒ for TB diagnosis Government using century old insensitive smear microscopy. ⇒ TB treatment takes away ~40% of family’s annual Expenditure, Government not giving sufficient financial aid.
Medical P Only UN Road Safety Week: theme ‘Children and Road Safety ⇒ World Red Cross Day: 8th May. 2015 marks 50th Anniversary.
Sci-Tech P Only CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) is world’s biggest particle physics laboratory . CERN operates the Large Hadron Collider. Until now India was an observer. Now Cabinet clears India’s “associate membership” to CERN. Total 21 member States.
Sci-Tech P Only The boiling point of milk (100.17C) is slightly higher than of water (100C). When milk heated, its relatively less dense constituents like the fat/proteins begin to float on top cream layer. So, milk vapor can’t pass through this upper layer. So, at boiling point milk will overflow due to large quantity of milk vapor rupturing the cream layer. ⇒ Milk cooker is a double-walled vessel. Its gap has water, which boils before milk. So, inner vessel remains at 100C. So, cream layer forms but milk vapor doesn’t form. That’s why milk will not overflow in a milk cooker.
Sci-Tech P Only Government prohibits hotels and farmhouses From using laser lights near airports because it creates confusion to the pilot.
Space-tech Ignored US’s private company SpaceX Dragon spaceship aims to carry people in lower orbit in 2017. Recently they began tests for emergency astronaut escape feature ⇒ internet.org opens platform for app/web developers. ignored because still developing.
Space-tech P Only 2004: NASA’s Messenger spacecraft Launched to investigate mercury planet. It gave information about Mercury’s magnetic anomalies and  ice polar craters. 2015: it crashed on Mercury, because of the sun’s gravitational pull.

MayW1-History & Culture

P Only Babasaheb Purandare is a right wing historian and Shiv Sena leader. He’s nicknamed “Shiv Sahir” (Shivaji’s poet) because of his bestselling narrative Raja Shiva Chatrapati and Janata Raja ⇒ Maharashtra Government to give him “Maharashtra Bhushan” award. Controversy because ⇒ Purandare’s versions don’t match with other historians such as Sir Jadunath Sarkar (“Shivaji and his times”) and Govind Pansare (“Who was Shivaji”). ⇒ Purandare says Shivaji’s birth date as February 19, 1630. But Sir Jadunath Sarkar said it was April 6, 1627. ⇒ Sambhaji Brigade’s founder Purushottam Khedekar alleges that Purandare twisted facts about Shivaji to stok tensions between Hindus and Muslims.
P Only Chetan Bhagat’s novel Half Girlfriend. He had portrayed royal family of Dumraon (Bihar) in poor light. ⇒ Dumraon acceded to Indian Union in 1952. Last ruler Maharaja Bahadur Kamal Singh. His descendants went to court against Bhagat’s novel. Bhagat agreed to change name of place from “Dumraon” to a fictional place “Simraon”
P Only Rakhigarhi village in Haryana- Harappan burial mound with 4 skeletons found from Mature Harappan period (2600 BCE-1900 BCE). 2 men, 1 woman, 1 child. S.Korean university extracted DNA from it to predict their skin,hair colors and facial features. This site also has Harappan painted pottery, goblets, terracotta figurines of wild boar and dogs, and furnaces and hearths- meaning possible bangle and bead-making industry.
P Only Buddha Purnima celebrated on May 4th. Modi wisdom: ⇒ Lord Buddha’s teaching of ‘Atta Deepo Bhavah’ (Be your own light) is one of the greatest and shortest management lessons ever, ⇒ Buddhism as the way to a world free of war and violence.  ⇒ 21st Century belongs to Asia and Buddha’s message will be guiding light for Asia.
OLF Lalit Kala Akademi is an autonomous organisation of the Culture Ministry. But there were complaints of administrative and financial irregularities, so Government took over its functioning in April, and Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty removed as Akademi Chairperson. ⇒ Lalit Kala Akademi’s expensive paintings went missing and replaced with replicas. Committee investigating but process stalled. ⇒
OLF Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj criticises Bollywood movies for showing Kathak as dance of brothels. This depiction has adversely affected the dignity of the art form.
Ignored St.Stephen alumni want HRD ministry to remove principal Valson Thampu for financial irregularities and not possessing required Ph.D degree recognized by UGC. ⇒ In Okhla, UP Government owns land . But Delhi Government wants it to expand Jamia Milia Islamia university. Both states’ CM met to resolve the issue outside court.

Download Excel File

[button type=”real” shape=”rounded” size=”small” href=”https://www.mediafire.com/folder/xd8g0yrwgcb6r/Current_Affairs_Excel_File&#8221; title=”Current Affairs Topiclist for UPSC” target=”blank”][icon type=”cloud-download”]Download the EXCEL File[/button]

Q. In above excel file, you’ve used gibberish codes like “00P, 0P+M, OLF, z_ignored”, why?

It helps sorting all cells quickly in ascending or descending order based on their specific utility. 00P means only for prelims, 0P+M = Prelim and mains, OLF = One line fodder

Current Affairs Topiclist

“End result” of the gimmick= a neatly arranged topiclist

Q. What exactly is this list?

Ans. It contains of weekly list of important Current Affairs topics from theHindu, IndianExpress, pib.nic.in, frontline and other sources –which are important from UPSC exam point of view.

Q. How do you define weeks in Current Affairs list?
Week Dates
W1 1-7
W2 8-14
W3 16-21
W4 22 to 28/29/30/31 depending on month

Q. I had read xyz column in Hindu but I don’t see it here listed here.

Ans. As such all columns should be read for improving reading comprehension skills for CSAT Paper-II. So, no point in listing here. Keep a habit of reading them on daily basis.

Q. What is the purpose of listing these topics? You have not written any content about them!

Ans. Those are the topics from Hindu, Indian express, PIB, etc. which I consider important for UPSC prelims and mains.

Q. Will you provide notes/articles on all these topics before upcoming pre/mains exam?

Ans. No. Unlike Salman Khan, I make no “commitments” (Primariliy due to time constrains and lack of team-members.)

Q. Then why the hell have you listed these topics?

Ans. To help the serious players crosscheck and update their notes accordingly, for UPSC civil service exam.