Diplomacy
- Diaspora problems: 2014 Highest remittances (1) India (2) China (3) Philippines. (world bank data). Yet our Government not very keen to look after its migrants- ⇒ Emigration Management Bill is still Pending. ⇒ 3 different ministries look after emigration- (1) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) gives passport (2) Ministry of Overseas Indian affairs gives emigration clearance (3) Home ministry looks after departures. ⇒ Two kinds of passports: Emigration Check Required (ECR) and Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR). But Emigration clearance done only by 9 locations with shortage of staff. ⇒ Cost of emigration very high- Indian Nurses have to pay ~3 lakh rupees to work in Middle East. ⇒ In both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, shortage of staff at embassies to look after tasks like visiting migrant camps, bring back dead bodies etc. ⇒ lack of a rehabilitation policy when migrants returns.
- Government relaxes rules for Minority pilgrims from Pakistan (Hindu and Sikh). For each group of 50 people, there will be a group leader. Only group leader will have to report to Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) within 24 hours of arrival.
- India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral highway deal will be signed in 2015, November to connect Moreh (India) to Mae Sot (Thailand) through a 3,200-km road link. This will help transforming India’s “Look East” to “Act East” policy.

India-Thailand-Highway Map from Indianexpress
Economy
- WTO: updated its 18 year old Information Technology Agreement (ITA)- 201 new goods added for duty-free trade. Means cheaper imports for consumers and boost for exporters. Although actual implementation will begin from 2016.
- Banking: April 2014: RBI had given “in-principle” approval to Bandhan and IDFC to setup private commercial banks. Finally this month, RBI granted banking licence to IDFC Bank. They’ll launch operation from 1st October, with 20 branches and Rs.55,000 crore loan book.
- GS3 Black Money: Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money gives Third report: ⇒ amend law to stop routing of black money through donations in the education sector, religious bodies and charities ⇒ donation can be made only through cheques ⇒ if gold / jewelry donated in religious place, then donor’s name and PAN number must be recorded ⇒ SEBI must identify final beneficiaries of P-Notes. ⇒ SEBI must begin prosecution of people manipulating stock market, rather than just blacklisting them ⇒ Create a central Know Your Client (KYC) Registry to create a database of all the various identity proofs — PAN, UID Aadhaar, passport number, driving licence or any other proof of identity. Whenever people enter into financial transaction, they must quote this number.
- EPFO begins some reforms in PF withdrawal. Read following only if appearing for APFC exam Click ME
Polity
- For All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) exam, CBSE had declared strict rules on clothes e.g. no full sleeves, no scarves etc. So Petition filed in Supreme court but SC says “Faith is not connected to the clothes you wear. For three hours, you adhere to the rules [of the CBSE] when you write the exams. Do this for the sake of the exams, which have been already rescheduled. The court cannot be moved for such small issues.
Culture

Remains of Nalanda from Indianexpress
- Nalanda: Frederick M Asher’s new book “Nalanda: Situating the Great Monastery”. It makes following claims ⇒ None of the monks in Nalanda kept written record, but We get some glimpse from seventh-century Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang but continuity missing. ⇒ Ashoka did not worship at Nalanda. Buddhist philosophy Nagarjuna did not live here (2nd or 3rd centuary). ⇒ 5th Century AD: Gupta kings gave royal patronage. ⇒ It was not big enough to hold even 3000 residents. ⇒ no evidence that Nalanda taught logic, grammar and literature, medicine, the arts and metaphysics etc. things. Therefore, Nalanda was not a ‘university’ but just a religious teaching centre. Even the ancient texts call it “great monastery” (Mahavihara) and not “great school”. ⇒ no evidence that it attracted students from other parts of Asia.
- Maha Pushakarams of river Godavari conducted for 12 days. A special telugu culture program “Godavari Akandha Harathi” organized at Pushkara ghat. 1000s of Kuchipudi dancers to perform ballet.
- Humayun’s Tomb: UNESCO Cultural heritage status? YES. ⇒ has ~150 graves of ruling family. Hence called the NECROPOLIS OF THE MUGHAL DYNASTY ⇒ Financer: (Haji) Bega Begum (Humayun’s widow and Akbar’s step mother) ⇒ Architect: Mirak Mirza ⇒ Time: 14 years after Humayun’s death. (~1570) ⇒ Material: red sandstone + marble borders ⇒ Humayun’s tomb is prime example of Mughal Architecture. Mughal Architecture was inspired from Persian Architecture. Why in news? Because this Monday Discovery channel will run a program on it.
Person in news
Dead | National level fencing champion Hoshiyar Singh thrown out from train by Railway police for refusing to pay bribe, died. |
Sports | Golf: Shubham Jaglan wins International Junior Golf Academy’s title at Las Vegas for age 9 to 10. |
International | Obama says Britain should not leave EU else it’ll lose influence
Turkey begins bombing ISIS in Syria. |
Mock Questions for UPSC prelims CSAT
[columnize]
Q1. Buddha visited which of the following places?
- Pataligrama
- Sravasti
- Benares
Answer Choices
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- all of them
Q2. According to Hiuen Tsang:
- King Harsha had invited Nalanda monks for Philosophical assembly at Kanauj.
- Nalanda continued as centre of intellectual activity till 12th Century
- Nalanda was a primarily centre for learning of Hinyana Buddhism.
Answer Choices
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- None of them
Q3. Correct statements about Humayun’s Tomb
- It is made up of red stones
- Many consider it to be inspired from Taj Mahal’s design
- Both A and B
- Neither A nor B
Q4. Retired Judge M.B. Shah is associated with which of the following Committees?
- black money
- illegal mining of Iron ore in Odisha and Goa
- Both A and B
- Neither A nor B
Q5. Lichtenstein is surrounded by
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Germany
Answer Choices
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- all 3 of them
[/columnize]
sir , please upload lectures and excel sheet
Agree with sachin, pleas sir upload the excel sheet and remaining lectures
1. LoL! Not again!
2.A
3.A
4.C
5.A
Thank u so much sir….ur initiative is just priceless…
nice inititative but when will you start the economic survey
sir , please upload lectures and excel sheet
IS IT USEFUL FOR UPSC exams
Sir plz provide answer key also along with mock questions in current section..i would b really greatful
Answers:
1. —–Oh—– last year, similar Q,…. Only god Buddha Knows :-(
2.A
3.A
4.C
5.A
SUPERB ANSWER
sir please post monthly or weekly c.affairs topic list.. that was very helpfull..and handy.. thank u so much for ur efforts.!!
sir!! nly few days for exam… u didnt post economy remaining lectrues yet…
prevailing tention… plz do post economy lecytrues sir
hey! can any one give some differences between look east and act east policy
Its just like planning commission to niti aayog
Bhae Benares to kabhi Gaya hi nae budha so 1 n 3 hai shayad answer.. Mrunal tu hi bata de
Thanks for this daily dose :) it is very helpful.
1. A
2. A
3. A
4. C
5. A
1. __
2. A
3.D
4.c
5.a
hey! does anyone know whether industrial license is required for biodiesel or not
also, does it can be prepared from soyabean, mustard and palm oil or not
please do give an authentic source
SSC CGLE 2015 ADMIT CARDS ISSUED
AWESOME,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,KEEP IT UP. SIR.
VERY NICE ONE,,,,,,,THANKS. SIR,.
@ Jude_Prudence,
@dr.k.vijay
@Sumeet Malani&
@Sushi
Ans. Of Que. 1. D all of above
Buddha visited places like Benares, Sravasti, Pataligrama, Rajagriha, Vaisali, Nalanda.
Question 3.
Not. A.
Its D.
It is made from.red stones + marbles
design of taj mahel is inspired from here.
Sir… Please upload the Current Notes at regular intervals! And thank you very much for your work!!!
Ques 1…. Ans is all the above… Buddha visited siravasti,rajakirutha,patalikirama,panaras,nalantha,vaisali…… 100% sure
Mrunal sir could u pls suggest me on which economy book to purchase like rameshsingh r s.maitra r Ic.dingra
sir… please update the current excel sheet
Sir,can I have the answers for mcq’s
What books are to be read for Indian economics
Start with NCERT economics textbooks of 11 and 12,coupled with THE INDIAN ECONOMY by Sanjiv Verma for in depth knowledge of the basic terms….Then Ramesh Singh if you have atleast 1 year to prepare…if time is scant,revise and re-revise NCERT’s and Sanjiv Verma till you have mastery over all the basic terminologies…..Also,FOR MAINS YOU MUST MAINTAIN HINDU NOTES…this part is absolutely must.After all this is done come to INDIA YEAR BOOK AND ECONOMIC SURVEY (better prepare it from summary of the same….bazaar mein easily available hai….but don’t P.hd.)…iss se zyada economics prepare karne ka time hi nhi milega :D :D
sir,
can any one help me on what topic should i concentrate on exam….hoe can i prepare for that exam
3.. C.