150th Foundation Day of IMD and Mission Mausam | UPSC MAINS 2025

 On January 15, 2025, the Prime Minister of India participated in the 150th Foundation Day celebrations of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in New Delhi. During the event, he launched the Mission Mausam initiative and unveiled the IMD Vision-2047 document. The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was also present at the ceremony.

What is the Mission Mausam Initiative? 

Overview: Mission Mausam is a government-led initiative aimed at enhancing the capabilities of India's weather department in weather forecasting, modeling, and dissemination.
Budget: The initiative has been allocated Rs 2,000 crore for its first two years.
Objectives:

• Upgrade Weather Forecasting: The mission aims to improve the accuracy of short to medium-range weather forecasts by 5-10%, enhance air quality predictions in major metro cities by up to 10%, and extend predictions to the panchayat level with a lead time of 10-15 days. Currently, the IMD's accuracy for extreme events such as heatwaves is around 98%, while forecasts for heavy rainfall stand at about 80%.
• Invest in Technology: The mission will leverage advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing to improve weather models and observational systems, including the installation of additional Doppler radars and satellites.

Union Budget 2025 Expectations Live Updates: What are different sectors anticipating ?

The Union Budget for 2025 in India is expected to address several key factors impacting income tax, with a focus on economic recovery, boosting investment, and providing relief to taxpayers. While specific details can only be confirmed once the budget is announced, here are some expected trends and areas that could be covered in terms of income tax policy:

1. Reduction in Tax Rates

• Personal Income Tax: There may be further reduction in personal income tax rates, especially under the new tax regime, which was introduced in the previous budgets. This could include the rationalization of tax slabs, offering more tax relief for the middle-income groups.
• Corporate Tax: Corporate tax rates could be tweaked further to incentivize business growth and improve India's competitiveness as an investment destination.

2. Increase in Tax Exemption Limits

• Section 80C (Investment Exemptions): There could be an increase in the deduction limit under Section 80C, which currently stands at ₹1.5 lakh. This would provide relief for individuals investing in long-term financial instruments like PPF, ELSS, etc.
• Revised Tax Slabs: There could be new, more progressive tax slabs or a rationalization of existing ones, providing more disposable income to the taxpayer.

3. Focus on Digital and Green Economy

what are the health food to eat before go to exam? | Which food is best before an exam?

 Before an exam, it's important to eat foods that help boost energy, focus, and concentration, while also keeping you calm and energized. Here are some healthy food options you can consider:

1. Complex Carbohydrates

• Whole Grains (oats, whole grain bread, brown rice): They provide sustained energy and help maintain steady blood sugar levels.
• Sweet Potatoes: High in fiber and packed with vitamins, they release energy slowly.

2. Proteins

• Eggs: Rich in protein and choline, which is important for brain function.
• Greek Yogurt: High in protein and probiotics, which can support gut health and overall energy levels.
• Nuts and Seeds (almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds): Good sources of protein, healthy fats, and omega-3s that support brain health.

3. Fruits and Vegetables

• Berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries): Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber that support brain function and help reduce stress.
• Bananas: Rich in potassium and natural sugars, which can provide a quick energy boost without causing a sugar crash.
• Leafy Greens (spinach, kale, arugula): Rich in folate and iron, which are important for cognitive function.

4. Healthy Fats

how to read a newspaper for exam point? | Bullet Points For Reading New Papers 2025

Reading newspapers for exam preparation can be a highly effective way to stay informed and enhance your knowledge, especially for subjects like current affairs, general knowledge, and even language skills. Here's how you can approach reading newspapers with a focus on exam preparation:

1. Identify Relevant Sections

• Current Affairs: Focus on sections related to national and international news, politics, economics, science, and technology.
• Editorials/Opinions: These can help you understand different perspectives on important issues and develop critical thinking.
• Business & Economy: If your exam includes economic topics or business-related questions, pay attention to this section.
• Science and Environment: Many exams cover scientific advancements and environmental issues, so this section is key.
• Sports: If relevant to your exam, sports news can be useful, especially for competitive exams that cover broad knowledge.

2. Take Notes

• Summarize Key Points: When reading articles, take notes on important facts, dates, events, and figures.
• Highlight Important Information: Underline key facts that could be useful for exams.
• Focus on Headlines and Sub-headlines: These often provide a quick overview of what’s important.

3. Read with a Purpose

How do i write an essay with good vocabulary? | How can I use good vocabulary in writing?

Writing an essay with good vocabulary requires a combination of strong word choices, clear expression of ideas, and an understanding of how to use language effectively to convey meaning. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you write essays with rich vocabulary:

1. Read and Build Your Vocabulary

• Read Widely: Read books, articles, newspapers, and essays in a variety of genres and subjects. This exposes you to different writing styles and vocabulary.
• Note Down New Words: Keep a journal or digital notes of new words you encounter. Look up their meanings and try to understand how they are used in context.
• Use a Thesaurus: A thesaurus can help you discover synonyms to avoid repetition, but be cautious to use words that fit the context appropriately.

2. Understand the Context of Your Essay

• Analyze the Topic: Understand the prompt or topic thoroughly. Make sure you know the tone, purpose, and audience of your essay.
• Use Context-Appropriate Vocabulary: For academic essays, use formal vocabulary. For narrative essays, you might use more vivid or descriptive language. Avoid using overly complicated words if they don’t fit the context.

3. Use Precise and Varied Vocabulary

• Be Specific: Instead of using general words like "good" or "bad," opt for more specific terms like "beneficial," "advantageous," "ineffective," or "detrimental."
• Avoid Repetition: Repetition can make writing seem dull. Use synonyms to express the same idea in different ways. For example, instead of using "important" repeatedly, you can alternate with "significant," "crucial," "pivotal," etc.
• Use Strong Verbs: Replace weak verbs like "do," "make," or "get" with stronger verbs like "accomplish," "establish," or "achieve."

Art and culture Syllabus for UPSC CSE (Prelims & Mains) 2025

The Art and Culture section in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), both for Prelims and Mains, is an important component of the General Studies syllabus. The topics related to Art and Culture are included in General Studies Paper 1 for Prelims and General Studies Paper 2 (Mains). This section covers Indian Art, Culture, and History from various perspectives, including the history of art forms, cultural heritage, and their evolution.

Here’s an outline of the Art and Culture syllabus for both Prelims and Mains:

UPSC Prelims (General Studies Paper 1)

The Prelims exam does not have a separate Art and Culture paper but integrates this into the General Studies Paper 1. Art and Culture-related questions can appear in the Cultural Heritage section.

Syllabus for Prelims (Art and Culture):

1. Indian Culture:

   • Indus Valley Civilization: Features, arts, crafts, and culture.
   • Vedic Culture: Vedic literature, religious practices, and philosophy.
   • Buddhism and Jainism: Origin, spread, and art forms related to Buddhism and Jainism.
   • Mauryan Empire: Mauryan art, architecture (Ashoka’s pillars, stupas, etc.).
   • Gupta Period: Gupta art, architecture, and sculpture, golden age of Indian culture.
   • Chola Empire: Chola dynasty’s contributions to art, architecture, and sculpture.
   • Medieval and Mughal Period: Mughal architecture (Taj Mahal, Red Fort, etc.), Mughal painting.
   • Bhakti and Sufi Movements: Influence on music, literature, and visual arts.
   • Colonial Impact: British influence on Indian art and architecture.

2. Art Forms:

Ancient History syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) primarily 2025

 Ancient History syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) based on the typical structure of the exam.

Ancient History Syllabus for UPSC CSE (Prelims & Mains)

The Ancient History section is a key part of the General Studies Paper I for the UPSC CSE. It focuses on the history of India from the ancient period up to the early medieval period. Here's a breakdown of the topics usually covered:

1. Prehistoric and Proto-historic Cultures

• Prehistoric India: The Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic); Rock art and cave paintings.
• Harappan Civilization: Indus Valley Civilization (its major sites, features, decline theories, and contributions).
• Neolithic and Chalcolithic Cultures: Early farming societies, transition from hunting-gathering to settled life.

2. Vedic Period

• Early Vedic and Later Vedic Period: Social, political, and economic conditions; Rig Vedic culture, society, and literature.
• Later Vedic Culture: Development of kingdoms, the rise of Brahmanism, philosophical texts (Upanishads, Vedanta), and social stratification (Varna system).

3. Mauryan and Post-Mauryan Period

General Science syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) primarily 2025

The General Science syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) primarily includes three key areas: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The questions in the examination assess candidates' understanding of basic concepts, current developments, and their ability to apply scientific knowledge to real-world situations. Here's a general breakdown of the topics typically included:

1. Physics

• General Science and Technology: Basic concepts and principles, with an emphasis on current developments in the field of science and technology.
• Mechanics: Laws of motion, work, energy, and power; gravitation; fluid mechanics.
• Thermodynamics: Heat and temperature, laws of thermodynamics, applications in engines.
• Electromagnetism: Electric fields, circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetic waves.
• Optics: Reflection, refraction, lenses, and optical instruments.
• Modern Physics: Atomic structure, nuclear physics, radioactivity, lasers, and their applications.
• Basic Electronics: Semiconductor devices, transistors, diodes, and digital electronics.

2. Chemistry

• General Chemistry: Basic concepts, atoms and molecules, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, periodic table.
• Inorganic Chemistry: Properties of elements, chemical bonding, transition elements, metallurgy.
• Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons, functional groups, reactions and mechanisms, polymers, biochemistry basics.
• Physical Chemistry: States of matter, chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium, acids and bases, electrochemistry.
• Environmental Chemistry: Water, air, and soil pollution, green chemistry, and waste management.

3. Biology