Answer is 9
​
​To get the minimum number of cuts, the cube must be divided as evenly as possible along its three dimensions

So, 4 × 4 × 4 = 64 pieces.

Now think about cuts like this

Visualize that
1 cut along one axis makes 2 pieces
2 cuts along one axis makes 3 and so on...

So, The number of cuts required to divide a side into n pieces is n - 1

So, dividing a side into 4 pieces requires 3 cuts.

​Add the cuts required for all three dimensions (Length + Width + Height)

So, 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 total cuts.

Day 24

Sleepy CSAT PYQ Series

Today, we will be looking at a Time and Work Question.

We alternate between RC, LR and Quant PYQs in this series.

Try to solve it.

Solutions will be provided later today.

Forest-rich states protect the planet’s lungs and monsoon systems, yet pay an economic penalty while industrial hubs reap the profits. Green federalism cannot survive on unequal sacrifice.

​𝗔𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀:
Forest-rich states shoulder disproportionate national responsibilities like preserving carbon sinks and stabilizing monsoons, while industrialised states enjoy higher fiscal returns with lower burdens.

​𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
Articles 14 and 38(2) require differentiated support for unequal regions, while uniform environmental rules create economic inequities and restrict growth in fragile states.

​𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔:
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act fails to deliver ecological justice because 90% of funds stay locally, and the national pool lacks transparent utilization rules to support deficit regions.

𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀:
Frameworks like the Forest Rights Act operate on a linear model of issuing titles once without ecological feedback loops or building stewardship capacity.

​𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱:
Recognize forest-rich states as a distinct class for targeted fiscal transfers, and implement Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) to reward communities for sustaining vital ecological functions.

India is producing so much solar power during the day that the grid is literally forced to throw it away.

​𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀:
India's solar capacity has reached 162 GW, causing daytime supply to exceed demand and forcing the grid to curtail renewable generation for stability.

​𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀:
The expansion faces major hurdles due to a lack of long-term grid connectivity (with transmission line setup taking 36 months vs. 18 months for solar plants) and an acute lack of battery or pumped-storage capacity.

​𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗹-𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮:
Renewable energy is treated as "must run," but conventional coal plants cannot back down below a technical floor of 40% to 55% capacity without risking machinery damage.

​𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲:
Market-determined prices from competitive bidding for storage projects are often non-remunerative, raising questions about their successful completion.

​𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱:
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates India needs 888 GWh of storage capacity by 2035, requiring deliberate scaling of storage infrastructure and transmission lines to match renewable growth.

Students are a joke in this country 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

UPSC Prelims 2026: CAT notice to UPSC over 8 questions, candidates claim 16 marks at stake

Next hearing is in October though
Mains is safe 🙏

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/upsc-prelims-2026-cat-notice-to-upsc-over-8-questions-candidates-claim-16-marks-at-stake/articleshow/133317986.cms?utm_source=app&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=social_share

Solution to Today's CSAT PYQ

Since the total work is constant, the number of men is inversely proportional to the time taken.

So, ​Time Ratio (Old : New)

6k : 5k is 6 : 5

And ​Men Ratio (Old : New) is the reciprocal of that which is 5 : 6

​The number of men needs to increase by 1 unit (from 5 to 6) over the base of 5 units.

​Percentage Increase = (1 / 5) × 100 = 20%

​Answer: 20%

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Guysssss…. APFC notification out

Massssively good opportunity

A few missing drops of rain might not seem like a global crisis until they collide with a world at war.

​𝗘𝗹 𝗡𝗶ñ𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁:
El Niño conditions are causing a below-average monsoon season, with a current deficit of 13% against the 1971–2020 Long Period Average (LPA) and a projected 15% overall shortfall.

​𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝘄𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀:
Headline monsoon figures do not tell the whole story, as rainfall can be significantly skewed temporally, in intensity, and geographically, though a deficit of over 10% can reduce paddy output below past averages.

​𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳:
Poor rainfall leads to persistent low reservoir levels and soil salinity issues that affect agricultural production beyond just the current kharif season.

​𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀:
The climate shock to agriculture coincides with global supply disruptions in energy and food caused by the intensifying Russia-Ukraine war.