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Guys if you are planning to appear for the mains 2025 or even started preparing for the 2026 UPSC CSE examination then you can register with the webinar organised by Dr Gaurav Sontakke Sir.
I will also be part of this webinar.

We will have a brief discussion on Mains oriented strategy in general and QnA session post discussion on Mains strategy.

Registration link
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@upscwithkunal

For Disaster Management related questions you can usethe following keywords.

Risk Assessment: Conduct thorough assessments to identify vulnerabilities and risks in communities, including natural hazards.

Early Warning Systems: Establish and maintain effective early warning systems to provide timely information about impending disasters.

Community Engagement: Involve local communities in disaster preparedness and response planning to ensure that strategies are relevant and effective.

Education and Awareness: Promote awareness and education about disaster risks and preparedness among citizens, particularly in schools and communities.

Infrastructure Resilience: Invest in resilient infrastructure that can withstand disasters, including roads, bridges, and buildings designed to endure extreme weather events.

Policy and Legislation: Develop and enforce policies and regulations that promote disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.

Emergency Response Planning: Create comprehensive emergency response plans that outline roles, responsibilities, and resources for quick and effective action during disasters.

Collaboration and Partnerships: Foster collaboration between government, NGOs, private sector, and communities to strengthen DRR efforts.

Funding and Resources: Allocate adequate funding and resources for disaster risk reduction initiatives and recovery efforts.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement systems to monitor and evaluate DRR activities to ensure continuous improvement and adaptation to changing risks.

@upscwithkunal

Extract of todays article on "What are the stress factors for Indian Railways?"

Accidents: Recent derailments (Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Express) and a rear-end collision near Chennai, both with no casualties.
Balasore Accident: On June 2, 2023, more than 275 casualties, highlighting safety pressures against operational strains.

Frequency of Accidents
Trend: Railway accidents decreased from 1,390/year in the 1960s to 80/year recently.

Consequential Accidents:
34 in 2021-2022
48 in 2022-2023
40 in 2023-2024

Causes:
55.8% due to railway staff failure
28.4% due to non-staff failures
6.2% due to equipment failure

Signaling Issues: Blamed for recent accidents.

‘Kavach’ System
Purpose: Automatic train protection system to prevent collisions.
Current Status: Installed on 1,465 route km (2% of total).

Cost: ₹50 lakh/km; overall cost less than 2% of Railways’ annual capex.
Implementation Pressure: Accelerated post-Balasore accident.

Limitations: Might not have prevented some accidents; operational thresholds may exceed Kavach’s effectiveness.

Financial Aspects
Operating Ratio (OR): Estimated at ₹98.2 for 2024-2025 (improvement from ₹98.7 in 2023-2024 but decline from ₹97.8 in 2016).

Budget Dependence: High OR limits capital expenditure and increases reliance on budgetary support and Extra-Budgetary Resources (EBRs).

Revenue Growth: EBRs have risen to 17% of revenue receipts (from 10% in 2015-2016).

Freight Services

Revenue Contribution: Freight accounts for 65% of internal revenue; rates have increased faster than passenger rates (2009-2019).

Network Utilization: Nearly 30% of the network is over 100% capacity, leading to slow freight movement.

Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs): Only one fully operational; others in planning phases.

Reliance on Coal: Coal represents half of freight revenue, amid shifts towards renewable energy.

Passenger Services Revenue

Losses: Significant losses from passenger services (e.g., ₹68,269 crore in 2021-2022).
Projected Revenue: Estimated at ₹80,000 crore for 2024-2025.

Traffic Growth: Anticipated increase due to new trains; shift towards more expensive AC coaches.

Safety Challenges

Competing Goals: Balancing affordable travel with profitability.
Cost Pressures: Increasing wage, pension, and fuel costs.
Work Conditions: Stressful 12-hour shifts for locomotive pilots; operational challenges in congested networks.

Alert System Failures: Ineffectiveness of homegrown alert systems for trackside workers.

Conclusion

Indian Railways faces ongoing pressures to improve safety and capacity while managing financial constraints, operational inefficiencies, and growing demand for services.

@upscwithkunal

Which of the following statements accurately describes karst topography?

A) It is formed primarily by volcanic activity and is characterized by the presence of lava tubes.

B) It results from the dissolution of soluble rocks, primarily limestone, leading to features such as sinkholes and caves.

C) It is typically found in arid regions and is characterized by sand dunes and sparse vegetation.

D) It is formed by the accumulation of glacial deposits and features prominent moraines and drumlins.

Local winds and their locations.

@upscwithkunal

Read: What is the Z-Morh project in Kashmir, where 7 were killed by militants? Why is it strategic?
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-the-z-morh-project-kashmir-attack-9630983/

Shared by Indian Express android app.
Click here to download
https://indexpress.page.link/shareDL

Important for Internal Security GS 3.

Infrastructure GS 3

@upscwithkunal

Read: India-China resolve patrolling issues along Line of Actual Control ahead of BRICS Summit
https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/good-news-india-china-resolve-patrolling-issues-alongnbspline-of-actual-controlnbspahead-of-brics-summit/3645710/
Shared by Financial Express android app click here to download
https://financialexpress.page.link/fe_app

For GS 2

You can quote such examples in the Ethics paper.

'AB form' is in news because of regular elections taking place either in parliament or legislation assembly.
But what is AB form ?
AB form is a communication sent by political parties to the Returning officer(RO) or Chief Electoral officer.

Form A : it is related to communication from a recognised political party to RO about the name of office bearers of the political parties.
The form must come from either president or secratary of political party.

The form must be signed and must have party seal.

Form B : this is communication from the authorised office bearers (discussed in Form A) of Political party to RO of the constituency.

This form informs the RO about the name of authorised candidate of the party, who should alloted the party symbol.

As per CNN Indian airlines have received more than 100 bomb hoax threats in a span of few days.

Recently the Ministry of Electronics and IT also informed social media companies to curb such posts.

This is a concern of internal security of India.

This is important for GS 3 also.

Internal security, role of technology, social media related topics.

#UPSC

@upscwithkunal

आपको और आपके परिवार को दीपावली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। 🪔🎇

Wish you and your family a prosperous Diwali 🎇🪔

India’s new biodiversity strategy aims to protect 30% of ecosystems, restore degraded habitats by 2030 - https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/indias-new-biodiversity-strategy-aims-to-protect-30-of-ecosystems-restore-degraded-habitats-by-2030/article68818256.ece, For the best experience read this on BusinessLine App. https://thbl.news/mobileapp