Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

Click on news headlines to read the full news

High relevance news

Toxic air is causing malnutrition in trees

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/toxic-air-is-causing-malnutrition-in-trees/

Note about Mycorrhizal fungi. Also, study symbiotic relationship from Environment book/notes. Can be asked in Prelims in indirect way

[pib] Outcomes of 13th Executive Committee meeting of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-outcomes-of-13th-executive-committee-meeting-of-national-mission-for-clean-ganga-nmcg/

Read and remember details about Ganga Mitra. UPSC has been asking questions digged from such news items

[op-ed snap] Plastic-free India is a nudge away

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-plastic-free-india-is-a-nudge-away/

Editorial discusses about the nudge theory which won Nobel prize this year & how it can be used to bring about a behavioral change amongst masses

Nice points that can be quoted in Mains answers as well as Essay

Low Relevance News

Social security cover extended to 50 crore people: Narendra Modi

The government is promoting schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana

The government is also promoting Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana for citizens aged 60 years and above

All these schemes have been discussed in detail previously. Nothing else in news from exam point of view

MP panel flags stalled lending by PSU banks

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance raised concerns about “stagnation in lending operations” of State-owned banks during a meeting with representatives of 11 public sector banks

The 11 banks are under the RBI’s watchlist for mounting bad loans

Nothing important from UPSC perspective.