Civil Services Examination result 2020 was released on 24th September 2021. Civilsdaily is proud to announce its toppers. In 2020, we took 50 Students for Mains exclusive one-to-one mentorship program and 80% got interview calls with 50% making it to the final list.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TOPPER COPIES

Even Toppers of Civil services examination 2020 were impressed by the quality of questions from the Mains Test and Mentorship provided:

Here’s a look at some questions from our FLT Tests:

FLT 1 PAPER 1

Q. While there are several theories about why the Indus Valley Civilisation declined, climate change appears to be the most likely scenario. Discuss in what way the decline of IVC could be related to climate change aspects of that time. Draw an analogy of how past experiences can prove to be lessons to our future generations.

Model Answers:

More than 4,000 years ago, the Indus Valley Civilisation thrived in the Indus river valley of what is now modern Pakistan and north-western India. They built sophisticated cities, invented sewage systems, and even engaged in long-distance trade. However, by 1800 BCE, this advanced culture had abandoned their cities, moving instead to smaller villages in the Himalayan foothills. 

Various causes have been suggested for the decline of the civilization which includes:

• Aryan invasion theory- Very little evidence.
• Decreasing fertility- Due to increasing salinity of soil
• Sudden subsistence or uplift of land- Causing floods
• Tectonic disturbances- caused earthquakes
• Climate change- Most accepted theory. A new study titled ‘Neoglacial climate anomalies and the Harappan metamorphosis also supports this.

Climate change and decline of IVC: 

• Wetter winter monsoon- Between 4,500 and 3,000 years ago, strong winter monsoons were characterised by early neoglacial anomalies (ENA) that are characterised by changes in wind and precipitation patterns that are evident across the eastern Northern Hemisphere and tropics. This may have led to urban Harappan society turning into a rural one, as inhabitants migrated from a summer flood-deficient river valley to the Himalayan plains.
• Decline in the winter monsoon- This could have played a role in the demise of the rural late Harappans.
• Shift in temperatures and weather patterns- This caused summer monsoon rains to gradually dry up, making agriculture difficult or impossible near Harappan cities.
• Neo-glaciation- A general cooling, occurred between 2,500 and 4,500 years ago. Records for the last 4,500 years generally indicate that temperatures were lower than the Holocene thermal maximum. 
• Less predictable floods in the Indus and tributary rivers- This affected the Indus people who depended a lot on inundation agriculture.
• Changing character of the Indian monsoon- Affected atmospheric temperatures and the flow of rivers originating in the Himalayas. Both the changing temperature and the changes in river flow would have influenced the crops that were grown in the region.
• Drying up of Ghaggar-Hakra- The probable course of the Saraswati river, dried at the same time.

The Indus story is important today because it provides us with a vivid example of what climate change could do to people. Some analogous examples observable in modern times are:

• Migration due to climate change– The study provides a powerful lesson for today as the migration out of Syria, Venezuela and African countries has some roots in climate change.
• Sea level rise- The sea level is rising at a rate of 12 mm per year in the western Pacific and has already submerged eight islands. This can lead to huge migrations from the low-lying regions or from hurricane-prone regions in the southern U.S.
• South Asia- Increasing temperatures, more frequent cyclones, flooding of river systems fed by melting glaciers, and other extreme weather events along with rapid economic growth and urbanization are accelerating and magnifying the impact and drivers of climate change

The Harappans could cope with the change by migrating but owing to the existing rigid political boundaries with the increasing tendency of protectionism, this option is nearly closed in today’s global scenario which ultimately can cause political and social convulsion. Multilateral institutions, development agencies, and international law must do far more to resolve the impending crisis in line with the sustainable development goals.

FLT 2 PAPER 2

Q. Involving local communities along with the welfare of women can prevent malnutrition in the country effectively. Elaborate.

Model Answer:

While India’s malnutrition rates have improved over the recent years, the country is still facing a Triple burden of Malnutrition i.e. undernutrition, Hidden hunger, and Child overweight. In Global Hunger Index 2021 India ranked 101 among 116 countries under the Serious Level category, whereas the report of the WHO positioned India as the world’s third most obese nation after the USA and China.

The Core Strength of a nation is vested in the capabilities of its people. Malnutrition inflicts the very human resources base, severely limiting the socio-economic development of a nation. In this regard involvement of the local community along with the empowerment of women becomes essential in tackling the issue of malnutrition.

Role of Local Community  in preventing Malnutrition:

• Ensuring accountability and Avoiding Leakages- using methods like surveys, social audits, local community’s checks both inclusion and exclusion errors and ensure accountability and better targeting thus improving the delivery of food and nutrition. Eg. ‘Collective Action for Nutrition’ (CAN) social audit program in Odisha.
• Making Govt. interventions culturally adaptable– involvement local community build trust and cooperation that ensures various Govt. interventions are culturally appropriate and holistic in terms of design and implementation thus making it easier to adapt in fighting against Malnutrition. Example- fish, egg, and dry fruits in mid-day meal program of states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Lakshadweep. 
• Checking discrimination: There is a correlation between discrimination based on gender, caste or religion and poor nutrition. With participation and active sensitization of the local community, such discrimination can be checked which in turn helps in fighting malnutrition.  
• Acting as Role Model:  Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) recommended by both WHO and UNICEF, has shown positive results in the Nandurbar district of Maharashtra that led to rapid reduction of malnutrition among children between 2015-16 (NFHS-4) to 2019-20 (NFHS-5). it has the potential to be scaled up anywhere in India.
• Support system: This collective action by communities imparts a sense of psychosocial well-being, self-efficacy and confidence to the group members along with the creation of a protective environment that helps in fighting malnutrition. Eg. the Proliferation of various community kitchens was conceived, organized, and run by the people in various states to tackle food security crisis during the lockdown.
• Promotion of nutritional behavior: Synergy between the local community and various govt. departments can help in making the public aware of nutritional behavior.

Eg.  SAAMAR (Strategic Action for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anemia Reduction) campaign to tackle malnutrition in the state of Jharkhand.

Welfare of women and Malnutrition

• Mother’s Literacy: Mothers empowered with knowledge and a facilitative environment, as the decision-maker in the house they can ensure proper dietary diversity, breastfeeding immunization and other interventions which is crucial for reducing malnutrition.
• Ending gender discrimination- female members of the household tend to be treated as inferior and receive a relatively lower share of nutrition. Women end up eating the last and the least. Undernourished mothers give birth to an undernourished baby thus perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of under nutrition. To break this circle, the welfare of women is imperative. 
• Empowered women farmers can help fight malnutrition- Given financial support and choice in crop selection. A report of CARE India suggested that women farmers preferred crops that would contribute to household dietary diversity while promoting food and nutrition security rather than being more inclined towards cash crops. 
• Political empowerment-  Role of women Sarpanchs in states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh showed that Women in leadership positions tend to take up issues related to health and hygiene on priority hence fighting rather effectively with menace like Malnutrition.

In the fight against Malnutrition India needs a change of perspective where malnutrition is seen as a social issue rather than as a health problem. An integrated approach involving all the stakeholders along with the robust framework of service delivery can help India to achieve the aim of the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030.

MAINS MANTHAN 2021

Here is the list of Mains programs available:

Mains Guidance Plus

Mains Guidance Plus is a wholesome package for UPSC Aspirants. The aim behind this program is not just to provide students with Model tests, but to cover multiple needs of students. From Mentorship to current affairs, the program has all the necessary elements needed for mains 2021.

PROGRAM INCLUSION:

Sectional Tests: 8 sectional tests to cover your static portions in detail. The scope will spread over your core subjects like History, economics, and polity, etc.

Full-length tests: 12 FLTs to help you practice for the final Mains examination. These FLTs are patterned on UPSC Examination and have medium to high-quality questions. They will surely boost your preparation and test your analytical skills.

One on One Mentorship: After every test, a call with a mentor will be arranged and you can clear your doubts on the paper. This is important as with your mentor you can discuss your weakness and strategize for the next paper.

Quality Enrichment Program Notes: QEP is an intensive and holistic program for IAS Mains 2021 GS papers. We aim to cover up to 250 most relevant issues with a 360-degree view, covering all dimensions of each and every topic. Not only you’ll learn and analyze these issues but will also understand how to utilize them via Daily Answer Writing and Mains Test Series.

Mains Super 50

Mains Super 50 is a program apt for those aspirants whose focus lies on clearing Mains 2021. Those Students who have been practicing some answer writing and want to directly start with FLTs should opt for this. This program also has complete mentorship support.

PROGRAM INCLUSION:

Full-length tests: 12 FLTs to help you practice for the final Mains examination. These FLTs are patterned on UPSC Examination and have medium to high-quality questions. They will surely boost your preparation and test your analytical skills.

One on One Mentorship: After every test, a call with a mentor will be arranged and you can clear your doubts on the paper. This is important as with your mentor you can discuss your weakness and strategize for the next paper.

Weekly Zoom Call with Sukanya Ma’am: These calls will focus on paper discussion and students can as well raise their queries.

Mains Guidance Mini

Mentorship is a forte of Civilsdaily and once you experience it, you will believe it. Mains Guidance Mini is a program focused on mentorship-based improvement. You can appear in any Test series, we will provide you the mentorship on that paper.

PROGRAM INCLUSION:

10 Test Discussion: You can discuss 10 FLTs in which you have appeared recently. These tests can be from any institute. Just mail to us and we will provide you the guidance.

One on One Mentorship: After submitting a test, a call with a mentor will be arranged and you can clear your doubts on the paper. This is important as with your mentor you can discuss your weakness and strategize for the next paper.

TOPPER COPIES 2020

Download and read how their answers improved after guidance from our mentors.

Other than these programs, you can check out our test series for Mains 2022 as well.

Mains Essential Program 2022

ALL THE BEST FOR MAINS 2021!! LET THE FINAL PREPARATION BEGIN!!