UPSC CSE Key – May 18, 2022: What you need to read today

Rising prices drive wholesale inflation to record high of 15.1%

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment

Key Points to Ponder:

• The word ‘Inflation’ is now days very often in News. What do you understand by this term?

• Why Inflation holds so much importance for an Economy?

• The term ‘Price’ is almost familiar to all of us. What do you understand by the term ‘price’ and ‘Price Level’?

• How price level is Measured?

• What is Price Index? Which are the two most important Price indices?

• What is Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI)? WPI and CPI is published by whom?

• What are the new features of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with base 2011-12?

• What are the changes in weights, number of items and quotations at the major group level between WPI (2011-12) and WPI (2004-05)?

• What was the purpose of revision of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) series?

• What are the main uses of Wholesale Price Index (WPI)?

• What is Producer Price Index (PPI)?

• How is Producer Price Index (PPI) different from Wholesale Price Index (WPI)?

• How global macroeconomic situation is showing signs of macro instability which is getting reflected now in increasing debt, deficits and inflation?

• What the World Economic Outlook, which is published by the IMF forecasted about inflation in Jan 2022?

• “Inflation today is the inevitable consequence of fiscal and monetary expansion that happened during the pandemic”-How far you agree with this statement?

• Know the Types of Inflation like Moderate Inflation, Galloping Inflation, Hyper-Inflation, Stagflation, Deflation, Core Inflation etc.

• Know the Causes of Inflation like Demand-Pull or Demand-Side inflation and Cost-Push or Supply-Side Inflation.

• There are two economic groups in every society including India i.e. the fixed income group and the variable income group. How Inflation effects these economic group?

• What is the Long term, Medium Term and Short-term impact of Inflation?

• How Inflation is Measured in India?

• What are the Steps or Measures Taken by RBI to Control Inflation recently?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 The inflation spirals

📍 Rising inflation: cause, effect

📍 What Is Inflation?

Weak market debut for LIC, lists at 8% discount

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is an Initial Public Offering (IPO)?

• Initial public offering (IPO) of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)-Know the details of issue

• LIC IPO: What does it mean for the government and LIC?

• Who can apply and have reservation and discount?

• What are the challenges to the LIC IPO issue?

• What does ‘Offer for Sale’ stands for?

• Who all can invest in an Initial public offering (IPO)?

• What do you understand by ‘Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs)’?

• Who fixes the price of securities in an issue?

• What are the advantages of listing a company?

• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-About, Mission and Role

• Know about Stock Exchanges in India

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Explained: What LIC’s mega IPO means for govt, investors and corporation

📍 Everyday Economics: What is an IPO?

GOVT & POLITICS

‘Strong Navy key to global power’

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What do you understand by ‘Guided-Missile Destroyer’ (DDG)?

• What do you understand by Stealth technology?

• The Visakhapatnam-class destroyers/P-15 Bravo-class/P-15B-Know the key features

• INS Udaygiri and INS Surat-Key features

• “INS Udaygiri and INS Surat will add might to the Navy’s arsenal and represent to the world India’s strategic strength as well as the power of self-reliance”-Why India needs strong and self-Reliant Naval Force?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 For a stronger navy, India needs to fast-track the submarine project

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

We ask the wrong question

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance and History of India

Mains Examination:

• General Studies I: Communalism

• General Studies II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary

Key Points to Ponder:

• “Architecture is one of the most commonly evident imprints that a civilisation leaves”-What author is trying to say?

• “Reading architecture with political philosophy tells us that that depends on what values we adopt in state formation”-Decode the quote

• Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque controversy- What is the issue thus far?

• What are the historical claims made by petitioner with respect to Gyanvapi mosque?

• What are the Historical debates associated with Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque?

• Why the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991 is in News?

• Under what circumstances was the Places of Worship Act, 1991 law enacted, and how did the government justify it?

• The Places of Worship Act, 1991-Know the Key Provisions

• What Section 3 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 is all about?

• Section 4(1) and Section 4(2) of the Places of worship act, 1991-Know the provisions

• Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Verdict and Section 5 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991-Connect the Dot

• What did the Supreme Court say about the Places of Worship Act, 1991 in its Ayodhya judgment?

• Gyanvapi Mosque-Know the Style and Architecture

• Kashi Vishwanath Temple Architecture-Know in detail

• Ahilyabai Holkar and Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Connect the dots

• Know about Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 The Places of Worship Act

📍 Court order on Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque site in Varanasi: history and context

📍 Secure Shivling claim site, allow namaz: SC

📍 Survey official removed, two more days to submit report

Previous Year Mains Examination Question Covering the similar Theme:

📍 Safeguarding the Indian Art Heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss. (GS-1, 2018)

EXPLAINED

Where coal blocks cases stand

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability

Key Points to Ponder:

• Supreme Court of India on coal blocks allocation scam-What is the recent issue?

• Why Supreme court sought a report from Enforcement Directorate in connection with the coal blocks allocation scam?

• Who were involved in the cases?

• What the coal blocks cases are about?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Coal blocks allocation cases Explained: The allegations, investigation, and what next

Urban Heat Island

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is an urban heat island?

• Why are cities hotter than rural areas?

• Where were heat islands experienced recently?

• How can urban heat islands be reduced?

• What has NASA said on urban heat islands in India?

• What are the major causes behind urban heat island?

• What are the Impacts of Urban Heat Island?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Urban Heat Island Effect: More construction, less green cover making Pune hotter, says PMC report

India topped air pollution death toll in 2019: report

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Know the Data and Statistics associated with Pollution in India

• Recent report on pollution and health published in The Lancet Planetary Health-Know the key Highlights

• What are the reasons given for Air pollution in India in the latest Lancet report?

• Why India’s air pollution is always in News?

• What are the various Supreme Courts Judgments on Air Pollutions?

• Best International Practices to Curb Air Pollution in Urban Areas-Use it as a case study

• World Air Quality Report 2021-Key Highlights

• World Air Quality Report 2021-Prepared by Whom?

• Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-What is this and how does it get into the air?

• What are the sources of particulate matter (PM2.5)?

• What are the Harmful Effects of PM?

• Know about 2021 WHO air quality guidelines

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 An Expert Explains: WHO’s stark message on air quality — and what India must do

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