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40+ marks in Pre24 & 40+ Qs references in Pre25 from CSEWhy resources (w direct screenshot proofs)🧵👇🏼
India–EU relations are not just about trade and strategic partnerships. Science and research are becoming an important part of the relationship too.
In a recent development, India and the EU have concluded negotiations for India's association with Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme.
What is Horizon Europe and what does India stand to gain? 🧵
What exactly is Horizon Europe?
Horizon Europe is the European Union's flagship research and innovation programme with a budget of €93.5 billion for 2021–2027.
It is organised around three pillars:
Pillar I – Excellent Science: Supporting frontier research, researchers and scientific infrastructure.
Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness: Addressing challenges in health, climate, energy, AI, food security and industry.
Pillar III – Innovative Europe: Supporting innovation, start-ups and the growth of innovative businesses.
India's proposed association covers Pillar II.
But what opportunities could this create for Indian researchers and institutions? 🧵
India's association with Pillar II could open opportunities in:
1.Research funding: Participation in eligible collaborative research projects.
2. Technology: Cooperation in AI, biotechnology, clean energy and advanced industries.
3. Global collaboration: Partnerships between Indian and European universities, researchers and institutions.
Innovation: Stronger research and industry linkages.
UPSC connection:
• GS-II: India–EU relations and science diplomacy.
• GS-III: Research and development, emerging technologies and innovation.
The association is yet to be formally signed and operationalised.
The smartest strategies from AIR 1s worth adopting:
3rd: Killing the material greed
Just one basic book per subject, revise on repeat. Shruti Sharma spent twice as long checking her mistakes as writing the test, and stopped confusing herself with new material.
2nd: Freezing Mains on December 31st
Your notes will never feel complete. Instead of writing practice answers into January, Kanishak Kataria locked his Mains prep on New Year’s Eve. That hard stop gave him a clear head to focus fully on Prelims.
Happy Diwali, aspirants! 🪔
Today, give yourself permission to pause. Don't worry about your syllabus, pending targets or the exam. You are allowed to celebrate, laugh, and enjoy this festival with all your heart.
Restart with a fresh mind tomorrow, or maybe day after tomorrow. 🤗
#Diwali
10 years of Demonetisation, by the hard numbers:
3rd: Tax Formalisation
Goal: Lift the tax-to-GDP ratio and boost tax buoyancy.
But, Tax-to-GDP only crawled from 11.1% to 11.4%, while tax buoyancy remained completely stagnant post-2016.
2nd: The "Less-Cash" Shift
The Goal: Reduce physical currency usage through digital adoption.
UPI transactions exploded to ₹314 lakh crore.
But, Currency in circulation climbed back to ₹43.2 lakh crore, remaining flat at 12% of GDP. Digital apps grew fast, but physical cash never actually vanished.
UPSC CSE WHY retweeted
Important exam trap:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and Methane (CH4) are NOT INCLUDED in Air Quality Index.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Ammonia (NH3) are INCLUDED in Air Quality Index. #AQI
Nov 1 - Nov 7 | CSEWhy PIB Weekly
(PDF link below)
PIB for UPSC - week of 1 to 7 Nov
24 releases that matter, with source links
GS1 - Culture and Heritage
#225 Culture Ministry signs MoU with Google Arts & Culture
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
GS2 - Polity, Governance and IR
#226 VB-G RAM G Grievance Redressal Rules, 2026 notified
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#227 Fast Track Special Courts extended five years
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#228 VISTAR scheme for official statistics approved
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#229 UPSC declares CSE (Main) 2026 and CDS (I) 2026 results
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#230 India-EU conclude Horizon Europe association talks
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#231 India-Canada hold inaugural Defence Dialogue
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#232 UIDAI onboards 300 offline verification entities
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
GS2 - Health (social sector)
#238 Cancer drug trade margins capped at 30%
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#239 Drug import gateways set to expand
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
GS3 - Economy
#233 ₹14,500 crore VGF for grid-scale energy storage
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#234 ₹2,814 crore capex support for critical mineral processing
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#235 ₹1,09,019 crore tax devolution released early
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#236 Rice: stock disclosure made mandatory; OMSS target doubled
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#237 9th critical mineral block auction + 3rd exploration licence tranche
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
GS3 - Environment
#240 GRAP Stage-III invoked in Delhi-NCR (status as of 7 Nov)
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#241 India's I-OECM Guidelines, 2026 released
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
GS3 - Science and Technology
#242 IndiaAI Mission releases indigenous foundation models
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#243 Vision: debris-free space by 2030
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
GS3 - Security and Defence
#244 Cabinet clears absorption pathway for all Agniveers
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#245 ₹53,866.50 crore contracts for 8 Next Generation Corvettes
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#246 DRDO flight-tests Pralay missile
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#247 Exercise Malabar 2026
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
#248 CRPF: zero casualties in 12 straight months
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.…
Important exam trap:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and Methane (CH4) are NOT INCLUDED in Air Quality Index.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Ammonia (NH3) are INCLUDED in Air Quality Index. #AQI
Save this distinction for exams and follow @CseWhy for more such exam traps.
Trivia: Panchayat Bhavan built with a Union grant is booked as revenue spending
That blind spot is why Effective
Revenue Deficit exists
ERD = Revenue Deficit minus grants used to create capital assets.
(Introduced in Budget 2011)
The Quad is gradually expanding its focus beyond traditional maritime security.
At the recent Foreign Ministers' meeting, the four countries announced the Quad Business Leaders Forum with a focus on critical minerals, semiconductors and trusted AI.
Why is this shift important for India's Indo-Pacific strategy? 🧵
The latest developments point to three key areas of Quad cooperation:
• Economic security: Building resilient global supply chains.
• Critical minerals: Recovering minerals from e-waste and reducing dependence on single suppliers.
• Emerging technology: Cooperation in trusted AI and advanced communication technologies like 5G and 6G.
The Quad is increasingly linking regional security with economic and technological resilience.
And what does this mean for India?👇
Why does this matter for India?
• Strategic autonomy: Diversifying partnerships and reducing overdependence on individual countries.
• Technology access: Strengthening cooperation in critical and emerging technologies.
• Supply-chain security: Building alternatives for essential minerals and components.
• Indo-Pacific vision: Supporting a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
