UPSC 2024 prelims is over and if your mark is more than 80 (General Students), you must prepare for Mains. However, if you are an aspirant for UPSC 2025, then couple of things I would like to share with you in order to better your chances.
We live in the age of ” social media” and by design social media is a hyper-active medium driven by click-baits and dramatization. But Education is not drama; knowledge is not about learning couple of tricks and UPSC exam is certainly not about selective reading or short cut videos or “ready-made materials”.
UPSC 2024 Prelims exam makes it abundantly clear that UPSC is anti-trend!!!
So, don’t get sucked into the “Paranoia” and “FOMO” trap (There is higher chance that you will, even if you know it because it is hard to resist)
UPSC has managed to retain its core and beat the “predictions” every time and kept the exam “pure”. Someone sitting in some remote corner of India having limited access to internet and Someone preparing from Delhi; there appears to be not much difference: – UPSC has levelled the field.
Education supposed to be learning, understanding and thinking, but as we move towards the age of AI and “Spoon-feeding”, maybe someday we might end up as a species without “thought”. AI is already doing the thinking part for us, and UPSC aspirants are no different.
In an age dominated by hyper-active social media, click-bait conundrum and dominance of AI, how an aspirant supposed to keep their preparation focused?
How an aspirant supposed to resist the temptation, where every other avenue is seeking your “attention” in this hyper-frenzy “attention-economy“?
That is the real question, but you can make your preparation focused and better your chances if you do the following: –
- Develop a Strong Foundational Knowledge (That means you should have 100% clarity with your basics, and You should be able to answer if the question is asked from your basic books)
- Subjects that bring you certainty and better your chances are: – Polity, Geography & Mapping, Economy. So, MASTER them.
- Subjects that always have high degree of uncertainty are: – Environment, Science and Tech, History & Culture, Current Affairs. So, MANAGE them, i.e. try to get the basics of these subjects right and then manage the “Chaos” part.
- UPSC has been focusing on Africa (I have already said this before the Prelims and multiple times thereafter) for couple of years now and we have been seeing question on Africa (Environment, Economy and other aspects) repeatedly. So, focus on NEWS related to Africa and in my opinion, we might see UPSC shifting its focus from Africa to South America as well. So, get these two continents right- their Physical geography, Environment geography and Economic geography etc. (e.g: Lithium Triangle)
Last, but not the least, remember: “FOMO is fake” and Social-Media is “Hyper-Frenzy”, so try to manage them as best as you can. Focus on the real part of the preparation, which is done by mastering the basic books and then moving on to current affairs.
Go back to NCERTs, Go back to Basic Books!!!
UPSC Prelims 2024 Analysis & Cut-OFF.
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- Anonymity: Darknet allows users to communicate and transact with each other anonymously. Users can maintain their privacy and avoid being tracked by law enforcement agencies or other entities.
- Access to Information: The darknet provides access to information and resources that may be otherwise unavailable or censored on the regular internet. This can include political or sensitive information that is not allowed to be disseminated through other channels.
- Freedom of Speech: The darknet can be a platform for free speech, as users are able to express their opinions and ideas without fear of censorship or retribution.
- Secure Communication: Darknet sites are encrypted, which means that communication between users is secure and cannot be intercepted by third parties.
- Illegal Activities: Many darknet sites are associated with illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, weapon sales, and hacking services. Such activities can attract criminals and expose users to serious legal risks.
- Scams: The darknet is a hotbed for scams, with many fake vendors and websites that aim to steal users’ personal information and cryptocurrency. The lack of regulation and oversight on the darknet means that users must be cautious when conducting transactions.
- Security Risks: The use of the darknet can expose users to malware and other security risks, as many sites are not properly secured or monitored. Users may also be vulnerable to hacking or phishing attacks.
- Stigma: The association of the darknet with illegal activities has created a stigma that may deter some users from using it for legitimate purposes.
- Virtual assistants: Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant are examples of virtual assistants that use natural language processing to understand and respond to users’ queries.
- Recommendation systems: Companies like Netflix and Amazon use AI to recommend movies and products to their users based on their browsing and purchase history.
- Efficiency: AI systems can work continuously without getting tired or making errors, which can save time and resources.
- Personalization: AI can help provide personalized recommendations and experiences for users.
- Automation: AI can automate repetitive and tedious tasks, freeing up time for humans to focus on more complex tasks.
- Job loss: AI has the potential to automate jobs previously performed by humans, leading to job loss and economic disruption.
- Bias: AI systems can be biased due to the data they are trained on, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes.
- Safety and privacy concerns: AI systems can pose safety risks if they malfunction or are used maliciously, and can also raise privacy concerns if they collect and use personal data without consent.
Darknet
Definition:
Darknet, also known as dark web or darknet market, refers to the part of the internet that is not indexed or accessible through traditional search engines. It is a network of private and encrypted websites that cannot be accessed through regular web browsers and requires special software and configuration to access.
The darknet is often associated with illegal activities such as drug trafficking, weapon sales, and hacking services, although not all sites on the darknet are illegal.
Examples:
Examples of darknet markets include Silk Road, AlphaBay, and Dream Market, which were all shut down by law enforcement agencies in recent years.
These marketplaces operate similarly to e-commerce websites, with vendors selling various illegal goods and services, such as drugs, counterfeit documents, and hacking tools, and buyers paying with cryptocurrency for their purchases.
Pros :
Cons:
Artificial Intelligence
Definition:
AI, or artificial intelligence, refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as recognizing speech, making decisions, and understanding natural language.
Examples:
Pros :
Cons: