Mains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread

@VivekanandS
While I can agree with the 450 of Forum approximately. But I doubt if Vision has 2500 students writing mains test series. Because their biggest batch actually starts before prelims and many of them don't qualify for mains. So if I have to take a guess, I would say ki nationally, not more than 3000 would be writing paid test series for mains prep of that year

@kochikaame
bhai ek paisa mn nhi krta sochne ka but itna hectic schedule ka baad v hmsa dimag me yhi chalta hai
mjhe to lgta hai jo log non working hai unki halat to aur buri hogi

@kochikaame
ur optional bhai ?

@John_Titor
very true
india is country of peace and love it has assimilated all religions and sections since ages
but in recent years violence in the name of religion has incresed significantly
there is nothing wrong in cab if religion specific citizenship clause is removed
the bill n its present form will be a divisive force and will lead to further inalienation of minorities because vested interests use such information to misguide youth

India has seen numerous issues which had divided the country sharply at that time. Land reforms, reservations, reorganisation of provinces,Shah Bano case just to name a few. However in the long run, we have to accept that these decisions were taken only after following the democratic process, and hence, we should look beyond our individual comfort, both physical and psychological, and accept these as the will of the people.
Now coming to the present, article 370,NRC,CAB and most importantly Hindutva have been a fundamental element of BJP-RSS agenda. These big steps have been taken just after elections, probably because these were the major issues on which BJP has fought elections consistently and getting an increased majority validates their claim that this is the will of the people. Now we can say that elections were hijacked by superficial issues, or that BJP benefitted from a weak opposition, but I guess the fact is that elections are the only way to determine the will of the people, atleast in the present circumstances.
More specifically, CAB is a law and hence can be reformed if that indeed is the will of people, after the next elections. Also it's not a blanket provision, rather it's an ad hoc measure which is limited to immigrants who entered India before 31st Dec 2014. Now the countries and communities that it's limited to is purely under the prerogative of government, and can be extended later on to other communities and countries as per the will of the people.
We are at a stage in history where several notions which were considered infallible a few decades ago are being challenged and contested. So it becomes imperative that as citizens we behave in a responsible democratic manner, just imagine what would have been the history of India if any of the groups/individuals had reacted to the issues of Shah Bano, reservation,land reforms etc the way some people are trying to portray this CAB.

@Chanakyasaid inMains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread:

India has seen numerous issues which had divided the country sharply at that time. Land reforms, reservations, reorganisation of provinces,Shah Bano case just to name a few. However in the long run, we have to accept that these decisions were taken only after following the democratic process, and hence, we should look beyond our individual comfort, both physical and psychological, and accept these as the will of the people.
Now coming to the present, article 370,NRC,CAB and most importantly Hindutva have been a fundamental element of BJP-RSS agenda. These big steps have been taken just after elections, probably because these were the major issues on which BJP has fought elections consistently and getting an increased majority validates their claim that this is the will of the people. Now we can say that elections were hijacked by superficial issues, or that BJP benefitted from a weak opposition, but I guess the fact is that elections are the only way to determine the will of the people, atleast in the present circumstances.
More specifically, CAB is a law and hence can be reformed if that indeed is the will of people, after the next elections. Also it's not a blanket provision, rather it's an ad hoc measure which is limited to immigrants who entered India before 31st Dec 2014. Now the countries and communities that it's limited to is purely under the prerogative of government, and can be extended later on to other communities and countries as per the will of the people.
We are at a stage in history where several notions which were considered infallible a few decades ago are being challenged and contested. So it becomes imperative that as citizens we behave in a responsible democratic manner, just imagine what would have been the history of India if any of the groups/individuals had reacted to the issues of Shah Bano, reservation,land reforms etc the way some people are trying to portray this CAB.

Bhai I get it, but CAB+NRC have created a lot of panic and fear among the Muslims. They are starting to feel that the government and it's institutions are anti Muslims. They are becoming more skeptical about there future in India.
Also, in these past 2-3 years successive legislations have been passed which directly affect the muslims like Triple Talaq, Art 370, Ayodhya and now CAB. We can debate about their merits and demerits but one thing is for sure that these changes have led to anger and frustration among the Muslims that a Hindu Majority govt in which they have hardly any representation are making these laws which are profoundly impacting their both personal and professional lives.
The essential parity between Minority and Majority is the bedrock of secularism and constitutional morality. But in these recent times, sadly this parity is indeed broken and due to this communal harmony of the country is severely threatened.

@ChanakyaYou put forth your views without coming across as too ideological.

Bhai log life mein bahut kuch sahi nahi hota.
They were given numbers by people of india to do this and they r doing it.
I was in full favour of abrogation of article 370 and even for nrc for assam but cab isnt understandable and neither is nationwide nrc.
As for misguiding youth we r already misguided.I had the chance to study in the elite institutions of the country and had the chance to interact with even more.What is taught in the name of so called humanities optional subject is demeaning of our armed forces and only teaches the good deeds of few people who were there when ncert curriculum,ignou curriculum was designed.
I even had the chance to read whole of ignou course for socio and sometimes feel pity and sad of the way our freedom fighters other than gandhi r portrayed and the extreme negative light in which hindu religion is portrayed.
I had the chance to listen to officers sitting in MEA feel sad of thier extreme orientations.
I had the chance to read the subject "social transformation in india" in one of elite institutions of social science and felt sad of the way kashmir situation is shown.They always talk of pampora case and without proof profs point fingers at army but never told about what had happened before army went there(read girija tikoo gruesome death and rape).They point what is happening today but I know the horrific reality when I ask people like parents and grandparents who had to leave their home,business etc which they had built over years in middle of night.
So dear friends things r never fair in life.
I also feel sad of they way tina dabi is able to get thru pre while someone close to me could not as she was from general category.
I also feel being cheated when obc friends of mine with much better salaries than mine were able to get into better iits and iims than mine with 78 percentile while i could not at more than 99.
I feel cheated when previous goverments brought such a scheme where my sister could only get into lady hardinge medical college with better marks while someone from other caste with lesser marks managed aiims.
I feel cheated when a leader says minorities have first right over nations resources as someone in power needed votes from specific community.
I feel cheated when I paid 8 lakh tax last year while someone with a 35k stipend protests for a increase in fees from 10 rupees to 600.And this 8 lakh was because my parents worn torn clothes 20 years back so that they can save money on their childs educations since the day she is born.
So friends somethings are not fair and mistakes do happen in life whether being born in a specific group,or mistakes from people.
Mistakes might have happened in passage of these bills but government was given power by people of India to enact laws and it is within their right to do so just as it was within right of vp singh govt to bring quota as it was within democratic framework or virtual collapse of abdulla govt in 1990 as it was elected with democratic framework
Jabh pehle mistakes huyi to everybody was quite and we consider it as normal and instead consider what is happening today as mistake.Who knows what happened yesterday was a mistake and what is happening today is correct.

P.S-To comment a move as good or bad we must have knowledge from not only what hindu has been writing but from a wide wide wide range of sources extending over years books and authors.And I believe most of us(99.999999%) arent qualified to do so(including me) don't have it.
So yes some moves will be good for some and bad for otbers.Just as in past even bad moves got passed and many including family suffered so as this time shall also pass.

Unlike comments on the top this was not neutral and was not written as a upsc answer.These are not there to hurt anybody feelings but was a compilation of my experiences and extensive reading of social topics,newspapers and lextures since 2011

@dancingminionbhai I acknowledge that there is a sense of insecurity among Muslims. But just think about it objectively, CAB and NRC are directed towards outsiders hai na? No Indian citizen needs to bother about them. Moreover NRC, Ayodhya, Triple Talaq these are all supreme court mandated steps right.
So yaar I feel, and again this is a one-sided opinion I know, that the insecurity in Muslims is being caused by misinformation, atleast with respect to the above mentioned steps. We need to build trust among them, that the government is bound to treat all its citizens equally, and any government which tries to undermine this will be held accountable. Till now I fail to see any direct action against any particular community taken by this government, we need to assure them that this will continue.i won't take names, but it's evident that there are few individuals and parties who benefit from this insecurity and therefore actively contribute towards fear mongering.

@bevancomgovt has made clear its not to target any community and only vs outsiders.
So its our and govts job to build confidence and trust among other communities.
As for insecurity its being spread by people with specific mindset and ideology like the ones who taught me things which I critized in my previous post as it benefits them politically.

@ChanakyaGenerally I do not engage in political debates, but felt a compulsion reading this comment of yours, which very conveniently ignores the flaws in this government's actions.

1. When you say CAB and NRC are directed towards outsiders, why does CAB single out a specific community? They say its because our neighbours are primarily islamic majority so they want to help the minorities. What about Rohingya Muslims whom UN called the most persecuted minority?

2. About government treating all its citizens equally and triple talaq being SC directed, why did the same government did not support the SC ruling in sabarimala which is as much about women equality as is Triple talaq?

3. My friend, no democratically elected government in its senses can take, asyou wrote "direct" action against a particular minority, Aung San Suu Kyi almost lost her peace nobel due to rohingya issue. Its these small steps which eventually lead to complete isolation and distrust.

@utkarsh_mishra1) CAB excludes many communities-, apart from Muslims but i can understand that's the message that's being spread around. But most importantly, it doesn't concern or infringe upon right of any citizen of India, am I right ?
2) Rohingya are the most persecuted minority, true, and India will continue to deal with refugee status demands on a side by case basis. The question is here about citizenship and not refugee status.
3) redundant and speculative so I'll not reply to this.

@utkarsh_mishraalso I think you're confusing state government of Kerala with govt of India, GOI has no role to play in Sabrimala issue as it falls under the jurisdiction of the former. But please do share with me any source which mentions otherwise or states that govt of India opposed the sc judgement. I'll be happy to concede this point

@Chanakyabhai..citizenship is being given on the very basis that the six communities are being persecuted in their respective countries..aisa hi hai na? to rohingya nhi ho rhe persecute myanmar me? ya myanmar humare neighbourhood me nhi hai.

3. about the third point being redundant, you said no "direct" action has been taken by the government against communities. Whi bta rha mai ki almost direct action liya tha suu kyi ne..haalat dekh hi rhe h sb.

And about your point ki CAB excludes many communities, can you name a few major ones? And how is this discrimination justified?

@Chanakya
please go through this:

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/sabarimala-verdict-two-stands-on-women-vex-bjp/cid/1719358

“#Sabarimala issue referred to larger bench.… Welcome decision of SC in the direction of protecting rights of devotees & upholding faith…. It was never a matter of fundamental rights…. It was a matter of age old tradition accepted by society…,” BJP general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh tweeted.

@utkarsh_mishrabhai how many communities are facing persecution across the globe? I think you want to suggest that we provide citizenship to all?
Myanmar has not been included in the bill, and Rohingya influx issue has already been described as detrimental to national security by intelligence agencies.Ofcourse you can say that they're lying, I won't comment on that
The CAB doesn't affect the right of indian muslim citizens in any way. Do you concede this? And yes, the government has the right to choose who it extends citizenship to and on what grounds. And if people of India feel that it should be extended to Rohingyas as well, then I expect people will vote accordingly, and elect MPs who'll extend this provision. As for the present, CAB and NRC were key planks of ruling party's agenda and they can perfectly claim that it's supported by the nation

@utkarsh_mishrabhai is there a difference between government of India and a political party ? Please think about this

@ChanakyaI dont suggest we provide citizenship to all, just that if at all it is being given it should be not discriminated on religious basis.

And you are right the government has the right to decide the grounds and people will decide in elections, but then all this debate was not on what is within the powers of the government, it was about the moral correctness of the actions.

I will now opt out of this discussion, as i can see there is no use discussing, as always

@Chanakyahahaha..nice one