| Dear Aspirants, Before diving into our UPSC-focused reads from last week, let me point you to two important stories you must read from the Education section and Screen of The Indian Express. Loss of vision can be a devastating setback, but for Manu Garg, it became a catalyst for change. At the age of 23, he witnessed a turning point in his life by not just clearing the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, but also securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 91. What makes his achievement truly remarkable is that he never learned Braille. Manu told me last week that the secret to success was the wise use of technology, his determination, and the unwavering constant support of his single mother. “I was relieved. More than happiness, it was a sense of liberation — that I wouldn’t have to sit for the Prelims again,” says Garg, recalling the moment he saw his name on the list. “I knew with this rank and my category, I would get the post I wanted.” To read more (Click here). From Reality to Reel – who really conducts raids—and how do they unfold behind closed doors? Don’t expect films to give you the full picture, even as civil servants become regulars on the silver screen. From IAS to IPS to IFS, the bureaucracy has found its fanbase, with officers often placed on a pedestal by audiences hungry for stories of power and purpose. Continuing this trend, Ajay Devgn returns to the big screen seven years after Raid, once again portraying a no-nonsense officer in Raid 2. Again, he steps into the shoes of an Indian Revenue Service officer—shining a rare spotlight on a force that usually operates behind the scenes. A must-read! (Click here) Here's everything that we covered last week for you: - New! Why Tigers Matter, and other exam relevant articles in our UPSC Essentials Magazine : Click here to read the April 2025 issue of the UPSC Essentials monthly magazine. (Only for IE UPSC Subscribers)
- New! The world this week: Speculation doing the rounds about potential Indian military action over Pahalgam terror attack, haze around the US-China tariff negotiations cleared, India and Canada to bring strained ties “back on track”, Indian Navy gets Rafale boost, the US and Ukraine sign critical minerals deal, Israel strikes Gaza and Syria, Iran nuclear talks postponed, and Trump threatens sanctions against Iranian oil buyers – here’s a roundup of global news from this week by Ashiya Parveen. (Click here)
- UPSC CSAT Simplified: Up for the challenge? Master these CSAT questions — Practice Set 11 for Prelims 2025 curated by our expert, Mudit Gupta. (Click here)
- UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week: National Civil Services Day 2025, Indus Waters Treaty, FatBoyPanel, Persona Non Grata, .bank.in and more — Manas Srivastava and Roshni Yadav curate some must-read current affairs tidbits for your prelims and mains preparation that you shouldn't miss for UPSC, state PSCs, and other competitive examinations. You can also test your knowledge by solving MCQs. (Click here)
- Issue at a glance: As the world’s largest democracy, with the largest population and a GDP valued at $4.39 trillion, India is presently positioned as the fourth-largest economy globally. Roshni Yadav writes about the world's largest economies and the concept of GDP. (Click here)
- How do soaring temperatures expose street vendors to climate risks? What strategies can India adopt to ensure long-term water and energy security? What exactly is the fiscal deficit and how does the government balance it to maintain growth and stability? What is India’s share in rare earth elements, the backbone of modern technologies? How does PM Modi’s visit impart new momentum to the Indo-Saudi strategic partnership? In last week's UPSC Special articles find answer to these questions written by subject experts. (Click here)
- Brush up your current affairs knowledge and consolidate your UPSC CSE Prelims preparation with this week's top 15 questions in our UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz curated by Nitendra Pal Singh and Vikas Sharma. (Click here)
- Check out our daily subject-wise quizzes by Manas Srivastava and Nitendra Pal Singh. (Click here)
- Practice Mains Answer writing by following our thought process. Nitendra Pal Singh continues to provide clues from the news for your Mains answer writing. (Click here)
UPSC Key: Exclusive for Subscribers Attention!UPSC Key is all 7 days a week. Have you considered how this week's top headlines can be relevant for your exams? You can learn more through our UPSC Key by Priya Kumari Shukla. Click here to check it out! Readers and aspirants, if you're an aspirant looking to deepen your understanding beyond the usual exam prep, The Indian Express has something worth your attention. Beyond the UPSC section, you'll find a wealth of insightful articles—especially those penned by experts in their fields. One such must-read is a new weekly column, ‘Thinking Matters’ by Shravan Hanasoge, an astrophysicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Published every Tuesday, this column brings science into sharper focus—exploring groundbreaking ideas, discoveries, and the debates shaping modern understanding. From the mysteries of the cosmos to the intricacies of quantum physics, Thinking Matters invites you to explore the frontiers of science with clarity and curiosity. Curious already? Take a look at the latest pieces from the series linked below. It might just change the way you think. - How machine learning can spark many discoveries in science and medicine (Click here)
- Why it’s too early to celebrate signs of alien life on K2-18b (Click here)
For more queries and suggestions, write to me at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com, and my team and I will be happy to assist you. I'd love to hear from you. Think Smart Work Hard Conquer Your Goal! Until next week, Manas Srivastava |
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