The importance of Current affairs can’t be stressed enough. Every student either reads a Newspaper or current affairs magazine and sometimes both. But only a few know how to make notes to revise them for Prelims efficiently. A strategy to complete the current affairs is important. So one must understand the importance of the right technique of note-making. We at GS Score understand the demand for the UPSC Prelims Question paper and are here to help you. 

 Tips to make notes on current affairs:

Learn these tips that will come in handy in making notes for current affairs.

  • The Primary source must be editorials, defence news, economy news, constitutional amendments, social issues, environment etc.
  • Do not indulge in entertainment based. pure-political or hyperlocal news. These will not take you anywhere when it comes to UPSC. Focus on the broad issue and its connection with the syllabus.
  • Make easy-to-decipher notes. You must be able to revise them quickly. It is your help book, so it should be in your words. Add and highlight important keywords and information from sources like PIB, Yojana, Down to Earth, AIR news etc.
  • It is expected that an aspirant will summarise articles and issues of importance. Identify the theme, facts, reasons, benefits, implications, etc., of the article, and note them down.
  • It is essential to prepare crisp notes for current affairs. In UPSC preparation, it's always better to do less.
  • An in-depth understanding of dynamic and static sources requires learning how to relate them. Besides noting down judgments or rulings, students should also associate them with Polity, Economics, or Geography to understand their relevance.
  • Keeping a note of social issues and challenges in our society is a good habit to develop. For UPSC GS or Essay papers, aspirants can quote the same. Noting all the facts, pros and cons, as well as any recent incidents related to this, should be done.
  • Revise multiple times. 

Aspirants can learn how to make current affairs notes by following three examples recently seen in the news:

Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’ scheme

  • The ‘Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’ scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India. 
  • Under it, the government invites organisations, including those in the public and private sectors as well as individuals, to develop certain monuments, sites of cultural heritage, and tourism attractions around India.
  • In order to develop these destinations as tourist destinations, it is necessary to provide and maintain basic services such as drinking water, accessibility for the elderly and people with disabilities, uniform signage, cleanliness, etc.
  • It also provides advanced amenities such as surveillance systems, night-viewing facilities and tourism facilitation centres.
  • The locations/monuments are chosen based on visitor traffic and visibility and can be adopted by private and public sector businesses and individuals for an initial period of five years. These people are known as Monument Mitras.
  • The "oversight and vision committee," which is co-chaired by the tourism secretary and the culture secretary, chooses the Monument Mitras based on the bidder's "vision" for the development of all amenities at the historical site.
  • The corporate sector is expected to spend corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding for the site's maintenance.
  • The Monument Mitras, in turn, will get limited visibility on the site premises and on the Incredible India website.
  • As part of the programme, the government has listed over 93 ASI monuments that both individuals and businesses in the public and private sectors are welcome to bid on.

Windsor framework 

Context: 

The UK government and the European Union (EU) came to a historic agreement regarding trade regulations for Northern Ireland's administration following Brexit.

Background

  • As an aftermath of Brexit, the UK left the single trade market, and the relationship between Rebulican Ireland and Northern Ireland has perplexed. 
  • After Brexit, Northern Ireland remained its only constituent that shared a land border with the Republic of Ireland.
  • Before goods to transit from Northern Ireland to Ireland, border inspections would be required since the EU and the UK have distinct product standards.

What is the Northern Ireland Protocol?

  • The protocol stipulated that Northern Ireland would continue to be a part of the EU single market. Also, the trade and customs checks would be conducted at its ports along the Irish Sea on goods coming from the United Kingdom.
  • However, Northern Ireland protocol had multiple issues 
    •  The checks made trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are cumbersome and led to a waste of time and resources.
    • Due to EU regulations, some tax and expenditure initiatives of the UK government could not be implemented in Northern Ireland.
    • Those who favour a United UK object to any border in the Irish Sea.

Windsor Framework

  • It will take the place of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was one of the most complicated consequences of Brexit and caused issues on both the political and economic fronts.
  • There are two key components of the framework:
    • Introduction of a green lane and red lane system, with the former being used for items that will remain in Northern Ireland and the latter for those that will travel to the EU.
    • The Stormont Brake - Enables London and Northern Ireland's MPs to block any EU regulation they feel will have a negative impact on the region.
  • The two-lane system allows British products intended for Northern Ireland to use the green lane at the ports and pass with little formality or inspection.

Significance of Windsor Framework

  • The UK wants to strengthen its economic and other links with the EU under the Windsor Framework.
  • The deal has allowed Sunak to do away with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill introduced by his predecessor Boris Johnson.

Proton Beam Therapy 

Context: In India, there aren't any public facilities that provide proton beam therapy treatment at the moment. For treating solid tumours, particularly head and neck cancers, the procedure is regarded as an effective substitute for radiation therapy.

About Proton Beam Therapy 

  • PBT is a sort of cancer therapy that eliminates cancer cells using a beam of highly energetic protons.
    • A proton is an elementary particle with a positive charge and is a necessary component of every atomic nucleus.
  • When compared to conventional radiation therapy, which uses X-rays, PBT can accurately target the tumour while reducing the amount of radiation that is absorbed by nearby healthy tissue.
  • PBT is frequently administered using a cyclotron, a massive, intricate equipment that accelerates protons to high speeds and directs them towards the tumour site.

Challenges

  • High cost: As PBT machines are complicated and demand a substantial investment, setting them up is one of the biggest hurdles.
  • Enormous demand: As more and more patients are being diagnosed with cancer and are looking for the most recent and efficient therapies available, there is an increase in the demand for PBT devices.
  • Personnel shortage: The machines' availability is further constrained by a lack of skilled workers who can operate and maintain them.

Way forward

    •  The setup and upkeep of the machines require greater funding from the public and commercial sectors. This might encompass:
      • granting financial rewards and subsidies to private healthcare providers who purchase PBT equipment
      • educating and training workers who can operate and maintain the devices
  • establishing more public hospitals that provide proton beam therapy would assist to increase the availability and affordability of the treatment for people who require it.

Now start making notes for efficient revision and ace Prelims 2023!