Political Science Books

Self-Respect Movement

1. Foundation and Aim:
- The Self-Respect Movement started in 1925, initiated by E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar) in Tamil Nadu, aimed at overthrowing hierarchical structures that oppressed individuals and communities.
- The movement promoted rationalism and focused on social reform, challenging caste oppression, gender inequality, and religious orthodoxy.

2. Key Themes:
- Empowerment of Women: Advocated for equal property rights, marital equality, widow remarriage, and reproductive rights, including access to contraception and abortion.
- Caste Abolition: Pushed for the abolition of caste names and promoted inter-caste marriages as a rebellion against patriarchal norms.
- Self-Respect Marriages: Removed the need for Brahmin priests and traditional religious rituals in marriages, granting women autonomy and dignity. These marriages were legally recognized in 1967.

3. Social Reform vs. Political Independence:
- The movement prioritized social reform over political independence, which led to critiques of monarchism and separatism. It was, however, concerned that Indian independence would replace British rulers with elite Hindu caste groups.

4. Challenges Today:
- Cultural Homogenization: The rise of Hindutva challenges the pluralistic identity promoted by the Self-Respect Movement, as it seeks to standardize India's diverse cultures.
- Modern Gender Issues: The movement must now address contemporary concerns like LGBTQIA+ rights and gender fluidity.
- Misinformation: The information era poses challenges like the reinforcement of caste biases through social media.

5. Current Relevance:
- The movement’s relevance is tied to its ability to address intersectional identities (caste, class, gender, sexuality) and combat rising right-wing ideologies like Hindutva that threaten its core principles of social justice, equality, and rationalism.

6. Historical Context:
- In 1929, the movement held its first Self-Respect Conference in Chengalpet, with participation from the senior Justice Party leaders and the Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency.
- The movement was closely tied to the Dravidian Movement, but with subtle differences. Both continue to shape Tamil Nadu's political landscape, particularly through the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

7. Legacy:
- September has been celebrated as "Dravidian Month" to honor the Dravidian and Self-Respect Movements, highlighting figures like Periyar and C.N. Annadurai.
- The Self-Respect Movement’s contributions include promoting federalism, and it continues to inspire subaltern politics, women's rights, and social justice across India.

The reading on the winter pollution and stubble burning in north India :

1. Annual Winter Pollution in North India:
- Winter pollution spike anticipated in north India, especially in the Indo-Gangetic plains.
- Key sources of pollution: vehicular emissions, construction dust, waste management, diesel generators, and most notably, paddy stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.

2. Paddy Stubble Burning:
- Stubble burning contributes to 40% of the pollutant load in Delhi during October and November.
- In 2023, Punjab is expected to generate 19.52 million tonnes of paddy straw, while Haryana will produce 8 million tonnes.

3. Government Actions and Commitments:
- Punjab and Haryana have committed to "eliminate" paddy stubble burning in 2023.
- The Supreme Court of India had previously ordered the complete cessation of stubble burning.
- A meeting with central and state officials was held to review steps to prevent air quality deterioration.

4. Reduction in Stubble Burning Incidents:
- In 2023, Punjab saw a 59% decrease in stubble-burning incidents, Haryana saw a 40% decrease, but Uttar Pradesh experienced a 30% increase.

5. In-situ and Ex-situ Crop Residue Management:
- Punjab aims to manage 11.5 million tonnes of paddy straw in-situ, and the rest through ex-situ methods.
- Haryana plans to manage 3.3 million tonnes in-situ and the remaining through ex-situ methods.

6. Co-firing in Thermal Power Plants:
- 2 million tonnes of paddy straw will be co-fired in 11 thermal power plants in the NCR region (co-firing refers to using straw pellets as a carbon source).
- However, challenges exist in transporting straw from fields to plants and in machine availability for farmers.

7. Challenges in Implementation:
- Although solutions exist (economic incentives, penalties), implementation remains difficult due to the lack of infrastructure and timely availability of resources.
- Pollution control is multi-layered and requires coordinated efforts between the States and Centre, setting aside political differences for long-term solutions.

Russia-India economic relations post-2022

1. Shift in Russia's Economic Focus:
- In 2022, Moscow turned its focus away from Europe and towards Asian countries, especially India and China, due to geopolitical shifts, particularly the Ukraine conflict.
- This decision unraveled the economic interdependence between Russia and Europe, with global economic consequences.

2. India-Russia Trade Growth:
- Trade between India and Russia has rapidly expanded, with bilateral trade reaching $7.5 billion in May 2024, surpassing the entire 2021 figure in just one month.
- Both countries have set a trade target of $100 billion by 2030, though achieving this will require overcoming challenges related to sanctions, logistics, and foreign technologies.

3. Factors Driving the Relationship:
- Russia: Political motives, ensuring stability amid Western sanctions and isolation.
- India: Economic priorities, especially cheap Russian oil and imports of fertilizers and sunflower oil, aiding in controlling inflation and re-export opportunities.

4. Challenges in Trade:
- Lack of Economic Complementarity: Both nations are focused on self-reliance (Russia's technological nationalism and India’s "Make in India" campaign), limiting economic synergy.
- Sanctions Regime: Western sanctions have created barriers for trade, especially in terms of payment systems, investment protections, and logistical frameworks.
- Technological and Investment Gaps: Apart from military and nuclear cooperation, both countries lack significant projects in industrial or research sectors.

5. Areas with Potential:
- Technology Cooperation: Opportunities in constructing and modernizing infrastructure in India, including factories, power plants, refineries, and mines.
- STEM and Social Science Cooperation: Enhancing collaboration in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and social sciences to bridge the information gap between the countries.

6. Midterm Outlook:
- The ongoing Ukraine conflict has limited the full potential of India-Russia engagement, though Russia's military industry is expected to increase its market share in India due to cost advantages.
- India could benefit from Russian agricultural and construction machinery, trains, and medical equipment, while India’s exports (e.g., smartphones) are expected to grow, though many are assembled by foreign companies in India.

7. Need for Deeper Integration:
- To achieve a more stable trade relationship, India and Russia need to integrate their production chains more deeply and localize production efforts. Current trade largely lacks sophisticated engineering products from India.

A Life in Revolution: Bhagat Singh, a Radical Thinker and Ideologue

1. Bhagat Singh's Revolutionary Vision:
- Bhagat Singh’s writings reflect his belief in revolution as a means to overthrow the existing social order and replace it with socialism.
- He criticized the state and government machinery as tools of the ruling class, advocating for social reconstruction on a Marxist basis.

2. Challenging Religion and Faith:
- As an atheist and materialist, Singh viewed organized religion as an obstacle to both the freedom struggle and social progress.
- He argued that religion was a divisive force, fostering communal conflict, and called for the abolition of religious influence in society.
- In his essay, *Why I am an Atheist*, he stressed the need for individuals to question and challenge ancient beliefs for progress.

3. Advocate of Social Justice:
- Singh was vocal about issues of untouchability and caste oppression. He urged marginalized communities to unite, reject their societal roles, and challenge the caste system.
- He emphasized that those from oppressed backgrounds, such as Dalits, were essential to historical movements and should lead the social revolution.

4. Views on Nationalism and Communalism:
- He criticized the media of his time for fueling communal tensions and failing in their duty to foster unity and nationalism.
- Singh argued that newspapers should educate the public, eradicate fundamentalism, and promote fraternity among people.

5. Influence of Global Thinkers:
- Singh’s works show admiration for a diverse array of historical figures, including Rana Pratap, Lenin, Mazzini, Gandhi, and Savarkar. He believed in learning from both Indian and international revolutionary leaders.

6. Revolution as a Continuous Process:
- In his article *What is Revolution?*, Singh explained that revolution is an ongoing process to prevent reactionary forces from taking over. He believed the old order must continuously give way to the new.

7. Rejection of Anarchism:
- While reflecting on anarchism, Singh noted that anarchists opposed both God and the state, seeing them as tools of mental and physical slavery. However, Singh aligned more with Marxism, focusing on structural change through socialism.

8. Legacy of Thought:
- Bhagat Singh’s intellectual legacy as a revolutionary thinker extended beyond mere action. His writings on topics such as inequality, communalism, and freedom continue to hold relevance in modern times.

East and South China Seas

1. China's Assertive Claims:
- China views the East and South China Seas through the lens of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security.
- The *2019 Defence White Paper* emphasized China's stance that the South China Sea islands and the Diaoyu Islands are inalienable parts of its territory.
- China's actions, such as building infrastructure and deploying defensive capabilities, are seen as protective, but neighboring countries perceive them as aggressive and provocative.

2. Strategic Importance of the Seas:
- These seas are crucial due to their role as major maritime trade routes in East Asia.
- The Taiwan Strait serves as a critical maritime chokepoint, and the region is home to undersea cables vital for the global digital economy.
- The South China Sea has significant untapped reserves of oil and natural gas, making it a key geopolitical area.

3. China's Military Actions:
- China has been aggressively asserting its territorial claims by constructing defense infrastructure such as ports, military bases, and artificial islands.
- It has also been engaging in *grey zone* tactics, including harassing ships and using water cannons, ramming vessels, and deploying lasers.
- In both seas, China frequently contests Japanese claims over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and challenges other Southeast Asian countries in the South China Sea.

4. Regional Responses:
- Neighboring countries are responding by increasing defense capabilities and collaborating with allies.
- Japan plans to double its defense expenditure by 2027, and the Philippines has enhanced its capabilities by acquiring BrahMos missiles from India.
- The Philippines, Japan, and South Korea are deepening their defense ties with the U.S., with increased cooperation, base access, and joint exercises.

Written By Himanshu
Professor of Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University

Is India’s Growth Story Benefiting Only Big Capital

1. K-shaped Growth:
- India's economic growth is described as K-shaped, where the rich are growing faster while the bottom half sees little or no income increases. This uneven growth is acknowledged by government data.

2. Focus on Big Businesses:
- Government capital expenditure, especially on infrastructure, benefits large corporations like steel producers and infrastructure companies.
- Small-scale industries struggle with market share loss and distress, with no broad-based private capital revival.

3. Challenges for Small Businesses:
- Smaller businesses face higher costs of capital (12-14%) compared to large corporations (8-9%).
- Compliance burdens and complicated taxation systems hinder their growth, while large corporations benefit from easier compliance and lower taxes.

4. Taxation Disparities:
- The effective tax rate for large corporations has decreased over the last decade, while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) still face high taxation.
- There are loopholes allowing big businesses to game the tax system, leading to a disproportionate tax burden on SMEs.

5. Policy Impact:
- Policies like demonetization and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) have favored big businesses, hurting SMEs and the unorganized sector.

6. Solutions:
- Recognizing the demand problem in the economy is crucial. Increasing rural incomes and spending can support SMEs and create sustainable growth.
- Reducing compliance burdens, providing credit access support, and adopting progressive taxation are potential reforms to help smaller businesses.

7. Government's Role:
- There is a need for the government to ease regulatory hurdles for SMEs and ensure that they can compete and grow alongside large corporationse.

Rethink India’s Pension System

1. Pension Schemes in India:
- India has transitioned through three major pension schemes:
- Old Pension Scheme (OPS): Offered defined benefits with fixed payouts based on the last drawn salary.
- New Pension Scheme (NPS): Introduced in 2004, a market-linked, defined-contribution model where pension returns depend on investment performance.
- Unified Pension Scheme (UPS): Recently proposed, aims to balance market involvement with state-backed welfare.

2. Problems with NPS:
- The shift from OPS to NPS reflects neoliberal policies, reducing state involvement and transferring risk to individuals.
- NPS exposes retirees to market volatility, leaving their financial futures vulnerable to economic fluctuations.
- Criticism: NPS weakens the state’s responsibility to retirees, increasing uncertainties about financial stability.

3. The Case for Returning to Welfarism:
- Globally, there is a shift away from neoliberalism, accelerated by the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- This trend calls for stronger social safety nets and a return to state-backed welfare systems, including pensions.
- In India, the UPS is seen as a potential move toward this shift, though still in its early stages and requiring reforms.

4. Issues with the UPS:
- UPS promises retirement payouts but offers lower returns compared to OPS.
- The requirement of 25 years of service for full pension disadvantages those who join late.
- The scheme currently only covers Union government employees, excluding many public sector workers, such as teachers.

5. Need for Reforms in UPS:
- UPS should incorporate safeguards against market fluctuations, possibly through a minimum guaranteed pension similar to OPS.
- It should broaden its scope to include informal workers and ensure more inclusivity across all sectors.
- Government contributions must be increased to ensure the scheme’s viability and prevent retirees from being exposed to market risks.

6. Global Context and Neoliberalism:
- The UPS arises in a context where market-driven policies are being questioned worldwide.
- India, like many other nations, is recognizing the limitations of excessive reliance on the market and the need for state-backed welfare systems.

Going Bullish on Investment in Tamil Nadu
Overview of Tamil Nadu’s Economic Growth:

Tamil Nadu has transitioned from an agrarian economy to an industrial powerhouse, driven by inclusive and sustainable policies.
The state is one of the top contenders for global investment due to its strong governance and economic reforms, focusing on social justice and economic empowerment.
Economic Significance:

Tamil Nadu contributes nearly 9% to India’s GDP, despite having only 6% of the population.
The state is a leader in automobile manufacturing, accounting for 35% of India's automotive exports, with major global companies like Hyundai, Renault, and BMW having operations there.
China+1 Strategy:

In the global push to diversify supply chains from China, Tamil Nadu is emerging as a major alternative, attracting significant foreign investment.
Sectoral Strengths:

Automotive Sector: Known as the "Detroit of India" due to its significant role in automobile manufacturing and exports.
Electronics Manufacturing: Tamil Nadu accounts for 33% of India's electronics exports, housing companies like Apple, Dell, HP, and Samsung.
Renewable Energy: 57% of the state's installed power capacity is from renewable sources, with ambitions to raise this to 75%.
Investment Policies:

The state has implemented policies like tax breaks, land at subsidized rates, and a single-window clearance system to attract businesses.
Tamil Nadu is known for its ease of doing business and skilled labor force, which are key factors for global investors.
Focus on Innovation and Skilling:

The state is enhancing its focus on research, development, and innovation through partnerships with global companies like Google and PayPal.
Skilling initiatives like "Naan Mudhalvan" are empowering youth to meet the demands of future industries.
Sustainability and Green Energy Initiatives:

The state is also leading the renewable energy revolution in India, using its geographical advantages for wind, solar, and offshore energy generation

"When Women’s Bodies Reject Sex" (Vaginismus)
Definition & Symptoms:

Vaginismus is a condition where the pelvic floor muscles tighten involuntarily, preventing penetrative intercourse.
It is an uncontrollable muscle spasm in response to perceived threats during penetration, causing intense pain.
Psychological Aspect:

Often, it’s not just physical; vaginismus can stem from psychological factors like past trauma, sexual abuse, or the internalization of societal views that make sex seem painful or harmful.
It involves a phobic response to penetration, where the mind perceives sex as a threatening activity.
Prevalence:

While there is no national study on vaginismus prevalence in India, studies in medical facilities show it affects a significant portion of women.
For example, an observational study at the Karnataka-based KLE Institute found 58% of women with fertility issues also suffered from symptoms linked to vaginismus.
Treatment & Challenges:

Women often feel misunderstood by gynecologists who provide fertility advice without addressing the underlying condition.
Dr. Taru Jindal, a specialist, has developed a holistic approach that includes psychological support, pelvic floor relaxation exercises, vaginal dilation, and couples therapy.

### World Rabies Day: Tracing the Journey from Myths to Modern Medicine (Notes)

1. Historical Background of Rabies:
- Rabies, a fatal disease, has been documented for over 4,000 years, first in ancient Mesopotamia and India.
- Early texts like the *Susruta Samhita* described its symptoms, but understanding and treatment were limited for centuries.

2. Superstitions and Misconceptions:
- Myths surrounding rabies included bizarre remedies like consuming dog hair to cure the disease.
- Italian Monsignor Storti believed rabies was due to canine sexual frustration and suggested brothels for dogs.

3. Scientific Breakthrough - Advent of Vaccination:
- The 19th century brought the germ theory, revolutionizing medical science.
- Louis Pasteur, working in the 1880s, developed the rabies vaccine. Though the concept of viruses as distinct agents didn’t exist, Pasteur hypothesized that an attenuated virus could stimulate the immune system.
- His first success came in 1885 when he treated a nine-year-old boy, Joseph Meister, bitten by a rabid dog.

4. Impact and Legacy:
- Meister’s recovery marked a scientific triumph, propelling international attention to Pasteur’s work.
- Pasteur’s success led to the global demand for rabies vaccines and the establishment of the Pasteur Institute in 1888.

5. Current Public Health Challenges:
- Despite modern medical advances, rabies continues to be a significant public health issue with a near 100% fatality rate once symptoms develop.
- Awareness, education, and vaccination are crucial in eradicating rabies.

6. Modern Medicine and One Health Approach:
- Rabies immunoglobulin and newer vaccines are essential for post-exposure prophylaxis.
- The “One Health” approach emphasizes collaboration among the medical, veterinary, and environmental sectors to manage rabies at the human-animal-environment interface.

Key Postmodern theorists and their core concepts :

1. Jean-François Lyotard: Known for his concept of *incredulity towards metanarratives*. He argues that grand narratives, such as Enlightenment ideals of progress or Marxism, have lost credibility in postmodern society. Instead, postmodernism celebrates multiple, localized narratives.

2. Jacques Derrida: Derrida introduced *deconstruction*, a method of reading texts that reveals contradictions and ambiguities within them. His famous phrase, "there is nothing outside the text," emphasizes the idea that meaning is always mediated by language, and thus reality is constructed through language.

3. Michel Foucault: Foucault explored how *power and knowledge* are intertwined, focusing on how societal institutions (such as prisons, hospitals, and schools) exert control over individuals. He introduced the concept of *discourse* as a way to understand how knowledge is produced and maintained in society.

4. Roland Barthes: Barthes applied *semiotics* (the study of signs) to culture, particularly literature and media. His work on *the death of the author* argues that a text’s meaning comes from its readers, not the intentions of its creator.

5. Fredric Jameson: Jameson contributed to the understanding of *postmodernism as the cultural logic of late capitalism*. He suggests that postmodernism reflects the commodification of culture and the flattening of distinctions between high and low culture in a consumer-driven society.

6. Jean Baudrillard: Baudrillard introduced the idea of *hyperreality*, where symbols and simulations replace reality itself. He argues that in postmodern culture, the distinction between reality and its representation has collapsed.

7. Linda Hutcheon: Hutcheon emphasized *parody and irony* as key features of postmodern literature and art. She discusses how postmodernism challenges traditional ideas of narrative, identity, and history through self-reflexive, ironic works.

8. Richard Rorty: Rorty, a pragmatist philosopher, critiques the postmodern rejection of *truth* and *objectivity*, arguing instead for a practical, pluralistic approach to knowledge that focuses on conversation and solidarity rather than universal truths.These theorists collectively challenge traditional structures of power, knowledge, and representation, promoting a more fragmented and relativistic understanding of reality.

Postmodernism, which opposes rigid frameworks and promotes a more fluid, decentralized understanding of the world.

Postmodernism

Incredulity Toward Metanarratives: Postmodernism is characterized by a skepticism toward grand, overarching narratives (such as Marxism or Enlightenment ideals) that claim to explain everything about human experience and history.
Pluralism and Relativism: Postmodernist thought embraces a diversity of perspectives, advocating that no single worldview or narrative holds universal truth. Instead, it promotes a multicultural and pluralistic view of society, where different perspectives coexist without a hierarchy of legitimacy.
Deconstruction of Truth and Knowledge: Postmodernism challenges the notion of objective truth and universal knowledge. It asserts that knowledge is socially constructed and contingent upon historical and cultural contexts.
Critique of Enlightenment Reason: Postmodernists criticize Enlightenment ideals of reason and rationality, viewing them as tools of power and control that repress marginalized groups.
Suspicion of Authority and Power: Postmodernism is inherently critical of institutions and systems of power, such as governments, media, and corporations, viewing them as perpetuating dominant ideologies and control through discourse.
Fragmentation of Identity: Postmodernism denies the idea of a stable, unified self. Instead, it posits that identity is fluid, socially constructed, and fragmented, influenced by language and culture.
Interdisciplinary Approach: Postmodernism often blurs the boundaries between disciplines, merging literature, philosophy, art, and social theory to challenge traditional academic structures.
Embrace of Irony and Playfulness: Postmodernism frequently uses irony, pastiche, and playful methods in literature and art to subvert expectations and challenge established norms.
Rejection of Progress: Postmodernism is skeptical of the idea of historical progress, rejecting the belief that human history is moving toward an ideal state of perfection or liberation.

Anti-Totality and Anti-Hierarchy: Postmodernism resists totalizing explanations or hierarchies, embracing fragmentation and multiplicity as more representative of reality.
Deconstruction: Postmodernism often employs deconstruction, a method championed by Jacques Derrida, to show how texts, concepts, and structures undermine their own assumptions and binaries.
Language as Constitutive: Rather than seeing language as a tool to represent reality, postmodernists view language as constitutive of reality itself. This challenges ideas of fixed or universal truths.
Pastiche and Intertextuality: Postmodern works frequently mix styles and borrow elements from different genres and time periods, creating "pastiche." Intertextuality plays a significant role, where texts reference or are shaped by other texts.
Critique of Objective History: Postmodernists challenge the idea of objective, linear history. They see history as a narrative shaped by power relations, thus questioning historical "truths."
Playfulness and Irony: Postmodern art and literature often adopt a playful and ironic tone, subverting serious or traditional themes.
Identity as Fluid and Performative: Postmodernists argue that identity is not fixed but constructed through language and cultural practices, often performing according to societal norms rather than reflecting an innate self.
Technology and Hyperreality: Postmodernists like Jean Baudrillard highlight the blending of reality and simulated reality (hyperreality) in modern life, particularly in media-saturated environments where symbols become more real than reality itself.
Critique of Enlightenment Rationality: Postmodernism critiques the Enlightenment emphasis on reason, arguing that it has been used to dominate and marginalize alternative ways of knowing.
Globalization and Compression of Time/Space: Postmodernism recognizes how technology, particularly mass media, has compressed time and space, leading to an interconnected yet fragmented world.

Active Reading Guide

Ask yourself pre-reading questions. For example: What is the topic, and what do you already know about it? Why has the instructor assigned this reading at this point in the semester?

Identify and define any unfamiliar terms.
Bracket the main idea or thesis of the reading, and put an asterisk next to it. Pay particular attention to the introduction or opening paragraphs to locate this information.

Put down your highlighter. Make marginal notes or comments instead. Every time you feel the urge to highlight something, write instead. You can summarize the text, ask questions, give assent, protest vehemently. You can also write down key words to help you recall where important points are discussed. Above all, strive to enter into a dialogue with the author.

Write questions in the margins, and then answer the questions in a reading journal or on a separate piece of paper. If you’re reading a textbook, try changing all the titles, subtitles, sections and paragraph headings into questions. For example, the section heading “The Gas Laws of Boyle, Charles, and Avogadro” might become “What are the gas laws of Boyle, Charles, and Avogadro?”

Make outlines, flow charts, or diagrams that help you to map and to understand ideas visually. See the reverse side for examples.

Read each paragraph carefully and then determine “what it says” and “what it does.” Answer “what it says” in only one sentence. Represent the main idea of the paragraph in your own words. To answer “what it does,” describe the paragraph’s purpose within the text, such as “provides evidence for the author’s first main reason” or “introduces an opposing view.”

Write a summary of an essay or chapter in your own words. Do this in less than a page. Capture the essential ideas and perhaps one or two key examples. This approach offers a great way to be sure that you know what the reading really says or is about.

Write your own exam question based on the reading.
Teach what you have learned to someone else! Research clearly shows that teaching is one of the most effective ways to learn. If you try to explain aloud what you have been studying, (1) you’ll transfer the information from short-term to long-term memory, and (2) you’ll quickly discover what you understand — and what you don’t.

Block out time—devote, on a regular basis, chunks of time to a specific class. Make it part of your schedule, your routine. Estimate how many hours per week you want to devote to a class. Set aside this many hours for working tasks in the course Slice up your task into pieces and allow specific blocks of time for specific pieces of a big project.

First Things First—if you can do so, schedule the things that are most important to you first thing in the day, or at the first available time slot. Anything that gets scheduled later in the day has a greater chance of getting interrupted, put off and never gotten to. You won’t be thinking or worrying about your work during your leisure time if you get academic tasks done first.

Time Efficiency
Try to use waiting time to review notes or do practice problems.
Learn and practice specific reading strategies. They will help you comprehend, study and remember better.
Consider how you might use smaller pockets of time more efficiently.
Work in 45 minutes to 1.5 hour chunks then take a break to avoid the exhaustion that comes from overexertion.
Concentrate on one task at a time.

Task Management
Maintain and develop a list of specific things to be done each day.
Prioritize that list and complete the most urgent tasks at the start of day.
At day's end, briefly evaluate your progress.
Look ahead to the next few weeks/month to better schedule your time.
Set incremental deadlines for longer-term projects.

One thing at a time—Current research shows us that multi-­‐tasking is a myth. In actuality, we are switching back and forth between tasks. With each switch we pay a cognitive cost and a time cost: It takes time to get mentally back into the task, thus making us less efficient. When switching we lose the depth of our engagement, absorption.