WSDP Bulletin (26-07-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

• Prelims and Mains:

1. India gets its 39th World Heritage Site READ MORE
2. Two-third Indians with non-communicable diseases fall in 26-59 age group, survey finds READ MORE
3. Philippines becomes first country to approve genetically modified ‘golden rice’ for commercial production READ MORE
4. Omid No More READ MORE
5. What is essential defence services Bill and how it will impact ordnance factories and others READ MORE
6. Israel appoints first ambassador to UAE READ MORE

Main exam:

GS Paper- 1

GEOGRAPHY

1. A climate risk: On extreme weather events READ MORE

SOCIETY

1. Why UP’s Population Control Bill Can Prove Disastrous for Women, Poor Families READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Pegasus and the laws on surveillance in India READ MORE
2. Why the monsoon session matters READ MORE
3. Administering India: The British administered India with the help of Indian Army and an institution called the ICS READ MORE
4. It’s Time for the Government To Redeem Itself and Repeal the UAPA READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Over 35% of government schools, anganwadis do not have tap water READ MORE
2. Lessons from India’s food security response: Government measures to tackle the food crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic were effective READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Can SAARC fill the power vacuum left by US withdrawal from Afghanistan? READ MORE
2. Science and technology is central to strong and lasting Indo-US ties READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Money changer: On need for an official digital currency READ MORE
2. What a digital currency from RBI must get right READ MORE
3. Currency creation: RBI should be careful in launching a digital currency READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Is climate change to blame for the recent weather disasters? 2 things you need to understand READ MORE
2. Prepare for extreme rainfall events READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Opinion: Strong-armed majoritarianism can never solve the challenges in India’s border regions READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Why the world’s cascade of disasters is not a coincidence READ MORE

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Scientific and metaphysical thoughts on infinity READ MORE
2. Learn To Be Still READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. Increase in number of extreme weather events in India calls for climate-proofing of the most vulnerable regions. Discuss.
2. Discuss the measures required to be taken to improve access to food grains and inclusion among the missing vulnerable population.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• We are not makers of history; we are made by history. -Martin Luther King, Jr.
• “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.” -Nelson Mandela.
• “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” -Benjamin Franklin
• Only proper planning can insure against the inevitable extremities of nature.
• International climate change agreements to limit greenhouse gas emissions will yield benefits only in the very long term but what is done in the near future will mean the difference between surviving and thriving.
• The scale of India’s public food distribution systems is immense and has gone through constant navigation and improvement, which is commendable. But more needs to still be done to improve access and inclusion among the missing vulnerable population.
• India is Europe’s third-largest trading partner, and it does not have its own carbon tax or cap. So, introduction of carbon border adjustment mechanism could be a cause of concern.
• The coming together of leaders, even at the height of tensions, in a region laden with congenital suspicions, misunderstandings, and hostility is a significant strength of SAARC that cannot be overlooked.
• India and the US can be true partners through joint efforts in making the next generation of quantum computers, achieving breakthroughs in the use of AI, making genome sequencing and analysis affordable.
• Using the dangerous and reckless brush of uniformity in a complex nation like India that nurtures unprecedented diversities is a strong-armed display of majoritarianism.

50-WORD TALK

• Soldiering is a calling. It epitomises three cardinal principles of the oath: one, a soldier signs an unlimited liability contract; two, a runners-up position is unacceptable; and three, unity in diversity is non-negotiable. It is in pursuance of these principles that he delivers. In Kargil, as always, our soldiers upheld every part of the contract.
• Indian companies should invest in more renewable electricity and energy efficiency. They can adopt science-based targets for emission reduction and internal carbon pricing to incentivise low-carbon choices. The government can extend the perform-achieve-trade scheme to more industries and provide finance to MSMEs to upgrade to clean technologies.
• SAARC members are among the top troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions. With the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, a joint peacekeeping force from the SAARC region under the UN aegis could be explored to fill the power vacuum that would otherwise be filled by terrorist and extremist forces.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the national places.)
• For economy related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related with various economic aspects, for examples if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing prices rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates etc.
• For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.