WSDP Bulletin (03-08-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelims and Mains:

1. Parliament passes landmark ‘Inland Vessels Bill, 2021’ to repeal and replace the existing Inland Vessels Act, 1917 READ MORE
2. SC asks States to respond to plea that says citizens are still being booked under Section 66A of IT Act READ MORE
3. Suicides due to unemployment went up by 24% from 2016 to 2019: NCRB data READ MORE
4. Cloudbursts in Himachal, Uttarakhand evidence of climate change: Experts READ MORE
5. Is COVID-19 Wave 3 here? What the ‘R’ value indicates READ MORE
6. Covaxin works against Delta Plus: reading the findings of new study READ MORE

Main exam:  

GS Paper: 1

GEOGRAPHY

1. India: The country of all seasons READ MORE

GS Paper: 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The hacking of Indian democracy: National security is important, but it can have an impact on human rights and civil liberties READ MORE
2. The cusp: on disconcerting note of coronavirus story READ MORE
3. Why India should make access to healthcare a fundamental right READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Education is next calamity in making READ MORE
2. Burning wood, coal for cooking can cause blindness: Study READ MORE
3. Why Higher Education Is Still a Distant Dream for the Tribal Communities of Kerala READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Explained: Why Gilgit-Baltistan matters to India and Pakistan READ MORE
2. Making a case for Indo-Abrahamic accord READ MORE
3. Limited Afghanistan role: India should not see itself as a major actor in the unfolding events READ MORE

GS Paper: 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The ripple effect of gender inclusivity on India’s economy READ MORE
2. Bright future awaits Indian diaspora READ MORE
3. Post-Covid growth strategy: For economic revival, public investment and exports will have to do the heavy lifting READ MORE
4. Thirty years later, ‘reform’ yet to happen READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. What the Ramagundam Verdict Portends for Environmental Protection in India READ MORE
2. Is net-zero concept zeroing in on climate change? A sustainable consumption critique READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The draw of space and nuclear technologies: It remains to be seen whether the new ventures of Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates will strike a chord and benefit mankind READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Landslide-prone areas need tech support READ MORE

GS Paper: 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Open the door, the key is in your pocket READ MORE
2. The Good In Us READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. “The right to privacy is not absolute and its curtailment can take place only under a law which is just, reasonable and fair and subject to constitutional safeguards.” Analyse with reference to concerns raised by recent Pegasus spyware issue.
2. ‘National security is important, but it can have an impact on human rights and civil liberties’. Comment on the statement in the light of recent developments.
3. ‘The current learning gap and reduced social skills can lead to a widening knowledge gap’. In the light of the statement discuss the way forward to address this challenge.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Increasing demand for resources and energy-intensive lifestyles make it nearly impossible for technological fixes to reduce carbon emissions.
• India must press ahead with vaccination to avoid repeat of troubles of the second wave.
• National security is important, but it can have an impact on human rights and civil liberties.
• Turkish president Erdogan’s overweening ambitions, alienation of Israel and moderate Arabs, growing conflict with Greece and alignment with Pakistan presents India with opportunity to widen outreach to west of the Subcontinent.
• Archaic gender norms which advocate gender segregation at a young age make the entry barriers for women into the workplace even tougher.
• The current learning gap and reduced social skills can lead to a widening knowledge gap.
• Liberalisation was not voluntary but was egged on by global lenders who would not lend without a firm Indian commitment on ‘reforms’.
• Despite the state’s achievements in the education sector, the poor socio-political condition of marginalised groups keeps them out of the mainstream, with the pandemic making the situation worse.

50-WORD TALK

• Withdrawal of FIRs by Assam and Mizoram and Assamese ministers’ planned visit to Aizawl for talks comes as a relief. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma must also help end Mizoram’s undeclared economic blockade as a confidence-building measure. Delhi should be more pro-active in finding solutions to border disputes between northeastern states.

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.