WSDP Bulletin (18-08-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Global Geospatial Information Community sensitized about UNWGIC to be organized in India READ MORE
2. India announces emergency e-visa for Afghans READ MORE
3. African cheetahs in Kuno-Palpur: Have we assessed disease risks well READ MORE
4. Reserve Bank launches index to capture financial inclusion READ MORE
5. Vriksharopan Abhiyan – 2021”of Coal Ministry to be Launched on 19th August, 2021 as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations READ MORE
6. Odisha plans ‘odyssey’ to wild cattle island READ MORE

Main Exam  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Between word and intent: On CJI remarks on legislative debates READ MORE
2. The Centre must shed its ambiguity on Pegasus READ MORE
3. Strengthening democracy and inclusive growth can protect India against Taliban READ MORE
4. Lack of debate is weakening Parliament READ MORE
5. Trial in absentia can help the cause of justice READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Doctor at the door: On doorstep health-care delivery READ MORE
2. MGNREGA Protects The Poor From Further Poverty During Natural Calamities READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The script of the new endgame in Afghanistan: This is a moment of tragedy for Asia as well, with the U.S. leaving the country in a worse situation than when it came in READ MORE
2. Afghanistan will shape international norms READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. MSMEs are hit by risk-averse banks READ MORE
2. $150-billion Bioeconomy by 2025: Policy prescriptions for building a vibrant biotech sector READ MORE
3. Global reserve currency is an urgent need for all READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. A third of India’s coastline underwent erosion in 28 years, Bengal worst affected READ MORE
2. Heat waves rise in India as climate change intensifies READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Remove the outer clay, access the gold within READ MORE
2. EQ vs. IQ: Which One Is More Beneficial? READ MORE
3. Evaluate Slowly, Dispassionately READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Strengthening democracy and inclusive growth can protect India against Taliban’. Comment.
2. ‘India experiences severe heatwave conditions owing to its unique geographical and climatic setup’. Analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
• Doorstep health-care delivery can mitigate the effects of disruption caused by pandemics.
• If the 21st century was expected to become the century of progress, the situation in Afghanistan represents a severe setback to all such hopes and expectations.
• A great deal of hard thinking is needed as to how to retrieve a situation that for the present seems heavily tilted against India.
• Most of the MSMEs are in rural and semi-urban areas where access to credit is extremely limited.
• If the US is not willing to step up to protect minority, women and human rights, and can leave Afghans at the mercy of a brutal regime which has a record of rights violations, it will be hard for Washington to justify its intervention elsewhere in the future on these principles.
• Parliament was always intended to function as a body that keeps the executive in check but it seems to be working the other way round now.
• Democratic accountability demands that the executive decisions be subjected to legislative scrutiny. While this session might represent a new low in this regard, the lack of scrutiny is not new.
• The freedom to be oneself has always been a top driver of happiness, as it is important for our wellbeing to align who we are with what we believe in and what we do.
• To capture the huge opportunity in biotech, India will have to act expeditiously, and the government will have to play an enabling role by creating a suitable physical, financial, legislative and regulatory infrastructure.
• Heat waves affect the socio-economic life of people and lead to crop failures and wildfires that affect food security

50-WORD TALK

• The Supreme Court notice to the government in the Pegasus scandal is a good beginning. The Modi government’s inability to file a detailed affidavit on whether it used the snooping software only strengthens suspicions. The court must keep this pressure and not allow the government to hide behind national security.
• US troops couldn’t have stayed in Afghanistan forever but President Biden’s argument that there was never a good time to withdraw, is flawed – made worse by the shambolic exit. Washington has created a disaster and as Biden believes the buck stops with him, he’ll be the face of this disaster.

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 price 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.