WSDP Bulletin (19-10-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. NITI Aayog Launches Geospatial Energy Map of India READ MORE
2. Over four crore workers registered on e-Shram portal in under two months READ MORE
3. Indian agricultural waste recycling project wins Prince William’s inaugural Earth shot Prize READ MORE
4. Development projects threaten Bengal florican habitat in Assam READ MORE
5. Kushinagar connect to Sri Lanka READ MORE
6. El Nino-like weather conditions increased short-term malnutrition in children across tropics: Study READ MORE
7. Arctic melt: will polar bears vanish by 2100? READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Slippery slopes: On the retreat of southwest monsoon READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Cooperative federalism: How local governments are undermined by states READ MORE
2. Everybody loves decentralisation — but only when convenient READ MORE
3. Time to define the law on marital rape READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Not by growth alone: The salience of redistribution in poverty eradication READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. FTA talks back on track as Jaishankar, Israeli counterpart meet READ MORE
2. India and the new ‘Quad’ in West Asia READ MORE
3. Multilateral track: India should be receptive to forging beneficial alliances READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Inflation and the gati shakti plan: The rising global fuel prices and a domestic policy of high taxation is a major concern READ MORE
2. India’s pulses problem: We need real reform READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Explained: COP26 climate conference and why it is important READ MORE

 SECURITY

1. From Kashmir to Bangladesh, the threat of extremism READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Kerala floods: Another man-made disaster READ MORE
2. Flood and fury: Despite warnings and alerts from the IMD, official response in Kerala has been missing READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Dignity and Tranquillity READ MORE
2. Lakhimpur, a question of human dignity READ MORE
3. What it is to be ‘educated’ READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Instead of empowering local governments functions and responsibilities, state governments simply treat them as mere implementing agencies’. Justify the statement with the help of suitable examples.
2. How far do you agree with the view that Multilateral alliances have become a geopolitical necessity in a multipolar world? Justify your view with suitable examples.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.
• Instead of empowering local governments by devolving more powers, functions and responsibilities, state governments simply treat them as mere implementing agencies.
• States (with some exceptions) have played a double game. When presented with autonomy, they have failed to use this in ways that have actively shifted the federal bargain.
• The precarity of living conditions in much of the country make the annual monsoon a persistent threat for millions, and governments should do more to reduce the risk to life and property.
• The first meeting between foreign ministers of India, Israel, the UAE and the US suggests that Delhi is now ready to move from bilateral relations conducted in separate silos towards an integrated regional policy.
• India’s new regionalism to the west of the Subcontinent must also be informed by shifting political geographies.
• Success on the trilateral front will open the door for extending the collaboration with other common regional partners like Egypt, who will lend great strategic depth to the Indo-Abrahamic accords.
• Kerala has been reluctant to learn from scientific evidence on the climate crisis with successive governments allowing destructive economic activities.
• Multilateral alliances have become a geopolitical necessity in a multipolar world.

50- WORD TALK

• Shadow-boxing between Modi government and Supreme Court collegium over judges’ appointments is unfortunate. The fact that the collegium has reiterated many names suggests it’s not convinced by the merits of the Centre’s objections. Both sides need to engage better in the public interest. There should be more transparency in judicial appointments.

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 map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, 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 occur 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 to your writing.