WSDP Bulletin (08-11-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Where does India stand on methane emissions? READ MORE
2. Sun lights up high-latitude countries in ‘a Solar Deepavali’ READ MORE
3. Explained: What caused Earth’s first mass extinction READ MORE
4. Explained: Why Chennai received ‘heaviest rainfall’ since 2015 READ MORE
5. China successfully launches 3 new remote sensing satellites READ MORE
6. Coronavirus | AY.4.2 variant not of concern: INSACOG READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Peper- 1

1. In Meghalaya, the food system of the Khasi community offers lessons in climate resilience READ MORE
2. Gender Stereotypes in Indian Society READ MORE

GS Peper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Pegasus, SC and the idea of ‘national security’ READ MORE
2. Troubled notion of privacy in modern age READ MORE
3. Reservation politics READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. AUKUS could rock China’s boat in the Indo-Pacific: While there is nothing surprising about AUKUS, a Pacific-centric orientation has advantages in the context of China READ MORE
2. We need greater global cooperation READ MORE
3. India struggling to stay relevant in Afghanistan READ MORE
4. West Asia Quad Counterproductive for India READ MORE

GS Peper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Explained | How has RBI tweaked Prompt Corrective Action norms for banks? READ MORE
2. Fuel price optics: Levies must be cut further to offset the effect of the continuing surge in global oil prices READ MORE
3. India’s Broken Credit System Is Stalling GDP growth READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Stumbling on stubble burning: Blame game won’t help, work out viable solutions READ MORE
2. Why the red alert on climate change? 6 charts show READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Chennai flooding: Don’t just blame the rains READ MORE

GS Peper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. You have the power to be happy, practise it READ MORE
2. Truth, the Final Thing READ MORE
3. Troubled notion of privacy in modern age READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The Quad and AUKUS are distinct, yet complementary. Neither diminishes the other. Elaborate.
2. Discuss the possible impact of tax cuts on fuel by the government on the Indian economy and its various stakeholders.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• In the new era of great power rivalry, countries are choosing to preserve national supremacy over global problem-solving. This will have consequences.
• In strife who inquires whether stratagem or courage was used?
• While there is nothing surprising about AUKUS, a Pacific-centric orientation has advantages in the context of China.
• Educating Indian children and parents about the importance of gender equality is the first step in that direction. Gender-neutral upbringing needs to be encouraged to tackle the ill gender stereotypes that rob people of their human rights.
• Compared to other large economies around the globe, India does not have the credit institutions in place to support the real economy on the scale its growth needs demand.
• The foundation of Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement was the ability of human beings to make moral judgments on whether laws were legitimate. Today, whatever the government decides is ‘moral’.
• In the political slugfest on the issue and in the eyes of urban dwellers, the farmer is the culprit. The perception is that he simply does not care, even though the farmer and his family are the first victims of air pollution.
• The real choice for the world is not just navigating between China and the United States. It is fundamentally between an orientation that is committed to global problem-solving rather than just preserving national supremacy.

50- WORD TALK

• With India now seen to be firmly in the American camp, it finds itself forlornly outside the Kabul tent. Tehran, under the new government, seems to be distancing itself from New Delhi, and Moscow will not play doubles with India. So, the combined challenge from China and Pakistan, aided by the Taliban, is on India’s radar. The proposed NSA meet will do little to salvage India’s credentials as a pivotal player in Afghanistan as it will not change the geography.
• We have the basic right to withhold information that might compromise us in the public eye. This is an essential part of our right to dignity. But it is precisely dignity that is violated by unwarranted searches, eavesdropping and phone-tapping. Where is the boundary that protects the private? An unguarded message to our friends on our mobile can land us in jail. Resourceful state agents can invent messages we never sent out.

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 main 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.