WSDP Bulletin (20-11-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main:

1. Narendra Modi government relents, decides to spike farm laws READ MORE
2. Explained | How to repeal a law? READ MORE
3. IMD withdraws red alert for Chennai READ MORE
4. ‘Tight oil’: What is shale and its potential in India READ MORE
5. Why were there no cyclones in October and November? READ MORE
6. 225 hectare Maharashtra land handed over for first LIGO project in India READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Seeds of hope: Farmers should withdraw protest, and push for consultations in efforts to reform the sector READ MORE
2. Democracy’s victory shows limits of parliamentary power READ MORE
3. The Judiciary Remains the Last Resort in a Stifled Democracy READ MORE
4. Analysis: Narendra Modi’s farm law repeal will bring new energy to India’s embattled civil society READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Error corrected: Laws should not be interpreted in a way that destroys the intent behind them READ MORE
2. Caste Dimensions of Poverty and Wealth: Large income and asset deficits disempower the disadvantaged castes. READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. NAM and Nehru’s Principled Stand: Part 2- To Nehru, disarmament in general, and the elimination of nuclear weapons in particular, were integral to the doctrine of non-alignment. READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Why India’s pro-rich, anti-poor taxation policies must change READ MORE
2. Farm Bills’ repeal and the way ahead READ MORE
3. Time to firm up legalities of cryptocurrency READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Climate change denial 2.0 was on full display at CoP26, but there was also pushback READ MORE
2. Raag Bhairavi at Glasgow COP26 READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Northeast needs holistic approach for peace READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Weigh future potential when awarding relief: SC READ MORE
2. Be A Light To Oneself; This Light Is The Law READ MORE
3. Sanitation, prosperity are sides of the same coin READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The climate conference at Glasgow has provided hopes for limiting global warming to 1.5°C’. Elucidate.
2. ‘Flexibility is not a bad trait in democracy, which is about constant negotiations, but it should not be merely political expediency’. Analyse the statement in the light of the recent farmers’ protests.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Silence is complicity. Speak now or surrender your ground.
• The climate conference at Glasgow, COP26, has provided hopes for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
• Victory depends on factors, many of them beyond the control of citizens. In the end, all they can do is to struggle to achieve their goals. There is no respite from that.
• Faecal Sludge Management is critical for delivering safe sanitation in rural areas due to the considerable number of toilets linked to on-site sanitation.
• India has great reservations on the currency aspect of the crypto ecosystem.
• The Indian policy and regulatory approach to the crypto ecosystem must be evolved in such a manner so as to protect not just the business and legal interests of Indian users and investors, but also the interests of the nation and the sovereignty, security and integrity of India.
• Our agriculture can be future-ready only if the spirit of cooperation and collaboration prevails over discord and discontent.
• Flexibility is not a bad trait in democracy, which is about constant negotiations, but it should not be merely political expediency.
• Farmers need a New Deal, where their interests will not be hijacked by political or corporate entities.

50- WORD TALK

• Supreme Court ordering a CBI probe into 26% stake sale in HZL by government in 2002 but allowing it to divest its remaining stake is a bit perplexing. The history of privatisation shows that it has worked well. An overly technical reading of rules can end up hurting this process.
• The repeal of the controversial but much-needed farm reform laws is the second big retreat by the Modi government. First was the ambitious land acquisition ordinance. These expose the limitations of the parliamentary majority in a democracy. Numbers may bring hubris but public consensus still needs to be sought and built.

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.