WSDP Bulletin (01-12-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm READ MORE
2. Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission READ MORE
3. Explained: Is nuclear energy good for the climate? READ MORE
4. Explained: Barbados – the world’s newest republic READ MORE
5. South Africa flies 30 white rhinos to Rwanda READ MORE
6. Extreme weather: Over 5 million hectares of crop lost due to rain in 2021 READ MORE
7. Shillong all set to host the famous Cherry Blossom Festival from 25 November READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. CASTE DISCRIMINATION READ MORE
2. With India’s demographic transition, come challenges READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. e-Governance of Panchayats READ MORE
2. Democracy would continue to thrive READ MORE
3. Politically, Women Cannot Be Ignored READ MORE
4. The case for a new constitutional order READ MORE
5. Why Courts Cannot Review Speaker’s Appointment of Chairman of Public Accounts Committee READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Gender disparities in health ignored for long READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Afghanistan, the rise of a narco-terrorist state: A danger of a failed state in the neighbourhood combined with narco-terrorism will pose a threat to India’s security READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Small grant but a big opportunity for local bodies: Small grant but a big opportunity for local bodies READ MORE
2. Banning cryptos will hurt innovation READ MORE
3. Cooperative credit societies are a mess READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. India’s electric vehicle push will lead to brighter, greener future READ MORE
2. No action on pollution: Meetings, directions have led to no improvement READ MORE
3. Impact of greenhouse gasses and deforestation on climate READ MORE

SECURITY

1. A multipronged approach to protect ICT supply chains from cyberattacks READ MORE
2. BSF is a boon for border populations. It can do much more than just protect them READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Param Bir Singh is a symbol of all that’s gone wrong with Mumbai police READ MORE
2. Australian parliament: One in three workers sexually harassed, says report READ MORE

CASE STUDY

1. No free treatment to those not following COVID-19 prevention measures: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Judicial review of the actions of the Speaker on the floor of the House is limited to very specific and extreme instances’. Comment.
2. ‘Local bodies are the best places to exercise democratic rights, but right now this is the most disempowered part of the governance structure’. In the light of the statement, discuss the need for the separate local bodies list for UBLs.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Thus, the decision of the Speaker certifying the Bill as a Money Bill was held not to be a matter of procedure; and if an illegality had occurred in this decision by being in breach of constitutional provisions, it was held that the Speaker’s decision would be subject to judicial review.
• Local bodies are the best places to exercise democratic rights, but right now this is the most disempowered part of the governance structure.
• Judicial review of the actions of the Speaker on the floor of the House is limited to very specific and extreme instances.
• An autocracy survives when there is no alternative. In a well functioning democracy, this is usually not a problem as a vacuum seldom occurs.
• Governments must continue to drive nationwide efforts to establish a baseline level of cybersecurity across sectors through laws, regulations, guidelines, training requirements and awareness-building.
• The demographic dividend is smaller but will last longer due to regional variation in the onset of fertility decline. As southern states struggle with the growing burden of supporting the elderly, northern states will supply the workforce needed for growth.
• The earmarked health allocation recommended by the 15th Finance Commission can fulfil a mandate on primary care.

50-WORD TALK

• Suspension of 12 Opposition MPs from Rajya Sabha for Parliament’s winter session is unreasonable. Their ‘unruly’ conduct in the last session was deplorable. But the government must share the blame as it steamrolls Bills without parliamentary scrutiny and denies debates and discussions. It suits the government but undermines parliamentary democracy.
• It is true that women need healthcare more than men do due to their reproductive and sexual health needs. However, the burden of disease has changed significantly over the past decades. Currently, the greatest burden of death and disability among women is attributable to non-communicable diseases, notably cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases, diabetes, dementia, depression and musculoskeletal disorders.

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.