WSDP Bulletin (13-12-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Explained | Which States in the N.E. are under AFSPA? READ MORE
2. Heat shock and cold sensitivity READ MORE
3. New Caledonia votes to stay in France; separatists boycott READ MORE
4. Increase in prey base and forest cover: How Buxa tiger reserve turned a corner READ MORE
5. Kerala row and beyond: Governor’s role in state, central universities READ MORE
6. Eruption in Spain’s La Palma Is Longest Running on Island, Experts Say READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The evolution and framing of the Constitution: It does not impose, with reason, the same burden of accountability on the Judiciary as the Executive and the Legislature READ MORE  
2. Freedom and power: Elected leaders must keep their promises of freedom and equality for their people READ MORE
3. Judicial reform promotes rule of law READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Revisiting Beti Bachao: Messaging alone cannot be core focus of scheme READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. US-China trade conflict: Geopolitics alone may not help Indian manufacturers READ MORE
2. A reinvigorated alliance: Steady enrichment of India’s ties with Russia is a diplomatic achievement READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Why crypto currency legislations needs careful consideration READ MORE
2. How the pandemic has worsened inequality in India READ MORE
3. Why India always misses the innovation bus READ MORE
4. Welcome financial inclusion: UPI upgrade can bring mobility to household savings READ MORE

 ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. India’s Climbing Rate of Climate Refugees READ MORE
2. Biodiesel drive is leading to deforestation READ MORE

SECURITY

1. The need for Chief of Defence Staff READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Wielding power should entail more responsibility READ MORE
2. Gandhi’s morality wasn’t denial of politics. His idealism was completed by realism READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The Gandhian appeal to the ethical in politics was not only a way to seek Truth, but also of coming to know oneself in ever-greater depth’. Argue.
2. Discuss the challenges faced by democracies across the world.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Lofty words cannot construct an alliance or maintain it; only concrete deeds can do that.
• The evolution and framing of the Constitution does not impose, with reason, the same burden of accountability on the Judiciary as the Executive and the Legislature.
• Elected leaders must keep their promises of freedom and equality for their people.
• Pandemic has adversely affected chances of social mobility. This could combine with already high levels of inequality of opportunities and precipitate greater demands for income redistribution.
• Fearing the risk of failure, very little R&D funding goes towards innovative ventures and emerging technologies.
• The last governmental effort to seriously examine the poverty line was made in 2014, with the Rangarajan Committee, but its report was ignored.
• Given the financial profiles of feature-phone users, the spurt in small digital transactions, as and when the new feature launches, will reduce the need to use coins and lower-denomination banknotes, and enable a better understanding of the informal economy.
• The greatest threat to democracies, however, comes from within. A slide towards populism and hyper-nationalism has reduced civil liberties and institutional independences even in the strongest and oldest democracies, from India to the US to the United Kingdom.
• Professionalizing the judiciary not only makes courts more trustworthy and respectable in the eyes of the people, but also enhances its capability to resolve disputes, and thus contributes to a more vibrant, prosperous community.
• The Gandhian appeal to the ethical in politics was not only a way to seek Truth, but also of coming to know oneself in ever-greater depth. The Gandhian effort for non-violent politics was a cultivation of one’s capacity for ethical citizenship.

50-WORD TALK

• The Sino-Russia relationship stands at its highest level in history, but Moscow’s preference is, nonetheless, to remain neutral vis-a-vis China’s rising tensions with Washington. Ideally, Russia would have preferred to be a ‘balancer’. It is against such a complex backdrop that Putin’s recent reference to India as a ‘great power’ needs to be understood. The Russian diplomatic idiom has unique connotations.

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.