WSDP Bulletin (24-12-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. DRDO successfully conducts Flight-Test of Indigenous Aerial Target ‘Abhyas’ READ MORE
2. Turtle trail to get a boost with mass tagging mission READ MORE
3. RBI extends tokenisation deadline by 6 months READ MORE
4. The world’s leggiest animal has been discovered in Australia READ MORE
5. South Korea becomes 10th non-European country to join Europol READ MORE
6. Maharashtra: Assembly passes Bill approving death penalty for rape READ MORE

Main Exam  

GS Paper- 1

1. Raising the marriage age is not the solution READ MORE
2. Early Narasimha sculptures from Karnataka READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Understanding the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 READ MORE
2. Another session of House discord: The government and Opposition must develop channels of communication to resolve extant issues READ MORE
3. UAPA conviction rate: Need to curb misuse of anti-terror law READ MORE
4. ED’s powers and functions call for scrutiny READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. This clean cooking fuel plan needs more firing up READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. As a regional leader, not a victim of circumstance READ MORE
2. Troubled waters: On Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Sustaining growth after pent-up demand fades READ MORE
2. ARCs in the spotlight: The charges levelled by tax authorities against ARCs are serious and may require RBI to act, if they’re true READ MORE
3. Green shoots for Agri sector with NEP2020 READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Ozone-destroying greenhouse gas emissions from China increased significantly: Study READ MORE  
2. Himalayan glaciers melting at ‘exceptional rate’ READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Insurgencies feed off people’s discontent READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Ethical aspects relating to cyberspace: Utilitarianism and deontology READ MORE
2. Why A Universal COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Is Ethical Today READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Equitable and sustainable cities are the only solution to balancing the need for economic growth with the needs of people and the environment’. In the light of the statement, analyse the need for resilient and empowered cities for India.
2. ‘Violence and instability in the Northeast have important implications for national security and territorial integrity’. In the light of the statement, suggest the way forward for India to address the security and instability issues in the northeast.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• We have legalised confiscation, consecrated sacrilege and condoned high treason.
• Sustaining LPG adoption in rural India is a challenge but the goal must be a more sustainable energy basket per family.
• It is time to get creative about how to sustain LPG adoption in these challenging times. Ujjwala also has the potential to deliver benefits on many fronts.
• Policymakers must chart out a course of action that delivers on promises, quickly.
• At a time of heightened exogenous shocks, government policy needs to be a source of stability and predictability.
• Recent developments have highlighted the severe economic, humanitarian and ecological repercussions of the unbalanced and unbridled growth of urban spaces.
• Equitable and sustainable cities are the only solution to balancing the need for economic growth with the needs of people and the environment.
• To realistically delay the marriage of girls, the State must guarantee education up to 18 years, accessible schools with hygienic toilets and safety.
• Labelling it as a ‘terrorist activity’ is nothing but the State’s desperate ploy to suppress dissent and stifle free speech. No wonder most of the UAPA cases don’t stand judicial scrutiny.
• India is considered one of the highest tariff nations on the world trade table with some for the most complicated and often repetitive regulatory practices and compliances. A telecom infrastructure equipment, not currently manufactured in the country, when imported.
• The Government must take steps to initiate and integrate agricultural education in middle and senior secondary schools across the country.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Truth is not the truth; perception is the truth.

50-WORD TALK

• Modi government’s argument that linking voters’ lists with the Aadhaar will solve the problem of multiple enrolments of the same voter has strong merit. But electoral reforms cannot be selective. There’s an equally strong argument to disclose the identities of donors of electoral bonds, which the government has rejected. This is just double standards.
• The Ludhiana bomb blast signals, once again, an ill wind blowing over Punjab. The cocktail of a weak state government, election season, and growing politics over religiosity is fertile ground for somebody’s evil plot to set the marvellous state on fire. This calls for maturity, caution and strength to counter.

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.