WSDP Bulletin (06-01-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Write-offs in Covid year helped banks reduce bad loans: RBI READ MORE
2. Bhojeshwara temple: A hidden living gem READ MORE
3. Six One District One Product brands launched under the PMFME scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries READ MORE
4. UJALA completes 7 years of energy-efficient and affordable LED distribution READ MORE
5. 74 lakh birds flock to Chilika, the largest wintering ground in the Indian subcontinent READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. Protect the Aravalli range: Thar desert can creep towards the east READ MORE  
2. What the targeting of Muslim women really means READ MORE

GS Paper- 1

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Supreme Court must ensure hate speech guilty are punished READ MORE
2. Age & agility READ MORE
3. Opinion: The electoral bonds act akin to a ‘token’ in the hawala model READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Food insecurity and child malnutrition: New empirical evidence from India READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The Chinese challenge uncovers India’s fragilities: The border crisis has laid bare political, economic and diplomatic problems — the result of choices made after 2014 READ MORE
2. China: An abiding challenge for India READ MORE

GS Paper- 1

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The infrastructure push: Higher expenditure will be needed to sustain recovery READ MORE
2. Missing: Bank Credit Engine in India’s Economic Growth READ MORE
3. To achieve $ 5 trillion GDP goal, India needs to revamp its regulatory frameworks READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate funds: Developed nations must step up READ MORE
2. Moving beyond a zero-sum approach: In many situations, acting for oneself as well as the group gets the best results READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Why short-termism is a recipe for disaster READ MORE
2. Thailand’s new early warning technology to protect 70 million from disasters READ MORE

GS Paper- 1

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Message from Mumbai: Online mobs spreading hate should not be allowed to continue their work with impunity READ MORE
2. Great ecstasy comes from doing something useless READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The judiciary has an absolute obligation and duty to step in when the executive fails in the enforcement of the fundamental rights of citizens’. Substantiate the statement.
2. ‘The principle of constitutionalism is now a legal principle that requires control over the exercise of governmental power to ensure that it does not destroy the democratic principles upon which it is based’. Analyse.
3. ‘Without transforming society from a neutral or contentious to a collaborative stance, expecting public-private-partnerships to work is unrealistic’. Critically examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
• Quick, appropriate regulatory frameworks that respond to technological changes and innovations are in themselves a significant source of value creation in an economy.
• The targeting of Muslim women is not just a one-off thing; it is well ideated and deliberated. This is not just an attack on Muslim women alone; it’s an attack on religious identity, a normalisation of the ‘othering’ and dehumanisation of Muslims.
• The electoral bonds scheme seems to be a systematic design to route the black money of the ruling political party at the Centre through its crony corporates.
• Prompt reporting of cases, well-trained investigators and prosecutors, fast and fair trial are essential to control cyber crimes against women.
• The rule of law is a basic structure and basic feature of the Constitution. It clearly obliges the executive to enforce the law, without fear or favour.
• The judiciary has an absolute obligation and duty to step in when the executive fails in the enforcement of the fundamental rights of citizens.
• The principle of constitutionalism is now a legal principle that requires control over the exercise of governmental power to ensure that it does not destroy the democratic principles upon which it is based.
• A distinction between development and climate finance is vital. More funds are needed for climate adaptation projects.
• As the LAC challenge heightens, India must evolve a resolute and effective holding strategy to prevent further salami-slicing by PLA.
• Without transforming society from a neutral or contentious to a collaborative stance, expecting public-private partnerships to work is unrealistic.
• While latest data signals nascent signs of recovery, it will be misleading to accept it at face value without accounting for the headwinds that lie in wait in the Indian macroeconomic scene.

50-WORD TALK

• PM Modi cancelling the Ferozepur rally due to a ‘security lapse’ is disturbing. His safety is of prime concern. Its politicization is deplorable. What’s equally disconcerting is how politicians are holding meetings and rallies in poll-bound states as the third wave of the pandemic hits India. They are setting a terrible example.
• India’s first Omicron case was in November, but we are still quoting data from South Africa and the UK to plan strategy. Without India-specific data about mortality, hospitalisation and demography of cases – Mumbai is an exception — we are shooting in the dark. Data transparency is a casualty of the pandemic.

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.