WSDP Bulletin (28-01-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. India-Central Asia Virtual Summit READ MORE
2. Drug-Resistant Malaria Is Emerging in Africa. Is the World Ready? READ MORE
3. DCGI grants conditional market approval for Covishield, Covaxin for use in adult population READ MORE
4. Climate change will force transboundary fish stocks to move from habitats, migration paths: Report READ MORE
5. Asia’s virtual banks need oversight to guard data, India could offer model, BIS says READ MORE
6. Delhi, 1st state to launch HPV vaccine for cervical cancer, sees numbers fall. Blame pandemic READ MORE
7. Gold imports by India fasten to decade-high as jewellery sales double READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. The state of India’s forests: Losing forests, gaining plantations READ MORE
2. India State of Forest Report 2021: Key takeaways READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Finding a way to share IAS officers READ MORE
2. Scaling up higher education in India READ MORE
3. Politics of freebies: ECI should curb menace, ensure level playing field READ MORE
4. Rethink on changes in All-India Services Rules READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Open the schools: Schools must reopen as severe cases dipand vaccination coverage increases READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Diplomatic Boycott Of Beijing Olympics May Have No Serious Implication For China READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Understanding the formulation of the Budget READ MORE
2. India’s economy and the challenge of informality READ MORE
3. Rising unemployment: Joblessness, poverty leading to distress, societal tensions READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Indigenous communities at higher risk of climate change-induced flooding, study shows READ MORE

SECURITY

1. No online targeting: New EU law should become the global benchmark READ MORE

TECHNOLOGY

2. Explained: How 5G network puts airplanes at risk READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. The pandemic showed us our collective power READ MORE
2. Why be reactive when you can be proactive? READ MORE
3. Acting in Uncertainty READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Explain the need for the formalization of the Indian economy. Do you think the steps taken by the government in this direction are effective? Justify your opinion.
2. Distinguish between Capital Budget and Revenue Budget. Explain the components of both these Budgets. (UPSC Mains 2021, GS-3)

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.
• Policy efforts to formalise the economy will have limited results as the bulk of informal units are petty producers.
• It needs to be appreciated that informality is now differentiated and multi-layered. Industries thriving without paying taxes are only the tip of the informal sector’s iceberg.
• A mere registration under numerous official portals will not ensure access to social security, considering the poor record of implementation of labour laws.
• Proposed amendment to service rules is needed to meet shortage of personnel, but Centre must dispel states’ fears about overreach.
• The role of the proposed Higher Education Commission must include both regulation and development of the sector.
• The ECI needs to frame rules that prohibit or restrict populist announcements during the last six months of a government’s tenure, and not just after the model code of conduct is enforced.
• Half-hearted measures like a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic games will make no dent in China.
• A self-confident China does not need to prove its capabilities to the world, but the virus remains a major concern.

50-WORD TALK

• The violent protests in UP and Bihar over Railways recruitment are a tragic reflection of India’s, and more so the heartland’s, unemployment crisis. But this crisis cannot be resolved through more Railways, PSU banks or security forces jobs. Governments need to facilitate creation of more opportunities in manufacturing, services, business.
• The issue of the control of the AIS has been coming up repeatedly. The two recent examples are of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The issuance of transfer orders by the Centre to AIS officers serving in the states, without the approval of the states concerned, is rightly being seen as an infringement of the federal spirit. At the same time, the situation leading to the proposed change of rules needs attention.

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.