WSDP Bulletin (25-02-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. SC issues notice on plea against Kerala in endosulfan case READ MORE
2. Mayurbhanj Chhau’s fight to stay alive READ MORE
3. Explained: What are MSPs, and how are they decided? READ MORE
4. Oil at $100 threatens world economy inflation shock, Ukraine crisis may fuel inflation READ MORE
5. RBI amends payments systems rules READ MORE
6. Two New Prehistoric Bird Species Identified in China READ MORE
7. New Species of Large-Sized Pterosaur Unearthed in Scotland READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. India’s married women are still far from bodily agency READ MORE
2. Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill: A positive move READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Why forced recusals of judges harm the independence of the judiciary READ MORE
2. Humane law: A Delhi district judge has shown sensitivity that needs to be emulated while handling rape cases READ MORE
3. The real cost of data: India needs a privacy law before data use policy READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUE

1. Hungry Indian READ MORE
2. Hunger Watch Survey: With Income Loss and Food Insecurity, India’s Poor Struggle to Cope READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Russia’s NATO problem: Putin seems unwilling to engage to address Russian security concerns READ MORE
2. Understanding the Indus Waters Treaty READ MORE
3. Need to Connect with neighbours READ MORE
4. 50 yrs ago Nixon’s visit to China changed geopolitics. Now Russia is in the building READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Ploughing a new channel for India’s food systems: The siloed approach of ‘agriculture’ serving ‘food security’ needs to give way to a science-society-policy interface READ MORE
2. Explained: Economy in time of war READ MORE
3. Education must match needs of the economy READ MORE
4. Does the move to tax virtual digital assets signal the advent of cryptocurrency regulation in India? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Ganga erosion READ MORE
2. Rethinking the wildlife protection strategy READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. India’s Investments in Early Warning Systems Have Unintended Benefits for Women READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Speak lovingly, think lovingly, act lovingly READ MORE
2. Rebalancing ecology, economics & ethics READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘It is imperative that to achieve sustainable development, the broken harmony between economy, ecology and ethics be restored’. Comment.
2. The absence of regulations for virtual digital assets has hampered the growth of the sector and India needs to regulate them. Analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• It is better to deserve honours and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.
• The siloed approach of ‘agriculture’ serving ‘food security’ needs to give way to a science-society-policy interface.
• An agro-climatic approach to agricultural development is important for sustainability and better nutrition.
• Strengthening and shortening food supply chains, reinforcing regional food systems, food processing, agricultural resilience and sustainability in a climate-changing world will require prioritising research and investments along these lines.
• There is a massive rise in allocation for infrastructure projects, with huge environmental implications, and little set aside for sustainable development.
• Our new policy is expected to reduce costs and aid exports but further measures could put us on an accelerated path to success.
• If judges step aside on apprehensions of a possible backlash on account of their verdicts, it may start a disturbing trend of forced and unconscionable recusals, which is detrimental to a democracy.
• The aim for India is to truly start engaging with its neighborhood to reinstate its position as a close trustworthy partner as opposed to dominance by stealth and compromising schemes such as the loans for building critical infrastructure coming from China.
• The five pillars of advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, building connections with the region and beyond, driving regional prosperity, enhancing the security shield in and for the region and building a regional resilience to threats are all achievable.
• We need policy instruments and intervention strategies for behavioural change such as educational programmes and incentives for conservation.
• It is imperative that to achieve sustainable development, the broken harmony between economy, ecology and ethics be restored.
• Due to the unplanned growth of higher education, there is a shortage of qualified people in the frontier areas of knowledge and technology.

50-WORD TALK

• Europeans complaining that New Delhi hasn’t condemned Russia over Ukraine forget their countries didn’t line up against China after Galwan, nor backed India on Kashmir. Long coddled by American security guarantees, Europe’s entitled nations — bar France — contribute little to global order. Europe needs to learn to fight its own battles.
• The principle President Vladimir Putin asserts in Ukraine is this: Great Powers are entitled to subservience from weaker ones, and to use force at will. It’s an idea China has eagerly embraced. In its own interest, India ought stop equivocating, and support the global effort to punish Russia’s military aggression.

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.