WSDP Bulletin (31-03-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. 5th BIMSTEC Summit READ MORE  
2. PLI scheme for telecom sector READ MORE
3. Geological Heritage Sites of Himalayan Region of India READ MORE
4. ISRO to step up tracking of space debris READ MORE
5. Four government-run film and media units merged with NFDC READ MORE
6. Explained: What were the Bamiyan Buddhas, and why did the Taliban destroy them? READ MORE
7. Supreme Court strikes down 10.5% reservation for Vanniyars in Tamil Nadu READ MORE
8. Pluto: ‘Recent’ volcanism raises puzzle — how can such a cold body power eruptions? READ MORE
9. Explained: Why Karnataka is launching an untouchability eradication scheme in 2022 READ MORE
10. Permanent Body constituted to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. Social media impact: Shield India’s young READ MORE   
2. Early Indic visions of history – I READ MORE
3. Dry March: Is India looking at deficient pre-monsoon rain in 2022 READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Identity and privacy: Prisoners’ identification Bill, which raises privacy, data safety concerns, requires scrutiny READ MORE  
2. Why the Criminal Identification Bill overreaches: It clubs serious offences with trivial ones and lacks enough safeguards on access to sensitive data READ MORE
3. New methods, new concerns: The ways in which investigative agencies identify criminals and suspects have drastically changed over the course of the 21st century READ MORE
4. The MCD bill is an assault on democracy READ MORE
5. Captive rights: There is a need for disciplining jail inmates, with humaneness READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Report: 67% abortions in India unsafe, cause nearly 8 deaths every day READ MORE
2. Gender violence not just a legal issue READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India and Australia are finally acting like the natural partners they are READ MORE
2. The Great Debate Over India’s Neutrality in the Ukraine War READ MORE
3. India Scores a Strategic Victory Over China in Sri Lanka READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Explaining Sri Lanka’s economic crisis: The country’s current situation is due to misguided policies and flawed external advice READ MORE
2. India’s food response as ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ READ MORE
3. Growth in exports needs consistency READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Global Wind and Solar Growth on Track To Meet Climate Targets READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Inter-state border pact: Assam, Meghalaya show way for peaceful resolution READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Clash and Creation READ MORE
2. Never Allow Circumstances Break You READ MORE
3. Ethics of Ecology: The topical agenda of ecological ethics is molded by contemporary environmental problems READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The concern over privacy and the safety of the data are undoubtedly significant and the collection of any sensitive data ought to be introduced only after a strong data protection law’. Examine the statement in the light of the recently proposed Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022.
2. ‘India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement represents a watershed moment in bilateral relations, and a significant turning point for India’s foreign policy in terms of geo-strategy as well as geo-economics’. Comment on the statement in the light of recent developments in India-0Australia relations.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Peace is not only better than war, but also infinitely more arduous.
• The current Sri Lankan economic crisis, then, is the product of the historical imbalances in the economic structure, the IMF’s loan-related conditionalities, misguided policies of authoritarian rulers and the official embrace of pseudo-science.
• India’s recent and ongoing humanitarian food assistance to the people of Afghanistan, through the United Nations Food Programme is an example of its commitment and commendable steps towards humanitarian crises.
• As India’s foodgrain surplus continues to grow, along with its footprint as a key humanitarian food assistance player, underlining its partnership with the WFP, it is also important to highlight the story of its transition from receiving food aid to now providing food aid to those in need.
• Humanitarian food assistance and partnerships that help create robust policy innovations by way of food safety nets and resilient livelihoods, will contribute towards global peace.
• India has made major progress in addressing hunger and malnutrition, but a lot needs to be done and we must continue this path as the trailblazer in access and inclusion through public policies and systems.
• The concern over privacy and the safety of the data is undoubtedly significant. Such practices ought to be introduced only after a strong data protection law, with stringent punishment for breaches, is in place.
• India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement represents a watershed moment in bilateral relations, and a significant turning point for India’s foreign policy – in terms of geo-strategy as well as geo-economics.
• Ethics itself must change to fit the reality that humans are not only social animals, as recognized in classical ethics, but also ecological animals.

50-WORD TALK

• Although Russia-Ukraine talks are far from ending their war, Moscow’s promised pullback of troops is an encouraging step forward. President Vladimir Putin’s military has taken a beating, but it still has formidable destructive capacities. To ensure Putin doesn’t use them, he’ll have to be allowed a face-saving exit for now.
• BJP’s description of Odisha IAS, IPS officers as politicians in disguise is a tad harsh and sweeping but not entirely devoid of merit. They had no business congratulating CM Naveen Patnaik on election victories. They must remember that their oath of allegiance is to the Constitution, not to political masters.

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 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.