WSDP Bulletin (07-04-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Rajnath Singh launches second edition of swarm drone competition for start-ups READ MORE
2. Explained: Why Centre has opposed Odisha’s plans for landmark Lingaraj Temple READ MORE
3. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revokes state of emergency declared on April 1 READ MORE
4. Union Bank launches super-app UnionNXT, digital project SMBHAV READ MORE
5. Parliament passes Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022 READ MORE
6. Pahwa Plastics: The Judgement That Endangers India’s Environmental Jurisprudence READ MORE
7. ADB projects India’s economy to grow by 7.5% in FY23 READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. Safety first: The Dam Safety Authority might be able to monitor safety aspects of Mullaperiyar dam READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Explained: How electoral bonds work, and why they face criticism READ MORE
2. A candid conversation about the ‘caged parrot’ READ MORE
3. The hijab case and the struggle for the right to be and remain different READ MORE
4. Has IAS failed the nation? Not really: Critiques of the service should also recognise its immense strengths & many constraints READ MORE
5. Criminal Identification Bill: A good step, but more needs to be done READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. We Need Climate Action – But It Shouldn’t Be at the Expense of Social Justice READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Repairing the complex India-Nepal relationship READ MORE
2. Neutrality dissonance READ MORE
3. Amid Sanctions Against Russia, BRICS Can Lead the Change Towards National Currency Payments READ MORE
4. India’s Dilemma Over West vs Russia READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India-Australia trade pact promises significant economic, strategic gains READ MORE
2. Economic well-being key to social stability READ MORE
3. Sri Lankan economic crisis and India READ MORE
4. Export opportunity: India can become a reliable grain exporter READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. 10 Reasons Why Hydropower Dams Are a False Climate Solution READ MORE
2. IPCC report shows a greater need for increased climate action READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Not just AFSPA, India must reboot counter-insurgency strategy & free Army from it READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. A moment of moral awakening READ MORE
2. Beauty, body and soul READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘India needs to be a sensitive and generous partner for the “neighbourhood first” policy to take root’. In the light of the statement discuss the need for revival of relations between India and Nepal.
2. ‘If the CBI is to tread the path of virtue, it should have a strong leader with a distinct belief in the law and ethics’. Comment on the statement in the light of recent criticism facing by CBI in its working.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Every heart to love will come, but like a refugee.
• India needs to be a sensitive and generous partner for the “neighbourhood first” policy to take root.
• Reforming the criminal justice system is the task of many years. In the immediate future, however, it is at least possible to curtail the manner in which the UAPA plays havoc with the lives of so many individuals.
• If the CBI is to tread the path of virtue, it should have a strong leader with a distinct belief in the law and ethics.
• The primary task of constitutional politics is to transmute a partisan controversy into a reasoned public debate.
• Constitutional governance entails rectitude, and responsibility, in the exercise of power.
• Ukraine’s plea at the UNSC should not be interpreted for solutions. It must be a moment to recognise the human costs of war.
• Regulation needs to find its way through the ‘efficiency vs equity’ argument, encouraging gains through technology to pay, via taxes, for traditional market inefficiency.
• Any laxity on grabbing this export opportunity would mean missing the golden chance to create the much-needed export outlet for the surplus grains.
• The government must carry out a holistic review of India’s counter-insurgency strategy, transform the CRPF (if not done in the last 8 years) and relieve the armed forces for their primary mission.
• Not only does hydel power fail to prevent catastrophic climate change, but it also renders countries more vulnerable to climate change while emitting significant amounts of methane.

50-WORD TALK

• Evidence shows Russian troops killed unarmed civilians in Bucha. True to type, the Kremlin’s claimed it’s the victim of disinformation, but survivor testimony is backed up by video and satellite imaging. The world must unite to demand punishment for this war crime. India has done well to strongly condemn it.
• The need today in order to increase the happiness quotient of people in India is to follow the economic policies of Scandinavian countries marked by social security and job market flexibility. This will raise incomes and reduce social tensions that result from income disparities. The Scandinavian societies are free of sectarian tensions. There is a strong sense of social responsibility which prompts these nations to opt for taking in refugees who are victims of ethnic conflict.

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.