WSDP Bulletin (17-05-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. The repo rate in India READ MORE
2. India, France carry out second joint patrol in Southern Indian Ocean READ MORE
3. Explained: How Sikkim became a part of India READ MORE
4. Explained: What is fair and average quality wheat, the norms for which have been relaxed by govt? READ MORE
5. Explained: What is the Places of Worship Act, and what are its provisions? READ MORE
6. India’s 52nd tiger reserve, Ramgarh Vishdhari notified READ MORE
7. Need to triple investments for restoring degraded land by 2030: Seoul Declaration READ MORE
8. Scientists discover fossil of pre-historic giant snake in Ladakh READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The technical higher education market dissected: The AICTE should place the safeguarding of students’ interests before the commercialisation of education READ MORE  
2. Data protection bill: Decoding the penalty clause READ MORE
3. Sedition law review litmus test for govt, courts READ MORE
4. INDIA SLIPS ON FREEDOM OF PRESS INDEX READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. The overcrowding of India’s mental health centres are disaster waiting to happen. Bring in reform READ MORE
2. ‘Green growth’ can help African countries address socio-economic inequalities: Report READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Stronger India-Nepal ties a must to face emerging challenges says PM READ MORE
2. A war that is shrinking India’s geopolitical options: The main worry now is about how to manage a China that is attempting to consolidate the region under its influence READ MORE
3. For a better, South Asian neighbourhood READ MORE
4. Hotspots in the neighbourhood: Instability in Sri Lanka, Pakistan & Afghanistan consequential to national security READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Against the grain READ MORE
2. Is our nation ready for Industry 4.0? READ MORE
3. India’s abrupt wheat ban is yet another instance of shoddy policymaking that disregards consequences READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Explained: What are urban heat islands, and why are they worsening during summers? READ MORE
2. Climate and Us | Plan for the vulnerable: India’s heat emergency must be humane READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Delhi fire: No regard for laws, safety norms READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Enlightened Revolutionary READ MORE   
2. The Morality Clock READ MORE
3. Baba Gulam Mohammad Jaula’s Vision of Hindu-Muslim Unity Will Always Inspire READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. “The essence of democracy is criticism of the government.” With reference to this statement, examine the validity of sedition law in present day India.
2. Ukraine conflict, developments in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan underline need to reframe regional ties of India’s with its neighboring count. Discuss why India needs to work with the logic of geography in Indian Subcontinent?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The influence of teachers extends beyond the classroom, well into the future.
• Climate change is the result of a deadly calculus: human lives are worth risking and even losing over the profits of global corporations.
• India’s biggest dilemma today is not whether or not to continue its engagement with Russia. That it would engage Russia in the immediate to medium term is clear.
• Ukraine conflict, developments in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan underline need to reframe regional ties, work with the logic of geography in Subcontinent.
• Data protection bill is one piece of legislation that India should get right by all means, lest we legalise snooping and profiling by the government.
• It’s high time that much more attention is paid to the issue of building regulations and safety norms to ensure that cities are safe for their citizens.
• India will have to follow a policy of proactivism to prevent another arena for geopolitical confrontation.
• In spite of low automation and a young workforce, absolute job losses will be the second highest in the world due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
• The World Health Organization, for which it could have been a showcase of its international role, seemed consistently in a subsidiary role of gathering secondary data and disseminating basic safety guidelines.

50-WORD TALK

• Modi government’s knee-jerk decision to ban wheat exports sends all the wrong signals except to one constituency of consumers. It particularly risks exposing the government’s commitment to the prosperity of farmers as mere lip service. Food inflation is a problem but bans aren’t the solution. Creative thinking is obviously lacking.

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.