WSDP Bulletin (19/05/2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Cabinet approves Amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels -2018 READ MORE
2. Wholesale price rise hits record high of 15.1% in April READ MORE
3. Explained | The UN report that highlights India’s vulnerability to drought READ MORE
4. 2021 joins top 7 warmest years on record: WMO READ MORE
5. NGT orders stay on Draft Shimla Development Plan 2041 READ MORE
6. India has world’s highest number of children with severe acute malnutrition: UNICEF READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS 1

1. The historical significance of Lumbini, the birthplace of The Buddha READ MORE
2. Urban forestry or unplanned forestry READ MORE

GS 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Law and public opinion: The release of Perarivalan is no endorsement of any claim of his innocence READ MORE
2. Governor is but a Shorthand Expression for the State Government: Supreme Court READ MORE
3. Venerating the law: Supreme Court must ensure that 1992 is not repeated READ MORE
4. Beyond pandemic numbers: The promise of a transparent data system right response to WHO estimates READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Scientifically Speaking | Our schools are destroying children’s curiosity READ MORE
2. Tobacco: worst enemy of women and kids READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Help Afghans: India’s Afghanistan strategy must prioritise giving emergency visas to those suffering under Taliban READ MORE
2. What’s behind India’s Ukraine policy, Western hypocrisy & how nations act in self-interest READ MORE
3. The world’s nasties READ MORE
4. How the long-term China challenge has put India in a diplomatic sweet spot amid the Ukraine crisis READ MORE

GS 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Lessons for today from India’s 2006 wheat crisis READ MORE
2. The Sela Tunnel – importance and the strategic edge it promises READ MORE
3. Take proactive mitigating measures, RBI tells banks amid global turmoil READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Ethanol blend in petrol to be raised to 20% in 3 years READ MORE
2. Why Sustainable Land Use Is Key To Achieve Our Carbon Neutrality Targets READ MORE
3. Sea levels along Indian coast rising at faster rate than global average: WMO report READ MORE

GS 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Light of darkness, darkness of light READ MORE
2. Children Need Your Time READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Data will talk to you if you are willing to listen’. In the light of this statement discuss the importance of data in governance in contemporary times.
2. ‘Urban forestry is the only plausible and most effective nature-based solution for building green, sustainable and resilient cities’. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Data will talk to you if you are willing to listen.
• It is impractical for every matter to be escalated to the point that the Supreme Court needs to invoke its extraordinary powers under Article 142.
• With the expertise available in the country now, algorithms can be built to assess the impact of weather and pest events on crop size and quality.
• After a long gap, wheat farmers were getting remunerative prices for their produce. The export ban will now push down market prices.
• Inadequacy in reporting deaths is one of the several gaps exposed in the health system during the past two years.
• A proper response to the WHO data should be the promise of a robust, transparent and professional health data system, and not shrilled name-calling.
• Urban forestry is the only plausible and most effective nature-based solution for building green, sustainable and resilient cities.

ESSAY TOPIC

• ‘Data will talk to you if you are willing to listen.

50-WORD TALK

• The issue at Gyanvapi Masjid isn’t whether the ancient Vishveshvara linga, reputedly hidden from Aurangzeb’s armies, has been rediscovered. It’s whether India can address historical hurt without creating new hatreds. Islamic rulers inflicted terrible violence on Hindus. But that can’t be undone by targeting their places of worship centuries later.

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.