WSDP Bulletin (18-7-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. On World Snake Day, call to develop effective antivenom READ MORE
2. Forest fires rage in scorching southwest Europe READ MORE
3. Explained | Will RBI move help greater trade in rupee? READ MORE
4. Commodity prices’ fall can help India escape global inflation trap READ MORE
5. Explained: Kala Azar or Black fever disease detected in West Bengal READ MORE
6. India crosses 200 crore Covid-19 vaccinations: Day to remember forever, says Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya READ MORE
7. New Tardigrade Species Discovered in Kyrgyzstan READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Why is gender gap widening in India? READ MORE
2. Waterlogging in Malwa: Rainwater drainage needs improvement READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. DBT schemes need a digital grievance redressal system READ MORE
2. Sedition law: Why India should break from Britain’s abusive legacy READ MORE
3. Making Private Members’ Bills Work READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Institute ranking system: Doesn’t serve purpose of improving standards of learning READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Biden in West Asia: Neither the Palestine question nor the Iran deal appear to be the U.S.’s priorities READ MORE
2. The internal coherence of India’s seemingly contradictory stance on Russia READ MORE
3. Questions about I2U2: Iran and the China factor will need addressing READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. With India set to become most populous nation, a prosperity lesson READ MORE
2. We need an orderly transition from coal to renewables READ MORE
3. Government must act: If the rupee keeps falling against the dollar the country’s economy would be hit badly READ MORE
4. Why more women joining the Indian workforce is not necessarily a good thing READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Saving life on Earth in times of climate change READ MORE
2. Why we need to factor ecosystem services into economic development planning READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Time for vigilance: Increased testing and building awareness, not stigmatisation, can stop spread of monkeypox READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Footprints on sand READ MORE
2. What makes a ‘hero’? Is it personality, psychology or evolution? READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘In the current era of more flexible partnerships, I2U2 could emerge as a platform for shaping responses to global challenges’. Critically examine.
2. With the help of the relevant examples discuss how India shed its Cold War mindset of non-alignment in recent times?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The important thing is not to stop questioning.
• Our inbuilt Parliamentary mechanisms, as well as minor modifications and adjustments, can help revitalise Private Members’ Bills.
• The multiplier effects of healthy forest cover are enormous regarding economic and social development objectives.
• Democracy is the basic feature of the Constitution. Parliamentary democracy does not envisage a condition where a one party-government becomes permanent.
• Without an effective Opposition, democracy will become dull, and the legislature will become submissive.
• Our constitutional goal was to establish a sovereign, democratic republic.
• A government which does not like opposition and always wants to be in power is not a patriotic but a traitor government.
• Improvement of the country’s human development index hinges on providing quality education to the girl child.
• Looking at coal from a singular focus on GHG emissions will give a myopic view of energy requirements for a growing economy like India. The path to achieving 500 GW of renewables needs to be gradual.
• WEF’s recent report paints a gloomy picture of gender equality in India.
• DBT schemes are meant to ride on digital rails to facilitate smooth direct cash transfers. However, transfers are not always smooth.
• In a vibrant democracy, it is not possible, as in China, to dragoon people into moving to new locations and settling there.
• Though the nature of I2U2 is different from the overt military collaboration of the Quad, it is worth recalling that the latter started as a joint response to the devastation in the region caused by the Tsunami in 2004.
• Economic distress, desperation and poor household incomes are driving women to low-paying jobs.

50 WORD TALK

• Any government initiative should aim to reduce inequalities in access to health services. Providing the Covid-19 vaccine precaution shot on payment was leading to the creation of bigger financial and geographical barriers; easier availability for the rich and urban population was widening inequities. This is contrary to the principles of equity in India’s National Health Policy, 2017.

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.) 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.