WSDP Bulletin (27-07-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Explained| Power tariff revisions and the state of DISCOMs READ MORE
2. Generation of unique disability IDs ramped up READ MORE
3. India adds five more Ramsar sites, ups tally to 54 READ MORE
4. Bangladesh seeks $4.5bn IMF loan as forex reserves shrink: Report READ MORE
5. Russia says it will quit the International Space Station after 2024 READ MORE
6. NASA releases first pieces of the multispectral maps of Mars READ MORE
7. Non Performing Assets of Scheduled Commercial Banks in country declined in last four years: Govt READ MORE
8. UN lays down guidelines to protect children displaced by climate change READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. India’s Population Prospects: Demographic constraints will continue to weigh down on growth and development. READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Seeking to destroy India’s civil society: Government is slowly chipping away at the rights of civil society groups using laws such as FCRA, PMLA READ MORE
2. India needs not just more police, but better policing READ MORE
3. Make bail the norm, not jail READ MORE
4. Court appointments: Vacancies must be filled to clear backlog of cases READ MORE
5. Understanding the Gaps in the Anti-Defection Law READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Hope for Hungry READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The U.S.’s search for a new role in West Asia: Realpolitik may have trumped the Biden administration’s rather vocal positions on principles in the region READ MORE
2. India’s role READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Whose GDP is it anyway? READ MORE
2. Why rapid economic growth may follow high inflation READ MORE
3. Avoid aggressive management of rupee READ MORE
4. Curb imports to check China trade gap READ MORE
5. Kick-start economy with migrant workers READ MORE
6. National agricultural market: New facility will boost trade on e-NAM READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Glaciers Vanishing at Record Rate in Alps Following Heatwaves READ MORE
2. Extreme heat exposure worsens child malnutrition in Africa: Study READ MORE
3. Climate Change: When Does Planting Trees Make Sense? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. A path to global connectivity: Integrating terrestrial 5G networks with LEO satellite networks is the next step in communication infrastructure READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. How to curb AI-driven human rights risks READ MORE
2. FLUX AND CONSTANCY OF HUMAN NATURE READ MORE
3. Trial by media: Justice Ramana’s concerns are valid READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The government is slowly chipping away at the rights of civil society groups using laws such as FCRA and PMLA. Comment on the statement in the light of the recent ruling by the Government.
2. ‘FCRA and PMLA are potent weapons for subduing the pluralistic nature of Indian society that is at the heart of India’s democracy’. Examine the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Bad decisions made with good intentions are still bad decisions.
• It is time for political leaders to clamour for an overhaul of India’s economic performance measurement framework.
• GDP growth has turned into a misleading and dangerous indicator that portrays false economic promises, betrays people’s aspirations and hides deeper social problems.
• The Russia-Ukraine war and its implications have shown that the U.S.’s somewhat tenuous relations with countries in the West Asia will continue despite underlying concerns about human rights and political freedom.
• FCRA and PMLA are potent weapons for subduing the pluralistic nature of Indian society that is at the heart of India’s democracy.
• Forex intervention by RBI has actually contained rupee depreciation. But the benefits of heavy intervention are not very clear.
• The Supreme Court has drawn new red lines around bail jurisprudence and underlined the importance of preserving a person’s liberty in two separate instances over the past week.
• The challenge is how to win back the confidence of migrant workers. The rural and farm economy has to be strengthened. Post-corona a new model is needed.
• The launch of the “Platform of Platforms” (POP) would now ensure hassle-free out-of-mandi trading of farm goods across the country through the e-NAM portal, thereby making it a truly common national agricultural market.
• As a regional power with an Act East Policy in place, India must not be found missing in action in Myanmar.
• The Tenth Schedule needs to be amended to add more tensile strength against defectors, and the Supreme Court has to come up with a robust and unambiguous decision to clear all doubts.
• Principles of natural justice are violated when a person becomes a judge of themselves.

50 WORD TALK

• The suspension of 23 Opposition MPs from two Houses of Parliament in two days is alarming. Democracy means government by discussion, not suspensions. The government’s excuse for not holding discussions on price rise and a GST rate hike is untenable. The opposition has a vital role in parliamentary democracy. Their voices shouldn’t be throttled.
• By executing democracy activists, Myanmar’s junta is tipping the country’s political opposition deeper into armed struggle. The junta’s already inflamed insurgencies engendered economic collapse. Fearful of giving China an opportunity, New Delhi muted its criticism. India must work with ASEAN countries to warn the junta against marching Myanmar towards disintegration.
• The Constitution and law sought to protect minority communities and mandated equal rights and protection from the state to persons of all faiths and identities. According to that idea of India, these rights were deemed essential for the consolidation of the Indian state, where citizens needed to feel a sense of belonging. Even though civil society organisations have contributed to the constitutional frame, they undoubtedly need to be regulated to defend those values.

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 on 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 main 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.