WSDP Bulletin (05-08-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. CJI Ramana recommends Justice Lalit as successor READ MORE
2. Iran nuclear talks to restart in Vienna with EU mediation READ MORE
3. PMI Price rise driving 8% of GST revenue surge: SBI Research READ MORE
4. Explained: What are rare earth elements, and why is India keen to join a global alliance to ensure their supply? READ MORE
5. UNECA calls for transparent, comparable carbon pricing systems READ MORE
6. Over 1,500 people died in elephant attacks in last 3 years, maximum casualties in Odisha READ MORE
7. South Korean spacecraft launched to the moon, country’s 1^st READ MORE
8. Isro to launch AzaadiSat satellite built by 750 school girls next week READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Women and Indian society: Deep-rooted conservatism widens gender gaps READ MORE
2. Casteism threatens constitutionalism READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Sop or welfare debate: Steps to limit freebies or to discourage populism should come through Parliament READ MORE
2. Data rules: The Centre must address data breach, surveillance concerns when it redrafts the Personal Data Protection Bill READ MORE
3. The Failed Fraternity Factor READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Queer Rights: Sec 377 Is Down, but Urgent Reforms Are Required for Equality and Dignity READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. MALDIVES President SEEKS DEEPER TIEs WITH INDIA READ MORE
2. Balancing acts: Occurrences in Afghanistan and Taiwan demand vigilance READ MORE

 GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Is the declining rupee a crisis or an opportunity? READ MORE
2. What the RBI’s Financial Stability Report reveals about the banking sector READ MORE
3. Why our economic growth has been patchy READ MORE
4. States’ borrowing spree a recipe for disaster READ MORE
5. The state of inequality in India READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. India’s NDC: Why sector-specific targets are needed for reducing emmissions READ MORE
2. Clear signs: 1.5°C warmer world to be catastrophic for India READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Three things that prompt us to speak, write & act READ MORE
2. Putting on a show to keep people engaged READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Economic strength will be a key factor in determining leadership in the emerging world order’. In the light of the statement discuss the need for India to improve trade relations with neighbouring countries.
2. ‘Freebie culture is a political disease and has to be cured politically. There is no need to involve the judiciary in it’. Do you agree with this view? Justify your case.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.
• High expenditures on interest payments mean fewer resources for countercyclical fiscal policies and social spending in critical areas.
• Only government intervention can ensure that members of the queer communities can access basic services like housing, insurance and health care without obscuring their identities.
• Legislative changes in marital rights are much-debated and controversial, and would require an abundance of community action and legislative pushback.
• India has been moving away from the policy of coddling China. Now it is time for New Delhi to strengthen trade relations with Taiwan and scale up diplomatic relations.
• Economic strength will be a key factor in determining leadership in the emerging world order.
• One can understand the need for subsidies and freebies during the pandemic times, but now these should be carefully targeted to reach only the neediest.
• Since populist governments cannot be stopped from spending recklessly regardless of the demands of constitutional propriety or financial prudence, it is perhaps only for the judiciary to restrain them.
• Freebie culture is a political disease and has to be cured politically. There is no need to involve the judiciary in it.
• The growth of economy is closely connected to education. And it is not enough to turn out technicians.
• The Centre must address data breach, surveillance concerns when it redrafts the Personal Data Protection Bill.
• A general concern over ‘freebies’ pushing the economy to ruin or unviable pre-election promises adversely affecting informed decision-making by voters seems reasonable.

50 WORD TALK

• Supreme Court’s concerns about irrational freebies are valid but it shouldn’t get enmeshed in fractious ‘revdi’ debate. What’s freebie for one can be welfare for another and vice versa. Until voters see its disastrous consequences, judicial or legal remedies will be ineffective. SC has more pressing matters to dispose of.

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.