WSDP Bulletin (12-08-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Youth employment deteriorated in India: ILO report READ MORE
2. Jagdeep Dhankhar sworn in as 14th Vice President of India READ MORE
3. Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Rios of Argentina appointed leader of UNMOGIP READ MORE
4. What is this new Langya virus? Do we need to be worried? READ MORE
5. 7% Indians own crypto, 7th highest globally: UN READ MORE
6. ‘Inflation spike, CAD concerns easing; govt being watchful’ READ MORE
7. Do Vitamin D supplements help? READ MORE

Main Exam

1. Demographic benefit waning: India will start ageing soon, with average age slated to reach 38.1 years in 2050 READ MORE
2. Evidence that giant meteorite impacts created the continents READ MORE

 GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The slow execution of the police as an institution continues. Who will save it? READ MORE
2. Digital regulation: Main challenges and how India can deal with them READ MORE
3. Confusion over freebies READ MORE
4. Goal of social democracy isn’t fulfilled for lack of fraternity READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Survey data on poverty and broad policy pointers READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India as a major world player at 75 READ MORE
2. INDIA MUST REJIG TIES IN ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. A timely gesture: Transferring more tax devolutions to States early in the year is a prudent move READ MORE
2. Regulate fintechs, but not with a bludgeon READ MORE
3. The critical role of FPOs in doubling farmers’ income READ MORE
4. Ethanol push: More projects needed to spur transition to clean energy READ MORE
5. Regulating digital lending: Rules are in the right direction READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Warming and redistribution of nitrogen inputs drive an increase in terrestrial nitrous oxide emission factor READ MORE  
2. India’s new climate targets make no mention of some of the commitments made to the world in Glasgow READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Highs & lows of our defence and security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Go beyond belief: Understanding the significance of misery READ MORE
2. Communal violence pushed Gandhi to the brink READ MORE
3. When obedience is virtue, questioning evil READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. How far do you agree with this view that freebies for marginal section of society is not a freebie; this is just a state government discharging its “constitutional responsibilities” to create an equitable society? Justify your view.
2. ‘India has emerged as one of the key players in the international arena without compromising its basic premise’. Examine the statement with the help of recent developments.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.
• There needs to be engagement with survey data, but ground-level realities should shape programmatic interventions.
• Friction points between the Centre and States will persist with fluctuating intensities, but a rising economic tide will ease constraints for both.
• Fintech have become valuable partners for banks in connecting with consumers. It’s Bigtech that need greater regulatory watch now.
• A lot of recommendations rest on the ability of farmer producer organisations to address the structural weakness of small and marginal farmers.
• Religion becomes a matter of belief – and belief acts and has a corresponding influence on the mind; the mind then can never be free.
• The passage of the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill in the just-concluded Monsoon Session of Parliament is another indicator of the political resolve to promote the use of non-fossil fuels such as ethanol, green hydrogen and biomass.
• The Election Commission seems to be steering clear of the mess of freebies our politicians have created.
• Freebies for marginal section of society is not a freebie; this is just a state government discharging its “constitutional responsibilities” to create an equitable society.
• In the last 75 years, the world has changed and so has India. The world has seen the end of the Cold War and a world shifting from bipolar to unipolar and also stages of a multipolar one.
• The current discussion about democratic challenges is quite pertinent and clear, and it requires a critical examination of its pervasive and silent discourse.
• Fraternity, as opposed to liberty and equality, fails to get traction in public discourse or political programmes.
• The challenges in the path of fraternity projects are many. But we must overcome them, as it is on the pillar of fraternal relations that a well-functioning and healthy democracy rests.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.

50 WORD TALK

• Government has done well to remove the regressive caps on airfares. It should also rationalise taxes and levies on the sector to make it more competitive and allow airlines to invest in growing the pandemic-hit business and safety. Civil aviation is no longer a luxury but a critical public-facing service.

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.