WSDP Bulletin (26-08-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1.  INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier, to be commissioned on September 2 READ MORE
2. India, Bangladesh discuss Ganga, Teesta and Kushiyara in Joint River Commission meeting READ MORE
3. Suspense in Jharkhand as Chief Minister Hemant Soren may face disqualification READ MORE
4. Nepal stalls recruitment of Gorkhas in Indian Army under Agnipath scheme READ MORE
5. Government to launch E-Passport in next 6 months READ MORE
6. Bangladesh-born Fahmida Azim wins 2022 Pulitzer prize in Illustrated Reporting, Commentary category READ MORE
7. Explained: What is ‘Arth Ganga’, govt’s new model for the river’s sustainable development READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Gender justice idea runs into political reality READ MORE  

 GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. ‘Freebies’, a judicial lead and a multi-layered issue READ MORE
2. How we can democratise sports governance READ MORE
3. The issues with maximum data and minimum privacy READ MORE
4. Making Parliament function effectively READ MORE
5. Taming ED: The Supreme Court will not reconsider its judgment on the Prevention of Money Laundering Act READ MORE
6. It’s time to reset Centre-state relations. Onus rests on the central government READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Rainbow of hope: The LGBTQIA+ community needs more than words to live with dignity READ MORE
2. Healthcare for transgenders: First, Ayushman insurance scheme in need of cure READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India as a foreign policy leader and balancer READ MORE
2. Taiwan a flashpoint in growing US-China rivalry READ MORE
3. DROP QUAD ANCHOR FOR INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Power shocks: Discoms need transparency READ MORE
2. What’s behind RBI paper on digital payments READ MORE
3. Short circuited by subsidies: The assumption that cross-subsidies and competition can co-exist is flawed READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Three challenges that need to be managed to make net-zero emissions a reality in India READ MORE
2. Hot century ahead: India can’t beat the heat even if global warming is capped at 2°C READ MORE

SECURITY

1. China is preparing for a full-spectrum AI war. India is still 15 years behind READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Step aside to make room for others READ MORE
2. Corruption reflects a crisis of ethics, values READ MORE
3. There is no answer to discontent READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Integration of education for sustainable development (ESD) into teaching and learning can help in the realization of quality education, which is critical to fulfilling many of the sustainable development goals (SDGs)’. Analyse the statement in the light of NEP 2020.
2. ‘With geopolitical currents redefining geo-economics, India needs to be ready to emerge as the chief global diplomat’. Comment on the statement in the light of recent development in international diplomacy.
3. How far do you agree with this view that Universal Basic Insurance is a better proposition than Universal Basic Income and India should focus on Universal Basic Insurance? Justify your view.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Anyone in a free society where the laws are unjust has an obligation to break the law.
• While it is useful to start with the definition of ‘subsidies’, the issue of ‘tax preferences’ also merits attention.
• Correcting the rot in India’s sports governance requires work at the bottom of the pyramid.
• When the institutional checks and balances of sports governance are not working, not even the most brilliant eminent-athlete-administrator can be expected to turn the tide.
• India’s proximity to the West and its ties with other powers gives it a foreign policy advantage.
• National interest drives foreign policy, but more is at stake here: It is realpolitik plus. The policy is anchored in a nuanced balancing of interests and values. National security remains the key driver.
• Corruption in the police, politics and the property sector is all-pervasive, despite checks and balances such as digitization.
• Deterrent laws and executive action alone cannot bring down levels of dishonesty. The analogy is with conventional crime. Consensus among criminologists is that stiffer sentences are not accompanied by a dip in crime.
• The Quad should be propped up judiciously towards furthering India’s Indo-Pacific strategy. It can assume a key role in the Indo-Pacific strategy.
• Only transparent pricing and accounting will help the discoms recover their dues.

50 WORD TALK

• The Biden administration is proactively working to alter the strategic environment around China to force a change in its policies. With the help of Quad, AUKUS, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and military exchanges with the ASEAN, it is trying to isolate China and push back its aggressive, expansionary activities. China’s hostile activities against Taiwan and other neighbours would draw these countries closer to the USA.
• The Nepal Army is mostly trained and equipped by India. The Indian Army helped it in containing Maoist insurgency. The bilateral group on security cooperation was set up in its aftermath. New Delhi must treat Kathmandu with respect and not repeat the old mistake of taking Nepal for granted. The most worrying consequence of the Agnipath scheme could be the weakening of the ‘diplomatic bridge’ between Nepal and India.
• The government must implement reforms to end unlawful surveillance by the intelligence services, recommended by a Supreme Court-appointed committee. Illegal use of interception technologies like Pegasus against political opponents has gone unchecked for decades. A Prime Minister who suffered the Emergency should understand why it’s a deep threat to democracy.

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.