WSDP Bulletin (31-08-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Explained | Challenging the Special Marriage Act, 1954 READ MORE
2. Solomon Islands suspends all naval visits READ MORE
3. Delhi Police first force to make collection of forensic evidence mandatory READ MORE
4. Abhijit Sen: An advocate of MSP, public distribution system READ MORE
5. La Ninã conditions enter 3rd year, 6th time since 1950 READ MORE
6. Five-judge Supreme Court Bench to hear EWS quota petitions on September 13 READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. History, Southside: Medieval India’s queens: Were they feminist icons? Not Quite READ MORE
2. How the Ice Ages spurred the evolution of New Zealand’s weird and wiry native plants READ MORE
3. How financial access impacts women’s decision-making role in households READ MORE
4. Suicides by the poor: Lakhs of deserving destitute are denied even their doles READ MORE

 GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. SC’s decision on Pegasus raises troubling questions READ MORE
2. On Pegasus, Supreme Court panel failed its mandate, missed an opportunity READ MORE
3. Is democracy really in danger? READ MORE
4. Politics isn’t just about winning polls READ MORE
5. Vulnerable to Misuse by Police, the New Criminal Identification Act Can Create a Surveillance State READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Despite ‘Solutions’, Anaemia Remains an Unsolved Problem in India READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The many ways of helping Sri Lanka: There is a strong case for greater Indian engagement, especially in certain sectors READ MORE
2. How to end the China dispute READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. How is Russian economy doing under western sanctions? READ MORE
2. Low growth, inequality a trigger for freebies READ MORE
3. ‘Freebie’ row: Six charts explain why states must be allowed to make their own decisions on welfare READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. A South Asian climate plan READ MORE
2. Is it climate crisis that fuelled flooding in Pakistan? READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Floods and foes: India and Pakistan are best placed to help each other during natural disasters READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Let’s welcome Ganesh, the epitome of wisdom READ MORE
2. Fix administration READ MORE
3. Build integral human world order for peace READ MORE
4. Is a Moral Response to War Possible Today? READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Some Indian states, heavily burdened with high fiscal deficit and debt levels, have performing better on developmental outcomes’. In the light of the statement discuss whether the states should be allowed to make their own decisions on welfare and freebies?
2. How far do you agree with this view that the New Criminal Identification Act will Create a Surveillance State? Analyse your view.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
• Frosty and droughty climates posed direct physiological challenges to plants, but they also left them more exposed to browsing; they thus developed anti-browsing defences to survive.
• While the government continues to promote it as a tool to expedite investigations, the reality is that it is another tool at the disposal of the state to misuse the criminal justice system to harass whom it deems as dissenters.
• Political proposals, encapsulating ideas and projects, compete with one another. Increased competition at once reflects and gives rise to greater diversity.
• The need of the hour is a serious endeavour on the part of the entire political class to formulate and execute a slew of administrative reforms, to bring in structural changes.
• The menace of bonded and child labour still rears its ugly head. The daily workers’ dire straits were best manifested during the Covid-induced lockdown when the sudden loss of jobs exposed their vulnerability and near-zero social security.
• Several issues regarding the spyware case need to be addressed, including why the SC sealed the report and why the State chose not to cooperate during the committee’s pursuit of the truth. As a matter of public interest, accountability and action must be non-negotiable.
• Governments need to initiate deep rooted reforms on several fronts to curb the ballooning subsidy bill.

50-WORD TALK

• India’s caution on resumption of trade with Pakistan cannot be faulted. Flood-hit Pakistan’s devastated economy stands to gain more by trading directly with India. But Islamabad’s obsession with Kashmir-centric politics and thoughtless diplomatic muscle-flexing has only ended up hurting itself. A U-turn on trade can rekindle hope for the relationship.
• Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais sitting on Election Commission’s recommendation in CM Hemant Soren’s mining lease case is bewildering. Raj Bhawan seems to be encouraging political instability by its inaction. President Droupadi Murmu must direct the governor to discharge his constitutional duties. And remind him that his conduct should be non-partisan.

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.