WSDP Bulletin (08-09-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Delhi’s Rajpath, Central Vista lawns to be renamed as ‘Kartavya Path’ READ MORE
2. Cabinet clears India-Maldives MoU on disaster management READ MORE
3. Modi govt pushes ministries to boost capex to help India get into top 3 global economies READ MORE
4. More than half of Indian bird species are in academic campuses, says WII study READ MORE
5. Why is Greenland ice sheet melting faster this September? Experts weigh in READ MORE
6. India, Bangladesh sign 2 agreements to deepen railway co-operation READ MORE
7. India’s external debt rises 8.2% to $620.7 bn till Mar 2022: FinMin report READ MORE
8. India drops one spot to 132nd in UN Human Development Index for 2021 READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Positive secularism is allowed, student tells Supreme Court in Hijab case READ MORE
2. Partition and Independence~II READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The evolving role of CSR in funding NGOs: Beyond signing cheques, corporates are recognising that what’s good for society is good for business READ MORE
2. More action needed: Gadkari wants seat belts mandatory for all passengers, but a lot needs to be done to make roads safer READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Expand the focus on foundational learning READ MORE  
2. High scoring but poor: The misallocation of talent in higher education READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The Spirit of 1971: India and Bangladesh must focus on future cooperation based on past partnership READ MORE
2. The wheat of the matter: Disruption of supply chains due to Ukraine war has implications for India’s food security READ MORE
3. Reforming the UNSC to tackle a changing world READ MORE
4. Build a strategic role for IORA in Indo-Pacific READ MORE
5. China-backed Quad in West Asia on the anvil READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. How ideology muddled inflation control in India: The agencies responsible for macroeconomic policy have hitched their wagon to Anglo-American economics READ MORE
2. Govt’s push for international trade in rupee: why and how READ MORE
3. A plan for states to propel the economy READ MORE
4. Arrival of the gig worker: Businesses must come to terms with moonlighting & changed nature of work READ MORE
5. Harnessing the power of waves to create power READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Farming needs overhaul to survive climate change READ MORE

SECURITY

1. It’s time to beef up cyber security READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Lessons from Pakistan: Governance is key to disaster resilience READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Work of Gods Or spirits READ MORE
2. The ethics of inequality: It’s not good enough to be rich if you are a Dalit as well READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘It is essential for elections using electronic means to adhere to standard democratic principles. Only then can elections be free and fair, engendering confidence in election outcomes and democratic process’. Comment on the statement.
2. The wealth of wisdom of ancient India seems to have been overshadowed by the hegemony of the West in the form of the tradition of ‘Orientalism’. Examine the statement with the help of relevant examples.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
• The agencies responsible for macroeconomic policy have hitched their wagon to Anglo-American economics.
• CSR funders are following several themes to make this transition, such as hiring professionals, coming together in collaboratives, and defining and publishing their impact metrics to hold themselves accountable.
• If India is to become a defence power, then an Indo-U.S. military collaboration in every field is necessary.
• While cross-border sensitivities in South Asia often run high over such political rhetoric, it is necessary that New Delhi and Dhaka remain focused on their future cooperation, built on their past partnership, and what is referred to as the “Spirit of 1971”.
• Higher devolution, interest-free loans and easing of restrictions will ease stress on state finances.
• Given the rising interest rates scenario, it makes economic sense for the states to avail the interest-free borrowing for fresh capital spending and/or clearing pending bills.
• Internationally, positional limits could be set on speculators but that would require a multilateral accord, a topic which should be on the agenda at the next G-20 meeting.
• Policymakers, agri-scientists and farmers must come together to form a Climate Risk Management Board (CRMB) to create a sustainable solution in the form of climate-resilient farming.
• If an organisation fails to recognise and respect this ‘need’, it will not be able to hang on to the most creative talents.

50-WORD TALK

• After Cyrus Mistry’s death, the spotlight on seat belts is highly warranted. But attention to safety shouldn’t be episodic. Or wait for a tragedy. Violations are rampant on Indian roads, whether it’s not wearing helmets or driving on the wrong side. India needs a sustained, national road safety nudge campaign.
• The Bangladesh-India treaty on sharing Kushiyara river water is welcome, but time’s running out to resolve the Teesta dispute. West Bengal’s resisting ceding water, so Prime Minister Narendra Modi must reach out to the state. Failure undermines Bangladesh allies who crushed anti-India terror. India can’t let politics sabotage national interests.

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.