WSDP Bulletin (19-09-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Typhoon Nanmadol Makes Landfall In Japan, Millions Asked To Evacuate READ MORE
2. Chhattisgarh’s Sawar, Sawara and Saunra: one and the same tribe now READ MORE
3. New rules for child welfare panel members READ MORE
4. USTR convenes meeting to discuss WTO’s dispute settlement reforms in Bali on Sep 21; Piyush Goyal to attend READ MORE
5. ‘Organic demand in India for semiconductors … domestic manufacturing a necessity’ READ MORE
6. Centre, states tussle over a centralised market for electricity READ MORE
7. Devas-Antrix deal: Bengaluru court okays serving fugitive economic offender notice to Devas CEO READ MORE
8. Andhra Pradesh government files SLP in Supreme Court against High Court verdict on three capitals READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. How climate change is altering Indian monsoon READ MORE
2. Water-forest relations need to be respected READ MORE
3. The gender pay gap, hard truths and actions needed READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. How govt’s essential medicines list ensures supply, keeps prices in check READ MORE
2. Improve the quality of legal aid services READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. What numbers don’t tell us READ MORE
2. HEALTHcare in TIER II & III CITIES READ MORE
3. India’s low HDI rank reflects poverty, inequality READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Explained | Will the future of the Commonwealth change? READ MORE  
2. Geopolitics without geoeconomics, a fool’s errand: India’s current policy of pursuing geopolitical ends without geoeconomic ballast is a regressive step READ MORE
3. India needs a holistic and effective ‘techplomacy’ strategy READ MORE
4. Make UNGA meaningful: World leaders must realise that it is high time to tackle global problems together READ MORE
5. INDIAN DIPLOMACY on the fast track READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Matching ecology with agricultural economics READ MORE
2. What explains the divergence between the RBI and govt on monetary policy? READ MORE
3. Can India realise its economic potential? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Ravi Chellam writes: There are better ways than cheetahs to revive ecosystems READ MORE

SECURITY

1. A disruptive nexus of China and Pakistan: There is little doubt that China uses Pakistan as a proxy military and nuclear power against India READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Weaponization of nationalism poses a threat to peace READ MORE
2. No shortcuts to the state of liberation READ MORE
3. Cosmic Perceptibility READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Developing countries are entering a divergent social, political and economic period with sharp downside risks for the most vulnerable and regression in gender equality’. Critically examine.
2. ‘Changes and reforms, howsoever well-intentioned, will deliver beneficial results only if the implementing laws and machinery are appropriate’. In the light of the statement, enumerates the reasons for the failure of the government to attract FDI and Indian private sector investment for Make in India?
3. ‘The Indian state needs to address the ability to utilise technology as a credible foreign policy and diplomacy tool’. Analyse the statement in the light of recent developments.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Common interest may always be reckoned upon as the surest bond of sympathy.
• Since forests are the primary source of almost 75 per cent of freshwater in the world, there’s a need for concerted global efforts to conserve these.
• The United Nations HDI Report must warn the policy makers in India of growing inequality and stress among people.
• Developing countries are entering a divergent social, political and economic period with sharp downside risks for the most vulnerable and regression in gender equality.
• Advanced technology and digitalization have opened doors for healthcare workers to grasp information about the latest inventions every day and this is another plus point for such cities to emerge as a major healthcare hub in the country.
• It is unfortunate though that UNGA, being one of the biggest world bodies, doesn’t have any real powers to implement its resolutions which are still controlled by the five countries with the veto power. India had rightly pointed that out last year.
• The Indian economy is operating much below its potential. We need governance, judiciary & economy reforms to catapult India to the top.
• Changes and reforms, howsoever well-intentioned, will deliver beneficial results only if the implementing laws and machinery are appropriate. These are the very reasons for the failure of the government to attract FDI and Indian private sector investment for Make in India.
• The Indian state must address the ability to utilise technology as a credible foreign policy and diplomacy tool.
• The scientific foundation of the plan to introduce African cheetahs in India is flawed. It also disregards our national conservation priorities, makes exaggerated conservation claims.
• Asymmetries abound in India’s labour market and closing the gap is key to achieving social justice for working women.
• India’s current policy of pursuing geopolitical ends without geoeconomic ballast is a regressive step.

50-WORD TALK

• Besides discussions on extremism, terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan, the SCO agenda seems to be in continual expansion mode as climate change, technology issues, security of supply chains, energy and food and connectivity were some of the other agenda items that were discussed. The SCO has gained enhanced attention in the context of the West and some of its allies being uneasy with China and Russia, particularly with regard to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and China’s bellicosity vis-à-vis Taiwan.

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.