WSDP Bulletin (21-11-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Xi urges better ties in rare summit with Australia READ MORE
2. Nine Russian banks open Vostro accounts for rupee trade READ MORE
3. India’s population growth appears to be stabilising: UN READ MORE
4. In worst slide since 2020, October exports drop 16.7% to $29.78 bn READ MORE
5. Kashi Tamil Sangamam begins Thursday: What is the ancient connect between Kashi and the Tamil land? READ MORE
6. India abstains on UNGA resolution calling for Russia to pay reparations to Ukraine READ MORE
7. Data protection Bill revised: Penalty up to Rs 200 crore if firms don’t have safeguards READ MORE
8. State of the Climate in Asia 2021 READ MORE
9. Explained | Google’s 1,000 language AI model READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Focus is on education, conserving culture & customs READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Chasing utopia — the quest for a Uniform Civil Code READ MORE
2. Earning the ticket: Dropping underperforming MLAs is good practice. But it’s possible only in parties with strong leadership READ MORE
3. Electoral reforms must in all quarters READ MORE
4. JUDICIAL REFORM: A DAUNTING DECELERATION READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Is climate change affecting global health? READ MORE  

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. G20: India’s development model can lead the way READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The shape of the Indian economic pie must change READ MORE
2. RBI should pause rate hikes, boost growth READ MORE
3. Can India Seize the Demographic Advantage? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. A tigress entered Almora from Corbett and was shot; Where is the accountability? READ MORE
2. Health as the focus of air pollution policy READ MORE
3. Joint effort. ‘Water credits’ can fund climate needs READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. The paradox of sacrifice READ MORE
2. A Positive Engagement READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The EWS quota is unfair because it twists the idea of social justice by bequeathing further privilege to communities who are historically situated to benefit from the caste system’. How far do you agree with this view? Analyse your views.
2. ‘The agriculture of tomorrow is going to be science-based, and the winners will be those who adopt it and develop it further today’. In the light of this statement, discuss whether India should start genetically modified cropping?
3. ‘The US is welcome to cement its partnership with India in various sectors, but it is well advised not to dictate terms to the latter with regard to Russia’. Comment on the statement in the light of recent developments in International politics.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• You cannot spend your way out of recession or borrow your way out of debt.
• With S&P Global’s latest Business Outlook survey pointing to an intensification of wage pressures and producer pass-through of costs, authorities can ill-afford to drop their guard in the fight against inflation.
• A discussion on the viability of an otherwise unenforceable UCC has been made possible only because it finds an inscrutable mention in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
• The majority needs to benefit much faster than a tiny minority on top, which will require reforms of institutions and economic ideology and the Government listening to the needs of common citizens.
• India’s long-term strategy for low carbon development is consistent with its net-zero targets and outlines a road map for key industries.
• As the second highest user of freshwater in the country, industry can use its CSR funds imaginatively so that conservation gains are maximized.
• Water credits represent a fixed quantum of water that is conserved or generated and can be transacted between water deficit and water surplus entities within a sub-basin.
• To make the electoral system free and fair in the world’s largest democracy, the use of money and muscle power must be curbed in the Indian context.
• Without an efficient justice delivery system and a subsisting rule of law, a country’s development would be a utopian thought only.
• Judicial Infrastructure of our country has not improved & paced up to achieve the desired level since the British period.
• The demand for justice and change in the justice delivery system cannot be suppressed or ignored in the manner it is perverting in India. It needs to be enhanced with technology for curtailing the cost and the barrier of language in the Indian judicial system.
• The demand for justice and change in the justice delivery system cannot be suppressed or ignored in the manner it is perverting in India. It needs to be enhanced with technology for curtailing the cost and the barrier of language in the Indian judicial system.
• Paramount change in the existing law and adequate judicial infrastructure is required to accelerate the judicial system, to deliver qualitative, speedy justice to the citizens of India by saving millions of lives from being frustrated with the judicial system and the process of access to justice.
• In the new India, access to justice is the privilege of the powerful and rich people. Poor people are still suffering from the quantum of injustice which begins with a traffic constable up to the Supreme Court.

50-WORD TALK

• India’s COP27 commitment to raise its installed nuclear power capacity by threefold by 2032 as part of its long-term low-carbon development strategy is encouraging. India’s nuclear sector has enormous potential to expand but overcautious government plans have crawled. Nuclear is expensive, which’s where rich countries should step in and help.

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.