WSDP Bulletin (21-12-2022)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Improved, heavy rare earth-free, low-cost magnets for EV vehicles could reduce mobility costs READ MORE  
2. PMGSY in Backward and Tribal Dominated Areas READ MORE
3. Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture READ MORE
4. Fitch retains India rating at BBB-, cites robust medium-term growth outlook READ MORE
5. Vadnagar town, Modhera Sun Temple, Unakoti sculptures added to UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites READ MORE
6. Rule 267 becomes the bone of contention in Rajya Sabha READ MORE
7. New health threat? Pathogens frozen in permafrost resurface as Earth heats up READ MORE
8. Small loans: Microcredit means more people can borrow money — but more scrutiny is also needed READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. As fog comes to Delhi, a look at the phenomenon and what causes it READ MORE
2. Gender violence: To change society, start at home READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Upholding the autonomy of the Election Commission READ MORE
2. Judicial independence, above all READ MORE
3. CAG Reforms~I READ MORE
4. CAG Reforms~II READ MORE
5. Anti-Conversion Laws and the Mobilising of Coercive Power READ MORE
6. Case to improve judicial efficiency in India READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Social morality can’t dictate dignity, or rights READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Tawang clash: Sixty years on, why doesn’t India have a China-specific strategy? READ MORE
2. India must reorient its China policy READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Digital rupee can transform India’s financial transactions READ MORE
2. India must speed up shift to renewable energy generation READ MORE
3. Unilateral carbon pricing: India needs to work on carbon border tariffs READ MORE
4. How Rise in Income Inequality is Linked With Growing Wealth Inequity READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Unity in biodiversity: Doing little about extinction of other species is a suicide pact by 8 billion humans. But here’s some good news READ MORE  

SECURITY

1. Terror activity drops: Amid challenges, a flicker of hope in J&K READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Ready for the worst: on government’s better preparedness for cyclones READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Our reality and the web of causality READ MORE
2. Right to salvation READ MORE
3. GOD’S love is for one and all READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. To realise India’s demographic dividend, we must improve our gender dividend. Comment.
2. An intervention framework that acts at multiple levels of society is needed to end the pervasive nature of gender-based violence and create a gender-equitable future.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Economic growth without investment in human development is unsustainable and unethical.
• To improve accessibility for all, socio-legal and health systems must be integrated into an age- and gender-inclusive manner.
• Gender equality can be achieved when girls and boys have equal rights, conditions, opportunities, and power to shape their lives and affect society.
• Socio-cultural factors play a significant role in shaping the way women are perceived in society.
• An intervention framework that acts at multiple levels of society (individual, community, institutional, legal, and policy) is needed to end the pervasive nature of gender-based violence and create a gender-equitable future.
• The Indian legal system as it is designed now, is suited to favour the rich, which makes the idea of access to justice a distant dream. Reforms at several levels are required for it to be made accessible in the true sense.
• Colonial governments essentialised religious practices and communities to create governable populations. The present-day regime remains just as ignorant of the fluidity of faith and faith-based practices in India.
• Montreal marks a breakthrough in the struggle to protect the planet’s biodiversity richness. A beginning has been made. The United Nations pact establishes a global benchmark but the lack of agreement on financing is a worry.
• A credible and impartial system of appointing judges is necessary. Any appointment must ensure judicial accountability, fostering a judiciary that, at an individual and systemic level, is independent of other branches of government.
• In sorting out the method by which the Election Commission of India is constituted, the guiding principle must be functional and effective independence from the executive.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Economic growth without investment in human development is unsustainable and unethical.

50-WORD TALK

• Delhi L-G V.K. Saxena’s order to recover Rs 97 crore from AAP for political advertisements published as government ads is exemplary. Government ads must adhere to SC guidelines and information about its policies, programmes and people’s rights and entitlements. Ruling parties must stop using taxpayers’ money to serve political interests.
• Opposition parties’ demand for a trade ban with China is impractical and driven by political considerations. Indian defence forces and diplomats can deal with Chinese mischiefs adequately and effectively. Modi government should take the opposition into confidence on sensitive national security matters instead. Broken politics is India’s biggest strategic vulnerability.

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 is 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.