WSDP Bulletin (03-01-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. MeitY releases Draft amendments to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 in relation to online gaming READ MORE  
2. Majority verdict finds no flaw in 2016 demonetisation process READ MORE
3. RBI tags SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank as Systemically Important Banks READ MORE
4. What is the new delimitation exercise by Assam? READ MORE
5. A new coronavirus variant on the block READ MORE
6. For first time in many years, no rhinos poached in Assam in 2022 READ MORE
7. States may push for debate on central schemes, cesses READ MORE
8. Horn of Africa: 20 million children at risk of disease, thirst, starvation, says UNICEF READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. For a new paradigm of growth: Groundwater crises of Arizona and Punjab show how things have gone wrong READ MORE
2. Need to address root-causes of domestic violence READ MORE  
3. Women: Education, employment, empowerment READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Ayes and nays: On remote EVMs for domestic migrants READ MORE
2. Rethinking the Muslim law of inheritance: Why Muslims should rightfully be able to give their daughters an equal share in their properties through a will READ MORE
3. Decoding the note ban verdict READ MORE
4. Legal teeth for data protection & privacy needed READ MORE
5. Data Protection Bill Is Riddled With Arbitrary Provisions That Violate the Right to Privacy READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Why EWS reservation defeats the purpose of reservation READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India’s dilemmas in an Asian century: For status quoist India, the rise of the Asian century might turn out to be too seeped in harsh realpolitik for its comfort READ MORE
2. Why China is happy with Nepal’s new PM READ MORE
3. China’s growing influence in Nepal means India’s diplomacy and project delivery will need to improve READ MORE
4. India must counter China economically READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. GST buoyancy: On GST revenues in December READ MORE
2. Demonetisation verdict: Six years later, farce after tragedy READ MORE
3. It’s time to consider a wealth tax that may lessen Indian inequality READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Loss of biodiversity and the new Global Biodiversity Framework READ MORE  

SECURITY

1. Combating the menace of narcotics consumption READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Faith provides the supreme immunity READ MORE
2. Realise and revive READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Data Protection Bill is riddled with arbitrary provisions that violate the Right to Privacy’. Examine.
2. ‘As the gap between women’s education and women’s employment continues to widen, the question arises if women are truly being empowered’. In light of the statement discuss how the discrimination against women at the workplace can be addressed?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.
• While the Bill takes several commendable steps to ensure that it complies with global standards of data protection, it nevertheless suffers from several infirmities that render its constitutionality questionable.
• A greater engagement with Constitution in our everyday workplaces and social conversations will go a long way in refining our understanding of the Constitution – so that in this upcoming cultural collision if you will, there is a collective sense of the constitutional idea of India.
• As the gap between women’s education and women’s employment continues to widen, the question arises if women are truly being empowered.
• Reservation on the basis of economic disadvantage can only be justified if the provision or policy attempts to eliminate the ingrained economic disadvantages that welfare measures cannot address.
• While the impact of domestic violence on the victim is worrisome, it can also have a traumatic effect on witnesses, especially kids.
• The pursuit of relentless growth of global and national GDP has become cancer that is sucking water out of the Earth.
• For status quo India, the rise of the Asian century might turn out to too seep in harsh realpolitik for its comfort
• Even the ECI had expressed doubts about the practicality of remote voting rights for migrants in the past. Meanwhile, there is also an active demand for voting rights for Non-Resident Indians. Higher turnout is worth striving for, but not without sufficient safeguards.
• Laws are an imperfect solution to social problems, but to clearly, loudly and unambiguously say something is not okay signifies something beyond itself. Some lines must be drawn, even if in the sand.
• As India debates the latest border clashes with China, Delhi should keep in mind that China has moved to security over economics mode, making a Chinese compromise less likely.
• A scheme such as MGNREGS needs to evolve while keeping its core idea of a demand-driven work allocation intact. Treating it as a burden will only hurt genuine beneficiaries.

ESSAY TOPIC

• The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.
• Best way to predict future is to create it READ MORE

50-WORD TALK

• India’s China challenge has to be managed through trade and investment rather than by flexing military and diplomatic muscles. India has a diplomatic advantage over China because it is a more westernised country. But India has to find a more substantial way to deal with China, which lies in the economic sphere. India has to carve out its own niche in world affairs, but without using China as a reference point.
• We should gauge the import of the word ‘digital’ added to the present Data Protection Bill. In the digital realm, the magic is created by servers and phones. So, secure and robust data empowerment will happen if loopholes of both are plugged. Cyberspace and telecom platforms should have an overarching regulatory body. To begin with, the Grievance Appellate Committee can be merged with the Data Protection Board.

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.