WSDP Bulletin (04-01-2023)

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(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. ADB, India sign $350 million loan to improve in Maharashtra READ MORE  
2. India takes over leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union READ MORE
3. India said to aim for $17 bln cut in food, fertiliser subsidies in FY24 READ MORE
4. Constitution a living document, capable of incorporating changing aspirations of people: President READ MORE
5. PM, CMs have no disciplinary control over members of the Council of Ministers: Supreme Court READ MORE
6. Draft rules for online gaming: What are the regulations govt has released, and why READ MORE
7. How the Earth’s tilt creates short, cold January days READ MORE
8. N. Security Council welcomes new members including two first timers READ MORE
9. What is causing the winter heat wave in Europe? 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. Overly deferential: On Supreme Court judgment on demonetisation READ MORE
2. Building a pact on free speech READ MORE
3. RTI Act does not need any covert amendment; it needs implementation READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. SC’s triple test for OBC quota can start fresh caste conflicts. Govt must step in READ MORE
2. Maharashtra Government’s decision to monitor marriages is the latest push towards ‘othering’ experiment READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. How global power dynamics are shifting with the Russia-Ukraine war and what challenges it poses for India READ MORE
2. US-China relation is at an inflection point READ MORE
3. Japan’s new security strategy to counter China is a lesson for India READ MORE
4. Why the return of a communist prime minister in Nepal has raised concern in Delhi READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. High growth … but do more: India’s humming economy isn’t yet helping much of its low-income citizens, who need the education deficit bridged and policies that promote job-creation READ MORE
2. Huge potential in our new FTAs READ MORE
3. Rising unemployment: Job creation biggest challenge for government READ MORE
4. Raise resources to produce, import fuels READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Mission LiFE and women’s E-waste side story READ MORE  
2. India Pitches for Climate Finance Internationally, But Prioritises ‘Development’ at Home READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Digi Yatra: Convenience at a Cost? READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Preventing animal cruelty is a duty of the state READ MORE
2. All you have to do is be happy READ MORE
3. Genius and pacifism READ MORE
4. RESOLVING LIFE’S DILEMMAS is an art READ MORE
5. Humanities develop a rounded personality READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Ideology plays a critical role in shaping how Nepal’s internal politics powers its foreign policy’. In light of this statement, discuss why the formation of the communist government has posed serious concerns for India-Nepal relations?
2. ‘If the USA’s partners in Asia, including India, do not share a sufficient weight of the burden of Countering China Strategy, China will not be balanced’. Comment.
3. The signing of FTAs with the United Arab Emirates and Australia demonstrates the government’s determination to capitalise on emerging global trends while also safeguarding domestic interests. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.
• Although the Digi Yatra aims to make airports future-ready, it does not tackle the real causes of congestion in airports.
• Open incineration and acid leeching often used by informal workers are directly impacting the environment and posing serious health risks.
• No additional restrictions other than those mentioned in Article 19(2) can be imposed on free speech, the Supreme Court has ruled in a unanimous judgment.
• ‘Pro-China’ Prachanda and KP Sharma Oli’s frequent run-ins with the Indian government have raised the spectre of an uneasy path ahead for India-Nepal relations.
• Ideology plays a critical role in shaping how Nepal’s internal politics powers its foreign policy.
• If the USA’s partners in Asia, including India, do not share a sufficient weight of the burden of the Counter Strategy for China, China will not be balanced.
• Science and Technology institutes will not be able to foster holistic development of students without studying humanities, which are crucial for building character.
• The pursuit of absolute truth often becomes a pseudo search because researchers fail to understand the ultimate goal of any research: the common good of humanity.
• Policymakers in India are in a bind over the growing oil import bill which is putting pressure on the current account deficit.
• A judicial rap on policy questions matters little. But it might give governments cause for pause before implementing decisions with far-reaching consequences for the people.
• A way to approach the jallikattu dispute is to see it in the context of our own right to live in a world that treats animals with equal concern.
• The signing of FTAs with the United Arab Emirates and Australia demonstrates the government’s determination to capitalise on emerging global trends, while also safeguarding domestic interests.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Humanities develop a rounded personality

50-WORD TALK

• The Supreme Court’s 4-1 verdict holding demonetisation as legal is a good caution on the judiciary wading into executive decisions. Judges are right to underline the importance to avoid getting into the outcomes. Yet, this verdict, six years after the event, is like a wasteful autopsy on a mummified corpse.
• Justice B.V. Nagarathna’s brilliant dissent on demonetisation is as significant as former Justice Indu Malhotra’s on the 2018 five-judge Sabarimala case. That these most significant dissenting orders have come from women judges underlines the value of diversity to balance groupthink on the bench. Pity, the bench has so few women.

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.