WSDP Bulletin (05-01-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. CAQM Sub-Committee decides to roll back Stage-III of GRAP in entire NCR with immediate effect READ MORE  
2. Union Cabinet approves National Green Hydrogen Mission READ MORE
3. Indian coal power plants should be compensated for forced generation in 2022: regulator READ MORE
4. Cards, mobile, net banking top complaint areas at banking ombudsman: RBI READ MORE
5. Cabinet panel clears scheme to upgrade Prasar Bharati READ MORE
6. India tried to defuse Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant situation: EAM Jaishankar READ MORE
7. Silent Valley bird species goes up to 175 READ MORE
8. Mamata demands national status for Gangasagar Mela READ MORE
9. 50 ASI-protected monuments disappear: How did they go ‘missing’, what happens next READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. How to cool a green space? Plant trees downstream of wind READ MORE
2. After excess rainfall, now poor prices leave Marathwada cotton farmers in debt READ MORE
3. Need to address root-causes of domestic violence READ MORE  
4. Women: Education, employment, empowerment READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Supreme Court expands Article 19 ambit: Not just state, even pvt citizens can face challenge READ MORE
2. Gaming and gambling: On the Centre’s move to regulate online gaming READ MORE
3. How free now?: SC did well to warn against further restrictions on free speech. But misuse of IPC provisions needs checking too READ MORE
4. Freebie culture in Indian politics READ MORE
5. Indian judiciary’s well-being is at stake. Conflicts over collegium system can create tension READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: Making healthcare accessible, the digital way READ MORE
2. Uniform Civil Code necessary for gender justice READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. From West Asia to Afghanistan: The worrying rise of fractured geopolitics to fight terrorism READ MORE
2. Incorporating international law in India’s foreign policy READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Mixed signals: On macro-economic data: Manufacturing has gained momentum, but inflation still a concern READ MORE
2. Some critical questions on GM mustard: In a labour-abundant rural economy like India’s, herbicide tolerant crops can upset farming ecosystems READ MORE
3. Can India’s production incentive scheme transform the economy as the SEZ push did for China? READ MORE
4. Did India really achieve its goal of 175 gigawatt of renewable energy by 2022? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Digital technology is next big revolution globally READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Muhammad Iqbal: a poet for all ages READ MORE
2. Lessons from South Africa: The fading Gandhi-Mandela legacy READ MORE
3. Being in the state of flow READ MORE
4. WE ALL ARE SMALL BUT WE MUST FIT IN WORLD READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Discuss the importance of international laws for foreign policy. In light of the recent developments in international politics, analyse why India needs to incorporate these laws in its foreign policy?
2. ‘Despite its claims of independence and impartiality, the collegium system is plagued by serious weaknesses and flaws that have had a detrimental impact on the functioning of the judiciary’. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The capacity for inner dialogue is a touchstone for outer objectivity.
• India needs to engage in a critical study of international law and utilise it to effectively conduct its foreign policy and engage in lawfare.
• India has been acquiring a central stage in world affairs and international order in the recent years. Besides benefits, this has brought challenges also like the China factor, terrorism in the near neighbourhood, issues relating to carbon emissions and climate compensation and reduced multilateralism.
• India is a prime example of suffering at the hands of partisan views and narrow geopolitical aims against terrorism.
• If something is legally correct, it does not automatically become constitutionally sound.
• As we prioritise the integrity and independence of the judiciary, it is crucial to address the flaws in the appointment process and seek a solution that ensures fair and impartial judicial appointments.
• Despite its claims of independence and impartiality, the collegium system is plagued by serious weaknesses and flaws that have had a detrimental impact on the functioning of the judiciary.
• The government has been criticised for selectively appointing some of the judges recommended by the collegium while delaying or ignoring the appointments of others, thereby altering the seniority of the judges.
• Digital technology with digital learning when put to good use will open its gate to digital opportunity i.e. it will lead to opening of new possibilities which will further lead to communication, social networking, collaboration, content management and access to analytics data, along with staff and customer satisfaction.
• There should be widespread public consultation to ensure that economic rights, individual freedoms, and social imperatives remain in balance.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Humanities develop a rounded personality

50-WORD TALK

• The deadly Ukrainian rocket strikes on Russian soldiers in Makiivka—killing at least 63, perhaps hundreds—demonstrate President Vladimir Putin’s military is technologically and tactically outclassed. Putin can continue obliterating Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure but at the price of his country’s economic future. The world needs to push Putin to end unwinnable war.
• It is desirable that the Uniform Civil Code should neither be a Hindu code nor a Muslim one. It should be a positive, secular and composite code, subscribing to the universal principles of equality, non-discrimination and human dignity. An ideal UCC should include monogamy, equal rights for son and daughter over the inheritance of parental property, and gender and religious neutrality in matters of marriage, divorce, adoption, succession, will and charity.

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.