WSDP Bulletin (21-01-2023)

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(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with Indian Coast Guard, Ministry of Defence to present Adi Shaurya -Parv Parakram Ka, Military Tattoo and Tribal Dance at JLN Stadium in New Delhi READ MORE  
2. Forex reserves zoom by $10.417 billion to $572 billion READ MORE
3. Despite economic growth, urban youth find fewer jobs; hiring slows in export-dependent sectors READ MORE
4. Government policy muddle is stalling production of biodegradable plastic READ MORE
5. India can lead efforts to find new TB vaccine, says WHO’s former chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan READ MORE
6. SC allows caste census, says how else will Bihar fix quota READ MORE
7. Women get command roles in the Indian Army: why this is a remarkable achievement READ MORE
8. WEF 2023: Leaders say speed, cooperation, resilience can mend fragmented world READ MORE
9. NGT probe into cruise operating in Bhopal Ramsar wetland READ MORE
10. Quelea: Environmentalists protest Kenyan government’s move to poison millions of ‘feathered locusts’ READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Aging factory: On China’s population decline: The decline in China’s population will affect the rest of the world too READ MORE
2. An Ancient Recipe for Social Success READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. There is hardly any autonomy at the panchayat level READ MORE
2. Collegium vs Centre: On elevation of a gay judge, constitutional morality vs majoritarian morality READ MORE
3. Appointments, disappointments: Is the wrong person appointed a judge? Is the right person rejected? Here’s what some judges say READ MORE
4. Taking on Govt: The Supreme Court has put up its communication with the Government on its website READ MORE
5. State Governments and the Role of Governors READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. ASER survey points to arduous path ahead READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The inevitable geopolitical lens in Sri Lanka READ MORE
2. Maldives polls, India’s concerns READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Trade winds: On falling Indian exports READ MORE
2. CRYPTO-CURRENCIES SHOULD BE BANNED READ MORE
3. The Power Bill~I READ MORE
4. The Power Bill~II READ MORE
5. Growth of India’s NBFCs means more compliances, regulations. Go digital to keep track READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Human-Animal Conflict Increasing in Kerala, Farmers Demand Scientific Measures for Prevention READ MORE

TECHNOLOGY

1. Why artificial intelligence still has a long way to go READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Defence budget must be capability-driven READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Himalayan challenge: Prioritise sustainable development to save the hills READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Life is a spiral READ MORE
2. Live in peace, not in search of it READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘New defense and security cooperation efforts are springing up across the Indo-Pacific’. In the light of statement, analyse how new security grouping in Indo-Pacific are fueling up regional tensions in region?
2. ‘Careful management of hydropower resources is essential to ensure its positive impacts on climate change and avoid transboundary river conflicts’. Comment on the statement in light of transboundary riven conflicts between India and neighboring countries.
3. ‘A system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch gaining the upper hand is essential for democratic functioning’. Comment on the statement in the light of recent stand-off between Judiciary and Executive.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Propaganda is a monologue that is not looking for an answer, but an echo.
• The increasing number of wild animals and reduction of food and water sources due to the increasing presence of exotic species rather than native varieties lead to wild animals invading human habitats.
• Where the union government is busy stifling with the conduct of state governments through the post of the governor, one can only conclude that good governance is certainly not its top political priority.
• When the RBI governor is emphatic in his view that crypto currency is going to be the instrument for next financial crisis, the policy makers must act quickly to ensure that our economy is insulated from such a crisis.
• A bit of urgency on the part of the top court over the collegium would go a long way in smoothing its relationship with the Government. Two organs of the State bickering with each other all the time is not a good advertisement for either India or democracy.
• The court may have perhaps missed an opportunity to clarify the true extent or limits to the guarantee of the currency by the state.
• Technology can potentially meet the diverse needs of different demographic groups of workers, in terms of location, flexibility and hours of work.
• India’s population presents a chance for growth, but inequality and elderly care need attention.
• Like the larger policy framework within which they are set, the UGC’s draft rules emphasise quality without corresponding measures to safeguard equal access.
• To suggest that the basic structure doctrine is by itself unsanctioned is to place the Constitution at the legislature’s whim.
• A system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch gaining the upper hand is essential for democratic functioning.

50-WORD TALK

• Supreme Court has ushered transparency to some extent by making its position on the reiterated judges’ names public. But this should also extend to all candidates. Making these unsubstantial government arguments public can only intensify the executive-judiciary faceoff. This spat must end now. Larger public interest is at stake here
• The proposed new amendment to IT Rules seeks to give outsized, Orwellian powers to the government over the news media. The State cannot appropriate the right to declare an article false and force publishers and platforms to take it down. It’s shocking that this incredible overreach is even being proposed.
• Suppose a robust national R&D, industrial and manufacturing base was deemed to be a critical determinant of composite military capability in the 20th century. In that case, it is axiomatic that in the current era, a high quality national education ecosystem is central to acquiring the kind of technological profile that a major power needs to deal with the complex challenges it will have to grapple with.

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.