WSDP Bulletin (25-01-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Mission LiFE Pavilion to be set up at Bharat Parv event to encourage people to become Pro Planet READ MORE
2. IMF confirms receipt of India’s financing assurances for Sri Lanka READ MORE
3. What if risk of commercial release of GM Mustard is irreversible, Supreme Court asks government READ MORE
4. Explained | What ails the Ken-Betwa river link project?  READ MORE
5. Mass mortality of Olive Ridley turtles in Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh raises concerns READ MORE
6. India said to likely peg FY24 nominal GDP growth at about 11% in Budget READ MORE
7. Norovirus cases detected in Kerala: what is this virus and how dangerous is it? READ MORE
8. Transition to expected credit loss-based provisioning may hit banks only one time: Icra READ MORE
9. SC directs Centre to submit status report on ban of pesticides READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Need economic policy to cope with ageing population READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The new and dark interpretations of ‘We the People’ READ MORE 
2. Constitution as ‘North Star’: CJI turns spotlight on issues critical to democratic endurance of Indian State READ MORE
3. Deepfake narratives: CEC triggers debate on threat to free and fair polls READ MORE
4. Structural strength: The basic structure of the Constitution has authority READ MORE
5. Roe versus Wade fifty years on: What does its fall teach us about the fragility of democratic institutions? READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Developing schools without barriers READ MORE
2. Can the debate be extricated from identity politics and refocused on gender equality? READ MORE
3. EDUCATION REFORM IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. In President Sisi visit, India and Egypt look to rekindle non-aligned era ties READ MORE
2. India India, Egypt elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership READ MORE
3. Give peace a chance: G20 presidency is an opportunity to lead the initiative READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Sovereign Green Bonds: What do they mean for investors, and the environment? READ MORE
2. Lower tax rates, not a great idea READ MORE
3. Budget needs a road map for reducing fiscal deficit READ MORE
4. Irrigation and the spatial pattern of local economic development in India READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Focus on saving India’s wetlands READ MORE
2. Climate change fuelling conflict in Lake Chad Basin: Report READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Conference of top cops, attended by PM Narendra Modi, must not ignore basic policing problems 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. Live life ethically READ MORE
2. EDUCATION REFORM IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR 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

• Constitution is not a mere lawyers’ document, it is a vehicle of life. Its spirit is always the spirit of the age. — BR Ambedkar
• 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

• The Supreme Court has listened to experts and decided on simplifying the cumbersome procedure for execution of passive euthanasia. The commendable move will ensure that the ‘right to die with dignity’ is given teeth on ground and help families of terminally ill patients avoid the additional trauma of red tapism.
• The policy must seek to bring down the maternal and infant mortality rates, improve nutrition levels and expand training. This will allow healthy mothers to go back to work after giving birth and their babies to grow up to become healthy youngsters and robust workers. The youngsters must be properly educated so that after completing schooling they are able to access vocational training and acquire skills which enable them to work with increasingly sophisticated technology.

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.