WSDP Bulletin (15/03/2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. National Project of Soil Health READ MORE  
2. PLI Scheme in Food Processing Sector READ MORE
3. Atal Innovation Mission launches ATL Sarthi READ MORE
4. Armenian PM critical of Moscow-dominated security pact READ MORE
5. House panel apprehensive about ₹15,000 crore PM-PVTG allocation READ MORE
6. RBI has allowed banks from 18 countries to trade in rupee: government in Rajya Sabha READ MORE
7. Bhopal gas tragedy case | Supreme Court dismisses Centre’s petition seeking additional compensation READ MORE
8. Government corrects MPLADS change on allocation for SC/ST areas after concerns raised READ MORE
9. IPCC meet in Switzerland: The significance, likely impact READ MORE  
10. Carbon footprint of marine fisheries lower than global average. Efforts on to green sector: CMFRI READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Married or partnered: Politics won’t defy a largely traditional society. So, civil unions may be a good first step for same-sex couples READ MORE
2. How Does Living with In-Laws Affect Women’s Employment? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. SC is right, Centre wrong on same-sex marriage READ MORE
2. Self-regulation of online gaming will need safeguards READ MORE
3. Relief to Govt READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Inaction and intervention: On the handling of social issues READ MORE   
2. Digital training in healthcare is vital READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. In Saudi-Iranian ‘normalisation’, new challenges emerge in West Asia READ MORE   
2. India and Italy: Friends in a turbulent world READ MORE
3. Iran-Saudi deal casts China as desirable counsel READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. What are India’s immediate growth prospects? READ MORE
2. Silicon Valley Bank collapse: How safe are Indian banks? READ MORE
3. The big bank collapse: Long-term solution needed to deal with systemic issues READ MORE  
4. RBI’s fresh approach is promising READ MORE
5. Policy dilemma: Central banks must focus on inflation READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Look at AI, not ChatGPT READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. How to use free satellite data to monitor natural disasters and environmental changes READ MORE
2. Weather report. Shadow of El Nino over growth READ MORE

SECURITY

1. China-Russia cybersecurity ties taking darker turns. India needs to worry too READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Lessons from Turkey: How to make India earthquake prepared READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Jainism’s three keys to transcendence READ MORE
2. Levels of love READ MORE
3. Ethics, yoga are must for holistic growth READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Any stimulus for growth should be undertaken while adhering to the fiscal consolidation road map to keep India’s medium-term story intact. Comment on the statement in the light of India’s latest growth prospects and fiscal challenges.
2. The China-brokered deal affirms Beijing’s role in West Asian affairs, posing new challenges for Indian diplomacy in the region. Critically Examine.
3. ‘China’s role in the Iran-Saudi rapprochement raises questions about India’s decision to shed its traditional policy of pursuing strict neutrality and going for bilateralism in West Asia’. Examine.
4. Digital training of healthcare professionals is an important step towards achieving the SDGs.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• A banking system is an act of faith: it survives only for as long as people believe it will.
• The Supreme Court’s decision to refer to a Constitution Bench the issue of granting legal recognition to same-sex marriages can be seen as an important step towards ensuring gender equality, despite apprehension that it is encroaching on the legislative domain.
• The China-brokered deal affirms Beijing’s role in West Asian affairs, posing new challenges for Indian diplomacy in the region.
• India will need to engage with China in West Asia where they have a broad gamut of shared interests in energy security, free and open sea lanes, logistical connectivity, and, above all, regional stability. Here, they can work together to further mutual and regional interests.
• A steady growth of 6% to 7% can be ensured over the medium term, only if the fixed capital formation rate is raised by another 2 percentage points. This is notwithstanding the global factors that are not encouraging.
• As our society and nation lurch towards a future in which even the rudimentary semblances of democracy and decency are defied, we are increasingly witness to a shrinking support base of persons who can struggle and assert the need for these indispensable norms.
• In very challenging times, India and Italy intend to give a strong impulse to their relations, united by a millenary tradition of exchanges, linked by the common recognition of the value of true friendship and solidarity.
• The lack of standardized healthcare practices hampers the objective of achieving SDGs which can lead to disparities in care and negative health outcomes.
• Digital training can provide healthcare professionals with a consistent, evidence-based approach to patient care.
• Digital training of healthcare professionals is an important step towards achieving the SDGs.
• Increasing access to quality healthcare education can play a critical role in achieving a more sustainable and equitable world.
• Investing in digital training programs for healthcare professionals can help to ensure that the SDGs are met and we are on track towards achieving our goals.
• A continuous evaluation of banks and other financial institutions would allow the RBI to focus on attaining the objective of price stability.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Women are ready to take charge of this era but they can’t leave their responsibilities behind.

50-WORD TALK

• A responsive government that wants to treat this as a matter of policy and not cede space to the courts would act on its own to consider the right of any two people, regardless of gender, to marry or found a family. Legislative inaction on burning social issues will legitimise and invite judicial intervention.
• Indian policymakers will have to carefully assess the developments because prima facie, the Iran-Saudi rapprochement raises questions about India’s decision to shed its traditional policy of pursuing strict neutrality and going for bilateralism in West Asia. Some Indian scholars have long advocated that India should act as a bridge between contending states of West Asia.
• Wholesale inflation at a two-year low won’t be much relief for policymakers. The systemically more important retail inflation, at 6.44%, was still higher than RBI’s upper comfort limit. Govt and RBI have to quickly get India out of this high inflation, low growth phase—the worst combination for an economy.

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.