WSDP Bulletin (22-03-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. PMFME scheme to support setting up of 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises through credit linked subsidy READ MORE  
2. 6.6 magnitude quake in Afghanistan rocks Delhi-NCR, other parts of north India READ MORE
3. SC to examine if poll bond pleas need to be referred to Constitution Bench READ MORE
4. Explained | Why do so many waste-to-energy plants fail? READ MORE
5. Rahul Gandhi controversy: What is rule 357 of the Rules and Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha READ MORE
6. IPCC releases its Synthesis Report: What are the key takeaways READ MORE
7. Methane emissions from wetlands rose 5-6% since 2000-2006: Study READ MORE
8. Deepening green tech divide between Global North, South to worsen economic inequality, warns UN READ MORE
9. Beyond the hoopla: Millets must be promoted. But health and economic concerns need priority READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. World Water Day: Accelerating change to solve the water crisis READ MORE
2. Centre, states must join hands to ease water woes READ MORE
3. Natural farming and water conservation show the way READ MORE
4. The impact of religious violence and social conflict on women’s age of marriage READ MORE
5. How Does Caste Operate in Indian Higher Education? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Where did the constitutional sympathy for the victims vanish? READ MORE
2. No to sealed cover: Apex court advocates transparency and fairness READ MORE
3. Govern well: Editorial on holders of constitutional offices behaving unconstitutionally READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. NEP and the future of school education READ MORE  

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Tightrope walk: on the India and Japan relationship and challenges from geopolitical issues READ MORE
2. As New Power Equations Emerge in West Asia, India Can Only Stand and Watch READ MORE
3. India’s best friend in Asia READ MORE
4. Xi in Russia: China goes all out to seize the initiative READ MORE
5. A comprehensive partnership: India-Japan relations matter more than before READ MORE
6. India and the world READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Demonetisation and its effect on Indian economy READ MORE
2. Bankable move. Lessons from global banking crisis READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Artificial intelligence may make us work more, not less READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Greening of MSMEs key in India’s journey towards climate-resilience READ MORE
2. Five steps India must take to face climate change READ MORE
3. Balance energy needs with climate action READ MORE
4. A climate wake-up call for the world READ MORE

SECURITY

1. After failure of insurgency in Kashmir, Pakistan is working on Punjab once again READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Celebrating water, the magical molecule of life READ MORE
2. Awaken your inner Shakti READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. As people grow a deeper understanding of technological risk with continuous development, ethical norms need to be improved to match administrative controls and legal constraints. Comment.
2. Governance over sci-tech ethics is by no means meant to hinder the development of science and technology, but rather to steer its legitimate direction with obstacles removed. Discuss.
3. Governance over ethics in science and technology is very important, as regulated technologies and ameliorating values can lead to legitimate technological conduct. Comment.
4. GST is a great reform, but its greatness has been severely limited so far due to a patchy and hurried rollout. Examine the statements and suggest way forward.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The I2U2 creation followed the Emirati assessment that they needed technology and manpower for transitioning to a post-oil economy. Theoretically their joining India and Israel, with US blessings, created a framework for such a transition.
• While India sleep-walked into a US-inspired grouping, China’s counter move to draw away Saudi Arabia has altered the game.
• Reservations may provide access to higher education, but as the many deaths by suicides of Dalit students reflect, the battle for creating truly nourishing educational spaces is a much longer one.
• Beyond statistics and technology, there is a larger need to comprehend water problems and examine the entire situation from a humanitarian angle.
• India achieved unique distinction on the world stage to take its nascent democracy to new heights by keeping equidistance in the bi-polar world.
• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 lays out an educational vision with a lot of promise for the future of education in India.
• The water source for artificial recharge can be rainwater (harvested on the surface) or other sources such as treated wastewater and canals. Artificial recharge has to be accelerated, as it is accepted worldwide as a major intervention to augment groundwater resources.
• While Indian banks have safeguards against most of the factors that triggered the crisis, they will do well to review their risk management and treasury practices.
• Focus on channelling greater finance at lower costs, building resilience, securing clean sources of energy, and bringing this transition closer to people. As G20 president, India is uniquely placed to do this.

50-WORD TALK

• The attacks on Indian diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom and United States by Khalistan extremists demonstrate the growing danger posed by the movement. Even as India ensures greater security for its missions overseas, it must engage with the Punjabi diaspora in the West to politically marginalise the Khalistan movement.
• CJI DY Chandrachud pushed for transparency by reiterating his disapproval of sealed cover reports in what the government describes as “sensitive cases” and calling an end to it. But it must not be a CJI-confined phenomenon and should be institutionalised. Make the required changes on the court’s administrative side too.
• Fugitive diamond dealer Mehul Choksi’s removal from an Interpol watchlist necessitates a full investigation of the botched attempt to kidnap him from Antigua. Allegations of government involvement in the kidnapping have undermined the credibility of Indian law enforcement. Lawless behaviour will damage India’s reputation, and future efforts to extradite criminals.

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.