WSDP Bulletin (04-04-2023)

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(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. On defamation law: a blow against freedom of speech and expression READ MORE  
2. PM SVANidhi scheme: Only 9.3% of loans under scheme for street vendors given to those from minority communities: Govt. data READ MORE
3. Centre ‘appropriate’ party to respond to plea on disqualified lawmakers, says EC READ MORE
4. Price of 651 essential drugs has come down by 6.73% from April 1: Mansukh Mandaviya READ MORE
5. Arctic scientists race to preserve ‘ice memory’ READ MORE
6. Finland turns to the right as country prepares to enter NATO READ MORE
7. How excess rains in March could affect the wheat crop in India READ MORE
8. Centre to bring over 50,000 more villages under SBM ODF plus by next year READ MORE
9. Countries agreed to ban ozone-depleting chemicals in 1980s — but 5 CFCs are increasing to record levels in atmosphere READ MORE
10. Deep ocean currents around Antarctica headed for collapse, study finds READ MORE
11. ‘Terminator zones’ on distant planets could harbor life READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Caste is hardly past: Kerala, TN govts’ celebration of a social reform movement is part politics, part a mirror to current reality READ MORE
2. Societal needs stretch beyond skill formation READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. A soft law approach can regulate Big Tech well enough READ MORE
2. The Antagonistic Indian READ MORE
3. When Push Comes to Shove: Tracking Judicial Recusals and Transfers READ MORE
4. Moving Past the ‘Narrow, Overly Legalistic’ Debate on SC’s Election Commission Judgment READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. To fight misinformation in India, the young must be taught media and information literacy READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Conflict zones and the emerging world order READ MORE
2. India is at frontline in US-China bipolar contest. It can’t afford to choose wrong partners READ MORE India’s SCO presidency: Leading global action against drug trafficking

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. What the government must do to help wheat farmers reeling from unseasonal rains READ MORE
2. Crop insurance: Low adoption calls for changes in scheme READ MORE
3. Reforms pay in long run, must be pursued READ MORE
4. Climate-informed farming can be a boon for women farmers READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Explained | Why is India taking 6G seriously? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Can European cities go climate neutral by 2030? READ MORE
2. Time to put a price on carbon emissions READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Should India make tactical nukes to counter China? Delhi’s no-first-use rule has no room for it READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Manage your time well READ MORE
2. Befriend Contentment READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The current overemphasis on acquiring skills at the cost of compromising life fundamentals would be counterproductive in the long run and needs a relook. Discuss how work-life balance can be maintained?
2. To achieve its long-term goal of stable inflation and growth, RBI needs to look at different instruments to reduce the impact of supply shock-induced inflation volatility. Critically examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• There can be no rise in the value of labour without a fall of profits.
• As with the shrinkage of Russian space globally, the country that benefits most from this outcome is China, which is able to successfully portray itself as “the leader speaking on behalf of the Global South”.
• India may be face-to-face with China over its Himalayan borders, and it may even be a part of the Quad, a visibly anti-China alliance, but these only matter if the conflict comes to a head.
• Against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, China is playing its cards tactically to expand its own influence at the expense of Russia, its ‘closest ally’.
• Developed, rather than emerging markets, have been the source of financial and economic instability since the 2008 global financial crisis.
• The future of employment might lie, counter-intuitively, in agriculture if India can adopt higher-value, employment-intensive farming practices that will increase productivity, jobs, and wages.
• For success in world-beating manufacturing, India has to invest in firm-level R&D and innovation.
• Integration into joint formation structures is a very important issue professionally impacting the functioning of the armed forces to best meet national security challenges.
• In such a complex scenario, where geoeconomics and geopolitics intersect, Chekunkov’s visit signifies Kremlin’s prioritisation of India as a key partner for the development of Russian Far East, although China is manifestly keen to connect the Arctic to its Belt and Road Initiative.
• The current overemphasis on acquiring skills at the cost of compromising life fundamentals would be counterproductive in the long run and needs a relook.
• In the recent times, there have been many challenges in managing the wildlife. A fresh innovative approach is required to manage the life on the planet.
• The first principle of democracy is to have deference for the views and feelings of others. Without this, democracy cannot endure.
• To achieve its long-term goal of stable inflation and growth, RBI needs to look at different instruments to reduce the impact of supply shock-induced inflation volatility.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.

50-WORD TALK

• Rising collections throughout FY23 show GST is finding its feet. There’s still a long way to go, however. Current revenues are still not enough to quieten states’ mutterings that the Centre is not transferring enough to them. With no more compensation, this will be a key point come 2024 elections.

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.