WSDP Bulletin (25-05-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Inspired by the Cholas, handed over to Nehru: historic ‘Sengol’ to be installed in new Parliament building READ MORE  
2. WTO reforms a top priority for India: Anupriya Patel READ MORE
3. India set to triple speed of its fastest supercomputers READ MORE
4. Independence of district judiciary is part of basic structure of Constitution: Supreme Court READ MORE
5. India to share experiences as G-20 group discusses impact of graft on women READ MORE
6. Assam, Meghalaya resume border talks after firing incident READ MORE
7. NHAI gets nod to build e-way stretch through forest area READ MORE
8. What is the FIPIC summit that PM Modi attended in Papua New Guinea? READ MORE
9. India’s benchmark bond yield falls below 7% READ MORE
10. Critically polluted: Treated effluents from Vapi CETP don’t meet safety standards, find pollution control boards READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. How we can resolve the tribal health challenge READ MORE
2. Stigma, society and schizophrenia READ MORE  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Govt’s power to promulgate, repromulgate Ordinances — why and how READ MORE
2. If Delhi doesn’t need a state govt, why does the rest of India? READ MORE
3. A trust deficit in Parliament READ MORE
4. Delhi’s power tussle: Centre makes bid to negate SC verdict READ MORE
5. Delhi ordinance sparks issue of threat to federalism: Almost every regional party has perceptibly been at the receiving end of the Centre’s pressure tactics exerted on CMs. READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Providing affordable health services for all READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Ties that bind: On India-Australia ties and the Modi visit READ MORE  
2. The paradox of BRICS, its new pathway: BRICS may have lost much of its sparkle, but a long queue of nations awaits membership READ MORE
3. G7 and Quad are finally taking China head on READ MORE
4. Pacific outreach: India making the right moves in the region READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Is the RBI’s commitment to inflation targeting credible? READ MORE  
2. Is ONDC the Next Big Thing on the e-commerce platform? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Global climate urgency is rising. EU and India need to work together READ MORE
2. Pollution zone: CPCB report warrants urgent follow-up READ MORE

SCIENCE

1. India’s women in science, and their struggle READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Fighting cyber crimes better READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. India’s G20 presidency can show the way on disaster management READ MORE
2. How the World Health Organization could fight future pandemics READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. In search of a pluralistic paradigm READ MORE
2. Resilient and Determined READ MORE
3. Words are energy; use them cautiously READ MORE
4. Effective instrument of state policy READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. In state administration, the bureaucracy, which serves as the executor of government policy, needs to be answerable only to the state’s legislative assembly. Comment on the statement in light of the recent Supreme Court judgement.
2. It is imperative for India to not only form and engage with new frameworks but also strengthen old ones, which will increase its options and influence among both developing and developed countries. Comment on the statement in light of recent geo-political developments.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.
• The need for young civil servants to get things done rather than letting them linger is very important. It is critical to our entire development process. Similarly, the need for transparency in appointments is important in our democracy.
• Capitalism is facing multifaceted challenges due to the problem of policy-making based on incorrect data. Governments and international agencies like the World Bank that depend on faulty official data cannot correctly analyse and help resolve the problems facing the world and its poor.
• To be effective, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation needs to come out of Chinese influence and push its own cherished goals.
• The hidden nature of caste atrocities indicates that the problem is more pervasive and deeply rooted than official records may suggest!
• Our steps for sustainable groundwater management are in the right direction and these are bringing a paradigm shift towards positive change.
• India’s increasing engagement with Africa has largely been through bilateral channels, with limited participation in multilateral forums.
• India’s engagement with the Commonwealth should not be treated as a subset of its relationship with the UK. India–UK bilateral ties could face divergences due to variety of domestic and structural factors.
• It is imperative for India to not only form and engage with new frameworks but also strengthen old ones, which will increase its options and influence among both developing and developed countries.
• Data is the next big chasm for regulators to cross, with its growing importance in the financial system and the challenges in its management.
• In the geoeconomic domain, there is growing convergence of interests between India and the US. A model less driven by market fundamentalism presents an opportunity for India.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

50-WORD TALK

• The Jallikattu matter should have never gone to a constitution bench. Time has been wasted. The court said whether a law to “preserve cultural heritage” is a debatable issue has to be concluded in the House of people. The legislature had already taken a call on the animal rights-tradition conflict.
• The killing of a 23-year-old doctor in Kollam by her patient is disturbing. Kerala’s approval of an ordinance prescribing imprisonment for perpetrators of violence against healthcare workers is a step in the right direction. However, the state must take measures to protect its medical community before the crime is committed.
• Supreme Court has rightly faulted Manipur High Court for its factually incorrect verdict on ST status for Meiteis. The power to modify the ST list is with the President, the HC does not have the remit. Having disapproved of it in strong words, the Supreme Court should have stayed it.

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.