WSDP Bulletin (30-05-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. ChatGPT and other generative AI could foster science denial, misunderstanding READ MORE  
2. India’s Jan.-April imports from China rise 4.6% to $37.86 billion READ MORE
3. ISRO’s GSLV-F12 successfully places navigation satellite NVS-01 into intended orbit READ MORE
4. CAG chief re-elected as External Auditor of WHO for 2024-27 READ MORE
5. Northeast gets its first Vande Bharat Express READ MORE
6. Explained | What has India done to curb unnecessary hysterectomies? READ MORE
7. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik announces new credit-linked housing scheme for rural poor READ MORE
8. South Korea hosts its first summit with Pacific island leaders READ MORE
9. A Foucault pendulum swings inside the new Parliament READ MORE
10. Bank privatisation to happen as per schedule: Sitharaman READ MORE
11. Plastic-free planet: Negotiations on Global Plastics Treaty underway, the story so far READ MORE
12. Pakistan, Afghanistan among global hunger hotspots: UN report READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. The tragedy for workers in today’s ‘gig’ economy READ MORE
2. India’s hill states need sustainable cooling solutions to beat warming READ MORE
3. 2023 hurricane forecast: Get ready for a busy Pacific storm season, quieter Atlantic than recent years thanks to El Niño READ MORE
4. Anger and Aspiration in Caste Society READ MORE  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. From Master of the Roster to Master of all Judges? READ MORE
2. NITI Aayog must be revived for better Centre-State relations READ MORE
3. New Parliament building cannot compensate lack of parliamentary democracy READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Digital technology in education sector READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. What Turkey polls mean for the world READ MORE
2. Why India needs a fresh approach to de-escalation with China READ MORE
3. The unpredictable world of politics READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Unstable policy regimes discourage foreign portfolio investors READ MORE   
2. Better nutrition, fewer emissions READ MORE
3. The rural wage rule GOI must relinquish READ MORE
4. Unpacking how MSMEs are defined in India’s manufacturing and services sector READ MORE
5. India should expand bilateral Re trade within Asia READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Environment may be a new federal faultline READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Cybercrime is a worry with a very wide reach READ MORE
2. Ever increasing threat of transnational terrorism READ MORE

SCIENCE

1. Faster, stronger: on India and its supercomputer use- India must use its supercomputers beyond weather forecasts READ MORE
2. India must focus on research to be able to lead the AI revolution READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Curbing illegal mining: Haryana’s drive needs consolidated efforts READ MORE
2. How the World Health Organization could fight future pandemics READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. We all are stranded in the world of becoming READ MORE
2. Attentive awareness READ MORE
3. Why happiness is a journey and not a destination READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. If NITI Aayog wants to be more effective, it requires the trust of all chief ministers and their active participation. Only then a strong centre and strong states will emerge. Critically analyse in recent developments.
2. The NITI Aayog acts as the quintessential platform for the Government of India to bring states together as ‘Team India’, to work towards the national development agenda. Critically examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
• Despite the administrative usefulness of the ‘Master of the Roster’ system, the many recorded instances of abuse are a cause for concern.
• The powers vested in the CJI by his virtue of being the Master of the Roster are unending. It is impractical to lay any limits on these powers, meant for the smooth administrative functioning of the Court.
• The CJI’s powers as the Master of the Roster are meant only for administrative decision-making. The order has the effect of enlarging the powers of the CJI on the judicial side and of creating an unprecedented intra-court appellate mechanism within the Supreme Court.
• India has improved its short-term weather forecasts and made cyclone forecasts more accurate on the back of such machines, there should be greater accounting of their worth in other fields, rather than be content with epithets of speed and power.
• Savings from reduction in fertiliser and power subsidies can be ploughed into agricultural research, improve food and nutritional security in the face of climate change
• The burden of protecting India’s environmental resources is bound to be unequal across states and regions.
• Despite the hurdles, India’s foreign exchange reserves are nearing $600 billion, thereby giving its economy the much-needed confidence for foreign trade transactions.
• Quality education can be imparted with digital ecosystem and better resource allocation.
• Digital initiatives with a focus on artificial intelligence terming it a step towards the ‘digital revolution’, have been hailed by all.
• If NITI Aayog wants to be more effective, it requires the trust of the non-BJP chief ministers and their active participation. Only then a strong centre and strong states will emerge.
• All temporary, freelance and contract workers must be properly defined and identified to ensure minimum wages, maximum working hours and social security.
• The constitutional vision of India can be upheld by adhering to the Constitution, reiterating our rejection of the divine right to power and rule, and enriching parliamentary democracy, rooted in people, as the source of power and sovereignty.

ESSAY TOPIC

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

50-WORD TALK

• The continued killings and ethnic cleansing in Manipur are the result of staggering administrative incompetence and political drift. The Biren Singh government must restore the state or be dismissed for failure to prevent perilous ethnic divisions and maintain minimum constitutional order. This is why Article 356 remains in our constitution.
• The manner in which the protesting wrestlers were evacuated from Jantar Mantar shows that this government’s commitment to sports is a sham. This comes after neglecting to hear them for over one month and actively discrediting them. It is a deeply disappointing mystery who the government is protecting and why.

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.