WSDP Bulletin (02-06-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. May’s manufacturing PMI scales a 31-month high: S&P Global survey READ MORE  
2. RBI should adopt neutral policy stance as inflation cools: CII’s Dinesh READ MORE
3. S. Africa mulls legal options on ICC warrant against Putin READ MORE
4. Sedition law can be retained but with safeguards: Law Commission READ MORE
5. NCERT in ‘rationalisation’ move drops periodic table chapter from Class X book READ MORE
6. ‘Half of electricity to be from renewable sources by 2027’ READ MORE
7. Who should own the world’s lithium? READ MORE
8. BRICS FM meeting in South Africa: What’s on the agenda? READ MORE
9. Why has SEBI proposed additional disclosure norms for ‘high-risk’ FPIs? READ MORE
10. Lions, leopards have made a comeback in Africa’s 3rd-largest national park, says report READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. India’s Heat Action Plans Offer Pathways for Adaptation, but Overlook the Vulnerable READ MORE
2. Unusual western disturbances in May could be indicative of changing climate READ MORE
3. Why water sustainability needs to become a climate action priority READ MORE
4. Gender-based violence stems from systemic malaise READ MORE
5.  Syncretism: A vision for India’s future READ MORE  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Ignore GDPR at your own peril READ MORE
2. Decide on Places of Worship Act READ MORE
3. Judgement, education and effective action READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Central Asian foreign policy multi-vectorism pays off READ MORE
2. China’s top diplomat to India writes: Why India and China are stronger as partners READ MORE
3. First signs of thaw in US-China ties, but road to normalcy is uphill READ MORE
4. A BRICS currency can weaken US hold over emerging economies. India needs to decide its role READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. At the root of India’s manufacturing challenge READ MORE
2. Riding momentum: Fiscal, monetary measures must remain growth supportive in coming quarters READ MORE
3. Strong steps needed to tame zooming retail profits from farm produce READ MORE
4. India’s e-commerce rules need definitional clarity – to protect consumers, promote innovation READ MORE
5. Three Notes of Caution as India Celebrates Its GDP Growth READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate impact: Rajasthan’s pre-monsoon rainfall was three times more than average this year READ MORE
2. How Butterflies Can Help Protect Natural Habitats in a Rapidly Changing World READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Is India missing the graphene bus? READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Why India’s national security needs a 21 century refit READ MORE
2. Cracking down on fraud in cyberspace READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Be more respectful of life, you are part of it READ MORE
2. Number one READ MORE
3. The Moral Economist~I READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. How far do you agree with this view that a virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit is a setback for India’s diplomacy and it shows the China’s influence in this grouping? Analyse your view.
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

• The opposition occupies the benches in front of you, but the enemy sits behind you.
• A claim to justice becomes the new ballet of solidarity.
• The establishment can stretch time to weaken the protest. It can convert a search for justice into a law-and-order problem, even banalize it into a traffic issue.
• The growth in FY24 will very likely be lower than FY23’s level as the opportunities from the opening of the economy have been more or less exhausted.
• Both India and the USA view the Indo-Pacific region and engage with China differently but this is unlikely to impede the incremental progress in their bilateral ties.
• To end this menace Govt must provide alternative employment opportunities and encourage mechanised cleaning technologies.
• The escalating cost of education is denying higher education to students who wish to pursue it but cannot afford its prohibitive cost.
• It is crucial to recognize that girls are disproportionately affected by these financial barriers and encounter significant limitations in the absence of accessible, free, and affordable education.
• India’s relations with the US, as indeed with China, Russia or any other nation, would be defined by her interests and values and not out of fear of anyone nor in favour of anyone.
• Currently, under the Constitution, only the CEC enjoys the same protection from removal as a Supreme Court judge. It is imperative that the protection enjoyed by the CEC should also be extended to ECs.
• By providing PICs with a voice and support on Global South issues, including on existential aspects such as Climate Change or on UNSDGrelated themes, India has validated its humane and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ credentials.
• All temporary, freelance and contract workers must be properly defined and identified to ensure minimum wages, maximum working hours and social security.
• The India-Latin America partnership can work toward building digital public infrastructure, improving financial inclusion, and reducing the cost of access to data, which is critical for engagement with the digital economy.

ESSAY TOPIC

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

50-WORD TALK

• For all his past pro-China polemic, Nepal PM Prachanda is proving to be an artful practitioner of the game of playing off New Delhi and Beijing. He’s seeking to expand ties with India in energy, infrastructure, and trade. India’s consistent, smart pursuit of its Neighbourhood First policy is paying off.
• Appointment of another acting DGP in UP, third in a row, is a mockery of SC guidelines for police chiefs’ selection. It’s to do with politicians’ intent to control police force and pre-empt central interference through UPSC. Centre-state disagreement over DGP’s appointment underlines the facile nature of double-engine government slogan.
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit being held in virtual mode instead of a physical event with India as the Chair is an embarrassing setback to New Delhi’s diplomacy. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s refusal to come to India, which led to the change in format, shows how Beijing influences this grouping.

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.