WSDP Bulletin (24-06-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. ‘Price stability is a must for growth’ READ MORE  
2. ‘Decision by U.S., India to end trade row, a big victory’ READ MORE
3. NATO winds up its largest air exercise in Europe READ MORE
4. G-20 trade unions meet emphasises global social security READ MORE
5. FCI not to consider request by States for more foodgrains under open market scheme READ MORE
6. Centre defends National Family Health Survey-6 questionnaire, says disability data won’t change fast READ MORE
7. PM Modi in Egypt: What is the Heliopolis Memorial for Indian soldiers who fought in World War 1? READ MORE
8. PM Modi’s US visit: What is the Micron proposal and why is it a boost to India’s chip manufacturing plan READ MORE
9. Rising antimicrobial resistance among newborns calls for novel antibiotic regimens READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. How can technology help in recycling and replenishing water sources? READ MORE
2. Extreme weather events led to 12 million displacements of children in 2022, estimates UNICEF READ MORE
3. Bridging the gap: On India and Gender Gap Report READ MORE
4. Kuki-Meitei conflict is more than just an ethnic clash READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Strike a fine balance, have a just civil code: The Law Commission of India should aim to eliminate only those practices that do not meet the benchmarks set by the Constitution of India READ MORE  
2. View: Law Commission’s Notice on UCC is Antithetical to a Secular State READ MORE
3. Science, Nation State, and Democracy: Reimagining Concepts READ MORE
4. The Politics of Sedition: Sedition laws need to be viewed in light of their political, and not merely legal, uses and abuses. READ MORE
5. Gutting the Powers of an Elected Government READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Opinion: Endemic Does Not Mean End of Disease READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Squaring the circle at the India-Egypt summit READ MORE
2. Warm welcome: On the Narendra Modi U.S. state visit and bilateral ties READ MORE
3. C Raja Mohan writes: Credit for India-US bonhomie goes to Xi Jinping READ MORE
4. Into the spotlight: Why India deserves a permanent seat in UN Security Council READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Job creation: A big challenge for the government READ MORE
2. Are We Living Through De-Dollarisation? READ MORE
3. GDP Growth? Slump in the manufacturing sector and slack consumption demand remain major concerns. READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. The good and bad of Blue Flag certification READ MORE
2. Closing the Gap Between Rhetoric and Action at COP28 READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Jailbreaking generative AI READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Need to understand data both as a strength and vulnerability READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Social connectedness vital to survive climate disasters READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Reduce not negative thinking, but thinking itself READ MORE
2. From ego to anand READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The technological aspects India and the USA is a new era of India-US relationship but both countries will have to travel together given changing geopolitics surrounding China and Russia. Critically comment.
2. Sustainable tourism cannot be seen only through the prism of tourism-specific policies; it requires a holistic understanding of the ecology and the people who are dependent upon this ecosystem. In the light of the statement discuss the pros and cons of the Blue Flag certification.
3. A NATO overreach to the Asia-Pacific poses a major challenge to India’s much-touted “strategic autonomy”. Evaluate.
4. What do you understand by the concept “ethical legalism? In what situation, an legal action can be considered an ethical action?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.
• The India-US defence compact is an attempt to build a multipolar Asia with sufficient deterrent capabilities and ensure respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region.
• The underperformance of India- Egypt bilateral ties is not due to a lack of bilateral institutional mechanisms, but their efficacy and sense of purpose.
• The Law Commission of India should aim to eliminate only those practices that do not meet the benchmarks set by the Constitution of India.
• When it comes to the Global South, it is India that nations look up to; it is this nation that millions would like to see as a proponent of their demands.
• Sedition laws need to be viewed in light of their political, and not merely legal, uses and abuses.
• Personal laws are mixed up with religions and their varying practices and cover a range of issues like divorce, succession, inheritance, adoption and guardianship.
• Mere existence of difference does not imply discrimination, but is indicative of a robust democracy.
• A NATO overreach to the Asia-Pacific will pose a major challenge to New Delhi’s much-touted “strategic autonomy”. The push to transform Quad into a security alliance focusing on China will also have the same effect.
• Although an Asian NATO remains a pie in the sky for now, an extended war over Ukraine will force India and the Asia-Pacific nations to bear the brunt of increasing big-power rivalry in the region.

Essay topic

• Take the diplomacy out of war and the thing would fall flat in a week.

50-WORD TALK

• Failure of authorities to arrest men hired by a British teacher to make violent pornographic clips using Indian children demonstrates the low priority police give to crimes involving powerless victims. Matthew Smith was arrested in November and convicted this week—but police in India have not even filed an FIR.
• Our epidemiological history has taught us that respiratory viruses (the ones which spread through coughing, sneezing, and talking) emerging from reservoirs in the wild, jumping over the species barrier to infect humans, and then sweeping the globe before settling into an endemic behaviour can cause outbreaks that can result in significant mortality and morbidity. Examples include the 1957 flu pandemic caused by an A/H2N2 influenza virus, the 1968 flu pandemic from an A/H3N2 influenza virus, and the 2009 “swine flu” pandemic, from an A/H1N1 influenza virus.

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.