WSDP Bulletin (11-07-2023)

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(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. LVM-3: the other ISRO rocket READ MORE  
2. Explained | Global tropical primary forest cover continued decline in 2022: study  READ MORE
3. Pandemic led to districts slipping in quality ranks in school education, says Union Education Ministry report READ MORE
4. Blurred lines: On the U.S.’s new move in the Ukraine war READ MORE
5. In Varanasi, turtles help clean the Ganga READ MORE
6. Explained | What is Microsoft’s planned ‘quantum supercomputer’?  READ MORE
7. FPIs not having to disclose final owner is challenge in Adani-Hindenburg case: SEBI READ MORE
8. Solomon Islands and China sign deals on police, economy, tech READ MORE
9. What Makes Mealybugs Such Effective Agricultural Pests? READ MORE

GS Paper- 1

1. Ashok Gulati, Purvi Thangaraj write: Rainfall high — but so are vegetable prices READ MORE
2. Plan for the looming El Niño trade-off READ MORE
3. Blockages in the Chandra-Bhaga River System Herald Doom for Lahaul and Spiti READ MORE
4. How will El Nino change in the future? READ MORE
5. What El Nino means for the world’s perilous climate tipping points READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Lesson from Goa’s uniform civil code: Uniformity can be unjust to women READ MORE
2. Time to resolve Delhi’s governance muddle: Bureaucracies are organised systems which cannot work effectively with too many authorities READ MORE
3. Why the Personal Data Protection Bill Won’t Stop Data Proliferation in Digital India READ MORE
4. The governance challenge: Embrace economic democracy, unbundle decentralisation agenda and focus on increasing rural livelihoods READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Digital inequity READ MORE
2. The implications of the growing population on human development in India READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Restoring the World Trade Organization’s crown jewel READ MORE
2. The Global South: origins and significance READ MORE
3. Stronger multipolarity elusive in SCO: Consensus was discernible only in relation to Afghanistan during the summit READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Why Indian manufacturing’s productivity growth is falling and what can be done READ MORE
2. Innovation needs a policy catalyst READ MORE
3. The economic impact of the Indian diaspora READ MORE
4. Growth Sans Growth ~I READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Plastic crisis: Review effectiveness of single-use ban READ MORE
2. SRSB makes push to achieve SDGs READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Infocracy and necropolitics READ MORE
2. Why India risks falling behind in the AI race READ MORE

SECURITY

1. AFSPA, the dark shadow of immunity READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Monsoon fury: Need to step up relief and rescue operations READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Purpose behind the suffering in life READ MORE
2. All-Round Success READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. India needs to shift from a top-down to a bottom-up approach to economic development and unbundle the decentralization agenda to promote economic democracy. Critically analyze.
2. To display the government’s commitment towards responsibility and justice and instil public faith in insurgent-prone areas, a balance between security and liberty must be achieved. In light of the statement, discuss whether a law like AFSPA should be abolished?
3. The provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, and the government’s intent towards it show that the government’s priority is not safeguarding fundamental rights but securing data. Critically examine.
4. The diaspora’s role in the development of poor countries, particularly in China and India, has reshaped views on diaspora economics. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• A university should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning.
• India’s economic future will be better served by promoting a bottom-up approach to economic development and changing the local institutions and technologies from below, facilitated by the central government and outside experts.
• India has achieved political decentralisation with people choosing their representatives for different government levels.
• 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act that encompassed a set of reforms implementing a nationally standardised and decentralised system of local government.
• 73^RD Constitutional Amendment Act not only accelerated decentralisation but also began the process of eliminating gender inequality, by requiring one-third seat reservation for women in the local governance bodies.
• India needs to shift from a top down to a bottom-up approach to economic development, and unbundle the decentralisation agenda to promote economic democracy.
• To display the government’s commitment towards responsibility and justice and instill public faith in insurgent-prone areas, a balance between security and liberty must be achieved by granting sanctions for mistaken identity killings.
• India can reap the benefits of demographic change and achieve equitable and sustainable development for its growing population only through a holistic and integrated approach.
• The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, will do more harm to the fundamental right to privacy than help protect it – with all the exceptions it provides.
• The diaspora’s role in the development of poor countries, particularly in China and India, has reshaped views on diaspora economics.

50-WORD TALK

• Large-scale killings and violence in West Bengal panchayat polls deserve the strongest condemnation. It desanctifies electoral process. TMC-led government and state election commission must be held accountable. CM Mamata Banerjee won mandate on promise of porivartan. Her government has ended up presiding over the worst legacy—culture of political violence.
• Low turnouts at much-publicised pro-Khalistan rallies in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia have again made clear Sikh secessionism’s only homeland is on social media. The threat from violent secessionists must be taken seriously. But India’s political leadership must not inject life into this dead movement with panicked polemic.
• Investment in education and skills affects the performance of students, a key driver of economic democracy. At the same time, responsibility for education, including design, financing and service delivery is assigned to different levels of government. Providing the right incentives, and aligning rules and practices in decentralisation, will improve economic and social outcomes.

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.