WSDP Bulletin (17-07-2023)

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(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Supreme Court Collegium proposes permanent judges for five High Courts READ MORE  
2. Coral bleaching READ MORE
3. Dangerous heatwaves felt across globe as wildfires rage READ MORE
4. Lightning not a natural disaster, says Centre READ MORE
5. PSLV-C56 to lift off with seven satellites READ MORE
6. Supreme Court Collegium’s quiet transparency is driving change READ MORE  
7. S Jaishankar attends BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ meet: What is the grouping? READ MORE
8. What is the Black Sea grain deal, set to expire Monday unless Russia extends it READ MORE
9. The story of ISRO’s origins, as Chandrayaan-3 flies to the Moon READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Advent of the Anthropocene epoch: Geological time scale, and how it has evolved over time READ MORE
2. Cost of commercialization READ MORE
3. A reckoning with the brutality of caste READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Data Protection Bill poses severe restrictions to RTI Act, advocacy group NCPRI cautions government READ MORE
2. Shailaja Chandra writes on Delhi ordinance: Capital ebb and flow READ MORE
3. How not to measure rule of law READ MORE
4. Regulate fake news without eroding press freedom READ MORE
5. Electoral bonds must be scrapped READ MORE
6. Indian federalism in practice READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. India needs to move from ‘spending more’ to ‘spending better’ in education READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Something special: On 25 years of the India-France strategic partnership  READ MORE
2. PM Modi’s France visit: Shaping a multipolar world READ MORE
3. Soft power at the core of India-France ties READ MORE
4. Improved China-India ties would help both nations READ MORE
5. Neighbourly Discourse READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Big shortfalls in pulses acreage need watching READ MORE  
2. India’s debt dilemma READ MORE
3. How ‘green skill’ development can help fill India’s employment gap READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. What Will an El Niño Bring Next to India? READ MORE
2. Opinion: Can COP28 Deliver for the Global South? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The opportunities of generative AI outweigh challenges for India READ MORE
2. Why India risks falling behind in the AI race READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Upgrade to high-end technology for safeguarding borders READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Flood feud: On lessons from the floods in North India: States must coordinate to evolve a joint strategy to combat floods READ MORE
2. Natural disasters a stark reminder of policy failure READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Does public health need virtue ethics? READ MORE
2. Using artificial intelligence with academic integrity READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. China remains the most significant factor that strengthens the ties between the United States and India. Critically examine.
2. The uniqueness of Indian federalism is conspicuous by its “dual character.” The Constitution can be both unitary and federal according to the requirements of time and circumstances. Comment.
3. The transformation of higher education in India is of critical importance, not just from a pedagogical perspective but also due to its political and intellectual implications. In light of this statement, discuss whether the NEP is able to transform Indian education?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• He who wishes to serve his country must have not only the power to think, but the will to act.
• India will continue to shine in American strategic thought as long as China continues its fight against Western hegemony and refuses to play second fiddle to the US.
• China remains the most significant factor that strengthens the ties between the United States and India.
• To ensure that existing resources expended by the government on ed-tech are used efficiently, NITI Aayog is pioneering a revolutionary approach to include results-based financing in ed-tech procurement.
• The uniqueness of Indian federalism is conspicuous by its “dual character.” In Ambedkar’s words, “The Constitution can be both unitary and federal according to the requirements of time and circumstances.
• The strength of any federal system depends not so much on the constitutional structure but rather on the political and economic culture that may be prevailing within the country at any given time.”
• The transformation of higher education in India is of critical importance, not just from a pedagogical perspective, but also due to its political and intellectual implications.
• While Narendra Modi wants Paris by his side to push the India story, Emmanuel Macron needs New Delhi to ensure the economic and geopolitical interests of his nation.
• France and India’s desire to shape the emerging global order is key to their partnership — they are not “free riders, but free thinkers” that take pride in their own perspectives.
• Climate change is a harsh reality. It’s time to accept that and re-imagine our cities.
• India invested in potato chips and brought market linkages to agriculture. It is time to invest in computer chips.

ESSAY TOPIC

• India needs to move from ‘spending more’ to ‘spending better’ in education

50-WORD TALK

• According to a UN report, 415mn people moved out of poverty in India in 15 years up to 2021. While the index shows considerable work has been done in recent years, a blind spot remains due to a delayed census and consumption expenditure survey. The government must release latest data.
• The move to levy 28% GST on online gaming could prove to be the Indian system’s kiss of death for the sector. This is the same system that criminalises cricket betting. The government recently notified rules for the gaming industry and the GST move could only prove to be self-defeating.
• Behind the TV coverage trivialising the Yamuna floods is a crisis of imagination. Residents ignore, abuse the river all year, then bemoan the monsoon. Instead of blaming other states, it’s time to leverage the monsoon, keep the Yamuna flowing, and restore Delhi’s relationship with its river. Learn from the Sabarmati.
• Bombay High Court’s views on lowering the age of consent for sex in India are prudent. 18 is already too late. India cannot be in denial of the sexual revolution that has been taking place. Accept the reality, devise sex education policies around it, don’t try turning the clock back.

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.