WSDP Bulletin (22-07-2023)

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(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Assam Rifles files sedition case against Imphal group READ MORE  
2. Consider Indian languages as an optional medium of instruction, CBSE tells schools READ MORE
3. Online portal launched to report violation of ban on e-cigarettes READ MORE
4. Wordly Wise: Some Moon talk ahead of Chandrayaan 3’s lunar rendezvous READ MORE
5. Adjournment Motion, Rule 267: Ways to seek urgent discussion in Parliament READ MORE
6. Oppenheimer and others underestimated fallout of the Trinity nuclear test, new study finds READ MORE
7. The dramatic transformation of India’s oil trade with Russia, in seven charts READ MORE
8. Scientists Find Clue to What Makes Multiple Sclerosis Worse READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Building an inclusive social safety system READ MORE
2. India’s rising ruralisation defies claims of declining poverty READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. An Internet ban will not restore peace in Manipur READ MORE
2. Is the delimitation question settled? READ MORE
3. Supreme Court rescues rule of law READ MORE
4. Asymmetrical federalism & abrogation of Art 370 READ MORE
5. 5 crore and counting: Huge case pendency impeding delivery of justice READ MORE
6. Revisit provisions of Model Prisons Act to plug loopholes READ MORE
7. Govt erred in deputing IAS officers READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Child labour needs our urgent attention READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Indo-US bilateral relations: New orbit of growth READ MORE  
2. Wickremesinghe’s visit to India: How New Delhi’s loyal friendship cannot go unnoticed in Colombo READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India, Japan must share resources to firm up semiconductor supply chain READ MORE   
2. Time to focus on digital-led manufacturing READ MORE
3. Most MSMEs Are Not Even in the Policy Net READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. To tackle the climate crisis, address inequality READ MORE
2. Why One Deforestation Solution Has Yet To Stop Massive Tree Loss READ MORE
3. Urban wetlands in India need urgent attention 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. National cybersecurity strategy should spur digital resilience READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Urban flooding: Delhi’s inundation should be a wake-up call for India’s policymakers READ MORE
2. Disasters descend READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. After Manipur, our self-serving morality READ MORE
2. The true treasure READ MORE
3. What is Character? READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Building character requires repetition and consistency of behaviour. This first step is to identify own core values and it also helps to develop a personal code of ethics. Comment.
2. Virtue-based ethics emphasises on which rules people should follow and instead focuses on helping people develop good character traits. Analyse.
3. Compared to the statutes of many Western Democracies, the Constitution of India is less federal. Even then, it accommodates a degree of asymmetrical federalism. How would you justify this statement?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.
• Coherent management and governance of urban wetlands in India needs to be initiated to secure the urban ecological balance and add to the city’s economic value.
• Building character requires repetition and consistency of behavior. The first step is to identify your own core values. It also helps to develop a personal code of ethics and a mission statement that incorporates those values.
• Simplification of the GST structure does not necessarily mean harmonisation of rates between the union and states.
• A successful model of sustainable urban wetland management in India will have lessons for densely populated cities across the world facing similar challenges.
• Despite their significance, the MSMEs’ challenges have only increased for three reasons: demonetisation, followed by some degree of forced ‘formalisation’ (of sorts) due to GST, and then an ill-planned lockdown of unnecessarily harsh strictness.
• India is no longer fastest-growing large economy, nor is it benefiting from ‘China Plus One’ scenario. But on inflation, deficit management, forex reserves & stable rupee, it has done well.
• When our partnership progresses, economic resilience increases, innovation grows, science flourishes, knowledge advances, humanity benefits … the world will be a better place.
• The Model Prisons Act, in its present form, appears to suffer from policy paralysis and is crippled by inappropriate drafting. A case is made out to revisit its provisions.
• Hopefully, the best and worst practices shall be shared by the departments dealing with cybersecurity, critical infrastructure and Internet governance with the NSCS.
• Compared to the statutes of many western democracies, the Constitution of India is less federal. Even then, it accommodates a degree of asymmetrical federalism.

ESSAY TOPIC

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

50-WORD TALK

• CJI Chandrachud’s letter to HC chief justices saying ‘protocol shouldn’t become privilege’ sets the right precedent for the judiciary’s credibility. It should apply to all judges and in all situations. Exemption from paying toll and stopping traffic are some such protocols, but they must not become tools for VIP culture.
• The series of recent high-level American visits from Blinken to Yellen to Kerry to China is a healthy sign that the big powers are engaging. It’s in nobody’s interest that the world gets split into two irreconcilable blocs. Any effort seeking to moderate Beijing’s conduct is in India’s strategic interest.
• India’s rice export bans, last year and now, don’t reconcile with its ongoing plans to use rice for ethanol blending. Rice-based ethanol makes sense if rice supplies are surplus to food requirements. Export bans suggest such a surplus doesn’t exist. Better instead to use less water-intensive corn for ethanol production.
• Fuel prices remaining unchanged since mid-2022, despite falling oil prices, highlights the need for transparency in the government’s pricing policy. A dynamic market-linked policy loses meaning if it’s neither dynamic nor market-linked. With oil marketing companies back in profit, it’s time to restore daily price revisions or officially abandon them.

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.