WSDP Bulletin (28-07-2023)

Print

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Who killed Beethoven? Hepatitis B, says forensic DNA analysis READ MORE  
2. Govt. may extend PLI scheme to chemicals, petrochemicals sectors READ MORE
3. Putin promises African summit that Russia will make maximum efforts to avert a food crisis READ MORE
4. No accurate count of population of Persons with Disabilities, says parliamentary panel READ MORE
5. Rajya Sabha passes Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2023 aimed at curbing film piracy READ MORE
6. What is a stapled visa, and why does China issue these to Indians from Arunachal and J&K? READ MORE
7. 39 MNCs come together for circular economy coalition READ MORE
8. Supreme Court to appoint DERC chairperson: What is the Delhi govt, L-G tussle over the post READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Ignore extreme climate at your own peril READ MORE
2. El Nino and erratic monsoon: Are farmers prepared? READ MORE
3. Impact of Bihar’s alcohol ban on intimate partner violence READ MORE
4. Student suicides: Counselling a must for handling pressure READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. India’s high public borrowing is not unsustainable. But it leaves little room for policy missteps READ MORE   
2. Uniform Civil Code, as conceived by Dr B R Ambedkar READ MORE
3. ECI, parties must stop candidates from filing false poll affidavits READ MORE
4. ED Director Extension: The Supreme Court Against the Rule of Law READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Ayushman Bharat expose: How to nudge India’s public health infrastructure READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Elusive consensus: On transparency and the state of India-China ties READ MORE
2. Indo-French bromance is mythical READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Agriculture Revisited READ MORE
2. 28% GST on online skill-based gaming: A losing gamble READ MORE
3. Empowering the power sector: Increased private participation can deliver multiple benefits READ MORE
4. The right climate for green start-ups READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. The hornets’ nests in the Forest Amendment Bill READ MORE
2. Strike a balance on forest laws READ MORE
3. Forest conservation: Need to review new Bill’s contentious provisions READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Ravi Chellam writes: Why protecting India’s forests should be a part of national security READ MORE

DISASTER

1. Explained | Himachal floods: a man-made disaster? READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Muharram: An annual workshop on self-reflection READ MORE
2. Multiple faith traditions READ MORE
3. AI tools pose threat to research ethics READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The police must obey the law while enforcing the law. In light of the statement, discuss the need for police reform in India.
2. Artificial intelligence is presenting a potential threat to the sanctity, originality and integrity of research, especially research in social sciences. Comment.
3. The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways. Examine how a fair and transparent market for agricultural commodities can be a solution for this issue?
4. Sustainability start-ups are key to any climate action strategy. Green financing must look beyond renewable energy and embrace other businesses and technologies. How would you justify this statement?
5. India needs to adopt a whole-of-nation approach involving industry, academia, and think tanks to build a comprehensive institutional base on Arctic issues. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Strategy is not the consequence of planning, but the opposite: its starting point.
• Even though food is a basic necessity, everywhere farmers are in distress, and most capitalist economies have to subsidise agriculture so that agricultural activity does not cease altogether and there is some locally grown food on the table.
• The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.
• A fair and transparent market for agricultural commodities has to be developed, farmers have to be made aware of the latest agricultural techniques and village economies have to be developed, so that the burden on agriculture is reduced.
• Artificial intelligence is presenting a potential threat to the sanctity, originality and integrity of research, especially research in social sciences.
• Creating and sustaining healthy, long relationships is a mutual responsibility and if not, it is a warning sign to examine whether there exists any relationship worth saving at all.
• Both China and India are delusional in lauding France’s independent foreign policies and strategic autonomy.
• Sustainability start-ups are key to any climate action strategy. Green financing must look beyond renewable energy and embrace other businesses and technologies.
• The decision to impose 28% GST on online skill-based gaming —on the pooled revenue—will cripple a promising sector that furthers the Digital India vision.
• The suggestions being offered to rein in the advancements in AI need to move into the domain of regulation, to ensure that the unwarranted effects of these technologies do not spill over onto the modern battlefield.
• India needs to adopt a whole-of-nation approach, involving industry, academia, and think tanks, to build a comprehensive institutional base on Arctic issues.

ESSAY TOPIC

• A secure and reliable cyber space is the key to national security.

50-WORD TALK

• The alarming dropout of 25,000 SC, ST and OBC students from IITs and central universities shows Indian institutions are still not inclusive. Accessibility isn’t just about how many disadvantaged students are admitted, but how many stay, graduate and flourish. This should be tackled with the same gusto as school dropouts.
• After 34 years, marred by clashes and curfews, one of four Shia Muharram processions has peacefully passed along its traditional route through Srinagar. Together with recent gatherings at the Jama Masjid, this shows the secessionist grip on the streets has broken. Remaining restrictions on congregational worship must now be eased.
• Niti Aayog’s multidimensional poverty index showing West Bengal and Gujarat with same poverty levels highlights the policy challenges India’s economic diversity poses. Gujarat’s high per capita income only goes so far when poverty is measured multidimensionally. West Bengal shows focussing solely on social metrics doesn’t work for poverty alleviation either.

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.