WSDP Bulletin (05-08-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Pakistan passes Bill to meet FATF demands READ MORE
2. SC dismisses plea challenging Goel’s appointment as EC READ MORE
3. Hindi is not in competition with local languages, says Amit Shah READ MORE
4. DGFT suspends its laptop, PC import curbs till November 1 READ MORE
5. Will a nuclear-powered rocket cut travel time to Mars by half? READ MORE
6. What is a Privilege Motion and how does the Committee of Privileges in Parliament examine it? READ MORE
7. Centre tables Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023: What it says and why it’s being criticised READ MORE
8. Can the Lok Sabha pass bills when a no-confidence motion is pending? READ MORE
9. These new sorghum varieties might help sub-Saharan Africa meet nutritional needs READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Is Earth Close to “The Great Dying”? READ MORE
2. How offering incentives can prompt social media users to post more accurate information READ MORE
3. Safeguard children from online harms READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The long saga of the data bill holds crucial lessons READ MORE
2. Parliament is failing the nation READ MORE
3. Perpetuating Illegality in ‘National Interest’: Given the scope of ED’s powers, the Court could have at least ensured that it works within a legal mandate. READ MORE
4. Data Protection Bill: NCPRI Flags Regressive Amendments to RTI Act, Lack of Autonomy for Oversight Body READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Universal Basic Income: Cooking Omelette Without Breaking Egg? READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India’s G20 Health Agenda Undermines Its Credibility Among Traditional Allies READ MORE
2. Should We Expect a Thaw in China-India Relations Soon? READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Menaka Guruswamy writes on GST on online gaming: Taxing luck, not skill READ MORE  
2. Why world sees India’s growth story starting & China’s ending READ MORE
3. Laptop imports: Curbs can boost domestic manufacturing READ MORE
4. Encourage local makes of electronic goods READ MORE
5. Rice, EVs and now laptops — govt intervention in markets is India’s new bureaucratic nightmare READ MORE
6. Global Trends in Foreign Direct Investments: India still has a long way to go to emerge as a major investment destination. READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Rising air pollution shows urgent need for localized climate action in the Northeast READ MORE   
2. India may have highest climate risk globally but its banks are unprepared to support climate action: Report READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Cybersecurity threats from online gaming READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Grace requires full commitment of your energy READ MORE
2. A remorseful heart READ MORE
3. Starving for values: UGC’s Mulya Pravah for HEIs is at best a thoughtless attempt at virtue signalling READ MORE

CASE STUDY

1. Coal India Ltd versus Competition Commission of India: A defeat long in the making READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The body with wide legal powers should works within a legal mandate rather than being beholden to the union government. Comment on the issue in light of recent controversies related to central investigating bodies.
2. The online gaming world has provided cybercriminals with a new avenue to conduct nefarious activities. In light of this statement, do you agree with this view that government should think about completely ban of online gaming rather regulate?
3. Without addressing the issue of media literacy, India’s efforts to counter misinformation or disinformation won’t be succeeded. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The order of the Supreme Court is also, in that way, a failure of the Court to uphold the independence of the enforcement directorate as an investigative body.
• For a body with wide legal powers to investigate, arrest, jail, and deny bail to anyone for simply being in possession of money that may have been involved in a potential crime, the Court could have at least ensured that such a body works within a legal mandate rather than being beholden to the union government.
• India still has a long way to go to emerge as a major investment destination.
• Irrespective of the formats of bilateral talks between India and China, which have included direct talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries, there has been no meaningful progress in the advancement of peace and stability on the border or in the overall relationship.
• There is an urgent need for governments and policymakers around the world to start paying more attention to the gaming industry as cybersecurity threats continue to rise.
• The online gaming world has provided cybercriminals with a new avenue to conduct nefarious activities.
• If rules are the same for all similarly placed institutions, then a high standard is set for the State-owned enterprises, fashioned as an incompetent waste of public money.
• The idea of a universal basic income, though well-meaning and laudable, is thus quite meaningless as it stands. If it is interpreted merely as a set of cash transfers, whether uniform or graded across individuals, then it does not necessarily achieve a real UBI, which is the objective behind instituting it.
• The Ambedkar-led Constitution has been a historic and comprehensive document which covered every aspect of the nation’s long-term interests.
• Without addressing the issue of media literacy, India’s efforts to countering misinformation or disinformation won’t be succeeded.

ESSAY TOPIC

• The wise win before the fight while the ignorant fight to win.
• The measure of our success will be the condition on which we leave the world for the next generation.
• Transparency is the bedrock of democracy.

50-WORD TALK

• The Supreme Court stay on Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in the defamation case is belated course-correction. It was overblown by politics anyway. It’s now evident that for any case involving political free speech or substantive issue with a political angle, Indians have to ultimately knock on Supreme Court’s doors for justice.

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.