WSDP Bulletin (31-08-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. What to do with spent nuclear fuel? READ MORE
2. Dell, HP, 30 other firms show interest in IT hardware PLI READ MORE  
3. RBI’s Das flags concerns over a few urban cooperative banks READ MORE
4. India asks U.S. to release funds frozen over Russia link READ MORE
5. Rebel soldiers in Gabon claim to have ousted their President READ MORE
6. Global Fund secures deal to slash HIV treatment price; to benefit over 19 million READ MORE  
7. Railways to expedite installation of safety systems on passenger trains READ MORE
8.  WCS-India report flags illegal trade of red sand boa READ MORE
9.  IMSc to pay homage to founder Alladi Ramakrishnan READ MORE
10. Explained | Understanding curbs on rice exports READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Controlling women’s sexual autonomy READ MORE  
2. Eliminate the shame of India called honour killings READ MORE
3. A worrying rise in atrocities on Dalits READ MORE
4. Staring at driest-ever August: Breaking down El Nino impact on the monsoon READ MORE
5. Resolving the water crisis in Tamil Nadu READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The need for an Indian system to regulate AI READ MORE   
2. Share the distress: The plight of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu shows the need for a distress-sharing formula READ MORE
3. Playing out a farce: On government and legislature functioning in Manipur READ MORE
4. The problem isn’t dynasty in parties – it’s dynastic parties READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. The need for loss of income cover: The missing piece of social security net READ MORE

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Cross the boulders in the Indus Waters Treaty READ MORE  
2. India’s G20 presidency: Financing the green transition READ MORE
3. Globalisation not to blame for bad domestic politics READ MORE
4. BRICS: 15th Summit and Beyond READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Point Blank. Why aam aadmi may not be enamoured by e-rupee READ MORE
2. Terms of Trade | The class-differentiation in India’s economic dynamism READ MORE
3. Haryana’s joblessness: An effective remedy for the problem is needed READ MORE
4. How to unlock the growth potential of working capital READ MORE
5. Indian rupee can become global reserve currency. But Modi govt must bring reforms for that READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Devise holistic plans to clean up toxic air READ MORE   
2. Air pollution: Move fast to save tier-2 cities READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The importance of states in space missions READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Himalayan blunders that are ravaging the Himalayas READ MORE
2. India needs an integrated approach to flood management READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. I am proud of Justice Anand Venkatesh, a whistleblower of a creaking justice system READ MORE  
2. Why do we look up at the mention of god? READ MORE
3. Forgive, forget, give READ MORE
4. Big minds, small minds READ MORE

CASE STUDY

1. IAS officer alleges graft in Jal Jeevan Mission scheme in J&K, says he was harassed by L-G READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. How far do you agree with this view that the expansion of BRICS will increase its envisaged role as a geopolitical alternative to global institutions dominated by the West. Critically analyse your view.
2. ‘Character is what makes a man’. In the light of the statement, discuss which three values can be considered important for a good character.
3. The long march of BRICS toward NAM-ification has gathered six new members, but BRICS can never be an anti-West platform for developing economy. Critically analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own.
• A spate of recent incidents from different parts of the country show that the prejudices are ruling strong and new ways of harassment and punishment are being found and used against Dalits.
• We learn a lot when we look outside. But Indian thought and spiritual traditions teach us that we learn a lot more when we look inside.
• At the airshed level (pollution sources beyond city boundaries), Davangere was found to have the highest particulate matter emissions due to the presence of industries beyond the city limits.
• While India may take pride in feats like landing on the Moon to signify scientific progress, crimes like honour killings will continue to be our shame at the social level.
• Working capital is like a magic tool for business. It has an important role in driving the innovation and expansion of a company.
• Innovation and expansion go hand in hand with effective marketing and sales strategies.
• The failure to reform internal production relations and create participatory politics cannot be and should not be blamed on globalisation.
• The well-entrenched UPI network, lack of anonymity in e-rupee and no interest income in e-rupee wallets are deterrents.
• God is not an object of senses but the feeling of feelings, the presence of presence, the sound of silence, the essence of the world and a taste of bliss.
• The expansion significantly enhances the economic weight of BRICS and increases its envisaged role as a geopolitical alternative to global institutions dominated by the West. While
• The US dollar is projected to retain its supremacy in the international monetary system in the foreseeable future, the rupee and other currencies are anticipated to gain significant international prominence in the coming decades.
• An increased focus on crucial defence technologies and increase in funding for research and development are some of the steps that need to be taken to address the extant limitations plaguing the domestic defence industry.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all.

50-WORD TALK

• There is political support for the idea of ensuring that Dalits get equal rights in all respects, but it is not always translated into practice. There is the need for persistent social campaigns, genuine political support, and strict enforcement of the law if the entrenched prejudices and biases are to be fought and defeated.
• Modi government’s LPG subsidy for all goes against its own 2015 Give It Up scheme. It also sets a problematic precedent by abandoning poverty-targeting subsidies and extending them to those who don’t need them. Hard to justify this approach of ‘Hum karein toh Rakhi gift, koi aur kare toh revdi’.

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.