WSDP Bulletin (02-09-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Centre forms panel under former President Ram Nath Kovind for simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies READ MORE
2. Four soldiers killed, three injured, in fresh clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan READ MORE  
3. Export promotion body to unveil dashboard on technical textiles READ MORE
4. Seven years on, mission to clean the Ganga remains a work in progress READ MORE
5. Ashtadhyayi, Magna Carta and more: 29 artefacts from G20 Summit invitees to be exhibited at Culture Corridor READ MORE  
6. NPS withdrawal options set to be eased, says PFRDA READ MORE
7. Aditya L-1 launch: All you need to know about the mission READ MORE  
8.  3 mn EVMs, massive security and funds: Challenges in holding simultaneous polls READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Engaging men can help transform household nutrition and family planning in rural India READ MORE  
2. Empowered women, empowered world READ MORE
3. Why Kerala’s govt has failed to disburse paddy procurement price to its thousands of farmers READ MORE
4. India will be losing groundwater three times faster in 2041-2080, finds study READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Governor vs govt.: fresh friction in West Bengal, Bihar READ MORE
2. Altering status quo: Restoring popular rule in J&K and its statehood ought to be a priority READ MORE
3. Simultaneous polls: Building political consensus is a must READ MORE
4. Weakening criminal law’s guardrails READ MORE
5. What will this special session of Parliament bring us? READ MORE
6. In Manipur, fix accountability READ MORE
7. ‘One-election’ nation READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Generic drugs vital for affordable healthcare READ MORE
2. Towards safer deliveries and a content motherhood READ MORE

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The G20 Summit would be a turning point READ MORE
2. Though gaining prominence among middle-rung global powers, India has work to do to climb further up READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. China’s economic slowdown, its ripple effect READ MORE
2. An uneven rebound: On the economy- Inflation, monsoon pose fresh risks even as some residual stress lingers in the economy READ MORE
3. GDP growth peak: Time for private sector to play its part READ MORE
4. Off-budget borrowings are unhealthy in nature READ MORE
5. Modi govt’s LiFE offers alternative economic model of growth. G20 is the platform to push it 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. Chandrayaan — triumph of homegrown scientists READ MORE
2. India should build its own ChatGPT READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Villages along river banks endure frequent floods in Bihar READ MORE
2. Land Subsidence and the Sinking City Dynamics in Joshimath READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Cutting-edge insights into science of happiness READ MORE  
2. Enmeshing AI with human intelligence READ MORE
3. Sufferings in life are inevitable READ MORE
4. Teachers Need an Education in Compassion READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Bunching together elections can reduce disruptions and give a fillip to governance’. Critically examine.
2. Spurious drugs in India country are a result of a weak regulatory ecosystem. In light of this statement, critically examine the drug regulatory mechanism in India and suggest a way forward for effective regulations.
3. G-20 summit 2023 is a crucial and important point to India for its Arab World policy. Examine the statement in the light of recent developments in India-Arab relations.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.
• ‘One nation, one election’ has to be an exercise rooted in fair play, factoring in all the complexities and logistics.
• An electoral system skewed in favour of one party will undermine the entire democratic process of holding elections.
• Spurious or substandard drugs in our country are mainly a result of a weak regulatory ecosystem.
• Once quality generics are available, the government should instruct pharmaceutical houses to not even market branded drugs.
• There is an urgent need to have a relook at our extant policy guidelines and bolster the enforcement process. Adequate infrastructure in the form of testing facilities manned by fully trained professionals must be ensured.
• It is not just the responsibility of government, community health workers, NGOs, civil society but every citizen of the country must consider it as their duty to ensure Surakshit Matritva, and work towards zero preventable maternal deaths in India.
• Flooding is a recurring phenomenon in the State but the losses can be mitigated by a slew of measures like linking rivers.
• Dedication towards learning cannot be inculcated through a culture of discrimination and punishment.
• When the primary custodians of care, learning, and growth in formal spaces themselves behave in a manner that destroys the purpose of education, it hinders the process of harmonious social development.
• The principles of criminal law are being weakened— and it is the general public that will suffer by way of a lack of procedural protections and the absence of checks and balances.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Empowered women, empowered world READ MORE
• Intelligence doesn’t grow overnight. It is a life-long process.

50-WORD TALK

• ‘One Nation, One Election’ sounds tantalising but it’s a facile, grand distraction. Indian democracy doesn’t need it. The political class must be subjected to continuing voter examination. This disruption will require two-thirds of state assemblies endorsing constitutional amendments. It now threatens to become another bad idea to distort our discourse.
• New evidence brought to light by the OCCRP investigation into Adani Group’s business dealings calls for a deeper, fairer examination by SEBI. It’s not just Adani Group’s reputation at stake. The reputation of SEBI, a globally respected regulator, also hangs in the balance. International businesses are watching amid G20 limelight.

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.