WSDP Bulletin (04-10-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. INDIAN AND BANGLADESH ARMIES BEGIN JOINT EXERCISE READ MORE
2. Manufacturing PMI eased to 5-month low in September READ MORE  
3. World Bank sees India GDP growth for FY24 at 6.3% as economy shows resilience amid challenging environment READ MORE
4. 2023 Nobel Prize in physics: Seeing electrons in brief flashes of light | Explained  READ MORE
5. Armenia’s parliament votes to join the International Criminal Court, straining ties with ally Russia READ MORE
6. What UAPA sections have been invoked against NewsClick READ MORE
7. Delhi to monitor air pollution 24×7 with ‘green war room’ ahead of winter READ MORE
8. India’s annual solar capacity addition needs to increase annually by 36% till 2026-27 to meet 14th NEP targets READ MORE
9.  IEA Summit on clean energy minerals: Actions for sustainable, ethical supply chains agreed upon READ MORE
10. Second anti-malaria vaccine for children approved by WHO READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Despite early gains of Swachh Bharat Mission, toilet use declining since 2018-19: World Bank paper READ MORE
2. ExplainSpeaking: How employment and consumer sentiments vary with caste and religion in India READ MORE
3. Without a caste count, there can be no honest politics READ MORE
4. Economic and social reform constitute a radical agenda of eradicating caste READ MORE
5. Tropical climates are the most biodiverse on Earth — but it’s not only because of how warm and wet they are READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Using AI for audit techniques READ MORE
2. The triumph of Vachathi over a hostile state READ MORE
3. Orders by Govt officers are for the larger good READ MORE
4. NGOs must build capacity for a bigger impact READ MORE
5. The Long Wait for Women’s Representation READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Endorsing the principles of women empowerment READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Explore strategies to address Chinese challenge READ MORE
2. Indo-France relations are on firm footing READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. EU’s carbon tax isn’t equitable READ MORE
2. ‘Code of conduct’ on freebies needed READ MORE
3. Turning challenges of food insecurity into opportunity READ MORE
4. Alarming rise in unemployment rates in Asia and the Pacific READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Tourism as a green investment for the future READ MORE
2. Traditional knowledge of small farmers key to climate-smart agriculture READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The trouble with a Nobel for mRNA COVID vaccines READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Mizoram National Front and the politics of cross-border kinship READ MORE
2. Why the Five Eyes remain blind to India’s security concerns READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Gandhian approach to world peace READ MORE
2. Tolerance is the key to peace READ MORE
3. A chance meeting deciphers life’s chatter code READ MORE
4. Politics and principles READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Empowering women would be a key to control population growth. Critically comment.
2. Indian Ocean Region’s stability and security are intimately concurrent with India’s maritime safety. Discuss the statement and analyse how France is an important partner for India in the cooperation of this region’s security?
3. Green investments in the tourism sector are necessary for the creation of a sustainable and resilient economy that strikes a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. Comment on the statement in light of recent disasters in tourist areas.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Non-violence, which is the quality of the heart, cannot come by an appeal to the brain.
• Though the union government made efforts to protect the data of individuals with the introduction of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 and subsequently with the enactment of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, there are various lacunae which still need to be resolved.
• Against this background, the right to privacy and data protection in a globalised world is discussed, along with the need to bring about reforms for the effective implementation and protection of the same.
• The approval of the women’s reservation bill in Parliament was indeed long-pending, and hence is a welcome step in the direction of ensuring women’s political representation.
• The macro-econometric modelling simulating the employment impacts of a package of green policy measures aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings and appliances, decarbonizing electrical power generation through a shift to renewable energy, and expanding electric vehicles usage and the associated infrastructure.
• Mental health must be placed in a human rights framework to re-cast the aspiration for sound mental health as a fundamental human right.
• With our high spiritual power, we can use tolerance as a tool of social transformation and can be God’s instrument for uplifting a man, fallen from his seat of morality.
• Inadequate storage and transportation infrastructure coupled with post-harvest losses contribute to a substantial amount of food loss in the country.
• Addressing India’s food loss challenge requires a comprehensive and coordinated effort from various stakeholders, including the government, farmers, food processors, retailers, and consumers.
• Green investments in the tourism sector are needed for sustainable economy that strikes a balance between growth growth and environmental protection.
• For a peaceful society to exist, it is imperative to abide by just orders promulgated by public servants and any objection to such orders, should only have legal recourse.
• Empowering women would also be a key to control population growth.
• A very positive step indeed for an inclusive and holistic development Growth trajectory cannot move in the right direction if about ninety per cent of its population (women population) languishes in impecuniosity, proscription and forbiddance.
• Indian Ocean Region’s stability and security are intimately concurrent with India’s maritime safety.
• The interplay of organised crime and violent secessionism is not in the interest of democracies. Both India and Canada are signatories to the General Assembly-mandated UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
• Caste differences are real differences. True political unity is the negotiated overcoming of differences, not their denial or suppression.

ESSAY TOPIC

• India to awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened
• What we sow we reap.

50-WORD TALK

• The geopolitical similarities between France and India go beyond the surface. France has promoted inclusivity, cohesion, and unity in an international effort to address global concerns and create a more stable international order. It is grounded on both nations’ fundamental belief in a multipolar world and the idea of strategic autonomy.
• That a bleeding teenage rape victim was left to wander the streets of Ujjain for hours, shooed away by passersby until a kindly temple priest intervened, demonstrates India still doesn’t consider Nirbhaya its daughter. The criminals responsible may be punished, but there cannot be justice until we confront our values.
• For all his “India Out” talk, the election of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is no coup for China. Like other regional leaders, Muizzu wants to leverage gains from both powers. India’s influence, built on political engagement and infrastructure, is much deeper than the handful of non-combat troops Muizzu wants removed.
• The closure of the Afghan embassy in New Delhi reflects the grim truth that the Taliban hold a monopoly of power. Governments have to deal with reality, but they mustn’t condone barbarism. Engagement is inevitable, but diplomatic recognition should be denied until the Taliban restore basic rights, especially of women.
• When the world’s safety and well-being was threatened by Covid, science came to the rescue. Scientists worldwide worked breathlessly to deliver vaccines, an effort only boosted by the United States’ timely financial support. The medicine Nobel for enabling mRNA vaccine development is a fitting tribute to science and the scientists.
• Bihar caste census results are unsurprising. They align with backward class population estimates. It’s disruptive for Indian politics, renewing pressure on Modi government to enumerate caste in census. Demand to implement Rohini Commission report on OBCs’ sub-categorisation for quota redistribution will grow. Mandal vs Kamandal politics has got fresh start.

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.