WSDP Bulletin (21-10-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. India working towards development of Silicon Photonic Processor Chips READ MORE
2. PM flags off country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System ‘Namo Bharat’ READ MORE
3. MGNREGS not facing any fund crunch, says Union Minister READ MORE
4.  Simultaneous polls: Law Commission to meet panel READ MORE  
5.  Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation Undertakes Special Campaign 3.0 to Enhance Cleanliness and Efficiency READ MORE
6. PM Modi flags off RRTS: What is this mass transport system, how it can benefit NCR READ MORE
7. Supreme Court Passes Directions on Eradication of Manual Scavenging READ MORE
8. Supreme Court Bolsters Workplace Sexual Harassment Protections Across India READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Mental health in a changing tech landscape READ MORE
2. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in Alaska and the Himalayas Show Evolving Hazards in a Warming World READ MORE
3. Riding El Nino, this may be one of India’s five hottest Octobers READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Not just a case about improving investigation READ MORE
2. A task for the House to finish? READ MORE
3. What could India learn from Pakistan diluting the chief justice’s master of roster powers? READ MORE
4. Delimitation and Reservation READ MORE
5. Caste census: A controversy since 1910 READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Development and dignity are central to social justice READ MORE
2. India Needs a National Policy To Strengthen the Health Response for Gender-Based Violence READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. On the worsening India-Canada ties: Ordinary people will suffer as India and Canada cut down visa services READ MORE
2. If the Gaza crisis explodes, India too will lose READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Time to restore fairplay at WTO READ MORE
2. Import climbdown: Dire need to boost production of IT hardware READ MORE
3. Rethink rationale for food subsidy READ MORE
4. Farmers’ distress needs structural solutions READ MORE
5. ‘One District, One Product’ needs a sharper focus to boost exports READ MORE
6. Internationalisation of the Rupee READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Develop informed infra environment: Moving away from the old ‘development vs environmental protection’ binary READ MORE
2. The shape of climate justice in a warming India READ MORE
3. COP28: Why India’s role is pivotal in climate justice and finance READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Trust in technology can be belied in war and peace READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Humility & humanity READ MORE
2. Can We Teach Someone to Be Ethical? READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. In the absence of immediate delimitation, the under-represented communities and sections of society will only continue to remain unrepresented. Critically analyse the statement in the light of recent developments.
2. In the absence of immediate delimitation, the constitutional amendment guaranteeing reservation for women in Parliament is only an on-paper tiger. Critically examine the statement.
3. For human civilisation to sustain, flourish, coexist and be progressively empowered, food security and equal access to nutrition should be the top agenda of modern politics and policymaking. In light of the statement, discuss the challenges and required reforms in PDS system.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.
• India, along with other developing countries, is pushing for a new global climate finance target, acknowledging the growing costs of addressing and adapting to climate change.
• In the absence of immediate delimitation, the under-represented communities and sections of society will only continue to remain unrepresented.
• In the absence of immediate delimitation, the constitutional amendment guaranteeing reservation for women in Parliament is only an on-paper tiger.
• The compounding effect of food security and nutrition enables an empowered society.
• For the human civilisation to sustain, flourish, coexist and be progressively empowered, food security and equal access to nutrition should be the top agenda of modern politics and policymaking.
• The bypassing of the dollar will certainly help boost India’s trade with countries facing a dollar crunch. But so far the progress has been slow as the various stakeholders are still testing the waters before taking a deeper plunge.
• The government needs to guard farmers against the vagaries of climate and price through longer-term policy interventions.
• Most of its actions in implementing the food subsidy scheme are out of sync with the changing times and lead to leakages and corruption.
• The triumph of violent religious extremism and the weakening of moderate regimes will have security and political consequences for India.
• The Supreme Court needs to step forward and ask every State and Union Territory to report compliance of its directives on investigation and other issues in letter and spirit.

50-WORD TALK

• Companies importing laptops and electronics now have to apply for ‘authorisation’ instead of ‘licence’. This is largely just a nomenclature change, since these imports are still restricted. The system continues to empower government to impose any further curbs. A license by any name stinks just the same, and should be avoided.

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.