WSDP Bulletin (06-11-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Artificial Intelligence is a powerful tool to fight poverty, deliver goods and services to remote areas, and reskill workforce for the future: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal READ MORE
2. Free ration scheme to be extended for five more years: PM READ MORE
3. ‘Oligopolies’ control over rare earths is key green transition snag’ READ MORE
4. NICED makes quick detection of drug-resistant H. pylori possible READ MORE
5. ‘Enemy property’ Butler Palace to turn into a tourist haven READ MORE
6. The Zika genome and insights into the era of emerging outbreaks READ MORE
7. Saudi Arabia, Russia to continue oil cuts READ MORE
8. On AI regulation, how the US steals a march over Europe amid the UK’s showpiece Summit READ MORE
9. What is the Advocate-on-Record system in the Supreme Court? READ MORE
10. UNESCO declares Gwalior the ‘city of music’: a look at its illustrious musical tradition READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Exploring India’s mathematical legacy in ancient civilisations READ MORE
2. Giving the urban Indian a better life READ MORE
3. The colonial-missionary roots of ‘caste’ and ‘tribe’ READ MORE
4. Saving the young is a collective responsibility READ MORE
5. Rescuing children from the clutches of mobile phones READ MORE
6. El Nino may be drying out the southern hemisphere — here’s how that affects the whole planet READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Who gets to rewrite the Constitution? READ MORE
2. Choked courts: CJI calls lawyers out on ‘adjournment culture’ READ MORE
3. Electoral bonds and the menace of money power READ MORE
4. Governors cannot have a veto in a democracy READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Widening welfare READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Why did India abstain from the call for truce? | Explained READ MORE
2. India works on free trade deal with Gulf countries READ MORE
3. Challenges in India’s neighbourhood READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Revenue rebound: October’s GST collections mark a significant shift from some recent trends READ MORE
2. India’s energy security at risk: How geopolitical conflicts could impact oil imports and renewable energy transition READ MORE
3. Food as a right READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Tiding over: On north India and its annual air quality inflection point in November READ MORE
2. Air Pollution: Why Delhi is country’s burning sensation READ MORE
3. The duplicity of developed nations READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI and the issue of human-centricity in copyright law READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. India to bring in a National Security Strategy: what is it, why is it important? READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Poor worst-hit in Nepal quake READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. To move ahead, Be like hourglass READ MORE
2. Humanity, not identity, defines morality READ MORE
3. All it takes: 1% god’s grace READ MORE
4. Entrepreneurship mirrors essence of dharma READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Only virtues and standards of universal morality are applicable to clashing groups of inimical belief systems in times of distrust. And all-encompassing humanity is the sole criterion for drafting such standards of universal morality. Comment.
2. It is humanity, not identity, that defines morality. Comment.
3. Though Article 200 does not lay down a specific timeframe to give assent to the bill, but a constitutional authority should not circumvent a provision of the Constitution by taking advantage of an omission. Comment on the statement in the light of recent developments.
4. Dharma encompasses not only moral and ethical duties but also one’s responsibility towards society and the greater good. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Internal peace depends on external peace. Friends can be changed but not neighbours.
• An important message for India and others is that they should not be deterred from strengthening their relations with Iran, given its importance in the emerging geopolitics of the region, since the US itself is not hesitant about deal-making with Iran.
• As India’s economic clout grows, we can expect more attacks from foreign powers, that specifically target companies engaged in nation building.
• Both India and Israel have hostile neighbors. India can take a cue from Israel in defending its borders and sovereignty.
• Let humanity of the present times collectively consider these important aspects and spend economic resources on national defence more prudently. Wars are destructive overall and economically regressive.
• Human rights discourse is being used for rainbow washing to create a façade of democracy which hides majoritarian bias and apartheid laws which allow for political representatives to publicly dehumanise Palestinians as animals to be set for slaughter.
• A major issue is how social security can be effectively financed. There are three models to finance SS: contributory scheme, non-contributory scheme and a combination of both.
• Governments must urgently push greater awareness about the Good Samaritan Law.
• It is important to know which model of financing is more appropriate. International evidence suggests that SS coverage can be extended to all by increasing contributory coverage and non-contributory schemes by increasing tax revenue.
• Dharma encompasses not only moral and ethical duties but also one’s responsibility towards society and the greater good.
• Despite surging demand and larger carbon emissions, India can reduce its dependence on energy imports.
• A dignified life for the elderly population needs an urgent cultural, political and policy reimagination.
• The stance of the Western Left vis-à-vis Western imperialism is causing a shift of the entire political centre of gravity to the Right.

ESSAY TOPIC

• The wise win before the fight, while the ignorant fight to win.

50-WORD TALK

• CJI Chandrachud’s ‘tareekh pe tareekh’ anguish over adjournment requests in the Supreme Court is valid. But as masters of their own court, judges should put an end to the growing trend and impose costs if such appeals are made on flimsy grounds. Lawyers must contribute to vitality of the judiciary.
• Xi Jinping wants Chinese women to focus on marriage and having babies. This desperate move to address a shrinking population is nothing but regressive. When India is making efforts to bring more women into the workforce, China’s slide back toward the middle ages is a knockout punch to gender equality.
• Governments of Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Kerala having to move Supreme Court to get governors to clear bills is another sign of politicisation of Raj Bhawans. Governors in many non-BJP-ruled states are making a mockery of democracy by obstructing elected governments’ functioning. SC must step in to check gubernatorial hyperdrive.

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.