WSDP Bulletin (15-11-2023)

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(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Wholesale prices remain in deflation zone in October READ MORE
2. Govt. to invite bids for 20 critical mineral blocks in next two weeks: Mines Secretary V L Kantha Rao READ MORE
3. World severely off track to limit planet-heating emissions: UN READ MORE
4. Hope to find ‘landing point’ that works for both in India-UK FTA: Jaishankar READ MORE
5. Parliamentary panel on criminal law Bill leaves decision on death penalty to Centre READ MORE
6. How does an electric battery work and what are the different types? | Explained  READ MORE
7. Offshore Leaks to Cyprus Confidential, a decade of offshore investigations READ MORE
8. Secrecy and no tax — reason why Indians look at Cyprus READ MORE
9. Mount Etna erupts: Why some volcanoes just keep spewing lava READ MORE
10. Easing wheat prices, rising rice prices: What’s behind them? READ MORE  

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Tackling violence against women in rural India READ MORE
2. Challenges to curbing community-based prostitution READ MORE  

 GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Limiting search and seizure: On digital devices and media professionals READ MORE
2. Has free ration become a political compulsion? READ MORE
3. States vs Governors needs clarity from Supreme Court READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. TB burden remains a matter of concern READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The Qatar death row and India’s options READ MORE
2. A layered relationship READ MORE
3. Xi-Biden meeting holds profound significance for India READ MORE
4. India’s challenges amidst shifting global equations READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The economy of a world without work READ MORE
2. Enable flexible work to bridge the gender gap READ MORE
3. Then and now READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Many Indian cities record peak pollution during Deepavali day READ MORE
2. Cities with worse air than Delhi fixed the problem: Nine things India needs to do to follow suit READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Powerful metaphors that caution us to be alert READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. MHA extends UAPA ban against eight Meitei extremist organisations READ MORE
2. Realism, not machismo, to counter terror READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Experts raise questions on geological and geotechnical surveys for project READ MORE
2. No light at the end of Himalayan tunnels READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Prophet’s lessons on peace in promised land READ MORE ]
2. No condition applies READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is an important institution in India to ensure public accountability of the executive. Examine.
2. Continuous mishaps in the Himalayan region teach us that before any development, a detailed geological investigation and local ecological sensitivity of the region must be considered. Discuss how a balance between development and environmental conservation can be created in this region.
3. Neither economic growth is the indicator of people’s well-being nor per-head income gives a perfect indication of the people’s well-being. Discuss why, compensating public investment in infrastructure projects, poorer states will continue to lag behind and the disparities will only widen?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is one of the most important institutions of the country to ensure public accountability of the executive.
• As the CAG’s work necessarily involves pointing out the irregularities, inefficiencies, leakages and corruption in our public financial management system, relations between the governments and the CAG are generally adversarial.
• CAG reports are known for their political neutrality, robustness of examination and objectivity of conclusions.
• Unless the CAG comes out with cogent explanations, doubts about the credibility and impartiality of the institution will continue to linger in public minds.
• Balance between development and environmental conservation is crucial in the Himalayan region.
• Construction operations related to initiatives such as the Chardham Project frequently necessitate substantial disruptions to the hilly landscape. Deforestation, tunnel construction, and excavation can upset its fragile equilibrium, increasing the risk of geological instability, biodiversity loss, and soil erosion.
• Piecemeal approaches will only lead to the annual cycle of panic and shutdowns.
• With coordinated and sustained actions, we can address not only air pollution but also our urban climate and health goals together.
• Flexible working boosts productivity, gives access to a wider talent pool, and increases employee retention rates, especially for women.
• Under ‘open-ended’ procurement, Govt buys from farmers unlimited quantities at MSP. Apart from high stocks, this adds to the food subsidy bill substantially.
• The Govt is using state agencies not just to meet food requirements under NFSA but also to extend price support to farmers.
• Society needs to understand that everyone has equal rights according to the constitution. It’s time for patriarchal societies to change their thinking.
• A bill brought by the government before a legislature has some urgency. If a governor, actuated by some extraneous considerations, sits on it for two or three years he would be, in effect, violating the Constitution.
• It is strange that governors should keep the bills pending for years without taking any decision thereon for no ostensible reason. Constitutional authorities are required to act in a reasonable manner and within a reasonable time.
• Unless there is compensating public investment in infrastructure projects, poorer states will continue to lag behind and the disparities will only widen.
• Economic growth does not follow simple mathematical models. Nor is it the only indicator of people’s well-being. Per-head income only gives a rough indication of the state of well-being of the people as compared to some other similar distribution patterns of income.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Many worlds: Multipolarity in the new world order

50-WORD TALK

• Governments are perfectly within their rights to improves the condition of vulnerable sections through well-delivered social welfare schemes. But there are schemes on which huge expenditure has been made over the years while there is a strong perception of sub-optimality in the attainment of their objectives.
• Blatant violation of the Supreme Court’s ban on firecrackers shows it is one thing to deliver orders, but completely another to implement them. It serves as a reminder that judgments must be enforceable, with strict punishments for failures and disregard. The apex court’s word must not go up in smoke.

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.