WSDP Bulletin (27/11/2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1.  India announces phased introduction of biogas blending for domestic use READ MORE

2.  India’s agri imports from South Australia grew 200% under zero-tariff regime READ MORE

3.  Antarctica’s ozone hole expands mid-spring since 2001 READ MORE

4.  Rejection by Governor does not mean death of Bill, says Supreme Court READ MORE

5.  Pulses, oil seeds, fruit output to lag demand till at least 2030-31: report READ MORE

6. SC Constitution Day celebrations: Murmu calls for an all-India judicial service to recruit judges, says will boost representation READ MORE

7.  What is Thanksgiving, and why some Native Americans see it as a day of remembrance READ MORE

8. How gene therapy will revolutionise treatment of sickle cell disease READ MORE

9. Time for version 2.0: IUCN Red List outdated and unreliable, claim scientists in new paper READ MORE

10.  East Africa ‘super El Nino’: Death toll rises as flooding crisis worsens in Kenya, Somali READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Why do Nepal, Bangladesh beat India in social indicators? Starts with caste READ MORE

2. Tropical cyclones cause more damage than we think — and India among countries facing high social cost of carbon READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Why is Bihar demanding the Special Category Status? | Explained READ MORE

2. Court draws the red line for governors READ MORE

3. Govt vs Court – the problem is structural READ MORE

4. Need to bring more constitutional clarity to governors’ powers READ MORE

5. Electoral bonds go against political equality READ MORE

6. Aadhaar can help India gamify healthcare. Give citizens points for positive behaviour READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Significance of creativity in the curriculum READ MORE

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. A deep, stable partnership READ MORE  

2. India-Australia ties: 2+2 dialogue gives strategic boost READ MORE

3. Calling names will not help READ MORE

4. Geopolitical implications of energy transition READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. On fiscal consolidation, so far, so good READ MORE

2. Sovereign gold bonds should be phased out READ MORE

3. Not easy to replace paddy with millets READ MORE

4. Address the disquiet among the states READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Fleet electrification to tackle urban pollution READ MORE

2. Can the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund make a difference? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Is AI an ally in fight for gender equality? READ MORE  

2. Deepfake crackdown: Need to create robust regulatory framework READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. 15 years after 26/11: A tragedy that could have been averted READ MORE

2. Review internal security challenges READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Moulding the Himalayas needs caution READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. The two imposters: Triumph and disaster READ MORE

2. Good and Evil READ MORE

3. Formless divinity READ MORE

4. Success in failure READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Governors must stick to their Constitutional role and holding of bills by the Governor is a brazen interference in the elected government’s functioning. Critically examine.

2. Recent developments in India’s neighbourhood shows Neighbourhood First policy, introduced in 2014, needs an upgrade. Comment.

3. Electoral bonds pose not merely legal questions about informational rights and parliamentary procedures, but the fundamental question of political equality. Argue.

4. The role of the governor is not clearly defined in Indian Constitution and the time has come to strengthen the Constitution and bring more clarity to the roles and responsibilities of the governor. Critically comment on the statement in the light of recent state governments governor tussle.

5. Deepfake technology not only poses a threat to the privacy of individuals but can be a challenge to national security. In the light of the statement do you think that a robust regulatory framework should be implemented?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

  • You cannot have a great powerful country if you cannot manage its internal security.
  • Creativity in education is the catalyst for transforming knowledge into innovation, encouraging learners to think, explore, and connect.
  • It’s time leaders of the US and China stopped wincing or winking away from the real issues related to sustainable development goals.
  • Aadhaar data can be used to nudge public behaviour through a points-based incentive system, with additive benefits the more health-positive actions one takes.
  • The Centre claimed electoral bonds would bring in transparency. But they are tools for the wealthy to hijack democracy. Public funding could be a way out.
  • Electoral bonds pose not merely the legal questions about informational rights and parliamentary procedures, but also the fundamental question of political equality.
  • Though successive governments have done everything to discredit the idea of socialism in the preamble to the Constitution, it remains a formidable and effective tool to assert political equality, a basic feature of the Constitution.
  • Legitimising electoral bonds, which enable corporations to hijack the country’s democracy, is antithetical to the constitutional value of socialism.
  • Socialism, as a notion, is manifest in different ways in the equality clauses under Part III and the directive principles under Part IV of the Constitution.
  • The framers of the Constitution had perhaps not foreseen how the governor’s role would evolve. The time has come to strengthen the Constitution and bring more clarity to the roles and responsibilities of the governor.
  • Deepfake technology not only poses a threat to the privacy of public figures but can also be used to foment trouble, spread disinformation and fake news, and jeopardise national security.

ESSAY TOPIC

  • Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent.

50-WORD TALK

  • India’s troubles in the neighbourhood are growing. After Bhutan and Nepal, it’s Maldives now. The new Maldivian President has asked Kiren Rijiju to pull out Indian troops. This indicates the direction in which the ties between the two countries is headed. PM Modi’s 2014 Neighbourhood First policy needs an upgrade.
  • Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi’s return of 10 bills to Assembly, withholding assent was a brazen interference in elected government’s functioning. Now that assembly has re-adopted them, he mustn’t delay assent anymore. Governors must stick to their Constitutional role. Their involvement in politics is eroding public trust in Raj Bhawans.
  • The rescue mission to take out the 41 labourers stuck inside the collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand is benefitting from the accumulated knowledge of six different government agencies. The first breakthrough has been made with food and essential medicines sent inside. India is rooting their valiant efforts to bring them home.

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.
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