Table of Contents
(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)
Prelim and Main
1. Activist Ali Abu Awwad and pianist Daniel Barenboim win Indira Gandhi Peace Prize READ MORE
2. European Union agrees to open membership negotiations with Ukraine READ MORE
3. Net direct tax receipts up 23.4% READ MORE
4. Wholesale prices rose in November after a seven month lull READ MORE
5. Dubai climate deal: Nothing to move the needle on 1.5 degree target READ MORE
6. Why India should aspire for 10% GDP growth, not 8% READ MORE
7. Free-ranging domestic cats threat to conservation, eat 2,084 species globally & pushing some to extinction: Study READ MORE
8. Understanding climate effect on crop yield and associated risks to water security in India is crucial READ MORE
9. Beyond Jammu and Kashmir: Why many states in India enjoy special provisions READ MORE
Main
GS Paper- 1
1. Anxiety among children is becoming common READ MORE
2. Key Antarctic Glacier Has Undergone Irreversible Retreat, Study Shows READ MORE
GS Paper- 2
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. India’s Women’s Reservation Act: A big win for governance and beyond READ MORE
2. Compulsory voting for vibrant democracy READ MORE
3. No law can have retrospective effect READ MORE
SOCIAL ISSUES
1. Promoting family medicine vital for universal healthcare READ MORE
2. How India’s Public Health System Can Reach Rural Women Suffering Domestic Abuse READ MORE
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
1. Principled shift: On India’s stand on Gaza READ MORE
2. India’s Gaza stance reflects global gloom READ MORE
3. Testing time for India-Maldives ties READ MORE
4. 2+2 Dialogues READ MORE
GS Paper- 3
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1. Can govt support growth further? READ MORE
2. The circular economic model must include refurbishment, recycling and reuse to save the planet READ MORE
3. The highway of growth: A catalyst for real estate READ MORE
4. Vocational exposure is key to employability READ MORE
5. Measures needed to keep affordable housing afloat READ MORE
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. COP28 — many a slippery slope ahead READ MORE
2. Keeping it relevant: On the United Nations Conference of Parties meetings READ MORE
3. The big victory for climate at COP28 READ MORE
4. Fossils will rule: COP28’s words on green transition are predictably undercut by harsh economic truths READ MORE
5. After Dubai, the race against the climate crisis READ MORE
6. Addressing fossil fuels: Ambitious COP28 plan must translate into action READ MORE
7. Challenge for India to align policies with COP28 outcomes READ MORE
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Scientifically Speaking | Nobel Prize-winning gene editing tech offers a ray of hope for blood disorders READ MORE
2. A law to keep AI under check READ MORE
INTERNAL SECURITY
1. Parliament attacks have exposed shameful lack of security preparedness READ MORE
2. Embarrassing security breach READ MORE
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. Chennai bears the brunt of cyclone Michaung READ MORE
GS Paper- 4
ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY
1. Logical prowess of Nyaya Darshan READ MORE
2. Why Is Integrity Important in Leadership? READ MORE
Questions for the MAIN exam
1. Fortification of climate adaptation measures, scaling of renewables and ensuring finance mechanisms that stand the test of time are essential to win the battle against climate change. Comment.
2. Political reservations for women have the potential to be an effective tool in the fight for a gender-equal world and to improve development outcomes for women in the long-term. Critically analyse.
3. Gender quota in politics is vital to fix the gender imbalance in political leadership but it is women’s representation in policymaking that will truly serve the purpose of gender representation and will break this stigma that women are only stand-ins of their male counterparts. Comment.
4. COP28 has forged a global consensus on the path the planet must take to save itself but this has posed many challenges for a developing countries like India. Discuss.
5. China presence in the Indian Ocean region and recent developments in this region shows that to take the driving seat in south Asia, India needs to make a comeback on its neighbourhood first policy. Comment.
QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS
- The only motive that can keep politics pure is the motive of doing good for one’s country and its people.
- The COP28 Declaration has left almost all the problems where they were before; nothing much of substance has been gained at Dubai.
- It is time that future meetings use the science to promote justice and equity and strengthen faith in what is now one of the few working multilateral processes.
- Fortification of climate adaptation measures, scaling of renewables and ensuring finance mechanisms that stand the test of time are essential to win the battle against climate change.
- Women leaders in local governments can lead to greater investment in policies which are a priority for women, as well as improved social perceptions of women and changes in women’s aspirations and attitudes towards gender roles.
- Political reservations for women have the potential to be an effective tool in the fight for a gender-equal world and to improve development outcomes for women in the long-term.
- Gender quotas in politics are worth pursuing to fix the gender imbalance in political leadership and to ensure policymaking represents women’s interests and changes commonly-held perceptions about gender.
- The key existential need is to move away from coal to renewables. To be able to do so, developing nations will need finance that must not add to their debt burden.
- COP28 has forged a global consensus on the path the planet must take to save itself. This has posed a double challenge for a country like India, which has to both grow rapidly to overcome poverty as also do away with an abundant natural source of energy like coal.
- There is a strong case for compulsory voting as it means an end to tactical voting, votebank politics and can lead to stronger democracy.
- Industry stakeholders must bring cognitive skills, a growth mindset, cultural intelligence, and digital literacy to create innovators and entrepreneurs in the country.
- India has so far maintained its neighbourhood-first approach and looks like it is willing to continue its down-south approach.
ESSAY TOPIC
- The economy is an owned subsidiary of ecology.
50-WORD TALK
- Israel’s war on Palestine has gone much beyond any logical response to the Hamas terror attack. It has turned into an offensive without an end. Wars are fought with objective military purpose. Indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is not one and is fast losing support. India favouring a ceasefire is proof.
- Allowing visitors to witness democracy at work has been an integral part of parliamentary proceedings and promotes public engagement with the legislature. Smoke canisters in Lok Sabha were a serious lapse by security officials. This shouldn’t make Parliament inaccessible to citizens. Improve security measures and lift the visitor ban expeditiously.
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.