May 2, 2024

Lukmaan IAS

A Blog for IAS Examination

WSDP Bulletin (06/02/2024)

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(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Govt says 555 Asiatic lions died in five years, no rise in mortality rate READ MORE

2. New GRI Biodiversity Standard demands reporting of drivers of biodiversity loss, impact on Indigenous Peoples READ MORE

3. Wetland bird census | 146 species recorded in 18 wetlands in Villupuram district, numbers lower than last year READ MORE

4. Cameroon adopts Nagoya Protocol to benefit from its rich biodiversity READ MORE

5. China Bets on Open-Source Chips as US Export Controls Mount READ MORE

6. Explained: What’s in the new Public Examinations Bill, aimed at stopping cheating in exams? READ MORE

7. RBI monetary policy: Why repo rate is likely to remain unchanged for the sixth time READ MORE

8. COVID-19 pandemic may have led to 14% spike in number of underweight children in Bihar, Odisha: Study READ MORE

9. Cape Verde is the third African country to eliminate malaria: here’s how READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Role of diaspora in furthering India’s religious nationalism globally READ MORE

2. Population priorities: On Interim Budget statement and the Census READ MORE

3. The Earth’s tectonic plates made the Himalayas — and could rip them apart READ MORE

4. Deep Seabed Mining in the Arctic READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. EC Appointments~I READ MORE

2. EC Appointments~II READ MORE

3. Overseas funding READ MORE

4. Population growth committee: Move beyond Emergency-era fears READ MORE

5. A panel to confirm biases and prejudice? READ MORE

6. Bridge widening gaps in health outcomes, services READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. A critical view of the ‘sanitation miracle’ in rural India READ MORE

2. Are Anganwadis ready to provide quality early childhood education? READ MORE

3. Going Beyond the Gap in Foundational Skills, ASER 2023 Report Raises 3 Important Questions READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Active non-alignment in a changing world READ MORE

2. NAM at a crossroads: Analysing India’s diplomatic choices and priorities READ MORE

3. Maldives, China and a challenge to India’s soft power diplomacy READ MORE

4. India–Maldives Ties in Choppy Waters READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Rail Budget’s capex should deliver results later READ MORE

2. Why MPC must hold policy rates READ MORE

3. PSE policy is dying a slow death. More than half are non-operational or loss-making READ MORE

4. A second glance at the Interim Budget READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Warming up to climate change: Is the Sun behind the rising global temperatures? READ MORE

2. India an exemplar in fight against global warming READ MORE

3. As crisis grows, time to revisit plastics policy READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Game-changer READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Radicalisation bodes ill for strife-torn Manipur READ MORE    

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. In Morbi’s debris, the role of the State in PPP projects READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Supreme Court’s ‘murder of democracy’ remarks on Chandigarh mayor polls give ammo to Oppn READ MORE

2. To link or delink neural connections READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The FCRA’s role must evolve from a mere surveillance tool to a mechanism that fosters cooperation, ensuring that accountability serves as a catalyst for positive change rather than stifling the crucial work of these organisations. Comment.

2. India, through its Neighbourhood First, Act East and SAGAR policies, has been assiduously reaching out to its land and maritime neighbours but these initiatives have not yielded positive and encouraging results. Critically examine.

3. The right to reputation needed to be adequately protected against defamatory speech and imputation but the misuse of the criminal defamation law to silence political a ‘chilling effect’ on free speech. Comment.

4. India’s adept use of diaspora engagement as a tool for global legitimacy showcases the intricate interplay between domestic religious nationalism and international outreach. Comment.

5. Despite large-scale food safety programmes, improvement in the nutritional status of the population has been sluggish and micro-nutrient deficiencies have increased. Examine how the scaling up biofortification in staple crops on a large scale can effectively address chronic malnutrition in India?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

  • Calling something an election and actually having it be an election are different things.
  • The lack of overall planning in India has led to a lack of synergy of programmes despite high levels of expenditure in fulfilling basic needs. Uncoordinated efforts would lead to an inefficient utilisation of precious public finances.
  • India’s healthcare sector is at the cusp of transformation, potentially giving rise to a new healthcare model for the world to follow. We have already proven our clinical excellence and prowess with success rates that surpass global benchmarks.
  • By re-imagining our healthcare model, we can position ourselves as the global destination for medical value travel, a powerhouse in AI-driven healthcare solutions, and a leader in combating non-communicable diseases.
  • The developing world will get help to use new carbon-free energy sources, which are now cheaper, with climate finance and assistance for capacity-building. India’s push for the creation of the International Solar Alliance was a timely act of leadership.
  • India has an ambitious and well-designed National Green Hydrogen Mission. It is well placed to acquire the ability to replace fossil fuels in hard-to-abate sectors in the coming decade.
  • In a strategic move echoing its growing capability and commitment to global stability, India has deployed an unprecedented naval force east of the Red Sea to counter the resurgence of piracy.
  • The promise of AI is not merely about job displacement and creation but as a potential game- changer in public services.
  • The Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill and the subsequent Act, 2023 defies the verdict of the Supreme Court, violates the basic structure of the Constitution ~ free and fair election and bulldozes the neutrality of the ECI.
  • The overarching preponderance of the ruling executive in both the search and selection committees paves the assured way for the preferred candidate to be the appointee to the ECI.
  • As the recent cancellation of the FCRA licence of a well known think tank raises critical questions, it becomes imperative to scrutinise the delicate balance between the government’s need for oversight and the sector’s indispensable role in societal development.
  • The love-hate relationship between the government and NGOs persists across regimes, with tightening regulations showing little regard for the essential role these entities play in addressing societal issues.
  • The FCRA’s role must evolve from a mere surveillance tool to a mechanism that fosters cooperation, ensuring that accountability serves as a catalyst for positive change rather than stifling the crucial work of these organisations.
  • The promise of AI is not merely about job displacement and creation but as a potential game- changer in public services.
  • At the present pace of population growth, India does not need any coercive measures to control population.
  • India continues to give increasing priority to all its neighbouring countries. It needs to further step up its game and use all the assets at its command of development cooperation, soft power, culture, language, cuisine, music, etc., to significantly deepen and upgrade its ties with its neighbouring countries.

ESSAY TOPIC

  • Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

50-WORD TALK

  • The post-Covid-19 world has made it essential to understand the strength of institutional structures of a country while analysing its public health challenges. So, apart from the positive initiative of setting up new medical colleges, it is also important that the Union government strengthen public health services at the grassroot levels, to make India’s overall health delivery system a vibrant one.
  • IMF’s upward revision of India’s growth for current and next two years shows our economic fundamentals are strong. Our low base necessitates maintaining this growth rate for many more years. With subdued consumer demand compounding private sector’s unwillingness to invest, pressure’s going to be on Centre to keep spending big.

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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