WSDP Bulletin (18/03/2024)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1.  In Frames | A flurry of feathers in a drying lake Arunachal tribe donates land for critically endangered songbird Bugun Liocichla READ MORE

2. IT Ministry replaces AI advisory, drops requirement of government’s permission READ MORE

3. With Agni V test, India makes the MIRV leap READ MORE

4. What is the HbA1C test and why is it used to check for diabetes? | Explained  READ MORE

5. The problem of equity in IPCC reports | Explained READ MORE

6. Analysing datasets: How predictive AI models are gaining traction READ MORE

7. Why Kerala and the Centre are in a dispute over state borrowing limits at the SC READ MORE

8. Model Code of Conduct comes into force for 2024 Lok Sabha elections: What does it mean? READ MORE

9. Lancet study finds 7 out of 10 dialysis patients in India survive beyond six months, rural mortality 32% higher READ MORE

10. In Frames | A flurry of feathers in a drying lake READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. How social norms hold women back: A look at recent evidence READ MORE

2. Should girls be ‘controlled’? Opinions among young boys and parents in Bihar READ MORE

3. Ocean temperature hit record high in February 2024, EU scientists say READ MORE

4. Crisis of time: On parched Karnataka and its water woes READ MORE

5. Bengaluru’s water crisis decoded READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Bonded favours: On the electoral bond scheme, sordid revelations READ MORE

2. On the ballot: On the general election to the 18th Lok Sabha READ MORE

3. Why and how One Nation, One Election is divisive READ MORE

4. The why and the how of one nation, one election READ MORE

5. One Nation, many poles: Simultaneous polls are a good idea. But given multipolar polity, get more parties on board READ MORE

6. Electoral bonds: Donor-recipient link must be probed thoroughly READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Empowering healthcare: Harnessing digital solutions for NCD diagnosis and transformation READ MORE

2. India’s HDI improves: Reducing gender gap in labour force a challenge READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. US criticism of CAA: Diplomatic calculations behind opposition READ MORE

2. Strategic interests draw India, Greece closer READ MORE

3. The importance of consular services in global diplomacy READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Has poverty really dropped to 5% in India? READ MORE

2. Why it is necessary to diversify the farming basket READ MORE

3. Farmers’ protests a testimony to flawed market economy READ MORE

4. Re-orienting agriculture for sustainable growth READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. RBI and the net-zero transition — A roadmap for green India READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Fifth-generation stealth jet to be a reality soon READ MORE

2. Scientists play key role in a nation’s progress READ MORE

3. AI is revolutionising waste management READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Missile prowess: Agni-V enhances India’s deterrence capabilities READ MORE  

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Mitigating risks in infrastructure development READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Cultivate tolerance to foster harmony READ MORE

2. Limits of simplification READ MORE

3. Conscious awareness or aware consciousness READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. By offering equitable access to high-quality care for all individuals, regardless of socio-economic background, digital solutions can play a pivotal role in addressing unequal health outcomes. Comment.

2. India stands on the brink of a digital healthcare revolution that promises to transform NCD management and improve overall health outcomes. Comment.

3. To mitigate climate change and bridge the digital divide, it is vital to invest in sustainability and expand access to technology. Justify.

4. Addressing concerns related to federalism and democratic principles while ensuring the synchronisation of electoral cycles poses a formidable challenge. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

  • Power and influence do attract political funding but misusing them either by muscular demonstration or the promise of reward will ultimately be subversive of democracy.
  • While the ECI is justified in its defence of the electronic voting machine, it needs to do more to ensure public trust in them.
  • In the conflict between the claim of a right to privacy by donors and the voter’s right to information, the ECI’s equivocation is unwarranted, particularly after the Court has settled the question.
  • GDP growth is now driven by capital expenditure, largely public capital expenditure, because we really haven’t seen the same revival in private investment, largely because mass consumption demand is stagnant.
  • If farmers’ incomes are to be augmented substantially, Punjab and Haryana have plenty of lessons to learn from states that have already moved into high-value agriculture.
  • Consciousness is an attribute of life, embedded in all life forms, right from the unicellular bacterium to the multicellular, multi-organ human being. Consciousness has been considered an emergent phenomenon by neuroscientists and physicists alike.
  • The integration of AI into healthcare systems is revolutionizing disease diagnostics, particularly in the early detection of conditions such as heart diseases, diabetes, and cancer.
  • Digital health technologies have the transformative potential to mitigate disparities and advance equity in healthcare delivery.
  • By offering equitable access to high-quality care for all individuals, regardless of socio-economic background, digital solutions can play a pivotal role in addressing unequal health outcomes.
  • India stands on the brink of a digital healthcare revolution that promises to transform NCD management and improve overall health outcomes.
  • The HDI report’s call to address the challenges by prioritising ‘planetary public goods’ for climate stability and digital equity is noteworthy.
  • To mitigate climate change and bridge the digital divide, it is vital to invest in sustainability and expand access to technology.
  • It is imperative that the cloak of secrecy is lifted completely so that various stakeholders, including political parties and the electorate, can draw their own conclusions ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
  • Parliamentary and Assembly elections have different dynamics and issues at stake; the Centre must go all out to develop unanimity on this contentious matter.
  • Greece and India are located in geopolitically volatile areas. As recent events in the Red Sea have shown, the security of the East Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean Region are interconnected.
  • A legalised MSP is the way forward not only for Indian farmers but also for growers across the globe. Markets will adjust accordingly.
  • In times of crisis, society instinctively turns its gaze towards the scientific community, seeking solace and solutions amid turmoil.
  • Addressing concerns related to federalism and democratic principles while ensuring the synchronisation of electoral cycles poses a formidable challenge.
  • Consular services are crucial for global diplomatic efforts as they tirelessly safeguard the interests of citizens residing outside their country of origin.

ESSAY TOPIC

  • Gender equality is not just a matter of social justice; it is also a prerequisite for sustainable development.

50-WORD TALK

  • Supreme Court has rightly used strong words to quash the ‘waging war’ case against the Maharashtra professor who merely updated his WhatsApp status criticising abrogation of Article 370. It has called for educating the police about free speech and democracy. This is key to preventing citizen harassment by the authorities.

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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