WSDP Bulletin (19/03/2024)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. SC order on electoral bonds disclosure does not cover full details from March 2018 READ MORE

2. Study reports evidence of ‘missing’ spring in India READ MORE

3. Centre notifies rules allowing transfer of ‘captive’ elephants READ MORE

4. Vaccine for dengue may be available commercially by mid-2026 READ MORE

5. SAKHI to be a friend in need for Gaganyaan crew READ MORE

6. The big promise of small-scale LNG as fuel for India, with first SSLNG plant commissioned READ MORE

7. Fresh tussle with Governor: Why Tamil Nadu has moved SC to have a minister reinstated READ MORE

8. Heat, aridity, clear skies: why forests are already ablaze in the Nilgiris READ MORE

9. Measles accounted for most excess deaths as a result of COVID-19 related vaccine disruptions READ MORE

10. Conservation not enough for the highly inbred Ranthambore tigers — they require genetic rescue READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Violence, homelessness, and women’s mental health 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. What happens when Bengaluru’s taps run dry? READ MORE

5. Bengaluru’s water crisis decoded READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Kovind Committee makes it real — India needs One Nation, One Election READ MORE

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

3. Misconceptions in Indian fiscal federalism READ MORE

4. The right to dissent is the lifeline of democracy READ MORE

5. Do away with death penalty READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Amended surrogacy law doesn’t go the full distance READ MORE

2. Human development should be priority READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. What do FTAs with European countries signal? | Explained READ MORE

2. All eyes are now on the Indian Ocean region READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Trade puzzle: On exports and global trade READ MORE

2. How NFHS data can help craft policy for women’s financial inclusion READ MORE

3. Inclusive growth in India key to Viksit Bharat READ MORE

4. The consumers’ economy of India: What do the recent macro numbers tell us? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

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

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI and data: A tale of necessity and constraint READ MORE

2. Mission AI READ MORE

3. How data analytics and AI is critical to EV charging anxiety READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Space is becoming a global geopolitical theatre READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Mitigating risks in infrastructure development READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Master the art of cultivating power READ MORE

2. Minimise ego and be free READ MORE

3. Ethics and the future of innovation READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Simultaneous elections may encourage a more cooperative federalism with national and state parties and governments working in close and synchronised alignment. Critically examine.

2. One Nation, One Election would give political parties breathing space to focus on long-term policies instead of short-term populist measures. Critically comment.

3. A comprehensive and conscientious approach to ensure the ethical and considerate mainstream integration of AI technologies is imperative. Comment in the light of recent developments.

4. 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.

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

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

  • Coalitions, though successful, have always found this, that their triumph has been brief.
  • Both the Western Indian Ocean and the Northern Indian Ocean have become active geographies again.
  • India needs to convey a clear message to its strategic partners that while it is conscious of its Indo-Pacific responsibilities, it prioritises the Indian Ocean region.
  • While Indian Ocean Rim Association is underperforming and has become too amorphous to be effective, the Colombo Security Conclave faces the danger of losing a key member, the Maldives, if the island nation’s partnership with China deepens.
  • Evidence indicates that violence and mental health conditions have a reciprocal, cause-and-effect relationship, and both factors significantly heighten the risk of homelessness.
  • Instead of addressing root causes rhetorically, we should examine the complex strands surrounding mental health.
  • The Agni-5 with MIRV capability bolsters India’s nuclear capabilities vis-à-vis China. It puts China on notice — that India is preparing itself to counter the advances Beijing has made with its missile and missile defence programmes.
  • Financial inclusion awareness programmes must give special attention to women in households not headed by women.
  • Simultaneous elections may encourage a more cooperative federalism with national and state parties and governments working in close and synchronised alignment.
  • To reimagine the city’s waterscape, it is essential to rebuild our lost relationship with the many meanings of water.
  • One Nation, One Election would give political parties breathing space to focus on long-term policies instead of short-term populist measures.
  • Consciousness is an attribute of life, embedded in all life forms, right from the unicellular bacterium to the multicellular, multi-organ human being.
  • To ensure free and fair elections, tackle the menace of muscle power, money power, misinformation and code of conduct violations diligently.
  • Parliament should implement policies to enhance political finance regulations and ensure that candidates with significant criminal cases cannot run for office. Additionally, the government must prioritise political transparency, accountability, and ethical behaviour.
  • Rapid investments from public and private sectors are necessary to translate India’s high growth to meaningful human development.
  • Electric vehicle adoption is on the rise, but there is mounting apprehension regarding malfunctioning chargers, which poses challenges for both consumers and infrastructure operators. The progress India has made is not enough when the challenge is to ensure a minimum quality of life to all citizens. The goal of becoming a developed country by 2047 will have meaning only if development means human development.
  • A comprehensive and conscientious approach to ensure the ethical and considerate mainstream integration of AI technologies is imperative.
  • The Indian economy is at a defining moment where the future might show a reversal from the trend of the consumption-driven growth phenomenon.

ESSAY TOPIC

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

50-WORD TALK

  • There is finally some sunlight in the electoral bonds matter. Data on 2018-2019 is still pending. SC has now ordered SBI to release the bond numbers that can link donors to political parties. That this exercise will drive funding underground is fearmongering. Companies must be upfront about their donations anyway.
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin has won the elections again by a huge vote. Strongman leaders like Putin, Turkish President Erdogan and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold farce polls to look and sound legitimate. The world knows the truth about this model of authoritarian heads who seek to rule for life.

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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