WSDP Bulletin (10/05/2024)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. With 56.4% of India’s total disease burden linked to unhealthy diets, what new nutrition guidelines prescribe READ MORE

2. A new biocontrol agent to manage ‘foot rot’ disease in Basmati crop: Why this matters READ MORE

3. West Nile fever cases detected in Kerala: What is the disease, how can it be prevented? READ MORE

4. As oceans warm & fishers risk their lives more, a new study on Kerala claims it can save lives with localised forecasts READ MORE

5. Latin America, Caribbean’s year of climate extremes: WMO calls for improving weather & health services to save lives READ MORE

6. No fresh mining leases, renewals in Aravallis, Supreme Court orders READ MORE

7. All about FLiRT, the new COVID-19 variants | Explained READ MORE

8. Does bird flu have the potential to turn into the next pandemic? READ MORE

9. Findings of EAC-PM working paper being misreported, says Population Foundation of India READ MORE

10. What is ‘Project Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu’s multi-pronged initiative to save state animal READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Spiritual education can transform society READ MORE

2. How to care for an ageing population READ MORE

3. Constructed wetlands are nature’s ingenious solution for wastewater treatment in India READ MORE

4. Toxic waste disposal: Extinguish the suffocating fumes in Nuh READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Reservation within Constitutional bounds READ MORE

2. Enigma of copyright in the digital world READ MORE

3. A chance to settle a constitutional clash READ MORE

4. The search for balance in regulating deepfakes READ MORE

5. Are independent candidates unimportant for political representation? READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Giving primacy to human development READ MORE

2. Right to apprenticeship should be a priority in India READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India-Canada friction: Ottawa must rein in separatists READ MORE

2. EU-China relations at a crossroads READ MORE

3. India and Armenia strengthen defence ties amidst regional instability READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Why Indian agriculture may need a new export-import policy READ MORE

2. The naysayers are wrong. Indian economy is seeing robust growth READ MORE

3. Inadequate budgetary support plagues farming READ MORE

4. Economic progress in India: A reality check READ MORE

5. Empowering rural women through the ‘Umeed’ scheme READ MORE

6. Rationalise regulations for e-commerce READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Plastic solution: Beyond the Global Plastics Treaty READ MORE

2. Farm fires: Worrying spike in stubble burning in Punjab READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Vaccine withdrawal: AstraZeneca can’t evade responsibility READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. The enduring lesson of strategic restraint READ MORE

2. Trouble-torn Manipur needs an out-of-the-box solution READ MORE

3. AFSPA repeal: A step towards ‘Naya Kashmir’ READ MORE

4. Protecting Our Digital World READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Why Uttarakhand forests are on fire this season READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Cultivating contentment as conscious practice READ MORE

2. To choose, or not to READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The complexity and multifaceted nature of the issue of deepfake underscores the need for a uniform regulatory and enforcement mechanism. Comment.

2. How far do you agree with this view that to represent the local issues in Parliament, independent candidates play an effective role than partly relative candidates? Examine your view.

3. A dip in the number of independent MPs in the legislature has directly impacted the representation of local issues, and they have not got enough space in debates. Examine.

4. India’s inequality is a result of lopsided economic growth and taxation. It is well established that India is experiencing jobless growth where headline GDP growth does not translate into jobs, incomes and prosperity for a large majority. Comment.

5. Cybersecurity is not just about safeguarding the data rather it’s about safeguarding trust, privacy and freedom in the digital age. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

  • Religious wars are not caused by the fact that there is more than one religion, but by the spirit of intolerance.
  • Given low levels of human development, high levels of inequality, low savings, and high debt, it is time to think about an alternate growth strategy which accords primacy to human development.
  • The top court has a chance, in Property Owners Association vs State of Maharashtra, to resolve the clash between fundamental rights and Directive Principles of State Policy.
  • The complexity and multifaceted nature of the issue of deepfake underscores the need for a uniform regulatory and enforcement mechanism.
  • This can improve political representation, as independents are free from the dictates of a party line, and have the flexibility to represent local preferences in a way that party-affiliated candidates often do not.
  • Without appropriate redistribution of resources, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas will remain an empty slogan.
  • Skill policies and schemes need a big overhaul on the lines of Swiss and Germanic models, in which the youth and the industry take centre stage.
  • Despite notable achievements, economic progress falters due to the neglect of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Public Sector Undertakings and agricultural reforms.
  • The country needs drastic institutional and bureaucratic reforms. It needs urgent implementation of the farming sector reforms which were shelved after so much drum beating.
  • The education sector calls for a thorough overhaul to replace the colonial Macaulay established system with an indigenous system in tune with the nation’s ethos and tradition.
  • Sloganeering and political gamesmanship need to be replaced by serious, earnest and committed steps for boosting investment, trade, manufacturing and exports.
  • India has a huge potential for becoming an economic powerhouse in quick time but we need to go about building our economy with due seriousness and dedication, rising above narrow interests of caste, class, political affiliations and last but not least, political expediency.

ESSAY TOPIC

  • If you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

50-WORD TALK

  • As Elon Musk comes calling, India’s notification of 100% FDI in space sector is timely. It isn’t automatic. FDI above 49% or 74% will need government approval. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the ‘system’, armed with discretions, defeat many reforms. We can only hope this won’t be the fate of space FDI.

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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