WSDP Bulletin (16/11/2024)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. In ‘life certificate’ month, how Govt’s Jeevan Pramaan has been faring READ MORE

2. Explained: India’s market correction, links to China’s sub-par stimulus for its economy READ MORE

3. 68% of temperate rainforests would be lost if current pace of greenhouse gas emissions continues READ MORE

4. Only 1 per cent methane emissions alerts to governments and companies have received responses: UNEP READ MORE

5. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke performs the haka: Who are the Maori? READ MORE

6. India’s Q2 indicators signal steady momentum: Moody’s Ratings READ MORE

7. COP29: India voices dissent on ‘discriminatory trade barriers linked to carbon emissions READ MORE

8. Climate finance are not ‘investment goals’, says India at COP29 summit in Baku READ MORE

9. No need for Central law to tackle crimes against health workers: National Task Force files report in Supreme Court READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Birsa Munda a symbol of resistance, empowerment READ MORE

2. Extending net of protection online for children READ MORE

3. President Droupadi Murmu writes: Birsa Munda’s enduring legacy READ MORE

4. Caste discrimination: A shameful legacy READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. ​​Universities are different from religious institutions READ MORE

2. AFSPA is a blunt instrument – address political failure Manipur instead READ MORE

3. Explained: The Supreme Court judgment on the UP Madarsa Act READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. India needs a globally recognised public policy school READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

​​​1. A delicate balancing act READ MORE

2. India’s claim of pursuing ‘strategic autonomy’ in its foreign policy is a façade READ MORE

3. Quad-at-Sea Observer Mission: Exploring the Prospects of Coast Guard Collaboration READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. ​Wooden pallets: Turning timber into treasure READ MORE

2. Central banks: The legacy of monetary mandarins READ MORE

3. Inflation spike will delay RBI rate cut READ MORE

4. The great inequality myth that rules India READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Right to breathe READ MORE

2. Funding Our Future: Unlocking Resources for Adaptation Financing READ MORE

3. Delhi’s continuing severe air pollution challenge READ MORE

4. What COP29 needs to do on climate finance goals READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. On the heels of World Diabetes Day, the story of insulin discovery and the Flame of Hope READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

​ 1. AFSPA returns: A setback on the road to peace in Manipur READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. India committed to Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction: PM’s aide P.K. Mishra READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. From matter to consciousness to supreme cognition READ MORE

2. Know yourself READ MORE

3. The Rise and Fall of Ego READ MORE

CASE STUDY

1. Stringent eco checks vital for new highway READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Fiscal transfers from the central government serve as an important mechanism for state governments to mitigate adverse impacts of extreme climate events. Examine.

2. Strategic autonomy is essentially the extension of guarding sovereignty in matters of foreign relations. Comment.

3. Compare and contrast the electoral process of India and the USA. How far do you think India’s electoral process is more transparent than the USA?

4. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 commit to create a culture of security consciousness among citizens by aligning with global data security standards to improve transparency and accountability among companies. Comment.

5. The SC judgement on punitive demolitions against illegal constructions not only promotes governance, rule of law and individual rights in India, but restore the principles of natural justice and separation of powers of institutions. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

    • The executive’s ability to realign the public sphere when power changes hands is more extreme in India than in more institutionalised democracies.
    • Ethnic identities have always played an important role in the socioeconomic life of Manipur.
    • Fiscal transfers from the central government serve as an important mechanism for state governments to mitigate adverse impacts of extreme climate events.
    • Drought would largely impact agricultural activities, whereas floods would have more widespread impact.
    • With regional stability hanging in the balance, the world watches anxiously as West Asia braces for the potential fallout of escalating hostilities.
    • Circular economy practices are changing the future of wooden pallets, from innovative recycling methods to tech-driven solutions.
    • Circular economy practices are changing the future of wooden pallets, from innovative recycling methods to tech-driven solutions.
    • More Manipur districts under AFSPA is just another admission of government failure.
    • Strategic autonomy is essentially the extension of guarding sovereignty in matters of foreign relations.
    • A fully committed India will make the Quad a formidable barrier to China’s hegemonic ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.
    • India shares the goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific with the US, but its primary driver is not regional balance of power but its immediate need to balance the threat that China poses to its territories in Ladakh as well as in Arunachal Pradesh.
    • India will only be able to truly practise its grand strategy of strategic autonomy after it reduces its external dependencies and builds up its military self-reliance. Until then, its grand strategy is not about maintaining strategic autonomy but managing strategic dependencies.
    • The rule of law and on the principle of separation of powers, as any such punitive use of the law against those accused or guilty of a crime amounts to executive authorities taking over a penal function.
    • The Indian model of providing electoral results via a public authority works much better than the American one.
    • The central government agency needs to step up and join the dots between local and regional pollution, beyond seasonal issues such as stubble burning.
    • The Supreme Court’s order on demolitions is a welcome reminder to the executive to function as a custodian of constitutional values.
    • “Bulldozer justice” is unconstitutional, for it subverts the rule of law, violates the principles of natural justice and separation of powers of institutions, and the rights of individuals to shelter and a fair trial.
    • India must act swiftly to secure its digital future in an era where technological prowess is now essential for national security.
    • Cyber-attacks threaten national security and underscore the vulnerabilities associated with our increasing dependence on digital infrastructure.
    • As cybersecurity becomes the essential defense for peace, prosperity, and privacy in the digital age, recent incidents such as the breach of 7.9 million customer records at India’s stockbroking firm Angel demonstrate the necessity of strengthening digital protections.

ESSAY TOPIC

    • If you only do what you know you can do- you never do very much.

50-WORD TALK

    • Piyush Goyal is right to nudge RBI to cut rates to fuel flagging growth. RBI’s MPC shouldn’t be spooked in December meeting by 6.2% October retail inflation. RBI can do nothing about seasonally surging vegetable prices. It can’t be linearly inflation-driven. Ducking the trickier growth-inflation binary is a sad copout.
    • Putting fresh Manipur districts under AFSPA is another admission of governance failure. The issue is Modi government’s inability to separate party politics from law and order. How can Biren Singh remain CM with rising violence, ethnic warfare, and governance mostly from Delhi? The crisis is too fraught for headline management.

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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