WSDP Bulletin (10/12/2024)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Earth’s desertification emergency: Around 78% land became permanently drier between 1990 and 2020 READ MORE

2. Critically important Southwest Primorye subpopulation of Russian Amur tigers not genetically diverse: Study READ MORE

3. ‘Protests will escalate’: Why farmers in Rajasthan, Punjab are protesting against toxic Buddha Nullah READ MORE

4. Union government names Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra as RBI Governor READ MORE

5. COP16: Future of food production uncertain as aridification threatens 40% of Earth’s arable lands, finds UN report READ MORE

6. Antimatter idea offers scientists clue to cracking cosmic mystery READ MORE

7. PM Modi to launch ‘Bima Sakhi Yojana’ for women on Dec 9 READ MORE

8. SC uses plenary powers to allow a woman Army officer’s plea for permanent commission READ MORE

9. Reservation must not be based on religion, Supreme Court tells West Bengal READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Another year, a hotter planet READ MORE

2. Why children in schools take to physical violence READ MORE

3. Death by contamination: on Indian cities and unsafe drinking water READ MORE

4. The misguided debate over declining fertility READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Places and worship: On the Supreme Court hearing READ MORE

2. Indians need the right to disconnect READ MORE

3. Speech that doesn’t befit a judge’s office READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. ​​​The role of teachers in building positive learning spaces READ MORE

2. Ballari deaths expose systemic failure READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

​​1. Paradigm shift: On Syria and its future READ MORE

2. G20 Rio summit: A new voice for the Global South READ MORE

3. Renewed vigour READ MORE

4. Charting Bharat’s role in a multipolar world READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. RBI does well to keep status quo READ MORE  

2. A balancing act: Repo rate held steady amid growth concerns READ MORE

3. Financial literacy: The key to unlocking India’s economic power READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Can ICJ deliver climate justice to Global South? READ MORE

2. World Climate Day: A call for inclusive and urgent action READ MORE

3. The imperative of continuous learning in India’s AI-driven future READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Antimicrobial resistance: An invisible risk for women health READ MORE

2. One nation one subscription as a catalyst for equitable education READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. ​The return of Maoist spectre in Telangana READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Water, sanitation, and health: The overlooked impact of floods on women in India READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Meditation is experiment and experience READ MORE

2. Standing and waiting READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Knowledge is the cornerstone of progress, and access to it must be recognised as a fundamental right, not a privilege. Analyse how one nation one subscription can work as a catalyst for equitable education.

2. As China increases its outreach in South Asia, including in the Himalayan region, Bhutan’s strategic location makes its partnership vital for India’s security and regional influence. Comment.

3. Minilateralism is reshaping the international order, forging hitherto unlikely partnerships among countries to cooperate in specific geographies for targeted purposes. Examine.

4. The Centre is not just limiting the transfers it makes to the states but also exercising its right to limit borrowing by the states in a punishing fashion. If the Indian Union has to be protected, the GST “experiment” must be abandoned. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

    • History has proved that dictators can’t last forever.
    • India must recognise that the right to disconnect will increase productivity and ensure the overall growth and well being of employees and employers.
    • The Constitution, the Directive Principles of State Policy, and various judicial pronouncements have spoken of the right to work in a conducive and healthy environment.
    • Article 39(e) of the Directive Principles of State Policy directs the state to direct its policy towards securing the strength and health of its workers.
    • Sexual harassment at the workplace violates fundamental rights, recognised the right to dignity at the workplace, and issued guidelines to ensure that there is a safe working environment for women and gender equality.
    • From affecting crop cycles and energy use to having a bearing on local pollution to increasing the vagaries of extreme weather events, the behaviour of this oceanic phenomenon poses a new climate-related challenge.
    • Mitigation of GHG emissions and adaptation to weather vagaries hold the key to a climate-resilient world.
    • Restoration of the balance between inflation and growth in the overall interest of the economy is the foremost task of the MPC.
    • Monetary policy-making is not about looking for tactical opportunities and pretexts to cut the policy rate.
    • Judges’ work, and words, are supposed to be directed not just by the letter of India’s founding document but also its spirit — of constitutional morality, fairness and justice for all.
    • RBI has come a long way in strengthening financial stability. However, as in most regulations that are ‘one size fits all’, the strong and the weak are getting similar treatment.
    • Variability is a significant issue when it comes to economic disparities, health and longevity disparities among social groups and population selection potential, which is based on the fitness distribution’s tails.
    • Access to quality academic resources remains a significant challenge for students and researchers, especially in India’s remote regions.
    • Knowledge is the cornerstone of progress, and access to it must be recognised as a fundamental right, not a privilege.
    • A successful classroom isn’t just about books and resources; it’s about creating an environment where students feel valued, heard and empowered to succeed.
    • As China increases its outreach in South Asia, including in the Himalayan region, India’s proactive engagement with Bhutan reaffirms its commitment to its smaller neighbours.
    • Bhutan’s strategic location makes its partnership vital for India’s security and regional influence.
    • India’s support for Bhutan’s participation in global forums reflects its willingness to amplify Bhutan’s voice on international issues, including climate change.
    • As global warming intensifies, it deepens social divides, further endangering marginalised groups and underscoring the urgent need for inclusive and compassionate action.

ESSAY TOPIC

    • There is a difference between what we have the right to do and what is right to do.
    • Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become.

50-WORD TALK

    • RBI MPC leaving rates unchanged reveals a baffling inconsistency with its own predictions. It highlighted inflation as a larger concern than growth, yet predicted food prices will ease from January. It simultaneously slashed growth estimates for Q3, Q4 and the full year. This single-minded inflation focus is fast becoming damaging.
    • The TEDBF, Indian Naval Fighter, project is vital for Navy and India. A repeat of the much delayed, poorly executed and now-scrapped Tejas Navy cannot be allowed. The government must enforce strict deadlines and accountability for DRDO, HAL, and Navy to ensure timely execution and success of this critical project.

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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