WSDP Bulletin (17-05-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Row over adopting father’s surname in matrilineal Meghalaya READ MORE  
2. Dengue vaccine: India moves closer to getting its first indigenous vaccine READ MORE
3. SC Collegium recommends AP Chief Justice, senior advocate Vishwanathan as apex court judges READ MORE
4. PM Modi to visit Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia from May 19-24 READ MORE
5. Monsoon likely to hit Kerala four days late, expected onset on June 4: IMD READ MORE
6. ISRO to launch navigational satellite for its constellation in May end READ MORE
7. Banks request RBI for more time to implement new ECL-based loan loss provisioning norms READ MORE
8. Go circular to end plastic pollution, UNEP report urges ahead of global meet READ MORE
9. Delayed monsoon: How a possible El Nino can lead to failed rains in parts of India READ MORE
10. The demand for a Kuki homeland, its history and rationale READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Why the erosion of the traditional Indian family is worrying READ MORE  
2. Kids and phones: Study shows downside of early access READ MORE
3. Climate Change Could Derail India’s Plans To Grow Oil Palm Domestically READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Take a stance on the Places of Worship Act READ MORE
2. A Bleak Future READ MORE
3. How the Civil Servant Can Really Guard Taxpayers’ Money READ MORE
4. Did the Supreme Court Truly Give the Delhi Government a ‘Big Win’? READ MORE
5. NHRC’s international accreditation deferred: No one batting with a straight bat READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Apathy of family and high costs hinder maternal healthcare READ MORE
2. Foundational learning outcomes: More recovery than loss READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. New Delhi and the New Washington Consensus READ MORE
2. Why India needs to do a China with good friend US READ MORE
3. Indo-Pacific summits mark a global churn READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Tripping trade: on India and its trade stance: India must not rely on a few large markets, but opt for integration with global value chains READ MORE
2. Agriculture needs a ‘natural’ boost READ MORE
3. RBI must shift focus to growth READ MORE
4. Circular Economy READ MORE
5. Why data is a double-edged sword for financial supervision READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. With India as G20 president, where do the country’s climate and emission goals figure? READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Should India make tactical nukes to counter China? Delhi’s no-first-use rule has no room for it READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Inner transformation needs inner governance READ MORE
2. Empty & full of energy READ MORE
3. Embracing self-doubt READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. In state administration, the bureaucracy, which serves as the executor of government policy, needs to be answerable only to the state’s legislative assembly. Comment on the statement in light of the recent Supreme Court judgement.
2. It is imperative for India to not only form and engage with new frameworks but also strengthen old ones, which will increase its options and influence among both developing and developed countries. Comment on the statement in light of recent geo-political developments.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• In our changing world, nothing changes more than geography.
• The need for young civil servants to get things done rather than letting them linger is very important. It is critical to our entire development process. Similarly, the need for transparency in appointments is important in our democracy.
• Capitalism is facing multifaceted challenges due to the problem of policy-making based on incorrect data. Governments and international agencies like the World Bank that depend on faulty official data cannot correctly analyse and help resolve the problems facing the world and its poor.
• To be effective, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation needs to come out of Chinese influence and push its own cherished goals.
• The hidden nature of caste atrocities indicates that the problem is more pervasive and deeply rooted than official records may suggest!
• Our steps for sustainable groundwater management are in the right direction and these are bringing a paradigm shift towards positive change.
• India’s increasing engagement with Africa has largely been through bilateral channels, with limited participation in multilateral forums.
• India’s engagement with the Commonwealth should not be treated as a subset of its relationship with the UK. India–UK bilateral ties could face divergences due to variety of domestic and structural factors.
• It is imperative for India to not only form and engage with new frameworks but also strengthen old ones, which will increase its options and influence among both developing and developed countries.
• Data is the next big chasm for regulators to cross, with its growing importance in the financial system and the challenges in its management.
• In the geoeconomic domain, there is growing convergence of interests between India and the US. A model less driven by market fundamentalism presents an opportunity for India.

ESSAY TOPIC

• In our changing world, nothing changes more than geography.

50-WORD TALK

• When major economies are grappling with historically high inflation, it’s welcome news that India’s prices are cooling. The contraction in wholesale inflation today follows retail inflation easing for four consecutive months. The prospect of a sustained pause in interest rate hikes by RBI will be a relief to industry too.
• Supreme Court’s interim order allowing real estate insolvency proceedings to take place on a project-wise basis is a necessary improvement. Insolvency cases usually get slowed down when dealing with large companies. Slicing the cases up by project will speed up resolution, and provide welcome relief to homeowners waiting on tenterhooks.
• The Supreme Court has provided welcome clarity on who controls government services in Delhi. If Delhi is to remain a state, then the bureaucracy, which serves as the executor of government policy, needs to be answerable only to the state’s legislative assembly and, by extension, to the people of Delhi.

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.