WSDP Bulletin (29-08-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Aditya-L1, first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, to be launched on September 2 READ MORE
2. How scientists found that LK-99 is probably not a superconductor READ MORE  
3. ‘India Q1 CAD may narrow to 1% of GDP or $10 billion’ READ MORE
4. China releases new map showing territorial claims READ MORE
5. 514 researchers to get ICSSR funding to study impact of Centrally sponsored schemes READ MORE
6. What the Supreme Court order on the validity of ‘self-respect’ marriages says READ MORE
7. The case for uniform minimum export price for rice, without basmati distinction READ MORE
8. Are RBI’s new rules on floating rates favourable to you? READ MORE
9. What is ICRR, and its impact on liquidity READ MORE
10. Will Rozgar Mela solve India’s unemployment crisis? READ MORE
11. MSP hike on Kharif crops did not alone move the needle on inflation, so what underlies the rise in prices? READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. ‘Antarctic sea ice has transitioned to a different state with less volume overall, shorter presence’ READ MORE
2. After 3 years of drought, Greater Horn of Africa to get early, heavy rains, courtesy El Nino READ MORE
3. ‘Population growth not a panacea’ READ MORE
4. Not just guidelines but a legal framework needed to prevent rampant caste bias on campus READ MORE
5. Kota deaths: Collective efforts need of the hour READ MORE
6. Time to build a more inclusive society for women READ MORE
7. India needs comprehensive sexuality education READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Article 35A took away fundamental rights while giving special rights to permanent residents of J&K, says CJI READ MORE
2. Punish those making a spectacle of caste READ MORE
3. Overhaul criminal justice but not at democracy’s cost READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. India’s health research is not aligned with its disease burden READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. How the G20 became a premier forum for international economic cooperation READ MORE
2. India-China ties at a crossroads READ MORE
3. India shouldn’t allow China to usurp BRICS READ MORE
4. At Delhi summit, demonstrate climate leadership READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Can we please not judge PLIs by value added READ MORE
2. Make in India at inflexion point READ MORE
3. Inflation fears throw up policy dilemmas READ MORE
4. Growing threats to global trade READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Political Economy of (De)Carbonisation READ MORE  
2. To fight the climate crisis, utilise science READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The importance of states in space missions READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Himalayan blunders that are ravaging the Himalayas READ MORE
2. India needs an integrated approach to flood management READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Brinjal with a crown READ MORE  
2. The importance of early childhood care and education READ MORE

CASE STUDY

1. Deepening divide: UP schoolteacher’s communal bias shameful READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Investing in early childhood development is not only a moral and social imperative but also important for ensuring a prosperous future for India. Comment.  
2. ‘Character is what makes a man’. In the light of the statement, discuss which three values can be considered important for a good character.
3. The long march of BRICS toward NAM-ification has gathered six new members, but BRICS can never be an anti-West platform for developing economy. Critically analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.
• Understanding sexual consent is important not only to learn about violation and abuse, but also to maintain healthy relationships.
• India and the member nations must ensure that BRICS is not used as a geopolitical tool by China to further its hegemonic designs.
• China’s decoupling from the West is making it bend backwards to accommodate new partners in Asia, Africa and South America, however, India must try and bring countries like Singapore and South Korea into the folds of BRICS.
• Investing in early childhood development is not only a moral and social imperative but also important for ensuring a prosperous future for India.
• Gender and climate change require a holistic understanding. Prioritising gender adaptive strategies is the need of the hour.
• Traits of character can be taught to any age; easier in the young and a little more challenging in the old. One has but be willing to acknowledge the shortcomings and learn.
• Caste-based discrimination persists in India despite legislation and proactive police action and political will is the need of the hour.
• The G-20 summit in New Delhi is a crucial moment for the Heads of State and Government present at the meeting to adopt a strong leader’s declaration, committing to collective ambition to combat climate change.
• It’s an acknowledgement that only negotiations can resolve legacy disputes, even if tough rounds may lie ahead. A military face-off is too dangerous to drag on.
• Political rhetoric over shrinking government employment, without new job creation, will be disastrous.

ESSAY TOPIC

• The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

50-WORD TALK

• From demonetisation to LRS, laptop curbs to generic medicine mandate, there is an emerging pattern in this government. Decisions are railroaded without thinking through or adequate deliberations on the likely fallout. They are later discarded. The inexplicable haste to rule by executive orders hurts governance, creates unnecessary anxieties among sectors.
• The new National Curriculum Framework looks well-meaning but implementing it will be a logistical nightmare. Having boards twice a year and introducing more courses should be part of a wider consultative process and debate. Not all schools in India are equipped to scale up to the required level quick enough.
• The long march of BRICS toward NAM-ification — with Chinese characteristics — has gathered six new members. But Beijing’s hopes of turning BRICS into an anti-West wall has bigger challenges than finding new acronyms. Its economy slowing, China can’t carry faltering countries like Argentina and Egypt. Non-Alignment 2.0 will go nowhere, again.
• After Nitish Kumar in Bihar, now Congress is promising caste surveys in MP, Rajasthan. This has now become an election instrument. Accurate data is important, but the risk is it can be used for unimaginative redistributive reservation. Political rhetoric over shrinking government employment, without new job creation, will be disastrous.

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.