WSDP Bulletin (10-11-2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Lok Sabha ethics panel recommends expulsion of Trinamool  MP Mahua Moitra READ MORE
2. soriasis patients contend with lack of awareness, lifestyle choices and insurance cover READ MORE
3. RBI to hold rates till it clearly sights Fed heading to cut: Moody’s Investors Service READ MORE
4. Absolute decoupling yet to happen between carbon emission, GDP growth globally, says RBI deputy governor READ MORE
5. CBI is not a limb of Centre, Union government tells Supreme Court READ MORE
6. Supreme Court attains full strength as case log nears 80,000 READ MORE
7. Expert Explains | Regulating political funding: Rules around the world, India’s challenges READ MORE
8. Speedy disposal of cases against lawmakers: What SC guidelines on the matter say READ MORE
9. Last 12 months were the warmest in 125,000 years READ MORE  
10. El Nino may remain till April 2024, may push temperatures even higher: WMO READ MORE
11. British king acknowledges colonial atrocities in Kenya — here’s what could happen next READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Terms of Trade | Redistribution is dead, long live redistribution! READ MORE
2. The taboo of divorce is waning, but families are still important READ MORE  
3. India’s water situation is alarming READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Why has the government issued a directive on deepfake? READ MORE
2. GPS ankle monitors for UAPA-accused on bail: Too many issues to ignore READ MORE
3. Judges, please note: CJI’s point that contempt law does not disallow fair criticism of judgments should be heeded by all courts READ MORE
4. A skewed setup READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Women in red: On an optimum menstrual hygiene policy READ MORE
2. TB in India: A fight to the end READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Strengthening Indo-Bhutan ties READ MORE
2. Lack of moral clarity in India’s stance READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Should Indians work longer hours? READ MORE
2. Acknowledge India’s economic successes too READ MORE
3. Chip off the blocks: On semiconductor fabrication in India READ MORE
4. How poverty has turned Bihar into a ‘state of labourers’ READ MORE
5. India’s IT sector is missing signs of the future of work READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Stubble of discomfort READ MORE  
2. Fresh air? READ MORE
3. Pollution control: Act before it is too late READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. India addresses deepfake threats: Calls for legal action and tech solutions READ MORE
2. Deepfake: Troll armies’ new tool READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Hurdles delaying formation of integrated theatre commands READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. How ignored landslide warnings led to Subansiri running dry READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Secret of relaxation READ MORE
2. What are Values? READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Values are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide actions. Comment.
2. Values are essential to ethics. Comment.
3. With the help of relevant examples, analyse why courage most important value to deal with right and wrong conduct?
4. Can we say that in today’s society, there is a missing commitment to core ethical values such as honesty, kindness, compassion, respect, and personal responsibility?
5. Virtue ethics plays an important role in turning moral values into excellence of character. Justify the statement with the help of some real-life examples.
6. The caste system is not merely division of labour. It is also a division of labourers. Critically examine.
7. A strong family is the panacea for a sustainable society but in recent times women are no longer willing to suffer in silence. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The caste system is not merely division of labour. It is also a division of labourers.
• Patience is key to effective listening. It demonstrates respect and willingness to hear the other person’s viewpoint.
• Since India does not have a very robust infrastructure to ‘fact-check,’ the deepfake could be a real menace affecting politics to individual privacy
• A strong family is the panacea for a sustainable society but the society is itself undergoing changes and women are no longer willing to suffer in silence.
• Some values stand up well over the test of time; they are always good or rightful behavior. Honesty and kindness are two such examples.
• From a virtue perspective, it is most important to distinguish intrinsic from extrinsic value. Intrinsic value is something that has value in its own right, such as honesty and kindness, whereas extrinsic value is doing something for another reason.
• The loyal person may believe in the importance of keeping one’s confidence even if it might harm others because of the trusting relationship.
• Values are essential to ethics.
• Ethics is concerned with human actions, and the choice of those actions.
• Values in a narrow sense is that which is good, desirable, or worthwhile. Values are the motive behind purposeful action.
• Values are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide or motivate attitudes or actions.
• To effectively discharge this responsibility, it is important for audit to actively work in tandem with citizens, appreciating their concerns and feedback.
• In India’s federal, multiparty democracy with both Union and state governments responsible for implementation of numerous schemes, projects and programmes, enhancing engagement with stakeholders is imperative for audit.
• Leveraging technology and digital solutions make audit’s citizen engagement more effective and scalable.
• Social audit is an interesting tool for facilitating citizen oversight.
• The 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments marked a quantum leap in India’s democratic set up, as they created tiers of self-governance below the level of states.
• Empowering PRIs and urban local bodies and municipalities, envisions people’s participation in the process of planning, decision-making, implementation and delivery of a set of functions to be devolved to local governments by state legislatures.
• Carrying forward this recognition of local self-governance as the true manifestation of democracy and the CAG’s responsibility for ensuring accountability, an international centre for local governance has been envisaged.
• Female labour force participation rates have, in the past, tended to rise during times of financial stress as women stepped out to augment their household incomes.
• While the CAG catalyses good governance, transparency and accountability, the responsibility to nurture and protect democratic principles falls not only on our institutions but on every citizen.
• The proposed changes in patent law will endanger access to affordable medicines and benefit global big pharma.
• Both Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir must strive to understand each other’s viewpoints, fostering mutual trust and loyalty within the community.
• By adopting the principles of sustainability, non-violence, and respect for all life forms, we can work towards a more harmonious relationship with nature.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Many worlds: Multipolarity in the new world order

50-WORD TALK

• In a transforming India, where education and technology act as levelling forces, caste-based affirmative action, refined through caste numbers, can drive more extensive dialogues on aspiration, ambition, freedom, opportunity, and the necessity for a system where citizens are not unfairly privileged or confined by their identities. If a robust methodology were to be used, this effort would be vital in identifying and addressing fault lines to promote gender justice.
• Extending free food for another 5 years is an acknowledgement that the poor continue to need ample support for years ahead. The move also rings the final death knell of farm laws. If government grain procurement is going to be so high, then that rules out entry of private sector.
• Indian envoy in Ottawa describing Canadian police probe into Nijjar killing as tainted and wiretapping of diplomats as illegal shows Delhi is doubling down. But Canada is being duplicitous in citing Vienna Convention on parity even as it illegally tapped diplomats. G7 and Five Eyes can’t play by different rules.

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.