1. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE GRID PROCESSES 45,000 MONTHLY REQUESTS AMID RISING SECURITY DEMANDS
SUBJECT: POLITY
- The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has reported processing around 45,000 data requests per month from central agencies and state police, facilitating real-time access to integrated databases like Aadhaar and telecom records for counter-terrorism and crime prevention.
- Established in 2010 under the Ministry of Home Affairs, NATGRID connects 21 ministries and over 100 databases, but faces scrutiny over privacy safeguards, with recent expansions including cyber fraud tracking.
- The Supreme Court has directed stricter enforcement against hate speech since 2022, shifting monitoring to police and High Courts, amid calls for a dedicated national law to address rising communal incidents.
- Karnataka’s Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Bill, 2025, introduces India’s first state-level framework, defining offences based on religion, caste, or gender with 1-7 year penalties and collective liability for organizations.
- The Department of Telecommunications withdrew its directive for pre-installing the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on smartphones, following backlash over mandatory compliance and data privacy concerns.
- The Enforcement Directorate issued show-cause notices to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan over alleged FEMA violations in Masala Bonds issued by KIIFB, highlighting tensions in state-central financial probes.
- Concepts: Article 21 – Right to privacy in intelligence sharing; Federalism – Balancing state autonomy with national security frameworks.
2. TAMIL NADU LAUNCHES TOY MANUFACTURING POLICY 2025 TO BOOST INVESTMENTS AND JOBS
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- Tamil Nadu unveiled its Toy Manufacturing Policy 2025 at the Investors Conclave, targeting ₹5,000 crore investments, 50,000 jobs, and eco-friendly production to position the state as a global toy hub.
- The policy offers incentives like subsidies, skill development, and export promotion, aiming to reduce imports and leverage the state’s textile and plastic sectors for toy diversification.
- Moderate rainfall from northeast monsoon remnants prompted yellow alerts in Chennai and delta districts, with the Regional Meteorological Centre forecasting disruptions until December 10.
- Student suicides surged 15% in 2025 per NCRB data, with Tamil Nadu reporting 1,200 cases; the state launched district counseling hubs and integrated mental health into school curricula.
- The Tamil Nadu government submitted a draft SOP for political rallies to the Madras High Court following the Karur TVK stampede, mandating crowd limits and emergency protocols.
- CM MK Stalin urged PM Modi to amend RTE and NCTE Acts to exempt pre-2010 teachers from TET requirements, citing a Supreme Court ruling’s impact on 50,000 educators.
- Concepts: Disaster Management Act, 2005 – State Disaster Management Authority roles in monsoon responses; Environmental Impact Assessment – Integrating sustainability in industrial policies like toy manufacturing.
3. PUTIN’S VISIT TO INDIA REAFFIRMS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AMID GLOBAL PRESSURES
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- Russian President Vladimir Putin’s December 4-5 visit to New Delhi for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit focused on targeting $100 billion bilateral trade by 2030, emphasizing energy, defence, and multipolar advocacy.
- Discussions included joint ventures in nuclear reactors, BrahMos missile expansions, and AI co-development, reinforcing the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership despite Western sanctions.
- India hosted the Virtual Global South Dialogue 2025, uniting 100+ nations on climate finance, digital equity, and UN/WTO reforms, positioning Delhi as a leader in equitable global governance.
- India and Japan agreed on Chandrayaan-5 lunar mission collaboration, advancing from aid-trade to innovation-trust ties, including green hydrogen under the Green Technology Alliance.
- The U.S. approved $92.8 million arms sales to India for drone and missile tech, enhancing Indo-Pacific interoperability amid ongoing tariff negotiations and trade talks.
- India evacuated nationals from flood-hit Sumatra, Indonesia, providing humanitarian aid and reinforcing Indian Ocean Region crisis response mechanisms.
- Concepts: Non-Alignment 2.0 – India’s multi-aligned diplomacy; Indo-Pacific Strategy – Quad alignments for regional security and economic partnerships.
4. RBI CUTS REPO RATE TO 5.25% AS GDP GROWTH FORECAST REVISED UPWARD
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- The Reserve Bank of India reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% in its December review, citing economic momentum and easing inflation, while revising FY26 GDP growth to 7.3%.
- Q2 FY26 GDP expanded 8.2% year-on-year, surpassing 7.3% estimates, driven by 7.9% private consumption and public investment, with services at 9% and manufacturing at 7.5%.
- The Indian Rupee depreciated to 90.07 against the USD due to $2.5 billion FII outflows and U.S. tariffs, widening the current account deficit, though forex reserves hit $705 billion.
- IMF upgraded FY26 growth to 6.8%, praising 0.25% October inflation and formal job gains, but cautioned on urban demand slowdowns from global trade risks.
- Rural consumption rose 7.9%, bolstered by MSP hikes and remittances, countering urban softening; OECD projected 7.8% Q1 FY26 growth amid robust private demand.
- SEBI mandated listed companies to confirm or deny market rumours within 24 hours from April 2026, aiming to curb volatility and enhance investor confidence.
- Concepts: Balance of Payments – Rupee pressures under IMF Article VIII, mitigated by RBI forex interventions; Atmanirbhar Bharat – Aligning growth with PLI schemes for $2 trillion exports by 2030.
5. DRDO INAUGURATES 125 INFRA PROJECTS WORTH ₹5,000 CRORE ALONG BORDERS
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 125 Border Roads Organisation projects valued at ₹5,000 crore, including 32 in Arunachal Pradesh, enhancing strategic connectivity along India-China borders.
- India declared 2025 the ‘Year of Defence Reforms,’ targeting integrated theatre commands, ₹50,000 crore exports by 2029, and 100% indigenization in key equipment by December.
- GE Aerospace delivered the fifth F404-IN20 engine to HAL for LCA Tejas Mk1A, advancing indigenous production with 60% local components under Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
- DRDO conducted the maiden flight test of a long-range hypersonic missile exceeding Mach 8 off Odisha, bolstering precision strike capabilities.
- The Indian Army detained a Chinese national in Ladakh for unauthorized entry, intercepted via online chatter, heightening vigilance along sensitive borders.
- BSF recovered 278 rogue drones in 2025, seizing 380 kg heroin and 200 weapons, while apprehending 53 Pakistani nationals, enhancing post-Operation Sindoor security.
- India signed a 10-year defence framework with the U.S., expanding INDUS-X for AI co-development and Quad initiatives, valued at $20 billion in trade.
- Concepts: Strategic Autonomy – Driving indigenization and alliances; Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 – Enabling private sector roles in self-reliance.
