1. QUALITY COUNCIL OF INDIA UNVEILS NEXT-GENERATION REFORMS ON SUSHASAN DIVAS
SUBJECT: POLITY
- Quality Council of India announced comprehensive reforms to strengthen the national quality ecosystem, focusing on accreditation, certification, and capacity building across sectors like governance, education, and industry.
- Bureau of Port Security established as a statutory body under the Merchant Shipping Act to oversee maritime security, coordinating with agencies like the Coast Guard and CISF for ISPS Code compliance.
- Jat Panchayat in Rajasthan’s Jalore district issued a diktat banning smartphones for married women from Republic Day 2026, violating constitutional rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21.
- Vice President emphasized integrating AI into education curricula to align with NEP-2020 and build future-ready skills, addressing teacher shortages and equity issues.
- Environment Ministry directed states to enforce Supreme Court orders against new mining in Aravalli range until a management plan is finalized.
- Supreme Court condemned dowry as a cross-cultural evil disguising as gifts, criticizing practices that undermine women’s rights.
- Concepts: Good Governance – Promotes transparency and efficiency in public administration; Constitutional Morality – Upholds fundamental rights against patriarchal norms.
2. MK STALIN HIGHLIGHTS RISE IN HATE SPEECH AMID CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS IN TAMIL NADU
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin noted a 74% rise in hate speech against minorities since BJP’s tenure, condemning attacks by right-wing groups and urging action for national harmony.
- Christmas celebrations marked across Tamil Nadu with midnight masses and community events in Chennai, Tirunelveli, and Coimbatore, emphasizing peace and unity.
- Chief Minister Stalin to inaugurate 280 free houses for Sri Lankan Tamils in Tiruvannamalai on December 27, improving living conditions for refugees.
- Army deployed in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district to restore order amid violence, as confirmed by state police.
- National Consumer Rights Day observed with theme on digital justice, highlighting e-Jagriti platform and Consumer Protection Act initiatives.
- Archaeologists discovered a 2,000-year-old circular stone labyrinth in Maharashtra’s Solapur, linked to ancient Satavahana trade routes.
- Concepts: Social Harmony – Ensures protection of minorities for national unity; Disaster Response – Involves coordinated agency efforts in crisis management.
3. TAIWAN HIT BY 6.1 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE AMID REGIONAL TENSIONS
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- Taiwan experienced a 6.1 magnitude earthquake, causing shakes in Taipei but no major damage, located at the convergence of tectonic plates in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
- Bangladesh interim government banned Awami League from February 2026 elections, with BNP leader Tarique Rahman set to return from exile.
- Crude bomb blast in Dhaka killed at least one, amid political unrest.
- Israel accused Hamas of ceasefire violation in Gaza after an officer was wounded, threatening retaliation.
- ISRO launched BlueBird Block-2 satellite for US-based AST SpaceMobile, enabling direct 4G/5G broadband to smartphones.
- External Affairs Minister visited Sri Lanka to strengthen bilateral ties.
- Concepts: Tectonic Activity – Explains earthquake-prone regions like Ring of Fire; Bilateral Diplomacy – Fosters cooperation in crisis and technology sharing.
4. GOVERNMENT NOTIFIES NEW PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS RULES 2025
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- New P&NG Rules 2025 introduced single petroleum leases, extended tenures to 30 years, and replaced criminal penalties with financial ones to streamline operations.
- 20-MW Dugdha Solar Power Project inaugurated in Jharkhand, projected to generate 37.43 MU annually and reduce 33,000 MT CO2 emissions.
- Axis Bank launched Digital Merchant Cash Advance Loans for MSMEs, offering unsecured credit up to Rs 20 lakh with digital processing.
- PayNearby secured TPAP license and launched Saathi app for UPI services, including savings and investments via BHASHINI multilingual support.
- CCI approved Blackstone’s acquisition of warrants in Federal Bank and Tata Steel’s full control over Tata BlueScope Steel.
- Manufacturing sector faces slowdown with GDP share at 13%, linked to wage distortions and low technology adoption.
- Concepts: Regulatory Reforms – Enhance ease of doing business in energy sector; Sustainable Development – Aligns renewable projects with emission reduction goals.
5. INDIAN COAST GUARD INDUCTS POLLUTION CONTROL VESSEL SAMUDRA PRATAP
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Pratap inducted, first indigenously built by Goa Shipyard, equipped for oil-spill response, firefighting, and dynamic positioning.
- DRDO signed MoU with Rashtriya Raksha University for research, training, and capacity building in defence and security.
- Akash-NG missile system completed user trials at Chandipur, demonstrating precision against aerial threats.
- Bureau of Port Security to address threats like terrorism, smuggling, and cybersecurity in ports.
- AI-enabled Integrated Command & Control Centre inaugurated for real-time monitoring of mine operations in defence-related contexts.
- Defence manufacturing advances with indigenisation, reducing import reliance in high-value sectors.
- Concepts: Indigenisation – Promotes self-reliance in defence technology; Maritime Security – Ensures protection through coordinated agency efforts.
