1. LOK SABHA PASSES SHANTI BILL TO REVOLUTIONIZE NUCLEAR ENERGY SECTOR
SUBJECT: POLITY
- SHANTI Bill 2025 Passed: The Lok Sabha passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025. This historic legislation amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 to allow private sector participation in nuclear power generation.
- Civil Liability Framework: The bill introduces a revised civil liability framework for nuclear damage, aimed at addressing investor concerns while ensuring safety and accountability in private-led nuclear projects.
- Regulatory Modernization: It establishes a new licensing and safety authorization mechanism, empowering the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to oversee both public and private entities under standardized global safety norms.
- VB-G RAM G Bill Discussion: The House also took up the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, which seeks to provide a statutory framework for rural livelihood guarantees and integrated employment generation.
- Judicial Intervention on Air Pollution: The Supreme Court directed the NHAI and MCD to consider closing or shifting nine toll plazas at Delhi’s borders, identifying them as major bottlenecks contributing to toxic air levels in the National Capital Region.
- CPGRAMS Milestone: The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) reported that the Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System has reduced pending grievances by 74% since 2021, showcasing digital governance efficiency.
- Concepts: Article 123 & 110 – Legislative procedures for bills; Public Accountability – The role of CPGRAMS in ensuring transparent service delivery.
2. PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU BEGINS SOUTHERN SOJOURN IN HYDERABAD
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ISSUES
- President’s Southern Sojourn: President Droupadi Murmu arrived at Hakimpet Air Force Station, Hyderabad, for her annual Southern Sojourn. During this period, the President will reside at the Rashtrapati Nilayam and participate in various regional development programs.
- WHO Traditional Medicine Summit: The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine commenced at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Jointly organized by WHO and the Ministry of Ayush, it focuses on integrating evidence-based traditional medicine into global healthcare.
- National Geospatial Mission: Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated a National Workshop on the Geospatial Mission at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The mission aims to modernize India’s geodetic framework and standardize spatial data for infrastructure planning.
- National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM): The Ministry of Animal Husbandry announced the full-scale rollout of NDLM, creating a technology-enabled ecosystem for animal health tracking and farmer-centric services using unique IDs for livestock.
- Railway Electrification: Indian Railways achieved a landmark 99% electrification of the Broad Gauge network, nearing its goal of becoming the world’s largest green railway network by 2030.
- Frontline Health Worker Support: C-DAC (Sonia Gandhi-led center) released a report advocating for enhanced institutional support and pay hikes for ASHA and Anganwadi workers, highlighting their crucial role in the national health architecture.
- Concepts: Article 52 – The Constitutional status of the President; Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Global health through traditional and modern medicine integration.
3. INDIA-ETHIOPIA ELEVATE TIES TO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP DURING PM’S VISIT
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- Strategic Partnership with Ethiopia: PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Addis Ababa resulted in the elevation of India-Ethiopia ties to a “Strategic Partnership.” Three MoUs were signed covering UN Peacekeeping training, Customs matters, and a new Foreign Ministry Data Centre in Ethiopia.
- Highest Civilian Award: PM Modi was conferred with The Great Honour – Nishan of Ethiopia, becoming the first global head of state to receive this award.
- India-Oman Bilateral Summit: PM Modi arrived in Muscat for the final leg of his three-nation tour. Discussions focused on the India-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Regional Maritime Security: The Indian Envoy to Oman emphasized that defense remains the “strongest pillar” of bilateral ties, particularly in the Gulf of Oman, a vital corridor for global LNG and oil trade.
- India-Israel Defense Dialogue: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held high-level talks with PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, focusing on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and co-development of defense technology.
- Concepts: Strategic Partnership Framework – A formal tool for deep bilateral alignment; Maritime Sovereignty – Navigational freedom in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.
4. RUPEE HITS RECORD LOW AMID CAPITAL OUTFLOWS; GDP MOMENTUM REMAINS
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Rupee at Historic Low: The Indian Rupee hit a new record low of 90.87 against the US Dollar due to persistent foreign fund outflows and a strengthening greenback amidst global geopolitical shifts.
- Trade Deficit Narrows: Despite currency volatility, India’s goods exports grew by 19% in November, narrowing the trade deficit to $24 billion, driven by high demand for electronics and engineering goods.
- Insurance Sector Reforms: The Rajya Sabha took up the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Bill, 2025, which aims to raise the FDI limit in the insurance sector and promote “Insurance for All” by 2030.
- Supercomputing Mission 2.0: India launched NSM 2.0, focusing on the integration of High-Performance Computing (HPC) with AI and Quantum computing to achieve Exascale capabilities indigenously.
- MSME Monopoly Concerns: Opposition leaders called for economic reforms to prevent “duopolies” in key sectors, urging the government to prioritize the MSME sector for balanced wealth distribution.
- Concepts: Exchange Rate Management – RBI’s role in managing currency volatility; FDI in Insurance – Impact on capital deepening and social security penetration.
5. INDIAN ARMY INDUCTS FINAL APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTERS
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- Apache Induction Complete: The Indian Army inducted the final three AH-64E Apache attack helicopters at Hindon Air Force Station. These will be integrated into the 451 Army Aviation Squadron, significantly boosting night combat and anti-tank capabilities.
- Exercise Desert Cyclone-II: A 45-member Indian Army contingent departed for the UAE to participate in the joint military exercise “Desert Cyclone-II” in Abu Dhabi, focusing on urban warfare and counter-terror operations.
- DeepTech Defense Innovation: Hyderabad-based Arrobot launched the indigenous RV Drishti UAV and RV Yodha UGV duo, a first-of-its-kind integrated aerial-ground ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) system.
- Defence Estates Centenary: The Ministry of Defence celebrated the 100th year of the Defence Estates Department, highlighting the digital transformation of land management for the largest government landholding in India.
- Homegrown Microprocessor: C-DAC showcased DHRUV64, a fully indigenous microprocessor designed for strategic autonomy in critical defense infrastructure and secure communication systems.
- Concepts: Indigenization of Defense – Reducing dependency on foreign OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers); ISR Technology – The role of unmanned systems in modern border management.
6. TAMIL NADU UPDATES: PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO VELLORE AND RAIN ALERTS
SUBJECT: TAMIL NADU / REGIONAL
- Presidential Visit to Vellore: High security has been deployed in Vellore ahead of President Droupadi Murmu’s scheduled visit for a convocation ceremony. This is part of her larger Southern Sojourn engagement.
- Heavy Rain Alert: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a heavy rain alert for several districts, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram, due to a lingering low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal.
- School Holidays: In view of the weather forecast and the upcoming completion of half-yearly exams, the TN Education Department announced a 12-day winter vacation for all schools starting from December 24.
- Samagra Shiksha Debate: In the Rajya Sabha, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva raised concerns over the potential delinking of Samagra Shiksha funding from the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), emphasizing the state’s autonomy in education.
- Kotagiri Municipal Reforms: Residents of Kotagiri have petitioned the Nilgiris Collector regarding staffing vacancies in the newly upgraded municipality, citing the TN District Municipalities Act, 1920, for better urban governance.
- Concepts: Article 200/201 – State governance and Presidential assent; Disaster Management – The role of local bodies in monsoon preparedness.
