1. PRESIDENTIAL ASSENT TO KEY BILLS & ELECTORAL REFORMS
SUBJECT: POLITY
- SHANTI Bill Receives Presidential Assent: President Droupadi Murmu has granted formal assent to the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025. This landmark legislation allows private sector participation in the nuclear energy sector and significantly eases liability norms for operators.
- Viksit Bharat G RAM G Bill: The President also approved the Viksit Bharat G RAM G Bill, which focuses on digitizing rural governance and integrating technology to track village-level developmental goals.
- Tamil Nadu Electoral Roll Revision: Following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu, an analysis revealed a significant demographic shift where approximately 2.6 lakh more women than men were deleted from the draft rolls, prompting discussions on administrative scrutiny and voter inclusivity.
- Supreme Court on Aravalli Mining: The Supreme Court reiterated its stance on the preservation of the Aravalli Hills, initiating a suo motu case against the Uttarakhand government for allowing the encroachment of forest land, emphasizing that state authorities cannot remain “mute spectators” to environmental degradation.
- Maharashtra Local Body Elections: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party in the Maharashtra municipal council and nagar panchayat elections, signifying a shift in the local political landscape ahead of the new year.
- Concepts: Article 111 – The constitutional provision under which the President grants or withholds assent to Bills passed by Parliament; Article 324 – The power of the Election Commission to superintend and control the preparation of electoral rolls.
2. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND NATIONAL TRADITIONS
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ISSUES
- National Mathematics Day 2025: Today marks the 138th birth anniversary of the legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Educational institutions across India are holding seminars and quizzes to promote STEM education and honor his contributions to number theory and infinite series.
- Elephant-Train Collision Crisis: Following a tragic incident in Assam’s Hojai district where seven elephants were killed by the Rajdhani Express, the Ministry of Environment and Railways is reviewing the Linear Transport Infrastructure (LTI) guidelines to mandate wildlife crossings in high-risk zones.
- Otter Conservation in Tamil Nadu: The Tamil Nadu Government has launched a dedicated drive for the conservation of the Smooth-Coated Otter in the Cauvery Delta, aiming to restore wetland ecosystems and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
- Ayush Global Integration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the My Ayush Integrated Services Portal (MAISP) and the “Ayush Mark” to certify the quality and authenticity of traditional medicines, strengthening India’s position in the global wellness market.
- Meghalaya Language Policy: The Meghalaya government has made it compulsory to include Khasi and Garo languages in the curriculum for children up to Class 1, aiming to preserve local culture and simplify early childhood learning.
- Tamil Nadu Winter Break: The School Education Department has clarified that schools in Tamil Nadu will have a 12-day Christmas and New Year break starting December 24, reopening on January 5, 2026.
- Concepts: National Mathematics Day – Declared in 2012 to inspire mathematical excellence; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Provides the legal framework for the protection of scheduled species like the Asian Elephant.
3. MARITIME SECURITY AND DIPLOMATIC TURMOIL
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- IVAC Operations Suspended in Bangladesh: The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chattogram has suspended all services due to the deteriorating security situation near the Assistant High Commission of India.
- Operation Hawkeye Strike: The U.S. Central Command, in coordination with regional allies like Jordan, conducted Operation Hawkeye Strike targeting ISIS infrastructure and weapon caches in Syria using precision-guided munitions.
- India-Russia Summit Preparations: As US negotiators meet Russian officials in Florida to discuss the Ukraine conflict, India is preparing for the visit of President Vladimir Putin, focusing on a trade target of $100 billion by 2030.
- Visa Travel Advisory for Tech Employees: Tech giants like Google and Apple have advised employees on U.S. work visas to avoid international travel due to significant delays in visa stamping and administrative processing at embassies.
- India Leads WADA Offender List: For the third consecutive year, India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) global list of doping violations, posing a significant challenge to the country’s sporting governance and Olympic aspirations.
- Concepts: Consular Protection – Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, ensuring the safety of diplomatic missions is a host nation’s duty; Operation Hawkeye – Highlights modern counter-terrorism strategies involving precision airpower.
4. SECURITIES CODE AND PHARMA REGULATION
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Securities Markets Code, 2025: The government has introduced the Securities Markets Code, which consolidates legacy financial laws and expands the SEBI Board from 9 to 15 members to include more representation from the RBI and the Central Government.
- Data Exclusivity Debate: The Union government is exploring the introduction of Data Exclusivity in the pharmaceutical sector. This move has raised alarms among public health activists who fear it will delay the entry of affordable generic drugs and hinder India’s status as the “Pharmacy of the Global South.”
- Mutual Fund Overhaul: SEBI has announced a major restructuring of Mutual Fund regulations, including a reduction in the expense ratio limits to make investing more cost-effective for retail participants.
- Small Denomination Currency Shortage: The All India Reserve Bank Employees Association has urged the RBI to address the acute shortage of small denomination currency notes, which is affecting daily transactions in rural and semi-urban areas.
- Railways Safety Report: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) noted a declining trend in signaling equipment failures in the South Western Railway (SWR), though it emphasized that the absolute number of failures remains a concern for operational safety.
- Concepts: Data Exclusivity – A form of non-patent legal protection that prevents generic manufacturers from using an innovator’s clinical data; SEBI Governance – Strengthening the regulator to handle market volatility and protect investor interests.
5. INDIGENOUS DEFENCE AND JOINT EXERCISES
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- Exercise AviaIndra-2025: The Indian Air Force is currently hosting Exercise AviaIndra-2025 with the Russian Aerospace Force. This biennial drill focuses on joint flying operations, tactical maneuvers, and strengthening bilateral defense cooperation.
- ISRO Parachute System Tests: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed a new series of tests for the Gaganyaan parachute system, designed to ensure the safe touchdown of astronauts during the return phase of the human spaceflight mission.
- Commissioning of FPV Amulya: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned the Fast Patrol Vessel ‘Amulya’. Built by Goa Shipyard Limited, the vessel is a “new generation” ship designed for high-speed coastal patrolling and search-and-rescue operations.
- Antariksh Prayogshala Initiative: IN-SPACe has issued a Request for Proposal to establish Antariksh Prayogshala (Space Labs) in academic institutions, offering up to ₹5 crore in funding to provide students with hands-on training in satellite technology.
- Border Infrastructure Boost: The Ministry of Defence has fast-tracked the construction of all-weather tunnels and strategic bridges along the Northern borders to counter the infrastructure build-up by the PLA.
- Concepts: Gaganyaan Mission – India’s flagship program to send humans to Low Earth Orbit (LEO); Aatmanirbharta in Defence – The push for 100% indigenous production of key military hardware by 2030.
