Current Affairs

Scientists led by S.D. Biju reported two new Leptobrachium frog species from remote mountain habitats of Arunachal Pradesh, discovered at Tiwarigaon: Soman’s Slender Arm Frog (L. somani), named for late journalist E. Somanath (≈55 mm; greyish-brown; males call near streams in evergreen forests), and Mechuka Slender Arm Frog (L. mechuka), first collected near Mechuka town (≈60 mm; brown; evergreen forests and adjoining grasslands).

President Trump approved a Russia sanctions Bill imposing 500% tariffs on Russian imports and on imports from countries trading in Russian-origin uranium or petroleum. It aims to withstand rulings by N.D. Illinois, CIT and the Federal Circuit against IEEPA-based tariffs. India (US exports >$85bn) could face steep duties on textiles, footwear and marine products; electronics and pharmaceuticals are excluded so far.

India became the first country to commercially produce CSIR-developed bio-bitumen from biomass and agricultural waste for road construction. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced it at the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, with co-minister Jitendra Singh. Bio-bitumen is an eco-friendly binding material reducing fossil-fuel dependence and crop-residue burning, aligning with Viksit Bharat 2047, Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Waste to Wealth.

SWAMIH Fund (Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing), launched in 2019, provides last-mile financing to stalled affordable and mid-income residential projects. As on 15 December 2025, it delivered ~61,000 homes across 110 projects, including 7,000+ rehabilitation/EWS units. Governed by SBI Ventures Ltd (SBI subsidiary). SWAMIH Fund-2, announced in Budget 2025-26, is a ₹15,000 crore blended finance facility (government, banks, private investors) to complete another 1 lakh units.

The Union Government notified the National Sports Board (Search-cum Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The Search-cum-Selection Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, includes the Secretary (Sports), one person with sports administration experience, and two national sports award recipients. It selects the National Sports Board’s chairperson and two members. The NSB grants recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensures compliance. Tenure: 3 years or till age 65, whichever earlier.

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) released the ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026’ report, projecting India’s GDP growth at 7.2% in 2025-26. UNDESA is a UN Secretariat entity responsible for the UN’s development pillar, headquartered in New York City, mandated to help countries meet economic, social and environmental goals, and headed by an Under-Secretary-General appointed by the UN Secretary-General.

‘The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025’ (Bill) would allow the US administration to impose steep tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, gas and uranium. The US President may waive tariffs for up to 180 days on national security grounds. For India, higher tariffs could hit $120 billion annual exports, especially textiles, footwear and marine products, amid existing US tariffs up to 50%, and may weaken trade leverage with the EU and GCC.

India overtook China to become the world’s largest rice producer, with 150.18 million tonnes, as announced by the Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; India is also the top exporter, while the Philippines is the top importer (Vietnam second). Paddy has ~190-day crop cycle (≥30-day harvest) and is grown in kharif (July–Dec, mainly rainfed), rabi (Jan–Jun) and zaid (Mar–Jun) with irrigation; suitable conditions include high humidity, prolonged sunshine, assured water, 20–35°C (max 40–42°C) and 100–200 cm rainfall.

Kerala renamed Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary and notified it as the state’s first butterfly sanctuary, a key Western Ghats migrating-butterfly habitat. Located in Kannur, it was declared in 1984 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Cheenkannipuzha (from Brahmagiri ranges) flows through evergreen/semi-evergreen forests. Fauna include Common Albatross (Appias albina; subspecies swinhoei, darada; Pieridae), danaine Common/Plain Tigers (Danaus genutia, D. chrysippus; Nymphalidae), many protected species, and Schedule I Slender Loris. It adjoins Brahmagiri (Karnataka), Kottiyoor and North Wayanad forests.

Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the PANKHUDI portal as an integrated, centralized single-window digital platform to strengthen corporate partnerships, CSR and voluntary contributions, and stakeholder engagement for women and child welfare. It covers nutrition, health, ECCE, child protection, rehabilitation, and women’s safety/empowerment, supporting Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti, with non-cash, traceable workflows and real-time tracking.

Recent US focus highlights Venezuela’s Orinoco Belt (Faja Petrolífera del Orinoco) in the southern Orinoco River basin, holding the world’s largest extra-heavy crude; ~20% of global proven heavy/extra-heavy reserves (~¼ of OPEC). Its dense low-API oil often needs diluent blending for pipelines. The Guiana Shield is a 1.7–2-billion-year Precambrian craton across Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, southern Venezuela, northeastern Brazil and southeastern Colombia; Guiana Highlands/tepuis (Mount Roraima), Pico da Neblina (2,995 m), Angel Falls (Auyán-tepui); ~20% world freshwater, ~18% tropical-forest carbon; minerals include gold, diamonds, bauxite and iron ore.

Stray dog sterilisation is being undertaken around Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. TATR spans ~1,727 km² (core+buffer) and is among Maharashtra’s oldest and largest tiger reserves with high tiger density. Tadoba NP (1955) and Andhari WLS (1986) merged into the tiger reserve (1995). Named after Tadoba deity and Andhari River; dry deciduous teak-bamboo forests; Bengal tiger, leopard, gaur; Tadoba-Andhari rivers; corridor links to Nagzira-Navegaon and Pench.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare released the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 for public consultation, to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 and rules. It proposes unified lifecycle regulation (manufacture to disposal), a Central Pesticides Board (Health, Environment and Agriculture; safety/disposal standards) and a Registration Committee (digital evaluation for safety/efficacy; 12–18 months). It mandates prior registration for manufacture/import, digital licensing/inspections, lab accreditation, stricter penalties with compounding, inspectors’ seizure and 60-day sale stop, enhanced state penalties, and decriminalisation of petty offences.

NSO (MoSPI) First Advance Estimates, based on data up to November 2025 (to be revised in Second Advance Estimates, usually February), project FY 2025-26 real GDP growth at 7.4% (FY 2024-25: 6.5%), nominal GDP at ~8%, and GVA at ~7.3%. Services lead; financial/real estate/professional services and public administration at 9.9%; manufacturing+construction 7.0%; agriculture 3.1% (4.6%); mining -0.7%. PFCE 7.0% (7.2%); GFCF 7.8% (7.1%).

The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) marked its 125th Foundation Day. Established in 1902 as the “Bureau of Mines Inspection” and redesignated as DGMS in 1967, it functions under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Headquartered at Dhanbad, Jharkhand, DGMS regulates occupational safety, health and welfare in coal, metalliferous and oil-mines through inspections, accident investigations, emergency response, and statutory permissions, exemptions and relaxations.

Brazil handed BRICS presidency to India for 2026; India will host the 18th BRICS Summit and base its chairmanship on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Environmental Stability/Sustainability. “BRIC” was coined by Jim O’Neill (2001); grouping formalised at the 2006 G8 Outreach Summit; first summit in Russia (2009); South Africa joined in 2010. BRICS seeks global governance reforms and alternatives to IMF, World Bank and UNSC; chair rotates annually; cooperation spans political-security, economic-financial and cultural people-to-people; represents ~49.5% population, ~40% GDP, ~26% trade; members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa; BRICS+ includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, UAE.

A US Presidential Memorandum directs US agencies and departments to cease participation in and funding for 66 international bodies (35 non-UN organisations and 31 UN entities), citing conflict with US national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty. Named UN entities include UNFCCC, UNCTAD, Peacebuilding Commission, IPCC, and UN Register of Conventional Arms; non-UN bodies include International Energy Forum, International Solar Alliance, IUCN, and 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact. Earlier exits: Paris Agreement, WHO, UNHRC.

Madras High Court Division Bench allowed lighting of Karthigai Deepam at Thiruparankundram hill (Madurai) using the “Deepathoon”, holding it is not a survey marker, but barred public entry to the hilltop and limited access to a Devasthanam team once a year. Modifying a Single Judge order on appeals by State, HR&CE and dargah representatives, it directed District Collector coordination with ASI protected-monument conditions; earlier rulings include 1996 location constraints, a 1923 property finding, and prohibition of animal sacrifice.

Supercomputer simulations by the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, provide evidence for the Mpemba Effect, wherein hotter water may freeze faster than colder water under certain conditions. Named after Erasto Mpemba and referenced by Aristotle, the first ice-formation simulation links the effect to intermediate molecular states and faster nucleation pathways, suggesting applicability to other fluid-to-solid transitions and potential thermal-management insights.

Scientists generated the first 3D images of Popocatépetl’s interior using AI and five years of seismic data, identifying magma accumulation zones. Popocatépetl is an active stratovolcano in central Mexico, active since 1994 with daily smoke, gas and ash plumes. It is Mexico’s second-highest peak (5,426 m), part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, above Cocos Plate subduction beneath the North American Plate, and monitored due to ~30 million nearby people.

Biomaterials are wholly/partly bio-derived or engineered materials using biological processes to replace/interact with conventional materials; examples include plant sugars/starch, bio-based textile fibres, biodegradable sutures and tissue scaffolds. Drop-in biomaterials (e.g., bio-PET) are chemically identical to petroleum-based materials; drop-out (e.g., PLA) need new systems. Novel biomaterials include self-healing materials and bioactive implants. India’s bioplastics market is ~$500 million (2024), with domestic innovation investment but some technology dependence; benefits include reduced fossil-import dependence, waste reduction, farmer incomes and low-carbon competitiveness. EU has a binding Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation recognising compostable packaging; UAE is developing the world’s largest PLA facility; U.S. uses USDA BioPreferred federal procurement.

The United Nations declared 2026 as the International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists, highlighting their role in ecosystem services, biodiversity preservation and food security. Rangelands cover about half of Earth’s land surface and include grasslands, savannas and shrublands, deserts, wetlands and mountain areas (e.g., Central Asian steppes, African savanna, Alps, Pyrenees, Andes, US Great Plains). They support carbon storage and water regulation. Pastoralists raise animals, contributing to food security, cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge.

ISRO’s maiden indigenous dust detector, Dust EXperiment (DEX), has detected interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) striking Earth about every 1,000 seconds. DEX is India’s first instrument designed to detect and study high-speed IDPs, which are microscopic fragments originating from comets and asteroids. It is flown on the POEM (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module) of PSLV-C58 and was developed by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad.

NOAA’s Arctic Report Card 2025 states Arctic surface air temperature (Oct 2024–Sep 2025) is highest since 1900; past 10 years are the 10 warmest, with Arctic warming faster than global. It flags atlantification (lower-latitude water/biota influx) weakening stratification, enhancing heat transfer, sea-ice melt, circulation risks. In Arctic Alaska, “rusting rivers” (orange waters) affect 200+ watersheds due iron from thawing permafrost, impacting fish and water supply. “Greening” since late 1990s alters tundra productivity, habitats, permafrost, livelihoods. Melting boosts Northern Sea Route (Kara Sea–Bering Strait) viability and Arctic Council relevance; Council (1996) has eight members (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, USA). India cites Himadri station and Arctic Policy for engagement.

NITI Aayog released a report proposing a working definition of affordable housing using carpet area and value caps: up to 60 sq m and ₹60 lakh (metropolitan) and up to 90 sq m and ₹45 lakh (non-metropolitan). PMAY-U 2.0 (2024) uses similar areas with value ≤₹45 lakh. It recommends Affordable Housing Zones (≥10% residential land), TOD mixed-use near mass transit, 10–15% EWS/LIG reservation in large projects, and State rental housing PPP policies aligned to PMAY-U 2.0 ARH.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) commissioned a state-of-the-art Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) in Andhra Pradesh. The facility enables heavy oil conversion capacity of 3.55 million metric tonnes per annum using advanced residue hydrocracking. Hydrocracking is a catalytic refinery process that breaks high molecular weight molecules to convert heavy oil fractions into high-quality middle distillates and light products such as diesel, naphtha and LPG.