NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates World Summit on Disaster Management (WSDM) in Dehradun

The World Summit on Disaster Management (WSDM), held alongside the 20th Uttarakhand State Science and Technology Conference 2025, took place from November 28 to 30, 2025, at the Graphic Era Silver Jubilee Convention Centre in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

The event was officially inaugurated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, and attended by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The 3-day long conference was hosted by the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST).

Key Highlights

• 3 New Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs): Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the deployment of 3 new DWRs in Uttarakhand at Haridwar, Pantnagar, and Auli. These radars are crucial for mountainous terrains, offering advanced warnings (30 to 90 minutes ahead) regarding storm structures, wind patterns, and extreme weather. This is in addition to the existing radars at Surkanda Devi, Mukteshwar, and Lansdowne.
• Women Scientists Felicitated: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami presented the Young Women Scientists Achievement Award 2025 (for those up to 45 years) and the UCOST Young Women Scientist Excellence Award (for those up to 30 years) to recognize exceptional contributions in science and technology.
• Release of NDMA Books: Scientific books authored by Dr. Dinesh Kumar Aswal, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), were released during the event.

Exam Hints: WSDM 2025

• What: World Summit on Disaster Management (WSDM)
• Inaugurated by: Dr. Jitendra Singh (Union MoS, Ministry of Science and Technology)
• Location: Dehradun, Uttarakhand
• Hosts: Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST)
• Locations of New DWRs: Haridwar, Pantnagar, and Auli

Government of India Approves 5% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Blend by 2030

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), led by Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, announced formal approval for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blending targets in traditional jet fuel. The blending mandates will be implemented progressively:

• 1% by 2027
• 2% by 2028
• 5% by 2030

The initial phase of these blending mandates will strictly apply to international flights departing from India.

Global Compliance & Initiatives

• ICAO-CORSIA Mandate: As a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), India will comply with the mandatory phase of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) starting in 2027.
• Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal (LTAG): India aligns with ICAO's LTAG target to reach net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050. Domestically, India has pledged a comprehensive Net-Zero Target by 2070.
• Green Airports Milestone: A total of 93 airports in India have successfully completed the switch to 100% green energy usage.

BIS Unveils India's New Seismic Map: Entire Himalayas Placed Under "Zone VI" Danger Category

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has unveiled a fundamentally revised seismic zonation map under the updated Earthquake Design Code 2025.

Key Adjustments & Data Findings

• Introduction of Zone VI: Breaking away from the traditional Zone II–V classification, the updated map introduces Zone VI, which now designates the highest-risk category. The entire Himalayan belt has been reclassified under this high-danger zone.
• PSHA & PEMA Methodologies: The map was engineered using the Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) system, integrating active fault lines and maximum potential earthquake magnitudes. Additionally, it integrates the Probabilistic Exposure and Multi-Hazard (PEMA) methodology (termed the 'Exposure Window') to account for human population density and infrastructure vulnerability.
• Expanded Land Vulnerability: The data indicates that 61% of India’s landmass is now classified under moderate to high hazard zones, and approximately 75% of the Indian population resides in these seismically active zones.

NHAI Partners with Reliance Jio for Telecom-Based Highway Safety Alerts

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited to set up real-time, telecom-based road safety alerts across India's National Highway (NH) network.

Operational Framework

• Advance Warnings: Moving travelers will automatically receive localized mobile alerts when approaching designated risk zones, accident-prone stretches, or heavy fog-affected corridors.
• Platform Integration: The alerting framework will map directly into existing NHAI digital infrastructure, including the Rajmargyatra mobile application and the national emergency helpline 1033.
• Phased Expansion: The initial deployment targets core risk corridors with real-time analytics mirrored at NHAI offices, before scaling up via partnerships with other network providers.

Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Starts Soft Launch of 'Bharat Taxi' in Delhi and Gujarat

The Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited, registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002, rolled out the soft launch of 'Bharat Taxi' across New Delhi and Gujarat. This serves as the beta consumer trial phase ahead of its official nationwide launch.

Key Structural Details

• Zero-Commission Model: Operating as India's first driver-owned national mobility cooperative, drivers (designated as Saarthis or charioteers) retain 100% of their fare earnings. Over 51,000 drivers across auto-rickshaws, cabs, and two-wheelers have signed up.
• Technical Support: The solution has been engineered with assistance from the Ministry of Cooperation and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under the Digital India Corporation (DIC).
• Capital and Promotion: The cooperative carries an authorized capital of Rs. 300 crore and is jointly promoted by 8 national cooperative monoliths, including NCDC, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, NABARD, NCEL, NDDB, and AMUL (GCMMF).
• App Integration: The beta platform, accessible via Google Play, links multi-modal urban transit by integrating directly with Delhi Metro booking structures.

Government of India Renames Prime Minister's Office to 'Seva Teerth'

In a shift toward citizen-centric governance terminology, the Government of India has officially renamed the newly constructed Prime Minister's Office (PMO) complex as 'Seva Teerth' (Sanctuary of Service).

Administrative Adjustments

• Central Vista Project: The newly named complex was previously referred to as the 'Executive Enclave' under the ongoing Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The campus houses the PMO, Cabinet Secretariat, National Security Council Secretariat, and India House.
• Governor Residences Redesignated: Following a directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the official residences of State Governors (Raj Bhavan) have been renamed Lok Bhavan. Similarly, Union Territory Lieutenant Governor residences (Raj Niwas) have been modified to Lok Niwas.
• State Updates: A total of 19 states (including Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal) have officially adopted the Lok Bhavan nomenclature.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi Opens 15th International Sand Art Festival at Konark

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi officially opened the 15th International Sand Art Festival and the 36th Konark Festival at the heritage site of the Konark Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha.

The cultural events were jointly managed by the Department of Tourism (Government of Odisha), the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC), and the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi (OSNA).

Artistic Vision

• International Sand Art Festival: Showcases live sculpting structures, competitions, and workshops from global and domestic sand artists focusing on heritage conservation, eco-friendly arts, and environmental themes.
• Konark Festival: Established originally in 1986, the festival provides an open-air stage utilizing the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Konark Sun Temple, as a visual backdrop to showcase classical Indian dance disciplines like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Kuchipudi.

IGI Airport Certified as India's First High-Capacity Water-Positive Airport

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced that the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has been officially certified as Water-Positive by the CII-Triveni Water Institute. This marks the first time an Indian mega-airport handling over 40 million passengers annually has secured this eco-label.

The milestone was formally acknowledged at the Water Innovation Summit under the NITI Aayog–CII Water Neutrality framework in New Delhi.

What is Water-Positive? A facility achieves a water-positive status when it replenishes, recycles, and returns more freshwater back into nature and regional water tables than it extracts for its daily operational systems. IGI achieved this via high-capacity rainwater harvesting networks, sewage treatment plants (STPs), and advanced leak detection frameworks.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

HAL, BEL, and MDL Listed in SIPRI Top 100 Global Arms-Producing Companies

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its official ranking fact sheet titled "The SIPRI Top 100 Arms-Producing and Military Services Companies, 2024".

Three Indian Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), operating entirely under the Ministry of Defence, secured spots in the global elite listing. Together, India's top defense firms generated arms revenues of USD 7.5 billion (a rise of 8.2% from 2023), accounting for 1.1% of the global aggregate.

📊 Indian PSUs in SIPRI Top 100

🌍 Global Top 3 Leaders

1. Lockheed Martin Corporation (USA) — USD 71,040 Million
2. RTX (USA - formerly Raytheon Technologies) — USD 80,740 Million
3. Northrop Grumman Corporation (USA) — USD 41,030 Million

Note: High-performing outliers featured Czechoslovak Group (Czech Republic) with a 193% growth spike, and Elon Musk's SpaceX (Rank 77th), which grew 103% to reach USD 1.8 billion in arms-related revenue.

IWMI Launches SoLAR-Phase II to Drive Climate-Resilient Irrigation

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), in institutional collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), has launched the second phase of its Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR-Phase II) project.

Running from July 2025 to December 2028, the program covers South Asia (India and Bangladesh) and East Africa (Kenya and Ethiopia).

🌾 Project Objectives & SolaReady

• Building on Phase I: Phase I proved that integrating grid-tied and off-grid Solar-Powered Irrigation Pumps (SIPs) stabilizes crop outputs, limits carbon emissions, reduces reliance on diesel fuel, and guards against groundwater over-extraction.
• SolaReady Platform: Phase II introduces SolaReady, a specialized spatial decision-support mapping platform designed to plan solar irrigation systems without depleting regional water tables.
• Indian Synergy: By July 2025, India's PM-KUSUM scheme successfully solarised irrigation pumps for over 1.43 million farmers, cementing its status as the world's largest solar agricultural program. Field data generated through SoLAR Phase II will directly format the post-2027 design framework of the PM-KUSUM scheme.

BANKING & FINANCE

SEBI Introduces 'SWAGAT-FI' Single Window Gateway for Trusted Foreign Investors

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) notified the SEBI (Foreign Venture Capital Investors (FVCI)) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025. This regulatory update introduces SWAGAT-FI (Single Window Automatic & Generalised Access for Trusted Foreign Investors).

Key Operational Benefits

• Simplified Entry: Streamlines investment paths by fast-tracking objectively verified, low-risk foreign entities through a single registration channel.
• Reduced Compliance: Drastically lowers repeated document updates and KYC filings across varying domestic asset pathways.
• 10-Year Extension: SEBI has extended the operational registration continuance, fee payment terms, and KYC update cycles to a 10-year tenure (up from the historical 3–5 year window) to attract long-term foreign capital.
• Effective Date: These updated FPI and FVCI baseline framework adjustments take full legal effect on June 1, 2026.

LIC Launches 'Protection Plus' and 'Bima Kavach' Insurance Products

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) rolled out two distinct retail insurance instruments to enhance domestic financial coverage.

Product Breakdown

• Protection Plus (Plan 886): A Non-Participating, Linked, Life, Individual Savings Plan that combines financial protection with market-linked savings accumulation. Entry is permitted from ages 18 to 65, with a maximum maturity age scaling up to 90 years depending on selected policy choices. There is no upper limit on premiums.
• Bima Kavach (Plan 887): A Non-Participating, Non-Linked, Life, Individual Pure Risk Plan engineered for absolute term-life safety. It features a minimum basic sum assured of Rs. 2 crore with no upper ceiling. Policy terms can run up to 82 years, with a total coverage ceasing age capped at 100 years.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Five New Products From Tamil Nadu Earn Geographical Indication (GI) Tags

The Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, awarded GI Tags to 5 traditional products from Tamil Nadu.

With these additions, Tamil Nadu’s total GI-certified products count climbs to 74, keeping its spot as the second-highest state for GI validations in India, right behind Uttar Pradesh (UP).

The 5 New GI-Tagged Products

1. Woraiyur Cotton Sari: Tracing its origins to the Chola Empire within the Manamedu weaving clusters of Tiruchi district, this craft has been historically preserved by the Devanga Chettiar weaving community.
2. Kavindapadi Nattu Sakkarai: A localized jaggery powder produced in the Erode district, highly sought after for its organic golden-brown coloring and intense sweetness.
3. Namakkal Makkal Pathirangal: Specialized soapstone cookware engineered to retain stability against acidic ingredients like tamarind or lime, allowing for toxic-free storage of curds, pickles, and milk.
4. Thooyamalli Rice Variety: An indigenous, pest-resistant pure white rice variety grown historically across Tamil Nadu, concentrated heavily in the Kancheepuram district.
5. Ambasamudram Choppu Saman: Highly polished, vibrantly dyed miniature wooden toys traditionally turned into miniature kitchen utility items and spinning tops (pambarams).

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Austria's Stefan Priesner Appointed UN Resident Coordinator in India

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has officially named Stefan Priesner of Austria as the new UN Resident Coordinator in India.

Profile & Mandate

• Tenure: His 4-year assignment officially commenced on December 1, 2025, and will run through 2029. He takes over from his predecessor, Shombi Sharp.
• Experience: Priesner joined the UN body in 1997, heading assignments for the UNDP in Bhutan, Nepal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and holding Country Director posts in Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, and Iran.
• Role: He will head the UN Country Team within India, providing macro-policy advisory alignments directly to the government to accelerate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ONGC Chairman Arun Kumar Singh Receives One-Year Extension

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a 1-year operational extension for Arun Kumar Singh as the Chairman of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

His extended term will run through December 6, 2026. Singh originally took the helm of the state-run petroleum explorer on December 7, 2022, after serving as the Marketing Director for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

OBITUARY

Italian Tennis Legend Nicola Pietrangeli Passes Away at 92

Renowned Italian sports icon Nicola Pietrangeli passed away at the age of 92 in Rome, Italy. Born in 1933, Pietrangeli is widely remembered as one of the greatest clay-court players in tennis history.

Career Achievements

• Grand Slam Pioneer: He was the first Italian player to capture a Grand Slam singles crown, winning the French Open Singles Title back-to-back in 1959 and 1960. He also collected the French Open Men's Doubles title (1959) and Mixed Doubles title (1958).
• Davis Cup Record: He holds the absolute historic record for matches played in the Davis Cup tournament, representing Italy in 164 matches and securing 120 wins. He later captained the Italian national team to its historic first Davis Cup trophy in 1976.
• Honors: Inducted directly into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986. The famous Stadio della Pallacorda stadium in Rome was officially renamed Stadio Nicola Pietrangeli in his honor in 2006.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Indian Navy Day 2025: December 4

Indian Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4th to honor the achievements, vigilance, and strategic maritime operations of the Indian Navy.

• 2025 Theme: "Combat Ready, Cohesive, Credible, and Aatmanirbhar Force"
• Operational Demo (Op Demo 2025): The official 2025 demonstration was staged at Shangumugham Beach in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, hosted by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, with President Droupadi Murmu attending as the Chief Guest.

Release of the Indian Maritime Doctrine 2025: During the event, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi officially released the updated Indian Maritime Doctrine 2025. The new doctrine formally defines the "no-war, no-peace" operational spectrum, establishing tactical guidelines to address hybrid, sub-threshold, and "grey-zone" maritime threats via uncrewed platforms and autonomous systems.

International Day of Banks 2025: December 4

The United Nations International Day of Banks is observed across the globe annually on December 4 to spotlight the structural power of banking systems in driving global development and elevating living standards. December 4, 2025, marks the 6th operational observance of this day.

• 2025 Theme: "Banks Powering a Livable Planet"
• Core Pillars: The 2025 framework centers on three specific global targets: bridging the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) financing deficit, financing a livable planet, and creating resilient financial systems.
• History: The day was formally adopted via UNGA Resolution A/RES/74/245 in 2019, with its inaugural worldwide celebration taking place on December 4, 2020. It references key global agreements like the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.