🔆 WEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRS — DEC 22–27, 2025

🔆 INTERNATIONAL

📍 Global Governance
✅ India takes over as Vice-Chair of Kimberley Process (Chair from 1 Jan 2026)
✅ Objective: prevent trade in conflict diamonds

📍 Infrastructure
✅ China opens world’s longest expressway tunnel – Tianshan Shengli (22.13 km)

📍 Disaster Relief
✅ India announces $450 million assistance for Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah
➡ $350 mn LoC + $100 mn grants

🔆 ECONOMY & FINANCE

📍 MSME Credit (SIDBI–CRIF)
✅ PSB share declines: 39.3% → 37.8%
✅ NBFCs dominate sole-proprietor lending (41%+)
✅ Working capital loans form ~57% of MSME credit

🔆 NATIONAL

📍 Critical Minerals
✅ CoE + VR Mine Simulator inaugurated at IIT Dhanbad
✅ Under National Critical Minerals Mission
➡ Outlay: ₹34,300 cr | 7 years

📍 Oil & Gas Reforms
✅ New P&NG Rules, 2025 notified
➡ Single licence | Lease up to 30 yrs | Decisions in 180 days

📍 Governance
✅ 5 digital reforms launched by DoPT on Good Governance Day
➡ AI recruitment rules, e-HRMS 2.0, iGOT AI features

📍 Health
✅ Malaria cases ↓ 80%, deaths ↓ 78%
✅ MMR reduced to 88 per lakh, IMR to 27

📍 Heritage
✅ India’s largest circular stone labyrinth discovered (Solapur, MH)

🔆 DEFENCE & SECURITY

📍 Strategic Forces
✅ India successfully tests K-4 SLBM (~3,500 km range)

📍 Maritime Heritage
✅ INSV Kaundinya sails on historic route
➡ Porbandar → Muscat

📍 Internal Security
✅ India launches Organised Crime Network Database (NIA)

🔆 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

📍 Space
✅ ISRO’s LVM3-M6 (BlueBird Block-2) mission launches US comm satellite

📍 AI
✅ IIT Delhi develops AILA – AI Lab Assistant for real experiments

🔆 STATES

📍 Maharashtra
✅ Sangli to get Raisin Research Centre

📍 Uttar Pradesh
✅ Parvati–Arga Bird Sanctuary declared Eco-Sensitive Zone

📍 Himachal Pradesh
✅ Regulated industrial hemp cultivation approved (THC ≤0.3%)

🔆 AWARDS / BOOKS

📍 International Honour
✅ Malayalam publisher Ravi Deece gets France’s Knight of Arts & Letters

📍 Books
✅ VP releases Sanatan Sanskriti Ki Atal Drishti
✅ Urjit Patel releases The Great Sanctions Hack

🔆 SPORTS

📍 Cricket
✅ Vaibhav Suryavanshi hits fastest List-A 150 (59 balls)

📍 Global Sports
✅ India to host World Police & Fire Games 2029 (Gujarat)

#CurrentAffairs

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Tomorrow will be a holiday for the target program.

MPPSC 2026 Updated Calendar

IB ACIO-II Executive Tier-II City Intimation Out

Exam Date : 11 January, 2026

https://cdn.digialm.com/EForms/configuredHtml/1258/94319/login.html

Mppsc notification
Prelims 26 April

https://t.me/mppsc_prelims_mcq

🔆Useful Government Websites For Civil Service Preparation.

✅ ncert.nic.in – Download NCERT Texts as PDF.
✅ nios.ac.in – Download NIOS Online Materials.
✅ egyankosh.ac.in – Download IGNOU Books.
✅ yojana.gov.in – Download Yojana and Kurukshetra Magazines.
✅ upsc.gov.in – Official Website of UPSC.
✅ pib.nic.in – Press Information Bureau Website, for government updates.
✅ prsindia.org – PRS Website for tracking bills in Parliament.
✅ idsa.in – IDSA website for Defense and Foreign relations.
✅ gatewayhouse.in – Indian Council for Global relations.
✅ envfor.nic.in – Ministry of Environment and Forests.
✅ mea.gov.in – Ministry of External Affairs.
✅ indiabudget.gov.in – Download Budget and Economic Survey.
✅ ptinews.com – Press Trust of India.
✅ ibef.org – India Brand Equity Foundation for economy and business.
✅ vikaspedia.in – Knowledge initiative by InDG.
✅ makeinindia.com – Make in India initiative for manufacturing-related info.

Share this to all aspirants 😊😊

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Taxation Explained | Economics Basics

This video explains taxation in a clear and simple manner—what it means, why governments levy taxes, and the types of taxes (direct and indirect).

https://youtu.be/5kkD5MVN9qE?si=iwMiEHJHIahHj897

🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS — 31 DEC 2025

🔆 REGULATORY / RBI

📍 Banking Data Publication
✅ RBI releases Statistical Tables relating to Banks in India: 2024–25
✅ Coverage: Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs)
✅ Excludes: Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
✅ Data includes: assets, liabilities, income–expenditure, maturity profile
✅ Indicators: CRAR, NPAs, priority sector lending, unclaimed deposits
✅ Available on DBIE portal (web publication)

📍 NBFC Sector (RBI)
✅ NBFC balance sheets expand 18.9% in FY25
✅ Total size: ₹61.09 lakh crore
✅ Upper-layer NBFC profits up 26.5% (H1 FY26)
✅ Overall GNPA improves to 2.9%
⚠️ Microfinance stress persists
✅ NBFC-MFI GNPA rises 2.0% → 4.1%
✅ RBI asks MFIs to closely monitor stress build-up

🔆 ECONOMY

📍 Growth Outlook (EY Report)
✅ India projected $26 trillion economy by 2047–48
✅ Per capita income: >$15,000
✅ Average growth: ~6% annually

📍 Global Ranking
✅ India becomes 4th largest economy ($4.18 tn GDP)
✅ Overtakes Japan
✅ Likely to surpass Germany by 2030

📍 RBI Forecast
✅ FY26 GDP growth revised upward to 7.3%

🔆 NATIONAL

📍 Science & Innovation
✅ PSA Ajay Kumar Sood unveils National Technology Readiness Assessment Framework
✅ Objective: assess tech maturity from lab → market
✅ Partner: CII

📍 Agriculture
✅ Rabi sowing crosses 614 lakh hectares
✅ Pulses: 133 lakh ha
✅ Oilseeds: 94+ lakh ha
✅ Shri Anna/coarse cereals: 49+ lakh ha

📍 Renewable Energy
✅ India’s solar installed capacity crosses 130 GW (Nov 2025)
✅ YoY growth: 41%

📍 Trade
✅ From 1 Jan 2026, 100% Australian tariff lines become zero-duty for Indian exports
✅ Under India–Australia ECTA

🔆 INTERNATIONAL

📍 Rare Earths
✅ India ranks 3rd globally in rare-earth reserves
✅ REO reserves: 6.9 million tonnes
⚠️ Production < 1% of global output (strategic gap)

🔆 DEFENCE

📍 Missile Systems
✅ DRDO successfully tests Pinaka LRGR
✅ Range: 120 km
✅ Test site: Chandipur, Odisha

📍 Procurement
✅ MoD signs contracts worth ₹4,666 crore
✅ Includes CQB carbines & heavyweight torpedoes

📍 Regional Security
✅ China conducts “Justice Mission 2025” drills around Taiwan

🔆 SCIENCE & SKILLING

📍 AI & Skills
✅ President to confer AI certificates under SOAR Programme
✅ Objective: AI-ready workforce
✅ Led by MSDE + Skill India Mission

🔆 SPORTS

📍 Chess
✅ Arjun Erigaisi & Koneru Humpy win bronze
✅ FIDE World Rapid Championships 2025 (Doha)

📍 Cricket
✅ Smriti Mandhana becomes fastest to 10,000 international runs
✅ 4th woman globally to achieve milestone
✅ Date: 28 Dec 2025

📍 Records
✅ Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey takes historic 8-wicket T20I haul
✅ First ever in men’s T20Is

#CurrentAffairs

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🔆 Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) & Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS)

📍 Context
✅ Operational guidelines notified to revive domestic shipbuilding, strengthen capacity, and improve global competitiveness.
✅ Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW)
✅ Validity: Till 31 March 2036 (extendable to 2047)
✅ Combined Corpus: ₹44,700 crore

🔆 Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS)

📍 Objective
✅ Direct financial support to shipbuilders to enhance competitiveness.

📍 Corpus
✅ ₹24,736 crore

📍 Key Features
✅ Graded Financial Assistance (Milestone-based):
▪ 15% for vessels < ₹100 crore
▪ 20% for vessels > ₹100 crore
▪ 25% for specialised vessels (green / hybrid propulsion)

✅ Shipbreaking Credit Note:
▪ 40% of scrap value as credit for shipowners scrapping vessels at Indian yards
▪ Credit usable for building new ships (circular economy)

✅ Domestic Value Addition:
▪ Minimum 30% local content mandatory

✅ Institutional Support:
▪ Establishment of National Shipbuilding Mission
▪ Incentives for series orders + accountability via security instruments

🔆 Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS)

📍 Objective
✅ Long-term capacity & capability creation (infra, tech, skills)

📍 Corpus
✅ ₹19,989 crore

📍 Key Features
✅ Greenfield Shipbuilding Clusters:
▪ 100% capital support for common infrastructure
▪ Implemented via 50:50 SPV (Centre–State)

✅ Brownfield Modernisation:
▪ 25% capital assistance for existing shipyards
▪ For dry docks, shiplifts, automation, fabrication facilities

✅ Technology & Innovation:
▪ India Ship Technology Centre under Indian Maritime University

✅ Financing Support:
▪ Credit Risk Coverage Framework to improve project bankability

#goverment_schemes

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🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS — 1 JAN 2025

🔆 DIGITAL PAYMENTS

📍 UPI Regulation (NPCI)
✅ Fewer new third-party UPI apps approved in 2025
✅ Reason: April 2025 system outage
✅ 2025 approvals: 13 apps (5 closed user groups)
✅ Total TPAPs: 45

📍 Risk Control Measures
✅ TPAP-specific IP address blocks mandated
✅ Enables rate-limiting & outage containment
✅ Improves cybersecurity & fraud control

🔆 STARTUPS / INNOVATION

📍 IGNITE Startup Programme
✅ New cohort launched at IIT Delhi
✅ Partners: FITT, IIT Delhi & IDFC First Bank
✅ Focus sectors:
➡ Climate tech
➡ Clean energy
➡ Healthcare
➡ Agri-tech
➡ AI for social good
✅ Funding: Up to ₹30 lakh (non-dilutive)

🔆 DIGITAL FINANCE

📍 Rediff.com India
✅ Gets NPCI approval for TPAP licence
✅ Launches RediffPay (UPI app)
✅ Supports Credit Line on UPI
✅ Merchant limit: ₹1 lakh/day
✅ PSP Bank: Axis Bank

🔆 GOVERNANCE / MSMEs

📍 DoP–SIDBI MoU
✅ Contact Point Verification for informal micro enterprises
✅ Coverage: enterprises on Udyam Assist Platform
✅ Objective: improve data integrity & credit access
✅ Duration: 2025–2027

🔆 INTERNATIONAL

📍 Syria Currency Reform
✅ New banknotes issued from 1 Jan 2026
✅ Removes Assad-era imagery
✅ Two zeros removed from denominations
✅ Symbols: wheat, olives, roses
✅ Currency: Syrian Pound

🔆 EDUCATION

📍 Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026
✅ Registrations cross 3 crore
✅ Participants: students, parents & teachers
✅ Initiative led by PM Narendra Modi

🔆 TELECOM / TECHNOLOGY

📍 DoT Reforms
✅ Pro-Tem certification extended (NCCS)
✅ Over 50% fee cut for telecom testing labs
✅ Mandatory ITSAR certification for ONT devices from 1 Jan 2026

📍 NFAP-2025
✅ New Frequency Allocation Plan released
✅ Covers 8.3 kHz – 3000 GHz
✅ Boosts 5G, satellite communication & IFMC

🔆 EXPORTS / ECONOMY

📍 Market Access Support Scheme
✅ Outlay: ₹4,531 crore (FY26–FY31)
✅ Part of Export Promotion Mission
✅ Aim: enhance global reach of Indian exporters

🔆 STATES

📍 Gujarat
✅ Indian AI Research Organisation approved
✅ Location: GIFT City
✅ PPP model under Section 8 company
✅ Budget: ₹300 crore (5 years)

📍 Rajasthan
✅ Cabinet approves AI & ML Policy 2026
✅ Focus: AI-led governance & economy

🔆 IMPORTANT DAY

📍 World AIDS Day — 1 December
✅ Theme 2025: Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response

#CurrentAffairs

🔆 FOLK SONGS OF INDIA — REGIONAL FORMS

📍 Sohar (Bihar & Uttar Pradesh)
✅ Occasion-based song sung on the birth of a male child in a family.
✅ Reflects domestic joy, blessings, and social continuity.
✅ Shows cultural syncretism — a form of Sohar is also sung in Muslim families of parts of Uttar Pradesh.
✅ Symbolises the mingling of Hindu–Muslim cultural traditions in North India.

📍 Chhakri (Kashmir)
✅ A group song and the most popular folk music form of Kashmir.
✅ Sung with instrumental accompaniment of:
✅ Noot (earthen pot), Rababs, Sarangi, and Tumbaknari (earthen pot with a high neck).
✅ Expresses love, social life, and collective emotions of Kashmiri society.

📍 Laman (Himachal Pradesh)
✅ A responsive folk song form involving dialogue singing.
✅ A group of girls sings a stanza, followed by a reply from boys.
✅ Continues for long hours as a musical conversation.
✅ Unique feature: singers often perform from opposite hilltops, without seeing each other — hills echoing their love songs.

#prelims
#art_and_culture

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🔆 The Golden Road: India’s Central Role in Ancient Global Trade & Culture

📍 Core Argument (William Dalrymple)
✅ Challenges the popular belief that the Silk Road was the primary ancient trade route.
✅ The term Silk Road itself was coined only in the 19th century.
✅ There was no continuous overland route linking China and the Mediterranean until the Mongol invasions (13th century).

📍 The Golden Road Concept
✅ Ancient global trade was dominated by maritime + selective overland routes.
✅ These routes connected India with Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
✅ Dalrymple collectively calls these networks the “Golden Road.”

📍 Why the Golden Road was Superior
✅ Faster than caravan-based overland routes
✅ More reliable and less politically disrupted
✅ Higher carrying capacity → bulk goods transport

📍 India’s Economic Centrality
✅ India’s west coast emerged as a major hub of Indo-Roman trade.
✅ Indian merchants played a key role in financing the Roman Empire.
✅ Roman demand for Indian spices, textiles, and luxury goods drove trade flows.

📍 Shift Eastward & Cultural Impact
✅ With the decline of the Roman Empire, Indian traders reoriented eastward.
✅ Led to Indianization of Southeast Asia (culture, polity, religion).
✅ By the 7th century, Indian Buddhism reached China, deeply influencing the royal court.
✅ Notable patronage under Empress Wu Zetian.

📌 #history #prelims #mains

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🔆 Nitrate Contamination

📍 In News
✅ Over 20% of groundwater samples in Delhi (2023) exceeded nitrate limits, as per the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB).

📍 What is Nitrate Contamination?
✅ Presence of excessive nitrates (NO₃⁻) in groundwater and surface water.

📍 Permissible Limit
✅ 45 mg/l in drinking water (as per Indian standards)

📍 Major Sources
✅ Excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilisers
✅ Animal waste and sewage infiltration
✅ Agricultural runoff into groundwater

📍 Health Impacts
✅ Methemoglobinemia (Blue Baby Syndrome) in infants
▪️ Reduces blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity
▪️ Can be life-threatening

📍 Environmental Impacts
✅ Eutrophication of water bodies
▪️ Promotes algal blooms
▪️ Depletes dissolved oxygen, harming aquatic life

📌 High nitrate levels reflect unsustainable agricultural practices and poor wastewater management, posing serious public health risks.

#Environment

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