Daily Current Affairs 2025  

08/12/2025

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CA-08/12/2025

1. Shyok Tunnel
2. Understanding the Rupee's Decline: A Capital Account Perspective
3. Hornbill Festival
4. Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025
5. Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2025
6. International Civil Aviation Day 2025
7. India-Russia RELOS Agreement
    

• Length: The Shyok Tunnel measures 920 to 982 meters in length, constructed using cut-and-cover technology.​
• Location: Situated at over 12,000 feet altitude on the 255-km Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) Road in eastern Ladakh, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).​
• Inauguration: Opened on December 7, 2025, by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as part of 125 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) projects worth over Rs 5,000 crore.​
• Strategic Importance: Provides all-weather connectivity, enabling quick troop mobilization, logistics transport, and reduced reliance on air maintenance amid harsh winters, avalanches, and extreme conditions.​
• Construction and Features: Built by BRO under Project Himank to bypass avalanche, landslide, and flood-prone sections; includes a new bridge over the Shyok River.​

• This tunnel enhances India's defense posture amid tensions with China and Pakistan by enabling rapid troop mobilization, logistics supply, and redeployment along the 322-km DS-DBO Road, which was critical post-2020 Galwan clashes.
• It reduces travel time from Leh to DBO from two days to six hours and minimizes reliance on air maintenance during harsh winters.
• Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Himank, it includes a new bridge over the Shyok River.​

• Capital Outflows: A significant driver is the withdrawal of investments by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) from Indian markets. This reduces the demand for rupees and increases the demand for foreign currency, putting downward pressure on the rupee. Factors contributing to these outflows include global economic uncertainties, rising interest rates in advanced economies (like the US Federal Reserve's rate hikes), and a general risk-averse sentiment among investors.
• Trade Deficit: Although the capital account is the primary concern, a persistent trade deficit, where imports exceed exports, also contributes. India imports more physical goods than it exports, leading to increased demand for foreign currency to pay for these imports. The recent widening of the trade deficit, exacerbated by rising import costs for crucial commodities like crude oil and gold, has further pressured the rupee.

• Stronger US Dollar: A strengthening US dollar, often driven by factors like rising US Treasury yields and tighter monetary policy in the US, naturally weakens other currencies like the rupee.
• Geopolitical Tensions: Global conflicts and political uncertainties can lead to increased demand for safe-haven assets like the dollar and disrupt global trade, impacting currency values.
• Trade Policies: International trade policies, including tariffs imposed by major economies like the US, can affect India's export competitiveness and dollar inflows.

• Inflation: High domestic inflation can erode the purchasing power of the rupee and make Indian exports less competitive over time, although in the short term, a depreciating currency can fuel imported inflation.
• Policy Ambiguity: Uncertainty surrounding monetary policy or exchange rate management by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) can also impact market sentiment.

• Boosts Exports: Indian goods and services become cheaper for foreign buyers, enhancing the competitiveness of sectors like IT, pharmaceuticals, and textiles.
• Increases Remittances: Non-resident Indians (NRIs) receive more rupees for every dollar sent home, potentially leading to higher remittance inflows.
• Encourages Domestic Production: Higher import costs may incentivize consumers and industries to opt for domestically produced goods and services (import substitution).

• Increases Import Costs: Essential imports such as crude oil, electronics, and fertilizers become more expensive, leading to higher inflation.
• Worsens Current Account Deficit: A higher import bill directly contributes to a widening of the current account deficit.
• Higher Debt Servicing Costs: For entities with foreign-currency denominated loans, servicing the debt becomes more expensive in rupee terms.
• Imported Inflation: The rise in the cost of imported goods can fuel domestic inflation, impacting consumers' purchasing power.
• Capital Flight Risk: Persistent depreciation can erode investor confidence, increasing the risk of further capital outflows.
• Impact on Travel and Education: Overseas travel and education become more costly for Indians.

• Dates and Inception: Held annually from December 1 to 10, it began in 2000 to promote inter-tribal interaction, cultural preservation, and tourism.​
• Location: Primarily at Kisama Heritage Village (Naga Heritage Village), about 12 km from Kohima, Nagaland's capital, with additional events like the Hornbill International Rock Festival at Indira Gandhi Stadium.​
• Organizers: Jointly organized by Nagaland's Departments of Tourism and Art & Culture, with support from the Union Government.​
• Cultural Significance: Named after the revered hornbill bird, symbolizing fidelity, beauty, and grandeur in Naga folklore; features Naga Morungs (community halls) exhibitions showcasing tribal attire with hornbill feathers, boar tusks, and woven sashes.
• Key Activities:
• • Traditional dances, war cries, folk songs, and performances narrating victories, harvests, and legends.
  • Sports like Naga wrestling, archery, indigenous games, and events such as Hornbill International Rock Contest, Miss Nagaland, food contests (e.g., King Chilly eating).
  • Handicrafts, handlooms, wood carvings, herbal stalls, food fairs with local cuisine (smoked pork, bamboo shoots, rice beer), and cultural exchanges.​
• Impact: Attracts over 1.5 lakh visitors annually, fostering cultural assimilation and boosting Nagaland's identity.​

• Defines hate speech as public expressions (spoken, written, electronic) intended to cause injury, disharmony, or hatred against individuals/groups based on religion, race, caste, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe.​
• First offense: 1-7 years imprisonment and ₹50,000 fine; repeat offenses: 2-10 years and ₹1 lakh fine; all offenses cognizable, non-bailable, triable by Judicial Magistrate First Class.​
• Introduces collective liability for organizations, holding office-bearers responsible unless they prove lack of knowledge or due diligence; empowers designated officers to order digital platforms to block/remove hate content.​
• Courts can award victim compensation; exemptions for bona fide academic, artistic, literary, scientific, religious, or public good materials.​

• Addresses legislative gap as first state-specific law explicitly targeting hate speech, beyond general BNS provisions like Sections 196/299.​
• Aims to curb communal disharmony, mob violence, and social divisions by holding individuals, organizations, and platforms accountable.​
• Promotes victim protection through compensation and preventive powers for magistrates/police.​

• Vague terms like "harm" (including emotional/psychological) and "hatred" risk chilling free speech under Article 19(1)(a), similar to struck-down IT Act Section 66A.​
• Overbroad scope may criminalize legitimate expression without requiring imminent lawless action, leading to self-censorship.​
• Disproportionate penalties (non-bailable, up to 10 years) and intermediary liability could suppress dissent.​

• The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2025, is a proposed legislation aiming to transform the Indian Statistical Institute from its current status as a registered society into a statutory body corporate.
• This move seeks to align its governance and legal framework with other Institutes of National Importance, such as the IITs and IIMs.
• The bill was put forth by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and was open for public comments, with a revised draft uploaded in late November 2025.

• Conversion to a Statutory Body Corporate: The Bill aims to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute Act of 1959 and establish the ISI as a statutory body corporate, governed by an Act of Parliament.
• New Governance Structure: A new 11-member Board of Governance (BoG) is proposed to replace the current 33-member council. This BoG would be the principal executive body, with a significant portion of its members being Central Government nominees.
• Centralized Control: Concerns have been raised that the proposed governance structure, with a Board of Governance heavily influenced by Central Government nominees, would lead to a significant loss of autonomy for the institute.
• Academic Autonomy: The Bill proposes that the Board of Governors would have overriding powers over the Academic Council, potentially reducing the latter to an advisory body. This has led to fears of diminished academic freedom.
• Director Appointment: The appointment of the Director is proposed to be controlled by the government, moving away from the existing search-cum-selection process.
• Relocation of Headquarters: The Bill allows for the relocation of the institute's headquarters, raising concerns about the disruption of ISI's historical identity and heritage, particularly its long-standing ties to Kolkata.
• Emphasis on Revenue Generation: The draft suggests a higher emphasis on revenue generation through increased student fees and the commercialization of research outputs.

• Erosion of Academic Autonomy: The draft Bill establishes a Board of Governors (BoG) dominated by government nominees, granting it overriding powers over the Academic Council, which would be reduced to an advisory role, unlike the current council with broader academic representation.​
• Centralized Director Appointment: Provisions allow greater Centre involvement in appointing and reviewing the Director, including MoSPI nominees in the selection committee and periodic performance reviews, potentially turning the position into a government appointee.​
• Threat to Institutional Heritage: Repealing the 1959 Act to convert ISI from a registered society to a statutory body corporate risks altering its historic character, including potential relocation of headquarters from Kolkata.​
• Commercialization Pressures: Emphasis on revenue generation through higher student fees, research commercialization, and sponsored projects could undermine free education, stipends, and focus on long-term basic research.​

• Founded: 1931 by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in Kolkata as a statistical laboratory.​
• Status: Declared Institute of National Importance via Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959; functions under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.​
• Headquarters: Kolkata, with centres in Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Tezpur, Hyderabad, and Giridih.​
• Key Focus: Research and training in statistics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative economics; applications in natural/social sciences.​
• Contributions: Designed National Sample Survey (NSS) in 1950; developed Mahalanobis distance; alumni include C.R. Rao, S.R.S. Varadhan.​
• Programs: Offers UG/PG/doctoral degrees, diplomas in statistics, math, CS; ~1,200 students across centres.​
• Motto: "Bhinneswaykyasya Darshanam" (unity in diversity).​
• Journal: Sankhya: The Indian Journal of Statistics, founded 1933.​

• The day commemorates the 1944 Chicago Convention, which established ICAO as a UN agency for aviation standards.
• ICAO first marked December 7 in 1994 for its 50th anniversary, with UN recognition in 1996 via Resolution A/RES/51/33.​

• Civil aviation drives trade, tourism, jobs, and humanitarian aid while promoting cultural exchange and safety through global cooperation.
• It addresses challenges like emissions via sustainable fuels and technologies, with India re-elected to ICAO's Council for 2025-2028 to advance safety and equity.​

• The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) agreement is a significant bilateral military pact between India and Russia that facilitates mutual access to each other's military facilities.
• This agreement allows the armed forces of both nations to utilize designated bases, ports, and airfields for essential services such as refueling, repairs, supplies, berthing, and maintenance.

• Mutual Access to Military Facilities: RELOS provides reciprocal access to military bases, ports, and airfields, streamlining logistical support.
• Strengthened Defence Cooperation: The agreement aims to enhance defense ties by enabling smoother logistics during joint military exercises, training, and coordinated operations.
• Expanded Strategic Reach: For India, RELOS offers access to Russian naval and air bases in the Arctic (e.g., Murmansk) and the Pacific (e.g., Vladivostok). This significantly extends India's operational reach beyond the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions into the Arctic and Eurasian territories.
• Improved Operational Efficiency: By reducing deployment time and costs, RELOS enhances the operational efficiency of both militaries, particularly for long-range naval missions.
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): The agreement facilitates faster and more coordinated HADR operations during emergencies.
• Interoperability: RELOS boosts interoperability between the Indian and Russian armed forces, enabling seamless coordination during joint exercises like INDRA.

• The RELOS agreement is seen as a crucial enabler for India in a dynamic geopolitical landscape.
• It complements existing defense agreements India has with other nations, such as LEMOA with the US, but offers unique strategic advantages.
• The pact also supports India's growing interest in the Northern Sea Route and helps in balancing China's influence in the Arctic region.

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