Daily Current Affairs 2025  

09/12/2025

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CA-09/12/2025

• Out of 14 major exams conducted by NTA in 2024, at least five had serious issues, including postponements of UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, NEET-PG, paper leaks in NEET-UG, and delayed CUET results, disrupting academic calendars and admissions.​
• In JEE Main 2025, at least 12 questions were withdrawn after errors were identified in the final answer key, further denting confidence in NTA’s technical competence.​
• These incidents have led the committee to state that NTA’s performance in the last year “has not inspired much confidence” and has undermined students’ trust in the examination process.​

• The panel highlighted chronic delays in declaration of CUET results, which it said caused avoidable stress for students and disturbed university admission schedules.​
• It noted that despite generating a surplus of around ₹448 crore over six years, NTA has not built adequate in‑house capacity and remains heavily dependent on external vendors for core exam functions.​
• Lawmakers also pointed to recurring allegations of paper leaks, data security lapses, and weak accountability mechanisms, warning that the integrity of high‑stakes exams is at risk.​

• The committee has urged a shift back towards pen‑and‑paper exams as the primary mode, citing leak‑resistant models followed by CBSE and UPSC; computer‑based tests, if used, should be limited to government or government‑controlled centres, not private facilities.​
• It recommended that NTA use its accumulated surplus to upgrade test security, infrastructure, and internal systems rather than outsourcing critical tasks to private agencies.​
• The panel has also called for clear accountability structures, stronger surveillance and data protection measures, and time‑bound release of results to ensure reliability and transparency.​

• Separately, a government‑appointed expert committee led by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan, constituted in the wake of the NEET‑UG 2024 controversy, has suggested reforms to make NTA’s operations more secure and error‑free, including improvements in exam security, data protection, and staff training.​
• The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it has accepted almost all recommendations of this expert panel, except an immediate switch to fully online NEET, which has been deferred due to infrastructure constraints.​
• Earlier, there have also been proposals to restructure NTA into multiple specialised verticals (technology, test security, operations, etc.) and to staff it with domain experts and a stronger leadership team to professionalise the agency.​

• The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an autonomous testing organization under India’s Ministry of Education, established in November 2017 to conduct entrance exams for higher education admissions and fellowships.
• Registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, it aims to deliver efficient, transparent, and research-based assessments matching international standards.

• Top Undergraduate Entrance Exams - JEE Main, NEET-UG, CUET-UG (Over 50 lakh candidates appear for these three exams annually)
• Other Major Exams - CUET-PG, UGC-NET, CSIR UGC-NET, CMAT, Hotel Management JEE, GPATEntrance exams for DU, JNU, IIFT, ICAR, and others.

Dimension	Problems flagged	Proposed reforms / responses
Exam integrity	Paper leaks, answer‑key errors, arbitrary disruptions in multiple exams.​	Stronger test security, secure question banks, better surveillance and data systems.​
Timeliness of results	Delayed CUET and other exam results affecting admissions.​	Time‑bound result schedules and process improvements to avoid delays.​
Mode of exams	CBT centres, including private vendors, linked to irregularities.​	Greater reliance on pen‑and‑paper; CBT only in govt‑controlled centres.​
Institutional capacity	Heavy vendor dependence despite ₹448 crore surplus; thin internal staff.​	Use surplus to build in‑house capacity, create specialised verticals, hire experts.​
Public trust	Perception that NTA lacks transparency and accountability.​	Clear accountability frameworks, transparent processes, and strict enforcement.​

• Largest Structures: Cosmic filaments, also known as galaxy filaments, represent the largest known structures in the observable universe, forming elongated threads that span tens to hundreds of millions of light-years.​
• Cosmic Web Component: They are integral to the cosmic web, connecting galaxy clusters and superclusters while surrounding vast voids, creating a web-like pattern of matter distribution.​
• Composition: Primarily composed of dark matter with embedded galaxies, gas, and ordinary matter, filaments act as highways funneling matter from low-density voids toward dense nodes like clusters.​
• Dynamical Role: Filaments emerge from primordial density fluctuations and tidal fields, defined by phase-space singularities such as A3 and D4 types, driving gravitational collapse and multistream flows.​
• Scale and Spin: Typical lengths reach 50 million light-years or more, with some exhibiting spin due to tidal torques; they host hundreds of galaxies and influence star formation.​

• Definition: Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS) is a cultural event in Varanasi (Kashi), Uttar Pradesh, celebrating historical ties between North and South India, especially Tamil Nadu.​
• Historical Roots: Dates to ancient connections like 15th-century King Parakrama Pandya fetching a Shiva lingam from Kashi to establish Sivakasi temple in Tamil Nadu; Tamil scholars visited Kashi for learning.​
• Editions: Multiple phases including KTS 1.0 (2022), 3.0 (Feb 2025), and 4.0 (Dec 2025 onwards) with themes like language learning ("Tamil Karkalam") and youth engagement.​
• Activities: Features visits to Ayodhya, Prayagraj; cultural exchanges in arts, literature, crafts; delegates from Tamil Nadu explore Kashi's ghats and temples.​
• Significance: Promotes "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" by fostering unity in diversity, shared heritage, people-to-people bonds, and economic ties between regions.​

• CAQM submitted this note to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), extending its NCR coal ban (effective January 1, 2023, except thermal power plants) to nearby non-NCR areas.​
• In NCR, 7,449 of 7,759 fuel-based industries shifted to cleaner fuels like natural gas, electricity, biofuels, or biomass; 310 closed.​
• CAQM's mandate covers NCR (Delhi plus districts in Haryana, UP, Rajasthan) and adjoining pollution sources.​

• Reduce air pollution from coal emissions affecting the shared NCR airshed.​
• Phase out coal completely in industrial operations beyond NCR, promoting cleaner alternatives.​
• Ensure compliance through state-submitted plans and enforcement.​

• Supports long-term measures like restricting new coal plants within 300 km of Delhi.​
• Aligns with expert recommendations for cleaner fuels amid NCR's annual 1.7 million tonnes coal use.​

• Chaired by an expert (currently Sh. Rajesh Verma), with full-time members, ex-officio representatives from states and ministries, technical experts, and NGO stakeholders.​

• CAQM is a statutory body established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, to coordinate and manage air pollution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.​
• It replaced the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) for more efficient, centralized oversight, with powers overriding other laws.​

• Implements Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stages based on AQI levels, with recent updates like revised GRAP in November 2025.​

• Restricts industries, probes violations, and levies fines up to ₹1 crore or imprisonment up to 5 years for non-compliance; cases go only to National Green Tribunal.​
• Issues advisories and directions, such as end-of-life vehicle liquidation and BS-VI vehicle entry bans into Delhi.​

• Bridge Information Gaps: Facilitate seamless information sharing between intelligence agencies and law enforcement, mitigating the lack of real-time information.
• Enhance Counter-Terrorism Efforts: Enable faster detection and response to terror threats, aiding in the identification and prosecution of terrorists.
• Strengthen National Security: Provide a unified intelligence system to bolster national security, especially in the face of rising cyber threats.
• Improve Investigation Efficiency: Allow agencies to access pooled data from various organizations and services, enabling a "investigate first, verify faster" approach.

• Immigration and Passports: Records of entry and exit.
• Banking and Financial Transactions: Details from bank accounts, credit/debit card transactions, and suspicious transaction reports.
• Telecommunications: Call detail records, SIM registration, and internet usage.
• Travel Records: Airline and railway passenger information.
• Other Government Databases: Driving licenses, Aadhaar records, tax details, and information from the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).
• Social Media: Accounts sharing issue-based content.

• The platform is designed to provide secure, real-time access to this consolidated data for authorized personnel from central and state security agencies.
• Initially accessible to 11 central agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and National Investigation Agency (NIA), access has now been extended to State Police officers of Superintendent of Police rank.
• NATGRID receives approximately 45,000 data requests per month, indicating its increasing utility.

• While NATGRID is a powerful tool, concerns have been raised regarding potential violations of privacy and the security of personal data.
• However, the government maintains that NATGRID's infrastructure includes adequate safeguards, such as end-to-end encryption and strict authorization protocols, to prevent unauthorized access and protect user identity.

• A motion for removal must be signed by at least 100 members of the Lok Sabha or 50 members of the Rajya Sabha and submitted to the Speaker or Chairman.​
• The Speaker or Chairman may admit or reject the motion after due consideration.​
• If admitted, a three-member committee is formed, consisting of a Supreme Court judge, a High Court judge, and a distinguished jurist, to investigate the allegations.​
• If the committee finds the judge guilty of misbehaviour or incapacity, its report is presented to both Houses of Parliament.​
• Both Houses must pass the motion by a special majority—majority of the total membership and at least two-thirds of members present and voting.​
• If both Houses approve, an address is presented to the President, who then issues an order for the judge's removal.​

• Codeine-based cough syrups combine codeine, an opioid cough suppressant, with expectorants like guaifenesin to relieve cough and loosen mucus from colds or allergies.
• Codeine works by affecting the brain's cough reflex but carries addiction risks and is no more effective than placebo in some studies.
• These syrups are prescription medications globally due to opioid content.

• Classified under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 as narcotic; requires prescription (Schedule H1) for therapeutic use only.​
• Possession without valid documents treated as NDPS violation; entire quantity assessed for commercial limits.​
• Manufacturing quotas allocated; strict monitoring to prevent diversion to misuse (e.g., intoxication).​
• 2016 ban on certain codeine cough formulations challenged but upheld for non-medical use; recent scrutiny for abuse.​
• Export needs government lab testing; rational pediatric use advised amid safety concerns.​

• Respiratory depression, leading to slowed or stopped breathing, especially in children under 12 or those with sleep apnea.​
• Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and itching as common side effects.​
• Overdose symptoms include pinpoint pupils, cold/clammy skin, blue lips, confusion, and potential death.​

• High addiction potential due to opioid nature, causing physical dependence and withdrawal.​
• Euphoria-seeking abuse (e.g., "purple drank"), leading to hallucinations, paranoia, and impaired judgment.​
• Increased mortality risk from overdose, especially when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.​

• Founded in 2016 by Sunil Kant Munjal through the Serendipity Arts Foundation, a New Delhi-based not-for-profit promoting South Asian artists.​
• Features over 200 projects with 1,800+ artists in visual arts, music, dance, theatre, crafts, culinary arts, and children's programming across riverfronts, heritage sites, and public spaces.​
• Emphasizes accessibility, sustainability, community engagement, and blending local Goan traditions with global influences via workshops, performances, and interactive installations.​

• Serendipity fosters empathy and dialogue by integrating art into everyday urban spaces, influencing perceptions of public areas through temporary interventions that inspire lasting changes.
• Past editions have featured global collaborations, such as Australian theatre groups and symposia like the Serendipity Exchange for the Arts.
• Visitors can explore via the official app for schedules and maps.​

• X violated DSA rules through three main issues. First, its 'blue checkmark' system deceives users by allowing paid verification without meaningful checks on account authenticity, enabling scams and impersonation.
• Second, the advertising repository lacks transparency, with access barriers like delays and missing details on ad content, payers, and topics, hindering detection of fake ads or influence operations.
• Third, X imposed unnecessary barriers on researchers' access to public data, including scraping bans in terms of of service, impeding systemic risk studies.​

• The DSA, effective since 2024, mandates platforms to combat deceptive designs, ensure ad transparency (Articles 39, 40), and facilitate researcher data access (Article 25) to protect users from harms like disinformation.
• This enforcement highlights EU's tech sovereignty push, contrasting US free speech emphases, with potential transatlantic tensions amid criticisms from Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and US officials.​​

• Born: June 27, 1838, in Kantalapara, Bengal (now West Bengal), into a Bengali Brahman family.​
• Died: April 8, 1894, in Kolkata.​
• Education: First graduates from University of Calcutta (BA, 1858); later studied law.​
• Career: Served as Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector under British for 32 years; retired 1891.​
• Key Title: "Sahitya Samrat" (Emperor of Literature) in Bengali.​
• Famous Work: Composed "Vande Mataram" in Anandamath (1882), adopted as India's National Song.​
• Literary Output: Wrote 14 novels (e.g., Durgeshnandini 1865, Kapalkundala 1866); essays, satire; founded Bangadarshan magazine (1872).​
• Legacy: Pioneer of modern Bengali novel; inspired Indian nationalism and Bengal Renaissance.​

• Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) is an acute, highly fatal bacterial disease primarily affecting cattle and water buffaloes in tropical regions like Asia and Africa.
• The disease thrives in humid, monsoon conditions with high morbidity and mortality rates up to 80-100% without early treatment.​

• Pasteurella multocida serotypes B:2 (Asia, global) and E:2 (Africa).
• Gram-negative coccobacillus with capsules and toxins enhancing virulence.​
• Commensal in healthy animals but turns pathogenic under stress.​

• Natural routes: ingestion or inhalation from infected carriers, contaminated water/feed, or fomites.​
• Spreads rapidly in overcrowded, stressed herds during monsoons.​
• Experimental via oral drenching, aerosols, or subcutaneous injection.​

• Phase 1: Sudden high fever (40-41°C), depression, anorexia.​
• Phase 2: Salivation, serous nasal discharge turning mucopurulent, submandibular/throat oedema spreading to brisket/forelegs, respiratory distress.​
• Peracute cases: Collapse and death in 6-24 hours; acute: 2-3 days.​

• Subcutaneous oedema (straw-coloured or blood-tinged) in head, neck, brisket.​
• Petechial/ecchymotic haemorrhages in organs, serosal surfaces, lymph nodes.​
• Lung congestion, hydrothorax, gastroenteritis possible.​

• Hoolock gibbons are the only ape species found in India, primarily in the northeastern states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and others, inhabiting tropical and subtropical forests with dense canopies.​
• They are medium-sized, measuring 60-90 cm in length and weighing 6-9 kg, with males entirely black and prominent white brows, while females have grey-brown fur darker on the chest and neck, featuring white eye and mouth rings for a mask-like face.​
• Diurnal and arboreal, they brachiate swiftly through trees at speeds up to 55 km/h using long arms, rarely descending to the ground except during territorial disputes.​
• Monogamous and territorial, they live in small family units (pair plus offspring), communicating via loud duet songs to locate members and defend ranges of 8-63 hectares.​
• Diet mainly includes ripe fruits, leaves, flowers, shoots, insects, and occasionally eggs; gestation lasts 7 months, young are born buff-colored (males darken at 6 months, females later), reaching maturity at 8-9 years with a wild lifespan of 25 years.​
• Conservation status: Western Hoolock Gibbon is Endangered (IUCN), Eastern Vulnerable; both on Schedule I of India's Wildlife Protection Act 1972; threats include habitat loss and predators like leopards, pythons.​

• The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) is a statutory body established under Section 125(5) of the Companies Act, 2013, by the Central Government to administer the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF).​
• IEPFA runs flagship programs like Niveshak Didi, Niveshak Panchayat, and Niveshak Shivir to boost financial literacy via collaborations with SEBI, stock exchanges, and others. 

• IEPFA was notified on September 7, 2016, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and operates as a body corporate with perpetual succession.
• It consists of a chairperson, a chief executive officer, and up to seven other members appointed by the Central Government, with the CEO handling general management under the chairperson's supervision.
• The Authority maintains separate accounts audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.​

• IEPFA manages IEPF funds, which include unclaimed dividends, shares, matured deposits, and debentures transferred from companies after seven years.
• It facilitates refunds to rightful claimants and promotes investor awareness through education programs.
• Funds are used strictly for investor protection, corporate governance research, seminars, and awareness initiatives.​

• Aggregators must contribute 1-2% of annual turnover (capped at 5% of payments to workers) to a Social Security Fund for schemes like accident insurance, health, maternity, and old-age benefits.
• Workers receive an Aadhaar-linked unique ID for portable benefits across jobs and platforms, plus access to toll-free helplines and grievance redressal.​

• The reforms cover a gig economy projected to reach 2.35 crore workers by 2029-30, ensuring minimum wages, timely payments, and safety standards while simplifying compliance for platforms.
• Benefits extend nationwide, with pilots already registering platforms like Zomato and Urban Company.​

• Platforms must register workers, maintain databases, and adhere to occupational safety, with digitized compliance reducing litigation risks.
• States like Gujarat and Maharashtra report higher investments post-similar implementations.​

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