Daily Current Affairs 2025  

27/12/2025

WhatsApp Email Facebook Share

CA-27/12/2025

• Formation: 1997, based on a Cabinet decision in 1996
• Type: Autonomous, non-profit organization under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860
• Purpose: To establish and promote quality standards across social and economic sectors
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Structure: Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model supported by the Government of India and industry associations (ASSOCHAM, CII, FICCI)

• Accreditation Services: Provides accreditation to institutions, laboratories, and certification bodies.
• Quality Promotion: Encourages adoption of quality standards in industry, healthcare, education, and governance.
• Assessment & Certification: Acts as a third-party agency to assess and certify organizations.
• Capacity Building: Organizes workshops, training, and awareness programs to strengthen quality culture.

• National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL): Focuses on labs and calibration.​
• National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH): Covers healthcare quality.​
• National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB): Oversees certification processes.​
• National Accreditation Board for Education & Training (NABET): Handles education and training standards.​
• National Board for Quality Promotion (NBQP): Promotes quality in industry sectors.​

• National Impact: Ensures credibility of certifications and accreditations in India.
• Global Recognition: Enhances India’s competitiveness by aligning with international quality standards.
• Public Trust: Builds confidence in products, services, and institutions through independent quality checks.
• Policy Support: Assists government in implementing quality-related initiatives across sectors.

• Scientific classification: Kingdom Plantae, Family Theaceae, Genus Camellia, Species C. sinensis.
• Common names: Tea plant, tea shrub, tea tree (not to be confused with Melaleuca alternifolia, source of tea tree oil).
• Appearance: Glossy green leaves, fragrant white flowers with yellow stamens.
• Height: Can grow as a shrub or small tree up to 16 meters tall.
• Cultivation: Thrives on mountain slopes at altitudes up to 2200 m, preferring humid, subtropical climates.

• Green tea: Leaves are quickly steamed or pan-fired to prevent oxidation.
• Black tea: Fully oxidized, giving a dark color and robust flavor.
• Oolong tea: Partially oxidized, balancing floral and roasted notes.
• White tea: Made from young buds, minimally processed for delicate flavor.
• Pu-erh/dark tea: Fermented and aged, producing earthy tones.

• Native to China and India, but now cultivated in many regions including Sri Lanka, Japan, Kenya, and Nepal.
• Two main varieties dominate cultivation:
  • C. sinensis var. sinensis (Chinese type, smaller leaves, cooler climates).
  • C. sinensis var. assamica (Indian type, larger leaves, tropical climates).

• Origin: Established under UN General Assembly Resolution 55/56 (2000) after concerns that diamond revenues were fueling conflicts in Africa.
• Launch: The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) came into effect on 1 January 2003.
• Goal: To stop conflict diamonds from entering the mainstream diamond market.
• Structure: A tripartite initiative involving:
  • Governments
  • International diamond industry
  • Civil society organizations

• Certification: Every shipment of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate, guaranteeing they are conflict-free.
• Membership: Currently, 60 participants (representing 85 countries) account for over 99% of global rough diamond trade.
• Governance: The Vice-Chair of KP automatically becomes Chair the following year.

• India, a founding participant, previously chaired in 2008 and 2019.
• Priorities include boosting consumer confidence in conflict-free diamonds, advancing digital traceability, and enhancing supply chain transparency via data-driven compliance.
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India's credibility in promoting trade integrity. This aligns with geopolitical shifts, including G7 sanctions on Russian diamonds post-Ukraine invasion.​

• Expanding definition of conflict diamonds: There are ongoing debates to include human rights abuses, forced labour, systemic violence, and environmental damage.
• Geopolitical issues: Recent sanctions on Russian-mined diamonds (about 30% of global supply) have tested KP’s effectiveness.
• Digital certification: Efforts are underway to modernize compliance and traceability.

• Location: Balmiki Nagar, West Champaran, Bihar
• Area: 898.45 km²
• Established: Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1978, National Park in 1990
• Nearest City: Bettiah
• Rating: 4.4/5 from visitors

• Flagship species: Bengal Tiger (primary conservation focus)
• Other mammals: Leopards, wild boars, elephants, Indian bison, and several deer species
• Rich birdlife: Over 250 species recorded, making it a paradise for birdwatchers
• Reptiles and butterflies also thrive in the reserve’s diverse ecosystems.

• Lies along the Indo-Nepal border, part of the Terai Arc Landscape.
• Terrain includes sal forests, grasslands, swamps, and rivers.
• The Gandak River flows nearby, adding to the ecological richness.

• Vitamin C supplementation mitigates oxidative stress and inflammation from fine particulate air pollution in mouse and human tissue studies.
• It enhances antioxidant enzymes like SOD2 and GPX4, preserving lung function, though consulting a doctor is advised before high doses.​

• High-dose intravenous vitamin C combined with chemotherapy doubled survival from 8 to 16 months in stage 4 pancreatic cancer patients in a phase 2 trial.
• Similar benefits appeared in glioblastoma trials, improving tolerance to treatment.​

• Scientific name: L‑ascorbic acid or ascorbate
• Nature: Water‑soluble antioxidant vitamin
• Sources: Citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, spinach
• Daily requirement: ~75 mg for women, ~90 mg for men

• Boosts immunity: Supports production and protection of white blood cells
• Collagen synthesis: Essential for skin, cartilage, tendons, and wound healing
• Iron absorption: Helps prevent iron deficiency anemia
• Cardiovascular health: May lower blood pressure and reduce heart disease risk
• Antioxidant role: Protects cells from free radical damage
• Memory protection: Linked to reduced risk of cognitive decline

• Location: About 1,848 km southeast of Tokyo, nearly midway between Japan and Wake Island.
• Size: Roughly 1.51 km² (0.58 sq mi) with a coastline of 6 km.
• Elevation: Maximum height of 9 m above sea level.
• Administration: Part of Tokyo Metropolis, under Ogasawara Subprefecture.
• Population: No permanent residents; only personnel from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Meteorological Agency.

• Discovered by Japanese navigator Shinroku Mizutani in 1868 and annexed by Japan in 1898.
• Occupied by U.S. forces during World War II, returned to Japan in 1968.
• Historically known as Marcus Island in Western references.

• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Extends Japan’s EEZ deep into the Pacific, giving access to vast marine resources.
• Rare Earth Deposits: The seabed around Minamitorishima contains large reserves of rare earth elements critical for electronics and renewable energy.
• Climate Monitoring: Hosts a major station for greenhouse gas observation and weather forecasting.
• Military Presence: Japan maintains a runway and defense facilities, underscoring its geopolitical significance.

• Shaped like a saucer or triangle, surrounded by shallow coral reefs that drop sharply into deep ocean trenches.
• Climate: Tropical savanna, with warm temperatures year-round.
• Access: Restricted to government and military personnel; not open to public tourism.

• Geopolitical leverage: Extends Japan’s maritime boundaries.
• Resource potential: Rare earths could reduce dependence on imports.
• Scientific role: Key site for monitoring global climate change.

• Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes montana
• Distribution: Found across the Himalayan mountain range in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and parts of Pakistan.
• Habitat: Prefers rocky terrain, low grasslands, tundra, and temperate climates. Often spotted in Ladakh, Spiti Valley, and Uttarakhand.
• Physical Traits: Smaller body and skull compared to the common red fox. Coarse outer hair mixed with woolly underfur helps it survive extreme cold.
• Behavior: Highly adaptable—can live near human settlements but usually prefers remote, high-altitude areas. Known to build dens in rocky crevices.
• Diet: Opportunistic predator feeding on small mammals, birds, and occasionally scavenging.
• Conservation Status: Listed under CITES Appendix III, meaning trade is regulated to prevent exploitation. Classified as Least Concern by IUCN due to stable populations, though threats include habitat loss and human activities. Protected in areas like Great Himalayan National Park.​

• Ecological Role: As a predator, it helps maintain balance in fragile Himalayan ecosystems.
• Cultural Significance: Frequently appears in Himalayan folklore and is admired for its resilience.
• Conservation Challenges: Human interference, habitat loss, and climate change pose risks. Wildlife officials caution against feeding or approaching them, as seen in recent viral encounters in Ladakh.

• Launch Date: 25 December 2000
• Objective: Provide all-weather road connectivity to rural habitations as part of a poverty reduction strategy.
• Roads Built: Over 8,25,000 km sanctioned and 7,87,000 km completed till 2025.
• Phases:
  • PMGSY-I: Focused on connecting unconnected villages.
  • PMGSY-II: Upgradation of existing rural roads.
  • PMGSY-III: Consolidation of rural road network; over 1,22,000 km sanctioned.
  • PMGSY-IV (2024–2029): Target of 62,500 km with an outlay of ₹70,125 crore.
• Budget Allocation (2025–26): Around ₹19,000 crore.
• Monitoring: Uses OMMAS (Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System), e-MARG, GPS tracking, and a three-tier quality system.

• Agriculture: Farmers gain better access to markets, reducing transport costs and wastage.
• Employment: Road construction and improved connectivity generate local jobs.
• Education & Health: Easier access to schools and healthcare facilities.
• Social Inclusion: Enhances mobility for women, children, and marginalized communities.
• Poverty Reduction: By linking villages to economic opportunities, PMGSY has been a major driver of rural development.

• Maintenance: Ensuring durability of roads through proper upkeep.
• Climate Resilience: Building roads that withstand floods and extreme weather.
• Digital Monitoring: Expanding geo-tagging and real-time reporting for transparency.
• Inclusive Planning: Prioritizing remote and underserved regions.

• Statutory Status: Converts ISI from a registered society into a statutory body corporate, aligning it with other Institutions of National Importance (INIs).
• Repeal of 1959 Act: The Bill replaces the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959.
• Guiding Principles:
  • Excellence: Promote global competitiveness and innovation.
  • Effective Governance: Streamlined decision-making and integrity in leadership.
  • Autonomy: Greater powers in day-to-day functioning and planning.
  • Accountability: Transparency and oversight mechanisms.
• Governance Restructuring: Establishes a new Board of Governance, reducing the role of the large General Body (currently over 1,000 members).
• Academic Council Changes: Alters composition of councils, vesting more authority in Union government nominees.
• Revenue & Administration: Seeks to modernize ISI’s financial and administrative framework.

• Modernization: Provides ISI with a contemporary legal framework to function like other premier institutions.
• Efficiency: Streamlines governance by reducing legacy issues identified in review committees.
• National Role: Strengthens ISI’s position as a hub for data, statistics, and research in India.

• Autonomy at Risk: Academics and students argue the Bill dilutes ISI’s democratic and federal structure.
• Centralization of Power: Authority shifts to Union government nominees, potentially undermining ISI’s independence.
• Revenue Mechanisms: Questions raised about how the Bill affects ISI’s ability to generate and manage funds.
• Protests: Faculty and students have demanded withdrawal of the revised draft, citing threats to academic freedom.

• The Supreme Court in September 2025 heard a Kerala doctor's petition claiming brain death is "unscientific" and devised for organ trade, struggling with medical terminology during arguments.
• A High Court ruling in February 2025 upheld brain death validity, aiming to boost doctor confidence in certifications.​

• Poor identification of brain stem death cases hampers organ donations in India, with calls for better training as seen in a September 2025 Kerala workshop.
• A 2025 case report detailed a reversed brain death diagnosis in a trauma patient post-craniectomy, prompting guideline updates and safety alerts.​

• Brain stem death occurs when the brain stem—the part connecting the brain to the spinal cord—irreversibly ceases all functions, resulting in permanent loss of consciousness and spontaneous breathing.
• This condition equates to legal death in many jurisdictions, including the UK and India, as the patient cannot survive without mechanical ventilation.​

• The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord and regulates: Breathing, Heart rate, Consciousness and awareness, Reflexes (like pupil response to light, gag reflex, etc.)
• Loss of these functions means the body cannot survive without artificial support.

• Checking for brain stem reflexes (pupil reaction, corneal reflex, gag reflex).
• Testing for spontaneous breathing by removing the ventilator briefly to see if the patient initiates breaths.
• Ensuring no confounding factors (e.g., drug effects, hypothermia) interfere with results.
• Only when all criteria are met can brain stem death be declared.

• A ventilator can keep oxygen flowing into the lungs, allowing the heart to continue beating for a time.
• This can be confusing for families, as the patient may appear alive (chest rising, warm skin).
• However, without brain stem function, the person has already died.

• Organ donation: Brain stem death is often the point at which organ donation is considered.
• End-of-life decisions: Families may struggle with the concept, but medical law recognizes brain stem death as death.
• Prognosis: Even with intensive support, the heart usually stops within days or weeks.

• Common triggers include severe head trauma, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cardiac arrest, or brain swelling leading to herniation and brainstem compression.
• Infections, tumors, or hypoxic injury can also cause it by disrupting blood flow and oxygen to the brain.​

• Once confirmed, recovery is impossible; the heart may beat briefly on support, but multi-organ failure follows. It differs from a vegetative state, where brainstem function persists, allowing potential limited recovery.​

• The Plea: Filed in the Delhi High Court, the petition sought to reduce GST on air purifiers to make them more affordable amid worsening pollution in Delhi-NCR.
• Current GST Rate: Air purifiers are taxed at 18% GST. The plea wanted them reclassified as “medical devices,” which would lower the rate to 5%.
• Court’s Position: The HC asked the government to either provide clean air or reduce GST on purifiers, giving the Centre 48 hours to respond.

• Jurisdiction Issue: The Centre said the GST Council cannot decide if air purifiers are medical devices. That classification lies with the Health Ministry, which was not part of the case.
• Process Complexity: GST rate changes require deliberation by all 30 states and Union Territories in the GST Council. It cannot be rushed or bypassed through a writ petition.
• Pandora’s Box Concern: If air purifiers are reclassified, many other products could demand similar treatment, leading to chaos in tax administration.
• Calculated Plea: The government described the petition as filed in a “calculated manner” to pressure the Council.

• For Consumers: Keeping GST at 18% makes air purifiers less affordable, especially for lower-income households.
• For Policy: A reduction could set precedent for other goods to seek medical classification, complicating GST governance.
• For Governance: Highlights tension between urgent public health needs and rigid tax frameworks.

• Year of Enactment: 1999, by the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
• Purpose: To curb organised crime syndicates and terrorism, especially the Mumbai underworld.
• Introduced by: Gopinath Munde (then Deputy CM of Maharashtra).
• Scope: Applies to the entire state of Maharashtra.

• Organised Crime Definition: Any continuing unlawful activity by a group or syndicate using violence, intimidation, or coercion.
• Punishments:
  • Death penalty or life imprisonment for severe offences.
  • Confiscation of property and wealth linked to crime syndicates.
• Special Courts: Established to ensure speedy trials.
• Relaxed Evidentiary Standards: Allows use of intercepted communications and confessions made to police officers above a certain rank.
• Extended Detention: Longer periods of custody compared to regular criminal law.
• Appeals: Cases can be appealed to higher courts, but trials by special courts take precedence.

• Human Rights Issues: Relaxed evidentiary standards raise concerns about misuse.
• Political Misuse: Allegations of the law being applied selectively.
• Overlap with Other Laws: Similar provisions exist in UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), leading to debates about redundancy.

• Commemoration of Sahibzadas: The day pays tribute to the unwavering faith and bravery of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s younger sons, aged just 9 and 7, who were bricked alive by Mughal authorities for refusing to renounce Sikhism.
• National Recognition: The Government of India officially observes this day annually, highlighting the values of courage, sacrifice, and devotion.
• Inspiration for Youth: It serves as a reminder for children and young people across India to uphold truth, resilience, and moral conviction.

• Moral Compass: Veer Bal Diwas reminds India of the importance of standing firm in one’s beliefs, even under extreme adversity.
• Unity & Equality: The Sahibzadas’ sacrifice is linked to broader themes of social justice, inclusivity, and national unity.
• Youth Empowerment: It encourages young Indians to embody courage, resilience, and service to society.

• Comprehensive Primary Healthcare (CPHC): AAM shifts from selective health services to a universal, holistic model covering maternal health, child care, chronic disease management, mental health, and wellness activities like yoga.
• Scale: India plans to establish 1.5 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs nationwide, integrating Sub-Health Centres (SHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and Urban PHCs (UPHCs).
• Free & Universal: Services are free to all users, ensuring equity and accessibility.
• Technology-enabled: Includes teleconsultation and digital health records to improve coordination and continuity of care.

• Maternal & Child Health: Antenatal care, safe delivery, immunization.
• Preventive Care: Screening for hypertension, diabetes, cancers.
• Wellness Activities: Yoga, lifestyle counseling, health awareness campaigns.
• Drug Distribution: Essential medicines for chronic and acute conditions.
• Telemedicine: Remote consultations with specialists.

• As of late 2025, India has over 1.8 lakh functional SHCs, 1.3 lakh PHCs, and 24,000+ UPHCs integrated into the AAM framework.
• States are rapidly expanding: for example, Uttar Pradesh is opening 147 new urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across 34 districts.

• Accessibility: Brings healthcare closer to rural and urban communities.
• Equity: Free services reduce financial barriers.
• Holistic Approach: Goes beyond curative care to emphasize wellness and prevention.
• Integration: Links with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission for seamless health records.

• Infrastructure gaps: Some centers face delays due to budget allocations (e.g., UP’s expansion stalled until funds were released).
• Human resources: Recruiting and retaining trained staff is critical.
• Awareness: Communities must be educated about the availability of services.

Download Pdf