Daily Current Affairs 2025  

29/12/2025

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CA-29/12/2025

• United States: Tariff disputes, visa restrictions, and immigration issues remain contentious. India is working to stabilize ties while leveraging defense and technology cooperation.
• China: Border tensions persist, but India is cautiously reopening dialogue channels to avoid escalation.
• Russia: Energy and defense ties continue, but India must balance this with Western sensitivities.

• Pakistan & Bangladesh: Political instability and cross-border concerns demand careful engagement.
• Sri Lanka & Nepal: India is reasserting influence through economic aid and connectivity projects.
• Maldives: Strategic competition with China makes India’s outreach critical.

• Trade negotiations are central: India seeks to expand exports while protecting domestic industries.
• Repairing trust with partners after protectionist moves in 2025 is a priority.

• India positions itself as a voice of balance in a fractured global order—championing multipolarity, climate action, and South-South cooperation.
• Participation in forums like G20, BRICS, and Quad reflects India’s dual strategy of alignment and autonomy.

• Little room for missteps: A fractured global order means India must tread carefully.
• Domestic pressures: Balancing economic protectionism with global integration.
• Neighbourhood volatility: Pakistan and Bangladesh’s instability could derail India’s regional outreach.
• Great power competition: Navigating U.S.–China rivalry without losing autonomy.

• Definition: Shadow campaigns are political outreach efforts conducted by non-party actors such as digital marketing firms, influencers, NGOs, or interest groups.
• Key Feature: They mimic official campaigns but remain outside the formal accountability structures of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951.
• Impact: These campaigns often outspend official parties on digital ads and achieve greater visibility, creating an accountability gap.

• Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA): Requires disclosure of campaign expenditure by parties and candidates.
• Election Commission of India (ECI): Independent constitutional body that enforces rules.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC): Provides guidelines for fair campaigning.
• Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC): Mandates pre-certification of political advertisements, including social media.

• Transparency Deficit: Voters cannot easily distinguish between official and shadow messaging.
• Unequal Playing Field: Wealthy interest groups can tilt campaigns by funding shadow ads.
• Regulatory Lag: Rules designed for traditional rallies and print ads struggle to address digital ecosystems.
• Foreign Influence Risk: Lack of oversight opens doors for external actors to shape narratives.

• Expanding disclosure norms to cover third-party spending.
• Platform accountability for political advertising transparency.
• Stronger digital monitoring by the ECI.
• Public awareness campaigns to help voters identify shadow influence.

• Class & Type: Kalvari-class (Scorpène design, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai)
• Commissioned: 15 January 2025
• Pennant Number: S26
• Motto: वीरता वर्चसव विजित (“Courage, Dominance and Victory”)
• Displacement: 1,615 tonnes (surfaced), 1,775 tonnes (submerged)
• Dimensions: Length 67.5 m; Beam 6.2 m; Height 12.3 m
• Propulsion: 4 MTU diesel engines + 360 battery cells; DRDO-developed Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) to be added during mid-life refit
• Speed: 11 knots surfaced, 20 knots submerged
• Range: 6,500 nautical miles surfaced at 8 knots; 550 nautical miles submerged at 4 knots
• Endurance: 50 days
• Test Depth: Classified, but consistent with modern Scorpène-class capabilities

• Stealth & Strike Power: Equipped for anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, vital in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Symbol of Self-Reliance: Built in India under technology transfer from France, showcasing indigenous shipbuilding capacity.
• Operational Readiness: The President’s sortie highlighted confidence in the submarine’s crew and systems.

• Definition: COPD is a group of lung diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. The two main types are chronic bronchitis (inflammation of airways) and emphysema (damage to air sacs in the lungs).
• Global impact: It is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for 3.5 million deaths in 2021.
• Progression: COPD worsens over time, but early diagnosis and treatment can slow progression.

• Smoking: The leading cause, accounting for over 70% of cases in high-income countries.
• Air pollution: Household air pollution (from biomass fuels) is a major risk factor in low- and middle-income countries.
• Occupational exposure: Long-term exposure to dust, fumes, or chemicals.
• Genetics: Rarely, conditions like alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can predispose individuals to COPD.

• Persistent cough with mucus
• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity
• Wheezing (whistling sound while breathing)
• Chest tightness
• Frequent respiratory infections

• Spirometry test: Measures airflow and lung function.
• Chest X-ray or CT scan: Helps detect emphysema and rule out other conditions.
• Blood tests: May check oxygen levels or genetic risk factors.

• Lifestyle changes: Quitting smoking is the most important step.
• Medications: Bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, and combination inhalers.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation: Exercise, nutrition, and breathing techniques.
• Oxygen therapy: For advanced cases with low oxygen levels.
• Surgery: In severe cases, lung volume reduction or transplant.

Proposal	Benefits	Challenges
50% cut in backhaul spectrum fees	Major cost relief for telcos; accelerates 5G & rural expansion	Govt revenue loss; balancing fiscal needs
Interconnection regulation review	Seamless satellite/IP integration; future-ready networks	Complexity of harmonizing legacy & new systems
Digital radio rollout	Better quality, more channels, innovation in broadcasting	High infrastructure costs; adoption curve
Streaming revenue inclusion	Fairer revenue accounting; boosts FM industry transparency	Resistance from broadcasters; monitoring compliance

• Regulation of Telecom Services: Ensures compliance with licensing conditions and fair competition.
• Tariff Regulation: Fixes/reviews tariffs for telecom services, including mobile and broadband.
• Consumer Protection: Issues guidelines on quality of service, mobile number portability, and grievance redressal.
• Broadcasting Oversight: Regulates DTH, cable TV, and OTT platforms under its mandate.
• Policy Advice: Provides recommendations to the Government on spectrum allocation, licensing, and reforms.

• Consumer-Centric: Safeguards users against unfair practices.
• Market Growth: Encourages competition and innovation in telecom.
• Digital India Backbone: Plays a crucial role in expanding broadband and mobile penetration.
• Transparency: Publishes reports, guidelines, and consultation papers for public participation.

• Credit Growth: Small business credit exposure rose 16.2% year-on-year to ₹46 lakh crore. Active loan accounts increased 11.8% to 7.3 crore.
• First-time Borrowers:
  • 23.3% of borrowers were new to credit.
  • 12% borrowed for an enterprise for the first time.
• Borrower Profile: Sole proprietors dominate, forming ~80% of credit exposure and ~90% of borrowers.
• Regional Trends: States like Odisha outpaced national averages, showing strong credit penetration beyond major urban centres.
• Policy Support: Government credit schemes and MSME-focused initiatives have played a pivotal role in sustaining growth.
• Formalisation: The report notes a gradual shift towards formal credit channels, expanding NBFC reach and improving asset quality.

• Financial Inclusion: The rise in first-time borrowers signals deeper integration of small businesses into the formal financial system.
• Employment & Growth: MSMEs, especially micro-enterprises (99% of the sector), are crucial for job creation, rural development, and balanced economic growth.
• Resilience: Despite economic challenges, the sector shows strong resilience with healthy asset quality and diversified lender participation.

• Credit Quality Monitoring: While asset quality is healthy, rapid expansion among first-time borrowers requires careful monitoring.
• Regional Disparities: Some states may lag in credit penetration, risking uneven growth.
• Dependence on Policy Support: Sustained growth hinges on continued government schemes and NBFC participation.

• Launch Year: 2015 under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
• Objective: Improve freight efficiency, connect remote and border areas, and expand national corridors.
• Scale: Over 83,000 km of highways planned, with Phase I covering 34,800 km.
• Budget: Approx. ₹10.63 lakh crore investment.
• Key Focus Areas:

• Economic corridors (26,000 km)
• Inter-corridors (8,000 km)
• Feeder routes (7,500 km)
• Border & coastal roads
• Integration with Sagarmala (port-led development)

• Expansion of Corridors: From 6 national corridors to 50 corridors, ensuring smoother freight movement.
• District Connectivity: Interlinking 550 district headquarters with 4-lane highways (currently ~300).
• Logistics Boost: Connecting 24 logistics parks and multiple multimodal hubs.
• Travel Efficiency: Example – Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor (465 km, 6-lane expressway) will cut travel time from 12 hours to 5 hours

• Economic Growth: Faster freight movement reduces logistics costs, boosting trade and industry.
• Strategic Security: Better border roads strengthen defense preparedness.
• Regional Equity: Connects underserved areas, promoting inclusive development.
• Urban-Rural Integration: Enhances accessibility for villages, towns, and ports.

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