News of The Day: 5th December 2025

News of The Day – 5th December 2025

SOURCES: The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-1: Modern History)

• About 1927 Mahad Satyagraha.
  • Highlighted caste-based water apartheid.
• Influenced Article 15, 17, 25 of Constitution; 

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications & IT.
• Legal definition of “fake news”.
• Amend IPC/IT Act sections for stricter punishment.
• Regulate digital platforms without curbing free speech.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI).
• Aim: Strengthen drug safety monitoring.\
• About CDSCO.

(GS-2: IR)

• 45th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Bahrain.
• About Sakhir Declaration
  • Emphasises economic integration, joint defence, countering Iranian influence, support for Palestinian statehood.

(GS-2: IR )

• India-Russia to sign “Programme for Economic Cooperation till 2030”.
• Key areas: Energy (nuclear, oil, gas), defence co-production, trade in national currencies, Arctic cooperation, connectivity (Chennai–Vladivostok corridor).
• Target: Bilateral trade $100 billion by 2030 (currently ~$65 bn).

(GS-2:IR)

• 11th edition of Garuda Shakti held in Indonesia.
• Focus: Counter-terrorism, jungle warfare, special operations.

(GS-3:Science & Tech)

• Russia offers Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and VVER-1200 large reactors for localisation and serial production in India.
• Proposal for 3rd & 4th units at Kudankulam with higher Indian component (up to 70%).
• Push for “Make in India” nuclear reactors under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

(GS-3: Economy )

• The Central Excise Bill, 2025 passed to restore excise duty on tobacco products (earlier shifted to GST compensation cess).
• Health cess + National Security cess proposed on tobacco, pan masala, aerated beverages.
• Revenue to be shared with states; essential commodities exempted.

Health, National Security cess will not be levied on essential commodities; revenues to be shared with states: FM 

(GS-3: Economy)

• The Finance Minister clarified new cesses (Health Cess & National Security Cess) only on sin goods (tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks).
• Proceeds to be devolved to states for health infrastructure and security-related expenditure.

NITI Aayog unveils roadmap to build India into a leading quantum-powered economy

(GS-3: Economy)

• NITI Aayog released the “Transforming India into a Leading Quantum-Powered Economy” roadmap in collaboration with IBM.
• Vision: Make India one of the top-3 quantum economies by 2047.
• Four pillars: Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, Quantum Materials.
• About National Quantum Mission

Antarctic ozone hole closes early in 2025, raising hopes for long-term recovery 

(GS-3: Environment)

• 2025 ozone hole over Antarctica closed on 20 November – earliest since 2002.
• Attributed to Montreal Protocol success (phase-out of CFCs).
• Full recovery expected by 2066.

(GS-3:Science and tech)

• IIT-Bombay & NISER study: PET bottle nanoplastics disrupt gut microbiome, damage intestinal cells.
• Calls for stricter regulation of single-use plastics
• About Nano plastics and its impact.

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