News of The Day: 19th December 2025

News of The Day – 19th December 2025

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

(with Syllabus Relevance)

• Evolution of Buddhist stupas,
• About Piprahwa relics controversy
• Stupas as sites of power in Buddhism across Asia.

(GS-1: Modern History)

• About Nupi Lan Day
  • Commemorates 1939 women’s agitation in Manipur against colonial economic policies.
• Symbolises women’s resistance

• About the Supreme Court Collegium.
• Role in appointment of HC Chief Justices and transfer of HC Judges.
• About the Chief Justice of the High court (HC).

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• Who are Intersex individuals ?
• Lack of safeguards for intersex children.
• SC recommendations:
• Ban on non-consensual surgeries, Census inclusion, and distinct recognition from transgender category.
• Need to distinguish sex (biological) from gender identity
• Addresses medical interventions and civil registration gaps.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• UNESCO’s 2025 State of Education Report for India (‘Bhasha Matters’) advocates a national mission for mother-tongue/multilingual education.
• Recommends state-level policies, teacher training, materials in local languages.
• Emphasises benefits for equity, learning outcomes, and preserving linguistic diversity; aligns with NEP 2020.

(GS-2: IR)

• About PM Modi visit to Oman
  • Conferred with Oman’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Oman.
• About India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
• Marks 70 years of diplomatic relations; strengthens strategic partnership in the Gulf region.

(GS-2:IR)

• IDF Diabetes Atlas 11th edition:
  • 589 million adults with diabetes in 2024, projected ~850-900 million by 2050.
  • India second highest (~90 million now)
• Driven by urbanisation, aging
• calls for stronger prevention, detection efforts.

(GS-3: Economy)

• About Securities Markets Code Bill
• Consolidates SEBI Act 1992, Depositories Act 1996, and Securities Contracts Act 1956 into a single principle-based framework.
• Aims to simplify regulations, reduce compliance burden, strengthen SEBI governance; referred to Standing Committee.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• About WADA 2024 report
• India tops doping violations for third year with 260 positives from 7,113 samples (3.6% positivity).
• Track & field (76 cases) worst affected

• About Doping and its testing.

(GS-3: Environment)

• Study shows dehorning reduced poaching by up to 78% in Greater Kruger reserves (2017-2023).
• Cost-effective compared to patrols/surveillance.
• About Rhinos.

(GS-3: Environment)

• About the GOBARDHAN scheme.
• Gujarat advancing GOBARDHAN (waste-to-wealth) with biogas plants for clean energy, organic manure. 
• Promotes sanitation, rural employment, energy security.