News in Shorts: 27 December 2025

Parkash Utsav

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on his Parkash Utsav, recalling his ideals of courage, justice, righteousness and service.

About Parkash Utsav

• Parkash Utsav marks the birth anniversary of Sikh Gurus, celebrated with devotion, prayers and remembrance of their spiritual and moral teachings.
• Cultural Significance
• • Gurudwaras are illuminated to symbolise Prakash (divine light).
  • Observed through Akhand/Anand Path, Prabhat Feri, and community service (Seva).
  • Reinforces values of equality, sacrifice, and collective responsibility.

About Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji

• Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the tenth and last human Guru of Sikhism, a spiritual leader, warrior, poet, and philosopher.
• Born: 22 December 1666
• Place: Patna Sahib (present-day Bihar)
• Key Contributions
• • Founded the Khalsa (1699): Institutionalised Sikh identity based on courage, discipline, and equality.
  • Champion of Justice: Fought tyranny and upheld religious freedom against oppression.
  • Literary Legacy: Authored significant compositions compiled in the Dasam Granth.
  • Human Dignity & Sacrifice: Inspired supreme sacrifices, including those of his four Sahibzadas, for faith and righteousness.

Veer Bal Diwas

Context: Veer Bal Diwas was observed on 26 December 2025, along with the conferment of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, celebrating courage, sacrifice and excellence among India’s children.

About Veer Bal Diwas

• Veer Bal Diwas is observed annually on December 26 to honour the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, the younger sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
• Historical Significance
  • The Sahibzadas were martyred at Sirhind in 1704, after being killed  for refusing to renounce their faith.
  • Their sacrifice stands as a timeless symbol of moral courage, religious freedom and resistance to oppression.
  • The martyrdom occupies a central place in India’s historical and spiritual consciousness.
• Objectives: To instill values of bravery, integrity and sacrifice among the youth.
• Observed Through: Prayers, kirtans, and educational programmes such as debates, storytelling, cultural performances and youth outreach, especially in schools nationwide.

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP)

• PMRBP is a national-level civilian award conferred annually by the President of India to recognise exceptional achievements of children aged 5–18 years.
• Origins: Started in 1996 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development as National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement.
• Renaming: Renamed to Bal Shakti Puraskar in 2018, then combined with Bal Kalyan Puraskar into the current PMRBP.
• The award honours achievements in six fields (2025 Winners):
  • Bravery (Vyoma Priya, Kamlesh Kumar (Posthumous))
  • Social Service (Shvan Singh, Vansh Tayal)
  • Environment ( Pooja )
  • Sports (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vaka Lakshmi Pragnika)
  • Art & Culture (Esther Lalduhawmi Hnamte)
  • Science & Technology (Arnav Anupriya Maharshi )
• Significance
  • Encourages excellence beyond age and showcases children as role models.
  • Promotes values of innovation, service, perseverance and national pride.

Somaliland

Context: Israel has become the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state, triggering strong opposition from Somalia, the African Union and regional powers.

Background of the Conflict

• Historical Roots: Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of Somalia’s central government and prolonged civil war.
  • Despite maintaining de facto autonomy, Somaliland has lacked international recognition, as Somalia continues to assert sovereignty over the region.
• Current Diplomatic Tensions: Somalia views Israel’s recognition as a violation of its territorial integrity, while the African Union and several regional states fear destabilisation of the Horn of Africa.

About Somaliland

• Situated in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland lies in the northwestern part of Somalia, bordering Djibouti, Ethiopia, the Gulf of Aden, and the rest of Somalia.
• Political and Administrative Features: Functions as a self-declared republic with its own constitution, elected government, parliament and security forces.
  • The capital city is Hargeisa, and the region has enjoyed relative peace and stability compared to southern Somalia.
• Economic and Strategic Significance: Strategically located along key Red Sea–Gulf of Aden maritime routes, vital for global trade.
  • The economy is based on livestock exports, remittances and port services, particularly through the Berbera Port.
• International Status: Not recognised by the United Nations or African Union, both of which uphold Somalia’s unity.
  • Israel’s recognition, linked to the Abraham Accords, may encourage broader diplomatic engagement but risks escalating regional tensions.

Anti-Terrorism Conference 2025

Context: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Anti-Terrorism Conference 2025, emphasising a technology-driven, unified national security grid to counter evolving terror threats.

About Anti-Terrorism Conference 2025

• The Anti-Terrorism Conference 2025 is a two-day national-level forum organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Objective: Strengthening a robust, impenetrable and tech-enabled anti-terrorism framework.
• Focus Areas: Addressing evolving terror tactics involving advanced technology, organised crime and cross-border networks.
  • Shifting from a “need to know” to a “duty to share” approach for intelligence and data.
• Participants: Senior police officers from States and Union Territories.
  • Officials from central investigative and intelligence agencies.
  • Experts from law, forensics and technology domains.
• Key Announcements 
  • Release of the updated NIA Crime Manual.
  • Launch of the Organised Crime Network Database.
  • Introduction of the Lost, Looted and Recovered Weapons Database for uniform investigative use.
  • Operational and Strategic Emphasis
• Mandatory use of NATGRID (National Intelligence Grid) for real-time intelligence sharing across databases.
• Use of NIDAAN (National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-offenders) to identify hidden interconnections among terror and organised crime cases.
• Advocacy for a uniform Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) structure across states to ensure operational consistency.

The conference reflects India’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and promotes a “Team India” approach to national security amid rising global and domestic challenges.

Nigeria

Context: The United States conducted precision airstrikes against Islamic State–linked militants in north-west Nigeria, following a formal request from the Nigerian government.

About the Conflict

• Background; Nigeria has faced a prolonged insurgency from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other militant groups operating mainly in the northern regions.
• These groups exploit weak governance, porous borders and local grievances to carry out attacks on civilians and security forces.
• Current Situation: The recent US airstrikes were undertaken as part of bilateral security cooperation, involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination.
• Nigerian authorities emphasise that militant violence affects both Muslim and Christian communities, reflecting a complex security challenge rather than a purely religious conflict.
  

About Nigeria

• Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and a key political, economic and security actor in West Africa.
• Location
  • Situated in West Africa, Nigeria lies along the Gulf of Guinea.
  • It occupies a strategic position linking the Sahel region with coastal West Africa.
• Bordering Countries: Niger to the north, Chad to the northeast, Cameroon to the east and Benin to the west.
• Physical Features
  • Vegetation ranges from mangrove swamps and tropical rainforests in the south to savanna and semi-arid Sahel landscapes in the north.
  • The Niger and Benue rivers form the country’s major river system.

K-4 Missile

Context: India successfully tested the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from INS Arighat, moving closer to operationalising its sea-based nuclear deterrent.

• INS Arighat is the second indigenously built Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) of the Indian Navy.

About K-4 Missile

• K-4 (Kalam-4) is an indigenously developed, nuclear-capable intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It is deployed on Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) such as INS Arihant and INS Arighat.

Key Features

• Range: Approximately 3,500 kilometres, enabling deep-strike capability from the Indian Ocean Region.
• Platform-specific design: Optimised for launch from Arihant-class SSBNs, ensuring stealth and survivability.
• Operational role: Capable of carrying nuclear warheads, forming the backbone of India’s sea-based deterrence.

Significance: The K-4 missile strengthens India’s nuclear triad by providing a credible and survivable second-strike capability from beneath the sea, reinforcing strategic deterrence.

DOWNLOAD PDF