News of The Day: 10th December 2025

News of The Day – 10th 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 C. Rajagopalachari
• Rajaji’s (1878-1972) Contributions: Freedom fighter, last Governor-General, Home Minister post-Patel.

(GS-1: Art and Culture)

• About Charaichung Festival
• Organized by Majuli Sahitya/locals
• About Majuli: Key bird sanctuary; appeals for restoration (deteriorating habitat)

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• Reimagining mental health care as pursuit of dignity and disability justice, centering equity, inclusion, and addressing structural injustices like deprivation.. 
• Key Provision Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (rights to dignity, autonomy)
• Highlights stigma (50% attributed to weakness), dropout rates, economic loss ($1T by 2030); urges anti-stigma campaigns, 60% literacy in institutions by 2027.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• National Convention on Health Rights 
• Focus: Frontline workers’ justice (wages, security post-COVID); gender/social justice for Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, LGBTQ+, disabled; regulatory frameworks (rate standardisation, patient rights charter).
• Vision: Affirm health as fundamental right via robust public systems; embed inclusion/non-discrimination.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• SC mandates 30% women reservation in State Bar Councils (20% election, 10% co-option for 2025); applies to office-bearers
• Rules deemed amended under Advocates Act, 1961.
• BCI agrees in principle.

• About BCI

(GS 2: IR)

• • UHC Global Monitoring Report 2025.
  • Revisions: SDG 3.8.1 (SCI: infectious gains, RMNCH slowest); 3.8.2 (hardship: 0.37% annual drop pre-2015, 0.28% post).
• India: Progress masked inequalities.

(GS-2: IR)

• 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
• Theme “Restoring balance: Science/practice of well-being”.
• Builds on 2023 Gandhinagar (90+ countries); advances WHO 10-yr strategy (WHA May 2025); 5,000 virtual/700 in-person delegates, 20+ ministers.

(GS-3: Economy)

• IMF June 2025 report: UPI largest FPS by volume (129.3B transactions June 2025, vs Brazil 37.4B+others); ACI 2024: 49% global RTP share.
• Driven by interoperability, digital infra (56.86 cr QR codes, 6.5 cr merchants); initiatives: Low-value BHIM-UPI incentives, PIDF (5.45 cr touchpoints tier-3-6).
• Nov 2025: 19B transactions (Rs 24.58L cr); boosts inclusion, export competitiveness.

(GS-3: Economy)

• New Trump Tariffs : Eyes tariffs on Indian rice “dumping” (3% India’s exports, but 26% US imports); atop 50-53% existing duties.
• Impact: Hurts US consumers (flavor unique, no substitute); politics over logic; India: Minimal hit, West Asia dominant buyer.

(GS-3: Science and Tech)

• Aditya-L1 +6 US satellites (Wind, ACE etc.) decode May 2024 “Gannon’s storm” (strongest in 20+ yrs): CME collision caused magnetic reconnection (field reversal), amplifying impact (1.3M km zone).
• Published Astrophysical Journal Letters; particles sped up, confirming event; first multi-vantage study.
• Implications: Better space weather prediction; Aditya-L1’s L1 position key for early warnings.

(GS-3: Science and Tech)

• About Biostimulants
• Benefits: 20% yield increase, soil restoration; seaweed-based lead (41%); market $315M (CAGR 16.49%); aligns with organic farming (5.4M ha, 2.9M MT production).
• Challenges: Awareness, R&D; opportunities in eco-exports, climate-resilient tech.

(GS-3: Science and Tech)

• Neurotechnology (tools interfacing brain: EEG, BCI, neural stimulation) aids mental health (60% remission in myeloma via BCMA antibodies; reduces med dependence); intersects biotech, AI, engineering—India’s strengths.
• Benefits: Precision care (e.g., teclistamab for relapsed myeloma); economic hub via genomic diversity, expertise; UNESCO ethics framework (Nov 2025) protects neurorights (mental privacy, dignity).
• India: Academic/private growth; investments $8.6B global; challenges: Data ethics, equity; potential in defense, education.

(GS-3: Environment)

• About Senna spectabilis 
  • Invasive tree (Fabaceae, native Americas) in Western Ghats/Nilgiris: Fast-growing, yellow flowers; chokes natives, reduces biodiversity/grass cover; spread via mammals.
• TN eradication drive.
• Global: Overtakes forests; SDMs predict spread in Africa/SE Asia
• Management: Uproot roots, community-led (Kerala cleared 383 acres).

(GS-3: Environment)

• About Orangutans
• Deforestation (mining/logging) worsened impact; pre-flood habitat loss; WWF: 119,000 orangutans total (Indonesia/Malaysia).
• Calls: Urgent protection; locals fear extinction without aid; ties to broader biodiversity crisis.