Indian Polity
Karnataka Hate Speech Bill:
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- First state to draft a dedicated Hate Speech & Hate Crimes law in India.
- Defines hate speech based on religion, caste, race, language, gender, sexual orientation, disability, place of birth/residence.
- Punishment:
- First offence: 1–7 years jail + fine
- Repeat offence: 2–10 years jail + higher fine.
- Offences are cognisable and non-bailable.
- Allows blocking/removal of online hate content.
- Introduces collective liability for organisations.
- Concern: Possible misuse vs. Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech).
(IE)
Zero Hour:
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- A period in Parliament immediately after Question Hour for raising urgent matters without prior notice.
- Purpose: Allows MPs to bring unforeseen or emergency issues to the attention of the government.
- Duration: Not fixed; controlled by Speaker/Chairman.
- Key Features:
- No prior notice required.
- Only MPs can raise issues, not ministers.
- Often used for political, social, or local constituency issues.
- Significance: Enhances accountability and responsiveness of the executive; complements Question Hour.
(TH)
International Developments
International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS):
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- India Post and JSC Russia Post have signed a bilateral agreement for International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS).
- The ITPS will facilitate cross‑border e‑commerce logistics between India and Russia, offering cost‑effective, tracked, reliable delivery for low‑value consignments.
- The service will include electronic advance data transmission, end-to-end tracking, delivery confirmation, and smoother customs clearance for cross-border parcels.
- The agreement is expected to benefit MSMEs, artisans, startups and rural entrepreneurs, especially from Tier‑2/3 cities, by improving their access to Russian markets at competitive logistic rates.
- Over 1,013 “Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs)” have been set up across the country, these mailbox/parcel‑export points will help small exporters use the postal channel for international shipments.
(PIB)
Economy
The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025:
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- The Bill proposes to levy a special excise-cess on specified goods (initially pan masala), based on manufacturing capacity or process rather than unit sale, a capacity-based monthly levy.
- The cess applies to any entity owning/operating/controlling machinery or processes involved in manufacture, regardless of existing tax status.
- The cess amount is predetermined: for machine-based production (at specified capacity), and a flat rate for manual processing.
- Funds collected will be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India and earmarked for National Security and Public Health expenditure.
- The Bill lays down a comprehensive legal framework: registration, self-declaration of machinery/processes, monthly returns & payments, audits/inspections, penalties (including confiscation, prosecution), and multi-tier appeals mechanism.
- The government retains flexibility to extend the cess to additional goods or increase the levy (up to 2 times) in “public interest”, or grant exemptions, as needed.
(PIB+TH)
Geography, Mapping, Ecology & Environment
Jaguar Sighting in Arizona:
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- Context: A jaguar (Panthera onca) was recently spotted in southern Arizona, 5th confirmed sighting in 15 years.
- Indicates northward dispersal from Mexico and functioning transboundary wildlife corridors.
- No established breeding population in the USA; sightings are mostly of dispersing males.
- IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened (NT)
- CITES status: Appendix I (highest level of international trade protection).
- Major threats: habitat loss/fragmentation, border infrastructure, poaching, climate change and drought.
Yellow hour:
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- Between China (Shandong Peninsula) and the Korean Peninsula; part of the Western Pacific Ocean.
- Boundaries: Connects to the East China Sea in the south and Bohai Sea in the north.
- Physical Features: Shallow continental shelf; mudflats and tidal flats prominent.
- Economic Importance:
- Rich fisheries (crabs, shellfish).
- Shipping and trade routes for China, South Korea, and North Korea.
- Environmental Concerns: Coastal land reclamation, overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss affecting migratory birds.
- Strategic Importance: Vital for naval operations, trade security, and regional geopolitics in East Asia.
(TH)
Kala Kapas:
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- Indigenous Indian variety of cotton with black seeds, also called Desi cotton.
- Scientific Name: Gossypium arboreum (mainly) or local variants.
- Cultivation: Grown in rainfed regions of India; tolerant to drought and local pests.
- Uses: Traditional handloom and textile industry; preferred for coarse cotton fabrics.
- Significance:
- Supports rural livelihoods and handicraft economy.
- Important for genetic diversity of cotton for breeding programs.
(TH)
Science & Technology
DRDO’s new rocket-sled ejection:
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- DRDO conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system on 2 December 2025, at its Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility, under the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh.
- The test used the fore-body of the indigenous LCA Tejas, propelled to a controlled speed of 800 km/h via a dual-sled system with multiple rocket motors to simulate flight-like aerodynamic conditions.
- A dummy pilot (instrumented anthropomorphic test dummy) was used to simulate ejection: collecting data on loads, accelerations, and stresses.
- The test validated canopy severance, precise ejection-seat sequencing, and full aircrew recovery under realistic high-speed conditions.
(IE)
India International Science Festival (IISF), 2025:
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- IISF 2025 will be held from 6–9 December 2025 at Panchkula, Haryana.
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- The theme: “Vigyan Se Samruddhi: for Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, emphasising science led self-reliance and innovation.
- The festival follows the broader vision of “Innovation. Aatmanirbharta. India for Global Good”, which promotes the use of research, technology and innovation to support national priorities and contribute to global progress.
- Five broad thematic focus areas:
- Science, Technology & Ecology of Northwest India & the Himalayas.
- Science for Society & Education.
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat through Science & Technology
- Biotechnology & Bio economy
- Integration of Traditional Knowledge with Modern Science.
- The festival will bring together a wide range of stakeholders, scientists, researchers, students, startups, industry leaders, policy makers, science communicators, and more, making it a multi stakeholder platform.
(PIB)
Defence & Security
DRDO has handed over seven indigenously developed defence technologies to the three Services:
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- DRDO has handed over seven indigenously developed defence technologies to the three Services, under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme.
- The technologies include:
- High Voltage Power Supply for airborne self protection jammers
- Tide efficient gangway for naval jetties
- Advanced VLF HF switching matrix systems
- VLF loop aerials for underwater platforms
- Indigenous water jet propulsion system for fast interceptor craft
- A process to recover lithium precursors from used lithium-ion batteries
- Long-life seawater battery system for underwater sensing and surveillance.
- Along with the hand over, DRDO also approved 12 new projects under TDF covering strategic, aerospace, naval and electronic warfare technologies, underscoring ongoing push for import substitution and critical technology development.
(PIB)
INNO-YODDHA 2025:
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- Inno Yoddha is the Indian Army’s flagship idea & innovation competition, aimed at encouraging in house innovations from soldiers to address real operational, logistics, and training challenges.
- In the 2025 edition, the Army received a record 89 innovations; out of these, 32 innovations were selected for strengthening combat, logistics and training capabilities.
- Over the past five years, the Inno Yoddha ecosystem has delivered:
- 117 ideas/innovations selected overall, of which 47 have been productised, 9 are under prototype evaluation.
- 30 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) filed, indicating legal protection for innovations developed by soldiers.
- Transfer of Technology (ToT) to industry for five innovations — including recently (on 05 Dec 2025) technologies named: Exploder, Agniastra, Vidyut Rakshak, Baaz Attack Dronee, and a Multipurpose Octacopter
(PIB)
Exercise Harimau Shakti 2025:
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- 5th edition of Exercise Harimau Shakti commenced on 5 December 2025 at the Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.
- The Indian contingent is primarily from the Dogra Regiment; the Malaysian contingent from the 25th Battalion of the Royal Malaysian Army.
- The exercise runs till 18 December 2025.
- Objectives & Operational Scope:
- Aim: To rehearse sub-conventional operations under a UN mandate (Chapter VII), especially counter terrorist operations.
- Activities include tactical drills like cordon and search, “search and destroy” missions, heliborne operations, securing helipads, casualty evacuation, combat reflex shooting, martial-arts routines, and joint drills for interoperability.
- The exercise also includes exchange of practices, sharing tactical doctrines and best practices, enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.
(PIB)
Terms in news
Digital constitutionalism:
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- Digital constitutionalism signifies the extension of constitutional principles such as liberty, dignity, equality including non-arbitrariness, accountability and rule of law in the digital space.
(TH)
Captions and Quotations
Polity:
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- The Supreme Court, in a judgment, advised governments to embrace simplicity in administration, saying excessive rules and laws add to the burdens of ordinary citizens and “disturb the peace of mind”.
(TH)
Important data/facts
Unified Payment Interface (UPI):
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- It is currently accepted in eight countries — Bhutan, Singapore, Qatar, Mauritius, Nepal, UAE, Sri Lanka and France. Acceptability of India’s digital payment network overseas enables Indian tourists to make UPI payments for transactions abroad.
(TH)
Miscellaneous
Nitish Kumar finds a place in World Book of Records:
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- Of becoming the first Indian to hold the post of the Chief Minister for 10 times.
(TH)
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