Daily Current Affairs for UPSC Ist Dec 2025

  Answer: A

Why has Goa been asked to set up a tiger reserve? 

  Context

• The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court has recommended a phased establishment of a tiger reserve in Goa.
  
  
• The move follows directions of the Bombay High Court and long-standing concerns over tiger protection in the State.
  
  
  

Key Points 

  1. What prompted the CEC’s involvement?

• In July 2023, the Bombay High Court ordered Goa to notify five protected areas as a tiger reserve, including:
  
  
• Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
  
  
• Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
  
  
• Bhagwan Mahavir National Park
  
  
• Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
  
  
• Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
  
  
• The Court also asked the State to prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan and examine the rights of Scheduled Tribes and forest dwellers.
  
  
• The order followed a petition highlighting the poisoning deaths of a tigress and her cubs in 2020 in the Mhadei Sanctuary.
  
  
• In 2016, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had already recommended declaring these areas as a tiger reserve.
  
  
  

2. How did the Goa government respond?

• Goa filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court opposing the tiger reserve.
  
  
• Initially claimed:
  
  
• Only 1,724 households in 33 villages would be affected (~5,000–6,000 people).
  
  
• No resident tiger population in Goa; only “transient” tigers.
  
  
  
• Later submissions contradicted this, as earlier State reports indicated resident tigers, not just visitors.
  
  
• CEC noted that Goa’s forests form a contiguous tiger landscape with Karnataka and Maharashtra.
  
  
  

3. What did the CEC recommend?

• Suggested a phased declaration to minimise displacement and disturbance:
  
  
• Core area: Protected areas directly contiguous with the Kali Tiger Reserve (Karnataka), which already hosts a permanent tiger population.
  
  
• Buffer area: Surrounding wildlife sanctuaries with lower human habitation.
  
  
  
• Core zone to include:
  
  
• Netravali WLS (50 households)
  
  
• Cotigao WLS (41 households)
  
  
• Total core area: ~296 sq. km
  
  
  
• Buffer zone to include minimally inhabited parts of:
  
  
• Kali Tiger Reserve adjoining areas
• Northern Bhagwan Mahavir WLS
• Bhagwan Mahavir National Park
  
  
• Purpose: Improve landscape-level ecological connectivity.
  
  
  

4. Why does it matter?

• Declaring a tiger reserve increases:
  
  
• Funding from the Centre
• Protection measures
• Conservation priority
  
  
• Tiger reserves have core and buffer zones:
• Core: Inviolate areas for tiger conservation; human presence restricted.
  
  
• Buffer: Integration of conservation with local livelihoods; habitation allowed but regulated.
  
  
• Key challenge: Relocation of households, often leading to local resistance.
  
  

Additional Information Tiger Reserves in India

• Declared under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Section 38V.
  
  
• Managed under Project Tiger, launched in 1973.
  
  
• India currently has over 50 tiger reserves, forming part of the world’s largest tiger conservation network.

Crisil raises GDP growth forecast to 7% in FY26 

  Context

• Rating agency Crisil has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 upward from 6.5% to 7%, driven by stronger-than-expected growth in the first half of the financial year.
  
  
  

Key Points 

  1. Reason for Upward Revision

• India recorded 8% growth in the first half of FY26, exceeding expectations.
  
  
• Real GDP growth in Q2 was 8.2%, driven primarily by private consumption.
  
  

2. Impact of Easing Inflation

• Although real growth was high, nominal GDP growth was relatively modest at 8.7%, due to lower inflation.
  
  
• Lower inflation has reduced the difference between real and nominal GDP growth rates.
  
  

3. Key Driver of Growth

• Crisil notes that private consumption—especially urban consumption—has been the main contributor to real GDP performance.
  
  

4. Broader Economic Implications

• Higher GDP growth forecast indicates:
• Continued economic resilience
• Strong domestic demand
• Improved macroeconomic stability due to easing prices
  
  
• However, monitoring rural demand and global economic trends remains important.
  
  

Rajasthan revokes controversial order after drawing flak Context

• The Rajasthan government revoked an order directing all schools in the state to observe December 6 as Shaurya Diwas (Victory Day), marking the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.
  
  
• The order faced strong opposition from Muslim groups and the Opposition parties, leading to its recall.
  
  
  

Key Points

1. Details of the Controversial Order

• Released via an official WhatsApp group, the order instructed all schools to commemorate December 6 as Shaurya Diwas.
  
  
• Schools were directed to organize cultural programs aimed at promoting patriotism.
  
  
• Proposed activities included:
  
  
• Essay competitions on Indian cultural pride, the Ram Mandir movement, and youth’s role in nation-building.
  
  
• Painting contests focused on Ayodhya Ram Mandir and Indian warriors.
  
  
• Exhibitions on the Ram temple and Indian traditions.
  
  
  

2. Reasons for Recall

• The order was met with backlash from various sections of society, particularly Muslim groups and Opposition parties.
  
  
• The government cited “unavoidable circumstances” as the reason for withdrawing the directive.
  
  
• Director of the Board of Secondary Education, Sitaram Jat, clarified that no official directions were issued to the schools.
  
  
  

3. Reactions to the Order

• Opposition parties accused the government of trying to politicize education and undermine secularism.
  
  
• The directive’s association with the Babri Masjid demolition led to tensions, especially in the context of religious sensitivity in the state.
  
  
  

4. Clarification from the Government

• The government retracted the order after it stirred significant controversy.
  
  
• It stated that the order would not be enforced in schools, dispelling rumors circulating via the WhatsApp group.
  
  
  

Additional Information Shaurya Diwas and Babri Masjid

• December 6 marks the day when the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by a large group of Hindu activists, sparking widespread communal tensions.
  
  
• The demolition led to significant political and social implications across the country, particularly impacting Hindu-Muslim relations.
  
  
  

Centre’s citizenship scrutiny power is ‘limited’, EC says 

  Context

• The Election Commission (EC) of India has clarified its authority over citizenship scrutiny for electoral purposes, asserting that its powers are limited to assessing citizenship for voter registration in the electoral rolls, rather than determining the status of citizenship itself.
  
  
• The EC dismissed claims from the Opposition regarding exclusive Union government powers in citizenship scrutiny.
  
  
  

Key Points 

  1. Opposition's Claim and EC’s Response

• Opposition's Argument: The Opposition parties argued that only the Union government had the authority to scrutinize citizenship, particularly in the case of voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship.
  
  
• EC’s Response: The Election Commission asserted that its authority to assess citizenship is limited to reviewing electoral rolls under the Representation of the People Act (ROPA), 1950, and that it does not extend to determining the status of citizenship itself.
  
  
• The EC emphasized that the Central government’s authority over citizenship is restricted to determining when and how an Indian citizen acquires foreign citizenship, as per Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
  
  
  

2. Citizenship Scrutiny and the SIR (Special Intensive Revision)

• SIR Exercise: The EC clarified that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is not a National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise but a voter registration process to ensure the purity of electoral rolls.
  
  
• It rejected claims that the SIR was being misused for citizenship screening. The SIR exercise was meant to ensure that only Indian citizens are included in the electoral rolls, and that proof of citizenship was only sought for the purpose of voter registration under Article 326 of the Constitution.
  
  
  

3. The EC’s Constitutional Authority

• Article 324: The EC asserted its power to oversee elections and maintain electoral rolls, which includes the authority to scrutinize the citizenship of voters, directly drawn from Article 324 of the Constitution.
  
  
• The Representation of the People Act (ROPA), 1950 lays down that voters must be Indian citizens and ordinarily resident in a constituency. It also stipulates that non-citizens cannot be included in the electoral rolls.
  
  
  

4. Implementation of the SIR Process

• The SIR process was a voluntary and cooperative exercise, where citizens were required to sign their pre-filled forms.
  
  
• The commission rejected allegations that the process shifted the burden of verification onto citizens, saying that officials were responsible for verifying the eligibility of voters.
  
  
  

Additional Information Citizenship and the Election Commission

• Citizenship Scrutiny: The EC’s power to assess citizenship is confined to ensuring the integrity of voter registration and electoral processes, as mandated under Article 324 and ROPA.
  
  
• The National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) are separate exercises, which involve different legal frameworks and authorities.
  
  
  

UPSC Prelims Practice Question 

1. The Election Commission has the authority to determine the status of citizenship in India.

2. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is a part of the process to ensure the purity of the electoral rolls.

3. The SIR exercise was aimed at creating a National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 2 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3 

  Answer: A Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Election Commission does not have the authority to determine the status of citizenship.
  
  
• Statement 2 is correct: The SIR exercise is aimed at ensuring purity of electoral rolls.
  
  
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The SIR is not a NRC process but related to voter registration.

National Mission for Mentoring 

  Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Education, Governance & Teacher Development Context

• The UGC has recently asked all Higher Educational Institutions to nominate experienced faculty as mentors under the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM).
  
  
• This initiative operationalises NEP 2020’s focus on strengthening teacher development through structured mentoring.
  
  
  

Key Points

• Nodal Ministry: Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education.
  
  
• Policy Alignment: Based on NEP 2020, emphasising continuous professional development of teachers.
  
  
• Objective: Creates a platform where Mentors guide Mentee teachers by sharing knowledge, skills and classroom expertise.
  
  
• Launch: Started on 29 July 2022 as a pilot in 30 Central Schools (15 KVs, 10 JNVs, 5 CBSE schools).
  
  
• Aim: Builds a supportive mentoring ecosystem to enhance teacher effectiveness and promote overall professional growth.
  
  
• Design Agency: NCTE is responsible for developing and designing the mission’s modalities.
  
  
• NMM – The Blue Book: NCTE has released a detailed framework and implementation roadmap for the mission.
  
  
• Stakeholders:
  
  
• Mentor – expert guiding teachers
  
  
• Mentee – teacher receiving mentorship
  
  
• Nodal officers/administration – coordinating the process
  
  
  
• Pilot Implementation: Engaged 60 mentors, including Padma Awardees, for mentoring in selected central schools.
  
  
• Capacity Building: Workshops and seminars are organised to train Master Mentors, who further train other mentors.
  
  
• Incentives: Participation is voluntary, but the mission offers certificates, performance credits and recognition to encourage engagement.
  
  
• Implementation Support: A digital platform is provided for conducting mentoring sessions across locations.
  
  
  

Source: The Hindu

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission

Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health, Regulatory Bodies & Drug Standards Context

• The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has signed three MoUs with the Nagaland Medical Council, Nagaland State Drugs Control Administration (NSDCA) and the Nagaland State Pharmacy Council.
  
  
• The collaboration aims to strengthen drug quality standards and promote safe, effective medicines in the state.
  
  
  

Key Points

• Status: IPC is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
  
  
• Mandate: Established to set standards for drugs across India to ensure safety, quality and efficacy.
  
  
• Core Function: Regularly updates drug standards, especially for medicines used in treating prevalent diseases.
  
  
• Official Publications: Issues the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP), which contains new and updated monographs to improve medicine quality.
  
  
• Generic Promotion: Publishes the National Formulary of India to encourage the rational use of generic medicines.
  
  
• Standards Prescribed: Sets norms for identity, purity and strength of drugs essential for human and animal health.
  
  
• Reference Substances: Provides IP Reference Substances (IPRS), used as a standard “fingerprint” to verify identity and purity of drugs as per IP.
  
  
• Pharmacopoeia Meaning: It is an official compendium of drug quality standards for medicines imported, manufactured, stocked or distributed in India.
  
  
  

Source: PIB

National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI)

Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Environment, Biodiversity & Climate Change Context

• India will soon inaugurate the National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI) in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to strengthen marine conservation.
  
  
• The institute aims to expand scientific understanding of coral ecosystems and improve national capacity for climate resilience.
  
  
  

Key Points

• Location & Cost: Being set up at Chidiyatapu, South Andaman with an estimated cost of ₹120 crore.
  
  
• Nodal Role: Will function as the national hub for coral reef research, monitoring and ecosystem management.
  
  
• Supervising Ministry: Operated under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  
  
• Research Focus: Provides advanced facilities for marine biodiversity studies, reef restoration, and climate impact assessment.
  
  
• Climate Resilience: Coral reefs act as natural wave barriers, reducing coastal storm impacts; strengthening reefs is vital in the context of sea-level rise and warming oceans.
  
  
• Public Engagement: The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) will use QR codes in the Sri Vijay Puram museum for easy digital access to species information.
  
  
  
• Biodiversity Significance: Andaman & Nicobar Islands are one of India’s four biodiversity hotspots, home to diverse indigenous and migratory species.
  
  
• Citizen Involvement: Public participation in biodiversity documentation, including naming newly discovered species, is being actively encouraged.
  
  
  

Source: The Hindu

World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 – Baku 

  Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – International Relations, ICT & Global Governance Context

• The World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) 2025 concluded in Baku with strong global participation.
  
  
• The conference, held every four years, finalised the international strategic roadmap for global telecom development.
  
  
  

Key Points

• Scale of Participation: Over 2,300 delegates, including ministers, policymakers and industry leaders, attended the conference.
  
  
• India’s Representation: India participated at a high level, led by the Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
  
  
• Leadership Roles: India served as Conference Vice-Chair and took lead roles in coordination, innovation and study group activities.
  
  
• Global Engagement: India held multiple bilateral meetings and ministerial dialogues, reinforcing digital partnerships worldwide.
  
  
• Focus on Connectivity: India highlighted its vision of universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation.
  
  
• Resolution 85: India pushed to extend smart sustainable city frameworks to rural areas, promoting inclusive digital growth.
  
  
• Resolutions 89 & 90: Strengthened innovation ecosystems, support for local innovators, and development of emerging technologies.
  
  
  
• Digital Inclusion: India backed global actions to expand meaningful connectivity, capacity-building and public–private collaboration.
  
  
  

Source: The Hindu

Prerona Scheme – Assam

Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Education, Social Welfare & Government Schemes 

  Context

• Assam has launched a monthly financial support initiative for Class 10 students to help them prepare for board examinations with reduced financial stress.
  
  
• The scheme aims to improve academic focus and ensure essential study needs during the pre-exam period.
  
  
  

Key Points

• Benefit Amount: Provides ₹300 per month to every Class 10 student in Assam until the completion of board exams.
  
  
• Purpose: Helps students buy study materials and maintain minimum nutrition during preparation.
  
  
• Universal Coverage: Applies to all students appearing for the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) exam under the state board.
  
  
• CBSE Inclusion: Also covers Assam residents studying in CBSE-affiliated Adarsha Vidyalayas in Class 10.
  
  
• No Income Criteria: Assistance is universal, ensuring equal financial support for all eligible learners.
  
  
• Reducing Inequality: Aims to support students from low-income households, reducing educational disparities.
  
  
• Reducing Dropouts: Expected outcomes include lower dropout rates, better exam performance, and higher enrolment in government/provincialised schools.
  
  
• Learning Continuity: Designed to ensure uninterrupted learning by easing financial burdens during a demanding academic phase.
  
  
  

Source: The Hindu

Asia Power Index 2025 

  Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – International Relations & Global Indices Context

• India has ranked third in the Asia Power Index 2025, behind the United States and China.
  
  
• The Lowy Institute report highlights India’s rising regional influence driven by stronger economic performance, military capability and diplomatic outreach.
  
  
  

Key Points

• Publishing Body: Released by Lowy Institute, Australia.
  
  
• Coverage: The 7th edition evaluates 27 countries/territories using 131 indicators across eight key areas.
  
  
• Key Areas Assessed: Military Capability, Economic Capability, Defence Networks, Diplomatic Influence, Cultural Influence, Resilience and Future Resources.
  
  
• India’s Rank: India placed 3rd, marking its highest position so far in the Index.
  
  
• Score: Secured 40/100, a 2% improvement from previous years.
  
  
• Category Upgrade: India is classified asa “major power” for the first time.
  
  
• Factors Behind Rise: Strong post-pandemic economic recovery, expanding geopolitical relevance, improved connectivity, leverage, and technology capacity.
  
  
• Global Comparison:
  
  
• US: Ranks 1st with a score of 81.7.
  
  
• China: Ranks 2nd with 73.7, continuing to narrow the gap with the US.
  
  
• Regional Comparison: India stays far ahead of peers in South and Southeast Asia, though the gap with China remains significant.
  
  
• Other Shifts: Russia shows renewed momentum due to closer ties with China and North Korea; Japan, Australia and ASEAN nations show mixed changes.
  
  
  

Source: The Hindu