UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 December 2025

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 December 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 1/3:

• Lightning an understated disaster in India

Lightning an understated disaster in India

GS Paper 3:

• Aravalli Hills Controversy

Aravalli Hills Controversy

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

• Delay in Consumer Justice Delivery in India

Delay in Consumer Justice Delivery in India

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

• Haka Dance

Haka Dance

• Akash-NG Missile System

Akash-NG Missile System

• Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

• China files WTO complaint against India

China files WTO complaint against India

• India’s First PPP-Model Medical Colleges

India’s First PPP-Model Medical Colleges

Mapping:

• Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP)

Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP)

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 December 2025

GS Paper 1/3:

Lightning an understated disaster in India

Source: DTE

Subject: Disaster Management & Geography

Context: Experts at the 9th National Lightning Conference warned that lightning remains India’s deadliest yet underestimated natural disaster, despite a sharp rise in strikes due to climate change.

About Lightning an understated disaster in India:

What it is?

• Lightning is a rapid electrostatic discharge between clouds or between cloud and ground, accompanied by thunderstorms, intense rainfall, winds and sometimes hail. It is sudden, highly localised and instantly lethal, making mitigation challenging compared to slow-onset disasters.

Trends in India:

• Lightning is the single largest killer natural hazard in India, causing over 2,000 deaths annually.

• India has witnessed a ~400% rise in lightning strikes (2019–2025), with a 7–14% annual increase linked to warming.

• New hotspots have emerged in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi, alongside persistent vulnerability in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha.

Why lightning remains ignored as a disaster?

• Dispersed nature: Lightning fatalities occur as scattered, single-event incidents across villages and fields, preventing media visibility and policy recognition that usually follows large, concentrated disasters.

• Low visibility of damage: Unlike floods or cyclones, lightning rarely leaves large-scale structural destruction, leading to underestimation of its cumulative human and economic toll.

• Data and research gaps: Inadequate ground-based sensors, electric-field meters and testing laboratories limit precise mapping, forecasting and scientific understanding of lightning behaviour.

• Last-mile communication failures: Although forecasts exist, warnings often fail to trigger timely behavioural change at the village level due to language, access and institutional gaps.

• Perception bias: Lightning is widely viewed as an unavoidable “act of nature” rather than a disaster that can be mitigated through science, planning and awareness.

Implications of rising lightning risk:

• Human loss: Farmers, labourers, fishermen and pastoral communities working outdoors face disproportionate mortality, making lightning a livelihood-linked hazard.

• Economic damage: Lightning damages crops, livestock, power lines, telecom towers and buildings, imposing recurring but underreported economic losses.

• Climate linkage: Rising atmospheric electricity correlates with cloudbursts, extreme rainfall and floods, amplifying compound climate risks.

• Regional vulnerability: Semi-arid, plateau and hilly regions with limited shelters and warning infrastructure face increasing exposure and fatalities.

NDMA guidelines and initiatives on lightning

• Early warning systems: IMD provides location-specific lightning forecasts up to 48 hours through Damini, Mausam and Sachet apps for timely alerts.

• Public advisories: NDMA has issued standardised do’s and don’ts to reduce risky behaviour during thunderstorms and lightning events.

• Community-centric approach: Training programmes for disaster managers, volunteers and panchayats aim to convert warnings into early action.

• Lightning Resilient India Campaign: Focuses on nationwide awareness, education, capacity-building and local mitigation strategies.

• Mitigation Project on Lightning Safety (MPLS): Targets high-risk states and districts with risk mapping, electric-field meters, alert poles and lightning protection in schools and anganwadis.

Why lightning must be formally recognised as a disaster?

• Highest mortality hazard: Lightning kills more people annually than any other natural hazard in India, warranting priority disaster status.

• Climate change amplifier: Rising temperatures directly increase lightning frequency, making future risks systemic rather than episodic.

• Preventable deaths: Evidence shows that early warnings combined with behavioural change can sharply reduce fatalities.

• Localised governance need: Formal recognition enables funding, district-level action plans and Gram Panchayat integration.

• Disaster risk reduction alignment: Inclusion aligns India’s policy framework with the Sendai Framework’s emphasis on early warning and resilience.

Conclusion:

Lightning is no longer a sporadic weather hazard but a climate-driven, nationwide disaster with severe human costs. Treating it as a mainstream disaster can unlock better science, funding and local preparedness. Integrating lightning risk into disaster management plans is essential to save lives in a warming India.

Q. Evaluate the effectiveness of India’s strategies to mitigate the impact of lightning strikes, in the context of disaster management. (150 words)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 December 2025 GS Paper 3:

Aravalli Hills Controversy

Source: FL

Subject: Environment

Context: The Supreme Court has approved a new height-based definition of the Aravalli Hills, triggering nationwide concern as environmentalists warn it may deregulate large ecologically sensitive areas beyond mining.

• The move has sparked protests under the “Save Aravalli” campaign, citing long-term ecological risks.

About Aravalli Hills Controversy:

What are the Aravalli Hills?

• The Aravalli range is one of the oldest mountain systems in the world (≈3.2 billion years old), stretching ~650–700 km from Delhi to Gujarat.

• It acts as the ecological backbone of north-west India, preventing desertification, aiding groundwater recharge, moderating climate, and supporting rich biodiversity.

Key features of the Aravallis:

• Natural climatic barrier: Acts as a shield preventing the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert, reducing desertification in Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi-NCR.

• Hydrological significance: Serves as the source and recharge zone for rivers such as Chambal, Sabarmati and Luni, sustaining agriculture and drinking water security.

• Wildlife corridors: Forms ecological linkages between protected areas like Sariska and Ranthambhore, crucial for tiger and wildlife movement.

• Pollution buffer: Acts as the green lungs of North India, moderating heat, trapping dust, and reducing air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

What is the issue?

• New height-based definition: The Centre has defined Aravalli Hills as landforms rising ≥100 metres above local relief, narrowing their legal recognition.

• Shift from scientific mapping: This replaces the FSI’s 3-degree slope method, which recognised low-height but ecologically continuous hill systems.

• Large-scale exclusion risk: Many low-elevation Aravalli tracts, especially in Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan, may lose protection.

• Beyond mining concerns: Even if mining is restricted, derecognition can allow construction, urbanisation and real estate expansion.

• Long-term ecological impact: Experts warn of increased water stress, heat waves, dust storms and biodiversity loss due to fragmented protection.

Supreme Court judgment on Aravalli Hills:

• In its November 20, 2025 judgment, the Supreme Court accepted the Centre-led committee’s definition.

• It held that: Only hills ≥100 m above local relief are Aravalli Hills. Two such hills within 500 m constitute an Aravalli range. Fresh mining leases are temporarily barred pending detailed studies.

• Only hills ≥100 m above local relief are Aravalli Hills.

• Two such hills within 500 m constitute an Aravalli range.

• Fresh mining leases are temporarily barred pending detailed studies.

• The Court prioritised administrative uniformity and “sustainable mining”, over landscape-level ecological continuity.

Challenges associated:

• Massive ecological exclusion: By relying on a narrow height-based benchmark, the new definition risks removing legal protection from vast stretches of low-lying Aravalli systems that function as one continuous ecological landscape.

• Threat beyond mining: Even if mining is restricted, derecognised Aravalli tracts become vulnerable to construction, highways and real estate expansion, especially in the rapidly urbanising Delhi–NCR region.

• Weak precautionary principle: Prioritising avoidance of “over-inclusion” underestimates cumulative environmental harm, ignoring how small, fragmented interventions can irreversibly damage fragile hill ecosystems.

• Limited public participation: The redefinition process lacked meaningful consultation with local communities, scientists and environmental groups, reducing democratic legitimacy and ecological accountability.

• Climate vulnerability: Degradation of the Aravallis can intensify heat waves, dust storms, flooding and groundwater depletion, worsening climate stress across North India.

Way ahead:

• Adopt landscape-based protection: Conservation must include not only hilltops but also slopes, valleys and ecological corridors that sustain hydrology, biodiversity and climate regulation.

• Restore scientific benchmarks: Revisiting FSI’s slope-based and geological criteria can ensure demarcation reflects ecological function rather than narrow physical thresholds.

• Strengthen legal safeguards: Expanding eco-sensitive zones and rigorously enforcing the Environment (Protection) Act can provide layered and durable protection to vulnerable areas.

• Institutionalise public consultation: Transparent decision-making with stakeholder participation can balance development needs with ecological and social concerns.

• Integrate climate resilience: Recognising the Aravallis as critical natural infrastructure can anchor policies in long-term climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Conclusion:

The Aravalli Hills are not defined by height, but by their ecological function and continuity. A narrow, technical definition risks dismantling one of India’s most vital natural shields. Revisiting the judgment through a science-based, precautionary, and participatory approach is essential to safeguard long-term environmental security.

Q. “Species recovery without habitat integrity is conservation in appearance, not substance.” Critically examine this statement using examples from India’s animal conservation projects. Assess the long-term ecological risks associated with such approaches. (15 M)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 December 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Delay in Consumer Justice Delivery in India

Context: Consumer courts across India are facing growing criticism as long delays, repeated adjournments and mounting backlogs undermine the promise of speedy justice.

About Delay in Consumer Justice Delivery in India:

What it is?

• Consumer courts (District, State and National Commissions) are quasi-judicial bodies established to provide simple, inexpensive and time-bound redressal for consumer grievances.

• They function under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which mandates disposal of cases within 3–5 months, depending on technical requirements.

Trends in India:

• Rising pendency: As of January 2024, over 5.43 lakh cases were pending across consumer commissions.

• Disposal lag: In 2024, new filings exceeded disposals, adding nearly 15,000 cases to the backlog; the trend continued in 2025.

• Severe vacancies: Hundreds of posts of Presidents and Members remain vacant at district and state levels, weakening adjudicatory capacity.

• Structural bottlenecks: Limited courtrooms, inadequate staff, poor digital infrastructure and lack of subject-matter expertise delay hearings.

• Procedural delays: Non-service of notices, repeated adjournments, expert evidence requirements and frequent appeals prolong litigation, defeating the objective of consumer-friendly justice.

Relevance for UPSC Examination:

• GS Paper II – Polity & Governance:

• Access to justice, judicial efficiency and quasi-judicial bodies Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and institutional accountability Issues of governance capacity, vacancies and service delivery

• Access to justice, judicial efficiency and quasi-judicial bodies

• Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and institutional accountability

• Issues of governance capacity, vacancies and service delivery

• GS Paper III – Inclusive Growth

• Consumer rights, market regulation and ease of doing business Impact of weak dispute resolution on small entrepreneurs and MSMEs

• Consumer rights, market regulation and ease of doing business

• Impact of weak dispute resolution on small entrepreneurs and MSMEs

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 December 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Haka Dance

Source: IT

Subject: Art and Culture

Context: The Māori haka recently drew global attention after being performed as a protest gesture in New Zealand—both during a counter-protest against a Sikh Nagar Kirtan in Auckland.

About Haka Dance:

What it is?

• Haka is a traditional Māori posture dance involving vigorous rhythmic movements—stamping feet, slapping thighs and chest, chanting (waiata), and intense facial expressions. It conveys strength, unity, pride, challenge, or protest.

Origin:

• Originates from the Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people of Aotearoa (New Zealand).

• Rooted in Māori mythology: the dance is associated with Tāne-rore, son of the sun god Tama-nui-te-rā and summer goddess Hine-raumati.

• The shimmering air on hot days is believed to be Tāne-rore dancing—symbolised by trembling hand movements in haka.

Key characters / contributors:

• Te Rauparaha (Ngāti Toa chief): Composer of the most famous haka “Ka Mate” (c. 1820).

• Māori iwi (tribes): Custodians and performers of diverse haka traditions.

Types of Haka:

• Ka Mate: Celebrates survival and resilience.

• Peruperu: War haka performed before battle.

• Ngeri: Short, informal haka to energise participants.

• Pōwhiri: Welcoming haka during formal greetings.

• Manawa wera: Performed at funerals or memorials to express grief.

Significance:

• Cultural identity: Symbol of Māori heritage, ancestry, and collective memory.

• Social function: Used in welcomes, protests, celebrations, mourning, and storytelling.

• Political expression: A non-violent, culturally rooted form of dissent and assertion of indigenous rights.

Akash-NG Missile System

Source: TN

Subject: Defence

Context: DRDO has successfully completed User Evaluation Trials (UET) of the Next Generation Akash (Akash-NG) missile system, meeting all PSQR requirements.

About Akash-NG Missile System:

What it is?

• Akash-NG (Next Generation Akash) is an indigenously developed surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to intercept a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and other high-speed targets.

Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

• To replace and upgrade earlier Akash variants with longer range, higher accuracy, and faster response time

• To strengthen self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in critical missile technologies

Key features:

• Indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for high accuracy and resistance to electronic countermeasures.

• Dual-pulse solid rocket motor enabling engagement at varied ranges and altitudes.

• Capability to intercept: High-speed aerial threats Low-altitude targets (near-boundary scenarios) Long-range, high-altitude targets

• High-speed aerial threats

• Low-altitude targets (near-boundary scenarios)

• Long-range, high-altitude targets

• Fully indigenous radars and C2 (Command & Control) system.

• High precision demonstrated across multiple operational scenarios.

Significance:

• Major upgrade over legacy Akash systems in range, lethality, and survivability.

• Enhances India’s ability to counter drones, cruise missiles, and modern aerial threats.

• Strengthens air defence architecture of the IAF and Army.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

Source: News on Air

Subject:

Context: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued show cause notices to six thermal power plants within 300 km of Delhi for violating biomass co-firing norms aimed at reducing air pollution in the NCR.

About Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):

What it is?

• CAQM is a statutory body mandated to coordinate, plan, and implement measures for prevention and control of air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas.

Established in:

• 2021, under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2021.

• Replaced the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA).

Headquarters (HQ): New Delhi

Composition:

• Chairperson

• Member-Secretary (rank of Joint Secretary; also Chief Coordinating Officer)

• One full-time central government member (serving or former Joint Secretary)

• Three independent technical experts in air pollution

• Three members from non-government organisations (NGOs)

Tenure: 3 years or till 70 years of age (whichever is earlier)

Coverage: National Capital Region (NCR)

• Adjoining areas in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh where pollution sources impact NCR air quality

Functions:

• Coordinate air pollution control actions of Centre and State governments.

• Plan and execute air quality management strategies for NCR.

• Frame a framework for identification of air pollutants.

• Conduct research and capacity building with technical institutions.

• Prepare and implement action plans (e.g., plantation drives, stubble-burning control).

• Monitor compliance with pollution control norms (including biomass co-firing).

China files WTO complaint against India

Source: TOI

Subject: Economics

Context: China has filed a fresh complaint against India at the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging India’s solar subsidies and tariff measures.

About China files WTO complaint against India:

What is the issue?

• China has sought formal consultations with India under the WTO framework regarding subsidies for India’s photovoltaic (solar) sector.

• It claims that India’s policies: Violate bound tariff commitments and national treatment obligations. Constitute prohibited import-substitution subsidies, favouring domestic producers over foreign firms.

• Violate bound tariff commitments and national treatment obligations.

• Constitute prohibited import-substitution subsidies, favouring domestic producers over foreign firms.

• This follows an earlier Chinese complaint (October 2025) against India’s EV and battery subsidies, signalling rising trade frictions over green industrial policies.

About WTO Dispute Settlement System:

What it is?

• The WTO Dispute Settlement System (DSS) is a rules-based, compulsory and multilateral mechanism to resolve trade disputes between WTO Members.

• It operates under the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), which is an integral part of the WTO Agreement.

• Ensure security, predictability and stability in international trade.

• Uphold WTO rights and obligations while preventing unilateral trade retaliation.

Key stages of WTO dispute settlement:

• Consultations: The disputing members first hold formal consultations to resolve the issue amicably without litigation, reflecting the WTO’s preference for negotiated and mutually agreed solutions.

• Panel stage: If consultations fail, an independent panel of experts examines factual evidence and legal arguments to determine whether WTO rules have been violated.

• Appellate review: Parties may appeal panel findings on points of law before the Appellate Body, though this stage is currently stalled due to non-functioning of the body.

• Adoption of reports: Panel or Appellate Body reports are adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), making the rulings legally binding on the parties.

• Implementation: The losing member must bring its measures into compliance within a “reasonable period of time,” monitored by the DSB.

• Retaliation (if needed): If compliance is not achieved, the complainant may seek DSB authorisation to impose proportionate trade countermeasures.

Key features:

• Compulsory jurisdiction: All WTO Members are bound once they join the WTO.

• Time-bound process: Normally ~12 months (or ~16 months with appeal).

• Ban on unilateral action: Members cannot impose trade sanctions without WTO authorisation.

• Exclusive forum: WTO disputes cannot be taken to parallel international bodies.

India’s First PPP-Model Medical Colleges

Source: NIE

Subject: Economy

Context: India has announced its first-ever PPP-model medical colleges in the tribal districts of Dhar and Betul (Madhya Pradesh).

About India’s first PPP-model medical colleges:

What it is?

• India’s first medical colleges under the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model are being set up in tribal-dominated districts of Madhya Pradesh.

• Four such colleges are planned (Dhar, Betul, Katni, Panna), linked with existing district hospitals to strengthen both medical education and public healthcare delivery.

What is the PPP model?

• Public–Private Partnership (PPP) is an arrangement where the government and private sector jointly provide public infrastructure or services.

• The private partner invests in construction, management or operations, while risks and responsibilities are clearly shared, and payments are linked to performance standards.

Types of PPP models:

• BOT / DBFOT (Build–Operate–Transfer / Design–Build–Finance–Operate–Transfer): Private entity designs, builds, finances and operates the asset for a fixed period before transferring it to the government.

• Operations & Maintenance (O&M): Private player manages and maintains public assets for a shorter contractual duration.

• Lease–Develop–Operate–Maintain: Existing public assets are leased to private entities for development and operation during the concession period.

Government incentives for PPP:

• Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Capital grant of up to 40% of project cost to improve financial viability.

• India Infrastructure Project Development Fund (IIPDF): Financial support for feasibility studies and project structuring.

• IIFCL financing: Long-term debt support for infrastructure projects with long gestation periods.

• FDI support: Up to 100% FDI permitted in most PPP sectors through the automatic route.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 December 2025 Mapping:

Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP)

Source: DH

Subject: Mapping

Context: India’s largest hydropower project, the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, has become operational after nearly 20 years, with the commissioning of its first 250 MW unit.

About Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP):

What it is?

• The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-the-river hydropower project with an installed capacity of 2,000 MW, making it India’s largest hydropower project once fully commissioned.

Located in: Gerukamukh, on the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border

• Implemented by NHPC Limited (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation)

River flow through: Built on the Subansiri River, the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra River

Project History:

• Approved: 2003

• Challenges (2011–2019): Progress was delayed by environmental impact studies, seismic safety reviews, and public protests in downstream Assam.

• Operational Launch: The first 250 MW unit began operation in December 2025.

• Completion Schedule: The remaining seven units (250 MW each) are scheduled for commissioning between 2026 and 2027.

Key Specifications:

• Type: Concrete Gravity Dam

• Height: 116 m (from riverbed) / 210 m (from deepest foundation)

• Length: 284 m

• Engineering Highlights: The dam features several landmark achievements for India’s hydroelectric sector, including:

• The country’s heaviest hydro generator rotors. Its largest stators and inlet valves. The first use of the Rotec Tower Belt system for dam concreting.

• The country’s heaviest hydro generator rotors.

• Its largest stators and inlet valves.

• The first use of the Rotec Tower Belt system for dam concreting.

• Strategic Benefits: Beyond power generation, the project will provide:

• Flood Control: Moderation of downstream flooding in Assam. Grid Stability: Enhanced resilience and reliability of the national power grid. Clean Energy Goals: Direct support for national Net Zero and renewable energy targets.

• Flood Control: Moderation of downstream flooding in Assam.

• Grid Stability: Enhanced resilience and reliability of the national power grid.

• Clean Energy Goals: Direct support for national Net Zero and renewable energy targets.

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