UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 December 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 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 2:
• Supreme Court stay on Aravallis Judgment
Supreme Court stay on Aravallis Judgment
GS Paper 3:
• Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2024-25 Report
Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2024-25 Report
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• Glacier Disappearance
Glacier Disappearance
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• INSV Kaundinya
INSV Kaundinya
• Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120)
Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120)
• Narsapuram Lace Craft
Narsapuram Lace Craft
• Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
• The Santhali Language
The Santhali Language
Mapping:
• Kolleru Lake
Kolleru Lake
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 December 2025
GS Paper 2:
Supreme Court stay on Aravallis Judgment
Source: IE
Subject: Polity
Context: The Supreme Court has stayed its November 20 judgment that accepted a 100-metre elevation criterion for defining the Aravalli hills, amid nationwide protests by environmental groups.
About Supreme Court stay on Aravallis Judgment:
What it is?
• The stay pauses the Court’s earlier acceptance of the Union government’s height-based definition of the Aravalli hills (landforms ≥100 m above local relief) for regulating mining.
• The interim order restores status quo ante, preventing immediate regulatory dilution while the Court re-examines ecological and constitutional implications.
History of Supreme Court interventions on Aravallis:
• Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India (1995–ongoing): Expanded the definition of “forest” beyond records to ecological characteristics, bringing Aravalli forests under judicial protection and regulating mining and construction.
• M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1985–ongoing): Became the principal vehicle for Aravalli protection in Delhi–Haryana, leading to bans on illegal mining, construction controls, and demolition of unlawful real estate.
• Mining prohibitions (1996–2002): The Court banned mining in parts of Faridabad and Haryana Aravallis based on expert reports (HPCB, NEERI), recognising irreversible ecological damage.
• 2010 FSI scientific survey order: Rejected the 100-metre height rule and directed FSI to map the entire Aravalli range using scientific parameters, leading to the 3-degree slope + buffer criterion.
• 2018 ‘vanished hills’ intervention: Acting on CEC findings that 31 of 128 hills had disappeared, the Court ordered immediate stoppage of illegal mining, prioritising ecology over royalty revenue.
• Delhi Ridge protection (2023–2025): Recognised the concept of “morphological ridge”, barred land allotment, halted tree felling, and ordered statutory backing for the Delhi Ridge Management Board.
Judgment conundrum:
• Scientific reductionism: A single elevation threshold ignores low-relief hills, pediments and ridges that perform vital ecological functions like groundwater recharge and climate moderation.
• Departure from functional ecology: Earlier jurisprudence assessed landscapes by ecological function, not numerical metrics—raising concerns of doctrinal inconsistency.
• Article 21 implications: As held in Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991), the right to life includes a right to a healthy environment; regulatory dilution directly implicates this right.
• Precautionary principle conflict: Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum (1996) mandates caution where environmental harm is irreversible; the height-based test risks exposing fragile zones.
• Public trust doctrine: Under M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997), the State is a trustee of natural resources—narrow definitions enabling exploitation may breach this fiduciary duty.
Implications of the stay:
• Regulatory pause on mining expansion: The stay halts immediate applicability of the 100-metre rule, preventing mining in lower Aravalli landforms until ecological and legal issues are finally adjudicated.
• Restoration of ecological safeguards: It temporarily revives earlier function-based protections evolved through Godavarman and M.C. Mehta orders that treated the Aravallis as an integrated ecological system.
• Judicial reassertion of oversight: The Court signals that environmental governance cannot be driven solely by executive convenience and remains subject to continuous judicial scrutiny.
• Strengthening constitutional scrutiny: The stay allows reassessment of the definition against Articles 14, 21, 48A and 51A(g), reinforcing the link between ecology, equality and the right to life.
• Federal flexibility preserved: States retain the space to apply stricter, region-specific safeguards, preventing a uniform definition from weakening local environmental protection.
Way ahead:
• Adopt function-based ecological criteria: Aravallis should be defined using slope, geomorphology, hydrology and biodiversity, reflecting ecological role rather than a single elevation threshold.
• Codify scientific mapping: The FSI–CEC scientific methodology should be given statutory backing under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to ensure uniform, evidence-based regulation.
• Embed the precautionary principle: Any reclassification must follow cumulative impact assessments, recognising that ecological damage in fragile landscapes is often irreversible.
• Strengthen single-window governance: Bodies like the Delhi Ridge Management Board should be empowered with clear authority and NGT oversight to avoid regulatory fragmentation.
• Align development with conservation: Sustainable mining should be exception-based, allowing limited activity only where ecological integrity and long-term public interest are demonstrably protected.
Conclusion:
The stay reflects the Supreme Court’s enduring role as a guardian of constitutional environmentalism. Aravallis’ value lies in their ecological function, not elevation. Lasting protection demands science-led definitions, precautionary governance, and fidelity to constitutional duties over administrative convenience.
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 – 30 December 2025 GS Paper 3:
Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2024-25 Report
Source: LM
Subject: Economics
Context: RBI’s latest “Trend and Progress of Banking in India” report flags a resilient banking system with multi-decadal low NPAs, strong balance-sheet expansion and policy push for safer, more inclusive finance.
About Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2024-25 Report:
What it is?
• An annual RBI flagship assessment of banking & NBFC performance, risks, regulation/supervision priorities, payments, technology adoption, financial inclusion and consumer protection, culminating in an overall systemic soundness assessment.
Key trends:
• Balance sheets expanding: Scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) grew at a double-digit pace in deposits and credit (with some moderation).
• Asset quality stronger: SCBs’ GNPA ratio fell to a multi-decadal low.
• Capital & liquidity buffers: Banks are well-capitalised with leverage and liquidity ratios above regulatory minimum.
• Digital inclusion scale-up: 514 districts became fully digitally-enabled (at least one digital payment mode for every eligible individual).
• Financial Inclusion Index up: RBI’s FI Index improved to 67.0 (from 43.4 earlier), indicating deeper inclusion.
• ULI expanding credit access: 64 lenders (41 banks, 23 NBFCs) onboarded; using 136+ data services across 12 loan journeys.
• Deposit insurance reform: Shift approved to risk-based deposit insurance premium, moving beyond the flat premium (ceiling noted as 12 paise/₹100 assessable deposits).
Positive growth of the Indian banking sector in India
• Asset quality at multi-decade best: Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) ratio declined to ~2.1% of total advances, the lowest level seen in several decades, indicating strong recovery and prudent lending.
• Sustained credit expansion: Bank credit has been growing at double-digit rates (~14–16%), reflecting healthy demand from industry, MSMEs, housing and services sectors.
• Robust capital adequacy: Scheduled Commercial Banks maintain Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) well above 16%, significantly higher than the Basel III requirement of 11.5%, ensuring shock absorption capacity.
• Strong deposit mobilisation: Bank deposits have also grown at ~12–13%, showing rising public trust in the formal banking system despite alternative investment avenues.
• Deepening financial inclusion: RBI’s Financial Inclusion Index improved to about 67, up sharply from earlier levels, reflecting wider access to accounts, credit, insurance and digital payments.
Key initiatives taken:
• PRAVAAH portal: Centralised digital portal for regulatory submissions; wider service coverage to improve transparency and turnaround.
• Digital payments push: Inclusion-focused measures (district-level digital enablement; accessibility for PwD).
• Unified Lending Interface (ULI): Plug-and-play data architecture to speed up safer lending decisions and widen formal credit.
• FREE-AI framework: Principles + governance rails for responsible AI adoption (fairness, accountability, safety, transparency).
• Risk-based deposit insurance: Incentivises sound risk management and strengthens trust in the banking system.
Key challenges in banking:
• Customer grievances rising: Complaints in loans, cards and digital channels are increasing, exposing weak service delivery, slow resolution and inconsistent customer communication.
• Digital fraud and cyber risk: UPI/online banking growth expands the attack surface, and weak cybersecurity hygiene plus social engineering can quickly erode trust and trigger losses.
• AI and model-risk concerns: Greater use of AI in credit and fraud systems brings opacity, bias and privacy risks; poor governance can cause systemic mis-scoring and unfair outcomes.
• Retail-credit stress pockets: Even with overall better asset quality, certain unsecured/small-ticket segments can show strain, especially when underwriting and collection discipline weaken.
• Inclusion-quality gap: Access to accounts is not equal to meaningful inclusion; low financial literacy, language barriers and digital discomfort can lead to exclusion or mis-selling.
Way ahead:
• Quality-first credit expansion: Strengthen underwriting with verified data, tighter affordability checks and risk-based pricing so growth remains sustainable, not consumption-bubble driven.
• Stronger consumer protection stack: Upgrade internal ombudsman processes, faster turnarounds and transparent escalation so grievances reduce and trust becomes a competitive advantage.
• Tech governance and audits: Build board-level oversight for AI and IT systems, mandate explainability, periodic audits, bias testing and strong data protection across lifecycle.
• Cybersecurity-by-design: Shift from reactive controls to continuous monitoring, secure authentication, staff training and coordinated fraud intelligence sharing across banks and agencies.
• Deepen financial literacy: Scale targeted literacy for rural users, seniors and first-time digital users, focusing on safe payments, fraud awareness and informed borrowing decisions.
Conclusion:
The report underlines that India’s banks are entering a stronger phase with low NPAs, solid buffers and expanding balance sheets. Next gains will come from responsible tech adoption (ULI/AI) and faster, fairer customer protection. A stability-first approach that still enables innovation is the key to sustaining credit-led growth and inclusion.
Q. What do you understand by regulatory capture in the banking sector? Critically examine how it undermines financial stability. (10 M)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 December 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Glacier Disappearance
Context: A new study published in Nature Climate Change projects that global glacier disappearance will peak around mid-century, with up to 4,000 glaciers vanishing annually under high-warming scenarios.
About Glacier Disappearance:
What it is?
• Glacier disappearance refers to the complete extinction of individual glaciers when their area falls below 0.01 sq km or their remaining ice volume drops below 1% of original levels, due to sustained warming and mass loss.
Key trends:
• Mid-century peak: Global glacier extinction is projected to peak between 2041–2055, depending on warming levels.
• Scale of loss: ~2,000 glaciers/year under +1.5°C warming ~4,000 glaciers/year under +4.0°C warming
• ~2,000 glaciers/year under +1.5°C warming
• ~4,000 glaciers/year under +4.0°C warming
• Regional variation: Small-glacier regions (European Alps, Caucasus) see early peaks before 2040. Large-glacier regions (Greenland periphery, Arctic Canada) face delayed but prolonged loss.
• Small-glacier regions (European Alps, Caucasus) see early peaks before 2040.
• Large-glacier regions (Greenland periphery, Arctic Canada) face delayed but prolonged loss.
• High-Mountain Asia: Hosts over one-third of global glaciers and strongly shapes the global mid-century extinction peak.
Key reasons:
• Rising global temperatures increasing melt rates beyond accumulation.
• Prevalence of small glaciers, which respond rapidly to warming.
• Delayed response of large glaciers, leading to sustained long-term loss.
• Insufficient climate mitigation, locking in future ice loss even if emissions stabilise later.
Relevance for UPSC Examination
• GS Paper I – Physical Geography
• Glaciers, cryosphere dynamics, climate–landform interaction Impact of glacier retreat on rivers and geomorphology
• Glaciers, cryosphere dynamics, climate–landform interaction
• Impact of glacier retreat on rivers and geomorphology
• GS Paper III – Environment & Climate Change
• Climate change impacts, global warming thresholds (1.5°C vs 2°C+) Water security, disaster risk (GLOFs), and ecosystem services International climate negotiations and mitigation urgency
• Climate change impacts, global warming thresholds (1.5°C vs 2°C+)
• Water security, disaster risk (GLOFs), and ecosystem services
• International climate negotiations and mitigation urgency
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 December 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
INSV Kaundinya
Source: PIB
Subject: Miscellaneous
Context: The Prime Minister has lauded INSV Kaundinya as it embarks on its maiden voyage from Porbandar to Muscat, symbolically retracing India’s ancient maritime routes.
• Built using the ancient Indian stitched-ship technique, the vessel showcases India’s rich seafaring heritage.
About INSV Kaundinya:
What it is?
• INSV Kaundinya is an Indian Naval Sailing Vessel recreated on the basis of a 5th-century CE ship depicted in the Ajanta Cave paintings, representing India’s ancient ocean-going traditions.
Built by: Indian Navy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture
Key features of the ship:
• Stitched wooden hull: Wooden planks are stitched together instead of being nailed, reflecting ancient shipbuilding wisdom.
• Traditional materials: Uses coconut coir rope, natural resin and wooden planks, avoiding modern metal fastenings.
• Cultural symbolism: Sails carry Gandabherunda and Sun motifs, bow features a Simha Yali, and deck holds a Harappan-style stone anchor.
• Ocean-going capability: Designed and tested to be fully seaworthy for long-distance navigation across the Indian Ocean.
• Historic identity: Named after Kaundinya, the legendary Indian mariner associated with early maritime links to Southeast Asia.
About Ancient Indian stitched-ship technique:
What it is?
• The stitched-ship technique is an indigenous Indian method of shipbuilding in which wooden planks are stitched together using natural fibres, a practice once common along India’s coastline and the Indian Ocean
Features:
• Stitching instead of nails: Planks are tied with coir rope, allowing flexibility and strength in rough seas.
• Use of organic materials: Natural resins and fibres improve durability while remaining environmentally sustainable.
• Shock absorption: Flexible joints reduce damage from waves, making ships suitable for long ocean voyages.
• Ancient maritime reach: Enabled Indian sailors to trade with West Asia, Africa and Southeast Asia centuries ago.
• Living heritage revival: The technique represents the revival of India’s indigenous knowledge systems in shipbuilding.
Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120)
Source: NIE
Subject: Defence
Context: DRDO has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120) at ITR Chandipur.
About Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120):
What it is?
• The Pinaka LRGR-120 is an indigenously developed, precision-guided rocket variant of the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system, designed for long-range, high-accuracy strikes.
Developed by: Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), DRDO in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
• To extend the strike range of the Pinaka system
• To provide precision-guided firepower with minimal collateral damage
• To enhance operational flexibility using existing Pinaka launchers
Key features:
• Extended range: Capable of striking targets up to 120 km, significantly increasing battlefield reach.
• Precision guidance: Guided rocket with advanced navigation and control ensuring textbook accuracy on targets.
• In-flight manoeuvrability: Demonstrated planned manoeuvres throughout the flight trajectory.
• Launcher compatibility: Can be fired from the in-service Pinaka launcher, enabling multiple variants from the same platform.
• Indigenous design: Entirely designed and developed within India using domestic technologies.
Significance:
• Force multiplier: Enhances the Indian Army’s long-range precision strike capability.
• Operational versatility: Allows seamless deployment of different Pinaka variants without new launch infrastructure.
• Reduced collateral damage: Precision guidance improves target discrimination.
Narsapuram Lace Craft
Source: DC
Subject: Art and Culture
Context: The Prime Minister highlighted Narsapuram Lace Craft in Man Ki Baat as a model of women-led economic empowerment and cultural continuity.
• The craft’s Geographical Indication (GI) tag has renewed national attention on this traditional livelihood of the Godavari region.
About Narsapuram Lace Craft:
What it is?
• Narsapuram Lace Craft is a handmade crochet lace tradition, where fine threads are transformed into intricate lace products using a single crochet hook, reflecting high skill and patience.
Region: West Godavari and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh
• Key centres: Narsapur, Palacole, Razole and Amalapuram
History:
• Introduced in 1844 when lace-making techniques were taught to local women by European missionaries.
• The craft survived major historical shocks such as famines and economic depressions, sustaining women’s livelihoods across generations.
• Over time, it evolved into a globally recognised hand-crafted textile tradition.
Key characteristics:
• Raw materials: Uses fine cotton threads, along with silk, rayon or synthetic yarns for decorative and export-quality products.
• Tools: Crafted using crochet hooks of varying sizes to produce different textures and lace densities.
• Technique: Involves looping and interlocking stitches manually to form delicate lace structures without machinery.
• Design motifs: Features floral, paisley and geometric patterns inspired by nature and traditional aesthetics.
• Product range: Includes garments, home furnishings and accessories such as doilies, bedspreads, table linen, cushion covers, stoles and wall hangings.
Significance:
• The craft provides regular income to thousands of women, making them primary contributors to household economies.
• It safeguards an indigenous textile tradition passed down through generations.
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
Source: ET
Subject: Defence
Context: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹79,000 crore to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.
About Defence Acquisition Council (DAC):
What it is?
• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is the highest decision-making body for capital defence procurements in India, responsible for granting in-principle approvals and Acceptance of Necessity for major acquisitions.
Established in:
• Set up following the recommendations of the Group of Ministers on Reforming the National Security System.
Members:
• Chairman: Raksha Mantri
• Members: Raksha Rajya Mantris, Chief of Defence Staff, Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force
• Other members: Defence Secretary, Secretaries of Defence Production, Defence R&D, Defence Finance
• Member Secretary: Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (PP&FD)
Functions:
• Approval of Long-Term Perspective Plan: Provides in-principle approval to capital acquisitions in the 15-year Long Term Perspective Plan, identifying projects with long gestation periods.
• Acceptance of Necessity (AoN): Grants AoN for capital acquisition projects proposed for inclusion in Five Year Plans, forming the first formal step in procurement.
• Categorisation of projects: Decides whether acquisitions will be Buy, Buy and Make, or Make, promoting indigenisation and domestic capability.
• Monitoring major projects: Reviews progress of key acquisition programmes based on feedback from the Defence Procurement Board.
• Policy coordination: Ensures coordination between operational requirements, financial prudence and indigenous defence production goals.
Significance:
• Enables timely acquisition of critical platforms and systems across the three services.
• Streamlines decision-making and reduces delays in defence acquisitions.
• Encourages indigenous development and production under the Atmanirbhar defence framework.
The Santhali Language
Source: PIB
Subject: Art and Culture
Context: President of India highlighted the role of language and literature in binding communities during the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script and Santali Language Day.
About The Santhali Language:
What it is?
• Santhali is one of India’s most ancient living tribal languages, primarily spoken by the Santhal community and recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Origin:
• Belongs to the Munda branch of the Austroasiatic language family, distinct from Indo-European languages.
• Traditionally transmitted through oral literature, songs, folklore and rituals.
• Acquired its own script, Ol Chiki, in 1925, developed by Pandit Raghunath Murmu, giving the language a written identity.
Current status:
• Included in the Eighth Schedule through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.
• Spoken by about 7 million people in India, mainly across Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar, and also in Nepal and Bangladesh.
Key features:
• Distinct script – Ol Chiki: A phonetic and scientific script designed to accurately represent Santhali sounds, unlike earlier borrowed scripts.
• Austroasiatic linguistic traits: Agglutinative structure, tonal elements, and word formation through suffixes, shared with related Munda languages like Ho and Mundari.
• Strong oral tradition: Rich corpus of folk songs, myths and storytelling that preserves Santhal history, ecology and social values.
• Cultural identity marker: Language and script function as symbols of tribal self-respect, cohesion and continuity.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 December 2025 Mapping:
Kolleru Lake
Source: ETV
Subject: Mapping
Context: Kolleru Lake has gained renewed attention as its traditional black dried fish has emerged as a high-value product in domestic and international markets, supporting hundreds of local families.
About Kolleru Lake:
What it is?
• Kolleru Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India, renowned for its rich biodiversity, fisheries, and role as a critical wetland ecosystem.
Located in: Andhra Pradesh
• Districts: Krishna and West Godavari
Rivers associated:
• Situated in the inter-deltaic plain of the Krishna and Godavari rivers
• Fed by seasonal streams, irrigation canals, and drainage systems connected to both rivers
• Acts as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for Krishna and Godavari
Key geological and physical features:
• Inter-deltaic freshwater basin: Lies between two major river deltas, enabling seasonal water storage and groundwater recharge.
• Shallow wetland system: Characterised by low depth and wide spread, making it ideal for fisheries and bird habitats.
• Flood moderation role: Absorbs excess monsoon flows, reducing downstream flood intensity in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
• Nutrient-rich sediments: Supports high fish productivity and aquatic vegetation due to fertile alluvial deposits.
Significance:
• Ecological importance: Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary (1999) and a Ramsar Wetland (2002), hosting nearly 20 million resident and migratory birds including pelicans, storks and ibises.
• Biodiversity hotspot: Home to around 90 varieties of fish and diverse aquatic flora and fauna.
Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE
Official Facebook Page HERE
Twitter Account HERE
Instagram Account HERE
LinkedIn: HERE