China’s Rare Earth Export Restrictions

• In November 2025, China imposed export controls on seven rare earth elements, citing national security and non-proliferation reasons.

Impacts of Export Restrictions by China

• Supply Shock: Immediate rise in global prices, dysprosium projected to reach $300/kg.
• Defence Vulnerability: REEs are critical for missile guidance systems, radar, and jet engines; strategic dependency may affect Western defence supplies.
• Diversification Efforts: Japan cut its REE dependence on China from 90% (2010) to 60% (2023) by investing in Australian mines. The US are reviving mining under the Mineral Security Partnership.
• India’s Initiative: Through KABIL (2023), India secured five lithium blocks in Argentina and is exploring REE extraction in Odisha and Kerala.

Way Forward

• Global Collaboration: Diversify rare-earth supply through India–Australia Critical Minerals Alliance and QUAD Rare Earth Working Group.
• Sustainable Mining: Promote ESG-based standards via the UNEP Global Mineral Governance Framework, ensuring low-impact extraction and rehabilitation.
• Recycling & Substitution: Promote urban mining and non-REE magnetic materials (e.g. ferrites).
• Strategic Stockpiling: Establish a National Critical Minerals Reserve, similar to Japan’s JOGMEC model.

Centre Notifies Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025

The Ministry of Electronics and IT notified the DPDP Rules, 2025 (refer to infographic) marking the full operationalization of the DPDP Act, 2023. 

• The rules are a significant step forward in compliance with the Supreme Court’s 2017 K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India judgment affirming the right to privacy.

DPDP Act, 2023

• It establishes a comprehensive framework for protecting digital personal data, setting out the obligations of entities handling such data (Data Fiduciaries) and the rights and duties of individuals (Data Principals).
• Scope:
• Processing of digital personal data within India where such data is collected: In digital form or in non-digital form and digitized subsequently. 
• Processing of personal data outside India if it is for offering goods or services in India.
• Obligations of Data Fiduciaries: 
• User Consent: Personal data may be processed after obtaining the consent of the individual.
• Processing of personal data of children/person with disability: Verifiable consent of parent or the lawful guardian is mandatory.
• Enforcement: Data Protection Board (DPB) has civil court powers for personal data breach complaints.     

US Shutdown

The US President signed a stopgap bill to end the longest shutdown of the US government in history.

Government Shutdowns:

• Meaning: It occurs when the legislative branch does not pass essential budgetary or appropriations bills required to fund and authorize executive branch operations.
• Impact of shutdowns: It results in the cessation of some or all operations of a government.
• It is generally a feature in the Presidential System where there is a strict separation of powers between executive and legislature.
• Shutdowns do not occur in Parliamentary systems like India, where the executive is drawn from and dependent on the confidence of the legislature.

Quality Control Orders

• A NITI Aayog report has flagged serious concerns over the government’s aggressive rollout of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) across industries.

Key Findings of NITI Aayog

• The majority of QCOs target raw materials and intermediate goods, not finished products.
• In several cases, standards imposed in India are not aligned with global norms.
• Limited BIS-accredited labs lead to testing delays, longer production cycles, and higher costs.

Impact on Imports and Exports

• Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) research shows that imports fall by 13% in the first year after a QCO and by 24% in the long term.
• Exports initially rise 10.6%, but drop 12.8% in the second year, showing no long-term export gains.
• Intermediate goods (e.g., yarn, fibres, steel) show the sharpest decline in imports (up to 30%), affecting domestic supply.

Downstream Industry Impact

• Sectors hit hardest are footwear, electronics, apparel, and employment-intensive clusters.
• Many intermediate inputs are not available domestically, leading to QCOs, shortages & cost escalations.
• For example, polyester yarn, fibres, and steel now cost 15-30% above global prices.
• Result: Reduced design flexibility, higher production costs, and loss of export competitiveness.

Impact on MSMEs

• MSMEs struggle the most with certification fees, factory inspections, and repeated paperwork.
• Certification and testing costs of ₹10,000-₹15,000 per consignment, with approvals taking months.
• Domestic tariff-area MSMEs (unlike SEZ exporters) cannot bypass QCO restrictions, resulting in a loss of competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.

Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme

• The MoHUA launched Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U 2.0) to fast-track the remediation of legacy waste dumpsites.
• The initiative aligns with the government’s ‘Lakshya Zero Dumpsites’ vision and Viksit Bharat 2047, aiming for cleaner and more livable Indian cities.

Objectives and Features of DRAP

• Accelerated Remediation: Fast-tracked approach for scientific capping, biomining, and bio-remediation of waste to meet the 2026 deadline.
• Urban Land Reclamation: Restored land to be repurposed for green zones and utility infrastructure.
• Pollution Control: Reduction in landfill methane emissions and leachate contamination of soil.
• Institutional Strengthening: Establishment of the SBM Knowledge Management Unit (KMU) at the National Institute of Urban Affairs for capacity building and knowledge sharing.
• Private Investment Platform: Launch of Urban Invest Window (UiWIN) by HUDCO to mobilise PPP-based and multilateral financing for sustainable infrastructure.

Challenges in Dumpsite Remediation

• Technical Capacity: Many ULBs lack skilled manpower and advanced biomining technologies, slowing project execution. E.g.: Only 30% of cities have functional waste treatment facilities (CPCB 2024).
• Financial Gaps: The total cost of remediation (~₹10,000 crore) exceeds available CFA allocations, requiring stronger state and PPP participation.
• Fresh Waste Management: Inadequate segregation at source (≈60%) risks re-accumulation of new dumps (CPCB 2024).
• Regulatory Compliance: Only 68% of ULBs have notified by-laws under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and less than 45% have achieved full segregation of waste at source (CPCB 2024)
• Data and Monitoring: Merely 35% of ULBs submit timely remediation progress data to state dashboards, causing delays in Central Financial Assistance (CFA) release and technical review (MoHUA 2025).

Way Forward

• Integrated Waste Governance: Establish Urban Waste Management Cells in each State to coordinate recycling policies. E.g. Maharashtra’s State Swachh Mission model ensures district-level accountability.
• Circular Economy Models: Promote biomining contracts and waste-to-energy projects through UiWIN to attract private capital. E.g. Indore’s 100% landfill-free model.
• Tech Integration: Develop a central digital dashboard tracking dumpsite status and land reuse potential. E.g. Japan’s Smart Waste Portal supports live data monitoring for landfill reclamation.
• Scientific Land Reuse: Convert reclaimed sites into urban forests, solar parks, or logistics hubs, guided by MoEFCC remediation guidelines (2022).
• Community Involvement: Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy (2010) formally integrates waste-pickers’ cooperatives (catadores) into municipal waste management, providing social security and training, which helped recycle over 90% of aluminium cans and created 200,000+ green jobs nationwide.

Deflation & WPI

Wholesale prices fell to a 27-month low and slipped back into deflation in October, owing to a drop in prices.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI)

• WPI measures the change in prices in the wholesale market, where goods are traded in bulk.
• Considers only basic prices and does not include taxes, rebate/trade discounts, transport and other charges. 
• Released by: Office of the Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Base year: 2011-12.

Deflation

• Deflation is a sustained decrease in the general price level of goods and services in an economy, essentially negative inflation.

PM pays tributes to Birsa Munda on 150th birth anniversary

Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is also being celebrated, marking the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

• Government declared 15th November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in 2021.

Birsa Munda

• Early Life: 
• Born in Ulihatu Khunti district, Jharkhand in 1875 with birth name Daud Munda.
• Belonged to the Munda tribe of the Chhotanagpur plateau area, present day Jharkhand.
• His Teachings and Beliefs:
• Monotheism: Founded a new sect known as the Birsait, Birsa preached belief in one God.
• Revival of Tribal Faith: He rejected the influence of Christian missionaries and sought to reform traditional Munda religious practices.
• Moral Discipline: He emphasized Cleanliness, Hard work, Avoiding alcohol & Purity in personal and social life.
• Contribution to Colonial Resistance:
•  Provided leadership to Munda rebellion also known as the "Ulgulan (Great Tumult) movement”.
• He is remembered as Bhagwan (God) and was given the title of Dharti Aaba (Father of Earth).
• Death & Legacy
• Died in Ranchi Jail due to an illness on June 9, 1900.
• His movement contributed to repealing of begar system and led to Tenancy Act (1903) which recognised the khuntkhatti system. 
• Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908) later banned passage of tribal land to non-tribal folks.

Cooperative Kumbh 2025

• The Co-Op Kumbh 2025, an international conference on the urban cooperative credit sector, was recently held in New Delhi.
• It was organised by the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, as part of the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025.

Key Highlights

• Delhi Declaration 2025: A strategic roadmap for expanding and reforming Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) was adopted to steer future policy and growth.
• UCB Expansion: A plan was announced to establish a UCB in every city with a population over two lakhs within the next five years.
• Digital Platforms: Two new digital platforms, Sahkar Digi-Pay and Sahkar Digi-Loan, were launched to help small UCBs in providing online payment and credit services.

Hepatitis A Vaccine Needs to be Included in UIP

• Public health experts recommend adding Hepatitis A vaccination to India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) due to increasing outbreaks and declining natural immunity.

Hepatitis A

• It is an acute liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV), a non-enveloped RNA virus.
• The infection is usually short-term and clears completely without causing permanent liver damage, unlike Hepatitis B or C.
• Transmission: Primarily through the faecal-oral route from contaminated food, water, or close contact.
• Symptoms: Adults commonly exhibit fever, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice, while young children may remain asymptomatic.
• Treatment & Prevention: There is no antiviral cure, and management relies on rest, good nutrition, and adequate hydration. It can be prevented through vaccination.

Key Reasons for Inclusion

• Disease Burden: Hepatitis A causes 10–30% of acute viral hepatitis cases and 5–15% of acute liver failure incidents in India.
• Epidemiological Shift: Improved hygiene reduced exposure in children, but now adolescents are more vulnerable; recent outbreaks in Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi highlight this shift.
• Declining Immunity: Natural immunity has decreased from over 90% to around 50–60% in urban areas.
• Vaccine Advantage: A single-dose live vaccine offers 90–95% protection with 15–20 years of immunity; India’s Biovac-A is a safe, affordable, and effective option.

Colombo Security Conclave

NSA has invited Bangladesh to the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) meeting in New Delhi.

• It is regional security grouping established in 2020.
• Objective: To promote regional security by addressing transnational threats and challenges of common concern to the Member States. 
• Members: India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives and recently joined by Bangladesh.
• Seychelles is an observer nation.
• Five pillars of cooperation: Maritime Security; Countering Terrorism; Combating Transnational Organised Crime; Cyber Security; and Humanitarian Assistance.

Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation

Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation launched at COP30 in Belem, Brazil. It is the first international climate adaptation document focused specifically on health.

Key Highlights

• Aim: strengthening global health systems to cope better with impacts of climate change.
• It is structured around two cross cutting principles and concepts - health equity and ‘climate justice’ and leadership and governance on climate and health with social participation.
• It outlines three lines of action for climate-resilient health systems:
• Surveillance & Monitoring: Climate-informed early warning systems and integrated data platforms.
• Evidence-based Policy & Capacity Building: Workforce upskilling, gender-responsive and equity-driven health policies, integration of mental health and psychosocial support etc.
• Innovation & Production: Resilient infrastructure, just transitions, sustainable supply chains, and return-on-investment frameworks.
• Funding: About 35 philanthropies, under the banner of Climate and Health Funders Coalition, announced an initial commitment of US $300 million for implementation. 

Need for Climate Health Adaptation Plan

• Climate change is already driving a global health emergency, with over 540 000 people dying from extreme heat each year & 1 in 12 hospitals worldwide at risk of climate-related shutdowns.
• 3.3 to 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change, and hospitals are facing 41% higher risk of damage from extreme weather.

G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Outreach Session

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) Outreach Session held in Niagara, Canada.
• Objective: The G7 FMM is an annual platform where G7 foreign ministers discuss coordinated approaches to foreign policy, security, and economic issues.
• • 2025 Presidency: Canada, as the G7 President for 2025, hosted and chaired the meeting.
• Outreach Sessions: These are thematic extensions of the G7 FMM where selected partner countries are invited to contribute wider and diverse perspectives.
  • Dr Jaishankar joined the outreach session on energy security and critical minerals.

Smart Highways in India

• India is transforming highways into smart, data-driven corridors under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to improve mobility, efficiency, safety, and transparency.
• Need: India’s road network is the 2^nd largest globally, and its National Highway network has expanded by about 60% in ten years, requiring advanced digital management.

Key Initiatives

• Digital Tolling: The Government is incentivising FASTag usage by doubling toll charges for cash users and charging 25% higher tolls for UPI users.
• MLFF Rollout: India launched its first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) Tolling system in Gujarat, enabling fully barrier-free, in-motion toll collection.

• FASTag Pass: A new annual FASTag pass offers a fixed number of trips per year for a one-time fee, simplifying payments for frequent travellers.
• Advanced Planning: The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) functions as India’s primary digital planning tool. NHAI’s Data Lake and NHAI One app facilitate real-time monitoring.
• Citizen-Centric App: The RajmargYatra mobile app improves the commuter experience by allowing users to report safety concerns directly.
• OFC Corridors: A pilot project is installing Optical Fibre Cables (OFC) along 10,000 km of highways to create corridors supporting 5G/6G networks.
• Sustainable Practices: NHAI used recycled materials like fly ash and plastic waste in 2023–24 to promote environmentally sustainable road construction.

One-Stop Travel System

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has approved a landmark one-stop travel system designed to streamline movement across member states. It Enables travellers to complete all procedures- immigration, customs, and security at a single checkpoint before departure.

Gulf Cooperation Council

• Established: 1981.
• Members: 6 Gulf states (UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait)
• Objectives: To have coordination, integration and inter-connection between Member States in all fields.

Indian Railways to Install AI Freight Safety System

• Indian Railways is planning to install an AI-based Locking Monitoring System ‘DRISHTI’ to improve the safety of freight trains.
• Objective: To identify unlocked or tampered doors on moving freight wagons, which pose significant security threats.
• Institutional Partnership: It is a joint effort between the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and the IIT Guwahati Technology Innovation and Development Foundation (IITG-TIDF).
• Key Benefit: The automated monitoring system decreases reliance on manual checks, thereby reducing human error and improving overall freight management.

Key Features of the DRISHTI System

• Real-Time Monitoring: The system uses AI-powered cameras and sensors to monitor and analyse door-lock conditions even when trains are moving.
• Automated Alerts: The system sends instant alerts to the operators when it detects unlocked, open, or tampered wagon doors.
• Digital Analytics: The system uses digital logs and analytics to provide real-time updates, aiding data-driven decision-making.

Pan-India Vulture Assessment Report by Wildlife Institute of India

• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has released the 2025 ‘Pan-India Assessment and Monitoring of Endangered Species – Vultures’ report.
• Scope: The report represents India’s first systematic, nationwide assessment of the nesting patterns and population status of four resident Critically Endangered vulture species.
• • Species Covered: (a) Indian Vultures, (b) White-rumped Vultures, (c) Slender-billed Vultures, and (d) Red-headed Vultures.

Key Findings of the Report

• Site Loss: Vultures have disappeared from 71.7% of 425 historical nesting sites, leaving only 120 active. The discovery of 93 new sites increases the total number of active nesting sites to 213.
• Population Estimate: With fewer than 2,500 nests, this indicates a total breeding population of ~4,800 vultures across India.
• Protected Areas: Over 60% of all active sites are located within India’s Protected Area network. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan together account for 63% of the vulture nests.
• Carcass Absence: Indian and White-rumped vultures are mostly absent from carcass dumps, while migratory Eurasian Griffons now dominate these feeding areas.
• Major Threats: Habitat loss, competition with feral dogs, electrocution from power lines, and poisoning from veterinary drugs like diclofenac.

Species-Specific Findings

1. Indian Vulture: Found at 110 active sites but extinct in 30% of historic ones, with around 2,758 breeding adults mainly in central India.
2. White-rumped Vulture: Once the most common species, now confined to 69 active sites, with 67% of its 1,890 adults concentrated in the Kangra Valley.
3. Slender-billed Vulture: Disappeared from all 47 historic sites and is now limited to only 12 new ones, with barely 40 individuals left.
• Their nests are mainly found on tall, broad-canopied Silk Cotton trees in riverine floodplains.
4. Red-headed Vulture: Absent from all 10 earlier known sites and found at only five new ones, accounting for just 2.3% of total active nesting areas.

Garuda-2025

Exercise Garuda is being held in France. 

Exercise Garuda

• Bilateral air exercise between Indian Air Force and  French Air and Space Force
• 2025 edition is being held at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, France.

India’s Slowing CO₂ Emission Growth

• The Global Carbon Project (GCP) 2025 reports India’s fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions to grow by just 1.4% in 2025, down from 4% in 2024.

Drivers Behind the CO2 Emission Slowdown

• Early & Strong Monsoon: Reduced cooling and irrigation demand lowered peak power load. E.g. First half of 2025 power-sector CO₂ emissions showed a decline for the first time (CREA analysis).
• Renewables Uptick: Solar and wind additions met incremental demand without increasing coal use; E.g. India added >20 GW RE capacity in 2024–25, easing coal generation growth.
• Demand-Side Efficiency: Efficiency gains reduced fossil dependence; E.g., UJALA-led LED adoption cut lighting load by ~48 TWh annually.
• Policy Push: Green hydrogen, storage, and domestic solar manufacturing boosted low-carbon options; E.g.  National Green Hydrogen Mission and PM-KUSUM Scheme.
• Global Economic Conditions: Slower industrial output moderated fossil-fuel use; E.g. global emissions rose only 1.1% in 2025 despite record energy demand (GCP).

Significance of the CO2 Emission Slowdown

• Energy Transition Signal: Slower CO₂ growth reflects reduced coal dependence as renewables expand rapidly; supports India’s 500 GW RE target by 2030.
• Lower Carbon Intensity: Decadal growth fell from 6.4% (2005–14) → 3.6% (2015–24), showing structural improvements in energy efficiency.
• Global Standing: India’s growth (1.4%) is lower than the US (1.9%), strengthening India’s narrative as a responsible emitter despite rising development needs.
• Policy Credibility: Supports India’s NDC goals, 45% emissions intensity reduction by 2030 and validates schemes like PAT, UJALA, and FAME-II.
• Climate Diplomacy: Positions India as a bridge between developing and developed nations, bolstering calls for climate finance & energy equity.

Strait of Hormuz

Iranian forces intercept, move tanker with high-sulphur gasoil towards Iran in Strait of Hormuz.

• The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Musandam Peninsula (Oman).
• Musandam Peninsula is a northeastern extension of the Arabian Peninsula.
• It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. 
• Strategic Importance: About 25% of the world''s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

India–Botswana Cheetah Translocation Pact

• India and Botswana formally announced a pact for the translocation of eight cheetahs during Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to the country.

• This initiative is part of India’s ongoing effort to restore cheetah populations, under “Project Cheetah.”
• The cheetahs to be translocated will be kept in a quarantine facility at Mokolodi Nature Reserve, Botswana, before they arrive in India.

Botswana

• Location: Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, with Gaborone as its capital.
• Borders: It shares borders with Namibia (west and north), Zambia and Zimbabwe (northeast), and South Africa (southeast and south).
• Geographical Features: More than 70% of its land area is covered by the Kalahari Desert.
• Biodiversity: The Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located here; it is also home to the world’s largest population of African elephants.

Workplace stress and rising diabetes risk among India’s working-age adults

India has 10.1 crore diabetics (ICMR–INDIAB, 2023), with rising incidence among younger, urban, working-age adults.

Relation between Workplace stress and diabetes risk:

• Chronic Stress: It keeps the body in a state of heightened alert, leading to elevated levels of cortisol and adrenaline.
• These high hormone levels disrupt normal glucose metabolism & body is encouraged to favor fat accumulation, particularly around the abdomen (central weight gain).
• Long commute hours: Reduces time for exercise and rest.
• Irregular meal timing and sedentary work environments: Directly affects digestive processes and calorie utilization.
• Shift Work (especially night shifts): Disrupts circadian rhythms, which govern metabolism. When sleep and meal timing are irregular, insulin sensitivity drops, leading to unstable blood sugar profiles.

Diabetes

• Chronic non communicable disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. 
• Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.

Major Types of Diabetes

• Type 1 Diabetes: Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Body’s cells become insulin resistant; pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to compensate.
• Gestational Diabetes: Due to High blood glucose during pregnancy.

Crassicaulis middletonii

• The Botanical Survey of India discovered a new flowering plant, Crassicaulis middletonii, in the evergreen forests of Arunachal Pradesh’s West Siang district.
• Significance: The discovery represents both a new species and a new genus record for India.
• • Genus Record: It is India’s first record of the genus Crassicaulis, extending its known range nearly 12,000 km westward from its only known species in China.
• Habitat Preference: The plant thrives along stream banks and near small waterfalls in evergreen forests at about 800 metres elevation.
• Appearance: It grows up to 30 cm tall, with slender stems and white flowers tinged with pink.
• Threats: Pollution, landslides, and flash floods pose risks to its fragile habitat.
• ‘Biogeographical Bridge’: The discovery highlights the Eastern Himalaya’s role as a biodiversity corridor linking Indian and Southeast Asian floral lineages.