Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 10 December, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
10 December, 2025

National Affairs

1. Aditya‑L1

Source: TH

Context:

The May 2024 solar storm, called Gannon’s storm, was unusually powerful due to collision of two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) en route to Earth. These collisions caused a rare internal magnetic reconnection within the CMEs, intensifying their impact on Earth’s magnetosphere.

About Aditya‑L1

• Launch & Mission: Launched by ISRO in September 2023, Aditya‑L1 is India’s first dedicated mission to study the Sun.
• Launch Vehicle: PSLV‑XL (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle – XL configuration).
• Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Position: Placed at Lagrange Point 1 (L1), about 1.5 million km from Earth towards the Sun, providing an uninterrupted view of solar activity.
• Objective: Understand solar activity and its impact on space weather, climate, and Earth’s magnetosphere.

Key Findings

• Magnetic reconnection: Twisted magnetic field lines inside the CMEs snapped and rejoined in new configurations, increasing storm intensity.
• Scale: The reconnection region measured 1.3 million km across — nearly 100 times the Earth’s diameter.
• Multi-satellite observation: Aditya‑L1, alongside six U.S. spacecraft, provided 3‑D magnetic field mapping, confirming the reconnection process.
• Energetic particle bursts: Recorded by Aditya‑L1’s instruments, these bursts explained the storm’s unexpected strength.

2. India, France & UAE Launch Trilateral Air Drill Over Arabian Sea

Source: TOI

Context:

On 10 December 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF), in partnership with the French Air and Space Force and the UAE Air Force, commenced a trilateral air combat exercise over the Arabian Sea, continuing through 11 December. The exercise zone spans roughly 200 nautical miles from Karachi, as per official Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).

Participating Assets

• India: Sukhoi‑30MKI, Jaguar fighter jets, IL‑78 mid‑air refuellers, AEW&C aircraft, operating from western airbases including Jamnagar and Naliya (Gujarat).
• France: Rafale fighter jets.
• UAE: Mirage fighter jets, operating from Al Dhafra Airbase.

Objectives & Significance

• Military Interoperability: Enhance joint operations, coordination, and combat readiness across air and maritime domains.
• Strategic Signaling: Demonstrates collective preparedness in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean region.
• Strengthened Partnerships: Reinforces the trilateral defence framework established in 2022, covering defence, technology, energy, and environment cooperation.
• Historical Context: Builds on previous trilateral exercises, including Desert Knight 2024, underscoring continuity in joint operational engagements.

3. India-Nepal Joint Army Exercise SURYAKIRAN-XIX

Source: TH

Context:

The 19th edition of the India-Nepal joint military exercise, SURYAKIRAN-XIX, concluded at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The exercise reflects long-standing military cooperation and aims to enhance regional security and counter-terrorism preparedness.

Key Highlights of the Exercise

• Validation Exercise: A two-day battalion-level exercise at the Foreign Training Node, witnessed and validated by DGMOs of India and Nepal, Lieutenant General Manish Luthra and Major General Anup Jung Thapa.
• Focus Areas: Joint tactics, techniques, and procedures for counter-terrorism operations under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
• Technological Integration: Utilised ISR drones, precision-targeting systems, advanced day/night weapon sights, AI-enabled surveillance feeds, unmanned operational/logistics platforms, and secure battlefield communication systems.

4. EARTH Summit 2025

Source: TNIE

Context:

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the EARTH Summit 2025 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The summit unveiled over 13 digital services under the Sahakar Sarathi initiative, aimed at strengthening rural economy, cooperatives, and farmer empowerment.

Key Highlights:

New Digital Services under Sahakar Sarathi

• Digi KCC: Digital Kisan Credit Card for easy credit access to farmers.
• Campaign Sarathi & Website Sarathi: Tools for cooperative campaigns and information dissemination.
• Cooperative Governance Index: Assessing performance of cooperative institutions.
• ePACS: Digital platform for PACS operations.
• World’s Largest Grain Storage Application: For real-time storage tracking.
• Shiksha Sarathi & Sarathi Technology Forum: Education and technology support for cooperatives.
• Sahakar Taxi: Cooperative taxi network with 51,000 registered drivers.
• Cooperative Insurance: Coverage in health, life, agriculture, and accident sectors.

Strategic Objectives

• Establish cooperative institutions in every Panchayat.
• Expand cooperative membership to 50 crore people.
• Increase cooperatives’ contribution to India’s GDP.
• Develop a three-part summit series culminating in a national policy framework addressing rural development.

Key Models & Initiatives

• Gujarat’s ‘Cooperation Among Cooperatives’ model:
  • Integrated credit, markets, dairies, PACS under district-level umbrellas.
  • Strengthened cooperative credit fivefold; serves as a model for Priority Sector Lending.
• Digital & Technological Integration:
  • NABARD initiatives for modern banking, real-time tracking, e-KYC, and appraisal services.
  • e-KCC enables farmer credit similar to international standards.
• Circular Economy in Dairy: Gujarat model to be replicated nationwide.
• Organic Farming Promotion: 49 lakh farmers engaged in certified organic production; 40+ products available online with lab support for exports and direct payments.

Banking/Finance

1. RBI Finalises Bank‑Group Guidelines

Source: ET

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its final guidelines for bank groups, aiming to strengthen structural supervision while allowing business flexibility. These apply to commercial banks and their subsidiaries, NBFCs, and other group entities. The rules are a revision of the October 2024 draft, which had been criticized for being overly restrictive.

Key Highlights

• Overlapping Business Allowed: Unlike the draft, banks and their group entities can now engage in overlapping lending activities, subject to board approval.
• Prudential Safeguards Retained: Scale-based norms for NBFCs, limits on loans and exposures, and a 20% cap on ARC holdings ensure risk management.
• Compliance Timeline: Bank groups must comply by 31 March 2028, giving time to adjust structures and governance.

Regulatory Framework

• An NBFC is required to register with RBI if:
  • Financial assets constitute more than 50% of total assets, and
  • Income from financial assets is at least 50% of gross income.
• Core investment companies with ≥90% of net assets in group companies are also treated as NBFCs.
• RBI has historically recommended one business per entity to ensure clear ownership and accountability, easing supervisory and compliance burdens.

Why It Matters

• Reduces Disruption: Avoids forced restructuring of large groups, protecting ~55% of sectoral advances.
• Maintains Flexibility: Groups can leverage synergies across banking, NBFC, and housing finance arms.
• Controls Systemic Risk: Prudential norms ensure uniform supervision across all group entities.

2. Airpay Gets RBI Nod for International Payments

Source: BS

Context:

Airpay Payment Services has received RBI approval to operate as a cross-border payment aggregator, completing its authorizations under the unified Payment Aggregator (PA) framework.

Full-stack PA License: Airpay can now operate as a payment aggregator across:

• Online payments
• Physical (POS) payments
• Cross-border transactions

What Are International Payments?

International payments (cross-border payments) refer to money transfers between entities in different countries. These transactions can be:

• Business-to-Business (B2B): Companies paying suppliers abroad.
• Business-to-Consumer (B2C): Companies paying freelancers or employees overseas.
• Consumer-to-Business (C2B): Individuals paying foreign merchants (e.g., online shopping).
• Remittances: Money sent by individuals to family in another country.

International payments are more complex than domestic ones due to foreign exchange regulations, currency conversion, settlement systems, anti-money-laundering (AML) norms, and compliance with international banking standards.

RBI Criteria to Operate as an International Payments Aggregator

To provide cross-border payment services, the RBI requires entities to:

• Obtain PA License: Must already be licensed as a Payment Aggregator (PA) under the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) / PA framework.
• Foreign Exchange Compliance: Adhere to Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 for currency conversion and outward/inward remittances.
• Risk & AML Framework: Implement robust fraud detection, anti-money laundering (AML), and Know Your Customer (KYC) systems.
• Capital Adequacy & Governance: Maintain adequate capital buffers, net-worth requirements, and strong corporate governance.
• Technology & Security Standards: Ensure secure, real-time, and interoperable payment infrastructure, protecting sensitive financial data.

3. IMF Recognises India’s UPI as World’s Largest Real-Time Payment System

Source: FE

Context:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has officially recognised India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as the world’s largest real-time retail payment system by transaction volume, highlighting India’s leadership in digital payments.

About UPI

• What It Is:
  • India’s instant, real-time, interoperable payments system enabling bank-to-bank transfers via mobile phones.
• Operator & Regulator:
  • Operated by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India)
  • Regulated by RBI (Reserve Bank of India)
• Origin:
  • Conceptualised to unify fragmented payment systems into a single platform.
  • Launched as a pilot in April 2016 under RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan.

Key Features of UPI

• Real-time Payments: Transfers completed in under 5 seconds, 24×7.
• Interoperability: Works across banks, apps, QR codes, and merchants.
• Low-cost / Zero MDR: Encourages mass adoption among consumers and small businesses.
• Scalable Architecture: Handles billions of transactions per month.
• Versatility: Supports P2P, P2M, autopay, credit lines, RuPay linkage, and international acceptance.

4. Sebi Overhauls Merchant Banker Rules

Source: BS

Context:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has introduced a comprehensive overhaul of merchant banker (MB) regulations, focusing on capital adequacy, net worth, revenue requirements, and operational flexibility. The reforms aim to strengthen financial stability, enhance risk management, and improve ease of doing business in India’s capital markets.

What is a Merchant Banker?

A merchant banker (MB) is a financial intermediary or institution that provides specialized services to corporates, governments, and high-net-worth clients in raising capital and managing financial transactions. Unlike commercial banks, merchant bankers primarily focus on capital market activities, advisory, and corporate finance, rather than deposit-taking.

Key Changes in Merchant Banker Regulations

1. Capital Adequacy Framework
   • Merchant bankers must maintain a minimum net worth based on their activity category:
     • Category 1: Minimum Rs 50 crore net worth; can undertake all permitted activities.
     • Category 2: Minimum Rs 10 crore net worth; can undertake all activities except managing main-board equity issues.
   • Liquid Net Worth Requirement: At least 25% of the minimum net worth must be liquid at all times.
   • Underwriting Limit: Capped at 20 times the merchant banker’s liquid net worth.
2. Revenue Requirements
   • Category 1 MBs: Minimum Rs 12.5 crore cumulative revenue from permitted activities over the last three financial years.
   • Category 2 MBs: Minimum Rs 2.5 crore cumulative revenue.
   • Exemptions: Revenue criteria do not apply to MBs managing only issuance of non-convertible securities, securitized debt instruments, security receipts, municipal debt, commercial papers, REITs, and InvITs.
3. Flexibility to Undertake Non-Regulated Activities
   • MBs can engage in fee-based, non-fund activities in sectors not regulated by Sebi or any other financial sector regulator (FSR), subject to conditions.
   • Initial Sebi plan to hive off non-regulated activities into a separate legal entity was relaxed after market feedback.
4. Enhanced Transparency in ESOP & Sweat Equity Valuation
   • Sebi replaced merchant bankers with independent registered valuers for employee compensation-linked valuations, including ESOPs and sweat equity shares.
   • Aims to strengthen fairness and transparency in employee reward mechanisms.

Rationale Behind the Changes

• Risk Management: Ensure MBs are financially strong to manage underwriting and other market risks.
• Financial Stability: Limit over-leveraging and exposure of MBs to capital market volatility.
• Ease of Doing Business: Allow MBs operational flexibility to diversify into permissible financial services activities.
• Market Confidence: Strengthen investor protection and reliability of ESOP/share-linked valuations.

Implications for Market Participants

• Large MBs (Category 1): Greater autonomy and ability to manage multiple capital market activities.
• Smaller MBs (Category 2): Limited scope for main-board equity issuances but can expand into other permitted activities.
• Investors & Employees: More reliable and transparent valuation of ESOPs and sweat equity.
• Market Dynamics: Expected to encourage consolidation, improved compliance, and stronger financial performance of MBs.

Agriculture

1. Tamil Nadu Launches Invasive-Species Eradication Drive: Senna spectabilis

Source: TNIE

Context:

Tamil Nadu has launched one of India’s largest invasive-species eradication initiatives aimed at completely removing Senna spectabilis from all forest divisions by March 2026. The drive targets restoration of forest biodiversity and ecosystem health.

About Senna spectabilis

• What It Is:
  • A fast-growing, yellow-flowering tree from the legume family (Fabaceae). Widely planted as an ornamental or shade tree but now considered a highly invasive alien species in India, Africa, and parts of Asia.
• Origin:
  • Native to South & Central America – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela.
    In India, invasive in Nilgiris, Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam, Anaikatty, and other Western Ghats ecosystems.
• Habitat:
  • Thrives in dry to moist deciduous forests, disturbed woodlands, and savannahs.
    Prefers full sunlight, adapts to poor soils, and spreads easily through prolific seeds.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Height: 7–18 m, forming dense canopies
  • Bright yellow flowers and long pods (15–30 cm) with hard-coated seeds
  • Leaves exhibit nyctinasty – close at night, open at dawn
  • Traditionally used for fuelwood, shade, ornamental planting, and small implements
  • IUCN Status: Least Concern

Ecological Implications

• Forms dense monocultures, suppressing native vegetation and reducing biodiversity.
• Reduces fodder availability for elephants, deer, and herbivores, impacting wildlife movement.
• Increases forest fire risk due to accumulation of dry biomass.
• Delays natural forest regeneration, threatening long-term ecosystem resilience.

2. India–Brazil MoU on Dairy Cattle & Buffalo Genomics

Source: BL

Context:

India and Brazil signed a tripartite MoU to advance dairy cattle and buffalo genomics through a first-of-its-kind cross-continental genetic improvement program. The agreement was signed at the Embassy of India in Brasília between:

• Brazil: Embrapa (state-owned agricultural research under MAPA), Fazenda Floresta & DNAMark
• India: Leads Genetics Pvt. Ltd, B.L. Kamdhenu Farms Ltd, Leads Connect Services Pvt. Ltd

This marks Embrapa’s first private partnership in India, highlighting strategic convergence in livestock innovation, food security, and cattle genetics leadership.

Objectives

• Establish a state-of-the-art Cattle & Buffalo Genomics Laboratory in India.
• Combine Brazil’s advanced genetic technologies with India’s dairy ecosystem, indigenous breeds, and modern agri-tech infrastructure.
• Focus on key species: Bos indicus, Bos taurus, Bubalus bubalis.
• Enhance milk production, reproductive efficiency, and climate resilience of Indian livestock.

Key Features

• First B2G (Business-to-Government) Collaboration between India and Brazil in bovine genomics.
• Initial implementation in Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest milk-producing state.
• Integration of tropical dairy genetics and climate-resilient breeds.
• Scientific infrastructure:
  • B.L. Kamdhenu Farms’ 10,000-head Integrated Model Dairy Farm, Bareilly
  • Multi-location Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Cattle Genetics & Circular Dairy Economy
  • Genomics labs, IVF facilities, and farmer networks

Significance

• Livestock Productivity: Improved milk yield and reproductive performance.
• Farmer Empowerment: Data-driven breeding and circular dairy economy practices.
• Scientific Excellence: Strengthens India’s capacity in genomics and sustainable dairy innovation.
• Global Collaboration: Positions India and Brazil as leaders in tropical dairy genetics.

3. Draft Seeds Bill 2025

What Is the Draft Seeds Bill 2025?

The Draft Seeds Bill 2025 aims to modernize India’s seed sector by replacing the outdated Seeds Act, 1966. It proposes a unified national framework for regulating seed production, distribution, and quality, ensuring that farmers receive certified, high-quality seeds. Key features include:

• Centralized Licensing & Registration: Seed producers must obtain a pan-India registration, replacing separate state-level approvals.
• Quality Assurance: Mandatory labelling with germination rates, purity, and seed health.
• Penalties for Violations: Fines and imprisonment for sale of substandard or spurious seeds.
• National Seed Register: Creation of a central database of registered seed varieties.

The Bill intends to ensure traceability, eliminate fake seeds, and promote uniform standards acrouss India.

Key Concerns Raised by Experts and States

• Weakening of State Powers
  • States traditionally oversee seed registration, licensing, and quality control.
  • Centralized accreditation may override state authority, ignoring local agro-climatic needs and biodiversity.
• Lack of Farmer Compensation
  • While penalties apply to seed companies, the Bill does not guarantee farmers compensation for crop losses due to defective seeds.
  • Farmers may have to rely on courts, which is time-consuming and costly.
• Impact on Traditional & Farmer-Saved Seeds
  • Farmer-saved and community seeds may face restrictions if sold commercially under brand names.
  • Could marginalize indigenous seed varieties and reduce agrobiodiversity.
• Corporate Dominance
  • Pan-India licensing benefits large seed companies, potentially sidelining small and regional producers.
  • Risk of oligopolies in the seed market.
• Weak Price Regulation
  • Seed pricing intervention is limited to emergency situations, leaving farmers vulnerable to price spikes.
• Inadequate Grievance Mechanisms
  • No statutory mechanism for traceability, recall, or compensation for seed failures, limiting accountability.

Implications for Farmers and Agriculture

• Increased Vulnerability: Farmers may face losses from substandard seeds without guaranteed compensation.
• Erosion of Seed Sovereignty: Traditional, local, and farmer-saved seeds may lose relevance.
• Risk to Biodiversity: Dependence on corporate seeds could reduce crop diversity.
• State Autonomy Undermined: Uniform central rules may ignore local agro-ecological conditions.
• Higher Seed Costs: Emergency-only price regulation may increase financial burden on farmers.

Suggestions by Experts for Improvement

• Introduce a time-bound compensation mechanism for farmers affected by seed failures.
• Restore state-level regulatory powers to maintain federal balance.
• Protect community and farmer-saved seeds to preserve biodiversity.
• Ensure permanent price regulation mechanisms, not just emergency controls.
• Implement a traceability and recall framework for defective seeds.

Facts To Remember

1. 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, 2025

India has officially started the countdown to the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, scheduled from 17–19 December 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The summit aims to promote the scientific validation, policy integration, and global collaboration in traditional and complementary medicine.

2. PFC and SIDBI Scraps ₹11,500-Crore Bond Issuances Amid Rising Yields

State-run lenders Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) withdrew planned bond issuances totaling ₹11,500 crore after investor bids came at yields higher than expected. This comes despite the 25-bps rate cut announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its December 5 policy review.

3. President Murmu meets India’s 2025 women’s World Boxing Champions

Indian women boxers who won the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

4. Swahid Diwas: PM Modi recalls the valour of those involved in Assam Movement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today recalled the valour of all those who were a part of the Assam Movement on the occasion of Swahid Diwas. 

5. Human Rights Day

President Droupadi Murmu today said that India is committed to being a nation where Human Rights are not only protected but also celebrated.

6. Deepavali, included in UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; Nation hails global recognition

Deepavali, one of India’s foremost cultural and spiritual festivals, has been included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

7. Andrej Babiš appointed as PM of Czech Republic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Andrej Babiš on being appointed as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. 

8. IIT Bombay’s SINE Launches India’s First Incubator-Linked Deep Tech VC Fund

IIT Bombay’s Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) today launched India’s first incubator-linked deep tech venture capital fund.