Indian wildlife conservationist Vivek Menon has been elected as the Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) for the 2025–2029 term. About IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest and most influential scientific network of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), focused on conserving species and halting biodiversity loss worldwide. Established Organisational Position
Great Indian Bustard (GIB)
Source: TH Context: The Supreme Court of India has strengthened conservation safeguards for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) while revising power transmission alignments under the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) in Rajasthan and Gujarat.The move seeks to balance renewable energy expansion with species protection, especially in priority bustard habitats. About the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world and the state bird of Rajasthan.It is a flagship grassland species and a crucial indicator of ecosystem health in India’s arid and semi-arid landscapes. Conservation Status Population
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Releases Toolkit for 10th Swachh Survekshan
Source: PIB Context: On December 20, 2025, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), released the Toolkit for the 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Swachh Survekshan is recognized as the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, conducted annually under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U). About the Toolkit Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 Theme Citizen Participation (Major Reform)
Gold Most Stable Asset During Geopolitical Tensions: RBI Staff Study
Source: BS Gold has emerged as the most stable asset during periods of heightened geopolitical stress, while crude oil has shown the highest sensitivity, according to a study published in the monthly bulletin of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The study was authored by RBI staff members under the guidance of Poonam Gupta, with a clarification that the views expressed are those of the authors and not the official position of the RBI. Key Findings of the Study Asset-wise Response to Geopolitical Risk
Global Headwinds Strong, but Growth Stable: RBI Report
Source: Mint Why in News? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has stated in its December State of the Economy report that despite persistent global headwinds—including trade and policy uncertainties—India’s economic growth remains resilient, anchored by strong domestic demand, particularly private consumption and investment. Key Takeaways from the RBI Report 1. Growth Performance 2. Demand & Sectoral Trends 3. Global Environment 4. Financial Markets & External Sector 5. Monetary Policy Response
Mswipe Technologies Receives Final Payment Aggregator Licence from RBI
Context: In December 2025, digital payments firm Mswipe Technologies Private Limited received the final Payment Aggregator (PA) licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The licence allows Mswipe to operate both online and offline merchant payment acceptance under a single, unified regulatory framework. About Payment Aggregator (PA) Licence – Mswipe Scope of Operations Omnichannel Payment Enablement Regulatory Status Other Regulatory Approvals Held by Mswipe
South Indian Bank Launches ‘RuPay SIB Paytag’
Context: On December 20, 2025, entity[“organization”,”South Indian Bank”,”private sector bank india”] (SIB) launched the ‘RuPay SIB Paytag Sticker’, a contactless payment solution that enables fast and secure transactions at Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals and e-commerce platforms, without the need for a physical debit card. About RuPay SIB Paytag Overview Technology Used Security & Authentication
Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 25&26 December, 2025
Daily Current Affairs Quiz25&26 December, 2025 National Affairs 1. PM Inaugurates Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow Source: TH Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, a grand memorial dedicated to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Hindutva ideologues Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Shyama Prasad Mookerjee. About Rashtra Prerna Sthal 2. India Reclaims 3rd Spot in Global Wind Market Source: BS Context: India has reclaimed the third position in the global wind energy market in 2025, recording its highest-ever annual wind capacity additions after a gap of four years, according to a report by BloombergNEF (BNEF). India now trails only China and the United States in annual wind installations. Record Capacity Additions India has climbed back to the third position for the first time since 2019, after ranking fifth for four consecutive years (2021–2024). 3. SWAMIH-2 Fund Source: TOI Context: The Union government is set to soon operationalise the ₹15,000 crore SWAMIH-2 Fund, aimed at providing last-mile financing to complete stalled housing projects, according to official sources. The move is expected to bring relief to nearly 1,00,000 middle-class homebuyers, whose investments remain stuck despite continuing to pay EMIs on housing loans. What is SWAMIH-2? How will it help? 4. Bhoramdeo Temple Context: The Chhattisgarh government has announced plans to develop the ancient Bhoramdeo Temple complex on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, under the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan Yojana 2.0. About Bhoramdeo Kashi Vishwanath Corridor The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor is a major redevelopment project in Varanasi that connects the Kashi Vishwanath Temple directly to the Ganga river ghats. 5. PESA Mahotsav: Utsav Lok Sanskriti Ka (2025) Source: PIB The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) celebrated “PESA Mahotsav: Utsav Lok Sanskriti Ka” from 23–24 December 2025 at the Visakhapatnam Port Authority Stadium, Andhra Pradesh. The event marked the anniversary of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, commonly known as the PESA Act.PESA Day is observed every year on 24 December. What is PESA? Key Initiatives Launched On the concluding day, Vivek Bharadwaj and Shashi Bhushan Kumar unveiled several important initiatives: 6. India’s First PPP-Model Medical Colleges Source: TNIE In December 2025, Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, laid the foundation stones of India’s first medical colleges under the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model in Dhar and Betul districts of Madhya Pradesh. These districts are tribal-dominated areas, where access to quality medical education and healthcare has been limited. Key Highlights: About the PPP Medical Colleges PPP Model Explained (DBFOT) The colleges will be developed under the Design–Build–Finance–Operate–Transfer (DBFOT) model: This model helps reduce the financial burden on the government while ensuring faster and quality infrastructure development. 7. ‘Samudra Pratap’, India’s First Indigenous Pollution Control Vessel Source: PIB The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has inducted Samudra Pratap, India’s first indigenously designed and built Pollution Control Vessel (PCV), significantly strengthening the country’s ability to tackle marine pollution and maritime emergencies. The vessel was commissioned on December 23, 2025, under a two-ship PCV project built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). Why Samudra Pratap Matters Key Features Samudra Pratap is also the first ICG ship with Dynamic Positioning (DP-1), allowing it to stay steady at one spot even in rough seas. 8. 2,000-Year-Old Stone Labyrinth Found in Maharashtra Source: TOI Context: Archaeologists have discovered a 2,000-year-old circular stone labyrinth in Solapur district, Maharashtra. It is the largest circular labyrinth ever found in India and gives new clues about ancient trade routes and culture. What Was Found Where It Was Found Key Features 9. India’s First AI That Can Run Real Lab Experiments Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have developed AILA (Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant) — an advanced AI system that can independently conduct real scientific experiments, a first-of-its-kind achievement in India. What is AILA? Who Developed It? Banking/Finance 1. RBI Defers Faster Cheque Clearance (CCSR Phase-2) Source: BS The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has postponed the January 3, 2026 deadline for rolling out Phase-2 of faster cheque clearing under the Continuous Clearing and Settlement on Realisation (CCSR) system in the Cheque Truncation System (CTS). The move has been made under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, which gives RBI the legal power to regulate payment systems and protect financial stability. What Is CCSR? What Was Planned in Phase-2? What Has Changed Now? Phase-1 Continues Revised CTS Timings RBI has also changed cheque processing timings: These changes give banks more operational flexibility. What Does This Mean for Customers? 2. Securities Markets Code, 2025 (SMC 2025) Source: BS Context: The Securities Markets Code, 2025 (SMC 2025) is a major consolidation and simplification exercise in India’s securities regulation framework. The Code has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance for detailed scrutiny. What the SMC 2025 Replaces The Code subsumes three existing laws: Together, these laws regulate securities markets, exchanges, depositories, and establish Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT). Key Changes and Provisions 1. Composition & Governance of SEBI 2. Investigation & Adjudication 3. Penalties & Criminal Provisions 4. Linkage with PMLA 5. Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) The Code formally recognises Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs), including: MIIs may: 6. Investor Protection Assessment 3. RBI to Infuse ₹3 Trillion Liquidity After Rupee Defence Source: News on Air Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to inject around ₹3 trillion of durable liquidity into the banking system to offset the tightening impact of its recent foreign-exchange intervention aimed at supporting the rupee. Why Liquidity Tightened What RBI Has Done So Far This shifted liquidity from a persistent deficit (since mid-December 2024) to a surplus by end-March 2025. Open Market Operations (OMOs) OMOs are when the RBI buys or sells government bonds in the market. Why RBI does this How it works Simple example If banks don’t have enough money to lend, RBI buys bonds from them and gives them cash. Forex Buy–Sell Swaps RBI
PM Inaugurates Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow
Source: TH Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, a grand memorial dedicated to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Hindutva ideologues Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Shyama Prasad Mookerjee. About Rashtra Prerna Sthal
India Reclaims 3rd Spot in Global Wind Market
Source: BS Context: India has reclaimed the third position in the global wind energy market in 2025, recording its highest-ever annual wind capacity additions after a gap of four years, according to a report by BloombergNEF (BNEF). India now trails only China and the United States in annual wind installations. Record Capacity Additions India has climbed back to the third position for the first time since 2019, after ranking fifth for four consecutive years (2021–2024).
