Source: TOI Context: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has revised NPS withdrawal rules, allowing private sector subscribers to withdraw up to 80% of their accumulated corpus, instead of the earlier 60%. The remaining 20% must be used to purchase an annuity to generate pension income. Key Changes: Tax Clarity Pending: Revised Eligibility Criteria: Full Withdrawal Limit Revised: For Corpus Between ₹8–12 Lakh: Subscribers can:
Taliban Approves Water Diversion from Kunar River
Context: Afghanistan’s Taliban administration has approved plans to divert water from the Kunar (Chitral) River to the Darunta Dam in Nangarhar province, triggering concerns in Pakistan about reduced downstream flows from the shared river system. The move could affect irrigation, drinking water supply, and hydropower potential in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. About the Kunar River A major transboundary Himalayan river, known as the Chitral River in Pakistan and the Kunar River in Afghanistan. It forms an important part of the Indus Basin and supports agriculture, water supply, and energy needs. Origin: Course: Countries involved:Pakistan → Afghanistan → Pakistan (via Kabul–Indus system) Major Tributaries: River Hierarchy: Kunar River → Kabul River → Indus River
DHRUV64 Microprocessor
Source: TH Context: On December 15, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced the launch of DHRUV64, a fully indigenous microprocessor developed under India’s Microprocessor Development Programme. The chip is positioned to strengthen India’s domestic processor ecosystem and support applications across telecom, industrial automation, and embedded systems. Who developed DHRUV64? What is DHRUV64? What is Microprocessor? A microprocessor is an integrated circuit (IC) that functions as the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer or electronic system. It acts as the brain of a device—processing data, performing calculations, and executing instructions that run programs. Part of India’s Processor Ecosystem Other indigenous chips linked to this ecosystem: What is DIR-V? Upcoming Indigenous Chips: Government schemes supporting indigenous fabs & chip development:
ULLAS Scheme
Context: India’s goal of achieving 100% literacy by 2030, aligned with NEP 2020 and global SDG commitments, is facing a major hurdle due to Bihar’s refusal to participate in the Centre’s flagship ULLAS adult literacy programme. What is ULLAS? Where Bihar Stands:
UNESCO India Education Report 2025
Source: UNESCO Context: UNESCO has released its flagship report, Bhasha Matters: The State of the Education Report for India 2025, calling for a national transformation in India’s language-of-instruction framework. The report strongly advocates mother-tongue based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) to enhance equity, learning outcomes and linguistic inclusion, particularly for marginalised, tribal and multilingual learners. Key Recommendations – UNESCO (India Education Report 2025)
Rhino Dehorning and Conservation
Context: A new international study has reported that rhino dehorning has reduced poaching in African reserves by nearly 75–78%, positioning it as a highly cost-effective anti-poaching strategy. Dehorning removes most of the rhino horn — which is made of keratin — thereby reducing the economic incentive for poachers. When combined with patrols and monitoring, it significantly raises survival rates. About Rhinoceros (Rhino) Rhinos are large, herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Rhinocerotidae. They are among the planet’s oldest megafauna, surviving since prehistoric times. Habitat Rhinos live in a range of ecosystems, depending on the species, including: Five Rhino Species Species Region Status White rhino (Ceratotherium simum) Africa Near Threatened Black rhino (Diceros bicornis) Africa Critically Endangered Greater one-horned / Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) India, Nepal Vulnerable Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) Indonesia Critically Endangered Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) Indonesia Critically Endangered Conservation Status Summary
Brazil Hands Over BRICS Presidency to India for 2026
Source: TH Context: Brazil has officially transferred the 18th BRICS presidency to India for the year 2026, a transition taking place amid intensifying global trade frictions and geopolitical uncertainty. About India’s BRICS Presidency 2026 India will serve as the rotating Chair of BRICS in 2026, responsible for: BRICS – Formation & Evolution Current Membership Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia Rotational System of BRICS Presidency Institutional Setup
India–UAE Joint Military Exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II (2025)
Context: An Indian Army contingent has departed for the second edition of the bilateral joint military exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II (2025) to be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. About Exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II (2025) A bilateral joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the UAE Land Forces, focused on improving interoperability, coordination and tactical cooperation. Host Nation: Participants:
Securities Markets Code Bill 2025
Source: ET Context: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Securities Markets Code (SMC) Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha, marking the biggest overhaul of securities market regulations in decades. The Bill aims to unify and simplify India’s securities law framework. Key Objective: The Bill will consolidate and replace three major securities legislations: Purpose & Scope: The new code aims to: Notable Provisions: Additional Features (Salient Points):
Hornbill Population Survey
Source: TH Context: Tamil Nadu forest authorities are planning an extensive survey to determine hornbill populations across forest landscapes, beginning late December 2025 and continuing till March/April 2026. Hornbill A hornbill is a large, striking bird found mainly in tropical and subtropical forests of Asia and Africa, known for its long curved bill and the distinctive casque (helmet-like structure) on top. Ecological Importance Hornbills are called “farmers of the forest” because they disperse seeds over large areas, helping forests regenerate. IUCN Status of Hornbills (Major Species) Hornbills as a group fall under different IUCN categories depending on the species. Below are the important hornbill species (India & Asia focused) with their current IUCN Red List status: Hornbill Species IUCN Status Great Hornbill Vulnerable (VU) Indian Grey Hornbill Least Concern (LC) Malabar Pied Hornbill Near Threatened (NT) Rhinoceros Hornbill Vulnerable (VU) Oriental Pied Hornbill Least Concern (LC) Narcondam Hornbill Endangered (EN) Why Some Hornbills Are Threatened
