THE HINDU( December 9,), here are the topic-wise current affairs details tailored for UPSC (Civil
Services) and TNPSC (Group I, II, IV) preparation.
1. Polity &
Governance (GS II)
Topic:
Citizenship, NRC, and NPR
·
Context: The Election Commission of India’s (ECI) “Special Intensive
Revision” (SIR) of electoral rolls has triggered a debate on citizenship
verification.
·
Key Issues:
Jurisdiction Conflict: Legal challenges
argue that the ECI has no power to determine citizenship; only the Union Home
Ministry does.
Burden of Proof: The current legal
framework places the onus of proving citizenship on the individual, not the
state.
NPR vs. NRC:
§ NPR (National Population Register): Lists all
residents. Data was collected in 2010 and updated in 2015.
§ NRC (National Register of Citizens): A subset of NPR
containing only proven citizens. To move from NPR to NRC, one must prove
citizenship under the Citizenship Act.
Assam Experience: In Assam, the NRC
draft marked 19 lakh residents as “Doubtful” (D-voters) because their
status could not be ascertained.
Topic: Prison
Reforms & Disability Rights
·
Context: The Supreme Court of India has issued directions to provide
disability-related support in prisons, citing the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Act, 2016.
·
Key Verdicts:
Caste Segregation: The Court held
that caste-based segregation in jails is unconstitutional.
Structural Issues: While Prisons are
a State subject, the Union government influences policy through model
manuals.
Way Forward: States must amend
prison manuals to include duties regarding disability accommodation and screen
inmates for disabilities upon admission10.
Topic: DHRUVA
Framework (Governance)
·
What is it? DHRUVA (Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address) is a
proposed framework by India Post to create standard “address labels”
(like email addresses, e.g., amit@dhruva).
·
Key Components:
DIGIPIN: A 10-digit
alphanumeric geo-coded pin system where every 12 sq. meter block in India has a
unique code.
Objective: It acts as a
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to help logistics, e-commerce, and
government service delivery, especially in rural areas with unstructured
addresses.
2. Economy (GS
III)
Topic: RBI
Monetary Policy
·
Decision: The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cut interest rates by 25
basis points to 5.25%.
·
Trends:
This is part of a cumulative 125 basis point cut in the
calendar year 2025.
Reasoning: The RBI aims to
support growth, as quarterly GDP growth has accelerated from 5.6% to 8.2%16. The cut suggests the RBI believes inflation worries are
currently low (outlook lowered to 2%).
·
Risks: Global uncertainty (e.g., U.S. tariffs) and potential spikes in food/oil
prices could force a policy pivot.
Topic: Inequality
in the AI Era
·
Report: A UN/IMF report highlights that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may widen the
gap between advanced and developing economies in the Asia-Pacific.
·
Key Findings:
Digital Divide: While countries
like Singapore and China are “AI-ready,” others lack basic “hard
infrastructure” like reliable electricity and cloud computing capacity.
Impact on Women: Women in the
Asia-Pacific face greater exposure to AI-driven automation than men.
3. International
Relations (GS II)
Topic:
India-Russia Summit
·
Event: The 23rd India-Russia Summit was held in New Delhi with President Vladimir
Putin.
·
Key Outcomes:
Economic Pact: Adoption of
“Programme 2030” to develop strategic areas of economic cooperation.
Trade Goal: Target to reach $100
billion bilateral trade by 2030.
New Cooperation Areas:
1.
Maritime: Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor.
2.
Arctic: Russian offer to train Indian seafarers.
3.
Labour: Agreement to export Indian skilled workers to Russia to address Russia’s
demographic crisis.
Topic: India-China
Relations
·
Context: China approved its 15th Five-Year Plan, signaling continued
high-level opening up.
·
Trade Data: Bilateral trade reached $138.46 billion in 2024.
·
Areas of Synergy: China leads in manufacturing/infrastructure, while India excels in
IT/biopharma. Cooperation is urged in multilateral forums like BRICS and SCO.
4. Science &
Technology (GS III)
Topic:
Neurotechnology & BCI
·
Definition: Neurotechnology uses tools to monitor or influence brain activity. The
core of this is the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), which translates
thoughts into digital commands.
·
Applications:
Medical: Treating
Parkinson’s, depression, and restoring mobility for paralyzed patients (e.g.,
Neuralink, IIT Kanpur’s robotic hand).
Future: Potential for
human enhancement or military use, which raises ethical concerns.
·
India’s Status: India has a high burden of neurological disorders (stroke is a major
contributor), making this technology vital for healthcare.
5. Environment (GS
III)
Topic: Stubble
Burning Monitoring
·
Issue: A study by iForest challenges government claims of a 90% drop in
stubble burning in Punjab/Haryana.
·
The Data Gap:
Government Data: Relies on Polar-orbiting
satellites (NASA’s MODIS/VIIRS) which only pass over India between 10:30 AM
and 1:30 PM.
The Flaw: Farmers likely
burn stubble in the evenings to avoid detection. Geostationary satellites
(Meteosat), which monitor continuously, show fires are concentrated in the
evenings.
Reality: While “fire
counts” dropped significantly, the actual “burnt area”
only declined by about 30%.
For TNPSC Specific
Note:
·
Article 326 equivalent: The SIR topic relates to electoral rolls; remember Article 326 deals with elections to the House of the
People and Legislative Assemblies based on adult suffrage.
·
Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Act, 2016: Crucial for Mains answers
regarding social justice in Tamil Nadu.
·
Trade Figures: Memorize the $100 billion India-Russia target
and $138 billion India-China trade figure for Prelims.
·
DIGIPIN: Note that it is 10 digits and alphanumeric (unlike
the standard 6-digit PIN code).
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