2. Polity &
Governance (UPSC GS II & TNPSC Unit 9)
·   Overhaul of Higher Education
Regulation (Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025):
The Union government is set to introduce a Bill to
establish a 12-member umbrella body called Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan
(VBSA).
This body will subsume the functions of existing
regulators like the UGC (University Grants Commission), AICTE,
and NCTE. It will have separate verticals for regulation, accreditation,
and setting standards.
·    Presidential Mercy Power
(Article 72):
President Droupadi Murmu rejected the mercy petition of a
convict involved in a heinous crime in Maharashtra.
This marks her third mercy plea rejection since
assuming office. Under Article 72, the President has the power to grant
pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment.
·    No Leader of Opposition in
Maharashtra Assembly:
For the first time since the state’s formation in 1960,
the Maharashtra Legislature concluded its winter session without a Leader of
the Opposition (LOP) in both the Assembly and the Council.

o   
The Speaker noted that while a party typically needs 10%
of the total seats to claim the LOP post, this is a convention and
not a strict rule.

3. Environment
& Geography (UPSC GS III)
·  Spring Census in Tamil Nadu:
  Tamil Nadu is nearing the completion of its first-ever
spring census to document natural springs for better groundwater management.
Conducted by the Water Resources Department (WRD), it
aims to map springs in ecologically sensitive areas like the Western Ghats
(Nilgiris, Kanniyakumari, Villupuram).
·   Community-based Environmental
MRV (CbMRV):
Tamil Nadu has initiated a Community-based
Environmental Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (CbMRV) system under
the UK PACT programme.
This initiative empowers local communities to generate
data on rainfall, groundwater, and biodiversity to inform climate action at the
village level.
·    Methane Emissions Monitoring:
Satellite data reveals that methane emissions from Indian
landfills (like Ghazipur in Delhi and Kanjurmarg in Mumbai) are
significantly higher than official estimates.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and satellites are
now being used to track these “hotspots” for targeted action.

·        
Lunarcrete (Concrete for the
Moon):Scientists are exploring Lunarcrete as a building
material for lunar settlements.

It uses lunar regolith (moon soil) as an aggregate
instead of sand and sulphur as a binder, eliminating the need for water,
which is scarce on the moon.

4. Science &
Technology (UPSC GS III)
·        
New Navy Helicopter Squadron:
The Indian Navy will commission its second MH-60R
Seahawk helicopter squadron, INAS 335 (Ospreys), in Goa on December
17.
These multi-role helicopters will boost India’s
anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities.
·        
Academic Retractions:
A report highlights that research paper retractions from
India have skyrocketed since 2022, placing India second globally after
China.Key reasons include plagiarism, fake data, and the
unethical use of AI software.