The Hindu  (December 14, 2025), here are the
topic-wise current affairs details curated for UPSC (Civil
Services) and TNPSC (Group I, II, IV) preparation.

1. Polity &
Governance (GS Paper II / TNPSC Polity)

Topic: Appointment of Chief Information Commissioner
(CIC)

·        
News: Rajkumar Goyal (Former IAS officer) has been selected as the new
Chief Information Commissioner of India.

·        
Key Details:

o   
He was selected by a high-level committee headed by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.

o   
The President of India will administer the oath of office.

o   
UPSC/TNPSC Relevance: Study the RTI Act, 2005. The CIC is not a
constitutional body but a statutory one. The selection committee consists of
the PM, Leader of Opposition, and a Union Cabinet Minister.

Topic: Legislative Privileges vs Freedom of Press

·        
News: The Maharashtra Legislative Council’s Special Privileges Committee has
recommended a five-day jail term for four journalists and an editor for
allegedly publishing “false and fabricated” news defamatory to an MLC.

·        
Key Details:

o   
The issue involves a breach of privilege motion.

o   
One editor was spared after submitting a written apology.

o   
UPSC Relevance: This relates to Article 105 and Article 194 of the
Constitution (Powers, Privileges, etc., of the Houses of
Parliament/Legislatures). It highlights the conflict between legislative
privileges and Article 19(1)(a) (Freedom of Speech).

2. Economy &
Development (GS Paper III / TNPSC Unit 9)

Topic: Tamil Nadu’s Economic Performance (GSDP)

·        
News: Tamil Nadu has emerged as the leader in economic growth among Indian
states.

·        
Key Data:

o   
TN registered a Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)
growth rate of 16%.

o   
The total value of the state’s economy stands at ₹31.55
lakh crore⁹⁹⁹⁹.

o   
TN has surpassed industrialized states like Maharashtra,
Karnataka, and Gujarat for the third consecutive year.

o   
TNPSC Relevance: Critical for Unit 9 (Development Administration in Tamil Nadu). Focus
on the “Dravidian Model” of growth mentioned by the CM¹¹¹¹.

Topic: Textile Industry & Import Duties

·        
News: The textile industry has urged the Centre to remove the import duty on
cotton to help MSMEs.

·        
Key Details:

o   
Current cotton productivity in India is 440 kg/hectare,
significantly lower than Brazil’s 1,900-2,000 kg/hectare.

o   
UPSC Relevance: Agriculture (Cropping patterns) and Industrial Policy.

3. Science &
Technology (GS Paper III)

Topic: Nuclear Energy – Kudankulam

·        
News: Advanced uranium fuel has been brought from Russia for the Unit 1 reactor
at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP).

·        
Key Details:

o   
Fuel Type: TVS-2M advanced fuel.

o   
Benefit: Previously, fuel cycles were 12 months. With this new fuel, the reactor
can operate for 18 months without refueling, increasing efficiency.

o   
UPSC/TNPSC Relevance: India-Russia relations; Nuclear energy stages in India.

Topic: Ramanujan’s Formulae & String Theory

·        
News: Researchers at IISc (Indian Institute of Science) have found a link
between Srinivasa Ramanujan’s mathematical formulae for Pi ($pi$) and modern
String Theory.

·        
Key Details:

o   
Ramanujan’s modular equations, discovered a century ago,
appear to align with Conformal Field Theories (CFT) used to describe
critical phenomena (like water boiling at critical pressure) and string theory.

o   
UPSC Relevance: Indian contribution to Science & Technology.

Topic: Mangroves & Saltwater Tolerance

·        
News: A new study reveals how mangroves survive in saltwater where other plants
die.

·        
Key Mechanism: Mangroves have unusually small leaf epidermal pavement cells and thicker
cell walls. This provides mechanical strength to tolerate high salinity and low
osmotic potential.

·        
UPSC Relevance: Ecology & Environment (Adaptations in flora).

4. Environment
& Geography (GS Paper I & III)

Topic: Land Subsidence in Chennai

·        
News: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the TN Pollution
Control Board regarding land subsidence (sinking of ground) in Chennai.

·        
Causes: Excessive groundwater extraction and soil compaction in built-up
areas.

·        
Affected Areas: Valasaravakkam, Kodambakkam, Alandur, and Tondiarpet.

·        
UPSC Relevance: Urbanization issues, Groundwater depletion, and Disaster Management.

5. International
Relations (GS Paper II)

Topic: Preah Vihear Temple Dispute

·        
News: Tensions have flared between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah
Vihear temple area, leading to casualties.

·        
Background: The temple is an ancient Hindu temple (dedicated to Shiva) built by Khmer
kings.

·        
The Dispute: In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled the temple belongs
to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remains disputed.

·        
UPSC Relevance: Places in news, SE Asia geopolitics, Indian cultural influence (Hindu
temples in SE Asia).

Topic: US ‘Pax Silica’ Initiative

·        
News: India has been excluded from the US-led ‘Pax Silica’ initiative,
which aims to secure silicon and high-tech supply chains.

·        
Members: US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, UK, Israel, UAE, and
Australia.

·        
UPSC Relevance: Global supply chain resilience, India-US relations, Critical minerals.

6. Important
Schemes & Days (TNPSC/UPSC Prelims)

·        
New India Literacy Programme
(NILP): A literacy test was conducted for non-literates aged
above 15. The target is to educate 5 crore people nationwide by 2027.

·        
Vande Mataram 150th
Anniversary: The song authored by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee is
celebrating its 150th year. It played a vital role in the Indian freedom
struggle (Anandmath novel).

·        
Parliament Attack Anniversary: December 13 marked the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack. Tributes
were paid to the security personnel who lost their lives.