Current Affairs – December 02, 2025

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Parliament} Parliamentary Deadlock and Declining Legislative Effectiveness **

• Context (IE | IE): As Parliament enters yet another session overshadowed by deadlock fears and routine walkouts, raising serious concerns that India’s highest democratic forum is losing its voice.

Current Status of Parliamentary Functioning

• Lok Sabha functioned 29% and Rajya Sabha 34% of the scheduled time in the Monsoon Session 2025.
• Annual sittings declined from 121 days (1952-70) to ~68 days since 2000.
• Question Hour performance fell to 23% in LS, 6% in RS in Monsoon 2025.
• Only 20% referred to Parliamentary Committees in 16^th & 17^th Lok Sabhas, down from 60%.
• No Deputy Speaker in the 17^th Lok Sabha and still none in the 18^th.

Reforms Required for Smooth Parliamentary Functioning

• Institutional Dialogue: Reinstate structured, periodic meetings between the Leader of the House, Prime Minister, and Leader of Opposition, similar to the UK’s parliamentary management conventions.
• Anti-Defection Reform: Limit the whip only to confidence motions & money bills, restoring MP autonomy modelled on UK/Canada practice.
• Revive Committee System: Mandate 75% Bills to be referred to Standing Committees and also introduce public consultations and expert hearings.
• Guaranteed Sitting Days: Introduce a statutory minimum of 100–120 days of sittings annually, on lines of the Australian fixed parliamentary calendar.

Popular Courses

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Reservation} ST Status for Six Communities in Assam

• Context (IE): A Group of Ministers in Assam has submitted an interim report recommending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities.

• Six Communities: The proposed beneficiary communities are (1) Ahom, (2) Chutia, (3) Moran, (4) Matak, (5) Koch-Rajbongshi, and (6) the Tea Tribes.
• New Classification: The report also recommends a three-tier ST framework to safeguard the existing rights of recognised tribal communities.

Key Recommendations by the Interim Report

Structural & Reservation Framework

• New Structure: The report proposes a three-tier Scheduled Tribe framework for Assam comprising ST (Plains), ST (Hills), and a newly created ST (Valley).
  • Valley Inclusion: The ST (Valley) category will include Tai Ahom, Chutia, Tea Tribes, and Koch-Rajbongshi (excluding those in undivided Goalpara).
• Quota Protection: Existing reservation quotas for ST (Plains) and ST (Hills) must remain fully protected under the new system.
  • Separate Roster: The new ST (Valley) category must have an independent reservation roster, quota, and vacancy register for state-level recruitment and admissions.
  • Central Pool: All notified ST communities should compete within a single, common ST pool for central government reservation benefits.

Cultural and Political Safeguards

• Interim Privileges: All land-related protections currently enjoyed by existing STs must be immediately extended to the six communities until their statutory inclusion is completed.
• Cultural Oversight: The cultural practices, languages, and customs of the six communities should come under the Department of Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture.
• LS Reservation: The two Lok Sabha constituencies covering the Sixth Schedule areas should be permanently reserved for existing STs through a constitutional amendment.

{GS2 – MoA&FW – Schemes} National Beekeeping and Honey Mission **

• Context (DDN): India has increased honey production from 76,000 MT to over 1.5 lakh MT in the last decade and has tripled its exports recently.

• The achievement is attributed to the government’s “Sweet Revolution” initiative, carried out through the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM).

About NBHM

• The NBHM is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare to promote and develop quality honey and beehive products.
• Launched under Atmanirbhar Bharat for FY 2020–21 to 2022–23; it has been extended to FY 2025–26.
• Objective: Enhance honey production, increase crop yields through scientific beekeeping and pollination, and raise beekeepers’ incomes.
• Implementing Body: The National Bee Board (NBB) implements the mission.
• Mission Structure: NBHM operates through three sub-missions covering production, post-harvest management, and research.
  • Mini Mission-I: Increases honey and hive-product yield by encouraging scientific beekeeping and the adoption of modern equipment.
  • Mini Mission-II: Develops infrastructure for honey testing, processing, storage, value addition, and organised market access.
  • Mini Mission-III: Supports region-specific research and development to address diverse agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions across states.

Key initiatives under the NBHM

• Digital Support: The Madhukranti Portal facilitates honey registration and traceability to prevent adulteration and promote transparency for consumers.
• Institutional Support: Beekeeper collectives through Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and cooperatives promote women-focused capacity building.
• Skill Development: Training programs, exposure visits, and technology dissemination to promote high-value hive products such as royal jelly and beeswax.
• Research Facility: The National Centre of Excellence in Beekeeping at IIT, Roorkee, was established for scientific innovation and advanced sectoral training.

{GS2 – Governance – Scheme} 10 Years of Atal Pension Yojana

• Context (DDN): The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has completed 10 years of providing social security.

• The APY, launched in 2015, is a Central Sector Scheme providing guaranteed monthly pensions for workers in the unorganised sector.
• Objective: To develop a universal, inclusive social security system for the unorganised sector through voluntary retirement savings.
• Implementation: By the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the National Pension System (NPS) framework.
• Eligibility: Open to non-income-tax payers aged 18 to 40 years with a valid bank account.
• Contributions: Age-based fixed contributions with a 20-year minimum payment, collected via auto-debit (monthly, quarterly, or half-yearly).
• Pension Benefit: Monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 from age 60.
• Family Benefits: The spouse receives the pension when the subscriber dies, and the nominee gets the accumulated corpus after both have passed.
• Exit Conditions: Voluntary exit permitted with certain deductions; spouse may continue contributions in case of premature death.
• Key Achievements: The scheme has surpassed 8.11 crore total enrolments (August 2025), with women constituting approximately 48% of enrolments.

Read More > India’s Pension System

Current Affairs

{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} Animal Welfare Board Releases SOP for Managing Stray Dogs

• Context (HT): The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for municipal authorities to remove stray dogs from public institutional premises.

• It follows the Supreme Court’s recent directive to establish SOPs for managing stray dogs on public institutional premises.

Key SOP Provisions

Shelter and Care Standards

• Sterilisation Protocol: Captured dogs must be sterilised and vaccinated before permanent relocation to municipal or NGO shelters.
• Shelter Dimension: The SOP prescribes a minimum shelter area to prevent overcrowding, e.g. 70×40 feet for every 100 dogs.
• Facility Standards: Shelters must maintain adequate staff, veterinary care, isolation wards, CCTV monitoring, and six-foot perimeter fencing.
• Feeding Norms: Adult dogs must be fed two to three times daily with weight-based quantities, e.g., 100-150 g for 5 kg dogs and 400-600 g for 20 kg dogs.

Operational Standards

• Institutional Shelters: Institutions with over two acres of land and at least 6,000 sq ft free space may establish shelters on their premises at their own expense.
• 24×7 Helpline: A dedicated helpline is mandated to address complaints and capture reported dogs within four hours.
• Waste Management: Civic bodies to create closed waste pits for street vendors and maintain helplines for efficient waste management.

Read More > Stray Dogs Management in India

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} India Warns of Growing Bioterrorism Threat

• Context (TOI): At a conference marking 50 years of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), India’s External Affairs Minister warned that bioterrorism is no longer a distant threat.

• He called for stronger global governance, verification systems, and compliance mechanisms to prevent misuse of biological agents by non-state actors.

About the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

• The Biological Weapons Convention (also called the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, BTWC) is a global disarmament treaty that prohibits biological and toxin weapons.
• It was negotiated in Geneva between 1969 – 1971, and opened for signature in 1972.
• It came into force in 1975. It is the world’s first multilateral disarmament treaty to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
• The BWC complements the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which restricted only the use of biological weapons but did not ban their creation or possession.
• The Convention has 188 States Parties (India ratified in 1974) and 4 Signatories yet to ratify: Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, and Syria.
• Five countries, Israel, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Kiribati, have neither signed nor acceded.
• Review Conferences occur every five years to evaluate implementation and improve transparency.

Why Bioterrorism is a Serious Concern?

• Easy Tech: CRISPR gene-editing kits cost under ₹50,000 online, making biological tools easier to misuse.
• Terror Procurement: 2024 UNSC study found 35+ terror groups attempted to acquire biological agents.
• Pandemic Gaps: 191 countries reported surveillance failures during the pandemic (2020–22).
• Dual-Use Risk: WHO reports that 42% of high-risk labs lack oversight to prevent legitimate research from being diverted for harmful use.
• Synthetic Biology Surge: The global synthetic biology market is projected to hit $30–35 billion by 2030, raising concerns of weaponised biotech.

Issues within the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

• No Verification: BWC has no independent compliance system to inspect laboratories or monitor threats.
• No Technical Body: Lacks a permanent scientific institution to track emerging bio-risks.
• No Reporting Norms: Countries are not required to submit transparent research logs or lab inventories.
• Limited Enforcement: Violations are hard to investigate; only 19% of member states submit confidence-building reports regularly.

Be Prelims Ready!

Way Forward

• Verification Protocol: Develop an inspection-based global compliance system similar to IAEA nuclear safeguards and OPCW inspections for chemical weapons, and provide a template.
• Permanent Secretariat: Create a full-time BWC technical body to track emerging gene-editing risks and dual-use technologies. E.g. WHO R&D Blueprint surveillance model.
• Data-Sharing Network: Enable secure global reporting of outbreaks, unusual lab activity, and synthetic pathogen signatures. E.g. EU Early Warning System for cross-border biological threats.
• Legal Harmonisation: Enact a comprehensive Biosecurity Act integrating 1989 Rules, SCOMET, NDMA guidelines and disaster response. E.g., Australia’s Biosecurity Act 2015.

{GS3 – Envi– Pollution} Northern Cities Are More Polluted Than Southern and Western Cities

• Context (IE | IE): Analysis of CPCB data (2015–2025) from 11 urban centres shows persistent nationwide air pollution, with northern cities being more affected than southern and western ones.

Key Findings

• Unsafe Air: None of the major Indian cities achieved ‘good’ or safe AQI (0–50) during the decade.
• Most Polluted: Delhi remained the most polluted city over the decade, with annual mean AQI above 250 during peak years like 2016.
• Least Polluted: Bengaluru had the lowest AQI (65–90), indicating cleaner but still unhealthy air.
• Regional Disparities: Northern cities like Lucknow, Varanasi, & Ahmedabad had prolonged high AQI readings, unlike southern and western cities like Chennai, Mumbai, & Visakhapatnam (AQI 80–140).

Major Causes of Regional Disparity in Air Pollution

Geographical and Meteorological Factors

• Landlocked Geography: Northern cities are in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), where the flat, landlocked region and Himalayan barrier trap pollutants, preventing their dispersion.
• Winter Temperature Inversion: Cold, dense winter air in North India gets trapped beneath warmer air, creating an “atmospheric lid” that prevents vertical mixing and intensifies smog buildup.
• Coastal Advantage: Southern and western cities benefit from sea breezes and maritime winds that effectively disperse pollutants, ensuring better air circulation throughout the year.
• Seasonal Wind Pattern: Prevailing winter winds in North India carry industrial and agricultural emissions towards urban centres like Delhi, contributing to the haze.

Anthropogenic and Regional Factors

• Stubble Burning: Smoke from post-monsoon crop residue burning in Punjab and Haryana is carried by prevailing winds into major northern cities, causing a severe seasonal pollution spike.
• Industrial Concentration: The IGP hosts dense industry, many thermal plants, and heavy vehicular loads, with frequent non-compliance worsening regional air quality.
  • Transportation accounts for 39% of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution; thermal plants contribute 11%, and industries account for 3%.
• Dust Contribution: Poorly regulated construction and demolition activities sustain road dust, which accounts for about 18% of Delhi’s PM2.5 levels.

Read More > Combating Air Pollution

{Prelims – Polity} Renaming Raj Bhavans

• Context (TH): The Union Home Ministry has written to all States & Union Territories proposing renaming Raj Bhavans as Lok Bhavans and Raj Niwas as Lok Niwas to remove colonial connotation.

• West Bengal and Ladakh accepted the proposal and changed names accordingly.

About Raj Bhavan

• Role: Official residence & office of the Governor, the constitutional head of the State under Article 153.
  • Raj Niwas is the Raj Bhavan equivalent at the Union Territory level, serving the Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of Union Territories.
• Protocol: Comparable to Rashtrapati Bhavan at the Union level; hosts swearing-in ceremonies, official meetings and visiting dignitaries.
• Constitutional Basis: Article 158 entitles the Governor to a rent-free official residence; if one Governor is appointed to more than one State, one Raj Bhavan is designated as the principal official residence.
• Colonial Origin: Most Raj Bhavans trace their origin to British-era government houses used by Governors or Lieutenant-Governors in provinces.
  • Kolkata Raj Bhavan was built in 1803 as the Governor-General’s house.
• Symbolism: The transition from ‘Raj’ to ‘Lok’ seeks to replace colonial ways of authority and hierarchy with people-centric governance.

Read More > Governor’s Role in Indian Federalism

{Prelims – IR} India Re-elected to UNESCO Executive Board

• Context (NOA): India has been re-elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025-29 term.

About UNESCO

• UN specialised agency (est. 1945) promoting cooperation in education, science, and culture; headquartered in Paris, with 194 members (India a founding member) and 12 associate members.
• Mandate: Leads SDG-4 (Education 2030 Agenda), implements World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage Conventions, and runs flagship science-based programmes like Man and the Biosphere (MAB).
• Governance: Operates through the General Conference and a 58-member Executive Board (4-year terms), with the Secretariat headed by the Director-General (4-year term).
• Key Reports: Issues the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report (annual), UNESCO Science Report, McBride Report (1980) and World Water Development Report.

Read More > UNESCO World Heritage Sites

{Prelims – Species} Bamboo Shrimp (Atyopsis spinipes)

• Context (IE): Scientists have rediscovered the bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis spinipes) in Karnataka and Odisha after a 72-year absence, confirming its presence in mainland India.

About the Bamboo Shrimp (Atyopsis spinipes)

• The bamboo shrimp, also known as the Soldier Brush Shrimp, is a filter-feeding freshwater shrimp native to Southeast Asia.
• Appearance: Its colour ranges from brown to reddish-brown, often with a light longitudinal stripe along the back.
  • Colour Change: The body colour varies with environmental conditions; brighter hues signify good health, while fading colouration indicates physiological stress.
• Habitat Preference: The species prefers clean, well-oxygenated, fast-flowing freshwater streams and rivers with a coarse, rocky substrate.
• Global Distribution: It is widely distributed across Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Samoa.
• Diet: The shrimp is a detritivore that feeds on drifting organic detritus, microorganisms, and algae.
  • Feeding Adaptation: It uses unique fan-like appendages to capture tiny food particles from fast-flowing water.
• Life Cycle: The species is amphidromous, with larvae developing in brackish or marine water before returning to freshwater as juveniles.
• Ecological Role: It supports nutrient cycling by filtering detrital particles and microorganisms from the water column.
• Major Threats: Habitat degradation, water pollution, overexploitation for aquarium trade, etc.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concerned.

{Prelims – Defence} Heron Mk II UAV *

• Context (TH): After operational lessons from Operation Sindoor, India is procuring additional Heron Mk II Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from Israel under emergency procurement.

About Heron Mk II UAV

• Category: A Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) platform capable of 24+ hours continuous flight for persistent surveillance.
• SATCOM Control: Equipped with Satellite Communication (SATCOM) links to conduct missions beyond line-of-sight without ground radio dependence.
• ELINT Systems: Carries Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) payloads to detect, analyse and geolocate enemy radar and electronic emissions at stand-off distances.
• COMINT Capability: Features Communications Intelligence (COMINT) receivers to intercept and collect radio communications for actionable intelligence.
• SAR Imaging: Uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to generate high-resolution ground imagery even in fog, rain or night conditions.
• Automated Flight: Fully automatic take-off and landing (ATOL) system boosts safety and reduces manpower at forward operating bases.
• Heavy Payload: Can carry ~500 kg of mission equipment, including electro-optical cameras.

Role of UAV in National Security

• Persistent Surveillance: Drones provide real-time reconnaissance across border regions and infiltration routes where foot patrols are risky; e.g. Herons monitor Line of Actual Control (LAC) and desert sectors.
• Precision Strike: Armed UAVs can neutralise terror hideouts with minimum collateral risk.
• Logistics Lifeline: The Indian Army is testing drone convoys to replace mules and helicopters for ammunition, rations and fuel delivery at high-altitude posts.

{Prelims – Festivals} Hornbill Festival

• Context (IE): Nagaland has opposed the re-imposed Protected Area Permit regime, arguing it restricts foreign tourism during the Hornbill Festival despite temporary relaxation by the Centre.

About Hornbill Festival

• Origin: Initiated in 2000 to preserve Naga culture and inter-tribal unity, this ‘Festival of Festivals’ is celebrated annually from Dec 1 to 10, coinciding with Nagaland Statehood Day (1^st Dec).
  • The festival is named after the Hornbill bird, revered in Naga culture as a symbol of continuity, identity and ancestral tradition.
• Venue: Organised by the Government of Nagaland at Naga Heritage Village in Kisama (≈12 km from Kohima). Nagaland is known as the ‘Land of Festivals’.
• Events: Morung exhibitions, warrior dances, indigenous sports (wrestling, archery), traditional crafts, cuisine, and contemporary events like concerts, fashion shows and contests.
• Significance: Largest tourism and cultural event of Nagaland, attracting >1.5 lakh visitors in recent editions, including foreign delegates, artists and cultural researchers.

Read More > Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival

{Prelims – S&T} Software Defined Radios *

• Context (DD): The Indian Army has signed a contract to procure its first indigenously designed and manufactured Software Defined Radios (SDRs) developed by DRDO and produced by BEL.

About Software Defined Radios

• Software-defined radios replace fixed hardware components with software-based signal processing, enabling rapid reconfiguration for secure, multi-band, multi-mode communication.
• Features: High data rates, encryption capability, and Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) support for resilient, self-healing communication links in battlefield environments.
• Interoperability: Standardised through the Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) framework, enabling waveform portability and seamless communication among tri-services.
• Applications: Defence communication, tactical data links, radar, electronic warfare, telecom networks and emerging Internet of Things (IoT) architectures.

Read More > Revamping DRDO

{Prelims – Tribes} Khiamniungan Tribe *

• Context (NOA): PM Modi recently highlighted the Khiamniungan tribe in the Mann Ki Baat program.

• They are a major Naga community inhabiting eastern Nagaland and north-western Myanmar.
• Their name means “source of great water,” derived from ‘khiam’ (water), ‘niu’ (great), and ‘ngan’ (source).
• Livelihood: Agriculture, specifically jhum (shifting cultivation), is the primary activity, complemented by livestock rearing across hilly terrains.
• Honey Cultivation: They practise the unique cliff honey hunting methods, where they speak to the bees to show respect.
• Cultural Identity: They are known for their vibrant traditional attire, elaborate headgear, and unique folk dances performed during festivals.
• Language: Patsho Khiamniungan is the primary language.
• Musical Instrument: Large log drums are used as primary instruments.

Festivals of the Khiamniungan Tribe

• Tsokum Festival: A week-long harvest festival held in September or October to seek blessings for agricultural prosperity.
• Miu Festival: Celebrated in April/May during sowing season to pray for a successful crop cycle.
• Khaotzao Sey Hok-ah: Marks the completion of all agricultural activity, observed in January.