Current Affairs – December 07, 2025

{GS2 – Governance} NITI Aayog’s Quantum Technology Push **

• Context (NOA): NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub and IBM released a national roadmap targeting India as a top-3 quantum economy by 2047.

India’s Quantum Roadmap 2047

• Hardware First: Develop indigenous superconducting, photonic and ion-trap quantum chips at scale.
• Startup Push: Foster 10 globally competitive quantum startups via co-development & venture funds.
• Applied Quantum: Deploy quantum solutions in defence, energy grids, logistics, finance, & healthcare.
• Skilled Workforce: Train 1 lakh quantum professionals across IITs, IISERs, and national research labs.
• Trusted Standards: Build trusted, verifiable encryption networks for critical infrastructure.

Challenges Faced in India’s Quantum Roadmap

• Low R&D Funding: India spends 0.65% of GDP on R&D vs China 2.2% and the U.S. 2.8%.
• Patent Lag: India filed <50 quantum patents (2018–24) vs Korea 300+ and Japan 450+.
• Hardware Dependence: India imports >90% of quantum hardware components (cryogenic coolers, quantum-grade lasers, dilution refrigerators), slowing indigenous builds.
• Academic Bottlenecks: India has fewer than 2,000 specialised quantum researchers, while the EU employs >15,000, creating talent scarcity.
• Weak Industry Capacity: Only 6–8 startups are building quantum products, while the U.S. has >100 venture-funded quantum firms. E.g. IonQ and PsiQuantum.

Way Forward

• Cluster Labs: Build national quantum fabrication clusters (cryogenics, ion-trap labs, photonic foundries) with shared access. E.g. Israel’s Quantum Tech Hub model.
• Mission Procurement: Mandate government procurement of quantum-secure networks for power grids and defence. E.g. DRDO–QNu Labs Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) pilot.
• State Incentives: Launch state-level capital grants and tax rebates for deep-tech quantum startups. E.g. Karnataka Semiconductor & Deep Tech Policy, 2022.
• Skills Pipeline: Create 5 National Quantum Skill Centres integrated with IIT–IISER curriculum. E.g. UK National Quantum Technologies Skills Taskforce.
• Patent Push: Fast-track patent examination and royalty support for indigenous quantum IP. E.g. Japan’s Patent Highway Scheme for frontier tech.

{GS2 – Governance} Police Reform in India **

• Context (TH): PM Modi stressed the need for police reform while addressing the 60^th All India Conference of Director Generals in Raipur, held under the theme of ‘Viksit Bharat: Security Dimensions’.

Need for Police Reforms in India

Political and Structural Inertia

• Structural Stagnation: Colonial-era institutional design restricts flexibility and undermines democratic policing. Ten states still use frameworks derived from the Police Act 1861.
• Non-Compliance: Supreme Court directives to create independent police boards and fixed-tenure systems remain unmet. Not a single state in India has fully complied with all Prakash Singh directives.
• Political Pressure: Political leverage over postings forces officers to prioritise political interests over the rule of law. 72% personnel faced political pressure in cases involving influential persons. (SPIR 2019).
• Weak Oversight: Inadequate complaint bodies render public grievance redressal ineffective. 30% of functional State Police Complaints Authorities (SPCAs) lack a judicial member (IJR 2022).

Workforce and Capacity Crisis

• Work Fatigue: Excessive duty hours and inconsistent weekly rest impair on-ground performance. An average police workday is 14 hours (SPIR 2019).
• Promotion Stagnation: Limited promotion avenues reduce motivation for the bulk of the workforce. Constables form 86% of the force, but often retire with only one promotion after 30 years.
• Training Deficit: Outdated training fails to prepare officers for modern forensics, cybercrime, or human-rights compliance. 64% received no in-service training in the last 5 years (IJR 2022).

Diversity & Trust Deficit

• Gender Gap: Low female participation restricts gender-sensitive policing in sensitive cases. Women comprise 12% of the police force, far below the 33% target.
• Minority Bias: Weak minority representation in higher ranks reduces perceived neutrality. Despite forming 14% of the population, Muslims constitute only 3-4% of the police force.
• Trust Deficit: Fear of police aggression discourages crime reporting and community cooperation. CSDS Survey shows 14% of citizens are “highly fearful” of the police

Human Rights & Infrastructure Issues

• Custodial Violence: The absence of an anti-torture law allows “third-degree” methods to continue without consequences. India signed the UNCAT in 1997, but has yet to ratify it.
• Infrastructure Deficit: Lack of basic amenities in police stations reduces working comfort and public accessibility. In 2020, 257 police stations had no vehicles, and 638 had no telephones.
• Modernisation Lag: Underutilisation of modernisation funds leaves forces with shortages in weapons and vehicles. 30-40% of the Police Modernisation Fund (MPF) remains unspent annually (IJR 2022).

Major Recommendations by Commissions

National Police Commission (1977-81)

• Create a State Security Commission in every state to prevent political misuse of police.
• Ensure minimum assured tenure for DGPs and key police officers.
• Restrict government interference and strengthen the internal authority of police leadership.

Ribeiro Commission (1998)

• Set up a Police Establishment Board (PEB) to oversee transfers, promotions, and discipline.
• Replace the colonial Police Act of 1861 with a modern statute.
• Establish an Independent Police Recruitment Board for non-gazetted officers.

Padmanabhaiah Committee (2000)

• Separate Investigation responsibilities from the law-and-order duties.
• Create Police Training Advisory Councils at the central and state levels.
• Retrain constables and require personnel to retire if they fail to meet updated standards.

Malimath Committee (2002-03)

• Reform criminal justice processes in evidence, investigation, and trials.
• Form a national-level law enforcement agency for specialised cases.
• Strengthen victim rights and witness protection systems.

Model Police Act Committee (2005-06)

• Replace the 1861 Act with a rights-based Police Act.
• Create a State Police Board for oversight and appointments.
• Enforce a mandatory two-year minimum tenure and regulate transfers by rank.

National Human Rights Commission (2021)

• Insert Section 114B in the Evidence Act to place the burden of explaining custodial injuries on police.
• Install CCTV cameras nationwide as directed by the Supreme Court.
• Institutionalise community policing and implement Prakash Singh directives.

Read More > Police Reforms in India

{Prelims – Geo} Disruption of Indian Aviation Due to Volcanic Ash

• Context (TH): India’s aviation regulator (DGCA) issued advisories after volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption entered Indian airspace, prompting flight rerouting and cancellations.

Key Points

• The Hayli Gubbi eruption sent ash up to 14 km high, travelling at 100-120 km/hr across Ethiopia, West Asia and northern India before exiting toward China.
• Volcanic ash contains silicate glass and rock, which melts inside jet engines (~1600°C), forming glassy deposits that block cooling channels and may trigger engine stall or shutdown.
• Risks: Ash can also abrade windscreens, sensors and turbine blades, contaminate runways, interfere with pressurisation and impair navigation and radio systems.
• Regulatory Action: DGCA instructed airlines to avoid affected altitudes, report engine anomalies, and conduct runway contamination checks.
• Historical Incidents: Major failures include British Airways Flight 9 (1982) and KLM Flight 867 (1989) where all four engines failed mid-air after ash encounter.

Read More > India’s Aviation Sector

{Prelims – IR} Thailand Seeks BRICS Membership

• Context (WION): Thailand has expressed interest in joining BRICS & requested support ahead of India’s chairmanship of the BRICS in 2026.

• India-Thailand ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2024, reflecting enhanced cooperation in trade, connectivity, security and regional frameworks.

About BRICS

• BRICS is an informal grouping of major emerging economies, formalised as ‘BRIC’ with the inaugural summit in 2009; South Africa joined in 2011, expanding it to BRICS.
• BRICS does not have a headquarters, being an informal group. It rotates the chairmanship and hosting of its summit between its member countries annually.
• Members: Include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, with the 2024 expansion adding United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and Iran. Indonesia joined in 2025.
• Focus: The grouping focuses on reforming global governance, strengthening multipolarity & enhancing South-South economic and political cooperation.
• BRICS’ New Development Bank (NDB) was established in 2015 to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects in member and partner countries; headquarters at Shanghai, China.
• Significance: Represents over 40% of the global population and 37%-40% of global GDP (in terms of Purchasing Power Parity), increasingly seen as an alternative to the G7 grouping.

Read More > BRICS

{Prelims – Eco} Finland to Host Circular Economy Roadshows in India

• Context (TH): Finland will hold circular economy roadshows across Indian cities as India prepares to host the World Circular Economy Forum in October 2026.

About Circular Economy

• Concept: Economic model focused on designing out waste, extending product lifespan and closing material loops through reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling.
• Drivers: Enabled by design innovation, material recovery technologies and producer-responsibility frameworks supporting closed-loop systems.
• Potential: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates circular transition could unlock $4.5 trillion in economic value by 2030 while reducing emissions and resource pressure.
• India Scenario: India’s circular economy potential is estimated at $2 trillion and 10 million jobs by 2050, with a current focus on waste management and recycling.
• Priority Sectors: Textiles, electronics, construction, mobility, packaging, and clean energy value chains (including battery materials) are identified as key circular transition domains.

Read More > India’s Circular Economy

{Prelims – Eco} Circulation of ₹2000 Banknote Stabilised

• Context (TH): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reports that 98.39% of ₹2000 notes in circulation (as of May 2023) have now been returned.

Key Facts

• ₹2000 notes in circulation were valued at ₹3.56 lakh crore when the withdrawal was announced on 19 May 2023.
• Current Status: As of 29 November 2025, only ₹5,743 crore remain in circulation, with deposits and exchange largely completed.
• Exchange Window: General exchange at banks ended on 7 October 2023; currently allowed only at 19 RBI Issue Offices, including via India Post for account credit.
• ₹2000 notes remain legal tender, though gradually being phased out of active circulation.

Read More > RBI’s Independence

{Prelims – Species} Horn-eyed Ghost Crab (Ocypode ceratophthalmus) *

• Context (TH): Researchers documented the first confirmed case of a horn-eyed ghost crab preying on a mottled lightfoot crab at Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam. Andhra Pradesh.

About the Horn-eyed Ghost Crab (Ocypode ceratophthalmus)

• The horn-eyed ghost crab is a nocturnal ghost crab species recognised for its distinctive horned eye stalks.
• Appearance: This species has a box-shaped body with pale or mottled colours that resemble sandy beaches. It gradually changes its body colour to camouflage with its surroundings.
• Habitat preference: It occupies tropical and subtropical sandy beaches, particularly the high intertidal and supralittoral zones.
• Distribution: The crabs are widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific region (excluding the Red Sea), ranging from East Africa to Japan, Australia, and Polynesia.
  • India Range: Populations occur along the coasts of Gujarat, Goa, and Visakhapatnam.
• Speed Ability: This crab can reach nearly 100 body lengths per second, making it exceptionally fast for its body size.
• Diet: It is a generalist predator and scavenger that feeds on insects, worms, dead fish, and occasionally sea turtle hatchlings.
• Ecological Role: The species acts as a keystone coastal predator and serves as a sensitive indicator of ecosystem health. Its extensive burrowing mixes and aerates beach sand.
• Key Threats: Habitat destruction, anthropogenic disturbances, exposure to chemical runoff, pollution, climate change, etc.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern.

{Prelims – S&T} Tensor Processing Units

• Context (MSN): Reports suggest Meta is in advanced talks to use Google’s Tensor Processing Units, signalling potential disruption in Nvidia’s lead in the AI chip market.

About Tensor Processing Units (TPUs)

• A Tensor Processing Unit is a specialised computer chip developed by Google in 2016 to run artificial intelligence and machine learning models faster than regular processors.
• Working: TPUs are built to handle tensor-based maths, allowing them to process massive datasets quickly and in parallel.
• Performance: Google’s latest TPUv7-Ironwood reportedly matches Nvidia’s Blackwell platform in compute and memory capacity, reducing the earlier performance gap between GPUs and TPUs.
• Advantage: Provides much higher throughput and better energy efficiency for large-scale Machine Learning workloads than general-purpose CPUs and even many GPU-based setups.

Read More > Neural Processing Unit

{Prelims – S&T} R&D Roadmap for CCUS in India *

• Context (PIB): The Government of India has launched the first national R&D Roadmap for Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) to support its Net Zero goals.

About the Roadmap

• It outlines a national strategy to deploy CCUS at scale, especially in sectors with few clean-energy options, like coal power, cement, petrochemicals, oil, gas, and fertilisers.
• Developed By: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
• Objective: Guide and accelerate R&D, collaboration, and investment for large-scale CCUS deployment to meet India’s Net-Zero by 2070 target.
• Funding Mechanisms: It proposes utilising the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme and encourages the use of captured CO₂ for value-added products.
• Significance: It aligns with Viksit Bharat@2047, reinforcing India’s commitment to global climate action.

Key Features

• Balanced Approach: It focuses on advancing current CCUS technologies while promoting the development of next-generation solutions.
• PPP Focus: It encourages Public–Private Partnership to establish CCUS test beds in industrial facilities, emphasising infrastructure, clear regulations, and skilled human resources.
• Cluster Model: It recommends CCUS clusters where multiple industrial units capture CO₂ and utilise shared transportation and storage networks to reduce costs.

{Prelims – In News} World Telecommunication Development Conference

• Context (PIB): World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) 2025 concluded in Baku, where India contributed to major policy outcomes.

Key Outcomes of WTDC-25

• Leadership: India secured Vice-Chair roles in WTDC-25 and International Telecommunication Union-Development (ITU-D) Study Groups (2026-29) and led 19 resolutions.
• Resolution 85 expanded Smart Sustainable Cities to Smart Villages; Resolutions 89-90 strengthened global innovation alliances and support for emerging tech.
• Resolution 45 upgraded measures against misuse of telecom services (spam, spoofing) and enhanced cyber-resilience.
• Resolution 34 promoted early-warning systems and regional disaster coordination; Resolution 66 pushed circular economy, e-waste awareness and climate-responsible systems.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• UN specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs); founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union and became a UN agency in 1947; headquartered in Geneva.
• Members: 194 Member States and 1,000+ sector members (industry, academia, organisations); India has been a member since 1869 and has been on the ITU Council since 1952.
  • India hosts the ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre at C-DoT, New Delhi.
• Role: Allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops telecom/ICT technical standards, and ensures secure, interoperable global connectivity.
• ITU conducts the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) every four years to set global telecom development priorities under ITU-D.

Read More > Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI)