Current Affairs – December 08, 2025

{GS2 – Governance} Right to Disconnect **

Context (TH | TOI): A Private Member’s Bill, the ‘Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025’, has been introduced in the Lok Sabha to promote work-life balance.

The Bill aims to give employees a legal right to ignore work-related calls, emails, and messages after official hours without fear of penalties or disciplinary action.
Key Proposals: Includes establishing an Employees’ Welfare Authority, a 1% penalty for violations, overtime pay, and counselling and digital detox centres for healthy device use.

A Private Member’s Bill is introduced by a Member of Parliament (MP) who is not a minister to highlight specific issues, test new policy ideas, or raise matters of concern.

About Right to Disconnect

It is the principle that employees should be able to disengage from work communications outside official hours without facing any adverse action.

Need for Right to Disconnect

Legal Gap: India lacks statutory protections for off-hours disengagement, risking unpaid overtime and digital overreach in modern workplaces.
Constitutional Basis: It is essential to protect the Right to Life (Article 21), which includes the right to health, rest, and sleep; It aligns with Articles 39(e) and Article 42.
Burnout & Stress: The expectation of 24/7 availability, termed “telepressure,” causes chronic stress; 49% of Indian workers report work-related stress affecting mental health (ADP Research Institute).
Long Working Hours: Indian employees work some of the longest hours worldwide, averaging 47.7 hours a week, with more than half exceeding 49 hours weekly.
Productivity Impact: Excessive hours reduce focus and output quality, while structured rest improves efficiency, creativity, and reduces presenteeism.

Global Examples of Disconnect Laws

France was the first nation to officially acknowledge the right to disconnect as part of its El Khomri labour law (2017).
Portugal’s 2021 legislation makes it an offence, punishable by fines, for employers to contact employees outside working hours, except in emergencies.
Australia adopted an enforceable right to disconnect in 2024, allowing employees to refuse after-hours work contact unless the refusal is deemed unreasonable.

Read More > Right to Disconnect

Context (TH): Despite three decades of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, India’s deceased donor rate remains low.

Organ Donation Performance in India

Deceased organ donation rate in 2023 was 0.77 per million population (pmp); Spain: 49.38 pmp.
An estimated 5 lakh Indians die each year due to the non-availability of suitable organs.
Only 2–3% of ICU deaths in India undergo Brainstem Death (BSD) certification.
Around 85% of transplants in India are still from living donors, unlike developed nations, where deceased donations account for 70–80% of all transplants.

India’s Legal Framework for Organ Transplantation

THOTA, 1994 (Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act):
- Recognises Brainstem Death as a legal form of death, enabling organ retrieval from deceased donors.
- Regulates living donations, transplant hospitals, and penalties for organ trade.
- Provides forms and certification norms (Form 8 for consent, Form 10 for BSD declaration).
NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation): National apex body under the Ministry of Health for organ allocation, registry, and national coordination.
ROTTO (Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation): Ensures regional coordination across multiple States for organ sharing and allocation.
SOTTO (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation): State-level nodal agencies responsible for training, hospital networking, consent processes, and public awareness.

Challenges in the Current Legal Architecture

Low BSD Utilisation: Only 700–900 deceased donors annually, despite >50,000 medically eligible BSD deaths reported per year (NOTTO Annual Report).
Dual Death Certificate Ambiguity: Many hospitals issue two death certificates (BSD + cardiac), leading to legal confusion and reluctance to certify BSD early.
Restricted Certification Locations: THOTA Section 14 allows BSD certification only in registered transplant centres, which results in >90% public hospitals with ICUs cannot legally certify BSD.
Doctor Approval Bottleneck: Two of four BSD certifying doctors must be approved by the Appropriate Authority, but <8% Government doctors have approval, discouraging BSD certification.
Consent Timing Confusion: Families are often approached before BSD certification due to poor training, leading to consent refusal rates of 60–70% in large public hospitals (E.g. Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow).

Way Forward

Universal BSD Certification: Allow BSD certification in all ICU-equipped hospitals, not only registered centres. E.g. Spain’s “hospital-wide certification rule” powered the deceased donation boom.
Single Death Certificate Rule: Issue one final legal death certificate recognising the BSD time of death. E.g. Kerala 2020 order defining BSD time using the second apnea test.
Trained Consent Coordinators: Deploy certified transplant counsellors in ICU wards for family engagement after BSD diagnosis. E.g., Tamil Nadu-trained coordinator model increased donations by>400%.
Digital BSD Registry: Create a real-time online BSD and organ-availability system linked to NOTTO & SOTTO databases to reduce delays and organ wastage.

The apnea test is a mandatory examination for determining brain death (BD), because it provides an essential sign of definitive loss of brainstem function.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections} SC Directives for PwDs in Prisons

Context (TH): The Supreme Court mandated penal action under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, against prison authorities abusing or neglecting disabled inmates.

Section 89 of the RPwD Act, 2016, prescribes penalties for anyone violating the Act or its rules.

Key Directives of the Supreme Court

Disability Guidelines: The disability-inclusive guidelines issued in the L. Muruganantham judgment (2025, Tamil Nadu) must now be extended to all prisons across India.
Accessibility Measures: Prisons must ensure grievance systems, early disability identification, ramps, accessible toilets, wheelchair pathways, and therapeutic support.
Visitation Rights: Prisoners with benchmark disabilities are entitled to extended visitation rights to sustain family contact and allow close monitoring of their needs.
Staff Training: All prison staff, medical officers, and legal-aid lawyers must undergo training on the RPwD Act and the needs of disabled inmates.
Manual Revision: State Prison Manuals must be reviewed and amended within a fixed timeframe to align with the RPwD Act and relevant UN human-rights standards.

A ‘person with benchmark disability’ is defined under the RPwD Act, 2016, as an individual with at least 40% of a specified disability.

About RPwD Act, 2016

The RPwD Act, 2016, protects the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities (PwDs) and aims to ensure equal opportunities for them in all aspects of life.
It replaced the 1995 Act to align India’s disability framework with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
It defines a “person with disability” as someone with a long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairment that, combined with societal barriers, limits their full participation in society.
The Act broadened disability criteria and raised the number of disability categories from 7 to 21.
Accessibility Mandate: It mandates universal accessibility in infrastructure, information, and communication technology for both government and private organisations.
Key Provisions: The Act guarantees free, inclusive education, reservations in education and jobs, access to justice, social security, health services, and grievance redressal mechanisms.

Read More > RPwD Act, 2016

{GS2 – IR} 23^rd India-Russia Annual Summit **

Context (MEA): The 23^rd India-Russia Annual Summit was held in New Delhi, marking 25 years since the Strategic Partnership declaration of 2000.

The annual summit is the highest institutionalised dialogue mechanism for reviewing and guiding their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between the two countries.

Key Outcomes of the 23^rd India-Russia Annual Summit

Trade and Economy

A new bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030 from the current USD 68 billion.
“Programme 2030 for Strategic Areas” was adopted to diversify trade beyond energy and defence.
- Russian markets opened to Indian potatoes, pomegranates, and processed foods.
Continued development of Rupee-Ruble settlement systems and payment system interoperability.
- 96% of bilateral trade settlements are already conducted in national currencies.
Commitment to early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
- Eurasian Economic Union: Economic Union of five post-Soviet states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
A customs protocol signed to exchange pre-arrival information for faster border clearance.
Long-term fertiliser supply to India and a joint urea production plant in Russia.

Defence and Security

Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) was finalised for mutual access to ports and facilities.
Joint ventures in India for manufacturing spare parts for Russian-origin defence equipment.
Discussions on expedited delivery of remaining S-400 squadrons and future cooperation on the S-500 air-defence system.
An agreement to combat irregular migration and ensure maritime safety.
Reaffirmed zero tolerance for cross-border terror networks and related financing.

Energy

Construction of six new nuclear units in India and a second Russian-designed nuclear plant.
Assurance of uninterrupted crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies to India.
Potential cooperation on small modular reactors and floating nuclear power plants.

Connectivity and Arctic Cooperation

Work towards operationalising the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor to reduce transport time.
Development of the Northern Sea Route as a viable alternative trade corridor.
An MoU to train Indian seafarers for specialist polar and Arctic operations
Removal of logistics bottlenecks for full utilisation of the International North–South Transport Corridor.

Climate and Global Governance

A Joint Working Group on climate change and low-carbon development was established.
Russia reaffirmed support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council.
Russia adopted the Framework Agreement to join the India-led International Big Cat Alliance.

Human-to-Human and Institutional Cooperations

India announced a forthcoming unilateral 30-day free e-tourist visa for Russian citizens.
Agreement to facilitate the temporary labour activity for skilled Indian workers in Russia
ISRO-Roscosmos collaboration in human spaceflight, satellite navigation, and planetary exploration.
Agreements on healthcare cooperation, medical education and infectious disease surveillance.

India-Russia Bilateral Relations

Strategic Partnership: India and Russia maintain a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” anchored in a shared commitment to a multipolar world order.
Trade Balance: Bilateral trade crossed USD 65 billion in 2024-25 but remains heavily tilted toward Russia due to India’s high oil imports.
Defence Cooperation: Russia provides S-400 air defence systems and supports Indian production of BrahMos missiles, Su-30MKI aircraft, and T-90 tanks.
Energy Security: It is India’s largest crude oil supplier and the only foreign partner currently building nuclear reactors in India at Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu.
Key Challenges: Russia-China proximity, delays in defence deliveries, rupee–ruble settlement issues, western sanctions on Russia, etc.

Read More> India-Russia Relations

{GS3 – IE} RBI Measures for Macroeconomic Stability **

Context (TH): The Reserve Bank of India, through the Monetary Policy Committee and supplementary liquidity tools, has announced several measures to enhance macroeconomic stability.

Measures by the Monetary Policy Committee

Repo Rate Cut

Policy Move: The Reserve Bank of India reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%.
Repo Rate: It is the interest rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to banks against government security collateral.
Objective: The cut aims to stimulate economic activity by reducing borrowing costs and sustaining adequate liquidity.
Impacts: Lending rates fall, borrower EMIs reduce, corporate funding becomes cheaper, and money-market rates align with the policy rate.

“Goldilocks” Forecast Revisions

Policy Move: The RBI raised the FY26 GDP growth forecast to 7.3% and cut the CPI inflation projection to 2.0%.
Goldilocks: A “Goldilocks” economy reflects strong growth with low inflation, avoiding both overheating and recession.
Objective: The revision aims to anchor market expectations and emphasise India’s economic resilience.
Impact: Equity markets rise, bond yields soften, and corporate valuations increase.

About Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is a six-member statutory body responsible for determining India’s policy interest rates.
Establishment: It was created in 2016 through an amendment to the RBI Act, 1934, to strengthen transparency and accountability in monetary policy.
Mandate: Its primary objective is to maintain price stability while supporting economic growth.
Inflation Target: The MPC must keep CPI inflation at 4%, within a formally notified tolerance band of ±2% under India’s inflation-targeting framework.
Legal Basis: Established under Section 45ZB of amended RBI Act, its decisions are binding on the RBI.
Composition: It comprises the RBI Governor (ex-officio chairperson), one Deputy Governor, one RBI representative, and 3 Government-appointed external members with four-year terms.
Decision Process: Decisions are taken by majority vote, the Governor holds a casting vote in case of a tie, and the committee must meet at least four times a year.

Other Measures Announced by the RBI

Open Market Operations (OMO)

Policy Move: The RBI announced the purchase of Government Securities worth ₹1 lakh crore through Open Market Operations (OMO).
About OMO: OMOs involve the RBI buying or selling government securities to regulate money supply and influence interest rates.
Objective: The purchase aims to inject durable liquidity into the banking system and keep bond yields stable across all maturity types.
Impact: System liquidity rises, call-money rates stabilise, and bond prices increase.

USD/INR Forex Swap

Policy Move: The RBI announced a $5-billion USD/INR Buy-Sell swap with a three-year maturity.
Forex Swap: A Buy-Sell swap allowing RBI to purchase dollars now by injecting rupees and sell them back at a future date.
Objective: The operation aims to increase rupee liquidity while moderating volatility in the foreign-exchange market.
Significance: It adjusts liquidity without permanently altering the RBI’s balance sheet, unlike Open Market Operations (OMO).
Impact: Banking liquidity rises, forward currency pricing (hedging cost) becomes more predictable, and dollar supply balances.

Read More> Reserve Bank of India

{Prelims – Eco} SEBI Action Highlights Finfluencer Issue

Context (MINT): Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) barred trader Avadhut Sathe for allegedly offering unregistered investment advice, placing finfluencer regulation under sharper scrutiny.

About Finfluencers

Finfluencers are individuals offering financial opinions or investment-related content on social media without necessarily being registered or qualified.
Regulation: SEBI treats real-time stock cues or return-linked claims as investment advisory activity that requires registration under SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulations.
Risk: Unregistered finfluencer activity raises concerns of inducement, misleading claims, undisclosed paid partnerships and weakened investor protection.
Action: SEBI now restricts regulated entities from collaborating with unregistered finfluencers and prohibits assured-return messaging or implicit trade guidance.

Read More > Digital Misinformation

{Prelims – IR} UNSC Resolution 2803

Context (ET): The UN Security Council (UNSC) passed Resolution 2803 endorsing a comprehensive post-conflict reconstruction plan for Gaza, including new city-building and a special economic zone.

UNSC: The UN body responsible for international peace and security, established in 1945 and headquartered in New York, with 15 members including five permanent veto-holding states.

About UNSC Resolution 2803

The resolution endorses the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, calling on all parties to implement the ceasefire and Gaza rehabilitation plan fully.
It establishes a transitional body, Board of Peace (BoP), with international legal personality to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and governance until a reformed Palestinian Authority can resume control.
The resolution authorises an International Stabilisation Force to secure borders, aid demilitarisation, protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid under the BoP’s oversight.
It includes a conditional promise of Palestinian self-determination, subject to reforms by the Palestinian Authority; statehood is not immediately recognised.

Read More > Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement

{Prelims – Defence} Shyok Tunnel Inaugurated in Ladakh *

Context (DD): Union Defence Minister inaugurated 125 new Border Roads Organisation (BRO) projects, including the Shyok Tunnel, enhancing all-weather connectivity to key border areas.

About Shyok Tunnel

Location: Shyok Tunnel is a 920-metre road tunnel built by the BRO on the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DS-DBO) road in eastern Ladakh.
Connectivity: It secures year-round surface connectivity from Leh to forward areas, including Daulat Beg Oldi, India’s northernmost military base near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Strategic Significance: The tunnel enables quicker troop mobilisation and logistics while reducing dependence on air maintenance in this high-altitude, snow-prone sector.

Read More > Siachen

{Prelims – Diseases} Onchocerciasis

Context (NOA): Niger has become the first African nation and the fifth worldwide to end onchocerciasis after meeting WHO’s criteria for stopping transmission.

About Onchocerciasis

Onchocerciasis is a non-contagious disease caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, spread through the bites of infected Simulium blackflies. The disease is also known as river blindness.
Distribution: Most cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen, with smaller endemic pockets in Latin America; considered a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by WHO.
Symptoms: It causes severe itching, skin thickening and progressive eye damage, making it the second leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide, after trachoma.
Control: Repeated community-wide ivermectin (anti-parasite drug) administration, which treats infected individuals and reduces transmission in endemic areas.

Read More > Coup in Niger

{Prelims – In News} Digital Addressing System DHRUVA *

Context (TH): The Department of Posts has released an amendment to the Post Office Act, 2023, to introduce the Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA).

About DHRUVA

DHRUVA is a proposed national digital addressing system that replaces traditional physical addresses with standardised, “UPI-like” virtual labels.

Virtual Labels: They replace long textual addresses with simple, unique identifiers (E.g., name@entity) that act as precise proxies for physical locations.
Objective: to establish an interoperable and standardised national Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for efficient service delivery across public and private sectors.
Design: The system is built on two key layers:
1. Foundational Layer: DIGIPIN (Digital Postal Index Number) is a 10-character alphanumeric code that uses latitude and longitude to map every 14 sq m. This ensures high precision even in areas without formal street addresses.
2. Digital Address Layer: This enables users to create a personalised, easy-to-remember virtual address label linked to their exact DIGIPIN and descriptive address details.
Governance: The framework suggests a national Network Administrator, like NPCI, to oversee and standardise the ecosystem.

Key Features

Interoperability: The system is designed to operate smoothly across various platforms, including e-commerce, logistics, banking (for KYC) and government services.
User Control: It has a consent-based architecture, allowing users to control who accesses their full address and for how long, with automatic expiry unless renewed.
Efficiency: DHRUVA uses a single digital identifier to reduce manual errors, avoid repetitive form filling, and enhance delivery accuracy and service speed.