Current Affairs – December 11, 2025

{GS2 – Polity} Contempt of Court **

• Context (TH): Supreme Court set aside a Bombay High Court order punishing a woman for criminal contempt, holding that contempt power is not a “personal armour” for judges.

More About the Supreme Court Ruling

• Not Personal Armour: Contempt cannot be used to suppress criticism of judges.
• Bona Fide Apology: Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, allows acceptance of sincere remorse even after guilt is recorded.
• Judicial Restraint: Contempt jurisdiction must be exercised cautiously and proportionately.
• Mercy Principle: Forgiveness forms part of judicial conscience when the contemnor shows contrition.

About Contempt of Court in India

• Purpose: Protect judicial authority, ensure public confidence, and preserve the sanctity of justice delivery.
• Constitutional Basis: Articles 129 and Article 215 empower the Supreme Court and High Courts as Courts of Record with inherent authority to punish for contempt.
  • The term “contempt of court” appears in Article 19(2) as a ground to restrict freedom of speech.
• Statutory Framework: Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (H.N. Sanyal Committee Recommendation).
  • Civil Contempt (Section 2(b)): Wilful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.
  • Criminal Contempt (Section 2(c)): Publication or act that Scandalises the authority of a court, Prejudices with judicial proceedings, Obstructs the administration of justice in any manner.
• Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Act, 2006: It specified that punishment for contempt can be imposed only if the act substantially interferes or is likely to interfere with the administration of justice.
• Initiation of Proceedings: Courts may act suo motu, or any person may file a petition with the consent of the Attorney General (SC) or Advocate General (HC).
• Punishment: Simple imprisonment up to 6 months or a fine up to ₹2,000, or both, and it is waived if the court accepts a genuine apology.

{GS2 – Social Sector} Right to Health in India

• Context (TH): The National Convention on Health Rights, led by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, reaffirmed the need for health care as a fundamental right.

• The convention was timed between Global Human Rights Day (December 10) and Universal Health Coverage Day (December 12).

Significance of Right to Health in India

• Universal Access: Ensures basic care for vulnerable populations.
• System Accountability: Enforces quality norms and grievance systems; E.g., overcharging complaints rose by 30–40% in major cities.
• Reduced Financial Hardship: Decreases catastrophic spending; E.g. 63 million Indians fall into poverty annually due to medical bills (Lancet).
• Inclusive Health Systems: Addresses structural discrimination; E.g. NFHS data shows utilisation gaps of 10–20 percentage points between marginalised and general groups.

Challenges Faced in Implementation

• Rapid Privatisation: Private sector now accounts for ~70% of India’s healthcare market by value.
• Chronic Underfunding: Insufficient resources for primary care; E.g. India invests only 1.28% of GDP in public health vs the WHO-recommended 5%.
• Weak Regulation: Poor enforcement of the Clinical Establishments Act; E.g. some states have registered less than 30% of private facilities.
• Persistent Inequities: Social hierarchies affect access; E.g. institutional delivery among Adivasis remains 10–15% lower than the national average.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Public Financing: Raise spending toward 2.5% of GDP to support universal, quality care.
• Affordable Medicines: Replicate the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) model for low-cost essential drugs, which reduced drug costs by 30–40% in state hospitals.
• Decentralised Governance: Empower Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) to improve immunisation and maternal care uptake in high-focus districts.
• Public-Provisioned UHC: Build Universal Health Coverage (UHC) on strengthened government infrastructure rather than only insurance; E.g. Kerala’s primary care model
• Workforce Justice: Guarantee timely payments, social security and career pathways for ASHAs, nurses and paramedical staff.

{GS2 – Social Sector} World Inequality Report 2026 **

• Context (IE): The World Inequality Report 2026 (3^rd edition), released by the World Inequality Lab, shows that global inequality is at a historic peak.

Key Findings of the Report

Global Findings

• Wealth Distribution: The richest 0.001% own three times more wealth than the bottom 50%. The top 10% hold 75% of global wealth, while the bottom half holds only 2%.
• Income Inequality: The top 10% of global earners now earn more income than the remaining 90%, while the poorest half receive less than 10%.
• Gender Gaps: Women earn 61% of men’s hourly wages (excluding unpaid work), and 32% when including it. They earn just over a quarter of global labour income, nearly unchanged since 1990.
• Climate Inequality: The poorest 50% contribute only 3% of carbon emissions linked to private capital ownership, while the wealthiest 10% are responsible for 77%.
• Financial Flows: About 1% of global GDP annually shifts from poorer to richer countries through net income transfers, nearly triple the development aid received by poorer nations.

India-Specific Findings

• Relative Position: India has lost relative position in global income distribution; A significant portion of its population has shifted from the global middle 40% to the bottom 50%.
• Wealth Distribution: The top 10% hold about 65% of wealth; the top 1% alone holds roughly 40%.
• Income Inequality: The top 10% earn 58% of national income, leaving just 15% for the bottom half.
• Gender Gaps: Female labour force participation is very low at 15.7%, with little progress in a decade.
• Income Levels: India’s average annual per capita income is about €6,200 (PPP), while average wealth is around €28,000 (PPP), highlighting wide internal disparities.

Key Policy Recommendations in the Report

• Progressive Taxes: Implement substantial progressive taxes, including a global minimum wealth tax on multimillionaires, to mobilise public resources.
• Public Investment: Expand free, quality education, healthcare, childcare, and nutrition to reduce early-life inequality and improve long-term opportunities.
• Labour Protection: Strengthen minimum wages, collective bargaining, and social-protection systems for workers through targeted transfers.
• Gender Equality: Reduce unpaid-care burdens by enhancing public services and increasing training and flexible work options.
• Climate Accountability: Hold wealthy individuals and corporations accountable for emissions linked to private capital, not just consumption.
• Global Coordination: Establish an independent ‘International Panel on Inequality’, modelled on the IPCC, to guide evidence-based policymaking.

{GS2 – IR} India–US Rice Trade and Dumping

• Context (TH | IE): US President Donald Trump has indicated the possibility of new tariffs on Indian rice, accusing India of “dumping” rice into the US market.

Current Scenario of India–US Rice Trade

• Production: The US ranks 13^th in rice production, while India is the 2^nd-largest producer, contributing over 25% of global output.
• Export Share: The US accounts for only about 3% of India’s global rice export by value.
• Import Dependence: India supplies around 26% of total US rice imports, ranking second after Thailand.
• Import Pattern: The US is a net rice exporter, mainly importing high-value Indian basmati rice (contrary to the dumping claim).

About Dumping

• Dumping is an unfair trade practice where a country or company exports a product at a price lower than its domestic price or below its average production cost.
• It is a form of international price discrimination to unfairly gain an advantage in the importing market.
• Implications: It reduces domestic prices and decreases market share; it offers short-term consumer benefits but weakens the long-term industry competitiveness.

{GS3 – IE} Sustainability of India’s Growth Rate

• Context (TH): India recorded 8.2% GDP growth, supported by the manufacturing and services sectors.

• However, the IMF rated India’s national income accounting “Grade C”, citing methodological gaps.

Evidence for the Sustainable Growth Rate of India

• Sectoral Momentum: Manufacturing grew 9.1% and Services 9.2%, with financial services at 10.2%.
• Consumption Demand: Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) up 7.9%, signalling rising household spending and urban demand resilience.
• Real GVA Growth: Real GVA increased from ₹82.88 lakh crore → ₹89.41 lakh crore, confirming genuine increase in value addition, not inflation-led growth.
• Inflation Contained: Nominal GDP grew 8.8%, very close to real GDP 8.2%, meaning.
• Exports & Investment: Exports from SEZs rose from ₹7.59 lakh crore (FY21) → ₹14.63 lakh crore (FY25); investments up ₹6.17 lakh crore → ₹7.82 lakh crore.

Evidence for the Unsustainable Growth Rate of India

• National Accounting Quality: IMF flagged outdated base year (2011–12), absence of Producer Price Index, and weak state-level data question the reliability of growth numbers.
• Uneven Sectoral Recovery: Mining grew only 0.04%, electricity 4.4%, showing weak backbone sectors.
• Employment–Output Mismatch: Agriculture employs ~45% of workforce but contributes ~14% to GVA.
• Weak Goods Export: In 2023–24, India’s merchandise exports were ~$437 billion, while Vietnam exported ~$404 billion despite being far smaller, and China exported ~$3.4 trillion.
• Structural Weaknesses: No consolidated state/local body fiscal data after 2019.

Way Forward

• Data Reform: Update base year; adopt Producer Price Index (PPI). E.g. Shift from 2011–12 → 2023–24 base, matching global statistical norms.
• Export Diversification: Broaden goods export base via FTAs and cluster development. E.g. India–UAE CEPA boosting gems/jewellery & electronics exports.
• Labour Formalisation: Improve productivity via skilling and MSME digitisation. E.g. Apprenticeship incentives under Skill India promote an industry-ready workforce.
• Manufacturing Deepening: Push labour-intensive and high-tech sectors through PLI schemes.
• Climate Resilience: Build climate-proof infrastructure and diversify energy mix. E.g. Renewable-powered industrial corridors in Gujarat & Tamil Nadu.

{Prelims – A&C} UNESCO Declares Sindh’s Boreendo as World Heritage

• Context (HT): UNESCO added Pakistan’s Boreendo vessel-flute to the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in urgent need of safeguarding.

About Boreendo

• It originates in the Sindh-Thar region of Pakistan and shows continuity with terracotta flutes excavated at Mohenjo-Daro, indicating an Indus Valley Civilisation musical lineage.
• It is a hand-made spherical terracotta vessel-flute, sun-dried and kiln-fired, with a hollow resonating chamber, a single air inlet, 3-5 finger holes, and often painted with natural motifs.
• It produces soft, breathy pastoral tones for folk songs, courtship melodies and seasonal gatherings.
• Its craft and performance survive only through oral tradition in Keti Mir Muhammad Lund (Sindh), where a shrinking group of practitioners places the tradition at severe risk of disappearance.

Read More > UNESCO World Heritage Sites

{Prelims – Envi} Global Environment Outlook 2025 *

• Context (UNEP | ET): The 7^th edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) was released at the 7^th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), in Nairobi.

Key Highlights

• Major Crises: Climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution are worsening together.
• Rising Emissions: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have risen by 1.5% each year since 1990, reaching a new high in 2024.
• Economic Costs: Extreme weather has caused USD 143 billion annual losses over twenty years; air pollution health damages reached USD 8.1 trillion in 2019 (6.1% of global GDP).
• Biodiversity Decline: Nearly 1 million species face extinction, and 20–40% of the world’s land is degraded, affecting over 3 billion people.
• Pollution Burden: About 8,000 MT of plastic waste pollutes the planet; 9 million deaths occur each year due to pollution.
• Solution Pathways: A whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach can secure a sustainable future, with macroeconomic benefits reaching at least USD 20 trillion annually by 2070.

Read More > UNEP

{Prelims – S&T} Mephedrone

• Context (PIB): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) dismantled a clandestine Mephedrone unit in Maharashtra under “Operation Hinterland Brew,” seizing 128 kg of the drug.

About Mephedrone

• Mephedrone, or 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC), is a synthetic stimulant of the amphetamine and cathinone classes.
• It acts as a xenobiotic and environmental contaminant, typically appearing as powder or crystals, and produces euphoria, alertness and sociability similar to amphetamine-type stimulants.
• It causes anxiety, paranoia, cardiovascular strain, hallucinations and addiction; severe toxicity can lead to hyperthermia, seizures and potentially fatal outcomes.
• It is a prohibited psychotropic substance in India under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

About Operation Hinterland Brew

• It is an anti-narcotics initiative by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to dismantle illegal drug-manufacturing units in remote or rural areas.
• It is part of broader national efforts under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and enforcement of the NDPS Act, 1985, to curb synthetic drug production and trafficking.

Read More > Narcotics Threat in India

{Prelims – S&T} Chandrayaan-3 Findings on Lunar South-Polar Plasma *

• Context: (IE): Data from RAMBHA-LP of the Chandrayaan-3 mission shows that the Lunar south pole region is more electrically active than previously estimated.

• The findings represent the first direct, or “in situ,” measurements of lunar plasma at such low altitudes.

Key Findings

• Electron Density: It detected 380–600 electrons per cubic centimetre at ‘Shiv Shakti’ (landing point), much higher than previous high-altitude observations.
• Electron Temperature: Electrons had high kinetic temperatures of 3,000–8,000 Kelvin, indicating intense energy in the near-surface plasma or lunar ionosphere.
• Dynamic Plasma: Plasma behaviour changes with lunar position—solar wind dominates in daytime, while Earth’s geomagnetic tail modifies plasma when the Moon enters it.
• Molecular Influence: Insights indicate molecules like carbon dioxide and water vapour may also affect the lunar ionosphere.

{Prelims – S&T} Bharat 6G Mission

• Context (PIB): The Apex Council under the Bharat 6G Mission reviewed national 6G progress and Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) initiatives.

About Bharat 6G Mission

• Launch: Started in 2023 under the Department of Telecommunications to operationalise the Bharat 6G Vision and drive India’s 6G development by 2030.
• Aim: Build indigenous 6G technology, expand India’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and influence global 6G standards.
• Phases: Runs in two stages, 2023-2025 for concept validation and standards groundwork, and 2025-2030 for large-scale trials and early commercial use.
• Governance: Guided by an Apex Council and implemented through the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), a collaboration of industry, academia, start-ups and R&D bodies.
• Testbeds: It sets up national 6G Terahertz and Optical Communication testbeds and supports 100 sanctioned 5G labs, funded through the ₹1-lakh-crore R&D Innovation Fund.

Read More > 10 Years of Digital India Programme

{Prelims – In News} 79^th Foundation Day of the UNICEF

• Context (N18): UNICEF is celebrating its 79^th Foundation Day on December 11 with the theme “My Day, My Rights”.

About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

• About: UNICEF is a United Nations agency providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children and mothers worldwide.
• Establishment: It was created by the UN General Assembly in 1946 in the aftermath of World War II.
• Permanent Body: In 1953, it became a permanent UN body named the United Nations Children’s Fund. It reports to the UN ECOSOC.
• Focus Area: Its work follows the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), covering health, education, protection, WASH, and social policy.
• Peace Prize: UNICEF received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 for advancing international solidarity and brotherhood.
• Executive Director: UNICEF is led by an Executive Director appointed for a five-year term by the UN Secretary-General.
• Executive Board: It is governed by a 36-member Executive Board elected by the UN ECOSOC for three-year terms.
• Headquarters: Its global headquarters is located in New York City, United States.
  • The Supply Division in Copenhagen is the world’s largest humanitarian warehouse.
  • The Innocenti Research Centre in Florence, Italy, serves as UNICEF’s dedicated research arm.

• Funding: UNICEF is financed entirely through voluntary contributions from Govt. and private donors.

Read More> UNICEF

{Prelims – PIN – World} Benin

• Context (BBC): Cotonou in Benin recently witnessed a failed coup attempt by a group of soldiers.

• The Republic of Benin is a West African country with its capital at Porto Novo. Cotonou is its largest city and the administrative centre.
• Borders: Nigeria (east), Niger (northeast), Burkina Faso (northwest), and Togo (west).
• Languages: French is the official language, with widely spoken indigenous languages like Fon, Yoruba, Bariba, and Dendi.
• History: The region was ruled by the Kingdom of Dahomey (17th–19th centuries) and later became a French colony called French Dahomey.
• Physical Features: Southern coastline along the Bight of Benin (part of the Gulf of Guinea), central plateaus (Barre Country), and northwest Atakora Mountains, with Mont Sokbaro as the highest point.
• Drainage: Major rivers include the Ouémé, Mono, and Couffo.