Current Affairs – December 30, 2025

{GS1 – Geo} Gandikota Canyon **

Context (TH): Gandikota canyon in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, is gaining tourist attention as a major geological and heritage site, often called the Grand Canyon of India.

Canyon

A canyon is a deep, narrow valley with cliffs, formed mainly by the long-term erosive action of rivers and other natural forces.
They often expose rock layers, offering evidence of Earth’s geological history and landscape evolution.

About Gandikota Canyon

Location: It lies within the Erramala Hills on the banks of the Penna River.
Landform: Deep gorge carved over aeons through red sandstone and granite formations.
Physiography: Lies in the Rayalaseema plateau region, part of the Deccan peninsular system.
Tourism Profile: Weekend visits peak at ~3,000 tourists per day, with an average daily footfall of ~830.
Accessibility: ~300 km from Bengaluru & 225 km from Tirupati, making it a combined pilgrimage circuit.

Historical And Cultural Features

Fort Foundation: Gandikota Fort was founded in 1123 CE by the Pemmasani Nayaks, feudatories of the Kakatiya dynasty.
Historical Records: The region is documented in the Mackenzie Kaifiyat manuscripts and described by traveller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, reflecting its long-standing political and cultural relevance.
Architectural Style: Mix of Vijayanagara temple architecture and Indo-Islamic elements.

Key Architectural Highlights

Madhavaraya Temple: Built in the 16th century under Vijayanagara ruler Sri Krishna Devaraya, the temple is noted for its ornate Mukha Mandapa, sculpted pillars and Yali motifs.
Ranganatha Temple: Constructed during the Vijayanagara period, it reflects the empire’s signature temple architecture and depicts Vishnu in the reclining posture with Dasavatara panels.
Jama Masjid: Erected in 1650 by Mir Jumla under Qutb Shahi patronage, the mosque shows Indo-Islamic design with Charminar-like stylistic elements.
Granary And Gun Foundry: Built during the Qutb Shahi–Mughal phase, these structures enabled long siege endurance through secure grain storage and weapons casting.

{GS2 – MoD} Defence Acquisition Council

Context (BS): The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹79,000 crore.

AoN is the formal approval and the first step in initiating defence procurement; the Cabinet Committee on Security gives final clearance.

About the DAC

The DAC is the highest decision-making body within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for capital acquisitions and policy formulation across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
It was established in 2001 following the Kargil War, based on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on national security reforms.
Objective: To expedite procurement of approved military requirements while optimally utilising the allocated defence budget.
Composition: The DAC is chaired by the Defence Minister and comprises the CDS, three Service Chiefs, the Defence Secretary, and senior MoD officials.

Key Functions

The DAC accords AoN for defence acquisition proposals across the Army, Navy, Air Force, & Coast Guard.
It determines the procurement route, such as ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’, ‘Buy & Make’, or ‘Make’, prioritising local sources to support Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The DAC approves the 15-year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan and guides the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP).

{GS2 – MEITY} Ministry Directives on Obscene and Vulgar Online Content **

Context (IE): The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an advisory directing social media platforms to curb obscene and vulgar online content.

Key Directives

All online platforms are to conduct an immediate internal review of their compliance frameworks and user enforcement mechanisms.
Intermediaries must apply stricter scrutiny to identify and remove obscene, pornographic, indecent, or pedophilic content.
Sexually explicit content, including non-consensual deepfakes, must be removed within 24 hours of receipt of a complaint.
Large social media platforms are directed to deploy advanced automated moderation tools to detect and prevent such content proactively.

About Obscenity

“Obscenity” is not explicitly defined in the Constitution but is legally understood as lascivious material that appeals to prurient interest or corrupts the viewer’s mind.
Article 19(1)(a) protects freedom of speech, while Article 19(2) permits reasonable restrictions on grounds of decency and morality.
Indian courts apply the Community Standards Test, assessing the work as a whole, rather than the Hicklin Test (judging content by its most suggestive part), after the Aveek Sarkar Case (2014),
The Supreme Court of India (2024) clarified that vulgarity and profanity are not inherently “obscene” unless they provoke sexual desire or lustful thoughts.

Key Laws Governing Obscenity in India

Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, criminalises the sale, distribution, or public exhibition of obscene material, including electronic content.
Section 67 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, penalises the publication or transmission of obscene electronic material.
The IT Rules, 2021, mandate a three-tier grievance redressal system and a 24-hour takedown to retain safe-harbour protection.
The Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986, prohibits derogatory or denigrating depiction of women in advertisements and media.
The Cinematograph Act, 1952, regulates film certification on decency and morality; 2025 proposals seek similar standards for OTT platforms.
The Cable Television Networks Act, 1995, enforces a program code banning content that offends good taste or decency, with a proposed extension to online content.
The Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act, 1956, bans the dissemination of harmful publications, including digital forms, affecting persons below 20 years.

{GS2 – Governance} Major Reforms Announced for Telecom Sector

Context (PIB): The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) introduced significant reforms to strengthen telecom security.

The National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) implements the reforms.
The measures improve ease of doing business, and align with Atmanirbhar Bharat and the vision of ‘Design in India, Solve in India, Scale for the World’.

Extension of the Pro Tem Security Certification Scheme

The Pro Tem Security Certification Scheme for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) is extended by two years beyond January 1, 2026.
Introduced in 2024, the scheme prevents business disruption by granting temporary security clearance during mandatory complete security testing.
It is part of the broader MTCTE framework (Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment).

The MTCTE framework mandates valid testing and certification before the sale, import, or use of telecom equipment; it currently operates under the Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025.

Reduction in Testing Laboratory Fees

NCCS reduced the designation application fees for Telecom Security Testing Laboratories (TSTLs) by over 50% to lower compliance costs.
Indian startups, MSEs, and women-owned enterprises receive a 90% reduction.
Central and State government labs, IITs, and autonomous institutions receive complete fee waivers.

TSTLs are laboratories designated to test telecom equipment in line with the Indian Telecommunication Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR) and the Test Schedule and Test Procedure (TSTP).
ITSAR is a set of country-specific technical security requirements for the deployment of telecom equipment to ensure national security and user privacy.

Simplified Certification for ONT Devices

The DoT has simplified the ITSAR certification process for Optical Network Terminator (ONT) devices.
Various ONT devices that share identical software are now permitted to undergo grouped testing under a single certification.

ONT Devices convert optical signals into electrical signals for fibre-to-the-home connectivity.

Read More > Resilient Telecom Infrastructure

Context (IE): Australian health departments issued an urgent warning about counterfeit rabies vaccine batches circulating in India.

Medical Advisory: Individuals vaccinated in India after 1 November 2023 should consult healthcare providers to assess whether replacement doses are needed.

Replacement doses are verified vaccine doses administered to ensure immunity for individuals who may have been exposed to counterfeit vaccines.

About Rabies

Disease Nature: Rabies is a preventable viral disease of the central nervous system that is almost 100% fatal once clinical symptoms appear.
Causative Agent: Rabies is caused by the rabies virus (RABV), which is transmitted mainly through saliva via bites or scratches. It does not spread through contact or via blood, urine, or faeces.
Primary Reservoir: Domestic dogs account for up to 99% of human rabies cases worldwide. Bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes also serve as reservoirs of rabies.
Incubation Period: The incubation period usually ranges from 1 to 3 months but may extend beyond one year.
Post Exposure Care: Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) involves administering rabies vaccine along with rabies immunoglobulin in cases of severe exposures.
Global Target: “Zero by 30,” led by WHO, FAO, and WOAH, aims to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.

Symptoms and Stages

Early Symptoms: Initial signs include fever, headache, and tingling or itching at the bite site.
Furious Form: About 80% of cases show hyperactivity, agitation, hallucinations, and hydrophobia due to throat spasms.
Paralytic Form: 20% of cases develop progressive paralysis starting at the wound, leading to coma.

Rabies in India

Fatality Burden: India is responsible for almost 36% of all rabies deaths worldwide.
National Programme: The National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) provides free vaccines, immunoglobulin, surveillance, and public awareness initiatives.
Elimination Plan: The National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) adopts a ‘One Health’ approach to eradicate rabies in India by 2030.

{GS2 – IR} Australia will Remove Tariffs on all Indian Exports

Context (TH): Australia will eliminate tariffs on 100% of Indian exports starting January 1, 2026, under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).

About India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)

Agreement Nature: The India-Australia ECTA is an ‘early-harvest’ trade pact that has been in effect since December 2022.
Export Access: Australia granted duty-free access to about 96.4% of Indian exports by value upon implementation.
Import Access: India granted immediate duty-free access to over 85%of Australian goods, with access rising to 90% by January 2026.
Labour Gains: The agreement benefits labour-intensive Indian sectors, including textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, and processed foods.
Services Access: Australia offers national treatment to Indian service providers in over 120 subsectors, such as IT, health, and education.
Strategic Resources: India gains cheaper access to Australian coal, metallic ores, and critical minerals, including nickel and copper.
Student Mobility: Indian STEM graduates receive extended Australian post-study work visas of up to four years for doctoral degree holders.
Double Taxation: Australia amended its national laws to exempt the offshore income of Indian IT companies from taxation.

Overview of India-Australia Bilateral Trade

Trade Volume: Total India-Australia bilateral merchandise trade stood at $24.1 billion during FY 2024.
Export Growth: Indian exports to Australia grew by 8% in FY 2024, reaching about $8.5 billion.
Deficit Decline: India’s trade deficit narrowed by over 42%, falling to $7 billion in FY 2024.
Key Exports: Petroleum products, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and gems and jewellery.
Key Imports: Raw material, coal, gold, and edible vegetables.
Future Target: Both countries aim to increase total bilateral trade to AUD 100 billion by 2030.

{GS3 – IE} India’s Timber Trade

Context (DTE): India is simultaneously a major producer of tropical timber and one of the world’s largest consumers of wood products, creating a persistent demand–supply imbalance.

Current Status of India’s Timber Sector

India meets only about 35–40% of its timber demand domestically, relying heavily on imports for construction, furniture, and paper industries.
Timber and wood product imports are valued at USD 8–9 billion annually, sourced mainly from Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Africa, and Latin America.

Significance of India’s Timber Sector

Large Economic Footprint: India’s timber and wood-based industries support a market estimated at ₹1.3–1.5 lakh crore annually, spanning construction, furniture, plywood, paper and packaging sectors.
Employment Generation: The timber value chain provides livelihoods to over 45 million people, largely in MSMEs, carpentry clusters, sawmills and informal markets like Kirti Nagar (Delhi).
Climate and Carbon Role: India’s forest and tree cover acts as a carbon sink of about 7.1 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (ISFR), with sustainable timber plantations strengthening climate mitigation efforts.

Challenges Faced in the Timber Sector

Illegal Timber Inflows: Global estimates suggest 10–30% of the international timber trade is illegal, with India identified as a high-risk destination market.
Low Domestic Productivity: India’s average forest productivity is ~1–2 m³/hectare/year, far below global averages of 5–10 m³ in plantation forestry.
Weak Traceability: Less than 15% of timber traded in India is certified, limiting sustainable sourcing.
Trade Deficit Pressure: Wood imports contribute significantly to the merchandise trade deficit, adding ₹65,000–70,000 crore annually.

Way Forward

Agroforestry Expansion: Scale up the National Agroforestry Policy (2014) and Sub-Mission on Agroforestry to increase farm-grown timber supply, as done successfully in Punjab and Haryana poplar belts.
Timber Legality Framework: Introduce a timber legality verification system similar to the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) to curb illegal imports.
Certification Push: Incentivise certification through tax benefits and procurement preferences, following Japan’s green procurement norms.
Digital Traceability: Implement end-to-end digital tracking of timber imports via customs integration.

{Prelims – A&C} Narasapuram Crochet Lace Industry *

Context (TOI | TH): PM Modi praised Narasapuram’s traditional crochet lace industry as a strong “vocal for local” example.

Narsapur is located on the banks of the Vasishta Godavari River (tributary of the Godavari) in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.
It is a cottage industry that produces three categories of crochet products — garments, home furnishings, and accessories.
Workforce: Nearly 15,000 artisans are engaged, with women comprising 60% to 71%.
Exports: It exceeded ₹150 crore in FY 2025; key international markets include the USA, UK, France, and the Middle East.

About Narasapuram Crochet Lace Craft

The Narasapuram Crochet Lace craft was introduced in 1844 by Scottish missionaries and was traditionally practiced by women of the farming community.
Artisans use a single crochet hook with cotton, silk, or synthetic threads to create intricate patterns inspired by nature and mythology; the designs include floral, geometric, and paisley forms.
The craft received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2024.

{Prelims – MIH} Port Blair Tricolour Hoisting

Context (NOA): PM Narendra Modi highlighted the contributions of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the 82^nd anniversary of his hoisting the tricolour at Port Blair.

Bose’s hoisting of the Indian tricolour at Port Blair in 1943 symbolised the Azad Hind Government’s assertion of Indian sovereignty over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

About Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

He was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack (Odisha); he studied at the Presidency College, Calcutta, later at Cambridge University (UK), and joined the Indian Civil Service (ICS) in 1920.
He resigned from the ICS in 1921 to join the Indian National Congress, and was elected its President at the Haripura Session (1938) and Tripuri Session (1939).
He advocated armed struggle in contrast to Gandhi’s emphasis on non-violence, while continuing to acknowledge Gandhi as the “Father of the Nation.”
He assumed leadership of the Indian National Army (INA) in 1943 and established the Azad Hind Government in exile, calling for military advance towards India under “Delhi Chalo.”
He reshaped the freedom struggle through militant nationalism and foreign alliances; he is believed to have died in a 1945 plane crash in Taipei, though inquiries have left the issue debated.

Read More > Jayprakash Narayan

{Prelims – S&T} Optical Frequency Comb

Context (TH): Recent advances in precision optics have highlighted the importance of Optical Frequency Combs in metrology and high-accuracy measurement systems.

Metrology is the science of measurements, ensuring standardisation, calibration, and traceability for accurate and uniform measurements.

About Optical Frequency Comb

Overview: It is a specialised laser that functions as an ultra-precise “ruler” for light, and its development was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize for Physics.
Mechanism: It emits many discrete, equally spaced spectral lines (resembling the teeth of a comb), and by comparing light signals to a known “teeth”, scientists can measure its properties.
Types: Mode-locked Lasers (most prevalent), Kerr Microcombs (most compact), Electro-optic (EO) combs (highest repetition rates), Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) combs (infrared sensing).
Applications: Optical atomic clocks, exoplanet detection, and fibre-optic communications.

Read More > Portable Optical Atomic Clock

{Prelims – S&T} Maglev Technology *

Context (HT): China successfully tested the world’s fastest superconducting magnetic levitation (maglev) technology by accelerating a tonne-class vehicle to 700 km/h in just two seconds.

Maglev technology uses magnetic forces to lift, propel, and guide vehicles (primarily trains) above a track, eliminating the need for wheels and minimising friction.
The tracks, known as guideways, contain powerful electromagnets, and the vehicles use superconducting magnets or electromagnets for motion control.
Levitation: Magnetic forces create a ‘cushion’ lifting the vehicle about 1–10 cm above the guideway, overcoming gravity.
Propulsion: Linear motor systems generate moving magnetic fields that pull the train from the front and push it from the rear.
Guidance: Lateral magnetic forces keep the vehicle centred on the guideway during high-speed movement and turns.

Primary Types

Electromagnetic Suspension: EMS uses magnetic attraction to lift the train toward a ferromagnetic rail, allowing levitation even at rest.
Electrodynamic Suspension: EDS uses magnetic repulsion from superconducting magnets, enabling the world’s highest speeds; it requires wheels at low speeds.
Inductrack: Passive EDS uses an array of permanent magnets on the train and wire loops in the track, enabling fail-safe, energy-efficient levitation.

{Prelims – Defence} Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket

Context (TOI): The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120).

About Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket

It is an advanced guided variant of India’s indigenous Pinaka Multi-Rocket Launch System (MRLS) designed for precision strikes with an upgraded range of 120 km.
It features an advanced guidance and control kit that enables high accuracy, in-flight manoeuvrability and can be launched from existing Pinaka launchers without needing new infrastructure.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given preliminary clearance to a ₹2,500 crore proposal to procure these missiles for the Indian Army.
The Pinaka MRLS has been exported to Armenia, with France, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Indonesia having expressed interest in procurement.

Read More > Long Range Hypersonic Missile

{Prelims – Defence} IAF Signs MoU with IIT-Madras

Context (ET): The Software Development Institute (SDI) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has signed an MoU with IIT-Madras to develop an indigenous airborne communication system.

Under the agreement, advanced encryption protocols and networking algorithms would be developed that are critical in modern networked warfare.
The initiative aims to reduce import reliance in this area, bolstering India’s defence industrial base in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Read More > NCERT Signs MoU with IIT-Madras