Daily current affairs: 4 December 2025

Long Description : The Union government has moved to roll back its earlier order making the Sanchar Saathi application mandatory on all new smartphones sold in India, following objections from digital rights groups, manufacturers, and legal experts. Critics argued that a compulsory, system-level app could enable extensive data access and potential surveillance, raising issues under the right to privacy and data protection. There were also concerns about unilateral central mandates in a sector with strong regulatory implications for both Union and state subjects. The rethink reflects the growing sensitivity around digital governance, cybersecurity, and user consent, making this a key case study for UPSC mains topics on governance and technology regulation.

Long Description : A significant encounter took place in the Maoist-affected Bijapur district of south Chhattisgarh, where security forces and CPI (Maoist) cadres exchanged heavy fire in a forested area. The incident led to multiple fatalities among Maoists as well as personnel from the security forces, underlining the persistent intensity of Left-Wing Extremism in certain pockets of central India. The operation forms part of an ongoing security push to expand the state’s presence in interior areas and restrict Maoist mobility corridors. For exam purposes, the incident links to topics such as internal security challenges, modernization of police forces, and development–security balance in tribal and forest regions.

Long Description : India’s largest airline by market share, IndiGo, cancelled and delayed a substantial number of flights across major airports, leaving passengers stranded and drawing attention from aviation regulators. Reports point to skewed crew rosters and scheduling disruptions as key reasons, though the airline has cited efforts to restore normal operations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought detailed reports and is examining adherence to safety and duty-time norms as well as passenger compensation rules. For aspirants, this development is important for understanding consumer protection, sectoral regulation, and crisis management in civil aviation.

Long Description : The Ministry of External Affairs has announced that President Vladimir Putin is visiting New Delhi from 4–5 December 2025 to co-chair the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit with the Indian leadership. The visit aims to review the entire range of bilateral ties, including defence collaboration, nuclear and conventional energy projects, trade, space cooperation, and connectivity initiatives. Both sides describe the relationship as a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”, while also engaging on regional security issues like Ukraine, West Asia, and Eurasian connectivity. For UPSC, this fits under India’s major-power relations, defence procurement, and multi-alignment in foreign policy.

Long Description : The Ministry of Culture has announced that India is hosting the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee under the 2003 UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage. Delegates from member states, experts and UNESCO officials are discussing nominations to heritage lists, best practices, and funding for safeguarding traditional arts, rituals, crafts, and oral traditions. Hosting this session helps India project soft power, showcase its own rich intangible heritage, and strengthen South–South cooperation in cultural policy. For exams, the event is relevant to topics on UNESCO conventions, cultural diplomacy, and schemes related to heritage conservation in India.

Long Description : In a recent communication, the Ministry of Tourism provided statistics on international tourist arrivals to India over recent years and described government measures to boost the sector. These include marketing campaigns, improved connectivity, and schemes to develop tourist circuits and destinations. The note links tourism growth to employment generation, foreign exchange earnings, and regional development, especially in lesser-known destinations. For prelims and mains, the information connects to themes like services sector performance, Incredible India initiatives, and tourism’s contribution to GDP and jobs.

Long Description : A PIB note on the Northeast Economic Corridor project describes it as a strategic initiative to enhance road, rail, and multimodal connectivity in the northeastern states and link them with neighbouring countries. The project is expected to boost cross-border trade, promote logistics hubs, and attract investment in manufacturing and services, aligning with the Act East Policy. It also emphasizes inclusive development of border and tribal areas, better market access for local products, and integration with national economic corridors. For exams, this topic sits at the intersection of infrastructure policy, regional development, and India’s neighbourhood and connectivity strategies.

Long Description : An MoU was signed in New Delhi in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and partner institutions to support tribal entrepreneurship and skill development. The collaboration aims to provide training, incubation support, credit linkage, and market access to tribal artisans and producers, particularly through value addition and modern marketing platforms. It also aligns with broader initiatives for socio-economic empowerment, education, and digital inclusion of Scheduled Tribes. This is exam-relevant under welfare schemes for vulnerable sections, inclusive growth, and institutional mechanisms to support tribal development.

Long Description : During Day 4 of the winter session, the government moved the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha for discussion and passage. The proposal seeks to impose a specific cess on select products to generate resources for public health and national security initiatives. It comes against the backdrop of wider debates on fiscal space, sin taxes, and earmarked levies to finance priority social sectors. Alongside, the session has seen protests by the Opposition over labour codes and other issues, indicating an active legislative and political context. For aspirants, this links to taxation structure, cesses and surcharges, and the functioning of Parliament.

Long Description : In a move with both environmental and federal implications, the Rajya Sabha approved extending parts of a central water pollution statute to Manipur. The measure is intended to strengthen regulation of industrial and municipal effluents, enable stronger action by pollution control authorities, and harmonise standards across states. It also reflects efforts to plug gaps in environmental governance, particularly in ecologically sensitive and conflict-affected regions of the Northeast. Exam-wise, this is important for topics on environmental law, distribution of legislative powers, and Centre–State cooperation in implementing national standards.

Long Description : The Calcutta High Court has upheld a previous order that annulled thousands of primary teacher appointments made through a recruitment process found to be marred by irregularities and procedural lapses. The judgment highlights deficiencies in transparency, adherence to merit, and compliance with recruitment rules. The state government will now have to consider options for appeal or fresh recruitment, impacting both governance and education delivery. For competitive exams, this case connects to judicial review of administrative action, accountability in public recruitment, and the role of High Courts under Articles 226–227.

Long Description : Financial markets saw continued weakness in the rupee, which slipped past the 90-per-dollar mark, raising concerns about imported inflation and external vulnerability. Government bond yields edged higher as investors priced in currency risk and uncertainty over the future interest-rate path. Analysts, however, noted that the situation does not yet reflect panic, pointing to adequate forex reserves and ongoing capital inflows. For exam preparation, this is a key case to understand exchange rate dynamics, balance of payments, monetary policy transmission, and the link between currency movements and sovereign bond markets.

Long Description : Equity markets ended the trading session with modest gains as the BSE Sensex climbed and the Nifty 50 held above the 26,000 mark. Information technology majors such as TCS, Infosys, HCL Tech and Tech Mahindra led the rally, benefiting from a depreciating rupee that boosts export earnings and optimism about possible US rate cuts. Other sectors remained mixed amid concerns over currency volatility and bond yields. From an exam angle, this development is useful for revising how macroeconomic cues, global monetary policy, and exchange rates influence sectoral performance in stock markets.

Long Description : Reports indicate that Reliance Industries is preparing the draft red herring prospectus for listing Jio Platforms on Indian stock exchanges. The issue is anticipated to be the country’s biggest IPO by size, given Jio’s large subscriber base, digital ecosystem, and prior investments from global technology and private equity players. The listing is expected to unlock value, provide funds for expansion, and deepen India’s digital infrastructure and services. For aspirants, this item ties into topics such as capital markets, IPO process and SEBI regulation, digital economy, and the growing role of large conglomerates in telecom and technology.

Long Description : The Reserve Bank of India released data under its Ombudsman framework indicating a year-on-year increase in complaints related to banking and digital financial services. Issues linked to lending, credit cards, and charges formed a substantial portion of grievances, while complaints related to online payments and fraud also remained significant. The report underlines the need for stronger grievance redress systems, better disclosure of terms, and financial literacy for customers. For exams, this development is relevant to banking regulation, customer protection measures, and institutional mechanisms such as the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme.

Long Description : Recent agreements between India and the Asian Development Bank provide more than USD 800 million in financing for multiple state-level projects. The funds will support upgrades in urban services, transport connectivity, and climate-resilient infrastructure in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. These projects aim to improve basic services, reduce congestion, and strengthen environmental sustainability, while also generating employment. This item is exam-relevant in the context of external borrowing for development, Centre–State project financing, and the role of multilateral institutions like ADB in India’s infrastructure push.