Daily Current Affairs: 12 December 2025

Alia Bhatt receives Golden Globes Horizon Award at Red Sea International Film Festival

[Golden Globes, Red Sea International Film Festival]

Key Updates:

• Alia Bhatt was honoured with the Golden Globes Horizon Award at the fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• Tunisian actor Hend Sabry received the Omar Sharif Award at the same ceremony.
• Helen Hoehne, president of the Golden Globes, stated that the Horizon Award celebrates Bhatt's exceptional contributions to international cinema and the rise of the Middle East as a global film and television hub.

Milan Nedeljkovic appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group

[BMW Group]

Key Updates:

• Milan Nedeljkovic has been appointed as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BMW Group.
• He will assume his role.
• He succeeds Oliver Zipse.
• Milan Nedeljkovic is an industry veteran in the German automaker.
• He has been a member of the Board of Management at BMW AG.
• He was responsible for the company's production.
• He completed his mechanical engineering from RWTH Aachen University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
• He also completed his doctorate at the Chair of Forming Technology and Foundry Engineering of the Technical University of Munich.

Supriya Sahu wins United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Champions of the Earth 2025 award

[United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)]

Key Updates:

• Supriya Sahu received the Champions of the Earth 2025 award in the Inspiration and Action category for her subnational climate leadership in Tamil Nadu.
• She spearheaded the Cool Roof initiative that lowers classroom temperatures by five to eight degrees using solar-reflective paint.
• She led the Green Tamil Nadu mission, resulting in the planting of more than 100 million trees across the state.
• She guided the Tamil Nadu mangrove mission, achieving new plantings across 4,300 hectares and restoration across 2,200 hectares with local community participation.

Dinesh Khatak Awarded Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal

Key Updates:

• Dinesh Khatak, second-in-command (2-IC) of the 196 Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was honoured with the “Kendriya Grah Mantri Dakshata Padak” (Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal).
• The award was given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• He is a native of Intel Kalan village in Jind district.
• Dinesh Khatak joined the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as a Gazetted Officer in 2005.
• He played key roles in managing the Amarnath Yatra and maintaining law and order during his deployments in Jammu and Kashmir.
• He served during crucial phases such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Dinesh Khatak contributed to advancing commando training at CIAT Shivpuri.
• He is currently posted in the Naxal-affected Bijapur district.
• He has led major security and relief initiatives, including establishing new forward camps and participating in KGH Special Operations.

Casting Directors Recognized with New Oscar Category

Key Updates:

• A new Oscar category for achievement in casting was added to the Academy Awards.
• The 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on March 15, 2026.
• Bernard Telsey is a prominent casting director who, with Tiffany Little Canfield, populated both "Wicked" movies.
• Destiny Lilly is the president of the Casting Society.
• The Emmys have three categories for casting.
• The Critics Choice Awards recently added a casting trophy.
• The Artios Awards, the casting industry's own prize, were first held in 1985.

Sophie Kinsella, bestselling author, passed away at 55

Key Updates:

• Sophie Kinsella, the bestselling author behind the Shopaholic series, passed away at 55.
• She died after battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
• Kinsella was diagnosed with glioblastoma at the end of 2022.
• More than 50 million copies of her books have been sold across 60 countries.
• Her 2024 novella What Does It Feel Like? was inspired by her cancer journey.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) to establish Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC) as Section 8 non-profit for fraud detection.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB), Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC)]

Key Updates:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants approval to State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) to set up Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC).
• IDPIC will be formed as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013.
• The platform aims to detect and prevent fraudulent digital transactions in public sector banks.
• Approval is conditional on exemption from Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, allowing banks to hold over 30% of paid-up share capital in IDPIC until October 16, 2026.

The Banker awards Bank of Baroda (BoB) Best Bank in India

[Bank of Baroda, The Banker]

Key Updates:

• Bank of Baroda (BoB) received the 'Best Bank in India' title from The Banker, a Financial Times publication, at the 2025 Asia-Pacific awards.
• BoB operates phygital branches that allow customers to obtain statements, generate income tax payment certificates, update nominees and receive financial advice over video calls.
• BoB has opened 184 new branches across India to expand reach.
• BoB's Smart OD product provides small businesses quick working capital within 24 hours based on transaction history.
• BoB offers liquid fixed deposits with higher interest rates and anytime withdrawal without loss of earnings.

NITI Aayog releases Report on Deepening the Corporate Bond Market in India

[NITI Aayog]

Key Updates:

• NITI Aayog CEO Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam released the report titled “Deepening the Corporate Bond Market in India” on 11th December 2025 in New Delhi.
• The report outlines a reform-oriented roadmap to build a deeper, more resilient, and inclusive bond market capable of supporting India’s long-term investment requirements.
• India’s corporate bond market remains constrained by limited market depth, concentrated investor profiles, and modest secondary-market activity.
• The report recommends strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, enhancing market infrastructure and transparency, and facilitating greater issuance by mid-size firms.
• It proposes broadening participation of insurance, pension and retail investors and expanding product offerings such as credit-enhanced instruments, long-tenor bonds, and sustainability-linked products.
• The study advocates improving liquidity in primary and secondary markets through deeper market-making and repo facilities and leveraging digital innovations including tokenised bonds and integrated data systems.

World Inequality Report 2026 (WIR) Reveals India's Extreme Income and Wealth Concentration

[World Inequality Report]

Key Updates:

• The World Inequality Report 2026 (WIR) situates India as one of the world’s most unequal large economies.
• In India, the top 10% earners capture 58% of national income.
• In India, the bottom 50% receives only 15% of national income.
• The top 10% in India holds about 65% of national wealth.
• The top 1% in India holds about 40% of national wealth.
• India's average annual income per capita (PPP) is 6,200 Euros.
• India's average wealth per capita (PPP) is 28,000 Euros.
• India's female labour participation rate is 15.7%, showing no improvement over the past decade.
• In 1980, a larger share of India’s population was in the “middle-40%” globally, but now almost all are in the bottom 50% globally.
• Globally, the top 10% of the population earn 53% of global income, while the bottom 50% receive only 8%.
• Globally, the top 10% own 75% of all global wealth, while the bottom 50% own only 2%.
• The global top 0.001% (fewer than 60,000 people) hold three times more wealth than the poorest 50% of humanity combined.
• Since the 1990s, the wealth of billionaires has grown at approximately 8% annually, nearly twice the rate of growth experienced by the bottom half of the population.

Forbes Real-Time Billionaire List records 3,028 billionaires with combined net worth of $16.1 trillion.

Key Updates:

• Elon Musk leads the list with a net worth of $480.5 billion and is on track to become the first trillionaire.
• Larry Page ranks second with a net worth of $262.2 billion, surpassing Larry Ellison.
• Sergey Brin is fourth with a net worth of $243.1 billion, pushing Jeff Bezos to fifth place.
• Nine of the top 10 billionaires are Americans, with Bernard Arnault of France being the sole exception.
• Mukesh Ambani is India’s richest person with a net worth of $114 billion, ranking 16th globally.

Mexico Senate approves up to 50% tariffs on China and other non-FTA countries

[Mexico, China]

Key Updates:

• Mexico Senate passed new tariffs of up to 50% on over 1,400 products including metals, cars, clothing and appliances.
• The levies will take effect on 1 January 2026 and apply to countries without a free trade agreement with Mexico, including China, Thailand, India and Indonesia.
• President Claudia Sheinbaum stated the measures are needed to boost domestic production.
• China’s commerce ministry spokesperson said the tariffs will substantially harm the interests of trading partners including China and urged Mexico to correct its decision.
• The move comes as Mexico negotiates with the US over threatened US tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminium.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launches Trump Gold Card visa with $1 million post-approval fee

[Department of Homeland Security (DHS)]

Key Updates:

• Applicants pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee to DHS before vetting begins.
• The $1 million residency fee is payable only after DHS approval.
• Corporate sponsors pay $2 million per employee plus a 1% annual maintenance fee of $20,000.
• A 5% transfer fee of $100,000 applies when a company reassigns the visa to another employee.

Sujalam Bharat App Launched to Build Digital Backbone for Viksit Bharat 2047

[Union Jal Shakti Minister]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Sujalam Bharat App.
• The Sujalam Bharat App was launched on December 10, 2025.
• The app integrates every rural water scheme into a Unified System.
• It aims to provide villages with real-time access to rural drinking water supply assets.
• The app is designed to transform rural drinking water governance.

Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) Reconstituted with Statutory Powers

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• The Union environment ministry (MoEFCC) has reconstituted the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) with statutory powers.
• The December 1 notification for the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) was issued under powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) will be responsible for issuing permissions related to use of the Delhi Ridge, and monitoring and acting against encroachments and other violations.
• The Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) will have 13 members and be headed by the chief secretary of the Delhi government.

SAMPANN Portal Launch Integrates MTNL Retirees into Digital Pension Framework

Key Updates:

• Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA) Smt. Vandana Gupta officially launched the onboarding process for all MTNL employees set to retire in November 2025 onto the SAMPANN portal.
• The initiative integrates a total of 45,939 pensioners from Delhi and Mumbai, both current and past retirees, into a modernized digital framework.
• The SAMPANN initiative promises precise, rule-based calculations, efficient handling of cases, prompt disbursements linked with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), and improved mechanisms for grievance redressal through multi-modal integration.
• Features include direct pension disbursement, online issuance of PPOs, integration of Digital Life Certificates, streamlined grievance management, and a notable reduction in paperwork.

Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development (HCAPSD) receives USD 305 million World Bank assistance

[World Bank]

Key Updates:

• The World Bank has green-lighted a financial assistance package worth USD 305 million for the Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development (HCAPSD).
• The project has a total budget of Rs 3,646 crore, with Haryana contributing Rs 1,065 crore and an additional Rs 83 crore as a grant.
• Key interventions include deploying 500 electric buses and setting up 200 EV charging stations in major cities, transitioning industry to cleaner energy, and enhancing soil management processes.

Denmark Social Media Ban for Under-15s

[Denmark]

Key Updates:

• The Danish government announced last month that it had secured an agreement by three governing coalition and two opposition parties in parliament to ban access to social media for anyone under the age of 15.
• The proposed measure would give some parents the right to let their children access social media from age 13, local media reported.
• Danish authorities have said that despite the restrictions, around 98% of Danish children under age 13 have profiles on at least one social media platform.
• A new 'digital evidence' app, announced by the Digital Affairs Ministry last month and expected to launch next spring, will display an age certificate to ensure users comply with social media age limits.

Jal Shakti Hackathon–2025 and Bharat-WIN Portal launched to drive water innovation

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C. R. Patil inaugurated the Jal Shakti Hackathon–2025 and the Bharat-WIN Portal.
• The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Water Vision @ 2047’ for a technologically empowered, sustainable, and water-secure India.
• Bharat-WIN Portal hosted at https://bharatwin.mowr.gov.in democratizes water-sector innovation for startups, MSMEs, industry, research institutions, young innovators, rural youth, women-led enterprises, academia, and global collaborators.
• Hackathon priority domains include water resource management, wastewater treatment and reuse, water-use efficiency & circular economy, smart water monitoring, climate resilience and hydrological modelling, flood & drought forecasting, precision agriculture & farm-level water conservation, revival of traditional water systems, and river-basin and watershed management.
• Winning participants receive ₹1 lakh grant for developing a Proof-of-Concept (PoC), mentorship through national research institutions, and opportunities for piloting and real-world implementation.
• National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, designated as Project Implementation Agency to scrutinize proposals, facilitate expert review, recommend innovations for approval, and support capacity-building and scaling of solutions.
• Grants-in-aid for selected innovations provided under the ‘Research and Development Programme in Water Sector’ and the National Water Mission.

Indian Navy to Commission DSC A20, First Indigenous Diving Support Craft in Kochi

[Indian Navy, Kochi]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Navy will commission DSC A20, the first vessel in a new class of indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Craft (DSC), on 16 December 2025 at Kochi under the Southern Naval Command.
• DSC A20 is the lead vessel in a series of five Diving Support Craft being constructed by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata.
• These vessels have been purpose-built for a broad range of underwater missions in coastal waters, including diving operations, underwater inspection and repair, salvage and recovery support, training of naval diving teams, and search-and-rescue tasks in littoral zones.
• DSC A20 features a catamaran hull form, offering superior stability, larger deck area for equipment and personnel, enhanced seakeeping in rough coastal conditions, and improved operational efficiency during diving deployments.
• The commissioning of DSC A20 is a major achievement under the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

European Allies Shift to Radical Use of Frozen Russian Central Bank Assets After United States Halts Funding for Ukraine

[United States]

Key Updates:

• Western nations agonized for years over how they might use Russian central bank assets deposited abroad to support Ukraine’s military and rebuild its shattered economy.
• Many European officials were skeptical, concerned that doing so could amount to illegal expropriation.
• Now that President Donald Trump has cut US funding for the government in Kyiv, Ukraine’s European allies have put aside those reservations and become more radical in their approach.

Venezuela’s National Guard Linked to Killings, Torture and Repression, UN Probe Finds on 11 December 2025

[Venezuela, United Nations (UN)]

Key Updates:

• Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) has been implicated in a decade-long pattern of killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and sexual violence targeting protesters and opponents of President Nicolás Maduro.
• The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission says the GNB has played a central role in systematic repression since 2014.
• The GNB used excessive force, including the improper use of lethal weapons, during peak periods of protest in 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2024.
• Investigators documented mass and targeted arbitrary detentions, physical violence during arrests, planting of evidence, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence inside GNB facilities.
• The report found the GNB was a central actor in the commission of persecution on political grounds, which is a crime against humanity.
• The military force also played a key role in the 2024 post-election “Operation Tun Tun” raids.
• The report identifies a pattern of structural impunity sustained by systemic failures within the Venezuelan judicial system.
• The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was established by the UN Human Rights Council in September 2019.
• The Mission has also focused on investigating the human rights situation surrounding the disputed 2024 presidential elections and on violence by pro-government militias known as “colectivos”.

Vigyanika: Science Literature Festival 2025 spotlights multilingual science communication for Atmanirbhar Bharat

Key Updates:

• CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR), Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and Panjab University organised Vigyanika as part of India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025.
• Session ‘Vigyan Se Samruddhi – For Atmanirbhar Bharat’ focused on ‘traditional knowledge communication and its role in advancing national self-reliance’.
• Dr. Viswajanani J. Sattigeri, Head, CSIR-TKDL, emphasized ‘the importance of documenting, disseminating and implementing policy for traditional knowledge’.

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) and Amazon sign MoU to launch Amazon Chair Professorship for logistics research

[Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), Amazon]

Key Updates:

• The Chair will serve as a strategic anchor for collaborative research projects, case studies, real-time industry problem-solving, and innovation pilots relevant to India’s logistics infrastructure.
• The MoU includes provisions for co-developing specialized courses, student training modules, internships, and faculty–industry immersion programmes.
• GSV, established as a Central University through an Act of Parliament in 2022, functions under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.

Google Appoints Amin Vahdat as Chief of AI Infrastructure

[Google]

Key Updates:

• Alphabet's Google has appointed longtime executive Amin Vahdat as chief technologist for AI infrastructure.
• Google designs its own tensor processing units, or TPUs.
• The company ramps up spending on data centers and hardware to support artificial intelligence workloads.
• Microsoft has invested heavily in data centers and partnerships with OpenAI.
• Amazon is expanding its custom chip offerings for AWS.

International Mountain Day 2025 Highlights Glaciers' Crucial Role in Global Ecosystems

[International Mountain Day]

Key Updates:

• International Mountain Day 2025 spotlights the crucial role of glaciers in sustaining water, food, and livelihoods, urging global action to protect fragile mountain ecosystems.
• The theme for International Mountain Day 2025 is “Glaciers matter for water, food and livelihoods in mountains and beyond.”
• Mountains are home to diverse ecosystems and communities, providing essential resources like water, food, and livelihoods.
• The United Nations (UN) announced that International Mountain Day will focus on glaciers, which are massive ice reserves vital for freshwater and ecosystems.
• According to the UN, glaciers store around 70% of the world’s freshwater.
• Glaciers support rivers, agriculture, and clean energy.
• Accelerated global warming conditions pose a threat towards glaciers, causing them to melt at a fast pace and increasing the risk of floods and landslides.
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) coordinates the annual celebration of International Mountain Day to foster greater awareness of mountain issues.
• Globally, over two billion people rely on melt from glaciers and snow for their freshwater, including for their food security and livelihood.
• Protecting mountains and glaciers from the impacts of climate change involves supporting measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, regulating use of mountain resources for commercial purposes, and investing in integrated water management systems.

Chandrayaan-3 detects surprisingly active plasma over Moon’s south pole

Key Updates:

• Chandrayaan-3 detects surprisingly active plasma over the Moon’s south pole.
• The Radio Anatomy of the Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere–Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP) instrument offers the first ground truth of the Moon’s near-surface plasma at southern high latitudes.
• The lander Vikram’s data showed that electrons close to the ground carry surprisingly high energies.
• Their kinetic temperatures were measured at roughly 3,000 to 8,000 Kelvin, indicating a plasma layer far more energised than previously understood.
• Just above the surface, the “plasma” (a mix of charged particles) is far denser and more energetic than earlier remote observations.
• Plasma is often described as the fourth state of matter, a blend of charged particles such as ions and free electrons.
• On the Moon, this thin plasma layer, sometimes called the lunar ionosphere, is shaped by a complex mix of processes.
• A constant flux of solar wind streams of electrons and ions rushed out from the Sun and strikes the Moon’s airless surface.
• Through the photoelectric effect, high-energy sunlight also removes electrons from surface atoms, increasing the ionised environment.
• The Moon receives a new supply of charged particles from our planet’s extended magnetic field as it drifts into Earth’s magnetotail for a few days.
• At the mission’s landing site Shiv Shakti Point (69.3° S, 32.3° E), the RAMBHA-LP instrument detected electron densities ranging between 380 and 600 particles per cubic centimetre.
• These values are markedly higher than earlier estimates, which relied on remote-sensing techniques such as radio occultation.
• Researchers found that this plasma does not remain steady but changes depending on the Moon’s position during its orbit around Earth.
• During lunar daylight, when the Moon is fully exposed to the Sun, and outside Earth’s magnetic influence, the interaction between solar wind particles and the Moon’s sparse exosphere drives much of the variation.
• When the Moon enters the geomagnetic tail on the far side of Earth, the plasma takes on a different character, shaped by streams of charged particles flowing through that elongated magnetic region.
• Insights from the mission also suggest that molecules such as carbon dioxide and water vapour may contribute to the behaviour of the lunar ionosphere.
• According to the Lunar Ionospheric Model developed in-house, molecular ions alongside the expected elemental ones play a meaningful role in forming the charged layer hovering near the surface.
• These measurements provide essential “ground truth” for future lunar exploration, especially for missions targeting the Moon’s southern high latitudes.
• RAMBHA-LP’s development was spearheaded by the Space Physics Laboratory at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

Bose Institute team engineers GlowCas9, a glowing CRISPR-Cas9 that lights up during live-cell gene editing

Key Updates:

• GlowCas9 is a bioluminescent version of Cas9 created by fusing Cas9 with a split nano-luciferase enzyme derived from deep-sea shrimp proteins.
• The glowing signal is produced when the split luciferase pieces reassemble upon correct Cas9 folding, allowing real-time tracking without harming cells.
• GlowCas9 is very stable and maintains its structure and activity at higher temperatures compared to the conventional enzyme.
• GlowCas9 increases the precision of homology-directed repair (HDR), a DNA repair process crucial for fixing hereditary mutations linked to diseases like sickle cell anaemia and muscular dystrophy.
• As a demonstration, the researchers programmed GlowCas9 to insert the DNA sequence corresponding to “ACHARYA” into the genome, honouring Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, founder of the Bose Institute.

Heat Stress and Rare Disease Wipe Out Goniopora Coral Colonies on Great Barrier Reef

Key Updates:

• Three-quarters of Goniopora corals at One Tree Reef have died after bleaching and black band disease.
• The losses occurred during the fourth global mass bleaching event, affecting 84% of reefs worldwide.
• Extreme heat weakened corals, enabling rapid, unprecedented spread of the disease.
• Goniopora are usually thermally tolerant, making the event a major warning for global reef resilience.
• Severe bleaching triggered by extreme ocean temperatures was followed by an unprecedented outbreak of black band disease (BBD).
• Black band disease (BBD) is a rare but aggressive bacterial infection that kills coral tissue as it spreads across a colony.
• Black band disease, common in the Caribbean but historically rare in the southern Great Barrier Reef, appeared in a few colonies in February 2024.
• By April, 61 per cent of bleached colonies were infected, and the disease spread in an epizootic-like manner.
• The disease occurred only on corals that had bleached.
• During the bleaching event, water temperatures exceeded 28°C for 74 consecutive days.
• Temperatures peaked at 34-35°C during the year.
• One Tree Reef’s (OTR) offshore location means it is largely sheltered from coastal stressors like pollution and nutrient loading, which are often associated with BBD.
• The current trajectory of climate change is progressing too quickly for corals to adjust.
• Recurrent anomalous heatwaves and mass bleaching are the greatest threat to coral reef survival.
• The loss of these large, structure-forming corals would have long-term repercussions on reef biodiversity, coastal protection and food security.

Citizen science unveils new shieldtail snake Rhinophis siruvaniensis in Western Ghats plantations

Key Updates:

• Rhinophis siruvaniensis, a new burrowing shieldtail snake, was discovered in a coffee plantation at Jellipara village, Palakkad district, Kerala.
• The species was formally described in the journal Evolutionary Systematics by scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Wayanad Wild and the Kalinga Foundation.
• Shieldtails belong to the Uropeltidae family; India and Sri Lanka together host 73 known species, with the genus Rhinophis containing 26 species.
• Genetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA shows R. siruvaniensis is a 2–4% sequence divergent sister taxon to R. melanoleucus from Wayanad.
• The study relied on three specimens collected outside protected areas, highlighting that unknown biodiversity can persist in plantation landscapes.
• Researchers preserved specimens in ethanol, examined scale counts and colour patterns under a stereo microscope and amplified mitochondrial DNA via PCR for species delimitation.
• Herpetologists caution that exclusive use of mitochondrial DNA can mislead taxonomy; nuclear DNA or low-coverage genome sequencing is needed for firmer species status confirmation.
• Burrowing snakes possess highly specialised skulls and narrow diets, making them vulnerable to climate change and soil perturbations.
• The Shieldtail Mapping Project (SMP), a citizen-science platform founded in 2021, has already geo-referenced over 1,200 shieldtail records, six-fold the data gathered by a single researcher in a decade.
• Future work will micro-CT scan shieldtail skulls to test whether environmental conditions drive morphological change, continuing collaboration between Indian and London Natural History Museum researchers.

James Webb Space Telescope Records Universe's Earliest Supernova

Key Updates:

• The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has observed the universe's earliest supernova, offering a rare glimpse into the early universe.
• This event shows how massive stars lived short, explosive lives, which helped create the elements needed for planets and life.
• JWST tracked the earliest ever-known supernova back to the very dawn of the universe, providing direct evidence for the harsh and short lives of the first stars.
• Astronomers used the near-infrared cameras of the James Webb Space Telescope, specifically the NIRCam instrument, to spot barely perceptible light variations between two sets of observations.
• The observation was attributed to a core collapse supernova, as per research and a report from the European Space Agency (ESA).
• The deep space explosion was found in a small, tightly packed, and very lively galaxy that existed during the first billion years after the Big Bang.
• The star that caused the supernova was extremely large, ran out of its nuclear fuel very fast, and then collapsed under its own weight, propelling heavy metals and leaving a dispersing cloud of material.
• Supernovae are major factors behind cosmic evolution, as they are the sources of heavy elements needed for forming planets, organic molecules, and complex chemistry.

Hanoi ranks second only to Delhi as world’s most polluted city amid PM2.5 surge

[Vietnam, Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Hanoi has been ranked second with India’s capital New Delhi still holding the first rank in terms of worst AQI index.
• Levels of PM2.5 pollutants were vastly higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended daily exposure limit.
• Experts suggest that the cause of pollution can be the emissions from construction sites and the huge number of motorbikes and cars.

Sarbananda Sonowal flags off India's first indigenous hydrogen fuel-cell vessel

Key Updates:

• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India's first indigenous hydrogen fuel-cell vessel in Varanasi.
• The hydrogen-powered vessel reflects India's growing technological capabilities and its commitment to sustainable energy.
• Hydrogen engines are an emerging technology offering clean, sustainable energy with near-zero emissions.
• Research and testing are still underway before full-scale commercial adoption of hydrogen engines.
• India has now joined the list of countries such as China, Norway, the Netherlands, and Japan that operate hydrogen-powered vessels.
• The initiative aligns with long-term strategic frameworks, including the Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030) and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV 2047), which outline the roadmap for greener transport, smart infrastructure, and increased use of alternative fuels on inland waterways.

Google and Telangana Government Launch Google for Startups AI Hub at T-Hub Hyderabad

[Google, Telangana]

Key Updates:

• Google and the Telangana government launched the Google for Startups hub at T-Hub in Hyderabad.
• Selected AI-first startups will receive free, year-long coworking seats and curated access to venture investors.
• Startups will gain mentorship, hands-on AI expertise, and global visibility through the Google for Startups network.
• T-Hub is a public-private partnership between the Telangana government, IIIT Hyderabad, Indian School of Business (ISB), NALSAR Law University, and private entities.
• Google experts will conduct in-depth sessions on AI/ML, product, UX, and go-to-market for startups, student founders, and developers.
• The initiative supports women entrepreneurs, tier-II innovators, and university talent.
• Google will provide its full stack to startups, including AI capabilities on Google Cloud, Android, Play, and ads.

Telangana inks pact with Deakin University to set up India’s first AI Centre of Excellence

[Telangana, Deakin University]

Key Updates:

• The Telangana government signed an MoU with Australia’s Deakin University to establish a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence.
• The Centre will be housed within the upcoming AI University at the Future City and jointly run by Deakin’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute.
• Focus sectors for research and skill development include governance, healthcare, education, IT, life sciences, agriculture, critical minerals and rare earth metals.

India to host inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship

[Commonwealth]

Key Updates:

• Over 24 countries will compete in the inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship from March 9 to 14 next year, for which the venue is yet to be finalised in India.
• The event will see 16 men's and as many women's teams competing.
• Ahmedabad was recently officially confirmed as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Lando Norris wins 2025 F1 World Championship

Key Updates:

• Lando Norris won the 2025 F1 World Championship.
• Max Verstappen lost the 2025 F1 World Championship to Lando Norris by two points.
• Max Verstappen secured the highest earnings among F1 drivers with approximately $76 million.
• Lewis Hamilton earned $70.5 million.
• Lando Norris ranked third on the Highest-Paid F1 Drivers list with a $57.5 million paycheck.

UNICEF Foundation Day 2025: December 11, Theme 'My Day, My Rights'

[UNICEF]

Key Updates:

• UNICEF Foundation Day is observed on December 11 every year.
• The official theme for UNICEF Foundation Day 2025 is 'My Day, My Rights'.
• UNICEF was established on December 11, 1946 to supply food, clothing, and medical care to children in post-World War II Europe.
• UNICEF stands for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, a name used until 1953.
• UNICEF was founded in 1946 by Ludwik Rajchman.

Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 celebrated with theme Many Languages, One Emotion

Key Updates:

• Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 was celebrated by the Ministry of Education at the National Bal Bhawan, New Delhi, marking the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati.
• The theme of the event was 'Many Languages, One Emotion'.
• Adi Vaani, India's first AI-powered tribal language translator, was demonstrated live at the event.

Bihar to get first power museum announced on December 11, 2025

[Bihar]

Key Updates:

• Bihar is all set to get country’s first-ever power museum.
• The museum will be developed on the 3-acre campus of the decommissioned Karbigahiya Thermal Power Station in Patna.
• The museum is envisioned not only to preserve Bihar's rich power-sector heritage but also to boost tourism and serve as a centre for educational and industrial research.
• Advisor to the chief minister of Bihar and director general of Bihar Museum Anjani Kumar Singh reviewed the complete project plan.