Mains

UPI Recognized by IMF as the World’s Largest Real-Time Payment System

09-Dec-2025

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its June 2025 report “Growing Retail Digital Payments (Value of Interoperability)”, has recognized India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as the world’s largest retail fast payment system.

UN Environment Assembly

09-Dec-2025

The seventh UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) is currently taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together all UN member states to deliberate on global environmental priorities.

The session has opened amid concerns over funding cuts, disagreements on UNEP’s five-year strategy, and widening geopolitical divides—all setting a tense backdrop for UNEA-7.

Karnataka Introduces Hate Speech Bill

09-Dec-2025

Karnataka has introduced the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, proposing 1–10 years’ imprisonment, enhanced fines, and collective liability for organisations involved in hate speech or hate-related offences.

The state government argues that India lacks a clear statutory definition of hate speech, despite its frequent use in public debate — creating gaps in enforcement and leaving police dependent on scattered provisions.

South Asia’s Push for Regional Climate Cooperation

09-Dec-2025

The outcomes of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, have underscored a stark reality, the 1.5°C global warming threshold has effectively been breached, and the world is running out of time to avert deepening climate crises. Amid this urgency, experts are calling for stronger South-led regional climate multilateralism, with South Asia emerging as a critical geography for coordinated climate action.

Rupee’s Fall Driven by Capital Account Stress

09-Dec-2025

India’s persistent current account deficit (CAD) remains a structural challenge, yet the recent sharp weakening of the rupee is being driven not by the CAD but by severe stress in capital inflows. This shift highlights that India’s external vulnerability now lies in the capital account rather than the current account.

Revised Flight Duty Time Limits and the Director General of Civil Aviation

09-Dec-2025

Recently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted IndiGo Airlines a one-time temporary exemption from certain Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms for pilots.

Tensor Processing Unit (TPU)

09-Dec-2025

Meta is in ongoing discussions with Google to use its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs).

India’s Aviation Safety Under Strain After IndiGo Crisis

09-Dec-2025

IndiGo’s large-scale flight cancellations and the government’s subsequent suspension of the DGCA’s newly notified Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms have raised serious concerns about India’s aviation safety framework.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar's 70th Death Anniversary: ​​The Maker of Modern

08-Dec-2025

On December 6, 2025, India observed the 70th death anniversary (Mahaparinirvan Diwas) of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.

DGCA's Air Safety Reforms and Their Widespread Impact

08-Dec-2025

A large number of flight cancellations and delays by IndiGo led to widespread dissatisfaction among passengers. On December 5, 2025, the DGCA granted IndiGo a temporary exemption from the new night-duty limit imposed on pilots. This move came amid persistent operational disruptions, crew shortages, and increasing passenger hardship.