2 Minute Series_5th December 2025

05^th December 2025

1. HIV in Infants: Recently, a clinical concern has emerged showing that some infants still acquire HIV despite their mothers testing negative during pregnancy, exposing overlooked gaps in testing practices, timing, and follow-up care.

Key Highlights: Many women test negative early in pregnancy but may acquire HIV later, during a period when viral load is extremely high, increasing the risk of transmission.
Shortly after acquiring HIV, standard tests may not detect the virus, causing a false negative despite high transmission potential.
Typically, only one HIV test is performed early in pregnancy. Without repeated testing in late pregnancy and breastfeeding, new infections remain unnoticed.
Infection may occur during pregnancy, delivery, or through breastfeeding when the mother becomes newly infected.
Steps Needed to Close the Gap:
For Pregnant Women: Repeat HIV tests during late pregnancy: Ensures detection of any new infection after the first test.
Testing at delivery and during breastfeeding: Helps identify infections during high-risk periods.
For Infants: Early virologic testing soon after birth: Detects infection at the earliest stage.
Repeat follow-up testing as required: Monitors infants during breastfeeding and high-exposure windows.

2. Garuda Shakti: Recently, the 10th edition of Garuda Shakti, the Joint Special Forces Exercise between India and Indonesia, commenced at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

About Garuda Shakti: Participating Contingents: India: Troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and Indonesia: Personnel from the Indonesian Special Forces.
Aim: Strengthen mutual understanding, operational cooperation, and interoperability between the two Special Forces.
Improve coordination in counter-terrorism settings across semi-mountainous terrain.
The joint exercise includes a wide spectrum of Special Forces training modules:
Troop-level tactics, techniques, and procedures
Unarmed combat techniques
Combat shooting and sniping
Heliborne operations
Planning and execution of drone, counter-UAS, and loiter-munition strikes
Exchange of expertise on weapons, equipment, and operational practices
Garuda Shakti represents a major stride in bilateral defence cooperation, reinforcing strategic ties and enhancing the operational synergy between the Special Forces of India and Indonesia.

3. DHRUVA: Recently, The Department of Posts has released a draft amendment to the Post Office Act, 2023 to introduce the Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA).

About DHRUVA: The framework has been under consultation for months; a key building block, DIGIPIN, was rolled out earlier in March.
It allows email- or UPI-style labels (e.g., name@entity) to serve as a proxy for actual physical addresses.
DIGIPIN: A 10-character alphanumeric code representing precise latitude-longitude coordinates.
Designed to improve address accuracy, especially in rural areas, it covers roughly 14 sq. metres per code.
The system has been open-sourced and can generate up to 228 billion unique DIGIPINs across India.
DIGIPIN serves as the foundational layer for DHRUVA, enabling exact geo-location when text addresses fall short.

4. ISRO: Recently, an ISRO-backed study warned that the reported decline in farm fires in Punjab and Haryana may be misleading, with evidence suggesting an undercount caused by a shift in the timing of stubble-burning events.

Key Findings: The Space Applications Centre (SAC) of ISRO analysed data from European geostationary satellites over 2020–2024.

Findings reveal a gradual shift in peak stubble-burning activity from early afternoon to early evening in Punjab and Haryana.
This temporal shift could make fires less detectable by commonly used polar-orbiting satellites, leading to an underestimation in official fire counts.
The ISRO study used Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites equipped with SEVIRI, operated by EUMETSAT.
These satellites, positioned 36,000 km above the equator, provide continuous coverage across India.
Their real-time imaging makes them more effective in capturing diurnal fire patterns, especially evening fires that polar satellites may miss.

5. Horn-Eyed Ghost Crab: Recently, researchers documented unusual predatory behaviour in the horn-eyed ghost crab at Rushikonda Beach, offering new insights into its adaptive responses within coastal ecosystems.

About the Horn-Eyed Ghost Crab: Belongs to the genus Ocypode and known for its rapid movement and sand-coloured body.
Why It’s Called “Ghost Crab”: Pale body blends perfectly with sandy beaches.
Active during dawn and dusk, making it appear almost ghost-like as it moves swiftly across the shore.
Ecological Importance: Considered a keystone species and an indicator of coastal health.
Its presence and behaviour provide insights into shoreline ecosystem stability.
Distribution in India: Six species of ghost crabs are recorded along the Indian coastline.
Habitat & Global Distribution: Found mainly in intertidal zones. Distributed widely across the Indo-Pacific region (excluding the Red Sea):
- From the East African coast to the Philippines
- From Japan to the Great Barrier Reef
Threats: Pollution affecting coastal habitats
Changes in sediment distribution, impacting burrow stability
Rising sea temperatures altering behaviour and distribution
Shifted tidal patterns, prompting the species to explore new microhabitats for food and survival

6. Quantum Technologies: Recently, NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub released a roadmap to position India as a global leader in quantum technologies.

About Quantum Technology: Technologies are poised to transform sectors including healthcare, finance, materials, energy, logistics, national security, and advanced research.
Nations investing early will define the future architecture of computing, communication, and sensing.
India’s Strategic Moment: For India, quantum represents a chance to lead from the outset, not follow global standards set by others.
Quantum will serve as a foundation for breakthroughs in AI, biotechnology, secure digital infrastructure, and advanced materials.
Key Features: Provides a comprehensive assessment of India’s current strengths and gaps.
Outlines priority interventions to accelerate: R&D and innovation, Commercialisation pathways, Ecosystem growth and Talent development
Stresses collective ownership across policymakers, scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and state governments.

7. India and Russia: Recently, India and Russia strengthened bilateral cooperation in fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairy sectors.

Key Highlights: India–Russia ties, elevated to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership since 2000, continue to deepen through regular high-level engagements.
The 23rd Annual Summit witnessed the visit of President Vladimir Putin to India on 4–5 December 2025.
Focus on Expanding Trade in Fisheries, Animal & Dairy Products: Enhancing mutual trade in fisheries, meat, and dairy products
Addressing market access challenges
Accelerating listing approvals for export establishments
India highlighted its USD 7.45 billion fisheries export performance in 2024–25, including USD 127 million to Russia.
India sees export potential for shrimp, prawns, mackerel, sardines, tuna, crab, squid, cuttlefish, and more.
Russia expressed readiness to import a diversified range of Indian products and showed interest in joint trout development projects, enabling future joint ventures.

8. Exercise Garuda: Recently, the 8th edition of Exercise Garuda, the bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force, concluded at Air Base 118 in Mont-de-Marsan, France.

About Exercise Garuda: The exercise provided extensive exposure to realistic operational environments and joint air operations.
IAF Assets Deployed: Su-30MKI fighter aircraft
IL-78 air-to-air refueller
C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft
Key Operational Activities: Joint mission planning between IAF and FASF
Execution of strike and escort missions
Familiarisation with each other’s operational procedures
Conduct of complex air operations designed to mirror real-world challenges
The exercise significantly enhanced interoperability between the two air forces.
Exercise Garuda 25 was one of the largest international air training engagements undertaken by the IAF in 2025.
It reaffirmed the deep strategic partnership between India and France.
The operational insights gained will further strengthen the IAF’s war-fighting capabilities and foster greater jointmanship with friendly foreign air forces.

9. Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Recently, India hosted the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Red Fort in New Delhi, marking a significant moment for global cultural diplomacy and heritage preservation.

Key Highlights: The session will focus on key responsibilities outlined under the UNESCO ICH Convention, including:
Examining nominations submitted by Member States for inscription on UNESCO’s ICH Lists
Reviewing the status of cultural elements already inscribed
Providing international assistance for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage
India’s Presence on the UNESCO ICH List: India currently has 15 inscribed elements on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Strategic Significance for India: Strengthens collaboration with UNESCO

Enhances India’s global influence, cultural diplomacy, and soft power
Offers a platform to showcase India’s diverse intangible heritage