27^th December 2025

1. Samudra Pratap: Recently, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) inducted Samudra Pratap, India’s first indigenously built Pollution Control Vessel (PCV), under the 02 PCV project of Goa Shipyard Limited.

• About Samudra Pratap: The first indigenously designed and constructed Pollution Control Vessel of the Indian Coast Guard.

• It is also the largest vessel in the ICG fleet, substantially strengthening the Coast Guard’s operational reach and response capability.

• Key Features: Capacity: Displacement of approximately 4,170 tonnes.

• Armament: Equipped with a 30 mm CRN-91 naval gun. Two 7 mm stabilised remote-controlled guns with integrated fire-control systems.

• Advanced Systems: Integrated Bridge System (IBS)

  • Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS)

  • Automated Power Management System (APMS)

  • High-capacity external firefighting system

• Pollution Response Role: Capable of high-precision pollution control operations.

  • Equipped with advanced oil spill detection systems.

  • Can recover pollutants from highly viscous oil, analyse contaminants, and separate oil from polluted water, enhancing India’s maritime environmental protection capacity.

2. Veer Bal Diwas: Recently, on Veer Bal Diwas, President of India presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• About Veer Bal Diwas: Observed every year on 26 December to honour the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, the younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh.

• They were martyred in 1705 at Sirhind (present-day Punjab) after refusing to abandon their faith.

• The executions were carried out on the orders of Wazir Khan, the Mughal governor of Sirhind.

• About Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP): India’s highest civilian honour for children, recognising outstanding achievements in Bravery, Sports, Environment, Arts and Culture, Social Service, Innovation, Science and Technology.

• It was instituted in 2018, replacing the Bal Shakti Puraskar and Bal Kalyan Puraskar.

• The award is presented annually on Veer Bal Diwas by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

• The President of India confers the awards, with each recipient receiving a medal, certificate, and citation.

• Eligible children must be Indian citizens aged between 5 and 18 years and residing in India.

• Nominations are generally submitted through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal.

3. National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID): Recently, the Union Home Ministry linked the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) with the National Population Register (NPR).

• About NATGRID: An integrated digital intelligence platform functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It connects multiple government and selects private databases to provide authorised investigation agencies with seamless and secure access to critical information.

• The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) was conceptualised in 2009 in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks (2008) to address shortcomings in inter-agency intelligence sharing. It became operational in 2020.

• NATGRID follows a query-based access system, allowing authorised agencies to conduct specific, targeted searches. Bulk data extraction is not permitted, and all access is governed by technical and procedural safeguards under the supervision of the MHA.

• Central investigation agencies are designated as core authorised users with comprehensive access to the platform, while State Police forces are granted case-specific access, subject to approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

4. Malaria Elimination Technical Report, 2025: Recently, India’s target of malaria elimination by 2030 has been challenged by the fast-expanding urban presence of the invasive mosquito Anopheles stephensi, as highlighted in the Malaria Elimination Technical Report, 2025.

• Key Findings: Anopheles stephensi thrives in urban environments, breeds in artificial containers (water tanks, tyres), and efficiently transmits Plasmodium falciparum and vivax.

• Persisting transmission drivers: High number of asymptomatic infections

• Difficult terrain and limited health access

• Population mobility and migration

• Cross-border transmission from Myanmar and Bangladesh

• Malaria persists in districts of Odisha, Tripura, and Mizoram, especially in tribal, forest, and border areas, despite overall national decline.

• National targets: Zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027and Complete elimination by 2030, aligned with WHO global strategy.

• Urban-specific challenges: Construction sites, informal settlements, high population density, fragmented healthcare delivery demand city-specific vector control strategies.

• Significant progress achieved: Malaria cases reduced from 7 lakh (2015) to ~2.27 lakh (2024) and 78% reduction in malaria-related deaths.

5. Kanger Valley National Park: Recently, the Chhattisgarh government increased efforts to get UNESCO World Heritage Site status for Kanger Valley National Park in the Bastar region.

• About Kanger Valley National Park: The park is situated near Jagdalpur in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

• It takes its name from the Kanger River, which flows through the park from the northwest to the southeast.

• The Kanger River is a tributary of the Kolab River, which eventually merges with the Godavari River.

• The total geographical area of the national park is about 200 square kilometres.

  • Flora: Vegetation mainly consists of mixed moist deciduous forests, dominated by Sal, teak, and bamboo

  • Fauna: The park supports rich wildlife, with species such as tigers, leopards, mouse deer, sambar, chital, barking deer, wildcats, langurs, jackals, rhesus macaques, and flying squirrels.

• Birdlife includes common hill myna, red jungle fowl, spotted owlet, racket-tailed drongo, and various species of parrots.

• Features: The landscape is highly diverse, comprising low-lying plains, gentle slopes, steep hills, plateaus, deep gorges, valleys, and meandering streams.

• Tirathgarh Waterfall, formed by the Kanger River, cascades from a height of nearly 150 feet, offering a spectacular natural sight.

• The park is home to over 15 limestone caves, including the well-known Kotumsar, Kailash, and Dandak caves.

6. Nanobots: Recently, an IISc Bengaluru–led breakthrough in magnetic nanobots for targeted cancer therapy has attracted global attention with the award of the 2025 New York Academy of Sciences–Tata Sons Transformation Prize.

• About Nanobots: Ultra-small machines operating at the nanometre scale. They are engineered to function inside the human body for precision drug delivery, diagnosis, imaging, and therapy, particularly in hard-to-reach areas such as deep-seated tumours.

• How do they work: The IISc nanobots are helical, bacteria-inspired nano-swimmers that move in a corkscrew or propeller-like manner.

• An iron-based magnetic component enables external magnetic fields to navigate and steer them accurately through blood vessels, dense tissues, and even individual cells.

• Anti-cancer drugs can be coated on their surface or tip, allowing direct delivery to tumour cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

• Under magnetic stimulation, they can also produce localized heat above 42°C, killing cancer cells through magnetic hyperthermia.

7. Camellia sinensis: Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) stated that a beverage may be labelled as tea only if it is sourced from the plant Camellia sinensis.

• About Camellia sinensis: It belongs to the Theaceae family and is commonly referred to as the tea plant.

• It is the primary source of green tea, black tea, and oolong tea.

• The plant grows as a shrub or an evergreen tree, reaching heights of up to 16 metres.

• Cultivation is widespread on mountain slopes, up to an altitude of 2,200 metres.

  • Climatic Conditions: Temperature: Ideal range of 15°C–23°C for optimal growth.

• Climate: Requires a warm and humid environment with at least five hours of sunlight daily.

• Rainfall: Annual precipitation of 150–300 cm, evenly distributed throughout the year.

• Soil: Prefers slightly acidic, calcium-free soil with a porous subsoil.

• Terrain: Sloping land is essential to ensure effective drainage.

• Reproduction: Flowers of Camellia sinensis are complete and bisexual, possessing functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium) parts, including stamens, carpels, and ovary.

• Global Distribution: Major producing countries include China, India, Japan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Korea, and Malaysia.

8. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC): Recently, a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology reported encouraging outcomes of a new monoclonal antibody therapy for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).

• About PSC: A rare, chronic liver disorder marked by inflammation of the bile ducts within and outside the liver.

• These ducts transport bile, a fluid essential for fat digestion, from the liver to the gallbladder for storage and then to the small intestine. Persistent inflammation causes scarring and narrowing of the bile ducts, resulting in impaired bile flow and progressive liver damage.

• Over time, the liver gradually loses its ability to filter blood and aid digestion. Individuals with PSC face an increased risk of liver failure and cancers of the bile ducts, gallbladder, and colon.

• Symptoms: Common symptoms include: Persistent itching, Severe fatigue, Abdominal pain, Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), Fever and chills due to bile duct infections

• Treatment: Management primarily involves regular monitoring of liver function and symptomatic treatment.

• Certain procedures can provide temporary relief by opening blocked bile ducts.

• For advanced stages, liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment.

9. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report: Recently, a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report stated that India’s rapidly growing creator economy is expected to influence over one trillion US dollars in annual consumer spending by 2030.

• Key Findings: India currently has nearly 2–2.5 million monetised digital creators, influencing more than 30% of consumer purchase decisions.

• At present, creator-driven influence already accounts for about $350–400 billion in annual consumer spending, with sharp growth anticipated over the next five years.

• By 2030, creator-influenced spending is projected to cross $1 trillion, generating over $100 billion in ecosystem revenues.

• Creator-led commerce has become a core channel through which Indian consumers discover, evaluate, and purchase products.

• This transformation spans multiple sectors, including fashion, beauty, electronics, and everyday consumer goods.

• The trend reflects a clear shift from traditional, top-down advertising models to trust-based, community-driven product discovery.
• The report notes that companies integrating creators and digital commerce platforms into their marketing, sales, and pricing strategies will be best positioned to benefit from India’s next phase of digital-led economic growth.