Current Affairs - Dec 9, 2025

Explanation:

The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is a premier academic and research institution founded in 1931 by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, one of the most influential statisticians of the 20th century. The institute played a crucial role in shaping India’s statistical infrastructure, especially in areas such as national sampling surveys and economic planning. In 1959, ISI was designated as an Institute of National Importance through an Act of Parliament, giving it autonomy in research, administration, and academic functioning. It operates under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) but retains academic independence. ISI excels in statistics, mathematics, economics, computer science, machine learning, and interdisciplinary research and also serves as a major centre for national data analysis and policy advisory work.

Explanation:

The Draft ISI Bill 2025 sparked protests among faculty, students, economists, and statisticians due to concerns that some provisions may reduce ISI’s traditionally strong academic autonomy. Critics argue that increasing government control over key appointments, financial decisions, or administrative structures could undermine the intellectual freedom necessary for rigorous scientific research. Since ISI is global-renowned for independent statistical policy inputs—including national surveys and economic models—any perceived interference could affect its credibility and long-standing tradition of unbiased research. Stakeholders therefore stress that preserving its independent governance is essential for maintaining academic excellence and global trust.

Explanation:

The Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ is the world's most seismically active region, responsible for nearly 90% of global earthquakes and the vast majority of tsunamis. It forms a horseshoe-shaped zone surrounding the Pacific Ocean, containing several tectonic plate boundaries and subduction zones where one plate is forced beneath another. These subduction zones—such as those near Japan, Indonesia, Chile, and Alaska—frequently produce powerful undersea earthquakes capable of displacing massive volumes of water. Historical examples include the 2011 Tohoku tsunami in Japan and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, both triggered near Ring of Fire boundaries.

Explanation:

Tsunamis are generated mainly when large volumes of water are displaced suddenly due to submarine earthquakes occurring at tectonic plate boundaries, especially in subduction zones. Other possible triggers include underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions (such as the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai event), and rarely asteroid impacts. These disturbances push enormous columns of water upward, creating long-wavelength waves that travel across oceans at high speed. When these waves approach shallow coastal waters, their height increases dramatically, causing devastating flooding over widespread areas.

Explanation:

Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms were introduced to regulate the average fuel consumption of passenger vehicles sold in India. These standards were formally notified under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, which empowers the government to set energy-use benchmarks across sectors. CAFE norms mandate that automobile manufacturers maintain a fleet-wide average fuel efficiency target, encouraging the adoption of advanced engine technologies, lightweight materials, and hybrid systems. The norms also contribute to India’s commitments under climate agreements by reducing CO₂ emissions from vehicles and promoting energy-efficient transport systems.

Explanation:

The proposed CAFE III norms, expected to apply to vehicles manufactured from the late 2020s, have been criticised by automobile manufacturers and industry experts due to the potentially high cost of compliance. Meeting stricter fuel-efficiency requirements demands substantial investment in research, advanced engine technologies, lightweight materials, and hybridisation. For many companies transitioning simultaneously toward electric mobility, these added costs pose financial challenges. Firms argue that rapid tightening of norms could increase vehicle prices for consumers and strain manufacturers already dealing with changing market dynamics and global supply-chain disruptions.

Explanation:

Cosmic filaments are enormous thread-like structures that form part of the large-scale cosmic web, the universe’s grandest structure. They consist of gas, galaxies, and large quantities of dark matter. These filaments span tens to hundreds of millions of light-years and act as pathways through which matter flows toward denser nodes known as galaxy clusters. Their formation is governed by gravitational interactions over billions of years. The study of cosmic filaments helps astronomers understand galaxy formation, dark matter distribution, and the evolution of large-scale cosmic structures.

Explanation:

Astronomers from the University of Oxford recently detected a cosmic filament stretching around 50 million light-years. This structure, mapped using the positions and motions of at least 14 galaxies, highlights how matter is organized in the universe’s cosmic web. Although much smaller than the largest known filaments—which can extend several hundred million light-years—the discovery provides critical data on how galaxies align, migrate, and interact along gravitational channels. Observing such filaments helps refine cosmological models and improves understanding of dark matter distribution.

Explanation:

Myeloma, particularly multiple myeloma, is a form of blood cancer that originates in plasma cells—specialised white blood cells found in the bone marrow. Plasma cells normally produce antibodies to help fight infections. However, in myeloma, these cells become cancerous and multiply abnormally, crowding out healthy blood-forming cells. This leads to weakened immunity, bone damage, anemia, kidney dysfunction, and abnormal antibody production known as M-proteins. Early diagnosis is essential because the disease often progresses silently before symptoms become severe.

Explanation:

Severe bone pain, especially in the back, ribs, hips, and spine, is one of the hallmark symptoms of multiple myeloma. This occurs because malignant plasma cells weaken the bones by stimulating osteoclasts, the cells responsible for bone breakdown. As a result, bones become thin, brittle, and prone to fractures even with minor stress. Additional symptoms include fatigue, recurrent infections, anemia, high calcium levels, and kidney issues. Bone pain is often the first sign that prompts patients to seek medical attention.

Explanation:

Biostimulants include substances, extracts, or microorganisms that enhance natural plant processes such as nutrient absorption, photosynthesis, root development, and stress tolerance. Unlike fertilisers, biostimulants do not provide direct nutrients but instead improve the plant’s internal mechanisms to use available nutrients more efficiently. They help crops withstand drought, heat, salinity, and disease conditions, making them valuable in climate-resilient agriculture. Common biostimulants include seaweed extracts, humic substances, amino acids, and beneficial microbes like plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.

Explanation:

The Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985 regulates the quality, composition, labelling, and standards of fertilisers and related products in India. Biostimulants were formally brought under the FCO framework to ensure that products sold in the market meet safety and efficacy standards. This prevents adulteration and ensures farmers receive reliable, scientifically validated products. Under the FCO, manufacturers must provide scientific data proving product performance and safety before approval, strengthening trust in biostimulant use across Indian agriculture.

Explanation:

India primarily uses MODIS (on NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites) and VIIRS (on Suomi-NPP and NOAA-20) for monitoring crop residue burning. These satellites detect thermal anomalies or fire hotspots using infrared-based sensors. Although they have moderate spatial resolution, they provide consistent global coverage and reliable data. However, because they are polar-orbiting satellites, they can observe India only during limited daily windows—typically in late morning and early afternoon—resulting in underreporting of fires that occur outside these time slots.

Explanation:

The report highlights the significant limitation that polar-orbiting satellites like MODIS and VIIRS observe India only during specific narrow time windows. Fires ignited early in the morning, late in the evening, or during cloudy conditions often go undetected. This results in substantial underestimation of actual burning incidents. The limitation affects accurate policy planning, allocation of mitigation resources, and assessment of pollution levels. The report calls for integrating geostationary satellites, ground sensors, and drones to improve real-time detection.

Explanation:

The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Global Monitoring Report 2025 shows that the Service Coverage Index—an indicator measuring access to essential health services—improved from 54 in 2000 to 71 in 2023. This reflects progress in areas such as maternal health, vaccination, infectious disease control, and chronic disease management. However, the report warns that despite improvements, nearly half of the global population still lacks access to essential healthcare, and millions face financial hardship due to healthcare costs. Strengthening primary healthcare systems remains a global priority.

Explanation:

Thailand and Cambodia experienced heightened military tensions recently when Thailand conducted airstrikes following escalating border disputes. The two countries share a long, historically sensitive border with periodic clashes related to territorial claims, including areas around the Preah Vihear temple region. Such incidents often raise concerns for regional stability in mainland Southeast Asia. Cambodia borders Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, making any border disagreement significant for ASEAN peace efforts and cross-border economic cooperation.

Explanation:

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) aims to conserve seven major big cat species globally: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. Launched by India, the initiative supports collaborative conservation efforts across continents, focusing on habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, community participation, scientific research, and climate resilience. The alliance strengthens global partnerships to protect these apex predators, which play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.

Explanation:

Lions are the only big cat species known for living in structured social groups called prides. A pride typically consists of related females, their cubs, and a small number of adult males. This social organization enables cooperative hunting, shared responsibilities in rearing cubs, and defending territory from rival groups. In contrast, other big cats—such as tigers, leopards, and snow leopards—are predominantly solitary, meeting only for mating or raising young. Social behaviour in lions evolved due to grassland habitats that support group hunting strategies.

Explanation:

Recent Parliamentary sessions have seen increasing levels of disruptions, walkouts, and reduced debate time, leading to weakened legislative scrutiny. Only around 16% of Bills were referred to Parliamentary Committees, despite committees being essential for expert examination and stakeholder consultations. Several key legislations and budgetary allocations were passed with minimal or no debate. Such disruptions undermine the quality of lawmaking, transparency, and the effectiveness of Parliament as a deliberative body. Experts have called for reforms to restore productive functioning.

Explanation:

India’s installed solar capacity is approximately 116 GW, placing the country among the world’s top renewable energy producers. Solar power constitutes a major pillar in India’s National Solar Mission and broader energy transition strategy. The government aims to reach about 292 GW by 2030, supported by solar parks, rooftop solar initiatives, utility-scale photovoltaic plants, and programs such as PM-KUSUM for farmers. Continued technological improvements and decreased solar costs contribute to India’s rapid solar expansion.

Explanation:

India’s total theoretical solar potential is estimated at approximately 749 GWp, according to the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). This potential reflects the vast land availability, high solar irradiation across most states, and favourable climatic conditions. States such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh have some of the highest potential due to large arid or semi-arid regions. Although not all potential can be utilised due to environmental and land-use constraints, the figure underscores India’s long-term renewable energy opportunities.