Current Affairs 4 December 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs December 4 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

GoI Approves PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2025On December 1, 2025, the Government of India (GoI) approved the Prime Minister (PM)’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2025, designed to acknowledge, recognize and reward outstanding work by civil servants across India.

• The awards will be presented by PM Narendra Modi on 21 April 2026, marking Civil Services Day, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The awards include a trophy, scroll, and an incentive of Rs.20 lakhs to the awarded District or organization for project implementation or welfare needs.

2025 Award Categories: 
For 2025, the PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration seek to honour the outstanding contributions of civil servants under three key categories.
Category 1- Holistic Development of Districts: It focuses on overall development in districts, showing exceptional performance and improvement in the 11 priority sectors.

• Under this category, 5 awards will be conferred.
• 11 priority sectors include Drinking water & sanitation, Rural Housing, Urban Housing, Health Services, Health Insurance, Livelihood & Financial Inclusion, Maternal & Child Welfare, Agriculture & Allied activities, Traditional skills, Small Business & Entrepreneurship, and Nutrition.

Category 2 – Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP): It focuses on Aspirational Blocks, areas identified as backward or needing targeted intervention.

• Under this category, 5 awards would be conferred on blocks showing remarkable progress and innovation.

Category 3 – Innovations for Central Ministries or Departments, States, Districts: Under this category, 6 awards will be conferred on innovative projects or practices, developed by Central Ministries or Departments, State Governments, and District Administrations.
>>Read Full News

India Maldives Joint Military Exercise “EKUVERIN 2025” Begins in Thiruvananthapuram, KeralaOn December 2, 2025, the Indian Army(IA) and the Maldives National Defence Force(MNDF) commenced the 14th edition of the annual bilateral military exercise ‘EKUVERIN’ at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The exercise will continue for two weeks, concluding on 15 December 2025.

Background:
Drill: Conducted annually since 2009, EKUVERIN is a bilateral military exercise held alternately in India and the Maldives.
Meaning : The word EKUVERIN means “Friends” in Dhivehi, a Maldivian Language, symbolizing the enduring bilateral relationship.
Previous Edition: The 13th edition of the EKUVERIN exercise took place in the Maldives in February 2025.
Historical Ties: India was among the first countries to recognize Maldives post-independence in 1965; strong cultural, linguistic, religious, and commercial links underpin cooperation.
About EKUVERIN 2025 Exercise:
Aim: The exercise aims to strengthen defence cooperation, enhance interoperability, and improve Counter-Insurgency/Counter-Terrorism (CI/CT) capabilities in semi-urban, jungle, and coastal terrains.
Contingents: A 45‑member IA battalion from the Garhwal Rifles is participating alongside an equally sized contingent from the MNDF.
Joint Training: Troops from both sides will participate in sharing best practices, conducting tactical drills, and engaging in joint operational planning to enhance their ability to address common regional security challenges.
Strategic Significance of the Exercise:
Impact: EKUVERIN 2025 strengthens India–Maldives defence ties, enhances interoperability, integrates advanced technologies, facilitates knowledge exchange, and reinforces regional security in line with India’s Neighborhood First Policy.
SAGAR Vision: This Bi-lateral exercise supports India-led Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), ensuring a safe and stable Indian Ocean.
About Maldives:
President- Mohamed Muizzu
Capital-Male
Currency- Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)

MoT Signs MoU with Mastercard to Establish India as a Global Tourism Hotspot
In December 2025, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India(GoI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mastercard for a period of two years, with an aim to promote India as a global tourism hotspot.

Role of Mastercard: Under the MoU, Mastercard will leverage its Priceless Experiences Platform to promote India globally, showcasing India’s cultural, spiritual, natural, and culinary assets.
Aim: The MoU aims to boost digital payments in tourism, curate unique destination experiences, and strengthen the tourism ecosystem.
About Priceless Experiences Platform: It is the global marketing and engagement initiative of Mastercard, where Mastercard cardholders can access exclusive events, travel experiences, culinary journeys, cultural activities, and entertainment opportunities.

• Under the MoU, it promotes the curated tourism experiences in key destinations such as Goa, Varanasi, and Andhra Pradesh (AP).

Bharat Dynamics Secures orders worth Rs 2,400 crore from Indian Army
In December 2025, Bharat Dynamics Limited(BDL) has secured additional defence contracts worth Rs.2,461.62 crore from the Indian Army (IA) for the supply of Anti‑Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) and Surface‑to‑Air Missiles (SAMs) through an emergency procurement process.

Key Details of Order:
ATGMs: These are scheduled for execution over 42 months, intended to upgrade the firepower of T-90 tanks, key to mechanized regiments.
SAMs: These are expected to be completed within 12 months, strengthening India’s air defence capabilities.
Strategic Importance: It supports the Government of India(GoI)’s efforts to meet operational needs of the IA while leveraging BDL’s expertise as a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU).

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India Finishes 8th at WorldSkills Asia Competition 2025 in Taipei, TaiwanIndia finished 8th among 29 countries with 6 medals, comprising 1 silver, 2 Bronze, and 3 Medallions for Excellence, at the 3rd edition of the WorldSkills Asia Competition (WSAC 2025), held at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre in Taipei, Taiwan.

• The WSAC 2025 edition, held from November 27 to 29, 2025, marks the debut participation of India.
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) topped the medal table with 10 awards (4 gold, 4 silver, 2 Medallions for Excellence), followed by Saudi Arabia in second and Malaysia in third.

About WSAC 2025:
Organizers: The event was organized by WorldSkills Asia, the regional body of the WorldSkills International, which oversees the continental competition.
Participation: The event witnessed participation of over 500 competitors from 29 countries in 44 skill categories, encompassing traditional and advanced future skills.
Indian Contingent: It was organized and led by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) with National Skill Development Corporation(NSDC), under MSDE, and technical partners, providing industry-led training and expertise.

• It includes 23 competitors, who competed in 21 skill categories. They were accompanied and supported by 21 experts.

>>Read Full News

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI’s Annual Report of Ombudsman Scheme 2024-25 : Complaints Up 13.55%, Loans and Credit Cards Lead GrievancesIn December 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the ‘Annual Report of the Ombudsman Scheme 2024-25’ under the Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2021.

• According to the report, total RBI Ombudsman complaints rose 13.55% in Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), increasing from 11,75,075 in FY24 to 13,34,244.

Complaint Receipt & Disposal:
ORBIOs: The ORBIOs handled 2,96,321 complaints in FY25, marking a 0.82% increase from 2,93,924 complaints recorded in FY24. Despite the increase in volume, the number of complaints per lakh bank accounts declined to 7.7 from 8.9.
Geographic distribution: The States / Union Territories (UTs) of Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan were the top five contributors to the complaints at the ORBIOs in terms of complaints received per lakh accounts.

• Mizoram, Nagaland, Ladakh, Manipur, and Meghalaya reported the lowest number of complaints per lakh accounts.

Complaint Composition:
Entity-wise complaints: Complaints against the banks formed the largest portion accounting for 81.53% of complaints received by the ORBIOs, followed by Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) accounting for 14.80% during FY25.

• Among the banks, the private sector banks accounted for the highest share of complaints at 37.53% in FY25, while Public Sector Banks(PSBs) recorded a lower share of complaints at 34.80%.

Complaint Categories: Complaints related to Loan and Advances was the highest at 29.25% in FY25.

• Complaints related to Credit Cards increased by 20.04% and has become the second highest contributor of complaints.

>>Read Full News

India and ADB Signs USD 800 Million Loan Agreement for Development Projects in Maharashtra, MP and GujaratIn December 2025, the Government of India (GoI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed three major loan agreements totaling over USD 800 million to support development projects in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh(MP), and Gujarat.

• The agreements were signed by Saurabh Singh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs(DEA), under the Ministry of Finance(MoF); and Mio Oka, Country Director, ADB India Resident Mission.

Key Details:
Grant of Maharashtra: The ADB approved a USD 500 million loan for Power Distribution Enhancement and Agricultural Solarization in Maharashtra to modernize rural electricity infrastructure and promote distributed Renewable Energy(RE).
Grant for MP: ADB approved a loan of JPY 27,147,200,000 (USD 190.6 million) for the Indore Metro Rail Project to finance an 8.62 kilometer(km) underground metro line with seven stations, enhancing connectivity between congested city areas and the airport.

• The project is implemented by Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited(MPMRCL), with operations expected to start by January 2030.

Grant for Gujarat: The ADB approved a USD 110 million loan to fund a Skills Development Programme in Gujarat.
Grant for Assam:The ADB has granted a USD 1 million TA grant to support the Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation (SWIFT) Project in Assam.
Grant For Rooftop Solar in India:The ADB approved a USD650 million policy-based loan to accelerate rooftop solar adoption in India, targeting 10 million households by 2027 under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG-MBY).

• The loan also includes USD 3 million in technical assistance to support reforms, capacity building, and gender-inclusive participation.

>>Read Full News

SBI, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank Continue to be Identified as D-SIBs: RBIIn December 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that 3 Indian banks namely, the State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB); HDFC Bank Limited; and ICICI Bank Limited, will continue to be identified as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) for 2025 under the same bucketing structure as in the 2024 list of D-SIBs.

• As per RBI directions, SBI is required to maintain an additional Common Equity Tier-1 (CET-1) capital buffer of 0.80% of its Risk-Weighted Assets (RWAs).
• HDFC Bank Limited and ICICI Bank Limited must maintain an additional CET-1 of 0.40% and 0.20% of their RWAs, respectively.
• The current update of D-SIBs list is based on the data collected from banks as on March 31, 2025.

About D-SIBs:
Background: In July 2014, RBI 1st issued the ‘Framework for dealing with Domestic-Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)’ which was later updated on December 28, 2023.
How D-SIBs are Selected and Assessed: The D-SIBs will be selected by RBI based on the size of the bank as a percentage of GDP(Gross Domestic Product) i.e the banks having a size beyond 2% of GDP.

• The selected D-SIBs are assessed through the 4 indicators of Size, Interconnectedness, Lack of readily available substitutes or financial institution infrastructure, and Complexity

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor- Sanjay Malhotra
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- April 01, 1935
>>Read Full News

SEBI Approves Rs 10,000 crore IPO of ICICI Prudential AMC
In December 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) granted final approval to ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company (AMC), a Joint Venture(JV) between ICICI Bank and Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited, to launch its Rs 10,000 crore Initial Public Offering (IPO).

• SEBI also approved the IPOs of Powerica Limited, Technocraft Ventures, and Annu Projects.

About IPO of ICICI Prudential AMC:
Definition: An IPO is the process through which a privately held company offers its shares to the public for the first time, allowing it to be listed on a stock exchange and enabling investors to buy and trade its shares.
Structure:The IPO is fully an Offer for Sale (OFS) by Prudential Corporation Holdings (United Kingdom, UK), so all money from the sale will go to the seller, not the company.
Stake Sale: Prudential Corporation Holdings, which owns 49%, will sell up to 4.94 crore equity shares while ICICI Bank will retain its 51% stake.
Registrar: KFin Technologies Limited is appointed as the registrar for the issue.

RBI Approves Razorpay as Cross-Border Payment Aggregators
On December 2, 2025, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Razorpay to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border Inward & Outward (PA-CB-I&O) under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007, facilitating international payments.

PA-CB License: It ensures full compliance with RBI’s rules on Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), secure payment flows, export documentation, and settlement timelines.
Impact: With this approval, Razorpay can receive payments from international customers for Indian businesses and enable foreign companies to pay or operate in India through Razorpay’s platform.
About Razorpay: It was established in 2014 by Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar. It provides end-to-end digital financial technology for Indian businesses Payment Gateway; RazorpayX, a neo-banking platform; Razorpay Capital, Subscriptions & Recurring payments, Smart Collect, Payment Links, and Payment Pages.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

India’s FDI inflow rise 18% to USD 35.18 bn in Apr-Sep; inflows from US double: MoC&IIn December 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), released the quarterly fact sheet on Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) inflow.

• As per the data, the FDI in India rose 18% to USD 35.18 billion (bn) during April-September of Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26), while the inflow from the United States of America (USA) more than doubled to USD 6.62 bn during the same period.

Key Highlights
FY25 Inflows: Investments from overseas during the April-September period of the previous fiscal (FY25) stood at USD 29.79 bn.
2nd Quarter: During the July-September quarter (2nd quarter) of FY26, the inflows increased by over 21% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to USD 16.55 bn.
Total FDI: Total FDI, which includes equity inflows, reinvested earnings and other capital, increased to about USD 50 bn during the first six months of this fiscal year as against USD 42.3 bn in the same period of 2024-25.
Sector-wise Inflows: During April-September 2025, the computer software and hardware received the highest FDI at around USD 9 bn, followed by the Services sector with USD 5 bn and Trading with USD 2.78 bn.
Top investing countries: Singapore was the largest source of FDI during the period, contributing USD11.94 bn.
Statewise FDI: Among states, Maharashtra received the highest inflow of USD 10.57 bn during the April-September 2025.
>>Read Full News

OECD Retained India’s GDP Growth Forecast for FY26 at 6.7%In December 2025, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released its latest bi-annual report titled “OECD Economic Outlook, Volume 2025 Issue 2: Resilient Growth but with Increasing Fragilities”, prepared by the OECD Economics Department. The organisation retained its forecast for India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) at 6.7%.

• The report highlighted that higher tariffs imposed by the United States of America (USA) are expected to weigh on exports and investments, but private consumption will be supported by rising real incomes, monetary policy easing and robust public capital expenditure.

Key Findings:
India’s GDP for FY27 & FY28: The report has also retained India’s GDP projection for FY27 to 6.2% which will further increase to 6.4% in FY28.
India’s Inflation: OECD projected India’s retail inflation to decline by 100 basis points (bps) to 1.9%  for FY26 and by 50 bps to 3.4% for FY27.

• Both these projections align with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s inflation target range of 4%.
• The report also noted that retail inflation declined to a record-low of 0.25% in October 2025, supported by lower food prices and favourable base effect.

Policy Rate Cut: OECD further highlighted that if inflation remains within the RBI target range and inflation expectations remain in alignment, then, the policy rate is expected to gradually decrease toward 5% by FY27.
India’s Fiscal Deficit: As per the OECD’s latest economic outlook, India’s fiscal deficit is expected to remain at 4.5% in FY26, higher than the Government of India (GoI)’s fiscal target of 4.4% for the current fiscal year.
Global Growth Rate: OECD projected global growth rate for Calendar Year 2025 (CY25) at 3.2% which is further expected to ease to 2.9% (in CY26) and then strengthen marginally to 3.1% (in CY27).
About Organisation for Economic and Development (OECD):
Secretary General- Mathias Cormann
Headquarters- Paris, France
Established- 1961

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Armand Duplantis, McLaughlin-Levrone Named World Athletics’ Athletes of Year 2025In November 2025, Swedish pole vault star and double Olympic champion Armand “Mondo” Duplantis and American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were named the World Athletes of the Year in the ‘Men’s ’ and ‘Women’s’ category, respectively, at the 2025 World Athletic awards ceremony held in Monaco.

• With this, Duplantis won the Men’s World Athlete of the Year title for a 3rd time (2020 and 2022) while Levrone won the Women’s Athlete of the Year title for 2nd time (2022).
• Duplantis also received the Men’s Field Athlete of the Year award, while McLaughlin‑Levrone was named Women’s Track Athlete of the Year.

Key Winners:
Rising Star Award: Edmund Serem (Kenya), a bronze medallist in the 3000 m steeplechase in Tokyo and  Zhang Jiale (China), junior world record holder, won the “Rising Stars” awards in ‘men’s’ and ‘women’s’ category, respectively.
Out of Stadium Athletes of Year: Spain’s Maria Perez (Women’s category) and Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe (Men’s category) were named as the winners of 2025 out of stadium athletes of the year.
Coaching Achievement Award: Michael O’ Connor (from Ireland), with a coaching career spanning over 20 years, has received the 2025 Coaching Achievement Award, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to athlete development.
Woman of the Year: Kenyan athletics coach Ruth Jepchumba Bundotich won the 2025 World Athletics Woman of the Year Award, recognising her outstanding leadership, and exceptional contributions to the growth of women’s athletics in Kenya and globally.
>>Read Full News

WB’s Darjeeling Mandarin Orange Received GI TagWest Bengal (WB)’s Darjeeling Mandarin Orange (Scientific name: Citrus reticulata Blanco), locally called ‘suntala’, received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in November 2025, by the GI Registry under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I).

• The Darjeeling Organic Farmers Producer Organisation (DOFPO), Mirik, WB, has been registered as the proprietor of this GI tag.

About WB’s Darjeeling Mandarin Orange GI Tag:
Facilitators: The GI application was facilitated by Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (UBKV) and the Patent Information Centre (PIC) of the West Bengal State Council of Science and Technology (WBSCST).
Need & Threats: Cultivation of Darjeeling Mandarin Orange declined over the past 15 years due to virus infections (including Citrus Tristeza virus) and pest attacks (aphids and fruit flies).
Unique Quality: The fruit’s distinct sweetness, aroma, and flavour are attributed to the special climate and soil of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills.
State GI Context: West Bengal has 33 Geographical Indication (GI) tags, including 11 agricultural and horticultural products; the Darjeeling region now has its second GI-tagged product after Dalley Khorsani, following Darjeeling Tea (2004).
About Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:
Administration: In India, GI tags are governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, effective from September 15, 2003.
First GI-tagged Product: Darjeeling Tea was the first Indian product to receive a GI tag in 2004.
Validity: A GI tag is valid for 10 years from the date of registration and can be renewed every 10 years.
About West Bengal (WB):
Chief Minister (CM) – Mamata Banerjee
Governor – C.V. Ananda Bose
Capital – Kolkata
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) -Chapramari WLS, Mahananda WLS

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO Successfully Tests Fighter Aircraft Escape System in ChandigarhOn December 2, 2025, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), under Ministry of Defence (MoD), successfully conducted the high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft’s emergency escape system at a controlled velocity at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh, Haryana.

•  The test achieved a controlled velocity of 800 kilometres per hour(km/h) and successfully validated all key functions, canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and full aircrew recovery.

About Fighter Aircraft Escape System Test:
Configuration: The trial employed a dual-sled setup carrying the fore-body of a fighter jet, specifically the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fore-section, to accurately simulate real flight conditions on the ground.
Pilot Simulation: An instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy simulated a pilot, recording critical loads, moments, and accelerations experienced during ejection.
Test Output: It includes:

• Canopy Severance System (CSS) safely blew away the cockpit canopy at high speed.
• Ejection sequencing occurred in the correct order with precise timing such as canopy jettison, seat ejection, and parachute deployment.
• Test dummy endured forces within safe limits, indicating the system ensures pilot safety.

Collaboration: The test was conducted in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the MoD.
>>Read Full News

Indian Army Conducts Combat Launch of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile in Bay of BengalIn December 2025, the Indian Army (IA)’s Southern Command conducted a successful combat launch of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a test range in the Bay of Bengal, accurately striking its target and reaffirming India’s long-range precision strike and operational readiness.

About the launch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile:
Launch Coordination: The mission, executed by a BrahMos unit of the Southern Command in coordination with the Tri-Services Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), involved a missile capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air platforms against both surface and sea targets.
Development: BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM).
Global Interest & Future Orders: The missile has attracted international export interest worth around USD 450 million, and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved new orders for the Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF).
Technical Validation: BrahMos maintained supersonic cruise (Mach 2.8-3.5), executed sea-skimming flight (10meter(m) altitude), and achieved pinpoint target engagement with indigenous Inertial Navigation System(INS)/Global Positioning system(GPS) + active radar seeker.
Missile Specifications: 2-stage propulsion (solid booster + liquid ramjet), 290-650 Kilometer(km) range, 200-300 Kilogram(kg) warhead, fire-and-forget guidance, low Radar cross section(RCS) stealth design.
Background: BrahMos, named after the Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia) rivers, is a supersonic cruise missile first tested on 12th June 2001 at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, and is currently deployed by the IA, IN, and IAF.
About Indian Army (IA):
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) – General Upendra Dwivedi
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1895
Motto – Seva Paramo Dharma (Service Before Self)

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2025 – December 2The United Nations (UN’s) International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was annually observed across the globe on 2nd December to raise awareness about ending modern slavery, including human trafficking, sexual exploitation, child labour, forced marriage, and child recruitment in conflicts.

• On 2 December 2025, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) commemorated the 76th anniversary of the Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Persons and observed the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2025.

Background:
Establishment : The UNGA established the observance in 1986 to commemorate the 1949 adoption of the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others under Resolution 317 (IV).
Convention in Force: The Convention officially came into effect on 25 July 1951.
About  Modern slavery:
Definition: Modern slavery includes forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking, where individuals are exploited and unable to leave due to threats, coercion, deception, violence, or abuse of power.
Rising Global Numbers: According to the latest International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates show a sharp rise in forced labour and forced marriage, with 10 million additional people in modern slavery in 2021 compared to 2016, totaling 50 million worldwide.
Key Statistic: An estimated 50 million people worldwide are trapped in modern slavery, including 28 million in forced labour and 22 million in forced marriage.

• Nearly one in eight forced labour victims are children, with over half exploited in commercial sex work.

Initiatives: 
ILO Protocol on Forced Labour: The ILO adopted a legally binding Protocol to reinforce worldwide action against forced labour. This Protocol, entered into force in November 2016.
UN Trafficking Protocol: The 2000 UN Trafficking Protocol defines trafficking as recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring, or receiving people through force, coercion, or deception for exploitation, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery-like practices, servitude, and organ removal.
About International Labour Organisation (ILO):
Director General(DG) – Gilbert F. Houngbo
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 1919

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025 – December 03The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) is observed across the globe on 3rd December to raise awareness, promote understanding, and support the rights, dignity, and well-being of persons with disabilities (PwDs) across all spheres of society.

• 2025 Theme: “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress”

Background: 
Establishment: In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/47/3 to establish the observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons.
First Observance: The International Day of Disabled Persons was first observed on 3rd December 1992.
Event in India: 
Event: At IDPwD 2025, the President of India Droupadi Murmu presented National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in New Delhi (Delhi) on 3 December 2025.
Award Category: The National Awards 2025 was presented in two major categories with multiple subcategories:

• National Awards for Individual Excellence
• National Awards for Institutional Excellence

About Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE):
Union Minister– Dr. Virendra Kumar(Constituency- Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Union Minister of State (MoS)– Ramdas Athawale (Rajya Sabha- Maharashtra ); B.L. Verma (Rajya Sabha – Uttar Pradesh, UP)
>>Read Full News

STATE NEWS

Bihar Government Launches ‘Mukhyamantri Bharat Darshan Yojana’ for Secondary Students
In December 2025, Sunil Kumar, Education Minister of Bihar, announced the launch of the ‘Mukhyamantri Bharat Darshan Yojana’ aimed at providing students from state‑run secondary schools an opportunity to explore India’s historic, cultural and natural heritage.

About Mukhyamantri Bharat Darshan Yojana:
Objective: The scheme aims to provide students experiential learning of India’s heritage, promoting cultural awareness, national integration, and understanding of history, geography, and society.
Educational Tours: Selected students from government secondary schools(classes 9‑12) in Bihar will be taken on educational trips to major monuments, cultural centers, and scenic destinations across India.
Expansion:The scheme builds on the existing Mukhyamantri Bihar Darshan Yojana, which previously offered state-level tours for primary and middle school students, by extending it to national-level tours for secondary school students.
Destinations: The scheme includes visits to historical sites such as the Taj Mahal (Agra, Uttar Pradesh,UP), Agra Fort (UP), Red Fort (Delhi) , Qutub Minar (Delhi), and Charminar (Hyderabad, Telangana), cultural centers like Jaipur (Rajasthan), Varanasi (UP), Sarnath (UP), Rishikesh (Uttarakhand), Kolkata (West Bengal, WB), Prayagraj (UP), and Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh, MP), and natural landscapes including the beaches of Goa, backwaters of Kerala, and hills of Darjeeling.

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