Prelims Current Affairs 15 December 2025
1. India’s Shift to Domestic-led Capital Markets
Key Points
- Indian capital markets are moving from FPI-driven liquidity to domestic household savings-led growth.
- FPI equity ownership declined to ~16.9%; in NIFTY-50 to ~24%.
- Domestic mutual funds hitting record AUMs due to sustained SIP inflows.
- Retail investors now own ~19% of equity markets — highest in two decades.
- Primary market boom: 71 IPOs in FY25 raising over ₹1 lakh crore.
- Domestic flows act as long-term stable capital, reducing volatility from global shocks.
- RBI policy autonomy increases due to reduced dependence on volatile foreign flows.
- Risks: low financial literacy, valuation excesses, unequal participation, governance gaps.
MCQ
Which of the following best explains how rising domestic household participation is reshaping India’s capital markets?
a) It increases dependence on global liquidity cycles
b) It reduces monetary policy autonomy of RBI
c) It acts as a stable anchor reducing market volatility
d) It eliminates the role of foreign investors entirely
2. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): Year-End Review 2025
Key Points
- Nuclear Expansion: Mahi Banswara NPP laid; 10 new PHWRs (700 MWe each) approved.
- Record power generation: NPCIL generated 56,681 million units in FY25.
- Avoided ~49 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
- Healthcare: Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital inaugurated in Bihar.
- Tata Memorial Hospital recognised as IAEA “Rays of Hope” Anchor Centre.
- Strategic autonomy: First Certified Reference Material for Rare Earth Elements.
- Semiconductor support: Electronics-grade Boron-11 facility at Talcher.
- Defence systems: Weapon Control Systems for Astra & Agni missiles.
- Agriculture: New mutant crop varieties; gamma irradiation facilities expanded.
MCQ
Which of the following achievements of DAE directly strengthens India’s strategic autonomy in high-technology sectors?
a) Notification of mutant crop varieties
b) Commissioning of Boron-11 enrichment facility
c) Expansion of cancer hospitals
d) Hosting International Olympiad on Astronomy
3. National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)
Key Points
- Launched in 2015; led by DST & MeitY, implemented by C-DAC & IISc.
- Objective: Indigenous high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem.
- Target: 90 petaflops capacity by March 2026.
- Three phases: infrastructure → indigenous manufacturing → full indigenisation.
- Indigenous technologies: Rudra server, Trinetra high-speed network.
- 34 supercomputers, 35 PF capacity deployed nationwide.
- Utilisation rate exceeds 85–95%.
- AIRAWAT AI platform: 200–790 AI petaflops; ranked 75th globally.
- Applications: weather prediction, AI, defence simulations, drug discovery.
MCQ
Trinetra, often mentioned under the National Supercomputing Mission, refers to:
a) India’s first AI algorithm for climate modelling
b) An indigenous high-speed interconnect network for supercomputers
c) A thorium-based reactor control software
d) A national data protection framework
4. Supreme Court on Involuntary Narco Tests
Key Points
- SC declared forced narco tests unconstitutional.
- Violates Article 20(3) (self-incrimination) and Article 21 (personal liberty).
- Narco tests use sedatives like Sodium Pentothal.
- Ethical violation: lack of consent violates autonomy and dignity.
- Selvi v. State of Karnataka (2010): results inadmissible without consent.
- Voluntary narco test allowed only at defence stage under BNSS, 2023.
- Results require independent corroboration; not substantive evidence.
- Reinforces constitutional morality and due process.
MCQ
The Supreme Court’s ruling against involuntary narco tests is primarily grounded in violation of:
a) Article 14 only
b) Article 19 only
c) Articles 20(3) and 21
d) Article 32
5. Pax Silica Initiative
Key Points
- US-led initiative to build secure silicon & semiconductor supply chains.
- Objective: reduce China’s dominance in critical technologies.
- Covers semiconductors, AI infrastructure, logistics, advanced manufacturing.
- Members: US, Japan, South Korea, UK, Netherlands, Israel, UAE, Australia.
- India excluded despite being a Quad member.
- Experts suggest possible future entry, similar to MSP.
- MSP focuses on lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements.
MCQ
India’s exclusion from the Pax Silica initiative primarily highlights:
a) Its technological backwardness
b) Its non-alignment policy
c) Geopolitical trust and supply-chain alignment issues
d) Lack of semiconductor demand
6. Global Capability Centres (GCCs)
Key Points
- GCCs are offshore units of MNCs for R&D, innovation, and operations.
- India hosts ~1,700 GCCs, employing 1.9 million people.
- Projected to reach 2,400 centres and USD 105 billion revenue by 2030.
- Major hubs: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, NCR.
- India has 28% of global STEM workforce.
- Engineering R&D GCCs growing faster than overall sector.
- Policies: GENESIS scheme, EMC 2.0, Skill India, 100% FDI.
- Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat and service-led growth.
MCQ
Which factor most significantly explains India’s emergence as a global hub for GCCs?
a) High natural resource availability
b) Large domestic consumer market
c) Abundant skilled STEM workforce
d) Protectionist industrial policies
7. Ponduru Khadi Gets GI Tag
Key Points
- Ponduru Khadi originates from Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh.
- Known locally as Patnulu.
- Made from indigenous cotton varieties.
- Entire process is manual, preserving traditional skills.
- Unique practice: cotton cleaned using Valuga fish jawbone.
- Uses Gandhi Charkha with single spindle and 24 spokes.
- Very fine yarn count (100–120).
- Highlighted by Mahatma Gandhi in Young India.
- GI tag protects regional identity and artisan livelihoods.
MCQ
Which feature makes Ponduru Khadi globally unique?
a) Use of power looms
b) Chemical treatment of yarn
c) Cleaning cotton using fish jawbone
d) Use of synthetic fibres
One Nation–One Port Process (ONOP)
Short Notes (Pointers)
- What it is: Reform initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) to bring uniform port procedures across India.
- Aim: Standardise documentation, approvals, and workflows for all major and selected minor ports.
- Core idea: Remove port-wise procedural variations that create delays and raise logistics costs.
- Digital backbone: Upgradation of National Logistics Portal–Marine (NLP-Marine) / “Sagar Setu” for end-to-end electronic processing.
- Key impact claim: Cuts ~33% documentation required at ports → faster processing.
- Why it matters:
- Improves cargo handling efficiency
- Reduces turnaround time of ships
- Lowers logistics costs
- Boosts ease of doing business and trade competitiveness
NLP-Marine / “Sagar Setu” (National Logistics Portal–Marine)
- Centralised digital platform for electronic submission & processing of ship-related and cargo-related information.
- Provides single-window integration of port stakeholders.
- Replaces multiple manual forms → supports paperless workflows, faster clearances, real-time data sharing.
MCQ (1)
ONOP (One Nation–One Port Process) primarily seeks to achieve which of the following?
a) Uniform port procedures and reduced documentation through a single digital workflow
b) Privatisation of all major ports to improve efficiency
c) Conversion of all minor ports into major ports within five years
d) Replacement of coastal shipping with rail-based cargo movement
