Daily Current Affairs - 28th November 2025
- TPP
- 2 days ago
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Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | Chasing China Report, IMF ‘C’ Rating for India’s Data, SC on Online Content Regulation, Assam’s Moh Juj Recognition, India’s Digital Sovereignty Trilemma, Army’s 2047 Roadmap, IAU Planetary Names, Tex-RAMPS Scheme and more.
If you missed Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP) | Sept - Oct 2025, read it here.
Table of Content
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
SCHEMES
Chasing China Report: Global Trends in China’s Overseas Lending
AidData has released the Chasing China Report.
The report highlights the scale and pattern of China’s overseas lending portfolio.
Key Highlights of the Report
China has provided over $2 trillion in loans and grants worldwide since 2000.
More than 80% of nations received loans from China’s state-owned creditors between 2000 and 2023.
The United States is identified as the largest recipient of Chinese loans.
Russia emerges as the second-largest recipient.
Australia is the third-largest recipient of Chinese loans.
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Trends
The report notes a decline in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) lending.
BRI now accounts for only about 25% of total Chinese global lending.
This decline indicates a strategic shift away from infrastructure-heavy projects in poorer regions.
India’s Borrowing Pattern
Indian entities have received $11.1 billion in Chinese lending.
Most of this borrowing is directed towards the energy sector.
A significant share is also directed towards the financial services sector.
IMF Assigns ‘C’ Rating to India’s National Accounts Statistics and Inflation Data
The IMF has assigned a ‘C’ rating to India’s National Accounts Statistics (NAS) and inflation data.
A ‘C’ rating indicates that the data have shortcomings that somewhat hamper surveillance.
IMF Grading System
The IMF uses a four-grade scale to assess data quality for economic surveillance.
A Grade ‘A’ means the data provided are adequate for surveillance.
A Grade ‘B’ means the data have some shortcomings but remain broadly adequate.
A Grade ‘C’ means the data have shortcomings that somewhat hamper surveillance.
A Grade ‘D’ means the data have serious shortcomings that significantly hamper surveillance.
Key Issues Highlighted by the IMF
The IMF notes that India uses an outdated base year (2011–12) for GDP calculation.
An outdated base year fails to reflect current production technologies.
It also fails to reflect changing consumer preferences, leading to inaccurate GDP estimation.
The IMF recommends using updated data sources for national accounts.
Examples of updated data sources include the Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey (HCES).
Another important source is the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).
These updated sources help capture structural changes in the economy.
The IMF notes that India lacks seasonally adjusted data in national accounts.
Seasonal adjustment removes regular seasonal fluctuations to help interpret short-term quarterly movements.
The IMF highlights that India uses outdated statistical techniques in quarterly national accounts.
The Fund also notes the absence of Producer Price Indices (PPI) in national accounts.
Excessive reliance on a single deflator, such as the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), can create cyclical biases.
The IMF observes that India’s CPI components are outdated.
The outdated CPI relates to its base year (2011–12), items basket, and weights.
IMF’s Recommendation
The IMF recommends conducting regular benchmark revisions of national accounts and price statistics.
It states that such revisions should follow international best practices.
Key Statistical Indicators of the Economy
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total money value of all final goods and services produced within a country’s borders in one year.
Gross Value Added (GVA) is the value of output minus the value of intermediate consumption.
GVA represents the additional value created by producers.
The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) measures the average change in prices of goods at the wholesale level.
WPI mainly covers goods, not services.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change in prices of goods and services consumed by households.
The Producer Price Index (PPI) measures the average change in selling prices received by domestic producers.
PPI captures inflation at the producer or factory-gate level.
Supreme Court Highlights the Need to Regulate Abusive Online Content
The Supreme Court has highlighted the urgent need to regulate abusive and harmful online content.
The Court emphasized creating an effective mechanism to ensure accountability for user-generated online content.
Concerns Raised by the Supreme Court
The Court noted that harmful posts spread with extreme virality, meaning they reach large audiences within seconds.
The Court also noted that the high velocity of online posts makes takedown mechanisms ineffective once damage occurs.
The Court observed that mere one-line adult-content warnings do not prevent minors from accessing explicit material.
The Court highlighted that user-generated channels operate without regulatory oversight.
The Court noted that such unregulated channels allow unverified or provocative content to spread unchecked.
The Court cautioned that misinformation becomes dangerous when it is used to incite hatred.
The Court further cautioned that misinformation can distort facts.
The Court warned that misinformation can also trigger social unrest, even if dissent itself is democratic.
Proposals and Directions by the Supreme Court
The Court directed the Centre to draft new guidelines for all forms of digital content.
These guidelines will cover User Generated Content (UGC) on social media.
These guidelines will also cover OTT platforms, news content, and curated online content.
The Court directed that these guidelines must be framed after public consultation.
The Court suggested establishing an autonomous regulator for digital content.
The Court recommended that this regulator must be neutral and independent.
The Court stated that this regulator should replace or supplement existing self-regulatory mechanisms.
The Court directed the formation of an expert committee to study online content regulation.
The Court stated that this committee must include domain experts.
The Court also stated that this committee must include persons with judicial background.
The Court proposed an age verification system for access to adult content.
The Court suggested Aadhaar-based verification as one method of age verification.
The Court suggested PAN-based verification as another method of age verification.
The Court stated that age verification must go beyond mere disclaimers.
Existing Legal Mechanisms
The Information Technology Act, 2000 regulates online intermediaries and digital content.
The IT Rules 2021 require intermediaries to appoint grievance redressal officers.
The IT Rules also mandate time-bound removal of unlawful online content.
The IT Rules further require due diligence from digital intermediaries.
In October 2025, the government proposed rules to ensure AI-generated content is clearly labelled.
These rules require intermediaries to verify AI-generated content before upload.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 criminalises defamation and obscenity.
BNS also criminalises sedition-like acts.
BNS further criminalises incitement to violence.
Digital platforms follow self-regulatory codes for content moderation.
OTT platforms maintain internal guidelines for content classification and moderation.
Broadcasters use rating systems and moderation procedures to regulate content.
Victims can seek judicial remedies after harm occurs.
Judicial remedies include damages for harm suffered.
Judicial remedies also include injunctions to prevent further harm.
Judicial remedies further include criminal proceedings against offenders.
Moh Juj: Assam Recognises Traditional Buffalo-Fight Sport
The Assam Legislative Assembly has passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The amendment has been passed to legally allow the traditional sport Moh Juj in Assam.
About Moh Juj
Moh Juj refers to traditional buffalo fights conducted in certain regions of Assam.
In Assamese, the term “Moh” means buffalo and “Juj” means fight.
Together, the term Moh Juj literally means “buffalo fight.”
The sport forms an important part of the cultural celebrations of Magh Bihu.
Magh Bihu, also known as Bhogali Bihu, is a major harvest festival in Assam.
Government Pushes for Private Sector Entry in India’s Nuclear Sector
The Prime Minister has stressed the need to open India’s civil nuclear sector to private players.
The Prime Minister highlighted the success of private sector participation in the space sector as a model for nuclear reforms.
The government believes that private entry will help mobilise private investment in nuclear technology.
Private sector participation is expected to boost innovation in nuclear energy systems.
It is also expected to accelerate the rollout of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are compact, factory-built nuclear reactors.
SMRs are designed to enhance grid stability due to their flexible operation.
SMRs are also expected to strengthen India’s energy security by diversifying power generation sources.
Private involvement is further expected to expand domestic manufacturing capacity in the nuclear ecosystem.
Civil Nuclear Sector in India
India’s nuclear energy sector is under exclusive control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
India currently operates 24 nuclear reactors across the country.
All these reactors are run solely by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).
The total installed nuclear power capacity is 8.8 GW.
This capacity accounts for only 2% of India’s total electricity generation.
The government has set a target of achieving 22 GW nuclear capacity by 2032.
The longer-term target is to reach 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047.
The governing law for nuclear activities is the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), 1962.
The AEA prohibits private sector participation in nuclear energy generation.
Another key law is the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010.
The CLNDA establishes the legal framework for compensation in case of a nuclear accident.
Under the CLNDA, the operator’s liability in case of nuclear damage is capped at ₹1,500 crore.
Challenges to Private Sector Participation
The nuclear sector faces major safety concerns requiring strict regulatory oversight.
Private players may be deterred by the liability burden imposed under the CLNDA.
National security remains a concern due to the sensitive nature of nuclear technology.
Increased private involvement requires stronger traceability mechanisms for nuclear materials.
Private participation also requires strict compliance systems for safety and security.
Nuclear projects have long gestation periods of 7–10 years.
Long project timelines make private investors hesitant due to uncertain returns.
Private involvement may require risk-sharing mechanisms to attract investment.
India’s domestic uranium supply remains insufficient for expanding nuclear power.
Private players will have to depend on imported uranium to meet fuel requirements.
India’s Trilemma of Digital Governance: Ascendancy, Capitulation, or Genuine Digital Sovereignty
India currently faces a trilemma of digital governance in the evolving global digital order.
This trilemma arises as geopolitical influence shifts from oil to data in the digital era.
India must choose between digital ascendancy, digital capitulation, or genuine digital sovereignty.
India faces global technological dominance that poses strategic risks to its digital economy.
In response, India seeks to assert sovereign control over its digital ecosystem.
MUST READ: Rise of Sovereign AI
The Three Paths Before India
Digital Ascendancy represents the U.S. model of using control over global data flows.
Digital ascendancy also relies on controlling global financial infrastructure such as SWIFT.
Digital ascendancy uses such control to exert geopolitical power across regions.
Digital Capitulation refers to trading away digital autonomy in return for short-term commercial gains.
Digital capitulation forces countries to accept foreign dominance over their digital infrastructure.
Digital Sovereignty refers to building legal and industrial mechanisms that safeguard national control over data.
Digital sovereignty aims to regulate the national digital space on sovereign terms.
Factors Pushing India Toward Digital Sovereignty
India faces geopolitical volatility in its relations with major powers.
Strained ties with the United States over trade and tariffs create uncertainties.
Tensions over Russian oil purchases further complicate India–U.S. relations.
These geopolitical pressures push India toward technological self-reliance.
India confronts a global digital dominance structure driven by the U.S. ascendancy model.
This model controls major global data flows. It also controls critical internet infrastructure.
It further controls global financial infrastructure, including SWIFT.
This digital architecture has been weaponised against countries like Iran and Russia.
Such practices create indirect pressure on India’s external energy trade.
India also faces vulnerability to foreign control in critical technologies.
Microsoft’s suspension of services to Nayara Energy, due to EU sanctions, exposed this vulnerability.
This suspension demonstrated India’s high-risk dependence on foreign digital providers.
India recognises that data has become a new currency in the global economy.
A nation’s digital footprint now defines its strategic strength.
Pathways to Achieving Digital Sovereignty for India
Digital sovereignty means building legal and regulatory frameworks that control data exports.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act is one such legal instrument.
Digital sovereignty also requires controlling the national digital ecosystem.
India needs a robust framework for digital industrialization.
Digital industrialization focuses on developing domestic digital capabilities.
India must avoid China’s exclusion model that heavily restricts foreign technology.
India instead needs a national digital industrialization policy aligned with openness and innovation.
India Stack provides a foundational base for sovereign digital architecture.
India Stack includes Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) platforms.
It also includes the Aadhaar ecosystem.
These platforms support large-scale, secure, and inclusive digital governance.
India is also developing Sovereign AI, such as the BharatGen initiative.
Sovereign AI reduces dependence on foreign AI models and cloud systems.
A Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) approach supports self-reliant digital infrastructure.
Indigenous technologies such as Arattai, a messaging app by Zoho, strengthen digital autonomy.
Challenges in India’s Path to Digital Sovereignty
India faces the risk of digital capitulation through unfavourable trade clauses.
Some FTAs require non-discrimination clauses that limit regulatory control over foreign digital services.
Countries like Indonesia have lost digital autonomy due to such clauses.
Countries like Malaysia faced similar losses of regulatory flexibility.
India must balance foreign investment with sovereignty concerns.
Investments such as Google’s $15 billion AI hub pose geopolitical and sovereignty risks.
India struggles with the failure of domestic alternatives to global platforms.
The closure of Koo, despite state support, illustrates this challenge.
India faces concerns around privacy and secrecy in domestic platforms.
The example of Zoho’s Arattai showed blurred lines between user privacy and data secrecy.
Promises not to mine data may not remain future-proof without strong regulatory safeguards.
Indian Army’s Three-Phase Plan for a Future-Ready Force by 2047
The Chief of Army Staff has unveiled a comprehensive three-phase road map for Army transformation by 2047.
The plan aims to create a fully integrated and future-ready force by the centenary year of India’s independence.
The Army Chief identified four key springboards for India’s military evolution:
Self-Reliance (Atmanirbharta), meaning indigenisation of defence capabilities.
Innovation (Anusandhan), meaning development and adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
Adaptation (Anukulan), meaning rapid organisational and doctrinal flexibility.
Integration (Ekikaran), meaning seamless jointness across services and domains.
About the Three-Phase Plan
Phase 1 extends till 2032.
Phase 1 is termed the Decade of Transformation.
Focuses on rapid enhancement of military capabilities.
Prioritises restructuring of force formations.
Aims at improving operational readiness of the Army.
Seeks to build a modern and agile fighting force.
Phase 2 covers the period 2032 to 2037.
Focuses on consolidation of gains made during Phase 1.
Aims to strengthen organisational structures.
Seeks to deepen the integration of new technologies.
Focuses on refining military doctrines for future warfare.
Phase 3 spans 2037 to 2047.
Aims to develop a fully integrated future force.
Envisions a technologically advanced Army.
Focuses on creating a networked operational environment.
Prepares the Army for next-generation warfare across domains.
International Astronomical Union (IAU) and India’s New Planetary Feature Names
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has released its latest list of planetary feature names.
Seven Indian names have been included in this updated list.
Examples of these Indian names include the Periyar River on Mars.
The list also includes the Bekal Fort as a named Martian feature.
The list further includes the Varkala Beach as another Martian geological name.
These names were approved by the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature, which standardises names for celestial features.
About the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
The IAU was established in 1919 as the global authority on astronomical naming and standards.
The headquarters of the IAU is located in Paris, France.
The mission of the IAU is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy.
The mission covers research in astronomical sciences , also covers communication of astronomical knowledge.
It further includes education and public outreach.
The mission is pursued through international cooperation.
The IAU has 85 national members, which are national-level scientific bodies.
India is represented by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
The IAU contributes to defining planetary classification standards, such as the definition of a planet.
The IAU provides the standard celestial coordinate system, which guides global astronomical observations.
Vikram-1 Launch Vehicle
The Prime Minister unveiled Vikram-1, which is India’s new private orbital-class launch vehicle.
An orbital-class launch vehicle is a rocket capable of placing satellites into Earth’s orbit rather than just sub-orbital space.
Vikram-1 has been developed by Skyroot Aerospace, which is a private Indian space startup based in Hyderabad.
The rocket has been designed to launch satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) refers to orbits at altitudes of 160–2,000 km, commonly used for Earth-observation and communication satellites.
Vikram-1 can also place satellites into Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) is an orbit where a satellite passes over the same part of Earth at the same local solar time, ideal for imaging missions.
The launch vehicle is intended to support small satellites, which are satellites generally under 500 kg.
It is also designed for rideshare missions, which involve launching multiple satellites together on a single rocket.
Vikram-1 can carry up to 350 kg to LEO, providing significant capacity for commercial small-sat missions.
The rocket can carry up to 260 kg to SSO, enabling Earth-observation and climate-monitoring missions.
Vikram-1 is a four-stage rocket, which means its propulsion occurs in four successive segments to reach orbit.
The first three stages use solid-fuel boosters, which are engines using solid propellant for high thrust.
The final stage uses a liquid-propellant Raman engine designed for precise orbital insertion.
Precise orbital insertion means exactly placing a satellite into the required orbit with minimal deviation.
Vikram-1 uses an all-carbon-fibre body, which reduces weight and increases fuel efficiency.
The rocket incorporates 3D-printed engines, enabling quicker manufacturing and reduced costs.
Bamboo (Green Gold)
A 37,000-year-old thorny bamboo fossil has been discovered in the silt-rich deposits of the Chirang River in Manipur’s Imphal Valley.
This fossil represents the earliest evidence of thorny bamboo in Asia, indicating its ancient evolutionary presence.
The thorniness in bamboo serves as a defense mechanism against herbivores, helping the plant survive grazing pressure.
Bamboo is a woody plant belonging to the grass family (Poaceae).
The grass family includes plants like rice, wheat, and maize, but bamboo is unique due to its woody stems called culms.
Bamboo is known as "Green Gold" because of its high economic value and ecological importance.
It is one of the fastest-growing plants, with some species capable of growing up to 4 cm in an hour.
Bamboo has higher compressive strength than wood, brick, or concrete, meaning it can withstand greater compression forces.
Due to its strength, bamboo is used in civil construction, especially for scaffolding and structural components.
It is extensively used in the paper industry as a raw material for pulp.
It is widely used in furniture making due to its durability, flexibility, and lightweight nature.
Bamboo also contributes to food and traditional medicine, especially in many Asian cultures.
Amphibians: Decline and Ecological Importance
A global study has found that 788 amphibian species have declined in conservation status over the last 40 years.
Amphibians face threats such as habitat loss and degradation, agriculture, timber and plant harvesting, and infrastructure development.
They account for 25.2% of all threatened vertebrates on the IUCN Red List, including 185 Critically Endangered species and 37 extinct species.
Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrate animals that can live both in water and on land at different stages of their life, e.g., frogs.
Being cold-blooded means their body temperature changes with the environment rather than being internally regulated.
Amphibians play a crucial ecological role, supporting nutrient cycling, soil aeration, and overall ecosystem productivity.
They also provide essential ecosystem services, such as pest control, benefiting agriculture and human health indirectly.
Tex-RAMPS Scheme
The government has approved the Tex-RAMPS scheme, formally called Textiles Focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning and Start-up.
The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Textiles to enhance the growth and innovation in the sector.
It is funded with ₹305 crore for the period 2025-26 to 2030-31.
The primary aim is to future-proof India’s textiles and apparel (T&A) ecosystem by strengthening research, innovation, and competitiveness.
A key component is Research & Innovation, which focuses on areas like smart textiles and sustainability.
Another component is Data, Analytics & Diagnostics, which includes employment assessments and supply chain mapping to support informed policymaking.
The scheme also introduces a Real-time Integrated Textiles Statistical System (ITSS), designed for structured monitoring and strategic decision-making.
Capacity Development & Knowledge Ecosystem is included to strengthen state-level planning and facilitate the dissemination of best practices.
Start-up & Innovation Support under the scheme promotes incubators, hackathons, and academia-industry collaborations to nurture entrepreneurship and new technologies.
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