Daily Current Affairs - 29th December 2025

Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | UN Convention against Corruption (COSP-11 Doha Declaration 2025), Common ATS Framework, INS Vaghsheer & K-4 Missile, Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme, Political Funding Concerns, PRAGATI Platform, Human Capital for Viksit Bharat, GST Appellate Tribunal, Maglev Technology, Narasapuram Lace and more.

If you missed Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP) | Sept - Oct 2025, read it here.

Table of Content

INTERNATIONAL

1. COSP-11

ECONOMY

2. Human Capital for Viksit Bharat

3. Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT)

POLITY

4. Concerns over Political Funding in India

5. PRAGATI platform

SECURITY / DEFENCE

6. Towards a Common ATS Structure in India

7. INS Vaghsheer

8. SBFAS and SbDS

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

9. Maglev Technology

MISCELLANY

10. Narasapuram Lace Craft

1. 11th Conference of the States Parties (COSP-11)

1. The 11th Conference of the States Parties (COSP-11) to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has concluded successfully.

   • COSP is the main decision-making body that reviews the implementation of the Convention by member states.

2. The conference adopted the Doha Declaration 2025, which provides political guidance to strengthen global anti-corruption efforts.

3. The Doha Declaration 2025 calls on States to leverage digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to strengthen international law-enforcement cooperation in addressing cross-border corruption.

4. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) acts as the secretariat of the Conference, meaning it provides administrative and technical support to COSP.

About the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)

1. UNCAC is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument at the global level.

2. It was adopted in 2003 by the UN General Assembly in New York.

3. The Convention entered into force in 2005, making its provisions legally applicable to Parties.

4. The objective of UNCAC is to prevent and combat corruption across public and private sectors.

5. It aims to promote integrity and accountability in governance systems.

6. It facilitates international cooperation among countries to combat corruption-related offences.

7. It provides a framework for asset recovery, which involves returning assets obtained through corruption to the affected countries.

Membership Status

1. As of September 2025, the Convention has 140 Signatories, meaning countries that have expressed intent to comply and 192 Parties, meaning countries that have ratified and are legally bound by it.

2. India is a Party to the UN Convention against Corruption.

2. Human Capital for Viksit Bharat

1. The Conference of Chief Secretaries recently deliberated on the theme “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat”.

2. The theme highlights the central role of people in achieving the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat).

Understanding Human Capital

1. Human capital refers to the stock of knowledge, skills, health, and personal characteristics embodied in individuals.

2. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), human capital enhances an individual’s productive capacity.

Significance of Human Capital in Becoming a Developed Nation

1. Harnessing the Demographic Dividend: About 60% of India’s population is currently in the working-age group (15–59 years).

   • The working-age population is projected to peak at 68.9% by 2030, creating a time-bound opportunity for growth.

2. Correlation with Economic Growth: As per Human Capital Theory, investments in education, skills, and health improve workforce efficiency and productivity.

3. Innovation Economy: Strong human capital enables research, entrepreneurship, and technology adoption.

   • Human capital supports India’s rise in start-ups and digital public infrastructure such as Aadhaar and UPI.

   • It also facilitates growth in emerging sectors like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and green energy.

Key Challenges in Human Capital Development

1. Poor Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: Only 46% proficiency in mathematics at Class V was recorded as per PARAKH 2024, which assesses learning outcomes.

2. High Dropout Rates: The secondary-level dropout rate stands at 10.9%, indicating retention challenges.

3. Low Expected Years of Schooling (EYS): India’s EYS is 13.3 years, compared to the 18-year benchmark in developed nations.

Way Forward

1. Strengthening Foundational Learning: Expand NIPUN Bharat, Balvatikas, and early childhood education to build strong learning foundations.

2. Skill Integration and Employability: Align education with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes holistic and multidisciplinary learning.

   • Promote vocational education through the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), which integrates skills with formal education.

   • Encourage innovation through Atal Tinkering Labs, which foster problem-solving and STEM skills.

3. Health and Nutritional Support: Strengthen convergence with PM POSHAN, which provides nutritional support to improve learning outcomes.

3. Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT)

1. The Ministry of Finance has allotted benches to 83 newly appointed members of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT).

2. The step aims to strengthen the GST dispute resolution mechanism and reduce pendency.

About GSTAT

1. The Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) is a statutory body for GST-related adjudication.

2. GSTAT was constituted under Section 109 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017.

Objective and Jurisdiction

1. The primary objective of GSTAT is to hear appeals against orders passed by Appellate Authorities.

2. GSTAT also hears appeals against orders passed by Revisional Authorities.

3. The Tribunal has jurisdiction over anti-profiteering cases, which address the denial of GST benefits to consumers.

Composition of GSTAT

1. GSTAT is headed by a President. The President can be a Judge of the Supreme Court.

   • The President can also be a current or former Chief Justice of a High Court.

2. GSTAT consists of three other members in each bench.

3. These include Judicial Members, who handle legal interpretation.

4. It also includes Technical Members (Centre and States), who provide tax administration expertise.

Bench Structure

1. GSTAT has a Principal Bench located at New Delhi.

2. It also has 31 State Benches.

3. These State Benches are spread across 44 locations to ensure regional access to justice.

4. Political Funding in India: Between Opacity and Accountability

1. The Election Commission of India (ECI) released the Annual Report on contributions received by Electoral Trusts.

2. The report highlighted that incumbent political parties received a larger share of political funding.

Political Funding Mechanisms in India

1. Political funding in India is primarily regulated by the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

2. Political funding is also governed by the Income Tax Act, 1961.

3. Corporate political donations are regulated under the Companies Act, 2013.

Modes of Political Funding

1. Individual Donations: Political parties are allowed to accept voluntary contributions from individuals.

2. Political parties are prohibited from accepting donations from government companies.

3. Donations above ₹20,000 must be reported to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

4. Donations above ₹2,000 must be made through traceable methods such as cheques or digital payments.

5. Electoral Trusts act as intermediaries to collect donations from individuals or companies and distribute them to political parties.

Key Issues in Political Funding

1. Lack of Transparency and Anonymity: Between 2004–05 and 2022–23, six national parties collected ₹19,083.08 crore from unknown sources, as reported by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

2. Unequal Playing Field: There is no legal limit on election expenditure by political parties, although limits exist for individual candidates.

   • This absence of limits favors parties with greater financial resources, creating barriers for smaller or newer parties.

3. Corporate Influence and Cronyism: Political funding in India relies heavily on corporate donations, which may influence public policy.

   • Such funding patterns can lead to policies serving private interests rather than public welfare.

   • The Supreme Court in the Electoral Bonds case (2024) described this quid pro quo as institutionalised corruption, meaning corruption embedded within legal frameworks.

Way Forward

1. Promote Public Funding: State funding of elections can reduce disparities in financial resources among political parties.

   • The Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998) recommended partial state funding of elections.

2. Establish a National Election Fund: Individuals and companies should donate to a common national fund.

   • The fund should allocate resources to political parties in a fair and transparent manner.

3. Limit on Campaign Expenditure: A legal cap on campaign spending by political parties should be introduced.

   • Such limits would enable parties to contest elections without excessive financial pressure.

5. PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation)

1. The Prime Minister has called upon States to replicate the Centre’s PRAGATI platform.

2. The objective is to strengthen cooperative federalism and improve project implementation at the State level.

About PRAGATI

1. PRAGATI stands for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

2. The platform was launched in 2015 to fast-track development projects.

3. PRAGATI operates as a three-tier governance system.

   • The first tier consists of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), second tier includes Secretaries of Union Government Ministries and third tier comprises Chief Secretaries of the States, who represent state administrations.

Objectives of PRAGATI

1. Expedite Project Implementation: PRAGATI uses digital technology to enable real-time monitoring of projects.

   • The platform leverages video conferencing to directly connect decision-makers across levels of government.

   • It uses real-time data dashboards to track project progress.

   • It incorporates drone feeds to provide on-ground visual verification of project execution.

2. Collaborative Approach: PRAGATI aims to break administrative silos by involving multiple government departments and agencies in joint decision-making.

3. E-transparency: The platform promotes transparency through digitally accessible project data.

4. E-accountability: PRAGATI ensures accountability by fixing responsibility for delays and monitoring outcomes.

5. Grievance Redressal: It provides an effective mechanism for resolving implementation-related grievances in a time-bound manner.

6. Towards a Common Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Structure in India

1. The Union Home Minister has called for a uniform Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) structure across India.

2. The emphasis was made at the ‘Anti-Terrorism Conference-2025’, which was organized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Recent Developments by NIA

1. The NIA has developed a common ATS framework to standardize counter-terrorism operations.

   • This framework has been shared with State police forces for adoption and implementation.

2. The Updated NIA Crime Manual was unveiled to guide investigation and prosecution procedures.

3. The Organised Crime Network Database was launched to map and track terror-linked criminal networks.

4. The Lost and Recovered Weapon Database was introduced to monitor illicit arms circulation.

Significance of a Common ATS Framework

1. Evolving Nature of Terrorism: Terrorism has become complex, trans-regional, and technology-driven.

   • Terror groups increasingly use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for planning and blockchain-based transactions for funding.

2. Uniformity and Standardisation: Common Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ensure consistent preparedness across States.

   • Uniform SOPs enable a seamless process from investigation to prosecution and counter-action.

3. Improved Inter-Agency Coordination: A common framework strengthens coordination among State police forces.

   • It enhances cooperation with central agencies such as the NIA.

   • It improves intelligence sharing with agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

4. Operational Efficiency: Standardized training improves the professional capacity of ATS units nationwide.

   • Common databases ensure real-time access to actionable intelligence.

   • Uniform technology adoption ensures similar operational capabilities across States.

India’s National Anti-Terrorism Framework

1. National Agencies: India’s counter-terrorism architecture includes the NIA, National Security Guard (NSG), and Intelligence Bureau (IB).

2. National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID): It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

   • NATGRID enables real-time intelligence sharing by integrating multiple databases for security agencies.

3. National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco Offenders (NIDAAN): It tracks individuals arrested for narcotics-related offences.

4. Preventing Terror Financing: The Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell (TFFC) functions under the NIA.

   • The Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Cell operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs to curb terror funding channels.

7. INS Vaghsheer

1. The President of India recently undertook a sortie onboard the Indian Navy’s indigenous submarine INS Vaghsheer.

2. A sortie refers to an operational or training deployment undertaken by a naval platform.

About INS Vaghsheer

1. INS Vaghsheer is the last of the six submarines built under Project 75 (P75).

2. Project 75 submarines are also known as the Kalvari-class submarines.

3. Kalvari-class submarines are conventional submarines, meaning they are not nuclear-powered.

4. These submarines are equipped with diesel-electric propulsion systems, which use diesel engines for surface running and electric batteries for submerged operations.

5. The other five submarines of the Kalvari class are INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela, and INS Vagir.

Construction and Collaboration

1. INS Vaghsheer has been constructed by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.

2. The construction was carried out in collaboration with Naval Group, France, reflecting defence technology transfer.

Naming Significance

• INS Vaghsheer is named after the sand fish, a deep-sea predator found in the Indian Ocean.

8. Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) and Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS)

1. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has notified the operational guidelines for two major shipbuilding initiatives.

2. These initiatives are the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS).

About Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS)

1. The objective of SBFAS is to provide direct financial assistance to promote domestic shipbuilding.

2. Under the scheme, financial assistance ranges from 15% to 25% per vessel.

3. The assistance varies based on vessel categories such as small, large, and specialised vessels.

4. SBFAS provides for the establishment of a National Shipbuilding Mission.

5. The National Shipbuilding Mission aims to ensure coordinated planning and execution of shipbuilding initiatives across India.

6. SBFAS introduces Shipbreaking Credit as a new incentive mechanism.

7. Under Shipbreaking Credit, ship owners scrapping vessels at Indian yards will receive a credit equal to 40% of the scrap value.

8. This provision supports a circular economy, which promotes resource reuse and waste minimisation.

About Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS)

1. The objective of SbDS is long-term capacity and capability creation in the shipbuilding sector.

2. SbDS supports the development of greenfield shipbuilding clusters, which are new shipbuilding facilities built from scratch.

3. The scheme also promotes the expansion and modernisation of existing brownfield shipyards, meaning already operational facilities.

4. SbDS provides for the establishment of an India Ship Technology Centre.

5. The India Ship Technology Centre will be set up under the Indian Maritime University to strengthen research, design, and innovation in shipbuilding.

9. Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Technology

1. China has set a world record with a high-speed maglev train achieving 700 kmph in just two seconds.

2. This achievement demonstrates the potential of next-generation high-speed rail systems.

Principle of Maglev Technology

1. Magnetic levitation uses electromagnetic forces to lift vehicles above the track.

2. Levitation eliminates wheel–rail contact, reducing friction and mechanical wear.

Propulsion Mechanism

1. Maglev trains move through controlled magnetic fields.

2. This eliminates the need for conventional engines or direct mechanical propulsion.

Advantages of Maglev Technology

1. Energy Efficiency: Reduced mechanical resistance lowers energy loss and maintenance requirements.

2. Smooth and Silent Operation: Absence of physical contact minimizes noise and vibration, improving passenger comfort.

10. Narasapuram Lace Craft

The Prime Minister recently highlighted Narasapuram lace craft as a symbol of women’s empowerment and economic progress.

Geographical Origin

• Narasapuram lace is found in and around Narasapur/Narsapur in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.

Historical Origin

1. The craft was taught to local women by Christian missionaries in the 19th century.

2. It is also known as crochet craft, a technique that uses fine cotton threads and crochet needles to create handcrafted items.

Products and Patterns

1. Common products include bedspreads, mobile covers, and other decorative items.

2. The designs feature intricate floral, geometric, and paisley patterns.

3. These patterns are inspired by nature and traditional motifs, reflecting local culture and aesthetics.

Recognition and Awards

1. Narasapuram lace has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which identifies it as a product originating from a specific location with unique qualities.

2. It has also been recognized under the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) scheme, which promotes local crafts and industries.

Socio-Economic Significance

• Approximately 60% of artisans engaged in Narasapuram lace are women, highlighting its role in women’s employment and empowerment.

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