Revised Measurement of India’s Coastline

Context: Recently, India has updated its coastline length using high-resolution surveys and GIS tools to improve maritime planning, development, and security assessments.

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• National Hydrographic Office, in coordination with the Survey of India, has re-assessed India’s coastline from 7516.6 km to 11098.81 km under new terms given by the National Security Council Secretariat.
• Updated measurement was carried out using modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and high-resolution High-Water Line data obtained from recent surveys.
• Coastal Protection and Development Advisory Committee accepted the revised coastline after receiving concurrence from all coastal States and Union Territories.
• The revised coastline length does not affect areas covered under the CRZ regulations, as CRZ boundaries are determined solely on the basis of the actual High Tide Line (HTL) demarcated by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).

Key Significance of the Revised Coastline

• Revised coastline measurement supports improved planning of ports, coastal infrastructure, tourism zones and disaster management measures such as cyclone response, erosion monitoring and flood preparedness.
• Updated baseline data strengthens maritime governance through better delineation of territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone boundaries that enhance national security and resource management.

Karthigai Deepam Festival

Context: Karthigai Deepam is an ancient Tamil festival of lights that honours Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga.

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• Karthigai Deepa Brahmotsavam is being celebrated at the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple with ten days of Utsavam processions.
• A three-day Theppa festival and the Chandikeshwar Utsavam follow as major components of the celebration.

Key Details of the Festival and its Rituals

• The Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated annually on the full moon day of the Tamil calendar month of Karthigai, which typically falls between November and December in the Gregorian calendar.
• The festival is primarily celebrated by Tamils and Malayalis, most notably at the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple in Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.
• Karthigai Deepam rituals include Bharani Deepam in the early morning and the Maha Deepam lighting on the Annamalai hill in the evening.
• Principle of spiritual unity is expressed through the idea of one lamp becoming many and many becoming one which signifies Lord Shiva’s presence in multiple forms.

International Cheetah Day

Context: India celebrated International Cheetah Day on 4^th December to raise awareness about the Cheetah and to highlight the ongoing efforts aimed at preventing its extinction.

International Cheetah Day

• It was established in 2010 by the Cheetah Conservation Fund to raise awareness about the dwindling populations and shrinking habitats of the fastest land animal on Earth.
• In India, the day in 2025 highlighted the progress of the "Project Cheetah" initiative, focusing on the successful reintroduction and population growth of cheetahs in national parks.
• Discussions across various platforms in 2025 centered on the need for integrated conservation strategies to combat habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, the illegal wildlife trade, and the exacerbating effects of climate change.

About Cheetah

• The cheetah is a large feline recognised for its speed and distinctive physical characteristics. The name “Cheetah” is derived from a Sanskrit word “Chitra” means spots. 
• The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal. They can run 70 mph (or 110 kph).
• The cheetah is a large, sleek feline with a thin, long-legged body and a light skeletal frame.
• Their head is small, with high-set eyes, a black "tear mark" that extends from the inside of each eye to the mouth, and big nostrils that facilitate a greater intake of oxygen.
• The cheetah is the only surviving species of the genus Acinonyx. Originally, five subspecies of cheetahs were recognised, but recent genetic studies suggest that only four subspecies can be acknowledged:
• India introduced the Southeast African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) subspecies to Kuno National Park through Project Cheetah, bringing them from Namibia and South Africa as a replacement for the extinct native Asiatic cheetah.

Birth Anniversary of Khudiram Bose ji

Context: Union Home Minister paid tribute to the great patriot and immortal martyr Khudiram Bose on his birth anniversary.

About Khudiram Bose ji

• Born on 3 December 1889 in the village of Habibpur (Mohobani) in Midnapore district, Bengal Presidency (now West Bengal).
• After the death of his parents, he was brought up by his elder sister, Aparupa Roy, and her husband, Amritlal Roy.
• He studied at Hamilton High School in Tamluk, where the teachings of Sri Aurobindo Ghose and Sister Nivedita (around 1902–1903) inspired him to join the national movement.
• At about 15 years of age, he became a volunteer with the revolutionary organisation Anushilan Samiti.
• In 1908, he and fellow revolutionary Prafulla Chaki were assigned to assassinate Magistrate Douglas H. Kingsford, known for his harsh sentences against nationalists.
• On 30 April 1908, they threw a bomb at a carriage believed to be carrying Kingsford near the European Club in Muzaffarpur; however, the intended target was not inside, and the attack resulted in the deaths of two British women.
• Prafulla Chaki took his own life to avoid arrest, while Khudiram was captured by police at Waini railway station.
• He was tried in court and, despite being only 18 years old, was sentenced to death by the British authorities.
• On 11 August 1908, at the age of 18, Khudiram Bose was executed by hanging in Muzaffarpur jail, making him one of the youngest martyrs of the Indian freedom struggle.
• His courage, youthful determination, and sacrifice made him a lasting symbol of patriotic inspiration for future generations.

IndiGo FDTL Relaxation Controversy

Context: The Airlines Pilots’ Association of India (APAI) sharply criticised the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for granting IndiGo temporary relief by suspending the implementation of the new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) rules, warning that the move endangers passengers.

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• The association said this decision lets IndiGo operate with reduced rest periods for pilots which increases fatigue and endangers passengers.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation paused the revised FDTL norms until February ten after IndiGo faced widespread cancellations and delays.
• The pilots’ body said the airline’s planning failures and its lean manpower strategy caused the operational collapse.
• The association stated that IndiGo relied on tight staffing and did not hire enough pilots even when the new norms were announced well in advance.
• The APAI expressed disappointment because the DGCA had agreed earlier that no operator would receive exemptions during the second phase of the FDTL rollout.

About FDTL norms

• The FDTL rules determine how long pilots can be on duty, how many hours they can fly, how many night landings they may perform, and the minimum rest they must receive.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revised these limits in January 2024 after reviewing fatigue reports and global standards.
• The new norms, implemented in two phases, lengthen weekly rest, extend the definition of night, and place stricter caps on night operations with the aim of reducing fatigue-related safety risks.
• Key changes now in force include:
  • 48 consecutive hours of weekly rest for pilots
  • Night is defined as 00:00–06:00 instead of the earlier 00:00–05:00
  • A limit of two night landings instead of six landings
  • No more than two consecutive night duties
  • Mandatory roster adjustments and quarterly fatigue reporting

Five Products Secure GI Tag

Context: Recently, five products from Tamil Nadu have secured the Geographical Indications (GI) tag, highlighting the State’s diverse craftsmanship and agricultural heritage.

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• India has secured Geographical Indication (GI) recognition for more than 600 products.
• The Government of India is actively promoting the country’s GI heritage and aims to achieve 10,000 GI registrations by 2030.
• Tamil Nadu products that have recently received the GI tag in December 2025:

Geographical Indications (GI) tag

• Geographical Indications of Goods are defined as that aspect of industrial property which refers to a country or place situated therein as the country or place of origin of that product.
• GIs are recognized as an aspect of Intellectual Property Rights under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
• It conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, essentially attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality, region, or country.
• India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999, that came into force with effect from 15th September 2003.
• The certificate in this regard is being given by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Union government.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)

Context: International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is celebrated every year on 3 December by the United Nations.

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• Theme 2025: Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress
• The theme builds on the commitment of world leaders at the Second World Summit for Social Development to create a just, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world.

About International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)

• The annual observance of the IDPD was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly.
• The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), adopted in 2006, builds on decades of the UN’s work in disability rights.
• It promotes the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  • A disability is a condition where a person’s functioning is significantly impaired compared to the typical standard of their group.
  • It includes physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, and mental impairments, as well as chronic diseases, often viewed through a medical model of disability.
• WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, hosts an annual IDPD event to educate the public, raise awareness, advocate for political commitment and resources, and celebrate WHO’s achievements.
• In 2022, the WHO released the Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities. The report outlines approaches and actions countries can take to address the health inequities faced by persons with disabilities.

70^th Mahaparinirvan Diwas

Context: Recently, the Government of India commemorated the 70^th Mahaparinirvan Diwas on 6^th December 2025 as a tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s transformative legacy.

Mahaparinirvan Diwas

• It is observed annually to commemorate the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, fondly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
• According to Buddhist texts, Lord Buddha’s death is considered to be Mahaparinirvan, the Sanskrit term for ‘nirvana after death’.
• Parinirvan (the most sacrosanct day in Buddhism) is considered liberation from Samara, karma, and the cycle of death and birth. 
• Deeply inspired by Buddha’s teachings, Dr. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism as a path to liberation and an antidote to caste-based oppression.
• This day reminds us to uphold Ambedkar’s ideals of justice, equality, and liberty, drawing inspiration from his life to continue the journey toward a more just and harmonious world.

Significance of Mahaparinirvan Diwas

• It provides an opportunity to reflect on Babasaheb’s teachings on equality, fraternity and democratic values that continue to shape India’s social and political framework.
• It serves as a day to reaffirm national commitment to building an inclusive, just and progressive society, in line with Dr Ambedkar’s ideals.
• It encourages citizens to recognise the ongoing relevance of Babasaheb’s message in addressing contemporary social inequalities and protecting constitutional morality.

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

Context: Recently, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the 32nd Ministerial Council meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

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• It took place on 4–5 December 2025 in Vienna, Austria. 
• The meeting aimed to reduce travel burdens for participating States and the Secretariat, and to minimize the event’s environmental impact.

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

• In the early 1970s, it was known as the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.
• It has 57 participating States across North America, Europe, and Asia, making it the world’s largest regional security organization.
• It works to promote stability, peace, and democracy for over a billion people.
• It advances these goals through political dialogue on shared values and practical actions that create lasting impact.
• It spans much of the Northern Hemisphere, covering three continents — North America, Europe, and Asia.
• It maintains field operations in Europe and Central Asia.