Current Affairs 22 December 2025

National Current Affairs

Reservation for Ex-Agniveers in CAPFs

• The Union Home Ministry has decided to increase reservation for ex-Agniveers from 10% to 50% in Group C posts (constables) of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
• The policy has already been notified for the Border Security Force (BSF) and will be gradually extended to other CAPFs like CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles.
• Ex-Agniveers will be exempted from Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) but must appear for written examinations like other candidates.
• Recruitment will be conducted in two phases:
  • First phase by the Nodal Force for 50% vacancies reserved for ex-Agniveers.
  • Second phase by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for remaining vacancies.
• The decision marks a major shift from the earlier 10% reservation policy announced after protests against the Agnipath Scheme (2022).
• The first batch of Agniveers will become eligible for CAPF recruitment in 2026.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Context: Corporate Environmental Responsibility & Great Indian Bustard Case

What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the obligation of companies to contribute to social, economic, and environmental development, beyond profit-making. It aims to ensure that businesses operate ethically and contribute to sustainable development while improving the quality of life of society at large.

Legal Basis of CSR in India

• CSR is governed by Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• It applies to companies with:
  • Net worth of ₹500 crore or more, or
  • Turnover of ₹1,000 crore or more, or
  • Net profit of ₹5 crore or more.
• Such companies must spend at least 2% of their average net profits (of the previous three years) on CSR activities.

Sectors Approved for CSR Spending (Schedule VII, Companies Act)

CSR funds can be used for activities including:

• Eradicating hunger, poverty, and malnutrition
• Promoting education and skill development
• Gender equality and women empowerment
• Environmental sustainability, ecological balance, wildlife protection
• Protection of national heritage, art, and culture
• Rural development projects
• Disaster management and relief
• Health care and sanitation
• Conservation of natural resources and biodiversity

Supreme Court’s New Interpretation (December 2025)

• The Supreme Court ruled that CSR inherently includes environmental responsibility.
• Corporations, as legal persons, have a fundamental duty under Article 51A(g) of the Constitution to protect the environment, forests, wildlife, and ecosystems.
• CSR spending on the environment is not voluntary charity, but a constitutional obligation.
• Applying the “Polluter Pays” principle, the Court held that companies whose activities harm ecosystems must bear the cost of environmental and species restoration.
• The ruling came in the context of petitions concerning the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) , a critically endangered species found mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Special Vacation bench: Great Decision by Supreme Court Chief Justice

• The Supreme Court decided to hold a Special Vacation Bench during the Christmas–New Year vacation period (Dec 19 to Jan 5).
• The Bench will comprise CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and it will sit on Monday to hear urgent matters.
• Normally, the Supreme Court does not conduct regular judicial work during this vacation.
• The special sitting is linked to the Supreme Court’s high pendency (around 90,000 cases).
• The CJI has indicated a solution-based approach: identify long-pending “core” cases involving important questions of law.
• Deciding such core matters through Constitution Benches can reduce the “trickle-down” delay and help lower courts dispose of connected cases faster.
• The CJI has proposed forming nine-judge and seven-judge benches for pivotal matters.

Malayalam Actor Srinivasan Passed Away

Sreenivasan, a renowned Malayalam actor, screenplay writer, director, producer, and dubbing artist, passed away at the age of 69 in a hospital in Ernakulam district, Kerala. With a career spanning nearly five decades, he shaped Malayalam cinema through humour, satire, realism, and strong social and political commentary. He wrote nearly 50 screenplays and acted in more than 225 films, with “Sandesham” (1991) becoming one of the most influential political satires in Malayalam cinema.

Sashastra Seema Bal Raising Day – 20 December

The Sashastra Seema Bal Raising day was observed every year on December 20. Sashastra Seema Bal was formed following the Indo-China war of 1962.

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) – Raising Days

Bhopal Joins List of Metro Cities as 26th City in India

With the commencement of Metro operations in Bhopal, India has added another milestone to its urban transport journey. With Bhopal joining the list, Metro services are now operational in 26 cities across India, and the total operational Metro network has reached 1,090 km. The first phase of the Bhopal Metro was inaugurated with the Orange Line Priority Corridor, covering approximately 7 km.

10th Swachh Survekshan 2025-26

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS 2025–26), marking 10 years of the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey. Theme of Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 “Swachhata Ki Nayi Pehel – Badhayein Haath, Karein Safai Saath”.

Highlights:

• Citizen participation strengthened with round-the-year feedback through:
  • Vote For My City App & Portal
  • MyGov App
  • Swachhata App
  • QR code-based feedback
• Launch of Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) mentorship programme under SBM-Urban (Sept 2025). 72 mentor cities and 200 mentee cities signed MoUs.

India–Netherlands MoU on Maritime Heritage

India and the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in maritime heritage, marking an important step towards the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat.

Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs

Anantapur Police win ABCD Award

Anantapur district police won the State-level Award for Best Crime Detection (ABCD) for busting a major international cyber fraud racket. A sophisticated fraud network operated from Cambodia, with Delhi as the domestic hub, using fake mobile apps to siphon money, route it through multiple fake bank accounts, and finally convert it into cryptocurrency.

“Gen Z Post Office” in Amaravati

Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, inaugurated a Gen Z Post Office at VIT University, Amaravati. The initiative is part of efforts to modernise India’s postal network and make postal services more youth-friendly and technology-driven.

Swarna Andhra – Swachh Andhra Programme

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu set a target to make roads garbage-free by January 26, 2026.
• He appealed to make the State plastic-free by June 2026.
• The announcements were made during the “Swarna Andhra – Swachh Andhra” programme at Tallapalem (Anakapalli district).
• The CM inaugurated “Swachh Ratham” a facility/vehicle through which people can exchange unused waste articles for essential commodities. Currently, there are 25 Swachh Rathams in the State; the government plans to increase them to 100.

‘Mustabu’ Programme

• Mustabu programme was launched on 20 December 2025 at Social Welfare Girls Residential School, Tallapalem, Anakapalli District.
• Objective: Promote self-hygiene and personal grooming habits among school-going students to support health and better learning.
• Key habits highlighted: Regular face washing, clean nails, neat uniform and shoes, proper hair combing, and proper dressing.
• Expected benefits: Better hygiene, improved attentiveness in class, stronger discipline, confidence building, creativity support, and overall self-development.
• Origin of the idea: First conceptualised and implemented by the Collector of Parvathipuram-Manyam district, later planned to be expanded across the State.

First TTD Temple in North East India

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has taken a major step towards establishing its first Lord Venkateswara temple in the North East region. The Assam Government has agreed in principle to allot 25 acres of land in Guwahati for the temple construction.

‘Amarajeevi Jaladhaara’ Water Grid Project

• The Government of Andhra Pradesh launched the ₹3,050 crore water grid project named ‘Amarajeevi Jaladhaara’ to provide safe drinking water to 67.82 lakh people across the Godavari region.
• Bhumi puja was performed at Peravali in Nidadavolu Assembly constituency of East Godavari district.
• The project has two phases:
  • Phase 1 (₹1,650 crore): Safe drinking water for the Eastern and Central Godavari delta
  • Phase 2 (₹1,400 crore): Drinking water for the Western Godavari delta
• Funding pattern is 50:50 between the Central and State governments.
• The grid is designed to cover coastal fisherfolk habitations, where intensive aqua farming has polluted groundwater.
• Water will be drawn from the Godavari River at the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage and downstream points, then purified and supplied.
• Coverage includes 5 districts, 23 Assembly constituencies, and 66 mandals.
• The districts covered are Eluru, West Godavari, East Godavari, Kakinada, and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema.
• The project is planned to be commissioned by December 2027.

PESA Mahotsav 2025

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is celebrating a two-day “PESA Mahotsav: Utsav Lok Sanskriti Ka” on 23–24 December 2025 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• PESA Day is observed on 24 December to mark the anniversary of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA).
• The Mahotsav will be inaugurated by Shri Konidala Pawan Kalyan, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayati Raj & Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

National initiatives to be launched on 24 December 2025:

• PESA Portal: for information dissemination and monitoring PESA implementation
• PESA Indicators: to assess implementation status across States
• Training Modules on PESA in Tribal Languages: for awareness and grassroots capacity-building
• E-book on Kinnaur district (Himachal Pradesh): documenting traditional knowledge, culture, and heritage

Constitutional & legal basis

• Under Article 243M(4)(b), Parliament enacted PESA Act, 1996 to extend Part IX (Panchayats) to Scheduled Areas with exceptions/modifications.
• Scheduled Areas are declared by the President of India.
• Article 244(1) and the Fifth Schedule deal with provisions relating to Scheduled Areas (hence called Fifth Schedule Areas).
• Fifth Schedule Areas exist in 10 States: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana.

Disclaimer: This article is prepared for competitive exam preparation using publicly available information.