Daily Current Affairs- 28th December 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 28th December 2025

POCSO Case Can’t Be Quashed If Child Victim Turns Hostile

In the News: The Delhi High Court upheld the 20-year jail term of a stepfather convicted of raping his minor stepdaughter under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, observing that guilt under the POCSO Act cannot be dismissed merely because the victim turned hostile, particularly when scientific evidence is available. The court emphasized that child victims are often defenceless against family pressure and may retract testimony due to fear of losing shelter, financial stability, and the desire to preserve the family unit, especially when the accused is a caregiver or breadwinner.

Key Points:

• Case Background - Stepfather Convicted of Child Rape: The Delhi High Court dismissed the appeal of a stepfather challenging his conviction and 20-year sentence under Section 6 of the POCSO Act for raping his minor stepdaughter. The victim girl was less than 12 years old at the time of the incident which occurred in March 2016. The victim alleged that she was sexually assaulted by her stepfather while she was sleeping at midnight. She later informed her mother about the incident and a complaint was lodged by the police. The trial court convicted the stepfather under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and sentenced him to 20 years rigorous imprisonment.
• Victim and Family Turned Hostile During Trial: During the criminal trial proceedings, the victim, her mother, and her sister all retracted their earlier statements and turned hostile, no longer supporting the prosecution's case. The accused stepfather argued that the sole eyewitness to the alleged incident—the victim herself—had not supported the prosecution's case during trial. He contended that since the victim and other witnesses had turned hostile, the prosecution case had collapsed and his conviction should be set aside. This presented a significant challenge to the prosecution's case, as the primary witnesses were no longer cooperating.
• Understanding Why Victims Turn Hostile - Court's Analysis: The Delhi High Court provided deep insight into the psychological and social pressures that cause child victims to turn hostile, particularly in incest and intra-family sexual abuse cases. The court observed: "A child who is confronted with the prospect of condemning someone who provides her shelter and financial stability is undoubtedly faced with a grave conflict. The child's instinct for survival coupled with the fear of ostracization and the desire to preserve the family unit may compel the victim to retract from the truth."
• POCSO Act Provisions - Sections 29 and 30 Presumptions: The court relied on the statutory presumptions created under the POCSO Act to protect child victims. Section 29 of the POCSO Act creates a presumption as to culpability when certain physical evidence is found. Section 30 of the POCSO Act creates a presumption of guilt in certain circumstances, shifting the burden of proof to the accused. These provisions recognize that child victims are particularly vulnerable and may not be able to provide consistent testimony due to trauma, intimidation, or other factors. The presumptions ensure that cases can proceed based on scientific evidence and initial statements even when victims become hostile during trial.
• Legislative Safeguards - Section 19(5) of POCSO Act: The court highlighted that the legislature has specifically recognized the vulnerability of child sexual abuse victims and provided protective measures. Section 19(5) of the POCSO Act specifically obligates the Special Juvenile Police Unit or local police to refer children who are victims of sexual offences to shelter homes and to make immediate arrangements for their care and protection. This provision aims to remove child victims from potentially coercive family environments and provide them with safe accommodation and support during investigation and trial.
• Special Provision for Incest Cases: The court specifically noted that model guidelines mandate special measures for cases involving incest or intra-family sexual abuse. It is mandated that support persons should conduct regular home visits to the child victim and submit monthly reports to the Committee regarding the child's well-being and safety. In incest cases specifically, the support person shall assist the child and the family in finding alternate residences, recognizing that victims cannot safely remain in the same home as the perpetrator. This acknowledges the unique challenges faced by victims when the accused is a family member and primary caregiver.

Bombay High Court Bars Civilian Awards as Name Prefixes

In the News: The Bombay High Court reiterated that India's civilian awards—including Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri—are not titles and cannot be used as prefixes or suffixes to the names of awardees. Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan issued this ruling while hearing a writ petition involving Padma Shri awardee Dr. Sharad Moreshwar Hardiker, emphasizing strict compliance with the 1995 Supreme Court Constitution Bench judgment that settled this legal position.

Key Points:

• Court Ruling: Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan of the Bombay High Court, presiding over a single-judge bench on December 24, 2025, clarified that civilian awards such as Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Bharat Ratna are not official titles and must not be attached to recipients' names as prefixes or suffixes in official documents and legal proceedings.
• Case Background: The ruling was made during proceedings in a writ petition where one party was listed as "Padma Shri Dr. Sharad M. Hardiker & Ors." The court took exception to this naming convention and directed that the award designation be struck from the case records, stating that such usage lacks legal basis and is constitutionally impermissible.
• 1995 Supreme Court Precedent: The Bombay High Court relied on the landmark Constitution Bench judgment delivered on December 15, 1995, in Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India. The five-judge Constitution Bench (comprising Chief Justice A.M. Ahmadi, Justice Kuldip Singh, Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy, Justice N.P. Singh, and Justice S. Saghir Ahmad) had categorically held that national awards such as Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards "are not titles under Article 18 of the Constitution of India."
• Article 18 of the Constitution: Article 18(1) of the Indian Constitution states: "No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State." The provision was incorporated to abolish the British practice of conferring titles of nobility and to prevent the creation of distinct classes of citizens based on hereditary privileges or social hierarchy.
• Article 141 Binding Effect: Justice Sundaresan emphasized that under Article 141 of the Constitution, "the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India." The judge stressed that strict compliance with the 1995 Supreme Court ruling is mandatory and all courts and litigants are expected to ensure compliance in all future filings.
• Historical Context: The civilian awards were temporarily suspended twice in their history—from July 1977 to January 1980, and from August 1992 to December 1995. The second suspension occurred when Public Interest Litigations were filed in the Kerala High Court (by Balaji Raghavan on February 13, 1992) and Madhya Pradesh High Court (by Satya Pal Anand on August 24, 1992), challenging the constitutional validity of these awards as "titles" under Article 18(1).
• Nature of Civilian Awards: Padma Awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian honor. The award statutes explicitly state that "the award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees' name."

Thailand and Cambodia agree to ‘immediate’ ceasefire: joint statement

In the News: On Thailand and Cambodia signed an immediate ceasefire agreement at the Prum-Ban Pak Kard International Point of Entry, ending 20 days of intense fighting along their disputed border that killed more than 100 people and displaced over half a million civilians. The joint statement, signed by Thai Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha at the 3rd Special General Border Committee meeting, took effect at 12:00 noon local time (05:00 GMT) on December 27, 2025.

Key Points:

• Immediate Ceasefire Implementation: Both countries agreed to "an immediate ceasefire after the time of signature of this Joint Statement with effect from 12:00 hours noon (local time) on 27 December 2025." The ceasefire extends to "all types of weapons" and "attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructures, and military objectives of either side, in all cases and all areas," ending the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbors in years.
• Troop Deployment Freeze: The agreement stipulates that "both sides agree to maintain current troop deployments without further movement." Any reinforcement would heighten tensions and negatively affect long-term efforts to resolve the situation. The deal also prohibits violations of either side's airspace for military purposes and requires both parties to refrain from undertaking "provocative actions that may escalate tensions."
• Duration and Scale of Recent Conflict: The December 2025 fighting lasted 20 days, from December 7 to December 27, 2025, representing an escalation from earlier clashes. According to official reports, Thailand lost 26 soldiers and one civilian as direct result of combat since December 7, with an additional 44 civilian deaths reported from collateral effects. Cambodia reported 30 civilians killed and 90 injured, though official military casualty figures were not disclosed. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from affected areas on both sides.
• Historical Context - July 2025 Clashes: The current conflict stems from earlier fighting that erupted on July 24, 2025, following a landmine incident on July 23 that injured five Thai soldiers. The July clashes lasted five days (July 24-28) across at least 12 border locations, involving gunfire, artillery, rockets, and Thai air strikes using F-16 fighter jets and Swedish-made Gripens. The July fighting left at least 48 people dead and displaced more than 300,000 civilians before a ceasefire was brokered on July 28, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Root Cause - Territorial Dispute: The conflict stems from territorial disputes along the neighbors' 817-kilometer (508-mile) border, where ancient temples are claimed by both sides, particularly the temples of Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom. The dispute has roots in ambiguities in boundary demarcations established under 1904 and 1907 agreements between the Kingdom of Siam (modern Thailand) and French Indochina, which included Cambodia. In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Temple of Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia but left the status of surrounding land ambiguous.
• U.S. Position and Trump's Role: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire and urging Cambodia and Thailand to "immediately honor this commitment and fully implement the terms of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords." President Donald Trump had previously claimed credit for the July ceasefire, threatening to withhold trade privileges and impose 36% tariffs on exports unless both countries agreed to stop fighting. Trump spoke by phone with Thai and Cambodian prime ministers on December 12, 2025, though fighting continued afterward.
• Regional and International Reactions: Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the agreement, stating it "reflects a shared recognition that restraint is required, above all in the interest of civilians." Japan's Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura said Tokyo "strongly hopes the ceasefire will be steadily implemented." The European Union thanked "ASEAN for playing a positive part" and called on both countries to implement the agreement "in good faith." UN human rights chief Volker Türk welcomed the ceasefire and hoped it would "pave the way for confidence building and peace."
• ASEAN Observer Team Monitoring: A team of observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will monitor implementation of the agreement. The deal states that "both sides recognize the important role of ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) and agree to strengthen the roles of the AOT, in consultation with both the ASEAN Chair and the AOT, in verifying and ensuring the effective implementation of all the measures in this Joint Statement."

Myanmar Goes to Polls Amid Civil War and Humanitarian Crisis

In the News: Myanmar held the first phase of its general elections, the first vote in nearly five years since the military coup of February 2021. Polls opened across 102 of Myanmar's 330 townships amid a raging civil war, severe humanitarian crisis, and widespread international condemnation. The military junta, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, framed the multi-phased elections as a return to democracy, while critics, including the United Nations, denounced it as a "sham" designed to legitimize military rule. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi remains imprisoned, her National League for Democracy (NLD) party has been dissolved, and more than half the country remains inaccessible due to ongoing conflict.

Key Points:

• Election Schedule and Phases: The general elections are being conducted in three phases spanning one month. The first phase took place on December 28, 2025, covering 102 townships. The second round of voting is scheduled for January 11, 2026, and the third phase on January 25, 2026. Altogether, voting will be held in 265 of Myanmar's 330 townships, meaning voting has been cancelled in 65 townships due to ongoing fighting and security concerns.
• Background - February 2021 Military Coup: The military, known as the Tatmadaw, seized power on February 1, 2021, overthrowing the democratically elected government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup came just months after Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in the November 2020 general elections, securing 346 of 412 declared seats (73% of voters in 2020 cast ballots for parties that no longer exist).
• Civil War Triggered by Coup: The military's brutal crackdown on peaceful protests following the coup sent thousands of mostly young people into territory held by ethnic rebel groups in the jungles and hills of Myanmar's borderlands. There they formed "People's Defense Forces" (PDFs) dedicated to overthrowing the coup. Armed with limited and at times homemade weaponry, these PDFs initially surprised their opponents with their effectiveness, dragging the military into a bloody stalemate. The conflict escalated into a nationwide civil war involving a patchwork of ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy fighters battling the military for control across the hilly borderlands with Bangladesh, India, China, and Thailand, as well as the arid central plains.
• Political Repression and Detentions: According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), more than 22,000 people are currently detained for political offenses. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's most popular politician and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been imprisoned since the coup. She has been convicted on multiple charges that international observers widely consider politically motivated, and remains isolated with limited access to family or legal counsel. Her son, Kim Aris, recently told Reuters he has no information about her condition, raising concerns about her health and safety.
• Voting Restrictions and Accessibility: Voting is taking place in only about one-third of Myanmar's 330 townships, with large areas inaccessible amid the raging civil war. Whole swaths of the country where voting will not take place include rebel-held areas (more than half the country according to some estimates) where ethnic armed groups and opposition militias maintain control. In northern Shan state alone, Myanmar's largest state, the military has recaptured only 11.3% of the territory it had lost, according to the Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar think tank.
• Electronic Voting Machines - First Time Use: Election officials installed electronic voting machines (EVMs), which are being used for the first time in Myanmar's electoral history. The machines will not allow write-in candidates or spoiled ballots—a significant change from previous elections.
• Expected Outcome - USDP Victory: The ballot is dominated by parties perceived to be close to the military. More than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are competing for seats in national and regional legislatures, but only six parties are competing nationwide with the possibility of forming a government. The military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by retired generals and fielding one-fifth of all candidates against severely diminished competition, is widely expected to emerge victorious.
• Regional and Geopolitical Responses: Responses to the election vary significantly by country. Western condemnation: The US, European nations, Japan, and Malaysia have denounced the election and cut foreign aid. The US has also ended visa protections for Myanmar citizens. Support from authoritarian allies: Russia, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand sent election observers. Russia and China have been two of Myanmar's biggest backers and have spoken favorably of the elections. India has also backed the electoral process.
• Global Peace Index Rankings: Myanmar ranks 153rd out of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index 2025, making it the least peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific region. Civilian casualties exceed 5,350 since 2021, including 2,414 deaths between April 2023 and June 2024 alone. The GPI 2025 identifies the Myanmar civil war as ranking alongside the South Sudan civil war, Syrian civil war, and Malian civil war in terms of conflict escalation factors. The collapse of governance, restricted civil liberties, and ongoing violence have created what analysts describe as "state failure" conditions.

Jayshree Ullal Tops Hurun India Rich List 2025

In the News: Jayshree Ullal, President and CEO of Arista Networks, emerged as the wealthiest Indian-origin professional manager in the world, topping the Hurun India Rich List 2025 with an estimated net worth of ₹50,170 crore ($5.7 billion). The achievement marks a significant milestone as Ullal surpasses prominent technology executives including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, highlighting the growing global influence of Indian-origin leaders in the technology sector and the shift in wealth creation from consumer-facing platforms to AI and cloud infrastructure providers.

Key Points:

• Top Ranking Achievement: Jayshree Ullal secured the number one position on the Hurun India Rich List 2025 among Indian-origin professional managers with an estimated net worth of ₹50,170 crore ($5.7 billion as of December 27, 2025). According to Forbes data, she ranks as the 713rd richest person globally, with her wealth recently increasing by $34 million, reflecting the strong performance of Arista Networks and the booming artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure sectors.
• Comparison with Other Tech Leaders: Ullal's net worth significantly surpasses other prominent Indian-origin technology executives on the list. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella ranks second with ₹9,770 crore ($1.1 billion), while Google CEO Sundar Pichai ranks seventh with ₹5,810 crore ($1.5 billion). Other notable Indian-origin executives on the list include Nikesh Arora of Palo Alto Networks at ₹9,190 crore (third position), Thomas Kurian at ₹5,900 crore, Shantanu Narayen of Adobe at ₹4,670 crore, and former PepsiCo CEO Indra K. Nooyi at ₹5,130 crore.
• Leadership at Arista Networks: Ullal has served as President and CEO of Arista Networks since September 2008, leading the Santa Clara, California-based cloud networking company for 17 years. Under her leadership, Arista has grown from a nascent startup into a major player in cloud networking, providing high-performance, software-driven networking solutions for hyperscale data centers, cloud service providers, and large enterprise environments, with particular strength in AI infrastructure.
• Company Performance and Revenue: Under Ullal's stewardship, Arista Networks has experienced exceptional growth and market success. The company reported revenues of $7 billion in 2024, representing nearly 20% year-over-year growth from the previous year. This strong performance reflects increasing demand for cloud, data center, and AI-related infrastructure, sectors where Arista has established itself as a critical provider of backbone networking technology.
• Stock Performance: Arista Networks shares have delivered extraordinary returns to investors, surging more than 630% over the past five years, reflecting the company's strong market position in cloud and AI infrastructure. As of the latest U.S. trading session, the company's shares closed 0.82% higher at $131.84, demonstrating continued investor confidence in the company's growth prospects and strategic positioning in critical technology infrastructure.
• Recognition in Women's Leadership: Earlier in 2025, Ullal was ranked second among the top five first-generation women wealth creators in the Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List 2025. This recognition underscores her status as a pioneering female executive in technology and highlights her achievement in building substantial wealth through professional leadership rather than inheritance or family business succession.
• Broader Hurun India Rich List 2025 Context: According to the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025, India's billionaire count stands at 358 individuals. Anas Rahman Junaid, founder and chief researcher at Hurun India, described 2025 as a year shaped by multiple economic headwinds but one where entrepreneurs still performed strongly overall, with rapid wealth creation occurring amid uneven market conditions across various sectors.

Fake rabies vaccine available in India since 2023, claims Australia: Pharma co refutes charges

In the News: The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) issued a public health advisory warning that counterfeit batches of the rabies vaccine Abhayrab® have been circulating in India since November 1, 2023, and advised Australian travelers who received the vaccine in India to consider it invalid and seek replacement doses. Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), the manufacturer of Abhayrab, strongly refuted the claims on December 25-27, 2025, calling the advisory "over-cautionary and misplaced," stating it was an isolated incident involving one specific batch identified in January 2025 that is no longer in circulation, and requesting Australia review its advisory to prevent unnecessary public anxiety.

Key Points:

• Australian Advisory Details: The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), a subsidiary of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, released a statement on December 19, 2025, warning that counterfeit (fake) batches of the rabies vaccine Abhayrab® have been circulating in India since 2023.
• Valid Vaccine Brands in India: According to the ATAGI advisory, valid vaccine doses that can be considered genuine if given in India include: Vaxirab-N, RABIVAX-S, Lyssavac, Vaxirab, and Indirab. People not affected by the alert include those who "completed their full rabies vaccine course in a country other than India, including Australia" or those who "were in India from 1 November 2023 but have evidence that the doses received were a vaccine other than Abhayrab®."
• About Abhayrab® Vaccine and IIL: Abhayrab® is a human anti-rabies vaccine manufactured by Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a Hyderabad-based public sector vaccine manufacturer promoted by the National Dairy Development Board. IIL is one of Asia's largest vaccine manufacturers and exports to over 60 countries. Abhayrab has been manufactured by IIL since 2000, with more than 210 million doses supplied across India and 40 to 43 countriesover the past 24+ years. The vaccine currently holds approximately 40% market share in India's anti-rabies vaccine sector, making it one of the most widely used rabies vaccines in the country.
• IIL's Account - Isolated Incident in January 2025: IIL clarified that the concern revolves around one specific batch identified in January 2025, not a widespread problem dating back to November 2023 as the Australian advisory suggests. The company's December 25 letter to ATAGI stated: "The counterfeiting incident that has been mentioned involves Abhayrab, Batch No. KA24014 (manufacturing date: March 2024; expiry date: February 2027) was identified by us in early January 2025.

Supreme Court special bench to hear suo motu case on ‘definition’ of Aravalli

In the News:  The Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognizance of concerns surrounding the definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges, scheduling a hearing before a special vacation bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on December 29, 2025. The development comes amid mounting controversy over the court's November 20, 2025 judgment that adopted a uniform elevation-based definition for the Aravalli Hills, with environmentalists and opposition parties raising concerns that the revised definition could open vast stretches of the ancient mountain range to mining activities.

Key Points:

• Suo Motu Case Registration: The Supreme Court registered a suo motu writ petition titled "In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues," to be heard by a three-judge vacation bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice JK Maheshwari, and Justice Augustine George Masih on December 29, 2025. The court took cognizance on its own motion amid widespread concerns over environmental protection of the ecologically fragile Aravalli range.
• November 20, 2025 Judgment Background: The Supreme Court had delivered a 29-page judgment on November 20, 2025, in proceedings arising from the long-running environmental litigation in T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India case. The bench, then headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai along with Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria, accepted recommendations from a Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) committee regarding a uniform definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
• Elevation-Based Definition: The court approved an elevation-linked definition wherein "any landform located in the Aravalli districts, having an elevation of 100 metres or more from the local relief, shall be termed as Aravalli Hills." The entire landform lying within the area enclosed by the lowest contour line, together with the hill, its supporting slopes and associated landforms irrespective of their gradient, is deemed to constitute part of the Aravalli Hills.
• Aravalli Range Definition: The court defined "Aravalli Range" as "two or more Aravalli Hills located within a proximity of 500 metres from each other, measured from the outermost point on the boundary of the lowest contour line on either side." The entire area of landforms falling between the lowest contour lines of these hills, along with associated features such as hills, hillocks, and supporting slopes, is included as part of Aravalli Range.
• Historical Context - Two Parallel Cases: The Supreme Court noted that issues related to Aravalli mining were being heard in two separate cases: M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1985, focused on Haryana mining) and T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India (1995, broader forest conservation including Rajasthan). In January 2024, the court directed that both matters be consolidated and placed before the Chief Justice of India to be heard by a single bench to avoid conflicting orders..
• Mining Ban and Management Plan: The Supreme Court directed that no new mining leases shall be granted until the finalization of a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli Hills and Ranges. The court mandated that the MoEF&CC, through the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), prepare a comprehensive, science-based MPSM involving geo-referenced ecological assessment to identify permissible mining areas, ecologically sensitive zones, conservation-critical areas, and restoration priority areas.

Energy storage, green hydrogen to fundamentally reshape India’s renewable energy ecosystem”

In the News: India's renewable energy sector entered a transformative phase with energy storage and green hydrogen emerging as fundamental pillars reshaping the country's clean energy ecosystem. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced that India's focus is shifting from rapid capacity addition to building a robust, dispatchable, and resilient energy system, with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and the National Green Hydrogen Mission driving the transition toward firm renewable power and decarbonization of hard-to-abate industrial sectors.

Key Points:

• Strategic Shift in Renewable Energy: India's renewable energy sector is transitioning from quantity-focused growth to quality and integration, with current installed renewable capacity exceeding 197 GW (excluding large hydro). The emphasis is now on hybrid projects, energy storage, grid integration, and green hydrogen to ensure firm, dispatchable clean energy by 2030.
• BESS Market Growth: India's Battery Energy Storage Systems market was valued at approximately ₹65,130 crore ($7.8 billion) in 2024 and is projected to reach ₹2.67 lakh crore ($32 billion) by 2030, representing an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26%. As of December 2024, India's installed BESS capacity reached 442 MW, projected to expand to 74 GW by 2032.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission: Launched in January 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore until Financial Year 2029-30, the National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to make India a global hub for production, use, and export of green hydrogen. The mission targets production of 5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMT) of green hydrogen by 2030, requiring 125 GW of additional renewable energy capacity and over ₹8 lakh crore in total investments.
• Green Hydrogen Production Capacity: As of May 2025, 19 companies have been allocated a cumulative annual production capacity of 862,000 tonnes of green hydrogen, and 15 firms have been awarded 3,000 MW annual electrolyzer manufacturing capacity. As of August 2025, India had 158 green hydrogen projects at various development stages, though 94% of planned capacity is yet to move beyond the announcement stage.
• Green Hydrogen Hubs: In October 2025, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy recognized three major ports—Deendayal Port Authority (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port Authority (Odisha)—as Green Hydrogen Hubs under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. These coastal gateways will serve as integrated centers for production, consumption, and future export.
• Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme: Launched in April 2025, the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI) provides a national framework to certify hydrogen as "green" by assessing greenhouse gas emissions across the entire production cycle. The scheme ensures only hydrogen produced using renewable energy within prescribed emission limits can be officially labeled as Green Hydrogen, providing transparency and credibility for domestic and export markets.

Congress's 140th Foundation Day: 3 Things to Know About the Party's History, and How Gandhi Viewed It

In the News: The Indian National Congress celebrated its 140th Foundation Day with a flag-hoisting ceremony at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and other senior leaders attended the ceremony. Kharge paid tribute to Congress freedom fighters, highlighted the party's historic role in India's independence movement, and warned that democracy in the country is currently under threat while criticizing the BJP-led government for weakening institutions built by the Congress.

Key Points:

• Foundation in 1885 - First Modern Nationalist Movement: The Indian National Congress was founded on December 28, 1885, in Bombay (now Mumbai) at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College (also called Das Tejpal Sanskrit College) in the presence of 72 delegates. The founder and General Secretary was Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British Civil Servant and former Indian Civil Service (ICS) officer who had resigned from government service in 1882. Besides Hume, two additional British members (both Scottish civil servants) were among the founding group: William Wedderburn and Justice (later Sir) John Jardine. The INC was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa, marking a watershed moment in organized political resistance to colonial rule.
• Hume's Vision and the "Safety Valve" Theory: Allan Octavian Hume had been a British civil servant assigned to an administrative position in India in the late 1840s. The 1857 Indian Rebellion profoundly touched Hume, who noted with horror the violence committed by British forces against the Indian people during the revolt. The "Safety Valve Theory" suggested Hume established Congress to provide a controlled outlet for mounting discontent among educated Indians, though modern historians believe early Congress leaders utilized Hume as a "lightning conductor" to unite nationalist forces while maintaining this facade.
• Mahatma Gandhi's Transformational Role (1915-1948) - The Gandhian Era: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi) returned to India from South Africa in 1915, and his efforts in South Africa were well known among both the educated class and the masses. During 1917 and 1918, Gandhi was involved in three successful struggles: Champaran Satyagraha, Ahmedabad Mill Strike, and Kheda Satyagraha, giving India its first victories in the freedom struggle and building public confidence that the British could be defeated through organized resistance. After World War I, the Congress came to be associated with Gandhi, who remained its unofficial spiritual leader and icon even though he served as INC President only once—at the 1924 Belgaum session.
• Karachi Resolution 1931 - Foundation of India's Constitution: The Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress, held in March 1931 under the presidency of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, adopted historic resolutions on fundamental rights and economic policy that profoundly influenced the drafting of India's Constitution.