Daily Current Affairs- 2nd December 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 2nd December 2025

IBTP Chief Praveen Kumar Takes Additional Charge as DG of BSF

In the News: Praveen Kumar — the current chief of Indo‑Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) — has been given the additional charge of Border Security Force (BSF) Director General, following the retirement of the incumbent BSF DG.

Key Points:

• Assignment of Additional Charge: The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order that from 30 November 2025, after the retirement of former DG Daljit Singh Chawdhary, Praveen Kumar will hold additional charge as DG of BSF. This will continue until a permanent DG is appointed or until further orders.
• Praveen Kumar’s Background: He is a 1993-batch IPS officer from the West Bengal cadre. Prior to being DG of ITBP (assumed 1 October 2025), he served for over two decades in the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
• Dual Responsibility: With this change, Praveen Kumar will lead two of India’s major central armed police forces — ITBP (primarily guarding the India–China border) and, temporarily, BSF (guarding India–Pakistan and India–Bangladesh borders) — underscoring the government’s reliance on his experience in intelligence and border management.
• Why the Appointment Matters: BSF is one of India’s largest border-guarding forces, with key responsibility for national security along volatile frontiers. Assigning additional charge to a seasoned IPS officer like Praveen Kumar is seen as a move to ensure continuity of leadership and stability during the transition.
• Ceremony Location: Unusually, the baton-handover took place at a BSF camp in Raipur, Chhattisgarh (instead of the usual BSF HQ in Delhi), during a DGs–IGs national police conference.

Calls for a National Judicial Policy and NJAC

In the News: Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India, called for a National Judicial Policy to promote consistency across the courts of India. He also stated that the Supreme Court of India (SC) would consider a plea seeking revival of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), thus reopening the debate over the existing Collegium system for judicial appointments.

Key Points:

• Need for Judicial Uniformity: CJI Surya Kant highlighted the problem of divergent judgments arising out of the multiplicity of courts and benches — 25 High Courts plus multiple SC benches. To address this, he suggested the creation of a National Judicial Policy aimed at encouraging coherence and predictability across jurisdictions.
• Access to Justice Concerns: The CJI underscored that for many citizens — especially from marginalized communities — constitutional rights remain theoretical if the justice delivery system remains inaccessible because of cost, language barriers, distance, and delays. A national policy could standardize procedures, reduce delay, and enhance affordability and accessibility.
• NJAC Revival Proposal: During a hearing, advocate Mathews Nedumpara requested the SC to revisit the 2015 decision that struck down NJAC. In response, CJI Surya Kant said, “Yes, we will see,” indicating the Court’s willingness to examine the plea.
• Background: NJAC vs Collegium: The NJAC was created via the 99th Constitutional Amendment and the NJAC Act, intending to replace the Collegium system by including the executive and eminent persons in the appointments process. In 2015, the NJAC was struck down by a 4:1 majority bench of the SC, on grounds that it undermined judicial independence. Since then, the Collegium system has governed appointments.
• Why the Debate Matters Again: The remarks by Chief Justice Surya Kant mark a significant shift, indicating that even defenders of the Collegium system now see merit in re-examining the NJAC. If revived, NJAC could bring more transparency and pluralism to judicial appointments — but may also reignite concerns about executive influence and threats to judicial independence.

UNFPA India Honors IUSSP for 2025 UN Population Award in Institutional Category

In the News :  During the 46th Annual Conference of Indian Association for the Study of Population (IASP) held in Kolkata, UNFPA India felicitated IUSSP for receiving the 2025 UN Population Award in the Institutional Category.

Key Points :

• Award Recognition: IUSSP was awarded the 2025 United Nations Population Award (Institutional Category) for its decades-long leadership in global population science and evidence-based policymaking.
• UNFPA India Felicitation: The felicitation was carried out by UNFPA India at the opening ceremony of the 46th IASP conference (27–29 November 2025), under the conference theme “People, Planet, Prosperity: Demographic Drivers of India’s Inclusive Growth.”
• IUSSP’s Contribution: Founded in 1928, IUSSP has played a pivotal role in advancing the scientific study of population. Over the years, it has promoted international collaboration among demographers, supported capacity building for early-career researchers, and produced more than 250 publications informing global and national demographic and population-health policy.
• Focus on Global Challenges: IUSSP’s work spans key global population issues including fertility transitions, migration, ageing populations, urbanisation, family planning, the effects of climate change on demographic trends, and strengthening civil registration and vital statistics. 
• Significance for India: During the felicitation, the UNFPA India Representative highlighted that India — home to the world’s largest youth population — stands at a critical demographic junction. The recognition of IUSSP underscores the importance of robust population data and research to guide policies on youth, reproductive health, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.

ISRO Chief Inaugurates Ananth Centre of Excellence for Navigation, India’s First Private Navigation Centre

In the News: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V. Narayanan inaugurated the Ananth Centre of Excellence for Navigation (ACEN) — India’s first private-sector navigation centre, established by Ananth Technologies.

Key Points:

• Launch of ACEN: The Ananth Centre of Excellence for Navigation (ACEN), set up by Hyderabad-based Ananth Technologies at Kinfra Park, Thiruvananthapuram, marks the first time a private firm has opened a dedicated navigation-technology hub in India.
• Strategic Significance: The centre aims to develop indigenous navigation, positioning, and timing (PNT) technologies — critical for space missions, defence, missiles, aircraft, and other strategic systems.
• Reduced Import Dependency: According to the ISRO chief, India's reliance on imported navigation systems for space and defence will be significantly reduced once domestic capabilities through ACEN mature.
• Support to National Vision: The move aligns with the government’s long-term goal of a self-reliant, developed India by 2047 (Viksit Bharat 2047), ensuring critical technologies like navigation are indigenously developed.
• Centre’s Background: Ananth Technologies, founded in 1992, has worked closely with ISRO, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and BrahMos Aerospace on precision sensors, system integration for satellites and launch vehicles. Their venture into navigation systems via ACEN reflects a major shift.

Sanchar Saathi Mandatory in All Phones

In the News: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued directives requiring that Sanchar Saathi be pre-installed on all new mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India.

Key Points :

• Pre-installation Mandate: All new smartphones sold in India must now come with Sanchar Saathi pre-installed. Manufacturers/importers have been given 90 days to comply. 
• Availability on Existing Phones: Phones already manufactured or in supply-chain must also get the app via software updates.
• Purpose of the App: The app — originally launched as a web portal — aims to help users verify device authenticity (via IMEI checks), report suspicious or fraudulent calls/SMS, block stolen or lost phones, and identify bogus or illegally obtained SIM/mobile connections.
• Government’s Rationale: The DoT frames this move as a step to strengthen cyber security, combat telecom fraud, and safeguard citizens from phone theft and scam calls. 
• Controversy & Pushback: Critics — including digital-rights advocates and opposition parties — argue that mandatory pre-installation may violate privacy and user autonomy, calling it a step toward state overreach.
• Government’s Clarification: After backlash, the government (via the Communications Minister) clarified that Sanchar Saathi is optional for users — one can uninstall it like any other app.

Antarctica Day and 25 Years of NCPOR

In the News: On December 1, 2025, India marked Antarctica Day alongside the silver jubilee celebrations of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa. The occasion commemorated both the 66th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty (1959) and 25 years of India’s leadership in polar and ocean research under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Key Points:

• Event Celebration: The dual commemoration celebrated 25 years of NCPOR’s pioneering role in advancing India’s polar research and environmental monitoring efforts across Antarctica and the Arctic.
• Institutional Legacy: Established in 1998, NCPOR has been instrumental in managing India’s polar stations — Maitri and Bharati — and overseeing expeditions that contribute to global climate and oceanographic studies.
• Scientific Achievements: Over the past two and a half decades, NCPOR has spearheaded multidisciplinary studies on glaciology, sea ice, marine ecosystems, and atmospheric sciences, significantly enhancing India’s presence in the Southern Ocean.
• Antarctica Day Significance: Celebrated globally since 2010, Antarctica Day highlights the signing of the Antarctic Treaty on December 1, 1959, which designates the continent for peaceful scientific cooperation and bans military activity.
• Future Outlook: During the ceremony, MoES officials reaffirmed India’s commitment to sustainable research practices and announced future plans including the completion of Maitri-II, India’s upcoming fourth Antarctic research station.
• Global Collaboration: NCPOR continues to collaborate with international research bodies under the Antarctic Treaty System, reinforcing India’s scientific diplomacy in addressing global climate challenges.