Daily Current Affairs- 5th December 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 5th December 2025

Putin Receives Grand Ceremonial Welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan During India Visit

In the News: Russian President Vladimir Putin received a grand ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan during his two-day state visit to India. The visit marked the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit and Putin's first visit to India since the Ukraine war began in February 2022, highlighting the enduring strategic partnership between the two nations.

Key Points:

• Ceremonial Welcome: Russian President Vladimir Putin was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 5, 2025, where he received a tri-services guard of honour. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Putin, with both national anthems played during the ceremony
• 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit: The annual summit was held at Hyderabad House on December 5, 2025, where both leaders held extensive discussions on defence cooperation, energy partnerships, trade expansion, and regional security issues. The summit focused on strengthening the 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' between India and Russia.
• Economic Cooperation Vision 2030: India and Russia adopted the "Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India-Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030," aimed at boosting bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030 from the current USD 68 billion. Both countries agreed to continue using national currencies for bilateral settlements, which already account for 96% of commercial transactions.
• Energy and Defence Commitments:. India is also expecting upgrades to its Russian-made Su-30MKI fighter jets and accelerated deliveries of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems.
• State Banquet and Media Engagement: Putin participated in the India-Russia Business Forum to enhance commercial ties and launched the RT channel in India, expanding Russia's media outreach.

India Announces Free 30-Day E-Visa for Russian Citizens

In the News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will introduce a free 30-day e-tourist visa for Russian citizens during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi. The announcement was made at a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a significant step to boost tourism and strengthen people-to-people ties between the two nations.

Key Points:

• Visa Announcement: Prime Minister Modi announced that India will soon introduce a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a free 30-day group tourist visa for Russian citizens. The announcement was made during the joint press conference with President Putin at the conclusion of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
• Tourism Boost Objective: The free e-visa facility is expected to significantly boost tourist inflow from Russia to India by removing financial barriers and simplifying the visa application process.
• Implementation Timeline: The visa facility will be launched "very soon" with applications to be processed within 30 days at no cost to Russian citizens. The e-visa will allow Russian tourists to stay in India for up to 30 days, making short-term visits more accessible. Both individual e-tourist visas and group tourist visas will be available under this scheme, providing flexibility for different types of travelers.
• Additional People-to-People Initiatives: PM Modi announced that both countries will work together on vocational education, skilling, and training programs, creating new opportunities for citizens of both nations. The leaders committed to expanding exchanges between students, scholars, and sports persons from both countries. India has already taken steps to enhance cultural engagement, including opening two new Indian consulates in Russia and transporting holy Buddhist relics for public display at the International Buddhist Forum in Kalmykia in October.

All about Karnataka’s new Hate Speech Bill, how the issue is regulated across India

In the News: Karnataka State Cabinet approved the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2025, aimed at curbing hate speech and related offences in the state. The controversial legislation is set to be introduced during the winter session of the state legislature beginning December 8, 2025, at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.

Key Points:

• Bill Overview and Objectives: The Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2025, seeks to prevent and control hate speech and hate crimes, reducing their impact on individuals, groups, and the wider community. The bill was proposed by the Congress-led government after a series of communal revenge killings in the Mangaluru district of coastal Karnataka drew national attention.
• Definitions and Scope: Under the bill, "hate speech" is defined as any expression made, published, or circulated in words, written or spoken, by signs, visible representations, or through electronic communications in public view with intention to cause injury, disharmony, or feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will against any person (dead or alive), class or group of persons, or community. "Hate crime" includes communication, publishing, or circulation of hate speech, or any act of promoting, propagating, inciting, abetting, or attempting such hate speech to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity. The bill covers both online and offline communications, including social media platforms and electronic media.
• Penalties and Enforcement: Punishments under the draft bill range from one to seven years of imprisonment with fines starting at ₹50,000 for first-time offenders. Executive Magistrates or senior police officers are empowered to act against potential offences, and designated state officials can direct service providers, intermediaries, or entities to block or remove hate content from electronic platforms. The bill is non-cognizable, meaning police cannot arrest without a warrant.
• Existing Legal Framework in India: India currently does not have a specific statute defining hate speech, but various provisions address it indirectly. Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) prohibits promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., with imprisonment up to three years. Section 295A punishes deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings with imprisonment up to three years. Section 505(2) punishes statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes with imprisonment up to three years. The Representation of People Act, 1951 (Sections 123(3A) and 125) bars promotion of animosity on grounds of race, religion, community, caste, or language in reference to elections.
• Constitutional Balance and Judicial Interpretation: Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, while Article 19(2) allows reasonable restrictions in the interests of public order, decency, morality, and other specified grounds. The Supreme Court has established that hate speech must have three elements: content, intent, and harm or impact. In landmark cases like Ramji Lal Modi v. State of Uttar Pradesh (1957) and Amish Devgan v. Union of India (2020), courts have refined the framework, requiring prosecution to demonstrate deliberate provocation and proximate nexus between speech and actual or imminent public disorder, rather than mere hurt sentiments.

Weak La Niña Likely to Influence Global Weather in Winter 2025–26: WMO Predicts

In the News: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued its latest El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Update in early December 2025, predicting a 55% chance of weak La Niña conditions developing during the December 2025 to February 2026 period. The forecast indicates that this weak La Niña will influence global weather patterns, although many regions are still expected to experience above-normal temperatures despite the cooling effect typically associated with La Niña events.

Key Points:

• WMO Forecast and Probability: As of mid-November 2025, oceanic and atmospheric indicators revealed borderline La Niña conditions across the equatorial Pacific. According to forecasts from the WMO Global Producing Centres for Seasonal Prediction, there is a 55% probability that existing cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific will be consistent with La Niña thresholds during December 2025 to February 2026.
• Understanding La Niña Phenomenon: La Niña refers to the periodic large-scale cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, coupled with changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation including winds, pressure, and rainfall patterns. It represents the cold phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which is the strongest year-to-year climate fluctuation affecting global weather patterns. During La Niña, extra-strong easterly trade winds blow warm ocean surface water westward across the Pacific, allowing deeper, colder, nutrient-rich water to rise along the coast of the Americas.
• Global Temperature Expectations: Despite La Niña typically bringing a temporary cooling effect on global average temperatures, the WMO's latest Global Seasonal Climate Update indicates that for December 2025 to February 2026, temperatures are expected to be above normal in much of the Northern Hemisphere and large parts of the Southern Hemisphere.
• Regional Weather Impacts - Northern Hemisphere: La Niña conditions typically shift the jet stream northward, causing warm and dry winters across the southern United States, from California to Florida, while bringing wetter and cooler conditions to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The northern tier of North America, including the Great Lakes, northern Plains, and Pacific Northwest, is expected to experience cooler and wetter weather along with increased snowfall.
• Regional Weather Impacts - Global Patterns: La Niña typically brings warmer and wetter weather to Asia and Australia, with increased rainfall in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Australia, raising risks of flooding in these regions. Rainfall associated with the summer monsoon in Southeast Asia, especially in northwest India and Bangladesh, tends to be greater than normal. La Niña events can persist for one to three years, unlike El Niño which usually lasts no more than a year.
• Importance for Climate-Sensitive Sectors: WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated that seasonal forecasts for El Niño and La Niña are essential planning tools for climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, energy, health, and transport, serving as a key component of WMO's contribution to support humanitarian operations.

Meet the World’s Youngest Self-Made Woman Billionaire Luana Lopes Lara

In the News: Luana Lopes Lara, a 29-year-old Brazilian entrepreneur, became the world's youngest self-made female billionaire after her prediction market platform Kalshi raised $1 billion at an $11 billion valuation. This achievement surpasses previous titleholders Lucy Guo of Scale AI and pop icon Taylor Swift, marking a significant milestone in the fintech and tech entrepreneurship world.

Key Points:

• Founding of Kalshi: Lopes Lara met her future co-founder Tarek Mansour at MIT, the two conceived the idea for Kalshi during evening walks back to their intern apartments. They observed how traders bet on future events without direct markets and envisioned creating a regulated prediction market platform. Following a successful pitch to Y Combinator's startup accelerator in 2019, they founded Kalshi, which became the first federally regulated prediction market platform after receiving Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approval in November 2020.
• Kalshi's Business Model and Growth: Kalshi is a prediction market platform that allows users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events such as election results, interest rate changes, sports matches, celebrity divorces, and pop culture happenings through regulated, event-based contracts. The company has formed integrations with major platforms including Robinhood, Webull, NHL, StockX, and Solana, significantly expanding its reach and user base.
• Meteoric Valuation Growth: The recent funding was led by crypto-focused venture capital firm Paradigm, with participation from prestigious investors including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Y Combinator. Both Lopes Lara and Mansour, who are both 29 years old, each own approximately 12% of the company, bringing their individual net worth to $1.3 billion and propelling them into the billionaire club before turning 30.
• Billionaire Status and Recognition: At 29 years old, Lopes Lara overtook Lucy Guo, the 31-year-old co-founder of Scale AI, as the youngest self-made female billionaire. She also surpassed Taylor Swift, 35, who briefly held the distinction earlier in 2024. However, her male co-founder Tarek Mansour and rival platform founder Shayne Coplan of Polymarket (27 years old) are younger billionaires overall.

Russia Joins India-Led International Big Cat Alliance

In the News: Russia agreed to adopt the framework agreement to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) during Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to India on December 4-5, 2025. The announcement was made during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, making Russia part of the India-led global initiative dedicated to big cat conservation.

Key Points:

• Russia's Membership Announcement: Russia confirmed its decision to adopt the framework agreement to join the International Big Cat Alliance during President Putin's visit to New Delhi for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. Russia becomes one of the newest members to formally agree to join the alliance, which currently has over 90 member countries expressing consent.
• About International Big Cat Alliance: The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, during the event commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger. The alliance aims at conservation of seven principal big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of IBCA on February 29, 2024, with headquarters in India and a one-time budgetary support of ₹150 crore for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28. The alliance officially came into force as a full-fledged treaty-based inter-governmental international organization on January 23, 2025.
• Current Membership Status: As of December 2025, 27 countries including India have consented to join IBCA, while five countries have formally ratified the Framework Agreement to become official members: Republic of India, Republic of Nicaragua, Kingdom of Eswatini, Federal Republic of Somalia, and Republic of Liberia. According to updated information from August 2025, 13 countries have become IBCA members including Armenia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Nepal, Liberia, Nicaragua, Russia, Somalia, Suriname, and Angola. The alliance is open to all 97 range countries of big cats, as well as non-range countries interested in supporting big cat conservation.
• Governance Structure: IBCA's governance structure is modeled on the pattern of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and consists of an Assembly of Members at ministerial level, a Standing Committee with a minimum of seven but maximum of fifteen member nations chosen for a five-year term, and a Secretariat with its headquarters in New Delhi, India. The inaugural General Assembly of IBCA was held in New Delhi on June 16, 2025, where India's Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav was unanimously elected as the first President of the Alliance.
• Big Cats in India and Conservation Significance: India is home to five of the seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Cheetah (recently reintroduced through Project Cheetah), while Puma and Jaguar are not found in India. Big cats are apex predators vital for biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, but they face grave threats due to habitat loss from deforestation, urbanization, and land use changes, leading to increased human-wildlife conflicts.

RBI’s ₹1 Trillion OMO Purchase: What It Means and Why It Matters

In the News:  Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced it will conduct Open Market Operation (OMO) purchase auctions of government securities worth ₹1 trillion (₹1 lakh crore) during December 2025, alongside a three-year USD/INR buy/sell swap auction of $5 billion. The announcement came during the RBI's December 2024 monetary policy review when Governor Sanjay Malhotra also announced a 25 basis points repo rate cut to 5.25%.

Key Points:

• OMO Purchase Announcement: The RBI announced OMO purchases of government securities amounting to ₹1 trillion (₹1 lakh crore) to be conducted in December 2025 through two tranches of ₹50,000 crore each on December 11 and December 18, 2024. The announcement was made alongside a $5 billion three-year USD/INR buy/sell swap auction scheduled for December 16, 2024. Governor Malhotra emphasized that the RBI continuously assesses durable liquidity requirements of the banking system due to changes in currency in circulation, forex operations, and reserve maintenance.
• Understanding Open Market Operations: Open Market Operations (OMO) are a key monetary policy instrument through which the RBI buys or sells government securities to regulate liquidity in the banking system. OMO purchases inject liquidity into the system, as the RBI pays banks for the securities they sell, while OMO sales absorb liquidity as banks pay the RBI. The primary purpose of OMO is to provide sufficient liquidity and manage durable liquidity conditions, not to directly influence government securities yields.
• Objectives and Expected Impact: Governor Malhotra stated that the OMO purchases and forex swap measures will ensure adequate durable liquidity in the system. The liquidity injection is intended to strengthen monetary transmission and support market stability in the banking system.
• Market Response and Demand: Previous OMO auctions in 2024-25 witnessed overwhelming demand from banks and financial institutions, reflecting the acute liquidity needs in the banking system. Eligible participants submit bids electronically through the RBI's E-Kuber platform, with auction results declared on the same day and settlement typically occurring the next business day.
• Broader Monetary Policy Context: The OMO announcement was part of the RBI's December 2024 monetary policy review where the six-member Monetary Policy Committee unanimously decided to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% while keeping the monetary policy stance unchanged at neutral.

How DRDO’s new rocket-sled ejection test strengthens India’s fighter aircraft safety framework

In the News: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of an indigenous fighter aircraft escape system at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh. The test, conducted at a precisely controlled velocity of 800 km/h, validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery, marking a significant milestone for India's indigenous defence capability.

Key Points:

• Test Execution and Facility: The high-speed rocket-sled test was conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of DRDO's Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh, achieving a controlled velocity of 800 km/h. The complex dynamic test was executed in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). A sophisticated dual-sled system carrying the forebody section of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was propelled using phased firing of multiple solid-propellant rocket motors to achieve the exact velocity profile required for realistic simulation
• Critical Elements Validated: The test validated critical elements of the aircrew escape system including canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery at precisely controlled velocity. The entire sequence was captured through onboard and ground-based imaging systems, providing comprehensive data for analysis and future design improvements.
• Enhanced Pilot Safety Framework: The Rail Track Rocket Sled facility at TBRL has been used to undertake several critical tests in the strategic domain involving missiles, warheads, ballistics, as well as for the space sector, making it a versatile asset for defence research. The data collected from this test will be instrumental in refining and certifying escape systems for current and future Indian fighter aircraft, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program.
• Collaborative Success and Future Implications: The successful collaboration between DRDO, Indian Air Force, Aeronautical Development Agency, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and industry partners showcases the integrated approach toward developing critical defense technologies.

Sunil Narine Makes T20 History With 600‑Wicket Milestone

In the News: West Indies mystery spinner Sunil Narine etched his name in T20 cricket history by becoming the third bowler to claim 600 wickets in competitive T20 cricket. The 37-year-old Trinidadian achieved this monumental milestone during an International League T20 (ILT20) clash while representing Abu Dhabi Knight Riders against Sharjah Warriorz in Sharjah, securing the landmark wicket by dismissing Tom Abell.

Key Points:

• Historic Milestone Achievement: Sunil Narine became only the third bowler in T20 cricket history to claim 600 wickets, joining Afghanistan's Rashid Khan (681 wickets) and West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo (631 wickets) in this elite club. The milestone came during the ILT20 match on December 3, 2024, when Narine, who was leading Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Jason Holder's absence, dismissed Tom Abell in his first over.
• Career Statistics and Performance: Across his 568 T20 matches, Narine has maintained an exceptional bowling average of 22.09 and a highly restrictive economy rate of 6.16, which is the best among 117 bowlers with a minimum of 200 wickets in the format. His best bowling performance remains 5/19, complemented by 12 four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul throughout his decorated career. Narine has taken most number of matches (568) to reach the 600-wicket landmark among the three bowlers in this elite club.
• Global Knight Riders Legacy: Narine has been an indispensable figure across various Knight Riders franchises worldwide, establishing himself as the franchise group's most decorated bowling figure. He has represented Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL for 189 matches (joint-most by an overseas player alongside Kieron Pollard), Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20, and Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket. For Kolkata Knight Riders specifically,.
• Special Recognition and Tribute: Following the match, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders honored Narine's achievement by presenting him with a specially designed jersey emblazoned with the number 600 to commemorate his unprecedented feat.
• Notable Career Achievements: Narine is one of only five bowlers in T20 history to take 100 or more wickets for two teams, alongside Dwayne Bravo, Lasith Malinga, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan. He is the leading wicket-taker in the Caribbean Premier League with 133 wickets, ahead of Imran Tahir (130), with 102 of those wickets coming for Trinbago Knight Riders. Narine has dismissed Rohit Sharma ten times in T20 cricket, the joint-most dismissals of a batter by a bowler alongside Dwayne Bravo. He also holds the record for most wickets at Eden Gardens in Kolkata with 72 wickets in T20s.
• Mystery Spinner Reputation and International Career: Narine is renowned for his exceptional control and unique mystery spin, with subtle variations and an unorthodox release that have made him one of the greatest T20 bowlers the game has ever seen. His longevity and sustained wicket-taking ability have earned him recognition as among the most impactful and reliable bowlers in T20 cricket history.