Current Affairs 20 December 2025

Content

1. Bureau of Port Security (BoPS): Strengthening India’s Maritime Security Architecture
2. Antariksh Prayogshala (Space Labs): Building India’s Future Space Talent
3. Agniveers & CAPFs: Enhanced Reservation to 50%
4. Forest Rights Services Go Digital: National FRA Portal (TARANG)
5. Winter Session of Parliament 2025:
6. Year of Extremes: India’s Near-Permanent Disaster Cycle in 2025

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Bureau of Port Security (BoPS): Strengthening India’s Maritime Security Architecture

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Why is it in News?

• Government announced the constitution of the Bureau of Port Security.
• The Bureau will be:
  • A statutory body under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
  • Modelled on the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
• Triggered by:
  • Rising maritime trade volumes.
  • Cybersecurity threats to port infrastructure.
  • Strategic vulnerabilities in coastal and port security.

Relevance

GS III – Internal Security & Infrastructure

• Coastal and port security architecture.
• Cybersecurity of critical infrastructure.
• Maritime security and supply-chain resilience.

Why Port Security Matters

• Ports are critical infrastructure:
  • Handle ~95% of India’s trade by volume.
  • Backbone of energy imports, exports, and supply chains.
• Threat spectrum:
  • Terrorism and sabotage.
  • Smuggling and organised crime.
  • Cyberattacks on port IT and logistics systems.
  • Geopolitical disruptions in Indo-Pacific.

What is the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS)?

• A dedicated national-level authority for:
  • Security of ships.
  • Security of port facilities.
• Administrative control:
  • Under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Leadership:
  • Headed by a Director General (IPS, Pay Level-15).
  • Transitional arrangement: DG Shipping to act as DG, BoPS for one year.

Key Functions of BoPS

1. Regulatory & Oversight Role

• Frame security regulations for:
  • Ports.
  • Vessels.
  • Port facilities.
• Ensure compliance with national and international security norms.

2. Intelligence & Information Management

• Timely:
  • Collection.
  • Analysis.
  • Exchange of security-related information.
• Coordination with:
  • Intelligence agencies.
  • Port authorities.
  • Maritime enforcement bodies.

3. Cybersecurity Focus

• Dedicated division for:
  • Protecting port IT infrastructure.
  • Safeguarding logistics, cargo handling, navigation systems.
• Addresses:
  • Ransomware risks.
  • Supply-chain cyber sabotage.
  • Data breaches.

4. Risk-based Security Framework

• Security measures to be:
  • Graded and vulnerability-based.
  • Tailored to:
    • Trade volume.
    • Strategic location.
    • Port-specific risk profile.

How is BoPS Different from Earlier Arrangements?

• Earlier:
  • Central Industrial Security Force acted as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO).
  • CISF handled:
    • Security assessments.
    • Port security plans.
• Now:
  • BoPS becomes the nodal regulator and overseer.
  • CISF and other forces remain operational arms.
• Key shift:
  • From fragmented arrangements → centralised, professional regulation.

Why Model BoPS on BCAS?

• BCAS transformed aviation security by:
  • Clear regulatory authority.
  • Uniform standards.
  • Risk-based screening.
• Replicating this model aims to:
  • Standardise port security.
  • Improve accountability.
  • Reduce ad-hoc security responses.

Strategic Significance

1. National Security

• Ports are potential entry points for:
  • Terrorists.
  • Arms and narcotics.
• Dedicated oversight reduces systemic vulnerabilities.

2. Economic Security

• Disruption of ports can:
  • Paralyse supply chains.
  • Impact inflation and exports.
• BoPS enhances:
  • Trade reliability.
  • Investor confidence.

3. Maritime & Indo-Pacific Context

• India’s growing role in:
  • Global supply chains.
  • Indo-Pacific maritime security.
• Aligns with:
  • Sagarmala.
  • Blue Economy.
  • Maritime Domain Awareness.

Governance & Institutional Analysis

• Positive aspects:
  • Statutory backing ensures authority.
  • Cybersecurity integration reflects modern threat perception.
  • Risk-based approach avoids one-size-fits-all security.
• Challenges:
  • Coordination with multiple agencies.
  • Capacity building for cyber and maritime specialists.
  • Avoiding regulatory overlap.

Way Forward

• Clear SOPs defining roles of:
  • BoPS.
  • CISF.
  • State maritime police.
• Invest in:
  • Cybersecurity skills.
  • Port security audits.
• Integrate BoPS with:
  • Coastal security architecture.
  • Maritime intelligence grid.

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Antariksh Prayogshala (Space Labs): Building India’s Future Space Talent

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Why is it in News?

•  The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) issued a Request for Proposal (RfP).
• Objective:
  • Establish Antariksh Prayogshala (Space Labs) in select Indian academic institutions.
• Part of India’s broader push to:
  • Strengthen the space technology ecosystem.
  • Create future-ready skilled manpower.
  • Deepen academia–industry–government collaboration.

Relevance

GS III – Science & Technology

• Space technology ecosystem.
• R&D, innovation, and skill development.
• Academia–industry–startup collaboration.

What is IN-SPACe?

• IN-SPACe:
  • Autonomous body under the Department of Space.
  • Acts as:
    • Regulator.
    • Promoter.
    • Facilitator for non-government entities (NGEs) in space.
• Role:
  • Enable private sector and academia participation.
  • Provide authorisation, infrastructure access, and funding.

What is Antariksh Prayogshala?

• A first-of-its-kind initiative to create:
  • State-of-the-art space laboratories within academic institutions.
• Focus:
  • Applied research.
  • Early-stage innovation.
  • Hands-on skill development in space technologies.
• Target users:
  • Students.
  • Researchers.
  • Startups.
  • Industry partners.

Key Features of the Scheme

1. Financial Support

• IN-SPACe funding:
  • Up to 75% of total project cost.
  • Cap: ₹5 crore per institution.
• Reduces entry barriers for advanced infrastructure creation.

2. Phased & Region-Balanced Approach

• Up to 7 academic institutions selected.
• One lab proposed in each geographical zone.
• Ensures:
  • Balanced regional representation.
  • Pan-India talent development.

3. Two-Stage Selection Process

• Stage 1:
  • Screening based on eligibility criteria in the RfP.
• Stage 2:
  • Detailed proposal evaluation.
• Ensures:
  • Institutional readiness.
  • Long-term sustainability.

What Will These Space Labs Do?

• Provide:
  • Hands-on training in space systems.
  • Access to advanced testing and simulation tools.
• Enable:
  • Satellite subsystems development.
  • Launch vehicle technologies.
  • Space applications (navigation, EO, communication).
• Function as shared innovation spaces:
  • Academia + industry + startups.

Why This Initiative Matters ?

1. Bridging Academia–Industry Gap

• Traditional issue:
  • Strong theory, weak applied exposure.
• Antariksh Prayogshala:
  • Aligns curriculum and research with real industry needs.

2. Supporting India’s New Space Ecosystem

• Complements:
  • Opening of space sector to private players.
  • Growth of space startups.
• Creates:
  • Skilled workforce for NewSpace companies.

3. Long-Term Strategic Capacity

• Space is a dual-use domain:
  • Civil + strategic.
• Skilled manpower is critical for:
  • Space security.
  • Technological sovereignty.
  • Global competitiveness.

Link with India’s Space Reforms

• Post-2020 reforms:
  • Separation of roles:
    • ISRO (R&D).
    • IN-SPACe (promotion & regulation).
• Antariksh Prayogshala fits into:
  • Space as a knowledge-intensive sector.
  • Transition from mission-centric to ecosystem-centric growth.

Challenges & Considerations

• Ensuring:
  • Faculty capacity and retention.
  • Long-term funding beyond initial grant.
• Avoiding:
  • Infrastructure without outcomes.
• Need for:
  • Strong industry mentoring.
  • Outcome-based performance metrics.

Way Forward

• Integrate labs with:
  • National Space Innovation programmes.
  • Startup incubation frameworks.
• Promote:
  • International academic collaborations.
• Use labs as feeders for:
  • Space startups.
  • ISRO and private sector R&D pipelines.

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Agniveers & CAPFs: Enhanced Reservation to 50%

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Why is it in News?

• Union Home Ministry decided to increase reservation for ex-Agniveers in CAPFs from 10% to 50% in Group C (constable-level) posts.
• Immediate notification issued for Border Security Force, with similar amendments planned across all CAPFs.
• Comes months before the first batch of Agniveers completes 4-year tenure (2026).
• Marks a policy reversal from the earlier 10% quota announced in 2022.
• Addresses:
  • Employment concerns post-Agnipath.
  • Political and social backlash seen during 2022 protests and 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Relevance

GS III – Internal Security

• CAPF manpower planning.
• Defence reforms and internal security linkage.
• Border management and force readiness.

GS II – Governance & Public Policy

• Public employment policy.
• Adaptive policymaking in response to social feedback.

What is the Agnipath / Agniveer Scheme?

• Introduced in 2022.
• Short-term military recruitment:
  • Tenure: 4 years.
  • Retention: ~25% absorbed into regular armed forces.
• Objective:
  • Reduce pension burden.
  • Maintain youthful armed forces.
  • Create a disciplined, skilled civilian workforce.
• Core challenge:
  • Post-service employment for 75% exiting Agniveers.

What are CAPFs?

• Central Armed Police Forces under Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Include:
  • Border Security Force
  • Central Reserve Police Force
  • Central Industrial Security Force
  • Indo-Tibetan Border Police
  • Sashastra Seema Bal
  • Assam Rifles
• Roles:
  • Border management.
  • Internal security.
  • Infrastructure and industrial security.

What Has Changed? 

Earlier Policy (2022)

• 10% reservation for ex-Agniveers in CAPFs.
• Limited age relaxation.
• Covered only select forces initially.

New Policy (2025)

• 50% reservation for ex-Agniveers in Group C posts.
• First implemented in BSF constable (GD) cadre.
• Gradual extension to all CAPFs via amended recruitment rules.
• Age relaxation:
  • Up to 5 years for ex-Agniveers.
  • BSF tradesmen absorption age raised from 30 → 35 years.

Recruitment Mechanics Under New Rules

• Eligibility:
  • Ex-Agniveers exempted from PST/PET.
  • Must clear written examination like other candidates.
• Two-phase recruitment:
  • Phase 1: Nodal CAPF recruits 50% ex-Agniveers.
  • Phase 2: Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruits remaining vacancies (including 10% ex-servicemen).
• Unfilled Agniveer vacancies carried forward.

Rationale Behind the Enhanced Reservation

1. Employment Security

• Prevents sudden demobilisation of trained youth.
• Reduces risk of unemployment-driven unrest.

2. Internal Security Needs

• CAPFs gain:
  • Trained manpower.
  • Disciplined recruits.
  • Reduced training costs.

3. Political & Social Stabilisation

• Responds to:
  • Violent protests of 2022.
  • Electoral sensitivities highlighted in 2024.
• Improves acceptability of Agnipath scheme.

4. Continuum of Military Skills

• Creates a seamless security manpower pipeline:
  • Armed Forces → CAPFs → Civil security ecosystem.

Implications & Concerns

Positives

• Improves credibility of Agnipath.
• Strengthens CAPF manpower quality.
• Enhances youth confidence in short-term military service.

Concerns

• Reduced open competition for civilians.
• Potential morale issues among non-Agniveer aspirants.
• Need for:
  • Transparent implementation.
  • Uniform standards across CAPFs.

Governance & Federal Angle

• Recruitment rules amended under statutory powers of MHA.
• Highlights:
  • Centre’s role in balancing defence reforms with social stability.
  • Adaptive policymaking based on feedback loops.

Conclusion

Enhancing CAPF reservation for ex-Agniveers to 50% reflects a strategic correction in the Agnipath scheme, balancing defence manpower reforms with employment security and internal stability.

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Forest Rights Services Go Digital: National FRA Portal (TARANG)

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 Why is it in News?

• The Union Government announced plans to develop a national web portal to take all Forest Rights Act (FRA) processes online.
• Proposal presented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs at a national consultative workshop.
• A beta version, named TARANG, has already been developed.
• The portal will be part of a comprehensive FRA Roadmap, targeted for finalisation by first half of 2026.
• Objective:
  • Address persistent delays, opacity, and uneven implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Relevance

GS II – Governance & Social Justice

• Tribal rights and inclusive governance.
• Role of Gram Sabha.
• Welfare delivery and institutional reforms.

GS III – Environment & Sustainable Development

• Forest governance.
• Community-based conservation.
• Balancing ecology and livelihoods.

What is the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006?

• Official name:
  Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
• Purpose:
  • Correct historical injustice faced by forest-dwelling communities.
• Beneficiaries:
  • Scheduled Tribes (STs).
  • Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs).

Rights Recognised under FRA

• Individual Forest Rights (IFR): Cultivation and habitation.
• Community Forest Rights (CFR):
  • Grazing.
  • Minor forest produce.
  • Community forest resource management.
• Habitat & resource-use rights.

Existing FRA Implementation Process (Problematic)

• Multi-layered claim process:
  • Gram Sabha → Sub-Divisional Level Committee → District Level Committee → State Level Monitoring Committee.
• Key issues:
  • Manual records.
  • Missing legacy data.
  • Delays in claim disposal.
  • High rejection rates.
  • Poor inter-departmental coordination.
• Result:
  • Uneven recognition of rights across States.
  • Weak livelihood security for forest dwellers.

What is the Proposed FRA Portal (TARANG)?

A single-window national digital platform for all FRA-related services.

Key Components

1. Online Filing & Processing of Claims
   1. End-to-end digitisation from Gram Sabha to State level.
2. Digital Title Deeds
   1. Secure, tamper-proof records of recognised rights.
3. Legacy Data Repository
   1. Central storage of already granted FRA titles.
4. FRA Atlas
   1. GIS-based mapping of:
      1. Existing recognised forest rights.
      1. Potential areas where FRA claims may arise.
5. Geotagging of Forest Rights
   1. Accurate spatial demarcation to reduce disputes.

Objectives Behind Digitisation

1. Transparency & Accountability

• Reduces discretionary rejection of claims.
• Enables real-time tracking.

2. Faster Recognition of Rights

• Minimises procedural delays.
• Standardises timelines across States.

3. Livelihood & Welfare Integration

• FRA records to be used for:
  • Saturation of welfare schemes.
  • Targeted delivery of benefits to forest dwellers.

4. Sustainable Forest Governance

• Supports community-led forest management.
• Aligns conservation with livelihood security.

Governance & Policy Significance

• Reinforces Gram Sabha centrality while improving administrative efficiency.
• Helps reconcile:
  • Forest conservation.
  • Tribal rights.
  • Developmental needs.
• Enables evidence-based policymaking using spatial data.

Concerns & Challenges

• Digital Divide:
  • Limited internet access in forest regions.
• Capacity Gaps:
  • Gram Sabhas and local officials need training.
• Risk of Centralisation:
  • Over-digitisation must not dilute community decision-making.
• Data Accuracy:
  • Errors in mapping could trigger fresh disputes.

Way Forward

• Hybrid model:
  • Digital backend + offline facilitation at Gram Sabha level.
• Capacity building:
  • Training for local institutions.
• Legal safeguards:
  • Ensure digital records do not override community consent.
• Continuous audit:
  • Independent monitoring of claim acceptance and rejection trends.

Conclusion

The proposed national FRA portal marks a shift from paper-based recognition to data-driven forest governance, aiming to improve transparency, livelihood security, and sustainable management while safeguarding tribal rights.

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Winter Session of Parliament 2025

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 Why is it in News?

• Winter Session of Parliament (2025) concluded with:
  • Passage of 8 Bills (Lok Sabha).
  • Key structural reforms including:
    • Repeal of MGNREGA Act.
    • Opening of civil nuclear sector.
    • 100% FDI in insurance.
• Official productivity data released by Om Birla highlighted high legislative productivity, despite concerns over disruptions.

Relevance

GS II – Polity & Governance

• Parliamentary functioning and legislative scrutiny.
• Role of Speaker, Opposition, and debate.

What is the Winter Session?

• One of the three parliamentary sessions (Budget, Monsoon, Winter).
• Typically held November–December.
• Functions:
  • Law-making.
  • Executive accountability.
  • Policy debates.
• Duration and productivity vary based on consensus and disruptions.

Legislative Productivity

• Lok Sabha:
  • Productivity: 111%.
  • Passed 8 Bills.
• Rajya Sabha:
  • Productivity: 82%.
  • Passed 8 Bills.
• Interpretation:
  • High throughput, but productivity ≠ quality of debate.

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Year of Extremes: India’s Near-Permanent Disaster Cycle in 2025

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Why is it in News?

• Report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth revealed that:
  • 331 of 334 days (Jan–Nov 2025) witnessed extreme weather events.
  • Up from 295 days in 2024 and 292 days in 2022.
• Impact in 2025
  • 4,419 deaths.
  • 17.4 million hectares of crops damaged.
  • 1.8 lakh+ houses destroyed.
• Signals a new climate normal marked by persistence, not seasonality.

Relevance

• GS III:
  • Climate change.
  • Disaster management.
  • Agriculture and food security.

What Are Extreme Weather Events?

• Definition: Weather events significantly deviating from historical averages.
• Types observed in India:
  • Heatwaves, coldwaves.
  • Heavy rainfall, floods, cloudbursts.
  • Cyclones, storms, lightning.
  • Landslides.
• Drivers:
  • Global warming (higher atmospheric moisture, energy).
  • Changing monsoon dynamics.
  • Local factors: deforestation, urbanisation, land-use change.

What Makes 2025 Different?

1. Near-Permanent Extremes

• Extreme events on >99% of days.
• 9 out of 11 months saw extreme weather every single day.
• “Normal weather window” is shrinking rapidly.

2. All-Season Extremes

• Earlier: extremes concentrated in monsoon/summer.
• Now:
  • Winter floods.
  • February heatwaves.
  • Heatwaves in Himalayan regions.
  • Post-monsoon floods and early coldwaves.

Scale of Loss & Damage

Human & Economic Impact

• Deaths increased 47% since 2022.
• Crop damage rose nearly 9× (2022 → 2025).
• Lightning & thunderstorms:
  • 1,538 deaths.
• Floods, landslides, cloudbursts:
  • 2,707 deaths.

Agriculture & Livelihoods

• Monsoon alone damaged:
  • ~11 million hectares (65% of total loss).
• Erratic rainfall:
  • Simultaneous floods + rainfall deficits.
  • ~20% districts had deficient rainfall despite daily extremes.

Regional Patterns: Uneven Burden

States

• Himachal Pradesh: Extreme weather on ~80% days.
• Highest deaths:
  • Andhra Pradesh (608).
  • Madhya Pradesh (537).
  • Jharkhand (478).
• Highest crop loss:
  • Maharashtra (8.4 mha).
  • Gujarat (4.4 mha).
  • Karnataka (2.75 mha).

Regions

• North-West India:
  • Highest extreme days (311).
  • Highest deaths (1,459).
• Central India:
  • 1,120 deaths.
• Shows mountain + agrarian vulnerability.

Records Shattered: Climate Signals

• February 2025:
  • Warmest in 124 years.
  • First-ever winter heatwave (Goa, Maharashtra).
• March:
  • Mean max temperature +1.02°C above normal.
• September–October:
  • Among warmest on record (min temperatures).
• IMD baseline shift (1991–2020):
  • Even “normal” is now hotter than the past.

Seasonal Breakdown: Collapse of Boundaries

Winter

• Extremes on 97% of days.
• Heavy rain/floods on 51 of 59 days (earlier: ~6 days).

Pre-Monsoon

• Extremes on 99% of days.
• Heatwaves reached:
  • Himalayan states (HP, J&K, Ladakh).
• Deaths tripled vs 2022.

Monsoon

• All 122 days saw extremes.
• Daily floods + lightning.
• Rainfall paradox:
  • Excess rain + district-level deficits.

Post-Monsoon

• Extremes on all 61 days.
• Early coldwaves (from Nov 7).
• Spread across 13 states (vs 2 earlier).

Overview

1. From Episodic to Structural Crisis

• Disasters are no longer “events”.
• They are systemic features of India’s climate.

2. Regressive Impact

• Poor, farmers, hill communities:
  • Least contributors.
  • Highest sufferers.
• Climate risk is now a development risk.

3. Governance Stress Test

• Disaster response systems face:
  • Overload.
  • Fiscal stress.
  • Data gaps.
• Relief-centric model is inadequate.

Way Forward: From Reaction to Resilience

Mitigation

• Rapid emissions reduction.
• Align with global ambition (CoP30 and beyond).

Adaptation

• Climate-resilient agriculture.
• Urban flood management.
• Heat action plans beyond cities.

Governance Reforms

• Integrate climate risk into:
  • Planning.
  • Infrastructure.
  • Fiscal transfers.
• Strengthen climate data & attribution science.

Equity Lens

• Protect:
  • Small farmers.
  • Informal workers.
  • Mountain & coastal communities.

Conclusion

India’s experience of extreme weather on almost every day of 2025 marks a shift from seasonal disasters to a permanent climate emergency, demanding systemic adaptation, climate justice, and resilient development rather than episodic relief.

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