Daily Insights December 18, 2025
Contents
Daily Insights December 18, 2025
1. SHANTI BILL 2025: NUCLEAR ENERGY PRIVATISATION
Source: Press Information Bureau
Context:
The Lok Sabha passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill on December 17, 2025, and the Rajya Sabha approved it on December 18. This represents a historic shift in India’s nuclear energy policy by allowing private sector participation in the civil nuclear sector for the first time since independence.
About (Key Points):
Bill Name: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025
Approval Status: Passed both Lok Sabha (December 17) and Rajya Sabha (December 18); awaits Presidential assent
Key Ministry: Department of Atomic Energy
Private Sector Entry: Opens civil nuclear power sector to private enterprises
Liability Framework: Caps operator liability at ₹3,000 crore with Nuclear Liability Fund for additional costs
Supplier Liability: Removes supplier liability clause from Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010
Nuclear Capacity Target: Scale up to 100 GW by 2047 (from current 8.78 GW)
SMR Mission: ₹20,000-crore mission for small modular reactor development
Net-Zero Goal: Supports India’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2070
Strategic Objective: Boost clean energy, improve grid stability, support renewable energy integration
Regulatory Framework: Maintains enhanced safety, security, and regulatory measures
Opposition Concerns: Supplier liability removal, liability cap adequacy questioned
2. VIKSIT BHARAT GUARANTEE FOR ROZGAR AJEEVIKA MISSION GRAMIN BILL 2025
Source: News on Air | Drishti IAS
Context:
The Ministry of Rural Development introduced the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill 2025 to replace the 20-year-old MGNREGA. This represents a significant paradigm shift from a rights-based demand-driven scheme to a budget-capped supply-driven framework aligned with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
About (Key Points):
Bill Name: Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025
Replaces: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005
Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Union Rural Development Minister)
Guaranteed Employment: 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually (increased from 100)
Budget Allocation: ₹1,51,000 crore provisioned
Planning Framework: Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) using spatial technology
Cost-Sharing: 60:40 for most states (increased from 10% state burden under MGNREGA)
NE/Himalayan States: 90:10 cost-sharing pattern retained
Thematic Focus: Water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, disaster preparedness
Unemployment Allowance: By state governments if employment not provided within 15 days
Convergence: Unified national framework through Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack
Opposition Stance: Congress, DMK, Trinamool, RSP protested removal of Gandhi’s name, weakening employment rights
3. INDIA-OMAN COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (CEPA)
Source: Ministry of External Affairs
Context:
India and Oman signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on December 18, 2025, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Muscat. This agreement commemorates the 70th anniversary of India-Oman diplomatic relations and represents a significant milestone in India’s strategic engagement with the Gulf region.
About (Key Points):
Agreement Name: India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
Date Signed: December 18, 2025
PM Visit: Narendra Modi’s visit to Muscat (December 17-18)
Special Occasion: 70th anniversary of India-Oman diplomatic relations
Oman’s Tariff Concession: Zero-duty access on 98.08% of tariff lines
India’s Export Coverage: Covers 99.38% of India’s exports to Oman
India’s Tariff Liberalization: Extended on 77.79% of total tariff lines
Import Coverage: Covers 94.81% of India’s imports from Oman by value
Sensitive Products: Dairy, tea, coffee, rubber, tobacco, bullion, jewelry, footwear, sports items excluded
Key Sectors: Textiles, automobiles, high-value products
Bilateral Trade: $8.947 billion (2023-24); $10.613 billion (2024-25)
Joint Ventures: 6,000+ India-Oman ventures with $7.5 billion capital
Benefits: Trade boost, employment generation, supply chain strengthening, investment opportunities
Strategic Value: Strengthens India’s presence in West Asia and Gulf region
4. DELHI-MUMBAI EXPRESSWAY: 87 KM GUJARAT BOTTLENECK CAUSING 4-YEAR DELAY
Source: Indian Express | India Today
Context:
The 1,386 km Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project, worth ₹1.04 lakh crore, faces a two-year delay due to execution failures on a mere 87 km stretch in Gujarat. This bottleneck highlights governance and contract management issues in mega infrastructure projects, with completion now expected by 2027-28 instead of 2025-26.
About (Key Points):
Project Name: Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (Bharatmala Corridor)
Total Length: 1,386 km
Total Cost: ₹1,03,636 crore
Spent So Far: ₹71,718 crore (as per Parliamentary information)
Problem Stretch: Vadodara-Virar section, Gujarat (87 km across 3 packages)
Package 8: Jujuwa-Gandeva (awarded May 2021)
Package 9: Karvad-Jujuwa (awarded July 2021)
Package 10: Talsari-Karvad (awarded March 2021)
Contractor: Roadway Solutions India Infra Ltd (RSIIL), Pune-based
Progress: Less than 20% completion after 4 years
Contracts Terminated: Two packages cancelled in March 2023, re-awarded November 2023
Re-bidding: RSIIL again won as lowest bidder despite poor performance
Delays Blame: RSIIL cites non-provision of land by NHAI; NHAI blames contractor’s non-performance
National Impact: 649 of 1,208 national highway projects behind schedule
Benefits Upon Completion: Reduce Delhi-Mumbai distance by 180 km; cut travel time by 50%
5. YAMUNA EXPRESSWAY MULTI-VEHICLE PILE-UP: 19 DEATHS
Source: The Week | Hindustan Times
Context:
A devastating multi-vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district on December 17 claimed 19 lives and injured approximately 90 people. The tragedy, caused by dense fog reducing visibility to near zero, resulted in multiple vehicles catching fire, making this one of the deadliest highway accidents in recent years.
About (Key Points):
Date of Accident: December 17, 2025 (early morning, 3:30-4:00 AM)
Location: Near Milestone 127, Baldeo police station, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh
Death Toll: 19 (as of December 18)
Injured: Approximately 90 people
Vehicles Involved: 8 buses and 2-3 smaller vehicles (18-19 vehicles total)
Primary Cause: Extremely dense fog reducing visibility to nearly zero
Secondary Cause: Multiple collisions and subsequent fire due to fuel tank rupture
Casualties: Several victims severely charred, requiring DNA profiling for identification
Identified: 4 bodies identified as of December 18
Investigation: DNA samples of 12 persons collected for forensic examination
Magisterial Inquiry: District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh ordered official inquiry
Police Response: District Magistrate confirmed procedures and identification process
Warning: Highlights road safety risks during adverse weather conditions
6. SABKA BIMA SABKI RAKSHA BILL: 100% FDI IN INSURANCE SECTOR
Context:
Parliament passed the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill 2025 on December 18, marking a watershed moment in India’s financial sector reforms. The legislation increases FDI in insurance from 74% to 100%, aligning India’s insurance regulations with global financial hubs and boosting the sector’s growth potential.
About (Key Points):
Bill Name: Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025
Approval Date: December 18, 2025
Finance Minister: Nirmala Sitharaman (proposed in Budget 2025)
Key Ministry: Department of Financial Services
FDI Increase: From 74% to 100% of paid-up equity capital
Amended Acts: Insurance Act 1938, Life Insurance Corporation Act 1956, IRDAI Act 1999
Minimum Capital: Removed ₹100 crore requirement for insurance cooperative societies
IFSC Powers: Extended central government flexibility for International Financial Services Centres
Life Insurance: Empowers LIC board for operational decisions (branch expansion, recruitment)
Goal: “Insurance for All by 2047”
Expected Benefits: Higher foreign investment, competition, rural and under-insured area coverage
Current FDI: ₹82,000 crore attracted so far
Regulatory Strengthening: Enhanced IRDAI powers for investor protection
Policyholders’ Protection: Mandatory ‘Incurred but Not Reported’ and ‘Incurred but Not Enough Reported’ provisions
7. ARAVALLI RANGE PROTECTION: SUPREME COURT 100-METER DEFINITION THREATENS 90%
Source: Vision IAS | India Today
Context:
The Supreme Court’s November 2025 order establishing a 100-meter threshold for defining hills as “Aravalli” has created an ecological crisis, stripping statutory protection from 90% of the range. Only 1,048 of 12,081 mapped hills meet this definition, threatening one of India’s most critical ecosystems with continued degradation and mining pressure.
About (Key Points):
SC Definition: Hills above 100 meters classified as “Aravalli” for legal protection
Impact: 90% of 12,081 mapped hills lose statutory protection
Committee: Central Empowered Committee formed to establish unified definition
Geographic Spread: Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat
Ecological Importance: Prevents desertification, stabilizes climate, supports biodiversity, aids groundwater recharge
Mining Regulation: Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) developed
New Mining: Paused pending scientific mapping and environmental assessments
Sensitive Zones: Wildlife corridors, aquifer recharge areas, water bodies protected
Aravalli Green Wall: Initiative (June 2025) targets restoration of 26 million hectares by 2030
Buffer Zone: Five-km buffer around Aravallis in 29 districts
Comprehensive Approach: SC advised balanced approach preventing illegal mining while ensuring sustainable development
Concerns: Rajasthan MLA warns of “irreversible environmental destruction”; former CM flags definition manipulation
8. CARPOOLING APP IN DELHI TO REDUCE VEHICULAR EMISSIONS
Source: The Week | New Indian Express
Context:
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa held meetings with car-pooling application developers on December 18 to examine technology-based solutions for reducing private vehicles and vehicular emissions. This initiative forms part of a multi-pronged strategy to combat Delhi’s severe air pollution crisis.
About (Key Points):
Date of Initiative: December 18, 2025
Environment Minister: Manjinder Singh Sirsa
Technology Focus: Car-pooling application development
Features: Safety protocols, budget-friendly shared rides, voluntary pollution contribution option
Objective: Reduce private vehicles on roads and cut vehicular emissions
Parallel Measures: ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy enforcement from December 18
Enforcement Tech: ANPR cameras, voice alerts at petrol pumps, police deployment
Vehicle Ban: Non-BS VI outstation vehicles barred from Delhi
Air Quality Status: AQI 373 on December 18 (very poor category)
Traffic Management: Integrated system with Google Maps to identify emission hotspots
Hotspot Targets: Monitor at least 100 traffic congestion locations
Government Investment: ₹2,700 crore allocation for mechanical road sweepers, water sprinklers, machines
Collaborative Approach: Traffic Police coordination for signal timing optimization
Expected Outcome: Reduced vehicular idling, improved air quality, affordable mobility
9. INDIAN NAVY INDUCTS SECOND MH-60R SEAHAWK SQUADRON (INAS 335)
Source: Indian Express | Sansad TV
Context:
The Indian Navy commissioned its second MH-60R Seahawk helicopter squadron, INAS 335 (Ospreys), on December 18, 2025, at INS Hansa in Goa. This induction significantly enhances India’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability and blue-water operational reach, marking a milestone in naval modernization.
About (Key Points):
Squadron Name: INAS 335 (Ospreys)
Commissioning Date: December 18, 2025
Location: INS Hansa, Goa
Aircraft Type: MH-60R Seahawk (US-origin, maritime version of Black Hawk)
First Squadron: INAS 334 commissioned March 2024 at INS Garuda, Kochi
Total Procurement: 24 helicopters for ₹15,000+ crore contract
Replacement Fleet: Replacing ageing British-origin Sea King helicopters
Testing: Rigorously tested under Indian Reference Atmosphere (IRA) conditions
Operational Capabilities: Anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, monitoring surface and underwater domains
Weapons System: Armed with torpedoes, air-to-ground missiles, rockets, and on-board guns
Mission System: On-board mission system processes sensor data for situational picture
Integration: Fully integrated with Navy’s fleet operations; operates from shore bases and maritime assets
Historical Significance: 2025 marks 75 years since approval of Indian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm
Strategic Value: Strengthens deterrence against asymmetric threats and conventional challenges
10. MARITAL RAPE EXCEPTION: COLONIAL RELIC THAT MUST GO
Source: Indian Express | Live Law
Context:
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor introduced a private member’s Bill in the Lok Sabha on December 18 to remove the marital rape exception from Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. This legislative move challenges a deeply embedded legal anachronism rooted in colonial patriarchal values that denies married women protection from sexual violence.
About (Key Points):
Bill Introduced: Private member’s Bill by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor
Current Law: Section 63, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 exempts husbands from rape charges
Scope of Exception: Non-consensual sexual intercourse with wives above 18 years of age
NFHS-5 Data: 83% of women experiencing sexual violence identify their current husband as perpetrator
Justice Verma Committee: 2013 report unequivocally recommended removal of this exception
Constitutional Basis: Articles 21 (right to life), 253, and 51 (international law commitments) support reform
International Obligation: Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) mandates removal
Legal Arguments: Marriage cannot void consent; bodily autonomy is fundamental right
Misuse Concerns: Addressed through robust investigation and judicial procedures, not by denying justice
Psychological Impact: Transforms home from sanctuary to potential space of violation
Historical Context: Remnant of colonial-era property laws treating wives as husbands’ possessions
Current Status: Bill pending discussion in Parliament amid ongoing session
11. CHINA-JAPAN TENSIONS OVER TAIWAN: RISKY DIPLOMATIC GAME
Source: Indian Express | Wikipedia
Context:
Japan-China relations entered a diplomatic crisis in late November 2025 following Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi’s statement about potential Japanese military intervention in case of Chinese invasion of Taiwan. This marks the first time since World War II that a Japanese PM explicitly linked Taiwan to potential SDF deployment, fundamentally altering regional security dynamics.
About (Key Points):
Trigger: Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi’s statement on Taiwan military intervention (first since WWII)
China’s Response: Foreign Minister Wang Yi called remarks “crossing red line” requiring resolute response
Crisis Timeline: November 2025 onwards; escalated through December 2025
International Level: Dispute elevated to United Nations discussion
Military Incidents: Chinese and Japanese vessels near Senkaku Islands (disputed territory)
December 7 Incident: Chinese J-15 jets from Liaoning carrier locked fire-control radars on Japanese F-15 jets
Japan’s Position: Characterized remarks as “hypothetical”; refuses to withdraw statement
China’s Stance: Taiwan is “sacred territory” central to national rejuvenation; reunification non-negotiable
Territorial Disputes: Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu in Chinese), East China Sea, Miyako Strait
Economic Impact: China claims bilateral trade cooperation “severely damaged”
Diplomatic Response: Wang Yi’s regional visits (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan) to explain China’s position
Regional Implications: Threatens Asia-Pacific stability; risks militarism revival; affects global supply chains
Japan-China Norms: Agreement to prevent “wars,” but underlying tensions remain unresolved
12. INDIA’S STUDENT MIGRATION SURGE: 13.8 LAKH STUDENTS ABROAD IN 2025
Source: The Hindu | Civils Daily
Context:
India’s student migration has surged to 13.8 lakh in 2025, nearly tripling over the past decade, with a significant paradigm shift from elite academic mobility to middle-class self-financed overseas education in lower-tier institutions. This trend creates complex implications for employment, remittances, human capital formation, and household finances.
About (Key Points):
Current Numbers: 13.35 lakh students abroad in 2024; projected 13.8 lakh in 2025
Growth Trend: From 12.29 lakh (2018) to 13.35 lakh (2024) — 8.6% increase over 6 years
Source: Ministry of External Affairs data; Kerala Migration Survey 2023
Top Destinations: Canada and US (40%), followed by UK, Australia, Germany
Geographic Concentration: 70% enrolled in top three destinations
Kerala Migration: Students increased to 2.5 lakh (11.3% of total migrants)
Financial Outflow: ₹43,378 crore education-related outflows (nearly 20% of Gulf remittances)
Shift in Pattern: Elite university programs → Lower-tier institutions and vocational programs
Financing Mode: Self-financed through education loans, property mortgages, family savings
Reverse Remittances: Indian households increasingly subsidize students abroad (reversal of traditional pattern)
Annual Costs: Range ₹47-87 billion for US-bound students alone
Domestic Push Factors: Employment saturation, limited institutional capacity, weak domestic job creation
Aspirational Factor: Overseas degrees function as symbols of social mobility despite declining economic returns
Policy Concerns: Visa curbs in Canada/UK intensifying risks; debt accumulation; brain drain concerns
MEA Recognition: Students formally recognized as major diaspora category
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