December 22, 2025 - Current Affairs

Where Does India Stand on Child Marriage?

In News

Despite a strong legal framework and multiple schemes tackling Child marriage in India, India is still off-track to fully eliminate child marriage by the 2030 SDG deadline.

Concept, Trend and Legal Framework

Definition: Child marriage refers to any marriage in which at least one party is below 18 years of age; globally, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as any human below 18 years.

NFHS data: The proportion of women aged 20–24 years married before 18 declined from about 47.4% (2005–06, NFHS-3) to 26.8% (2015–16, NFHS-4) and further to 23.3% (2019–21, NFHS-5).

State variation: Eight states are above the national average; West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura have over 40% of women 20–24 years married before 18, making them among the worst performers.

Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship: Parliamentary Committee on MEA

Context

According to a recent report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, India is facing its most formidable strategic challenge in Bangladesh since the 1971 Liberation War.

Key Highlights of Report

Strategic Challenge Post-2024 Regime Change: India faces its ‘greatest strategic challenge’ in Bangladesh since the 1971 Liberation War.

The ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 disrupted a decade-long strategic alignment between the two nations.

RBI Board Approves Risk-Based Deposit Insurance Framework for Banks

Context

The Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a risk-based deposit insurance framework for banks at its 620th meeting, held in Hyderabad.

What is the Deposit Insurance Framework?

Deposit insurance is a mechanism to protect bank depositors against the risk of bank failure.

In India, deposit insurance is administered by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), a wholly owned subsidiary of the RBI.

Currently, deposits up to ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank are insured.

Data Exclusivity in India

Context

The Indian government is considering implementing “data exclusivity” in the pharmaceutical drugs sector.

The government’s approach appears to be driven by the expectation that the provision could help bring in additional investment in the country.

Patent in Pharmaceutical Industry

In the pharmaceutical industry, patents are broadly classified based on what aspect of a drug or process is being protected.

Pharma patents protect drug molecules, processes, formulations, uses, and delivery systems.

Types of Patents in India are: Product Patent, Process Patent, Improvement Patent and Biotechnology Patent.

Counting Electrons Reveals Thorium’s Nuclear Tick in Solid Clock

Context

Scientists have found a way to detect thorium-229’s nuclear ‘tick’ in a solid, opening a path to miniaturised nuclear clocks.

About

Conventional atomic clocks count electron transitions, which are sensitive to external disturbances (electric/magnetic fields).

Nuclear energy levels are far more shielded, promising more stable timekeeping.

Why Thorium-229 (²²⁹Th)?

Human-wildlife Conflict

Context

The National Tiger Conservation Authority appraised the expansion of Project Cheetah and reviewed measures to address human-wildlife conflict.

What is human-wildlife conflict (HWC)?

HWC refers to the negative interaction between humans and wild animals, leading to adverse impacts such as injury or loss of human lives, crop, livestock and other properties, and equally negative impacts on wild animals and or their habitats.

In India, conflicts are most frequently associated with elephants, tigers, leopards, bears and wild boars, particularly in forest fringe and corridor regions.

News In Short 22-12-2025

In News

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan'.

‘Chilai Kalan’

It is the coldest phase of winter in Kashmir, starts on December 21 and ends on January 31.

The 40-day ‘Chilai Kalan’ is followed by a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).