{"id":60344,"date":"2025-12-02T21:49:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T16:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=60344"},"modified":"2025-12-04T17:33:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T12:03:13","slug":"news-in-short-2-12-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/02-12-2025\/news-in-short-2-12-2025","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 2-12-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Polity and Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 1, 2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Bill seeks to amend the <strong>Central Excise Act, 1944.&nbsp; <\/strong>The Act provides for the levy and collection of central excise duties on goods manufactured or produced in India.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Central excise duties on many items were repealed with the introduction of the <strong>Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017<\/strong>, except for certain items such as tobacco and tobacco products.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tobacco and tobacco products continue to face a <strong>three-layered taxation structure <\/strong>comprising GST, GST compensation cess, and central excise duty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Provisions of the Bill<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Bill<strong> increases central excise duty on unmanufactured tobacco,<\/strong> manufactured tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco substitutes.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Unmanufactured tobacco<\/strong> (such as sun-cured tobacco leaves) from 64% to 70%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chewing tobacco:<\/strong> From 25% to 100%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hookah or gudaku tobacco: <\/strong>From 25% to 40%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Smoking mixtures for pipes and cigarettes: <\/strong>From 60% to 325%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cigarettes:<\/strong> Current duty under the Act ranges from \u20b9200 to \u20b9735 per 1,000 cigarettes.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Bill proposes a significant increase to \u20b92,700 to \u20b911,000 per 1,000 cigarettes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/prsindia.org\/billtrack\/the-central-excise-amendment-bill-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PRS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Sanchar Saathi App<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Government Initiatives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed phone makers to pre-install the<strong> Sanchar Saathi app<\/strong> on devices sold from <strong>March 2026 onwards.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Sanchar Saathi?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2025, the <strong>Department of Telecommunications<\/strong> launched the <strong>Sanchar Saathi Mobile App<\/strong> for both Android and iOS to help users report and protect against mobile related fraud and theft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Features<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chakshu:<\/strong> Users report suspected fraud via calls, SMS, or WhatsApp, targeting scams like fake KYC updates.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>IMEI Tracking and Blocking:<\/strong> Tracks and blocks lost\/stolen phones nationwide across all telecom networks.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Verify Mobile Handset Genuineness: <\/strong>Checks if a device is authentic using IMEI or barcode scan.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Report Masked International Calls:<\/strong> Flags calls from abroad disguised as local (+91 followed by 10 digits).\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Know Your Internet Service Provider: <\/strong>Searches wireline ISPs by PIN code, address, or name.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/technology\/pre-install-sanchar-saathi-app-on-new-phones-by-march-2026-dot-tells-phone-makers\/article70345721.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Masala Bond<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The ED has issued a show-cause notice to Kerala CM over alleged&nbsp; <strong>Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations<\/strong> linked to the masala bond issued by the <strong>Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Do you know?<\/strong><br>&#8211; KIIFB is a body corporate developed by the Kerala government for mobilising funds for infrastructure development, and has floated \u2018masala bond\u2019 in the London Stock Exchange and the Singapore stock exchange to raise funds to the tune of \u20b92,672.8 crore under external commercial borrowing (ECB).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Masala bond<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It&nbsp; is an instrument for raising rupee-denominated resources internationally.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The name itself is meant to give a local flavour\u2014 \u2018masala\u2019 literally meaning \u2018blend of spices\u2019\u2014 to the debt instrument.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to RBI FAQ, any corporate, body corporate, and Indian bank is eligible to issue rupee-denominated bonds overseas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Benefits&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It eliminates currency risk, provides cost-effective funding, and diversifies access to global investors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It reduces dependence on single sources, and supports India\u2019s goal of globalising the rupee while financing infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It offers higher interest rates, tax advantages, and rupee-linked exposure to India\u2019s growth, with potential gains if the rupee appreciates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/kerala\/what-is-the-kerala-masala-bond-probe-explained\/article70345495.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Welfare Schemes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PM VIKAS&nbsp; is uplifting minority communities through skill development and&nbsp; promoting entrepreneurship .<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It&nbsp; is a<strong> Central Sector Scheme<\/strong> of the Ministry of Minority Affairs which converges five erstwhile schemes viz. \u2018Seekho Aur Kamao\u2019, \u2018Nai Manzil\u2019, \u2018Nai Roshni\u2019 and \u2018USTTAD\u2019 &amp; \u2018Hamari Dharohar\u2019 .<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It focuses on <strong>upliftment of six notified minority communities<\/strong> through skill development; entrepreneurship and leadership of minority women; and education support for school dropouts.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also provisions to facilitate credit linkages by connecting beneficiaries with loan programs offered by the National Minorities Development &amp; Finance Corporation (NMDFC).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&nbsp;3 percent of the total seats are reserved for Persons with Disability (PwDs) across all the scheme components.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Objectives&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It aims to provide targeted skill training and livelihood support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It aims to preserve and promote cultural heritage, including traditional arts, crafts, and literature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It aims to empower minority women through leadership and entrepreneurship training.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It aims to enhance employability and livelihood opportunities via market and credit linkages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Do you know?<\/strong><br>&#8211; India is a diverse nation where the empowerment of minority communities is a top priority for the government.&nbsp;<br>&#8211; The Ministry of Minority Affairs has launched several programs to support the six officially recognized minority groups\u2014Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrians (Parsis)\u2014on socio-economic fronts.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :PIB<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Heron Mk II UAVs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has initiated the procurement of<strong> Heron MK-II drones<\/strong> from Israel under emergency provisions invoked after Operation Sindoor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Developer: <\/strong>Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Capability: <\/strong>The Heron Mk II is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV. It can carry <strong>close to 500 kg<\/strong> of payload and sustain more than 24 hours of continuous flight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sensors and Systems: <\/strong>Equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), electro-optical systems, and SIGINT sensors, the platform provides comprehensive ISR capabilities even in challenging weather conditions.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Operational Flexibility:<\/strong> Its fully automated take-off and landing systems, coupled with encrypted satellite communication, enable remote operations, flexible mission planning and deployment across varied theatres without ground-based line-of-sight control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Significance: <\/strong>Heron drones are primarily deployed for <strong>long-range surveillance<\/strong> on both the Chinese and Pakistani frontiers and have proven highly effective.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"707276\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"567\" height=\"428\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Heron-Mk-II-UAVs.webp\" alt=\"Heron Mk II UAVs\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-60351\" style=\"--dominant-color: #707276; width:461px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Heron-Mk-II-UAVs.webp 567w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Heron-Mk-II-UAVs-300x226.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/indian-armed-forces-to-procure-more-satellite-linked-heron-mk-ii-uavs-under-emergency-procurement\/article70346863.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Oxford Dictionary\u2019s Word of the Year, \u2018Rage bait\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: Miscellaneous&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Oxford Dictionary has<strong> chosen \u201crage bait\u201d <\/strong>as its <strong>Word of the Year 2025<\/strong>, reflecting the growing influence of digital culture.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Do you know?<\/strong><br>&#8211; Oxford chose \u201crage bait\u201d as Word of the Year 2025 through a combination of public voting and expert analysis by lexicographers, who track emerging words, language trends, and culturally significant events.&nbsp;<br>&#8211; The final shortlist also included \u201cbio hack\u201d (methods to improve health) and \u201caura farming\u201d (efforts to appear charming or cool).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cRage bait\u201d&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is defined as online content deliberately designed to <strong>provoke anger or outrage to boost traffic and engagement<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It differs from<strong> \u201cbrain rot\u201d (2024\u2019s word<\/strong>) by being intentional and targeted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It resembles clickbait but relies on negative provocations, often amplified by social media algorithms that <strong>reward provocative posts, leading to practices like \u201crage farming.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It now spans fabricated stories, polarising political posts, and conspiracy theories, feeding an engagement-driven ecosystem that is hard for users\u2014especially younger generations\u2014to resist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/trending\/trending-globally\/rage-bait-named-oxford-word-of-the-year-2025-what-does-it-mean-10395933\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Dr Tessy Thomas honoured with Paulos Mar Gregorios Award<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: Miscellaneous<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dr. Tessy Thomas, known as the &#8220;Missile Woman of India,&#8221; has been honored with the eighth Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Award 2025 for her significant contributions to science and women&#8217;s empowerment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Dr. Tessy Thomas<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pioneering Scientist: <\/strong>Dr. Thomas is a renowned scientist at the <strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)<\/strong> and the <strong>first woman<\/strong> in India to lead a missile project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Contributions: <\/strong>She played a pivotal role as the Project Director for the <strong>Agni-IV and Agni-V long-range ballistic missile systems<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Her work earned her the nickname <strong>&#8220;Agniputri&#8221;<\/strong> (one born of fire).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Award<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Award is instituted by the <strong>Sophia Society of the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church<\/strong> and is presented<strong> biennially.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is given in memory of the late Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios, a world-renowned philosopher, scholar, theologian, and the<strong> first Metropolitan of the Delhi Diocese.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fields in which this international award has been given earlier include <strong>inter-faith dialogue and cooperation, education, holistic health practices, and community self-renewal.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The award carries a <strong>cash prize of \u20b95 lakh<\/strong>, a citation, and a medallion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/cities\/delhi\/indias-missile-woman-dr-tessy-thomas-honoured-with-eighth-paulos-mar-gregorios-award-10396935\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 1, 2025.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>About<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The Bill seeks to amend the Central Excise Act, 1944.\u00a0 The Act provides for the levy and collection of central excise duties on goods manufactured or produced in India.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Central excise duties on many items were repealed with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017, except for certain items such as tobacco and tobacco products.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Tobacco and tobacco products continue to face a three-layered taxation structure comprising GST, GST compensation cess, and central excise duty.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/02-12-2025\/news-in-short-2-12-2025\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60344"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60479,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60344\/revisions\/60479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}