{"id":61846,"date":"2025-12-16T18:46:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T13:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=61846"},"modified":"2025-12-17T19:13:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:43:23","slug":"news-in-short-16-12-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-12-2025\/news-in-short-16-12-2025","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 16-12-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Ancient History<\/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>A commemorative postage stamp in honour of the <strong>king Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II (Suvaran Maran)<\/strong> was released by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan.<\/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>Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar (705 AD-745 AD)<\/strong>, also known as <strong>Suvaran Maran,<\/strong> was a ruler of the <strong>Mutharaiyar lineage,<\/strong> feudatories of the<strong> Pallavas.&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He belonged to the illustrious<strong> Mutharaiyar dynasty,<\/strong> which ruled the central regions of Tamil Nadu between the <strong>7th and 9th centuries CE<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He ruled from <strong>Tiruchirappalli<\/strong> for nearly four decades and that his reign was marked by administrative stability, territorial expansion, cultural patronage, and military prowess.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar is believed to have fought bravely in several battles alongside the <strong>Pallava king Nandivarman<\/strong>, and is remembered as a<strong> great administrator.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Religious Policies: <\/strong>The Pallava reign saw a religious revivalism of Hinduism amid the dominance of Jainism and Buddhism.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As their feudatories, the <strong>Mutharaiyars were great temple builders.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-history\/who-is-perumbidugu-mutharaiyar-suvaran-maran-3-things-10420500\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>PM Visit to Jordan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/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>Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded <strong>his two-day visit to Jordan.<\/strong><\/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 visit marks <strong>India\u2019s first full bilateral engagement with Jordan <\/strong>and comes as the two countries prepare to celebrate<strong> 75 years of diplomatic relations.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Five memoranda of understanding were finalized <\/strong>covering culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure and a twinning arrangement between the historic sites of Petra and Ellora.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is<strong> Jordan\u2019s third-largest trading partner<\/strong>, Prime Minister Modi proposed <strong>enhancing bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He also encouraged collaboration between <strong>Jordan\u2019s digital payment system and India\u2019s Unified Payments Interface.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the financial year 2023\u201324, total India-Jordan<strong> trade reached US$ 2.875 billion,<\/strong> with India\u2019s exports to Jordan amounting to US$ 1,465 billion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jordan <\/strong>is a leading <strong>supplier of phosphates and potash fertilizers for India.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both sides also discussed <strong>investments in fertilizer production<\/strong> to meet India\u2019s growing demand, with Jordan being an important supplier of phosphates to India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>About Jordan<\/strong><br><br>&#8211; West Asian country in the <strong>Middle East.<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Borders:<\/strong> Israel &amp; Palestine (West), Saudi Arabia (South &amp; East), Iraq (East), Syria (North).<br>A. <strong>Dead Sea<\/strong> is a landlocked salt lake between Israel and Jordan in southwestern Asia.<br>&#8211; <strong>Landlocked <\/strong>except for a short coastline at Aqaba (Red Sea).<br>&#8211; <strong>Head of State:<\/strong> King Abdullah II (since 1999).<br>&#8211; <strong>The main ethnic groups in Jordan <\/strong>are Arabs, primarily Jordanians and Palestinians.<br><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"423\" height=\"238\" src=\"blob:https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/dffe89c7-47a1-4868-b9a8-0c1119bb41af\"><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ddnews.gov.in\/en\/prime-minister-concludes-jordan-visit-with-call-to-double-bilateral-trade-to-5-billion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DD<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India-ADB Sign Over $2.2 Billion Loan Agreements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/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 Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed agreements for five loans totaling over $2.2 billion to support various development projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Asian Development Bank<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ADB is a regional development bank established in<strong> 1966<\/strong> for Social and Economic Development.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Members:<\/strong> It has <strong>69 members including <\/strong>India as a<strong> founding member.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a<strong> multilateral development bank,<\/strong> which seeks to help its developing member countries to reduce poverty and improve their people&#8217;s quality of life through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ADB uses a <strong>weighted voting system<\/strong> based on members\u2019 capital subscriptions. The current top five shareholders and their approximate share percentages are;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Japan (15.6%), United States (15.6%), People&#8217;s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%) and Australia (5.8%).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Headquarters: <\/strong>Manila, Philippines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2204373&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Regional Groupings<\/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 United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has completed two decades of efforts aimed at bridging divides, reducing polarization, and promoting intercultural dialogue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About UNAOC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Secretariat:<\/strong> New York<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Launched<\/strong>: 2005<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Initiated by:<\/strong> Republic of T\u00fcrkiye &amp; Spain, under the auspices of the United Nations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Objectives:<\/strong> Improve cross-cultural and inter-religious relations between nations and communities.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Counter polarisation, extremism, xenophobia and hate speech.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promote mutual understanding, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Relevance for India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Aligns with India\u2019s civilisational ethos of pluralism and \u201cVasudhaiva Kutumbakam\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports India\u2019s engagement with interfaith harmony, south\u2013South cooperation &amp; multilateral peace initiatives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ddnews.gov.in\/en\/india-reaffirms-vasudhaiva-kutumbakam-religious-harmony-at-11th-unaoc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DD News<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>National Blood Transfusion Bill 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ 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 National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025 was introduced in Parliament to establish a dedicated legal and institutional framework for blood transfusion services in India.<\/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>Blood transfusion services are regulated under the <strong>Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940<\/strong>, which is considered inadequate for managing blood as a life-saving public resource.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Bill seeks to move blood transfusion services out of <strong>regulatory grey zones<\/strong> into a clear, safety-first national framework.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Provisions of the National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Establishment of a <strong>National Blood Transfusion Authority (NBTA)<\/strong> as a statutory body.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NBTA to prescribe uniform national standards for:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Collection, testing and processing of blood<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Storage, distribution, issuance and transfusion of blood and blood components.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mandatory registration<\/strong> of all blood centres across the country.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Introduction of <strong>strict penalties<\/strong> for unsafe, unethical or non-compliant practices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promotion of voluntary blood donation<\/strong> through coordinated national programmes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creation of a <strong>national haemovigilance system<\/strong> to monitor transfusion-related adverse events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/patients-welcome-introduction-of-the-national-blood-transfusion-bill-2025\/article70392404.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>DHRUV64<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Science &amp; Technology<\/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>India has launched the DHRUV64 microprocessor.<\/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>Type: <\/strong>General-purpose microprocessor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Developed By:<\/strong> Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP) of the Government of India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Architecture: <\/strong>64-bit, dual-core<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clock Speed:<\/strong> 1.0 GHz<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Status: <\/strong>Fully indigenous (design and development in India)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Function:<\/strong> Acts as the \u201cbrain\u201d of electronic devices such as computers, mobiles, embedded systems and control units.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Suitable for 5G infrastructure, automotive, consumer electronics, industrial automation, IoT, and strategic uses, it reduces import dependence amid India&#8217;s 20% global microprocessor consumption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>National Energy Conservation Award<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/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>Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has won the <strong>National Energy Conservation Awards 2025 <\/strong>under the <strong>State Energy Efficiency Performance Award (SDA Group-1) category.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Under the SDA Group-1 Category, awards are given to the states with large energy consumption and advanced energy ecosystems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Instituted by:<\/strong> Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ministry:<\/strong> Ministry of Power, Government of India<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Objective:<\/strong> Recognise exemplary performance in energy efficiency and conservation\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encourage States, industries and institutions to reduce energy intensity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>First instituted:<\/strong> 1991 (as National Energy Conservation Award scheme)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/karnataka\/karnataka-tops-national-energy-conservation-awards-2025\/article70399853.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">A commemorative postage stamp in honour of the king Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II (Suvaran Maran) was released by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>About<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar (705 AD-745 AD), also known as Suvaran Maran, was a ruler of the Mutharaiyar lineage, feudatories of the Pallavas.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">He belonged to the illustrious Mutharaiyar dynasty, which ruled the central regions of Tamil Nadu between the 7th and 9th centuries CE.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">He ruled from Tiruchirappalli for nearly four decades and that his reign was marked by administrative stability, territorial expansion, cultural patronage, and military prowess.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-12-2025\/news-in-short-16-12-2025\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"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-61846","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\/61846","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\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61846"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61874,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61846\/revisions\/61874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}