President Droupadi Murmu addressed a conference of Union and State Public Service Commissions, emphasizing "honesty and integrity" as non-negotiable in recruitment. The event aimed to strengthen recruitment systems and enhance PSCs' role in the governance framework. This underscores the constitutional importance of PSCs and ethical public service, vital for UPSC and State PSC exam preparation.

The Supreme Court has mandated that corporations hold a fundamental duty to protect ecosystems and prevent species extinction, signifying a major shift in corporate responsibility beyond mere shareholder protection. This ruling is crucial for competitive exams as it highlights judicial intervention in environmental law, corporate governance, and conservation efforts for endangered species like the Great Indian Bustard, emphasizing sustainable development principles.

Japan's central bank, the Bank of Japan (BOJ), hiked interest rates to a three-decade high, signaling a significant shift from its cautious monetary policy. This action pushed the 10-year government bond yield to a 26-year peak. Despite the rate hike, the Japanese yen weakened against the dollar, while the Nikkei share average gained, driven by AI-linked stocks. This event is crucial for understanding global economic trends and central banking policies for competitive exams.

The Interim Budget 2024 highlighted significant economic shifts, including a claimed substantial reduction in poverty levels and a proposed steep increase in capital expenditure (capex). It emphasized "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" through social justice, inclusive welfare, and infrastructure development. The budget also focused on green energy initiatives like rooftop solar, making it crucial for understanding government policy direction and economic priorities for competitive exams.

The article highlights the proposed replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the new "VB-G RAM G Bill 2025," which has triggered protests. This significant policy shift raises a crucial question about the future of rural employment in India: whether it will remain a statutory right or transition into a centrally planned welfare program. For competitive exams, understanding the implications of this legislative change and the debate surrounding employment as a right versus welfare is highly important.

India plans a Vande Mataram-themed 77th Republic Day celebration, inviting top EU leaders as chief guests. This move is significant as an EU-India Summit is scheduled alongside the festivities to finalize the long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This event underscores India's diplomatic efforts, boosts international relations, and holds economic importance for exam preparation, especially regarding international trade and national events.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government fast-tracked major economic reforms in its final parliamentary session of the year. These reforms, including allowing private investment in nuclear energy, full foreign ownership of insurance firms, and a unified securities market code, aim to boost economic growth and mitigate trade challenges like US tariffs. This signifies significant policy shifts impacting India's economy and regulatory landscape, crucial for competitive exam aspirants.

President Droupadi Murmu has assented to the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) Bill, 2025. This landmark legislation replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), marking a significant shift in rural employment policy. The new bill extends the employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days, crucial for addressing rural distress and enhancing livelihood security, making it a vital topic for all competitive exams.

The United States, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the UN climate treaty, significantly altering its role in global climate governance. This decision meant the US would no longer participate as a Party at COPs, fall outside the emissions reporting system, and lose its influence in shaping international climate rules. This move has profound implications for global environmental policy and international relations, making it a crucial topic for competitive exams.

The Supreme Court has significantly intervened by tightening safeguards for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and ordering a redrawing of the Green Energy Corridor map in Rajasthan and Gujarat. This verdict mandates that India's renewable energy transmission infrastructure planning must now integrate immutable conservation boundaries, marking a crucial shift. It highlights the judiciary's role in balancing environmental protection with development, making it vital for competitive exams focusing on environment, polity, and infrastructure.

The President has granted assent to the SHANTI Bill, a pivotal legislation that opens India's strategic nuclear power sector to private participation. This new law enables private companies and joint ventures to build, own, operate, and decommission nuclear power plants, subject to government licensing. This policy reform is significant for competitive exams as it marks a major shift in India's energy policy, aiming to boost nuclear energy production and attract private investment.

Israel's security cabinet has approved 19 new settlements in the West Bank, a move considered illegal under international law. This decision follows a United Nations report indicating that Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank has reached its highest level since at least 2017. This development is crucial for competitive exams as it highlights ongoing international disputes, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and the role of international law concerning occupied territories.

Japan's MUFG Bank plans to invest Rs 39,620 crore in Shriram Finance for a 20% equity stake. This significant move is poised to be the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) in India's financial services sector, highlighting growing international confidence in the Indian economy. It is crucial for competitive exams as it covers FDI, financial sector developments, and international economic relations.

The Supreme Court has issued a significant verdict, declaring the protection of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) as "non-negotiable." This ruling is poised to fundamentally alter India's renewable energy landscape, particularly impacting projects in GIB habitats. It underscores the judiciary's role in balancing environmental conservation with developmental goals, making it crucial for competitive exams focusing on environment, polity, and sustainable development.

The Supreme Court has ruled that forest land cannot be diverted for non-forestry purposes, explicitly including agriculture. This significant decision upholds an appeal filed by the Karnataka government against the Gandhi Jeevan Collective Farming Cooperative Society, which sought to extend a lease on 134 acres of forest land illegally granted for cultivation. This ruling reinforces India's commitment to forest conservation and environmental protection, making it highly relevant for competitive exams focusing on environmental law and governance.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced significant measures to inject liquidity into the banking system, including purchasing government securities worth Rs 2 lakh crore through Open Market Operations (OMO) and conducting a USD 10 billion buy/sell dollar-rupee swap auction. These actions are crucial for managing monetary policy, ensuring adequate credit flow, and maintaining financial stability. This topic is highly relevant for competitive exams, particularly in the economics and current affairs sections, as it reflects the RBI's role and tools.

A recent study has revealed increased fracturing within the 'Doomsday glacier' (Thwaites Glacier), indicating a potential collapse of the Antarctic Ice Shelf. This destabilization is critical as it directly impacts global sea-level rise and the future stability of polar ice sheets. For competitive exams, this highlights the urgency of climate change, its environmental consequences, and the geographical significance of Antarctic regions.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is injecting Rs 2.90 lakh crore liquidity into the banking system through bond purchases and a dollar-rupee swap. This significant measure aims to ease tight cash conditions and stabilize short-term interest rates that have risen above the central bank's target. Understanding RBI's monetary policy tools and their impact on liquidity and interest rates is crucial for competitive exam preparation, especially in economics and banking sections.

Pentagon chief Hegseth revealed that nearly 200 U.S. troops entered Caracas via helicopter to seize Venezuelan President Maduro. This marks the first official confirmation and specific troop count from a U.S. official regarding the stunning operation. This event is crucial for understanding international relations, U.S. foreign policy, and Latin American geopolitics for competitive exams.

In 2025, India enacted significant economic reforms aimed at boosting competitiveness and resilience amidst global uncertainties. Key initiatives included income-tax relief, GST restructuring, labor code modernisation, and FDI liberalisation in the insurance sector. These measures are crucial for stimulating domestic demand, attracting investment, and unlocking the nation's potential for sustained growth, making them highly relevant for competitive exam preparation on economic policy.