20 December 2025 Current Affairs (With PDF)

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Live-in Relationships Not Illegal: Allahabad High Court Reaffirms Personal Liberty

Why in News

Allahabad High Court held that live-in relationships between consenting adults are not illegal, reinforcing a rights-based interpretation of Article 21 of the Constitution that prioritises personal liberty, dignity, and autonomy.

Key Observations of the Court

1. Legal Status

• Live-in relationships between consenting adults are neither criminal nor barred under Indian law.
• Absence of statutory prohibition means such relationships cannot be treated as unlawful.

2. Individual Autonomy

• Adults possess the constitutional freedom to choose their personal relationships.
• Social, cultural, or familial objections cannot curtail individual choice.

3. State’s Constitutional Obligation

• Denial of police protection to adults in live-in relationships amounts to a failure of the State’s duty to protect life and personal liberty under Article 21.

4. Social Morality vs Fundamental Rights

• Concerns regarding “social fabric” or societal disapproval cannot override fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

5. Evidentiary Presumption

• The Court referred to: Section 114 (Indian Evidence Act) and Section 119(1) [Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023]
• If a man and woman cohabit for a substantial period resembling marriage, courts may presume them to be legally married.
• This presumption is to be applied to safeguard the rights of women and children arising from such relationships.

Relevant Supreme Court Judgments

1. Lata Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2006)

• Directed State authorities to protect adults exercising choice of partner.
• Strongly condemned honour-based violence and social harassment.

2. K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017)

• Recognised privacy, dignity, autonomy, and decisional freedom as intrinsic to Article 21, including intimate personal choices.

3. Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. (2018)

• Affirmed that the right to choose one’s partner and marry is an integral component of Articles 19 and 21.

Significance

• Strengthens constitutional jurisprudence on personal liberty and human dignity.
• Clarifies the legal position on live-in relationships for law enforcement and lower courts.
• Reinforces the principle that constitutional morality prevails over social morality.

India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

Why in News

India and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), adding to India’s expanding network of modern Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with partners such as the UAE, Australia, EFTA, and the UK.

Key Highlights of India–Oman CEPA

1. Market Access

• Trade target: To significantly expand bilateral trade beyond the current USD 10 billion.
• Oman’s offer: Zero-duty access on ~98% of tariff lines (covering ~99.4% of trade value) for Indian goods.
• India’s offer: Tariff liberalisation on ~78% of tariff lines, while excluding sensitive items such as dairy, tea, coffee, rubber, etc.

2. Services & Investment

• 100% FDI permitted for Indian companies in key services sectors in Oman.
• Strengthens India’s comparative advantage in IT, professional services, healthcare, education, and logistics.

3. Traditional Medicine (AYUSH)

• First-ever FTA commitment on traditional medicine across all modes of supply.
• Opens new avenues for AYUSH, wellness tourism, and herbal products in the Gulf region.

4. Mobility of Professionals

• Enhanced mobility provisions for Indian professionals: Increased quotas & Liberalised entry, stay, and work conditions for skilled workers

5. Non-Tariff Barriers

• Provisions to address standards, certification, and procedural barriers, improving ease of doing trade.

Why Is India Actively Pursuing FTAs?

1. Export Diversification & Stability

• Exports accounted for 21.2% of India’s GDP in 2024.
• FTAs help diversify markets, reducing dependence on a few regions and improving macroeconomic resilience.

2. Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

• FTA partner countries contributed ~30% of India’s FDI equity inflows (2000–2022).
• FDI enables: Cheaper access to raw materials, Technology and skill transfer, Capital goods and global value chain integration

3. Leveraging Services Strength

• India’s share in Oman’s services imports is only 5.31%, indicating large untapped potential.
• CEPA creates a rules-based framework for scaling services exports.

4. Resilience Against Global Trade Shocks

• FTAs help hedge against protectionism and unilateral tariffs (e.g., US trade actions).
• Strengthens strategic trade autonomy.

Other Measures to Boost India’s Exports

• RoDTEP Scheme: Refunds embedded taxes and duties to exporters.
• Export Promotion Mission: Improves access to affordable trade finance (especially for MSMEs), compliance support, and global market access.
• Districts as Export Hubs: Grassroots-level export promotion, manufacturing growth, and job creation.
• Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023: Targets USD 2 trillion exports by 2030.

Committee on External Affairs Report on the ‘Future of India–Bangladesh Relationship’

Why in News

Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs presented its report titled “Future of India–Bangladesh Relationship” in the Lok Sabha, assessing emerging challenges and outlining strategic priorities for bilateral engagement.

Key Challenges Highlighted in the Report

1. Political & Strategic Uncertainty

• The collapse of the Bangladeshi government in August 2024 has led to political instability.
• Concerns over a possible strategic recalibration of Dhaka’s foreign policy away from India.

2. Security Concerns

• Persistent issues of illegal migration and cross-border terrorism.
• India–Bangladesh border stretches 4,096 km, with about 864 km remaining unfenced, especially across: Riverine stretches & Hilly and difficult terrain
• These conditions complicate effective border surveillance and management.

3. Trade Imbalances & Economic Barriers

• Bilateral trade stood at USD 13.46 billion (2024–25), heavily favouring India.
• Structural challenges: Inadequate infrastructure at land ports, Severe congestion and logistical delays
• Entry of third-country goods (e.g. Chinese fabrics) via Bangladesh under preferential trade arrangements.

4. Water Sharing & Environmental Stress

• Ganga Water Treaty (1996) is set to expire in December 2026, with no formal renewal talks initiated.
• Agreements on 53 shared rivers, including the Teesta, remain unresolved.
• Sundarbans delta faces acute risks from: Sea-level rise & Climate-induced ecological degradation

5. Geopolitical & Social Concerns

• China’s growing footprint in Bangladesh: Mongla Port upgradation & Submarine base at Pekua
• Strategic implications for India, particularly near the Siliguri Corridor.
• Reports of attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh affecting people-to-people trust.

Strategic Recommendations for the Future

1. Sustained Diplomatic Engagement

• Intensify Track II and Track 1.5 diplomacy to maintain dialogue beyond official channels.
• Encourage free, fair, and inclusive elections to ensure long-term political stability.

2. Modernising Border Management

• Fast-track completion of border fencing.
• Deploy advanced surveillance technologies, including: Drones, Motion sensors, Laser-based intrusion detection systems

3. Economic Integration with Safeguards

• Expedite negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
• Incorporate strict rules-of-origin norms to prevent misuse by third countries.

4. Proactive Water & Climate Diplomacy

• Initiate early renewal talks for the Ganga Water Treaty, incorporating updated hydrological and climate data.
• Develop joint climate adaptation strategies for the Sundarbans ecosystem.

5. Strategic Communication & Regional Engagement

• Establish a dedicated Strategic Communication and Perception Management Unit within the MEA.
• Leverage BIMSTEC and other sub-regional platforms as effective alternatives to SAARC.
• Strengthen people-to-people ties, including resumption of normal visa services.

Competition Commission of India (CCI)

Why in News

The CCI has taken cognisance of IndiGo flight disruptions to examine whether there has been abuse of dominant position under the Competition Act, 2002.

About Competition Commission of India

1. Type & Legal Basis

• Statutory body established under the Competition Act, 2002
• Became fully operational after amendments under the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007

2. Administrative Ministry

• Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)

3. Composition

• Chairperson and 2 to 6 Members
• Appointed by the Central Government

Mandate & Functions

1. Anti-competitive Practices

• Prohibits: Anti-competitive agreements (cartels, price-fixing, bid-rigging)
• Abuse of dominant position (predatory pricing, unfair conditions, denial of market access)

2. Regulation of Combinations

• Regulates mergers, acquisitions, and amalgamations
• Ensures combinations do not cause or are not likely to cause an Appreciable Adverse Effect on Competition (AAEC) in India

3. Advisory Role

• Gives opinions on competition-related issues on references from: Statutory authorities & Central and State Governments

4. Consumer Welfare

• Protects consumer interests
• Ensures freedom of trade and promotes fair competition in Indian markets

Institutional & Enforcement Powers

• Assisted by the Director General (DG) for investigations
• Can impose: Penalties, Cease-and-desist orders, Structural or behavioural remedies

Appeals

• Orders of CCI are appealable before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)
• Further appeal lies with the Supreme Court of India

Significance

• Acts as the guardian of competitive markets in India
• Prevents monopolistic practices while balancing consumer welfare and market efficiency
• Increasingly relevant in digital markets, aviation, telecom, and platform economies

Anti-Dumping Duty

Why in News

India has imposed anti-dumping duties on certain steel imports from China to protect domestic producers from unfair pricing practices.

What is Anti-Dumping Duty?

1. Meaning

• An anti-dumping duty is a trade-remedial measure imposed when imported goods are sold at prices below their “normal value” (usually the domestic price in the exporting country).

2. Dumping Explained

Dumping occurs when:

• A product is exported cheaper than its home-market price, or
• At prices that cause material injury to the importing country’s domestic industry.

Legal Basis

WTO Framework

• Permitted under: Article VI of GATT, 1994 & WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement
• Countries may impose duties only after investigation establishes: Dumping, Injury to domestic industry, and A causal link between the two.

Objectives of Anti-Dumping Duty

• Protect domestic manufacturers from unfair competition.
• Ensure a level playing field in international trade.
• Prevent market distortion caused by predatory pricing.

Key Characteristics

• Product-specific and country-specific.
• Usually imposed for up to 5 years, subject to review.
• Can be provisional or definitive.
• Not a protectionist measure per se, but a corrective action.

Anti-Dumping in India

1. Institutional Mechanism

• Investigation Authority: Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Imposition: Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue).

2. Sectors Frequently Covered

• Steel, chemicals, textiles, pharmaceuticals, electronics.

Difference from Other Trade Remedies

• Anti-Dumping Duty: Targets unfair pricing below normal value.
• Countervailing Duty: Addresses unfair subsidies.
• Safeguard Duty: Applied against sudden import surges, irrespective of unfair trade.

NPSDRR Initiatives to Develop Cluster-Based Model Gram Panchayats (GPs)

The National Project for Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction (NPSDRR) has approved initiatives to develop cluster-based Model Gram Panchayats, marking a shift towards localised, bottom-up disaster governance.

About NPSDRR

• Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Panchayati Raj & National Disaster Management Authority
• Total Outlay: ₹507.37 crore
• Coverage: 20 States (81 disaster-prone districts, 20 Gram Panchayats per district)

Key Features

1. Cluster-Based Approach

• Model Gram Panchayats and surrounding GPs must be located within close geographical clusters.
• Enables scalable replication of best practices across neighbouring Panchayats.

2. Integrated Planning

• Preparation of Panchayat- and Village-level Disaster Management Plans.
• Mandatory integration with Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) to align disaster resilience with development priorities.

3. Model Gram Panchayat Concept

• One Model GP per State for six distinct hazard types (one GP for each hazard).
• Model GPs will act as demonstration templates for: Disaster-resilient infrastructure, Risk-informed local planning, Community preparedness and response mechanisms

Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction

1. Definition:

• Active involvement of communities in identifying, assessing, monitoring, and reducing disaster risks while enhancing local capacities.

2. Key Benefits:

• Participatory risk assessment and planning
• Effective last-mile information dissemination
• Use of local knowledge and contextual understanding
• Communities act as first responders during disasters

3. Global Framework:

• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) explicitly promotes CBDRR.

4. Indian Initiative:

• Aapda Mitra Scheme – training community volunteers in disaster response.

Hate Speech

Why in News

Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025 has been passed by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly to curb hate speech and hate crimes through a dedicated legal framework.

About Hate Speech (as per the Bill)

• Definition: Hate speech includes expressions made in public view that are intended to cause injury, disharmony, enmity, hatred, or ill-will against any person, group, or community.
• Protected Grounds: Religion, race, caste, gender, sexual orientation, language, tribe, and similar identity-based attributes.

Constitutional Framework

1. Freedom of Speech

Article 19(1)(a): Guarantees the freedom of speech and expression to all citizens.

2. Reasonable Restrictions

Article 19(2): Permits the State to impose reasonable restrictions on free speech in the interests of:

• Public order
• Security of the State
• Decency or morality
• Defamation
• Incitement to an offence
• Friendly relations with foreign states

Legal Context in India (Brief)

1. Existing provisions addressing hate speech include:

• IPC Sections: 153A (promoting enmity), 295A (outraging religious feelings), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief)

2. The Karnataka Bill seeks to: Move beyond fragmented penal provisions

• Provide a comprehensive, preventive, and victim-centric framework

Significance

• Addresses the rising incidence of identity-based violence and polarisation
• Seeks to balance free speech with public order and dignity
• Reflects a growing trend of state-level legislative intervention where central law is seen as inadequate

Small Modular Reactor (SMR)

Why in News

Government of India plans to operationalise at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033 under the Nuclear Energy Mission, marking a shift toward flexible and scalable nuclear power deployment.

What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)?

Key Features

(a) Power Capacity:

Up to 300 MW(e) per unit (around one-third of conventional large nuclear reactors).

(b) Modular Design:

Reactor components are factory-fabricated and transported to the site for installation.

(c) Scalability:

Multiple SMR units can be added incrementally to match electricity demand.

(d) Portability:

Compact size enables deployment in remote, land-constrained or industrial locations.

(e) Enhanced Safety (inherent to design):

Many SMRs use passive safety systems that rely on natural circulation, gravity, and convection rather than active mechanical systems.

Significance for India

1. Energy Transition

• Supports India’s target of 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047 (from ~8.78 GW currently).
• Provides reliable baseload power to complement renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

2. Decentralised Power Generation

• Suitable for: Remote regions, Industrial clusters, Replacement of aging coal plants (brownfield sites)

3. Climate Commitments

• Helps achieve Net Zero by 2070 by expanding low-carbon electricity generation.
• Reduces dependence on fossil fuels while ensuring grid stability.

4. Strategic & Technological Gains

• Boosts indigenous nuclear technology, manufacturing ecosystem, and skilled employment.
• Enhances energy security by reducing reliance on imported fuels over the long term.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

Why in News

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently conducted a comprehensive review of Municipal Solid Waste Management practices across Delhi and the NCR states, highlighting their role in controlling air pollution sources.

About Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

1. Genesis

• A statutory body established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
• It replaced the earlier Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA).

2. Administrative Ministry

• Functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

3. Jurisdiction

• Covers the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas in: Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh

Mandate and Powers

1. Regulatory Authority

• Empowered to restrict or prohibit polluting activities contributing to air pollution.
• Can issue binding directions to state governments, local bodies, and agencies.

2. Enforcement Functions

• Authority to Order environmental compensation, Conduct investigations, Prepare air quality management guidelines, Coordinate among multiple states for regional pollution control

3. Coordination Role

• Ensures a uniform, region-wide approach to air pollution mitigation, overcoming fragmented state-level responses.

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