UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 December 2025

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 8 December 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

 

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 1&2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 December 2025)

1. Climate Stress on Women and the Evolving Global Health Response

GS Paper 2:

2. India’s Diet Paradox: When Easy Food Becomes Unhealthy Food

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Operation Hinterland Brew

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. The Unit – a Pilot Gold-Backed Digital Trade Currency

2. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)

3. Boreendo

4. Constituent Assembly of India

5. 50 Years of CITES

 Mapping:

1. Thailand–Cambodia Border Tension

 

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 December 2025

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GS Paper 1&2:

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Climate Stress on Women and the Evolving Global Health Response

Source:  TH

Subject: Role of Women and Women’s Organization, Population and Associated Issues

Context: Women face growing health and safety risks from rising heat, a new MSSRF study shows. Meanwhile, WHO signals cautious approval for weight-loss drugs, India intensifies action on antibiotic resistance, and South Africa advances with a promising HIV prevention shot.

About Climate Stress on Women and the Evolving Global Health Response:

What is the issue?

• Heat-linked morbidity among women – Rising temperatures are directly correlating with specific reproductive and mental health crises in women, particularly in high-heat districts.

E.g. A 2024 MSSRF study in Beed (Maharashtra) found that female sugarcane workers in high-heat zones reported a 2x higher rate of hysterectomies and 70% reported chronic dizziness and fatigue during summer months.

• Workplace heat adaptation gaps – Informal sectors lack basic “survival infrastructure” like cooling or hydration, turning workplaces into health hazards.

E.g. In Tamil Nadu’s textile belts, female workers reported avoiding water to skip bathroom breaks, leading to a spike in Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) during heatwaves (MSSRF data).

• Conditional WHO approval of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs – The WHO has backed drugs like Semaglutide but with strict “last-resort” guardrails.

E.g. The WHO guideline restricts Wegovy (Semaglutide) use to adults with BMI ≥35 who have failed lifestyle interventions, rejecting it as a cosmetic “quick fix.”

• AMR plan progress with coordination deficit – India’s NAP-AMR 2.0 sets targets, but state-level enforcement remains the weak link.

E.g. While Kerala and Gujarat successfully banned OTC antibiotic sales, other states lack similar enforcement, creating regulatory loopholes for drug resistance.

• HIV prevention shift to long-acting injection – A paradigm shift from daily pills to twice-yearly shots for HIV prevention.

E.g. South Africa secured 400,000 doses of Lenacapavir (a twice-yearly injection) via the Global Fund to target high-risk adolescent girls starting in early 2026.

• Regulatory tightening and AI surveillance – India is moving from reactive checks to predictive monitoring after global pharma trust deficits.

E.g. Following the Maiden Pharma tragedy in Gambia, India’s CDSCO audited 76 pharmaceutical firms, cancelling 18 licenses for manufacturing violations in a single drive.

Implications:

• Gendered climate health inequity deepens – Heat is not just uncomfortable; it is becoming a driver of gender-based violence and economic loss.

E.g. The MSSRF study noted a 38% increase in domestic violence reports during peak summer months in surveyed households, linked to economic stress and water scarcity.

• Therapeutic access divides widen – Advanced drugs (GLP-1s, Lenacapavir) risk becoming elite-only products without price controls.

E.g. WHO data projects that even with production scaling, GLP-1 drugs will reach less than 10% of the global population needing them by 2030 due to high costs (~$1000/month in US).

• AMR containment remains structurally fragile – Without federal-style accountability, national plans fail at the district level.

E.g. The “One Health” approach is stalling because veterinary antibiotic use (regulated by States) remains largely unchecked compared to human health sectors.

• Urban heat–cardiac vulnerability escalates – Cities are becoming heat traps, triggering “silent” metabolic and cardiac collapses.

E.g. Ahmedabad’s Heat Action Plan found that all-cause mortality spiked by 43% during heatwaves, prompting the integration of heat alerts with hospital admission data.

• Regulatory legitimacy tests intensify – Export safety is now directly linked to India’s “Pharmacy of the World” reputation.

E.g. In October 2024, samples of Coldrif Syrup (Sresan Pharmaceuticals) were found to contain 46% Diethylene Glycol (a toxic solvent) after causing deaths in Madhya Pradesh.

What can be done?

• Legislate heat-protective labour conditions – Mandate specific cooling amenities rather than general “welfare” norms.

E.g. Kerala’s Labour Department mandates a “noon break” (12 PM–3 PM) for outdoor workers between February and April to prevent heatstroke.

• Convert AMR timelines into binding enforcement – Move from voluntary state alignment to statutory mandates.

E.g. Adopting Kerala’s “Operation Amrith”, which empowers drug inspectors to conduct surprise raids and track antibiotic sales via a digital app, across all states.

• Ensure equitable access to GLP-1 and Lenacapavir – Use international licensing mechanisms to lower costs.

E.g. The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) signed voluntary licensing deals with Indian generic makers (like Cipla/Dr. Reddy’s) to produce low-cost versions of Lenacapavir for 120 countries.

• Embed AI-heat-AQI mapping into urban health plans – Use technology to predict health risks before they peak.

E.g. The Nagpur Metropolitan Surveillance Unit used AI media scanning to detect an outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Chhindwara days before official reports.

• Modernise surveillance with unified audit layers – Combine export checks with domestic safety monitoring.

E.g. The Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) now aggregates real-time data from 33 disease conditions, allowing districts to spot “fever clusters” instantly.

Conclusion:

The convergence of heat-linked gender stressors, metabolic drug caution, AMR execution demands, and long-acting prevention signals a decisive turn in health governance. India’s resilience now rests not on episodic drug breakthroughs but on climate-aware design (like Kerala’s noon breaks), equity-proofing and strict institutional enforcement.

 

 

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 December 2025 GS Paper 2:

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India’s Diet Paradox: When Easy Food Becomes Unhealthy Food

Source:  IE

Subject:  Health

Context: India’s diets have shifted from home-cooked staples to ultra-processed, carbohydrate-heavy foods despite rising incomes and diversification.

• This transition now fuels high NCD burden, protein–vegetable gaps, and an ecosystem where unhealthy eating is cheaper and easier than healthy choices.

About India’s Diet Paradox: When Easy Food Becomes Unhealthy Food

What Has Changed?

• Carb dominance despite lower cereal spending – Cereal expenditure has dropped, but dependence on refined carbohydrates remains the primary metabolic driver.

E.g. ICMR-INDIAB (2024) reveals that 62% of total energy intake in India still comes from low-quality carbohydrates like refined cereals and added sugars.

• Animal foods and produce spending up – There is a diversification toward dairy and perishables, but it hasn’t displaced the carb-heavy base.

E.g. NSSO HCES (2022-23) shows average monthly spending on milk/dairy increased to ₹503 (urban) and ₹348 (rural), while fruit/vegetable spending nearly doubled since 2012.

• Ultra-processed foods normalised – Processed foods have shifted from “occasional treats” to “daily essentials” due to time poverty.

E.g. Spending on processed foods surged by 353% in rural India and 222% in urban India since 1999 (NSSO), with a 90% decline in price elasticity, signaling they are now treated as necessities.

• Inequality in dietary quality – Nutritional diversity is restricted to the wealthy, while the poor remain calorie-reliant.

E.g. The top 5% of urban Indians spend 10 times more on food (~₹20,310 MPCE) than the bottom 5% (~₹2,376), dictating access to diverse proteins vs. cheap carbs.

Health Consequences of Current Diets:

• Diet drives majority of disease burden – Poor nutrition is now the single largest risk factor for health in India.

E.g. The ICMR 2024 report attributes 56.4% of India’s total disease burden directly to unhealthy diets, overtaking infectious diseases.

• Metabolic illnesses rising steeply – The carb-fat imbalances are fueling a non-communicable disease (NCD) crisis.

E.g. Cancer deaths in India are projected to rise by 75% by 2050, with diabetes already affecting 101 million Indians (ICMR-INDIAB).

• Obesity–malnutrition double burden – Simultaneous prevalence of undernutrition and obesity due to calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods.

E.g. NFHS-5 indicates that while 35.5% of children are stunted, urban obesity in women has risen to 24%, driven by high-fat/sugar intake.

• Persistent protein and vegetable gaps – Rising incomes have not translated into adequate protein intake.

E.g. A 2024 study in Frontiers found 80% of rural households consume less than the recommended protein, relying on cereals for 60–75% of their intake.

• Rising years of life lost – Diet-induced chronic conditions are prematurely shortening lifespans.

E.g. The WHO estimates that NCDs (driven by diet) now account for 66% of all deaths in India, heavily impacting the productive age group (30–69 years).

Socio-Economic Drivers:

• Cheap unhealthy food architecture – Mass-produced processed foods benefit from economies of scale that fresh produce lacks.

E.g. A packet of chips costs ₹5-10, whereas a nutritionally equivalent serving of fruit often costs 3-4x more in urban metros, incentivizing junk consumption.

• Consumption inequality persists – Food budgets scale with income, but nutritional quality does not improve linearly for the poor

E.g. The Gini coefficient for consumption expenditure is 0.284 (urban), showing that despite rising incomes, the poor’s food basket remains constrained to staples.

• Processed as necessity, not indulgence – High-sugar/salt foods are purchased for convenience and shelf-life, not just taste.

E.g. The 90% drop in price elasticity for processed foods means demand no longer drops significantly even when prices rise, proving they are now “essential goods.”

Sustainability Link:

• Healthier diets lower emissions – Moving away from refined grains and excessive dairy can cool the planet.

E.g. Adhering to NIN 2024 dietary guidelines could reduce India’s agricultural methane emissions by 36% and nitrous oxide by 35% by 2050.

• Balanced diets reduce consumer costs – Contrary to perception, a balanced vegetarian diet can be economical if localized.

E.g. The EAT-Lancet commission notes that shifting to a “planetary health diet” could reduce household food costs by 23% by relying on cheaper plant proteins (pulses/legumes) over expensive processed foods.

• Reduced fertiliser and input strain – Legume-heavy diets fix soil nitrogen naturally, lowering chemical needs.

E.g. Replacing 10% of cereal acreage with pulses can save thousands of tonnes of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer annually (ICAR).

What Needs to Change?

• Strategic taxation on ultra-processed foods – Use fiscal policy to curb consumption of high-sugar/salt products.

E.g. A 20-30% “Sugar Tax” (modeled after Mexico/UK) is recommended by public health experts to reduce obesity prevalence by 5-10%.

• Clear front-of-package labelling – Warning labels are more effective than nutritional tables.

E.g. The FSSAI’s draft regulation (2020) on “High in Fat, Sugar, and Salt” (HFSS) warning labels is proven to alter consumer choice by ~20% in pilot studies.

• Cold chain and nutrient crop scaling – Reduce spoilage to make perishables affordable.

E.g. India wastes 16% of fruits and vegetables annually; scaling PM-KISAN SAMPADA cold chains can recover this value to lower retail prices.

• Redirection of subsidies – Shift support from water-guzzling rice/wheat to nutri-cereals.

E.g. Reallocating a portion of the ₹1.64 lakh crore fertilizer subsidy to millet/pulse inputs could incentivize farmers to diversify 20 million hectares away from paddy.

• Industry reform for culturally aligned healthy foods – Reformulate mass-market products.

E.g. FSSAI’s “Eat Right India“ initiative targets a 30% reduction in salt/sugar content in packaged foods by 2025 through voluntary industry pledges.

Conclusion:

India’s economic rise has not translated into nutritional security, as ultra processed dependence and carb-heavy diets drive metabolic and climate harm. Making healthy food structurally accessible, affordable and convenient is now central to reversing India’s nutrition–disease spiral.

 

 

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 December 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

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Operation Hinterland Brew

Context: The DRI has busted an illicit Mephedrone manufacturing unit in Wardha, Maharashtra under “Operation Hinterland Brew,” seizing 128 kg of the synthetic drug worth ₹192 crore.

About Operation Hinterland Brew:

• What it is?
  • Operation Hinterland Brew is a targeted anti-narcotics operation conducted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to identify and destroy clandestine drug manufacturing units operating in remote or rural regions.
• Launched by: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)

• • Part of broader national efforts under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to curb the production, trafficking, and distribution of synthetic drugs.

• Significance:

• • Prevents large-scale circulation of high-purity synthetic narcotics.
  • Disrupts organised drug networks using rural areas as camouflage.
  • Strengthens India’s enforcement credibility under the NDPS Act, 1985.
  • Supports national health and security goals by curbing the synthetic drug ecosystem.

Relevance to UPSC Syllabus

• GS-II: Governance & Government Policies

• • Highlights enforcement of the NDPS Act, 1985, inter-agency coordination, and challenges in tackling synthetic drug networks.

• GS-III: Internal Security & Organised Crime

• • Demonstrates methods used by drug cartels (rural concealment, modular labs).
  • Reflects India’s counter-narcotics strategy and intelligence-driven operations.

• GS-III: Economy

• • Synthetic drugs create shadow economies; seizures prevent illicit financial flows and criminal profits.

 

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 December 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

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The Unit – a Pilot Gold-Backed Digital Trade Currency

Source:  TN

Subject:  International Organisation

Context: Several reports and expert circles are speculating that BRICS may unveil a pilot gold-backed digital trade currency called “The Unit”, though no official announcement has been made yet.

About The Unit – a Pilot Gold-Backed Digital Trade Currency:

What it is?

• A digital, blockchain-based settlement currency designed for cross-border trade within BRICS, backed by physical gold and BRICS national currencies.

Launched by:

• Developed as a pilot by the International Research Institute for Advanced Systems (IRIAS), supported informally by BRICS members.

Aim:

• Reduce reliance on the US dollar for international trade.
• Provide a stable, neutral settlement instrument anchored in gold.
• Build an alternative financial architecture for the Global South.

How It Works?

• 40% gold + 60% BRICS currency basket: The Unit’s value is anchored in physical gold while balancing currency exposure, ensuring stability and diversified risk across the five BRICS economies.
• Daily value recalibration: Its price updates every day based on gold rates and currency fluctuations, keeping the Unit aligned with real-world macroeconomic movements.
• Blockchain-based settlement (Cardano): Transactions run on a permissioned Cardano blockchain, enabling secure, traceable, tamper-proof settlement across countries.
• Not a national currency replacement: The Unit serves only as a cross-border settlement tool, reducing dollar dependence while leaving domestic monetary policy untouched.

Key Features:

• Gold-anchored stability: Pegging to physical gold protects the Unit from extreme volatility and fiat currency shocks, making it a reliable trade-settlement medium.
• Transparency through blockchain: Blockchain ensures all transactions are auditable and immutable, reducing manipulation risks and increasing trust among BRICS members.
• AI-led governance: The AI-governed Unit Foundation minimizes political bias in decision-making, providing consistent oversight and automated, rules-based management.
• Reserve sovereignty: Member countries keep gold reserves domestically while still backing the Unit, avoiding the geopolitical risks of pooling gold offshore.
• Improves gold liquidity: By using gold in active trade settlement rather than storage, the Unit increases gold’s transactional role and deepens global gold-market liquidity.

Significance:

• Major step toward de-dollarisation by offering a non-Western settlement option.
• Strengthens BRICS’ role in global monetary reform and south-south cooperation.
• Potential to become the first large-scale gold-backed digital settlement system if scaled.

 

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Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)

Source:  DD News

Subject:  History

Context: Prime Minister of India paid tribute to C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) on his birth anniversary, recalling his role as a freedom fighter, thinker, statesman, and India’s last Governor-General.

About C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji):

Who he was?

• Rajagopalachari (1878–1972), popularly known as Rajaji, was a freedom fighter, jurist, writer, statesman, and the first and only Indian Governor-General of India. Gandhi famously called him “the keeper of my conscience.”

Early Life:

• Born on 10 December 1878 in Thorapalli, Tamil Nadu; educated in Hosur, Bangalore, and Presidency College, Madras.
• Began his career as a successful criminal lawyer in Salem before joining public life in 1917 as Chairman of Salem Municipality.

Key Contributions to India’s Freedom Movement:

• Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919): Led major protests in Madras Presidency; addressed mass meetings on Marina Beach.
• Non-Cooperation Movement: Among the first to give up a thriving law practice; mobilised Tamil Nadu against British rule.
• Khilafat Movement: Earned the esteem of Muslims by actively supporting Khilafat committees and provincial agitations.
• Vedaranyam Salt March (1930): Led the Tamil equivalent of Gandhi’s Dandi March, inspiring thousands across the region.
• Civil Disobedience & Quit India: Imprisoned multiple times; remained a close strategist of Gandhi throughout.

Post-Independence Roles:

• Governor of West Bengal (1947–48) during the turbulent post-partition phase.
• Governor-General of India (1948–50): Last person to hold the office, abolishing it upon India becoming a republic.
• Home Minister of India (1950): Succeeded Sardar Patel.
• Chief Minister of Madras State (1952–54): Implemented administrative reforms, dealt firmly with police strikes, and introduced contentious education policies.

Unique Facts:

• Only Indian to serve as Governor-General of India.
• Founder of the Swatantra Party (1959) — India’s first major liberal-conservative, pro-market political party.
• Gandhi’s closest ideological counsellor, described as his “moral compass.”
• Coined the slogan: “English ever, Hindi never” in later years, advocating linguistic choice.
• Known for his sharp intellect, minimalism, wit, and uncompromising integrity.

 

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Boreendo

Source:  HT

Subject: Art and Culture

Context: UNESCO has inscribed Pakistan’s Boreendo, a rare clay vessel-flute linked to the Indus Valley musical tradition, on the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding list.

About Boreendo:

• What it is?
  • The Boreendo is a spherical clay vessel-flute, producing mellow, breathy tones used in folk melodies, pastoral songs and winter gatherings in Sindh.
• Origin: It originates from Keti Mir Muhammad Lund in Sindh, with roots tracing back to Mohenjo-daro artefacts, indicating a long sonic lineage from the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Characteristics:
  • Terracotta Craft: Handmade from sun-dried and kiln-fired clay, keeping the instrument fully eco-friendly.
  • Spherical Vessel Design: Egg-shaped hollow body with 1 inlet and 3–5 holes enables simple melodic variation.
  • Tilt-Based Sound Control: Pitch and tone shift by tilting the mouthpiece rather than complex fingering.
  • Community Decoration: Women paint natural motifs, embedding local aesthetics into each instrument.
  • Haunting Acoustic Tone: Produces soft, breathy notes traditionally played at bonfires, weddings, and festivals.
  • Size-Linked Sound Range: Larger Boreendos give deeper resonance; smaller ones create sharper tones.
  • Oral Transmission of Skills: Craft and playing techniques taught in artisan families, now also via schools and festivals.
  • Cultural Symbolism: Represents Thari pastoral identity and strengthens community-nature bonds.
• Cultural Significance: It survives through only a single maestro (Zulfikar Loond) and one potter, making safeguarding essential to preserve both music and craft heritage.

About the Indus Valley Flute Tradition:

• What it is?
  • Archaeological excavations at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa have revealed terracotta and bone flutes, some nearly identical to the modern Boreendo.
• Discovered in?
  • Flute fragments were found at Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, and adjoining sites of the Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1300 BCE).
• Key Characteristics:

• • Made from clay, bone, or shell.
  • Carefully drilled finger holes; sometimes uneven spacing (microtonal scales).
  • Cylindrical or spherical forms similar to today’s vessel flutes.
  • Evidence suggests both solo and group musical performances.

 

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Constituent Assembly of India

Source:  IE

Subject:   Polity

Context: India marks 79 years since the Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946, beginning the monumental task of drafting the Constitution.

About Constituent Assembly of India:

What It Is?

• The Constituent Assembly was the supreme representative body tasked with drafting the Constitution of India, acting as both a constitution-making body and a provisional legislature.

Origin:

• Rooted in the 1934 M.N. Roy proposal and later adopted by the Indian National Congress (1935).
• Formally created under the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) through an indirect election by Provincial Legislative Assemblies.
• First session held on December 9, 1946, chaired temporarily by Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha.

Historical Evolution:

• Initially 389 members (292 Provincial, 93 Princely States, 4 Chief Commissioners’ Provinces).
• After Partition (Mountbatten Plan, June 1947), Pakistan formed its own Assembly; Indian membership reduced to 299.
• Drafting completed in 2 years, 11 months, 17 days; Constitution adopted on November 26, 1949 and enforced on January 26, 1950.

Key Facts & Milestones:

• 11 sessions, 165 total meeting days, 114 days spent debating the draft Constitution.
• Major committees included:
  • Drafting Committee – B.R. Ambedkar
  • Union Powers Committee – Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Provincial Constitution Committee – Sardar Patel
  • Rules Committee – Rajendra Prasad
• Members represented diverse ideological, regional, and social backgrounds.

Significance:

• Created one of the world’s largest and most detailed written constitutions.
• Balanced India’s unity with federalism, liberty with social justice, and rights with duties.
• Embedded democratic values, separation of powers, fundamental rights, directive principles, and independent institutions.
• Set the tone for constitutional morality, deliberative democracy, and accommodation of diversity.

 

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50 Years of CITES

Source:  DTE

Subject:  Environment

Context: CITES marked its 50th anniversary at CoP20 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where member nations adopted major species protection decisions and debated livelihoods, sustainable use, and wildlife trade governance.

About 50 Years of CITES:

• What Is CITES?
  • CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is a legally binding multilateral treaty regulating international trade in wild animals and plants to ensure it does not threaten species survival.
• History:

• • Conceived by IUCN (1963) and text finalized in 1973 (Washington D.C.).
  • Entered into force on 1 July 1975.
  • Membership: 185 Parties (as of 2025), making it one of the world’s largest conservation agreements.
  • Operates through three Appendices (I, II, III) providing graded trade restrictions.

• Key Functions of CITES:

• • Regulates international wildlife trade via permits and certificates.
  • Maintains Appendices that assign protection levels based on extinction risk.
  • Coordinates enforcement against illegal wildlife trade.
  • Promotes sustainable use, scientific assessment, and global cooperation.

About 2025 CITES Summit (CoP20):

• What It Is?
  • The 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) is the decision-making summit held every 2–3 years, shaping global wildlife trade policy.
• Host:

• • Hosted by Uzbekistan (Samarkand) — first CoP in Central Asia.
  • Marked the 50th anniversary of CITES.

• Major Outcomes
  • Species Additions & Uplistings

• • • 77 species added to CITES Appendices.
    • Sharks & rays (oceanic whitetip, whale shark; all manta & devil rays) added to Appendix I.
    • Galápagos land iguanas (3 species) and marine iguana added to Appendix I.
    • African reptiles such as Home’s hinge-back tortoise added to Appendix I.

• Downlistings due to Conservation Success:

• • • Saiga antelope (Kazakhstan) removed from Appendix II with export flexibility.
    • Guadalupe fur seal (Mexico) downlisted from Appendix I added to II.

• India’s Role:

• • • India successfully opposed EU proposal to list guggul (Commiphora wightii) in Appendix II, citing lack of scientific assessment.

 

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 December 2025 Mapping:

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Thailand–Cambodia Border Tension

Source:  CNN

Subject:  Mapping

Context: Renewed fighting has erupted along the Thailand–Cambodia border, with artillery, rockets, drones and airstrikes used by both sides, causing rising civilian and military casualties.

About Thailand–Cambodia Border Tension:

What the conflict is?

• A long-running border dispute along their 817 km undemarcated frontier, rooted in colonial-era mapping.
• Both sides claim sovereignty over specific stretches near ancient temple complexes and forested highlands.

Historical Background:

1. Colonial-Era Mapping (1907):
   • The border was first mapped by France (colonial ruler of Cambodia) in 1907; Thailand (then Siam) later contested parts of this map, especially around ancient temples and high ground.
2. Preah Vihear Temple Dispute:
   • In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia, but Thailand disputes parts of the surrounding territory.
   • In 2013, the ICJ reaffirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over land around the temple and asked Thailand to withdraw forces, but Bangkok has questioned the ruling’s scope.
3. Periodic Armed Flare-Ups:
   • Major clashes occurred in 2008–2011, including a deadly artillery exchange in 2011 around Preah Vihear and nearby temples, killing soldiers and civilians and displacing thousands.
4. Recent Escalations in 2025:
   • Tensions rose after May 2025 skirmishes and a Thai soldier’s death, followed by stricter border measures and trade bans.

Places and Areas Under Tension:

• Preah Vihear Region:
  • Hilltop UNESCO World Heritage temple and surrounding high ground remain symbolic and strategic flashpoints.
  • Mekong River is the major waterway in Preah Vihear Province, featuring significant spots like the Preah Nimith Waterfall
• Border Provinces (Thailand):
  • Surin, Buri Ram, Sa Kaeo, Sisaket, Trat – reports of shelling, cross-border fire, and large-scale evacuations into temporary shelters.
• Border Provinces (Cambodia):
  • Adjacent districts in Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pailin, Koh Kong seeing civilian casualties, infrastructure damage, and internal displacement.

 

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