{"id":3651,"date":"2025-12-18T07:32:33","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T07:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=3651"},"modified":"2025-12-18T13:34:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T13:34:10","slug":"current-affairs-18th-december2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2025\/12\/18\/current-affairs-18th-december2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 18th December2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1. Pamir ice cores could provide answers to the loss of glaciers<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS PAPER I-Geography<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>Japanese and international scientists drilled unique ice cores in Tajikistan\u2019s Pamir\u2013Karakoram region.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>These cores may explain why local glaciers have resisted, even reversed, melting while others worldwide shrink rapidly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What are ice cores?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cylindrical sections of ice drilled from glaciers or ice sheets, preserving snow and atmospheric layers.<\/li>\n<li>They act as natural climate archives, storing physical and chemical evidence of past environments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Where are these ice cores from?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Drilled on the Kon\u2011Chukurbashhi ice cap in Tajikistan\u2019s Pamir Mountains.<\/li>\n<li>Site lies in the Pamir\u2013Karakoram high\u2011mountain system of Central\u2013South Asia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Pamir\u2013Karakoram anomaly<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It is the only major mountain region where many glaciers have remained stable or even grown recently.<\/li>\n<li>This contrasts with widespread glacier retreat in the Himalaya and globally, puzzling scientists.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What scientists are trying to find<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mechanisms behind increased glacier mass or stability in this region.<\/li>\n<li>How precipitation, temperature, and atmospheric conditions changed over the last century and beyond.<\/li>\n<li>Whether insights can help protect or even revive shrinking glaciers elsewhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Details of the ice\u2011core drilling<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Team drilled two columns, each about 105 m long, from the glacier.<\/li>\n<li>One core is stored in an Antarctic underground sanctuary for preservation.<\/li>\n<li>The other is kept at low\u2011temperature laboratories in Japan for detailed analysis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What information ice cores contain \u2013 key features<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Layered structure recording annual or seasonal snowfall over millennia.<\/li>\n<li>Variations in density, grain size, and crystal structure of ice layers.<\/li>\n<li>Trapped air bubbles holding ancient atmospheric gases.<\/li>\n<li>Chemical traces such as sulphate ions, dust, and volcanic ash layers.<\/li>\n<li>Isotopes of water (like oxygen isotopes) that reflect past temperatures.<\/li>\n<li>Brittle or cracked layers indicating refreezing or melt events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What the ice cores indicate (with timescales)<\/strong><\/p>\n<table width=\"740\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Ice\u2011core signal \/ feature<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>What it indicates<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Approximate timescale of information<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Clear ice layer<\/td>\n<td>Past melt period followed by refreezing<\/td>\n<td>Years\u2013centuries back<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Low\u2011density snow\u2011like layer<\/td>\n<td>Periods of heavy snowfall\/precipitation<\/td>\n<td>Seasonal\u2013annual resolution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Brittle, cracked layers<\/td>\n<td>Snowfall on partially melted ice; melt\u2013refreeze cycles<\/td>\n<td>Years\u2013decades<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sulphate or volcanic ash layers<\/td>\n<td>Timing of volcanic eruptions; atmospheric circulation changes<\/td>\n<td>Decades\u2013thousands of years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Water\u2011isotope ratios in layers<\/td>\n<td>Past air temperatures and moisture sources<\/td>\n<td>Hundreds\u2013tens of thousands of years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Deepest ice with ancient snow<\/td>\n<td>Climate and precipitation when that snow originally fell<\/td>\n<td>Up to ~10,000 years or more at this site<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Why this matters for India and the world<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>For India and region<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Karakoram\u2013Pamir glaciers feed major rivers that influence water availability downstream.<\/li>\n<li>Understanding the anomaly refines projections of Asian water security under climate change.<\/li>\n<li>Insights may improve models for Himalayan glacier response critical for Indian planning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>For the world<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provides a rare counter\u2011example to global glacier retreat, testing climate models.<\/li>\n<li>Helps reconstruct long\u2011term climate variability, including past warm spells and wet periods.<\/li>\n<li>Offers clues on how precipitation patterns and aerosols affect glacier health.<\/li>\n<li>Better knowledge can inform global adaptation strategies and glacier\u2011protection policies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>2. Cyclone -II Military exercise <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS PAPER III-Science and technology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>Indian Army has sent a 45\u2011member contingent, mainly from a Mechanised Infantry Regiment, to UAE for Desert Cyclone\u2011II.\u200b<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>UAE Land Forces\u2019 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion is participating with a similar strength at Abu Dhabi from 18\u201330 December.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Background of the news<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>First Desert Cyclone held earlier to start structured Army-to-Army drills.<\/li>\n<li>Follows rapid growth in India\u2013UAE ties: trade, energy, diaspora, security.<\/li>\n<li>Comes after signing of comprehensive strategic partnership and defence MoUs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What is a joint military exercise?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Planned training where armed forces of two\/more countries practice together.<\/li>\n<li>Includes drills, simulations, field operations under a common scenario.<\/li>\n<li>Aims to exchange tactics, build trust, and improve combined warfighting ability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Aim of Desert Cyclone\u2013II (primary objectives)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enhance\u00a0<strong>interoperability<\/strong>\u00a0between Indian Army and UAE Land Forces.<\/li>\n<li>Strengthen\u00a0<strong>defence cooperation and mutual trust<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Practice\u00a0<strong>mechanised warfare in desert terrain<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Improve\u00a0<strong>sub\u2011unit level tactics, communication and coordination<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Share\u00a0<strong>experiences from UN peacekeeping and counter\u2011terror roles<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What is interoperability?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ability of forces of different nations to\u00a0<strong>operate together effectively<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Includes common or compatible\u00a0<strong>procedures, communication and logistics<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Ensures units can\u00a0<strong>plan, move, fight and support each other seamlessly<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why mechanised infantry is used?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mechanised infantry fights using\u00a0<strong>armoured vehicles plus infantry<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Best suited for\u00a0<strong>high\u2011mobility, high\u2011tempo desert operations<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Allows practice of\u00a0<strong>armour\u2013infantry cooperation<\/strong>\u00a0relevant to both armies.<\/li>\n<li>Reflects India\u2019s strength in\u00a0<strong>Mechanised Infantry Regiment<\/strong>\u00a0expertise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Strategic importance of India\u2013UAE defence cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>UAE is key player in\u00a0<strong>West Asia and Gulf security architecture<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Cooperation protects\u00a0<strong>sea lanes, energy supplies and trade routes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Helps counter\u00a0<strong>terrorism, extremism and illicit trafficking<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Supports\u00a0<strong>maritime security in Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Deepens India\u2019s presence near\u00a0<strong>Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea approaches<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Complements economic ties:\u00a0<strong>CEPA, investments, remittances, diaspora<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why Desert Cyclone matters for India<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Builds\u00a0<strong>credible land-force partnership<\/strong>\u00a0beyond usual naval focus in Gulf.<\/li>\n<li>Gives Indian Army\u00a0<strong>experience in hot, arid, foreign desert conditions<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Signals India\u2019s role as\u00a0<strong>security partner, not just economic actor<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Enhances\u00a0<strong>defence industry prospects<\/strong>\u00a0via showcasing Indian equipment.<\/li>\n<li>Adds to network of exercises (with US, France, Oman, etc.) in region.<\/li>\n<li>Supports India\u2019s\u00a0<strong>Act West policy and strategic balancing<\/strong>\u00a0in West Asia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">3. Navy commissions second MH-60R copter Squadron,the Ospreys,at INS Hansa<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-science and technology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>Second MH-60R squadron INAS 335 \u2018Ospreys\u2019 commissioned on 17 December 2025.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ceremony held at INS Hansa, Goa, by CNS Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.<\/li>\n<li>Follows first MH-60R squadron raised at Kochi in March 2024.<\/li>\n<li>Aligns with 75th anniversary of the Fleet Air Arm of the Indian Navy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What is MH\u201160R Seahawk<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Multi\u2011role maritime helicopter built by Lockheed Martin\/Sikorsky.<\/li>\n<li>\u2018Romeo\u2019 naval variant of the UH\u201160 Black Hawk family.<\/li>\n<li>Designed for all\u2011weather, day\u2011night operations at sea.<\/li>\n<li>Optimised for anti\u2011submarine warfare (ASW) and anti\u2011surface warfare (ASuW).<\/li>\n<li>Part of India\u2019s 24\u2011helicopter acquisition contract signed in 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why induction is important for India<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Replaces obsolescent Sea King helicopters inducted in the 1970s.<\/li>\n<li>Greatly improves ASW reach against modern submarines in IOR.<\/li>\n<li>Enhances long\u2011range maritime surveillance and targeting capability.<\/li>\n<li>Strengthens carrier and frontline warship groups on both coasts.<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrated effectiveness in major exercises like TROPEX\u201125.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key features of MH\u201160R<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Multi\u2011mode radar for sea\u2011surface and limited air search.<\/li>\n<li>Dipping sonar and expendable sonobuoys to detect submarines.<\/li>\n<li>Weapons include Hellfire missiles, Mk\u201154 torpedoes and rockets.<\/li>\n<li>Folding rotors and tail to operate from frigates and destroyers.<\/li>\n<li>Multi\u2011role: ASW, ASuW, SAR, MEDEVAC, and vertical replenishment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What makes its technology advanced<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Integrated mission system fusing radar, sonar and ESM data.<\/li>\n<li>Modern electronic\u2011warfare and self\u2011protection suite.<\/li>\n<li>Digital magnetic anomaly detection aids sub\u2011surface tracking.<\/li>\n<li>Common glass\u2011cockpit avionics enabling quick role change.<\/li>\n<li>High\u2011end sensors create a real\u2011time \u201ctactical picture\u201d over sea.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Strategic context: why ASW matters now<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Increasing Chinese submarine patrols and presence in Indian Ocean.<\/li>\n<li>Pakistan acquiring advanced Hangor\u2011class submarines from China.<\/li>\n<li>Underwater threats can target shipping and critical sea lanes.<\/li>\n<li>India must protect energy imports and trade\u2011dependent economy.<\/li>\n<li>Strong ASW capability adds deterrence in a contested maritime region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Maintenance and logistics significance<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>New five\u2011year US\u2013India sustainment package worth about $946 million.<\/li>\n<li>Provides spares, training, and technical support for the fleet.<\/li>\n<li>Creates maintenance and repair infrastructure within India.<\/li>\n<li>Aims to keep high mission\u2011availability of all 24 MH\u201160Rs.<\/li>\n<li>Supports long\u2011term indigenisation and operational self\u2011reliance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">4. How is the Aravalli range to be protected ?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper I-Geography<\/p>\n<p><strong>CONTEXT :<\/strong>Supreme Court accepted a uniform, elevation\u2011based definition of Aravalli Hills (Nov 2025).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Court paused fresh mining leases in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.<\/li>\n<li>Directed preparation of a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM).<\/li>\n<li>Environmentalists argue the new definition could dilute existing protections.<\/li>\n<li>Debate continues on ecological impacts and conditions for mining resumption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why Aravalli Hills are important<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Among the world\u2019s oldest fold mountains, nearly two billion years old.<\/li>\n<li>Act as a natural barrier against eastward spread of the Thar Desert.<\/li>\n<li>Provide habitats, wildlife corridors, and biodiversity refuges.<\/li>\n<li>Help recharge groundwater aquifers in semi\u2011arid north\u2011west India.<\/li>\n<li>Moderate local climate, cut dust storms, and support NCR air quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Economic importance vs ecological degradation<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Range holds marble, granite, copper, zinc, and other minerals.<\/li>\n<li>Mining generates jobs, state revenues, and construction materials.<\/li>\n<li>Unregulated and illegal mining has flattened hills and scarred land.<\/li>\n<li>Ecological damage has worsened groundwater depletion and erosion.<\/li>\n<li>Need is for strictly sustainable mining to avoid irreversible loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>International obligations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>India is party to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).<\/li>\n<li>Obliged to protect fragile landscapes like Aravalli from desertification.<\/li>\n<li>Requires integrated land, water, and vegetation conservation strategies.<\/li>\n<li>Aravalli Green Wall Project furthers UNCCD\u2019s restoration objectives.<\/li>\n<li>Supports global efforts to curb drought risk and land degradation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Supreme Court intervention: key timeline<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2009: Blanket mining ban in parts of Faridabad, Gurugram, and Mewat.<\/li>\n<li>May 2024: Court halted fresh leases; ordered a uniform definition study.<\/li>\n<li>Oct 2025: Expert committee submitted elevation\u2011based definition.<\/li>\n<li>Nov 2025: Court accepted definition; banned new leases till MPSM ready.<\/li>\n<li>Ongoing: Detailed mapping and sustainable mining framework under way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Central Empowered Committee recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Undertake scientific mapping of the entire Aravalli system.<\/li>\n<li>Conduct macro\u2011level environmental impact assessment of mining.<\/li>\n<li>Declare strict no\u2011mining zones in highly sensitive habitats.<\/li>\n<li>Disallow new leases or renewals until assessments are completed.<\/li>\n<li>Cover protected forests, wildlife areas, and aquifer recharge zones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Need for a uniform definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>States earlier used differing criteria to mark Aravalli formations.<\/li>\n<li>Inconsistencies enabled dispute and illegal mining in \u201cgrey\u201d areas.<\/li>\n<li>Haryana had no clear definition, leaving lower hills vulnerable.<\/li>\n<li>Loopholes permitted quarrying in ecologically crucial low\u2011relief areas.<\/li>\n<li>Single definition enables consistent protection and enforcement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Supreme Court committee definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cAravalli hill\u201d: landform \u2265100 m above surrounding local relief.<\/li>\n<li>Includes main hill mass, slopes, hillocks, and related features.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cAravalli range\u201d: cluster of two or more such hills within 500 m.<\/li>\n<li>Uses topographical benchmarks to standardize identification.<\/li>\n<li>Definition to guide notified districts across affected states.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Other key Supreme Court directions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prepare MPSM with clearly demarcated no\u2011mining and regulated zones.<\/li>\n<li>Assess cumulative impacts and ecological carrying capacity of areas.<\/li>\n<li>Map critical habitats, wildlife corridors, and restoration priorities.<\/li>\n<li>Allow existing legal mines to operate under stricter safeguards.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure continuity and structural integrity of the hill system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why the Court avoided a total mining ban<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Absolute prohibition risks pushing mining into illegal, mafia\u2011driven channels.<\/li>\n<li>Recognizes need for strategic minerals and construction inputs.<\/li>\n<li>Seeks regulated, post\u2011assessment mining in non\u2011core stretches.<\/li>\n<li>Tries to balance environmental protection with development needs.<\/li>\n<li>Follows judicial practice of avoiding over\u2011broad, counter\u2011productive bans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">5. Why have Thailand -Cambodia border clashes flared up again?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper II-IR<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>Thailand carried out airstrikes on Cambodian positions on 8 December 2025.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>At least 15 Thai soldiers and dozens of Cambodian personnel have been killed.<\/li>\n<li>A U.S.-brokered ceasefire collapsed within days of being announced.<\/li>\n<li>Fears are rising that the limited clashes could escalate into a wider war.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The story so far (2025 timeline)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>May: Border skirmish killed a Cambodian soldier; both sides rushed reinforcements.<\/li>\n<li>July: Five days of heavy artillery and rocket exchanges; civilians evacuated.<\/li>\n<li>8 December: Thai airstrikes hit Cambodian military sites near the disputed area.<\/li>\n<li>12 December: President Trump telephoned both leaders, pressing for a ceasefire.<\/li>\n<li>Both sides pledged to halt fire, but Thailand insists operations continue until \u201csafe.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why the border is contested<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The 817\u2011km boundary was never fully demarcated after French\u2011era mapping (1904\u20111907).<\/li>\n<li>Core dispute centres on the 11th\u2011century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear.<\/li>\n<li>The International Court of Justice (1962, reaffirmed 2013) awarded the temple to Cambodia.<\/li>\n<li>Thailand controls much of the surrounding high ground and wants sovereignty over it.<\/li>\n<li>Temple has become a symbol of nationalism and historical pride in both states.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>U.S. role and ceasefire attempts<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>October 2025: U.S. mediated talks in Kuala Lumpur leading to a troop\u2011pullback deal.<\/li>\n<li>The agreement included \u201cno shooting\u201d and phased withdrawal from contested zones.<\/li>\n<li>November: Thailand suspended its participation, citing Cambodian \u201cprovocations.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>7\u20138 December: Trump again called both prime ministers, threatening tariffs on exports.<\/li>\n<li>A new ceasefire was announced but collapsed within four days amid renewed firing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Track record of mediation<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2008\u20132011: ASEAN and Indonesia tried to mediate but could not prevent earlier war.<\/li>\n<li>2011: ICJ ordered a demilitarised zone; Thailand resisted the presence of observers.<\/li>\n<li>July 2025: Fresh third\u2011party mediation failed to stop artillery exchanges.<\/li>\n<li>October 2025: U.S.\u2011backed truce held for only about a month.<\/li>\n<li>Each side accuses the other of violating ceasefire terms and firing first.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why this conflict matters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Risk of full\u2011scale war between two ASEAN members could destabilise Southeast Asia.<\/li>\n<li>Fighting threatens civilian lives, border trade, and tourism around heritage sites.<\/li>\n<li>Escalation could draw in external powers and strain ASEAN\u2019s unity and credibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Way forward <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Verified and phased troop withdrawal from the immediate disputed zone.<\/li>\n<li>Joint de\u2011mining of border minefields to build trust and protect civilians.<\/li>\n<li>Establishment of a direct military hotline between local commanders.<\/li>\n<li>Resumption of bilateral talks; Thailand prefers solutions without heavy third\u2011party role.<\/li>\n<li>UNESCO assistance to secure Preah Vihear as a demilitarised heritage site.<\/li>\n<li>Regular meetings of a joint border commission to update maps and settle remaining claims.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">6. RS passes Bill for 100% FDI in insurance sector<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS PAPER :ECONOMY<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context:<\/strong> Rajya Sabha cleared the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill on 17 December 2025.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lok Sabha had passed the Bill a day earlier amid opposition protests.<\/li>\n<li>The reform permits up to 100% foreign direct investment in insurance companies.<\/li>\n<li>A separate Repealing and Amending Bill scrapping 71 obsolete laws was also passed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Earlier position on FDI in insurance<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>From 2000, FDI in insurance was capped at 26% of paid\u2011up equity.<\/li>\n<li>The cap rose to 49% in 2015 as part of gradual liberalisation.<\/li>\n<li>It was further increased to 74% in 2021, with control to remain with Indians.<\/li>\n<li>Foreign insurers usually had to enter via joint ventures with Indian partners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key provisions of the new Bill<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Raises the FDI cap in insurance companies from 74% to 100%.<\/li>\n<li>Amends the Insurance Act 1938, LIC Act 1956 and IRDAI Act 1999.<\/li>\n<li>Allows full foreign ownership without a mandatory Indian JV partner.<\/li>\n<li>Permits mergers and corporate restructuring with some non\u2011insurance entities.<\/li>\n<li>Makes compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act compulsory.<\/li>\n<li>Requires at least one key managerial person (Chairman\/MD\/CEO) to be an Indian citizen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Government\u2019s justification<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Supports the goal of \u201cInsurance for All by 2047\u201d by boosting penetration.<\/li>\n<li>Seeks larger global capital inflows and technical expertise into the sector.<\/li>\n<li>Eases entry for firms that struggled to find suitable Indian partners earlier.<\/li>\n<li>Expects more competition to lower premiums and improve product quality.<\/li>\n<li>Points out that employment rose sharply after past FDI hikes in insurance.<\/li>\n<li>Claims stronger regulation and customer\u2011protection norms will remain in place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Opposition concerns and criticism<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Argues the reform favours foreign insurers over public sector entities like LIC.<\/li>\n<li>Flags data\u2011privacy risks from foreign access to sensitive customer information.<\/li>\n<li>Warns of profit repatriation and possible weakening of domestic players.<\/li>\n<li>Demanded the Bill be sent to a Select Committee for deeper scrutiny.<\/li>\n<li>Fears job losses and long\u2011term undermining of public financial sovereignty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Repealing and Amending Bill \u2013 main points<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Repeals 71 obsolete laws, many colonial\u2011era or redundant amendment Acts.<\/li>\n<li>Examples include the Indian Tramways Act 1886 and Levy Sugar Price Equalisation Fund Act 1976.<\/li>\n<li>Amends four existing laws to modernise terminology and correct drafting errors.<\/li>\n<li>Removes provisions seen as discriminatory, such as community\u2011specific probate rules.<\/li>\n<li>Continues the drive since 2014 to clear the statute book of dead\u2011letter laws.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. Pamir ice cores could provide answers to the loss of glaciers GS PAPER I-Geography Context :Japanese and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3658,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-current-affairs"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b_Pamir_ice_cores_coul-scaled.jpeg",2560,2560,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b_Pamir_ice_cores_coul-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b_Pamir_ice_cores_coul-300x300.jpeg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b_Pamir_ice_cores_coul-768x768.jpeg",640,640,true],"large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b_Pamir_ice_cores_coul-1024x1024.jpeg",640,640,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b_Pamir_ice_cores_coul-1536x1536.jpeg",1536,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b_Pamir_ice_cores_coul-2048x2048.jpeg",2048,2048,true],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b_Pamir_ice_cores_coul-825x575.jpeg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b_Pamir_ice_cores_coul-590x410.jpeg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"Nithin DTPoperator","author_link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/author\/nithindtp\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/category\/daily-current-affairs\/\" rel=\"category tag\">DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS<\/a>","tag_info":"DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3651"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3657,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3651\/revisions\/3657"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}