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25 Nov, 2025

SC Hearing on Stopping Cash Donations to Political Parties | Political Funding UPSC Current Affairs

November 25, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

Context
 • SC agrees to examine a petition seeking ban on all cash donations to political parties, including those below ₹2,000.
• Aim: strengthen transparency and close loopholes used for routing unaccounted money.
• Notice issued to Election Commission, Union Govt, CBDT, and major national parties.

Legal Provision Involved
 Section 13A – Income Tax Act, 1961
 A special provision granting tax exemption to political parties subject to conditions like maintaining audited accounts.

Clause (d) of Section 13A
 • Allows parties to accept cash donations up to ₹2,000.
• No mandatory disclosure of donor identity for these small donations.
• Petition challenges its legality and transparency deficit.

Trial in Absentia Explained: BNSS Section 356 & Proclaimed Offenders | Polity & Criminal Justice UPSC

November 25, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

Trial in Absentia (BNSS)
Trial conducted without the accused being present.
Allowed under Section 356, BNSS only when the accused has been declared a Proclaimed Offender.

Proclaimed Offender
A person who evades arrest and fails to appear despite court notice, and is therefore formally declared by the court as an absconder.
This declaration enables trial in absentia.

G-20 Summit Boycott by U.S.: Understanding the ‘Ubuntu’ Issue | International Relations UPSC

November 25, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

Context
 • Editorial discusses the U.S. boycott of the G-20 Summit at Johannesburg.
• Highlights implications for Global South solidarity, multilateralism, and future G-20 leadership.

Key Points

1. Significance of the Summit
 • First G-20 summit held in Africa.
• African Union participated as a new G-20 member (announced in India’s 2023 Presidency).
• Focus on Global South issues: conflicts, inequality, economic uncertainty.

2. India’s Role
 India proposed six initiatives:
• Traditional Knowledge Repository
• G20–Africa Skills Multiplier
• Global Healthcare Response Team
• Anti Drug-Terror Nexus initiative
• Open Satellite Data Partnership
• Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative
Shows India projecting itself as a leader of Global South.

3. U.S. Boycott
 • President Donald Trump skipped the summit.
• The U.S. government boycotted, sending only an observer.
• First such boycott of a G-20 summit by the U.S.

4. Implications of U.S. Absence
 • Questions the U.S.’s commitment to the G-20, especially as it takes 2026 Presidency.
• Undermines G-20’s push toward a more democratic global order.
• Contradiction: U.S. justifies tensions with South Africa but chooses to boycott an Africa-hosted summit.

5. Editorial Argument
 • U.S. decision weakens multilateral cooperation at a time global challenges need unity.
• Violates the spirit of “Ubuntu” (“I am because we are”).
• Collective values must be upheld by big powers, not sidelined.

GAVI–UNICEF Deal for Easy Malaria Vaccine Access | Health & S&T UPSC Current Affairs

November 25, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

1. Context
 • Gavi + UNICEF sign deal to make R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine cheaper and widely accessible.
• Expected savings: $90 million; vaccination for ~7 million children.
• Price to drop to $2.99 per dose.

2. Malaria

Cause:
 • Plasmodium parasite (P. falciparum most lethal).

Transmission:
 • Bite of infected female Anopheles mosquito.

Disease:
 • Fever, chills, anaemia; severe cases → organ failure, death.
• Major burden in sub-Saharan Africa.

3. Gavi – The Vaccine Alliance (Crisp)
 • Global public–private vaccine partnership (est. 2000).
• Expands immunisation in low-income nations.
• Partners: WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, governments, Gates Foundation.
• Key driver of vaccine access in the Global South.

4. Malaria Vaccines Mentioned

1. R21/Matrix-M
 • Developed by Oxford + Serum Institute of India.
• Cheaper, scalable; main vaccine in new deal.

2. RTS,S/AS01
 • Developed by GSK + PATH.
• First malaria vaccine (approved 2021).
• Moderate efficacy; used in several African nations.

INS Mahe Commissioned: First Mahe-Class ASW Shallow Watercraft | Defence & Maritime Security UPSC

November 25, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

Context
 • INS Mahe, India’s first Mahe-class anti-submarine warfare (ASW) shallow watercraft, has been commissioned.
• It is 80% indigenous, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, and strengthens India’s coastal and near-sea anti-submarine capability.
• Part of India’s push for self-reliance and modernisation of maritime security infrastructure.

Is this India’s first anti-submarine ship?
 No. It is not India’s first anti-submarine ship.
India already operates multiple classes of anti-submarine warfare vessels:

India already has ASW Ships (Examples):
• Kamorta-class (P-28) ASW Corvettes → INS Kamorta, Kadmatt, Kiltan, Kavaratti
• Abhay-class ASW Corvettes
So India has a strong ASW fleet.What is “first” about INS Mahe?
• First of the Mahe-class shallow water ASW craft
• It is the lead ship of 8 vessels planned in this new Mahe-class series.

WHO Clarifies Doctor Norm: India Below Global Health Workforce Benchmark | Health Policy UPSC

November 25, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

Mains Enrichment

  1. India’s real doctor availability (WHO data):
    ➡ 0.7 doctors per 1,000 population
    (India ranks 144 out of 181 countries)
  2. WHO’s true global requirement for health workforce:
    ➡ 4.45 (doctors + nurses + midwives) per 1,000 population
    (Needed for Universal Health Coverage)
  3. India’s combined health workforce density:
    ➡ 0.36 per 1,000 population
    (India ranks 122 out of 181 countries)

• Mains Question 

“The U.S. boycott of the Johannesburg G-20 Summit exposes the fragility of multilateralism. In this context, critically analyse the significance of the 2024 G-20 Summit for the Global South and evaluate India’s role in strengthening Global South leadership.” (150 words)

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