Daily Current Affairs – 04-12-2025
National News
New Labor Laws to Be Implemented from April 1
The Central Government is set to implement new labor laws from April 1st. These laws integrate the previous 29 labor welfare laws into 4 new labor codes: the Wage Code 2019, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Social Security Code 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code 2020. A notification regarding the implementation of these laws was issued on November 21st. The Ministry of Labor and Employment will soon release the draft rules for these laws, allowing a 45-day period for public feedback. Following this, the laws will come into effect with necessary amendments, if required.
Groundwater Extraction in Punjab Leads the Nation
Punjab leads the nation in groundwater extraction, with 25% of India's total 6,762 assessment blocks categorized as over-exploited, critical, or semi-critical, concentrated primarily in nine states, including Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Puducherry. As per the latest report, the annual groundwater extraction in Punjab stands at 156.36%, the highest in the country, followed by Rajasthan at 147.11% and Haryana at 136.75%, significantly above the national average of 60.63%. The total annual groundwater recharge in Punjab is estimated at 18.6 billion cubic meters (bcm), with an extractable resource of 16.8 bcm. Of the 153 assessment units in Punjab, 111 units (72.55%) are over-exploited, while others are categorized as critical or semi-critical. Similar issues are observed in Rajasthan and Haryana, with a significant percentage of their respective assessment units also over-exploited.
Madhya Pradesh Records Maximum Stubble Burning
Madhya Pradesh has contributed the highest to stubble burning, according to recent satellite data monitored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). In a report detailing 33,028 active burning events across six states—Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh—17,067 burning events were recorded in Madhya Pradesh, making up 52% of the total. Between September 15 and November 30, 2025, the state surpassed the combined total of 15,961 events in the other five states. The Gwalior-Chambal region in central Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest concentration of burning, with Sheopur district alone contributing 2,643 events. Gwalior and Datia districts followed with 1,930 and 1,797 burning events, respectively.
Supreme Court Eases Scribe Norms for UPSC Examinations
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the easing of procedures for changing scribes in UPSC examinations and mandated the deployment of screen-reader software for visually impaired candidates. A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a petition filed by Mission Accessibility, an organization advocating for disability rights, which sought modifications in the UPSC scribe registration timeline and permission for eligible candidates to use laptops equipped with screen-reader software and accessible digital question papers during the Civil Services Examination. The court emphasized that UPSC, as a premier constitutional body, must ensure its processes are accessible, transparent, and sensitive to the needs of every segment of society. The court also mandated that every UPSC examination notification should include provisions allowing candidates to request a change of scribe up to seven days before the examination, and such requests must be decided within three working days through a reasoned order.
Sports News
Spain Retains Championship Cup
Spain has retained the Women's Nations League football tournament title for the second time by defeating Germany 3-0 in the final match. The teams had played the final in two legs, with the first leg on November 28 ending in a 0-0 draw. In the second leg, held at midnight on Tuesday (Indian time), Giana Pino scored the first goal for Spain in the 61st minute, followed by Vicky Sevilla who increased the lead to 2-0 in the 68th minute. Despite a missed opportunity by Jeni Mali, Giana Pino scored again in the 74th minute to make it 3-0. Spain’s victory was confirmed as they won the final by an aggregate score of 3-0. Ilana Ponmati, a key player for Spain, was unable to play due to a bone fracture in her leg, but Giana Pino stepped up to secure the victory for the team.
Mohit Sharma Announces Retirement
Indian cricketer Mohit Sharma (37) announced his retirement from all formats of cricket on December 3, 2025. He represented India in 26 One Day Internationals and 8 T20 matches, taking 31 and 6 wickets respectively. Sharma made his international debut in August 2013 against Zimbabwe in a One Day International series. His last appearance for India was in October 2015 during a series against South Africa. He was also part of the Indian team that participated in the 2015 One Day International World Cup. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he played 172 matches and took 167 wickets, representing teams such as Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, and Punjab Kings.
Harmanpreet Kaur Appointed as Brand Ambassador of PNB
PNB has appointed Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, as its first-ever woman brand ambassador. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in PNB’s brand transformation journey. The association was formalized in an event themed 'Banking On Champions' at the Bank's Corporate Office. During the event, Harmanpreet Kaur was presented with a framed PNB jersey bearing her name and number, along with a custom-engraved PNB bat. The event also saw the unveiling of the PNB RuPay Metal Credit Card Luxura, PNB One 2.0, Digi Surya Ghar, and the onboarding of PNB on the IIBX Portal.
International News
US Imposes Immigration Ban on Citizens from 16 Countries
The US government has temporarily suspended immigration applications from citizens of 16 countries, following the travel ban announced last month. This suspension affects all immigration processes, including Green Card and citizenship applications. The action was taken due to national security and public safety concerns. According to a representative of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), all applications from citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Nigeria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen will undergo a "complete review," and reconsiderations may be conducted. This decision follows a shooting incident near the White House, where an immigrant from Afghanistan killed one person. USCIS has since intensified measures to control immigration from foreign nationals.
Rupee Breaches 90-Mark for the First Time
The rupee hit a new low on Wednesday, breaching the 90 per-dollar mark for the first time, reaching 90.29 in morning trade after opening at 89.96. It closed at 90.15, marking a record low. This was the sixth consecutive day of the rupee's fall, with traders attributing it to weak trade and portfolio flows. Analysts predict that the rupee could hit 92-93 in the near future. However, Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran sought to downplay the situation, stating that the currency's weakness has not impacted inflation and predicting a recovery by 2026. The rupee has fallen 5.7% so far this year, marking its steepest decline since 2022 and making it the worst-performing Asian currency. The rupee's fall highlights the divergence between India's strong GDP growth and external pressures, including US tariffs and weak capital flows. According to HSBC, every day without a trade deal pushes the dollar further, as forex supply remains inconsistent.
IIT-Madras Incubates 511 Deep-Tech Startups in 12 Years
IIT Madras, through its Incubation Cell (IITMIC), has supported the growth of 511 deep-tech startups over the past 12 years, collectively valued at over ₹53,000 crore. These startups have generated more than 11,000 direct jobs. The portfolio of these startups includes orbital launch vehicles, organ-on-chip platforms, underwater robotics, quantum security tools, electric mobility, semiconductors, climate-tech, and advanced AI products. IIT Madras, under the leadership of V. Kamakoti, the Director and Chairperson of IITMIC's Board, views this achievement as a significant milestone in India's deep-tech journey, aligning with the national vision of Viksit Bharat and the development of home-grown critical technologies. In FY 2024-25, IITMIC's Startup Shatam mission accelerated the incubation of over 100 startups. According to Tamaswati Ghosh, CEO of IITMIC, 39% of startups were founded by IIT-M students, faculty, or alumni, and 61% by founders from other parts of India, showing the national confidence in Chennai's startup ecosystem.
EU Bans Russian Gas Imports by 2027
European Union lawmakers and member states reached a deal on Wednesday to ban all imports of Russian gas by autumn 2027, as the bloc seeks to cut off key funds supporting Moscow's war efforts. This agreement marks a significant step toward Europe's energy independence from Russia. The EU aims to halt energy imports from Russia as part of its strategy to weaken Moscow’s financial support for its ongoing military actions. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, emphasized that this is the beginning of a new era for Europe, ensuring full energy independence from Russia. The deal is part of the EU’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on Russian resources, particularly in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.
Personalities, Awards and Events
Gyanesh Kumar Assumes Charge as Chairman of International IDEA Council
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar assumed charge as Chairman of the Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for 2026 on Wednesday. In his speech at Stockholm, Sweden, Mr. Kumar emphasized the scale of India's democratic process, noting that the country has over 900 million electors across 28 States and eight Union Territories. In the 2024 General Election, India witnessed a significant democratic event with over 20,000 candidates from 743 political parties, including six national and 67 State parties, participating.
Navneet Kumar Sehgal Resigns as Prasar Bharati Chairman
Prasar Bharati Board Chairman Navneet Kumar Sehgal has resigned from his position. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has accepted his resignation under Section 7(6) of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990. Mr. Sehgal, a 1988 batch retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, was appointed as the head of India's public service broadcaster in 2024. Throughout his distinguished career, he held various roles at both the State and Central levels, contributing significantly to both the Central Government and the State Government of Uttar Pradesh.