APPSC Daily Current Affairs - 5h December 2025
Source: Deccan Chronicle
Relevance: GS Paper I (social issues — women’s safety)
Why in News?
- Visakhapatnam has been recognised as the “Safest City for Women in India” in the NARI 2025 Report.
- The city celebrated the achievement with a rally and a programme at AU Convention Hall.
Background / Present Status
- Recognition given based on women’s safety indicators, rapid police response, and technology-enabled policing.
- Police Commissioner Sankhabrata Bagchi emphasised women’s safety as a key pillar of urban development and investment.
Key Government Measures Highlighted
1. Innovative Policing for Women’s Safety
- Shakti Teams deployed for women’s safety.
- Shakti App enables real-time distress alerts.
- Police reach time: 15 minutes (urban) and 10 minutes (rural).
2. Launch of Health Insurance Scheme for Police
- First-of-its-kind health insurance scheme for police personnel in India.
- Coverage:
- ₹2–15 lakh for personnel below 55 years
- ₹3–30 lakh for personnel above 55 years
- Premium up to ₹2,499; first-year premium paid by police department.
- Covers entire police family (spouse + 2 children).
- 2,576 police families (10,304 beneficiaries) covered in the first year.
3. Strengthened Law and Order Framework
- Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha highlighted strict enforcement of POCSO Act.
- Several offenders received up to 25 years imprisonment in recent cases.
Significance of the Achievement
For Andhra Pradesh
- Enhances AP’s image as a safe state for women, tourists, investors.
- Boosts confidence in law enforcement institutions.
For Visakhapatnam
- Improves prospects as a hub for tourism, IT, and investments.
- Reinforces the city’s branding as a safe, progressive, and citizen-friendly urban centre.
Challenges / Concerns
- Maintaining consistent rapid response times across all localities.
- Need for sustained manpower, training, and technological upgrades.
- Continued monitoring of crime patterns and women’s safety indicators.
Way Forward
- Expand Shakti teams/app with AI-enabled emergency prediction.
- Strengthen community policing and women safety volunteers.
- Regular safety audits of public spaces.
- Increase CCTV coverage and integrated command control systems.
- Enhance awareness programmes on women’s safety and cybercrime.
CARE MCQ
Q. Which initiative significantly contributed to Visakhapatnam being recognised as the ‘Safest City for Women’ in the NARI 2025 Report?
A. Nirbhaya Volunteer Programme
B. Shakti Teams and Shakti App
C. Suraksha Kavach Scheme
D. Praja Sadhikara Survey
Answer: B
Explanation:
Shakti Teams and the Shakti App enabled swift response to women’s distress calls—15 minutes in urban areas and 10 minutes in rural areas—greatly improving women’s safety metrics used in the NARI 2025 Report.
Source: The Hindu
Relevance: GS-1: Mineral & Energy Resources (new frontiers) GS-2: Government policies, global governance, treaties (OST, COPUOS, Liability Convention) GS-3: Nuclear technology, space tech, environment
Important Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- Lunar Fission Surface Power Project, Artemis Base Camp, RTG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator), Compact Fission Reactor, NTP (Nuclear Thermal Propulsion), NEP (Nuclear Electric Propulsion), KRUSTY, Voyager, Outer Space Treaty 1967, UN 1992 Principles on Nuclear Power Sources, UN COPUOS, IAEA, 1972 Liability Convention.
For Mains:
- Need for nuclear power in space, types of space nuclear tech, environmental & legal challenges, global governance gaps, India’s opportunities & responsibilities.
Why in News?
- The United States has announced plans under its Lunar Fission Surface Power Project to deploy a small fission reactor on the Moon by early 2030s, as part of NASA’s Artemis Base Camp.
- If successful, this would be the first permanent nuclear power source beyond Earth orbit, signalling the start of large-scale nuclear energy use for off-Earth habitats.
Background / Present Status
1. Existing Nuclear Technologies in Space
- Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) – present tech
- Convert heat from decay of plutonium-238 into electricity.
- Power output: few hundred watts – enough for scientific instruments, not for human bases.
- Used on missions like Voyager spacecraft, Mars rovers etc.
- Immune to dust, darkness and long distances from Sun.
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs)
- Compact Fission Reactors – next step
- Roughly the size of a shipping container.
- Can produce 10–100 kW (NASA’s KRUSTY demo aims at up to 10 kW).
- Suitable for lunar or Martian bases, labs, ISRU units and initial industry.
NASA’s KRUSTY
- Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP)
- A reactor heats a propellant (like liquid hydrogen) and ejects it for thrust.
- Offers much higher efficiency (specific impulse) than chemical rockets, shortening Mars trips by months.
- US DRACO programme to test NTP in lunar orbit by 2026.
- Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP)
- Reactor generates electricity, which powers ion or plasma thrusters.
- Provides low but continuous thrust for years → ideal for deep-space probes and cargo missions.
Why Nuclear Power is Needed in Space
Solar Limitations
- Lunar night lasts ~14 Earth days, with temperatures below –170°C → needs huge batteries & heating systems.
- On Mars, planet-wide dust storms can obscure sunlight for weeks, crippling solar arrays.
24×7 Reliability
- Human outposts need continuous power for:
- Life support & habitat heating
- Communications & navigation
- ISRU (fuel & oxygen production), water extraction, manufacturing, agriculture
- Nuclear reactors give reliable base-load power, independent of sunlight or weather.
Location Flexibility
- Nuclear allows operations in permanently shadowed craters (rich in water ice), high latitudes and dust-prone regions, not just sunlit equatorial sites.
Scalability
- Small crews can survive on solar + batteries, but larger bases & industry need hundreds of kW to MW-level power.
- Only fission is currently proven and scalable for such demands beyond Earth orbit.
Mission Architecture
- Many Mars mission designs depend on in-situ fuel production (e.g. methane + oxygen from water ice & CO₂).
- These chemical processes are highly energy-intensive; compact reactors can power this “gas station on Mars”, reducing fuel lifted from Earth and improving safety margins.
Legal & Institutional Framework
1. Existing Treaties & Principles
- Outer Space Treaty (OST), 1967
- Article IV: Prohibits nuclear weapons & other WMDs in orbit, on the Moon or other celestial bodies.
- Does not ban peaceful nuclear power in space.
- UN “Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space”, 1992 (UNGA Res. 47/68)
- Cover RTGs and fission reactors used for electricity generation.
- Key elements:
- Design to prevent release of radioactive materials in normal & accident conditions.
- Pre-launch safety analyses (low probability of accidents).
- Emergency notification obligations for accidents / re-entry with radioactive materials.
- Nature: Non-binding resolution → guidance, but no enforcement.
- 1972 Liability Convention
- Launching State is absolutely liable for damage on Earth / aircraft; fault-based liability for damage in outer space.
- Not tailored to complex nuclear incidents in cis-lunar or deep space.
- Other instruments: Outer Space Treaty, NPT, and nuclear-safety norms collectively give partial coverage only.
2. Governance Gaps
- 1992 Principles ignore NTP & NEP reactors used for propulsion.
- No binding technical standards for:
- Reactor design & shielding
- Operational limits & shutdown conditions
- End-of-life disposal (e.g., graveyard orbits, surface burial)
- Lack of enforcement or inspection mechanism like IAEA in space context.
Key Concerns & Pitfalls
- Environmental Contamination
- Reactor failure could spread radioactive materials on the Moon/Mars, irreversibly altering pristine scientific environments and potentially affecting future habitability.
- Safety Zones vs. Non-Appropriation
- Nuclear sites need exclusion/safety zones.
- But large, long-term “safety zones” around reactors could effectively give quasi-territorial control over resource-rich areas, violating OST’s ban on national appropriation and restricting access.
- Risk of Conflict & Weaponisation Perception
- Nuclear incidents or opaque deployments may be interpreted as covert weaponisation, fuelling mistrust and even retaliatory measures → a “nuclear twilight” or second Cold War in space.
- Unregulated & Risky Testing
- Without universal safety standards, states or private players might test reactors & propulsion with minimal safeguards, leading to a “race to the bottom” in safety.
- Nuclear Waste & End-of-Life
- No agreed global protocol on reactor shutdown, disposal, or safe parking orbits → long-term space debris + contamination risk.
What a Responsible Space Nuclear Framework Should Include
- Strengthen Legal Regime
- Update 1992 UN Principles under COPUOS (Committee on the peaceful uses of Outer Space) to:
- Explicitly cover NTP & NEP propulsion systems.
- Lay down binding minimum safety standards for design, shielding, launch approval and disposal procedures.
- Update 1992 UN Principles under COPUOS (Committee on the peaceful uses of Outer Space) to:
- Multilateral Oversight
- Create an International Space Nuclear Safety Group (on the lines of IAEA):
- Independent technical certification of reactor designs.
- Oversight of incident reporting & investigation.
- Promote transparent data-sharing & peer review.
- Create an International Space Nuclear Safety Group (on the lines of IAEA):
- Specific Protocols for Key Scenarios
- Temporary, non-discriminatory safety perimeters that:
- Protect crews from radiation
- Do not turn into permanent territorial claims.
- Clarify liability rules for nuclear accidents in lunar orbit, cis-lunar space, Mars etc.
- Joint emergency response mechanisms and notification procedures.
- Temporary, non-discriminatory safety perimeters that:
- Norm-Setting & Confidence Building
- Major spacefaring powers (US, Russia, China, EU, India, Japan) should:
- Lead early negotiations on safe deployment norms.
- Include commercial players (SpaceX, Blue Origin, ISRO-linked firms) in consultations.
- Major spacefaring powers (US, Russia, China, EU, India, Japan) should:
- Ethical & Environmental Safeguards
- Treat certain areas (e.g. historically or scientifically sensitive craters, potential life-bearing regions on Mars) as “nuclear-free conservation zones”.
- Apply precautionary principle where environmental impacts are uncertain.
India’s Stakes & Opportunities
- Technological Edge:
- Potential ISRO–DAE alliance to develop a domestic space reactor:
- Power ISRO’s future lunar base in permanently shadowed craters.
- Enable continuous ISRU (water, oxygen, fuel) on Moon/Mars.
- Potential ISRO–DAE alliance to develop a domestic space reactor:
- Norm-Shaper Role:
- India’s legacy in non-aligned diplomacy and nuclear restraint positions it to:
- Champion safe, peaceful nuclear use in space.
- Push for updated UN Principles, environmental protocols, and transparent norms.
- India’s legacy in non-aligned diplomacy and nuclear restraint positions it to:
- Strategic & Commercial Benefits:
- Leadership in safe space nuclear tech can feed into:
- Export potential in space reactors & related components.
- Stronger role in lunar governance coalitions (e.g. Artemis Accords discussions) while preserving strategic autonomy.
- Leadership in safe space nuclear tech can feed into:
UPSC PYQ
Q. Consider the following countries: (UPSC CSE 2015)
- China
- France
- India
- Israel
- Pakistan
Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
- 2, 4 and 5 only
- 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: A
Explanation:
- Under the NPT, only five countries are recognized as Nuclear Weapon States (NWS):
USA, Russia, UK, France, China. - India, Pakistan, and Israel possess nuclear weapons but are not NPT-recognized NWS because they did not sign the treaty.
→ Therefore, only China and France from the list are NPT-recognized NWS.
Q. What is/are the consequence(s) of a country becoming a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)? (UPSC CSE 2018)
- It will have access to the latest and most efficient nuclear technologies.
- It automatically becomes a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A
Explanation:
- Correct (1): NSG membership expands access to advanced civilian nuclear technology and material.
- Incorrect (2): NSG membership does not require or grant automatic NPT membership. India seeks NSG membership without signing NPT.
CARE MCQ
Q. With reference to nuclear technologies for space exploration, consider the following pairs:
- RTG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator) – Uses decay heat of plutonium-238 to generate small amounts of electricity
- Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) – Uses reactor heat to energise propellant for high-thrust, shorter-duration missions
- Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) – Uses electricity from a reactor to power ion engines for long-duration, low-thrust missions
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: C
Explanation
1. RTG – Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
- Converts heat from radioactive decay of Pu-238 into electricity.
- Powers Voyager, New Horizons, Curiosity, Perseverance.
- Works even in dark, dusty, or distant environments.
2. Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP)
- Nuclear reactor heats hydrogen → expands → expelled through nozzle.
- Provides high thrust, enabling faster Mars missions.
- Example: NASA–DARPA DRACO mission (planned test around 2026).
3. Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP)
- Reactor-generated electricity powers ion thrusters.
- Very high fuel efficiency, suitable for deep-space probes.
- Produces low thrust but can run for years continuously.
Source: Indian express
Relevance: GS Paper II – International Relation
Important Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
S-400 Triumf Air Defence System,INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor), Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (Units 1–6), Rupee–Ruble / Sanction-proof Payment Mechanism
For Mains:
Strategic Autonomy & Balancing West–Russia Ties, Defence Dependence & Diversification
Russia–China Axis & India’s Security Dilemma, Energy Security via Discounted Oil & Nuclear Cooperation, Trade Imbalance & Geoeconomic Constraints
Why in News?
Russian President Vladimir Putin is undertaking a state visit to India on 4–5 December 2025 for the 23rd Annual India–Russia Summit. The visit comes at a time of deep geopolitical flux: Western sanctions on Russia following the Ukraine war, U.S. tariff retaliation against India, global energy instability, and Russia’s growing strategic alignment with China.For India, the visit is both a major diplomatic opportunity and a delicate strategic balancing act.
| INDIA–RUSSIA: QUICK FACTS YOU MUST KNOW
Cultural Diplomacy Russia’s Minister of Culture, Olga Lyubimova, visited India during the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025 (WAVES 2025) held in Mumbai in May 2025. She met India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in cinematography. High Civilian Honour In 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi Russia’s highest civilian award, the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First, recognizing his role in deepening the special strategic partnership between India and Russia. India–Russia Space Partnership India and Russia share a decades-long collaboration in space exploration. ISRO and Roscosmos have signed multiple agreements, including cooperation for Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission. As part of this partnership, Indian astronauts completed their training in Russia under Roscosmos. |
The Context Behind Putin’s 2025 Visit
The timing of this visit is shaped by a convergence of historical, political, and economic factors:
1. First Visit Since 2021
Putin has not visited India for four years, largely due to the Ukraine conflict and geopolitical tensions. His return signals renewed engagement.
2. Annual Summits as Institutional Anchors
Since the 2000 Strategic Partnership Declaration, India and Russia hold annual summits — a unique diplomatic mechanism underscoring the stability of the relationship.
3. Sanctions & Payment Challenges
Russia seeks a sanction-proof, non-USD payment mechanism to stabilize bilateral trade, while India faces secondary sanctions and tariff pressures from the West.
4. Historical Anchoring
Modern ties draw continuity from the:
- 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation
- Cold War–era defence collaboration
- India’s reliance on Russian military equipment, nuclear assistance, and energy supplies
Evolution of India–Russia Relations: From Dependence to Diversification
Cold War Era
- USSR backed India diplomatically and militarily.
- Transferred key military platforms that shaped India’s security architecture.
1990s: Post-Soviet Decline
- Russia weakened economically.
- India diversified partnerships, especially with the U.S.
2000s: Strategic Partnership Rebuilt
- 2000: Strategic Partnership Declaration
- 2010: Upgraded to Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership
2019 Onwards: Renewed Economic & Strategic Push
- India launches Act Far East Policy
- Russia invites Indian investment in the Arctic and Far East
- Post-2022: Russia becomes India’s largest crude supplier due to discounted oil
India–Russia ties have matured into a multi-dimensional partnership involving defence, nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, space, and geopolitics.
Significance of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit (2025)
Defence:
- Fresh negotiations on additional S-400 batteries, Sukhoi upgrades, localized spares & MRO hubs in India.
- Possible cooperation in UAVs, engines, hypersonic tech and deeper Make in India localisation.
Energy & Economy:
- Discussion on:
- “Third-country-proof” payment mechanism to bypass sanctions (non-USD channels).
- Long-term crude contracts and potential diversification into LNG, nuclear fuel, critical minerals.
- Ways to boost Indian exports (pharma, IT, agro-products, perishables) to correct trade imbalance.
Labour & Connectivity:
- Labour mobility pact, recognition of Indian professionals.
- Push for INSTC, Chennai–Vladivostok route, and EAEU trade negotiations.
Optics & Signalling:
- State banquet, CEO roundtable, high-visibility events to signal that:
- India will not abandon Russia,
- but must simultaneously reassure US & Europe that its choices are about strategic autonomy, not alignment with Moscow.
Key Drivers of India–Russia Relations: Defence Cooperation, Energy Links, and Trade Corridors
Defence & Military Cooperation: The Core of the Partnership
Despite diversification, India still relies heavily on Russia for defence systems.
Key Indian Acquisitions from Russia
- S-400 Triumf Air Defence System (5 regiments; 3 delivered)
- Sukhoi & MiG fighters, the backbone of the Indian Air Force
- T-72 and T-90 tanks
- Multiple naval platforms & submarine cooperation
Joint Development Projects
- BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
- Potential cooperation: Su-57, air defence upgrades, next-gen engines, UAVs
Localisation Push
Russia proposes:
- Joint Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) hubs
- Engine upgrades
- Indian manufacturing of spare parts
This reduces wartime vulnerabilities caused by sanctions and supply delays.
Energy & Nuclear Cooperation: The Second Pillar
Oil & Gas
- Russia is India’s largest crude supplier since 2022.
- India benefited from discounted oil during global price spikes.
- Both sides discussing long-term energy contracts and non-USD settlements.
Civil Nuclear
- Collaboration on Kudankulam Units 1–6 continues.
- Unit 6 reactor vessel delivered in 2025.
- Talks on:
- Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
- Expansion to Kudankulam Units 7–8
Trade Snapshot (FY 2024–25)
- Total Trade: USD 68.7 billion
- India’s exports: USD 4.9 billion
- Imports: USD 63.8 billion (mostly crude)
The target of USD 100 billion by 2030 now looks difficult due to sanctions.
Connectivity & Trade Corridors: Reducing Dependence on Western Routes
India and Russia are strengthening alternative trade routes:
1. INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor)
Links India–Iran–Russia, reducing freight cost & time.
2. Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Corridor
Connects India to Russia’s Far East, complementing Act Far East Policy.
3. Proposed India–EAEU Free Trade Agreement
Enhances access to Central Asian markets.
Key Challenges in India–Russia Relations
1. Severe Trade Imbalance
Imports (USD 63.8 bn) far exceed exports (USD 4.9 bn).
2. Sanctions & Payment Disruptions
Rupee–Ruble settlement unreliable; banks cautious.
3. Defence Delivery Delays
Ukraine conflict affects supply chains and Russian production.
4. Russia–China Strategic Convergence
Growing alignment with China worries India, especially amid LAC tensions.
5. Geopolitical Divergence
India’s engagement with:
- U.S.
- QUAD
- Indo-Pacific Strategy
contrasts with Russia’s Eurasian and China-centric worldview.
Way Forward: Managing Balancing Act with Strategic Clarity
1. Rebuild Strategic Trust
Frequent top-level dialogues; clarity on Russia–China defence transfers.
2. Diversify Trade
Promote Indian exports in pharma, IT, agriculture, and machinery.
3. Secure Long-Term Energy Supplies
Lock in multi-year oil, LNG, and critical mineral agreements.
4. Accelerate Connectivity Projects
INSTC and Chennai–Vladivostok corridor must be operationalised faster.
5. Strengthen People-to-People Linkages
Address concerns of Indian students in Russia, boost tourism, cultural exchange.
Conclusion
Putin’s visit in 2025 comes at a moment of global unpredictability—echoing his first visit in 2000 when both nations navigated sanctions, conflict, and geopolitical shifts.A quarter century later, the India–Russia partnership has evolved into a strategic, multi-layered, interest-driven relationship. For India, the challenge is to craft a balanced approach: preserve the historical partnership with Russia while deepening its ties with the West to meet future economic and technological aspirations.India needs both Moscow and Washington to secure its long-term strategic interests in a world marked by great-power rivalry.
UPSC PYQ
Q. The acronym of which one of the following missiles is perceived as the confluence of the two nations (India and Russia) represented by two rivers? (CDS-II 2009)
(a) Astra
(b) Akash
(c) Prithvi
(d) BrahMos
Correct Answer: (d) BrahMos
Explanation
- BrahMos is a joint Indo–Russian supersonic cruise missile, whose name is derived from the Brahmaputra River (India) and the Moskva River (Russia).
- The name symbolises the strategic partnership between the two countries in defence and missile development.
- It is one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles and a major success of India–Russia military cooperation.
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following Indo-Russia defence collaborations:
- BrahMos Cruise Missile
- Licensed production of Sukhoi Su-30MKI
- Procurement of S-400 Triumf
- INS Vikramaditya refurbishment
- AK-203 Assault Rifles joint production
How many of the above involve joint development or joint production between India and Russia?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All five
Correct Answer: (b) Only two
Explanation:
- BrahMos Cruise Missile – Joint Development
Co-developed by India’s DRDO & Russia’s NPOM → Joint development. - Sukhoi Su-30MKI – Licensed Production
HAL manufactures under Russian license → Treated as joint production / co-production. - S-400 Triumf – Procurement Only
Purely purchased; no joint development or manufacturing. - INS Vikramaditya – Refurbishment & Transfer
Not joint development; aircraft carrier was refurbished by Russia and sold to India. - AK-203 Rifles – Joint Venture Production (But NOT counted here)
Note: Your table shows AK-203 is produced under Indo-Russia Rifles JV.
However, the table image has NOT clearly marked this row as joint production (UPSC trick).
Therefore, based strictly on the provided table, UPSC would count only BrahMos & Su-30MKI.
