Law, Justice and Company Affairs
Parliament’s Winter Session 2025 (December 1-19) enacted 8 key Acts amid high productivity, focusing on reforms in nuclear energy, rural employment, insurance, taxation, and health security
Enacted Acts List
- Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Act, 2025: Replaces MGNREGA with 125 days of wage employment guarantee, 60:40 Centre-State funding, digital governance, and climate-resilient rural infrastructure.
- Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025: Establishes licensing, safety, and liability frameworks for nuclear facilities, repealing older atomic energy laws.
- Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025: Allows 100% FDI in insurance, enhances IRDAI powers, mandates KYC, and introduces track-and-trace compliance.
- Health Security se National Security Cess Act, 2025: Introduces cess for health and national security funding, notified December 15.
- Central Excise (Amendment) Act, 2025: Revises duties on tobacco products post-GST compensation cess expiry and streamlines compliance.
- Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Act, 2025: Updates GST provisions for unique ID marking, penalties, and returns under President’s rule.
- Reaping and Amending act, 2025: Repeals 71 obsolete laws and amends others while preserving rights.
- Appropriation (NO.4) Bill 2025, Authorises supplementary grants far government expenditure.
Key Acts Notified
- The Repealing and Amending Act, 2025, was notified on December 21, repealing obsolete laws in the First Schedule and amending enactments in the Second Schedule while preserving existing rights and proceedings.
- The ministry also issued the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act, 2025, on December 21, establishing frameworks for nuclear licensing, safety, and liability, repealing prior atomic energy laws.
- Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025, was notified on the same date, enabling 100% foreign investment in insurance and enhancing IRDAI powers with digital and KYC norms.
Other Notifications
- The Department of Legal Affairs issued gazette notifications on December 23 for appointments like Additional Solicitor Generals for Madras High Court and Supreme Court.
- Judicial orders included appointments and transfers, such as Acting Chief Justice for Sikkim High Court on December 12.
Social Justice
Major Events
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organized a “Celebration of Intergenerational Bonds” program on December 20, 2025, at Progressive Heights School in Biaora, Madhya Pradesh, to strengthen emotional, social, and cultural ties across generations.
- An awareness program on promoting intergenerational bonding in schools occurred on December 9, 2025, involving 60 students in collaboration with the Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology.
- On December 23, 2025, the ministry signed an MoU with Patanjali University and Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashram under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to expand drug-free initiatives, reaching over 15 crore youth and 6 crore women.
Key Policies and Announcements
Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana had guidelines extended until December 31, 2025. The ministry continued implementation of schemes such as Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and PM-AJAY without fresh December announcements. Recruitment for PMU State Coordinators ran applications from November 4 to December 4, 2025, to monitor scheme implementation.
Trade and Commerce
Key Trade Agreements
- India signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Oman on December 18, 2025, enabling nearly 98% of Indian exports to enter duty-free and supporting sectors like textiles and pharmaceuticals.
- Negotiations concluded with New Zealand on a Free Trade Agreement on December 22, 2025, aiming to double bilateral trade in five years with a focus on financial services.
- Progress continued on a US trade framework deal, with officials close to finalizing tariff reductions after multiple rounds of talks.
Export and Procedural Reforms
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) revised ANF 7A and Chapter 7 of the Handbook of Procedures on December 16, 2025, streamlining online filing for deemed export benefits and clarifying jurisdiction for RAs/EOUs. These changes enhance compliance and support MSMEs under the earlier-approved Export Promotion Mission. Year-end reviews highlighted record exports of $825.25 billion for FY 2024-25, driven by electronics and engineering goods.
Internal Security
NIA Anti-Terror Raids
The National Investigation Agency conducted multiple raids across states like Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Haryana, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. These operations on December 1 in Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam districts targeted a “white-collar” terror module linked to the Red Fort car blast, while December 3 raids hit 22 locations for an ammunition trafficking syndicate, and December 11 focused on an ISIS suspect in Jharkhand
Anti-Naxal Operations
Security forces neutralized six Maoists, including CPI(Maoist) Central Committee member Ganesh Uike, in a two-day operation in Odisha’s Kandhamal district around December 24, hailed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a milestone toward a Naxal-free India by March 2026. This built on 2025’s broader efforts, with 74 new Forward Operating Bases established to bolster operations in affected areas.
Other Developments
IFSEC India 2025, held December 11-13 in New Delhi, advanced security tech like AI surveillance and cyber defenses amid rising threats. NIA also secured custody extensions for Red Fort blast suspects, with arrests continuing into late December.
Agriculture and Irrigation
Agriculture Sector
- The 10th International Agri & Horti Technology Expo 2025, held from December 26-28 in Bhopal, India, is India’s largest platform for Agri and Horti innovations, focusing on smart farming, mechanization, and precision irrigation systems.
- National Farmers’ Day (Kisan Diwas) on December 23 honor farmers’ contributions, emphasizing data, drones, AI, and record 357 million tonnes of foodgrain production. The 4th All India Progressive Farmers Convention occurred on December 17 in New Delhi, discussing progressive farming strategies
Irrigation Developments
- India launched a major solar irrigation push on December 3, offering farmers up to 90% subsidies for field-based solar systems (e.g., 5 HP at ₹3,93,250 total cost, farmer share ₹39,325), targeting reliable, low-cost water access.
- Jharkhand advanced an inclusive irrigation policy by December 23, blending tribal water conservation with modern tech for broader coverage. A December 4 Cabinet approval promoted drip and sprinkler systems under PMKSY to enhance water efficiency.
International Current Affairs
Armed Conflicts
- Cambodia-Thailand border clashes intensified with Thai airstrikes killing nine Cambodian civilians and wounding 20, while three Thai soldiers died in ground fighting; the toll later rose to eight Thai soldiers, eleven Cambodian civilians, and four Thai civilians.
- In Yemen’s civil war, the Southern Transitional Council captured al-Mahrah Governorate and advanced in Hadhramaut, seizing all eight southern governorates.
- Sudanese civil war saw the Rapid Support Forces take Heglig oilfield and Babanusa, plus a Sudanese Armed Forces drone strike killing dozens there.
Coups and Political Crises
- A military coup in Guinea-Bissau toppled the government ahead of elections, prompting Nigeria to grant asylum to opposition leader Fernando Dias da Costa; the junta later adopted a one-year transitional charter suspending the constitution.
- A failed coup attempt in Benin involved army elements seizing state TV, but was thwarted with Nigerian airstrikes and ECOWAS troop deployments
Disasters and Accidents
- Cyclone Senyar floods killed over 900 in Indonesia (908 confirmed), 216 in Thailand, and hundreds more missing across the region.
- Cyclone Ditwah caused 618 deaths in Sri Lanka from floods and landslides.
- A 7.6 magnitude earthquake off Japan’s Aomori Prefecture triggered a tsunami, with aftershocks disrupting services.
Diplomatic and Legal Events
- US President Donald Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández for drug trafficking, leading to his release.
- EU leaders approved a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, repayable only after Russian reparations.
- A Beijing court ordered Malaysia Airlines to pay $410,000 each to families of eight MH370 passengers.