[ENG] UPSC Daily Briefing (23 Dec 2025) | IR, Economy, Governance & Environment | India-NZ FTA Mobil

Welcome to Simplified UPSC by पठति पठत: पठन्ति! In this comprehensive discussion, we'll break down the critical current affairs from December 23, 2025, analyzing global and domestic policy pivots across GS Papers 2 and 3.

*KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:*

*GS Paper 2: Governance & International Relations*
► *India-New Zealand FTA:* Analyzing the landmark strategic pivot, focusing on the pioneering mobility pack for skilled professionals while maintaining protective barriers for sensitive agriculture (dairy, rice).
► *Internal Security & Governance:* Examination of the political controversy surrounding the 2013 Jiram Ghati Maoist attack, highlighting the deep challenges of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and the crucial role of the NIA in politically sensitive probes.
► *Governance & Sports:* Discussion on the alarming WADA report, which names India as the top global doping offender for the third year, and assessing the impact of the new National Anti-Doping Amendment Bill, 2025.

*GS Paper 3: Economy, Environment & S&T*
► *Economy:* Decoding the mixed performance of the Core Sector (1.8% growth), specifically addressing the contraction in high-weightage sectors like crude oil and natural gas, and its implications for the overall Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
► *Environment:* Critical analysis of the Aravalli Hills demarcation controversy, where a new technical definition based on '100m above local relief' is being proposed for mining, potentially undermining existing conservation mandates and Supreme Court precedents (Godavarman case).
► *Social Justice/Schemes:* A deep dive into the legislative shift as MGNREGA is replaced by the Vixit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission Gramin Acts (VBG RAM G Act). We discuss the trade-off between increased guaranteed days (125) and the contentious 60-day restriction on work during the agricultural season (Section 6-2).
► *S&T & AI Governance:* Understanding the complexity of regulating Agentic AI systems and the judicial intervention required, as seen in the Delhi High Court's ruling against the exploitation of personality rights through deepfakes.
► *Space Security:* Discussing the loss of contact with NASA's MAVEN mission and the constant threat of space debris, reviewing engineering solutions like the Whipple Shield.


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📝 SUMMARY 📝
This briefing analyzes the news of December 23, 2025. Key topics include the India-New Zealand FTA, focusing on the strategic mobility pact and agricultural protection. We discuss the resurfacing political controversy surrounding the 2013 Jiram Ghati Maoist attack and India's alarming position as the top global doping offender, leading to the new Anti-Doping Bill. Economically, core sector growth is mixed due to contraction in crude oil/natural gas. Environmental focus centers on the contentious proposed demarcation of the Aravalli Hills for mining. A major shift in social policy is examined with the replacement of MGNREGA by the VBG RAM G Act, specifically the debate around the 60-day agricultural season work restriction. Finally, we cover AI governance concerning agentic systems and deepfakes, and the space security threats highlighted by the MAVEN mission loss and solutions like the Whipple Shield.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰
00:00:00 - Introduction & GS Paper 2 Focus
00:01:06 - India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Analysis
00:06:54 - Jiram Ghati Maoist Attack & NIA Scrutiny (Internal Security)
00:09:25 - WADA Report: India's Doping Crisis & Anti-Doping Bill, 2025 (Governance)
00:12:35 - GS Paper 3: Core Sector Performance (Economy)
00:15:02 - Aravalli Hills Demarcation Controversy & Mining (Environment)
00:19:15 - MGNREGA Replacement: VBG RAM G Act (Social Justice)
00:24:25 - Agentic AI Governance & Deepfake Legal Challenges (S&T)
00:27:18 - NASA MAVEN Mission Loss & Space Debris Management (S&T)
00:30:10 - Quick Revision: Prelims & Mains Focus

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