📢 PIB / Government Reports & Schemes

🔷 RBI Launches Retail Direct Scheme for Govt. Securities

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched the Retail Direct Scheme.
Objective: This scheme allows small retail investors to directly buy and sell Government Securities (G-Secs) online.
Mechanism: Retail investors can now open a Retail Direct Gilt (RDG) account with the RBI.
Significance: This move democratizes the bond market, provides a safe investment avenue for the public, and helps deepen the government bond market in India.

🔷 Launch of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ Student Exchange Programme

The Ministry of Education launched the latest phase of the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' (EBSB) Student Exchange Programme.
Goal: To promote national integration and deepen the understanding of India's diverse culture among students.
Programme: Students from Nagaland will travel to Gujarat, and students from Punjab will visit Tamil Nadu, as part of the paired states' exchange.
EBSB: The scheme was launched by the Prime Minister in 2015 to celebrate the anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

💰 Economy & Banking

🔷 India’s GDP Growth for Q2 FY26 Revised Upwards

The National Statistical Office (NSO) released the updated data on India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Q2 Growth: The GDP growth for the Second Quarter (Q2) of FY 2025-26 has been officially revised upwards to 7.8%.
Drivers: The manufacturing sector and strong government capital expenditure (Capex) were the main drivers of the growth.
GVA: The Gross Value Added (GVA) also showed a healthy growth of 7.5%, reflecting underlying economic strength.

🔬 Science & Technology

🔷 India and US Collaborate on Green Hydrogen Technology

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) signed a joint declaration.
Focus: The collaboration will accelerate the development and deployment of Green Hydrogen technologies.
Aim: The goal is to reduce the cost of producing Green Hydrogen to $1 per kilogram by 2030 (called the 1-1-1 Goal), making it economically viable.
Context: This is a key part of the India-US Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP).

🪖 Defence & Security

🔷 Final Flight of Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison Jet

The Indian Air Force (IAF) phased out its final squadron of MiG-21 Bison fighter jets.
Location: The final sortie was conducted at the Srinagar Air Force Station.
History: The MiG-21 was the first supersonic fighter jet inducted into the IAF in 1963, serving the nation for over 60 years.
Replacement: The fleet will be replaced by the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark-1A and Mark-2 variants.

🌿 Environment & Ecology

🔷 India to Host COP33 in 2028: Formal Bid Submitted

India officially submitted its bid to host the 33rd Conference of the Parties (COP33) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2028.
Context: The bid was formally presented at the recent COP30 summit held in Belem, Brazil.
Objective: Hosting COP33 will allow India to play a decisive role in shaping the global climate action agenda based on the principles of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).
Previous Host: India previously hosted the COP meeting in New Delhi in 2002 (COP8).

🌐 International Relations & Agreements

🔷 India-UK Maritime Partnership Talks Conclude

The annual India-UK Maritime Partnership Dialogue concluded in New Delhi.
Focus: Key areas of discussion included strengthening naval cooperation, expanding bilateral exercises like Exercise Konkan, and ensuring Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in the Indo-Pacific.
Agreement: Both countries agreed to increase collaboration in underwater domain security and anti-piracy operations.

🎭 Culture & Important Events

🔷 World AIDS Day Observed

World AIDS Day is observed globally on December 1 every year.
Theme 2025: The global theme for 2025 is "Let Communities Lead," highlighting the role of community-led organizations in fighting the epidemic.
India's Initiative: India's National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) reaffirmed its commitment to eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase-V.

🔷 Nagaland Celebrates Statehood Day

Nagaland celebrated its 63rd Statehood Day on December 1, 2025.
Formation: Nagaland was formally inaugurated as the 16th state of the Indian Union on December 1, 1963.
Festival: The Hornbill Festival, which celebrates the culture and traditions of all 17 major Naga tribes, also begins on this day in Kisama Heritage Village.

📌 December 1, 2025 General Knowledge

Nagaland Statehood (1963): Nagaland became the 16th state of the Indian Union on this day in 1963.
World AIDS Day: Observed globally on December 1 since 1988, it is the first-ever global health day.
Border Security Force (BSF) Raising Day (1965): The Border Security Force (BSF) was established on December 1, 1965, as India's primary border guarding force.
Annie Besant's Trial (1918): Annie Besant and her colleagues were released from jail on this day after facing a trial for starting the Home Rule Movement in India.
Treaty of Versailles (1919): Germany ratified the Treaty of Versailles on this date, officially concluding World War I.