LEGAL NEWS
Manipur GST (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025 Passed
• The Lok Sabha has cleared the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, updating the state’s 2017 GST law.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the bill to align Manipur’s GST structure with the Centre’s revised tax slabs.
• The legislation replaces an ordinance issued in October 2025.
• The amendment reflects the latest GST Council recommendations focused on simplifying and rationalising tax rates.
• Under the new framework, GST will primarily operate with two rates — 5% and 18%.
• Earlier in August 2025, a separate amendment bill was passed to replace a previous ordinance on GST changes.
• The 56th GST Council meeting had approved rate rationalisation for nearly 375 items by merging the earlier 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% slabs into two tiers.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India to Lead International IDEA for the First Time
• India has been invited for the first time to take over the leadership of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
• Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will formally assume the Chairship at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.
• He highlighted that India’s strong reputation for free and transparent elections is respected globally.
• The Chairship has been described as a moment of pride for the nation and for India’s election management teams.
• International IDEA, established in 1995, is an inter-governmental body with 37 member countries.
• The institute also includes nations like the US and Japan as Observer states and has UNGA observer status since 2003.
• India, a founding member, has consistently supported IDEA through governance roles, research collaborations and election-related capacity-building; its headquarters is in Stockholm.
NATIONAL NEWS
Delhi IGI Airport Becomes India’s First High-Capacity Water-Positive Airport
• Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has been recognised as the country’s first major airport to achieve water-positive status, marking a breakthrough in sustainable water management.
• The recognition was given at the Water Innovation Summit 2025 for fulfilling Scope-I Water Neutrality under the NITI Aayog–CII framework.
• DIAL announced that IGI Airport now replenishes more water than it consumes, a major shift from its earlier groundwater-stressed condition.
• This milestone is the result of long-term efforts in water conservation, aquifer restoration and strict monitoring.
• The airport campus now hosts 625+ rainwater harvesting units and two underground tanks storing up to 9 million litres.
• A 16.6 MLD zero-liquid-discharge STP recycles all wastewater for cooling, landscaping, sanitation and other non-drinking purposes.
• Water-efficient systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation further reduce wastage, supporting IGIA’s broader sustainability and net-zero goals.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES
18th Global Forum on Tax Transparency
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 18th plenary of the Global Forum on Tax Transparency in New Delhi on 2 November 2025.
• India is hosting the four-day meet (2–5 December 2025) under the theme “Tax Transparency: Delivering a Shared Vision Through International Cooperation.”
• The Global Forum, comprising 172 jurisdictions including all G20 countries, is the leading platform for enforcing standards like EOIR and AEOI.
• The Finance Minister noted that global financial systems have moved from secrecy to transparency, making openness essential for fairness and good governance.
• She highlighted India’s rising voluntary tax compliance, driven by simpler processes, clarity in rules and a trust-based administrative approach.
• Sitharaman also stressed the use of technology and AI in analysing financial data, while reminding that innovation must operate within regulatory boundaries.
• The conference will review peer reports, discuss regional progress, and deliberate on issues such as crypto-asset reporting and emerging risks in global taxation.
AWARDS
CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2025
• Jay Shah was honoured with the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2025 award in the Outstanding Achievement category.
• The recognition highlights his significant role in shaping global cricket’s direction and strengthening its governance.
• He has been instrumental in promoting women’s cricket and driving its rapid expansion.
• Shah contributed to modernising cricket’s commercial framework and supporting emerging cricketing nations.
• The ceremony came soon after India’s women’s team clinched the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
• The women’s team, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur and coach Amol Muzumdar, received the Sports category award.
• Key reforms under Shah’s BCCI tenure (2019–2024) included equal pay for women cricketers and the introduction of the Women’s Premier League.
DEFENCE
14th India–Maldives Joint Military Exercise ‘Ekuverin’ Begins in Kerala
• The latest edition of Exercise Ekuverin began in Thiruvananthapuram on 2 December and will continue till 15 December.
• Troops from the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces are participating in the two-week training.
• The drill is designed to enhance cooperation in counter-terror and counter-insurgency missions across varied terrains.
• Training modules cover operations in semi-urban areas, forests and coastal regions.
• This year’s exercise also incorporates advanced military technologies to improve joint capabilities.
• Both sides will exchange tactical knowledge and field experience to reinforce regional stability.
• Held alternately in both nations, Ekuverin—meaning “Friends”—is a key bilateral exercise, alongside Ekatha, while Dosti remains the shared trilateral drill with Sri Lanka.
