LEGAL NEWS
Income-tax Act, 2025: Landmark Overhaul of India’s Direct Tax Law
• India is set to replace the Income-tax Act, 1961 with the Income-tax Act, 2025, marking the biggest reform in direct taxation in over 60 years.
• The new legislation will come into force from 1 April 2026 and apply to income earned from FY 2025–26 onwards.
• The reform aims to simplify tax law, reduce disputes, and strengthen digital and faceless tax administration.
• Complexity has been cut significantly, with sections reduced from 819 to 536 and chapters compressed from 47 to 23.
• Legal language has been made clearer through tables, formulas, and structured provisions instead of lengthy explanations.
• A major conceptual shift is the introduction of a single “Tax Year”, replacing the earlier system of previous year and assessment year.
• Tax slabs and rates remain unchanged, but higher rebates and an increased standard deduction make income up to ₹12 lakh effectively tax-free under the new regime.
• Redesigned return forms and expanded digital procedures are expected to ease compliance for salaried taxpayers, professionals, and businesses while improving certainty.
IMPORTANT DAYS
National Good Governance Day 2025
• 25 December is observed annually in India as National Good Governance Day.
• The day commemorates the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• It was instituted in 2014 to promote awareness about accountable and effective governance.
• The observance highlights that good governance goes beyond administration to improving citizens’ quality of life.
• Good Governance Week (Sushasan Saptah) is celebrated from 19 to 25 December each year.
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee served three terms as Prime Minister of India.
• His tenure witnessed the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, strengthening India’s strategic position.
• In recognition of his contributions, Vajpayee was conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2015, the country’s highest civilian award.
Veer Bal Diwas and Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025
• Veer Bal Diwas will be observed nationwide on 26 December to honour the bravery of India’s young heroes.
• The day commemorates the sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger Sahibzadas, inspiring courage and moral strength.
• The national-level programme will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with wide youth participation.
• On the same occasion, the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 will be conferred.
• Twenty children from 18 States and Union Territories will receive the prestigious honour.
• The awards recognise excellence in six fields, including bravery, sports, science and social service.
• President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards at Vigyan Bhawan on 26 December.
• The celebrations align with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, highlighting the role of children in nation-building.
NATIONAL NEWS
Constitution of India Released in Santhali (Ol Chiki Script)
• President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the Constitution of India in the Santhali language at a special function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
• The text has been published in the Ol Chiki script, enhancing linguistic representation and inclusion of Santhali-speaking citizens.
• The President described the release as a source of pride for the Santhali community, enabling them to access constitutional ideals in their own language.
• She emphasised that reading the Constitution in one’s mother tongue strengthens awareness of rights, duties and democratic participation.
• The release gains added importance as it coincides with the 100th year of the Ol Chiki script, a milestone in Santhali cultural history.
• The Ministry of Law and Justice was appreciated for undertaking the publication during this centenary year.
• The Vice-President highlighted President Murmu’s long-standing commitment to tribal welfare, recalling her initiatives as Governor of Jharkhand.
• Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Law and Justice, attended the event, underlining the government’s support.
• Santhali, written in Ol Chiki, is a Scheduled Language under the Eighth Schedule (92nd Amendment, 2003) and is widely spoken in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar.
India Assumes Leadership Role in the Kimberley Process
• India took charge as Vice Chair of the Kimberley Process from 25 December and is set to become its Chair from 1 January next year.
• The move highlights India’s rising influence in global trade governance, especially in regulating the international diamond sector.
• The Kimberley Process is a global, tripartite framework bringing together governments, the diamond industry and civil society.
• Its core objective is to stop the circulation of conflict diamonds used to fund armed rebellions and violence.
• Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India’s elevation reflects international trust in its ethical and transparent trade practices.
• India’s role signals its credibility as a responsible multilateral partner, balancing commercial growth with moral accountability.
• During its tenure as Vice Chair and Chair, India will focus on stronger compliance, greater inclusivity and institutional reform within the Process.
• The Kimberley Process today includes 60 participants and regulates over 99% of the global rough diamond trade.
Rashtra Prerna Sthal: National Memorial Dedicated to India’s Visionary Leaders
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow on the 101st birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• The memorial has been created to celebrate the ideals, values and national contributions of Vajpayee and other stalwarts of Indian nationalism.
• Located in Vasant Kunj, Lucknow, the site spans about 65 acres, making it one of the largest thematic memorials in the region.
• It houses three imposing bronze statues, each 65 feet high, of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Deendayal Upadhyaya.
• The Prime Minister offered floral tributes in the presence of senior leaders including Rajnath Singh, Yogi Adityanath and Anandiben Patel.
• Adjacent to the memorial stands a lotus-shaped museum spread over nearly 98,000 sq ft.
• The museum presents India’s nation-building journey through modern digital and immersive displays.
• The complex aims to serve as a centre of inspiration, learning and reflection on leadership and governance.
STATE NEWS
Dhanu Yatra: World’s Largest Open-Air Theatre Festival
• Dhanu Yatra was inaugurated in Bargarh, Odisha, marking the start of an eleven-day cultural celebration.
• The festival is globally recognised as the largest open-air theatre event in the world.
• During the yatra, Bargarh is transformed into the mythological city of Mathura.
• Streets, courtyards and public spaces become live performance zones, including royal courts and palaces.
• The narrative revolves around major episodes from the life of Lord Krishna.
• Local artists perform continuous real-time enactments across multiple locations.
• The festival follows a participatory format where audiences and performers interact freely.
• Dhanu Yatra enjoys National Festival status, highlighting its cultural and artistic significance.
Rajasthan Caste Panchayat’s Smartphone Ban: Key Developments
• A caste panchayat in Jalore district, Rajasthan, has announced restrictions on smartphone use for married women of a section of the Jat community.
• The decision was taken during a panchayat meeting in Ghazipur village on 21 December and will be implemented from Republic Day 2026.
• The order applies to 15 villages in the Bhinmal–Khanpur region, under the Sundhamata Patti of the Chaudhary clan.
• Under the directive, camera-enabled smartphones are prohibited for daughters-in-law and young women at weddings, public functions, or neighbourhood visits.
• Women are permitted to use basic keypad phones only for voice calls, as announced by panchayat representatives.
• Community leaders justified the move by citing concerns over mobile addiction, children’s eye health, and family discipline.
• Students may use smartphones at home solely for educational purposes, but cannot carry them to social occasions.
• The diktat has drawn criticism as caste panchayats lack legal authority, and such gender-based restrictions raise concerns over fundamental rights and digital empowerment.
Khelo India Tribal Games: Logo, Mascot and Vision Unveiled
• The logo, theme song and mascot of the first Khelo India Tribal Games were launched in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
• The event is scheduled to take place from 14 February 2026, focusing exclusively on tribal athletes.
• The launch ceremony was held at Late B. R. Yadav Sports Stadium with senior state and central leaders in attendance.
• Chhattisgarh has become the first state to host the Khelo India Tribal Games.
• The initiative aims to promote inclusive sports development and widen India’s athletic talent base.
• The Games will help identify and nurture sporting talent from tribal regions through structured support.
• The official mascot, ‘Morveer’, symbolises bravery, pride and cultural identity of tribal communities.
• The Tribal Games are being organised under the Khelo India Scheme, strengthening grassroots sports.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
Anti-Terror Conference 2025: Strengthening India’s Counter-Terrorism Framework
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the Anti-Terror Conference on 26 December 2025 in New Delhi.
• The two-day event is organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
• The conference provides a strategic forum for security forces, intelligence agencies and subject experts to deliberate on future CT measures.
• A major focus is on enhancing coordination through a ‘Whole of Government’ approach involving Centre and States.
• Deliberations aim to strengthen policy inputs for internal security and counter-terrorism planning.
• Agencies will share best practices and lessons from terror investigations, including foreign evidence collection and trial management.
• Key themes include digital forensics, terror financing, radicalisation, espionage and emerging hybrid threats.
