Veer Bal Diwas was observed on December 26 along with the distribution of Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.

About Veer Baal Diwas

• This day is being celebrated every year on 26 December since 2022.
• Historical background: 
  • This day is celebrated by paying tribute to the younger sons of the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Shaheed Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh) .
  • Both of them were captured by the Mughal army in Anandpur Fort and were martyred at Sirhind on December 26.
• Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar: National-level award conferred annually by President of India to recognise exceptional achievements of children (Age: 5- 18 years) across multiple fields.

Nearly ₹2,000 crore unclaimed financial assets have been returned to rightful owners under “Your Money, Your Right” initiative, launched in October, 2025.

About Unclaimed Financial Assets

• These assets arise when money held with financial institutions (Banks, Insurance, Mutual Funds, Pensions, etc.) is not claimed by the account holder or their legal heirs for a prolonged period due to migration, death, etc.

Digital Portals for tracing unclaimed assets

• UDGAM Portal (by RBI): for unclaimed bank deposits.
• Bima Bharosa Portal (IRDAI): to trace unclaimed insurance policy proceeds.
• MITRA Portal: for mutual fund investments.

Government notifies Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025 to enhance ease of doing business and make the coal sector more business-friendly.

About Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025

• Requirement of prior opening permission for opening a coal mine as well as for opening individual seams or sections of a seam from Coal Control Organisation (CCO) dispensed with for coal companies.
• Under the amended provisions, the authority to approve mine/ seam opening permission has now been entrusted/ vested with the board of the concerned coal company.
• For entities other than companies, such approval will continue to be through CCO.

Union Environment Ministry gave nod for 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II project on Chenab River in J&K.

About Dulhasti Stage-II project

• It will utilise surplus water diverted from the Marusudar River, through the Pakal Dul project.
• Other Operational projects on Chenab: Dulhasti-I  (Kishtwar),  Baglihar (Ramban) and Salal (Reasi).
  • Under construction: Ratle (850MW), Kiru (624 MW), and Kwar (540 MW) projects.

About Chenab River

• Source: Confluence of Chandra and Bhaga rivers in Himachal Pradesh.
• Course in India: Flows west through Jammu & Kashmir, between the Siwalik Range (south) and the Lesser Himalayas (north).
• Tributaries & Confluence: Receives Jhelum River in Pakistan; later joins the Sutlej River.

Gujarat has regained its status as a ‘Tiger State’ after 33 years, with the presence of a tiger in the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Gujarat has become the only state in India to host three big cat species i.e. lion, tiger and leopard simultaneously.

About Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Situated in Dahod district, central Gujarat along Gujarat-Madhya Pradesh border.
• History: It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1982.
  • This sanctuary harbours the maximum population of sloth bears in the entire state.
• Fauna: Leopard, sloth bear, nilgai, four-horned antelope etc.
• Ecological significance: Forests form the catchment of river Panam, a major river of Central Gujarat.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution released the new Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Standard IS 19412:2025 – Incense Sticks (Agarbatti).

About IS 19412:2025 – Incense Sticks (Agarbatti)

• To enhance consumer safety and product quality, it prohibits following substances for making agarbattis
  • Insecticidal chemicals: Alethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and fipronil.
  • Synthetic fragrance intermediates: like benzyl cyanide, ethyl acrylate, diphenylamine, etc.

About BIS

• BIS is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods. 

Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.

About Republic of Somaliland

• Location: It is located in the Horn of Africa and borders the Gulf of Aden (North), Djibouti (Northwest), Ethiopia (South and west), and Somalia(East).
• It broke away from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the central government and years of civil war. Since then, it has functioned as a de facto state, with its own elected government.
• Capital: Hargeisa

Over 20% of groundwater samples collected in Delhi in 2023 had nitrate levels exceeding the permissible limit according to Central Groundwater Board.

About Nitrate contamination

• Permissible limit of Nitrate in water: 45 mg/l.
• Major sources: Excess use of Nitrogen-based fertilisers and animal waste in agriculture.
• Health impact: Causes methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) in infants, a life-threatening condition where hemoglobin cannot effectively carry oxygen.
• Environmental impact: Promotes algal blooms in water bodies (eutrophication)