Recent study highlighted that Water Vapour heats the atmosphere much more than aerosols do. 

• Aerosols are small particles suspended in atmosphere often not or barely visible to human eye with Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) region regarded as global hotspot of aerosol loading. 

About Water Vapour 

• It is the most abundant greenhouse gas. 
• It is condensable and can be changed from a gas into a liquid.
• Its decreases with altitude and also decreases from equator towards the poles.
• Account for 4% of the air by volume in warm tropics and may be less than 1% in and dry and cold areas of desert and polar regions. 

Recently, ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026’ report, released by UNDESA, projected India’s GDP growth at 7.2% in 2025-26.

About UNDESA (HQ: New York City)

• It is a UN Secretariat entity responsible for the development pillar of the United Nations. 
• Aim: helps countries around the world meet their economic, social and environmental goals.
• Headed by: Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, appointed by the UN Secretary-General.
• Major publications: World Social Report, Sustainable development goals report, World Population Prospects etc.

Government accelerated Sawalkot hydropower project along with Ratle and Dulahasti amid tensions over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

About Sawalkot Hydropower Project 

• Location: Chenab River, Jammu and Kashmir.
• Type: 1,856-MW project run-of-the-river project.

Other Projects on Chenab River: Dulhasti-I,  Baglihar and Salal .

• Under construction: Ratle, Dulhasti II, Kiru, and Kwar projects.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister announced that India will roll out Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication technology.

About V2V Communication Technology

• It is an inter vehicle communication paradigm that it does not rely on third party networks like cellular networks to communicate. 
• Significance: Increased safety as it works across the front, rear and sides of vehicles, and will factor in terrain and road curves; strengthen Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) by allowing vehicles to share warnings even when a hazard is not visible. 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched PANKHUDI Portal.

About PANKHUDI Portal 

• It is an integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and partnership facilitation single-window digital platform.
  • It brings together individuals, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), corporate entities, and government agencies.

• The portal streamlines and unifies voluntary and institutional contributions across key thematic areas including nutrition, health, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), child welfare, etc.
• Aim: Strengthening coordination, transparency, and structured stakeholder participation in initiatives for women and child development.

Union Government notified National Sports Board (Search-cum Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 under National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

Key Highlights of the Rule

• Search-cum-Selection Committee: Chaired by Cabinet Secretary and comprising the Secretary (Sports), one person with experience in sports administration, and two recipients of national sports awards.

About NSB

• Composition of the Board: Chairperson and two other members. 
• Purpose: Act as the central authority responsible for granting board recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance.
• Term:  3 years  or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Approximately 61,000 homes across 110 projects including over 7,000 units under rehabilitation/Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category have been delivered under SWAMIH Fund (as on 15^th December, 2025). 

About SWAMIH Fund

• Launch Year: 2019
• Purpose: Provide last-mile financing to stalled residential housing projects in the affordable and mid-income segments.
• Managed by: SBI Ventures Limited (subsidiary of State Bank of India) as a social impact investment platform.
• SWAMIH Fund-2: Announced in Budget 2025-26, as a blended finance facility with contributions from the government, banks, and private investors.
  • This fund of ₹15,000 crore will aim for expeditious completion of another 1 lakh units.

Study found an assemblage of Hominins from Moroccan Cave Fossils to be about 773,000 years old, filling a critical gap in understanding human evolution.

About Hominins

• Group of primates that includes modern humans (Homo sapiens), all extinct human species and all of their immediate ancestors. 
• Belong to family Hominidae, order Primates, of which only Homo Sapiens exists today. 
• Key Characteristics: Erect posture, bipedal locomotion, larger brains, and behavioural characteristics like specialized tool use and, in some cases, communication through language.