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📝 Revision Notes
Key takeaways from today’s quiz to strengthen your preparation
Banking & Finance
HSBC Chairman Succession
Brendan Nelson has been appointed chairman of HSBC, succeeding Mark Tucker. He joined HSBC’s board in 2023 and will continue as Chair of the Audit Committee until February 2026, ensuring continuity during the leadership transition.
Infrastructure & Safety
NHAI-Jio Highway Safety Alerts
The NHAI–Reliance Jio initiative delivers highway safety alerts through SMS, WhatsApp messages, and high-priority calls over Jio’s 4G/5G network. This system ensures real-time warnings to drivers without requiring separate hardware or app installations.
Fintech & Payments
Razorpay Cross-Border Authorization
Razorpay has been approved as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border Inward & Outward (PA-CB-I&O) under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007. This enables cross-border payment processing for Indian businesses.
Banking Regulation
D-SIB Capital Requirements 2025
Under the D-SIB framework, additional CET-1 capital buffers are: SBI – 0.80%, HDFC Bank – 0.40%, and ICICI Bank – 0.20% of Risk-Weighted Assets. These requirements ensure systemic stability for India’s largest banks.
Cooperatives & Heritage
ULCCS Global Recognition
Kerala’s Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) was recognized by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) as a Global Cooperative Cultural Heritage Site, joining 31 such sites worldwide for its unique cooperative model.
Cultural Heritage
Tamil Nadu GI Tags
Five products from Tamil Nadu received Geographical Indication tags: Woraiyur Cotton Sari, Kavindapadi Nattu Sakkarai, Namakkal Soapstone Cookware, Thooyamalli Rice, and Ambasamudram Choppu Saman. These protect traditional crafts and products.
Sustainability
Water-Positive IGI Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport’s water-positive status means it replenishes more freshwater than it consumes through extensive rainwater harvesting, recycling systems, reservoirs, and a zero-liquid-discharge STP.
Defence
INS Aridhaman Strategic Significance
INS Aridhaman is an indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) that strengthens India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence and second-strike capability, crucial for strategic autonomy and credible minimum deterrence.
Technology & Self-Reliance
Indigenous VTMS Development
The Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) developed by IIT Madras and NTCPWC gives India full control over source code and databases, reducing dependence on imported port traffic systems and eliminating vendor lock-in.
International Observances
December 2025 Awareness Days
World Soil Day 2025 theme: “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities” emphasizes urban soil management. International Volunteer Day 2025 theme: “Every Contribution Matters” celebrates volunteerism’s impact on sustainable development.
🎴 Revision Flashcards
Click each card to flip and test your recall
Tap to Reveal
Who did Brendan Nelson succeed as HSBC chairman?
Mark Tucker
Continues as Audit Committee Chair until Feb 2026
Tap to Reveal
How are NHAI-Jio highway alerts delivered?
SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority calls
Over Jio’s 4G/5G network
Tap to Reveal
Under which Act was Razorpay authorized for cross-border payments?
Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007
PA-CB-I&O authorization
Tap to Reveal
What is SBI’s D-SIB CET-1 capital surcharge?
0.80%
HDFC: 0.40%, ICICI: 0.20%
Tap to Reveal
Which organization recognized ULCCS as a heritage site?
International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)
Global Cooperative Cultural Heritage Site
Tap to Reveal
What does ‘water-positive’ status mean?
Replenishes more water than consumed
Through harvesting, recycling, conservation
Tap to Reveal
What type of vessel is INS Aridhaman?
Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)
Strengthens sea-based nuclear deterrence
Tap to Reveal
What is the World Soil Day 2025 theme?
Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities
International Volunteer Day: Every Contribution Matters
Think & Discuss
Strategic Autonomy vs. Vendor Lock-In: India’s Tech Self-Reliance Journey
Context from today’s quiz: The indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) developed by IIT Madras and NTCPWC gives India full control over source code and databases, reducing dependence on imported port traffic systems and eliminating vendor lock-in. This represents a strategic shift toward technological self-reliance in critical infrastructure.
🤔 Your Perspective Matters
Developing indigenous technology solutions offers strategic autonomy, data sovereignty, and freedom from vendor lock-in. However, critics argue that building everything domestically can be inefficient, divert resources from core competencies, delay deployment of superior foreign solutions, and create suboptimal systems due to lack of global competitive pressure. The question becomes whether self-reliance should be pursued across all technology domains or selectively in strategic areas.
Should India prioritize developing indigenous technology solutions even when proven foreign alternatives exist, or should self-reliance be pursued only in strategically critical domains while leveraging global innovation elsewhere?
Should India prioritize developing indigenous technology solutions even when proven foreign alternatives exist, or should self-reliance be pursued only in strategically critical domains while leveraging global innovation elsewhere?
- How can India determine which technology domains are “strategically critical” enough to justify the costs and time investment of indigenous development?
- What mechanisms can ensure that domestic technology development maintains quality standards competitive with global alternatives rather than becoming protectionist exercises?
- Can a hybrid approach—using foreign technology with mandatory technology transfer and source code access requirements—achieve both strategic autonomy and innovation efficiency?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your perspective in the comments.
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