Current Affairs for 14 December 2025
World Inequality Report
- About: The World Inequality Report is a major global publication that provides comprehensive data and analysis on the distribution of income and wealth across countries and over time.
- It is produced by the World Inequality Lab, a research center based at the Paris School of Economics.
- Key Features of the Report: It provides a deeper assessment of global income and wealth distribution, moving beyond conventional metrics like GDP.
- It uses a multidimensional lens, covering gender inequality, climate impact, and access to public services.
Poverty Estimation in India:
- Post-Independence: The Planning Commission (1962) initiated an official poverty assessment.
- Later committees like Alagh Committee (1979) and Lakdawala Committee (1993) refined the methodology, focusing on consumption expenditure and calorie norms.
- Tendulkar Committee (2009): Shifted from calorie-based norms, recommended a uniform all-India Poverty Line Basket (PLB), and adopted Mixed Reference Period (MRP) consumption data.
- It estimated the 2011–12 poverty line at Rs 816 (rural) and Rs 1,000 (urban) per capita per month.
- Rangarajan Committee (2014): Formed after criticism of the Tendulkar method, it reverted to separate rural and urban PLBs, estimating Rs 972 (rural) and Rs 1,407 (urban) per capita per month.
- However, the government did not adopt its recommendations officially.
Chhattisgarh Gets Its First Ramsar Site with Kopra Reservoir Declaration
- The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 in Iran.
- Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance.
- Kopra Reservoir is Chhattisgarh’s first Ramsar-designated wetland.
- Ramsar status promotes conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
UAE Declares Paid New Year Holiday
- The UAE follows a unified public holiday framework for public and private sectors.
- The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation regulates private sector labour policies.
- January 1 is observed as New Year’s Day in the UAE.
- Paid public holidays are mandated under UAE labour law.
Bihar to Establish India’s First Power Museum in Patna
- India’s first power museum will be located at Karbigahiya Thermal Power Station, Patna.
- The project covers three acres on the decommissioned plant campus.
- The initiative is led by Bihar Museum and Bihar’s power utilities.
- The museum will focus on electricity generation and distribution history.
India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Train Introduced
- India’s first hydrogen train is the world’s longest on Broad Gauge, with 10 coaches.
- Total power output is 2,400 kW, delivered by two 1,200 kW Driving Power Cars.
- A hydrogen plant at Jind produces fuel through electrolysis.
- The train emits zero CO₂; water vapour is its only by-product.