UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 6 December 2025

by Vajiram & Ravi - 6 December 2025

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 6 December 2025, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

India-Russia Summit 2025 – Strengthening Ties

December 6, 2025
India-Russia Summit

India-Russia Summit Latest News

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official state visit to India has resulted in major breakthroughs in areas like labour mobility, trade expansion, nuclear energy cooperation, defence manufacturing and tourism.

India-Russia Strategic Partnership

  • India and Russia share a long-standing strategic partnership built on defence cooperation, energy security, and technological collaboration. 
  • The 2025 summit reaffirmed the relevance of this relationship amid shifting global geopolitics. 
  • Despite Western sanctions on Russia, bilateral trade between the two nations crossed USD 65 billion in 2024, driven largely by discounted Russian crude oil imports.
  • The summit aimed to rebalance trade, diversify cooperation, and build long-term frameworks that benefit India’s economic and strategic interests.

Key Announcements from the India-Russia Summit

  • New Labour Mobility Pathway
    • One of the most significant outcomes of the summit was the signing of a labour mobility agreement, enabling Indian workers, particularly from construction, healthcare and services sectors, to take up jobs in Russia under regulated frameworks. This initiative is expected to
      • provide safer migration pathways,
      • address Russia’s labour shortages, and
      • generate new employment opportunities for Indian youth.
    • The agreement mirrors India’s wider strategy of formalising migration channels with key partner nations.
  • Advancement in Nuclear Energy Cooperation
    • India and Russia are committed to expanding cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, including:
      • joint development of small modular reactors (SMRs),
      • progress on additional units at Kudankulam, and
      • collaboration in fuel supply, nuclear safety, and training.
    • SMRs are seen as central to India’s long-term low-carbon energy strategy, making Russia a valuable technological partner.
  • Boost to Defence Production and Technology Sharing
    • Defence remained a core pillar of the summit. Major takeaways included:
      • proposals for the co-production of military equipment in India,
      • discussions on supply chain stabilisation for spare parts, and
      • a roadmap for long-term defence industrial cooperation.
    • With India diversifying its procurement sources, Russia emphasised readiness for deeper technology sharing and joint manufacturing under ‘Make in India’.
  • Focus on Expanding Bilateral Trade
    • Both leaders acknowledged that trade remains heavily skewed in Russia’s favour due to oil imports. To correct this imbalance, the summit saw discussions on:
      • expanding Indian exports of pharmaceuticals, textiles, machinery, automotive parts and food products,
      • establishing a bilateral payment settlement mechanism insulated from geopolitical disruptions,
      • promoting direct shipping routes via the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor.
    • Industry bodies noted that the agreements could unlock new market opportunities for textiles, engineering goods, FMCG and agritech companies.

India Announces Free 30-Day e-Tourist Visa for Russians

  • A major policy announcement was India’s decision to grant a free 30-day, double-entry e-tourist visa to all Russian nationals. Expected Benefits:
    • Increased Russian tourist inflow to India’s coastal and wellness destinations.
    • Strengthening people-to-people ties amid rising Russian outbound travel.
    • Support to India’s hospitality and retail sectors.
  • The move comes at a time when visa-friendly tourism policies are becoming a tool of economic diplomacy. 
  • Russia is also expected to ease travel norms for Indian tourists as part of reciprocal arrangements.

Technology, Space and Energy-Sector Outcomes

  • Technology Collaboration
    • India and Russia discussed joint projects in cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, and artificial intelligence. Russian firms expressed interest in collaborating with Indian IT and fintech start-ups.
  • Space Cooperation
    • The summit reaffirmed cooperation in space research, satellite navigation, and training of Indian astronauts, continuing a decades-long partnership.
  • Energy Security
    • Beyond nuclear energy, both sides reviewed:
      • long-term crude oil supply agreements,
      • LNG procurement possibilities, and
      • Indian investments in Russian petroleum projects.
  • Energy remains the backbone of bilateral engagement and a critical factor in India’s economic strategy.

Geopolitical Significance of the Summit

  • The India-Russia summit showcased India’s strategic autonomy. India continues to maintain strong ties with Russia while deepening relations with the United States, Europe and East Asia. 
  • The agreements signalled:
    • India’s need for stable energy access,
    • Russia’s search for reliable economic partners, and
    • A shared interest in building multipolar global institutions.

Source: IE | ET | Mint

India-Russia Summit FAQs

Q1: What is the major labour-related outcome of the India–Russia summit?

Ans: A regulated labour mobility pathway allowing Indian workers to take up jobs in Russia.

Q2: What new visa facility has India announced for Russians?

Ans: A free 30-day, double-entry e-tourist visa.

Q3: Which energy sector cooperation was emphasised?

Ans: Expansion of nuclear energy collaboration, including small modular reactors.

Q4: What defence cooperation was discussed?

Ans: Co-production of military equipment and long-term defence industrial integration.

Q5: Why is the summit significant for trade?

Ans: It aims to diversify and rebalance trade while creating secure payment and logistics channels.

RBI Rate Cut Explained: Why India Is in a Rare Goldilocks Phase

December 6, 2025
Goldilocks Phase

Goldilocks Phase Latest News

  • As the current RBI Governor completes his first year, the Indian economy finds itself in an unexpectedly strong position despite global turmoil — including trade wars, steep U.S. tariffs, and geopolitical conflicts.
  • The Governor described the moment as a “rare goldilocks period,” with inflation at just 2.2% and GDP growth at 8% in the first half of 2025–26. 
  • Reflecting this strength, the Monetary Policy Committee cut the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25%.
  • This favourable phase has been building over time: retail inflation has fallen for three consecutive years, and GDP growth has averaged 8.2% over four-and-a-half years. 
  • Even excluding the high-base recovery year of 2021–22, growth has averaged 7.8% between 2022–23 and Q2 of 2025–26.

Goldilocks Conditions: Low Inflation, Strong Growth, and Policy Consistency

  • India’s economy is enjoying a rare goldilocks phase with falling inflation and robust growth, even though the rupee has weakened over 5% in 2025 and recently crossed the 90-per-dollar mark. 
  • Economists say the depreciation is not a monetary policy concern, and the RBI has rightly avoided the temptation to defend the currency.
  • By cutting the repo rate by 25 bps — bringing total easing in 2025 to 125 bps — the RBI has demonstrated policy consistency. 
  • Analysts note that just as the central bank would tighten policy if inflation stayed above 6% for six months, it should ease when inflation remains below 2% for a similar period.
  • With inflation currently well under the lower tolerance limit of the RBI’s 2–6% target band, the rate cut aligns with the central bank’s mandate to anchor inflation around 4% in the medium term.

Why Inflation Trends Created Room for Aggressive Easing

  • The document shows that inflation in 2025 collapsed faster than expected, breaching the lower tolerance band for the first time under the flexible inflation-targeting framework.
  • This broad-based disinflation expanded the RBI’s policy space dramatically, allowing the MPC to cut rates without risking overheating.
  • The December cut was positioned as a continuation of measured easing, not the start of an open-ended cycle.

RBI’s Strategic Logic Behind the Additional Rate Cut

  • Disinflation Is Durable, Not Temporary - The RBI believes the sharp decline in inflation is structural enough to justify further easing.
  • Support Domestic Demand Amid Global Weakness - With global trade slowing, financial volatility rising, and geopolitical tensions persisting, the RBI used its policy room to buffer the economy.
  • Maintain Policy Consistency - After pausing in October to confirm the durability of disinflation, the December cut aligns cumulative easing with evolving macro data.

More Rate Cuts Likely as Inflation Eases and Growth Set to Slow

  • Despite stronger-than-expected 8.2% GDP growth in July–September, the RBI delivered a unanimous rate cut, lowered its 2025–26 inflation forecast to 2%, and signalled flexibility in its forward guidance.
  • This prompted economists to expect another rate cut in February.
  • RBI Governor Malhotra noted that underlying price pressures are even weaker than headline inflation suggests. 
  • Economists anticipate growth moderation in the second half of 2025–26 due to factors such as reduced government spending and the impact of the 50% U.S. tariff on Indian exports. 
  • RBI also acknowledged that growth will “soften somewhat”. It now projects GDP growth to drop to 7% in Q3 and 6.5% in Q4 of 2025–26.

RBI’s New Approach to the Rupee: More Flexibility, Less Intervention

  • While growth and inflation have been favourable, the rupee’s sharp depreciation remains a challenge. 
  • RBI Governor avoided commenting directly on the currency’s slide during his policy statement, insisting that market fluctuations are normal and the RBI intervenes only to curb “abnormal” volatility.
  • Despite his remarks, India’s exchange rate management has shifted significantly under his tenure. 
  • The IMF recently reclassified India’s regime from “stabilised” to a “crawl-like arrangement,” noting that increased flexibility will help the economy absorb external shocks.
  • Economists broadly agree that the RBI need not aggressively defend the rupee. 
  • However, whether the current growth–inflation goldilocks phase will persist once India unveils its new GDP and inflation series in February 2026 remains an open question.

Balancing Growth Momentum and Future Risks

  • The document emphasises that the RBI’s move is best understood against a backdrop of:
    • Tariff-related risks from the U.S.
    • Ongoing geopolitical tensions
    • Volatile global markets
    • Potential balance-of-payments pressures
  • By cutting rates now, the RBI strengthened domestic demand while acknowledging uncertain global headwinds.

Source: IE | FE | ET

Goldilocks Phase FAQs

Q1: Why does the RBI call this a ‘goldilocks’ period?

Ans: Because India simultaneously enjoys benign inflation near 2% and robust GDP growth near 8%, giving policymakers unusual flexibility for supportive monetary action.

Q2: Why did the RBI cut rates despite strong GDP data?

Ans: Sharp, broad-based disinflation created room for easing. With inflation below the 2–6% target band, policy consistency required cutting rates to maintain credibility.

Q3: What is the logic behind further rate cuts?

Ans: RBI lowered inflation forecasts to 2% and signalled flexibility. Economists expect slowing growth ahead, making another cut likely to support domestic demand.

Q4: How has RBI’s approach to the rupee changed?

Ans: The central bank now allows greater exchange-rate flexibility, intervening only to curb abnormal volatility. IMF reclassified India’s regime as a “crawl-like arrangement.”

Q5: What risks still weigh on RBI policy?

Ans: Geopolitical tensions, U.S. tariffs, global slowdown, and potential balance-of-payments pressures could challenge the sustainability of the goldilocks phase.

DRDO Rocket-Sled Ejection Test: How India Boosted Fighter Pilot Safety

December 6, 2025
Rocket-Sled Ejection Test

Rocket-Sled Ejection Test Latest News

  • The DRDO successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test on December 2 to evaluate a fighter aircraft’s escape (ejection) system under controlled conditions. 
  • This milestone places India among the few nations with the capability to test such systems indigenously and at high speeds.
  • The test demonstrates India’s growing self-reliance in advanced aerospace safety technologies and highlights the importance of having a dynamic test facility to validate and improve pilot-escape mechanisms essential for fighter aircraft operations.

How DRDO Conducted the Rocket-Sled Ejection Test

  • The test was jointly carried out by DRDO, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at DRDO’s Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh.
  • The rocket-sled system replicates high-speed, in-flight aerodynamic conditions on the ground. 
  • Using a dual-sled setup, the forebody of the indigenous LCA was mounted and accelerated along rail tracks. 
  • Through the phased firing of multiple solid rocket motors, the system achieved a precisely controlled speed of 800 km/h, enabling accurate evaluation of the aircraft’s escape system under realistic conditions.

Why Dynamic Ejection Tests Are More Challenging

  • Dynamic ejection tests simulate real flight conditions, unlike static tests conducted at zero altitude and zero speed. 
  • They are the true benchmark for validating pilot escape systems because they must replicate complex, high-speed aerodynamic forces.
  • These tests evaluate:
    • Ejection seats powered by explosive cartridges and rocket motors
    • Canopy severance systems that safely clear the cockpit before ejection
    • Perfect sequencing of seat firing, stabilisation, and parachute deployment
  • Survival depends on millisecond-level precision, making the process extremely sensitive.

Extreme Aerodynamic Forces and Real-World Scenarios

  • Emergency ejections may occur during:
    • Low or high altitude
    • Zero speed or supersonic flight
    • Aircraft spin or inverted flight
  • The systems must function flawlessly across all conditions, as incorrect sequencing or timing can cause severe injuries. 
  • Hence, flight-like testing is essential to meet global safety standards.

Use of Human-Like Test Dummies for High-Fidelity Data

  • The test employed instrumented anthropomorphic dummies equipped with sensors to measure:
    • Physical loads
    • Rotational forces (moments)
    • Accelerations experienced during ejection
  • This helps simulate the full sequence of pilot ejection and recovery under realistic conditions.

A Major Strategic Leap in Fighter Aircraft Safety

  • India’s successful indigenous test of a fighter aircraft escape system marks a significant strategic milestone.
  • Ejection systems are among the most critical life-saving mechanisms in combat aircraft, directly determining pilot survivability during emergencies.

Reduced Dependence on Foreign Testing Ecosystems

  • Previously, India relied on foreign test facilities to assess ejection systems—an expensive and time-consuming process.
  • Indigenous testing now costs one-fourth to one-fifth of overseas testing, making development more economical and efficient.

Faster Development and Certification for Current and Future Aircraft

  • By possessing an in-house dynamic ejection test facility, India can now:
    • Design and certify escape systems domestically
    • Upgrade mechanisms for future fighter platforms
    • Shorten development cycles and reduce external bottlenecks
  • This enhances India’s aerospace self-reliance.

High-Fidelity Safety Data Through Realistic Simulation

  • Instrumented anthropomorphic dummies allow India to precisely measure:
    • Loads
    • Accelerations
    • Impact forces
  • Such data is crucial for optimising pilot safety across different emergency scenarios.

Advanced RTRS Capabilities Already Supporting National Missions

  • The Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) at TBRL, operational since 2014, can test systems at supersonic speeds.
  • Earlier in February, the facility successfully tested Gaganyaan drogue parachutes, firing two parachutes simultaneously to simulate real descent conditions.
  • The upgraded escape system test facility now includes:
    • High-speed cameras
    • State-of-the-art measurement systems
    • A dynamic test environment matching global benchmarks

Source: IE | PIB | NDTV

Rocket-Sled Ejection Test FAQs

Q1: What did DRDO’s rocket-sled ejection test achieve?

Ans: The high-speed test validated India’s indigenous fighter escape system, proving critical mechanisms like ejection sequencing and canopy severance under realistic aerodynamic conditions.

Q2: How was the test conducted at the RTRS facility?

Ans: Using a dual-sled system, DRDO propelled an LCA forebody to 800 km/h through phased rocket firing, simulating in-flight stresses during emergency ejection.

Q3: Why are dynamic ejection tests essential?

Ans: They replicate high-speed, high-force conditions—unlike static tests—ensuring ejection seats and safety systems function millisecond-perfect across altitude, speed, and aircraft attitude variations.

Q4: What strategic benefits does indigenous testing provide?

Ans: India reduces dependence on foreign facilities, cuts testing costs to one-fourth, accelerates certification, and enhances self-reliance in fighter safety technologies.

Q5: How does the RTRS contribute to national missions?

Ans: The RTRS supports supersonic testing and previously validated Gaganyaan parachutes, offering advanced imaging and measurement systems for aerospace safety development.

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