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India – National Current Affairs (16 December 2025)
1. Vijay Diwas 2025 Commemorated Across India
India observed the 54th Vijay Diwas on 16 December 2025, marking the historic 1971 victory over Pakistan and the liberation of Bangladesh. On 16 December 1971, Pakistani General A.A.K. Niazi surrendered with approximately 93,000 troops in Dhaka, one of the largest military surrenders since World War II. The Indian Army showcased indigenously developed technologies including AI-in-a-Box and portable communication systems under Project SAMBHAV at commemorative events. Exam Relevance: Questions about 1971 war, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, and Vijay Diwas date frequently appear in defence and general awareness sections.
2. National Herald Case: Delhi Court Grants Relief to Gandhi Family
A Delhi court on 16 December 2025 refused to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case, providing significant relief to the Gandhi family. Exam Relevance: Questions on money laundering laws, Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and recent legal cases appear in banking and SSC exams.
3. PM Modi's Three-Nation Tour to West Asia and Africa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced a three-nation tour on 15 December 2025, visiting Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. India's bilateral trade stands at $2.87 billion with Jordan (phosphates, chemicals), $12.4 billion with Oman (oil, gas, fertilizers), and approximately $500 million with Ethiopia. Discussions focus on renewable energy, IT, artificial intelligence investments, and progress toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Oman. Jordan's Crown Prince Al Husain personally drove PM Modi to the Jordan Museum. Exam Relevance: India's bilateral trade figures and diplomatic relations are important for UPSC and banking exams.
4. Raj Kumar Goyal Sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Raj Kumar Goyal as Chief Information Commissioner on 15 December 2025. This appointment is significant under the Right to Information Act, 2005, which guarantees citizens' right to access government information. Exam Relevance: Constitutional bodies, RTI Act provisions, and transparency mechanisms are frequently tested in SSC and UPSC examinations.
5. Cabinet Approves Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Bill 2025
The Union Cabinet approved the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, for introduction in Parliament's Winter Session. Major reforms include increasing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit from 74% to 100% in Indian insurance companies, reducing Net Owned Funds requirement for foreign reinsurers from ₹5,000 crore to ₹1,000 crore, and granting Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) disgorgement powers. Exam Relevance: Insurance sector reforms and FDI limits are critical for banking and economic awareness sections.
6. Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill 2025 Proposed
The government proposed the VBSA Bill, 2025, to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) with a unified regulatory commission. This aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision to streamline higher education regulation across universities and institutions. Exam Relevance: Education policy reforms and regulatory bodies are important for general studies and current affairs sections.
7. Maharashtra Launches MahaCrimeOS AI Platform
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced the statewide rollout of MahaCrimeOS AI, an advanced artificial intelligence-driven investigation platform for Maharashtra Police. Developed in partnership with Microsoft Foundry and the state's AI policing initiative MARVEL, the platform will equip all 1,100 police stations with cybercrime tools, helping process complaints faster and analyze complex data. Maharashtra became the first Indian state to launch such an AI platform in December 2025. Exam Relevance: Technology in governance, AI applications, and state initiatives frequently appear in general awareness sections.
8. Delhi Air Quality Reaches 'Severe' Category
Delhi's air quality deteriorated to 'severe' category on 15 December 2025, with Jahangirpuri recording the worst Air Quality Index (AQI) at 498 among 40 monitoring stations. Under GRAP-IV (Graded Response Action Plan) restrictions, the Delhi government mandated hybrid mode (online classes) for Classes 1-9 and 11 from 15 December. Schools in Ghaziabad, Noida, and Greater Noida implemented similar measures. Exam Relevance: Environmental issues, air quality parameters, and GRAP stages are tested in science and environment sections.
9. West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas Resigns
West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned on 16 December 2025 following controversy over mismanagement during the Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour 2025 event held on 13 December at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepted the resignation. The event witnessed heavy crowd mismanagement issues. Exam Relevance: State politics and administrative accountability questions appear in state-level examinations.
10. Journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty Elected First Woman President of Press Club of India
Journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty was elected as the first woman President of the Press Club of India, established in 1958 with headquarters in New Delhi. This milestone represents significant progress in gender representation in journalism institutions. Exam Relevance: Firsts and milestones, media institutions, and gender equality topics are common in general awareness sections.
International Current Affairs (16 December 2025)
1. Bondi Beach Terror Attack in Sydney, Australia
A father-son duo carried out a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia on 14 December 2025 during a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 people and injuring 42 others. The attackers, Sajid Akram (50) and Naveed Akram (24) from Lahore, Pakistan, were linked to Islamic State with two IS flags found in their vehicle. Police shot dead the older gunman, while the younger was arrested. This was Australia's deadliest attack since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. Exam Relevance: International terrorism, extremist groups, and global security issues are tested in UPSC and banking exams.
2. Hong Kong Court Convicts Jimmy Lai Under National Security Law
Hong Kong's High Court convicted pro-democracy campaigner and media tycoon Jimmy Lai on 15 December 2025 under Beijing's national security law on charges of collusion with foreign forces. The charge carries a possible life sentence and has drawn international attention to judicial independence concerns in Hong Kong following the 2019-2020 protests. Exam Relevance: China-Hong Kong relations and international human rights issues appear in international relations sections.
3. US, Ukraine, and Europe Agree on Security Guarantees
The United States, Ukraine, and Europe agreed on security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO's Article 5 mutual defense pact, according to two US officials on 15 December 2025. Following two days of talks in Berlin, US officials stated they had significantly closed gaps on 90% of issues between Russia and Ukraine in peace negotiations. Exam Relevance: Russia-Ukraine conflict, NATO, and international security architecture are important for UPSC and defence examinations.
4. ICC Appeals Court Upholds Decision on Gaza War Investigation
Appeal judges at the International Criminal Court on 15 December 2025 refused to overturn a lower court decision allowing the ICC prosecutor to investigate alleged crimes in Israel's war in Gaza following Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. The ruling means arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remain in place. Exam Relevance: International law, ICC jurisdiction, and Middle East conflicts are tested in international relations papers.
5. South Korea: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Investigated
Investigators concluded on 14 December 2025 that South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol plotted for over a year to impose martial law to eliminate political rivals and monopolize power, leading to his impeachment and ongoing investigation. Exam Relevance: Political developments in major economies and constitutional crises frequently appear in international current affairs.
6. Spain Fines Airbnb €64 Million
Spain's government imposed a €64 million ($75 million) fine on Airbnb on 15 December 2025 for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals, marking one of the largest penalties against the home-sharing platform in Europe. Exam Relevance: Regulatory actions, digital economy, and European Union policies are relevant for economic and international awareness sections.
7. UN General Assembly Adopts Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health
World leaders at the 80th United Nations General Assembly adopted a political declaration on 16 December 2025 to combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges through an integrated approach. Titled "Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods," this is the first declaration addressing NCDs and mental health together. Exam Relevance: WHO initiatives, global health policies, and sustainable development goals are important for UPSC and general studies.
8. US Foils New Year's Eve Terror Plot in California
FBI authorities announced on 15 December 2025 the arrest of four suspects who allegedly planned a bombing campaign in Southern California on New Year's Eve. The defendants are members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, described as an anti-government movement. Exam Relevance: International security threats and counter-terrorism efforts frequently appear in defence-related examinations.
Economy & Banking (16 December 2025)
1. RBI Monetary Policy – December 2025 Rate Cut
The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on 5 December 2025 unanimously reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% from 5.50%, marking the fourth consecutive rate cut in 2025 with a cumulative reduction of 125 basis points. The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate was revised to 5.00%, while Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) and Bank Rate stand at 5.50%. The MPC maintained a neutral stance. Headline CPI inflation fell to an all-time low of 0.25% in October 2025. Exam Relevance: Monetary policy tools, repo rate mechanism, and inflation targeting are crucial for banking examinations.
2. RBI Revises GDP and Inflation Forecasts
RBI revised India's GDP growth forecast for FY 2025-26 upward to 7.3% from the earlier 6.8%, reflecting strong domestic demand. The inflation projection was revised downward to 2.0% from 2.6%. India recorded 8.2% GDP growth in Q2 FY26, supported by industry and services sectors. Exam Relevance: Economic indicators, GDP components, and fiscal year data are heavily tested in banking and economic sections.
3. RBI Announces Liquidity Measures
RBI announced Open Market Operations (OMO) to purchase government securities worth ₹1 lakh crore in two tranches (11th and 18th December 2025), along with a 3-year USD/INR Buy-Sell swap of $5 billion on 16 December 2025, injecting durable liquidity into the banking system. Exam Relevance: Liquidity management tools and RBI operations are important for banking awareness sections.
4. Indian Rupee Hits Record Low
The Indian rupee hit a fresh record low on 16 December 2025, breaching the psychological 90-to-a-dollar level, with Nifty slipping below 26,000 and Sensex trading around 84,000-85,000 amid persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, global risk-off sentiment, and uncertainty around India-US trade deal timing. Exam Relevance: Exchange rate movements, FII flows, and currency management are tested in banking and economic sections.
5. NLC India Secures 110 MW Solar Project
NLC India received a Letter of Award (LoA) for a 110 MW solar project from the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) on 15 December 2025. Exam Relevance: Public sector undertakings, renewable energy projects, and infrastructure development are relevant for general awareness.
6. BSE Signs MoU with India Post for Mutual Fund Distribution
BSE announced it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Posts on 12 December 2025 to expand mutual fund distribution through India Post's nationwide network using BSE's StAR MF platform. The MoU has a validity of three years with renewal provisions. Exam Relevance: Financial inclusion initiatives and capital market infrastructure are important for banking examinations.
7. International Monetary Fund Releases $1.2 Billion to Pakistan
The IMF approved the release of $1.2 billion to Pakistan on 16 December 2025 to assist with recovery from an economic crisis. Pakistan has already received $3.3 billion from the IMF since 2024. Exam Relevance: International financial institutions and economic assistance programs are relevant for economic awareness sections.
Science, Technology & Environment (16 December 2025)
1. ISRO Plans BlueBird-6 Satellite Launch
ISRO is preparing to launch BlueBird-6, the heaviest US commercial satellite at 6.5 tonnes, using its LVM3 heavy-lift rocket. Originally scheduled for 15 December 2025, the launch may be postponed beyond 20 December to ensure optimal conditions. Developed by AST SpaceMobile, BlueBird-6 will provide direct-to-device broadband connectivity globally. Exam Relevance: ISRO missions, satellite technology, and commercial space launches frequently appear in science and technology sections.
2. ISRO Lines Up 7 Launches by March 2026
ISRO has scheduled seven launch missions by March 2026, including the first uncrewed flight of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, tests of indigenous electric propulsion and quantum communication systems, the GSLV-F15 mission carrying NVS-02 navigation satellite in January, GSLV-F16 mission launching NISAR (ISRO-NASA collaboration) in February, and commercial LVM3-M5 mission in March. Exam Relevance: Space missions, satellite navigation, and international space cooperation are important for science awareness.
3. ISRO Signs SSLV Technology Transfer Agreement with HAL
India's space sector marked its 100th technology transfer agreement on 10 September 2025, enabling Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to independently produce Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs). ISRO will transfer know-how over 24 months, culminating in two missions under the agreement. Exam Relevance: Technology transfer, public sector collaborations, and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives are tested in general studies.
4. Two Indian Wetlands Designated as Ramsar Sites
In December 2025, India included Siliserh Lake in Alwar district, Rajasthan (a human-made freshwater lake built in 1845), and Kopra Jalashay near Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, as its 95th and 96th Ramsar Sites under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 1971. Rajasthan now has 5 Ramsar Sites, while this is Chhattisgarh's first. Exam Relevance: Ramsar Convention, wetland conservation, and environmental treaties are crucial for environment and geography sections.
5. Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks in Mid-December
One of the strongest annual meteor showers, the Geminids, peaked in mid-December with peak visibility in India on 13-14 December 2025. Caused by debris from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, it produces bright, slow-moving meteors visible to the naked eye. Exam Relevance: Astronomical events, meteor showers, and near-Earth asteroids appear in science sections.
6. Google Launches Project Suncatcher
Google launched Project Suncatcher, a research initiative to deploy solar-powered data centers in space by 2027, responding to rising climate costs of terrestrial AI infrastructure. The aim is to develop space-based data centers to support AI computing while reducing Earth-based energy, water, and land stress. Exam Relevance: Emerging technologies, space applications, and sustainable computing are relevant for science and technology awareness.
Sports & Important Days (16 December 2025)
1. India Wins First-Ever Squash World Cup Title
India clinched its first-ever Squash World Cup title on 14 December 2025 in Chennai, defeating top-seeded Hong Kong 3-0 in the final. Key players included Joshna Chinappa (world No. 79), Abhay Singh (world No. 29), and 17-year-old Anahat Singh. India became the fifth nation and first Asian country to win a major World Squash team event, surpassing their previous bronze medal finish in 2023. This is particularly relevant as squash will make its Olympic debut at LA 2028. Exam Relevance: First achievements in sports and Olympic-related developments frequently appear in sports awareness sections.
2. IPL 2026 Schedule Announced
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be held between 26 March and 31 May 2026, roughly three weeks after the T20 World Cup. The auction for the tournament is scheduled for 16 December 2025 in Abu Dhabi. Exam Relevance: Major sporting events and schedules are common in general awareness sections.
3. Lionel Messi Concludes GOAT India Tour
Football superstar Lionel Messi concluded his GOAT India Tour 2025 on 15 December at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The 38-year-old Argentine great greeted thousands of fans, expressing gratitude for "all the love and support" received during his four-city tour covering Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. Exam Relevance: Major international sports personalities visiting India and sports tourism are relevant for general awareness.
4. Vijay Diwas – 16 December
Observed annually on 16 December to commemorate India's decisive victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. On this day in 1971, Pakistani forces surrendered in Dhaka, leading to the creation of Bangladesh. The day honors the approximately 93,000 Pakistani soldiers who surrendered, one of the largest military surrenders since World War II. Exam Relevance: National important days, historical significance, and defence-related topics are crucial for all competitive examinations.
5. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Death Anniversary
15 December 2025 marked the 75th death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. Born on 31 October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat, Patel integrated over 560 princely states into the Indian Union. The Statue of Unity in Gujarat at 182 meters is the world's tallest statue, inaugurated in 2018 to honor his legacy. Exam Relevance: Freedom fighters, national integration, and historical personalities are heavily tested in history and general awareness sections.
6. Manu Bhaker Wins Gold at Shooting Nationals
Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker won gold at the shooting nationals on 15 December 2025, continuing her stellar form in domestic competitions. Exam Relevance: Current sports achievements and Olympic medal winners are important for sports awareness.
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