Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 28&29 December, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
28&29 December, 2025

National Affairs

1. Kavach System

Source: TH

Context:

The Indian Railways has missed the December 2025 deadline for operationalising the Kavach automatic train protection system on the Mumbai–Delhi and Delhi–Howrah (Kolkata) routes. The Railways now expects completion sometime in 2026

What is KAVACH?

KAVACH is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system of Indian Railways, designed to prevent train collisions, over-speeding, and signal passing at danger (SPAD).

Key Objectives

• Enhance passenger safety
• Avoid head-on and rear-end collisions
• Automatically apply brakes when the loco pilot fails to respond
• Support safer operations in high-density rail corridors

How KAVACH Works

• Uses a combination of radio frequency communication, trackside equipment, and on-board systems in locomotives.
• Continuously exchanges data between:
  • Trains
  • Signals
  • Trackside devices
• If danger is detected (collision risk, red signal breach, overspeeding), automatic braking is triggered.

Major Features

• Collision avoidance between trains on the same track
• Automatic braking on signal overshoot
• Speed regulation as per track and signal conditions
• SOS alert capability for emergency situations
• Works in low visibility conditions (fog, rain, night)

2. Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR)

Source: TH

What is the News?

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has established a 24×7 Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) to fast-track grievance redressal for air passengers and strengthen crisis response in civil aviation.

What is Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR)?

The Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) is a permanent, round-the-clock integrated control centre that:

• Monitors aviation operations in real time
• Enables immediate resolution of passenger grievances related to:
  • Flights
  • Airports
  • Airlines

Objectives of PACR

• Place passengers at the centre of India’s civil aviation ecosystem
• Ensure fast, transparent and accountable grievance redressal
• Institutionalise a coordinated crisis-response mechanism during:
  • Flight delays
  • Cancellations
  • Large-scale disruptions

3. PARAM Rudra Supercomputer Unveiled at IIT-Patna

Source: TOI

What is the News?

On 26 December 2025, the PARAM Rudra supercomputer was inaugurated at Indian Institute of Technology Patna, marking the first PARAM Rudra High-Performance Computing (HPC) system in Bihar.

About PARAM Rudra

• PARAM Rudra is a state-of-the-art supercomputer developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
• It is part of India’s indigenous PARAM series of supercomputers.
• High-performance computing power for complex simulations and data-intensive research
• PARAM → Sanskrit for supreme / ultimate
• Rudra → Vedic name of Lord Shiva

Framework & Development

• Developed under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)
• Fully indigenously built using:
  • Rudra servers
  • Indian software stack
• Strengthens Atmanirbhar Bharat in HPC and advanced computing

The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)

The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) is a flagship initiative of the Government of India to build a world-class supercomputing infrastructure, strengthen high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities, and support advanced research and innovation across the country.

Launch & Nodal Agencies

• Launched: 2015
• Implemented by:
  • Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• Executing Agency: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
• Technical Partner: Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

4. PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation)

What is the News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon States to replicate the Centre’s PRAGATI platform, establish Data Strategy Units, and create deregulation cells to strengthen outcome-oriented, data-driven governance.

The remarks were made at the National Conference of Chief Secretaries, a forum for Centre–State coordination.

What is PRAGATI?

PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) is a technology-enabled governance platform launched in 2015 by the Prime Minister’s Office. PRAGATI is a technology which ensure fast-track decision-making and effective implementation of critical government projects.

Core Functions

• Real-time monitoring of infrastructure projects & flagship schemes
• Direct interaction between:
  • Prime Minister
  • Union Secretaries
  • State Chief Secretaries

5. Gandikota Canyon: India’s ‘Grand Canyon’ with Untapped Heritage Potential

Why in News?

Gandikota Canyon has drawn renewed attention as a spectacular but underdeveloped natural–heritage site, even as the state explores plans to enhance tourism infrastructure.

What is Gandikota Canyon?

Gandikota Canyon is a dramatic river gorge carved by the Penna (Pennar) River, renowned for its steep cliffs and striking geological formations.
It is often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of India.”

Location

• Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh
• Around:
  • 77 km from Kadapa town
  • 300–380 km from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai
• Situated within the Erramala Hills
• Lies along the banks of the Penna River

6. Kanger Valley National Park

Why in News?

The Chhattisgarh government, with support from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has initiated detailed biodiversity surveys at Kanger Valley National Park as part of efforts to seek its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What is Kanger Valley National Park?

Kanger Valley National Park is a biodiversity-rich protected area known for:

• Dense forests
• Subterranean limestone caves
• Waterfalls
• Highly diverse ecosystems

It is regarded as one of the most ecologically significant national parks in Central India.

Location

• Bastar district, Chhattisgarh
• About 24 km southeast of Jagdalpur
• Situated on the Jagdalpur–Darbha Road
• Lies within the Deccan biogeographical zone
• Named after the Kanger River, which flows through the park

7. Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise 2025 (RPREX-25)

What is the News?

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise 2025 (RPREX-25) off the coast of Mumbai, Maharashtra, in December 2025.

ICG is the central coordinating authority for marine pollution response in India.

Objective of RPREX-25

• To test and validate preparedness of all stakeholders in:
  • Oil spill response
  • Marine pollution containment
• To assess:
  • Inter-agency coordination
  • Equipment readiness
  • Real-time communication during pollution emergencies

About RPREX-25

Exercise Design

The exercise followed a two-phase approach:

Phase I: Planning & Coordination

• Initial Planning Conference (IPC) held on 18 December 2025
• Included:
  • Technical lectures on oil spill response
  • Table-top exercise to coordinate strategies among agencies

Phase II: Full-Scale Sea Exercise

• Conducted at sea off Mumbai coast
• Tested:
  • Hardware
  • Trained personnel
  • Communication systems
• Simulated real-time oil spill recovery operations

Banking/Finance

1. Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025

Context:

The Indian Parliament has passed the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, introducing wide-ranging changes to insurance laws that had remained largely static for decades.

The reforms significantly liberalise the sector but raise concerns about whether consumer protection has been sidelined.

Key Provisions of the Amendment Bill

1. 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

The most significant change is raising the FDI cap in Indian insurance companies from 74% to 100% of paid-up equity. This allows full foreign ownership under the automatic route, intended to attract capital, global expertise, and innovation.

2. Liberalisation of Reinsurance

The Bill lowers net-owned fund requirements for foreign re-insurers from ₹5,000 crore to ₹1,000 crore, making it easier for global reinsurers to establish a presence in India and deepen the reinsurance market.

3. Stronger Regulatory Powers for IRDAI

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) gets enhanced powers to:

• Investigate violations
• Curb unethical practices such as mis-selling and undisclosed commissions
• Improve transparency and supervision

This is meant to strengthen consumer protection and oversight.

4. Policyholders’ Rights and Protection Measures

New provisions include:

• Policyholders’ Education and Protection Fund to enhance awareness and safeguard interests
• Stricter requirements for disclosures so buyers understand products better
  These are designed to improve informed decision-making by consumers.

5. Ease of Doing Business

The Bill simplifies compliance procedures, expands regulatory definitions (e.g., of “insurance intermediary”), and reduces bureaucratic hurdles, helping insurers grow and innovate.

6. Operational Autonomy for LIC

LIC gets greater freedom to open zonal offices and manage regional operations without prior government approval, expediting its organisational flexibility.

2. Aryaman Finance Receives CoR from RBI to Operate as NBFC

Source:

What is the News?

In December 2025, Aryaman Finance (India) Limited (AFIL) received a Certificate of Registration (CoR) from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to commence operations as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).

AFIL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aryaman Financial Services Limited (AFSL).

Regulatory Basis

• Authority: RBI
• Legal Provision:
  • Registration granted under Section 45-IA of the RBI Act, 1934
• This section mandates mandatory registration for entities seeking to operate as NBFCs in India.

NBFC Category Assigned

Type-II NBFC–ND–ICC

AFIL has been classified as a:

• Non-Deposit Taking NBFC (ND)
• Investment and Credit Company (ICC)

Meaning:

• Cannot accept public deposits
• Can undertake:
  • Lending
  • Investment activities
  • Other permitted financial services

Permitted Functions of AFIL

As a Type-II NBFC-ND-ICC, AFIL can:

• Provide loans and advances
• Make investments in securities
• Undertake credit-related financial services
• Operate under RBI’s prudential norms, governance standards and compliance framework

About the Parent Company (AFSL)

• Securities and Exchange Board of India-registered Category-I Merchant Banker
• Core activities include:
  • Lead management & syndication of:
    • IPOs
    • FPOs
    • Rights issues
  • Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE)
  • Venture Capital (VC) funding
  • Other capital-raising activities

Entry into NBFC space enables business diversification beyond capital markets.

3. Canara HSBC Life Insurance Partners with Equitas Small Finance Bank

What is the News?

Canara HSBC Life Insurance has entered into a strategic bancassurance partnership with Equitas Small Finance Bank to expand life insurance access across India.

What is Bancassurance?

Bancassurance is a distribution model in which banks sell insurance products (life, health, and general insurance) to their customers, acting as corporate agents, brokers, or referral partners of insurance companies. It leverages the bank’s wide branch network, customer trust, and data to expand insurance coverage.

Insurance Products Offered

• Life protection plans
• Savings plans
• Annuity & retirement products
• Child plans
• Investment-linked insurance policies

4. PayNearby Gets NPCI TPAP Licence; Launches ‘Saathi’ App

What is the News?

Fintech firm PayNearby has received a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) licence from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Following this, it launched the PayNearby Saathi App.

What is TPAP?

• TPAPs are non-bank entities authorised to:
  • Provide UPI-based payment services
  • Operate payment apps under NPCI’s framework

Features of PayNearby Saathi App

UPI & Banking

• UPI-enabled savings accounts
• Digital payments

Investment Products

• Fixed Deposits (FD)
• Recurring Deposits (RD)
• Gold
• Mutual Funds

Credit Products

• Personal loans
• Gold loans
• Business loans
• Credit cards

About NPCI

• Founded: 2008
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe
• Umbrella organisation for:
  • UPI
  • RuPay
  • IMPS
  • FASTag

Facts To Remember

1. Documentary filmmaker S. Krishnaswamy passes away

Internationally acclaimed documentary and television filmmaker S. Krishnaswamy, who produced over 900 non-fiction films, including the famed Indus Valley to Indira Gandhi, passed away on Sunday evening at a hospital in Chennai. He was 88.

2. Carlsen, Goryachkina Claim World Rapid Titles; Indians Shine with Bronze

At the World Rapid Chess Championship, Magnus Carlsen (Open) and Aleksandra Goryachkina (Women) won the gold medals. India secured two bronzes through Arjun Erigaisi (Open) and Koneru Humpy (Women).

Women’s Section

• Gold: Aleksandra Goryachkina
• Silver: Zhu Jiner
• Bronze: Koneru Humpy

Notable Indian performances:

• B Savitha Shri finished 4th after starting as the 67th seed.
• R Vaishali – 5th
• Divya Deshmukh – 8th
• D Harika – 19th

3. Tripura Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen Passes Away

In December 2025, Biswa Bandhu Sen, the Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, passed away at the age of 72 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Below are three crisp, exam-ready Current Affairs notes, structured for UPSC | State PCS | SSC | Polity | Governance | Social Sector.
(Text-only, no images.)

4. Amit Shah Inaugurates Anti-Terrorism Conference 2025

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the two-day Anti-Terrorism Conference–2025 in New Delhi.

5. Delhi Launches ‘Atal Canteen’ Scheme to Provide Meals at ₹5

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the ‘Atal Canteen’ Scheme in New Delhi.

The launch coincided with the 101st birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

About Atal Canteen Scheme

• Provides nutritious meals at ₹5
• Target beneficiaries:
  • Urban poor
  • Daily wage workers
  • Economically vulnerable groups
• Named in honour of Atal Bihari Vajpayee

6. JP Nadda Lays Foundation of India’s First PPP-Based Medical Colleges

Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav laid the foundation stone of two medical colleges in Dhar and Betul districts of Madhya Pradesh.

7. India Successfully Tests K-4 SLBM from INS Arighaat

India successfully test-fired the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Visakhapatnam.

Key Features of K-4 Missile

• Type: Intermediate-range SLBM
• Range: ~3,500 km
• Origin: Derived from Agni-III
• Warhead Capability: ~2.5-ton nuclear warhead
• Launch Method: Underwater ejection technology
• Platform: Arihant-class nuclear submarines

8. Indian National Congress Marks 140th Foundation Day

The Indian National Congress (INC) marked its 140th Foundation Day on 28 December 2025, prompting reflection on its role in India’s freedom struggle and post-Independence political evolution.

• Founded: 28 December 1885
• Founder: A. O. Hume (with Indian nationalists)
• Foundation Place: Bombay (now Mumbai)
• Foundation Day 2025: 140th anniversary

9. ISRO to Develop a Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is in the process of developing a third launch pad at its spaceport in Sriharikota, as part of preparations to support heavier and next-generation launch vehicles, according to a senior ISRO scientist.

10. RBI Approves Re-Appointment of Ratan Kumar Kesh as ED of Bandhan Bank

On 26 December 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the re-appointment of Ratan Kumar Kesh as Executive Director (ED) of Bandhan Bank.

11. Flower Lady of Manipur’ Praised in Mann Ki Baat

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi praised Chokhone Krichena, popularly known as the “Flower Lady of Manipur”, during Mann Ki Baat for transforming floriculture into a tool of self-reliance, women empowerment and inclusive growth.

About Chokhone Krichena (Flower Lady of Manipur)

• Chokhone Krichena
• A woman entrepreneur from Senapati district, Manipur
• Known for pioneering floriculture in the hill regions of the state

12. Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy win bronze at 2025 FIDE World Rapid Championships

In Chess, India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy won the bronze medals in the men’s and women’s sections, respectively, as Magnus Carlsen and Alexandra Goryachkina won the titles in the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Women’s World Rapid Championships played in Doha, Qatar.

13. Former England cricketer Hugh Morris dies at age of 62

Former England cricketer Hugh Morris passed away at the age of 62 yesterday. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January 2022.

14. French actor and singer Brigitte Bardot passes away at 91

French actor and singer Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91. Bardot shot to international fame in 1956 with ‘And God Created Woman’.

15. Important Day: International Cello Day

Date

• 29 December

About International Cello Day

• Celebrates the cello, a prominent string instrument of the violin family
• Highlights:
  • Rich tonal depth
  • Versatility across musical genres
• Observed to:
  • Promote awareness of the cello
  • Encourage young musicians to learn the instrument