Daily Current Affairs Quiz20 December, 2025 International Affairs 1. India–Oman CEPA Signed Source: TOI Context: India and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), India’s second major trade pact in West Asia after the UAE. About India–Oman CEPA Key Features Zero-duty Market Access Gains for Labour-Intensive Sectors Tariff elimination to benefit: Services Sector Liberalisation Enhanced Workforce Mobility (Mode 4) 100% FDI in Services AYUSH Access – First Global Commitment Faster Pharma Approvals National Affairs 1. ISRO to launch U.S. BlueBird Satellite Source: TH Context: ISRO is set to launch the U.S.-built BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite aboard the LVM3-M6 mission on 24 December 2025, under a commercial arrangement with AST SpaceMobile. About BlueBird Satellite 2. Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL) at 2nd WHO Global Summit Source: Times of India Context: At the closing ceremony of the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, PM Narendra Modi launched the Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL) — a first-of-its-kind international digital platform on traditional health systems. What is TMGL? Coverage Objectives About the Summit 3. Erivan Anomalous Blue Butterfly Context: Armenia has officially released the logo for COP17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), showcasing the Erivan Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus eriwanensis) — a rare butterfly endemic to the region. About Erivan Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus eriwanensis) Conservation Status 4. Ponduru Khadi receives GI Tag Context: Ponduru Khadi, a traditional handspun and handwoven cotton fabric from Andhra Pradesh, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry. Key Points About Ponduru Khadi About Andhra Pradesh Banking/Finance 1. RBI Board Approves Risk-Based Deposit Insurance Source: TH Context: The RBI’s Central Board of Directors has approved a risk-based deposit insurance framework for banks during a meeting held in Hyderabad. About the Risk-Based Deposit Insurance Framework Existing System Why Change Was Needed? RBI said the flat-rate model: The risk-based model will allow: 2. IRDAI proposes allowing insurers to invest 20% in debt of public infra SPVs Source: BS Context: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has proposed a regulatory change permitting insurers to invest up to 20% of their controlled fund in debt instruments issued by public limited Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) operating in the infrastructure sector. Key Highlights of the Proposal: What is an SPV? A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is a legally separate entity created to carry out a specific project or purpose — often used in infrastructure, real estate, energy, road, and transport projects. Public Limited SPV A public limited SPV is: 3. Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme Source: ET Context: EPFO has announced that weekends, holidays and job gaps up to 60 days will no longer be treated as a break in service while determining eligibility for insurance benefits under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme. What will now be treated as continuous service? Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme The EDLI Scheme (1976) is a compulsory life-insurance cover provided to all employees who are members of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). It ensures a lump-sum financial benefit to the nominee/legal heir in case the employee dies while in service, regardless of cause, location, or duration of employment. Key Features Facts To Remember 1. Headline CPI inflation fell to: 0.3% in October 2025 Driven mainly by declining food prices. Current inflation is below the lower bound of India’s flexible inflation targeting framework. 2. Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave her assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, the rural development ministry said. 3. ISRO conducts fresh parachute tests for Gaganyaan crew return system ISRO has successfully conducted another round of crucial parachute qualification tests to validate the crew module deceleration system for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. The tests are designed to ensure safe re-entry and landing of astronauts returning from orbit. 4. Gujarat’s Mitiyaj Becomes First Village to Run Gram Panchayat Office at Night Mitiyaj village in Gir Somnath district, Gujarat, has become the first village in the state to run its Gram Panchayat office during night hours to improve accessibility for working residents. 5. Italy Becomes First Country to Have Entire National Cuisine Recognized by UNESCO Italy has become the first country in the world to have its entire national cuisine recognised as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (Dec 2025). 6. Shafali Verma Named ICC Women’s Player of the Month – November 2025 India opener Shafali Verma won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award (Nov 2025) after her match-winning 87*(78) in the Women’s World Cup final vs South Africa in Navi Mumbai. Men’s winner (Nov 2025) Recent ICC Player of the Month Awards Men Month 2025 Winner Country Aug Mohammed Siraj India Sep Abhishek Sharma India Oct Senuran Muthusamy South Africa Women Month 2025 Winner Country Aug Orla Prendergast Ireland Sep Smriti Mandhana India Oct Laura Wolvaardt South Africa 7. Shashwat Sharma to Become MD & CEO of Airtel India Shashwat Sharma appointed MD & CEO, Airtel India, effective 1 January 2026, for a five-year term. 8. PM Modi Receives Ethiopia’s Highest Civilian Honour Honour Received “The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia”Awarded by: PM Abiy Ahmed AliVenue: Addis International Convention Centre 9. PM Modi Conferred Oman’s Highest Civilian Honour Honour Received “The First Class of the Order of Oman”Awarded by: Sultan Haitham bin TariqReason: Strengthening India–Oman ties 10. Veteran Karnataka Leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa Passes Away Obituary 11. PM Modi Extends Greetings to SSB Personnel on Raising Day Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his greetings to all personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on the occasion of its Raising Day. 12. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Leads Meditation at UN on Second World Meditation Day Recalling Lord Krishna’s teaching to Arjuna on meditation yoga in the battlefield, Indian guru and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar brought the lessons of the ancient practice to the United Nation, which encapsulates a world wracked by conflict and war. 

Daily Current Affairs Quiz19 December, 2025 International Affairs 1. Taliban Approves Water Diversion from Kunar River Context: Afghanistan’s Taliban administration has approved plans to divert water from the Kunar (Chitral) River to the Darunta Dam in Nangarhar province, triggering concerns in Pakistan about reduced downstream flows from the shared river system. The move could affect irrigation, drinking water supply, and hydropower potential in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. About the Kunar River A major transboundary Himalayan river, known as the Chitral River in Pakistan and the Kunar River in Afghanistan. It forms an important part of the Indus Basin and supports agriculture, water supply, and energy needs. Origin: Course: Countries involved:Pakistan → Afghanistan → Pakistan (via Kabul–Indus system) Major Tributaries: River Hierarchy: Kunar River → Kabul River → Indus River National Affairs 1. DHRUV64 Microprocessor Source: TH Context: On December 15, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced the launch of DHRUV64, a fully indigenous microprocessor developed under India’s Microprocessor Development Programme. The chip is positioned to strengthen India’s domestic processor ecosystem and support applications across telecom, industrial automation, and embedded systems. Who developed DHRUV64? What is DHRUV64? What is Microprocessor? A microprocessor is an integrated circuit (IC) that functions as the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer or electronic system. It acts as the brain of a device—processing data, performing calculations, and executing instructions that run programs. Part of India’s Processor Ecosystem Other indigenous chips linked to this ecosystem: What is DIR-V? Upcoming Indigenous Chips: Government schemes supporting indigenous fabs & chip development: 2. ULLAS Scheme Context: India’s goal of achieving 100% literacy by 2030, aligned with NEP 2020 and global SDG commitments, is facing a major hurdle due to Bihar’s refusal to participate in the Centre’s flagship ULLAS adult literacy programme. What is ULLAS? Where Bihar Stands: 3. UNESCO India Education Report 2025 Source: UNESCO Context: UNESCO has released its flagship report, Bhasha Matters: The State of the Education Report for India 2025, calling for a national transformation in India’s language-of-instruction framework. The report strongly advocates mother-tongue based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) to enhance equity, learning outcomes and linguistic inclusion, particularly for marginalised, tribal and multilingual learners. Key Recommendations – UNESCO (India Education Report 2025) 4. Rhino Dehorning and Conservation Context: A new international study has reported that rhino dehorning has reduced poaching in African reserves by nearly 75–78%, positioning it as a highly cost-effective anti-poaching strategy. Dehorning removes most of the rhino horn — which is made of keratin — thereby reducing the economic incentive for poachers. When combined with patrols and monitoring, it significantly raises survival rates. About Rhinoceros (Rhino) Rhinos are large, herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Rhinocerotidae. They are among the planet’s oldest megafauna, surviving since prehistoric times. Habitat Rhinos live in a range of ecosystems, depending on the species, including: Five Rhino Species Species Region Status White rhino (Ceratotherium simum) Africa Near Threatened Black rhino (Diceros bicornis) Africa Critically Endangered Greater one-horned / Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) India, Nepal Vulnerable Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) Indonesia Critically Endangered Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) Indonesia Critically Endangered Conservation Status Summary 5. Brazil Hands Over BRICS Presidency to India for 2026 Source: TH Context: Brazil has officially transferred the 18th BRICS presidency to India for the year 2026, a transition taking place amid intensifying global trade frictions and geopolitical uncertainty. About India’s BRICS Presidency 2026 India will serve as the rotating Chair of BRICS in 2026, responsible for: BRICS – Formation & Evolution Current Membership Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia Rotational System of BRICS Presidency Institutional Setup 6. India–UAE Joint Military Exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II (2025) Context: An Indian Army contingent has departed for the second edition of the bilateral joint military exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II (2025) to be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. About Exercise DESERT CYCLONE–II (2025) A bilateral joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the UAE Land Forces, focused on improving interoperability, coordination and tactical cooperation. Host Nation: Participants: Banking/Finance 1. Securities Markets Code Bill 2025 Source: ET Context: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Securities Markets Code (SMC) Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha, marking the biggest overhaul of securities market regulations in decades. The Bill aims to unify and simplify India’s securities law framework. Key Objective: The Bill will consolidate and replace three major securities legislations: Purpose & Scope: The new code aims to: Notable Provisions: Additional Features (Salient Points): Facts To Remember 1. Jyotiraditya Scindia Unveils Shivaji Statue Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated a 25-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Athani in Belagavi district, Karnataka.The event was described as symbolic of India’s values of courage, duty and self-respect. 2. Kavita Chand Scales Mount Vinson Kavita Chand from Almora, Uttarakhand, became the first woman from the state to summit Mount Vinson (4,892 m) — the highest peak in Antarctica.She is pursuing the Seven Summits challenge. 3. University of Patanjali Becomes First Yoga–Ayurveda Cluster Centre University of Patanjali has been declared India’s first Yoga and Ayurveda-based Cluster Centre under the Ministry of Culture’s Gyan Bharatam Mission.The focus is to preserve, promote and institutionalise traditional Indian knowledge systems. 4. Raj Kumar Goyal Sworn In as Chief Information Commissioner Retired IAS officer Raj Kumar Goyal (1990 batch) took oath as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC).The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. 5. José Antonio Kast Wins Chile Presidential Election Far-right leader José Antonio Kast won Chile’s 2025 presidential election with around 58% votes, defeating Jeannette Jara. About Chile:Capital – SantiagoLanguage – SpanishContinent – South AmericaPresident – José Antonio Kast 6. Minorities Rights Day – 18 December Observed in India every year to recognise and protect the rights of religious and linguistic minorities.Theme 2025 – Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials 7. Sculptor Ram Sutar passes away at 100 Ram V. Sutar, the legendary sculptor whose creations, including the Statue of Unity, defined the country’s public art landscape, was instrumental in giving Indian memorial sculpture global recognition. 8.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz18 December, 2025 National Affairs 1. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Testing Figures Report 2024 Source: IE Context: India has again topped the global doping chart, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Testing Figures Report 2024, marking the third consecutive year at No. 1 — a worrying trend for Indian sport. Key Data: Sport-Wise Highest Offenders: Global Comparison: India far exceeds doping totals of other major sporting nations: 2. AFMS Launches India’s First AI-driven Community Screening Programme for Diabetic Retinopathy Source: News on Air Context: The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) has rolled out India’s first artificial intelligence-enabled community screening programme for Diabetic Retinopathy, aimed at transforming early detection and prevention of diabetes-related blindness at scale. What is the initiative? A nation-first AI-powered screening system designed to detect and grade Diabetic Retinopathy at the community level. Developed through a collaboration between: Powered by the AI platform MadhuNetrAI. Aim of the programme Key Features 3. ISRO launches RESPOND Basket 2025 Source: TOI Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released RESPOND Basket 2025, inviting targeted research proposals from academic and research institutions across India to support its upcoming mission and technology requirements. What is RESPOND Basket 2025? A curated set of mission-oriented research problem statements, identified by ISRO and Department of Space (DoS) centres, designed to guide the academic community toward high-priority areas linked to India’s current and future space programmes. Issued by: Aim of the initiative 4. Vijay Diwas 2025 Source: TNIE Context: On Vijay Diwas 2025, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the ‘Param Vir Dirgha’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan — a dedicated gallery showcasing portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra (PVC) awardees. This installation replaces portraits of former British Aide-de-Camps, marking a significant step in India’s ongoing effort to remove colonial-era symbols and honour the nation’s own military heritage. About Param Vir Chakra (PVC) India’s highest military gallantry award, given for exceptional bravery, valour and supreme sacrifice in the presence of the enemy during wartime. Key features: Award criteria: About Aide-de-Camps (ADCs) An Aide-de-Camp is a commissioned military officer attached to high constitutional authorities such as the President, Governors, or Service Chiefs. Typical ranks: 5. India endorses Tianjin Declaration at SCO Summit 2025 Context: At the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin, China, India joined other member states in adopting the Tianjin Declaration — a comprehensive outcome document affirming deeper cooperation in Artificial Intelligence governance, research, standards and capacity building across the Eurasian region. The declaration reinforces India’s stand on equitable and responsible AI, while expanding its multilateral technology engagement within the SCO framework. About the Tianjin Declaration An outcome document adopted by the SCO Council of Heads of States at the Tianjin Summit, laying out shared priorities on security, technology, economy and institutional reforms. About SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) A permanent intergovernmental regional organisation focused on security, economic cooperation and cultural ties across Eurasia. Banking/Finance 1. SEBI Overhauls Mutual Fund Cost Framework and Stockbroking Rules Source: Mint Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has revised the cost structure for the ₹80 trillion mutual fund industry, effective 1 April 2026, to enhance transparency and ease investor understanding. Key Highlights: 1. Introduction of Base Expense Ratio (BER) 2. Brokerage Fee Reduction Brokerage is paid to stockbrokers for executing buy/sell transactions on behalf of mutual funds. Lower brokerage reduces total fund costs and may improve investor returns. 3. Exit-Load Brokerage Removed 4. Shift from TER to BER Structure Under the new system, TER = BER + brokerage + regulatory levies + statutory taxes Market Impact 5. Stockbroker Regulations Overhauled SEBI has modernised stockbroker rules for the first time since 1992. Key features: Meaning: Instead of SEBI handling routine violations, stock exchanges will directly monitor stockbrokers for compliance, reporting, and misconduct. Qualified Stockbroker (QSB) rules refined Eligibility criteria updated to ensure firms with large scale operations are subject to tighter supervision. Pledged Share Lock-in Clarity Pledged shares will now remain locked in for the required period even after pledge invocation. Why important?During IPOs, promoters must lock in shares for a fixed period. But pledged shares couldn’t technically be locked earlier, creating compliance hurdles. The change fixes this gap. 6. Debt Market Reforms Retail Participation Incentives Aim: encourage wider retail investment in bonds. HVDLE Threshold Raised High Value Debt Listed Entities (HVDLE):Classification limit increased from ₹1,000 crore to ₹5,000 crore. This eases bond issuance requirements for NBFCs, HFCs, ARCs, and others. 7. Credit Rating Expansion Credit rating agencies may now rate instruments regulated by other financial sector authorities, increasing coverage for unlisted and non-traditional debt products. 8. Unclaimed Funds Transfer Rule Revised Unclaimed amounts from non-convertible securities must now be moved to the Investor Education and Protection Fund after seven years from maturity, instead of multiple staggered transfers earlier. 9. Conflict-of-Interest Norms Deferred SEBI has postponed decisions on new rules requiring asset disclosures by officials due to privacy concerns and complexities involving spousal trading restrictions. 2. PFRDA Allows Up to 80% NPS Withdrawal Source: TOI Context: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has revised NPS withdrawal rules, allowing private sector subscribers to withdraw up to 80% of their accumulated corpus, instead of the earlier 60%. The remaining 20% must be used to purchase an annuity to generate pension income. Key Changes: Tax Clarity Pending: Revised Eligibility Criteria: Full Withdrawal Limit Revised: For Corpus Between ₹8–12 Lakh: Subscribers can: 3. Amazon Pay Launches Biometric UPI Authentication Feature Context: Amazon Pay has introduced a new biometric authentication feature for UPI payments, allowing users to complete transactions using fingerprints or facial recognition. Key Highlights: Facts To Remember ICG Ship Sarthak makes first port call at Iran’s Chabahar The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Sarthak, an offshore patrol vessel, entered the Chabahar port in Iran on December 16 for a four-day visit till December 19. 2. World Tennis League A sports exhibition is a double-edged sword. There is a certain detachment that it maintains from fierce competition, which a purist may liken to trivialising. 3. Anantjeet, Darshna clinch