Daily Current Affairs Quiz
19 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:
- Source: Chiantar Glacier, Hindu Kush Mountains
- Location: Northern Chitral region, Pakistan
Course:
- Begins as the Chitral/Mastuj River in Pakistan
- Enters Afghanistan at Arandu, becomes Kunar River
- Flows through Kunar & Nangarhar provinces
- Joins the Kabul River near Jalalabad
- Kabul River re-enters Pakistan
- Kabul merges with the Indus River near Attock
Countries involved:
Pakistan → Afghanistan → Pakistan (via Kabul–Indus system)
Major Tributaries:
- Pech River (significant tributary)
- Lotkoh River
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?
- Developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under MeitY.
What is DHRUV64?
- A 64-bit, dual-core, 1 GHz microprocessor.
- Designed to run operating systems and support broader industrial applications.
- Aligned with India’s goal of reducing dependence on foreign chip designs and strengthening security, supply-chain resilience, and domestic capability.
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:
- SHAKTI – IIT Madras
- AJIT – IIT Bombay
- VIKRAM – ISRO
- THEJAS64 / THEJAS32 – C-DAC
What is DIR-V?
- RISC-V based Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) programme aims to develop an indigenous suite of processors.
- DHRUV64 is the third DIR-V chip, after THEJAS32 and THEJAS64.
- RISC-V offers an open, licence-free instruction set, enabling flexibility, lower cost, and broader design freedom.
Upcoming Indigenous Chips:
- DHANUSH: 1.2 GHz quad-core, probable 28 nm process node.
- DHANUSH+: 2 GHz quad-core, expected 14/16 nm node.
Government schemes supporting indigenous fabs & chip development:
- Chips to Startup (C2S) programme – ₹250 crore outlay
- Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme
- INUP-i2i Initiative – expanding nanofabrication access and training
- India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) – approved 10 projects in 6 States with investments worth ₹1.6 lakh crore
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?
- Full form: Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society
- Launched: 2022
- Ministry: Ministry of Education, Government of India
- Focus: Adult literacy (15+ age group) through surveys, training & certification
- Five states/UTs – including Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Tripura, Mizoram, and Ladakh – have already declared 100% literacy under ULLAS.
Where Bihar Stands:
- Bihar and West Bengal are the only major states not enrolled in ULLAS.
- Bihar’s literacy rate (age 7+): 74.3% — 2nd lowest after Andhra Pradesh.
- National average: 80.9%
- Bihar has a large adult non-literate population: nearly 2 crore, including 1.32 crore women.
- The Centre says Bihar didn’t utilise ₹15.79 crore released in 2023-24 and hasn’t submitted its annual literacy plan.
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)
- National Mission on MTB-MLE
- Create a coordinated national mission supported by Centre-State institutional partnerships to implement multilingual education.
- Strengthen Language-in-Education Policies
- Operationalise clear state-level MTB-MLE policies aligned with local linguistic diversity and sociocultural needs.
- Teacher Capacity Building
- Train and recruit multilingual teachers; reform teacher education (pre-service and in-service) to integrate multilingual pedagogy.
- Learner-Centred Pedagogy
- Adopt flexible pathways that recognise students’ language backgrounds and promote confidence and comprehension.
- Community & Indigenous Knowledge Integration
- Promote community participation and embed local oral traditions, knowledge systems and cultural narratives.
- Multilingual Learning Materials
- Develop high-quality textbooks, assessments and digital/print resources across multiple Indian languages for higher grades as well.
- Gender-Responsive Approach
- Apply MTB-MLE strategies across elementary to secondary levels with inclusive, gender-sensitive focus.
- Digital Public Infrastructure
- Use digital platforms to support multilingual teaching, learning, assessments and teacher mentoring.
- Inclusive Language Technologies
- Invest in translation, speech and AI-based tools to support multilingual learning while addressing digital access gaps.
- Sustainable Financing
- Ensure predictable, equitable and long-term funding to strengthen multilingual education and language-based technologies.
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:
- Grasslands and savannahs
- Tropical/subtropical forests
- Swampy and riverine areas
- Shrublands
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
- Critically Endangered: Javan, Sumatran, Black rhino
- Vulnerable: Greater one-horned rhino
- Near Threatened: White rhino
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:
- Setting annual priorities and themes
- Convening ministerial and working-group meetings
- Hosting the Leaders’ Summit
- Guiding institutional initiatives
BRICS – Formation & Evolution
- Origins (BRIC): Began with BRIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in 2006 on the sidelines of UNGA.
- First Summit: 2009, Yekaterinburg (Russia).
- BRICS created: South Africa joined in 2011.
- Expansion: Over recent summits, new members were added.
Current Membership
Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia
Rotational System of BRICS Presidency
- Not decided by election — based on rotation, traditionally alphabetical.
- Tenure: 1 January to 31 December every year.
- Presiding country leads agenda-setting, coordination and summit organisation.
Institutional Setup
- BRICS has no permanent headquarters, functioning as an informal cooperation platform.
- New Development Bank (NDB) HQ: Shanghai, China.
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:
- United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)
Participants:
- India: 45 personnel from a battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment
- UAE: Personnel from the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion, UAE Land Forces
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:
- Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956
- SEBI Act, 1992
- Depositories Act, 1996
Purpose & Scope:
The new code aims to:
- Establish a principle-based legislative framework
- Reduce compliance burden
- Remove outdated provisions
- Standardise processes
- Improve regulatory certainty
Notable Provisions:
- Functional separation in SEBI:
- Distinct separation between SEBI’s fact-finding functions (inspections, investigations) and enforcement functions (show-cause notices, adjudication).
- Defined timelines:
- Prescribed deadlines for investigations and interim orders to ensure faster resolution.
- Expanded SEBI Board:
- Board size to increase from 9 to up to 15 members, including the chairperson.
Additional Features (Salient Points):
- Simplifies market rules and reduces paperwork.
- Introduces an ombudsperson to help investors settle unresolved disputes faster.
- Enhances transparency by requiring SEBI to consult stakeholders before rule changes.
- Strengthens governance by mandating SEBI board members to declare conflicts of interest.
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 – Santiago
Language – Spanish
Continent – South America
President – 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. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025: Ishan Kishan-inspired Jharkhand beat Haryana in final to win maiden title
Riding on captain Ishan Kishan’s power-packed century, Jharkhand steamrolled Haryana by 69 runs in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 to win their maiden title at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Thursday.
9. Ketan beats strong field, wins women’s 10m air pistol gold
Haryana’s Ketan Malik overcame a strong field, comprising Paris Olympic double medallist Manu Bhaker, to be crowned the women’s 10m air pistol National shooting champion in New Delhi
10. Safonov’s heroics under the barhands PSG the title
Russian goalkeeper Matvei Safonov saved four out of five kicks in the penalty shootout to help Paris Saint-Germain pip Flamengo 2-1 to lift the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 title.
11. FinMin unveils new logofor Regional Rural Banks
The Finance Ministry on Thursday unveiled a new logo for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to signify a single and unified brand identity. On the principle of ‘One State One RRB’, the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, has consolidated 26 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) across 11 States/Union Territories, effective from May 1, 2025.
12. India, Malaysia conclude fifth edition of Harimau Shakti military exercise in Rajasthan
The closing ceremony of the fifth edition of the joint military exercise Harimau Shakti between the Indian and Malaysian armies was held today at Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
13. President Murmu to inaugurate National Conference of State PSC chairpersons in Hyderabad
President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a two-day National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions (PSC) in Hyderabad.
14. India holds bilateral talks with 16 countries on traditional medicine at Second WHO Global Summit
AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha has said that bilateral discussions for strengthening cooperation in traditional medicine were held with around 16 countries during the Second WHO Global Summit in New Delhi.
