Daily Current Affairs: 18 December 2025

Ashwini Kumar Tewari re-appointed as Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI).

[State Bank of India (SBI)]

Key Updates:

• Ashwini Kumar Tewari has been re-appointed as Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI) with effect from the date of his assumption of charge beyond his currently notified term ending on January 27 2026, till the date of his superannuation that is December 31 2027.
• This is the second time that Tewari got a two-year extension, the first extension having been granted in 2024.
• He was initially appointed as MD of SBI in January 2021 for a three-year term.

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) Won Two PRSI National Awards 2025

[National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)]

Key Updates:

• The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), operating under the Ministry of Culture, was honored with two PRSI National Awards 2025 by the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI).
• NCSM received the awards in the categories of 'Best Use of Social Media in a Corporate Campaign' for the Har Ghar Museum initiative and 'Special/Prestige Publication Category' for the Waste to Art publication.
• The awards were presented during the 47th All India Public Relations Conference held from December 13 to 15, 2025, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• The theme of the conference was “Empowering Growth, Preserving Roots – The PR Vision for 2047”.
• Shri Rajib Nath, Director (Hqrs.) of NCSM, and Shri Satyajit N. Singh, Public Relations Officer of NCSM, received the awards on behalf of the organization.
• The award-winning Waste to Art initiative involved repurposing over 1,250 kg of waste, including metal scrap and discarded electronics, into art installations and science exhibits.
• The Har Ghar Museum campaign achieved significant digital outreach, recording over 10 million views across platforms and engaging more than 1 million individuals.

Ambani Family emerged as the lone Indian entrant on Bloomberg’s 2025 list of world’s richest families

Key Updates:

• The Ambani family emerged as the only Indian representative on Bloomberg’s 2025 ranking of the world’s 25 wealthiest families, with an estimated net worth of $105.6 billion.
• Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, oversaw the conglomerate with interests in energy, petrochemicals, telecom, digital platforms, and sustainability-linked businesses.
• Dhirubhai Ambani founded Reliance in the 1950s, building it into one of the largest corporate groups in India.
• The Walton family of the United States (US), owners of Walmart, topped the list with a combined net worth of $513.4 billion and a network of more than 10,750 stores worldwide.
• The Al Nahyan family of Abu Dhabi, the ruling family of the emirate that controls most of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oil reserves, ranked second with an estimated net worth of $335.9 billion.
• The wealth of the Al Nahyan family grew under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with investments spanning artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies.
• Sheikh Tahnoon oversaw assets reportedly worth $1.5 trillion for the Al Nahyan family.
• The Al Saud family of Saudi Arabia followed with an estimated fortune of $213.6 billion, largely tied to Saudi Aramco.
• A significant share of the Al Saud family's wealth was concentrated among senior royals, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
• The Al Thani family of Qatar, with a net worth of $199.5 billion, offered a luxury Boeing 747 to the Trump administration for temporary use as Air Force One.
• The Hermes family of Europe ranked among the top global dynasties with a net worth of $184.5 billion, retaining control of the luxury house known for the Birkin handbag.
• The Koch family of the US was estimated to be worth $150.5 billion through its ownership of Koch Industries, which operates in sectors ranging from chemicals and oil refining to paper and ranching.
• The Mars family, owners of Mars Inc., had a net worth of $143.4 billion and expanded through the 2025 purchase of snack maker Kellanova.
• The Wertheimer family, owners of luxury fashion house Chanel, possessed a wealth of $85.6 billion, buoyed by continued demand for high-end goods.
• The Thomson family of Canada, which controls Thomson Reuters, was worth $82.1 billion, with an empire dating back to the 1930s when Roy Thomson acquired his first radio station.

Gil Gerard died at 82

Key Updates:

• Gil Gerard played television’s sci-fi hero William “Buck” Rogers in NBC’s “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.”
• He died in hospice as a result of a rare, aggressive form of cancer.
• He was featured in a number of other TV shows and movies, including starring roles in the 1982 TV movie “Hear No Evil” and the short-lived “Sidekicks” in 1986.

Nicholas Hum, Australian Paralympic bronze-medallist long jumper, passes away

[Australia]

Key Updates:

• Nicholas Hum, a Paralympic bronze-medallist long jumper, passed away at the age of 32.
• Australian Athletics confirmed his death on social media.
• Hum competed in three Paralympic Games and five World Para Athletics Championships.
• He held the Australian long jump T20 record at 7.39 meters.
• He retired from competitive athletics just over a year before his death.

Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha

Key Updates:

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha, a gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan dedicated to the recipients of the Param Vir Chakra.
• The gallery features portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, commemorating their exceptional acts of valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during war.
• The Param Vir Dirgha replaces colonial-era displays of British Aides-de-camp (ADCs) that were previously housed in the corridors of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• The inauguration was held on Vijay Diwas, an occasion observed on December 16 to commemorate India’s victory in the 1971 war and the liberation of Bangladesh.
• President Droupadi Murmu stated that Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s strength, discipline, and deterrence to the world.

Elon Musk became first person to reach net worth of 600 billion dollars

Key Updates:

• Elon Musk holds an estimated 42 per cent stake in SpaceX.
• SpaceX could go public with a valuation of 800 billion dollars.
• SpaceX is expected to go public next year.
• Musk’s 12 per cent stake in Tesla is currently worth 197 billion dollars.
• Tesla shareholders approved a 1 trillion dollar compensation plan for Musk.

Sai Jadhav became the first woman officer to graduate from the Indian Military Academy (IMA)

Key Updates:

• At 23, Lieutenant Sai Jadhav became the first woman officer to pass out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.
• She was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army, becoming the first woman officer from the IMA to join the branch.
• Jadhav became the fourth generation of her family to serve in the military, following her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father, Sandeep Jadhav.
• She completed six months of intensive training at the IMA, which has commissioned more than 67,000 officers since its inception in 1932.
• Her schooling began in the Belgaum district of Karnataka and continued across several states.
• She entered the IMA after receiving special permission and clearing a national-level exam followed by the Service Selection Board.
• Her parents pinned the rank stars on her shoulders during the passing out parade.
• Currently, eight women officer cadets were undergoing training in the Indian Army as part of the first batch selected through the National Defence Academy 2022 intake.

Prafulla Govinda Baruah passed away as Editor of The Assam Tribune.

Key Updates:

• Prafulla Govinda Baruah died due to old age-related ailments at a Guwahati hospital.
• He was the editor of The Assam Tribune, North East's oldest English daily.
• He was a Padma Shri awardee and helmed the newspaper for decades.
• He was the Chairman Emeritus of The Assam Tribune Group.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) reduces mandatory annuity purchase to 20% for non-government NPS subscribers.

[Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)]

Key Updates:

• Non-government subscribers under All Citizen Model and Corporate NPS can now withdraw up to 80% of corpus as lump sum.
• Mandatory annuity purchase requirement reduced from 40% to 20% of accumulated pension wealth.
• For corpus up to ₹8 lakh, entire amount can be withdrawn as lump sum with annuity purchase optional up to 20%.
• For corpus between ₹8 lakh and ₹12 lakh, lump sum withdrawal capped at ₹6 lakh with balance available for annuity or systematic unit withdrawal over six years.
• For corpus above ₹12 lakh, minimum 20% must be used for annuity purchase while up to 80% can be withdrawn as lump sum.

JP Morgan (JPM) to open Asia’s largest Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Mumbai

[JP Morgan (JPM)]

Key Updates:

• JP Morgan (JPM) will establish Asia’s largest Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Mumbai.
• The GCC will cover 2 million square feet in Powai, Mumbai.
• The centre is expected to employ up to 30,000 professionals.
• JP Morgan has leased nearly 1 million square feet of office space in India within the last two years.
• India currently hosts the highest number of GCCs globally.

Google Pay and Axis Bank launch FLEX co-branded RuPay credit card with UPI link support.

[Google Pay, Axis Bank]

Key Updates:

• Google Pay launched FLEX, a fully digital, UPI-powered co-branded credit card with Axis Bank built on the RuPay network.
• Users can link the FLEX card to UPI accounts inside Google Pay and scan QR codes for credit-powered merchant payments.
• The card offers instant cashbacks or rewards instead of monthly billing-cycle credits.
• Eligible users can apply and receive a virtual card within minutes at zero cost directly inside the Google Pay app.
• Google Pay introduced Pocket Money on the UPI Circle framework, letting parents set monthly spending limits up to ₹15,000 or approve each child transaction.
• Google Pay now prompts customers to rate small merchants immediately after transactions to build unified customer ratings.
• A GenAI-powered Ads tool within Google Pay for Business lets small merchants create, preview, and launch ad campaigns in minutes.

Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah launches Sahakar Sarathi to digitally empower rural cooperative banks.

[Union Minister for Home and Cooperation]

Key Updates:

• Sahakar Sarathi Private Limited is a shared-services technology platform designed to revolutionise India’s rural cooperative banking ecosystem.
• The platform unveiled 14 digital products including Sahakar Setu, digiKCC, ePACS, Cooperative Governance Index and the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan Portal.
• Expert-as-a-Service modules launched under the platform are CISO Sarathi, Tax Sarathi, CBS Sarathi, Regulatory Compliance Sarathi and Shiksha Sarathi.
• Additional services include AI-driven Cross Sell Sarathi, Campaign Sarathi, unified Collections Sarathi call-centre service and bank.in migration support.
• NABARD–BCG report The Future of Rural Banking released, outlining a strategic roadmap to enhance rural credit and strengthen cooperative banking institutions.
• Rural economy budget has grown 3.75 times since 2014, reflecting the government’s commitment to India’s villages.
• Government targets 50 crore Indians participating in cooperatives, tripling their contribution to India’s GDP.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records India unemployment rate at 4.7%

[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) published the November Periodic Labour Force Survey showing an unemployment rate of 4.7% for Indians aged 15 years and above.
• Rural unemployment declined to 3.9% and urban unemployment to 6.5%.
• Male unemployment dropped to 4.6% and female unemployment to 4.8%.
• Labour Force Participation Rate reached 55.8%, the highest in the available monthly data.
• Youth unemployment for ages 15-29 fell to 14.1% from 14.9% in October.

State Bank of India (SBI) signs €150-million credit line with KfW for green energy projects

[State Bank of India (SBI)]

Key Updates:

• State Bank of India (SBI) will sign a €150 million credit line with KfW, the German development bank, for financing climate-friendly energy generation projects.
• The agreement is scheduled to be signed on December 16, 2025, at the KfW headquarters in Frankfurt.
• SBI reported a 3% year-on-year increase in Net Interest Income (NII) to ₹42,985 crore for the quarter ended September.
• The net profit of SBI for the September quarter increased by 10% year-on-year to ₹20,160 crore.
• The shares of SBI have gained 21.91% in the past six months and 21.8% in the year so far.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) approves IPOs for Yashoda Healthcare and six other companies.

[Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi)]

Key Updates:

• Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) granted IPO approval to seven companies: Yashoda Healthcare Services, Fusion CX, Orient Cables, Turtlemint Fintech Solutions, RSB Retail India, SFC Environmental Technologies, and Lohia Corp.
• These companies approached Sebi between May and September and obtained its observations during December 8-12.
• Market sources estimate the combined IPO proceeds to exceed Rs 6,000 crore.
• Yashoda Healthcare Services filed draft papers in September through a confidential route; its IPO size is expected between Rs 3,000 crore and Rs 4,000 crore.
• Fusion CX plans to raise Rs 1,000 crore via a fresh issue of Rs 600 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 400 crore.
• Orient Cables India Ltd aims to mobilise Rs 700 crore through a fresh issue of Rs 320 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 380 crore.
• SFC Environmental Technologies will raise Rs 150 crore through a fresh issue and an offer for sale of 1.23 crore shares.
• Lohia Corp’s IPO will be entirely an offer for sale of 4.22 crore equity shares with no fresh issue component.
• All seven companies will list their shares on BSE and NSE.

IDFC FIRST Bank launches zero-fee USD and EUR Global Savings Account for NRIs.

Key Updates:

• IDFC FIRST Bank offers the IDFC FIRST Global Savings Account in USD and EUR through GIFT City, Gujarat for Non-Resident Indians.
• Both the principal and the interest earned are freely and fully transferable to overseas bank account without any limits or restrictions.
• The account allows holding funds in USD or EUR without conversion risk and with global flexibility.
• Zero remittance fee is charged on transfers from the account.
• Interest earned is TDS exempted for NRIs on the FIRST Global Savings Account and fixed deposits.
• The USD Savings Account currently offers an attractive interest rate of 4.75%.
• Monthly interest credit results in monthly compounding interest earning for customers.
• Customers can book USD and Euro fixed deposits at attractive rates.
• A single mobile banking app manages both NRI and GIFT City Global Savings accounts.
• Integrated banking experience provides a single Relationship Manager for NRI and GIFT City banking needs.

SabhaSaar AI Tool Provides Multilingual Meeting Summaries for Gram Panchayats

Key Updates:

• Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launched SabhaSaar, an AI-powered meeting-summarization tool that generates structured Minutes of Meetings from Gram Sabha and other Panchayat meetings using audio/video recordings.
• SabhaSaar is integrated with BHASHINI, the National Language Translation Mission of MeitY, supporting 22 Indian languages for text-to-text translation and 13 Indian languages for voice-to-text transcription.
• As of 28.11.2025, a total of 92,034 Gram Panchayats have used the SabhaSaar tool for automated meeting summarization.

Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan: Sikkim opens Cho La and Dok La passes to promote border tourism

[Sikkim]

Key Updates:

• Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang opened the strategic Cho La and Dok La passes at the India-China border under the battlefield tourism initiative on December 15.
• The Centre's 'Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan' or battlefield tourism initiative seeks to open strategically significant border areas through regulated tourism to make the people aware of their historical importance.
• The opening of Cho La and Dok La is aimed at strengthening border area tourism and creating livelihood opportunities for local communities.
• The initiative is designed to create awareness of the valour and sacrifices of the armed forces and foster a sense of patriotism among the people.
• The Sikkim Tourism Department, in coordination with the Indian Army and the Centre, has established basic facilities and a two-day tour package with homestays and fixed vehicle rates for tourists.

National Energy Conservation Award 2025: Goa bags second prize in Category 4

[Goa]

Key Updates:

• Goa was awarded the second prize in category 4 of the National Energy Conservation Award 2025 by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
• The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi in the presence of Union power minister Manohar Lal and MoS (power) Shripad Naik.
• The head of the state-designated agency in Goa responsible for energy conservation and efficiency activities, Mayur Hede, received the award.
• The annual awards recognise outstanding achievements by states, Union territories, organisations, industries, and other entities in promoting energy efficiency, conservation, and sustainable practices.

Namrup-IV Ammonia-Urea Project: Rs 10,000 crore fertiliser plant to produce 12 lakh metric tonnes of urea annually

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Namrup-IV Ammonia-Urea project at the existing Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited complex.
• The brownfield fertiliser project involves an estimated investment of Rs 10,000 crore.
• The Namrup-IV plant will produce 12 lakh metric tonnes of urea annually, meeting domestic demand and enabling exports.

Deeksharambh Programme: Patriotism and Personality Development Initiative

Key Updates:

• The Deeksharambh programme was launched under the guidance of the Vice-Chancellor of Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU).
• The initiative focuses on instilling patriotism, discipline, and national pride among students while contributing to their overall personality development.
• Academic leaders noted that the programme has emerged as a model for other universities seeking to embed civic values within campus life.

Punjab Government notifies 'Holy City' status for three towns to ban liquor, meat, and tobacco

[Punjab]

Key Updates:

• The Punjab government issued a formal notification declaring the walled city of Amritsar, Sri Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo as "Holy Cities of the State of Punjab."
• The notification directs that the government will "not to allow sale of liquor, tobacco and cigarettes, and meat within the precints of walled city and municipal limits of Sri Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo."
• The state government will "allocate necessary budget, and also seek funds from the central government" for the development, cleanliness, security, and promotion of religious tourism in these cities.
• The resolution for this status was passed on November 24 during a special session to mark the "350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur."
• The three cities are home to three of the five ‘Takhts’ — "Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Amritsar), Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) and Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Sri Anandpur Sahib)."

RBI releases Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25 with 11 new data tables

[RBI]

Key Updates:

• The Reserve Bank of India released the 10th edition of 'Handbook of Statistics on Indian States, 2024-25' disseminating wide-ranging data on regional economies.
• The Handbook provides sub-national statistics on socio-demographics, health, state domestic product, agriculture, environment, prices, wages, industry, infrastructure, banking, fiscal and exports.
• Eleven new tables added: State-wise Domestic Tourist Visits; Net State Value Added (current and constant prices); State-wise Status of Ground Water Extraction; State-wise Revenue Expenditure; State-wise Capital Receipts; Market Borrowings of State Governments; State-wise Gender-wise Subscribers of NPS All Citizen; State-wise Gender-wise Enrolments under APY; State-wise Exports; State-wise Foreign Tourist Visits.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Ethiopia on December 16-17, 2025, to strengthen Brics and Global South ties

[Ethiopia]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State visit to Ethiopia on December 16-17, 2025, signals India’s diplomatic engagement with Africa, the Global South, and the expanded Brics grouping.
• India is scheduled to assume the chairmanship of Brics on January 1, 2026, with Ethiopia serving as an important member of the grouping.
• Ethiopia officially joined Brics in January 2024, along with Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• India is currently Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade standing at $571.52 million during the 2023-24 financial year.
• India has sanctioned more than $1 billion in lines of credit for Ethiopia to support projects in sectors such as rural electrification, the sugar industry, and railways.
• Around 650 Indian companies have licensed investments exceeding $5 billion in Ethiopia, with approximately $3 billion estimated to have been realised on the ground.
• The International Solar Alliance (ISA), a joint initiative between India and France, aims to mobilise $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and financing costs.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the visit will cover dimensions of India-Ethiopia ties, including parliamentary exchanges, development partnerships, and defence cooperation.

India and United Arab Emirates conduct second edition of Exercise Desert Cyclone in Abu Dhabi

[United Arab Emirates]

Key Updates:

• Exercise Desert Cyclone-II is scheduled from December 18-30 in Abu Dhabi.
• The Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel, primarily from a battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
• The UAE Land Forces contingent is represented by the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion.
• The exercise focuses on sub-conventional operations under a United Nations mandate, including peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and stability operations.
• Tactical drills include fighting in built-up areas, heliborne operations, mission planning, and integration of UAS and counter-UAS techniques.

India and Jordan agree 8-point vision to lift bilateral trade to USD 5 billion in five years

[Jordan]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed doubling India–Jordan bilateral trade to USD 5 billion over the next five years.
• Modi and King Abdullah II addressed the India–Jordan Business Forum in Amman, urging industry to convert potential into growth.
• King Abdullah II said Jordan’s free trade agreements and India’s economic strength can create an economic corridor linking South Asia and West Asia.
• Modi invited Jordanian companies to partner in India’s digital public infrastructure, IT, fintech, health-tech and agri-tech sectors.
• India and Jordan will collaborate on renewable energy, green financing, desalination and water recycling.
• Ficci and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce have an MoU to promote trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

United States orders total blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers

[United States, Venezuela]

Key Updates:

• Trump ordered 'a total and complete' blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
• Venezuela's government denounced the move as 'warmongering threats'.
• The US has seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast and conducted deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats.
• More than 30 of the 80 ships in Venezuelan waters or approaching the country were under US sanctions.
• Trump wrote that Venezuela was 'completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America'.

India Reaffirms Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam at 11th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Forum in Riyadh on December 14-15, 2025

[United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Riyadh]

Key Updates:

• India reaffirmed its commitment to the ideals of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and religious harmony at the 11th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) forum.
• The Indian delegation was led by P Kumaran, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• The forum was hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh from December 14 to 15, 2025.
• The Indian representative highlighted the nation's civilizational heritage and the long-standing belief in Sarva Dharma Samabhav, which stresses equal respect for all faiths.
• The gathering marked two decades of the UNAOC and brought together political leaders, religious representatives, civil society, youth, and media to address global divisions.

Canada implements Bill C-3 citizenship changes for 'Lost Canadians'

[Canada]

Key Updates:

• Bill C-3 became law last month and the new rules took effect on Monday, Dec. 15.
• Citizenship can now be passed down to children born or adopted abroad beyond the first generation if the Canadian parent spent at least three cumulative years in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
• Children born outside Canada before Dec. 15 who are second generation or later will be granted automatic Canadian citizenship.
• Those adopted before Dec. 15 can now apply for citizenship under the new rules.
• The 2009 first-generation limit was deemed unconstitutional by the Ontario Superior Court in December 2023; the Liberal government did not appeal.
• Intercountry adoptees remain subject to the three-year 'substantial connection' test, a point critics argue violates the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

Argentina and India strengthen agricultural research cooperation through ICAR-INTA Work Plan 2025-2027

[Argentina]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina, have signed a Work Plan 2025-2027 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agricultural research, capacity building, and technology exchange.
• The Work Plan establishes collaboration across natural resource management, sustainable agronomy including zero tillage, mechanisation, micro-irrigation and fertigation, crop and animal biotechnology, livestock improvement, production technologies for temperate and tropical crops, digital agriculture, biosafety and phytosanitary measures, and value chain development.
• Implementation will be through joint research, germplasm exchange, expert engagements, and structured training and study visits.
• Germplasm exchange will include soybean, sunflower, maize, blueberry, citrus, wild papaya species, guava, and select vegetable crops.
• Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the India–Argentina scientific partnership and agreed to annual monitoring and review to ensure effective implementation and progress.

India and Jordan conclude landmark bilateral visit on December 16, 2025

[Jordan]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a landmark two-day visit to Jordan, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• The current full bilateral visit is taking place after an interval of 37 years, following a previous transit visit in February 2018.
• India and Jordan maintain strong economic and strategic ties, with bilateral trade nearing USD 2.9 billion.
• Jordan is a key supplier of phosphates and potash to India, with cooperation also spanning fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, IT, healthcare, defence and renewable energy.
• The relationship spans political, economic and defence cooperation, as well as strong people-to-people ties, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• The visit to Jordan was the first leg of a four-day, three-nation tour that includes subsequent travel to Ethiopia and Oman.

Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Researchers Develop Green Tea-Based Nanoparticle Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease

[Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST)]

Key Updates:

• Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have identified a new pathway involving nanoparticles to treat Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
• The therapy involves nanoparticles that integrate epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) -- an antioxidant found in green tea --, dopamine -- a neurotransmitter important for mood -- and tryptophan -- an amino acid involved in many cellular functions -- into a nanoparticle called EGCG-dopamine-tryptophan nanoparticles (EDTNPs).
• Incorporation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) -- a protein crucial for the survival, growth, and function of neurons onto EDTNPs (B-EDTNPs) creates a dual-action nanoplatform that not only clears neurotoxic Amyloid Beta aggregates but also enhances neuronal regeneration.
• The research involves the synthesis of EDTNPs using biocompatible assembly techniques like pressure-assisted hydrothermal and electrostatic-based co-incubation methods to combine antioxidant, neurotransmitter, and amino acid components.
• The therapy enables it to simultaneously target amyloid aggregation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuronal degeneration -- four key pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's.

Tesla commissions first Supercharger station in Gurugram

[Tesla]

Key Updates:

• Tesla launched its first charging station in Gurugram at DLF Horizon Center.
• The Supercharging site is equipped with four V4 Superchargers with peak charging speed of 250 kW.
• Three destination chargers provide charging speed of 11 kW.
• A Model Y can add up to 275 km of range in 15 minutes using Tesla Superchargers.
• Tesla now operates three charging stations across India with 12 superchargers and 10 destination chargers.

Bannerughatta Biological Park (BBP) Imports Black-Capped Capuchin Monkeys from South Africa

[South Africa]

Key Updates:

• Bannerughatta Biological Park (BBP) in Bengaluru has imported eight black-capped capuchin monkeys — four male and four female — from South Africa's Induna Primate and Parrot Park under an animal exchange programme aimed at strengthening conservation and genetic diversity of captive species.
• Black-capped capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) are native to South America and are known for their high intelligence and social behaviour.
• The exchange programme is expected to enhance the genetic pool of the species under captive management at BBP, supporting scientific research and educational outreach.
• The monkeys have been placed in a designated quarantine facility at the park, where post-import health checks are under way.
• The animals will be moved to the zoo's display enclosures only after they complete the mandatory quarantine period and are certified fit by veterinarians.

Armed Forces Medical Services, AIIMS-RPC and MoHFW launch India’s first AI-driven community screening programme for Diabetic Retinopathy

[Armed Forces Medical Services, AIIMS-RPC, MoHFW]

Key Updates:

• MadhuNetrAI, a web-based AI tool developed by Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, enables screening, accurate grading and triaging of retinal images captured through handheld fundus cameras.
• The initiative will generate real-time data on prevalence, case numbers, and geographic distribution of Diabetic Retinopathy to guide manpower planning and resource allocation.
• Seven pilot sites—Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Dharamshala, Gaya, Jorhat, and Kochi—represent urban, rural, hilly and coastal geographies for inclusive AI-driven eye health delivery.
• Trained Medical Officers and Nursing staff will conduct large-scale community screening in resource-limited settings using handheld fundus cameras integrated with MadhuNetrAI.
• Patients detected with vision-threatening Diabetic Retinopathy will be referred to vitreoretina specialists at designated District Hospitals, coordinated by District Health Administration.

Manu Bhaker and Ojas Deotale win National Shooting and Archery titles

Key Updates:

• Manu Bhaker won the gold medal in the senior women’s 25m sports pistol event at the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) with a score of 36.
• Simranpreet Kaur Brar secured the gold medal in the junior women’s 25m sports pistol event at the 68th NSCC by shooting a score of 39.
• Maharashtra clinched the gold medal in the women’s team 25m sports pistol event with a combined score of 1726-40x.
• Ojas Pravin Deotale defeated Abhishek Verma in a shootout (30-28) to win the gold medal in the men’s individual compound event at the Senior National Archery Championship.
• Aditi Swami won the gold medal in the women’s individual compound archery event by defeating Sakshi Chaudhary with a score of 146-145.
• The All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) won the gold medal in the women’s team compound event at the Senior National Archery Championship.
• Delhi won the gold medal in the men’s team compound event, while Punjab secured the gold in the mixed team event at the Senior National Archery Championship.
• Andhra Pradesh will host the Blind Premier League in 2026, with plans to establish 26 teams across the state's districts.
• Manchester City and JAIN Sports launched a new Manchester City Football School at the JAIN Global Campus in Bengaluru.
• The 80th edition of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) Western India Squash Tournament will be held in Mumbai under the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI).

GS Delhi Aces ousts Yash Mumbai Eagles to lift maiden Tennis Premier League title

Key Updates:

• GS Delhi Aces clinched its maiden Tennis Premier League title, beating Yash Mumbai Eagles in the final.
• GS Delhi Aces sealed a dominant 51–36 overall victory.
• The final was held at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium.

SJVN CMD site visit to 900 MW Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal

[Nepal]

Key Updates:

• SJVN Limited’s Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Bhupender Gupta conducted a site visit to the 900 MW Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal.
• The project is being developed by SJVN through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company Pvt. Ltd., in the Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal.
• Upon commissioning, the project will supply 900 MW of clean energy and play a key role in meeting growing power demand and fostering long-term India-Nepal energy cooperation.

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers observed on December 17

Key Updates:

• International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is observed annually on December 17.
• The observance began in 2003 as a direct response to a tragedy in the United States.
• It was inaugurated by Dr. Annie Sprinkle and the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA (SWOP-USA).
• The first memorial vigil took place outside San Francisco City Hall, attended by fewer than 100 people.
• The day focuses on the 'Red Umbrella,' which has become the international symbol for sex worker rights.