Daily Current Affairs: 23 December 2025

Ira 'Ike' Schab, WWII Navy veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor, died at 105.

[United States]

Key Updates:

• Ira 'Ike' Schab, one of the last remaining survivors of the 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, died at home in Beaverton, Oregon.
• He was a 21-year-old sailor aboard the USS Dobbin during the attack and helped feed ammunition to an anti-aircraft gun.
• After the war, Schab worked as an electrical engineer for General Dynamics on the Apollo spaceflight program.
• He regularly attended Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremonies to honor those who did not survive.

Jay Shah Received 'Transformational Leader Of The Year' Award at NDTV Indian Of The Year 2025

Key Updates:

• Jay Shah was honored with the 'Transformational Leader Of The Year' award at the NDTV Indian Of The Year 2025 event.
• He served as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2024.
• He took over as the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in December 2024.
• Under his leadership, the BCCI launched the Women's Premier League (WPL), which raised more than Rs 6,000 crore through sponsorship, media rights, and teams.
• He implemented pay parity for women cricketers, increasing Test match fees from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and One Day International (ODI) fees from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.
• He began his career at the Central Board of Cricket Ahmedabad in 2009.
• During his tenure at the BCCI, he oversaw the signing of record-breaking media rights deals for the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ranjana Sharma Bordoloi passed away at 80.

Key Updates:

• Ranjana Sharma Bordoloi was a veteran Assamese actress.
• She starred in popular Assamese films such as ‘Dr Bezbarua’ (1969), ‘Kokadeuta Nati aru Hati’ (1983), ‘Maniram Dewan’ (1964), ‘Morom Trishna’ (1968), ‘Loti-Ghoti’ (1966), ‘Pratidhwani’ (1964), ‘Ratanlal’ (1975), and ‘Sonmai’ (1977).
• She passed away in Dibrugarh.

BW Legal World (BWLW) Announced Winners For 6th Edition Of 40 Under 40 Lawyers And Legal Influencers Awards 2025

[BW Legal World]

Key Updates:

• BW Legal World (BWLW) announced the winners of the 6th Edition of the 40 Under 40 Lawyers and Legal Influencers Awards 2025 on December 21, 2025.
• The award ceremony was hosted in Delhi and brought together rising leaders from across India’s legal and policy ecosystem.
• The 40 Under 40 Awards 2025 jury comprised distinguished individuals including Dr U.K. Chaudhary, Dr Anurag Batra, Rakhi Biswas, Pramod Dubey, and Arvind Nayar.
• The winners included Abhinav Mishra of Chambers of Abhinav Mishra, Abhisaar Bairagi of Khaitan & Co, Arjit Pratap Singh of Adani Energy Solutions, and Prateek Sethi of Bharti Group.
• The awards recognized practitioners for exceptional contributions in corporate advisory, dispute resolution, regulatory practice, technology transactions, and cross-border mandates.
• The jury also included legal experts such as Gopika Pant of Indian Law Partners, Harry Chawla of Luthra & Luthra Law Offices India, and Vani Mehta of GE Aerospace.

Ravi Deecee received the French honour Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

[France]

Key Updates:

• Ravi Deecee, the Publisher and Managing Director of DC Books, was conferred with the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).
• The Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, presented the award at a ceremony held at the Embassy of France on December 4.
• The award recognizes his commitment to multilingualism and the publication of Malayalam translations of leading French works by authors such as Annie Ernaux, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Maryse Condé.
• DC Books also manages the Vagamon Writer Residency in Kerala, which has been part of the Villa Swagatam programme of the French Embassy since its inception.
• Instituted in 1957, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres recognizes individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the promotion and enrichment of arts and culture.

Asim Munir Conferred With Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellence

[Saudi Arabia]

Key Updates:

• Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, was awarded the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellence, the highest national honour of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
• The award was conferred under a Royal Decree issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
• The Saudi leadership recognized Field Marshal Munir for his professionalism, strategic outlook, and commitment to strengthening ties between Pakistan and the KSA.
• During his official visit, Field Marshal Munir also met with Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Minister of Defence of the KSA, to discuss regional security and military cooperation.

Delaware Supreme Court Overturns Ruling Increasing Elon Musk Net Worth to $749 Billion

[Delaware Supreme Court]

Key Updates:

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk became the first person to cross the $700 billion mark, reaching a record net worth of $749 billion.
• The Delaware Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that had voided Tesla stock options worth $139 billion.
• Musk owns 12 per cent of Tesla common stock worth $199 billion, bringing his total Tesla holdings to $338 billion.
• Musk holds a 42 per cent stake in SpaceX, which is targeting an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2026 with a valuation of $1.5 trillion.
• Google co-founder Larry Page is the second-richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $253 billion.
• Tesla awarded Musk a separate pay package in November that could provide up to $1 trillion in additional stock if performance milestones are met.

Central Bank of Oman (CBO) launches first polymer one-rial banknote for circulation.

[Central Bank of Oman (CBO)]

Key Updates:

• The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has released the first polymer one-rial banknote.
• The polymer note will start circulating from January 11, 2026.
• The note measures 145 by 76 millimetres and features the Oman Botanic Garden on the front.
• The reverse side displays the Sayyid Tariq bin Taimur Cultural Complex, Duqm Port and Refinery.
• Security elements include a large transparent window and colour-shifting foil showing the frankincense tree.
• The Central Bank’s logo on the back is printed in iridescent, colour-shifting ink.
• The new polymer note will circulate alongside existing one-rial banknotes and remain legal tender.
• Limited editions of 1,000 uncut sheets and 10,000 specially packaged notes will be available from January 11, 2026 at CBO counters in Ruwi, Salalah, and Sohar, as well as Oman Post’s outlet at the Opera Galleria.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants final Payment Aggregator licence to Mswipe Technologies.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mswipe Technologies]

Key Updates:

• The licence covers both online and physical payment acceptance modes.
• Mswipe serves merchants through MPOS, Smart PoS terminals, QR soundboxes, payment gateways, and embedded digital payment services.
• Mswipe’s payments business turned adjusted profitable in the most recent financial year, recording over ₹275 crore in revenue in FY24.
• Total payment volume more than doubled year on year.

South Indian Bank (SIB) launches RuPay Contactless SIB Paytag Sticker for tap-and-pay transactions.

[South Indian Bank (SIB)]

Key Updates:

• South Indian Bank (SIB) introduces the RuPay Contactless SIB Paytag Sticker, an NFC-enabled payment instrument.
• The compact NFC sticker can be affixed to mobile phones, wallets, or cardholders.
• Customers can make tap-and-pay transactions at contactless POS terminals without carrying a physical debit card.
• No PIN is required for purchases up to ₹5,000; PIN authentication is mandatory for transactions above ₹5,000.
• SIB Paytag can be used at all contactless POS terminals.
• Online e-commerce payments are possible by viewing card details through the SIB Mirror+ app.

Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill 2025 raises FDI limit to 100%

Key Updates:

• The Union Cabinet approved the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025 to revamp India’s insurance framework.
• The Bill raises the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in Indian insurance companies from 74% to 100%.
• It reduces the Net Owned Funds requirement for foreign reinsurers from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.
• IRDAI gets enhanced enforcement powers, including authority to disgorge wrongful gains made by insurers or intermediaries.
• LIC is empowered to set up new zonal offices without prior government approval and to align overseas operations with host-country laws.

Auroville Foundation recommended for Institution of National Importance Status

[Auroville Foundation]

Key Updates:

• The Parliamentary panel headed by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh recommends amending the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988 to grant Auroville recognition as an Institution of National Importance.
• The panel notes that the Auroville Foundation receives partial funding from the Central Government in the form of annual grants as stipulated by the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988.
• The committee suggests replacing the annual grant with a sufficient one-time grant to ensure the foundation’s future sustainability.
• The panel recommends that the five-year visa norm for Auroville residents be continued to preserve the international character of the community.

Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) provides 125 days of guaranteed wage employment

Key Updates:

• "President Droupadi Murmu has given assent to the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005."
• "The VB-G RAM G provides for a new rural job programme with the statutory wage employment guarantee of 125 days per financial year."
• "The Ministry of Law and Justice (MLJ) published a notification in the official gazette, declaring that the President gave her assent on December 20."
• "As per the Section 3(1) of the Act, the State government shall within six months from the date of commencement of this Act, by notification, make a scheme consistent with the provisions of this Act."
• "The provision for unemployment allowance in case of failure to provide work has been further strengthened and there is also a provision for providing additional compensation if wages are delayed."
• "With the guarantee of 125 days of employment, provisions have also been made to ensure that small farmers do not face difficulties during agricultural work."

10th Swachh Survekshan: MoHUA enables year-round citizen feedback and expands assessment to river and coastal towns

[Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)]

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Manohar Lal released the toolkit for the 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan in Bhopal.
• Starting this year, citizens will be able to share feedback round the year through multiple platforms, including the Vote For My City App and Portal, MyGov App, Swachhata App, and through QR codes.
• The field assessments are expected to begin from mid-February to March 2026, and the Garbage Free Cities (GFC) and Open Defecation Free (ODF) certification assessment will also commence from mid-February.
• Over 3,000 trained field assessors from across the country will conduct a 45-day, on-ground survey covering all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), supported by real-time, GPS-enabled monitoring.
• Expanding its scope, the assessment will now include river towns across the country and a separate matrix has been introduced for coastal areas to bring it under the Swachh Survekshan ambit.
• MoHUA launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) mentorship programme in September, where 72 mentors and 200 mentee cities signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to foster knowledge transfer.

Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to bolster maritime safety and cybersecurity

[Bureau of Port Security (BoPS)]

Key Updates:

• India is establishing the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to bolster maritime safety, mirroring aviation security models.
• The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
• Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
• The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats.
• The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
• The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.

Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme: India Achieves ₹1,55,000 Crore Forex Savings

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) is implementing the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme, which has moved from a pilot stage to a nationwide scale-up with average blending touching around 19% in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024–25.
• The national target is to achieve E20 (20% ethanol in petrol) by ESY 2025–26, reaching the goal five years ahead of the original 2030 schedule.
• According to the MoPNG, the country has saved ₹1,55,000 crore in foreign exchange (forex) over the past few years because of ethanol blending.
• Feedstock diversification for ethanol production includes Maize (46%), FCI rice (22%), and Sugarcane juice (16%) to ensure a stable and sustainable supply.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) stated that vehicles that are BS6 phase-2 compliant or marked with an E20 sticker can handle up to 20% ethanol blends without adverse impact on components.
• Top performing states in ethanol blending include Haryana (19.3%), West Bengal (19.28%), Himachal Pradesh (19.26%), and Kerala (19.25%).

India Hands Over Three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) to Myanmar on December 21, 2025

[Myanmar]

Key Updates:

• India handed over three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) dedicated to the socio-economic benefit of the people in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar.
• A flexible rapier loom, an Indian-made high-tech weaving machine, was installed at the Saunder Weaving and Vocational Institute in Amarapura to support vocational education development in weaving.
• A new single one-storey building for the Girls Training School in Mandalay was inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Chief Minister of Mandalay Region Government U Myo Aung.
• The third project involves an investigation into tar-free and dry type gasification processes using agricultural waste to support rural electrification, clean energy, and environmental conservation.
• These projects were implemented under the framework of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) to support Myanmar’s socio-economic development.

United States to build new Trump-class battleships starting with USS Defiance

[United States]

Key Updates:

• President Donald Trump announced plans to build a new 'golden fleet' of naval war vessels, starting with two battleships.
• The first 'Trump class' battleship will be named the USS Defiance, followed by another eight and then 10 to 15 more.
• These 30,000- to 40,000-ton vessels will be the flagships of the American naval fleet.
• The battleships will be partially funded by $26 billion allocated by a defense spending bill passed by Congress this month.
• The vessels will carry sea-born nuclear cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and utilize artificial intelligence.
• The first battleship will take about 30 months to construct and will be 100 times more powerful than World War II-era battleships.

India moves toward $450 million BrahMos export deals with Vietnam and Indonesia

[Vietnam, Indonesia]

Key Updates:

• India has moved closer to inking deals to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia, which collectively will be worth over Rs 4,000 crore ($450 million).
• Russia, the joint developer of BrahMos missiles, has assured India that it has no objection to the precision-strike weapon being sold to Vietnam and Indonesia.
• The assurance was given during the delegation-level meeting between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov on Dec 4.
• Once the deals are inked, Vietnam and Indonesia will become the other ASEAN countries after the Philippines to buy the air-breathing missiles.
• India had inked a $375 million contract to supply three anti-ship BrahMos coastal batteries to the Philippines in Jan 2022.
• India successfully deployed the BrahMos missiles, whose range has been increased to 450 km from the original 290 km, from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets during Operation Sindoor in May.
• India also plans to begin inducting the new 800-km BrahMos from 2028 onwards, with tests currently underway for the extended-range missiles.
• India wants to sell the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems to the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, UAE, and Brazil.

India-New Zealand FTA Finalised with Dairy Sector Excluded

[New Zealand]

Key Updates:

• India and New Zealand have concluded negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), likely to be signed within three months and implemented next year.
• India will not open up its dairy sector under any free trade agreement, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal asserted.
• India has sectors from duty cuts include dairy products, most animal products, vegetables & pulses, sugar, fats & oils, copper, aluminium, arms & ammunition, and gems & jewellery.
• India has provided limited market access for select agri-products using Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ) and Minimum Import Price (MIP) safeguards.
• The India-New Zealand FTA offers India duty-free access to New Zealand’s market, while New Zealand will benefit from reduced tariffs on 95% of its exports.
• Discussions for the long-pending India-US trade deal are in an 'advanced stage,' though access to agriculture remains a point of contention.
• The FTA reflects calibrated trade liberalisation, balancing trade growth with domestic sector protection.
• New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters termed the deal a 'low-quality' deal and announced that his New Zealand First party would oppose it in Parliament.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd delivers fifth warship Anjadip to Indian Navy

[Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, Indian Navy]

Key Updates:

• GRSE Ltd delivered its fifth warship of the year to the Navy on Monday.
• The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft Anjadip is the third of eight such platforms being built at the shipyard.
• Anjadip is the 115th warship built by GRSE and the 77th warship delivered to the Navy.
• The ASW SWC was accepted by Rear Admiral Gautam Marwaha, VSM, CSO (Tech), Eastern Naval Command.
• Anjadip's delivery comes less than four months after that of the Androth on September 13, 2025.
• The warship is fitted with an indigenous 30 mm Naval Surface Gun manufactured by GRSE and has nearly 88% indigenous content.
• These ships can carry out coordinated anti-submarine operations with aircraft and are armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine warfare rockets.
• Anjadip accommodates 57 personnel including seven officers and requires a draught of only 2.7 metres.

Pakistan commissions second Turkiye-built MILGEM corvette PNS Khaibar in Istanbul

[Turkiye, Pakistan]

Key Updates:

• Pakistan commissioned the MILGEM-class warship PNS Khaibar at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard.
• PNS Khaibar is the second of four MILGEM corvettes being constructed by Turkish state-owned defence firm ASFAT under a 2018 contract.
• The first vessel, PNS Babur, was delivered in 2023.
• The MILGEM project is Turkiye’s warship programme designed to produce multipurpose corvettes and frigates for reconnaissance, surveillance, early warning, anti-submarine warfare, surface combat, and amphibious operations.
• The commissioning ceremony was attended by Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

United Nations Convention against Corruption Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties convenes in Doha, Qatar

[United Nations, Qatar]

Key Updates:

• The eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) took place in Doha, Qatar, on 15-19 December 2025.
• The Conference is the largest global anti-corruption gathering and brought together representatives from governments, regional and intergovernmental organizations, civil society, and the private sector.
• Under the theme 'Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity', participants discussed emerging threats in the fight against corruption and explored ways to harness AI and new technologies to strengthen international cooperation against complex criminal activities.
• The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument and enjoys near universal adherence.
• The UNODC GlobE Network connects law enforcement and anti-corruption investigators worldwide, enabling fast, direct cooperation and information sharing on cross-border corruption cases.
• The International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award Ceremony recognized individuals and initiatives driving integrity, accountability, and progress against corruption.
• The 5th Anti-Corruption Academic Symposium focused on how Artificial Intelligence can support the fight against corruption.

Indian Navy decommissions INS Sindhughosh after 40 years of service

Key Updates:

• INS Sindhughosh, the lead submarine of her class with the Indian Navy, was decommissioned at sunset on 19 Dec 25 after 40 years of glorious service to the nation.
• The decommissioning ceremony was held at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, in the presence of Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, FOCINC Western Naval Command.
• The submarine was paid off under the command of Lt Cdr Rajat Sharma.
• Capt KR Ajrekar (retd), the second Commanding Officer of the submarine, was the guest of honour.
• Admiral VS Shekhawat (retd), former Chief of the Naval Staff, Flag Officers, former Commanding Officers, members of the commissioning crew, veterans, senior officers and distinguished guests attended the ceremony.

Niigata Local Government Approves Restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant

[Niigata Local Government, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant]

Key Updates:

• The partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the world’s largest nuclear power facility, received approval in a vote by the Niigata local government.
• Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the first plant to be operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
• The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) estimates that reactivating the first of seven reactors could boost the electricity supply to the Tokyo area by 2 percent.
• Japan spent 10.7 trillion yen ($68bn) last year on imported liquefied natural gas and coal, representing one-tenth of its total import costs.
• Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has backed the reopening of nuclear facilities to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Completes Drogue Parachute Qualification Tests for Gaganyaan Mission

[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed a series of qualification tests for drogue parachutes developed for the Gaganyaan mission's Crew Module.
• The tests were conducted at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh on 18 and 19 December.
• The parachute-based deceleration system of the Gaganyaan Crew Module consists of ten parachutes of four different types to ensure a controlled and safe descent.
• The deployment sequence involves two apex cover separation parachutes, followed by two drogue parachutes, three pilot parachutes, and three main parachutes.
• Drogue parachutes are designed to stabilise the Crew Module and significantly reduce its velocity during atmospheric re-entry.
• The tests were carried out with participation from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), DRDO, and the TBRL.

Mansukh Mandaviya leads first anniversary of Fit India Sundays on Cycle

[Puducherry]

Key Updates:

• Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya led the first anniversary celebrations of the ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ initiative at the Rock Beach promenade.
• The initiative was conducted at over 700 districts in 2 lakh locations across the country, with more than 20 lakh people taking part over the course of the year.
• The event was simultaneously held in more than 10,000 locations, including Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Khelo India centres across cities such as Hazaribagh, Kargil, Patiala, and Visakhapatnam.
• The Fit India Mobile App Carbon Credit Incentivization was launched to allow citizens to earn and redeem carbon credits through cycling.
• Three cyclists who earned the highest carbon credits were felicitated during the event for their performance.
• The celebration included participation from legendary hockey goalkeeper P R Sreejesh, table tennis icon Sharath Kamal, and Arjuna Awardee archers Jyothi Surekha and Abhishek Verma from SAI Sonipat.

India secures record 102 medals at Asian Youth Para Games 2025

[Uzbekistan, Dubai]

Key Updates:

• India achieved its most successful campaign at the Asian Youth Para Games 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), winning 102 medals.
• The medal tally for the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) included 36 gold, 28 silver, and 38 bronze medals.
• A 99-member Indian contingent, comprising 61 men and 38 women, competed in eight sports during the fifth edition of the Games held from December 10 to 13.
• Athletics was the most successful discipline for India, accounting for 48 medals, including 17 gold, 13 silver, and 18 bronze.
• Swimmer Abdul Quadir Indori opened India's medal account with a gold in the 50m backstroke and a bronze in the 50m butterfly multi-class events.
• The 2025 performance surpassed India's previous records of 44 medals at Dubai 2017 and 37 medals at Manama 2021.
• Around 1500 athletes from 35 national federations competed across 11 disciplines at the continental meet.
• Badminton and swimming also recorded double-digit medal hauls for the Indian team.

Zheng/Huang defeats Kim/Jeong to win Paris 2024 Mixed Doubles Gold

[France]

Key Updates:

• The Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals 2025 will be held in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, from 17-21 December 2025.
• The series finale features the top eight eligible players or pairs in the BWF World Ranking across five categories including singles and doubles.
• In the women's singles, World No.1 and Paris 2024 Olympic champion An Se Young is aiming for a record 11th title.
• The 2025 world gold and silver medallists in men's singles, Shi Yu Qi of China and Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, are participants in the tournament.
• In the Paris 2024 Mixed Doubles Finals, Zheng/Huang claimed the gold medal with a 2:0 victory over Kim/Jeong.

East Bengal defeats APF FC to win inaugural SAFF Women's Club Championship

[Nepal, Kathmandu]

Key Updates:

• East Bengal FC clinched the title of the inaugural edition of the SAFF Women’s Club Championship with a dominant 3-0 win over hosts APF FC in the final at the Dasrath Stadium.
• Ugandan star striker Fazila Ikwaput scored a brace while India international Shilky Devi Hemam netted once to complete the flawless campaign for the Moshal girls.
• Fazila also won the golden boot with nine goals in five games.
• Anthony Andrews’ side scored 14 goals and conceded none in their five matches during the tournament.
• East Bengal thus became the first Indian women’s club to win an international tournament.

53 arrested for forest encroachment in Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve on December 16

Key Updates:

• Forest authorities in Chhattisgarh arrested 53 individuals for attempting to encroach upon protected land within the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR).
• The Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) serves as a critical catchment for the Mahanadi River and a vital habitat for tigers, elephants, and leopards.
• The enforcement operation was conducted in the Sitanadi core zone, specifically in the Ghotbeda area of reserve forest compartment number 323.
• The joint forest team was led by Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Bholanath Singh Rajput, Ranger Kushal Kashyap, and Deputy Ranger Lokeshwar Chauhan.

National Mathematics Day observed on December 22

Key Updates:

• National Mathematics Day is observed every year on December 22 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan.
• The observance was formally instituted by the Government of India in December 2011.
• December 22 was designated as National Mathematics Day in recognition of Ramanujan’s extraordinary contributions to the discipline.

PM Modi Assam Visit on Dec 20-21 to Inaugurate Projects Worth Rs 15,600 Crore

[West Bengal, Assam]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 15,600 crore in Assam on Saturday and Sunday.
• The New Terminal Building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati will be inaugurated, designed to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually.
• PM Modi will perform Bhoomipujan for Ammonia-Urea Fertilizer Project of Assam Valley Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited at Namrup in Dibrugarh.
• The Ammonia-Urea Fertilizer Project is stated to be built with an estimated investment of over Rs. 10,600 crore.