Daily Current Affairs: 24 December 2025

Sasikumar wins Best Actor award for 'Tourist Family'

Key Updates:

• Sasikumar won the Best Actor award at the Chennai International Film Festival for his role in 'Tourist Family'.
• Director Bala praised Sasikumar's spirit and urged him to direct again in an emotional letter.
• 'Tourist Family' also won the Best Film Award at the festival.

BW Legal World announced winners of 6th Edition of 40 Under 40 Lawyers and Legal Influencers Awards 2025

Key Updates:

• BW Legal World announced the winners of the 6th Edition of 40 Under 40 Lawyers and Legal Influencers Awards 2025.
• The awards ceremony was held in Delhi and recognised emerging legal professionals for exceptional contributions in corporate advisory, dispute resolution, regulatory practice, technology transactions and cross-border mandates.
• Abhinav Mishra, Founder of Chambers of Abhinav Mishra, was among the award winners.
• Aditya Ganju, Partner at AG Chambers, was among the award winners.
• Akshay Sachthey, Partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., was among the award winners.
• Deepika Narayan Bharadwaj, Director of Ekam Nyaay Foundation, was among the award winners.
• Shashank Agarwal, Founder of Legum Solis, was among the award winners.
• Varun Singh, Founder & Managing Partner of Foresight Law Offices India, was among the award winners.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry records 1.8% rise in Index of Eight Core Industries

[Ministry of Commerce & Industry]

Key Updates:

• The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) grew 1.8% in November 2025 compared with the year-ago period.
• ICI carries a 40.27% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• Cement output surged 14.5% and steel production increased 6.1% in November.
• Fertiliser production rose 5.6% and coal output climbed 2.1% during the month.
• Crude oil production declined 3.2%, natural gas fell 2.5%, refinery products contracted 0.9% and electricity generation slipped 2.2% in November.
• Cumulatively for April–November 2025-26, core sector output expanded 2.4% over the corresponding period last year.
• Steel and cement led cumulative growth at 9.7% and 8.2%, respectively, while coal, crude oil, natural gas and electricity posted cumulative declines.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to release new series of CPI, GDP, IIP data

[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)]

Key Updates:

• MoSPI will release a new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with 2024 as the base year on 12 February 2026.
• National Accounts data using 2022-23 as the base year will be released on 27 February 2026.
• The updated Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series with 2022-23 as the base year is scheduled for release on 28 May 2026.
• A pre-release consultative workshop on the base revision will be held on Tuesday following the first session on 26 November in Mumbai.
• The workshop will present proposed methodological and structural changes in GDP, CPI, and IIP and seek stakeholder feedback.

Canara Bank (CB) launches Canara ai1Pe unified UPI app for secure digital payments.

[Canara Bank (CB)]

Key Updates:

• Canara Bank (CB) launches Canara ai1Pe, a unified UPI app enabling instant payments, shared expenses via UPI Delegate, spend analytics, UPI Lite, and rewards.
• The app allows users to link bank accounts from any bank for instant money transfers, merchant payments, and bill settlements.
• Payments are secured through UPI PIN authentication and device-binding that restricts transactions to the registered mobile handset.
• UPI Delegate (UPI Circle) lets a primary account holder add trusted family members as delegates who can spend up to ₹15,000 per month.
• Spend analytics provide month-on-month spending insights, expenditure categorisation and financial trends.
• UPI Autopay automates recurring payments for subscriptions, EMIs, SIPs and utility bills.
• UPI Lite permits small-value payments without entering UPI PIN for every transaction.
• The app features a widget-based QR scan for quick scan-and-pay from the home screen and offers real-time transaction updates, payment reminders, transaction history access, plus rewards and cashback eligibility.

One97 Communications (Paytm) incorporates subsidiaries in Indonesia and Luxembourg, dilutes 49% stake in UAE arm.

[One97 Communications (Paytm), Indonesia, Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates]

Key Updates:

• One97 Communications through wholly-owned Paytm Cloud Technologies Ltd incorporates two step-down wholly-owned subsidiaries in Indonesia and Luxembourg.
• Paytm plans to invest up to ₹25 crore in each of the two new subsidiaries.
• Paytm Arab Payments LLC issues 76,862 equity shares to Abbar Global Opportunities Holdings, representing 49% of post-issue paid-up capital, valuing the allotment at about ₹19 crore.
• After the allotment, Paytm Arab Payments becomes a 51% step-down subsidiary of Paytm Cloud Technologies Ltd and continues as a step-down subsidiary of One97 Communications.
• The transaction is expected to be completed by February 28, 2026.

National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) Scheme to Ensure 4% Public Procurement for SC/ST MSMEs

[National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH)]

Key Updates:

• The Government of India announced the implementation of the National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) Scheme under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) in December 2025.
• The NSSH Scheme aims to enhance the competitiveness of SC/ST-owned enterprises by ensuring a minimum of 4% procurement from these businesses is fulfilled under the Public Procurement Policy.
• The scheme provides structured support through vendor development programmes, special marketing assistance, and capacity building to help SC/ST MSMEs compete for government contracts.
• To access benefits, entrepreneurs must complete Udyam Registration and register under the Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS) to ensure visibility in government procurement databases.
• The initiative supports participation in national and international exhibitions to broaden market reach and expand networks for underserved entrepreneurs.

NITI Aayog Internationalisation Roadmap: Campus-within-Campus & Vishwa Bandhu Scholarship

[NITI Aayog]

Key Updates:

• NITI Aayog proposes allowing foreign higher education institutions to set up campuses in Indian institutions under the ‘campus within a campus’ model with a sunset clause of 10 years.
• It calls for easing regulations for mobility of inbound and outbound students by simplifying visa processes, reducing documentation burdens, and addressing regulatory bottlenecks.
• The report recommends establishing a National Research Sovereign Wealth Impact Fund named Bharat Vidya Kosh with a suggested $10 billion corpus—50% from diaspora or philanthropy and 50% matched by the Government of India.
• It proposes a scholarship programme ‘Vishwa Bandhu Scholarship’ for international students for 2-year master’s programmes offering study-based internships, competitive stipends, tuition support, research grants, accommodation, travel allowance, and health insurance.

National Pension System (NPS) Amendments 2025: 80% Lump-sum Withdrawal and Extended Exit Age

Key Updates:

• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified amendments to the PFRDA Exits and Withdrawals Regulations, 2015, applicable to the National Pension System (NPS).
• The permissible lump-sum withdrawal at normal exit has been increased from 60% to 80%, while the mandatory annuity portion has been reduced to 20%.
• The maximum exit age for subscribers has been extended from 70 years to 85 years.
• For the All Citizen Model, normal exit is now permitted after 15 years of investment or upon reaching 60 years of age, whichever is earlier.
• The threshold for 100% lump-sum withdrawal for non-government subscribers has been raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹8 lakh.
• The mandatory 5-year minimum subscription period previously required for premature exit has been removed for non-government subscribers.
• New structured withdrawal mechanisms, namely Systematic Lumpsum Withdrawal (SLW) and Systematic Unit Withdrawal (SUR), have been introduced to allow periodic redemption of investment units.
• For government subscribers with a corpus between ₹8 lakh and ₹12 lakh, a lump-sum withdrawal of up to ₹6 lakh is permitted, with the remainder accessible via SUR.
• The list of permitted reasons for partial withdrawal has been liberalized to include medical treatment without restriction to a specific list of illnesses.

SHAKTI Scholars Young Research Fellowship offers ₹1 lakh grant for women-centric policy research

Key Updates:

• The National Commission for Women has launched SHAKTI Scholars: NCW’s Young Research Fellowship programme.
• The fellowship invites applications from citizens aged 21 to 30 years with a minimum qualification of graduation from a recognised institution.
• Selected candidates will receive a research grant of one lakh rupees to undertake a six-month research study on women-centric policy issues.

Uttar Pradesh Supplementary Budget 2025-26: Rs 24,497 Crore for Infrastructure and Priority Sectors

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented supplementary demands for grants of Rs 24,496.97 crore for FY2025-26.
• The supplementary budget allocates Rs 18,369.30 crore for revenue expenditure and Rs 6,127.68 crore for capital expenditure.
• Key allocations include Rs 4,874 crore for industrial development, Rs 4,521 crore for the power sector, Rs 3,500 crore for health and family welfare, Rs 1,758.56 crore for urban development, and Rs 639.96 crore for technical education.
• Additional provisions include Rs 535 crore for women and child development, Rs 500 crore for UPNEDA (solar and renewable energy), Rs 423.80 crore for medical education, and Rs 400 crore for the sugarcane and sugar mill sector.
• After accounting for the central share of Rs 2,197.24 crore for centrally sponsored schemes, the net additional burden on the state’s consolidated fund will be Rs 22,299.74 crore.

Haryana District Notification and Delhi Revenue Reorganisation: Formation of Hansi and 13 New Districts

[Haryana, Delhi]

Key Updates:

• The Haryana government has issued a notification making Hansi a separate district, effective from December 22, 2025.
• With this, the state now has a total of 23 districts.
• The Governor of Haryana hereby varies the limits and alters the number of sub-division of district Hisar, so as to form a new District to be called Hansi comprising of the sub-divisions of Hansi and Narnaund.
• Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the land registration process in all tehsils across the state is entirely online, significantly reducing opportunities for corruption.
• The Delhi Cabinet approved the landmark proposal to reorganise Delhi's 11 existing revenue districts into 13 new revenue districts that will be fully co-terminus with the 12 MCD zones, NDMC, and Delhi Cantonment Board.
• The move aims to end decades-old jurisdictional confusion between revenue districts and MCD zones, increasing the number of subdivisions from 33 to 39 and the number of Sub-Registrar offices from 22 to 39.

Defence Research and Development Organisation and Rashtriya Raksha University sign MoU to strengthen defence and security collaboration

[Defence Research and Development Organisation, Rashtriya Raksha University]

Key Updates:

• Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster collaboration in research, education, training and technology support for defence & internal security.
• The MoU was inked by Distinguished Scientist & Director General (Production Coordination & Services Interaction) Chandrika Kaushik and Vice Chancellor, RRU Prof Bimal N Patel in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at South Block, New Delhi.
• The collaboration aims to strengthen India's self-reliance in defence and internal security technologies in line with the national vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• Under the MoU, joint research projects, PhD & fellowship programmes and specialised training & capacity-building programmes for security forces will be undertaken.

Indian Navy receives third indigenous ASW Shallow Water Craft 'Anjadip' built by GRSE

[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE)]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Navy has taken delivery of 'Anjadip', the third of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC).
• The warship has been indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
• The ASW SWC project is executed under a Public–Private Partnership between GRSE and L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli.
• These vessels are equipped with state-of-the-art lightweight torpedoes, indigenously developed anti-submarine rockets, and advanced shallow water SONAR systems.
• Anjadip carries forward the legacy of the erstwhile INS Anjadip, a Petya-class corvette decommissioned in 2003.
• The ship derives its name from Anjadip Island, located off the coast of Karwar in Karnataka.

Australia and Israel Strengthen Diplomatic Ties Following Official Visit Invitation on 23-12-2025

[Australia, Israel]

Key Updates:

• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended a personal invitation to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to visit Australia.
• The diplomatic outreach follows an attack at a Jewish community Chanukah event held at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
• President Isaac Herzog also received an official invitation from the President of the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA).
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the developments and the acceptance of the invitation on the social media platform X.

Pakistan and Libyan National Army (LNA) Finalise $4 Billion Defence Cooperation Deal

[Pakistan, Libya]

Key Updates:

• Pakistan and the Libyan National Army (LNA) reached a military equipment deal valued between $4 billion and $4.6 billion. [Quote: 'Pakistan has reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army (LNA)']
• The agreement includes the sale of 16 JF-17 fighter jets, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft. [Quote: '...listed the purchase of 16 JF-17 fighter jets, a multi-role combat aircraft that has been jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft']
• The deal was finalised in Benghazi following a meeting between Pakistan military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and LNA deputy commander-in-chief Saddam Khalifa Haftar. [Quote: '...finalised after a meeting last week between Pakistan military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saddam Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA, in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi']
• The defence cooperation pact encompasses weapons sales, joint training, and military manufacturing spread over a 2.5-year period. [Quote: '...entered a defence cooperation pact with Pakistan, which included weapons sales, joint training and military manufacturing... spread over 2-1/2 years']
• Libya has been under a United Nations (UN) arms embargo since 2011, though a December 2024 report described the restrictions as 'ineffective.' [Quote: 'Libya has been subject to a U.N. arms embargo since 2011... A panel of experts said in a December 2024 report to the U.N. that the arms embargo on Libya remained "ineffective"']
• Pakistan previously signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025 to strengthen security ties. [Quote: '...signing a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025']

India and France sign pact for local production of SIGMA 30N navigation system and CM3-MR direct firing sight

[France]

Key Updates:

• India Optel Limited (IOL) signed a collaboration agreement with France’s Safran Electronics and Defense for transfer of production of SIGMA 30N Digital Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System and CM3-MR Direct Firing Sight.
• The agreement was signed by Tushar Tripathi, CMD, IOL and Alexandre Ziegler, head of Defence Global Business Unit for Safran Electronics & Defense, in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar.
• IOL will handle manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality control and full life-cycle support of the systems for the Indian Army.
• The pact builds on an internal agreement signed between the two sides in January 2024.
• The development follows BEL’s Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement with Safran for joint production of HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground weapons in India.

Indian Army and Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT) sign MoU for AI and software development

[Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT)]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Army signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT) to collaborate in the development of software and AI-based solutions for the army.
• Under the MoU, the students and the faculty of NSUT will participate in live problem-solving projects of Indian Army and get hands on experience.
• NSUT will also facilitate capacity building through Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) and tailor-made programmes for Indian Army, strengthening indigenous innovation-driven defence preparedness.
• The Army will get around 850 loitering munitions along with launchers from indigenous sources under fast-track procedures to equip all three defence forces and special forces.
• The Army infantry battalions will now have one Ashni platoon each, which will be responsible for operating drones to be used against enemy locations and also in counterinsurgency roles.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) delivers Anti-Submarine Warfare warship 'Anjadip' to Indian Navy in 2025

[Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)]

Key Updates:

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd delivered 'Anjadip', the third of eight such platforms being built at the shipyard to the Indian Navy at the Chennai Port Trust.
• Anjadip is the 115th warship built by GRSE and the 77th warship delivered to the Navy.
• The warship is also fitted with an indigenous 30 mm Naval Surface Gun, manufactured by GRSE, and has nearly 88% indigenous content.
• The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) is armed with lightweight torpedoes as well as anti-submarine warfare rockets and features on-board Combat Management Systems.
• The vessel requires a draught of 2.7 metres, allowing her to access the coasts easily in search of sub-surface threats and is powered by three water jets.
• GRSE delivered four other warships in 2025, including the Advanced Guided Missile Frigate Himgiri, the first two ASW SWCs of the series Arnala and Androth, and the Survey Vessel (Large) Ikshak.

Supreme Court height-based definition sparks Aravalli mining fears

Key Updates:

• The Supreme Court accepted a criterion that a landform with a rise of 100 metres from the surrounding ground qualifies as a hill or mountain.
• The Aravalli range acts as a natural barrier against desertification, slows the eastward march of the Thar Desert, recharges groundwater, and moderates air pollution in the National Capital Region.
• The Union government claims mining activity would be allowed in just 0.19 per cent of the Aravalli area and that nearly 90 per cent of the region remains fully protected.

Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) and International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad sign MoU for BFSI research

[Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT)]

Key Updates:

• The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad to collaborate in academics, research, training, student exchange and skill development in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector.
• Joint PhD programmes will be offered to researchers in areas such as digital payments, cyber security, vulnerability management, adoption of AI for customer ease, cryptography, blockchain, and fungible and non-fungible tokens.
• Other areas of collaboration between IDRBT and IIIT-Hyderabad include standardisation and validation of technology in BFSI, development of domain-specific SLMs, cyber security initiatives, and improving user experience.
• Osmania University (OU) hosted the International Conference on Biotechnological Innovations for Sustainable Development 2025 (ICBISD 2025), featuring over 200 research presentations on biotechnological innovations.

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and CrisprBits Sign LoI to Establish Centre of Excellence for CRISPR Innovation and Translation (CoE-CIT)

[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), CrisprBits]

Key Updates:

• The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (DST) and CRISPRBITS Private Limited (CrisprBits) based in Delhi... have announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to jointly establish the CoE-CIT.
• The CoE-CIT is envisioned to bridge the bench to bed gap leading and have therapeutic impact by combining JNCASR’s strengths in fundamental biomedical sciences with CrisprBits’ expertise in applied gene-editing and translational platforms.
• The CoE-CIT is a dedicated hub to harness cutting-edge CRISPR technologies to facilitate translation of scientific discoveries in a laboratory into real-world clinical applications.
• The CoE will serve as a replicable national model for academic–industry partnerships to strengthen India’s biotechnology and innovation ecosystem.
• Synergizing the mutual strengths in genetics, molecular and chemical biology, and computational biology, this unique partnership will open a new route to impact society and national missions.

Tata Electronics partners Japan’s ROHM for automotive chip assembly and testing in India

[Tata Electronics, Japan, ROHM]

Key Updates:

• Tata Electronics has entered into a strategic partnership with Japan’s ROHM for automotive semiconductor assembly and testing in India for both Indian and global markets.
• Tata Electronics will assemble and test ROHM’s India-designed automotive-grade Nch 100V, 300A Si MOSFET in a TOLL package, targeting mass production shipments by next year.
• The Tata Group is currently building two semiconductor facilities in India, worth around $14 billion, including a fabrication plant in Gujarat and an assembly and testing plant in Assam.

Chillai-Kalan begins on December 21

[Kashmir]

Key Updates:

• Chillai-Kalan is the 40-day harsh winter period in Kashmir that begins on December 21 every year and ends on January 31.
• The local meteorological department has forecast moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir during this period.
• Chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent during Chillai-Kalan, with temperatures dropping sharply across the Valley.

National Farmers Day observed on December 23

Key Updates:

• National Farmers Day, also popularly known as Kisan Diwas, is observed on December 23.
• The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Choudhary Charan Singh, India's 5th Prime Minister, who served from 1979–80.
• Choudhary Charan Singh is widely remembered as the 'Champion of India’s Farmers' and the 'messiah of farmers'.
• The observance honors farmers as the backbone of the nation and marks their contributions to the growth and progress of India’s economy.
• The Indian government observed the previous National Farmers Day with the theme of 'Empowering ‘Annadatas’ for a Prosperous Nation'.
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan serves as the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.