Daily Current Affairs: 25 December 2025

President Droupadi Murmu presented Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025

Key Updates:

• President Droupadi Murmu presented the annual Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar to distinguished scientists from diverse fields at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• A total of 24 awards were presented under the second edition of the Puraskar in four categories: Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva, and Vigyan Team.
• Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was posthumously awarded the Vigyan Ratna, the highest science award, for his lifetime achievements and contributions in the field of science and technology.
• The Vigyan Team award was conferred upon the Team- Aroma Mission CSIR for contributions to Agricultural Science.
• The awards are modeled on the Padma awards and recognize outstanding contributions across 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, and Space Science and Technology.

Paliyar tribe petitions Dindigul Collector for separate houses aligned with cultural practices

[Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

• Seventeen Paliyar families from Shanmugam Parai Paliyarkudi village in Periyammapatti panchayat, Palani taluk, Dindigul district, submitted a petition to the Dindigul Collector.
• The Paliyar are a forest-dependent nomadic community traditionally engaged in collecting minor forest produce, goat rearing, and agricultural labour.
• House site pattas were issued three years ago, yet the families continue to live in individual hut houses on about one acre of government poramboke land.
• They oppose closely built concrete houses in dense colonies as such layouts contradict their customary lifestyle that requires space for livestock sheds and scattered housing.
• The petition requests a survey and demarcation of the patta land already allotted, followed by construction of separate concrete houses under the Tholkudi scheme in a layout respecting their cultural practices and ancestral lifestyle.

Saleem Ahmad assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited

[Rail Vikas Nigam Limited]

Key Updates:

• Saleem Ahmad assumed charge as the new Chairman and Managing Director of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).
• He previously served as Director Projects at NBCC India.
• Ahmad is a civil engineer with over three decades of experience in construction.
• He has worked as Executive Director (Civil) with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and with Mumbai Port Trust.
• He is a 1990 batch civil engineering graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

Vinod Kumar Shukla Passed Away After Winning The 59th Jnanpith Award

Key Updates:

• Vinod Kumar Shukla, a renowned Hindi writer, poet, and novelist, passed away at the age of 88 in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
• He was the first person from Chhattisgarh to receive the Jnanpith Award, which is the highest literary honor given to writers in Indian languages.
• He was awarded the 59th Jnanpith Award for his significant contributions to Hindi literature.
• His major novels include Naukar Ki Kameez, Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi, and Khilega To Dekhenge.
• His first booklet of poetry, titled Lagbhag Jai Hind, was published in 1971.
• The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur confirmed the cause of death as multiple organ infection and organ failure.

C.P. Radhakrishnan releases book 'Sanatan Sanskriti Ki Atal Drishti' authored by Vasudev Devnani

Key Updates:

• C.P. Radhakrishnan, Vice-President of India, released the book 'Sanatan Sanskriti Ki Atal Drishti' authored by Vasudev Devnani, Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
• The release event took place at the Vice-President’s Enclave in New Delhi.
• The book release coincides with the centenary birth anniversary celebrations of former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Vasudev Devnani holds the position of Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injects Rs 2.90 lakh crore liquidity via bond buys and USD swap

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

• RBI will buy Rs 2 lakh crore of government bonds through open market operations in four tranches of Rs 50,000 crore each.
• RBI will conduct a $10-billion buy/sell swap auction on Jan. 13 to ease dollar liquidity.
• System liquidity turned negative mid-December, driving the weighted average call rate to 5.46%, above the 5.25% repo rate.
• Between December 11 and 18, RBI had infused Rs 1.45 lakh crore through OMOs and a $5-billion swap.
• Power Finance Corp scrapped a Rs 6,000-crore bond sale after bids came in at higher-than-expected coupons.
• The 10-year benchmark yield has risen 20 basis points since Dec. 5 despite a quarter percentage point policy rate cut.
• State governments collectively raised Rs 33,720 crore through bond sales on Tuesday at cutoff yields higher than expected.
• Bank of India raised Rs 10,000 crore long term infrastructure bonds at 7.23%.

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

[Ministry of Commerce & Industry]

Key Updates:

• The Index of Eight Core Industries grew 1.8% in November versus the year-ago period.
• Cement output surged 14.5% and steel production rose 6.1% in November.
• Coal and fertiliser production increased 2.1% and 5.6% respectively during the month.
• Crude oil, natural gas, refinery products and electricity contracted 3.2%, 2.5%, 0.9% and 2.2% in November.
• Cumulatively for April–November 2025-26, the core sector expanded 2.4% over the same period last year.
• Steel and cement led cumulative growth at 9.7% and 8.2%, respectively, for April–November 2025-26.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) resets base years for CPI, GDP, and IIP

[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will release a new series of Consumer Price Index (CPI) data with the base year 2024=100 on February 12, 2026.
• MoSPI will roll out revised National Accounts data using 2022-23 as the base year on February 27, 2026.
• The new Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series, featuring 2022-23 as the base year, is scheduled for release on May 28, 2026.
• MoSPI convened a pre-release consultative workshop to discuss proposed methodological and structural changes in the revised data series with stakeholders.
• The revision process involves key officials including NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman K Bery, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran, and MoSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg.

Government of India (GoI) Notifies Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules 2025

[Government of India]

Key Updates:

• The Government of India (GoI) has notified the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025, under the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2025.
• The new rules replace the system of multiple licenses with a single petroleum lease covering exploration, development, and production of all hydrocarbons, including shale.
• The regulatory framework provides lease tenures of up to 30 years, which are extendable for the full economic life of a field.
• Criminal penalties for violations have been removed and replaced with financial penalties of ₹25 lakh, plus ₹10 lakh per day for continuing breaches.
• Applications for the grant of a petroleum lease must be decided within a time-bound period of 180 days.
• The Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) is designated as the competent authority for offshore safety, audits, and standard-setting in exploration and production operations.
• Environmental provisions mandate time-bound plans for zero gas flaring and reduced greenhouse emissions at oilfields.
• The rules permit lessees to jointly develop or share infrastructure facilities by mutual agreement and require an annual declaration of infrastructure capacity.
• The seat of arbitration for disputes involving foreign companies may be a neutral seat, while New Delhi is the seat for disputes where all lessees are Indian-incorporated companies.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance (CHLIC) partners Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFB) to expand life insurance reach.

[Canara HSBC Life Insurance, Equitas Small Finance Bank]

Key Updates:

• CHLIC will distribute life protection, savings, annuity, child plans, and investment-linked solutions through ESFB’s network of 994 banking outlets and 365 ATMs across 18 states and Union Territories.
• The partnership targets deeper penetration in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra.
• The alliance supports IRDAI’s ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ vision.

Axis Bank launches Digital Merchant Cash Advance Loans for MSMEs

[Axis Bank]

Key Updates:

• Axis Bank offers unsecured digital loans from ₹2 lakh to ₹20 lakh to micro and small businesses.
• Eligibility is evaluated through cash-flow intelligence instead of traditional financial statements.
• Applicants receive an instant credit decision within minutes and funds are disbursed within a few days.
• Repayments are collected through daily instalments aligned with the merchant’s actual sales.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) approves PayNearby as Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) on UPI.

[National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), PayNearby]

Key Updates:

• PayNearby receives NPCI approval to operate as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
• PayNearby launches PayNearby Saathi app for assisted UPI onboarding via retailers and Digital Naaris, targeting financial inclusion in semi-urban and rural India.
• The Saathi app supports UPI payments, account onboarding, bill payments, money transfers, and aggregates access to financial products like fixed deposits, recurring deposits, gold, mutual funds, and credit offerings.
• The application is available in multiple Indian languages, integrates Bhashini for voice-based navigation, and includes an in-app AI assistant to guide users through transactions and explain financial products.
• PayNearby operates a branchless banking and digital services network based on a B2B2C model, partnering with local retail stores to deliver financial and payment services.
• The company currently works with over 12 lakh retail partners across more than 20,000 PIN codes, facilitating assisted digital transactions for customers in both urban and non-urban areas.

Rashtra Prerna Sthal Memorial Inauguration

Key Updates:

• The memorial features 65-feet-tall bronze statues of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Developed over 65 acres at an estimated cost of ₹230 crore in Lucknow.
• A modern museum showcasing the lives, ideas, and contributions of national leaders is part of the complex.

Guide on Preparation of DPRs for Road Infrastructure Projects Released by Defence Minister

Key Updates:

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the 'Guide on Preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Road Infrastructure Projects' prepared by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
• The guide provides 'specifications, standards, guidelines and procedures' for DPR preparation to assist engineers in project formulation.
• It aims to address time and cost overruns by ensuring 'systematic planning, technical accuracy, quality assurance and cost-effectiveness' in road infrastructure projects.

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana enables Gujarat to cross 5 lakh rooftop solar installations with 1,879 MW capacity

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

• Gujarat has installed over 5 lakh rooftop solar systems under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojna, achieving 1,879 MW aggregate capacity.
• Residential consumers have availed subsidies worth Rs 3,778 crore under the scheme.
• Subsidy rates: Rs 30,000 per kW up to 2 kW, Rs 18,000 per kW above 2 kW up to 3 kW, and maximum Rs 78,000 for systems above 3 kW.
• State provides Rs 2,950 assistance towards regulatory charges for systems up to 6 kW and waives network strengthening charges for the same category.
• No net metering agreement required, no load limit for residential solar installations, no banking charges on residential consumers, and households can sell surplus electricity.

Comprehensive Internship Policy for Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) with Rs 5.30 Crore Annual Outlay

[Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS)]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has unveiled a 'Comprehensive Internship Policy for Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and its Autonomous Bodies' to create a pipeline of young professionals in sports governance.
• The programme will offer 452 internship positions every year, with selected candidates receiving a monthly stipend of Rs 20,000.
• The government has earmarked a total annual budget allocation of Rs 5.30 crore to fund the internship initiative.
• College and university students will be the primary beneficiaries of the scheme, which aligns with the National Sports Policy and Khelo Bharat Niti 2025.
• The internship programme will follow two recruitment cycles every year, scheduled in January and July.
• Interns will be deployed across MYAS and its autonomous bodies, including the Sports Authority of India (SAI), National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).
• The policy seeks to build capacity in areas such as sports governance, administration, sports science, anti-doping, event management and athlete support services.
• Interns will contribute directly to flagship programmes such as Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG).

Madhya Pradesh Rolling Budget System: Three-Year Financial Planning

[Madhya Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Madhya Pradesh is set to implement a rolling budget system, making it the first state in India to prepare a budget for three years ahead.
• The state will draft indicative budget estimates for 2027-28 and 2028-29, marking Madhya Pradesh as the first Indian state to adopt a rolling budget approach.
• The upcoming state budget for 2026-27 will be crafted to meet public expectations while embodying the democratic spirit.
• The government engaged economists and field experts through a 'Budget Dialogue Programme' and received over 945 public suggestions.
• The initiative aims to prioritize agriculture while boosting capital expenditure, aligning with the vision for a 'Developed India 2047.'

Center of Excellence under National Critical Minerals Mission and Virtual Reality Mine Simulator inaugurated

Key Updates:

• Ministry of Coal and Mines inaugurated the Center of Excellence under National Critical Minerals Mission hosted in IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
• The CoE will act as a national anchor for research and industry scale solutions in critical minerals, focusing on exploration, extraction, processing, recycling, reuse and waste-to-wealth.
• The CoE will partner with industry leaders and international universities such as University of Cambridge & St Petersburg University and will receive infrastructure support from IIT Gandhinagar, IIT BHU and CPI(UK).
• Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS), India’s first VR based mine simulator for coal mining safety and productivity, was also inaugurated.
• VRMS provides more than 20 training modules covering heavy equipment operation and critical safety SOPs and will provide scenario based assessment and certification for all levels of employees.

CBDT NUDGE Campaign: 15 Lakh Revised ITRs Filed for AY 2025-26

[Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)]

Key Updates:

• Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) launched a NUDGE campaign to alert taxpayers who claimed wrongful deductions related to unrecognised political parties or charitable institutions.
• Over 15 lakh revised Income Tax Returns (ITRs) have been filed for Assessment Year 2025-26.
• More than 21 lakh taxpayers have updated their returns and paid Rs 2,500 crore in taxes during the current fiscal.
• Taxpayers are advised to review and revise their ITRs by December 31, 2025, to avoid further enquiries.

Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 to provide Rs 5 lakh annual scholarship for eight years to identified athletes

[Chhattisgarh]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, will conduct the first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) starting February 14, 2026 in Chhattisgarh.
• Promising athletes identified during KITG will be inducted as Khelo India Athletes and receive Rs 5 lakh per year for eight years, including financial support and 360-degree assistance.
• The Games will feature seven competitive disciplines—Archery, Athletics, Football, Hockey, Wrestling, Swimming and Weightlifting—and two demonstration sports showcasing indigenous traditions.

GAIL-Chhattisgarh MoU for 12.7 LMT gas-based urea project

[GAIL, Chhattisgarh]

Key Updates:

• GAIL signed an MoU with the Chhattisgarh government to undertake detailed techno-economic studies for a greenfield gas-based fertiliser project.
• The project includes a 12.7 lakh metric tonne urea plant proposed along GAIL’s Mumbai–Nagpur–Jharsuguda natural gas pipeline corridor.
• The state government will support feasibility studies, land identification and allocation, statutory approvals, and enabling infrastructure.

China requests WTO consultations with India over ICT tariff, solar subsidies

[China, World Trade Organization (WTO)]

Key Updates:

• China filed a petition with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), requesting consultations with India over New Delhi's tariffs on information and communication technology (ICT) products and solar sector subsidies.
• India's measures allegedly violate multiple WTO obligations, including the principle of national treatment, and constitute import substitution subsidies explicitly prohibited under WTO rules.
• This is the second petition filed by China at the WTO against India this year; the earlier petition in October alleged unfair subsidies for electric vehicles and batteries.

Indian Navy stitched-sail vessel INSV Kaundinya to undertake maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar to Muscat

[Oman]

Key Updates:

• INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy’s pioneering stitched sailing vessel that revives India’s ancient shipbuilding and seafaring traditions, will undertake its maiden overseas voyage on the 29th of this month.
• The vessel will be flagged off from Porbandar, Gujarat, for Muscat, Oman, symbolically retracing the historic maritime routes that connected India with the wider Indian Ocean world for millennia.
• According to the Defence Ministry, INSV Kaundinya represents a rare convergence of history, craftsmanship and modern naval expertise.

India Optel Limited and Safran Electronics & Defense sign Transfer of Production agreement for advanced defence systems

[France]

Key Updates:

• India Optel Limited (IOL), a Mini Navratna Defence PSU, signed a collaboration agreement with Safran Electronics & 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 on 22 December 2025 in New Delhi by Shri Tushar Tripathi, CMD of IOL, and Mr Alexandre Ziegler, Head of Defence Global Business Unit, Safran Electronics & Defense, in the presence of Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production).
• Under the partnership, IOL will undertake manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality assurance, and full life-cycle support of the systems within India, reducing import dependence and supporting Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

India Proposes $450 Million Relief Package to Rebuild Cyclone-Hit Sri Lanka on December 24, 2025

[Sri Lanka]

Key Updates:

• India has proposed an assistance package worth $450 million for rebuilding Sri Lanka, consisting of $350 million in concessional lines of credit and $100 million in grants.
• External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah with President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
• India launched a relief and assistance mission named 'Operation Sagar Bandhu', which commenced on the day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall.
• Operation Sagar Bandhu delivered over 1,100 tonnes of relief material, including dry rations, tents, water purification kits, and 14.5 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment.
• The proposed assistance targets the restoration of road, railway, and bridge connectivity, as well as support for housing, health, education systems, and agriculture.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) completes user evaluation trials of Akash-NG missile system

[Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)]

Key Updates:

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed user evaluation trials of the next-generation Akash (Akash-NG) missile system, paving the way for its induction into the Indian Armed Forces. Quote: "The DRDO on Tuesday 'successfully completed' user evaluation trials of the next-generation Akash missile system, paving the way for its induction into the armed forces, officials said."
• The Akash-NG system met all Preliminary Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) and demonstrated high precision against high-speed, low-altitude, and long-range high-altitude targets. Quote: "User evaluation trials of Akash NG missile successfully completed today, meeting all PSQR requirements... The system demonstrated high precision against diverse aerial threats, including high-speed, low-altitude and long-range high-altitude targets."
• The missile system is equipped with an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, and fully homegrown radars and Control and Command (C2) systems. Quote: "Equipped with an indigenous RF seeker, dual-pulse solid rocket motor, and fully homegrown radars and C2 systems, Akash-NG marks a major boost to India's air defence capability."
• During the trials, the DRDO successfully intercepted aerial targets at various ranges and altitudes, including near-boundary-low-altitude scenarios. Quote: "During the trials, the missiles successfully intercepted aerial targets at different ranges and altitudes, 'including the near-boundary-low-altitude and long-range, high-altitude scenarios,' the DRDO said."

NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter

[National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]

Key Updates:

• NASA has lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft after it passed behind Mars as seen from Earth.
• MAVEN entered orbit around Mars in September 2014 to study the planet’s upper atmosphere and interactions with the solar wind.
• The spacecraft uses a UHF antenna to relay communications between the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers and the Deep Space Network.
• In 2022, MAVEN switched to an “all-stellar” navigation system to reduce reliance on its inertial measurement units.

Indian Railways (IR) deploys Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to protect wildlife

[Indian Railways (IR)]

Key Updates:

• Indian Railways (IR) has rolled out an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to safeguard wildlife, including elephants, lions, and tigers, on railway tracks.
• The technology utilizes a Distributed Acoustic System (DAS) to detect animal presence and alert loco pilots and control rooms 0.5 kms in advance.
• The AI-enabled system generates real-time alerts for loco pilots, station masters, and control rooms to facilitate swift preventive action.
• Initially implemented across 141 RKms on the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the system is being expanded by 981 RKms to achieve a total coverage of 1,122 RKms.
• The initiative follows a collision in the Jamunamukh - Kampur section under the Lumding Division of NFR involving the Sairang - New Delhi Rajdhani Express.
• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed the Forest Department to conduct a detailed enquiry into the death of seven elephants resulting from the train collision.

Indian Coast Guard inducts first indigenously built Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Pratap

Key Updates:

• ‘Samudra Pratap’ is the first indigenously designed and built Pollution Control Vessel of the Indian Coast Guard.
• The vessel is equipped with Dynamic Positioning capability (DP-1), with FiFi-2 / FFV-2 notation certificate.
• It carries an Oil finger printing machine, Gyro stabilized Standoff Active Chemical Detector and PC lab equipment enabling comprehensive pollution response operations within the Exclusive Economic Zone and beyond.

Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal inaugurates commercial operation of Unit-2 of Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project

Key Updates:

• The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is India’s largest hydropower project with a total capacity of 2000 MW, comprising eight units of 250 MW each.
• The project is designed as a Run-of-the-River scheme with small pondage, utilizing eight Head Race Tunnels (HRTs) to generate 7,422 million units (MU) of renewable electricity annually.
• The infrastructure features a 116-metre-high concrete gravity dam, which is the largest dam in North-East India.
• The project incorporates technical milestones including India’s heaviest hydro generator rotors, largest stators, and the first-ever use of Rotec’s Tower Belt for dam concreting in the country.
• It provides flood moderation with a 442 million cubic metre flood cushion and a gross reservoir storage of 1,365 million cubic metres at Full Reservoir Level (FRL).
• NHPC Limited (NHPC) has implemented riverbank protection and erosion control measures extending up to 60 km downstream with an investment of approximately ₹522 crore.
• The project will provide free power allocations to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, with the North-East region receiving a total of 1,000 MW.

CERT-In warns Indian WhatsApp users of GhostPairing attack hijacking accounts without passwords or SIM swaps

Key Updates:

• GhostPairing allows cybercriminals to take complete control of WhatsApp accounts without requiring passwords or SIM swaps.
• The attack tricks users into granting an attacker’s browser access as an additional trusted and hidden device by using a pairing code that looks authentic.
• Victims receive a message from a trusted contact that reads: “Hi, check this photo” containing a link with a Facebook-style preview.
• The link leads to a fake Facebook viewer that prompts users to “verify” to see the content and then tricks them into entering their phone number and code.
• Once linked, attackers can access all chats, photos, videos, voice notes and impersonate victims to send messages to contacts and group chats.

FDA Expands Accrufer Approval to Pediatric Iron Deficiency

[United States]

Key Updates:

• The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approval of Accrufer® (ferric maltol) to include treatment of pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with iron deficiency.
• Findings from the FORTIS trial showed the mean change in hemoglobin at week 12 was 1.10 g/dL.
• Among the patients who received the recommended dosage of 30 mg twice daily (n=21), the mean change in Hb at week 12 was 1.23 g/dL (SD: 1.00).
• At baseline, the mean ferritin level of study participants was 11.4 mcg/L; following treatment with Accrufer, the mean ferritin level at week 12 was 20 mcg/L (mean overall improvement of 8.6 mcg/L).
• The most common adverse reactions reported with Accrufer include flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, discolored feces, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort/distention.

President Droupadi Murmu presents Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2025 to distinguished scientists

Key Updates:

• President Droupadi Murmu presented the annual ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ (RVP) to distinguished scientists from diverse fields at a special function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Under the second edition of the Puraskar, 24 awards were presented to scientists in four categories - Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva, and Vigyan Team.
• The highest science award - Vigyan Ratna - was given posthumously to India’s eminent physicist, Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, for lifetime achievements and contributions made in the field of science and technology.
• The Vigyan Team award was presented to the Team- Aroma Mission Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the field of Agricultural Science.
• The awards are given to scientists across 13 domains including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics & Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Technology & Innovation, Atomic Energy, and Space Science and Technology.
• Jayan N was conferred the Vigyan Shri award for Space Science and Technology, while Ankur Garg received the Vigyan Yuva in the same category.
• S Venkata Mohan was recognized with the Vigyan Shri award in the field of Environmental Science.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashes 36-ball century to script List A history

Key Updates:

• Vaibhav Suryavanshi reached the triple-digit score in just 36 balls, courtesy of 10 fours and 8 sixes.
• At the age of 14 years, 272 days, Suryavanshi also became the youngest to hit a century in men's List A cricket.
• The milestone puts him second in the list of fastest hundreds in List A cricket among Indians.

Alpine SG Pipers clinches Global Chess League (GCL) title

Key Updates:

• Alpine SG Pipers scored a convincing victory in the final of the Global Chess League (GCL) over Continental Kings — the winner of the first two editions — at the Royal Opera House on Tuesday.
• SG Pipers claimed an advantage by winning the first match 4-2 before settling the tie and clinching the crown with a dominating 4.5-1.5 victory in the second.
• Anish Giri shone brightest in the final for them, beating Wei Yi twice.
• Earlier, PBG Alaskan Knights took the third place, beating Ganges Grandmasters in tie-breaks.
• It was indeed a superb show by SG Pipers, whose campaign hadn’t got off to the brightest of starts, losing both its first matches.

TasteAtlas World Food Awards 2025-26 list released

[Italy]

Key Updates:

• Naples, Italy tops the 2025-26 TasteAtlas World Food Awards list.
• Mumbai, India is ranked 5th best food city globally in the 2025-26 rankings.
• Six Indian cities feature in the Global Top 100 food cities list, with Mumbai at 5th, Delhi at 48th, Amritsar at 53rd, Hyderabad at 54th, Kolkata at 73rd, and Chennai at 93rd.
• Italian cities occupy six of the top 10 spots in the 2025-26 best food cities list.
• Lima, Peru enters the top 10, pushing Osaka, Japan to 11th place.

National Consumer Day 2025 observed on December 24 with theme 'A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles'

Key Updates:

• National Consumer Day is celebrated every year on December 24.
• The 2025 theme is 'A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles'.
• The Consumer Protection Bill was passed on December 24, 1986, marking the origin of the observance.
• The Consumer Protection Act 2019 replaced the 1986 Act in July 2020.