This content is a presentation on Indian Current Affairs (CA), structured as a monthly review for competitive examination preparation.
Recommended Review Audience
The primary audience for this review material is Aspirants preparing for high-stakes Indian Civil Services Examinations (UPSC/State PSCs) and other competitive government job examinations (One-Day Exams).
The synthesis should be performed by a Senior Analyst specializing in Indian Polity, Governance, Socio-Cultural Affairs, and Government Schemes, whose output prioritizes factual accuracy, scheme objectives, statutory backing, and the static context surrounding current events.
Abstract
This monthly current affairs session covers the National News and Eminent Personalities segments for December 2025, delivered with a focus on exam relevance for both short-term and civil services preparation tracks. Key topics discussed include India's additions to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, new Ramsar Sites, significant policy and legislative updates concerning rural employment and nuclear energy, and anniversaries/contributions of notable historical and political figures. The review employs mnemonic techniques for retention and concludes with a recall test to gauge comprehension of the detailed coverage.
December 2025 National Current Affairs Summary
00:05:34 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Diwali was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, becoming the 16th such heritage item from India.
The festival traditionally occurs on the Amavasya of the Kartik month (October/November).
The session also notes the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, hosted in New Delhi and chaired by Vishal V. Sharma.
00:09:51 Ramsar Sites Expansion: India's total count of Ramsar Sites increased to 96 following the addition of two new sites:
Silisedh Lake (Alwar District, Rajasthan): An artificial lake built by Maharaja Vinay Singh in 1845, located in the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Reserve.
Kopra Reservoir (Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh).
00:13:14 Navratna Status:Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), located in Assam's Golaghat District, was granted the 27th Navratna status among Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
00:16:14 PM YUVA Scheme 3.0 Winners: The third edition of the Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors announced 43 young authors selected for mentoring across 22 Indian languages plus English. The scheme is run by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the Ministry of Education.
00:18:26 Census of India 2027: The Cabinet approved the scheme for the 16th Census of India (8th post-independence), scheduled for April 2026 to February 2027, and estimated to cost ₹178.24 Crore.
This will be the first digital census, conducted in two phases: House-listing/Housing Census (April-Sept) and Population Enumeration (February).
Static Context: Census falls under Article 246 of the Constitution, listed under the Union List (Entry 69).
00:21:09 BLO Stress and SIR Exercise: News highlighted distress among Booth Level Officers (BLOs) due to the workload during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. BLOs are typically existing government staff (like teachers) appointed under Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
00:23:47 NCERT Textbook Update: Class 7 NCERT textbooks now provide more detail on Mahmud of Ghazni's 17 invasions (1000-1027 CE), particularly the destruction of the Somnath Temple in 1025 CE.
00:25:42 Good Governance Initiatives: The "Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore" campaign was observed from December 19–25, coinciding with Good Governance Day (Dec 25th, birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee), under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
00:26:57 WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine: The Second Edition of this summit was held in New Delhi (Bharat Mandapam), co-hosted by the Ministry of AYUSH. The theme was "Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being." A commemorative stamp on Ashwagandha was also released.
00:29:00 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel: India's first indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel was launched from Namoghat, Varanasi.
00:30:24 Green Tug Transition: The steel cutting ceremony was held for India's first All-Electric Green Tug, part of a program aiming for 50 green tugs by 2030.
00:31:15 PMO Renaming: The complex housing the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), previously the Executive Enclave, has been renamed "Seva Teerth."
00:33:00 Gita Jayanti (Mokshada Ekadashi): Observed on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of the Margashirsha month, marking the day Lord Krishna imparted Bhagavad Gita knowledge.
00:34:08 Child Marriage Free India Campaign: A 100-day intensive awareness campaign was launched, marking one year of the original campaign, aiming to reduce the child marriage rate to below 5% by 2029 across seven high-burden states.
00:35:25 Sanchar Saathi App: The mandatory pre-installation of this DoT platform (for security/fraud reporting) on all smartphones from March 2026 was later withdrawn as a mandate, though the app remains available for download.
00:36:31 Caller Name Presentation (CNP): Mandatory display of the KYC-registered name for incoming calls, even if the number is unsaved, is set to be enforced to curb fraud.
00:37:08 SIM Binding for Messaging Apps: Messaging applications (like WhatsApp) will soon require the device to have the SIM card bound to the user's KYC to operate, with web/desktop versions subject to mandatory logout every 6 hours.
00:38:19 TEAM Initiative: The Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) Initiative was launched under the RAMP scheme to boost MSME participation in e-commerce.
00:39:50 Veer Savarkar Poem: The 115th anniversary of Veer Savarkar's Marathi poem, "Sagra Pran Talamala," was commemorated.
00:41:54 Sujalam Bharat App: Launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti under the Jal Jeevan Mission to manage and track rural drinking water supply using GIS technology (in collaboration with BISAG-N).
00:43:20 Project Mausam: A flagship cultural initiative of the Ministry of Culture (launched June 2014), aiming to strengthen cultural ties with 39 countries in the Indian Ocean Region based on shared seasonal monsoon winds and heritage.
00:45:54 First Yoga & Ayurveda Cluster Centre:Patandali University was designated as the first such center under the Ministry of Culture’s Gyan Bharatam Mission for digitizing ancient manuscripts.
00:46:51 NFIS Scheme: The National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIS), a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, aims to upgrade forensic infrastructure nationally, especially given the new criminal laws requiring forensic reports for crimes punishable by over seven years.
00:49:38 CBFC Jurisdiction: The Government confirmed that OTT content will remain outside the jurisdiction of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), governed instead by the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics) Rules, 2021.
00:51:01 Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav: Observed on December 11th (Birth Anniversary of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharatiyar), themed "Many Languages, One Emotion." The Aadi Vaani AI-driven tribal language translator (developed with IIT Delhi) was unveiled.
00:52:30 Bharat Taxi: A cooperative-run taxi service model launched to compete with private aggregators like Ola/Uber, ensuring greater benefit accrues to drivers.
00:53:59 Shakti Scholar Young Research Fellowship: Launched by the NCW to provide a ₹1 lakh grant over six months to graduates aged 21–30 researching women's issues.
00:54:42 Save Aravalli Campaign: The campaign gained traction after the Supreme Court initially accepted a definition restricting Aravalli recognition to hills over 100m; the SC later stayed this order for review due to environmental concerns (e.g., impact on groundwater recharge and desert expansion).
00:58:18 Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti: News regarding the rejection of a plea concerning the state sending a chadar to his Ajmer dargah. He is known as Garib Nawaz and founded the Chishti Order in the subcontinent.
01:01:45 Kimberley Process (KP) Chairmanship: India is set to assume the prestigious Chairmanship of the Kimberley Process starting January 1st, 2026. KP is a tripartite initiative (Governments, Industry, Civil Society) aimed at curbing "conflict diamonds."
01:02:44 Chief Secretaries Conference: The 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries was chaired by the PM in New Delhi, focusing on the theme "Human Capital for Viksit Bharat."
01:03:18 Communist Party of India (CPI): The party completed 100 years, having been founded in Kanpur in 1925.
01:04:16 Constitution in Santhali: President Droupadi Murmu released the Santhali language version of the Constitution. Santhali was added to the Eighth Schedule via the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.
01:05:04 Anti-Terror Conference: Inaugurated by Amit Shah, organized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
01:05:38 PMGSY Anniversary: The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development, completed 25 years (launched Dec 25, 2000).
01:06:09 IAS Vagshir Submarine Ride: President Droupadi Murmu took a sortie on the INS Vagshir (a Kalvari-class submarine inducted under Project 75), making her the second Indian President to do so.
01:07:23 BIS Standard for Agarbatti: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) notified the first Indian Standard for incense sticks (agarbatti), regulating the use of insecticides and synthetic fragrances.
01:08:23 Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC): The 10th Edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (2026) will be launched in January. IPC is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, headquartered in Ghaziabad.
00:09:24 NATGRID: News regarding the increased utilization of the National Intelligence Grid (initiated post-2008 Mumbai attacks) by agencies like IB, RAW, and NIA for accessing real-time data.
01:10:38 Sampann Portal: The System for Accounting and Management of Pension (for the telecom sector) onboarded all retired MTNL employees.
01:11:40 VB Gram GJ Act (Major Legislative Change): The MGNREGA Act, 2005, has been replaced by the 'Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) [VB Gram GJ]' Act.
Key changes include increasing guaranteed employment days from 100 to 125 days per household annually.
Funding pattern shifted to a 60:40 Centre-State model (90:10 for NE/Hilly Regions).
Biometric authentication and AI-enabled technology will be used for governance.
01:15:00 Health and National Security Cess Bill: Passed by Parliament, this bill levies a special cess on demerit goods like tobacco and pan masala, extending beyond existing GST compensation cess, to fund public health and national security systems.
01:17:15 SHANTI Bill: The Sustainable Harnessing of Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025 was passed. This is considered the largest reform in India's nuclear sector since 1962, aimed at liberalizing the sector to allow private sector participation in fuel fabrication, manufacturing, and operations to achieve the 100 GW nuclear power target by 2047.
01:19:06 Coal Setu Window: Union Cabinet approved a new auction-based coal linkage window allowing any domestic industrial buyer to procure coal for captive use or up to 50% export, replacing the existing NRS linkage policy of 2016.
01:21:28 Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025: Introduced by MP Supriya Sule, this bill aims to legally allow employees to disconnect from after-hours work communications without penalty. It proposes an Employee Welfare Authority and penalties of 1% of employee remuneration for non-compliant employers.
01:23:10 Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan Bill: Referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). It proposes a single, unified regulatory body to replace multiple existing bodies like UGC, AICTE, and NCTE to streamline higher education governance, though it currently excludes medical and legal education.
01:25:02 Insurance Sector FDI Liberalization: Parliament cleared the amendment to the Insurance Act, 1938, raising the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap in the insurance sector to 100% (from 74%).
01:27:33 REPM Scheme: The Cabinet approved a scheme with an outlay of ₹7,280 Crore to promote the domestic manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs), targeting 6,000 metric tonnes per annum capacity to reduce import dependency (especially from China) in EVs and defense tech.
01:28:41 MSP for Copra: Minimum Support Price set for the 2026 season. Copra is one of the two commercial crops for which MSP is announced (the other being sugarcane).
Milling Copra: ₹12,270 per quintal.
Ball Copra: ₹15,000 per quintal.
Eminent Personalities (December Anniversaries):
Dr. Rajendra Prasad (Dec 3rd): First President of independent India; served two terms (longest tenure: 12 years).
Khudi Ram Bose (Dec 3rd): Revolutionary associated with the Anushilan Samiti; martyred at age 18 in the Muzaffarpur Bomb Case.
Major Dhyan Chand (Dec 3rd): Hockey legend ("Wizard of Hockey"); his birth date (Aug 29th) is celebrated as National Sports Day.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Dec 6th): 70th Mahaparinirvan Diwas observed. Founder of Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923) and proponent of the Pune Pact (1932).
C. Rajagopalachari (Dec 10th): Known as "Rajaji"; last Governor-General of India and first Indian to hold the post. Gave the slogan "English Ever, Hindi Never."
Pranab Mukherjee (Dec 11th): Former President (2012–2017); only non-PM to be Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha for 8 years.
Pandit Ravi Shankar (Dec 11th): Sitar maestro who globally popularized Indian classical music; received the Bharat Ratna in 1999.
M. S. Subbulakshmi (Dec 11th): Carnatic vocalist; first woman musician to receive the Bharat Ratna.
Subramanya Bharatiyar (Dec 11th): Tamil poet and freedom fighter; known as "Mahakavi Bharathiyar"; the Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav is observed on his birth anniversary.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Dec 15th): Role highlighted as the chief architect of the political integration of princely states.
Swami Shraddhanand Saraswati (Dec 23rd): Arya Samaj missionary assassinated in 1926; wrote "Hindu Sangathan."
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (Dec 25th): Founder of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1916; conferred the title "Mahamana" by Mahatma Gandhi. Credited with popularizing the slogan "Satyameva Jayate."
Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Dec 27th - based on Nanakshahi calendar): 10th Sikh Guru; founder of the Khalsa Panth (1699).
Arun Jaitley (Dec 28th): Former Finance Minister (2014–2019); honored posthumously with Padma Vibhushan in 2020.
Udham Singh (Dec 26th): Revolutionary who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer in 1940 to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.