Daily Current Affairs – 12-12-2025
Important Days
International Universal Health Coverage Day - December 12
International Universal Health Coverage Day is observed on December 12 every year. The day aims to raise awareness about the need for strong and resilient health systems that ensure universal access to quality and affordable healthcare for everyone, everywhere. It also promotes the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being).
Theme for 2025 (expected as per WHO’s annual focus): “Health for All: Time for Action.”
Tamil Nadu News
2.24 Crore Palmyrah Seeds Planted under Green Tamil Nadu Mission
Under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission (GTM), more than 2.24 crore Palmyrah seeds have been planted across Tamil Nadu with the participation of over 16,600 volunteers. The initiative is being tracked through geo-tagging on the GTM and Udhavi mobile applications to monitor seed locations and field conditions. Districts such as Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukkottai, Ariyalur, Tirupathur, and Sivaganga have each planted more than 10 lakh seeds, while the activity has also taken place in Erode, Salem, and Nagapattinam. The Palmyrah tree, a culturally significant and climate-resilient species in Tamil Nadu, has a lifespan of over 120 years and plays a key role in stabilising riverbanks, coastal areas, and drylands, in addition to groundwater recharge. The project differs from conventional forest regeneration programmes as it involves direct field sowing rather than nursery planting. The initiative, led by Environment and Forest Secretary Supriya Sahu, aims to promote large-scale natural regeneration across the State.
Chennai International Film Festival 2025 Begins
The 23rd Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) began in Chennai with the inauguration by Tamil Development Minister M.P. Saminathan at Sathyam Cinemas. The event was organized by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF) with the support of the Tamil Nadu Government and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The festival, chaired by Sivan Kannan and coordinated by Anand Rangasamy and Thangaraj, will run until December 18, 2025. A special award was presented to actor Rajinikanth for completing 50 years in cinema, which was received by his daughter Aishwarya. The festival features screenings of 122 films from 51 countries and includes 12 Tamil films such as 3 BHK, Maaman, Alangu, Kadhal Enbathu Podhuvudamai, and Vembu. In honor of Rajinikanth’s 75th birthday and his five-decade contribution to cinema, the film Baashha was screened on December 12. The Tamil Nadu government has increased the film festival grant from ₹25 lakh in 2008 to ₹95 lakh in 2025, and the Goa International Film Festival grant has been raised to ₹15 lakh.
States’ News
Karnataka Introduces Bill to Ban Social Boycott Practices
The Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2025 was tabled in the State Legislative Assembly by Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa. The Bill aims to prohibit and criminalise acts of social boycott, including those imposed by caste panchayats, against individuals, groups, or their families. It prescribes a punishment of imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to ₹1 lakh, or both. The Bill identifies 20 forms of social boycott, such as refusal to engage in social or business interactions, denial of services or opportunities, preventing participation in social, religious, or community events, and blocking access to common facilities. It also provides for the appointment of a Social Boycott Prohibition Officer and mandates compensation to affected persons.
National News
Parliamentary Panel on Simultaneous Elections Gets Extension
The Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seek to introduce simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, has been granted an extension of tenure. The motion to extend the committee’s term till the first day of the last week of the 2026 Budget Session was moved in the Lok Sabha by P.P. Chaudhary, the Chairman of the Committee, and was adopted by a voice vote. The committee, constituted in December 2024, has held consultations with constitutional experts, economists, and Law Commission Chairman Dinesh Maheshwari, among others. Senior Supreme Court lawyer and Independent Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal also appeared before the committee as an expert to provide his views on the Bills.
Election Commission Extends SIR Deadline for Six States, West Bengal Excluded
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has revised the timeline for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in six states, including Tamil Nadu, following requests from the Chief Electoral Officers. The enumeration period for Tamil Nadu and Gujarat has been extended till December 14, 2025, and the draft electoral rolls will be published on December 19, 2025. For Kerala, the enumeration will end on December 18, and the draft rolls will be released on December 23. The deadline for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has also been extended to December 18, with draft rolls to be published on December 23. In Uttar Pradesh, the SIR exercise has been extended till December 26, with the draft rolls due on December 31. However, West Bengal, along with Goa, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Rajasthan, has not received any extension, as their enumeration period ended on December 12, and draft rolls will be published on December 16, 2025. The ECI also stated that field verification is ongoing to recheck ASD (Absent, Shifted, Dead/Duplicate) voters who could not be contacted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) despite mandatory attempts.
World Traditional Medicine Conference in Delhi
The World Traditional Medicine Conference is scheduled to take place in Delhi from December 17 to 19, 2025. The event is jointly organized by the Union Ministry of AYUSH and the World Health Organization (WHO). Over 100 medical experts from G20 member countries are expected to participate in the conference. As part of global cooperation, bilateral discussions have been held with 20 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Spain, Mauritius, Iran, Brazil, and Colombia, to promote the spread of traditional medicine. The conference will also feature exhibitions of medicinal herbs, traditional foods, and palm-leaf manuscripts. The Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), located at Tambaram, Chennai, is taking part in initiatives for collaborative research on chronic diseases such as skin and viral diseases, and has submitted a proposal to the WHO to provide Siddha medicine training, awaiting Central Government approval.
First Hydrogen-Powered Ship Service Launched in India
India’s first hydrogen-powered ship service was inaugurated at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The initiative is part of the Central Government’s plan under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to modernize inland waterways and promote green energy in transportation. The hydrogen-powered vessel will operate on the Ganga River from Namo Ghat, aiming to enhance connectivity between cities, reduce travel time and transportation costs, and contribute to economic growth. With this launch, India joins countries such as China, Norway, the Netherlands, and Japan that operate hydrogen-fuelled ships, marking a significant step toward sustainable and eco-friendly transport technology in the maritime sector.
International News
Navy Chief’s Brazil Visit to Strengthen India–Brazil Defence Cooperation
Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, the Chief of the Naval Staff of India, undertook an official visit to Brazil from December 9 to 12, 2025, to enhance the growing India–Brazil defence partnership. During the visit, he held high-level meetings with Celso Amorim, Chief Advisor to the President of Brazil, and José Múcio Monteiro, the Minister of Defence of Brazil. The discussions focused on strengthening strategic collaboration, expanding training exchanges, and improving maritime security mechanisms between the two nations. The visit marked a significant step in advancing bilateral defence cooperation in the maritime domain.
Prada Signs MoU to Sell Kolhapuris at India-Italy Business Forum
At the India-Italy Business Forum held in Mumbai, Italian fashion brand Prada signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Leather Development Corporations of Karnataka and Maharashtra to sell Kolhapuri slippers. Three other MoUs were also signed during the event, including a Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) project awarded to the Danieli Group of Italy, an agreement between Neopolis Brands Pvt. Ltd. and Kuvera S.p.A. to open 100 fashion retail stores, and a joint venture between Ace Brass Pvt. Ltd. and Cavagna Group, with the latter holding a 51% stake. The discussions at the forum covered key sectors such as automobiles, agrifood, agritech, sports technology, and textiles. The Italian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani.
U.S. Launches Trump Gold Card Scheme
The United States has launched the Trump Gold Card, a new visa scheme announced by U.S. President Donald Trump to provide a pathway for immigrants to American citizenship. The visa will be granted based on an individual’s ability to offer substantial benefit to the United States. According to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Gold Card will cost 1 million dollars for individuals and 2 million dollars for corporations. The scheme will include a comprehensive verification process to ensure eligibility. The initiative aims to attract skilled and high-value individuals to the U.S. economy.
University of Western Australia to Open Campus in Chennai by August 2026
The University of Western Australia (UWA) will establish a 50,000 sq ft campus at DLF Cybercity, Chennai, which is scheduled to open by August 2026. This project is part of a ₹500-crore investment by the Western Australian Government to set up two campuses in India. The Chennai campus will focus on key sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Maritime Sciences, MedTech Innovation, Sustainability, and Defence-linked Ocean Technologies. The initiative aims to strengthen the Indo-Australian collaboration in education, research, and technology. The campus will start with 300 students and 100 local staff, with plans to include international faculty and students over time. The Vice-Chancellor of UWA is Professor Amit Chakma. The university has also partnered with SRIHER under the SPARC programme to promote research in AI-based dental education and collaborates with DFAT-CSDR on underwater defence research. Additionally, UWA has tied up with HCLTech to offer global micro-credentials in AI, Cybersecurity, Digital Engineering, and Technology Leadership. The partnership will culminate in the 2026 Indo-Pacific Innovation Hackathon in collaboration with the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce and India’s Ministry of IT.
EU Scientists Predict 2025 to be Second or Third Warmest Year on Record
According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the year 2025 is projected to be the world’s second or third warmest year, potentially surpassed only by the record-breaking heat of 2024. The C3S data, compiled after the COP30 Climate Summit, indicates that global average temperatures have exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900) for three consecutive years. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) reported that the period from 2015 to 2025 is likely to rank among the 11 warmest years on record, with 2023–2025 expected to be the three warmest years so far, and 2025 registering about 1.4°C above the pre-industrial average. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in its Emissions Gap Report 2025 warned that even if all national climate commitments are met, global temperatures may still rise by 2.3°C to 2.5°C, while current policies could lead to 2.8°C of warming. Scientists attribute this increase primarily to greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning, noting that the last 10 years have been the warmest decade since records began.
Sports News
Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur Honoured at New Chandigarh Stadium
At the New Chandigarh Stadium, stands have been named after Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur, both World Cup-winning cricketers from India. Yuvraj Singh, who was the Player of the Tournament in the 2011 ICC ODI World Cup, and Harmanpreet Kaur, who recently led India to its first-ever Women’s World Cup victory, were honoured for their contributions to Indian cricket. The naming of these stands recognizes their achievements in international cricket and their role in India’s World Cup successes.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Amul to Sponsor Argentina Again
Amul, the world’s largest dairy cooperative and India’s leading food brand, has extended its partnership with the Argentina Football Association (AFA) for another season as the Official Regional Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2022 champions. This marks the fourth consecutive year of collaboration between Amul and AFA, making Amul the first Indian regional sponsor in Argentine football history, a partnership that began in 2022. The renewed agreement covers the period leading up to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Since 2021, AFA has expanded its presence in India, aligning with Amul’s goal of increasing its brand visibility among football fans. As part of the extended collaboration, Amul will release a special range of products featuring Argentine players and exclusive fan merchandise in the coming year. The partnership highlights India’s growing engagement with international sports branding.
Personalities, Awards and Events
Bank of Baroda Wins ‘Best Bank in India’ Award 2025
Bank of Baroda has been named the ‘Best Bank in India’ at the Bank of the Year Awards 2025, organized by The Banker magazine, a publication of the Financial Times. The award recognizes outstanding performance by leading financial institutions across the globe. The honour highlights Bank of Baroda’s position among top-performing banks in India. The bank’s Managing Director and CEO is Debadatta Chand, and the recognition was presented for the bank’s consistent growth and excellence in the Indian banking sector.