Daily Current Affairs – 14-12-2025
Important Days
December 14 – National Energy Conservation Day (India)
Every year, December 14 is observed as National Energy Conservation Day in India to raise awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation. The day is organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It aims to promote the judicious use of energy resources, encourage sustainable development, and highlight achievements in energy-saving initiatives across the country.
International News
India Engages in Talks with Mexico Over Import Tax Hike
The Government of India has initiated talks with Mexico after the country imposed a sudden increase in import taxes ranging from 5% to 50% on goods from nations without trade agreements, including India, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia. Certain Indian goods now face a 50% import tax. To address the issue, senior Indian officials have met with the Mexican Ambassador in New Delhi, and discussions have been held between Mexico’s Minister of Economy Raquel Buenrostro and India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal. The talks aim to establish a trade framework ensuring stable bilateral trade relations. In the financial year 2024–25, India’s exports to Mexico were valued at $5.75 billion, while imports from Mexico stood at $2.9 billion.
Eritrea Withdraws from East African Bloc IGAD
Eritrea has officially withdrawn from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the East African regional organization. The decision was announced by the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The IGAD bloc was established in 1996 to promote peace, food security, and economic cooperation among East African nations. The organization consists of eight member countries — Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Djibouti, and Eritrea. This marks the second time Eritrea has exited the bloc since its formation.
National News
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Meeting Concludes at Delhi’s Red Fort
The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting concluded at the Red Fort in New Delhi on December 13, 2025. The four-day session, which began on December 10, saw the inclusion of 67 new cultural elements into UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, bringing the total to 849 practices from 157 countries. The newly added traditions include India’s pre-Diwali rituals, Iran’s glasswork art, the United Arab Emirates’ traditional dance, and Switzerland’s forest management practices. Over 1,400 delegates from member nations participated, making it the largest meeting organized by UNESCO to date. The event was conducted under the supervision of Union Culture Secretary Vivek Kumar, and the next session will be hosted in Lianmen, China, in 2026.
Raj Kumar Goyal Appointed as New Chief Information Commissioner
Raj Kumar Goyal, former Law and Justice Secretary, has been appointed as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of India. The post had been vacant since Heeralal Samariya retired on 13th of last month. Along with the new CIC, eight Information Commissioners have also been appointed, including Jaya Varma Sinha, Preeti Sirohi, Pradip Kumar Das, Subhash Joshi, C. B. Somappa, Saroj Punhani, and Ashish Gupta. The appointments were made based on the recommendation of a three-member selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as members. With these appointments, the Central Information Commission now functions with a full strength of 10 members, including three women — Anandi Ramalingam, Jaya Varma Sinha, and Preeti Sirohi — marking the first time in seven years that the Commission has been fully staffed.
National Blood Transfusion Bill 2025 Introduced to Regulate Blood Services
The National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025 was introduced in Parliament to strengthen the regulation and quality control of blood transfusion services across India. The bill proposes the establishment of a National Blood Transfusion Authority to set uniform national standards for the collection, testing, storage, and transfusion of blood and its components. It mandates registration of all blood centers, encourages voluntary blood donation, and prescribes penalties for unsafe or non-compliant practices. The legislation aims to ensure access to safe and quality blood for patients dependent on regular transfusions, such as thalassemia patients. The initiative is viewed as a major step toward creating a centralized, accountable, and scientific governance framework for blood services in India.
Gulmarg Elevates Winter Tourism with Asia’s Longest Ski Drag Lift and New Conference Hall
Gulmarg, a major tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir, has inaugurated Asia’s longest ski drag lift and a rotating conference hall to boost winter tourism. The projects were inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The ski drag lift, located at Kongdoori, measures 726 metres and was constructed at a cost of ₹3.65 crore, while the rotating conference hall at Apharwat was built for ₹86 lakh. Both projects form part of a ₹17 crore investment in tourism infrastructure aimed at promoting winter sports and professional skiing. Additionally, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the fencing of the Gulmarg Golf Course, estimated at ₹4.77 crore. Gulmarg attracted over 7.68 lakh tourists last year and hosted the 4th Khelo India Winter Games, highlighting its growing importance as a premier winter sports destination in India.
Economy News
India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Rise to $68,726 Crore
As per the data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $103.3 crore, reaching $68,726 crore for the week ending December 5, 2025. In the previous week ending November 28, the reserves had declined by $187.7 crore to $68,623 crore. During this period, Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) decreased by $15.1 crore to $55,688 crore, while gold reserves increased by $118.8 crore to $10,698.4 crore. The value of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) rose by $9.3 crore to $1,872.1 crore, whereas India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declined by $9.7 crore to $467.5 crore, according to the RBI data.
Tamil Nadu News
Over 1 Lakh Cases Resolved in Tamil Nadu Lok Adalat, ₹857.77 Crore Awarded
In a National Lok Adalat conducted across Tamil Nadu, a total of 1,03,884 pending cases were settled in a single day, and ₹857.77 crore was awarded as compensation. The Lok Adalat was organized under the supervision of the State Legal Services Authority, headed by Justice M. Srivenugopalan, Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority and High Court Judge. Across the state, 516 benches were constituted at the district and taluk levels to hear and resolve cases. Proceedings at the Chennai High Court were led by Justices P.T. Asha, D. Krishnakumar, M.S. Ramesh, B. Pugalendhi, S.M. Subramaniam, R.M.T. Teekaa Raman, and retired judges P.N. Prakash and R. Mahadevan, while Justice R. Suresh Kumar oversaw sessions at the Madurai and Ramanathapuram benches. The event was coordinated by Justice N. Balakrishnan, Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority, along with judges and members of the District Legal Services Authorities.
Tamil Nadu to Launch HPV Vaccination Programme in Four Districts
The Tamil Nadu government will launch the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme by the end of next month to prevent cervical cancer. The initiative will begin in four districts with high incidence rates—Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruvannamalai, and Dharmapuri—before expanding to all 38 districts. The programme, announced by Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, targets girls aged 9 to 14 years, with each child receiving two doses of the vaccine. The State has allocated ₹36 crore for the scheme, which aims to cover 3.38 lakh girls across Tamil Nadu. In the first phase, 27,000 students from government and government-aided schools in the four selected districts will receive the first dose. Tamil Nadu will become the first State in India to provide the HPV vaccine free of cost. Training for doctors and nurses on vaccine administration has already commenced, and the tender process for procurement is in the final stage.