Daily Current Affairs – 18-12-2025
Tamil Nadu News
Tamil Nadu to Introduce New Dairy Policy to Curb Milk Adulteration
The Tamil Nadu Dairy Development Department is preparing a new dedicated dairy policy to institutionalise milk production and distribution across the State and address the issue of milk adulteration. Under the proposed framework, dairy farmers will be enabled to sell milk directly to small private companies, buyers, and milk cooperative societies, bypassing middlemen, while the existing practice of village-level direct sale to consumers will continue unchanged. The policy was discussed by Dairy Development Minister Mano Thangaraj during a meeting with private milk companies at the Aavin headquarters. As per the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Tamil Nadu produces about 300 lakh litres of milk per day, of which Aavin holds around 12% market share, procuring 34–36 lakh litres daily, while the private sector handles about 25% (around 75 lakh litres per day). Nearly 60% of milk production and distribution remains unorganised, with 3–4% consumed by farmers themselves. The policy aims to increase institutional milk sales to 50%, as stated by A. John Louis, Director of Milk Production and Dairy Development (DMPDD) and Managing Director of Aavin.
Tamil Nadu Considers Parametric Insurance for Disaster Response
The Tamil Nadu Government is exploring the use of parametric insurance as a financial tool for faster relief in the event of cyclones, floods, and extreme weather, a proposal discussed at a meeting of the Tamil Nadu Governing Council on Climate Change chaired by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The concept was presented by Balakrishna Pisupati, India Head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighting global adoption in climate-vulnerable regions. Unlike traditional insurance, parametric insurance enables automatic payouts when predefined triggers such as rainfall levels, wind speeds, or flood depths are met, allowing rapid fund release. The discussion followed recent climate events including Cyclone Michaung and noted funding constraints from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF); since 2015, Tamil Nadu sought ₹24,679 crore but received ₹4,136 crore, including ₹1,365.7 crore against ₹7,955.36 crore sought after the 2015 Chennai floods, and ₹276.1 crore against ₹2,070 crore sought for Cyclone Michaung. The State highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the Climate Change Governing Council, Green Tamil Nadu Mission, and the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission, along with an allocation of ₹500 crore for mitigation and adaptation measures.
Tamil Nadu Expands Cool Roof Initiative to Green Schools
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that the State Government will expand the Cool Roof Initiative to 297 green schools across Tamil Nadu, and extend the summer and winter environmental awareness camps for school students from one day to two days. The initiative forms part of the 2025–26 action plan of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission, following a pilot project at a government school in Ambattur where heat-reflective white paint reduced indoor temperatures by 1.5 to 3°C. The Chief Minister also stated that 4,000 teachers have been selected for climate literacy training, and highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission, Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission, and Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE). Additional measures include climate-resilient development in Killai village near Pichavaram in Cuddalore district, an increase in mangrove cover from 4,500 hectares to 9,000 hectares, introduction of 120 electric buses with plans for 600 more, and reaffirmation of the State’s net-zero emissions target by 2070.
International News
UK to Rejoin EU Erasmus Programme from 2027
Britain has announced that it will rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus student exchange programme, marking a key development in post-Brexit relations with the 27-nation European Union. Under the agreement, British university and college students and apprentices will be able to study or train in EU countries without additional foreign-student fees from January 2027, while EU students will also be eligible to study in the UK. The arrangement further extends opportunities to school students, adult learners, educators, and sports coaches. The UK government will contribute about £570 million for the first year of participation, with future costs to be decided later. The Erasmus programme, launched nearly four decades ago, is one of the EU’s major education initiatives and includes participation by some non-EU countries such as Iceland and Norway. The UK had exited the programme following the 2016 Brexit referendum and its formal departure from the EU in 2020.
India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
India and Oman are set to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), as announced by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, with the signing to take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Oman Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. Formal negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) began in November 2023 and concluded earlier this year. Oman is India’s third-largest export destination among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The agreement aims to reduce or eliminate tariffs, liberalise services trade, and facilitate investments across sectors such as textiles, food processing, automobiles, gems and jewellery, agrochemicals, renewable energy, and auto components. In 2024–25, bilateral trade stood at $10.6 billion, with India recording a trade deficit of $2.48 billion. Currently, 80% of Indian goods enter Oman at an average tariff of about 5%, while duties on select products can be as high as 100%.
India–UAE Joint Military Exercise DESERT CYCLONE-II
An Indian Army contingent has departed for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take part in the second edition of the India–UAE Joint Military Exercise ‘DESERT CYCLONE-II’, scheduled to be held at Abu Dhabi from December 18 to December 30. According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel, mainly from a battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, while the UAE Land Forces are represented by an equal-strength contingent from the 53rd Mechanised Infantry Battalion, with the exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.
US Extends Travel Ban to 20 More Countries
US President Donald Trump has announced the extension of the US immigration and travel ban to 20 additional countries, citing national security concerns, with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) directed to implement the order. As per the announcement by the White House, visa applications of citizens from 46 countries are under suspension, including Oman, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Mali, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The decision follows a shooting incident at the US Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, involving a Saudi national, after which the Trump administration intensified measures to regulate foreign immigration. The travel ban has also been extended to government officials from 20 countries, including Iran and Pakistan.
Economy News
SEBI Revises Mutual Fund Expense Framework
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has overhauled mutual fund regulations, originally framed in 1996, to improve cost transparency and reduce the expense burden on investors, as decided at its Board meeting held on Wednesday. SEBI has replaced the Total Expense Ratio (TER) with a new Base Expense Ratio (BER) framework, under which statutory levies such as Securities Transaction Tax (STT), GST, stamp duty, and commodities transaction tax are excluded and charged separately. A major investor-related reform is the removal of the 5 basis points (bps) exit load. SEBI has also rationalised brokerage and distribution commission caps, increased brokerage limits for equity cash transactions from 2 bps to 6 bps, revised derivative brokerage to 2 bps, reduced the BER limit for index funds and ETFs to 0.9% from 1%, and lowered it for close-ended equity schemes to 1% from 1.25%. The revised regulations also simplify compliance through digital-first disclosures, reduced reporting requirements, fewer trustee meetings, removal of half-yearly portfolio disclosures, and permit borrowing by equity-oriented index funds and ETFs for execution and intra-day redemption needs.
MUFG Investment in Shriram Finance
Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) is set to invest over $4 billion to acquire around a 20% stake in the Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC) Shriram Finance, with the deal expected to be finalised on Friday. Shriram Finance is one of India’s largest retail NBFCs, with assets under management of ₹2.8 trillion ($31 billion) as of September, marking a significant foreign investment in India’s financial sector.
Reports and Indices
India Inc Salary Growth Projection 2026
Average employee salaries in India are projected to increase by 9% in 2026, according to Mercer’s Total Remuneration Survey 2026, which highlights a shift by organisations toward skills-based systems and short-term incentives. The survey identifies individual performance, inflation, and organisational competitiveness in the job market as key factors influencing salary increases. Covering remuneration trends across more than 8,000 roles in over 1,500 companies, the report indicates that organisations are refining their rewards frameworks with a stronger focus on transparent systems linked to skills acquisition and deployment.
Hurun India Self-Made Entrepreneurs List 2025
Deepinder Goyal, founder of Eternal, topped Hurun India’s third edition of the Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs list, released in Mumbai in collaboration with IDFC First Private Banking. Eternal is valued at ₹3.2 lakh crore, recording a 27% increase over the previous year and operating across 800 cities in India. Radhakishan Damani, founder of DMart (Avenue Supermarts) established in 2000, ranked second with a valuation of ₹3 lakh crore; Avenue Supermarts reported revenues of ₹59,482 crore in FY25 and employs over 90,000 people. Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal, founders of InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo), secured the third position with a valuation of ₹2.2 lakh crore. Among women entrepreneurs, Falguni Nayar and Adwaita Nayar of Nykaa ranked ninth in the Top 10, with Nykaa valued at ₹67,000 crore. As per Hurun India methodology, ‘self-made’ entrepreneurs are those who founded companies on or after 2000 without family backing, with rankings based on market capitalisation for listed firms and valuations for unlisted firms.
National News
TRAI Mandates 1600 Series Numbers for Insurance Firms
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed entities regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to adopt the ‘1600’ series numbers for service and transactional voice calls to consumers by February 15, 2026. The mandate aims to enhance consumer trust, curb spam, and prevent voice-call fraud, and the timeline was finalised in consultation with IRDAI. Earlier, TRAI had issued similar directions for entities regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Following this initiative, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) assigned the 1600 numbering series for entities in the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector and government organisations. As part of adoption efforts, about 570 entities have already subscribed to over 3,000 numbers, and remaining entities using standard 10-digit numbers are required to migrate to the 1600 series within the stipulated period.
Navy Commissions Second MH-60R Helicopter Squadron at INS Hansa
The Indian Navy commissioned INAS 335 ‘The Ospreys’, its second MH-60R helicopter squadron, at INS Hansa, Goa, with the ceremony presided over by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). This follows the commissioning of the first MH-60R squadron at Kochi, Kerala, in March 2024, and marks a key step in strengthening naval aviation on the western seaboard. The event is significant as 2025 marks 75 years since the Government of India approved the formation of the Fleet Air Arm in 1950. Earlier capability additions at INS Hansa include the commissioning of the second P-8I maritime patrol aircraft squadron in 2022, and the Navy is also proceeding with the acquisition of 15 MQ-9B Sea Guardian remotely piloted aircraft.
‘Kavach’ Railway Safety System and Luggage Rules
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that the indigenously developed ‘Kavach’ automatic train protection system has been installed and made operational on 2,000 km of railway tracks across India. The Kavach system, first introduced in 2016 for regional passenger services, was notified as a national automatic train protection system in July 2020 and is designed to prevent train collisions and signal-passing accidents. So far, optical fibre cables have been laid along 7,129 km of tracks, 860 telecommunication towers covering 767 railway stations have been erected, and Kavach devices have been fitted on 4,154 train engines over 3,413 km of tracks, with 40,000 technical staff and drivers trained for its implementation. In a separate reply, the minister stated that Indian Railways will charge fees for carrying luggage beyond permissible limits, allowing 35 kg (Second Sitting), 40 kg (Sleeper and AC 3-Tier), 50 kg (AC 2-Tier) and 70 kg (First AC) free of cost, with higher weight limits permitted on payment of prescribed charges.
States’ News
Uttarakhand Governor Returns UCC and Religious Conversion Amendment Bills
In Uttarakhand, Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Gurmit Singh has returned the amendment Bills related to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the Freedom of Religion and Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion Act, citing technical and drafting flaws. The Bills were proposed by the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led State Government and were returned after issues were noted in grammatical provisions, technical aspects, and punishment terms for certain offences. Following their return, the Bills will require redrafting, after which the State Government may either promulgate an ordinance or pass the amendments again in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly and resubmit them for the Governor’s consideration.
Sports News
National Shooting Championship: Skeet Mixed Team Results
At the National Shooting Championship, the Rajasthan duo of Anishjeet Singh Naruka and Darshana Rathore won the gold medal in the Skeet Senior Mixed Team event by defeating the Uttar Pradesh pair of Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Areeba Khan with a score of 45–43. The bronze medal was secured by the Haryana team of Raiza Dhillon and Ishan Singh, who defeated Madhya Pradesh shooters Rituraj Bujdela and Mansi Raghuvanshi 41–39. In the Junior Mixed Team event, Telangana’s Yuvak Bathla and Vrushali Lakshmi won gold by defeating Madhya Pradesh’s Tin Jyotiraditya Scindia and Vanshika Tiwari 38–37, while the Punjab pair of Harmehar Singh Lally and Parimeet Kaur won bronze by beating Rajasthan’s Bhavyadeep Rathore and Pahvi Tan Rajawat 40–39. In Skeet Senior Men, Gurjot Singh, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, and Harmehar Lally finished first, second, and third respectively, while in the Junior Men category Harmehar Lally, Joravar Bedi, and Jyotiraditya Scindia won gold, silver, and bronze respectively.