Daily Current Affairs – 19-12-2025
National News
Goa Liberation Day – December 19
Goa Liberation Day is observed every year on December 19 to commemorate the liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule in 1961 through Operation Vijay. At the time of Goa’s liberation, Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister of India, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the President of India. Following liberation, Goa, Daman and Diu were administered together as a Union Territory. The first Legislative Assembly election in Goa was held in 1963, and Dayanand Bandodkar became the first Chief Minister of Goa. Later, Goa attained full statehood on May 30, 1987, while Daman and Diu remained a Union Territory. Subsequently, Daman and Diu were separated from Goa in 1987 and continued as a Union Territory until January 26, 2020, when Daman and Diu were merged with Dadra and Nagar Haveli to form the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. At present, Goa is a full-fledged State of India, while Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu function together as a single Union Territory.
Stock Market Bill 2025 Introduced in Lok Sabha
The Stock Market Bill 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, following which strong opposition was raised and a decision was taken to send the Bill to a Parliamentary Committee. During the introduction, DMK MP T.R. Baalu and Congress MP Manish Tewari opposed the Bill, after which the Finance Minister stated that the Bill could be examined by a Parliamentary Committee after discussion. It was clarified that the authority to refer the Bill to a committee rests with the Lok Sabha Speaker. The Stock Market Bill 2025 seeks to consolidate the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, the Depositories Act, 1996, and the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 into a single legislation, with the stated objectives of strengthening investor protection and simplifying business operations in India’s financial markets.
New Rural Employment Guarantee Bill Passed
The Lok Sabha passed the New Rural Employment Guarantee Bill amid protests, following which the House was adjourned for the entire day. The Bill, titled the New Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (PM–Jai Ram G), was introduced by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday to replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Under the new scheme, the number of guaranteed workdays has been increased from 100 days to 125 days. During the debate, Opposition members objected to the change in the scheme’s name and demanded that the Bill be referred to a Parliamentary Joint Committee, but the Bill was ultimately passed by voice vote. The passage of the Bill took place on the last day of the Winter Session of Parliament.
Leadership Change at Bharti Airtel
Bharti Airtel Ltd. announced that Shashwat Sharma, who is currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO), will assume charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company from January 1. As part of a planned succession, Gopal Vittal will transition to the role of Executive Vice-Chairman of Bharti Airtel on January 1, 2026, where he will oversee Bharti Airtel and all its subsidiaries.
Sahitya Akademi Awards Announcement Cancelled
The Sahitya Akademi cancelled its scheduled press conference to announce its annual literary awards following a directive from the Union Ministry of Culture. The press meet, planned at 3 p.m. in New Delhi, was called off minutes before it began, and the awards process was put on hold. The decision followed a reminder from the Ministry regarding a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July with four autonomous cultural institutions — the Sahitya Akademi, National School of Drama, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Lalit Kala Akademi — stipulating that any restructuring of awards must be carried out in consultation with the Ministry. The MoU pertains to the 2025–26 period, and the Ministry directed that no award declaration process should be undertaken without prior approval until the restructuring is formally approved. The MoU was signed in line with a broader restructuring of awards under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The Sahitya Akademi annually confers awards for books written in 24 languages.
Rajya Sabha Clears SHANTI Nuclear Energy Bill
The Rajya Sabha passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill on Thursday, enabling a framework that allows greater private sector participation in India’s nuclear energy sector with the objective of reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing atomic energy capacity. Amendments to the Bill and a proposal to refer it to a Select Committee, moved by Opposition members, were defeated through a voice vote. During the debate, Senior Congress MP Jairam Ramesh cautioned against any dilution of liability norms and referred to the India–U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement of 2008 as a milestone in India’s nuclear journey. Responding to the discussion, Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh stated that nuclear power is a reliable energy source and affirmed that safety standards would not be compromised, noting that there have been no reported radiation-related hazards from Indian nuclear reactors. The Bill was presented as part of India’s long-term strategy to strengthen the civil nuclear energy sector.
Lok Sabha Passes Rural Employment Bill
The Lok Sabha passed the Rural Employment Bill amid protests, following a detailed debate in the Lower House. During the discussion, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan referred to issues in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and stated that, as per the Act, 60% of funds are meant for labour and 40% for material, but only 26% was spent on material. The Minister also stated that State governments were involved in the misuse of funds. During the proceedings, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal requested Speaker Om Birla to refer the Bill to a Parliamentary Committee, which was rejected after noting that 98 Members of Parliament had participated in the debate. References were made during the discussion to welfare schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and the Swachh Bharat Mission, and it was stated that the term “Mahatma Gandhi” was added to the Act in 2009.
Economy News
New Logo for Regional Rural Banks
The Ministry of Finance unveiled a new logo for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) on Thursday to reflect a single and unified brand identity. Under the ‘One State One RRB’ principle, the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, has consolidated 26 Regional Rural Banks across 11 States and Union Territories, with the reform set to take effect from May 1, 2025. This consolidation represents a significant step toward creating stronger and more efficient Regional Rural Banks.
Tamil Nadu News
ELCOT–Perplexity AI Training Agreement
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (ELCOT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Perplexity AI to provide six months of free training in Perplexity Pro AI to college students in Tamil Nadu, announced by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday. The announcement was stated to have been made during the Budget Session. The State government will distribute laptops to students in phases after the Christmas and New Year vacations, with 10 lakh laptops to be distributed by February. It was also stated that the laptops will include software suitable for engineering use, and for this purpose ELCOT has signed an MoU with Microsoft.
Sports News
PSG Wins FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 on Wednesday, defeating Flamengo 2–1 on penalties after the final ended 1–1 following extra time. Russian goalkeeper Matvei Safonov played a decisive role by saving four of five penalties in the shootout. The match was level after goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Jorginho, leading to extra time and then penalties. Under coach Luis Enrique, PSG became the first French club to win a world title, completing the 2025 calendar year with six trophies — Trophée des Champions, French League, French Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup — along with a runner-up finish at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Jharkhand Wins Maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Jharkhand, led by Ishan Kishan, won its maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title with a 69-run victory over Haryana at the MCA Stadium on Thursday. In the final, Ishan Kishan scored 101 runs off 49 balls and shared a 177-run partnership with Kumar Kushagra, who scored 81 runs, as Jharkhand posted 262/3 in 20 overs, the highest-ever total in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final. Chasing the target, Haryana were bowled out for 193 runs in 18.3 overs. Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match, while Anukul Roy was awarded Player of the Tournament, marking a historic first title for Jharkhand in the domestic T20 competition.
International News
Global Diabetes Burden Projection 2050
The 11th edition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) – Diabetes Atlas has projected that the number of people living with diabetes will rise from about 500 million in 2024 to nearly 900 million by 2050 among the 20–79 age group. Key findings of the Atlas were published in the peer-reviewed journal Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology 2025, covering data from 210 countries and five territories. In 2024, diabetes affected 11.11% of the global population, accounting for over 580 million adults, while projections indicate that by 2050, the prevalence will increase to 12.96%, affecting over 850 million people. The study noted that in 2024, a higher number of people with diabetes lived in urban areas (400 million) compared to rural areas (189 million), a trend expected to continue in 2050, with 655 million in urban areas and around 198 million in rural areas. The Atlas also listed the top 10 countries with the highest diabetes burden, with China ranked first at about 148 million, India second with nearly 90 million, followed by the United States and Pakistan, and projected that in 2050, China and India will retain the top two positions while Pakistan moves to the third position.
India–Bangladesh Strategic Challenge since 1971
A report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, stated that developments in Bangladesh pose the greatest strategic challenge to India since the 1971 Liberation War. The report reviewed India–Bangladesh relations over the past two years and warned that New Delhi could lose its strategic space in Dhaka without necessary recalibration. Citing expert testimony given to the committee on June 27, 2025, the report highlighted factors such as the decline of Awami League dominance, the rise of youth-led nationalism, the re-emergence of Islamist forces, and the growing influence of China and Pakistan. The report also examined developments following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, stating that India’s decision to provide shelter to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was appropriate, while emphasising the need to ensure that she does not undertake political activities from Indian territory. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri informed the committee that India has not provided any political platform to Ms. Hasina and that she has been issuing statements using personal communication devices.
India–Oman CEPA Agreement
India and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on Thursday, under which Oman will provide duty-free access to 98.08% of its tariff lines for India, covering 99.38% of India’s exports to Oman. In return, India offered liberalised tariffs on 77.79% of its total tariff lines, covering 94.81% of India’s imports from Oman. The agreement also includes concessions benefiting India’s service sector, including provisions related to the mobility of workers. The CEPA was signed in Muscat by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Oman’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. During the 2024–25 financial year, India exported $4.06 billion worth of goods to Oman, accounting for 0.93% of India’s total exports, and imported $6.5 billion worth of goods, forming 0.91% of India’s total imports.
India–Oman Trade Agreement
India signed a trade agreement with Oman, marking the first bilateral agreement Oman has entered into with any country since its agreement with the United States in 2006. This is also the second trade agreement signed by India with a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the first being with the United Arab Emirates in February 2022. The agreement, identified as a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), positions Oman as a gateway for India to the GCC region, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. The CEPA is expected to support growth, employment, and innovation, with specific benefits to labour-intensive sectors, and to strengthen Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), artisans, and women-led enterprises.
India–Netherlands Defence Cooperation
India and the Netherlands reaffirmed their expanding defence partnership when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Netherlands Foreign Minister David van Weel in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting focused on bilateral security and defence cooperation, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment, as stated by the Ministry of Defence. Both countries reiterated their commitment to strengthening military-to-military engagement and developing defence cooperation as a key pillar of the India–Netherlands Strategic Partnership. The discussions also underlined the shared commitment of India and the Netherlands to a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, and highlighted the importance of linking the defence industries of both countries, particularly in niche and emerging technologies.
Personalities, Awards and Events
Sculptor Ram Sutar Passes Away
Renowned Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 100. He was widely known for his contributions to Indian memorial sculpture, which received global recognition, most notably through the Statue of Unity. His major works also include the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar located in the Parliament complex, making him a significant figure in shaping India’s public art and monumental sculpture tradition.