Daily Current Affairs – 21-12-2025
National News
Ex-Agniveer Quota Increased for BSF Constable Recruitment
The Union Home Ministry has increased the reservation for ex-Agniveers in the recruitment of Constables in the Border Security Force (BSF) from 10% to 50%, as notified through a Gazette notification dated December 20. This change has been implemented by amending the Border Security Force, General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2015. Under the revised rules, the first batch of ex-Agniveers will receive an upper age-limit relaxation of up to five years, while subsequent batches will be eligible for a three-year age relaxation. Ex-Agniveers will also be exempted from the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET). The notification states that, through direct recruitment, 50% of vacancies will be reserved for ex-Agniveers, 10% for ex-Servicemen, and up to 3% for Combatised Constable (Tradesmen) in annual vacancies. The recruitment will be conducted in two phases, with the Nodal Force handling recruitment for the 50% ex-Agniveer quota in the first phase, and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducting recruitment for the remaining 47% vacancies, including the 10% ex-Servicemen quota, in the second phase.
ISRO Tests Parachute System for Gaganyaan Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted fresh ground-based and in-air tests on the parachute system for its first human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan on December 18 and 19. The tests focused on the drogue parachutes, which are part of the 10-parachute recovery system designed to safely bring back astronauts. These tests were carried out under extreme conditions at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh, where drogue parachutes were deployed from a sled moving at 600 km per hour. The tests validated the reefed opening (reefed inflation) mechanism, which enables the parachutes to open in a controlled, stepwise manner to reduce stress during deployment. The Gaganyaan crew module will use four types of parachutes, with drogue parachutes deployed at higher altitudes to stabilise and decelerate the module before main parachute deployment. ISRO had earlier tested the full parachute system under normal conditions in August. ISRO is also preparing for a launch on December 24, when its heavy-lift rocket LVM-03 will place a US satellite weighing about 6,100 kg and 36 OneWeb satellites weighing a total of 5,800 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Rajdhani Express Accident Kills Elephants in Assam
The Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express collided with a herd of elephants in Hojai district of Assam at 2:17 a.m. on Saturday, resulting in the death of seven elephants, while one elephant calf was injured. The accident led to the derailment of five coaches and the engine, though no passengers were injured. The incident occurred near Changjurai village in the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), about 126 km from Guwahati. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered the Forest Department to conduct a detailed inquiry and take steps to secure wildlife corridors. According to officials, the location was not a notified elephant corridor, and the accident is suspected to have occurred due to heavy fog. Several train services were cancelled, regulated, or short-terminated following the derailment, and post-mortem examinations of the dead elephants are underway while the injured calf is being treated by veterinary doctors.
77th Republic Day to Feature ‘Vande Mataram’ Theme
The 77th Republic Day celebrations of India will be held on January 26, with a special focus on the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’, as directed by the Ministry of Defence. The celebrations will mark 150 years (1875–2025) since the publication of the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa are expected to attend as chief guests, marking a deviation from the usual practice of inviting leaders from a single country. A torch relay and a special flypast are planned as part of the theme-based celebrations, and the flypast may be shifted to the middle of the parade. On January 27, the EU leaders will participate in the EU–India Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the EU–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to be finalised. The Ministry of Culture will integrate public participation through the My Bharat portal, while the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will produce 25 one-minute films on the National Song and its author, and the Ministry of External Affairs will coordinate cultural programmes at Indian embassies worldwide.
FSSAI Clarifies Safety of Eggs in India
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on December 20 clarified that eggs sold in India are safe for consumption and that reports claiming the presence of cancer-causing antibiotic residues are unscientific. The clarification followed allegations circulating on social media regarding the presence of Metronidazole residues in eggs produced by a company in Karnataka, after which central and state government agencies initiated investigations. FSSAI stated that Metronidazole, though an antibiotic, is strictly prohibited for use in food-producing animals in India under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011. The regulation prescribes a zero-tolerance limit for Metronidazole residues in poultry products. FSSAI further noted that similar bans on Metronidazole exist in the European Union and the United States, and reiterated that spreading false or unscientific information about food safety is a punishable offence.
New Terminal Inaugurated at Guwahati Airport, Assam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new terminal at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, which has been constructed at a cost of ₹4,000 crore. The airport serves as the primary international airport of Assam and the Northeast region. The inauguration took place after the Prime Minister travelled from Kolkata to Guwahati. In addition, the Prime Minister is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for an Ammonia–Urea plant in Assam with an estimated cost of ₹10,600 crore, and to participate in several other official programmes in the state.
Sports News
East Bengal Wins Inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship
East Bengal FC won the inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship by defeating APF FC with a 3–0 victory in the final held at Dasrath Stadium. Ugandan striker Fazila Ikwaput, a two-time Indian Women’s League (IWL) top scorer, scored two goals, while India international Shilky Devi Hemam added another. With this triumph, East Bengal became the first Indian women’s club to win an international tournament. Coached by Anthony Andrews, the team completed the tournament with a perfect record, scoring 14 goals and conceding none across five matches.
India Wins Gold at 7th Roll Ball World Cup
The Indian Roll Ball team won the gold medal at the 7th Roll Ball World Cup, which was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from December 14 to December 18. A total of 12 Indian players, including men and women, represented India in the tournament. The gold-winning team included players from Tamil Nadu, namely Madhushree, Dheepak Raja (Dindigul), and Mahathi (Coimbatore). The Indian team coaches were also from Tamil Nadu, with Rajasekar (Coimbatore) and Sumithra (Dindigul) guiding the team during the championship.
Personalities, Awards and Events
B.P. Kanungo Appointed Chairman of IIFL Finance
IIFL Finance, a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), has appointed former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor B.P. Kanungo as the Non-Executive Chairman of its Board, with the appointment approved by the board with immediate effect. B.P. Kanungo served as RBI Deputy Governor from 2017 to 2021 and was a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). He has over four decades of experience in central banking, monetary policy, and financial regulation, making the appointment significant from a regulatory and institutional perspective.
Veteran Malayalam Actor Srinivasan Passes Away
Veteran Malayalam film actor, director, screenwriter, and producer Srinivasan (69) passed away after undergoing treatment for a heart-related ailment at a hospital near Kochi. His final rites were scheduled to be held on December 21 with state honours at his ancestral home in Kannur. With a film career spanning over 50 years, Srinivasan acted in 225 films and made significant contributions to Malayalam cinema as an actor, director, writer, and producer. He also acted in Tamil films such as Lesa Lesa and Pullikkaran. He directed notable films including Vadakkunokkiyanthram, which was remade in Tamil as Kuselan, and produced films like Kadha Parayumbol and Thattathin Marayathu. Srinivasan is survived by his wife Vimala and sons Vineeth and Dhyan.
Tamil Nadu News
Porunai Museum Inaugurated in Tirunelveli
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, inaugurated the ‘Porunai’ Museum in Tirunelveli district, which has been established to display rare artefacts discovered during archaeological excavations in southern Tamil Nadu, including Adichanallur, Sivakalai, Korkai, and Thulukkapatti. The museum was announced in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly under Rule 110 and has been constructed on 13 acres of land at a cost of ₹36.36 crore. The museum exhibits artefacts related to different historical phases such as the Old Stone Age, Iron Age, and Sangam period, with special focus on findings from the Thamirabarani river valley, where complete Iron Age evidence has been identified. The inauguration event was attended by Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, Legislative Assembly Speaker M. Appavu, Finance and Human Resources Management Minister Thangam Thennarasu, Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports Minister E.V. Velu, Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena, and Commissioner of Archaeology R. Sivanandam, among others.