Daily Current Affairs – 26-12-2025
National News
Sansad Khel Mahotsav 2025 closing ceremony in Coimbatore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with athletes via video conference at the closing and prize distribution ceremony of the Sansad Khel Mahotsav 2025 held in Coimbatore. The event is part of an initiative of the Union Ministry of Sports to conduct local sports competitions in every Lok Sabha constituency across India, and in Tamil Nadu it was organised in the Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency under the coordination of Union Minister of State L. Murugan. The competitions saw over 4,500 participants, with more than 500 winners, and outstanding performers were identified for training for national and international competitions. The ceremony was attended by Union Minister of State L. Murugan, former athlete P.T. Usha, Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai, and MLAs Vanathi Srinivasan and Saraswathi.
Women-led start-ups rise in Madhya Pradesh
Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the Madhya Pradesh Development Conference in Bhopal on December 25, where he laid the foundation stone for industrial projects worth ₹2 lakh crore. At the event, it was stated that start-ups founded by women have increased, with about 50% of start-ups in Madhya Pradesh run by women. The State has witnessed the establishment of industries across sectors such as agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and semiconductor manufacturing, and has transitioned to a power-surplus State. The event also referenced the roles of former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and current Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in the State’s economic development.
BJP announces V.V. Rajesh as Thiruvananthapuram Mayor
In Kerala, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced V.V. Rajesh as the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation on December 25, following the party alliance’s victory in the recent local body elections. The announcement was made by BJP Kerala in-charge V.S. Suresh, who also stated that Shiny Nath would be the Deputy Mayor, during a consultation meeting of newly elected ward members. This result marked a change in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, which had been under Left parties’ control for about 45 years. Separately, V. Joy, MLA and District Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), submitted a complaint to the District Collector and the State Election Commission, alleging violations of legal procedures during the oath-taking by 18 BJP members and 2 Congress members elected to the corporation.
India crosses one lakh petrol retail outlets
The total number of petrol retail stations in India has crossed one lakh (100,000) as of December 25, according to data released by the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Compared to 2015, when India had 50,451 petrol stations, the number has doubled, placing India third globally after the United States and China in terms of petrol station count. About 90% of petrol stations are operated by public sector oil companies—Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) with 41,664 stations, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) with 24,605 stations, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) with 24,418 stations, while licenses have been issued for 6,921 stations. In the private sector, Nayara Energy leads, followed by Reliance–BP with 2,114 stations and Shell with 346 stations. Private petrol stations accounted for 5.9% in 2015, which has increased to 9.3%, and 29% of petrol stations are located in rural areas, with many outlets now equipped with natural gas refuelling facilities and electric vehicle charging stations; a 2024 report noted that the USA has 1.90 lakh and China has 1.15 lakh petrol stations.
Constitution of India released in Santhali language
President Droupadi Murmu released the Constitution of India in the Santhali language at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Santhali language, spoken by tribal communities in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar, has been published in the Ol Chiki script. The event was attended by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
FSSAI bans use of ‘tea’ for herbal infusions
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed food business operators (FBOs) to stop using the term ‘tea’ for herbal infusions and plant-based blends that are not derived from Camellia sinensis, classifying such usage as misbranding and misleading practice under existing regulations. The directive follows the regulator’s finding that several products marketed as ‘herbal tea’ and ‘flower tea’ are not obtained from Camellia sinensis, and as per FSSAI regulations, the term ‘tea’ can be used on packaging and labelling only for beverages derived from Camellia sinensis.
International News
Indian Army allows Instagram use with restrictions
The Indian Army has permitted its personnel to use the social media platform Instagram only as viewers, as per guidelines issued on December 25 by the Union Ministry of Defence. The permission applies to all branches of the Armed Forces and allows personnel to create Instagram accounts but prohibits posting photos, videos, or any content, as well as commenting, sharing, or liking posts. The platform may be used only to follow national and global developments and collect information, with the objective of preventing any leakage of sensitive national security information. Similar restrictions are already in force for the use of X (formerly Twitter) by Army personnel, where reposting and commenting are not allowed, and these measures were discussed earlier during the Chanakya Defence Dialogue addressed by Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande.
North Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine development
North Korea has made progress in the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, according to a report released by the KCNA state news agency on December 25. The report stated that Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, inspected the construction of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine, whose large cylindrical hull is nearly complete and in which a nuclear reactor has been installed. This marks the first full public release of images of the submarine since March, and the development is viewed as a significant enhancement of the naval capabilities of nuclear-armed North Korea, with concerns noted by the United States and South Korea.
Trump-backed candidate wins Honduras presidential election
Nasry Asfura, a Trump-backed candidate from the National Party, won the Honduras presidential election held on November 30, according to electoral authorities in Tegucigalpa, bringing an end to a weeks-long vote count. He secured 40.27% of the vote, narrowly defeating Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, who obtained 39.53%. Nasry Asfura, a former mayor of Tegucigalpa, won the presidency in his second bid, and the election outcome reflects a continued rightward political shift in Latin America, following Chile’s recent election of José Antonio Kast as President.
Tamil Nadu News
Goschen Library renovation in Chintadripet
The nearly 100-year-old Goschen Library located in Chintadripet, Chennai, has been restored by the Public Works Department (PWD) at a cost of ₹2.36 crore and is scheduled to be opened to the public in January. Spread over 2,636 sq. ft., the heritage library now houses over 18,000 books and has been upgraded with dedicated reading spaces, computers, and refurbished toilets, along with facilities for students preparing for competitive examinations and for conducting interactive sessions. The library was originally established in 1926 as a free public library by P. Vijayaragavulu Chetty, a contractor from Chintadripet, and was later inaugurated by Viscount Goschen, the then Governor of Madras, after whom it was named.
Tamil Nadu toy industry reaches ₹1,000 crore
The toy industry in Tamil Nadu has grown to an estimated value of ₹1,000 crore, driven by new entrants and expansion by existing manufacturers into new segments and markets. The growth follows the State’s move to introduce a dedicated toy sector policy and plans to establish a toy manufacturing park, which is expected to attract more start-ups and MSMEs in the coming years. In December, Funskool India Limited entered the electronic toys segment, while Madurai-based Rigwheels, which began operations in 2024, launched its first product, the Vande Bharat toy train, with manufacturing and assembly activities located in Madurai and component production in Coimbatore. The sector includes 25–30 major players and is projected to grow at 25% annually, with Guidance, the State’s investment promotion agency, highlighting Tamil Nadu’s established manufacturing clusters supporting the toy ecosystem.
Economy News
Navi Mumbai International Airport begins commercial operations
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), developed and operated by Adani Airports, has commenced commercial flight operations, adding a new aviation gateway to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The greenfield airport has been developed to reduce congestion at the existing Mumbai airport and is being constructed in phases. In its initial phase, NMIA is designed to handle 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA), with future expansion planned to increase capacity up to 90 MPPA, supported by dedicated cargo terminals and multi-modal connectivity. On the first day of operations, domestic services were operated by IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and Star Air, with 48 flights connecting nine domestic destinations across India and serving over 4,000 passengers, with peak traffic recorded between 05:00 and 07:00 hours.
Sports News
City Football Group exits Mumbai City FC
City Football Group, which owns several football clubs worldwide including Manchester City, has withdrawn from its association with Mumbai City FC (MCFC) amid uncertainty over the future of the Indian Super League (ISL). The City Football Group had acquired a 65% stake in Mumbai City FC in 2019, and with the latest development, Mumbai City FC has bought back the shares held by City Football Group. Following this exit, the ownership of Mumbai City FC is expected to revert to Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh, who were associated with the club earlier.