Daily Current Affairs News: 16th December, 2025

National News

NHAI Introduces India’s First Wildlife-Safe Road on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced India’s first wildlife-safe highway on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh, featuring table-top red road markings, wildlife underpasses, and eco-friendly designs.
• The 11.96 km Hiran–Sindoor stretch passes through the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, areas with frequent animal crossings.

International News

List Of Outcomes From PM Modi’s Visit To Jordan

• India and Jordan strengthened their bilateral partnership during PM Narendra Modi’s official visit to Amman in December 2025, coinciding with 75 years of diplomatic relations.
• The visit saw the signing of multiple MoUs covering renewable energy, water resource management, digital transformation, cultural exchange, and Petra–Ellora twinning.
• Jordan expressed intent to join India-led initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Global Biofuel Alliance, and CDRI. India also announced support for the India–Jordan Centre of Excellence at Al Hussein Technical University to train Master Trainers.
• PM Modi outlined an eight-point vision for future cooperation in trade, agriculture, IT, healthcare, infrastructure, strategic minerals, civil nuclear energy, and people-to-people ties, highlighting the growing strategic, economic, and technological collaboration between the two countries.

Italy Becomes First Country to Get UNESCO Recognition for Its National Cuisine

• Italy has become the first country to receive Unesco recognition for its national cuisine, with Italian cooking—including pasta, mozzarella, wine, and tiramisu—inscribed as intangible cultural heritage.
• The accolade, celebrated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, highlights Italian food as a cultural, social, and communal tradition, expected to boost tourism and reinforce the country’s culinary identity.

Banking News

Ravi Ranjan Takes Charge As SBI New Managing Director (MD)

• Ravi Ranjan has been appointed Managing Director (MD) of State Bank of India (SBI), succeeding Vinay M Tonse, who completed his term on November 30, 2025.
• Formerly Deputy Managing Director, Ranjan assumed charge following a government notification, with his tenure approved until September 30, 2028 (or further orders), strengthening the SBI leadership team led by the Chairman and four MDs.

India & ADB Sign Loans Worth Over $2.2 Billion for Development Projects

• India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed loans worth over $2.2 billion on 15 December 2025 to fund five major development projects.
• The initiatives include: Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation Programme ($846M), Rooftop Solar Systems Development under Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana ($650M), Assam State Tertiary Health Care Augmentation Project ($398.8M), Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project Tranche 2 ($240M), and Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-based Livelihood Development in Meghalaya ($77M).

HDFC Bank Gets RBI Nod to Acquire Up to 9.5% Stake in IndusInd Bank

• HDFC Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire up to 9.5% stake in IndusInd Bank, including holdings through its group entities such as HDFC Mutual Fund, HDFC Life, HDFC ERGO, HDFC Pension, and HDFC Securities.
• The RBI approval, issued on December 15, 2025, is valid till December 14, 2026 and applies to the aggregate shareholding or voting rights, reinforcing regulatory oversight while enabling strategic investment by the HDFC Group in India’s banking sector.

Appointments News

Ex-Justice Secretary Raj Kumar Goyal Appointed Chief Information Commissioner

• Former IAS officer Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) on December 15, 2025, by President Droupadi Murmu, filling a post vacant since September.
• His appointment, recommended by a three-member panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gives him a three-year term under the Right to Information Act, 2005, even as Rahul Gandhi dissented, citing lack of social diversity in the shortlist.

B. Sairam Appointed Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India

• B. Sairam has been appointed Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India Limited (CIL), succeeding Sanoj Kumar Jha, who held additional charge.
• A mining engineer from NIT Raipur with over three decades of experience in mine operations, logistics, project planning, and regulatory affairs, Sairam previously served as CMD of Northern Coalfields, a subsidiary of CIL, and was recommended by PESB for the top role.

Suresh Goyal Appointed as NCAER Director General

• NCAER has appointed Suresh Goyal, former NHIT CEO, as its new Director General from January 5, 2026, tasking him with expanding research capacity and setting up new policy research centres.
• Goyal brings over three decades of experience across public and private sectors and succeeds Poonam Gupta, with the appointment endorsed by NCAER chairman Nandan Nilekani to strengthen the think tank’s role in shaping India’s growth and development agenda.

Awards News

Miyana Railway Station Receives National Energy Conservation Award 2025

• Miyana Railway Station in Guna, Madhya Pradesh received the National Energy Conservation Award 2025 from President Droupadi Murmu on National Energy Conservation Day.
• Recognized as the Best Performing Unit in the Transport Category, the station saved 9,687 units of electricity through LED lighting, BLDC fans, and smart lighting systems.
• The award, presented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), highlights Indian Railways’ commitment to energy efficiency, cost savings, and sustainable operations, with Miyana Station serving as a model for eco-friendly development.

Filmfare OTT Awards 2025 Winners List: Black Warrant Emerges Big Winner

• The Filmfare OTT Awards 2025, held in Mumbai on December 16, celebrated excellence in India’s streaming content. Black Warrant (Netflix) emerged as the biggest winner, with Zahan Kapoor and Rahul Bhat among top performers.
• Other notable winners included Paatal Lok – Season 2, Khauf, Raat Jawaan Hai, and web films like Girls Will Be Girls.
• The awards highlighted outstanding acting, direction, writing, and technical excellence across series, films, and short formats, reflecting the growth and creative depth of India’s OTT ecosystem.

Books & Authors News

Shikhar Dhawan’s Autobiography Unveils ‘The One: Cricket, My Life and More’

• Shikhar Dhawan unveiled his autobiography “The One: Cricket, My Life and More” on 14 December 2025 in New Delhi, published by HarperCollins India.
• The book traces his journey from Delhi’s cricketing lanes to international success, detailing personal struggles, career setbacks, controversies, and resilience.
• Dhawan reflects on his ODI, T20I, and Test debuts, being the highest run-scorer in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, and his IPL career with teams like SRH, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings. Beyond cricket, he shares insights into his personal life, relationships, and coping with criticism, making the autobiography a candid story of self-belief and perseverance.

Defense News

India and Brazil Sign Tripartite MoU on Maintenance of Scorpene Submarines

• India and Brazil have signed a tripartite MoU between the Indian Navy, Brazilian Navy, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) to share information on the maintenance of Scorpene-class submarines and other naval platforms.
• The agreement, signed during CNS Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi’s visit to Brazil (Dec 9–12, 2025), aims to strengthen maritime and defence cooperation, enhancing life-cycle support, logistics, training, experience sharing, and defence R&D.

Sports News

Shafali Verma Wins ICC Women’s Player of the Month for November

• Shafali Verma won her first ICC Women’s Player of the Month (November) award after edging out Thipatcha Putthawong and Esha Oza, capping a fairytale run as a late replacement in the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
• She starred in the World Cup Final with a record 87 off 78 balls (highest by an Indian opener in a final) and key wickets of Suné Luus and Marizanne Kapp, earning Player of the Match as India won their first Women’s World Cup at home.

Simon Harmer Named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for November 2025

• Simon Harmer of South Africa has been named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for November 2025 after a stellar performance in the World Test Championship series against India.
• The off-spinner claimed 17 wickets in two Tests, including a match-winning 6/37, guiding South Africa to a historic 2–0 series win in India—their first since 2000—and helping the Proteas rise to second place in the WTC 2025–27 standings.

Why Cameron Green’s IPL Pay Is ₹18 Crore, Not ₹25.2 Crore

• Australian all-rounder Cameron Green created history at the IPL mini-auction after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bid a record ₹25.2 crore, the highest-ever bid for an overseas player.
• However, due to a new BCCI rule, Green will receive only ₹18 crore, as overseas player earnings at mini-auctions are capped at the highest retention price.
• The excess ₹7.2 crore goes to the BCCI, a move aimed at maintaining parity between Indian and overseas players, ensuring financial discipline, and preserving the integrity of the retention system.

Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma Become Joint Most Expensive Uncapped Players

• IPL Auction 2026 saw Chennai Super Kings (CSK) make history by buying uncapped players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for ₹14.20 crore each, making them the joint most expensive uncapped players ever.
• Veer, a 20-year-old left-arm all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, and Sharma, a consistent domestic performer, highlight CSK’s faith in young Indian talent. Other notable uncapped buys include Auqib Nabi at ₹8.40 crore by Delhi Capitals.

Science & Technology News

India Launches Its First 1.0 GHz, 64-bit Dual-Core Indigenous Microprocessor ‘DHRUV64’

• India has launched DHRUV64, its first fully indigenous 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core microprocessor, developed by C-DAC under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP).
• The processor supports strategic and commercial applications such as 5G infrastructure, automotive systems, consumer electronics, industrial automation, and IoT, offering higher efficiency, enhanced multitasking, improved reliability, and seamless hardware integration, marking a major milestone in India’s self-reliant semiconductor journey.

India Plans New Antarctic Station Maitri II, Completion Target 2032

• India will strengthen its polar research presence with Maitri II, a next-generation Antarctic research station in East Antarctica, now expected to be completed by 2032.
• Designed to replace Maitri I (1989), the new station will be a modern, all-weather facility supporting advanced climate, glaciology, biological, atmospheric, and earth sciences research.
• With an estimated cost of ₹2,000 crore and ₹29.20 crore approved by the Ministry of Earth Sciences for pre-investment work, Maitri II underscores India’s long-term commitment to global climate science and Antarctic research under the Antarctic Treaty System.

Important Days News

Vijay Diwas 2025: India and Bangladesh Mark 54 Years of Historic Victory in the 1971 War

• Vijay Diwas 2025 is observed on 16 December to mark the 54th anniversary of India’s victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.
• The day commemorates the Pakistani surrender in Dhaka, honors martyrs, and celebrates military and cultural events nationwide, including a grand Military Tattoo.
• The victory, achieved under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, reaffirmed India’s military strength, humanitarian stance, and regional leadership. Vijay Diwas also highlights India–Bangladesh friendship and shared remembrance of the 1971 struggle for independence.