Daily Current Affairs News: 20th December, 2025

National News

Prime Minister Releases Commemorative Postal Stamp on Ashwagandha at WHO Global Summit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative postal stamp on Ashwagandha at the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi.
• The initiative highlights India’s traditional medicine heritage, promotes AYUSH systems, and showcases Ashwagandha, a key Ayurvedic medicinal plant known for stress relief, immunity, and holistic well-being, reinforcing India’s commitment to integrating traditional knowledge with modern healthcare at the global level.

State News

PM Modi To Inaugurates New Terminal at Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, marking a major boost to aviation infrastructure in Northeast India.
• The nature-themed terminal, inspired by “Bamboo Orchids”, can handle 13.1 million passengers annually and showcases Assam’s biodiversity and culture through bamboo, orchid motifs, and a Sky Forest.
• Equipped with DigiYatra, AI-driven operations, automated baggage systems, and sustainable design, the terminal enhances connectivity, tourism, and economic growth in the region.

Jammu & Kashmir Gets Its First Gen Z Post Office

• Jammu & Kashmir inaugurated its first Gen Z Post Office at the AIIMS Vijaypur campus on 17 December 2025, making it the first AIIMS in India to host a youth- and technology-oriented postal facility.
• The post office, inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) Shakti Kumar Gupta and attended by senior postal officials and students, is part of the Department of Posts’ campus modernisation drive and aims to align services with Generation Z needs.
• It features a contemporary design, digital payment options, simplified delivery, and integrated access to postal, banking, and insurance services.

Haryana Assembly Passes Resolution to Commemorate 350th Martyrdom Year of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

• The Haryana State Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to commemorate the 350th martyrdom year of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, honoring his supreme sacrifice, religious freedom, and human dignity, during the winter session in Chandigarh.
• The state organized all-party supported celebrations, including statewide events, sacred processions across 500 villages, and a grand congregation at Kurukshetra attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with the release of a commemorative coin and stamp, and several social, educational, and welfare initiatives to spread Guru Ji’s timeless teachings.

International News

India and the Netherlands Set Up Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC)

• India and the Netherlands have strengthened their economic partnership by establishing a Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) through a signed MoU.
• The JTIC will serve as a formal institutional mechanism to promote bilateral trade, encourage two-way investments, and address trade and regulatory barriers, with annual meetings held alternately in both countries.
• The initiative supports structured economic dialogue, improves the ease of doing business, and enhances India–Europe economic engagement, while reinforcing the Netherlands as a key gateway for Indian trade in Europe.

Operation Hawkeye: US and Jordan Strike ISIS Sites in Syria

• The United States and Jordan launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria after an ISIS attack in Palmyra killed two US soldiers and injured others, carrying out overnight airstrikes on 70+ ISIS targets using precision-guided weapons.
• The operation aimed to weaken ISIS fighters, weapons, and infrastructure, send a strong warning to terror groups, and reaffirm the US policy of security through strength while highlighting US–Jordan military cooperation.

Banking News

RBI Board Sanctions Overhaul of Deposit Insurance Framework

• The RBI Central Board has approved a risk-based deposit insurance framework for banks at its 620th meeting in Hyderabad, chaired by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra.
• Marking a major reform to strengthen financial stability, risk management, and banking resilience, where safer banks may face lower insurance burdens while riskier banks face higher costs or closer oversight, aligning India’s system with global best practices, improving accountability, discouraging excessive risk-taking, and enhancing depositor confidence without reducing existing deposit protection.

ADB commits $4.26 billion in sovereign lending to India in 2025

• In 2025, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved 16 new sovereign projects for India, focusing on human capital, renewable energy, urban development, and essential services.
• Around 32% of projects target Human & Social Development, 26% focus on Energy, mainly renewables, and over 18% on Urban Development.
• Major initiatives include the PM-SETU Skilling Programme ($846 million) to modernise ITIs, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana ($650 million) for rooftop solar adoption, urban infrastructure projects ($775 million) in Assam, Kerala, Sikkim, and West Bengal, and metro/RRTS expansion ($729 million) in Delhi, Chennai, and Indore.

RBI Slaps ₹62 Lakh Penalty on Kotak Mahindra Bank

• The RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹61.95 lakh on Kotak Mahindra Bank for non-compliance with regulatory norms, following the ISE 2024 supervisory inspection.
• Violations include opening multiple BSBD accounts, misuse of Business Correspondents (BCs), and submitting incorrect credit data to Credit Information Companies (CICs).
• The penalty, issued on December 11, 2025, aims to enforce compliance, transparency, and customer protection, while the bank is expected to strengthen internal monitoring and correct processes.

Finance Ministry Unveils New Logo for Regional Rural Banks

• The Ministry of Finance has unveiled a new common logo for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to strengthen rural banking and create a unified national identity following the “One State One RRB” reform effective from May 1, 2025.
• The move supports financial inclusion, public trust, and modernisation of RRBs, after 26 RRBs were consolidated across 11 states and UTs, leaving 28 RRBs nationwide.
• The logo’s dark blue reflects trust and stability, while green symbolises growth and rural prosperity, reinforcing RRBs’ role in rural development and delivery of welfare schemes.

Economy News

India’s Forex Reserves Rise by $1.68 Billion to $688.94 Billion: RBI

• India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $1.68 billion to $688.94 billion for the week ending December 12, 2025, according to the RBI.
• The growth was driven by higher gold holdings (+$0.76 billion to $107.74 billion) and modest gains in foreign currency assets (+$0.91 billion to $557.79 billion), while SDRs and the IMF reserve position also edged up slightly.
• This reflects the RBI’s strategy of asset diversification and careful forex management.
• Additionally, India saw record FDI inflows of $50.36 billion in H1 FY2025–26, a 16% increase year-on-year, highlighting strong investor confidence and the country’s position as a reliable investment destination.

Awards News

Who Is Nnena Kalu? First Artist with Learning Disability to Win Turner Prize

• Scottish artist Nnena Kalu has become the first artist with a learning disability to win the prestigious Turner Prize, making history in British art.
• The 59-year-old artist with autism received the £25,000 award at a ceremony in Bradford, England, for her bold abstract drawings and hanging sculptures.
• Praised for their powerful presence, her works mark a major milestone for inclusion, representation, and accessibility in the art world.

PGIMER Chandigarh Retains Top Spot as India’s Best Health Technology Assessment Institute

• PGIMER, Chandigarh was awarded India’s Best Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Institute for the second consecutive year by the Union Health Ministry at the ARISE 2025 National Conclave in New Delhi, recognising its leadership in evidence-based health policy, cost-effective healthcare, equitable resource allocation, and its key role in strengthening public health decision-making and programmes like Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY.

Science & Technology News

Michaela Benthaus to Make History as First Wheelchair User in Space

• German aerospace engineer Michaela Benthaus will become the first wheelchair-bound astronaut to fly to space on Blue Origin’s NS-37 mission.
• This marks a milestone for inclusion in space exploration. She has used a wheelchair since a 2018 spinal cord injury. She works at the European Space Agency and aims to promote accessibility in the space industry.

LVM3-M6 Rocket Set to Launch on December 24, Announces ISRO

• ISRO will launch its LVM3-M6 mission on December 24, 2025, at 08:54 IST from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• The mission will use LVM3, India’s heaviest and most powerful launch vehicle, to place the BlueBird-6 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile into orbit under a commercial arrangement via NSIL.
• The launch highlights India’s growing role in the global commercial space market.

ISRO Launches RESPOND Basket 2025, Calls for Academic Research Proposals

• ISRO has launched the RESPOND Basket 2025, inviting mission-oriented research proposals from Indian universities and academic institutions.
• The initiative aims to align academic research with ISRO’s current and future space missions, guiding researchers to focus on application-driven projects that address real mission challenges.
• Published under the Department of Space, the basket includes problem statements from various ISRO centres across domains like launch vehicles, satellites, propulsion, space science, and advanced materials.

Important Days News

International Human Solidarity Day 2025: Unity for Better Health and Inclusive Development

• International Human Solidarity Day 2025, observed annually on 20 December, reaffirms the importance of global unity, international cooperation, and shared responsibility in addressing challenges like poverty, health inequalities, social injustice, and inequality.
• Highlighting solidarity as a core value of the United Nations, established through the World Solidarity Fund (2002) and officially proclaimed in 2005, while emphasizing collective action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as No Poverty, Good Health and Well-being, and Reduced Inequalities.

Obituaries News

Sreenivasan Passes Away at 69: Malayalam Cinema Loses Its Voice of the Common Man

• Veteran Malayalam actor, writer, and director Sreenivasan passed away at the age of 69, leaving behind a rich legacy in Indian cinema. Known for his sharp humour, honest storytelling, and strong social commentary, he was widely regarded as the voice of the common man.
• His iconic films blended comedy with meaningful messages, and his natural acting and acclaimed direction earned him multiple Kerala State Film Awards, marking an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema.