Current Affairs 18 December 2025

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s Visit to India from December 10 to 12, 2025Satya Nadella, chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft Corporation, visited India from December 10 to 12, 2025, marking his second visit to India in 2025, with engagements in New Delhi (Delhi), Mumbai (Maharashtra), and Bengaluru (Karnataka).
Highlights of Satya Nadella’s Visit to India:
Meeting with PM: On December 10, 2025, he met Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Delhi.
AI Investment: He announced a USD 17.5 billion investment(around Rs 1.58 lakh crore) in India over four years (2026 to 2029) to strengthen Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure and develop an AI-ready workforce.
MoU Signed: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E), and Microsoft in the presence of Union Minister Dr. Manusukh Mandaviya, MoL&E.

• Under the agreement, Microsoft will help bring over 15,000 employers and partners from its global network onto the National Career Service (NCS) platform.

Deployment of Copilot & AI Technologies: On December 11, 2025, Microsoft partnered with Indian Information Technology (IT) companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, and Cognizant to accelerate the deployment of Microsoft Copilot and agentic AI technologies across enterprise functions within India and globally in Bengaluru.

• As part of the partnership, each company will deploy over 50,000 Microsoft Copilot licenses, bringing the total to over 200,000 licenses.

About Microsoft:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Satya Nadella
Headquarters – Washington, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1975
>>Read Full News

MoSPI: India’s Unemployment Rate Declines to 4.7% in November 2025In December 2025, the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin – November 2025, which is 8th in series.

• As per the report, Unemployment Rate (UR) among persons aged 15 years and above declined to 4.7% in November 2025, the lowest level since April 2025 (5.1%).
• The PLFS monthly estimates are based on information collected from a total of 3, 73,229 persons surveyed including 2,13,337 from rural and 1,59,892 persons from urban areas of the country.

Key Findings:
Area-Specific UR: The report further showed that rural UR dropped to a new low of 3.9%, while the urban UR decreased to 6.5%.
Gender-Specific UR: The overall UR for females decreased to 4.8% (in November 2025) compared to 5.4% (in October 2025).

• Similarly, the UR for males declined to 4.6% (in November 2025) over 5.1% recorded in the last month.

LFPR: The overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for individuals aged 15 and above increased to a 7-month high of 55.8% (in November 2025).

• This increase was mainly driven by LFPR of rural areas, where it increased to 58.6% (in November 2025) compared to 58.0% (April 2025) and 57.8% (in October 2025).
• In contrast to rural LFPR, the urban LFPR declined slightly from 50.5% to 50.4%.
• The over female LFPR increased from 32.0% (in June 2025) to 35.1% (in November 2025) due to higher LFPR in rural areas (39.7%), while urban female LFPR remained relatively stable (25.5%).

WPR: The overall Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for individuals aged 15 years and above, increased from 52.5% (in October 2025) to 53.2% (in November 2025).

• In rural areas, WPR increased to 56.3% in November 2025 and Urban WPR remained largely stable.

Important Terms:
WPR: It is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
LFPR: It is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force i.e. working or seeking or available for work, in the population.

India and Argentina Signed ICAR-INTA Work Plan 2025-2027 to Strengthen Agricultural CollaborationIn December 2025, India and Argentina have formalized a bilateral Work Plan for 2025–2027 between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) to deepen cooperation in agricultural research, technology exchange, and capacity building.

• The agreement was exchanged by Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare(MoAFW) and Director General (DG) of ICAR, and Mariano Augustin Caucino, Ambassador of Argentina to India, in New Delhi, Delhi.

About ICAR-INTA Work Plan 2025–2027:
Objective: Strengthen bilateral cooperation in agricultural research, technology exchange, capacity building, and sustainable farming practices.
Agricultural Cooperation: 

• Resource Management: Collaborate on soil, water, nutrient management, and sustainable agronomy practices like zero tillage, micro-irrigation, and crop diversification.
• Biotechnology & Livestock: Research improved crop varieties and livestock breeds while implementing precision farming and veterinary diagnostics.
• Digital & Mechanization: Use technology, farm management tools, drones, and mechanization equipment for efficient agriculture.
• Value Chains & Biosafety: Develop oilseeds, pulses, horticulture, post-harvest management, and ensure safe handling of crops and livestock.

Implementation Strategies: Collaborate on crop and livestock research, germplasm exchange, expert workshops, and training in horticulture, post-harvest management, precision livestock, digital agriculture, and waste-to-wealth practices.
Plant & Animal Health: Develop region-specific Foot-and-Mouth Disease(FMD) elimination strategies and share best practices for locust management.
About Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
ICAR is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE ), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare(MoA&FW).
Director General (DG) – Dr. Mangi Lal Jat
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1929

AFMS Launches India’s First AI Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
In December 2025, the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), in collaboration with the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (RPC) at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and the eHealth AI Unit of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), launched India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)–driven community screening programme for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, Delhi.

• The initiative was inaugurated by Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General (DG) of the AFMS, along with Professor Radhika Tandon, Chief of RPC, AIIMS.

About Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme:
Objective: Use AI for early, large-scale detection of diabetic retinopathy in underserved areas and generate real-time disease data to support national health planning.
Technology: Powered by MadhuNetrAI, a web-based AI tool by RPC, AIIMS, that automatically analyses retinal images from handheld fundus cameras for screening, grading, and triaging.
Empowerment: Validated on 3,000–4,000 retinal images with over 95% accuracy, enabling medical staff to perform community-level screenings without on-site ophthalmologists.
Pilot Phase: Implemented across seven strategically selected sites Pune (Maharashtra), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh, HP), Gaya (Bihar), Jorhat (Assam), and Kochi (Kerala) representing metropolitan, rural, hilly, coastal, and remote regions.

NHAI Launched India’s First Wildlife-Safe Road on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh
In December 2025, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), launched India’s first ‘wildlife-safe road’ on a 2-kilometre (km) ghat section of the 11.96-km Hiran–Sindoor stretch of National Highway 45 (NH-45) in Madhya Pradesh (MP).

• The initiative aims to reduce animal-vehicle collisions while ensuring smooth highway connectivity through ecologically sensitive zones.

About NH-45 Wildlife Safety Project:
Project Details: A 11.96 km stretch between Bhopal–Jabalpur on NH-45, costing Rs.122 crore and targeted for completion by 2025, focuses on road safety, wildlife protection, and tourism growth.
Location: The Hiran–Sindoor section of NH-45, around 60 km from Jabalpur, passes through the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (VDTR) and near Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary(WLS).
Wildlife Species: Habitat of tigers, deer, sambar, jackals, and other wildlife.
Red Markings: 5-millimeter (mm)hot-applied thermoplastic red surface with raised chequered texture, inspired by Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, laid over a 2 km ghat section to slow vehicles in wildlife zones.
Wildlife Infrastructure: Includes 25 underpasses, 8-ft iron fencing, wildlife cameras, and speed detection devices.
Policy Alignment: Implemented under MoRTH’s 2015 Green Highways Policy to ensure sustainable and wildlife-friendly highway development.

President Draupadi Murmu Inaugurates Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
On December 16, 2025, President of India Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi, on Vijay Diwas.

• Union Minister Rajnath Singh,Ministry of Defence(MoD); Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of MoD; and the chiefs of the three armed services attended the event.

About Param Vir Dirgha:
Gallery: It is a dedicated gallery or an exhibition, honouring the recipients of Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India’s highest military gallantry award. The gallery displays portraits and stories of all 21 PVC awardees.
Aim: The gallery aims to honour the bravery and self‑sacrifice of India’s war heroes and inspire visitors by highlighting their extraordinary contributions.
Param Vir Chakra (PVC): Instituted in 1950, the PVC is India’s highest wartime gallantry award, conferred for exceptional bravery or selfless sacrifice in the presence of the enemy.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Jordan from December 15 to 16, 2025Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was on a 2-day official visit to Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from December 15 to 16, 2025 as the 1st leg of his 3-nation tour (Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman), at the invitation of His Majesty King Abdullah-II ibn Hussein of Jordan.

• The visit of PM Narendra Modi to Jordan coincided with the 75th anniversary of India–Jordan diplomatic relations.

Highlights of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Jordan:
Arrival: On December 15 2025, PM Modi arrived at airport in Amman, where he was received by Jafar Hassan, PM of Jordan and accorded a ceremonial welcome.
High-Level Meeting: During his visit, PM Modi met in restricted and delegation level formats  with His Majesty King Abdullah-II of Jordan at the Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman.

• Key Focus Areas: Both leaders agreed to strengthen engagement between the two countries in the fields of trade and investment; defence and security; renewable energy; fertilizer and agriculture; innovation, Information Technology (IT) and digital technologies; critical minerals; infrastructure; health and pharma; education and capacity; tourism and heritage and culture and people-to-people ties.
• Enhance Bilateral Trade: During the meeting, PM Modi proposed that both countries should aim to enhance bilateral trade to USD 5 billion over the next 5 years.
• Digital Payments: He also proposed to foster collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment system and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

5 Key MoUs: The key outcome of PM  Narendra Modi’s visit to Jordan was the signing of 5 key Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in the field of new and Renewable Energy(RE), water resource management and development, cultural exchange programme for the years 2025-2029, DPI and a twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora.
>>Read Full News

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Releases 10th Edition Of Handbook Of Statistics On Indian StatesIn December 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the 10th edition of its “Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25”, to provide a consolidated, comparable statistical resource for India’s states and Union Territories (UTs).

Background:
Publication: The RBI’s “Handbook of Statistics on Indian States” was first published in 2016, providing a comprehensive time series of socio-economic data from 1951 onwards.
Preparation: The handbook is prepared by the Regional Economy Monitoring Division (REMD) of the Department of Economic & Policy Research (DEPR), with contributions from various RBI Regional Offices.

• It relies on multiple data sources, including state government submissions, RBI surveys, and third-party agencies, ensuring reliability and comprehensiveness.

About 10th Handbook of Statistics on Indian States:
Scope: The Handbook provides comprehensive data on socio-demographics and health, State Domestic Product (SDP), agriculture and environment, prices and wages, industry and infrastructure, banking and fiscal indicators, social security and pensions, and tourism and exports.

• Covering 1951 to 2024‑25, it allows analysis of trends, structural changes, and regional disparities, following a ‘one indicator–one table’ approach for clarity and ease of use.

Data Updates: The RBI has phased out older data series with outdated base years (e.g., 2004‑05 for State Domestic Product) and replaced them with updated 2011‑12 series to enhance relevance and accuracy.
Key Enhancement: This edition introduces a new External Sector section and 11 new state-wise statistical tables, alongside updates to the existing data series.
Coverage of New Tables:

1. State-wise Domestic Tourist Visits
2. Net State Value Added (Current Prices)
3. Net State Value Added (Constant Prices)
4. State-wise Status of Groundwater Extraction in India
5. State-wise Revenue Expenditure
6. State-wise Capital Receipts
7. Market Borrowings of State Governments
8. State-wise Gender-wise Subscribers of National Pension System (NPS) – All Citizens
9. State-wise Gender-wise Enrolments under Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
10. State-wise Exports
11. State-wise Foreign Tourist Visits.

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor – Sanjay Malhotra
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 1st April, 1935

SBI Signs Euro 150 Mn With KfW For Climate ProjectsIn December 2025, State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a Euro 150 million (approx. Rs.1,360 crore) Line of Credit (LoC) with KfW Development Bank, Germany, to support financing for climate-friendly energy generation projects, accelerating renewable energy adoption and sustainable infrastructure in India.

• The agreement was signed in KfW headquarters in Frankfurt (Germany).

Key Highlights:
Over view: The current Euro 150 million LoC continues SBI and KfW’s collaboration on climate-friendly energy generation.

• This refines the earlier objectives by enabling SBI to support a broader range of climate-oriented energy projects, including advanced and innovative renewable technologies.

International Cooperation: The agreement underscores Indo-German cooperation in sustainable development finance and knowledge sharing between SBI and KfW.
Support: This initiative will strengthen India’s green energy infrastructure while leveraging international financing expertise and low-cost funding options for renewable energy projects.
About KfW Bank:
KfW is a German promotional and development bank that supports economic, social, and ecological development goals on behalf of the federal government and the states.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Stefan B. Wintels
Headquarters- Frankfurt, Germany
About State Bank of India (SBI):
Chairman: Shri Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Establishment: 1st July 1955
Tagline: Pure Banking, Nothing Else

SEBI Approves IPO Proposals of Seven Companies to Raise over Rs 6,000 Crore
In December 2025, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) of seven companies, with total funds to be raised expected to exceed Rs. 6,000 crore.

SEBI IPO Approvals:
Entities: The approved companies include Yashoda Healthcare Services, Fusion CX, Orient Cables (India) Limited, Turtlemint Fintech Solutions, RSB Retail India, SFC Environmental Technologies, and Lohia Corp.
SEBI Clearance: SEBI granted approval by issuing observations between December 8–12, 2025, with IPO proceeds earmarked for capital expenditure, debt reduction, business expansion, and general corporate purposes.
Key Terms: An IPO allows a company to raise capital by selling shares to the public for the first time, while an Offer for Sale (OFS) enables existing shareholders to sell their shares without raising new funds for the company.

IDFC First Bank Launches Global Savings Account in USD & EUR for NRIs
On December 16, 2025, IDFC First Bank, a private sector bank, launched ‘IDFC First Global Savings Account’ for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), allowing them to hold their foreign currency earnings in United States Dollar (USD) and Euro (EUR).

About IDFC First Global Savings Account:
Platform: The account is offered through the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar (Gujarat).
Features: It includes zero fees on overseas transfers, interest rates around 4.75% per annum on USD balances, 100% repatriation of principal and interest to overseas accounts, no minimum balance requirement, and Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) Exemption of interest earned.

• It can be opened and managed digitally, avoiding branch visits or paperwork and enables the option to invest in foreign currency Fixed Deposits (FDs) in USD or EUR.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Elon Musk Becomes 1st Person to Hit USD 600 Billion in Net Worth
In December 2025, American Magazine, Forbes announced that Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SpaceX and Tesla, became the first person in history to surpass a net worth of USD 600 billion.

Key Details:
Wealth Surge: This surge in Elon Musk’s wealth is primarily due to the announcement of SpaceX going public with an USD 800 billion valuation, which added USD 168 billion to his net worth in a single day, bringing it to an estimated USD 677 billion.
IPO in 2026: Elon Musk, holding an estimated 42% stake in SpaceX, is gearing up for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2026, which could potentially value the company at USD 1.5 trillion.
Tesla Shares: He also holds nearly 12% stake in Electric Vehicle (EV) company Tesla, shares of which have increased by 13% this year, despite slowing sales.

• In November 2025, Tesla shareholders approved a USD 1 trillion pay package for Musk, the largest in corporate history.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sai Jadhav Becomes 1st Woman Officer to Pass Out from IMA, Broke 93 Year Old RecordIn December 2025, 23-year old Sai Jadhav from Kolhapur (Maharashtra), scripted history by becoming the 1st woman officer to pass out  from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, one of the most prestigious military institutions in India.

• With this, she broke a 93-year old tradition in IMA that only ever saw men graduate.

Key Details:
Milestone: Since the establishment of IMA in 1932, over 67,000 cadets have passed out, all of them men until now.
1st Women Batch: At present, 8 women officer cadets are undergoing training in IMA, as part of the 1st woman batch selected through the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2022.
About Sai Jadhav:
Commissioning: Sai Jadhav has been commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army (TA), becoming the 1st woman officer from IMA to join TA.
Family Legacy: Following her commissioning into the Indian Army (IA), she is now the 4th generation in her family to serve the country after her great-grandfather was part of the British Army, her grandfather was commissioned into the IA, and her father Sandeep Jadhav continues to serve today.
Training: She joined the IMA with special permission and completed six months of intensive training, meeting the same standards as her male peers.
Participate in Passing-Out Parade: She will take part in the passing-out parade in front of the Chetwode Building in June 2026, an honour reserved only for IMA graduates.
About Indian Military Academy (IMA):
Commandant- Lt. General Nagendra Singh
Headquarters-  Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Established- 1932

NCAER Appoints Suresh Goyal as its 11th Director General 
On December 15, 2025, the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), appointed Suresh Goyal, former Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT), as its 11th Director General(DG) with effect from January 5, 2026.

• He will succeed Poonam Gupta, who became a Deputy Governor at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in May 2025.

About Suresh Goyal: 
Experience: He brings over three decades of experience across public and private sectors.
Key Role: In 2010, he became the founding member of Macquarie Infrastructure Investment in India, where he served as the Senior MD and Head of India & Southeast Asia.

• In 2020, he became the MD and CEO of NHIT, under National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

NCAER: The NCAER, India’s largest and oldest economic think tank, was established in 1956 through a Public-Private Partnership(PPP) initiated by then Union Commerce Minister T.T. Krishnamachari and industrialist J.R.D. Tata.

B.Sairam Appointed as CMD of Coal India
On 15th December 2025, the Ministry of Coal appointed B. Sairam as the new Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India Limited (CIL), with his tenure set to continue until his retirement on March 31, 2028.

• He succeeded Sanoj Kumar Jha, who held the additional charge as interim CMD of CIL from 1 November 2025, following the retirement of P. M. Prasad on 31 October 2025.

About B. Sairam:
Experience: Over three and a half decades of experience in the coal sector with expertise in mine operations, project planning, logistics, regulatory affairs, and community development.
CSR Leadership: Acted as Executive Director (ED) at CIL, focusing on community development and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Previous Roles: Served as CMD of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) and as Director (Technical) at Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), both subsidiaries of CIL.
Additional Charge: Entrusted with the additional charge of CMD, NCL from December 16, 2025, for six months or until a regular incumbent is appointed.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Indian Navy Commissions India’s First Indigenously Designed Diving Support Craft ‘DSC A20’ in KochiOn December 16, 2025, the Indian Navy (IN) commissioned ‘DSC A20’, India’s first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Crafts (DSC), at a ceremony held at the Naval Base in Kochi, Kerala, under the Southern Naval Command (SNC).

• The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the SNC, in the presence of senior naval officials and other dignitaries.

About DSC A20:
Background: The contract to build five DSCs was signed on 12 February 2021 between the Ministry of Defence(MoD) and Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata (West Bengal, WB).
Design and Construction: DSC A20 is the first of five DSC, constructed by TRSL.

• It has been designed in accordance with the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) naval standards.
• Its design was validated through hydrodynamic studies and model testing conducted at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh, AP).

Purpose: The vessel is specially designed to support diving and underwater operations in coastal waters and is fitted with modern diving systems that ensure high safety and efficiency.
Features: The ship features a catamaran hull, providing better stability, more deck space, and improved performance at sea. It has a displacement of about 390 tonnes.
Capabilities: It includes diving support for naval diving teams, Underwater inspection and repairs of ships, ports, and harbour infrastructure, salvage assistance and harbour clearance operations, diving training platform for naval personnel, and coastal operational deployment and assistance during emergencies.
Alignment: The initiative aligns with Government of India (GoI)’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Make in India initiative.
About Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL):
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Umesh Chowdhary
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal
Established – 1997

OBITUARY

Veteran Journalist and Padma Shri Awardee Prafulla Govinda Baruah Passed Away On 14th December 2025, veteran journalist and Padma Shri awardee Prafulla Govinda Baruah, Chairman Emeritus and Editor of The Assam Tribune, passed away at the age of 93 in Guwahati, Assam. He was born on 26 July 1932 in Dibrugarh, Assam Province, British India (now Assam).

• He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2018 for his contribution to the growth of Assam in the field of Literature and Education.

About Prafulla Govinda Baruah:
Early Career: He began his journalism career by formally entering the newspaper industry in 1962.
Leadership Roles: He took over as Managing Director (MD) of The Assam Tribune Group in 1966, served as Editor from 1997, and later held the position of Chairman Emeritus.
Publications: He promoted Assamese literature through ‘Sahitya Prakash’ and founded the monthly literary magazine Goriyasi.
Jyotirupa: He established the socio-cultural organization ‘Jyotirupa’ to nurture talent in drama and the arts.
Development: He played a key role in establishing the Radha Govinda (RG) Baruah College in Guwahati, Assam, and organized Assam Prakalpa seminars to advance discussions on the state’s economic development.
Recognitions: He was felicitated by the Asam Sahitya Sabha, honored by the Kamala Saikia Trust for principled journalism, and received an appreciation citation from the Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute for his cancer awareness initiatives.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers 2025 – December 17The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is observed globally on December 17 to highlight violence, discrimination, and abuse faced by sex workers and to advocate for their safety, equality, and human rights.

• December 17, 2025 marks the observance of the 22nd International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

Background:
Origin: The day was first observed in 2003 after the killing of 49 sex workers by the “Green River Killer” in Seattle, Washington, the United States of America (USA).
Founders: The observance was initiated by Dr. Annie Sprinkle and Robin Few, founder of the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP)-USA.
First Memorial Event: The inaugural memorial was held on the lawn of San Francisco City Hall, the USA on December 17, 2003, coinciding with the conviction of Gary Ridgway.
Organisers: The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is globally coordinated by the Global Network of Sex Work Projects(NSWP).
Symbol:
Origin: The red umbrella, recognised globally as a symbol of sex worker rights, originated in Venice, Italy, in 2001.
Adoption: In 2005, the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) adopted the red umbrella as a symbol of resistance against discrimination.
Related International Observances:

• International Sex Worker Rights Day: March 3
• International Whore’s Day / International Sex Workers’ Day: June 2
• International Sex Worker Pride Day: September 14

Legal Status of Sex Work in India:
Legal Milestones in India: In 1956, India enacted the Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act, allowing sex work under legal limits while banning solicitation. In 2022, the Supreme Court(SC) recognised sex work as a profession and upheld sex workers’ right to life and dignity under Article 21.
Laws Governing Sex Work in India: Sex work in India is mainly regulated under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA), 1956; the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860; the Constitution of India, 1950; and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

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