Current Affairs 9 December 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs December 9 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union Minister Amit Shah Inaugurates ‘Earth Summit 2025’ in Gandhinagar, GujaratThe Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Cooperation inaugurated the “EARTH Summit 2025”, held from December 05 to 06 2025, at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• During the summit, he  launched over 13 new services and products including Digi Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Campaign Sarathi, Website Sarathi, Cooperative Governance Index(CGI), electronic-Primary Agricultural Credit Society (ePACS), World’s largest Grain Storage Application, Shiksha Sarathi, Sarathi Technology, among others, under the ‘Sahakar Sarathi’ initiative.

About EARTH Summit 2025:
Key Dignitaries: Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat; Jetha Bhai Ahir, Chairman of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED); Shaji K.V., Chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD); and among others were present at the event.
Organised by: The two-day long summit was hosted by NABARD in partnership with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI).
Next Edition: During the event, Union Minister Amit Shah announced that the 3rd edition of EARTH Summit will be held in Delhi in 2026.
Announcements:While addressing the event, Union Minister Amit Shah informed that Government of India (GoI) is planning  to set up a cooperative institution in every Panchayat in the coming years.

• He also informed that the Ministry of Cooperation in partnership with Reserve Bank of India(RBI) is planning to develop a robust cooperative banking framework.
•  The GoI plans to launch ‘Cooperative Insurance’, aimed to integrate health, life, agriculture and accidental insurance under the cooperative framework.

>>Read Full News

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurated 125 BRO Infrastructure ProjectsIn December 2025, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) inaugurated 125 strategically important infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) (including 28 roads, 93 bridges, and 04 miscellaneous), the highest number  of BRO’s project launched simultaneously, from the Union Territory (UT) Ladakh.

• In addition to that, the Union Defence Minister virtually inaugurated the Galwan War Memorial in eastern Ladakh, built to honour the Indian Army (IA) personnel killed in the clash with Chinese soldiers in 2020.

Key Details of Projects:
Shyok Tunnel: 920 metre (m)-long Shyok Tunnel on the Durbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie Road that runs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, is one of the BRO’s key projects inaugurated by MoD.
States/UTs Covered: These newly inaugurated 125 projects, valued at Rs 5,000 crore, span across 2 UTs: Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and 7 states namely, Arunachal Pradesh (AR), Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh (HP), Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal (WB) and Mizoram.
5 Border Bridges in Chamoli: Among the 7 projects located in Uttarakhand, Union Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated 5 strategically significant bridges in Niti Pass region in Chamoli district, bordering China.

• The names of these newly inaugurated bridges in Uttarakhand: Pangti Bridge, Suraithota Bridge, Ghamshali Bridge, Gurkuti Bridge and Niti Bridge.

About Border Roads Organisation (BRO):
Director General (DG)- Lieutenant (Lt.) General Raghu Srinivasan
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1960
>>Read Full News

Overview of GELS 2025 Held from 5 to 7 December 2025 in Puri, OdishaThe Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2025, India’s first dedicated summit focusing on energy sufficiency, sustainability, and innovation, was held from December 5 to 7, 2025, in Puri, Odisha.

• The 2025 edition marks the inaugural edition of GELS.

Highlights of GELS 2025:
Organizers: The event was organized by the Government of Odisha in collaboration with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), London (United Kingdom, UK).
Theme: GELS 2025 was held under the theme “Powering India: Sufficiency, Balance, Innovation”, highlighting the need for reliable energy supply, environmental sustainability, and technology-driven solutions.
Inauguration: The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi.
Draft Puri Declaration: The Draft Puri Declaration was unveiled at the conclusion of the GELS 2025. It is designed as a framework for coordinated clean-energy transition across Indian states and is currently under consultation with participating states before being finalized.

• It aims to ensure that the energy transition in India is collaborative, equitable, and accelerated.

Four MoUs signed:
RE Projects: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) (Singapore), Grid Corporation of Odisha (GRIDCO), and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)- Bhubaneswar (Odisha).
Green Hydrogen CoE Establishment: An MoU was signed between GRIDCO; IIT Bhubaneswar; ReNew, a leading RE company; and Avaada, a RE developer, with an aim to establish a Green Hydrogen Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Odisha.
RE Capacity Expansion: An MoU was signed between NLC India Renewables Limited (NIRL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL), Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA), and Government Energy Development Corporation Limited (GEDCOL).
Integrated Clean Energy Framework: An MoU was signed between the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), GEDCOL, and OREDA, for an integrated clean energy framework.
Logo and Website Launch: On 13 November 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) Shripad Yesso Naik, Ministry of Power (MoP), launched the Logo and Website of GELS 2025.

• The website can be accessed via https://www.gelsodisha2025.com/

>>Read Full News

Rajasthan Becomes First State to Digitize 100% of Voter Rolls Under SIR
In December 2025, Rajasthan became the first state to complete 100% digitisation of its 5.46 crore voter rolls under the Special Intensive Revision(SIR) – 2026 exercise, led by Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) Navin Mahajan. Utilising ECINET (Election Commission India Network), Booth Level Officers (BLO) app, and portal verification, the state achieved 97% nationwide mapping leadership with only 3% voters needing documents during claims.

100% Digitization of Electoral Rolls: In Rajasthan, every entry in the voter list has been digitised, verified, and mapped. No paper-based or partially digitized entries remain.
SIR: It is a nationwide program conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to update and verify voter lists, remove duplicates or deceased voters, enroll new voters, ensure each other’s voter data is correct and mapped to the correct polling station.

• SIR-2026 aims to bring all states to full digital and geographic verification standards.

Timeline: Draft electoral roll releases December 16, 2025; claims-objections window Dec 16-Jan 15, 2026; final publication February 14, 2026.

Patanjali Group Signs MoU with Government of Russia to Promote Health & Wellness in Russia
In December 2025, Patanjali Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Russia, with an aim to promote health, wellness, yoga, Ayurveda, and cultural cooperation between India and Russia.

• The MoU was signed by Yog Guru Baba Ramdev, Co-Founder, Patanjali Group; and Sergey Cheremin, Minister, Government of Russia.

Areas of Cooperation: 
Wellness & Health Services: The MoU focuses on establishment of Patanjali-style Wellness centres in Russia, Promotion of Ayurveda, Yoga, naturopathy and traditional Indian healing systems, and access to Patanjali’s wellness ecosystem for Russian citizens.
Commercial Expansion: It enables the expansion of Patanjali’s Ayurvedic and herbal products into the Russian market along with the promotion of Indian wellness brands.
Skill Exchange: The MoU facilitates the deployment of trained yoga instructors and Ayurveda or naturopathy practitioners from India to Russia, along with broader cooperation in skill development.
Tourism: Promotes two-way health tourism, encouraging travel for yoga therapy, Ayurveda panchakarma, naturopathy treatments and other holistic wellness experiences.

BANKING & FINANCE

Highlights of RBI’s 5th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy of FY26The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted the 58 th and 5th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) from December 3  to 5, 2025 under the chairmanship of Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, RBI.
RBI MPC reduces Repo Rates to 5.25%, Maintains ‘Neutral’ Stance:
Rate Cut: The MPC voted unanimously to reduce the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) to 5.25%.

• Consequently, the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate shall stand adjusted to 5.00% and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 5.50%.
• The MPC also decided to continue with the neutral stance, indicating rates may go up or reduce further.

RBI lifts real GDP growth forecast to 7.3%:
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Forecast: The committee has projected the real GDP growth for FY26 at 7.3%.

• The GDP registered a high growth of 8.2% in Quarter 2 (Q2:July – September 2025).

Current Account Deficit (CAD) unlikely to hit 2%:
CAD: India’s CAD moderated to 1.3% in Q2 FY26 on account of robust services exports and strong remittances.
RBI announces Rs 1 trillion (tn) OMO and 3 year dollar-rupee buy-sell swap:
Open Market Operations (OMO): The RBI decided to conduct OMO purchases of government securities of Rs 1,00,000 crore (cr) and a 3-year USD/INR Buy Sell swap of USD 5 billion (bn) to inject durable liquidity into the system.
>>Read Full News

SEBI Launched PaRRVA to Prevent Misleading Return Claims, Global BenchmarkIn December 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA), aimed to prevent misleading claims about past performance in advertisements related to financial products by Research Analysts (RAs), Investment Advisors (IAs) and stock brokers.

• This 1st-of-its-kind global initiative was launched in partnership with the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) and CAREEdge Ratings.

Need for PaRRVA:
Verification Process: Intermediaries submit data via secure API/file upload; PaRRVA-NSE Data Centre (PDC) validates using exchange/clearing corporation transaction data; generates 50+ risk-return metrics with T+1 portfolio checks.
Loopholes in Existing Norms: The existing norms restrict SEB-registered intermediaries from showcasing their past performance, even legitimate, thereby creating a regulatory imbalance where unregistered players are free to advertise unverifiable high returns, drawing in unsuspecting investors.
Lack of Market Knowledge: SEBI’s latest investor survey revealed that only 36% of investors have adequate market knowledge.

• More than 62% of prospective investors rely on influencers, while 23% run after quick profit, without proper understanding of market risks.

About PaRRVA:
Background: The initiative was initially announced in December 2024 during the 208th meeting of the SEBI Board.

• Later, in April 2025, SEBI formally issued the operational framework for PaRRVA.

PaRRVA: It is an independent verification mechanism designed to enable Regulated Entities (REs) to present authentic, validated performance data while eliminating misleading claims that put the interests of the investors at risk.
CRA and PDC: As per SEBI’s circular issued in April 2025, a Credit Rating Agency (CRA) will be recognised as a PaRRVA, while, such CRA engages with a recognised Stock Exchange (SE) will act as PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC).
Pilot Project: For the initial process, PaRRVA will be rolled out as a pilot project for 2 months to refine its processes.
Eligibility Criteria:
For CRA to Act as PaRRVA: It is required to have minimum 15 years (yrs) of past experience; minimum net worth of Rs 100 crore; investor grievance redressal mechanism including Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) mechanism; and 250 or adobe issuers should have obtained ratings for debt securities.
SE to Act as PDC: It must have at least 15 years of past experience; minimum net worth of Rs 200 crore; must have nation-wide terminals and investor grievance redressal mechanism including ODR mechanism.
About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
Initially, SEBI was established as a non-statutory body and was later set up as a statutory body in 1992.
Chairperson- Tuhin Kanta Pandey
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra

IFC invests USD 50 Million in Gujarat Fluorochemical EV Subsidiary
In December 2025, The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank Group member, invested USD 50 million (Rs. 450 crore) in GFCL EV Products Limited (GFCL EV), a subsidiary of Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited (GFL), through compulsorily convertible instruments to establish India’s first fully integrated battery materials manufacturing facility.

About the Agreement:
Marks: This marks IFC’s first investment in India’s battery-materials sector, underscoring global confidence in India’s clean energy and electric mobility ambitions.
Focus: The greenfield facility will focus on large-scale manufacturing of Lithium Hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), electrolyte formulations, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cathode materials, and Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) / Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binders for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems.
Expectations: The project is expected to strengthen domestic supply chains, reduce dependence on imports, and position India as a competitive player in the global advanced battery materials value chain.
Financial Adviser: Barclays acted as the financial advisor to GFCL EV for the transaction.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Genesys launches India’s First 3D Subsurface Mapping for Adani Airports
In December 2025, Genesys International Corporation Ltd launched India’s first 3D(Dimension) subsurface mapping technology and secured a Rs.17.38 crore contract from Bureau Veritas to deploy it across six Adani Group airports (Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Ahmedabad).

About the Launch:
3D Ground Radar: The project was awarded by Bureau Veritas and will deploy 3D Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) along with high-precision Light Detection and Ranging(LiDAR) technology to detect and map underground utilities.
3D BIM: Genesys will generate 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) outputs, providing accurate visualization of buried infrastructure such as cables, pipelines, and service lines. This is expected to significantly improve airport expansion planning, safety, and infrastructure management.
3D Surface Mapping: The company also unveiled India’s first indigenous 3D subsurface mapping technology, marking a major step in the country’s digital infrastructure push. This initiative aligns with the growing need for smart infrastructure and utility management.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

USA President Donald Trump Receives Inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in USAOn December 5, 2025, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) presented the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize to Donald John Trump, the President of the United States of America (USA), during the Final Draw Ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Washington D.C, the USA.

• The award, accompanied by a gold medal and certificate, was presented by Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA.

About FIFA Peace Prize Award:
Recognition: The FIFA Peace Prize Award- FIFA Unites the World, is a new global award, instituted by FIFA in 2025 to recognize individuals who made exceptional contributions to peace, unity, and conflict resolution. It is intended to be an annual award.
Purpose: The award aims to promote peace and global unity through the influence and visibility of football, honor leaders or individuals who have taken extraordinary actions to prevent conflict or foster harmony and highlight the role of football as a bridge between countries and culture.
Campaign: The award was introduced under the initiative “Football Unites the World”, a campaign led by Gianni Infantino.
Prize: The award includes a gold-plated trophy symbolizing unity, hands holding a globe; a peace prize medal; and an official certificate from FIFA.
Sculptors: The award was sculpted by Azerbaijani artists such as Salhab Mammadov and Ali Ibadullayev.
About Donald John Trump:
Profile:He was a businessman, real estate developer, television personality, and is a politician.
Business Career: In 1971, he took control of the Trump Organization. He specialized in building or branding hotels, casinos, golf courses, and residential towers. From 2004 to 2015, he gained national fame for hosting “The Apprentice”.
Political Career: From 2017 to 2021, he served as the 45th President of the USA, winning against Hillary Clinton in 2016, representing the Republican party.

• In 2024 he again won the USA Presidential election  and was sworn in for a second, non-consecutive term in 2025.

About Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA):
President – Gianni Infantino
Headquarters – Zurich, Switzerland
Established – 1904

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Indian Astronomers Discover Ancient Spiral Galaxy ‘Alaknanda’ Using JWST
In December 2025, Indian astronomers from the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics -Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (NCRA-TIFR), Pune, Maharashtra, discovered a massive ancient spiral galaxy named Alaknanda, located 12 billion light-years away, using James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data.

• The discovery was made by Rashi Jain and Professor Yogesh Wadadekar at NCRA-TIFR, Pune, and published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

About Discovery of Galaxy Alaknanda:
Naming: The galaxy is named after the Alaknanda River, symbolically paired with the Mandakini River, the Hindi name for the Milky Way.
Observation: JWST deep-field data revealed Alaknanda behind Abell 2744  (Pandora’s Cluster), whose gravitational lensing amplified its light and enabled detailed imaging.
Properties: The galaxy is a 30,000-light-year-wide grand-design spiral with a central bulge, rotating disk, symmetric arms, and star-forming clusters arranged in a beads-on-a-string pattern.
Mass & Formation: It contains around 10 billion solar masses of stars and forms stars 20–30 times faster than the Milky Way, indicating rapid assembly within a few hundred million years.
Age & Significance: Observed as it was 12 billion years ago, Alaknanda’s fully developed spiral structure challenges existing models that predict early galaxies to be chaotic, irregular, and slow-forming.

SPORTS

Lando Norris Wins Maiden F1 Drivers’ Championship at Abu Dhabi GP 2025On 7 December 2025, Lando Norris, McLaren Racing, secured his first Formula One (F1) Drivers’ Championship title by finishing third at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (GP) 2025 at the Yas Marina Circuit, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), behind race winner Max Verstappen and runner-up Oscar Piastri, clinching the title by just two points.

• Lando Norris became the 11ᵗʰ British driver to win the F1 World Championship and the first British champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, securing McLaren’s 13ᵗʰ drivers’ championship title.

Top 3 – 2025 Formula One Drivers’ Championship:

Abu Dhabi GP Highlights: 
Championship Round: Final (24th) race of the 2025 F1 World Championship; title-deciding race with three drivers in contention Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri.
Max Verstappen: Max Verstappen won the race from pole position and finished the season with 415 points but narrowly missed securing a fifth consecutive Drivers’ Championship by just two points.
Oscar Piastri: Finished second in the race and third in the Drivers’ Championship, 11 points behind Verstappen.
McLaren Triumph: In 2025, McLaren won both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, securing their first drivers’ title and second constructors’ title.
Top 5 Finishers in 2025 Abu Dhabi GP:

Grand Prix (GP): A GP is a major international motorsport race included in the Formula One World Championship. The 2025 season comprised 24 events where drivers competed for points, podium finishes, and the overall championship.
About Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA):
FIA is the governing body and organiser of Formula One (F1) and other international motorsport events.
President – Mohammed Ben Sulayem (United Arab Emirates, UAE)
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established – 1904

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Union Minister Amit Shah Released Gujarati Edition of ‘Chunotiya Mujhe Pasand Hai’
In December 2025, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), released the Gujarati edition of the biography titled ‘Chunotiya Mujhe Pasand Hai’ (Challenges I Like), based on the life of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Governor Anandiben Patel, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

• Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel and UP Governor Anandiben Patel were present at the event.

About the biography :
Overview: The Gujarati edition highlights Anandiben Patel’s journey from a modest upbringing to becoming Gujarat’s first woman CM and the 2nd women Governor of UP after Sarojini Naidu, emphasizing her principle of purpose-driven leadership.
Personal Journey: The book recounts her rise from a lower-middle-class background and her determination in pursuing an Master of Science (MSc) despite limited opportunities for women, including being the only female student in her hostel.
Public Career: Her extensive public service covers roles as Member of Parliament (MP), Education Minister, Revenue Minister, and Governor of three states Chhattisgarh (2018-2019), Madhya Pradesh (MP) (2018-19 and 2020-21) and UP, reflecting her disciplined, goal-oriented approach to governance.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Civil Aviation Day 2025 – December 7The United Nations (UN’s) International Civil Aviation Day is observed annually on December 7 worldwide to raise global awareness about the importance of civil aviation in social and economic development

• 7th December 2025 marks the 81st anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in Chicago, United States of America(USA).

Theme:
2025 Theme: “Safe Skies, Sustainable Future: Together for the Next 80 Years”
Theme Selection Process: Every five years, on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) anniversaries(such as 2014, 2019, 2024, 2029, and so on), the ICAO Council sets a special theme for International Civil Aviation Day, while for the intervening four years, a single theme is chosen to guide observances.
Background:
First Celebration : International Civil Aviation Day was initially celebrated in 1994 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Convention.
UN Recognition : In 1996, under an ICAO initiative with support from the Canadian Government, the UN General Assembly(UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/51/33, officially designating 7 December as International Civil Aviation Day annually.
About Chicago Convention: 
Chicago Convention: The Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in 1944 in Chicago by 54 nations, established the rules and framework for international civil aviation, laying the foundation for the creation of ICAO.
81st Anniversary Commitment: In 2025, ICAO highlights its Strategic Plan 2026-2050, promoting safe, efficient, and sustainable aviation, aiming for global air transport accessibility, zero fatalities, net-zero carbon emissions, and managing 12.4 billion passengers by 2050.
2025 Event in India:
About India’s Civil Aviation:
Governance: MoCA (Ministry of Civil Aviation) oversees aviation policy; DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) regulates safety and airworthiness; BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) handles security; AAI (Airports Authority of India) manages airports and air navigation services.
Infrastructure: India has nearly 150 operational airports, with plans to exceed 220 by 2030.
Initiatives: UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme boosts regional connectivity; NCAP (National Civil Aviation Policy) guides sector reforms; DigiYatra enables seamless digital travel; sustainability steps include SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) use and solarized airports.
About International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): 
Secretary-General – Juan Carlos Salazar Gomez
Headquarters – Montreal, Canada
Established – 1944

SAARC Charter Day 2025 – December 8The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Charter Day is observed annually across the globe on 8th December to mark the adoption of the SAARC Charter in 1985.

• 8th December 2025 marks the 41st observance of SAARC Charter Day.

Background:
Formation: SAARC Charter Day originated from the adoption of the SAARC Charter during the first summit held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 7–8, 1985.
First observance: The first SAARC Charter Day was officially observed on December 8, 1985.
About SAARC:
Membership: SAARC is a regional geopolitical and economic bloc established in 1985 by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined later as the eighth member during the 14th SAARC Summit held in New Delhi in 2007
Secretariat: The SAARC Secretariat was formally established in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 17, 1987.
SAARC Charter: It comprises 10 articles that define the organization’s objectives, principles, structure, meetings, Council of Ministers, Standing Committee, Technical Committees, Action Committees, Secretariat, financial arrangements, and general provisions.
About SAARC Summits:
Frequency: SAARC Summits were traditionally held every two years in alphabetical rotation among Member States, but none have taken place since 2014.
Chair: The Member State hosting the Summit automatically assumed the Chair of the Association.
18th Summit: The 18th SAARC Summit took place in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 26–27 November 2014.
19th Summit: Pakistan was scheduled to host the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad(Pakistan) in 2016, but India withdrew its participation after the Uri terror attack.
Specialized Bodies: SAARC has set up new institutions including the SAARC Arbitration Council (SARCO), South Asian University (SAU), SAARC Development Fund (SDF) Secretariat, and SAARC Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) that operate with mandates and structures distinct from the Regional Centers.
Apex Bodies: It comprise of SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation in Law (SAARCLAW), South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), South Asia Foundation (SAF), Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL), and the South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC).
About South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC):
Secretary-General – Md. Golam Sarwar (Bangladesh)
Secretariat – Kathmandu, Nepal
Established – 1985

Indian Navy’s 58th Submarine Day 2025 – December 08 The Indian Navy (IN) annually observes Submarine Day on 8th December to commemorate the induction of (Indian Navy Ship) INS Kalvari, the first submarine of the IN, into service in 1967.

• 8th December 2025 marks the 58th Submarine Day.

Background:
Induction: The first submarine, INS Kalvari, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 8 December 1967.
1st observance: The first observance of Indian Navy Submarine Day was on 8th December 1968, one year after the commissioning of INS Kalvari in 1967.
Significance: The day recognizes the contributions of the submarine arm in strengthening India’s defense capabilities.
Evolution: Submarines, initially used for military purposes, are now also employed for civilian research, marine exploration, and underwater tourism.
About INS Kalvari:
Type: Foxtrot-class diesel-electric submarine
Service: INS Kalvari served the nation for 29 years and was retired on 31 March 1996.
Naming: It was named Kalvari after the tiger shark in Malayalam found in the Indian Ocean.
Modern Version: The name Kalvari was revived for India’s first Scorpène-class diesel-electric attack submarine, commissioned on 14 December 2017 and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra, in collaboration with the French Naval Group, marking the beginning of the IN’s expanded submarine fleet.
Project 75: Project 75 includes six Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarines—INS Kalvari (Dec 2017), INS Khanderi (Sept 2019), INS Karanj (Mar 2021), INS Vela (Nov 2021), INS Vagir (Jan 2023), and INS Vagsheer (Jan 2025) which have expanded the IN’s submarine fleet and strengthened its underwater warfare and deterrence capabilities.
Indian Submarine Fleet:
Modernization: The Indian Navy’s submarine fleet faces challenges that highlight the urgent need for modern platforms like the P-75I German submarines.
Current Fleet: India operates around 17 diesel-electric attack submarines, including six Kalvari-class (Scorpène design) vessels
Global Comparison: The top three countries with the largest military submarine fleets are the United States of America (USA) (70), Russia (63), and China (61), while India ranks 7th with 18 submarines.
About Indian Navy (IN):
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi
Headquarters: New Delhi
Established: 1950

STATE NEWS

Government of Karnataka Signs MoU with Allegiance Group to Set Up ITIP in KarnatakaIn December 2025, Government of Karnataka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Allegiance International Company Limited (Allegiance Group) to establish an India-Taiwan Industrial Technology Park (ITIP), with a budget outlay of Rs.1,000 crores, in Karnataka, aimed at creating approximately 800 direct jobs by 2030, at an event in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Signatories: The MoU was signed by Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, Director, Department of Electronics, Information Technology (IT), and Biotechnology (BT), Government of Karnataka; and Lawrence Chen, Vice President, Allegiance Group.

• The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) of Karnataka Siddaramaiah

Aim: The MoU aims strengthen Karnataka’s position as hub for Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) and accelerate the growth of semiconductors in Karnataka.
Features of the ITIP:
Specialized Hub: ITIP will function as a specialized hub for Electronics Manufacturing, semiconductor ecosystem development, component and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing, Chip design & related Research and Development (R&D), and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Technology: The initiative will promote Technology Transfer (TT) from Taiwanese firms, encourage innovation and R&D collaboration between Industry and academia, and build a full electronics and semiconductor value chain.
Skill Development: The MoU includes plans for skill-development programmes with universities and technical institutions, focusing on training a specialized workforce in chip design, PCB manufacturing, cleanroom operations, and semiconductor fabrication and testing.
About Karnataka:
Chief Minister (CM) – Siddaramaiah
Governor – Thaawar Chand Ghelot
Capital – Bengaluru
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Chincholi WLS, Dandeli WLS

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