Current Affairs Quiz 5th December 2025 Quiz

Exp. Ramakrishnan Chander Takes Charge as New Managing Director of LIC

Ramakrishnan Chander has assumed charge as the Managing Director of LIC, succeeding his previous role as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and Executive Director of the Investment (Front Office) Department.

He brings over 35 years of experience, having joined LIC in 1990 and served in multiple key roles including Senior Divisional Manager, Regional Manager (Marketing & P&GS), and Executive Director of International Operations.

As CIO, he managed one of India’s largest investment portfolios, strengthening LIC’s investment returns and contributing significantly to financial performance and innovation in the insurance sector.

About Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)

• Founded – 1 September 1956
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairperson – Doraiswamy

Exp. Dr. Manali Kshirsagar Becomes First Full-Time Woman Vice-Chancellor of Nagpur University

Dr. Manali Kshirsagar has become the first full-time woman Vice-Chancellor of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, taking over from acting VC Dr. Madhavi Chavare and marking a historic milestone in the university’s 100-year history since 1923.

She plans to introduce technology-driven and innovative academic courses aimed at improving student employability and aligning university education with modern industry requirements.

Announced by Maharashtra Governor and Chancellor Acharya Devvrat, Dr. Kshirsagar begins her five-year term with a focus on academic modernization and preparing students with future-ready skills.

Exp. Harmanpreet Kaur joins hands as brand ambassador of Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon 2025

The 10th Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon (VPCHM) concluded with massive participation, bringing together nearly 15,000 runners to support Vedanta’s #RunForZeroHunger movement.

The event successfully raised 1 lakh Poshan Packs for children at Nand Ghars, Vedanta’s flagship social impact initiative focused on nutrition, health, and transformation of anganwadis across India.

The marathon was flagged off in Jaipur by Priya Agarwal Hebbar and Harmanpreet Kaur, with support from Vedanta and organization by AnyBody Can Run (ABCR), emphasizing community spirit and social responsibility.

Exp. Annapurna Devi to Launch 100-Day National Campaign for a Child Marriage-Free Bharat

Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi will launch a 100-day awareness campaign for a Child Marriage-Free Bharat in New Delhi, marking the one-year anniversary of the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign.

The campaign will feature the National Pledge to End Child Marriage, a film showcasing inspiring stories, and testimonies from frontline champions, highlighting collective progress and reinforcing momentum for the next phase.

The initiative will engage citizens, institutions, and community leaders nationwide, implemented in coordination with the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, and Education to ensure extensive grassroots reach.

Exp. Government to Set Up 50,000 New Atal Tinkering Labs Across Schools to Boost Innovation

The Government plans to establish 50,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in schools across India, aiming to foster innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills among students.

Over 10,000 ATLs have already been set up under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote research and innovation at the school level.

The initiative was highlighted in the Union Budget 2025-26 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasizing the government’s commitment to nurturing curiosity, scientific temper, and innovative thinking among young students over the next five years.

Exp. India Post Releases Commemorative ‘My Stamp’ to Honour P. Obul Reddy on His Birth Centenary

India Post released a customised commemorative ‘My Stamp’ to honour the birth centenary of industrialist and Nippo Batteries founder Pottipatti Obul Reddy, unveiled in Chennai by Manoj M., Director of Postal Services.

1. Obul Reddy was instrumental in the Indo-Japanese collaboration with Matsushita (Panasonic) in 1972, leading to the founding of Indo National Ltd (Nippo Batteries), which became India’s second-largest dry-cell manufacturer.

The centenary celebrations highlight Reddy’s contributions to industry, philanthropy, and Carnatic music, inspiring citizens to uphold the values of integrity, purpose, and giving back to society.

Exp. NHAI Partners with Reliance Jio to Launch Telecom-Based Safety Alert System on National Highways

NHAI signs MoU with Reliance Jio to introduce a telecom-based safety alert system across National Highways, aiming to enhance road safety for commuters.

Travellers will receive real-time alerts via SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority calls about accident-prone stretches, stray-cattle zones, fog-affected areas, and emergency diversions, using Jio’s 4G and 5G network.

The system will be integrated with NHAI’s digital platforms like the ‘Rajmargyatra’ app and emergency helpline 1033, providing early warnings without additional roadside hardware, and similar collaborations are planned with other telecom providers.

Recent MoU

• Bisleri Becomes Official Beverage Partner of Tata Women’s Premier League for 2026 & 2027 Seasons
• C-DOT and IIT Roorkee Join Hands to Establish Centre of Excellence for Advanced Communication Technologies
• BEL & Safran Sign JV to manufacture HAMMER Precision Weapon in India
• CSIR Signs Pact with Industrial Corridor Corporation to Boost Innovation and High-Tech R&D Ecosystems
• Engineers India Signs MoU with NMDC Energy to Boost Onshore Oil, Gas, and Green Energy Projects in Saudi Arabia

Exp. Tamil Nadu’s Five Traditional Products Earn GI Tag, Taking State’s Total to 74

Five traditional products from Tamil Nadu — Woraiyur cotton sari, Kavindapadi naatu sakkarai (jaggery powder), Namakkal makkal pathirangal (soapstone cookware), Thooyamalli rice, and Ambasamudram choppu saman (wooden toys) — have been awarded the GI tag, showcasing the State’s cultural and agricultural richness.

With these additions, Tamil Nadu now holds 74 GI-tagged products, as confirmed by IPR attorney P. Sanjai Gandhi, who filed the applications for the respective groups.

The newly recognised products include items rooted in centuries-old traditions, such as Woraiyur saris woven along the Cauvery, Kavindapadi jaggery powder made from sugarcane grown in Erode, and Thooyamalli rice cultivated during the sambha season.

Namakkal’s ancient soapstone cookware and Ambasamudram’s 200-year-old wooden toy craft also received GI recognition, highlighting the State’s artisanal legacy and long-preserved techniques passed down through generations.

Exp. Cashfree partners with J.P. Morgan Payments to strengthen compliant cross-border payment processing in India

Cashfree has partnered with J.P. Morgan Payments, making J.P. Morgan an Authorised Dealer Category-I (AD-I) bank for the company, enabling compliant processing of import transactions under RBI’s Payment Aggregator regulations.

The collaboration aims to remove payment-related barriers for global businesses by combining J.P. Morgan’s global credibility with Cashfree’s homegrown innovation, offering secure, transparent, and reliable cross-border settlements.

With India’s cross-border e-commerce market projected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030, the partnership seeks to simplify regulatory complexities and help international brands enter the Indian market faster and more compliantly.

Exp. CRISIL raises India’s GDP growth forecast to 7% for FY25 after stronger-than-expected first-half performance

CRISIL revised India’s GDP growth forecast to 7% for the current financial year, citing stronger-than-expected 8% growth in the first half, driven mainly by robust private consumption, manufacturing, and services.

Despite real GDP growth of 8.2% in Q2, nominal GDP growth remained moderate at 8.7% due to easing inflation; growth is expected to slow to 6.1% in the second half due to factors like higher U.S. tariffs.

GDP Projection List 2025

• IMF –6.4% (FY26); 6.2% (FY27)
• World Bank – 6.5% (FY26)
• EY – 6.7% (FY26)
• S&P Global Ratings – 6.5% (FY26)
• Fitch Rating – 6.9% (FY25)
• SBI – 6.35 (FY26)
• Nomura – 6.2 % (FY26)
• India Ratings & Research – 6.3% (FY26)

Exp. GST collection moderates after rate cuts to ₹1.7 lakh crore in November

The first full month after the GST rate cut showed a moderate 0.7% rise in total GST collections, reaching ₹1.7 lakh crore in November, though officials stated that overall consumption momentum remains positive.

Domestic GST revenues fell by 2.3% to ₹1.24 lakh crore, while GST from imports grew over 10% to around ₹46,000 crore, reflecting differing trends in domestic and international demand.

Tax experts noted that GST collections reflect consumption patterns, whereas GDP growth is influenced by broader factors like government spending and investment; the recent GST 2.0 rate reduction also contributed to the muted collection figures.

GST Collection of Previous Months

• July 2025 – 1.96 lakh crore
• August 2025 – 1.86 lakh crore
• September 2025 – 1.89 lakh crore
• October 2025 – 1.96 lakh crore

Exp. Oxford University Press Names “Rage Bait” as Word of the Year 2025

Oxford University Press has named “rage bait” as the Word of the Year 2025 — a phrase that refers to online content deliberately designed to provoke anger, outrage or shock to drive engagement.

The usage of “rage bait” has reportedly tripled over the past year, reflecting how digital content and social media algorithms are increasingly rewarding emotionally provocative material.

The selection points to a larger cultural shift in 2025: from curiosity‑driven “clickbait” to emotion‑driven online behaviour — highlighting concerns about misinformation, digital wellbeing, and the ethics of engagement in the internet age.

Exp. DRDO Successfully Tests Fighter Aircraft Escape System, Marks Major Milestone in Indigenous Defence Capability

DRDO successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility in Chandigarh, validating canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery.

The test, conducted in collaboration with ADA and HAL, involved dynamic ejection using a dual-sled system and an instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy to record critical loads, moments, and accelerations, placing India among a select group of nations with advanced in-house escape system testing capability.

The successful test was lauded by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat as a significant milestone for India’s indigenous defence self-reliance and technological advancement.

Exp. 5 December – International Volunteer Day

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is observed annually on 5 December to recognise and promote the tireless efforts of volunteers worldwide who contribute to social, economic, and environmental development.

The day highlights the role of volunteering in addressing global challenges, fostering community engagement, and promoting peace, solidarity, and sustainable development.

Governments, organizations, and communities use IVD to honour volunteers, encourage participation in volunteer initiatives, and raise awareness about the impact of volunteer work across various sectors.

Exp. 5 December – World Soil Day

World Soil Day is observed annually on 5 December to raise awareness about the importance of healthy soil and its role in sustaining ecosystems, agriculture, and food security.

The day emphasizes sustainable soil management to combat soil degradation, erosion, and nutrient depletion, ensuring long-term productivity and environmental health.

Exp. Policy repo rate cut by 25 basis points to 5.25%

The RBI reduced the Policy Repo Rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%, setting the SDF rate at 5% and the MSF/Bank Rate at 5.5%; all six MPC members voted unanimously for the rate cut.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated in Mumbai that the MPC has decided to maintain a neutral stance.

The RBI revised the GDP growth estimate for FY 2025-26 upward to 7.3%, from the earlier projection of 6.8%.

The RBI lowered the CPI inflation forecast for FY 2025-26 to 2%, down from the previous estimate of 2.6%, noting that headline inflation has eased significantly and is expected to soften further.

RBI Current Policy Rate are as under

• Policy Repo Rate – 5.25%
• Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) – 5.00%
• Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) – 5.50%
• Bank Rate – 5.50%
• Reverse Repo Rate – 3.35%
• Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) – 3.00%
• Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) – 18%