Current Affairs Quiz 9th December 2025 Quiz

Exp. Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Investor and Global Brand Ambassador for AI Firm Perplexity

Cristiano Ronaldo has invested in AI company Perplexity and become its brand ambassador.

As part of the collaboration, Ronaldo launched a custom AI assistant, “Ronaldo Hub”, offering fans unseen personal images, curated life-stage questions, and interactive access to his iconic goals.

CEO of Perplexity – Aravind Srinivas  

Exp. 11th India International Science Festival Begins in Panchkula

The 11th India International Science Festival (IISF 2025), being held in Panchkula, Haryana, will showcase India’s science-led progress while bridging traditional knowledge with modern scientific research.

The festival’s theme, “Vigyan Se Samruddhi: for Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” highlights the role of science, technology, and innovation in strengthening self-reliance, national development, and economic growth.

IISF 2025 will feature 150+ technical and thematic sessions, focusing on five key areas, including biotechnology, space, artificial intelligence, Himalayan ecology, and the integration of traditional knowledge with modern science.

Exp. India to Update National Accounts Base Year to 2022–23 from February 2026

The Government of India will revise the national accounts base year to 2022–23, replacing the outdated 2011–12 base year, with the new system coming into effect from February 26–27 next year.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the IMF’s recent C grade for India’s national accounts was due to the old base year, not the quality or credibility of the data.

The update follows debate over data accuracy after the NSO released July–September GDP figures showing 8.2% growth, which some opposition leaders questioned in light of the IMF’s grading.

Exp. BPCL Becomes the Only Indian Company Named Among Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars 2025

BPCL Becomes the Only Indian Company Named Among Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars 2025

BPCL has been named among the Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars (CSS) 2025 by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge, becoming the only Indian organisation on the global list for excellence in startup collaboration.

BPCL’s startup initiative ‘Ankur’, launched in 2016, has supported 30+ startups in domains like robotics, AI, industrial IoT, safety technologies, and predictive maintenance, and also includes the BPCL Ankur Fund for early-stage investments.

BPCL Chairman Sanjay Khanna stated that the recognition reflects the company’s commitment to open innovation and sustainable energy, aligning with its goal to drive India’s energy transition and strengthen BPCL as a future-ready integrated energy company.

The recognition ceremony took place at the ICC headquarters in Paris, with ICC and Mind the Bridge leaders praising BPCL’s model of strategically partnering with startups to accelerate new technology adoption in India’s evolving energy and innovation ecosystem.

Exp. Donald Trump Becomes First Recipient of FIFA’s Newly Launched Peace Prize

US President Donald Trump became the first-ever recipient of FIFA’s newly launched “FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World” during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, DC.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, known for his close association with Trump, has previously stated that Trump deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts toward negotiating a Gaza ceasefire.

The award, introduced in November, aims to honour individuals whose exceptional actions have contributed to global peace and unity through football, and will be presented annually.

Recent Awards

• Rum Brand of the Year Award 2025 – Camikara Rum (India)
• Miss Universe 2025 crown – Miss Fatima Bosch (Mexico)
• CII Quality Ratna Award – TVS Motor Chairman Venu Srinivasan
• Indira Gandhi Peace Prize – Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet
• Booker Prize 2025 – Hungarian-British author David Szalay (for ‘Flesh’ novel)

Exp. Veteran Pacer Mohit Sharma Announces Retirement from All Forms of Cricket

Veteran Indian pacer Mohit Sharma announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ending a career that included 34 international matches and over a decade-long stint in the IPL with teams like CSK, KXIP/PBKS, DC, and Gujarat Titans.

Mohit, who debuted for India in 2013, took 35 ODI wickets and 6 T20I wickets, and became a reliable death-overs bowler for CSK under MS Dhoni; he also finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2023 for Gujarat Titans.

Recently Retired Players

• Mohit Sharma (India) – All Forms of Cricket
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – T20 Internationals
• Rohan Bopanna (India) – Professional Tennis
• Chris Woakes (England) – International Cricket
• Sergio Busquets (Spain) – Professional Scooer
• Jerome Boateng (German) – Professional Scooer
• Samuel Umtiti (France) – Professional Scooer
• Amit Mishra (India)- Professional Cricket

Exp. LIC Signs Strategic Bancassurance Partnership with Yes Bank to Expand Insurance Access and Strengthen Customer Outreach

LIC has signed a strategic bancassurance partnership with Yes Bank, enabling the bank’s customers to access LIC’s insurance products through Yes Bank’s branch network and digital channels.

The collaboration expands access to LIC’s major offerings, including Protection Plus (a linked savings-cum-life cover plan) and Bima Kavach (a pure-risk protection plan) with flexible premium options, long-term coverage up to 100 years, and multiple benefit choices.

The plans offer features such as partial withdrawals, top-up premiums, life-stage-based enhancement of cover, and instalment-based benefit payouts, increasing flexibility and financial convenience for policyholders.

Exp. Vijayawada to Host 3rd Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam 2025 Celebrating Telugu Music and Andhra Pradesh’s Cultural Heritage

The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sangeet Natak Academy, and Andhra Pradesh agencies, is hosting the 3rd Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam 2025 in Vijayawada on 6–7 December 2025, celebrating Telugu music heritage.

Theme – Celebrating the Richness of Telugu Music Traditions

The festival focuses on strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s cultural identity and promoting music tourism, featuring 18 Carnatic concerts by 98 artists over two days.

A special exhibition will display Andhra Pradesh’s GI-tagged and traditional crafts, including Kondapalli Toys, Etikoppaka Lacquerware, Udayagiri Cutlery, Leather Puppetry, Narsapur Lace, and iconic handloom clusters like Mangalagiri, Venkatagiri, Chirala, Uppada, and Moragudi.

Exp. India and Malaysia Launch 5th Edition of Joint Military Exercise Harimau Shakti 2025 in Rajasthan

The 5th edition of Exercise Harimau Shakti 2025 is being conducted at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan, from 05–18 December 2025, with India represented mainly by the DOGRA Regiment and Malaysia by the 25th Battalion Royal Malaysian Army.

The exercise aims to jointly rehearse Sub-Conventional Operations under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate, focusing on enhancing interoperability and coordination between the two armies.

The training includes counter-terrorist tactical drills such as cordon and search operations, search-and-destroy missions, heliborne operations, and developing coordinated joint responses during complex security situations.

Exp. Juspay Partners with Sabre Direct Pay to Enhance Global Payment Solutions for Travel Merchants

Juspay has partnered with Sabre Direct Pay to modernise payment solutions for travel merchants globally, aiming to improve conversion rates and streamline transactions.

The partnership will enable sector-specific capabilities, including access to local payment methods, faster go-to-market, cross-border payments, efficient checkout, and reconciliation processes.

Juspay, headquartered in Bengaluru, has expanded its global presence with offices in the US, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, reporting its highest-ever revenue of ~₹514 crore in FY2025.

Exp. India’s UPI to Become Acceptable in Cambodia Through NPCI–ACLEDA Bank Partnership

NPCI International Payments (NIPL) has partnered with ACLEDA Bank of Cambodia, enabling acceptance of India’s UPI in Cambodia and allowing Cambodia’s Bakong (KHQR) QR network to be accepted in India.

Indian tourists visiting Cambodia will now be able to make payments using UPI apps at over 4.5 million KHQR-enabled merchant outlets across the country.

NIPL is also helping countries like Namibia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Peru develop UPI-like digital payment systems; UPI in India processed 20.47 billion transactions worth ₹26.32 trillion in November.

Exp. RBI Expands Gold Metal Loan Access to More Jewellers Under New 2026 Guidelines

RBI has widened access to Gold Metal Loans (GML), allowing banks to lend not only to jewellery manufacturers but also to jewellers who outsource production, under new guidelines effective April 1, 2026.

Updated rules under the Master Direction on Imports and the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) permit nominated banks to extend import-linked GML to entities engaged in manufacturing or selling jewellery for domestic or export markets.

GMS-linked GML can now be provided to both jewellers and MMTC for minting India Gold Coins (IGCs), expanding the operational scope of the scheme.

Banks must ensure strict end-use monitoring, preventing any sale or export of GML-sourced gold in primary form, and must value the gold daily using the LBMA Gold AM price and rupee–dollar reference rate.

Loan tenors will follow FTP norms for exporters, while others will have a maximum tenure of 270 days, with repayments made in INR, except GMS-linked borrowers who may repay principal partially or fully in physical gold under regulated conditions.

Exp. India–Russia Discuss Expansion of Fisheries, Meat & Dairy Trade Ahead of High-Level Talks

India and Russia held bilateral talks in New Delhi to expand trade in fisheries, meat, and dairy products, address market access issues, and speed up export establishment listings under Russia’s FSVPS system.

Russia expressed strong interest in importing Indian fishery and meat products, collaborating on veterinary vaccines, and developing the trout market through joint technical projects and potential joint ventures.

India highlighted its fishery exports worth USD 7.45 billion in 2024–25, discussed diversification of exports (shrimp, prawns, tuna, squid, etc.), and requested early approvals for Indian dairy and meat establishments, including AMUL/GCMMF.

Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in aquaculture technologies, deep-sea fishing vessels, capacity building, cold-water fisheries, and proposed signing an MoU to establish a structured mechanism for long-term collaboration.

Exp. India-Indonesia joint special forces exercise ‘Garuda Shakti’ begins in Himachal Pradesh

The 10th India–Indonesia joint special forces exercise ‘Garuda Shakti’ began in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, focusing on strengthening interoperability through counter-terrorism drills, combat shooting, heliborne ops, sniping, and drone/counter-UAS tactics.

The exercise includes exchange of expertise on weapons, equipment and operational practices, culminating in a high-intensity validation exercise simulating real-world scenarios to assess combat readiness.

Recent Exercise

• 8th edition of bilateral air exercise ‘Garuda’ between India and France – France
• 19th edition of Exercise Suryakiran 2025 between India and Nepal – Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
• 11th Edition of Joint Military Exercise ‘MITRA SHAKTI-2025’ between India and Sri Lanka – Belagavi, Karnataka
• 5th Edition of Maritime Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti 2025’ between India and Indonesia – Visakhapatnam
• 4th Edition of Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2025 between India & Australia – Perth, Australia

Exp. India Hosts 20th UNESCO Committee Session on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage at Red Fort

India is hosting the 20th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Red Fort, New Delhi, with participation from over 800 delegates representing 180+ countries.

The committee will examine nominations for UNESCO ICH lists, review the status of existing elements, and consider international assistance for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage; India currently has 15 elements on the Representative List.

Key discussions will include safeguarding reports, requests for international assistance, and global dialogue on living heritage, best practices, and future safeguarding strategies.