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Daily Current Affairs 16th December 2025 Daily GK Update
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National News
Government Likely to Rename MGNREGA as ‘Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Yojana’, Proposes Key Reforms
- The government is likely to introduce an amendment Bill in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament to rename MGNREGA as “Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Yojana”, with the proposal reportedly cleared by the Union Cabinet.
- The amended Bill may also propose increasing the guaranteed employment days from 100 to 125 days per household, even as the average employment provided over the last five years has been about 50.35 days per household.
- The amendments are expected to factor in the recommendations of the Amarjeet Sinha–led review panel, including possible exclusionary clauses based on State-level economic indicators and addressing inter-State disparities in scheme expenditure.
- The government may further revise the funding pattern and introduce stronger compliance checks, particularly to prevent Centre–State fund-related disputes, such as the prolonged standoff with West Bengal over scheme implementation.
Centre Approves ₹476.03 Crore Scheme for Makhana Development
- The Centre has approved a ₹03 crore scheme for the development of Makhana for the period 2025–26 to 2030–31, focusing on research and innovation, quality seed production, farmer training, improved harvesting, value addition, branding, marketing, exports, and quality control.
- The first meeting of the National Makhana Board, chaired by Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, was held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, marking the start of implementation of the Board and the Central Sector Scheme.
- The Board reviewed Annual Action Plans of States and research institutions, allocated budgets for holistic sector development, and stressed consolidating seed requirements to be supplied by SAU Sabour and CAU Samastipur, Bihar, for the current and next year.
Union Cabinet Approves MSP for Copra 2026
- The Union Cabinet has approved the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for copra for the 2026 season, with ₹12,027 per quintal for milling copra and ₹12,500 per quintal for ball copra, marking an increase of ₹445 and ₹400 per quintal respectively compared to the previous season.
- Since 2014, the MSP for milling copra has increased by 129% and for ball copra by 127%, reflecting the government’s effort to provide better income support and financial stability to coconut farmers.
- The revised MSP aims to encourage higher copra production, protect farmers from market volatility, and allow them to benefit from growing domestic and international demand for coconut-based products.
Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 Celebrates India’s Linguistic Diversity with Tribal Language Showcase and Cultural Performances
- Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 was organised in New Delhi to mark the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, celebrating India’s rich linguistic diversity under the theme “Many Languages, One Emotion.”
- The Ministry of Tribal Affairs showcased the cultural significance of tribal languages through a stall featuring publications from Tribal Research Institutes of Jharkhand, Odisha, and Gujarat, along with a live demonstration of the Adi Vaani app for real-time translation between Hindi/English and tribal languages.
- The event featured vibrant cultural performances from schools across India, highlighting the nation’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
Microsoft Unveils MahaCrimeOS AI to Accelerate Cybercrime Investigations in Maharashtra
- Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella unveiled MahaCrimeOS, an AI-powered platform designed to accelerate cybercrime investigations, during the AI Tour in Mumbai, which was developed in collaboration with the Maharashtra Government’s MARVEL.
- The platform aims to augment police efficiency, reducing investigation turnaround time by up to 80%, enabling features such as instant case creation, multilingual data extraction, contextual legal assistance, and integration with India’s criminal laws and open-source intelligence.
- Initially deployed in 23 police stations in Nagpur, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis proposed expanding MahaCrimeOS to 1,100 stations, highlighting its potential to address complex cybercrime challenges across the State.
NITI Aayog’s AIM Partners with HUL to Launch Nationwide Start-up Accelerator for Circular Economy Solutions
- NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has partnered with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) under Project Circular Bharat to launch a start-up acceleration programme that will support 50 high-potential start-ups over three years, focusing on plastic recycling, reuse and refill models, next-generation packaging, and material recovery from textiles and e-waste.
- Selected start-ups will receive mentorship from industry leaders, policy experts, and investors, along with access to grant funding and pilot projects to test and scale their solutions in real market conditions, strengthening innovation in post-consumer waste management.
- The partnership combines AIM–NITI Aayog’s policy and innovation expertise, HUL’s industry network, and Xynteo’s strategic guidance, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of sustainable development and aiming to reduce waste, boost recycling, and build green industries for a resource-efficient India.
MSME Ministry Signs MoU with Amazon to Digitally Empower Vishwakarma Artisans through E-Commerce
- The Ministry of MSME has signed an MoU with Amazon to support Vishwakarma artisans, enabling them to access digital marketplaces and modern e-commerce tools to expand their reach.
- Under Amazon’s Karigar initiative, Vishwakarma community artisans will be onboarded onto Amazon’s platform to showcase and sell their products to national and global markets, improving product visibility and income opportunities.
- The programme will provide training in online selling, product listing, branding, logistics, and digital payments, aligning with the government’s vision of empowering traditional artisans, strengthening the MSME ecosystem, and digitising the artisan economy.
Cabinet Clears SHANTI Bill To Allow Private Players In Nuclear Energy Field
- The Union Cabinet has approved the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, marking a major policy shift by opening India’s nuclear power sector to private participation to help achieve 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 and strengthen energy security.
- The Bill allows private companies to participate in civil nuclear power generation under strict government oversight, while strategic functions such as nuclear material production, heavy water management, and radioactive waste handling will remain under the Department of Atomic Energy.
- It proposes amendments to the civil nuclear liability framework, caps supplier liability, redesigns operator insurance cover at ₹1,500 crore per incident, permits up to 49% FDI, and introduces a unified atomic energy law with a specialised nuclear tribunal to boost investor confidence.
- The reforms align with India’s net-zero target by 2070, positioning nuclear energy as a stable, low-carbon base-load source alongside renewables; the government has also announced a ₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission and plans to operationalise five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033.
Sudha Murty Inaugurates ‘Craftkatha 2025’ to Celebrate India’s Handicraft Heritage
- Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty inaugurated the “Craftkatha – 2025” exhibition in New Delhi, showcasing artisans from across India as part of National Handicrafts and Heritage Week 2025.
- The exhibition aims to celebrate India’s artistic heritage, support sustainable livelihoods, encourage young artisans, and strengthen grassroots craft ecosystems.
- Organised in collaboration with the National Handloom Development Corporation and All India Artisans and Craft Workers Welfare Association, the event brings together master artisans, diverse craft traditions, and handmade products.
Banking & Financial News
India’s Retail Inflation Rises to 0.71% in November; Food Prices Remain in Deflation
- India’s retail inflation rose to 71% in November on a year-on-year basis, up from a record low of 0.25% in October, with rural inflation at 0.1% and urban inflation higher at 1.4%.
- Food inflation remained in deflation for the sixth consecutive month, easing to –3.91% in November compared to –5% in October; rural food deflation stood at 4.05% and urban food deflation moderated to 3.6%.
- According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, movements in headline and food inflation were mainly driven by price changes in vegetables, eggs, meat and fish, spices, and fuel and light.
Previous Months CPI-based Retail inflation
- May 2025 – 2.84%
- June 2025 – 2.10%
- July 2025 – 1.61%
- August 2025 – 2.07%
- September 2025 – 1.44%
- October 2025 – 0.25%
CCEA Clears Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill 2025 to Allow 100% FDI in Insurance Sector
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposing to allow 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector, subject to the condition that the entire premium is invested within India.
- The Bill, to be introduced as “Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha”, will replace the Insurance Act, 1938, LIC Act, 1956, and IRDAI Act, 1999, and will also permit insurers to operate under a composite licence covering life, general, and health insurance.
- The legislation is expected to be tabled in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament (ending December 19) and is among the 13 bills aimed at improving insurance penetration, sectoral growth, and ease of doing business.
- India’s insurance penetration declined to 3.7% of GDP in 2023–24 from 4% a year earlier, with life insurance at 2.8% and non-life insurance steady at 1%, highlighting the need for sectoral reforms.
- The government has stressed strong guardrails to protect policyholders’ interests, ensuring that investments and profits remain in India, while projecting the insurance sector to grow at 7.1% annually over the next five years, faster than global averages.
IndusInd Bank Launches RuPay-Powered Co-Branded ‘Jio-bp Mobility+’ Fuel Credit Card
- IndusInd Bank has launched its first fuel-linked co-branded credit card in partnership with Jio-bp, marking Jio-bp’s first such collaboration; the card is called ‘IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+’ and is powered by RuPay.
- The card offers 12 reward points per ₹100 spent at Jio-bp Mobility Stations and convenience stores, 400 bonus points on the first fuel transaction within 30 days, and 200 bonus points per month on fuel spends of ₹4,000, along with rewards on supermarket, dining, and grocery spends.
- Cardholders can earn up to 60 litres of free fuel annually, enjoy milestone benefits and a joining fee waiver on ₹10,000 spend in the first month, with applications available at select Jio-bp outlets and digital channels.
Appointments
PNB Housing Finance Appoints Ajai Kumar Shukla as MD & CEO
- PNB Housing Finance appointed Ajai Kumar Shukla as Managing Director and CEO for a five-year term starting December 18.
- Shukla brings over three decades of experience in housing and mortgage lending and will succeed Girish Kousgi, who played a key role in expanding the lender’s affordable housing portfolio.
- The leadership change comes amid rising competition from banks in premium home loans, while affordable housing remains an attractive, higher-yield segment with relatively limited competition.
Recent Appointments in Banking & Insurance Sector
- CEO of Bank of America India – Vikram Sahu (replace Kaku Nakhate)
- Managing Director of LIC – Ramakrishnan Chander (till 30 Sep 2027)
- ED of Union Bank of India – Amresh Prasad
- ED of Central Bank of India – Ratan Kumar
- ED of Bank of India – Pramod Kumar Dwibedi
BJP appoints Bihar minister Nitin Nabin as National Working President
- The BJP Parliamentary Board has named Bihar minister and five-time MLA Nitin Nabin as the National Working President of the party with immediate effect, recognising his organisational leadership and political experience.
- At 45 years old, Nitin Nabin becomes the youngest Working President in BJP history and the first leader from Bihar to hold this prestigious post. He currently represents the Bankipur Assembly constituency and holds the Road Construction portfolio in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.
- With nearly two decades of political and organisational experience, Nitin Nabin has served as Bihar President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and as the BJP’s election in-charge for Chhattisgarh, demonstrating strong leadership and strategic capabilities within the party.
Awards
CRPF Officer Dinesh Khatak Awarded Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal for Exemplary Service
- Dinesh Khatak, a senior CRPF officer from Jind, Haryana, has been awarded the Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal for exemplary service, recognising his leadership, operational excellence, and sustained contribution to national security.
- An officer since 2005 after clearing UPSC, Khatak served multiple tenures in Jammu and Kashmir (2008–2013 and 2017–2021), handling critical responsibilities including Amarnath Yatra security, law and order duties, operations during Article 370 abrogation, and the COVID-19 period.
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