Daily Current Affairs and GK | 13 December 2025

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

1. Third meeting of India and Malaysia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism and Combating Transnational Crime was held in New Delhi on 10 December 2025.

• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) Dr. Vinod Bahade and Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs Under Secretary Mohd. Azlan bin Razali co-chaired the discussions.
• During the meeting, India and Malaysia condemned terrorism in every form.
• Both sides stressed the need for stronger international cooperation to counter global terror threats.
• Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen collaboration in United Nations, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
• Delegation from Malaysia will visit National Security Guards (NSG) headquarters on 11 December.
• This visit is to explore avenues for bilateral training and capability enhancement.
• India and Malaysia agreed to hold the next Joint Working Group meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
• India and Malaysia relations:
  • India and Malaysia relations go back to 1957. Malaysia hosts second largest  People of Indian Origin (PIO) community in the world after US.
  • Malaysia also hosts third largest Indian diaspora in the world.
  • India and Malaysia relations were levated to Enhanced Strategic Partnership in November 2015. 

Topic: Science and Technology

2. A pilot project to test Toyota’s Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) has been launched by India.

• Under the project, the vehicle will be tested under real-world Indian conditions. 
• Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi launched the initiative.
• He called it a key milestone in advancing clean transport solutions.
• Under the project, Mirai FCEV was handed over to National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) by Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
• NISE will assess performance of vehicle across different Indian terrains, weather conditions, and traffic environments.
• Mirai indicates growing collaboration between government, research institutions and industry in promoting fuell cell technologies.
• Joshi drove the Mirai to Parliament to showcase hydrogen mobility.
• The second-generation hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, Mirai, has an estimated range of about 650 km.
• It can be refuelled in under five minutes. It generates electricity through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. It emits only water vapour.

Topic: National News

3. Special Roll Observers appointed by the Election Commission to oversee the SIR process.

• Special Roll Observers (SROs) have been appointed by the Election Commission to oversee the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls.
• The observers have been deputed to eight states—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
• Their deployment has already been initiated, and they are expected to visit the assigned states for two days every week.
• The presence of observers will continue until the publication of the final Electoral Rolls in February 2026.
• The revision exercise is being supervised to ensure that it is conducted in a smooth and transparent manner.
• Meetings with political parties at both State and district levels will be held by the Special Roll Observers.
• Concerns and feedback related to the SIR process will be heard and addressed during these interactions.
• They will also take part in meetings with Chief Electoral Officers and District Electoral Officers, either in person or through virtual platforms.
• This will help ensure that the entire process is completed smoothly, transparently, and in a participatory manner.
• The core objective is to ensure that no eligible elector is excluded and no ineligible person is included in the Electoral Rolls.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

4. A budget of ₹11,718 crore has been approved by the Union Cabinet for conducting Census 2027.

• On 12 December, the decision was announced by the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi.
• Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases—Phase I and Phase II.
• It has been stated that Census 2027 will be the 16th Census overall and the 8th since Independence.
• India’s Census has been described as the largest administrative and statistical exercise in the world.
• Caste enumeration has been included as part of Census 2027.
• Census 2027 will be conducted digitally for the first time.
• Data collection will be carried out using mobile applications available on both Android and iOS platforms.
• Around 30 lakh field functionaries will be engaged to carry out the Census exercise.
• The process will involve visiting every household for houselisting, housing census and population enumeration across the country.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

5. An MoU signed between the MSME Ministry and Amazon to support PM Vishwakarma Artisans.

• A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Ministry of MSME and Amazon Seller Services Private Ltd.
• The agreement has been aimed at strengthening market access for artisans registered under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
• The MoU was signed by the Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME) and Amazon at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.
• Artisans will be enabled to access online markets, enhance product visibility and expand their customer base.
• Launched on 17th September 2023, the PM Vishwakarma Scheme provides holistic support, including skill training, modern tools, credit access and market linkage.
• Traditional trades such as carpentry, pottery, metalsmithing, tailoring, toy making and basket making are covered under the partnership.
• Onboarding of eligible Vishwakarma artisans onto Amazon’s marketplace will be facilitated by Amazon.
• Necessary approvals and registrations will be supported by the Ministry of MSME as per existing norms.
• Handmade products will receive greater visibility through Amazon’s Karigar initiative.
• The collaboration supports the goals of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat by empowering grassroots artisans through digital commerce.

Topic: Indian Economy

6. The higher MSP for copra approved by the cabinet for 2026 season.

• On 12 December, an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for copra for the 2026 season has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
• The MSP for Fair Average Quality milling copra has been fixed at ₹12,027 per quintal.
• The MSP for ball copra has been fixed at ₹12,500 per quintal.
• The revised MSPs align with the policy of fixing MSP at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.
• An increase of ₹445 per quintal for milling copra and ₹400 per quintal for ball copra has been recorded over the previous season.
• Since 2014, the MSPs for both categories have more than doubled, from ₹5,250 and ₹5,500 per quintal to ₹12,027 and ₹12,500.
• This represents an increase of 129% and 127%, respectively.
• Better remunerative returns for coconut farmers are expected from the revised MSP.
• Expansion of copra cultivation is likely to be encouraged to meet domestic and international demand.
• The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) will continue as the central nodal agencies for procurement under the Price Support Scheme.

Topic: National News

7. The CoalSETU policy has been approved by the Cabinet to ensure fair access and optimal utilisation of the resource.

• The CoalSETU policy creates a new window for the auction of coal linkages for various industrial uses and exports.
• The Policy for Auction of Coal Linkage for Seamless, Efficient & Transparent Utilisation (CoalSETU) was approved  by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 12 December 2025.
• The policy adds a  separate window named ‘CoalSETU’ in the NRS (Non-Regulated Sector) Linkage Auction Policy of 2016.
• Any domestic buyer requiring coal can take part in the linkage auction regardless of the end use.
• The purpose of coal linkage obtained as part of this window will be own consumption, export of coal or any other purpose, which includes coal washing.
• Coal obtained under CoalSETU cannot be resold within the country.
• Coal linkage holders can export up to 50 percent of their allotted coal.

Topic: Personality in News

8. Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

• He said Savarkar laid the foundations of cultural nationalism.
• Amit Shah spoke at an event in Sri Vijayapuram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It marked 115 years of Savarkar’s poetry collection "Sagara Prana Talamalla".
• Shah referred to the unveiling of Savarkar’s statue. He linked it to Savarkar’s suffering in the Cellular Jail.
• The statue was unveiled by Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at Beodnabad in South Andaman district.
• The statue is installed at Veer Savarkar Inspiration Park. The park recalls his imprisonment at Kala Pani in 1911.
• Amit Shah also paid tribute to other freedom fighters, including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
• He recalled the role of the Indian National Army in liberating parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar:

• He was born in the Nashik district of Maharashtra on 28 May 1883.
• Savarkar was a freedom fighter, politician, lawyer, and writer and was known for coining the term 'Hindutva.'
• He was sentenced to 50 years in jail in 1911 for revolting against the Morley-Minto reforms.
• He was part of the Hindu Mahasabha. He wrote the famous book ‘The Indian War of Independence 1857.’

Topic: State News/Manipur

9. President Murmu visited Manipur’s Senapati district on 12 December.

• She inaugurated six developmental projects implemented in Senapati district. 
• President also laid foundation stone of five other developmemt projects for Senapati district of Manipur.
• The inaugurated projects include following:
• A model residential school development at the cost of rupees twenty-five crores
• Two Primary Health Centres upgraded at rupees ten crores
• Two Bailey Bridges constructed at the cost of rupees eleven crores
• President also met internally displaced persons living in relief camps.
• The President also met leaders of the Maram tribe.
• The Maram tribe is the only tribe in Manipur classified under the category of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
• The President inaugurated projects and laid foundation stones at a function in Senapati.
• The function was held at the Multipurpose Hall of the district.
• A short documentary on Maram tribe- PM JANMAN initiative of the district was screened during the function.
• PM JANMAN includes multiple initiatives to uplift tribal communities.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

10. A MoU has been signed between the Department of Posts and BSE on 12 December 2025 in New Delhi.  

• The MoU has been signed to expand access to mutual fund investments across India.
• The initiative aligns with the Budget 2025–26 announcement.
• The announcement emphasised on using India Post’s network to drive economic activity in rural and semi-urban areas.
• As part of the partnership, India Post will act as a distributor of mutual fund products.
• The aim of the partnership is to bring investment opportunities closer to citizens in rural, semi-urban, and underserved regions.
• As part of agreement, postal employees will get training and certification as mutual fund distributors 
• With this, they will be able to provide investor services and facilitate mutual fund transactions through the BSE StAR MF platform.
• The validity of MoU is for three years from 12 December 2025 to 11 December 2028. Also, it includes a provision for renewl.
• BSE will support the onboarding of trained postal staff through the generation of Employee Unique Identification Numbers.
• They will also be assisted by BSE in obtaining mandatory NISM (National Institute of Securities Markets) Mutual Fund Distributor certification.
• The collaboration will increase mutual fund penetration in Tier-2, Tier-3, and rural regions.