Daily Current Affairs and GK | 16 December 2025

Topic: Miscellaneous

1. A comemorative postage stamp honouring Emperor Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II Suvaran Maran was released by Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan in New Delhi.

• Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan appreciated continuous support of government for Tamil culture and language.
• He also spoke about varoious initiatives, including Kashi Tamil Sangamam.
• The Vice-President lauded steps taken to honour Tamil kings and leaders.
• He said the stamp release is part of an process of honouring Tamil kings and leaders.
• As per Vice-President, Emperor Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar is among the most famous rulers of ancient Tamil Nadu.
• He belonged to Mutharaiyar lineage, feudatories of the Pallavas.
• This dynasty (Mutharaiyar dynasty) ruled the central regions of Tamil Nadu between 7th and 9th Centuries CE.
• Suvaran Maran was also known as Shatrubhayankar.
• Vijayālaya Chola is believed to have defeated the Mutharaiyars by capturing Thanjavur.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

2. Union Government has declared Kopra Reservoir as first Ramsar site of Chhattisgarh.

• Kopra Reservoir is located in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
• Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the status reflects Chhattisgarh’s rich biodiversity and highlighted the area’s diverse bird habitats.
• The proposal seeking Ramsar status for Kopra Reservoir was submitted by Chhattisgarh government to the Centre last month.
• The reservoir includes both natural and man-made features and is important for regional water resources.
• It also supports irrigation needs and plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation.
• The recognition aligns with Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision 2047, which aims to secure Ramsar status for 20 wetlands by 2030.
• Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention.
• The Ramsar Convention's Secretariat is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.

Topic: National Appointments

3. Raj Kumar Goel sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner.

• The Oath of Office was administered to Raj Kumar Goyal as the Chief Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• The oath-taking ceremony was held in the presence of senior constitutional and government functionaries.
• Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan attended the event along with Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh.
• Raj Kumar Goyal is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1990 batch.
• He belongs to the Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram–Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre.
• Mr. Goyal superannuated on August 31 as Secretary in the Department of Justice under the Ministry of Law and Justice.
• He has earlier served as Secretary (Border Management) in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Central Information Commission:

• As per the RTI Act, 2005, there shall be a Central Information Commission (CIC) at the central level and State Information Commissions (SICs) in the states.
• Each Commission consists of one Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners, with a maximum strength of 11 members (including the Chief).
• The Chief Information Commissioner heads the Central Information Commission.
• The Chief Information Commissioner, or Information Commissioners shall hold office for a period of three years from the date on which he enters upon his office.
• The Chief Information Commissioner is appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of:

• The Prime Minister (Chairperson)
• The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
• A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister

Topic: State News/Maharashtra

4. The state-level sports initiative ‘Project Mahadev’ launched in Maharashtra.

• On 14 December, a state-level sports initiative titled ‘Project Mahadeva’ was launched by the Government of Maharashtra in Mumbai.
• The initiative was inaugurated under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
• The project was inaugurated at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the presence of global football icon Lionel Messi, former Argentine players Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
• The event was also attended by Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar, Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri, Indian football team captain Rahul Bheke, and several other dignitaries.
• Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF), WIFA, CIDCO and the Sports Department are partners in the project.
• The project aims to identify football talent below 13 years of age across the state.
• Special focus has been placed on developing high-quality football players through structured training.
• Scholarships and world-class coaching from foreign trainers will be provided under the initiative.
• A symbolic moment was witnessed when Lionel Messi presented his signed Argentina jersey to Sunil Chhetri.

Topic: Indian Economy

5. Wholesale Price Inflation recorded at (-) 0.32% in November.

• According to government data released on December 15, 2025, wholesale price inflation (WPI) in November was -0.32%, mainly due to a month-on-month increase in the prices of food items such as pulses and vegetables.
• A negative inflation rate was reported after WPI stood at (-) 1.21% in October.
• The inflation figure was lower than the 2.16% recorded in November last year.
• The decline was attributed mainly to falling prices of food articles, mineral oils, crude petroleum & natural gas, manufacture of basic metals and electricity, etc.
• Deflation in food articles eased to 4.16% in November from 8.31% in October.
• Vegetable prices showed a deflation of 20.23% compared to 34.97% in the previous month.
• Pulses registered deflation of 15.21%, while in potato and onion it was 36.14% and 64.70%, respectively.
• Inflation in manufactured products moderated to 1.33% in November, against 1.54% in October.
• Fuel and power recorded a deflation of 2.27% during the month, as against 2.55% in October.

Topic: State News/Uttar Pradesh

6. Pankaj Chaudhary elected as the President of the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit.

• The official announcement was made by Union Minister and BJP election in-charge Piyush Goyal in Lucknow.
• The charge of state president was formally handed over during the party event.
• Outgoing president Bhupendra Chaudhary symbolically transferred responsibility by handing over the BJP flag.
• Pankaj Chaudhary is a seven-time Member of Parliament from Maharajganj.
• He currently serves as Union Minister of State for Finance.
• His elevation is seen as significant for strengthening BJP’s outreach to Other Backward Classes in Uttar Pradesh.
• Along with the state president, elections to the BJP National Council were also completed.
• A total of 120 National Council members were elected from Uttar Pradesh.
• The National Council plays a crucial role in the selection of the BJP’s national president.

Topic: Indian Polity

7. The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, will undergo further scrutiny by  Joint Committee of Parliament.

• The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha. It has now been referred to  Joint Committee of Parliament. 
• The bill aims to empower Universities and other higher educational institutions.
• It also seeks to achieve excellence in teaching, learning, research and innovation.
• It also aims to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy.
• Several MPs demanded broader discussions during the Business Advisory Committee meeting.
• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government considered this demand and has proposed  to send the Bill to the JPC for wider consultation.
• He requested the Speaker to constitute a Joint Committee of Parliament.
• The Bill will pave way for self-reliance in the higher education sector. It will create a talent pool of students.
• It places special focus on reskilling and upskilling for future readiness.
• It will facilitate youth empowerment  by developing critical and innovative thinking

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

8. The Asian Development Bank has approved a loan of $240 million to support the second phase of Chennai Metro Rail’s expansion.

• This loan forms the second tranche of ADB's USD 780 million multitranche financing facility for the project, approved in 2022.
• This loan has come after an earlier tranche of $350 million released as part of the same program.
• This loan will support metro development in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and cover sections of metro lines 3, 4, and 5.
• With this loan, about 20 kilometers of metro corridors will be constructed.
• The tranche also provides for the development of 18 new metro stations.
• The project aims to improve passenger safety and service continuity.
• It is planned that construction under the tranche will complete by mid-2028.

Topic: Sports

9. Team MRF Tyres has been given the 2025 FIA European Rally Championship team title.

• The team was officially awarded the title at the FIA Awards Gala.
• The ceremony marked the end of the 2025 European Rally Championship season.
• Arun Mammen represented Team MRF Tyres at the event and collected trophy.
• He is Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of MRF Ltd.
• Team MRF Tyres remained a consistent performer throughout the season, competing successfully across a variety of rally terrains.
• MRF Tyres secured the European Rally Team Championship for the third time. It earlier won the title in 2022 and in 2023.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. First DV Kapur Foundation Energy Innovation Awards was organised by D V Kapur Foundation at SCOPE Complex in New Delhi on 12th December 2025.

• The winners were felicitated by Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Govt of India.
• Dr Suresh Prabhu, former Union Minister & Chairman, DV Kapur Foundation was also present in the ceremony.
• The awards were given in two categories. Category 1 was for  young innovators under the age of 38.
• Category 2 of awards was for individuals or organizations for tech innovation.
• Dr Achu Chandran won the Category 1 award for his research in the field of ‘Nano Electricity Generator’. He is a Principal Scientist at CSIR-NIIST.
• He received a citation and a trophy and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.
• NTPC’s research arm NETRA won the Category 2 award for green use of coal technologies.
• The team received a citation and a trophy and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh.