Daily Current Affairs and GK | 19 December 2025

Topic: International News

1. Far-right leader José Antonio Kast has been elected as next president of Chile.

• Kast's victory was decisive with over 58 percent of the vote.
• Kast won over left-wing coalition candidate Jeannette Jara.
• Kast will assume office in March 2026. His inauguration is scheduled for 11 March, 2026.
• Kast's victory shows Chile’s sharpest political shift to the right since end of military rule in 1990.
• Election campaign centred on crime, security and immigration.
• Kast has expressed admiration for former dictator Augusto Pinochet.
• Pinochet is a highly controversial figure in Chilean history.
• During the campaign, Kast portrayed Chile as facing growing disorder.
• Kast pledged tough action on crime and irregular migration.
• He also committed to reductions in public spending as part of economic agenda.
• Kast is a known admirer of Donald Trump. Kast is expected to pursue policies aligned with Trump-style politics.
• His brother served as a minister under Pinochet and his father was a member of the Nazi party.
• Pinochet came to power through a US-backed coup in 1973.
• He ruled for 17 years and his period marked by human rights violations and forced disappearances.
• Outgoing President Gabriel Boric, from the left, did not seek re-election.
• This election was Chile’s first presidential vote with compulsory participation and registration was automatic for those eligible.
• Chile:

• Chile is a country in South America. It is the southernmost country in the world.
• Its capital is Santiago. Its national language is Spanish. It currency is Chilean peso.

Topic: Sports

2. Cameron Green bought by KKR as the most expensive foreign player in IPL history.

• Cameron Green was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹25.20 crore during the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi.
• With this sale, Green became the most expensive overseas player in the history of the Indian Premier League.
• The previous overseas record was held by Mitchell Starc, who was sold for ₹24.75 crore at the IPL 2024 auction.
• Overall, Green emerged as the third costliest player in IPL auction history.
• Only Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer have fetched higher prices at IPL auctions than Cameron Green.
• Green entered the auction with a base price of ₹2 crore, triggering intense bidding.
• As per IPL rules, Green will receive ₹18 crore, while the remaining ₹7.20 crore will be allocated to player welfare.
• Green last played in IPL 2024 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, scoring 255 runs and taking 10 wickets.

Topic: Personality in News

3. Eminent sculptor Ram Sutar passed away on December 17, 2025, at his residence in Noida.

• He was 100 years old and had been suffering from age-related health issues.
• Ram Sutar was best known for designing the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• He was born on February 19, 1925, in Gondur village of Dhule district in present-day Maharashtra.
• He displayed a natural inclination toward sculpting from a very young age.
• Sutar was a gold medallist from the JJ School of Art and Architecture, Mumbai.
• His notable works include statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji at the Parliament complex.
• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contributions.
• Recently, he was also honoured with the Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar, the state’s highest civilian award.

Topic: Defence

4. The India-UAE joint military exercise Desert Cyclone-II commenced in Abu Dhabi.

• On 18 December, the joint military exercise Desert Cyclone-II was commenced between India and the UAE in Abu Dhabi.
• The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from December 18 to December 30.
• An Indian Army contingent of 45 personnel arrived ahead of the exercise.
• The Indian contingent primarily belongs to a battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
• The UAE Land Forces are being represented by the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion of similar strength.
• The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational synergy between both armies.
• Training is being conducted with a focus on urban operations and built-up areas.
• Joint drills include heliborne operations, mission planning and fighting in urban terrain.
• The integration of unmanned and counter-unmanned aircraft systems is also being practised.
• The conduct of Desert Cyclone-II reflects the deepening strategic partnership and military diplomacy between India and the UAE, and reaffirms both countries' shared commitment to regional peace, security, and stability.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

5. Visa Waiver agreement signed between India and Saudi Arabia.

• A bilateral visa waiver agreement was signed between India and Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.
• The agreement was signed to strengthen cooperation under the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.
• The signing was carried out by Indian Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan and Saudi official Abdulmajeed Alsmari.
• This agreement grants reciprocal exemption from short-stay visa requirements for diplomatic, special, and official passport holders of both countries.
• The objective of the agreement is to facilitate official travel between the two nations.
• The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia stated that the move will boost bilateral exchanges.
• Easier mobility of officials is expected to improve coordination across multiple sectors.
• The agreement is seen as a step toward strengthening long-term strategic ties.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

6. An MoU signed by Tripura to enhance agricultural productivity through soil research.

• On 17 December, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Tripura Agriculture Department and Nagpur-based National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS and LUP).
• The agreement aims to improve agricultural productivity and foodgrain self-sufficiency in the state.
• Tripura Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the collaboration aims to conduct in-depth research on cultivable land in several districts of the state.
• It will lead to sustainable farming practices and a strong agricultural future for Tripura.
• The initiative was discussed during a workshop held at Pragya Bhawan in Agartala.
• Earlier surveys were conducted in South Tripura and Gomati districts.
• The study is now being extended to North Tripura, Dhalai and Unakoti districts.
• Soil scientists will guide crop selection based on soil type and land suitability.
• The initiative is expected to help farmers adopt scientifically suitable crop patterns.
• The state government aims to achieve complete success through data-driven agricultural planning.
• The minister informed that since the BJP government assumed office in 2018, the number of foodgrain-self-sufficient blocks has increased from 22 to 30, with five more expected to achieve self-sufficiency this year.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

7. India and Oman signed key agreements as PM Modi concluded his Oman visit.

• The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, maritime security and cultural exchanges.
• They moved forward on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
• This agreement is aimed at deepning commercial and economic integration between India and Oman.
• The proposed CEPA also aims to cut trade barriers and create a stable business framework.
• It will boost bilateral trade, attract investment and provide employment in India and Oman.
• An agreement on maritime heritage and museums has also been signed by India and Oman.
• This agreement enables the exchange of artefacts and expertise.
• This agreement also includes cooperation with the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal.
• Another MoU has been signed to incrase collaboration in agriculture and allied sectors, covering horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, agricultural technology and micro-irrigation.
• A separate MoU has been signed in the field of higher education, which includes exchanges of faculty, researchers and scholars between India and Oman.
• An executive programme on millet cultivation and agri-food innovation has also been adopted by India and Oman.
• A Joint Vision Document on Maritime Cooperation was also adopted by them, which focuses on regional maritime security, the blue economy and sustainable use of ocean resources.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Order of Oman by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
• The honour recognises his contribution to strengthening India–Oman ties.
• India–Oman ties date back centuries, historical exchanges spanning nearly 5,000 years.
• Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1955 and upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2008.

Topic: Indian Polity

8. Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025 has been given final approval by the Parliament.

• The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on 18 December. It had already been approved by the Lok Sabha.
• SHANTI Bill gives statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and strengthens regulatory oversight in the nuclear sector.
• The Bill consolidates provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act.
• The new bill aligns India’s nuclear regulation with global best practices.
• The government cited technological advances in nuclear energy and highlighted Small Modular Reactors as safer and flexible power solutions.
• It also presented Bharat Small Reactors as efficient clean energy options.
• India’s nuclear safety standards will remain unchanged and the guiding principle of “safety first, production next” will continue.
• The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board will conduct regular inspections of nuclear facilities.
• Licences for nuclear plants will require renewal every five years.
• Regulatory oversight will be aligned with International Atomic Energy Agency norms.
• Radiation levels at plants such as Kudankulam and Tarapur are well below global limits.
• Radiation exposure levels are measured in micro-sieverts.
• Cybersecurity measures in the nuclear sector have been further strengthened and these include encryption and secure coding practices.
• Uranium mining beyond specified thresholds will remain under government control.
• Spent fuel and fissile material will also stay in government custody.
• Heavy water management will continue to be handled exclusively by the state.
• The Bill introduces graded liability caps for nuclear operators to attract smaller investors.
• Victim compensation provisions will not be diluted. Damages beyond operator liability will be covered by government-backed mechanisms.
• The scope of nuclear damage has been expanded and environmental damage is now explicitly included.
• An Atomic Energy Redressal Commission will be set up to ensure faster resolution of disputes.
• Nuclear matters will not be placed beyond judicial review.
• The government said Bill applies only to civilian nuclear energy.
• India has achieved nearly 9 GW of nuclear power capacity. The target is 22 GW by 2032.
• India aims to reach 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.

Topic: State News/Assam

9. Release of ₹250 crore has been approved by the Assam Cabinet for the Bodoland Territorial Council.

• The release of Rs 250 crore has been approved under the State-Owned Priority Development Fund (Rural) for the FY 2025-26.
• This reaffirms government’s focus on developing the Bodoland region.
• The funds will be used for rural infrastructure projects across Bodoland Territorial Council areas.
• The funds will also be used for priority development projects in Bodoland Territorial Council areas.
• The aim is to improve connectivity, livelihoods, and basic civic amenities.
• The focused financial support to Bodoland Territorial Council is necessary for sustaining peace, promoting development.
• This is also necessary for ensuring inclusive growth in the region.
• The region has witnessed significant transformation following the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) accord.
• The funds will strengthen grassroots-level development. It will enhance the delivery of public services in rural Bodoland.
• The declaration of Kumari Beel (270 hectares) and Dhamar Beel (337 hectares) in Goalpara district as Proposed Reserved Forests under the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891 has also been approved by the Cabinet.
• The cabinet also appointed Simu Das as a Physical Instructor under the Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare.
• Simu Das is a member of the Indian women’s blind cricket team that recently won the Women’s T20 Blind World Cup.
• Transfer of 607 bighas of government land at Kareng Chapori in Dhemaji district for the setting up of a new Group Centre of the Central Reserve Police Force has also been approved by the Cabinet.

Topic: Important Days

10. Goa Liberation Day 2025: 19 December

• Goa Liberation Day is observed annually on 19 December to mark the success of 'Operation Vijay'.
• Operation Vijay was carried out by the armed forces to liberate the state by defeating the Portuguese in 1961.
• Goa was part of the Portuguese colonies since 1510.
• Indian military had started ‘Operation Vijay’ on 18 December 1961 to liberate Goa from Portuguese rule.
• After 36 hours of operation, Indian troops reclaimed the Goa territory on 19 December.
• Portuguese governor, Manuel Antonio Vassalo e Silva, signed the certificate of surrender, which ended Portuguese rule in Goa.
• Goa was granted 25th statehood on 30 May 1987.