Daily Current Affairs and GK | 27 December 2025

Topic: National News

1. India has assumed charge as Vice Chair of the Kimberley Process from 25 December 2025.

• India will assume its chairpersonship from 1st January 2026.
• The Kimberley Process is a tripartite initiative. It involves governments, the international diamond industry and civil society.
• Its aim is to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds. 
• As Vice Chair in 2025 and Chair in 2026, India is expected to work closely with all participants and observers.
• During this period, the focus will be on ensuring rule-based compliance, and enhancing its credibility.
• India and participants and observers will work towards making the Kimberley Process a more inclusive and effective multilateral framework.
• As of now, the Kimberley Process has 60 participants. They account for more than 99% of the global rough diamond trade.
• This makes Kimberley Process the most comprehensive international mechanism that governs the diamond sector.
• India has been entrusted with the chair of the Kimberley Process for the third time.
• The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) became effective on 1 January 2003. It has evolved into an effective mechanism for limiting the trade in conflict diamonds.
• United Nations Security Council resolutions define conflict diamonds as rough diamonds used by rebel groups or their allies to provide money for conflicts that weaken legitimate governments.

Topic: Personality in News

2. 126^th Birth Anniversary of Shaheed Udham Singh: 26 December.

• 126th birth anniversary of Shaheed Udham Singh observed in India on 26 December.
• Shaheed Udham Singh was born on 26 December 1899 in the village of Punjab in the undivided India
• He was a prominent revolutionary freedom fighter of India.
• He is remembered for taking revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by assassinating Michael O’Dwyer.
• At that time, Michael O’Dwyer was the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.
• During British custody, Udham Singh used the name Ram Mohammad Singh Azad.
• This name represented the three major religions in India and his anti-colonial sentiments.
• Udham Singh was an active member of the Ghadar Party and Hindustan Socialist Republic Association (HSRA).

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

3. The fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries started in New Delhi on 26 December.

• The fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries is being held in New Delhi from 26 to 28 December under the theme “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat.”
• The conference is being chaired by PM Narendra Modi on December 27 and 28 with the objective of strengthening Centre–State cooperation.
• A structured dialogue on key national development priorities is being undertaken to promote cooperative federalism.
• The conference is focused on transforming India’s population into productive human capital rather than viewing it only as a demographic dividend.
• Deliberations are centred on improving education systems, skilling initiatives, and future-ready employment opportunities.
• Special emphasis has been placed on five areas—Early Childhood Education, School Education, Skilling, Higher Education, and Sports and Extracurricular Activities.
• Six special sessions are being conducted on themes such as Deregulation in States, Technology in Governance, AgriStack, Tourism development, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and post-Left Wing Extremism planning.
• Informal discussions are also being held on Heritage and Manuscript Preservation, Digitisation, and Ayush for All.
• The National Conference of Chief Secretaries has been organised annually for the past four years, with the first edition held in Dharamshala in June 2022.
• Chief Secretaries, senior officials from States and Union Territories, and domain experts are participating in the conference.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. The National Counter-Terrorism Conference inaugurated in New Delhi.

• On 26 December, the National Counter-Terrorism Conference has been inaugurated in New Delhi by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• The conference was organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
• Nine NIA personnel have been honoured with the Sewa Padak and Veerta Padak for their contributions to counter-terrorism.
• NIA’s Updated Crime Manual, Organised Crime Network Database, and Lost and Recovered Weapon Database have been unveiled by him.
• Terrorism has been described as the biggest enemy of humankind, requiring collective efforts to combat it.
• The conference has been described as the country’s strategic thought platform for counter-terror operations.
• A whole of government approach followed to develop synergies among various stakeholders.
• The two-day conference served as a meeting point for operational forces, technical, legal and forensic experts.
• Senior police officers from States and Union Territories, Central agencies and subject experts attended the conference.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar conferred on Veer Bal Diwas.

• On 26 December, the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar has been conferred by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas.
• A total of 20 children from 18 States and Union Territories have been awarded this year.
• The awards have been given for outstanding achievements in fields such as Bravery, Social Service, Environment, Sports, Art and Culture, and Science and Technology.
• The occasion is observed every year to commemorate the martyrdom of Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Baba Fateh Singh ji, the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, whose unparalleled sacrifice continues to inspire generations.
• The awards have been described as a source of encouragement for the recipients and inspiration for children across the country.
• A young award recipient, nine-year-old Ajay Raj from Agra, has been recognized for saving his father from a crocodile attack.
• Another award winner, Arnav Anupriya Maharshi from Maharashtra, received this honor for his two innovations that help in the recovery of paralysis patients.
• Young cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi has also been conferred the award for achievements in Under-19 cricket.
• Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar:

• It was instituted in 1996 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.
• It was formerly known as the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement.
• The award is given as recognition to children between 5 and 18 years of age who reside in India.
• The Government presents the award to children for their exceptional achievements in six categories of innovation, social service, academics, sports, art and culture and bravery.
• Each awardee receives a medallion, a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a certificate.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

6. An MoU signed between NIFTEM-K and Ministry of Minority Affairs for PM VIKAS Scheme.

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs has selected the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Kundli, as a Project Implementing Agency (PIA) to implement the scheme “PM VIKAS.”
• On 22 December, an MoU has been signed regarding this between NIFTEM Kundli and the Ministry of Minority Affairs at New Delhi.
• The scheme aims at capacity building of minority youth through skill training and livelihood support.
• NIFTEM-K is among the few Institutes of National Importance selected for the programme.
• A total of 2,110 beneficiaries from minority communities will be trained under the project.
• Training will be provided in three categories—Food Processing Technician, Millet Products Processor, and Assistant Baking Technician.
• The project will be implemented across seven locations in four states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.
• NSQF-compliant and NCVET-approved courses will be delivered with certification from approved institutions.
• The programme is expected to be rolled out in January 2026 with placement and self-employment support.

Topic: Banking/Finance

7. Rs 2,000 crore unclaimed savings have been returned to rightful owners.

• The unclaimed amount was stuck across banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, dividends, shares, and retirement benefit accounts.
• The unclaimed amount was returned as part of nationwide awareness and facilitation initiative ‘Your Money, Your Right’.
• The initiative was launched in October 2025 to assist citizens in identifying and reclaiming unclaimed financial assets.
• Finance Ministry’s Department of Financial Services is coordinating the initiative.
• Rightful owners could not get their money because of factors like lack of awareness, outdated records, migration, changes in residence, or missing documentation.
• In India, banks alone hold around Rs 78,000 crore in unclaimed deposits.
• Unclaimed insurance policy proceeds stand at nearly Rs 14,000 crore.
• Unclaimed amounts in mutual funds stand at about Rs 3,000 crore.
• Unclaimed dividends are estimated at roughly Rs 9,000 crore.
• Bank deposits that have not been operated for ten years or more become unclaimed financial assets.

Topic: Indian Economy

8. A new BIS standard for incense sticks has been released by Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi.

• The new standard is aimed at improving consumer safety, indoor air quality and product quality.
• The standard is titled IS 19412:2025 – Incense Sticks (Agarbatti) — Specification.
• It has been developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
• Insecticidal chemicals and synthetic fragrance substances that may pose risks to human health, indoor air quality and the environment are prohibited under the new standard.
• Insecticides such as alethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin and fipronil are among prohibited substances.
• Synthetic fragrance intermediates like benzyl cyanide, ethyl acrylate and diphenylamine are also prohibited.
• Under the standard, agarbattis are classified into machine-made, hand-made and traditional masala categories.
• Products complying with IS 19412:2025 will carry the BIS Standard Mark.
• Fragrance and Flavour Sectional Committee of BIS formulated the standard.
• India is the world’s largest producer and exporter (exports of about ₹1,200 crore to over 150 countries) of agarbattis.
• The agarbatti industry is valued at around ₹8,000 crore annually.

Topic: International News

9. Israel formally recognises Somaliland as independent state.

• Israel became the first country to do so. It recognised the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on 26 December 2025.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would cooperate with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy.
• He congratulated Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
• He said the announcement is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.
• The 2020 accords included Israel formalising diplomatic relations with UAE and Bahrain.
• A joint declaration of mutual recognition was signed between Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland’s president.
• Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, said that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords.
• In 2020, the Abraham Accord was the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years.
• Somaliland:

• It is an unrecognised state in the Horn of Africa. Its capital is Hargeisa.
• It is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden.
• It is bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the east.

Topic: Defence

10. Regional pollution response exercise conducted by Indian Coast Guard in Mumbai.

• The Indian Coast Guard carried out a Regional Level Pollution Response exercise (RPREX-2025) in Mumbai to fight against the oil pollution at sea.
• As part of the exercise, a distress call was received from a Motor Tanker vessel reporting an oil spill, after a collision with a fishing boat.
• To combat the spill, a specialised Indian Coast Guard Pollution Control Vessel along with two additional ICG ships, was deployed.
• Pollution Response Exercises are regularly conducted by the Indian Coast Guard to assess prepared ness of oil spills according to the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan.