Daily Current Affairs and GK | 30 December 2025

Topic: International News

1. 100% Australian tariff lines will be zero-duty for Indian exports from 1st January 2026.

• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal made this announcement and said that this will bring new opportunities for labour-intensive sectors.
• Indian exports will face zero import duty on all Australian tariff lines from January 1.
• He talked about benefits of India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement on its third anniversary.
• He said the agreement has led to sustained export growth, deeper market access, and stronger supply-chain resilience during the past three years.
• He said that India's exports to Australia increased by eight per cent in 2024-25.
• He highlighted that the agreement is benefiting Indian exporters, MSMEs, farmers, and workers. 
• He said gains were seen across manufacturing, chemicals, textiles, plastics, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products, and the gems and jewellery sector.
• He also said that Gems and Jewellery exports increased 16 between April and November 2025.
• India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement was signed on April 2, 2022.
• A tariff line refers to a specific product classification in customs schedule of a country.
• It is identified by a unique code used to apply duties and taxes for international trade.
• India-Australia diplomatic relations:
  • India and Australia established diplomatic relations with setting up of India Trade Office in Sydney in 1941.
  • Bilateral relationship between India and Australia was upgraded from ‘Strategic Partnership’ in 2009 to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2020.
  • 1st India-Australia Annual Summit was held in New Delhi on 10 March 2023.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. Centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script of the Santhali Language attended by President Murmu at  Dishom Jaherthan in the Karandih area of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

• President Murmu also performed traditional worship at Jaherthan during the programme.
• The President also garlanded the statue of Pandit Raghunath Murmu, considered the father of Ol Chiki script.
• The President spoke at the 22nd Parsi Maha Santhali Sammelan in her mother language Santhali.
• The President said she would welcome the development of translation tools and AI applications in Ol Chiki script.
• During the event, President sang the Jaher Aayo Nehor song in the Santhali language on this occasion.
• Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangawar appreciated efforts to promote the Santhali language.
• Chief Minister Hemant Soren also praised the work of the All India Santhali Writers Association.
• Ol Chiki is the official script for the Santhali language. It was developed by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925.
• Santhali language is an Austroasiatic language recognized as an official language in India.

Topic: Defence

3. The Indian Navy's sailing vessel, INS Kondinya, flagged off from Porbandar for its maiden foreign voyage on 29 December.

• The maiden overseas voyage of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Kaundinya has been commenced from Porbandar, Gujarat, to Muscat, Oman.
• The indigenously built traditional stitched sailing vessel was flagged off by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, in the presence of the Ambassador of Oman to India and senior naval officials.
• The expedition has been described by the Ministry of Defence as a historic milestone in reviving India’s ancient maritime heritage.
• The vessel has been constructed using traditional stitched shipbuilding techniques with natural materials dating back several centuries.
• INS Kaundinya has been inspired by historical sources and iconographic evidence reflecting India’s indigenous shipbuilding and navigation legacy.
• The voyage retraces ancient maritime routes that once connected India’s western coast with Oman for trade and cultural exchanges.
• The expedition is expected to further strengthen India–Oman relations through shared maritime heritage and people-to-people ties.
• The arrival of INS Kaundinya in Muscat will symbolise enduring friendship and historical links between Gujarat and Oman.
• The expedition is being led by Commander Vikas Sheoran with Commander Y. Hemant Kumar as Officer-in-Charge, supported by four officers and thirteen sailors.

Topic: Defence

4. The Defence Acquisition Council approved defence proposals worth ₹79,000 crore.

• Defence proposals worth ₹79,000 crore have been cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) to enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces.
• On 29 December, the Acceptance of Necessity for these proposals was accorded during a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.
• For the Indian Army, procurement of loiter munition systems for artillery regiments has been approved.
• Low-level lightweight radars have been cleared to detect and track small, low-flying unmanned aerial systems.
• Long-range guided rocket ammunition for the Pinaka multi-launch rocket system has also been approved
• The Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System Mk-II has been cleared to strengthen counter-drone capabilities.
• For the Indian Air Force, procurement of the Automatic Take-off Landing Recording System has received approval.
• The system will provide high-definition, all-weather automatic recording of take-off and landing operations.
• For the Indian Navy, procurement of Bollard Pull Tugs has been approved to assist ships and submarines in confined waters.
• The cleared proposals are aimed at strengthening operational readiness across all three Services.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

5. A project to protect breeding habitats of sandbar-nesting birds in the Ganga basin approved by the Government.

• On 29 December, the approval was granted during the 68th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga in New Delhi.
• The project focuses on conservation of endangered bird species, including the Indian Skimmer.
• It has been described as a first-of-its-kind initiative dedicated specifically to avifauna conservation.
• The project will complement ongoing conservation efforts for dolphins, fish and turtles under the Namami Gange Mission.
• Long-term monitoring, community participation and evidence-based conservation form the core approach of the project.
• Nest monitoring will continue in the Chambal and Lower Ganga regions.
• New monitoring activities will be initiated in Bijnor, Narora and Prayagraj.
• Trained local communities will be involved in protecting sandbars and reducing human disturbance.
• The meeting also focused on ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation and nature-based solutions for river rejuvenation.

Topic: Personality in News

6. Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at the age of 80.

• On 30 December, the former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has passed away after a prolonged illness.
• She had been admitted to hospital on November 23 following serious heart and lung complications.
• Khaleda Zia served as Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister and completed two terms in office.
• She served as the prime minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.
• She was also the second female prime minister in the Muslim world after Benazir Bhutto.
• Khaleda Zia was the widow of former Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman.
• PM Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the passing of his former Bangladeshi counterpart, Khaleda Zia.
• PM Modi said that her contributions to the development of the neighboring country, as well as to India-Bangladesh relations, will always be remembered.

Topic: Reports and Indices

7. Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2024-25 has been released by RBI.

• In the report, continued resilience of the banking sector has been highlighted.
• The report also highlights that continued resilience of the banking sector is supported by strong balance sheet growth, improved asset quality and profitability.
• As per RBI, the banking sector in FY25 was supported by double-digit expansion in balance sheets.
• However, the pace of growth moderated in comparison with the previous financial year.
• The growth of both deposits and credit of scheduled commercial banks was double digits in FY25.
• The growth was at a slower rate than in FY24.
• Gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio declined to a multi-decadal low of 2.2% in end of March 2025.
• It further declined to 2.1% by end of September 2025.
• This reflects sustained stress resolution and better credit underwriting.
• Profitability of banks was robust in FY25.
• Return on Assets (RoA) stood at 1.4 per cent and Return on Equity (RoE) stood at 13.5 per cent in FY25, as per the RBI report.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

8. Delhi government and IIT Kanpur have entered into partnership to introduce an Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS).

• This is a major step towards transparent and efficient governance.
• The AI-powered platform will connect Delhi’s key grievance redressal portals into a single unified dashboard.
• Presently, the complaints can be lodged by Delhi citizens through multiple platforms, including the Public Grievance Management System.
• The presence of multiple platforms causes delays, duplication, and a lack of comprehensive oversight.
• The new IGMS will integrate these platforms. It is developed by IIT Kanpur.
• It will use secure APIs and advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning tools.
• Complaints from platforms such as PGMS, LG Listening Post, CPGRAMS, and others will be consolidated.
• The IGMS is expected to speed up grievance resolution timelines.

Topic: Defence

9. DRDO carried out the maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120) at Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha.

• At the time of the test, the rocket was fired to its maximum range of 120 km.
• The rocket successfully executed all planned in-flight manoeuvres.
• Armament Research and Development Establishment has designed the rocket in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory.
• It has been designed with support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and the Research Centre Imarat.
• Integrated Test Range and the Proof and Experimental Establishment coordinated the flight trial of the rocket.
• It was launched from an in-service Pinaka launcher.
• The Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is a long-range artillery weapon system.
• It is developed by DRDO for the Indian Army. It is known for its rapid response and precision.
• It is regarded as one of the most successful indigenous weapon systems.
• The Pinaka system has been procured by Armenia. Several European countries, including France, have shown interest in it.

Topic: Indian Economy

10. India’s industrial production grew to a 25-month high level of 6.7% in November 2025 on an annual basis.

• The IIP was higher from an upwardly revised rate of 0.5 per cent in October.
• IIP growth had earlier reached a high level of 11.9% in November 2023.
• India’s industrial production growth is measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• Based on the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, this growth in the industrial output was mainly caused by an 8% growth in the manufacturing sector.
• Mining activity grew at 5.4%. This growth was aided by stronger output of metallic minerals, including iron ore.
• Electricity growth contracted with the decline becoming narrow to 1.5% from 6.9% in October.