Daily Current Affairs and GK | 5 December 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. International Cheetah Day: 04 December

• International Cheetah Day is celebrated each year on 04 December since 2010.
• To mark this day, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav will release 3 cheetahs currently in enclosures at Kuno National Park into the wild.
• The number of cheetahs in India is 32. Out of these,21 are India-born cubs.
• Dr Lauri Marker is famous as the creator of International Cheetah Day.
• Dr Marker is the founder and executive director of Cheetah Conservation Fund.
• Cheetah Conservation Fund is the NGO that is helping the Indian government with Project Cheetah.
• Dr Marker chose 4 December in memory of Khayam, a Cheetah she raised as a cub at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon during 1970s.
• Project Cheetah was launched in September 2022. The initiative aims to reintroduce the cheetah in India.
• Total 20 cheetahs were brought into Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
• Eight were brought from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 were brought from South Africa in February 2023.

Topic: Important Days

2. World Soil Day 2025: 5 December

• Every year on 5 December, World Soil Day is observed.
• The main aim of this day is to spread awareness about the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems.
• “Healthy soils for healthy cities” is the theme of World Soil Day 2025.
• The theme focuses on the role of soil in cities and the challenges posed by soil sealing and urbanization.
• With two-thirds of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2050, soil is the foundation for sustainable and robust cities.
• The first official World Soil Day was celebrated in 2014.
• In 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 5 December as World Soil Day.
• It is observed to bring attention to the importance of healthy soil and to advocate the sustainable management of soil resources.
• Soil supports life on earth by providing essential nutrients to plants. It reduces climate change by increasing soil organic carbon.
• More than 95% of food is produced from soil and water. Soil is home to approximately 59% of Earth's species.
• Soil water, vital for the absorption of nutrients by plants, binds our ecosystems together.
• Soil provides 15 of the 18 naturally occurring chemical elements essential for plants.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

3. An MoU signed for CSR-Funded Eklavya School Infrastructure Development.

• On 4 December, the government signed an MoU for executing the CSR-funded infrastructure development of an Eklavya Model Residential School in the National Capital.
• The agreement was signed by the National Scheduled Tribe Finance and Development Corporation, Northern Coalfields Limited, and Oil India Limited.
• It was stated by Tribal Affairs Secretary Ranjana Chopra that computers and essential facilities will be provided to strengthen the school’s educational infrastructure.
• She added that Northern Coalfields Limited will support 30 schools in Madhya Pradesh under its CSR initiatives.
• These MoUs were signed with a focus on improving education quality for tribal students.
• The collaboration aims at creating improved learning opportunities through upgraded facilities.
• The initiative supports the broader effort to uplift tribal communities through quality education.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

4. Statement of Intent signed to accelerate nationwide innovation through MStar™ Platform.

• On December 1, 2025, a Statement of Intent was signed between Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and Hitachi MGRM Net Ltd.
• The partnership aims to develop a single national innovation platform called “MStar™ Global AI Connect”.
• The platform will rely on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across India.
• The SoI was signed by Dr. Deepak Bagla of AIM and Dr. Bharat Kaushal of Hitachi India.
• This collaboration supports the Prime Minister’s vision of building a “Viksit Bharat”.
• The initiative will create a national digital backbone connecting schools to mentors, incubators, and industry partners.
• It aims to strengthen the school-to-startup pipeline and enable faster lab-to-market translation.
• Dr. Bagla noted that AIM believes every child is a potential innovator and this platform will help identify and nurture that potential.
• The partnership is expected to shift India from isolated innovation stories to a scalable, inclusive innovation ecosystem.
• The long-term focus includes building job creators, strengthening R&D pathways, and making Indian innovations globally exportable.

Topic: Reports and Indices

5. Global Rankings released for the Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26.

• The list of the top 10 best and worst performers in the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index 2025/26 was released in a recent report.
• The WPS Index is compiled by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
• The report states that around 676 million women experienced conflict in the past year—a 74% rise since 2010.
• India was ranked 131st with a score of 0.607, showing gradual but uneven progress.
• The index evaluates 181 countries across three dimensions: inclusion, justice, and security.
• Denmark retained the No. 1 position, followed by Iceland and Norway.
• Afghanistan continues to stay at the bottom, scoring more than three times lower than Denmark.
• The United States improved its rank from 37th to 31st due to better maternal mortality rates.
• Top 10 Best and Worst Countries for Women 2025 (WPS Index):

Topic: Personality in News

6. Former Mizoram Governor Swaraj Kaushal passed away at the age of 73.

• On December 4, Swaraj Kaushal, former Governor of Mizoram and husband of late Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, passed away.
• Swaraj Kaushal was born on 12 July 1952 in Solan.
• In 1990, he was appointed Governor of Mizoram, becoming the youngest governor ever.
• He was only 37 years old at the time, and he held the position until 1993.
• He was known for his distinguished public service career and contribution to legal and constitutional matters.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over his demise.

Topic: State News/Maharashtra

7. Maharashtra earned a Guinness World Record for installing 45,911 solar irrigation pumps in a single month.

• Solar irrigation pumps were installed under the Magel Tyala Saur Krushipump scheme.
• Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution company limited  carried out the installation campaign and received global acknowledgment for the achievement.
• The Solar Pump for All scheme covers most of the pump cost, with farmers paying only 10 percent.
• Under the scheme, farmers get 30% subsidy from the central government and 60% subsidy from the state government.
• SC and ST farmers receive a 95 percent subsidy and contribute just 5 percent.
• Beed district recorded the highest installations with about 7,000 pumps.
• Jalna followed with roughly 6,000 pumps. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar added approximately 3,000 pumps.
• The state plans to roll out 1.05 million solar pumps to support farmers waiting for regular electricity connections.
• Each installation involves a joint inspection by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution company limited  and the beneficiary farmer.
• Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution company limited  is also responsible for maintenance and repairs after installation.

Topic: Important Days

8. Fourth Sankirtana Day was celebrated by Manipur at the Chandrakirti Auditorium in Imphal.

• In 2013, Manipuri Sankirtana was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
• Manipuri Sankirtana is ritualistic performance art. It combines devotional singing with rhythmic drumming.
• It also includes dancing. The performances express devotion to Lord Krishna.
• Manipuri Sankirtana is a central part of Vaishnavite cultural life in Manipur.
• It is performed at the time of major religious ceremonies.
• It is also performed at life cycle events from birth to death ceremonies.
• UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity includes cultural  "practices and expressions [that] help demonstrate the diversity of this heritage and raise awareness about its importance."

Topic: Sports

9. Arjun Erigaisi secured Jerusalem Masters 2025 title by winning over Viswanathan Anand in the final.

• Arjun reached the final by defeating Russian grandmaster Peter Svidler in the semifinal.
• Viswanathan Anand reached the title match by winning over Ian Nepomniachtchi.
• Erigaisi got a prize money award of 55,000 US dollars for victory.
• In the third-place playoff, Svidler claimed third place by defeating Nepomniachtchi.
• The result in the third-place match came in the second blitz game.
• Svidler had topped the preliminary stage with eight points from eleven games.
• Nepomniachtchi, Anand, and Erigaisi shared second position in the preliminaries with 7.5 points each.
• Blitz chess is a time-limited chess. In this type of ordinary chess, both sides has 10 minutes or fewer for playing complete game.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. As of 1 December 2025, a total of 30 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled under the PM Vishwakarma scheme.

• Out of these beneficiaries, 23.09 lakh beneficiaries have been trained.
• As part of PM Vishwakarma scheme, a MoUs have been signed with India Post Payment Bank, PayTM, PayNearby, BharatPe, and PhonePe.
• The MoUs have been signed for creating QR codes to enable beneficiaries for receiving Digital Payment Incentives.
• Over 6.8 lakh artisans have received digital payment incentives. These incentives amount to ₹22 crore.
• PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries are also receiving online marketing support through ONDC, FabIndia, Meesho etc.
• This support is to promote sale of their products in the domestic and international markets.
• More than 30,000 Vishwakarma beneficiaries have been onboarded on the Government e-Marketplace.
• The CHAMPIONS portal is a centralized system for MSME grievance resolution.
• It is provided by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• It provides quick and effective responses to MSME concerns and also guides MSMEs in understanding and using government schemes.
• The platform spreads information in English and 22 regional languages.
• As of 26 November 2025, the portal had received 1,59,577 grievances.
• Out of these, 1,58,372 grievances had been addressed, reaching a disposal rate of 99.24 percent.
• The PM Vishwakarma scheme was launched on 17 September 2023.
• It provides end-to-end assistance to artisans working in 18 traditional trades.