Current Affairs - December 5, 2025 Current Affairs

The roadmap reflects a strategic partnership in which IBM plays a central role in guiding India’s long-term quantum ambitions. With its expertise in quantum hardware, software, and research ecosystems, IBM contributes significantly to shaping pathways for indigenous capability building, talent development, and large-scale deployment of quantum technologies. The collaboration strengthens India’s efforts to expand quantum applications across defence, healthcare, logistics, finance, and energy. By combining IBM’s global experience with India’s research strengths and policy support, the initiative is designed to help the country achieve global competitiveness and emerge as a top-3 quantum economy by 2047.

Australia’s Victoria University is set to open its first Indian campus in Gurugram, a major city in the Delhi NCR region known for its expanding educational and technological infrastructure. This development marks a significant milestone under India’s National Education Policy reforms, which now allow top foreign universities to establish campuses in the country. The Gurugram campus, expected to be operational by mid-2026, will offer globally aligned programs in Business, Information Technology, and Research. By bringing its unique Block Model of teaching to India, the university aims to provide high-quality, affordable international education, reduce overseas expenses for students, and strengthen India’s global academic collaborations.

Fitch Ratings has upgraded India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 to 7.4%, reflecting strong consumer demand, rising confidence, and the positive impact of GST reforms. This revision follows India’s impressive 8.2% growth in the second quarter of FY26, which marked the fastest expansion in six quarters. The updated forecast indicates a more robust economic outlook driven primarily by private consumption. Fitch also noted a narrowing gap between nominal and real GDP due to stable inflation levels, making the growth more sustainable. While momentum may moderate later due to base effects, the 7.4% projection underscores India’s strong economic fundamentals.

IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company is a long-standing joint venture created in 2000, where the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO) holds a majority stake of 51%, partnered with Japan’s Tokio Marine Group, which owns the remaining 49%. The organization has focused on making insurance affordable and accessible since its inception. On its 25th anniversary, it expanded this mission by collaborating with cooperatives to distribute micro insurance products to underserved communities. This approach supports IRDAI’s ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ goal by improving insurance penetration in rural and semi-urban regions, leveraging cooperative networks to increase awareness, coverage, and financial protection for low-income groups.

Sunil Narine achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the third cricketer ever to reach 600 competitive T20 wickets, a feat accomplished while playing in the ILT20 for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. He reached this landmark during a match against the Sharjah Warriorz in Abu Dhabi. To commemorate his extraordinary achievement, his team presented him with a special jersey featuring the number “600.” This accomplishment highlights his long-standing impact in global T20 cricket, his mastery as a bowler, and his consistent ability to deliver breakthroughs across leagues around the world.

Atal Innovation Mission partnered with Hitachi MGRM Net to develop the MStar Global AI Connect platform, an initiative aimed at boosting nationwide innovation. The platform is designed to connect schools, mentors, incubators, and industry stakeholders, enabling a seamless pipeline from school-level creativity to startup ecosystems and further into market-ready innovations. By facilitating these linkages, the initiative aims to foster large-scale entrepreneurship, fuel technological advancements, and support the broader goal of transforming India into a developed nation. The focus on collaboration makes AIM a central driver in nurturing the next generation of innovators.

International Volunteer Day 2025 is observed on December 5, a date dedicated to honouring the contributions of volunteers worldwide and their impact on sustainable development. The 2025 celebration carries added significance as it launches the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), a global initiative proclaimed by the UN General Assembly. The day underscores the importance of volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels, emphasizing that every contribution has the potential to create meaningful change. Events across countries, including the global launch at the UN General Assembly Hall, highlight volunteerism’s role in strengthening communities and advancing development goals.

Prateek Madhav, Co-Founder and CEO of the Assistive Technology Foundation (ATF), was honoured with the National Award for Individual Excellence by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu, recognizing his impactful contributions to the assistive technology landscape in India. His efforts have enabled over one million persons with disabilities by strengthening the AT ecosystem, supporting more than 500 assistive technology startups, and accelerating numerous ventures focused on inclusion. This recognition highlights his dedication to advancing disability empowerment on a national scale.

Gaganjeet Bhullar secured his record third IGPL Tour title with an impressive overall score of 11-under, demonstrating exceptional consistency across four rounds. His performance included rounds of 71, 67, and 67, highlighted by a remarkable hole-in-one that boosted his lead. Despite a strong challenge from rising golfer Raghav Chugh, who finished just one stroke behind, Bhullar’s composed and high-quality play in the final stages ensured his historic victory. Achieving this milestone in Ahmedabad reinforces his status as one of India’s most accomplished professional golfers and underscores his dominance in the IGPL.

World Soil Day 2025 is observed on December 5, a day dedicated to raising global awareness about the crucial role of soils in sustaining life and supporting healthy ecosystems. The 2025 theme, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities,” emphasizes the importance of urban soils and encourages governments, planners, communities, and citizens to recognize how soil health influences resilience, sustainability, and overall urban well-being. The observance highlights soil’s role in food production, water regulation, climate mitigation, and environmental stability. It also calls for better soil management practices and urges cities to adopt green, soil-friendly infrastructure to build more sustainable and livable urban environments.

The 3rd RESOLVE–2025 international convention on insolvency resolution and valuation was organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in Mumbai. This event brought together more than 40 speakers across 19 sessions and attracted over 500 participants, making it one of the largest gatherings in India focused on insolvency, resolution, and valuation. The convention emphasized global best practices, future strategies, and the theme of enabling resolution while maximizing value. Hosting the event in Mumbai, a major financial hub, provided an ideal environment for professionals and experts to collaborate, exchange insights, and strengthen the insolvency ecosystem.