Current Affairs - December 11, 2025 Current Affairs

NABARD has provided significant financial support to Odisha’s power sector by extending a long-term loan of ₹1,685.27 crore to OPTCL. This initiative represents NABARD’s first-ever project financing to a State PSU within the state, marking an important milestone in its efforts to strengthen infrastructure development. The loan, offered at a concessional interest rate of 7.75%, is aimed at enabling large-scale transmission upgrades and improving the reliability of Odisha’s electricity network. By facilitating affordable funding, NABARD plays a crucial role in accelerating the state’s long-term power sector modernization and overall economic progress.

Italy, through its Italian National Olympic Committee, entered into an MoU with the Indian Olympic Association to strengthen sports cooperation between the two nations. The partnership focuses on key areas such as athlete training, access to world-class infrastructure, and advancement in sports science. It also promotes sharing of expertise and enables mutual access to elite training facilities and high-performance centres for athletes, coaches, and specialists. This collaboration aims to enhance sporting excellence, support talent development, and build long-term strategic ties that benefit both countries across multiple sporting disciplines.

The Asian Development Bank has revised India’s FY25-26 growth outlook upward to 7.2%, reflecting confidence in the country’s strong economic performance during the July–September period and improved prospects for the full fiscal year. This upgraded estimate highlights India’s role as a major contributor to Asia-Pacific’s growth, which has also been raised to 5.1%. The positive adjustment underscores the momentum driven by robust domestic demand, improved investment climate, and ongoing structural reforms. While the projection for FY26-27 remains stable at 6.5%, the current upward revision indicates sustained economic resilience and a favourable medium-term growth trajectory.

Andrej Babis has been appointed as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic after his ANO party successfully formed a coalition with two eurosceptic groups. His political stance includes a stronger nationalist approach and a campaign focused on reducing aid to Ukraine. The coalition emphasises that the European Union must respect national sovereignty and operate within defined limits. This appointment marks a significant shift in Czech politics, particularly given Babis’s alignment with positions often associated with Donald Trump. His leadership is expected to influence the country’s direction on EU relations and foreign policy in the coming years.

Supriya Sahu, serving as the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, received the prestigious UNEP Champions of the Earth 2025 Award for her groundbreaking climate leadership. Recognized in the Inspiration and Action category, she has led transformative initiatives across sustainable cooling, heat resilience, and ecosystem restoration. Her efforts have generated millions of green jobs, enhanced forest cover, and strengthened climate resilience for millions of people in Tamil Nadu. By integrating community participation with innovative environmental solutions, she has positioned the state as a global frontrunner in adaptation and climate governance. Her contributions illustrate the impact of bold, localized climate action on global sustainability.

Cipla has launched Yurpeak, a tirzepatide-based injectable designed for weekly use to help manage both obesity and type-2 diabetes. This development follows regulatory approval for the underlying molecule and positions Cipla as the distributor and promoter of the second tirzepatide brand available in India. The introduction of this therapy is significant because metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes are rapidly increasing across the country. By offering advanced treatment options, Cipla aims to support improved clinical outcomes, enhance patient access to cutting-edge therapies, and contribute to addressing India’s pressing public health challenges.

UNICEF Foundation Day 2025 is observed on December 11, marking 79 years since the organization’s establishment. The day serves as a global reminder of the ongoing need to safeguard children’s rights, well-being, and dignity. It highlights UNICEF’s long-standing mission of supporting children through emergencies, conflicts, climate-related challenges, and developmental barriers. Celebrating this day reinforces the importance of strong healthcare, nutrition, education, and protection systems that benefit children worldwide. Beyond commemorating history, the observance encourages collective responsibility and inspires action toward building a safer, more equitable future for every child, regardless of background or circumstance.

Amul has extended its sponsorship with the Argentina Football Association for another season, continuing a relationship that began in 2022. This renewal highlights the brand’s growing presence in international sports, particularly as the first Indian regional sponsor in Argentine football history. The association has now reached its fourth year, showcasing strong collaboration between Amul and the reigning world champions. By maintaining this partnership through the 2026 World Cup period, Amul reinforces its global visibility and deepens its connection with football audiences worldwide.

The Sujalam Bharat App has been launched to strengthen and modernize rural water management across India. Developed under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, it enables real-time monitoring, geo-referencing of water infrastructure, and transparent tracking of village water supply systems. The platform helps communities understand their water sources, supply reliability, and infrastructure health while promoting active participation in the management of drinking water schemes. With features like the Sujal Gaon ID and integration with advanced GIS tools, the app supports better planning, maintenance, and long-term sustainability. Its goal is to make rural water services more efficient, accountable, and citizen-centric under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

IIT Bombay, through its Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), has introduced India’s first incubator-linked deep tech venture capital fund with a total corpus of ₹250 crore. The fund aims to support around 25–30 early-stage startups, with each receiving up to ₹15 crore in investment. Its focus spans several high-impact sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced computing, manufacturing technologies, novel materials, space, defence, nuclear technology, climate solutions, and healthcare innovations. This initiative is designed to strengthen India’s deep tech ecosystem by nurturing breakthrough ideas at the pre-seed and seed stages, helping startups accelerate development and scale.

International Mountain Day 2025 is observed on December 11 and carries heightened significance because it aligns with the UN’s declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. The day highlights the critical importance of glaciers for water, agriculture, food security, energy production, and ecological balance. With glaciers melting at record rates due to climate change, the observance emphasizes the need for global action to protect mountain ecosystems and support vulnerable mountain communities. The theme, “Glaciers matter for water, food and livelihoods in mountains and beyond,” reinforces how deeply interconnected glaciers are with human survival and environmental stability.