Current Affairs - December 13, 2025 Current Affairs

IIT Madras is jointly hosting the Global AI Conclave in Chennai in collaboration with the India AI Mission, highlighting India’s growing role in shaping responsible artificial intelligence governance. The conclave focuses on advancing safe, trusted, and inclusive AI frameworks that are both globally interoperable and locally relevant. It brings together policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and civil society representatives to discuss AI safety, governance models, and collaborative initiatives such as an AI Safety Commons for the Global South. The event also serves as a key precursor to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026.

Meta India has appointed Aman Jain as its new Head of Public Policy, reflecting the company’s focus on strengthening engagement with India’s evolving digital and regulatory environment. With over 20 years of experience across government roles and global technology firms, Jain is well positioned to lead Meta’s policy strategy in the country. In his role, he will oversee government and regulatory engagement, guide discussions on digital safety, data governance, competition, and artificial intelligence, and become part of Meta’s India leadership team, reporting to the Asia Pacific policy leadership.

Maharashtra is emerging as a major destination for global investments, with Brookfield announcing a $1 billion project to build Asia’s largest Global Capability Centre in Mumbai’s Powai. Spread across 6 acres with 2 million square feet of Grade-A workspace, the campus will support a multinational bank on a long-term lease and is expected to generate over 30,000 jobs by 2029. The project aligns with Maharashtra’s dedicated GCC policy, which focuses on attracting large-scale investments, strengthening infrastructure, and creating high-skilled employment opportunities across advanced technology and financial services sectors.

The Union Cabinet has approved a significant reform of India’s flagship rural employment programme by renaming MGNREGS as Poojya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojana. Along with the renaming, the scheme has been strengthened by increasing the guaranteed wage employment from 100 days to 125 days per household each year. This move aims to enhance rural livelihood security and provide greater employment opportunities in rural areas. Despite the changes, the scheme continues to be implemented and overseen by the Ministry of Rural Development, ensuring continuity in administration and objectives.

The Union Cabinet has approved the conduct of the Census of India in the year 2027, marking a significant milestone as it will be the country’s first completely digital census. This will be the 16th national census and the 8th since independence. Scheduled in two phases, the houselisting and housing census will take place from April to September 2026, followed by population enumeration in February 2027. The digital approach is expected to improve data accuracy, speed of collection, accessibility, and policy relevance while covering the entire population of the country.

PNB Housing Finance has appointed Ajai Kumar Shukla as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, marking a key leadership transition for the company. With extensive experience in banking and financial services, Shukla is expected to strengthen the organisation’s growth strategy, enhance operational efficiency, and support long-term expansion in India’s housing finance market. His expertise in retail lending, credit operations, governance, and strategic planning positions him well to lead the company amid rising housing demand and increasing competition, while reinforcing confidence among investors, customers, and regulatory stakeholders.

India is set to host the inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship in March 2026, marking a historic moment for the traditional Indian sport on the global stage. The event will be held from March 9 to March 14 and is expected to see participation from more than 24 nations across five continents, highlighting the sport’s expanding international appeal. The championship will feature 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams, underlining a strong emphasis on gender inclusivity and competitive excellence in Kho Kho.

Kolkata, often referred to as the football capital of India, has unveiled a massive 70-foot iron statue of Lionel Messi, making it the largest statue of the Argentine football icon in the world. The statue has been installed at Lake Town in South Dum Dum and was created by the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club. This initiative highlights the city’s deep-rooted passion for football and its admiration for international football stars. Adding to its global significance, Lionel Messi himself is set to virtually inaugurate the statue, drawing international attention.

Chhattisgarh has marked an important achievement in environmental conservation with the declaration of Kopra Reservoir as its first Ramsar Site. Located in the Bilaspur district, Kopra Reservoir is a freshwater wetland system formed through a mix of natural processes and human-made structures. The reservoir is mainly rain-fed and supplemented by small seasonal streams, which help maintain consistent water availability throughout the year. Its recognition under the Ramsar Convention highlights the ecological significance of the wetland and strengthens efforts toward wetland conservation and sustainable water management in the state.

SBI has taken a strategic step to strengthen India’s digital payment ecosystem by acquiring a 50% stake in the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC). The bank invested ₹10 crore to acquire 1 crore shares in this not-for-profit entity, which has an authorised capital of ₹500 crore. IDPIC is designed to function as a unified fraud-detection platform that enables real-time data sharing and collective intelligence among stakeholders. This initiative aims to prevent digital payment frauds, enhance customer protection, and build greater trust in digital transactions across the country.

Thailand is hosting the 33rd edition of the Southeast Asian Games, which officially began on 9th December. The multi-sport event is being held across Bangkok and Chonburi province, with the opening ceremony taking place at the Rajamangala National Stadium. More than 13,000 athletes from 11 Southeast Asian nations are participating, competing across 50 medal sports that include both Olympic disciplines and traditional regional games. Hosting the SEA Games highlights Thailand’s strong sporting infrastructure and its role in promoting regional unity, cultural exchange, and athletic excellence.

MahaCrimeOS AI is India’s first artificial intelligence–based platform developed specifically to support cybercrime investigations. The platform was unveiled in Maharashtra and has already been implemented in 23 police stations in Nagpur, with plans to expand its coverage to around 1,100 police stations across the state. By leveraging AI capabilities, the system is designed to enhance efficiency, data analysis, and investigative accuracy in handling cybercrime cases. This initiative reflects Maharashtra’s broader vision of adopting advanced AI solutions across sectors and positioning itself as a leading AI hub in India.