Current Affairs - December 16, 2025 Current Affairs

GS Delhi emerged victorious by delivering a dominant performance in the Tennis Premier League final held in Ahmedabad. The team defeated Yash Mumbai Eagles with a convincing scoreline of 51–36 to claim their first-ever TPL title. A key contributor to this success was Belgian player Sofia Costoulas, who remained unbeaten and registered a commanding win in the women’s singles match. The mixed doubles pair of Costoulas and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan further strengthened the team’s position by securing a decisive win, ensuring a comprehensive and memorable championship triumph for GS Delhi.

Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in India to host a wildlife-safe highway developed by the National Highways Authority of India. The project is located on a stretch of NH-45 passing through a dense forest corridor near major wildlife habitats, including a tiger reserve and a wildlife sanctuary. Designed to reduce animal-vehicle collisions, the highway incorporates innovative features such as table-top red road markings, multiple wildlife underpasses, and guiding fences. Implemented under the Green Highways Policy, 2015, the initiative reflects a balance between infrastructure development and environmental conservation, setting a model for eco-sensitive road construction across forested regions of the country.

Sikkim has taken a significant step in promoting border tourism by opening the strategically important Cho La and Dok La passes to tourists. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang as part of the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative. This programme, jointly supported by the Defence Ministry and the Tourism Ministry, aims to enhance public awareness about border regions, strengthen tourism infrastructure, and create livelihood opportunities for people living in remote border villages. By allowing controlled tourist access to these sensitive locations, the initiative also seeks to foster national pride and highlight the strategic importance of India’s border areas.

India strengthened its maritime and defence cooperation by signing a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with Brazil for the maintenance of Scorpene-class submarines. The agreement was concluded during the official visit of Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi in December 2025. It involves the Indian Navy, the Brazilian Navy, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. The MoU focuses on sharing technical knowledge, logistics support, training of personnel, and improving life-cycle management of submarines. Since both nations operate Scorpene-class submarines, the partnership enhances operational efficiency, long-term sustainment, and defence collaboration between two key maritime countries.

Raj Kumar Goyal was administered the oath of office as the Chief Information Commissioner at Rashtrapati Bhavan by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries, including Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan and Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh. A 1990-batch IAS officer from the AGMUT cadre, Goyal has previously served as Secretary in the Justice and Border Management departments. His appointment was recommended by a high-level selection committee headed by the Prime Minister, following a vacancy that arose in September 2025.

B. Sairam has been appointed as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India Limited by the Ministry of Coal, effective from December 15, 2025. A seasoned mining engineer and alumnus of NIT Raipur, he brings over three decades of experience in the coal and mining sector. Prior to this role, he served as CMD of Northern Coalfields Limited, a key subsidiary of Coal India. His expertise spans mine operations, logistics, project planning, and regulatory affairs. The appointment is significant for India’s energy security, as Coal India plays a crucial role in supplying coal to the power and industrial sectors.

Ravi Ranjan has been appointed as the new Managing Director of the State Bank of India by the Government of India. A senior career banker, he was previously serving as Deputy Managing Director at SBI, where he handled important operational and strategic responsibilities. He succeeded Vinay M. Tonse and officially assumed charge following the government notification issued in December 2025. His tenure has been approved until his superannuation on 30 September 2028, ensuring leadership continuity at India’s largest public sector bank. The appointment is significant as SBI focuses on digital banking expansion, credit growth, asset quality management, and maintaining financial stability in a competitive banking environment.

Suresh Goyal has been appointed as the Director General of NCAER, one of India’s most respected economic policy think tanks. With more than three decades of experience across public and private sectors, he brings strong expertise in infrastructure finance, policy implementation, and strategic leadership. Prior to this role, he served as the Managing Director and CEO of the National Highway Infra Trust, supporting India’s National Monetisation Pipeline. As Director General, he is tasked with expanding NCAER’s research capabilities, setting up new policy centres, strengthening engagement with governments, and enhancing evidence-based policymaking to support India’s long-term economic growth objectives.

Italy achieved a historic cultural distinction by becoming the first country to receive UNESCO recognition for its entire national cuisine. The recognition was granted in December 2025 when Italian cuisine was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage during the organisation’s cultural assembly held in Delhi. Unlike earlier recognitions that focused on individual dishes or culinary practices, this acknowledgment covers Italy’s complete food culture, including everyday cooking traditions, regional diversity, and shared social practices. The move highlights food as a living cultural expression that strengthens community bonds, preserves intergenerational knowledge, and reflects national identity on a global stage.

Maharashtra launched ‘Project Mahadeva’ as a major state-level sports development initiative aimed at strengthening grassroots football. The project was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium. It is being implemented in collaboration with multiple organizations, including MITRA, VSTF, WIFA, CIDCO, and the state Sports Department. The launch event drew significant attention with the presence of global and national sports icons such as Lionel Messi, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sunil Chhetri. The initiative focuses on identifying young football talent under the age of 13 and supporting them through scholarships, access to international coaching, and comprehensive development programs.