Current Affairs - December 23, 2025 Current Affairs

Oman has introduced its first polymer banknote, marking a significant step in modernising its currency system. The one-rial denomination is scheduled to enter circulation on January 11, 2026. Designed to combine tradition with modern development, the note measures 145 mm by 76 mm. Its front side showcases the Oman Botanic Garden, symbolising environmental heritage, while the reverse features the Sayyid Tariq bin Taimur Cultural Complex along with the Duqm Port and Refinery, highlighting cultural identity and economic progress. The launch reflects Oman’s move towards durable, secure, and technologically advanced currency notes.

India concluded a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand to strengthen economic cooperation, improve market access, and encourage long-term investment. The agreement is projected to attract around $20 billion in investment over 15 years and aims to double bilateral trade within five years. While New Zealand receives tariff concessions on a large share of its exports, India protected sensitive domestic sectors such as dairy, sugar, onions, spices, and edible oils. This pact reflects India’s strategic approach to trade expansion while safeguarding key national interests.

The commemorative postage stamp on Ashwagandha was released to highlight the global importance of traditional medicine and India’s rich heritage in Ayurveda. Issued during the closing ceremony of the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, the stamp carries a denomination of ₹5. The summit was jointly organised by the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Ayush at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The unveiling, attended by the WHO Director-General, symbolised India’s leadership in promoting traditional medicine systems and integrating them into global healthcare discussions.

India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Netherlands to enhance cooperation in maritime heritage for the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat. The collaboration focuses on museum design, conservation of maritime artefacts, research initiatives, cultural exchange, and tourism development. As part of the agreement, the NMHC will work closely with the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam, benefiting from the Netherlands’ extensive maritime expertise. This partnership supports India’s efforts to showcase its 4,500-year-old maritime legacy globally while strengthening bilateral cultural and strategic relations.

Madhya Pradesh has announced the introduction of a rolling budget system, making it the first state in India to adopt this approach. Under this initiative, the state will prepare budget estimates for 2026–27 along with indicative budgets for 2027–28 and 2028–29. The move, announced by the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, aims to make the budgeting process more transparent, public-friendly, practical, and focused on measurable outcomes. A rolling budget allows better medium-term planning, improves fiscal discipline, and enables the government to align spending priorities with long-term development goals.

The Indian Navy commissioned Anjadip as part of its efforts to strengthen coastal defence and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. It is the third vessel in a series of eight ASW Shallow Water Craft and was commissioned at Chennai. Built indigenously by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in collaboration with L&T Shipyard, the 77-metre-long warship is the Navy’s largest waterjet-powered vessel. Equipped with advanced systems such as lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, and shallow-water sonar, Anjadip enhances India’s ability to conduct anti-submarine operations, coastal surveillance, and mine-laying missions in littoral waters.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by DRDO to strengthen collaboration in defence and internal security through research, education, training, and technological support. The agreement focuses on joint research and development projects, PhD and fellowship programmes, capacity building initiatives, and technology lifecycle support for security forces. Signed in New Delhi in the presence of the Defence Minister, the MoU highlights DRDO’s role in integrating advanced defence technologies with academic and training institutions. This partnership aims to enhance innovation, skill development, and indigenous technological capabilities for India’s defence and homeland security ecosystem.

India’s eight core industries registered an overall growth of 1.8% in November 2025, reflecting modest but steady industrial expansion. The growth was mainly driven by strong performance in construction-linked sectors such as cement and steel, along with positive contributions from fertiliser and coal production. However, declines in crude oil and natural gas output moderated the overall growth rate. Since these core industries account for over 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), their performance plays a crucial role in shaping broader industrial trends and indicates continued resilience in infrastructure-related economic activity despite challenges in the energy sector.

Kisan Diwas, or National Farmers’ Day, is observed annually on December 23 to recognise the invaluable contribution of farmers to India’s economy and society. The date marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, India’s fifth Prime Minister, who strongly advocated farmers’ rights, land reforms, and rural development. Declared officially in 2001, the day highlights the importance of agriculture in ensuring food security, rural prosperity, and sustainable development. Various events such as seminars, exhibitions, and awareness programmes are organised nationwide to address challenges faced by farmers and promote modern, climate-resilient farming practices.

The discovery of the unusual lemon-shaped exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b was made using the James Webb Space Telescope, highlighting its advanced observational capabilities. The telescope enabled scientists to study an extreme planetary system located very close to a pulsar, where intense gravitational forces have stretched the planet into an elongated shape. James Webb’s infrared sensitivity and ability to observe environments with minimal stellar interference allowed researchers to obtain a clear atmospheric spectrum of the planet. This breakthrough demonstrates the telescope’s transformative role in deepening understanding of exotic planetary structures, extreme cosmic conditions, and the diversity of planetary systems in the universe.