This is the current affairs of 21 to 24 December 2025. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which rocket did ISRO use to launch the 6,100 kg American satellite ‘Bluebird Block-2’ in December 2025?
a. PSLV-M6
b. GSL-Mk-I
c. SSLV-H5
d. LVM3-M6
Answer: d. LVM3-M6
– ISRO successfully launched the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite into space using the LVM3-M6 rocket on 24 December 2025.
– This was the heaviest satellite launch carried out by ISRO up to December 2025 (approximately 6,100 kg).
– Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
– Approximately 520 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
BlueBird Block-2 satellite — what is special?
– Manufacturer: US-based company AST SpaceMobile
– It is the largest commercial communication satellite in LEO orbit.
– Its main function is to provide direct-to-mobile connectivity.
– ISRO stated that this satellite constellation will provide 4G and 5G voice and video calls, text messaging, streaming, and data services “for everyone, everywhere, all the time.”
– The requirement for separate ground stations, as in traditional satellites, will also be reduced.
Why is the mission important?
– Heaviest payload: The heaviest satellite ever launched by ISRO using the LVM3 rocket (6,100 kg).
– Third commercial flight: This was the third fully commercial mission of LVM3.
Technical details of the LVM3 rocket
– LVM3 is a three-stage rocket with solid, liquid, and cryogenic engines.
– It was originally designed to launch heavy satellites into Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO), but is now also being used to send heavy payloads into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
– Based on the experience of this mission, work is underway to further improve rocket engines and propulsion (thrust) capability, so that payloads of up to 10,000 kg can be launched into LEO in the future.
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2. Which reservoir was declared Chhattisgarh’s first Ramsar site?
a. Kopra Reservoir
b. Siliserh Reservoir
c. Rajsamand Reservoir
d. None of these
Answer: a. Kopra Reservoir (located in Bilaspur)
– In December 2025, the Kopra Reservoir located in Bilaspur district was declared a Ramsar site.
– Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated that it is the state’s first such wetland site.
Kopra Reservoir
– Located in Bilaspur district, this site is a reservoir situated in the upper catchment area of the Mahanadi River.
– It was constructed in 1993 to address regional water scarcity.
– Local communities also depend on it for freshwater.
– Kopra Reservoir provides shelter to more than 60 species of migratory birds.
What is a wetland?
– A wetland is an area of land where water accumulates, especially during the rainy season, and which supports a large variety of bird species.
– In recent years, many sites have been included as Ramsar sites for their conservation, with support from UNESCO.
Why are they called Ramsar sites?
– Ramsar is a city in Iran.
– On 2 February 1971, countries of the world signed the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands there.
– Therefore, it is called the Ramsar Convention; some people also call it the Wetland Convention.
– It came into force in 1975.
– Its formal name is: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat.
– It is an intergovernmental treaty that provides guidance on the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
– India signed this convention in 1982.
– In India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the nodal ministry for matters related to wetland conservation.
India’s 96 Ramsar sites (as of 22 December 2025)
1) Ashtamudi Wetland, Kerala
2) Beas Conservation Reserve, Punjab
3) Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Odisha
4) Bhoj Wetlands, Madhya Pradesh
5) Chandertal Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
6) Chilika Lake, Odisha
7) Deepor Beel, Assam
8) East Kolkata Wetlands, West Bengal
9) Harike Lake, Punjab
10) Hokersar Wetland, Jammu and Kashmir
11) Kanjli Lake, Punjab
12) Keoladeo Ghana NP, Rajasthan
13) Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve, Punjab
14) Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh
15) Loktak Lake, Manipur
16) Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat
17) Nandur Madhmeshwar, Maharashtra
18) Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab
19) Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
20) Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
21) Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
22) Pong Dam Lake, Himachal Pradesh
23) Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
24) Ropar Lake, Punjab
25) Rudrasagar Lake, Tripura
26) Saman Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
27) Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
28) Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan
29) Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
30) Sarsai Nawar, Uttar Pradesh
31) Sasthamkotta Lake, Kerala
32) Sundarban Wetland, West Bengal
33) Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Jammu and Kashmir
34) Tsomoriri Lake, Jammu and Kashmir
35) Upper Ganga River, Uttar Pradesh
36) Vembanad Kol Wetland, Kerala
37) Wular Lake, Jammu and Kashmir
38) Asan Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand
39) Kabartal (Kanwar Lake), Bihar
40) Keetham Lake (Soor Sarovar), Uttar Pradesh (Agra)
41) Lonar Lake, Maharashtra
42) ‘Star Tso’ and ‘Tso Kar’ Lakes, Ladakh
43) Sultanpur National Park, Haryana
44) Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana
45) Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
46) Wadhvana Wetland, Gujarat
47) Haiderpur Wetland, Uttar Pradesh
48) Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat
49) Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
50) Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
51) Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
52) Pichavaram Mangroves, Tamil Nadu
53) Pala Wetland, Mizoram
54) Sakhya Sagar Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
55) Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
56) Satkosia Gorge, Odisha
57) Nanda Lake, Goa
58) Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu
59) Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka
60) Vembannur Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
61) Vellode Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
62) Sirpur Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
63) Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
64) Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
65) Tampara Lake, Odisha
66) Hirakud Reservoir, Odisha
67) Ansupa Lake, Odisha
68) Yashwant Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
69) Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
70) Suchindram–Theroor Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
71) Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
72) Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
73) Thane Creek, Maharashtra
74) Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir
75) Shallabugh Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir
76) Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
77) Aghanashini Estuary, Karnataka
78) Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
79) Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
80) Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
81) Nagi Bird Sanctuary, Bihar
82) Nakti Bird Sanctuary, Bihar
83) Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
84) Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
85) Tawa Reservoir, Madhya Pradesh
86) Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
87) Therthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
88) Khecheopalri Wetland, Sikkim
89) Udhwa Lake, Jharkhand
90) Menar Wetland Complex, Rajasthan (Udaipur)
91) Khichan Wetland, Rajasthan (Jodhpur)
92) Gokul Reservoir, Bihar (Buxar)
93) Udaipur Lake, Bihar (West Champaran)
94) Gogabil Lake, Bihar (Katihar)
95) Kopra Reservoir, Chhattisgarh (Bilaspur)
96) Siliserh Lake, Rajasthan (Alwar)
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3. In which state is Siliserh Lake located, which received Ramsar site status in December 2025?
a. Chhattisgarh
b. Bihar
c. Rajasthan
d. Jharkhand
Answer: c. Rajasthan (the lake is in Alwar)
– Siliserh Lake is located in Alwar district of Rajasthan.
– Near Alwar city, Siliserh Lake lies amid the valleys of the Aravalli range.
– More than 100 species of resident and migratory birds are found around this lake.
– It is the 5th Ramsar site of Rajasthan and the 96th Ramsar site of the country.
– Earlier, Rajasthan had four Ramsar sites.
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4. In which state is the Gogabil Lake located, which has been granted the status of a Ramsar site?
a. Chhattisgarh
b. Bihar
c. Rajasthan
d. Jharkhand
Answer: b. Bihar (the lake is located in Katihar)
– Gogabil is a permanent water body that shrinks during summer but never dries up completely.
– It is an important wintering habitat under the Central Asian Flyway.
– Gogabil Lake is Bihar’s first community reserve. It is the state’s 15th protected area (PA).
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5. Who is the first woman officer to receive a commission in the Territorial Army from the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun?
a. Anju Yadav
b. Priya Singh
c. Sai Jadhav
d. Anjali Verma
Answer: c. Sai Jadhav
Meaning of receiving a commission from IMA
– Receiving a commission from IMA means being formally appointed as an officer (Commissioned Officer) in the Indian Army.
– When a cadet completes training at IMA and takes the oath after the Passing Out Parade (POP),
– they are granted a commission on behalf of the President of India.
– Twenty-three-year-old Sai was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army.
– For the first time, a special course for the Territorial Army was started at IMA.
– Under this course, 23-year-old Sai Jadhav was selected.
– Her father, Sandeep Jadhav, is himself in the Territorial Army.
– Sai Jadhav is a resident of Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
– At the Pipping Ceremony held on 20 December 2025, Sai Jadhav’s parents placed the Lieutenant stars on her shoulders.
– She first cleared the Territorial Army All India Examination and then succeeded in the SSB interview.
– Jadhav’s family has been associated with the armed forces for four generations.
Her father, Major Sandeep Jadhav, is an officer in the army.
– Her great-grandfather served in the British Army.
– Her maternal uncle has served in the Indian Air Force.
First women officers passing out from IMA
– Currently, eight women officer cadets are undergoing training with the Indian Army as part of the first batch selected through the 2022 National Defence Academy intake.
– Sai Jadhav received the opportunity to enter this field through special permission, after which she underwent six months of rigorous training at the Indian Military Academy.
Indian Army – Officer Training Centres
– National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune (Maharashtra)
– Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Uttarakhand
– Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Gaya (Bihar)
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6. Where was the second global WHO summit on traditional medicine held in December 2025?
a. Gandhinagar
b. New Delhi
c. Madhubani
d. Lucknow
Answer: b. New Delhi
– The second global WHO summit on traditional medicine was held in New Delhi from 17–19 December 2025.
– Earlier, the first summit was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in 2023.
– The summit was jointly organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of AYUSH to advance global dialogue on health and well-being through traditional medicine.
– Theme of the summit: “Restoring Balance for People and Planet: The Science and Practice of Well-being.”
World Health Organization (WHO)
– Established: 7 April 1948
– Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
– Current Director-General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
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7. At which summit did PM Modi release a commemorative postage stamp on Ashwagandha?
a. WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
b. BRICS Summit
c. UNESCO Summit
d. None of these
Answer: a. WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
– The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was held in New Delhi from 17–19 December 2025.
– During this event, Narendra Modi released a commemorative postage stamp on Ashwagandha, a famous medicinal plant of India.
– Ashwagandha is well known for stress relief and boosting immunity.
– This step strengthens India’s efforts to promote AYUSH systems (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) at the international level and to integrate traditional medicine with modern healthcare systems.
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8. Who will be the new head of the Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Prize?
a. Kristina
b. Ingrid Carlberg
c. Horace Engdahl
d. Arvid Carlsson
Answer: b. Ingrid Carlberg
– On 20 December 2025, the Swedish Academy announced that its permanent secretary, Mats Malm, had resigned.
– The Swedish Academy decides the Nobel Prize in Literature.
– Ingrid Carlberg will take charge from 1 June 2026.
– The Academy has a seven-year term for deciding the prize.
– In 2018, the Academy faced a major crisis after scandals related to sexual misconduct and conflicts of interest, leading to the resignation of several members and the non-awarding of the Literature Prize that year.
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9. Name the first person in the world whose net worth exceeded $700 billion in December 2025, which is more than the combined GDP of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
a. Bernard Jean
b. Jeff Bezos
c. Mark Zuckerberg
d. Elon Musk
Answer: d. Elon Musk
– Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla and SpaceX) became the first person in history whose total wealth crossed USD 700 billion (more than about ₹58 lakh crore).
– This amount is higher than the combined GDP of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
– The combined GDP of these three countries is around USD 555 billion.
Highest wealth
– This increase in Elon Musk’s wealth came after a decision by the Delaware Supreme Court, which increased Musk’s Tesla pay package from USD 56 billion to USD 139 billion.
– The value of the stock options received from this decision is estimated at around USD 139 billion (about ₹11.5 lakh crore), taking Musk’s total wealth to nearly USD 749 billion—making him the first person to cross USD 700 billion.
– Future prospects: In November, Tesla shareholders approved a new USD 1 trillion pay package for him, which could become even larger if the company’s future targets are met.
– His wealth is equivalent to the combined wealth of India’s top 40 richest individuals.
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10. Who became the world’s first wheelchair user to travel to space?
a. Michi Benthaus
b. Peggy Whitson
c. ‘Lolo’ Spencer
d. Sarita Dwivedi
Answer: a. Michi Benthaus
– Michi Benthaus is from Germany.
– She is an aerospace engineer working with the European Space Agency (ESA).
– Aerospace engineer Michi Benthaus became the world’s first wheelchair user to travel to space.
– This journey took place on 20 December 2025 with Jeff Bezos’s space company Blue Origin.
– The New Shepard rocket NS-37 mission carried Michi and five other passengers.
– She began using a wheelchair after a mountain biking accident in 2018.
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11. Which country assumed the BRICS chairmanship in December 2025?
a. Brazil
b. India
c. China
d. Iran
Answer: b. India
BRICS: BRICS is a group of emerging economies.
– The BRICS chairmanship changes every year on a rotational basis.
– Brazil handed over the chairmanship to India during the closing session of the 4th BRICS Sherpa Meeting held on 11–12 December 2025.
– The transfer took place on 12 December 2025 during the closing session of the meeting.
– Brazil’s Sherpa, Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio, handed over the symbolic BRICS gavel to India’s Sherpa, Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela.
– Formally, Brazil will remain the chair until 31 December 2025.
BRICS
– Headquarters: Shanghai, China
– Established: 2009
– It is an organisation of 10 major emerging economies.
– The group represents 41% of the world’s population.
– BRICS countries account for about 26% of global GDP.
– India assumed the chairmanship for the fourth time in 2025, having earlier chaired the summits in 2012, 2016, and 2021.
BRICS members and year of entry
– Brazil: 2006
– Russia: 2006
– India: 2006
– China: 2006
– South Africa: 2011
– Iran: 2024
– Egypt: 2024
– Ethiopia: 2024
– United Arab Emirates: 2024
– Indonesia: 2025
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12. India and New Zealand announced a free trade agreement (FTA) in December 2025. Under this agreement, what percentage tariff will be applied to all Indian exports?
a. 0%
b. 5%
c. 10%
d. 15%
Answer: a. 0%
– India and New Zealand announced on 22 December 2025 that negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) had been successfully concluded.
– This announcement was made by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Christopher Luxon.
– This is India’s third trade agreement in 2025 (after the UK and Oman).
– It is the seventh trade agreement in the last five years.
– Formal signing of the agreement is expected in the first quarter of 2026.
– The agreement is part of India’s FTA strategy, which aims to expand market access while protecting sensitive sectors (such as dairy). Compared to recent agreements (Oman–CEPA, UK–FTA), this is a pure FTA.
– Earlier, India had only one pure FTA, with Sri Lanka.
Seventh trade agreement in the last five years
– 2021 – Mauritius (CECPA)
– 2022 – UAE (CEPA)
– 2022 – Australia (ECTA)
– 2024–25 – EFTA (TEPA)
– 2025 – United Kingdom (CETA)
– 2025 – Oman (CEPA)
– 2025–26 – New Zealand (FTA)
Current bilateral trade status (2024–25)
– Total trade (goods + services): about USD 2.4 billion (services mainly IT, travel, and business services).
– Target: to double trade in the next five years; USD 20 billion investment from New Zealand into India over 15 years.
Benefits of the agreement for India
– Zero duty on 100% of Indian exports to New Zealand.
– Protection of sensitive sectors (dairy, sugar, some agricultural products, arms, etc.) – 29.97% of tariff lines excluded.
– Major gains in services: better access in IT, financial services, education, tourism, construction, etc.
– For students/youth: work during study (minimum 20 hours/week), post-study work visas (up to 3 years in STEM), working holiday visas.
– New opportunities for MSMEs, farmers, women, and youth.
– A separate agreement on health and traditional medicine (New Zealand’s first such agreement with any country).
Benefits of the agreement for New Zealand
– Reduced or zero tariffs on 95% of New Zealand’s exports to India (more than half immediately at zero duty).
– Better access for kiwifruit, apples, honey, etc. (first-time FTA-level access for some products in India).
– Entry into India’s rapidly growing economy (1.4 billion consumers).
Significance of the FTA
– Economic importance: part of India’s trade diversification strategy amid global trade uncertainties (tariff policies of the Trump administration). India is strengthening economic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
– Protected sectors: India safeguarded sensitive sectors such as dairy, protecting domestic farmers and MSMEs.
– Services and mobility: boosts India’s strengths (IT, professional services); new opportunities for skilled Indian professionals and students.
– Strategic dimension: stronger partnership in the Indo-Pacific; promotion of cooperation in defence, education, sports, and people-to-people contacts.
New Zealand
– Capital: Wellington
– Population: 5.3 million (2025)
– Currency: New Zealand Dollar
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13. Which state issued a notification granting the status of holy city to three of its cities?
a. Himachal Pradesh
b. Madhya Pradesh
c. Punjab
d. Uttar Pradesh
Answer: c. Punjab (Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo)
– Punjab officially declared Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo as holy cities.
– The Punjab government issued the notification on 21 December 2025.
– Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that e-rickshaw and shuttle bus services would be operated by the government for pilgrims visiting the three Takhts.
– Three of the five Sikh Takhts are located in these cities.
– Sri Akal Takht Sahib is in Amritsar, Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, and Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo.
– Their spiritual corridors will now be called holy cities.
– An interfaith advisory committee will be formed to maintain social harmony and religious decorum in the holy cities.
– It will include representatives from Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and other communities.
Completely banned
– Meat, fish, and non-vegetarian restaurants.
– Liquor shops, bars, and wine shops.
– Cigarettes, bidis, gutkha, and tobacco products.
– Hookah bars and all types of intoxicants.
Changes to be implemented
– Control over construction and high-rise buildings in holy corridors.
– Ban on illegal trade and inappropriate activities.
– Growth in religious tourism.
– Additional police checkpoints and smart monitoring systems.
Punjab
– Capital: Chandigarh
– Population: 27.7 million (2011)
– Language: Punjabi
– Neighbouring states: Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir
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14. What rank did India hold for the third consecutive year in the global doping violations list (WADA Report 2024)?
a. 1st
b. 2nd
c. 3rd
d. 4th
Answer: a. 1st (highest positivity rate in the world: about 3.6%)
– The report was released on 16 December 2025.
– According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Report 2024, India recorded the highest number of doping violations.
– Prohibited substances were found in samples of 260 athletes in India.
– This number is higher than that of any other country.
Total tests and positivity rate
– Doping tests: 7,113 tests (urine + blood)
– Positive cases: 260
– Positivity rate: about 3.6%, which is significantly higher than countries that conducted more tests.
– Example: China conducted 24,214 tests but found only 43 positive cases.
Doping in sports — major examples
– Athletics – 76 cases
– Weightlifting – 43
– Wrestling – 29
– Cases were also reported in boxing, powerlifting, kabaddi, etc.
Why is this a matter of concern?
– Threat to the image of fairness (fair play) in sports.
– Raises questions over India’s hopes of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games / 2036 Olympics.
– Risk of harm to young athletes through dangerous hormones/drugs.
– According to sports experts, it indicates a “systemic” problem.
What is doping?
– Doping = use of prohibited drugs or methods to enhance sports performance.
– It gives an unfair advantage to athletes.
– It is a violation of anti-doping rules.
– Such activities are strictly prohibited by WADA.
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