Daily Current Affairs (16 – Dec – 25)

Daily Current Affairs  (16 – Dec – 25)

1. National Energy Conservation Awards 2025 –

• On National Energy Conservation Day 2025 (14th December), the President presented the National Energy Conservation Awards 2025 in New Delhi.

National Energy Conservation Awards 

• About: It is an initiative of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), instituted in 1991 to recognize outstanding achievements in reducing energy consumption while maintaining or enhancing productivity.
• Sectors Covered: Industries, commercial buildings, transport, institutions, and energy-efficient appliances.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) 

• About: BEE is a statutory body, established on 1st March 2002 under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• Functions:BEE promotes energy efficiency in India through initiatives such as the
• Standards and Labeling (S&L) Programme.
• Perform, Achieve and Trade scheme (now replaced by the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023).
• Demand Side Management (DSM) programmes, and
• Public awareness campaigns, in line with the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.

2. India Nears 100% Rail Electrification –

• Indian Railways is close to completing the electrification of almost its entire broad-gauge network, with more than 99% already electrified, underlining India’s rapid push toward sustainable, low-emission transport systems. 
• Emission Reduction & Energy Efficiency:Near-total electrification has led to reduced diesel consumption, lower emissions, supporting Indian Railways’ goal of becoming a net-zero carbon emitter.
• Indian Railways aims to achieve net-zero by 2030, one of the earliest targets globally for a national railway system.
• Indian Railways is one of the largest electricity consumers in India, and a shift to electrification allows integration with renewable energy sources.
• Economic & Operational Benefits: Reduced operational costs due to lower maintenance and energy expenses.
• Enhanced average speed and reliability of services, improving logistics and freight operations.
• Electrification supports India’s goal of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy by ensuring faster goods movement.
• Global Significance: India’s 99.2% electrification of its broad-gauge network across 25 states surpasses several advanced economies that still rely on diesel.
• The electrified route kilometres (RKM) added between 2019–2025 equals Germany’s total rail network, showcasing India’s global leadership in green transport infrastructure.

3. India Plans New Antarctic Station Maitri II, Completion Target 2032 –

• India is set to expand its polar research footprint with Maitri II, a next-generation research station in East Antarctica. The government has announced that the station is now expected to be completed by 2032, marking a revised timeline from earlier projections. The project reflects India’s long-term commitment to scientific research, climate studies, and environmental monitoring in the polar regions.

What Is Maitri II Station?

• Maitri II is India’s proposed fourth research station in Antarctica and will replace the existing Maitri I, which has been operational since 1989 in the Schirmacher Oasis.
• It is designed as a modern, all-weather facility capable of supporting advanced scientific research throughout the year.
• The station will significantly upgrade India’s research infrastructure in Antarctica with state-of-the-art laboratories and improved logistics.

Background: India’s Antarctic Presence

• India began its Antarctic research journey in 1981. Its first station, Dakshin Gangotri, later ceased operations around 1989.
• Since then, India has operated two permanent stations Maitri in East Antarctica and Bharati near the Antarctic coast.
• These stations have supported Indian scientists working in fields such as meteorology, glaciology, geology, atmospheric sciences, biology, zoology, and seismology.

4. India Launches Its First 1.0 GHz, 64-bit Dual-Core Indigenous Microprocessor ‘DHRUV64’ –

• India has marked a historic milestone in its journey towards technological self-reliance with the launch of DHRUV64. The country’s first fully indigenous 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core microprocessor. Developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP), the processor represents a significant step in strengthening India’s domestic semiconductor design ecosystem.

What Is DHRUV64 Microprocessor?

• DHRUV64 is a homegrown, high-performance microprocessor designed and developed entirely in India.
• It operates at a clock speed of 1.0 GHz and features a 64-bit dual core architecture, enabling efficient processing, improved multitasking, and higher reliability compared to earlier indigenous processor efforts.
• According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the processor strengthens India’s indigenous processor pipeline and is capable of supporting both strategic and commercial applications.

5. Italy Becomes First Country to Get UNESCO Recognition for Its National Cuisine –

• In a historic cultural milestone, Italy has become the first country in the world to receive UNESCO recognition for its entire national cuisine. In December 2025, UNESCO officially inscribed Italian cooking on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognizing it as a living tradition that reflects culture, identity, and community life. The announcement was made during UNESCO’s cultural assembly in Delhi, marking a landmark moment not only for Italy but also for how food traditions are viewed globally.

What Is the UNESCO Recognition About?

• UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List recognises traditions, practices, and expressions that communities pass down through generations.
• With this decision, Italian cuisine as a whole, rather than a single dish or cooking style, has been granted recognition.
• The inscription covers Italy’s diverse culinary traditions, including everyday practices related to pasta, cheese, wine, desserts, and regional food cultures, emphasizing food as a shared social experience rather than just recipes.

Why Is Italy’s Recognition Unique?

• Italy already has 21 elements on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list, including the art of Neapolitan pizza-making and opera singing.
• However, this is the first time UNESCO has recognized a country’s entire national cuisine.
• UNESCO noted that Italian cooking represents a “cultural and social blend of culinary traditions” that promotes community bonding, respect for ingredients, and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
• Cooking and eating together were described as practices that strengthen social ties and cultural roots.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. What is the rank of India in the ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) Vibrancy’ index 2025 by Stanford University ?

1. a) First
2. b) Second
3. c) Third
4. d) Fourth

Q2. Jose Antonio Kast has been elected as new president of which country in December 2025 ?

1. a) Chile
2. b) Peru
3. c) Brazil
4. d) Poland

Q3. Which state government launched the “Meri Yojana” Portal to make welfare scheme information easily accessible to citizens ?

1. a) Jharkhand
2. b) Uttarakhand
3. c) Himachal Pradesh
4. d) Karnataka

Q4. With reference to the SHANTI Bill, 2025, consider the following statements:

1. It allows private sector participation in nuclear power generation in India.
2. It permits State Governments to operate nuclear power plants independently.
3. It aims to consolidate existing atomic energy laws into a single legal framework.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Correct: The SHANTI Bill authorises private companies to participate across the nuclear value chain, including power generation.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect:Even under the SHANTI Bill, State Governments are not explicitly allowed to independently operate nuclear plants; regulation remains with the Union due to strategic and safety considerations.
• Statement 3 – Correct: The Bill proposes a unified legal framework, consolidating existing atomic energy legislation to improve regulatory clarity.

Q5. With reference to the National Makhana Board (NMB), consider the following statements:

1. It is a statutory body established under an Act of Parliament.
2. It aims to promote research, value addition, branding, and export of makhana.
3. It provides institutional support to makhana farmers and processors.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Incorrect:The National Makhana Board is a government body, not a statutory authority created by a separate Act.
• Statements 2 and 3 – Correct: The NMB focuses on research, technology adoption, farmer support, value addition, branding, and export promotion.