Daily Current Affairs (17 – Dec – 25)

Daily Current Affairs (17 – Dec – 25)

1. Three Nation Tour of PM Modi –

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a three-nation tour to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

About the visit of PM Modi

• The tour is aimed to strengthen India’s bilateral ties with strategic partners in West Asia and Africa.
• A primary goal is to finalize major trade deals to expand India’s economic partnerships.
• In each country,Prime Minister Modi engaged with the local Indian community, recognizing their role as a “living bridge”

2. Trump Labels Venezuela Regime Terror Group, Orders Oil Blockade –

• The United States has sharply escalated pressure on Venezuela after President Donald Trump declared the Maduro regime a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation” and announced a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers. The move signals a major intensification of Washington’s strategy against Caracas, directly targeting the backbone of Venezuela’s economy and deepening geopolitical tensions in the region.

Blockade of Oil Tankers Announced

• President Trump stated that the US would impose a “total and complete blockade” on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. The announcement follows the recent seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast by US forces, alongside a visible military buildup in the Caribbean. Trump accused the Venezuelan government of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal networks, asserting that the blockade would remain until US demands were met.

3. India’s First Wildlife-Safe Road Launched on NH-45 –

• The National Highways Authority of India has introduced India’s first wildlife-safe road on National Highway 45 in Madhya Pradesh. The initiative aims to reduce animal-vehicle collisions while balancing highway development with wildlife conservation in ecologically sensitive regions.

Location and Ecological Significance

• The project has been implemented on a 2 km ghat section of an 11.96 km highway stretch passing through the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. The corridor also connects areas near the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, making it a critical zone for wildlife movement and conservation efforts.

4. Sai Jadhav Makes History at Indian Military Academy –

• At just 23, Sai Jadhav has entered the history books by becoming the first woman officer to graduate from the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. Her commissioning ends a 93-year-old tradition that saw only men pass out from one of India’s most prestigious military institutions. Her achievement signals a decisive shift in the evolution of the armed forces.

Breaking a 93-Year-Old Tradition

• Established in 1932, the Indian Military Academy has trained over 67,000 officers for the Indian Army. Until Sai Jadhav’s graduation, not a single woman had completed training at IMA. Her inclusion was made possible through special permission, placing her on equal footing with male cadets. She underwent the same drills, discipline, and evaluation standards, completing six months of rigorous training without concessions.

5. Vijay Diwas 2025 and India’s Historic 1971 Victory –

• Vijay Diwas, observed annually on 16 December, commemorates India’s decisive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. The day marks the surrender of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan and the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation. It stands as one of the most significant milestones in India’s military and diplomatic history.

Background of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War

• The roots of the conflict lay in political repression and humanitarian crisis in East Pakistan after the 1970 elections. Widespread atrocities triggered a massive refugee influx into India. As tensions escalated, India extended diplomatic, humanitarian, and military support to the Bengali resistance, known as the Mukti Bahini. Open hostilities began on 3 December 1971 after Pakistan launched air strikes on Indian airfields.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) signed an MoU with which company to support artisans under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme ?

1. a) Flipkart
2. b) Amazon Seller Services
3. c) Snapdeal
4. d) Meesho

Q2. In the Asia Power Index (API) 2025 published by the Lowy Institute, what is India’s overall rank and power category ?

1. a) 1st – Superpower
2. b) 2nd – Superpower
3. c) 3rd – Major Power
4. d) 4th – Middle Power

Q3. Which country held the 1st position in the Passport Index 2025 for the strongest passport ?

1. a) Singapore
2. b) Spain
3. c) United Arab Emirates
4. d) Germany

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA):

Statement-I: The awards are implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power.

Statement-II: The NECA 2025 introduced a new category for Social Media Influencers to promote behavioral change.

Statement-III: The primary aim of NECA is to recognize achievements in energy efficiency while maintaining productivity.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

1. a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
2. b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
3. c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
4. d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct explanation for Statement I, though all statements are factually correct.

Explanation-

• Statement I is correct: NECA is implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power.
• Statement II is correct: NECA 2025 introduced a new category for Social Media Influencers & Digital Content Creators.
• Statement III is correct: The awards aim to recognize outstanding achievements in energy efficiency and reduction of energy consumption without compromising productivity.
• While all three statements are factually correct, neither the introduction of a new category (Statement II) nor the general aim of the awards (Statement III) serves as the explanation for why the awards are implemented by the BEE (Statement I).

Q5. Regarding the administration of MGNREGA, consider the following statements:

• The wage and material ratio is maintained at 60:40 at the District level.
• Social audits by the Gram Sabha are mandatory to ensure accountability.
• Unemployment allowance must be provided if work is not provided within 30 days of demand.

How many of the above statements are correct ?

1. a) Only one
2. b) Only two
3. c) All three
4. d) None

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The wage and material ratio of 60:40is maintained at the Gram Panchayat level, not the District level. This ensures that the primary focus remains on wage employment for locals rather than material-intensive contracts.
• Statement 2 is correct: The Act mandates Social Audits by the Gram Sabha. This is a critical feature for transparency, allowing the beneficiaries to scrutinize the implementation and expenditure of the scheme.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The right to unemployment allowance is triggered if work is not provided within 15 days of the demand, not 30 days.