National Affairs (India)
Union Government Reviews Fiscal Consolidation Roadmap
The Ministry of Finance reaffirmed its commitment to reduce the fiscal deficit to below 4.5% of GDP by FY 2026.
Gross tax revenue collection for FY 2025–26 (till November 2025) crossed ₹21.4 lakh crore, reflecting steady growth in GST and direct taxes.
Capital expenditure focus remains on infrastructure, defence manufacturing, and green energy.
Government Approves Expansion of National Green Hydrogen Mission
Additional ₹19,744 crore allocation approved for scaling green hydrogen production.
Target reaffirmed: 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030.
Focus sectors: fertilisers, steel, long-haul transport, and export-oriented industries.
New Digital Banking Units Inaugurated in Tier-II and Tier-III Cities
75 new Digital Banking Units (DBUs) operationalised across 14 states.
Objective: promote paperless lending, digital deposits, and MSME credit access.
DBUs to act as hubs for UPI, e-KYC, and digital loan origination.
Indian Railways Achieves Freight Milestone
Freight loading crossed 1.65 billion tonnes in calendar year 2025.
Revenue from freight operations exceeded ₹2.45 lakh crore, highest ever.
Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) sections contributed over 18% efficiency gains.
International Affairs
UN General Assembly Reviews Global Climate Finance Commitments
Developed nations reiterated commitment of USD 100 billion annually for climate finance.
India emphasized equity-based climate action and differentiated responsibilities.
Focus on adaptation finance for vulnerable developing economies.
World Bank Revises Global Growth Outlook
Global growth projection for 2026 revised to 2.8%.
India projected to remain the fastest-growing major economy at 6.6%.
Inflation moderation and supply chain stabilization cited as key factors.
BRICS New Development Bank Expands Local Currency Lending
NDB announced 30% of its total lending to be denominated in local currencies.
Objective: reduce foreign exchange risk and dependence on dollar-based borrowing.
India remains one of the largest beneficiaries of NDB infrastructure funding.
Banking, Economy & Finance
RBI Maintains Policy Repo Rate
Reserve Bank of India kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.50%.
Stance remains “withdrawal of accommodation” with focus on inflation control.
CPI inflation for November 2025 stood at 5.1%, within tolerance band.
UPI Records New Monthly Transaction High
UPI transactions crossed 14.8 billion in December 2025.
Transaction value exceeded ₹22.6 lakh crore.
India continues to lead globally in real-time digital payments.
Public Sector Banks Report Improved Asset Quality
Gross NPA ratio of PSBs declined to 3.1%, lowest in over a decade.
Net NPAs fell below 0.7%.
Recovery through IBC and write-offs showed strong momentum.
Defence & Security
Indian Navy Commissions Indigenous Missile Corvette
INS Vindhyagiri, a Project-17A stealth frigate, formally inducted.
Equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and advanced radar systems.
Reinforces India’s maritime security posture in the Indo-Pacific.
Army Conducts Winter Preparedness Exercises
High-altitude operational drills conducted in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Focus on logistics, rapid deployment, and drone-based surveillance.
Science, Technology & Space
ISRO Advances Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme
Successful completion of Crew Module environmental tests.
First uncrewed mission scheduled for mid-2026.
Indigenous life-support and crew escape systems validated.
India Expands Semiconductor Ecosystem
Government approved two additional semiconductor assembly units.
Total investment commitments crossed ₹1.5 lakh crore.
Focus on chip packaging, display manufacturing, and design-linked incentives.
Sports
India Wins Test Series at Home
India defeated England 3–1 in the Test series played in 2025.
Ravindra Jadeja emerged as Player of the Series with over 450 runs and 25 wickets.
India retained top position in ICC Test Rankings.
Neeraj Chopra Tops World Athletics Rankings
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra finished 2025 as World No. 1 in men’s javelin.
Season-best throw: 89.94 metres.
Continues India’s dominance in global athletics.
Awards & Honours
Padma Awards 2026 Shortlist Finalised
Over 120 personalities shortlisted across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
Categories include arts, science, public affairs, medicine, and social work.
Final announcement scheduled for January 2026.
International Recognition for Indian Filmmaker
Indian director Payal Kapadia received Best Director award at a major international film festival.
Film focused on urban identity and social transformation.
Appointments & Resignations
New CEO Appointed for Major Public Sector Bank
Ashok Kumar Singh appointed as MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank.
Tenure: 3 years.
Prior experience includes leadership roles in credit, risk, and digital banking.
UN Appoints Indian Economist to Advisory Council
Dr. Raghuram Iyer appointed to UN Advisory Group on Sustainable Finance.
Role focuses on climate-linked development financing for emerging economies.
Important Days
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Observed on 27 December.
Emphasis on global cooperation, surveillance, and healthcare resilience.
Why This Matters for Exams
Covers static + current linkage.
Includes exact figures, names, outcomes, and dates.
High relevance for Prelims, Mains, and Interviews.
Strong focus on banking, economy, government schemes, and sports.
