Current Affairs
Date: 19-12-2025
CURRENT AFFAIRS
1. PM Modi receives Ethiopia's highest civilian honor
On December 16, 2025, Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali conferred Ethiopia's highest civilian honor, “The Great Honor of the Nishan of Ethiopia,” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a special ceremony held at the International Conference Center in Addis Ababa. This honor is given to global leaders who have made exceptional contributions to strengthening Ethiopia's international relations and enhancing its role on the global stage.
2. Google Pay Launches Its First Credit Card
Google has launched its first credit card in India, a global first, in partnership with Axis Bank and issued on the RuPay network. This credit card is fully integrated with Google Pay and can be directly linked to UPI, allowing users to make credit payments through UPI. This initiative further strengthens India's position as a global hub for digital payments and fintech innovation.
3. José Antonio Kast Elected as the New President of Chile
In the Chilean presidential election, far-right leader José Antonio Kast secured a decisive victory, defeating left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara. Kast received 58.16 percent of the vote, while Jara received 41.84 percent. He will be sworn in as President of Chile on March 11, 2026. This election result signifies a clear ideological shift in Chilean politics.
4. Inauguration of the ‘Param Vir Gallery’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan
On December 16, 2025, on the occasion of Vijay Diwas (Victory Day), President Smt. Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This initiative is considered a historic step towards honoring India's tradition of supreme military valor, courage, and sacrifice. The Param Vir Gallery is a special gallery established at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where portraits of all 21 soldiers awarded the Param Vir Chakra are displayed.
5. West Bengal Sports Minister Arup Biswas
In December 2025, West Bengal's Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Arup Biswas, resigned from his post, which was accepted by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This resignation came after disarray surrounding a high-profile international football event held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The event involved world-renowned football player Lionel Messi, and exposed administrative and managerial shortcomings.
6. Three MoUs Signed During PM Modi's Visit to Addis Ababa
In December 2025, three important Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between India and Ethiopia during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first official visit to Ethiopia, giving a new impetus to bilateral relations between the two countries. This visit reflects India's growing diplomatic engagement in Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa region.
7. Loans Against Pension Possible, Up to 80% Lump Sum Withdrawal
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority has announced significant reforms to the National Pension System (NPS) rules, aimed at providing greater financial flexibility to non-government NPS subscribers at the time of retirement. This move is considered a major shift towards making India's pension system more subscriber-centric.
8. Goa Liberation Day
Goa Liberation Day is celebrated every year on December 19th, commemorating the historic event of Goa's liberation from Portuguese colonial rule in 1961. Goa was under Portuguese rule for approximately 451 years, beginning in 1510. Even after India's independence in 1947, Goa, Daman, and Diu remained under Portuguese control, while the Indian government considered them an integral part of its territory.
QUIZ (With Explanation)
1. What type of honor is the ‘The Great Honor of the Order of Ethiopia’?
A - Military honors
B - Sports Honors
C - Highest civilian honor
D - Cultural Award
Explanation:
On December 16, 2025, Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali conferred Ethiopia's highest civilian honor, ‘The Great Honor of Ethiopia,’ upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a special ceremony held in Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Modi became the first global leader to receive this honor, and it is his 28th top foreign state honor.
2. In which country was Google's first credit card launched?
A - USA
B - India
C - UK
D - Singapore
Explanation:
Google has launched its first-ever credit card globally in India, issued on the RuPay network in collaboration with Axis Bank. The card is linked to Google Pay and facilitates direct credit payments via UPI. This initiative reflects India's robust digital public infrastructure and its growing role as a global fintech hub.
3. Who is the newly elected president of Chile?
A - Gabriel Boric
B - Janet Zara
C - Jose Antonio Kast
D - Sebastian Piñera
Explanation:
In the Chilean presidential election, far-right leader José Antonio Kast won, defeating left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara. He secured 58.16 percent of the vote and will be sworn in as president on March 11, 2026.
4. On what occasion was the Param Vir Gallery inaugurated?
A - Republic Day
B - Independence Day
C - Victory Day
D - Kargil Victory Day
Explanation:
On December 16, 2025, on the occasion of Vijay Diwas, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The gallery displays portraits of all 21 brave soldiers who have been awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
5. Arup Biswas was the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs of which state?
A - Odisha
B - Assam
C - West Bengal
D - Jharkhand
Explanation:
In December 2025, West Bengal's Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Arup Biswas, resigned from his post, taking moral responsibility for the mismanagement associated with an international football event held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
6. How many Memoranda of Understanding were signed between India and Ethiopia?
A - 2
B - 3
C - 4
D - 5
Explanation:
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Ethiopia in December 2025, three significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between India and Ethiopia. These agreements strengthened bilateral relations and underscored India's growing diplomatic role in Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa region.
7. Which institution has reformed the rules of the National Pension System?
A - RBI
B - SEBI
C - PFRDA
D - Ministry of Finance
Explanation:
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has amended the National Pension System (NPS) rules, providing greater financial flexibility to non-government NPS subscribers at the time of retirement. Under the new provisions, private sector members will now be able to withdraw up to 80 percent of their pension corpus as a lump sum, while the 60:40 arrangement will remain unchanged for government employees.
8. What was the name of the military operation conducted to liberate Goa from Portuguese rule?
A - Operation Shakti
B - Operation Freedom
C - Operation Vijay
D - Operation Trishul
Explanation:
Goa Liberation Day is celebrated every year on December 19, commemorating the historic event of Goa's liberation from Portuguese colonial rule in 1961. After being under Portuguese rule for nearly 451 years, India liberated Goa, Daman, and Diu through ‘Operation Vijay’ on December 18–19, 1961.
ONE LINER
How many MoUs were signed between India and Ethiopia during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ethiopia? – Three Memoranda of Understanding
In which year was the Param Vir Chakra instituted? – 1950
Which highest civilian honor of Ethiopia was conferred upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 16, 2025? – The Great Honour of Ethiopia
With which bank and network was Google Pay's first credit card issued? – Axis Bank and RuPay network
Which special gallery was inaugurated at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 16, 2025? – Param Vir Gallery
What was the name of the military operation launched to liberate Goa from Portuguese rule? – Operation Vijay
Which global leader did Prime Minister Narendra Modi become to receive this honor? – First Global Leader
In which country did Google Pay launch the world's first credit card? – India
Which minister of West Bengal resigned in December 2025? – Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Arup Biswas
Who was elected as the new president of Chile in the 2025 presidential election? РJos̩ Antonio Kast