4.5/5
Current Affairs 17th December 2025
1. India Ranks 3rd in Stanford’s Global AI Vibrancy Tool 2025
-
Remarkable Leap: India jumped four spots from 7th in 2023 to 3rd in 2025, surpassing advanced economies like the United Kingdom, South Korea, Singapore, and Japan.
-
Top 3 Global Rankings: With a score of 21.59, India now trails only behind the United States (78.60) and China (36.95), solidifying its role as a leader among emerging economies.
-
Talent Hub: India recorded the world's highest year-on-year growth in AI hiring and is the second-largest contributor to AI projects on GitHub, reflecting its deep pool of skilled engineers.
-
Government Support: The IndiaAI Mission, with a budget of approximately ₹10,300 crore ($1.25 billion), has been a critical driver in strengthening infrastructure, particularly through plans to deploy over 10,000 GPUs.
-
Seven Pillars of Success: The ranking is based on seven key pillars: Research & Development, Economy, Infrastructure, Talent, Policy & Governance, Responsible AI, and Public Opinion.
2. India and Brazil Sign Tripartite MoU on Maintenance of Scorpene Submarines
-
The Signatories: The agreement is a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Navy, the Brazilian Navy, and India’s premier defense shipyard, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
-
Maintenance & Life-cycle Support: The deal focuses on the exchange of technical information and expertise to enhance the long-term maintenance, repair, and life-cycle support of Scorpène-class submarines operated by both nations.
-
Operational Readiness: By sharing "maintenance philosophies" and industrial practices, both navies aim to improve the operational availability of their underwater assets and reduce downtime for repairs.
-
Duration & Scope: Signed on December 9, 2025, in Brasilia, the MoU is valid for 10 years and covers not just submarines but also other naval platforms, logistics, and personnel training.
-
Strategic Convergence: The partnership highlights the growing defense synergy between two major powers of the Global South, leveraging India's experience with the Kalvari-class (Scorpène) and Brazil's experience with the Riachuelo-class.
3. India Launches Its First 1.0 GHz, 64-bit Dual-Core Indigenous Microprocessor ‘DHRUV64’
-
Development & Ownership: The DHRUV64 was developed entirely in-house by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
-
Technical Specifications: It features a 64-bit dual-core architecture with a clock speed of 1.0 GHz. Built on a 28nm process node, it supports "out-of-order" processing and superscalar execution for enhanced multitasking and efficiency.
-
Open-Source Foundation: The chip is based on the RISC-V open-source architecture. This is a strategic move to eliminate expensive licensing fees and avoid dependence on proprietary foreign technologies like x86 or ARM.
-
Target Applications: Designed for both commercial and strategic use, it is ideal for 5G infrastructure, automotive electronics, industrial automation, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices where reliability and security are prioritized over raw speed.
-
Strategic Roadmap: As the third chip under the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Programme, its success paves the way for the next generation of processors—Dhanush (1.2 GHz) and Dhanush+ (2.0 GHz)—which are already under development.
4. PM Modi Becomes First World Leader to Receive Ethiopia’s Top Award
-
The Honor: PM Modi was conferred with "The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia" by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali during a special ceremony in Addis Ababa.
-
Historic First: While the award is steeped in tradition, PM Modi is the first world leader to be bestowed with this specific top-tier recognition, signaling a new era in India-Africa relations.
-
28th International Award: This marks the 28th international state honor received by PM Modi, further cementing his position as one of the most decorated global leaders.
-
Strategic Milestone: The conferment coincided with the elevation of India-Ethiopia ties to a "Strategic Partnership," focusing on digital capacity, healthcare, and education.
-
A Shared Tribute: In his acceptance speech, PM Modi dedicated the award to the 1.4 billion people of India and the generations of Indian teachers and traders who have contributed to Ethiopia’s growth for over a century.
5. SP Balasubrahmanyam Statue Unveiled in Hyderabad
-
The Location: The 7.2-foot bronze statue was installed on the premises of RavindraBharathi, a premier state-run cultural and performing arts center in the heart of Hyderabad.
-
Dignitaries Present: The statue was formally unveiled by former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Telangana Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu, in the presence of SPB’s son SP Charan and other family members.
-
Artistic Tribute: Crafted in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, the statue is placed adjacent to the statue of another musical titan, Ghantasala, fulfilling a symbolic wish often expressed by fans.
-
Commemorative Event: The ceremony featured a grand musical tribute where 50 artists performed 20 of SPB’s most iconic songs, celebrating a career that spanned over 40,000 songs in 14 languages.
-
Significance: Despite minor regional protests regarding the location, the government proceeded with the installation to recognize SPB as a "multi-dimensional genius" whose voice transcended linguistic and geographical boundaries.
6. Chile José Antonio Kast as its next President
-
Decisive Victory: Kast secured a "thumping" victory with 58.16% of the vote, defeating his rival, Jeannette Jara of the Communist Party, who received 41.84%.
-
Shift to the Right: His win marks the first time a leader who openly supports the legacy of the military regime (Augusto Pinochet) has been elected since 1990, replacing the leftist administration of Gabriel Boric.
-
Core Campaign Pillars:Kast ran on a platform of "Order and Security," pledging an "iron fist" against crime, mass deportation of undocumented migrants, and the construction of border barriers (walls and trenches).
-
Economic Reforms: He has promised to revitalize the economy by cutting $6 billion in public spending within 18 months, reducing corporate taxes, and shrinking the state payroll.
-
Inauguration: Kast is scheduled to be sworn in as Chile's 38th president on March 11, 2026, for a four-year term.
7. Harish Singh Papola appointed as Officer to the Minister for Communications and Development
-
Official Designation: Harish Singh Papola has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, the Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
-
Officer Profile: He is an Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer (formerly listed in some records as IRPFS) of the 2015 batch, bringing a decade of administrative experience to the role.
-
Level & Tenure: The appointment is at the Deputy Secretary level. His tenure is set to last until August 10, 2028, which marks the maximum permissible period of seven years away from his parent cadre.
-
Co-terminus Basis: As is standard for OSD roles, his appointment is co-terminus with the Minister, meaning it will remain valid as long as JyotiradityaScindia holds the office, or until further orders.
-
Strategic Role: Papola will provide high-level policy and coordination support, acting as a crucial bridge between the Minister's office and the administrative machinery of the Ministry of Communications and DoNER.
8. B. Sairam appointed Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India
-
Vast Experience: A mining engineer from NIT Raipur with an MBA in Energy Management, Sairam brings over 35 years of experience in the coal sector, spanning mine operations, logistics, and regulatory affairs.
-
Leadership Transition: He succeeds Sanoj Kumar Jha, an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Coal who had been holding the interim charge since November 1, 2024, following the retirement of P.M. Prasad.
-
Proven Track Record: Before this elevation, Sairam served as the CMD of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) and Director (Technical) at Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), where he spearheaded major infrastructure and rehabilitation projects.
-
Tenure: His appointment is valid until his superannuation on March 31, 2028, or until further orders, providing long-term leadership stability to the coal behemoth.
-
Strategic Vision: Upon taking charge, he emphasized a dual focus: meeting the nation's energy demand through increased production and diversifying into solar power, coal gasification, and critical mineral acquisitions.
9. ‘PonduruKhadi’ Awarded Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
-
Geographical Origin: Produced exclusively in Ponduru village of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, this fabric is locally known as "Patnulu" and is a centerpiece of the region's textile identity.
-
Unique Cleaning Process: It is world-renowned for a unique ginning process where the cotton is cleaned using the jawbone of the Valuga fish. This specific technique makes the fiber exceptionally soft and durable.
-
Manual Craftsmanship: Ponduru is the only place in India where artisans still use a single-spindle charkha (often called the "Gandhi Charkha") with 24 spokes. Every stage, from cleaning to weaving, is performed entirely by hand without any mechanization.
-
Gandhian Legacy: Mahatma Gandhi was a great admirer of this fabric, famously mentioning its superior quality in his journal Young India after being gifted a PonduruKhadi stole in 1921.
-
Economic & Legal Protection: The GI tag, issued under Classes 23, 24, and 25, names the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) as the registered proprietor. This ensures that only authentic Ponduru-made khadi can use the name, protecting the livelihoods of local weavers.
10. Veteran Indian National Congress Leader ShamanurShivashankarappa passed away
-
Oldest Sitting Legislator: At the time of his passing, he was the oldest sitting MLA in India, representing the Davanagere South constituency. He was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly six times and served one term as a Member of Parliament (MP).
-
Community Leadership: He served as the National President of the Akhil Bharat VeerashaivaMahasabha for over a decade, acting as a powerful and influential voice for the Lingayat community across party lines.
-
Educational Visionary: He was the chairman of the Bapuji Educational Association, transforming Davanagere into a major educational hub by establishing numerous medical, engineering, and dental colleges.
-
Political Stalwart: A lifelong Congressman, he served as the Treasurer of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) for nearly three decades and held the Horticulture and APMC portfolios as a Cabinet Minister.
0 like |
0 comment
