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Current Affairs 20th December 2025
1. Axar Patel appointed India's Vice-Captain For T20 World Cup 2026
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Squad Announcement: The BCCI announced the 15-member squad, which includes experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel, along with young talents like Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan.
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Vice-Captaincy: Axar Patel was chosen as the vice-captain, citing his all-round abilities and experience in pressure situations.
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Shubman Gill Dropped: Gill's omission is attributed to his underwhelming performances, scoring 291 runs from 15 matches at an average of 24.25 and strike rate of 137.26, without a single fifty.
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Ishan Kishan's Return: Kishan has been included in the squad, having earned his place with impressive performances in domestic cricket, including winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Jharkhand.
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Tournament Schedule: India will begin their campaign against the USA on February 7, followed by matches against Namibia, Pakistan, and the Netherlands.
2. Parliament Passes Insurance Laws Amendment Bill 2025
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100% FDI in Insurance: The bill raises the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in insurance companies from 74% to 100%, allowing foreign promoters to own insurers fully, subject to fit-and-proper and control conditions.
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Strengthened IRDAI Powers: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) will have enhanced powers, including the authority to disgorge wrongful gains, introduce clearer and more transparent penalty norms, and enable one-time registration for intermediaries.
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Easier Entry for Foreign Reinsurers: The Net Owned Funds requirement for foreign reinsurers will be reduced from ₹5,000 crore to ₹1,000 crore, making it easier for global reinsurers to enter India and expand domestic risk capacity.
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Greater Autonomy for LIC: The bill grants operational flexibility to the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), enabling faster expansion and more efficient management of overseas operations.
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Policyholder Protection: A dedicated Policyholders' Education and Protection Fund will be established to raise awareness about insurance products, and policyholder data will be protected in alignment with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.
3. Jharkhand Clinch Maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Title
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Ishan Kishan's Heroics: Captain Ishan Kishan led from the front, scoring a blistering 101 off 49 balls, including 10 sixes, to help Jharkhand post a massive 262/3.
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Kumar Kushagra's Contribution: Kushagra played a crucial role, scoring 81 off 38 balls, and sharing a 177-run partnership with Kishan.
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Anukul Roy's All-Round Performance: Roy was named Player of the Series, scoring 303 runs and taking 18 wickets, including a crucial 40-run knock and two wickets in the final.
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Jharkhand's Dominant Campaign: The team won 10 of its 11 matches, showcasing their strength and consistency throughout the tournament.
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MS Dhoni's Guidance: Former India captain MS Dhoni played a key role in Jharkhand's success, providing valuable guidance and support to the team.
4. BEML Limited Shines with Double Gold at the PSU Transformation Awards 2025
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Dual Recognition: BEML Limited received two Gold Awards, recognizing its leadership in the engineering and manufacturing domain within India's public sector.
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Innovation and Indigenization: The awards acknowledge BEML's relentless focus on innovation and indigenization, reinforcing its position as a premier multi-technology public sector enterprise.
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Export Excellence: BEML has also been awarded for Outstanding Export Performance at the 55th EEPC India Awards 2025, exporting 71 advanced machines to African nations and over 1,400 units to 72+ countries.
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Leadership Recognition: Shantanu Roy, Chairman and Managing Director of BEML Limited, received the prestigious Samarpan PSU Award 2025 for his exemplary leadership and commitment to steering BEML towards greater heights.
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Sectoral Contributions: BEML serves India's core sectors, including Defence, Rail, Power, Mining, and Infrastructure, with a diverse portfolio of products and services.
5. Shri A.K. Balasubramanian appointed as Chairman of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
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New Chairman: Shri A.K. Balasubramanian takes over as the Chairman of AERB, ensuring the safe use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy in India.
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Previous Chairman: The previous Chairman, Dr. Dinesh Kumar Shukla, served from December 31, 2022, and played a crucial role in shaping AERB's safety regulations.
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AERB's Mission: The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board's mission is to ensure that the use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy in India does not cause undue risk to people's health and the environment.
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Composition of AERB: The Board consists of a full-time Chairman, an ex-officio Member, four part-time Members, and a Secretary, working together to regulate nuclear safety.
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Regulatory Role: AERB oversees industrial safety in Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) units and administers provisions of the Factories Act, 1948.
6. Bharti Airtel appoints Shashwat Sharma as MD & CEO
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New MD & CEO: Shashwat Sharma, currently CEO-designate, will succeed Gopal Vittal as MD & CEO of Airtel India, subject to shareholder approval.
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Leadership Transition: Gopal Vittal will transition to the role of Executive Vice Chairman, overseeing Bharti Airtel and its subsidiaries, focusing on group strategy and development.
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Financial Leadership Changes: Soumen Ray will become Group Chief Financial Officer, while Akhil Garg will take over as CFO of Airtel India, effective January 1, 2026.
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Company Secretary: Rohit Puri has been appointed as Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, replacing his current role as joint company secretary.
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Growth Focus: The leadership changes aim to drive Airtel's growth in digital services, 5G expansion, and enterprise solutions, amidst increasing competition in the telecom sector.
7. Garima Yadav appointed as DS in Department of AR & PG
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Appointment Details: Garima Yadav's appointment is part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen the Department of AR & PG, which is responsible for administrative reforms and redressal of public grievances.
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Department Overview: The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances is a nodal agency of the Government of India, focusing on improving government structures and processes.
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Role of DS: As Deputy Secretary, Garima Yadav will play a key role in implementing administrative reforms and addressing public grievances.
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Department Structure: The department is headed by a Secretary, currently Rachna Shah, and comprises various sections, including Administrative Reforms, Public Grievances, and e-Governance.
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Key Initiatives: The department has been involved in initiatives like the National Workshop on Effective Redressal of Public Grievances and NextGen CPGRAMS.
8. PGIMER Chandigarh remains India’s top Health Technology Institute
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HTA Resource Hub: PGIMER's HTA Resource Hub, established under the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, has cemented its leadership in health technology assessment.
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Policy-Relevant Research: The institute's research has been guiding national health strategies and improving health outcomes across India.
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Advanced Training: PGIMER plans to expand advanced training in health economics and health technology assessment.
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National Recognition: The award was presented at the ARISE 2025 ceremony, recognizing PGIMER's contributions to evidence-based healthcare decision-making.
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Leadership in Medical Research: PGIMER's reputation as a premier medical research institution is reinforced by this recognition.
9. International Human Solidarity Day observed on 20th December
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Purpose: The day aims to promote solidarity, cooperation, and mutual respect among nations, fostering a sense of global citizenship.
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UN Observance: The United Nations General Assembly declared December 20th as International Human Solidarity Day in 2002, recognizing the importance of solidarity in achieving peace and development.
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Themes: Each year, the day focuses on a specific theme, such as poverty eradication, social inclusion, and sustainable development.
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Global Goals: The day promotes awareness and action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 10, which focuses on reducing inequality within and among countries.
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Observance: The day is observed through various events, conferences, and campaigns worldwide, promoting solidarity and cooperation among governments, organizations, and individuals.
10. Padma Shri Awardee Prafulla Govinda Baruah passed away
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Journalistic Legacy: Baruah was the owner, editor, and managing director of The Assam Tribune, a leading English daily in Northeast India, founded by his father Radha Govinda Baruah in 1939.
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Padma Shri Award: He received the Padma Shri in 2018 for his contributions to literature and education in Assam, India.
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Contributions: He promoted Assamese literature through 'Sahitya Prakash' and founded the monthly literary magazine Goriyasi, and played a key role in establishing the Radha Govinda Baruah College in Guwahati.
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Awards and Recognition: Baruah was felicitated by the Asam Sahitya Sabha and honored by the Kamala Saikia Trust for principled journalism, and received an appreciation citation from the Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute for his cancer awareness initiatives.
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