Daily GK Update- 13th Dec, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Deepavali Secures UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Status, Marking a Historic Milestone for India: Deepavali has been officially added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, marking a historic moment for India during the 20th ICH Committee Session held at the Red Fort, New Delhi.Leaders, including the PM, Vice President, Union Ministers, and UNESCO, highlighted Deepavali’s universal message of light over darkness, unity, cultural diversity, and community-driven traditions, supported by artisans, farmers, diaspora, and various social groups.

The recognition strengthens India’s global cultural presence, bringing the nation’s total entries to 16, and places responsibility on India to preserve, promote, and safeguard the festival’s rich traditions for future generations.

 

2. IIT Bombay Unveils India’s First Incubator-Linked Deep Tech VC Fund and Releases Strategy Plan 2026–2030: IIT Bombay’s SINE launched India’s first incubator-linked deep tech VC fund, the ₹250-crore Y-Point Venture Fund, aimed at supporting early-stage deep tech startups and helping them transition from lab research to market-ready innovations.The institute also unveiled its Strategy Plan 2026–2030, approved by the Board of Governors chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, focusing on innovation-led growth and strengthening India’s deep tech ecosystem.The fund will primarily invest in AI, advanced computing, advanced manufacturing, materials, nuclear tech, space & defence, climate & cleantech, life sciences, and healthcare, while the strategy plan promotes learning-centric, experiential, and globally connected education pathways.

 

3. CJI Surya Kant Reconstitutes Supreme Court’s AI Committee to Drive Judicial Tech Reforms: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has reconstituted the Supreme Court’s Artificial Intelligence Committee to guide the adoption, development, and deployment of AI tools across the higher judiciary and subordinate courts.The revamped panel will be chaired by Justice PS Narasimha, with Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva, Raja Vijayaraghavan V, Anoop Chitkara, and Suraj Govindaraj as members, while Anupam Patra will serve as Member-Secretary and Convenor.The Committee has been tasked with ensuring that AI initiatives enhance efficiency, accessibility, and transparency in judicial processes, even as India proceeds cautiously due to concerns like algorithmic bias, language limitations, and data privacy.The government informed Parliament that AI tools like LegRAA, ASR-SHRUTI, and PANINI are currently in a controlled pilot phase, with no systemic issues reported, while courts also face rising challenges from fabricated or morphed digital content submitted in proceedings.

 

4. Jal Shakti Ministry Launches ‘Sujalam Bharat App’ to Transform Rural Drinking Water Governance: The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Sujalam Bharat App, a digital platform aimed at increasing transparency and strengthening community ownership in rural drinking water supply systems under the Jal Jeevan Mission.The app, supported by BISAG-N, provides real-time, geo-referenced data on rural water assets, unifying all village-level schemes and enabling improved monitoring, maintenance, and decision-making.The platform integrates comprehensive information—such as water sources, infrastructure condition, water quality, supply reliability, and community feedback—and generates a unique Sujal Gaon ID for every habitation.The initiative comes amid growing concerns over India’s water scarcity; according to CGWB, 102 districts are over-exploited, 22 are critical, and 69 are semi-critical in groundwater levels.Integrated with PM Gati Shakti GIS, the Sujalam Bharat App will help states adopt a structured digital approach, supporting future planning, repairs, expansions, and ensuring sustainable, safe water supply to rural households.

 

5. Bihar Launches ‘Bhumi Sudhar Samvad’ to Fast-Track Land Dispute Resolution and Curb Encroachments: The Bihar government has launched a new initiative, ‘Bhumi Sudhar Samvad’, starting 12 December, to accelerate the settlement of land disputes and improve transparency in land administration.The programme provides a public interface for citizens to present land documents for on-the-spot resolution of mutation, ownership, and documentation issues, initially in Patna, later in Lakhisarai.A specialised monitoring team, ‘Udan Dasta’, will be formed to detect and prevent land-related frauds, with officials instructed to process mutation applications promptly and avoid unjustified rejections.The government plans a targeted drive in March to remove encroachments from state-owned land, taking strict action against illegal occupants and corrupt staff, while offering rewards to credible informants.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UAE Tops Global Rankings as World’s Strongest Passport for 2025: UAE has been ranked the world’s strongest passport for 2025 with a mobility score of 179, offering its citizens the highest access to countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival.Singapore and Spain hold the second position with scores of 175, followed by a large group of European and Asian nations such as Belgium, France, Sweden, Germany, Japan, and South Korea with scores of 174.The Top 10 strongest passports list is dominated by European countries, with the U.S. ranked 9th and U.K. and Canada at 8th place, reflecting global mobility trends.India ranks 67th globally, indicating comparatively limited travel freedom when measured against top-tier passports.

 

2. 11 December – International Mountain Day: International Mountain Day is observed every year on 11 December to highlight the importance of mountains for ecosystems, biodiversity, and human livelihood.Theme 2025 – Glaciers matter for water, food and livelihoods in mountains and beyondThe day raises awareness about the sustainable development of mountain regions, which are home to nearly 15% of the global population.It draws attention to challenges faced by mountain communities, including climate change, soil erosion, poverty, and limited access to resources.

 

3. 11 December – UNICEF Day: UNICEF Day is observed annually on 11 December to commemorate the establishment of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 1946.The day highlights UNICEF’s work in promoting child rights, health, education, and overall well-being worldwide.Each year, a specific theme is chosen to focus on pressing issues affecting children, such as child nutrition, education, vaccination, or protection from violence.

 

4. 12 December – Universal Health Coverage Day: Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is observed every year on 12 December to raise awareness about the importance of accessible, affordable, and quality health care for all.Theme 2025 – Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!The day emphasises that everyone, everywhere should have access to essential health services without facing financial hardship.The observance aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3), aiming to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India to Recreate Ancient Sea Route as INSV Kaundinya Prepares for Historic Muscat Voyage: India is set to retrace its ancient maritime heritage as INSV Kaundinya, a hand-stitched replica of a 5th-century merchant ship, prepares for a historic voyage to Muscat later this month. The wooden vessel has sailed from the naval base at Karwar and is currently on an eight-day journey to Porbandar, Gujarat, from where it will embark on its international expedition across the Arabian Sea. INSV Kaundinya has been built using traditional shipbuilding techniques once prevalent along India’s western coast. Constructed on Divar Island in Goa, the 20-metre-long vessel has been stitched and lashed with coconut husk rope, sealed using fish oil and natural tree sap known as kundroos. No modern structural modifications have been introduced, ensuring authenticity in design and sailing capability, closely mirroring ancient Indian merchant ships depicted in historical records. The voyage from Porbandar to Muscat will follow ancient maritime trade routes that once connected India with West Asia, transporting spices, ivory, textiles, and other goods. The expedition will be undertaken by a 16-member crew trained extensively by the Indian Navy. Training included post-monsoon sea trials, rigging exercises, and carpentry sessions conducted by traditional artisans, ensuring the crew is equipped to manage the vessel under open-sea conditions.

 

SPORTS

 

1. India to Host First-Ever Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship in March 2026 with Over 24 Countries Participating: India will host the first-ever Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship from March 9 to 14, 2026, with participation expected from over 24 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.The event will feature 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams, following the format of the first Kho Kho World Cup held in New Delhi earlier this year, which included 23 nations.The Kho Kho Federation of India aims to use this championship as a stepping stone for inclusion in major international competitions such as the Doha Asian Games 2030, Commonwealth Games 2030 in Ahmedabad, and Brisbane Olympics 2032.

 

2. India Shines with Six Medals at ISSF World Cup Final 2025 in Doha: India concluded the ISSF World Cup Final 2025 in Doha with six medals (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze), all coming from rifle and pistol events as the country drew blank in shotgun.Simranpreet Kaur and Suruchi Singh clinched gold with junior world record–equalling and record-breaking performances in the 25m pistol and 10m air pistol events, respectively.India secured three silver medals through Sainyam (women’s 10m air pistol), Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions), and Anish Bhanwala (men’s 25m rapid fire pistol).Samrat Rana added a bronze in men’s 10m air pistol, while shotgun shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu reached the men’s trap final but finished seventh.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Tata Electronics and Intel Sign MoU to Boost Chip Manufacturing and AI Technology Ecosystem in India: Tata Electronics and Intel have signed an MoU to explore manufacturing and advanced packaging of Intel’s chips in India, including production at Tata’s upcoming semiconductor fab in Dholera (Gujarat) and packaging at the Guwahati OSAT facility.The collaboration aims to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem and expand capabilities in AI-driven technologies, with both companies targeting the fast-growing AI PC market in India.Tata’s Dholera fab, India’s first approved semiconductor fabrication facility, is being built under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), with operations expected to begin by 2027, employing around 2,000 people and costing over ₹91,000 crore.

 

2. India Launches First Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Passenger Vessel in Varanasi: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel-cell passenger vessel in Varanasi, marking a major step toward clean and sustainable inland water transport.Launched at Namo Ghat, the hydrogen-powered vessel showcases India’s advancing technological capabilities and places the country among global leaders like China, Norway, the Netherlands, and Japan operating hydrogen-driven vessels.The initiative aligns with the government’s broader push under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to modernise inland waterways, promote green energy, and enhance eco-friendly connectivity and public convenience.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Insurance Sector Opens Up as Cabinet Approves 100% FDI: The Union Cabinet has approved a bill to raise foreign direct investment in the insurance sector to 100 per cent, a major reform aimed at expanding insurance penetration and attracting global capital. The move follows the proposal announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget and marks a significant shift from the existing 74 per cent cap on foreign ownership. According to official sources, the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, has received Cabinet clearance and is expected to be introduced during the ongoing winter session of Parliament, which concludes on December 19. The bill is among 13 key legislations listed for the session and is designed to accelerate growth and development in the insurance sector while improving ease of doing business. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Insurance Act, 1938, along with consequential changes to the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. Besides raising the FDI limit to 100 per cent, the bill allows the merger of non-insurance companies with insurance companies and provides for the creation of a dedicated policyholder fund. Guardrails include a requirement that at least one key managerial position, such as chairman, managing director, or CEO, be held by an Indian citizen.

 

2. India Forex Reserves Rise to $687.26 Billion: India’s foreign exchange reserves recorded a marginal increase of $1.03 billion to $687.26 billion in the week ended December 5, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s latest Weekly Statistical Supplement. The rise was primarily supported by higher gold reserves, even as foreign currency assets declined slightly. The overall level of reserves remains close to the all-time high of $704.89 billion achieved in September 2024. Gold reserves rose by $1.033 billion to $106.984 billion during the reported week. The increase reflects the recent uptrend in global gold prices, driven by heightened geopolitical uncertainties and strong investment demand for the safe-haven asset. The rise in gold holdings helped offset the modest fall in other components of the reserve basket. Foreign currency assets, which form the largest share of India’s forex reserves, stood at $556.88 billion. This represented a decline of about $151 million from the previous week. Despite short-term fluctuations, the RBI has maintained that the overall reserve position remains robust and adequate to manage external sector risks.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Col Prateek Roy of Indian Army Receives Prestigious Geddes Gavel Award at Australian Defence College: Col Prateek Roy of the Indian Army was awarded the Geddes Gavel Award upon completing the Defence Strategic and Studies Course at the Australian Defence College, recognizing his outstanding performance.The award honors the student who demonstrates exceptional understanding of regional relationships, decision-making, and superior knowledge across political, diplomatic, military, cultural, and economic domains.The Indian High Commission in Canberra shared the achievement, highlighting it as a prestigious recognition of India’s military leadership and strategic expertise.

 

2. A’ja Wilson Named TIME’s 2025 Athlete of the Year After Historic WNBA Season: A’ja Wilson was named TIME’s 2025 Athlete of the Year, recognized for her outstanding performance on the court, leadership in women’s sports, and cultural impact, marking 2025 as a landmark year in her career.Led the Las Vegas Aces to their third WNBA championship in four years, earning multiple individual honors including WNBA MVP (4th time), Defensive Player of the Year (3rd time), Finals MVP (2nd time), scoring title, and fastest to 5,000 career points.