Current Affairs 19 December 2025

PIB Current Affairs

Prime Minister Visit to Oman

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Oman from 17–18 December 2025 at the invitation of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, marking the 70th anniversary of India–Oman diplomatic relations.
• A major highlight was the signing of the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aimed at boosting trade, investment flows, job creation, and reducing trade barriers.
• Several MoUs were signed, including in maritime heritage and museums, agriculture and allied sectors, higher education, millet cultivation, and institutional business cooperation.
• The Prime Minister conferred with Order of Oman’ award.

Nuclear Waste Management in India

1. Overall Framework

• India follows a robust, safe, and internationally compliant nuclear waste management system.
• Practices are aligned with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines at all nuclear power plant sites.

2. Low & Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste

• Generated during routine operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants.
• Waste is:
  • Treated and concentrated
  • Compacted and immobilised using cement
• Final disposal takes place in Near Surface Disposal Facilities (NSDFs) located within plant premises.

3. Nearly Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle

• India follows a nearly closed fuel cycle approach.
• Spent nuclear fuel is reprocessed to:
  • Recover valuable fissile materials
  • Reuse them as fuel in future reactors
• This significantly reduces the overall volume of nuclear waste.

4. High-Level Radioactive Waste Management

• High-level waste generated during reprocessing is:
  • Vitrified (converted into an inert glass matrix)
• Stored safely in Solid Storage Surveillance Facilities (SSSFs) for interim storage.
• Storage methods meet international safety standards.

5. Safety and Environmental Assurance

• Continuous monitoring of disposal and storage sites is carried out.
• No release of radioactivity has been recorded so far.
• No adverse impact on public health and environment.

Common Logo for All Regional Rural Banks

On the principle of “One State One Regional Rural Bank (RRB)”, the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance consolidated 26 RRBs across 11 States/UTs, effective from 1 May 2025. After consolidation, 28 RRBs are now operational across India, serving rural and semi-urban areas through over 22,000 branches in more than 700 districts. To create a unified brand identity, a common logo for all 28 RRBs has been unveiled following the amalgamation drive.

The logo reflects the core mission of RRBs in rural development:

• Upward Arrow – symbol of progress, growth, and economic development
• Hands – symbol of nurturing, support, and inclusion
• Flame – symbol of enlightenment, knowledge, and empowerment

The colour scheme reinforces RRB objectives:

• Dark Blue – trust, stability, and finance
• Green – life, agriculture, and rural growth

Digital Tourism in India

What is Digital Tourism?
Digital Tourism refers to the use of digital technologies and online platforms to improve tourism services, enhance tourist safety, increase transparency, and ensure efficient service delivery across the tourism ecosystem. It includes online portals, digital approvals, helplines, data integration, and technology-driven governance.

Key Developments in India (2024–2025):

• The Ministry of Tourism introduced an online system via the NIDHI+ portal (National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry) for classification of accommodation units and recognition of tourism service providers, ensuring transparency and ease of doing business.
• The NIDHI+ portal is integrated with an online payment gateway, enabling end-to-end digital processing of applications.
• A 24×7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline (1800-111-363 / 1363) has been operationalised in 12 languages, including 10 international languages, to assist domestic and foreign tourists.
• States and UTs have strengthened on-ground safety through the deployment of Tourist Police, with support from the Ministry of Tourism.

Tourism Development Projects in Andhra Pradesh (2024–25)

The Government of India has sanctioned multiple tourism development projects in Andhra Pradesh under flagship schemes such as Swadesh Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASHAD, Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), and Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI). These initiatives aim to develop coastal, spiritual, heritage, eco, and iconic destinations, boosting tourism infrastructure, employment, and regional development.

1. Projects under Swadesh Darshan Scheme (Phase-I)

Circuit	Year	Project	Amount (₹ Cr)
Coastal Circuit	2014–15	Kakinada – Hope Island – Coringa – Yanam – Kotipally	67.83
Coastal Circuit	2015–16	Nellore – Pulicat – Mypadu – Ramateertham	49.55
Buddhist Circuit	2017–18	Shalihundam – Bavikonda – Amravati – Anupu	35.24

2. Projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0

Year	Destination	Experience	Amount (₹ Cr)
2024–25	Bapatla	Suryalanka Beach Experience	97.52
2023–24	Araku–Lambasingi	Borra Cave Experience	29.88

3. Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)

(Sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0)

Year	Destination	Theme	Amount (₹ Cr)
2024–25	Ahobilam	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
2024–25	Nagarjuna Sagar	Buddhist Culture & Heritage	25.00

4. Projects under PRASHAD Scheme

(Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive)

Year	Temple / Town	Amount (₹ Cr)
2015–16	Amaravati (Guntur)	27.77
2017–18	Srisailam Temple	43.08
2022–23	Simhachalam Temple	54.04
2024–25	Annavaram Temple Town	25.33

5. Projects under SASCI Scheme

(Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale)

Year	Project	Amount (₹ Cr)
2024–25	Gandikota Fort & Gorge Experience	77.91
2024–25	Akhanda Godavari (Rajahmundry)	94.44

Hindu Current Affairs

Protection of the Aravalli Range

• Supreme Court Intervention (Nov 2025): The Supreme Court settled on a uniform scientific definition of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges and paused the grant of fresh mining leases across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat until further review.
• Ecological Significance: The Aravalli range, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, acts as a natural barrier preventing the eastward spread of the Thar Desert into the Indo-Gangetic plains. It supports groundwater recharge, climate regulation, biodiversity, and is the source of rivers like Chambal, Sabarmati, and Luni.
• Mining Concerns: Excessive and illegal mining over decades has caused air pollution, groundwater depletion, and habitat loss. While a total ban was considered, the Court opted for regulated mining to avoid illegal mining mafias.
• CEC Recommendations: The Central Empowered Committee recommended scientific mapping of the entire range, a macro-level environmental impact assessment, prohibition of mining in ecologically sensitive zones, and strict regulation of stone-crushing units.
• Green Wall Initiative: In June 2025, the Centre launched the Aravalli Green Wall Project to expand green cover in a 5-km buffer zone across 29 districts, aiming to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, in line with India’s commitments under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

Thailand Cambodia Border Dispute

• In December 2025, clashes re-erupted along the Thailand Cambodia disputed border, with Thailand conducting airstrikes into Cambodian territory after accusing Phnom Penh of violating a U.S.-brokered ceasefire signed in October 2025.
• The conflict centres on undemarcated sections of the 817-km border, inherited from colonial-era treaties (1904–1907) between France and Siam, and especially around the 11th-century Preah Vihear Hindu temple.
• Although the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 1962 and reaffirmed in 2013 that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia, surrounding areas remain contested, fuelling nationalist tensions.
• The latest ceasefire was enforced after U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomatic intervention, including threats of 36% tariffs on exports, pushing both sides to halt active hostilities, though tensions persist.

Hurun India Self Made Entrepreneurs List 2025

Deepinder Goyal, founder of Eternal (formerly Zomato Ltd.), has topped the IDFC FIRST Private & Hurun India Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025 list. His company Eternal is valued at ₹3.2 lakh crore, registering a 27% increase compared to last year’s valuation. Radhakishan Damani, founder of Avenue Supermarts (DMart), who ranked first last year, slipped to second position with a valuation of ₹3 lakh crore, reflecting a 13% decline.

Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs

Vasudeva Kutumbakam International Township in Tirupati

• Della Townships, in partnership with the Andhra Pradesh State Government, will develop the Vasudeva Kutumbakam International Township in Tirupati.
• The project was formalised through an MoU signed during the CII–Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.
• Spread over 1,400 acres, the township will have a gross development value of about ₹35,000 crore and is expected to generate around 20,000 jobs, with 80% reserved for locals.
• A key highlight is the world’s first 5,000-year ‘Living Exhibition’ on Hinduism, along with luxury residences, five-star resorts, adventure parks, wellness facilities, and tourism infrastructure, developed in collaboration with TTD and the AP Tourism Department.

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