Current Affairs 17 December 2025

PIB Current Affairs

Prime Minister Visit to Jordan

Narendra Modi paid a historic visit to Jordan on December 15–16, 2025, marking his first full-fledged bilateral visit to the country. The visit coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Jordan, underscoring the growing strategic partnership.

During the visit, five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed covering renewable energy, water resource management, cultural exchange, digital solutions, and a twinning agreement between Petra (Jordan) and Ellora (India). India and Jordan also agreed to strengthen economic ties, with a target to enhance bilateral trade to US$ 5 billion over the next five years. Currently, India is Jordan’s third-largest trading partner, and Jordan remains a key supplier of phosphates and potash fertilisers critical for Indian agriculture.

Jordan Country

• Jordan Capital – Amman
• Jordan Currency – Jordanian Dinar
• Jordan King – Abdullah II

Sunlight driven method to break carbon-fluorine bond

Scientists at the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (DST autonomous institute) have developed a sunlight-driven, eco-friendly method to break the extremely strong carbon–fluorine (C–F) bond, a key challenge in recycling fluorinated chemicals and designing useful organic derivatives. They engineered a covalent organic framework (COF)—a porous, stable and tunable crystalline material—into a heterogeneous photocatalyst.

Hindu Current Affairs

Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner

Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of the Central Information Commission. The oath of office was administered by the President of India. Following his appointment, Mr. Goyal administered the oath to eight new Information Commissioners—Surendra Singh Meena, Ashutosh Chaturvedi, Swagat Das, Sudha Rani Relangi, P.R. Ramesh, Khushwant Singh Sethi, Jaya Varma Sinha, and Sanjeev Kumar Jindal. The Central Information Commission established under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with a strength of up to 10 members (1 CIC + 10 ICs as per provisions) has achieved a full panel for the first time in nine years.

Central Information Commission (CIC)

The Central Information Commission (CIC) is a statutory body established under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) to protect, promote, and enforce the right to information for Indian citizens. It functions as the apex appellate authority under the RTI framework at the Central level. It is not a constitutional body.

Appointment is based on the recommendation of a committee comprising:

• Prime Minister (Chairperson)
• Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha
• A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister

Tenure & Service Conditions

• Tenure: Up to 5 years or until attaining 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.

International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Award

The 2025 ICTP Prize has been awarded to Titas Chanda of IIT Madras and Sthitadhi Roy of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences. The award was announced by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). The prize recognises their exceptional contributions to the theory of quantum many-body systems. The ICTP Prize, instituted in 1982, is awarded annually to young scientists from developing countries and was founded by Nobel laureate Abdus Salam (1979 Nobel Prize Winner from Pakistan) .

Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs

Government approves incentives for ₹61 crore Radisson Resort

The Andhra Pradesh government has approved a package of incentives for Yaganti Estates to develop a ₹61.32 crore Radisson resort at Pandurangapuram in Adavi village, Bapatla district, under the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy 2024–2029. The incentive package includes 100% reimbursement of net State GST for up to 10 years or until full recovery of fixed capital investment, an additional capital incentive of 10% (capped at ₹10 crore) payable in five annual instalments, electricity at industrial tariffs, reimbursement of electricity duty for five years, and 100% reimbursement of stamp duty on mortgage and hypothecation.

India’s first Aviation, Aerospace and Defence (AAD) Educity

Andhra Pradesh Minister for IT and Human Resources Development (HRD), is set to launch India’s first Aviation, Aerospace and Defence (AAD) Educity at Bhogapuram. The project, known as the GMR MANSAS Educity Project.

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