Current Affairs One-liners — 22 December 2025

Mon, 22 Dec 2025

• India and New Zealand announced the conclusion of Free Trade Agreement negotiations on 22 December 2025, giving zero-duty access to 100% of India's exports and a New Zealand commitment to facilitate USD 20 billion of investment over 15 years.
• The Index of Eight Core Industries rose 1.8% (provisional) in November 2025 over November 2024, with cement, steel, fertilizer and coal recording positive growth, the Commerce Ministry said on 22 December 2025.
• India and New Zealand concluded negotiations on the Financial Services Annex of their Free Trade Agreement on 22 December 2025, with provisions on fast payment systems, fintech sandboxes and financial data.
• The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on 22 December 2025 approved forming the Kashi-Vindhya Region and a regional development authority covering seven districts of eastern UP.
• NITI Aayog released a policy report, 'Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations', on 22 December 2025, prepared with an IIT Madras-led consortium.
• The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on 22 December 2025 approved continuing Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 for 2026-27 to 2030-31 and ₹2,508.21 crore for the Badwah–Dhamnod four-lane road.
• 'Anjadip', the third of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, was delivered to the Indian Navy at Chennai on 22 December 2025.
• Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on 22 December 2025 inaugurated the Dishom Guru Shibu Soren Engineering (JEE) and Medical (NEET) Coaching Institute at Hindpiri, Ranchi, offering free coaching to 300 Scheduled Tribe students.
• The Department of Telecommunications said on 22 December 2025 that its Financial Fraud Risk Indicator prevented about ₹660 crore of cyber fraud losses in six months, with over 1,000 banks and payment entities now on its Digital Intelligence Platform.
• India Optel Limited signed a collaboration agreement with France's Safran Electronics & Defense in New Delhi on 22 December 2025 for transfer of production of the SIGMA 30N inertial navigation system and the CM3-MR direct firing sight.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management, at its 26th full meeting on 22 December 2025, ratified the revised Graded Response Action Plan and an expert committee on vehicular pollution headed by Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala.
• Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on 22 December 2025 launched the Tamil Nadu Corporate Social Responsibility (TNCSR) portal and TiNAI, the Tamil Nadu Land Use Information System.