Current Affairs Quiz — 23 December 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who was conferred the Rashtriya Vigyan Ratna Puraskar 2025 (posthumously) on 23 December 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Jayant Vishnu Narlikar
PIB 2207860: the Vigyan Ratna for lifetime achievement was awarded posthumously to astrophysicist Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar.
The Rashtriya Vigyan Team Puraskar 2025 was won by which team, credited with the 'Purple Revolution'?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — CSIR Aroma Mission
PIB 2207860: the Vigyan Team Award went to the CSIR-led Aroma Mission, which promoted lavender cultivation in the Himalayan region ('Purple Revolution').
Consider the following statements about the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025: 1. It was the second edition of the awards. 2. The Vigyan Yuva–Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award is for scientists below the age of 45. 3. Lavender cultivation promoted by the winning team began at Bhaderwah and Gulmarg. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB 2207860: the 2025 ceremony was the second edition; Vigyan Yuva–SSB is for scientists below 45; and lavender entrepreneurship began from Bhaderwah and Gulmarg in J&K. All three are correct.
Kisan Diwas (National Farmers' Day), observed on 23 December, marks the birth anniversary of which former Prime Minister?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Chaudhary Charan Singh
ICAR: Kisan Diwas, observed annually on 23 December, commemorates the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Chaudhary Charan Singh, whose birth anniversary is observed as Kisan Diwas, was India's Prime Minister in which order?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Fifth
ICAR-IIWM report (23.12.2025): National Farmers' Day commemorates the birth anniversary of India's fifth Prime Minister, Shri Chaudhary Charan Singh.
What is the total installed capacity of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, whose first unit began commercial operation in December 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 2,000 MW
PIB 2207797: the Subansiri Lower project is 2,000 MW (8 × 250 MW); the North-East will receive 1,000 MW from it.
The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is located along the border of which two states?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
Deccan Herald and TOI: the project at Gerukamukh is situated along the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border.
Consider the following statements about the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project: 1. It is designed as a run-of-the-river scheme with small pondage. 2. Its dam is a 116-metre concrete gravity dam, the largest in North-East India. 3. It is being developed by NTPC Limited. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2207797: Subansiri Lower is a run-of-the-river scheme with small pondage and has a 116-m concrete gravity dam, the largest in the North-East. The developer is NHPC, not NTPC, so statement 3 is wrong.
Which of the following correctly describes the Akash-NG missile system whose User Evaluation Trials were completed in December 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Indigenous RF seeker and solid rocket motor
PIB 2207971: Akash-NG is equipped with an indigenous RF seeker and propelled by a solid rocket motor.
Representatives of which service witnessed the User Evaluation Trials of Akash-NG?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Indian Air Force
PIB 2207971: the trials were witnessed by senior DRDO scientists and user representatives from the Indian Air Force.
Vinod Kumar Shukla, who died on 23 December 2025, was the first Jnanpith Award winner from which state?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Chhattisgarh
The Hindu and NDTV (PTI): Shukla was the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive the Jnanpith Award.
Which work of Vinod Kumar Shukla won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Deewar Mein Ek Khirkee Rahati Thi
The Tribune and Indian Express: 'Deewar Mein Ek Khirkee Rahati Thi' won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999.
Consider the following statements about Vinod Kumar Shukla: 1. He received the 59th Jnanpith Award. 2. He was born in Rajnandgaon. 3. The Jnanpith Award was presented to him at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
NDTV and The Tribune: he got the 59th Jnanpith and was born on 1 January 1937 in Rajnandgaon. The award was presented on 21 November 2025 at his residence in Raipur, not at Rashtrapati Bhavan, so statement 3 is wrong.
As announced by MoSPI in December 2025, what will be the base year of the new Consumer Price Index series?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2024
PIB 2207861: the new series of CPI with base year 2024 is scheduled for release on 12 February 2026.
Consider the following statements about MoSPI's base revision plans announced in December 2025: 1. The new National Accounts (GDP) series will have 2022-23 as base year. 2. The new IIP series is scheduled for release before the new CPI series. 3. GST and PFMS data will be among the new data sources used. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1 and 3 only
PIB 2207861: GDP and IIP will have base 2022-23, and GST and PFMS are new data sources. The new CPI is due on 12 February 2026 while the new IIP is due on 28 May 2026, so statement 2 is wrong.
Where was MoSPI's first pre-release consultative workshop on the base revision of GDP, CPI and IIP held?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Mumbai
PIB 2207861: the first pre-release consultative workshop was held on 26 November 2025 at Mumbai; the second was on 23 December 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Which shipyard built 'Samudra Pratap', the Indian Coast Guard's first indigenously designed Pollution Control Vessel inducted in December 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Goa Shipyard Limited
PIB 2208089: Samudra Pratap (Yard 1267) was built under the two-PCV project of Goa Shipyard Limited.
Samudra Pratap is the first Indian Coast Guard ship to be equipped with which capability?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Dynamic Positioning (DP-1)
PIB 2208089: the PCV is the first Indian Coast Guard ship to be equipped with Dynamic Positioning capability (DP-1).
Consider the following statements about ICGS Samudra Pratap: 1. It is the largest ship in the Indian Coast Guard fleet. 2. It has over 60% indigenous content. 3. Its displacement is about 6,100 tonnes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB 2208089: Samudra Pratap is the largest ship in the ICG fleet with over 60% indigenous content. Its displacement is 4,170 tonnes, so statement 3 is wrong.
In how many Scheduled districts of Jharkhand will the PESA rules approved by the state Cabinet on 23 December 2025 apply?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 15
UNI and IANS: the PESA rules clear the way for the law to become operational across 15 Scheduled districts of Jharkhand.
The PESA Act, whose implementation rules Jharkhand approved in December 2025, was enacted in which year?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1996
PIB 2208189 and UNI: the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act dates from 1996.
Under the Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023, coal-based thermal plants must use a minimum blend of crop-residue pellets or briquettes of:
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 5%
PIB 2207853: the 2023 Rules mandate all coal-based TPPs to use a minimum 5% blend of biomass pellets or briquettes made of crop residue along with coal.
Which thermal power plant faced the largest proposed environmental compensation in CAQM's show cause notices of December 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, Mansa
PIB 2207853: Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (Vedanta), Mansa, Punjab faced a proposed EC of about ₹33.02 crore, the highest of the six.
Under the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025, who now approves the opening of a coal mine or seam by a coal company?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Board of the concerned coal company
PIB 2208844: the authority to approve mine/seam opening has been vested with the board of the concerned coal company; prior CCO permission is dispensed with.
Consider the following statements about the Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025: 1. They amend Rule 9 of the Colliery Control Rules, 2004. 2. Entities other than companies no longer need any approval to open a mine. 3. The company must submit information about mine opening to the Coal Controller's Organisation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1 and 3 only
PIB 2208844: Rule 9 of the 2004 Rules was amended and companies must inform the CCO. For entities other than companies, approval continues to be through the CCO, so statement 2 is wrong.
How many internships a year will be offered under the Sports Ministry's Comprehensive Internship Policy launched in December 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 452
PIB 2207862: under the new policy, 452 internships will be offered annually across MYAS and its key institutions.
Which of the following is NOT named among the bodies offering internships under the Sports Ministry's December 2025 internship policy?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education
PIB 2207862: the key institutions named are SAI, NADA and NDTL, along with the Ministry itself.
In the 14th round of commercial coal block auctions (bids opened on 23 December 2025), how many bids were received?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 49
PIB 2207831: 49 bids were received against 24 of the 41 coal blocks offered; 11 companies participated.
On which portal is the electronic auction of commercial coal blocks conducted?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — MSTC portal
PIB 2207831: technically qualified bidders will be shortlisted for the electronic auction to be conducted on the MSTC portal.
India's first VR-based mine simulator for coal mining safety, inaugurated in December 2025, was developed by which institute?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
PIB 2207948: the VRMS was developed by IIT (ISM) Dhanbad in collaboration with Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries NCL and ECL.
The Centre of Excellence inaugurated at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on 23 December 2025 was set up under which mission?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — National Critical Minerals Mission
PIB 2207948: the minister inaugurated the Center of Excellence under the National Critical Minerals Mission hosted in IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.