Current Affairs This Week (21 to 27 December 2025) for UPSC, SSC

Stay ahead in your competitive exam preparation with our comprehensive weekly roundup. This article covers the most significant developments from December 21 to December 27, 2025, spanning national politics, global shifts, sporting milestones, and breakthrough technologies essential for aspirants.

National News Headlines

1. VB-G RAM G Act Replaces MGNREGA: President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar Mission, guaranteeing 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually.

2. Indian Army Launches Winter Ops: Following intel on terror activities, the Army intensified high-altitude operations in Jammu as the “Chillai Kalan” winter period commenced on December 21.

3. Railway Ministry Hikes Fares: Effective December 26, train ticket prices increased by 1-2 paise per km for various classes to support infrastructure upgrades and operational costs.

4. Visa Services Suspended in Chittagong: India indefinitely suspended visa operations at its Chittagong center in Bangladesh due to heightened regional tensions and security concerns.

5. PM Modi Chairs National Conference: The Prime Minister led a high-level conference on December 27 focusing on internal security and state-level policy implementation across India.

6. Bihar CM Meets Top Leadership: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted a two-day Delhi tour to discuss state development and alliance strategies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

7. Maharashtra Civic Poll Results: Recounting was ordered in Kamptee municipal polls following a narrow BJP victory, while the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance claimed wins in Palghar.

8. Assam Land Rights Debate: PM Modi criticized past administrations for neglecting tea plantation workers’ land rights while emphasizing the protection of indigenous communities in eastern Assam.

9. J&K Launches Gen-Z Post Office: A new digitally-integrated post office designed for younger generations was inaugurated in Jammu & Kashmir to modernize traditional postal services.

10. Aravalli Conservation Framework: The Union Government clarified a new definition for the Aravalli range, aiming for stricter conservation frameworks amid political debates over mining expansion.

International News Headlines

1. US Shifts H-1B Selection: The United States officially moved toward a wage-based selection system for H-1B visas, prioritizing high-skilled workers with higher salary offers.

2. Israel Approves West Bank Settlements: The security cabinet authorized 19 new settlements in the West Bank, a move drawing significant international attention regarding Middle East peace.

3. UK Implements HFSS Ad Ban: New regulations in the UK now restrict advertisements for high-fat, salt, and sugar foods before 9 PM to combat childhood obesity.

4. AI Advertising Backlash: Global brands like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola faced public criticism for campaigns replacing human creators with AI-generated models during the holiday season.

5. Meta Leaks on Teen Retention: Internal documents revealed Instagram’s intensive strategy to regain teen users from competitors like TikTok through revamped short-form content formats.

6. Germany Signals Territorial Concessions: Reports surfaced indicating Germany might support territorial concessions to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict, sparking diplomatic debates across Europe.

7. US Immigration Suspension: The US President announced a temporary suspension of immigration applications from 19 non-European nations, citing national security and administrative reviews.

8. Hyper-Local Ad Trends in India: Global platforms like Snapchat shifted focus toward India’s smaller cities, moving away from “one-size-fits-all” metro-centric marketing strategies.

9. Alphabet’s Energy Data Move: Google’s parent company, Alphabet, acquired Intersect for $4.75 billion to integrate green energy data with advanced AI analytics.

10. Operation Hockey Strike: The United States launched “Operation Hockey Strike,” a focused international maritime security initiative aimed at protecting trade routes.

Sports News Headlines

1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Historic 150: The young batting sensation set a historic record with a brilliant 150-run knock, further cementing his place as a rising star.

2. India Women Sweep Series: The Indian Women’s cricket team secured a 3-0 series victory against their opponents on December 27, dominating both batting and bowling.

3. Man City’s Sixth Straight Win: Rayan Cherki’s late winner against Nottingham Forest propelled Manchester City to their sixth consecutive Premier League victory.

4. SAFF Women’s Club Championship: Regional football action intensified as top clubs competed for the SAFF title, showcasing growing talent in South Asian women’s football.

5. Hockey India League Preparations: Teams finalized their rosters this week as the league prepares for a grand revival in early 2026 with international stars.

6. Cycling Event Updates: Major national cycling competitions across India saw record participation, highlighting the sport’s growing popularity beyond professional circuits.

7. Mumbai Marathon Registration News: Organizers announced the final dates and safety protocols for the upcoming Mumbai Marathon, expected to draw thousands of global runners.

8. Indian Army’s Sports Outreach: The Army organized several “Khel Mela” events in border areas this week to promote grassroots sports and talent identification.

9. Ranji Trophy Mid-Season Review: Vidarbha and Mumbai emerged as top contenders as the Ranji Trophy 2025 season reached a critical juncture this December.

10. National Games 2027 Venue: Meghalaya was officially highlighted as the host for the 39th National Games, with infrastructure projects reaching 70% completion this week.

Technology News Headlines

1. HCLSoftware’s AI Acquisition: HCLSoftware acquired “Wobby,” a Belgian AI data analyst agent creator, to enhance its “Agentic BI” and autonomous AI capabilities.

2. DeepTech Funding Surge: Indian deeptech startups attracted over $1.5 billion in 2025, with major deals closed this week for AI-driven semiconductor design.

3. Unconventional Inc. Valuation: The AI startup founded by ex-Databricks head Naveen Rao reached a $5 billion valuation following a massive funding round.

4. WhatsApp ‘Ghost Pairing’ Warning: Cybersecurity experts warned users against a new hijacking technique called “Ghost Pairing” that targets secondary device links.

5. In-Space Space Labs: The Indian government announced the establishment of new space labs to support private startups in satellite and propulsion technology.

6. Hippocratic AI Series C: The healthcare-focused AI firm raised $126 million to expand its operations, focusing on safe and accurate LLMs for medical use.

7. TIDE 2.0 Tech Scheme: The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) expanded the TIDE 2.0 scheme to support more tech-based startups in Tier-2 cities.

8. Sustainability Analytics Growth: New reports highlighted a 40% surge in demand for AI tools that track ESG and corporate sustainability metrics this year.

9. Mindgrove Technologies Funding: The Indian semiconductor startup secured fresh funding for the commercial deployment of its AI-driven hardware infrastructure.

10. Agentic BI Trend: Industry experts identified “Agentic BI”—AI that can discern business context and act autonomously—as the top tech trend for 2026.

Awards This Week

1. PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar: President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious award to young achievers, including cricket prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, on December 27.

2. Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Scientists were honored at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 24 for groundbreaking innovations in space, medicine, and engineering.

3. Transformational Leader Award: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah received the ‘Transformational Leader of the Year’ award for his contributions to global cricket administration.

4. 40 Under 40 Lawyer Award: Advocate Shubham Awasthi was honored with the prestigious ’40 Under 40 Lawyer Award’ 2025 for excellence in legal services.

5. French Chevalier Award: Ravi Deecee was conferred with the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for promoting cultural ties through literature.

6. Turner Prize Winner: Nnena Kalu made history as the first artist with a learning disability to win the prestigious Turner Prize for contemporary art.

7. Best Health Tech Institute: PGIMER Chandigarh retained its top spot as India’s premier institute for Health Technology Assessment in the 2025 rankings.

8. Singapore Changi Airport: Changi was once again named the “World’s Best Airport 2025,” maintaining its global lead in passenger experience and technology.

9. Air India Travel Award: Air India bagged the “Best Domestic Airline” title at the 2025 Travel + Leisure Awards for its service improvements.

10. UNESCO Climate Leadership: Supriya Sahu won the UNEP Champions of the Earth 2025 award for her outstanding contributions to climate and environmental leadership.

Events & Important Days (Dec 21–27)