Weekly Current Affairs Test : 22nd to 31st December 2025

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) issued a Request for Proposal (RfP) to set up Antariksh Prayogshala (Space Labs) in select academic institutions. It is a first-of-its-kind IN-SPACe initiative to build advanced space labs inside Indian colleges and universities. Labs will give hands-on training to students in space technology across the country. IN-SPACe will fund 75% of project cost, capped at ₹5 crore per institution, released based on milestones.

China separated Hainan Island from mainland customs to support entry into a trans-Pacific trade deal and develop a Hong Kong-style commercial hub. Hainan is China’s southernmost tropical island, located in the northeastern Beibu Gulf, across the Qiongzhou Strait. It is known as the “Hawaii of China”. It covers 35,400 sq. km, the largest island administered by China. The island has a population of about 10 million; its capital Haikou is called the “Coconut City.”

A team of government officials recently visited encroached land areas inside Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary identified for compensatory afforestation, highlighting concerns over illegal occupation. Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Sonitpur district, Assam. It lies to the north of Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, forming a connected Laokhowa–Burachapori transboundary ecosystem.

A recent report by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) confirms that the Jiyo Parsi Scheme has successfully reached its target Parsi population. Jiyo Parsi is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2013–14 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to stop and reverse the population decline of the Parsi community. It aims to stabilize and increase the Parsi population using scientific protocols and structured interventions. Implementation is done through State Governments with support from Parsi institutions.

Chillai Kalan is a 40-day period of the harshest winter cold in Kashmir, starting 21 December and ending 30 January. The term Chillai Kalan comes from Persian, meaning “Major Cold.” It is followed by Chillai-Khurd (Small Cold) for 20 days from 31 January–19 February, and Chillai-Bacha (Baby Cold) for 10 days from 20 February–2 March. This period brings widespread snowfall, sub-zero temperatures and strong cold waves in Kashmir. Heavy snowfall during Chillai Kalan recharges water reservoirs, supporting rivers, lakes and streams in summer.

Tamil Nadu launched a conservation initiative to protect the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in the Cauvery River delta due to habitat loss and rising human–wildlife conflict. The programme will estimate population, map habitats, study threats like pollution, dams and pesticides, and restore habitats through reeds planting and fish ladders. Otters live in bevvies of 4–12, communicate with whistles and chirps, and control freshwater ecosystems by feeding on fish. Their numbers fell due to dams, contaminated water, plastic pollution, and loss of prey. It is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and protected under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Noida golfer Sukhman Singh won the IGU (Indian Golf Union) 124th Amateur Golf Championship of India, the world’s longest-running amateur matchplay event. He defeated Harman Sachdeva with a commanding 7UP lead after 29 holes of the 36-hole final. Sukhman went all square till the 6th, then 4UP after 12 holes and 2UP after 18 holes, maintaining pressure with strong driving and putting.

Oman introduced its first polymer one-rial banknote, to start circulation on 11 January 2026. It is issued by the Central Bank of Oman, replacing traditional cotton-based notes with durable polymer for longer life and better security. The note size is 145 × 76 mm and showcases Oman’s cultural and economic identity. Front side features the Oman Botanic Garden, symbolising commitment to natural heritage. Rear side shows Sayyid Tariq bin Taimur Cultural Complex, Duqm Port and Refinery, highlighting cultural and economic progress. The polymer notes will circulate alongside existing one-rial notes and remain legal tender.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft. MAVEN is a Mars orbiter that studied how the planet’s atmosphere escapes into space for over ten years. It is the first mission dedicated to studying the upper atmosphere of Mars. It is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program to understand Mars and its past habitability. The mission studied how atmospheric loss changed Mars’s climate over time.

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) will prepare a district-wise report on hills qualifying as part of the Aravalli Range for mining purposes. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is the apex national body for forestry research and education in India. It is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India. Its mission is to generate and share scientific knowledge for ecological security, livelihoods, and sustainable forest use. The headquarters of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Seventeen families of the Paliyar Tribe in Dindigul district petitioned the District Collector to recognise their settlement as a formal village. The Paliyar Tribe is an indigenous community living mainly in the hilly regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They are also known as Paliyans, Pazhaiyarares, and Panaiyars, based on region and history. Traditionally, they lived across Dindigul district and the Sirumalai and Palani hills near the Western Ghats. They speak a Tamil-related Dravidian dialect.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) stopped possible losses of ₹660 crore in six months. Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) was launched in May 2025 by the Department of Telecommunications (DOT’S) Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU). It is a risk-based system that marks mobile numbers as Medium, High, or Very High fraud risk. The classification uses data from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), Chakshu platform, banks, and financial institutions. It helps banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) providers protect customers.

To promote tourism and wildlife conservation, the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) administration in Kota launched a poster and trailer of a documentary titled Enchanting Mukundra. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, also called Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, spreads across Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar, and Chittorgarh districts of Rajasthan. It lies in a valley between the Mukundra and Gargola mountain ranges. It forms a vital wildlife corridor between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

Archaeologists discovered India’s largest circular stone labyrinth in the Boramani grasslands of Solapur, Maharashtra. It is made of small stone blocks arranged in multiple circular rings. The rings guide movement inward to a tightly coiled central spiral, showing high precision and symbolic meaning. The structure is linked to Indo-Roman trade during the Satavahana dynasty period. Soil accumulated between the stone rings indicates it remained untouched for several centuries. Its design resembles Mediterranean labyrinths seen on Roman-era coins. The central spiral reflects the Indian concept of Chakravyūha, a complex military formation described in the Mahabharata.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed User Evaluation Trials of the Akash Next Generation (Akash-NG) missile system. Akash-NG is a modern Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) defence system developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). It is designed to protect vital areas from enemy air attacks. It is the advanced successor of the Akash missile. The new version is lighter and more advanced. It uses an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, dual-pulse solid rocket motor, and fully indigenous radars with Command, Control, and Communication (C2) systems.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered Neelus sikkimensis in the high-altitude region of Sikkim. It is a new species of Collembola, which are tiny soil-dwelling micro-arthropods. This is the first time the genus Neelus has been recorded in India. With this discovery, the total number of Neelus species worldwide has increased to eight. The species has a microscopic body adapted to living deep inside soil and moss. It has no eyes, showing adaptation to dark underground environments.

The Prime Minister inaugurated Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It is a national memorial dedicated to the life, ideas, and values of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The complex is located on the banks of the Gomti River and spread over 65 acres. The lotus-shaped museum covers 98,000 square feet with five galleries and 12 interpretation walls showing the lives and ideas of the leaders.

Recent re-analysis of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Cassini spacecraft data suggests that Saturn’s moon Titan may not have a subsurface ocean as earlier believed. Titan is the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest in the solar system after Ganymede. It was discovered by Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens. Titan has a radius of about 2,575 kilometres and is much wider than Earth’s Moon. It is the only moon with a dense atmosphere, mainly nitrogen with some methane. Titan is the only world besides Earth with rivers, lakes, and seas of liquid on its surface. It has an Earth-like methane cycle with rain, flow, and evaporation.

Tiger numbers in Valmiki Tiger Reserve increased from 8 in 2010 to 54 in the 2022 census, showing strong conservation success. It is located on the India–Nepal border in West Champaran district of Bihar. It is Bihar’s only tiger reserve and marks the easternmost limit of Himalayan Terai forests in India. It lies in the Gangetic Plains bio-geographic zone with Bhabar and Terai landscapes. It borders Nepal’s Royal Chitwan National Park and the Gandak River. Several rivers drain the area, supporting rich forests, grasslands, and diverse wildlife.

India will soon have over 100 tsunami-ready villages under the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme in the Indian Ocean region. It is an international community-based programme developed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The programme aims to build resilient coastal communities through tsunami awareness and preparedness. Its main objective is to reduce loss of life, livelihoods, and property during tsunamis. Communities must meet 12 indicators covering risk assessment, preparedness, and response. Tsunami-ready villages show hazard mapping, evacuation plans, public display boards, 24-hour warning systems, and regular mock drills.

The Chhattisgarh government has intensified efforts to secure UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site status for Kanger Valley National Park. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has been assigned to conduct a biodiversity survey for submission to UNESCO. Currently, Kanger Valley National Park and the Sirpur archaeological site are on UNESCO’s Tentative List. Kanger Valley National Park is located in Jagdalpur, in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

Lantana camara is a highly invasive, strongly scented flowering shrub that has spread across millions of hectares in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions across the world. It is an invasive alien plant species, originally native to Central and South America, where it grew naturally as a harmless ornamental shrub. Due to failed control efforts worldwide, the IUCN declared Lantana camara one of the world’s worst invasive species in 2000. Climate change and global warming are accelerating its spread, although some local communities now use its woody stems for furniture and handicrafts, converting an ecological threat into a livelihood opportunity.

The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) India–NCB Carbon Uptake Report was released on the 63rd Foundation Day of the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB). NCB was established in 1962 as India’s apex research and development organisation for the cement and building materials sector. Its main objective is to promote scientific research and innovation related to cement manufacturing and building materials. NCB functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

On December 26, 2025, Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and economic sectors. Somaliland is located in the Horn of Africa and shares borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Puntland region, with a strategic coastline along the Gulf of Aden. Its capital city is Hargeisa.

Recently, the Prime Minister of India praised Narsapuram Lace Craft made by self-help groups of Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh during the “Man Ki Baat” programme. Narsapuram Lace Craft is primarily made in Andhra Pradesh. Narsapur is located on the banks of the Godavari River. About 150 years ago, women from farming families began making decorative items using colourful lace. It mainly uses fine cotton threads, along with silk, rayon, synthetic threads, beads, and sequins. The main tool used is a crochet hook of different sizes. It has received the Geographical Indication tag.

Recently, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH informed about the Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for AYUSH. AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homeopathy. The scheme supports Indian AYUSH drug manufacturers and service providers to boost exports. It aims to increase global awareness, acceptance, and recognition of AYUSH systems. It promotes international cooperation, expert exchange, academics, and research. The scheme is implemented by Ministry of AYUSH.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the ‘Green to Gold’ initiative to promote industrial hemp. The initiative aims to make Himachal self-reliant by 2027 and turn hemp into a valuable industrial and medicinal resource. Hemp grows in Kullu, Mandi, and Chamba, and has applications in pharmaceuticals, textiles, paper, cosmetics, biofuels, and eco-friendly construction. It requires 50% less water than traditional crops and grows in marginal soils, helping farmers facing wildlife damage. The ‘Hemp-Hub’ vision aims to make Himachal a centre for hemp-based products like hempcrete, textiles, and Ayurvedic medicines.

An under-construction ropeway to improve access to historic Rohtasgarh Fort in Rohtas district of Bihar collapsed during a trial run recently. Rohtasgarh Fort, also called Rohtas Fort, is located on the banks of the Sone River in Bihar. It is one of the largest forts in India and the world, spread over about 26 miles. The fort is situated on a hill around 1500 metres high with massive defensive walls. The complex has gates, palaces, temples and reservoirs showing Indo-Afghan architecture. It was built by Raja Harishchandra of the Solar dynasty and named after his son Rohitashva

China released rare footage of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile fired from a Type 055 guided missile destroyer warship. YJ-20, also called Eagle Strike-20, is a hypersonic anti-ship missile developed by China. It was first publicly displayed during China’s Victory Day military parade on 3 September 2025. The missile is designed to attack high-value naval assets like aircraft carriers at long ranges. It has a biconic aerodynamic shape that allows controlled glide after rocket boost. This shape creates shockwaves that protect control surfaces from extreme heat.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE),’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City became the first hospital worldwide to administer ITVISMA gene therapy. ITVISMA is a one-time gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), given on 28 December 2025. It replaces the defective Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. This enables production of survival motor neuron protein, targeting the root genetic cause. It is approved for patients aged two years and above, including adults. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare, progressive neuromuscular disorder causing muscle weakness and life-threatening complications. The therapy may improve motor function and reduce long-term treatment dependence.