Current Affairs 19 December 2025

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

IAF Hosts Bilateral Air Exercise AviaIndra-2025 with RussiaThe Indian Air Force (IAF) commenced the 3rd edition of Exercise AviaIndra (2025), a bilateral air exercise with the Russian Federation Aerospace Force (RFASF), scheduled to be conducted from 15th December to 22nd December 2025 in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The exercise aims to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, improve mutual understanding, and strengthen aerospace operational synergy.

About Exercise AviaIndra-2025:
Strategic Ties: The exercise reflects the long-standing, trust-based defence partnership between India and Russia and reinforces continued military engagement.
Participating Assets: The drills involve Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighters, indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, IL-78 aerial refuellers, and Mil Mi-17 helicopters operating in an integrated manner.
Operational Scope: Joint missions include air superiority tasks, coordinated aerial manoeuvres, tactical planning, and exchange of best practices.
Technology Focus: India and Russia emphasized collaboration in niche military technologies and indigenous capability development under initiatives like Make in India.
Background: The AviaIndra series, launched in 2014, is a biennial India–Russia air exercise focused on joint flying operations and operational coordination.
Previous editions: Exercise AviaIndra was conducted in two phases, with Phase I held in Russia and Phase II in India for both the 2014 and 2018 editions.
Disruptions: The AviaIndra exercise was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020–2021 and later saw a prolonged pause following the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine conflict in 2022–2024.
About Indian Air Force (IAF):
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)- Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1950

TRAI Mandates Adoption of 1600-Series Numbers for Service Calls by IRDAI-Regulated Entities
On December 17, 2025, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), under the Ministry of Communications, directed all the entities, regulated by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), to adopt “1600” series phone numbers for service and transactional calls to consumers by 15 February 2026.

About TRAI’s 1600-Series Numbers:
1600 Series: The “1600” numbering series is a special range assigned by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communications, for use by Banking, Financial Services, Insurance (BFSI) entities and select government bodies.
Legitimate Calls Identification: The aim is to ensure that customers can easily identify legitimate calls from regulated financial institutions and differentiate them from spam or fraud calls.
Objectives: To enhance consumer trust in financial communications, curb spam and unsolicited calls, and prevent voice-call fraud and impersonation scams where fraudsters mimic official calls from insurers.

DPIIT Launches Digital Module for e-B-4 Visa to Generate Sponsorship Letters Online
On December 17, 2025, the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), launched a new digital module that enabled Indian companies to generate Indian sponsorship letters online for inviting foreign professionals under the electronic (e)-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa) on the National Single Window System (NSWS).

• Launched on November 29, 2025, the module is part of business visa reforms to simplify processes and enhance ease of doing business.

About e-B-4 Visa: 
Key Reforms: Activities like equipment installation, commissioning, and payment of fees/royalties have moved from employment to business visas.

• The B-4 Visa lets foreign experts support production-linked activities, including Quality Control(QC) and audits, training, supply chain, and plant design.
• The e-B-4 Visa has replaced the older electronic Production-Linked Incentive Visa (e-PLI Visa).

Application: The e-B-4 Visa is applied online through the NSWS module, enabling Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) and non-PLI companies to instantly generate digital sponsorship letters with auto-populated forms and Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA)/Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) authentication.

• Each letter carries a unique Identification(ID) for the e-visa application, integrated via Application Programming Interfaces(APIs) for a seamless process.

Bannerghatta Zoo Welcomes Eight Black-Capped Capuchin Monkeys
In December 2025, Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP), Bengaluru(Karnataka) has received eight black-capped capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) four males and four females under an international animal exchange programme.

• The capuchins landed at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (Karnataka) around 9 pm on 14 December 2025 and were transported to BBP the same day.

Import: The eight black-capped capuchin monkeys were imported from Induna Primate and Parrot Park in South Africa.
About Black-Capped Capuchin Monkeys: 
Features: It is a medium-sized primate with dark brown or black fur and a distinctive black cap on its head, a light-colored face, and a long prehensile tail.
Habitat: The black-capped Capuchin monkeys, native to Central and South America, found in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, and Guyana.
Purpose of the exchange: The exchange aims to strengthen conservation initiatives, enhance genetic diversity of the captive population, promote visitor awareness, and support scientific research at BBP.
Bannerghatta Biological Park: It is located about 22 Kilometer (Km) south of Bengaluru, part of Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) and spans over 260 Km. It features a Zoological Park (ZP), safari, and butterfly park.

India and Saudi Arabia Signed Visa Waiver Agreement to Facilitate Official Travel
In December 2025, India and Saudi Arabia (SA) signed a bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement (VWA) in Riyadh to facilitate official travels and strengthen bilateral exchanges under the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) in Riyadh, SA.
Signatories: The agreement was signed by Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan and Abdulmajeed bin Rashed Alsmari, Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

About Visa Waiver Agreement:
Visa Agreement: Provides mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, streamlining official travel.
Limitation: The waiver does not apply to ordinary passport holders, tourists, or business travelers.
Strategic Council: The SPC is a high-level mechanism to deepen bilateral collaboration across defence, energy, investments, and cultural exchange.
Economic Ties: India is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest trading partner, after China, and Saudi Arabia is India’s fifth-largest partner, with bilateral trade reaching USD 39.9 billion in 2024.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Ethiopia from December 16 to December 17, 2025Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was on a 2-day official visit to Ethiopia from December 16 to 17, 2025 as the 2nd leg of his 3-nation tour (Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman), at the invitation of Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister (PM) of Ethiopia.

• This marked PM Modi’s 1st ever bilateral visit to the African nation.

Key Highlights:
Bilateral Meeting: During his visit to Ethiopia, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed at the National Palace (in Addis Ababa), where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome.

• The meeting was held in one-on-one, restricted and delegation-level formats, during which both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations, rooted in long-standing civilisational links and strengthened by close people-to-people ties.

Addressed Joint Session of Ethiopian Parliament: During his visit, PM Modi addressed the joint session of the Parliament of Ethiopia.

• With this, the Ethiopian Parliament has become the 18th parliament worldwide to be addressed by PM Modi.

Elevation to Strategic Partnership: India and Ethiopia have elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership (SP), marking a major step in strengthening cooperation between the two Global South partners.
3 MoUs: Following the bilateral meeting, PM Modi and his Ethiopian counterpart witnessed the exchange of 3 key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in areas like: customs cooperation, United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping training, and data infrastructure.

• Custom Cooperation: India and Ethiopia signed an agreement on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance on custom matters.
• UN Peacekeeping Operations: Both countries signed a MoU which aimed at implementing arrangements for co-operation in UN Peacekeeping operations training.
• Establishment of Data Centre: Also, both countries signed a MoU for setting up a data centre at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

MoU on Debt Restructuring: India and Ethiopia signed a MoU on Debt Restructuring in respect of Ethiopia under the Group-20 (G20) Common Framework.
About Ethiopia:
Prime Minister (PM)- Abiy Ahmed Ali
Capital- Addis Ababa
Currency- Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
>>Read Full News

India-UAE Joint Military Drill ‘DESERT CYCLONE-II’ Commenced at Abu DhabiOn December 18 2025, the 2nd edition of the joint military exercise “DESERT CYCLONE-II” between the armies of India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), commenced at Abu Dhabi, the capital city of UAE, that will run till December 30, 2025.

• The two-week long military exercise aimed to enhance interoperability and foster defence cooperation between the Indian Army (IA) and the UAE Land Forces through joint training in urban environments.
• The exercise will focus on sub-conventional operations under a United Nations (UN) mandate, enabling the forces of both countries to operate together in peacekeeping, counter-terrorism and stability operations.

About Desert Cyclone-II:
Key Participants: The Indian contingent includes 45 personnel, mainly from a battalion of The Mechanised Infantry Regiment.

• The UAE Land Forces contingent comprises 53 personnel from Mechanised Infantry Battalion.

Planned Drills: During the exercise, troops from both countries will train in a range of tactical drills, including fighting in built-up areas, heliborne operations and detailed mission planning.

• The exercise will also include the integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and counter-UAS techniques for conduct of operations in built-up areas.

Significance: DESERT CYCLONE-II reflects the strengthening strategic partnership between India and the UAE and is expected to further bolster military-to-military relations.

• It also reaffirms the shared commitment of both countries to regional peace, security and stability.

Previous Edition: India hosted the 1st edition of Desert Cyclone-I at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (MFFR) in Rajasthan in January 2024.
Defence Engagements: Exercise DESERT CYCLONE-II, following recent high-level defence visits including the UAE Land Forces Commander (27–28 October 2025) and the UAE Presidential Guard Commander (15–19 December 2025), aims to further deepen India–UAE bilateral defence cooperation.
About the United Arab Emirates (UAE):
President- Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Capital- Abu Dhabi
Currency- UAE Dirham (AED)

BANKING & FINANCE

SEBI announces major market reforms in its 212th board meeting

In December 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), at its 212th board meeting held in Mumbai, Maharashtra, approved a series of regulatory reforms aimed at simplifying market regulations, lowering transaction costs and enhancing cost transparency.
Rationalisation of brokerage limits:
Cash market transactions: The existing brokerage cap of 12 bps includes statutory levies. The cap on brokerage, net of statutory levies amounts to 8.59 bps, which has nowbeen reduced to 6 bps (exclusive of levies).
Derivative  transactions: The  existing  brokerage  cap  of  5  bps includes statutory levies. The cap on brokerage, net of statutory levies amounts to 3.89 bps, which has now been reduced to 2 bps

• The additional 5 bps currently permitted to be charged to schemes with exit loads as a transitory measure has now been removed.

Other Key Highlights:
Unclaimed Amount transfer: Presently unclaimed amounts are transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) / Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF) after 7 years of remaining unclaimed.
MF Regulations 2026: The SEBI Board, at its meeting held on December 17, 2025, approved the changes  proposed,  pursuant  to  the  review  of  the  SEBI  (Mutual  Funds) Regulations, 1996. The new SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 2026, are designed  to  offer  stakeholders  greater clarity,  improved  readability,  and enhanced structural coherence.
>>Read Full News

Axis Bank, Google Pay Launches ‘Google Play Flex Axis Bank Credit Card’ on RuPay Network
In December 2025, Google’s mobile payment service Google Pay in partnership with Axis Bank Limited, one of India’s largest Private Sector lenders, launched the ‘Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card’, Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-powered co-branded credit card.

• This newly launched co-branded credit, built on the RuPay payments network, is designed specifically to help customers integrate with their everyday UPI transactions.

Key Features:
Flexibility: The credit card is embedded within the Google Pay application (app) and enables the customers to apply for the card digitally at ‘zero cost’ from anywhere and can start transactions without any physical paperwork.
Rewards: Through this new credit card, users/customers will be able to redeem rewards earned on  transactions, called Start instantly, with 1 Start point equal to Rs 1.
Flexible EMI Options: The card offers flexible repayment options to its  users by allowing them to convert their credit bills into Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) via Google Pay app.
Card Management: Users can manage their credit card, block/unblock it, or reset the Personal Identification Number(PIN) directly through the Google Pay app.

PPSL Received RBI Nod for Offline and Cross-Border Payments
In December 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has authorized Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of One 97 Communications Limited, to operate as a Payment Aggregator (PA) for offline (physical) payments and cross-border transactions, both inward and outward.

About Authorization:
Payments Services: PPSL can now facilitate physical transactions via Point-of-Sale (PoS) devices and aggregate inward and outward cross-border payments under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA).
Comprehensive Licence: With previous online PA approval, PPSL now holds licenses across online, offline, and cross-border segments, enabling end-to-end payment services.
Compliance: PPSL must launch cross-border services within six months, adhere to transaction caps and net worth requirements, and report unusual incidents within six hours.
Impact: The authorization supports domestic and international growth, allows direct management of merchant infrastructure, and reduces reliance on third-party aggregators.

Airtel Payments Bank Partners with NBBL to Enable EV Wallet Recharge
On December 17, 2025, Airtel Payments Bank has partnered with NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), a wholly owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), that enables users to recharge Electric Vehicle (EV) wallets through Bharat Connect, formerly Bharat BillPay System (BBPS).

Key Details of Partnership:
Integration: The initiative integrates an EV wallet recharge facility into the Airtel Thanks application(app), powered by BBPS, enabling instant and secure top-ups across multiple EV charging service providers.
Interoperable Platform: The partnership provides a single, unified platform for EV wallet recharges, removing fragmentation across different charging networks and making payments more convenient and seamless.
Role of NBBL: It operates the Bharat Connect platform, ensuring standardized, secure, and interoperable bill payments, while expanding its coverage from traditional utilities to modern services like EV charging.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

IDFC First Private & Hurun India Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025: Eternal’s Founder & CEO Deepinder Goyal Tops the ListOn December 17, 2025, Hurun India in partnership with IDFC FIRST Private Banking, a division of IDFC First Bank Limited, released the 3rd edition of India’s Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025. As per the report, Deepinder Goyal, founder, Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eternal(formerly Zomato), has topped the list with a valuation of Rs. 3, 20,700 crore, marking a 27 % increase from the previous year.

• Radhakishan Damani, founder of Avenue Supermarts (DMart), who topped the list in 2023 and 2024 has slipped to the 2nd position with a valuation of around Rs. 2,97,800 crores.
• Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal of InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) secured third place, with their company valued at Rs.2,19,300 crores.

About India Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025:
Overview: The IDFC First Private & Hurun India Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025 is an annual ranking that lists the 200 most valuable companies in India founded by self-made entrepreneurs since 2000.
Ranking Methodology: The rankings are based on the market capitalization for listed companies and valuation of non-listed companies.

• The cut-off date for valuation was 25 September 2025

Threshold: The threshold entry for a company featured on the list is Rs.4,500 crores, 1.5 times the threshold of Rs.3,000 crores in 2024.
Highlights of the Report:
Other Top 10 Entrepreneurs: Abhay Soi of Max Healthcare Institute secured 4th place with a valuation of Rs.1.11 lakh crores, while Sriharsha Majety and Nandan Reddy of Swiggy ranked 5th with a valuation of  Rs.1.06 lakh crores.

• Deepak Kalra & Rajesh Magow, Co-Founders of MakeMyTrip, with a valuation of Rs.94,500 crores (6th rank), Yashish Dahiya and Alok Bansal, founders of PolicyBazaar, (Rs.80,300 crores) (7th rank), Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of Paytm, (Rs.72,900 crores) (8th rank), marking a 67% growth from 2024.
• Falguni Nayar and Adwaita Nayar Nykaa, founders of Nykaa, (Rs.67,500 crores) (9th rank) and Peyush Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, Neha Bansal & Sumeet Kapahi, Co-founders of Lenskart, (Rs.67,000 crores), up by 60% (10th rank).

Women Entrepreneurs: The list features 20 women entrepreneurs with a combined company valuation of Rs.3.3 trillion, led by Falguni Nayar and Adwaita Nayar of Nykaa (Rs.67,500 crore), followed by Neha Bansal of Lenskart (Rs.67,000 crore) and Ruchi Kalra of OfBusiness (Rs.44,400 crore).
Young Entrepreneurs: The youngest founders overall are Kaivalya Vohra (22) and Aadit Palicha (23) of Zepto, valued at Rs.52,400 crore, while Adwaita Nayar (34) is the youngest woman entrepreneur.
>>Read Full News

CRPF Officer Dinesh Khatak Conferred Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal
In December 2025, Senior Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer Dinesh Khatak, hailing from Jind district in Haryana, has been conferred the Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal (Kendriya Grah Mantri Dakshata Padak) for his exemplary service, discipline and outstanding contribution to national security by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

• He currently serves as Second-in-Command (2IC) of 196 Battalion, CRPF.

Career and key deployments: 
Entry into CRPF: Khatak joined the CRPF as a Gazetted Officer in 2005 after clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, serving across some of India’s most sensitive operational theatres.
Operational Experience in J &K: He served two major tenures in Jammu & Kashmir( J &K) (2008–2013 and 2017–2021), handling Amarnath Yatra security, counter-insurgency operations, and deployments during Article 370 abrogation and COVID-19.
Role at CIAT Shivpuri: At the Counter Insurgency and Anti-Terrorism (CIAT) School, Shivpuri one of CRPF’s elite training centers. he enhanced commando training standards with emphasis on discipline, tactical readiness, and modern field techniques.
Current Posting in Left-Wing Extremism Area: Posted in Bijapur district, he leads anti-Naxal operations, establishes forward operating bases, and supports civic and development initiatives in remote areas.
About Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal: It recognizes exceptional service, high standards of discipline, outstanding leadership, and significant contributions to national security over a sustained period.

• It is conferred on members of police forces, paramilitary units, including CRPF, and other security organizations for professional excellence and merit.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

ACC Approved Re-Appointment of Ashwini Tewari as SBI’s MD Till December 2027
In December 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved the re-appointment of Ashwini Kumar Tewari as Managing Director (MD) of the State Bank of India (SBI) for a second two-year extension, from 27 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. He was initially appointed in January 2021 and first extended in 2024.

• With his reappointment, SBI now has all four MDs in place: Ashwini Kumar Tewari; Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh; Rama Mohan Rao Amarra ; and Ravi Ranjan.

About Ashwini Tewari:
Banking Career: He started his career as a banker by joining the SBI as a Probationary Officer (PO) in 1991.
Experience: He has over 30 years of experience with SBI, serving in leadership roles including Deputy General Manager (DGM)(Operations and Information & Technology, I&T); head of International Banking Group in Mumbai(Maharashtra); country head of SBI United States of America (USA), and senior positions across East Asia.
Previous Role: Before his appointment as SBI MD, he served as MD and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBI Cards & Payment Services.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

 Indian Navy Commissions INAS 335 (Ospreys) at INS Hansa, GoaOn 17th December 2025, the Indian Navy (IN) commissioned its second (Multi-Mission Helicopter) MH-60R Seahawk helicopter squadron, Indian Naval Air Squadron 335 (INAS 335) (Ospreys), at Indian Naval Station (INS) Hansa, Goa, marking a key milestone in its modernisation drive and significantly enhancing naval aviation capabilities along the western seaboard.

• The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).

About INAS 335 (Ospreys):
Role: INAS 335 is a frontline naval aviation squadron operating MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, acting as the “eyes, ears, and first hunters” of the fleet.
Command: The squadron is led by Captain Dhirender Bisht and conducts Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Maritime Surveillance, and Search and Rescue operations (SAR).
Type: The MH-60R is an all-weather, multi-role maritime helicopter capable of day and night operations against conventional and asymmetric threats.
Indian Army Received Final Batch of AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters
Final Batch: On 16 December 2025, the Indian Army (IA) received the final batch of three Attack Helicopters 64 Echo (AH-64E) Apache from Boeing, the United States of America (USA), at Hindon Air Force Station, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

• The delivery of all six AH-64E Apaches, with the final three airlifted by an Antonov An-124 for assembly and inspections, completes the India–USA deal and makes the Army Aviation Corps’ Apache fleet fully operational.

Deployment: The helicopters will be stationed at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, under the newly raised 451 Army Aviation Squadron, tasked with operations in the western sector across desert and high-threat environments.
>>Read Full News

OBITUARY

Pulitzer-Winning Journalist Peter Arnett Passed Away
On 17th December 2025, Peter Arnett, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for his frontline reporting in Vietnam and the Gulf Wars, passed away in California, the United States of America (USA) at the age of 91. He was born on 13 November 1934 in New Zealand.

• He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1966 for International Reporting for coverage of the Vietnam War for The Associated Press (AP).

About Peter Arnett:
Profile: He was a renowned journalist known for his frontline war reporting spanning several decades.
Career: He joined the Associated Press (AP) in 1961, reporting from Indonesia and the Vietnam War (1962–1975).

• In 1981, he joined CNN, gaining fame for live coverage from Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf War and later reporting on the Second Gulf War (2003).

Teaching : Taught journalism at Shantou University (China) (2007–2014) and retired in Fountain Valley, California, the USA in 2014.
Memoir: ‘Live From the Battlefield: From Vietnam to Baghdad, 35 Years in the World’s War Zones (1995)’ details Peter Arnett’s reporting experiences across global conflict zones over 35 years.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Migrants Day 2025 – December 18The United Nations (UN’s) International Migrants Day is annually observed across the globe on 18 December each year to recognize migrants’ contributions and highlight the challenges they face, while emphasizing the importance of protecting their rights.

• 18 December 2025 marks the observance of the 25th International Migrants Day.

Theme:
2025 Theme: “My Great Story: Cultures and Development”
Focus: The 2025 theme highlights human mobility as a force for economic growth and cultural enrichment.

Background:
Proclamation: On 4 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/55/9, proclaiming 18 December as International Migrants Day.
First Observance: International Migrants Day was observed for the first time on 18 December 2000.
Rights Convention: On 18 December 1990, the UNGA adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
2025 Migration Reports:
OECD – International Migration Outlook 2025: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD’s) International Migration Outlook 2025 shows that migration flows to OECD countries remained historically high in 2024, with around 6.2 million new permanent migrants.
IOM Submission to the HLPF 2025: The IOM – Submission to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2025 underscores that migration is a critical enabler of sustainable development, advocating for its integration into the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
About International Organization for Migration (IOM):
The IOM is the foremost intergovernmental entity specializing in migration and operates as part of the United Nations system.
Director General(DG)– Amy Pope (the United States of America, USA)
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Established– 1951

World Arabic Language Day 2025 – December 18The United Nations (UN) observes Arabic Language Day on December 18 each year to mark the adoption of Arabic as one of its six official languages in 1973 and to promote multilingualism and linguistic equality.

• December 18, 2025 commemorates the 52nd anniversary of Arabic being recognized as an official language of the UN.

Theme:
2025 Theme: “Innovative Pathways for Arabic: Policies and Practices for a More Inclusive Linguistic Future”
Focus: This year’s theme highlights the role of education, media, technology, and public policy in making the use of Arabic more accessible and dynamic.

Background:
Adoption: On 18 December 1973, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted Resolution 3190 (XXVIII), recognizing Arabic as the sixth official language of the UN.
Establishment : To commemorate this decision, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), through Decision 190 EX/48 in 2010, proclaimed World Arabic Language Day to be observed annually on 18 December.
First Observance: The first World Arabic Language Day was celebrated on 18 December 2012.
Celebration of UN Official Languages:  Since 2010, the United Nations Department of Global Communications (formerly the Department of Public Information) has observed celebrations of each of the UN’s six official languages annually, ahead of International Mother Language Day on 21 February.
Other UN Official Language Days

• Chinese Language Day – 20 April
• English Language Day – 23 April
• Spanish Language Day – 23 April
• French Language Day – 20 March
• Russian Language Day – 6 June.

About Arabic Language: –
Origins:Arabic originated from Proto-Semitic languages in the Middle East during the 7th century, with the term “Arab,” meaning “nomad,” reflecting its roots among nomadic tribes of the Arabian Peninsula.
Writing System: Arabic uses the Arabic abjad, a script written in a right-to-left cursive style consisting of 28 letters.
Global Significance: The Arabic language is a cornerstone of humanity’s cultural diversity and is spoken daily by over 400 million people worldwide.

•  The Arabic script is the second most widely used alphabetic writing system globally after Latin, and ranks second by number of countries and third by number of users, following Latin and Chinese scripts.

Recognition: Arabic calligraphy is inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
2025 Events:
Event: On 18 December 2025, UNESCO hosted the World Arabic Language Day celebrations at its Paris headquarters(France), focusing on how education, technology, media, and public policy can enhance the accessibility of Arabic, in line with UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Programme.
UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture: The UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture is an international award established by the government of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates(UAE), in collaboration with UNESCO in 1998.

• It aims to recognize individuals, institutions, or organizations that have made significant contributions to promoting Arab culture, heritage, and intellectual exchange.

About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director General (DG) – Khaled El-Enany
Headquarters – Paris, France
Established – 1945

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