DAILY GK 14 DEC 2025

 DAILY GK 14 DEC 2025

1.       RBI’S 5TH BI-MONTHLY MONETARY POLICY OF FY26

·       The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted the 58 th and 5th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) in December 2025 under the chairmanship of Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, RBI.

·       The MPC voted unanimously to reduce the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) to 5.25%.

·       Consequently, the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate shall stand adjusted to 5.00% and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 5.50%.

 

·       The MPC also decided to continue with the neutral stance, indicating rates may go up or reduce further.

·       Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Forecast: The committee has projected the real GDP growth for FY26 at 7.3%.

·       The GDP registered a high growth of 8.2% in Quarter 2 (Q2:July – September 2025).

·       Current Account Deficit (CAD) India’s CAD moderated to 1.3% in Q2 FY26 on account of robust services exports and strong remittances.

·       Open Market Operations (OMO): The RBI decided to conduct OMO purchases of government securities of Rs 1,00,000 crore (cr) and a 3-year USD/INR Buy Sell swap of USD 5 billion (bn) to inject durable liquidity into the system.

 

2.       SEBI LAUNCHED PARRVA TO PREVENT MISLEADING RETURN CLAIMS

·       The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA), aimed to prevent misleading claims about past performance in advertisements related to financial products by Research Analysts (RAs), Investment Advisors (IAs) and stock brokers.

·       This 1st-of-its-kind global initiative was launched in partnership with the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) and CAREEdge Ratings.

·       Verification Process: Intermediaries submit data via secure API/file upload; PaRRVA-NSE Data Centre (PDC) validates using exchange/clearing corporation transaction data; generates 50+ risk-return metrics with T+1 portfolio checks.

·       Lack of Market Knowledge: SEBI’s latest investor survey revealed that only 36% of investors have adequate market knowledge.

·       More than 62% of prospective investors rely on influencers, while 23% run after quick profit, without proper understanding of market risks.

·       PaRRVA The initiative was initially announced in December 2024 during the 208th meeting of the SEBI Board.

·       Later, in April 2025, SEBI formally issued the operational framework for PaRRVA.

·       PaRRVAt is an independent verification mechanism designed to enable Regulated Entities (REs) to present authentic, validated performance data while eliminating misleading claims that put the interests of the investors at risk.

·       As per SEBI’s circular issued in April 2025, a Credit Rating Agency (CRA) will be recognised as a PaRRVA, while, such CRA engages with a recognised Stock Exchange (SE) will act as PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC).

·       For CRA to Act as PaRRVA: It is required to have minimum 15 years (yrs) of past experience; minimum net worth of Rs 100 crore; investor grievance redressal mechanism including Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) mechanism; and 250 or adobe issuers should have obtained ratings for debt securities.

·       SE to Act as PDC: It must have at least 15 years of past experience; minimum net worth of Rs 200 crore; must have nation-wide terminals and investor grievance redressal mechanism including ODR mechanism.

 

3.       SEBI OVERHAULS MERCHANT BANKERS RULE

·       The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced a significant overhaul of merchant banker (MB) regulations by introducing a capital adequacy framework, mandating requirements for liquid net worth (NW) and minimum revenue from permitted activities.

·       Merchant Banker (MB): SEBI (Merchant Bankers’) Regulation Act, 1992 defines a ‘merchant banker’ as “any person who is engaged in the business of issue management either by making arrangements regarding selling, buying or subscribing to securities or acting as manager, consultant, adviser or rendering corporate advisory service in relation to such issue management”.

·       Under the new rule, the MB can undertake activities which fall under the purview of any other Financial Sector Regulator (FSR), and activities that do not fall under the purview of the Sebi or any other FSB should be fee-based, non-fund-based activities and pertain to the financial services sector.

·       MBs have now been classified into two categories- Category I entities must maintain a minimum NW of Rs 50 crore (cr) and can undertake all permitted activities.

·       Category II must maintain at least Rs 10 cr in NW and may engage in all activities except managing equity issues on the main board.

·       All MBs must keep liquid net worth equal to at least 25% of their minimum required net worth, and their underwriting obligations are capped at 20 times their liquid NW.

·       Minimum Revenue Criteria: SEBI has issued criteria for minimum revenue from permitted activities as required by MBs.

·       Category I MBs must have cumulative revenues of at least Rs 12.5 cr over the three preceding financial years.

·       Category II merchant bankers must have cumulative revenues of at least Rs 2.5 cr over the three preceding financial years.

 

4.       RBI IMPOSES RS. 99.30 LAKH MONETARY PENALTY ON J&K BANK

·       The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 99.30 lakh on Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited (J&K Bank) for contravention of Section 26A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act 1949) and non-compliance with RBI directions on the Internal Ombudsman Scheme 2018, Customer Service in Banks, and Know Your Customer (KYC) Directions.

·       The bank did not escalate rejected complaints to the Internal Ombudsman and failed to send final resolution letters, leaving customers uninformed of decisions and their right to approach the Banking Ombudsman.

 

5.       SBI, BOB RECEIVED RBI’S APPROVAL TO SET UP FRAUD DETECTION PLATFORM

·       State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB), received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC), aimed at developing a digital payments intelligence platform.

·       It aims to detect and curb fraudulent digital transactions across all Public Sector Banks(PSBs).

·       The proposed company IDPIC will be established as a Section 8 Company (a special type of non-profit organisation) under the Companies Act, 2013.

·       The proposed company will be set with an authorised capital of Rs 500 crore and paid-up capital of Rs 200 crore.

·       SBI and BoB will each contribute Rs. 10 crore as seed funding, with other PSBs joining as equity investors in later phases.

 

6.       ARMED FORCE FLAG DAY 2025 – DECEMBER 7

·       Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) is observed annually on 7th December across India to honour the courage, sacrifice, and commitment of personnel serving in the Indian Army(IA), Indian Navy(IN), and Indian Air Force(IAF).

·       On 28th August 1949, India’s then Union Minister, Baldev Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD) formed a committee to initiate the observance of AFFD.

·       The first AFFD was observed on 7th December 1949.

 

7.       INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION DAY 2025 – DECEMBER 7

·       The United Nations (UN’s) International Civil Aviation Day is observed annually on December 7 worldwide to raise global awareness about the importance of civil aviation in social and economic development.

·       2025 Theme: “Safe Skies, Sustainable Future: Together for the Next 80 Years”.

·       International Civil Aviation Day was initially celebrated in 1994 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Convention.

·       Chicago Convention: The Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in 1944 in Chicago by 54 nations, established the rules and framework for international civil aviation, laying the foundation for the creation of ICAO.

India has nearly 150 operational airports, with plans to exceed 220 by 2030.

 

8.       SAARC CHARTER DAY 2025 – DECEMBER 8

·       The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Charter Day is observed annually across the globe on 8th December to mark the adoption of the SAARC Charter in 1985.

·       SAARC Charter Day originated from the adoption of the SAARC Charter during the first summit held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 7–8, 1985.

·       The first SAARC Charter Day was officially observed on December 8, 1985.

·       SAARC is a regional geopolitical and economic bloc established in 1985 by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

·       Afghanistan joined later as the eighth member during the 14th SAARC Summit held in New Delhi in 2007.

·       The SAARC Secretariat was formally established in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 17, 1987.

·       SAARC Charter: It comprises 10 articles that define the organization’s objectives, principles, structure, meetings, Council of Ministers, Standing Committee, Technical Committees, Action Committees, Secretariat, financial arrangements, and general provisions.

·       SAARC Summits were traditionally held every two years in alphabetical rotation among Member States, but none have taken place since 2014.

 

9.       INDIAN NAVY’S 58TH SUBMARINE DAY 2025 – DECEMBER 08 

·       The Indian Navy (IN) annually observes Submarine Day on 8th December to commemorate the induction of (Indian Navy Ship) INS Kalvari, the first submarine of the IN, into service in 1967.

·       8th December 2025 marks the 58th Submarine Day.

·       The first submarine, INS Kalvari, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 8 December 1967.

·       INS Kalvari was a Foxtrot-class diesel-electric submarine

·       INS Kalvari served the nation for 29 years and was retired on 31 March 1996.

·       Project 75: Project 75 includes six Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarines—INS Kalvari (Dec 2017), INS Khanderi (Sept 2019), INS Karanj (Mar 2021), INS Vela (Nov 2021), INS Vagir (Jan 2023), and INS Vagsheer (Jan 2025) which have expanded the IN’s submarine fleet and strengthened its underwater warfare and deterrence capabilities.

 

10.    HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2025 – DECEMBER 10

·       The United Nations (UN)’s Human Rights Day (HRD) or International Human Rights Day, is observed every year across the globe on 10 December marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948 and promotes awareness of universal human rights without discrimination of any kind.

·       10 December 2025 marks the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 32nd anniversary of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

·       2025 Theme: “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials”.

·       The inaugural HRD was observed on 10 December 1950.

·       RightsX Summit: The Summit, titled Powering the Future of Human Rights, was held on 10–11 December at the Palais Wilson, Geneva( Switzerland), as a hybrid event focused on advancing human rights through artificial intelligence and innovation.

 

11.    INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 2025-DECEMBER 11

·       The United Nations (UN) observes International Mountain Day (IMD) on 11 December each year across the world to raise awareness about the significance of mountains and the need for sustainable mountain development.

·       2025 Theme: “Glaciers matter for water, food and livelihoods in mountains and beyond”.

·       The first observance of IMD took place on December 11, 2003.

·       The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) serves as the nodal UN agency responsible for overseeing the global observance of IMD.

·       The logo of International Mountain Day consists of three black equilateral triangles representing mountains.

·       Left triangle: It carries a blue diamond shape symbolizing snow and glaciers.

·       Middle triangle: It contains an orange circle representing mineral and natural resources.

·       Right triangle: It includes a green section showing crops and forest vegetation.

 

12.    UNICEF DAY 2025 – DECEMBER 11  

·       The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Day is observed annually across the world on December 11, to commemorate the creation of the United Nations Children’s Fund by the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) and Ludwik Rajchman in 1946.

·       UNICEF, originally called the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, was established by UNGA resolution 57(I) on December 11, 1946.

·       UNICEF initially focused on providing food, clothing, and healthcare to children affected by World War II and later became a permanent part of the United Nations system in 1953, adopting the name United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

·       UNICEF’s outstanding contributions to child welfare were recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize on October 26, 1965.

·       In 2008, UNICEF adopted “Unite For Children” as its official tagline.

·       Later, in 2016, “For Every Child” was introduced as its brand strategy and incorporated into the UNICEF logo.

Headquarters- New York.

 

13.    INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NEUTRALITY 2025 – DECEMBER 12

·       The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Neutrality (IDN) is annually observed across the globe on 12th December to highlight the importance of neutrality in international relations and support peace, diplomacy, and security worldwide.

·       On 2 February 2017, the UN General Assembly(UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/71/275, introduced by Turkmenistan, designating 12 December each year as the IDN.

·       The UN has recognized Turkmenistan as a permanently neutral state since 12 December 1995.

·       The first IDN was observed on 12 December 2017.

·       Neutrality refers to a state’s decision to stay out of conflicts between other countries, and maintaining an unbiased position recognized by all parties is vital for the UN to uphold global trust.

·       Switzerland is widely recognized for its neutrality, and India has similarly maintained a neutral approach in global affairs, choosing not to align with either the United States of America(USA) or the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

 

14.    INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE DAY 2025 – DECEMBER 12

·       The United Nations (UN’s) International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is annually observed across the globe on 12th December to raise awareness about the need for strong, resilient health systems and accessible, affordable, high-quality health services for all without financial hardship.

·       2025 Theme: “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!”.

·       In 2017, the UNGA adopted resolution A/RES/72/138, officially designating December 12 as “International UHC Day” to be observed annually.

·       The first International UHC Day was celebrated on 12 December 2018.

·       UHC, included under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Target 3.8 for 2015–2030, is a key component of SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being and contributes to progress across the wider SDG framework.

·       Advancing UHC in 2025.