1. Gukesh became the youngest World Chess Champion by defeating Ding Liren(China) in the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship held in Singapore. 

At just 18 years old, Gukesh's victory marks a historic moment for India,

Gukesh became 2nd Indian to win this title after Viswanathan Anand.

The 4th Mekong-Ganga Dhammayatra pilgrimage commenced on December 6, 2024, with over 20 Buddhist scholars from Thailand participating. 

This event aims to strengthen cultural ties between Southeast Asia and India, following the theme "From the Mekong River Basin to the Great Ganga."

 It is yatra Indian Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat met with the Thai delegation

Why ? 

To commemorates the 97th birth anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand 

 Mohammed al-Bashir has been appointed as Syria's new transitional Prime Minister following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. Under his leadership, signs of normalcy are returning in Damascus, with shops reopening. 

Google Partners with NCERT: Google has partnered with NCERT to launch educational YouTube channels in 29 Indian languages, aiming to improve access to quality education for students from grades 1-12

( NCERT = National Council for Educational Research and Training )

India Skills Report 2025

Published by Wheebox in collaboration with AICTE, CII, and the Association of Indian Universities.  “Highest employabilities rates” Ranks :- Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh , Kerala. 

overall employability in India continued - 54.81%

Lowest employability rate :- Madhya Pradesh 2.6% 

(AICTE = All India Council for Technical Education)

India is on the verge of finalizing a significant 4 billion dollar defence agreement with Russia to acquire an advanced long-range early warning radar system.

Called Voronezh radar system 

Detection Range -  Up to 8,000 kilometers

60% of the radar’s components to be manufactured domestically

We got first s400 air defense system from russia in dec 2022 and remaining two units are expected to be delivered by 2026

Renowned poet Nikki Giovanni from the USA passed away on December 9, 2024, at the age of 81. 

She was a significant figure in the Black Arts Movement and known for her powerful poetry about race and love.

What is the Black arts movement? - 

It is a movement in The US during the 1960s and 1970s that expressed Black pride, identity, and political consciousness through various art forms, including literature, music, theater, and visual arts.

first nuclear powered battery 

Scientists in the UK have created the world's first carbon-14 diamond battery. This new type of battery can last for thousands of years by using carbon-14, a radioactive material. 

It is safe and could power medical devices like pacemakers, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

 Explanation: The 'Rajmarg Saathi' initiative, launched by NHAI, aims to improve road safety and emergency response through upgraded Route Patrolling Vehicles (RPVs). These vehicles are equipped with advanced AI features to monitor infrastructure issues

1.  Explanation: Max Life Insurance has rebranded to Axis Max Life Insurance after Axis Bank increased its stake in the company to 19.99%.

 Explanation: Mohammad Amir (cricket), Rafael Nadal (tennis), and Dipa Karmakar (gymnastics) all recently announced their retirements, marking the end of their professional careers.

1.  Explanation: The RBI has increased the collateral-free agricultural loan limit to ₹2 lakh, effective January 1, 2025. This aims to support farmers by easing access to credit.

Explanation: Mikheil Kavelashvili was elected as the new president of Georgia. This is a significant political development in the country.

 Explanation: Romania and Bulgaria are set to fully join the European Union's Schengen Area on January 1, 2025. This will allow free movement of people across these countries within the EU.

 Explanation: The 34th Vyas Samman was awarded to Suryabala for her novel "Kaun Des Ko Vasi: Venu Ki Diary", published in 2018. This prestigious award includes a cash prize of ₹4 lakh.

Explanation: Switzerland suspended the MFN clause in its DTAA with India, increasing tax rates on dividends and royalties to 10% starting January 1, 2025. This is a consequence of the Supreme Court ruling regarding the MFN application under the Income Tax Act.

The government of Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), has launched the URJAVEER program, which is one of the energy efficiency initiatives in the state.

Uttarakhand became the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced its implementation from January 2025.

India Cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, announced his retirement from international cricket across all formats.Ashwin is India's second-highest wicket-taker with 765 wickets. Highest Wicket Taker of india is Anil Kumble (956 Wickets)

India is set to host the First Kho Kho World Cup at the IGI Stadium in New Delhi. Kho Kho is a traditional Indian sport, and this event marks a significant milestone in promoting the sport globally.

Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to introduce a dedicated Yoga Policy, aiming to establish the state as a global yoga destination, with Rishikesh recognized as the “Yoga Capital of the World.”

The 'Jalvahak' scheme is designed to promote cargo movement across India's National Waterways 1, 2, and 16. It aims to boost transportation efficiency and reduce costs in the logistics sector.

India's first diabetes biobank has been established in Chennai, a collaboration between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF).

The Desert Knight is a trilateral air combat exercise held in the Arabian Sea. The participating countries are India, France, and the UAE, focusing on enhancing air combat capabilities.

India has released its first-ever Taxonomy of Green Steel, which defines green steel" based on its emission intensity. The threshold is set at 2.2 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of finished steel."

Mumbai won the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by defeating Madhya Pradesh. This marked Mumbai's second title, with their first win in 2022. Tamil Nadu holds the most titles with 3 wins.

Daskathia is a traditional folk dance from Odisha, characterized by the performance of songs and dance related to religious stories and traditions. It is a popular art form in the region.

Gadhimai Mahotsav is a controversial Hindu festival held every five years in the Gadhimai Temple, located in Nepal. It is known for its mass animal sacrifice, drawing criticism from animal rights activists.

The partnership between Orbital Lasers and InspeCity focuses on using laser-equipped satellites to remove debris from Earth's orbit, addressing the issue of orbital congestion. This innovative approach aims to help clean up space.

Kisan Kavach is India's first anti-pesticide bodysuit, developed by BRIC-inStem, Bangalore, in collaboration with Sepio Health Pvt. It aims to protect farmers from the harmful effects of pesticide exposure during agricultural work.

The 21st Livestock Census campaign focuses on conducting a door-to-door survey to gather data on domestic animals and poultry in Haryana The last census was held in 2019.

Ursula von der Leyen the president of the European Commission (Belgium), is ranked as the most powerful woman in the world in Forbes' 2024 list.

The South Korean parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over a controversial martial law declaration.

India won the Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 in Muscat Oman defeating China in the shootout.

The 'President's Colour' award was presented by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the Chhattisgarh Police in Raipur.

The SARAT system was developed to enhance search and rescue operations at sea improving the time taken to locate individuals or vessels in distress.

The mascot of the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand is inspired by the state bird the Monal.

The first semiconductor assembly and testing outsourced plant in Gujarat was inaugurated in Surat.

Zakir Hussain the renowned tabla virtuoso was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2023 for his contributions to Indian music.

Britain became the 12th member of the CPTPP which is a trade bloc established in 2018 to safeguard against Chinese hegemony in the region.

 Explanation: 'CHARAK' stands for "Community Health: A Responsive Action for Koylanchal" and is a CSR initiative by Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) to provide free treatment for life-threatening diseases in the economically weaker sections of the Singrauli region.

1.  Explanation: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) will inaugurate its Geoscience Museum in the historic Victoria Market Building in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The museum will focus on Earth, Atmospheric & Ocean Sciences, and the Evolution of Life.

Moldova became the 104th full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA was launched by India and France during the COP21 summit in Paris in 2015 to combat climate change. Its headquarters is in Gurugram, India.

The 100th Tansen Music Festival was organized in Gwalior Madhya Pradesh and set a Guinness World Record for the largest ensemble of 536 artists playing nine different instruments simultaneously for nine minutes. The Tansen Samman 2023 was awarded to Swapan Chaudhuri.

From March 2025 Russia will allow visa-free entry for Indian tourists as part of bilateral discussions. Other countries like Sri Lanka Thailand and Malaysia have also recently introduced visa-free entry policies for Indians.

The SLINEX 2024 (Sri Lanka–India Exercise) was conducted from December 17 to 20, 2024 in Visakhapatnam. It included two phases: the Harbour Phase (December 17–18) and the Sea Phase (December 19–20).

India became the 3rd largest exporter of smartphones in the world climbing from the 23rd rank in 2019. In November 2024, India achieved a milestone by crossing the ₹20,000 crore mark in smartphone exports in a single month.

The 10th International Forest Fair in Bhopal focused on 'Women Empowerment through Minor Forest Produce.' The event showcased forest-based products and sustainable practices.

INS Nirdeshak is India's second survey vessel commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. It is part of the Survey Vessel (Large) Project with INS Sandhayak being the first.

The CE20 cryogenic engine is used in the upper stage of ISRO's LVM3 launch vehicle. ISRO recently completed a successful sea-level hot test of this engine at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri Tamil Nadu.

Russia plans to release its mRNA cancer vaccine in early 2025, free of charge. Pre-clinical trials have shown that it inhibits tumor growth and spread.

The National Institute of Siddha in Chennai set a Guinness World Record by providing Varmam therapy to 567 individuals simultaneously. Varmam therapy manipulates vital energy points in the body.

India is the third-largest pharmaceutical industry globally by volume and was valued at $50 billion in FY 2023-24.

Indian Navy's Kiran Ankush Jadhav defeated Olympians Swapnil Kusale and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar to win the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions title in Bhopal.

In the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025, IIT Delhi ranked highest among Indian universities, with a global rank of 171.