Posts

Current Affairs

India recorded more than 5.5 lakh domestic trademark filings during 2024–25

♦ India recorded more than 5.5 lakh domestic trademark filings during 2024–25, marking the highest ever registrations in a single year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said. The surge in filings reflects the growing strength of India’s institutional framework for protecting intellectual property and safeguarding the interests of innovators and creators, he said, noting that such protection plays a direct role in supporting economic growth. ♦ Goyal said the Trade Marks Act, 1999 has remained a central pillar in protecting intellectual property for over two decades.  ♦ According to the minister, the highest number of trademark registrations during the year were recorded in pharmaceuticals, veterinary, and sanitary preparations. ♦ The Trade Marks Act provides legal protection to businesses against infringement, allowing them to secure brand identity while ensuring fair competition in the marketplace. Under the Act, trademarks are registered for an initial period of 10 years and can be renewed for successive 10-year terms.

Current Affairs

The National Test House (NTH)

♦ The National Test House (NTH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to strengthen quality control and third-party testing in national highway and infrastructure projects. The MoU was signed at the NHAI Headquarters in New Delhi. ♦ Under the agreement, NTH will be empanelled as a recognised laboratory for NHAI. It may send samples related to highway construction and allied works to NTH laboratories across the country for testing and inspection. Samples will be tested at NTH’s regional laboratories and satellite centres located at Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Guwahati, Bengaluru and Varanasi. 

Current Affairs

The Ministry of Defence

♦ The Ministry of Defence signed defence procurement contracts worth Rs.4,666 crore for the acquisition of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines for the Indian Army and Navy and Heavyweight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy. The contracts were inked in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block, New Delhi. ♦ The contract worth Rs.2,770 crore was signed with Bharat Forge Ltd and PLR Systems Pvt Ltd for the supply of over 4.25 lakh CQB carbines along with accessories for the Indian Army and Indian Navy. ♦ The second contract worth ₹1,896 crore has been signed with Italy-based WASS Submarine Systems Ltd, which involves the procurement and integration of 48 heavy weight torpedoes and related equipment for Kalvari Class submarines under Project-75.

Current Affairs

India has surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth largest economy

♦ India has surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth largest economy, the government said in a statement on 31 December 2025. India is also the world's fastest-growing major economy with a size of USD 4.18 trillion, and is poised to overtake Germany to become the third-largest economy by 2028. ♦ The United States is the world's largest economy, followed by China which occupies the second position. ♦ The government statement said the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country has increased by 8.2 percent in Q2 of FY 2025-26. This is an increase from 7.8 percent growth in Q1, and 7.4 percent growth in Q4 of FY 2024-25. 

Current Affairs

Arjun Erigaisi

Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi won the bronze medal at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025 in Doha on 30 December 2025. He had won the bronze in the Rapid Championship as well, making him the first since Vishwanathan Anand (2017) to secure two medals at the World Championship. 

Current Affairs

Meera Syal

♦ British Indian artist Meera Syal was awarded a Damehood among some of the highest awards in King Charles III's New Year Honours list released in London on 30 December 2025. The London-based comedian, writer, actor and filmmaker has been made Dame Meera for "services to literature, drama and charity". ♦ 1,157 recipients have been awarded this year from every part of the UK, with a particular focus this year on those who have gone above and beyond for their communities. ♦ Syal, born in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region of England to Punjabi parents who migrated from Delhi, is best known for popular comedies such as 'Goodness Gracious Me' and 'The Kumars at No. 42'. ♦ Among some of the other prominent British Indians to be named on the 2025 honours list are Paavan Popat, CEO of TLC Group, who has been awarded as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours List for his leadership around intergenerational housing, inclusive healthy placemaking and care for older people.

Current Affairs

Israel Prize for Peace

♦ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the country's highest civilian honour, the Israel Prize for Peace', to U.S. President Donald Trump, following high-level bilateral talks in Florida. In the 80-year history of the prize, it has never before been awarded to a non-Israeli citizen, nor has the Peace category ever been formally conferred. ♦ The decision follows a rule amendment approved in July 2025, enabling foreign nationals to receive the honour under exceptional circumstances.

Current Affairs

Begum Khaleda Zia

♦ Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has died in Dhaka on 30 December 2025. She was 80. Zia is the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). She was born on August 15, 1946, in Dinajpur, then part of India’s East Bengal, now Northern Bangladesh.  ♦ In 1991, becoming the first woman to serve as Bangladesh prime minister. She held the office from 1991 to 1996, and again from 2001 to 2006.

Current Affairs

DHRUV-NG

♦ Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated DHRUV-NG, the next-generation civil helicopter, at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru on 30 December 2025.  The helicopter received civil certification from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for its indigenous Shakti engine.  ♦ The DHRUV-NG is a 5.5-tonne light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter designed to meet the diverse and demanding operational requirements of Indian terrain. It has been significantly upgraded to cater to the stringent needs of the global civil aviation market.

Current Affairs

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City

♦ Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City has become the first hospital globally to administer ITVISMA, a one-time gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, marking a milestone in precision medicine. The treatment was delivered under the supervision of the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, following the UAE’s regulatory approval on November 25, making the country the second in the world after the United States to authorise the therapy. ♦ Developed by Novartis, ITVISMA targets the genetic root of spinal muscular atrophy by replacing the defective SMN1 gene, enabling the production of the survival motor neuron protein. 

Facebook YouTube TelegramGroup Website
Terms and Conditions Privacy Refund Policy