TLDR;
This video provides a daily current affairs update for December 15, 2025, along with related static GK. It covers topics such as the proposed new name for the मनरेगा scheme, the Shilp Didi program, a cultural event in Vijayapura, the Geminid meteor shower, newly added Ramsar sites in India, the UNEP Champions of the Earth 2025 award, India's first hydrogen-powered train, the Indian Navy's diving support craft, UNESCO's recognition of Italian cuisine, ISRO's upcoming satellite launch, and the increase in FDI limits for insurance companies.
- मनरेगा scheme proposed name change to পূজ্য বাপু গ্রামীণ রোজগার যোজনা.
- India's Ramsar sites increased to 96, making it the third highest globally.
- FDI limit in insurance companies increased from 74% to 100%.
मनरेगा Scheme's Proposed New Name [0:11]
The central government is considering renaming the मनरेगा (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme to পূজ্য বাপু গ্রামীণ রোজগার যোজনা, honoring Mahatma Gandhi. The proposed changes include increasing the guaranteed workdays for rural families from 100 to 125 days per year. This initiative aims to boost rural employment, secure rural income, and improve the livelihoods of marginalized communities. मनरेगा, enacted in 2005 and implemented in phases from 2006, provides a legal guarantee of wage-based work in exchange for unskilled physical labor.
Shilp Didi Program Overview [1:34]
The primary goal of the Shilp Didi program is to enhance the income and skills of women through handicrafts. Launched in June 2024 as a 100-day pilot project, this government initiative empowers female artisans by providing training, digital skills, e-commerce platform access, and market connections through physical exhibitions. The program, implemented by the Ministry of Textiles through the Development Commissioner's office, aims to make women artisans financially independent, improve their design and business skills, and help them use modern marketing tools.
Cultural Event in Vijayapura [2:15]
A cultural event was organized in Sri Vijayapura to commemorate the 115th anniversary of Savarkar's poem "Sagar Pran Talamala." This poem reflects Savarkar's patriotism, freedom struggle, and spirit of self-sacrifice. "Sagar Pran Talamala" is a Marathi patriotic poem composed by Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, later immortalized as a song by Lata Mangeshkar with music by Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
Geminid Meteor Shower Details [2:58]
The Geminid meteor shower, an annual event in December, originates from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Unlike most meteor showers that come from comets, the Geminids are caused by debris from this asteroid, which scatters due to the sun's heat. The shower is known for its high meteor rate, bright fireballs, and long light streaks. At its peak, around 120 meteors per hour can be observed, typically appearing yellow or white and traveling at approximately 35 kilometers per second. Visible to the naked eye from midnight until dawn, it's a slightly slower shower compared to others.
Ramsar Sites Inclusion [3:55]
Two new wetlands, Shiliserek Lake in Rajasthan's Alwar district and Khop Lake near Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur, have been added to the list of Ramsar sites, bringing India's total to 96. Ramsar sites are designated for their international importance in wetland conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable management. The Ramsar Convention, signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, is an intergovernmental environmental treaty adopted by UNESCO in 1971 and effective since 1975. India became a member in 1982. The formal name of the convention is the "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat." India now has the third highest number of Ramsar sites globally, with the UK having 176 and Mexico 144. West Bengal has two Ramsar sites: East Kolkata Wetlands (2002) and Sundarban Wetlands (2019), with the latter being India's largest.
Largest and Smallest Ramsar Sites in India [5:44]
The largest Ramsar site in India is the Sundarban, followed by Vembanad-Kol Wetland in Kerala as the second largest, and Chilika Lake in Odisha as the third largest. The smallest Ramsar site is Renuka Lake in Himachal Pradesh. The first Indian wetlands to be recognized were Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan and Chilika Lake in Odisha in 1981, along with Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, which is India's largest freshwater lake. Other notable mentions include Cholam Lake in Sikkim, India's highest lake, Chilika Lake in Odisha, India's largest brackish water lagoon, and Vembanad Lake in Kerala, India's longest lake.
UNEP Champions of the Earth 2025 Award [6:56]
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, has won the UNEP Champions of the Earth 2025 award for her leadership in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. The award, the highest environmental honor given by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was announced at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi. Established in 2005, the Champions of the Earth award recognizes individuals and organizations demonstrating exceptional environmental leadership. It has honored 127 laureates, including heads of state, scientists, activists, and grassroots innovators, across four categories: policy leadership, inspiration and action, entrepreneurial vision, and science and innovation, focusing on climate, justice, resilient construction, methane reduction, sustainable cooling, and forest protection.
India's First Hydrogen-Powered Train [8:08]
Indian Railways has developed its first hydrogen-powered train as a pilot project to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as a clean fuel. The train is built according to standards set by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO). Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced this information in the Lok Sabha. A special hydrogen plant is planned for establishment in Jind, Haryana, to produce green hydrogen using electrolysis for the train's operation.
Indian Navy's Diving Support Craft [8:46]
The Indian Navy's first indigenously designed diving support craft is named DSC A20. This vessel will be commissioned in Kochi and supports the "Make in India" initiative. Its primary role is to assist naval diving operations, ship and submarine inspections, maintenance, rescue, and search operations, enhancing the Indian Navy's technical capabilities and self-reliance.
UNESCO Recognizes Italian Cuisine [9:27]
UNESCO has added Italian cuisine to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This recognition acknowledges the entire Italian culinary tradition as a cultural heritage of humanity, rather than just a single dish. Italy is the first country in the world to have its entire national cuisine recognized by UNESCO's ICH list. The official name of this recognition is "Italian cooking between sustainability and biocultural diversity." India hosted the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage from December 8 to 13, 2025, at the Red Fort in New Delhi.
ISRO's Upcoming Satellite Launch [10:20]
ISRO is set to launch the ব্লুবার্ড ফাইভ satellite on December 15 via the LVM3 rocket. This will be the heaviest American commercial communication satellite launched by India, weighing approximately 6.5 tons. The ব্লুবার্ড সিক্স satellite, developed by AST Space Mobile US, aims to provide direct-to-device mobile broadband connectivity anywhere on Earth. The LVM3 rocket, ISRO's most powerful and heavy rocket, can carry satellites weighing up to 8000 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO) and up to 4000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). It can place a satellite into a specific orbit in about 974 seconds (approximately 16 minutes). This rocket is also being developed to carry Indian astronauts into space as part of the Gaganyaan mission in 2027.
Increase in FDI Limits for Insurance Companies [11:55]
The central cabinet has approved increasing the FDI limit in insurance companies from 74% to 100%. This decision will be implemented through the Insurance Laws Bill 2025, allowing for full foreign ownership in the insurance sector. This move aims to attract foreign investment, address capital deficits, expand insurance coverage and market reach, and improve ease of doing business. The policy will be implemented under the supervision of the insurance sector regulator, IRDAI. FDI, or Foreign Direct Investment, refers to a foreign company or individual investing money in an Indian company and becoming a shareholder. Previously, foreign investment in insurance companies was limited to 74%, requiring at least 26% ownership by Indian entities. Now, foreign companies can own 100% of an insurance company, subject to Indian laws and IRDAI regulations.
Homework Questions and Previous Day Review [13:15]
Lord Cornwallis is known as the father of civil services. The study of cells is called cytology. Homework questions for the audience include: Who was the first British Viceroy of India? What is the product of force and displacement called? The video concludes with a quick revision of the previous day's current affairs questions from December 14, 2025, covering topics such as the Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship, Amazon's investment in India, a new jumping spider species discovered in Meghalaya, a book based on the life of Anandiben Patel, Bank of Baroda recognized as the best bank in India by The Banker, SAARC Charter Day, an AI-powered platform for cybercrime investigation in Maharashtra, the pseudonym of author Sophie Kinsella, the International Brand Ambassador for Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon 2025, the purpose of the Sujalam Bharat app, and a new regulatory framework for pagdi buildings in Maharashtra.
