1. FSSAI Egg Safety Drive and Nitrofurans Explained
- FSSAI started collecting samples of a popular egg brand after a viral video alleged nitrofuran traces.
- Nitrofurans are banned antimicrobials due to cancer risk.
- They are banned in India and the EU.
Daily Current Affairs: 17 December 2025
Current affairs of 17 December 2025: FSSAI Egg Safety Drive and Nitrofurans Explained; HAMMER (AASM) Weapon: Safran-BEL Joint Venture for India; EKUVERIN 2025: India-Maldives Army Exercise Ends, and 10 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.
In this issue: 13 topics
National Affairs
- FSSAI Egg Safety Drive and Nitrofurans Explained
- IBC Amendment Bill 2025: Select Committee Review and Reforms
- Raj Kumar Goyal appointed Chief Information Commissioner
Banking & Finance
- NPS Reforms: PFRDA Allows Loans Against Pension Corpus
- Unclaimed Bank Deposits Surge: Causes and Recovery Drives
- Sebi Board Agenda: MF Expense Ratios and Broker Rules
Economy
- Rupee Crosses 91 per Dollar: Record Low and Causes
- Bank Ownership Policy in India: RBI Shifts and Foreign Capital Debate
- RBI $5 Billion Currency Swap Eases Bank Liquidity Squeeze
Environment & Ecology
Defence & Security
- HAMMER (AASM) Weapon: Safran-BEL Joint Venture for India
- EKUVERIN 2025: India-Maldives Army Exercise Ends
Awards & Persons
National Affairs
2. IBC Amendment Bill 2025: Select Committee Review and Reforms
- A Lok Sabha select committee examined the IBC (Amendment) Bill 2025 and will table its report.
- Proposals: faster tribunal admissions, creditor-led out-of-court resolution, group insolvency and a cross-border regime.
- The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 is India's single law for time-bound insolvency resolution.
3. Raj Kumar Goyal appointed Chief Information Commissioner
- Retired IAS officer Raj Kumar Goyal (1990 batch) is the new Chief Information Commissioner.
- Eight new Information Commissioners were also appointed, fully constituting the CIC for the first time in nine years.
- He took office on 15 December 2025; President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath.
- Appointment is made on a committee's recommendation under Section 12(3) of the RTI Act, 2005.
Banking & Finance
4. NPS Reforms: PFRDA Allows Loans Against Pension Corpus
- PFRDA's amended regulations let NPS subscribers take loans by marking a lien on the pension account.
- The lien is capped at 25% of the subscriber's own contribution.
- Non-government subscribers can take up to 80% as lump sum; minimum annuity drops to 20% from 40%.
5. Unclaimed Bank Deposits Surge: Causes and Recovery Drives
- Unclaimed deposits are balances not accessed or claimed by holders for a long period.
- Under 'Your Money, Your Right', announced by PM Modi on 10 December, nearly ₹2,000 crore went back to owners.
- That is about 3% of unclaimed deposits as of 30 June 2025.
6. Sebi Board Agenda: MF Expense Ratios and Broker Rules
- Sebi planned to cut brokerage within TER: cash market 12 bps to 2 bps, derivatives 5 bps to 1 bp.
- TER caps could fall 15-20 bps.
- Three-decade-old Stock Brokers Regulations are to be overhauled.
Economy
7. Rupee Crosses 91 per Dollar: Record Low and Causes
- The rupee touched 91.14 per dollar intraday and closed at 90.93, a fresh record low.
- It became Asia's weakest currency in 2025.
- FPIs withdrew about $2.7 billion in the first two weeks of December.
8. Bank Ownership Policy in India: RBI Shifts and Foreign Capital Debate
- Kotak Mahindra Bank (2001) was asked to cut its promoter stake only from 61% to 49%.
- The 2013 guidelines brought the NOFHC structure and a 40% promoter cap, falling to 15% within 12 years.
- The piece argues for letting large, well-governed NBFCs become banks.
9. RBI $5 Billion Currency Swap Eases Bank Liquidity Squeeze
- RBI used a $5 billion currency swap to add liquidity as surplus funds with banks shrank.
- Bank surplus fell from ₹4 trillion in early August to about ₹1.3 trillion in December 2025.
- In a swap, parties exchange currencies now and reverse the exchange at a pre-agreed rate later.
Environment & Ecology
10. India’s first wildlife-safe road opens on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh
- India's first wildlife-safe road was launched on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh.
- It covers a 2 km ghat section within an 11.96 km stretch through Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
- Twenty-five underpasses and an eight-foot fence guide animals away from traffic.
- Red 5 mm thermoplastic table-top markings alert drivers.
- NHAI built it under its Green Highways initiative.
Defence & Security
11. HAMMER (AASM) Weapon: Safran-BEL Joint Venture for India
- India signed a pact with France's Safran to jointly make and maintain the HAMMER (AASM) precision-guided weapon.
- Production will be via a 50:50 joint venture of Safran and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
- HAMMER stands for Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range.
12. EKUVERIN 2025: India-Maldives Army Exercise Ends
- Exercise EKUVERIN is a bilateral drill between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces.
- It lasted two weeks and ended with a joint validation exercise.
- Location: Thiruvananthapuram.
- Focus: counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations.
Awards & Persons
13. Homebound Shortlisted for Oscars 2026 International Feature
- Homebound made the 15-film shortlist for the International Feature category at the 98th Academy Awards.
- The shortlist was announced on 17 December 2025; 86 countries had submitted films.
- The film is directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor.
- It premiered at Cannes 2025 and was second runner-up for TIFF's International Audience Choice Award.
Test yourself
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