Daily Current Affairs- 10th December 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 10th December 2025

India Post Unveils Kerala’s First Gen-Z Post Office Extension

In the News: India Post inaugurated Kerala's first Gen-Z Post Office extension counter at CMS College, Kottayam, marking a revolutionary approach to modernizing postal services for younger generations. The facility was officially opened by Shri N.R. Giri, Director Postal Services, Kerala Central Region, with Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia praising the initiative as a perfect blend of tradition and innovation.

Key Points:

• Conceptual Philosophy: The Gen-Z Post Office was developed following the core philosophy "Of the students, by the students, for the students." The entire space was imagined, planned, and co-created by CMS College students in collaboration with India Post officials, representing a perfect fusion of creativity, sustainability, and modern service delivery.
• Location and Significance: The extension counter functions as part of the Kottayam Head Post Office within the historic CMS College campus in Kottayam, which is known as the "Land of Letters" or "Akshara Nagari." This initiative demonstrates how public institutions can adapt to changing societal needs while preserving their legacy and cultural heritage.
• Multi-functional Design: The postal extension counter is not just a traditional service point but serves as a vibrant, youthful, nature-infused space that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor areas. It functions as a work café, green corner, community hub, workplace, meeting place, creative hub, relaxation zone, and community corner, staying true to the college's ethos of harmony with nature.
• Nature-Themed Features: The facility includes a nature-themed seating zone with picnic-table style arrangements and a vertical garden offering a refreshing and calming ambience. Additional seating made from refurbished tyres reflects the students' commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, showcasing environmental consciousness in the design.
• Postal Services: The facility is equipped with a fully functional Multi-Purpose Counter Machine (MPCM) booking counter with packaging materials and a MyStamp printer, ensuring enhanced service accessibility. Services include QR code-based parcel booking, registered post, customized stamps, and Smart Service touchpoints providing online postal services.
• Broader National Initiative: This Gen-Z post office is part of a larger national initiative to modernize postal services across educational campuses in India. The Department of Posts has plans to revamp 46 existing post offices located within educational campuses across the country, transforming them into vibrant, youth-centric spaces.

Deepavali Enters UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, Boosting India’s Global Presence

In the News: Deepavali (also known as Diwali) was officially inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 20th Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee held at the Red Fort in New Delhi. This historic recognition marks a profound moment of pride for India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailing the festival as the "soul of our civilisation" and stating it will contribute to the festival's global popularity even further.

Key Points:

• UNESCO Inscription and Committee Session: The inscription was adopted on December 10, 2025, during the 20th Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held at Delhi's Red Fort from December 8 to 13, 2025. The decision was made in the presence of Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, delegates from UNESCO Member States, international experts, and representatives from UNESCO's global network. This marks the first time India is hosting a session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee, and the meeting is being chaired by H.E. Vishal V. Sharma, India's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.
• India's Growing Cultural Recognition: With Deepavali's inclusion, India now has 16 elements inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, making it one of the countries with the highest number of recognized elements globally. The 15 other Indian elements already on this prestigious list include the Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja of Kolkata, Garba dance of Gujarat, Yoga, the tradition of Vedic chanting, Ramlila (traditional performance of the Ramayana), Ramman, Kutiyattam Sanskrit theatre tradition of Kerala, Chhau dance from eastern states, Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan, Mudiyettu ritual theatre, traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru in Punjab, Buddhist chanting of Ladakh, and Persian New Year Nawrouz (added in 2024), Sankirtana.
• Cultural and Spiritual Significance: UNESCO described Deepavali as a light festival celebrated annually by diverse individuals and communities across India that marks the last harvest of the year and the start of a new year and new season. Based on the lunar calendar, it falls on the new moon (Kartik Amavasya) in October or November and lasts several days.
• Environmental Stewardship Initiatives: Government interventions include the development of "green crackers" by CSIR-NEERI (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) and national campaigns like Swachh Diwali and Shubh Diwali, which have encouraged eco-friendly festivities while preserving the festival's cultural spirit.
• Historic Timing and Significance: The event coincides with the 20th anniversary of India's ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2005, reaffirming India's sustained commitment to preserving living cultural traditions. The iconic Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, served as the venue, symbolizing the convergence of India's tangible and intangible heritage. The other inscribed elements including the Gifaataa festival of Ethiopia, Tangali saree weaving art from Bangladesh, Georgian wheat culture, and family tradition circus from Chile.

UAE Passport Rises in 2025 Global Strength Rankings

In the News: The United Arab Emirates passport maintained its dominant position in global mobility rankings, retaining the #1 spot on the Arton Capital Passport Index for a record seventh consecutive year with a Mobility Score of 179. Separately, the UAE passport holds the 8th position in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 184 destinations, representing one of the most dramatic ascents in passport strength globally over the past decade.

Key Points:

• Arton Capital Passport Index Leadership: The UAE passport topped the 2025 Arton Capital Passport Index for the seventh consecutive year, retaining its position as the world's strongest passport with a Mobility Score of 179. The Emirati passport provides visa-free access to 125 to 130 destinations, visa-on-arrival to 45 countries, and Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) access to eight countries.
• Henley Passport Index Performance: According to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, UAE ranks 8th in the 2025 Henley Passport Index with visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 184 destinations, up from 11th in 2024. This marks an improvement from the 11th position in 2024, representing continued upward momentum in global mobility rankings. The Henley Passport Index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the largest and most accurate travel information database, and evaluates 199 passports across 227 destinations. India’s passport has slipped to No. 85 in 2025, down five places from the previous year. The country’s ranking has seen considerable fluctuation over time, mirroring shifts in global travel policies and India’s evolving diplomatic relations.
• Decline of Traditional Powers: Most major European passports dropped from scores of 178-179 in 2024 to around 174 in 2025, losing roughly four visa-free destinations each as countries tightened entry rules. The United Kingdom dropped from 32nd to 39th position on certain indexes, continuing its long decline from top-tier status following Brexit.
• Asian Nations' Surge: After years of holding steady, Asia's top passports surged forward in 2025. Singapore leads the 2025 Henley Passport Index with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea tied at second place with access to 190 destinations. Singapore made the biggest leap on the Arton Capital Passport Index, jumping from 30th place to 2nd place with a mobility score of 175. Malaysia rose dramatically from 41st to 17th place, entering the top tier for the first time with a score of 174. India also made significant progress, climbing eight spots to 77th position, representing the biggest ranking jump despite gaining only two additional visa-free destinations.
• Digital Travel Authorization Expansion: Despite an overall decline in traditional visa-free global mobility, 2025 marked a record year in travel digitalization and an all-time high in the adoption of Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs). Israel, the United Kingdom, Turkmenistan, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Maldives all adopted ETA systems in 2025.

Global Environment Outlook 2025

In the News: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the Global Environment Outlook, Seventh Edition: A Future We Choose (GEO-7) during the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya. This landmark report, produced by 287 multidisciplinary scientists from 82 countries with contributions from over 800 reviewers worldwide, represents the most comprehensive scientific assessment of the global environment ever undertaken, offering humanity a critical choice between continuing on a path toward environmental catastrophe or transforming key systems to secure a healthy planet, healthy people, and healthy economies.

Key Points:

• Report Development and Scope: GEO-7 is the product of 287 multidisciplinary scientists from 82 countries, making it UNEP's flagship environmental assessment and the most comprehensive scientific evaluation of the global environment ever carried out. The GEO-7 process was initiated by UNEA Resolution EA.5/3 approved by Member States in March 2022, with authors meeting in Bangkok, Vienna, and Nairobi to prepare the assessment. The Summary for Policymakers was reviewed and approved at a meeting held from October 27-31, 2025, at the United Nations Office in Nairobi.
• Current Environmental Crises and Costs: The report finds that climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, desertification, and pollution and waste have already taken a heavy toll on the planet, people, and economies, costing trillions of dollars each year. Greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 1.5 percent annually since 1990, reaching a new high in 2024, raising global temperatures and intensifying climate impacts
• Five Key Transformation Areas: Following the transformation pathways would require sweeping changes across five interconnected key areas. First, Economy and Finance: moving beyond GDP to comprehensive inclusive wealth metrics that track human and natural capital, pricing positive and negative externalities to value goods correctly, and phasing out and repurposing subsidies, taxes, and incentives that result in negative impacts on nature. Second, Materials and Waste: implementing circular product design, transparency and traceability of products and materials, shifting investments to circular and regenerative business models, and changing consumption patterns towards circularity through mindset shifts. Third, Energy: decarbonizing the energy supply, increasing energy efficiency, backing social and environmental sustainability in critical mineral value chains, and addressing energy access and energy poverty.
• Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society Approaches: GEO-7 calls for interconnected whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches to transform systems of economy and finance, materials and waste, energy, food, and the environment. The report makes clear that transformation of economic and financial systems will unlock transformations in the materials/waste, energy, and food systems while improving environmental management. A key enabling factor of this approach is moving away from GDP as the primary indicator to metrics that also track human and natural capital, which would incentivize economies to move towards circularity, decarbonization of the energy system, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem restoration.
• UNEA-7 Context and Theme: The GEO-7 launch occurred during UNEA-7, held from December 8-12, 2025, at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of UNEA-7 is "Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet," and the Global Environment Outlook report was strategically launched to provide solutions pathways that feed directly into the discussions and decisions made during the assembly. Professor Edgar E. Gutiérrez-Espeleta, President of UNEA, emphasized that "one of GEO-7's messages is that we must see all four crises together. We cannot just work on climate change alone. These big systems drive life on the planet, and we must act with this vision."

The 33rd Southeast Asian Games Begin in Thailand

In the News:  The 33rd Southeast Asian Games officially opened in Bangkok, Thailand, with a grand ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium presided over by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida. This marks Thailand's first time hosting the regional sporting event in 18 years and the return of the Games to Bangkok, where the regional competition was born 66 years ago in 1959 as the SEAP Games. The Games are scheduled to run from December 9-20, 2025, about 13,000 athletes from 11 nations, across 50 medal sports with 574 events.

Key Points:

• Dates and Host Cities: The 33rd Southeast Asian Games are taking place from December 9 to 20, 2025, across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region and Chonburi province in Thailand. Originally, Songkhla province was also designated as a host city for 10 sports, but severe flooding in southern Thailand forced organizers to relocate all events from Songkhla to the capital Bangkok and Chonburi. This represents the first time in SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games history that host cities were chosen through a competitive bidding process, with Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla being selected on January 13, 2023, by the Sports Authority of Thailand, with Cabinet approval following in February 2023.
• Opening Ceremony Details: The opening ceremony was held on December 9, 2025, at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, beginning at 7:00 PM under the theme "We Are One — We Are Connected by the Sea." King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida arrived at 7:50 PM and presided over the ceremony, with the King officially declaring the Games open through a royal address.
• Royal Participation and Cauldron Lighting: Her Majesty Queen Suthida accompanied Thai national athletes in a royal electric vehicle during their march into the stadium and is scheduled to compete for Thailand in the sailing competition, representing the national team in the keelboat SSL47 event at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Sattahip district, Chonburi province from December 15-18. The torch relay featured three distinguished athletes: skateboarder Vareeraya Sukasem, 2008 Olympic boxing champion Somjit Jongjohor, and two-time Olympic taekwondo gold medalist Panipak Wongpattanakit, who carried the sacred flame (previously bestowed by the King) to light the cauldron. The cauldron lighting triggered a spectacular stadium-wide display of lasers, CGI projections, and a drone show.
• Participating Nations and Athletes: All eleven National Olympic Committee (NOC) members of the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) are participating in the Games: hosts Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Brunei Darussalam, and Timor-Leste. This marks a historic moment as Timor-Leste participates for the first time as a full ASEAN member state, having gained official access to the association on October 26, 2025. A total of 13,657 athletes are competing across 8,266 competitors in 50 sports, including Olympic champions such as Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo of the Philippines and Indonesia's Rizki Juniansyah.
• Sports Program and Medal Events: The Games feature 50 medal sports with 574 gold medals (though there was an inconsistency during the opening ceremony when the MC announced 574 medal sets while the display showed 547), plus 3 demonstration sports and 1 value-creating sport. The sporting program ranges from Olympic disciplines to traditional regional sports.
• Host City Contract and Administrative Structure: During the first SEAGF council meeting for the 2025 SEA Games in June 2024, the host city contract was signed by Chadchart Sittipunt (Governor of Bangkok), Thawatchai Srithong (Governor of Chonburi province), and Somnuek Promkhieo (Governor of Songkhla province). The ceremony followed the Olympic and Asian Games host city agreement model, marking the first time a SEA Games host city contract has been formally signed.
• Cambodia's Withdrawal: On December 11, 2025, Cambodia withdrew its team from the Southeast Asian Games for safety reasons as a border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia raged for a third day. The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia made the decision due to "serious concerns" and requests from families of athletes to return home. Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia had erupted on December 9.
• Closing Ceremony and Next Host: The closing ceremony is scheduled for December 20, 2025, at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, where the SEAGF flag will be handed over to Malaysia, the host country for the 2027 edition. The handover segment will include performances by Malaysian artists Marsha Milan, Amir Jahari, and Mimifly, symbolizing the continuation of Southeast Asian sporting unity and cooperation. This transition marks the ongoing evolution of the SEA Games as a platform for promoting regional solidarity, sportsmanship, and cultural exchange among Southeast Asian nations.

India to Host Squash World Cup 2025 for the Third Consecutive Time

In the News: India is hosting the Squash World Cup for the third consecutive time, with the fifth edition of the tournament taking place at the SDAT Stadium and Express Avenue Mall in Chennai from December 9 to 14, 2025. Organized by World Squash, the sport's global governing body, this mixed-team international event features 12 nations competing for the championship title, expanded from eight teams in the previous edition. The tournament is sponsored by the Tamil Nadu Government and supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport in India.

Key Points:

• Tournament Format and Expansion: The 2025 Squash World Cup is the fifth edition of the tournament and features 12 national teams, expanded from eight teams in the 2023 edition. The tournament follows a mixed-team format where each nation fields two men and two women players, competing in ties with four best-of-five matches. Teams have been divided into four pools (A to D) of three teams each for the group stage, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarter-finals.
• Consecutive Hosting Achievement: This marks the third consecutive time that India, specifically Chennai, is hosting the Squash World Cup, having previously hosted the tournament in 2023 and serving as the venue for the 2011 edition as well. The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) is the organizing body responsible for hosting the championships.
• Venues and Infrastructure: The tournament is being played across two premier venues in Chennai: the Express Avenue Mall, featuring a spectacular all-glass show court, and the Indian Squash Academy (also known as Indian Squash & Triathlon Academy or ISA).
• Match Format and Scoring System: All matches are played as best-of-five games, with games scored to seven points using the innovative format introduced in the 2023 edition. At 6-6, games are decided by sudden-death tiebreaks, maintaining the fast-paced nature that has been praised by fans. The playing order is determined by coin toss and follows either Woman #2, Man #1, Woman #1, Man #2 OR Man #2, Woman #1, Man #1, Woman #2. Teams are awarded points for winning matches as follows: Woman #1 and Man #1 victories earn 2 points each, while Woman #2 and Man #2 victories earn 1 point each.
• Participating Nations: The tournament features representation from all five of World Squash's Continental Federations. From Asia, hosts India are joined by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, and Hong Kong, China. Africa is represented by defending champions Egypt and South Africa. Europe has two representatives in Poland and Switzerland. Oceania is represented by Australia, and Panamerica by Brazil. This global participation demonstrates the worldwide appeal and competitive nature of the event.
• Pool Composition: Pool A features Hong Kong, China, South Africa, and Republic of Korea. Pool B includes hosts India, Brazil, and Switzerland. Pool C brings together Malaysia, Australia, and Poland. Pool D comprises defending champions Egypt, Japan, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This distribution ensures competitive balance across all pools while setting up potentially exciting matchups in the knockout stages.
• India's Squad Composition: India has announced a four-member squad blending experience and youth for the 2025 tournament. The men's team features India's No.1 ranked player Abhay Singh (world No. 29, India’s top-ranked man) and 17-year-old Anahat Singh (world No. 27, India’s top-ranked woman), India's top-ranked women's player who will also be making her World Cup debut as the youngest player in the tournament, and veteran Joshna Chinappa (39 years old), a former World No. 10 who returns after helping India secure bronze in 2023.
• India's Previous Performance and Aspirations: In the 2023 edition, India achieved their best-ever result at a Squash World Cup by finishing third with a bronze medal. India topped their group stage with victories over Hong Kong, South Africa, and Japan but lost to Malaysia 3-0 in the semi-finals. This bronze medal finish marked the first time India had reached the podium at a Squash World Cup.
• Tournament History and Champions: The Squash World Cup was first held in 1996 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, where Australia emerged as inaugural champions by defeating England 3-0 in the final, with the tournament featuring 16 teams. England claimed the title in the second edition in 1999 in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. Egypt won the third edition in 2011 when the tournament was hosted in Chennai. Egypt is the most successful team in Squash World Cup history with two titles, both won in Chennai.
• 2023 Edition Innovations: The 2023 relaunched edition introduced several major changes that have been retained for 2025, most notably achieving gender parity within teams with equal representation of male and female players, and introducing games played to seven points with sudden-death tiebreaks, marking a first in World Squash Federation history. These innovations have been praised for creating fast-paced, exciting matches and promoting equal balance between male and female players.
• India's Opening Performance: India began their campaign with a dominant 4-0 victory over Switzerland in their Pool B opener on December 10, 2025. Velavan Senthilkumar secured the first point with a 3-0 (7-4, 7-5, 7-4) win. Veteran Joshna Chinappa sealed the clean sweep with a 3-1 (7-1, 5-7, 7-2, 7-0) win against Stella Kaufmann, recovering after dropping the second game. Coach Harinder Pal Sandhu expressed satisfaction with getting the first win out of the way, acknowledging the nerves of playing in front of a home crowd.
• Government Support and Sponsorship: The tournament is sponsored by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport in India, demonstrating strong governmental commitment to promoting squash in the country.