🌐 International Relations & Agreements

🔷 India and Oman Sign Historic CEPA Agreement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Muscat.
This is a major trade deal that will remove tariffs (taxes) on most goods traded between the two countries, helping Indian exporters of textiles, electronics, and chemicals.
The two nations also adopted a Joint Maritime Vision to improve security and trade in the Indian Ocean Region.
This visit marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Oman.

💰 Economy & Banking

🔷 India’s Exports Grow by 15.5% in 2025

Recent data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that India’s total exports reached US$ 73.99 billion in November 2025.
This is a strong growth of 15.52% compared to the same time last year.
The trade deficit (difference between imports and exports) has decreased by over 60%, which is a very positive sign for the Indian economy.
Key sectors driving this growth include engineering goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and electronics.

🪖 Defence & Security

🔷 Indian Army Contingent Leaves for 'Desert Cyclone 2025'

An Indian Army contingent has departed to participate in the joint military exercise 'Desert Cyclone 2025' in the UAE (United Arab Emirates).
The exercise focuses on urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations in desert conditions.
It aims to improve cooperation and friendship between the armies of India and the UAE.
This is a key part of India's growing defence diplomacy with West Asian countries.

🔬 Science & Technology

🔷 National Workshop on Geospatial Mission Held

The Survey of India hosted a national workshop titled “Geospatial Mission: An Enabler of Viksit Bharat” in New Delhi.
The workshop focused on using Geospatial technology (mapping and location data) for better planning of roads, farms, and cities.
This mission is a core pillar for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
Experts discussed how AI and satellite data can help in faster disaster management and land record digitization.

🏛️ Polity & Governance

🔷 President Murmu Visits Golden Temple, Vellore

President Smt. Droupadi Murmu visited the Golden Temple (Sripuram) in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
This visit is part of her Winter Sojourn to Southern India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana).
She emphasized the importance of cultural heritage and spiritual values in nation-building.
The President will stay at the Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad during the rest of her southern tour.

🏅 Sports

🔷 India Wins First-Ever Squash World Cup

Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the Indian Squash team for winning the first-ever Squash World Cup.
India defeated top teams to script a glorious history in the sport.
This victory is expected to boost the popularity of Squash in India as it heads toward the 2028 Olympics.

📌 December 18, 2025 General Knowledge

Minorities Rights Day (India): Observed every year on December 18 to protect the rights of minority communities in India and promote harmony.
International Migrants Day: Observed by the United Nations on this day to recognize the contributions of migrants and the challenges they face.
National Museum Inauguration (1960): The National Museum in New Delhi was officially inaugurated on this day in 1960 by Vice President S. Radhakrishnan.
GSLV Mk-III First Flight (2014): India’s heaviest rocket, the GSLV Mk-III (now LVM3), made its successful first experimental flight on this date in 2014.
Arabic Language Day: Celebrated globally by UNESCO on December 18 to honor one of the world's most widely spoken languages.