🌐 International Relations & Agreements

🔷 India and New Zealand Conclude Major Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

India and New Zealand have successfully concluded a Free Trade Agreement in record time (9 months).
Duty-Free Access: New Zealand will provide 100% duty-free access for Indian goods like textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, and engineering products.
Protection for Farmers: India has strictly excluded the dairy and agriculture sectors from the deal to protect small Indian farmers.
Mobility: The agreement makes it easier for Indian IT professionals and students to work and study in New Zealand.

📢 PIB / Government Reports & Schemes

🔷 PESA Mahotsav 2025 Organized in Visakhapatnam

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organized the PESA Mahotsav (Utsav Lok Sanskriti Ka) on December 23, 2024, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Objective: To celebrate the anniversary of the PESA Act, 1996 (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act).
Tribal Empowerment: The event focused on how the PESA Act gives Gram Sabhas the power to manage local resources and protect tribal culture.
Digital Support: A new PESA–Gram Panchayat Development Plan Portal was highlighted to help tribal villages plan their own development.

💰 Economy & Banking

🔷 India-Oman CEPA Trade Deal Highlights

Following the signing on December 18, more details of the India-Oman CEPA were released today.
Exports Growth: India’s exports to the Gulf region are expected to grow by $2 billion annually due to this pact.
Investment: Oman has committed to investing in India’s infrastructure and green energy sectors.
Strategic Link: This is India's third major trade deal with a Gulf country, after UAE and Qatar.

🔬 Science & Technology

🔷 ‘AI Mahakumbh’ Held in New Delhi

The Vice-President of India addressed the National Conclave on AI Evolution, popularly called the "Mahakumbh of AI", in New Delhi.
Focus: The event discussed how Artificial Intelligence can be used in Indian languages to help rural citizens.
Innovation: The government announced a new mission to support 1,000 AI startups in the next two years.

🏅 Sports

🔷 India Finishes 7th at Asian Youth Para Games

India finished its campaign at the 5th Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai with a historic total of 102 medals.
Medal Split: India won 36 Gold, 28 Silver, and 38 Bronze medals.
Top Performers: Jatin Azad (Para-Badminton) and Bhuvi Agarwal (Para-Athletics) were among the top gold medalists.
Rankings: Uzbekistan topped the table, while India secured the 7th position overall.

👤 Personalities

🔷 India Remembers ‘Champion of Farmers’ Chaudhary Charan Singh

The nation observed the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, India's 5th Prime Minister, as Kisan Diwas.
Born on December 23, 1902, he is remembered for his revolutionary work in land reforms and farmer welfare.
Legacy: He was the founder of the Bharatiya Lok Dal and a Bharat Ratna awardee.

🔷 Death Anniversary of P.V. Narasimha Rao

Today marks the death anniversary of P.V. Narasimha Rao (died December 23, 2004), the 9th Prime Minister of India.
Father of Economic Reforms: He is credited with launching the 1991 Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization (LPG) reforms.
Look East Policy: He was the architect of India's "Look East Policy" to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian countries.

📌 December 23 General Knowledge

Kisan Diwas (National Farmers' Day): Celebrated every year on December 23 in honour of Chaudhary Charan Singh to recognize the importance of farmers in the Indian economy.
Visva-Bharati University (1921): On this day in 1921, Rabindranath Tagore officially inaugurated Visva-Bharati University at Santiniketan, West Bengal.
Swami Shraddhanand (1926): Today is the death anniversary of the great social reformer and Arya Samaj leader Swami Shraddhanand, who worked for education and women's rights.
Kolkata Name Change (2000): On December 23, 2000, the central government officially changed the name of Calcutta to Kolkata.
First Train in India (Trial - 1851): While commercial services started in 1853, India’s first steam locomotive (trial engine) for hauling construction material ran on this day in 1851 between Roorkee and Piran Kaliyar.