22 Dec 2025: PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Prelims Current Affairs includes Winter Solstice, World Meditation Day, World Basketball Day, Haryana Assembly Resolution on Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, IN-SPACe and Antariksh Prayogshala, Operation Hawkeye Strike, Brazil Hands Over BRICS Presidency to India, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill 2025.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WINTER SOLSTICE

Occurs on 21 December.
Aim: Marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere, with the shortest day and longest night in the north.
Northern Hemisphere: Shortest day and longest night of the year
Southern Hemisphere: Longest day and shortest night of the year
Seasons:
1. Start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere
2. Start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere

2. WORLD MEDITATION DAY

Observed on 21 December.
The United Nations observed the second World Meditation Day at its headquarters in New York.

ABOUT WORLD MEDITATION DAY

Officially declared by the UN General Assembly on 6 December 2024
Highlights meditation as a tool for inner peace and global harmony
Brings together diplomats, spiritual leaders, scientists, and civil society
Reflects the growing global recognition of mindfulness in a conflict-prone world

3. WORLD BASKETBALL DAY

Observed on 21 December.

ABOUT WORLD BASKETBALL DAY

Officially declared by the United Nations in 2023
Marks the anniversary of the first basketball game played in 1891
Invented by James Naismith in the United States
Created as an indoor winter sport using a soccer ball and peach baskets
Celebrates basketball’s global impact as a unifying sport

STATE IN NEWS

4. HARYANA ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION ON GURU TEGH BAHADUR JI

Current Context: Haryana Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to commemorate the 350th martyrdom year of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji during its winter session in Chandigarh.

ABOUT GURU TEGH BAHADUR JI

Ninth Sikh Guru
Great spiritual leader
Stood firmly for religious freedom, justice, and human dignity
Sacrificed his life to protect truth and righteousness
Teachings continue to inspire people of all faiths

SPACE

5. IN-SPACE AND ANTARIKSH PRAYOGSHALA

Current Context: IN-SPACe issued a Request for Proposal to establish Antariksh Prayogshala (Space Labs) in select academic institutions across India.

ABOUT IN-SPACE

Full Form: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre
Status: Autonomous body under the Department of Space
Nature: Single-window, independent nodal agency for non-governmental space activities
Role: Promotes, authorises, and supervises private space activities
Interface Function: Acts as a bridge between ISRO and private entities
Headquarters: Bopal, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

DEFENCE / INTERNATIONAL

6. OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE

Current Context: The United States and Jordan conducted Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria following an ISIS attack that killed two US soldiers.

ABOUT OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE

Joint military operation by United States and Jordanian forces
Area of operation: Syria
Involved large-scale airstrikes against ISIS positions
Over 70 ISIS targets hit using more than 100 precision-guided weapons
Objective: Weaken ISIS fighters, weapons, and infrastructure

INTERNATIONAL

7. BRAZIL HANDS OVER BRICS PRESIDENCY TO INDIA

Current Context: Brazil formally handed over the BRICS Presidency to India during the 4th Sherpas Meeting, December 2025.

ABOUT BRICS

Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
Grouping of major emerging economies
Promotes cooperation in development, trade, and global governance
Presidency rotates annually among member countries

India’s Focus (2026):

Resilience
Innovation
Cooperation
Sustainability

SPORTS

8. SYED MUSHTAQ ALI TROPHY 2025

Current Context: Jharkhand won its maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in 2025 after defeating Haryana in the final.

ABOUT SYED MUSHTAQ ALI TROPHY

India’s premier domestic T20 cricket tournament
Features state teams from across India
Jharkhand won the title for the first time
Final recorded the highest total ever in a T20 final

STATE IN NEWS / POLITY

9. KARNATAKA HATE SPEECH AND HATE CRIMES (PREVENTION) BILL, 2025

Current Context: Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025.

ABOUT HATE SPEECH (AS DEFINED IN THE BILL)

Expressions made in public view
Intended to cause injury, disharmony, enmity, hatred, or ill-will

Grounds Covered:

Religion
Race
Caste
Gender
Sexual orientation
Language
Tribe

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

Article 19(1)(a): Freedom of speech and expression
Article 19(2): Reasonable restrictions in the interest of:

Public order
National security
Decency
Defamation
Prevention of incitement to offences

Download Pdf | Study Material | Downloads | Daily Quiz | FREE Youtube Videos