Daily Current Affairs: 1 January 2026

Analysis for 01 January 2026

Sadanand Vasant Date took charge as Director General of Police, Maharashtra

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

Sadanand Vasant Date succeeded Rashmi Shukla, the first woman DGP of Maharashtra.
Date, a 1990-batch IPS officer, will occupy the post for two years in line with Supreme Court guidelines.
He has earlier served as chief of the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad and as the first commissioner of the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar police Commissionerate.

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Raj Kumar Goyal sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner of Central Information Commission (Mid of December) ▼

Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) in the Central Information Commission by President Droupadi Murmu.
He retired in August from the post of Secretary, Department of Justice in the Ministry of Law and Justice.
The appointment fills the vacancy left after previous CIC Heeralal Samariya demitted office in September.
A three-member committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommended his name for the post of CIC.
Goyal was a 1990-batch officer of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre and later the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre.

Rakesh Aggarwal assigned additional charge of Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) (End of December) ▼

Rakesh Aggarwal, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been assigned the additional charge of Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA).
He is currently serving as Special Director General of the NIA.
The assignment follows the premature repatriation of incumbent DG Sadanand Vasant Date, a 1990-batch Maharashtra cadre IPS officer, to his parent cadre.
Aggarwal will hold the additional charge till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Aman Jain appointed as head of public policy at Meta India (Mid of December) ▼

Aman Jain will join Meta India early next year as head of public policy and will report to Simon Milner, Vice President of Policy, Asia Pacific (APAC) at Meta.
He will be a member of the India leadership team.
Jain previously served as country head for government affairs and public policy at Google India and as Director of Public Policy at Amazon.

Government Appoints New Secretary-Rank Officers (End of November) ▼

Govt appointed seven new secretary-rank officers, including the new heads for oil, telecom and agriculture ministries.
Neeraj Mittal, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, [was appointed] as petroleum secretary, replacing Pankaj Jain.
Amit Agrawal moves to the Department of Telecom.
Manoj Joshi... will move to pharmaceuticals from the department of land resources.
V Vidyarthi will move from tourism to the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Srivatsa Krishna [will replace V Vidyarthi] in tourism.
Atish Chandra... has been named officer on special duty in the department of agriculture and farmers welfare, and will take over as secretary at the end of Feb, when Devesh Chaturvedi retires.
Pankaj Jain, who was named member secretary of the Eighth Pay Commission.
Chennai Port Trust chairman Sunil Paliwal has been named chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.

Rani Velu Nachiyar Honored as First Queen of Sivaganga

Key Updates:

Rani Velu Nachiyar of Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, was honored on her birth anniversary as the first Indian queen to wage war against British colonial rule.
Born on January 3, 1730, she was the daughter of Raja Chellamuthu Vijayaragunatha Sethupathy and Rani Sakandhimuthal of the Ramnad kingdom.
She earned the title 'Veeramangai' (Brave Woman) for leading an organized armed struggle against the East India Company (EIC).
She formed a strategic military alliance with Hyder Ali, the King of Mysore, to reclaim her kingdom and establish independent rule.
She was trained in traditional martial arts including Silambam and Valari, and was proficient in multiple languages including Tamil, English, French, and Urdu.

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Birsa Munda's Birth Anniversary observed on November 15 (Mid of November) ▼

November 15 marks the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, one of India's most revered tribal leaders, freedom fighters, and social reformers.
Birsa Munda was born on November 15, 1875.
He is best remembered for leading the Ulgulan (The Great Rebellion, 1899–1900) against the oppressive British colonial authorities and exploitative landlords.
In Jharkhand, Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary is celebrated with statewide ceremonies, cultural programs, and educational initiatives.
He is revered as a symbol of resistance against oppression and the protector of tribal communities.

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum: India’s First Digital Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum (Start of November) ▼

Name: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum
Launch/Inauguration: to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Chhattisgarh
Location: Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, Chhattisgarh on ~10 acres
Cost: built at a cost of Rs 50 crore
Key Features: VFX, digital projections, interactive screens, QR codes, selfie points, accessibility for differently-abled and senior citizens
Content: chronicles 14 tribal revolts (Halba, Sarguja, Bhopalpatnam, Paralkot, Tarapur, Lingagiri, Koie, Meria, Muria, Rani Chauris, Bhumkal, Sonakhan, Jhanda, Jungle Satyagraha) and honours Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh and other tribal warriors

International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations to be observed annually on 14 December (Mid of December) ▼

The General Assembly adopted texts recommended by its Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee).
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had its mandate extended until 30 June 2029.
The General Assembly decided to proclaim 14 December as the International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations.
The International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations is to be observed annually beginning in 2025.
The General Assembly adopted a decision concerning Gibraltar.
The General Assembly adopted four decisions concerning the 'Increase in the membership of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space'.

Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha (Mid of December) ▼

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha, a gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan dedicated to the recipients of the Param Vir Chakra.
The gallery features portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, commemorating their exceptional acts of valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during war.
The Param Vir Dirgha replaces colonial-era displays of British Aides-de-camp (ADCs) that were previously housed in the corridors of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The inauguration was held on Vijay Diwas, an occasion observed on December 16 to commemorate India’s victory in the 1971 war and the liberation of Bangladesh.
President Droupadi Murmu stated that Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s strength, discipline, and deterrence to the world.

Savitribai Phule Pioneered Women’s Education and Social Reform

Key Updates:

Savitribai Phule was born on January 3, 1831, in Naigaon village of Satara district in Maharashtra.
She is considered the pioneer of women’s education in modern India and opened the first school exclusively for women in Pune in 1848.
She was the wife of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and earned the title ‘krantijyoti’ or torchbearer of revolution for her role in his mission.
She opened a total of 18 schools for girls in a short span of four years, including the first school at Bhide Wada.
She established a home for the prevention of infanticide and offered shelter to widows and commercial sex workers during the drought of 1876-77.
She presided over the Satyashodhak Parishad held in Saswad near Pune in 1893.
She authored several books including her first book of poems ‘Kavyafule’ in 1854, as well as ‘Savitribaichi Gani’, ‘Subodh Ratnakar’, and ‘Bawankashi’.
She led the funeral procession and performed the last rites of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule after his death on November 28, 1890.
She passed away on March 10, 1897, after contracting the plague while providing relief and medical assistance to patients in Pune.

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Bibha Chowdhuri highlighted as unsung hero of Indian physics (Start of December) ▼

Bibha Chowdhuri was a pioneering Indian physicist in cosmic ray research.
She published three consecutive papers in Nature alongside Debendra Mohan Bose.
Chowdhuri completed her PhD at the University of Manchester under Nobel laureate P. M. S. Blackett.
She became the first woman researcher at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in 1949.
Later she joined the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) at Ahmedabad and worked on the Kolar Gold Mine experiments.
Despite her contributions, she received no national awards or major scientific fellowships.

National Education Day observed on November 11: History and Significance (Mid of November) ▼

Every year on November 11, India observes National Education Day, a tribute to the vision and contributions of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the nation’s first Education Minister.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education) announced in September 2008 that November 11 would be celebrated as National Education Day to commemorate his birthday, and recall his contribution to education.
National Education Day is celebrated on November 11 every year, marking the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Born on November 11, 1888, in Mecca, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a prominent scholar, freedom fighter, and visionary leader.
After independence, Maulana Azad was appointed as the first Education Minister of independent India.
In 1992, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor.
He was instrumental in the establishment of premier institutions such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore.
He also played a significant role in strengthening the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and promoting research and scientific learning.
His efforts also led to the formation of the Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, and Sangeet Natak Akademi, institutions that continue to promote India’s rich cultural heritage.
He founded the Urdu weekly Al-Hilal in 1912 and later Al-Balagh, both of which became influential platforms for anti-colonial ideas.

CBSE Hosts First International Sahodaya Conference in Dubai (Start of November) ▼

"The first International and 31st Annual Conference of Sahodaya School Complexes opened today at the Grand Hyatt Dubai."
"Organised by the Central Board of Secondary Education and guided by the National Education Policy 2020, the conference serves as a platform for exploring future-ready learning while blending India’s educational ethos with global aspirations."
"The two-day landmark event brought together over 1,000 school leaders, educators, and stakeholders from CBSE-affiliated institutions worldwide to foster collaboration, share innovative practices, and reimagine holistic learning under the theme “Rooted in Wisdom, Rising with Vision: Reimagining Education through NEP 2020.”"
"CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh announced that starting from the 2026-27 academic year, CBSE will introduce subjects at two levels-standard and advanced-from Class 9 onwards, beginning with ten subjects, and unveiled the CBSE Global Curriculum 26."

Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026 Registrations Open on MyGov Portal (Start of December) ▼

Ministry of Education (MoE) announced the 9th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) to be held in January 2026.
Online MCQ-based competition for participant selection runs on MyGov portal from 1st December 2025 to 11th January 2026.
Students of Classes 6-12, teachers, and parents can register; all completers receive MyGov participation certificate.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records gross NPAs at 10-year low of 2.1%

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

Gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) have fallen to a decadal low of 2.1%.
The ratio of special mention accounts overdue by 61-90 days (SMA-2) declined to 0.8% as of end-September 2025.
In the MSME sector, the SMA ratio eased to 5.1%.
Stress in unsecured loans moderated sharply, with the SMA-2 ratio falling to 13% from more than 20% a year earlier.
Credit costs for the system are expected to be around 0.6% in the December quarter.
Fresh stress formation among large borrowers improved, with the SMA-2 ratio declining nearly 36% in September 2025.
69% of gold loan disbursements were to prime-and-above borrowers.
Private sector banks disbursed over 70% of consumer loans to prime-and-above borrowers.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records double-digit deposit and credit growth alongside lowest gross NPAs in decades. (End of December) ▼

Commercial, co-operative and other financial institutions expanded balance sheets, though at a marginally slower pace than the previous year.
Aggregate deposits and bank credit grew at a double-digit rate during 2024-25.
Gross non-performing assets fell to 2.2% by March 2025 and further to 2.1% by September 2025, marking the lowest level in many decades.
Capital to risk-weighted assets ratio for major commercial banks stood at 17.4% in March 2025 and 17.2% in September 2025.
Return on assets was 1.4% in 2024-25 and moderated to 1.3% in the first half of 2025-26.
Urban co-operative banks posted faster balance sheet growth, improved asset quality for the fourth straight year, and raised savings and profits.
Non-banking financial companies reported double-digit credit growth, better loan quality and maintained strong financial buffers.

S&P Global Ratings (S&P) upgrades India's insolvency regime to Group B from Group C. (Start of December) ▼

S&P Global Ratings (S&P) raised India's jurisdiction ranking assessment to Group B from Group C.
S&P revised its assessment of creditor-friendliness of India's bankruptcy resolution framework to medium from weak.
Average recovery values under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) have improved to more than 30 per cent from 15-20 per cent under the previous regime.
The IBC has reduced the average resolution time for bad loans to about two years, down from six to eight years.
Secured creditors often recover several multiples that of unsecured creditors under the IBC.
India's resolution regime still lags those of more established Group A and some Group B jurisdictions.
Average recovery rates of about 30 per cent are comparatively low.
Recoveries are higher for secured debt and in asset-intensive sectors such as steel and power.

NITI Aayog releases Report on Deepening the Corporate Bond Market in India (Mid of December) ▼

NITI Aayog CEO Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam released the report titled “Deepening the Corporate Bond Market in India” on 11th December 2025 in New Delhi.
The report outlines a reform-oriented roadmap to build a deeper, more resilient, and inclusive bond market capable of supporting India’s long-term investment requirements.
India’s corporate bond market remains constrained by limited market depth, concentrated investor profiles, and modest secondary-market activity.
The report recommends strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, enhancing market infrastructure and transparency, and facilitating greater issuance by mid-size firms.
It proposes broadening participation of insurance, pension and retail investors and expanding product offerings such as credit-enhanced instruments, long-tenor bonds, and sustainability-linked products.
The study advocates improving liquidity in primary and secondary markets through deeper market-making and repo facilities and leveraging digital innovations including tokenised bonds and integrated data systems.

Indian Banking Sector Achieves 20-Year Non-Performing Assets Low, Strongest Profit Surge (Mid of December) ▼

Gross Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) dropped to 2.31% by March 2025.
Gross NPAs peaked at 11.46% in 2018.
Net NPAs declined to 0.52%.
Public Sector Banks (PSBs) reduced Gross NPAs from 9.11% in 2021 to 2.58% in 2025.
Domestic deposits increased from ₹88.35 lakh crore in 2015 to ₹231.90 lakh crore in 2025.
Credit grew from ₹66.91 lakh crore to ₹181.34 lakh crore between 2015 and 2025.
Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) improved from 12.94% in 2015 to 17.36% in 2025.
Common Equity Tier 1 (CET-1) ratio reached 14.81%.
Public Sector Bank (PSB) profits rose from ₹1.05 lakh crore in FY 2022–23 to ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2024–25.
Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) posted their highest ever earnings of ₹4.01 lakh crore in FY 2024–25.
Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) earned ₹1.02 lakh crore in the first quarter of FY26.
Return on Assets (RoA) stood at 1.37%.
Return on Equity (RoE) stood at 14.1%.
Key reforms include the Asset Quality Review (2015) and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (2016).
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposed the Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework in 2025.

Bank of Baroda (BoB) ranks Andhra Pradesh as top investment destination with 25.3% share of proposed capital in FY26.

[Bank of Baroda (BoB), Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

Andhra Pradesh captured 25.3% of all proposed investments nationwide in the first nine months of FY26.
Odisha and Maharashtra followed with 13.1% and 12.8% shares respectively.
The combined share of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra reached 51.2% of India’s total proposed capital investment.
Nationwide investment announcements totaled Rs 26.6 lakh crore, marking an 11.5% year-on-year increase.
Power sector led with 22.6% of investments, with renewables dominating the segment.
Metals accounted for 17.3% of proposed investments, supporting capital formation across roads, automobiles, and housing.
Construction maintained a steady 4% share, covering both housing and commercial complexes.
Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh attributed the performance to consistent reforms, fast decision-making, and investor-friendly policies.

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Government data shows India’s FDI inflow rises 18% to USD 35.18 bn in Apr-Sep (Start of December) ▼

India’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rose over 18% in April-September to USD 35.18 billion.
FDI equity inflow during April-September stood at USD 16.55 billion.
Inflows from the US more than doubled to USD 6.62 billion in April-September.
Services sector accounted for 16% of total FDI equity inflow, amounting to USD 5.10 billion.
Maharashtra received the highest share of FDI equity inflow at 31%, totaling USD 10.57 billion.
Karnataka and Gujarat followed with 21% and 15% of FDI equity inflow respectively.

Telangana Government targets $1 trillion economy by 2034 and $3 trillion by 2047. (Start of December) ▼

Telangana contributes around 5% of India’s national GDP while accounting for just 2.9% of the population.
The state aims to raise its share of national GDP to 10% by 2047.
The government is drawing inspiration from development models of China, Japan, Germany, South Korea, and Singapore.

Hinduja Group to Invest Rs 20,000 Crore in Andhra Pradesh Across Energy and EV Sectors (Start of November) ▼

Hinduja Group has agreed to invest Rs 20,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh in phases.
An agreement of Rs 20,000 crore investment in phases was signed between the Andhra Pradesh government and the Hinduja Group.
The Hinduja Group will enhance the capacity of the Visakhapatnam power plant by 1,600 MW.
The group will also establish an electric bus and light commercial vehicle manufacturing plant at Mallavalli in Krishna district.
Additionally, an agreement was reached to create a statewide network of electric charging stations in collaboration with the government.

Telangana bags Rs 5.75 lakh crore investments (Start of December) ▼

Telangana attracted total investment commitments of nearly Rs 5.75 lakh crore at its global summit.
Investment proposals worth Rs 2.9 lakh crore were attracted on the final day of the summit.
MoUs were signed across multiple sectors including food and agriculture, electronics, manufacturing, data centres, and biotechnology.
Top firms pledging investments included Godrej Industries Group, Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RPCL), Kaynes Technology India Limited, and Bharat Biotech.
Godrej Group pledged Rs 150 crore to expand its dairy business.
Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RPCL) plans a Rs 1,500 crore investment for a manufacturing facility for beverages, snacks, confectionery, and other consumer products.
Electronics manufacturer Kaynes Technology India Limited committed Rs 1,000 crore as part of its expansion plans.
JCK Infra pledged Rs 9,000 crore for data centre facilities.
APG Group plans to invest Rs 6,750 crore for a hyperscale data centre campus.
Infrakey Data Centre Parks announced an investment of Rs 70,000 crore.
Tokyo-headquartered NTT DATA Group announced a Rs 10,500 crore AI data centre cluster in Hyderabad in April.
The Brookfield-Axis Energy Ventures consortium committed to an MoU worth Rs 75,000 crore.
Adani Group is setting up a 48-megawatt AI green data centre in Telangana with an investment of Rs 2,500 crore.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Increases Foreign Exchange Reserves to $696,610 Million

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

India's Foreign Exchange Reserves increased to $696,610 Million for the week ending December 26 from $693,320 Million in the previous week.
The reserves reached an all-time high of $704,890.00 Million in September 2024 and a record low of $29,048.00 Million in September 1998.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Interest Rate was recorded at 5.25% in December 2025, down from 5.50% in the previous period.
The Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) stood at 3.00% in November 2025, compared to 3.25% in the preceding month.
The Reverse Repo Rate was maintained at 3.35% as of November 2025.
Bank Loan Growth YoY increased to 12.00% in December 2025 from 11.50% in the previous period.
The RBI Central Bank Balance Sheet was valued at 40,873.89 INR Billion in November 2025.
Foreign Exchange Reserves in India are projected to reach $710,000.00 Million by the end of the current quarter and trend around the same level in 2027.
India's Foreign Exchange Reserves averaged $311,804.00 Million from 1998 until 2025.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records $4.472 billion drop in India’s foreign exchange reserves. (End of November) ▼

India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $4.472 billion to $688.104 billion in the week ended November 21.
Foreign currency assets declined by $1.69 billion to $560.6 billion.
Gold reserves decreased by $2.675 billion to $104.182 billion.
Special Drawing Rights dropped $84 million to $18.566 billion.
India’s reserve position with the IMF fell $23 million to $4.757 billion.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reports India's forex reserves rise to $687.26 billion (Mid of December) ▼

India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $1.03 billion to $687.26 billion for the week ending on December 12, 2025.
In the previous reporting week, India's forex reserves had dropped by $1.877 billion to $686.227 billion.
Foreign currency assets decreased by $151 million to $556.88 billion for the week ended December 5.
Value of the gold reserves increased by $1.188 billion to $106.984 billion during the week.
The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were up by $93 million to $18.721 billion.
India's reserve position with the IMF was down by $97 million to $4.675 billion in the reporting week.

India's Forex Reserves Rise by $5.54 Billion to $692.57 Billion, Driven by Gold Holdings (End of November) ▼

India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 5.543 billion for the week ended 14 November.
The total foreign exchange reserves reached USD 692.576 billion.
This rise followed a decline of USD 2.699 billion in the previous reporting week, when reserves had slipped to USD 687.034 billion.
The surge was largely driven by gold holdings, which rose by USD 5.327 billion, taking the total to USD 106.857 billion.
Foreign currency assets (FCAs) saw a modest rise of USD 152 million, bringing the total to USD 562.29 billion.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) increased by USD 56 million to USD 18.65 billion.
The reserve position in the IMF was higher by USD 8 million, reaching USD 4.779 billion.

India's Forex Reserves Fall to $689.73 Billion as of October 31, 2025 (Mid of November) ▼

India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $5.6 billion in the week ended October 31, 2025.
The total foreign exchange reserves stood at $689.73 billion as of October 31, 2025, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
In the week preceding, the reserves had dipped by $6.92 billion to $695.36 billion.
Foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, decreased by $1.9 billion to $564.59 billion for the week ended October 31.
The value of gold reserves declined by $3.8 billion to $101.72 billion during the week.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were down by $19 million to $18.64 billion.
India's reserve position with the IMF was up by $16.4 million at $4.77 billion in the reporting week.
The Reserve Bank of India undertakes interventions in the foreign exchange market to moderate undue volatility in the rupee’s exchange rate and preserve orderly trading conditions.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data shows industrial credit demand accelerates

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

Industrial credit grew 9.6 per cent year-on-year till November compared to 8.3 per cent a year ago.
Credit to ‘Micro and Small’ and ‘Medium’ industries continued to exhibit double-digit expansion.
Outstanding credit to ‘infrastructure’, ‘all engineering’, ‘textiles’ and ‘petroleum, coal products and nuclear fuels’ registered buoyant growth.
Retail loans segment recorded 12.8 per cent growth, down from 13.4 per cent a year ago.
Credit card outstanding growth slowed to 2.4 per cent year-on-year in November 2025 from 18.1 per cent a year ago.
Housing credit growth moderated to 9.9 per cent from 12.2 per cent in the year-ago period.
Vehicle loan growth rose to 12.4 per cent year-on-year in November from 10.3 per cent last year.
Loan against gold jewellery surged 125.3 per cent year-on-year, up from 77.3 per cent in November 2024.
Credit growth to the services sector was 11.7 per cent against 12.8 per cent a year ago.
Loan growth to non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) improved to 9.5 per cent year-on-year in November from 7.5 per cent last year.

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Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records November IIP growth at 6.7% (End of December) ▼

India’s industrial output rose 6.7 per cent year-on-year in November, posting the highest rate of growth in 25 months.
Manufacturing production grew 8 per cent, the most in 25 months.
Mining sector growth rebounded to 5.4 per cent in November after contracting in six of the previous seven months.
Electricity generation declined 1.5 per cent in November compared to the same month last year.
Industrial production rose 3.3 per cent in April-November versus 4.1 per cent in the first eight months of 2024-25.
Manufacturing output increased 4.4 per cent in April-November, while mining output fell 0.9 per cent and electricity generation dipped 0.2 per cent.
Consumer non-durables production rose 7.3 per cent in November after falling 5.2 per cent in October.
Capital goods output grew 10.4 per cent, infrastructure goods 12.1 per cent, and consumer durables 10.3 per cent in November.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry records 1.8% rise in Index of Eight Core Industries (End of December) ▼

The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) grew 1.8% in November 2025 compared with the year-ago period.
ICI carries a 40.27% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
Cement output surged 14.5% and steel production increased 6.1% in November.
Fertiliser production rose 5.6% and coal output climbed 2.1% during the month.
Crude oil production declined 3.2%, natural gas fell 2.5%, refinery products contracted 0.9% and electricity generation slipped 2.2% in November.
Cumulatively for April–November 2025-26, core sector output expanded 2.4% over the corresponding period last year.
Steel and cement led cumulative growth at 9.7% and 8.2%, respectively, while coal, crude oil, natural gas and electricity posted cumulative declines.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry records 1.8% rise in Index of Eight Core Industries (End of December) ▼

The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) grew 1.8% in November 2025 compared with the year-ago period.
ICI carries a 40.27% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
Cement output surged 14.5% and steel production increased 6.1% in November.
Fertiliser production rose 5.6% and coal output climbed 2.1% during the month.
Crude oil production declined 3.2%, natural gas fell 2.5%, refinery products contracted 0.9% and electricity generation slipped 2.2% in November.
Cumulatively for April–November 2025-26, core sector output expanded 2.4% over the corresponding period last year.
Steel and cement led cumulative growth at 9.7% and 8.2%, respectively, while coal, crude oil, natural gas and electricity posted cumulative declines.

India’s IIP Growth at 4% in September 2025; Manufacturing Up 4.8%, Mining Slips 0.4% (End of October) ▼

India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 4 percent in September 2025, unchanged from the revised August 2025 figure of 4.1 percent.
Manufacturing output rose 4.8 percent in September 2025, up from 4 percent in September 2024.
Mining activity contracted 0.4 percent in September 2025 versus a 0.2 percent rise in September 2024.
Electricity generation increased 3.1 percent in September 2025, compared with 0.5 percent in September 2024.
For April–September FY26, overall industrial production grew 3 percent, lower than the 4.1 percent recorded in the same period of FY25.
Growth across India’s eight core industries slowed to 3 percent in September 2025 from 6.5 percent in August 2025.
Steel production surged 14.1 percent and cement output rose 5.3 percent in September 2025.
Refinery output declined 3.7 percent, natural gas production fell 3.8 percent, and crude oil dropped 1.3 percent in September 2025.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Projects 1.9% GNPA Ratio by March 2027

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recorded the gross non-performing asset (GNPA) ratio of scheduled commercial banks at multi-year lows of 2.3% in March 2025 and 2.2% in September 2025.
The net non-performing asset (NNPA) ratio for scheduled commercial banks remained at approximately 0.5% since the March 2025 quarter.
The RBI projects the bad loans ratio for Indian banks to fall to 1.9% by March 2027 under the baseline scenario.
System-wide capital-to-risk weighted assets ratios and Common equity Tier-1 ratios remained comfortably above Basel III norms and regulatory thresholds.
Macro stress tests indicate that banks would maintain capital levels above regulatory minimums even under severe macroeconomic scenarios.
The RBI released its Financial Stability report in December, noting that the banking sector closed 2025 with its cleanest balance sheets in over a decade.
The RBI attributed the improvement in asset quality to legacy bad-loan resolution, tighter underwriting standards, and steady economic growth.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records double-digit deposit and credit growth alongside lowest gross NPAs in decades. (End of December) ▼

Commercial, co-operative and other financial institutions expanded balance sheets, though at a marginally slower pace than the previous year.
Aggregate deposits and bank credit grew at a double-digit rate during 2024-25.
Gross non-performing assets fell to 2.2% by March 2025 and further to 2.1% by September 2025, marking the lowest level in many decades.
Capital to risk-weighted assets ratio for major commercial banks stood at 17.4% in March 2025 and 17.2% in September 2025.
Return on assets was 1.4% in 2024-25 and moderated to 1.3% in the first half of 2025-26.
Urban co-operative banks posted faster balance sheet growth, improved asset quality for the fourth straight year, and raised savings and profits.
Non-banking financial companies reported double-digit credit growth, better loan quality and maintained strong financial buffers.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Reduces Repo Rate to 5.25 Percent (Start of December) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) delivered a 25-basis-point reduction in the repo rate, bringing it down to 5.25 percent.
The central bank cut policy rates by a cumulative 125 basis points during 2025.
Average headline inflation for Q2:2025-26 was 1.7 percent, breaching the lower tolerance threshold of 2 percent.
Inflation dipped to 0.3 percent in October 2025.
Real GDP growth accelerated to 8.2 percent in Q2.
Inflation was 2.2 percent and growth was 8.0 percent in H1:2025-26.
The MPC slashed the inflation aim by 60 basis points to 2 percent.
The central bank raised the FY26 growth forecast to 7.3 percent.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cuts repo rate by 25 basis points (Start of December) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sliced the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent on December 5.
The cumulative reduction in the repo rate this calendar year is 125-basis-point.
The rupee breached the 90-mark against the US dollar, hitting a record low.
Domestic inflation remains historically benign, with CPI inflation at 0.25 per cent in October 2025.
The policy announced Rs 1 trillion in Open Market Operations (OMO) and a $5 billion FX swap.
The 10-year bond yields are expected to move toward the 6.8 to 7 per cent range.
Experts believe there is scope for another 25 bps cut in this cycle.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injects Rs 2.90 lakh crore liquidity via bond buys and USD swap (End of December) ▼

RBI will buy Rs 2 lakh crore of government bonds through open market operations in four tranches of Rs 50,000 crore each.
RBI will conduct a $10-billion buy/sell swap auction on Jan. 13 to ease dollar liquidity.
System liquidity turned negative mid-December, driving the weighted average call rate to 5.46%, above the 5.25% repo rate.
Between December 11 and 18, RBI had infused Rs 1.45 lakh crore through OMOs and a $5-billion swap.
Power Finance Corp scrapped a Rs 6,000-crore bond sale after bids came in at higher-than-expected coupons.
The 10-year benchmark yield has risen 20 basis points since Dec. 5 despite a quarter percentage point policy rate cut.
State governments collectively raised Rs 33,720 crore through bond sales on Tuesday at cutoff yields higher than expected.
Bank of India raised Rs 10,000 crore long term infrastructure bonds at 7.23%.

Gujarat Slum-Free City Initiative: Surat to become India's first slum-free city with over 70 lakh population

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

The Gujarat state government announced that Surat is poised to become India's first slum-free city with a population of over 70 lakh.
In the past two decades, the population living in Surat's slum areas has decreased from 38% to 5%.
Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel directed senior officials, including the Chief Secretary (CS), to take effective measures to make Surat the state's first slum-free city.
Surat's population is approximately 70-80 lakh, making this achievement more significant in scale than Chandigarh, which has a population of around 10 lakh.
The Chief Minister (CM) also directed officials to start taking measures to make other cities in Gujarat slum-free in phases.

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Kerala's Agathi Rahitha Keralam (Destitute-Free Kerala) Scheme: Eliminating Extreme Poverty (Start of November) ▼

Scheme Name: Agathi Rahitha Keralam (Destitute-Free Kerala) – relaunched 2021 by Kerala’s Left Democratic Front government to end extreme poverty.
Objective: Eradicate extreme poverty defined as severe deprivation in nutritious food, safe housing, basic income, and health status.
Target Beneficiaries: 64,006 priority households (1,03,099 persons) identified through community-driven deprivation indices and multi-stage validation.
Key Features: Individual micro-plans with short-, medium- and long-term support; provision of food via community kitchens, new/renovated houses, medical care up to ₹5 lakh under KASP, insurance, MNREGS job cards, scholarships, free travel passes, land and essential documents (ration cards, Aadhaar).
Implementing Agency: Kerala Local Self-Government (LSG) Department in partnership with Kudumbashree, LIFE Mission, ASHA workers, NGOs, community activists and gram/ward sabhas.
Budget: Over ₹1,000 crore earmarked exclusively for extreme-poverty eradication, supplementing existing welfare schemes.

10th Swachh Survekshan: MoHUA enables year-round citizen feedback and expands assessment to river and coastal towns (End of December) ▼

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Manohar Lal released the toolkit for the 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan in Bhopal.
Starting this year, citizens will be able to share feedback round the year through multiple platforms, including the Vote For My City App and Portal, MyGov App, Swachhata App, and through QR codes.
The field assessments are expected to begin from mid-February to March 2026, and the Garbage Free Cities (GFC) and Open Defecation Free (ODF) certification assessment will also commence from mid-February.
Over 3,000 trained field assessors from across the country will conduct a 45-day, on-ground survey covering all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), supported by real-time, GPS-enabled monitoring.
Expanding its scope, the assessment will now include river towns across the country and a separate matrix has been introduced for coastal areas to bring it under the Swachh Survekshan ambit.
MoHUA launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) mentorship programme in September, where 72 mentors and 200 mentee cities signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to foster knowledge transfer.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces Amaravati as India's first integrated Financial City (End of November) ▼

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Amaravati will become India's first integrated Financial City, housing major financial institutions.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation for construction of nationalized banks and financial institutions in Amaravati.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently moved to a rented building in Vijayawada.
Many banks are handling Andhra Pradesh’s operations from Hyderabad.
Institutions that began construction activities in Amaravati include State Bank of India (SBI), Union Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank (PNB), IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of India, Indian Bank, Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank, AP Cooperative Bank, NABARD, LIC, and New India Assurance.
The financial hub in Amaravati will generate direct employment for more than 6,500 people.
Fifteen state-owned banks and insurance companies are setting up their headquarters in Amaravati.
25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty nationwide.
The Centre is establishing training hubs in districts for Quantum Valley and AI-related projects.

Swachh Survekshan 2025 Report Ranks India's Dirtiest Cities (Start of November) ▼

The Swachh Survekshan 2025 report lists the top 10 dirtiest cities in India.
Madurai is ranked as the dirtiest city in India with a score of 4823.
Bengaluru is ranked as the fifth dirtiest urban centre in India (in the over-one-million population category) with a score of 6842.
Delhi ranks tenth on the list of India’s dirtiest cities with a score of 7920.
Ludhiana, Chennai, and Ranchi are also featured among India’s dirtiest cities, ranking second, third, and fourth respectively.
Cities such as Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Lucknow, Raipur, and Jabalpur have emerged as strong performers among the cleanest cities.
Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai earned recognition in the new “Super Swachh League” for their sustained commitment to urban cleanliness.

Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Mandates QR Codes on Road Signage for Enhanced Accountability and Maintenance

Key Updates:

The Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi has issued guidelines making the incorporation of QR codes mandatory on all future road signages to provide details on manufacturers and materials.
The QR codes will be printed on the bottom right corner of the signage and will contain information such as the manufacturer’s name, manufacturing date, reflective sheeting code, and warranty details.
The policy aims to establish standardised guidelines to ensure uniformity and improved visibility of road signage across Delhi, following a 2024 audit by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
The PWD is integrating these QR codes with the ‘PWD Sewa’ mobile application, enabling citizens to scan them to lodge complaints regarding road repairs, potholes, streetlights, or signages.
A mandatory warranty period of 10 years from the date of installation has been fixed for retro-reflective sheeting, ensuring free replacement for any defects during this period.

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Google Maps Collaborates with Indian Government Authorities for Enhanced Safety and Utility Features (Mid of November) ▼

A new collaboration with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will provide Google Maps with near real-time data on highway road closures and repairs.
The partnership with NHAI will also help surface information for wayside amenities like restrooms and petrol stations.
Google is partnering with government authorities so that Maps can alert users visually and audibly as they approach areas identified as accident-prone, prompting safer driving.
Maps will now display the official speed limit for a road—right next to the speedometer—based on data from local traffic authorities.
India is among the first markets to receive automatic notifications of major disruptions or delays on the road ahead for Android users on major roads in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Delhi Government's 'Pink Saheli Smart Card' Initiative (Start of November) ▼

The Delhi government introduced the 'Pink Saheli Smart Card'.
It is "a special initiative aimed at providing free and convenient travel for women and transgender individuals across Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses."
With this new scheme, "daughters, sisters, and mothers above the age of 12 can now enjoy free rides across the capital."
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta made the announcement on X post.

Punjab Launches Easy Registry System to Simplify Property Registration (End of November) ▼

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday launched an "Easy Registry" system.
The state is the first in India to provide a facility that promises simplicity, speed and transparency in land registration and aims to eradicate corruption.
Under the new system, any sub-registrar office within a district could register properties located anywhere in that district.
Citizens can now draft sale deeds online or through Sewa Kendras by paying a nominal fee of Rs 500.
Under the "Sarkar Tuhade Dwaar" scheme, citizens may call 1076 to avail the service.
Complete online submission of documents would be possible within 48 hours.
A fixed time frame of 48 hours has been set for objections, which will be referred immediately to the concerned deputy commissioner for verification of their legitimacy.
Citizens will receive updates on every stage of the registration process via WhatsApp, and if anyone demands a bribe, a complaint may be lodged directly through WhatsApp.
Through the "Draft My Deed" feature, anyone may prepare their own registration documents with assistance from a Sewa Kendra or Sewa assistant.

NHAI partners Reliance Jio to deploy telecom-based highway safety alert system (Start of December) ▼

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed an MoU with Reliance Jio to roll-out a telecom network-driven highway safety alert system.
Using Jio’s existing 4G and 5G network, travellers receive advance warnings on mobile phones as they approach risk locations such as accident-prone stretches, stray-cattle zones, fog-affected areas and emergency diversions.
Alerts will be sent through SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority calls to national highway users.
The automated system works for all Jio mobile users on or near national highways without requiring additional roadside hardware.

National Sports Governance Act: Establishment of National Sports Board and Tribunal

[National Sports Board]

Key Updates:

The Sports Ministry (SM) announced that the "Central Government has appointed 1st January, 2026 as the date on which the provisions" of the National Sports Governance Act shall partially come into force.
The Act paves the way for the "institution of an all-powerful National Sports Board (NSB) and a Tribunal to handle sporting disputes."
Under the new framework, National Sports Federations (NSFs) "will be required to have Executive Committees of no more than 15 members with at least two Sportspersons of Merit in them."
The NSB is proposed to be a "three-member body" with the power to "grant affiliation to the National Sports Federations (NSFs)," monitor financial operations, and penalize wrongdoing.
The "age cap for all members of the NSB has been fixed at 65," while members of the National Sports Tribunal (NST) will "hold office for four years with an age cap of 67 years."
It is mandatory for NSFs "to take NSB affiliation to be eligible for government funding."

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Comprehensive Internship Policy for Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) with Rs 5.30 Crore Annual Outlay (End of December) ▼

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has unveiled a 'Comprehensive Internship Policy for Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and its Autonomous Bodies' to create a pipeline of young professionals in sports governance.
The programme will offer 452 internship positions every year, with selected candidates receiving a monthly stipend of Rs 20,000.
The government has earmarked a total annual budget allocation of Rs 5.30 crore to fund the internship initiative.
College and university students will be the primary beneficiaries of the scheme, which aligns with the National Sports Policy and Khelo Bharat Niti 2025.
The internship programme will follow two recruitment cycles every year, scheduled in January and July.
Interns will be deployed across MYAS and its autonomous bodies, including the Sports Authority of India (SAI), National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).
The policy seeks to build capacity in areas such as sports governance, administration, sports science, anti-doping, event management and athlete support services.
Interns will contribute directly to flagship programmes such as Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG).

Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill to establish commission for independent higher education institutions (Mid of December) ▼

The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill proposes to establish a commission to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutions to become independent self-governing institutions.
The commission aims to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy in higher education.
It will formulate and suggest schemes to improve the quality of education and advise the Centre and states for the holistic development of higher education in the country.
The proposed Commission will comprise three wings: the Regulatory Council, Accreditation Council, and the Standards Council.
The legislation will cover all Institutions of National Importance, other institutions established by Parliament, Universities in India, colleges, and institutions regulated under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The bill proposes to develop a roadmap for integration and promotion of Bharatiya knowledge, languages, and arts across the multi-disciplinary higher education system.
A steep fine of minimum ₹10 lakhs to ₹30 lakhs is proposed if an educational institution contravenes the provisions of the new law, with higher penalties or suspension for repeated offences.

Delhi's Iconic Nehru Stadium To Be Dismantled And Reborn As 102-Acre "Sports City": Sources (Mid of November) ▼

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex is set to be dismantled and redeveloped into a 102-acre "Sports City"
The proposal is driven by "best-practice" studies carried out by officials after the sports minister returned from Qatar
The redevelopment aims to create a multi-sport hub with elite training facilities, community provisions and broadcast infrastructure
Currently only about 28% of the Nehru Stadium's space is being used
There is no firm timeline for the start or completion of the project

53rd Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Tournament (SSBMT-2025), Indoor Zonal-II, Inaugurated in Lucknow (Start of November) ▼

The 53rd Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Tournament (SSBMT-2025), Indoor Zonal-II, organised by the staff club of CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, was inaugurated on Friday.
The four-day tournament brings together players and sports enthusiasts from various CSIR laboratories across the northern region to celebrate fitness, teamwork, and camaraderie.
Secretary, sports and youth welfare and director general, youth welfare and paralympic badminton world champion, Suhas LY, who inaugurated the event, said sports not only build character but also teaches perseverance, leadership, and the value of fair play.
The tournament features popular indoor games such as badminton, table tennis, chess, and carrom, offering a platform for CSIR personnel to showcase their sporting excellence and foster a sense of togetherness beyond laboratories.

France Social Media Ban for Under-15s to Protect Children

[France]

Key Updates:

France will ban social media use for children under 15 starting September 2026.
The ban also prohibits mobile phones in high schools for students aged 15 to 18.
The draft bill has been completed and will be submitted to France’s Conseil d’État for legal review.

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Denmark Social Media Ban for Under-15s (Mid of December) ▼

The Danish government announced last month that it had secured an agreement by three governing coalition and two opposition parties in parliament to ban access to social media for anyone under the age of 15.
The proposed measure would give some parents the right to let their children access social media from age 13, local media reported.
Danish authorities have said that despite the restrictions, around 98% of Danish children under age 13 have profiles on at least one social media platform.
A new 'digital evidence' app, announced by the Digital Affairs Ministry last month and expected to launch next spring, will display an age certificate to ensure users comply with social media age limits.

Indian Army Social Media Policy 2025: Limited Usage Permitted (End of December) ▼

Indian Army has come out with a new policy that allows limited usage of social media apps for its over 11.5 lakh soldiers.
Soldiers can now access Instagram but only for 'purposes of viewing and monitoring' and will not be allowed to post views or comments.
Exchange of unclassified information of a general nature or content has been permitted on Skype, WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, but only with known persons.
Only 'passive participation' has been permitted to 'obtain knowledge or information' on YouTube, X, Quora and Instagram, and uploading of user-generated content or messages is not permitted.
LinkedIn can be used only for uploading a resume and obtaining information on potential employees/employers.

Jalore Caste Panchayat Order: Smartphone Ban for Women and Girls (End of December) ▼

A caste panchayat of 15 villages in Rajasthan’s Jalore district has issued an order barring women from using smartphones.
The panchayat ordered that no women or girls from these villages will use camera phones with internet access from January 26, meaning that women are only allowed to use basic keypad phones.
The panchayat also stated that if girls require mobile phones for education, they will be allowed to use them only at home and not carry them to weddings, social events or neighbours’ houses.

Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban: Key Provisions and Objectives (End of November) ▼

The new Australian law, which takes effect on 10 December, will block under-16s from using major social media platforms.
The ban also applies to TikTok, YouTube, X, Reddit and several other platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the measure as a “world-leading” ban intended to “let kids be kids”.
Australia’s e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said it was designed to protect teenagers “from pressures and risks they can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts”.
Under the new law, social media platforms that fail to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from accessing their services could face fines of up to A$50 million.
Teenagers who believe they meet the age requirement can challenge the decision by submitting a “video selfie” for facial age estimation or by providing a government-issued ID such as a driver’s licence.

European Union leaders Von der Leyen and António Costa to be chief guests at India Republic Day 2026

[European Union]

Key Updates:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa will be the chief guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26.
Their visit will coincide with the India–EU Summit, where discussions are expected to centre on the proposed Free Trade Agreement.
India and the European Union resumed negotiations for a comprehensive FTA in June 2022 after a gap of over eight years.

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5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries: Human Capital for Viksit Bharat (End of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries from December 26 to December 28 in the national capital.
The conference theme is 'Human Capital for Viksit Bharat', focusing on leveraging India's demographic strengths for economic and social progress.
Key discussion pillars include education and schooling, health and wellness, economic hubs, and frontier technologies.

India to host German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in third week of January (Start of December) ▼

India will host German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his first visit to the country after assuming office.
Merz is expected to visit India in the third week of Jan for a summit with PM Narendra Modi.
This engagement follows President Putin's visit and precedes the India-EU summit scheduled for Jan 27.
Discussions will focus on trade, technology, and sustainable development, building on existing partnerships.
Germany's support for Ukraine and shared concerns over the Indo-Pacific will also be key topics.
The leaders had earlier met on the margins of the G7 summit in Canada where they agreed to diversify the strategic partnership.
Germany is also a key partner for India in maintaining a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Ethiopia on December 16-17, 2025, to strengthen Brics and Global South ties (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State visit to Ethiopia on December 16-17, 2025, signals India’s diplomatic engagement with Africa, the Global South, and the expanded Brics grouping.
India is scheduled to assume the chairmanship of Brics on January 1, 2026, with Ethiopia serving as an important member of the grouping.
Ethiopia officially joined Brics in January 2024, along with Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
India is currently Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade standing at $571.52 million during the 2023-24 financial year.
India has sanctioned more than $1 billion in lines of credit for Ethiopia to support projects in sectors such as rural electrification, the sugar industry, and railways.
Around 650 Indian companies have licensed investments exceeding $5 billion in Ethiopia, with approximately $3 billion estimated to have been realised on the ground.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), a joint initiative between India and France, aims to mobilise $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and financing costs.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the visit will cover dimensions of India-Ethiopia ties, including parliamentary exchanges, development partnerships, and defence cooperation.

India and Russia hold 23rd Annual Summit, unveil Economic Cooperation Programme (Start of December) ▼

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit was held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled an ambitious Economic Cooperation Programme aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment till 2030.
The two nations are pursuing an early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Targets include $50 billion in mutual investments by 2025 and $100 billion in annual trade by 2030.
Russia is set to build India’s largest nuclear power plant at Kudankulam.
Russia assured India of uninterrupted fuel shipments for its growing economy.
Multiple agreements were signed across sectors including fertilisers, food safety, health, migration, maritime logistics, and energy.
India and Russia are working towards the early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
Agreements were signed for a urea plant in Russia with URALCHEM, and MoUs in fertilisers, food safety, medical sciences, shipping, and consumer protection.
Collaboration in Arctic operations was stressed, with India training seafarers for polar waters.
India will introduce a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a 30-day group tourist visa for Russian citizens.
Russia agreed to join the International Big Cat Alliance.
India reiterated its position on the Ukraine conflict, stating it is 'not neutral' but 'stands for peace'.

India Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates security infrastructure projects in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 03 Jan 2026

[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]

Key Updates:

Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated an Integrated Command & Control Centre to enhance security infrastructure in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The Home Minister chaired the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), focusing on the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) and National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU).
The visit included the inauguration of nine major projects and laying the foundation for two more, totaling Rs 373 crore.
An exhibition on the Naveen Nyaya Sanhita was inaugurated as part of the developmental initiatives on the islands.

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Centre designates CISF as safety regulator for 250 Indian seaports (End of November) ▼

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued order on 18 November categorising CISF as nodal regulator for port security.
CISF will act as nodal regulatory authority for all port-security matters including counter-terrorism and anti-sabotage operations at EXIM ports.
Non-core tasks like traffic management and gate control to be handled by private agencies or state police.
Hybrid security model combining CISF and private personnel, upgraded screening systems and dedicated training institutions introduced.
Plan to be operational within six months; CISF may need up to 80,000 personnel for 80 major ports.

Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to bolster maritime safety and cybersecurity (End of December) ▼

India is establishing the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to bolster maritime safety, mirroring aviation security models.
The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats.
The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.

National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI) to be established in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (End of November) ▼

The government will soon set up the National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
NCRRI will function as the nodal and monitoring agency for coral reef research across India.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will set up the first-of-its-kind centre at Chidiyatapu in South Andaman.
Coral reefs provide natural coastal protection against storms, working as a cushion against waves.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the four biodiversity hotspots in India.

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras) deploys India’s first indigenous vessel traffic management system (End of November) ▼

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras researchers have developed and deployed India's first indigenous vessel traffic management system for ports.
The system has been developed by the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) at IIT Madras based on the requirements outlined by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
The system has already been implemented in Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), Kerala.
The indigenous system eliminates the risk of a leak of strategic data on the movement of vessels.
The system is scalable to accommodate deployment in more ports with enhanced capabilities and is completely secure, with minimal deployment and maintenance costs.

United States launches military strikes on Caracas and captures Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

[United States, Venezuela]

Key Updates:

United States launched large-scale military strikes on Caracas early Saturday and claimed to have captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
US President Donald Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, describing it as aimed at ending a 'narco-terrorist regime'.
US Special Forces seized Maduro and Flores, transported them via helicopter to a US Navy ship offshore, and then flew them to the United States.
Maduro is currently being held at a federal detention facility in New York and is expected to appear in court on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez appeared on state television to condemn the attack, while a Venezuelan court named her interim president.
Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba strongly condemned the US move as a violation of sovereignty.
UN Secretary-General called the action a 'dangerous precedent' and an emergency Security Council meeting was scheduled.

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United States releases National Security Strategy reviving Monroe Doctrine and limiting NATO expansion (Mid of December) ▼

The Trump administration unveiled a new National Security Strategy Thursday evening, calling for a greater emphasis in the Western Hemisphere.
The 33-page strategy document says, 'After years of neglect, the United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere.'
The NSS dubs the changes the 'Trump Corollary' with the goal of enlisting 'established friends' in the region to help control migration, curtail the flow of drugs and strengthen stability.
The first bullet in the 'priorities' section states, 'The era of mass migration is over,' stating that 'border security is the primary element of national security.'
The NSS states, 'We will oppose elite-driven, anti-democratic restrictions on core liberties in Europe, the Anglosphere, and the rest of the world, especially among our allies.'
The document expressly states that the largest issue facing Europe is the 'Stark prospect of civilizational erasure.'
The NSS calls for ending the 'perception' and 'preventing the reality' of NATO’s continued expansion.
It calls on Washington to increase diplomatic relations with Moscow to reestablish conditions for regional 'strategic stability.'
The NSS says the US wants to build up a military capable of 'denying aggression' within the First Island Chain.
Deterring a conflict over Taiwan remains a 'priority' and the US does not support unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

Saudi-led coalition warns Southern Transitional Council against military moves undermining Yemen de-escalation (End of December) ▼

Saudi-led coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki stated 'any military movements that violate these [de-escalation] efforts will be dealt with directly and immediately'.
Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman posted on X that 'it’s time' for STC troops 'to let reason prevail by withdrawing from the two provinces and doing so peacefully'.
The STC accused Saudi Arabia of launching air strikes on its positions in Hadramout province.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged 'restraint and continued diplomacy, with a view to reaching a lasting solution'.
Yemen’s government requested the Saudi-led coalition 'to take all necessary military measures to protect innocent Yemeni civilians in Hadramout province and support the armed forces'.

United States conducts strikes on Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria (End of December) ▼

The United States carried out strikes on Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after President Donald Trump said the group had been attacking Christian communities.
The strikes took place in Sokoto state in northern Nigeria, the BBC reported.
US Africa Command said the action was carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the operation was part of ongoing security cooperation with the United States, including intelligence sharing and joint planning to target militant groups.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was 'grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation'.

Venezuela’s National Guard Linked to Killings, Torture and Repression, UN Probe Finds on 11 December 2025 (Mid of December) ▼

Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) has been implicated in a decade-long pattern of killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and sexual violence targeting protesters and opponents of President Nicolás Maduro.
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission says the GNB has played a central role in systematic repression since 2014.
The GNB used excessive force, including the improper use of lethal weapons, during peak periods of protest in 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2024.
Investigators documented mass and targeted arbitrary detentions, physical violence during arrests, planting of evidence, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence inside GNB facilities.
The report found the GNB was a central actor in the commission of persecution on political grounds, which is a crime against humanity.
The military force also played a key role in the 2024 post-election “Operation Tun Tun” raids.
The report identifies a pattern of structural impunity sustained by systemic failures within the Venezuelan judicial system.
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was established by the UN Human Rights Council in September 2019.
The Mission has also focused on investigating the human rights situation surrounding the disputed 2024 presidential elections and on violence by pro-government militias known as “colectivos”.

Holematthi Nature Foundation (HNF) records Karnataka's first 'Sandalwood Leopard'

[Karnataka]

Key Updates:

The Holematthi Nature Foundation (HNF) documented an ultra-rare leopard colour morph in Vijayanagara district, marking the first in the state.
The big cat, named the 'Sandalwood Leopard,' has a pale reddish-pink coat resembling the colour of sandalwood, marked with light-brown rosettes.
The leopard (Panthera pardus) has an appearance consistent with naturally occurring genetic traits such as hypomelanism or erythrism.
This discovery marks only the second such sighting in India, with the only previous Indian record from Rajasthan's Ranakpur region.
Globally, this colour morph, referred to as 'strawberry leopards,' has been documented only five times, including sightings in South Africa and Tanzania.
Definitive identification of the underlying genetic mechanism would require molecular analysis using non-invasive DNA samples such as scat or hair.

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Rare Clouded Leopard Sighted in Kakoi Reserve Forest (RF) Highlights Conservation of Smaller Habitats (End of December) ▼

The Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is a vulnerable and Schedule I–protected species.
The species was sighted at the Kakoi Reserve Forest (RF) located in the eastern Himalayan foothills of Assam.
The sighting was recorded during a routine camera-trap exercise.
The presence of the species highlights the vital role smaller reserve forests play in the conservation of threatened carnivores.
A Siberian tigress was spotted with five cubs in China.
Forest officials in Panchkula have deployed drones for rescue teams following an alert over a leopard sighting.
A rare red fox appeared near Pangong Tso, leading an IFS officer to flag conservation concerns.
The Nature Conservancy is restoring habitat for a rare moth and other prairie species.

Gujarat regains Tiger State status after 33 years as NTCA confirms tiger presence in Ratanmahal sanctuary (End of December) ▼

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) confirmed the presence of a tiger in the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary in central Gujarat.
Forest officials detected pugmarks of a tiger in the Pipalgota Round of the Kanjeta Range in the sanctuary.
Analysis of camera trap data revealed an image of a tiger captured at 2:40 am.
The NTCA included Gujarat in the national Tiger Census and suggested steps to strengthen the ecosystem.
The Gujarat Forest Department has increased the number of camera traps and is ensuring availability of water, prey base, security, and fire prevention.
Prey base species such as antelopes and spotted deer were released in the area during the monsoon.
Forest department officials will be trained in conservation and breeding of tigers.
Attempts are on to bring a female tiger to increase the tiger population in the region.
Gujarat has become the only state in India to host three big cat species — lion, tiger and leopard — simultaneously.

114-year-old environmentalist ‘Saalumarada’ Thimmakka passes away (Mid of November) ▼

Environmentalist 'Saalumarada' Thimmakka, who planted 385 banyan trees, has passed away at the age of 114.
The Padma Shri awardee, born in 1911, was recognized for her dedication to nature, treating trees as her children.
Thimmakka earned the title ‘Saalumarada’ for planting 385 banyan trees along a 4.5 km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Ramanagara, Bengaluru South district.
Her remarkable efforts earned her numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 2019, the Nadoja Award from Hampi University in 2010, the National Citizen Award in 1995, and the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award in 1997.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also expressed his condolences on her passing.

Supreme Court Directs Jharkhand to Declare Saranda Forests as Wildlife Sanctuary and Conservation Reserve (Mid of November) ▼

The Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to declare the Saranda forests as a wildlife sanctuary and conservation reserve.
The directive prohibits any mining activity within a one-km radius of the boundary of the declared sanctuary and conservation reserve.
The bench directed the state government to notify the area comprising 126 compartments as notified in 1968 notification, excluding six compartments, as a wildlife sanctuary within three months from the date of the judgment.
The Supreme Court stated that the state cannot run away from its duty to declare the extent of 31,468.25 hectares as Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary, overruling the state’s plan to declare only a part of the forest as sanctuary.
The bench directed the state “to give wide publicity to the fact that by this judgment, neither the individual rights nor the community rights of the tribals and the forest dwellers in the said area would be adversely affected” and that “in view of the provision of… the Forest Rights Act, all rights of tribals and forest dwellers, both individually as well as of community, shall stand protected”.
The directive is based on “the mandate of Articles 48A and 51A(g) of the Constitution, Section 26A of the Wildlife Protection Act, and particularly in the light of the report of the Wildlife Institute of India”.
The top court reiterated its direction that “mining within the National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, and within an area of 1 km from the boundary of such National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary shall not be permissible.”
The National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-31 “recognises the need to enhance the protected area network (broadly including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, community reserves etc.) and to demarcate boundaries for protected areas” and “further stresses on in situ conservation of threatened species, and the need for immediate conservation measures including the protection of critical habitations”.

Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommends environmental clearance for Kalai-II hydroelectric project

Key Updates:

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended environmental clearance for the 1,200-MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project on the Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw.
The project, to be developed by THDC India Ltd at an estimated cost of Rs 14,176.26 crore, involves the construction of a 128.5-m concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared by WAPCOS Ltd failed to mention the white-bellied heron, a Schedule-I species under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The white-bellied heron is listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the International Union on Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The bird’s population in Arunachal Pradesh is found in the Lohit, Anjaw, and Changlang districts, including the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Namdapha Tiger Reserve.

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Dulhasti Stage-II Hydropower Project receives environmental clearance (End of December) ▼

The Expert Appraisal Committee under the Ministry of Environment accorded environmental clearance to the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on Chenab river in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir.
The project is estimated to cost over ₹3,200 crore and will be implemented as a run-of-the-river scheme.
The clearance was granted during the 45th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee on hydel projects.

Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) leads 40th Asian Waterbird Census in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (End of December) ▼

The 40th Asian Waterbird Census and the 60th International Waterbird Census will take place in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and its nearby wetlands.
The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is working with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to count the bird species.
The main focus will be on four special bird species: the endangered Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis), endangered Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Near Threatened Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), and Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus).

Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal inaugurates commercial operation of Unit-2 of Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (End of December) ▼

The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is India’s largest hydropower project with a total capacity of 2000 MW, comprising eight units of 250 MW each.
The project is designed as a Run-of-the-River scheme with small pondage, utilizing eight Head Race Tunnels (HRTs) to generate 7,422 million units (MU) of renewable electricity annually.
The infrastructure features a 116-metre-high concrete gravity dam, which is the largest dam in North-East India.
The project incorporates technical milestones including India’s heaviest hydro generator rotors, largest stators, and the first-ever use of Rotec’s Tower Belt for dam concreting in the country.
It provides flood moderation with a 442 million cubic metre flood cushion and a gross reservoir storage of 1,365 million cubic metres at Full Reservoir Level (FRL).
NHPC Limited (NHPC) has implemented riverbank protection and erosion control measures extending up to 60 km downstream with an investment of approximately ₹522 crore.
The project will provide free power allocations to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, with the North-East region receiving a total of 1,000 MW.

Tamil Nadu govt clarifies no clearance given for housing inside undelineated Pallikaranai Ramsar wetland (Start of November) ▼

Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest notified as 698 hectares under Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882; additional 550 ha to be added after delineation to form 1248 ha Ramsar Site
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) assigned boundary delineation with specific survey numbers in November 2024
State environment dept states building approvals granted only on 'private patta lands' outside current Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest boundaries
Integrated Management Plan (IMP) for the Pallikaranai Ramsar Site preparation is underway

TakeMe2Space and EON Space Labs ship 14-kg MOI-1 satellite to ISRO’s Sriharikota for PSLV-C62 launch

[ISRO]

Key Updates:

Two Hyderabad start-ups — TakeMe2Space and EON Space Labs — completed testing and integration of the 14-kilogram Earth observation satellite MOI-1 at Azista BST Aerospace in Ahmedabad.
MOI-1 will ride as a co-passenger on ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission slated for early January 2026 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The satellite carries MIRA, a miniaturised space telescope and imaging hardware developed by EON Space Labs to NASA-equivalent thermal-vacuum standards.
Once in 500-km low Earth orbit, MOI-1 will deliver multispectral imagery with 9.2-metre resolution and 18.7-kilometre swath across nine spectral bands for agriculture, urban mapping, ship detection and construction monitoring.
An on-board Nvidia GPU enables in-orbit AI processing, sending processed actionable data instead of raw images to cut downlink costs and serve commercial and defence users.

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to commission third launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in four years (End of December) ▼

ISRO is developing a third launch pad at the Shriharikota spaceport and is currently identifying the right vendors for the project.
The new launch pad is required to handle bigger launch vehicles needed for satellites weighing over 12,000–14,000 kg.
Shriharikota complex, renamed Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) on September 5, 2002, covers 175 sq km and is located about 135 km east of Chennai.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) schedules LVM3-M6 launch for 24 December (End of December) ▼

ISRO announced that the launch of its LVM3-M6 mission has been scheduled for December 24, 2025, at 08:54 hours IST.
The heavy-lift launch vehicle will lift off from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Under a commercial agreement facilitated by New Space India Limited, the LVM3 on this mission will place the Bluebird-6 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile into orbit.

HAL-L&T consortium delivers first industry-built PSLV for Oceansat launch (Mid of November) ▼

ISRO contracted the HAL–L&T consortium in 2022 for end-to-end production of five PSLV-XL rockets
The first industry-manufactured PSLV is scheduled to launch the Oceansat satellite early next year
ISRO has transferred Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to HAL, which will now fully own and operate the SSLV business
Consortium has begun delivering PSLV hardware and expects two or three launches next year
ISRO intervened to help resolve production challenges faced by the consortium

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan Inaugurates Ananth Technologies' Centre of Excellence in Navigation (Start of December) ▼

Private companies entering work of building navigation systems for spacecraft and defence supports Viksit Bharat 2047.
Navigation systems are highly complex and critical which ISRO alone could not develop.
Ananth Technologies has entered navigation field in Thiruvananthapuram.
Ananth Technologies works closely with ISRO, DRDO, and BrahMos.
Centre of Excellence in Navigation aims to achieve full strategic autonomy for India in Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies.
India has been heavily reliant on imported navigation technology for space missions and missile and defence systems.
Gaganyaan mission has completed 8,000 tests including propulsion hot tests, simulations, structural tests, and acoustic tests.
Gaganyaan in final stages of software development and simulation with 2027 target and three unmanned missions before manned.
ISRO to launch first private PSLV-N1 in this financial year.
ISRO preparing for BlueBird mission.

PM Modi inaugurates 72nd National Volleyball Championship in Uttar Pradesh

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

PM Modi inaugurated the 72nd National Volleyball Championship in Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing.
The tournament is being held in Varanasi with 58 teams participating.
The championship will conclude on January 11.

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Kashi hosts 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship (End of December) ▼

The 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship (Men and Women) will be held at Dr Sampurnanand Sports Stadium in Sigra from January 4 to 11.
The official mascots for the national competition are 'Nandu', inspired by Nandi, and 'Neera', a Ganga Dolphin.
A total of 73 teams and more than 1,000 players from across the country will participate in the event.
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Volleyball Association president Brijesh Pathak and Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari presented the formal invitation for the championship to the Prime Minister.
Random anti-doping tests of players will be conducted to ensure the transparency of the event.

Manu Bhaker and Ojas Deotale win National Shooting and Archery titles (Mid of December) ▼

Manu Bhaker won the gold medal in the senior women’s 25m sports pistol event at the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) with a score of 36.
Simranpreet Kaur Brar secured the gold medal in the junior women’s 25m sports pistol event at the 68th NSCC by shooting a score of 39.
Maharashtra clinched the gold medal in the women’s team 25m sports pistol event with a combined score of 1726-40x.
Ojas Pravin Deotale defeated Abhishek Verma in a shootout (30-28) to win the gold medal in the men’s individual compound event at the Senior National Archery Championship.
Aditi Swami won the gold medal in the women’s individual compound archery event by defeating Sakshi Chaudhary with a score of 146-145.
The All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) won the gold medal in the women’s team compound event at the Senior National Archery Championship.
Delhi won the gold medal in the men’s team compound event, while Punjab secured the gold in the mixed team event at the Senior National Archery Championship.
Andhra Pradesh will host the Blind Premier League in 2026, with plans to establish 26 teams across the state's districts.
Manchester City and JAIN Sports launched a new Manchester City Football School at the JAIN Global Campus in Bengaluru.
The 80th edition of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) Western India Squash Tournament will be held in Mumbai under the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI).

53rd Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Tournament (SSBMT-2025), Indoor Zonal-II, Inaugurated in Lucknow (Start of November) ▼

The 53rd Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Tournament (SSBMT-2025), Indoor Zonal-II, organised by the staff club of CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, was inaugurated on Friday.
The four-day tournament brings together players and sports enthusiasts from various CSIR laboratories across the northern region to celebrate fitness, teamwork, and camaraderie.
Secretary, sports and youth welfare and director general, youth welfare and paralympic badminton world champion, Suhas LY, who inaugurated the event, said sports not only build character but also teaches perseverance, leadership, and the value of fair play.
The tournament features popular indoor games such as badminton, table tennis, chess, and carrom, offering a platform for CSIR personnel to showcase their sporting excellence and foster a sense of togetherness beyond laboratories.

Jason Gunawan defeats Srikanth Kidambi to win 2025 Syed Modi International Men’s Singles (Start of December) ▼

🇭🇰 Jason Gunawan won the Men’s Singles by defeating 🇮🇳 Srikanth Kidambi 21–16, 8–21, 22–20.
🇯🇵 Hina Akechi won the Women’s Singles by defeating 🇹🇷 Neslihan Arın 21–16, 21–14.
🇲🇾 Kang Khai Xing and 🇲🇾 Aaron Tai won the Men’s Doubles by defeating 🇲🇾 Chia Wei Jie and 🇲🇾 Lwi Sheng Hao 21–9, 21–19.
🇮🇳 Treesa Jolly and 🇮🇳 Gayatri Gopichand Pullela won the Women’s Doubles by defeating 🇯🇵 Kaho Osawa and 🇯🇵 Mai Tanabe 17–21, 21–13, 21–15.
🇮🇩 Dejan Ferdinansyah and 🇮🇩 Bernadine Anindya Wardana won the Mixed Doubles by defeating 🇹🇭 Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and 🇹🇭 Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21–19, 21–16.
The tournament was held at the Babu Banarasi Das U.P. Badminton Academy in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Sjoerd Marijne returns as India women’s hockey chief coach

Key Updates:

Sjoerd Marijne has been appointed as the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team.
He guided India to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.
Marijne takes over from Harendra Singh, who resigned in December citing ‘personal reasons’.
His first assignment will be the World Cup qualifying tournament in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14.

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AITA extends Rohit Rajpal’s tenure as Indian Davis Cup captain (Start of December) ▼

All India Tennis Association (AITA) reappointed Rohit Rajpal as captain of the Indian Davis Cup team till December 31, 2026.
Ashutosh Singh has been retained as the team’s coach.
India will host the Netherlands in the upcoming Davis Cup Qualifiers.

Hockey India to Launch Centenary Celebrations on November 7 (Start of November) ▼

Hockey India will launch its centenary celebrations – marking 100 years of Indian hockey – on November 7 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
Organised in association with the Sports Authority of India SAI, the event will mark the beginning of a series of initiatives celebrating the sport’s illustrious history while laying the groundwork for its future growth.
The occasion also commemorates the founding of the Indian Hockey Federation on November 7, 1925.
As part of the celebrations, over 1000 hockey matches will be played simultaneously across 500 districts nationwide, involving more than 36,000 players.
Olympians Zafar Iqbal, Jagbir Singh, Dilip Tirkey and World Cup winner Ashok Kumar gathered at the National Stadium as Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya formally announced the celebrations.

RCB Appoint Malolan Rangarajan As Women's Team Head Coach Ahead Of WPL 2026 (Start of November) ▼

Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB on Thursday named former Tamil Nadu spinner Malolan Rangarajan as the head coach of their women's team ahead of the fourth WPL season next year.
Rangarajan replaces Luke Williams, who was appointed as head coach in 2024.
Malolan Rangarajan, a key member of the RCB support staff for the last six years in various roles, has now been appointed as head coach for the upcoming WPL cycle.
He served as the assistant coach during their title-winning season in 2024.
The WPL is being a held a month earlier than usual in 2026 -- from January to February.

India's Recent Hockey World Cup Results and Tournament Details (Mid of November) ▼

Despite hosting the last two FIH Men’s World Cup at home, India failed to finish on the podium even once.
In the 2018 edition they were eliminated in the quarterfinals and finished sixth in the standings.
In 2023 they were knocked out by New Zealand in the crossovers stage and finished ninth overall.
Belgian hockey coach Pascal Kina believes India have a fair chance to finish among the three medallists during the 2026 World Cup which will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
Lancers, who failed to put up a good show at the last edition of HIL and finished sixth in the standings.
Antoine has been part of the Belgian team that has won 2018 World Cup.
Antoine has been part of the Belgian team that has won ... the Olympic gold in Tokyo.

National Bird Day observed on January 5

Key Updates:

National Bird Day was first established in 2002 by the Avian Welfare Coalition to promote the welfare of birds both in the wild and in captivity.
National Bird Day is celebrated annually on January 5 to raise awareness about the importance of birds in our ecosystems.
The day honours the efforts of conservationists and environmental organisations working to safeguard endangered bird species, including the bald eagle and the California condor.

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Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) leads 40th Asian Waterbird Census in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (End of December) ▼

The 40th Asian Waterbird Census and the 60th International Waterbird Census will take place in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and its nearby wetlands.
The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is working with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to count the bird species.
The main focus will be on four special bird species: the endangered Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis), endangered Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Near Threatened Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), and Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus).

International Day for Biosphere Reserves observed on November 3 (Start of November) ▼

The International Day for Biosphere Reserves is celebrated annually on November 3.
It was established by the UNESCO General Conference at the request of Spain and Uruguay at its 41st session in September 2021.
The day highlights the role of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in sustainable territorial development and conservation efforts.

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Welcomes Thousands of Migratory Birds (Start of November) ▼

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is buzzing with life as thousands of migratory birds arrive, heralding the start of the season.
Over 20 species, including open-billed storks and white ibis, have begun nesting.
Open-billed storks have not only built their nests but also completed breeding, with chicks already visible on the treetops.
The tank surrounding the sanctuary is in excellent condition, holding water up to 16ft, replenished by recent rains and surplus inflow from the Valayaputhur lake nearby.
A previous disruption in the flow from Valayaputhur lake caused by blocked channels has since been resolved, ensuring sufficient water levels for the birds’ breeding season.
Most of the birds prefer the barringtonia trees to build their nests.
Forest officials plan desilting work and fresh plantation of barringtonia trees once the summer sets in and the tank dries.
The sanctuary, home to more than 15,000 birds, has begun attracting more visitors on weekends and holidays.
Manish Meena is identified as the Chennai wildlife warden.