Daily Current Affairs: 3 January 2026

Analysis for 03 January 2026

CP Radhakrishnan participates as Chief Guest at multiple events during visit to Puducherry, Kerala and Tamil Nadu

[Puducherry, Kerala, Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

CP Radhakrishnan, Vice-President of India, attended the 30th Convocation of Pondicherry University as Chief Guest.
He unveiled the statue of Mahakavi Bharathiar and launched a housing project under the Smart City Mission in Puducherry.
He participated as Chief Guest at the valedictory ceremony of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam 4.0 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
He inaugurated the public meeting concluding the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram.

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India External Affairs Minister Jaishankar visits Sri Lanka to follow up on Cyclone Ditwah reconstruction efforts (End of December) ▼

External affairs minister S Jaishankar travelled to Sri Lanka as a special envoy of the Prime Minister for meetings with the leadership in Colombo to follow up on relief and reconstruction efforts in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah.
India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 and delivered hundreds of tonnes of relief supplies and critical early-recovery capabilities across Sri Lanka.
Within the first three days of Cyclone Ditwah, 53 tonnes of emergency relief materials were delivered by Indian Navy warships and heavy-lift aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
An IAF C-17 Globemaster airlifted a modular Indian Army field hospital, including ambulances, trauma care units, operating theatres, and 73 personnel, on December 2.
On December 6, another 997 tonnes of dry rations and other relief materials were transported by warships from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka.
India was the first country to deploy trained disaster responders in Sri Lanka, and more than 450 people were rescued and assisted by these teams.
The Indian Army’s field hospital, located in the Badulla district, has treated nearly 3,400 people.

Vice President releases second and final series of 'Mahamana Vangmay' at Bharat Mandapam (End of December) ▼

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan released the second and final series of 'Mahamana Vangmay', a comprehensive collection of writings and speeches of Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.
The final series comprises 12 volumes and approximately 3,500 pages.
The first series of the collected works was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023.
The event was organized by the Mahamana Malaviya Mission in collaboration with the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

India and Indonesia Hold Third Defence Ministers' Dialogue on November 27, 2025 (End of November) ▼

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired the Third India-Indonesia Defence Ministers' Dialogue with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in New Delhi.
Both nations adopted a shared vision on maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Discussions focused on furthering defence cooperation and strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
An enhanced agreement on defence cooperation was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Indonesia in May 2018.
President Prabowo Subianto made a state visit to India from January 23 to 26, 2025, and was the chief guest of India's Republic Day parade.
India and Indonesia are maritime neighbors and two leading democracies in Asia, sharing values of pluralism, inclusiveness, and the rule of law.

PM Modi explains essence of National Security policy from Bhagwat Gita in Karnataka (Start of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Krishna Matha in Udupi, Karnataka.
PM Modi took part in the Laksha Kantha Gita Parayana programme, a devotional gathering of 100,000 participants reciting Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
PM Modi stated Bhagwat Gita teaches that it is important to end the oppressor to restore peace and truth, which is the essence of National Security policy.
PM Modi inaugurated Suvarna Teertha Mantapa and dedicated Kanaka Kavacha for Kanakana Kindi at Sri Krishna Matha.

Meera Syal appointed Dame in New Year Honours

[United Kingdom]

Key Updates:

Meera Syal has been made a Dame for services to literature, drama and charity.
She was previously appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1997 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2015.
Dame Meera co-wrote and starred in the British Asian comedies Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No 42.
Her debut novel Anita And Me won the Betty Trask Award.
She is an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society and supporter of the charity Kisharon.

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Maitreyi Pushpa conferred with IFFCO Sahitya Samman 2025 and Ankita Jain receives IFFCO Yuva Sahitya Samman (Start of January) ▼

Maitreyi Pushpa received the IFFCO Sahitya Samman 2025 for her literary contributions on rural and agricultural life.
Ankita Jain was awarded the IFFCO Yuva Sahitya Samman for her book 'Oh Re! Kisan'.
The awards were presented by IFFCO Chairman Dilip Sanghani at Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi.
The award instituted by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) carries a memento, citation, and Rs 11 lakh cheque.
Maitreyi Pushpa was born in Sikurra village of Aligarh district and obtained her M.A. in Hindi Literature from Bundelkhand College, Jhansi.
Ankita Jain is the Director of agro-manufacturing firm 'Vaidik Vatika' and founding member of 'Jai Jungle Farmers Producer Company'.

Vinod Kumar Shukla Passed Away After Winning The 59th Jnanpith Award (End of December) ▼

Vinod Kumar Shukla, a renowned Hindi writer, poet, and novelist, passed away at the age of 88 in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
He was the first person from Chhattisgarh to receive the Jnanpith Award, which is the highest literary honor given to writers in Indian languages.
He was awarded the 59th Jnanpith Award for his significant contributions to Hindi literature.
His major novels include Naukar Ki Kameez, Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi, and Khilega To Dekhenge.
His first booklet of poetry, titled Lagbhag Jai Hind, was published in 1971.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur confirmed the cause of death as multiple organ infection and organ failure.

Ravi Deecee received the French honour Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (End of December) ▼

Ravi Deecee, the Publisher and Managing Director of DC Books, was conferred with the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).
The Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, presented the award at a ceremony held at the Embassy of France on December 4.
The award recognizes his commitment to multilingualism and the publication of Malayalam translations of leading French works by authors such as Annie Ernaux, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Maryse Condé.
DC Books also manages the Vagamon Writer Residency in Kerala, which has been part of the Villa Swagatam programme of the French Embassy since its inception.
Instituted in 1957, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres recognizes individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the promotion and enrichment of arts and culture.

Nation pays tribute to former PM Indira Gandhi on her 108th birth anniversary (Mid of November) ▼

Indira Gandhi served as Prime Minister of India from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination on 31 October 1984
Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes at Shakti Sthal, her memorial in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also posted tribute on X: 'Tributes to former PM Smt. Indira Gandhi Ji on the occasion of her birth anniversary'

Lav Aggarwal appointed as Director General of Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)

[Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)]

Key Updates:

Lav Aggarwal, previously Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, appointed as Director General of DGFT.
Rabindra Kumar Agarwal appointed to head Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Srikant Nagulapalli assigned role in Ministry of Petroleum.

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Aparna Garg appointed as Member Finance, Railway Board (Start of December) ▼

Aparna Garg, Director General (DG), Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM), has been appointed as the Member Finance, Railway Board (RB), with effect from December 1, 2025.
Her appointment is for a period of three months or until further orders and will be in addition to her current duties.
She is an Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officer of the 1987 batch.
She has held key positions such as Principal Financial Advisor, Rail Wheel Factory, Bengaluru, and Divisional Railway Manager of Mysore.
She has also served in various other capacities in Southern Railway, Western Railway, and South-Western Railway zones.

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.

Air Marshal Tejbir Singh assumes charge as Director General Inspection & Safety (Start of December) ▼

Air Marshal Tejbir Singh has assumed charge as Director General Inspection & Safety at Air Headquarters of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
He takes over from Air Marshal Makarand Bhaskar Ranade, who superannuated on 30 November 2025.
Air Marshal Tejbir Singh is an alumnus of the Royal College of Defence Studies, UK.
Air Marshal Tejbir Singh has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal 2010 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal 2018.

Vishvajit Sahay assumes charge as Controller General of Defence Accounts (Start of November) ▼

Vishvajit Sahay, 1990-batch IDAS officer, took over as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA)
Alumnus of St. Stephen's College, Delhi; previously served as Additional Secretary & FA, Dept of Science & Technology, Joint Secretary, Dept of Heavy Industry, and Finance Manager (Acquisition Wing), MoD
Held key posts in Defence Accounts Dept: Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) Prayagraj, Joint CGDA, and Special CGDA

S&P Global Ratings (S&P) flags safeguard duties raise steel import parity floor

Key Updates:

India extended safeguard duties on select steel products until April 2028, starting at 12 per cent and tapering to 11 per cent.
The Director General Trade Remedies (DGTR) investigation found imports of specific steel products had increased in a recent, sudden, sharp and significant manner, causing and threatening serious injury to domestic producers.
Benchmark hot rolled coil prices corrected by more than 10 per cent to Rs 46,000 per ton in early December 2025 from a high of Rs 52,500 per ton in May 2025.
S&P assumes average prices of Rs 48,000 per ton over the next 12 to 18 months.
S&P projects domestic steel consumption will expand at 8 per cent annually over the next three to four years, significantly higher than the 2-3 per cent global average.
With the levy in place, import parity increases by about Rs 6,500 per ton.
If current prices are maintained at Rs 50,000 per ton, this could increase the aggregate earnings of select steel companies representing 50 per cent of India's total steel output by about 10 per cent.

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Anti-Dumping Duty on Chinese Refrigerant Gas and Steel Products (End of December) ▼

India has imposed anti-dumping duty on two Chinese goods -- a refrigerant gas and certain kinds of steel products.
On steel goods, India has imposed $223.82 per tonne on certain Chinese firms, while on few others $415 per tonne was imposed for five years.
On the gas, up to $5,251 per tonne was slapped for five years.

Steel Ministry launches ‘SARAL SIMS’ for simplified import registration (End of November) ▼

The Steel Ministry has introduced a new facility, ‘SARAL SIMS’, to streamline compulsory registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) for small consignments and export-linked imports.
The new system allows a single annual number for multiple imports and reduces regular SIMS fields for easier compliance.
The system will be available from November 21, 2025.
Importers will need to declare only the total intended quantity of import to receive a SARAL SIMS number, which can be used for multiple consignments during the financial year.
The facility is available for imports of consignments up to 10 MT, with an annual cap of 1,000 MT under ‘SARAL SIMS for small import’.
It is also available for imports made under Advance Authorisation, SEZ and EOU routes under ‘SARAL SIMS for export purposes’, with no quantity limit.
For 2025-26, the threshold for small imports will be 500 MT until April 2026, with the annual cap of 1,000 MT applying from 2026-27.
Importers will need to file an annual return by April 30 of the following financial year, detailing actual imports made under SARAL SIMS.
Importers can import against a SARAL SIMS number generated in a financial year until April 30 of the next year.
If an importer exceeds 1,000 MT of actual imports in a financial year under the small import category, they must shift to regular SIMS for the remainder of that year and cannot return to SARAL SIMS for that period.
The registration process under regular SIMS has been revised, cutting the number of required fields from 56 to 20.
The ministry has revoked the requirement for clarification or NOC for non-QCO steel grades, allowing importers to generate SIMS numbers for such grades directly through the portal.
The changes are intended to simplify registration and support ease of doing business.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) secures 100% duty-free access for Indian exports to Australia (End of December) ▼

Australia will provide duty-free access to 100% of its tariff lines for Indian exports starting Jan 1, 2026, under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).
India's exports to Australia grew by 8% in 2024-25, with significant gains in manufacturing, chemicals, textiles, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum products.
Gems and jewellery exports to Australia recorded a growth of 16% during the April-Nov 2025 period.
Agri-exports witnessed broad-based growth in categories including fruits, vegetables, marine products, spices, and coffee.
The ECTA, which came into force on Dec 29, 2022, serves as the foundation for ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).

India imposes anti-dumping duty on hot rolled flat steel from Vietnam (Mid of November) ▼

India has imposed an anti-dumping duty of USD 121.55 per tonne on imports of hot rolled flat steel products from Vietnam for five years.
Steel imports stood at 4.90 million tonnes in April-September FY26, with Vietnam contributing 13 per cent.
Imports from Vietnam were 0.64 million tonnes, 17 per cent higher year-on-year.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants BRISKPE final PA-CB authorisation for cross-border inward and outward payments.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

BRISKPE receives RBI final authorisation to operate as a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007.
Authorisation covers both inward and outward payment flows within the RBI PA-CB regulatory framework.
BRISKPE becomes one of India’s youngest cross-border payments fintechs to secure PA-CB approval.
Platform serves over 10,000 customers, majority being MSME exporters.
BRISKPE targets scaling transaction volumes above USD 1 billion by end-2026.
Operations integrate with global banks for collections and AD Category-I banks in India.
Platform holds ISO 27001, SOC-II-Type-II certifications and is GDPR compliant.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants final Payment Aggregator licence to Mswipe Technologies. (End of December) ▼

The licence covers both online and physical payment acceptance modes.
Mswipe serves merchants through MPOS, Smart PoS terminals, QR soundboxes, payment gateways, and embedded digital payment services.
Mswipe’s payments business turned adjusted profitable in the most recent financial year, recording over ₹275 crore in revenue in FY24.
Total payment volume more than doubled year on year.

PayU receives RBI authorisation to operate as payment aggregator for online, offline and cross-border transactions (Mid of November) ▼

PayU has received authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a payment aggregator across online, offline and cross-border transactions, including both inward and outward, under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act.
The approval enables PayU to offer secure, compliant, and seamless payment acceptance, settlement and cross-border solutions for merchants across channels.
This development strengthens PayU's position as a full-stack digital payments provider, empowering businesses with reliable and seamless experiences across online, offline and cross-border touchpoints.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves Airpay Payment Services as cross-border payment aggregator. (Start of December) ▼

Airpay Payment Services has secured approval from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a cross-border payment aggregator.
The company is now licensed to operate as a payment aggregator across online, physical and cross-border categories.
Airpay projects a 30-40 per cent rise in processing volumes over the next 6-12 months.
The company anticipates 20 per cent-plus revenue contribution from cross-border flows and onboarding over 50,000 merchants in the same period.

Junio Payments Secures RBI In-Principle Authorisation for Prepaid Payment Instruments (Start of November) ▼

IANS Junio Payments Pvt Ltd (JPPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of FirstPay Technologies, has secured in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs).
The approval will enable it to roll out a digital wallet linked to UPI, allowing users — particularly teenagers and young adults — to scan UPI QR codes and make payments even without a bank account.
Junio said the wallet’s design aligns with the UPI Circle initiative launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Junio already operates a financial management app complemented by RuPay co-branded physical and virtual prepaid cards.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) mandates NISM certification for Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) compliance officers from 2027.

[Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi)]

Key Updates:

Sebi requires the Compliance Officer of Manager of an AIF to obtain certification from the National Institute of Securities Market by passing the NISM Series-III-C: Securities Intermediaries Compliance (Fund) Certification Examination.
From January 1, 2027, only certified persons can be appointed or continue as compliance officers of managers of AIFs.
Trustee/sponsor/managers of AIFs must reflect compliance with this requirement in the 'Compliance Test Report' prepared by the manager.

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Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill 2025 raises FDI limit to 100% (End of December) ▼

The Union Cabinet approved the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025 to revamp India’s insurance framework.
The Bill raises the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in Indian insurance companies from 74% to 100%.
It reduces the Net Owned Funds requirement for foreign reinsurers from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.
IRDAI gets enhanced enforcement powers, including authority to disgorge wrongful gains made by insurers or intermediaries.
LIC is empowered to set up new zonal offices without prior government approval and to align overseas operations with host-country laws.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) authorizes Aryaman Finance (India) Limited as Type II NBFC-ND-ICC. (End of December) ▼

Aryaman Finance (India) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aryaman Financial Services, received the Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 24, 2025.
The certificate authorizes the company to operate as a Type II NBFC-ND-ICC (Non-Deposit taking - Investment and Credit Company).
The subsidiary was incorporated on January 31, 2025, and received additional capital infusion on April 01, 2025.
The company has complied with SEBI Listing Regulations disclosure requirements under Regulation 30.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) eases educational qualification criteria for Investment Advisers, Research Analysts (End of November) ▼

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) relaxed educational qualification criteria for Investment Advisers (IAs) and Research Analysts (RAs).
Previously, applicants were required to hold a graduate or postgraduate degree in finance-related fields such as Finance, Business Management, Commerce, Economics, or Capital Markets.
Under the new framework, graduates from any discipline are eligible to become IAs and RAs.
Applicants must have a graduate degree or equivalent educational qualification from a recognized university or institution, or a CFA Charter from the CFA Institute.
Passing the NISM certification exam or relevant certification from NISM or an NISM-accredited organization remains mandatory.
Sebi eased the corporatisation process for individual IAs, allowing a transition period once an IA crosses the threshold of 300 clients or ₹3 crore in fees.
The IA must immediately notify Sebi and initiate the transition process upon crossing these limits.
The IA has three months to apply for in-principle approval and an additional three months to complete the conversion to a non-individual entity.
During this transition period, the IA is allowed to onboard new clients and continue collecting fees.
Earlier, an individual IA was required to complete the transition to a corporate structure within three months after crossing the prescribed client or fee limits.
Sebi amended norms for investment advisers and research analysts to give these effects.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) grants NCDEX in-principle nod for mutual fund platform. (Mid of December) ▼

National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX) has received in-principle approval from Sebi to launch a mutual fund transaction platform.
The platform will allow investors to subscribe to and redeem mutual fund units, with clearing and settlement handled by National Commodity Clearing Ltd (NCCL), a wholly owned NCDEX subsidiary.
NCDEX aims to expand financial inclusion through low-denomination systematic investment plans (SIPs) targeting rural and semi-urban areas.
The mutual fund platform could be rolled out faster than equity trading systems as it operates independently of stock trading infrastructure.

Government of India announces India overtakes Japan to become world’s fourth-largest economy at USD 4.18 trillion

Key Updates:

India has surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy with a GDP of USD 4.18 trillion.
India is poised to overtake Germany to become the third-largest economy by 2030 with a projected GDP of USD 7.3 trillion.
India's real GDP grew 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2025-26, up from 7.8 per cent in the first quarter and 7.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal.
The World Bank has projected a 6.5 per cent growth in 2026.
Moody's expects India to remain the fastest-growing G20 economy with a growth of 6.4 per cent in 2026 and 6.5 per cent in 2027.
The IMF has raised its projections to 6.6 per cent for 2025 and 6.2 per cent for 2026.
The OECD forecasts 6.7 per cent growth in 2025 and 6.2 per cent in 2026.
S&P anticipates a growth of 6.5 per cent in the current fiscal and 6.7 per cent in the next.
The Asian Development Bank has lifted its 2025 forecast to 7.2 per cent.
Fitch has raised its FY26 projection to 7.4 per cent on stronger consumer demand.

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Government projects India to become 3rd-largest economy with $7.3 trillion GDP by 2030 (End of December) ▼

India’s real GDP grew 8.2 per cent in Q2 FY2025-26, up from 7.8 per cent in the previous quarter and 7.4 per cent in Q4 of 2024-25.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY 2025-26 upwards to 7.3 per cent from the earlier estimate of 6.8 per cent.
With GDP valued at $4.18 trillion, India has surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy.
India is poised to displace Germany from the third rank in the next 2.5 to 3 years with a projected GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030.

India Achieves Major Power Status, Ranks Third in Asia Power Index 2025 (Mid of December) ▼

The Asia Power Index 2025, published by the Lowy Institute in November, evaluates the resources and influence of countries to rank their relative power.
India holds the No. 3 position in the Asia Power Index 2025, with a comprehensive power score of 40.0 points, indicating it is a “major power”.
The United States is the leading power in Asia, followed by China, according to the index.
The index defines power as a country’s capacity to affect the behaviour of other states and non-state actors and influence the outcomes of international affairs.
The Asia Power Index extends beyond Asian countries to include Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Japan is ranked No. 4 and Russia is ranked No. 5 in the Asia Power Index 2025.

India rises to 9th spot globally in forest area, retains 3rd position in forest gain: FAO report (End of October) ▼

India moved from 10th to 9th rank in total forest area globally and kept 3rd rank in annual forest area gain, according to FAO’s Global Forest Resource Assessment (GFRA) 2025.
FAO lists world’s total forest area at 4.14 billion hectares—32 % of land—and notes 54 % of this is in Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States and China.
Between 2015 and 2025, China recorded the highest annual net gain (1.69 million hectares/year), followed by the Russian Federation (9,42,000 ha) and India (1,91,000 ha).
Asia is the only region to show a net increase in forest area from 1990 to 2025, led by gains in China and India.
Global annual net forest loss fell from 10.7 million hectares in the 1990s to 4.12 million hectares during 2015-2025, with Asia’s expansion helping slow worldwide deforestation.

US and Singapore together accounted for over one-third of India’s FDI in FY25: RBI FLA census (End of October) ▼

The United States and Singapore together accounted for over one-third of the FDI in India during 2024-25.
Out of 45,702 responding entities, 41,517 reported foreign direct investment and/or overseas direct investment in their balance sheet for March 2025.
The US share of total FDI during 2024-25 was 20 per cent, followed by Singapore (14.3 per cent), Mauritius (13.3 per cent), the UK (11.2 per cent) and the Netherlands (9 per cent).
Total FDI in 2024-25 stood at Rs 68,75,931 crore, up from Rs 61,88,243 crore in the preceding year.
The manufacturing sector held the highest share of total FDI equity capital at market value (48.4 per cent) and at face value (37.8 per cent).
Outward direct investment in 2024-25 was Rs 11,66,790 crore, with Singapore (22.2 per cent), the US (15.4 per cent), the UK (12.8 per cent) and the Netherlands (9.6 per cent) as top destinations.
Growth of ODI in rupee terms (17.9 per cent) outpaced that of FDI (11.1 per cent) in 2024-25, bringing the inward-to-outward DI ratio to 5.9 times from 6.3 times a year earlier.

Jal Seva Aankalan empowers villages to judge their own water services

Key Updates:

Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, e-launched Jal Seva Aankalan, a Gram Panchayat-led digital drinking water service functionality assessment tool on the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) portal.
The assessment is a structured, community-led self-review process enabling villages to evaluate regularity, adequacy, quality and sustainability of drinking water supply.
All Har Ghar Jal Gram Panchayats are expected to complete Jal Seva Aankalan by 26th January 2026.

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Sujalam Bharat App Launched to Build Digital Backbone for Viksit Bharat 2047 (Mid of December) ▼

The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Sujalam Bharat App.
The Sujalam Bharat App was launched on December 10, 2025.
The app integrates every rural water scheme into a Unified System.
It aims to provide villages with real-time access to rural drinking water supply assets.
The app is designed to transform rural drinking water governance.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) signs MoUs with spiritual organisations to boost mass awareness (End of December) ▼

Department of Social Justice & Empowerment signed MoUs with Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram and University of Patanjali under NMBA.
NMBA launched on 15th August 2020 in 272 vulnerable districts and now covers all districts of India.
25.7+ crore people sensitised on substance use including 9.2+ crore youth and 6.3+ crore women.
15.98+ lakh educational institutions participated to spread NMBA message among children and youth.
MoUs signed with 8 spiritual organisations: The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, ISKCON, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, All World Gayatri Pariwar, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram and University of Patanjali.

NITI Aayog Releases Report on Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks (End of November) ▼

NITI Aayog today released a report on 'Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks'.
The report marks a significant effort to take forward local water budgeting for effective water management and aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision for Viksit Bharat@2047, emphasising the necessity for sustainable and equitable water security across diverse landscapes of India.
Water Budgeting is a structured approach for estimating water demand across key sectors: human, livestock, agriculture, and industry, while accounting for supplies from multiple sources such as runoff, surface water, groundwater, and water transfers.
The water budgeting exercise uses a web-based platform Varuni to enhance the block-level water security planning and for an integrated water management.
The report highlights the need for adopting customised strategies across 18 Aspirational Blocks with different endowments of water availability, spread across 8 agro-climatic zones of the country in 11 States.
The water budget provides insights for each block related to its water demand-supply scenario, challenges and recommendations and identifying suitable measures for enhancing water security.
NITI Aayog collaborated with GIZ India to prepare the report.

Jal Shakti Hackathon–2025 and Bharat-WIN Portal launched to drive water innovation (Mid of December) ▼

Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C. R. Patil inaugurated the Jal Shakti Hackathon–2025 and the Bharat-WIN Portal.
The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Water Vision @ 2047’ for a technologically empowered, sustainable, and water-secure India.
Bharat-WIN Portal hosted at https://bharatwin.mowr.gov.in democratizes water-sector innovation for startups, MSMEs, industry, research institutions, young innovators, rural youth, women-led enterprises, academia, and global collaborators.
Hackathon priority domains include water resource management, wastewater treatment and reuse, water-use efficiency & circular economy, smart water monitoring, climate resilience and hydrological modelling, flood & drought forecasting, precision agriculture & farm-level water conservation, revival of traditional water systems, and river-basin and watershed management.
Winning participants receive ₹1 lakh grant for developing a Proof-of-Concept (PoC), mentorship through national research institutions, and opportunities for piloting and real-world implementation.
National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, designated as Project Implementation Agency to scrutinize proposals, facilitate expert review, recommend innovations for approval, and support capacity-building and scaling of solutions.
Grants-in-aid for selected innovations provided under the ‘Research and Development Programme in Water Sector’ and the National Water Mission.

Department of Posts discontinues select outward international letter mail services

Key Updates:

The Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications will discontinue selected outward international letter mail services starting January 1 to keep in line with Universal Postal Union (UPU)'s decisions.
Discontinued services include Registered Small Packet service, Outward Small Packet service sent by Sea/SAL/Air, and Surface Air Lifted (SAL) Letter Mail Service for outward letter post items.
Customers are encouraged to use International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS) and other international parcel services that provide end-to-end tracking, faster delivery, better customs compliance, and security.

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SBI to Discontinue mCASH Service After November 30, 2025 (Mid of November) ▼

State Bank of India will stop its mCASH sending and claiming facility on OnlineSBI and YONO Lite after November 30, 2025.
SBI advises customers to switch to UPI, IMPS, NEFT, and RTGS for future money transfers.
mCASH allowed SBI customers with Internet Banking to transfer funds without registering the recipient as a beneficiary.

Gen Z Post Office Launched at AIIMS Vijaypur to Enhance Digital Banking and Technology-Driven Services (Mid of December) ▼

The Department of Posts (India Post) inaugurated Jammu & Kashmir’s first “Gen Z Post Office” at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Vijaypur campus on December 17, 2025.
The initiative aims to transform traditional postal counters into youth-centric, technology-enabled service hubs tailored to the evolving needs of Generation Z.
The facility provides integrated access to postal, banking, and insurance services under one roof, with support from the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB).
Key features designed for students and campus residents include interactive kiosks, Wi-Fi zones, and personalized stamp services.

India Post Inaugurates Gen-Z Extension Counter at Kerala's CMS College (Mid of December) ▼

India Post inaugurated Kerala’s first 'Gen-Z' post office extension counter at CMS College Kottayam.
The counter was inaugurated on December 8, 2025.
The initiative was lauded by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
It targets the student community, built on the philosophy 'Of the students, by the students, for the students.'

IPPB-EPFO MoU: doorstep Digital Life Certificate service for pensioners (Start of November) ▼

India Post Payments Bank signed an MoU with EPFO to provide doorstep Digital Life Certificate services to EPFO pensioners under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.
IPPB will use its network of over 1.65 lakh post offices and 3 lakh postal service providers equipped with doorstep banking devices for face and fingerprint biometric authentication.
EPFO will bear the entire cost of issuing the Digital Life Certificate, making the service free for pensioners.

Ministry of Defence signs Rs 4,666 crore contracts for CQB Carbines and Heavy Weight Torpedoes

[Ministry of Defence]

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth Rs 4,666 crore for procurement of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbine and Heavy Weight Torpedoes.
Over 4.25 lakh CQB carbines, along with accessories worth Rs 2,770 crore, were contracted with Bharat Forge Ltd and PLR Systems Pvt Ltd for the Indian Army and Indian Navy.
The CQB Carbine provides rapid, decisive lethality in confined spaces and replaces legacy systems under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision.
The contract for 48 Heavy Weight Torpedoes for Kalvari Class Submarines (P-75) of the Indian Navy, worth Rs 1,896 crore, was signed with WASS Submarine Systems S.R.L., Italy.
Delivery of torpedoes will commence in April 2028 and be completed by early 2030.

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India signs ₹1.82 trillion defence contracts in first nine months of FY26 (Start of January) ▼

Contracts worth ₹1.82 trillion have been signed in nine months through December to acquire weapons and equipment for the armed forces.
Approximately ₹1.2 trillion of the ₹1.49 trillion capital-acquisition budget for FY26 had been utilised by the third quarter ending December.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) total budgetary allocation for FY26 is ₹6.81 trillion, of which ₹1.8 trillion—over 26%—is earmarked for capital outlay on defence services.
The MoD aims to double the usual 10% increase and seek a 20% rise in the modernisation component for the FY27 defence budget.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accords Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for Armed Forces proposals worth Rs 79,000 crore (End of December) ▼

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: 'The decisions taken today will help in enhancing operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.'
AoN approved for Loiter Munition System for Artillery Regiments, Low Level Light Weight Radars, Long Range Guided Rocket Ammunition for Pinaka MRLS, and Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System Mk-II for Indian Army.
For Indian Navy: AoN accorded for procurement of Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs, High Frequency Software Defined Radios (HF SDR) Manpack, and leasing High Altitude Long Range (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).
For Indian Air Force: AoN approved for Automatic Take-off Landing Recording System, Astra Mk-II Missiles, Full Mission Simulator for LCA Tejas, and SPICE-1000 Long Range Guidance Kits.

India moves toward $450 million BrahMos export deals with Vietnam and Indonesia (End of December) ▼

India has moved closer to inking deals to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia, which collectively will be worth over Rs 4,000 crore ($450 million).
Russia, the joint developer of BrahMos missiles, has assured India that it has no objection to the precision-strike weapon being sold to Vietnam and Indonesia.
The assurance was given during the delegation-level meeting between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov on Dec 4.
Once the deals are inked, Vietnam and Indonesia will become the other ASEAN countries after the Philippines to buy the air-breathing missiles.
India had inked a $375 million contract to supply three anti-ship BrahMos coastal batteries to the Philippines in Jan 2022.
India successfully deployed the BrahMos missiles, whose range has been increased to 450 km from the original 290 km, from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets during Operation Sindoor in May.
India also plans to begin inducting the new 800-km BrahMos from 2028 onwards, with tests currently underway for the extended-range missiles.
India wants to sell the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems to the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, UAE, and Brazil.

Russia ratifies RELOS pact with India ahead of Putin's December 4 visit (Start of December) ▼

Russia ratified the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) military logistics pact with India.
The RELOS pact aims to streamline mutual support for troop movements, equipment, and military platforms.
Russia’s State Duma approved the agreement just days ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s scheduled visit to New Delhi on December 4.
The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) pact was originally signed on February 18 between the governments of India and Russia.
The RELOS framework establishes a mechanism for both countries to support each other’s military assets, personnel, ships, and aircraft when operating within each other’s territory.
The pact will guide cooperation during routine operations, bilateral and multilateral military exercises, training engagements, humanitarian relief operations, and disaster response efforts.
The agreement would facilitate mutual use of airspace and allow port calls by warships from both nations.

Indian Railways commissions Kavach 4.0 on Gujarat’s Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad Section

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned in Gujarat’s first Bajwa(Vadodara)–Ahmedabad section(96-km).
The project covers 17 stations and includes robust infrastructure such as 23 towers, 20 Kavach buildings/huts, 192 km of optical fibre cable, and installation of 2,872 RFID tags.
Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system of Indian Railways, designed to provide the highest level of operational safety.
It is a highly technology-intensive system certified to Safety Integrity Level–4 (SIL-4), one of the highest safety standards in signalling systems.
Kavach assists Loco Pilots by automatically applying brakes in situations where prescribed speed limits are exceeded or when safety is compromised.
Key enhancements in Kavach 4.0 include improved location accuracy, better signal aspect information in large and complex station yards, station-to-station Kavach interface through optical fibre cable, and direct integration with existing electronic interlocking systems.

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Indian Railways commissions Kavach 4.0 on 738 Route km to boost safety on Delhi–Mumbai & Delhi–Howrah lines (Start of December) ▼

Kavach 4.0 is an indigenously developed, upgraded version of Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system requiring SIL-4 safety certification.
It aids the Loco Pilot by automatically applying brakes if the train exceeds specified speed limits and ensures safe operation during inclement weather.
Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned on 738 Route km covering Palwal–Mathura–Nagda section (633 Rkm) on Delhi–Mumbai route and Howrah–Bardhaman section (105 Rkm) on Delhi–Howrah route.
Major improvements in Version 4.0 include increased Location Accuracy, Improved Information of Signal Aspects in bigger yards, Station-to-Station Kavach interface on OFC, and Direct Interface to existing Electronic Interlocking System.
Track-side Kavach implementation work has been taken up on 15,512 Route km covering all Golden Quadrilateral, Golden Diagonal, High Density Network and identified sections of Indian Railways.
Bids have been invited for equipping another 9,069 locomotives with Kavach version 4.0.

Cabinet Clears ₹9,857 Cr Pune Metro Phase-II Project (End of November) ▼

The Union Cabinet approved Line 4 Kharadi–Hadapsar–Swargate–Khadakwasla and Line 4A Nal Stop–Warje–Manik Baug under Phase-2 of the Pune Metro Rail Project.
The project has an estimated cost of Rs 9,857.85 crore, to be jointly funded by the Government of India, Government of Maharashtra, and external bilateral/multilateral funding agencies.
Line 4 and 4A will connect IT hubs, commercial zones, educational institutions, and residential clusters across East, South, and West Pune.
The approval was made on November 26, 2025.

Rail Multitracking Projects: Improved Connectivity and Freight Movement with Rs 2,781 Crore Outlay (End of November) ▼

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved doubling of the 141-km Dwarka-Kanalus rail line in Gujarat and building third and fourth lines between Badlapur and Karjat (32 km) in Mumbai metropolitan region.
The two line-expansion projects worth Rs 2,781 crore are part of Indian Railways’ push to improve connectivity on routes with high passenger footfall.
The Devbhumi Dwarka (Okha)-Kanalus rail line will improve connectivity to the Dwarkadhish temple, a key pilgrimage site, and transportation of commodities such as coal, salt, container, and cement.
The Badlapur-Karjat line... will further help the commuters between Pune to Mumbai.

PM Modi to Inaugurate Rs 9,700-crore Tribal Welfare Projects in Gujarat on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Mid of November) ▼

Projects include Grih Pravesh for one lakh houses under PM-JANMAN and DA-JAGUA
42 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools to be inaugurated
250 buses for 14 tribal districts and 748 km of roads to be launched for improved connectivity
14 Tribal Multi-Marketing Centres to be established for tribal produce marketing

MoS&T-TDB and VMSPL Sign IC-CIR&D Pact for 20-Passenger Electric Boat

Key Updates:

The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), signed an agreement with Vijai Marine Services Private Limited (VMSPL), Goa for the 'Smart Sea Project by Vijai Autonomous Craft for Environment (VACE)'.
The project will develop and demonstrate a 20-passenger electric boat with IRS-certified FRP hull, electric propulsion and battery systems supplied by Canadian partner ACEL Power Inc.
Aimed at reducing emissions and noise, the initiative supports India’s goals of clean waterways and sustainable tourism under the Indo-Canada Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme (IC-CIR&D).

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DRDO's Samanvay 2025 Meet in Bengaluru Sees Tech Transfer Agreements (Start of November) ▼

The event, Samanvay 2025, is a two-day industry synergy meet organised by the Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Proof: "The handover took place during the inaugural session of Samanvay 2025 , a two-day industry synergy meet being organised by the Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru."
The meet took place in Bengaluru.
Proof: "The handover took place during the inaugural session of Samanvay 2025 , a two-day industry synergy meet being organised by the Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru."
The DRDO handed over 12 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOTs) for eight products to industry partners.
Proof: "the DRDO handed over 12 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOTs) for eight products to industry partners on Wednesday, the defence ministry said."
The event is being attended by representatives of more than 150 industry partners.
Proof: "The event, being attended by the representatives of more than 150 industry partners, has been organised to apprise and update industries, especially the MSMEs and start-ups, about various industry-friendly initiatives and policies of the DRDO in line with the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'."

Apollo Micro Systems Ltd signs tri-party MoU with IIT-Chennai and Indian Navy for defence technology development (Start of December) ▼

Apollo Micro Systems Ltd has entered a tri-party alliance with IIT-Chennai and the Indian Navy to accelerate indigenous defence technology development.
The MoU focuses on addressing and solving the present and future problem statements of the Armed Forces through indigenous research and development.
The partnership focuses on high-technology areas critical to modern warfare, including advanced electronic warfare systems, precision guidance and control systems and high-energy armament solutions, and not limited to them.
IIT-Chennai will serve as the research anchor and focus on developing the technologies and intellectual property.
Apollo Micro Systems will act as the technology development and manufacturing partner to convert laboratory-scale research into battlefield-ready products.
The Directorate General of Naval Armament Inspection will provide domain expertise and operational insights and assist in testing the developed products.
The partnership with IIT-Chennai will further be extended for other technologically advanced products developed for the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Space and other applications across domains.

DoT’s NCA and IIM Calcutta Sign MoU for Telecom Sector Capacity Building (End of October) ▼

the National Communications Academy (NCA) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
to collaborate on capacity building, policy research, and executive education in advanced areas of telecommunications and emerging technologies.
The formal signing was conducted between Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, Director of IIM Calcutta and Shri Atul Sinha, Director General of National Communications Academy - Technology (NCA-T), Ghaziabad.
The MoU creates a framework for joint programs and strategic initiatives in Capacity Building, Policy Research and Consulting, Training Programs in Emerging Technologies, Workshops and Seminars, and Academic and Research Collaboration.
This initiative will also contribute to: Building a digitally literate and innovation-capable workforce, Creating policy inputs for the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP), Supporting Make in India and Digital India missions through knowledge empowerment.

Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and Department of Posts (DoP) sign MoU to expand mutual fund access across India. (Mid of December) ▼

BSE and Department of Posts sign MoU to enable distribution of mutual fund products through India Post’s network.
Selected DoP employees will be trained and onboarded as certified mutual fund distributors via BSE StAR MF platform.
MoU valid for three years from December 12, 2025, with provisions for renewal.

NMCG approves first-of-its-kind avifauna conservation project for sandbar-nesting birds in Ganga basin

Key Updates:

A new project has been approved to protect breeding habitats of sandbar-nesting birds, including the Indian Skimmer.
The project will use Nature based Solutions for in-situ treatment of the Shastri Park drain, Gaushala drain, and Kailash Nagar/Ramesh Nagar drains in Delhi before they enter the Yamuna.
A comprehensive master plan has been prepared to restore the natural sanctity and cultural identity of the Gomti River’s origin site at Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.

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Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommends environmental clearance for Kalai-II hydroelectric project (Start of January) ▼

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.

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).

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.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) qualifies upgraded third stage of SSLV via static test

[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]

Key Updates:

ISRO successfully carried out a static ground test of an improved version of the third stage of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
The test was conducted at the Solid Motor Static Test Facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
The improved SS3 motor features a carbon-epoxy composite motor case, reducing inert mass and yielding a payload gain of about 90 kg for SSLV.
The third stage alone delivers velocities of up to 4 km/second to the launch vehicle.
Nozzle control is achieved through a fault-tolerant electro-mechanical actuation system supported by low-power control electronics.

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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.

Ashwini Vaishnaw announces ₹4,500 crore allocation for Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) Mohali upgrade (Start of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi decides to upgrade SCL Mohali and establish a high-quality semiconductor training centre, strong commercial production unit, and world-class R&D facility under India Semiconductor Mission.
SCL Mohali upgrade includes process modernisation, new tools, and production level increased 100 times.
Modernisation of SCL addresses strategic requirements, student needs, researcher requirements, chips, and fabrication.
Large-scale training facility to be built at SCL Mohali.
SCL to remain a government organisation and major R&D organisation.
India Semiconductor Mission launched in 2021.

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

India-Russia to Deepen Nuclear Cooperation at Upcoming Summit (Mid of November) ▼

The upcoming 23rd India-Russia annual summit is scheduled for December.
The summit is expected to significantly advance bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy, with a special focus on small and modular reactors (SMRs) and greater localisation of nuclear plant equipment.
Discussions ahead of the summit involved Rosatom director general Alexei Likhachev and Ajit Kumar Mohanty, director general of the department of atomic energy (DAE).
A detailed review of progress at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu was conducted.
Units 1 and 2 of KNPP were connected to India’s national power grid in 2013 and 2016.
Units 5 and 6 — part of the project’s third phase — are actively under construction.

Kaamya Karthikeyan becomes youngest Indian to ski to South Pole

Key Updates:

Kaamya Karthikeyan became the youngest Indian and second-youngest woman in the world to ski to the South Pole.
She completed a 115 km trek on foot to reach the South Pole.
The Indian Navy described her feat as a 'moment of immense pride and inspiration'.

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Kavita Chand Scales Mount Vinson (Mid of December) ▼

Kavita Chand conquered Mount Vinson in Antarctica, the highest peak in that continent, that has a height of 4,892 meters above the sea level.
She had previously conquered Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe.
Kavita Chand won the Delhi and Mumbai HYROX 2025 competitions in her age group.
She has also completed three of the six marathons in the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Challenge.

India approves ₹29.2 crore for Maitri-II Station to replace Maitri in Antarctica (Mid of December) ▼

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has approved ₹29.2 crore for pre-investment activities, including architectural design and preparation of the Detailed Project Report DPR.
The new Maitri-II Station is conceived as a state-of-the-art, year-round research hub that will significantly elevate India’s scientific capability in biology, earth sciences, glaciology, atmospheric sciences, climate studies and long-term environmental monitoring.
The upgraded station will feature modern laboratories, advanced ice-core storage and processing systems, a dedicated biological and microbial research suite and expanded atmospheric observation facilities.
The projected timeline for Maitri-II to become operational is estimated as seven years with expected completion by 2032.

Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha became youngest rated chess player in history (Start of December) ▼

Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, became the youngest FIDE-rated chess player in history at the age of three years, seven months and 20 days.
He holds a rapid rating of 1,572, surpassing the previous record held by Kolkata’s Anish Sarkar.
Sarwagya began playing chess at the age of two-and-a-half and trains for four to five hours daily under coach Nitin Chaurasiya.
He secured his rating by defeating five rated opponents in FIDE-approved tournaments, including wins over Abhijeet Awasthi and Shubham Chourasiya.

Chillai-Kalan begins on December 21 (End of December) ▼

Chillai-Kalan is the 40-day harsh winter period in Kashmir that begins on December 21 every year and ends on January 31.
The local meteorological department has forecast moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir during this period.
Chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent during Chillai-Kalan, with temperatures dropping sharply across the Valley.

Volodar Murzin defends FIDE World Rapid title; Magnus Carlsen & Ian Nepomniachtchi share FIDE World Blitz crown

[FIDE]

Key Updates:

Volodar Murzin emerged as the World Rapid champion in 2024 after beating Alexander Grischuk.
Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi were the joint World Blitz champions.
The 2025 championships are hosted at Qatar University’s Sports and Events Complex in Doha.
Each of the Rapid and Blitz sections carries a €350,000 prize fund, with the winner taking home €70,000.

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Magnus Carlsen wins FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship 2025 (End of December) ▼

Magnus Carlsen won the International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Rapid Chess Championship 2025 held in Doha.
Carlsen finished the tournament with a score of 10.5/13 points to claim his sixth World Rapid title.
Russian Grandmaster Vladislav Artemiev finished as the runner-up with 9.5 points.
India’s Arjun Erigaisi secured the bronze medal with 9.5 points, becoming the second Indian GM to medal in the championship after Viswanathan Anand.
In the women’s section, Aleksandra Goryachkina won the FIDE Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship, while Zhu Jiner took silver and Koneru Humpy earned bronze.

Alpine SG Pipers clinches Global Chess League (GCL) title (End of December) ▼

Alpine SG Pipers scored a convincing victory in the final of the Global Chess League (GCL) over Continental Kings — the winner of the first two editions — at the Royal Opera House on Tuesday.
SG Pipers claimed an advantage by winning the first match 4-2 before settling the tie and clinching the crown with a dominating 4.5-1.5 victory in the second.
Anish Giri shone brightest in the final for them, beating Wei Yi twice.
Earlier, PBG Alaskan Knights took the third place, beating Ganges Grandmasters in tie-breaks.
It was indeed a superb show by SG Pipers, whose campaign hadn’t got off to the brightest of starts, losing both its first matches.

UAE to host 2026 Asian Youth Archery Championship in Khorfakkan (Mid of November) ▼

The United Arab Emirates, represented by the UAE Archery Federation, has won the bid to host the 2026 Asian Youth Archery Championship in the city of Khorfakkan.
The announcement was made during the Asian Archery Federation Congress, held yesterday evening in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The UAE's bid secured the majority of votes thanks to the country's advanced sports infrastructure, world-class facilities, and organisational and logistical capabilities.

Chess World Cup 2025 Trophy Named Viswanathan Anand Cup (Start of November) ▼

The World Cup winner's trophy will be called Viswanathan Anand Cup.
The trophy features the peacock, the national bird of India in a frozen dance form.
The winner’s trophy was unveiled in a glittering opening ceremony in Goa on Friday.
The marquee competition starts on November 1 and will go on till November 26.
The total prize money fund for the tournament is $2 million.
The winner will get $120,000.
The World Cup will feature 206 players competing in a head-to-head, two-game knockout format over eight rounds.
The FIDE World Cup is the event that offers the top three finishers direct qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship.

Air India and airBaltic sign codeshare agreement

[Air India]

Key Updates:

Air India has signed a codeshare agreement with Latvia’s national carrier airBaltic to improve travel connectivity between India and the Baltic region.
The airline announced the partnership on December 30, 2025.
Under the unilateral codeshare, Air India has started placing its ‘AI’ flight code on airBaltic-operated services between Riga and several major European cities.

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Union Civil Aviation Ministry (MoCA) clears Al Hind Air, FlyExpress, Shankh Air to break IndiGo-Air India duopoly. (End of December) ▼

Al Hind Air and FlyExpress received no-objection certificates from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry this week.
Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air already holds an NOC and targets commercial launch in 2026.
IndiGo and the Air India Group together control more than 90% of India’s domestic market, with IndiGo alone exceeding 65%.

Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) grants NOCs to three new airlines to increase competition and lower flight costs (End of December) ▼

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has given no objection certificates (NOCs) to three airlines – Al Hind Air, FlyExpress and Shankh Air – to provide more choice for consumers and bring down the cost of flights.
Shankh Air, which aims to be the leading full-service airline of Uttar Pradesh, plans to launch its flight services around the first quarter of 2026.
Al Hind Air, owned by the Kerala-based Alhind Group, has an initial investment between Rs 200 and Rs 500 crore and will focus on domestic and regional travel using ATR 72-600 model aircraft.
FlyExpress, which received its NOC from the MoCA, is reportedly backed by a courier and cargo services company from Hyderabad.
To begin operations, these carriers must next get an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by proving they have financial backing, aircraft, and trained crew.

IndiGo plans codeshare partnership with China Southern Airlines (Mid of November) ▼

IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Southern Airlines to establish a codeshare and cooperation agreement aimed at improving air connectivity between India and China.
The partnership, subject to regulatory approvals, will allow passengers to book seamless travel on both airlines’ networks with single-ticket convenience and through check-in services.
IndiGo started direct daily flights from Delhi to Guangzhou.
IndiGo resumed flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou, marking commencement of direct air connectivity between India and China after more than five years.
Direct flights were operational between the two countries till early 2020 before being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Services remained suspended in view of the eastern Ladakh border row.
Following the recent diplomatic initiatives, it was decided to resume the direct flights between the two countries.

Air India (AI) reinstates codeshare with Air Canada (AC) to open six Canadian cities via Vancouver and London Heathrow. (End of November) ▼

Air India and Air Canada reinstated their codeshare agreement effective December 2.
Air India places its ‘AI’ designator on Air Canada flights from Vancouver to Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montréal and Halifax.
Air India also places its code on Air Canada flights from London Heathrow to Vancouver and Calgary.
Air Canada customers gain domestic India connectivity to Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kochi via Delhi, and to Delhi and Mumbai via London Heathrow.
Travellers on connecting flights operated by both carriers can use a single ticket and unified baggage allowance.
Frequent flyers continue to earn and redeem points/miles on both airlines, with Maharaja Club elites enjoying Star Alliance Gold benefits on Air Canada flights.