Daily Current Affairs: 6 December 2025
Analysis for 06 December 2025
Simone Tata passes away at 95
Key Updates:
- Simone Tata, chairperson of Lakmé and founder of Trent Ltd, passed away at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai.
- She led Lakmé from the early 1980s and chaired Trent Ltd until 2006.
- In 1996, Tata Group sold Lakmé to Hindustan Unilever and she used the proceeds to establish Westside under Trent.
- She was the step-mother of Ratan Tata and last appeared in public at his funeral in October 2024.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Inheritance of Loss won the 2006 Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
- Kiran Desai’s new novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
- The Inheritance of Loss moves between Kalimpong’s colonial bungalow and New York’s undocumented restaurant corridors.
- Poet Ande Sri, renowned for the Telangana state song 'Jaya Jayahe Telangana', has died.
- He passed away at the age of 64.
- His death has left a deep void in the state’s literary and cultural circles.
- Ande Sri's contributions to the Telangana movement and his ability to capture the people's emotions through his folk-inspired lyrics are remembered.
- Former chief minister and BRS president K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) described him as “a pivotal voice in the cultural movement that fueled Telangana’s statehood.”
- Sarada Hoffman (1929-2025), also known as Alladi Sarada, passed away recently in the U.S.
- She was admired for her precision as a Bharatanatyam artiste and her distinction as a teacher.
- She was instrumental in creating and standardising a Kalakshetra methodology for Bharatanatyam.
- She preferred to be called ‘Sarada Teacher’ and never allowed anyone to use the title ‘Guru’ before her name.
- Sarada Teacher was Rukminidevi Amma’s ideal model for shaping a keen precision on the physical body and in bodily execution.
- Her only full-fledged dance drama choreographed in Kalakshetra was ‘Murugan Thiruvarul’.
- She received accolades including the Sangeet Natak Academy (1996), Venkatakrishan Mama’s Sankarabharanam, Natyarangam of Narada Gana Sabha, and the first Rukmini Devi Medal for Excellence in the Arts.
- Neville Tata, son of chairman Noel Tata, has been inducted to the board of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT).
- He will serve for a term of three years.
- Neville Tata is already on the board of the JRD Tata Trust, Tata Social Welfare Trust and RD Tata Trust.
- He later went on to lead Zudio, the value fashion brand.
- Bhaskar Bhat, a group veteran and former Titan managing director, has been inducted to the board of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT).
- He will serve for a term of three years.
- Bhaskar Bhat is an IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad alumnus.
- During his 17-year tenure as managing director, he steered Titan to expand beyond watches into eyewear, jewellery, fragrances, accessories and sarees (Taneira).
NITI Aayog and IBM Unveil Roadmap to Position India Among Top-3 Quantum Economies by 2047
Key Updates:
- The NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub, in partnership with International Business Machines-IBM, has released a national roadmap to transform India into one of the world’s top-three quantum economies by 2047.
- The plan aims to build home grown quantum computing hardware and software, foster at least 10 globally competitive quantum and capture a major share of the global quantum software and services market.
- It envisages applying quantum technologies across key sectors such as defence, energy, healthcare, logistics, and finance with hopes of boosting security, efficiency, and innovation nationwide.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The plan for India’s first Quantum City or Q-city was unveiled at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 by Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology NS Boseraju.
- The Q-city is proposed to be established over 6 acres in Hesarghatta.
- Under the Karnataka Quantum Mission, the government has allocated an investment of Rs 1,000 crore for the Q-city.
- The Q-city will house advanced research laboratories, a quantum hardware park, cryogenic testing facilities, quantum cloud clusters, and a deep tech startup zone, hosting end-to-end services from research to commercialisation.
- The government approved Rs 1,136 crore to establish the Quantum Supremacy Centre in Bengaluru.
- Work is underway to establish the Swiss and Karnataka Quantum Collaboration Centre.
- ISRO Chairman, Dr V Narayanan, stated that two new ISRO launchpads are on the cards — in Sriharikota and Kulasekarapattinam.
- LVM3-M6 and Bluebird Block-2 Mission are the upcoming commercial mission projects of ISRO.
- Fiber optic pressure, temperature, and level sensors and HMC and Nano technology-based sensors are major new developments in progress at ISRO.
- Two reports released: 'Roadmap for AI for Viksit Bharat – An Opportunity for Accelerated Economic Growth' and the 'NITI Frontier Tech Repository'
- Released by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railways/Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, and NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
- Reports aim to guide policy, investments, and research to position India as a global leader in AI and emerging technologies
- Event held in New Delhi and marks a step toward harnessing AI and frontier technologies for inclusive growth and economic transformation
- India Global Forum (IGF) and Quantum Ecosystems Technology Council of India (QETCI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a comprehensive UK-India quantum value-chain map
- The initiative is catalysed by UK-India Future Forum (UKIFF), IGF's platform for UK-India business and policy engagement
- The strategic partnership will identify practical pathways for joint R&D, talent mobility and commercial adoption
- UKIFF and QETCI will engage stakeholders across government, academia and industry to validate findings and publish an initial UK-India Quantum Value-Chain Overview next year
- The MoU aims to systematically map policy junctures for co-creation and connect the two ecosystems through knowledge sharing and collaboration
- India’s first extensive Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network, spanning over 500 kilometers, was successfully demonstrated.
- The network was unveiled by QNu Labs Pvt. Ltd., a Bengaluru-based quantum technology startup.
- This milestone was accomplished under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
- QKD is a cutting-edge technology that uses quantum mechanics to encrypt communication channels, ensuring complete security against eavesdropping or data interception.
- The demonstration included the unveiling of the new design of the “Quantum Suraksha Kavach (QSK)” rack, housing the integrated QKD system developed by QNu Labs.
- QNu Labs’ QSIP (Quantum Random Number Generator System in Package) was also showcased, generating quantum-certified randomness.
- The Indian Army, through its Southern Command Signals, played a key role in enabling the capability demonstration, with the test-bed optical fiber network engineered by the Corps of Signals in the Rajasthan Sector.
- This achievement places India among a select group of nations—alongside the U.S., China, Japan, and several EU countries—that have developed indigenous long-range quantum communication capabilities.
- The demonstration was supported through the I-Hub Quantum Technology Foundation, a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS) hosted at IISER Pune.
WMO and BoM Confirm Weak La Niña Underway, Set to Influence Global Weather into 2026
Key Updates:
- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says there is a 55 per cent probability of a weak La Niña over the next three months.
- The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirms La Niña has emerged and is now firmly established in the tropical Pacific.
- The latest Niño3.4 SST index for the week ending 23 November is −0.93 °C, with sustained values below −0.8 °C signalling La Niña.
- The 30-day SOI was at +16.1 and the 90-day value was at +8.5, with sustained readings above +7.0 confirming the La Niña pattern.
- The negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remains active but has weakened to −0.60 °C and is predicted to return to neutral in December.
- Sea surface temperatures in the Australian region were the second warmest on record for October and are likely to persist into early 2026.
- From December 2025 to February 2026, temperatures are expected to remain above normal across much of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
- For India, this could mean a cooler winter in the north, more frequent western disturbances and a higher chance of stronger systems forming in the Bay of Bengal.
Similar / Past Coverage
- NASA confirmed Earth is experiencing its strongest geomagnetic storm of the year, identified as a G5 event.
- The storm was caused by multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched in quick succession from the Sun, which merged into a massive solar plasma wave.
- According to NASA and NOAA’s joint reports, the current geomagnetic storm reached a G5 level, the highest on the geomagnetic scale.
- The event made auroras visible at lower latitudes than usual, including parts of northern Europe, Canada, the United States, the UK, Tasmania, and southern New Zealand.
- Technological impacts included temporary communication dropouts for satellite operators and rerouted polar flights by airlines to avoid high radiation exposure.
- NASA scientists stress that better forecasting models and improved space-weather monitoring are vital to protect modern infrastructure.
- Experts warn that as the Sun approaches its peak in the current 11-year solar cycle, more eruptions are expected, potentially leading to stronger or more frequent geomagnetic storms.
- This year is set to be among the hottest on record, sinking the world even deeper into the climate crisis and threatening “irreversible damage,” the United Nations says in a new report.
- Years 2023, 2024 and 2025 are set to be the hottest years ever recorded, with this year on track to be the second or third hottest ever in 176 years of record keeping, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in the report.
- Concentrations of greenhouse gases have grown to new record highs, locking in more heat for the future, while the past 11 years, 2015 to 2025, will individually have been the 11 warmest years.
- It will be virtually impossible to limit global warming to 1.5C [2.7F] in the next few years without temporarily overshooting this target, WMO chief Celeste Saulo said, referring to the 2015 Paris climate accords.
- The mean near-surface temperature during the first eight months of this year stood at 1.42C (2.5F) above the pre-industrial average, according to the WMO report.
- The UN Environment Programme confirmed that emissions of greenhouse gases increased by a further 2.3 percent last year, an increase driven by India, followed by China, Russia and Indonesia.
- The Arctic sea ice extent, after the winter freeze this year, was the lowest ever recorded, and the Antarctic sea ice extent tracked well below average throughout the year.
- Developing countries received only about $26 billion in adaptation finance in 2023, 'less than 10 per cent of the money they need'
- By 2035 developing nations will require 'well over $310 billion per year in dedicated funding to adapt' to climate impacts
- Most countries now have 'at least one national adaptation plan in place' and climate funding for new adaptation projects rose in 2024
- The Baku to Belém Roadmap launched at COP29 sets a goal of '$1.3 trillion for climate finance – from public and private sources – by 2035'
- WHO/Lancet Countdown reports heat-related deaths have risen 'by 23 per cent since the 1990s, to an average 546 000 deaths per year'
- India's average temperature rose by nearly 0.9 degrees Celsius in the last decade (2015-2024) compared to the early 20th century (1901-1930).
- The hottest day of the year warmed by 1.5-2 degrees Celsius in western and northeast India since the 1950s.
- The research was conducted by climate scientists Chirag Dhara (Krea University), Aditi Deshpande (Savitribai Phule Pune University), Roxy Mathew Koll (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology), Padmini Dalpadado (Institute of Marine Research, Norway), and Mandira Singh Shrestha (International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, Nepal).
- This warming is driving a surge in extreme weather events, with the number of warm days increasing by 5-10 days per decade.
- The tropical Indian Ocean is warming at a rate of 0.12 degrees Celsius per decade, one of the fastest in the world.
- Marine heatwaves are projected to occur for nearly 200 days per year by 2050, from merely 20 days per year in recent decades.
- The Arabian Sea has become a hotspot for intense tropical cyclones, with the maximum intensity of pre-monsoon cyclones increasing by 40 per cent in recent decades.
- Historical one-in-a-hundred-year extreme sea-level events are projected to become an annual occurrence by mid-century.
IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance Company (IFFCO-TOKIO GIC) partners with cooperatives to expand micro insurance for package, health and motor policies.
Key Updates:
- IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance Company is a 51:49 joint venture between Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative and Japan-based Tokio Marine Group.
- The company has tied up with a number of cooperatives to distribute micro insurance for package policies, health, and motor policies.
- IFFCO-TOKIO GIC offers retail products including motor, health, travel, home, and personal accident insurance and corporate insurance products.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Ageas Federal Life Insurance has formed an SME Bancassurance Partnership with CSB Bank.
- Under the collaboration, customers of CSB Bank, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), will be offered life insurance products.
- CSB Bank will include the insurance products in its suite of financial products, including home loans, business loans, and SME credit lines.
- IFC has made an investment of Rs 285 crore ($33 million) in Axis Max Life Insurance Limited through long-dated subordinated instruments.
- This investment marks IFC's maiden investment in a licensed life insurance company in India.
- Axis Max Life Insurance Limited achieved a gross written premium of INR 33,223 Cr as per annual audited financials for FY2024-25.
- In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries.
- The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (Amul) has emerged as the number one cooperative in the world according to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) World Cooperative Monitor 2025.
- The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has emerged as the number two cooperative globally as per the same ICA World Cooperative Monitor 2025.
- The rankings were given based on GDP per capita performance, according to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) World Cooperative Monitor 2025 at the ICA CM50 conference in Doha, Qatar.
- Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurates Co-op Kumbh 2025 in New Delhi.
- Co-op Kumbh 2025 is an International Conference on the Urban Cooperative Credit Sector.
- The two-day conference is being jointly organised by the National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies (NAFCUB) and the Ministry of Cooperation.
- The theme of the conference is Digitalising Dreams – Empowering Communities.
- Mr Shah said the aim should be to establish an Urban Cooperative Bank in every town with a population of more than two lakh within five years.
- Tribhuvan Cooperative University has been established to connect the younger generation with cooperatives and also to prepare professionals for the cooperative sector.
- The Government of India has made model bylaws for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies PACS and these have been adopted by every state.
- Sahakar DigiPay and Sahakar DigiLoan Apps, which have been launched, will enable even the smallest urban cooperative societies to join the new era of digital payments.
Runway Gen-4.5 Beats OpenAI Sora 2 and Google Veo 3 in Text-to-Video Benchmark
Key Updates:
- Runway Gen-4.5 secured an Elo score of 1247, ahead of Google Veo 3 (1226) and OpenAI Sora 2 Pro (1206).
- The model delivers ‘unprecedented physical accuracy’ and visual precision, generating realistically moving objects and accurate dynamics for flowing liquid.
- Gen-4.5 handles styles from cinematic to photorealistic animation while maintaining the speed and efficiency of Gen-4.
- Built in collaboration with Nvidia, training and inference run on Blackwell and Hopper GPUs.
- The model is available across all subscription plans for creators and companies.
Similar / Past Coverage
- OpenAI has introduced a new benchmark evaluation, known as IndQA, designed to test a model’s linguistic ability and its grasp of Indian cultural context across domains.
- The IndQA benchmark test comprises 2,278 questions across 12 languages and 10 cultural domains, compiled in partnership with 261 experts from across India, as announced by OpenAI on Monday, November 3.
- The questions span various topics such as Architecture & Design, Arts & Culture, Everyday Life, Food & Cuisine, History, Law & Ethics, Literature & Linguistics, Media & Entertainment, Religion & Spirituality, and Sports & Recreation.
- Questions are written natively in Bengali, English, Hindi, Hinglish, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Telugu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Tamil, with Hinglish specifically added due to the prevalence of code-switching in conversations.
- As part of the benchmark test, AI models are asked questions in the form of a culturally grounded prompt in an Indian language, each accompanied by an English translation for auditability and an ideal answer.
- The model’s response is graded against criteria written by domain experts for that specific question, using a rubric-based approach where each criterion is given a weighted point value.
- IndQA has not been designed as an LLM leaderboard that ranks models based on their scores; instead, scores are meant to measure improvement over time within a model family or configuration.
- Technology: open-source Artificial General Intelligence network that lets agents, models and data sources collaborate in real time (“Sentient brings together the largest open collection of AI agents, models, and data sources”).
- Scale: platform already integrates 40+ AI agents and 50+ data sources (“40+ AI agents, models, and 50+ data sources collaborate in real time”).
- Access: released to 2 million wait-listed users via Sentient Chat interface (“accessible through Sentient Chat, which opens to its 2 million waitlisted users today”).
- Use-cases: generates outputs such as comprehensive investment reports, personalised news briefings, travel plans and research summaries (“From generating comprehensive financial asset reports … producing detailed research summaries”).
- Positioning: aims to compete with OpenAI and AWS by offering an open, collaborative alternative (“compete directly with players such as OpenAI and AWS”).
- Technology: ChatGPT Atlas browser integrates an "Ask ChatGPT" sidebar that activates on every website visited
- Functionality: Browser can perform tasks such as booking flights and editing documents on behalf of the user
- User interaction: Users can ask ChatGPT to summarize content (e.g., movie reviews) or help order recipe ingredients online
- Developer: OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is entering the browser market to challenge Alphabet Inc.'s Google
- OpenAI has come to terms on a massive 7-year, $38 billion deal with Amazon Web Services.
- The deal is to secure cloud computing capabilities needed to power its suite of advanced AI tools such as ChatGPT and Sora.
- OpenAI will gain access to hundreds of thousands of Nvidia chips housed in Amazon’s global data centers.
- Full capacity from the agreement is slated to come online by the end of 2026, with expansion continuing through 2027 and beyond.
- OpenAI will use Amazon’s UltraServer clusters — racks of Nvidia GB200 and GB300 processors — to train and run its models, process ChatGPT queries, and expand its “agentic AI” systems.
- The partnership marks the first time OpenAI has turned to Amazon for infrastructure, breaking years of exclusive reliance on Microsoft’s Azure cloud.
- OpenAI restructured its ownership to gain more freedom in financing and operations, which removed Microsoft’s right of first refusal to supply cloud services.
- OpenAI has now committed nearly $600 billion in new cloud contracts across Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, and Google to solve “severe computing shortages”.
US Business News Staff Highlights Record Surge in Inherited Billionaires
Key Updates:
- Over the past year, 91 heirs collectively received $298 billion in wealth transfers, marking the largest surge since records began in 2015.
- The $298 billion transferred in 2025 represents a more than 30% increase from the previous year.
- Nearly 200 individuals joined the billionaire ranks through entrepreneurial efforts in the past year, collectively adding over $380 billion in wealth.
- Billionaires collectively now hold $15.8 trillion in wealth, which exceeds the combined GDP of several major economies.
- An estimated $5.9 trillion is expected to be transferred within billionaire families over the next 15 years.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Larry Page is the world's second-richest person with an estimated net worth of $264.9 billion.
- Sergey Brin is the world's fourth-richest person with an estimated net worth of $245.6 billion.
- Elon Musk holds the top rank with a net worth of $476.4 billion.
- Larry Ellison is ranked third with a net worth of $247.4 billion.
- Jeff Bezos is ranked fifth with a net worth of $241.5 billion.
- Alphabet's market capitalization is nearing $4 trillion.
- Alphabet breached the $3 trillion market capitalization threshold in September.
- Sergey Brin donated $700 million earlier this year.
- Sergey Brin gave away $615 million and $600 million in 2023.
- IFSCA Chairperson K Rajaraman states an expert committee is examining how GIFT City can host IP in a better and attractive way.
- Rajaraman notes that worldwide earnings on IP in terms of royalty and dividends in 2023 was around $501 billion and India’s share was 0.5 percent.
- Goutam Bhattacharya highlights that GIFT IFSC can offer a single-window advisory for patent, trademark, design, and copyright registration.
- Ankit Sahni emphasises that GIFT IFSC can enable IP-backed financing, cross-border technology licensing, royalty securitisation, and global dispute resolution.
- Ellison's wealth surged to $393bn (£290bn) on Wednesday morning, surpassing Musk's $385bn (£284bn), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
- The jump came after shares in Oracle, which make up a significant part of Ellison's fortune, soared more than 40%.
- The company projected as part of its quarterly earnings report on Tuesday that revenue from its cloud business will jump 77% this year, to $18bn, with further growth expected in the coming years.
- Oracle signed four multibillion-dollar contracts with customers in the last quarter and anticipates several more deals in the months ahead, chief executive Safra Catz said on Tuesday.
- Elon Musk could receive a pay package worth over $1tn (£740bn) if he hits a list of ambitious targets over the next decade, the board of the electric car firm has proposed.
- Ellison funded the bulk of a $8bn bid by his son to acquire Paramount, which owns CBS and MTV.
- Maharashtra has 1,78,600 millionaire households, a 194 per cent increase since 2021.
- Mumbai alone accounts for 1,42,000 millionaire households and is titled the "Millionaire Capital" of India.
- India now has 8,71,700 millionaire households, defined as those with a net worth of INR 8.5 crore or more, a 90 per cent rise compared to 2021.
- The top 10 states account for over 79 per cent of all millionaire households in India.
- Delhi ranks second with 79,800 millionaire households, followed by Tamil Nadu at 72,600 and Karnataka at 68,800.
Sunil Narine becomes first cricketer to take 600 T20 wickets
Key Updates:
- Sunil Narine became the first bowler to claim 600 wickets in competitive T20 cricket.
- He achieved this milestone during a World ILT20 game for his franchise Abu Dhabi Knight Riders against Sharjah Warriorz.
- Narine reached the landmark by claiming the wicket of Tom Abell.
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders presented Narine with a special edition jersey featuring the number 600 to commemorate his unprecedented feat.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Virat Kohli recorded his 52nd ODI century against South Africa.
- The match was held at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi.
- Virat Kohli achieved 52 centuries in a single international format, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's 51 Test centuries.
- Virat Kohli now holds the record for most ODI centuries ever with 52.
- Virat Kohli scored his 25th ODI century at home, the first player to reach this milestone.
- Virat Kohli recorded his 6th ODI century against South Africa, the most by any batter, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's 5.
- Virat Kohli hit 218 sixes at number three across formats, surpassing Ricky Ponting's 217.
- Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma shared a 136-run century partnership, their 20th in ODIs.
- Virat Kohli became the batter with the most fifties (59) in ODIs in India, overtaking Sachin Tendulkar.
- Rohit Sharma became the player with the most sixes in ODI cricket with 352 sixes, surpassing Shahid Afridi's 351.
- Rohit Sharma achieved the record in the first ODI against South Africa.
- Rohit Sharma hit the record-breaking 352nd six in the 20th over of India's innings.
- Rohit Sharma reached the record in exactly 100 innings less than Shahid Afridi.
- Rohit Sharma scored 57 off 51 balls in the match.
- Batters with most sixes: Rohit Sharma (India) 352, Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) 351, Chris Gayle (West Indies) 331, Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) 270, MS Dhoni (India) 229.
- Ayush Mhatre became the youngest man to score a hundred across all three formats – First-class, List A, and T20, at 18 years and 135 days.
- He surpassed Rohit Sharma, who had scored a First-Class, List A and T20 century by the age of 19 years and 339 days.
- Ayush Mhatre scored an unbeaten 110*(53) for Mumbai against Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) in Lucknow.
- Mumbai won the SMAT match by seven wickets and 13 balls to spare, chasing a 193-run target.
- Ayush Mhatre broke the List A world record as the youngest-ever centurion in the format, aged 17 years and 168 days, scoring 181 against Nagaland.
- He is likely to lead India at the upcoming U-19 World Cup in January 2026.
- Mhatre will be leading India Under-19 at the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai from December 12.
- He made his T20 debut in the IPL 2025 season for the Chennai Super Kings.
- Arshdeep Singh reached 100 T20I wickets in India’s Asia Cup clash against Oman.
- The milestone wicket was that of Vinayak Shukla in the last over of Oman’s 189-run chase.
- His career figures now stand at 100 wickets in 64 matches since his 2022 debut.
India considers S-500 air defence system during Russian President Putin's visit on December 3, 2025
Key Updates:
- The Russian-made S-400 air defence system brought Pakistan to its knees during India's Operation Sindoor earlier this year, shooting down at least six enemy aircraft.
- The IAF called the S-400, a surface-to-air missile system, the 'game-changer' during the three-day hostilities.
- India is eyeing the S-500 Prometheus air shield, described as the S-400's 'bigger, stronger, and smarter brother'.
- Discussions on procuring the advanced S-500 missile defence shield during Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit are very much on the table.
- India is considering the S-500 due to newer threats emerging from both China and Pakistan, which has been on a warmongering spree under army chief Asim Munir.
- The S-500 is manufactured by Russia's Almaz-Antey.
- It is engineered to specifically neutralise advanced ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles, as well as hypersonic cruise missiles.
- The S-500's ability to engage certain low-orbit satellites or space-launched threats sets it completely apart.
- While the S-400 can shoot down targets up to 400 km away, the S-500 can reach up to 600 km.
- The S-500 can simultaneously counter up to 10 ballistic supersonic terminal ICBM warheads flying at jet speed.
- The S-500 can engage targets at an altitude of 200 km, almost at the edge of space, compared to the S-400's 30 km.
- The system relies on upgraded 40N6M missiles, which are capable of exo-atmospheric interception, shooting down targets more than 100 km above the Earth.
- The S-500 also uses 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 missiles, which have a 'hit-to-kill' approach, destroying incoming threats by ramming straight into them.
- A new generation of radars built on Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology backs these missiles, offering longer range, quicker tracking, and far better jamming resistance than those in the S-400.
- One S-500 air shield unit can include up to a dozen launchers, along with command posts and three high-performance radars.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Southern Command of the Indian Army successfully carried out a long range precision launch of the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile from a test range in the Bay of Bengal.
- The launch was executed in a coordinated mission involving a BrahMos unit of the Southern Command and elements of the Tri-Services Andaman and Nicobar Command.
- BrahMos Aerospace, which has designed and developed the missile, is a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM).
- BrahMos is an amalgamation of the names of Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
- The first successful test of the missile was conducted on June 12, 2001, from the specially designed land based launcher at the Integrated Test Range off the Chandipur coast of Odisha.
- BrahMos saw first induction into the Indian Navy in 2005, into the Indian Army in 2007 and first successful flight from Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter in 2017.
- The achievement is a testament to India’s commitment to self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- India will soon induct its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman.
- INS Arighaat, the second SSBN, was commissioned into the Strategic Forces Command in Visakhapatnam in August.
- Once INS Aridhaman enters service, India will have three operational ballistic missile submarines at sea for the first time.
- INS Aridhaman is undergoing advanced trials.
- INS Aridhaman is designed to carry more long-range nuclear-tipped missiles than predecessors INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.
- A fourth SSBN is currently under construction.
- Upcoming submarines have the capacity to load additional K-4 missiles due to their larger build.
- The four platforms are part of the classified Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project launched in the 1990s with an outlay of over ₹90,000 crore.
- China operates six Jin-class SSBNs equipped with JL-3 missiles (10,000-km range) and six SSNs.
- The US has 14 Ohio-class SSBNs and 53 nuclear attack submarines.
- Mission Sudarshan Chakra announced by PM Modi as national programme to develop multi-layered integrated air and missile defense shield covering strategic and civilian sites by 2035
- Programme to integrate cyber defense and counter-strike weapons; existing systems include Indo-Israeli Barak-8, Russian S-400, DRDO’s Project Kusha long-range interceptor and IADWS short-range laser/missile system
- Analysts expect emphasis on indigenous solutions; DRDO developing 150–400 km range Kusha interceptors and new Ballistic Missile Defence system alongside Prithvi/Ashiwin BMD and ASAT weapons
- Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR-2025) is a 15-year blueprint for military preparedness focused on nuclear deterrence and drone warfare capabilities.
- Army requirement cited for stealth remotely piloted aircraft with ranges up to 1,500 km and operational altitude of 60,000 feet.
- Loitering munitions with AI-enabled targeting and reusable warhead systems are specified as key future assets.
- Adaptive jamming systems and electronic denial bubbles of 15 km radius are planned to counter hostile drone swarms.
- Unmanned ground vehicles for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) reconnaissance are included to strengthen nuclear fallout protection.
Russia ratifies RELOS pact with India ahead of Putin's December 4 visit
Key Updates:
- 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.
Similar / Past Coverage
- 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.
- India has opened two new consulates in Russia, in Yekaterinburg and Kazan.
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar inaugurated these new offices.
- The move aims to significantly enhance trade, tourism, and economic, scientific, technological, academic, and cultural connections between India and Russia.
- Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar were also present at the function held to mark the opening.
- Yekaterinburg is known for its heavy engineering, gem cutting, defence manufacturing, metallurgy, nuclear fuel, chemicals and medical equipment.
- Kazan hosted the 2024 BRICS summit and is well known for its oil production and refining, for fertilisers, automobiles, defence manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.
- The consulates will contribute to joint efforts in increasing bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.
- India and Russia set a target of USD 100 billion in annual trade volume by 2030 and vowed to develop a robust bilateral payment settlement mechanism using national currencies.
- There is a sizeable and diverse Indian diaspora in Russia, which includes more than 30,000 Indian students today.
- At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin will pay a State visit to India from December 4 to 5 for the 23rd India-Russia annual summit.
- India is looking at procuring additional batches of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia as the weapons proved to be very effective during the Operation Sindoor.
- In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems.
- Three squadrons have already been delivered and the remaining two are expected to be sent by the middle of next year.
- There is a possibility that India may hold talks on buying at least two squadrons of the Su-57 fighter jets.
- Russia has offered India additional discounts for its procurement of crude oil after the latest wave of US sanctions on two Russian oil producers.
- India and Canada have agreed to formally resume talks on an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
- India aims to increase bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030, while Canada sets a target of $70 billion by the same year.
- In 2024, the India-Canada bilateral trade in goods and services was around $22.6 billion.
- The difference in trade targets reflects a bullish estimate of the Indian market’s potential by Canadian businesses.
- Canada and India launched talks 15 years ago for such a trade deal, but it was downgraded to a sectoral deal.
- India and Canada have been taking steady steps to mend a relationship that was in tatters for around two years.
- In late 2023, Ottawa suspended trade talks after allegations regarding the killing of a Canada-based Khalistan separatist, a charge India rejected.
- Both countries began rebuilding their relationship after the change of guard in Ottawa in March.
- Canadian Prime Minister Carney accepted Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to visit India in early 2026.
- Indian envoy Dinesh Patnaik stated that both countries need a relationship where they discuss how people can be safe on the streets.
- Patnaik also said India would take actions if evidence is presented in court that substantiates Canada’s allegations, adding India does not have evidence at this time.
- The leaders agreed to enhance diplomatic staffing levels following the return of high commissioners in August 2025.
- Prime Minister Carney welcomed the progress being made in the law enforcement dialogue between the two countries.
- Both sides reaffirmed their longstanding civil nuclear cooperation and noted ongoing discussions on expanding collaboration, including through long-term uranium supply arrangements.
- The two-way engagement assumes significance at a time when India-US ties have dipped over tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration, and Canada has also faced US tariffs.
Fitch Ratings raises India FY26 GDP growth forecast to 7.4% from 6.9%.
Key Updates:
- Fitch Ratings raised India’s FY26 GDP growth forecast to 7.4% from 6.9%.
- GDP growth is expected to slow to 6.4% in FY27.
- India’s GDP growth hit a six-quarter high of 8.2% in Q2FY26.
- Fitch projects the Indian rupee to strengthen to 87 per dollar by end-2026 from 88.5 projected for end-2025.
- Retail inflation fell to a record low of 0.25% in October.
- Fitch expects the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to cut the policy rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% in December.
- The RBI has already cut rates by 100 basis points in 2025 so far.
- Fitch sees the RBI holding the policy rate at 5.25% over the next two years.
- India faces an effective tariff rate of around 35% on exports to the US.
- GST reforms effective September 22 shifted to a two-rate structure of 5% and 18%, lowering tax rates on about 375 items.
- Private investment is projected to pick up in the second half of 2026-27 as financial conditions loosen.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) keeps India’s FY26 GDP growth forecast unchanged at 6.7%.
- India’s Q2FY26 GDP growth hit a six-quarter high of 8.2%.
- OECD projects India’s growth at 6.2% for FY27 and 6.4% the following fiscal year.
- Higher US tariffs—50% including a 25% penalty on Russian oil imports—are expected to cut FY26 export growth by 0.4 percentage points and FY27 by 0.3 percentage points.
- GST reform launch in September 2025 could add 0.1 percentage point to growth.
- Retail inflation dropped to a record-low 0.25% in October.
- OECD sees scope for RBI policy rate to decline toward 5% by FY2026–27 if inflation stays within target.
- India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) has projected India’s GDP to expand by 7.2% in the second quarter (July–September) of FY26.
- The Indian economy recorded a 5.6% growth in Q2 of FY25 and 7.8% growth in the April–June quarter of the current fiscal.
- The National Statistical Office (NSO) is scheduled to release the official GDP numbers for Q2 FY26 on November 28.
- Ind-Ra identified private consumption as a leading growth driver from the demand side and the resilient services sector along with favourable base-led goods exports growth in manufacturing as supply-side drivers for Q2 FY26.
- Retail inflation has eased faster than anticipated by both Ind-Ra and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- Ind-Ra estimates private consumption to have grown 8% year-on-year in Q2 FY26, compared to 7% in Q1 and 6.4% in Q2 FY25.
- The agency stated that investment demand grew 7.5% year-on-year during Q2 FY26.
- Ind-Ra cautioned that nominal GDP growth may have dipped below 8% year-on-year in Q2 FY26.
- Fitch Ratings raised India’s FY26 real GDP growth forecast to 6.9% from 6.5%.
- India’s real GDP grew 7.8% in the April–June quarter, up from 7.4% in the previous quarter.
- Retail inflation hit a low of 1.6% in July, the lowest level since June 2017.
- Core inflation eased below 4% for the first time in six months.
- Fitch expects the RBI to cut policy rates by 25 basis points later this year and keep them steady through 2026.
- ICRA has upgraded its GDP growth forecast to 6.5% from 6% for FY26.
- GST on 99% of goods has been slashed from 12% to 5%.
- GST on oil and gas exploration has been increased from 12% to 18%.
- ICRA expects the Reserve Bank of India to retain its growth forecast of 6.5% for the country’s full fiscal year GDP.
- ICRA expects lower GST to benefit renewable, FMCG, healthcare, consumer electronics, and automobiles industry.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cuts repo rate and injects durable liquidity through OMO and dollar-rupee sell swap.
Key Updates:
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced a 25 basis points repo rate cut.
- RBI will conduct Open Market Operation (OMO) purchases of government securities worth Rs 1 trillion.
- RBI announced a three-year dollar-rupee buy/sell swap of $5 billion to inject durable liquidity into the financial system.
- The dollar-rupee sell swap is a foreign exchange transaction where banks sell US Dollars to RBI in return for Indian Rupee.
- The combined measures aim to ensure adequate, durable liquidity and facilitate monetary transmission.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received 13,34,244 complaints under RB-IOS in FY25, up 13.55% from 11,75,075 previous year.
- Loans and Advances accounted for 29.25% of total complaints.
- Credit Cards contributed 17.15% of complaints, up 20.04% year-on-year.
- Mobile and electronic banking complaints stood at 16.86%, down 12.74%.
- Deposit Accounts made up 16.84% of complaints.
- ATM/debit cards accounted for 6.10% of complaints.
- Top five categories constituted 86.20% of all complaints.
- 91.22% of complaints lodged through online modes such as CMS and email.
- RBI Contact Centre handled 9.27 lakh calls, up 28.89%.
- Metropolitan regions contributed 45.86% of complaints.
- Rural areas accounted for 10.04% of complaints.
- RB-IOS launched on November 12, 2021.
- India's long-term sovereign credit rating has been upgraded by Japan's Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) from 'BBB' to 'BBB+', while the Outlook remains Stable.
- This marks the third sovereign rating upgrade for India in 2025.
- Earlier, S&P raised India's rating from 'BBB-' to 'BBB' in August, and Morningstar DBRS upgraded from 'BBB (low)' to 'BBB' in May.
- According to the R&I rating review, the upgrade reflects India's status as one of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies, supported by its strong demographic dividend, robust domestic demand and prudent government policies.
- R&I also noted that fiscal consolidation has progressed, driven by buoyant tax revenues, rationalised subsidies, high growth rates and a manageable level of debt.
- The agency assessed risks in the financial system as limited.
- The government policies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi were also praised. These include efforts to attract foreign manufacturers, infrastructure development, strengthening of legal and institutional frameworks for business, reduced dependence on energy imports, and ensuring economic security.
- RBI’s seventh amendment to FEMA Regulations on Foreign Currency Accounts: Strengthening IFSC integration and export flexibility
- Evolving jurisprudence in IBC: Analysis of Supreme Court’s review judgment in Bhushan Power and Steel resolution process
- SEBI’s Adani order: Due process and the boundaries of retrospective law
- Subsidized rate of GST for plant-based milk beverages: A dispute in the brewing
- The clean slate doctrine under IBC: Extinguishing claims and ensuring certainty in insolvency resolution
- The government reduced the number of public sector banks from 27 in 2017 to 12 by 2020 through mergers.
- RBI has removed restrictions on bank financing of acquisitions to stimulate private investment.
- RBI has raised the caps on loans against IPO subscriptions to promote market participation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin receives ceremonial welcome and Tri-Services Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Key Updates:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- Putin inspected the Guard of Honour following the ceremonial welcome, with the Russian and Indian national anthems being played.
- The Russian President is on a two-day State visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Prime Minister Modi broke protocol to greet Putin on the tarmac at Palam Airport, sharing a car ride to the Prime Minister’s residence.
- Putin was gifted a copy of the sacred Bhagwad Gita during his visit.
- The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit will be held between Putin and PM Modi during the visit.
- Putin will attend an India-Russia business forum, launch the RT channel in India, and attend a banquet hosted by President Murmu.
Similar / Past Coverage
- 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.
- Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay, along with his spouse Aum Tashi Doma, will be on an official visit to India.
- The visit is scheduled from September 3 to 6.
- The visit will include programmes in Gaya and Ayodhya before their arrival in Delhi.
- During the stay in the national capital, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will call on the visiting dignitary.
- This visit follows Tobgay's earlier official trip to India from February 20-21.
- During his earlier visit, he participated in the inaugural Leadership Conclave of the School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL), which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The back-to-back visits underscore the continuing close cooperation and strengthened ties between India and Bhutan.
- A bust of B R Ambedkar was unveiled at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on the occasion of Constitution Day.
- The bust was unveiled by Vishal V Sharma, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, in the presence of UNESCO Director General Khaled El-Enany.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the unveiling as a 'fitting tribute' to the architect of India’s Constitution.
- The statue carries a plaque with Ambedkar’s name and a caption that says, 'Architect of the Indian Constitution, 70 Years (1950-2025) of the Indian Constitution'.
- The programme is for the birth centenary celebration of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
- A biography of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, translated into all the languages of India, will be inaugurated.
- The Reserve Bank of India has prepared a coin with the picture of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, which the Prime Minister will launch.
- More than 1200 artists will together sing 14 songs of Dr Bhupen Hazarika for 18 minutes during the programme.
Passport Verification Record on DigiLocker enables secure digital access and sharing
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has made Passport Verification Record (PVR) available on DigiLocker to reduce reliance on physical records.
- Upon successful verification, citizens can fetch their PVR in the 'Issued Documents' section of their DigiLocker account.
- PVRs on DigiLocker are secure, tamper-proof, and digitally verifiable, allowing instant, consent-based sharing with authorised agencies without physical submissions.
Similar / Past Coverage
- ICAI has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Army Purchase Organisation (APO), Directorate General of Supply and Transport (DGST), Indian Army to enable real-time verification of Unique Document Identification Numbers (UDINs).
- The verification will be carried out through an application programming interface integrated within the vendor registration process of the Army Purchase Organisation.
- The API integration aims to automate verification of Chartered Accountant-certified documents submitted by vendors, ensuring document authenticity, minimising manual errors, and mitigating fraud risk.
- **Initiative/Integration:** Integration of eDistrict Services, HIMParivar, and HimAccess Cards on the DigiLocker platform.
- **Implementing Body/State:** Department of Digital Technologies and Governance (DDT&G) of Himachal Pradesh.
- **Key Feature/Scope:** Integration of 51 eDistrict Services, HIMParivar, and HimAccess Cards on DigiLocker.
- **Main Objective:** To enhance digital governance and facilitate seamless access to government services for citizens.
- Fintech platform PhonePe, in collaboration with SIDBI, launched digital-first Udyam generation through the Udyam Assist Platform (UAP).
- The initiative aims to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by accelerating formalisation and providing informal micro enterprises (IMEs) with a formal business identity.
- The Udyam Assist Platform (UAP) was developed and implemented by SIDBI as part of the Ministry of MSME’s formalisation project.
- Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Jitan Ram Manjhi, was present at the launch.
- The Udyam Assist Platform has enabled the issue of Udyam Assist Certificates to more than 2.75 crore small businesses over a period of more than 2 years.
- India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a 100% government-owned entity under the Department of Posts, has signed an MoU with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
- The partnership aims to provide doorstep digital life certificate services to pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995.
- IPPB will use its network of around 1.65 lakh post offices and over 3 lakh postal service providers equipped with doorstep banking devices.
- Pensioners will be able to submit their digital life certificates from home through face authentication or fingerprint biometric verification.
- The service will be free for pensioners as the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation will bear the entire cost.
- The agreement was exchanged between IPPB MD & CEO R Viswesvaran and EPFO central provident fund commissioner Ramesh Krishnamurthi.
Luana Lopes Lara Crowned World's Youngest Self-Made Female Billionaire
Key Updates:
- Luana Lopes Lara was officially crowned the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire.
- She is the co-founder of Kalshi, a federally regulated prediction market platform.
- Kalshi achieved a valuation of $11 billion.
- She holds an estimated 12% stake in Kalshi.
- Kalshi received approval from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), becoming the first federally regulated prediction market platform in the country.
- A judge ruled in Kalshi’s favor, granting the platform the legal right to offer election prediction markets.
- She trained as a professional ballerina at the Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil.
- She studied computer science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Similar / Past Coverage
- Every year on November 19 , the global observance known as Women’s Entrepreneurship Day honors the vision, creativity, and achievements of women who launch and lead businesses, innovate, and drive economic and social change.
- Founded in 2014 by Wendy Diamond through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), the day seeks to spotlight the contributions of female entrepreneurs worldwide, support their journeys, and help remove barriers they face.
- The idea emerged as a response to the fact that although women perform a large share of work globally, they often have less access to economic opportunities, leadership roles, and capital.
- Wendy Diamond launched the inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in November 2014, with events held in 144 nations on that first year.
- Over time the day has grown into a movement supported by events, awards (such as the WEDO Pioneer Awards), and advocacy for policies, funding, and networks that help women-owned businesses thrive.
- Celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship Day matters because empowering women entrepreneurs has far-reaching benefits—not only for the individuals themselves, but also for economies, communities, and innovation.
- It also draws attention to ongoing barriers such as unequal access to finance, fewer mentorship opportunities, social norms, and digital divides—highlighting the need for action and systemic change.
- Larry Page is the world's second-richest person with an estimated net worth of $264.9 billion.
- Sergey Brin is the world's fourth-richest person with an estimated net worth of $245.6 billion.
- Elon Musk holds the top rank with a net worth of $476.4 billion.
- Larry Ellison is ranked third with a net worth of $247.4 billion.
- Jeff Bezos is ranked fifth with a net worth of $241.5 billion.
- Alphabet's market capitalization is nearing $4 trillion.
- Alphabet breached the $3 trillion market capitalization threshold in September.
- Sergey Brin donated $700 million earlier this year.
- Sergey Brin gave away $615 million and $600 million in 2023.
- Larry Page is Google’s cofounder.
- He became the third richest person in the world, overtaking Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
- His net worth jumped after the launch of Google’s new AI model, Gemini 3.
- Page owns about 6% of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.
- After the stock surge settled, Page’s wealth is now $249 billion.
- India’s most generous individuals have collectively donated ₹10,380 crore in 2025, according to the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025, which features 191 philanthropists, including 12 new entrants.
- Shiv Nadar & family, founder of HCL Technologies, stands at the top with an annual donation of ₹2,708 crore, retaining his title of India’s Most Generous for the fourth time in five years.
- The top 10 philanthropists on the list collectively donated ₹5,834 crore, a 26% increase from last year, representing 56% of total donations.
- Mukesh Ambani and family secured the second spot with an annual donation of ₹626 crore, reflecting a 54% year-on-year increase.
- Gautam Adani and family, in fifth position, donated ₹386 crore through the Adani Foundation, reflecting a 17% increase from last year.
- Rohini Nilekani emerged as the most generous woman philanthropist on the list, ranking eighth with donations worth ₹204 crore.
- Education remains the most supported cause, with 107 philanthropists contributing a cumulative ₹4,166 crore towards educational initiatives.
- The number of individuals donating over ₹100 crore annually has grown from just two in 2018 to 18 this year.
- Based on the city of residence, Mumbai leads with 28% of philanthropists, followed by New Delhi at 17% and Bengaluru at eight percent.
- Reliance Industries contributed ₹1,309 crore towards CSR, exceeding its mandated spend by ₹261 crore.
Victoria University lays foundation for its first India campus in Delhi NCR
Key Updates:
- Victoria University (VU) has laid the foundation for its Delhi-NCR campus in Gurugram, Haryana.
- This will be India's first international campus to teach entirely through VU's Block Model.
- VU was among the first Australian universities granted a licence by the Indian Government to establish a comprehensive campus in India under the new National Education Policy (NEP).
- The campus is expected to open by mid-2026, launching with undergraduate and postgraduate programs in business, information technology, and research.
- The VU Block Model is an award-winning learning model where students study one subject at a time across four-week blocks in small, workshop-style classes.
- VU is the first Australian university to introduce the Block Model and remains the largest university to do so.
- The foundation laying ceremony was attended by the Hon Julian Hill, Federal Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, VU Chancellor the Hon Steve Bracks, and VU Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, Skill Development, and Innovation inaugurated by Union Minister Jitendra Singh at Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun
- Facility houses Uttarakhand's first NVIDIA AI and High-Performance Computing unit with NVIDIA DGX B200 system, 8 GPUs and 1.74 TB GPU memory
- Includes Apple iOS Development Centre established in collaboration with Apple and Infosys
- Built at cost of over Rs 10 crore across 1.5 lakh sq. ft. to support research in healthcare, agriculture, environment, smart cities and advanced industries
- Graphic Era University is India's first Generative AI Ready Campus powered by AWS and ranked 48th in NIRF 2025
- The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad has launched its first-ever international campus at Dubai International Academic City.
- The IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus has introduced a one-year full-time MBA programme for global professionals and entrepreneurs.
- The first cohort of the IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus comprises 35 students.
- The IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus will set up two centres of excellence in its first year: one focusing on case writing and development, and the other on start-up incubation.
- The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi inaugurated its first international campus in Abu Dhabi on September 3.
- The IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus offers programs in energy engineering and computer science.
- The inaugural batch of IIT Delhi's Abu Dhabi campus included 52 students enrolled in BTech programs in Computer Science and Engineering and Energy Engineering.
- IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus inaugurated by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, described as "another big leap towards globalisation of India’s education"
- First-ever overseas Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) inaugurated at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus to nurture Indo-UAE start-ups in deep tech, AI, clean energy, healthcare
- Bilateral meeting between Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and UAE Acting Minister of Higher Education Dr Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar agreed to deepen cooperation in knowledge, innovation and scientific research
- The Indian Navy will commission its new support base INS Aravali.
- INS Aravali will be commissioned in Gurugram.
- The base has been established to bolster command, control and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) operations.
- Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, will preside over the commissioning ceremony.
- INS Aravali will function under the guiding motto ‘सामुद्रिकसुरक्षायाः सहयोगं’ or ‘ Maritime Security through Collaboration’.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cuts repo rate by 25 basis points
Key Updates:
- 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.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the launch of the next round of three key surveys.
- The November 2025 round of Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH) aims at capturing subjective assessments on price movements and inflation across 19 cities.
- The Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS) seeks qualitative responses from households regarding their sentiments and is conducted regularly in 19 cities.
- The Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS) collects perceptions and expectations from households residing in rural and semi-urban areas across 31 states and UTs.
- The RBI stated that the results of the surveys provide useful inputs for monetary policy.
- The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is scheduled to meet for three days beginning December 3.
- India’s economy gathered further pace in October.
- Demand conditions exhibited signs of improvement with the revival of urban demand and continued strength in rural demand.
- Manufacturing and services activity showed further resilience.
- Digital payments moderated in both value and volume in October 2025.
- Headline inflation plunged to its lowest level in the current CPI series (2012 base year).
- Retail inflation fell to 0.3 per cent in October from 1.4 per cent in September.
- Fuel and light inflation remained steady at 2.0 per cent in October.
- Core inflation moderated to 4.3 per cent in October from 4.4 per cent in September.
- The core basket, excluding precious metals, posted a 0.1 per cent month-on-month decline.
- Macroeconomic policy measures undertaken in 2025 are expected to reinforce a positive investment cycle and strengthen long-term growth.
- Inflation moderated to a historic low and remained well below the target rate.
- International uncertainty remains elevated.
- S&P Global Ratings kept its projection for India’s economic expansion at 6.5 per cent in the current fiscal year.
- S&P Global Ratings forecast India’s GDP will grow by 6.7 per cent in fiscal 2027.
- Recent tax cuts and monetary policy easing are set to support consumption-led growth in India.
- India’s real gross domestic product grew 7.8 per cent in the April to June quarter of the current fiscal year.
- A poll by ET of 12 economists shows expectations that India’s economic growth likely quickened to 7.3 per cent in the second quarter.
- The RBI has pegged growth for the September quarter at 7 per cent.
- The Reserve Bank of India has projected growth of 6.8 per cent in the current fiscal.
- If India can secure a trade agreement with the United States, it would reduce uncertainty and lift confidence.
- Lowered goods and service tax (GST) rates will support middle-class consumption and complement income tax cuts and interest rate reductions.
- The Government in the Budget for 2025-26 raised the income tax rebate threshold to ₹12 lakh from ₹7 lakh.
- The RBI in June cut its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 5.5 per cent.
- GST rates on about 375 items were reduced from September 22.
- The higher effective US tariff on India is weighing on export-oriented manufacturing.
- The US’s new approach to trade policy is causing governments and firms to spend time and money on negotiating for exemptions.
- RBI’s seventh amendment to FEMA Regulations on Foreign Currency Accounts: Strengthening IFSC integration and export flexibility
- Evolving jurisprudence in IBC: Analysis of Supreme Court’s review judgment in Bhushan Power and Steel resolution process
- SEBI’s Adani order: Due process and the boundaries of retrospective law
- Subsidized rate of GST for plant-based milk beverages: A dispute in the brewing
- The clean slate doctrine under IBC: Extinguishing claims and ensuring certainty in insolvency resolution
Swaraj Kaushal passed away, former Mizoram Governor
Key Updates:
- Swaraj Kaushal, former Mizoram Governor and husband of the late Sushma Swaraj, passed away on December 4, 2025, at the age of 73.
- He was a senior advocate with a distinguished public and legal career.
- He was born on July 12, 1952, in Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
- He was appointed the Governor of Mizoram in 1990 at the age of 37.
- He is survived by his daughter, Bansuri Swaraj, who is a New Delhi Member of Parliament (MP).
- He was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after complaining of chest pain, where he was declared dead.
- He will be cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Mahantesh Bilagi, IAS, was the Managing Director of Karnataka State Minerals Corporation Ltd (KSMCL).
- He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayats and as District Collector in multiple districts.
- He died in a car crash near Gounahalli, Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, along with relatives Shankar Bilagi and Eranna Bilagi.
- S Abdul Nazeer, Governor of Andhra Pradesh, received an honorary doctorate from Karnataka State Law University (KSLU).
- The degree was conferred during KSLU’s 7th Convocation held at the Farmer’s Knowledge Centre, University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad, Karnataka.
- Karnataka Governor and KSLU Chancellor Thaawar Chand Gehlot presented the degree, with Law Minister and University Pro-Chancellor Dr H.K. Patil also present.
- H.Y. Meti, former Karnataka excise minister and senior Congress leader, passed away at 79.
- He was a five-time MLA and one-time Lok Sabha member.
- Meti was a prominent figure in North Karnataka politics.
- He was a sitting MLA from Bagalkot at the time of his passing.
- He had previously resigned from the cabinet in 2016 following a controversy.
- Ramdarash Mishra, Padma Shri awardee, died in Delhi due to age-related ailments
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his death as "a significant loss to Hindi and Bhojpuri literature"
- Mishra, 101, was celebrated for his enduring literary works and influential voice
Asim Munir appointed first Chief of Defence Forces
Key Updates:
- Field Marshal Asim Munir was formally appointed as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a period of five years.
- The newly created Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) role replaces the abolished office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
- General Sahir Shamshad Mirza was the last Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
- Field Marshal Asim Munir assumes a dual role, serving simultaneously as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
- Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff, received a two-year service extension.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Pakistan and Egypt agreed to deepen ties in economic, commercial, cultural and defence sectors after years of stagnant relationship.
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held discussions with Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, the dispute over the Iranian nuclear programme and ways to boost economic cooperation.
- Pakistan-Egypt Joint Ministerial Commission had not met since 2010.
- The two countries agreed to hold bilateral political consultations in the first quarter of 2026.
- Egypt offered to share experiences to tackle terrorism and stands in full solidarity with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
- Egypt aims to elevate bilateral relationship to the strategic level.
- Pakistan is heading for another round of constitutional amendments that, according to Lawyers and civil society, is yet another move to entrench the military and give more power to Pakistan’s COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir.
- The proposed amendment to Article 243, which remains officially undisclosed, is said to include provisions that would reshape the judiciary, centralise certain provincial powers, and potentially alter the constitutional framework governing the armed forces.
- The government had requested backing for a package that includes the creation of provincial constitutional courts, the restoration of executive magistrates, and new rules governing the transfer of judges.
- The draft also proposes removing the constitutional protection of provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and revising Article 243, which defines the command structure of the armed forces.
- A two-thirds parliamentary majority is needed for the 27th Amendment to pass.
- Article 243, the clause that keeps the military under civilian command, has been amended five times in Pakistan’s history.
- The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the inaugural session of the third edition of the Indian Army’s Seminar, ‘Chanakya Defence Dialogue-2025’, in New Delhi.
- The recent success of Operation Sindoor stands as a defining moment in our counter-terror and deterrence strategy.
- Our diplomacy, economy and armed forces together project an India that seeks peace, but is prepared to protect its borders and its citizens with strength and conviction.
- The Army is transforming itself through quantifiable deliverables under the Decade of Transformation.
- The President expressed confidence that these defence reforms will help in making India self-reliant.
- Shri Raj Kumar Arora, 1990-batch Indian Defence Accounts Service officer, has assumed charge as Financial Advisor (Defence Services) in the Ministry of Defence.
- Immediately prior, he served as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), the topmost post in the Defence Accounts Department.
- He will be the principal advisor to the Raksha Mantri on all financial matters related to the Army, Navy, Air Force, DRDO and other defence establishments.
Indian Railways commissions Kavach 4.0 on 738 Route km to boost safety on Delhi–Mumbai & Delhi–Howrah lines
Key Updates:
- 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.
Similar / Past Coverage
- 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.
- 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.
- Scheme Name: Doubling of Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat single railway line (177 km) approved by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs under PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
- Financial Outlay: ₹3,169 crore for rail doubling; ₹4,447.38 crore for 82.4 km 4-lane greenfield access-controlled Mokama-Munger highway on Hybrid Annuity Mode.
- Objective: Enhance multi-modal connectivity & logistic efficiency, reduce congestion, improve mobility and service reliability, stimulate local economies and generate employment.
- Coverage: Rail project spans Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal covering 5 districts and 3 Aspirational Districts (Banka, Godda, Dumka); highway section connects Mokama, Barahiya, Lakhisarai, Jamalpur, Munger to Bhagalpur.
- Key Features: Rail doubling to add 177 km network, facilitate 15 MTPA additional freight, cut 5 crore litres oil import and 24 crore kg CO₂; highway design speed 100 km/h reducing travel time to ~1.5 hours.
- Employment: Highway alone to generate 14.83 lakh direct and 18.46 lakh indirect man-days; rail project also expected to create jobs/self-employment.
- Strategic Importance: Provides rail connectivity to pilgrimage sites Deoghar (Baba Baidyanath Dham) & Tarapith; supports emerging industrial belts including ordnance factory corridor, locomotive workshop, food processing & textile hubs.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains.
- The new routes include Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow Junction–Saharanpur, Firozpur Cantt–Delhi, and Bengaluru–Ernakulam.
- These additions are expected to boost regional mobility, tourism, and trade, supporting economic growth and improving access to cultural and commercial centres.
- The Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express will save nearly 2 hours and 40 minutes compared to existing services.
- The Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express will cover the journey in about 7 hours and 45 minutes, reducing travel time by nearly an hour.
- The Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat Express will be the fastest train on this route, completing the journey in just 6 hours and 40 minutes.
- The Bengaluru–Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express will complete the journey in 8 hours and 40 minutes, cutting travel time by over 2 hours.
- The Banaras–Khajuraho route aims to create direct connectivity between Varanasi and Khajuraho, passing through Prayagraj and Chitrakoot.
- The Firozpur–Delhi service is expected to enhance trade and employment opportunities, boost tourism, and contribute to the socio-economic growth of border areas.
- The Bengaluru–Ernakulam route connects major IT, educational, and commercial hubs, promoting economic collaboration and tourism between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
Renuka Iyer, MD appointed as Chief Medical Officer of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
Key Updates:
- Renuka Iyer, MD has been appointed as the new Chief Medical Officer of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
- She previously served as Section Chief of Gastrointestinal Oncology and Medical Director for Medical Oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
- Dr. Iyer has served on the NCCN Guidelines Steering Committee and will now oversee clinical leadership for the NCCN Guidelines program.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Shantha Rangaswamy elected president of the Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA)
- Venkat Sundaram named secretary and Deepak Jain appointed treasurer of ICA
- Sudha Shah and Shubhangi Kulkarni nominated as ICA representatives to BCCI Apex Council and IPL Governing Council
- V Chamundeswara Nath (Chamundi) named male representative to BCCI Apex Council
- Parties: National Health Authority (NHA), Department of Health Research (DHR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) renewed the MoU signed in November 2019.
- Objective: "bolster evidence-based decision-making across the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)".
- New inclusion: "For the first time, the MoU’s scope will also include supporting the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)" by evaluating digital health interventions like EHRs, telemedicine, AI-driven diagnostics and health data exchanges through HTAIn.
- Key collaboration areas: Costing of healthcare services using National Costing Initiative data; institutionalizing Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs) to reduce practice variation; and conducting operational/implementation research on barriers in rural areas, fraud prevention and supply-chain issues.
- Praveer Ranjan, a 1993-batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre, was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
- Praveer Ranjan was presently working as Special DG, CISF before his appointment as DG.
- Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- Praveen Kumar was presently working as Special Director, IB before his appointment as DG.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved these proposals from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Both officers will take charge upon the retirement of the current chiefs on September 30.
- 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.
Uralchem JSC signs MoU with Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited, National Fertilizers Limited, and Indian Potash Limited to build major urea plant in Russia
Key Updates:
- Uralchem JSC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF), National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), and Indian Potash Limited (IPL) to establish a joint venture for constructing a urea plant in Russia.
- The planned urea plant is expected to have an annual production capacity of 1.8 to 2 million tonnes.
- The joint venture will be based on the supply of ammonia produced by Togliattiazot JSC, with the Indian companies providing financing for the project until its commercial operation begins.
- The signing ceremony took place in New Delhi, India.
- Uralchem Group’s key assets include Uralchem JSC, Uralkali PJSC, and TOAZ JSC, all based in Russia, with a combined production capacity of around 25 million tonnes.
Similar / Past Coverage
- 1 Bio has been established by the Telangana government through Telangana Lifesciences and Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
- The public-private partnership project saw the Telangana government facilitate an investment of Rs 150 crore in infrastructure, while Thermo Fisher Scientific contributed Rs 90 crore for the bioprocess design centre and its co-located customer experience centre.
- The 1 Bio hub is expected to attract another Rs 500 crore in private investment from its tenant companies and generate over 500 highly skilled jobs.
- These facilities will provide end-to-end process development and pilot scale validation, enabling startups and established companies to cut down on capital investment and accelerate development.
- Imports of sunflower oil from Russia have shot up twelvefold in the last four years, making it India’s largest supplier, displacing Ukraine.
- The share of Russian oil in India’s total sunflower oil imports was around 10% in 2021, which rose to 56% in 2024.
- India imported 2.09 million tonnes of sunflower oil from Russia in calendar 2024, up 12 times from about 175,000 tonnes in 2021.
- Less than 5% of the sunflower oil consumed in India is produced locally.
- India meets nearly 60% of its total cooking oil requirement through imports.
- Palm oil accounts for nearly 50% of the total cooking oil consumption, with soyabean and sunflower oils having the second and third largest share.
- Sunflower oil imports rose significantly as it became cheaper than palm oil for the first time ever during 2023 and 2024.
- Sunflower oil imports are expected to fall by about 13% this year due to a steep price rise.
- There is a premium of $150 per tonne on sunflower oil over the palm oil and soyabean oil.
- The share of Russia in sunflower oil imports is expected to remain around 55-60% this year.
- WeGovy's 2.4 mg dose is priced at ₹ 26,015 for a month's supply in India.
- Eli Lilly disclosed plans to invest $1 billion for contract manufacturing in India.
- Eli Lilly will set up a new manufacturing and quality centre in Hyderabad.
- The investment by Eli Lilly came amid 100% US tariffs on the pharma sector.
- India is referred to as the world's third largest pharmaceutical industry.
- Sun Pharmaceuticals has inked a second brand partnership with AstraZeneca India arm to sell Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) brand in the country.
- AstraZeneca will market the therapy under the global brand name Lokelma, while Sun Pharma will promote and distribute it as Gimliand.
- AstraZeneca will retain the intellectual property rights to SZC and hold the Marketing Authorization along with the import license of the molecule.
- The financial terms of the agreement and the therapy's market price have not been disclosed.
- SZC is a non-absorbed, inorganic, potassium-binding crystalline compound used to treat hyperkalemia in adults.
- In 2024, AstraZeneca’s Lokelma clocked net sales of $542 million (over ~Rs 4,600 crore).
India and Russia hold 23rd Annual Summit, unveil Economic Cooperation Programme
Key Updates:
- 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'.
DGCA rolls back rest-day rule to restore IndiGo flight operations
Key Updates:
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revoked its directive that barred airlines from substituting pilots’ weekly rest days with leave.
- The regulator cited 'ongoing operational disruptions' and 'repeated representations from airlines seeking flexibility to maintain the continuity and stability of operations'.
- DGCA has also directed its own inspectors, who are hired on five-year contracts as auditors and barred from flying for commercial carriers, to operate IndiGo flights.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Karnataka has become the first state in India to approve 12 days of paid menstrual leave annually for women employees.
- This progressive policy is applicable to both government and private sectors, granting one day of leave per month.
- The policy aims to support women’s health, dignity, and productivity in the workplace, reflecting a growing recognition of menstrual health as a legitimate workplace issue.
- Under the new guidelines, all female employees across Karnataka — including those in the private sector — will be eligible for one paid day of leave each month due to menstruation-related discomfort or health challenges.
- The decision sends a powerful message of empathy, equity, and realism in workplace policymaking by recognizing biological realities and boosting productivity and morale.
- Implementing body: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
- Key revision: Several Stage IV measures now apply at Stage III (e.g., 50% physical staffing in public/private offices, work-from-home for remainder)
- Additional shift: Stage II measures moved to Stage I (uninterrupted power supply, synchronized traffic flow, media advisories, augmented CNG/electric bus & metro services, differential off-peak fares)
- Further shift: Stage III measures moved to Stage II (staggered office timings for GNCTD, NCR state governments, and Central Government offices in Delhi-NCR)
- The Delhi government and MCD offices will adjust working hours amid rising air pollution levels.
- The new working hours will be implemented from November 15, 2025, to February 15, 2026.
- The staggering of hours aims to distribute vehicular traffic load and reduce congestion during peak hours, assisting in pollution control.
- Delhi government offices will operate from 10 am to 6:30 pm.
- MCD offices will function from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
- Naturopathy Day is observed in India every year on 18 November to promote a healthy lifestyle through the drugless, holistic system of medicine known as Naturopathy.
- The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), Government of India, officially declared this day in 2018 to raise awareness about natural healing practices and overall well-being.
- The official theme for Naturopathy Day 2025 is "Losing weight naturally through Naturopathy".
Major General Roman Gofman appointed Director of Mossad
Key Updates:
- Major General Roman Gofman was appointed Director of the Mossad, replacing David Barnea.
- Gofman, previously Military Secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has no background in intelligence.
- Born in Belarus, Gofman moved to Israel at age 14 and joined the armoured corps in 1995.
- He was seriously wounded during clashes with Hamas militants in Sderot on October 7.
- Netanyahu’s selection of Gofman passed over two candidates suggested by outgoing Mossad chief Barnea.
Similar / Past Coverage
- 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.
- President Donald Trump’s administration plans to nominate Dan Katz.
- Dan Katz is Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s chief of staff.
- The nomination is for the International Monetary Fund No. 2 official.
- Sergio Gor has been sworn in as the US Ambassador to India.
- He previously served as the White House personnel director.
- The US Senate had confirmed Gor in October to serve as the next United States ambassador to India.
- In August, Trump had promoted Gor, Director of Presidential Personnel, to be the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs.
- Gor began his political career working as a spokesman for Republican lawmakers and in 2013, he became communications director for Senator Rand Paul’s PAC, RANDPAC.
- Bajaj Alternate Investment Management Ltd hired Jitendra Gohil as chief investment officer from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Ltd.
- India’s alternative asset industry has a committed capital of 15 trillion rupees ($169 billion) according to Securities and Exchange Board of India data.
- Jitendra Gohil will report to Lakshmi Iyer, group president for investments at Bajaj Alternate Investment.
International Volunteer Day observed on 5 December with theme 'Every Contribution Matters'
Key Updates:
- International Volunteer Day (IVD) is celebrated on 5 December every year.
- It started as an international observance mandated by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1985.
- The theme for International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 is “Every Contribution Matters.”
- International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 marks the official global launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026).
- The International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026) will be globally launched on 5 December at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall in New York.
- United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/127 calls for a worldwide movement to recognize the vital role of volunteers in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
- The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme recognizes shared universal values underpinning volunteerism, including free will, commitment, equity, engagement, solidarity, compassion, empathy, and respect for others.
- The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) is a flagship United Nations (UN) publication produced every three years.
- The latest edition of the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) is titled 'Building Equal and Inclusive Societies'.
- There are an estimated 1 billion volunteers worldwide, with around 70% volunteering informally and 30% engaging through formal organizations.
- International Year of Volunteers was observed in 2001.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Theme 2025: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,”
- World AIDS Day is the first global day dedicated to a health issue.
- World AIDS Day was created by the World Health Organization in 1988.
- The U.S. has marked World AIDS Day since 1988.
- President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was launched in 2003.
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) celebrates its 78th raising day on November 23, 2025.
- NCC was officially formed after the National Cadet Corps Act was passed on April 16, 1948, and operations began on July 15, 1948.
- Started with 20,000 cadets, NCC is now the world's largest uniformed youth organization with 20 lakh cadets.
- NCC has a presence in 713 of India's 780 districts.
- Brigadier M.L. Rawat is known as the father of the NCC.
- World Computer Literacy Day is celebrated each year on December 2.
- It was launched in 2001 by the Indian company NIIT.
- It was launched by NIIT to mark its 20th anniversary.
- It was created in response to research showing a gender gap in computer usage, with most users being male.
- World Kindness Day is celebrated annually on November 13 as part of the Global Kindness Movement.
- World Kindness Day 2025 falls on a Thursday, November 13, 2025.
- The observance was established in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a global alliance of organisations that promotes goodwill and mutual respect.
World Soil Day observed globally on 5 December with theme 'Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities'
Key Updates:
- World Soil Day is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.
- World Soil Day 2025 focuses on urban landscapes with the theme 'Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.'
- The first official World Soil Day was designated by the UN General Assembly for 5 December 2014.
Similar / Past Coverage
- World Toilet Day is celebrated every year on November 19.
- The day has been chosen by the United Nations (UN) with the aim of spreading awareness about the necessity of proper toilets and better sanitation around the world.
- This year, the UN has chosen the theme ‘Sanitation in a Changing World.’
- The purpose of this theme is to build toilets and sanitation systems that are safe and able to meet future challenges like climate change, growing populations, and ageing infrastructure.
- World Toilet Day started as an awareness day in 2001 by the Singapore-based World Toilet Organisation, created by Jack Sim.
- However, it became a UN-recognised day in 2013.
- Approximately 3.5 billion people do not currently have access to sanitary services that are properly managed.
- Methane emissions from sewage pose a hazard to coastal sanitation infrastructure and services by worsening glacier melting, thus contributing to global sea level rise.
- According to WHO/UNICEF data, 3 billion people may still not have access to safe toilets by 2030.
- Human-induced land degradation lowers crop yields by ~10% in areas where 1.7 billion people live (FAO SOFA report).
- Key indicators compared: soil organic carbon, soil erosion, and soil water, measured against native/natural baselines via a machine-learning model.
- Asian countries are the most affected due to accumulated degradation and high population densities.
- Reversing 10% of degradation on existing croplands could feed an additional 154 million people annually.
- Sustainable practices such as crop rotations and integrated land-use management are highlighted as actionable solutions.
- World Urbanism Day is celebrated annually on November 8th.
- It is also known as “World Town Planning Day”.
- The day was instigated by The international organisation for World Urbanism.
- The International Organisation for World Urbanism was founded in 1949.
- The International Organisation for World Urbanism was founded by the late Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera of the University of Buenos Aires.
- The day is a special day to recognise and promote the role of planning in creating livable communities.
- It appeals to the conscience of citizens and public authorities in order to draw attention to the environmental impact resulting from the development of cities and territories.
- World Urbanism Day is celebrated in more than 30 countries on four continents.
- The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed on 07 September 2025.
- The day is described as a global emergency highlighting that "nearly every person on Earth breathes air that is unsafe, contributing to millions of deaths every year – particularly amongst the elderly and children."
- Solutions proposed include "investing in renewable energy, improving waste management, halting deforestation including wildfires, and promoting eco-friendly agriculture."