Daily Current Affairs: 10 January 2026

Analysis for 10 January 2026

Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta appointed as Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court

[Uttarakhand]

Key Updates:

Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, senior-most judge of the Allahabad High Court, was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court.
He succeeds Justice Guhanathan Narendar, who retired on January 9, 2026.
He took oath as Chief Justice on January 10, 2026.

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Anil Kaushik, Davinder Pal Singh, Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar appointed as Additional Solicitors General for India (End of December) ▼

Anil Kaushik, Davinder Pal Singh, and Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar have been appointed as Additional Solicitors General for India (ASGIs) to represent the Union government before the Supreme Court.
Their tenure as ASGIs is for three years.
They will assist the Solicitor General in handling constitutional, statutory, and policy-related matters before the apex court.

Vibha Chahal Appointed Director of Food and Public Distribution Department (Start of January) ▼

Vibha Chahal was appointed as the Director of the Food and Public Distribution Department.
Shubha Sarma took additional charge as the Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department in Odisha.
Bakki Karthikeyan and Geetika Sharma were promoted to the position of Director in the Ministry of Mines.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) cleared the extension of central deputation for Nirupama J. Dange and Pooja Pandey.
Ajay Kumar Shukla was elevated to the post of Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department in Uttar Pradesh.
Karthikeyan Manickam was appointed as the Chairman of ESAF Small Finance Bank.

Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak appointed as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court (Start of January) ▼

Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak was appointed as the chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court.
He will assume charge after incumbent Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan demits office on attaining the age of 62 years.
Justice Sonak was appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013, and is due to retire on November 27, 2026.
His name was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium last month.

Justice Vikram Nath named NALSA executive chairman (End of November) ▼

Justice Vikram Nath has been nominated as the new executive chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
The appointment takes effect from November 24.
The nomination was made by the President of India and notified by the ministry of law and justice.
As per convention, the post of executive chairperson of NALSA goes to the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court.
Justice Nath is currently next in line after Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.
NALSA is tasked with ensuring free and competent legal services for marginalised and economically weaker citizens.
Justice Nath is also in line to serve as the CJI for seven months.
NALSA's constitutional mandate under Article 39A is to ensure that no individual is denied justice due to financial or social constraints.
Before this appointment, Justice Nath served as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC).
Justice Vikram Nath was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2021.
He previously served as chief justice of the Gujarat High Court.
Justice Nath was part of the five-judge Constitution bench that delivered an opinion on the President’s Article 143 reference concerning delays in granting assent to state bills.
This bench held that neither the Governors nor the President could be bound by judicially imposed timelines for granting assent.
Justice Nath led the three-judge bench that modified directions concerning mass capture and non-release of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR.
The larger bench directed all states and Union territories to remove stray dogs from schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots, and railway stations, and said they cannot be released back after sterilization.
Justice Nath’s bench sought the Union government’s response on whether individuals acquitted after years on death row are entitled to compensation for wrongful incarceration.
He authored the judgment for the three-judge bench that acquitted Surendra Koli in the sole surviving Nithari killing case.
The bench held that Koli's conviction could not be sustained when he had already been acquitted in other connected cases arising from the same set of facts and evidentiary material.
Justice Nath, along with Justice Sandeep Mehta, issued comprehensive guidelines to address the mental health crisis among students, particularly in coaching hubs.

Government of India (GoI) Projects 7.4% GDP Growth for FY26

[United States]

Key Updates:

The Government of India (GoI) projects the real GDP growth at 7.4% for fiscal year 2025–26, exceeding the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expectation of 7.3%.
Nominal GDP growth is estimated at 8% for the current fiscal year, compared to 9.7% recorded in the previous year.
India’s GDP growth accelerated to a six-quarter high of 8.2% in the second quarter of FY26, following a 7.8% expansion in the April–June quarter.
Real Gross Value Added (GVA) is expected to expand by 7.3% in FY26, an increase from 6.4% in FY25.
Nominal GVA is projected to grow at 7.7% in the current fiscal, down from the 9.3% growth recorded in the previous financial year.
Government spending is estimated to rise by 5.2% in fiscal 2025-26, compared to a 2.3% increase in the previous year.
Manufacturing and construction sectors are both estimated to achieve a growth rate of 7.0% at constant prices in FY 2025-26.
The agriculture and allied sector is estimated to grow by 3.1% during FY26, down from the 4.6% growth witnessed in FY24.

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Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) retains India FY26 growth at 6.7% (Start of December) ▼

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.

Goldman Sachs (GS) forecasts India GDP growth at 6.7% for 2026 and 6.8% for 2027. (End of December) ▼

Goldman Sachs projects India’s real GDP growth at around 6.7 per cent in 2026 and 6.8 per cent in 2027.
Global growth is expected at 2.8 per cent in 2026, above the consensus estimate of 2.5 per cent.
Emerging markets, including India, are expected to outperform developed peers amid stronger domestic demand and favourable structural trends.
India’s growth benefits from strong domestic consumption, public infrastructure spending and limited exposure to global trade disruptions.
Goldman Sachs estimates China to grow at 4.8 per cent in 2026 and 4.7 per cent in 2027.
Inflation pressures are expected to ease across most economies by end-2026, supporting accommodative monetary stances in several emerging markets.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects India’s GDP to grow 6.6% in FY2025/26 (End of November) ▼

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects India’s real GDP to grow at 6.6% in FY2025/26 before moderating to 6.2% in FY2026/27.
India’s real GDP expanded by 7.8% in the first quarter of FY2025/26.
GST reform and the resulting reduction in the effective rate are expected to help cushion the adverse impact of the prolonged 50% US tariffs.
Headline inflation has declined markedly, driven by subdued food prices and the one-off effect of the GST reform.
IMF Executive Directors called for continued fiscal consolidation and recommended replenishing fiscal buffers through domestic revenue mobilisation.
The IMF noted that India’s financial and corporate sectors remain resilient, supported by adequate capital buffers and multi-year low non-performing assets.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) estimates India’s Q2 FY26 GDP growth at 8.2% (End of November) ▼

India’s real GDP expanded 8.2% in Q2 FY26, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
MoSPI estimates India’s first-half (H1) FY26 real GDP growth at 8.0%.
Real Gross Value Added (GVA) increased 8.1% in Q2 FY26.
The secondary sector grew 8.1% and the tertiary sector grew 9.2% in Q2 FY26.
Manufacturing output rose 9.1% in Q2 FY26.
Financial, real estate, and professional services grew 10.2% in Q2 FY26.
Real Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) grew 7.9% in Q2 FY26.
Government consumption (GFCE) contracted 2.7% in Q2 FY26.
Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) rose 7.3% in Q2 FY26.
Exports grew 5.6% and imports increased 12.8% in Q2 FY26.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB) license to Skydo

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted final authorisation to Bengaluru-based Skydo to operate as a Payment Aggregator–Cross Border (PA-CB).
The license enables the company to offer cross-border payment services to Indian MSMEs, freelancers, and startups across multiple currencies and markets.
Skydo currently serves over 30,000 Indian MSMEs, freelancers, and startups across more than 50 cities.
The platform supports payment collections in over 32 currencies.
The company recently raised USD 10Mn in Series A funding led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, with participation from Elevation Capital.
The total funding raised by Skydo to date stands at USD 20Mn.

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

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

UAE Executes First Government Payment Using Digital Dirham via mBridge Platform (End of November) ▼

The Dubai Department of Finance and Ministry of Finance conducted the first government payment using the Digital Dirham issued by the Central Bank of the UAE.
The settlement concluded in under two minutes without intermediaries involved.
In January 2024, UAE authorities executed an international value transfer using Digital Dirham technology via the mBridge system, routing funds to Chinese recipients.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Razorpay Payment Aggregator – Cross Border licence. (Start of December) ▼

Razorpay becomes one of a select cohort of fintechs authorised to facilitate both inward and outward cross-border payments with complete regulatory oversight.
Indian businesses can accept payments in over 130 currencies through cards, wallets, and local bank transfers, achieving 95% success rates on international transactions.
Global platforms can go live in India in real-time without setting up an India entity, accessing UPI, RuPay, EMIs, netbanking, and over 100 local methods via a single integration.

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

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

Akasa Air joins International Air Transport Association (IATA) as fifth Indian carrier member.

[Akasa Air, International Air Transport Association (IATA)]

Key Updates:

Akasa Air becomes the fifth Indian airline to join IATA after Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet.
IATA members account for more than 80 per cent of global air traffic.
Akasa Air qualified the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in December, a mandatory prerequisite for membership.
Akasa Air has served over 23 million passengers and connects 26 domestic and six international cities.
Akasa Air aims to operate a fleet of 226 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft over ten years and currently operates 31 aircraft of the same model.
In FY25, Akasa Air registered a revenue growth of 49% and improved EBITDA margins by 50%.
The airline registered industry-leading load factors of over 87% and grew ASKs by 48% compared to FY24.
Unit Cost per Available Seat Kilometre (CASK), excluding fuel, reduced by 7%.
Ancillary portfolio expanded to over 25 products, contributing to a diversified revenue model.
Akasa Air carried nearly 100,000 tonnes of cargo by March 2025 and built a network of more than 1,150 corporate partners.

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Indian carriers to induct 100 aircraft annually for next 15 years (Start of January) ▼

Indian carriers inducted 80 aircraft in calendar year 2025.
106 more aircraft are expected to be inducted in 2026.
For the next 10-15 years, Indian carriers will induct about 100 aircraft annually given the orders of airlines like AI Group, IndiGo and Akasa.
India has 843 aircraft as of now.
Indian carriers (primarily Air India) are in double digits for wide-body aircraft, while Emirates has 250 wide bodies.

Navi Mumbai Airport To Begin Commercial Flights On Christmas (Mid of November) ▼

Budget airline Akasa Air has announced its first flights from the Navi Mumbai International Airport from December 25, 2025.
The first Akasa flight to Navi Mumbai Airport will commence from the national capital New Delhi.
Akasa Air will operate the maiden flight between Delhi and Navi Mumbai International Airport on 25th December 2025.
Scheduled flights connecting Navi Mumbai with Goa will commence effective 25th December 2025, Delhi and Kochi effective 26th December 2025, and Ahmedabad effective 31st December 2025.
Indigo will also start operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport on December 25 and will connect NMIA to ten cities across India.

Air India and airBaltic sign codeshare agreement (Start of January) ▼

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

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

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

Axis Finance Ltd (AFL) launches Vyapar business loan up to ₹10 lakh for MSMEs.

[Axis Finance Ltd (AFL)]

Key Updates:

Axis Finance Ltd (AFL) offers collateral-free Vyapar business loan up to ₹10 lakh.
The loan targets micro and small entrepreneurs in retail, service and trading segments.
Flexible tenures and zero collateral requirements are key features of the product.

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Axis Bank launches Digital Merchant Cash Advance Loans for MSMEs (End of December) ▼

Axis Bank offers unsecured digital loans from ₹2 lakh to ₹20 lakh to micro and small businesses.
Eligibility is evaluated through cash-flow intelligence instead of traditional financial statements.
Applicants receive an instant credit decision within minutes and funds are disbursed within a few days.
Repayments are collected through daily instalments aligned with the merchant’s actual sales.

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank (Utkarsh SFBL) partners with Axis Securities to launch 3-in-1 account. (End of November) ▼

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank (Utkarsh SFBL) has partnered with Axis Securities to launch a 3-in-1 account that integrates a savings account with Utkarsh SFBL and a demat and trading account with Axis Securities.
Customers can access the 3-in-1 account through branch services, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, and assisted services.
Axis Securities will provide technology-led trading platforms, research insights, and flexible brokerage plans to support customer investment needs.
Govind Singh, Managing Director & CEO of Utkarsh SFBL, stated the partnership strengthens the bank’s service offerings, enabling customers to invest and build wealth through a unified platform.
Pranav Haridasan, MD & CEO of Axis Securities, added that the partnership aims to make investing simpler, intuitive, and more accessible for Utkarsh customers.

Axis Max Life Insurance Partners with IFC for Financial Inclusion and Expansion (Mid of November) ▼

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.

Axis Bank Evolve Series in Kozhikode: MSMEs Driving India’s $10 Trillion Goal (Mid of November) ▼

Axis Bank hosted the 10th edition of its multi-city knowledge series Evolve in Kozhikode, themed “MSMEs Powering the $10 Trillion Economy.”
The event drew over 103 MSME promoters and founders to discuss pathways for India’s economy to expand from $4.1 trillion to $10 trillion by 2032.
Kerala has more than 7 lakh registered MSMEs, with nearly half led by women entrepreneurs.

United Nations (UN) upgrades India's 2026 GDP growth forecast to 6.6% and projects 6.7% for 2027.

[United Nations (UN)]

Key Updates:

The UN has raised India's 2026 GDP growth projection to 6.6% from the earlier 6.4%.
India's GDP is forecast to grow 6.7% in 2027.
India's GDP is expected to expand 7.4% in 2025.
Inflation in India is forecast at 4.1% in 2026.
On a financial year basis, India's economy is estimated to grow 7.2% in 2025-26 and 6.6% in 2026-27.
The US has imposed a 50% tariff on India, including a 25% penalty for importing Russian oil.
The US accounts for around 18% of India's exports.
Globally, GDP growth is projected at 2.7% in 2026, marginally lower than the estimated 2.8% for 2025.
The US economy is anticipated to grow 1.9% in 2025 and 2% in 2026.
China's growth is forecast at 4.9% in 2025 and 4.6% in 2026.

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India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) projects India GDP growth at 6.9% for FY27 (Start of January) ▼

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) forecasts real GDP growth of 6.9% in FY27.
Ind-Ra expects retail inflation to average 3.8% in FY27.
Union government debt as a percentage of GDP is projected to decline to 55.5% in FY27 from an estimated 56.3% in FY26.
Ind-Ra anticipates the Indian Rupee to average 92.26 against the US dollar in FY27, compared with 88.64 in FY26.
Ind-Ra estimates total budget size to rise to Rs 52 lakh crore in FY27 from the budgeted Rs 50 lakh crore in FY26.
Tax revenue is expected to fall short by Rs 2 lakh crore in FY26, to be offset through higher non-tax revenue and slightly lower capex.
Fiscal deficit for FY26 is retained at the budgeted 4.4% of GDP, amounting to Rs 15.69 lakh crore in absolute terms.

Goldman Sachs (GS) forecasts India GDP growth at 6.7% for 2026 and 6.8% for 2027. (End of December) ▼

Goldman Sachs projects India’s real GDP growth at around 6.7 per cent in 2026 and 6.8 per cent in 2027.
Global growth is expected at 2.8 per cent in 2026, above the consensus estimate of 2.5 per cent.
Emerging markets, including India, are expected to outperform developed peers amid stronger domestic demand and favourable structural trends.
India’s growth benefits from strong domestic consumption, public infrastructure spending and limited exposure to global trade disruptions.
Goldman Sachs estimates China to grow at 4.8 per cent in 2026 and 4.7 per cent in 2027.
Inflation pressures are expected to ease across most economies by end-2026, supporting accommodative monetary stances in several emerging markets.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raises FY26 GDP growth forecast to 7.3% (Start of December) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised India’s GDP forecast for FY2025-26 upwards to 7.3% from the earlier 6.8%.
RBI raised Q3 FY26 growth estimate to 7.0% from 6.4%.
RBI raised Q4 FY26 growth estimate to 6.5% from 6.2%.
RBI raised Q1 FY27 growth projection to 6.7% from 6.4%.
RBI projected Q2 FY27 growth at 6.8%.
RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cut the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%.
India’s economy grew 8.2% in Q2 FY25, 7.8% in Q1 FY25, and 6.5% for full-year FY25.
RBI announced Rs 1 lakh crore OMO purchases and a 3-year USD/INR swap of USD 5 billion.
IMF projects India to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by end of 2025.

India Ratings and Research revises India's FY26 GDP growth projection to 7% (End of November) ▼

India Ratings and Research raised India's FY26 GDP growth projection to 7% YoY, 70 basis points higher than its July 2025 forecast of 6.3%.
The RBI has projected India's GDP growth for FY26 at 6.8%.
India's real GDP grew 7.8% YoY in Q1 FY26, the fastest pace in five quarters.
Ind-Ra expects private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) to grow 7.4% YoY in FY26, up from 7.2% in FY25.
Indian exports to the US fell 11.9% YoY in September 2025 and 8.9% YoY in October 2025.
Indian exports to the US averaged USD 7.4 billion per month from April to October 2025, but dropped to USD 5.9 billion in September-October 2025.

State Bank of India (SBI) Projects 7.5% GDP Growth for FY26

[State Bank of India (SBI)]

Key Updates:

The State Bank of India (SBI) projects India’s real GDP growth for FY26 could reach 7.5% following the revision of the base year to 2022-23.
The National Statistical Office (NSO) first advance estimates place real GDP growth at 7.4% for FY26, an increase from the 6.5% recorded in FY25.
The NSO projects Gross Value Added (GVA) growth at 7.3% and nominal GDP growth at 8% for the FY26 period.
Per capita national income is projected to increase by ₹16,025 annually to reach ₹2,47,487 in FY26.
The services sector is expected to expand by 9.1% in FY26, compared to the 7.2% growth recorded in the previous year.
Industrial growth is estimated at 6.0% for FY26, supported by a manufacturing output growth of 7.0%.
Agriculture and allied activities are projected to grow by 3.1% in FY26, down from 4.6% in FY25.
Mining output is expected to decline by 0.7% in FY26, compared with a growth of 2.7% in FY25.
The historical gap between GDP growth estimates from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the NSO has remained within a range of 20–30 basis points.
The NSO is scheduled to release the second advance estimates, incorporating additional data and revisions, on February 27, 2026.

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India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) projects India GDP growth at 6.9% for FY27 (Start of January) ▼

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) forecasts real GDP growth of 6.9% in FY27.
Ind-Ra expects retail inflation to average 3.8% in FY27.
Union government debt as a percentage of GDP is projected to decline to 55.5% in FY27 from an estimated 56.3% in FY26.
Ind-Ra anticipates the Indian Rupee to average 92.26 against the US dollar in FY27, compared with 88.64 in FY26.
Ind-Ra estimates total budget size to rise to Rs 52 lakh crore in FY27 from the budgeted Rs 50 lakh crore in FY26.
Tax revenue is expected to fall short by Rs 2 lakh crore in FY26, to be offset through higher non-tax revenue and slightly lower capex.
Fiscal deficit for FY26 is retained at the budgeted 4.4% of GDP, amounting to Rs 15.69 lakh crore in absolute terms.

India's Q2 FY26 GDP Projections and Economic Indicators (Mid of November) ▼

A report by SBI projected India’s GDP growth at 7.5 per cent for the second quarter.
The rating agency ICRA expects a lower GDP print of 7 per cent for the quarter.
For Q3 and Q4, RBI projected 6.4% and 6.2% respectively.
The SBI Research estimates FY26 GDP growth at 7.3%–7.5%.
Gross domestic GST collections for November 2025 are expected to be around Rs 1.49 lakh crore, registering 6.8 per cent YoY growth.
The share of leading indicators reflecting growth in consumption and demand increased to 83 per cent in Q2, compared with 70 per cent in Q1.
The actual Q2 GDP print is likely to be announced on November 28.

India's GDP Projected to Grow 7.2% in Q2 FY26 by Ind-Ra; Consumption Key Driver (Mid of November) ▼

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.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) estimates India’s Q2 FY26 GDP growth at 8.2% (End of November) ▼

India’s real GDP expanded 8.2% in Q2 FY26, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
MoSPI estimates India’s first-half (H1) FY26 real GDP growth at 8.0%.
Real Gross Value Added (GVA) increased 8.1% in Q2 FY26.
The secondary sector grew 8.1% and the tertiary sector grew 9.2% in Q2 FY26.
Manufacturing output rose 9.1% in Q2 FY26.
Financial, real estate, and professional services grew 10.2% in Q2 FY26.
Real Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) grew 7.9% in Q2 FY26.
Government consumption (GFCE) contracted 2.7% in Q2 FY26.
Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) rose 7.3% in Q2 FY26.
Exports grew 5.6% and imports increased 12.8% in Q2 FY26.

Gujarat CM inaugurates Asha Van for early cancer detection

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Cancer Screening Van - Asha Van to support the early detection of cancer.
The Asha Van was donated to the Bhavnagar branch of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) by Jenburkt Pharmaceutical.
The van is equipped with EVA-Pro diagnostics, a mammography unit, and expert tele-consultation facilities.
The initiative aims to advance the goal of "Health and Wellness for All" in rural areas.
The van enables on-site screening for various diseases including lung, oral, blood, cervical, pancreatic, liver, breast, and prostate cancer using ultra-modern instrumentation.

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Specialised Training Program in Cancer Care for BIMSTEC Countries launched to strengthen oncology capacity (Start of January) ▼

The second phase of the Specialised Training Program in Cancer Care for BIMSTEC Countries was formally launched at the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Visakhapatnam.
The program brings together participants from BIMSTEC countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal.
The initiative was announced by the Prime Minister of India at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and is being implemented by the Tata Memorial Centre with support from the External Affairs Ministry.

World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day observed as countries accelerate action (Mid of November) ▼

November 17 marks the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day – mandated by the World Health Assembly.
The Day supports the core pillars of the WHO’s global elimination strategy: vaccinating 90% of girls against human papillomavirus (HPV), screening 70% of women, and treating 90% of those with pre-cancer and invasive cancer.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and its partners estimate that the ambitious goal to reach 86 million girls by the end of 2025 has been met.

Tamil Nadu’s ‘Women’s Wellness on Wheels’ Scheme: Cancer Screening Vans for All Districts (Mid of November) ▼

Scheme name: ‘Women’s Wellness on Wheels’ – 38 fully-equipped vehicles to be rolled out, one in each of Tamil Nadu’s 38 districts (“Tamil Nadu plans to launch 38 vehicles in 38 districts under the scheme”).
Objective: Protect women from cancer by enabling “complete check-ups for women to screen them for cancer risks such as cervical cancer and breast cancer” inside the mobile units.
Key feature: These are “fully-equipped vehicles, the first of its kind in India” for cancer screening of women.
Associated initiative: Free HPV vaccination for girls aged 14 and below to prevent cervical cancer, to be implemented in private hospitals at a cost of ₹ 36 crore.

Servier India launches subsidised biomarker testing for IDH-mutated AML and cholangiocarcinoma (Mid of November) ▼

Initiative offers a customised biomarker test panel for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) across India at subsidised rates
IDH1 and IDH2 mutation tests for both cancers provided free of cost to patients in the government sector
Partnership involves Servier India, MedGenome and Strand Life Sciences to expand molecular testing access beyond urban centres
Programme launched under Servier Care patient-support platform providing financial assistance and subsidised diagnostics where legally permissible
Early molecular testing aims to guide precision oncology treatment decisions and improve survival rates in AML and CCA

Bharat Climate Forum 2026: India Targets Net-Zero by 2070 through Clean-Tech Manufacturing

Key Updates:

Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan delivered the inaugural address at the Bharat Climate Forum 2026, stating that climate action can accelerate inclusive growth, strengthen energy security, and power a future-ready Indian economy.
India is pursuing the Panchamrit commitments announced at COP26, which include a "roadmap toward net-zero emissions by 2070" to balance economic growth with future responsibility.
The government aims to transform "Make in India into Make in India for the World" by developing homegrown technologies in Renewable energy systems, Battery storage, Green hydrogen, and Electric mobility.
India is leading global climate collaboration through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) based on partnerships without dependence.
The transition focuses on building a skilled workforce and resilient manufacturing ecosystems to ensure India does not rely on "imported clean technologies or fragile global supply chains.

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COP30 UN Climate Conference – Key Take-aways from Belém, Brazil (End of November) ▼

COP30 took place in Belém, Brazil, from 10–21 November 2025.
Countries agreed on a sweeping package to scale up climate finance and accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The final text did not include a clear commitment to move away from fossil fuels.
Talks were suspended on Thursday after a fire broke out in the venue, triggering evacuations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva both stressed that ‘the world is watching’ and urged compromise.
Guterres told youth participants that phasing out fossil fuels is a ‘decisive battle’ and called for youth power to achieve it.
Negotiators face tense divisions over fossil fuels and climate finance as the summit heads past its scheduled close.
Barcarena’s Maria Naura Gouvêa Municipal School, fitted with flood-resistant walls and solar power, is highlighted as a model of local climate adaptation.
Women’s groups at COP30 emphasized that ‘there is no climate justice without gender equality.’
Indigenous peoples marched in Belém with the message ‘The Answer is Us’ demanding greater recognition.

United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) concludes in Nairobi on 12 December 2025 (Mid of December) ▼

The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) concluded in Nairobi, Kenya.
More than 6,000 people – representing 186 countries – took part in the week-long gathering which was held at the headquarters of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Member States adopted 11 resolutions, three decisions and a ministerial declaration aiming to advance solutions for a more resilient planet.
The assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment.
Friday also marked 10 years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The landmark treaty, signed by 194 countries and the European Union, aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

India Emphasizes Fair Adaptation Metrics at COP30 in Brazil; Updates on National Climate Contributions (Start of November) ▼

The COP30 U.N. Climate Summit is scheduled to take place in Belem, Para state, Brazil, from November 10 to 21.
India's environment ministry stated that the rationalisation of adaptation indicators will be a major issue at COP30, stressing that these indicators must not disadvantage developing countries and should reflect national circumstances.
The framework discussed at COP30 should also enable transparent tracking of finance, technology transfer and capacity building support from developed nations.
Countries are required to submit their third round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), referred to as 'NDCs 3.0' for the 2031-2035 period this year.
India's updated NDC submitted in August 2022 committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions-intensity of GDP by 45 per cent (relative to 2005) by 2030, and achieving around 50 per cent cumulative installed electric-power capacity from non-fossil-fuel based energy resources by 2030.
The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) was created under the Paris Agreement in 2015 to track and strengthen adaptation efforts.

UNEP 2025 Adaptation Gap Report: Finance shortfall puts developing nations at risk (End of October) ▼

UNEP’s 2025 Adaptation Gap Report titled "Running on Empty" estimates adaptation finance needs in developing countries at "US$310 billion per year in 2035, when based on modelled costs" and up to "US$365 billion a year" based on NDC/NAP figures.
International public adaptation finance flows to developing countries were "US$26 billion in 2023: down from US$28 billion the previous year," making needs "12-14 times as much as current flows."
The private sector "could do more – with potential to provide around US$50 billion per year if backed by targeted policy action and blended finance solutions."
Countries reported on "over 1,600 implemented adaptation actions, mostly on biodiversity, agriculture, water and infrastructure," indicating progress in planning and implementation.
The report warns that "If current finance trends continue, the Glasgow Climate Pact goal of doubling international public adaptation finance from 2019 levels by 2025 will not be achieved."

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Gyan Bharatam Mission promote multilingual education and manuscript preservation

Key Updates:

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes multilingual education.
Gyan Bharatam Mission, aimed at preserving and disseminating Indian manuscripts.
The Vice-President urged that technology must become an ally of languages, advocating: Digital archives and manuscript digitisation, AI-powered translation and speech technologies, Multilingual digital platforms for education and governance.
India’s Constitution, particularly the Eighth Schedule, he said, embodies ancient wisdom by affirming that national unity thrives on mutual respect, not uniformity.

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Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (IIT-I) promotes Hindi as functional language for science and technology (Start of January) ▼

The Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (IIT-I) is positioning Hindi as a functional language for scientific and technological learning to improve comprehension and widen access to knowledge.
The initiative is being driven through Abhyuday-3, a two-day National Technical Hindi Seminar organized by IIT-I in collaboration with IIT Jodhpur and the CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research.
At the institute, select first-year lectures are being delivered in Hindi and research abstracts are being compiled in accordance with prescribed official language standards.
The seminar resulted in the release of Smarika, a compilation of 26 peer-reviewed research papers written in Hindi covering science, engineering, digital technology, and innovation.
The program aims to strengthen technical Hindi to ensure wider dissemination of knowledge and reinforce the linguistic diversity of India.

CP Radhakrishnan participates as Chief Guest at multiple events during visit to Puducherry, Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Start of January) ▼

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

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

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

Constitution of India Released in Santhali Language (End of December) ▼

President Droupadi Murmu released the Constitution of India in the Santhali language, written in the Ol Chiki script.
The release function was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Santhali was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution through the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003.

Kamala Hydroelectric Project Approved with ₹26,070 Crore Outlay

Key Updates:

The Public Investment Board (PIB) approved the ₹26,070-crore, 1,720 MW Kamala hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh.
The project will be implemented on a build-own-operate-transfer basis through a joint venture company, with NHPC (NHPC) holding 74% equity and the government of Arunachal Pradesh holding 26%.
The project is expected to generate nearly 6,870 million units of green energy annually and provide flood relief in the Brahmaputra valley.
The central government will provide grants of ₹1,340 crore for enabling infrastructure and ₹4,744 crore for the flood moderation component.
The project involves the construction of a 216-metre-high concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse on the Kamala River with a scheduled completion period of 96 months.
The project is estimated to have a levelised tariff of ₹5.97 per unit and will generate approximately 300 direct jobs and 2,500 contract jobs during peak construction.

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NLC India Limited (NLCIL) to Set Up 110MW Solar Power Plant in Uttar Pradesh (Mid of December) ▼

NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has received the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for the development of its 110MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic power project.
The solar power project is located in Uttar Pradesh.
The project is for National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC).
National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC) will set up, commission, operate and maintain the solar power plant.
The project will cater to National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC)’s power requirement and support its vision of adopting clean and sustainable energy solutions for large-scale infrastructure projects.

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

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

SJVN CMD site visit to 900 MW Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal (Mid of December) ▼

SJVN Limited’s Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Bhupender Gupta conducted a site visit to the 900 MW Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal.
The project is being developed by SJVN through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company Pvt. Ltd., in the Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal.
Upon commissioning, the project will supply 900 MW of clean energy and play a key role in meeting growing power demand and fostering long-term India-Nepal energy cooperation.

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

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

Viksit Bharat, Viksit Ports: Union Minister flags off ₹235 crore port infrastructure and digital projects

[Union Ministry]

Key Updates:

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the projects during the “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Ports” programme in Chennai.
The Centre rolled out port infrastructure and digital governance projects worth ₹235 crore at Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited, aimed at improving safety, resilience and port operations ('The Centre on Thursday rolled out port infrastructure and digital governance projects worth ₹235 crore at Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited').
Of the total outlay, ₹129.36 crore has been allocated to projects at Chennai Port Authority, while ₹105.64 crore will support initiatives at Kamarajar Port Limited ('Of the total outlay, ₹129.36 crore has been allocated to projects at Chennai Port Authority, while ₹105.64 crore will support initiatives at Kamarajar Port Limited').
The MoPSW launched an e-port clearance portal aligned with the One Nation–One Port Process to allow online submission and issuance of port clearance certificates ('The minister also launched an e-port clearance portal aligned with the One Nation–One Port Process').
The MoPSW inaugurated the Enterprise Business System, a SAP-based digital platform developed at a cost of ₹45 crore to integrate finance, port operations, and human resources ('Sonowal also inaugurated the Enterprise Business System, a SAP-based digital platform developed at a cost of ₹45 crore').
The projects were officially announced on January 9, 2026, as part of efforts to modernise ports and improve ease of doing business ('Published On Jan 9, 2026 at 08:46 AM IST').

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Swadesh Darshan Yojana (SDY): Rs 148 Crore Sanctioned for Bhoramdev Corridor Project (Start of January) ▼

The Bhoramdev Corridor project has been approved under the Central Government's Swadesh Darshan Yojana.
An amount of Rs 148 crore has been sanctioned for the project to develop the 1,000-year-old Bhoramdev Temple corridor.
Development work will be carried out here for Rs 148 crore, which includes the launch of a tribal corridor and a convention centre.
Chhattisgarh has 219 projects worth Rs 7.83 lakh crore across 18 sectors now advancing rapidly since November 2024.
These initiatives are poised to generate over 1.5 lakh jobs across 26 of the state's 33 districts.
Of the total investment, nine marquee projects valued at Rs 6,063 crore are already operational, while 109 projects, representing Rs 2.10 lakh crore and 87,132 jobs, are in advanced stages of construction.

Tamil Nadu Deep Tech Startup Policy 2025-26 to mobilise Rs 100 crore and support 100 deep-tech startups (Start of January) ▼

The policy ‘aims to support 100 deep tech startups, mobilise Rs 100 crore of public and private investments including venture capital’.
It will ‘facilitate training of students and professionals through a specialised skilling programme and research fellowships’.
Government plans to establish a ‘Govt as Early Adopter Programme’, supporting pilot deployment and field validation.

IN-SPACe and SVCL operationalise Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund for Indian spacetech (Mid of November) ▼

IN-SPACe and SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd (SVCL) signed a contribution agreement to operationalise a Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund for the Indian space sector.
The fund received SEBI approval on 31 October.
The Union cabinet approved the VC fund for the space sector in October 2024, and SIDBI was appointed fund manager in March 2025.
The fund targets early-stage and growth capital for startups in launch technologies, satellites, payload systems, in-space services, earth observation, communication platforms, and downstream applications.

Union Minister Scindia Launches NEST Cluster at IIT Guwahati and Development Projects in Assam (Start of November) ▼

The North Eastern Science and Technology Cluster (NEST Cluster) was inaugurated.
The inauguration took place at IIT Guwahati.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated the NEST Cluster.
Foundation stones were laid for development projects worth Rs 635 crore across Assam.

National IED Data Management System (NIDMS) to provide integrated online platform for security agencies

Key Updates:

Union home minister Amit Shah launched the National IED Data Management System (NIDMS), which is a two-way comprehensive and integrated online platform.
The NIDMS will be available to National Investigation Agency (NIA), anti-terrorism squads , state police forces and central armed police forces.
The database available with NSG contains data related to all bomb explosions since 1999 and will now be made available to police forces and relevant agencies through the NIDMS.
NIDMS will become a robust platform for accurately analysing the patterns of bomb explosions that have occurred so far, the modus operandi and the explosives used.
The platform will strengthen the process of collecting, standardising, integrating and securely sharing IED-related data.

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National Test House (NTH) inks MoU with DRDO’s DMSRDE for joint research, testing and training (End of December) ▼

The National Test House (NTH), under the Department of Consumer Affairs, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Defence Materials and Stores Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), a DRDO laboratory.
Both institutions will extend mutual support in testing and evaluation services, particularly when specialised facilities are not available in-house.
The collaboration is expected to promote knowledge sharing and skill development among scientific and technical personnel.

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

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

National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) Scheme to Ensure 4% Public Procurement for SC/ST MSMEs (End of December) ▼

The Government of India announced the implementation of the National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) Scheme under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) in December 2025.
The NSSH Scheme aims to enhance the competitiveness of SC/ST-owned enterprises by ensuring a minimum of 4% procurement from these businesses is fulfilled under the Public Procurement Policy.
The scheme provides structured support through vendor development programmes, special marketing assistance, and capacity building to help SC/ST MSMEs compete for government contracts.
To access benefits, entrepreneurs must complete Udyam Registration and register under the Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS) to ensure visibility in government procurement databases.
The initiative supports participation in national and international exhibitions to broaden market reach and expand networks for underserved entrepreneurs.

Rajnath Singh addresses 100th Common Foundation Course at LBSNAA (Start of December) ▼

Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister, addressed the valedictory ceremony of the 100th Common Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie.
He urged young civil servants to stay mission-ready for national security and highlighted Operation Sindoor as an example of civil–military fusion.
Singh emphasised that good governance and national security must move together to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Pankhudi Portal Launched to Streamline Non-Monetary Contributions for Women & Child Welfare

Key Updates:

The Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi launched 'Pankhudi', a portal to facilitate contributions by individuals, NGOs and corporates to government initiatives for early childhood care and women empowerment.
The portal will streamline voluntary and institutional contributions across key thematic areas, including nutrition, health, early childhood care and education (ECCE), child welfare, protection and rehabilitation, and women's safety and empowerment.
The portal does not allow monetary contributions and is described as a 'non-monetary, transparent, and result-oriented' platform.
Contributors can register on the portal, identify initiatives, submit proposals, and track the status of their contributions through clearly defined approval workflows.

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Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana provides cash benefit of ₹5,000 for first child and ₹6,000 for second girl child (Start of January) ▼

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is a Centrally Sponsored flagship scheme to provide maternity benefits to women belonging to socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society.
Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers receive a cash benefit of five thousand rupees for the first child and six thousand rupees for the second girl child.
Four crore 50 lakh beneficiaries are enrolled under the scheme and more than 19 thousand crore rupees has been disbursed to the beneficiaries.

Meri Yojana Portal Launched to Facilitate Citizen Access to Welfare Schemes (Mid of December) ▼

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 'Meri Yojana' portal to make welfare schemes more accessible.
The Programme Implementation Department released 'Meri Yojana' books detailing central and state government programs.
The state government is focused on simplifying processes to deliver social welfare benefits swiftly and effectively.

Nayi Chetna 4.0 Launched to Combat Gender-Based Violence Nationwide (End of November) ▼

Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi launched Nayi Chetna 4.0.
Eleven Union ministries will collaborate under the campaign to eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence.
A tripartite inter-ministerial Letter of Intent was signed between the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Ministry of Rural Development.
The campaign will run across all Indian States and Union Territories until December 23, 2025.

IREDA MoU Performance Review 2024-25: 96.42/100 Score

[Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)]

Key Updates:

IREDA secured an ‘Excellent’ MoU rating for the fifth consecutive year with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), scoring 96.42 out of 100.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi stated the sustained top-tier performance reflects the organisation’s institutional strength, reform-driven governance, and professional execution.
IREDA’s CMD Shri Pradip Kumar Das said the recognition is a testament to the dedication of employees, trust of stakeholders, and consistent guidance of the Government of India.

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Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) rates Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) as 'excellent' for FY 2024-25 (Start of January) ▼

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has rated the Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) as 'excellent' for the financial year 2024-25.
This achievement marks the fifth consecutive year that IRFC has received the highest performance rating since its listing in FY 2020-21.
IRFC has achieved its annual sanction guidance of ₹60,000 crore for FY 2025-26 by the end of the third quarter (Q3).
Established in 1986, IRFC is a Navratna CPSE under the administrative control of the Ministry of Railways.
The mandate of IRFC includes financing railway projects and related infrastructure such as metro rail, ports, logistics, and power generation.

IIM Ranchi receives AMBA Accreditation and Eduniversal 4 Palmes (End of November) ▼

IIM Ranchi has received an international accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
AMBA accreditation is internationally regarded as one of the most respected and selective global benchmarks in postgraduate management education.
The Institute received recognition with the 4 Palmes of Excellence in the Eduniversal Best Business Schools Ranking 2025.
The Eduniversal ranking system spans 154 countries and evaluates over 1,000 business schools.
The 4 Palmes of Excellence identify institutions with a strong and growing international impact.

National Test House (NTH) inks MoU with DRDO’s DMSRDE for joint research, testing and training (End of December) ▼

The National Test House (NTH), under the Department of Consumer Affairs, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Defence Materials and Stores Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), a DRDO laboratory.
Both institutions will extend mutual support in testing and evaluation services, particularly when specialised facilities are not available in-house.
The collaboration is expected to promote knowledge sharing and skill development among scientific and technical personnel.

City Union Bank Secures $50 Million from IFC for Green Financing (Start of November) ▼

City Union Bank Ltd. secured a $50 million commitment from International Finance Corporation (IFC).
International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of the World Bank Group.
The financing is aimed at supporting MSMEs in transitioning to energy-efficient and cost-effective solutions.
City Union Bank Ltd. is a private bank established in 1904.
This partnership will support India’s efforts to accelerate its transition to net-zero by 2070.
Kamakodi N is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CUB.
Imad N. Fakhoury is the IFC Regional Division Director for South Asia.

India unveils Mission Sudarshan Chakra to boost indigenous defence capabilities

Key Updates:

Mission Sudarshan Chakra was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2025.
The mission was announced during the Prime Minister's Independence Day address from the Red Fort.
It aims to ensure defence systems are entirely researched, developed and manufactured within India.
The programme seeks to anticipate future warfare scenarios through predictive and advanced technologies.
By 2035, the mission aims to establish a comprehensive national security shield covering both strategic and civilian assets.
Mission Sudarshan Chakra gained prominence in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

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India Establishes Joint Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid in New Delhi to Strengthen Air Defence Shield (Start of January) ▼

The Indian defence forces are working towards creating a joint Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) grid to foil any enemy drone attacks.
The joint CUAS grid being created by networking all the CUAS systems of the forces will be separate from the existing air defence networks of the defence forces, such as the Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS) of the Indian Air Force.
The joint CUAS grid would be established with the existing Joint Air Defence Centres (JADC), including the three services, and deployed to monitor all drone movements.
The Centre is working on Mission Sudarshan Chakra to create a massive air defence shield.
During Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan Army tried to target Indian civilian and military installations in a big way by using Turkish and Chinese-origin drones.
Major damage to small drones was caused by the L-70 and ZU-23 air-defence guns of the Indian Army.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed laser counter UAS system.
The Chief of the Defence Staff is responsible for integrating the three forces and enhancing jointness among them.

Indian Army raises Bhairav Special Force with over one lakh drone operatives for modern warfare (Start of January) ▼

Indian Army has created a pool of over one lakh drone operatives across the force.
Bhairav, the latest Special Force raised by the Indian Army, is being readied to tackle the challenges of modern warfare.
All Bhairav operatives are capable of handling drones and using them in real operations for targeting bases and formations inside enemy territory.
The Indian Army has raised around 15 Bhairav battalions already, with plans to raise around 25 in total.
The Bhairav battalions bridge the gap between the Para Special Forces and the regular Infantry battalions.
The Bhairav battalions will carry out Special Operations at tactical to operational depth.
The desert Bhairav Battalion, also known as the Desert Falcons, is based on the concept of 'Sons of the Soil' with majority troops from Rajasthan.
The Bhairav battalions underwent operational validation during Exercise Akhand Prahar.
The Bhairav battalions will participate in the Army Day Parade at Jaipur on January 15 this year.
Indian Army has also created Rudra Brigades, all-arms formations combining infantry, mechanised units, tanks, artillery, special forces, and unmanned aerial systems.

Indian Army inks MoU via 515 Army Base Workshop to fast-track indigenous land-system drones (Mid of December) ▼

The MoU was signed between the 515 Army Base Workshop, acting on behalf of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, and Raghu Vamsi Par East Automation Pvt Ltd.
The partnership establishes a pathway from evaluation to field induction and scaling up of drone technologies, aligned with operational requirements and indigenous manufacturing goals.
The MoU focuses on technology infusion in drone manufacturing, with emphasis on IC engine-based drones and systems capable of operating in GPS-denied environments.
Raghu Vamsi Par East will provide technical consultancy to the Army Base Workshop for comprehensive evaluation of drone technologies including subsystem reviews, integration readiness assessments and compliance with Army standards.

DRDO to supply Indian Army & IAF 16 indigenous laser-based drone detection-cum-interception systems (Mid of November) ▼

System name: Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (Mark 2) developed by DRDO
Engagement specification: 10-kilowatt laser beam disables enemy UAVs at 2 km range, doubling the 1 km reach of the earlier version
Procurement scale: Indian Army and Indian Air Force jointly placing order for 16 units
Technology progression: DRDO has also test-fired a 30-kilowatt directed-energy weapon that can engage targets out to 5 km
Demonstration milestone: April showcase used 30-kW laser to shoot down fixed-wing aircraft, missiles and swarm drones, placing India among US, China and Russia with proven capability

United States Warns India of Higher Tariffs Over Continued Russian Oil Imports

[United States]

Key Updates:

United States (U.S.) president Donald Trump warned on January 4 that Washington could raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not stop buying Russian oil.
At present, Indian shipments face a cumulative 50% import tariff, with half of that directly linked to India’s continued purchases of Russian crude.
U.S. senator Lindsey Graham is pushing legislation that would impose sweeping secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas if Moscow refuses to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine within 50 days.
Indian exports to the U.S. fell 20.7% between May and November 2025, and a further escalation in tariffs could deepen the decline.
As tariff threats harden into policy, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) says India can no longer afford strategic ambiguity.

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Russia Becomes India's Top Sunflower Oil Supplier, Capturing 56% Market Share in 2024 (Start of November) ▼

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.

Council and Parliament (EU) agree on rules to prohibit Russian gas imports (Start of December) ▼

Imports of Russian pipeline gas and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will be prohibited from six weeks after the regulation's entry into force, with a transition period for existing contracts.
Russian gas accounts for an estimated 13% of European Union (EU) imports in 2025, valued at over €15 billion annually.
European Union (EU) oil imports from Russia dropped to below 3% in 2025 due to the current sanctions regime.
The Commission intends to propose legislation for phasing out Russian oil imports to the European Union (EU) no later than end of 2027.
The prior authorisation procedure does not apply to imports from countries that exported over 5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to the European Union (EU) in 2024.
The regulation introduces effective, proportionate, and dissuasive penalties for non-compliance, including a maximum threshold for both companies and private individuals.
The Commission will review the regulation's implementation within two years of its entry into force.
Member states must notify the Commission within one month of the regulation's entry into force regarding Russian gas supply contracts or national legal bans.

IEA Global Energy Outlook 2025: India to Drive Global Oil Demand Growth to 2035 (Mid of November) ▼

India’s energy demand is projected to rise by an average of 3% annually till 2035, the fastest among all emerging markets and developing economies.
India’s oil use is expected to rise from 5.5 million barrels per day (mbpd) in 2024 to 8 mbpd by 2035.
India’s oil import dependency is set to climb from 87% in 2024 to 92% by 2035.
India’s refining capacity is expected to grow from 6 mbpd in 2024 to 7.5 mbpd by 2035.
India’s natural gas demand is projected to nearly double to 140 billion cubic metres (bcm) by 2035.
India’s coal production will increase by around 50 million tonnes of coal equivalent (Mtce) by 2035.
India’s carbon emissions are likely to peak around 2040 at roughly 3.4 gigatonnes per year.

India Signs First Long-Term US LPG Import Deal to Boost Energy Security (Mid of November) ▼

Indian public sector oil companies have signed a one-year deal to import liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the United States.
The deal is for imports of around 2.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LPG for the contract year 2026.
This volume represents close to 10 per cent of India's annual LPG imports and will be sourced from the US Gulf Coast.
The purchase has been benchmarked to Mount Belvieu, a key pricing point for global LPG trade.
Teams from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) held discussions with major American producers.
The Government of India absorbed a burden of over Rs 40,000 crore to shield consumers from international price shocks, ensuring Ujjwala consumers paid Rs 500-550 per cylinder against an actual cost of over Rs 1,100.

Russia uses Oreshnik missile in strikes on Kyiv and Lviv

[Russia]

Key Updates:

Russia that it had used the Oreshnik missile amid a barrage of overnight strikes on Kyiv and Lviv in western Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Air Force later said the missile travelled at a speed of 13,000km/h (more than 8,000mph).
Putin has said that the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile is impossible to intercept because of speeds reportedly more than 10 times the speed of sound.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that the reported Oreshnik strike was meant as a warning to Europe and the US.

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Poland to build $2.2 bn multi-layered anti-drone defences to counter Russian threat (End of December) ▼

Poland is set to build a roughly $2.2 billion multi-layered anti-drone fortification along its eastern border.
The system will integrate drone-jamming systems, machine guns, cannons and missiles.
First capabilities are expected in roughly six months, with full completion targeted within 24 months.
Most of the cost will be covered by European funds under the SAFE defence loan programme, with additional contributions from Poland’s own defence budget.

Kyivstar and Starlink Bring Europe’s First Direct-to-Cell Service Live in Ukraine (End of November) ▼

Kyivstar is now offering direct-to-cell services for its customers by working with SpaceX’s Starlink constellation.
Around 200,000 Kyivstar customers have already registered on the Direct to Cell network.
More than 16,000 SMS messages were sent and received just on Monday when the service went live.
The service will support customers during prolonged blackouts and Ukrainians in areas near the front line and in de-occupied territories where the terrestrial network is damaged or under restoration.
The coverage extends across Ukraine’s territory but does not include occupied areas, border regions, and active combat zones.
The Starlink Direct to Cell technology is compatible only with Android smartphones with 4G support, and integration with iOS is expected soon.

Russia launches 52 satellites in one mission, puts 3 Iranian spacecraft into orbit (End of December) ▼

Russia lifted a Soyuz-2.1b from Vostochny with 52 satellites and separately placed three Iranian communications payloads in orbit.
Roscosmos said the payload includes two Aist-2T satellites and 50 smaller spacecraft.
The Aist-2T satellites are designed to photograph the Earth’s surface and produce stereoscopic images to build digital terrain models.
Some smaller satellites are CubeSats under the Universat program and will study climate change and “space weather” in low Earth orbit for the Russian Hydrometeorological Service.
A Russian rocket placed the Iranian satellites — Paya, Kowsar, and Zafar-2 — into a 500-kilometre orbit from Vostochny.
The satellites can capture images with up to three-meter resolution for management of water resources, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.

India conducts salvo launch of two Pralay quasi-ballistic missiles off Odisha coast (Start of January) ▼

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a salvo launch of two quasi-ballistic missiles, Pralay, off the coast of Odisha as part of user evaluation trials.
Both missiles followed the intended trajectory and met all flight objectives, as confirmed by tracking sensors deployed by the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.
Pralay is an indigenously developed, solid-propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing state-of-the-art guidance and navigation systems to ensure high precision.
The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against a variety of targets and is slated for induction into the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force with a conventional warhead.
The system has been developed by Hyderabad-based DRDO facility Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with three Pune-based units — Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), and Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) [R&DE].

Folic acid supplementation prevents over 70% of Spina Bifida cases

Key Updates:

Spina Bifida is a birth defect of the spinal cord that causes serious childhood paralysis and occurs in more than 25,000 children in India each year, making the country home to one of the highest prevalence rates of this condition in the world.
Since 1991, the fact that pre-conceptional intake of folic acid by women can prevent more than 70% of Spina Bifida cases has been known, after the results of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Vitamin Study were published in The Lancet.
In India, in contrast, the prevalence rate remains unacceptably high, at about 4 per 1,000, primarily because no such efforts have been undertaken.
Additionally, affected children may have associated problems such as excessive water in the brain (hydrocephalus), urinary and bowel incontinence (lack of control) and orthopaedic issues such as club feet, and other medical problems.
A preliminary trial for tea fortification (results of which were published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health) found that tea could potentially be vehicle for fortification with folate and vitamin B12 in India, in order to help eliminate haematological and neurological complications.
It is only efforts such as these that will contribute toward the primary prevention of Spina Bifida and anencephaly, averting stillbirths, and under-five deaths due to these birth defects says Vijaya Kancherla, director, Center for Spina Bifida Prevention (CSBP) at Emory University, U.S.
Each rupee spent on prevention in this regard can help save more than 100 rupees required for treatment and rehabilitation.

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Haryana Beti Bachao Beti Padhao follow-up measures yield 923 sex ratio in 2025 (Start of January) ▼

Haryana’s sex ratio at birth improved to 923 in 2025, a 13-point rise from 910 in 2024.
State government cracked down on sex-selective abortions and illegal sale of MTP kits, registering 114 FIRs under the MTP Act and conducting 154 raids under the PC-PNDT Act.
Reverse tracking of 12-week pregnant women with a previous girl child was introduced to curb illegal abortions.

CSIR-IGIB and Serum Institute partner on India's first indigenous CRISPR therapy 'BIRSA 101' for Sickle Cell Disease (End of November) ▼

Technology: Indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy named 'BIRSA 101' engineered with enFnCas9 platform developed by CSIR–Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB)
Target: Designed as a 'precise genetic surgery' to potentially cure Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) that disproportionately affects India's tribal populations in central and eastern regions
Affordability: Projected to cost 'only a fraction' of global gene therapies that typically run Rs 20–25 crore, ensuring wider accessibility
Public-private partnership: Formal technology transfer and collaboration agreement exchanged between CSIR-IGIB and Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd (SIIPL) to manufacture and scale the therapy
Policy link: Launch supports the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission aiming for a 'Sickle Cell–Free India by 2047' through universal screening, prevention and management across 278 affected tribal districts

Tamil Nadu Forest staff deploy M-STrIPES app for tiger census in Anamalai Tiger Reserve

[Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

Forest staff will use the Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (M-STrIPES) app to record census data.
The All India Tiger Estimation Survey 2026 in Anamalai Tiger Reserve begins Wednesday, covering 115 transect lines with over 340 staff.
Previous census identified 25 tigers in ATR and seven to eight shared between ATR and Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.

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All-India Tiger Estimation-2026 kicks off in Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Start of January) ▼

The first phase of All-India Tiger Estimation-2026 commenced in Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary under Erode Forest Division.
Census teams are using the line transect method to record pugmarks, animal droppings, and direct sightings.
Wildlife species enumerated include tigers, leopards, gaur, elephants, and bears.
Large herbivores such as elephants, gaur, and deer will be enumerated in the subsequent three days.
Scavenging birds like vultures and vegetation details including tree species, grass varieties, weeds, shrubs, and undergrowth are also documented.
Field-level survey data will be compiled and submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority by January 31.

India records 166 tiger deaths in 2025, 40 more than previous year; MP reports highest toll (Start of January) ▼

India lost 166 tigers in 2025, forty more than the previous year, according to the latest data of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of deaths at 55, followed by Maharashtra (38), Kerala (13) and Assam (12).
Of the 166 deceased tigers, 31 were cubs.
Experts attribute the major cause of death to territorial infighting due to space crunch as tiger populations reach saturation.

Madhya Pradesh State-Level Multi-National Park Tiger Corridor (Mid of December) ▼

Madhya Pradesh is developing the country's first state-level multi-national park tiger corridor in coordination with NHAI and PWD.
The corridor will incorporate underpasses in forest areas, slow-traffic zones, and wildlife-safe designs to balance tiger movement, tourism, and local connectivity.
It will promote eco-tourism and strengthen the local economy.

India's All India Tiger Estimation: The World's Largest Wildlife Survey (Start of November) ▼

The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) is widely recognised as the world’s largest wildlife survey, unmatched in both scale and precision.
It is conducted across more than 400,000 square kilometres of forests in over 20 states, mobilising an army of over 60,000 forest staff and field experts.
The survey blends satellite imagery, field surveys, and data analytics to create the most comprehensive picture of a single species ever attempted.
The methodology involves three phases: Phase 1 includes beat guards conducting carnivore sign surveys, prey counts, and vegetation/human pressure assessments; Phase 2 is handled by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, using satellite images and remotely sensed information; and Phase 3 utilizes camera trapping in four square kilometre grids to identify individual tigers by their stripe patterns.
The 2022 cycle used more than 40,000 camera traps, earning India a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest camera trap wildlife survey.
Cubs are deliberately not counted in the estimation, as about fifty percent do not survive up to one year, and are only included as independent individuals after two to two-and-a-half years of age.
Extrapolation is used to estimate tiger numbers in similar but unsampled forests, combining Phase 1 sign and prey data with Phase 2 habitat models.

Senapati Forest Division launches PRA exercise to rejuvenate Barak River watershed

Key Updates:

The Senapati Forest Division launched a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercise at Saranamai village under the Barak catchment area.
The PRA exercise involved mapping of local resources, land-use patterns, wealth ranking, matrix ranking, timeline and SWOT analysis of the village.
The baseline data generated will help formulate a detailed action plan under the new CAMPA scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Barak River originates at Liyai Khullen village of Senapati District and drains into the Bay of Bengal as river Meghna in Bangladesh.
The Barak basin is the second largest basin in North-East India and is fed by tributaries including the Makru, Irang, Tuivai.
Threats to the Barak basin include forest fires, floods, bank erosion, deforestation, shifting cultivation, soil erosion, landslides, and lack of awareness.

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Afghanistan advances Kunar River diversion project threatening Pakistan water supply (Mid of December) ▼

Afghanistan’s technical committee has approved a proposal to transfer water from the Kunar River to the Darunta Dam in Nangarhar.
The Kunar River originates in Pakistan’s Chitral district, flows into Afghanistan, then re-enters Pakistan to join the Kabul River which merges with the Indus near Attock.
Pakistan has no formal water-sharing agreement or arbitration mechanism with Afghanistan concerning transboundary rivers.

NMCG approves first-of-its-kind avifauna conservation project for sandbar-nesting birds in Ganga basin (Start of January) ▼

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

Mission Watershed PUNARUTTHAN Launched to Rejuvenate Water Bodies and Strengthen Water Harvesting Systems (Mid of December) ▼

Mission Watershed PUNARUTTHAN aims to 'Rejuvenate traditional water bodies, Restore degraded and vulnerable lands, Strengthen water harvesting systems, Promote sustainable rural livelihoods, Ensure community-driven watershed governance, Integrate programmes like MGNREGA for enhanced impact.'
The State-Level Watershed Mahotsav 2025 was inaugurated by Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, at Naga Solidarity Park, Kohima, Nagaland.
Under PMKSY and watershed initiatives in Nagaland, '14 watershed projects approved, ₹140 crore sanctioned, with ₹80 crore released, 555 water harvesting structures renovated, 6,500+ farmers benefitted, 120 springs restored.'

Meghalaya Unveils Soil Lake Amidst Accelerating Climate Threat (Mid of December) ▼

Meghalaya inaugurated the Soil Lake at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills, developed under the Nengsang River Valley Project.
The Soil Lake aims to rejuvenate a key water body, boost eco-tourism, and promote sustainability and ecological balance.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma warned that Meghalaya may have "even crossed the tipping point" due to intensifying climate impacts on water bodies, agriculture, and forests.
The state faces environmental decline, including a decline in spring discharge, irregular rainfall, and greater soil erosion over the past decade.
Nearly 70,000 springs sustain rural households in Meghalaya, with over 40 per cent of villages reporting reduced water availability during lean seasons.
The newly developed lake is a 0.5-hectare water body, capable of holding nearly 10,000 cubic metres of water.
The government's response includes the Meghalaya Climate Change Council and flagship programmes such as spring rejuvenation, watershed development, and climate-adaptive water harvesting.
More than 500 new structures are planned to support irrigation, recharge groundwater, and moderate floods and droughts.
A community-based water harvesting programme involves 533 structures to strengthen irrigation, flood control, and micro-hydropower generation.

NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory (Rubin) discovers fastest-spinning large asteroid

[United States]

Key Updates:

Astronomers analyzing data from the NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory (Rubin) have discovered the fastest-ever spinning asteroid with a diameter over half a kilometer.
The identified asteroid, named 2025 MN45, is 710 meters (0.44 miles) in diameter and completes a full rotation every 1.88 minutes.
This is the first published, peer-reviewed scientific paper that uses data from the Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Camera, which is the largest digital camera in the world.
The study identified 19 newly discovered fast rotators that are all longer than 90 meters (100 yards), with most located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Scientists calculate that 2025 MN45 must have a cohesive strength similar to that of solid rock to remain intact while spinning at such high speeds.
Rubin is a joint program of the NSF NOIRLab (NOIRLab) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC).
The LSST is a 10-year mission designed to repeatedly scan the southern hemisphere night sky to create a time-lapse record of the universe.

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dust Detector Records Constant Cosmic Particle Bombardment (Start of January) ▼

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) stated that the Dust EXperiment (DEX) "successfully recorded multiple impacts from orbital debris and cosmic dust, confirming that it can identify and measure such events in low-Earth orbit."
Developed by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, DEX was flown aboard the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) during the PSLV-C58 XPoSat mission, launched on Jan 1, 2024.
At the heart of DEX is a 3-kg dust detector based on the hypervelocity impact principle.
Despite its sensitivity, the system consumes just 4.5 W of power, making it suitable for long-duration missions.
Scientists derived a dust flux of about 6.5 × 10?³ particles per square metre per second, confirming that Earth is under constant bombardment from interplanetary debris.
Such measurements help refine models of the near-Earth space environment, which are essential for protecting satellites and other space assets from high-speed micro-impacts.
Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) are microscopic fragments shed by comets and asteroids.
After being placed at an altitude of about 350km, the instrument operated between Jan 1 and Feb 9, 2024.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) observes white dwarf system EX Hydrae using IXPE (Start of January) ▼

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) used the Imaging X-ray Polarisation Explorer (IXPE) to study the white dwarf system EX Hydrae as a structured system with shape and depth.
EX Hydrae is a binary system located approximately 200 light years away in the constellation Hydra, consisting of a compact white dwarf and a companion star.
The system is classified as an intermediate polar, where the magnetic field is strong enough to redirect gas along magnetic field lines toward the star’s surface but not strong enough to fully dominate the accretion disc.
IXPE measures the polarisation of X-ray light, which provides data on the direction and structure of light movement and scattering.
Observations revealed a column of hot gas rising almost 2,000 miles above the surface of the white dwarf.
The data suggested that X-rays bounce off the white dwarf’s surface before reaching Earth, a detail made visible through polarisation.
The study was led by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and published in the Astrophysical Journal.
IXPE is a joint mission between NASA and the Italian Space Agency, designed to collect data on objects ranging from neutron stars to black holes.

Asteroid 2025 PN7 identified as a new 'quasi-moon' of Earth (End of October) ▼

Earth has one true natural satellite, which is 2,159-miles-wide and located about 239,000 miles away.
Astronomers have discovered celestial objects called 'quasi-moons' in Earth's cosmic neighborhood.
Asteroid 2025 PN7 is a recently spotted quasi-moon, which appears to be the source of the rumor mill about Earth's supposed second moon.
The Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii was the first to spot the quasi-moon 2025 PN7.
The Minor Planet Center, the official authority for observing and reporting new asteroids, comets and other small bodies in the solar system, named the object 2025 PN7.
Quasi-moons are asteroids that orbit the sun, following an almost exact path as Earth while always remaining close by, appearing to orbit our planet.
Astronomers say that asteroid 2025 PN7 poses no danger to Earth and is about 62 feet in diameter.
Asteroid 2025 PN7 is believed to have been in its Earth-adjacent orbit for about 60 years and is expected to remain our neighbor for another six decades.

Unprecedented Brightening of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Reported (Start of November) ▼

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS exhibited an unprecedented and rapid increase in brightness as it approached the Sun.
The finding is significant because the internal composition of 3I/ATLAS could suggest that the planetary system from which it originates has a unique chemical makeup.
The unusual event was detected by several space-based observatories, including the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), the GOES-19 meteorological satellite, and NASA’s twin spacecraft, STEREO-A and STEREO-B (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory).
Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object to enter our solar system, following the elongated asteroid ‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
Karl Battams of the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, and Qicheng Zhang of the Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona, reported the findings in a new paper published on the research repository arXiv.
The rapid brightening of 3I/ATLAS far exceeds the brightening rate of most Oort Cloud comets at similar radial distances.
Researchers have proposed multiple hypotheses for the anomaly, including the comet’s high velocity as it approaches the Sun, or intrinsic differences in its composition or structure compared to typical Oort Cloud comets.
Carbon dioxide sublimation seemed to dominate the comet’s activity even when it was just three times farther from the Sun than Earth, suggesting that cooling effects might have delayed water-ice sublimation.

India establishes National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) for air pollution monitoring

Key Updates:

India has established the world's second National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in New Delhi.
The NESL will develop testing and calibration facilities for air pollution monitoring equipment to reduce dependence on foreign certification systems.
At present, the United Kingdom (UK) is the only other country in the world to possess such a laboratory.
The facility aims to address measurement anomalies caused by high dust load, humidity, and temperature differences prevalent in Indian environmental conditions.
The laboratory will provide validated performance data for the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), industrial emission audits, and smart-city monitoring networks.
Union Science & Technology Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the laboratory during the 80th Foundation Day celebrations of CSIR-NPL.

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CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) opens National Environmental Standard Laboratory to certify air-pollution gear (Start of January) ▼

Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the National Environmental Standard Laboratory at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) premises.
The facility will test and calibrate equipment that monitors air pollution, including Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Equipment (OCEMS) and Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS).
The Environment Ministry has designated CSIR-NPL as the verification and certification agency for emission and ambient air pollution monitoring equipment in India.

Delhi's Air Quality Enters 'Red Zone' Amidst Severe Pollution (Start of November) ▼

Delhi's air quality has entered the 'red zone' with AQI crossing 400, making it the country's second most polluted city.
With a 24-hour average AQI of 361, Delhi became the country’s second most polluted city, according to CPCB data.
Several areas, including Wazirpur (420), Burari (418), and Vivek Vihar (411), recorded 'severe' pollution levels.
In the NCR, Noida (354), Greater Noida (336), and Ghaziabad (339) also reported hazardous air.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage 3 has not been enforced yet because, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the city’s air quality this November has remained comparatively better than the same period last year.
Officials credited this improvement to timely and coordinated actions across departments, including intensified dust control, road cleaning, anti-smog operations, and stricter checks on vehicles and industrial emissions.
The air quality early warning system for Delhi has forecast that the city’s air will stay in the ‘very poor’ category for the coming days.

India ranks third globally in clean industrial project pipeline with $150 bn capital need (Start of November) ▼

India’s clean industrial project pipeline is the third largest in the world after China and the US
Capital requirement to operationalise the pipeline exceeds $150 billion
Major share of pipeline consists of greenfield facilities in chemicals sector, hydrogen, port infrastructure and core industrial production assets
Investments aim to accelerate industrial growth under ‘Make in India’ initiative and position India as a global hub for clean industrial production
Surging production and consumption in heavy industries such as steel, cement, chemicals, aviation and shipping is powering economic growth and employment

World Bank Clears $600 Million for Uttar Pradesh and Haryana Clean Air Programs (Mid of December) ▼

The World Bank has approved $599.66 million in financing for two major clean air programs in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
These initiatives aim to improve air quality, reduce health impacts, and strengthen both states as attractive business destinations.
The programs will invest in clean cooking, electric mobility, and cleaner industrial practices.
Paul Procee, Acting Country Director, World Bank India, stated that 'Air pollution is causing severe health impacts, loss of productivity and reduced quality of life across South Asia.'
The operations mark the first airshed-based, multi-sectoral programs taken up by Indian state governments to address air pollution.
The Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Program (UPCAMP), backed by $299.66 million, will expand the state’s Clean Air Plan with investments across transport, agriculture and industry.
UPCAMP aims to provide clean cooking access to 3.9 million households and promote clean mobility by deploying 15,000 electric three-wheelers and 500 electric buses in Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
Haryana’s Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development Operation, supported by $300 million, will invest in air quality and emissions monitoring and expand clean transport options such as electric buses and electric three-wheelers in Gurugram, Sonipat and Faridabad.
In November, Haryana slipped into the red zone of India’s air quality map, with no district meeting the national annual PM2.5 standard.
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has identified Haryana as a significant pollution hotspot in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Gurugram is among seven districts in Haryana that rank within India’s 50 most polluted, with PM2.5 levels at least twice—and in some cases nearly three times—above the annual national safety limit.
Both state programs form part of the World Bank's Regional Air Quality Management Program in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills.

Govt to roll out vehicle-to-vehicle communication to cut crashes

Key Updates:

The government will soon roll out vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology which will allow cars to “talk” to each other and alert drivers during contingencies.
The technology features an On Board Unit (OBU) installed in cars for wireless data exchange between vehicles, enabling sharing of real-time information like speed, location, acceleration, braking etc.
The telecommunications department will provide free spectrum under its national frequency allocation plan for the units.
A joint task force has agreed in-principle for the use of 30 MHz (5.875-5.905 GHz) for V2V purposes.

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Sarbananda Sonowal flags off India's first indigenous hydrogen fuel-cell vessel (Mid of December) ▼

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India's first indigenous hydrogen fuel-cell vessel in Varanasi.
The hydrogen-powered vessel reflects India's growing technological capabilities and its commitment to sustainable energy.
Hydrogen engines are an emerging technology offering clean, sustainable energy with near-zero emissions.
Research and testing are still underway before full-scale commercial adoption of hydrogen engines.
India has now joined the list of countries such as China, Norway, the Netherlands, and Japan that operate hydrogen-powered vessels.
The initiative aligns with long-term strategic frameworks, including the Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030) and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV 2047), which outline the roadmap for greener transport, smart infrastructure, and increased use of alternative fuels on inland waterways.

Pravaig VEER: India’s Indigenous All-Terrain Electric Defence Vehicle (Start of November) ▼

Vehicle Name & Developer: Pravaig VEER all-terrain tactical electric vehicle developed by Bengaluru-based Pravaig Dynamics
Key Capabilities: Stealth features, high mobility on deserts/mountains/forests, reduced acoustic & thermal signatures, full field-repairability
Recognition & Trials: Secured iDEX Innovation for Defence Excellence award and completed military trials, moving toward production-ready status

18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2025: Objectives and Focus Areas (Mid of November) ▼

The Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) will host the 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2025 in Gurugram.
The objective of the event is sharing best practices in urban mobility at the national and global level.
The conference will feature technical sessions related to urban transportation, modernising public transport, e-mobility, road safety, traffic management, and sustainable development.
Experts, policymakers, city planners, and industry representatives from across the country and abroad will be attending the event.

TEC and IIT Kanpur ink MoU to craft India-specific telecom standards and drive 6G, AI, NTN, IoT, Digital Twin, Metaverse and Quantum Communication research

[IIT Kanpur]

Key Updates:

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) will jointly develop 'India-specific standards and testing frameworks for emerging and future communication technologies, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence in Telecom, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twin, Metaverse, and Quantum Communication.'
The collaboration will enhance India's active participation and leadership in global standard-setting and radiocommunication bodies such as ITU-T, ITU-R, 3GPP, and other relevant international forums.
Joint research will target AI/ML for network automation, optimization and intelligent management, with a roadmap towards AI-native capabilities for future networks.
Studies will cover satellite communication systems, NTNs, HAPS and satellite-terrestrial integration, including disaster-resilient and emergency connectivity solutions.
The partnership strengthens indigenous research, design and manufacturing in telecom, developing India-specific standards, test frameworks and home-grown solutions that bolster national self-reliance, secure critical communications infrastructure and reduce dependence on imports.

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IIT Madras launches IITM Global Research Foundation to become world’s first multinational university (Start of January) ▼

IIT Madras launched the IITM Global Research Foundation aimed at positioning the institute as the world’s first multinational university.
The initiative will operate through four pillars: technology transfer to global markets, joint international research projects, overseas business opportunities for IIT Madras startups, and attracting foreign investment into the institute’s innovation ecosystem.
Initial centres will be set up in the US, Dubai, Malaysia and Germany, with plans for expansion.

IIT Ropar and iDG10 Solutions Launch India's First Subsea Pipeline Design Training and Consultancy Program (Start of November) ▼

The Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar) and iDG10 Solutions Private Limited have signed an MoU to launch India’s first industry-anchored training, validation, and consultancy partnership in Subsea Pipeline Design Technology.
The collaboration aims to build domestic capability in a niche and strategic field critical to India’s offshore and energy infrastructure development.
This 60-month partnership will leverage IIT Ropar’s academic and research expertise along with iDG10’s proprietary Subsea Pipeline Design Tool (SPDT) software.
iDG10 will provide educational and validation licenses of its SPDT and related software tools to IIT Ropar for student and research use.
A flagship Subsea Pipeline Design course will offer five days of classroom learning at IIT Ropar followed by a 21-day live project using SPDT for hands-on design experience.
IIT Ropar and iDG10 will offer joint consultancy to sectors including Oil & Gas, Water & Wastewater, Hydrogen transport, District heating and cooling, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCTSU), Mining, and Thermal power infrastructure.
The programme will issue a joint certificate from IIT Ropar and iDG10 Solutions upon completion.
Eligible participants include final-year B.Tech/M.Tech students (Mechanical or Civil) and professionals in Oil & Gas, offshore, marine, and related sectors.

IIT Kanpur and NMDC sign MoU to boost cybersecurity and AI/ML adoption in mining (Start of December) ▼

IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub will conduct cyber risk assessments and develop AI/ML solutions for enhanced operational efficiency in the mining sector.
The collaboration will explore AI/ML-driven solutions, digital twins, predictive maintenance frameworks, and advanced data analytics across NMDC’s mining ecosystem.
Both institutions will jointly undertake research, capacity-building programs, and technology pilots, with successful proofs-of-concept evaluated for scalable deployment.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) Signs MoU with Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) to Establish Centre of Excellence (Start of December) ▼

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) to establish a centre of excellence (CoE) on the IITR campus.
The primary objective of the C-DoT Centre of Excellence (CoE) is to accelerate indigenous research, innovation and capacity building in advanced communication technologies.
The CoE will have a strong focus on research in the areas of wireless communication, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and AI-based applications.
The centre will drive joint research and prototype development in key emerging domains, including 5G and 6G, RF-sub-THz integrated circuits, sensors, millimetre-wave beamforming antennas with integrated ICs, V2X Communication, data-driven wireless communication technologies and energy efficiency.

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) deploys PARAM SHAKTI supercomputer at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)

[Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)]

Key Updates:

PARAM SHAKTI hosts the indigenous PARAM RUDRA system and delivers a peak computing capacity of 3.1 petaflops.
The facility runs on open-source software including AlmaLinux and an indigenously developed system software stack by C-DAC.
The system supports research applications in aerospace engineering, materials science, climate modelling, combustion studies, molecular dynamics, nuclear sciences, and drug discovery.

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SHAKTI Scholars Young Research Fellowship offers ₹1 lakh grant for women-centric policy research (End of December) ▼

The National Commission for Women has launched SHAKTI Scholars: NCW’s Young Research Fellowship programme.
The fellowship invites applications from citizens aged 21 to 30 years with a minimum qualification of graduation from a recognised institution.
Selected candidates will receive a research grant of one lakh rupees to undertake a six-month research study on women-centric policy issues.

VijAIpatha Labs launched to democratise AI, STEM and Robotics education in Karnataka government schools (End of December) ▼

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched Cyient AI Labs (CyAILS) — 'VijAIpatha' — to provide Artificial Intelligence, STEM and Robotics education in government schools.
Under the pilot phase, five world-class AI, STEM and Robotics laboratories are being established in government schools, starting with a girl's government school in Hosapete taluk.
Each lab will be equipped with high-performance computers, AI-ready software, robotics kits, IoT devices, sensors and secure broadband connectivity.
The programme integrates CBSE's AI curriculum and is aligned with NEP 2020, Digital India and the mission of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The initiative targets rural and semi-urban areas, aiming to build early digital fluency, computational thinking and innovation capacity among students.
It will benefit over 2,000 students and train more than 200 teachers, serving as a scalable CSR model for national AI education rollout.

Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (IIT-I) promotes Hindi as functional language for science and technology (Start of January) ▼

The Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (IIT-I) is positioning Hindi as a functional language for scientific and technological learning to improve comprehension and widen access to knowledge.
The initiative is being driven through Abhyuday-3, a two-day National Technical Hindi Seminar organized by IIT-I in collaboration with IIT Jodhpur and the CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research.
At the institute, select first-year lectures are being delivered in Hindi and research abstracts are being compiled in accordance with prescribed official language standards.
The seminar resulted in the release of Smarika, a compilation of 26 peer-reviewed research papers written in Hindi covering science, engineering, digital technology, and innovation.
The program aims to strengthen technical Hindi to ensure wider dissemination of knowledge and reinforce the linguistic diversity of India.

India and Malaysia commence 5th edition of Harimau Shakti exercise in Rajasthan (Start of December) ▼

The fifth edition of the joint military exercise 'Harimau Shakti' is being held at Mahajan Field Firing Range from December 5-18.
The Indian contingent is represented mainly by troops from the Dogra Regiment.
The Malaysian side is represented by troops from the 25th Battalion Royal Malaysian Army.
The exercise aims to jointly rehearse conduct of sub-conventional operations under Chapter VII of United Nations mandate.
The scope includes synergising joint responses during counter-terrorist operations, cordon, search and destroy missions, and heliborne operations.
Army Martial Arts Routine, combat reflex shooting, and yoga are part of the exercise curriculum.
Both sides will rehearse drills to secure helipads and undertake casualty evacuation during counter-terrorist operations.

World Hindi Day 2026 observed on January 10

Key Updates:

World Hindi Day 2026 will be observed on January 10.
The date marks the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference, held in Nagpur in 1975.
World Hindi Day is officially observed by the Government of India, mainly through Indian embassies and missions overseas.
Hindi Diwas is observed on September 14 and marks the adoption of Hindi in the Devanagari script as an official language of India in 1949.

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Veer Bal Diwas observed on December 26 (End of December) ▼

Veer Bal Diwas is observed every year on December 26 to remember and honour the extraordinary courage and supreme sacrifice of the four Sahibzadas, the sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in 2022 that December 26 would be observed annually as Veer Bal Diwas.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development observes Veer Bal Diwas at the national level and confers the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on the same day.

World Computer Literacy Day celebrated each year on December 2 (Start of December) ▼

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.

Minorities Rights Day reinforces diversity as national strength (Mid of December) ▼

Minorities Rights Day in India is observed every year on 18 December.
The day is meant to preserve, protect and promote the rights of minority communities.
It highlights constitutional rights and protections available to minority groups.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) observed annually on October 31 (Start of November) ▼

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, also known as National Unity Day, is observed annually on October 31 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and to honor his pivotal role in fostering national and political integration and unity in India.
The day was first celebrated in 2014, following a declaration by the Government of India to honour and celebrate Sardar Patel’s remarkable contribution to nation-building.
The day underscores the importance of maintaining the sovereignty, peace and integrity of the nation, encouraging citizens to pledge their commitment to unity in diversity.
The year 2025 marks Sardar Patel's 150th birth anniversary.
During the Rashtriya Ekta Divas held on 31st October, 2015 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the initiative ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ for sustained and structured connect between people of different regions of the country for an enhanced understanding and bonding between them.

Delhi World Book Fair 2024: Free Entry, Indian Military History Theme

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

The 53rd Delhi World Book Fair is being organised by National Book Trust (NBT) and co-organised by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).
The fair is being inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Entry to the event is free for the first time in history.
The theme pavilion is titled 'Indian Military History: Valour & Wisdom @75'.
Spain is the focus country and Qatar the guest of honour.
Qatar’s ambassador is His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Jabir Al Jaber.

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National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) Won Two PRSI National Awards 2025 (Mid of December) ▼

The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), operating under the Ministry of Culture, was honored with two PRSI National Awards 2025 by the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI).
NCSM received the awards in the categories of 'Best Use of Social Media in a Corporate Campaign' for the Har Ghar Museum initiative and 'Special/Prestige Publication Category' for the Waste to Art publication.
The awards were presented during the 47th All India Public Relations Conference held from December 13 to 15, 2025, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
The theme of the conference was “Empowering Growth, Preserving Roots – The PR Vision for 2047”.
Shri Rajib Nath, Director (Hqrs.) of NCSM, and Shri Satyajit N. Singh, Public Relations Officer of NCSM, received the awards on behalf of the organization.
The award-winning Waste to Art initiative involved repurposing over 1,250 kg of waste, including metal scrap and discarded electronics, into art installations and science exhibits.
The Har Ghar Museum campaign achieved significant digital outreach, recording over 10 million views across platforms and engaging more than 1 million individuals.

CBIC wins Gold Prize in Public Outreach & Communication Category at IITF 2025 in New Delhi (Start of December) ▼

GST & Customs Pavilion bagged the Gold Prize in the Public Outreach and Communication Category at IITF 2025.
Pavilion showcased at India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025 in New Delhi from 14th-27th November 2025.
Built around the theme Next-Gen GST: सरल कर, खुशहाल राष्ट्र.
Eight helpdesks from GST, Customs, GSTN, ICEGATE and CPGRAMS provided instant support.
Educational videos and tutorials available in 10 regional languages plus Hindi and English.
Interactive digital exhibits showcased CBIC’s key reforms and achievements.
Engaging activities included magic shows, puppet shows, quizzes, caricature artists, VR games and selfie corners.
Dedicated sessions introduced students to career opportunities in CBIC.

India Pavilion Inaugurated at Dubai Air Show 2025 to Promote Defence Technology Cooperation (Mid of November) ▼

Event: Dubai Air Show 2025 – India Pavilion inaugurated by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth
Participants: Indian delegation includes senior defence officers, MEA & Armed Forces reps; global aerospace firms and 100+ air forces
Focus: Promoting defence technology and manufacturing cooperation; HAL, DRDO and Indian startups showcase advanced technology

44th India International Trade Fair held at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi (End of November) ▼

The 44th India International Trade Fair brought together art forms from each corner of the country, showcasing rich cultural diversity at Bharat Mandapam.
Jharkhand was the focus state of the event.
The fair featured pavilions from Turkey, Tunisia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

Indian ambassador to Bhutan explores Odisha’s ancient Buddhist heritage

[Bhutan]

Key Updates:

India’s ambassador to Bhutan, Sandeep Arya, visited the historic Buddhist sites of Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri, known as the ‘Diamond Triangle’ in Jajpur district.
At the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) museum in Ratnagiri, Arya explored a vast collection of 3,535 Buddhist antiquities, with 244 items on display across four galleries.
During his visit to the museum at Lalitgiri, the ambassador paid respect to the relic of Lord Buddha kept in a casket in the museum.

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International Spice Routes Heritage Network launched to position heritage as global tourism asset (Start of January) ▼

Kerala has launched the International Spice Routes Heritage Network, a global platform to boost cultural tourism and research by leveraging its historic maritime trade.
The initiative signals a strategic push to reposition heritage as a contemporary economic and tourism resource rather than a static historical narrative.
The Spice Routes Network would function as a platform for collaborative research, joint projects and shared resources in heritage conservation, archaeology, documentation, and museum development.
Organised by the Kerala Tourism Department in collaboration with the Muziris Heritage Project, the January 6-8 event brings together historians, policymakers and cultural practitioners from India and abroad.
Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas announced the initiative while inaugurating the three-day International Spice Routes Conference, themed 'Ancient Trails. New Journeys', at Bolgatty Palace.

2,000-year-old Buddhist site from Kushan Period resurfaces in Kashmir (End of December) ▼

Archaeologists in Zehanpora village have unearthed a significant Buddhist site dating back to the Kushan period, revealing stupas and monastic structures.
The discovery was initially sparked by old photographs in a French museum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the discovery a 'proud moment' and described the site as a window into the state’s ancient identity.

Narendra Modi inaugurates Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics (Start of January) ▼

Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics titled 'The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One' at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex.
The exposition marked the reunification of the Piprahwa gem relics of Lord Buddha after 127 years.
The exhibition displays relics, gem relics and ancient reliquaries excavated from the Piprahwa site in 1898 and during subsequent excavations between 1971 and 1975.
The repatriated relics are exhibited alongside artefacts preserved in the collections of the National Museum in New Delhi and the Indian Museum in Kolkata.
Modi paid tributes to social reformer Savitribai Phule and freedom fighter Rani Velu Nachiyar on their birth anniversaries.

India Hosts 20th Session of UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage at Red Fort, New Delhi (Mid of December) ▼

India is hosting the 20th Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) at the historical Red Fort complex in New Delhi.
The session is being held from 8 to 13 December 2025.
The inaugural session of ICH was held on 7th December and was graced by Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs, Dr S. Jaishankar; Hon'ble Minister of Culture & Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; Director General UNESCO, Khaled El-Enany; Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta; Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri Vivek Aggarwal; Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, Shri Vishal V. Sharma; and Chairperson, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Ms Sandhya Purecha.
Delegations from over 180 countries are attending the event.
The Ministry of Culture, along with its autonomous body, Sangeet Natak Akademi, is the nodal agency for hosting the ICH Session in India.

98th Academy Awards nominations announcement on January 22

Key Updates:

Five Indian films, including Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, Sister Midnight, Mahavatar Narsimha, Tanvi the Great, and Tourist Family, have secured eligibility for the Best Picture category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Neeraj Ghaywan’s film Homebound is India’s official submission and has been shortlisted among the top 15 finalists in the Best International Feature category.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) requires films to complete the confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) form to meet eligibility requirements for the Best Picture race.
Final nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on January 22, with 10 nominees selected for Best Picture and five for other categories.
Bollywood actor Dharmendra (1935-2025), widely known as the 'He-Man' of Indian cinema, passed away.

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CBFC Introduces Multilingual Module on E-Cinepramaan Portal to Streamline Film Certification (Mid of November) ▼

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has launched the Multilingual Module on the E-Cinepramaan portal.
This initiative is part of CBFC’s ongoing vision to digitize and simplify the film certification process for the Indian film industry.
The module is designed to streamline and simplify certification for films intended for release in multiple Indian languages.
Applicants can submit films in various languages through a single, unified application, significantly reducing procedural duplication.
Each film certified for multilingual release will receive a Multilingual Certificate, clearly listing all languages in which the film has been approved.
The entire application will be processed by one Regional Office, ensuring efficiency and uniformity.

Sasikumar wins Best Actor award for 'Tourist Family' (End of December) ▼

Sasikumar won the Best Actor award at the Chennai International Film Festival for his role in 'Tourist Family'.
Director Bala praised Sasikumar's spirit and urged him to direct again in an emotional letter.
'Tourist Family' also won the Best Film Award at the festival.

Homebound shortlisted for Best International Feature at Oscars 2026 (Mid of December) ▼

Homebound became only the fifth Indian film to make it to the shortlist of the Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards.
It competed with 86 films from around the globe to make it to the top 15 in the shortlist.
Only three Indian films — Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988), and Lagaan (2001) — previously reached the final five nominations in the same category.
Pan Nalin’s 2021 Gujarati film Last Film Show is the only Indian entry that made the shortlist but did not advance to the final nominations.

56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 (Mid of November) ▼

The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2025.
Over 240 films from 81 countries will be screened, including 13 world premieres, 4 international premieres, and 46 Asian premieres.
A record 2,314 submissions were received from 127 countries.
More than 50 women directors will feature in this year’s edition.
OTT awards will continue to honour excellence in streaming and web content.
Initiatives include strengthening anti-piracy laws, simplifying film certification, and introducing a new CBFC ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ certificate for multilingual films.
IFFIesta, a parallel cultural extravaganza, will offer music, food, art, and interactive experiences to encourage youth and public engagement.
Generative AI is viewed as "a creative partner shaping the future of storytelling."
The Gala Premieres segment will feature 18 titles, including 13 World Premieres, 2 Asia Premieres, 1 India Premiere, and 2 Special Showcase screenings.
The International Programming includes 160 films, 80+ award-winning festival titles, and 21 Oscar-nominated films.
Japan is the Country of Focus, Spain is the Partner Country, and Australia is the Spotlight Country.
The festival will host 15 competitive and curated segments, including International Competition, Best Debut Feature Film of a Director, ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal, and special showcases like Macabre Dreams, Docu-Montage, Experimental Films, UNICEF Section, and Restored Classics.

Sanitation Worker Unveils Book on President Draupadi Murmu

[Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

The biography titled 'Agni Sarassulo Vikasinchina Kamalam Draupadi Murmu' was authored by former MP and academician Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad.
The book release took place under a tree on the Andhra University campus in Visakhapatnam.
A sanitation worker employed at Andhra University unveiled the book in a symbolic gesture underscoring social inclusion.

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Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan releases 55 literary works on January 6, 2026 (Start of January) ▼

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan officially released 55 volumes of literary works in classical Indian languages on January 6, 2026.
The literary works include volumes in Kannada, Odia, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil, along with a sign-language series of the Tirukkural by poet Thiruvalluvar.
A total of 41 books were developed by the Centres of Excellence for Classical Languages under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).
The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) brought out 13 books and the sign language series of the Tirukkural.
The released works include Malayalam translations of Sangam-period books such as Purananooru, Pathitrupathu, and Pathuppattu.
A Telugu translation of Silappathikaram, recognized as one of the five great epics, was included in the collection.
Odia literary works such as Charyapada and Madalapanji were released to introduce the rich vocabulary of the Odia language to non-Odia readers.
The collection includes research books such as the Sangam Literature Dictionary and Akananuru Akaramuthali (Verb and Noun words).
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advances the vision of education in Indian languages to preserve the nation's historical and cultural wealth.

Dharmendra Pradhan releases Urdu book on PM Narendra Modi's Independence Day speeches (Start of January) ▼

Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education, released the Urdu book 'Khutbat-e-Modi: Lal Qila Ki Faseel Se' in Delhi.
The book compiles Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day addresses from the Red Fort delivered between 2014 and 2025.
The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), New Delhi, published the book under the Ministry of Education.

Salman Khan: The Sultan of Bollywood book release on December 20 (End of December) ▼

HarperCollins India is publishing Salman Khan: The Sultan of Bollywood on December 20.
The book is authored by award-winning writer Mohar Basu.
It is described as 'a love letter, a fan's tribute and a deep dive into the incredible phenomenon called Salman Khan'.

President Droupadi Murmu became second head of state to sail in submarine (End of December) ▼

Droupadi Murmu became the second head of state to sail in a submarine.
She undertook the sea sortie from Karwar Harbour in Karnataka.
She is the first President of India to have taken sortie in two fighter aircrafts of the Indian Air Force.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas observed on January 9

Key Updates:

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on January 9.
It was first celebrated on January 9, 2003.
January 9 commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa in 1915.

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Esther Lalduhawmi Hnamte Awarded Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (End of December) ▼

Esther Lalduhawmi Hnamte from Mizoram was awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PM Bal Puraskar) by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi.
She was recognized for her exceptional talent as a singing prodigy, particularly for her emotional performances of patriotic anthems such as “Maa Tujhe Salaam” and “Vande Mataram”.
Born on June 9, 2016, she began performing in local churches and gained widespread attention in October 2020 when a video of her singing “Vande Mataram” was shared by then-Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She released a music video of the national anthem in August 2021, which was sponsored by the Assam Rifles and has since surpassed 47 million views.
She performed at the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav in December and presented Prime Minister Modi with a “Poorvi” doll representing the Northeast.
She received the Young Achievers Award from Dalmia Cement Bharat Limited and became the face of an advertisement for the dairy cooperative Amul in 2021.
A documentary titled ‘A Star is Born’, chronicling her journey, won the Best Documentary Award (Silver) at the 2023 Northeast Film Festival.
Her accomplishments have been celebrated as an inspiration for a developed Bharat (Viksit Bharat), emphasizing the theme of unity in diversity.

Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav Creative Challenges Announce Winners (Start of January) ▼

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) announced winners of four creative challenges under the ‘Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav’ campaign organised with MyGov.
Citizens shared personal experiences and creative expressions reflecting India’s transformation over the last 11 years under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Aligned with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’, the campaign engaged citizens across age groups and backgrounds through Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Short AV, and Blog Writing contests.

Shaheedi Week 2025 observed from 21 to 29 December (End of December) ▼

Shaheedi Week is observed every year in December to remember the great sacrifices (Shaheedi) made by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Mata Gujri Ji, and the four Sahibzade.
Shaheedi Week 2025 is observed from 21 to 29 December.
The week teaches lessons of bravery, faith, truth, and standing against injustice.

Veer Bal Diwas observed on December 26 (End of December) ▼

Veer Bal Diwas is observed every year on December 26 to remember and honour the extraordinary courage and supreme sacrifice of the four Sahibzadas, the sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in 2022 that December 26 would be observed annually as Veer Bal Diwas.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development observes Veer Bal Diwas at the national level and confers the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on the same day.

Uttarakhand Police secures top rank in ICJS 2.0 national rankings

[Uttarakhand]

Key Updates:

Uttarakhand ranked first in the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0 national ranking with a score of 93.46, followed by Haryana at 93.41 and Assam at 93.16.
The ranking was released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) as part of its monthly Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) and ICJS Progress Dashboard Report.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has set a target to fully operationalize ICJS 2.0 by 2026, integrating police, courts, prosecution, prisons, forensics, and fingerprint databases on a single digital platform.
A 112-member team of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) received medals and commendation certificates from the Uttar Pradesh Government for crowd control and rescue operations during Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025.
The Uttarakhand Police is implementing advanced digital modules such as e-Sakshya, e-Summons, and Nyaya Shruti to reinforce the justice delivery system under the 'One Data, One Entry' principle.

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Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System 2.0 (ICJS 2.0) Integration (Start of January) ▼

The Central Home Ministry has set a target of fully implementing ICJS 2.0 by 2026, under which states are required to integrate police, courts, prosecution, prisons, forensic, and fingerprint databases onto a single digital platform.
Uttarakhand has received 93.46 points in the ICJS 2.0 ranking released by the National Crime Records Bureau, securing the first position nationwide.
Through ICJS 2.0 implementation, key modules have been successfully integrated in all districts of Uttarakhand, enabling case diaries, charge sheets, digital evidence, and judicial processes to be coordinated on a single digital platform.

Uttar Pradesh Government's Modern Policing and Crime-Free Initiatives (Mid of November) ▼

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasizes a zero-tolerance approach to crime, declaring that the 'new Uttar Pradesh does not accept crime'.
The upgraded Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) in Gorakhpur was inaugurated, costing Rs 72.78 crore, to strengthen modern policing efforts.
The long-awaited Commissionerate system has begun implementation, marking a 50-year milestone in the state's policing.
The government has reinforced law enforcement by transforming cities into safe zones using extensive CCTV surveillance.

Dinesh Khatak Awarded Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal (Mid of December) ▼

Dinesh Khatak, second-in-command (2-IC) of the 196 Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was honoured with the “Kendriya Grah Mantri Dakshata Padak” (Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal).
The award was given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
He is a native of Intel Kalan village in Jind district.
Dinesh Khatak joined the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as a Gazetted Officer in 2005.
He played key roles in managing the Amarnath Yatra and maintaining law and order during his deployments in Jammu and Kashmir.
He served during crucial phases such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dinesh Khatak contributed to advancing commando training at CIAT Shivpuri.
He is currently posted in the Naxal-affected Bijapur district.
He has led major security and relief initiatives, including establishing new forward camps and participating in KGH Special Operations.

India hosts 60th All India DGP–IGP Conference in Chhattisgarh from November 28 to 30 (End of November) ▼

The 60th All India DGP–IGP Conference will be hosted at the IIM campus in Naya Raipur from November 28 to 30.
The high-level internal security meet will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The core discussions remain policing modernisation, national security challenges, counter-terror strategies, community policing, forensic strengthening and action-taken reports from all states.
Dedicated sessions on security relations with China, Pakistan, radicalisation, and Left-Wing Extremism will also take place.
An advance team of the Special Protection Group (SPG) arrived in Raipur to take charge of ground-level security planning.
The IIM premises has been brought under 24x7 surveillance by IB and security agencies.
The conference belongs to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
This is the first time Chhattisgarh is hosting the national security DGP/ IGP conference.