Daily Current Affairs: 13 December 2025

Analysis for 13 December 2025

Henrique Braun appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company

[The Coca-Cola Company]

Key Updates:

Henrique Braun has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Coca-Cola Company.
He will succeed James Quincey as CEO on 31 March 2026.
James Quincey will transition to Executive Chairman of the Board.
Henrique Braun is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company.
James Quincey concluded his nine-year run at the helm as CEO.

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Milan Nedeljkovic appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group (Mid of December) ▼

Milan Nedeljkovic has been appointed as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BMW Group.
He will assume his role.
He succeeds Oliver Zipse.
Milan Nedeljkovic is an industry veteran in the German automaker.
He has been a member of the Board of Management at BMW AG.
He was responsible for the company's production.
He completed his mechanical engineering from RWTH Aachen University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
He also completed his doctorate at the Chair of Forming Technology and Foundry Engineering of the Technical University of Munich.

Brendan Nelson appointed as Chairman of HSBC Holdings (Start of December) ▼

Brendan Nelson succeeded Mark Tucker as Chairman of HSBC Holdings.
Nelson had been serving as interim chair since October 1 and joined the HSBC board in September 2023.
He will continue as chair of HSBC's group audit committee until the 2025 results are published in February 2026.

Doug McMillon to retire as Walmart CEO; John Furner named successor (Mid of November) ▼

Doug McMillon will step down as Walmart CEO on Jan. 31 and remain on the board until the annual shareholders' meeting.
John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. since 2019, will become CEO on Feb. 1.
McMillon started at Walmart in 1984 as an hourly warehouse associate and has been CEO since 2014.

Shashank Srowthy appointed as CFO of Procter & Gamble Health (Mid of September) ▼

Shashank Srowthy has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer, effective October 1, 2025.
He is a Bachelor of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering from Pune University and a Master of Management Studies from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies.
He joined P&G in 2011 in India and has worked across India, Dubai, and Singapore.

Shivraj Patil passed away as former Union Home Minister

Key Updates:

Shivraj Patil, former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader, passed away at the age of 90 in Latur, Maharashtra.
He served as the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha between 1991 and 1996.
Patil held the office of Union Home Minister from 2004 to 2008.
He was Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015.
He won the Latur Lok Sabha seat seven times.

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

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

Sardar Patel Honoured on His 150th Jayanti as the Architect of Modern India's Unity (Start of November) ▼

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the “Iron Man of India,” was honoured on his 150th birth anniversary.
He served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of independent India.
Patel undertook the task of integrating more than 560 princely states into the Indian Union, including Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Kashmir.
He played a key role in establishing the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service, which he called the “steel frame” of the nation.
His colossal Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat, stands as the world’s tallest statue.
His birth anniversary is celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — National Unity Day.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee received Bharat Ratna (Start of December) ▼

Atal Bihari Vajpayee served three terms as Prime Minister.
He served a full term from 1999 to 2004.
He was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior.
December 25 is observed as Good Governance Day in India.
Vajpayee’s tenure introduced landmark programmes such as the Kisan Credit Card, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and National Rural Health initiatives.

Veteran actor-singer Sulakshana Pandit passes away at 71 (Start of November) ▼

Sulakshana Pandit died due to cardiac arrest around 7 pm while being taken to Nanavati hospital.
She debuted in films with Uljhan in 1975 opposite Sanjeev Kumar and later worked with top stars like Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna.
As a playback singer she sang hits including “Tu hi saagar tu hi kinara”, “Pardesiya tere desh mein”, “Bekrar dil tut gaya”, “Baandhi re kahe preet”, and “Somvaar ko hum mile”.

Aman Jain appointed as head of public policy at Meta India

[Meta India]

Key Updates:

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

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Shri Sanjay Garg, IAS assumes charge as Director General of BIS (Start of November) ▼

Shri Sanjay Garg, a senior civil servant of IAS-1994 batch from the Kerala cadre, has assumed charge as the Director General of the Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Standards Body of India, with effect from 1 November 2025.
Prior to joining BIS as DG, he served as Additional Secretary, DARE (Department of Agriculture, Research and Education) and Secretary, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).
In DARE and ICAR, he spearheaded the digital transformation through application of IT in Research Management and Administration. He also played a pivotal role in scaling up and expansion of Kisan Sarathi portal which connects farmers directly to agricultural scientists.
As the Director General of BIS, Shri Garg will also serve as the President of India’s national committee in IEC.
Shri Garg brings vast and diverse administrative experience spanning over three decades with expertise in strategic planning, policy formulation and implementation across various sectors including agriculture, food logistics, defence industry sector, industrial promotion, finance and various social sectors at State and National levels.

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

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

Camryn Magness, singer who opened for One Direction, passes away

Key Updates:

Camryn Magness, known for performing with One Direction and Fifth Harmony, died at 26.
Her death was announced in a social media post that described her as 'a radiant force whose voice, coy and bright spirit touched so many'.
She opened for One Direction on the 2012 Up All Night Tour and the 2013 Take Me Home Tour, performing over 60 shows in Europe during the latter.
In 2016, she toured with Fifth Harmony on the European leg of their 7/27 Tour.
Her final EP, 'Love Maps', was released in 2021.

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Rapper Poorstacy passed away at 26 (Start of December) ▼

Poorstacy was a talented emo rapper known for his genre-bending music and collaborations.
His real name was Carlito Junior Milfort.
He was born on March 15, 1999, in Palm Beach, Florida.
Authorities responded to an incident at a Boca Raton hotel where he was found on November 29.
Palm Beach County Medical Examiner announced his death.
He released his debut EP titled ‘I Don’t Care’ in 2019.
His following release was the 2020 album ‘The Breakfast Club’.

Noted Odia playback singer Humane Sagar passes away at 34 (Mid of November) ▼

Full Name and Role: Humane Sagar, renowned playback singer known for his contribution to Odia cinema
Event Details: Passed away on Monday evening after undergoing intensive treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar for the past three days
Career Achievement: Winner of the reality TV show Voice of Odisha on Tarang TV in 2012; breakthrough song was the title track of the feature film Ishq Tu Hi Tu

Noted alt-country singer-songwriter Todd Snider passes away (Mid of November) ▼

Todd Snider, a beloved figure in American roots music, died at age 59.
His label announced the death on Saturday, stating he had been hospitalized with pneumonia in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Snider's recent tour was cancelled after he was assaulted in the Salt Lake City area and later arrested following an incident at a hospital.

Indian Rum Camikara wins Global Brand of the Year award (End of November) ▼

Camikara has become the first Indian rum to win ‘Rum Brand of the Year’ at The Spirits Business Awards 2025 in London.
The rum is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice and aged in American oak barrels under North India’s climate.
Camikara is available in three expressions: 3-year, 8-year, and 12-year aged variants.
Produced by Piccadily Agro Industries Ltd, Camikara is described as India’s first pure cane-juice aged rum.
The judges at the awards described Camikara as a “pioneer in its category” and credited it with putting Indian rum-making on the global map.

The Banker names DBS Global Bank of the Year 2025

[Asian Development Bank (ADB)]

Key Updates:

DBS has been named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker.
This marks DBS's third win in the Global Bank of the Year category.
DBS also secured Asia Bank of the Year, Singapore Bank of the Year, Investment Bank of the Year – Asia, and Investment Bank of the Year for Financial Institutions Group.
The awards were decided from submissions by 294 banks globally.
The Banker highlighted DBS's investment in AI to protect customers from financial scams and its commitment to training staff on new technology.
DBS's work on smart contracts designed to deliver faster, smoother payments across jurisdictions impressed the judging committee.
DBS's approach to applying AI, machine learning, and digital infrastructure across operations and customer services was a key factor in the assessment.
DBS recently crossed $100 billion in market capitalisation in 2024, becoming the first Singapore-listed company to do so.
For FY24, DBS recorded 11% growth in net profit and 11% growth in Tier-1 capital.
DBS's return on equity was 18%, cost-to-income ratio was 39.9%, and non-performing loan ratio was 1.1% for FY24.

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The Banker awards Bank of Baroda (BoB) Best Bank in India (Mid of December) ▼

Bank of Baroda (BoB) received the 'Best Bank in India' title from The Banker, a Financial Times publication, at the 2025 Asia-Pacific awards.
BoB operates phygital branches that allow customers to obtain statements, generate income tax payment certificates, update nominees and receive financial advice over video calls.
BoB has opened 184 new branches across India to expand reach.
BoB's Smart OD product provides small businesses quick working capital within 24 hours based on transaction history.
BoB offers liquid fixed deposits with higher interest rates and anytime withdrawal without loss of earnings.

Shri Vivekanand Gupta selected for Public Financial Asset Management (PFAM) Program (Mid of September) ▼

Shri Vivekanand Gupta, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner of EPFO, has been selected for the Public Financial Asset Management (PFAM) Program 2025–26.
He is the only Indian and the first EPFO official to be selected for this program.
The PFAM Program is jointly organised by the World Bank–Milken Institute.
The program is hosted at Bayes Business School, UK.
It provides advanced training in capital markets and asset management to professionals from central banks, sovereign wealth, and pension funds.

SBI bags 'World's Best Consumer Bank 2025' and 'Best Bank in India 2025' from Global Finance (Start of November) ▼

State Bank of India received the 'World's Best Consumer Bank 2025' and 'Best Bank in India 2025' awards from Global Finance, New York.
SBI serves 520 million customers and adds 65,000 new customers daily.
The bank's home loan portfolio has crossed Rs 8.5 lakh crore.
As of June 2025, SBI's deposit base is over Rs 54.73 lakh crore with a CASA ratio of 39.36 per cent and advances of more than Rs 42.54 lakh crore.
SBI commands a market share of 27.7 per cent in home loans and 19.03 per cent in auto loans.
The bank has 22,980 branches and 62,200 ATMs/ADWMs, along with over 76,800 BC outlets.
YONO, SBI's digital platform, has more than 9.04 crore registered users and witnessed 27.4 lakh new registrations in Q1FY26.
During Q1 FY26, SBI disbursed pre-approved personal loans worth Rs 1,791 crores through YONO.

Global Fintech Awards 2025 announced at Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai (End of October) ▼

The sixth edition of Global Fintech Fest 2025 (GFF 2025) was held in Mumbai from October 7-9.
The Global Fintech Awards (GFA) 2025 were instituted under GFF 2025 and announced at a gala on October 8 at Jio World Centre, Mumbai.
IDFC FIRST Bank won accolades under the Excellence in Banking Tech category for its Green Banking Initiative and Digital Transformation Program of the Year.
Yubi was named the Fintech Startup of the Year.
Ms. Upasana Taku, Co-founder & CFO, MobiKwik, received the Fintech Person of the Year – Female award.
Mr. Yashish Dahiya, Chairman, PB Fintech, received the Fintech Person of the Year – Male award.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) raises India’s FY26 growth forecast to 7.2%

[Asian Development Bank (ADB)]

Key Updates:

Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised India’s growth forecast for FY26 to 7.2 per cent from 6.5 per cent.
The upgrade for India is 0.7 percentage points.
ADB forecasts Asia to grow at 5.1 per cent in 2025, higher than its earlier projection of 4.8 per cent.
The 2025 growth estimate for India has been revised to 7.2 per cent.
India recorded GDP growth of 8.2 per cent in the second quarter ending September.
India's GDP growth was 7.8 per cent in the first quarter, taking the growth rate for the first half of the financial year to 8 per cent.
ADB kept its FY27 forecast unchanged at 6.5 per cent.
ADB revised the inflation forecast for FY2026 down to 2.6 per cent from 3.1 per cent in September.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased its GDP growth estimate for the ongoing financial year to 7.3 per cent from 6.8 per cent.
RBI places real GDP growth for the full year at 7.3 per cent.
RBI projects Q3 growth at 7 per cent and Q4 at 6.5 per cent.

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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.

Moody's Global Macro Outlook: India GDP to grow 6.5% in 2027, among fastest in G-20 (Mid of November) ▼

Moody's Ratings projects India's GDP growth at 7% for 2025, 6.4% for 2026 and 6.5% for 2027.
India's economy expanded 7.8% in the April-June period and 6.5% in FY25.
Inflation in India is expected to average around 3.5% in 2026 and 4% in 2027, after averaging 2.5% between January and October this year.
Global economic growth is forecast by Moody's to range between 2.5% and 2.6% in 2026 and 2027, compared with 2.6% in 2025 and 2.9% in 2024.
The US is forecast to grow 1.8% in 2026 and 1.9% in 2027, while China's GDP will expand by 4.5% and 4.2% over the same period.
Indian merchandise exports rose 6.8% in September, while exports to the US fell 11.9%.

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.

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) raises India's FY26 GDP growth projection to 7% (Start of December) ▼

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) expects GDP in FY26 to grow 7 per cent year-on-year.
Ind-Ra revised forecast 70 basis points higher than earlier 6.3 per cent projected in July 2025.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projected India's GDP growth in current fiscal at 6.8 per cent.
India's real GDP grew 7.8 per cent in April-June period of FY26.
India's GDP expanded 6.5 per cent in last fiscal year.
Ind-Ra expects private final consumption expenditure to grow 7.4 per cent YoY in FY26.
Private final consumption expenditure grew 7.2 per cent in FY25.
Indian exports to US fell 11.9 per cent YoY in September 2025.
Indian exports to US fell 8.9 per cent YoY in October 2025.
Indian exports to US averaged USD 7.2 billion per month in FY25.
Indian exports to US averaged USD 7.4 billion from April to October 2025.
Indian exports to US dropped to USD 5.9 billion during September-October 2025.

Maharashtra Pagdi Redevelopment Framework: Floor Space Index (FSI)-based Rehabilitation for Tenants & Landlords

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde announced a separate regulatory framework to phase out Mumbai’s pagdi system through transparent redevelopment.
Tenants will receive FSI equal to the area they occupy; landlords will receive the original FSI based on land ownership.
Incentive FSI will be granted for cost-free reconstruction of homes for economically weaker and low-income pagdi holders.
If height limits prevent full on-site use, remaining FSI will be provided as TDR (Transferable Development Rights).
Additional fast-track courts—subject to prior high court approval—will be set up to clear about 28,000 pending tenant-landlord disputes within three years.

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New Policy: Aadhaar Card No Longer Accepted as Proof of Birth in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra (End of November) ▼

Uttar Pradesh has declared Aadhaar cards invalid as proof of birth date.
The Planning Department in Uttar Pradesh issued a directive to all state departments regarding this decision.
The Maharashtra government also issued a similar order, stating that Aadhaar cards will not be considered as a document for making a delayed birth certificate.
In Maharashtra, all birth certificates made only through the Aadhaar card after the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Act, 2023, will be cancelled.
The Birth and Death Registration Act, 1969, was amended on August 11, 2023.

Delhi Government Abolishes Mandatory Renewal of Establishment Registrations (Mid of November) ▼

The Delhi government has abolished the provision of mandatory renewal of registration every 21 years for establishments.
This change is implemented under the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954.
The Labour Department of the Delhi Government has abolished the mandatory renewal of registration under Section 5 of the Act.
The primary objective of this decision is to promote 'Ease of Doing Business' and simplify business processes.
Previously, the Act mandated renewal of registration every 21 years from the date of registration.
This step will move the registration process towards a one-time registration model, freeing traders from the hassle of periodic renewals.
The registration process under the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, is already fully online, requires no documents or fees, and issues certificates immediately, a system in effect since 2009.

MahaCrimeOS AI Platform Launched to Fast-Track Cybercrime Investigations

Key Updates:

Maharashtra government and Microsoft launched MahaCrimeOS AI, the country’s first AI-powered platform to fast-track cybercrime investigations.
The platform is currently live in 23 police stations in Nagpur and is proposed to be rolled out to all 1,100 police stations across Maharashtra.
Developed by CyberEye, MARVEL (Maharashtra government’s Special Purpose Vehicle), and Microsoft India Development Center, it is built on Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and Microsoft Foundry.

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Microsoft commits $17.5 billion for India’s AI-first future (Start of December) ▼

Microsoft will invest USD 17.5 billion in India over the next four years (2026-2029) to drive AI diffusion at a population scale.
The investment comes on top of Microsoft’s earlier commitment of USD 3 billion announced in January 2025.
Google will invest $15 billion in India over the next five years to establish its first AI hub in Visakhapatnam.
OpenAI will open an India office after ChatGPT usage in the country grew fourfold over the past year.
AI firm Perplexity partnered with Indian telecom giant Airtel to offer 360 million customers a free one-year Perplexity Pro subscription.

Kerala's IT Draft Vision Targets $50 Billion Growth and 5 Lakh High-Value Jobs (End of October) ▼

The state is targeting $50 billion in economic value and to generate 5 lakh high-value employment opportunities by 2031, according to the draft vision document for information technology, electronics, semiconductor and emerging technology sectors.
The government has established four strategic missions — Kerala Artificial Intelligence Mission (K-AIM), Kerala Semiconductor Mission, Kerala Future Tech Mission and The Future Corporation to achieve the goal.
Under K-AIM, a Kerala AI Bill of Rights will be introduced by 2030 to ensure ethical and transparent use of artificial intelligence.
The document proposes to reduce govt software expenditure by 30% through increased adoption of free and open-source software and train 10 lakh people in AI and related technologies through ICT Academy.
Kerala aims to attract 120 Global Capability Centres (GCCs) across the state by 2031, establishing dedicated GCC parks within major IT and development corridors.
Kerala is also targeting to host 250 companies in the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) sector by 2029, securing 10% of the national export share, and achieving 100% online govt services, setting a new Kerala model in digital governance.
The document envisions attracting Rs 20,000 crore in startup investments, nurturing 20,000 startups and developing 30 million sq ft of new IT office spaces across Kerala.

India releases two landmark AI reports at 'Road to India AI Impact Summit 2026' (Mid of September) ▼

Two reports released: 'Roadmap for AI for Viksit Bharat – An Opportunity for Accelerated Economic Growth' and the 'NITI Frontier Tech Repository'
Released by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railways/Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, and NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Reports aim to guide policy, investments, and research to position India as a global leader in AI and emerging technologies
Event held in New Delhi and marks a step toward harnessing AI and frontier technologies for inclusive growth and economic transformation

Telangana Establishes AI Innovation Hub (TAIH) to Become a Global AI Leader (Start of November) ▼

The Telangana Artificial Intelligence Innovation Hub (TAIH) has been established by the State Government.
The primary goal behind setting up TAIH is to ensure that by 2035, Telangana finds a place among the top 20 AI hubs in the world.
The hub will serve as a focal point for AI-based innovation, research, and collaboration across multiple sectors.
The Special Chief Secretary (IT), Commissioner of Mee Seva, and Joint Director of Emerging Technologies will serve as members of the Innovation Hub.
Telangana aims to achieve transformative results in public service delivery, healthcare, transportation, and education through AI-powered solutions.
Telangana successfully hosted the AI Global Summit in 2024, becoming the first State in the country to organize an event of such magnitude.
Strategic partnerships have been forged with premier academic and research institutions and global technology leaders including Google, Microsoft, Infosys, and Amazon.

SHANTI Bill opens nuclear power sector to private players with 49% FDI

[Government of India]

Key Updates:

The Union Cabinet has greenlit the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill to open India’s nuclear power sector to private companies.
The bill proposes allowing up to 49% foreign direct investment and amending civil liability laws to cap supplier liability.
It aims to help achieve 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 and support India’s net-zero targets.

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Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) grants in-principle approval to NHAI’s Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) for InvIT registration. (Start of December) ▼

Sebi has granted in-principle approval to register 'Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust' (RIIT) as an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT).
RIIT must meet specific conditions over the next six months including appointment of directors, submission of requisite financial statements, and compliance with other regulatory requirements.
NHAI incorporated Raajmarg Infra Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd. (RIIMPL) last month as the investment manager for RIIT.
RIIMPL is a collaborative venture with equity participation from State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, NaBFID, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv Ventures Ltd., HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Yes Bank.
The InvIT aims to unlock monetisation potential of National Highway assets and create a long-term investment instrument targeting retail and domestic investors.

Health Security se National Security Cess Bill 2025 levies cess on paan masala units to fund defence and public health (Start of December) ▼

The Lok Sabha passed the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill 2025 to levy a cess on machines or processes used to manufacture paan masala and similar goods.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the cess proceeds will be shared with states as public health is a state subject.
The Bill aims to raise resources for national security and public health expenditure.

India's Nuclear Power Generation Capacity to Reach 21,880 MW by 2032 (Start of December) ▼

India's nuclear power generation capacity is set to rise from the current 8,780 megawatt (MW) to 9,480 MW by the end of the current financial year 2025-26, 13,480 MW by 2029-30 and 21,880 MW by 2031-32.
Three 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) units — RAPS-8 (700 MW) at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan and GHAVP-1 & 2 (two units of 700 MW each) at Gorakhpur in Haryana — are presently under construction.
Ten reactors of 700 MW each are at various stages of pre-project activities — two each at Kaiga in Karnataka, Chutka in Madhya Pradesh and Gorakhpur in Haryana, and four at Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has initiated design and development works on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
BARC is developing the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55) and an up to 5 MW thermal high-temperature gas-cooled reactor meant for hydrogen generation.
BSMR-200 and SMR-55 can be deployed as captive power plants for energy-intensive industries such as aluminium, steel and metal, repurposing retiring fossil fuel-based power plants and for providing energy for remote as well as off-grid locations.
Hydrogen produced from high-temperature gas-cooled reactors can be utilised as a clean fuel in the transport sector and in process industries.
The Nuclear Energy Mission envisages reaching 100 gigawatt nuclear power capacity by 2047.

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

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

Gati Shakti Multi Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) policy to enhance freight efficiency and reduce logistics costs

[Odisha]

Key Updates:

The Gati Shakti Multi Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) policy was introduced in Dec 2021.
The policy aims to facilitate the construction of new cargo terminals across the Indian Railways network.
It is designed to attract additional cargo business to the railways, aiming to enhance freight handling efficiency and reduce logistics costs across India.

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Government Launches Framework to Scientifically Derive India's Logistics Cost (End of September) ▼

A framework has been prepared to scientifically derive the estimate of logistics costs of the country.
This initiative follows the mandate of the National Logistics Policy to establish a uniform framework for measuring logistics costs and benchmarking scientifically derived estimate of the cost.
India will have a comprehensive and scientifically derived estimate of logistics costs, using a hybrid methodology that combines secondary data with nationwide surveys.
As per the current assessment prepared by NCAER for DPIIT, logistics costs in India are estimated about 7.97 per cent of the total GDP.
The report provides a comprehensive framework by capturing logistics costs across different transport modes, product categories, and firm sizes.

Ministry of Railways crosses 1 billion tonne freight loading in FY25-26 (End of November) ▼

Indian Railways cumulative freight loading reached 1020 Million Tonnes as of 19 November.
Coal led commodity-wise loading at 505 MT, followed by iron ore 115 MT, cement 92 MT, container traffic 59 MT, pig iron & finished steel 47 MT, fertilisers 42 MT, mineral oil 32 MT, foodgrains 30 MT, raw materials for steel plants approx. 20 MT, and balance-other-goods 74 MT.
Daily freight loading averaged 4.4 MT, up from 4.2 MT last year.
Freight loading for April-October touched 935.1 MT in 2025 against 906.9 MT in the same period last year.
Ministry of Railways rolled out Policy for Bulk Cement Terminals and rationalised rates for bulk cement movement in containers to cut transit time and logistics costs.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi announces major digital upgrades to strengthen food storage, logistics (End of November) ▼

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, launched digital initiatives aimed at modernizing warehousing operations, improving supply chain efficiency and enhancing transparency across the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The initiatives support the government's mission of reducing logistics costs and minimizing turnover time, a key national priority outlined by the Prime Minister.
The PM Gati Shakti programme has synchronized different modes of transportation and laid the foundation for an integrated logistics ecosystem.
Digital platforms like Bhandaran 360 will further strengthen supply chain efficiency nationwide and technology would enhance transparency in service delivery.
Improved coordination between stakeholders under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, supported by AI-enabled systems, will ensure that subsidized food grains reach the poorest households with greater accuracy, speed and dignity.
Central Warehousing Corporation's new ERP platform, 'Bhandaran 360', built on SAP S/4HANA, integrates 41 modules covering HR, finance, marketing, warehouse management, contract management, project monitoring and other core functions.
The system is linked with 35 external systems, including ICEGATE, port systems, FCI, NAFED, NCCF and WDRA, enabling seamless digital connectivity across the food storage and movement ecosystem.

Vizhinjam Port defers gateway cargo operations to January 2026 (Start of December) ▼

Vizhinjam International Container Transhipment Terminal deferred Exim operations earlier planned for November 1 due to technical issues.
Revised target date for commencement of gateway cargo operations is January 2026.
Gate opening will pave the way for cargoes originating from South Indian sectors to get direct connectivity to ports across the world.
Direct liner connectivity from Vizhinjam to major trading sectors will substantially reduce the cost of shipping.

India and Liberia sign MoU to boost cooperation on medicine quality standards

[Liberia]

Key Updates:

India and Liberia signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation in the field of pharmacopoeia.
The agreement was signed by India's Ambassador to Liberia, Manoj Bihari Verma, and Liberia's Health Minister, Louise M. Kpoto.
The MoU enables Liberia to adopt the Indian Pharmacopoeia as a reference for medicine quality standards.
The agreement aims to promote shared quality standards and regulatory alignment between the two countries.

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WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine 2025: India to host Ashwagandha-focused side event (Start of December) ▼

The Ministry of Ayush (MoA) will host a dedicated side event on Ashwagandha titled 'Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom to Global Impact – Perspectives from Leading Global Experts' during the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.
The side event is organised by WHO-GTMC in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush.
The 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine will be held in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

India-Angola to deepen defence, energy ties; $200 million LoC for defence sector finalisation underway (Start of November) ▼

India ready to extend $200 million Line of Credit to Angola for defence cooperation: 'We are in the middle of discussions with Angola now to finalise the LOC agreement.'
Energy partnership accounts for ~80% of $5 billion India-Angola trade: 'we have about $5 billion in trade with Angola, out of which 80 per cent is in the energy sector.'
India engaging African partners, including Angola, under National Critical Minerals Mission: 'India is engaging with its African partners in critical minerals...through joint ventures, processing some minerals together.'

India and Ecuador Sign MoU on Diplomatic Training Cooperation and Inaugurate Embassy (Start of November) ▼

India and Ecuador signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between their diplomatic training institutions.
The MoU was signed by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Ecuador’s Foreign and Human Mobility Affairs Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld.
The resident Embassy of India was jointly inaugurated in Ecuador’s capital Quito.

NHA–ICMR–DHR Renew MoU to Strengthen Evidence-Based Reforms in Ayushman Bharat (Mid of November) ▼

Parties: National Health Authority (NHA), Department of Health Research (DHR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) renewed the MoU signed in November 2019.
Objective: "bolster evidence-based decision-making across the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)".
New inclusion: "For the first time, the MoU’s scope will also include supporting the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)" by evaluating digital health interventions like EHRs, telemedicine, AI-driven diagnostics and health data exchanges through HTAIn.
Key collaboration areas: Costing of healthcare services using National Costing Initiative data; institutionalizing Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs) to reduce practice variation; and conducting operational/implementation research on barriers in rural areas, fraud prevention and supply-chain issues.

International Monetary Fund imposes 11 new bailout conditions on Pakistan

[International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan]

Key Updates:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has added 11 fresh conditions to Pakistan’s $7-billion bailout programme during its second review.
These new conditions push the total to 64 conditions in just 18 months.
The IMF warned that Pakistan’s economy continues to suffer from “deep-rooted distortions,” driven by chronic corruption, governance failures, and persistent losses across key sectors.
A key reform mandate requires the government to publicly disclose asset declarations of senior federal civil servants by December 2026 on an official website.

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Punjab Assembly resolution seeks ban on Imran Khan and PTI (Start of December) ▼

The Punjab Assembly approved a resolution moved by PML-N lawmaker Tahir Pervaiz urging the federal government to impose a ban on the PTI founder and his political party.
The resolution accuses the PTI leader of making statements against the state, spreading unrest, and acting as facilitators of hostile foreign interests.
It calls for action under national laws against anyone involved in such activities and demands exemplary punishment for those responsible.

European Union (EU) reviews Pakistan's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status amid human rights and electoral concerns. (End of November) ▼

The EU offers zero import duties on two-thirds of exports from GSP+ beneficiary countries in return for progress on sustainable development and good governance.
GSP+ eligibility requires full implementation of 27 international conventions covering human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and good governance.
Pakistan's GSP+ compliance grants duty-free or low-duty access for key exports including apparel, home textiles and surgical instruments.
Export earnings to the EU reached $3.17 billion between July and October, up from $3 billion in the same period last year.
GSP+ countries must submit a public progress report to Brussels every two years to assess continued implementation of the 27 conventions.

Pakistan and Egypt agree to deepen ties in economic, commercial, cultural and defence sectors (Start of December) ▼

Pakistan and Egypt agreed to deepen ties in economic, commercial, cultural and defence sectors after years of stagnant relationship.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held discussions with Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, the dispute over the Iranian nuclear programme and ways to boost economic cooperation.
Pakistan-Egypt Joint Ministerial Commission had not met since 2010.
The two countries agreed to hold bilateral political consultations in the first quarter of 2026.
Egypt offered to share experiences to tackle terrorism and stands in full solidarity with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
Egypt aims to elevate bilateral relationship to the strategic level.

World Bank (WB) approves USD 776 million for Punjab education and Maharashtra farmer income boost. (End of November) ▼

World Bank (WB) approved USD 286 million for Punjab Outcomes-Acceleration in School Education Operation (POISE) to improve quality education using technology.
POISE will support 13 lakh primary and 2.2 million secondary students plus 59 lakh early childhood education beneficiaries.
WB sanctioned USD 490 million for Maharashtra Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture (POCRA) Phase II to raise smallholder farmer incomes by 30%.
POCRA Phase II will benefit over 20 lakh small and marginal farmers including 2.9 lakh women across 21 Maharashtra districts.
POISE carries 19-year final maturity with 5-year grace; POCRA Phase II has 24-year final maturity with 6-year grace.

Thailand dissolves House of Representatives for early-year election amid Cambodia border conflict

[Thailand, Cambodia]

Key Updates:

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved the House of Representatives after obtaining approval from King Maha Vajiralakorn, with the Royal Gazette publishing the endorsement on Friday.
The election must be held 45–60 days after the royal endorsement, during which Anutin remains caretaker premier with limited powers.
The dissolution follows a threatened no-confidence vote by the People’s Party after Bhumjaithai lawmakers backed a constitutional-amendment bill, contrary to the September agreement to hold a referendum on drafting a new constitution.
Thailand is engaged in large-scale combat with Cambodia over disputed border claims, with more than two dozen reported killed and hundreds of thousands displaced this week.
US President Donald Trump previously secured a July ceasefire by threatening trade-privilege withdrawal and has renewed peace efforts after the latest flare-up.

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Thailand lifts afternoon alcohol ban for six-month tourism trial (Start of December) ▼

Thailand has temporarily lifted a decades-old ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks in the afternoons as part of a six-month trial.
Accredited establishments can now sell beer, wine and spirits from 14:00 to 17:00.
The ban, which came into force in 1972, was primarily introduced to stop government employees from drinking during work hours.

One Nation One Election Bills: Parliament Can Alter 5-Year Term Through Amendment (End of November) ▼

The 23rd Law Commission told the Joint Parliamentary Committee that Parliament can constitutionally amend the five-year term of legislatures to enable simultaneous elections.
The Commission stated, 'Parliament can certainly do so by way of a constitutional amendment. This is what is proposed by the bill in question.'
It clarified that the proposed amendment does not require state ratification as it is not covered under the proviso to Article 368(2) of the Constitution.

Thailand seeks BRICS membership with India’s support (Start of December) ▼

Thailand has formally expressed its ambition to join the BRICS grouping.
Thailand is seeking India’s backing ahead of New Delhi’s chairmanship of BRICS in 2026.
The intention to join BRICS was announced by Thai Ambassador Chavanart Thangsumphant at a National Day reception in Delhi.
India, a founding member of BRICS, will host the summit next year.
India-Thailand relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership earlier this year.
Thailand raised the matter of its BRICS membership with India during Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow’s visit from 29 November to 2 December.
Thailand's national day is on 5th December.

47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur: New Member, Border Deal, and Discussions on Tariffs and Regional Conflicts (End of October) ▼

The 47th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is taking place.
The summit is being held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur for a three-day period from Sunday to Tuesday.
This year, ASEAN will induct its 11th member, East Timor.
The ASEAN summit is accompanied annually by the East Asia Summit, a gathering of leaders of the ASEAN nations, the US, China, India, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
A peace deal is to be signed on Sunday between Cambodia and Thailand to end a deadly border dispute, with the ceremony presided over by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The ASEAN summit will discuss pressing issues like US tariffs, access to rare earth minerals, Myanmar’s civil war, and the proliferation of scam centres in Southeast Asia.
Myanmar’s acting president will not attend the ASEAN summit, and the Philippines will take the helm as next year’s ASEAN chair instead of Myanmar.

NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter

[NASA]

Key Updates:

NASA has lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft after it passed behind Mars as seen from Earth.
MAVEN launched in November 2013 and entered Mars orbit in September 2014 to study the planet’s upper atmosphere and interactions with the solar wind.
The spacecraft serves as a communications relay, linking the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers with the Deep Space Network via its UHF antenna.
In 2022, MAVEN switched to an “all-stellar” navigation system to reduce reliance on its inertial measurement units (IMUs) that had experienced technical issues.

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India and Mauritius Deepen Strategic Partnership with Satellite Tracking Station Agreement (Mid of September) ▼

India and Mauritius agreed on setting up a satellite tracking station in Mauritius.
The facility will be located near a US-UK strategic base, Diego Garcia.
The station will allow India to track and receive data from satellites, while also serving as a strategic asset for monitoring the region.
The agreement was signed during the visit of Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam to India.
India reaffirmed Mauritius’ sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.
India announced a $680 million package for Mauritius, which includes $25 million in budgetary aid and projects.
India and Mauritius signed an agreement on hydrography to conduct joint surveys, prepare navigation charts, and share hydrographic data of the Mauritius EEZ.
India is committed to enhancing maritime security and capacity of Mauritius, including refitting a Mauritius Coast Guard ship and training its officers.

NASA’s twin ESCAPADE probes to map Martian magnetic fields and space weather via new Lagrange-point trajectory (Start of November) ▼

Mission: Escape and Plasma Acceleration Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) – two identical spacecraft named Blue and Gold managed by University of California, Berkeley
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida, no earlier than 9 November (year not stated)
Novel trajectory: spacecraft will first reach a Sun-Earth Lagrange point, enter a 12-month kidney-bean-shaped Earth orbit, then slingshot around Earth in early November 2026 and reach Mars in early 2027
Objectives: three-dimensional mapping of Mars’s upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and localized crustal magnetic fields; measuring space weather to forecast solar-storm radiation that could endanger future astronauts
Context: Mars lacks a global magnetic field and lost most of its atmosphere ~4 billion years ago; localized crustal fields can deflect solar wind up to 932 miles from the surface, causing radio-signal distortions

Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin announce C-130J MRO hub for Indian Air Force (Start of December) ▼

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL) and Lockheed Martin announced an expansion of their partnership with the launch of a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility to service the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter fleet.
The IAF currently flies 12 C-130J aircraft used for strategic airlift, special operations and humanitarian missions.
Construction is scheduled to be completed by end-2026, with the first aircraft entering MRO operations in early 2027, TASL said.
The upcoming facility will offer depot-level and heavy maintenance, component repair, structural restoration, avionics upgrades, and training for Indian engineers and technicians.
The new MRO centre will join Lockheed Martin’s network of Certified Service Centers, with capabilities to support C-130J, KC-130J and legacy C-130 B-H variants.

U.S. Military Incident Off Yemen Coast Involves UAP and Hellfire Missile (Mid of September) ▼

A newly released video captured by a U.S. reaper drone shows a glowing orb off the coast of Yemen.
Then in the video, a Hellfire missile suddenly struck the unidentified object and bounced off it.
The U.S. military was conducting regular air strikes against Houthi targets that posed a threat to the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels.
A recent government report revealed that it had received more than 750 new UAP sightings between May 2023 and June 2024, leaving lawmakers digging into the mystery and national security concerns posed by the objects.
The Defense Department in 2023 launched a website for declassified UAP information.

Meghalaya Unveils Soil Lake Amidst Accelerating Climate Threat

[Meghalaya]

Key Updates:

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.

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Gogabeel Lake in Bihar becomes India’s 94th Ramsar wetland site (Start of November) ▼

Gogabeel Lake—an oxbow wetland between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers—has been designated as India’s 94th Ramsar site
The lake is Bihar’s first community reserve, “conserved and managed by the local community”
With this addition, Bihar now has six Ramsar sites, placing it third among Indian states
India remains the top Ramsar nation in Asia and third globally behind the UK (176) and Mexico (144)
The Convention secretariat notes that during floods the lake joins the two rivers, highlighting its hydrological role

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.'

Watershed Mission: Revival of 150-Year-Old Waterbody in Andhra Pradesh (Mid of November) ▼

Scheme Name: Watershed Mission (under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana); Implementing Ministry: Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India
Objective: “Conservation of both water and soil” and “save water and ensure water security for future generations”
Key Features: 21-acre tank revived at cost of Rs 1.20 crore; 5-acre plantation with 250 coconut trees, walking track, open-air theatre, open gym for multipurpose community use

PM Modi Inaugurates Bioethanol Plant and Lays Foundation for Polypropylene Unit in Assam, Emphasizing Energy Self-Reliance (Mid of September) ▼

The Assam Bioethanol Plant was inaugurated with an aim at "promoting clean energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels".
The foundation stone was laid for "a polypropylene plant at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) at Golaghat in Assam".
The inaugurated bio-ethanol plant "produces bio-ethanol from bamboo".
These projects are expected to "boost industrial growth in Assam, accelerate the state's development, and create new opportunities for farmers and youth".
The Prime Minister affirmed that "India has now embarked on the path of becoming self-reliant in meeting its energy requirements".
For energy self-reliance, India is "simultaneously working on discovering new reserves of crude oil and gas within the country while also enhancing its green energy capabilities".
The 'Samudra Manthan' initiative was recalled, highlighting "expert assessments suggesting that India's seas may hold substantial reserves of oil and gas".
The National Deepwater Exploration Mission was launched "To ensure these resources are harnessed for national development".

Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd to build world’s first autonomous maritime shipyard in Andhra Pradesh

[Andhra Pradesh, Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd]

Key Updates:

Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd has been allotted 29.58 acres of land at the Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour in Bogolu Mandal, SPSR Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, for setting up the world’s first autonomous maritime shipyard and systems centre.
The facility is envisioned as a pioneering hub that will accelerate innovation, reshape industrial practices, and set new international benchmarks in autonomous maritime technology.
The integrated R&D and testing ecosystem is poised to benefit sectors such as logistics, fisheries, disaster response, and port operations.
A dedicated Maritime Test Centre within the project will support end-to-end autonomous system research, development, prototyping, and validation.

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SDHI Inks ₹4,250 Crore MoU with Gujarat Maritime Board to Boost Shipbuilding Sector (End of September) ▼

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to advance the country’s shipbuilding sector.
Under the agreement, SDHI will invest ₹4,250 crore across three projects at its Pipavav Port shipyard in Gujarat.
Of the total investment, ₹3,500 crore will be used to expand shipyard capacity, including slipways, jetties, additional cranes, block fabrication, and dredging.
A ₹200 crore Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Maritime will be established to train over 1,000 youth annually.
SDHI will also develop a 200-acre Maritime Cluster at the shipyard with an investment of ₹550 crore.
SDHI has also inked another MoU with Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) to explore shipbuilding projects, ship repairs and ancillary maritime infrastructure for support under Maritime focused Equity Fund.
The partnership with SMFCL will include feasibility studies, implementation of sustainable shipbuilding technologies, localisation of supply chains, and vendor development, and establish a financing framework covering capital structure, equity, debt, and credit enhancements.
The strategic collaborations align with India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and Maritime India Vision 2030, supporting the government’s objectives under PM Gati Shakti.

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

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

PM Modi inaugurates & lays foundation for Rs 34,200-cr projects in Gujarat & major ports (End of September) ▼

Total outlay: Rs 34,200 crore — over Rs 26,000 crore for Gujarat projects and over Rs 7,800 crore for pan-India maritime initiatives.
Maritime initiatives include Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, new container terminal at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Kolkata, multi-cargo facility at Tuna Tekra, coastal protection works at Chennai & Car Nicobar, and ship-repair hubs at Patna & Varanasi.
Gujarat projects inaugurated/founded: HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port, 600 MW renewable-energy project, complete solarisation of Dhordo village, hospital expansions in Bhavnagar & Jamnagar, new highway works, additional LNG infrastructure and urban-transport projects.

India to host International Fleet Review 2026, Exercise MILAN 2026, and IONS Conclave of Chiefs in Visakhapatnam (Start of November) ▼

India will host three major international maritime events in Visakhapatnam from 15 to 25 February 2026: International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, Exercise MILAN 2026, and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs.
The events realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), extending India's SAGAR philosophy.
Invitations have been extended to navies from across the globe to participate in the historic gathering at Visakhapatnam, India's eastern maritime gateway and home to the Eastern Naval Command.
The Presidential Fleet Review at Sea will showcase indigenous platforms including INS Vikrant (India's first domestically built aircraft carrier), Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, and Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes.
Exercise MILAN's Sea and Harbour Phases will focus on interoperability, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and search-and-rescue operations.
The Indian Navy will assume the Chairmanship of IONS for the second time during 2025-2027, bringing together naval chiefs from 25 member nations, nine observers, and specially invited nations.

FDA Clears First At-Home Brain Stimulation Device for Depression

[United States]

Key Updates:

The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared the FL-100 headset developed by Flow Neuroscience for home treatment of moderate to severe depression.
The device delivers transcranial direct current stimulation to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a brain region linked to mood regulation.
Clinical trials involving 174 adults showed significant symptom reduction, with over half achieving remission; side effects were limited to mild headaches and skin irritation.
Flow Neuroscience estimates the device will cost between 500 and 800 US dollars with no subscription or maintenance fees.

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AIIMS-Delhi launches "Never Alone" AI-based mental health app for student suicide prevention (Mid of September) ▼

Initiative Name: "Never Alone" AI-based mental health and wellness programme launched by AIIMS-Delhi, also rolled out at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar and IHBAS-Shahdara.
Objective: Tackle suicidal tendencies among college and university students and minimise stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Key Features: Web-based, highly secured app accessible 24×7 via WhatsApp; offers virtual/offline consultations with mental-health experts; basic screening costs 70 paisa per student per day.
Implementing/Partner Bodies: Provided to all AIIMS institutions without financial implication through the Global Centre of Integrative Health (GCIH), a not-for-profit initiative supported and mentored by Dr Deepak Chopra.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approves First AI Tool for Liver Disease Trials (Start of December) ▼

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has qualified the first AI drug development tool, the AI-Based Histologic Measurement of NASH (AIM-NASH), to help pathologists assess metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) disease activity in clinical trials.
This cloud-based tool helps pathologists score liver biopsy components, including fat infiltration (steatosis), inflammation (hepatocellular ballooning and lobular inflammation), and scarring (fibrosis) stage.
MASH is a serious form of fatty liver disease where too much fat in the liver causes inflammation and scarring.
The AIM-NASH system uses AI algorithms to analyze images of liver biopsies and provides scores according to the NASH Clinical Research Network scoring system, with pathologists fully responsible for final interpretation.

UNESCO adopts first global ethical framework for neurotechnology (Mid of November) ▼

UNESCO has approved the world’s first international framework on the ethics of neurotechnology.
The framework, named 'The Recommendation', sets out global safeguards to ensure that advances in brain-related technologies respect human rights, mental privacy and personal dignity.
It urges governments to develop national regulations that protect mental privacy, ensure equitable access to therapeutic technologies and prevent misuse in commercial or employment settings.
The Recommendation highlights the risk of products that can influence behaviour or foster dependency, calling for clearer oversight and evidence-based evaluation.
It calls for bans on non-therapeutic use of neurotechnology involving children, and stresses the need for explicit consent, transparency and safeguards for vulnerable communities.
The framework was drafted by an international expert group led by neuroscientist Hervé Chneiweiss and legal scholar Nita Farahany.
The Recommendation’s adoption at UNESCO’s General Conference in Samarkand marks the first attempt to build global governance around neurotechnology.

SS Innovations unveils MantrAsana, world’s first portable telesurgery console (Start of November) ▼

MantrAsana is described as "the world’s first fully integrated, ergonomic and portable telesurgery console" designed for remote precision operations.
The system is "designed and manufactured entirely in India" by SS Innovations International, Inc.
Surgeons operate via "magnetic sensor-based controls" and "lightweight 3D glasses" that provide a "magnified 3D view" for real-time remote surgery.
The compact console can be "installed in a surgeon’s office" without needing an operating theatre, enabling "telesurgery from their offices".
Commercial availability in India is expected "by December 2025, followed by global expansion".

Lionel Messi returns to India for GOAT India Tour 2025

Key Updates:

Messi’s four-city tour of India is scheduled to begin in Kolkata on December 13.
The tour will include stops in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, concluding on December 15.
In Kolkata, Messi will attend a meet-and-greet at a luxury hotel and visit Salt Lake Stadium for a dance programme and felicitation ceremony.
A 70-foot statue of Messi will be unveiled in Lake Town, though it is unclear if he will attend in person.
On December 14, Mumbai will host the ‘Padel GOAT Cup’ featuring Messi alongside athletes like Sachin Tendulkar and M S Dhoni.
The tour will conclude in Delhi on December 15, where Messi is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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PM Modi Unveiled Tallest Ram Statue in South Goa (End of November) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 77-feet bronze statue of Lord Ram in Partagali, South Goa.
The Goa government stated that this 77-feet statue of Lord Ram is the tallest Ram statue in the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Ramayana Theme Park’ and released a special postal stamp and a commemorative coin.
Sculptor Ram Sutar made the 77-feet bronze statue of Lord Ram.
Ram Sutar also designed the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

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

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

BJP MLA Mahesh Landge Leads Grand Tribute for Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Statue Project (Mid of September) ▼

"An event was organised by BJP's Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge to pay tribute to the Maratha King's statue."
"The idea of the statue was conceived by MLA Landge, and it is being built by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority." He is also listed as a "Project Leader" for the statue.
The event, organized by MLA Landge, featured "a total of 100 dhol-tasha troupes played over 3,000 dhols and 1,000 tashas in a melodious celebratory tune, honouring Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's sacrifice."

PM to unveil Asia’s tallest statue of Lord Ram on November 28 (End of November) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil Asia’s tallest 77-feet bronze statue of Lord Ram.
The statue will be unveiled at Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Mutt, in Canacona.
Prime Minister Modi will also launch a postal stamp by India Post and a coin by the Union ministry of finance.
The postal stamp and coin commemorate the completion of 550 years of the mutt.
The mutt is one of the oldest in the country.
The mutt is rightly hailed as the symbol of unity and identity of the Saraswat and Hindu community.
The 550-year celebrations of the mutt tradition, named Sardha Panchashatamahotsava, will be held from November 27 to December 7.
The bronze statue of Lord Ram has been designed by Ram Sutar, a renowned Indian sculptor.
A Ramayan Theme Park and a 10,000-square-foot museum dedicated to Lord Ram are being set up.
The South Goa magistrate has issued a temporary ban on aerial photography, videography, and the operation of all unmanned aerial vehicles.
The ban is issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
Unmanned aerial vehicle operations are prohibited within a two-kilometre radius of the mutt.
The ban also covers the route from Indian Naval Ship Hansa to Partagali via Canacona on National Highway 66.
South Goa collector Egna Cleetus announced the restrictions.

Harmanpreet Kaur & Yuvraj Singh Honoured With Named Stands at Mullanpur Stadium

Key Updates:

India’s World Cup-winning captain, Harmanpreet Kaur and former cricketer Yuvraj Singh... were on Thursday honoured with stands at the Mullanpur Stadium.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann honoured Harmanpreet and Yuvraj ahead of the second T20I between Suryakumar Yadav’s India and Aiden Markram’s South Africa.
After inaugurating the stands, the Punjab Chief Minister handed over the state-announced cash rewards of Rs 11 lakh each to Harleen, Amanjot and captain Harmanpreet.
Fielding coach Munish Bali also received a Rs 5 lakh award.

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Chandigarh University defends Khelo India University Games 2025 title (Start of December) ▼

Chandigarh University topped the KIUG 2025 medal table with 42 gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze medals.
Lovely Professional University finished runner-up with 32 gold, 25 silver and 22 bronze medals.
The Games were held across seven cities in Rajasthan: Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota and Bharatpur.
Jain University’s Srihari Nataraj was the most successful athlete, winning nine gold and two silver medals.
Pooja Singh broke the Khelo India University Games high jump meet record with a 1.77 m clearance.

New Chhattisgarh Assembly Building Inaugurated: Key Features and Vision (Start of November) ▼

**Initiative Name**: Chhattisgarh’s new Assembly building in Nava Raipur.
**Inaugurated by**: Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
**Estimated Cost**: Rs 324.93 crore.
**Area**: Spanning over 57,800 square metres (around 6.22 lakh sq ft), built on approximately 51 acres.
**Capacity**: Main Assembly Hall can currently accommodate 90 legislators, with the capacity to expand to 200.
**Vision**: Designed with a 100-year perspective, integrating advanced technology, environmental balance, and scalability.
**Symbolism**: Described as a “pilgrimage site of democracy” and symbolizing transparency, accountability, and progress, reflecting Chhattisgarh’s rich heritage and aspirations for a developed India.

Rajasthan set to host 5th Khelo India University Games 2025 (End of November) ▼

Rajasthan sports minister Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore announced the grand opening at Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
The opening ceremony features Siddharth Mahadevan, Arunita Kanjilal, folk artists curated by Rajnigandha Shekhawat, mascots Khamma and Ghani, and an aerial display.
Competitions will be held across Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bharatpur, and Bikaner in 24 sports with kho-kho as a demonstration event.
Badminton, archery and shooting events begin on Monday at Sawai Mansingh Stadium Indoor Hall, Jagatpura Archery Range and Jagatpura Shooting Range in Jaipur.

Germany wins FIH Junior Hockey World Cup 2025

[Germany, Spain]

Key Updates:

Germany won the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup 2025.
Germany defeated Spain with a 3-2 win in the tie-breaker after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.
The final match was held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai.
Germany won the FIH Junior World Cup for a record-extending eighth time.

Similar / Past Coverage

FIFA World Cup 2026 draw completes group stage lineup (Start of December) ▼

The draw placed 42 qualified teams and 22 play-off contenders into 12 groups for the expanded 48-team tournament.
Hosts Canada, Mexico and USA were drawn into Groups B, A and D respectively.
Curacao, the smallest nation ever to qualify, will face Germany in Group E.
Group L contains England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama; Group I features France, Senegal, Norway and a play-off winner.
The tournament opener on 11 June 2026 will see Mexico play South Africa in Mexico City.
The final will be held on 19 July 2026 in New Jersey.

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

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

Belgium defeats India to win Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 (Start of December) ▼

Belgium clinched the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 by defeating India 1-0 in the final.
Thibeau Stockbroekx scored the decisive goal in the 34th minute.
The final was held in Malaysia.
Belgium won its maiden Sultan Azlan Shah title on its second appearance in the tournament.

China beat India 4-1 to win Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 (Mid of September) ▼

China defeated India 4-1 in the Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 final.
Navneet Kaur scored India’s lone goal in the first minute from a penalty corner.
China’s victory earned them a place in next year’s Hockey World Cup to be held in Belgium and Netherlands.
China finished the Super 4 stage as the top team while India finished second.
Japan and Korea ended the Super 4 stage in third and fourth positions respectively.

Raipur to host national transgender sports meet

[Raipur]

Key Updates:

Raipur is set to host the national transgender sports meet 2025 themed 'Samta Ka Mahotsav' on Dec 19–20.
The event will be held at Swami Vivekanand athletic stadium in Raipur.
Chhattisgarh Mitwa Sankalp Samiti, a community for transgenders and LGBTQ, is organising the meet with support from the department of social welfare.

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India to host Silver-Level Continental Tour event in Bhubaneswar next year (End of November) ▼

India is set to host its first-ever Silver-Level Continental Tour event next year in Bhubaneswar, the Athletics Federation of India announced on Tuesday.
The Silver-Level event will be held on August 22 at the Kalinga Stadium.
The Athletics Federation of India will replace the Indian Grand Prix series with the Indian Athletics Series, to be held across 16 cities with the final in New Delhi.
The National Indoor Athletics Championships will be introduced for the first time in India at the Kalinga indoor stadium in Bhubaneshwar.

IOC plans blanket ban on transgender women from female events at LA 2028 Olympics (Mid of November) ▼

The International Olympic Committee is preparing a universal rule that would bar all transgender women from competing in women’s events at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Current regulations allow each sport to set its own testosterone-based eligibility rules; the proposed change would impose a single across-the-board ban.
The new policy, still under discussion, could also affect athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD) such as 2024 Olympic boxing gold medallist Imane Khelif.

Kerala HC orders BCI to approve two transgender seats in every state law college (Start of November) ▼

Interim direction to Bar Council of India to immediately approve creation of two dedicated seats for transgender students in all Kerala law colleges
Approval mandated within ten days of receiving the court order copy
Petition filed by a transgender woman denied admission to Government Law College, Kozhikode, despite qualifying KLEE 2025

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

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

Chandigarh University defends Khelo India University Games 2025 title

[Chandigarh University]

Key Updates:

Chandigarh University topped the KIUG 2025 medal table with 42 gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze medals.
Lovely Professional University finished runner-up with 32 gold, 25 silver and 22 bronze medals.
The Games were held across seven cities in Rajasthan: Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota and Bharatpur.
Jain University’s Srihari Nataraj was the most successful athlete, winning nine gold and two silver medals.

Similar / Past Coverage

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

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

Vigyanika: Science Literature Festival 2025 spotlights multilingual science communication for Atmanirbhar Bharat (Mid of December) ▼

CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR), Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and Panjab University organised Vigyanika as part of India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025.
Session ‘Vigyan Se Samruddhi – For Atmanirbhar Bharat’ focused on ‘traditional knowledge communication and its role in advancing national self-reliance’.
Dr. Viswajanani J. Sattigeri, Head, CSIR-TKDL, emphasized ‘the importance of documenting, disseminating and implementing policy for traditional knowledge’.

Key Abbreviations and Their Full Forms (Start of November) ▼

IICT stands for Indian Institute of Creative Technologies.
AVGC stands for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics.
IFFI stands for International Film Festival of India.
AVGC-XR stands for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality.

Chandigarh University defends Khelo India University Games 2025 title (Start of December) ▼

Chandigarh University topped the KIUG 2025 medal table with 42 gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze medals.
Lovely Professional University finished runner-up with 32 gold, 25 silver and 22 bronze medals.
The Games were held across seven cities in Rajasthan: Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota and Bharatpur.
Jain University’s Srihari Nataraj was the most successful athlete, winning nine gold and two silver medals.
Pooja Singh broke the Khelo India University Games high jump meet record with a 1.77 m clearance.

Vinesh Phogat announces comeback targeting LA 2028 Olympics

Key Updates:

Vinesh Phogat scrapped her retirement plans and set her sights firmly on the LA 2028 Olympics.
She revealed the decision via her X account: 'So, here I am, stepping back toward LA28 with a heart that’s unafraid and a spirit that refuses to bow.'
Her Paris 2024 campaign ended in disqualification from the 50 kg freestyle final for weighing slightly over the permissible limit on the morning of the bout.

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Praggnanandhaa secures Candidates spot via last-gasp London Classic open win (Mid of December) ▼

Praggnanandhaa tied for first place at the London Chess Classic open section with 7/9 points.
The victory added 8.17 circuit points, taking his FIDE Circuit total to 115.17 and sealing the Candidates berth.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the only rival for the spot, earned 19.62 circuit points from winning the elite invitational section but remains on 71.61 overall, now out of reach.
The 2026 Open Candidates will be held in Cyprus from March 28 to April 16 alongside the Women’s Candidates.
Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy and Vaishali Rameshbabu will represent India in the Women’s Candidates.

Canada’s seven-time Olympic medallist Penny Oleksiak banned for two years (End of November) ▼

Canada's most decorated Olympian, swimmer Penny Oleksiak, has accepted a two-year ban from competing following an anti-doping rule violation.
The International Testing Agency announced that Oleksiak committed three 'whereabout failures' over 12 months.
The Toronto-born swimmer is a seven-time Olympic medallist.
She can return to competition in July 2027.

Duplantis & McLaughlin-Levrone named world athletes of year (Start of December) ▼

Armand Duplantis and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were crowned world athletes of the year at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco.
Sweden's Duplantis set four new pole vault world records in 2025, becoming the first human to clear the 6.30m barrier at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Duplantis was undefeated in 16 competitions in 2025, winning world titles both indoors and outdoors, and a fifth consecutive Diamond League crown.
McLaughlin-Levrone went undefeated through 2025 in both the 400m and 400m hurdles.
McLaughlin-Levrone became 400m world champion in Tokyo, running 47.78 seconds, which was the second fastest time in history and broke the 42-year-old championship record.
Duplantis won the athlete of the year prize for men's field.
McLaughlin-Levrone won the athlete of the year prize for women's track.
Australian Nicola Olyslagers, who won world high jump titles both indoors and outdoors, was named women's field athlete of the year.
Kenya's world 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the men's track prize.
Spain's Maria Perez, who won world titles in both the 20km race walk and the 35km race walk, and London Marathon and Berlin Marathon winner Sabastian Sawe won the out of stadium awards.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam: Origin and Key Features (Start of November) ▼

The abbreviation KTS stands for Kashi Tamil Sangamam.
The Kashi Tamil Sangamam event began in 2022.
KTS 2.0 (2023) introduced real-time Tamil translation of the Prime Minister's address.

International Day of Neutrality observed on December 12

Key Updates:

International Day of Neutrality is observed annually on December 12.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 71/275 in February 2017 declaring December 12 as the International Day of Neutrality.
The origins of this observance are deeply connected to the foreign policy of Turkmenistan.

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International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People observed on 29 November (End of November) ▼

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed annually on 29 November.
The day commemorates the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly in 1947 on partitioning Palestine into two independent States, one Arab and one Jewish.
Annalena Baerbock is the president of the UN General Assembly.
Rattray, Chef de Cabinet, spoke on behalf of the UN Secretary-General.
UNRWA is the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees.
UNCTAD stands for the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

National Pollution Control Day on December 2 (Start of December) ▼

National Pollution Control Day is annually celebrated on December 2.
National Pollution Control Day is marked on December 2nd each year in India to honour the memory of those who lost their lives in the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy claimed the lives of at least 4,000 people when a pesticide facility owned by the American chemical corporation Union Carbide began to leak toxic methyl isocyanate gas into a populated area in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

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.

Navy Day 2025 observed on December 4 (Start of December) ▼

Navy Day is observed every year on December 4.
The day honours the Indian Navy’s victory during Operation Trident on the night of 4 December 1971.
Operation Trident was led by Commodore Kasargod Pattana Shetty Gopal Rao.
The 2025 Naval Day Operation Demo was held at Shankhumukham Beach, Thiruvananthapuram, on 3 December.
President Droupadi Murmu attended the 2025 demo as chief guest, with Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi hosting the event.

International Universal Health Coverage Day observed on 12 December

Key Updates:

International Universal Health Coverage Day is observed on 12 December each year.
The theme for 2025 is 'Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!'
12 December was officially designated as International UHC Day in 2017.

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Human Rights Day 2025 observed on December 10 with theme 'Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials' (Mid of December) ▼

Human Rights Day is observed on December 10 to commemorate the United Nations' adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The theme for 2025 is 'Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials'.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN on December 10, 1948.

UNICEF Foundation Day 2025: December 11, Theme 'My Day, My Rights' (Mid of December) ▼

UNICEF Foundation Day is observed on December 11 every year.
The official theme for UNICEF Foundation Day 2025 is 'My Day, My Rights'.
UNICEF was established on December 11, 1946 to supply food, clothing, and medical care to children in post-World War II Europe.
UNICEF stands for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, a name used until 1953.
UNICEF was founded in 1946 by Ludwik Rajchman.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025 on December 3 (Start of December) ▼

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is celebrated annually on December 3.
In 2025, International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) falls on a Wednesday.
The theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2025 is 'Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress'.
The global observance was first celebrated annually in 1992, following its proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 47/3.
In 2006, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted.
António Guterres stated, 'When inclusion is real, everyone benefits. Let’s commit to working side-by-side with people with disabilities to build more resilient societies.'
According to the United Nations (UN), about 1.3 billion people experience significant disability, representing 16 per cent of the world’s population.
The significance behind the global observance is to raise awareness of the experiences of people with disabilities in all facets of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

World Patient Safety Day 2025: Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child (Mid of September) ▼

World Patient Safety Day is observed on September 17.
The 2025 theme is “Patient safety from the start,” focusing on protecting every newborn and child from preventable harm.
The campaign urges action across five global goals: improving diagnostic accuracy, enhancing medication safety, preventing healthcare-associated infections, reducing risks for small and sick newborns, and engaging families as safety partners.

Chhattisgarh gets its first Ramsar wetland site on December 12, 2025

[Chhattisgarh]

Key Updates:

The Kopra Reservoir in Bilaspur district was officially declared Chhattisgarh’s first Ramsar Site.
The declaration places Kopra Reservoir on the global map of wetlands of international importance.
The State Wetland Authority, environmental experts, forest officials, researchers, and local communities made joint efforts for this designation.
Kedar Kashyap is the forest and climate change minister of Chhattisgarh.
Vishnu Deo Sai is the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
The Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision 2047 includes a major target of securing Ramsar status for 20 wetlands by 2030.
Kopra Reservoir is highlighted as a suitable habitat for species such as the river tern, common pochard, and Egyptian vulture.

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Formation Days of Indian States and Union Territories on November 1 (Start of November) ▼

All these states and the Union Territory of Puducherry celebrate their formation day on November 1.
Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep came into being on this day in 1956.
Punjab and Haryana were formed in 1966.
Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000.

Udaipur conferred Ramsar Wetland City accreditation for urban wetland conservation (Mid of September) ▼

Udaipur received the Wetland City accreditation under the Ramsar Convention during the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards and Wetland Cities Recognition Ceremony 2025 organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Union minister Bhupender Yadav presented the certificate, acknowledging the city's efforts in protecting and managing urban wetlands.
The Ramsar Wetland City accreditation is awarded to urban centres demonstrating exemplary initiatives in safeguarding wetlands, ensuring biodiversity conservation, and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Udaipur qualified due to its long-standing conservation measures, community engagement in lake protection, and integration of wetland management into urban planning.
Yadav described wetlands as the 'kidneys of the environment', highlighting their role in flood control, pollution absorption, and cultural identity.

Gogabeel Lake in Bihar becomes India’s 94th Ramsar wetland site (Start of November) ▼

Gogabeel Lake—an oxbow wetland between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers—has been designated as India’s 94th Ramsar site
The lake is Bihar’s first community reserve, “conserved and managed by the local community”
With this addition, Bihar now has six Ramsar sites, placing it third among Indian states
India remains the top Ramsar nation in Asia and third globally behind the UK (176) and Mexico (144)
The Convention secretariat notes that during floods the lake joins the two rivers, highlighting its hydrological role

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

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

UAE declares paid New Year holiday for private sector employees on January 1

[UAE]

Key Updates:

The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced a paid holiday on January 1 for private sector employees.
The announcement was made through an official X post following the UAE cabinet’s approved list of holidays for public and private sector employees.
It remains unclear whether offices will reopen on Friday, January 2.

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International Day of Banks observed on December 4 (Start of December) ▼

International Day of Banks is observed annually on December 4.
The day commemorates the 2015 United Nations General Assembly resolution 74/245, adopted on December 19, 2019.
The observance emphasises how banking systems contribute to sustainable development.

India Expands Visa-on-Arrival Program for UAE Nationals: Key Features and Eligibility (End of November) ▼

India has expanded its Visa-on-Arrival program for UAE nationals to three new airports – Kochi, Calicut, and Ahmedabad, joining six existing hubs.
With this update, UAE citizens can now obtain a Visa-on-Arrival at nine major Indian airports: New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Calicut, Ahmedabad.
The VoA facility is available exclusively to UAE nationals who have previously obtained an Indian e-Visa or a regular paper visa.
Purpose of visit: Allowed for tourism, business, conferences, or medical treatment only.
Duration of stay: Maximum of 60 days.
Entry limit: Allows double entry within the 60-day period.
Visa fee: 2,000 INR (DH83) or equivalent in foreign currency per passenger, including children.
The move aims to simplify travel and strengthen bilateral ties.

UAE Ranks Third Globally in Humanitarian Aid for 2025 (End of November) ▼

The UAE has been recognized as the world's third-largest humanitarian donor for 2025.
The UAE contributed $1.46 billion in aid for 2025.
This significant contribution was confirmed by UN OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) through its Financial Tracking Service (FTS).
Only two entities, the United States and the European Union, contributed more globally than the UAE.
The UAE’s contribution of $1.46 billion represents 7.2% of the total aid recorded by the United Nations for 2025.
The total global contributions tracked by the UN for 2025 reached $20.28 billion.

Qatar National Day Celebrated Annually on December 18 (Mid of November) ▼

Qatar celebrates its National Day annually on December 18.
The day marks the founding of the state in 1878 by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani.
The official slogan for Qatar National Day 2025 is “Bekum Ta'lu W' Minkum Tantazer” (translated as “The nation rises with you, waits for you”).
The 2025 slogan is taken from a speech delivered by HH the Amir during his 2016 visit to Qatar University.
HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani is the Minister of Culture.

Arunachal Pradesh climbs to 17th in Parakh Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024

[Arunachal Pradesh]

Key Updates:

Parakh Rashtriya Sarvekshan 4 national education standings place Arunachal Pradesh at 17th out of 36 states and Union territories.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu hailed the state's 'remarkable improvement in learning outcomes' and called the jump 'a clear sign that education reforms are delivering results'.
The state's Grade 6 and Grade 9 language scores 'have surpassed national averages and outperformed our own past records'.

Similar / Past Coverage

Uttar Pradesh Tops Most-Visited States Ranking by Domestic Tourist Arrivals in India 2024-25 (Start of December) ▼

India recorded 2,948.19 million domestic tourist visits in 2024.
Uttar Pradesh hosted 646.81 million domestic tourists, accounting for 21.94% of the national share.
Top five most-visited states accounted for 60.38 per cent of total domestic tourist visits.
Top 10 states by domestic tourist arrivals: 1. Uttar Pradesh (646.8M), 2. Tamil Nadu (306.8M), 3. Karnataka (304.6M), 4. Andhra Pradesh (290.3M), 5. Rajasthan (230.1M), 6. Gujarat (184.0M), 7. Maharashtra (189.4M), 8. West Bengal (184.5M), 9. Madhya Pradesh (133.2M), 10. Himachal Pradesh (18.0M).

Arunachal Pradesh 'Dao' Receives Geographical Indication (GI) Tag on November 21, 2025 (Start of December) ▼

The Arunachal Pradesh 'dao', a traditional handcrafted blade, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein announced the development.
Arunachal Pradesh has so far garnered 20 Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged items.
Arunachal Pradesh has a target of reaching 50 Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged items by 2030.
Prominent Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products from Arunachal Pradesh include Wakro Orange, Idu Mishmi textiles, Khamti rice, Yak churpi, and Wancho wooden craft.

Arunachal Pradesh Government's Initiative for Securing GI Tags for Indigenous Products (End of November) ▼

The traditional Arunachal Pradesh Dao has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognizing its unique cultural and geographical heritage.
The certification was granted by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, as part of the Arunachal Pradesh government's aggressive pursuit of GI registrations.
The GI tag aims to safeguard authenticity by ensuring only Daos produced in Arunachal Pradesh using traditional methods bear the label, enhance economic opportunities for artisans, promote tourism and branding, and preserve endangered skills.
The government plans to support artisans through specialized training programs, branding initiatives, improved marketing linkages, and collaborations with organizations like NABARD for post-GI marketing and skill development, aligning with its “Brand Arunachal” initiative.
The state hosted its first GI Mahotsav in New Delhi in 2025, displaying certified products to a national audience, as part of its broader strategy to empower rural artisans and boost the local economy.

TIME magazine names 'Architects of AI' as its 2025 Person of the Year

[TIME]

Key Updates:

TIME magazine named 'Architects of AI' as its Person of the Year for 2025.
The magazine cited 2025 as the year when the potential of artificial intelligence 'roared into view' with no turning back.
The selection honored 'individuals who imagined, designed, and built AI' rather than the technology itself.

Similar / Past Coverage

Google Appoints Amin Vahdat as Chief of AI Infrastructure (Mid of December) ▼

Alphabet's Google has appointed longtime executive Amin Vahdat as chief technologist for AI infrastructure.
Google designs its own tensor processing units, or TPUs.
The company ramps up spending on data centers and hardware to support artificial intelligence workloads.
Microsoft has invested heavily in data centers and partnerships with OpenAI.
Amazon is expanding its custom chip offerings for AWS.

Leonardo DiCaprio named TIME Entertainer of the Year (Mid of December) ▼

Leonardo DiCaprio has been named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year.
The honour recognises a career spanning more than 35 years.
His latest film, One Battle After Another, earned nine Golden Globe nominations.
One Battle After Another is DiCaprio’s first collaboration with filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson.
Critics regard One Battle After Another as his best work to date.

Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year 2025: 'Vibe Coding' (Start of November) ▼

Collins Dictionary has chosen “vibe coding” as its Word of the Year 2025.
The term “vibe coding” describes a new way of programming where developers create computer programs by simply describing them to an AI chatbot instead of writing code manually.
OpenAI co-founder and former Tesla AI director Andrej Karpathy popularised the term “vibe coding.”
Other shortlisted words for Collins’ Word of the Year 2025 include “Biohacking,” “Clanker,” and “Aura Farming.”
Alex Beecroft, Managing Director of Collins, stated that “vibe coding” captures the evolving relationship between language and technology.

Amar Subramanya appointed as Vice President of AI at Apple (Start of December) ▼

Amar Subramanya will report to Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering.
He will lead critical areas, including Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and AI Safety and Evaluation.
John Giannandrea will retire as Apple's current AI chief in 2026.
He most recently served as corporate vice president of AI at Microsoft.
He spent 16 years at Google, where he rose to head of engineering for Gemini.