📰 Daily Briefing Thursday, Jan 15

Daily Current Affairs: 15 January 2026

Analysis for 15 January 2026

Pawan Kalyan awarded ‘Tiger of Martial Arts’ title and inducted into Kenjutsu Samurai tradition

Key Updates:

  • Pawan Kalyan was formally inducted into Kenjutsu, the ancient Japanese art of swordsmanship, becoming one of the very few Indians to enter the Samurai martial arts tradition outside Japan.
  • He received the Fifth Dan by the Sogo Budo Kanri Kai, making him the first Indian celebrity to receive this honour.
  • He was inducted into the Takeda Shingen Clan under Soke Muramatsu Sensei, becoming the first Telugu-speaking person and one of the very few non-Japanese to enter this Samurai lineage.
  • The Golden Dragons organisation conferred on him the title ‘Tiger of Martial Arts’.

Similar Coverage

Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn wins Grand Sumo Tournament (End of November) ▼
  • Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn on Sunday became the first from his nation to win a tournament of the traditional Japanese sport.
  • The 21-year-old won the Kyushu tournament after a tie-breaking victory over grand champion Hoshoryu from Mongolia.
  • Known by his ring name Aonishiki Arata, he speaks fluent Japanese.
  • Yavhusishyn arrived in Japan three years ago after fleeing Ukraine and has climbed the sumo ranks at record speed.
  • The Japan Sumo Association will soon hold a special meeting to promote him to “ozeki”, the second-highest ranking.
  • He left Ukraine after Russia’s February 2022 invasion and arrived in Japan two months later.
  • He sought refuge in Germany before moving to Japan, and his parents stayed in Germany.
  • Yavhusishyn became the second Ukraine-born professional sumo wrestler when he made his debut in July 2023.
  • His promotion to sumo’s upper divisions was the fifth fastest since the current system of six tournaments a year was introduced in 1958.
  • The ambitious wrestler said he now has his sights on reaching the top of the sumo hierarchy.
Inika Mazumder becomes National champion in Kyokushin Full Contact Karate (Start of December) ▼
  • Inika Mazumder won gold medals in both Kihon and Kumite at the National Kyokushin Full Contact Championship.
  • Inika Mazumder clinched the Gold Medal in Kihon.
  • Inika Mazumder won the National Champion title in Kumite.
Maitreyi Pushpa conferred with IFFCO Sahitya Samman 2025 and Ankita Jain receives IFFCO Yuva Sahitya Samman (Start of January) ▼
  • Maitreyi Pushpa received the IFFCO Sahitya Samman 2025 for her literary contributions on rural and agricultural life.
  • Ankita Jain was awarded the IFFCO Yuva Sahitya Samman for her book 'Oh Re! Kisan'.
  • The awards were presented by IFFCO Chairman Dilip Sanghani at Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi.
  • The award instituted by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) carries a memento, citation, and Rs 11 lakh cheque.
  • Maitreyi Pushpa was born in Sikurra village of Aligarh district and obtained her M.A. in Hindi Literature from Bundelkhand College, Jhansi.
  • Ankita Jain is the Director of agro-manufacturing firm 'Vaidik Vatika' and founding member of 'Jai Jungle Farmers Producer Company'.
Sai Jadhav became the first woman officer to graduate from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) (Mid of December) ▼
  • At 23, Lieutenant Sai Jadhav became the first woman officer to pass out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.
  • She was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army, becoming the first woman officer from the IMA to join the branch.
  • Jadhav became the fourth generation of her family to serve in the military, following her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father, Sandeep Jadhav.
  • She completed six months of intensive training at the IMA, which has commissioned more than 67,000 officers since its inception in 1932.
  • Her schooling began in the Belgaum district of Karnataka and continued across several states.
  • She entered the IMA after receiving special permission and clearing a national-level exam followed by the Service Selection Board.
  • Her parents pinned the rank stars on her shoulders during the passing out parade.
  • Currently, eight women officer cadets were undergoing training in the Indian Army as part of the first batch selected through the National Defence Academy 2022 intake.

Ueli Kestenholz Died as Olympic Snowboard Medalist

[Switzerland]

Key Updates:

  • Ueli Kestenholz, a Swiss snowboarder and Olympic bronze medalist, passed away at the age of 50.
  • He won the bronze medal in the snowboard giant slalom at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, which was the debut event for the sport.
  • He was a two-time snowboardcross champion at the X-Games and competed in two additional Winter Games during his career.
  • The Swiss ski federation confirmed he died after being trapped in an avalanche in the Lötschental valley of Valais canton.
  • The incident occurred at an altitude of 2,400 meters while he was snowboarding with a friend.

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Suresh Kalmadi passed away as former Union Minister of State for Railways and former President of Indian Olympic Association (IOA). (Start of January) ▼
  • Suresh Kalmadi passed away at the age of 81 after prolonged illness at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune.
  • He served as Union Minister of State for Railways and as President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
  • He represented Pune multiple times in the Lok Sabha.
Charles Coste, World's Oldest Olympic Champion, Dies at 101 (Start of November) ▼
  • Charles Coste, known as the world's oldest Olympic champion, died at the age of 101.
  • He was a gold medallist in the team pursuit cycling event at the London 1948 Olympic Games.
  • Coste was chosen as the penultimate torchbearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
  • He died on Thursday, October 30.
  • Coste won the Olympic title for France in the men's team pursuit event at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, alongside his teammates Serge Blusson, Fernand Decanali, and Pierre Adam.
  • He had been the oldest living Olympic champion since the death of Hungarian gymnast Ágnes Keleti in January 2025.
  • Born in Ollioules, in the Var region, on February 8, 1924, he was also the French national pursuit champion in 1947.
  • He received the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 2022.
German actor Udo Kier dies aged 81 (End of November) ▼
  • German actor Udo Kier has died at the age of 81.
  • His partner, artist Delbert McBride, announced that Kier died in hospital in Palm Springs, California, on Sunday morning.
  • No cause of death was given.
  • Kier starred in more than 250 films.
  • His breakout role was in the 1970 horror film 'Mark of the Devil'.
  • He played Baron von Frankenstein in 1973’s 'Flesh for Frankenstein' and Count Dracula in 1974’s 'Blood For Dracula'.
  • He collaborated with directors including Paul Morrissey, Andy Warhol, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Lars Von Trier, Gus Van Sant, and Dario Argento.
  • Notable films include 'Suspiria', 'My Own Private Idaho', 'Blade', 'Armageddon', and 'Melancholia'.
  • His final film was 'The Secret Agent', which premiered at Cannes.
  • Kier was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1944 in a hospital that was bombed shortly after his birth.
Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi reached the summit of Mount Vinson (Start of January) ▼
  • Emirati mountaineer Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi reached the summit of Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, on 6 January 2026.
  • At the age of 18, she became the youngest and first Arab to reach the summit of the 4,892-metre peak.
  • This ascent marks the third major peak in her quest to conquer the Seven Summits and achieve the Explorer’s Grand Slam.
  • The expedition was sponsored by Palms Sports and Dar Al Takaful Finance.
  • Al Awadhi previously became the youngest Emirati to reach the summit of Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak, on 6 July 2025.
  • She is currently a university student majoring in Economics.

Scott Adams, creator of 'Dilbert' comic strip, died at 68 after prostate cancer battle.

Key Updates:

  • Scott Adams, the author and cartoonist of the widely popular 'Dilbert' comic strip, has died at 68 after battling prostate cancer.
  • Adams' ex-wife, Shelly Miles, confirmed Adams' death during a livestream on the 'Real Coffee with Scott Adams' show.
  • Adams shared in May that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
  • During a New Year's Day broadcast of 'Real Coffee with Scott Adams,' Adams revealed that his chances of recovery were 'essentially zero.'
  • Adams' comic strip 'Dilbert' was first published in 1989 and earned him the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award in 1997.
  • By 2013, 'Dilbert' was reportedly featured in 2,000 newspapers in 65 countries and translated into 25 languages.
  • In 2023, numerous newspapers, including the USA TODAY Network, stopped running 'Dilbert' after Adams made racist comments labeling Black people a 'hate group.'
  • Adams later relaunched the comic strip as a webcomic on Locals under the name 'Daily Dilbert Reborn.'
  • Adams published several books including 'God's Debris,' 'The Religion War,' 'How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big,' 'Loserthink,' and 'Reframe Your Brain.'
  • In his final message, Adams wrote that he accepted Jesus Christ as his lord and savior and hoped for entry into heaven.

Similar Coverage

Frank Gehry, World-renowned Canadian-American Architect and Designer, Died (Start of December) ▼
  • Frank Gehry, a world-renowned Canadian-American architect and designer, died at the age of 96 after a short respiratory illness.
  • He was awarded the Pritzker Prize, which is described as the field’s top honour in architecture.
  • His other honours included the Royal Institute of British Architects gold medal, the Americans for the Arts lifetime achievement award, and the Companion of the Order of Canada.
  • Among his many masterpieces were the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles; and Berlin’s DZ Bank Building.
  • He also designed an expansion of Facebook’s Northern California headquarters.
  • Gehry founded the architectural firm Gehry Partners LLP in 1962.
  • He designed the InterActiveCorp (IAC) Building in New York City and the New York By Gehry building.
  • He joined the faculty of the University of Southern California as a professor of architecture and also taught at Yale and Columbia University.
  • Born Ephraim Owen Goldberg in Toronto on February 28, 1929, he later became a US citizen and changed his name.
  • The Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Abu Dhabi is expected to be completed in 2026.
Ram Vanji Sutar passes away at 100, sculptor of Statue of Unity (Mid of December) ▼
  • Ram Vanji Sutar, creator of the 522-foot Statue of Unity, passed away at his Noida residence at age 100.
  • He was awarded Padma Shri in 1999 and Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contributions to Indian sculpture.
  • Sutar sculpted the 108-foot bronze Statue of Prosperity at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
  • He had been working with his son Anil Ram Sutar since 1994 on monumental sculptures across India.
Dictionary.com's 2025 Word of the Year: '67' (Start of November) ▼
  • Dictionary.com announced it has chosen "67" as its 2025 Word of the Year.
  • The term "67" is pronounced "six seven," not sixty-seven.
  • "67" is the first word of the year in a really long time that's actually more of an interjection.
  • "67" is an example of brainrot slang and is intended to be nonsensical and playfully absurd.
  • The term "67" originated from a song by rapper Skrilla, "Doot Doot (6 7)".
Sir Tom Stoppard, Renowned UK Playwright, Died at 88 (Start of December) ▼
  • Sir Tom Stoppard, a UK playwright, died at the age of 88.
  • He won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the screenplay for Shakespeare In Love.
  • His play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead won four Tony awards, including best play.
  • His semi-autobiographical work titled Leopoldstadt, released in 2020, won an Olivier award for best new play and four Tony awards.
  • He was knighted by the late Queen for his services to literature in 1997.
  • His notable stage works include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and The Real Thing.
  • He adapted Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina for the 2012 film starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law.
  • Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia, his parents fled from imminent Nazi occupation.
  • He worked as a journalist in Bristol in 1954 before becoming a theatre critic and writing plays for radio and TV.
  • King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed deep sadness at his death, calling him one of their greatest writers.
  • The Writers' Guild stated he received their award for outstanding contribution to writing in 2017.

Deloitte India projects India GDP growth at 7.5-7.8% for FY26 and 6.6-6.9% for FY27.

Key Updates:

  • Deloitte India forecasts full-year GDP growth at 7.5-7.8 per cent for FY2025-26.
  • Growth is expected to moderate to 6.6-6.9 per cent in FY2026-27 on a high base and persistent global uncertainties.
  • Real GDP grew 8 per cent in the first half April-September of the ongoing 2025-26 fiscal.

Similar Coverage

Fitch Ratings raises India FY26 GDP forecast to 7.4% from 6.9% (Start of December) ▼
  • Fitch Ratings has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 to 7.4% from 6.9%.
  • Private consumer spending is the main driver of growth this year, supported by strong real income dynamics and increased consumer sentiment.
  • India’s GDP growth accelerated to a six-quarter high of 8.2% in the second quarter of FY26, up from 5.6% in the same quarter last year.
  • Consumer price inflation fell to an all-time low of 0.3% in October, driven by lower food and drink prices (-3.7% in the year to October).
  • Fitch expects the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to cut the policy rate once more in December to 5.25%, following 100bp of cuts in 2025.
  • Fitch projects India’s GDP growth to slow to 6.4% in FY27 and further to 6.2% in FY28.
  • India faces one of the highest ETRs on its exports to the US (about 35%); a trade agreement that lowers the ETR would boost external demand.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) projects India’s real GDP growth at 7.4% for FY26. (Mid of January) ▼
  • MoSPI’s First Advance Estimates place FY26 real GDP growth at 7.4%, up from 6.5% in FY25.
  • Nominal GDP growth for FY26 is estimated at 8.0%.
  • Real gross value added (GVA) is projected to rise 7.3% in FY26, with the services sector identified as the key growth engine.
  • Private consumption growth eased to 7% YoY in FY25 versus 7.2% in the previous fiscal.
  • Manufacturing GVA growth is estimated at 7% and Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services plus Public Administration, Defence & Other Services are estimated to grow 9.9% at constant prices in FY26.
  • Agriculture and allied sector GVA growth is pegged at 3.1% while Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Other Utility Services GVA growth is moderate at 2.1% in FY26.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had forecasted FY26 GDP growth at 7.3% in its December MPC meeting.
  • CRISIL revised its FY26 GDP growth forecast to 7% after Q2 FY26 data showed 8.2% growth, the fastest in six quarters.
  • India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) pegs FY26 real GDP growth at 7.4% and nominal GDP growth at 9%.
  • Bank of Baroda projects FY26 GDP growth in the 7.4%-7.6% range, noting risks from decelerating exports to the US.
  • SBI Capital Markets expects FY26 real GDP growth to exceed 7% and nominal GDP growth at around 8.5% y/y.
  • Acuité Ratings & Research revised FY26 GDP growth estimate to 7.2% from 6.6% after Q2 data.
  • The Second Advance Estimates of GDP for FY26 will be released on 27 February 2026 and will incorporate a base revision to 2022-23.
India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) projects India GDP growth at 6.9% for FY27 (Start of January) ▼
  • India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) forecasts real GDP growth of 6.9% in FY27.
  • Ind-Ra expects retail inflation to average 3.8% in FY27.
  • Union government debt as a percentage of GDP is projected to decline to 55.5% in FY27 from an estimated 56.3% in FY26.
  • Ind-Ra anticipates the Indian Rupee to average 92.26 against the US dollar in FY27, compared with 88.64 in FY26.
  • Ind-Ra estimates total budget size to rise to Rs 52 lakh crore in FY27 from the budgeted Rs 50 lakh crore in FY26.
  • Tax revenue is expected to fall short by Rs 2 lakh crore in FY26, to be offset through higher non-tax revenue and slightly lower capex.
  • Fiscal deficit for FY26 is retained at the budgeted 4.4% of GDP, amounting to Rs 15.69 lakh crore in absolute terms.
Goldman Sachs (GS) forecasts India GDP growth at 6.7% for 2026 and 6.8% for 2027. (End of December) ▼
  • Goldman Sachs projects India’s real GDP growth at around 6.7 per cent in 2026 and 6.8 per cent in 2027.
  • Global growth is expected at 2.8 per cent in 2026, above the consensus estimate of 2.5 per cent.
  • Emerging markets, including India, are expected to outperform developed peers amid stronger domestic demand and favourable structural trends.
  • India’s growth benefits from strong domestic consumption, public infrastructure spending and limited exposure to global trade disruptions.
  • Goldman Sachs estimates China to grow at 4.8 per cent in 2026 and 4.7 per cent in 2027.
  • Inflation pressures are expected to ease across most economies by end-2026, supporting accommodative monetary stances in several emerging markets.

Ministry of Industry data shows Wholesale Price Index inflation at 0.83% in December 2025.

Key Updates:

  • Wholesale price inflation recorded at 0.83% in December 2025, returning to positive territory after negative readings of (-)0.32% in November and (-)1.21% in October.
  • Retail inflation rose to 1.33% in December from 0.71% in November, driven by rising food prices.
  • Deflation in vegetables narrowed to 3.50% in December from 20.23% in November.
  • Inflation in manufactured products increased to 1.82% in December from 1.33% in November.
  • Deflation in fuel and power sectors continued at 2.31% in December compared to 2.27% in November.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut policy interest rates by 1.25 percentage points during the current fiscal year.
  • RBI lowered inflation projection for the current fiscal to 2% from the earlier 2.6%.
  • RBI reduced key policy interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.25% last month.
  • RBI raised FY26 GDP growth projection to 7.3% from the previous 6.8%.
  • India registered GDP growth of 8.2% in the September quarter and 7.8% in the June quarter.

Similar Coverage

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records December CPI inflation at 1.33% (Mid of January) ▼
  • India’s headline retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 1.33 per cent in December 2025 from 0.71 per cent in November.
  • Retail food prices fell 2.71 per cent year-on-year in December after falling by 3.91 per cent the previous month.
  • The December 2025 retail inflation figure is the last under the existing CPI series; a new series with base year 2024 will be introduced next month.
  • The October–December CPI inflation averaged ~0.8 per cent, about 20 basis points higher than the Monetary Policy Committee’s Q3FY26 forecast.
  • Core inflation rose to 4.6 per cent in December from 4.4 per cent the previous month, driven by gold and silver price surges.
  • Gold inflation hit a record high of 68.66 per cent and silver inflation reached 97.07 per cent in December.
  • Excluding gold and silver, December CPI inflation would have been 0.26 per cent.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expects inflation to average around 4 per cent in the first half of 2026-27.
WPI and CPI Inflation Fall to Historic Lows in October; RBI Holds Policy Rate (Mid of November) ▼
  • Wholesale inflation turned negative in October, dropping to minus 1.21 percent.
  • The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) had inched up 0.13% in September and stood at 2.75% a year earlier.
  • Food inflation saw the steepest fall, with overall deflation widening to 8.31% from 5.22% in September.
  • Vegetable prices fell 34.97% in October compared with 24.41% in September, while pulses saw deflation of 16.50%.
  • Manufactured product inflation eased to 1.54% from 2.33% in the previous month.
  • Fuel and power remained in deflation for the seventh consecutive month at (-)2.55%, marginally lower than September’s (-)2.58%.
  • Retail inflation data released last week showed consumer price index (CPI) inflation dropping to a historic low of 0.25% in October, compared with 1.44% in September.
  • The Reserve Bank of India held its policy rate steady at 5.5% in its last review.
  • The slide in wholesale inflation comes soon after the September 22 reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, which brought the four-tier tax structure down to two slabs — 5% and 18% — for several mass-consumption goods.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records CPI inflation at 0.71% for November 2025. (Mid of December) ▼
  • Headline inflation rose to 0.71% in November 2025, up from 0.25% in October.
  • The All India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) shows a year-on-year inflation rate of -3.91% for November 2025.
  • Rural headline inflation reached 0.10% in November 2025, up from -0.25% in October.
  • Urban headline inflation increased to 1.40% in November 2025 from 0.88% in October.
  • Fuel and light inflation stood at 2.32% year-on-year in November 2025, rising from 1.98% in October.
WPI Inflation Hits 27-Month Low of (-)1.21% in Oct 2025 on GST Cuts, Favourable Base (Mid of November) ▼
  • Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation stood at (-)1.21 per cent in October 2025, down from 0.13 per cent in September and 2.75 per cent in October last year.
  • Deflation in food articles was 8.31 per cent in October, with vegetables at 34.97 per cent, pulses at 16.50 per cent, potato at 39.88 per cent and onion at 65.43 per cent.
  • Fuel and power recorded deflation of 2.55 per cent in October, marking seven consecutive months of decline.
  • Manufactured products inflation eased to 1.54 per cent in October from 2.33 per cent in September.
  • Retail inflation fell to an all-time low of 0.25 per cent in October, down from 1.44 per cent in September.
  • The Reserve Bank of India kept the benchmark policy repo rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent in its last review.
  • India Ratings and Research expects wholesale deflation in November 2025 to be under 1 per cent.

OTP-based ticketing system to enhance transparency in 300 trains

Key Updates:

  • Indian Railways (IR) introduced an OTP (One Time Password)-based ticketing system in 300 major trains across the country to enhance transparency and check touts.
  • The system applies to online ticket bookings as well as counter tickets in premium trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto Express services.
  • Under the new arrangement, passengers booking tickets at railway counters are now required to provide a valid mobile number on which an OTP can be received to issue tickets.
  • The North Central Railway (NCR) stated the measure will effectively curb fake bookings, multiple ticket purchases by a single individual, and the involvement of unauthorised agents.
  • The OTP-based ticketing system is being rolled out in a phased manner and may be gradually extended to all trains if the results are positive.

Similar Coverage

Indian Railways commissions Kavach 4.0 on Gujarat’s Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad Section (Start of January) ▼
  • Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned in Gujarat’s first Bajwa(Vadodara)–Ahmedabad section(96-km).
  • The project covers 17 stations and includes robust infrastructure such as 23 towers, 20 Kavach buildings/huts, 192 km of optical fibre cable, and installation of 2,872 RFID tags.
  • Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system of Indian Railways, designed to provide the highest level of operational safety.
  • It is a highly technology-intensive system certified to Safety Integrity Level–4 (SIL-4), one of the highest safety standards in signalling systems.
  • Kavach assists Loco Pilots by automatically applying brakes in situations where prescribed speed limits are exceeded or when safety is compromised.
  • Key enhancements in Kavach 4.0 include improved location accuracy, better signal aspect information in large and complex station yards, station-to-station Kavach interface through optical fibre cable, and direct integration with existing electronic interlocking systems.
Jyotiraditya Scindia announces Speed Post 24 and 48 services on January 11, 2026 (Mid of January) ▼
  • Union Minister for Communications and Northeast Region Development Jyotiraditya Scindia announced two new India Post services, Speed Post 24 and Speed Post 48, at Pichor in Shivpuri district.
  • Speed Post 24 and Speed Post 48 are designed to ensure document delivery within 24 and 48 hours, respectively.
  • The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), rolled out transformative reforms to bolster indigenous manufacturing on December 29, 2025.
  • The telecom reforms are aligned with the principle of DSS, which stands for 'Design in India, Solve in India, Scale for the world'.
  • Reforms include a 90 per cent reduction in compliance burden for women-led and MSME testing laboratories and reduced fees for Telecom Security Testing Laboratories (TSTLs).
  • Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other government institutions have been granted a complete waiver of testing fees.
  • The Pro Tem Security Certification Scheme for OEMs has been extended for a period of 2 years as part of the new telecom security reforms.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) grants TPAP licence to RediffPay for UPI launch. (End of December) ▼
  • Rediff.com India has received final approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for its Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) license.
  • RediffPay positions itself as India’s first UPI app focused on financial wellness.
  • The app will support Credit Line on UPI, allowing users to make merchant payments up to ₹1 lakh per day and withdraw up to ₹10,000 in cash via pre-approved credit lines.
  • Axis Bank will serve as the Payment System Provider (PSP) bank for the platform.
  • Infibeam Avenues reported processing transactions worth ₹8.67 lakh crore across payments and platform services in FY25.
Indian Railways (IR) nears 100% electrification of broad-gauge network (Start of January) ▼
  • As of November 2025, Indian Railways (IR) electrified 69,427 route km, which is approximately 99.2% of the 70,001 km broad-gauge network.
  • The electrification rate for IR increased from an average of 1.42 km per day between 2004 and 2014 to more than 15 km per day between 2019 and 2025.
  • Railway electrification in India began in 1925 using a 1500V DC system for the first electric train between Bombay Victoria Terminus and Kurla.
  • IR utilized new construction technologies, including mechanised cylindrical foundations and automatic wiring trains, to replace slower, labour-intensive methods.
  • The transition from diesel-powered engines to electric trains marks a major leap towards a modern and sustainable future for the network.

Bamanwas Kankar Organic Certification: Rajasthan’s First Fully Organic Village Body

[Rajasthan]

Key Updates:

  • Bamanwas Kankar panchayat in Rajasthan has become the first village body in the State to be certified as fully organic.
  • The transition to organic farming was supported by Cofarmin Federation of Organic Societies and Producer Companies (COFED), a group working in the areas of natural resource conservation, sustainable farming, and women’s empowerment.
  • The participants publicly took an oath to practise pesticide-free farming, organic cattle rearing, and environmentally-responsible land management during a ceremony on January 2.
  • The target beneficiaries include farmers and cattle owners across seven hamlets: "Bamanwas, Nangalhedi, Rah Ka Mala, Bhadana Ki Bhaal, Tolawas, Khariya Ki Dhani, and Bairawas."
  • By this year-end, we aim to convert 300 panchayats across the districts of Bikaner, Alwar, Kotputli–Behror, and Bhilwara into fully organic village bodies, according to COFED.

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Uttar Pradesh Government Prepares for New District Kalyan Singh Nagar (End of October) ▼
  • The Uttar Pradesh government has started preparations for creating the 76th district.
  • The new district will be named Kalyan Singh Nagar, after its former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh.
  • Kalyan Singh Nagar will be formed by merging Atrauli and Gangiri tehsils of Aligarh and Dibai tehsil of Bulandshahr.
  • Ram Kumar Dwivedi, the officer in charge of the Commissioner and Secretary of the Revenue Council, has sought proposals from the district magistrates of Aligarh and Bulandshahr.
  • The initiative aims to keep the memory of a great leader alive and address the backwardness of the area, fulfilling public sentiment.
Paliyar tribe petitions Dindigul Collector for separate houses aligned with cultural practices (End of December) ▼
  • Seventeen Paliyar families from Shanmugam Parai Paliyarkudi village in Periyammapatti panchayat, Palani taluk, Dindigul district, submitted a petition to the Dindigul Collector.
  • The Paliyar are a forest-dependent nomadic community traditionally engaged in collecting minor forest produce, goat rearing, and agricultural labour.
  • House site pattas were issued three years ago, yet the families continue to live in individual hut houses on about one acre of government poramboke land.
  • They oppose closely built concrete houses in dense colonies as such layouts contradict their customary lifestyle that requires space for livestock sheds and scattered housing.
  • The petition requests a survey and demarcation of the patta land already allotted, followed by construction of separate concrete houses under the Tholkudi scheme in a layout respecting their cultural practices and ancestral lifestyle.
MoSJE–DWBDNC and MoRD–DAY NRLM Sign Landmark MoU to Empower De‑Notified, Nomadic and Semi‑Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) (End of November) ▼
  • The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE), through the Development and Welfare Board for De‑Notified, Nomadic and Semi‑Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC), and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY‑NRLM), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
  • The MoU aims to advance inclusive development and social justice for historically marginalized communities, specifically De‑Notified, Nomadic and Semi‑Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
  • Over the next three years, more than 5,000 DNT Self‑Help Groups (SHGs) formed under DWBDNC will be assimilated into the DAY‑NRLM framework.
  • A dedicated cadre, DNT Sakhi, drawn from within the community, will support about 30 families organized into three Self‑Help Groups (SHGs).
  • The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on November 25, 2025.
Government Initiatives for Tribal Welfare and Development (Mid of November) ▼
  • In 2021, the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda was officially commemorated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.
  • The Shri Govind Guru Chair for Tribal Language Promotion Centre has been established at the Birsa Munda Tribal University; this centre will study the dialects of tribal communities such as Bhil, Gamit, Vasava, Garasia, Kokani, Santhal, Rathwa, Nayak, Dabla, Chaudhary, Kokna, Kumbhi, Warli, and Dodia; stories and songs associated with these communities will be preserved.
  • To address the development of the most backward among the tribal communities, the PM-JANMAN scheme was launched from Khunti in Jharkhand, and ₹24,000 crore is being spent on this initiative.
  • The Dharti Aaba Tribal Village Utkarsh Abhiyan is scripting a new chapter of development in backward tribal villages; over 60,000 villages across the country have joined this campaign; under this campaign, Gram Sabhas have been made the pivot of development.
  • In the past five to six years alone, the central government has allocated over ₹18,000 crore for Eklavya Model Residential Schools across the country; 42 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) dedicated to Tribal students worth around ₹1,900 crores were inaugurated.
  • The Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched in 2018 from Ranchi, Jharkhand, provides free medical treatment benefits up to ₹5 lakh to crores of tribal brothers and sisters across the country.
  • A nationwide campaign is currently underway to address and manage sickle cell disease effectively, and under this initiative, six crore tribal brothers and sisters across the country have already been screened.

Dam Safety Act, 2021: NDSA ensures public safety through compliance at Bargi Dam

Key Updates:

  • The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), under the Union government’s Jal Shakti Ministry, has issued a stern show-cause notice to the Bhopal-based Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) regarding the safety of the Bargi Dam in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh.
  • The notice alleges non-compliance with the statutory provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, stating that the operation and maintenance of the Bargi Dam poses a potential threat to public safety and downstream populations.
  • The NDSA warned that legal action may be initiated under Sections 41 and 42 of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which include penal provisions for responsible officials if mandatory provisions are not followed.
  • The Dam Safety Act, 2021 mandates regular inspections, risk assessments, emergency action plans, and modern monitoring systems for all designated dams in the country.
  • The NVDA has 30 days to respond to the show-cause notice regarding persistent leakage and inadequate monitoring systems at the dam.

Similar Coverage

Indian Coast Guard inducts first indigenously built Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Pratap (End of December) ▼
  • ‘Samudra Pratap’ is the first indigenously designed and built Pollution Control Vessel of the Indian Coast Guard.
  • The vessel is equipped with Dynamic Positioning capability (DP-1), with FiFi-2 / FFV-2 notation certificate.
  • It carries an Oil finger printing machine, Gyro stabilized Standoff Active Chemical Detector and PC lab equipment enabling comprehensive pollution response operations within the Exclusive Economic Zone and beyond.
Indian Coast Guard conducts RPREX-2025 off Mumbai coast to strengthen maritime pollution response (End of December) ▼
  • The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) executed the regional level pollution response exercise (RPREX-2025) off the coast of Mumbai.
  • RPREX-2025 validated the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP).
  • The exercise involved ONGC, Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA), forest department’s mangrove cell, coastal police, fisheries department, JSW Port, Angre Port, and various oil handling agencies.
NMCG approves first-of-its-kind avifauna conservation project for sandbar-nesting birds in Ganga basin (Start of January) ▼
  • A new project has been approved to protect breeding habitats of sandbar-nesting birds, including the Indian Skimmer.
  • The project will use Nature based Solutions for in-situ treatment of the Shastri Park drain, Gaushala drain, and Kailash Nagar/Ramesh Nagar drains in Delhi before they enter the Yamuna.
  • A comprehensive master plan has been prepared to restore the natural sanctity and cultural identity of the Gomti River’s origin site at Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.
Indore Epidemic Response: Chlorination & Tanker Supply Drive (Start of January) ▼
  • Indore health administration declared the Bhagirathpura waterborne outbreak an epidemic.
  • Specialised teams from ICMR-NIRBI and NCDC were called in to contain the spread and identify contamination sources.
  • Narmada water supply in the affected zone remains suspended until pipelines are certified fully decontaminated.

Odisha to Launch Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Registry to Track Prevalence and Enable Early Treatment

[Odisha]

Key Updates:

  • Odisha is planning to launch a chronic kidney disease (CKD) registry by March 31.
  • It will help govt know about the prevalence of CKD and prepare action plans and programmes to tackle kidney disease.
  • A state task force of 12 members was formed under the chairmanship of the chief secretary to carry out the CKD registry work.
  • Starting from the primary health centre (PHC) to medical college level, each healthcare institution will report CKD cases in the registry.
  • The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is developing the software for the registry.
  • Provision for funds has been made to speed up the work.
  • We are carrying out the CKD registry programme to detect and treat patients early.

Similar Coverage

Karnataka Organ Donation Record 2025 (Start of January) ▼
  • Jeevasarthakathe is the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO).
  • Karnataka achieved a record of 198 donations from organ donors in 2025, making it the highest number of donations in a year in the state’s record.
  • Karnataka stands third in the country behind Tamil Nadu (267) and Telangana (205) for state-wise donations.
  • Karnataka’s previous record for organ donations was in 2023 when 178 donors donated their organs.
  • Non-Transplant Human Organ Retrieval Centres (NTHORCs) are utilized to encourage donations through medical college hospitals.
  • SOTTO collaborated with the police department to nominate a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) rank officer as a nodal officer to identify potential organ donation cases in head injury incidents.
Govt Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) starts state’s first government AI clinic in Noida (Start of January) ▼
  • Govt Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Kasna has launched a clinic that will use artificial intelligence and genetic screening to detect and treat serious diseases such as cancer and heart, kidney and liver ailments at an early stage.
  • Officials said it is UP's first AI-powered govt clinic within a govt hospital.
  • The clinic will use artificial intelligence along with genetic screening to analyse diagnostic inputs, including blood tests, imaging scans and other clinical data.
  • AI tools will also be used to analyse X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI reports and laboratory investigations, particularly for critically ill patients.
  • According to doctors at GIMS, the use of robotics combined with AI can improve surgical precision across multiple specialities, including abdominal, orthopaedic, neurological and cardiac procedures.
  • The AI clinic was inaugurated online by the additional director general of health services (ADGHS), govt of India.
Union Minister J P Nadda announces India ranks 8th globally in World Health Organization (WHO) Pharmacovigilance Contributions (Start of January) ▼
  • India now stands at the 8th position globally in World Health Organization (WHO) Pharmacovigilance Contributions, rising from the 123rd position held ten years ago.
  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the 10th edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 2026, which serves as the official book of drug standards for India.
  • The Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 2026 has incorporated 121 new monographs, increasing the total count to 3,340 monographs.
  • India has become the first country to include 20 blood component monographs to expand research in blood transfusion, thalassemia, hemophilia, and anaemia.
  • The new monographs are designed to benefit the National TB Elimination Programme, Anaemia Mukt Bharat, and the Universal Immunisation Programme.
  • The Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) is currently recognized as a standard in 19 Global South countries.
Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) Authorizes ₹1.60 Lakh Crore for Hospital Admissions (End of December) ▼
  • The government's flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) saw a major expansion with Delhi and Odisha signing the MoU with the Ministry of Health (MoH) for its implementation.
  • The MoH initiative provides free treatment benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh per year to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, through Ayushman Vay Vandana cards.
  • As of December 1, a total of 10.98 crore hospital admissions amounting to Rs 1.60 lakh crore have been authorised under the AB-PMJAY since its inception in 2018.
  • The eSanjeevani telemedicine service provided more than 43.2 crore free tele-consultations, ensuring access to specialist doctors in rural and remote areas.
  • Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), more than 84.35 crore health accounts (ABHA accounts) have been created so far to facilitate digital storage and sharing of medical records.
  • The 100 Days TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched on December 7, 2024, in 347 high priority districts, was expanded to cover all districts of the country to strengthen testing, treatment, and nutritional support.
  • The MoH launched AI-driven healthcare reforms, establishing three centres of excellence for AI in healthcare at AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh.
  • An Android-based 'Ayushman app' was launched by the National Health Authority (NHA) featuring face-auth, OTP, IRIS, and fingerprint authentication for Ayushman card creation.

PM Cares Fund: Entitled to privacy protection under RTI Act

[Delhi High Court]

Key Updates:

  • The Delhi High Court indicated that the PM Cares Fund (PM CARES), despite being a govt entity, is entitled to privacy protection granted to third-party entities under the RTI Act.
  • The bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia questioned, "Even if it (the fund) is state, merely because it is state, does it lose its right to privacy?"
  • The hearing pertained to an appeal against a single judge's order that set aside an order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) that had directed the income tax authorities to disclose information about the PM CARES Fund.

Similar Coverage

Your Money, Your Right Movement: Reclaiming Unclaimed Financial Assets (Mid of December) ▼
  • The "Your Money, Your Right" movement is a nationwide push aimed at helping citizens reclaim unclaimed financial assets.
  • The campaign was launched on October 4.
  • The initiative has already facilitated the return of Rs 2,000 crore to rightful owners.
  • It seeks to streamline the settlement of unclaimed assets such as bank deposits, insurance payouts, dividends, shares, mutual funds, and pensions.
  • The effort brings together government agencies, regulators, banks, and financial institutions.
  • Special camps were organised in 477 districts between October and December 5, 2025, drawing participation from public representatives, district administrations, and officials from financial institutions.
  • Indian banks currently hold Rs 78,000 crore in unclaimed deposits, insurance companies have nearly Rs 14,000 crore, mutual fund houses account for around Rs 3,000 crore, and unclaimed dividends total Rs 9,000 crore.
MeitY Notifies Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, Begins Phased Rollout (Mid of November) ▼
  • MeitY notifies digital personal data protection Rules, 2025, beginning a phased rollout of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
  • The framework sets clear rules for how companies, digital platforms, and government bodies must collect, store, process, and manage the personal data of individuals (“Data Principals”).
  • The operational rules specify a phased rollout: general duties, grievance redressal provisions, and other foundational obligations under Rules 1, 2, and 17‑21 are effective immediately; the registration and governance of Consent Managers under Rule 4 will be applicable one year from notification; and the detailed notice formats, security measures, processing conditions, data retention norms, and remaining operational rules under Rules 3, 5‑16, 22‑23 will apply in full after 18 months.
  • A significant addition through the new rules is the establishment of a formal framework for Consent Managers, who must be registered with the Data Protection Board and comply with governance, transparency, and security requirements.
  • The Rules also lay down standards for encryption, masking, tokenisation, access controls, activity logging, backup systems, and business-continuity planning, making these safeguards mandatory for all fiduciaries.
  • In the event of a data breach, fiduciaries must provide immediate intimation to the Board and deliver a fuller report within 72 hours while simultaneously informing affected users about the nature of the breach, potential harm, and mitigation steps.
  • The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is India’s first full-scale privacy law, introducing explicit and affirmative consent for data processing and codifying a clear set of rights for individuals, including withdrawing consent, correcting or erasing data, and seeking timely grievance redressal.
  • The Act also requires mandatory breach notifications to both regulators and affected users and imposes steep penalties up to Rs 250 crore for violations.
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) reduces mandatory annuity purchase to 20% for non-government NPS subscribers. (Mid of December) ▼
  • Non-government subscribers under All Citizen Model and Corporate NPS can now withdraw up to 80% of corpus as lump sum.
  • Mandatory annuity purchase requirement reduced from 40% to 20% of accumulated pension wealth.
  • For corpus up to ₹8 lakh, entire amount can be withdrawn as lump sum with annuity purchase optional up to 20%.
  • For corpus between ₹8 lakh and ₹12 lakh, lump sum withdrawal capped at ₹6 lakh with balance available for annuity or systematic unit withdrawal over six years.
  • For corpus above ₹12 lakh, minimum 20% must be used for annuity purchase while up to 80% can be withdrawn as lump sum.
National Pension System (NPS) Amendments 2025: 80% Lump-sum Withdrawal and Extended Exit Age (End of December) ▼
  • The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified amendments to the PFRDA Exits and Withdrawals Regulations, 2015, applicable to the National Pension System (NPS).
  • The permissible lump-sum withdrawal at normal exit has been increased from 60% to 80%, while the mandatory annuity portion has been reduced to 20%.
  • The maximum exit age for subscribers has been extended from 70 years to 85 years.
  • For the All Citizen Model, normal exit is now permitted after 15 years of investment or upon reaching 60 years of age, whichever is earlier.
  • The threshold for 100% lump-sum withdrawal for non-government subscribers has been raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹8 lakh.
  • The mandatory 5-year minimum subscription period previously required for premature exit has been removed for non-government subscribers.
  • New structured withdrawal mechanisms, namely Systematic Lumpsum Withdrawal (SLW) and Systematic Unit Withdrawal (SUR), have been introduced to allow periodic redemption of investment units.
  • For government subscribers with a corpus between ₹8 lakh and ₹12 lakh, a lump-sum withdrawal of up to ₹6 lakh is permitted, with the remainder accessible via SUR.
  • The list of permitted reasons for partial withdrawal has been liberalized to include medical treatment without restriction to a specific list of illnesses.

All India Spices Exporters Forum to host 9th International Spice Conference in Kochi from 23-26 February 2026

Key Updates:

  • The All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF) will host the 9th edition of the International Spice Conference (ISC 2026) from February 23 to 26, 2026 in Kochi, Kerala.
  • The 4-day conference theme is 'Spice 360 – Getting Future Ready'.
  • Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa and former CEO of NITI Aayog, will inaugurate the conference and deliver the keynote address on 'Transforming Agro-Industry: Innovation, Inclusion & Global Leadership.'
  • Martin Sonntag, CEO of Oterra, will be the Guest of Honour and speak on 'Shaping the Next Decade of Food & Nutrition: Collaboration, Trust, and Responsibility.'
  • Emmanuel Nambusseril, Chairman, AISEF, stated that ISC has evolved into a globally recognised platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration across the spice value chain.
  • Nishesh Shah, Vice Chairman, AISEF, said the theme reflects the industry’s collective responsibility to prepare for the future by navigating trade and climate risks, embracing technology, and building resilient supply chains.
  • The conference will feature Crops and Markets sessions offering market intelligence and production outlooks for turmeric, ginger, cumin, chilli, Mediterranean herbs, major Chinese spices, black pepper and dehydrated products.

Similar Coverage

TEC and IIT Kanpur ink MoU to craft India-specific telecom standards and drive 6G, AI, NTN, IoT, Digital Twin, Metaverse and Quantum Communication research (Start of January) ▼
  • The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) will jointly develop 'India-specific standards and testing frameworks for emerging and future communication technologies, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence in Telecom, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twin, Metaverse, and Quantum Communication.'
  • The collaboration will 'enhance India's active participation and leadership in global standard-setting and radiocommunication bodies such as ITU-T, ITU-R, 3GPP, and other relevant international forums.'
  • Joint research will target 'AI/ML for network automation, optimization and intelligent management, with a roadmap towards AI-native capabilities for future networks.'
  • Studies will cover 'satellite communication systems, NTNs, HAPS and satellite-terrestrial integration, including disaster-resilient and emergency connectivity solutions.'
  • The partnership strengthens 'indigenous research, design and manufacturing in telecom... developing India-specific standards, test frameworks and home-grown solutions that bolster national self-reliance, secure critical communications infrastructure and reduce dependence on imports.'
7th India International Seaweed Expo and Summit | January 29-30 (Start of December) ▼
  • The 7th India International Seaweed Expo and Summit 2026 will be hosted by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute.
  • Jointly organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), CMFRI, and the CSIR–Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI).
  • Expects participation from countries including Brazil, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands.
  • Key feature will be the 'Seaweed 2030' panel presenting a national roadmap.
SARAS–2026 Exhibition Inauguration on January 8 (Start of January) ▼
  • SARAS–2026, a 13-day national-level exhibition for women’s economic empowerment, will be inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on January 8 at 4 p.m. in Guntur.
  • The Ministry of Rural Development is organising the festival as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
  • The exhibition will run till January 18 and will feature around 300 women artisans and entrepreneurs from 21 states and union territories.
BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network (BIMReN) holds first biennial meet in Kochi (Mid of November) ▼
  • BIMReN is an initiative of India’s External Affairs Ministry launched in 2024
  • The first biennial conference took place in Kochi from the 4th to the 6th of this month
  • Pilot phase has linked 25 institutions and over 50 researchers from BIMSTEC countries

India Hosts 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus Experts Working Group on Counter Terrorism

[Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)]

Key Updates:

  • India co-chaired the 16th ADMM-Plus Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism with Malaysia.
  • The meeting was addressed by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence.
  • India highlighted its Act East Policy and ASEAN's centrality in its Indo-Pacific vision.
  • India and Malaysia launched the current cycle of the 14th EWG meeting last year in Delhi.
  • A tabletop exercise will be hosted by Malaysia in 2026 and a field training exercise by India in 2027.

Similar Coverage

National IED Data Management System (NIDMS) to provide integrated online platform for security agencies (Start of January) ▼
  • Union home minister Amit Shah launched the National IED Data Management System (NIDMS), which is a two-way comprehensive and integrated online platform.
  • The NIDMS will be available to National Investigation Agency (NIA), anti-terrorism squads , state police forces and central armed police forces.
  • The database available with NSG contains data related to all bomb explosions since 1999 and will now be made available to police forces and relevant agencies through the NIDMS.
  • NIDMS will become a robust platform for accurately analysing the patterns of bomb explosions that have occurred so far, the modus operandi and the explosives used.
  • The platform will strengthen the process of collecting, standardising, integrating and securely sharing IED-related data.
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attends ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, emphasizes open Indo-Pacific (Start of November) ▼
  • The event attended by India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting - Plus (ADMM-Plus).
  • The meeting took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the Indo-Pacific should remain open, inclusive and free from coercion.
  • ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the US.
  • India has co-chaired Expert Working Groups within ADMM-Plus on Humanitarian Mine Action with Vietnam (2014-2017), Military Medicine with Myanmar (2017-2020), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief with Indonesia (2020-2024), and currently on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia (2024–2027 cycle).
  • The ASEAN-India partnership was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.
National Counter Terrorism Policy and Strategy to provide template for States against terror (End of December) ▼
  • The Union government is finalising India’s first anti-terror policy which will provide a template for all States to combat and respond to terror-related incidents.
  • The policy is being finalised by the Home Ministry with inputs from the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
  • Key focus areas include digital radicalisation, misuse of open borders, and foreign-funded conversion networks.
G20 Johannesburg Summit: India to push terrorism concerns (End of November) ▼
  • Event: G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa
  • India’s participation: PM Modi to speak in all three sessions and attend IBSA Leaders’ Meeting hosted by South Africa
  • India’s stated objective: “Terrorism is a very important subject for India… Every issue of importance to us will be highlighted. We are discussing the Declaration for the Summit.” – MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Sudhakar Dalela

Israel severs ties with multiple UN agencies citing bias and hostility

[Israel, United Nations (UN)]

Key Updates:

  • Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar decided that Jerusalem will immediately sever all contact with several United Nations agencies and international bodies.
  • The decision was made after a review of organisations named in the United States' announcement and of Israel's own experience with these bodies.
  • Israel has already severed ties with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict, UN Women, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
  • Additional organisations affected include the UN Alliance of Civilisations, UN Energy, and the Global Forum on Migration and Development.

Similar Coverage

United States exits India-headquartered International Solar Alliance following Trump executive order (Start of January) ▼
  • United States President Donald Trump withdrew the country from 66 international organisations — including 31 United Nations Organisations — via an executive order.
  • The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is the only India-headquartered organisation among the 60-plus institutions that the United States has now exited.
  • The ISA was conceptualised on the sidelines of the COP21 in Paris in 2015, when the landmark Paris Agreement was signed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and limit the rise in average global temperature.
  • The ISA is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana.
  • The ISA’s key theme is the ‘Towards 1000’ strategy, aimed at mobilising "$1,000 billion of investments in solar energy solutions by 2030 while delivering energy access to 1,000 million people using clean energy solutions and resulting in the installation of 1,000 GW of solar energy capacity."
  • According to the official website, more than 100 countries are currently its signatories, with over 90 countries having ratified to become full members.
India nominated to chair United Nations Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for 2026–27 term (Mid of January) ▼
  • Senior Indian diplomat DB Venkatesh Varma has been nominated by the UN Secretary General to chair the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for the 2026–27 term.
  • This marks the first time an Indian will hold the position of chair of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters.
  • The Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters was established in 1978 pursuant to paragraph 124 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly.
  • The Board advises the Secretary-General on issues related to arms limitation and disarmament, including studies and research carried out under the auspices of the United Nations or institutions within the UN system.
  • The Board also serves as the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
  • Members of the Advisory Board are chosen by the Secretary General from all regions of the world based on their knowledge and experience in disarmament and international security.
Hostage Remains Transferred in Gaza Ceasefire (Start of November) ▼
  • Palestinian militants handed over remains of two hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza.
  • The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed it had facilitated the transfer of the remains as a 'neutral intermediary.'
  • The transfer is part of 'the fragile ceasefire agreement' between Israel and the Hamas militant group, which 'began Oct. 10.'
  • Hamas militants have previously returned the remains of 15 hostages since the start of the ceasefire.
Israel announces plan to open embassy in Suva in 2026 (Mid of December) ▼
  • Israel will open an embassy in Suva in 2026, three months after Fiji established its embassy in Jerusalem.
  • Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced the decision and informed Fiji’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during a phone call.
  • Sa’ar stated the embassy will strengthen Israel’s diplomatic presence across the Pacific and deepen ties with other Pacific island nations.

Punjabi singer Kaka launches Friendo women-safety app with SOS, location tracking and self-defence resources

Key Updates:

  • Friendo offers users the option to use the ‘Emergency’ feature or a dedicated SOS button that will send out a call to fellow app users nearby within a determined radius (in kms), as well as to your trusted contacts.
  • These alerts are supported by real-time location tracking to share the user's position with trusted contacts and/or the authorities.
  • Alternative triggers such as shake detection or voice commands are also available.
  • A ‘stealth mode’ enables discreet monitoring, paired with automatic recording of audio or video to help gather evidence that may assist law enforcement, if the case is escalated.
  • Friendo also offers a resource library which contains self-defence tutorials and information on legal rights that can be availed by users.

Similar Coverage

Jalore Caste Panchayat Order: Smartphone Ban for Women and Girls (End of December) ▼
  • A caste panchayat of 15 villages in Rajasthan’s Jalore district has issued an order barring women from using smartphones.
  • The panchayat ordered that no women or girls from these villages will use camera phones with internet access from January 26, meaning that women are only allowed to use basic keypad phones.
  • The panchayat also stated that if girls require mobile phones for education, they will be allowed to use them only at home and not carry them to weddings, social events or neighbours’ houses.
Pankhudi Portal Launched to Streamline Non-Monetary Contributions for Women & Child Welfare (Start of January) ▼
  • The Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi launched 'Pankhudi', a portal to facilitate contributions by individuals, NGOs and corporates to government initiatives for early childhood care and women empowerment.
  • The portal will streamline voluntary and institutional contributions across key thematic areas, including nutrition, health, early childhood care and education (ECCE), child welfare, protection and rehabilitation, and women's safety and empowerment.
  • The portal does not allow monetary contributions and is described as a 'non-monetary, transparent, and result-oriented' platform.
  • Contributors can register on the portal, identify initiatives, submit proposals, and track the status of their contributions through clearly defined approval workflows.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women observed on November 25 with the theme of cyberviolence (End of November) ▼
  • The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on November 25.
  • The global theme for 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which begins on this day, is cyberviolence.
  • As many as 58% of women have been victims of online violence.
  • 90 – 95% of deepfake videos are sexual images of women.
  • 1 in 4 female journalists and 1 in 3 female parliamentarians have been threatened online, including death threats.
  • Every Woman is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan (SNSPA): 3 Guinness Records & Key Features (Start of November) ▼
  • Campaign Name: Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan (SNSPA); launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17 and held till October 2 as part of 'Poshan Month'.
  • Objective: Focus on preventive and women-centric healthcare, improving health and nutrition of women, adolescent girls and children.
  • Scale: Reached every district; 19.7 lakh health camps held and over 11 crore people participated across health platforms.
  • Key screenings/services: 1.78 crore screened for hypertension, 1.73 crore for diabetes, 69.5 lakh for oral cancer, 85.9 lakh women for tuberculosis, 10.2 lakh for sickle-cell disease, 1.51 crore anaemia tests, 62.6 lakh antenatal check-ups, 1.43 crore vaccine doses administered.
  • Digital milestones (Guinness records): Over 3.21 crore people registered on a healthcare platform in one month; over 9.94 lakh signed up for online breast-cancer screening in one week; over 1.25 lakh registered for online vital-signs screening at state level in one week.
  • Participation: More than 20 ministries/departments, central institutes, medical colleges, private organisations; 5 lakh+ Panchayati Raj reps, 1.14 crore students, 94 lakh SHG members, 5 lakh+ community-platform participants.

American Scientist Toby Kiers Wins Tyler Prize for Revealing Hidden Fungal Networks

[United States]

Key Updates:

  • American evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers has been awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for her work on mycorrhizal networks.
  • Mycorrhizal fungi draw down 13.12 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, around a third of total emissions from fossil fuels.
  • Kiers and her team launched a worldwide Underground Atlas last year to chart the global distribution of mycorrhizal fungi.
  • In 2011, she published a landmark paper in Science showing that mycorrhizal fungi behave like traders in a 'biological marketplace,' moving phosphorus from abundance to scarcity to secure more carbon.
  • Kiers co-founded the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) to map fungal biodiversity and advocate for its protection.
  • SPUN is launching an 'Underground Advocates' programme to train scientists in legal tools to protect fungal biodiversity.

Similar Coverage

Nalini Joshi named New South Wales Scientist of the Year (Mid of January) ▼
  • Nalini Joshi became the first mathematician to receive the New South Wales Scientist of the Year award.
  • She is Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Sydney.
  • Joshi warned that governments are underprepared for quantum threats to cryptography.
DNA pioneer James Watson dies at 97 (Start of November) ▼
  • Nobel Prize-winning American scientist James Watson, co-discoverer of the double-helix structure of DNA, has died aged 97.
  • Watson shared the 1962 Nobel Prize with Maurice Wilkins and Francis Crick for the DNA double-helix structure discovery.
  • He had to resign as chancellor of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory after making controversial comments linking race and intelligence.
Study Uncovers Survival Mechanisms of Japan's Ghost Plants in Sunless Forests (Start of November) ▼
  • Ghost plants of Japan are unique flora found in shaded forests, thriving without sunlight.
  • These plants lack chlorophyll and do not photosynthesise, instead relying entirely on underground fungal networks for carbon and nutrients.
  • A peer-reviewed study published in Annals of Botany explains their fascinating adaptation to darkness and fully mycoheterotrophic nature.
  • The ghost plants belong to families such as Thismia, Gastrodia, and Monotropastrum, forming mycoheterotrophic relationships with fungi, often from families like Ceratobasidiaceae.
  • Their survival depends on a complex tripartite relationship involving a tree, a fungus, and the ghost plant, which is essential for their survival and the health of forest ecosystems.
  • Ghost plants challenge the understanding of plant survival by demonstrating a continuum from mixotrophy to full mycoheterotrophy, with albino individuals showing full fungal reliance.
  • These plants are indicators of healthy, undisturbed forests and are highly vulnerable, as they cannot be cultivated independently and are susceptible to habitat destruction or soil changes.
Infosys Prize 2025 Honors Six Researchers for Scientific Advancement (Mid of November) ▼
  • The Infosys Prize 2025 was announced for six researchers across six categories: Economics, Engineering and Computer Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences.
  • Each laureate will receive a gold medal, a citation, and a prize purse of $100,000.
  • The prize honours young Indian researchers for their contributions to scientific advancement, recognising researchers under the age of 40 from 2024.
  • Anjana Badrinarayanan from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, was awarded in Life Sciences for her work on genome maintenance and DNA repair mechanisms using live-cell imaging.
  • Sushant Sachdeva from the University of Toronto received the Engineering and Computer Science prize for his study into mathematical optimisation and algorithmic theory.
  • Sabyasachi Mukherjee from TIFR, Mumbai, was recognized in Mathematical Sciences for linking Kleinian group dynamics and holomorphic map iteration.
  • Karthish Manthiram from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) won in Physical Sciences for developing sustainable electrochemical routes for key industrial chemicals using renewable electricity.
  • Winners based outside of India are required to spend 30 days at a host institution in India as part of the Infosys Prize Residency programme to encourage collaboration.

Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) Exceeds Greenwald Limit and Breaks Nuclear Fusion Density Record

Key Updates:

  • The breakthrough was performed at the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), nicknamed the 'Artificial Sun', which is China’s cutting-edge fusion reactor.
  • EAST has already broken a variety of records, including the longest sustained ultra-hot plasma for 1,066 seconds – that’s 17 minutes and 46 seconds of plasma well beyond 100 million degrees Celsius.
  • Nuclear fusion reactors work by reproducing what goes on inside the Sun where hydrogen atoms merge, turning into helium atoms and releasing a lot of energy.
  • By tweaking the initial parameters, such as the gas pressure and the heating resonance of the electrons in the plasma – how the particles respond to microwaves – the team was able to get densities with no instabilities at 1.3 to 1.65 times the Greenwald limit.
  • The findings suggest a practical and scalable pathway for extending density limits in tokamaks and next-generation burning plasma fusion devices, said study co-lead author Ping Zhu, a professor in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Science and Technology in China.
  • The study is published in the journal Science Advances.

Similar Coverage

DRDL conducts 12-minute ground test of actively-cooled scramjet combustor (Mid of January) ▼
  • Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) successfully ran the full-scale combustor for over 12 minutes at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test Facility.
  • The test validated the design of the actively-cooled scramjet combustor for hypersonic cruise missiles.
  • Hypersonic cruise missiles exceed five times the speed of sound (over 6,100 kmph) for extended periods.
Niigata Local Government Approves Restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant (End of December) ▼
  • The partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the world’s largest nuclear power facility, received approval in a vote by the Niigata local government.
  • Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the first plant to be operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
  • The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) estimates that reactivating the first of seven reactors could boost the electricity supply to the Tokyo area by 2 percent.
  • Japan spent 10.7 trillion yen ($68bn) last year on imported liquefied natural gas and coal, representing one-tenth of its total import costs.
  • Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has backed the reopening of nuclear facilities to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
China Achieves First Thorium-Uranium Fuel Conversion in Operational Molten-Salt Reactor (Start of November) ▼
  • China has successfully achieved the first-ever thorium to uranium nuclear fuel conversion in a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR), confirming the technical feasibility of thorium utilization in a molten-salt reactor nuclear energy system.
  • The experimental TMSR was built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) in collaboration with other Chinese institutions and is currently the only operational molten-salt reactor in the world loaded with thorium fuel.
  • Molten-salt reactors are fourth-generation advanced nuclear energy systems that use high-temperature molten salt as a coolant, boasting inherent safety features, cooling without water, running at atmospheric pressure, and delivering a high-temperature output.
  • The TMSR program was launched in 2011, achieving major progress from laboratory research to the engineering verification of core materials, equipment and technologies, with domestically developed core equipment and an independent supply chain.
  • SINAP aims to construct a 100-megawatt demonstration project and realize its demonstration application by 2035, working with leading energy companies to consolidate the TMSR industrial and supply chains and accelerate technology iteration and engineering application.
China building world’s first floating artificial island designed to withstand nuclear blasts (End of November) ▼
  • China is constructing what researchers say will be the world’s first mobile, floating artificial island built to survive a nuclear explosion.
  • The platform is a 78,000-tonne semi-submersible, described by Chinese scientists as a “far-sea floating mobile island”.
  • It is designed to support long-term deep-sea research and is expected to enter service in 2028.
  • The structure will accommodate up to 238 people for about four months without needing supplies.
  • The island measures 138 metres long and 85 metres wide, with a twin-hull structure that can operate in rough seas and withstand extremely strong typhoons.
  • Its nuclear-resistant structure uses a “sandwich” panel made from metamaterials, designed to turn a sudden shockwave into a slower, controlled compression.
  • The facility is listed as a national scientific infrastructure project under China’s 14th five-year plan, with specifications referring to a Chinese military standard for nuclear protection.

West Bengal on Nipah alert as two nurses test positive; hospitals activate isolation wards and PPE protocols

[West Bengal]

Key Updates:

  • Two nurses from a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas, have tested positive for Nipah virus and are on ventilator support due to severe lung and brain infection (encephalitis).
  • All government and private healthcare units must immediately report patients with high-grade fever, acute respiratory distress, or encephalitis to the state health department.
  • Major private hospitals like CMRI and Manipal Hospital have activated dedicated isolation wards and conducted mock drills following Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and West Bengal Health Department guidelines.
  • The Union Health Ministry has deployed the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT), led by All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, to assist the state.
  • Nipah virus has two known strains—NiV-Malaysia (NiV-M) and NiV-Bangladesh (NiV-B)—and the strain in West Bengal is yet to be confirmed.

Similar Coverage

National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2.0 Launched (Mid of November) ▼
  • Policy Name: National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2.0 (NAP-AMR 2.0).
  • Launch Authority: Union Health Minister JP Nadda.
  • Main Objective: To curb the growing threat of drug-resistant infections.
  • Key Strategies/Features: Enhancing laboratory capacity, infection control in healthcare facilities, increasing the ownership of AMR-related efforts, strengthening inter-sectoral coordination, ensuring stronger engagement with the private sector, and strengthening awareness, education and training.
  • Development Process: Started in 2022 through a series of stakeholder consultations and high-level meetings between participants from more than 20 concerned ministries and departments.
  • Background: The initial framework for countering antimicrobial resistance, the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR), was first introduced in 2017 by the Health Ministry.
  • Identified Gaps in Previous Plan (from NCDC report): Lacked standardized methodologies for conducting KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practices) studies, inadequate consolidation of data from existing KAP studies, lack of collaboration and communication between stakeholders, and absence of an integrated platform.
IMD has put Delhi under a “yellow alert” owing to colder conditions (Mid of January) ▼
  • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has put Delhi under a “yellow alert” owing to colder conditions than normal.
  • Air quality in Delhi continued to remain under “very poor” category with an AQI of 321.
  • India ranks 64th globally in AI adoption with 15.7% diffusion rate.
  • Grace Harris’ stunning 40-ball 85 powers Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to 2nd win in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026.
  • The Golden Globe Awards 2026 Winners LIVE Updates: One Battle After Another leads with 9 nods.
  • Two cases of Nipah detected in West Bengal.
Karnataka Health Advisory for Sabarimala Pilgrims (Mid of November) ▼
  • Karnataka issues advisory for Sabarimala pilgrims amid rising cases of Amoebic meningoencephalitis.
  • The state health department has advised the pilgrims travelling to Kerala to exercise caution during their travel.
  • The advisory requested the visitors to use nose clips or close the nose tightly while bathing from water bodies during their visit to Kerala.
  • The department asked the travellers to visit the nearest hospital and seek treatment if they experience fever, unbearable headache, vomiting, tightness in neck area, changes in mental state or behavioural disorders within seven days of the visit.
Integrated Health Information Platform for Near Real-time Disease Reporting (Start of December) ▼
  • The Integrated Health Information Platform collects data from over 1.5 lakh health workers and facilities.
  • It enables near real-time reporting of diseases from all levels of healthcare including ANMs, primary health centres, district hospitals, and tertiary care centres.
  • The platform was started in the middle of the pandemic in 2021.
  • An AI component scans news articles in 13 different languages for mentions of unusual clusters of diseases.
  • The portal includes a section for community reporting of unusual health events by anyone.

Satwik-Chirag touted as India’s strongest medal hope at India Open

Key Updates:

  • Satwik and Chirag have reached two finals in the last four editions and won the title in 2022.
  • Their 2025 season underlined their elite status — runners-up at the Hong Kong Open and China Masters, bronze at the World Championships and a knockout-stage finish at the World Tour Finals.
  • The tournament is being held in the iconic badminton hall of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

Similar Coverage

Rekha Gupta inaugurates 47th National Junior Boys Handball Championship (Mid of January) ▼
  • The 47th National Junior Boys Handball Championship was inaugurated at a government school in Pitampura, New Delhi.
  • The event was organised by the Handball Federation of India (HFI) and the Delhi Handball Association.
  • A cash prize of ₹1 lakh was announced for the winning team of the championship.
  • Under the Delhi Government’s updated policy, international medal winners are eligible for ₹7 crore for Gold, ₹5 crore for Silver, and ₹3 crore for Bronze.
GS Delhi Aces ousts Yash Mumbai Eagles to lift maiden Tennis Premier League title (Mid of December) ▼
  • GS Delhi Aces clinched its maiden Tennis Premier League title, beating Yash Mumbai Eagles in the final.
  • GS Delhi Aces sealed a dominant 51–36 overall victory.
  • The final was held at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium.
Australian Open Badminton 2025 set to feature top global talent (End of November) ▼
  • The Australian Open Badminton 2025 is scheduled to take place from July 1-6, 2025, at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
  • The tournament will include men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competitions.
  • Athletes such as Kento Momota, PV Sindhu, and Chen Long are anticipated to compete.
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.

Jon Cooper Reaches 600 Career Wins Against Philadelphia Flyers

Key Updates:

  • Jon Cooper became the second-fastest coach in National Hockey League (NHL) history to reach 600 career victories, achieving the feat in 1,005 games.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 to secure the milestone win for Cooper.
  • Cooper is the 25th coach in NHL history to reach the 600-win plateau and the second-fastest behind Scotty Bowman, who reached the mark in 1,002 games.
  • Every one of Cooper's 600 career victories has been recorded during his 12-season tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization.
  • The victory extended the Tampa Bay Lightning's winning streak to 10 games, leaving them second in the Atlantic Division with a 28-13-3 record.

Similar Coverage

Cleveland Cavaliers icon Lenny Wilkens dies at 88 (Mid of November) ▼
  • Lenny Wilkens served as Cavaliers head coach from 1986-1993 and holds the franchise record with 316 regular-season coaching wins.
  • He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (1989) and a coach (1998).
  • Wilkens coached the Seattle SuperSonics to their only NBA title in 1979 and was named NBA Coach of the Year with the Hawks in 1994.
Sjoerd Marijne returns as India women’s hockey chief coach (Start of January) ▼
  • Sjoerd Marijne has been appointed as the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team.
  • He guided India to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.
  • Marijne takes over from Harendra Singh, who resigned in December citing ‘personal reasons’.
  • His first assignment will be the World Cup qualifying tournament in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14.
Australia shatter 134-year-old Ashes record with seven 50-plus partnerships (Start of January) ▼
  • Australia posted seven partnerships of 50 or more runs in their first innings at the SCG, a feat never before achieved in the 134-year history of the Ashes.
  • The hosts closed Day 3 on 529 for 7, securing a 134-run first-innings lead after England were bowled out for 384.
  • Steve Smith finished unbeaten on 129, while Travis Head had earlier struck a blistering 163.
Manuel Frederick, 1972 hockey Olympic bronze medallist, passes away (Start of November) ▼
  • Manuel Frederick, a former Indian hockey goalkeeper and 1972 hockey Olympic bronze medallist, passed away in Bengaluru on Friday at the age of 78.
  • Frederick was the first athlete from Kerala to win an Olympic medal, after he helped the Indian hockey team win a bronze at the 1972 Munich games.
  • In 2019, Frederick was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games.
  • He made his India debut in 1971 and served the national team with distinction for seven years.
  • Frederick guarded the goal in two World Cups: Netherlands 1973, where India won silver, and Argentina 1978.
  • He was known affectionately as ‘Tiger’ for his fearless and instinctive goalkeeping.

Henley Passport Index 2026: Singapore ranks 1st and India ranks 80th

[Singapore]

Key Updates:

  • Singapore remains the strongest passport in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations.
  • Japan and South Korea follow closely in the second position with access to 188 destinations.
  • India’s passport improved to 80th position, tied with Algeria, climbing five spots from last year’s ranking of 85th.
  • Indian citizens can now travel to 55 countries without a prior visa through visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) arrangements.
  • The United Arab Emirates emerges as a new standout at fifth place with 184 destinations.
  • The United States is ranked 10th on the list with access to 179 destinations.

Similar Coverage

Supreme Court ruling on Right to Passport and Personal Liberty on December 19, 2025 (End of December) ▼
  • The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the right to travel abroad and the right to hold a passport are facets of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
  • The judgment was delivered on December 19, 2025, by a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Augustine George Masih.
  • The court held that any restriction on the right to travel must be fair, just, and reasonable, and must bear a rational nexus with a legitimate purpose.
  • The ruling clarified the application of Section 62f of the Passports Act and the notification GSR 570E regarding the renewal of passports for individuals with pending criminal cases.
  • The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was the agency involved in a 2018 case in Jharkhand mentioned during the proceedings.
  • The court emphasized that a passport is a civil document and distinguished between the possession of a valid passport and the actual act of travelling abroad.
India adopts OECD Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework CARF (Mid of January) ▼
  • India’s move toward adopting the OECD Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework CARF, slated for implementation from April 1, 2027.
  • India reasserted its position as the world’s largest market for crypto adoption.
  • India joined global crypto elite, ranks among top 10 in transactional use.
Strongest Passports List for 2025 Released (Mid of December) ▼
  • Arton Capital, a global citizenship financial advisory service, released the list of the strongest passports in 2025.
  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) secured the first position on the list of strongest passports in 2025.
  • Singapore and Spain share the second position on the list of strongest passports in 2025.
  • The United States secured the ninth position on the list of strongest passports in 2025.
  • India secured the 67th position on the list of strongest passports in 2025.
Countries with the strongest passports in 2025 (Mid of November) ▼
  • Singapore leads the world with its passport granting access to 193 destinations.
  • South Korea’s passport holds the number two spot on the list by allowing access to 190 destinations.
  • Japan is on the number third position on the list with access to 189 destinations.
  • The European Power Group (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland) shares the fourth spot on the prestigious list, each offering visa-free access to 187 destinations.
  • Austria, Greece, Norway, Portugal, Sweden share the fifth spot on the list with access to 186 destinations.
  • Hungary, Malta, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia together share the sixth spot on the list, each allowing access to 185 destinations.
  • Australia, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, UAE, UK together share the seventh spot on the list by allowing access to 184 destinations.
  • Canada and Latvia share the eighth spot on the list with access to 183 countries.
  • Liechtenstein and Lithuania enjoy strong passports with easy access to 182 countries.
  • Iceland and Malaysia share the spot with access to 181 destinations.

Responsible Nations Index launch by Ram Nath Kovind on January 19

Key Updates:

  • Responsible Nations Index (RNI) will be launched by former president Ram Nath Kovind on January 19.
  • RNI is developed by World Intellectual Foundation (WIF) in academic collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and methodological validation by Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Mumbai.
  • RNI evaluates countries on internal responsibility, environmental responsibility, and external responsibility.
  • The index covers 154 countries and will be released every year in March.
  • RNI is operationalised through seven dimensions, 15 aspects, and 58 indicators sourced from globally recognised datasets.

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United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Proclaims 2026 as International Year for Rangelands, Volunteers, and Women Farmers (Start of January) ▼
  • The United Nations (UN) declared 2026 as the 'International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP)' to highlight ecosystems that cover about half the world’s land.
  • Through Resolution 78/127, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 2026 as the 'International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY)'.
  • The United Nations (UN) declared 2026 the 'International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026)' to spotlight roles in agrifood systems.
  • The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared the first-ever 'United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport' to run from 2026 to 2035.
  • The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported a 'historic 10% decline in freedom of expression globally between 2012 and 2024'.
  • The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the 'Global Environment Outlook, Seventh Edition: A Future We Choose (GEO-7)' on 9 December 2025, involving 287 scientists from 82 countries.
  • Slovenia, acting as President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for December 2025, held an open debate on 'Leadership for peace' on 15 December 2025.
  • The Republic of Sierra Leone, as President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for November 2025, held a briefing on 18 November 2025 regarding 'Enhancing regional counter-terrorism cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel'.
  • The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a new safety guide titled 'Monitoring for Protection of the Public and the Environment' to help countries design radiation monitoring programmes.
  • The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/79/137 proclaiming 'World Meditation Day'.
  • The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) launched a database compiling national laws and decrees governing meteorology and hydrology across all member nations.
  • The World Bank released the 'World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development' to assess how standards accelerate economic development.
A comprehensive guide to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (Mid of November) ▼
  • The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world’s shared blueprint for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for everyone by 2030.
  • Adopted by all 193 United Nations member states in 2015, the SDGs translate broad ambitions into 17 measurable goals with 169 targets and hundreds of indicators.
  • The SDGs grew out of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, 2000–2015), which drove large improvements in child mortality, primary education and extreme poverty reduction.
  • The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted on 25 September 2015 as UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/70/1.
  • The SDGs are arranged as 17 goals, 169 targets, and indicators that enable data-driven monitoring.
  • Goal 1 is to ‘End poverty in all its forms everywhere’, targeting both extreme and multidimensional poverty.
  • Goal 2 is to ‘End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture’.
  • Goal 3 is to ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages’.
  • Goal 4 is to ‘Ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities’.
  • Goal 5 is to ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’.
  • Goal 6 is to ‘Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’.
  • Goal 7 is to ‘Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’.
  • Goal 8 is to ‘Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all’.
  • Goal 9 is to ‘Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation’.
  • Goal 10 is to ‘Reduce inequality within and among countries’.
  • Goal 11 is to ‘Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’.
  • Goal 12 is to ‘Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns’.
  • Goal 13 is to ‘Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’.
  • Goal 14 is to ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’.
  • Goal 15 is to ‘Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems’.
  • Goal 16 is to ‘Promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice, and build effective, accountable institutions’.
  • Goal 17 is to ‘Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development’.
  • Implementation involves policy alignment, data systems, financing, partnerships, and monitoring and reporting.
  • The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Report (2024) warns that progress is too slow on many targets.
  • The SDGs require systems thinking because goals are interdependent and can create trade-offs.
  • Measuring success requires robust, timely and disaggregated data so that ‘no one is left behind’.
  • Filling the SDG financing gap will require trillions of dollars each year.
  • Practical recommendations include mainstreaming SDGs into national planning, aligning corporate strategies, developing blended finance, and holding governments accountable.
  • The SDGs remain the operating manual for a sustainable future, but achieving them requires unprecedented cooperation, fiscal innovation, and political will.
Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26: Denmark Ranks First, India 131st, US 31st (Start of December) ▼
  • The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index 2025-26 by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, and the Peace Research Institute Oslo ranks 181 countries globally.
  • Retaining its top position since 2023, Denmark ranks No. 1, leading as the best country for a woman, while Afghanistan sits at the bottom of the WPS Index.
  • India ranks at the 131st position with a 0.607 score in the WPS Index, which shows that the country is making steady gains but uneven progress.
  • The United States rose up six spots—from 37th to 31st this year, largely driven by the country’s first-ever improvement recorded in maternal mortality rate in almost two decades, based on data up until the end of 2024.
  • The WPS Index measures women’s status across three key dimensions: inclusion, justice, and security.
  • About 676 million women around the world have been exposed to conflict in the past year, a 74 per cent rise since 2010, according to a recent report.
GRI launches UN-endorsed Integrity Matters Checklist to align corporate climate disclosures with Paris Agreement (Mid of November) ▼
  • Tool name: Integrity Matters Checklist — jointly developed by GRI and the UN to operationalise the UN High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) Integrity Matters recommendations
  • Mapping function: links every HLEG net-zero integrity recommendation to the GRI Standards, specifically the updated GRI 102: Climate Change 2025 Standard
  • Disclosure scope: guides companies to report science-based GHG targets, transition plans, fossil-fuel phase-out steps and just-transition integration
  • Institutional endorsements: endorsed by United Nations and welcomed by UN Assistant Secretary-General Selwin Hart, UN Global Compact CEO Sanda Ojiambo, and UN HLEG Chair Catherine McKenna
  • Release timing: launched on 10 Nov 2025, coinciding with COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and the updated 2025 HLEG stocktake released at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio

Thousands witness Makaravilakku at Sabarimala Temple in Kerala

[Kerala]

Key Updates:

  • Thousands of devotees waited for hours to catch a glimpse of the Makarajyoti and witness the Makaravilakku deeparadhana performed atop the Ponnambalamedu hillock.
  • The 26-member team carrying the sacred ornaments from the Pandalam Palace formally handed over the jewellery casket to Tantri Mahesh Mohanaru and Melsanthi E.D. Prasad.
  • The temple recorded total collections of ₹429 crore during the Mandala–Makaravilakku season, with revenue from appam and aravana sales alone amounting to ₹190 crore.

Similar Coverage

Govardhan Puja 2025: Date, Time, and Significance (End of October) ▼
  • Hindus celebrate Govardhan Puja on October 22, 2025.
  • Another name for this festival is Annakut or Annakoot.
  • The festival is purely dedicated to worship Lord Krishna.
  • Govardhan Puja is observed on Pratipada Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.
  • The Pratipada Tithi begins on October 21, 2025 - 05:54 PM and ends on October 22, 2025 - 08:16 PM.
  • The Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat is from October 22, 2025 - 06:26 AM to 08:42 AM.
  • The Govardhan Puja Sayankala Muhurat is from October 22, 2025 - 03:29 PM to 05:44 PM.
  • This festival commemorates Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to protect villagers from Indra's wrath.
  • In Maharashtra, this event is known as 'Padwa,' where men traditionally give something as a gift.
  • This day is observed as 'Vishwakarma Day' in various regions of India, where people worship their machinery, vehicles, weapons, and equipment.
  • The Gujarati people celebrate this day as Bestu Baras, which is the first day of Vikram Samvat in their Gujarati calendar.
150th Shree Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan begins with shehnai, dhrupad, sitar-cello jugalbandi and folk vocals in Jalandhar (End of December) ▼
  • The 150th Shree Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan got off to a warm start with mangal dhwani of shehnai from grounds of the Shri Devi Talab Mandir here today.
  • Arrangements have been made to accommodate 2,000 people in a 90 by 180 feet pandal, at the Shree Devi Talab Mandir grounds in Jalandhar, for the sangeet sammelan.
  • A 15-feet monument featuring a sitar, veena and tabla has been constructed as a tribute to Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan completing its 150 years at Doaba Chowk, closest to Devi Talab Mandir.
  • The sammelan is dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and also to Banaras Gharana virtuoso Pt Chhannulal Mishra who passed away earlier this year.
SARAS–2026 Exhibition Inauguration on January 8 (Start of January) ▼
  • SARAS–2026, a 13-day national-level exhibition for women’s economic empowerment, will be inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on January 8 at 4 p.m. in Guntur.
  • The Ministry of Rural Development is organising the festival as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
  • The exhibition will run till January 18 and will feature around 300 women artisans and entrepreneurs from 21 states and union territories.
President Droupadi Murmu makes history with Sabarimala visit (End of October) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu made a historic visit to the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on Wednesday, becoming the first woman head of state to offer prayers at the renowned hilltop shrine.
  • She is only the second President of India to visit the temple; former President VV Giri had previously visited in the 1970s.
  • The President's visit is symbolically significant, coming years after a landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling that overturned a traditional ban on women of menstruating age (10-50) entering the temple.
  • She is 67.
  • In doing so, she became the first President ever to carry the Irumudi and bow before Lord Ayyappa.