Suresh Goyal appointed as Director General of National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)
[National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)]
Key Updates:
- Suresh Goyal will take over as the director general of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) on January 5, 2026.
- He succeeds Poonam Gupta, who led the organisation from July 2021 to April 2025.
- Goyal joins NCAER after serving as the Managing Director and CEO of the National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT).
Similar / Past Coverage
- Vishvajit Sahay, 1990-batch IDAS officer, took over as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA)
- Alumnus of St. Stephen's College, Delhi; previously served as Additional Secretary & FA, Dept of Science & Technology, Joint Secretary, Dept of Heavy Industry, and Finance Manager (Acquisition Wing), MoD
- Held key posts in Defence Accounts Dept: Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) Prayagraj, Joint CGDA, and Special CGDA
- Bajaj Alternate Investment Management Ltd hired Jitendra Gohil as chief investment officer from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Ltd.
- India’s alternative asset industry has a committed capital of 15 trillion rupees ($169 billion) according to Securities and Exchange Board of India data.
- Jitendra Gohil will report to Lakshmi Iyer, group president for investments at Bajaj Alternate Investment.
- Piyush Gupta has been appointed as Temasek Holdings India chairman in an advisory capacity effective December 1, 2025.
- He will work with Ravi Lambah, Temasek's head of India and strategic initiatives, to shape investment strategies and support portfolio companies.
- Gupta previously served as Chief Executive Officer of DBS Group from 2009 until earlier this year.
- Praveer Ranjan, a 1993-batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre, was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
- Praveer Ranjan was presently working as Special DG, CISF before his appointment as DG.
- Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- Praveen Kumar was presently working as Special Director, IB before his appointment as DG.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved these proposals from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Both officers will take charge upon the retirement of the current chiefs on September 30.
Raj Kumar Goyal sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner of Central Information Commission
[Central Information Commission]
Key Updates:
- Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) in the Central Information Commission by President Droupadi Murmu.
- He retired in August from the post of Secretary, Department of Justice in the Ministry of Law and Justice.
- The appointment fills the vacancy left after previous CIC Heeralal Samariya demitted office in September.
- A three-member committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommended his name for the post of CIC.
- Goyal was a 1990-batch officer of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre and later the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "milestone" of having taken oath as chief minister for the 10th time was recognised.
- The World Book of Records, London, recognised this extraordinary milestone.
- Janata Dal (United) national working president Sanjay Jha announced this development.
- Nitish Kumar first became chief minister in 2000.
- Since 2005, Kumar has continued as Chief Minister, except for a brief period of less than a year when he handed over the post to Jitan Ram Manjhi in 2014.
- The organisation's commendation notes that this remarkable feat is a reflection of his unwavering public service, stable governance, and the enduring trust reposed in him by the people of Bihar.
- The World Book of Records has conveyed its intention to formally include Nitish Kumar's name in its distinguished global listings.
- Amit Agrawal has been appointed as the new secretary in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
- Prior to this appointment, he was serving as the Pharmaceutical Secretary.
- He is a 1993-batch Chhattisgarh cadre Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer.
- Agrawal previously served as chief executive officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
- He is a graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur.
- Neeraj Mittal, the outgoing Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, has been shifted to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- Bajaj Alternate Investment Management Ltd hired Jitendra Gohil as chief investment officer from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Ltd.
- India’s alternative asset industry has a committed capital of 15 trillion rupees ($169 billion) according to Securities and Exchange Board of India data.
- Jitendra Gohil will report to Lakshmi Iyer, group president for investments at Bajaj Alternate Investment.
- Praveer Ranjan, a 1993-batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre, was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
- Praveer Ranjan was presently working as Special DG, CISF before his appointment as DG.
- Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- Praveen Kumar was presently working as Special Director, IB before his appointment as DG.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved these proposals from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Both officers will take charge upon the retirement of the current chiefs on September 30.
Ravi Ranjan appointed as Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI)
[State Bank of India (SBI)]
Key Updates:
- Ravi Ranjan has been appointed as Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI) with effect from December 15.
- He previously served as Deputy Managing Director of SBI and led the Global Markets division for more than a year.
- His tenure as Managing Director will continue until his superannuation on September 30, 2028, or until further directives, whichever is earlier.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Vikram Sahu has been approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Bank of America NA (BoFA) in India.
- He will assume the charge in addition to his current responsibilities as India country executive.
- He will replace Kaku Nakhate, who served as the bank CEO for about 15 years.
- Nakhate will take over as the India chair with a focus on deepening relationships with key clients of the India franchise.
- Sahu will report to Jin Su, president of Asia Pacific for the US bank.
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of certain businesses from ICICI Venture Funds Management Company Limited by ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited.
- The Acquirer is a joint venture between ICICI Bank Limited and Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Plc.
- Target Businesses include managing and/or sponsoring five SEBI-registered alternative investment funds and providing non-exclusive, non-binding advice to an identified offshore investment fund.
- CA Usha Janakiraman appointed Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with effect from December 1, 2025.
- Prior to the promotion, Usha Janakiraman served as Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Department of Regulation, Central Office, Mumbai.
- Usha Janakiraman has experience of over three decades in the RBI in areas of regulation, external investment and operations, banking supervision, public debt management, currency management and other areas.
- As Executive Director, Usha Janakiraman will look after the Department of Supervision (Risk, Analytics and Vulnerability Assessment).
- Usha Janakiraman is a Chartered Accountant.
- Govt appoints IRS officer Sandip Pradhan as member Sebi
- The government on Thursday appointed Indian Revenue Service officer Sandip Pradhan as a whole-time member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India ( Sebi ) for a period of three years.
- Pradhan replaces Ashwani Bhatia, who demitted office after completion of his term as a whole-time member.
- The government hereby appoints Sandip Pradhan , IRS (IT:1990), Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), Pune, as Whole Time Member of the Sebi
- He would be the second IRS officer serving as a whole-time member, as his batchmate Kamlesh Chandra Varshney has been with the capital markets regulator since September 2023.
- Pradhan rejoined his parent department, the Central Board of Direct Taxes, after serving as Director General, Sports Authority of India (SAI) till September 2024.
- Before his appointment at the SAI, Pradhan had worked as the director general of the Sports Authority of Gujarat for four years (2013-17).
Maharashtra Government and Brookfield Corporation plan Asia’s largest Global Capacity Centre with over $1 billion investment.
[Maharashtra, Brookfield Corporation]
Key Updates:
- Maharashtra Government and Brookfield Corporation will build a 2 million square feet Global Capacity Centre.
- The facility will employ 15,000 people directly and 30,000 people indirectly, totalling 45,000 jobs.
- A Memorandum of Understanding for the project will be signed soon.
- Maharashtra Government is in talks with FedEx to establish GCCs in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
- Maharashtra aims to set up 400 GCCs across the state over the next five years, with Pune as a key growth hub.
- Initial GCC regulations will focus on tier-1 cities like Mumbai and Pune before expanding to tier-2 cities.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Brookfield Asset Management will invest more than $1 billion to create a 2 million sq ft global capability centre (GCC) facility in Maharashtra.
- The facility will be the largest in Asia and will create over 15,000 direct jobs and support another 30,000 indirect jobs.
- Brookfield aims to more than triple its assets under management in India to $100 billion over the next five years.
- Maharashtra introduced a dedicated GCC policy earlier this year targeting the creation of 4 lakh new jobs.
- The Asia Power Index 2025, published by the Lowy Institute in November, evaluates the resources and influence of countries to rank their relative power.
- India holds the No. 3 position in the Asia Power Index 2025, with a comprehensive power score of 40.0 points, indicating it is a “major power”.
- The United States is the leading power in Asia, followed by China, according to the index.
- The index defines power as a country’s capacity to affect the behaviour of other states and non-state actors and influence the outcomes of international affairs.
- The Asia Power Index extends beyond Asian countries to include Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
- Japan is ranked No. 4 and Russia is ranked No. 5 in the Asia Power Index 2025.
- India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement in August this year
- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that the JCM aligns with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions and long-term low-emission development strategy
- Japan’s Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara announced that JCM now covers 31 partner countries with over 280 projects under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
- Co-chairs: Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
- Agenda includes review of India-UAE CEPA, Double Taxation Treaty, and UAE-India Central Bank matters
- Exploration of investment opportunities in maritime and space sectors identified as having strong growth potential
Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) sign loans worth over $2.2 billion
[Government of India, Asian Development Bank (ADB)]
Key Updates:
- The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed agreements for five loans totaling over $2.2 billion.
- Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes Programme receives $846 million.
- Accelerating Affordable and Inclusive Rooftop Solar Systems Development Programme Subprogramme 1 receives $650 million.
- Assam State Tertiary Health Care Augmentation Project ASTHA receives $398.8 million.
- Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project Tranche 2 receives $240 million.
- Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-based Livelihood Development in Meghalaya Project receives $77 million.
Similar / Past Coverage
- ADB approved USD 240 million as the second tranche under the USD 780 million facility sanctioned in 2022 for Chennai Metro Expansion Phase 2.
- Chennai Metro Phase 2 spans 118.9 km across Lines 3 (45.8 km), 4 (26.1 km), and 5 (47 km).
- ADB sanctioned USD 108 million results-based loan to strengthen Mizoram’s public healthcare through the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS) offering Rs 5 lakh per family annually.
- ADB provided USD 100 million to Five-Star Business Finance Limited for MSME credit access to over 400,000 women borrowers via 700+ branches.
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved the Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-Based Livelihood Development in Meghalaya Project.
- The project involves a $77 million loan and an additional $1 million technical assistance grant from ADB.
- It aims to generate economic opportunities for more than 8,000 local people, including women and Indigenous communities, in Meghalaya.
- The approval for the project was made on 27 November 2025.
- ADB signs $500 million loan for Maharashtra Power Distribution Enhancement Programme.
- ADB signs ¥27,147,200,000 ($190.6 million) loan for Indore Metro Rail Project in Madhya Pradesh.
- ADB signs $109.97 million loan for Gujarat Skills Development Programme.
- ADB finalizes $1 million Technical Assistance grant for Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation Project in Assam.
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 460 million results-based loan that aims to modernise rural power infrastructure, promote distributed renewable energy generation, and improve agricultural productivity by providing farmers with reliable daytime solar electricity for irrigation in Maharashtra.
- An additional USD 40 million concessional loan from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), administered by ADB, will complement the programme.
- The programme will solarise agricultural feeders, upgrade rural distribution networks, deploy battery energy storage systems (BESS), and promote green jobs and entrepreneurship, particularly for women.
- By 2028, the programme aims to provide daytime electricity to at least 9,00,000 agricultural consumers and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by over 3 million tons.
- The grid modernisation includes upgrading 180 distribution substations, installing 4,500 distribution transformers, developing 3,000 circuit kilometres of high-tension and 1,200 circuit kilometres of low-tension lines and deploying 500 MWh of distributed battery storage.
- It will also digitise system operations through agriculture solarisation dashboards and modern monitoring solutions covering at least 2,500 substations, while advancing green skilling by training 5,000 individuals, including 1,500 women, and creating opportunities for green livelihoods and entrepreneurship.
- The programme is expected to lower power purchase costs and distribution losses, reduce transformer failure rates by 25 per cent, and enhance the overall financial sustainability of the power sector.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves HDFC Bank group entities to acquire up to 9.5% stake in IndusInd Bank.
[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank]
Key Updates:
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted approval through a letter dated December 15 for HDFC Bank and its group entities to hold up to 9.50% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of IndusInd Bank.
- The approval remains valid for one year until December 14, 2026.
- Aggregate holding covers HDFC Bank and group entities including HDFC Mutual Fund, HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited, HDFC Pension Fund Management Limited, and HDFC Securities Limited.
- HDFC Bank stated it does not intend to invest directly in IndusInd Bank.
- The application for raising the investment limit was submitted on October 24, 2025, after combined holdings of group entities were expected to exceed the previous 5% threshold.
Similar / Past Coverage
- ICICI Bank executed a share purchase agreement with Prudential Corporation Holdings Ltd to purchase an additional 2% shareholding in ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Ltd.
- The purchase price is fixed at ₹2,140 crore for the 2% stake.
- Reserve Bank of India accorded approval for the bank to purchase up to 2% additional shareholding through its letter dated September 12, 2025.
- ICICI AMC had total assets of ₹4,827 crore as of September 30, 2025.
- ICICI AMC reported turnover of ₹2,949 crore and profit after tax of ₹1,618 crore for H1FY26.
- ICICI Bank currently holds 51.0% and Prudential Corporation Holdings Ltd holds 49.0% in ICICI AMC.
- RBI granted approval to foreign portfolio investor 1729 Capital to hold a total stake of 7.14% in Suryoday Small Finance Bank.
- As of September 30, the foreign portfolio investor held a 3.81% stake in the bank.
- The RBI clarified that prior consent will be required for any further increase in aggregate shareholding or voting rights.
- If the aggregate shareholding falls below 5%, the investor will again need prior RBI approval to raise the holding to 5% or more.
- The Competition Commission of India has approved the proposed acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates Limited by PNC Infratech Limited.
- The acquisition covers a minimum 95% and maximum up to 100% of Jaiprakash Associates Limited.
- Jaiprakash Associates Limited is currently undergoing corporate insolvency resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
- India Inc’s M&A deal value in H1 2025 stood at USD 50.5 billion, according to EY data cited in the article.
- Under the draft RBI norms, Indian banks can extend acquisition-finance ECBs only up to 10% of their Tier-1 capital; lenders are asking for this ceiling to be raised to 20%-40% of net worth.
- At the current 10% limit, domestic banks have less than USD 30 billion (about Rs 2.5 lakh crore) available for acquisition financing.
NHAI introduces India’s first wildlife-safe road with table-top red marking in Madhya Pradesh
[National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Madhya Pradesh]
Key Updates:
- The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced India's first wildlife-safe road on National Highway 45 (NH-45) in Madhya Pradesh, featuring innovative table-top red markings.
- The table-top red marking is a 5 mm thick, red-coloured surface with a slightly raised texture to alert drivers and slow down vehicles naturally.
- NHAI has also constructed 25 dedicated underpasses to enable safe animal movement beneath the highway and installed an eight-foot-high fence along the highway to guide animals towards underpasses.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Supreme Court ruled that "the stray dogs removed should not be released back to their original locations and placed responsibility for their relocation on the respective municipal authorities."
- The Supreme Court "put the onus of removing the strays on the respective jurisdictional municipal body or authority."
- Stray dogs are to be removed "forthwith" from "educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and depots, and railway stations" to "a designated shelter, after due sterilization and vaccination in accordance with the animal birth control rules."
- The directive aims "to safeguard the fundamental right to life and safety of citizens, especially children, patients, and sportspersons, under Article 21 of the Constitution of India."
- Administrative heads of institutions "shall, through their respective local or municipal authorities under the overall supervision of the district magistrate concerned, ensure that the premises are secured by adequate fencing, boundary walls, gates, and such other structural or administrative measures as may be necessary to prevent the ingress of stray dogs."
- The management of every educational institution, hospital, sports complex, bus stand, and railway station is to "designate a nodal officer responsible for the upkeep and cleanliness of the premises and for ensuring that the stray dogs do not enter or inhabit the campus."
- Municipal authorities, road and transport department, public works department of all states and UTs, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are directed "to take a joint coordinated drive to identify stretches of highways and expressways where stray cattle or animals are frequently found and shall take immediate steps for their removal and relocation to designated shelters."
- The cattle and other stray animals so picked up "shall be kept in appropriate shelters or Gaushalas or cattle pounds as the case may be and provided with all necessary food, water, and veterinary care in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023."
- The "directions shall be implemented uniformly across India and chief secretaries of all states, UTs, chairpersons of the NHAI, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Union of India shall file status compliance certificates within a period of eight weeks."
- The Mohan Yadav cabinet accorded approval to develop the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, Nauradehi, in Sagar district as the third cheetah habitat in the state.
- Kuno National Park in Sheopur district is the first cheetah habitat and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district is the second.
- The state currently has a cheetah population of 31, with 28 in Kuno and 3 in Gandhi Sagar.
- Eight cheetahs from Botswana are expected to arrive at Kuno and the new habitat is being prepared for their translocation.
- The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will deploy Network Survey Vehicles (NSV) in 23 states covering 20,933 km.
- The deployment is for "collection, processing and analysing road inventory and pavement condition data of National Highway stretches."
- NSVs will collect data related to "road inventory and pavement condition including all relevant road defects like surface cracking, potholes and patches etc."
- The data collected through NSV survey will be uploaded on "NHAI’s ‘AI’ based portal Data Lake" for analysis and preserved in the "Road Asset Management system."
- Pavement condition surveys will be carried out using "3D laser based NSV system capable of capturing and reporting road defects automatically without any human intervention with the help of high resolution 360-degree cameras, DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System), IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), and DMI (Distance Measuring Indicator)."
- Data shall be collected for all projects involving two-four-six-eight lanes with NSV "before start of work and thereafter at regular intervals of six months."
- NHAI has invited bids from qualified companies to implement this initiative.
- **Parties Involved:** The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, and senior officials from the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
- **Objective:** To explore collaborative opportunities in tourism, with a special focus on heritage, wildlife, and cultural experiences.
- **Specific Purpose:** To promote two-way tourism, encouraging travellers from Madhya Pradesh to discover Goa’s diverse offerings while inspiring Goans to experience Madhya Pradesh’s rich heritage and wildlife destinations.
- **Key Initiative:** Madhya Pradesh has invited the Director of Tourism, Government of Goa, along with tourism trade stakeholders, to visit Madhya Pradesh for further discussions, and Goa will host tourism trade representatives from Madhya Pradesh.
- **Shared Vision:** To promote sustainable tourism, celebrate cultural heritage, and create new domestic travel circuits that benefit local communities and travellers alike.
Indian Army inks MoU via 515 Army Base Workshop to fast-track indigenous land-system drones
[Indian Army, 515 Army Base Workshop]
Key Updates:
- The MoU was signed between the 515 Army Base Workshop, acting on behalf of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, and Raghu Vamsi Par East Automation Pvt Ltd.
- The partnership establishes a pathway from evaluation to field induction and scaling up of drone technologies, aligned with operational requirements and indigenous manufacturing goals.
- The MoU focuses on technology infusion in drone manufacturing, with emphasis on IC engine-based drones and systems capable of operating in GPS-denied environments.
- Raghu Vamsi Par East will provide technical consultancy to the Army Base Workshop for comprehensive evaluation of drone technologies including subsystem reviews, integration readiness assessments and compliance with Army standards.
Similar / Past Coverage
- India is procuring additional advanced satellite-linked Heron Mark II unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel under emergency provisions invoked after Operation Sindoor.
- Emergency procurement allows the armed forces to directly procure complete weapon systems up to ₹300 crore.
- Following Operation Sindoor, all three services have opted for the Heron Mk II under emergency procurement.
- The Heron Mark II has an endurance of 45 hours and a service ceiling of 35,000 feet.
- It is equipped with satellite communication, automatic take-off and landing systems, and advanced electro-optical/infrared sensors.
- India’s armed forces have initiated a tri-service programme to acquire 87 Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAVs under the Make in India initiative.
- The estimated value of the Make in India MALE UAV project is over ₹20,000 crore.
- The order will be split between two Indian vendors in a 64:36 ratio, enabling at least 60 per cent indigenous content.
- AVPL International will offer its ‘Viraj UAS’ agri drones, spare parts, and training programmes via CSC’s network of over five lakh village level entrepreneurs.
- CSC SPV will facilitate the onboarding of AVPL’s products on its platform, provide visibility and outreach support, and enable channel partners to effectively deliver these services locally.
- AVPL International will provide drones and accessories and will also train CSC entrepreneurs and rural youth in drone operations, maintenance, and data-driven agricultural practices.
- Technology: Vehicle-mounted Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) high-energy laser weapon system
- Entities: Indian engineering firm Axiscades and French laser specialist Cilas S.A.
- Objective: Co-develop and integrate the C-UAS solution for Indian defence forces
- Localisation: Axiscades will locally integrate, maintain and manufacture Cilas’ Helma-P laser system under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative
- Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has entered into a strategic partnership with US-headquartered General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for manufacturing MALE RPAS in India.
- The partnership aims to produce Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) platforms for the Indian armed forces.
- The combat-proven MALE RPAS platforms will be manufactured entirely in India.
- L&T will be the prime bidder and GA-ASI the technology partner for the upcoming 87 MALE RPAS programme of the Ministry of Defence.
- The collaboration will enable the production of GA-ASI's combat-proven MQ-series RPAS.
- GA-ASI's MQ-series RPAS are widely operational across the globe in surveillance and strike missions.
- The partnership aims to significantly enhance India's defence capabilities and advance self-reliance in aerospace technologies.
NLC India Renewable Limited (NIRL) and PTC India Limited (PTCIL) form joint venture for renewable energy projects
[NLC India Renewable Limited, PTC India Limited]
Key Updates:
- NLC India Renewable Limited (NIRL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NLC India Limited (NLCIL), signed a joint venture agreement with PTC India Limited (PTCIL).
- The joint venture company will undertake the establishment, operation and maintenance of renewable energy projects, including solar, wind, hydro, battery energy storage systems, green ammonia and other emerging green technologies.
- The collaboration envisages the development of green energy capacity up to 2,000MW, to be implemented in phases, with the first phase targeting around 500MW.
Similar / Past Coverage
- NTPC Green Energy has been categorized as a Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) by the Government of India.
- The decision was conveyed through an official communication dated October 28, 2025.
- NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited.
- The company plays a pivotal role in helping NTPC achieve its ambitious target of 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032.
- NTPC Green Energy adds 12.5 MW solar capacity in its operational portfolio.
- NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has received the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for the development of its 110MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic power project.
- The solar power project is located in Uttar Pradesh.
- The project is for National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC).
- National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC) will set up, commission, operate and maintain the solar power plant.
- The project will cater to National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC)’s power requirement and support its vision of adopting clean and sustainable energy solutions for large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Joint venture between Oil India Limited (OIL) and Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL) to develop 1.2 GW renewable projects—1000 MW solar and 200 MW wind—within RVUNL’s Renewable Energy Park in Rajasthan.
- OIL’s wholly-owned subsidiary OIL Green Energy Limited (OGEL) will drive the clean-energy portfolio covering renewables, compressed biogas, energy storage and green hydrogen.
- The JV will supply clean power to Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) and commercial customers, expanding beyond oil & gas into sustainable energy solutions.
- Agreement signed by Devendra Shringi, Chairman & Managing Director of RVUNL, and Ranjan Goswami, Executive Director (Business Development) of OIL, with senior officials of Rajasthan’s Energy Department and OIL present.
- GSH India Private Ltd (Indian arm of US-based GSH Group UK) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with IIIT Manipur to collaborate on facility management, IoT, sustainability and smart building systems.
- The partnership will focus on joint research, internships, training and skill development programs to bridge the industry-academy gap and promote innovation in sustainable technology-driven facility management.
- GSH India also signed an extended MoA with Anna University to strengthen collaboration in energy management, sustainability and technical skill development through expert lectures, internships, joint research and training programs.
- The MoA was signed at the fifth GSH Sustainable Energy Forum in Chennai, a biennial event fostering dialogue and innovation for a cleaner, greener future.
- Discussions at the forum covered renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, carbon accounting and market mechanisms of energy purchase.
Simon Harmer and Shafali Verma named ICC Players of the Month for November 2025
[International Cricket Council (ICC)]
Key Updates:
- South Africa’s Simon Harmer claimed 17 wickets in the two-Test series against India.
- Harmer returned figures of four for 30 and four for 21 in Kolkata, and three for 64 and six for 37 in Guwahati.
- India’s Shafali Verma scored 87 from 78 deliveries and took two wickets in the Women’s World Cup final against South Africa.
- India won the Women’s World Cup for the first time, with Verma earning Player of the Match in the final.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Shafali Verma scored 87 off 78 balls in the Women's World Cup final against South Africa.
- India posted 298 for 7 and won the final by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai.
- Shafali shared a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana.
- Simon Harmer claimed the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for his 17-wicket haul in South Africa's 2-0 Test series win over India.
- Jannik Sinner defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to win the Paris Masters.
- The victory marks Sinner's first Paris Masters title and his fifth title of the season, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
- Sinner will return to the ATP World No. 1 ranking when the rankings are updated on Monday, reclaiming the spot from Carlos Alcaraz.
- Auger-Aliassime's runner-up finish boosts his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals, moving him ahead of Lorenzo Musetti in the race to Turin.
- 🇭🇰 Jason Gunawan won the Men’s Singles by defeating 🇮🇳 Srikanth Kidambi 21–16, 8–21, 22–20.
- 🇯🇵 Hina Akechi won the Women’s Singles by defeating 🇹🇷 Neslihan Arın 21–16, 21–14.
- 🇲🇾 Kang Khai Xing and 🇲🇾 Aaron Tai won the Men’s Doubles by defeating 🇲🇾 Chia Wei Jie and 🇲🇾 Lwi Sheng Hao 21–9, 21–19.
- 🇮🇳 Treesa Jolly and 🇮🇳 Gayatri Gopichand Pullela won the Women’s Doubles by defeating 🇯🇵 Kaho Osawa and 🇯🇵 Mai Tanabe 17–21, 21–13, 21–15.
- 🇮🇩 Dejan Ferdinansyah and 🇮🇩 Bernadine Anindya Wardana won the Mixed Doubles by defeating 🇹🇭 Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and 🇹🇭 Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21–19, 21–16.
- The tournament was held at the Babu Banarasi Das U.P. Badminton Academy in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Daryl Mitchell overtook Rohit Sharma by one rating point to claim the ICC No.1 ODI batting ranking.
- Mitchell’s match-winning 119 off 118 balls against the West Indies in Christchurch earned him the top spot.
- Rohit Sharma’s first reign at No.1 lasted only 22 days before being displaced by Mitchell.
- Abrar Ahmed reached a career-best ninth position in the ICC ODI bowling rankings after a three-wicket haul against Sri Lanka.
- Temba Bavuma climbed to a career-best fifth position in ICC Men’s Test batting rankings following an unbeaten 55 in the Kolkata Test.