Daily Current Affairs: 19 December 2025

Analysis for 19 December 2025

Ram Vanji Sutar passes away at 100, sculptor of Statue of Unity

Key Updates:

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.

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Arunodoy Dohutia surrendered as top leader of United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I). (End of November) ▼

Arunodoy Dohutia surrendered before a joint team of Assam Police and Assam Rifles along the Indo-Myanmar border.
He deposited war-like stores at the time of surrender.
He is expected to be taken to Delhi for further investigation.

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

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

Birsa Munda's Birth Anniversary observed on November 15 (Mid of November) ▼

November 15 marks the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, one of India's most revered tribal leaders, freedom fighters, and social reformers.
Birsa Munda was born on November 15, 1875.
He is best remembered for leading the Ulgulan (The Great Rebellion, 1899–1900) against the oppressive British colonial authorities and exploitative landlords.
In Jharkhand, Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary is celebrated with statewide ceremonies, cultural programs, and educational initiatives.
He is revered as a symbol of resistance against oppression and the protector of tribal communities.

Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Karnataka’s oldest MLA and veteran Congress leader, dies (Mid of December) ▼

Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Karnataka’s oldest MLA and veteran Congress leader, died at 94.
He represented the Davanagere South Assembly constituency.
He was the National president of Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha.
He remained active in politics for around five decades.
He was elected six times as an MLA since 1994 and once to the Lok Sabha.
He was also a former minister and industrialist.
His son, S S Mallikarjun, is a Minister in the state Cabinet.
His daughter-in-law, Prabha Mallikarjun, represents Davangere in the Lok Sabha.

Deepinder Goyal topped Hurun India’s Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025 list

[IDFC First Private, Hurun India]

Key Updates:

Deepinder Goyal of Eternal leads Hurun India’s Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025.
Eternal’s valuation rose 27% to Rs 3.2 lakh crore.
Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal of InterGlobe Aviation (Indigo) debuted in the top three with a valuation of Rs 2.2 lakh crore.
Peyush Bansal of Lenskart was ranked 10th after the company went public at a valuation of Rs 70,236 crore.

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Google and Telangana Government Launch Google for Startups AI Hub at T-Hub Hyderabad (Mid of December) ▼

Google and the Telangana government launched the Google for Startups hub at T-Hub in Hyderabad.
Selected AI-first startups will receive free, year-long coworking seats and curated access to venture investors.
Startups will gain mentorship, hands-on AI expertise, and global visibility through the Google for Startups network.
T-Hub is a public-private partnership between the Telangana government, IIIT Hyderabad, Indian School of Business (ISB), NALSAR Law University, and private entities.
Google experts will conduct in-depth sessions on AI/ML, product, UX, and go-to-market for startups, student founders, and developers.
The initiative supports women entrepreneurs, tier-II innovators, and university talent.
Google will provide its full stack to startups, including AI capabilities on Google Cloud, Android, Play, and ads.

ASK Private Wealth and Hurun India recognize Innoviti as a Cheetah in India Cheetah-Gazelle-Unicorn Index 2025 (Mid of December) ▼

Innoviti Technologies was recognized by ASK Private Wealth and Hurun India as a Cheetah in their India Cheetah-Gazelle-Unicorn Index for the year 2025.
The recognition for Innoviti Technologies was for Excellence in SaaS-Based Payment Solutions.
Innoviti unipay powers 18 of top 20 retail enterprises in the country.
Innoviti genie helps more than 4000 local mobile merchants.
Innoviti link is India's highest rated payment links app with 50,000+ downloads and a 4.7-star rating on Play Store and App Store.
Innoviti achieved operating profitability in May 2025.
Innoviti's payments-centric SaaS software processes over Rs. 80,000 Crore annually from across 2000 cities and over 20,000 merchants.
The company processes more than 50% of all purchases in enterprise retailers across food & grocery, lifestyle, and healthcare categories.
Innoviti is backed by Bessemer Venture Partners (USA), FMO (Netherlands), Catamaran Ventures (India), and the Patni Family Office (India).
Innoviti is the recipient of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) final authorization to operate as an online payment aggregator.
Innoviti won the 50 fastest growing companies in Asia award from Deloitte four times.
Innoviti has 14 patents awarded, with 11 more in the pipeline.
Innoviti received the award on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025: Top Donors and Trends (Start of November) ▼

India’s most generous individuals have collectively donated ₹10,380 crore in 2025, according to the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025, which features 191 philanthropists, including 12 new entrants.
Shiv Nadar & family, founder of HCL Technologies, stands at the top with an annual donation of ₹2,708 crore, retaining his title of India’s Most Generous for the fourth time in five years.
The top 10 philanthropists on the list collectively donated ₹5,834 crore, a 26% increase from last year, representing 56% of total donations.
Mukesh Ambani and family secured the second spot with an annual donation of ₹626 crore, reflecting a 54% year-on-year increase.
Gautam Adani and family, in fifth position, donated ₹386 crore through the Adani Foundation, reflecting a 17% increase from last year.
Rohini Nilekani emerged as the most generous woman philanthropist on the list, ranking eighth with donations worth ₹204 crore.
Education remains the most supported cause, with 107 philanthropists contributing a cumulative ₹4,166 crore towards educational initiatives.
The number of individuals donating over ₹100 crore annually has grown from just two in 2018 to 18 this year.
Based on the city of residence, Mumbai leads with 28% of philanthropists, followed by New Delhi at 17% and Bengaluru at eight percent.
Reliance Industries contributed ₹1,309 crore towards CSR, exceeding its mandated spend by ₹261 crore.

Anusandhan Fund & Deep-Tech Focused FFS 2.0: Union Government’s Push for Indigenous Innovation (End of October) ▼

Scheme Name: Anusandhan Fund (proposed) – Union Commerce & Industry Minister announced a Rs 1 lakh crore corpus to provide "long-tenure, low-cost loans to promote innovation."
Scheme Name: Fund of Funds for Start-ups (FFS) 2nd edition – likely to be "dedicated almost entirely to Deep Tech investments" for early-stage risk capital.
Objective: Help deep-tech innovators "retain ownership and develop indigenous technologies" without diluting large equity to foreign funds at early stages.
Policy thrust: Reduce India’s "dependence on foreign technologies, foreign weapons, foreign energy sources, or foreign critical technologies" and build resilient supply chains.

Peter Arnett, Pulitzer-winning war reporter, dies aged 91

Key Updates:

Peter Arnett, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and war correspondent, died surrounded by family and friends in California while receiving hospice care for prostate cancer.
Arnett won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in 1966 for his Vietnam War coverage while working for the Associated Press (AP).
He joined Cable News Network (CNN) in 1981 and became known for reporting on the first Gulf War from Baghdad, where he interviewed then-president Saddam Hussein.
In 1997, Arnett became the first Western journalist to interview Osama Bin Laden at a secret hideout in Afghanistan.
Arnett was dismissed by National Broadcasting Company (NBC) after giving an interview on Iraqi state television that was viewed as critical of United States military strategy, and was hired by the Daily Mirror the same day.

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Prafulla Govinda Baruah passed away as Editor of The Assam Tribune. (Mid of December) ▼

Prafulla Govinda Baruah died due to old age-related ailments at a Guwahati hospital.
He was the editor of The Assam Tribune, North East's oldest English daily.
He was a Padma Shri awardee and helmed the newspaper for decades.
He was the Chairman Emeritus of The Assam Tribune Group.

Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney dies at 84 (Start of November) ▼

Full Name & Role: "Former Vice President Dick Cheney, a force in Republican politics for over 30 years and one of the most powerful people to hold the second-highest office in the U.S., has died."
Cause & Surroundings: "Cheney's family said he died Monday night of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, surrounded by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary and other family members."
Key Previous Positions: "Before becoming vice president in the George W. Bush administration, Cheney served as defense secretary, White House chief of staff and a Wyoming congressman."
Post-Vice Presidency Note: "Cheney shaped Republican Party politics for a generation, but he cast his final presidential ballot in 2024 for a Democrat... saying Mr. Trump 'can never be trusted with power again.'"

Rabih Alameddine and Patricia Smith win 2025 National Book Awards (End of November) ▼

Rabih Alameddine won the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction for his novel 'The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)'
Patricia Smith won the 2025 National Book Award for Poetry for her collection 'The Intentions of Thunder'
Each winner receives $10,000 as part of the award

Salman Rushdie receives lifetime achievement award at Dayton Literary Peace Prize event (Mid of November) ▼

Salman Rushdie was among the honorees Sunday at the Dayton Literary Peace Prize event in Ohio.
He received a lifetime achievement award after publishing his first work of fiction since being stabbed on a New York lecture stage three years ago.
The prizes honor both literary merit and the writers' promotion of peace through their work.
The lifetime achievement award is also known as the Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award.
His most recent work, his 23rd, is "The Eleventh Hour," which includes three novellas and two short stories.
He was blinded in one eye from the 2022 attack before a stunned audience.
Authorities said Rushdie's attacker, Hadi Matar, then 24 and a U.S. citizen, was attempting to carry out the decades-old edict calling for his death.

Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited promotes Bharat Taxi rollout with 56,000 drivers registered.

[Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited]

Key Updates:

Bharat Taxi will launch in Delhi on January 1 and offers auto-rickshaws, cars, and bike taxis.
Under the cooperative model, drivers retain nearly 80% of their earnings with a zero-commission structure.
Beta trials for consumers started in Delhi, and the app is available on Google Play with an iOS version expected soon.

Similar / Past Coverage

Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL) onboards 51,000 drivers across Delhi and Saurashtra region. (Start of December) ▼

Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited operates Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative taxi network fully owned and run by drivers.
Bharat Taxi pilots began in Delhi and Gujarat with zero-commission model transferring entire fare to drivers.
Platform connects with government systems including DigiLocker and UMANG for deep digital integration.
Service follows transparent no-surge pricing and allows drivers to purchase shares for decision-making power.

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

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

PM Modi Flags Off Four New Vande Bharat Express Trains: Routes, Travel Time, and Objectives (Start of November) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains.
The new routes include Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow Junction–Saharanpur, Firozpur Cantt–Delhi, and Bengaluru–Ernakulam.
These additions are expected to boost regional mobility, tourism, and trade, supporting economic growth and improving access to cultural and commercial centres.
The Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express will save nearly 2 hours and 40 minutes compared to existing services.
The Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express will cover the journey in about 7 hours and 45 minutes, reducing travel time by nearly an hour.
The Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat Express will be the fastest train on this route, completing the journey in just 6 hours and 40 minutes.
The Bengaluru–Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express will complete the journey in 8 hours and 40 minutes, cutting travel time by over 2 hours.
The Banaras–Khajuraho route aims to create direct connectivity between Varanasi and Khajuraho, passing through Prayagraj and Chitrakoot.
The Firozpur–Delhi service is expected to enhance trade and employment opportunities, boost tourism, and contribute to the socio-economic growth of border areas.
The Bengaluru–Ernakulam route connects major IT, educational, and commercial hubs, promoting economic collaboration and tourism between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

Delhi Government bans entry of non-BS-VI compliant commercial goods vehicles registered outside city from November 1 (Start of November) ▼

Policy: Entry ban on non-BS-VI compliant commercial goods vehicles registered outside Delhi effective from November 1
Objective: "to curb rising air pollution in the city due to vehicular emissions"
Exemptions: "CNG (compressed natural gas) vehicles, LNG (liquefied natural gas) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) are exempted"
Transitional measure: "BS-IV commercial goods vehicles will be permitted to enter Delhi up to October 31, 2026"
Implementing body: Transport department, Delhi; directive issued by Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records unemployment rate at 7-month low of 4.7%.

[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]

Key Updates:

Unemployment Rate for persons aged 15 years and above declined to 4.7% in November 2025, the lowest since April 2025.
Rural unemployment rate fell to 3.9% in November 2025, while urban unemployment rate decreased to 6.5%.
Female unemployment rate dropped to 4.8% in November 2025 from 5.4% in October 2025.
Male unemployment rate decreased to 4.6% in November 2025 compared to 5.1% in October 2025.
Worker Population Ratio for persons aged 15 years and above rose to 53.2% in November 2025 from 52.8% in April 2025.
Labour Force Participation Rate among persons aged 15 years and above increased to 55.8% in November 2025, the highest since April 2025.
Rural female Labour Force Participation Rate increased from 35.2% in June 2025 to 39.7% in November 2025.

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Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records India unemployment rate at 4.7% (Mid of December) ▼

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) published the November Periodic Labour Force Survey showing an unemployment rate of 4.7% for Indians aged 15 years and above.
Rural unemployment declined to 3.9% and urban unemployment to 6.5%.
Male unemployment dropped to 4.6% and female unemployment to 4.8%.
Labour Force Participation Rate reached 55.8%, the highest in the available monthly data.
Youth unemployment for ages 15-29 fell to 14.1% from 14.9% 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.

National Statistics Office (NSO) shows industrial production growth at 14-month low of 0.4% in October (Start of December) ▼

Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose an annual 0.4% in October.
IIP growth lower than upwardly revised 4.6% in September.
IIP growth below 3.7% recorded in October last year.
Manufacturing sector slowed to 1.8% in October.
Manufacturing growth 4.4% in October last year.
Electricity sector contracted 6.9% in October.
Electricity growth 2% in same month last year.
Mining sector fell 1.8% in October.
Mining expansion 0.9% in year ago period.
Capital goods sector rose 2.4% in October.
Capital goods expansion 5.4% in September.
Consumer durables segment fell 0.5% in October.
Consumer durables growth 10% in September.
Non-durables sector contracted 4.4% in October.
Non-durables decline 0.3% in September.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Reduces Repo Rate to 5.25 Percent (Start of December) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) delivered a 25-basis-point reduction in the repo rate, bringing it down to 5.25 percent.
The central bank cut policy rates by a cumulative 125 basis points during 2025.
Average headline inflation for Q2:2025-26 was 1.7 percent, breaching the lower tolerance threshold of 2 percent.
Inflation dipped to 0.3 percent in October 2025.
Real GDP growth accelerated to 8.2 percent in Q2.
Inflation was 2.2 percent and growth was 8.0 percent in H1:2025-26.
The MPC slashed the inflation aim by 60 basis points to 2 percent.
The central bank raised the FY26 growth forecast to 7.3 percent.

Amazon Pay launches UPI Biometric Authentication for PIN-free payments up to ₹5,000.

[Amazon Pay]

Key Updates:

Amazon Pay enables fingerprint or face scan approval for UPI transactions without entering a PIN.
The facility covers transactions up to ₹5,000 across sending money, merchant payments, scan-and-pay and balance checks.
Biometric data remains on the user’s device and is not shareable, adding an extra security layer.
Over 90% of customers chose biometric authentication for eligible peer-to-peer UPI transactions in early adoption data.
The feature is currently available to Android users.

Similar / Past Coverage

Google Pay and Axis Bank launch FLEX co-branded RuPay credit card with UPI link support. (Mid of December) ▼

Google Pay launched FLEX, a fully digital, UPI-powered co-branded credit card with Axis Bank built on the RuPay network.
Users can link the FLEX card to UPI accounts inside Google Pay and scan QR codes for credit-powered merchant payments.
The card offers instant cashbacks or rewards instead of monthly billing-cycle credits.
Eligible users can apply and receive a virtual card within minutes at zero cost directly inside the Google Pay app.
Google Pay introduced Pocket Money on the UPI Circle framework, letting parents set monthly spending limits up to ₹15,000 or approve each child transaction.
Google Pay now prompts customers to rate small merchants immediately after transactions to build unified customer ratings.
A GenAI-powered Ads tool within Google Pay for Business lets small merchants create, preview, and launch ad campaigns in minutes.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) to establish Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC) as Section 8 non-profit for fraud detection. (Mid of December) ▼

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants approval to State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) to set up Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC).
IDPIC will be formed as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013.
The platform aims to detect and prevent fraudulent digital transactions in public sector banks.
Approval is conditional on exemption from Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, allowing banks to hold over 30% of paid-up share capital in IDPIC until October 16, 2026.

NPCI Launches AI-Powered 'UPI Help' for User Queries, Grievances, and Mandate Management (End of October) ▼

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced the launch of a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered support system called ‘UPI Help’.
The AI assistant will initially focus on digital payment-related queries, grievance redressal, and UPI transaction mandate management.
Users will be able to check the status of their UPI transactions or log and track complaints for service-related issues, with the tool sharing relevant information with issuing banks for faster dispute resolution, especially for incomplete or pending transactions under the UDIR process.
Customers can view and manage all active UPI AutoPay mandates in one place, and the assistant will allow users to initiate actions like pause, resume, or revoke mandates through deep links to their respective UPI apps.
‘UPI Help’ will be accessible through multiple platforms, including member banks’ websites and chatbots, the DigiSaathi portal, and eventually through UPI apps via API integration.

UIDAI's New Behavioural Insights Initiative for Children's Aadhaar Biometric Updates (Mid of November) ▼

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced a new behavioural insights initiative to boost Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) among children.
The move aims to make Aadhaar updation smoother and more accessible for young Aadhaar holders.
UIDAI has waived all charges for biometric updates in Aadhaar for children.
The free update policy is effective from October 1, 2025, and will remain in force for one year.
UIDAI has partnered with Behavioural Insights Limited (BIT) to identify and remove behavioural, logistical, and awareness barriers that prevent children and parents from completing Aadhaar updates on time.
Children must update their fingerprints, iris, and photo when they turn 5 years and again at 15 years of age.
Parents or guardians can visit any Aadhaar Enrolment Centre with the child’s Aadhaar number to complete the biometric update.
The list of authorised centres is available on the Bhuvan Aadhaar portal.

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) completes AI-based Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling rollout by 2026

[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will fully implement Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven highway management systems across India by the end of 2026.
The new AI-based system will replace the existing FASTag mechanism, allowing vehicles to cross toll points at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour without stopping.
The government aims to reduce toll plaza waiting time to zero minutes using satellite-based number plate recognition integrated with AI.
The implementation of the MLFF system is projected to result in annual fuel savings worth ₹1,500 crore.
Government revenues from toll collection are expected to increase by ₹6,000 crore following the full implementation of the new technology.
The existing FASTag system has already increased toll income by at least ₹5,000 crore and reduced waiting times from 3-10 minutes to 60 seconds or less.

Similar / Past Coverage

MoRTH targets awarding 10,000 km of NH projects in FY 2026 (Mid of November) ▼

Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
Objective: Award 10,000 km of National Highway projects in FY 2026, up from 6,000 km awarded in FY 2025
Key procedural reform: 90% land acquisition must be completed before awarding projects under BOT/HAM modes, mirroring EPC requirement
Financial outlay: MoRTH received ₹2,87,333 crore in Union Budget 2025-26, with ₹2.72 lakh crore as capital expenditure

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

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

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) overhauls mutual fund regulations and cuts expense ratio limits

[Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)]

Key Updates:

Total Expense Ratio shall now be the sum of BER, brokerage, regulatory levies and statutory levies.
Base expense ratio limits for equity-oriented schemes and other than equity oriented schemes under various AUM slabs have been cut by up to 15 basis points.
Base expense ratio limit for index funds or ETF revised to 0.9 per cent from 1 per cent.
Close-ended equity-oriented schemes BER limit now stands at 1 per cent as against 1.25 per cent.
Maximum brokerage fee that mutual funds pay on cash market transactions halved to 6 bps from 12 bps.
Brokerage cap for derivative transactions revised downwards to 2 bps from 5 bps, excluding applicable levies.
SEBI removed the additional 5 bps expense allowance currently permitted to be charged to schemes with exit loads as a transitory measure.

Similar / Past Coverage

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) grants NCDEX in-principle nod for mutual fund platform. (Mid of December) ▼

National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX) has received in-principle approval from Sebi to launch a mutual fund transaction platform.
The platform will allow investors to subscribe to and redeem mutual fund units, with clearing and settlement handled by National Commodity Clearing Ltd (NCCL), a wholly owned NCDEX subsidiary.
NCDEX aims to expand financial inclusion through low-denomination systematic investment plans (SIPs) targeting rural and semi-urban areas.
The mutual fund platform could be rolled out faster than equity trading systems as it operates independently of stock trading infrastructure.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) approves IPOs for Yashoda Healthcare and six other companies. (Mid of December) ▼

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) granted IPO approval to seven companies: Yashoda Healthcare Services, Fusion CX, Orient Cables, Turtlemint Fintech Solutions, RSB Retail India, SFC Environmental Technologies, and Lohia Corp.
These companies approached Sebi between May and September and obtained its observations during December 8-12.
Market sources estimate the combined IPO proceeds to exceed Rs 6,000 crore.
Yashoda Healthcare Services filed draft papers in September through a confidential route; its IPO size is expected between Rs 3,000 crore and Rs 4,000 crore.
Fusion CX plans to raise Rs 1,000 crore via a fresh issue of Rs 600 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 400 crore.
Orient Cables India Ltd aims to mobilise Rs 700 crore through a fresh issue of Rs 320 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 380 crore.
SFC Environmental Technologies will raise Rs 150 crore through a fresh issue and an offer for sale of 1.23 crore shares.
Lohia Corp’s IPO will be entirely an offer for sale of 4.22 crore equity shares with no fresh issue component.
All seven companies will list their shares on BSE and NSE.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) eases educational qualification criteria for Investment Advisers, Research Analysts (End of November) ▼

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) relaxed educational qualification criteria for Investment Advisers (IAs) and Research Analysts (RAs).
Previously, applicants were required to hold a graduate or postgraduate degree in finance-related fields such as Finance, Business Management, Commerce, Economics, or Capital Markets.
Under the new framework, graduates from any discipline are eligible to become IAs and RAs.
Applicants must have a graduate degree or equivalent educational qualification from a recognized university or institution, or a CFA Charter from the CFA Institute.
Passing the NISM certification exam or relevant certification from NISM or an NISM-accredited organization remains mandatory.
Sebi eased the corporatisation process for individual IAs, allowing a transition period once an IA crosses the threshold of 300 clients or ₹3 crore in fees.
The IA must immediately notify Sebi and initiate the transition process upon crossing these limits.
The IA has three months to apply for in-principle approval and an additional three months to complete the conversion to a non-individual entity.
During this transition period, the IA is allowed to onboard new clients and continue collecting fees.
Earlier, an individual IA was required to complete the transition to a corporate structure within three months after crossing the prescribed client or fee limits.
Sebi amended norms for investment advisers and research analysts to give these effects.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) clears ICICI Prudential Asset Management and three others for IPO launch (Start of December) ▼

ICICI Prudential Asset Management's IPO will be entirely an offer for sale (OFS) worth ₹10,000 crore.
Prudential Corporation Holdings will sell 1.76 crore shares in the OFS.
ICICI Bank owns 51% of ICICI Prudential AMC; Prudential Corporation Holdings holds the remaining 49%.
Annu Projects' IPO comprises a fresh issue of 2.2 crore shares.
Technocraft Ventures will raise capital through a fresh issue of 95.05 lakh shares and an OFS of 23.76 lakh shares.
Powerica's IPO includes a fresh issue of ₹700 crore and an OFS of ₹700 crore.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) clears Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL) as offline payment aggregator.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL)]

Key Updates:

Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL) received RBI authorisation to operate as a payment aggregator for physical (offline) payments and cross-border transactions.
PPSL now holds Payment Aggregator licences across all key segments, enabling end-to-end payment aggregation services across online, offline and cross-border use cases.
PPSL had already received online payment aggregator authorisation from RBI on November 26, 2025, under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

Similar / Past Coverage

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

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

PayU receives RBI authorisation to operate as payment aggregator for online, offline and cross-border transactions (Mid of November) ▼

PayU has received authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a payment aggregator across online, offline and cross-border transactions, including both inward and outward, under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act.
The approval enables PayU to offer secure, compliant, and seamless payment acceptance, settlement and cross-border solutions for merchants across channels.
This development strengthens PayU's position as a full-stack digital payments provider, empowering businesses with reliable and seamless experiences across online, offline and cross-border touchpoints.

PhonePe Receives Final RBI Authorization to Operate as Online Payment Aggregator (End of September) ▼

PhonePe has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as an online payment aggregator.
PhonePe's digital payments app has over 65 crore registered users and a merchant acceptance network of over 4.5 crore merchants.
PhonePe processes over 36 crore transactions daily with an Annualized Total Payment Value of over INR 150 lakh crore.

Junio Payments Secures RBI In-Principle Authorisation for Prepaid Payment Instruments (Start of November) ▼

IANS Junio Payments Pvt Ltd (JPPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of FirstPay Technologies, has secured in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs).
The approval will enable it to roll out a digital wallet linked to UPI, allowing users — particularly teenagers and young adults — to scan UPI QR codes and make payments even without a bank account.
Junio said the wallet’s design aligns with the UPI Circle initiative launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Junio already operates a financial management app complemented by RuPay co-branded physical and virtual prepaid cards.

Airtel Payments Bank (APB) enables EV wallet recharges on Bharat Connect via Airtel Thanks app.

[Airtel Payments Bank (APB), Bharat Connect]

Key Updates:

Airtel Payments Bank (APB) has partnered with NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) to launch EV wallet recharges on the Bharat Connect (BBPS) platform through the Airtel Thanks app.
Users can top up their EV wallets instantly and interoperably by selecting ‘Recharge EV’ under the Pay Bills section of the Airtel Thanks app.
The facility is available to all Airtel Thanks app users and the recharge amount is reflected instantly in the EV wallet.
Airtel Payments Bank (APB) operates a nationwide network of over 5 lakh active banking points.

Similar / Past Coverage

NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) rolls out Banking Connect platform (Start of December) ▼

NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) introduced Banking Connect, an interoperable platform aimed at simplifying internet and mobile banking.
The new system is designed to reduce the complexity of current net banking processes, which often require multiple integrations, varied customer credentials, and non-standard settlement flows.
Banking Connect offers interoperable workflows, a uniform interface, mobile-first design, and support for biometric authentication.
The platform removes transaction caps and introduces standardised APIs to reduce delays, redirections and timeout errors.
It supports low-code or no-code integration for merchants, enabling quicker adoption and improved success rates.
Banking Connect is live with HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, YES Bank, AU Small Finance Bank and Federal Bank.
Payment aggregators such as Infibeam, PayU, Pinelabs, Cashfree, Razorpay, HDFC Bank Smart Gateway, Zoho, Easebuzz, Juspay, OPEN and SBI ePay have integrated with the platform.
NBBL, a wholly owned subsidiary of NPCI, operates digital payment and collection systems, including the Bharat BillPay ecosystem and B2B solutions for collections and reconciliation.
NBBL also serves as the designated settlement agency for the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Nokia partners with Bharti Airtel to open 5G network APIs via Network as Code platform (Start of December) ▼

Nokia said Airtel’s 5G mobile network capabilities, running on the non-standalone (NSA) architecture, will be made available to third-party developers through the Nokia “Network as Code” platform.
Following successful trials, Airtel's network APIs will be available on a subscription basis to an established ecosystem of developers, system integrators, and enterprises using Nokia's Network as Code platform.
This will enable the developer community to seamlessly build advanced solutions leveraging the Airtel network's robust capabilities such as AI, 5G, edge computing and more, the companies said in a joint statement.

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

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

PhonePe Receives RBI Final Authorization to Operate as Online Payment Aggregator (End of September) ▼

PhonePe has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an online payment aggregator.
PhonePe's digital payments app has over 65 crore (650+ million) registered users as of August 2025.
PhonePe's digital payments acceptance network covers over 4.5 crore (45+ million) merchants.
PhonePe processes over 36 crore (360+ million) transactions daily with an Annualized Total Payment Value (TPV) of over INR 150 lakh crore.

Minorities Rights Day reinforces diversity as national strength

Key Updates:

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

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Constitution Day of India observed on November 26 (End of November) ▼

India celebrates Constitution Day on November 26 to honour the adoption of the Constitution.
Before 2015, November 26 was formally observed as the National Law Day.
In 2015, the government officially notified November 26 as ‘Constitution Day’ (Samvidhan Divas) to promote constitutional values among citizens.
The year 2015 also marked the 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, also called the ‘father’ and ‘chief architect’ of the Indian Constitution.
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar was the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution, who was also the first law minister of independent India.
The Indian Constitution was formally adopted on November 26, 1949.
After two months, on January 26, 1950, it came into effect, and the day was declared as Republic Day.
The Constituent Assembly, the body assigned to draft the constitution, took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to complete the drafting of the constitution.
In 1934, M.N. Roy proposed the idea to form the Constituent Assembly.
In 1946, the Constituent Assembly was constituted under the Cabinet Mission Plan.
On December 9, 1946, the first session was held with 207 members including 9 women.
On January 22, 1947, the Objectives Resolution was adopted as the Preamble.
On August 29, 1947, the Drafting Committee was formed under BR Ambedkar.
On November 4, 1948, the First Draft Constitution was presented to the Assembly.
The Forty-Second Amendment Act, 1976, introduced ‘socialist’, ‘secular’ and ‘integrity’ in the Preamble.
The Forty-Fourth Amendment Act, 1978, reduced the Right to Property from being a “fundamental right” to a “legal right”.
The Sixty-First Amendment Act, 1989, reduced the voting age in the nation from 21 years to 18 years.
The Eighty-Sixth Amendment Act, 2002, led to the inclusion of the Right to Education as Article 21A.
The One-Hundred First Amendment Act, 2016, led to the introduction of Goods Service Tax (GST).
The Golaknath v. State of Punjab (1967) ruling limited Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution for the first time.
The Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) ruling held that the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution is inviolable.
In Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975), the Supreme Court of India, applying the basic structure doctrine for the first time, struck down the 39th Amendment clause.
The Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) ruling established the interconnection between three different provisions of the Constitution, Article 21, 19 and 14.
The Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980) ruling held that the Parliament cannot destroy the basic structure of the Indian constitution.
The Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) ruling held that the right to livelihood is included in the right to life and personal liberty.
The S. R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) ruling set limits on the President’s power to impose President’s Rule.
The Right to Privacy Judgment (Justice K. S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, 2017) ruled the right to privacy as a fundamental right protected under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The Government of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India (2018) verdict held that Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) must act on the advice of the Delhi government’s Council of Ministers for matters within the elected government’s authority, except for police, public order and land.
The Associated for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India (2024) ruling struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme, 2018, finding it unconstitutional.
The electoral bonds scheme allowed corporations and individuals to anonymously donate money to political parties by purchasing electoral bonds from the State Bank of India (SBI).

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

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

National Legal Services Day and NALSA: Objectives and Observance (Start of November) ▼

National Legal Services Day is observed on November 9 to celebrate the establishment of the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987.
The act, however, came into force eight years later, on November 9, 1995, which is why this date is celebrated every year.
It is on this date that the statutory body, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was set up.
The Constitution of India, as per Article 39A, provides equality access to justice for all. The NALSA was established on the very basis of this constitutional right.
On this day, State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) set up camps to raise awareness among the masses about free legal aid available to them, across the nation.
National Legal Services Day 2025 marks 30 years of NALSA.
This year’s theme, Justice for All: Through the Lens of Legal Aid, highlights free legal aid and equal access to justice.
NALSA has organised a National Photography and Art Showcase titled “Justice for All: Through the Lens of Legal Aid," which serves as the theme for National Legal Services Day, 2025.
The nation-wide initiative is intended to shine the spotlight on the vital importance and need of free legal aid to ensure justice reaches to all, irrespective of their social or economic standing.

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

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

National Pension System (NPS) allows 80% lump sum withdrawal for non-government subscribers

Key Updates:

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified the amended PFRDA (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System (NPS)) Regulations, 2025, on December 16.
Eligible NPS members can now withdraw up to 80 per cent of their retirement corpus as a lump sum at the time of exit.
The revised rules apply to subscribers under the All Citizen Model and Corporate NPS, bringing relief to non-government sector employees.
The compulsory annuity purchase requirement for non-government subscribers has been reduced to a minimum of 20 per cent of the accumulated pension wealth.
Subscribers with accumulated pension wealth up to Rs 8 lakh can withdraw the entire amount as a lump sum.
For accumulated pension wealth between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 12 lakh, lump sum withdrawal is capped at Rs 6 lakh, with the balance available for annuity purchase or systematic unit withdrawal over a period of up to six years.
For accumulated pension wealth above Rs 12 lakh, at least 20 per cent of the corpus must be used to purchase an annuity, while up to 80 per cent becomes available for withdrawal.

Similar / Past Coverage

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.

SAMPANN Portal Launch Integrates MTNL Retirees into Digital Pension Framework (Mid of December) ▼

Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA) Smt. Vandana Gupta officially launched the onboarding process for all MTNL employees set to retire in November 2025 onto the SAMPANN portal.
The initiative integrates a total of 45,939 pensioners from Delhi and Mumbai, both current and past retirees, into a modernized digital framework.
The SAMPANN initiative promises precise, rule-based calculations, efficient handling of cases, prompt disbursements linked with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), and improved mechanisms for grievance redressal through multi-modal integration.
Features include direct pension disbursement, online issuance of PPOs, integration of Digital Life Certificates, streamlined grievance management, and a notable reduction in paperwork.

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) enrolments cross 8.34 crore (Start of December) ▼

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has crossed 8.34 crore enrolments.
Women constitute 48% of the total subscribers.
Launched in May 2015, APY aims to build a universal social security system for citizens, particularly workers in the unorganised sector.
The scheme is open to individuals aged 18 to 40 years who have a savings bank or post-office account.
Subscribers receive pension benefits after turning 60, and benefits are expected to begin disbursal from 2035 onward.

Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) Resignation Rules: Forfeiture of Assured Payout (Start of November) ▼

Scheme Name: Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) under National Pension System (NPS) for Central Government employees.
Forfeiture Rule: Resignation from service leads to forfeiture of the assured payout under UPS, unless the resignation is withdrawn in the public interest by the appointing authority. (Rule 15, Central Civil Services (Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme under the National Pension System) Rules, 2025)
Lump Sum Payment: The accumulated pension wealth in the individual corpus is payable as a lump sum, processed 90 days after the resignation takes effect.
Death Clause: If the subscriber dies within the 90-day period post-resignation, the accumulated pension wealth is paid to the legally wedded spouse or, if none, to legal heirs.

Gen Z Post Office Launched at AIIMS Vijaypur to Enhance Digital Banking and Technology-Driven Services

[AIIMS Vijaypur]

Key Updates:

The Department of Posts (India Post) inaugurated Jammu & Kashmir’s first “Gen Z Post Office” at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Vijaypur campus on December 17, 2025.
The initiative aims to transform traditional postal counters into youth-centric, technology-enabled service hubs tailored to the evolving needs of Generation Z.
The facility provides integrated access to postal, banking, and insurance services under one roof, with support from the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB).
Key features designed for students and campus residents include interactive kiosks, Wi-Fi zones, and personalized stamp services.

Similar / Past Coverage

India Post Inaugurates Gen-Z Extension Counter at Kerala's CMS College (Mid of December) ▼

India Post inaugurated Kerala’s first 'Gen-Z' post office extension counter at CMS College Kottayam.
The counter was inaugurated on December 8, 2025.
The initiative was lauded by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
It targets the student community, built on the philosophy 'Of the students, by the students, for the students.'

DHRUVA Scheme: UPI-like Labels for Digital Address Sharing (Start of December) ▼

The Department of Posts released a draft amendment to the Post Office Act, 2023, to introduce the Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA) system.
DHRUVA will let users replace textual addresses with labels like 'name@entity' and authorise firms to access their geographic coordinates and full address text.
A Section 8 not-for-profit entity under government supervision will run the system, similar to NPCI’s role in UPI.
DIGIPIN, a ten-character alphanumeric code mapping to about 14 square metres, forms the foundational addressing layer for DHRUVA.

First Gen Z-themed revamped Campus Post Office inaugurated at IIT Delhi (End of November) ▼

India Post inaugurated the first Gen Z-themed revamped Post Office at IIT Delhi, marking a milestone in its modernisation journey.
The transformation is part of a national initiative to revamp 46 existing Post Offices located within educational campuses by 15.12.2025.
A student franchise model has been launched at IIT Delhi, offering hands-on exposure to postal operations and nurturing entrepreneurship.

IPPB-EPFO MoU: doorstep Digital Life Certificate service for pensioners (Start of November) ▼

India Post Payments Bank signed an MoU with EPFO to provide doorstep Digital Life Certificate services to EPFO pensioners under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.
IPPB will use its network of over 1.65 lakh post offices and 3 lakh postal service providers equipped with doorstep banking devices for face and fingerprint biometric authentication.
EPFO will bear the entire cost of issuing the Digital Life Certificate, making the service free for pensioners.

Jharkhand Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill 2025: Minimum Wage & Welfare Board

[Jharkhand]

Key Updates:

The Bill enables formation of a Gig Workers’ Welfare Board chaired ex-officio by the labour department minister.
Aggregators engaging gig workers must register with the Board; violation attracts a fine of up to ₹10 lakh.
The Act will ensure minimum wages for gig workers based on duration and nature of work and provide for social security, identity cards and medical insurance.

Similar / Past Coverage

Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Act 2025 grants ownership of labour-line land to tea garden workers (End of November) ▼

The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Act, 2025.
The amendment excludes labour lines from land ancillary to special cultivation, allowing government to declare them surplus and acquire them.
Government shall "give settlement of such lands to tea garden workers residing and in occupation of such lands".
Land allotted per family "shall be such as may be notified by the Government from time to time".
Allotted land will be heritable but not transferable for 20 years; thereafter sale/transfer is allowed only to a tea garden worker residing in the same tea estate.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act: Proposed Increase in Guaranteed Employment Days and Name Change (Mid of December) ▼

The government is considering a revamp of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The revamp proposes to increase the number of guaranteed employment days for eligible rural households from 100 to 125.
The proposal also includes changing the name of the law to Pujya Bapu Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
The Union Cabinet discussed the proposal for the scheme's expansion and name change.
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) administers the scheme.
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has sought an outlay of Rs 5.23 lakh crores for five years till 2029-30 for the scheme's continuation, for approval to the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC).

Telangana's Draft Bill on Gig Workers: Objectives and Key Features (Mid of November) ▼

The state cabinet approved the draft Bill on the ‘Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security, and Welfare) Act, 2025'.
The move is aimed at giving Telangana a strategic edge by positioning it as a national leader in gig economy governance, expanding social protection for a rapidly growing segment of workers, and reinforcing the state's vision of inclusive digital era growth.
The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen labour relations, reduce disputes among platform workers, and encourage greater formalisation and data-driven policymaking.
If enacted, it will become India's first operational gig worker law.
Officials stated that Telangana's Bill is regarded as one of the most comprehensive and mature frameworks in India, combining registration, welfare, and algorithmic transparency.

Labour codes: What changes for workers and employers (End of November) ▼

Effective November 21, the four labour codes replace 29 central labour laws.
The codes aim to ease regulations and compliance norms for employers and ensure uniformity in wage structure and social security protection for workers.
They are seen as beneficial for domestic manufacturing with easier compliances, decriminalisation of offences, and incentives for economies of scale.
Trade unions have flagged changes related to hire and fire, retrenchment, fixed-term employment, and curtailment of the right to strike.
The Code on Wages amalgamates four wages and payment related labour laws, defining wage, employee, and minimum wage to cover all employees irrespective of industry, sector, wage or gender.
A National Floor Wage will now be the baseline wage, to be followed by all states.
Wage includes basic pay, dearness allowance, and retaining allowance, forming the basis for calculation of benefits and social security contributions, with deductions not exceeding 50 per cent of total pay.
Overtime wage is fixed at at least twice the normal wage for any work beyond normal working hours.
Working hours will be between 8-12 hours/day, not exceeding 48 hours a week, with flexibility for less than six working days where hours shall not exceed 12 hours in a day including rest.
Time limits are set for wage payments, including within 7 days of the next month for monthly payments and within 2 days for resignation or termination.
Employers must issue electronic or physical wage slips to employees on or before payment of wages.
The Code on Social Security merges nine existing social security laws to cover both organised and unorganised sectors, legally defining gig and platform workers for the first time.
National registration and a social security fund for unorganised and gig workers is stipulated.
Aggregators for gig workers are to contribute 1-2 per cent of annual turnover for social security, capped at 5 per cent of the amount payable by the aggregator to gig workers.
Fixed-term employees will be at par with permanent workers and eligible for gratuity after 1 year of continuous service.
EPFO coverage extends to all establishments having 20 or more employees, and ESIC coverage is pan-India, mandatory even if a single person is engaged in hazardous occupation.
The Industrial Relations Code merges three industrial laws and defines a worker to include sales promotion employees, working journalists, and those employed in supervisory capacity drawing wages less than Rs 18,000.
It introduces fixed-term employment to facilitate hiring for shorter tenures, which trade unions have objected to.
The threshold for seeking prior government approval for layoff, retrenchment and closure in factories, mines and plantations is hiked to 300 workers from 100.
Conditions for a legal strike are extended to all industrial establishments, requiring notice within 60 days before striking or within 14 days of giving such notice.
The definition of strike has been amended to include mass casual leave by more than 50 per cent of the workers on a given day.
It introduces a ‘negotiating union or council’, where a trade union with 51 per cent membership of workers will be the ‘sole negotiating union’.
The OSH Code merges 13 central labour laws, aiming to streamline compliances via single registration, common licences and electronic filings.
The threshold for obtaining a factory licence is increased from 10 workers to 20 for manufacturing aided with power; from 20 to 40 for units without power.
Contract labour norms apply on contractors employing 50 workers, versus 20 workers earlier, and employers are given flexibility to employ contract labour even in core activities, subject to conditions.
It permits women to work in night shifts, before 6 am and beyond 7 pm, subject to their consent and provisions for safety.
Mandatory appointment letters are to be issued by employers to every employee.
Every employer is required to provide annual health examinations or tests free of cost to employees.
Safety committees will need to be constituted in factories employing 500 or more workers, employers employing 250 or more construction workers, and employers employing 100 or more mine workers.

Uttar Pradesh Forest University: Rs 500 crore outlay for specialised forestry and wildlife education

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

The Uttar Pradesh government has finalised the Detailed Project Report for the forest university and allotted Rs 500 crore for the project.
The 125-acre campus will be located near the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Center in Gorakhpur.
The university will offer degree and diploma programmes in forestry, agroforestry, social forestry, horticulture, ecology, natural resources and climate change.

Similar / Past Coverage

TRAI mandates 1600-series adoption by IRDAI-regulated entities for service calls

[TRAI, IRDAI]

Key Updates:

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mandated that entities regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) must adopt the '1600' series numbers by February 15, 2026 for making service and transactional calls to consumers.
The direction was issued on December 16, 2025, in consultation with IRDAI, to enhance consumer trust, curb spam, and prevent fraudulent activities through voice calls.
The '1600' numbering series has been assigned by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for allocation to entities in the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector and government organisations to distinguish their service and transactional calls from other commercial communications.
About 570 entities have already adopted 1600 series numbers, subscribing to over 3,000 numbers, as part of TRAI’s ongoing engagement with telecom service providers and BFSI regulators.

Similar / Past Coverage

National Consumer Helpline (INGRAM) Adds Dedicated GST Grievance Category (End of September) ▼

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has activated a dedicated category on the INGRAM portal to handle consumer queries and complaints related to GST.
The helpline will share data and insights from consumer complaints with concerned companies, CBIC and other authorities to enable timely action under relevant laws.
Consumers can lodge complaints in 17 languages via toll-free number 1915 or through multiple modes including WhatsApp, SMS, email, NCH app, web portal and Umang app.

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

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

NCW's 24X7 short-code helpline 14490 for women in distress (End of November) ▼

The National Commission for Women (NCW) announced the launch of a new 24X7 short-code helpline, 14490.
The launch was announced on Monday, November 24, 2025.
The helpline provides quicker and more accessible support to women facing violence, harassment or any form of distress across the country.
The NCW helpline will guide callers, coordinate with authorities, and facilitate timely intervention in emergencies.
The toll-free number is linked to the commission’s existing helpline 7827170170 to ensure seamless assistance without any cost or delay.

PhonePe Receives RBI Final Authorization to Operate as Online Payment Aggregator (End of September) ▼

PhonePe has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an online payment aggregator.
PhonePe's digital payments app has over 65 crore (650+ million) registered users as of August 2025.
PhonePe's digital payments acceptance network covers over 4.5 crore (45+ million) merchants.
PhonePe processes over 36 crore (360+ million) transactions daily with an Annualized Total Payment Value (TPV) of over INR 150 lakh crore.

DPIIT launches e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa) digital module

[DPIIT]

Key Updates:

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) launched an online module on the National Single Window System (NSWS) for digital generation of sponsorship letters for the e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa).
The facility is open to both production-linked incentive (PLI) beneficiary firms and non-PLI companies.
Foreign professionals can use the digitally generated sponsorship letters to apply for e-visas and visit Indian manufacturing facilities for services such as machine installation, quality checks, training and plant design.

Similar / Past Coverage

DigiLocker now hosts Passport Verification Records in digital, tamper-proof form (Start of December) ▼

Passport Verification Records can now be securely accessed, stored, shared, and digitally verified within the DigiLocker ecosystem.
DigiLocker is a secure, cloud-based platform under the Digital India programme that enables the issuance, storage, sharing, and verification of digital documents and certificates.
PVRs made available through DigiLocker are issued in digital form directly by the relevant government systems, ensuring authenticity, integrity, and protection against tampering.

Passport Verification Record on DigiLocker enables secure digital access and sharing (Start of December) ▼

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has made Passport Verification Record (PVR) available on DigiLocker to reduce reliance on physical records.
Upon successful verification, citizens can fetch their PVR in the 'Issued Documents' section of their DigiLocker account.
PVRs on DigiLocker are secure, tamper-proof, and digitally verifiable, allowing instant, consent-based sharing with authorised agencies without physical submissions.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants approval to State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) to set up Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC).
IDPIC will be formed as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013.
The platform aims to detect and prevent fraudulent digital transactions in public sector banks.
Approval is conditional on exemption from Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, allowing banks to hold over 30% of paid-up share capital in IDPIC until October 16, 2026.

USCIS ends cheque, money order payments: What new debit rule means for H-1B and F-1 applicants (Start of November) ▼

USCIS has discontinued payments by cheque and money order for all immigration filings.
Applicants must now authorise payments through electronic debit using Form G-1650, which allows USCIS to withdraw funds directly from a US bank account.
Over 90 percent of past payments were made using cheques or money orders, which often delayed processing and increased the risk of fraud or missed payments.
For H-1B and other employer-sponsored work visas, Form G-1450 remains available for credit card transactions.
The rule change could be particularly inconvenient for international students on F-1 visas and newly hired H-1B employees who lack access to a US checking account.
USCIS cautions that any incorrect account or routing number on Form G-1650 could lead to rejection of the case.
Prepaid or reloadable credit cards may serve as a short-term alternative for those without US bank access, provided they meet USCIS payment authorisation standards.

Sultanate of Oman confers Order of Oman on Prime Minister Narendra Modi

[Sultanate of Oman]

Key Updates:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Order of Oman, the Sultanate's uniquely distinct civilian honour, by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik for his contributions to strengthening bilateral ties.
Prime Minister Modi received the award during his ongoing two-day visit to Oman, the final leg of his three-nation tour that included Jordan and Ethiopia.
His visit to Muscat marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Oman, with both sides focusing on deepening strategic partnership in trade, investment, energy, defence and culture.

Similar / Past Coverage

Oman makes history with launch of first national communications satellite, OmanSat-1 (End of November) ▼

Oman is set to launch its first communications satellite, OmanSat-1, in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space.
The satellite will expand secure communications across Oman and the region, support critical sectors, and develop local expertise.
OmanSat-1 will be based on Airbus’ OneSat platform, featuring full digital flexibility that allows reconfiguration while in orbit.
The satellite will operate in the high-capacity Ka frequency band, covering Oman, including its economic waters, as well as regions across the Middle East, East Africa, and Asia.
Space Communications Technologies, a company owned by the Oman Investment Authority, will act as both the national operator after launch and the executive arm during the design and manufacturing phases.
OmanSat-1 will strengthen Oman’s digital sovereignty, allowing the country to provide secure and independent communications and data services.
The project focuses on local capacity building, integrating local companies into the supply chain and collaborating with universities to boost scientific research.
OmanSat-1 is a cornerstone of the National Space Policy (2023–2033), aimed at positioning Oman as a regional hub for space services.
The satellite aligns with Oman Vision 2040, emphasizing innovation and advanced technology as central pillars in developing a diversified, knowledge-based economy.

Ethiopia confers The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia on Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Ethiopia's highest award 'The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia' by his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali.
The award was conferred for his exceptional contribution towards strengthening India-Ethiopia partnership and for his visionary leadership as a global statesman.
Prime Minister Modi is the first global head of state/head of government to receive this award.

Mohammed Lateef Khan conferred Maulana Abul Kalam Azad National Award 2025 (Mid of November) ▼

Mohammed Lateef Khan, Founder-Chairman of MS Education Academy, received the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad National Award 2025.
The award was presented by Mohammed Azharuddin, Minister for Minority Welfare, at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad.
The honour comprises a cash prize of Rs. 2,25,000, a citation, and a memento.

Bahrain Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa receives INTERPOL Medal of the Highest Order (Start of November) ▼

Bahrain's Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa awarded the INTERPOL Medal of the Highest Order
Award presented by INTERPOL President during the Middle East International Border Management and Technology Conference
Recognition cites 'enhancing global security' and Bahrain's 'commitment to international peace and cooperation'

Indian Army inducts tanks, artillery guns and engineering equipment into Kashmir Valley by Military Special Train

[Kashmir Valley]

Key Updates:

The Indian Army successfully inducted tanks, artillery guns, and engineering equipment into the Kashmir Valley using a Military Special Train.
The operation involved seamless transportation of heavy assets from the Jammu region to Anantnag in southern Kashmir.
The move was conducted as part of a validation exercise demonstrating enhanced mobility and logistical capability.
The milestone was achieved in close coordination with the Ministry of Railways, leveraging the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
The USBRL project features iconic structures like the Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, and provides all-weather connectivity.

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

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

Six New Initiatives Launched to Boost Logistics and Trade Competitiveness under Make in India (End of September) ▼

Report on Assessment of Logistics Cost in India: prepared by NCAER for DPIIT, first comprehensive estimate puts India’s logistics cost at 7.97% of GDP using hybrid methodology (nation-wide surveys + secondary data).
Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) 3.0: DPIIT–ADB tool to benchmark industrial-park infrastructure and competitiveness; government developing 20 plug-and-play parks/smart cities under NICDC.
Logistics Data Bank (LDB) 2.0: high-seas container tracking, multi-modal visibility via ULIP APIs, live container heat-map to pre-empt bottlenecks.
Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025: annual index to benchmark logistics performance of States/UTs.
Guidebook on Mapping of Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) Codes: allocates 12,167 HSN codes across 31 Ministries/Departments for targeted policymaking and trade negotiations.
Integrated State and City Logistics Plans: being prepared under SMILE–ADB for eight pilot cities across eight states to map infrastructure gaps and cut logistics costs.

Indian Army conducts Inno-Yoddha 2025 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi (Start of December) ▼

Inno-Yoddha 2025, the Indian Army’s annual Idea & Innovation Competition, was held at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
A record 89 innovations were submitted, of which 32 were selected for further development.
Five innovations have already undergone Transfer of Technology (ToT) to industry, including Exploder (FC Tech), Agniastra (Red Kite Digital Tech), Vidyut Rakshak (IS Trading Co), Baaz Attack Drone, and Multi-purpose Octacopter.
Over the past five years, 117 ideas have been selected, 47 productised, 30 IPRs filed, and five innovations transferred to industry.
The initiative supports the Indian Army’s commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat and indigenous development.

India conducts tri-service 'Trishul' exercise & Army's 'Astra Shakti' in Ladakh; Rudra Brigades, Bhairav Battalions being raised (Mid of November) ▼

Exercise Trishul: tri-service 12-day drill in Rajasthan & Gujarat involving ~40,000 troops, warships, missile batteries, special forces, Rafale & Su-30 aircraft to test post-Sindoor readiness against Pakistan
Exercise Astra Shakti: Northern Command drill in Ladakh validating precision artillery, swarm drones, counter-UAS systems and ITBP synergy against China & Pakistan
New force structures: two Rudra all-arms brigades and five Bhairav light commando battalions already raised; 380 Ashni drone platoons (strike & surveillance) being created for infantry battalions

Afghanistan advances Kunar River diversion project threatening Pakistan water supply

[Afghanistan, Pakistan]

Key Updates:

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

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NITI Aayog Releases Report on Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks (End of November) ▼

NITI Aayog today released a report on 'Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks'.
The report marks a significant effort to take forward local water budgeting for effective water management and aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision for Viksit Bharat@2047, emphasising the necessity for sustainable and equitable water security across diverse landscapes of India.
Water Budgeting is a structured approach for estimating water demand across key sectors: human, livestock, agriculture, and industry, while accounting for supplies from multiple sources such as runoff, surface water, groundwater, and water transfers.
The water budgeting exercise uses a web-based platform Varuni to enhance the block-level water security planning and for an integrated water management.
The report highlights the need for adopting customised strategies across 18 Aspirational Blocks with different endowments of water availability, spread across 8 agro-climatic zones of the country in 11 States.
The water budget provides insights for each block related to its water demand-supply scenario, challenges and recommendations and identifying suitable measures for enhancing water security.
NITI Aayog collaborated with GIZ India to prepare the report.

Taliban to Appoint First Diplomat in Delhi; India Upgrades Kabul Mission (Start of November) ▼

"India and Afghanistan are set to further ramp up their diplomatic relations with the appointment of a diplomat by the Taliban regime here this month."
"This will be the first official placement of a diplomat by the Taliban in India since their return to Kabul in August 2021".
"The relationship has progressed steadily this year, culminating in an unprecedented visit by foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India last month."
"Muttaqi's visit saw India announcing its decision to upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to the level of embassy and also agreeing to accept Taliban diplomats."
"A Taliban spokesperson on Sunday expressed appreciation for India's donation of over 16 tonnes of anti-vector-borne disease medicines."
"Muttaqi's visit was significant as it also saw the Taliban backing India's sovereignty over J&K."

India delivers 73 tonnes of life-saving medicines, vaccines and essential supplements to Kabul (End of November) ▼

India has delivered 73 tonnes of life-saving medicines, vaccines and essential supplements to Kabul to cater to urgent medical needs.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called Afghanistan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi to convey condolences at the loss of lives in the earthquake that struck Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces.
Indian relief material for the earthquake-impacted communities is being handed over and further supplies of medicines to reach soon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Adwa Victory Memorial and Museum in Ethiopia

[Ethiopia]

Key Updates:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays a wreath at the Adwa Victory Memorial and Museum in Addis Ababa.
The memorial commemorates Ethiopia’s victory in the 1896 Battle of Adwa against Italian forces.
The museum houses artefacts, weapons, historical dioramas, conference halls, an amphitheatre, and a library.
PM Modi’s visit highlights India’s recognition of Ethiopia’s legacy of independence and anti-colonial resistance.

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India Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Ethiopia on December 16-17, 2025, to strengthen Brics and Global South ties (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State visit to Ethiopia on December 16-17, 2025, signals India’s diplomatic engagement with Africa, the Global South, and the expanded Brics grouping.
India is scheduled to assume the chairmanship of Brics on January 1, 2026, with Ethiopia serving as an important member of the grouping.
Ethiopia officially joined Brics in January 2024, along with Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
India is currently Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade standing at $571.52 million during the 2023-24 financial year.
India has sanctioned more than $1 billion in lines of credit for Ethiopia to support projects in sectors such as rural electrification, the sugar industry, and railways.
Around 650 Indian companies have licensed investments exceeding $5 billion in Ethiopia, with approximately $3 billion estimated to have been realised on the ground.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), a joint initiative between India and France, aims to mobilise $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and financing costs.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the visit will cover dimensions of India-Ethiopia ties, including parliamentary exchanges, development partnerships, and defence cooperation.

Indian Air Force celebrates 1971 victory legacy with aerial power display (Mid of December) ▼

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday staged a breathtaking aerial display at Air Force Station Mohanbari to commemorate Vijay Diwas, marking the anniversary of India’s decisive victory in the 1971 war leading Pakistan’s surrender and subsequent birth of Bangladesh.
The event was attended by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who warmly recalled the IAF’s pivotal role in the conflict and underscored the enduring lesson of jointmanship.
Organised by Shillong-based Eastern Air Command headquarters, the celebration showcased frontline assets including Sukhoi Su-30 fighters, Dornier Do-228 surveillance aircraft, Antonov An-32 transport planes, and heavy-lift platforms such as the Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh highlighted the indispensable coordination between the services, noting that river crossings, air drops, and operations in the Western Sector were possible only through close cooperation between the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali personally drives Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hotel during State visit (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Addis Ababa for a two-day State visit to Ethiopia at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali personally received PM Modi at the airport and drove him to the hotel.
PM Modi was taken on an unscheduled visit to the Science Museum and Friendship Park by the Ethiopian leader.
PM Modi will hold detailed talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali covering all aspects of bilateral relations.
PM Modi is expected to address a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament and meet the Indian diaspora.
Addis Ababa is the headquarters of the African Union, which was admitted as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s 2023 Presidency.

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

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

Israel announces plan to open embassy in Suva in 2026

[Israel]

Key Updates:

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.

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Saudi Arabia and China sign mutual visa exemption for diplomats and officials (Mid of December) ▼

Saudi Arabia and China signed a mutual visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders.
The agreement was signed during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Riyadh, hosted by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
The visit marked the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and China.
High-level talks during the visit covered economic cooperation, regional security, Vision 2030 developments, and support for a two-state solution for Palestine.
Prince Faisal and Wang Yi attended the fifth session of the Political Committee of the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee.
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to the One China policy, recognizing that Taiwan is part of China.
China expressed support for Saudi efforts to strengthen relations with Iran and acknowledged the Kingdom’s role in fostering regional and international security and stability.
The Chinese delegation praised Saudi Arabia’s economic progress under Vision 2030.
Both sides welcomed the results of the Riyadh Arab-Chinese Summit for Cooperation and Development held in December 2022.
Saudi Arabia expressed support for China hosting the Second China-Arab Summit and the Second Gulf-Chinese Summit in 2026.
China confirmed its readiness to participate in Expo 2030, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
Both countries reiterated support for a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian question, advocating an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

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

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

India-Israel launch FTA negotiations in Tel Aviv (End of November) ▼

India and Israel signed Terms of Reference to begin Free Trade Agreement negotiations
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Israel’s Minister of Economy Nir Barkat co-chaired the India-Israel Business Summit themed 'Gateway to Growth' in Tel Aviv-Yafo
Proposed FTA plus the existing bilateral investment treaty aim to expand market access, capital flows, trade in goods and services, and remove business obstacles

India-Israel sign MoU on defence cooperation during 17th JWG meeting in Tel Aviv (Start of November) ▼

MoU signed during 17th Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General of Israeli Ministry of Defense Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram in Tel Aviv
MoU covers strategic dialogues, training, defence industrial cooperation, R&D, AI, cyber security, and promotes co-development and co-production
JWG reviewed ongoing initiatives and discussed future tech collaboration and shared challenges like terrorism

India and Oman sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with wide tariff cuts and services access

[Oman]

Key Updates:

India and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that will give duty-free access to over 98% of India’s exports to Oman.
India agreed to cut tariffs on select Omani products such as dates, marbles and petrochemicals.
Oman has offered zero-duty access on over 98% of its tariff lines, covering 99.38% of India’s exports to the country.
India will provide tariff liberalisation on 77.79% of its total tariff lines, covering 94.81% of imports from Oman by value.
Oman has made commitments across a wide range of services sectors, including computer-related services, professional and business services, audio-visual services, research and development, education and health services.
Oman has offered wide-ranging commitments under Mode 4, including raising the quota for intra-corporate transferees from 20% to 50%, and extending the permitted stay for contractual service suppliers from 90 days to two years.
The agreement allows 100% foreign direct investment by Indian companies in major services sectors in Oman through commercial presence.
India–Oman bilateral trade stood at about $10.5 billion in 2024–25, with exports of $4 billion and imports of $6.54 billion.
This is India’s second CEPA with a GCC member after the UAE agreement implemented in May 2022.

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India and Jordan agree 8-point vision to lift bilateral trade to USD 5 billion in five years (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed doubling India–Jordan bilateral trade to USD 5 billion over the next five years.
Modi and King Abdullah II addressed the India–Jordan Business Forum in Amman, urging industry to convert potential into growth.
King Abdullah II said Jordan’s free trade agreements and India’s economic strength can create an economic corridor linking South Asia and West Asia.
Modi invited Jordanian companies to partner in India’s digital public infrastructure, IT, fintech, health-tech and agri-tech sectors.
India and Jordan will collaborate on renewable energy, green financing, desalination and water recycling.
Ficci and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce have an MoU to promote trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

US withdraws sanctions waiver for India-developed Chabahar port in Iran (End of September) ▼

The United States is withdrawing the sanctions waiver granted to Iran’s Chabahar port, which is being developed by India.
The 2018 waiver was provided during the first term of President Donald Trump.
Chabahar is Iran’s first deepwater port, located at the mouth of the Gulf of Oman.
The port is of strategic importance to India, offering an alternative route that bypasses Pakistan for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Chabahar is also part of the proposed International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
India’s investment is restricted to the Shahid Beheshti port within the Chabahar project.
India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement in April 2016.
The revocation of the sanctions exception, issued under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA), is effective September 29, 2025.
The withdrawal will adversely impact India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

India, Canada to resume trade pact talks (End of November) ▼

India and Canada have agreed to formally resume talks on an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
India aims to increase bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030, while Canada sets a target of $70 billion by the same year.
In 2024, the India-Canada bilateral trade in goods and services was around $22.6 billion.
The difference in trade targets reflects a bullish estimate of the Indian market’s potential by Canadian businesses.
Canada and India launched talks 15 years ago for such a trade deal, but it was downgraded to a sectoral deal.
India and Canada have been taking steady steps to mend a relationship that was in tatters for around two years.
In late 2023, Ottawa suspended trade talks after allegations regarding the killing of a Canada-based Khalistan separatist, a charge India rejected.
Both countries began rebuilding their relationship after the change of guard in Ottawa in March.
Canadian Prime Minister Carney accepted Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to visit India in early 2026.
Indian envoy Dinesh Patnaik stated that both countries need a relationship where they discuss how people can be safe on the streets.
Patnaik also said India would take actions if evidence is presented in court that substantiates Canada’s allegations, adding India does not have evidence at this time.
The leaders agreed to enhance diplomatic staffing levels following the return of high commissioners in August 2025.
Prime Minister Carney welcomed the progress being made in the law enforcement dialogue between the two countries.
Both sides reaffirmed their longstanding civil nuclear cooperation and noted ongoing discussions on expanding collaboration, including through long-term uranium supply arrangements.
The two-way engagement assumes significance at a time when India-US ties have dipped over tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration, and Canada has also faced US tariffs.

Radhakrishnan Opens 30th CII Summit, Highlights Andhra’s Growth and India’s Rise (Mid of November) ▼

Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 30th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.
The summit is co-hosted by CII, DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Shri Radhakrishnan declared that uplifting millions from poverty through sustained economic activity remains Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s most historic achievement.
India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy and the fastest-growing major economy.
Andhra Pradesh is fast becoming India’s industrial engine, supported by progressive infrastructure development, logistics efficiency, and investor confidence.
The summit theme is “Technology, Trust and Trade: Navigating the New Geoeconomic Order.”
The event features 45 dedicated business and policy sessions, 72 international speakers, delegates from 45 countries, and over 300 overseas participants.
India is the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world and aims to lead in clean technology exports, especially in green hydrogen, electric mobility, and renewable energy.
Visakhapatnam is predicted to emerge as a paradise for investment and innovation in the coming years.
India’s foreign policy approach is guided by Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family.

Israel approves $35 billion natural gas export deal to Egypt, largest in Israeli history

[Israel, Egypt]

Key Updates:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has approved a $35 billion natural gas export deal to Egypt, the biggest gas deal in Israeli history.
The gas will be delivered to Egypt over the next 15 years by U.S. energy giant Chevron, a key owner of the gas field off Israel’s coast in the Mediterranean Sea.
Half of the proceeds are expected to go to Israel’s state coffers.
German lawmakers approved an expansion of a defense agreement for Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defense system, bringing the deal value from $3.5 billion to $6.5 billion, making it the largest Israeli defense export deal ever.

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Egypt announces new natural gas discovery in Western Desert by BAPETCO (Mid of November) ▼

Discovery attributed to Badr El-Din Petroleum Company (BAPETCO), a joint venture of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and Shell
Well currently producing around 16 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and 750 barrels of condensate
Discovery expected to add approximately 15 billion cubic feet of natural gas to Egypt’s proven reserves
Location of the find is in the Western Desert, Egypt
Technical teams are reassessing the reservoir to identify optimal drilling locations for future development

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.

EIL and NMDC Energy sign MoU for onshore oil & gas projects in Saudi Arabia (Mid of November) ▼

MoU signed between Engineers India (EIL) and NMDC Energy to cooperate on onshore projects in Saudi Arabia covering Oil and Gas Processing, Refineries, Petrochemicals, Pipelines, Storage Terminals, and Energy Transition
MoU signed on the sidelines of ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi
Collaboration aims at joint tendering and executing EPC projects leveraging NMDC’s Ras Al Khair fabrication facilities and EIL’s Al Khobar design center

Kazakhstan to Join Abraham Accords; Trump Hosts Central Asian Summit (Start of November) ▼

Kazakhstan is set to join the Abraham Accords between Israel and Muslim majority countries.
Proof: "Kazakhstan is set to join the Abraham Accords between Israel and Muslim majority countries"
The Abraham Accord nations previously included Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Proof: "the other Abraham Accord nations — Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates."
Mr. Trump hosted a summit with the leaders of Kazakhstan and four other Central Asian nations.
Proof: "Mr. Trump hosted a summit with the leaders of Kazakhstan and four other Central Asian nations"
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Kazakhstan's entry will create a partnership for special and unique economic development.
Proof: "You're now creating a partnership that brings special and unique economic development on all sorts of issues that they can work on together," Rubio said.
Specific areas of enhanced Israeli-Kazakh cooperation would include defense, cybersecurity, energy and food technology.
Proof: "That official said specific areas of enhanced Israeli-Kazakh cooperation would include defense, cybersecurity, energy and food technology"
Rubio and Tokayev discussed expanding opportunities for commercial trade and investment as well as increased cooperation in energy, technology, and infrastructure.
Proof: "Rubio and Tokayev 'discussed expanding opportunities for commercial trade and investment as well as increased cooperation with Kazakhstan in energy, technology, and infrastructure,' the department said in a statement."

Indian Air Force hosts Exercise AviaIndra-2025 with Russian Federation Aerospace Force

[Russian Federation]

Key Updates:

Exercise AviaIndra-2025 is being hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the Russian Federation Aerospace Force (RFASF) from 15 to 22 December.
The exercise is part of the AviaIndra series which began in 2014.
Personnel from both forces will conduct joint flying operations on Su-30 MKI, Tejas, IL-78 aircraft, and Mi-17 helicopters.
The exercise aims to enhance bilateral cooperation, mutual understanding, and aerospace synergy between India and Russia.

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India withdraws from Ayni airbase in Tajikistan after bilateral agreement ends (Start of November) ▼

India withdrew from the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan after a bilateral agreement on stationing Indian personnel ended in 2022
The base had a detachment of IAF helicopters, a repair facility and maintenance equipment
Russian forces have since taken over the base

India-France conduct 8th Garuda 25 air exercise at Mont-de-Marsan (Mid of November) ▼

Exercise: Garuda 25 (8th edition) with Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force
Location: Mont-de-Marsan, France
IAF assets: Su-30MKI fighters, C-17 Globemaster III, IL-78 refuellers
Focus: air-to-air engagements, air-defence missions, coordinated strike operations

India issues NOTAM for large-scale IAF exercise across Northeast (Start of November) ▼

NOTAMs issued for IAF exercise covering entire northeastern region bordering China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh
Active NOTAM dates: November 6 & 20; December 4 & 18; January 1 & 15
Exercise involves extensive combat training, coordinated sorties and logistics exercises at forward bases

Indian Air Force Western Air Command Commanders' Conference Concludes on November 28 (End of November) ▼

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan has told a gathering of IAF commanders the need for continuous adaptation, tactical innovation and strategic foresight in the evolving security environment.
He said this in his address at the two-day Commanders' Conference of the Western Air Command (WAC) of the Indian Air Force which ended on November 28.
The theme of the event was ' Vikashil Saksham Bharatiya Vayu Sena '.
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh in his address called upon all air warriors to uphold the core value of mission, integrity and excellence, as he also reaffirmed the force's commitment to national security.
Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the government of India, also spoke at the Western Air Command Commanders' Conference 2025.
He emphasised that a self-reliant and technologically advanced Indian Air Force remains essential for protecting India's sovereign interests.
K Rajalakshmi Menon, Director General (Aero), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), gave a talk on Future Technologies in Airborne surveillance System, and underscored the rising importance of autonomous aerial systems, long endurance platforms and space-enabled ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance).
Discussions and brainstorming were also undertaken towards embracing 'Atmanirbharta' in all aspects of operational thought and furthering the nation's and the IAF's commitment towards becoming a true 'Made in India' and 'Made for India' force.

India and Saudi Arabia sign Visa Waiver Agreement to boost official travels and bilateral exchanges

[Saudi Arabia]

Key Updates:

Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Ajaz Khan and Abdulmajeed bin Rashed Alsmari, Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, signed the bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement.
The agreement covers holders of diplomatic, special and official passports and aims to facilitate official travels and boost bilateral exchanges under the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that the Parliament of India will soon constitute the India-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Major General Abdul Rahman bin Sanhat Al-Harbi, Chairman of the Saudi-India Parliamentary Friendship Committee from the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, met with Speaker Birla to emphasize parliamentary diplomacy and institutional collaboration.

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India and Jordan conclude landmark bilateral visit on December 16, 2025 (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a landmark two-day visit to Jordan, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The current full bilateral visit is taking place after an interval of 37 years, following a previous transit visit in February 2018.
India and Jordan maintain strong economic and strategic ties, with bilateral trade nearing USD 2.9 billion.
Jordan is a key supplier of phosphates and potash to India, with cooperation also spanning fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, IT, healthcare, defence and renewable energy.
The relationship spans political, economic and defence cooperation, as well as strong people-to-people ties, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The visit to Jordan was the first leg of a four-day, three-nation tour that includes subsequent travel to Ethiopia and Oman.

Saudi Arabia and China sign mutual visa exemption for diplomats and officials (Mid of December) ▼

Saudi Arabia and China signed a mutual visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders.
The agreement was signed during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Riyadh, hosted by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
The visit marked the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and China.
High-level talks during the visit covered economic cooperation, regional security, Vision 2030 developments, and support for a two-state solution for Palestine.
Prince Faisal and Wang Yi attended the fifth session of the Political Committee of the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee.
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to the One China policy, recognizing that Taiwan is part of China.
China expressed support for Saudi efforts to strengthen relations with Iran and acknowledged the Kingdom’s role in fostering regional and international security and stability.
The Chinese delegation praised Saudi Arabia’s economic progress under Vision 2030.
Both sides welcomed the results of the Riyadh Arab-Chinese Summit for Cooperation and Development held in December 2022.
Saudi Arabia expressed support for China hosting the Second China-Arab Summit and the Second Gulf-Chinese Summit in 2026.
China confirmed its readiness to participate in Expo 2030, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
Both countries reiterated support for a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian question, advocating an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

India and Jordan agree 8-point vision to lift bilateral trade to USD 5 billion in five years (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed doubling India–Jordan bilateral trade to USD 5 billion over the next five years.
Modi and King Abdullah II addressed the India–Jordan Business Forum in Amman, urging industry to convert potential into growth.
King Abdullah II said Jordan’s free trade agreements and India’s economic strength can create an economic corridor linking South Asia and West Asia.
Modi invited Jordanian companies to partner in India’s digital public infrastructure, IT, fintech, health-tech and agri-tech sectors.
India and Jordan will collaborate on renewable energy, green financing, desalination and water recycling.
Ficci and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce have an MoU to promote trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia-Russia Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement signed on December 1, 2025 (Start of December) ▼

Saudi Arabia and Russia have signed a historic mutual visa exemption agreement allowing citizens of both countries to stay visa free for up to 90 days.
The agreement covers all passport types for tourism, business, and visiting relatives.
Russia becomes the first country with which Saudi Arabia has signed a mutual visa exemption agreement that includes holders of regular passports.
The agreement was signed by His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and His Excellency Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

India Becomes World’s Largest Market for Large Language Model (LLM) Adoption

Key Updates:

India has emerged as the world’s largest and most active market for large language model (LLM) adoption, according to an analysis by Bank of America (BofA).
The country now leads globally in the number of users for popular AI apps such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, both in terms of monthly active users (MAUs) and daily active users (DAUs).
India has the second-largest online population in the world, with more than 700-750 million mobile internet users who consume 20-30 GB of data a month at around $2.
Telcos such as Jio and Bharti Airtel are offering complimentary subscriptions to paid versions of AI apps like Gemini and Perplexity.
India could emerge as a testing ground for the next phase of AI, known as agentic AI, which are applications that can reason, plan and execute tasks independently.

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Google Gemini tops India’s 2025 search chart as AI tools dominate queries (Start of December) ▼

Google Gemini grabbed the top overall search spot, reflecting the country’s use of AI tools like DeepSeek and Perplexity.
AI trends Gemini “Nano Banana” and X’s Grok took the internet by surprise.
Operation Sindoor, Pehelgam attack and questions like “What is ceasefire” garnered high engagement.

Stanford University AI Index ranks India third in Global AI Vibrancy (Mid of December) ▼

India climbed four steps to rank third in the 2024 Global AI Vibrancy Index with a score of 21.59.
The United States leads with 78.6 and China follows with 36.95, while India surpasses South Korea, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Germany, and France.
India’s improvement is measured across seven pillars: R&D, responsible AI, economy, talent, policy and governance, public opinion, and infrastructure.
India pledged USD 1.25 billion toward AI initiatives, part of global government investments including China’s USD 47.5 billion semiconductor fund and France’s 109 billion euro commitment.
The country slipped five positions on the policy and governance pillar according to the report.

Microsoft Boosts AI Deployment and Renewable Energy Infrastructure in India (Mid of December) ▼

Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant, Infosys and Wipro have emerged as “frontier firms”, with each deploying more than 50,000 Microsoft Copilot licences and building “AI factories” that create industry-specific digital agents and experiences.
Companies are already integrating Fabric, Foundry and Copilot Studio to reimagine software development, data intelligence and customer operations.
Microsoft views GitHub as the “agent HQ” where developers issue daily tasks to AI agents as part of their coding workflow.
The company will open a new Azure data centre region in South Central India in 2026, its most sustainable facility in Asia, powered entirely by renewable energy.
Microsoft’s new Agent 365 runtime enables organisations to choose between public, sovereign and private cloud configurations while maintaining cybersecurity and compliance, ensuring observability and governance in a world of autonomous agents.
Microsoft’s AI stack now extends from Copilot to Copilot Studio, which lets enterprise developers create their own AI agents using natural language prompts, down to Microsoft Foundry, a toolchain for building multi-agent, multi-model solutions using over 11,000 available AI models.
This investment of $17.5 billion is part of what Nadella described as Microsoft’s largest in Asia, following its previous $3 billion commitment to India.
Microsoft will train 20 million people across India in AI and digital technologies.

Amazon announces $35 billion investment in India by 2030 (Mid of December) ▼

Amazon pledges a $35 billion investment in India by 2030.
The investment builds on Amazon's existing $40 billion-plus capital in India since 2010.
The new funds will focus on AI-driven digitization, export growth, and job creation.
Amazon aims to support a total of 3.8 million jobs in India by 2030.
Amazon targets enabling $80 billion in cumulative e-commerce exports from India by 2030.
The company plans to deliver AI benefits to 15 million small businesses.
Amazon aims to tap into four million government school students with AI education and career exploration opportunities.
Microsoft committed a $17.5 billion investment plan for India.
In 2024, Amazon supported approximately 2.8 million jobs in India.
Amazon-enabled exports from India have surpassed $20 billion.

CSIR–CFTRI develops annatto-based natural colourants for dairy and food sectors

[CSIR–CFTRI]

Key Updates:

CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR–CFTRI) has developed a batch-type percolation technique to extract annatto dye into crystal-like form usable as water-soluble, oil-soluble or refined powder formulations.
A continuous power-operated annatto seed separator of 100 kg/hr input and 40 kg/hr seed output was engineered for low-cost, easy-to-fabricate pod seed separation.
Tailor-made water-soluble carbonate annatto formulations suit hard-boiled candies, vermicelli, gold fingers, biriyani and vegetable manchurian, while PG-based versions suit butter, cheese, biscuit cream, bakery cream, icing cream and traditional sweets like boondi laddu and motichoor laddu.
Forest College and Research Institute (FC & RI), Mettupalayam, has framed precision silvicultural and canopy management practices to maximise annatto seed yield under its moderate drought-tolerant, low-water requirement profile planted during June–September monsoon.

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Argentina and India strengthen agricultural research cooperation through ICAR-INTA Work Plan 2025-2027 (Mid of December) ▼

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina, have signed a Work Plan 2025-2027 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agricultural research, capacity building, and technology exchange.
The Work Plan establishes collaboration across natural resource management, sustainable agronomy including zero tillage, mechanisation, micro-irrigation and fertigation, crop and animal biotechnology, livestock improvement, production technologies for temperate and tropical crops, digital agriculture, biosafety and phytosanitary measures, and value chain development.
Implementation will be through joint research, germplasm exchange, expert engagements, and structured training and study visits.
Germplasm exchange will include soybean, sunflower, maize, blueberry, citrus, wild papaya species, guava, and select vegetable crops.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the India–Argentina scientific partnership and agreed to annual monitoring and review to ensure effective implementation and progress.

Semiophore Ltd. Joint Venture to Commercialize Indian Pheromone Technologies Globally (Start of December) ▼

ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd. (India) and Luxembourg Industries Ltd. (Israel) signed licensing agreements to establish Semiophore Ltd., a 50-50 Indo-Israeli partnership.
Semiophore Ltd. will manufacture and commercialize 18 Indian-developed pheromone-based crop protection technologies in Israel and export them to markets including Brazil and the United States.
The technologies are designed to reduce insecticide use by more than 80%, offering a low-toxicity alternative to chemical pesticides.

Northeast India Organic Week inaugurated on November 29, 2025 (Start of December) ▼

The first Northeast India Organic Week was inaugurated on November 29, 2025.
The event was organised in partnership with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Union Commerce Ministry and IFOAM-Organics Asia.
Delegates and buyers from 13 countries attended Meghalaya’s inaugural Northeast India Organic Week.
Meghalaya Agriculture Commissioner and Secretary is Dr Vijay Kumar D.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) chairman is Abhishek Dev.
IFOAM-Organics Asia executive director is Jennifer Chang.
Meghalaya Chief Minister is Conrad K Sangma.
Meghalaya is the second fastest growing state behind Tamil Nadu.
Lakadong turmeric has up to 13 per cent curcumin content.
A new ginger processing unit worth Rs 25 crore has been set up as the largest organic spice processing facility in the Northeast.
The eighth edition of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) was highlighted.
The ‘Green Meghalaya’ initiative focuses on ongoing climate action efforts.
GI-tagged Khasi mandarins have made inroads into Gulf markets through the Lulu Group.

WEF report flags seven deep-tech innovations set to redefine global agriculture (Start of November) ▼

Seven deep technologies identified: generative AI, robotics, computer vision, edge IoT, CRISPR-based genome editing, nanotechnology, and satellite-enabled remote sensing
ICAR’s CRISPR-edited DRR 100 rice shows 19% yield increase and 20% lower emissions with improved drought and salinity tolerance
Pusa DST Rice 1 CRISPR strain raises yields up to 30.4% in saline/alkaline soils, potentially boosting overall production by 20%
India’s PMFBY crop-insurance scheme uses satellite imagery, drones, and mobile geotagging to replace manual crop-cutting experiments for faster, transparent claim settlements
India’s open-source Bhashini platform supplies datasets, language models, and APIs, enabling start-ups to build vernacular AI tools for rural outreach

Thousands of dinosaur footprints discovered in Stelvio National Park (SNP)

[Stelvio National Park (SNP)]

Key Updates:

Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back 210 million years have been found in a national park in northern Italy.
The footprints - some of which are up to 40cm (15in) in diameter - are aligned in parallel rows, and many show clear traces of toes and claws.
It is thought the dinosaurs were prosauropods - herbivores with long necks, small heads and sharp claws.
In the Triassic period - between about 250 and 201 million years ago - the wall was a tidal flat, which later became part of the Alpine chain.
The prosauropods, which could be up to 10m (33ft) long, walked on two legs but in some cases handprints were found in front of footprints.
The area is remote and not accessible by paths, so drones and remote sensing technology will be employed instead.
The Stelvio National Park (SNP) is located in the Fraele valley by Italy's border with Switzerland, near where the Winter Olympics will take place next year.

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Scientists extract ancient RNA from 39,000-year-old woolly mammoth 'Yuka' (Mid of November) ▼

Researchers led by Stockholm University paleogeneticist Love Dalén extracted RNA from the permafrost-preserved woolly mammoth named Yuka found in eastern Siberia.
The recovered RNA fragments, though short, were computationally verified as authentic woolly mammoth sequences, offering the first snapshot of gene activity in an extinct animal.
RNA from Yuka’s muscle tissue matched genes for slow-twitch muscle function and development, confirming the tissue type and showing cellular processes frozen at death.
Additional RNA indicated stress-related gene activity in the mammoth’s muscles, consistent with—though not exclusively proving—an attack by cave lions or another stressful event.
Genetic analysis of Yuka’s DNA revealed one X and one Y chromosome, contradicting the initial visual inspection that had classified the mammoth as female.

National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) Robots Unearth 10,000-Year-Old Pottery in Lake Biwa (Start of December) ▼

Robotic sensors discovered a nearly intact pottery vessel more than 10,000 years old resting upright in the silt near Tsuzuraozaki underwater ruins.
The vessel measures about 25 centimeters tall with a tapering pointed base and engraved motifs characteristic of early Jomon craft traditions.
Specialists attribute the vessel to either the Jinguji-style or the Konami Upper-layer tradition between 11,000 and 10,500 years ago.
The survey used a next-generation 3-D scanning system with four synchronized cameras at 64 meters deep.
NMRI transformed deep-sea robotics including AUVs with high-resolution sonar into tools for inland archaeology.
Lake Biwa’s deep basins create still pockets with minimal sediment accumulation while tectonic activity keeps the lakebed exposed preserving objects.

Italian cooking awarded Unesco cultural heritage status (Mid of December) ▼

Italian cooking has been awarded special cultural heritage status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been pushing for Italy's cuisine to be recognised since her election.
Koshary, the spicy dish of lentils, rice, and pasta from Egypt, was also added to Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage.
Previous food-related inclusions on the list include Washoku of Japan, Breakfast culture in Malaysia, and the Gastronomic meal of the French.

New filter-feeding pterosaur species Bakiribu waridza identified inside fossilised dinosaur vomit in Brazil (Mid of November) ▼

Discovery: New filter-feeding pterosaur species Bakiribu waridza identified from bones preserved in fossilised regurgitate (regurgitalite).
Institution: Specimen stored at Museu Camara Cascudo, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Key features: Long jaws with dense, brush-like rows of teeth; belongs to Ctenochasmatidae family; first filter-feeding pterosaur known from the tropics.
Associated fauna: Fossil contained bones of two B. waridza individuals plus four fossil fish.
Predator inference: Arrangement suggests predator ate pterosaurs then fish and later regurgitated mixed material; likely candidates are spinosaurid dinosaurs or ornithocheiriform pterosaurs.

Jammu to host first International Dangal for Rustam-e-Jammu Kashmir title

[J&K]

Key Updates:

The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council in collaboration with the J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association is organising the first International Dangal at Maulana Azad Stadium, Jammu.
The Rustam-e-Jammu Kashmir title bout will be open to wrestlers above 85 kg; the winner receives ₹50,000 along with the traditional Gurj and Patta.
Over 100 wrestlers from India and abroad, including Iran, will compete in open-category matches.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes Rs 99.30 lakh penalty on Jammu and Kashmir Bank (Start of December) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a fine of Rs 99.30 lakh on Jammu and Kashmir Bank.
The penalty was for failing to comply with directions regarding grievance handling, customer communication, KYC verification, and the transfer of unclaimed deposits.
The fines were based on the statutory inspection of the bank's financial position as of March 2024.
The inspection found that certain complaints were not escalated to the Internal Ombudsman.
The bank did not send final resolution letters to customers after closing complaints.
The bank was not using face-verification technology for video-based customer identification.
The bank was not verifying customers' financial information furnished at the time of onboarding.
There was a delay in the transfer of eligible unclaimed deposits to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund.

Abbreviations and their full forms mentioned in the article (Start of November) ▼

J&K refers to Jammu and Kashmir, as seen in 'J&K's Kishtwar'.
TOI refers to Times of India, indicated by 'TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM'.
IST refers to Indian Standard Time, as shown in 'Updated: Nov 05, 2025, 09:21 IST'.
JNU refers to Jawaharlal Nehru University, mentioned in 'JNU Elections 2025'.
ICAI refers to Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, as seen in 'ICAI September Result'.
U.S. refers to United States, as in 'U.S. Eyes India As A Major Market For Its Energy Exports'.
IDF refers to Israeli Defense Forces, mentioned in 'Israeli Whistleblower Shames IDF'.
NYC refers to New York City, as seen in 'NYC Mayor Election Result'.
AQI refers to Air Quality Index, mentioned in 'Delhi AQI Level'.
GCCs refers to Global Capability Centers, as in 'Learning & innovation are key to building resilient GCCs'.
AI refers to Artificial Intelligence, mentioned in 'GCCs build practical AI systems for their parent companies'.
CFO refers to Chief Financial Officer, as seen in 'company's CFO has a message'.

J&K to kick off first-ever limestone block auction on November 24 (End of November) ▼

Jammu & Kashmir will conduct its maiden auction of seven limestone blocks under the MMDR Act's post-2015 reforms.
The Centre intervened to speed up the process and open new mineral blocks.
The initiative is expected to generate jobs, boost state revenues, support industrial expansion, and create new economic opportunities for local communities.
The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir will host its first-ever auction of limestone mineral blocks on November 24 in Jammu.
The launch event will be led by Union Coal & Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy, alongside the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir.
Seven limestone blocks spanning roughly 314 hectares have been identified across Anantnag, Rajouri, and Poonch districts.
These deposits fall under United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) G3 Prospecting and G4 Reconnaissance exploration categories.
These deposits hold considerable potential for high-quality limestone, a raw material critical for cement, construction, and several industrial applications.
The auction is being carried out under subsections 4 and 5 of Section 11 of the MMDR Act.
This provision allows the Central Government to step in when states or UTs face procedural constraints in conducting auctions.
This mechanism highlights the principle of “cooperative federalism” in speeding up mineral sector reforms.
The Ministry of Mines has emphasised that the auction will follow a transparent, technology-enabled, and competitive process, aligned with national environmental safeguards to promote sustainable mining practices.

India to host inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship (Mid of December) ▼

Over 24 countries will compete in the inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship from March 9 to 14 next year, for which the venue is yet to be finalised in India.
The event will see 16 men's and as many women's teams competing.
Ahmedabad was recently officially confirmed as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

India tops World Anti-Doping Agency list as worst dope offender for third straight time

[World Anti-Doping Agency]

Key Updates:

India recorded 260 adverse analytical findings (AAFs) in 2024, the highest among nations that conducted 5,000 or more tests.
India's positivity rate stood at 3.6 per cent, based on 7,113 tests conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada).
France tested 11,744 samples and recorded 91 anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs), a 0.8 per cent positivity rate.
Russia had 76 ADRVs from 10,514 samples, a 0.7 per cent rate.
China recorded 43 dope failures with a 0.2 per cent positivity rate from 24,214 samples.
The US anti-doping agency conducted 6,592 tests and had a positivity rate of 1.1 per cent.

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India elected member of Interpol Asian Committee at Singapore conference (End of September) ▼

India was elected as a member of the Interpol Asian Committee.
The election occurred during the 25th Asian Regional Conference held in Singapore.
The committee will meet annually to deliberate on regional security issues and provide guidance for coordinated actions among member countries.
India was represented in the Asian Regional Conference by a delegation from the CBI, which is the national central bureau solely responsible for Interpol-related matters.
The committee's purpose is to advise the Asian Regional Conference and identify regional strategic priorities in the fight against crime and police cooperation issues specific to the region.

India finishes with nine golds at World Boxing Cup Finals (End of November) ▼

Indian boxers claimed medals in all 20 weight categories, finishing with nine gold, six silver and five bronze.
Seven women and two men delivered the golds for the host.
The host closed its World Boxing Cup Finals campaign on a high at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Indoor Stadium in Greater Noida on Thursday.
Minakshi (48kg) set the tone with another dominant show, outclassing three-time Asian Under-22 champion Farzona Fozilova 5-0.
Nikhat (51kg) produced a clear 5-0 victory over Worlds quarterfinalist Guo Yi Xuan.
Jaismine (57kg) edged Paris Olympics bronze medallist Wu Shih Yi 4-1.
Young Olympian Preeti Pawar delivered one of the wins of the day, upsetting Worlds medallist Sirine Charaabi 5-0 in the 54kg final.
Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) earned a hard-fought 5-0 win over Worlds bronze medallist Aziza Zokirova.
Nupur edged Oltinoy Sotimboeva 3-2 in a scrappy 80+kg final.
Parveen Hooda bt Ayaka Taguchi (Jpn) 3-2.
Former World youth champion Sachin Siwach (60kg) claimed a significant title with a 5-0 win over Worlds and Olympics medallist Munarbek Seiitbek Ullu.
Hitesh (70kg) added another gold with a tight 3-2 victory over Nurbek Mursal.

India finishes second as China tops ISSF World Cup Final (Start of December) ▼

India secured six medals — its best-ever ISSF World Cup Final performance.
Simranpreet Kaur Brar won gold in the women’s 25m pistol.
Suruchi Phogat claimed gold in the women’s 10m air pistol.
Sainyam, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Anish Bhanwala earned silver medals.
Samrat Rana took bronze in the men’s 10m air pistol.
Zorawar Singh Sandhu placed seventh in the men’s trap final.
China topped the medal tally with four gold and nine total medals.

UNEP: Global GHG emissions hit record 57.7 Gt CO2e in 2024, India posts largest jump (Start of November) ▼

Global greenhouse-gas emissions rose 2.3 % in 2024 to a record 57.7 gigatonnes CO2 equivalent (UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025).
India recorded the biggest year-on-year increase in emissions, followed by China, Russia, Indonesia and the United States.
Indonesia had the fastest growth rate at 4.6 % and India at 3.6 %, while China’s emissions grew 0.5 %.
The European Union was the only major economy to reduce emissions in 2024.
Current fully-implemented climate pledges still put the world on track for 2.3 °C–2.5 °C warming by 2100, well above the Paris Agreement 1.5 °C limit.

Manu Bhaker wins senior women’s 25m sports pistol gold at 68th NSCC

Key Updates:

Manu Bhaker claimed gold in the senior women’s 25m sports pistol final with a score of 36 at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, New Delhi.
Divya T.S. took silver with 32 hits and Anjali Choudhary secured bronze with 28 hits in the same event.
Simranpreet Kaur Brar won the junior women’s 25m sports pistol gold, scoring 39 in the final.

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China Tops Medal Tally at ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol 2025 (End of November) ▼

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship Rifle/Pistol 2025 was held in Cairo, Egypt.
The championship featured 720 shooters from 70 National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
China topped the medal tally with 21 medals (12 gold, 7 silver, 2 bronze).
South Korea secured the second position with 14 medals (7 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze).
India finished third with 13 medals (3 gold, 6 silver, 4 bronze).
Indian gold medalists included Samrat Rana in Men’s 10m Air Pistol, Ravinder Singh in Men’s 50m Standard Pistol, and the Men’s 10m Air Pistol Team.
Germany’s Jacob Hoffman set a new world record in the men’s target sprint event.
Poland’s Tomasz Bartnik won gold while equalling the world record in the men’s 300m rifle 3 positions.
China’s Yao Qianxun claimed gold by setting a new world record in the women’s 50m pistol.
China won gold with a team score of 1881.3, setting a new world record in the Men’s 50m Rifle Prone Team event.
Anish Bhanwala won silver in Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, becoming the first Indian individual pistol shooter to medal in an Olympic event at the World Championships.

Manu Bhaker and Ojas Deotale win National Shooting and Archery titles (Mid of December) ▼

Manu Bhaker won the gold medal in the senior women’s 25m sports pistol event at the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) with a score of 36.
Simranpreet Kaur Brar secured the gold medal in the junior women’s 25m sports pistol event at the 68th NSCC by shooting a score of 39.
Maharashtra clinched the gold medal in the women’s team 25m sports pistol event with a combined score of 1726-40x.
Ojas Pravin Deotale defeated Abhishek Verma in a shootout (30-28) to win the gold medal in the men’s individual compound event at the Senior National Archery Championship.
Aditi Swami won the gold medal in the women’s individual compound archery event by defeating Sakshi Chaudhary with a score of 146-145.
The All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) won the gold medal in the women’s team compound event at the Senior National Archery Championship.
Delhi won the gold medal in the men’s team compound event, while Punjab secured the gold in the mixed team event at the Senior National Archery Championship.
Andhra Pradesh will host the Blind Premier League in 2026, with plans to establish 26 teams across the state's districts.
Manchester City and JAIN Sports launched a new Manchester City Football School at the JAIN Global Campus in Bengaluru.
The 80th edition of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) Western India Squash Tournament will be held in Mumbai under the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI).

ISSF World Championships: Samrat Rana wins gold in men's 10m air pistol, India secures team gold (Mid of November) ▼

Samrat Rana wins gold in 10m air pistol.
Varun takes bronze.
Samrat, who hails from Karnal, shot 243.7 in the final to beat back the challenge of China’s Hu Kai, who took the silver in a nerve-wracking medal round with a score of 243.3.
India’s Varun Tomar shot 221.7 to take the bronze in a high-intensity final.
The 20-year-old Samrat became the first Indian pistol shooter in an Olympic discipline to become a world champion.
Samrat also helped India win the team gold in the event.
India clinched the team gold with the trio of Samrat (586), Varun (586), and Shravan (582) aggregating 1754.
India got a small consolation by winning a team silver with Esha (583), Manu (580), and world No.1 Suruchi Inder Singh (577), aggregating 1740 for the second-place finish.
The article was Updated : Nov 11, 2025 02:45 IST.
The article was Published on Nov 10, 2025.

Anish Bhanwala wins silver in men’s 25m rapid fire pistol at ISSF World Championships (Mid of November) ▼

Anish Bhanwala secured India’s fifth medal at the ongoing Shooting World Championships by clinching the silver medal in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event in Cairo, Egypt.
The Indian finished with a score of 28 at the end of eight series, behind gold medal-winner Clement Bessaguet’s (France) score of 29.
Ukraine’s Maksym Horodynets clinched bronze with 25.
Bhanwala entered the final in second place after qualification (585 - 22x) and prevailed in four shoot-offs en route to his maiden individual World Championships medal.
Earlier this year, Bhanwala had also won the silver medal at the Asian Shooting Championships in the same event in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

Singapore Changi Airport named world's best international airport in 2025

[Singapore]

Key Updates:

Singapore Changi Airport has been voted the best international airport in the world for 2025 at India’s Best Awards, by Travel+Leisure.
The award was announced as part of the 14th edition of India’s Best Awards, which honours leading names in travel and hospitality based on an online voting process.
Readers of Travel+Leisure India’s Best Awards chose Changi for its exceptional travel experience, comfort, and facilities.

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Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) Achieves Water-Positive Status as India's First Airport with Over 40 Million Passengers (Start of December) ▼

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) certified as water-positive, the first airport in India with over 40 million passengers.
A water-positive facility replenishes more water than it consumes.
Achieved through 625 rainwater harvesting structures installed across the airport.
Two newly built underground reservoirs with a combined capacity of 9 million litres.
16.6 MLD zero-liquid-discharge sewage treatment plant recycles wastewater.
Treated water reused for HVAC systems, landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and other non-potable applications.
Water treatment plant provides high-quality potable water to passengers with minimal wastage.
Advanced systems such as sprinklers and drip irrigation ensure efficient water use.
Recognised for scope I water neutrality under the NITI Aayog–CII water neutrality framework.
Water neutrality balances total freshwater use with water savings from improved efficiency, reuse and replenishment.

Oman Airports First Globally to Deploy Wi-Fi 7 (Mid of November) ▼

Oman Airports has become the first airport operator globally to roll out Wi‑Fi 7.
The upgrade was introduced in partnership with Huawei and is fully operational across the country’s airports.
Wi‑Fi 7 delivers ultra-high bandwidth and can support a far larger number of simultaneous users.
The rollout covers departure halls, check-in counters, retail spaces, and dining areas.
It enhances connectivity for more than 40,000 daily travellers at Muscat International Airport alone.
The deployment supports both passenger use and critical airport operations.
This initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which emphasises smart infrastructure and world-class digital services.

Maldives President Muizzu Inaugurates India-Funded Hanimaadhoo Airport (Mid of November) ▼

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport.
The airport project was built with Indian financial assistance.
It was financed through a line of credit extended by India’s EXIM Bank under a 2019 agreement with the Maldivian government.
Construction was carried out by India’s JMC Projects.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, attended the inauguration ceremony.
President Muizzu described the airport as a “gateway to prosperity” and a “catalyst for unlocking the potential of the northern Maldives and enhancing global connectivity.”
The Indian High Commission described the project as a “true vehicle for progress and prosperity, and a symbol of India’s commitment under Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR vision.”

QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026 released by Quacquarelli Symonds (Start of November) ▼

QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026 is published by global higher-education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds.
The University of Hong Kong is ranked Asia’s best university in the 2026 edition.
The acronym QS stands for Quacquarelli Symonds, the organisation that compiles and releases these rankings.

The Oscars to stream on YouTube starting in 2029

Key Updates:

The Academy Awards will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube in 2029, the latest big change in Hollywood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement, saying that it signed a multi-year deal that will give YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars until 2033.
The Oscars, which is planned for 15 March, has aired for a half a century on ABC.
ABC, which has streamed the awards since 1976, said that it was looking forward 'to the next three telecasts' it will still host.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a statement that the partnership will expand access to the work of the Academy to a worldwide audience.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan called the Oscars 'one of our essential cultural institutions' and stated the partnership would inspire a new generation of film lovers.
Over decades, viewership of the awards show has declined, though there was a slight uptick in 2025, with a significant number of younger viewers tuning in from cell phones and computers.
Warner Bros Discovery on Wednesday recommended its shareholders reject a hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance for a rival bid from streaming giant Netflix.

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Casting Directors Recognized with New Oscar Category (Mid of December) ▼

A new Oscar category for achievement in casting was added to the Academy Awards.
The 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on March 15, 2026.
Bernard Telsey is a prominent casting director who, with Tiffany Little Canfield, populated both "Wicked" movies.
Destiny Lilly is the president of the Casting Society.
The Emmys have three categories for casting.
The Critics Choice Awards recently added a casting trophy.
The Artios Awards, the casting industry's own prize, were first held in 1985.

Alia Bhatt receives Golden Globes Horizon Award at Red Sea International Film Festival (Mid of December) ▼

Alia Bhatt was honoured with the Golden Globes Horizon Award at the fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Tunisian actor Hend Sabry received the Omar Sharif Award at the same ceremony.
Helen Hoehne, president of the Golden Globes, stated that the Horizon Award celebrates Bhatt's exceptional contributions to international cinema and the rise of the Middle East as a global film and television hub.

World Television Day observed on 21 November: History, Significance and Future Trends (End of November) ▼

World Television Day is observed every year on 21 November.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day through resolution 51/205 of 17 December 1996.
The first World Television Forum was held on 21 and 22 November 1996 under United Nations auspices.

Neal Mohan named TIME's 2025 CEO of the Year (Start of December) ▼

Neal Mohan, CEO of Google-owned YouTube, was named TIME Magazine's 2025 CEO of the Year.
He took charge as YouTube CEO in 2023 after Susan Wojcicki stepped down.
Mohan had earlier served as YouTube's Chief Product Officer since 2015 and led launches of YouTube TV, YouTube Music and Premium, and Shorts.

PM Modi’s first-ever State Visit to Ethiopia

[Ethiopia]

Key Updates:

PM Modi will arrive in Ethiopia on Tuesday for his first-ever State Visit to the African nation.
The visit is held at the invitation of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
Modi will address a Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament and meet members of the Indian diaspora.
Addis Ababa is hosting an Indian Prime Minister for the first time since 2011.

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India Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Ethiopia on December 16-17, 2025, to strengthen Brics and Global South ties (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State visit to Ethiopia on December 16-17, 2025, signals India’s diplomatic engagement with Africa, the Global South, and the expanded Brics grouping.
India is scheduled to assume the chairmanship of Brics on January 1, 2026, with Ethiopia serving as an important member of the grouping.
Ethiopia officially joined Brics in January 2024, along with Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
India is currently Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade standing at $571.52 million during the 2023-24 financial year.
India has sanctioned more than $1 billion in lines of credit for Ethiopia to support projects in sectors such as rural electrification, the sugar industry, and railways.
Around 650 Indian companies have licensed investments exceeding $5 billion in Ethiopia, with approximately $3 billion estimated to have been realised on the ground.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), a joint initiative between India and France, aims to mobilise $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and financing costs.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the visit will cover dimensions of India-Ethiopia ties, including parliamentary exchanges, development partnerships, and defence cooperation.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali personally drives Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hotel during State visit (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Addis Ababa for a two-day State visit to Ethiopia at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali personally received PM Modi at the airport and drove him to the hotel.
PM Modi was taken on an unscheduled visit to the Science Museum and Friendship Park by the Ethiopian leader.
PM Modi will hold detailed talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali covering all aspects of bilateral relations.
PM Modi is expected to address a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament and meet the Indian diaspora.
Addis Ababa is the headquarters of the African Union, which was admitted as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s 2023 Presidency.

India and Jordan conclude landmark bilateral visit on December 16, 2025 (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a landmark two-day visit to Jordan, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The current full bilateral visit is taking place after an interval of 37 years, following a previous transit visit in February 2018.
India and Jordan maintain strong economic and strategic ties, with bilateral trade nearing USD 2.9 billion.
Jordan is a key supplier of phosphates and potash to India, with cooperation also spanning fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, IT, healthcare, defence and renewable energy.
The relationship spans political, economic and defence cooperation, as well as strong people-to-people ties, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The visit to Jordan was the first leg of a four-day, three-nation tour that includes subsequent travel to Ethiopia and Oman.

Ethiopia confers The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia on Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Mid of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Ethiopia's highest award 'The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia' by his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali.
The award was conferred for his exceptional contribution towards strengthening India-Ethiopia partnership and for his visionary leadership as a global statesman.
Prime Minister Modi is the first global head of state/head of government to receive this award.

International Migrants Day observed on December 18 with theme 'My Great Story: Cultures and Development'

Key Updates:

International Migrants Day is observed each year on December 18 to acknowledge the millions of people who leave their homes in search of safety, opportunity and dignity across borders.
The theme for International Migrants Day 2025 is 'My Great Story: Cultures and Development.'
On December 4, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated December 18 as International Migrants Day.

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International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations to be observed annually on 14 December (Mid of December) ▼

The General Assembly adopted texts recommended by its Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee).
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had its mandate extended until 30 June 2029.
The General Assembly decided to proclaim 14 December as the International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations.
The International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations is to be observed annually beginning in 2025.
The General Assembly adopted a decision concerning Gibraltar.
The General Assembly adopted four decisions concerning the 'Increase in the membership of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space'.

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

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

International Volunteer Day observed on 5 December with theme 'Every Contribution Matters' (Start of December) ▼

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is celebrated on 5 December every year.
It started as an international observance mandated by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1985.
The theme for International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 is “Every Contribution Matters.”
International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 marks the official global launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026).
The International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026) will be globally launched on 5 December at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall in New York.
United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/127 calls for a worldwide movement to recognize the vital role of volunteers in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme recognizes shared universal values underpinning volunteerism, including free will, commitment, equity, engagement, solidarity, compassion, empathy, and respect for others.
The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) is a flagship United Nations (UN) publication produced every three years.
The latest edition of the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) is titled 'Building Equal and Inclusive Societies'.
There are an estimated 1 billion volunteers worldwide, with around 70% volunteering informally and 30% engaging through formal organizations.
International Year of Volunteers was observed in 2001.

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

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

World Arabic Language Day observed on December 18

Key Updates:

World Arabic Language Day is officially observed on December 18.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established this day in 2010.
On December 18, 1973, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 3190, which made Arabic the sixth official language of the organization.
Arabic is spoken by over 400 million people daily.
Arabic became the lingua franca of science, mathematics, and philosophy during the Golden Age of Islam.

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CBSE Hosts First International Sahodaya Conference in Dubai (Start of November) ▼

"The first International and 31st Annual Conference of Sahodaya School Complexes opened today at the Grand Hyatt Dubai."
"Organised by the Central Board of Secondary Education and guided by the National Education Policy 2020, the conference serves as a platform for exploring future-ready learning while blending India’s educational ethos with global aspirations."
"The two-day landmark event brought together over 1,000 school leaders, educators, and stakeholders from CBSE-affiliated institutions worldwide to foster collaboration, share innovative practices, and reimagine holistic learning under the theme “Rooted in Wisdom, Rising with Vision: Reimagining Education through NEP 2020.”"
"CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh announced that starting from the 2026-27 academic year, CBSE will introduce subjects at two levels-standard and advanced-from Class 9 onwards, beginning with ten subjects, and unveiled the CBSE Global Curriculum 26."

Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 celebrated with theme Many Languages, One Emotion (Mid of December) ▼

Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 was celebrated by the Ministry of Education at the National Bal Bhawan, New Delhi, marking the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati.
The theme of the event was 'Many Languages, One Emotion'.
Adi Vaani, India's first AI-powered tribal language translator, was demonstrated live at the event.

Saudi Arabia launches 2nd ‘Global Harmony’ initiative with India Week at Riyadh Season (Start of November) ▼

Event: Second edition of Saudi Arabia’s ‘Global Harmony’ initiative inaugurated under Riyadh Season
Participants: Ministry of Media, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and General Entertainment Authority (GEA)
Key Theme: Celebrates 14 resident cultures including India, Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Uganda, Ethiopia
Special Focus: ‘India Week’ opens the initiative, showcasing Indian music, dance, cuisine, art and traditional crafts

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

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

Air India wins Travel + Leisure Best Domestic Airline Award

[Air India]

Key Updates:

Air India has been recognised as the ‘Best Domestic Airline’ at the Travel + Leisure India and South Asia’s Best Awards 2025, for the second consecutive year.
The recognition is decided through a customer vote and reflects the trust placed in Air India by its patrons.
The award underscores the strides made by Air India in delivering an elevated product and service experience across touchpoints for millions of passengers.
Air India is investing significantly in modernising its fleet and enhancing customer experience, including a USD 400 million retrofit programme to refurbish existing aircraft cabins.

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

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

Air India (AI) reinstates codeshare with Air Canada (AC) to open six Canadian cities via Vancouver and London Heathrow. (End of November) ▼

Air India and Air Canada reinstated their codeshare agreement effective December 2.
Air India places its ‘AI’ designator on Air Canada flights from Vancouver to Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montréal and Halifax.
Air India also places its code on Air Canada flights from London Heathrow to Vancouver and Calgary.
Air Canada customers gain domestic India connectivity to Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kochi via Delhi, and to Delhi and Mumbai via London Heathrow.
Travellers on connecting flights operated by both carriers can use a single ticket and unified baggage allowance.
Frequent flyers continue to earn and redeem points/miles on both airlines, with Maharaja Club elites enjoying Star Alliance Gold benefits on Air Canada flights.

Baba Kalyani wins Indian of the Year 2025 in Business category (End of November) ▼

Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge, received the Indian of the Year 2025 award in the Business category at CNN-News18’s annual ceremony.
He was honoured for advancing India’s “Make in India” footprint in the defence sector.
Under his leadership, Bharat Forge and its defence subsidiary Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) built a major private-sector defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Bharat Forge has become a defence exporter, delivering artillery systems to Europe.

UDAN Scheme Extended Beyond April 2027: 649 Routes Operationalised (End of October) ▼

Scheme Name: UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik); Launch: October 21, 2016; first flight 27 April 2017
Objective: Regional air connectivity; 649 routes operationalised connecting 93 unserved/underserved airports, 15 heliports, 2 water aerodromes
Financials: Over ₹4,300 crore disbursed as Viability Gap Funding to airlines; ₹4,638 crore invested for airport development
Future Plan: Scheme to continue beyond April 2027 with expanded framework targeting hilly, North-Eastern and aspirational regions and around 120 new destinations