Daily Current Affairs: 20 December 2025

Analysis for 20 December 2025

Shashwat Sharma appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel India

[Airtel India]

Key Updates:

Shashwat Sharma has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel India for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval.
Gopal Vittal has been appointed as Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval.
Soumen Ray has been appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer of Bharti Airtel.
Akhil Garg has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Airtel India.
Rohit Krishan Puri has been appointed as Company Secretary and Compliance Officer of Bharti Airtel.

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Ashwini Kumar Tewari re-appointed as Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI). (Mid of December) ▼

Ashwini Kumar Tewari has been re-appointed as Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI) with effect from the date of his assumption of charge beyond his currently notified term ending on January 27 2026, till the date of his superannuation that is December 31 2027.
This is the second time that Tewari got a two-year extension, the first extension having been granted in 2024.
He was initially appointed as MD of SBI in January 2021 for a three-year term.

B. Sairam appointed Chairman and Managing Director of Coal India Ltd (Mid of December) ▼

B. Sairam has been appointed Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India Ltd (CIL) with effect from December 15, 2025.
He succeeds Sanoj Kumar Jha, who was holding additional charge as CMD.
Prior to this appointment, Sairam served as CMD of Northern Coalfields Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of CIL.
He has over three decades of experience in the coal sector.

Ravi Ranjan appointed as Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI) (Mid of December) ▼

Ravi Ranjan has been appointed as Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI) with effect from December 15.
He previously served as Deputy Managing Director of SBI and led the Global Markets division for more than a year.
His tenure as Managing Director will continue until his superannuation on September 30, 2028, or until further directives, whichever is earlier.

Ajai Kumar Shukla appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PNB Housing Finance (Mid of December) ▼

Ajai Kumar Shukla has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PNB Housing Finance for five years starting December 18.
He succeeds Girish Kousgi, who was seen as a key driver of the company’s push into the affordable housing segment.
Shukla is currently the chief business officer at Tata Capital Housing Finance and has previously worked with ICICI Bank and LIC Housing Finance.

Income Tax Department records 8% rise in net direct tax collections to ₹17.05 lakh crore this FY till Dec 17.

[Income Tax Department]

Key Updates:

Net direct tax collections between April 1 and December 17, 2025, stood at ₹17,04,725 crore against ₹15,78,433 crore in the same period last year.
Gross direct tax collections grew 4.16% year-on-year to ₹20,01,794 crore.
Net corporate tax collections rose to ₹8,17,310 crore from ₹7,39,353 crore a year ago.
Net non-corporate tax collections increased to ₹8,46,905 crore from ₹7,96,181 crore.
Refunds issued during the period fell 13.52% to ₹2,97,069 crore from ₹3,43,499 crore last year.
Total advance tax collections rose 4.27% to ₹7,88,388 crore; corporate advance tax increased nearly 8% to ₹6,07,300 crore while non-corporate advance tax declined 6.49% to ₹1,81,088 crore.
Securities transaction tax collections remained flat at around ₹40,195 crore.

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Controller General of Accounts (CGA) releases data on Centre's fiscal deficit at 52.6% of FY26 target by October (End of November) ▼

The central government’s fiscal deficit stood at 52.6% of the full-year target at the end of October 2025.
In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit touched Rs 8,25,144 crore in the April–October period of 2025-26.
For the full year, the Centre pegged the deficit at 4.4% of GDP, or Rs 15.69 lakh crore.
The government received Rs 18 lakh crore up to October, amounting to 51.5% of the Budget Estimates (BE) for 2025-26.
Total expenditure stood at Rs 26.25 lakh crore, or 51.8% of the annual estimate.
Tax devolution to states was Rs 8,34,957 crore between April and October.
Within revenue expenditure, Rs 6.73 lakh crore went towards interest payments.
Rs 2.46 lakh crore was spent on major subsidies.

Vivek Chaturvedi appointed Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (End of November) ▼

Vivek Chaturvedi, a 1990 batch Indian Revenue Service (C&IT) officer, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
He succeeds Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, who superannuated.
Chaturvedi is currently serving as Member, CBIC Board (Tax Policy and Legal).
He has earlier served as Director General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM) and as Principal Director General of Vigilance and Chief Vigilance Officer for the Board.

GST collections rise 4.6% to Rs 1.96 lakh crore in October despite tax cuts (Start of November) ▼

GST collection rose 4.6% in October to Rs 1.96 lakh crore compared to Rs 1.97 lakh crore in October 2024.
After deducting refunds, the government's net tax collections stood at Rs 1.69 lakh crore, 0.6% more than in October 2024.
Out of the total gross collection, CGST amounted to Rs 36,547 crore, SGST to Rs 45,134 crore, IGST to Rs 1,06,443 crore, and cess to Rs 7,812 crore.
In the April-October period of FY26, GST collections rose 9.0% to about Rs 13.89 lakh crore versus Rs 12.74 lakh crore in the same period last fiscal.
Gross GST revenue rose 12.84% yoy in October amounting to Rs 50,884 crore, while domestic revenue increased by only 2% at Rs 1.45 lakh crore.
Net GST revenue from domestic transactions stayed flat at Rs 1.31 lakh crore after refunds, while net customs revenue increased by 2.5% to Rs 37,210 crore.
Under GST 2.0 effective from September 22, the Ministry of Finance reduced the multi-layered tax structure to effectively two broad slabs of 5% and 18%, plus a special 40% rate for select items.

India’s Net Direct Tax Collection Rises 7% to ₹12.92 Trillion in Apr-Nov 2025 (Mid of November) ▼

Net direct tax collection grew 7% year-on-year to ₹12.92 trillion between April 1 and November 10.
Refund issuances declined by 18% to ₹2.42 trillion during the same period.
Net corporate tax collections stood at ₹5.37 trillion, up from ₹5.08 trillion in the corresponding period of FY 2024-25.
Non-corporate tax receipts, including personal income tax, rose to ₹7.19 trillion from ₹6.62 trillion a year ago.
Gross direct tax collections before refunds amounted to ₹15.35 trillion, reflecting a 2.15% increase from the previous year.
The government has set a target of ₹25.20 trillion in direct tax collections for FY 2025-26, representing a 12.7% increase over the previous year.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) relaxes norms allowing issuers to sell zero-coupon debt securities at face value of Rs 10,000.

[Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)]

Key Updates:

SEBI now permits issuers to offer zero-coupon debt securities with a fixed maturity and no structured obligations at a reduced face value of Rs 10,000.
The relaxation expands the July 2024 circular that previously allowed only interest-bearing or dividend-paying debt securities to be issued at Rs 10,000 face value.
Zero-coupon bonds are issued at a discount and redeemed at face value, with returns earned through price appreciation.

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NITI Aayog releases Report on Deepening the Corporate Bond Market in India (Mid of December) ▼

NITI Aayog CEO Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam released the report titled “Deepening the Corporate Bond Market in India” on 11th December 2025 in New Delhi.
The report outlines a reform-oriented roadmap to build a deeper, more resilient, and inclusive bond market capable of supporting India’s long-term investment requirements.
India’s corporate bond market remains constrained by limited market depth, concentrated investor profiles, and modest secondary-market activity.
The report recommends strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, enhancing market infrastructure and transparency, and facilitating greater issuance by mid-size firms.
It proposes broadening participation of insurance, pension and retail investors and expanding product offerings such as credit-enhanced instruments, long-tenor bonds, and sustainability-linked products.
The study advocates improving liquidity in primary and secondary markets through deeper market-making and repo facilities and leveraging digital innovations including tokenised bonds and integrated data systems.

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

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.

Sebi Introduces Threshold-Based Framework for Materiality of Related Party Transactions (End of November) ▼

Sebi has introduced a threshold-based framework to determine the materiality of related party transactions (RPTs), based on the annual consolidated turnover of the listed entity.
The new norms are aimed at addressing practical challenges, removing ambiguities, and striking a balance between investor protection and ease of doing business under the Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) norms.
For entities with turnover up to Rs 20,000 crore, a transaction will be considered material if it exceeds 10 per cent of the annual consolidated turnover.
In the case of entities with turnover between Rs 20,001 crore and Rs 40,000 crore, the threshold would be Rs 2,000 crore plus 5 per cent of the turnover exceeding Rs 20,000 crore.
For entities with turnover exceeding Rs 40,000 crore, the threshold will be Rs 3,000 crore plus 2.5 per cent of the turnover exceeding Rs 40,000 crore, or Rs 5,000 crore, whichever is lower.
An absolute threshold of Rs 5,000 crore as an upper ceiling has been notified for listed entities having a turnover above Rs 40,000 crore to protect the interests of minority shareholders.
Earlier, a listed entity was required to consider an RPT as material if the transaction exceeded Rs 1,000 crore or 10 per cent of the entity's annual consolidated turnover, whichever is lower.
The new norms came after stakeholders pointed out that the absolute materiality threshold of Rs 1,000 crore promotes a 'one-size-fits-all' approach.
Sebi has relaxed the minimum information required to be furnished to the audit committee and shareholders for RPT approvals for smaller transactions.
If the total value of RPTs with a related party in a financial year does not exceed 1 per cent of the listed entity's annual consolidated turnover or Rs 10 crore, whichever is lower, then a simplified set of disclosures would be submitted for approval.
Omnibus approval granted by the shareholders for material related party transactions in an annual general meeting shall be valid till the date of the next annual general meeting (AGM).
In case of omnibus approvals for material related party transactions, granted by shareholders in general meetings other than AGM, the validity of such omnibus approvals shall not exceed one year from the date of such approval.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) proposes review of Basic Services Demat Account facility to boost financial inclusion. (End of November) ▼

Sebi proposes excluding ZCZP bonds from portfolio value calculation for BSDA eligibility.
ZCZP bonds are non-transferable, non-tradable, and do not provide monetary return or redemption value.
Delisted securities may be treated on par with suspended securities for BSDA valuation.
Illiquid securities will use last closing price for BSDA eligibility determination.
Depository Participants (DPs) to reassess BSDA eligibility quarterly through system-driven evaluations.
Beneficial Owner (BO) consent may be accepted via additional authenticated digital methods beyond registered email.

Ministry of Railways awards Titagarh Rail Systems ₹273.24 crore order for 62 Rail Borne Maintenance Vehicles.

[Ministry of Railways, Titagarh Rail Systems]

Key Updates:

The contract covers design, manufacturing, supply, testing, commissioning, training, servicing and breakdown maintenance support for 62 Rail Borne Maintenance Vehicles.
Supply of the machines is expected to begin within 15 months from the date of order placement.
Delivery of all 62 vehicles along with the complete set of spares is scheduled to be completed within 48 months.
Titagarh Rail Systems’ total order book stands at around ₹15,100 crore, translating into a 4.5x book-to-bill ratio.
Nuvama maintains a Buy rating on Titagarh Rail Systems with a revised target price of ₹1,088, implying a 40.5% upside from the current market price of ₹774.

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Rail Multitracking Projects: Improved Connectivity and Freight Movement with Rs 2,781 Crore Outlay (End of November) ▼

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved doubling of the 141-km Dwarka-Kanalus rail line in Gujarat and building third and fourth lines between Badlapur and Karjat (32 km) in Mumbai metropolitan region.
The two line-expansion projects worth Rs 2,781 crore are part of Indian Railways’ push to improve connectivity on routes with high passenger footfall.
The Devbhumi Dwarka (Okha)-Kanalus rail line will improve connectivity to the Dwarkadhish temple, a key pilgrimage site, and transportation of commodities such as coal, salt, container, and cement.
The Badlapur-Karjat line... will further help the commuters between Pune to Mumbai.

India signs ₹2,095.70 crore deal with Bharat Dynamics for INVAR anti-tank missiles (Mid of November) ▼

Contract value: ₹2,095.70 crore signed between Ministry of Defence and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
Equipment: INVAR laser-guided anti-tank missiles to be inducted into Indian Army’s T-90 tanks
Objective: Strengthen lethality and firepower of T-90 tanks and enhance mechanised warfare capabilities

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

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.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Issues Guidelines for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) Licensing and Classification

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the Urban Co-operative Banks – Licensing, Scheduling and Regulatory Classification Guidelines, 2025.
The RBI stated that no fresh proposals for the organization of new UCBs or the conversion of cooperative credit societies into UCBs are being considered.
A four-tiered regulatory framework has been adopted for UCBs based on deposit size as of March 31 of the preceding financial year.
Tier 1 UCBs include all unit UCBs, salary earners’ UCBs, and other UCBs with deposits up to ₹100 crore.
Tier 2 UCBs are defined as those with deposits of more than ₹100 crore and up to ₹1000 crore.
Tier 3 UCBs consist of those with deposits of more than ₹1000 crore and up to ₹10,000 crore.
Tier 4 UCBs include those with deposits exceeding ₹10,000 crore.
UCBs transitioning to a higher Tier are allowed a glide path of up to two years to comply with higher regulatory requirements.
To be included in the Second Schedule to the RBI Act, 1934, a UCB must maintain Tier 3 deposit levels for two consecutive years.
UCBs seeking scheduling must maintain a Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of at least three per cent more than the minimum requirement.
The eligibility for scheduling also requires the absence of major regulatory and supervisory concerns based on the latest RBI inspection or audited financials.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Issues Transaction Account Directions, Eases Limits (Mid of December) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released final guidelines on transaction account directions.
The final guidelines removed restrictions on cash credit (CC) accounts.
The revised rule permits any lending bank with more than 10% exposure to open a current or overdraft account for the borrower.
In situations where no bank or only one bank meets this threshold, the two lenders with the largest exposure will be allowed to operate such accounts.
The requirement to transfer funds from collection accounts to designated transaction accounts within two working days remains unchanged.
The guidelines will come into effect from April 1.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issues final guidelines averting restructuring for 12 bank groups (Start of December) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) final guidelines allow banks and their group entities to continue overlapping lending activities, preventing restructuring for 12 large bank groups.
The draft guidelines would have impacted 12 bank groups, accounting for ~55% of sectoral advances, and 2-6% of consolidated advances of individual banks.
The final framework permits overlapping lending operations subject to board approval.
Of the 26 bank group entities with lending operations, only two currently qualify as upper-layer Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
The remaining bank group entities must adopt upper-layer norms (excluding listing requirements) by March 31, 2028.
The guidelines impose a 20% ceiling on a bank group’s shareholding in an Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC).
There are currently 13 ARCs in which one or more banks hold stakes.
In all but two of these ARCs, shareholding by any single bank is less than 20%.
Banks with shareholding exceeding the 20% limit in ARCs will have to partially divest by March 2028.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) slaps Rs 91 lakh penalty on HDFC Bank (Start of December) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a penalty of Rs 91 lakh on HDFC Bank.
The penalty was for violating certain provisions of the Banking Regulation Act and non-compliance with certain directions.
Deficiencies included those related to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.
Non-compliance also pertained to ‘Interest Rate on Advances’ and ‘Guidelines on Managing Risks and Code of Conduct in Outsourcing of Financial Services by banks’.
A Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation of HDFC Bank was conducted with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2024.
HDFC Bank adopted multiple benchmarks within the same loan category.
HDFC Bank outsourced the function of determining compliance with KYC norms of certain customers to its outsourcing agents.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of HDFC Bank undertook business not permissible under Section 6 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act.

RBI Penalizes Three Cooperative Banks for Regulatory Non-Compliance (Mid of November) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on three cooperative banks for non-compliance with various regulatory norms.
By orders dated November 6, 2025, the RBI imposed a penalty of Rs 2 lakh on The Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd., Maharashtra, for contravention of Section 20 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
The Karaikudi Co-operative Town Bank Ltd., Tamil Nadu, faced a penalty of Rs 1.5 lakh for non-compliance with RBI directions on ‘Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)’ and ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’ guidelines.
The District Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, was fined Rs 50,000 for violations related to KYC norms.
The penalty on the District Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, was imposed under Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025: India targets 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047

Key Updates:

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, which was passed in Parliament Thursday, allows private players to enter the operations side of the tightly-governed nuclear power sector.
Once notified, the law will replace two key legislations — the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (AE Act) and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLNDA) — and effectively redraw India’s N-power regime.
The law is a key step towards achieving India’s target of 100 gigawatt of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
The new law allows public and private companies to set up nuclear power plants and undertake activities related to the transport, storage, import and export of nuclear fuel, technology, equipment and minerals.
The new law grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), which previously depended on the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for its budget and administration.
The law omits the provision regarding the 'right of recourse' which previously allowed operators to seek compensation from suppliers for incidents resulting from 'supply of equipment or material with patent or latent defects or sub-standard services'.
The new law adopts graded liability caps for nuclear power operators based on their size of installation, marking a departure from the previous flat liability limit of Rs 1,500 crore.
The legislation provides for the establishment of the Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council to address grievances and a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission to handle cases involving severe nuclear damage.
It designates the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity as the appellate authority to hear and dispose of appeals under the bill.

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SHANTI Bill opens nuclear power sector to private players with 49% FDI (Mid of December) ▼

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

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

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

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.

Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly's Bills and Policies Praised by President Murmu (Start of November) ▼

The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly implemented the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is in accordance with the policy directives of the Constitution makers under Article 44 of the Constitution.
Over 550 bills have been passed in the Uttarakhand Assembly, including the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill.
Other bills passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly include the Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Bill.
The Anti-Cheating Bill was also passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly.
These bills were inspired by transparency, morality, and social justice.

Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 raises guaranteed employment days to 125

Key Updates:

The Lok Sabha passed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 which repeals MGNREGA and increases guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days.
Centre will now fund 60% of all scheme costs and states 40%; states must bear any expenditure above the centrally fixed normative allocation.
The Bill removes Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the rural job guarantee scheme and restructures funding so that the Centre no longer covers 90% of wages as under MGNREGA.

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Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha (Mid of December) ▼

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha, a gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan dedicated to the recipients of the Param Vir Chakra.
The gallery features portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, commemorating their exceptional acts of valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during war.
The Param Vir Dirgha replaces colonial-era displays of British Aides-de-camp (ADCs) that were previously housed in the corridors of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The inauguration was held on Vijay Diwas, an occasion observed on December 16 to commemorate India’s victory in the 1971 war and the liberation of Bangladesh.
President Droupadi Murmu stated that Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s strength, discipline, and deterrence to the world.

TB Mukta Panchayat: Aims to Eliminate Tuberculosis by 2027 (End of November) ▼

The TB Mukta Panchayat (TMP) is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The TMP was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, 2023.
The initiative aims to involve elected members of the panchayats to eliminate tuberculosis by 2027.
The criteria for declaration of the tuberculosis-free panchayat includes collection of at least 30 samples per 1000 population, and the number of TB patients in the panchayat should be zero or less than one per cent per 1,000 population.
A panchayat will be qualified to be TB Mukt Panchayat, only if all criteria related to test result, treatment and all notified cases benefited from Nikshay Mitra under Prime Minister TB Mukta Bharat Abhiyan.

Central Excise (Amendment) Bill passed to repurpose levies on 'sin goods' (Start of December) ▼

The Lok Sabha passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha that look to repurpose levies on 'sin goods' such as tobacco, pan masala and related products ahead of the scheduled phaseout of the GST compensation cess levied on them.
The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill seeks to levy excise duty on tobacco and related products, replacing the existing compensation cess.
The revenues from levy of excise on tobacco would be part of the divisible pool of tax revenues.
'The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025' would be applicable on manufacturing of pan masala and other goods that the government may notify.
The collection from the health and national security cess would go towards funding public health initiatives and national security while maintaining high taxation on 'sin goods'.
The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill seeks to levy excise duty on cigars / cheroots / cigarettes in the range of Rs 5,000-11,000 per 1,000 sticks depending on the length.
It also proposes levy of 60-70 per cent on unmanufactured tobacco and 100 per cent on nicotine and inhalation products, over and above the 40 per cent GST rate that would be applicable on sin goods.

Ram Vilas Vedanti passes away as former Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament (Mid of December) ▼

Ram Vilas Vedanti died of a heart attack in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
He was admitted to the Superspecialty Hospital attached to Shyam Shah Medical College with blood poisoning and kidney failure.
Vedanti served as executive president of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust and was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha from Pratapgarh and Machhali Shahar in Uttar Pradesh.
His last rites will be performed in Ayodhya.

PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks: ₹70,000 Crore Industry Investment and 10 Lakh Jobs per Park

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Textiles (MoT) and the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) conducted a stakeholder consultation for three upcoming PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.
"DPRs worth ₹5,567 crore have been finalised for the three PPP-mode parks" located in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Kalaburagi (Karnataka), and Navsari (Gujarat).
The PM MITRA Parks are "inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s 5F vision—Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign" to create fully integrated, end-to-end textile value chains.
"Investor interest across the three states has crossed ₹20,054 crore, driven largely by the composite textile segment."
Seven PM MITRA Parks have been announced across Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
The projected impact of the scheme includes "₹70,000 crore in industry investments" and "10 lakh employment opportunities per park."

Similar / Past Coverage

Tex-RAMPS Scheme Approved with an Outlay of ₹305 Crore (Start of December) ▼

The Union government has approved the 'Textiles Focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning and Start-up (Tex-RAMPS) Scheme', as announced by Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh.
The Tex-RAMPS Scheme has an outlay of ₹305 crore.
The Tex-RAMPS Scheme will be effective from 2025-2026 to 2030-2031.
It aims to strengthen research, innovation, and competitiveness in the textiles sector and empower India’s textile sector.
The Tex-RAMPS Scheme is designed to address critical gaps in research, data systems, innovation support, and capacity development to future-proof India’s textiles and apparel ecosystem.
It will promote advanced research, create robust data systems, strengthen State-level planning, and support incubators, hackathons, and academia-industry collaborations to nurture high-value textile start-ups and entrepreneurship.

Kerala Secures Rs 850 Crore FDI and Implements Building Rule Reforms (Start of November) ▼

Kerala government has secured a Rs 850 crore foreign direct investment (FDI) from UAE-based Al Marzooqi Holdings FZC.
The investment is for the Meridian Tech Park project at Technopark Phase III in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Meridian Tech Park is designed to create over 10,000 jobs.
The state government recently introduced comprehensive reforms to the building rules to streamline construction approvals and enhance ease of doing business.
The Floor Space Index (FSI) for government-owned IT parks has been raised from 4 to 7.
The coverage area for government-owned IT parks has increased from 60 per cent to 70 per cent.
For commercial structures, the maximum area eligible for instant permits has been raised from 100 sq m to 250 sq m.

DRAP and UiWIN Initiatives Launched for Dumpsite Remediation and Urban Investment (Start of November) ▼

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched two flagship initiatives: the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) and the Urban Investment Window (UiWIN).
The initiatives were inaugurated by the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs during the two-day 'National Urban Conclave 2025'.
DRAP targets the elimination of legacy waste dumpsites by September 2026, aiming to achieve 'Lakshya Zero Dumpsites'.
UiWIN aims to unlock private and multilateral investments to fuel infrastructure growth in cities, and will serve as a one-stop platform to attract private capital and long-term concessional funding from multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
Under DRAP, the Centre will fast-track the remediation of remaining dumpsites across urban India in a mission-mode effort.
The government has allocated central financial assistance of Rs 550 per tonne for waste remediation under DRAP.
So far, 1,048 out of 2,476 dumpsites, holding about 25 crore metric tonnes of waste, have been remediated, reclaiming nearly 7,580 acres of land.
UiWIN will also focus on promoting Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-based urban projects to accelerate sustainable infrastructure development.

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: IMD Mausam Bhawan 771 kWp Solar Power System (End of November) ▼

IMD has installed a 771 kWp solar power system across the Mausam Bhawan Complex comprising 1,315 solar panels through NBCC.
The initiative supports national goals under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and contributes to India’s net-zero commitments.
Generated power is expected to exceed IMD’s consumption needs and can be fed back to the grid, enabling both environmental and economic gains.

Madhya Pradesh State-Level Multi-National Park Tiger Corridor

[Madhya Pradesh]

Key Updates:

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

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

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

One State One RRB: Ministry of Finance (MoF) Unveils Unified Brand Identity for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)

[Ministry of Finance (MoF)]

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) unveiled a new logo for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to signify a single and unified brand identity.
On the principle of 'One State One RRB', the Department of Financial Services (DFS), MoF, has consolidated 26 RRBs across 11 states/UTs, effective from May 1, 2025.
The colours of the RRB logo have been chosen to convey the objectives of the RRBs, where dark blue signifies finance and trust, while green signifies life and growth, reflecting their mission to serve rural India.
Presently, 28 RRBs continue to serve the nation through an extensive network of over 22,000 branches in more than 700 districts.
This common branding initiative by the government is expected to give RRBs a distinct, modern and easily recognisable brand identity nationwide, symbolising their collective commitment to financial inclusion and rural development.

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Team MRF Tyres awarded 2025 FIA European Rally Championship title (Mid of December) ▼

Team MRF Tyres was officially crowned at the FIA Awards Gala for winning the 2025 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) team title.
Arun Mammen, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of MRF Ltd., collected the trophy.
MRF Tyres secured the ERC Team Championship for the third time, following the titles achieved in 2022 and 2023.

Jeyandran Venugopal appointed President and CEO of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) (Start of December) ▼

Jeyandran Venugopal has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL).
He will work closely with Isha Ambani and the leadership team of Reliance Retail under the guidance of Mukesh Ambani and Manoj Modi.
Prior to this, Venugopal served as Chief Product and Technology Officer at Flipkart.

Union Bank of India Celebrates 107th Foundation Day, Launches Digital Initiatives and Expands Branch Network (Mid of November) ▼

Union Bank of India (UBI) celebrated its 107th Foundation Day.
A central function was organised by the bank’s headquarters in Mumbai at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC.
Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary M Nagaraju (IAS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, attended as the chief guest.
UBI launched two new digital initiatives — the Union E-Biz mobile app for MSMEs and the Union Ease mobile app.
The bank announced the opening of 51 new branches across key regions.

India Global Forum (IGF) launches $250 million fund to globalise Indian brands. (End of November) ▼

India Global Forum (IGF) announces a first-of-its-kind $250 million fund anchored by Ved Family Office and Ananta Capital.
The fund targets Indian consumer and industrial brands for expansion into Middle East, Africa, Europe and beyond.
IGF partners with DP World to provide participating companies access to world-class logistics and market-entry support.

Chhattisgarh Supplementary Budget: Rs 35,000 Crore Outlay for Institutional Revival and Infrastructure

[Chhattisgarh]

Key Updates:

Chhattisgarh Finance Minister, O.P. Chaudhary, tabled the largest supplementary budget in the state's history, proposing an additional outlay of Rs 35,000 crore.
The supplementary budget is aimed at addressing pending liabilities exceeding Rs 45,000 crore inherited by boards and corporations.
The budget focuses on reviving institutions such as MARKFED and NAAN, which are described as the backbone of paddy procurement and the public distribution system.
An additional Rs 2,000 crore has been provided through the supplementary budget for capital expenditure, in addition to the Rs 26,341 crore in the main budget for 2025-26.
Capital expenditure now accounts for about 4.1 per cent of the total budget, reflecting a shift towards long-term asset creation.

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Controller General of Accounts (CGA) releases data on Centre's fiscal deficit at 52.6% of FY26 target by October (End of November) ▼

The central government’s fiscal deficit stood at 52.6% of the full-year target at the end of October 2025.
In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit touched Rs 8,25,144 crore in the April–October period of 2025-26.
For the full year, the Centre pegged the deficit at 4.4% of GDP, or Rs 15.69 lakh crore.
The government received Rs 18 lakh crore up to October, amounting to 51.5% of the Budget Estimates (BE) for 2025-26.
Total expenditure stood at Rs 26.25 lakh crore, or 51.8% of the annual estimate.
Tax devolution to states was Rs 8,34,957 crore between April and October.
Within revenue expenditure, Rs 6.73 lakh crore went towards interest payments.
Rs 2.46 lakh crore was spent on major subsidies.

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

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

Centre Releases XV Finance Commission Grants for Rural Local Bodies in Gujarat and Haryana (End of October) ▼

The Union Government has released over ₹730 crores under the Fifteenth Finance Commission XV FC grants for strengthening Rural Local Bodies RLBs in Gujarat and Haryana.
The grants aim to empower grassroots governance and improve rural infrastructure.
The grants are disbursed by the Ministry of Finance in two installments each financial year, with recommendations from the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
The grants include 'Untied Grants' which empower local bodies to address location-specific needs under the 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, excluding expenditure on salaries and establishment costs.
The grants also include 'Tied Grants' which are directed towards core services such as sanitation (including maintenance of Open Defecation Free ODF status, solid and liquid waste management, and fecal sludge management) and drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling.
For Gujarat, the second installment of Untied Grants for FY 2024–25, amounting to ₹522.20 crores, has been released, along with ₹13.60 crores from the withheld portion of the first installment for FY 2024–25.
For Haryana, the first installment of Untied Grants for FY 2025–26, amounting to ₹195.13 crores, has been sanctioned.

16th Finance Commission Submits Report on Tax Devolution and Financial Arrangements (Mid of November) ▼

The 16th Finance Commission, led by Dr Arvind Panagariya, submitted its report for 2026-31 to President Droupadi Murmu.
The report contains recommendations on how the tax pool will be divided between the Centre and states for the next five years beginning April 1, 2026.
It includes a formula for dividing tax among states based on a weighted sum of population, area, demographic performance, fiscal effort, income distance, and forest cover.
The report also specifies revenue augmentation measures, arrangements for financing disaster management initiatives with reference to funds under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and determines financing of municipal bodies.
The 16th Finance Commission was set up on December 31, 2023, and was mandated to submit its report by October 31, with an extension until November 30.
The commission's members include former senior finance ministry official Annie George Mathew and economist Manoj Panda as full-time members, and SBI Group Chief Economic Advisor Soumya Kanti Ghosh and RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar as part-time members.

Brazil Hands Over BRICS Chair to India for 2026 Summit

[Brazil]

Key Updates:

Brazil hosted the 17th BRICS Summit earlier this year.
India will assume the BRICS chair for 2026.
Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin stated: "BRICS is not aimed against any country" and "not to replace the US dollar".
Alckmin confirmed President Lula’s visit to India is scheduled for February 2026.
Brazil and India are exploring defence cooperation in aerospace, naval projects and joint research.
Brazil is evaluating India’s Akash missile system; discussions include joint production and technology transfer.
Brazil and India are working on interoperability between India’s UPI and Brazil’s PIX digital payment systems.
Brazil has announced a business e-visa for Indian travellers; system launch date not specified.
Both governments target direct India-Brazil flights by end-2026.
Brazil became the second BRICS member after India to decline joining China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

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India and Brazil sign tripartite MoU to boost Scorpène submarine maintenance and defence ties (Mid of December) ▼

A landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Navy, Brazilian Navy, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
The MoU focuses on the exchange of information related to the maintenance of Scorpène-class submarines and other naval vessels.
The agreement aims to enhance life-cycle support, enable experience sharing in maintenance, logistics, and training, and strengthen cooperation between government agencies and industry of both nations.
The MoU will further boost Defence Research and Development (R&D) collaboration and drive technological innovation in sustaining Scorpène-class submarines and other naval platforms.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi visited Brazil.
In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Brazil, where he and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva decided to charter a strategic roadmap to strengthen bilateral ties, including defence and security.
India and Brazil recognized convergent views and strategic complementarities in defence and security matters.
An Agreement on the Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information was signed, enabling deeper cooperation in various strategic areas.
A Bilateral Cybersecurity Dialogue was established to deepen cooperation through the exchange of information, experiences, and national perspectives on cybersecurity issues.

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi begins official visit to Brazil to deepen maritime partnership (Start of December) ▼

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi has commenced an official visit to Brazil from 9–12 December 2025.
The visit is aimed at deepening the expanding maritime partnership between the Indian Navy and the Brazilian Navy.
Admiral Tripathi is scheduled to hold discussions with Mr. Jose Mucio, Defence Minister of Brazil, Admiral Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces, and Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, Commander of the Brazilian Navy.
Discussions will cover maritime domain awareness, joint patrols, naval interoperability, capacity building, training collaboration, and technology cooperation.
The visit highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment to enhancing naval diplomacy and maritime security cooperation with nations across the South Atlantic and the Global South.

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

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

Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin visits India to deepen Strategic Partnership (End of October) ▼

Brazilian Vice-President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, arrived in New Delhi on 15 October for a three-day official visit (15-17 October).
During the visit, Alckmin met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 15 October and is scheduled to meet Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The visit follows the sixth India-Brazil Strategic Dialogue (3 October) that reviewed cooperation in defence, energy, rare earths, health, and multilateral forums (BRICS, IBSA, COP-30).
Both nations target raising bilateral trade to USD 20 billion within five years; merchandise trade in FY 2024-25 reached USD 12.19 billion, making Brazil India’s largest LAC trading partner.
The seventh India-Brazil Trade Monitoring Mechanism meeting (7 October) discussed expanding the India-MERCOSUR PTA and collaboration in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, MSMEs, banking, and visa facilitation.

India and Netherlands sign Letter of Intent to strengthen defence cooperation

[Netherlands]

Key Updates:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel to discuss security and defence topics.
A Letter of Intent on defence cooperation was signed and exchanged between India's Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Netherlands' Ambassador to India Marisa Gerards.
The ministers prioritised co-development and co-production of defence equipment and agreed to craft a Defence Industrial Roadmap.

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India and Brunei hold inaugural Joint Working Group meeting on Defence Cooperation on Dec 10 2025 (Mid of December) ▼

The inaugural meeting of the India-Brunei Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation was held in New Delhi, marking a key step in advancing defence engagement between the two countries.
The Ministry of Defence said the talks centred on expanding military-to-military exchanges and joint training, strengthening maritime security cooperation with a focus on sea lane safety and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), enhancing capacity-building initiatives, and identifying opportunities for industry partnerships and technology cooperation.
The meeting was co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, and Poh Kui Choon, Deputy Permanent Secretary in Brunei's Ministry of Defence.
Before the deliberations began, both sides signed the Terms of Reference (ToR), formally establishing the JWG on Defence Cooperation.
During her two-day visit, Choon also met Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi, adding a diplomatic dimension to the technical discussions held under the JWG.
Both delegations noted the increasing momentum in defence cooperation and agreed to pursue a structured roadmap under the JWG mechanism.
They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, stability and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

India to deploy indigenous Integrated Air Defence Weapon System to protect Delhi NCR (Mid of December) ▼

India is moving towards deploying its own home grown integrated air defence system to protect the Delhi National Capital Region from enemy aerial threats like missiles, drones and fast moving aircraft.
The multilayered Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) would be based around the indigenous air defence missiles such as the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile systems and Very Short Range Air Defence Systems.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) would be working with production agencies who will work on the networking and command and control systems required for such a complicated air defence system.
India had earlier planned to deploy the US-made National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System-II (NASAMS-II) but did not move forward on the deal as the Americans were asking for a very high price.
The IADWS would be responsible for protecting the vital installations in the national capital region and is the responsibility of the Indian Air Force.

India-France sign overarching R&D pact for future defence challenges (End of November) ▼

Agreement signed by DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat and France’s National Armaments Director Lt Gen Gael Diaz de Tuesta at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi
Enables joint R&D, sharing of know-how, joint training, and co-held intellectual property rights
Key cooperation areas: aeronautical platforms, unmanned vehicles, advanced materials, cybersecurity, AI, space, navigation, advanced propulsion, sensors, quantum tech, underwater tech

India, US Sign 10-Year Framework Pact for Defence Partnership (Start of November) ▼

India and the US signed a framework agreement for a major defence partnership.
The agreement gives a roadmap for cooperation over the next 10 years.
It includes jointly pursuing capacity building for like-minded partners in Asia, Africa and island countries in the Indian Ocean Region.
The framework will enable collaboration on global challenges like space and missile defence, preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
It will prioritise export licence approvals for weapons and support India's development as a logistics, maintenance, repair and overhaul hub.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh and US secretary of war Pete Hegseth met on the sidelines of the 12th Asean Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur.
The new framework will reflect common defence priorities like safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific region, strengthening interoperability across all domains, expanding collaboration with like-minded nations through forums like the Quad and defeating terrorism in all forms.
The last 10-year agreement was signed in June 2015.

India and Oman sign Joint Vision Document and four MoUs during PM Modi visit

[Oman]

Key Updates:

A Joint Vision Document and Executive Programme were signed, outlining strategic cooperation, including innovation in agriculture and food industries.
Four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were inked, covering cooperation in maritime heritage and museums, scientific research and innovation, skills development, agriculture, and trade cooperation between Oman’s Chamber of Commerce and India’s Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Both countries are on track to finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a trade pact expected to boost bilateral commerce, investment and strategic economic alignment across sectors such as energy, logistics, and manufacturing.

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Sultanate of Oman confers Order of Oman on Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Mid of December) ▼

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.

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

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.

PM Modi’s first-ever State Visit to Ethiopia (Mid of December) ▼

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.

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.

Chennai-based Photonics Odyssey wins NASA Space Apps 2025 Most Inspirational Award with sovereign phased-array satellite internet concept

[United States]

Key Updates:

An Indian team’s satellite internet concept emerged as a global winner of NASA’s 2025 International Space Apps Challenge.
The Chennai-based team, Photonics Odyssey, proposed a sovereign, phased-array satellite internet infrastructure to expand broadband access across remote regions and won the Most Inspirational Award.
The project aims to reduce ground dependency and help connect more than 700 million people in India who currently lack access to broadband connectivity.
NASA said the 2025 edition of its flagship global hackathon brought together more than 1 lakh 14 thousand participants across 5 hundred and 51 local events in 1 hundred and 67 countries and territories.

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Andhra teen Kunchala Kaivalya Reddy selected for advanced astronaut training by Titans Space Industries (Mid of November) ▼

Discovered two asteroids—2020 CM24 in Class VIII and 2021 CM37 two years later—through the International Astronomical Collaboration’s Asteroid Search Campaign
Represented India at the 2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition in Germany and won a Silver Honour
Underwent 10-day basic astronaut training at the International Air and Space Program, becoming the youngest Indian to do so
Chosen by Titans Space Industries (Florida) for 2026-2029 advanced astronaut training among 150 candidates from 36 countries; programme includes zero-gravity, scuba diving, and hiking modules ahead of a planned 300 km Earth orbit mission
Plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics in Germany

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.

Lt Col Roopa A and Lt Col Dilna K won CNN-News18's Youth Icon Award (End of November) ▼

Lt Col Roopa A and Lt Col Dilna K received the CNN-News18 Youth Icon Award.
They were honored for completing a historic circumnavigation as the first Indian duo to sail around the globe in double-handed mode aboard INSV Tarini under the Navika Sagar Parikarma II mission.
They completed a nearly 250-day voyage aboard INSV Tarini, covering 25,400 nautical miles (50,000 km), crossing four continents, three oceans, and three Great Capes.
They are the first Indian duo to circumnavigate the globe in double-handed mode.
The 15th edition of the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year was held on Friday, November 28.
Lt Col Dilna K hails from Kozhikode, Kerala, and was commissioned into the Indian Navy’s Logistics branch in June 2014, having excelled in national-level rifle shooting through the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
Lt Col Roopa A is from Pondicherry and joined the Indian Navy in June 2017, having previously pursued aeronautical engineering at Anna University and worked at the National Aerospace Laboratories in Bengaluru.

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.

Odisha hosts two-day Regional AI Impact Summit 2025 to advance sustainable AI solutions

[Odisha]

Key Updates:

Odisha is hosting a two-day Regional AI Impact Summit 2025 in Bhubaneswar organised by the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Government of Odisha.
The summit focuses on scalable public AI solutions centred on the 3Ps - People, Planet, and Progress.
Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated that the outcomes of this summit will inform how AI can be used to monitor governance modules.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Secretary Saurabh Garg said the objective is to ensure AI is available for the benefit of all without requiring users to know the technology.
Principal Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev noted that Odisha is the first state in the country to bring out an AI policy.
The Odisha government launched the Odisha AI mission aligned with the India AI mission to democratise AI through access, affordability, equity, and inclusivity.

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IIT Madras and IndiaAI Mission to Host Meet on Safe, Trusted AI Ahead of India-AI Impact Summit 2026 (Mid of December) ▼

The Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will host a pre-summit meet on safe and trusted artificial intelligence.
The pre-summit meet will take place in Chennai.
The conclave aims to shape AI Safety Commons proposals and governance models for the Global South.
The meeting will discuss steps to create an AI Safety Commons for the Global South, including shared datasets, benchmarks and governance resources.
Discussions will also look at how responsible AI principles can be implemented through governance and regulatory models suited to different cultural, legal and technological environments.
The outcomes will feed into the roadmap for the India–AI Impact Summit and support India’s role in shaping a global AI framework centred on trust, safety and inclusion.
The India–AI Impact Summit will take place at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
This is the first time the summit will be held in the Global South.
Concerns around fairness, accountability and misuse underline the need for frameworks that can be used across global contexts.

Odisha to Host India’s Energy COP: Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2025 in Puri from December 5 to 7 (Start of December) ▼

The Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2025 is set to convene in Puri, Odisha, from December 5 to 7.
Positioned as 'a COP for India’s energy sector,' the Summit will bring together policymakers, international experts, and industry leaders.
The summit’s theme is “Powering India: Sufficiency, Balance, Innovation”.
GELS 2025 aims to create a structured platform for meaningful engagement among the Union Government, nearly 15 States, and over 30 national and international energy experts.
The Summit is organised with the Tony Blair Institute and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, aligned with India’s Net Zero 2070 vision.
Key participants include Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Principal secretary (energy) Vishal Kumar Dev, NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, Union energy minister Pralhad Joshi, and Chief Ministers from Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will inaugurate the Summit on December 6.

IndiaAI Mission, MeitY and Government of Meghalaya host first Regional AI Impact Conference 2025 in Shillong (Start of December) ▼

The IndiaAI Mission and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Information Technology & Communications Department, Government of Meghalaya, and IIM Shillong, organised the first Regional AI Impact Conference 2025 in Shillong.
The conference theme was 'Artificial Intelligence for Citizen Empowerment: Smarter Governance, Better Lives'.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated, 'Our mission is to democratize AI so that every citizen can access its benefits.'
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma unveiled three initiatives: the BHASHINI Hackathon for Khasi and Garo language model training; MeghDEE for co-creating digital innovation; and the DRISHTI-NE Hackathon for youth AI innovation.
An MoU was signed between the Information Technology & Communication Department, Government of Meghalaya, and the IndiaAI Mission for establishing two Data & AI Labs in the state.
Another MoU was signed between the same department and MATH T-Hub for setting up a Satellite Incubation Centre in Shillong.
The event serves as a precursor to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled in New Delhi from February 15-20, 2026.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026 Details Unveiled in New Delhi (End of September) ▼

The 'India-AI Impact Summit 2026' will be held on 19-20 Feb 2026 here.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology today unveiled the logo and key flagship initiatives for the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 which is being hosted for the first time by a Global South nation.
This summit is guided by the principles or Sutras of People, Planet and Progress.
The discussions will be further centered around seven chakras- Human Capital, Inclusion, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience, Science and Social Good.
India launches eight indigenous foundational model projects to build multilingual, healthcare, scientific, industrial, governance and agriculture AI capabilities.
30 Data and AILabs have been launched pan-India, forming the first wave of a 570-lab network.
The IndiaAI mission cleared this year with an budget outlay of Rs 10,300 crore is the government's push towards spreading AI across the country.

Armenia unveils Erivan Anomalous Blue butterfly as logo for COP17

[Armenia]

Key Updates:

Armenia has unveiled the logo for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
At its centre is Polyommatus eriwanensis, a blue butterfly found only in and around Yerevan.
COP17, scheduled for October 2026, will host the first global review of how countries are implementing the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The framework has 23 targets, from protecting habitats to reforming subsidies that harm biodiversity.
The logo uses 23 blended colours, reflecting the idea that progress on one target depends on action across all.
The species inhabits calcareous grasslands in Armenia but the host plant of the species is still not known.
The species is not included in the Global and European Red Lists.
The choice builds on a precedent from COP16 in Colombia. That conference featured the Inirida flower, endemic to the Guaviare region.

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Turkiye to host COP31 in Antalya after deal with Australia (End of November) ▼

COP31 presidency awarded to Turkiye, summit to be held at Antalya Expo Center
Australia withdraws bid; will instead co-host pre-COP31 negotiations with Pacific nations
Both Australia and Turkiye fall under the Western Europe and others regional group for COP rotation

Maharashtra Agriculture Department Updates Emblem and Tagline (Mid of November) ▼

The Maharashtra government has replaced its four-decade-old agriculture department emblem.
The old emblem, in use since 1987, featured a farmer carrying a plough.
The new design features a mechanised plough, reflecting the state's transition to modern and sustainable farming.
The new tagline is ‘Shashwat Sheti, Samruddha Shetkari' (Sustainable Farming, Prosperous Farmer).
The concept for the updated emblem and tagline was originally proposed by minister of state for agriculture Ashish Jaiswal.
The new emblem mirrors the department's role in promoting technology-driven, climate-resilient agriculture.

Darjeeling Mandarin Orange Secures GI Tag on November 24, 2025, Boosting Farmers and Heritage (Start of December) ▼

The 'Darjeeling Mandarin Orange' has officially been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
The GI status was formalised by the GI Registry on November 24, 2025.
Darjeeling Organic Farmers Producer Organisation (DOFPO) is the registered proprietor for the Darjeeling Mandarin Orange GI tag.
Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (UBKV) and Patent Information Centre (PIC) acted as facilitators for the application process.
The Darjeeling Mandarin Orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco) is the second product from its region, after Dalley Khorsani, to earn GI recognition.
The local name for the Darjeeling Mandarin Orange in the hills is 'suntala'.
The fruit is grown in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.
Darjeeling Member of Parliament (MP) Raju Bista, a BJP MP, expressed happiness over the GI recognition.
The Patent Information Centre (PIC) is part of the West Bengal State Council of Science and Technology (WBSCS&T).

Indian Coast Guard Ship Vigraha undertakes operational visit to Indonesia from December 02-05, 2025 (Start of December) ▼

Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vigraha is undertaking an operational visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, from December 02-05, 2025, as part of its overseas deployment to ASEAN countries.
Personnel of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indonesian Coast Guard (BAKAMLA) will participate in an extensive programme of activities.
The engagements are focused on Maritime Law Enforcement, Marine Pollution Response and Maritime Search and Rescue areas.
A Passage Exercise (PASSEX) will be organised to further enhance operational cohesion, communication procedures, and seamanship coordination between the two services.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ICG and BAKAMLA in July 2020, institutionalising a structured framework for operational engagement.
On completion of the Jakarta leg, ICGS Vigraha will sail to Port Klang, Malaysia, continuing its operational deployment to ASEAN countries.

Google commits $8 million to India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem

[Google]

Key Updates:

Google on Tuesday announced fresh collaborations and funding commitments worth $8 million to strengthen India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem.
Research funding will go to TANUH at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru for non-communicable disease treatment.
The Airawat Research Foundation at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur will receive funding for AI-driven urban governance.
Google is working with the National Health Authority (NHA) to use AI to convert millions of unstructured medical records into the international FHIR standard.
Google announced a $2 million founding contribution to set up an Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT Bombay.
Google said it is partnering with ReNew Energy on a 150 MW solar project in Rajasthan, extending its push to power AI growth with clean energy and support India’s non-fossil fuel goals.
The company said it would provide $400,000 to support collaborations using its MedGemma models to build India-specific health foundation models.
Google announced separate Google.org funding of $2 million to develop Garuda, an AI language model for agriculture.

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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.

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

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

Google unveils Ironwood, its seventh-generation TPU for large-scale AI workloads (Start of November) ▼

Ironwood is Google’s seventh-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) designed to power massive AI workloads and challenge Nvidia’s GPU dominance.
The chip can connect up to 9,216 units in a single pod for seamless parallel processing.
Ironwood delivers 4× faster performance than the previous TPU generation.
AI startup Anthropic is the first major customer, planning to deploy up to one million Ironwood TPUs to run its Claude AI model.
Google Cloud Q3 2025 revenue reached $15.15 billion, up 34 % year-on-year, with 2025 capital expenditure raised to $93 billion to support AI infrastructure expansion.

Google opens largest AI infrastructure hardware engineering centre outside US in Taiwan (End of November) ▼

Alphabet's Google opened its largest artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure hardware engineering centre outside of the United States.
The new AI infrastructure hardware engineering centre is located in Taiwan.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te stated that Google was showing its commitment to long-term investment in Taiwan.
The technology developed and tested in Taipei is deployed in Google data centres around the world, which in turn power Google devices.
Aamer Mahmood, Google Cloud's vice president of platforms infrastructure engineering, said the centre is an investment in an ecosystem and a testament to Taiwan's place as an important centre for global AI innovation.
Taiwan is home to the world's largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, whose chips are widely used by companies like Nvidia that are driving the global AI boom.

Jharkhand defeats Haryana to win Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

[Jharkhand]

Key Updates:

Jharkhand clinched their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy SMAT title at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, defeating Haryana by 69 runs.
Jharkhand posted a massive 262/3 - the highest-ever total in a T20 tournament final.
Ishan Kishan became the first captain to score a hundred in a SMAT final, finishing with 101 runs.

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India beats South Africa to win Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 title (Start of November) ▼

India beat South Africa by 52 runs in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final.
India successfully defended 298, the second-highest total posted in an ODI World Cup final.
Deepti Sharma took a five-wicket haul, including the key wicket of Laura Wolvaardt.
Laura Wolvaardt scored a second consecutive hundred in the final.
Shafali Verma dismissed Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp after being brought on as an inspired bowling change.
The match was held in Navi Mumbai.

India women’s team secures second consecutive Kabaddi World Cup title (End of November) ▼

India defeated Chinese Taipei 35-28 in the final to win its second consecutive World Cup title.
India went undefeated throughout the tournament.
The Indian women’s kabaddi team won the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup in Dhaka.
India won all its group matches to reach the semifinals, where it defeated Iran 33–21 to enter the final.
Chinese Taipei also had an unbeaten run in its group and beat host Bangladesh 25–18 in the semifinal.
The 2025 edition of the tournament is only the second time it has been held.
The last iteration of it was held in Patna in 2012, with India coming out on top against Iran in the final in a tournament with 16 teams.
Former India captain Ajay Thakur said, “It is a very proud moment for India as the women’s team retained the World Cup trophy in Dhaka.”
Former India international and Haryana Steelers head coach Manpreet Singh said, “The women’s team has delivered a performance the whole nation can be proud of.”

Indian Oil Mumbai wins 42nd Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Trophy (Start of November) ▼

Indian Oil Mumbai defeated Indian Railways Delhi 2-1 in the final.
The final was held at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.
Indian Oil Mumbai scored both goals through penalty corners.
Indian Railways Delhi scored a field goal.
Indian Oil Mumbai received a cash prize of Rs. 5.51 lakh and the winner’s trophy.
Indian Railways Delhi received Rs. 2.50 lakh and the runner-up trophy.
Talwinder Singh of Indian Oil was named best player of the tournament.
Olympian Harmanpreet Singh of Punjab Police was declared best scorer and awarded Rs. 51,000.

Jason Gunawan defeats Srikanth Kidambi to win 2025 Syed Modi International Men’s Singles (Start of December) ▼

🇭🇰 Jason Gunawan won the Men’s Singles by defeating 🇮🇳 Srikanth Kidambi 21–16, 8–21, 22–20.
🇯🇵 Hina Akechi won the Women’s Singles by defeating 🇹🇷 Neslihan Arın 21–16, 21–14.
🇲🇾 Kang Khai Xing and 🇲🇾 Aaron Tai won the Men’s Doubles by defeating 🇲🇾 Chia Wei Jie and 🇲🇾 Lwi Sheng Hao 21–9, 21–19.
🇮🇳 Treesa Jolly and 🇮🇳 Gayatri Gopichand Pullela won the Women’s Doubles by defeating 🇯🇵 Kaho Osawa and 🇯🇵 Mai Tanabe 17–21, 21–13, 21–15.
🇮🇩 Dejan Ferdinansyah and 🇮🇩 Bernadine Anindya Wardana won the Mixed Doubles by defeating 🇹🇭 Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and 🇹🇭 Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21–19, 21–16.
The tournament was held at the Babu Banarasi Das U.P. Badminton Academy in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Goa Liberation Day observed on December 19

[Goa]

Key Updates:

Goa Liberation Day is observed on December 19 to commemorate Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule and its formal integration into India in 1961.
The day marks the end of 451 years of Portuguese dominance in Goa.
Purushottam Kakodkar led the newly established Goa branch of the Indian National Congress after liberation and served as a member of parliament for North Goa in the Lok Sabha.

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

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

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'.

Goa and Madhya Pradesh Partnership for Tourism Promotion (Start of November) ▼

**Parties Involved:** The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, and senior officials from the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
**Objective:** To explore collaborative opportunities in tourism, with a special focus on heritage, wildlife, and cultural experiences.
**Specific Purpose:** To promote two-way tourism, encouraging travellers from Madhya Pradesh to discover Goa’s diverse offerings while inspiring Goans to experience Madhya Pradesh’s rich heritage and wildlife destinations.
**Key Initiative:** Madhya Pradesh has invited the Director of Tourism, Government of Goa, along with tourism trade stakeholders, to visit Madhya Pradesh for further discussions, and Goa will host tourism trade representatives from Madhya Pradesh.
**Shared Vision:** To promote sustainable tourism, celebrate cultural heritage, and create new domestic travel circuits that benefit local communities and travellers alike.

PM Modi explains essence of National Security policy from Bhagwat Gita in Karnataka (Start of December) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Krishna Matha in Udupi, Karnataka.
PM Modi took part in the Laksha Kantha Gita Parayana programme, a devotional gathering of 100,000 participants reciting Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
PM Modi stated Bhagwat Gita teaches that it is important to end the oppressor to restore peace and truth, which is the essence of National Security policy.
PM Modi inaugurated Suvarna Teertha Mantapa and dedicated Kanaka Kavacha for Kanakana Kindi at Sri Krishna Matha.

Nnena Kalu becomes first artist with learning disability to win Turner Prize

Key Updates:

Nnena Kalu is the first artist with a learning disability to win the Turner Prize.
The prize ceremony was held in Bradford.
Kalu has been a resident artist with ActionSpace for more than 25 years.
The Turner Prize is named after artist JMW Turner.

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TIME magazine names 'Architects of AI' as its 2025 Person of the Year (Mid of December) ▼

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

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

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

Srikant Bolla receives Ramoji Excellence Award 2025 in Youth Icon category (Mid of November) ▼

Srikant Bolla was awarded the Ramoji Award of Excellence in the Youth Icon category at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.
Bolla is the founder of Bollant Industries, which employs over 500 people including a quarter who are specially-abled.
He was the first international blind student admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Sonali S Jeet Iyengar conferred with 10th "ATAL Shastra" MARKENOMY & InWENA Lifetime Achievement award 2025 (Mid of November) ▼

Eminent multidisciplinary Fine Artist, museologist, sculptor, art restorer Sonali S Jeet Iyengar received the twin awards 10th "ATAL Shastra" MARKENOMY & InWENA Lifetime Achievement award 2025.
The award function was held at the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC) in Mumbai.
She has contributed works of art to various energy sectors of Urja, energy, power, nuclear power plant, MBPT Mumbai Port Trust Authority of India, CAI, CIRCOT.
She received awards from Central Railways' UNESCO World Heritage for art sculptures at CSMT Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) & Hiramanek Star report Artist Of The year Award 2025 award.