Daily Current Affairs: 21 December 2025

Analysis for 21 December 2025

Sreenivasan passed away as Veteran Malayalam Actor and Screenwriter

Key Updates:

Veteran actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Sreenivasan passed away in Kochi, Kerala, at the age of 69.
He was born on April 6, 1956, in Patyam near Thalassery in the Kannur district of Kerala.
He acted in more than 225 films and wrote several landmark screenplays over a career spanning nearly five decades.
He received the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues for directing the film Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala.
He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film for Vadakkunokkiyanthram and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film for Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala.
He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for the films Sandesam and Mazhayethum Munpe.
He received a total of one National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards South, and six Kerala State Film Awards during his career.
He made his acting debut in Manimuzhakkam in 1976 and played his first lead role in Sanghaganam in 1979.
He had undergone heart surgery in 2022 and was undergoing dialysis at a private hospital in Kochi before his passing.

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State Award-winning actor Akhil Vishwanath found dead at 30. (Mid of December) ▼

Akhil Vishwanath, a State Award-winning actor, was found dead at his home.
He was discovered by his mother while she was getting ready to leave for work.
Akhil began his career as a child artist and won the State Government Award for Best Child Artist for the telefilm 'Mangandi'.
He gained wider attention through the film 'Chola', directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, which won the State Film Award in 2019.
Director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan expressed grief, stating that Akhil came into cinema from a life filled with severe hardships.
Actor Joju George also expressed his grief with the message 'Rest In Peace Akhil'.

Poet Ande Sri, author of Telangana state anthem, passes away (Mid of November) ▼

Poet Ande Sri, renowned for the Telangana state song 'Jaya Jayahe Telangana', has died.
He passed away at the age of 64.
His death has left a deep void in the state’s literary and cultural circles.
Ande Sri's contributions to the Telangana movement and his ability to capture the people's emotions through his folk-inspired lyrics are remembered.
Former chief minister and BRS president K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) described him as “a pivotal voice in the cultural movement that fueled Telangana’s statehood.”

Kalyan Chatterjee passes away at 81; Veteran Bengali actor (Start of December) ▼

Kalyan Chatterjee passed away at the age of 81 after battling typhoid and age-related ailments.
He made his acting debut in the 1968 film 'Apanjan' and appeared in over 400 films.
Chatterjee was known for portraying the everyday Bengali man and worked with directors like Satyajit Ray and Sujoy Ghosh.
His notable films include 'Pratidwandi', 'Kahaani', 'Dhanyee Meye', 'Dui Prithibi', 'Sabuj Dwiper Raja', and 'Baishe Srabon'.
He also acted in Hindi films and web series like 'Tansener Tanpura'.

Jury and Chairperson for Kerala State Film Awards 2025 (Start of November) ▼

A seven-member jury, chaired by veteran actor Prakash Raj, selected the winners for the Kerala State Film Awards 2025.
The Kerala State Film Awards are presented by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy (KSCA).
KSCA is the abbreviation for Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) slaps ₹61.95 lakh fine on Kotak Mahindra Bank.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

RBI imposed the penalty for non-compliance with norms on Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) account, business correspondents, and credit information companies.
Kotak Mahindra Bank opened additional BSBD accounts for customers who already held such accounts.
The bank engaged business correspondents for activities outside the permitted scope.
The lender furnished inaccurate borrower information to credit information companies.

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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.

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.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) commits USD 4.26 billion sovereign lending to India in 2025

[Asian Development Bank (ADB)]

Key Updates:

ADB committed USD 4.258 billion in sovereign lending to India in 2025.
Nearly 32 per cent of ADB's 16 newly committed projects focus on the human and social development sector.
26 per cent of the projects are in the energy sector, primarily advancing renewable energy.
Over 18 per cent of the projects are in urban development.
USD 846 million financing is allocated for PM-SETU, India's flagship skilling programme.
USD 650 million is provided to support PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for rooftop solar adoption.
USD 775 million is committed for five urban projects in Assam, Kerala, Sikkim, and West Bengal.
USD 729 million is committed to expand regional rapid rail in Delhi-Meerut and metro networks in Chennai and Indore.
USD 460 million loan is provided to Maharashtra to modernise rural power infrastructure and improve solar electricity for irrigation.
USD 398.8 million loan is provided to Assam to modernise its healthcare and medical education systems.
Over USD 200 million in loans is provided to Meghalaya and Uttarakhand for ecotourism development.

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Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) sign loans worth over $2.2 billion (Mid of December) ▼

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed agreements for five loans totaling over $2.2 billion.
Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes Programme receives $846 million.
Accelerating Affordable and Inclusive Rooftop Solar Systems Development Programme Subprogramme 1 receives $650 million.
Assam State Tertiary Health Care Augmentation Project ASTHA receives $398.8 million.
Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project Tranche 2 receives $240 million.
Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-based Livelihood Development in Meghalaya Project receives $77 million.

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

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

Asian Development Bank (ADB) approves USD 448 million for Chennai Metro, Mizoram Healthcare, and Women-led MSME Finance. (Mid of December) ▼

ADB approved USD 240 million as the second tranche under the USD 780 million facility sanctioned in 2022 for Chennai Metro Expansion Phase 2.
Chennai Metro Phase 2 spans 118.9 km across Lines 3 (45.8 km), 4 (26.1 km), and 5 (47 km).
ADB sanctioned USD 108 million results-based loan to strengthen Mizoram’s public healthcare through the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS) offering Rs 5 lakh per family annually.
ADB provided USD 100 million to Five-Star Business Finance Limited for MSME credit access to over 400,000 women borrowers via 700+ branches.

ADB approves $400 million loan to improve road connectivity in Maharashtra (End of November) ▼

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $400 million results-based lending (RBL) program.
The program aims to improve road connectivity in Maharashtra.
The upgrades cover nearly 350 kilometers of state highways and 2,577 kilometers of rural roads.
The loan will improve road connectivity in 34 districts, particularly in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.
Over 1.7 million people, including residents of at least 80 villages and around 410 rural communities, will benefit.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Approves Risk-Based Pricing for Deposit Insurance

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

The central board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved a proposal to transition to a risk-based pricing system for deposit insurance.
The new model replaces the uniform premium currently charged to banks under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) scheme.
Under the existing flat-rate system, banks pay a premium of 12 paise for every Rs 100 of assessable deposits.
The proposed framework will charge lower premia to banks with stronger capital adequacy, better asset quality, and sound governance, while weaker banks will pay higher rates.
The DICGC, established under the DICGC Act, 1961, has operated the deposit insurance framework on a flat-rate basis since 1962.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra introduced the reform measures alongside the October monetary policy decision to help better-rated banks save significantly on premium costs.

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

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.

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) 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.

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.

Finance Ministry (FinMin) unveils common logo for 28 Regional Rural Banks.

[Finance Ministry (FinMin)]

Key Updates:

The Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, consolidated 26 Regional Rural Banks across 11 states/UTs under the 'One State One RRB' principle effective May 1, 2025.
A new common logo introduced for the 28 Regional Rural Banks aims to create a single, unified brand identity nationwide.
The logo's dark blue colour signifies finance and trust, while green signifies life and growth, reflecting the RRBs' mission to serve rural India.
The branding initiative seeks to strengthen the identity and visibility of RRBs, symbolizing their collective commitment to financial inclusion and rural development.

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

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.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces Amaravati as India's first integrated Financial City (End of November) ▼

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Amaravati will become India's first integrated Financial City, housing major financial institutions.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation for construction of nationalized banks and financial institutions in Amaravati.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently moved to a rented building in Vijayawada.
Many banks are handling Andhra Pradesh’s operations from Hyderabad.
Institutions that began construction activities in Amaravati include State Bank of India (SBI), Union Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank (PNB), IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of India, Indian Bank, Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank, AP Cooperative Bank, NABARD, LIC, and New India Assurance.
The financial hub in Amaravati will generate direct employment for more than 6,500 people.
Fifteen state-owned banks and insurance companies are setting up their headquarters in Amaravati.
25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty nationwide.
The Centre is establishing training hubs in districts for Quantum Valley and AI-related projects.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants in-principle nod to Fino Payments Bank for small finance bank conversion (Start of December) ▼

Fino Payments Bank becomes the first payments bank to receive RBI in-principle approval for conversion into a small finance bank.
Post-conversion, Fino will be able to undertake on-balance sheet lending, a facility not permitted for payments banks.
Payments banks are restricted to deploying deposits in government securities or bonds and earning fee income from payments and remittances services.
Fino already offers third-party gold loans, housing loans, and loans against property as referral services and earns fees from these verticals.
Only payments banks that have completed five years of operations and are resident-controlled are eligible for conversion into small finance banks.
Entities promoted by corporates such as Airtel or Jio are not considered for such conversion.

Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah launches Sahakar Sarathi to digitally empower rural cooperative banks. (Mid of December) ▼

Sahakar Sarathi Private Limited is a shared-services technology platform designed to revolutionise India’s rural cooperative banking ecosystem.
The platform unveiled 14 digital products including Sahakar Setu, digiKCC, ePACS, Cooperative Governance Index and the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan Portal.
Expert-as-a-Service modules launched under the platform are CISO Sarathi, Tax Sarathi, CBS Sarathi, Regulatory Compliance Sarathi and Shiksha Sarathi.
Additional services include AI-driven Cross Sell Sarathi, Campaign Sarathi, unified Collections Sarathi call-centre service and bank.in migration support.
NABARD–BCG report The Future of Rural Banking released, outlining a strategic roadmap to enhance rural credit and strengthen cooperative banking institutions.
Rural economy budget has grown 3.75 times since 2014, reflecting the government’s commitment to India’s villages.
Government targets 50 crore Indians participating in cooperatives, tripling their contribution to India’s GDP.

PM Modi Inaugurates New Terminal at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) with ₹5,000 Crore Investment

Key Updates:

"Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA), completing a rare, accelerated journey from concept to commissioning in under a year."
"The overall airport development represents an investment of Rs 5,000 crore, including Rs 1,000 crore earmarked for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities."
"The terminal is designed to handle 13.1 million passengers annually by 2032."
"Assam is emerging as India’s eastern gateway under the Act East policy, with the bamboo-rich terminal symbolising strength, sustainability and the state’s growing role in powering Viksit Bharat."
"The project has been developed by Guwahati International Airport Limited, with operations led by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL)."
"Its inauguration today, with operations expected to commence by the end of February, underscores the pace at which India’s aviation infrastructure is now being conceived, built, tested and readied for live operations."

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Guwahati Gateway Terminal and Jetty: India’s First Modern River Ferry Terminal (Mid of November) ▼

Name: Guwahati Gateway Terminal and Jetty – India’s first modern river ferry terminal on the Brahmaputra River.
Launched by: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Key Features: 100-seat waiting lounge, structured boarding zones, and an observatory deck.

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.

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.”

PM Modi to Inaugurate Rs 9,700-crore Tribal Welfare Projects in Gujarat on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Mid of November) ▼

Projects include Grih Pravesh for one lakh houses under PM-JANMAN and DA-JAGUA
42 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools to be inaugurated
250 buses for 14 tribal districts and 748 km of roads to be launched for improved connectivity
14 Tribal Multi-Marketing Centres to be established for tribal produce marketing

SHANTI Bill, 2025: India targets 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047

[SHANTI Bill]

Key Updates:

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, allows private players to enter the operations side of the tightly-governed nuclear power sector.
The law replaces two key legislations: the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (AE Act) and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLNDA).
The legislation 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 Bill grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to ensure its independence from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
The law adopts graded liability caps for nuclear power operators based on their size of installation and removes the 'right of recourse' against suppliers for defects in equipment or sub-standard services.
It provides for the establishment of the Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council and a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission to handle grievances and severe nuclear damage cases.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Haryana Assembly passes resolution to commemorate 350th martyrdom year of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

[Haryana]

Key Updates:

The house unanimously passed a resolution to commemorate the 350th martyrdom year of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the Ninth Guru and protector of India’s honour.
A forest was developed in the name of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in Kalesar, Yamunanagar district, which included tree plantations, a wildlife conservation block, and the construction of the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Gate.
In the same district, the Guru Tegh Bahadur Agricultural College was announced in Kishanpura, linking Guru Sahib’s name with education and agriculture.
350 blood donation camps were organised across Haryana, collecting over 23,000 units of blood.
Essay competitions were held in schools in Sanskrit, Hindi, Punjabi, and English, engaging 350,000 students.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also joined the congregation at Jyotisar, Kurukshetra. During the event, he released a commemorative coin and postage stamp issued by the Government of India in honour of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

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Dinesh Khatak Awarded Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal (Mid of December) ▼

Dinesh Khatak, second-in-command (2-IC) of the 196 Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was honoured with the “Kendriya Grah Mantri Dakshata Padak” (Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal).
The award was given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
He is a native of Intel Kalan village in Jind district.
Dinesh Khatak joined the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as a Gazetted Officer in 2005.
He played key roles in managing the Amarnath Yatra and maintaining law and order during his deployments in Jammu and Kashmir.
He served during crucial phases such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dinesh Khatak contributed to advancing commando training at CIAT Shivpuri.
He is currently posted in the Naxal-affected Bijapur district.
He has led major security and relief initiatives, including establishing new forward camps and participating in KGH Special Operations.

Vijay Diwas 2025 celebrations on December 15–16 (Mid of December) ▼

Vijay Diwas is observed on December 16 to commemorate India's victory in the 1971 War.
A 20-member Bangladesh delegation, including two serving officers of Bangladesh Army and eight Mukti Yoddhas, will attend the Vijay Diwas celebrations in Bengal.
The Eastern Command of the Indian Army concluded the Vijay Rally 2025 – 'Ride for Valour' motorcycle expedition before the celebrations.
The Bangladesh team will participate in the Military Tattoo on December 15 and the wreath-laying ceremony by Governor CV Ananda Bose at Vijay Smarak on December 16.

Guru Tegh Bahadur 350th Shaheedi Purab: Delhi declares public holiday on November 25 (End of November) ▼

Guru Tegh Bahadur's 350th Martyrdom Day is observed as a public holiday in Delhi, honouring his sacrifice and teachings on human dignity and religious freedom.
He became the ninth Sikh Guru in 1664 and led the community through political upheaval and rising religious intolerance under Mughal rule.
Guru Tegh Bahadur is honoured for defending the rights of Kashmiri Pandits who faced forced conversions and stood up to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
He willingly embraced martyrdom in 1675 in Delhi, making him the second Sikh Guru to be executed by the Mughal regime.
His sacrifice earned him the title 'Hind Di Chadar,' reflecting his role as a guardian of religious freedom and interfaith dignity.
He contributed 116 verses to the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib), focusing on humility, detachment, and inner peace.
The Delhi Government announced a public holiday on Tuesday (November 25) for the 350th Shaheedi Purab, upgrading it from a restricted holiday.
The day offers citizens an opportunity to remember and pay homage to Guru Tegh Bahadur’s supreme sacrifice, divine wisdom, and contribution to safeguarding dharam, human dignity, and freedom of conscience.

Sainik Tujhe Salaam Initiative to Honour Army Veterans and Veer Naris (Start of December) ▼

The Assam government launched 'Sainik Tujhe Salaam' to honour Armed Forces veterans above the age of 90, Veer Naris, and Veer Mothers.
The state is home to around 41,968 ex-servicemen and 10,361 Veer Naris.
The directorate of sainik welfare and 21 district sainik welfare offices support the veteran community year-round.

United States launches Operation Hawkeye Strike against ISIS targets in Syria

[United States, Syria]

Key Updates:

The U.S. military launched retaliatory strikes on Friday against dozens of ISIS targets in Syria.
More than 70 ISIS targets were struck using over 100 munitions from fighter jets, attack helicopters and rocket artillery.
Jordanian fighter aircraft also participated in the strikes.
The operation named 'Operation Hawkeye Strike' was carried out in response to the attack on U.S. forces in Palmyra, Syria.
The strikes targeted ISIS weapon areas and infrastructure in central Syria.
There are currently 1,000 U.S. troops in Syria, mostly in eastern Syria.
The U.S. estimates between 1,500 to 3,000 ISIS militants remain active in Syria and Iraq.

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India and United Arab Emirates conduct second edition of Exercise Desert Cyclone in Abu Dhabi (Mid of December) ▼

Exercise Desert Cyclone-II is scheduled from December 18-30 in Abu Dhabi.
The Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel, primarily from a battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
The UAE Land Forces contingent is represented by the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion.
The exercise focuses on sub-conventional operations under a United Nations mandate, including peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and stability operations.
Tactical drills include fighting in built-up areas, heliborne operations, mission planning, and integration of UAS and counter-UAS techniques.

Canada removes Syria and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from terrorism lists (Start of December) ▼

Canada's foreign ministry announced it was revoking the 'terrorist' designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Canada cited efforts by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government to 'advance Syria’s stability'.
The ministry stated the decisions were 'not taken lightly' and align with recent moves by the United Kingdom and the United States.
Canada had listed Syria as a 'state supporter of terrorism' in 2012.
The US partially suspended sanctions against Syria in June and extended the suspension in November after talks between al-Sharaa and Donald Trump.
The US also removed al-Sharaa from the 'specially designated global terrorist' list prior to the White House meeting.

US Launches Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR in Latin America (Mid of November) ▼

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally announced the launch of a US military operation called “Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR.”
The mission is “Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM.”
The stated objective of the mission is to “defend our Homeland, remove narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secure our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.”
SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility “covers 31 countries through South America, Central America and the Caribbean.”
The USS Gerald R Ford, described as “the most advanced US aircraft carrier, is expected to arrive off the coast of Venezuela within days.”
Venezuela’s Ministry of Defence mobilized “almost 200,000 troops… for a two-day exercise to improve Venezuela’s readiness to respond to the “imperialist threat”.”

UN Security Council lifts terror-related sanctions on Syria’s transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab (Start of November) ▼

Resolution adopted removes Syria’s transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab from UN sanctions targeting ISIL/Al-Qaida supporters
US, UK and European Union had already lifted punitive measures covering ~$15 billion in restricted assets and trade in May
US revoked HTS terrorist designation in July, UK followed in October; Russia notes Syria’s need for economic recovery during transition

India and Netherlands establish Joint Trade and Investment Committee

[Netherlands]

Key Updates:

India and the Netherlands have set up a Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.
An MoU was inked in this regard between the two countries.
The JTIC will serve as a dedicated mechanism to review bilateral trade relations, promote two-way investments, address investment and trade barriers, and explore collaboration in sectors of mutual interest.
Under the MoU, the JTIC will meet annually, alternately in India and the Netherlands.
The JTIC will be co-chaired by the Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Director General (Foreign Economic Relations), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands.

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India and Netherlands sign Letter of Intent to strengthen defence cooperation (Mid of December) ▼

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.

PHDCCI-Busan Chamber MoU to deepen India-South Korea trade ties (Start of November) ▼

MoU signed between PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Focus sectors: manufacturing, clean energy, digital technology, maritime logistics, and emerging industries
Aim: increase business exchanges, investments, and knowledge sharing between India and South Korea

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.

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.

India and Oman sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on December 19, 2025

[Oman]

Key Updates:

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed by India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef in Muscat.
Under the bilateral trade pact, Indian companies operating in Oman are allowed to employ up to 50 per cent of their total staff from their India office.
The CEPA increases the quota for Intra-Corporate Transferees from 20 per cent to 50 per cent and extends the permitted duration of stay for contractual service suppliers from 90 days to two years.
Oman has offered to ease norms in 127 sub-sectors, including computer-related services, healthcare, education, and professional services such as accounting and engineering.
The agreement provides for 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) by Indian companies in major services sectors in Oman through commercial presence.
The pact includes a provision that if Oman offers more liberal terms to any other South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries regarding their Omanisation policy, similar concessions will be extended to India.
The trade deal is expected to be implemented by the first quarter of 2026.

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India and Oman sign Joint Vision Document and four MoUs during PM Modi visit (Mid of December) ▼

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.

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.

Meghalaya Cabinet Approves Amendments to Fiscal Act and Service Rules (Mid of November) ▼

The Meghalaya cabinet approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2006.
This amendment permits the state to increase its fiscal deficit ceiling from 3% to 3.5% of GSDP, thereby facilitating additional borrowing.
The cabinet also approved the amendment to Rule 6(D) of the Meghalaya Ministerial District Establishment Service Rules, 2017, which will allow 50% of ‘Group D’ posts to be filled from among the Regular Casual Workers (RCWs).
Additionally, the cabinet approved the Service Rules for the Meghalaya State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, permitting it to have its own recruitment board to recruit its staff.

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.

ISRO-Academia Day unveils RESPOND Basket 2025 to spur university research

[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]

Key Updates:

Department of Space secretary and ISRO chairman Dr. V. Narayanan inaugurated the Isro-Academia Day at ISRO Headquarters in Bengaluru.
ISRO released the RESPOND Basket 2025, outlining research statements aligned with Isro’s current and future mission needs.
Premier universities and recognised academic and R&D institutions can submit research proposals through the I-GRASP portal by January 31, 2026.

Similar / Past Coverage

ISRO targets seven launches by March 2026, including first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (Mid of December) ▼

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans seven launch missions by March next year.
The human-rated LVM3 will carry the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, with Vyommitra humanoid robot aboard.
PSLV63 will launch TDS-01 satellite to demonstrate high thrust electric propulsion, quantum key distribution, and indigenous travelling wave tube amplifier.
India’s first industry-built Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle will place Oceansat satellite into orbit along with Indo-Mauritius Joint Satellite and LEAP-2.
LVM3 will launch Bluebird-6 communication satellite for US-based AST Spacemobile under a commercial agreement through New Space India Limited (NSIL).
PSLV will launch EOS-N1 earth observation satellite for a strategic user and 18 smaller Indian and international satellites.
GSLV-Mk II is expected to launch EOS-5 (GISAT-1A) to replace GISAT-1 which failed to reach intended orbit in 2021.
NSIL has awarded a contract to a HAL-L&T consortium to manufacture five PSLV rockets under a technology transfer arrangement.
Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is expected to launch a dedicated satellite before March 2026.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Hitachi MGRM Net Ltd sign pact to build AI-enabled national innovation platform (Start of December) ▼

The platform, MStarTM Global AI Connect, will form a national digital backbone linking schools with mentors, incubators, research institutions, accelerators and industry.
It will support virtual Atal Tinkering Labs and virtual incubation centres linked to physical facilities.
The collaboration will provide workflows for ideation-to-pilot projects, readiness-level tracking and challenge grants.
Analytics generated by the platform will aid policy decisions at the Centre and State levels.

ISRO targets seven missions including first uncrewed Gaganyaan flight by March 2026 (Start of November) ▼

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan: 'We have planned seven launches to take place before the end of this financial year. It is by March 2026.'
First uncrewed Gaganyaan mission 'G1 Mission' scheduled before March 2026; three uncrewed missions planned before crewed flight.
Next launch after CMS-03 will be an LVM3 carrying 'a commercial communication satellite for a client.'
Three additional PSLV missions planned, one for NSIL customer satellite and one technology-development mission PSLV-N1.
GSLV-F17 rocket mission also slated before March 2026 as part of the seven-mission target.

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 Space Research Organisation (ISRO) schedules LVM3-M6 launch for 24 December

[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]

Key Updates:

ISRO announced that the launch of its LVM3-M6 mission has been scheduled for December 24, 2025, at 08:54 hours IST.
The heavy-lift launch vehicle will lift off from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Under a commercial agreement facilitated by New Space India Limited, the LVM3 on this mission will place the Bluebird-6 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile into orbit.

Similar / Past Coverage

ISRO targets seven launches by March 2026, including first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (Mid of December) ▼

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans seven launch missions by March next year.
The human-rated LVM3 will carry the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, with Vyommitra humanoid robot aboard.
PSLV63 will launch TDS-01 satellite to demonstrate high thrust electric propulsion, quantum key distribution, and indigenous travelling wave tube amplifier.
India’s first industry-built Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle will place Oceansat satellite into orbit along with Indo-Mauritius Joint Satellite and LEAP-2.
LVM3 will launch Bluebird-6 communication satellite for US-based AST Spacemobile under a commercial agreement through New Space India Limited (NSIL).
PSLV will launch EOS-N1 earth observation satellite for a strategic user and 18 smaller Indian and international satellites.
GSLV-Mk II is expected to launch EOS-5 (GISAT-1A) to replace GISAT-1 which failed to reach intended orbit in 2021.
NSIL has awarded a contract to a HAL-L&T consortium to manufacture five PSLV rockets under a technology transfer arrangement.
Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is expected to launch a dedicated satellite before March 2026.

HAL-L&T consortium delivers first industry-built PSLV for Oceansat launch (Mid of November) ▼

ISRO contracted the HAL–L&T consortium in 2022 for end-to-end production of five PSLV-XL rockets
The first industry-manufactured PSLV is scheduled to launch the Oceansat satellite early next year
ISRO has transferred Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to HAL, which will now fully own and operate the SSLV business
Consortium has begun delivering PSLV hardware and expects two or three launches next year
ISRO intervened to help resolve production challenges faced by the consortium

ISRO Successfully Tests Boot-Strap Mode Start on CE20 Cryogenic Engine (End of November) ▼

ISRO successfully demonstrated the boot-strap mode start test of the CE20 Cryogenic engine.
The CE20 engine powers the upper stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark -3 (LVM3) rocket.
The test was conducted for 10 seconds under vacuum conditions at the High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri on November 7.
The CE20 cryogenic engine is already qualified for operation at thrust levels between 19 and 22 tonnes with a single start in flight and is cleared for use in the Gaganyaan missions.
Under normal conditions, the engine ignition begins under tank head pressure, followed by a turbopump start up using a stored gas start-up system.
For future missions, multiple in-flight restarts of the CE20 engine will be required for mission flexibility, towards multi-orbit missions.
With the current configuration, each restart requires an additional start-up gas bottle and associated systems, leading to a reduction in vehicle payload capability.
Achieving boot-strap mode start, where the engine builds up to steady operation without external start-up assistance, is essential.
During the test, a multi-element igniter was employed in both the thrust chamber and gas generator to facilitate boot-strap starting.
In this test, following the ignition of the thrust chamber, the gas generator was ignited under tank head conditions, and the turbopumps were started without the use of the start-up system.
Boot-strap mode build-up and steady-state operation of the engine were successfully demonstrated.
ISRO has successfully demonstrated boot-strap mode starting of a gas-generator cycle cryogenic engine without any auxiliary start-up system, perhaps for the first time in the world.
This achievement is a significant milestone towards enhancing the restart capability and mission flexibility of future LVM3 flights.

ISRO targets seven missions including first uncrewed Gaganyaan flight by March 2026 (Start of November) ▼

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan: 'We have planned seven launches to take place before the end of this financial year. It is by March 2026.'
First uncrewed Gaganyaan mission 'G1 Mission' scheduled before March 2026; three uncrewed missions planned before crewed flight.
Next launch after CMS-03 will be an LVM3 carrying 'a commercial communication satellite for a client.'
Three additional PSLV missions planned, one for NSIL customer satellite and one technology-development mission PSLV-N1.
GSLV-F17 rocket mission also slated before March 2026 as part of the seven-mission target.

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) adjudged India’s Best Health Technology Assessment Institute for second straight year

Key Updates:

PGIMER, Chandigarh, has been recognised as the country’s Best Health Technology Assessment Institute for the second consecutive year by the Union Health Ministry at the ARISE 2025 national conclave.
The award was presented by Prof V K Paul, member (health), NITI Aayog, and Dr Rajiv Bahl, director-general, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR).
The HTA Resource Hub at PGIMER’s Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, led by Prof Shankar Prinja, anchors the institute’s leadership in HTA.

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IIT Delhi Leads India in QS World University Rankings Sustainability 2026; Sweden's Lund University Achieves Global Top Spot (Mid of November) ▼

IIT Delhi is the top-ranked Indian institution in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026, slipping to rank 205 from last year’s 171.
No Indian institute entered the global top 200 in the 2026 rankings.
IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur are ranked 236 globally, down from 235 and 202 respectively.
Among the top 10 Indian institutions, six are IITs.
Of the 15 IITs featured, six improved their rank compared to 2025.
IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur entered the top 100 in Employability and Outcomes, ranking 93rd and 96th respectively.
University of Delhi rose 27 places in Knowledge Exchange to rank 94th.
IIT Bombay ranks 100th globally in the Environmental Impact lens.
IIT Kharagpur placed 49th in Environmental Sustainability.
University of Delhi rose 31 places in Governance to rank 187th globally.
India has 103 universities in the rankings, with 26 new entries this year.
Globally, Lund University (Sweden) is ranked 1st, followed by University of Toronto (2nd) and UCL (3rd).
The US has 240 universities in the rankings, China 163, UK 109, India 103, and France 76.

University of Patanjali designated Gyan Bharatam Mission cluster centre (Mid of December) ▼

University of Patanjali has been designated a cluster centre under the Gyan Bharatam Mission of the Ministry of Culture.
It is the country’s first yoga- and Ayurveda-focused university to receive cluster centre status.
As a cluster centre, it will mentor and connect 20 other institutions to the mission.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi Conducts India's First Dedicated Clinical Trial of Advanced Brain Stent (Mid of December) ▼

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi has achieved a milestone in stroke care by conducting the country's first dedicated clinical trial of a cutting-edge and advanced brain stent made for treating severe strokes.
The GRASSROOT trial, which evaluated the Supernova stent (Gravity Medical Technology), has found excellent safety and efficacy outcomes in the treatment of severe strokes, say officials.
The results were published in the ‘Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery’ (JNIS), part of the prestigious British Medical Journal group.
AIIMS Delhi was the national coordinating centre and the lead enrolling site for the GRASSROOT trial – India's first clinical trial of a new and advanced stroke treatment device, the Supernova stent.
Earlier this year, data from the GRASSROOT trial were accepted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Supernova stent-retriever was approved for routine use in India.
This is the nation's first stroke device cleared based on a domestic clinical trial.
Conducted across eight centres, the trial marks a milestone for the Make-in-India initiative and positions India as a global player in advanced stroke care.
Developed by Gravity Medical Technology, Supernova is designed for India’s diverse patient population, where strokes often strike patients at a younger age than in the West.
The device has already treated more than 300 patients in Southeast Asia.
It will now be manufactured and made available in India at affordable prices, offering new hope to the 1.7 million Indians who suffer strokes each year.

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.

Blue Origin sends first wheelchair user to space aboard New Shepard

Key Updates:

Michaela Benthaus, a European Space Agency engineer, became the world's first wheelchair user to fly to space on a Blue Origin New Shepard sub-orbital mission.
The reusable New Shepard vehicle lifted off from Blue Origin’s Texas launch pad and crossed the Kármán line boundary of space during a 10-minute flight.
Ground support equipment and an extending bench from the capsule hatch were added to enable Benthaus to board independently.

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Nnena Kalu becomes first artist with learning disability to win Turner Prize (Mid of December) ▼

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.

Dr Tessy Thomas honoured with eighth Paulos Mar Gregorios Award (Start of December) ▼

Dr Tessy Thomas held the position of Director General (Aeronautical Systems), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
Dr Tessy Thomas was Vice-Chancellor of Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education.
Dr Tessy Thomas served as Project Director for the Agni-IV ballistic missile at DRDO.
The award recognises her outstanding contribution in women empowerment, space and missile technology.
Dr Tessy Thomas was mentored by former President and Director General, DRDO, APJ Abdul Kalam.

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).

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.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch BlueBird Block-2 satellite for US-based AST SpaceMobile

[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), AST SpaceMobile, United States]

Key Updates:

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the BlueBird Block-2 satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile Inc. using the LVM3-M6 rocket.
The launch is scheduled from the Second Launch Pad, SDSC SHAR (Satish Dhawan Space Centre), Sriharikota.
The mission is a dedicated commercial launch facilitated through a commercial agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
BlueBird satellites feature nearly 2,400 square feet arrays, making them the largest commercial phased arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit.

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International Civil Aviation Day observed on December 7 with theme 'Safe Skies & Sustainable Future for All' (Start of December) ▼

International Civil Aviation Day is commemorated annually on December 7.
The theme of International Civil Aviation Day for 2025 is 'Safe Skies & Sustainable Future for All'.
The United Nations General Assembly marked December 7 as International Civil Aviation Day in 1996.

ISRO’s LVM3-M5 ‘Bahubali’ rocket successfully launches India’s heaviest home-built communication satellite CMS-03 into GTO (Start of November) ▼

CMS-03 satellite, weighing approximately 4,410 kg, is India’s heaviest communication satellite built entirely on home soil.
LVM3-M5 rocket (nicknamed ‘Bahubali’) is ISRO’s flagship heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of carrying payloads up to 4,000 kg to GTO and 8,000 kg to LEO.
CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite designed to provide coverage over the Indian subcontinent and wide oceanic regions, enhancing telecommunications, internet connectivity, and satellite broadcasting.
The launch sequence included S200 solid booster ignition at T+0 s, payload fairing separation at 198.86 s, and CMS-03 separation at 965.94 s into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
The mission demonstrates India’s growing space autonomy by enabling heavier satellites to be launched directly from Indian soil without dependence on foreign rockets.

ISRO targets seven launches by March 2026, including first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (Mid of December) ▼

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans seven launch missions by March next year.
The human-rated LVM3 will carry the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, with Vyommitra humanoid robot aboard.
PSLV63 will launch TDS-01 satellite to demonstrate high thrust electric propulsion, quantum key distribution, and indigenous travelling wave tube amplifier.
India’s first industry-built Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle will place Oceansat satellite into orbit along with Indo-Mauritius Joint Satellite and LEAP-2.
LVM3 will launch Bluebird-6 communication satellite for US-based AST Spacemobile under a commercial agreement through New Space India Limited (NSIL).
PSLV will launch EOS-N1 earth observation satellite for a strategic user and 18 smaller Indian and international satellites.
GSLV-Mk II is expected to launch EOS-5 (GISAT-1A) to replace GISAT-1 which failed to reach intended orbit in 2021.
NSIL has awarded a contract to a HAL-L&T consortium to manufacture five PSLV rockets under a technology transfer arrangement.
Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is expected to launch a dedicated satellite before March 2026.

HAL-L&T consortium delivers first industry-built PSLV for Oceansat launch (Mid of November) ▼

ISRO contracted the HAL–L&T consortium in 2022 for end-to-end production of five PSLV-XL rockets
The first industry-manufactured PSLV is scheduled to launch the Oceansat satellite early next year
ISRO has transferred Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to HAL, which will now fully own and operate the SSLV business
Consortium has begun delivering PSLV hardware and expects two or three launches next year
ISRO intervened to help resolve production challenges faced by the consortium

World Basketball Day - 21 December

Key Updates:

The NBA joins FIBA and global basketball organisations to celebrate World Basketball Day on 21 December.
The celebration honours the YMCA’s 175th anniversary and basketball’s worldwide impact on youth and communities.
The NBA announced a year-long extension of its partnership with the YMCA featuring basketball and community-focused programming.

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A'ja Wilson named TIME's 2025 Athlete of the Year (Mid of December) ▼

A'ja Wilson became the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win a championship, Finals MVP, regular-season MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season.
She is one of four players in the WNBA or NBA to win four MVP trophies before the age of 30.
Wilson secured her third WNBA championship and second Finals MVP after the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals.

International Men’s Day 2025: Date, Theme, and History (Mid of November) ▼

International Men’s Day marked worldwide on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.
The theme for 2025 is “Celebrating Men and Boys,” with some regions also focusing on “Supporting Men and Boys” and initiatives highlighting mental health concerns through campaigns linked to “Zero Male Suicide.”
International Men’s Day started in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago, founded by Dr Jerome Teelucksingh.
Dr. Teelucksingh chose 19 November to honour his father’s birthday and a meaningful moment in the country’s football history.
The observance has now spread to more than 80 countries, becoming a global platform to recognise positive male role models and encourage healthier social understanding.
The day is built on six key pillars, focusing on men’s physical, emotional, and mental health, addressing discrimination, and encouraging healthier and more balanced gender relations.
International Men’s Day brings attention to issues that are frequently overlooked, especially topics like stress, emotional struggles, and suicide, encouraging more open conversations around mental health.

World AIDS Day on December 1 (Start of December) ▼

Theme 2025: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,”
World AIDS Day is the first global day dedicated to a health issue.
World AIDS Day was created by the World Health Organization in 1988.
The U.S. has marked World AIDS Day since 1988.
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was launched in 2003.

World Meditation Day observed globally on 21 December

[United Nations (UN)]

Key Updates:

World Meditation Day is observed globally on 21 December.
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed 21 December as World Meditation Day last year.
The observance aims to raise awareness about the benefits of meditation for physical and mental health.

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Bodhi Day observed on December 8 (Start of December) ▼

Bodhi Day is observed on December 8 to honour the day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.
The day is celebrated to honour the Buddha's journey toward awakening and the insights he gained along the way.
Many people meditate, read the teachings, practise loving-kindness, or reflect on their own path on this day.

World Philosophy Day 2025 observed on November 20 (End of November) ▼

World Philosophy Day is observed every year on the third Thursday of November.
The day was first celebrated by the United Nations (UN) in 2002.
In 2005, the UNESCO General Conference dedicated the day to promote critical thinking, dialogues and discussion around the world.

World Philosophy Day observed on third Thursday of November: promotes dialogue, critical thinking and global reflection (End of November) ▼

World Philosophy Day is observed every year on the third Thursday of November, and in 2025 it falls on November 20.
The day was first celebrated by the UN in 2002 and officially designated by the UNESCO General Conference in 2005.
The significance of the day is to encourage individual dialogues, public debates, discussing new ideas and intellectual curiosity, addressing social and global challenges.

World Vegan Day observed on November 1 (Start of November) ▼

World Vegan Day is a global observance celebrated annually on November 1.
It was first established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, the then Chair of the Vegan Society in the United Kingdom.
The day commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Vegan Society and the coining of the term “vegan” in 1944 by Donald Watson.
Donald Watson created the term vegan by taking the first and last letters of the word vegetarian.
World Vegan Day marks the beginning of World Vegan Month (November).
World Vegan Day is now celebrated in over 100 countries.

Winter Solstice 2025 falls on December 21

Key Updates:

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.
The solstice will fall on Sunday, Dec. 21.
The winter solstice marks the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Beaver Supermoon 2025: Details and Significance (Start of November) ▼

The Beaver Supermoon is the first full moon of November 2025.
This year’s beaver moon will be the biggest supermoon of 2025.
The moon will reach its full phase at 1:19 p.m. GMT on Wednesday, November 5.
The term Beaver Moon is believed to have originated with Native American tribes.
November’s full moon has long symbolized preparation, hard work, and the rhythm of nature.
A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth, a point known as perigee.
Experts estimate that this year’s Beaver Supermoon will appear around 10% larger and 30% brighter than a typical full moon.
This will be the second in a trio of consecutive supermoons, following October’s Harvest Moon and preceding December’s Cold Moon.

WMO and BoM Confirm Weak La Niña Underway, Set to Influence Global Weather into 2026 (Start of December) ▼

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says there is a 55 per cent probability of a weak La Niña over the next three months.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirms La Niña has emerged and is now firmly established in the tropical Pacific.
The latest Niño3.4 SST index for the week ending 23 November is −0.93 °C, with sustained values below −0.8 °C signalling La Niña.
The 30-day SOI was at +16.1 and the 90-day value was at +8.5, with sustained readings above +7.0 confirming the La Niña pattern.
The negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remains active but has weakened to −0.60 °C and is predicted to return to neutral in December.
Sea surface temperatures in the Australian region were the second warmest on record for October and are likely to persist into early 2026.
From December 2025 to February 2026, temperatures are expected to remain above normal across much of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
For India, this could mean a cooler winter in the north, more frequent western disturbances and a higher chance of stronger systems forming in the Bay of Bengal.

World Savings Day observed on October 31: Theme 'This is not a savings account' (End of October) ▼

World Savings Day is marked every year on October 31.
The theme for this year is 'This is not a savings account'.
The day is dedicated to the power of saving money for a better future.

Bodhi Day observed on December 8 (Start of December) ▼

Bodhi Day is observed on December 8 to honour the day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.
The day is celebrated to honour the Buddha's journey toward awakening and the insights he gained along the way.
Many people meditate, read the teachings, practise loving-kindness, or reflect on their own path on this day.

International Human Solidarity Day observed on 20 December 2025 with theme 'Solidarity for Sustainable Development: Uniting Communities for a Shared Future'

[International Human Solidarity Day]

Key Updates:

International Human Solidarity Day is celebrated annually on 20 December to mark the core value of solidarity in international relations and a driving force to achieve sustainable development and social justice.
The theme for 2025 is 'Solidarity for Sustainable Development: Uniting Communities for a Shared Future.'
On 22 December 2005, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 20 December as International Human Solidarity Day, recognizing solidarity as a universal value for the 21st century.

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

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

International Men’s Day 2025: Date, Theme, and History (Mid of November) ▼

International Men’s Day marked worldwide on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.
The theme for 2025 is “Celebrating Men and Boys,” with some regions also focusing on “Supporting Men and Boys” and initiatives highlighting mental health concerns through campaigns linked to “Zero Male Suicide.”
International Men’s Day started in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago, founded by Dr Jerome Teelucksingh.
Dr. Teelucksingh chose 19 November to honour his father’s birthday and a meaningful moment in the country’s football history.
The observance has now spread to more than 80 countries, becoming a global platform to recognise positive male role models and encourage healthier social understanding.
The day is built on six key pillars, focusing on men’s physical, emotional, and mental health, addressing discrimination, and encouraging healthier and more balanced gender relations.
International Men’s Day brings attention to issues that are frequently overlooked, especially topics like stress, emotional struggles, and suicide, encouraging more open conversations around mental health.

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.

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.

Prime Minister Modi releases commemorative postal stamp on Ashwagandha in New Delhi

[World Health Organization (WHO)]

Key Updates:

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative postal stamp on Ashwagandha at the closing ceremony of the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi.
The five-rupee postal stamp on Ashwagandha symbolises the rise of medicinal plants and underscores the use of traditional medicine techniques and philosophies such as Ayurveda.
Prime Minister Modi launched the Traditional Medicine Global Library, a landmark global platform designed to preserve and provide equitable access to scientific data, policy documents and validated knowledge related to traditional medicine.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Adwa Victory Memorial and Museum in Ethiopia (Mid of December) ▼

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.

Vice-President releases commemorative stamp honouring Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II in New Delhi (Mid of December) ▼

Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II, also called Suvaran Maran, was a 7th-8th century feudatory of the Pallavas who ruled central Tamil Nadu from Tiruchirappalli.
The Mutharaiyar dynasty built cave and structural temples, expanded irrigation and patronised Shaivite scholars, leaving inscriptions across Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Perambalur districts.
The stamp release fulfils a long-standing demand of Tamil Nadu’s Mutharaiyar community and is part of the Centre’s drive to honour pre-Islamic Indian rulers from SC/ST/OBC backgrounds.

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.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches 'My Stamp' for Rezang La War Memorial (Mid of November) ▼

The makers of '120 Bahadur' launched a customised 'My Stamp' based on the Rezang La War Memorial.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the stamp in New Delhi.
The initiative celebrates the valour and spirit of the soldiers who laid down their lives at Rezang La, ahead of the 63rd anniversary of the historic battle.
The revered Rezang La War Memorial is situated in Chushul, Ladakh.
The memorial honours the soldiers who laid down their lives during the Battle of Rezang La in the 1962 India-China war.