Daily Briefing Thursday, Dec 25

Daily Current Affairs: 25 December 2025

Analysis for 25 December 2025

President Droupadi Murmu presented Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025

Key Updates:

  • President Droupadi Murmu presented the annual Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar to distinguished scientists from diverse fields at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • A total of 24 awards were presented under the second edition of the Puraskar in four categories: Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva, and Vigyan Team.
  • Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was posthumously awarded the Vigyan Ratna, the highest science award, for his lifetime achievements and contributions in the field of science and technology.
  • The Vigyan Team award was conferred upon the Team- Aroma Mission CSIR for contributions to Agricultural Science.
  • The awards are modeled on the Padma awards and recognize outstanding contributions across 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, and Space Science and Technology.

Similar / Past Coverage

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.
Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (Posthumously) awarded Vigyan Ratna 2025 for lifetime contributions in Physics (End of October) ▼
  • Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar received the Vigyan Ratna 2025 in Physics.
  • The award was conferred posthumously.
  • Vigyan Ratna honours lifetime contributions to science and technology.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee received Bharat Ratna (Start of December) ▼
  • Atal Bihari Vajpayee served three terms as Prime Minister.
  • He served a full term from 1999 to 2004.
  • He was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior.
  • December 25 is observed as Good Governance Day in India.
  • Vajpayee’s tenure introduced landmark programmes such as the Kisan Credit Card, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and National Rural Health initiatives.
Russian President Vladimir Putin receives ceremonial welcome and Tri-Services Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan (Start of December) ▼
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • Putin inspected the Guard of Honour following the ceremonial welcome, with the Russian and Indian national anthems being played.
  • The Russian President is on a two-day State visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Prime Minister Modi broke protocol to greet Putin on the tarmac at Palam Airport, sharing a car ride to the Prime Minister’s residence.
  • Putin was gifted a copy of the sacred Bhagwad Gita during his visit.
  • The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit will be held between Putin and PM Modi during the visit.
  • Putin will attend an India-Russia business forum, launch the RT channel in India, and attend a banquet hosted by President Murmu.

Paliyar tribe petitions Dindigul Collector for separate houses aligned with cultural practices

[Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

  • Seventeen Paliyar families from Shanmugam Parai Paliyarkudi village in Periyammapatti panchayat, Palani taluk, Dindigul district, submitted a petition to the Dindigul Collector.
  • The Paliyar are a forest-dependent nomadic community traditionally engaged in collecting minor forest produce, goat rearing, and agricultural labour.
  • House site pattas were issued three years ago, yet the families continue to live in individual hut houses on about one acre of government poramboke land.
  • They oppose closely built concrete houses in dense colonies as such layouts contradict their customary lifestyle that requires space for livestock sheds and scattered housing.
  • The petition requests a survey and demarcation of the patta land already allotted, followed by construction of separate concrete houses under the Tholkudi scheme in a layout respecting their cultural practices and ancestral lifestyle.

Similar / Past Coverage

MoSJE–DWBDNC and MoRD–DAY NRLM Sign Landmark MoU to Empower De‑Notified, Nomadic and Semi‑Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) (End of November) ▼
  • The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE), through the Development and Welfare Board for De‑Notified, Nomadic and Semi‑Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC), and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY‑NRLM), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
  • The MoU aims to advance inclusive development and social justice for historically marginalized communities, specifically De‑Notified, Nomadic and Semi‑Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
  • Over the next three years, more than 5,000 DNT Self‑Help Groups (SHGs) formed under DWBDNC will be assimilated into the DAY‑NRLM framework.
  • A dedicated cadre, DNT Sakhi, drawn from within the community, will support about 30 families organized into three Self‑Help Groups (SHGs).
  • The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on November 25, 2025.
PM-JANMAN Initiative for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (End of November) ▼
  • PM-JANMAN focuses on housing, health, education and livelihood for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
  • Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan improves village-level infrastructure and governance.
  • Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan provides capacity building and leadership development for frontline tribal welfare officials.
UN Tourism announces 52 new ‘World’s Best Tourism Villages 2025’ (End of October) ▼
  • The Best Tourism Villages initiative was launched in 2021 under the UN Tourism for Rural Development Programme.
  • Villages are evaluated under nine categories: cultural and natural resources, economic stability, promotion and conservation of cultural resources, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, infrastructure and connectivity, tourism development and value chain integration, governance and prioritization of tourism, and health, safety, and security.
  • The 2025 list includes 52 villages selected from over 270 applications submitted by 65 UN Tourism Member States.
  • Only two Indian villages—Pochampalli (Telangana, 2021) and Dhordo (Gujarat, 2023)—have ever been recognised in previous editions.
Dindi Mahotsav: A Historic State-Level Celebration in Margao (Start of November) ▼
  • The Dindi Mahotsav is celebrating its 116th edition.
  • The festival was accorded the status of a state-level celebration by the government earlier this year.
  • The Dindi festival celebrates Kartiki Ekadashi, marking the end of the four-month Chaturmas period in the Hindu calendar.
  • The tradition began in 1909 when devotees of Shree Vithal Rakhumayee from Maharashtra, who settled in Goa during Portuguese rule, started the festival.
  • The festival originated because devotees were unable to undertake their pilgrimage to Pandharpur due to travel restrictions imposed by the foreign regime.
  • The main event of the festival is the procession of the deity’s palanquin from Shree Harimandir at Pajifond to Shree Vithal Mandir at Comba and returning to Shree Harimandir.
  • The Dindi is known for its sangeet maifals and bhajani baithaks.
  • Legendary performers including Bal Gandharva, Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Jasraj, and Pt Jeetendra Abhisheki have graced the festival.

Saleem Ahmad assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited

[Rail Vikas Nigam Limited]

Key Updates:

  • Saleem Ahmad assumed charge as the new Chairman and Managing Director of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).
  • He previously served as Director Projects at NBCC India.
  • Ahmad is a civil engineer with over three decades of experience in construction.
  • He has worked as Executive Director (Civil) with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and with Mumbai Port Trust.
  • He is a 1990 batch civil engineering graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

Similar / Past Coverage

Rituraj Sinha Managing Director of Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Limited (UISL) passed away at 58 (Start of December) ▼
  • Rituraj Sinha was the Managing Director of Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Limited (UISL).
  • He was pronounced dead on arrival at Tata Main Hospital.
  • Last rites will be held at Parvati Ghat.
RCB Appoint Malolan Rangarajan As Women's Team Head Coach Ahead Of WPL 2026 (Start of November) ▼
  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB on Thursday named former Tamil Nadu spinner Malolan Rangarajan as the head coach of their women's team ahead of the fourth WPL season next year.
  • Rangarajan replaces Luke Williams, who was appointed as head coach in 2024.
  • Malolan Rangarajan, a key member of the RCB support staff for the last six years in various roles, has now been appointed as head coach for the upcoming WPL cycle.
  • He served as the assistant coach during their title-winning season in 2024.
  • The WPL is being a held a month earlier than usual in 2026 -- from January to February.
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.
Sipan Kumar Garg takes additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director of THDC India Limited (End of November) ▼
  • Sipan Kumar Garg has assumed the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of THDC India Limited.
  • He has been serving as Director (Finance) at THDC India Limited.
  • He is a member of the ICAI, ICMAI and ICSI, and a rank holder in the Company Secretary examination.
  • He brings over 24 years of experience in finance, accounts, taxation and commercial functions in the power sector.
  • Before joining THDC India Limited, he worked as Chief Financial Officer at Aravali Power Company Private Limited and Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited, both subsidiaries of NTPC Limited.

Vinod Kumar Shukla Passed Away After Winning The 59th Jnanpith Award

Key Updates:

  • Vinod Kumar Shukla, a renowned Hindi writer, poet, and novelist, passed away at the age of 88 in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
  • He was the first person from Chhattisgarh to receive the Jnanpith Award, which is the highest literary honor given to writers in Indian languages.
  • He was awarded the 59th Jnanpith Award for his significant contributions to Hindi literature.
  • His major novels include Naukar Ki Kameez, Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi, and Khilega To Dekhenge.
  • His first booklet of poetry, titled Lagbhag Jai Hind, was published in 1971.
  • The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur confirmed the cause of death as multiple organ infection and organ failure.

Similar / Past Coverage

BW Legal World announced winners of 6th Edition of 40 Under 40 Lawyers and Legal Influencers Awards 2025 (End of December) ▼
  • BW Legal World announced the winners of the 6th Edition of 40 Under 40 Lawyers and Legal Influencers Awards 2025.
  • The awards ceremony was held in Delhi and recognised emerging legal professionals for exceptional contributions in corporate advisory, dispute resolution, regulatory practice, technology transactions and cross-border mandates.
  • Abhinav Mishra, Founder of Chambers of Abhinav Mishra, was among the award winners.
  • Aditya Ganju, Partner at AG Chambers, was among the award winners.
  • Akshay Sachthey, Partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., was among the award winners.
  • Deepika Narayan Bharadwaj, Director of Ekam Nyaay Foundation, was among the award winners.
  • Shashank Agarwal, Founder of Legum Solis, was among the award winners.
  • Varun Singh, Founder & Managing Partner of Foresight Law Offices India, was among the award winners.
BW Legal World (BWLW) Announced Winners For 6th Edition Of 40 Under 40 Lawyers And Legal Influencers Awards 2025 (End of December) ▼
  • BW Legal World (BWLW) announced the winners of the 6th Edition of the 40 Under 40 Lawyers and Legal Influencers Awards 2025 on December 21, 2025.
  • The award ceremony was hosted in Delhi and brought together rising leaders from across India’s legal and policy ecosystem.
  • The 40 Under 40 Awards 2025 jury comprised distinguished individuals including Dr U.K. Chaudhary, Dr Anurag Batra, Rakhi Biswas, Pramod Dubey, and Arvind Nayar.
  • The winners included Abhinav Mishra of Chambers of Abhinav Mishra, Abhisaar Bairagi of Khaitan & Co, Arjit Pratap Singh of Adani Energy Solutions, and Prateek Sethi of Bharti Group.
  • The awards recognized practitioners for exceptional contributions in corporate advisory, dispute resolution, regulatory practice, technology transactions, and cross-border mandates.
  • The jury also included legal experts such as Gopika Pant of Indian Law Partners, Harry Chawla of Luthra & Luthra Law Offices India, and Vani Mehta of GE Aerospace.
Prafulla Govinda Baruah passed away as Editor of The Assam Tribune. (Mid of December) ▼
  • Prafulla Govinda Baruah died due to old age-related ailments at a Guwahati hospital.
  • He was the editor of The Assam Tribune, North East's oldest English daily.
  • He was a Padma Shri awardee and helmed the newspaper for decades.
  • He was the Chairman Emeritus of The Assam Tribune Group.
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'.

C.P. Radhakrishnan releases book 'Sanatan Sanskriti Ki Atal Drishti' authored by Vasudev Devnani

Key Updates:

  • C.P. Radhakrishnan, Vice-President of India, released the book 'Sanatan Sanskriti Ki Atal Drishti' authored by Vasudev Devnani, Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
  • The release event took place at the Vice-President’s Enclave in New Delhi.
  • The book release coincides with the centenary birth anniversary celebrations of former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
  • Vasudev Devnani holds the position of Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

Similar / Past Coverage

Ravi Deecee received the French honour Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (End of December) ▼
  • Ravi Deecee, the Publisher and Managing Director of DC Books, was conferred with the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).
  • The Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, presented the award at a ceremony held at the Embassy of France on December 4.
  • The award recognizes his commitment to multilingualism and the publication of Malayalam translations of leading French works by authors such as Annie Ernaux, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Maryse Condé.
  • DC Books also manages the Vagamon Writer Residency in Kerala, which has been part of the Villa Swagatam programme of the French Embassy since its inception.
  • Instituted in 1957, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres recognizes individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the promotion and enrichment of arts and culture.
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.
Bharat-Sri Lanka Sanskrit Mahotsav inaugurated at University of Colombo (Mid of November) ▼
  • The week-long Bharat-Sri Lanka Sanskrit Mahotsav was inaugurated at the University of Colombo.
  • The festival is jointly organised by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, the Central Sanskrit University, and the India-Sri Lanka Foundation.
  • The event brings together scholars, monks, and students from India and Sri Lanka to celebrate Sanskrit as a shared civilisational legacy.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injects Rs 2.90 lakh crore liquidity via bond buys and USD swap

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

  • RBI will buy Rs 2 lakh crore of government bonds through open market operations in four tranches of Rs 50,000 crore each.
  • RBI will conduct a $10-billion buy/sell swap auction on Jan. 13 to ease dollar liquidity.
  • System liquidity turned negative mid-December, driving the weighted average call rate to 5.46%, above the 5.25% repo rate.
  • Between December 11 and 18, RBI had infused Rs 1.45 lakh crore through OMOs and a $5-billion swap.
  • Power Finance Corp scrapped a Rs 6,000-crore bond sale after bids came in at higher-than-expected coupons.
  • The 10-year benchmark yield has risen 20 basis points since Dec. 5 despite a quarter percentage point policy rate cut.
  • State governments collectively raised Rs 33,720 crore through bond sales on Tuesday at cutoff yields higher than expected.
  • Bank of India raised Rs 10,000 crore long term infrastructure bonds at 7.23%.

Similar / Past Coverage

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) slaps ₹61.95 lakh fine on Kotak Mahindra Bank. (End of December) ▼
  • 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.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injects $5 billion USD/INR swap and Rs 1 lakh crore OMO to ease liquidity. (Mid of December) ▼
  • RBI combines a three-year USD/INR buy-sell swap of $5 billion with open market purchases of government securities worth Rs 1 lakh crore to inject durable liquidity.
  • The measures accompany a 25 basis point repo rate cut to 5.25%, taking the cumulative reduction since February to 125 bps.
  • The rupee has fallen 5% this year, becoming Asia’s worst performer and breaching the 90-per-dollar mark.
  • Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore, while foreign direct investment and overseas borrowing remain subdued.
  • Currency analysts expect USD/INR to trade within the 89.40–90.95 range.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cuts repo rate and injects durable liquidity through OMO and dollar-rupee sell swap. (Start of December) ▼
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced a 25 basis points repo rate cut.
  • RBI will conduct Open Market Operation (OMO) purchases of government securities worth Rs 1 trillion.
  • RBI announced a three-year dollar-rupee buy/sell swap of $5 billion to inject durable liquidity into the financial system.
  • The dollar-rupee sell swap is a foreign exchange transaction where banks sell US Dollars to RBI in return for Indian Rupee.
  • The combined measures aim to ensure adequate, durable liquidity and facilitate monetary transmission.
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.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry records 1.8% rise in Index of Eight Core Industries

[Ministry of Commerce & Industry]

Key Updates:

  • The Index of Eight Core Industries grew 1.8% in November versus the year-ago period.
  • Cement output surged 14.5% and steel production rose 6.1% in November.
  • Coal and fertiliser production increased 2.1% and 5.6% respectively during the month.
  • Crude oil, natural gas, refinery products and electricity contracted 3.2%, 2.5%, 0.9% and 2.2% in November.
  • Cumulatively for April–November 2025-26, the core sector expanded 2.4% over the same period last year.
  • Steel and cement led cumulative growth at 9.7% and 8.2%, respectively, for April–November 2025-26.

Similar / Past Coverage

Ministry of Commerce & Industry records 1.8% rise in Index of Eight Core Industries (End of December) ▼
  • The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) grew 1.8% in November 2025 compared with the year-ago period.
  • ICI carries a 40.27% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
  • Cement output surged 14.5% and steel production increased 6.1% in November.
  • Fertiliser production rose 5.6% and coal output climbed 2.1% during the month.
  • Crude oil production declined 3.2%, natural gas fell 2.5%, refinery products contracted 0.9% and electricity generation slipped 2.2% in November.
  • Cumulatively for April–November 2025-26, core sector output expanded 2.4% over the corresponding period last year.
  • Steel and cement led cumulative growth at 9.7% and 8.2%, respectively, while coal, crude oil, natural gas and electricity posted cumulative declines.
India's IIP Grows 4% in September 2025, Driven by Manufacturing (End of October) ▼
  • India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose 4.0% year-on-year in September 2025.
  • The growth was led by a 4.8% expansion in manufacturing.
  • The data was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
  • The Quick Estimate of IIP stood at 152.8 in September 2025, up from 146.9 in September 2024.
  • Sector-wise, mining output slipped 0.4%, while electricity generation grew 3.1%.
  • Out of 23 manufacturing sub-groups, 13 recorded positive growth in September.
  • Top performing manufacturing sectors included basic metals (12.3%), electrical equipment (28.7%), and motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (14.6%).
  • Based on use-based classification, infrastructure/construction goods grew 10.5%, consumer durables grew 10.2%, and intermediate goods grew 5.3%.
  • Consumer non-durables recorded a growth rate of –2.9%.
  • The next IIP release, for October 2025, is scheduled for November 28, 2025.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) estimates India’s Q2 FY26 GDP growth at 8.2% (End of November) ▼
  • India’s real GDP expanded 8.2% in Q2 FY26, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
  • MoSPI estimates India’s first-half (H1) FY26 real GDP growth at 8.0%.
  • Real Gross Value Added (GVA) increased 8.1% in Q2 FY26.
  • The secondary sector grew 8.1% and the tertiary sector grew 9.2% in Q2 FY26.
  • Manufacturing output rose 9.1% in Q2 FY26.
  • Financial, real estate, and professional services grew 10.2% in Q2 FY26.
  • Real Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) grew 7.9% in Q2 FY26.
  • Government consumption (GFCE) contracted 2.7% in Q2 FY26.
  • Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) rose 7.3% in Q2 FY26.
  • Exports grew 5.6% and imports increased 12.8% in Q2 FY26.
National Statistics Office (NSO) shows industrial production growth at 14-month low of 0.4% in October (Start of December) ▼
  • Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose an annual 0.4% in October.
  • IIP growth lower than upwardly revised 4.6% in September.
  • IIP growth below 3.7% recorded in October last year.
  • Manufacturing sector slowed to 1.8% in October.
  • Manufacturing growth 4.4% in October last year.
  • Electricity sector contracted 6.9% in October.
  • Electricity growth 2% in same month last year.
  • Mining sector fell 1.8% in October.
  • Mining expansion 0.9% in year ago period.
  • Capital goods sector rose 2.4% in October.
  • Capital goods expansion 5.4% in September.
  • Consumer durables segment fell 0.5% in October.
  • Consumer durables growth 10% in September.
  • Non-durables sector contracted 4.4% in October.
  • Non-durables decline 0.3% in September.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) resets base years for CPI, GDP, and IIP

[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will release a new series of Consumer Price Index (CPI) data with the base year 2024=100 on February 12, 2026.
  • MoSPI will roll out revised National Accounts data using 2022-23 as the base year on February 27, 2026.
  • The new Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series, featuring 2022-23 as the base year, is scheduled for release on May 28, 2026.
  • MoSPI convened a pre-release consultative workshop to discuss proposed methodological and structural changes in the revised data series with stakeholders.
  • The revision process involves key officials including NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman K Bery, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran, and MoSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg.

Similar / Past Coverage

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to release new series of CPI, GDP, IIP data (End of December) ▼
  • MoSPI will release a new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with 2024 as the base year on 12 February 2026.
  • National Accounts data using 2022-23 as the base year will be released on 27 February 2026.
  • The updated Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series with 2022-23 as the base year is scheduled for release on 28 May 2026.
  • A pre-release consultative workshop on the base revision will be held on Tuesday following the first session on 26 November in Mumbai.
  • The workshop will present proposed methodological and structural changes in GDP, CPI, and IIP and seek stakeholder feedback.
Government of India (GoI) updates national accounts base year to 2022-23 (Start of December) ▼
  • Government of India (GoI) will revise the base year for national accounts from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
  • The new base year will come into effect from February 26-27 next year.
  • The update aims to ensure national account statistics better reflect the present structure of the economy.
  • The IMF assigned a C grade to India’s national accounts data due to the outdated base year of 2011-12.
  • India’s real GDP rose 8.2% during the July-September quarter.
India's Q2 FY26 Growth Forecasts by SBI, ET, and RBI; GST Collections Detailed (Mid of November) ▼
  • A research report by the State Bank of India (SBI) predicts India’s economy to have expanded by about 7.5% in the second quarter of FY26.
  • An ET poll of 12 economists suggested India’s economic growth likely quickened to 7.3% in the second quarter.
  • The National Statistical Office (NSO) is scheduled to release the official figures on November 28.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected September quarter growth at 7%.
  • GDP rose 7.8% in the April–June quarter, which was the fastest pace in five quarters.
  • GST rationalisation shifted to a two-rate structure of 5% and 18% from September 22.
  • Gross domestic GST collections for November 2025, based on October 2025 returns, may be around ₹1.49 lakh crore, reflecting a year-on-year rise of 6.8%.
  • Including ₹51,000 crore from IGST and cess collected on imports, total GST receipts for November could cross ₹2 lakh crore.
  • The share of leading indicators that reflect growth in consumption and demand rose to 83% in the second quarter, up from 70% in the first quarter.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects India’s GDP to grow 6.6% in FY2025/26 (End of November) ▼
  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects India’s real GDP to grow at 6.6% in FY2025/26 before moderating to 6.2% in FY2026/27.
  • India’s real GDP expanded by 7.8% in the first quarter of FY2025/26.
  • GST reform and the resulting reduction in the effective rate are expected to help cushion the adverse impact of the prolonged 50% US tariffs.
  • Headline inflation has declined markedly, driven by subdued food prices and the one-off effect of the GST reform.
  • IMF Executive Directors called for continued fiscal consolidation and recommended replenishing fiscal buffers through domestic revenue mobilisation.
  • The IMF noted that India’s financial and corporate sectors remain resilient, supported by adequate capital buffers and multi-year low non-performing assets.

Government of India (GoI) Notifies Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules 2025

[Government of India]

Key Updates:

  • The Government of India (GoI) has notified the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025, under the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2025.
  • The new rules replace the system of multiple licenses with a single petroleum lease covering exploration, development, and production of all hydrocarbons, including shale.
  • The regulatory framework provides lease tenures of up to 30 years, which are extendable for the full economic life of a field.
  • Criminal penalties for violations have been removed and replaced with financial penalties of ₹25 lakh, plus ₹10 lakh per day for continuing breaches.
  • Applications for the grant of a petroleum lease must be decided within a time-bound period of 180 days.
  • The Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) is designated as the competent authority for offshore safety, audits, and standard-setting in exploration and production operations.
  • Environmental provisions mandate time-bound plans for zero gas flaring and reduced greenhouse emissions at oilfields.
  • The rules permit lessees to jointly develop or share infrastructure facilities by mutual agreement and require an annual declaration of infrastructure capacity.
  • The seat of arbitration for disputes involving foreign companies may be a neutral seat, while New Delhi is the seat for disputes where all lessees are Indian-incorporated companies.

Similar / Past Coverage

National Pension System (NPS) Amendments 2025: 80% Lump-sum Withdrawal and Extended Exit Age (End of December) ▼
  • The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified amendments to the PFRDA Exits and Withdrawals Regulations, 2015, applicable to the National Pension System (NPS).
  • The permissible lump-sum withdrawal at normal exit has been increased from 60% to 80%, while the mandatory annuity portion has been reduced to 20%.
  • The maximum exit age for subscribers has been extended from 70 years to 85 years.
  • For the All Citizen Model, normal exit is now permitted after 15 years of investment or upon reaching 60 years of age, whichever is earlier.
  • The threshold for 100% lump-sum withdrawal for non-government subscribers has been raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹8 lakh.
  • The mandatory 5-year minimum subscription period previously required for premature exit has been removed for non-government subscribers.
  • New structured withdrawal mechanisms, namely Systematic Lumpsum Withdrawal (SLW) and Systematic Unit Withdrawal (SUR), have been introduced to allow periodic redemption of investment units.
  • For government subscribers with a corpus between ₹8 lakh and ₹12 lakh, a lump-sum withdrawal of up to ₹6 lakh is permitted, with the remainder accessible via SUR.
  • The list of permitted reasons for partial withdrawal has been liberalized to include medical treatment without restriction to a specific list of illnesses.
Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS): Key Features and Objectives (Mid of November) ▼
  • Scheme Name: Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS); Notified on April 8 this year with an outlay of ₹22,919 crore.
  • Objective: Bolster India’s push into producing high-value components and integrating into global value chains (GVCs).
  • Key Features: Offers investment, turnover-linked, and capital expenditure (capex)-linked incentives across sub-assemblies (electronics), supply chain ecosystem, and sub-assembly (telecom); six-year duration with one-year gestation period.
  • Latest Approval: 17 new projects worth ₹7,172 crore approved, taking the cumulative tally to 24 approved projects.
  • Investment & Production: Total proposed investment under ECMS stands at ₹1.15 lakh crore against a target of ₹59,000 crore; projects are expected to yield production worth ₹65,111 crore cumulatively.
  • Employment: Applicants propose to create employment for nearly 1.41 lakh people compared to a target of 91,600.
  • Categories Covered: Camera module, connectors, multi-layer PCB, oscillators, enclosures, among others, spread across nine states.
Government Notifies Amendments to the Capital Gains Accounts Scheme, 1988 to Enable Electronic Payments and Digital Processes (End of November) ▼
  • The CBDT vide Notification No. 161/2025 dated November 19, 2025 has notified the Capital Gains Accounts (Second Amendment) Scheme, 2025.
  • The Scheme now formally incorporates section 54GA, allowing depositors claiming exemption on account of shifting of industrial undertakings from urban areas to Special Economy Zones to use CGAS accounts.
  • A detailed definition of “electronic mode” has been inserted, enabling deposits through Credit/Debit Cards, Net Banking, IMPS, UPI, RTGS, NEFT and BHIM Aadhaar Pay.
  • All earlier references to “cheque or draft” have been expanded to include electronic mode of payment across application and deposit processes.
  • The effective date of deposit for exemption purposes will now be the date on which the electronic payment is received by the deposit office, subject to realization.
  • Depositors may now use electronic statements of account in place of physical passbooks for operations such as withdrawals, transfers, or account closure.
  • Closure of CGAS accounts shall only be executed electronically using digital signature or electronic verification code (EVC) starting 1 April 2027.
  • The Principal Director General of Income-tax (Systems) is assigned responsibility for prescribing procedures for Form G and Form H filing, forwarding digitally filed forms to jurisdictional Assessing Officers, specifying the standards for EVC generation, and ensuring secure storage, archival, and retrieval of electronically submitted forms.
  • Forms A and C have been updated to include section 54GA, provide fields for transactions made via electronic modes, and insert new fields for RTGS/IMPS/NEFT transaction details under the deposit office section.
PayGlocal Receives RBI PA-CB-I&O Licence for Full Cross-Border Payment Aggregation (Mid of November) ▼
  • PayGlocal has received final authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border – Inward & Outward (PA-CB-I&O).
  • The latest authorisation follows the company’s Payment Aggregator – Online (PA-O) licence granted in September 2024.
  • Founded in 2021, the Bengaluru-based company works with merchants in sectors including exports, retail, travel, education and software services.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance (CHLIC) partners Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFB) to expand life insurance reach.

[Canara HSBC Life Insurance, Equitas Small Finance Bank]

Key Updates:

  • CHLIC will distribute life protection, savings, annuity, child plans, and investment-linked solutions through ESFB’s network of 994 banking outlets and 365 ATMs across 18 states and Union Territories.
  • The partnership targets deeper penetration in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra.
  • The alliance supports IRDAI’s ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ vision.

Similar / Past Coverage

PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) Launches DigiProtect Term Plan for Salaried Individuals (End of December) ▼
  • PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) launched the PNB MetLife DigiProtect Term Plan (UIN-117N141V01) in collaboration with Policybazaar.
  • The product is an individual non-linked, non-participating, pure term insurance plan designed specifically for salaried individuals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
  • The plan offers an exclusive first-year discount of up to 21% on the first premium to lower entry costs for policyholders.
  • India faces a 91% life protection gap, which indicates that only ₹9 is covered for every ₹100 required to financially secure families.
  • Policybazaar holds a market share of over 93% in the digital insurance aggregator space and recorded an annual premium collection exceeding ₹15,000 crore in FY24.
  • Policybazaar has issued over 44.3 million policies and caters to more than 80.5 million registered users.
  • PNB MetLife operates through 178 branches and provides access to customers in over 20,000 locations through bank partnerships and a network of 36,000 financial advisors.
  • The company currently caters to over 585 group relationships in India and offers a portfolio covering child education, family protection, and retirement.
Canara Bank (CB) launches Canara ai1Pe unified UPI app for secure digital payments. (End of December) ▼
  • Canara Bank (CB) launches Canara ai1Pe, a unified UPI app enabling instant payments, shared expenses via UPI Delegate, spend analytics, UPI Lite, and rewards.
  • The app allows users to link bank accounts from any bank for instant money transfers, merchant payments, and bill settlements.
  • Payments are secured through UPI PIN authentication and device-binding that restricts transactions to the registered mobile handset.
  • UPI Delegate (UPI Circle) lets a primary account holder add trusted family members as delegates who can spend up to ₹15,000 per month.
  • Spend analytics provide month-on-month spending insights, expenditure categorisation and financial trends.
  • UPI Autopay automates recurring payments for subscriptions, EMIs, SIPs and utility bills.
  • UPI Lite permits small-value payments without entering UPI PIN for every transaction.
  • The app features a widget-based QR scan for quick scan-and-pay from the home screen and offers real-time transaction updates, payment reminders, transaction history access, plus rewards and cashback eligibility.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and YES Bank forge strategic bancassurance partnership (Start of December) ▼
  • LIC and YES Bank have entered into a strategic bancassurance partnership enabling YES Bank customers to access LIC’s comprehensive range of life insurance products through the Bank’s extensive branch network and digital platforms.
  • YES Bank is recognised as the Preferred Banker to Digital India with best-in-class technology infrastructure, a robust API stack, and a leadership position in digital payments.
  • The partnership was announced in the presence of R. Doraiswamy, CEO & MD, LIC of India, and Prashant Kumar, MD & CEO, YES Bank.
  • Through this collaboration, YES Bank customers will be able to avail LIC’s diverse portfolio products including term plans, endowment policies, pension, and unit-linked insurance plans.
Ageas Federal Life Forms SME Bancassurance Partnership with CSB Bank (End of October) ▼
  • Ageas Federal Life Insurance has formed an SME Bancassurance Partnership with CSB Bank.
  • Under the collaboration, customers of CSB Bank, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), will be offered life insurance products.
  • CSB Bank will include the insurance products in its suite of financial products, including home loans, business loans, and SME credit lines.

Axis Bank launches Digital Merchant Cash Advance Loans for MSMEs

[Axis Bank]

Key Updates:

  • Axis Bank offers unsecured digital loans from ₹2 lakh to ₹20 lakh to micro and small businesses.
  • Eligibility is evaluated through cash-flow intelligence instead of traditional financial statements.
  • Applicants receive an instant credit decision within minutes and funds are disbursed within a few days.
  • Repayments are collected through daily instalments aligned with the merchant’s actual sales.

Similar / Past Coverage

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank (Utkarsh SFBL) partners with Axis Securities to launch 3-in-1 account. (End of November) ▼
  • Utkarsh Small Finance Bank (Utkarsh SFBL) has partnered with Axis Securities to launch a 3-in-1 account that integrates a savings account with Utkarsh SFBL and a demat and trading account with Axis Securities.
  • Customers can access the 3-in-1 account through branch services, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, and assisted services.
  • Axis Securities will provide technology-led trading platforms, research insights, and flexible brokerage plans to support customer investment needs.
  • Govind Singh, Managing Director & CEO of Utkarsh SFBL, stated the partnership strengthens the bank’s service offerings, enabling customers to invest and build wealth through a unified platform.
  • Pranav Haridasan, MD & CEO of Axis Securities, added that the partnership aims to make investing simpler, intuitive, and more accessible for Utkarsh customers.
Scapia Launches Add-On Credit Card with Federal Bank and Expands Ecosystem, India's Fintech Market Projected to Reach $180-200 Billion by 2030 (Start of November) ▼
  • Scapia introduced a first-of-its-kind Add-On Credit Card with Federal Bank.
  • Every purchase on Scapia Store offers 20% back in Scapia Coins.
  • Scapia is backed by investors such as Peak XV Partners, Elevation Capital, Z47, and 3STATE Capital.
  • India’s fintech market is on track to generate $180-200 billion in annual revenue by 2030.
AU Small Finance Bank Launches 'M' Circle Women's Banking Proposition (Mid of November) ▼
  • AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) has unveiled 'M' circle, a distinctive women's banking proposition designed and tailored to meet their unique needs and aspirations.
  • M circle customers would enjoy 25 per cent additional discount on locker rentals.
  • M circle offers preferential loan rates with 0.2 per cent lower interest.
  • M circle customers would get access to exclusive offers on Nykaa, Ajio Luxe, Kalyan Jewellers, BookMyShow, Zepto and Swiggy.
  • M circle provides complimentary preventive health check-ups (including cancer screenings); unlimited online consultations and offline visits across specialities such as Gynaecology, Paediatrics.
Axis Bank Evolve Series in Kozhikode: MSMEs Driving India’s $10 Trillion Goal (Mid of November) ▼
  • Axis Bank hosted the 10th edition of its multi-city knowledge series Evolve in Kozhikode, themed “MSMEs Powering the $10 Trillion Economy.”
  • The event drew over 103 MSME promoters and founders to discuss pathways for India’s economy to expand from $4.1 trillion to $10 trillion by 2032.
  • Kerala has more than 7 lakh registered MSMEs, with nearly half led by women entrepreneurs.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) approves PayNearby as Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) on UPI.

[National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), PayNearby]

Key Updates:

  • PayNearby receives NPCI approval to operate as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
  • PayNearby launches PayNearby Saathi app for assisted UPI onboarding via retailers and Digital Naaris, targeting financial inclusion in semi-urban and rural India.
  • The Saathi app supports UPI payments, account onboarding, bill payments, money transfers, and aggregates access to financial products like fixed deposits, recurring deposits, gold, mutual funds, and credit offerings.
  • The application is available in multiple Indian languages, integrates Bhashini for voice-based navigation, and includes an in-app AI assistant to guide users through transactions and explain financial products.
  • PayNearby operates a branchless banking and digital services network based on a B2B2C model, partnering with local retail stores to deliver financial and payment services.
  • The company currently works with over 12 lakh retail partners across more than 20,000 PIN codes, facilitating assisted digital transactions for customers in both urban and non-urban areas.

Similar / Past Coverage

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants final Payment Aggregator licence to Mswipe Technologies. (End of December) ▼
  • The licence covers both online and physical payment acceptance modes.
  • Mswipe serves merchants through MPOS, Smart PoS terminals, QR soundboxes, payment gateways, and embedded digital payment services.
  • Mswipe’s payments business turned adjusted profitable in the most recent financial year, recording over ₹275 crore in revenue in FY24.
  • Total payment volume more than doubled year on year.
Sanchar Saathi App Pre-installation Mandate (Start of December) ▼
  • The Department of Telecom mandates pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones under the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024.
  • Manufacturers must ensure the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible with functionalities not disabled or restricted.
  • Users are free to uninstall or delete the Sanchar Saathi app if they do not wish to use it.
  • The app is designed to protect users from cyber frauds.
UIDAI Launches New Aadhaar Mobile Application with Digital Sharing and Verification Features (Mid of November) ▼
  • The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced a new Aadhaar mobile application for iOS and Android devices.
  • The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, offering users a digital option to carry their Aadhaar and use it for instant verification.
  • The authority has announced an early access that will allow residents to test the service and share feedback before its final rollout.
  • Users can share their Aadhaar digitally, removing the need for physical copies, with details shareable using a QR code or as verifiable credentials.
  • Shared Aadhaar data is masked, so users do not reveal the full 12-digit number.
  • Up to five Aadhaar profiles can be added on one device if they are linked to the same registered mobile number.
  • The app includes biometric locking and unlocking, ensuring biometric data remains secure until intentionally unlocked or disabled.
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and ACLEDA Bank Plc. enable UPI & KHQR acceptance across India and Cambodia. (Start of December) ▼
  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partners with ACLEDA Bank Plc., Cambodia's first publicly listed commercial bank, to interconnect UPI and KHQR networks.
  • Indian travellers can use UPI-enabled apps at over 4.5 million KHQR merchant touchpoints in Cambodia.
  • Cambodian tourists can scan more than 709 million UPI QR codes in India using Cambodian payment apps.
  • ACLEDA Bank Plc. operates Cambodia's national QR network, Bakong (KHQR), as nominated by the National Bank of Cambodia.

Rashtra Prerna Sthal Memorial Inauguration

Key Updates:

  • The memorial features 65-feet-tall bronze statues of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
  • Developed over 65 acres at an estimated cost of ₹230 crore in Lucknow.
  • A modern museum showcasing the lives, ideas, and contributions of national leaders is part of the complex.

Similar / Past Coverage

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum: India’s First Digital Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum (Start of November) ▼
  • Name: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum
  • Launch/Inauguration: to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Chhattisgarh
  • Location: Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, Chhattisgarh on ~10 acres
  • Cost: built at a cost of Rs 50 crore
  • Key Features: VFX, digital projections, interactive screens, QR codes, selfie points, accessibility for differently-abled and senior citizens
  • Content: chronicles 14 tribal revolts (Halba, Sarguja, Bhopalpatnam, Paralkot, Tarapur, Lingagiri, Koie, Meria, Muria, Rani Chauris, Bhumkal, Sonakhan, Jhanda, Jungle Satyagraha) and honours Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh and other tribal warriors
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
Russian President Vladimir Putin receives ceremonial welcome and Tri-Services Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan (Start of December) ▼
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • Putin inspected the Guard of Honour following the ceremonial welcome, with the Russian and Indian national anthems being played.
  • The Russian President is on a two-day State visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Prime Minister Modi broke protocol to greet Putin on the tarmac at Palam Airport, sharing a car ride to the Prime Minister’s residence.
  • Putin was gifted a copy of the sacred Bhagwad Gita during his visit.
  • The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit will be held between Putin and PM Modi during the visit.
  • Putin will attend an India-Russia business forum, launch the RT channel in India, and attend a banquet hosted by President Murmu.
PM Modi launches Rs 1 lakh crore RDI Fund to spur private R&D without direct industry investment (Start of November) ▼
  • Name: Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund with corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore
  • Implementing structure: Two-tier model—special purpose fund under Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) managed by Department of Science and Technology
  • Fund deployment: Capital routed through second-level fund managers (AIFs, DFIs, NBFCs) guided by independent investment committees

Guide on Preparation of DPRs for Road Infrastructure Projects Released by Defence Minister

Key Updates:

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the 'Guide on Preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Road Infrastructure Projects' prepared by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
  • The guide provides 'specifications, standards, guidelines and procedures' for DPR preparation to assist engineers in project formulation.
  • It aims to address time and cost overruns by ensuring 'systematic planning, technical accuracy, quality assurance and cost-effectiveness' in road infrastructure projects.

Similar / Past Coverage

India dedicates 125 Border Roads Organisation projects to strengthen border infrastructure (Start of December) ▼
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dedicated 125 newly completed projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to the nation from Leh.
  • The projects — built at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore — comprise 28 roads, 93 bridges and four miscellaneous structures across Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Mizoram.
  • The event marked the largest single-day and highest-value inauguration in BRO history.
  • The 920-metre Shyok Tunnel on the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi Road in Ladakh is highlighted as an engineering marvel providing all-weather connectivity to a critical military terrain.
  • Singh stated: "These infrastructure projects are the nation's tribute to those heroes who laid down their lives in the service of the nation."
  • He emphasised: "Enhanced road networks, real-time communication systems and satellite-based surveillance are now allowing Indian soldiers to operate with greater speed and precision in forward areas."
  • The defence minister noted that stronger border connectivity stabilises local economies, enhances disaster response and strengthens people’s faith in governance in remote regions.
India, Israel ink pact on defence cooperation during 17th JWG meeting (Start of November) ▼
  • India and Israel Tuesday signed a pact on defence cooperation.
  • The MoU was signed during the 17th meeting of Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation.
  • The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General of Israeli Ministry of Defense Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram in Tel Aviv.
  • The MoU will enable the sharing of advanced technology and would promote co-development and co-production.
  • A wide range of areas for cooperation have been identified in the MoU, which include strategic dialogues of mutual interest, training, defence industrial cooperation, and capabilities including science and technology, research & development, and technological innovation, artificial intelligence and cyber security cooperation.
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
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.

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana enables Gujarat to cross 5 lakh rooftop solar installations with 1,879 MW capacity

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

  • Gujarat has installed over 5 lakh rooftop solar systems under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojna, achieving 1,879 MW aggregate capacity.
  • Residential consumers have availed subsidies worth Rs 3,778 crore under the scheme.
  • Subsidy rates: Rs 30,000 per kW up to 2 kW, Rs 18,000 per kW above 2 kW up to 3 kW, and maximum Rs 78,000 for systems above 3 kW.
  • State provides Rs 2,950 assistance towards regulatory charges for systems up to 6 kW and waives network strengthening charges for the same category.
  • No net metering agreement required, no load limit for residential solar installations, no banking charges on residential consumers, and households can sell surplus electricity.

Similar / Past Coverage

IWMI and SDC launch SoLAR Phase II to scale climate-resilient solar irrigation across South Asia and East Africa (Start of December) ▼
  • The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) launched SoLAR Phase II to expand climate-resilient solar irrigation across India, Bangladesh, Kenya and Ethiopia.
  • Studies under Gujarat’s Suryashakti Kisan Yojana found that grid-connected solar irrigation pumps did not increase groundwater extraction while delivering about 12.3 tCO2 offset per farmer per year.
  • IWMI trained more than 2,000 farmers, enabling a 23 per cent rise in net energy evacuation and an average additional income of Rs 14,000 per farmer.
  • Off-grid solar irrigation pilots reduced diesel dependence and strengthened livelihoods.
  • SolaReady, a spatial decision-support platform, was launched to map solar irrigation opportunities aligned with climate adaptation, mitigation and groundwater sustainability.
Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijlee Yojana (PMSG: MBY): Uttar Pradesh crosses 1 GW residential rooftop solar capacity (End of November) ▼
  • Uttar Pradesh becomes the third state after Gujarat and Maharashtra to surpass 1 GW of residential rooftop solar capacity under PMSG: MBY.
  • Central subsidy disbursed ₹1,999.26 crore and state subsidy about ₹600 crore to reduce consumer financial burden.
  • UP provides ₹15,000 per kW up to 2 kW and total subsidy of ₹1.08 lakh for 3 kW systems, including Centre’s share.
  • Subsidy payback period in UP is 20 months for 3 kW, lower than the national average of 30 months.
  • Beneficiary households receive up to 300 units of free electricity monthly, cutting monthly bills by ₹800-1,500 in rural and ₹1,500-2,500 in urban areas.
  • Scheme has created about 50,000 employment opportunities as registered vendors rose from 81 to 4,200.
India's installed power generation capacity crosses 500 GW with renewables exceeding 50% share (Start of November) ▼
  • India's total installed electricity capacity reached 500.89 GW as of September 30, 2025, up from 249 GW in 2014
  • Non-fossil fuel sources (renewable energy, hydro, and nuclear) account for 256.09 GW, over 51% of total capacity
  • Fossil fuel-based sources stand at 244.80 GW, about 49% of total capacity
  • India added 28 GW of non-fossil capacity and 5.1 GW of fossil-fuel capacity in the first half of this fiscal year
  • On July 29, 2025, renewables met 51.5% of India's total electricity demand of 203 GW, achieving the highest-ever renewable energy share
ADB approves $460 million loan for agricultural solarisation and rural power infrastructure modernisation in Maharashtra (End of October) ▼
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 460 million results-based loan that aims to modernise rural power infrastructure, promote distributed renewable energy generation, and improve agricultural productivity by providing farmers with reliable daytime solar electricity for irrigation in Maharashtra.
  • An additional USD 40 million concessional loan from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), administered by ADB, will complement the programme.
  • The programme will solarise agricultural feeders, upgrade rural distribution networks, deploy battery energy storage systems (BESS), and promote green jobs and entrepreneurship, particularly for women.
  • By 2028, the programme aims to provide daytime electricity to at least 9,00,000 agricultural consumers and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by over 3 million tons.
  • The grid modernisation includes upgrading 180 distribution substations, installing 4,500 distribution transformers, developing 3,000 circuit kilometres of high-tension and 1,200 circuit kilometres of low-tension lines and deploying 500 MWh of distributed battery storage.
  • It will also digitise system operations through agriculture solarisation dashboards and modern monitoring solutions covering at least 2,500 substations, while advancing green skilling by training 5,000 individuals, including 1,500 women, and creating opportunities for green livelihoods and entrepreneurship.
  • The programme is expected to lower power purchase costs and distribution losses, reduce transformer failure rates by 25 per cent, and enhance the overall financial sustainability of the power sector.

Comprehensive Internship Policy for Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) with Rs 5.30 Crore Annual Outlay

[Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS)]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has unveiled a 'Comprehensive Internship Policy for Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and its Autonomous Bodies' to create a pipeline of young professionals in sports governance.
  • The programme will offer 452 internship positions every year, with selected candidates receiving a monthly stipend of Rs 20,000.
  • The government has earmarked a total annual budget allocation of Rs 5.30 crore to fund the internship initiative.
  • College and university students will be the primary beneficiaries of the scheme, which aligns with the National Sports Policy and Khelo Bharat Niti 2025.
  • The internship programme will follow two recruitment cycles every year, scheduled in January and July.
  • Interns will be deployed across MYAS and its autonomous bodies, including the Sports Authority of India (SAI), National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).
  • The policy seeks to build capacity in areas such as sports governance, administration, sports science, anti-doping, event management and athlete support services.
  • Interns will contribute directly to flagship programmes such as Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG).

Similar / Past Coverage

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.

Madhya Pradesh Rolling Budget System: Three-Year Financial Planning

[Madhya Pradesh]

Key Updates:

  • Madhya Pradesh is set to implement a rolling budget system, making it the first state in India to prepare a budget for three years ahead.
  • The state will draft indicative budget estimates for 2027-28 and 2028-29, marking Madhya Pradesh as the first Indian state to adopt a rolling budget approach.
  • The upcoming state budget for 2026-27 will be crafted to meet public expectations while embodying the democratic spirit.
  • The government engaged economists and field experts through a 'Budget Dialogue Programme' and received over 945 public suggestions.
  • The initiative aims to prioritize agriculture while boosting capital expenditure, aligning with the vision for a 'Developed India 2047.'

Similar / Past Coverage

Uttar Pradesh Supplementary Budget 2025-26: Rs 24,497 Crore for Infrastructure and Priority Sectors (End of December) ▼
  • Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented supplementary demands for grants of Rs 24,496.97 crore for FY2025-26.
  • The supplementary budget allocates Rs 18,369.30 crore for revenue expenditure and Rs 6,127.68 crore for capital expenditure.
  • Key allocations include Rs 4,874 crore for industrial development, Rs 4,521 crore for the power sector, Rs 3,500 crore for health and family welfare, Rs 1,758.56 crore for urban development, and Rs 639.96 crore for technical education.
  • Additional provisions include Rs 535 crore for women and child development, Rs 500 crore for UPNEDA (solar and renewable energy), Rs 423.80 crore for medical education, and Rs 400 crore for the sugarcane and sugar mill sector.
  • After accounting for the central share of Rs 2,197.24 crore for centrally sponsored schemes, the net additional burden on the state’s consolidated fund will be Rs 22,299.74 crore.
Census 2027 (Census-as-a-Service) Approved Budget ₹11,718 Cr for Two-Phase Digital Rollout (Mid of December) ▼
  • The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved ₹11,718.24 crore for conducting Census 2027.
  • Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases: house listing and housing census from April to September 2026, and population enumeration in February 2027.
  • This is the first Census by digital means in the country using mobile apps for Android and iOS and the Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS) portal.
PM Shri Tourism Helicopter Service Launched in Madhya Pradesh (Start of November) ▼
  • PM Shri Tourism Helicopter Service was launched in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, along with Union Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, flagged off the service.
  • Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to introduce intra-state connectivity and an air ambulance.
  • Through the service, tourists will now be able to enjoy spiritual and religious pilgrimages and wildlife sanctuaries in remote areas via helicopters.
  • Tourists will be offered a travel and return package, including accommodation, local transportation, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with a guide.
  • An MoU for the construction of an airport in Ujjain was also signed between the Central and state governments.
  • The service will begin in Sector 1 covering Indore, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Mandu, Maheshwar, and the western region of Madhya Pradesh.
  • Sector 2 will cover Central Madhya Pradesh including Bhopal, Pachmarhi, Sanchi, and Orchha.
  • Sector 3 will cover Jabalpur, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Khajuraho, and Chitrakoot.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to release new series of CPI, GDP, IIP data (End of December) ▼
  • MoSPI will release a new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with 2024 as the base year on 12 February 2026.
  • National Accounts data using 2022-23 as the base year will be released on 27 February 2026.
  • The updated Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series with 2022-23 as the base year is scheduled for release on 28 May 2026.
  • A pre-release consultative workshop on the base revision will be held on Tuesday following the first session on 26 November in Mumbai.
  • The workshop will present proposed methodological and structural changes in GDP, CPI, and IIP and seek stakeholder feedback.

Center of Excellence under National Critical Minerals Mission and Virtual Reality Mine Simulator inaugurated

Key Updates:

  • Ministry of Coal and Mines inaugurated the Center of Excellence under National Critical Minerals Mission hosted in IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
  • The CoE will act as a national anchor for research and industry scale solutions in critical minerals, focusing on exploration, extraction, processing, recycling, reuse and waste-to-wealth.
  • The CoE will partner with industry leaders and international universities such as University of Cambridge & St Petersburg University and will receive infrastructure support from IIT Gandhinagar, IIT BHU and CPI(UK).
  • Virtual Reality Mine Simulator (VRMS), India’s first VR based mine simulator for coal mining safety and productivity, was also inaugurated.
  • VRMS provides more than 20 training modules covering heavy equipment operation and critical safety SOPs and will provide scenario based assessment and certification for all levels of employees.

Similar / Past Coverage

Union Minister Scindia Launches NEST Cluster at IIT Guwahati and Development Projects in Assam (Start of November) ▼
  • The North Eastern Science and Technology Cluster (NEST Cluster) was inaugurated.
  • The inauguration took place at IIT Guwahati.
  • Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated the NEST Cluster.
  • Foundation stones were laid for development projects worth Rs 635 crore across Assam.
Rajnath Singh addresses 100th Common Foundation Course at LBSNAA (Start of December) ▼
  • Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister, addressed the valedictory ceremony of the 100th Common Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie.
  • He urged young civil servants to stay mission-ready for national security and highlighted Operation Sindoor as an example of civil–military fusion.
  • Singh emphasised that good governance and national security must move together to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047.
J&K to kick off first-ever limestone block auction on November 24 (End of November) ▼
  • Jammu & Kashmir will conduct its maiden auction of seven limestone blocks under the MMDR Act's post-2015 reforms.
  • The Centre intervened to speed up the process and open new mineral blocks.
  • The initiative is expected to generate jobs, boost state revenues, support industrial expansion, and create new economic opportunities for local communities.
  • The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir will host its first-ever auction of limestone mineral blocks on November 24 in Jammu.
  • The launch event will be led by Union Coal & Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy, alongside the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Seven limestone blocks spanning roughly 314 hectares have been identified across Anantnag, Rajouri, and Poonch districts.
  • These deposits fall under United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) G3 Prospecting and G4 Reconnaissance exploration categories.
  • These deposits hold considerable potential for high-quality limestone, a raw material critical for cement, construction, and several industrial applications.
  • The auction is being carried out under subsections 4 and 5 of Section 11 of the MMDR Act.
  • This provision allows the Central Government to step in when states or UTs face procedural constraints in conducting auctions.
  • This mechanism highlights the principle of “cooperative federalism” in speeding up mineral sector reforms.
  • The Ministry of Mines has emphasised that the auction will follow a transparent, technology-enabled, and competitive process, aligned with national environmental safeguards to promote sustainable mining practices.
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) Signs MoU with Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) to Establish Centre of Excellence (Start of December) ▼
  • The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) to establish a centre of excellence (CoE) on the IITR campus.
  • The primary objective of the C-DoT Centre of Excellence (CoE) is to accelerate indigenous research, innovation and capacity building in advanced communication technologies.
  • The CoE will have a strong focus on research in the areas of wireless communication, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and AI-based applications.
  • The centre will drive joint research and prototype development in key emerging domains, including 5G and 6G, RF-sub-THz integrated circuits, sensors, millimetre-wave beamforming antennas with integrated ICs, V2X Communication, data-driven wireless communication technologies and energy efficiency.

CBDT NUDGE Campaign: 15 Lakh Revised ITRs Filed for AY 2025-26

[Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)]

Key Updates:

  • Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) launched a NUDGE campaign to alert taxpayers who claimed wrongful deductions related to unrecognised political parties or charitable institutions.
  • Over 15 lakh revised Income Tax Returns (ITRs) have been filed for Assessment Year 2025-26.
  • More than 21 lakh taxpayers have updated their returns and paid Rs 2,500 crore in taxes during the current fiscal.
  • Taxpayers are advised to review and revise their ITRs by December 31, 2025, to avoid further enquiries.

Similar / Past Coverage

CBDT launches 2nd NUDGE initiative on foreign assets (End of November) ▼
  • The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) formally launched the second NUDGE initiative, expanding its data-driven and non-intrusive reporting campaign focused on offshore asset disclosures.
  • The Income Tax Department will target around 25,000 high-risk cases in the first phase of the new drive.
  • Taxpayers will receive SMS and email nudges advising them to revisit and revise returns by December 31, 2025 to avoid penal consequences.
Ministry of Women and Child Development launches 100-day Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign (Start of December) ▼
  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is launching the 100-day Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign.
  • The campaign will be formally launched on 4 December, 2025.
  • The 100-day campaign period is from 27 November 2025 to 8 March 2026.
  • It aims to build a Child Marriage Free Bharat.
  • The campaign calls upon citizens, institutions, and community leaders to join the movement.
  • It follows a structured, three-spell plan.
  • The national drive will be implemented in close coordination with the Ministries of Health & Family Welfare, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, and Education.
GRI launches UN-endorsed Integrity Matters Checklist to align corporate climate disclosures with Paris Agreement (Mid of November) ▼
  • Tool name: Integrity Matters Checklist — jointly developed by GRI and the UN to operationalise the UN High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) Integrity Matters recommendations
  • Mapping function: links every HLEG net-zero integrity recommendation to the GRI Standards, specifically the updated GRI 102: Climate Change 2025 Standard
  • Disclosure scope: guides companies to report science-based GHG targets, transition plans, fossil-fuel phase-out steps and just-transition integration
  • Institutional endorsements: endorsed by United Nations and welcomed by UN Assistant Secretary-General Selwin Hart, UN Global Compact CEO Sanda Ojiambo, and UN HLEG Chair Catherine McKenna
  • Release timing: launched on 10 Nov 2025, coinciding with COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and the updated 2025 HLEG stocktake released at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio
National Cadet Corps (NCC) 78th Raising Day observed on November 23 (End of November) ▼
  • National Cadet Corps (NCC) celebrates its 78th raising day on November 23, 2025.
  • NCC was officially formed after the National Cadet Corps Act was passed on April 16, 1948, and operations began on July 15, 1948.
  • Started with 20,000 cadets, NCC is now the world's largest uniformed youth organization with 20 lakh cadets.
  • NCC has a presence in 713 of India's 780 districts.
  • Brigadier M.L. Rawat is known as the father of the NCC.

Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 to provide Rs 5 lakh annual scholarship for eight years to identified athletes

[Chhattisgarh]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, will conduct the first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) starting February 14, 2026 in Chhattisgarh.
  • Promising athletes identified during KITG will be inducted as Khelo India Athletes and receive Rs 5 lakh per year for eight years, including financial support and 360-degree assistance.
  • The Games will feature seven competitive disciplines—Archery, Athletics, Football, Hockey, Wrestling, Swimming and Weightlifting—and two demonstration sports showcasing indigenous traditions.

Similar / Past Coverage

Finance Ministry (FinMin) unveils common logo for 28 Regional Rural Banks. (End of December) ▼
  • 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.
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.
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.
Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025 Launched; Logo, Mascots, Torch, Jerseys and Anthem Unveiled (Mid of November) ▼
  • In a grand event at the historical Amer Fort here on Wednesday, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), in association with the Government of Rajasthan and the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC), launched the official logo, mascots, torch, jerseys and anthem for the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025 (KIUG Rajasthan 2025).
  • The Games' mascots, Khamma and Ghani, were unveiled by the Rajasthan sports minister Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
  • The Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025, scheduled to take place from November 24 to December 5, 2025, will be held across seven cities -- Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Bikaner.
  • This marks the first time Rajasthan will host the Khelo India University Games, a flagship event of the ministry of youth affairs and sports that showcases India's finest university athletes.
  • Over 7,000 athletes from nearly 200 universities will compete in 24 disciplines, including 23 medal sports and one demonstration event.
  • New inclusions this year are canoeing, kayaking, cycling, and beach volleyball -- reflecting the growing diversity and ambition of Indian university sport.

GAIL-Chhattisgarh MoU for 12.7 LMT gas-based urea project

[GAIL, Chhattisgarh]

Key Updates:

  • GAIL signed an MoU with the Chhattisgarh government to undertake detailed techno-economic studies for a greenfield gas-based fertiliser project.
  • The project includes a 12.7 lakh metric tonne urea plant proposed along GAIL’s Mumbai–Nagpur–Jharsuguda natural gas pipeline corridor.
  • The state government will support feasibility studies, land identification and allocation, statutory approvals, and enabling infrastructure.

Similar / Past Coverage

AVFCCL Brownfield Ammonia-Urea Plant: ₹10,601 crore outlay to produce 12.7 lakh MT urea annually (End of December) ▼
  • The Union Cabinet approved a new brownfield ammonia-urea plant of Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Ltd (AVFCCL) within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corp Ltd (BVFCL) in Namrup, Dibrugarh district, Assam.
  • The project cost is ₹10,601 crore and the plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2030 with an annual urea production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes.
  • AVFCCL is a joint venture among the Assam government, Oil India, National Fertilisers Ltd (NFL), Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd (HURL) and BVFCL.
Namrup-IV Ammonia-Urea Project: Rs 10,000 crore fertiliser plant to produce 12 lakh metric tonnes of urea annually (Mid of December) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Namrup-IV Ammonia-Urea project at the existing Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited complex.
  • The brownfield fertiliser project involves an estimated investment of Rs 10,000 crore.
  • The Namrup-IV plant will produce 12 lakh metric tonnes of urea annually, meeting domestic demand and enabling exports.
India’s first dry-fermentation municipal solid waste plant nears reality in Nagpur (End of November) ▼
  • India's largest municipal solid waste (MSW)-to-compressed biogas (CBG) plant using dry anaerobic digestion technology is nearing completion at Bhandewadi.
  • The company has constructed a 1,500 MTPD facility, anticipating Nagpur's future waste load.
  • This positions the Bhandewadi plant not only as India's first large-scale dry fermentation MSW facility, but also among the largest of its kind anywhere in the world.
  • A standout feature of this project is its requirement to prove the technology on real, mixed Indian waste before full-scale construction.
  • Dry anaerobic digestion offers clear advantages over conventional CSTR (continuous stirred-tank reactor) biogas systems, which often struggles with unsegregated or semi-dry waste.
  • The technology digests organic matter with minimal energy input, yields higher compressed biogas (CBG) output, reduces landfill dependence, and sharply cuts methane emissions.
  • Once operational, the plant will convert 550–600 TPD of organic waste into CBG through 30 fermentation tunnels, generate 400 TPD of refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and send less than 10% inert waste to a scientific landfill.
  • It will also produce compost and soil conditioners while sharply cutting the city's carbon footprint.
  • The facility is designed to treat all of Nagpur's daily municipal waste.
  • Municipal Solid Waste received at the plant is passed through a semi-automated segregation unit.
  • Organic waste is processed in dry fermentation tunnels, producing raw biogas (RBG).
  • RBG is upgraded into CBG (Compressed Bio Gas), generating CO₂ as a by-product.
  • Digestate is converted into compost, which is then screened and sent for market use to farmers.
  • Process water goes to a fermentation tank, is treated through ETP, and reused internally.
BPCL signs MoUs for ₹1 lakh crore refinery, pipelines, and green energy projects (End of October) ▼
  • Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Oil India (OIL), Numaligarh Refinery (NRL), and Fertilisers & Chemicals Travancore (FACT) at the 28th Energy Technology Meet 2025 in Hyderabad.
  • BPCL and OIL signed a non-binding MoU to explore collaboration in developing BPCL’s upcoming greenfield refinery and petrochemical complex near Ramayapatnam Port, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, with an estimated investment of ₹1 lakh crore.
  • The proposed Ramayapatnam facility will have a refining capacity of 9-12 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) and feature a 1.5 MMTPA ethylene cracker unit with 35 per cent petrochemical intensity.
  • BPCL, OIL, and NRL signed a tripartite MoU for the joint construction of a 700-km cross-country product pipeline from Siliguri to Mughalsarai, with an estimated investment of ₹3,500 crore.
  • BPCL signed an MoU with FACT for the supply and trading of fermented organic manure and liquid fermented organic manure produced from BPCL’s upcoming municipal solid waste-based compressed biogas plant at Brahmapuram, near Kochi Refinery.
  • The Brahmapuram plant will process 150 MT of municipal waste per day, generating 5.6 MT of compressed biogas (CBG), along with 28 MT of fermented organic manure (FOM) and 100 KL of liquid fermented organic manure (LFOM) daily.
  • The Ramayapatnam project has secured 6,000 acres of land from the Government of Andhra Pradesh and is slated for commercial operations by FY30.

China requests WTO consultations with India over ICT tariff, solar subsidies

[China, World Trade Organization (WTO)]

Key Updates:

  • China filed a petition with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), requesting consultations with India over New Delhi's tariffs on information and communication technology (ICT) products and solar sector subsidies.
  • India's measures allegedly violate multiple WTO obligations, including the principle of national treatment, and constitute import substitution subsidies explicitly prohibited under WTO rules.
  • This is the second petition filed by China at the WTO against India this year; the earlier petition in October alleged unfair subsidies for electric vehicles and batteries.

Similar / Past Coverage

India welcomes key outcomes at UNFCCC CoP30; reaffirms commitment to equity, climate justice and global solidarity (End of November) ▼
  • India expressed 'strong support' to Brazil for the inclusive leadership at CoP30.
  • India welcomed progress under the Global Goal on Adaptation, noting it reflects recognition of the overwhelming need for adaptation in developing countries.
  • India emphasized the long-standing obligations of developed countries to provide climate finance and appreciated the Presidency's efforts in supporting India in beginning the journey towards a long-overdue focus on Article 9.1.
  • India expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the Just Transition Mechanism, calling it a significant milestone.
  • India thanked the Presidency for providing space to discuss unilateral trade-restrictive climate measures, which it said are increasingly affecting developing countries and violate the principles of equity and CBDR-RC.
  • India stressed that the burden of climate change mitigation must not be shifted onto those least responsible for causing the problem.
  • India reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to science-based and equitable climate action and to a rules-based global order that is equitable and respectful of national sovereignty.
  • India called on all Parties to ensure that the road from Belem leads to a future defined by fairness, solidarity, and shared prosperity for all.
Eighth International Solar Alliance Assembly Curtain Raiser Held in New Delhi (Start of November) ▼
  • Event: Eighth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly scheduled from 27–30 October 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
  • Participants: ISA brings together 124 Member and Signatory Countries; launched by India and France at COP21 in Paris.
  • Key Outcomes: Assembly to focus on four strategic pillars—Catalytic Finance Hub, Global Capability Centre & Digitisation, Regional & Country-Level Engagement, and Technology Roadmap & Policy.
Eighth International Solar Alliance Assembly held in New Delhi (End of October) ▼
  • The Eighth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly was held in New Delhi.
  • President of India Droupadi Murmu delivered the first-ever address by the President of India to the International Solar Alliance Assembly.
  • The Assembly hosted ministers, policymakers, and international partners from 125 Member and Signatory Countries.
  • Key launches during the Assembly included SUNRISE (Solar Upcycling Network for Recycling, Innovation & Stakeholder Engagement), a dedicated One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) programme, the Global Capability Centre, and the ISA Academy.
  • Ministers and heads of delegations from 16 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) signed an in-Memorandum of Understanding for Procurement under the SIDS Platform.
  • Five ISA knowledge products were launched: Ease of Doing Solar 2025, Solar PV Skills and Jobs in Africa, Solar Compass: Special Issue on Integrated Photovoltaics, Global Floating Solar Framework, and Global Solar Trends & Outlook 2025.
  • The International Solar Alliance was launched in 2015 by India and France at COP21 in Paris and is headquartered in India.
  • India is the world’s 4th-largest in RE capacity and the world’s third-largest solar power producer.
India on track to peak coal power emissions before 2030 with 500 GW non-fossil target: CREA (End of October) ▼
  • India added a record 29 GW of non-fossil capacity in 2024 and another 25 GW in the first half of 2025, crossing the 50 % mark toward its 500 GW non-fossil goal well ahead of 2030.
  • Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) states meeting the 500 GW target could peak India’s coal power emissions before 2030.
  • India’s annual solar module manufacturing capacity reached 118 GW by mid-2025 and is projected to hit 200 GW by 2028, cutting import dependence.
  • China has added enough clean electricity to cover all new demand growth, with power-sector coal use and emissions falling since 2024.
  • Indonesia’s 100 GW solar programme under President Prabowo Subianto could enable coal power generation to peak by 2030.

Indian Navy stitched-sail vessel INSV Kaundinya to undertake maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar to Muscat

[Oman]

Key Updates:

  • INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy’s pioneering stitched sailing vessel that revives India’s ancient shipbuilding and seafaring traditions, will undertake its maiden overseas voyage on the 29th of this month.
  • The vessel will be flagged off from Porbandar, Gujarat, for Muscat, Oman, symbolically retracing the historic maritime routes that connected India with the wider Indian Ocean world for millennia.
  • According to the Defence Ministry, INSV Kaundinya represents a rare convergence of history, craftsmanship and modern naval expertise.

Similar / Past Coverage

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
India commissions INS Ikshak, third indigenous Survey Vessel Large (Start of November) ▼
  • The vessel commissioned is INS Ikshak.
  • Ikshak is the third such indigenously designed and built survey vessel large SVL.
  • It will assist the Indian Navy map the ocean floor for navigation, submarine operations and collecting data for maritime safety and strategy.
  • Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi commissions INS Ikshak.
  • The ship was built by state-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata.
  • The ship is 110 metres long, has a displacement of 3,400 tonnes, and will carry a crew of 231, including 20 officers.
  • Ikshak is equipped with the latest hydrographic and oceanographic systems that can scan to a depth of 11,000 meters.
  • The vessel carries nearly 80 per cent indigenous content.
  • It is the first SVL designed with dedicated accommodation for women on deck.
INS Savitri Strengthens India–Mozambique Naval Ties During Port Call at Beira (Mid of November) ▼
  • Indian Naval Ship (INS) Savitri, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Indian Navy, arrived at Port Beira, Mozambique, as part of its ongoing deployment in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • The visit of INS Savitri forms part of India’s broader diplomatic initiative, the ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
  • During the four-day port call, naval personnel from both countries will engage in joint training exercises and professional interactions designed to improve coordination in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, maritime security, and humanitarian assistance operations.
  • The exercises include: VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure) drills, focused on counter-piracy and anti-smuggling operations Damage control and firefighting exercises to strengthen onboard emergency response capabilities Navigation and EEZ patrol coordination training, enhancing interoperability in maritime surveillance Professional discussions between officers of both navies on operational best practices.
  • Beyond military cooperation, INS Savitri’s crew will engage in a variety of community outreach programmes to promote goodwill and people-to-people ties between India and Mozambique.
  • Commissioned in 1990, INS Savitri is part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet and serves as a versatile Offshore Patrol Vessel designed for maritime surveillance, anti-smuggling, and HADR operations.
  • Key highlights of India–Mozambique defence cooperation include: Hydrographic surveys conducted by the Indian Navy to assist Mozambique in charting its coastal waters Training of Mozambican naval personnel at Indian naval institutions under defence cooperation programmes Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions, including cyclone and flood relief efforts Counter-piracy and anti-trafficking patrols in the Mozambique Channel.
India and Bangladesh participate in International Fleet Review in Colombo on November 30 (End of November) ▼
  • India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and multi-mission stealth frigate Udaygiri have arrived in Colombo for an international fleet review to mark the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy.
  • In a display of naval cooperation, three warships representing Bangladesh and India made port calls in Colombo on November 25 and 26, for the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2025, scheduled to be held on November 30.
  • This also marks INS Udaygiri 's first foreign visit since its commission on August 26, 2025.
  • India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, arrived in Colombo for her maiden participation in Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) IFR 2025.
  • The state-of-the-art Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates Udaygiri and Himgiri were commissioned at the Naval Base in Visakhapatnam on August 26 this year.
  • Udaygiri, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, and Himgiri, constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata, showcase the nation's growing shipbuilding prowess.

India Optel Limited and Safran Electronics & Defense sign Transfer of Production agreement for advanced defence systems

[France]

Key Updates:

  • India Optel Limited (IOL), a Mini Navratna Defence PSU, signed a collaboration agreement with Safran Electronics & Defense for Transfer of Production of SIGMA 30N Digital Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System and CM3-MR Direct Firing Sight.
  • The agreement was signed on 22 December 2025 in New Delhi by Shri Tushar Tripathi, CMD of IOL, and Mr Alexandre Ziegler, Head of Defence Global Business Unit, Safran Electronics & Defense, in the presence of Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production).
  • Under the partnership, IOL will undertake manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality assurance, and full life-cycle support of the systems within India, reducing import dependence and supporting Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Similar / Past Coverage

India and France sign pact for local production of SIGMA 30N navigation system and CM3-MR direct firing sight (End of December) ▼
  • India Optel Limited (IOL) signed a collaboration agreement with France’s Safran Electronics and Defense for transfer of production of SIGMA 30N Digital Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System and CM3-MR Direct Firing Sight.
  • The agreement was signed by Tushar Tripathi, CMD, IOL and Alexandre Ziegler, head of Defence Global Business Unit for Safran Electronics & Defense, in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar.
  • IOL will handle manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality control and full life-cycle support of the systems for the Indian Army.
  • The pact builds on an internal agreement signed between the two sides in January 2024.
  • The development follows BEL’s Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement with Safran for joint production of HAMMER Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground weapons in India.
India moves toward $450 million BrahMos export deals with Vietnam and Indonesia (End of December) ▼
  • India has moved closer to inking deals to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia, which collectively will be worth over Rs 4,000 crore ($450 million).
  • Russia, the joint developer of BrahMos missiles, has assured India that it has no objection to the precision-strike weapon being sold to Vietnam and Indonesia.
  • The assurance was given during the delegation-level meeting between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov on Dec 4.
  • Once the deals are inked, Vietnam and Indonesia will become the other ASEAN countries after the Philippines to buy the air-breathing missiles.
  • India had inked a $375 million contract to supply three anti-ship BrahMos coastal batteries to the Philippines in Jan 2022.
  • India successfully deployed the BrahMos missiles, whose range has been increased to 450 km from the original 290 km, from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets during Operation Sindoor in May.
  • India also plans to begin inducting the new 800-km BrahMos from 2028 onwards, with tests currently underway for the extended-range missiles.
  • India wants to sell the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems to the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, UAE, and Brazil.
India and France sign JV agreement on November 24, 2025, to locally produce HAMMER precision-guided weapons (End of November) ▼
  • Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defence (SED), France, signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement to locally produce HAMMER precision-guided weapons.
  • The agreement formalises the manufacture of the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) smart precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India.
  • The HAMMER weapons are already integrated on the Indian Air Force’s Rafale aircraft and are under evaluation for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
  • The joint venture aims to progressively raise indigenous content to up to 60%, with BEL leading final integration and quality assurance.
  • This partnership reflects a strategic shift in the India-France defence relationship from buyer-seller to co-development and co-production, supporting India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Safran Aircraft Engine Services India facility inaugurated to establish India as global MRO hub (End of November) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India facility located at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park - SEZ, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad.
  • The facility is Safran’s largest Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility for LEAP engines which power Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
  • The facility is designed to service up to 300 LEAP engines annually and employ over 1,000 highly skilled Indian technicians and engineers upon achieving full operational capacity by 2035.
  • The Government of India is developing the country as a strong MRO hub under initiatives such as MRO Guidelines 2021 and the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016.

India Proposes $450 Million Relief Package to Rebuild Cyclone-Hit Sri Lanka on December 24, 2025

[Sri Lanka]

Key Updates:

  • India has proposed an assistance package worth $450 million for rebuilding Sri Lanka, consisting of $350 million in concessional lines of credit and $100 million in grants.
  • External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah with President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
  • India launched a relief and assistance mission named 'Operation Sagar Bandhu', which commenced on the day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall.
  • Operation Sagar Bandhu delivered over 1,100 tonnes of relief material, including dry rations, tents, water purification kits, and 14.5 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment.
  • The proposed assistance targets the restoration of road, railway, and bridge connectivity, as well as support for housing, health, education systems, and agriculture.

Similar / Past Coverage

India launches Operation Sagar Bandhu to restore road connectivity in cyclone-hit Sri Lanka (Mid of December) ▼
  • Operation Sagar Bandhu is India’s humanitarian mission delivering rescue, medical, and relief assistance to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah.
  • A second Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster landed in Colombo carrying Bailey bridge units and a 25-member team of engineers and medical experts.
  • Indian field engineers who arrived with Bailey Bridge units have begun reconnaissance and restoration work on key routes damaged by the cyclone.
  • Indian Air Force helicopters are conducting ongoing rescue operations near Kotmale.
  • Cyclone Ditwah made landfall in Sri Lanka on November 28, causing severe flooding, heavy rainfall, and landslides across multiple districts.
  • High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonne, stated that more than 400 people have lost their lives due to the cyclone.
India Hands Over Three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) to Myanmar on December 21, 2025 (End of December) ▼
  • India handed over three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) dedicated to the socio-economic benefit of the people in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar.
  • A flexible rapier loom, an Indian-made high-tech weaving machine, was installed at the Saunder Weaving and Vocational Institute in Amarapura to support vocational education development in weaving.
  • A new single one-storey building for the Girls Training School in Mandalay was inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Chief Minister of Mandalay Region Government U Myo Aung.
  • The third project involves an investigation into tar-free and dry type gasification processes using agricultural waste to support rural electrification, clean energy, and environmental conservation.
  • These projects were implemented under the framework of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) to support Myanmar’s socio-economic development.
India dispatches 12 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu (End of November) ▼
  • Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft landed in Colombo with nearly 12 tonnes of relief material including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, and ready-to-eat food items.
  • Indian Naval Ship Vikrant and Indian Naval Ship Udaygiri delivered 4.5 tonnes of dry rations and 2 tonnes of fresh rations to cyclone-affected families.
  • External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated on X: 'Operation Sagar Bandhu unfolds. Indian Air Force C-130 J plane carrying approx 12 tons of humanitarian aid... lands in Colombo.'
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: 'India has urgently dispatched relief materials and vital HADR support under Operation Sagar Bandhu.'
India Provides Aid to Sri Lanka Following Cyclone Ditwah (End of November) ▼
  • Sri Lanka has made an appeal for international assistance as the death toll from heavy rains and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah rose to 132.
  • India was the first to respond, sending two planeloads of relief supplies.
  • An Indian warship already in Colombo on a previously planned goodwill visit donated its rations to help victims.
  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the deaths in Sri Lanka and said New Delhi was ready to send more aid.
  • Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya had met with Colombo-based diplomats to update them on the situation and seek the help of their governments.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) completes user evaluation trials of Akash-NG missile system

[Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)]

Key Updates:

  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed user evaluation trials of the next-generation Akash (Akash-NG) missile system, paving the way for its induction into the Indian Armed Forces. Quote: "The DRDO on Tuesday 'successfully completed' user evaluation trials of the next-generation Akash missile system, paving the way for its induction into the armed forces, officials said."
  • The Akash-NG system met all Preliminary Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) and demonstrated high precision against high-speed, low-altitude, and long-range high-altitude targets. Quote: "User evaluation trials of Akash NG missile successfully completed today, meeting all PSQR requirements... The system demonstrated high precision against diverse aerial threats, including high-speed, low-altitude and long-range high-altitude targets."
  • The missile system is equipped with an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, and fully homegrown radars and Control and Command (C2) systems. Quote: "Equipped with an indigenous RF seeker, dual-pulse solid rocket motor, and fully homegrown radars and C2 systems, Akash-NG marks a major boost to India's air defence capability."
  • During the trials, the DRDO successfully intercepted aerial targets at various ranges and altitudes, including near-boundary-low-altitude scenarios. Quote: "During the trials, the missiles successfully intercepted aerial targets at different ranges and altitudes, 'including the near-boundary-low-altitude and long-range, high-altitude scenarios,' the DRDO said."

Similar / Past Coverage

India successfully conducts high-speed rocket-sled test of fighter aircraft escape system (Start of December) ▼
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system.
  • The test was conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh.
  • The test validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery.
  • The test was conducted in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
  • The complex dynamic test placed 'India in an elite club of nations with advanced in-house escape system testing capability'.
  • Defence minister Rajnath Singh hailed the test as a significant milestone in India’s indigenous defence capability and a step forward towards self-reliance.
Paras Defence and Space Technologies receives DRDO technology transfer for T-90 tank Driver Night Sight system (End of November) ▼
  • Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd announced it has signed an agreement with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to receive technology for the Driver Night Sight (DNS) system used in T-90 tanks.
  • The technology transfer agreement has been executed with DRDO under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
  • The DNS system enables enhanced visibility for tank drivers during low-light and night-time operations, making it a critical component for armoured vehicle mobility and combat readiness.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carries out high-speed rocket-sled test of fighter aircraft escape system at 800 km/h (Start of December) ▼
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
  • The test achieved a controlled velocity of 800 km/h, validating canopy severance, ejection sequencing and full aircrew recovery.
  • The test was conducted in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
  • The system carried the forebody of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
  • A dual-sled system with the LCA aircraft forebody was propelled to precisely controlled velocity through phased firing of multiple solid-propellant rocket motors.
  • The canopy-fragilisation pattern, ejection sequence and complete aircrew-recovery process were simulated using an instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy.
  • DRDO established the four-kilometre Rail Track Rocket Sled Penta Rail Supersonic Track at TBRL in 2014.
  • ISRO has previously used the facility for Rail Track Rocket Sled deployment tests of the Gaganyaan pilot parachutes and Apex Cover Separation parachutes in cluster configuration.
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.

NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter

[National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]

Key Updates:

  • NASA has lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft after it passed behind Mars as seen from Earth.
  • MAVEN entered orbit around Mars in September 2014 to study the planet’s upper atmosphere and interactions with the solar wind.
  • The spacecraft uses a UHF antenna to relay communications between the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers and the Deep Space Network.
  • In 2022, MAVEN switched to an “all-stellar” navigation system to reduce reliance on its inertial measurement units.

Similar / Past Coverage

NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter (Mid of December) ▼
  • NASA has lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft after it passed behind Mars as seen from Earth.
  • MAVEN launched in November 2013 and entered Mars orbit in September 2014 to study the planet’s upper atmosphere and interactions with the solar wind.
  • The spacecraft serves as a communications relay, linking the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers with the Deep Space Network via its UHF antenna.
  • In 2022, MAVEN switched to an “all-stellar” navigation system to reduce reliance on its inertial measurement units (IMUs) that had experienced technical issues.
USAF conducts Minuteman III ICBM test 'GT 254' from Vandenberg SFB (Start of November) ▼
  • Test Name: GT 254 – an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM operational test launched by Air Force Global Strike Command
  • Launch Site & Recovery: Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.; impacted ~4,200 miles away at Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands
  • Command Method: Remotely launched by AFGSC Airmen via a U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft as airborne backup command-and-control
  • Purpose: Verify ICBM reliability, accuracy, and collect data to mitigate risks; supports transition assessment to next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel
NASA’s twin ESCAPADE probes to map Martian magnetic fields and space weather via new Lagrange-point trajectory (Start of November) ▼
  • Mission: Escape and Plasma Acceleration Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) – two identical spacecraft named Blue and Gold managed by University of California, Berkeley
  • Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida, no earlier than 9 November (year not stated)
  • Novel trajectory: spacecraft will first reach a Sun-Earth Lagrange point, enter a 12-month kidney-bean-shaped Earth orbit, then slingshot around Earth in early November 2026 and reach Mars in early 2027
  • Objectives: three-dimensional mapping of Mars’s upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and localized crustal magnetic fields; measuring space weather to forecast solar-storm radiation that could endanger future astronauts
  • Context: Mars lacks a global magnetic field and lost most of its atmosphere ~4 billion years ago; localized crustal fields can deflect solar wind up to 932 miles from the surface, causing radio-signal distortions
Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin announce C-130J MRO hub for Indian Air Force (Start of December) ▼
  • Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL) and Lockheed Martin announced an expansion of their partnership with the launch of a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility to service the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter fleet.
  • The IAF currently flies 12 C-130J aircraft used for strategic airlift, special operations and humanitarian missions.
  • Construction is scheduled to be completed by end-2026, with the first aircraft entering MRO operations in early 2027, TASL said.
  • The upcoming facility will offer depot-level and heavy maintenance, component repair, structural restoration, avionics upgrades, and training for Indian engineers and technicians.
  • The new MRO centre will join Lockheed Martin’s network of Certified Service Centers, with capabilities to support C-130J, KC-130J and legacy C-130 B-H variants.

Indian Railways (IR) deploys Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to protect wildlife

[Indian Railways (IR)]

Key Updates:

  • Indian Railways (IR) has rolled out an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to safeguard wildlife, including elephants, lions, and tigers, on railway tracks.
  • The technology utilizes a Distributed Acoustic System (DAS) to detect animal presence and alert loco pilots and control rooms 0.5 kms in advance.
  • The AI-enabled system generates real-time alerts for loco pilots, station masters, and control rooms to facilitate swift preventive action.
  • Initially implemented across 141 RKms on the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the system is being expanded by 981 RKms to achieve a total coverage of 1,122 RKms.
  • The initiative follows a collision in the Jamunamukh - Kampur section under the Lumding Division of NFR involving the Sairang - New Delhi Rajdhani Express.
  • Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed the Forest Department to conduct a detailed enquiry into the death of seven elephants resulting from the train collision.

Similar / Past Coverage

NCBS, ICTS Launch CALIBRE to Advance AI-led Biology Research in India (End of October) ▼
  • The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), both centres under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Bengaluru, have announced the establishment of a new research facility — the Centre for Artificial Learning and Intelligence for Biological Research and Education (CALIBRE).
  • The centre will be supported by a Rs 25 crore contribution from Vishal Gupta, founder of Reed India Consulting LLP, and Deepshikha Gupta.
  • CALIBRE will focus on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into biological research and education, creating tools, infrastructure, and training programmes tailored to India’s scientific landscape.
  • CALIBRE aims to fill a gap in developing AI tools that address India's unique biodiversity, health, and environmental challenges by building AI platforms suited to Indian data, problems, and research priorities.
  • Described as a national hub where “biological insight meets AI innovation”, the centre will be based at NCBS and will work closely with ICTS to bridge the worlds of data science and life sciences.
  • Beyond research, CALIBRE will provide education and training to help Indian scientists use AI effectively in biological work and will also create Chair Professorships and Research Travel Fellowships to support young researchers.
  • By combining the computational expertise of ICTS with the biological strengths of NCBS, CALIBRE seeks to place India at the forefront of AI-driven biological research, linking fundamental discovery with practical applications across health, agriculture, and environment.
India’s 2025 AI Leap: BharatGen Multimodal LLU, 34,000-GPU Compute Pool, and Ethical Governance (Start of December) ▼
  • India’s national compute capacity crossed 34,000 GPUs under the IndiaAI Mission.
  • BharatGen AI, the first multimodal large language model built to work across 22 Indian languages, was launched on June 2, 2025.
  • Over Rs. 10,300 crore was allocated to the IndiaAI Mission over five years for infrastructure, talent, safety, and data access.
  • Bhashini, India’s multilingual AI platform, signed an MoU with the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) to provide services in 22 languages at railway stations.
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.
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.

Indian Coast Guard inducts first indigenously built Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Pratap

Key Updates:

  • ‘Samudra Pratap’ is the first indigenously designed and built Pollution Control Vessel of the Indian Coast Guard.
  • The vessel is equipped with Dynamic Positioning capability (DP-1), with FiFi-2 / FFV-2 notation certificate.
  • It carries an Oil finger printing machine, Gyro stabilized Standoff Active Chemical Detector and PC lab equipment enabling comprehensive pollution response operations within the Exclusive Economic Zone and beyond.

Similar / Past Coverage

India's first all-electric green tug flagged off under Green Tug Transition Programme (Mid of December) ▼
  • The green tugboat, designed for Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla, is being developed under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways' Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP).
  • The new green tug for DPA will feature a 60-ton bollard pull capacity, ensuring silent operations, zero carbon emissions and optimised energy efficiency.
  • The GTTP, launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, aims to induct 50 green tugs by 2030, with 16 to be deployed in the first phase between 2024 and 2027.
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) hands over ICGS Amulya (Yard 1272), third Fast Patrol Vessel, to Indian Coast Guard (Start of December) ▼
  • ICGS Amulya is the third vessel in a series of eight advanced Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) being built for the Indian Coast Guard.
  • ICGS Amulya measures 51.43 m in length and 8 m in breadth, with a displacement of 330 tonnes at a draught of 2.5 m.
  • ICGS Amulya is powered by twin marine diesel engines driving controllable pitch propellers (CPP), a first in this class of FPVs.
  • ICGS Amulya has a top speed exceeding 27 knots and endurance of 1,500 nautical miles.
  • ICGS Amulya is equipped with an advanced integrated machinery control system.
  • ICGS Amulya will be operated by a complement of six officers and 35 sailors.
  • ICGS Amulya is purpose-built for fisheries protection, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surveillance, coastal patrol, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and search & rescue missions.
Indian Navy to Commission DSC A20, First Indigenous Diving Support Craft in Kochi (Mid of December) ▼
  • The Indian Navy will commission DSC A20, the first vessel in a new class of indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Craft (DSC), on 16 December 2025 at Kochi under the Southern Naval Command.
  • DSC A20 is the lead vessel in a series of five Diving Support Craft being constructed by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata.
  • These vessels have been purpose-built for a broad range of underwater missions in coastal waters, including diving operations, underwater inspection and repair, salvage and recovery support, training of naval diving teams, and search-and-rescue tasks in littoral zones.
  • DSC A20 features a catamaran hull form, offering superior stability, larger deck area for equipment and personnel, enhanced seakeeping in rough coastal conditions, and improved operational efficiency during diving deployments.
  • The commissioning of DSC A20 is a major achievement under the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
INS Magdala, sixth ASW SWC, launched at Cochin Shipyard Limited (End of October) ▼
  • Ship name & class: INS Magdala, sixth of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWC) 'Mahe' class
  • Builder & location: Indigenously designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi
  • Key capabilities: Equipped with Hull Mounted Sonar, Low Frequency Variable Depth Sonar, Torpedoes, Anti-Submarine Rockets, NSG-30 Gun, 12.7 mm SRCG; propelled by three Diesel Engine powered waterjets

Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal inaugurates commercial operation of Unit-2 of Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project

Key Updates:

  • The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is India’s largest hydropower project with a total capacity of 2000 MW, comprising eight units of 250 MW each.
  • The project is designed as a Run-of-the-River scheme with small pondage, utilizing eight Head Race Tunnels (HRTs) to generate 7,422 million units (MU) of renewable electricity annually.
  • The infrastructure features a 116-metre-high concrete gravity dam, which is the largest dam in North-East India.
  • The project incorporates technical milestones including India’s heaviest hydro generator rotors, largest stators, and the first-ever use of Rotec’s Tower Belt for dam concreting in the country.
  • It provides flood moderation with a 442 million cubic metre flood cushion and a gross reservoir storage of 1,365 million cubic metres at Full Reservoir Level (FRL).
  • NHPC Limited (NHPC) has implemented riverbank protection and erosion control measures extending up to 60 km downstream with an investment of approximately ₹522 crore.
  • The project will provide free power allocations to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, with the North-East region receiving a total of 1,000 MW.

Similar / Past Coverage

SJVN CMD site visit to 900 MW Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal (Mid of December) ▼
  • SJVN Limited’s Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Bhupender Gupta conducted a site visit to the 900 MW Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal.
  • The project is being developed by SJVN through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company Pvt. Ltd., in the Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal.
  • Upon commissioning, the project will supply 900 MW of clean energy and play a key role in meeting growing power demand and fostering long-term India-Nepal energy cooperation.
ReNew Energy Global Secures $331 Million from ADB for Andhra Pradesh Clean Energy Project (Start of November) ▼
  • ReNew Energy Global Plc secured $331 million in debt from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
  • The funding is to support a clean energy project in Andhra Pradesh.
  • The $331 million is part of a $477 million financial package for the Andhra project.
  • The remaining $146 million of the financial package is to be arranged by ADB through other lenders.
  • The project integrates 837 MWp of wind and solar capacity with a 415 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS).
  • The project is designed to deliver 300 MW of peak power and is expected to generate 1,641 GWh of clean energy annually.
  • The $331 million ADB debt package includes up to $291 million in local-currency financing from ADB's ordinary capital resources and up to $40 million from the ADB-administered Leading Asia's Private Infrastructure Fund 2 (LEAP 2).
  • ReNew has a clean energy portfolio of about 18.2 GW.
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.
ADB approves $460 million loan for agricultural solarisation and rural power infrastructure modernisation in Maharashtra (End of October) ▼
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 460 million results-based loan that aims to modernise rural power infrastructure, promote distributed renewable energy generation, and improve agricultural productivity by providing farmers with reliable daytime solar electricity for irrigation in Maharashtra.
  • An additional USD 40 million concessional loan from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), administered by ADB, will complement the programme.
  • The programme will solarise agricultural feeders, upgrade rural distribution networks, deploy battery energy storage systems (BESS), and promote green jobs and entrepreneurship, particularly for women.
  • By 2028, the programme aims to provide daytime electricity to at least 9,00,000 agricultural consumers and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by over 3 million tons.
  • The grid modernisation includes upgrading 180 distribution substations, installing 4,500 distribution transformers, developing 3,000 circuit kilometres of high-tension and 1,200 circuit kilometres of low-tension lines and deploying 500 MWh of distributed battery storage.
  • It will also digitise system operations through agriculture solarisation dashboards and modern monitoring solutions covering at least 2,500 substations, while advancing green skilling by training 5,000 individuals, including 1,500 women, and creating opportunities for green livelihoods and entrepreneurship.
  • The programme is expected to lower power purchase costs and distribution losses, reduce transformer failure rates by 25 per cent, and enhance the overall financial sustainability of the power sector.

CERT-In warns Indian WhatsApp users of GhostPairing attack hijacking accounts without passwords or SIM swaps

Key Updates:

  • GhostPairing allows cybercriminals to take complete control of WhatsApp accounts without requiring passwords or SIM swaps.
  • The attack tricks users into granting an attacker’s browser access as an additional trusted and hidden device by using a pairing code that looks authentic.
  • Victims receive a message from a trusted contact that reads: “Hi, check this photo” containing a link with a Facebook-style preview.
  • The link leads to a fake Facebook viewer that prompts users to “verify” to see the content and then tricks them into entering their phone number and code.
  • Once linked, attackers can access all chats, photos, videos, voice notes and impersonate victims to send messages to contacts and group chats.

Similar / Past Coverage

DoT mandates SIM-device binding, periodic logouts for WhatsApp, Signal, other OTT apps (End of November) ▼
  • The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued the order under the new Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, 2025.
  • All over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms have 90 days to implement continuous SIM-to-device binding.
  • Web and app-based platforms must enforce periodic logouts — at least once every six hours — and provide QR-code-based re-authentication.
  • These platforms, now designated as Telecommunication Identifier User Entities (TIUEs), must submit a detailed compliance report to the DoT within 120 days.
  • Non-compliance could invite action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024 (as amended), and other laws.
Google India rolls out on-device scam detection and homomorphic encryption push as DPDP Rules take effect (End of November) ▼
  • Google India showcased privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) such as federated learning, homomorphic encryption, and differential privacy as core to implementing the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.
  • A new scam-detection feature on Pixel phones uses Gemini Nano to analyse calls in real time entirely on-device without recording audio or sending data to Google.
  • Android 11+ users will see a prominent alert when attempting to share screens with unknown contacts to combat digital arrest scams, developed with Google Play, Navi, and Paytm.
  • Google introduced Enhanced Phone Number Verification (ePNV), a SIM-based secure protocol replacing SMS OTP flows.
  • Google Pay displays over one million fraud warnings weekly and Google Play Protect blocked 115 million sideloaded app installs that abuse sensitive permissions for financial fraud.
Sanchar Saathi App Pre-installation Mandate (Start of December) ▼
  • The Department of Telecom mandates pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones under the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024.
  • Manufacturers must ensure the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible with functionalities not disabled or restricted.
  • Users are free to uninstall or delete the Sanchar Saathi app if they do not wish to use it.
  • The app is designed to protect users from cyber frauds.
Google Gemini AI sued for allegedly tracking Gmail, Chat, Meet without consent (Mid of November) ▼
  • Google Gemini AI accused of secretly activating across Gmail, Chat, and Meet
  • Complaint filed in federal court in San Jose, California under case Thele v. Google LLC, 25-cv-09704
  • Users must manually disable Gemini in privacy settings to prevent access to entire Gmail history
  • Alleged violation of California Invasion of Privacy Act which prohibits surreptitious recording of confidential communications

FDA Expands Accrufer Approval to Pediatric Iron Deficiency

[United States]

Key Updates:

  • The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approval of Accrufer® (ferric maltol) to include treatment of pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with iron deficiency.
  • Findings from the FORTIS trial showed the mean change in hemoglobin at week 12 was 1.10 g/dL.
  • Among the patients who received the recommended dosage of 30 mg twice daily (n=21), the mean change in Hb at week 12 was 1.23 g/dL (SD: 1.00).
  • At baseline, the mean ferritin level of study participants was 11.4 mcg/L; following treatment with Accrufer, the mean ferritin level at week 12 was 20 mcg/L (mean overall improvement of 8.6 mcg/L).
  • The most common adverse reactions reported with Accrufer include flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, discolored feces, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort/distention.

Similar / Past Coverage

FDA approves first IBS-C drug for children (Start of November) ▼
  • FDA approved linaclotide (Linzess) capsules for pediatric patients 7 years and older with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
  • Linzess is the first treatment approved for this condition in pediatric patients
  • Approval supported by adult efficacy data and a 12-week trial in patients seven- to 17-years-old who met criteria for pediatric IBS-C
  • Patients needed to show at least a 30% reduction in abdominal pain and at least two additional spontaneous bowel movements per week for at least six of the 12 weeks
  • Diarrhea was the most commonly reported side effect in pediatric patients
Alembic Pharmaceuticals secures USFDA approval for generic Dasatinib tablets to treat blood cancers (Start of November) ▼
  • Alembic Pharmaceuticals received USFDA final approval for generic Dasatinib tablets in strengths 20 mg, 50 mg, 70 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg, and 140 mg
  • The approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company’s reference listed drug Sprycel tablets
  • Dasatinib tablets are indicated for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase
  • The drug is also indicated for pediatric patients one year of age and older with Ph+ CML in chronic phase
  • According to IQVIA data, the estimated market size for Dasatinib tablets is USD 1,017 million for the 12 months ended September 2025
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approves First AI Tool for Liver Disease Trials (Start of December) ▼
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has qualified the first AI drug development tool, the AI-Based Histologic Measurement of NASH (AIM-NASH), to help pathologists assess metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) disease activity in clinical trials.
  • This cloud-based tool helps pathologists score liver biopsy components, including fat infiltration (steatosis), inflammation (hepatocellular ballooning and lobular inflammation), and scarring (fibrosis) stage.
  • MASH is a serious form of fatty liver disease where too much fat in the liver causes inflammation and scarring.
  • The AIM-NASH system uses AI algorithms to analyze images of liver biopsies and provides scores according to the NASH Clinical Research Network scoring system, with pathologists fully responsible for final interpretation.
India and Liberia sign MoU to boost cooperation on medicine quality standards (Mid of December) ▼
  • India and Liberia signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation in the field of pharmacopoeia.
  • The agreement was signed by India's Ambassador to Liberia, Manoj Bihari Verma, and Liberia's Health Minister, Louise M. Kpoto.
  • The MoU enables Liberia to adopt the Indian Pharmacopoeia as a reference for medicine quality standards.
  • The agreement aims to promote shared quality standards and regulatory alignment between the two countries.

President Droupadi Murmu presents Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2025 to distinguished scientists

Key Updates:

  • President Droupadi Murmu presented the annual ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ (RVP) to distinguished scientists from diverse fields at a special function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • Under the second edition of the Puraskar, 24 awards were presented to scientists in four categories - Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva, and Vigyan Team.
  • The highest science award - Vigyan Ratna - was given posthumously to India’s eminent physicist, Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, for lifetime achievements and contributions made in the field of science and technology.
  • The Vigyan Team award was presented to the Team- Aroma Mission Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the field of Agricultural Science.
  • The awards are given to scientists across 13 domains including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics & Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Technology & Innovation, Atomic Energy, and Space Science and Technology.
  • Jayan N was conferred the Vigyan Shri award for Space Science and Technology, while Ankur Garg received the Vigyan Yuva in the same category.
  • S Venkata Mohan was recognized with the Vigyan Shri award in the field of Environmental Science.

Similar / Past Coverage

Vigyanika: Science Literature Festival 2025 spotlights multilingual science communication for Atmanirbhar Bharat (Mid of December) ▼
  • CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR), Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and Panjab University organised Vigyanika as part of India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025.
  • Session ‘Vigyan Se Samruddhi – For Atmanirbhar Bharat’ focused on ‘traditional knowledge communication and its role in advancing national self-reliance’.
  • Dr. Viswajanani J. Sattigeri, Head, CSIR-TKDL, emphasized ‘the importance of documenting, disseminating and implementing policy for traditional knowledge’.
India-UK Science and Technology Partnership Dashboard Unveiled in New Delhi (Start of November) ▼
  • Event: Pilot version of India-United Kingdom Science and Technology Partnership (IN-UK-STP) Dashboard unveiled
  • Participants: Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, PSA to GoI and Dr. David Warren Smith, UK National Technology Adviser
  • Location: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
  • Coverage: 143 bilateral India-UK projects supported since 2018 mapped by funding value, partners, agencies
  • Alignment: Projects mapped to India-UK SIC goals, 17 SDGs and broad tech-cooperation areas
  • Forward actions: Add output/impact metrics (publications, patents, HRD, startups, private partnerships) and ensure real-time data inputs
Infosys Prize 2025 Honors Six Researchers for Scientific Advancement (Mid of November) ▼
  • The Infosys Prize 2025 was announced for six researchers across six categories: Economics, Engineering and Computer Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences.
  • Each laureate will receive a gold medal, a citation, and a prize purse of $100,000.
  • The prize honours young Indian researchers for their contributions to scientific advancement, recognising researchers under the age of 40 from 2024.
  • Anjana Badrinarayanan from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, was awarded in Life Sciences for her work on genome maintenance and DNA repair mechanisms using live-cell imaging.
  • Sushant Sachdeva from the University of Toronto received the Engineering and Computer Science prize for his study into mathematical optimisation and algorithmic theory.
  • Sabyasachi Mukherjee from TIFR, Mumbai, was recognized in Mathematical Sciences for linking Kleinian group dynamics and holomorphic map iteration.
  • Karthish Manthiram from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) won in Physical Sciences for developing sustainable electrochemical routes for key industrial chemicals using renewable electricity.
  • Winners based outside of India are required to spend 30 days at a host institution in India as part of the Infosys Prize Residency programme to encourage collaboration.
Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan receives Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025 (Start of November) ▼
  • Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan, an associate professor of materials engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been announced for the third edition of the Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025.
  • He leads a research group in computational materials science at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
  • The award carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, which is the highest in science and technology in the country.
  • Gopalakrishnan was selected after an intense scrutiny by an expert committee headed by Anil Kakodkar.
  • The award will be presented at Manohar Parrikar Vigyan Mahotsav in Dec.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashes 36-ball century to script List A history

Key Updates:

  • Vaibhav Suryavanshi reached the triple-digit score in just 36 balls, courtesy of 10 fours and 8 sixes.
  • At the age of 14 years, 272 days, Suryavanshi also became the youngest to hit a century in men's List A cricket.
  • The milestone puts him second in the list of fastest hundreds in List A cricket among Indians.

Similar / Past Coverage

Jasprit Bumrah becomes first Indian to take 100 wickets in all three formats (Mid of December) ▼
  • Jasprit Bumrah has become the country’s first bowler to complete 100 wickets in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
  • He reached the milestone during the first T20I against South Africa at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.
  • India defeated South Africa by 101 runs; India scored 175/6 and South Africa were all out for 74.
Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian to reach 4000 runs in T20I (End of December) ▼
  • Opener Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian to reach 4000 runs in T20Is during the first of a five-match series against Sri Lanka on Sunday at the ACA-VDCA stadium in Visakhapatnam.
  • India defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in Vizag after chasing a 122-run target.
  • Smriti Mandhana reached the 4000-run milestone in 15 balls and currently sits second in the list of players with most runs in the format with 4007 runs.
  • Jemimah Rodrigues scored a half-century to help India secure the victory ('Jemimah Rodrigues half century helps India beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in Vizag').
  • Vaishnavi Sharma made her T20I debut during the series opener against Sri Lanka.
  • This match was India’s first international appearance since the 'Women in Blue beat South Africa to lift their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup last month'.
India clinches T20I series against South Africa (End of December) ▼
  • India defeated South Africa by 30 runs in the fifth T20I to secure a 3-1 victory in the series.
  • The match was held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
  • India posted a total of 231 for five in 20 overs, while South Africa scored 201 for eight in their response.
  • Hardik Pandya set a record for the second-fastest T20I fifty for India, reaching the milestone in 15 balls.
  • Tilak Varma top-scored for India with 73 runs off 42 balls, including 10 boundaries and one six.
  • Varun Chakravarthy was the pick of the bowlers for India, taking four wickets for 53 runs in his four-over spell.
  • With this win, India extended their unbeaten streak in bilateral T20I series to 19.
Yashasvi Jaiswal scores maiden ODI century to join elite list of Indians with tons in all formats (Start of December) ▼
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his maiden ODI century in 111 balls against South Africa in Visakhapatnam.
  • He becomes the sixth Indian to score centuries in all formats of men’s international cricket.
  • Jaiswal now has seven Test centuries, one T20I century, and one ODI century in his international career.

Alpine SG Pipers clinches Global Chess League (GCL) title

Key Updates:

  • Alpine SG Pipers scored a convincing victory in the final of the Global Chess League (GCL) over Continental Kings — the winner of the first two editions — at the Royal Opera House on Tuesday.
  • SG Pipers claimed an advantage by winning the first match 4-2 before settling the tie and clinching the crown with a dominating 4.5-1.5 victory in the second.
  • Anish Giri shone brightest in the final for them, beating Wei Yi twice.
  • Earlier, PBG Alaskan Knights took the third place, beating Ganges Grandmasters in tie-breaks.
  • It was indeed a superb show by SG Pipers, whose campaign hadn’t got off to the brightest of starts, losing both its first matches.

Similar / Past Coverage

Zheng/Huang defeats Kim/Jeong to win Paris 2024 Mixed Doubles Gold (End of December) ▼
  • The Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals 2025 will be held in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, from 17-21 December 2025.
  • The series finale features the top eight eligible players or pairs in the BWF World Ranking across five categories including singles and doubles.
  • In the women's singles, World No.1 and Paris 2024 Olympic champion An Se Young is aiming for a record 11th title.
  • The 2025 world gold and silver medallists in men's singles, Shi Yu Qi of China and Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, are participants in the tournament.
  • In the Paris 2024 Mixed Doubles Finals, Zheng/Huang claimed the gold medal with a 2:0 victory over Kim/Jeong.
Praggnanandhaa secures Candidates spot via last-gasp London Classic open win (Mid of December) ▼
  • Praggnanandhaa tied for first place at the London Chess Classic open section with 7/9 points.
  • The victory added 8.17 circuit points, taking his FIDE Circuit total to 115.17 and sealing the Candidates berth.
  • Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the only rival for the spot, earned 19.62 circuit points from winning the elite invitational section but remains on 71.61 overall, now out of reach.
  • The 2026 Open Candidates will be held in Cyprus from March 28 to April 16 alongside the Women’s Candidates.
  • Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy and Vaishali Rameshbabu will represent India in the Women’s Candidates.
Chess World Cup 2025 Trophy Named Viswanathan Anand Cup (Start of November) ▼
  • The World Cup winner's trophy will be called Viswanathan Anand Cup.
  • The trophy features the peacock, the national bird of India in a frozen dance form.
  • The winner’s trophy was unveiled in a glittering opening ceremony in Goa on Friday.
  • The marquee competition starts on November 1 and will go on till November 26.
  • The total prize money fund for the tournament is $2 million.
  • The winner will get $120,000.
  • The World Cup will feature 206 players competing in a head-to-head, two-game knockout format over eight rounds.
  • The FIDE World Cup is the event that offers the top three finishers direct qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship.
Javokhir Sindarov defeats Wei Yi to win 11th FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 (End of November) ▼
  • Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) became the youngest ever Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) World Cup champion, defeating China’s Wei Yi in a rapid tiebreak after two drawn classical games.
  • Wei Yi (China) was the runner-up and received the Silver medal.
  • Andrey Esipenko (Russia) secured third place and received the Bronze medal.
  • The 11th FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 was held at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao, Goa.
  • The tournament marked India hosting the event again after 23 years.
  • The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 trophy was officially renamed the Viswanathan Anand Cup.
  • The top 3 winners, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko, qualified for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament.
  • The FIDE World Cup 2025 offered a USD 2 million prize fund.

TasteAtlas World Food Awards 2025-26 list released

[Italy]

Key Updates:

  • Naples, Italy tops the 2025-26 TasteAtlas World Food Awards list.
  • Mumbai, India is ranked 5th best food city globally in the 2025-26 rankings.
  • Six Indian cities feature in the Global Top 100 food cities list, with Mumbai at 5th, Delhi at 48th, Amritsar at 53rd, Hyderabad at 54th, Kolkata at 73rd, and Chennai at 93rd.
  • Italian cities occupy six of the top 10 spots in the 2025-26 best food cities list.
  • Lima, Peru enters the top 10, pushing Osaka, Japan to 11th place.

Similar / Past Coverage

Italian cooking awarded Unesco cultural heritage status (Mid of December) ▼
  • Italian cooking has been awarded special cultural heritage status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
  • Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been pushing for Italy's cuisine to be recognised since her election.
  • Koshary, the spicy dish of lentils, rice, and pasta from Egypt, was also added to Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage.
  • Previous food-related inclusions on the list include Washoku of Japan, Breakfast culture in Malaysia, and the Gastronomic meal of the French.
Lucknow becomes India’s second UNESCO City of Gastronomy after Hyderabad (Start of November) ▼
  • Lucknow was officially recognised by UNESCO as a 'City of Gastronomy' on World Cities Day, October 31.
  • It is the second Indian city, after Hyderabad, to receive the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) City of Gastronomy title.
  • The recognition celebrates Lucknow’s preservation of Awadhi culinary traditions, including the dum pukht slow-cooking technique perfected in Nawabi royal kitchens.
Italy's Deputy PM Tajani calls India a 'long-trusted friend' and 'priority' during visit (Mid of December) ▼
  • Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani is on a three-day visit to India.
  • The visit aims to further reinvigorate the economic partnership between the two countries.
  • India is described as a 'long-trusted friend' and a 'priority' for Italy.
  • The Italian foreign ministry has launched a dedicated financing line to India of Euro 500 million to support Italian companies.
  • Italy and India unveiled an ambitious five-year strategic action plan in November last year.
  • The volume of annual bilateral trade between Italy and India is around Euro 14 billion.
  • Italy fully backs the India-European Union (EU) free trade agreement (FTA).
Italy Deputy PM Antonio Tajani arrives in New Delhi for second India visit this year (Mid of December) ▼
  • Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for his second visit to India this year.
  • He will meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on Wednesday before proceeding to Mumbai for official engagements on Thursday.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg and discussed expanding collaboration across trade, investment, defence, innovation, AI, space and education.
  • India and Italy announced a joint initiative to combat terror financing during the Modi-Meloni meeting.

National Consumer Day 2025 observed on December 24 with theme 'A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles'

Key Updates:

  • National Consumer Day is celebrated every year on December 24.
  • The 2025 theme is 'A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles'.
  • The Consumer Protection Bill was passed on December 24, 1986, marking the origin of the observance.
  • The Consumer Protection Act 2019 replaced the 1986 Act in July 2020.

Similar / Past Coverage

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 Human Solidarity Day observed on 20 December 2025 with theme 'Solidarity for Sustainable Development: Uniting Communities for a Shared Future' (End of December) ▼
  • 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.
International Universal Health Coverage Day observed on 12 December (Mid of December) ▼
  • International Universal Health Coverage Day is observed on 12 December each year.
  • The theme for 2025 is 'Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!'
  • 12 December was officially designated as International UHC Day in 2017.
World Usability Day 2025 Theme: Emerging Technologies and the Human Experience (Mid of November) ▼
  • World Usability Day hosted on, November 13, 2025.
  • The theme for this year's World Usability Day is Emerging Technologies and the Human Experience.
  • The event will share practical insights on creating digital government services that are not only compliant with accessibility requirements, but usable by all.