📰 Daily Briefing Monday, Dec 29

Daily Current Affairs: 29 December 2025

Analysis for 29 December 2025

Veteran Art Director K Shekhar Passes Away at 72

Key Updates:

  • K Shekhar, the veteran art director celebrated for his imaginative set designs, passed away at his home in Thiruvananthapuram.
  • He is most remembered for designing the anti-gravity room in the song 'Aalippazham Perukkaan' of the Malayalam film 'My Dear Kuttichathan'.
  • The anti-gravity room was built on a rotating steel rig without any computer graphics, predating similar Hollywood techniques by decades.
  • Shekhar entered Malayalam cinema in 1982 as costume designer and publicity designer for the film 'Padayottam' directed by Jijo Punnoose.

Similar Coverage

Vinod Kumar Shukla Passed Away After Winning The 59th Jnanpith Award (End of December) ▼
  • 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.
10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India 2025 inaugurated by Waheeda Rehman in Odisha (Mid of November) ▼
  • The 10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India 2025 was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • Legendary actress Waheeda Rehman praised the Film Heritage Foundation's preservation efforts at the opening ceremony.
  • The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Robin Baker for his 35-year dedication to archival films.
  • The Champion of Film Heritage Award was conferred upon Surya Deo for documenting Odia cinema.
  • Sanjoy Patnaik received the Champion of Film Heritage Award for preserving stories of Odia cinema pioneers.
  • Rashmiranjan Mohapatra was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for interpreting classic Odia films through Pattachitra.
Jury and Chairperson for Kerala State Film Awards 2025 (Start of November) ▼
  • A seven-member jury, chaired by veteran actor Prakash Raj, selected the winners for the Kerala State Film Awards 2025.
  • The Kerala State Film Awards are presented by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy (KSCA).
  • KSCA is the abbreviation for Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
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'.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) authorizes Aryaman Finance (India) Limited as Type II NBFC-ND-ICC.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

  • Aryaman Finance (India) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aryaman Financial Services, received the Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 24, 2025.
  • The certificate authorizes the company to operate as a Type II NBFC-ND-ICC (Non-Deposit taking - Investment and Credit Company).
  • The subsidiary was incorporated on January 31, 2025, and received additional capital infusion on April 01, 2025.
  • The company has complied with SEBI Listing Regulations disclosure requirements under Regulation 30.

Similar Coverage

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approves NHAI-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust as Public InvIT (End of December) ▼
  • NHAI-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT).
  • The Public InvIT aims to unlock the monetisation potential of the National Highway assets while creating a high-quality, long-term investment instrument primarily targeting retail and domestic investors.
  • NHAI had incorporated Raajmarg Infra Investment Managers Pvt Ltd (RIIMPL) as the Investment Manager for RIIT.
  • RIIMPL has been established as a collaborative venture with equity participation from State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, NaBFID, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv Ventures Ltd., HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Yes Bank.
  • NRVVMK Rajendra Kumar, Member (Finance), NHAI, will be the Managing Director and CEO (Additional Charge) of the investment manager company.
RCMS Bank Wins Best Profit-Making Bank Award in Belagavi District (End of November) ▼
  • Rani Channamma Mahila Sahakari Bank (RCMS Bank) was honoured as the Best Profit-Making Bank in Belagavi District for 2025.
  • The award was presented during the 72nd All India Cooperative Week celebrations held in Haveri.
  • The Karnataka State Urban Cooperative Banks Federation, Bengaluru, presented the award.
  • RCMS Bank is headquartered in Belgaum.
  • The felicitation was received by the bank’s Chairperson, Preeti Kore Daddwad.
  • Coop Kumbh 2025 was held in New Delhi.
  • Coop Kumbh 2025 was inaugurated by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
  • RCMS Bank’s Professional Director, Ms. Beena Achar, highlighted the bank’s journey during Coop Kumbh 2025.
  • NAFCUB Chairman Emeritus H. K. Patel was present at the award event.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Issues Guidelines for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) Licensing and Classification (Mid of December) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the Urban Co-operative Banks – Licensing, Scheduling and Regulatory Classification Guidelines, 2025.
  • The RBI stated that no fresh proposals for the organization of new UCBs or the conversion of cooperative credit societies into UCBs are being considered.
  • A four-tiered regulatory framework has been adopted for UCBs based on deposit size as of March 31 of the preceding financial year.
  • Tier 1 UCBs include all unit UCBs, salary earners’ UCBs, and other UCBs with deposits up to ₹100 crore.
  • Tier 2 UCBs are defined as those with deposits of more than ₹100 crore and up to ₹1000 crore.
  • Tier 3 UCBs consist of those with deposits of more than ₹1000 crore and up to ₹10,000 crore.
  • Tier 4 UCBs include those with deposits exceeding ₹10,000 crore.
  • UCBs transitioning to a higher Tier are allowed a glide path of up to two years to comply with higher regulatory requirements.
  • To be included in the Second Schedule to the RBI Act, 1934, a UCB must maintain Tier 3 deposit levels for two consecutive years.
  • UCBs seeking scheduling must maintain a Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of at least three per cent more than the minimum requirement.
  • The eligibility for scheduling also requires the absence of major regulatory and supervisory concerns based on the latest RBI inspection or audited financials.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issues final guidelines averting restructuring for 12 bank groups (Start of December) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) final guidelines allow banks and their group entities to continue overlapping lending activities, preventing restructuring for 12 large bank groups.
  • The draft guidelines would have impacted 12 bank groups, accounting for ~55% of sectoral advances, and 2-6% of consolidated advances of individual banks.
  • The final framework permits overlapping lending operations subject to board approval.
  • Of the 26 bank group entities with lending operations, only two currently qualify as upper-layer Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
  • The remaining bank group entities must adopt upper-layer norms (excluding listing requirements) by March 31, 2028.
  • The guidelines impose a 20% ceiling on a bank group’s shareholding in an Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC).
  • There are currently 13 ARCs in which one or more banks hold stakes.
  • In all but two of these ARCs, shareholding by any single bank is less than 20%.
  • Banks with shareholding exceeding the 20% limit in ARCs will have to partially divest by March 2028.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves re-appointment of Ratan Kumar Kesh as Bandhan Bank executive director.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the re-appointment of Ratan Kumar Kesh as executive director of Bandhan Bank Limited.
  • The re-appointment is effective from March 31, 2026, for an additional three-year term.
  • Kesh also serves as the chief operating officer and a key managerial personnel of the bank.
  • The approval was communicated via an RBI letter dated December 26, 2025.
  • The re-appointment is contingent upon the approval of the bank's shareholders and Kesh will remain subject to retirement by rotation.
  • Bandhan Bank confirmed that Kesh has no relations with other directors of the bank and is not debarred or disqualified from holding a directorship by any order from the Securities and Exchange Board of India or any other relevant authority.

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Vikram Sahu appointed CEO of Bank of America NA India (Start of December) ▼
  • Vikram Sahu has been approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Bank of America NA (BoFA) in India.
  • He will assume the charge in addition to his current responsibilities as India country executive.
  • He will replace Kaku Nakhate, who served as the bank CEO for about 15 years.
  • Nakhate will take over as the India chair with a focus on deepening relationships with key clients of the India franchise.
  • Sahu will report to Jin Su, president of Asia Pacific for the US bank.
Seven Executive Directors Appointed in Public Sector Banks (End of November) ▼
  • Seven Executive Directors have been appointed to the Boards of various Public Sector Banks.
  • The Department of Financial Services (DFS) formally notified these appointments.
  • The appointed Executive Directors include Amit Kumar Srivastava for Punjab National Bank, E. Ratan Kumar for Central Bank of India, Amresh Prasad for Union Bank of India, Pramod Kumar Dwibedi for Bank of India, Sunil Kumar Chugh for Canara Bank, Mini T M for Indian Bank, and Prabhat Kiran for Bank of Maharashtra.
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal for these appointments.
  • The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) conducted the selection process, recommending 11 candidates, from which seven officers received postings.
CA Usha Janakiraman appointed Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) (Start of December) ▼
  • CA Usha Janakiraman appointed Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with effect from December 1, 2025.
  • Prior to the promotion, Usha Janakiraman served as Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Department of Regulation, Central Office, Mumbai.
  • Usha Janakiraman has experience of over three decades in the RBI in areas of regulation, external investment and operations, banking supervision, public debt management, currency management and other areas.
  • As Executive Director, Usha Janakiraman will look after the Department of Supervision (Risk, Analytics and Vulnerability Assessment).
  • Usha Janakiraman is a Chartered Accountant.
RBI approves S Krishnan's appointment as J&K Bank Chairman (Mid of November) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of S Krishnan as part-time chairman of J&K Bank.
  • His appointment is effective from November 13, 2025, till March 26, 2028.
  • Krishnan previously served as MD & CEO of Punjab & Sind Bank.
  • He also held the top position as MD & CEO of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank in September 2022.
  • Krishnan is currently an independent director on the board of Srinagar-headquartered bank.

Delhi High Court clarifies POCSO Act cases cannot be dismissed solely on victim turning hostile

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

  • The Delhi High Court ruled that a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cannot be dismissed merely because the victim turns hostile, especially when scientific evidence is available.
  • The court upheld the 20-year jail term of a man convicted of raping his minor stepdaughter, despite the victim retracting her statement during trial.
  • The court emphasized that child victims may retract due to fear of losing shelter, financial stability, or family pressure, and such hostility should not undermine the prosecution's case.

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UAE 2025 Foster Law opens fostering to expatriate families (Mid of December) ▼
  • Federal Decree-Law No. 12 of 2025 fundamentally reshaping who can foster and how fostering works across the country.
  • Fostering in the UAE is open not only to Muslim nationals but also to expatriate families of any nationality and religion, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Any married couple, Muslim or non-Muslim, Emirati or expatriate, aged 25 years or older, may apply.
  • Single women aged 30+ from any nationality or religion may also foster.
  • The law applies specifically to children of unknown parentage.
  • Foster parents are strictly prohibited from imposing their cultural or religious beliefs on foster children.
  • Fostered children retain their legal identity and personal status as registered under the UAE state.
  • Foster families do not gain inheritance rights, as fostering remains a custodial, not adoptive, arrangement.
Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order 2025 allows persecuted minorities entry till December 31 2024 (Start of December) ▼
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order 2025 on September 1 this year.
  • The order exempts Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who entered India on or before December 31 2024 due to religious persecution to stay without valid travel documents.
  • The Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s response on whether this order violates the Assam Accord’s March 25 1971 deadline.
Forest officials appear before OHRC in Satkosia compensation case (End of October) ▼
  • Senior forest officials, including the PCCF Wildlife, appeared before the Odisha Human Rights Commission regarding alleged inadequate compensation for families relocated from Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
  • Complainants alleged that 'hundreds of families from five villages were relocated from the tiger reserve to other places without holding gram sabhas and conducting a proper survey.'
  • The commission heard the case and asked officials to follow the rules; the order is yet to be uploaded on the OHRC website.
  • The next hearing is scheduled for October 30.
World Day for Preventing and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse observed on November 18 (End of November) ▼
  • The World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence is marked every year on November 18.
  • This observance was established in 2022 by the UN General Assembly.
  • On November 7, 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/77/8, officially designating November 18 as the World Day.
  • The observance aims to raise awareness of child sexual abuse, strengthen global action, and support survivors in their journey toward healing and justice.
  • The theme for the 2025 commemoration is “Strengthening the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse Through Evidence-Based Policy Making.”

National Awards Policy: Prohibition of 'Padma Shri' and 'Bharat Ratna' as Titles

Key Updates:

  • The Bombay High Court ruled that civilian awards such as 'Padma Shri' and 'Bharat Ratna' are not titles and cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the names of awardees.
  • The ruling follows a Supreme Court (SC) decision in Balaji Raghavan/SP Anand v. Union of India, which clarified that these awards do not fall under 'titles' as per Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.
  • If an awardee uses these honors as a prefix or suffix, the defaulter should forfeit the National Award following the procedure laid down in Regulation 10 of the award notifications.
  • The court directed that all judicial proceedings must ensure compliance with this law as mandated by Article 141 of the Constitution of India.

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DoPPW Clarifies Inclusion of Daughter's Name in Family Pension Records (Mid of November) ▼
  • The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) clarified rules regarding the inclusion of daughters' names in family details for central government employees and pensioners.
  • As per the rule, every government employee or pensioner must provide details of all family members, including daughters, whether or not they are eligible for family pension.
  • The eligibility for family pension would be decided after the demise of the pensioner/family pensioners in accordance with the existing rules.
  • This clarification is covered under Rule 50 (15) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021.
  • Rule 50 (15) mandates government servants to disclose family information, including spouse, all children, parents, and disabled siblings, in Form 4 upon entering service and to submit updated information before retiring.
  • The details of son or daughter, whether or not eligible for family pension on the date of submission, must be included in Form 4.
Abbreviations and their full forms mentioned in the article (Start of November) ▼
  • J&K refers to Jammu and Kashmir, as seen in 'J&K's Kishtwar'.
  • TOI refers to Times of India, indicated by 'TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM'.
  • IST refers to Indian Standard Time, as shown in 'Updated: Nov 05, 2025, 09:21 IST'.
  • JNU refers to Jawaharlal Nehru University, mentioned in 'JNU Elections 2025'.
  • ICAI refers to Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, as seen in 'ICAI September Result'.
  • U.S. refers to United States, as in 'U.S. Eyes India As A Major Market For Its Energy Exports'.
  • IDF refers to Israeli Defense Forces, mentioned in 'Israeli Whistleblower Shames IDF'.
  • NYC refers to New York City, as seen in 'NYC Mayor Election Result'.
  • AQI refers to Air Quality Index, mentioned in 'Delhi AQI Level'.
  • GCCs refers to Global Capability Centers, as in 'Learning & innovation are key to building resilient GCCs'.
  • AI refers to Artificial Intelligence, mentioned in 'GCCs build practical AI systems for their parent companies'.
  • CFO refers to Chief Financial Officer, as seen in 'company's CFO has a message'.
Dinesh Khatak Awarded Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal (Mid of December) ▼
  • Dinesh Khatak, second-in-command (2-IC) of the 196 Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was honoured with the “Kendriya Grah Mantri Dakshata Padak” (Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal).
  • The award was given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
  • He is a native of Intel Kalan village in Jind district.
  • Dinesh Khatak joined the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as a Gazetted Officer in 2005.
  • He played key roles in managing the Amarnath Yatra and maintaining law and order during his deployments in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • He served during crucial phases such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Dinesh Khatak contributed to advancing commando training at CIAT Shivpuri.
  • He is currently posted in the Naxal-affected Bijapur district.
  • He has led major security and relief initiatives, including establishing new forward camps and participating in KGH Special Operations.
National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025: Objectives, Categories, and Prizes (Mid of November) ▼
  • The National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) 2025 are announced by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
  • The NGRA is one of the highest national honours in the livestock and dairy sector, aiming to encourage milk-producing farmers, dairy cooperative societies/MPCs/FPOs, and Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs).
  • Awards will be conferred on 26th November 2025 as part of the National Milk Day celebrations.
  • The awards are given in three categories: Best Dairy farmer rearing indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds, Best Dairy Cooperative society/ Milk Producer company/ Dairy Farmer producer organization, and Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT).
  • For the 'Best Dairy Farmer' and 'Best DCS/FPO/MPCs' categories, monetary prizes are ₹5,00,000 for 1st rank, ₹3,00,000 for 2nd rank, ₹2,00,000 for 3rd rank, and ₹2,00,000 for a Special Award for North Eastern Region (NER)/Himalayan States.
  • For the 'Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT)' category, the award consists of a Certificate of merit and a memento only, with no cash prize.
  • The National Gopal Ratna Awards have been conferred annually since 2021 under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), which was launched in December 2014 to focus on the scientific conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds.

BIS notifies IS 19445:2025 standard for bomb disposal systems to boost security infrastructure

[Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)]

Key Updates:

  • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified IS 19445:2025, a dedicated standard for bomb disposal systems.
  • Developed at the request of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory.
  • The standard is intended for voluntary adoption by procurement agencies, manufacturers, and testing bodies.
  • It establishes comprehensive guidelines for evaluating bomb disposal systems against blast loads and splinter effects.
  • The standard specifies requirements for test equipment, test range conditions, and evaluation procedures to objectively assess system effectiveness.

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Lost, Looted and Recovered Firearm database launched to strengthen anti-terror crime effort (End of December) ▼
  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the 'Lost, Looted and Recovered Firearm' database prepared by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
  • The database will centrally record government-owned weapons that are looted, stolen, lost, or recovered from state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
  • It will be accessible to all state police forces, paramilitary units, and law enforcement agencies for tracing weapon origin, movement, and recovery patterns.
Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to bolster maritime safety and cybersecurity (End of December) ▼
  • India is establishing the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to bolster maritime safety, mirroring aviation security models.
  • The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
  • Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
  • The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats.
  • The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
  • The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
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.
Indian Army Procures Indigenously Designed Software Defined Radios (End of October) ▼
  • The Indian Army has signed a contract for the procurement of its first indigenously designed and manufactured Software Defined Radios (SDR).
  • These SDRs were developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
  • The advanced SDRs are equipped with high data rates and Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) capabilities.
  • These SDRs will significantly enhance secure, real-time communication and strengthen the Army's operational readiness in information-intensive, network-centric battlefields.
  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the Tri-Services, had earlier released Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) standard 1.0 to enable interoperability in Military Communication.
  • IRSA is a comprehensive software specification for Software Defined Radios (SDRs), defining standardised interfaces, APIs, execution environments, and mechanisms for waveform portability.
  • IRSA Version 1.0 was approved by the High-Level Advisory Committee (HLAC) in 2025, becoming India's first national specification defining a standardised software architecture for Software Defined Radios.

Anti-Dumping Duty on Chinese Refrigerant Gas and Steel Products

[China]

Key Updates:

  • India has imposed anti-dumping duty on two Chinese goods -- a refrigerant gas and certain kinds of steel products.
  • On steel goods, India has imposed $223.82 per tonne on certain Chinese firms, while on few others $415 per tonne was imposed for five years.
  • On the gas, up to $5,251 per tonne was slapped for five years.

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India imposes anti-dumping duty on hot rolled flat steel from Vietnam (Mid of November) ▼
  • India has imposed an anti-dumping duty of USD 121.55 per tonne on imports of hot rolled flat steel products from Vietnam for five years.
  • Steel imports stood at 4.90 million tonnes in April-September FY26, with Vietnam contributing 13 per cent.
  • Imports from Vietnam were 0.64 million tonnes, 17 per cent higher year-on-year.
China Customs records first-ever $1 trillion trade surplus for January-November period. (Start of December) ▼
  • China's November trade surplus hit $111.68 billion, the highest since June and up from $90.07 billion the previous month.
  • Exports to the United States dropped 29% year-on-year in November despite a tariff-truce agreement.
  • Exports to the European Union rose 14.8% year-on-year in November.
  • Exports to Australia surged 35.8% year-on-year in November.
  • Exports to Southeast Asia grew 8.2% year-on-year in November.
  • Overall Chinese exports grew 5.9% year-on-year in November, reversing October's 1.1% contraction.
  • Imports increased 1.9% year-on-year in November, below the 3.0% forecast.
  • The average U.S. tariff on Chinese goods stands at 47.5%.
  • China's rare-earth exports jumped 26.5% month-on-month in November.
Mexico Senate approves up to 50% tariffs on China and other non-FTA countries (Mid of December) ▼
  • Mexico Senate passed new tariffs of up to 50% on over 1,400 products including metals, cars, clothing and appliances.
  • The levies will take effect on 1 January 2026 and apply to countries without a free trade agreement with Mexico, including China, Thailand, India and Indonesia.
  • President Claudia Sheinbaum stated the measures are needed to boost domestic production.
  • China’s commerce ministry spokesperson said the tariffs will substantially harm the interests of trading partners including China and urged Mexico to correct its decision.
  • The move comes as Mexico negotiates with the US over threatened US tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminium.
China requests WTO consultations with India over ICT tariff, solar subsidies (End of December) ▼
  • 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.

Indian Coast Guard conducts RPREX-2025 off Mumbai coast to strengthen maritime pollution response

Key Updates:

  • The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) executed the regional level pollution response exercise (RPREX-2025) off the coast of Mumbai.
  • RPREX-2025 validated the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP).
  • The exercise involved ONGC, Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA), forest department’s mangrove cell, coastal police, fisheries department, JSW Port, Angre Port, and various oil handling agencies.

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World Bank Clears $600 Million for Uttar Pradesh and Haryana Clean Air Programs (Mid of December) ▼
  • The World Bank has approved $599.66 million in financing for two major clean air programs in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
  • These initiatives aim to improve air quality, reduce health impacts, and strengthen both states as attractive business destinations.
  • The programs will invest in clean cooking, electric mobility, and cleaner industrial practices.
  • Paul Procee, Acting Country Director, World Bank India, stated that 'Air pollution is causing severe health impacts, loss of productivity and reduced quality of life across South Asia.'
  • The operations mark the first airshed-based, multi-sectoral programs taken up by Indian state governments to address air pollution.
  • The Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Program (UPCAMP), backed by $299.66 million, will expand the state’s Clean Air Plan with investments across transport, agriculture and industry.
  • UPCAMP aims to provide clean cooking access to 3.9 million households and promote clean mobility by deploying 15,000 electric three-wheelers and 500 electric buses in Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
  • Haryana’s Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development Operation, supported by $300 million, will invest in air quality and emissions monitoring and expand clean transport options such as electric buses and electric three-wheelers in Gurugram, Sonipat and Faridabad.
  • In November, Haryana slipped into the red zone of India’s air quality map, with no district meeting the national annual PM2.5 standard.
  • The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has identified Haryana as a significant pollution hotspot in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
  • Gurugram is among seven districts in Haryana that rank within India’s 50 most polluted, with PM2.5 levels at least twice—and in some cases nearly three times—above the annual national safety limit.
  • Both state programs form part of the World Bank's Regional Air Quality Management Program in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills.
Pollution Curbs Made Stricter Twice In A Day In Delhi (Mid of December) ▼
  • The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed GRAP-3 curbs after the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 400 mark and entered the 'Severe' category.
  • The CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP decided to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-IV of the extant GRAP - 'Severe+' Air Quality (DELHI AQI > 450), with immediate effect, in the entire NCR.
  • Under GRAP, the air quality is categorised into four stages: Poor (AQI 201-300), Very Poor (AQI 301-400), Severe (AQI 401-450) and Severe Plus (AQI above 450).
  • The CAQM stated that the feeble Western Disturbance approaching north-west India was the main contributing factor to the worsening AQI, and not local emissions.
  • Prevailing meteorological conditions, including a marked reduction in wind speed, a shift in wind direction from westerly to easterly, and an increase in moisture content in the lower atmosphere, are conducive to the formation of smog and fog.
  • A key restriction under Stage 4 of GRAP is the ban on the entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi.
  • All construction and demolition activities are completely halted under GRAP Stage 4, including public projects like highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission lines, and pipelines.
  • State governments in Delhi and NCR may shift physical classes for students in Classes VI to IX and XI to online mode under GRAP Stage 4.
  • Public, municipal, and private offices are recommended to operate with at least 50% staff working from home under GRAP Stage 4.
Ghaziabad tops India’s pollution chart in Nov 2025: CREA (Start of December) ▼
  • Ghaziabad emerged as the most polluted city in India in November 2025, with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 224 µg/m³.
  • Noida, Bahadurgarh, Delhi, Hapur, Greater Noida, Baghpat, Sonipat, Meerut and Rohtak joined Ghaziabad in the top 10 most polluted cities.
  • Delhi ranked as the fourth most polluted city, recording a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 215 µg/m³ in November, about twice its October level of 107 µg/m³.
  • The contribution of stubble burning was comparatively lower this year, an average of seven per cent in November, down from 20 per cent last year.
  • Shillong, Meghalaya was Indiaʼs cleanest city in November, with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 7 µg/m³.
Delhi's Air Quality Enters 'Red Zone' Amidst Severe Pollution (Start of November) ▼
  • Delhi's air quality has entered the 'red zone' with AQI crossing 400, making it the country's second most polluted city.
  • With a 24-hour average AQI of 361, Delhi became the country’s second most polluted city, according to CPCB data.
  • Several areas, including Wazirpur (420), Burari (418), and Vivek Vihar (411), recorded 'severe' pollution levels.
  • In the NCR, Noida (354), Greater Noida (336), and Ghaziabad (339) also reported hazardous air.
  • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage 3 has not been enforced yet because, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the city’s air quality this November has remained comparatively better than the same period last year.
  • Officials credited this improvement to timely and coordinated actions across departments, including intensified dust control, road cleaning, anti-smog operations, and stricter checks on vehicles and industrial emissions.
  • The air quality early warning system for Delhi has forecast that the city’s air will stay in the ‘very poor’ category for the coming days.

Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT Patna) commissions Param Rudra supercomputer under National Supercomputing Mission

[Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT Patna)]

Key Updates:

  • The launch of the Param Rudra supercomputer in IIT Patna marks a significant step in expanding India’s high-performance computing capacity.
  • Under the NSM, 37 supercomputers have already been deployed nationwide, delivering a combined computing capacity of around 39 petaflops.
  • Param Rudra is an 838-teraflops system using largely indigenous components and runs on an Indian-developed software stack created by C-DAC.

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Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) develops India's first homegrown 1.0 GHz microprocessor, DHRUV64 (Mid of December) ▼
  • India has developed its first indigenous 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core microprocessor, DHRUV64, by C-DAC.
  • The semiconductor is developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP).
  • DHRUV64 is said to provide a reliable, fully indigenous processor technology capable of supporting both strategic and commercial applications.
  • DHRUV64 is built on modern architectural features that are designed to deliver higher efficiency, enhanced multitasking capability and improved reliability across various applications.
  • The microprocessor is suitable for 5G infrastructure, automotive systems, consumer electronics, industrial automation and the Internet of Things (IoT).
  • DHRUV64 leverages modern fabrication technologies that enables it to easily integrate with a wide range of external hardware systems.
  • Microprocessors are essentially “brains” of modern electronic devices such as mobiles, computers, satellites and even defense systems.
  • India consumes around 20% of all the microprocessors manufactured globally and the milestone means that India can reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for its use cases.
  • SHAKTI (2018, IIT Madras): Focus on strategic, space, and defense applications.
  • AJIT (2018, IIT Bombay): Used for industrial and robotics applications.
  • VIKRAM (2025, ISRO–SCL): Engineered to withstand extreme space conditions.
  • THEJAS64 (2025, C-DAC): Designed for industrial automation.
  • C-DAC is already working on the next generation of RISC-V processors: the Dhanush and Dhanush+ SoCs that are expected to further expand the range of indigenous options available for both strategic and commercial use.
Dr. S. Jaishankar, Prof. Jeffrey Ullman, Prof. Subra Suresh, Dr. Vidita Vaidya to deliver Spotlight Lectures at IIT Madras Shaastra 2026 (End of December) ▼
  • Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, will deliver a Spotlight Lecture at Shaastra 2026 organised by Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).
  • Prof. Jeffrey Ullman, Turing Award recipient, will deliver a Spotlight Lecture at Shaastra 2026 organised by IIT Madras.
  • Prof. Subra Suresh, former Director of the US National Science Foundation, will deliver a Spotlight Lecture at Shaastra 2026 organised by IIT Madras.
  • Dr. Vidita Vaidya, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize awardee, will deliver a Spotlight Lecture at Shaastra 2026 organised by IIT Madras.
NITI Aayog and IBM Unveil Roadmap to Position India Among Top-3 Quantum Economies by 2047 (Start of December) ▼
  • The NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub, in partnership with International Business Machines-IBM, has released a national roadmap to transform India into one of the world’s top-three quantum economies by 2047.
  • The plan aims to build home grown quantum computing hardware and software, foster at least 10 globally competitive quantum and capture a major share of the global quantum software and services market.
  • It envisages applying quantum technologies across key sectors such as defence, energy, healthcare, logistics, and finance with hopes of boosting security, efficiency, and innovation nationwide.
India's First Quantum City Unveiled in Bengaluru, ISRO Announces New Launchpads and Missions (End of November) ▼
  • The plan for India’s first Quantum City or Q-city was unveiled at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 by Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology NS Boseraju.
  • The Q-city is proposed to be established over 6 acres in Hesarghatta.
  • Under the Karnataka Quantum Mission, the government has allocated an investment of Rs 1,000 crore for the Q-city.
  • The Q-city will house advanced research laboratories, a quantum hardware park, cryogenic testing facilities, quantum cloud clusters, and a deep tech startup zone, hosting end-to-end services from research to commercialisation.
  • The government approved Rs 1,136 crore to establish the Quantum Supremacy Centre in Bengaluru.
  • Work is underway to establish the Swiss and Karnataka Quantum Collaboration Centre.
  • ISRO Chairman, Dr V Narayanan, stated that two new ISRO launchpads are on the cards — in Sriharikota and Kulasekarapattinam.
  • LVM3-M6 and Bluebird Block-2 Mission are the upcoming commercial mission projects of ISRO.
  • Fiber optic pressure, temperature, and level sensors and HMC and Nano technology-based sensors are major new developments in progress at ISRO.

Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra to lead India at 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup

Key Updates:

  • Ayush Mhatre named captain and Vihaan Malhotra vice-captain for India U-19 squad in 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup.
  • Vaibhav Suryavanshi will captain India for the South Africa tour in absence of Mhatre and Malhotra due to wrist injuries.
  • India placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, USA, and Bangladesh for the U-19 World Cup.
  • India's first match scheduled against USA on January 15 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.

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Former Australian Winger Ryan Williams Set to Represent India in Football (Start of November) ▼
  • Former Australian winger Ryan Williams has renounced his previous citizenships and is now an Indian citizen, set to join the Indian national team setup.
  • His eligibility for Indian citizenship comes from his mother, born into an Anglo-Indian family in Mumbai, and his maternal grandfather, who represented Bombay in the Santosh Trophy in the 1950s.
  • Williams started his youth career with ECU Joondalup before moving to England, joining Portsmouth FC’s academy.
  • Internationally, Williams represented Australia’s U-20 and U-23 teams and made a senior appearance in 2019, coming on as a substitute during a friendly against South Korea.
  • In July 2023, Williams signed for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League ISL, marking his entry into Indian club football.
  • The AIFF confirmed that Ryan Williams has been called up for the national camp in Bengaluru ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on November 18.
  • Williams is awaiting a No-Objection Certificate NOC from Football Australia to officially switch his nationality and could be available for the qualifier against Bangladesh on November 18.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (End of December) ▼
  • Vaibhav Suryavanshi was honored with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • President Droupadi Murmu presented the award, which is India’s highest civilian honor for children between the ages of 5 and 18.
  • He is the 14-year-old vice-captain of the Bihar team and became the youngest player to score a century in men’s List A cricket at the age of 14 years and 272 days.
  • During a Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) match against Arunachal Pradesh, he scored a century in 36 balls and the fastest 150 in men’s List A cricket in 59 deliveries.
  • He became the youngest player to score a century in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and recorded the second-fastest century in the league's history while playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR).
  • He will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 VHT to attend a conditioning camp in Bengaluru before joining the India Under-19 (U-19) squad for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Zimbabwe.
Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha became youngest rated chess player in history (Start of December) ▼
  • Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, became the youngest FIDE-rated chess player in history at the age of three years, seven months and 20 days.
  • He holds a rapid rating of 1,572, surpassing the previous record held by Kolkata’s Anish Sarkar.
  • Sarwagya began playing chess at the age of two-and-a-half and trains for four to five hours daily under coach Nitin Chaurasiya.
  • He secured his rating by defeating five rated opponents in FIDE-approved tournaments, including wins over Abhijeet Awasthi and Shubham Chourasiya.
Ayush Mhatre breaks Rohit Sharma's world record (End of November) ▼
  • Ayush Mhatre became the youngest man to score a hundred across all three formats – First-class, List A, and T20, at 18 years and 135 days.
  • He surpassed Rohit Sharma, who had scored a First-Class, List A and T20 century by the age of 19 years and 339 days.
  • Ayush Mhatre scored an unbeaten 110*(53) for Mumbai against Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) in Lucknow.
  • Mumbai won the SMAT match by seven wickets and 13 balls to spare, chasing a 193-run target.
  • Ayush Mhatre broke the List A world record as the youngest-ever centurion in the format, aged 17 years and 168 days, scoring 181 against Nagaland.
  • He is likely to lead India at the upcoming U-19 World Cup in January 2026.
  • Mhatre will be leading India Under-19 at the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai from December 12.
  • He made his T20 debut in the IPL 2025 season for the Chennai Super Kings.

Vice President releases second and final series of 'Mahamana Vangmay' at Bharat Mandapam

Key Updates:

  • Vice President C P Radhakrishnan released the second and final series of 'Mahamana Vangmay', a comprehensive collection of writings and speeches of Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.
  • The final series comprises 12 volumes and approximately 3,500 pages.
  • The first series of the collected works was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023.
  • The event was organized by the Mahamana Malaviya Mission in collaboration with the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

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Vande Mataram: Historical Milestones and Notable Firsts (Start of November) ▼
  • Vande Mataram was conceived on Sunday, 7 November 1875, at Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's home in Kantalpada.
  • The song Vande Mataram appeared in Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel Anandamath in 1882.
  • The melody for Vande Mataram was first composed by Pandit Jadunath Bhattacharya of Bhatpara (Pandit Jadu Bhatt).
  • The first edition of Bankim Rachanavali carried a footnote that the song was set in raag Malhar and Kaoli taal.
  • Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram at the Congress session in Calcutta in 1896.
  • Pratibhasundari, Rabindranath Tagore's niece, set another tune for Vande Mataram, published with musical notation and illustration in Balak magazine.
  • In 1907, Hemendra Mohan Bose issued a commercial version of Vande Mataram under his label, H Bose Records.
  • Tagore's recitation of Vande Mataram remains the earliest known gramophone rendition of the national song.
  • Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar sang the unabridged, full version of Vande Mataram at the Indian National Congress sessions in Kakinada in 1933.
  • The Congress Working Committee in 1937 officially adopted only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram.
  • One version of Vande Mataram by Master Krishnarao Fulambrikar was said to have been played at the 1936 Berlin Olympics as the unofficial anthem of India’s contingent.
  • Pandit Omkarnath Thakur's full version of Vande Mataram was famously broadcast from Akashwani (All India Radio) at 6:30 am on August 15, 1947.
  • The Constituent Assembly accorded Vande Mataram the status of 'National Song' on January 24, 1950.
  • Timir Baran Bhattacharya is considered the father of Indian orchestration.
  • The nationalistic poet Subramania Bharati crafted two Tamil translations of Vande Mataram.
  • The earliest mention of the phrase 'Vande Mataram' in a film title dates back to the silent era with Vande Mataram Ashram (1926).
  • The first use of the actual song Vande Mataram was in the Bengali film Bande Mataram (1935).
  • The first South Indian film to carry the title 'Vande Mataram' was the Telugu production Vande Mataram (1939).
Economic Empowerment of Bharat in the Modi Era highlights GST, Digital India, and Direct Benefit Transfer reforms (End of December) ▼
  • GST transformed India into a unified national market by simplifying the tax structure, enhancing compliance and strengthening cooperative federalism.
  • Digital India, Make in India, Startup India and the rapid expansion of UPI have empowered citizens, entrepreneurs and small businesses.
  • Over ₹47 lakh crore has been directly transferred into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile).
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.
C.P. Radhakrishnan releases book 'Sanatan Sanskriti Ki Atal Drishti' authored by Vasudev Devnani (End of December) ▼
  • 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.