DEFENCE NEWS
- Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, visited Brazil from 9–12 December 2025 to strengthen maritime cooperation, capacity-building and professional exchanges, during which he held high-level meetings with leaders including Celso Amorim and Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro, visited the Itaguai Naval Complex and NAM Atlantico, and attended the passing-out parade of midshipmen at the Brazilian Naval Academy.
- On 16 December 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned ‘DSC A20’, India’s first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Craft, at Naval Base Kochi under the Southern Naval Command, in a ceremony presided over by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena.
- The 2nd edition of Exercise DESERT CYCLONE-II, a joint military exercise between the Indian Army and UAE Land Forces, commenced on 18 December 2025 at Abu Dhabi and will run till 30 December 2025, focusing on urban warfare, UN-mandated sub-conventional operations, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.
- The Indian Navy announced the commissioning of INAS 335 Ospreys Squadron in Goa, which will operate maritime surveillance aircraft to strengthen coastal and sea surveillance and enhance overall naval preparedness.
- India, Brazil and France signed a tripartite MoU on Scorpene-class submarines, aimed at strengthening naval cooperation, defence diplomacy and enhancing indigenous submarine maintenance capabilities.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved B. Sairam as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India Limited, the world’s largest coal producer, to focus on production targets and national energy security.
- The Indian Army inducted heavy tanks into the Kashmir Valley, marking a major logistics and operational milestone that enhances high-altitude combat readiness and border security.
- Exercise Desert Cyclone-II Commences: India and UAE launch joint military exercise focusing on desert warfare tactics, counter-terrorism operations and enhanced interoperability under bilateral Gulf security framework.
NATIONAL NEWS
- The 11th India International Science Festival (IISF 2025) was held from 6–9 December 2025 at Panchkula, Haryana, organised by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and coordinated by IITM, Pune, and was inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, with a focus on self-reliance under the theme Vigyan Se Samruddhi, during which Matsya 6000, India’s first human-occupied deep-sea submersible, was showcased.
- In December 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India’s first indigenous hydrogen-powered fuel cell vessel (Pilot-01) at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, supporting Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 for clean inland water transport.
- The Ministry of Education organised Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 on 11 December 2025 at National Bal Bhawan, New Delhi, to mark the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, celebrating India’s linguistic and tribal diversity under the theme Many Languages, One Emotion.
- On 12 December 2025, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the Census of India 2027, the country’s 16th census and first fully digital census, to be conducted at a cost of ₹11,718.24 crore, with houselisting in 2026 and population enumeration in 2027, including self enumeration through mobile applications.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the CoalSETU window to enable auction-based coal linkages for industrial use and exports, allowing up to 50% export of allocated coal while prohibiting resale and excluding coking coal.
- The CCEA also approved the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Copra for the 2026 season, fixing prices at ₹12,500 per quintal for ball copra and ₹12,027 per quintal for milling copra, with procurement to be carried out by NAFED and NCCF.
- In December 2025, the Government of India unveiled DHRUV64, the country’s first indigenous 1.0 GHz 64-bit dual-core microprocessor, developed by C-DAC under the DIR-V programme, strengthening India’s self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem.
- The University of Patanjali, Haridwar, became India’s first Yoga and Ayurveda-focused Cluster Centre under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, aimed at preserving ancient Indian knowledge through research, digitisation, and institutional mentoring.
- Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella visited India from 10–12 December 2025, met PM Narendra Modi, announced a USD 17.5 billion AI investment, and signed an MoU with the Ministry of Labour and Employment to integrate global employers with the National Career Service platform.
- In December 2025, the AFMS, in collaboration with AIIMS and the Ministry of Health, launched India’s first AI-driven community screening programme for Diabetic Retinopathy at Army Hospital (R&R), New Delhi.
- The NHAI launched India’s first wildlife-safe road on a section of NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh, aimed at reducing animal-vehicle collisions while maintaining ecological balance.
- On 16 December 2025, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Vijay Diwas, in the presence of defence leadership.
- The Indian Air Force commenced the 3rd edition of Exercise AviaIndra 2025 with the Russian Federation Aerospace Force, scheduled from 15–22 December 2025 in New Delhi, to enhance bilateral defence cooperation.
- On 17 December 2025, TRAI directed IRDAI-regulated entities to adopt 1600-series phone numbers for service and transactional calls by 15 February 2026 to curb fraud.
- The DPIIT launched a new digital module on the National Single Window System enabling Indian companies to generate online sponsorship letters for foreign professionals under the e-B-4 Visa regime.
- Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty became the first woman President of the Press Club of India, marking a milestone in media leadership.
- A commemorative stamp honouring Emperor Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar was released to promote awareness of India’s early medieval regional history.
- Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh was designated as the state’s third cheetah habitat, supporting India’s cheetah reintroduction programme.
- The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025 was introduced to replace UGC, AICTE, and NCTE with a single higher-education regulator in line with NEP 2020.
- VB-GRAMG 2025 was announced as a new rural employment model guaranteeing 125 days of work, focusing on skill-based livelihoods and climate-resilient infrastructure.
- India and Bangladesh jointly celebrated the 54th Vijay Diwas, marking Pakistan’s surrender in 1971 and the birth of Bangladesh.
- Raj Kumar Goyal was appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner, strengthening transparency under the RTI Act, 2005.
- The Government announced plans to establish Antarctic Research Station Maitri-II by 2032, reinforcing India’s polar research presence.
- Miyana Railway Station won the National Energy Conservation Award 2025 for adopting sustainable and energy-efficient practices.
- PM Narendra Modi became the first world leader to receive Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour, during which India and Ethiopia signed three MoUs to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
- The Param Vir Dirgha Gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan was inaugurated to honour the valour of India’s armed forces.
- Ponduru Khadi of Andhra Pradesh received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, protecting traditional weaving practices.
- The NPS withdrawal limit for non-government subscribers was increased to 80%, enhancing post-retirement financial flexibility.
- Air India won the Best Domestic Airline Award 2025, reflecting improved performance after Tata Group’s acquisition.
- India ranks 7th globally in coffee production, with plantations spread across Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, exporting nearly 70% of production.
- The 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was held in New Delhi, highlighting India’s leadership in Ayush systems.
- Amazon Pay introduced biometric-based UPI payments using fingerprint and facial authentication to enhance transaction security.
- India and Argentina signed the ICAR–INTA Work Plan (2025–27) to strengthen cooperation in agricultural research and climate-resilient farming.
- Registrations opened for Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026, an initiative led by PM Narendra Modi to reduce exam stress among students.
- India’s labour market showed strong growth in November 2025, with unemployment hitting a new low as per NSO data.
- The government announced the launch of Bharat Taxi in January 2026, aiming to provide affordable and transparent cab services.
- India and Saudi Arabia signed a visa waiver agreement for official and diplomatic passport holders, strengthening bilateral relations.
- PM Releases Ashwagandha Postal Stamp: Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative postal stamp on Ashwagandha at the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- In December 2025, the World Bank approved nearly USD 600 million for clean air programmes in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana under the Regional Air Quality Management Program, aiming to improve air quality for about 270 million people across the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan foothills.
- Under the Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Program, USD 299.66 million financing was approved with a 10-year maturity, adopting an airshed approach and introducing 15,000 electric three-wheelers and 500 electric buses in cities including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur.
- The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development involves a total cost of ₹3,646 crore, including USD 300 million from the World Bank, and will deploy 500 electric buses, support e-three-wheelers, and set up 200 EV charging stations, coordinated by ARJUN SPV chaired by Rajesh Khullar.
- Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, visited India from 10–12 December 2025 for the second time in the year to strengthen the India–Italy Strategic Partnership and expand bilateral cooperation.
- In December 2025, Andrej Babis, leader of the ANO party, was sworn in as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic by President Petr Pavel, returning to office after winning the October 2025 parliamentary elections and succeeding Petr Fiala.
- During the same month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law the India–Russia Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) Agreement, formalising deeper military cooperation following parliamentary ratification.
- On 14 December 2025, José Antonio Kast of Chile’s Republican Party was elected the 38th President of Chile, winning about 58% of the vote, and is set to assume office on 11 March 2026, succeeding Gabriel Boric.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jordan from 15–16 December 2025 as the first leg of his three-nation tour, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of India–Jordan diplomatic relations, and held high-level talks with King Abdullah II in Amman.
- PM Modi then undertook his first-ever bilateral visit to Ethiopia from 16–17 December 2025, where he met Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa and reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations rooted in long-standing civilisational ties.
- UNESCO added several endangered traditional arts and crafts to its Urgent Safeguarding List, while the UN Environment Assembly adopted India’s global wildfire management resolution, focusing on prevention, preparedness, and international cooperation.
- The 2025 Passport Index highlighted Asian and European dominance in global mobility rankings, with India showing improvement compared to previous years, while the Asia Power Index 2025 ranked India 3rd, designating it as a Major Power after the US and China.
- During PM Modi’s Jordan visit, India and Jordan signed multiple MoUs covering water management, education, defence, and culture, further strengthening strategic cooperation. • Italy became the first country to receive UNESCO recognition for its national cuisine as Intangible Cultural Heritage, underscoring the global importance of culinary traditions.
- The election of José Antonio Kast as Chile’s President marked a notable political shift in the country, reflecting changing domestic and regional dynamics with potential global implications.
- India-Oman Sign CEPA: Both nations formalize Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to strengthen bilateral trade, boost non-oil commerce, enhance market access and support MSME participation in Gulf region cooperation.
- Brazil Transfers BRICS Presidency to India: South American nation officially hands over rotating leadership, positioning India to host major summits in 2026 focusing on Global South priorities and multilateral institution reforms.
- India & Netherlands JTIC: India and the Netherlands signed an MoU to establish a Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) to promote bilateral trade, investments, and address regulatory barriers, with annual meetings alternating between the countries.
- The United States and Jordan launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria after an ISIS attack in Palmyra killed two US soldiers and injured others, carrying out overnight airstrikes on 70+ ISIS targets using precision guided weapons.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
- On 14 December 2025, senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty from Assam was elected as the first woman President of the Press Club of India in elections held in New Delhi, with Afzal Imam as Secretary General and other office bearers elected unopposed.
- On 15 December 2025, former IAS officer Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as the 13th Chief Information Commissioner for a three-year term by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, succeeding Heeralal Samariya, and subsequently administered oath to eight new Information Commissioners, completing CIC’s full bench for the first time since 2016.
- In December 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Ravi Ranjan as Managing Director of State Bank of India, succeeding Vinay M. Tonse, whose tenure ended on 30 November 2025, strengthening leadership at India’s largest public sector bank.
- In a historic milestone, 23-year-old Sai Jadhav from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, became the first woman officer to pass out from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, in December 2025, breaking a 93-year-old tradition of male only graduates.
- On 15 December 2025, NCAER appointed Suresh Goyal, former MD & CEO of National Highway Infra Trust, as its 11th Director General, effective 5 January 2026, succeeding Poonam Gupta, who joined RBI as Deputy Governor.
- In December 2025, the Ministry of Coal appointed B. Sairam as the new Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India Limited, with tenure lasting until 31 March 2028, succeeding interim CMD Sanoj Kumar Jha.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet also approved the re-appointment of Ashwini Kumar Tewari as Managing Director of SBI for a second two-year term from 27 January 2026 to 31 December 2027, completing the full MD team at SBI.
AWARDS & HONOURS
- In December 2025, TIME magazine named the “Architects of Artificial Intelligence” as its Person of the Year 2025, honouring AI leaders including Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei and Fei-Fei Li for driving AI’s mainstream adoption and global impact.
- On 14 December 2025, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released a commemorative postage stamp in New Delhi to honour Emperor Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II (Suvaran Maran), in the presence of senior Union Ministers and parliamentary leaders.
- In December 2025, India added Siliserh Lake (Rajasthan) and Kopra Jalashay (Chhattisgarh) to the Ramsar List, becoming the country’s 95th and 96th Ramsar Sites, giving Chhattisgarh its first-ever Ramsar wetland.
- In December 2025, Ponduru Khadi from Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognising its traditional handspun and handwoven cotton heritage.
- On 15 December 2025, C-DOT became the first Indian organisation to receive the IEEE Standards Association Corporate Award 2025, joining an elite global group of only five awardees.
- In December 2025, Forbes reported that Elon Musk became the first person in history to cross a net worth of USD 600 billion, driven by growth in AI, space and electric vehicle sectors.
- On 17 December 2025, Hurun India and IDFC FIRST Private Banking released the Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025, with Deepinder Goyal topping the list, followed by Radhakishan Damani and IndiGo founders Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal.
- In December 2025, CRPF officer Dinesh Khatak from Haryana was awarded the Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal for exemplary service and contribution to national security.
- In December 2025, NTPC NETRA and CSIR scientists received innovation awards for applied research supporting the energy and industrial sectors and promoting indigenous R&D.
- The Indian film “Homebound” was shortlisted for the Oscar 2026 Best International Feature Film, enhancing India’s presence on the global cinema stage.
- The FIFA Best Football Awards 2025 celebrated top performers in men’s and women’s football, recognising excellence and global achievements in the sport.
- Nnena Kalu Wins Turner Prize: Scottish artist Nnena Kalu, the first artist with a learning disability, wins the Turner Prize for her abstract drawings and hanging sculptures, marking a milestone for inclusion in art.
- PGIMER Chandigarh Tops HTA: PGIMER recognized as India’s Best Health Technology Assessment Institute for the second year, excelling in evidence-based policy, cost effective healthcare, and support for Ayushman Bharat PMJAY.
SPORTS NEWS
- In December 2025, Commonwealth Sport approved India to host the 1st Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship from 9–14 March 2026, with participation from 24 nations and 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams, marking another global milestone after Ahmedabad being named host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
- The inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship will be the next major international event for the sport after the first Kho Kho World Cup held in New Delhi in January 2025, further strengthening India’s leadership in indigenous sports.
- The 2025 Squash World Cup, organised by the World Squash Federation and SRFI, was held from 9–14 December 2025 in Chennai, where India’s mixed team won its first-ever title, defeating Hong Kong 3–0 in the final. In December 2025, Commonwealth Sport approved India to host the 1st Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship from 9–14 March 2026, with participation from 24 nations and 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams, marking another global milestone after Ahmedabad being named host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
- The inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship will be the next major international event for the sport after the first Kho Kho World Cup held in New Delhi in January 2025, further strengthening India’s leadership in indigenous sports.
- The 2025 Squash World Cup, organised by the World Squash Federation and SRFI, was held from 9–14 December 2025 in Chennai, where India’s mixed team won its first-ever title, defeating Hong Kong 3–0 in the final.
- With this victory, India became the first Asian nation and the fourth overall after Australia, England, and Egypt to win the WSF Squash World Cup, marking a historic achievement in Indian squash.
- MRF Tyres won the FIA European Rally Championship 2025, delivering a landmark global motorsport victory for India against leading international competitors.
- Indian cricketer Shafali Verma was named ICC Women’s Player of the Month for November 2025 for her outstanding batting performances, while Simon Harmer won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for match-winning bowling spells.
- The IPL Auction 2026 created history with multiple players crossing the ₹20 crore mark, highlighting the league’s growing global value, while officials clarified that Cameron Green’s final salary stood at ₹18 crore after contractual adjustments.
- Jharkhand Claims Maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: State cricket team wins India’s premier domestic T20 tournament for the first time with dominant all-round performance in final, showcasing rising strength in BCCI competitions.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- In December 2025, Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bengaluru, received eight black-capped capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella)—four males and four females—under an international animal exchange programme, with the animals arriving at Kempegowda International Airport on 14 December 2025 and transferred to the park the same day.
- On 17 December 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned INAS 335 (Ospreys), its second MH-60R Seahawk multi mission helicopter squadron, at INS Hansa, Goa, in a ceremony presided over by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, significantly enhancing naval aviation capabilities along the western seaboard.
- In 2025, India ranked 3rd globally in the Global AI Index, reflecting strong performance in AI research, talent, infrastructure, and innovation, behind the United States and China.
- AIIMS Delhi conducted India’s first advanced brain stent clinical trial, marking a major step in indigenous neurovascular research and reducing dependence on imported medical devices.
- Google launched Project Suncatcher, an initiative aimed at developing solar-powered data centres in space to lower carbon emissions from data operations.
- A Bank of America report ranked India first globally in AI app active users, surpassing the US and China, driven by high smartphone penetration and rapid digital adoption.
- Indian Team Wins NASA Space Apps Challenge: National team secures global top honor at international competition using NASA’s open data to create innovative solutions for space exploration, climate monitoring and data analysis challenges.
- Michaela Benthaus in Space: German engineer Michaela Benthaus will be the first wheelchair user to go to space on Blue Origin NS-37, promoting accessibility in aerospace.
- ISRO LVM3-M6 Launch: ISRO will launch LVM3-M6 on Dec 24 to deploy BlueBird-6 satellite, boosting India’s commercial space role.
- RESPOND Basket 2025: ISRO invites research proposals from universities to align with space missions, focusing on launch vehicles, satellites, propulsion, space science, and advanced materials.
