National Affairs (India)
The Government of India approved the National Digital Agriculture Mission (NDAM) Expansion Phase with an additional outlay of ₹9,800 crore, aiming to onboard 6 crore farmers onto AI-based advisory platforms by 2027.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways inaugurated 12 new National Highway stretches across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, covering 312 km at a cost of ₹8,450 crore.
India’s retail inflation (CPI) for November 2025 stood at 4.92%, remaining within the RBI’s tolerance band of 2–6%.
The Reserve Bank of India extended the Special Liquidity Facility for NBFCs and HFCs till 30 June 2026, providing liquidity support of up to ₹50,000 crore.
The Ministry of Education announced the rollout of National Credit Framework (NCF) implementation across 1,200 higher education institutions starting January 2026.
Indian Railways commissioned its first hydrogen fuel-cell powered train prototype for short-distance routes in Haryana, supporting India’s green mobility goals.
International Affairs
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution strengthening the Global Climate Adaptation Fund, committing USD 110 billion annually by 2030 for climate-vulnerable nations.
Russia and China conducted a joint naval exercise in the Sea of Japan, focusing on maritime security and anti-submarine operations.
The World Bank approved a USD 1.2 billion climate resilience package for South Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Japan unveiled its 2026–2030 National Defence Strategy, increasing defence spending to 2% of GDP by 2028.
Germany formally launched Europe’s largest green hydrogen plant with a capacity of 70,000 tonnes per year, supporting EU decarbonisation targets.
Banking, Economy & Financial Affairs
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das reiterated India’s FY26 GDP growth projection at 6.8%, citing strong domestic demand and capex momentum.
State Bank of India (SBI) announced the launch of a Green Home Loan product offering interest rate concessions of 15 basis points for energy-efficient housing.
India’s foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 642.3 billion as of 20 December 2025, covering over 11 months of imports.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced stricter norms for algorithmic trading, mandating real-time audit trails from April 2026.
UPI transactions crossed 15.2 billion transactions in November 2025, with a total value exceeding ₹22.1 lakh crore.
Defence & Security
The Indian Navy commissioned the stealth frigate INS Vindhyagiri at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) with a strike range of 6 km.
India and France signed an MoU for joint development of next-generation jet engine components under the strategic defence partnership framework.
Sports News
Australia won the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final, defeating England by 158 runs at Lord’s, with Travis Head named Player of the Match.
Neeraj Chopra finished the 2025 season ranked World No. 1 in men’s javelin throw with a best throw of 89.94 metres.
PV Sindhu won the Singapore Open Super 750, defeating Akane Yamaguchi in straight games 21–18, 21–16.
Mohammed Shami became the fastest Indian pacer to reach 200 ODI wickets, achieving the feat in 112 matches.
Awards & Honours
The Atal Innovation Award 2025 was conferred on ISRO’s Vikram Lander Team for advancements in lunar surface technology.
Gita Press, Gorakhpur received the National Cultural Heritage Award for its contribution to preserving Indian scriptures.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan was honoured with the Global Public Health Leadership Award 2025 for her role in pandemic preparedness.
Appointments & Resignations
Raghuram G. Rajan was appointed as Chairperson of the Global Financial Stability Advisory Council, effective January 2026.
Ananya Birla was inducted into the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders 2026 cohort.
Vice Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi assumed charge as the Chief of the Naval Staff of India.
Science, Technology & Environment
India successfully launched GSAT-32, a high-throughput communication satellite, enhancing broadband connectivity in remote regions.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified three new Ramsar sites, taking India’s total to 82 wetlands of international importance.
IIT Madras developed a solid-state sodium-ion battery with 30% lower cost than lithium-ion alternatives.
Important Days & Observations
27 December is observed as International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, as declared by the United Nations.
Good Governance Week 2025 concluded with over 2.5 crore citizen grievances resolved through digital platforms in India.
