📊 Index & Rankings
India ranked third in the Asia Power Index 2025, following the United States and China. It officially entered the category of a “major power” with an overall score of 40/100.
The index, prepared by the Lowy Institute, assesses 27 nations across eight parameters:
- Economic Capability
- Military Capability
- Resilience
- Future Resources
- Diplomatic Influence
- Economic Relationships
- Defence Networks
- Cultural Influence
- Strong areas: Economic Capability, Future Resources, and Military Capability
- Driven by economic growth, demographic advantages, technological preparedness, and defence upgrades
- Areas for progress: Diplomatic Influence, Defence Networks, and Cultural Influence
According to the Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS) 2025, India recorded significant increases in livestock output for 2024–25.
- Milk: 247.87 MT (World’s largest producer)
- Eggs: 149 billion (2nd largest globally)
- Meat: 10.50 MT (4th largest globally; poultry dominates)
- Wool: 34.57 million kg (Rajasthan remains top contributor)
The report highlights rising per capita availability and growth across crossbred cattle, indigenous breeds, and poultry. It reinforces the sector’s importance in nutrition security, rural incomes, and employment generation.
🇮🇳 National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 77-foot bronze statue of Lord Rama along with the Ramayana Theme Park at Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math in Canacona, Goa.
- Part of the Math’s 550th-year celebrations (Sardha Panchashatamanotsava).
- PM Modi also launched a special commemorative postal stamp and coin.
- Prior to this, he visited Udupi, where he participated in the Laksha Kantha Gita Parayana at Sri Krishna Matha.
- He also inaugurated the Suvarna Teertha Mantapa and dedicated the Kanaka Kavacha.
The celebrations showcased India’s devotion and age-old traditions, linking epic legacy with modern spiritual tourism.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) earned a Guinness World Record for organizing the largest single-day career counselling event.
- Conducted in Mumbai
- Received over 7,400+ participants
- 6,166 students confirmed under Guinness guidelines
- Part of ICAI’s flagship programmes — CAFY 4.0 (Career in Accounting and Finance for Youth) and the Super Mega Career Counselling Programme
Jay Shah has been honoured with the Indian of the Year 2025 award in the Outstanding Achievement category.
- Launching the Women’s Premier League (WPL)
- Implementing pay parity
- Driving global expansion initiatives
- Advocating cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics
- Modernizing cricket infrastructure
The event also acknowledged the Indian women’s cricket team for winning the 2025 World Cup.
💼 Business & Economy
The BHIM UPI app, developed by NPCI, introduced a new Full Delegation feature under the UPI Circle model to increase user adoption.
- Allows a primary account holder to authorize up to five trusted individuals (Secondary Users) to make UPI payments.
- Secondary Users must possess a BHIM UPI ID/VPA, irrespective of having bank accounts.
- Primary Users can set a monthly spending cap of ₹15,000.
- Optional per-transaction limits can also be configured.
This system targets dependents, family members, and support staff.
Gujarat’s GIFT City, known as India’s leading International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), is pursuing a plan to evolve into a major Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) hub.
- Inspired by global financial jurisdictions like Guernsey.
- Seeks to allow companies to register and hold IP within GIFT IFSC.
- Supported by the IFSCA, a specialist committee is evaluating a globally competitive legal and financial framework.
- Reducing the trend of Indian companies shifting IP overseas
- Creating a transparent, compliant IPR ecosystem
- Promoting IP-backed financing and royalty structuring
- Attracting global investors and R&D-driven firms
- Boosting India’s innovation-driven economy
Temasek Holdings has appointed Piyush Gupta, ex-CEO of DBS Bank, as its non-executive Chairman for India, effective December 1, 2025.
- Will work alongside Ravi Lambah to guide Temasek’s long-term investment agenda and support its portfolio firms.
- Gupta is recognized for leading DBS Bank’s digital transformation and expanding its footprint across the Asia-Pacific (2009–2025 tenure).
- His extensive expertise in finance and deep understanding of the Indian market.
Temasek continues strengthening its India strategy, expanding investments in technology, finance, healthcare, clean energy, consumer goods, logistics, and more.
🌐 International News
Nepal issued a redesigned ₹100 currency note that includes Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura, regions claimed by India.
- Released by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
- Carries the signature of former Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari
- Bears the issue date 2081 BS (2024)
- While the previous version also featured the same map, it has now been updated following the government’s decision.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to India for the 23rd Annual India–Russia Summit, marking his first visit after the Ukraine crisis.
- Deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership
- Defence ties (including the S-400 system)
- Energy partnerships
- Expanding bilateral trade (goal: US$100 billion by 2030)
- Collaboration in technology and space
- Discussions on global issues: Ukraine, Indo-Pacific, BRICS, and UN reforms
President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet for him. India also opened two new consulates in Russia, reflecting deeper diplomatic outreach.
India dispatched a 73-tonne shipment containing essential medicines, vaccines, and nutritional/medical supplements to support Afghanistan’s healthcare needs.
- Aims to address critical gaps in medical supplies and malnutrition.
- Part of India’s continued humanitarian commitment spanning infrastructure, energy, education, and healthcare.
- Represents one of the largest recent medical aid consignments from India.
- Reinforces strong people-to-people ties and India’s role as a reliable partner in the region.
Cyclone Ditwah caused severe destruction in Sri Lanka — heavy rains, floods, landslides, significant property damage, and over 50 casualties.
- India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, a major Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) initiative.
- INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri sailed to Colombo carrying relief supplies, food items, medicines, and emergency materials.
- The mission highlights India’s dependable role as a maritime neighbour.
- Commitment to rapid disaster response and regional cooperation, emphasized by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar.
China operationalized the Arctic Express, a commercial shipping link from Ningbo-Zhoushan to Felixstowe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
- Reduces Asia–Europe transit time to 18 days (compared to 40+ days through the Suez Canal).
- Lowers costs and carbon emissions by nearly 50%.
- Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Corridor (CVMC)
- International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
- India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC)
- Leveraging Arctic scientific presence, Arctic Council observer status, and stakes in Russian Arctic energy projects
📅 Important Days
Observed annually on 29 November, the day marks the 1947 UNGA resolution proposing the division of Palestine into a Jewish state, an Arab state, and a Special International Regime for Jerusalem.
- Israel became independent in 1948, but an Arab state did not materialize due to civil war in Palestine.
- The observance aims to raise awareness about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the hardships faced by Palestinians.
- In 1977, the UN General Assembly declared that the day would be commemorated every year from 1978 onward to express international support for a peaceful resolution.
🕊️ Obituaries
Eminent Bharatanatyam dancer Kumari Kamala (Kamala Laxmi Narayanan) passed away at 91 in California, USA.
- Born on 16 June 1934 in Mayuram (Mayiladuthurai), Tamil Nadu.
- Trained in Vazhuvoor-style Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Hindustani classical music from a young age.
- Acted in over 100 films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi cinema.
- Early Tamil films: Valibar Sangham (1938), Rama Nama Mahimai (1939)
- Hindi films: Jailor (1938), Kismet, Ram Rajya (1943)
- Famous Paampu Attam (Snake Dance) in Jagathalapratapan (1944)
- Classics: Sri Valli (1945), Meera (1945), Nam Iruvar (1947)
📤 Found this useful? Help your friends stay updated too!
