🇮🇳 National News
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) achieved a Guinness World Record for conducting the largest single-day career guidance session in Mumbai.
The event saw participation from over 7,400 students, educators, and school administrators, with 6,166 students officially verified as per Guinness World Records guidelines.
This milestone was part of ICAI’s CAFY 4.0 initiative — Career in Accounting and Finance for Youth — along with the Super Mega Career Counselling Programme, aimed at supporting students in making informed academic and career decisions.
The initiative tackles the lack of structured career guidance in India, especially for students from non-urban backgrounds, and raises awareness about professional opportunities in fields such as finance, accounting, economics, business administration, and related sectors.
Gujarat’s GIFT City is broadening its horizon beyond finance and fintech and is being developed into a major Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) centre in India.
Its development model is inspired by global jurisdictions like Guernsey, known for hosting international IP-holding companies.
The aim is to encourage Indian and international companies to register and retain their intellectual property within India, thereby limiting the outflow of India-generated IP to overseas jurisdictions.
GIFT City is India’s first smart city in operation and hosts the nation’s only International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), known as GIFT IFSC.
The 44th edition of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025 wrapped up with an award ceremony at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The event was organized by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under the theme “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”
Over 18 lakh visitors attended the two-week-long fair, which showcased participation from states, central ministries, PSUs, private companies, and international exhibitors.
Jay Shah, Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), was awarded the Indian of the Year 2025 under the Outstanding Achievement category for his notable role in modernizing cricket administration.
He was recognized for his leadership in major reforms, including implementing pay parity between men’s and women’s cricket teams and initiating the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Jay Shah earlier served as the BCCI Secretary from 2019 to 2024 and currently holds the position of ICC Chairman (2024–present).
The Indian Navy received ‘Taragiri’ (Yard 12653), the fourth vessel of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) and the third built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), on 28 November 2025.
This delivery marks another step towards achieving self-reliance in advanced warship building under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
The newly built Taragiri is a modern reincarnation of the earlier INS Taragiri, a Leander-class frigate that served the Navy for 33 years from 1980 to 2013.
The Project 17A frigates are multi-role combat-ready platforms equipped with cutting-edge stealth features, advanced weaponry, high automation, and superior survivability. The vessel was designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and constructed under the supervision of the Warship Overseeing Team (Mumbai), using the Integrated Construction approach.
💼 Business & Economy
The High-Level Committee (HLC) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has suggested a multi-layered disclosure system requiring the Chairperson, Whole-Time Members (WTMs), and Chief General Manager (CGM)-level officials to publicly share information about their assets and liabilities.
These proposed reforms were accelerated after allegations of conflict of interest surfaced involving former SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, prompting an internal review of SEBI’s ethics and disclosure systems.
The committee was led by Pratyush Sinha, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner and retired IAS officer. Members included ex-regulators and industry experts.
To prevent misuse of position and external influence, the panel suggested restricting the SEBI Chairperson and WTMs from receiving any gifts—directly or indirectly—from individuals or entities having official dealings with SEBI, in line with existing regulations.
The reforms aim to usher in a new era of openness, with public disclosure of assets and liabilities for SEBI’s top officials as a key part of the proposed measures.
🌐 International News
India has been re-elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025–2029 period, reaffirming its expanding global presence in advancing education, science, culture, and communication through international cooperation.
The announcement came from the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO, which highlighted that this re-election demonstrates the international community’s continued trust in India’s impactful role in fulfilling UNESCO’s mission.
This re-election reflects India’s dedication to promoting inclusive, sustainable, and people-centric development across multiple sectors.
👔 Appointments
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar will assume the Chairship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) on December 3, 2025.
He will preside over all Council meetings throughout 2026 in his capacity as Chair. The transition of Chairship will take place during the Council of Member States meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.
Representing the world’s largest electorate—approximately 1 billion voters—India will share its best electoral practices with global Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs). India is also one of the founding members of IIDEA.
This appointment underscores the international recognition of the ECI as one of the most reliable and innovative EMBs worldwide.
Piyush Gupta, former CEO of DBS, has been named Chairman of Temasek India, effective December 1, 2025.
He stepped down as DBS CEO in March 2025 before taking on this new assignment at Temasek. In his new role, he will collaborate with Ravi Lambah, Head of the Temasek India team and Head of Strategic Initiatives, particularly on India-focused investment plans.
Temasek has announced plans to invest US$10 billion in India over the next three years, expanding its existing US$40 billion India portfolio.
Gupta will help Temasek’s portfolio companies identify new growth opportunities in India and engage with government and business stakeholders.
The World Bank Group has appointed Paschal Donohoe as its Managing Director (MD) and Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO).
Donohoe previously served as Ireland’s Minister for Finance and brings with him extensive experience from both public and corporate sectors.
He succeeds Axel van Trotsenburg, who will retire at the end of November 2025 after serving the WBG for 37 years.
In his new position, Donohoe will oversee the organisation’s strategic engagement with governments, philanthropic bodies, civil society, and private-sector entities. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly ten years at Procter & Gamble, where he gained significant business and management exposure.
🔬 Science & Technology
Google and Accel have collaborated to introduce the 2026 AI Cohort under Accel’s Atoms programme.
Both organisations intend to co-invest up to US$2 million in early-stage artificial intelligence startups in India. The Google AI Futures Fund will support this initiative, offering assistance to diaspora founders building AI solutions for India and global markets.
Selected startups will receive funding as well as access to Google Cloud, Gemini, and DeepMind technologies and resources.
The Atoms programme is now exclusively centred on AI and has already supported 40 startups. These startups have collectively secured over US$300 million in follow-on investments.
Accel (formerly Accel Partners) is a global VC firm headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
📅 Important Days
World AIDS Day 2025 was observed on 1 December with the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.”
The day is dedicated to spreading awareness about AIDS, a disease transmitted sexually and caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). With proper awareness, preventive behaviour, and timely medical support, AIDS can be effectively prevented and managed.
First observed in 1988, World AIDS Day is celebrated annually on December 1 to raise global health awareness. From 1996, the observance has been coordinated by UNAIDS.
The day serves as a platform to support individuals living with HIV, honour those who have lost their lives, and strengthen worldwide initiatives against HIV/AIDS.
In 2004, the World AIDS Campaign was formally registered as a nonprofit organisation in the Netherlands to enhance its global advocacy efforts.
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