🇮🇳 National News
Tamil Nadu has obtained five new GI certifications, acknowledging the cultural uniqueness and heritage value of these products.
- Woraiyur Cotton Sari
- Kavindapadi Nattu Sakkarai (Traditional jaggery powder)
- Namakkal Soapstone Cookware (Makkal Pathirangal)
- Thooyamalli Rice (heritage rice variety)
- Ambasamudram Choppu Saman (traditional wooden toys)
With these additions, Tamil Nadu now holds 74 GI-tagged products, making it one of India’s top states for certified traditional goods.
The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development organised a national symposium on NAKSHA and LandStack at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The event was part of GeoSmart India 2025, aimed at promoting advanced geospatial tools for modernising urban land records and enhancing public service delivery.
- Uses high-end aerial mapping
- Automated feature extraction
- Coverage of 157+ Indian cities
Key challenges discussed included dense urban infrastructure, matching aerial mapping output with on-ground facts, and modernising old land records using digital methods.
IGI Airport, Delhi has become India’s first water-positive airport among airports handling more than 40 million passengers per year.
This recognition was conferred at the Water Innovation Summit 2025, under the NITI Aayog–CII Water Neutrality Framework.
- 625 rainwater harvesting units
- Two underground reservoirs (total storage: 9 million litres)
- A zero-liquid-discharge STP (capacity: 16.6 MLD)
Recycled water is used for HVAC systems, toilet flushing, and landscape irrigation. Intelligent systems like automated sprinklers, drip irrigation, and real-time water monitoring help minimize wastage.
India opened the 18th Plenary Meeting of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes in New Delhi.
The event is scheduled from 2–5 December 2025.
“Tax Transparency: Delivering a Shared Vision Through International Cooperation”
The Indian Army’s Southern Command successfully conducted a combat launch of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Bay of Bengal test range.
The missile accurately hit its target, demonstrating long-range precision strike ability and operational preparedness.
- Developed by BrahMos Aerospace (DRDO–Russia collaboration)
- Supports launches from: Land, Ships, Submarines, Aircraft
- Designed to engage both surface and sea-based targets
The test was carried out in coordination with the Tri-Services Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), showcasing effective joint-service operations.
India is gearing up to commission INS Aridhaman, its third indigenously produced nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).
According to Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, the submarine is in the final testing phase and will be inducted soon.
It follows INS Arighaat and joins INS Arihant, enabling India to deploy three SSBNs simultaneously. This enhances India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence and strengthens its second-strike capability under its nuclear doctrine.
💼 Business & Economy
HSBC Holdings has selected Brendan Nelson as its next chairman, taking over from Mark Tucker.
Nelson had been serving as the interim chair and was earlier the global banking head at KPMG before joining the HSBC board in 2023.
- HSBC’s Asia-focused growth strategy
- Expansion of fee-based revenue streams
- Management of geopolitical challenges
He will continue as the Audit Committee Chair until February 2026. This change signifies a shift back to internal leadership at HSBC after Tucker, who served as the bank’s first external chairman.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed an MoU with Reliance Jio to launch a new mobile-driven highway safety alert system.
Using Jio’s 4G and 5G networks, the system will deliver real-time warnings to drivers approaching danger-prone areas.
- SMS
- WhatsApp messages
- High-priority calls
Warning Coverage: Accident-risk zones, areas with stray animals, fog-affected regions, road blockages, and emergency diversions.
The system will integrate with Rajmargyatra mobile app and Highway emergency helpline 1033. Alerts will be available to all Jio subscribers, covering more than 500 million users.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has authorised Razorpay to function as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border Inward & Outward (PA-CB-I&O) under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007.
- KYC compliance
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards
- Secure payment processing
- Export documentation and Timely settlements
With this approval, Razorpay can facilitate international payments for Indian enterprises and allow foreign businesses to transact in India via Razorpay.
Razorpay, founded in 2014 by Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar, offers services including Payment Gateway, RazorpayX (neo-banking), Razorpay Capital, and more.
The RBI has reiterated that State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank will continue as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) for 2025.
| Bank | CET-1 Requirement |
|---|---|
| SBI | 0.80% of RWA |
| HDFC Bank | 0.40% of RWA |
| ICICI Bank | 0.20% of RWA |
The D-SIB list for 2025 is based on data from 31 March 2025. D-SIBs must hold additional capital above Basel-III standards due to their “Too Big to Fail” risk classification.
Historical Milestones: SBI became the first D-SIB in 2015, ICICI Bank in 2016, and HDFC Bank in 2017.
🌐 International News
The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), a century-old cooperative from Kerala, has been recognised as a Global Cooperative Cultural Heritage Site by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA).
The announcement took place at the Itamaraty Palace in Brazil, placing ULCCS among 31 globally significant cooperative heritage sites.
- ULCCS (Kerala)
- Dr Verghese Kurien Museum (Amul), Anand
Established in 1925, ULCCS employs over 18,000 workers, has a turnover of ₹2,334 crore, and is globally renowned for ethical labour practices and projects like UL Cyberpark.
ICA also introduced the world’s first Cooperative Cultural Heritage Platform and a Global Map highlighting cooperative heritage.
👔 Appointments
DP World has appointed cricket star Abhishek Sharma as a brand ambassador, joining Sachin Tendulkar and Tommy Fleetwood.
- Record of 314 runs in a single T20I Asia Cup edition
- Player of the Tournament
- Rose to No. 1 in ICC Men’s T20I Batter Rankings with the highest rating ever recorded
Under the long-term collaboration, he will feature in brand promotions, media interactions, and digital marketing campaigns.
🔬 Science & Technology
The DRDO successfully executed a high-speed rocket-sled trial for a fighter aircraft’s emergency escape mechanism at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility at TBRL Chandigarh.
- Reached speed of 800 km/h
- Validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery
A dual-sled arrangement carried the LCA Tejas fore-body to replicate real flight conditions. An Anthropomorphic Test Dummy (ATD) with sensors simulated a pilot and measured load impacts, acceleration, and movement dynamics.
The test positions India among a select group of nations capable of developing sophisticated escape systems domestically.
Researchers at IIT Madras have created the country’s first homegrown Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) for ports.
The system was fully designed by the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) in line with requirements from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Implemented at Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), Kerala. Inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 2 May 2025.
Benefits: Full control over software source code, eliminates vendor lock-in, cuts foreign exchange spending, ensures secure and economical operation, and offers scalability for future port needs.
The project was funded with ₹10 crore in 2020 by the Ministry.
📅 Important Days
World Soil Day 2025 is celebrated on 5 December to increase global understanding of soil health and its importance for sustainable land management.
“Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities” — stressing soil’s role in supporting resilient urban ecosystems.
Importance of Soil: Provides food and medicinal resources, filters natural water, and supports all terrestrial life.
Soil Formation Duration:
- 200–400 years for just 1 cm of soil
- Nearly 3,000 years to form fertile topsoil
Proposed in 2002 by the IUSS, championed by Thailand, supported by FAO, and officially adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2014.
International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 is observed worldwide on 5 December.
This year’s observance is especially significant as it begins the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026).
“Every Contribution Matters” — honouring the collective impact of volunteerism.
Historical Notes:
- Volunteerism began in Europe, assisting the elderly and poor through church organisations
- Organisations like Red Cross, Rotary Club, Lions Club, YMCA expanded civic engagement
- In 1985, the UN Volunteers (UNV) programme started coordinating IVD globally
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