📊 Index & Rankings
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been ranked as the world’s strongest passport in 2025, according to the Passport Index by Arton Capital. UAE achieved a mobility score of 179, allowing extensive visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.
| Rank | Country | Mobility Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UAE | 179 |
| 2 | Singapore | — |
| 3 | Spain | — |
| 67 | India | — |
India ranks 67th globally, indicating relatively limited travel freedom compared to top-ranked nations.
Traditional powerhouses like the UK, USA, and Canada have witnessed a decline in passport strength in recent years.
🇮🇳 National News
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released a commemorative postage stamp in New Delhi in honour of Emperor Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II.
The stamp highlights the ruler’s contributions to:
- Temple construction and patronage
- Development of irrigation systems
- Promotion of Tamil literature and culture
The initiative aligns with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, focusing on cultural revival and historical recognition. The Vice-President praised PM Narendra Modi’s leadership for actively promoting Tamil language and heritage.
Madhya Pradesh plans to develop the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve at Nauradehi as its third cheetah habitat. The development is expected to be completed before the next monsoon season.
| Cheetah Habitat | Current Cheetah Population |
|---|---|
| Kuno National Park | 28 cheetahs |
| Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary | 2 cheetahs |
| Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve | Under development |
Eight cheetahs from Botswana are expected to arrive in January 2026 as part of the next phase of the programme.
The initiative aims to:
- Strengthen India’s cheetah reintroduction programme
- Enhance biodiversity conservation
- Improve scientific wildlife management
- Boost eco-tourism
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, was honoured with the 2025 Champions of the Earth Award – the highest environmental award conferred by the United Nations.
She received the honour under the Inspiration and Action category. The award was announced by UNEP during UNEA-7 in Nairobi.
UNEP highlighted her initiatives, which have:
- Generated 2.5 million green jobs
- Increased forest cover in Tamil Nadu
- Integrated heat-adaptation measures into public spaces
- Enhanced climate resilience for nearly 12 million people
- Positioned Tamil Nadu as a global leader in climate adaptation and sustainable cooling
The First DV Kapur Foundation Energy Innovation Awards were held on 12 December 2025 in New Delhi. Awards were presented by Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
| Category | Winner | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 (Innovators under 38) | Dr Achu Chandran CSIR-NIIST | Nano Electricity Generators |
| Category 2 | NTPC’s R&D wing, NETRA | Green Use of Coal Technologies |
Shri Shaswattam and his team were also felicitated for their contribution.
The Indian Navy will commission INAS 335 (Ospreys) on 17 December 2025. The ceremony will be held at INS Hansa, Goa and attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.
INAS 335 is the second squadron of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, equipped with advanced sensors, weapons, and avionics.
Capabilities of MH-60R helicopters:
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
- Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW)
- Search and Rescue (SAR)
- Maritime surveillance
The commissioning enhances naval aviation strength, maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region, and supports India’s naval modernization programme.
MRF Tyres won the 2025 FIA European Rally Championship Team Title. This marks the Chennai-based company’s third ERC title after wins in 2022 and 2023.
The achievement was recognised at the FIA Awards Gala. MRF credited the success to the dedication of engineers and staff, strong preparation, superior performance, and passion for motorsport excellence.
💼 Business & Economy
Amul has renewed its partnership with the Argentina Football Association (AFA) as the Official Regional Sponsor. This marks the fourth consecutive year of the collaboration, with the renewed agreement valid until the FIFA World Cup 2026.
In 2022, Amul became the first Indian brand to be a regional sponsor in the history of Argentine football. By partnering with the FIFA World Cup 2022 champions, Amul strengthens its image as a global sports-focused brand.
AFA President Claudio Fabián Tapia stated that the partnership reflects the growing bond between Argentine football and Indian fans, driven by shared passion, popularity, and mutual growth.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella launched MahaCrimeOS AI, an AI-powered crime investigation platform for the Maharashtra Police. The platform will be deployed across 1,100 police stations statewide and has been developed jointly with the state’s MARVEL initiative.
MahaCrimeOS AI can process complaints in multiple formats (PDFs, audio files, handwritten documents, images) and supports all languages through multimodal AI intelligence.
The platform can:
- Extract critical information automatically
- Generate automated investigation plans
- Perform telecom data analysis
- Gather open-source intelligence
- Create automated workflows aligned with police protocols
It helps streamline investigations related to: Cybercrime, financial fraud, and crimes against women.
🌐 International News
India achieved a major diplomatic and environmental success at UNEA-7 held in Nairobi. The United Nations Environment Assembly adopted India’s resolution titled “Strengthening the Global Management of Wildfires”, receiving broad support from UN Member States.
The resolution highlights the growing threat of wildfires caused by climate change and deforestation, encouraging collective international action for effective wildfire management.
Key focus areas of the resolution include:
- International cooperation
- Proactive wildfire prevention
- Capacity building
- Integrated approaches linking climate action, biodiversity conservation, and disaster risk reduction
According to Stanford University’s Global AI Vibrancy Tool report, India has ranked third globally in AI competitiveness, moving up significantly from seventh position in 2023.
| Rank | Country | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | R&D, Economic impact, Infrastructure |
| 2 | China | AI research output, Publications, Model development |
| 3 | India | Technology ecosystem, AI talent base |
The improvement reflects a rapidly expanding technology ecosystem, a strong and growing AI talent base, and government and private initiatives strengthening AI infrastructure.
👔 Appointments
The Government of India has appointed Ravi Ranjan as the new Managing Director (MD) of the State Bank of India (SBI). He officially assumed charge following a government notification.
As India’s largest public sector bank, leadership changes at SBI are closely monitored due to their potential impact on financial stability, credit expansion, and banking sector reforms.
Raj Kumar Goyal, former Secretary in the Ministry of Law and Justice, took oath as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) on 15 December 2025. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath.
His appointment marks a new phase for the Central Information Commission, a key institution under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The move strengthens India’s framework for transparency and accountability.
Senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty has been elected as the first woman President of the Press Club of India. Her panel achieved a clean sweep (21–0) in the December 2025 elections.
The election marks a historic milestone in media leadership and gender representation in journalism institutions.
Newly elected office-bearers include:
- Afzal Imam – Secretary General
- Jatin Gandhi – Vice-President
- Aditi Rajput – Treasurer
- P R Sunil – Joint Secretary
🔬 Science & Technology
AIIMS Delhi conducted India’s first dedicated clinical trial of an advanced indigenous brain stent. The trial, named GRASSROOT, evaluated the Supernova stent developed by Gravity Medical Technology.
The trial demonstrated high safety standards and strong efficacy in treating severe stroke patients. Findings were published in a BMJ Group journal, and based solely on Indian clinical data, CDSCO granted approval.
The achievement strengthens Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s medical device innovation ecosystem.
Google unveiled Project Suncatcher, a plan to build solar-powered data centres in space by 2027.
The initiative represents a major step toward sustainable space-based computing, addressing rising AI data demands while reducing energy consumption on Earth.
The project will use:
- Satellite-based infrastructure
- Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for AI workloads
- Laser-based optical links for high-speed communication
Objectives include: Meeting rising AI data demands, reducing energy consumption on Earth, and addressing Outer Space Treaty regulations.
ISRO has planned seven launches by March 2026, including the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission.
The launches will include deployment of humanoid robot Vyommitra, demonstration of electric propulsion, quantum key distribution experiment, and the first industry-built PSLV.
Major missions include:
- Bluebird-6
- Oceansat
- EOS-N1
- EOS-5 / GISAT-1A
- TDS-01
- Dedicated SSLV mission
These missions advance human spaceflight capability, commercial satellite launch services, and self-reliant space technologies.
📅 Important Days
Vijay Diwas is observed annually on 16 December. It commemorates India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 India–Pakistan War and honours the bravery and sacrifices of Indian Armed Forces.
The war began on 3 December 1971 with Pakistani attacks on 11 Indian airfields and lasted only 13 days – one of the shortest wars in history. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India at the time.
Major outcomes:
- Operation Vijay led to a decisive Indian victory
- Liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan
- Formation of Bangladesh as an independent nation
- Bangladesh’s independent flag was first hoisted on 23 March
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