🇮🇳 National News
President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Vijay Diwas.
The newly opened gallery displays portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, India’s highest military gallantry award recipients. It honours the extraordinary bravery, courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of India’s armed forces personnel.
The initiative replaces portraits of British-era ADCs, symbolising a decisive shift toward celebrating India’s own military legacy, national heroes, and sovereign identity.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) announced significant reforms under the National Pension System (NPS).
Non-government subscribers can now withdraw up to 80% of their pension corpus, an increase from the earlier 60% limit. Only 20% of the corpus needs to be mandatorily invested in an annuity, provided the total corpus exceeds ₹12 lakh.
- Enhanced financial flexibility at retirement
- Introduction of tiered withdrawal slabs
- Subscribers can remain invested up to 85 years of age
- Clearer exit norms in cases of death, disability, renunciation of citizenship, and premature exit
Government employees, however, will continue under the existing 60:40 withdrawal-annuity structure.
Ponduru Khadi, a traditional handspun fabric from Andhra Pradesh, has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The fabric is renowned for its exceptionally fine cotton yarn, durability, and intricate craftsmanship. It has historic significance, having been praised and promoted by Mahatma Gandhi.
- Protection of its geographical identity
- Preservation of traditional knowledge
- Enhanced economic opportunities for local weavers and artisans
- Greater recognition of India’s handloom heritage
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his first official visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the visit, India and Ethiopia signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
- Customs cooperation
- Establishment of a data centre at the Ethiopian Embassy
- Collaboration in United Nations peacekeeping operations
The agreements reflect strengthening India–Africa bilateral engagement and shared priorities in trade facilitation, digital infrastructure, and global peacekeeping. The ceremonial reception showcased deepening diplomatic, cultural, and historical ties between the two nations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, the country’s highest civilian award. He became the first Head of State or Government globally to receive this honour.
The award was conferred by Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali during Modi’s official visit. This marks PM Modi’s 28th top international honour.
- Strong India–Ethiopia historical ties
- PM Modi’s growing global stature
- Contributions of the Indian diaspora in Ethiopia’s education and development sectors
Indian cinema achieved a major milestone as Neeraj Ghaywan’s film Homebound was shortlisted among the final 15 films for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars) 2026.
The film stars Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, and is backed by Dharma Productions. It was India’s official Oscar entry.
Homebound gained international recognition after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The shortlist places the film in contention for the final five Oscar nominations.
💼 Business & Economy
JP Morgan announced plans to set up Asia’s largest Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Powai, Mumbai.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Powai, Mumbai |
| Facility Size | ~2 million square feet |
| Employment Target | 30,000 professionals by 2029 |
The GCC will support Information Technology, Financial operations, Data analytics, and Innovation and digital solutions. This development reinforces India’s position as a global hub for banking, finance, and technology.
Google has launched its first-ever credit card globally, choosing India as the debut market. The card is introduced in partnership with Axis Bank on the RuPay network.
It offers full integration with Google Pay–UPI, enabling credit-based UPI payments at merchant outlets.
- Instant rewards and cashback on every transaction
- Seamless digital payment experience
- Full integration with Google Pay–UPI ecosystem
The launch underlines India’s leadership in digital payments, the strength of the RuPay–UPI ecosystem managed by NPCI, and successful bank–fintech collaboration models.
The Government of India has approved a second two-year extension for Ashwini Kumar Tewari, Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI). His tenure will now continue until 31 December 2027.
Initially appointed in January 2021, Tewari has overseen:
- Digital transformation initiatives
- Strong credit growth
- Significant balance sheet strengthening
The extension ensures leadership continuity at India’s largest public sector bank and reflects government confidence in his strategic and operational leadership.
📅 Important Days
Minorities Rights Day 2025 is observed in India on 18 December. The day commemorates the UN Declaration on the Rights of Minorities (1992).
It highlights constitutional safeguards, socio-economic challenges, and government initiatives aimed at protecting minorities. It focuses on religious, linguistic, and cultural communities such as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis.
- Article 29 and 30 – Cultural and educational rights
- Article 350A and 350B – Linguistic minority protection
The observance stresses equality, inclusion, participation, and the need for targeted inclusive policies.
International Migrants Day 2025 is observed globally on 18 December. The day acknowledges the economic, social, and cultural contributions of migrants worldwide.
It draws attention to key challenges faced by migrants, including:
- Exploitation and discrimination
- Unsafe migration routes
- Limited access to healthcare, education, and legal protection
The observance marks the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers (1990). It promotes protection of migrant rights, humane, safe, and orderly migration, and stronger international cooperation in migration governance.
🕊️ Obituaries
Renowned sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, designer of the Statue of Unity (the world’s tallest statue), passed away on 17 December 2025 at the age of 100.
He was a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee.
- Statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Statue of Unity)
- Statues of Mahatma Gandhi
- Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
His contributions shaped India’s public art landscape and symbolised national unity, leadership, and cultural and artistic excellence. His legacy remains a cornerstone of India’s monumental art and national identity.
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