🇮🇳 National News
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed India’s first wildlife-friendly highway corridor on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh.
The 11.96-km Hiran–Sindoor stretch passes through ecologically sensitive zones, including the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
- Table-top red road markings to alert drivers
- Dedicated wildlife underpasses for safe animal movement
- Environment-friendly and eco-sensitive road designs
The initiative aims to reduce animal fatalities, prevent accidents, and balance infrastructure development with conservation.
India and Brazil signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving the Indian Navy, Brazilian Navy, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
The MoU was signed during the visit of CNS Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi to Brazil from December 9–12, 2025.
- Maintenance of Scorpene-class submarines
- Sharing expertise on other naval platforms
- Enhanced life-cycle support and logistics cooperation
- Training and experience sharing
- Strengthening defence R&D collaboration
The agreement boosts bilateral maritime and defence cooperation between the two nations.
Miyana Railway Station, located in Guna district, Madhya Pradesh, received the National Energy Conservation Award 2025. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu on National Energy Conservation Day.
The station was recognized as the Best Performing Unit in the Transport Category.
- Saved 9,687 units of electricity
- Adoption of LED lighting
- Use of BLDC fans
- Installation of smart lighting systems
Presented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the award highlights Indian Railways’ commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and cost-effective operations.
The Filmfare OTT Awards 2025 were held in Mumbai, celebrating excellence in digital entertainment. Black Warrant (Netflix) emerged as the biggest winner.
- Top Acting Winners: Zahan Kapoor and Rahul Bhat
- Paatal Lok – Season 2
- Khauf
- Raat Jawaan Hai
- Web Film: Girls Will Be Girls
The awards recognized excellence across acting, direction, writing, and technical categories, highlighting the rapid growth and creative diversity of India’s OTT industry.
Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan unveiled his autobiography on December 14, 2025, in New Delhi. Titled “The One: Cricket, My Life and More”, the book is published by HarperCollins India.
The autobiography covers his early cricketing days in Delhi, international cricket journey, personal struggles, controversies, and career setbacks and comebacks.
- Highest run-scorer of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy
- IPL journey with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings
- ODI, T20I, and Test debuts
The book presents a candid narrative of resilience, self-belief, and perseverance.
The FIFA Best Football Awards 2025 were held in Doha, Qatar, recognizing exceptional performances across both men’s and women’s football.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Men’s Player of the Year | Ousmane Dembélé (France/PSG) |
| Women’s Player of the Year | Aitana Bonmatí (Spain/Barcelona) – 3rd consecutive win |
| Men’s Goalkeeper | Gianluigi Donnarumma |
| Women’s Goalkeeper | Hannah Hampton |
| Men’s Coach | Luis Enrique |
At the IPL Auction 2026, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) created history by acquiring two uncapped players at record prices.
| Player | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Prashant Veer | ₹14.20 crore | 20-year-old left-arm all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh |
| Kartik Sharma | ₹14.20 crore | Known for consistent domestic performances |
| Auqib Nabi | ₹8.40 crore | Bought by Delhi Capitals |
Both Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma became the joint most expensive uncapped players ever in IPL history. The auction reflected franchises’ growing confidence in young Indian talent.
💼 Business & Economy
Ravi Ranjan has assumed charge as the Managing Director (MD) of State Bank of India (SBI). He succeeds Vinay M. Tonse, whose term concluded on November 30, 2025.
Prior to this role, Ravi Ranjan served as Deputy Managing Director at SBI. His appointment follows a government notification.
His tenure has been approved until September 30, 2028, or until further official orders. The appointment strengthens SBI’s leadership structure, which includes one Chairman and four Managing Directors.
On December 15, 2025, India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed loan agreements exceeding $2.2 billion to support five major development initiatives.
| Project | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation Programme | $846 million |
| Rooftop Solar Systems (Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana) | $650 million |
| Assam State Tertiary Health Care Augmentation Project | $398.8 million |
| Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project (Tranche 2) | $240 million |
| Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-based Livelihood (Meghalaya) | $77 million |
These projects aim to strengthen renewable energy, skill development, healthcare infrastructure, urban transport, and sustainable livelihoods.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval to HDFC Bank to acquire up to 9.5% stake in IndusInd Bank.
The approval includes holdings through HDFC group entities such as:
- HDFC Mutual Fund
- HDFC Life
- HDFC ERGO
- HDFC Pension
- HDFC Securities
Issued on December 15, 2025, the approval remains valid until December 14, 2026. The permission applies to the aggregate shareholding or voting rights of the group, enabling strategic investment while ensuring strict regulatory oversight in India’s banking sector.
🌐 International News
Italy has made history by becoming the first country to receive UNESCO recognition for its entire national cuisine.
Italian culinary traditions—such as pasta, mozzarella, wine-making, and desserts like tiramisu—have been inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The recognition emphasizes food as a cultural identity, a social and communal tradition, and a medium passed down through generations.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the honor, stating that it will boost tourism, strengthen Italy’s global cultural influence, and reinforce pride in Italian culinary heritage.
👔 Appointments
Former IAS officer Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) on December 15, 2025. The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu.
The post had remained vacant since September 2025. His appointment was recommended by a three-member selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Tenure: Three-year term under the Right to Information Act, 2005
- Rahul Gandhi dissented, citing concerns over the lack of social diversity in shortlisted candidates
B. Sairam has been appointed as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India Limited (CIL). He succeeds Sanoj Kumar Jha, who held additional charge.
An alumnus of NIT Raipur, Sairam is a mining engineer with over 30 years of experience in:
- Mine operations
- Logistics management
- Project planning
- Regulatory affairs
He previously served as CMD of Northern Coalfields Limited, a CIL subsidiary. His appointment was recommended by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB).
Suresh Goyal, former CEO of NHIT, has been appointed as the Director General of NCAER. He will assume office from January 5, 2026.
His responsibilities include expanding NCAER’s research capacity and establishing new policy research centres.
- Over three decades of experience across public and private sectors
- Succeeds Poonam Gupta
- Appointment endorsed by Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of NCAER
The move aims to strengthen NCAER’s role in policy formulation and India’s development agenda.
🔬 Science & Technology
India has launched DHRUV64, its first fully indigenous 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core microprocessor. The processor was developed by C-DAC under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP).
- 5G infrastructure
- Automotive electronics
- Consumer electronics
- Industrial automation
- Internet of Things (IoT)
DHRUV64 offers improved efficiency, enhanced multitasking capabilities, higher reliability, and seamless hardware integration. The launch marks a significant milestone in India’s self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem.
India plans to enhance its polar research infrastructure by building Maitri II, a next-generation Antarctic research station. Located in East Antarctica, Maitri II will replace Maitri I, which was established in 1989.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Expected Completion | 2032 |
| Estimated Cost | ₹2,000 crore |
| Pre-investment Approved | ₹29.20 crore by Ministry of Earth Sciences |
The station will support advanced research in climate science, glaciology, biological sciences, atmospheric studies, and earth sciences. Maitri II reflects India’s long-term commitment to Antarctic research, global climate studies, and obligations under the Antarctic Treaty System.
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