📊 Index & Rankings
The Hurun Rich List 2025 highlighted India’s rapidly expanding startup and new-age enterprise ecosystem, with significant shifts in entrepreneurial wealth rankings.
Deepinder Goyal (Eternal/Zomato) surpassed Radhakishan Damani (DMart) to become India’s top self-made entrepreneur, followed by Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal (IndiGo).
| Rank | Entrepreneur | Company | Valuation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deepinder Goyal | Eternal (Zomato) | ₹3.2 lakh crore (+27% YoY) |
| 2 | Radhakishan Damani | Avenue Supermarts (DMart) | ₹3 lakh crore (-13%) |
| 3 | Rahul Bhatia & Rakesh Gangwal | InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) | ₹2.2 lakh crore |
| 10 | Peyush Bansal | Lenskart | ₹70,236 crore (+60%) |
Key Highlights:
- Founders from Razorpay, Zerodha, and Dream11 – dropped out of the top ten, indicating valuation volatility in startups
- Lenskart – went public in 2025 with 60% annual growth
- Minimum wealth threshold – rose from ₹3,000 crore to nearly ₹4,500 crore for top 200 entry
- Combined valuation of top 200 – increased by 15% to ₹42 lakh crore (USD 469 billion)
- Employment generation – these companies collectively employ around 8 lakh people
The list focuses on entrepreneurs who founded companies after 2000, emphasising value creation over inherited wealth.
🇮🇳 National News
During the 2nd World Health Organization (WHO) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, held in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a commemorative postal stamp dedicated to Ashwagandha, a widely respected medicinal plant from India.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the most prominent herbs in Ayurveda, classified as an adaptogen that helps the body cope with physical and mental stress.
Significance of the Initiative:
- Cultural and educational tool – showcases India’s rich medicinal heritage and national healthcare priorities
- AYUSH systems promotion – reinforces advocacy for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy
- Integration vision – aligns with India’s goal of integrating traditional medicine with modern healthcare
- Global acceptance – symbolises commitment to promoting traditional systems in preventive and holistic healthcare
Ashwagandha benefits include: stress management, immunity enhancement, improved stamina, and overall wellness. The herb has gained significant international popularity in the wellness, nutraceutical, and integrative medicine sectors.
Jammu and Kashmir inaugurated its first Gen Z Post Office at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijaypur, marking a major milestone in the modernisation and digitisation of postal services.
AIIMS Vijaypur became the first AIIMS institution in India to host a Gen Z Post Office.
Key Details:
- Inauguration date – 17 December 2025
- Inaugurated by – Professor (Dr.) Shakti Kumar Gupta, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Vijaypur
- Attendees – Chief Postmaster General of the Jammu and Kashmir Circle and senior postal officials
The initiative reflects the Department of Posts’ transition towards customer-centric, technology-driven, and youth-focused services, designed to meet the expectations of younger generations.
The Haryana State Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the Ninth Sikh Guru.
Key Details:
- Passed during – winter session of the Assembly in Chandigarh
- Timing – adopted on the first day of the winter session
- Support – unanimous support from all political parties
The resolution reflects deep respect for Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s supreme sacrifice, dedication to truth, justice, religious freedom, and human dignity. He is revered as a spiritual leader, a protector of human rights, and a champion of religious freedom whose teachings continue to inspire people across religions and generations.
India’s innovation ecosystem earned global acclaim when Photonics Odyssey, a Chennai-based team, won the Most Inspirational Award at the NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2025.
The team proposed a sovereign satellite-based broadband infrastructure using an indigenous phased-array satellite internet system to expand high-speed internet access in remote and underserved regions.
Project Objectives:
- Bridge India’s digital divide – estimated 700 million people lack broadband connectivity
- Reduce terrestrial dependence – limiting reliance on fibre optics and mobile infrastructure
- Address connectivity challenges – focus on difficult terrains and rural areas
The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, was awarded India’s Best Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Institute for the second year in a row.
Award Details:
- Presented by – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
- Event – ARISE 2025 national conclave at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi
- Organised by – Health Technology Assessment in India (HTA In)
- Participation – over 35 leading medical colleges and ICMR institutes
The award was jointly presented by Prof. V. K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, and Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of ICMR and Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR).
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned ICG Ship Amulya on 19 December 2025 in Goa.
Amulya is the third vessel in the Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessel series, designed and constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 51 metres |
| Engine | Two 3000 kW diesel engines |
| Maximum Speed | 27 knots |
| Indigenous Content | Over 60% |
With over 60% indigenous content, the vessel supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, featuring a modern design focused on efficiency, endurance, and rapid response.
💼 Business & Economy
Piramal Finance entered into an agreement to sell its entire 14.72% stake in Shriram Life Insurance Company (SLIC).
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Stake Being Sold | 14.72% |
| Buyer | Sanlam Emerging Markets (Mauritius) Limited (SEMM) |
| Transaction Value | ₹600 crore |
| Expected Completion | By 31 March 2026 |
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, including mandatory approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). SEMM is a subsidiary of the Sanlam Group, a South Africa-based financial services conglomerate operating in over 30 countries.
Google announced a USD 8 million (approximately ₹72.4 crore) investment to support four Government of India-backed AI Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
Announcement Details:
- Event – Google’s Lab to Impact Dialogue at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, New Delhi
- Funding source – Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm
- Alignment – ‘Make AI in India’ and ‘Make AI Work for India’ programmes
TANUH Foundation (IISc Bengaluru) – non-communicable diseases | Airawat Research Foundation (IIT Kanpur) – AI-driven urban governance | AI CoE for Education (IIT Madras) – improving learning and teaching outcomes
The Telangana Agriculture Department launched a mobile application-based urea booking system to ensure transparent fertiliser distribution. The app is available on the Google Play Store.
How the System Works:
- Eligible users – farmers with pattadar passbooks and tenant farmers without documents
- Tenant farmer validation – bookings validated through landowner confirmation
- Document-less farmers – verified using paddy sale records
- Collection – any authorised person with booking details and OTP can collect urea
Around 2.5 lakh farmers cultivate crops across 5.4 lakh acres, with paddy grown on 4.4 lakh acres during the Rabi season.
The system eliminates long waiting times at fertiliser outlets.
🌐 International News
The Government of Armenia unveiled the Yerevan Blue Butterfly as the official logo for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | COP17 to UN CBD |
| Date | October 2026 |
| Location | Yerevan, Armenia |
| Official Slogan | “Taking Action for Nature” |
Logo Significance:
- Inspiration – Erivan Anomalous Blue butterfly (Polyommatus eriwanensis), endemic to the Yerevan region
- Symbolism – local biodiversity, ecological resilience, and conservation awareness
- Design element – incorporates 23 blended colours, representing the 23 global targets under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
The Government of India participated in the 11th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Global Forum, held from 14–15 December 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Forum Theme: “UNAOC: Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity – Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World.”
Indian Delegation:
- Led by – Kumaran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
- Participation – High-Level Meeting of the Group of Friends of UNAOC
- Highlighted – India’s ancient civilizational heritage, cultural diversity, and commitment to pluralism
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – The World is One Family | “Sarva Dharma Samabhav” – Equal respect for all religions
About UNAOC: Launched in 2005 by Spain and Turkey, later endorsed by the UN General Assembly. It aims to promote intercultural dialogue, reduce global polarization, and counter terrorism through dialogue among civilizations.
📅 Important Days
National Mathematics Day 2025 is observed on 22 December to commemorate the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan. The day has been observed annually since 2012.
Born in 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, into an Iyengar Brahmin family. Despite limited formal education, he mastered trigonometry by age 12 and independently developed original theories.
Ramanujan’s Journey:
- Education – studied at Pachaiyappa’s College, Madras, but could not complete degree due to poor performance in non-mathematics subjects
- 1912 – Ramaswamy Iyer helped him secure a clerkship at Madras Port Trust
- 1913 – his work reached G. H. Hardy, leading to invitation to Cambridge University in 1914
- 1917 – became a member of the London Mathematical Society
- 1918 – elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the youngest ever
Educational institutions across India organise seminars, workshops, and mathematics-focused activities to promote mathematical learning, innovation, and scientific temper.
World Basketball Day 2025 is observed on 21 December each year, commemorating the first basketball game played in 1891. The United Nations officially declared the day in 2023.
Invented by James Naismith in the United States as an indoor winter sport. The original game used a soccer ball and peach baskets without holes.
Global Impact:
- Popularity – followed or played by nearly 3.3 billion people worldwide
- UN recognition – promotes peace, social inclusion, and community bonding
- Youth development – supports education, teamwork, and healthy lifestyles globally
The United Nations observed the second World Meditation Day on 21 December 2025. A high-level event was organised at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Event Details:
- Organised by – Permanent Mission of India to the UN, in collaboration with Andorra, Mexico, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
- Core group – India, Andorra, Mexico, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
- Venue – Trusteeship Council Chamber
- Attendance – around 700 participants including diplomats, scientists, spiritual leaders, and civil society members
World Meditation Day was officially proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on 6 December 2024 through Resolution A/RES/79/137, adopted unanimously.
The resolution recognises meditation as a practice that fosters peace, harmony, and well-being at individual and societal levels.
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