🇮🇳 National News
The VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025 became law after receiving Presidential assent from President Droupadi Murmu on 21 December 2025.
The legislation replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually.
Objectives:
- Modernise rural employment frameworks – updated approach to rural job guarantee
- Strengthen rural livelihoods – aligned with the Ajeevika mission
- Viksit Bharat 2047 – supports the broader national vision for developed India
The Insurance Amendment Bill, 2025 seeks to update and reform India’s insurance regulatory framework, with key objectives including enhancing consumer protection and encouraging industry growth and competition.
The Bill permits 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the insurance sector and supports the national goal of “Insurance for All.”
Key Provisions:
- Data accuracy and privacy safeguards – improved protection measures
- Digital insurance policies – promoting digital adoption
- Claim rejection transparency – increased accountability
- Stringent penalties – ensuring insurer accountability
- IRDAI enforcement – strengthened regulatory role
The Auroville Foundation, located in Puducherry, has come into focus after a Parliamentary Standing Committee recommended granting it the status of an Institution of National Importance (INI).
Committee Recommendations:
- Committee chaired by – Digvijaya Singh
- Key highlight – Auroville’s international character supported by UNESCO
- Role recognised – fostering global harmony, peace, and unity
The recommendation includes proposals to amend the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988 and ensure long-term government funding and institutional support for the foundation.
Jay Shah received the ‘Transformational Leader of the Year’ award at the NDTV Indian of the Year 2025 ceremony for his transformative contributions to Indian and international cricket administration.
Pay parity for women cricketers | Launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) | Record-breaking IPL media rights agreements
His initiatives significantly improved player welfare, domestic cricket infrastructure, and gender equality in Indian cricket.
East Bengal FC scripted history by winning the first-ever SAFF Women’s Club Championship 2025, defeating Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF) team 3–0 in the final at Dasrath Stadium, Kathmandu.
This makes East Bengal the first Indian women’s football club to secure an international title.
The victory reflects strong tactical planning, team cohesion, and growing confidence in Indian women’s football. The win is expected to enhance India’s regional football reputation and inspire greater participation and investment in women’s football.
Indian golfer Sukhman Singh clinched the IGU 124th Amateur Golf Championship of India at Tollygunge Club, Kolkata, defeating Harman Sachdeva in the 36-hole matchplay final.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Winner | Sukhman Singh |
| Runner-up | Harman Sachdeva |
| Final Result | 7UP lead, match concluded after 29 holes |
| Venue | Tollygunge Club, Kolkata |
Singh also enjoyed an impressive season with victory at the IGU Rajasthan Amateur and strong performances in international tournaments. Organised by the Indian Golf Union (IGU) since 1892, the championship is recognised as the world’s longest-running amateur matchplay tournament.
HarperCollins India released Salman Khan: The Sultan of Bollywood, authored by journalist Mohar Basu, on 20 December 2025, coinciding with the actor’s birthday.
About the Book:
- Portrayal – Salman Khan as a cultural icon who shaped mass stardom in Hindi cinema for over three decades
- Content – combines fan narratives, industry insights, rare photographs, and analysis of iconic roles
- Format – positioned as a celebratory account rather than a traditional biography
- Coverage – captures his successes, controversies, comebacks, and enduring influence
💼 Business & Economy
Elon Musk created history by becoming the first individual to cross a net worth of $700 billion, with his fortune surging to an estimated $749 billion.
The surge followed the Delaware Supreme Court reinstating Tesla stock options valued at $139 billion.
| Asset | Valuation |
|---|---|
| Tesla (stock holdings + options) | ~$338 billion |
| SpaceX (42% stake) | ~$336 billion |
| Total Net Worth | ~$749 billion |
His wealth now exceeds that of the second-richest person globally by nearly $500 billion, underlining the extraordinary concentration of wealth in founder-led technology and space enterprises.
IIFL Finance has appointed B P Kanungo, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, as its Non-Executive Chairman.
Key Details:
- Experience – nearly four decades in central banking, monetary policy formulation, and financial regulation
- Responsibilities – providing strategic leadership, strengthening corporate governance, and protecting stakeholder interests
The company also disclosed that it paid ₹1.47 crore in taxes following an Income Tax Act notice covering the period from April 2018 to February 2025. IIFL clarified that this payment would not have any material impact on its business operations.
HCL Technologies (HCLTech) signed a multi-year strategic partnership with ASN Bank, the fourth-largest retail bank in the Netherlands, to modernise and standardise the bank’s digital and IT infrastructure.
Key Focus Areas:
- Streamlining IT services – reducing dependence on multiple vendors
- Automation – automating core banking processes
- Enterprise management – managing applications using a scalable distributed delivery model
Expected Benefits:
- Improved operational efficiency
- Enhanced customer experience
- Rationalised banking products
The initiative aligns with ASN Bank’s “Simplify and Grow” strategy and strengthens HCLTech’s footprint in the Dutch banking sector.
🌐 International News
Brazil officially transferred the rotating BRICS Presidency to India during the 4th BRICS Sherpas Meeting, held on 11–12 December 2025 in Brasília, Brazil. India will formally take charge as BRICS Chair on 1 January 2026.
A sustainably made wooden gavel, crafted by the Novo Airão community using Amazonian trees, was handed from Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio (Brazil) to Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela (India).
Brazil’s 2025 Presidency Accomplishments:
- Theme – “Strengthening Global South Co-operation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”
- Healthcare and AI initiatives – launched collaborative programmes
- First BRICS Climate Finance Framework – approved
- Trade cooperation – expanded within the 11-member BRICS grouping
- Rio Declaration – adopted with 126 joint commitments
Resilience – withstanding global economic disruptions | Innovation – Digital Public Infrastructure and equitable AI access | Cooperation – intra-BRICS trade and global governance reforms | Sustainability – climate action, disaster risk reduction, and SDGs
India’s presidency will be driven by a “humanity-first approach”, as articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
🔬 Science & Technology
ISRO successfully completed the drogue parachute qualification tests for the Gaganyaan Crew Module on 18–19 December 2025 at the RTRS facility of TBRL, Chandigarh, under DRDO.
The deceleration system comprises 10 parachutes of four different types, with drogue parachutes playing a key role in stabilisation before the main parachutes deploy.
Test Validation:
- Structural integrity – confirmed under extreme conditions
- Reliable deployment – validated for safe re-entry
- Stable performance – crucial for safe landing of astronauts
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope identified a uniquely lemon-shaped exoplanet named PSR J2322-2650b.
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | PSR J2322-2650b |
| Shape | Lemon-shaped (due to gravitational tidal forces) |
| Host Star | Pulsar |
| Orbital Period | 7.8 hours |
| Distance from Star | ~1 million miles |
| Surface Temperature | ~3,700°F |
| Atmosphere | Helium and carbon dominated |
The planet experiences intense gravitational tidal forces due to its extremely close orbit. Its unusual atmosphere challenges existing theories of planetary formation and demonstrates Webb’s capability to study extreme and unusual cosmic environments.
📅 Important Days
Kisan Diwas 2025 (also known as National Farmers Day) is observed across India on 23 December, dedicated to recognising the vital role of farmers in India’s economy, food security, and rural development.
The day marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, India’s Fifth Prime Minister (1979–1980), widely regarded as a strong advocate of farmers’ rights and a key architect of agricultural reforms.
Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Legacy:
- Succeeded – Morarji Desai as Prime Minister
- Policy focus – land reforms, rural empowerment, and strengthening the agrarian economy
- Official declaration – Government of India declared his birthday as Kisan Diwas in 2001
The observance aims to highlight farmers’ issues, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and acknowledge the farming community’s role in nation-building.
🕊️ Obituaries
Ira “Ike” Schab, a U.S. Navy veteran and survivor of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, died at the age of 105. His passing leaves only about a dozen living survivors of the historic attack.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 4 July 1920 |
| Age at Death | 105 years |
| Ship During Pearl Harbor | USS Dobbin |
| Role | Helped supply anti-aircraft guns |
Life and Service:
- Pacific campaigns – participated in major operations including the Mariana Islands and Okinawa
- Post-war career – aerospace and electrical engineer
- Apollo program – contributed to the historic space mission
📤 Found this useful? Help your friends stay updated too!
