🇮🇳 National News
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) has become the first water-positive airport in India among facilities serving more than 40 million passengers per year.
Achieving water-positive status means the airport replenishes more freshwater than it consumes. The recognition was awarded at the Water Innovation Summit 2025, under the NITI Aayog–CII water neutrality framework.
- 625 rainwater harvesting systems
- Two underground reservoirs with a combined capacity of 9 million litres
- A 16.6 MLD zero-liquid-discharge sewage treatment plant
These systems enable large-scale water capture, groundwater recharge, and reuse of treated wastewater.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is set to be renamed “Seva Teerth”, highlighting a governance philosophy centred on service, responsibility, and citizen-first administration.
The new name underscores that the PMO represents not just authority, but a space dedicated to shaping national priorities and public welfare.
- Raj Bhavans → Lok Bhavans (Governors’ residences)
- PM’s Residence → Lok Kalyan Marg (renamed in 2016)
- Rajpath → Kartavya Path
- Central Secretariat → Kartavya Bhavan
Under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, multiple government institutions have been renamed to reflect values of kartavya (duty), seva (service), and transparency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 60th All India DGP–IGP Conference 2025 at the IIM Campus in Naya Raipur.
The theme of the conference aligned with “Viksit Bharat, Surakshit Bharat”, focusing on strengthening internal security systems. Hosted annually by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), this is the top-level platform for discussions related to national security.
- Director Generals (DGs) and Inspector Generals (IGs) of all States/UTs
- Agencies such as RAW, NIA, NTRO, NCB
- Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)
PM Modi stressed the importance of innovation in policing, coordinated efforts between State and Central security forces, and adopting a citizen-centric security model.
PM Narendra Modi announced that India’s foodgrain output has reached an all-time high of 357 million tonnes in 2025.
The announcement was made during the 128th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on 30th November 2025. This milestone reflects an increase of 100 million tonnes in the last decade.
Foodgrain output rose from 257 million tonnes (2015) to 357 million tonnes (2025) — a nearly 40% jump.
During his Coimbatore visit, the PM also attended the South India Natural Farming Summit (19–21 November 2025), organised by the Tamil Nadu Natural Farming Stakeholders Forum. The summit focused on eco-friendly farming practices, chemical-free agricultural systems, and strengthening market linkages for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
The 8th Central Pay Commission (8th CPC) has officially been set up through a Gazette Notification dated 3 November 2025.
It will examine the pay structure, allowances, pensions, and service conditions of Central Government employees and pensioners.
The government clarified that there is no proposal to merge DA with basic pay, despite DA crossing the 50% threshold. DA will remain a separate inflation-indexed component, continuing to be revised based on the CPI-IW/AICPI-IW.
Employee unions expected a DA–basic pay merger since similar changes were implemented during earlier Pay Commissions. A merger would increase basic salary, House Rent Allowance (HRA), pension and other pay-linked benefits.
However, the government is cautious because such a merger would significantly increase recurring financial liabilities. The current ToR of the 8th CPC does not include reviewing DA merger.
The 14th edition of Exercise EKUVERIN between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) commenced on 2 December 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram.
The exercise will run until 15 December 2025, strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and joint operational readiness.
EKUVERIN reflects the deep, long-standing strategic partnership between India and the Maldives.
The United Service Institution of India (USI) conducted the third edition of the Indian Military Heritage Festival (IMHF) on 14–15 November 2025 at its New Delhi premises.
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth inaugurated the festival, which was also attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.
- “The Sukraniti: Statecraft and Warcraft” by Col PK Gautam (Retd)
- “Honours and Awards of the Indian Armed Forces” by Dr AK Mishra
- “75 Years of India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping” by Maj Gen PK Goswami, VSM (Retd)
The festival highlighted India’s military heritage, contemporary defence and strategic issues, and featured military paintings by Lt Col Arul Raj (Retd).
Belgium defeated India 1–0 in the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 held in Ipoh, Malaysia.
With this win, Belgium claimed their first-ever Sultan Azlan Shah Cup title.
The Indian men’s hockey team, despite the loss, delivered a strong and consistent performance throughout the tournament and returned home with a silver medal.
This result reinforces India’s reputation as one of the top-performing hockey teams globally.
💼 Business & Economy
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) 2025–30 during the 32nd meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council’s Sub-Committee (FSDC-SC).
The strategy was formally launched by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra and is designed to strengthen and expand India’s financial inclusion framework over the next five years.
NSFI 2025–30 follows an ecosystem-driven model aimed at:
- Improving access to financial services
- Enhancing service quality
- Encouraging widespread usage — especially among underserved and unbanked populations
🌐 International News
India secured 154 out of 169 valid votes, emerging as the highest-voted nation in Category B for the second consecutive term.
The election took place during the 34th IMO Assembly in London, reaffirming India’s growing maritime global influence aligned with the Amrit Kaal Maritime Vision 2047.
- Category A: Countries with major international shipping services
- Category B: Nations with significant interests in global seaborne trade (India’s category)
- Category C: Countries with special interests in maritime transport or navigation
India is grouped in Category B along with countries like Germany, France, UAE, Australia, Canada, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, and Brazil.
The IMO Council is the executive authority overseeing IMO activities between Assembly sessions.
🔬 Science & Technology
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan inaugurated the Anant Centre of Excellence for Navigation (ACEN) at Kinfra Park, Thiruvananthapuram.
ACEN is India’s first private-sector navigation technology hub, established by Ananth Technologies Limited (ATL).
- Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)
- GNSS and NavIC receivers
- Advanced sensors, gyroscopes, accelerometers
- Precision Timing Systems (PTS)
ACEN also aims to integrate NavIC with GPS/GNSS, AI-driven sensor fusion, and vision/radar-based navigation.
Applications: Satellites, launch vehicles, missiles, aircraft, UAVs, ships, submarines, mapping, surveying, disaster management, civil transport, and logistics sectors.
📅 Important Days
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed globally every year on 3rd December. The day is also referred to as the World Day of the Handicapped.
The observance aims to foster understanding and acceptance, inclusion, dignity, and equal treatment for people with disabilities.
- 1960: First Paralympic Games took place
- 1976: UN General Assembly declared observance from 1981 onward
- 1992: UN formally proclaimed annual observance of this day
- 2013: Australia introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Many nations have since implemented reservation policies and employment quotas to ensure equal rights. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) established comprehensive legal protections and accessibility standards for disabled individuals.
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