09th December 2025

1. Rajnath Singh unveils 125 new infrastructure projects of the BRO
2. Key takeaways from GELS held in Puri, Odisha
3. Rajasthan becomes the first state to fully digitize voter rolls under SIR
4. Patanjali Group signs an MoU with Russia to promote health and wellness initiatives
5. IFC invests USD 50 million in Gujarat Fluorochemical’s EV arm
6. Genesys introduces India’s first 3D subsurface mapping system for Adani Airports
7. Lando Norris secures his first F1 Drivers’ Championship title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
8. Amit Shah launches the Gujarati edition of ‘Chunotiya Mujhe Pasand Hai’
9. SAARC Charter Day marked across member nations
10. Indian Navy commemorates its Submarine Day
11. A 3-year-old Indian child becomes the youngest FIDE-rated chess player globally
12. India begins preparations for the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine
13. Starlink Internet transforming global digital connectivity
14. Tata Electronics and Intel sign an MoU to explore chip manufacturing and packaging in India
15. UPI acknowledged by IMF as the world’s largest real-time payment system
16. International Day honoring the dignity and remembrance of genocide victims
17. International Anti-Corruption Day
18. Asia’s largest natural ice-skating rink identified
19. DHRUVA launched as India’s digital hub for reference and virtual addresses
20. Ghaziabad ranked as India’s most polluted city in a CREA assessment
21. Amit Shah inaugurates Banas Dairy’s Bio-CNG plant
22. India International Science Festival begins in Panchkula
23. Deloitte announces an AI-powered platform ‘Tax Pragya’ for advanced tax research
24. Project Mahadeva launched to promote grassroots football in Maharashtra
25. List of top public sector banks with the highest unclaimed deposits transferred to the DEA Fund
26. Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026 announced as the next edition of the annual student interaction

National News

1. Global Energy Leaders’ Summit 2025 in Puri, Odisha

• What:
  • Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2025 was held in Puri, Odisha where Union Minister Pralhad Joshi highlighted India’s leading role in global clean energy transition and record non-fossil capacity addition.
• Why:
  • To provide a major platform for policymakers, innovators and industry leaders to discuss India’s long-term roadmap for secure, sustainable and innovative energy growth while balancing coal use and rapid renewable expansion.
• Tell me more:
  • GELS 2025 marked the start of a long-term Community of Practice with focus on states like Odisha leading the next phase of green growth and energy innovation, and was guided by the theme ‘Powering India: Sufficiency, Balance, Innovation’.
  • India recorded its highest-ever annual non-fossil capacity addition of 31.25 GW, including 24.28 GW of solar, and contributed 46 GW of solar between 2022–24 as part of the world’s second terawatt of renewables, with total solar capacity rising from 2.8 GW to about 130 GW in 11 years.
  • Odisha’s clean energy progress includes 3.1 GW of renewable capacity forming 34% of its total power capacity, and a 1.5 lakh rooftop solar ULA model under PM Surya Ghar is approved to benefit 7–8 lakh people, mainly low-income households.

2. India Begins Countdown to 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine

• What:
  • India has officially started preparations for the 2nd WHO (World Health Organization) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine to be held from 17–19 December 2025 in Delhi.
• Why:
  • The summit aims to promote traditional medicine and align with India’s vision of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah” for health and well-being.
• Tell me more:
  • The theme of the summit is “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being.”
  • More than 100 countries are expected to participate, including ministers, policymakers, global health leaders, researchers, industry representatives, and practitioners.
  • A special side event on Ashwagandha will highlight its traditional and modern scientific benefits.
  • India’s Ministry of Ayush promotes traditional health systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy.

3. India Proposes DHRUVA Framework For Standardised Digital Addresses

• What:
  • The Department of Posts proposed the Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA) framework to standardise and share physical addresses digitally using label-like email addresses.
• Why:
  • DHRUVA aims to improve governance, inclusive service delivery, and user experience by enabling easy sharing and authorisation of addresses.
• Tell me more:
  • DHRUVA is proposed as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) similar to Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
  • The system uses DIGIPIN, a 10-digit alphanumeric location-based pin code developed by India Post for precise geo-coding.
  • Various roles in the ecosystem include Address Service Providers generating proxy addresses, Address Validation Agencies authenticating them, and Address Information Agents managing user consent.
  • DHRUVA will allow users to control who accesses their address data and for how long, making address updates easier during relocation.
  • It is expected to support logistics, e-commerce, and gig platforms by replacing manual address filling with authorised labels.

4. 11th Edition of India International Science Festival 2025 Begins In Panchkula

• What:
  • The 11th India International Science Festival (IISF) organised by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology started at Dussehra Ground in Panchkula.
• Why:
  • The festival aims to educate the young generation, celebrate the achievements of science, foster collaboration, inspire creativity, encourage scientific curiosity, and translate innovative ideas and scientific discoveries into development initiatives that uplift society.
• Tell Me More:
  • Theme – “Vigyan Se Samruddhi: for Aatmanirbhar Bharat”
  • The festival is being organised by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  • A wide range of events will be held, including Science on Sphere, Himalayas in a Changing Climate, Thought Leaders Round Table, Vision Sansad, and sessions on Blue Economy and Clean Energy.
  • Youth participants will take part in hackathons, startup showcases, face-to-face interactions with scientists, and the Young Scientists Conclave, along with cutting-edge sessions on AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), Quantum Technologies, Gene Editing, Semiconductors, New Space Technologies, and Emerging Telecommunications.

Source: TOI NOA

5. Registration Opens for Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026

• What:
  • The Ministry of Education opened registrations for Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2026, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet students, teachers and parents in January 2026 to discuss exam stress and learning.
• Why:
  • The programme aims to reduce exam pressure by helping students view examinations as a natural and confident part of the learning process.
• Tell Me More:
  • Students of Classes 6 to 12, teachers and parents from India and abroad can register on innovateindia1.mygov.in until January 11, 2026.
  • Participants can log in using a mobile number, email or Digilocker, and an online MCQ-based activity is live from December 1, 2025 to January 11, 2026, offering a digital certificate on completion.

Source: ET

State News

1. Rajasthan Becomes First State With Fully Digitised Electoral Roll

• What:
  • Rajasthan completed 100 per cent digitisation of its electoral roll under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), becoming the first state in the country to achieve this.
• Why:
  • To make the electoral roll more accurate, transparent and easy to verify, reducing repeated verification and document submission by voters.
• Tell me more:
  • Rajasthan now leads in voter mapping with over 97 per cent of voters mapped, so only about 3 per cent of voters will need to furnish documents during the claims-objections phase and on average only about 30 voters per booth will have to submit documents.
  • High-quality mapping and coordinated work by BLOs (Booth Level Officers), assistant staff, supervisors, district election officers and other staff have simplified the SIR process.
  • The draft electoral roll will be published on 16 December, and claims and objections can be filed from 16 December to 15 January 2026, with hearings, verification and decisions scheduled from 16 December to 7 February 2026.
  • The final electoral roll will be published on 14 February 2026.

Source: TP

2. Asia’s Oldest Natural Ice Skating Rink In Shimla To Open Early

• What:
  • Asia’s oldest natural ice skating rink in Shimla’s Lakkar Bazar will open for the winter season earlier than usual due to favourable weather.
• Tell me more:
  • A skating carnival may be organised in the last week of December if weather permits.
  • The rink depends entirely on natural ice, requiring clear skies and temperatures below 4 degrees Celsius to freeze properly.
  • Its size has reduced to about 800 square metres (40 metres by 20 metres) due to nearby construction.
  • The rink was established in 1920 by Irish Army officer Blessington. It is a major winter tourist attraction in Shimla.

Source: TOI

3. Banas Dairy Bio-CNG Plant Inaugurated in Vav-Tharad district of Gujarat

• What:
  • Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated a new Bio-CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and fertilizer plant built by Banas Dairy in Vav-Tharad district of Gujarat and laid the foundation stone for a 150-ton milk powder plant.
• Why:
  • The initiatives aim to strengthen the cooperative dairy sector, promote a circular economy, increase farmers’ income, and make Banaskantha and other rural areas more prosperous through value addition in dairy and waste-to-energy projects.
• Tell Me More:
  • Banas Dairy, started by Galbabhai Nanjibhai Patel (Galba Kaka) in Banaskantha with milk societies from just eight villages in two talukas (Vadgam and Palanpur), has now grown into Asia’s largest milk-producing dairy with a turnover of about ₹24,000 crore, largely built through the efforts of village-level milk societies and women members.

Source: PIB

4. Maharashtra Launches Project Mahadeva for Young Footballers

• What:
  • Maharashtra government launched “Project Mahadeva”, a grassroots football programme for under-13 boys and girls to develop future players through a structured long-term pathway.
• Why:
  • The programme aims to identify young talent across the state and provide full training support to help them grow into professional footballers.
• Tell Me More:
  • Trained scouts searched the entire state, including remote districts like Yavatmal, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, and selected 30 boys and 30 girls.
  • All 60 selected players will receive a five-year full scholarship covering coaching, academics, equipment, nutrition and mental conditioning.
  • These players will also train with Lionel Messi later this month at the GOAT Football Clinic during his visit to India.
  • The programme is supported by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and focuses on creating a long-term development pathway for children.

Source: IE

International News

1. SAARC Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Charter Adoption

• What:
  • The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) marked its 40th anniversary of the SAARC Charter adoption on 8 December 2025.
• Why:
  • To commemorate the Charter’s launch on 8 December 1985 at the First Summit in Dhaka and reaffirm commitment to regional peace, prosperity and collaboration.
• Tell me more:
  • Heads of State/Government and Foreign Ministers of SAARC Member States issued special messages emphasizing SAARC as a platform for mutual understanding, economic potentials and addressing shared challenges.
  • SAARC Secretary General H.E. Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar issued a message thanking Member States, Observer States and partners for their support over 40 years.
  • 8 December is observed annually as SAARC Charter Day since the organization’s founding in 1985.

Source: SAARC

Banking and Economy

1. IFC Invests In GFCL EV Products For Battery Materials

• What:
  • GFCL EV Products, a subsidiary of Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd (GFL), secured a USD 50 million investment from International Finance Corporation (IFC) through compulsorily convertible instruments to build India’s first fully integrated battery-materials manufacturing facility.
• Why:
  • The investment aims to support India’s energy transition by boosting domestic battery-materials manufacturing, strengthening supply-chain resilience, enabling import substitution and creating high-skilled jobs in the EV and energy-storage ecosystem.
• Tell me more:
  • This is IFC’s first investment in India’s battery-materials sector and aligns with its strategy to support the country’s electric-mobility value chain and competitive local manufacturing.

2. Starlink and India Collaborate to Expand Satellite Internet Access

• What:
  • Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia met with Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of Starlink Business Operations at SpaceX, to discuss expanding satellite-based last-mile internet access across India.
• Why:
  • Satellite connectivity is crucial for bridging the digital divide in remote and rural areas and advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a digitally empowered India.
• Tell me more:
  • Starlink is working on launching satellite internet services in India by late 2025 or early 2026 and has signed a key deal with Maharashtra for rural connectivity.
  • Maharashtra is the first Indian state to partner with Starlink for satellite internet to connect government institutions and rural communities.
  • Major Indian telecom companies Jio and Airtel have partnered with Starlink to expand internet coverage in remote regions using low earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
  • Starlink plans to use Airtel’s and Jio’s dealership networks to sell and promote its premium services priced around Rs 8,600 per month plus hardware.

3. UPI Recognized As Largest Global Retail Fast-Payment System

• What:
  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recognized the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as the world’s largest retail fast-payment system (FPS) by transaction volume.
• Why:
  • The recognition highlights UPI’s significant role in digital payments and supports initiatives to expand digital payment adoption among small merchants.
• Tell me more:
  • UPI holds around 49% share in the global real-time payment transaction volume as per the 2024 ACI Worldwide report.
  • The Government, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) promote digital payments via schemes like incentives for low-value BHIM-UPI transactions and the Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).
  • As of October 31, 2025, about 5.45 crore digital touchpoints were set up in tier-3 to tier-6 centers through PIDF.
  • Around 56.86 crore QR codes were deployed to 6.5 crore merchants in FY 2024-25.
  • Digital transactions through RuPay and UPI are being expanded across sectors such as public services, transport, and e-commerce nationwide.
  • UPI’s status against other leading international real-time payment platforms:

4. Deloitte Launched AI-Based Tax Pragya Platform

• What:
  • Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP launched Tax Pragya, an artificial intelligence-based tax research and summarisation platform for tax professionals in India.
• Why:
  • The platform aims to help users access tax insights quickly and support efficient tax research and decision-making.
• Tell Me More:
  • The platform supports research on income tax, goods and services tax (GST) and transfer pricing on a single interface.
  • It processes tax-related queries, conducts background searches and generates text-based responses from authenticated data sets, and allows users to move documents and case law into the chat interface.
  • It is hosted on a private large language model running on Microsoft Azure and can be used in areas such as tax deducted at source (TDS), tax audit reporting, litigation management, GST compliance, transfer pricing and capital gains computation.
  • It can also generate dashboards and audit trails.

5. National Campaign on Unclaimed Bank Deposits Launched

• What:
  • The government launched the national campaign “Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar — Your Money, Your Right” on October 4, 2025 to create awareness about unclaimed financial assets and help citizens trace and claim their dues.
• Why:
  • The campaign aims to inform people about unclaimed deposits and support them in recovering balances lying unused in bank accounts.
• Tell Me More:
  • Unclaimed deposits include savings and current accounts that remain inactive for ten years and term deposits not claimed within ten years of maturity.
  • Such unclaimed amounts are transferred by banks to the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • The RBI has taken several steps to identify unclaimed deposits and return them to rightful account holders, nominees or legal heirs.
  • RBI also runs public awareness campaigns through print, radio and digital media to educate citizens about the scheme.
  • Bank-Wise Unclaimed Deposits Transferred to DEA Fund (as on 30.06.2025)

Source: IE

Reports and Indices

1. Ghaziabad Tops List of Most Polluted Indian Cities in November

• What:
  • Ghaziabad was the most polluted city in India in November, recording extremely high PM2.5 levels throughout the month.
• Why:
  • Persistent year-round pollution sources like vehicular emissions, industries, power plants, and combustion activities caused the high pollution levels.
• Tell me more:
  • Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh had many cities exceeding national pollution limits; Meghalaya’s Shillong was the cleanest city with only 7 micrograms PM2.5.

Source: ET

Defence News

1. Defence Minister Inaugurates 125 BRO Infrastructure Projects

• What:
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 125 strategically important infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Ladakh.
• Why:
  • To strengthen border infrastructure and enhance national security, mobility, and development in strategic regions.
• Tell me more:
  • The projects are valued at around ₹5,000 crore and include 28 roads, 93 bridges, and four other key assets across Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and seven other states.
  • The 920-metre Shyok Tunnel on the Darbuk Shyok Daulat Beg Oldie Road will provide all-weather connectivity in challenging terrain.
  • The Minister also virtually inaugurated the Galwan War Memorial in honour of Indian soldiers’ bravery.
  • BRO has dedicated 356 projects over the last two years with a record expenditure of ₹16,690 crore in FY 2024-25.

Source: TH

Science and Technology

1. Genesys Launches India’s First 3D Subsurface Mapping Solution

• What:
  • Genesys International has launched India’s first 3D subsurface mapping solution under a project worth ₹17.38 crore awarded by Bureau Veritas for underground utility detection and mapping across multiple airports.
• Why:
  • To support infrastructure modernisation by accurately detecting and mapping underground utilities, making construction and expansion safer and more efficient.
• Tell me more:
  • The project includes India’s first 3D Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey for end-to-end detection and mapping of underground utilities at Adani Group-owned airports in Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati and Ahmedabad.
  • Genesys will provide detailed 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) outputs covering complete airport environments, including external areas.
  • Advanced 3D GPR systems will be integrated with high-precision LiDAR technologies to deliver high-resolution 3D models for subsurface and above-ground mapping.
  • Genesys stated that this technology will address critical infrastructure needs as India scales up construction and modernisation programmes.

Source: ET

Important Days

1. Submarine Day – December 8

• It was on December 8 that the Indian Naval Ensign was unfurled on INS Kalvari, the first submarine to be inducted in the Indian Navy, at Riga in Latvia, the erstwhile USSR, in 1967.
• The Kalvari was decommissioned in 1996 after 29 years of service.

Source: IE

2. International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime – December 9

• UN Focus: A Decade Toward Preventing Genocide

Source: UN

3. International Anti-Corruption Day – December 9

• Theme: Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity

Source: UN

Sports

1. Lando Norris Wins First Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship

• What:
  • Lando Norris (British) won the Formula 1 drivers’ championship by finishing third in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
• Why:
  • Norris needed third place to earn enough points and beat Max Verstappen by two points in the final race.
• Tell me more:
  • Max Verstappen (Dutch) won the race with his eighth victory, while McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri (Australian) finished second to help Norris.
  • Norris became the 11th British F1 champion in his seventh season and gave McLaren its first drivers’ and constructors’ double since 1998.
  • McLaren had the fastest car overall, but Norris overcame a slow start to win against strong competition.

Source: BBC

2. Breaking History: 3-Year-Old Sarwagya Becomes Youngest FIDE Rated Player

• What:
  • Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha, aged 3 years, 7 months, and 20 days, became the youngest player in history to earn an official FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs or International Chess Federation) rating.
• Tell me more:
  • Sarwagya’s debut FIDE rating is 1,572, exceeding the minimum threshold of 1,400.
  • He surpassed the previous Indian record of youngest rated player, held by Anish Sarkar at 3 years, 8 months, and 19 days.

Source: BS

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Moscow and Patanjali Group Sign Multiple MoUs for Cooperation

• What:
  • The Government of Moscow and Patanjali Group signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in New Delhi for collaboration in wellness, Ayurveda and cultural exchange.
• Why:
  • To strengthen Indo-Russian ties through joint promotion of yoga, Ayurveda, health tourism, media cooperation and skilled manpower development.
• Tell me more:
  • The event at The Leela Palace was attended by Mr. Sergi Cheremin, Chairman of Business Council for Cooperation with India and Moscow Commerce Minister, and Yogrishi Swami Ramdev Ji Maharaj.
  • Patanjali will introduce wellness programs across Russia and expand globally, providing spiritual content, Indian heritage knowledge and Sanatan wisdom.
  • An MoU with Big Asia Media Group enables broadcasting of Indian yoga, spiritual and cultural content for Russian audiences to build cultural diplomacy.
  • Patanjali will supply trained yoga professionals and experts to Russian institutions as part of skill development and manpower exchange.

Source: TOI

2. Intel and Tata Group Sign MOU to Manufacture Semiconductors in India

• What:
  • Intel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Group to manufacture and assemble semiconductors for the Indian market.
• Why:
  • The partnership aims to create a reliable and resilient semiconductor supply chain for Indian customers.
• Tell me more:
  • Tata Electronics is setting up a chip manufacturing plant (Fab) in Dholera, Gujarat, and an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) plant in Assam, with a total investment of Rs 1.18 lakh crore.
  • Intel and Tata will explore manufacturing, packaging, and advanced packaging of Intel products at these facilities.
  • The collaboration will use Intel’s AI compute reference designs and Tata Electronics’ Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) capabilities.
  • India is projected to be among the top five global markets for AI PCs by 2030.

Source: TOI

Miscellaneous

1. Gujarati Edition of Book on Anandiben Patel Released

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah released the Gujarati edition of the book “Chunotiya Mujhe Pasand Hai”, based on the life and public service career of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, at an event in Ahmedabad attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Governor Anandiben Patel.

Source: DD

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