27th December 2025

1. Ministry of Civil Aviation grants NOCs to Al Hind Air, FlyExpress, and Shankh Air
2. President Droupadi Murmu releases the Constitution translated into the Santhali language
3. NIFTEM-K signs an MoU with MoMA to implement the PM VIKAS scheme
4. Zoho-backed VoxelGrids develops India’s first indigenous MRI scanner
5. India launches its first organised crime network database to track criminal and terror linkages
6. India set to assume chairpersonship of the Kimberley Process from 2026
7. Government appoints three senior advocates as Additional Solicitors General for the Supreme Court
8. PV Sindhu elected Chair of the BWF Athletes’ Commission for the 2026–2029 term
9. India successfully test-fires the K-4 missile with a range of 3,500 km from INS Arighaat
10. Veer Bal Diwas observed to honour the sacrifice of the Sahibzadas
11. International Day of Epidemic Preparedness observed globally
12. Odisha appoints Anu Garg as its first woman Chief Secretary
13. Gujarat officially attains tiger state status after three decades, as declared by NTCA
14. Indian Army revises its social media policy to regulate digital platform usage
15. Prime Minister chairs the fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries
16. R. Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri win the Global Chess League title
17. Rashtra Prerna Sthal inaugurated in Lucknow to honour Atal Bihari Vajpayee
18. IIT Delhi introduces AI-based research agent AILA for autonomous laboratory work
19. Godavari estuary to host the 40th Asian Waterbird Census
20. Birth anniversary of Sardar Udham Singh commemorated
21. INSV Kaundinya prepares for its maiden voyage retracing historic maritime routes
22. India’s largest circular stone labyrinth discovered in Maharashtra
23. Japan announces plans to restart the world’s largest nuclear power plant
24. Vaibhav Suryavanshi becomes the youngest List A centurion with a 36-ball hundred
25. Sangli district in Maharashtra to get a dedicated raisin research centre
26. Gujarat emerges as India’s leader in rooftop solar capacity
27. Union Cabinet approves three new corridors under Delhi Metro Phase V-A
28. Global food city rankings place Italy at the top, with Mumbai featured prominently
29. Defence Minister launches a BRO manual to streamline strategic road construction
30. India announces a $450 million relief package for Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah
31. INS Sindhughosh decommissioned after four decades of naval service
32. NASA loses communication with the MAVEN Mars orbiter
33. Railways enhance AI-based surveillance to protect wildlife along tracks

National News

1. Three New Airlines Get NOCs to Boost Regional Connectivity

• What:
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation granted no-objection certificates (NOCs) to Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, and FlyExpress to promote regional connectivity in India.
• Why:
  • The approvals aim to encourage small airline operators and expand affordable air travel under government-backed regional connectivity initiatives.
• Tell me more:
  • Announced By – Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu
  • Policy Support – UDAN scheme
  • Shankh Air
    • Base – Uttar Pradesh
    • Planned Hub – Noida International Airport
    • Initial Routes – Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur
    • Chairman – Sharvan Kumar Vishwakarma
  • Al Hind Air
    • Base – Kerala
    • Parent Group – AlHind Group
    • Airline Type – Regional commuter airline
  • FlyExpress
    • Base – Telangana

Source: LM

2. President Droupadi Murmu Releases Indian Constitution into Santhali Language

• What:
  • President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu addressed the closing ceremony of the 22nd Parsi Maha and the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script.
• Why:
  • The event marked 100 years of the Ol Chiki script and highlighted its role in preserving Santhali language, culture, and identity.
• Tell me more:
  • Event Venue – Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
  • Script Created – Ol Chiki
  • Script Creator – Pandit Raghunath Murmu
  • Year of Creation – 1925
  • Language – Santhali
  • Earlier Scripts Used – Roman, Devanagari, Odia, Bengali
  • Issue with Earlier Scripts – Incorrect pronunciation of Santhali words
  • Identity Role – Ol Chiki as symbol of Santhal identity
  • Indian Constitution Release – Constitution of India released in Santhali language in Ol Chiki script on the occassion of birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Source: PIB

3. NIFTEM Kundli Selected as PIA for PM VIKAS

• What:
  • National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) Kundli was selected as a Project Implementing Agency (PIA) by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to implement the PM VIKAS scheme.
• Why:
  • The selection aims to build skills and improve employment and livelihood opportunities for youth from minority communities.
• Tell me more:
  • MoU – NIFTEM Kundli and Ministry of Minority Affairs
  • Institute Status – NIFTEM Kundli as an Institute of National Importance (INI) selected as PIA.
  • Training Categories – Multi Skill Technician (Food Processing), Millet Products Processor, Assistant Baking Technician.
  • Coverage – Seven locations across Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana.
  • Skill Standards – National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant training through National Council of Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) approved courses.

4. India to Chair Kimberley Process in 2026

• What:
  • India will chair the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) in 2026, strengthening its role in global governance of the diamond trade.
• Tell me more:
  • Chairmanship Timeline – India selected to assume chair from 1 January 2026.
  • Interim Role – India to take over as Kimberley Process (KP) vice-chair before chairmanship.
  • Chair Count – Third time India entrusted with KP chair.
  • Global Context – Ongoing discussions to expand conflict diamond definition beyond armed conflict.
    • A conflict diamond is a rough diamond used by rebel groups or armed factions to finance wars, violence, or activities that undermine legitimate governments, as recognised under United Nations Security Council resolutions.
  • Trade Significance – Around 90% of global rough diamonds polished in India.

5. Fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries in Delhi

• What:
  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will chair the fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries in Delhi on December 27–28, 2025 to strengthen Centre–State partnership through cooperative federalism.
• Tell me more:
  • Central Theme – Human Capital for Viksit Bharat.
  • Priority Areas – Education systems strengthening, Skilling initiatives, Future-ready employment generation, Higher Education, Sports and Extracurricular Activities
  • Stakeholders – Central Ministries and Departments, NITI Aayog, States and Union Territories, Domain Experts.
  • Conference History – First conference held in Dharamshala in June 2022.
    • Subsequent conferences held in New Delhi in January 2023, December 2023 and December 2024.

Source: PIB

6. Rashtra Prerna Sthal Inaugurated in Lucknow

• What:
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow to honour the life, ideals and nation-building contributions of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 101st birth anniversary.
• Tell me more:
  • Occasion – 101st Birth Anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee; December 25 also marks birth anniversaries of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya and Maharaja Bijli Pasi.
  • Statues – 65-feet-high bronze statues of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Deendayal Upadhyaya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Source: PMI

State News

1. Gujarat Regains Tiger-Present State Status

• What:
  • Gujarat regained the status of a tiger-present state after the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) confirmed the presence of a tiger in Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary, marking the return of tigers after more than three decades.
• Tell me more:
  • Tiger Extinction in Gujarat – Tigers went extinct in Gujarat in 1989.
  • Time Gap – Tiger presence confirmed after 36 years.
  • Location – Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary, Dahod district.
  • Census Status – Gujarat reinstated as tiger-present state for the 2026 tiger census.
  • Population Estimate – NTCA preliminary report stated tiger population as one.
  • Big Cats in Gujarat – Lion, Leopard, Tiger.
  • Asiatic Lion Habitat – Gujarat is the world’s last natural habitat of Asiatic lions.

Source: ET

2. Godavari Estuary to Host the 40th Asian Waterbird Census

• What:
  • The 40th Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) and the 60th International Waterbird Census (IWC) will be conducted at the Godavari estuary, including Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, on 10–11 January 2026 to monitor migratory waterbirds and wetland health.
• Tell me more:
  • Organising Agencies – Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
  • Key Species – Indian Skimmer (Endangered), Great Knot (Endangered).
  • Other Indicator Species – Eurasian Curlew (Near Threatened), Eurasian Oystercatcher.
  • Habitat Significance – Coringa mangroves as India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem.

Source: WOI

3. Punjab Declares Gazetted Holiday for Udham Singh

• The 126th birth anniversary of Sardar Udham Singh was commemorated on December 26.
• Sir Udham Singh, born as Sher Singh on December 26, 1899, was a freedom fighter who assassinated Michael O’Dwyer in London in 1940 to avenge the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• This year, the Punjab government has declared July 31 as a gazetted public holiday to commemorate the martyrdom of Shaheed Udham Singh and honour his sacrifice against colonial rule.

Source: CNBC

4. Ancient Circular Stone Labyrinth Found in Maharashtra

• What:
  • Archaeologists confirmed the discovery of the largest circular stone labyrinth in India at Boramani grasslands in Solapur district, highlighting ancient trade links during the Satavahana dynasty period.
• Tell me more:
  • Structure Size – Approximately 50 feet by 50 feet.
  • Design – Circular stone labyrinth with 15 concentric circuits leading to a central spiral.
  • Construction – Small, carefully arranged stone blocks.
  • Age – Nearly 2,000 years old.
  • Historical Period – Satavahana dynasty, 1st to 3rd centuries Common Era (CE).
  • Discovery – First noticed by Nature Conservation Circle during wildlife monitoring.
  • Record – Largest circular stone labyrinth in India; second largest overall.

5. Gujarat Crosses 5 Lakh Rooftop Solar Installations

• What:
  • Gujarat installed over 5 lakh rooftop solar systems with 1,879 megawatts capacity under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, strengthening rooftop solar adoption.
• Tell me more:
  • Gujarat cumulatively installed over 11 lakh rooftop solar systems under various schemes.
  • Gujarat retained the No. 1 position nationwide in rooftop solar installations.
  • Gujarat achieved 50% of the target of 10 lakh residential rooftop systems set for March 2027.
  • The milestone will be highlighted at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) in Rajkot.

Source: ET

6. Union Cabinet Approves Delhi Metro Phase V(A) Corridors

• What:
  • Union Cabinet approved three new corridors under Delhi Metro Phase V(A) to improve urban connectivity, reduce congestion, and support cleaner transport in the national capital.
• Tell me more:
  • Approved Corridors – R.K. Ashram Marg to Indraprastha (9.913 km), Aerocity to Indira Gandhi Domestic Airport (IGD) Terminal-1 (2.263 km), Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj (3.9 km)
  • Phase – Delhi Metro Phase V(A)
    • Total Stations – 13
    • Underground Stations – 10
    • Elevated Stations – 3
  • Total Project Cost – ₹12,014.91 crore
  • Phase-IV Status – 111 km, 83 stations under construction
  • Phase-IV Completion – By December 2026 (in stages)

Source: PMI

International News

1. Japan Announces Plans to Restart the World’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant

• What:
  • Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced the restart of the first unit of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant from January 20, marking its first reactor restart since 2011.
• Tell me more:
  • Global Status – World’s largest nuclear power plant by capacity.
  • Total Capacity – 8.2 gigawatts.
  • Reactor History – One of 54 reactors shut after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
  • Japan Nuclear Status – 14 out of 33 operable reactors restarted so far.
  • Energy Policy – Japan aims to reduce fossil fuel imports and double nuclear power share.
  • Future Plan – Another 1.36 GW unit planned to restart around 2030.

Source: ET

2. India Announces Reconstruction Package for Cyclone-Hit Sri Lanka

• What:
  • India announced a $450-million reconstruction package to support Sri Lanka’s recovery after Cyclone Ditwah.
• Tell me more:
  • Operation – Operation Sagar Bandhu
  • Implementing Mission – High Commission of India in Colombo
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • World Bank Estimate – $4.1 billion direct physical damage in Sri Lanka
  • Damage Share – About 4% of Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
  • IMF Facility – Extended Fund Facility
  • IMF Emergency Support – Nearly $206 million under Rapid Financing Instrument

Source: TH

3. NASA’s MAVEN Spacecraft Loses Contact Around Mars

• What:
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lost communication with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft after it emerged from behind Mars, raising concerns about a possible onboard anomaly.
• Tell me more:
  • Observation Network – NASA’s Deep Space Network
  • Launch Date – November 2013
  • Mars Orbit Insertion – September 2014
  • Additional Role – Communications relay for rovers on the Martian surface
  • Milestone – Completion of 10 years in orbit around Mars

Source: NASA

Reports and Indices

1. TasteAtlas World Food Awards 2025–26: Mumbai Ranks Fifth Among World’s Best Food Cities

• What:
  • TasteAtlas ranked Mumbai as the world’s 5th best food city for 2025–26, reflecting the rising importance of food-based travel choices among global travellers.
• Tell me more:
  • Ranking Authority – TasteAtlas (Food and Travel Guide)
  • Award – World Food Awards 2025–26
  • Cities Evaluated – 18,828
  • Cities Ranked – Top 100 food cities
  • Ranking Basis – Average ratings of regional and national dishes commonly served
  • Top 10 cities –

• Indian City in Top 10 – Mumbai (5th position)
• Popular Foods – Bhelpuri, Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav

Source: IE

Defence News

1. India Successfully Tests K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile

• What:
  • India successfully tested the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal, strengthening sea-based nuclear deterrence.
• Tell me more:
  • Test Location – Missile test conducted off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
  • Missile Type – Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).
  • Strike Range – Operational range of 3,500 km.
  • Launch Platform – Compatible with Arihant-class nuclear submarines.

2. Indian Army Allows Passive Social Media Access

• What:
  • Indian Army revised its social media policy to allow passive participation by personnel on select platforms while maintaining strict operational security safeguards.
• Tell me more:
  • Implementing Directorate – Directorate General of Military Intelligence (DGMI).
  • Communication Apps Allowed – Skype, Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal.
  • Communication Scope – Unclassified information of general nature only.
  • LinkedIn Usage – Limited to professional purposes.
  • LinkedIn Permitted Uses – Uploading résumés, seeking employer or employee information.

Source: TH

3. INSV Kaundinya Begins Maiden Overseas Voyage

• Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya commenced its maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar to Muscat, Oman to revive and showcase India’s ancient maritime heritage through a living ocean expedition.

Source: HT

4. Defence Minister Releases DPR Guide for Road Projects

• What:
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a guide for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for road infrastructure projects to improve planning quality and execution efficiency.
• Tell me more:
  • Prepared By – Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
  • Objective – Improve clarity, consistency, and technical accuracy in DPR preparation

Source: DD

5. INS Sindhughosh Decommissioned After Four Decades of Service

• What:
  • Indian Navy decommissioned INS Sindhughosh after 40 years of operational service, marking the end of a long naval career.
• Tell me more:
  • Distinction – Lead submarine of her class
  • Announcement – Western Naval Command (WNC)
  • Commanding Officer at Decommissioning – Lieutenant Commander (Lt Cdr) Rajat Sharma

Source: TOI

Science and Technology

1. VoxelGrids Develops India’s First Indigenous MRI Scanner

• What:
  • Zoho-backed VoxelGrids developed and deployed India’s first indigenous Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner at Chandrapur Cancer Care Foundation near Nagpur to reduce dependence on foreign imports in medical imaging.
• Tell me more:
  • Magnetic Strength – 1.5 Tesla
  • Cost Reduction – ~40% cheaper than imported MRI
  • Deployment Site – Chandrapur Cancer Care Foundation near Nagpur, Maharashtra
  • Business Model – Pay-per-use MRI model

Source: HBL

2. India Launches Organised Crime Network Database

• What:
  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched India’s first national-level Organised Crime Network Database (OCND) to strengthen action against organised crime threatening internal security.
• Tell me more:
  • Launch Event – Anti-Terror Conference–2025 organised by National Investigation Agency (NIA).
  • Platform Type – Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered analytical database.
  • Implementing Agency – National Investigation Agency (NIA).
  • Data Coverage – First Information Reports (FIRs), charge sheets, dossiers, and organised crime inputs from across states.
  • Core Function – Real-time and instant retrieval of organised crime network information.
  • Inter-agency Coordination – Developed with State Police Forces and National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).

Source: TOI

3. IIT Delhi Introduces AI Agent Automates Atomic Force Microscopy Experiments

• What:
  • Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi developed Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant (AILA) to autonomously conduct laboratory experiments using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), marking a shift from AI as digital assistants to AI as experimental scientists.
• Tell me more:
  • Research Publication – “Evaluating large language model agents for automation of atomic force microscopy” published in Nature Communications.
  • Lead Contributors – Indrajeet Mandal (PhD scholar, IIT Delhi); supervision by Prof. N. M. Anoop Krishnan and Prof. Nitya Nand Gosvami.
  • International Collaboration – Researchers from Denmark and Germany participated.
  • Policy Linkage – Alignment with India’s AI for Science initiative.
  • Funding Support – Government funding through Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

Source: IITD

4. Railways Expands AI System to Protect Wildlife in Northeast

• What:
  • Ministry of Railways announced the expansion of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system to detect wild animals on railway tracks to prevent accidents in the northeastern region.
• Tell me more:
  • Incident Location – Changjurai village, Hojai district, Assam
  • Train Involved – Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express
  • System Name – Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
  • Technology Used – Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Distributed Acoustic System
  • Implementing Zone – Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR)
  • Animals Covered – Elephants, lions, tigers, and other wild animals

Source: HT

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. Sangli to Get Raisin Research Centre

• What:
  • Sangli district in Maharashtra will get a dedicated raisin research centre to strengthen research, quality improvement, processing, and value addition in raisin production across the State.
• Tell me more:
  • Sangli is among India’s leading producers of grapes and raisins.
  • Growers face rising export competition and imports, especially from China.
  • The centre will function under Shivaji University, Kolhapur, as Sangli falls under its jurisdiction.

Source: HBL

Important Days

1. Veer Bal Diwas – December 26

• What:
  • Veer Bal Diwas is observed every year on December 26 to honour the courage and supreme sacrifice of the four Sahibzadas, sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and to inspire moral strength and resilience.
• Tell me more:
  • Honoured Figures – Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji, Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji.
  • Martyrdom of Younger Sahibzadas – Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji bricked alive in December 1705 for refusing to renounce Sikhism.
  • Martyrdom of Elder Sahibzadas – Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji attained martyrdom while fighting on the battlefield in December 1704.
  • National Declaration – Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas in 2022.

2. International Day of Epidemic Preparedness – December 27

Source: UN

Sports

1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi Becomes The Youngest List A Centurion With A 36-Ball Hundred

• What:
  • Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player to score a century in men’s List A cricket during the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
• Tell me more:
  • Age at Record – 14 years and 272 days.
  • Match – Bihar vs Arunachal Pradesh, Plate League.
  • Venue – Ranchi.
  • List A Experience – Seventh List A match.
  • Debut – December 2024 against Madhya Pradesh.
  • Century – First senior cricket century outside T20 format.
  • Century Speed – 36 balls.

Source: HT ESPN

Appointments

1. Union Government Appoints Additional Solicitors General

• What:
  • Union government appointed Senior Advocates Davinder Pal Singh, Anil Kaushik and Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar as Additional Solicitors General (ASGs) to represent the Union of India before the Supreme Court of India, strengthening legal representation in constitutional and high-stakes matters.
• Tell me more:
  • Appointment Approval – Approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet through the Department of Personnel and Training notification.
  • Tenure – Three years from date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Source: ANI IM

2. PV Sindhu Elected Chair of BWF Athletes’ Commission

• What:
  • PV Sindhu elected Chair of the Athletes’ Commission of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for the 2026–2029 term, giving players a direct voice in global badminton governance.
• Tell me more:
  • Prior Roles – Member of BWF Athletes’ Commission since 2017; Integrity Ambassador since 2020.
  • Olympic Record – Silver medal at Rio 2016; Bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.
  • Upcoming Assignment – India team lead at 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships in Qingdao, China.
  • Para-Badminton – Chan Ho Yuen Daniel (Hong Kong China) appointed full-time Chair.
  • Indian Representation – Para-badminton player Abu Hubaida included as commission member.

3. Odisha Appoints First Woman Chief Secretary

• Odisha government appointed senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anu Garg as Chief Secretary, making her the first woman to hold the post in the state and ensuring administrative continuity after the retirement of Manoj Ahuja on December 31.

Source: IE

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