30th December 2025

1. Overview of the Anti-Terror Conference held in New Delhi
2. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi releases IS 19262, a new standard for electric agricultural tractors
3. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways notifies operational guidelines for two major shipbuilding initiatives
4. Defence Acquisition Council clears proposals worth ₹79,000 crore to strengthen armed forces capabilities
5. Government declares the Parvati–Arga Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh as an Eco-Sensitive Zone
6. National Test House signs an MoU with DMSRDE to enhance research and testing collaboration
7. Indian Air Force’s SDI signs an MoU with IIT Madras to develop an indigenous airborne communication system
8. India ranks third globally in rare earth reserves with 6.9 million tonnes of REO
9. Russia launches the Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying 52 satellites from the Vostochny Spaceport
10. Rajasthan government launches the e-Swasthya Samvad digital platform for medical education governance
11. Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister, passes away
12. World’s first ITVISMA gene therapy administered in Abu Dhabi
13. RBI conducts an open market operation worth ₹50,000 crore to enhance liquidity
14. Koneru Humpy and Arjun Erigaisi win bronze medals at the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championships
15. Smriti Mandhana becomes the second Indian cricketer to cross 10,000 international runs
16. Sonam Yeshey makes history with an eight-wicket haul in men’s T20 internationals
17. DRDO successfully tests the Pinaka long-range guided rocket
18. Surya Tamiri clinches the singles title at the 87th Senior National Badminton Championships
19. Index of Industrial Production records a 25-month high growth of 6.7%

National News

1. Anti-Terrorism Conference 2025 Inaugurated in New Delhi

• What:
  • Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the Anti-Terrorism Conference 2025 to strengthen India’s counter-terrorism framework.
• Tell me more:
  • Venue – New Delhi
  • Organising Agency – National Investigation Agency (NIA)
  • Administrative Ministry – Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
  • Chairperson – Prime Minister Narendra Modi
  • The conference has become an annual platform over the last three years under the zero-tolerance vision against terrorism.
  • The Union Home Minister released the updated National Investigation Agency crime manual during the conference.
  • The Union Home Minister launched the Organised Crime Network Database and the Lost, Looted and Recovered Weapon Database.

2. BIS Introduces First Standard for Electric Agricultural Tractors

• What:
  • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced India’s first dedicated testing standard for electric agricultural tractors to create a uniform regulatory framework for clean farm mechanisation.
• Tell me more:
  • Standard Name – IS 19262:2025
  • Title – Electric Agricultural Tractors – Test Code
  • Launch Date – 24 December on National Consumer Day

Source: ET

3. India Ranks Third in Rare Earth Reserves

• What:
  • A report stated that India holds the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves but records very low production levels compared to major global producers.
• Tell me more:
  • Report Source – Amicus Growth
  • India Reserves – 6.9 million tonnes of Rare Earth Oxide (REO)
  • Global Rank in Reserves – Third
  • Countries Ahead – China, Brazil
  • India Share of Global Reserves – About 6–7%
  • India Production (2024) – 2,900 tonnes
  • Global Production Rank – Seventh
  • India Share of Global Production – Less than 1%

Source: ET

State News

1. Parvati-Arga Bird Sanctuary Declared Eco Sensitive Zone

• The Government declared the Parvati-Arga Bird Sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh as an Eco Sensitive Zone to support conservation and responsible tourism.
• The Eco Sensitive Zone status supports regulated development around the sanctuary.

Source: NOA

2. Rajasthan Launches e-Swasthya Samvad Digital Platform

• What:
  • The Rajasthan government launched the e-Swasthya Samvad digital platform to improve governance, transparency, and coordination in medical education.
• Tell me more:
  • The platform supports discussions on health schemes, infrastructure, equipment procurement, and daily operations of medical institutions.
  • The platform supports grievance redressal through Chief Minister Information System (CMIS) and Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CP-Grams).

Source: ET

International News

1. Iran Launches Three Earth Observation Satellites via Russia

• What:
  • Iran launched three Earth observation satellites into orbit using a Russian Soyuz rocket to support national monitoring needs.
• Tell me more:
  • The satellites are named Paya, Zafar 2, and Kowsar.
  • The satellites are designed for monitoring agriculture, mapping natural resources, and observing the environment.
  • The launch used a Soyuz 2.1b rocket under a rideshare mission from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Siberia.
  • A total of 52 satellites were launched during the mission.
  • Two Russian Aist-2T Earth observation satellites were launched alongside the Iranian satellites.

Source: SC

2. Abu Dhabi Administers First ITVISMA Gene Therapy

• What:
  • Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi administered ITVISMA, a one-time gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, becoming the first hospital globally to deliver this treatment.
• Tell me more:
  • Global Status – United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the second country after the United States to authorise ITVISMA
  • Developer – Novartis
  • Target Gene – Replacement of defective Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene
  • Disease – Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare and progressive neuromuscular disorder

Source: NOA

Banking and Economy

1. RBI Announces ₹3 Trillion Liquidity Injection Plan

• What:
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced measures to inject nearly ₹3 trillion to ease tight liquidity conditions in the banking system.
• Tell me more:
  • RBI will purchase government securities worth ₹2 trillion through Open Market Operations (OMOs).
  • The OMO purchases will occur in four tranches of ₹50,000 crore on December 29, January 5, January 12 and January 22.
  • RBI will conduct a three-year United States Dollar–Indian Rupee (USD/INR) buy-sell swap of $10 billion on January 13.
  • The liquidity measures followed RBI’s recent dollar sales to curb rupee volatility amid foreign portfolio investor outflows.
  • RBI had already injected about ₹1.45 trillion of durable liquidity in December through bond purchases and foreign exchange swaps.
  • RBI injected about ₹9.5 trillion in the first half of the calendar year through OMOs, long-term repo operations and USD/INR swaps.

Source: DD

2. Industrial Output Records 25-Month High in November

• What:
  • Industrial output growth reached a 25-month high in November due to strong manufacturing and mining performance.
• Tell me more:
  • Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose by 6.7% year-on-year in November, compared to 0.5% in October and 5% in November last year.
  • Manufacturing sector output increased by 8% in November, compared to 2% in October and 5.5% in November last year.
  • Mining sector output grew by 5.4% in November after a 1.8% contraction in October.
  • Consumer durables output rose by 10.3% and consumer non-durables output rose by 7.3% in November.
  • Capital goods output increased by 10.4% in November, compared to 2.1% in October.
  • Electricity sector output contracted in November, offsetting part of the overall growth.
  • Data was released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

Source: TOI

Defence News

1. DAC Clears ₹79,000 Crore Defence Procurement Proposals

• What:
  • The Defence Acquisition Council approved capital procurement proposals worth nearly ₹79,000 crore to modernise the Army, Navy and Air Force.
• Why:
  • The approvals aim to strengthen India’s military preparedness by addressing modern warfare needs such as drones, precision strikes, surveillance and advanced training.
• Tell me more:
  • Approving Body – Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
  • Chairperson – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
  • Approval Type – Acceptance of Necessity (AoN)
  • Focus Areas – Drones, long-range precision strikes, surveillance, advanced training
  • Coverage – Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force
    • Indian Army:
      • Loiter Munition Systems – Tactical, time-sensitive precision strikes
      • Low Level Light Weight Radars – Detection of small, low-flying drones
      • Long Range Guided Rocket Ammunition – Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MRLS) range and accuracy
      • Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS) Mk-II – Extended range asset protection
    • Indian Navy:
      • Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs – Berthing and manoeuvring support
      • High Frequency Software Defined Radio (HF SDR) Manpack – Secure long-range communications
      • High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) – Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR)
      • Operational Area – Indian Ocean Region maritime domain awareness
    • Indian Air Force:
      • Automatic Take-off and Landing Recording Systems – All-weather flight safety recording
      • Astra Mk-II Air-to-Air Missiles – Extended stand-off engagement range
      • Full Mission Simulators – Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas pilot training
      • SPICE-1000 Guidance Kits – Conversion of conventional bombs to precision-guided munitions

Source: BT

2. Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket Completes Maiden Flight Test

• What:
  • The maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120) was conducted successfully, strengthening India’s long-range rocket capability.
• Tell me more:
  • Test Location – Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur
  • Rocket Variant – Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120)
  • Design Agency – Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE)
  • Associated Laboratory – High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL)
  • Supporting Laboratories – Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI)
  • Trial Coordination – Integrated Test Range (ITR), Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE)

Source: PIB

Sports

1. India Wins Two Bronzes at FIDE World Rapid 2025

• What:
  • India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy won bronze medals in the men’s and women’s events at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Championships in Doha.
• Tell me more:
  • Event – 2025 Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) World Rapid & Women’s World Rapid Championships
  • Men’s Champion – Magnus Carlsen (his sixth World Rapid Chess title)
    • Arjun Erigaisi finished second.
  • Women’s Champion – Alexandra Goryachkina (Russian)
  • Koneru Humpy secured the bronze medal in the women’s section.

2. Smriti Mandhana Crosses 10,000 International Runs Milestone

• What:
  • India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana became the fastest woman and the second Indian woman to cross 10,000 international runs during the fourth Twenty20 International (T20I) against Sri Lanka.
• Tell me more:
  • Match – Fourth T20I vs Sri Lanka
  • Venue – Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

3. Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey Records Historic Eight-Wicket T20I Haul

• What:
  • Bhutan cricketer Sonam Yeshey became the first bowler to take eight wickets in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) during a match against Myanmar.
• Tell me more:
  • Sonam Yeshey achieved bowling figures of 8 for 7 in four overs, including a maiden, in the third T20I at Gelephu in Bhutan.
  • The performance helped bowl out Myanmar for 45 runs in 9.2 overs while chasing a target of 128.
  • Bhutan won the match by 82 runs and took an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match series.

Source: TOI

4. Surya Charishma Tamiri Wins Senior National Badminton Title

• What:
  • Surya Charishma Tamiri won the Women’s Singles title at the 87th Senior National Badminton Championships held in Vijayawada.
• Tell me more:
  • Women’s Singles Final – Surya Charishma Tamiri defeated Tanvi Patri
  • Men’s Singles Winner – Rithvik Sanjeevi S
  • Men’s Doubles Winners – A. Hariharan and Ruban Kumar
  • Women’s Doubles Winners – Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat K
  • Mixed Doubles Winners – Sathwik Reddy K and Radhika Sharma

Source: NOA

Memorandum of Understanding

1. NTH Signs MoU With DMSRDE to Boost Research

• What:
  • National Test House signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment to strengthen cooperation in research, testing and training.
• Tell me more:
  • National Test House functions under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and was established in 1912 to provide testing, inspection, and quality assurance services in line with national and international standards.
  • It is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories and recognised by the Bureau of Indian Standards, and operates through a network of regional laboratories across India.
  • Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Ministry of Defence.
  • Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment, Kanpur, dates back to 1929 and works on non-metallic materials such as polymers, composites, elastomers, ceramics, fuels and lubricants for defence use.

Source: PIB

2. IAF and IIT Madras Sign MoU for Secure Airborne Communication

• What:
  • Indian Air Force Software Development Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Institute of Technology Madras to jointly develop an indigenous secure digital communication system for airborne platforms.

Source: TOI

Miscellaneous

1. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Passes Away

• Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia passed away in Dhaka.
• Khaleda Zia served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh for two terms.
• Khaleda Zia was the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Source: NOA

Start Quiz of 30th December 2025 on Mobile

Start Quiz of 30th December 2025 on Desktop