NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Government Likely to Rename MGNREGA as ‘Pujya Bapu
Gramin Rozgar Yojana’, Proposes Key Reforms: The government is likely to introduce an
amendment Bill in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament to rename
MGNREGA as “Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Yojana”, with the proposal reportedly
cleared by the Union Cabinet.The amended Bill may also propose increasing the
guaranteed employment days from 100 to 125 days per household, even as the
average employment provided over the last five years has been about 50.35 days
per household.The amendments are expected to factor in the recommendations of
the Amarjeet Sinha–led review panel, including possible exclusionary clauses
based on State-level economic indicators and addressing inter-State disparities
in scheme expenditure.The government may further revise the funding pattern and
introduce stronger compliance checks, particularly to prevent Centre–State
fund-related disputes, such as the prolonged standoff with West Bengal over
scheme implementation.
2. Centre Approves ₹476.03 Crore Scheme for Makhana
Development: The Centre has
approved a ₹03 crore scheme for the development of Makhana for
the period 2025–26 to 2030–31, focusing on research and innovation,
quality seed production, farmer training, improved harvesting, value addition,
branding, marketing, exports, and quality control.The first meeting of
the National Makhana Board, chaired by Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary,
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, was held at Krishi Bhawan, New
Delhi, marking the start of implementation of the Board and the Central Sector
Scheme.The Board reviewed Annual Action Plans of States and research
institutions, allocated budgets for holistic sector development, and stressed
consolidating seed requirements to be supplied by SAU Sabour and CAU
Samastipur, Bihar, for the current and next year.
3. Union Cabinet Approves MSP for Copra 2026: The Union Cabinet has approved
the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for copra for the 2026 season, with
₹12,027 per quintal for milling copra and ₹12,500 per quintal for
ball copra, marking an increase of ₹445 and ₹400 per quintal respectively
compared to the previous season.Since 2014, the MSP for milling copra has
increased by 129% and for ball copra by 127%, reflecting the government’s
effort to provide better income support and financial stability to coconut
farmers.The revised MSP aims to encourage higher copra production, protect
farmers from market volatility, and allow them to benefit from growing domestic
and international demand for coconut-based products.
4. Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 Celebrates India’s
Linguistic Diversity with Tribal Language Showcase and Cultural Performances: Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 was organised
in New Delhi to mark the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania
Bharati, celebrating India’s rich linguistic diversity under the theme “Many
Languages, One Emotion.”The Ministry of Tribal Affairs showcased the cultural
significance of tribal languages through a stall featuring publications from
Tribal Research Institutes of Jharkhand, Odisha, and Gujarat, along with a live
demonstration of the Adi Vaani app for real-time translation between Hindi/English
and tribal languages.The event featured vibrant cultural performances from
schools across India, highlighting the nation’s linguistic and cultural
diversity.
5. Cabinet Clears SHANTI Bill To Allow Private Players In
Nuclear Energy Field: The Union
Cabinet has approved the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of
Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, marking a major
policy shift by opening India’s nuclear power sector to private participation
to help achieve 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 and strengthen energy
security.The Bill allows private companies to participate in civil nuclear
power generation under strict government oversight, while strategic functions
such as nuclear material production, heavy water management, and radioactive
waste handling will remain under the Department of Atomic Energy.It proposes
amendments to the civil nuclear liability framework, caps supplier liability,
redesigns operator insurance cover at ₹1,500 crore per incident, permits up to
49% FDI, and introduces a unified atomic energy law with a specialised
nuclear tribunal to boost investor confidence.The reforms align with India’s
net-zero target by 2070, positioning nuclear energy as a stable, low-carbon
base-load source alongside renewables; the government has also announced a
₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission and plans to operationalise five
indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033.
6. PNB Housing Finance Appoints Ajai Kumar Shukla as MD
& CEO: PNB Housing Finance
appointed Ajai Kumar Shukla as Managing Director and CEO for a
five-year term starting December 18.Shukla brings over three decades of
experience in housing and mortgage lending and will succeed Girish Kousgi, who
played a key role in expanding the lender’s affordable housing portfolio.The
leadership change comes amid rising competition from banks in premium home
loans, while affordable housing remains an attractive, higher-yield segment
with relatively limited competition.
7. BJP appoints Bihar minister Nitin Nabin as National
Working President: The BJP
Parliamentary Board has named Bihar minister and five-time MLA Nitin
Nabin as the National Working President of the party with immediate
effect, recognising his organisational leadership and political experience.At
45 years old, Nitin Nabin becomes the youngest Working President in BJP history
and the first leader from Bihar to hold this prestigious post. He currently
represents the Bankipur Assembly constituency and holds the Road Construction
portfolio in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.With nearly two decades of
political and organisational experience, Nitin Nabin has served as Bihar
President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and as the BJP’s election
in-charge for Chhattisgarh, demonstrating strong leadership and strategic
capabilities within the party.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Bannerghatta
Park Imports Capuchin Monkeys from South Africa: The Bannerghatta
Biological Park has imported eight
black-capped capuchin monkeys from South Africa under a formal animal exchange programme. The move aims to enhance
genetic diversity and strengthen conservation-oriented zoological management at
the park. The eight capuchin monkeys, comprising four males and four females,
arrived at Kempegowda International Airport on Sunday. Following standard
protocol, the animals were shifted to a designated quarantine facility at
Bannerghatta. They will undergo mandatory post-import health examinations
before being introduced into the zoo enclosures. The Bannerghatta
Biological Park stated that the import
was executed in strict adherence to statutory and regulatory requirements.
Prior approvals were secured from the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi. In addition, No Objection
Certificates were obtained from the State Chief Wildlife Warden, the Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Department of Animal Husbandry
and Dairying, and the Wildlife Crime
Control Bureau.
2. India
Reaffirms Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam at UNAOC Forum: India reiterated its
commitment to global harmony and inclusive values at the 11th United Nations
Alliance of Civilizations forum held in Riyadh. The statement reflected India’s
emphasis on dialogue, pluralism and peaceful coexistence amid rising global
divisions. The Indian delegation was led by Ministry of
External Affairs Secretary (East) P
Kumaran. He delivered India’s statement at the high-level meeting of the Group
of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. The intervention
highlighted India’s consistent support for multilateral platforms that promote
intercultural and interfaith understanding. Kumaran underlined India’s
civilisational heritage rooted in cultural diversity and coexistence. He
referred to the ideals of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the belief that the world is
one family, and Sarva Dharma Samabhav, which advocates equal respect for all
religions. These principles, he noted, guide India’s domestic ethos and
international engagement.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Sikkim
Opens Cho La and Dok La for Border Tourism: Sikkim Chief
Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Tuesday officially declared Cho La and Dok La
open for tourists under the “Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan” initiative. The move
marks a significant step towards promoting border tourism while strengthening
development and connectivity in India’s frontier regions. “Bharat Ranbhoomi
Darshan” is a flagship programme jointly led by the Ministry of Defence and the
Ministry of Tourism. The initiative focuses on opening strategically
significant border locations to tourism. Its broader aim is to combine national
security awareness with economic development, infrastructure creation and
livelihood enhancement for communities living in remote border villages. Chief
Minister Tamang stated that the Sikkim government
follows the principle of “developing the last village first”. This vision
aligns with the Government of India’s Vibrant Villages
Programme, which seeks to accelerate
development in border areas. According to Tamang, improved roads, facilities
and services are transforming frontier regions into hubs of opportunity.
SPORTS
1. GS
Delhi Aces Win Maiden Tennis Premier League Title: The seventh season of the
Tennis Premier League concluded with GS Delhi Aces lifting their first-ever
title after a commanding performance in the grand finale. The summit clash was
held at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium, where the Delhi-based franchise
outplayed Yash Mumbai Eagles in a high-intensity contest. The final began with
the women’s singles, where Sofia Costoulas faced Riya Bhatia. Costoulas
delivered a dominant performance, registering an 18–7 victory and maintaining
her unbeaten singles record in the league. The momentum continued in the mixed
doubles, as Costoulas partnered Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan to defeat Bhatia and Niki
Poonacha 16–9, giving GS Delhi Aces a significant early advantage. In the men’s
singles, 30-year-old Billy Harris took on Damir Dzumhur. Dzumhur produced a
solid display to secure a 16–9 win. Despite conceding the match, GS Delhi Aces
retained control of the tie, maintaining a healthy 11-point lead heading into
the final contest.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Microsoft Unveils MahaCrimeOS AI to Accelerate
Cybercrime Investigations in Maharashtra: Microsoft CEO Satya
Nadella unveiled MahaCrimeOS, an AI-powered platform designed to
accelerate cybercrime investigations, during the AI Tour in Mumbai, which was
developed in collaboration with the Maharashtra Government’s MARVEL.The
platform aims to augment police efficiency, reducing investigation turnaround
time by up to 80%, enabling features such as instant case creation,
multilingual data extraction, contextual legal assistance, and integration with
India’s criminal laws and open-source intelligence.Initially deployed in 23
police stations in Nagpur, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
proposed expanding MahaCrimeOS to 1,100 stations, highlighting its potential to
address complex cybercrime challenges across the State.
2. NITI Aayog’s AIM Partners with HUL to Launch
Nationwide Start-up Accelerator for Circular Economy Solutions: NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission
(AIM) has partnered with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) under
Project Circular Bharat to launch a start-up acceleration programme that will
support 50 high-potential start-ups over three years, focusing on plastic
recycling, reuse and refill models, next-generation packaging, and material
recovery from textiles and e-waste.Selected start-ups will receive mentorship
from industry leaders, policy experts, and investors, along with access to
grant funding and pilot projects to test and scale their solutions in real
market conditions, strengthening innovation in post-consumer waste management.
The partnership combines AIM–NITI Aayog’s policy and
innovation expertise, HUL’s industry network, and Xynteo’s strategic guidance,
aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of sustainable development and aiming
to reduce waste, boost recycling, and build green industries for a
resource-efficient India.
3. MSME Ministry Signs MoU with Amazon to Digitally
Empower Vishwakarma Artisans through E-Commerce: The Ministry of MSME has signed
an MoU with Amazon to support Vishwakarma artisans, enabling them to
access digital marketplaces and modern e-commerce tools to expand their
reach.Under Amazon’s Karigar initiative, Vishwakarma community artisans will be
onboarded onto Amazon’s platform to showcase and sell their products to
national and global markets, improving product visibility and income
opportunities.The programme will provide training in online selling, product
listing, branding, logistics, and digital payments, aligning with the
government’s vision of empowering traditional artisans, strengthening the MSME
ecosystem, and digitising the artisan economy.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s Retail Inflation Rises to 0.71% in November;
Food Prices Remain in Deflation: India’s retail inflation rose to 71% in
November on a year-on-year basis, up from a record low of 0.25% in
October, with rural inflation at 0.1% and urban inflation higher at 1.4%.Food
inflation remained in deflation for the sixth consecutive month, easing to
–3.91% in November compared to –5% in October; rural food deflation stood at
4.05% and urban food deflation moderated to 3.6%.According to the Ministry of
Statistics and Programme Implementation, movements in headline and food
inflation were mainly driven by price changes in vegetables, eggs, meat and
fish, spices, and fuel and light.
2. CCEA Clears Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill 2025 to
Allow 100% FDI in Insurance Sector: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA) approved the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposing
to allow 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector,
subject to the condition that the entire premium is invested within India.The
Bill, to be introduced as “Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha”, will replace the
Insurance Act, 1938, LIC Act, 1956, and IRDAI Act, 1999, and will also permit
insurers to operate under a composite licence covering life, general, and
health insurance.The legislation is expected to be tabled in the ongoing Winter
Session of Parliament (ending December 19) and is among the 13 bills aimed at
improving insurance penetration, sectoral growth, and ease of doing
business.India’s insurance penetration declined to 3.7% of GDP in 2023–24 from
4% a year earlier, with life insurance at 2.8% and non-life insurance steady at
1%, highlighting the need for sectoral reforms.
3. IndusInd Bank Launches RuPay-Powered Co-Branded
‘Jio-bp Mobility+’ Fuel Credit Card: IndusInd Bank has launched its first
fuel-linked co-branded credit card in partnership with
Jio-bp, marking Jio-bp’s first such collaboration; the card is called
‘IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+’ and is powered by RuPay.The card offers 12
reward points per ₹100 spent at Jio-bp Mobility Stations and convenience
stores, 400 bonus points on the first fuel transaction within 30 days, and 200
bonus points per month on fuel spends of ₹4,000, along with rewards on
supermarket, dining, and grocery spends.Cardholders can earn up to 60 litres of
free fuel annually, enjoy milestone benefits and a joining fee waiver on
₹10,000 spend in the first month, with applications available at select Jio-bp
outlets and digital channels.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. CRPF Officer Dinesh Khatak Awarded Union Home
Minister’s Efficiency Medal for Exemplary Service: Dinesh Khatak, a senior CRPF officer from Jind,
Haryana, has been awarded the Union Home Minister’s Efficiency
Medal for exemplary service, recognising his leadership, operational excellence,
and sustained contribution to national security.An officer since 2005 after
clearing UPSC, Khatak served multiple tenures in Jammu and Kashmir (2008–2013
and 2017–2021), handling critical responsibilities including Amarnath Yatra
security, law and order duties, operations during Article 370 abrogation, and
the COVID-19 period.
2. PM Modi receives
Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred Ethiopia’s highest national award, marking a
historic moment in India–Africa relations. He became the first global head of
state or government to receive the prestigious honour, underscoring the growing
strategic and diplomatic partnership between India and Ethiopia. Prime Minister Modi was awarded “The
Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia” at a special ceremony held at the
Addis International Convention Centre. The award was presented by Ethiopian
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali in recognition of Modi’s role in strengthening
bilateral ties and his stature as a global statesman. The Ministry
of External Affairs described the
conferment as a reflection of India’s deepening engagement with Ethiopia and the African
continent.According to Ethiopian authorities, the honour acknowledges Prime
Minister Modi’s exceptional contribution to enhancing political, economic, and
people-to-people cooperation between the two countries. India and Ethiopia
share a long-standing relationship rooted in education, capacity building, and
development cooperation. Indian professionals, particularly teachers and
academics, have contributed to Ethiopia’s nation-building efforts for more than
a century.
No comments:
Post a Comment