NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Government to
Set Up 50,000 New Atal Tinkering Labs Across Schools to Boost Innovation: The Government plans
to establish
50,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in schools across
India, aiming to foster innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills
among students.Over 10,000 ATLs have already been set up under the Atal
Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi to promote research and innovation at the school level.The initiative was
highlighted in the Union Budget 2025-26 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,
emphasizing the government’s commitment to nurturing curiosity, scientific
temper, and innovative thinking among young students over the next five years.
2. Annapurna Devi
to Launch 100-Day National Campaign for a Child Marriage-Free Bharat :Women and Child Development Minister
Annapurna Devi will launch a 100-day awareness campaign
for a Child Marriage-Free Bharat in New Delhi, marking the
one-year anniversary of the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign.The campaign will
feature the National Pledge to End Child Marriage, a film showcasing inspiring
stories, and testimonies from frontline champions, highlighting collective
progress and reinforcing momentum for the next phase.The initiative will engage
citizens, institutions, and community leaders nationwide, implemented in
coordination with the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Panchayati Raj,
Rural Development, and Education to ensure extensive grassroots reach.
3. India Post
Releases Commemorative ‘My Stamp’ to Honour P. Obul Reddy on His Birth
Centenary :India Post released a customised commemorative ‘My Stamp’
to honour the birth centenary of industrialist and Nippo Batteries founder Pottipatti Obul Reddy,
unveiled in Chennai by Manoj M., Director of Postal Services.Obul Reddy was
instrumental in the Indo-Japanese collaboration with Matsushita (Panasonic) in
1972, leading to the founding of Indo National Ltd (Nippo Batteries), which
became India’s second-largest dry-cell manufacturer.The centenary celebrations
highlight Reddy’s contributions to industry, philanthropy, and Carnatic music,
inspiring citizens to uphold the values of integrity, purpose, and giving back
to society.
4. Tamil Nadu’s
Five Traditional Products Earn GI Tag, Taking State’s Total to 74: Five traditional products from Tamil Nadu — Woraiyur cotton sari,
Kavindapadi naatu sakkarai (jaggery powder), Namakkal makkal pathirangal
(soapstone cookware), Thooyamalli rice, and Ambasamudram choppu saman (wooden
toys) — have been awarded the GI tag, showcasing the State’s
cultural and agricultural richness.With these additions, Tamil Nadu now holds
74 GI-tagged products, as confirmed by IPR attorney P. Sanjai Gandhi, who filed
the applications for the respective groups.
The newly recognised products include
items rooted in centuries-old traditions, such as Woraiyur saris woven along
the Cauvery, Kavindapadi jaggery powder made from sugarcane grown in Erode, and
Thooyamalli rice cultivated during the sambha season.Namakkal’s ancient
soapstone cookware and Ambasamudram’s 200-year-old wooden toy craft also
received GI recognition, highlighting the State’s artisanal legacy and
long-preserved techniques passed down through generations.
5. Ramakrishnan
Chander Takes Charge as New Managing Director of LIC: Ramakrishnan Chander has assumed charge as the Managing Director of LIC, succeeding
his previous role as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and Executive Director of
the Investment (Front Office) Department.He brings over 35 years of experience,
having joined LIC in 1990 and served in multiple key roles including Senior
Divisional Manager, Regional Manager (Marketing & P&GS), and Executive
Director of International Operations.As CIO, he managed one of India’s largest
investment portfolios, strengthening LIC’s investment returns and contributing
significantly to financial performance and innovation in the insurance sector.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Oxford
University Press Names “Rage Bait” as Word of the Year 2025: Oxford University Press has named “rage bait” as the Word of the Year
2025 — a phrase that refers to online content deliberately
designed to provoke anger, outrage or shock to drive engagement.The usage of
“rage bait” has reportedly tripled over the past year, reflecting how digital
content and social media algorithms are increasingly rewarding emotionally
provocative material.The selection points to a larger cultural shift in 2025:
from curiosity‑driven “clickbait” to emotion‑driven online behaviour —
highlighting concerns about misinformation, digital wellbeing, and the ethics of
engagement in the internet age.
2. 5 December –
International Volunteer Day: International
Volunteer Day (IVD) is
observed annually
on 5 December to recognise and promote the tireless
efforts of volunteers worldwide who contribute to social, economic, and
environmental development.The day highlights the role of volunteering in
addressing global challenges, fostering community engagement, and promoting
peace, solidarity, and sustainable development.Governments, organizations, and
communities use IVD to honour volunteers, encourage participation in volunteer
initiatives, and raise awareness about the impact of volunteer work across
various sectors.
3. 5 December –
World Soil Day :World Soil Day is observed annually on 5 December to
raise awareness about the importance of healthy soil and its role in sustaining
ecosystems, agriculture, and food security.The day emphasizes sustainable soil
management to combat soil degradation, erosion, and nutrient depletion,
ensuring long-term productivity and environmental health.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. DRDO
Successfully Tests Fighter Aircraft Escape System, Marks Major Milestone in
Indigenous Defence Capability: DRDO
successfully conducted a
high-speed rocket-sled
test of a fighter aircraft escape system at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility
in Chandigarh, validating canopy severance, ejection
sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery.The test, conducted in collaboration
with ADA and HAL, involved dynamic ejection using a dual-sled system and an
instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy to record critical loads, moments, and
accelerations, placing India among a select group of nations with advanced
in-house escape system testing capability.The successful test was lauded by
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat as a
significant milestone for India’s indigenous defence self-reliance and
technological advancement.
SPORTS
1. Harmanpreet
Kaur joins hands as brand ambassador of Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon 2025: The 10th
Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon (VPCHM) concluded with
massive participation, bringing together nearly 15,000 runners to support Vedanta’s
#RunForZeroHunger movement.The event successfully raised 1 lakh
Poshan Packs for children at Nand Ghars, Vedanta’s flagship social impact
initiative focused on nutrition, health, and transformation of anganwadis
across India.The marathon was flagged off in Jaipur by Priya Agarwal Hebbar and
Harmanpreet Kaur, with support from Vedanta and organization by AnyBody Can Run
(ABCR), emphasizing community spirit and social responsibility.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. NHAI Partners
with Reliance Jio to Launch Telecom-Based Safety Alert System on National
Highways: NHAI signs MoU with Reliance Jio to
introduce a telecom-based
safety alert system across National Highways, aiming to enhance
road safety for commuters.Travellers will receive real-time alerts via SMS,
WhatsApp, and high-priority calls about accident-prone stretches, stray-cattle
zones, fog-affected areas, and emergency diversions, using Jio’s 4G and 5G
network.The system will be integrated with NHAI’s digital platforms like the
‘Rajmargyatra’ app and emergency helpline 1033, providing early warnings
without additional roadside hardware, and similar collaborations are planned
with other telecom providers.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Cashfree
partners with J.P. Morgan Payments to strengthen compliant cross-border payment
processing in India: Cashfree has partnered with J.P. Morgan Payments, making
J.P. Morgan an Authorised Dealer Category-I (AD-I) bank for the company,
enabling compliant processing of import transactions under RBI’s Payment
Aggregator regulations.The collaboration aims to remove payment-related
barriers for global businesses by combining J.P. Morgan’s global credibility
with Cashfree’s homegrown innovation, offering secure, transparent, and
reliable cross-border settlements.With India’s cross-border e-commerce market
projected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030, the partnership seeks to simplify
regulatory complexities and help international brands enter the Indian market
faster and more compliantly.
2. CRISIL raises
India’s GDP growth forecast to 7% for FY25 after stronger-than-expected
first-half performance: CRISIL
revised India’s GDP growth forecast to 7%
for the current financial year, citing stronger-than-expected
8% growth in the first half, driven mainly by robust private consumption,
manufacturing, and services.Despite real GDP growth of 8.2% in Q2, nominal GDP
growth remained moderate at 8.7% due to easing inflation; growth is expected to
slow to 6.1% in the second half due to factors like higher U.S. tariffs.
3. GST collection
moderates after rate cuts to ₹1.7 lakh crore in November: The first
full month after the GST rate cut showed a moderate 0.7%
rise in total GST collections, reaching ₹1.7 lakh crore in November, though
officials stated that overall consumption momentum remains positive.Domestic
GST revenues fell by 2.3% to ₹1.24 lakh crore, while GST from imports grew over
10% to around ₹46,000 crore, reflecting differing trends in domestic and
international demand.Tax experts noted that GST collections reflect consumption
patterns, whereas GDP growth is influenced by broader factors like government
spending and investment; the recent GST 2.0 rate reduction also contributed to
the muted collection figures.
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