- From 1 January 2026, all Australian tariff lines will be made zero‑duty for Indian exports This change comes under the India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). It grants complete duty‑free market access for Indian goods across sectors in Australia. Significance: Expected to boost bilateral trade, benefiting textiles, gems, pharma, agriculture, and supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat.
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- On 29 December 2025, the Delhi government announced a partnership with IIT Kanpur to launch the Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS). This AI-powered platform will unify multiple grievance portals into a single dashboard for efficiency. It will use machine learning to identify responsible departments and conduct root-cause analysis of complaints.
- On December 28, 2025, the National Test House (NTH) signed an MoU with DRDO’s DMSRDE at Lucknow to enhance cooperation in research, testing, and training. The agreement focuses on collaborative research projects, sharing of laboratory facilities, and exchange of technical expertise. It also includes capacity building through seminars, workshops, and training programmes to strengthen scientific skills.
- On 28 December 2025, Russia successfully launched a Soyuz‑2.1b rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome carrying 52 satellites. The payload included two Aist‑2T Earth‑imaging satellites and 50 smaller spacecraft, along with three Iranian satellites, marking Russia’s final orbital launch of 2025.
- On 30 December 2025, Indian all‑rounder Deepti Sharma became the highest wicket‑taker in Women’s T20 Internationals, claiming her 152nd wicket against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram. She surpassed Australia’s Megan Schutt (151 wickets), helping India complete a 5–0 series sweep.
- On 29 December 2025, the IAF’s Software Development Institute (SDI) signed an MoU with IIT-Madras in Chennai. The aim is to develop an indigenous airborne digital communication system with secure networking and encryption. It was signed by Air Vice Marshal R. Guruhari, Prof. V. Kamakoti, and Dr. M.J. Shankar Raman.
- On 29 December 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved defence proposals worth ₹79,000 crore. The package includes upgrades for Army T-90 tanks, Pinaka rockets, radars, and loitering munitions. For the Air Force, it covers Mi-17 helicopter upgrades, MRSAM systems, and AWACS amendments.
- On 29 December 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. The rocket achieved its maximum range of 120 km and struck the target with textbook precision, marking a major leap in India’s long-range artillery capabilities.
- The 68th meeting of the NMCG Executive Committee was held on 29 December 2025 in New Delhi, chaired by Rajeev Kumar Mittal, DG NMCG. The session emphasized ensuring aviral (uninterrupted) and nirmal (clean) flow of the Ganga while advancing ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation. A landmark decision was the approval of a project to protect sandbar-nesting birds like the Indian Skimmer in the Ganga basin.
- The Rajasthan government launched ‘e-Swasthya Samvad’ on 28 December 2025 to strengthen governance in medical education. This digital platform ensures transparency, accountability, and coordination through bi-weekly video conferences. Sessions are held in two phases—officials at 5 PM and faculty, staff, students, and the public at 6 PM.
- On 28 December 2025, the governments of Odisha and Delhi officially joined AB-PMJAY. This expansion brings nearly all Indian states under the ₹5 lakh per family health insurance scheme. The move strengthens universal health coverage and boosts India’s digital health ecosystem. It also integrates with ABHA health records and expands telemedicine via eSanjeevani.
- On 27 December 2025, Hurun India released the Hurun India Rich List 2025. Indian‑origin Jayshree Ullal, CEO of Arista Networks, ranked first among Indian‑origin leaders globally.Her net worth was estimated at ₹50,170 crore (~US $5.7 billion). She surpassed Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, marking a milestone for Indian‑origin tech leaders.
- On 30 December 2025, senior IPS (Indian Police Service) officer Rakesh Aggarwal was given the additional charge of DG (Director General), NIA (National Investigation Agency). He is a 1994‑batch Himachal Pradesh cadre officer, currently serving as Special DG in the agency. This appointment came after Sadanand Vasant Date was repatriated to his parent cadre in Maharashtra.
- On 30 December 2025, the Government of India announced a major bureaucratic reshuffle. Senior IAS officer Lav Aggarwal (Andhra Pradesh cadre, 1996 batch) was appointed as the new Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Meanwhile, R.K. Agarwal (Uttar Pradesh cadre, 1991 batch) took charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
- Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, died in Dhaka on 30 December 2025 at the age of 80, after a prolonged illness. She was a three‑time Prime Minister and a towering figure in Bangladesh’s politics, leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for decades.
Questions:
Q.1 According to the Hurun India Rich List 2025, the Indian-origin leader who topped the global list was:a) Sundar Pichai
b) Satya Nadella
c) Jayshree Ullal
d) Mukesh Ambani
Answer: c) The list states that "Jayshree Ullal, CEO of Arista Networks, ranked first among Indian‑origin leaders globally.
Q.2 The 'e-Swasthya Samvad' portal launched by the Rajasthan government is a digital platform intended to:
a) Provide telemedicine consultations to rural areas.
b) Ensure transparency and coordination in medical education governance.
c) Digitize all patient health records in the state.
d) Facilitate online registration for medical camps.
Answer: b) The platform's purpose is "to strengthen governance in medical education" and "ensure transparency, accountability, and coordination through bi-weekly video conferences."
