National News

E-Bill System Rolled Out to Improve Fertiliser Subsidy Management

• Union Minister JP Nadda inaugurated India’s digital E-Bill System for fertiliser subsidies, a transformative end-to-end online platform designed to process approximately ₹2 lakh crore in subsidy payments annually, marking a significant shift from traditional paper-based processing methods.
• The comprehensive digital system replaces the outdated manual file processing mechanism, ensuring faster clearances of subsidy claims, reducing bureaucratic delays, and streamlining the entire payment workflow from application to disbursement for fertiliser manufacturers and distributors.
• By creating a robust audit trail and enhancing transparency at every stage of subsidy allocation and payment, the system strengthens financial governance in the agriculture sector, minimizes leakages, and ensures accountability in public expenditure management.
• The initiative is expected to have far-reaching benefits for farmers by ensuring timely availability of fertilisers at subsidized rates, supporting India’s food security objectives, and improving the overall efficiency of agricultural input management across the country.

National News

India Records Sharp Rise in Tiger Deaths in 2025

• India, which hosts the world’s largest tiger population, witnessed 166 tiger deaths in 2025, representing an increase of 40 deaths compared to the 126 recorded in 2024, according to official data released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• Madhya Pradesh emerged as the state with the highest number of tiger fatalities, reporting 55 deaths throughout the year, with territorial infighting among adult tigers identified as the primary cause due to increasing habitat pressure, forest fragmentation, and acute space constraints in protected areas.
• While India’s tiger population has grown substantially to 3,682 individuals as per the 2022 census, representing a conservation success story, this growth has paradoxically intensified competition for territory, prey, and breeding grounds, with poaching continuing to account for some deaths despite anti-poaching measures.
• Conservation experts highlight that limited forest corridors connecting tiger habitats, inadequate buffer zones around protected areas, and increasing human-wildlife conflict pose ongoing challenges to long-term tiger conservation, necessitating expanded habitat management and inter-state wildlife corridor development.

National News

PM Inaugurates Sacred Piprahwa Relics in Global Buddhist Exposition

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics, titled “The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One”, at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi, marking a significant moment in showcasing India’s ancient Buddhist heritage to the world.
• The exhibition showcases the historically significant Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha, which were discovered in 1898 during archaeological excavations at Piprahwa village in Uttar Pradesh, a site believed to be linked to ancient Kapilavastu, the capital city of the Shakya kingdom where Buddha spent his early life.
• The exposition highlights India’s rich civilizational and spiritual heritage, emphasizing the country’s role as the birthplace of Buddhism and the custodian of sacred Buddhist relics that hold immense religious significance for millions of Buddhists worldwide across Asia and beyond.
• The event underscores the Indian government’s sustained diplomatic and cultural efforts in the repatriation of cultural artefacts and relics, strengthening India’s soft power diplomacy and reinforcing cultural ties with Buddhist-majority nations while promoting spiritual tourism and heritage conservation.

State News

Surat Set to Become India’s First Slum-Free City

• Surat in Gujarat is poised to achieve the historic distinction of becoming India’s first slum-free city through an ambitious large-scale in-situ slum redevelopment program led by the Surat Municipal Corporation under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and complementary state housing schemes.
• The transformative urban development initiative involves replacing informal slum settlements with permanent multi-storey housing complexes equipped with comprehensive civic amenities including piped water supply, sanitation facilities, drainage systems, street lighting, and paved roads, ensuring dignified living conditions for previously marginalized communities.
• By successfully implementing this integrated approach to slum rehabilitation without displacing residents from their existing locations, Surat is significantly improving urban living standards, reducing socio-economic inequality, and addressing critical challenges of urban poverty and inadequate housing.
• The Surat model is establishing a replicable national framework for sustainable urban development aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG-11) on sustainable cities and communities, offering valuable lessons for other Indian cities grappling with similar urbanization challenges and slum proliferation.

State News

Delhi Mandates QR Codes on Road Signage for Better Transparency

• The Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) has introduced a mandatory requirement for QR codes on all new road signages across the national capital, enabling citizens to instantly access comprehensive information including manufacturer details, materials specifications, and warranty conditions by simply scanning the codes with their smartphones.
• Issued with effect from January 1, 2026, the innovative guideline aims to ensure uniformity in signage standards across Delhi, improve visibility and readability of road signs, and establish clear accountability mechanisms by making contractor and manufacturing information publicly accessible.
• The PWD has announced plans to integrate these QR codes with the PWD Sewa mobile application, creating a direct citizen engagement platform for reporting infrastructure issues such as potholes, damaged signboards, broken road furniture, and requiring repairs, thereby expediting maintenance response times.
• This technology-driven transparency initiative strengthens public participation in urban governance, empowers citizens to hold civic authorities accountable for infrastructure quality and maintenance, and represents a progressive step toward smart city governance and participatory urban management in the capital.

International News

Bulgaria Adopts the Euro, Becomes 21st Member of the Eurozone

• Bulgaria has officially adopted the euro as its national currency, becoming the 21st member nation of the Eurozone and replacing its longstanding national currency, the Bulgarian lev, following years of comprehensive economic reforms, fiscal consolidation, and sustained efforts toward deeper European Union integration.
• The historic currency transition is expected to generate substantial economic benefits including enhanced trade facilitation with Eurozone partners, increased foreign direct investment attraction, reduced currency exchange costs, improved financial integration with European markets, and greater economic stability through monetary policy alignment with the European Central Bank.
• Despite the anticipated economic advantages, the euro adoption has generated significant public division within Bulgaria, with segments of the population expressing concerns about potential inflation acceleration, price increases for consumer goods and services, loss of national monetary policy autonomy, and perceived erosion of national identity and sovereignty.
• The currency changeover occurs against a backdrop of ongoing political instability in Bulgaria, raising questions about the government’s capacity to manage the transition effectively, address public concerns, and implement necessary supporting economic reforms to maximize the benefits of Eurozone membership.

International News

Turkmenistan Legalizes Cryptocurrency Mining and Trading

• Turkmenistan has officially legalized cryptocurrency mining and crypto exchanges effective January 2026 under comprehensive new legislation signed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, marking a significant policy shift in one of the world’s most isolated and economically closed nations.
• The groundbreaking reform places virtual assets under the jurisdiction of civil law, establishes a mandatory Central Bank licensing framework for cryptocurrency operations, and ensures strict state oversight mechanisms while explicitly denying legal tender status to cryptocurrencies, maintaining the national currency’s primacy.
• The legalization initiative is strategically aimed at economic diversification, seeking to reduce Turkmenistan’s heavy reliance on natural gas exports which currently dominate national revenues, while promoting digitalization of the economy, attracting technology investment, and creating new revenue streams through the emerging digital asset sector.
• This cautious but notable policy evolution reflects Turkmenistan’s tentative engagement with global financial technology trends, balancing the potential economic benefits of cryptocurrency sector development against concerns about capital flight, financial stability, and maintaining government control over economic activities in a traditionally centrally-planned economy.

International News

France Plans Social Media Restrictions for Children Under 15

• France is preparing to implement strict regulations restricting social media use for children under 15 years of age, requiring mandatory parental consent before minors can create accounts and obligating platforms to establish robust age verification mechanisms to prevent unauthorized underage access.
• The proposed legislation aims to protect children’s mental health and psychological wellbeing by limiting their exposure to harmful content, addressing the growing concerns about cyberbullying, online predation, addictive online behaviors, and the documented negative impacts of excessive social media use on adolescent development and self-esteem.
• Non-compliant social media platforms that fail to implement adequate age verification systems or allow underage users without parental consent could face substantial financial penalties and regulatory sanctions, creating strong enforcement mechanisms to ensure corporate accountability and compliance with child protection standards.
• The French proposal may significantly influence EU-level digital safety regulations and child online protection frameworks, potentially establishing precedents for other European nations, and reflects a broader global trend toward stricter government regulation of technology platforms and enhanced safeguards for children’s digital wellbeing and online safety.

Appointments and Resignations News

Karthikeyan Manickam Appointed Chairman of ESAF Small Finance Bank

• ESAF Small Finance Bank has appointed Karthikeyan Manickam, former Executive Director of Bank of India, as its new Chairman, bringing decades of extensive banking experience and senior leadership expertise to the institution’s board of directors.
• The strategic appointment is expected to significantly strengthen corporate governance standards at ESAF Small Finance Bank, enhance risk management frameworks, improve regulatory compliance mechanisms, and provide seasoned guidance for the bank’s strategic growth initiatives in the competitive small finance banking sector.
• Manickam’s vast experience in traditional banking operations, regulatory affairs, credit management, and financial institution governance positions him to provide valuable strategic oversight as ESAF continues expanding its microfinance and financial inclusion operations across underserved markets.
• The leadership change reflects ESAF Small Finance Bank’s commitment to maintaining robust governance structures, attracting experienced banking professionals to guide institutional development, and ensuring sustainable growth while maintaining focus on financial inclusion objectives and serving economically marginalized populations.

Banking and Finance News

Industrial Credit Growth Strengthens in November

• Reserve Bank of India data revealed that bank credit to industry strengthened significantly, rising by 9.6% in November 2025 compared to the previous year, indicating improved lending conditions and renewed confidence in the industrial sector’s growth prospects.
• Non-food credit expanded by 11.4%, reflecting steady economic activity across diverse sectors, with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) recording particularly strong double-digit growth rates, while infrastructure, engineering, textiles, and petroleum industries demonstrated healthy lending momentum.
• The services sector continued its robust expansion with credit growing by 11.7%, while agriculture credit increased by 8.7%, demonstrating broad-based but balanced credit expansion across all major economic sectors rather than concentration in any single segment.
• The strengthening credit growth patterns indicate improving business confidence, expanding investment activities, better capacity utilization in manufacturing, and recovering demand conditions, suggesting positive momentum for India’s economic growth trajectory while maintaining financial stability through diversified lending portfolios.

Banking and Finance News

RBI’s Financial Stability Report 2025 Highlights Strong Capital Buffers, Rising Risks

• The Reserve Bank of India’s Financial Stability Report (FSR) for December 2025 affirms that India’s financial system remains fundamentally resilient despite persistent global economic uncertainties, supported by strong GDP growth of 7.8% in Q1 and 8.2% in Q2 of the fiscal year.
• The banking sector demonstrates improved asset quality with Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) declining to a historic low of 2.1%, while banks maintain solid Capital Adequacy Ratios (CRAR) well above regulatory requirements, providing robust capital buffers to absorb potential shocks and support continued lending growth.
• However, the report identifies several emerging systemic risks requiring close regulatory monitoring, including the rapid growth of unsecured personal loans, fintech-led credit expansion occurring outside traditional banking oversight, concerns about the proliferation of stablecoins in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, and external sector pressures from global financial volatility.
• The RBI emphasizes the need for enhanced regulatory vigilance, strengthened supervision of non-banking financial companies and fintech platforms, improved stress testing frameworks, and proactive macroprudential measures to ensure long-term financial stability while supporting sustainable economic growth and preventing systemic vulnerabilities from accumulating.

Banking and Finance News

India’s Forex Reserves Strengthen Near $700 Billion Mark

• India’s foreign exchange reserves increased substantially by $3.29 billion to reach $696.61 billion as of December 26, 2025, according to official data released by the Reserve Bank of India, bringing the reserves close to the psychologically significant $700 billion milestone.
• The increase in forex reserves was primarily driven by higher foreign currency assets, reflecting stronger external sector resilience, improved capital inflows including foreign portfolio investment and foreign direct investment, and the central bank’s active foreign exchange market interventions to maintain currency stability.
• Robust foreign exchange reserves serve as a critical safety cushion for the Indian economy, providing the capacity to manage external shocks, maintain confidence in the rupee, meet international payment obligations, and demonstrate macroeconomic strength to global investors and credit rating agencies.
• The strengthened reserve position enhances India’s ability to manage global financial uncertainties, including potential spillovers from developed economy monetary policy changes, geopolitical tensions affecting trade and capital flows, and volatile commodity prices, while providing the Reserve Bank greater flexibility in exchange rate management and monetary policy implementation.

Appointments and Resignations News

Sjoerd Marijne Returns as Coach of Indian Women’s Hockey Team

• The Indian women’s hockey team has received a significant boost with the appointment of experienced Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne as chief coach ahead of the crucial FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup Qualifiers scheduled for March 2026, marking his return to the position he previously held with distinction.
• Marijne earlier guided the Indian women’s hockey team to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, representing India’s best-ever Olympic performance in women’s hockey and coming agonizingly close to a medal, thereby establishing his credentials and understanding of the Indian team’s strengths and developmental needs.
• The seasoned coach’s return is expected to significantly strengthen the team’s preparation strategies, tactical planning, competitive mindset, and overall performance on the global stage, leveraging his intimate knowledge of the existing player pool and his proven ability to maximize team potential in high-pressure tournament situations.
• Marijne’s reappointment reflects Hockey India’s confidence in continuity of successful coaching philosophies and his rapport with players, while his international experience and modern coaching methodologies are anticipated to help India secure qualification for the World Cup and continue the upward trajectory of Indian women’s hockey on the international stage.

National News

New Sports Law Begins to Reshape India’s Sports Governance

• The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, commenced partial implementation from January 1, 2026, initiating a comprehensive transformation of India’s sports governance framework with enhanced transparency, accountability, and professional management replacing the previous largely unregulated system.
• The legislation establishes new institutional structures including the National Sports Board (NSB) for policy oversight and strategic planning, and the National Sports Tribunal (NST) for expedited dispute resolution, bringing systematic governance, strict regulatory oversight, and independent adjudication mechanisms to Indian sports administration.
• Sports federations across all disciplines now face mandatory requirements including limits on executive committee size to prevent concentration of power, compulsory athlete representation through designated “Sportspersons of Merit” positions ensuring active athletes have voice in decision-making, and regular governance audits to ensure compliance with transparency standards.
• The transformative legislation aims to establish ethical governance practices, reduce political interference in sports federation elections and operations, improve athlete welfare and rights protection, ensure transparent financial management of public funds allocated to sports, and professionalize India’s sports administration infrastructure to support the country’s ambitions for excellence in international competitions.

Science and Technology News

Hyderabad Start-ups Build Mini Satellite for ISRO’s PSLV Launch

• India’s rapidly growing private space sector achieved a significant milestone with Hyderabad-based start-ups TakeMe2Space and EON Space Labs successfully completing comprehensive testing and integration of the MOI-1 Earth observation mini-satellite, demonstrating indigenous private sector capability in satellite manufacturing.
• The compact satellite weighing just 14 kilograms will be launched as a co-passenger payload on ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota during January 2026, representing one of the early commercial satellite missions by Indian private space companies.
• Built at an economical cost of approximately ₹2.5 crore, the satellite will operate in Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers and features advanced capabilities including AI-based onboard data processing, multispectral imaging systems for Earth observation applications, and extensively indigenous technology components reducing import dependence.
• The mission highlights India’s strategic shift toward low-cost, high-technology, start-up-driven space solutions suitable for diverse applications including commercial Earth observation, agricultural monitoring, disaster management, and defence surveillance, demonstrating the maturation of India’s space ecosystem beyond government organizations to include innovative private sector participation enabled by recent space sector reforms.

Important Days News

International Mind–Body Wellness Day: Simple Guide to Holistic Health

• International Mind–Body Wellness Day is observed annually on January 3 to emphasize the fundamental interconnection between mental health and physical health, promoting awareness that psychological wellbeing and physiological health are inseparably linked rather than separate domains requiring independent attention.
• The observance promotes holistic health approaches including balanced living practices, preventive healthcare measures, mindfulness and meditation practices, nutritious eating habits, regular physical exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management techniques that address both mental and physical dimensions of wellness simultaneously.
• Modern lifestyle challenges including chronic stress, inadequate sleep patterns, sedentary behavior, poor dietary habits, social isolation, and excessive screen time can severely harm overall wellbeing, contributing to both mental health disorders and chronic physical diseases, making integrated wellness approaches increasingly essential.
• The day emphasizes that holistic health maintenance requires regular health monitoring through comprehensive medical tests, proactive lifestyle modifications, early intervention for emerging health concerns, and recognition that long-term wellness depends on addressing psychological, physical, social, and spiritual dimensions of human health in an integrated manner.

Important Days News

Birth Anniversary of Rani Velu Nachiyar: A Pioneer of Anti-Colonial Resistance

• Rani Velu Nachiyar, born in 1730 in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, was a pioneering queen who led one of the earliest organized armed resistances against British colonial rule in India, predating the widely recognized 1857 uprising by several decades and establishing herself as a precursor to India’s independence movement.
• Remembered annually on her birth anniversary on January 3, she courageously fought against the British East India Company after they killed her husband and captured her kingdom, forming strategic military alliances with neighboring rulers including Hyder Ali of Mysore, and training a dedicated army including women soldiers.
• She successfully employed innovative military tactics, including reportedly using the first human bomb in Indian history during her battles, and ultimately reclaimed the Sivagangai kingdom through sustained military campaigns, earning the honorific title “Veeramangai” meaning brave woman warrior in Tamil.
• Her legacy represents exceptional leadership, military strategic acumen, early resistance against colonial oppression, and pioneering women’s empowerment through active participation in warfare and governance, making her an inspirational historical figure whose contributions to India’s freedom struggle deserve greater recognition in national consciousness and history education.

Important Days News

Savitribai Phule 194th Birth Anniversary: Life and Legacy of India’s First Woman Teacher

• Savitribai Phule, born on January 3, 1831, in Naigaon, Maharashtra, was a pioneering social reformer, educationist, and poet who became India’s first woman teacher, breaking multiple social barriers in 19th century Indian society that severely restricted women’s education and public roles.
• Along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, she established India’s first girls’ school in Pune in 1848, facing intense social opposition, physical harassment, and ostracism from orthodox elements who considered women’s education a threat to traditional social hierarchies and gender norms.
• She dedicated her life to challenging the oppressive caste system and entrenched gender inequality, working tirelessly for the education and empowerment of Dalits, women, widows, and marginalized communities who were systematically denied access to education and subjected to social discrimination and exploitation.
• Savitribai Phule’s enduring legacy encompasses her revolutionary contributions to women’s education, her courageous advocacy for social justice and equality, her pioneering role in establishing educational institutions for marginalized groups, and her inspirational example of using education as a transformative tool for social reform, making her birth anniversary an important occasion for reflecting on continuing struggles for educational equity and social justice in contemporary India.