National Affairs

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Visits India; Announces USD 17.5 Billion AI Investment

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella visited India from December 10–12, 2025, marking his second visit to the country in 2025. His itinerary included high-level engagements across New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

• Meeting with PM: On December 10, 2025, Nadella met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss India's expanding digital ecosystem.
• Massive AI Commitment: Nadella announced a USD 17.5 billion (approx. ₹1.58 lakh crore) investment in India spanning four years (2026 to 2029). The capital is earmarked to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and train an AI-ready workforce.
• Employment MoU: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Microsoft and the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) in the presence of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. Under this pact, Microsoft will onboard over 15,000 employers and global partners onto India's National Career Service (NCS) platform.
• Copilot & Agentic AI Push: On December 11, in Bengaluru, Microsoft partnered with leading Indian IT firms—TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and Cognizant—to accelerate the deployment of Microsoft Copilot and agentic AI technologies. Each enterprise committed to deploying over 50,000 licenses, totaling more than 200,000 Copilot licenses globally and domestically.

MoSPI Report: India’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.7% in November 2025

The National Statistical Office (NSO), operating under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), released its 8th Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin for November 2025. The data revealed that the overall Unemployment Rate (UR) for individuals aged 15 and above fell to 4.7%, marking its lowest level since April 2025 (5.1%).

The survey sampled 3,73,229 individuals across the country (2,13,337 rural and 1,59,892 urban).

Key Definitions:

• LFPR: The percentage of individuals in the population who are either working, seeking work, or available for work.
• WPR: The percentage of employed persons relative to the total population.

India and Argentina Sign ICAR-INTA Work Plan (2025–2027) for Agriculture

India and Argentina formalized a bilateral Work Plan for 2025–2027 to deepen collaboration in agricultural research, technological exchange, and sustainable farming. The agreement was executed in New Delhi by Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary of DARE & Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and Mariano Augustin Caucino, Argentina’s Ambassador to India.

• Resource Management: Joint research into soil, water, and nutrient optimization, alongside sustainable agronomy practices like zero tillage and micro-irrigation.
• Biotechnology & Livestock: Focus on breeding resilient crop varieties, improving livestock genetics, and deploying advanced veterinary diagnostics.
• Digital Tools: Implementation of precision farming software, drones, and modern farm mechanization equipment.
• Plant & Animal Health: Sharing management frameworks for locust control and designing region-specific strategies to eliminate Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).

AFMS Launches India's First AI-Driven Diabetic Retinopathy Screening

The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), in collaboration with the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (RPC) at AIIMS and the eHealth AI Unit of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), launched India's first AI-driven community screening program for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).

Inaugurated at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) in New Delhi by Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin (DG, AFMS) and Prof. Radhika Tandon (Chief of RPC, AIIMS), the initiative targets early detection in underserved populations.

• The Technology: Powered by MadhuNetrAI, an AIIMS-developed web-based AI tool. It automatically analyzes retinal images captured via handheld fundus cameras to screen, grade, and triage patients.
• Accuracy: Validated on 3,000–4,000 images with a verified accuracy rate exceeding 95%, allowing field medical staff to conduct screenings without an on-site ophthalmologist.
• Pilot Phase: Deployed across seven distinct geographic zones to capture diverse demographics: Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Dharamshala, Gaya, Jorhat, and Kochi.

NHAI Introduces First 'Wildlife-Safe Road' on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched the country's first dedicated "wildlife-safe road" on a 2-kilometer ghat section of the Hiran–Sindoor stretch of National Highway 45 (NH-45) in Madhya Pradesh.

• Location: The 11.96-km, ₹122-crore highway project links Bhopal and Jabalpur, passing through the ecologically sensitive Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (VDTR) and neighboring Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Mitigation Infrastructure: Inspired by Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, the 2-km ghat section features a 5-mm hot-applied thermoplastic red surface with a raised chequered texture to visually and physically cue drivers to slow down.
• Animal Protection: The corridor includes 25 wildlife underpasses, 8-foot iron fencing along critical boundaries, speed detection devices, and specialized wildlife tracking cameras to protect tigers, deer, sambar, and jackals.
• Policy: Completed under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) Green Highways Policy of 2015.

President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan

On Vijay Diwas (December 16, 2025), President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The event was attended by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and the Chiefs of the three Armed Services.

• The Gallery: A dedicated exhibition area honoring the recipients of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India’s highest wartime military gallantry award.
• Features: Displays the detailed illustrations, portraits, and operational histories of all 21 PVC awardees to commemorate their self-sacrifice and inspire citizens.

International Affairs

PM Narendra Modi Visits Jordan; Proposes USD 5 Billion Trade Target

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a two-day official visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from December 15–16, 2025, kicking off a three-nation tour that includes Ethiopia and Oman. Invited by King Abdullah-II ibn Hussein, the visit coincided with the 75th anniversary of India–Jordan diplomatic relations.

• Bilateral Trade Boost: PM Modi proposed a target to scale bilateral trade between the two nations to USD 5 billion over the next 5 years.
• FinTech Integration: Discussions targeted linking Jordan’s digital payment systems directly with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for seamless cross-border transactions.
• 5 Key Pacts: The leaders exchanged five core MoUs covering:
  1. New and Renewable Energy (RE)
  2. Water resource management and development
  3. Cultural Exchange Programme (2025–2029)
  4. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) expansion
  5. A cultural twinning arrangement between the ancient archeological sites of Petra (Jordan) and Ellora (India).

Banking & Finance

RBI Issues 10th Edition of the Handbook of Statistics on Indian States

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) published the 10th edition of its "Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024-25". First published in 2016, the handbook offers consolidated time-series economic indicators spanning from 1951 to 2024-25, utilizing a simplified "one indicator–one table" format.

• Methodology Upgrades: The RBI has systematically phased out older data configurations with obsolete base years (e.g., 2004-05 base for State Domestic Product) and transitioned fully to the updated 2011-12 series.
• New Additions: This edition introduces a new External Sector section along with 11 specialized state-wise tables, including:
  • Domestic and Foreign Tourist Visits
  • Net State Value Added (at both Current and Constant Prices)
  • Status of Groundwater Extraction in India
  • State-wise Revenue Expenditure and Capital Receipts
  • Market Borrowings of State Governments
  • Gender-wise subscribers under the National Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
  • State-wise Net Export Volumes

State Bank of India Secures Euro 150 Million Line of Credit from KfW

The State Bank of India (SBI) finalized a Euro 150 million (approx. ₹1,360 crore) Line of Credit (LoC) with Germany’s KfW Development Bank at their headquarters in Frankfurt. The low-cost international capital will be utilized by SBI to finance advanced and innovative clean energy generation projects and scale green infrastructure across India.

SEBI Clears IPO Proposals for Seven Companies to Raise Over ₹6,000 Crore

Between December 8–12, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued regulatory observations clearing the Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) of seven companies. Collectively, these listings are projected to raise more than ₹6,000 crore.

The approved entities are:

1. Yashoda Healthcare Services
2. Fusion CX
3. Orient Cables (India) Limited
4. Turtlemint Fintech Solutions
5. RSB Retail India
6. SFC Environmental Technologies
7. Lohia Corp

IDFC First Bank Launches Foreign Currency Global Savings Account for NRIs

On December 16, 2025, IDFC First Bank introduced the IDFC First Global Savings Account designed specifically for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Offered via the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the digital-first account allows NRIs to manage foreign earnings seamlessly.

• Supported Currencies: US Dollar (USD) and Euro (EUR).
• Key Incentives: Offers interest rates of approximately 4.75% per annum on USD balances, zero fees on overseas transfers, 100% principal and interest repatriation, no minimum balance thresholds, and complete Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) exemption on all earned interest.

Awards & Recognitions

Elon Musk Becomes First Person to Cross USD 600 Billion Net Worth Threshold

Forbes announced that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has broken global wealth records by becoming the first person in history to surpass a net worth of USD 600 billion.

• The Wealth Catalyst: The surge was triggered by institutional updates surrounding SpaceX's upcoming market monetization strategies, valuing the aerospace firm at USD 800 billion. This single-day valuation adjustment added USD 168 billion to Musk’s net worth, bringing it to an estimated USD 677 billion.
• Future Outlook: Musk holds a 42% stake in SpaceX, which is preparing for an IPO that could potentially peg the company's valuation at USD 1.5 trillion.
• Tesla Drivers: Musk also holds a 12% stake in Tesla. Despite slower delivery volumes, Tesla shares climbed 13% over the year, augmented by shareholder ratification of his historic USD 1 trillion corporate pay package.

Appointments & Resignations

Sai Jadhav Graduates from IMA; Becomes First Woman Officer to Break 93-Year Record

In December 2025, 23-year-old Sai Jadhav from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, made history by becoming the first woman officer cadet to graduate from the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Her graduation marks the first time a woman has passed out since the academy's inception in 1932, breaking a 93-year-old male-only tradition.

• Commission: She has been commissioned as a Lieutenant (Lt.) in the Territorial Army (TA), marking another first for women officers from the IMA.
• Family Legacy: Lieutenant Jadhav represents the fourth generation of her family to serve in the armed forces. Her great-grandfather served in the British Army, her grandfather was an Indian Army officer, and her father, Sandeep Jadhav, is currently an active serviceman.
• Training Standards: Admitted under specialized institutional directives, she completed 6 months of rigorous, intensive combat and tactical training alongside her male counterparts. She will participate in the formal passing-out parade at the Chetwode Building in June 2026.

Suresh Goyal Appointed as 11th Director General of NCAER

The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) appointed Suresh Goyal as its 11th Director General, effective January 5, 2026. Goyal, the former MD and CEO of the National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT) and founding member of Macquarie Infrastructure Investment in India, succeeds Poonam Gupta following her transition to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as Deputy Governor.

B. Sairam Takes Charge as CMD of Coal India Limited

The Ministry of Coal appointed B. Sairam as the regular Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India Limited (CIL). His tenure is slated to run until his superannuation on March 31, 2028.

Sairam succeeds Sanoj Kumar Jha, who was managing the state-run miner via interim charge. In tandem, Sairam has been given an additional six-month charge as the CMD of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL).

Science & Technology

Indian Navy Commissions First Indigenous Diving Support Craft 'DSC A20'

On December 16, 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned DSC A20, the first vessel in a newly designed fleet of five Diving Support Crafts (DSC). The ceremony was conducted at the Naval Base in Kochi under the aegis of the Southern Naval Command, led by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena.

• Production & Validation: Built by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata, under a February 2021 Ministry of Defense contract. The vessel's unique architecture was validated via advanced hydrodynamic and model testing at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam.
• Design & Hull: Built to the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) naval standards, the craft features a high-stability catamaran hull configuration that maximizes open deck workspace and improves open-sea stabilization.
• Specifications & Role: Displacing roughly 390 tonnes, the vessel is customized for coastal underwater operations, naval diving team training, harbor clearance, salvage support, and non-destructive underwater hull inspections.

Obituary & Important Days

Veteran Journalist and Padma Shri Awardee Prafulla Govinda Baruah Passes Away

Prafulla Govinda Baruah, Chairman Emeritus and long-serving Editor of The Assam Tribune, passed away in Guwahati, Assam, at the age of 93. Born in Dibrugarh in 1932, Baruah assumed leadership of the media group as Managing Director in 1966 and took over as Editor in 1997.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2018 for his monumental contributions to literature, education, and ethical journalism in Northeast India. He also founded the popular monthly Assamese literary magazine Goriyasi and established the socio-cultural foundation Jyotirupa.

22nd International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers — December 17

Observed annually on December 17, this day coordinates global advocacy against discrimination, violence, and systematic abuse faced by sex workers, pushing for safer working conditions and human rights protections.

• History: Initiated in 2003 by Dr. Annie Sprinkle and Robin Few (founder of SWOP-USA) to memorialize the victims of the "Green River Killer" in Seattle, Washington.
• Global Organizer: Globally synchronized by the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP).
• The Symbol: The Red Umbrella, which originally surfaced during rights demonstrations in Venice, Italy, in 2001, serves as the universal emblem of resistance against stigma and discrimination.