National Affairs

IAF Hosts Bilateral Air Exercise AviaIndra-2025 with Russia

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has commenced the 3rd edition of Exercise AviaIndra (2025), a bilateral air exercise with the Russian Federation Aerospace Force (RFASF).

• Timeline: December 15 to December 22, 2025
• Location: New Delhi, India
• Key Assets Involved: Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighters, indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, IL-78 aerial refuellers, and Mil Mi-17 helicopters.
• Operational Scope: Coordinated aerial manoeuvres, air superiority tasks, and tactical planning.
• Background: Launched as a biennial exercise series in 2014, AviaIndra was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) and paused during the Russia–Ukraine conflict (2022–2024).

About Indian Air Force (IAF):

• Chief of the Air Staff (CAS): Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Established: 1932

TRAI Mandates 1600-Series Numbers for IRDAI-Regulated Entities

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed all entities regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to adopt a unified "1600" numbering series for service and transactional consumer calls.

• Deadline: February 15, 2026
• Objective: To distinguish legitimate communications from spam, curb unsolicited calls, and protect consumers from official impersonation and voice-call fraud.
• Context: The 1600 series is allocated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) specifically for Banking, Financial Services, Insurance (BFSI) entities and select government bodies.

DPIIT Launches Digital Module for e-B-4 Visa Support

The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has launched a new online module on the National Single Window System (NSWS) to simplify business visa procedures.

• Functionality: Enables Indian firms to instantly generate digital sponsorship letters to invite foreign professionals under the e-B-4 Visa (electronic Production Investment Business Visa).
• Key Reform: Moves production-linked operations (e.g., equipment installation, plant design, audits, and training) from the rigid employment visa category to a streamlined business visa.
• Integration: The e-B-4 visa replaces the older e-PLI Visa and features auto-populated forms verified via Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA) and GST Network (GSTN) data layers.

Bannerghatta Zoo Welcomes Black-Capped Capuchin Monkeys

Bengaluru's Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) has received eight black-capped capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) under an international animal exchange program.

• Consignment Details: Four males and four females imported from Induna Primate and Parrot Park in South Africa.
• Species Profile: Medium-sized primates native to Central and South America, characterized by a dark body, a distinct black head cap, and a long prehensile tail.
• Park Profile: BBP is located 22 km south of Bengaluru, spanning over 260 square kilometers. It comprises a zoo, safari, and a dedicated butterfly park.

India and Saudi Arabia Sign Bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement

India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Visa Waiver Agreement (VWA) in Riyadh to streamline official administrative travel between the two nations.

• Signatories: Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan (Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia) and Abdulmajeed bin Rashed Alsmari (Saudi Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs).
• Scope: Mutual short-stay visa exemptions applied exclusively to holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports. Note: This does not extend to ordinary passport holders, tourists, or standard business travellers.
• Framework: Executed under the high-level India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC).

International Affairs

PM Narendra Modi’s First Bilateral Visit to Ethiopia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a 2-day official visit to Ethiopia (December 16–17, 2025) as part of his three-nation tour covering Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. This marks the first-ever bilateral visit by PM Modi to the nation.

• Strategic Elevation: Diplomatic relations between India and Ethiopia have been formally elevated to a Strategic Partnership.
• Parliamentary Milestone: PM Modi addressed a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament, making it the 18th global parliament he has addressed.
• Key Agreements (MoUs Signed):
  1. Customs Cooperation: Mutual administrative assistance in customs management.
  2. UN Peacekeeping: Joint training cooperation arrangements for UN Peacekeeping operations.
  3. Data Infrastructure: Setting up a dedicated data centre at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  4. Debt Restructuring: Financial restructuring parameters under the G20 Common Framework.

About Ethiopia:

• Prime Minister: Abiy Ahmed Ali
• Capital: Addis Ababa
• Currency: Ethiopian Birr (ETB)

India-UAE Commenced Joint Military Drill 'DESERT CYCLONE-II'

The 2nd edition of the bilateral military exercise "DESERT CYCLONE-II" has commenced in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

• Timeline: December 18 to December 30, 2025
• Core Participants: The Indian Army's 45 Mechanised Infantry Regiment (45 personnel) and the UAE Land Forces' 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion (53 personnel).
• Operational Focus: Sub-conventional urban warfare operations under a UN mandate, focusing on fighting in built-up areas, heliborne operations, and the integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) alongside counter-UAS tactical maneuvers.
• Precursor: The inaugural edition (Desert Cyclone-I) was hosted by India at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (MFFR) in Rajasthan in January 2024.

Banking & Finance

SEBI Announces Broad Market Reforms at 212th Board Meeting

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has cleared structural market adjustments at its board meeting in Mumbai, targeting fee transparency and lowered transaction friction.

• Brokerage Cap Rationalisation:
  • Cash Market: The previous cap of 12 basis points (bps) inclusive of statutory levies has been reduced to a strict 6 bps (excluding levies).
  • Derivatives Market: The previous inclusive 5 bps cap has been modified to 2 bps (excluding levies).
• Transitory Exit Loads: The supplementary 5 bps charge historically permitted for schemes carrying exit loads has been permanently eliminated.
• Regulatory Structural Overhaul: The board approved structural revisions to the Mutual Fund guidelines, establishing the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 2026 for better readability and systemic coherence.

Google Pay and Axis Bank Launch Flex Credit Card on RuPay

Google Pay, in collaboration with Axis Bank, has introduced the 'Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card' native to the RuPay network.

• UPI Integration: The co-branded digital card is embedded directly within the Google Pay app, allowing real-time linking with everyday UPI transactions.
• Card Management: Offers end-to-end digital onboarding at zero cost without physical paperwork. PIN resets, transaction controls, and blocking mechanisms are handled instantly in-app.
• Reward Infrastructure: Introduces a point system termed Start, where rewards can be instantly redeemed at a fixed conversion rate of 1 Start point = ₹1. Flexible EMI conversions are also available directly on the dashboard.

Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL) Secures RBI Payment Aggregator License

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted final authorization to Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL) to operate as a full-suite Payment Aggregator (PA) for offline and cross-border channels.

• Licensing Footprint: Adding to its existing online PA status, this license allows PPSL to deploy physical Point-of-Sale (PoS) devices and process cross-border merchant trade under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.
• Compliance Mandate: PPSL must roll out its cross-border pipeline within 6 months, maintain target net-worth thresholds, and report any systemic anomalies within 6 hours.

Airtel Payments Bank Partners with NBBL for EV Wallet Recharges

Airtel Payments Bank has collaborated with NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) to integrate Electric Vehicle (EV) wallet top-ups into the central utility system.

• Technical Pipeline: Recharges are powered via the Bharat Connect platform (formerly BBPS) and nested directly inside the Airtel Thanks application.
• Impact: Solves charging interoperability challenges by offering EV drivers a single unified channel to add funds across diverse network providers without maintaining multiple isolated corporate apps.

Awards & Recognitions

Hurun India Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025

Hurun India, in association with IDFC FIRST Private Banking, published its 3rd annual index tracking the top 200 Indian corporate enterprises founded after the year 2000 by self-made entrepreneurs.

• Inclusion Floor: The minimum listing threshold rose 1.5 times over last year to ₹4,500 crore.
• Demographic Highlights:
  • Women in Leadership: The index tracks 20 women entrepreneurs led by Falguni & Adwaita Nayar (Nykaa - ₹67,500 crore) and Neha Bansal (Lenskart - ₹67,000 crore).
  • Generational Standouts: The youngest listed founders are Kaivalya Vohra (22) and Aadit Palicha (23) of Zepto, valued at ₹52,400 crore.

CRPF Officer Dinesh Khatak Conferred Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal

Second-in-Command (2IC) Dinesh Khatak of the 196 Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has been awarded the Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal (Kendriya Grah Mantri Dakshata Padak).

• Rationale: Recognizes over 20 years of continuous service, covering anti-insurgency command setups in Jammu & Kashmir (2008–2013; 2017–2021), counter-naxal forward operations out of Bijapur, and specialized training restructuring at the CIAT School in Shivpuri.
• The Medal: Honoured by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to security and police forces for sustained excellence, professional merit, and contributions to internal security.

Appointments & Resignations

ACC Re-Appoints Ashwini Tewari as SBI Managing Director

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a second extension for Ashwini Kumar Tewari as Managing Director of the State Bank of India (SBI).

• Tenure: Extended for two years, running from January 27, 2026, through December 31, 2027.
• Career Note: Tewari joined SBI as a Probationary Officer in 1991, formerly leading SBI Cards & Payment Services as MD & CEO before elevating to SBI's core executive suite in 2021.
• SBI Executive Matrix: With this approval, SBI's leadership roster maintains its complete allocation of four MDs: Ashwini Kumar Tewari, Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, Rama Mohan Rao Amarra, and Ravi Ranjan.

Science & Technology

Indian Navy Commissions MH-60R Seahawk Squadron INAS 335 at Goa

The Indian Navy has commissioned its second multi-mission MH-60R Seahawk helicopter squadron, Indian Naval Air Squadron 335 (INAS 335), nicknamed the "Ospreys", at INS Hansa in Goa.

• Command Structure: Presided over by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi (Chief of the Naval Staff) and led operationally by Captain Dhirender Bisht.
• Capabilities: Equipped with all-weather, multi-role Sikorsky MH-60R platforms, the squadron handles advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), surveillance, and search-and-rescue (SAR) missions along the western seaboard.

Indian Army Recieves Final Batch of AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters

Boeing has delivered the final cargo batch of three AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters to the Indian Army at Hindon Air Force Station, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

• Logistics: Transported via an Antonov An-124 strategic airlifter, this delivery fulfills the initial six-unit defense deal between India and the United States.
• Deployment Vector: The assets will enter active service with the newly raised 451 Army Aviation Squadron stationed at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, optimizing combat operations in desert terrains and high-threat border corridors.

Obituaries

Pulitzer-Winning War Correspondent Peter Arnett Passes Away

Veteran front-line war journalist Peter Arnett has passed away in California, USA, at the age of 91.

• Accolades & Legacy: Won the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for his coverage of the Vietnam War on behalf of The Associated Press (AP).
• Key Coverage: He later gained global recognition via CNN for his live broadcasting reporting from Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf War, followed by extensive reporting on the Second Gulf War in 2003.
• Published Work: His definitive 1995 memoir is titled 'Live From the Battlefield: From Vietnam to Baghdad, 35 Years in the World’s War Zones'.

Important Days

International Migrants Day – December 18

Observed globally by the United Nations to focus attention on the contributions of migrant workforces and to advocate for their fundamental human rights.

• 2025 Edition: 25th annual observance.
• Theme: "My Great Story: Cultures and Development"
• Historical Foundation: Proclaimed via UNGA Resolution A/RES/55/9 on December 4, 2000, honoring the date in 1990 when the assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
• Statistical Context: The OECD International Migration Outlook 2025 reports a record flow of approximately 6.2 million permanent migrants to OECD nations in 2024.

World Arabic Language Day – December 18

Observed annually by the UN and UNESCO to champion institutional multilingualism and cultural diversity.

• 2025 Milestone: 52nd anniversary of linguistic recognition.
• Theme: "Innovative Pathways for Arabic: Policies and Practices for a More Inclusive Linguistic Future"
• Significance: Marks December 18, 1973, when the UNGA passed Resolution 3190 (XXVIII), officially making Arabic the sixth working language of the United Nations. The day was established by UNESCO in 2010 and first observed globally in 2012.