NEWS 31-12-2025. News For 5th-Jan (Monday) *SUMMARY OF DECEMBER 2025* *International News:* 1. India has been re-elected to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council with highest votes. India secured 154 out of 169 valid votes — the highest in its category — to remain on the IMO Council for the 2026-27 term. 2. Amid renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine, Putin has declared Russia is prepared to fight Europe if provoked. 3. India and Japan held 2+2 dialogue in Tokyo, focusing on defence, industrial collaboration, advanced military tech sharing, and Indo-Pacific security cooperation. 4. US has launched Operation Hawkeye Strike on 19 Dec 2025 on Syria, in retaliation to a deadly Palmyra attack that killed the US soldiers. 5. US has approved a $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan. 6. PM Narendra Modi undertook a diplomatic visit to Ethiopia, Oman, and Jordan to strengthen India’s engagement with Africa and West Asia. 7. India and New Zealand have signed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between them to boost bilateral trade, market access, and cooperation in agriculture, services. *National News:* 1. UPI recorded more than 19 billion transactions totaling ?24.58 lakh crore in Nov '25, marking a 23 % year-on-year rise. 2. *Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS)* between India and Russia got ratified. This will enable mutual use of military facilities, ports, and logistics facilities. 3. India has recorded historic foodgrain output — 357 million tonnes in 2025. This is an additional 100 million tonnes over the last 10 years. 4. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) inaugurated 125 infrastructure projects worth ~?5,000 crore — the largest single-day launch in BRO’s history, aimed at strengthening strategic connectivity in border regions. 5. At the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, 16 agreements were exchanged between India and Russia across defence, trade, economy, healthcare, academics, culture and media — reaffirming strong India–Russia strategic and defence ties. 6. Scientists at INST Mohali have developed a nanoparticle pathway for Alzheimer’s therapy, marking progress in Indian biomedical research. 7. SHANTI Bill, 2025, has become an Act. It will now allow private participation in boosting nuclear energy. The Act aims to support India’s long-term energy security and net-zero emission goals. 8. DHRUV64, India’s indigenous 12 Core, 64-bit microprocessor, has been developed by C-DAC, Pune. This will reduce dependence on foreign chips. It is designed for use in strategic sectors & industrial systems, strengthening India’s semiconductor self-reliance. 9. JP Morgan Chase is setting up Asia’s largest Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Powai, Mumbai, expected to employ up to 30,000 people by 2029.The GCC will handle IT, financial operations, data analytics, and innovation, highlighting India’s growing role as a global finance and technology hub. 10. ISRO successfully launched the BlueBird Block-2, the heaviest commercial satellite, aboard the LVM3 rocket, marking a major milestone in India’s heavy-lift launch capability. *Defence News:* 1. On 2 Dec 2025, DRDO successfully conducted a high-speed “rocket-sled” test of a combat aircraft ejection system at 800 km/h, demonstrating India’s growing capability in indigenous defence-technology development and improving pilot safety for high-speed jets. 2. The tri-national air exercise among India, France and UAE was carried out over the Arabian Sea — signalling growing defence cooperation beyond traditional partners and enhancing India’s interoperability with foreign air forces. 3. India inducted the final three AH-64E Apache attack helicopters into services, completing its first dedicated Apache unit. 4. India successfully tested the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile, an indigenous long-range nuclear-capable system. *Sports News:* 1. Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya scored a blistering 50 in just 16 balls in the 5th T20I against South Africa, becoming the second-fastest Indian to reach a T20 fifty after Yuvraj Singh. 2. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 final held in Pune, Jharkhand defeated Haryana by 69 runs to win the title for the first time, with captain Ishan Kishan scoring a century and being named Player of the Match. 3. Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Simranpreet Brar won gold at the National Shooting Championships. 4. Jasprit Bumrah became the first Indian bowler to claim 100 wickets in all three formats (Test, ODI, and T20). 5. The Indian under-17 football team beat Iran 2-1 at Ahmedabad, thus securing a berth for the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. < < Back