Current Affairs - December 28, 2025 Current Affairs

Salman Khan: The Sultan of Bollywood is authored by Mohar Basu, an award-winning journalist and writer known for her work in entertainment journalism. The book offers an in-depth exploration of Salman Khan’s cinematic journey, cultural influence, and mass appeal over nearly three decades. It goes beyond a conventional biography by weaving together fan experiences, industry perspectives, and rare archival photographs. Through detailed analysis of iconic roles and the phenomenon surrounding his stardom, the author captures why Salman Khan remains one of the most enduring and celebrated figures in Hindi cinema.

Zoho played a crucial supporting role in the development of India’s first Made-in-India MRI scanner by backing the medtech startup VoxelGrids. This support enabled the startup to design and manufacture a 1.5-tesla MRI machine entirely within the country, significantly reducing reliance on imported diagnostic equipment. The indigenous MRI is around 40% cheaper than foreign alternatives and does not require liquid helium, making it more cost-effective and sustainable. Zoho’s backing aligns with the goals of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, strengthening domestic innovation, improving affordable healthcare access, and boosting India’s medical technology ecosystem.

India launch the first national weapon database marks a significant step in strengthening internal security and counter-terrorism mechanisms. By creating a centralized digital repository to track lost, stolen, looted, and recovered government firearms, the initiative enhances coordination among law enforcement and investigative agencies. Real-time access to verified weapon data helps trace the origin, movement, and recovery history of firearms, reducing the risk of such weapons reaching terrorist groups, Naxalites, or criminal gangs. This systematic tracking improves preventive policing, supports faster investigations, and reinforces nationwide efforts to combat terrorism and organized crime.

The integration of NATGRID with the National Population Register significantly strengthens India’s intelligence and law-enforcement framework. NPR is a comprehensive, family-wise database of usual residents of India, maintained under the Citizenship Act. By linking NATGRID with NPR, agencies gain access to verified demographic and familial relationships, enabling deeper network analysis and faster identification of suspects. This integration supports counter-terrorism, crime detection, and tracking of movement patterns by combining real-time intelligence with reliable population data, thereby improving coordination, accuracy, and efficiency in criminal investigations across authorised agencies.

The discovery of India’s largest circular stone labyrinth was made in the Boramani grasslands of Solapur district, located in Maharashtra. Dating back nearly 2,000 years to the Satavahana period, the structure highlights the historical importance of Maharashtra as a major hub in ancient inland and coastal trade networks. With 15 concentric stone circuits—the highest recorded in India—the labyrinth provides valuable evidence of Indo-Roman trade connections and ancient navigation systems. Its location and design suggest it served as a visible trade-route marker, reinforcing Maharashtra’s role in long-distance commerce during the Early Common Era.

Anu Garg’s appointment as Odisha’s first woman Chief Secretary represents a landmark moment in the state’s administrative history. A 1991-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, she brings over three decades of experience across key departments at both state and central levels. Her previous roles include serving as Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary and as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. Known for her field-oriented and reform-driven approach, her leadership is expected to strengthen governance, improve Centre–State coordination, and further promote gender diversity in senior civil services.

Bihar’s first supercomputer, Param Rudra, was inaugurated at IIT Patna, marking a significant advancement in regional research infrastructure. As part of the National Supercomputing Mission, the facility provides high-performance computing capabilities using largely indigenous technologies. It enables faculty members and students to conduct advanced research in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, computational chemistry, material science, and fluid mechanics. By supporting complex simulations and large-scale data analysis, the supercomputer strengthens academic and scientific capacity in Bihar and contributes to India’s goal of self-reliance in supercomputing technologies.

Coal India Limited has strengthened its top leadership by appointing its Chairman-cum-Managing Director, B. Sairam, as the Chief Executive Officer. The decision, effective from 15 December 2025, consolidates leadership to improve strategic coordination and operational efficiency at India’s largest coal producer. With over three decades of experience in the coal sector, Sairam brings extensive technical and managerial expertise. His previous roles at Northern Coalfields Limited and Central Coalfields Limited involved major infrastructure, logistics, and capacity expansion initiatives, making him well-suited to guide Coal India amid rising production demands and energy security expectations.

The Global Chess League 2025 Season 3 witnessed a landmark achievement as Alpine SG Pipers clinched their first-ever title. The team’s success was driven by the outstanding leadership and performances of R Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri. Anish Giri delivered exceptional consistency and tactical brilliance, winning crucial games and earning the MVP of the Finals award. R Praggnanandhaa complemented this with a decisive and timely victory in the second match, showcasing maturity under pressure. Together, their combined efforts proved vital in defeating the defending champions and securing the championship.

PV Sindhu’s election as Chair of the BWF Athletes’ Commission marks an important milestone in her career beyond competitive badminton. As a two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion, she brings immense experience and credibility to global sports governance. In her new role, she will represent the voices and concerns of badminton players worldwide and serve as a member of the BWF Council, directly influencing policy and decision-making. Her long association with the commission since 2017 and work as a BWF Integrity Ambassador underline her commitment to athlete welfare, fairness, and integrity in the sport.