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The Magh Mela is an important annual religious festival celebrated at the Sangam, the holy confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. It is held in Prayagraj from Paush Purnima to Mahashivratri during the Hindu month of Magh. Devotees gather to take ritual baths, offer donations, and perform religious practices believed to bring spiritual merit. Many pilgrims observe Kalpavas, living simply on the riverbanks with disciplined routines involving meditation, chanting, charity, and early morning bathing at Brahma Muhurat.

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.

Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Pune Grand Tour 2026, India’s first UCI-recognised multi-stage professional road cycling race. The five-day international event spans 437 km across Maharashtra’s Deccan Plateau and Sahyadri Range, testing endurance, strategy, and technical skill. Dhoni’s leadership, discipline, fitness, and mental resilience bring credibility and visibility to the event. His involvement is expected to inspire young athletes, promote cycling as a professional sport in India, and attract attention from the public and corporate sectors, supporting India’s emergence on the global professional cycling map.

The World Bank has revised India’s GDP growth projection upward to 7.2% for FY26, up from an earlier estimate of 6.3% in June 2025. This revision reflects strong domestic demand, robust private consumption, and the positive impact of tax reforms that have improved disposable incomes, particularly in rural areas. Despite global uncertainties, including US tariffs on imports, India is expected to remain the fastest-growing major economy in FY26. The growth moderation to 6.5% is projected only for FY27, making 7.2% the accurate forecast for the current fiscal year.

The initiative to verify informal micro enterprises on the Udyam Assist Platform is a collaborative effort between the Department of Posts and SIDBI. In this arrangement, India Post is responsible for conducting nationwide, geo-tagged Contact Point Verification through its extensive field network. The responsibility for providing the technological backbone lies with SIDBI, which supplies the CPV mobile application, supporting systems, and necessary training. This ensures accurate data collection and helps verified enterprises gain smoother access to institutional credit, aligning with SIDBI’s role in promoting MSME development.

Aryaman Finance Ltd is the entity that obtained registration from the Reserve Bank of India on December 24, 2025, as a Type II Non-Banking Financial Institution, classified as a non-deposit taking Investment and Credit Company. This regulatory approval allows the company to legally operate in the lending and credit space. With this development, the parent company, Aryaman Financial Services Ltd, gains the ability to diversify its business operations beyond merchant banking. The RBI license is significant because it marks a strategic expansion into regulated financial activities, strengthening the group’s overall financial services portfolio.

National Mathematics Day in India is observed on December 22 to honour the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan, one of the country’s most celebrated mathematicians. The day was instituted by the Government of India in December 2011 to emphasise the importance of mathematics in scientific development, innovation, and everyday problem-solving. Observances include educational programs, seminars, and activities aimed at promoting mathematical thinking among students. December 22 serves as a tribute to Ramanujan’s extraordinary contributions to number theory and mathematics, while also encouraging greater interest in math education across the nation.

World AIDS Day 2025 is observed on December 01, a globally recognised date dedicated to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, supporting those living with the condition, and commemorating lives lost. The 2025 theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Improving AIDS Response,” highlights the need to strengthen healthcare systems and maintain uninterrupted access to treatment. India has made significant progress through the HIV/AIDS Act 2017 and the National AIDS Control Programme, expanding free antiretroviral therapy to 1.8 million people, maintaining strong treatment retention, and reducing AIDS-related deaths substantially.

Savitribai Phule, a pioneering social reformer and India’s first woman teacher, was born on January 3, 1831, in Naigaon, Maharashtra. Her birth anniversary is commemorated on January 3 and is observed as Women’s Education Day in Maharashtra to honour her immense contribution to female education. Along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, she co-founded the first girls’ school in Pune in 1848. Despite facing severe social discrimination, Savitribai Phule worked tirelessly for women’s rights, education, and social equality, leaving a lasting legacy in Indian history.

Russia has outlined ambitious plans to establish a power plant on the Moon by 2036 as part of its long-term lunar exploration strategy. Led by Roscosmos, the project is intended to supply continuous energy to lunar rovers, scientific observatories, and infrastructure linked to the Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station. With involvement from nuclear technology institutions such as Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute, the power source is expected to be nuclear, ensuring reliability during long lunar nights. This initiative reflects Russia’s efforts to revive its space programme and strengthen international cooperation in lunar exploration.

India and Saudi Arabia entered into a bilateral visa waiver agreement aimed at facilitating smoother official travel between the two nations. The pact provides mutual short-term visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, reducing administrative barriers for government officials. Signed in Riyadh under the Strategic Partnership Council framework, the agreement reflects deepening diplomatic ties and growing cooperation across sectors such as trade, energy, defense, and people-to-people exchanges. By simplifying travel procedures, the initiative is expected to enhance institutional dialogue, accelerate joint initiatives, and further strengthen the long-standing strategic relationship between India and Saudi Arabia.

A team from India achieved global recognition at the NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2025 by winning a top honour for an innovative satellite-based internet concept. The project focused on creating a sovereign broadband infrastructure using space-based technology to address connectivity gaps in remote and underserved regions. By targeting millions of people without reliable internet access, the concept demonstrated strong social impact, scalability, and technological innovation. This achievement highlights India’s growing capabilities in space technology, digital innovation, and problem-solving, as well as the strength of its innovation ecosystem on the global stage.

Armenia introduced the official logo for the COP17 Conference on Biological Diversity, highlighting its role as the host nation for the global event. The logo features the endemic Erivan Anomalous Blue butterfly, a species native to the region, symbolizing the fragility of ecosystems and the interconnectedness of biodiversity. Designed with 23 blended colours, the logo represents the 23 global biodiversity targets outlined under international commitments. COP17 is scheduled to be held in Yerevan in October 2026 and will focus on reviewing the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, emphasizing collective global action.

Indian Railways has set a clear long-term target to double the originating train capacity in 48 major cities by the year 2030. This timeline aligns with broader efforts to modernise rail infrastructure and address rapidly growing passenger demand in urban and peri-urban areas. The plan includes expanding terminals, constructing new platforms, developing additional stabling and maintenance facilities, and upgrading signalling systems. By setting 2030 as the milestone, the initiative aims to future-proof the rail network, reduce congestion at busy stations, improve punctuality, and enhance overall passenger comfort while supporting sustainable economic growth.

Lucknow has taken the lead in Uttar Pradesh in terms of rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. With over 62,000 rooftop solar setups, the city has played a key role in pushing the state beyond the milestone of three lakh installations. The scheme, launched in 2024, aims to provide affordable and clean energy by offering subsidies that enable households to generate their own electricity and receive up to 300 free units per month. Lucknow’s performance highlights effective implementation, public participation, and growing awareness of renewable energy benefits.

Microsoft has committed US$17.5 billion for 2026–2029 to strengthen India’s AI ecosystem, marking its largest-ever investment in Asia. The investment focuses on three pillars: building hyperscale AI infrastructure with the new India South Central cloud region, integrating AI into public platforms like e-Shram and National Career Service to benefit over 310 million informal workers, and skilling 20 million Indians by 2030 through initiatives like ADVANTA(I)GE India. Additionally, Microsoft is enhancing digital sovereignty with Sovereign Public and Private Cloud offerings, ensuring localized compliance, security, and AI-driven productivity solutions, positioning India as a global AI hub.

The India Open Badminton Super 750 tournament commenced at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, a major sporting venue located in New Delhi. The event marked an important return for several Indian shuttlers, including PV Sindhu, who led the national campaign after recovering from injury. Alongside her, emerging players and experienced athletes competed across singles and doubles categories. The tournament also served as crucial preparation for the upcoming BWF World Championships, which are scheduled to be held at the same venue, making New Delhi a central hub for international badminton during this period.

Odisha has announced the organisation of special Gram Sabhas across all areas governed under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, to commemorate the National PESA Mahotsav. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and highlights the state’s focus on strengthening grassroots democracy in Scheduled Areas. The initiative is jointly organised by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. PESA, which came into force on December 24, 1996, aims to empower tribal communities by granting them greater self-governance through Gram Sabhas.

IIT Bombay, through its Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), has introduced India’s first incubator-linked deep tech venture capital fund with a total corpus of ₹250 crore. The fund aims to support around 25–30 early-stage startups, with each receiving up to ₹15 crore in investment. Its focus spans several high-impact sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced computing, manufacturing technologies, novel materials, space, defence, nuclear technology, climate solutions, and healthcare innovations. This initiative is designed to strengthen India’s deep tech ecosystem by nurturing breakthrough ideas at the pre-seed and seed stages, helping startups accelerate development and scale.

IIT Delhi developed AILA, an advanced AI-powered laboratory assistant designed to transform the way scientific experiments are conducted. AILA uses agentic AI, enabling it to plan, decide, and adapt in a manner similar to a human researcher. It can independently design experiments, carry them out, and analyze results without continuous human intervention. The system was successfully demonstrated by controlling an Atomic Force Microscope in real time, highlighting its practical capabilities. One of its most significant advantages is efficiency, as it can reduce experiment durations from hours or even days to just a few minutes, accelerating research outcomes.