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Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor, received the prestigious CII Quality Ratna Award 2025 in recognition of his transformative contributions to India’s quality movement. He played a pivotal role in introducing and championing Total Quality Management (TQM) practices across the Indian automotive sector. Under his leadership, TVS Motor became the first non-Japanese two-wheeler company to earn the Deming Prize in 2002, a global benchmark for excellence in quality. His lifelong commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and organizational improvement has significantly influenced Indian industry standards, earning him this distinguished honour.

KV Subramanian became the first Indian economist to receive the prestigious University of Chicago Alumni Award for Professional Achievement in the award’s 85-year history. The honour recognises his significant contributions to economic policy and research. During his tenure as Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India from 2018 to 2021, he authored three influential Economic Surveys that provided key insights into India’s economic strategy, emphasising competitive markets, policy autonomy, and inclusive growth. He has also served as Executive Director for India at the International Monetary Fund, focusing on issues affecting emerging markets. Currently, he works as a Professor of Finance at the Indian School of Business (ISB).

Dina Powell McCormick, a former Meta board member, has been appointed as President and Vice Chairman of Meta. In this role, she will join the management team to guide the company’s overall strategy, collaborate with infrastructure teams, and align major investments with long-term objectives. Additionally, she will focus on building strategic capital partnerships and expanding Meta’s investment capacity globally. Her appointment underscores the company’s emphasis on strong leadership to drive innovation, scale operations, and address global technological and financial opportunities while maintaining alignment with Meta’s strategic goals.

Amit Agrawal has taken charge as the new Telecom Secretary following a major administrative reshuffle involving several key ministries. His appointment marks a shift from his earlier role as Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, where he served since December 2024. As an experienced IAS officer from the 1993 Chhattisgarh cadre, his new responsibilities include overseeing digital infrastructure projects, telecom policy implementation, spectrum allocation, and coordination with regulatory bodies. This change forms part of a broader government effort to strengthen leadership in sectors vital to national growth and technological advancement.

Nidhi Chhibber has taken additional charge as the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog following the completion of BVR Subrahmanyam’s three-year term in February 2026. A 1994-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, she currently serves as Director General of the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) under NITI Aayog. She has also previously held the position of Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education. Her extensive experience in policy monitoring, evaluation, and education sector reforms positions her to strengthen data-driven governance and performance assessment within India’s premier policy think tank.

SBI has taken a strategic step to strengthen India’s digital payment ecosystem by acquiring a 50% stake in the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC). The bank invested ₹10 crore to acquire 1 crore shares in this not-for-profit entity, which has an authorised capital of ₹500 crore. IDPIC is designed to function as a unified fraud-detection platform that enables real-time data sharing and collective intelligence among stakeholders. This initiative aims to prevent digital payment frauds, enhance customer protection, and build greater trust in digital transactions across the country.

IIM Ahmedabad entered into a memorandum of understanding with its alumna, Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon to set up the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI, backed by a substantial ₹100 crore endowment. The initiative is designed to strengthen India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem by promoting responsible and inclusive AI development. It focuses on addressing nation-scale challenges, encouraging innovation at the intersection of technology and societal impact, and creating employment opportunities. This move further reinforces IIM Ahmedabad’s leadership role in management education and emerging technology-driven research in India.

Kisan Diwas, or National Farmers’ Day, is observed annually on December 23 to recognise the invaluable contribution of farmers to India’s economy and society. The date marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, India’s fifth Prime Minister, who strongly advocated farmers’ rights, land reforms, and rural development. Declared officially in 2001, the day highlights the importance of agriculture in ensuring food security, rural prosperity, and sustainable development. Various events such as seminars, exhibitions, and awareness programmes are organised nationwide to address challenges faced by farmers and promote modern, climate-resilient farming practices.

India secured its re-election to the Codex Executive Committee for the Asia region, reinforcing its influential role in shaping global food standards and trade-related food safety policies. This unanimous decision reflects the confidence of the international community in India’s leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to balanced, science-based regulatory frameworks. Through active participation in multiple Codex committees, India has consistently advocated for standards that incorporate regional realities while aligning with global best practices. Its contributions span food additives, pesticide residue monitoring, analytical methods, and commodity standards, including progress on cashew kernel regulations. This renewed mandate empowers India to continue shaping equitable and effective global food governance.

The UAE launched the world’s first sovereign financial cloud platform through its Central Bank, marking a significant milestone in digital financial infrastructure. The platform, named Financial Cloud, is a fully regulated and secure cloud environment exclusively designed for licensed financial institutions within the country. It ensures strict compliance with data sovereignty, cybersecurity, and regulatory standards while allowing institutions to host critical workloads and applications. The initiative supports the nation’s broader vision of becoming a global fintech and digital economy hub under UAE Vision 2031 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, reducing dependence on global hyperscalers.

Sri Lanka is the country whose DFCC Bank issued the first-ever Blue Bond that was dually listed on the NSE International Exchange at GIFT City. The LKR 3 billion bond was initially listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange before being admitted to trading under GIFT City’s offshore regulatory framework. Blue bonds are a specialised subset of green bonds that channel investments into ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, marine ecosystem protection, and water security projects. The dual listing enhances global investor participation and strengthens the country’s presence in sustainable and innovative financial markets.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee is remembered for his visionary leadership, strong democratic values, and balanced approach to nationalism and inclusiveness. During his tenure as Prime Minister, India conducted the Pokhran nuclear tests in May 1998 under Operation Shakti, asserting strategic autonomy and global standing. His slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan” reflected a holistic vision integrating defence, agriculture, and science. Vajpayee’s governance reforms left a lasting imprint on India’s development path, and his birth anniversary is observed as Good Governance Day, highlighting his enduring legacy in public life.

New Delhi is moving to classify human rabies as a notifiable disease, a step that requires all confirmed cases to be officially reported to public health authorities. This measure enables real-time disease surveillance, early detection of outbreaks, and faster public health responses. Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals such as dogs, cats, bats, and monkeys, typically via bites, scratches, or open wounds. Since rabies is almost 100 percent fatal once symptoms appear, timely reporting, vaccination, and preventive measures are critical to saving lives and controlling the spread of the disease.

The World Health Organisation has prequalified an additional novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to enhance global outbreak response against circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). This vaccine is genetically more stable than older oral polio vaccines and carries a lower risk of mutating into virulent strains while maintaining its ability to quickly stop virus transmission. The prequalification confirms that it meets international standards for safety, quality, and effectiveness, enabling global procurement and distribution. It also diversifies vaccine supply and strengthens worldwide efforts aimed at the final eradication of polio.

The Asian Archery Championships 2025 took place in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, where India performed exceptionally well by winning a total of ten medals. These included six gold, three silver, and one bronze across various categories, particularly excelling in compound events with strong showings in both individual and team competitions. Hosting the event in Dhaka provided a competitive platform for archers from across the continent to showcase their skills. India’s success at this edition also reflected an improvement compared to its previous performance in 2023, where it had secured seven medals.

Anant Rana, a 33-year-old athlete from Jamshedpur, achieved a remarkable milestone by successfully completing the Full Ironman New Zealand triathlon in 11 hours and 50 minutes. The challenging endurance event took place in Taupo, New Zealand, and includes three demanding segments: a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km cycling race, and a 42.2 km marathon run. Rana completed the swimming segment in 1 hour 28 minutes, the cycling portion in 6 hours 19 minutes, and the marathon in 3 hours 46 minutes. Finishing well within the official 17-hour time limit, he demonstrated exceptional endurance and determination. He is associated with the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation and resides in Sonari, Jamshedpur.

Andhra Pradesh is preparing to launch the ambitious Amaravati Quantum Valley project with the objective of positioning the state as a global centre for quantum research and innovation. The initiative focuses on key areas such as quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum-safe technologies, supported by collaborations with industry leaders like IBM and Tata Consultancy Services and prominent academic institutions. By creating specialised infrastructure, encouraging public–private partnerships, and nurturing skilled talent, the project aligns with India’s broader push toward emerging technologies and aims to strengthen national capabilities in strategic and future-oriented domains.

Odisha is hosting the Regional AI Impact Conference on December 19–20, positioning itself as a key player in India’s evolving artificial intelligence ecosystem. The conference focuses on the application of AI in governance and public services, with emphasis on sustainability, inclusive growth, and technology-led reforms. It aligns with the larger India AI Impact Summit 2026 and follows Odisha’s proactive AI roadmap under the Odisha AI Policy 2025. Guided by the theme of “Planet, People and Progress,” the event highlights AI use across sectors such as health, education, disaster management, and social welfare, reinforcing Odisha’s vision of becoming a future-ready AI hub.

Maitri II is envisioned as India’s modern, all-weather Antarctic research station that will replace the existing Maitri I facility. The project timeline was revised from earlier estimates, reflecting the scale and complexity of constructing advanced infrastructure in the harsh Antarctic environment. The new completion target aligns with India’s long-term scientific and logistical planning, allowing sufficient time for design, site preparation, and construction. By aiming for completion in 2032, the project ensures the development of state-of-the-art laboratories and reliable support systems to strengthen India’s contribution to global climate, glaciology, and environmental research.

IIT Hyderabad entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with NMDC’s R&D Centre to promote long-term academic and industry collaboration in mineral and metals research. The partnership integrates NMDC’s practical field expertise with the institute’s academic strength and technological innovation. The collaboration focuses on critical areas such as iron ore beneficiation, green steelmaking technologies, alternate ironmaking processes using indigenous raw materials, and advanced modeling and simulation in mining and metallurgy. This initiative aims to support India’s mineral security, encourage sustainable industrial practices, and enhance self-reliance in strategic materials through research-driven solutions.