Stay informed with our weekly wrap-up of the most significant developments from 14 December to 20 December 2025. This week's highlights include India’s strategic diplomatic missions to Ethiopia and Oman, major legislative reforms in education and labour, and the Indian Rupee reaching a historic low. From green energy milestones in Varanasi to India’s rising dominance in global AI, this digest covers the essential updates across National, International, Economy, and Sports sectors.

National

• Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar Bill 2025: The Union Government prepared to table this bill to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), aiming for a more streamlined employment mission.

• Electoral Reforms Debate: A heated exchange occurred in Parliament between Home Minister Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi over proposed electoral reforms and the role of the Election Commission.

• Cyber Fraud Crackdown: The CBI filed a charge sheet against 17 individuals, including four Chinese nationals, for operating a massive transnational cyber fraud network across several Indian states.

• Child Health Survey: A study by AIIMS-Delhi revealed that the average age of children picking up smoking or drug habits in 10 major Indian cities has dropped to 13 years.

• Aviation Expansion: The Noida International Airport conducted successful calibration flights for its instrument landing system (ILS) ahead of its expected operational date.

International

• Indian Embassy Threats: Security was tightened around the Indian Embassy in Bangladesh following reports of threats from local extremist groups targeting Indian interests.

• UAE Online Gaming: The United Arab Emirates launched Play971, its first officially licensed digital platform for sports betting and iGaming.

• Thailand-Cambodia Conflict: Thailand declared a curfew in its southeastern Trat Province as border fighting with Cambodia spread to coastal regions.

• NYC Resignation: Catherine Almonte Da Costa, a top director for New York City’s mayor-elect, resigned following a controversy over past antisemitic remarks.

• Cross-Border Energy: SJVN Ltd (India) reviewed the progress of the 900 MW Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project in Nepal, which is crucial for regional energy security.

Economy

• World Bank Loan: The World Bank approved $600 million in financing for clean air programmes in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, targeting pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

• Forex Reserves: India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $1.68 billion to reach $688.94 billion for the week ended 12 December 2025.

• Ola Electric Achievement: Ola Electric commenced same-day delivery for its new vehicles powered by the indigenously developed 4680 Bharat Cell.

• Trade Deficit Forecast: The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) projected that India’s trade deficit with China could reach $106 billion by the end of 2025.

States

• Jammu & Kashmir: Hosted its first-ever International Indian Style Wrestling (Dangal) event at the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu.

• Assam: The state granted Indian citizenship to more individuals under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), including the first woman in the state to receive it under this Act.

• Gujarat: The Chief Minister inaugurated the CREDAI National Conclave, focusing on the real estate sector's role in making India a developed nation by 2047.

• Haryana: The government announced the formation of Hansi as the 23rd district of the state.

Sports

• T20 World Cup 2026 Squad: The BCCI announced India’s 15-member squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Notably, Shubman Gill was excluded from the lineup.

• U-19 Asia Cup: India defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the semi-final in Dubai, setting up a final clash against Pakistan.

• Badminton: The pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty reached the semi-finals of the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, but lost to the world-ranking Chinese duo.

• Tennis: India's Rohan Bopanna announced his final professional tournament schedule for the upcoming 2026 season.

Awards & Honours

• NDTV Indian of the Year: The Indian Armed Forces were collectively honoured as "NDTV’s Indian of the Year 2025" for their service and sacrifice.

• Kalinga Ratna Award: Conferred upon Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his contributions to education and social service.

• Time’s Most Influential: TIME Magazine featured global AI leaders, including Jensen Huang and Elon Musk, as the most influential figures of 2025 for their impact on the tech landscape.

Important Persons

• Ramakrishnan Chander: Appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) of LIC of India for a tenure until September 2027.

• Satadru Dutta: The organiser of the Lionel Messi event in Kolkata was remanded to police custody following a probe into stadium vandalism.

• Kiran Nadar: Appointed as the chairperson of the jury for a new national initiative to honour outstanding Indian artists.

Other Facts

• ISRO Satellite: ISRO successfully launched GSAT-31A, a communication satellite designed to enhance digital connectivity and disaster management in remote Indian regions.

• Environment: Parts of Southern India experienced an unseasonal temperature drop due to the influence of Cyclone Bakung in the Indian Ocean.

• FSSAI Safety Report: FSSAI released a statement clarifying that eggs are safe for consumption, debunking recent viral claims regarding cancer risks associated with them.