NATIONAL NEWS

Jammu and Kashmir Launches First Gen Z Post Office

Jammu and Kashmir has launched its first Gen Z Post Office at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences Vijaypur, marking a major step towards modernising and digitising postal services.

With this launch, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Vijaypur has become the first All India Institute of Medical Sciences in India to host a Gen Z Post Office.

The Gen Z Post Office was inaugurated on 17 December 2025 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Vijaypur campus.

The facility was inaugurated by Professor (Dr.) Shakti Kumar Gupta, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of All India Institute of Medical Sciences Vijaypur, in the presence of the Chief Postmaster General of the Jammu and Kashmir Circle and other senior postal officials.

The initiative reflects the Department of Posts’ shift towards customer centric, technology enabled and youth oriented postal services, aligned with the expectations of younger generations.

The Gen Z Post Office integrates postal services, banking services and insurance services under one roof with a modern ambience and simplified service delivery.

It offers digital payment options, faster transaction processing and improved accessibility, making postal services more efficient and user friendly.

The facility promotes India Post Payments Bank services, postal savings schemes and insurance products, with a special focus on financial inclusion of students and young professionals.

Establishing the Gen Z Post Office within an institutional campus ensures easy access to essential services and strengthens collaboration between India Post and premier educational and healthcare institutions.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Armenia Unveils Yerevan Blue Butterfly as Official Logo for COP17 on Biodiversity

The Government of Armenia unveiled the Yerevan Blue Butterfly as the official logo for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

COP17 is scheduled to be held in October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.

Armenia also announced the official COP17 slogan – “Taking Action for Nature.”

The COP17 logo is inspired by the Erivan Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus eriwanensis), a blue butterfly endemic to the Yerevan region.

The butterfly symbol represents local biodiversity, ecological resilience, and conservation awareness.

The logo features 23 blended colours, symbolising the 23 targets of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The Kunming (China)–Montreal (Canada) Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted in 2022.

The framework aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

The COP17 emblem and slogan underline Armenia’s focus on shifting from broad commitments to targeted and coordinated global action for biodiversity conservation.

 

BANKING

Asian Development Bank Commits USD 4.26 Billion Sovereign Lending to India

Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed USD 4.258 billion in sovereign lending to India in 2025 to support skilling, renewable energy, urban infrastructure, transport, healthcare, and ecotourism.

Out of 16 newly committed ADB projects, nearly 32% focus on human and social development, 26% on the energy sector (mainly renewables), and over 18% on urban development.

A major allocation of USD 846 million was approved for PM-SETU, aimed at modernising Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and strengthening India’s skill ecosystem.

ADB committed USD 650 million for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to scale up rooftop solar adoption nationwide.

For urban transformation, USD 775 million was allocated to projects in Assam, Kerala, Sikkim, and West Bengal, focusing on water supply and sanitation services.

An additional USD 729 million will be used to expand regional rapid rail (Delhi–Meerut) and metro networks in Chennai and Indore, improving urban mobility and reducing congestion.

Other key loans include USD 460 million for rural power and solar irrigation in Maharashtra.

USD 398.8 million was sanctioned for healthcare infrastructure and medical education in Assam.

Over USD 200 million was committed for ecotourism projects in Meghalaya and Uttarakhand, highlighting ADB’s focus on inclusive and sustainable growth.

Canara HSBC Life Partnered with Equitas SFB

Canara HSBC Life Insurance has entered into a bancassurance partnership with Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFB) to expand life insurance penetration across India.

The partnership will leverage Equitas SFB’s network of 994 branches and 365 ATMs across 18 States and Union Territories, with a focus on southern and western India.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance will offer a wide range of products including protection, savings, annuity, child plans, and investment-linked insurance products through the bank’s distribution channels.

Reserve Bank of India Imposes ₹61.95 Lakh Penalty on Kotak Mahindra Bank

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹61.95 lakh on Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited.

The penalty was imposed for non-compliance with RBI guidelines on Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts (BSBDA), Business Correspondent (BC) activities, and Credit Information Companies (CIC) Rules, 2006.

RBI found that Kotak Mahindra Bank opened multiple BSBDA accounts for customers who already held such accounts, violating regulatory norms.

The bank also entered into arrangements with BCs to undertake activities beyond the permissible scope under RBI directions.

The penalty was imposed under the powers conferred by Section 47A(1)(c) read with Section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act and Section 25(1)(iii) read with Section 23(4) of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.

South Indian Bank Introduces RuPay Contactless SIB Paytag Sticker

South Indian Bank launched the RuPay Contactless SIB Paytag Sticker, an NFC-enabled payment instrument for fast and secure digital payments.

The compact sticker can be attached to mobile phones, wallets, or cardholders, enabling tap-and-pay transactions without a physical debit card.

The Paytag Sticker allows contactless payments at POS terminals using the RuPay infrastructure.

For transactions up to ₹5,000, no PIN is required, while transactions above ₹5,000 at POS terminals require PIN authentication.

HCLTech Signs Multi-Year Digital Modernisation Partnership with Netherlands’ ASN Bank

HCL Technologies (HCLTech) entered into a multi-year strategic partnership with ASN Bank, the Netherlands’ fourth-largest retail bank, to modernise digital operations and IT architecture.

The partnership focuses on modernisation and standardisation of IT systems, enabling a future-ready digital organisation for ASN Bank.

It aims to streamline IT services, reduce the number of vendors, and automate core banking processes to enhance efficiency.

HCLTech will support enterprise applications and IT systems through a scalable distributed delivery model.

The collaboration is expected to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and rationalise existing products.

The partnership aligns with ASN Bank’s ‘Simplify and Grow’ strategy and strengthens HCLTech’s presence in the Dutch banking sector.

 

DEFENCE

ICG Commissions New-Generation Fast Patrol Vessel ‘Amulya’ Built by Goa Shipyard Limited

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned ICG Ship ‘Amulya’ on 19 December 2025 at Goa.

Amulya is the third of eight Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessels, representing a new-generation indigenous patrol vessel.

The vessel was designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), reflecting India’s indigenous shipbuilding capability.

With over 60% indigenous components, ICGS Amulya supports the Government initiatives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.

The 51-metre-long vessel integrates a modern design philosophy focused on efficiency, endurance, and rapid response capability.

The ship is powered by two advanced 3000 kW diesel engines, enabling a top speed of 27 knots.

ICGS Amulya has an operational endurance of 1,500 nautical miles, allowing extended missions in India’s maritime zones.

Mission roles of ICGS Amulya include surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue (SAR), anti-smuggling operations, and pollution response.

ICGS Amulya will be based at Paradip, Odisha, under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (North East).

The ship is commanded by Commandant (JG) Anupam Singh.

Crew strength of ICGS Amulya consists of 05 officers and 34 personnel, totaling 39 crew members.

Indian Navy Retires INS Sindhughosh

The Indian Navy decommissioned INS Sindhughosh (S55), the lead Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine, after 40 years of service.

The decommissioning ceremony was held at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on 19 December 2025.

The event was presided over by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

The decommissioning marked the end of a four-decade-long operational career, highlighting INS Sindhughosh’s significant contribution to India’s maritime security.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

IIFL Finance Names Ex-RBI Deputy Governor BP Kanungo as Non-Executive Chairman

IIFL Finance Limited, a retail-focused diversified NBFC, appointed Bibhu Prasad (BP) Kanungo as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board with immediate effect on 19 December 2025.

BP Kanungo is a former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is currently serving as a Non-Executive Independent Director on the IIFL Finance Board.

As Chairman, BP Kanungo will play a key role in framing strategic policies, strengthening corporate governance, and safeguarding shareholder interests.

BP Kanungo has nearly 40 years of experience in central banking, monetary policy, and financial regulation.

He served as Deputy Governor of RBI from 2017 to 2021 and was also a Member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

 

SPORTS

Jharkhand Wins First Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Title 2025–26

Jharkhand scripted history by winning their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) title in the 2025–26 season, defeating Haryana by 69 runs in the final held at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.

Jharkhand posted 262 runs for 3 wickets, while Haryana were bowled out for 193 runs, making it the highest team total ever recorded in a T20 tournament final in Indian domestic cricket.

Ishan Kishan played a match-winning innings of 101 runs off 49 balls, hit the most sixes in the tournament, and finished as the leading run-scorer of SMAT 2025–26.

Kumar Kushagra scored 81 runs off 38 balls and shared a massive 177-run partnership with Ishan Kishan, maintaining scoring momentum after the powerplay.

Anukul Roy contributed 40 not out off 20 balls and took 2 wickets, while Robin Minz scored 31 not out off 14 balls.

Sushant Mishra delivered an effective bowling performance, taking 3 wickets for 27 runs.

This victory made Jharkhand the 12th team to win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the first new champion since Mumbai in the 2022–23 season.

The performance strengthened Ishan Kishan’s prospects for a return to the Indian Twenty20 International team.

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is India’s premier domestic Twenty20 cricket tournament, traditionally dominated by teams such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Mumbai, with Jharkhand lifting the title for the first time in the 2025–26 edition.

East Bengal FC Wins Inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship 2025

Indian women’s football created history as East Bengal Football Club won the first-ever South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Club Championship 2025.

East Bengal defeated Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF) Football Club by 3–0 in the final held at Dasrath Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal.

With this victory, East Bengal FC became the first Indian women’s club to win an international football title.

This achievement sets a new benchmark for women’s club football in India and is expected to boost confidence, investment, and grassroots participation in the sport.

The SAFF Women’s Club Championship is a newly launched tournament organised by the South Asian Football Federation to promote women’s club football and provide international exposure to South Asian teams.

The 2025 edition was the inaugural edition, making East Bengal FC’s title win historically significant for Indian football.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Mathematics Day 2025

National Mathematics Day 2025 is observed on 22 December to commemorate the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan, one of India’s greatest mathematicians.

The day has been observed since 2012, with educational programmes, seminars, and mathematics-related activities conducted across schools, colleges, and universities in India.

The observance aims to promote mathematical education, innovation, and scientific temper, while recognising Ramanujan’s extraordinary contribution to mathematics in India and globally.

Srinivasa Ramanujan was born in 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, into an Iyengar Brahmin family.

Despite limited formal education, he demonstrated exceptional talent by mastering trigonometry by the age of 12 and developing several original mathematical theorems independently.

At the age of 14, Ramanujan left home and later joined Pachaiyappa’s College, Madras, where he excelled only in mathematics and could not complete his Fellow of Arts degree due to poor performance in other subjects.

Ramanujan became a member of the London Mathematical Society in 1917, marking his growing international recognition.

In 1918, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, becoming one of the youngest Fellows in its history.

National Mathematics Day honours Ramanujan’s legacy and serves as an inspiration for students, researchers, and educators, highlighting India’s rich contribution to the field of mathematics.