1. At 29, Luvana Lopes Lara is the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire.
At just 29 years old, Luana Lopes Lara has made history by becoming the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire . Her journey from ballet dancer to the top leadership of financial technology has been as rapid as it is inspiring. Her company, Kalshi —an innovative prediction market platform—recently reached a valuation of $11 billion , placing her ahead of Lucy Guo of Scale AI and even cultural figures like Taylor Swift on the Forbes list. Born in Brazil, Luana’s early life was deeply rooted in both art and academia. She trained in ballet at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre School, describing its discipline as “more rigorous than MIT.” After performing professionally in Austria, she turned to education. While interning at top financial firms like Bridgewater Associates, Citadel, and Five Rings Capital, Lara and her MIT colleague Tariq Mansoor identified a significant market gap—there wasn’t a regulated platform where trading on real-life events (like elections, inflation, and jobs data) was legally possible. This led to the birth of Kalshi in 2018. In September 2024, Kalshi secured a historic victory, allowing US election trading. This decision proved to be a game-changer for the company and unlocked its market potential.
2 RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced a 25 basis point cut in the repo rate.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the decisions of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Friday . The central bank cut the repo rate by 25 basis points, from 5.50% to 5.25% . The monetary policy stance was maintained as neutral. According to the RBI Governor, the central bank will inject liquidity into the economy through open market operations (OMOs) by purchasing government securities worth ₹1 lakh crore. Additionally, a dollar-rupee swap arrangement of ₹5 billion will be established. The central bank also reduced the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate to 5% and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate to 5.50% . Previously, the MPC meeting in October decided to keep the repo rate unchanged and maintain a neutral policy stance. The central bank has projected GDP growth for the current fiscal year at 7.3%, down from 6.8% previously. GDP growth is projected at 7% for the December quarter, 6.5% for the March quarter of next year, 6.7% for the June quarter, and 6.8% for the September quarter. Retail inflation is projected at 2% for the current fiscal year , down from 2.6% previously.
3 India will become a quantum superpower, NITI Aayog released the roadmap
NITI Aayog ‘s Frontier Tech Hub released a roadmap on Thursday, providing clear guidance on how to make India the world’s leading quantum power . The report states that quantum technology is on the verge of becoming one of the most transformative forces of our time, impacting key sectors such as healthcare, finance, logistics, energy, materials science, and national security . According to NITI Aayog, countries that take decisive action now will lead the next generation of computing, communications, and sensing capabilities, shaping the architecture of global innovation and trust. For India, quantum technology is not just a field of science or technology—it is an opportunity to define India’s new role in the world, where it leads from the beginning, rather than following the rules later. Quantum technology is described as the fundamental foundation for future artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced materials, and secure digital systems. The released roadmap suggests clear steps to accelerate research, commercialization, and quantum ecosystem development using the National Quantum Mission. It contains a detailed analysis of India’s current situation, its capabilities and major shortcomings.
4 New Government Move: Passport Verification Records Now Available in DigiLocker
The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Ministry of Electronics and IT on Thursday announced that Passport Verification Record (PVR) will now be available on DigiLocker . This service has been launched in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. DigiLocker is a secure cloud-based platform where citizens can store their digital documents. Making PVR available on DigiLocker will facilitate citizens in handling documents and reduce dependence on physical papers. Now, citizens will be able to securely access, store, share and digitally verify their PVR on DigiLocker. After successful verification, the record will appear in the “Issued Documents” section. This will speed up travel, employment and other verification processes and reduce paperwork.
5 Health and Security Cess Bill introduced in Lok Sabha; tax hike on demerit goods
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the ” Health and Security Cess Bill, 2025 ” in the Lok Sabha on Thursday . This bill would impose an additional tax (cess) on products like pan masala . The minister clarified that this cess would not be levied on any essential goods and that the proceeds would be shared with the states so they could spend on health programs. Sitharaman said that this cess would be imposed on “demerit goods” whose purchase or use poses a serious health risk. The government wants to increase the price of these items so that people purchase them less. She explained that the maximum GST rate on pan masala will be 40 percent and this new cess will have no impact on GST revenue. This cess will be levied based on the production capacity of the factories’ machinery, meaning each factory’s cess liability will vary according to its capacity. Earlier on Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed a bill that would impose an excise duty on tobacco in addition to the 40% GST. Currently, pan masala, tobacco, and related products attract a 28% GST and varying compensation cess rates. With the elimination of the compensation cess, the GST rate will be 40%.
6 Third edition of Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam 2025 in Vijayawada on December 6-7
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India , in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and with the support of the Andhra Pradesh Department of Tourism and Culture , is organizing the third edition of Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam in Vijayawada on December 6th and 7th, 2025. This year, the festival’s theme is ” Celebrating the Richness of Telugu Music Traditions ,” which underlines the objective of strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s cultural identity, promoting music tourism, and establishing Vijayawada as a premier destination for Carnatic music. The Ministry of Tourism has entrusted its Regional Office (South) with the responsibility of planning, coordination, and execution of the event. The two-day festival will feature a total of 18 musical performances by 98 artists. The event will be held at the Tummalapallivari Kshetrayya Kalakshetram.
7 India-Malaysia joint military exercise ‘Harimau Shakti-2025’ begins in Rajasthan
The fifth edition of the joint military exercise ” Exercise Harimau Shakti-2025 ” between India and Malaysia commenced at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan . The exercise will run from 5 to 18 December 2025. This time the Indian contingent is led by troops of the Dogra Regiment , while the Malaysian side is represented by troops of the 25th Battalion of the Royal Malaysian Army. The aim of the exercise is to jointly rehearse sub-conventional operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The aim of the exercise is to coordinate joint responses during counter-terrorism operations.
8 Maharashtra created a world record by installing more than 45,000 solar agricultural pumps in a month under the ‘Magel Tyala Solar Agricultural Pump’ scheme.
Maharashtra has set a world record by installing over 45,000 solar agricultural pumps within a month under the state’s flagship scheme, ” Magel Tyala Solar Agricultural Pumps .” Maharashtra has become the country’s leading state in the use of solar energy in agriculture. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the government will generate 16,000 MW of dedicated solar power for agricultural feeders, resulting in a 3 percent annual reduction in electricity charges for other consumers. The state has set a new Guinness World Record by installing 45,911 solar agricultural pumps in a single month under the On-Demand Agricultural Solar Pumps Scheme . The certificate was formally presented today at a ceremony in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
9 Indian Army showcases innovations at Inno-Warrior 2025
The Indian Army held its annual idea and innovation competition and symposium, Inno-Yodha 2025, in New Delhi . Lieutenant General Pushpendra Pal Singh, Vice Chief of Army Staff , participated in the event and felicitated the selected innovators. The Ministry of Defence stated that this year’s edition received 89 entries, the highest ever. These entries reflect the growing culture of innovation within the forces. After evaluation, 32 innovations were selected for further development.
10 Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the EARTH Summit 2025 in Gujarat
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the EARTH Summit 2025 at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat . Shri Amit Shah launched more than 13 new services and products of ‘ Sahakar Sarathi ‘ . These include Digi KCC, Campaign Sarathi, Website Sarathi, Cooperative Governance Index, ePACS, World’s Largest Grain Storage Application, Shiksha Sarathi, Sarathi Technology Forum, etc.
11 Atal Innovation Mission partners with Hitachi MGRM Net to accelerate nationwide innovation through the MStar Global AI Connect platform
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog , Government of India , and Hitachi MGRM Net Limited (HMN) signed a Letter of Intent (SoI) on December 1, 2025. The strategic partnership between the two organizations aims to develop and utilize a single innovation platform called ” MStar Global AI Connect ,” based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies, to help build a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across India. The Letter of Intent was signed by Dr. Deepak Bagla, AIM Mission Director, NITI Aayog, and Dr. Bharat Kaushal, Executive Chairman, Hitachi India and Managing Director, Hitachi MGRM Net Limited. This joint initiative will integrate innovation resources across India, enhance teacher capacity, enable cutting-edge technology skills, catalyze IP creation, and foster future-ready talent through a single, interoperable innovation platform. This SOI reiterates AIM’s commitment to democratizing access to innovation and entrepreneurship and Hitachi MGRM Net’s commitment to developing digital public-value platforms for national impact.
12 Australia’s Victoria University to open its first Indian campus in Gurugram by 2026
In a significant move for the higher education sector in India , Australia ‘s Victoria University (VU) has announced the establishment of its first international campus in Gurugram , Delhi-NCR . This move makes it one of the first foreign universities to be granted an official license by the Indian government under India’s New Education Policy (NEP). The campus is expected to be operational by mid-2026 and will provide Indian students with access to Victoria University’s globally recognized curriculum, particularly its renowned block model of teaching, within India.
13 International Volunteer Day 2025
International Volunteer Day is celebrated every year on 5 December . This year’s theme, ” Every Contribution Matters,” holds special significance as it also marks the global launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026). This year’s event marks the launch of a year-long global initiative under United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/127, to:
- 2026 has been declared as the ‘International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development’ (IVY 2026).
- Volunteering has been recognized as crucial in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- A global movement has been encouraged to incorporate volunteerism into national development strategies.
14 World Soil Day
Established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Soil Day (5 December) highlights the importance of soil as a life-sustaining resource, with the theme for 2025 being ‘ Healthy Soils For Healthy Cities ‘. The idea for an International Day for Soils was first proposed by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002. FAO promoted its formal recognition, resulting in the FAO Conference endorsing World Soil Day in 2013. Subsequently, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated 5 December 2014 as the first World Soil Day.