1 India to add record 44.5 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2025: Centre
India has added the highest ever renewable energy capacity of 44.51 GW in 2025 (till November) , which is much higher than the 24.72 GW capacity added in the same period last year. This information was given by the central government on Monday. The central government said that the total installed renewable energy capacity in the country was 253.96 GW in November 2025 , which is about 23 percent more than the 205.52 GW capacity installed in November 2024 last year. The country has added 34.98 GW renewable energy capacity in the review period. This figure was 20.85 GW in the same period last year. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said that the installed solar energy capacity in the country crossed the 100 GW mark in January 2025. Installed solar energy capacity to increase to 132.85 GW by November 2025 , a growth of 41 percent compared to the same period last year. In November 2024, the installed solar energy capacity in the country was 94.17 GW. Wind energy capacity has also increased significantly, with 5.82 GW added compared to 3.2 GW in the same period last year. Installed wind energy capacity crossed the 50 GW mark in March 2025. Installed wind energy capacity in November 2025 has reached 53.99 GW, an increase of over 12.5 percent compared to 47.96 GW in November 2024.
A significant achievement has been made towards further strengthening the country’s defense capabilities. On Monday, the first flight test of India’s Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket was successfully completed. The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha . Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this advanced rocket system is designed for precision strike capability and effective long-range strike. Pinaka LRGR 120 rocket is an advanced version of the conventional Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system. It features a state-of-the-art guidance system, improved range, enhanced navigation, and greater accuracy. This rocket is capable of delivering impressive performance even in difficult combat conditions and can significantly transform the Indian Army’s artillery capabilities.
Indian Naval Ship Kaundinya departed from Porbandar, Gujarat on her maiden voyage to Muscat, Oman . Built using traditional indigenous technology, the ship was commissioned by an officer commanding the Western Naval Command in the presence of the Ambassador of Oman to India and senior naval officers. The ship has been built using age-old natural materials and methods using traditional tailored shipbuilding techniques. Kaundinya is commanded by Commander Vikas Sheoran , with Commander Y Hemant Kumar as the Officer-in-Charge. The expedition team comprises four officers and thirteen sailors.
4 Dulhasti Stage-II Hydroelectric Project: Government green panel approves project
The central government ‘s environmental clearance mechanism has given the green light to the Dulhasti Stage II Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir . This approval marks a significant step toward expanding hydropower capacity in the Indus Basin and paves the way for issuing tenders for the project’s construction. This move comes as India accelerates infrastructure development in strategic river basins following the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. The project was approved by the Expert Appraisal Committee on Hydroelectric Projects during its 45th meeting held earlier this month. The committee functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and its approval paves the way for issuing construction tenders for the project, which is estimated to cost over ₹3,200 crore.
5 ‘Green to Gold’ initiative: Industrial hemp cultivation promoted in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh has implemented a policy shift to industrial hemp cultivation to transform its rural economy and promote sustainable development . This is a significant step, shifting the focus from illegal activities to regulated economic use. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has launched the ” Green to Gold ” initiative, which sees hemp as a key element in achieving self-sustaining Himachal Pradesh by 2027 and positioning the state as a leader in the bio-economy. For decades, hemp grew wild in valleys like Kullu, Mandi, and Chamba, often linked to the illegal drug trade. Under the new policy, this scenario is set to change significantly. The state government has identified industrial hemp as a versatile and high-value industrial asset with applications spanning multiple sectors.
6 World Health Organization’s ‘Delhi Declaration’ on Traditional Medicine
The ” Delhi Declaration, ” issued at the World Health Organization ‘s (WHO) Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, marked the beginning of a new chapter in integrative medicine. The Declaration took into account emerging evidence in traditional and modern medicine, emphasizing the safe, effective, and evidence-based integration of traditional medicine into national health systems, particularly primary health care, and achieving universal health coverage (UHC). The Summit on Traditional Medicine, jointly organized by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, and the World Health Organization (WHO), was held between December 17 and 19 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, under the theme ” Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being. ” Health policymakers, experts, researchers, and other stakeholders in traditional medicine from over 100 countries contributed to the drafting of the “Delhi Declaration,” released in the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge), and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shri Prataprao Jadhav. The “Delhi Declaration” focuses on resolutions in four areas: 1. Strengthening evidence-based knowledge : Participating countries pledged to promote rigorous, ethical, and multidisciplinary research on traditional medicine that balances scientific standards with traditional knowledge. Research, data, and policy documents will be available from resources such as the Global Library of Traditional Medicine. 2. Ensuring safety, quality, and public trust : Emphasis is placed on establishing consistent, risk-based regulations for safety and quality so that standards for traditional medicine products, practices, and practitioners are clear and reliable. 3. Integration of safe and effective traditional medicine into health systems : Integrating traditional medicine into national health systems, especially at the primary health care (PHC) level, lays the foundation for universal health coverage. The goal is to ensure that traditional medicine is safely and effectively integrated into health services, providing people with greater choice and accessible healthcare at the local level. 4. Responsible use of innovation and digital technology : Digital technologies, data science, and innovations, such as AI and genomics, should be used to improve access to traditional medicine research and data. This will facilitate knowledge sharing globally and increase transparency in health systems.
7 Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi becomes the first hospital in the world to use the Itavisma vaccine to treat spinal muscular atrophy
Abu Dhabi ‘s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City has become the first hospital in the world to use the Itavisma vaccine to treat spinal muscular atrophy . This is being considered a major medical breakthrough. Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disease that affects the nerves in the spinal cord , causing muscle weakness and shrinkage. The Itavisma vaccine was developed by the pharmaceutical company Novartis. This drug can be used to treat children from two years of age to adults. The price of Itavisma has not yet been made public, but it is likely to be similar to another similar drug, Zolgensma. A single dose of Zolgensma costs approximately $2 million.
8 Indian Coast Guard conducts regional pollution response exercise in Mumbai
Indian Coast Guard detects oil pollution in sea off Mumbai a Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise (RPREX-2025) to combat . In this exercise, a situation was simulated where an emergency call was received from a motor tanker ship reporting an oil spill due to a hole in the vessel after a collision with a fishing boat, resulting in a large amount of crude oil spilling into the sea.
9 India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy won bronze medals in their respective categories in the rapid event of the 2025 FIDE World Chess Championship held in Doha, Qatar.
India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy won bronze medals in their respective rapid events at the 2025 FIDE World Chess Championship in Doha, Qatar . Magnus Carlsen and Aleksandra Goryachkina won the title. Carlsen won his sixth World Rapid Chess title with 10.5 points. Vladislav Artemiev finished second with a score of 105.5, and Erigaisi third with a score of 98. Erigaisi finished third and won the bronze medal. Humpy tied for the top spot with Aleksandra Goryachkina and China’s Zhu Jiner, scoring 8.5 points from 11 rounds. According to the rules, in the event of a tie for first place, only the top two players (based on tiebreaks) advance to the playoff final. Unfortunately, Koneru was not one of them. In the tie-break, Zhu finished first, Goryachkina second, and Humpy third. Goryachkina and Zhu played a tie-breaker, which Goryachkina won to take the gold medal. Humpy won the bronze medal at the Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship, and has also won the gold medal twice, in 2019 and 2024.
Khaleda Zia , former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has died at a hospital in Dhaka. She was 80. Khaleda Zia served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh twice . She was one of the most influential figures in Bangladeshi politics for decades. She served as Chairperson of the BNP for many years.