1 Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed the Prime Minister’s Office as Seva Teerth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has renamed the Prime Minister’s Office as Seva Teerth . Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced in a social media post that the Raj Bhavan and Raj Niwas are being renamed as Lok Bhavan and Lok Niwas . He described this as an important milestone in the nation’s journey towards building a developed and better India, in which service and good governance are key priorities. The Home Minister further said that over the last 11 years , the Narendra Modi government has become synonymous with service rather than power , with the Prime Minister considering himself the Prime Minister and working 24/7 for the people.
2 India-Maldives joint military exercise Ekuverin begins in Kerala
The 14th edition of the joint military exercise Ekuverin between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) commenced in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala . The joint military exercise will run from December 2 to 15, 2025. An Indian Army contingent of 45 personnel, represented by a battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, is participating, along with a Maldivian contingent of equal strength represented by the Maldives National Defence Force. “Ekuverin” means “friend” in Dhivehi, reflecting the deep bonds of friendship, mutual trust, and military cooperation between the two countries. Held alternately in both countries since 2009, Exercise “Ekuverin” remains a shining example of India’s “Neighborhood First” policy and its commitment to building lasting defense partnerships with friendly countries.
3 Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully completed high-speed rocket-sled trials of an advanced escape system developed for fighter aircraft.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed high-speed rocket-sled testing at controlled velocity of an escape system developed for ejection from fighter aircraft . Conducted at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory ‘s rail-track rocket-sled facility in Chandigarh , the test effectively validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and the entire aircrew recovery process. The test was successfully conducted in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) . This highly complex and dynamic test places India among a select group of countries that have the capability to fully test advanced in-house escape systems.
4 National Highways Authority of India signs MoU with Reliance Jio to set up telecom-based safety alert system on national highways
To enhance safety and provide a seamless travel experience on national highways , the National Highways Authority of India ( NHAI ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Reliance Jio to launch a telecom-based safety alert system on the national highway network . Using Jio’s existing 4G and 5G networks , travelers will receive advance warnings on their mobile phones when approaching identified risk points, such as accident-prone areas, stray animal habitats, fog-affected areas, and emergency turns . This initiative aims to strengthen road safety by providing timely information to national highway users, enabling them to adjust speed and driving behavior in advance. Alerts will be sent to national highway users via SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority calls. This system will be integrated with the NHAI’s digital platforms, including the ‘RajasthaYatra’ mobile application and the emergency helpline number 1033, in a phased manner. The NHAI will also implement similar initiatives with other telecom service providers.
5 India’s power capacity reaches 5.05 lakh MW
As of 31.10.2025 , the total installed generation capacity of the country has reached 5,05,023 MW, comprising 2,45,600 MW from fossil fuel sources and 2,59,423 MW from non-fossil fuel sources ( including 2,50,643 MW from renewable energy sources ). Details of the current installed generation capacity structure of the country, showing the share of renewable and non-fossil fuel sources, are given in the Annex. The Government of India has taken several steps and initiatives to promote and accelerate the addition of renewable energy capacity in the country to realize the commitment of 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 .
6 Fourth edition of ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ begins
The fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, organized to strengthen the centuries-old ties between Kashi and Tamil Nadu, began. The first delegation from Tamil Nadu arrived in Kashi and will participate in a number of activities today. The 216-member delegation includes 50 Tamil literature experts, 54 cultural scholars, as well as students, teachers, artists, classical singers, acharyas, and students of spiritual texts. They will discuss Mahakavi Bharati ‘s vision of a multilingual India: Tamil and Sanskrit as a repository of rich traditions. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the fourth Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi .
7 The French government announced the introduction of compulsory military service in the country.
France will launch a voluntary military service program for 18- and 19-year-olds in 2026 , aiming to initially enroll 3,000 participants and expand to 50,000 by 2035. President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement during a speech in Varelles, in the Alps. Volunteers will serve for ten months, starting with one month of basic military skills and weapons training, followed by nine months in a military unit deployed exclusively on French territory. Participants will receive a salary and participate in all missions, including Operation Sentinelle, France’s domestic security operation since 2015.
8 Italy introduces AI Defense Dome
9 Italy now joins the list of countries that recognize femicide as a separate crime.
The Italian Parliament has passed a landmark law criminalizing femicide and mandating life imprisonment for the gender-based killing of women .
Introduction : Femicide is defined as the murder of women and girls due to their gender, and the United Nations classifies it as murder committed by intimate partners, family members, or other perpetrators.
Legal rationale for recognition : Gendering the crime exposes discrimination and systemic bias. Recognizing femicide separately raises awareness, guides targeted policies, and exposes patriarchal violence.
Law against femicide : Italy joins a small group of countries—such as Mexico, Cyprus, Morocco, North Macedonia, Turkey, Gabon, and Chile —that have enacted dedicated laws against femicide. Femicide is not recognized as a separate legal category in India . However, there are several laws in India to protect women or against gender-based killings , such as:
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
- Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
- National Commission for Women Act, 1990
- The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
10 Riyadh Metro becomes the world’s longest driverless network
Saudi Arabia ‘s Riyadh Metro has been officially certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest fully driverless train network , spanning 176 km across six lines and 85 stations . This major achievement demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to advanced urban mobility and establishes Riyadh as a global leader in high-tech transportation infrastructure. Guinness World Records will certify the Riyadh Metro in 2025, when it reaches operational status as a fully automated network. This achievement marks a revolutionary transformation of Riyadh’s public transport infrastructure and places the city among major global metropolises with modern metro infrastructure.
11 Ministry of Minority Affairs organised awareness workshop to promote Jiyo Parsi Scheme
The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs , in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Minority Development Department, organized an outreach workshop at the University of Mumbai ‘s Convocation Hall to promote and build broad support for the Jiyo Parsi Scheme . The Jiyo Parsi Scheme is a major initiative aimed at supporting the Parsi community’s population growth through delivery assistance and family welfare support. The Ministry of Minority Affairs engaged the International Institute for Population Sciences to conduct an in-depth study on the Jiyo Parsi Scheme. A notable initiative at the workshop was the emphasis on the digital format of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme. Beneficiaries can now easily complete all the necessary formalities, including biometric authentication, through a dedicated mobile application, making it more convenient, transparent, and accessible.
12 The global challenge of obesity cannot be solved with drugs alone: WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated in a new report released on Monday that the growing global obesity problem will not be solved by medication alone . Obesity causes millions of preventable deaths each year and affects more than one billion people worldwide. According to the WHO, a BMI of 30 or more in adults is considered obese. The organization recognizes obesity as a chronic and relapsing disease and has approved GLP-1 therapy for its treatment . These drugs lower blood sugar, promote weight loss, and reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications. However, the growing global demand for these drugs has also led to the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard products, posing a threat to patient safety and trust. Consequently, the WHO has issued guidelines for the first time on the use of GLP-1 drugs in long-term obesity management. It provides specific recommendations for three key drugs —liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide . The organization said that these medicines will be effective only when used along with comprehensive measures like a balanced diet, regular physical activity and support from health experts.
13 Apple’s AI ‘mega move’: Indian Amar Subramanya takes charge
Tech company Apple announced that renowned Indian-origin AI researcher Amar Subramanya has joined Apple, assuming the role of Vice President of AI, reporting to Craig Federighi . According to Apple, John Giannandrea, the company’s Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, is retiring. He will now serve as an advisor to the company until his retirement in 2026. According to the information provided about Subramanya, he will lead key areas within the company such as Apple Foundation Models, ML Research, AI Safety and Evaluation. He joins Apple with extensive experience. He previously served as Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft. Prior to Microsoft, he spent 16 years at Google, where he held the position of Head of Engineering for the Google Gemini Assistant.
14 19-year-old Vedamurthy recited 2,000 mantras and Vedic shlokas with perfect intonation, PM Modi praises him
A remarkable spiritual celebration took place in Varanasi (Kashi), Uttar Pradesh , on Tuesday, when 19-year-old Vedamurti Devvrat Mahesh Rekhe from Maharashtra was honored for completing the Dandakrama Parayanam . This parayanam is an extremely complex and difficult recitation of approximately 2,000 mantras from the Shukla Yajurveda (Madhyandini branch) , which he completed continuously for 50 days without interruption . This is believed to be the first time in nearly 200 years that the Vedic tradition has been performed in pure classical style . In recognition of this achievement, Devvrat Mahesh Rekhe was awarded a gold bracelet worth ₹5 lakh and a cash prize of ₹1,11,116. This honor was bestowed with the blessings of the Jagadguru Shankaracharyas of Dakshinamaya Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham.