1 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal building of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal building of the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati . This is a significant milestone in Assam’s connectivity, economic expansion, and global engagement. He also unveiled an 80-foot-tall statue of Assam’s first Chief Minister, Gopinath Bordoloi . The newly completed integrated new terminal building of the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati spans approximately 1.4 lakh square meters and is designed to handle 13 million passengers annually. Extensive upgrades to the runway, airfield system, apron, and taxiways have further enhanced the facility. India’s first nature-themed airport terminal is based on the theme of a “bamboo grove.” Its design is inspired by Assam’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.
During the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held in New Delhi , Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative postage stamp on India’s renowned medicinal plant, Ashwagandha . This initiative reflects India’s commitment to promoting traditional medicine and gaining global recognition as an important pillar of holistic and preventive healthcare. Commemorative postage stamps are both symbolic and educational. Stamps serve as cultural ambassadors of a country’s culture, heritage, and priorities. By showcasing Ashwagandha, India has highlighted the scientific and cultural significance of traditional medicinal plants.
3 Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav inaugurated the Bhopal Metro.
The launch of Metro services in Bhopal marks another milestone in India’s urban transportation journey. With the addition of Bhopal, Metro services are now operating in 26 cities across the country , bringing the total operational Metro network length in India to 1,090 km. The Bhopal Metro is a major step for the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, aiming to make urban travel faster, cleaner, and more convenient for citizens. Developed under the leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister, this project marks a significant achievement towards smart, green, and sustainable mobility. The Bhopal Metro has a total length of 30.8 km, comprising two corridors and a depot:
Orange Line : 16.74 km
Blue Line : 14.16 km Phase I
of Bhopal Metro , the Orange Line priority corridor, was inaugurated.
4 Hurun India 2025: Deepinder Goyal is number one among self-made billionaires
The Hurun Rich List 2025 has once again highlighted India’s rapidly evolving startup and business ecosystem . This year, Deepinder Goyal, founder and CEO of Eternal (formerly Zomato), emerged as India’s top self-made entrepreneur, surpassing D-Mart tycoon Radhakishan Damani. The list reflects the growing dominance of new-age technology and startup-led companies in India’s economy. InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) founders Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal made a strong entry into the top three. Their company was valued at ₹2.2 lakh crore. This achievement reflects the recovery of the aviation sector and the role of low-cost carriers. Meanwhile, some prominent startup founders, such as Razorpay, Zerodha, and Dream11, dropped out of the top ten this year, reflecting intense competition and fluctuating valuations.
5 IT Ministry warns against WhatsApp account hacking by ghostplaying cyber campaigns
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued a warning stating that a cyber campaign called Ghostpairing is being used to hack WhatsApp accounts . According to the ministry, cybercriminals are hacking accounts through WhatsApp’s device-linking feature by using a pairing code without any verification. This scam typically begins when you receive a photo from a known number and a message asking you to view it. This message contains a link with a Facebook-like preview and leads to a verification process involving the phone number. The ministry stated that this method gives cybercriminals complete access to the victim’s WhatsApp account without the need for a password or SIM swap. The ministry advised people not to click on suspicious links and never enter their phone number on external sites.
Losar, the major festival of Ladakh, is being celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. On this occasion, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, extended his heartfelt greetings to the people of the region on Saturday. The Lieutenant Governor expressed hope that the new year will give a new direction to the development of Ladakh, strengthen the spirit of peace and brotherhood among the people and ensure inclusive progress and harmony in the region. It is noteworthy that Losar festival is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm as the New Year in Ladakh. According to the Tibetan lunar calendar , Losar is the first day of the New Year . Traditionally, it is celebrated with great pomp and show.
7 SSB celebrates its 62nd Raising Day in Himachal Pradesh
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) celebrated its 62nd Raising Day on December 20 , 2025 with great enthusiasm, discipline and dignity at the Central Training Centre (CTC), Sapdi in Devbhoomi, Himachal Pradesh . This was the first time that the SSB Raising Day Parade was held in Himachal Pradesh. The SSB plays a vital role in guarding the 1751 km long India-Nepal and 699 km long India-Bhutan open borders, as well as in internal security, anti-Naxal operations and special operations. It was established as the Special Service Bureau in May 1963 after the Chinese aggression in 1962.
9 SEBI allows issuance of zero-coupon bonds in small denominations
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has now permitted the issuance of zero-coupon bonds in denominations as low as ₹10,000 . This decision was announced on December 18, 2025. It aims to increase investor participation, facilitate access to debt instruments, and strengthen India’s corporate bond market. This move is in line with SEBI’s broader goal of deepening financial markets and encouraging retail investment. In India, non-convertible debentures (NCDs) and non-convertible redeemable preference shares (NCRPS) are typically issued through private placements, and their high face values have limited retail investor participation. Previously, SEBI had allowed a face value of ₹10,000 for such debt instruments, but this facility was limited to interest- or dividend-bearing instruments. Due to this condition, zero-coupon bonds, which do not carry any periodic interest, were excluded from this facility. Zero-coupon bonds are debt instruments that do not have any regular interest payments. They are issued at a discount and redeemed at par value on maturity. The investor receives the benefit in the form of price appreciation. These bonds are suitable for investors seeking long-term and predictable returns.
India is preparing to establish its first Forest University, which will be located in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh . This initiative is considered a major step towards reorienting education and research in the fields of forestry, wildlife conservation, and environmental science. The project reflects the growing national focus on biodiversity conservation, combating climate change, and sustainable natural resource management. A Forest University is a specialized higher education institution that focuses on forestry science, wildlife studies, ecological management, and environmental sustainability. It differs from ordinary universities in that it combines classroom-based study with extensive field training.
11 Capuchin monkeys imported from South Africa to Bannerghatta Biological Park
Bannerghatta Biological Park , located near Bengaluru , has imported eight black-capped capuchin monkeys from South Africa, taking a significant step towards strengthening conservation-oriented zoo management. The import was done under a formal animal exchange programme, reflecting India’s growing emphasis on scientific wildlife management, maintaining genetic diversity and adhering to global conservation standards. The imported animals are black-capped capuchin monkeys, scientifically known as Sapajus apella. These primates are native to South America and are known for their high intelligence, social behaviour and adaptability.
12 Shashwat Sharma appointed MD and CEO of Airtel India
Telecom major Bharti Airtel has announced a significant leadership change at the top management level. The company’s board approved the appointment of Shashwat Sharma as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airtel India on December 18, 2025, effective January 1, 2026. This move is considered significant in Airtel’s succession planning and strategic restructuring of senior management.