1. Siliserh Lake in Alwar has been declared as the fifth Ramsar site in Rajasthan and 96th in the country.
Alwar ‘s Siliserh Lake has been declared a Ramsar site under the Convention on Wetlands . This is a significant international honor for Alwar. The lake has become the 95th Ramsar site in the country. A Ramsar site refers to a wetland designated as being of international importance to ensure its conservation, management, and wise use of resources. Ramsar site status is important for both local and global ecosystems.
2 Kopra reservoir declared Chhattisgarh’s first Ramsar site
Chhattisgarh has achieved a historic milestone in environmental protection. Kopra Reservoir in Bilaspur district has been designated the state’s first Ramsar site. . With this recognition, Chhattisgarh has now been included on the global map of wetlands of international importance. This achievement further strengthens India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation, sustainable water management, and climate resilience. The Kopra Reservoir was officially declared a Ramsar site on December 12, 2025. This achievement is the result of the joint efforts of the State Wetland Authority, Forest Department officials, environmental experts, researchers, and local communities.
3 Insurance Amendment Bill 2025
In a significant reform of India ‘s financial sector , the Union Cabinet has approved the Insurance Amendment Bill 2025. This bill proposes to increase the limit of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indian insurance companies from 74% to 100%. from 74% to 100% . This move is expected to increase foreign capital inflows, improve the quality of services, and strengthen competition in the insurance market. The bill is expected to be introduced in the winter session of Parliament. India’s insurance sector is primarily governed by the Insurance Act, 1938, the LIC Act, 1956, and the IRDAI Act, 1999. Over time, the government has gradually liberalized foreign investment to develop and modernize the sector. The FDI limit in the insurance sector was first raised to 26%, then to 49%, and later to 74% in 2021. To date, approximately ₹82,000 crore worth of foreign investment has come into the sector. Despite this, insurance penetration in India is still low compared to global standards, necessitating deeper reforms.
4 MNREGA now ‘Pujya Bapu Grameen Rojgar Yojana’: Modi Cabinet decision
The central government has decided to revamp MNREGA, the country’s largest rural employment scheme. A bill renaming the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was approved at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi . The government says this change is being made to give a new direction to rural employment and development. According to reports, the scheme will now be renamed ” Pujya Bapu Grameen Rojgar Yojana, ” and the number of working days under it will also be increased from 100 to 125 days. under it will be increased from 100 to 125 days. MNREGA, or NREGA, aims to enhance livelihood security for families in rural areas. It guarantees at least 100 days of employment per financial year to eligible families. The scheme was implemented in 2005. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (NREGA), later renamed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), is a labor law and social security measure that guarantees the “right to work.” Its purpose is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas.
5 Google appoints Amin Vahdat as new Chief Technologist for AI infrastructure
Alphabet -owned Google has appointed senior executive Amin Vahdat as its new Chief Technologist for AI Infrastructure . The move underscores Google’s sharp focus on strengthening the computing infrastructure needed to operate large-scale artificial intelligence models, services, and cloud workloads. At a time when global technology companies are investing heavily in advanced chips, supercomputers, and data centers, Google’s leadership change reflects its commitment to staying ahead in the rapidly changing AI landscape.
6 AIIMS Delhi tests indigenous device called Supernova Stent for stroke treatment
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) , New Delhi, has conducted the first trial of an indigenous device called the Supernova Stent for stroke treatment . AIIMS stated that the device has been designed for the Indian environment, where strokes are occurring at a younger age than in Western countries. The institute said the Supernova Stent will now be manufactured indigenously. This will help the more than 1.7 million people who suffer from strokes each year.
7 Commemorative postage stamp released to mark the 150th anniversary of Bombay Gymkhana
The Department of Posts has released a commemorative postage stamp to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Bombay Gymkhana , celebrating its glorious legacy of sporting excellence and its enduring cultural contribution to the nation. The commemorative stamp was formally released by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia , Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region at the Bombay Gymkhana in Mumbai. Bombay Gymkhana, established in 1875 has been a distinctive pillar of India’s sporting and social heritage, nurturing athletes for generations and serving as a vibrant hub for cultural and sporting activities. Over the course of 150 years, the institution has played a vital role in fostering a strong sense of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and community engagement. This commemorative stamp beautifully depicts the iconic campus and grounds of the Bombay Gymkhana, symbolizing its enduring legacy and its contribution to India’s sporting landscape.
8 ADB raises India’s growth forecast to 7.2
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its latest report, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) December 2025: Growth Stabilizes but Uncertainty Remains , has sharply raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 to 7.2% , up 70 basis points from its earlier estimate of 6.5%. The increase reflects India’s better-than-expected Q2 performance in FY26, where the economy grew by 8.2% on the back of strong domestic consumption and the positive impact of recent GST reforms.
9 Ajay Kumar Shukla appointed as the new MD and CEO of PNB Housing Finance
PNB Housing Finance has announced the appointment of Ajay Kumar Shukla as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) . This appointment marks a significant leadership change for the company at a time when India’s housing finance sector is becoming increasingly competitive and expanding. With his extensive experience in banking and financial services, Ajay Kumar Shukla is expected to guide the organization into its next phase of growth.
10. Bank of Baroda recognized as ‘Best Bank in India’ by ‘The Banker’
Bank of Baroda (BoB) has been awarded the ‘ Best Bank in India ‘ award at the Bank of the Year Awards 2025 – Asia-Pacific, organised by The Banker , a prestigious publication of the Financial Times . This achievement reflects the bank’s rapid transformation, innovative banking services and its growing role in strengthening India’s financial system. This news is important for students preparing for government exams, as questions related to awards, banking reforms, financial inclusion and key institutions are often asked in competitive exams.
11 Maharashtra abolished the centuries-old turban tradition with a new law.
In a major policy shift, the Maharashtra government has announced the implementation of a new regulatory framework to end the decades-old turban system in Mumbai’s housing system . Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated that the move aims to resolve long-standing disputes, provide legal clarity to tenants and landlords, and accelerate the redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings in the city. This is one of the most significant reforms in Mumbai’s urban housing sector in several decades. The turban system is a pre-independence rental system that was popular in Mumbai before the 1940s . Despite being informal, it is recognized under the Maharashtra Rent Control Act. How does the turban system work?
- Tenants pay a large lump sum premium (pagri) to the landlord.
- In return, they get the right to live almost permanently.
- The monthly rent is very low, which does not increase for years.
- In many cases, tenants can also sell their tenancy rights and share the sale proceeds with the landlord.
- In this arrangement, tenants have long-term possession, while landlords receive very low rent and have limited control over the property.
12 NASA loses contact with Maven spacecraft orbiting Mars
NASA has confirmed that its Mars orbiter MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission) has suddenly lost contact. The incident occurred when MAVEN went behind Mars and was unable to link with ground stations upon reappearing. MAVEN was active in Mars orbit for over 10 years and is one of NASA’s most important scientific missions. Launched in 2013, the primary objective of the MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission was to study Mars’ upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and its interactions with the Sun and solar wind, to understand how the planet transformed from a hot, water-rich planet to a cold, dry world and how it lost its atmosphere over time.
13 Maharashtra Government Partners with Microsoft to Launch MahaCrimeOS AI
On Friday, during the Microsoft AI Tour 2025 in Mumbai , Microsoft CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella announced the state-wide rollout of MahaCrimeOS AI in Maharashtra . This AI-powered investigation platform will now be deployed across all 1,100 police stations in Maharashtra, helping to facilitate faster and more effective resolution of cybercrime cases . Nadella stated that Microsoft’s work on AI and digital public infrastructure is now showing real impact on the ground. He explained that MahaCrimeOS AI is already operational in Nagpur , where police officers are able to register cybercrime cases within minutes. Investigations that previously took months due to manual processes are now being significantly accelerated with the help of AI. CyberEye was developed in collaboration with MARVEL (Maharashtra’s Special Purpose Vehicle for AI Governance) and the Microsoft India Development Center (IDC) . MahaCrimeOS AI is an AI- and Azure-powered digital investigation platform designed to accelerate, standardize, and digitize the processing of cybercrime cases.
14 India to host first Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship
India is set to host the Commonwealth Kho-Kho Championship for the first time from March 9 to March 14, 2026. More than 24 Commonwealth countries are expected to participate, marking a historic moment for the traditional Indian sport of Kho-Kho. Commonwealth Sports has officially approved India to host the 2026 Kho-Kho Championship. This decision reflects the growing global interest in the sport and the recognition of India’s sporting heritage. More than 24 Commonwealth countries, including those from Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, will participate in the championship. The Commonwealth is an association of 56 independent countries with a population of approximately 2.7 billion—making the event truly international.
15 A 70-foot-tall iron statue of Lionel Messi was unveiled in Kolkata
Kolkata, known as the football capital of India, has added another glorious chapter to its sports history by installing a 70-foot-tall iron statue of football legend Lionel Messi . Believed to be the world’s largest Messi statue, the magnificent statue has been installed at the Sreebhumi Sporting Club, Lake Town, South Dum Dum, and its unveiling has been met with great excitement among fans. The massive statue depicts Lionel Messi lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy, symbolizing his historic 2022 FIFA World Cup victory with Argentina.