1 T20 World Cup 2026: New jersey launched, Hitman Rohit named brand ambassador
Rohit Sharma and young batsman Tilak Varma on Wednesday launched the new jersey of the Indian team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. India’s new jersey was unveiled during the innings break in the second ODI between India and South Africa. The T20 World Cup 2026 will begin on February 7 , with the final scheduled for March 8. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia was also present at the launch of the jersey in dark blue and bold orange shades, rolled out by kit provider Adidas. Rohit Sharma, who led India to the T20 World Cup title as captain, has retired from the shortest format of international cricket. Now Rohit Sharma is the brand ambassador of the upcoming T20 World Cup .
2 PM Modi presented the Russian version of the Gita to President Putin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday presented a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita to Russian President Vladimir Putin . This Russian version is part of a long-standing international effort to translate the Gita into several global languages, which remains popular among scholars, spiritual seekers, and cultural researchers. Earlier on Thursday evening, the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, was decorated with India-Russia flags and special lighting, where Prime Minister Modi hosted a private dinner for Putin. Notably, Prime Minister Modi himself arrived at Delhi’s Palam Airport and received President Putin. The leaders of the two countries will attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at Hyderabad House .
3 CP Radhakrishnan clarified the scope of Rule 267.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed a lengthy and intense discussion on Thursday regarding the use and scope of Rule 267. The discussion began when C.P. Radhakrishnan informed the House that he had received notices under Rule 267 on two separate issues. He stated that, upon the demand of several members, he had assured them of reviewing the current practice of this rule and providing a clear and considered decision. Speaking on the matter, Radhakrishnan stated that Rule 267 notices are being issued almost daily, with the aim of adjourning listed business to allow immediate discussion on issues chosen by members . He categorically stated, ” This is not the purpose of Rule 267. ” He also clarified that Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha is not like the Lok Sabha’s adjournment motion , as this provision is valid in the Lok Sabha under Article 75(3) of the Constitution , but there is no such constitutional or procedural provision for the Rajya Sabha . Radhakrishnan stated that Rule 267 can only apply to matters that are included in the listed business of the day. A notice relating to a matter outside the listed business will automatically be considered invalid. He recalled that Rule 267, in its current form, was amended in 2000. Senior members such as Dr. Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, and Fali Nariman had suggested this amendment to a committee headed by then Rajya Sabha Chairman Krishna Kant. The committee observed that the rule was being misused, with issues not listed or on which no decision had yet been taken being raised. Therefore, it was suggested that its use be limited to matters relating to the day’s business. The House approved this amendment on May 15, 2000.
4 Numaligarh Refinery Limited of Assam gets 27th Navratna status
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has granted Navratna status to Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) . Previously, NRL, under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, held Miniratna status. NRL will be the 27th Navratna company among Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) . NRL is expanding its capacity from 3 to 9 MMTPA with an investment of ₹28,000 crore. In September this year, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Assam Bioethanol Plant and laid the foundation stone for a polypropylene plant at Numaligarh Refinery Limited in Golaghat, Assam. Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) was established in Assam on April 22, 1993, under the Assam Accord of 1985 , with the aim of promoting industrial and economic development in the region. NRL was established as a CPSE under the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are granted Ratna status based on their performance and specific eligibility criteria.
5 Oxford University Press named ‘rage bait’ as its Word of the Year 2025.
On December 1, 2025 , Oxford University Press (OUP) announced the term “ rage bait ” as the Word of the Year 2025. The use of the term “rage bait” tripled in 2025, reflecting its growing presence on social media to incite anger and divide conversations . Rage bait is a combination of the words rage, meaning a “violent outburst of anger,” and bait, meaning “an attractive piece of food.” The term “rage bait” means online content that incites anger and drives engagement . Other shortlisted words: “aura farming” and “bio hack.” The Cambridge Dictionary’s 2025 Word of the Year is “parasocial.” This term describes the one-sided, unrequited connection people feel with celebrities, fictional characters, or artificial intelligence.
6 British Indian Hiten Mehta appointed Chief Executive of British Asian Trust
Hiten Mehta , a British Indian with expertise in philanthropy and large-scale events, has been appointed Chief Executive of the British Asian Trust , a charity founded by King Charles to tackle poverty, inequality, and injustice in South Asia . He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s 2023 New Year Honours list in recognition of his years of service to Britain’s South Asian community. He played a key role in establishing the British Asian Trust as its first employee. For the past 18 years, Mehta, based in London, has worked closely with King Charles III, who founded the charity in 2007 during his time as Prince of Wales, and serves as its founding patron.
7 Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment of Asim Munir to the newly-created post of Chief of Defence Forces.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the appointment of Asim Munir to the newly created post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF ). Mr. Munir will also continue as Chief of Army Staff . This further strengthens the military’s grip on the Pakistani government. Asim Munir’s appointment as Chief of Defence Staff (CDF) for five years confirms that the military has once again trumped the political leadership and effectively subordinated the civilian government. The Shahbaz Sharif government ‘s delay in approving the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which allowed Asim Munir to be appointed as Chief of Defence Staff , further fuels speculation that a power struggle has intensified in the country.
8 Union Minister Annapurna Devi launches 100-day awareness campaign for child marriage-free India
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi launched a 100-day intensive awareness campaign for a Child Marriage Free India in New Delhi . The campaign was organized to commemorate the first anniversary of the Child Marriage Free India Campaign. Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur was also present on the occasion. Reaffirming the nation’s commitment to ending child marriage, the Union Minister administered the National Pledge to the participants. Under this campaign, several awareness activities will be organized in schools, colleges, universities and panchayats. Speaking on the occasion, Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi said that the government has set a target of making India child marriage free by 2030. The campaign will conclude on International Women’s Day next year.
9 NCRA-TIFR discovered 12 billion year old spiral galaxy ‘Alakhnanda’
The galaxy discovered by Indian researchers is a well-defined spiral galaxy , very similar in structure to our own Milky Way—a galaxy believed to have formed much later. Announcing the discovery on December 2, 2025, Yogesh Wadadekar, professor at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (NCRA-TIFR) in Pune , said, “We named it Alaknanda after the Himalayan river .” Alaknanda, he said, is a spiral galaxy located about 12 billion light-years away and has a typical grand-design spiral structure, just like our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Its most striking feature is its textbook spiral structure. The galaxy has two well-formed spiral arms wrapping around a bright central bulge, about 30,000 light-years in diameter.
10 Nests organised the 6th National EMRS Cultural and Literary Festival and Arts Festival – Udbhavam 2025 at KL University, Andhra Pradesh
The National Tribal Students Education Society (NESTS), hosted by the Andhra Pradesh Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (APTWREIS), organized the 6th National EMRS Cultural and Literary Festival and Arts Festival – Udbhavam 2025. The event was formally inaugurated by Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Smt. Gummidi Sandhya Rani, Minister for Tribal Welfare and Women and Child Welfare at KL University, Vaddeswaram, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.
11 PNB appoints Harmanpreet Kaur as its first female brand ambassador
Punjab National Bank has appointed Harmanpreet Kaur as its first female brand ambassador , who will launch new products and strengthen its innovation-driven customer outreach. The announcement was made during a ceremony themed “Banking on Champions” at PNB’s corporate office in New Delhi. Kaur was presented with a framed PNB jersey bearing her name and number, symbolizing her inclusion in the bank’s identity.
12 India wins record five medals at FEI Asian Equestrian Championships in Thailand
India completed its campaign with a record five medals at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championships in Pattaya , Thailand . Ashish Limaye won the individual gold medal , while the team of Shashank Singh Kataria and Shashank Kanmuri won the silver medal. Shruti Vora won three silver medals, including a team medal. This was India’s first time participating in the continental event. A 16-member delegation led the country. Equestrianism is a sport in which riders display skills on horseback.
13 Navy Day
Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4th to honor the achievements and role of the Indian Navy . On December 4th, 1971, during Operation Trident , the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani ships, including PNS Khaibar . This year, Navy Day is being celebrated with a grand display at Shanmugam Beach in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This event will reflect the Navy’s commitment to play the role of a preferred security partner under the Ocean Initiative. President Smt. Draupadi Murmu attended the Navy Day 2025 celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on December 3, 2025, and witnessed the operational display of the Indian Navy.
14 International Cheetah Day 2025
International Cheetah Day is celebrated every year on December 4th . It aims to raise awareness about the conservation of the world’s fastest land animal. The day was initiated in 2010 by American zoologist Dr. Laurie Marker , founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) . This day honors not only the cheetah species but also all the people and projects that work to conserve it. The cheetah is a nearly 5 million-year-old species, whose evolution began in the Miocene epoch. It is world-renowned for its incredible speed—it can accelerate from 0 to 112 km/h in just 3 seconds. Cheetahs were officially declared extinct in India in 1952—the only large carnivore to disappear from the country, due to poaching and habitat destruction. But Project Cheetah has now changed that narrative. In September 2022, India took an ambitious step—relocating eight African cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. After this, 12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa in 2023.
15 Former Mizoram Governor Swaraj Kaushal passes away at 73
Former Mizoram Governor and senior lawyer Swaraj Kaushal has passed away. He was 73. He was the husband of former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj . BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, in a social media post, remembered her father for his affection, discipline, simplicity and patriotism. Born on July 12, 1952 , in Solan , Swaraj Kaushal was appointed Governor of Mizoram in 1990 at the age of 37. Swaraj Kaushal, who was declared a senior advocate by the Supreme Court in 1986 at the age of 34, served as Governor of Mizoram from 1990 to 1993, becoming the youngest Governor in the country , and gained expertise on the insurgency problem of the North-East region.