The government has banned all medicines containing more than 100 mg of nimesulide

1 The government has banned all medicines containing more than 100 mg of nimesulide.

The government   has banned the manufacture, sale, and distribution of all medicines containing  more than 100 mg of nimesulide.  The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare  , in a gazette notification, said the move was taken in consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board. It has been banned under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The notification stated that the use of all medicines containing nimesulide may pose a health risk. It added that safer alternatives to nimesulide are available in the market. Nimesulide is a  nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.   . It is used in the treatment of acute pain.

2 Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains Successfully Run High-Speed ​​Trial, Create History At 180 Kmph

Indian Railways  on Wednesday  successfully completed the final  high-speed test of the indigenously developed Vande Bharat sleeper train   . This is being considered a major step towards India’s progress towards modern and self-reliant rail technology. The test  was conducted under the supervision of the Railway Safety Commissioner on the Kota-Nagda rail section  , where the train reached  a speed of 180 kmph.  . According to the Railway Ministry, the train performed well on all safety and technical parameters and the trial was declared a complete success. The train’s stability, vibration, braking system, emergency brake, and other essential safety features were thoroughly tested during high speed, which found that the train remained completely safe and balanced even at high speeds.

3. SMFCL, the country’s first maritime non-banking financial company, has launched loan disbursement services.

4 Zohran Mamdani sworn in as mayor of New York City

Zohran Mamdani  was  sworn in as  mayor of New York City   in  Manhattan . Mamdani, a Democrat, became the first Muslim mayor  of America’s largest city   . Mamdani is the first mayor of South Asian descent, the first African-born mayor, and the youngest mayor at age 34.

5 The Central Government has notified the draft rules for four new labour codes.

The central government  has   notified draft rules for four new labor codes . These codes are the Wage Code 2019 ,  the Industrial Relations Code 2020 ,  the Social Security Code 2020  , and  the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020.  These codes define workers, including gig workers, wages, types of employment, gratuity, bonuses, and social security. All stakeholders can submit their objections and suggestions on these draft rules within 45 days. The Ministry of Labor announced the implementation of these four new labor codes on November 21 last year to simplify and streamline the existing labor laws in place for decades. According to the ministry, the new labor codes will ensure better wages, safety, social security, and welfare for the country’s workforce. The Labor Code guarantees timely minimum wages for all workers, appointment letters for youth, equal pay and respect for women, social security for 400 million workers, and gratuity for fixed-term employees after one year of employment. These reforms also ensure free annual health checkups for workers over 40, double pay for overtime, and guarantee social justice for workers in accordance with international standards.

Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, who is retiring as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF)  on 31 December 2025   , has served the nation with distinction for over four decades. Air Marshal Tiwari was commissioned as a flying pilot in the fighter aircraft branch of the Indian Air Force on 7 June 1986. With over 3600 hours of flying experience on a variety of aircraft, the Air Marshal has held various staff and command appointments. In recognition of his distinguished service, Air Marshal Tiwari was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2025), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2022) and Vayu Sena Medal (2008). In 2025, he was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for distinguished service in operations.

7 Department of Posts and SIDBI sign MoU for Contact Point Verification of Informal Micro Enterprises on Udyam Assist Platform

The Department of Posts (DoP),  under   the Ministry of Communications  , Government of India , and  the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)  have  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct Contact Point Verification (CPV)  of  Informal Micro Enterprises (IMEs)  registered on the  Udyam Assist Platform (UAP)  . The agreement establishes a structured institutional framework between the two organizations to collaborate on verification, data integrity, and credit enablement initiatives for informal micro enterprises across the country. The Department of Posts, a trusted public service institution with the world’s largest postal network of over 164,000 post offices, brings to this partnership its last-mile reach, trained field workforce, and extensive experience in delivering citizen-centric and business-to-government services.

In a report released by  Amicus Growth  , India ranked third in rare earth reserves with 6.9 million tonnes (MT) of rare earth oxide (REO) reserves  , which is about 6 to 7% of the global reserves.  China ranked first with 44 MT of REO and  Brazil (about 21 MT) ranked second.  . In 2024, India produced about 2,900 tonnes, which is less than 1% of global production, ranking it 7th globally. China ranked first by producing about 270,000 tonnes in 2024. The USA produced 45,000 tonnes and ranked second, followed by Myanmar (31,000 tonnes) (third place), Nigeria (fourth), Thailand (fifth), and Australia (sixth), each producing about 13,000 tonnes. Russia (8th), Madagascar (9th) produced about 2,500 tons, and Vietnam (10th) produced 300 tons. Most Indian REEs are found in monazite-rich coastal sands, which also contain thorium, a radioactive element. Mining and processing of these sands is heavily regulated, slowing activity and discouraging private investment. These include limited processing or refining, outdated technology and infrastructure, and low private sector participation.

9 Kaamya Karthikeyan, the first Indian woman to reach the South Pole

17-year-old Mumbai  resident  Kaamya  Karthikeyan  created history  on  December 30th  by skiing   to  the South Pole . She became the first Indian woman to reach the South Pole  . Kaamya reached the South Pole on December 27th after hiking approximately 115 km. She pulled a sled throughout her journey. She   became  the youngest person to complete the Explorers Grand Slam . The Explorers Grand Slam involves climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents and skiing to both the North and South Poles  . Kaamya has already  achieved  the Seven Summits Challenge  , which includes climbing Mount Everest from the Nepal side. With this, Kaamya  became the second youngest woman in the world .

 In a landmark achievement for  Indian medicine, the Department of  Ophthalmology  at  the Army Hospital (Research and Referral),  Delhi  Cantt,  has  successfully performed 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent for the first time in India  . This angiography combined advanced imaging technology and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. Performed with the help of a new stand-mounted Spectralis system and a state-of-the-art 3D operating microscope, this procedure has established the Armed Forces Medical Services at the forefront of global ophthalmology. Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness, has long posed a challenge for physicians due to its slow progression. This technology provides real-time and highly accurate visualization of the aqueous outflow pathway, allowing surgeons to deliver more targeted and effective treatments, significantly improving patient outcomes. Integrating 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) for the first time in India has set a new benchmark in glaucoma treatment. This ensures improved imaging during surgery and better long-term outcomes. This achievement is not only a significant medical milestone for the Armed Forces community, but also a strategic step towards strengthening vision preservation and operational readiness.

11 DRDO’s amazing feat, salvo launch of two ‘Pralay’ missiles from a single launcher

DRDO  successfully conducted  a salvo launch of two Pralay missiles  from a single launcher  .  The Pralay missile is an indigenously developed, solid-fuel-based quasi-ballistic missile. It features a state-of-the-art guidance and navigation system, ensuring high accuracy. The missile is capable of carrying multiple warheads and engaging a variety of targets. The launch took  place on the morning of December 31st at  approximately 10:30 am off the Odisha coast. According to the Ministry of Defence, both missiles accurately followed a designated trajectory and successfully met all flight objectives. The missile was developed by the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, along with other DRDO laboratories. These include collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Advanced Systems Laboratory, Armament Research and Development Establishment, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, R&D Establishment (Engineers), and Integrated Test Range.

Kiribati,  a small island nation in the world,  has welcomed the New Year with great pomp and show.  People were seen immersed in New Year celebrations here   about eight and a half hours before India . Kiribati is made up of 33 atolls  (atoll means circular coral reef) – spread over an area of ​​more than 3.5 million square km (1.4 million square miles) of the Pacific Ocean  . In 1994, Kiribati – pronounced “Kiribas” – changed the time zone across the International Date Line, so that all 33 islands had the same date (earlier there were some islands on the eastern side of the International Date Line). When Kiribati celebrated the first day of the New Year, it was 3:30 in the afternoon in India. New Zealand celebrates the New Year about six and a half hours before us and Australia five and a half hours before (it is 6:30 in India then), Japan welcomes the New Year three and a half hours before, Thailand one and a half hours before, Bangladesh half an hour before us, and Nepal welcomes the New Year just 15 minutes before.

13 Delhi and Odisha to join Ayushman Bharat scheme in 2025

In 2025, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) , a flagship initiative of the Government of India (GoI)  , which  was launched in 2018  ,   further expanded its coverage by including Delhi and Odisha .
Odisha : In January 2025, the Odisha government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to join AB-PMJAY as the 34th state or union territory (UT).
Delhi : In April 2025, the Delhi government signed an MoU with the NHA and became the 35th state or union territory to join AB-PMJAY.
Not to join: With this move,  West Bengal (WB) is the only state that has not joined AB-PMJAY  .