Zero duty on 100% of India’s exports from India-New Zealand FTA

1. Zero duty on 100% of India’s exports from India-New Zealand FTA

 Following the negotiations of a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA)  between  India and New Zealand,  goods exported by India to New Zealand  will be duty-free. This free trade agreement enhances market access and tariff preferences for Indian exports to New Zealand and serves as a gateway to the broader Oceania and Pacific Island markets. This free trade agreement will significantly strengthen the investment partnership between the two countries. As part of this agreement, New Zealand has committed to invest US$20 billion in India over the next fifteen years. According to the Ministry of Commerce, this FTA represents the best market access and services offer New Zealand has ever made to India. It covers 118 service sectors, such as computer-related services, professional services, audio-visual, telecom, construction, tourism, and travel services. Furthermore, most-favored nation (MFN) commitments have been extended to 139 sub-sectors. Let us tell you, this is India’s 7th FTA in the last few years after Oman, Britain, EFTA countries, UAE, Australia and Mauritius.

The National Commission for Women  has  launched the Shakti Fellowship, a youth research fellowship program  . Applications are invited from young students and researchers to conduct research on women’s issues in India. The fellowship aims to encourage  comprehensive research in key areas such as women’s safety and dignity, gender-based violence, legal rights and justice, cybersecurity, health and nutrition, economic empowerment, and labor participation  . Citizens between the ages of 21 and 30 who have completed a graduate degree from a recognized institution are eligible to apply. The Commission stated that selected candidates will receive a research grant of ₹1 lakh for a six-month research study. The application deadline is December 31.

3 India Optel Limited (IOL) signs collaboration agreement with Safran to develop two critical warfare capable systems in India

4 DRDO and RRU sign agreement to enhance cooperation in the field of defence and internal security

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)  and  the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU)  have  signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening research, education, training, and technical cooperation in the fields of defence and homeland security  . The MoU was signed by Dr. Chandrika Kaushik, Scientist and Director General (Production Coordination and Services Interaction), DRDO, and Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, Vice Chancellor, RRU, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at South Block in New Delhi. Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman, DRDO, was also present on the occasion. According to the Ministry of Defence, the agreement aims to further strengthen indigenous technological capabilities and self-reliance in India’s defence and homeland security systems. The Rashtriya Raksha University, an institution of national importance under the Ministry of Home Affairs, serves as the “Nodal Centre for Defence Studies” designated by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

 A significant agreement has been signed between the Indian Army  and  the Netaji Subhas University of Technology,  Delhi  . This collaboration aims to develop  software and artificial intelligence-based solutions for the Army  . This will further strengthen the country’s defense preparedness through indigenous technology. Accordingly, the university’s students and faculty will be able to participate in live solutions to the Army’s technical problems. Students and faculty will be directly involved in various technical solutions for the Army. Students and faculty will participate in projects based on real-life problems of the Indian Army, giving them experience working on cutting-edge technological challenges. University teams will develop solutions tailored to the Indian Army’s needs, including artificial intelligence, software tools, data analytics, and technology-related projects. The university will conduct faculty development programs and tailor-made training programs.

The Indian Navy  has   commissioned its third anti-submarine warfare (ASW) shallow-water warship, “Anjdeep.”  Indigenously designed and built by  Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, the ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 22, 2025, in Chennai  . The third ASW/SWC (Anjdeep) ship, one of eight ASW/SWC (Anjdeep) shallow-water warships, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. The ASW/SWC ships were designed and built in accordance with the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) under a public-private-partnership (PPP) between GRSE and M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli. This demonstrates the success of collaborative defense manufacturing. At approximately 77 meters in length, these ships are the Indian Navy’s largest waterjet warships and are equipped with state-of-the-art lightweight torpedoes, indigenously developed anti-submarine missiles, and shallow-water sonars. They are capable of effectively detecting and countering underwater threats. These ships will strengthen the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare, coastal surveillance, and mine-laying capabilities. The ship is a reincarnation of the earlier Petya-class frigate INS Anjadeep, decommissioned in 2003. The ship’s name is derived from Anjadeep Island off the Karwar coast of Karnataka, underlining India’s commitment to protecting its vast maritime domain.

Navy  ‘s  Kiran Ankush Jadhav  claimed  the gold medal  in  the 10m Air Rifle Men’s Final event  at  the 68th National Shooting Championship  . Jadhav shot a score of 252.1 to edge out Olympian Arjun Babuta at the event, held at the MP State Shooting Academy. Arjun Babuta won the silver medal with a score of 251.4, while reigning 50m Rifle 3 Positions National Champion Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won the bronze medal with a score of 229.8.  In  the 10m Air Rifle Men’s Junior Final , Mohammed Murtaza Vaniya of Gujarat  produced a brilliant performance to win the gold medal with a score of 254.3. Abhinav Shaw of West Bengal won the silver medal with a score of 251.6, while Omkar Vikas Waghmare finished third with a score of 230.1 and took the bronze. Omkar Vikas Waghmare  won  the gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle Men’s Youth Final  with a score of 250. Omkar made a decisive move in the final shots and finished just 0.3 points ahead of his statemate Narayan Pranav, who took the silver medal. Sakthivel Senthivel of Tamil Nadu won the bronze with 229.5.

8 Pakistan bowls out India for 156 in the Under-19 Asia Cup final

 Pakistan  defeated  India by 191 runs  in the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 to win the title for the second time . Previously, Pakistan had been joint winners with India in 2012. In this high-voltage match played at the ICC Academy Ground, India won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat first, but this decision proved costly for Team India. Pakistan scored 347 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs. In response, the Indian team was all out for just 156 runs in 26.2 overs. The team suffered the first blow when captain Ayush Mhatre was dismissed at the score of 32. The captain could only manage 2 runs. From there, Vaibhav Suryavanshi tried to revive India’s innings. Vaibhav scored 26 runs in 10 balls, hitting 3 sixes and 1 four. However, his dismissal left the team faltering in the face of the huge target.