Small savings schemes retain prior quarter interest rates, keeping established yields across key post office and PPF products.
The finance ministry has kept interest rates for small savings schemes unchanged for the fourth quarter of FY 2025 26, preserving the prior quarter's rates: Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme 8.2%, three year term deposits and PPF 7.1%, post office savings deposit 4%, NSC 7.7%, Kisan Vikas Patra 7.5% with 115 month maturity, and Monthly Income Scheme 7.4%; rates have been stable for seven consecutive quarters under the government's quarterly notification mechanism.

Doppler radar installation planned in Belonia with land allotment and transfer of local weather stations.
A Memorandum of Understanding provides for a new Doppler radar installation in Belonia to be established within two to three months to enhance weather observation and warning accuracy. The state allocates two acres of land free for the site and will transfer three PWD-run weather stations to the national meteorological agency. Three additional radar stations are planned for Silchar, Aizawl and Imphal as part of coordinated infrastructure expansion.

Air India Dreamliner faced regulatory probe for operating despite known technical snags and alleged MEL non compliance.
Regulatory action concerns operation of a Boeing 787-8 despite reported repetitive technical defects and alleged non compliance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), with a show cause notice highlighting aircraft dispatch decisions, operation despite known system degradations, and scrutiny of crew decision making on Delhi-Tokyo services.

Gold and silver eased year end despite record 2025 gains; gold may consolidate, silver could keep rallying on industrial demand.
Gold and silver eased on the final trading day of 2025 amid weak global trends and a firm US dollar, yet both posted exceptional annual gains driven by strong ETF inflows and central bank buying as reserve diversification; analysts foresee near term corrective pressure with gold likely consolidating in 2026 while silver may continue rallying on industrial demand and energy transition support.

Government fiscal deficit at 62.3% of annual target by November; tax shortfall may be offset by other revenues and savings.
Central government fiscal deficit stood at Rs 9.76 lakh crore (62.3% of the 2025-26 target) at end-November, with receipts of Rs 19.49 lakh crore (55.7% of BE) and expenditure of Rs 29.26 lakh crore (57.8% of BE). Receipts comprised net tax revenue, non-tax revenue and non-debt capital receipts; expenditure split into revenue and capital accounts included interest payments and major subsidies, and substantial tax devolution to states. A forecast expects a Rs 1.5 lakh crore tax shortfall offset by higher non-tax receipts and revenue expenditure savings.

Taiwan reunification declared "unstoppable," paired with defence modernisation and a USD170bn Brahmaputra hydropower project.
Xi Jinping declared Taiwan reunification "unstoppable," linked to intensified military drills and defence modernisation, and announced commencement of a USD 170 billion hydropower project on the lower Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet, noting downstream flooding concerns; he also highlighted an electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, advances in AI and robotics, and a projected national GDP exceeding USD 20 trillion.

Cooling appliance prices to rise as new star rating standards increase efficiency thresholds, prompting higher costs for ACs and refrigerators.
Revised energy labelling standards effective January 1, 2026 raise performance thresholds and expand mandatory star labelling, requiring manufacturers to adopt costlier components to meet the stricter 5 star criteria. The change will reclassify many existing high rated cooling appliances to lower star levels, prompting industry estimates of price increases-around 10% for new top rated room air conditioners and 3-5% for refrigerators-driven by compliance costs alongside commodity and currency pressures.

Civic poll nominations challenged over use of digital computerised signatures on party authorisation forms, seeking disqualification.
The petitioner asserts that the poll procedure requires physical signatures by authorised party office-bearers on Forms A and B and does not permit issuance, authentication, or verification by digital computerised signatures; accordingly, forms issued or verified electronically are claimed to be invalid, void ab initio, and ground for rejecting nominations and disqualifying candidates who relied on them.

Vodafone Idea granted a freeze and five year moratorium on AGR dues, with reassessment and a binding repayment plan.
The government froze Vodafone Idea's outstanding AGR liability at Rs 87,695 crore, imposed a five year moratorium delaying repayment until 2031 32 with clearance by 2040 41, and directed reassessment of the capped charge by the telecom department under the 2020 deduction verification guidelines and audit reports; a government appointed committee will issue a binding decision. AGR amounts for FY 2017 18 and FY 2018 19 remain payable over 2025 26 to 2030 31 as finalised earlier.

Social harmony urged: open public facilities to all Hindus, revive family bonds and promote environmental responsibility.
Urges removal of caste, wealth, language and regional divisions and insists on equal access to local public and religious facilities for all Hindus, achieved through dialogue and nonviolence. Advocates weekly family practices-shared meals, prayers and discussions-to prevent loneliness and social harms, promotes household environmental conservation and swadeshi consumption, and calls for regular observance of constitutional duties, civic discipline and traditional social values.

Piped natural gas prices cut in Delhi NCR as regulator simplifies pipeline tariffs, reducing distance-based zones nationwide.
A city gas distributor reduced domestic piped natural gas prices by Rs 0.70 per standard cubic metre for Delhi and nearby areas, specifying new consumer rates effective January 1. The reduction follows a regulator's tariff restructuring that reduces distance based tariff zones from three to two and applies a single lower Zone 1 rate for CNG and domestic PNG customers nationwide, intended to simplify and lower transportation costs.

Stablecoins threaten monetary sovereignty and financial stability; CBDCs are urged as the safer payments alternative.
Widespread adoption of privately issued or foreign-currency stablecoins can undermine monetary sovereignty, weaken monetary policy transmission, and introduce financial stability risks through price volatility and confidence shocks. Stablecoins may also circumvent capital flow management and foreign exchange transfer controls, complicating macroeconomic management and exposing the system to money laundering and terrorism financing risks. The central bank advocates prioritising central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) to deliver efficiency and instant settlement while preserving the safety and settlement finality of central bank money.

Parliamentary time: less than 30% used for legislative business; 31 bills passed and few committee referrals.
Both Houses spent less than 30 per cent of time on legislative business, with Question Hour shortened. In 2025 Parliament passed 31 bills-including waqf regulation amendments, income tax simplification, prohibition of online money games, opening of nuclear energy and insurance sectors, and modification of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to 125 days with specified Centre-state funding. Across the 18th Lok Sabha term 42 bills were introduced, 11 referred to committees (26 per cent) and only one referred to a department-related standing committee; certain grouped bills are under joint committee scrutiny.

Stock markets rallied nearly 1% on final 2025 trading day amid DII buying and gains in energy and metals.
Equity benchmarks rose nearly 1% on the final 2025 trading day as sustained Domestic Institutional Investor buying and gains in energy, metal, PSU bank and consumer durable stocks lifted the Sensex and Nifty; volatility eased and Brent crude softened. The Sensex closed at 85,220.60 (up 545.52 points) and the Nifty at 26,129.60 (up 190.75 points). Yearly performance showed Sensex up ~9% and Nifty up ~10.5%, market capitalisation expanded, FIIs were net sellers while DIIs were net buyers, and sectoral indices displayed mixed results.

Market Access Support launched with Rs 4,531 crore to subsidise exporters' participation in global trade events and MSME access.
The government launched Market Access Support (MAS) with Rs 4,531 crore for 2025-31 to subsidise exporter participation in Buyer Seller Meets, trade fairs, Mega Reverse BSMs and trade delegations, with per event caps (Rs 5 crore for BSMs and delegations; Rs 10 crore for RBSMs). Government shares 60% of event costs, up to 80% for priority areas, and reserves 35% participation support for MSMEs. MAS adds proofs of concept demonstrations for technology intensive sectors, mandatory online exporter feedback, and a three to five year events calendar as part of a wider Rs 25,060 crore export promotion mission that includes credit support measures.

Conscious Management Institute opens offering diplomas in management, logistics and AI; graduate and 12th pass eligibility.
Conscious Management Institute in Puducherry offers Post Graduate and Professional Diplomas in Conscious Management & Leadership, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, and Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, with PG Diplomas for graduates and Professional Diplomas for 12th pass candidates; the Logistics programme includes special certifications in Air and Sea Cargo Operations and curricula focus on practical, job oriented learning, AI innovation, and conscious leadership to produce industry ready professionals.

Nykaa Beauty trends 2025: barrier-first skincare, viral products, and instant delivery reshaped Indian beauty routines.
Nykaa's 2025 review finds Indian beauty consumption driven by trend-led experimentation that rewards performance: barrier-first skincare (ceramides, peptides), high volumes in cleansers, moisturisers and serums, K beauty becoming routine, multitasking makeup and wardrobe-style fragrance buying. Rapid fulfilment (Nykaa Now), high-review counts, and ingredient transparency underpinned repeat purchases and accelerated adoption, with commercial metrics-unit sales, fastest-growing searches, and large single orders-confirming these structural shifts.

Gig workers strike met with enhanced platform incentives and limited disruption to e commerce and food delivery services.
Unions organized a nationwide strike alleging reduced payouts, unsafe delivery pressure, and lack of statutory recognition, demanding pay rollbacks, safety assurances, limits on hours, and classification reforms. Platforms responded by offering enhanced, time-limited incentives, waiving certain penalties, and advertising peak hour earnings guarantees to maintain service continuity, framing these as standard festive-period protocols rather than negotiated changes addressing the unions' structural demands.

Illegal kidney racket exposes pan-India transplant network, cross-border removals, donor exploitation and charges under transplantation law.
Investigation uncovered a pan-India organ-trafficking network with international links to Cambodia, involving agents, donors, doctors and a private Trichy hospital. Authorities invoked offences under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act; evidence includes accused statements and technical data. Reported fees ranged Rs 50-80 lakh per transplant while donors received Rs 5-8 lakh, indicating exploitation. Arrests of moneylenders and an agent were made, teams were dispatched to detain identified doctors, and one practitioner was granted interim bail pending further proceedings.

Indian economy projected to post high growth driven by domestic consumption and investment despite external volatility.
The Reserve Bank Governor reported that the Indian economy is projected to register high growth driven by strong domestic consumption and investment despite a volatile external environment, indicating continued macroeconomic resilience and the relevance of central bank monitoring of growth and stability metrics.