1. Delhi smog emergency: Delhi–NCR saw its worst pollution in weeks on Dec 15, forcing over 40 flight cancellations and dozens of train delays. The city activated its highest “GRAP‐IV” alert, banning construction and diesel generators, and schools switched to hybrid/remote classes to protect students.
2. BJP leadership change: The Bharatiya Janata Party appointed Bihar minister Nitin Nabin (45) as its new national working president. Nabin will be the youngest ever to hold the post.
3. Crypto scam bust: The Enforcement Directorate raided eight sites in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on Dec 14–15, dismantling a fake cryptocurrency Ponzi/MLM scheme that defrauded investors of ~₹2,300 crore (≈$280 million). Searches uncovered evidence of the multi‐state fraud spanning hundreds of accounts and offshore operators.
4. Cyber fraud bust: India’s CBI filed charges against 17 people (including four foreign nationals and 58 firms) in a ₹1,000 crore cross‐border cyber‐bank fraud. Investigators say funds were laundered via 111 shell companies and hundreds of accounts; searches at 27 locations were conducted.
5. Messi‐event charges in Kolkata: Kolkata’s Bidhannagar police registered an FIR after a December 14 football rally for Lionel Messi turned chaotic. Charges include Section 121 (waging war against the government) along with assault and public disorder, underscoring the gravity of the incident.
1. Bondi Beach mass shooting: In Sydney, a father and son opened fire at a Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach (Dec 14), killing at least 15 people (both assailants later dead). Prime Minister Albanese called it a “dark day” and vowed tighter gun controls following the massacre.
2. Yemen separatist offensive: Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), a pro-autonomy force, launched military operations in Abyan governorate on Dec 15, targeting government positions. This escalates the ongoing south–north conflict amid stalled peace talks.
3. India–Mexico trade tensions: Mexico’s Congress voted to impose tariffs up to 50% on various imports (including steel, agricultural products and poultry), affecting about $2 billion of Indian exports. India immediately sought talks to resolve the dispute, with Commerce Ministry officials engaging Mexican counterparts on Dec 15.
1. Rupee at all-time low: The Indian rupee weakened to a record ~₹90.74 per US dollar on Dec 15, pressured by stalled U.S.–India trade talks and sustained foreign outflows. The RBI reportedly intervened in FX markets to curb the fall.
2. GDP growth forecast raised: Crisil revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY2026 to 7.0% (from 6.5%), citing a strong first half of the year. The agency also expects inflation to ease to ~2.5% next year due to easing food prices.
3. RBI rate cut: In its Dec 2025 policy meeting, the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%. The decision was taken in view of high growth and an expected further fall in inflation.
4. SBI rate cuts: State Bank of India announced (effective Dec 15) reduced interest rates on select fixed deposits and home loans nationwide. Borrowers and savers alike face lower borrowing costs.
Hydrogen‐fuel car trial: India launched a pilot project to test Toyota’s Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) on Indian roads. The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy and National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) will run the Mirai for two years across varied terrains. Minister Pralhad Joshi said the trial will inform policies to scale up “green hydrogen” transport (the Mirai emits only water).
Severe Delhi pollution: (Also see National Affairs.) Over the weekend Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) surged past 400 (severe) with PM2.5 as the main pollutant. Schools (Classes 1–9, 11) were shifted to hybrid mode on Dec 15, and an emergency response (GRAP IV) curfew on construction and diesel use was imposed. City sprinklers and limited traffic helped mitigate the toxic haze.
1. Ukraine–Russia drone clash: Russian air defenses shot down an unprecedented ~130 Ukrainian drones over Ukraine on Dec 14–15. Several drones were heading toward Moscow and prompted closures at major airports (including Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo). Russia also reported power line outages near Belgorod, indicating cross-border drone strikes.
2. India–Maldives war games: The joint Ekuverin‐2025 military exercise between India and the Maldives entered its final phase in Kerala (Dec 2–15). The drills involve Indian Army and Maldives National Defence troops conducting amphibious, littoral, and counter‐terrorism operations. Such exercises deepen bilateral defense cooperation.
Kim Aris: The Tokyo-based son of Myanmar’s detained ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Kim Aris expressed fear on Dec 15 that he might never know if his mother is still alive. He lamented that years of information blackout on Suu Kyi’s health leave her fate uncertain amid ongoing military junta rule.
1. India U19 cricket victory: India’s Under-19 team thrashed Pakistan by 90 runs in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup on Dec 14 (in Dubai). Bundled out for 150, Pakistan never challenged India’s total as India claimed a massive win in the group stage.
2. T20 series: India beat South Africa by 7 wickets in the 3rd T20 at Dharamsala (Dec 14), taking a 2–1 lead in the five-match series.
3. Badminton – Odisha Masters: The 2025 Odisha Masters (part of the BWF World Tour) concluded in Cuttack. Indian shuttlers and international players showcased strong performances across men’s, women’s and mixed events.
1. Nobel Prizes 2025: The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, cited for unifying the opposition and non-violently fighting for democracy (Machado secretly traveled to Oslo to accept it). The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature went to Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai. (Also in science and economics, top laureates were announced; for brevity, only peace and lit are listed here.)
2. International Booker Prize: Indian author Banu Mushtaq won the 2025 International Booker Prize for Heart Lamp (translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi) – the first Booker win for a Kannada-language novel.
3. Pulitzer Prizes 2025: The 2025 Pulitzers honored major journalism projects: ProPublica won Public Service, The Washington Post won Breaking News Reporting, and The New York Times won International Reporting, among other categories.
1. International Tea Day: Dec 15 is celebrated as International Tea Day in many tea-producing countries (first observed in 2005) to highlight tea’s cultural/economic significance.
2. Bill of Rights Day (USA): Dec 15 marks the anniversary (1791) of the U.S. Bill of Rights’ ratification.
3. Other observances: Dec 15 is also Zamenhof Day (international Esperanto community) and World Turkic Language Family Day (UNESCO).
1. Britannia CEO change: FMCG firm Britannia Industries announced that Rakshit Hargave will become MD & CEO effective Dec 15, 2025. He succeeds Varun Berry, who resigned and whose notice period was waived.
2. UPSC chairman resigns: Union Public Service Commission Chairman Manoj Soni unexpectedly tendered his resignation (citing personal reasons) on Dec 10, nearly five years before his term was due to end. The resignation is pending formal acceptance.
1. Modi’s diplomatic tour: Prime Minister Narendra Modi left on a three‑nation visit (Jordan, Ethiopia, Oman) starting Dec 15. The multi‑regional tour aims to bolster strategic and trade partnerships.
2. WSIS+20 UN meeting: The UN will host the High-level WSIS+20 meeting on Dec 16–17, 2025, in New York. This 20th-anniversary summit reviews progress since the World Summit on the Information Society, focusing on closing digital divides and ICT for development.
1. Delhi (NCR): As noted, Delhi city schools (Classes 1–9, 11) operated in hybrid mode on Dec 15 due to hazardous air pollution. Local authorities activated emergency GRAP IV measures city-wide.
2. Jammu & Kashmir: In Gulmarg, J&K, Asia’s longest ski drag lift was inaugurated to boost winter tourism in the region. The new infrastructure (built by Ski & Snow Board Association of India) is expected to attract skiers and tourists during the season.
Rob Reiner (USA): Hollywood director–actor Rob Reiner (age 78, known for “When Harry Met Sally” etc.) and his wife were found dead at their Los Angeles home on Dec 14. The LA Police have treated the case as a suspected homicide. The couple’s deaths shocked the film community, and a relative is reportedly being questioned.
1. Global Innovation Index 2025: Switzerland retained the #1 spot in the GII for the 15th year. Notably, China entered the top 10 for the first time, and several middle-income countries (India, Türkiye, Vietnam, etc.) were among the fastest climbers.
2. IMD Digital Competitiveness 2025: IMD’s ranking placed Switzerland 1st again, followed by the US and Singapore as the world’s most digitally competitive economies. These nations scored highest in infrastructure, talent and innovation.
Crossword Book Awards 2025 (India): The shortlists were announced in Dec 2025 for the Crossword Book Awards (English) across fiction, non-fiction, translations, etc. Finalists include Manu S. Pillai (Gods, Guns and Missionaries), Anand Teltumbde (Iconoclast), Zara Chowdhary (The Lucky Ones) in non-fiction, and Anisha Lalvani (Girls Who Stray), Kavery Nambisan (Rising Sons), Madhulika Liddle, Ruchir Joshi, Ruthvika Rao in fiction. Winners will be announced at the Dec 3, 2025 ceremony.
UN humanitarian funding: The UN’s aid coordination office (OCHA) slashed its 2026 emergency funding appeal to $33 billion after Western donors provided just $15 billion in 2025 – the lowest total in a decade. OCHA chief Tom Fletcher warned of growing crises (wars, famines, epidemics) and urged more support to aid 135 million people worldwide.
📝 Explanation: Delhi implemented GRAP Stage-IV measures as AQI crossed severe levels. Construction, diesel generators and non-essential activities were banned, and schools shifted to hybrid learning to reduce public exposure to hazardous air.
📝Explanation: Bihar minister Nitin Nabin, aged 45, was appointed BJP’s national working president, becoming the youngest to hold the position, reflecting the party’s focus on generational leadership change.
📝 Explanation: The ED uncovered a massive cryptocurrency Ponzi/MLM scam operating across multiple states, defrauding investors of nearly ₹2,300 crore through fake digital assets and overseas-linked accounts.
📝 Explanation: The CBI filed charges against 17 individuals, including foreign nationals, in a cross-border cyber fraud involving shell companies and hundreds of bank accounts used for money laundering.
📝 Explanation: A mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney, during a Hanukkah festival killed at least 15 people, shocking Australia and prompting renewed calls for stricter gun control measures.
📝 Explanation: Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council initiated operations in Abyan, escalating tensions between southern separatists and the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
📝 Explanation: The rupee weakened to around ₹90.74 per dollar due to stalled India–US trade talks and persistent foreign investor outflows, prompting RBI intervention.
📝 Explanation: Crisil revised India’s GDP growth forecast upward to 7% citing strong domestic demand, improved investment activity, and easing inflationary pressures.
📝 Explanation: RBI cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% to support economic growth amid easing inflation trends.
📝 Explanation: India began real-world trials of Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle that emits only water, as part of its green hydrogen mobility push.
📝 Explanation: Russia claimed to have intercepted around 130 Ukrainian drones in one of the largest drone attacks, highlighting escalation in modern aerial warfare.
📝 Explanation: Ekuverin-2025 is a joint India–Maldives military exercise focusing on counter-terrorism and amphibious operations, strengthening bilateral defense cooperation.
📝 Explanation: Kim Aris, son of detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, stated he fears he may never know if his mother is alive due to information blackout.
📝 Explanation: India’s Under-19 team beat Pakistan by 90 runs, asserting dominance in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup group stage.
📝 Explanation: The Odisha Masters, a BWF World Tour event, concluded in Cuttack with strong performances from Indian and international shuttlers.
📝 Explanation: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.
📝 Explanation: International Tea Day highlights the cultural, economic and social importance of tea, especially in tea-producing countries.
📝 Explanation: Rakshit Hargave took charge as MD & CEO of Britannia Industries following Varun Berry’s resignation, marking a leadership transition in the FMCG sector.
📝 Explanation: Switzerland retained the top rank in the Global Innovation Index 2025, reflecting strong performance in research, technology, and innovation ecosystems.
📝 Explanation: Due to reduced donor contributions, the UN cut its 2026 humanitarian funding appeal to $33 billion, raising concerns about support for millions affected by global crises.
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