World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. An international day to celebrate soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002.
Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand and within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO has supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness raising platform. The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly.
This World Soil Day 2025 focuses on urban landscapes with the theme "Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities." Beneath asphalt, buildings, and streets lies soil that, if permeable and vegetated, helps absorb rainwater, regulate temperature, store carbon, and improve air quality. But when it's sealed with cement, it loses these functions, making cities more vulnerable to flooding,
Banks will now be able to extend gold metal loans (GML) to a wider category of jewellers — including those who do not manufacture jewellery themselves - under the final guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The norms take effect from April 1, 2026.
The updated provisions, part of amendments to the Master Direction on Import of Goods and Services and the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), allow nominated banks importing gold to extend import-linked GML to entities engaged in manufacturing or selling jewellery in domestic or export markets.
Jewellers who do not manufacture themselves may also borrow, provided they outsource production on a job-work basis to registered artisans, goldsmiths or manufacturing firms. The RBI has permitted designated banks implementing the GMS to provide GMS-linked GML not only to jewellers but also to MMTC specifically for minting India Gold Coins (IGCs).
GML will continue to be treated like any other loan for prudential purposes and must be valued daily based on the LBMA Gold AM price crossed with the rupee–dollar reference rate. To ensure end-use discipline, banks must monitor that GML-sourced gold is not sold or exported in primary form.
Banks may accept INR-denominated standby letters of credit (SBLCs) or bank guarantees issued by other scheduled commercial banks, subject to independent credit assessment and adequate margins against gold price volatility. Interest rates may be freely determined based on the cost of procuring and holding gold.
For jewellery exporters, loan tenors will align with the Foreign Trade Policy. For other borrowers, banks may set repayment periods based on working-capital cycles, capped at 270 days. Repayments including principal and interest must be made in rupees, although borrowers of GMS-linked GML may opt to repay principal partly or fully in physical gold under strict sourcing.
The Reserve Bank of India issued revised norms for cooperative banks to help them expand credit outreach, leverage technology-driven solutions, and support localised development priorities. These revisions strike a balanced approach, empowering cooperative banks with enhanced operational autonomy while embedding robust safeguards.
On July 28, the RBI placed draft Master Direction (MD) on Business Authorization for Co-operative Banks (Directions), 2025 to harmonise the instructions and guidelines and consolidate them in one place. Referring to UCBs, RBI has adopted a four-tiered regulatory framework, given the heterogeneity in the urban cooperative sector.
UCBs are categorised into the 4 tiers for regulatory purposes, with Tier-1 covering banks having deposits up to 100 crore. Tier-2 would comprise UCBs with deposits of more than 100 crore and up to 1,000 crore. Tier-3 would cover urban banks with deposits of more than 1,000 crore and up to 10,000 crore, and Tier-4 would have UCBs with deposits of more than 10,000 crore.
As the rupee remains under pressure due to several headwinds and the uncertainty around the India-US trade deal, the RBI has been stepping in only to calm volatility, not to stop the fall. After selling dollars aggressively until last month, the RBI has now let the rupee slip over the last week to a new low of 90.42 per dollar, after it went past 88.80 levels.
The RBI’s short dollar forward position started to increase again from September, reaching $63 billion by October end. At the end of September, it was $59 billion. The central bank’s reserves remain adequate to contain risks of a larger depreciation for now.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) clarified that only a foreign bank branch’s exposures to its head office (HO) and the HO’s branches will fall under the Large Exposures Framework (LEF), while all exposures to other distinct group entities, including subsidiaries of the head office, will be classified under the Intragroup Transactions and Exposures (ITE) framework.
In the draft guidelines, the RBI had proposed that exposures of a foreign bank branch (FBB) to its head office, as well as to the head office’s branches and subsidiaries, be brought under the LEF, while exposures to other legally distinct group entities fall under the ITE framework.
According to the central bank, stakeholder comments on the proposal were diverse. While some suggested that all group exposures - including those to the HO - should be classified only under LEF, others recommended classifying them solely under ITE. A third view recommended applying LEF only for HO exposures and ITE for exposures to legally distinct group entities.
The RBI retains its draft proposal requiring that exposures arising from an FBB’s transactions with its HO, or any of the HO’s branches, whether cleared through a central counterparty or otherwise, be calculated on a gross basis. Given the absence of explicit legal ring-fencing between an FBB and its HO, such exposures must continue to be reckoned without netting.
NPCI International Payments partnered with Cambodia-based ACLEDA Bank to enable the acceptance of homegrown real-time payments rails Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the Southeast Asian country. The partnership will also enable the acceptance of Cambodia’s national quick response (QR) network Bakong (KHQR) in India.
Indian tourists in Cambodia can use UPI apps to make payments at merchant outlets in the country. There are more than 4.5 million KHQR merchant touch points. NIPL is supporting countries such as Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago and Peru to develop a system similar to UPI. In India, UPI processed 20.47 billion transactions valued at around Rs 26.32 trillion in November.
Payments technology firm Juspay has partnered with Sabre Direct Pay to modernise payments to drive higher conversion for travel merchants globally. The partnership will allow the two companies to enable sector-specific capabilities, including access to local payment methods, faster go-to-market enablement, cross-border payments, and checkout, efficient reconciliation.
Juspay’s partnership with Sabre comes at a time when the Bengaluru-based firm has expanded its global presence with new offices in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. India gives most of the company’s revenues and international markets contribute around 2 per cent. The fintech clocked its highest ever revenue, of ~514 crore in thefinancial year 2025.
The Fifth edition of Joint Military exercise “Exercise Harimau Shakti -2025” held in Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan. The exercise is being conducted from 05 to 18 December 2025. The Indian contingent is being represented mainly by troops from the DOGRA Regiment. The Malaysian side is being represented by troops from the 25th Battalion Royal Malaysian Army.
The aim of the exercise is to jointly rehearse conduct of Sub Conventional Operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Mandate. The scope of the exercise includes synergising joint responses during counter-terrorist operations. Both sides will practice tactical actions such as cordon, search and destroy missions, heliborne operations, etc.
The Indian Army today conducted its annual Idea & Innovation Competition and Seminar, Inno-Yoddha 2025, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, in the presence of Lieutenant General Pushpendra Pal Singh, Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS). Held every year, Inno-Yoddha is the Indian Army’s flagship platform to identify, nurture and scale in-house innovations.
The 2025–26 edition, conducted by the Indian Army between November and December 2025, saw a record 89 innovations submitted from across various arms and services. After rigorous evaluation, 32 innovations were selected for further development and were felicitated by the VCOAS.
The PMFME scheme is designed to address the challenges faced by the micro enterprises with an aim to enhance the competitiveness of micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry and promote formalization of the sector.
Due representation of women is ensured in accordance with the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, which mandates one-third women members on the Board and Advisory Panels. Further, CBFC ensures 50% representation of women in every Examining Committee and Revising Committee constituted for the examination of films, as provided under the Rules.
The tenure of Board members is governed by the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the rules made thereunder.Under Rule 3 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, every member shall hold office during the pleasure of the Central Government for a period not exceeding 3 years, provided that the term of the members shall continue until new members are appointed in their place
To provide technical and skill development support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, in addition to existing 18 Technology Centres, 9 new Technology Centres under Technology Centre Systems Programme have been established by the Ministry of MSME. The funds allocated for the establishment and operation of Technology Centres under TCSP is Rs.200.00 Crore in FY25-26.
New Technology Centres established under the TCSP and existing 18 Technology Centres have trained more than 3.28 Lakh trainees including MSME entrepreneurs and employees in the year 2024-25. Technology Centres have organized specialized skill development programmes in advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and Internet of Things (IoT).
In a significant step toward strengthening NHAI’s asset monetization program, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted in-principle approval of registration to ‘Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust’ (RIIT) as an Infrastructure Investment Trust under the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.
As a part of the process to secure final registration, Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust will be required to meet specific conditions over the next six months which include appointment of directors, submission of requisite financial statements, and compliance with other regulatory requirements.
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna -III was launched in 2019 for the consolidation of 1,25,000 Km Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations, inter alia, to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. The original timeline for the completion of PMGSY-III was set for March 2025.
Based on requests received from various States and Union Territories, the Government has approved an extension of the timeline till March 2026 for the completion of ongoing projects. Out of the total target length of 1,25,000 km, a total of 1,22,393 km of road length has been sanctioned, and 1,01,623 km (83%) of the total target length has been constructed as on 01.12.2025.
The expansion of rural roads under PMGSY-III has significantly improved access to schools, health centres, and agricultural markets, leading to major changes for rural families such as increased economic opportunities, reduced mortality rates, and better overall quality of life.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sangeet Natak Academy and supported by Andhra Pradesh Tourism and the Department of Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh, is organising the 3rd edition of Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam in Vijayawada on 6th and 7th December 2025.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating the Richness of Telugu Music Traditions,” reflects the festival’s objective to strengthen the cultural identity of Andhra Pradesh, promote music tourism, support artisans and weavers, and position Vijayawada as a premier Carnatic music destination. A total of 18 concerts featuring 98 artists are scheduled across the two days.
Alongside the concerts, a curated exhibition of GI-tagged and traditional crafts and textiles of Andhra Pradesh will showcase Kondapalli Toys, Etikoppaka Lacquerware, Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery, Leather Puppetry, Narsapur Lace, and celebrated handloom clusters including Mangalagiri, Venkatagiri, Chirala, Uppada, and Moragudi.
The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has entered into a strategic bancassurance partnership with Yes Bank. This collaboration will enable Yes Bank customers to access LIC’s life insurance products through its branch network and digital platforms. Yes Bank customers will be able to access LIC’s range of term plans, endowment policies, pension products and unit-link
Protection Plus is a non-par, linked, individual savings plan that offers life cover cum savings throughout the term of the policy. It offers flexibility to choose the type of investment fund, increase or decrease the sum assured and pay “top-up” premiums. Partial withdrawal is allowed after five years from the date of commencement.
The proposer can choose the premium amount, based on which the basic sum assured is decided. The base premium can be paid as Regular Pay or Limited Pay. Bima Kavach is a non-par, non-linked, individual pure-risk plan that provides financial protection to the family of the insured in case of the policyholder’s death during the policy term.
It offers two death benefit options - Level Sum Assured and Increasing Sum Assured - and flexible premium payments (single, limited and regular). The policy term can extend up to 100 years, ensuring long-term protection. Benefits can also be received in instalments for added financial convenience.
The plan allows the life assured to enhance the life cover at predefined life-stage events, such as marriage or the birth of a child, under the Level Sum Assured option with regular premium payment.
