TODAY NEWS ON December 20, 2025

Bangladesh violence: UN rights chief calls for end to revenge attacks in Bangladesh

Soon after the return of the mortal remains of Sharif Osman Hadi, the upcoming leader of the Inquilab Mancha, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk called for a “transparent investigation” into the killing and urged “everyone to refrain from violence”. “Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all. I urge the authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the attack that led to Hadi’s death, and to ensure due process and accountability for those responsible,” Mr. Turk said.

U.S. Justice Department releases thousands of records in Epstein case, including photos, call logs

U.S. Justice Department releases thousands of records on Jeffrey Epstein case on Friday (December 19, 2025) afternoon, including photos, call logs; some heavily redacted. The convicted sex offender and wealthy financier was known for his connections to some of the world’s most powerful people, including President Donald Trump, who had long tried to keep the files sealed.

U.S. announces operation to ‘eliminate’ Islamic State fighters in Syria after deaths of Americans

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the start of an effort to “eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites” in Syria following the deaths of three U.S. citizens. “US forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on US forces that occurred on December 13th,” Mr. Hegseth wrote on X, using an acronym for the group.

Parliament Winter Session: 8 out of 10 Bills tabled pass both Houses, two sent to Standing Committee

The 15-sitting winter session of the Parliament held between December 1 and 19 this year, saw the introduction of ten new Bills in the Lok Sabha, passage of eight by both Houses and two sent for further scrutiny by a Standing Committee. Of the eight Bills passed, three were ‘Money Bills’ (i.e. don’t require passage by Rajya Sabha) - The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025. While the first two dealt with levying cess and excise on tobacco manufacturing plants, the last one revised the GST slabs into two – 5% and 18%, according to the Council’s decision.

Child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation a ‘deeply disturbing reality’ in India: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, in a judgment on Friday (December 19, 2025), observed that child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children by organised cartels is a “deeply disturbing reality” in India which continues to flourish despite protective laws. The court said child trafficking networks have a complex and layered structure which operate at various levels of recruiting, transporting, harbouring, and exploiting minor victims.

Govt. to increase reservation for Agniveers in CAPFs to 50%

Months before the first batch of Agniveers retires from service, the Union Home Ministry has decided to enhance reservation for ex-Agniveers in the Group C posts of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) from the existing 10% to 50%, a senior government official told The Hindu. On Friday (December 19, 2025), the Ministry notified that 50% vacant constable posts in the Border Security Force (BSF) will be reserved for ex-Agniveers.

Centre plans portal to take process of forest rights’ recognition, management online

The Union Government is developing a national web portal to try and take the entire process of forest rights recognition and management online, senior officials told The Hindu on Friday (December 19, 2025). According to a presentation prepared by the Tribal Affairs Ministry, this new portal is proposed to act as a single window for all Forest Rights Act (FRA) processes, which include filing and processing of claims (from the Gram Sabhas’ Forest Rights Committee to State-Level Monitoring Committees), issuing digital title deeds, storing legacy data on titles granted, and mapping potential forest areas over which FRA rights could be claimed in the future in the form of an FRA Atlas.

Police deny permission for NREGA activists’ Jantar Mantar protest

The Delhi Police denied permission for a protest planned by the NREGA Sangarsh Morcha, a consortium of civil society groups working with rural workers, at the Jantar Mantar on Friday (December 19, 2025), citing “existing guidelines” that require applications seeking permission for a protest to be filed 10 days ahead. The group wanted to protest against the repeal of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Gujarat SIR: Over 73 lakh voters deleted from draft electoral roll

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday (December 19, 2025) published the draft electoral roll for Gujarat as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, underscoring what it described as an unprecedented level of public participation and transparency in the exercise. Enumeration forms have been submitted by 4,34,70,109 electors out of a total electorate of 5,08,43,436.

VB-G RAM G Bill ‘anti village’, Modi Govt demolished 20 years of MGNREGA in one day: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday (December 19, 2025) accused the Modi government of demolishing 20 years of MGNREGA in a single day, and dubbed the new VB-G RAM G legislation as “anti village”.

Delhi pollution: Mandatory 50% work from home for all private, govt. offices from December 18, says Minister

Delhi Labour Minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) said all government and private institutions must mandatorily switch to work from home for 50% of the staff from Thursday (December 18), or face action. The Minister also announced ₹10,000 in compensation for construction workers rendered unemployed due to the pollution-battling GRAP III and GRAP IV measures.