TODAY NEWS ON December 31, 2025

India is now fourth largest economy, says govt.

India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth largest economy with a size of $4.18 trillion and is poised to overtake Germany to become the third largest by 2030, the government said. With continuing good growth numbers, India is also the world’s fastest-growing major economy, it said. India’s real GDP grew 8.2% in the second quarter of 2025-26, up from 7.8% in the first quarter and 7.4% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal.

After backlash, ECI directs home verification for elderly, ailing, disabled voters during SIR hearing in West Bengal

Amid outrage among a section of the electorate over elderly and ailing voters being summoned for hearings under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed officials not to call such electors — particularly those aged 85 years and above — for physical hearings. In a notification issued on Monday, the Additional Chief Electoral Officer asked all District Magistrates to ensure that electors aged 85 years and above, as well as those ailing and persons with disabilities, are not required to appear in person. If notices have already been issued, officials have been instructed to contact the electors over the phone and carry out the verification at their residences.

China ‘mediated’ in Pakistan, India tensions: Wang Yi

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said “tensions between India and Pakistan” were among the list of hotspot issues “mediated” by China this year. New Delhi has been maintaining that the May 7-10 conflict between India and Pakistan was resolved through direct talks between the DGMOs (Director General of Military Operations) of the armies of the two countries. China’s role in the May 7-10 Operation Sindoor conflict between India and Pakistan this year came under serious scrutiny and criticism, especially the military assistance provided by Beijing to Islamabad.

India has boarded the ‘Reforms Express’, says PM Modi in year-ender post

The year 2025 will be remembered as one where India “focused on reforms as a continuous national mission”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a LinkedIn post in which he went on to list the various reforms the government has implemented this year. “I have been telling many people that India has boarded the Reform Express,” Mr. Modi said. “The primary engine of this Reform Express is India’s demography, our young generation and the indomitable spirit of our people. 2025 will be remembered as a year for India when it focused on reforms as a continuous national mission, building on the ground covered over the past 11 years.”

Social media platforms told to take down ‘pornographic, obscene’ content

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued an advisory to social media platforms, directing them to proactively take down “obscene” and “pornographic” content. Large platforms in particular (defined as those who have more than 50 lakh users) are required to use technology to automatically detect and remove such content, said the advisory issued, pointing to the IT Rules, 2021.

VPN barred in four Kashmir districts ‘due to security reasons’

Using magisterial powers, several district administrations in Kashmir have banned the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) due to security reasons. In the past 24 hours, the four districts of Shopian, Kulgam, Budgam and Srinagar have, in separate orders, suspended the usage of VPNs, which allow Internet users to mask their locations and identity.

‘A profound loss’: Hasina pays tribute to Zia

Bangladesh’s deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed condolences over the death of her arch-rival Khaleda Zia, who dominated the country’s politics alongside her for decades. In a condolence message posted on the Awami League’s X account on Tuesday (December 30), Ms. Hasina described Zia as a significant figure in the country’s political history.

UAE says it will withdraw its remaining forces in Yemen

The United Arab Emirates said it will withdraw its remaining forces in Yemen after facing an ultimatum to do so. The UAE's Defence Ministry, in a statement via its state-run WAM news agency, cited “recent developments and their potential repercussions on the safety and effectiveness of counter-terrorism operations.” It did not say when the withdrawal would occur.

Delhi to wake up to ‘severe’ air pollution this new year

As the air quality of the national capital continued to be toxic, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that as soon as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a set of short-term emergency measures to control air pollution, is lifted, the government will start construction of nearly 400 km of roads across Delhi. Meanwhile, the air quality of the city is expected to be in the ‘severe’ category on Wednesday (December 31, 2025) and Thursday (January 1, 2026), as per official data. Air pollution of ‘severe’ level “affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases”, as per the CPCB.

BJP and Shiv Sena finalise 143-8 formula for Nagpur civic polls, NCP to go solo

The BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena announced candidates for all 151 seats in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, while another Mahayuti ally, the NCP, has decided to contest separately. The BJP will contest a maximum of 143 seats, leaving just eight seats for Shiv Sena. The list was shared by Nagpur city BJP president Dayashankar Tiwari.

Plea filed in Supreme Court to treat racial slur as a separate category of hate crime

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court to issue comprehensive guidelines recognising ‘racial slur’ as a separate category of hate crimes and determine punishment, amid the outpouring of shock and public grief over the attack on Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, by a group of men in Uttarakhand. Chakma was accosted and abused by the men while out shopping with his younger brother. They used racial slurs over his physical appearance. When he objected to their remarks, he was assaulted and stabbed.

Defence Ministry inks ₹4,666-crore contracts for battle carbines, torpedoes

The Ministry of Defence signed defence procurement contracts worth ₹4,666 crore for the acquisition of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines for the Indian Army and Navy and Heavyweight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy, in a major push towards modernisation and operational preparedness of the Armed Forces. The contracts were inked in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block, New Delhi, officials said.

Assault on Christmas celebrations is an assault on India’s soul, says Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath

Describing attacks on Christmas celebrations as “a direct blow to the conscience of the nation”, Thrissur Archbishop and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) president Mar Andrews Thazhath has said such incidents “amount to an injury to the very soul of India.” “What pains society the most is the Prime Minister’s loaded silence in the face of these attacks,” Archbishop Thazhath said, adding that such silence sends “a disturbing message at a time when moral clarity is needed.”

Himachal apple growers oppose reduced import duty on New Zealand apples

Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh fear that the Centre’s proposal to slash the import duty on New Zealand apples from 50% to 25% following a trade deal will severely impact their livelihoods and have sought Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla’s “intervention to safeguard livelihoods”. In a memorandum submitted to the Governor, a group of apple growers led by Kuldeep Singh Rathore, the Congress MLA from Theog constituency in Shimla district, has raised concerns about the proposed reduction in import duty from 2026-27.

Ukraine says ‘false’ Russian reports of attack ⁠on Putin’s residence undermine peace process

Ukraine’s ‍Foreign Minister called ​on other countries ‌to ​refrain from responding to what he said were false Russian reports about ​an attack ⁠on President Vladimir Putin’s residence, saying ​they ⁠undermined the peace process. “Almost a day passed, and ‌Russia still ‌hasn’t provided any plausible evidence ‍to its accusations of ‍Ukraine’s alleged ‘attack on Putin’s residence’. And they won’t. Because there’s none. No ⁠such attack happened,” Andrii ​Sybiha said in ⁠a post on X.

Iran designates Royal Canadian Navy a terrorist organisation

The Iranian Foreign Ministry designated the Royal Canadian Navy a terrorist organisation in what it said was retaliation for Canada’s 2024 blacklisting of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. In a statement, the Ministry said that the move was in reaction to Ottawa declaring the Guards, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, a terror group “contrary to the fundamental principles of international law”.

BNP declares seven days of mourning after death of Khaleda Zia

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday (December 30, 2025) declared seven days of official mourning following the death of its chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Zia, who served three terms as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, died at around 6 a.m local time while receiving medical treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was 80.

SIR process for Uttar Pradesh gets extended again

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process for Uttar Pradesh has been extended again, with the draft list to be published on January 6, and the final list on March 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Tuesday (December 30, 2025). Earlier, the draft list was announced to be published on Wednesday (December 31, 2025), following the first rescheduling. This new update came a day before the earlier decided date.

Bombay High Court says denial of permanency to HIV-positive employee violates equality rights

The Bombay High Court has ordered Bombay Hospital to grant permanency to a sweeper who was denied regular status for nearly two decades after being declared HIV-positive, terming the denial “arbitrary, discriminatory and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.” Justice Sandeep V. Marne, in a judgment pronounced on December 23, set aside an Industrial Court order dated May 3, 2023, and directed the hospital to declare the petitioner, Kumar Dashrath Kamble, permanent from December 1, 2006, the date of a settlement that regularised 150 temporary employees.

North East students’ body demands capital punishment for Anjel Chakma’s killers in Dehradun

The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has demanded capital punishment for the assailants who caused the death of Tripura student Anjel Chakma in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun. The apex students’ body of the region also joined other organisations and rights bodies to seek an anti-racism act, which it believed would act as a deterrent.

PM Modi voices deep concern over targeting of Putin’s residence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (December 30, 2025) voiced “deep concern” over the reports of the targeting of the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged Russia and Ukraine to focus on diplomatic efforts to end hostilities.“ Deeply concerned by reports of the targeting of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation,” Mr. Modi said in a post on X (formerly, Twitter).

Trump, top aides asked Netanyahu to change policy in occupied West Bank: Reports

U.S. President ‍Donald Trump and ​his top advisers asked ‌Prime ​Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank ​during their meeting, ⁠Axios said on Monday (December 29, 2025).