THE HEADLINES:
- Government approves budget of over 11,700 crore rupees for conducting Census of India 2027.
- Union Cabinet hikes MSP for copra by 445 rupees per quintal for season 2026; Clears reforms in coal linkage policy, CoalSETU.
- Sikkim Legislative Assembly grants Scheduled Tribe status to twelve communities.
- Commission for Air Quality Management forms expert committee under IIT Madras Professor to develop strategy to tackle vehicular pollution in Delhi-NCR.
- In Under-19 Asia Cup Cricket, India beat UAE by 234 runs in opening match in Dubai.
- In Squash World Cup, India beat South Africa to enter Semifinals in Chennai.
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The Union Cabinet has approved the Budget of 11,718 crore rupees for conducting Census of India 2027. Briefing media in New Delhi today, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases. Census 2027 will be the 16th in the series and 8th since Independence. He said, Caste Enumeration will be included in Census 2027. Mr Vaishnaw said, it will be the first ever digital Census adding that 30 lakh field functionaries will be involved in the exercise.
The Minister said Census 2027 will cover the entire population in the country. The process involves visiting each and every household and canvassing separate questionnaire for Houselisting and Housing Census and Population Enumeration.
The Minister announced that Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved reforms in coal linkage policy, CoalSETU. He said, India is moving towards Aatmanirbharta in coal sector. Mr Vaishnaw said, the Policy will allow allocation of coal linkages on auction basis on long-term for any industrial use and export by adding a separate window named CoalSETU in the Non-Regulated Sector Linkage Auction Policy of 2016 wherein any domestic buyer requiring coal can participate in the linkage auction.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has also given its approval for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for copra for 2026 season. The MSP for 2026 season is an increase of 445 rupees per quintal for milling copra and 400 rupees per quintal for ball copra over the previous season.
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Lok Sabha today took up discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants – First Batch for 2025-26 and the Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2025. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Bill for consideration and passing. It seeks to authorise payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund for the services of the financial year 2025-26.
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Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu has said that the government is going to start a programme to make aircraft in the country. He stressed that the country should have Made-in-India aircraft to meet the growing demand in the aviation sector. He said, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is exploring the possibility with Russian Aircraft Company Sukhoi SJ 100 to get the technologies to make the aircraft in the country. He was replying to a private member resolution Appropriate Measures to Regulate Airfare in the Country.
The Minister pointed out that the centre has a power to cap the airfare in extraordinary circumstances, so that passengers do not experience opportunistic pricing. He said, on several occasions, the government exercised its power to cap the airfare.
After the Minister’s reply, Shafi Parambil of Congress withdrew his resolution. Later the House was adjourned for the day to meet again on Monday.
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Sikkim Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed a proposal granting Scheduled Tribe status to twelve communities. The House approved the recommendations included in the detailed report recently submitted by the high-level committee formed by Government of Sikkim. This move will help ensure official Scheduled Tribe benefits and rights for people belonging to these 12 communities of Sikkim. The House unanimously expressed confidence that this step marks a major milestone toward ensuring fair opportunities and social security for all communities in Sikkim.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah today paid tributes to freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, describing him as a writer as well as a fighter who laid the foundation of Cultural Nationalism. Mr Shah was speaking at an event in Sri Vijayapuram, Andaman and Nicobar on the completion of 115 years of a collection of Savarkar’s poems, ‘Sagara Prana Talamalla’. He said, the ideology of Savarkar should be propagated and shared by parents with their children. Talking about the unveiling of the statue of Veer Savarkar by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Mr. Shah said, this statue is a symbol of the sacrifice, resolve, and dedication to Mother India.
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The Election Commission, has appointed Special Roll Observers (SROs) for observing the Special Intensive Revision of the Electoral Rolls in eight major states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala. The poll body said, SROs have already begun their work and are expected to be present two days a week in these States until the final Electoral Rolls are published in February 2026.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman from the 15th of this month. Briefing the media in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (South) Dr Neena Malhotra said that at the invitation of King of Jordan, Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, the Prime Minister will visit Jordan from 15th to 16th December. She said, this will be Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Jordan, which is coinciding with 75th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Dr Malhotra said Prime Minister’s visit to Ethiopia on 16th and 17th December that reflects India’s commitment towards deepening South-South cooperation.
Informing about the PM’s visit to Oman from 17th to 18th of this month, Secretary (CPV & OIA) Arun Kumar Chatterjee said, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation.
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The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has constituted an Expert Committee in NCR and Adjoining Areas to develop a robust, multi-pronged roadmap for emission reduction in the vehicular sector. In a statement, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that the Expert Committee includes leading academicians, health specialists, automotive research institutions, and other experts. It will recommend additional measures, as deemed necessary, for the abatement of air pollution caused by vehicular transport. The Expert Committee will submit its recommendations within a period of two months, with the first meeting scheduled on the 15th of this month.
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BJP today hit out at TMC Government in West Bengal. BJP Spokesperson Prem Shukla said in a press conference in New Delhi that TMC worker and key accused Sheikh Shahjahan attempted to eliminate a key witness in the Sandeshkhali case Bholanath Ghosh. Mr Shukla said, this incident reflects the grim reality in West Bengal, where no one is safe under Mamata Banerjee’s rule and crime continues to rise.
Taking a jibe at Congress, Mr Shukla it a sinking ship, and said that the statement of their leaders like former Cuttack MLA Mohammed Moquim proves it. Referring to a letter written by the Congress leader the BJP Spokesperson said, many Congress leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the party’s failing leadership.
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In Chhattisgarh, ten Maoists surrendered including six women cadres in Sukma district today. More from our correspondent:
In Sukma district of Chhattisgarh today, ten Maoists surrendered along with one AK-47 rifle, two SLRs, one Sten gun and one BGL launcher. A total reward of thirty-three lakh rupees had been announced on them. Under the state government’s rehabilitation policy, each of the surrendered Maoists will be provided an incentive amount of fifty thousand rupees.
After their surrender, the Maoists also participated in a plantation drive at the rehabilitation centre in Sukma. The plantation site is known as “Vayaan Vatika”, a garden of hope and future.” Vikalp Shukla, Akashvani News, Raipur.
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Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil passed away in Latur at the age of 91 today.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have condoled the demise of former Union Minister Shivraj Patil. In a social media post, the President said that during his long public life, Mr. Patil held several important positions, including those of Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Minister, Governor, and a longstanding Member of Parliament.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr L Murugan has also expressed sorrow over the demise of former Union Minister Shivraj Patil.
Both houses of Parliament also paid tributes to former Lok Sabha Speaker, Shivraj Patil.
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The Department of School Education and Literacy celebrated the Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Subramania Bharati in New Delhi today. The Ministry of Education informed that theme for this year was Many Languages, One Emotion.
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In the Under-19 Asia Cup Cricket, India have defeated hosts UAE by 234 runs in the first match in Dubai. A 212 run partnership by Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Aaron George for the second wicket helped India to post mammoth 433 runs score. Suryavanshi scored 171 runs with the help of 14 sixes and 9 fours. Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra hit 69 runs each. In reply, UAE could manage to score 199 for 7 in the stipulated 50 overs.
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In the Squash World Cup being held in Chennai, hosts India advanced to the semi-finals with a comfortable 3-0 win over South Africa in the quarter-finals today. For India, Jyotsna Chinnappa, Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh won matches. India will take on reigning champion Egypt in the semi-final and Japan will be up against top seeds Hong Kong, China tomorrow.
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The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast severe cold wave conditions over North Interior Karnataka for the next two days. Cold wave conditions are likely to prevail over Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, South Interior Karnataka and Odisha till 14th of this month. According to IMD, dense fog conditions are expected in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and North Eastern Parts of the country till Monday.
Apart from this, the air quality in Delhi-NCR continues to be in the very poor category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was recorded at 366 as of 8 PM today.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, closed over half a per cent higher for the second straight session today. Both the indices opened on a strong note amid positive global cues and rising optimism that an India-US trade deal may be finalised soon. Sentiment remained upbeat throughout the day, driving the indices upward.
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20th Session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage concluded at Red Fort in New Delhi today. Addressing the conclusion of the event, Culture Secretary, Vivek Aggarwal said, India’s long-standing civilizational view of culture as a collective inheritance, is guided by the ethos of Protecting culture, protecting the world.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Government approves budget of over 11,700 crore rupees for conducting Census of India 2027.
- Union Cabinet hikes MSP for copra by 445 rupees per quintal for season 2026; Clears reforms in coal linkage policy, CoalSETU.
- Sikkim Legislative Assembly grants Scheduled Tribe status to twelve communities.
- Commission for Air Quality Management forms expert committee under IIT Madras Professor to develop strategy to tackle vehicular pollution in Delhi-NCR.
- In Under-19 Asia Cup Cricket, India beat UAE by 234 runs in opening match in Dubai.
- In Squash World Cup, India beat South Africa to enter Semifinals in Chennai.
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