THE HEADLINES:
- The Supreme Court stays its own order on new Aravalli range definition; asks for expert’ panel report.
- The Apex Court stays Delhi High Court’s order allowing suspension of Sengar’s life sentence in Unnao rape case.
- Dense fog engulfs several parts of northern India, disrupts flight and train operations; 64 flights cancelled.
- 13 people killed and 98 injured after a passenger train derails in Mexico.
- And, in Chess, India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy win bronze in the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Championship in Doha, Qatar.
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The Supreme Court has stayed its own order issued on 20th November on Aravalli hills and Aravalli range definition. A vacation bench of the Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih has also ordered the formation of a new expert committee to examine issues that required to be examined in terms of the definition of Aravallis.
In its ruling today, the Supreme Court said, clarifications are necessary on the definitions approved earlier and the direction of the apex court in the 20th November verdict be kept in abeyance. It said, there are issues that will require clarification. The Court has also issued notice to the Centre and the four Aravalli States, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Haryana, seeking their response to its suo motu case on the issue.
On Saturday, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of concerns surrounding the definition of the Aravalli range, amid mounting criticism from environmentalists and opposition parties over its potential impact on the fragile mountain ecosystem. The development follows objections to the Centre’s newly notified definition of the Aravalli mountain range, which is based on a 100-metre height criterion. On December 24, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had also issued directions to the States for a complete ban on the grant of any new mining leases in the Aravallis. This prohibition applies uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape and is intended to preserve the integrity of the range.
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The Supreme Court today stayed the Delhi High Court’s order that had suspended the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, ensuring he remains in jail.
A vacation bench led by Justice Surya Kant, Justices JK Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih issued notice to Mr. Sengar seeking his response on the CBI’s plea challenging the high court order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, urged the bench to stay the high court order.
The bench said it would examine the matter as it required consideration. It said, Mr. Sengar shall not be released from custody following the High Court’s 23rd December order. Substantial questions of law arise for consideration in the matter, the bench said and posted the matter for hearing after four weeks.
Earlier, the High Court had suspended the jail term of Mr. Sengar, who was serving life imprisonment in the Unao rape case, saying he had already served seven years and five months in prison.
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The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Act is likely to make most of the states net gainers of 17 thousand crore rupees as compared to the average allocation of the last seven years. The Act has replaced the twenty-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. According to a research report by the State Bank of India, (SBI), the act will improve overall fund distribution to states. Our correspondent has filed this report….
The SBI reasearch report highlighted that the restructuring of the earlier MGNREGA through the Viksit Bharat G-RAM G framework seeks to integrate transformative practices and strategies. The focus will be laid on addressing challenges related to competitive project identification, productive asset creation, enhanced income generation, and an efficient monitoring mechanism. Authored by SBI Chief Economic Advisor Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, the report pointed out that the Act aims to address structural weaknesses while strengthening employment generation, transparency, planning, and accountability at all levels. During the recently concluded winter session, the Parliament had passed the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G bill. President Droupadi Murmu has also given her assent to the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Bill, 2025. The act guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household from previous 100 days. with Ankit’s report, Shagun Chopra, Akashvani News, Delhi.
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Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan will participate in the State-Level Farmers’ Day program today in Gauchar, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Earlier, yesterday, the state Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi inspected the arrangements at the venue. He stated that the program will provide a platform for direct interaction with farmers. The event will also be broadcast live across all 95 development blocks of the state.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon States to encourage manufacturing, boost ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and make India a Global Services Giant. Mr Modi said that soon India would be launching the National Manufacturing Mission and every State must give this top priority and create infrastructure to attract global companies. The Prime Minister said this while addressing the fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi, which concluded yesterday. The three-day Conference began on the 26th of this month on the theme of Human Capital for Viksit Bharat.
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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal today said that 100 per cent Australian tariff lines will be zero-duty for Indian exports from the 1st of January next year. He said, this will unlock fresh opportunities for labour-intensive sectors.
On the third anniversary of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, Mr Goyal said that the agreement has delivered sustained export growth, deeper market access, and stronger supply-chain resilience over the past three years.
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President Droupadi Murmu today attended the Centenary celebrations of Ol Chiki script of Santhali Language at Dishom Jaherthan in Karandih area of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. The President traditionally worshipped at Jaherthan and also garlanded the bust-sized statue of Pandit Raghunath Murmu, who is considered the father of Ol Chiki script.
Speaking at the 22nd Parsi Maha Santhali Sammelan in her mother language Santhali, the President applauded the efforts of converting the Constitution in Santhali language in Ol Chiki script. She said that, she would be happy if translation tools and AI applications are also developed in Ol Chiki script.
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Dense fog has engulfed several parts of northern India, disrupting flight and train operations. According to the Delhi Division of Railways, around 18 Delhi bound trains are running more than three hours late. The weather has also affected Air travel. As per the Delhi Airport 64 flights have been cancelled today due to the foggy weather.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Ministry has issued a passenger advisory, urging passengers to stay updated through airlines’ official communication channels. Airlines including Air India, Indigo and Spicejet have advised travellers to keep a check on their flight status before heading to the Airport.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has made a forecast that dense to very dense fog will continue over the next two days in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar. Talking exclusively to Akashvani News, IMD senior scientist Dr R K Jenamani said that visibility over these states is likely to be ranging between 0-50 meters. Dr Jenamani said that foggy weather conditions over northern part of the country will significantly reduce from the 1st of January. He said that an active western disturbance is likely to impact Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Wednesday which may cause snowfall.
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In the run-up to New Year’s celebrations, Delhi Traffic Police has intensified enforcement measures across the national capital to ensure road safety and prevent accidents caused by drunken driving. Senior officers are personally supervising enforcement activities, and additional forces have been deployed at vulnerable points. During these intensified checks, around 14 thousand e-challans for overspeeding and more than five thousand for red light jumping were issued. Delhi Police has appealed to all citizens to celebrate responsibly, strictly avoid drunken driving, follow traffic rules, and cooperate with police personnel on duty.
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In Mexico, at least 13 people were killed and 98 injured after a passenger train on Interoceanic Corridor of Isthmus of Tehuantepec derailed on the Salina Cruz-Coatzacoalcos route, the Mexican Navy said.
The train was carrying about 250 passengers. Of the injured, 36 remain hospitalized, while others suffered minor injuries; 139 passengers are out of danger.
The Navy deployed 360 personnel, ambulances, air support, vehicles, and a drone for rescue operations and is investigating the cause.
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US President Donald Trump has expressed willingness for a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to advance peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking to media after his bilateral meeting with Mr Zelenskyy yesterday at Mar-a-Lago, the US President said, Mr Putin supports such peace talks and he had a detailed conversation over phone with the Russian leader before the meeting, which he described as productive. M. Trump also said that they discussed a proposed 20-point peace plan, security guarantees, and possible territorial compromises to end the conflict.
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In Chess, India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy won the bronze medals in the men’s and women’s sections, respectively, as Magnus Carlsen and Alexandra Goryachkina won the titles in the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Women’s World Rapid Championships played in Doha, Qatar, yesterday. Carlsen finished with 10.5 points to claim his sixth World Rapid Chess title, with Vladislav Artemiev, Erigiasi, Hans Moke Niemann, and Leinier Domingues Perez finishing tied second with 9.5 points at the end of the 13 rounds. Humpy claimed the bronze in the Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship, in addition to the gold medal she has already won twice in 2019 and 2024.
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17th Junior Roll Ball National Championship will commence from today at the Mulana Azad Stadium Skating Rink in Jammu. Around 600 players and officials from 26 States and Union Territories will participate in the championship. The national-level event is aimed at promoting Roll Ball among youth and strengthen the sports culture in the region. Organisers said that the championship reflects Jammu’s growing profile as a hub for major sporting events.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, were trading over 0.4 per cent down in afternoon trade today. The Sensex slipped 384 points to 84 thousand and 658, while the Nifty dipped 110 points to 25 thousand and 933, when reports last came in. Barring media, all other sectoral indices were trading in negative zone.
In the broader market at the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Mid-Cap index fell over 0.6 per cent and the Small-Cap index shed 0.8 per cent, a short while ago.
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On Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising the issue of antimicrobial resistance in his Mann Ki Baat programme, Indian Council of Medical Research, (ICMR) Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said that antibiotics should only be used when needed and prescribed by doctors. Talking to reporters in New Delhi today, Mr Bahl said, overuse or irrational use of antibiotics for infections like pneumonia can lead to resistance, making them less effective.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- The Supreme Court stays its own order on new Aravalli range definition; asks for expert’ panel report.
- The Apex Court stays Delhi High Court’s order allowing suspension of Sengar’s life sentence in Unnao rape case.
- Dense fog engulfs several parts of northern India, disrupts flight and train operations; 64 flights cancelled.
- 13 people killed and 98 injured after a passenger train derails in Mexico.
- And, in Chess, India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy win bronze in the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Championship in Doha, Qatar.
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