India

Joshna Chinappa and Veer Chotrani clinched the women’s and men’s singles titles at the 80th CCI Western India Squash Tournament in Mumbai. Chinappa staged a comeback to beat Sanya Vats, while Chotrani dominated Suraj Chand in a one-sided final

To improve urban service delivery, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) proposes doubling its wards from 150 to 300. This reform addresses Hyderabad’s expansion to nearly 2,000 sq km. By creating manageable units, the city aims to enhance political representation, integrate GIS-based data analytics, and align with UN Sustainable Development Goals for inclusive growth. This approach ensures data-driven governance puts citizens "centre stage".

Entry of private players will accelerate the expansion of atomic energy as part of India’s long-term energy transition

The RSS chief's remarks assume significance as they come nearly months ahead of the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled in 2026

Sameer Minhas smashed 172 off 113 balls to power Pakistan to a 191-run win over India in the U19 Asia Cup final at Dubai. India, unbeaten until then, suffered its heaviest Youth ODI defeat as Pakistan lifted the trophy

Sreedhar Sporting Club defeated East Coast Railway 2-1 in the DRM Cup All-India Invitation Football Tournament final at Waltair Railway Stadium, Visakhapatnam. The valedictory function was attended by senior railway officials, including Lalit Bohra and K Rama Rao

Telangana’s Mittapalli Rithvika won a gold medal in the All India Inter-University Aquatics Championship in Chennai. Representing KIIT Bhubaneswar, she clinched the 50 m breaststroke title, adding to the state’s growing presence in national-level swimming competitions

Hyderabad has announced its squad for the Vijay Merchant Trophy under-16 cricket championship fourth-round match against Delhi in Mangalagiri from December 23. Aditya Vardhan will captain the side, with a mix of promising youngsters named in the team and stand-byes

Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao unveiled the Hyderabad Toofans team jersey ahead of the Hockey India League. The event highlighted Telangana’s sports vision under CM A Revanth Reddy, with officials and players attending to support the state’s growing sports ecosystem

Hyderabad has announced its squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day championship in Rajkot from December 24. G Rahul Singh will captain the side, with Rahul Buddhi as vice-captain. The team includes experienced players and promising youngsters

Hou Yifan’s two wins with black pieces lifted Alpine SG Pipers to second spot in the Global Chess League. Defending champions Continental Kings sealed a final berth, while Mumba Masters and Ganges Grandmasters face uphill battles to stay in contention

Kashmir’s higher reaches saw snowfall and plains experienced rain as Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period, began. Snowfall in Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Sadhna Top brought relief after a prolonged dry spell, offering hope for a snowy winter

Sabarimala temple will host the Mandala pooja on December 27, with Lord Ayyappa adorned in the golden anki. A ceremonial procession begins from Aranmula on December 23. Devotees are served free traditional Kerala sadya, with 5,000 pilgrims participating daily

A 40-year-old man accused of raping a 4-year-old in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was shot in the leg by a woman police inspector when he attempted to flee during crime reconstruction. He is hospitalized and out of danger, police said

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the organisation has no enemies and works solely for Hindu unity and social betterment. Addressing centenary celebrations in Kolkata, he dismissed attempts to link the RSS with politics and reiterated its cultural and social mission.

Indian Railways has announced a marginal fare revision effective December 26 to raise Rs 600 crore in revenue. The increase applies only to long-distance travel, while suburban and season ticket fares remain unchanged to protect affordability.

Delhi Police busted a fake premium mobile phone racket in Karol Bagh, arresting four men and recovering 512 counterfeit phones, fake IMEI stickers, and spare parts. The accused imported components from China, assembled the phones, and sold them as genuine units

Last week, the combined market valuation of six of India’s top-10 firms rose by Rs 75,256.97 crore, led by TCS and Infosys, while HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, and LIC saw declines amid a 338-point drop in the BSE index

INSPACe plans to establish 'Antariksh Prayogshala' space labs at seven Indian academic institutions, providing hands-on training in space technology, fostering industry-academia collaboration, and preparing skilled talent to support India’s growing space economy projected to reach $44 billion by 2033

India has suspended visa operations at its Chittagong centre in Bangladesh following heightened tensions after student leader Sharif Osman Hadi’s death, amid attacks on Indian missions and large-scale protests, with operations to resume only after a security review

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP government of promoting monopolies under a “one nation, one businessman” agenda, warning it could lead to profiteering, inflation, exploitation of workers, and marginalisation of farmers and minority communities

Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal reaffirmed commitment to regular dividends even after the NCLT-approved demerger into five pure-play entities. The group plans a US$20 billion expansion across metals, power, and oil & gas, aiming for significant domestic and global growth

The CBI is probing a former accounts officer at India’s Geneva Mission for siphoning over CHF 2 lakh (₹2 crore) using fake QR codes to fund crypto-gambling. The scam surfaced during an audit, leading to his repatriation

The Railway Ministry announced a fare hike effective December 26, 2025: 1 paise per km for ordinary class beyond 215 km, 2 paise per km for non-AC mail/express and AC classes, expected to generate ₹600 crore by March 2026