President Droupadi Murmu presented the annual Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar to 24 distinguished scientists across four categories. The highest honor, Vigyan Ratna, was posthumously awarded to physicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar for his lifetime achievements. Other awards recognized contributions in diverse fields like agricultural science, biological sciences, and space science.

A year after a special audit committee found AbbVie violated marketing practices by sponsoring luxury trips for doctors, no action has been taken. The National Medical Commission's ethics board, responsible for acting against the doctors, is largely vacant.

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The US embassy in India will be closed from December 24 to December 26 due to a Presidential Executive Order mandating federal government closures. Routine consular services will be suspended, with only emergency assistance available for US citizens. Normal operations are set to resume on December 29.

The Election Commission has released draft voter lists for Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, showing significant deletions. Madhya Pradesh removed over 42 lakh voters, including deceased, untraceable, and shifted residents. Kerala also deleted more than 24 lakh names for similar reasons, with final rolls to be published in February.

India has pledged a comprehensive USD 450 million assistance package to Sri Lanka for reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. This aid, comprising concessional credit and grants, builds on India's initial humanitarian response and aims to support critical infrastructure and recovery needs, reinforcing New Delhi's commitment to its neighbor's stability.

A political rift has emerged within the INDIA bloc as CPI(M) MP John Brittas criticised Rahul Gandhi's absence from Parliament during the Winter Session. Brittas also expressed disapproval of Priyanka Gandhi's participation in a tea meeting with Prime Minister Modi, deeming it a «wrong message» after the passage of key legislation.

The first meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament will be held on Tuesday and will be chaired by BJP President JP Nadda, along with National Working President Nitin Nabin. The meeting will be held on Tuesday at 9 pm through video conferencing.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks in Germany about India's institutional capture and China's production dominance drew sharp criticism from the BJP. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Gandhi of seeking chaos and unrest, calling his claims «fake news.» Gandhi argued that weaponized agencies and a shift of production to China are harming Indian democracy and job creation.

Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, allegedly received Rs 200-250 crore from a Rs 3,000 crore liquor scam. The ACB/EOW chargesheet claims he coordinated an extortion racket within the excise department, managing and transferring illicit proceeds. Evidence suggests he provided high-level protection for the syndicate's operations.

All India Imam Association president Maulana Sajid Rashidi criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's 'Hindu Rashtra' comments, deeming them unconstitutional and a threat to India's democratic fabric. Rashidi argued that such a concept would lead to the demise of the constitution and the implementation of Manusmriti, impacting Dalits and other religions.

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged the ruling AAP manipulated the recent zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections through abuse of power. He claimed AAP's actual electoral wins were significantly lower than reported, with many seats won unopposed or through rejected nominations, despite the AAP claiming an emphatic victory.

The Supreme Court has stayed the conviction of NCP leader Manikrao Kokate in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. This relief prevents his disqualification from the Maharashtra assembly. While the conviction is stayed regarding his assembly membership, Kokate is barred from holding any office of profit. The court will examine the conviction's merits.

A doctor at Shimla's IGMC was suspended after a video showed him brutally assaulting a patient who objected to being addressed disrespectfully. The patient alleged the doctor began punching him after he asked for politeness. An inquiry is underway, with authorities promising exemplary action against the involved medical staff.

A five-year-old boy, the youngest to recover, has returned home after a 114-day battle with renal failure and coma, triggered by suspected cough syrup toxicity. He survived severe kidney and brain damage, a feat doctors describe as extraordinary, with AIIMS Nagpur waiving treatment costs.

Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina refuses to return to the country, calling her conviction politically motivated and a «political assassination in judicial robes.» She insists on returning only when Bangladesh has a legitimate government and an independent judiciary, criticizing the interim administration's democratic legitimacy and its impact on stability.

A former Punjab police IG, Amar Singh Chahal, is critically injured after allegedly shooting himself following an Rs 8.1 crore online investment fraud. A detailed note found at his Patiala home outlines how he was duped by a group named «F-777 DBS Wealth Equity Research Group.» Police are investigating the sophisticated scam and tracing digital evidence.

The Supreme Court expressed shock over private individuals grabbing thousands of acres of forest land in Uttarakhand, with the state government acting as a silent spectator. The court has expanded the case to examine the alleged illegal leasing and allotment of 2,866 acres of forest land, ordering a probe and directing all parties to maintain status quo.

A murder investigation in Chhattisgarh took a strange turn when the «victim,» believed dead and buried for 61 days, reappeared after working in Jharkhand. His family had reported him missing, and four acquaintances were arrested for his alleged murder based on a charred body and confessions.

India's new SHANTI Act ushers in a significant overhaul of its civil nuclear framework, welcoming private participation and establishing a streamlined regulatory and liability regime. The United States has lauded the move, viewing it as a crucial step towards strengthening energy security and fostering peaceful civil nuclear cooperation between the two nations.

Speaking on the Supreme Court's acceptance of the «new definition» of Aravalli, the minister said: «The ruling recognises and endorses the Government of India’s sustained efforts to protect the Aravalli range through scientific assessment, strict safeguards and initiatives such as the Aravalli Green Wall Project.» Yadav explained that the Aravali range comprises all landforms located within 500 metres of two adjoining hills with a height of 100 metres or more.