India will host the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine from December 17 to 19, bringing global policymakers, scientists, practitioners and Indigenous knowledge holders together to shape the future of holistic health and well-being.

The summit, jointly organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, will be held in New Delhi under the theme “Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being.” The event builds on the inaugural summit held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in 2023.

According to the government, the summit comes at a time when health systems worldwide are facing challenges such as inequitable access, environmental stress and rising chronic diseases. The discussions will focus on reaffirming the role of Traditional Medicine while anchoring it firmly in science, evidence-based practice and ethical governance.

IndusInd Bank said on Tuesday the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved HDFC Bank’s plan to buy up to a 9.50 per cent stake in the private lender.

The approval allows HDFC Bank to become a significant shareholder in IndusInd Bank, which has been facing financial and governance challenges in recent months.

The RBI has asked HDFC Bank to complete the acquisition of a major shareholding within one year from the date of approval, which was granted on December 15. If the bank fails to do so within this period, the approval will be cancelled.

This condition has been put in place to ensure timely compliance with regulatory norms.

The Indian Army has signed a memorandum of understanding to fast-track indigenous drone capabilities for land systems, with the collaboration to be coordinated through the 515 Army Base Workshop in Secunderabad. The partnership establishes a pathway from evaluation to field induction and scaling up of drone technologies, aligned with operational requirements and indigenous manufacturing goals. The collaboration is to be coordinated through the Army Base Workshop.

The MoU focuses on technology infusion in drone manufacturing, with emphasis on IC engine-based drones and systems capable of operating in GPS-denied environments. Raghu Vamsi Par East will provide technical consultancy to the Army Base Workshop for a comprehensive evaluation of drone technologies. The Army said the agreement strengthens indigenous capability, reduces dependence on imports for critical unmanned systems and shortens the time required to field drone solutions in support of operations.

The lingering appeal of the over 40,000 songs sung in 14 languages by legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam is a testimony to his mark on Indian film music, said IT Minister D Sridhar Babu on Monday.

Sridhar Babu, along with former vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu, unveiled a statue of Balasubrahmanyam at the Ravindra Bharati premises. Addressing the gathering, the minister said that despite changes across generations, the legend’s songs continued to be listened to with the same appeal, connecting with Telugu audiences and music listeners across the country.

He said Balasubrahmanyam’s work extended beyond playback singing, noting his contributions as an actor, music composer and dubbing artist. The minister added that the singer encouraged young talent and adapted to new musical styles while maintaining discipline and humility.

India’s Unemployment Rate (UR), declined to 4.7 per cent in November this year, at its lowest level since April, for individuals aged 15 years and above.

According to Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) monthly labour force and unemployment data, rural unemployment eased to a new low of 3.9 percent, while urban unemployment fell to 6.5 percent, matching the lowest reading recorded earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) among persons of age 15 years and above rose to 55.8 per cent in November.

The LFPR in rural areas also increased to 58.6 per cent last month, while in urban areas it dipped slightly to 50.4 per cent. LFPR is an estimate of the number of people actively engaged in the workforce, in Current Weekly Status (CWS).

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Vijay Diwas today. The Gallery has the portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees on display. It aims to educate visitors about our national heroes who displayed dauntless resolve and unconquerable spirit in defending our nation. It is also an initiative to honour the memory of our bravehearts who have laid down their lives in the service of the motherland.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying the most exceptional acts of valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during war. The corridors where the Param Vir Dirgha has now been created, earlier displayed portraits of British ADCs. The initiative to display portraits of Indian national heroes marks a meaningful step toward shedding the colonial mindset and embracing, with pride, the richness of India’s culture, heritage, and timeless traditions.

Vijay Diwas is not just a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of courage, sacrifice and a defining moment in India’s military history. Every year, the day asks us to pause and remember the cost of freedom and the strength it takes to protect it.

Beyond parades and official ceremonies, Vijay Diwas carries an emotional weight. It honours not only victory, but also the countless soldiers who stood firm in the face of adversity so that future generations could live in peace.

Vijay Diwas marks India’s historic victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a conflict that led to the creation of Bangladesh. After 13 intense days of fighting, the Pakistani armed forces surrendered on December 16, 1971. Over 90,000 prisoners of war were taken, making it one of the largest military surrenders since the Second World War.

India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday signed loan agreements worth over $2.2 billion to support five major development projects spanning skilling, renewable energy, healthcare, urban transport and sustainable livelihoods across multiple states.

The agreements were finalised under the guidance of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. The loan documents were signed by Deputy Secretary Saurabh Singh on behalf of the Government of India and by Aarti Mehra, Officer-in-Charge and Deputy Country Director of the ADB India Resident Mission, on behalf of the multilateral lender.

The financing package includes support for the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes Programme ($846 million), Accelerating Affordable and Inclusive Rooftop Solar Systems Development Programme – Subprogramme 1 ($650 million), Assam State Tertiary Health Care Augmentation Project ($398.8 million), Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project – Tranche 2 ($240 million), and the Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-based Livelihood Development in Meghalaya Project ($77 million).

Day six of the Tennis Premier League (TPL) Season 7 marked the business end of the tournament at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium, culminating in a high-stakes grand finale, where GS Delhi Aces emerged victorious to clinch their maiden title, as per a TPL release.

In the grand finale, GS Delhi Aces and Yash Mumbai Eagles battled it out for the Tennis Premier League Season 7 title. The tie opened with the Women's Singles, where Sofia Costoulas took on Riya Bhatia. Costoulas once again produced a commanding performance, cruising to an emphatic 18-7 win to maintain her unbeaten record in singles.

The momentum continued in the mixed doubles, as Sofia Costoulas partnered Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan against Riya Bhatia and Niki Poonacha. The Delhi Aces duo controlled the contest from the outset, combining sharp returning with confident net play to secure a 16-9 victory and extend their advantage in the final.

Showcasing excellence in sports, Chandigarh University has created history by topping the medal tally in the 5th Edition Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2025 in Rajasthan with a staggering haul of 42 Gold Medals, 14 Silver Medals and 11 Bronze Medals.

With this standout performance delivered by its contingent consisting of 174 student athletes – 100 girls and 74 boys – to finish atop the medal table with 67 medals, Chandigarh University has become the first University in India to win Khelo India University Games consequently and retain overall championship for two years in a row ever since the inception of KIUG in 2020.

Chandigarh University, which has also won the 4th edition of KIUG 2024 by winning 71 medals including 32 golds – shattered its own record by winning 10 more gold medals in KIUG 2025 to finish with 42 gold medals which is highest ever haul by a university in the Khelo India University Games.