Congress leader **Rahul Gandhi is set to travel to Hyderabad on December 13 to meet football legend Lionel Messi during the GOAT India Tour 2025 event, sources say. Gandhi, the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition, is expected to attend a friendly football match featuring Messi and teams including one led by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Elaborate security arrangements are in place for the high-profile event. The meet follows Messi’s visit to India, which also includes stops in Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi during the celebratory tour. (PC: The Hindu)  

West Bengal Chief Minister **Mamata Banerjee said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s visit and publicly apologised to the football superstar and fans. The uproar erupted when thousands of ticket-holding spectators failed to get a clear view of Messi and became frustrated, with some throwing bottles and chairs inside the venue, overshadowing his appearance. Banerjee announced a high-level probe committee to investigate the mismanagement and prevent future incidents. She expressed regret over the damage to the event’s image and fan disappointment.   

India’s largest budget airline IndiGo has estimated it will pay more than 5 billion rupees (about $55.19 million) in compensation to customers affected by massive flight cancellations in early December, the airline said. Around 4,500 flights were scrapped due to poor pilot roster planning and difficulties adapting to new aviation rest-and-duty rules, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded, prompting the civil aviation regulator to cut IndiGo’s domestic winter schedule by 10%. The airline is identifying passengers severely impacted between December 3–5 and will compensate those whose flights were cancelled within 24 hours of departure. IndiGo has also adjusted its capacity and revenue forecasts. 

The Union government has decided to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), India’s flagship rural jobs scheme, as the Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Yojana. Along with this rebranding, the Cabinet approved increasing the number of guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 per year and is expected to revise the minimum wage to ₹240 per day to boost rural income security. A bill to formalise these changes will be introduced in Parliament. The move reflects an effort to refresh the scheme’s identity while continuing to support rural livelihoods and employment. (PC: The Hindu)

The Union Cabinet approved Census of India 2027 on Friday at Rs 11,718.24 crore, the world's largest administrative and statistical exercise. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced this will be the sixteenth census overall, eighth since Independence, and first-ever fully digital census with data protection safeguards. The census will conduct in two phases: Houselisting and Housing Census from April-September 2026, followed by Population Enumeration in February 2027. For UT Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of UT Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, Population Enumeration will occur in September 2026. The digital design prioritizes data protection while modernizing India's demographic data collection process.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police has submitted a 3,500-page charge sheet in the mysterious death of acclaimed Assamese singer Zubeen Garg at the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Guwahati on December 12, marking a crucial development in the high-profile case. The extensive document follows nearly three months of investigation, during which over 300 witnesses were examined and seven individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. Garg died on September 19 in Singapore while swimming, during a visit for the North East India Festival. The filing brings the case closer to trial as authorities pursue justice. (PC: PTI)

Animal welfare activists in Mumbai will hold a peaceful rally on December 14 at Vikrant Circle, Ghatkopar, protesting the Supreme Court-approved SOPs for relocating stray dogs. Led by Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Welfare Foundation, the protest highlights concerns that forced relocation uproots dogs from familiar territories, overcrowds shelters, and may increase human-animal conflicts. Activists argue the policy contradicts humane, community-based methods like sterilisation and vaccination. National animal rights groups and public figures support the rally, emphasizing coexistence over confinement, while organisers also hint at a political push for more animal-friendly policies. (PC: FPJ)

Darjeeling’s historic Glenary’s bar has been ordered closed for 90 days by the West Bengal Excise Department after an inspection found five violations, including unauthorised live performances, improper liquor storage, inaccurate account keeping, and unapproved alterations to the premises — all breaches of excise rules. The bar closure affects the popular winter tourist spot just before the festive season, though Glenary’s restaurant, bakery and café remain open. Owner Ajoy Edwards has called the action politically motivated and plans to challenge it in the High Court. Locals and visitors expressed disappointment at the disruption during peak season. (PC: X)

Wing Commander Shivangi Singh, India’s first woman Rafale fighter pilot, has been appointed to train the next generation of fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force (IAF). She made history in 2020 by becoming the first female pilot to fly the advanced Rafale jets, showcasing exceptional skill and dedication. In her new role, she will mentor and train upcoming fighter crews, sharing her operational expertise and experiences from frontline missions. This milestone highlights the growing presence and recognition of women in India’s defense forces, inspiring more women to pursue careers in aviation. (PC: Instagram)

  A Mumbai visitor, Vaibhavi Chandel, has accused staff and security at Romeo Lane beach shack in Vagator, Goa, of rude behavior and physical assault during her November 1 visit. She claims the venue’s layout was “suffocating” with only one entry and exit, making it hard to leave late at night. According to her account, after a minor obstruction, staff and bouncers chased her group, blocked exits, and struck her relatives with rods. She also alleges being slapped and abused, prompting an FIR against the manager and security personnel. The owners’ names were initially included but later removed by police. (PC: X)