The Union environment ministry has ordered states to stop granting any new mining leases across the Aravalli range, which runs from Delhi to Gujarat. The ban will apply to the full length of the hills to curb illegal and unplanned mining. The ministry has asked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to find more no-mining zones in the region. It will also prepare a science-based plan to study environmental impact and guide future action. The draft will be shared for public feedback. For existing mines, states must enforce strict rules and follow Supreme Court orders to limit damage to the fragile ecosystem. (PC: India Today)

A 21-year-old woman in Bengaluru was assaulted in broad daylight on December 22 after rejecting romantic advances from a man she met on Instagram, according to police. CCTV footage shows the accused, identified as Naveen Kumar, approaching her near her PG accommodation, taking her purse, groping her and repeatedly slapping and dragging her along the road while bystanders looked on. The encounter, captured on camera, has sparked concerns about women’s safety and online-to-offline harassment. Police have registered an FIR and taken the accused into custody; further investigation is ongoing. 

In Pudussery, Palakkad district, Kerala, a man identified as RSS worker Ashwin Raj was arrested for allegedly assaulting a group of children singing Christmas carols and destroying their band set while they visited houses Sunday night, police said. The carol team, which included children, was confronted and attacked after the accused objected to markings on the drum, according to the complaint. A Catholic bishop strongly condemned the incident, calling any attack on carollers unacceptable and urging legal action. Local BJP leaders disputed details, alleging political motives, while youth groups have announced protests over the episode. (PC: The Hindu)

The Delhi High Court sharply questioned the Centre’s imposition of 18 % GST on air purifiers, urging the government to explain why tax on these essential devices isn’t reduced amid severe air pollution affecting public health. The court, hearing a public interest litigation seeking classification of air purifiers as medical devices (which could lower GST to 5 %), said citizens breathe about 21,000 times a day, highlighting the damage of polluted air and calling the tax “unreasonable” given the failure to provide clean air. The bench asked the government to respond urgently in court.

At least 18 young wrestlers from Odisha, including eight girls, endured inhumane conditions during travel to and from the 69th National School Games Wrestling Championship in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, after their train tickets were not confirmed by authorities. The athletes were made to sit on the floor near the train toilet for hours in winter, with luggage and cold discomfort, as viral videos sparked outrage and questions about mismanagement by the School and Mass Education Department. Officials have called for a detailed report, and the department said tickets were booked but not confirmed despite efforts. 

Bollywood spy-action thriller Dhurandhar gained an authentic military feel with retired Colonel Bhupinder Shahi serving as a military consultant, ensuring accurate portrayal of army protocols, tactics and culture. Shahi trained actors in fieldcraft and coordinated with costume designers and art directors for realism. Filmed extensively in Ladakh, where Shahi served for eight years, the consultant also helped secure permissions from the Indian Army and Air Force for equipment use. Shahi, with experience on films like Shershah, said his role was crucial in reflecting the Army accurately on screen, enhancing credibility in this decade-long espionage narrative. (PC: The Tribune)

India recorded the highest global doping offenders for the third consecutive year, with 260 positive cases from 7,113 samples, a 3.6% positivity rate according to WADA's 2024 report. This figure more than doubles any other nation, as no country exceeded 1.75% positivity. Norway documented second-highest proportion at 1.75%, followed by the US at 1.15%. In absolute figures, France registered 91 violations, Italy 85, Russia and US 76 each, while Germany and China recorded 54 and 43 respectively. Global comparisons reveal despite more rigorous testing regimes elsewhere, India's doping rate remains significantly higher, highlighting concerns about banned athletic performance-enhancing drug use in competitive sports. (PC: Md Babul Hosen)

The Supreme Court accepted the Environment Ministry's 100-meter Aravalli definition on November 20, despite its own Central Empowered Committee opposing it. On October 14, CEC chairman Siddhant Das wrote that Forest Survey of India's 3-degree slope definition should be adopted instead, clarifying views attributed to CEC were actually Dr. JR Bhatt's individual opinion, not the committee's. Amicus curiae K Parmeshwar's presentation warned the 100-meter rule loses "integrity of Aravali as geographical feature" and enables mining on lower hills, accelerating Thar Desert expansion. FSI's internal assessment flagged 91.3% of 12,081 Aravalli hills above 20 meters would be excluded. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav claimed mining covers only 0.19% currently but hasn't addressed future development scope. (PC: The Indian Express)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) published draft electoral rolls after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, revealing that nearly 95 lakh electors did not find their names in the draft lists. The deletions include about 42.74 lakh in Madhya Pradesh, 27.34 lakh in Chhattisgarh, 24.08 lakh in Kerala, and around 64,000 in the Union Territory. Those excluded can still file applications for inclusion during the claims and objections period, and the final rolls will be issued early next year. (PC: PTI)

A viral video from Ladakh’s Pangong Tso shows a Himalayan red fox calmly walking near a roadside as tourists watch and record the rare sighting, garnering widespread admiration online. However, Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan cautioned that the fox’s lack of fear suggests it may have been fed by people before, leading to unnatural behaviour and dangerous habituation. Experts warn that such “sympathy-based conservation” can disrupt wildlife’s natural foraging, increase road dangers, and harm ecosystems. The sighting highlights both Ladakh’s rich biodiversity and the need for responsible wildlife interaction.