A group of economists, scholars and policy experts wrote an open letter urging the Indian government to retain the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), one of the world’s largest legal employment-guarantee programmes. They warned that the government’s plan to repeal and replace it with the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 would weaken the demand-driven employment right by centralising authority and shifting financial burdens to states, reducing rural work security. The letter calls for recommitment to MGNREGA’s legal employment guarantee and rural livelihood support. (PC: The Hindu)

Parliament passed the landmark SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Bill on Thursday, opening India's nuclear power sector to private players. Cleared by Lok Sabha Wednesday and introduced Monday by Union minister Jitendra Singh, the legislation permits private companies to construct, own, operate, or decommission nuclear plants after obtaining safety licenses. It removes controversial supplier liability clauses, rationalizes accident payout levels, and aims to achieve 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047. PM Modi called it "transformational," enabling safe AI power and green manufacturing while creating private sector opportunities. The Bill repeals the 1962 Atomic Energy Act and 2010 CLND Act, amending patent laws for atomic energy applications. (PC: News18)

A Delhi court on Thursday remanded Yasir Ahmad Dar, the ninth person arrested in the Red Fort blast terror case, to the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) custody until December 26 for further interrogation. Dar, a Jammu and Kashmir resident, is accused of playing an active role in the November 10 car bomb explosion near the historic Red Fort that killed at least 15 people and injured many others. Investigators say he was in close contact with other suspects, including the suspected suicide bomber, and had allegedly taken an oath to participate in extremist operations. The NIA continues to probe the wider terror network behind the attack. (PC: NDTV)

India’s Parliament has approved the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, a major reform to open the previously state-controlled nuclear power sector to private companies and investment. The legislation allows private firms to build, operate and decommission nuclear power plants under a licensed regime, aligns nuclear liability laws with global norms, and aims to help India achieve a target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047. The bill was passed amid an opposition walkout and debate over safety and liability provisions, with the government assuring robust regulatory safeguards will remain. 

Union Minister Giriraj Singh sparked fresh outrage by defending Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in the hijab controversy, saying the Muslim woman who allegedly refused a government job “can refuse it or go to hell”, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders and civil society. Singh argued that showing one’s face is necessary when receiving appointment letters and insisted there was nothing wrong in Kumar’s act of pulling the woman’s hijab at an official event in Patna, framing it as identity verification. His remarks intensified debate over personal dignity, religious freedom and public conduct. 

An Air India Express flight made an emergency landing at Kochi airport on Thursday. The flight was traveling from Jeddah to Kozhikode with 160 passengers on board. It was diverted after a problem was found in the landing gear. Airport officials said there was a tyre failure on the right side of the aircraft. Full emergency services were activated before landing. The plane landed safely at 9:07 am. No passenger or crew member was injured. A check later confirmed that both right-side tyres had burst. Air India Express said the damage may have been caused by an object on the runway. Passengers were later sent to Kozhikode by road. (PC: X)

Delhi has implemented strict anti-pollution measures from December 18, barring entry of non-BS VI vehicles into the city and refusing fuel at petrol pumps to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate as part of Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan to tackle hazardous air quality. Authorities deployed 580 police personnel and 37 enforcement vans at 126 checkpoints to enforce the curbs. The rules target around 1.2 million non-compliant vehicles from neighbouring NCR areas, aiming to cut emissions and improve public health amid worsening smog. 

Pilot unions — including the Indian Pilots Guild and the Federation of Indian Pilots — have raised serious concerns about alleged corruption and regulatory failures within the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. They told a parliamentary panel that unsafe practices, improper extensions of flight-duty regulations, and improper approvals have compromised safety and operational standards. The issue follows major flight disruptions at IndiGo, prompting pilots to urge stronger oversight and accountability. The complaints are now being examined by the transport-tourism parliamentary committee, with responses from DGCA and ministry officials expected. (PC: Reuters)  

Football star Lionel Messi visited Vantara, a wildlife centre in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, on Tuesday. He was welcomed by Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. During the visit, Messi interacted with animals and took part in traditional Hindu rituals. A video of Messi playing football with a baby elephant named Maneklal has gone viral online. The elephant gently pushed the ball back, delighting everyone present. Messi also met a lion cub named ‘Lionel’ in his honour. He praised Vantara’s work in rescuing and caring for animals. Messi ended his India tour with the Jamnagar visit. 

4 pilgrims died and one was injured after a truck hit them in Gujarat’s Morbi district on Wednesday morning. The accident happened around 6 am on a state highway between Maliya and Jamnagar. Police said the truck hit the group from behind while they were walking towards Dwarka on a pilgrimage. Four people died on the spot. The injured pilgrim was taken to a hospital in Morbi. The group had stayed overnight at a temple in Sarvad village. The victims were from Banaskantha district. Police have started an investigation.