Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), the long-awaited greenfield aviation hub near Ulwe, officially commenced commercial flight operations on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, marking a major boost to air connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The airport launched with around 30 domestic flights connecting key cities such as Hyderabad, Goa, Bengaluru and more, aimed at relieving congestion at Mumbai’s existing airport and improving travel options. Built with modern facilities and infrastructure, NMIA is expected to expand services gradually, enhancing regional transport capacity and passenger convenience across western India. (PC: PTI)

A passenger bus travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna collided with a truck early Thursday on National Highway-48 in Chitradurga district, Karnataka. The impact caused the bus to catch fire and be completely gutted, trapping passengers inside. Police confirmed that at least nine people were charred to death and several others were seriously injured and rushed to hospitals in Hiriyur and Chitradurga. Preliminary reports suggest the truck crossed the central divider before the crash, triggering the blaze. Rescue teams and police are investigating the cause and working at the scene.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed states to completely ban any new mining leases across the entire Aravalli range to protect the ecologically sensitive region from unregulated mining activities. The move follows a Supreme Court order freezing new leases until a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is finalized.The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has been asked to identify additional mining-prohibited zones beyond existing protected areas. Existing mines must comply with strict environmental safeguards. The directive aims to preserve the Aravalli geological ridge from Gujarat to Delhi and curb illegal mining. (PC: X)

The Unnao rape survivor and her mother were removed by police from a protest at Delhi’s India Gate on Tuesday. They were opposing a Delhi High Court order that suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and granted him bail during appeal. A day later, Uttar Pradesh minister OP Rajbhar laughed when asked about the incident and said the survivor’s home was in Unnao. The survivor later told media that the decision had caused deep fear for her family. She said security for relatives and witnesses had already been withdrawn. The high court barred Sengar from approaching the survivor or her mother and warned that any breach would cancel bail. (PC: India Today)

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed states to impose a complete ban on new mining leases across the Aravalli range, stretching from Delhi to Gujarat. The move aims to curb illegal mining and protect the Aravallis as a continuous geological formation. The ministry has tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with identifying additional zones where mining should be prohibited, based on ecological and geological factors. This follows a Supreme Court ruling defining Aravalli Hills as landforms 100 metres above local relief. Existing mines must comply with strict safeguards. The Centre emphasised the Aravallis’ role in biodiversity, aquifer recharge, and preventing desertification. (PC: X)

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.