Politics and Governance:
A significant political outcry has erupted in India following a government directive mandating large technology companies to pre-install the state-owned 'Sanchar Saathi' app on all smartphones. Manufacturers, including major global players, have been given 90 days to comply. While the Telecom Ministry defends the app as a crucial security measure to combat cyber fraud and regulate the secondhand phone market, opposition MPs and digital freedom activists have voiced concerns over potential surveillance and privacy violations, with some calling it a "snooping app" that infringes on citizens' basic right to privacy.
The winter session of Parliament continued to see disruptions, primarily over the Opposition's demand for a debate on the 'Special Intensive Revision (SIR)' of electoral rolls. The Lok Sabha is scheduled to discuss electoral reforms on December 9-10. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha returned the Manipur GST (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, to the Lok Sabha. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the proposed 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which mandates the resignation of any public officeholder jailed for over 30 days, would be a part of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legacy.
In state-level developments, Assam has passed the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, making it the second state after Uttarakhand to ban polygamy. Maharashtra held the first phase of its local body elections on December 2, 2025, for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats, though some polls were postponed due to procedural irregularities.
Economy and Finance:
India's economic landscape presented a mixed picture. While the country recorded a robust 8.2% GDP growth in the second quarter, the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth slowed to a 14-month low of 0.4% in October 2025. The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) also dropped to a nine-month low, indicating a slowdown in the manufacturing sector and raising concerns about household consumption. Despite these fluctuations, Nomura has revised India's FY26 GDP growth forecast upward to 7.5% and anticipates an India-US trade deal soon.
Regarding political funding, a review of electoral trusts revealed that the BJP received approximately 83% of the Rs 915 crore in political donations routed through the Tata group-controlled Progressive Electoral Trust in 2024-25. Additionally, the Centre is moving to retain high taxes on tobacco and pan masala, aiming to discourage consumption and increase health safeguards.
International Relations:
India achieved a diplomatic success by being re-elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025-29 term, affirming global confidence in its leadership. Furthermore, India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, is set to assume the Chairship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in Stockholm on December 3, 2025.
The 14th edition of the joint military exercise 'EKUVERIN' between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force commenced in Thiruvananthapuram, focusing on tactical drills and joint mission planning. However, a diplomatic issue arose with Pakistan alleging that India is blocking its humanitarian assistance to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka. Conversely, India has deployed its own 'BHISHM Cube' under the Aarogya Maitri Project to aid Sri Lanka.
Relations with Russia remain strong, with Russia praising India ahead of President Putin's upcoming visit. Both nations are collaborating to boost India's exports, and India is expected to seek major defense deals during Putin's visit.
Science & Technology:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a high-speed rocket sled test of an indigenous fighter aircraft escape system in Chandigarh, validating its canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and aircrew recovery processes. In a move to enhance road safety, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reliance Jio to implement a telecom-based safety alert system across National Highways. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) also reported a significant milestone, with 231 crore Aadhaar authentication transactions in November 2025, marking an 8.5% growth over the previous year.
Social Welfare and Culture:
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, emphasizing the strength of multilingualism and the deep cultural and historical ties between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu. On a critical note, authorities in Uttarakhand have issued a high alert in Haldwani following a Supreme Court directive concerning the demolition of illegal structures, potentially impacting a large population. Separately, the DGCA took action against Air India officials, grounding an aircraft and de-rostering personnel for allowing it to operate without a mandatory license.
Non-Cricket Sports:
In non-cricket sports, the Indian women's hockey team began their campaign at the Women's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup with an emphatic 13-0 victory over Namibia. The Archery Premier League was honored with the 'Emerging Professional Sports Event of the Year' award at the India Sports Awards 2025. The India men's football team has also successfully qualified for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup.