The Times of India News

Union home minister Amit Shah revealed 40 kgs of explosives were used in a car blast near Red Fort, commending the J&K police for apprehending the entire conspiracy team. He announced a 360-degree assault on organized crime and emphasized seamless technology and data sharing among agencies to combat terrorism effectively.

An NRI's viral post highlights a New York friend's surprise at India's rapid growth and affordability, particularly in healthcare, transport, and digital services. While acknowledging better air quality in the US, the visitor noted significantly lower costs for mobile, health insurance, and property taxes in India. The post sparked discussions on civic sense and the nuances of cost-of-living comparisons.

India condemned recent violence against minorities in Bangladesh, demanding justice for a Hindu youth's killing. The Centre postponed a GST cut on air purifiers, citing health ministry guidelines. Cricketer Angkrish Raghuvanshi was hospitalised after a head injury, and a Hyderabad woman died after allegedly being set on fire by her husband.

India's Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned the recent violence against minorities in Bangladesh, including the killing of a Hindu man. The MEA stated that over 2,900 incidents against minorities have been documented, dismissing claims of media exaggeration or political violence.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant outlined his vision of a multi-door courthouse where courts function as comprehensive dispute resolution centres offering mediation, arbitration and litigation. Speaking at a national mediation conference, he stressed that mediation is the laws highest evolution, can reduce judicial pendency, and requires an expansion of trained mediators across all levels of the judiciary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that Gen Z and Gen Alpha will lead India towards becoming a developed nation. Addressing students on Veer Baal Diwas, he honored the bravery of the Sahibzadas, emphasizing their courage against religious fanaticism. The observance of Veer Baal Diwas aims to recognize and encourage talented youth.

As 2025 concludes, India witnessed recurring themes: the BJP's continued dominance, the Congress's struggle to revive, persistent air pollution in Delhi, and Pakistan-linked terror. Misogynistic remarks by politicians, language debates, and name-changing initiatives also remained prominent. Cricket stars faced retirement speculation, while the rupee's slide and the perennial 'when will you marry?' question for public figures persisted.

The Punjab and Haryana high court ruled that character certificates cannot be denied to Army aspirants due to pending criminal cases before charges are framed. Justice Suvir Sehgal allowed a petition by Ramanpreet Singh, who was denied a certificate for an abetment to suicide case, stating mere registration of a case isn't guilt.

After 28 years, a CISF constable sacked in 1998 for assault and misconduct has been reinstated by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court deemed the punishment excessive, stating past conduct shouldn't justify removal when current allegations are unsubstantiated. The bench emphasized that punishment must be proportionate and not shock the conscience.

The Madras High Court has ordered an FIR and legal action against two Tamil Nadu police officers for allegedly torturing a passport applicant in Virudhunagar in 2020. Justice Sunder Mohan noted that disciplinary proceedings against sub-inspector S Manikandan and constable SP Selvaraj for torturing Thavakannan constituted cognizable offenses, warranting an FIR and subsequent action.

India's food safety watchdog, FSSAI, has mandated that only beverages derived solely from the Camellia sinensis plant can be labeled as 'tea'. This directive aims to prevent misbranding and consumer confusion, impacting products like rooibos and flower infusions. The move is expected to bring clarity to the market and consumer understanding of what constitutes true tea.

Prime Minister Modi, inaugurating a memorial in Lucknow, criticized past governments for glorifying a single family and neglecting national heroes. He stated the BJP government is rectifying this by honoring all contributors and dismantling barriers like Article 370. The memorial celebrates Jan Sangh stalwarts, emphasizing the BJP's commitment to merit-based recognition over dynastic politics.

Right-wing vandals disrupted Christmas celebrations in Assam and Chhattisgarh on Christmas Day. In Assam, four activists were arrested for smashing decorations at a school, while in Chhattisgarh, an FIR was filed against 25-30 individuals for vandalizing a mall during a shutdown protest.

Uttar Pradesh schools will now make newspaper reading compulsory for students. A 10-minute slot during morning assembly will be dedicated to reading news, aiming to boost general knowledge, improve vocabulary, and foster critical thinking. This initiative seeks to reduce screen time and cultivate informed, empathetic citizens aware of local and global events.

A 20-year-old Bengali mason, working in Odisha for the first time, was tragically beaten to death by a mob. While his family claims he was falsely accused of being Bangladeshi, police state the violence erupted from a monetary dispute. Two other migrant workers were critically injured in the attack.

CBI has filed a chargesheet against four Punjab Police personnel, naming Inspector Ronnie Singh as the prime accused in the assault on Colonel Pushpinder Bath. Charges of attempted murder were dropped, replaced with 'causing grievous hurt' and 'wrongful restraint' following a parking dispute.

The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case against a government-recognized madrassa teacher from Azamgarh who fraudulently drew salary and retirement benefits for a decade while living abroad and holding British citizenship. He allegedly amassed significant properties and cash from suspicious entities, highlighting a systemic breakdown in the state's madrassa education framework.

Naxal carried a Rs 1.1 crore bounty on his head

In a heartwarming display of unity, a 75-year-old Sikh woman in Punjab's Jakhwali village donated land for a new mosque. Sikh and Hindu families are also contributing financially to the construction. This gesture highlights the village's long-standing tradition of interfaith harmony, where all communities support each other's religious needs.

A horrific accident occurred in Chitradurga, Karnataka, when a container truck jumped the median and collided with a sleeper bus. The bus driver, Sachin, witnessed the event unfold, with his own bus clipping the burning sleeper bus. The collision resulted in a serious head injury for Sachin and shattered his windscreen.

A tragic road accident near Hiriyur claimed the lives of two young women, AM Navya and HC Manasa, who were traveling to Sigandur temple. Both were engaged, with Manasa's wedding preparations underway and Navya's scheduled for April 2026. Their PG roommate, Milana Narayanamurthy, miraculously survived the devastating crash.

Navi Mumbai International Airport officially opened its doors with the arrival of IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru. The new gateway handled 48 flights and over 4,000 passengers on its first day, significantly easing Mumbai's air traffic congestion. Despite initial signage and road access challenges, the airport marks a major expansion for the region's connectivity.

A horrific highway collision in Karnataka claimed six lives, including a child, and left 28 injured after a truck veered onto the wrong side, striking a sleeper bus and igniting a blaze. The tragic accident occurred early Thursday near Hiriyur, with victims identified including young professionals and a mother and daughter. Compensation has been announced for the affected families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Christmas service, emphasizing love and compassion, as the BJP intensifies its outreach to the Christian community. Party president JP Nadda also participated in regional celebrations. This engagement follows previous outreach efforts, though opposition highlights concerns over incidents targeting Christians in some areas.

Delhi High Court has barred Richmondd Global School from admitting new students to classes XI and XII and initiated contempt proceedings against its management for violating a previous undertaking. The court ordered the school to deposit Rs 75 lakh, collected from students enrolled only on paper, and allowed 128 students to transfer to a nearby CBSE-affiliated school.

Authorities in Jammu's Kathua district have suspended VPN services for two months due to security concerns, following similar actions in Rajouri and Poonch. Citing misuse for bypassing cyber restrictions and accessing prohibited content, the order aims to prevent unlawful activities and protect sensitive data. The district magistrate's directive mandates strict enforcement, with violations facing legal consequences.

Himachal doctors are planning a mass leave on December 26, demanding the suspension of a resident doctor be revoked. The doctor faces allegations of assaulting a patient at IGMC Shimla after a dispute over respectful address. The association also seeks legal action and better hospital security, warning of further action if demands aren't met.

Delhi's air quality saw a welcome improvement for the second day, moving from 'severe' to 'poor' levels. While some areas experienced 'moderate' air, others remained in 'poor' or 'very poor' categories. Vehicular emissions and neighbouring NCR districts were identified as major pollution sources. Forecasts suggest a potential return to 'very poor' conditions soon.

Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the new law replacing MGNREGA, denying any political talks. He reaffirmed his commitment as a lifetime party worker and announced plans for a movement to protect rural development. The Congress Working Committee will meet on December 27 to deliberate on the issue.

Right-wing groups Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad protested outside a Bareilly church on Christmas Eve, alleging objectionable portrayals of Hinduism. Reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, they claimed Christmas events hurt Hindu sentiments. Police are investigating after the groups submitted a memorandum demanding action against alleged misleading depictions of religious conversion and Hindu society.

In a year filled with challenges, 2025 offered moments of profound human connection and kindness. From a handwritten note in an auto to a surprise birthday celebration for a delivery partner, these acts demonstrated empathy and decency. These stories, though small, reminded people that compassion thrives amidst the noise, offering hope and a sense of a world not entirely broken.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticised the Delhi High Courts decision to suspend the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, calling it a chilling message to the survivor and alleging that leniency in brutal rape cases has been normalised. The sentence has been suspended pending appeal, though Sengar will remain in jail as he is serving a separate 10-year term in the custodial death case of the survivors father.

2025 saw political shifts with Nitish Kumar retaining power in Bihar and Siddaramaiah navigating a leadership tussle. While Nitin Nabin and Chirag Paswan rose, the Congress faced defeats and internal strife. Arvind Kejriwal's AAP lost Delhi, and Prashant Kishor's political venture faltered, highlighting power's dynamic nature.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari recounted meeting Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh hours before his assassination in Tehran. Gadkari, was in Iran, attending presidential swearing-in, and was informed of Haniyeh's death early next morning. The incident highlighted the growing role of technology in modern conflict and national security.

The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to expedite the extradition of US-based accused Amit Wadhwa and asked the trial court to conclude the long-pending criminal proceedings preferably within one year.