Highlights: Cabinet approves Rs 11,718 crore for India’s first fully digital census 2027

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the SIT’s filing of a chargesheet in the Zubeen Garg death case, with four accused now facing murder charges. The SIT submitted the chargesheet to the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Guwahati. Garg died while swimming in Singapore on 19 September 2025 during a yacht outing ahead of the North East India Festival.

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha met families of those killed in the 14 November Nowgam Police Station blast and handed over appointment letters on compassionate grounds, assuring support and timely assistance.

The Madakkulam pond in Madurai, spanning 326 acres and storing 167 million cubic feet of water, has reached full capacity following heavy rainfall and Vaigai River releases. The replenished reservoir has enabled farmers in Madakkulam village to resume agricultural activities, offering a boost to local livelihoods.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a bilateral visit to Jordan from 15–17 December, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday. This will be Modi’s first standalone visit to the country. During the trip, he will meet King Abdullah II to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on key regional developments. The two leaders are also expected to address an India–Jordan business forum aimed at boosting trade and investment ties. Modi will additionally engage with the Indian community in Jordan as part of his outreach to the diaspora.

The Cabinet approved a budget of Rs 11,718 crore for Census 2027, which Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said will be India’s first fully digital census, conducted in two phases from April 2026 to February 2027.

The Union Cabinet approved an increase in the MSP for copra. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “Union Cabinet has approved MSP of Rs 12,027 per quintal for milling copra and Rs 12,500 per quintal for ball copra for 2026. NAFED and NCCF will be the nodal agencies for this.”

The ‘Madurai Deepam’ controversy echoed in Parliament on Friday after BJP MP Anurag Thakur raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, urging the government to address concerns surrounding the dispute. Thakur said the matter has triggered tensions and political reactions in Tamil Nadu, calling for clarity and accountability from the state administration.

This comes as, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday permitted a peaceful hunger strike at Thiruparankundram on December 13. Villagers and members of Hindu Munnani, who were earlier denied permission to light the Karthigai Deepam on the ‘Deepathoon’ near the Dargah, will be allowed to protest on the condition that no slogans are raised and no political colour is given to the event.

Novo Nordisk has introduced the diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic in India at Rs 2,200 per week, aiming to improve accessibility amid the country’s growing diabetes and obesity crisis. The single-pen pack, covering four weeks, costs Rs 8,800 inclusive of taxes.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju announced that the government will organise a structured discussion on air pollution in Parliament after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi requested a debate on the issue.

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has called for a parliamentary debate on the escalating pollution crisis, stressing that it “is not an ideological issue.” He added that the Opposition is “more than happy to cooperate with the government” to find effective solutions.

Kolkata is preparing for a landmark moment as Lionel Messi arrives on December 13 with Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul for a packed schedule of events. The visit will feature the unveiling of a 70-foot statue of Messi in Sribhumi, touted as the world’s largest, along with cultural honours, a friendly match, and high-profile appearances. Fans across the city are gearing up for a massive celebration of the football icon.

The DGCA has suspended four Flight Operations Inspectors overseeing IndiGo after preliminary findings pointed to oversight failures amid the airline’s ongoing operational crisis. Sources say gaps in monitoring may have worsened the disruptions that left thousands of passengers stranded.

The political row over West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise escalated after BJP’s Amit Malviya accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of misleading the public about submitting her enumeration form. Citing officials, Malviya said Banerjee had already filed the form on December 11 despite publicly claiming she hadn’t. Banerjee, meanwhile, accused the BJP of using SIR to “terrify” voters and remove names from the rolls, vowing protests if anyone was deliberately excluded. The Election Commission extended SIR deadlines in several states, but not in West Bengal.

Two Naxalites, Deepak and Rohit, carrying cash rewards of ₹29 lakh and ₹14 lakh, surrendered in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared the state free of Maoist presence, citing the Centre’s push to eliminate Naxalism by 2026. The surrender was hailed as a major success by local police and CRPF, who had long tracked the cadres.

Delhi is set for a colder week, with minimum temperatures likely to drop from around 10°C to nearly 7°C and foggy mornings expected through mid-December. As winter conditions tighten, the Delhi government convened a high-level meeting to tackle rising dust pollution from road and civic works. Senior ministers, municipal officials and traffic police reviewed measures to curb dust, which is expected to worsen due to light winds and low pollutant dispersion. The administration said keeping roads clean and safe in the coming days is now a “top priority.”

Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia was placed on ventilator support on Thursday night after her breathing and oxygen levels deteriorated, according to her medical board. The 80-year-old BNP chairperson has been in Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital since November 23 with multiple organ complications, including kidney failure and infective endocarditis. Doctors said several vital organs are under severe stress, requiring round-the-clock monitoring and regular dialysis. Her planned air ambulance transfer to London remains on hold as she continues treatment in the CCU.

Nine people were killed and several others injured after a bus lost control and fell into a ravine in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri district early this morning. The accident occurred around 5:30 am near Tulasipakalu village, with 35 passengers on board. Rescue teams and police rushed to the spot, and the injured are being shifted to hospitals in Chintur and Bhadrachalam. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has ordered immediate relief measures and directed senior officials to oversee rescue operations.