🏛️ Polity & Governance

🔷 Anu Garg Appointed as First Woman Chief Secretary of Odisha

In a historic move, Anu Garg (1991-batch IAS officer) has been appointed as the first-ever woman Chief Secretary of Odisha.
She replaces Manoj Ahuja and will lead the state's administration during a crucial phase of infrastructure development.
This appointment is seen as a major step toward women’s leadership in senior bureaucracy in India.

🔬 Science & Technology

🔷 India Unveils 'DHRUV64': First Indigenous 1.0 GHz Microprocessor

India has successfully developed its first 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core microprocessor named DHRUV64.
It is designed for high-end applications in defence, telecommunications, and industrial automation.
The chip is a giant leap for the India Semiconductor Mission, reducing the country's dependence on foreign technology.

🪖 Defence & Security

🔷 DRDO Tests Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120)

The DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Pinaka LRGR-120 at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.
Range: The new variant has a maximum range of 120 km, which is significantly higher than the previous 75-90 km versions.
Accuracy: It is a precision-guided system that can strike deep-area targets with high accuracy.
This system bridges the gap between tube artillery and ballistic missiles.

🌐 International Relations & Agreements

🔷 INSV Kaundinya Embarks on Heritage Voyage to Oman

The Indian Navy’s traditional "stitched ship" vessel, INSV Kaundinya, has set sail from Porbandar (Gujarat) to Muscat (Oman).
Unique Feature: The ship is built using the ancient "stitched-ship" technique (planks sewn with ropes), which was used by Indian sailors thousands of years ago.
Purpose: The voyage aims to celebrate the shared maritime heritage between India and Oman and retrace ancient trade routes.

🏅 Sports

🔷 India Women’s Team Achieves 5-0 Whitewash Against Sri Lanka

The Indian Women’s Cricket Team defeated Sri Lanka by 15 runs in the final T20I, completing a 5-0 series sweep.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front with a fighting 68 runs in the final match.
Shafali Verma was named the 'Player of the Series' for her consistent performance (241 runs across 5 matches).
This victory marks a perfect end to the 2025 season for Team India.

📌 December 31 General Knowledge

Charter of East India Company (1600): On this day, Queen Elizabeth I granted a royal charter to the East India Company, giving them a monopoly on trade with the East Indies.
Lahore Congress & Purna Swaraj (1929): The Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, passed the resolution for 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) in Lahore.
Birth of Rajesh Khanna (1942): Today is the birth anniversary of the legendary actor often called the "First Superstar" of Indian cinema.
Transfer of Panama Canal (1999): Control of the Panama Canal was officially transferred from the United States to Panama, ending nearly a century of U.S. administration.
First COVID-19 Report (2019): On this day, the first cases of an unknown pneumonia were reported in Wuhan, China, which was later identified as COVID-19.