India has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, leaving out ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill. The team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, with all-rounder Axar Patel named as vice-captain. Left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan returns to the side after a strong domestic season, while finisher Rinku Singh earns a call-up. The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7, 2025.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that Gill’s omission was based on team balance and recent form. Gill has averaged only 24.25 across his last 15 T20 internationals, while Kishan topped the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 517 runs. Agarkar noted that having a wicketkeeper-opener strengthens the team’s flexibility. The squad also includes Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar as all-rounders, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the pace attack.

The selection signals India’s focus on form and versatility ahead of the World Cup, as the team seeks to end its decade-long wait for a T20 title.

Seven wild Asian elephants were killed and one calf injured when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd in northeastern India. The incident occurred near Sairang in Mizoram as the Capital Express, carrying 650 passengers from Guwahati to New Delhi, struck the animals. The impact caused the train’s engine and five coaches to derail, though no passengers were injured, according to Indian Railways spokesperson Kishore Sharma.

Officials said the driver applied emergency brakes after spotting nearly 100 elephants on the tracks but could not avoid the collision. The accident site, about 125 kilometers southeast of Guwahati, lies outside a designated elephant corridor. Veterinary teams conducted autopsies on the elephants, which will be buried the following day.

Assam, home to roughly 7,000 wild elephants, has seen several similar accidents in recent years. Conservationists have urged authorities to improve monitoring and install early-warning systems along railway routes intersecting elephant habitats to prevent future tragedies.

India’s Ministry of Defence is finalizing a proposal to acquire 850 kamikaze drones for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and special forces at an estimated cost of ₹2,000 crore. The Defense Acquisition Council is expected to approve the purchase in its upcoming meeting later this December, after which procurement will begin.

According to reports from the Economic Times citing ministry sources, the move follows India’s successful use of combat drones during ‘Operation Sindoor’ against Pakistan in May. Senior defense officials told ANI that drones proved highly effective during that operation, prompting the armed forces to expand their drone arsenal across all branches. Kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions, are designed to strike targets and self-destruct upon impact.

Analysts view this procurement as part of India’s broader modernization strategy to strengthen precision strike capabilities and reduce battlefield risks. The integration of autonomous navigation and target recognition technologies in these drones could significantly enhance India’s tactical flexibility in future conflicts.

An Indian parliamentary committee led by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has described Bangladesh’s current political and security situation as India’s most serious strategic challenge since the 1971 Liberation War. The committee urged the Indian government to handle the crisis with extreme caution and issued several policy recommendations to safeguard New Delhi’s regional influence.

The report warns that Bangladesh’s shifting political alignment—marked by closer ties with Pakistan and China—could erode India’s strategic relevance in Dhaka. It cited China’s growing presence through infrastructure projects such as the Mongla port expansion, Lalmonirhat airbase, and Pekua submarine base. The committee also noted that previously banned Jamaat-e-Islami has regained registration to contest elections, while the interim government has barred the Awami League, raising concerns about electoral inclusivity.

Among its recommendations, the panel called for strict monitoring to prevent any foreign military base in Bangladesh and urged India to offer preferential access in connectivity and port development. Analysts view the report as a signal for recalibrating India’s neighborhood policy amid intensifying regional competition.

A youth organization affiliated with the Tipra Motha party, the Youth Tipra Federation, staged a protest on Friday outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura. Local police had increased security around the diplomatic office ahead of the demonstration, deploying officers under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak.

The protest followed controversial remarks by leaders of Bangladesh’s National Citizens Party (NCP), including Hasnat Abdullah, who allegedly threatened to encourage separatism in India’s northeastern region. The youth group condemned the statements as provocative and harmful to India-Bangladesh relations and to regional peace. Meanwhile, security measures were also visibly tightened around the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata in response to recent developments in Bangladesh.

Authorities in Agartala remain cautious, recalling that the same diplomatic office was attacked by Hindu nationalist groups last year. Officials emphasized that maintaining calm and protecting diplomatic premises are top priorities as cross-border political tensions rise.

India is fast-tracking a series of free trade agreements (FTAs) as it faces mounting pressure from the United States’ steep import tariffs and growing global trade instability. The move follows Washington’s decision in August to impose a 50% import duty on Indian textiles, auto parts, metals, and labor-intensive goods—measures that have significantly weakened India’s export competitiveness.

Trade analysts say New Delhi is using FTAs as a strategic tool to offset the long-term effects of unpredictable US tariffs. India currently has 15 active FTAs, six under priority negotiation, and more than 50 new deals under discussion with partners including the European Union, New Zealand, Chile, and Oman. Analysts note that once completed, India will have trade agreements with nearly all major economies except China.

However, experts caution that India’s rapid pivot toward multiple trade alliances could expose its diplomatic imbalance and erode its traditional defensive trade posture, potentially creating vulnerabilities for its future economic interests.

India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant has expressed deep concern about a growing trend of judges delivering controversial or questionable rulings shortly before retirement. Speaking during a Supreme Court hearing on a suspended district judge from Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Justice described the pattern as an “unfortunate judicial tendency.” The bench, also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, was reviewing the judge’s suspension, which followed two disputed orders issued days before his scheduled retirement.

The Chief Justice noted that such actions undermine public confidence in the judiciary and send a troubling message about judicial integrity. The bench questioned why the judge bypassed the High Court to appeal directly to the Supreme Court. Senior advocate Bipin Sanghi defended his client’s record, arguing that a judge should not face disciplinary action for appealable decisions unless motivated by bad faith.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court declined to admit the petition, directing the applicant to approach the High Court instead. The bench also criticized the use of Right to Information (RTI) requests to seek internal judicial details, calling formal representation the proper route.

India’s Coast Guard has detained 35 Bangladeshi fishermen and seized two fishing trawlers, the FB Sabina-1 and FB Rupshi Sultana, for allegedly entering Indian territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal. The vessels were intercepted near the South 24 Parganas coast and later handed over to local police in Fraserganj for legal proceedings. The detained fishermen reportedly hail from Kutubdia in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district.

The arrests come amid heightened maritime tensions following an earlier incident in which India accused a Bangladeshi naval vessel of colliding with an Indian fishing trawler, causing it to sink. Eleven Indian fishermen were rescued, while five remain missing. Indian authorities have presented the detained Bangladeshis before the Kakdwip Sub-Divisional Court for questioning.

The episode underscores recurring disputes over fishing rights and maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal. Diplomatic engagement between Dhaka and New Delhi is expected to address the detentions and prevent further escalation in cross-border fishing conflicts.

India has summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, M. Riaz Hamidullah, to express concern over the security of its diplomatic mission in Dhaka. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that certain ‘extremist groups’ in Bangladesh have created a security threat around the Indian High Commission, prompting the formal meeting on Wednesday.

Officials in New Delhi indicated that the summons was also linked to recent anti-India remarks made by some Bangladeshi political figures, which India described as provocative. In its official statement, India rejected what it called a ‘false narrative’ being spread by radical elements in Bangladesh and expressed hope that the interim government would ensure the safety of all foreign missions in accordance with diplomatic norms.

The development comes amid heightened political tensions in Bangladesh and growing sensitivity in India over regional security. Observers suggest that both sides may need to engage in quiet diplomacy to prevent further strain in bilateral relations.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah in New Delhi on Wednesday, citing security threats to its embassy in Dhaka and recent anti-India remarks by Bangladeshi politicians. The move came less than 12 hours after a high-profile Victory Day reception at the Bangladesh High Commission, where both nations celebrated their shared history and wartime alliance.

Officials in Delhi expressed concern over what they described as extremist groups in Bangladesh creating a ‘false narrative’ against India and warned of deteriorating security conditions. The summons followed a series of reciprocal diplomatic protests between the two neighbors, including Dhaka’s earlier summoning of India’s envoy over alleged interference in Bangladesh’s upcoming elections. Analysts note that the exchange underscores growing mistrust between the interim government in Dhaka and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

The episode highlights the fragility of bilateral ties despite deep historical links. Observers expect further diplomatic caution as both sides navigate sensitive political transitions and regional security anxieties ahead of Bangladesh’s national polls.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner, M. Riaz Hamidullah, on December 17 to express deep concern over the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh. The Indian government highlighted reports of extremist elements planning activities near the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and urged Bangladesh’s interim government to ensure the safety of all diplomatic missions in accordance with international norms.

In a formal statement, India rejected what it described as false extremist narratives surrounding recent incidents in Bangladesh and expressed disappointment that Dhaka had not yet completed a full investigation or shared relevant evidence. New Delhi reaffirmed its longstanding friendship with the Bangladeshi people, rooted in shared history and development cooperation, and reiterated its call for peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections in Bangladesh.

The diplomatic exchange follows Bangladesh’s summoning of the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka two days earlier, signaling rising tensions between the two neighbors amid political uncertainty in Bangladesh.

India’s Ministry of Home Affairs informed Parliament that nearly 80 percent of its border with Bangladesh has been fenced with barbed wire, as part of efforts to curb illegal crossings and enhance national security. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai presented the figures in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, noting that 3,239.92 kilometers of the 4,096.70-kilometer India–Bangladesh border have been fenced.

The ministry also reported that 93.25 percent of the India–Pakistan border, totaling 2,135.13 kilometers out of 2,289.66 kilometers, is now fenced. The remaining 154.52 kilometers are yet to be covered. India’s government said the fencing program is a strategic measure to prevent infiltration, smuggling, and cross-border crime. Progress has also been made along the India–Myanmar border, where 9.21 kilometers of fencing has been completed.

Security analysts note that while fencing improves surveillance, it may affect border communities and bilateral relations. Further construction is expected to continue in challenging terrain areas through 2026.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is facing intense criticism after a video surfaced showing him pulling off the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor during a government event on December 15. The incident, which occurred while handing an appointment letter to an AYUSH medical officer, has sparked widespread condemnation across India. Opposition parties and civil society groups have demanded Kumar’s public apology and resignation.

Leaders from multiple parties, including the Congress, PDP, and National Conference, denounced the act as an assault on personal dignity and religious freedom. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called the act “shocking,” questioning whether it reflected age-related issues or growing normalization of public humiliation of Muslims. National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah and spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar described the behavior as unconstitutional and unacceptable from a public official.

The controversy has reignited debates over religious sensitivity and political accountability in India. Analysts warn that the incident could strain Nitish Kumar’s political standing and deepen communal tensions in Bihar, where Muslims constitute about 17% of the population.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has declared that India will not tolerate any threats to separate its northeastern states, known as the 'Seven Sisters.' His remarks came in response to comments by Hasnat Abdullah, a senior organizer of Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP), who suggested supporting Indian separatists if India shelters opponents of Bangladesh’s sovereignty.

Sarma told reporters that such statements from Bangladesh have been recurring for a year and are completely unacceptable. He emphasized that India, as a major nuclear power and the world’s fourth-largest economy, would not remain silent if its territorial integrity were challenged. The Chief Minister accused some Bangladeshi leaders of fostering a misguided perception about India’s northeastern region.

The exchange highlights growing rhetorical tension between the two neighbors. Analysts say both governments may need to reaffirm diplomatic restraint to prevent further escalation. Delhi has yet to issue an official response, but observers expect the issue to feature in upcoming bilateral discussions.

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi concluded his visit to India with a memorable appearance at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, where he was warmly received by thousands of fans. During the event, ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented Messi with a special invitation ticket to India’s opening match of the 2025 T20 World Cup, scheduled for February 7 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The upcoming tournament will follow a hybrid hosting model shared between India and Sri Lanka.

Messi also received an Indian cricket jersey and an autographed bat, while his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul were gifted numbered jerseys. The gesture symbolized a rare moment of camaraderie between football and cricket communities. Former Indian women’s goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan also presented personalized shirts to the trio.

Expressing gratitude, Messi said he was deeply touched by the affection shown by Indian fans and promised to return in the future. His visit is seen as a boost to India’s growing sports diplomacy and cross-sport cultural engagement.