1.The Supreme Court Monday kept in abeyance the directions in its November 20 verdict that had accepted a uniform defi nition of the Aravalli hills and ranges.

2.The maiden flight test of Pinaka long-range guided rocket was conducted successfully Monday, and it impacted the target with “textbook precision”, the Defence Ministry said.

3.The Supreme Court Monday stayed the Delhi High Court’s order suspending the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.

4.Russia Monday claimed that 91 long-range Ukrainian drones attempted to attack President Vladimir Putin’s country residence in Novgorod region, north of Moscow.

5.Odisha’s vibrant tableau will roll down Kartavya Path during the Republic Day Parade 2026, showcasing the state’s remarkable contribution to building an Atmanirbhar Bharat — from agriculture to advanced semiconductor technology.

6.The Defence Ministry Monday approved procurement of long range rockets, missiles, radar systems and military platforms worth Rs 79,000 crore to bolster the military’s combat prowess.

7.The Chief Minister’s Public Grievance Hearing will be held Monday, January 5, according to information released by the Public Administration and Public Grievances Department.

8.A parliamentary panel Monday examined various aspects of the UPA-era rural job guarantee law MGNREGA, which has now been replaced by the Narendra Modi government’s VB-G RAM G Act, and how to move ahead in the next six months for a smooth transition to the new legislation

9.Iraq’s newly elected parliament convened Monday for its first session since the November national election, opening the way for lawmakers to begin the process of forming a new government.

10.The United States is offering Ukraine security guarantees for a period of 15 years as part of a proposed peace plan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday, though he said he would prefer an American commitment of up to 50 years to deter Russia from further attempts to seize its neighbour's land by force.

11.India's industrial production grew at a two-year high of 6.7 per cent in November this year.

12.Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has reiterated that India will have to come to Dubai to collect the T20 Asia Cup 2025 trophy, saying there will be no deviation from the existing protocol on handing over the silverware.

13.IPL founder Lalit Modi Monday apologised for calling himself and Vijay Mallya the “two biggest fugitives” of India in a video posted on social media and said that his statement was “misconstrued”.

14.Delhi recorded its worst air quality for December this year since 2018 with an average AQI of 349, even as farm fires accounted for just 3.5 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution, according to official data. In December 2018, the capital logged an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 360, an official told PTI

15.Odisha continued to reel under cold wave conditions Monday as minimum temperatures dipped below 10 degrees Celsius in at least 13 places across the state, severely affecting normal life, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.