India Re-Elected to UNESCO Executive Board for 2025–29 Term

India has been re-elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025–29 term, reaffirming its influential role in shaping global policies on education, culture, science, communication and information. The announcement by India’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO reflects strong international support for India’s commitment to constructive multilateral engagement and cooperative global governance.

India Achieves Record 357 Million Tonnes of Foodgrain Production

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India has achieved a landmark 357 million tonnes of foodgrain production in 2025, marking one of the highest outputs in the nation’s agricultural history. Sharing the milestone during the 128th episode of Mann Ki Baat, he noted that the country has added 100 million tonnes to its annual production over the past decade—reflecting improved food security, rising farm productivity and growing self-reliance.

Bamboo Shrimp Rediscovered in India After 72 Years

The elusive bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis spinipes) has been rediscovered in India after a gap of seventy-two years, marking a major milestone in freshwater biodiversity research. Scientists from the Centre for Climate Change Studies, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology identified new populations in Karnataka and Odisha following extensive field surveys across estuarine and river systems.

Darjeeling Mandarin Orange Secures GI Tag for Regional Authenticity

The renowned Darjeeling Mandarin Orange, prized for its sweetness, aroma and long-standing cultural heritage, has officially been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status. The certification, approved on 24 November 2025, reinforces the fruit’s identity as a distinctive produce of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills. Originally proposed in 2022, the application underwent multiple rounds of scrutiny before receiving final recognition.

New Walrus Haul-Out Identified in Svalbard via Satellite Monitoring

Researchers have identified a previously undocumented walrus haul-out site along the coastline of Svalbard, a remote Arctic archipelago situated between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The discovery was made using high-resolution imagery from the Walrus from Space initiative, a collaborative conservation programme led by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The finding highlights the expanding role of satellite technology in tracking vulnerable Arctic wildlife amid rapidly changing environmental conditions.