Daily Current Affairs- 12th December 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 12th December 2025

Plan for Conducting Census of India 2027 Approved By Union Cabinet

In the News: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal for conducting the Census of India 2027 at an estimated cost of Rs. 11,718.24 crore, marking the beginning of India's first fully digital census. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the approval following the Cabinet meeting, highlighting that this landmark census—the 16th in India's history and 8th since Independence—will be the world's largest administrative and statistical exercise, involving approximately 30 lakh field functionaries and deploying cutting-edge digital technology for data collection, monitoring, and dissemination.

Key Points:

• Cabinet Approval and Budget Allocation: The Union Cabinet, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a comprehensive budgetary outlay of Rs. 11,718.24 crore (approximately $1.4 billion USD) for conducting the Census of India 2027 on December 12, 2025. This substantial investment represents the government's commitment to modernizing India's foundational data-collection exercise and transforming traditional paper-based enumeration into seamless mobile and web-based digital processes.
• Two-Phase Implementation Timeline: The Census of India 2027 will be conducted in two meticulously planned phases to accommodate India's vast geography and diverse climatic conditions. The first phase, termed Houselisting and Housing Census (HLC), will be conducted from April to September 2026, with each state and union territory selecting a convenient 30-day period within this window for completing the enumeration. This phase will collect comprehensive data on housing conditions, amenities available to households, infrastructure facilities, and assets owned by families. The second and primary phase, Population Enumeration (PE), will be conducted nationwide in February 2027, capturing detailed demographic, sociocultural, and economic parameters of every individual in the country. A critical revisional round will follow from March 1 to March 5, 2027, allowing corrections and verification of collected data.
• Special Arrangements for Snow-Bound Regions: Recognizing the unique climatic challenges faced by certain regions, the Census 2027 has special provisions for snow-bound and non-synchronous areas. For the Union Territory of Ladakh and snow-bound regions of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Population Enumeration will be conducted earlier, in September 2026, instead of February 2027. This scheduling adjustment ensures that census operations can be completed before heavy snowfall makes these remote and high-altitude areas inaccessible to enumerators.
• India's First Fully Digital Census: Census 2027 marks a historic transition from traditional paper-based enumeration to a completely digital, technology-driven exercise. Data will be collected using mobile applications specifically developed for census operations, available in Hindi, English, and regional Indian languages for both Android and iOS platforms, ensuring accessibility across different devices and linguistic preferences. A dedicated portal called the Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS) has been developed for managing and monitoring the entire census process on a real-time basis, enabling supervisors and administrators to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and ensure quality control instantaneously.
• Census-as-a-Service (CaaS) Framework: A central innovation in Census 2027 is the implementation of the "Census-as-a-Service" (CaaS) framework, a novel approach to data dissemination that will provide government ministries, departments, and authorized agencies with clean, machine-readable, and actionable datasets for policy-making at the click of a button. Unlike previous censuses where accessing specific data required manual tabulation, custom reports, and lengthy processing times, the CaaS framework will enable real-time or near-real-time access to census data through digital dashboards, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), and query-based systems.
• Legal Framework and Constitutional Mandate: Census 2027 will be conducted under the legal framework established by the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990, which provide the statutory authority for conducting decennial population censuses in India. The Census Act makes it compulsory for every person to provide accurate information to census enumerators and empowers the government to collect demographic data across the entire territory of India. The census serves multiple constitutional and statutory obligations: it provides the demographic baseline for delimitation (determining boundaries) and reservation of constituencies for Parliamentary elections to the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assembly elections, and elections to Panchayats (village councils) and other local bodies as mandated by various constitutional provisions. Article 82 of the Indian Constitution requires that Parliament readjust the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha based on census population figures. Similarly, state assemblies must be reconstituted based on census data.

India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Passenger Vessel Begins Commercial Service in Varanasi

In the News: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the commercial operation of India's first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel cell passenger vessel at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, marking a major milestone in the country's green maritime push and efforts to decarbonize inland water transport. The 24-meter air-conditioned catamaran, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited and owned by the Inland Waterways Authority of India, is the first vessel in India to demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell propulsion in a maritime environment, operating on a Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell system that emits only water as a byproduct, ensuring completely pollution-free navigation on the sacred river Ganga.

Key Points:

• Historic Launch and Significance: India launched its first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger vessel into commercial service on December 11, 2025, at Namo Ghat in Varanasi, representing a groundbreaking achievement in clean and sustainable maritime transportation. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal stated: "Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is witnessing a transformative shift toward clean, sustainable and self-reliant transportation systems.
• Maiden Commercial Run: The inaugural voyage was a five-kilometer journey from Namo Ghat to Lalita Ghat along the river Ganga (designated as National Waterway 1), ferrying a distinguished entourage of ministers, senior government officials, and dignitaries, symbolically signaling the commencement of commercial operations for hydrogen fuel-powered passenger vessels on India's inland waterways.
• Technical Specifications and Design: The vessel is designed as a 24-meter catamaran specifically engineered for urban river transit, featuring a twin-hull configuration that provides enhanced stability, greater deck space for passenger comfort, and improved seakeeping characteristics essential for safe navigation on rivers. The fully air-conditioned passenger cabin can accommodate 50 passengers comfortably, providing a premium travel experience with protection from weather elements and ambient noise. The vessel operates at a service speed of approximately 6.5 knots (about 12 km/hour), though some sources indicate it can achieve speeds of 7 to 9 knots depending on operational conditions, river currents, and load factors.
• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology: The vessel operates on an advanced Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system, representing state-of-the-art clean energy technology adapted for maritime applications.
• Hybrid Power Configuration: Beyond the primary hydrogen fuel cell system, the vessel incorporates a sophisticated hybrid energy configuration integrating multiple power sources for optimized efficiency, reliability, and operational flexibility. The hybrid system combines hydrogen fuel cells as the primary power source for sustained propulsion, onboard batteries providing supplementary power during peak demand periods such as acceleration or high-speed operation and serving as backup power ensuring safety if the fuel cell system requires temporary shutdown, and solar panels installed on the vessel's superstructure generating supplementary electrical power from sunlight, reducing overall hydrogen consumption and extending operational range.

Indian Navy to Commission First Indigenous Diving Support Craft ‘DSC A20’

In the News: The Indian Navy will commission DSC A20, the first vessel of the indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Craft (DSC) series, at Kochi under the aegis of Southern Naval Command. The formal induction ceremony, presided over by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, marks a significant milestone in India's pursuit of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and exemplifies the success of the 'Make in India' initiative in the maritime domain, adding a key operational asset that substantially enhances the Navy's diving, underwater support, and coastal deployment capabilities.

Key Points:

• Commissioning Details and Significance: The Indian Navy will formally induct DSC A20 into service on December 16, 2025, at Kochi, Kerala, in a ceremony presided over by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. This commissioning represents a landmark achievement in India's defense capabilities and indigenous naval shipbuilding industry, marking the addition of a specialized operational asset to the Navy's inventory.
• Lead Ship in Five-Vessel Series: DSC A20 is the lead ship in a series of five Diving Support Craft being constructed by M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata, under a contract worth Rs. 174.77 crore (equivalent to approximately Rs. 196 crore or $23 million USD in 2023 values) signed between TRSL and the Indian Navy on February 12, 2021. The first vessel, DSC A20, was delivered to the Navy on September 18, 2025, approximately three months before its commissioning, allowing time for crew training, systems integration, operational trials, and final preparations. The Indian Navy is expected to receive all five diving support craft progressively during the Financial Year 2024-25, creating a comprehensive fleet of specialized underwater support vessels.
• Technical Specifications and Design Features: DSC A20 features a catamaran-type hull form, which provides several critical operational advantages including enhanced stability in rough seas crucial for safe diving operations, greater deck space for diving equipment, decompression chambers, and support apparatus, and improved seakeeping characteristics allowing operations in higher sea states than conventional monohull vessels.
• Indigenous Design and Development: DSC A20 is designed and built in complete accordance with the Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), ensuring compliance with rigorous naval design standards, structural integrity requirements, and safety protocols. The vessel underwent extensive hydrodynamic analysis and model testing at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, India's premier naval research establishment specializing in underwater warfare systems, sonar technology, and marine engineering.
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India Success: The commissioning of DSC A20 marks a significant milestone in India's pursuit of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defense manufacturing and exemplifies the success of the 'Make in India' initiative specifically in the maritime domain. The platform represents seamless collaboration between multiple stakeholders in India's defense ecosystem: the Indian Navy provided operational requirements, design inputs, and quality oversight throughout the construction process; the indigenous shipbuilding industry, represented by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited.

Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025: Celebrating India’s Linguistic Diversity and Tribal Heritage

In the News: The Ministry of Education celebrated Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 at the National Bal Bhawan in New Delhi, marking the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, one of India's greatest modern poets and champions of linguistic pride. With the theme "Many Languages, One Emotion" (भाषाएँ अनेक, भाव एक), the week-long festival from December 4-11, 2025, highlighted India's profound multilingual heritage and the emotional unity that binds its diverse population, while the Ministry of Tribal Affairs played a significant role in showcasing tribal languages, cultural depth, and linguistic preservation through innovative technology demonstrations.

Key Points:

• Event Overview and Timing: Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 was celebrated nationwide from December 4-11, 2025, as a week-long festival dedicated to honoring India's rich linguistic heritage. The annual celebration commemorates the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati (December 11, 1882), a visionary Tamil poet, social reformer, and freedom fighter whose works transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries, embodying themes of unity, freedom, equality, progress, and human dignity.
• Theme and Philosophy: The theme "Many Languages, One Emotion" (भाषाएँ अनेक, भाव एक) beautifully captures the essence of India's linguistic diversity and emotional unity. Despite the multitude of languages spoken across the country—from Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Assamese, and Kannada to hundreds of regional, tribal, and minority languages—universal emotions of love, unity, pride, joy, sorrow, aspiration, and patriotism bind all communities together.
• Tribute to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati: The festival honors Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, whose command over multiple Indian languages including Tamil, Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, and others symbolizes the multilingual essence of India's civilizational heritage. Bharati's poetry, imbued with themes of national freedom, social equality, women's empowerment, and progressive reform, continues to inspire generations across linguistic communities.
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs' Significant Participation: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) played a prominent and significant role in Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025, drawing national attention to the vibrancy, cultural depth, and linguistic significance of India's tribal languages, which are often marginalized or overlooked in mainstream discourse. MoTA set up a dedicated exhibition stall showcasing a wide range of tribal language publications from Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) representing multiple states, demonstrating the rich literary and cultural traditions embedded in these languages.
• Adi Vaani: AI-Powered Tribal Language Translator: A key attraction at the event was the live demonstration of Adi Vaani, India's first AI-powered tribal language translator, developed under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs with technical leadership from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. This groundbreaking technology represents a significant breakthrough in linguistic preservation and accessibility, offering real-time text and speech translation between English/Hindi and various tribal languages that traditionally lacked digital infrastructure or technological support. Adi Vaani provides interactive learning tools specifically designed for children, students, and community educators to learn tribal languages in engaging formats.
• Vande Mataram in 22 Languages: In a powerful symbolic finale that perfectly embodied the festival's theme of unity in diversity, students from various schools rendered "Vande Mataram"—India's national song—in 22 Indian languages, creating a moving multilingual tribute to the motherland. This extraordinary performance symbolized India's constitutional commitment to linguistic equality reflected in the recognition of 22 scheduled languages in the Eighth Schedule.
• Alignment with National Education Policy 2020: Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav 2025 directly implements key provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes multilingualism as a cornerstone of education and a powerful instrument for national unity, cognitive development, and cultural preservation. NEP 2020 recognizes multilingualism's role in preserving India's linguistic diversity while fostering cognitive flexibility, cultural empathy, creative thinking, and emotional growth among students.

70-Foot Iron Statue of Lionel Messi Unveiled in Kolkata: India Honors the Football Legend

In the News: Football legend Lionel Messi virtually unveiled a towering 70-foot iron statue of himself at the Sreebhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, South Dum Dum, Kolkata, marking the opening of his much-anticipated GOAT (Greatest of All Time) Tour India 2025. The monument, claimed to be the largest statue of Messi anywhere in the world, depicts the Argentine icon holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, symbolizing his historic 2022 World Cup triumph with Argentina in Qatar. The unveiling took place during Messi's first visit to India in 14 years, generating overwhelming excitement among football fans across the country, particularly in West Bengal.

Key Points:

• Statue Specifications and Significance: The Sreebhumi Sporting Club completed construction of the massive 70-foot (approximately 21.3 meters) iron statue at Lake Town in South Dum Dum, Kolkata, demonstrating the club's admiration for Lionel Messi. The statue depicts Messi in a triumphant pose holding the FIFA World Cup trophy aloft, commemorating Argentina's victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar where Messi finally achieved his lifelong dream of winning football's most prestigious tournament.
• Record Construction Timeline: The monumental 70-foot statue was completed in a remarkable 40 days, representing record time for constructing such a massive structure according to West Bengal Minister and Sreebhumi Sporting Club President Sujit Bose. This exceptionally fast construction timeline demonstrates the club's dedication and the urgency to complete the statue before Messi's arrival for the GOAT Tour India 2025.
• Virtual Unveiling Ceremony: Lionel Messi virtually unveiled the 70-foot statue on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from the Hyatt Regency Kolkata hotel where he was staying, rather than attending the statue location in person. The virtual unveiling was conducted alongside Messi's Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez (Uruguayan striker and longtime friend) and Rodrigo De Paul (Argentine midfielder and national team colleague), who accompanied him to India for the GOAT Tour. West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose, who serves as President of Sreebhumi Sporting Club, participated in the inauguration ceremony. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and an avid sports enthusiast, was also present at the unveiling event, adding star power and cross-industry appeal to the occasion.
• GOAT Tour India 2025 Overview: Messi's visit to India is part of his GOAT (Greatest of All Time) Tour India 2025, a three-day, four-city nationwide tour running from December 13-15, 2025, organized by promoter Satadru Dutta. The tour schedule includes: Kolkata on December 13 (statue unveiling, meet-and-greet sessions, and events at Salt Lake Stadium); Hyderabad on December 13 (later the same day at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium); Mumbai on December 14 (Padel GOAT Cup at Brabourne Stadium and celebrity football match featuring Bollywood actors); and Delhi on December 15 (tour conclusion).
• Historical Context of Messi's India Visits: This marks Lionel Messi's second visit to India, with his first and only previous visit occurring in 2011, fourteen years ago. During his 2011 visit, the legendary footballer played in a friendly international match at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium (officially Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) in Kolkata, where Argentina defeated Venezuela 1-0, giving Indian fans their first opportunity to watch Messi play live. The Salt Lake Stadium, one of the largest football stadiums in the world with a capacity of approximately 66,000 spectators, became the venue for Messi's 2011 appearance and again served as a key location for events during the 2025 GOAT Tour.

TIME Magazine Names ‘Architects of AI’ as Person of the Year 2025

In the News: TIME Magazine announced exclusively on NBC's TODAY show that it has named the "Architects of AI" as its 2025 Person of the Year, recognizing the tech industry leaders who have driven artificial intelligence from a future concept into a transformative force reshaping society. The magazine cited 2025 as the year when AI's full potential "roared into view" with no turning back, marking a watershed moment when these leaders stopped debating how to create AI and started racing to deploy it across industries, economies, and geopolitical landscapes.

Key Points:

• Announcement and Recognition Statement: TIME Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs announced the selection exclusively on NBC's TODAY show on December 11, 2025, explaining to hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin that "this is the year we feel like the people who were designing, imagining and building artificial intelligence stopped debating about how to create this technology and started racing to deploy it, and there are enormous consequences for society." The magazine's official statement declared: "For delivering the age of thinking machines, for wowing and worrying humanity, for transforming the present and transcending the possible, the Architects of AI are TIME's 2025 Person of the Year
• The Eight Principal Leaders Featured on Cover: The first cover illustration, created by digital artist Jason Seiler, features eight prominent tech industry leaders depicted in a recreation of the iconic 1932 "Lunch Atop a Skyscraper" photograph, which originally showed ironworkers seated on a steel beam high above New York City during the construction of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The eight leaders featured are: Jensen Huang (CEO of Nvidia, the world's most valuable company and near-monopoly provider of AI chips), Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT which surpassed 800 million weekly users), Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla and xAI, previous TIME Person of the Year 2021), Mark Zuckerberg (CEO of Meta, previous TIME Person of the Year 2010), Lisa Su (CEO of Advanced Micro Devices/AMD, competing with Nvidia in AI chip production), Demis Hassabis (CEO of Google's DeepMind Technologies AI lab), Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic, creator of Claude AI assistant), and Fei-Fei Li (AI pioneer and founder of Stanford's Human-Centered AI Institute and World Labs startup launched in 2024). Five of these eight individuals—Musk, Zuckerberg, Huang, Altman, and Su—are already billionaires with a collective fortune estimated at $870 billion by Forbes magazine.
• Additional Leaders Who Spoke to TIME: Beyond the eight featured on the cover illustrations, TIME's feature story included interviews with additional key figures in AI development and funding. These include Masayoshi Son (CEO of SoftBank, major AI investor and Stargate Project partner), Robin Li (CEO of Baidu, China's leading search engine and AI company), and Larry Ellison (founder of Oracle and Stargate Project partner).
• Historical Context of TIME Person of the Year Tradition: TIME's Person of the Year recognition is one of media's longest-running traditions, dating back to 1927 when the magazine selected aviator Charles Lindbergh as its first "Man of the Year" (the title was formally changed to "Person of the Year" in 1999). The designation is not an award of honor but rather an observance of the figure or group who had the most influence on the year's events, for better or for worse. TIME has previously recognized aspects of the technological revolution: in 1982, the magazine named "The Computer" as its Person of the Year (or more aptly "Machine of the Year"), marking the first time an inanimate object received the designation and representing how personal computers were entering millions of American homes; in 1988, TIME chose "Endangered Earth" as "Planet of the Year"; and in 2006, the magazine selected "You" as Person of the Year, recognizing the emergence of digital communities, social media users as content creators, and the democratization of online content through the World Wide Web.

U-19 Asia Cup 2025, Vaibhav Suryavanshi Smashes 171 as India Dominate UAE

In the News: India's 14-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivered a jaw-dropping performance by smashing a scintillating 171 off 95 balls in the opening match of the ACC Men's Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai. The left-handed opener's explosive innings powered India to a mammoth total of 433 for 6 in 50 overs—the highest total in U19 Asia Cup history and India's highest-ever in U19 ODIs—leading to a comprehensive 234-run victory in the tournament's inaugural Group A match.

Key Points:

• Tournament Overview and Context: The 12th edition of the ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2025 commenced on December 12, 2025, and will run until December 21, 2025, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The tournament features eight teams divided into two groups of four teams each, playing in the 50-over ODI format. Group A comprises India U19, Pakistan U19, Malaysia U19, and hosts UAE U19, while Group B includes Afghanistan U19, Bangladesh U19, Sri Lanka U19, and Nepal U19. Matches are being held at two premier venues in Dubai—the ICC Academy Ground and The Sevens Stadium.
• Match Situation and Early Play: After being invited to bat first by UAE captain Yayin Rai, India U19 suffered an early setback when skipper Ayush Mhatre departed for just four runs in the third over, bowled by Yug Sharma. This early dismissal brought 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Aaron George together at the crease at 10 for 1, setting the stage for what would become a record-breaking partnership and individual performance.
• Suryavanshi's Record-Breaking Innings: Vaibhav Suryavanshi's innings of 171 runs off 95 balls was a masterclass in aggressive batting, featuring nine boundaries and a staggering 14 sixes. The 14-year-old southpaw from Samastipur, Bihar, raced to his half-century in just 30 deliveries with a massive six off Ahmed Khudadad, demonstrating his intent from early on. He reached his century off only 56 balls, showcasing remarkable acceleration and shot selection. Suryavanshi then continued his relentless assault, completing 150 runs in just 84 balls before finally being dismissed at 171 off 95 deliveries, achieving a phenomenal strike rate of 180.00.
• Historic Records and Milestones Achieved: Suryavanshi's 171 is officially the second-highest score by an Indian in a Youth ODI, falling just six runs short of Ambati Rayudu's long-standing record of 177 not out against England U19 in Taunton back in 2002—a record that has stood for 23 years. His innings ranks as the ninth-highest score by any batter in men's U19 ODI history across all nations. Most significantly, Suryavanshi's 14 sixes set a new world record for the most sixes hit by any batter in a single innings at the U19 level, breaking the previous record of 10 sixes held by Afghanistan's Darwish Rasooli from 2017.
• UAE's Chase and India's Victory: In response to India's imposing target of 434 runs, UAE could only manage 199 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs, falling short by a massive 234 runs. The UAE batting lineup collapsed early in their chase, unable to build partnerships or maintain the required run rate against disciplined Indian bowling. While Prithvi Madhu and Uddish Suri offered some resistance in the middle and lower order, preventing a complete collapse, their efforts were nowhere near sufficient to challenge India's overwhelming total.
• Suryavanshi's Phenomenal 2025 Season: Vaibhav Suryavanshi's 171 against UAE is just the latest chapter in what has been an extraordinary 2025 for the teenage prodigy. This was his second Youth ODI hundred, having scored his first earlier in the year during matches in England. Remarkably, Suryavanshi now has six centuries in 2025 across all formats, demonstrating consistent run-scoring ability and temperament across different conditions and opposition. He recently smashed his first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (India's premier domestic T20 tournament) century, scoring an unbeaten 108 off just 61 balls for Bihar, showcasing his explosive T20 capabilities. Just last month in November 2025, Suryavanshi played a pivotal role in the Rising Stars Asia Cup held in Doha, Qatar, where he accumulated 239 runs at an impressive average of 59.75 with an explosive strike rate of 243.87, including a blistering 42-ball 144 against UAE—the joint-third-fastest century by an Indian in men's T20 cricket history. This recent form demonstrates that his performance in the U19 Asia Cup opener was not a flash in the pan but part of sustained excellence throughout the year.