Daily Current Affairs- 18th December 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 18th December 2025

PM Modi Receives Oman’s Highest Honour, 29th International Award

In the News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with "The First Class of the Order of Oman," Oman's highest civilian honour, by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik during his two-day state visit to Muscat, marking the final leg of his three-nation tour (Jordan-Ethiopia-Oman, December 15-18, 2025). This prestigious decoration represents PM Modi's 29th top foreign state award from 29 different nations, underscoring his personal diplomacy and India's growing global influence. The award was presented during a special ceremony at Al Baraka Palace in Muscat and coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Oman (established in 1955).

Key Points:

• Award Details and Ceremony: Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman personally conferred "The First Class of the Order of Oman" on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 18, 2025, during his state visit to Muscat. The Order of Oman is the Sultanate's uniquely distinct and highest civilian honour, instituted in 1970 by Oman's founding father Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, recognizing exceptional contributions to strengthening bilateral ties, fostering public relations, and promoting global peace. The award ceremony took place at the Al Baraka Palace in Muscat during PM Modi's two-day official visit (December 17-18, 2025).
• PM Modi's 29th International Award - Historic Milestone: With the Order of Oman, Prime Minister Modi has now received the highest civilian awards from 29 countries across all continents. This tally of 29 top foreign state awards represents recognition from nations spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East, the Americas, and Oceania, demonstrating truly global appreciation of PM Modi's leadership and India's foreign policy. The 29th award follows closely after PM Modi's 28th award—"The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia" (Ethiopia's highest civilian honour)—which was conferred just two days earlier on December 17, 2025, by Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali during PM Modi's first-ever bilateral visit to Ethiopia. Notably, 2025 has been particularly significant for international recognitions, with multiple countries conferring their highest civilian honors on PM Modi including: Ethiopia's "Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia" (December 17, 2025, the first world leader to receive it), Oman's "Order of Oman" (December 18, 2025), and earlier in the year Namibia's "Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis" (conferred by President Dr. Nangolo Mbumba in July 2025), while Barbados announced conferring "Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados" (announced by PM Mia Amor Mottley in November 2024, formally received by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita in March 2025 on PM Modi's behalf).
• Distinguished Previous Recipients of Order of Oman: The Order of Oman represents one of the world's most exclusive civilian honors, having been awarded to only a select group of globally distinguished leaders and personalities since its institution in 1970. Previous recipients of this prestigious decoration include: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (British monarch who reigned 1952-2022), Nelson Mandela (former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid revolutionary icon, Nobel Peace Prize laureate), Queen Máxima of the Netherlands (Queen consort of Netherlands), Emperor Akihito of Japan (125th Emperor of Japan who reigned 1989-2019 before abdicating), and King Abdullah II of Jordan (current King of Jordan). PM Modi's inclusion in this illustrious company of world leaders places him among the most respected global statesmen, as the Order of Oman is typically reserved for heads of state and government who have made exceptional contributions to international relations, peace, and bilateral cooperation with Oman.
• Bilateral Summit Outcomes and CEPA Signing: During PM Modi's visit to Muscat on December 18, 2025, he held extensive bilateral talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik at the Al Baraka Palace, with both leaders noting that the completion of 70 years of diplomatic relations represents a landmark in bilateral partnership and exploring ways to further add greater depth to the India-Oman Strategic Partnership. The summit was attended by high-level Indian delegations including External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, and other senior officials. The highlight of the visit was the signing of the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which both leaders welcomed as a "milestone" in bilateral ties, expressing confidence that it would significantly strengthen the strategic partnership by boosting trade, facilitating investment flows, and creating new economic opportunities for businesses and people in both countries.

Viksit Bharat- Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025

In the News: Parliament passed the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, also known as VB-G RAM G Bill, on December 18, 2025, with the Lok Sabha passing it amid intense opposition protests and the Rajya Sabha clearing it through voice vote hours later. The legislation replaces the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) enacted in 2005, marking a comprehensive legislative reset of India's rural employment framework.

Key Points:

• Parliamentary Passage Amid Fierce Opposition: The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 was passed by Parliament on December 18, 2025, following intense political confrontation. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill through voice vote after an eight-hour debate marked by repeated disruptions, with opposition members storming the well of the House, raising slogans accusing the government of "erasing Mahatma Gandhi's legacy," tearing copies of the Bill and flinging them towards the Chair before staging walkouts. The Rajya Sabha cleared the legislation through voice vote hours later following a nearly five-hour debate amid similar protests, slogan-shouting, and opposition walkouts.
• Increase in Guaranteed Employment Days - Key Change #1: Under Section 3(1) of the VB-G RAM G Bill, every rural household with adult members (18 years or older) willing to do unskilled manual work is entitled to a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per financial year, representing a 25% increase from MGNREGA's "not less than 100 days" provision under Section 3(1) of the MGNREGA Act. This marks a significant enhancement as under MGNREGA, while the law technically allowed "not less than 100 days," in practice 100 days became a de facto ceiling due to NREGA software constraints and budgetary limitations, with existing provisions under Section 3(4) of MGNREGA allowing additional days only under exceptional circumstances: additional 50 days (total 150 days) in drought or disaster-notified areas, and 150 days for certain Scheduled Tribe households in forest areas. The VB-G RAM G Bill makes 125 days the standard statutory entitlement for all eligible rural households rather than an exception triggered by special circumstances, effectively converting what were previously emergency provisions into the baseline guarantee.
• Change in Centre-State Funding Pattern - Key Change #2: Section 22(2) of the VB-G RAM G Bill introduces a fundamental restructuring of fiscal responsibilities, marking a major departure from MGNREGA's funding model where the Central government paid 100% of unskilled wage costs (with states bearing only administrative expenses and skilled/semi-skilled labor costs). Under the new framework, wage costs will now be shared between Centre and States according to ratios to be determined (specific percentages not yet specified in the Bill but to be determined through Rules), shifting significant financial responsibility to state governments.
• Normative Allocation Replaces Demand-Driven Funding - Key Change #3: Sections 4(5) and 4(6) of the VB-G RAM G Bill replace MGNREGA's Labour Budget mechanism with a normative allocation system, representing a fundamental shift from demand-driven, open-ended funding to budget-capped, supply-driven programming. Under MGNREGA, the funding model was: States submitted annual work plans and labour budgets by January 31 each year, funding was demand-driven and theoretically open-ended based on actual demand for work from rural households, and allocations responded (albeit with delays) to ground-level employment requests. Under the new VB-G RAM G framework: The National Level Steering Committee will recommend "normative allocations" based on predetermined formulas and parameters (specific methodology not detailed in Bill), funding becomes predictable and capped rather than flexible and demand-responsive, and allocations are determined top-down based on national priorities and fiscal constraints rather than bottom-up based on household employment demands.
• Statutory Pause During Peak Agricultural Seasons - Key Change #4: Sections 6(1) and 6(2) of the VB-G RAM G Bill introduce a novel provision: Section 6(1) states "No work shall be commenced or executed during notified peak agricultural seasons," while Section 6(2) requires "States must notify, in advance, a period aggregating to 60 days per financial year covering sowing and harvesting." This means all planning and execution authorities are legally bound to ensure MGNREGA-type works occur only outside these designated agricultural peak periods, creating an aggregated 60-day pause window (non-continuous, split across sowing and harvesting seasons) when rural employment guarantee works cannot be undertaken.
• Integration with National Planning Framework and Four Thematic Domains - Key Change #5: Schedule I of the VB-G RAM G Bill mandates that all works must originate from "Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans" prepared at the gram panchayat level, consolidated upward through block, district, and state levels, and ultimately aggregated into the "Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack" aligned with national development priorities and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (India's National Infrastructure Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity). This represents a shift from MGNREGA's relatively decentralized, bottom-up planning (where gram panchayats identified local priorities) to a more centralized, top-down integrated planning framework where local plans must align with district, state, and national infrastructure priorities
• Enhanced Monitoring, Technology Integration, and Governance Structure: The VB-G RAM G Bill introduces comprehensive technology-driven monitoring and governance mechanisms: (1) Artificial Intelligence and Biometric Authentication to identify irregularities early, prevent fraud, ensure genuine beneficiary participation, and detect anomalies in real-time; (2) GPS and Mobile-Based Monitoring of works in real-time allowing supervisors and authorities to track ongoing works, verify physical progress, and ensure quality standards; (3) Real-Time MIS (Management Information System) Dashboards providing continuous visibility into implementation across all levels from national to panchayat; (4) Weekly Public Disclosures ensuring transparency and public accountability for all expenditures, works, and beneficiary payments; (5) Social Audits mandated at least once every six months (compared to annual requirement under MGNREGA) to reinforce community participation, enable citizen oversight, and build trust; (6) Panchayats Assigned Enhanced Supervisory Role with greater responsibilities for oversight and quality assurance; (7) Central and State Grameen Rozgar Guarantee Councils established to undertake implementation and monitoring (composition to be specified under Rules), and (8) National and State-Level Steering Committees constituted to provide high-level strategic oversight, continuous guidance and coordination, and recommend normative allocations.

National Herald case: Why special court ruled against ED

In the News: Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) money laundering chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five others in the National Herald case, delivering a significant setback to the ED's prosecution. The court held that the ED's complaint filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was "not maintainable" because it was based on a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy under Section 200 CrPC rather than on a First Information Report (FIR) of a predicate offence as required by PMLA provisions. The judge noted that since the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing has already lodged a separate FIR in the case, it would be premature to adjudicate on the ED's arguments based on merits at this stage.

Key Points:

• Court's Legal Reasoning for Dismissal: Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi delivered the order on December 17, 2025, refusing to take cognisance of the ED's prosecution complaint/chargesheet in the National Herald money laundering case. The court's primary legal ground for dismissal centered on the procedural infirmity regarding the predicate offence requirement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Under PMLA provisions, the Enforcement Directorate can only initiate money laundering investigations after another investigating agency (typically police) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) in relation to one of the "scheduled offences" (predicate offences) listed in the PMLA. In this case, the ED's money laundering proceedings were based on a cognisance and summoning order that was passed on a private complaint filed by BJP leader and advocate Subramanian Swamy under Section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before a trial court, and not on an FIR of a predicate offence as typically required for PMLA cases
• Background of the National Herald Case: The National Herald case has its origins in a 2012 complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy before a trial court in Delhi, alleging that Congress leaders were involved in cheating, breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by Young Indian Limited (YIL). The case centers on allegations that Young Indian—a private company in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hold majority 76% shareholding—fraudulently usurped assets of Associated Journals Limited (which published the National Herald newspaper founded by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1938) in exchange for a ₹90 crore loan that Congress party had extended to AJL. Swamy alleged that YIL had "taken over" the assets of National Herald in a "malicious" way, converting what were essentially Congress party and National Herald newspaper assets worth approximately ₹2,000 crore (later claimed ₹751 crore in ED attachments) into personal property of the Gandhi family through this corporate restructuring.
• ED's Investigation and Actions: Based on Subramanian Swamy's original complaint and subsequent court proceedings, the Enforcement Directorate initiated a money laundering investigation under PMLA provisions. The ED's probe focused on examining the shareholding pattern of Young Indian Limited, analyzing financial transactions between Associated Journals Limited and Young Indian, investigating the role of various individuals and corporate entities involved in the alleged scheme, and determining whether proceeds of crime (as defined under PMLA) were generated and laundered through this corporate restructuring. In April 2025, the ED filed a comprehensive chargesheet/prosecution complaint in the case naming: Sonia Gandhi (Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson), Rahul Gandhi (Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha), Sam Pitroda (Congress Overseas chief), Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian Limited (the company), and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited as accused parties. The chargesheet invoked PMLA Sections 44 and 45 for money laundering under Section 3, cited Section 70 regarding corporate offences, and sought penalties under Section 4 (which provides for imprisonment up to 7 years and fine). The ED alleged that the Gandhis, holding 76% shares in Young Indian, fraudulently usurped AJL assets valued at ₹2,000 crore in exchange for a mere ₹90 crore loan, constituting criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
• Unique Aspects Distinguishing This Case from Typical ED Investigations: Typically, ED initiates PMLA proceedings only after another investigating agency (usually police) has registered an FIR for a "scheduled offence" (predicate offence) under the Indian Penal Code or other criminal laws. However, in the National Herald case, the ED initiated money laundering investigation based solely on Subramanian Swamy's private complaint filed under Section 200 CrPC and the trial court's cognisance/summoning order in that private complaint case, without a pre-existing FIR from police or any other investigating agency for the alleged predicate offences of cheating and criminal breach of trust. Congress legal experts argue this represents unprecedented expansion of ED's jurisdiction and violates fundamental PMLA procedural requirements. The case also involved extraordinarily extensive investigation lasting years (2021-2025), cumulative interrogations totaling over 60 hours for senior political leaders, and attachment of assets worth ₹751 crore despite absence of traditional money laundering indicators like cash transactions, foreign remittances, layering through multiple accounts, or integration of illicit proceeds into legitimate economy.

2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine Kick Off in New Delhi

In the News: The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine kicked off in New Delhi, India, on December 17, 2025, running through December 19, 2025, jointly organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and India's Ministry of Ayush. Held at Bharat Mandapam under the theme "Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being," the Summit brings together government ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and civil society representatives from more than 100 countries in a hybrid format (on-site and online participation). The event aims to advance the implementation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 (adopted by the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025) by highlighting latest evidence and innovations, announcing new commitments and initiatives, and addressing critical issues including health systems regulation and integration, respectful information exchange with Indigenous Peoples, biodiversity preservation, intellectual property rights, and the transformative potential of frontier technologies.

Key Points:

• Summit Organization and Format: The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine is being held from December 17-19, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India, jointly organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) through its WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre and the Government of India's Ministry of Ayush. The Ministry of Ayush signed a formal agreement with WHO to co-host the Summit, with the signing taking place in the presence of Union Minister of State for Ayush (Independent Charge) Shri Prataprao Jadhav and the Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush. A Curtain Raiser Programme was organized on December 8, 2025, chaired by Minister Prataprao Jadhav, where he highlighted India's growing leadership in traditional medicine and the strengthening role of national research institutions in enhancing scientific credibility and global cooperation. The Summit is being held in a hybrid format enabling inclusive global participation both on-site in New Delhi and online from anywhere in the world, with registrations facilitated through the dedicated Summit 2025 website (tm-summit.org). The event convenes government ministers, scientists, Indigenous knowledge holders, practitioners from diverse traditional medicine systems, policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders, and community representatives from more than 100 countries.
• Theme and Core Objectives: The Summit operates under the overarching theme "Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being," which frames discussions around how traditional medicine can help restore multiple dimensions of balance in contemporary health systems and societies. The core objectives align with advancing implementation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which focuses on four main strategic objectives: (1) strengthening the evidence base for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) through rigorous research, (2) supporting safe and effective TCIM through appropriate regulatory mechanisms and quality assurance, (3) integrating safe and effective TCIM into health systems particularly at primary health care level, and (4) optimizing the cross-sector value of TCIM while empowering communities and protecting traditional knowledge.
• WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034: The Summit is guided by and aims to accelerate implementation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which was adopted by the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025, representing consensus among WHO's 194 member states. This decade-long strategy builds upon the consensus statement from the inaugural 2023 Summit in Gandhinagar (the Gujarat Declaration) and provides comprehensive guidance on regulation, multi-stakeholder collaboration, evidence generation, and systems integration. The Strategy recognizes that traditional medicine (TM) encompasses both codified systems (like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani, Siddha) and non-codified Indigenous healing practices that predate biomedicine and have continued to evolve for contemporary use.
• New Initiatives and Commitments: The Summit is expected to announce major new commitments, collaborations, and initiatives aimed at strengthening the Traditional Medicine ecosystem globally. Key announcements include: (1) Global Consortium on Traditional Medicine and Innovation (2) Global Traditional Medicine Library  (3) Traditional Medicine Data Network (4) Framework on Indigenous Knowledge, Biodiversity and Health (5) New Products and Tools. (6) Country and Stakeholder Pledges .
• India's Leadership and Traditional Medicine Heritage: India is home to multiple codified traditional medicine systems: Ayurveda (comprehensive system addressing diet, lifestyle, herbal medicines, purification therapies), Yoga and Naturopathy (mind-body practices and natural therapeutics), Unani (humoral medicine tradition), Siddha (ancient Tamil medical system), and Homeopathy (though not indigenous, widely practiced in India). The Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), established as an independent ministry in 2014, oversees research, education, and regulation across these systems. India has established robust infrastructure including: All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) Delhi as a premier educational and research institution, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) with Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) Delhi and network of research institutes, dedicated Ayush universities and colleges across states, and integration of AYUSH services into national health programs. India has been instrumental in global traditional medicine advocacy including: establishing the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat (first and only WHO global outpost for traditional medicine), hosting the inaugural 2023 Summit that produced the Gujarat Declaration, leading International Yoga Day celebrations (June 21, recognized by UN), contributing traditional medicine expertise to WHO technical groups, and promoting South-South cooperation particularly with other Asian and African countries rich in traditional medicine heritage.

Singapore Changi Airport Wins World’s Best Airport Title 2025

In the News: Singapore Changi Airport has been named the World's Best Airport 2025 at the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards held at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Madrid, Spain, on April 9, 2025. This marks a record-breaking 13th time in the awards' history that Singapore Changi Airport has received this top accolade, reclaiming the crown from Doha's Hamad International Airport which had won the title for the previous three years. The airport also secured three other major awards: World's Best Airport Dining, the first-ever World's Best Airport Washrooms award, and Best Airport in Asia. The rankings are based on the World Airport Survey completed by over 13 million airport customers from more than 100 nationalities during the survey period from August 2024 to February 2025, evaluating customer experiences across all stages of travel including check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security, immigration, and departure.

Key Points:

• Record-Breaking 13th Win and Award Ceremony: Singapore Changi Airport clinched the World's Best Airport 2025 title at the Skytrax World Airport Awards ceremony held on April 9, 2025, at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Madrid, Spain. This represents a record-breaking 13th time that Changi has received this prestigious accolade in the awards' history (which began in 1999), far exceeding any other airport's achievements and solidifying its reputation as a global aviation leader. The win marks Changi's reclamation of the crown after Doha's Hamad International Airport had won the title for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, and 2024). Beyond the top honor, Changi secured three additional major awards at the same ceremony: (1) World's Best Airport Dining, recognizing the diversity and expansive choice of dining outlets across the airport's terminals, (2) World's Best Airport Washrooms, the first-ever presentation of this new award category acknowledging that washrooms are a major driver of customer satisfaction during airport experiences, and (3) Best Airport in Asia, affirming Changi's regional dominance. The Skytrax World Airport Awards are often referred to as the "Oscars of the aviation industry" and are considered the most prestigious accolades in the global airport sector, representing passenger-driven recognition rather than industry insider opinions.
• Survey Methodology and Passenger Assessment: The 2025 rankings are based on the comprehensive World Airport Survey conducted by Skytrax, the London-based international air transport rating organization established in 1989. The survey collected questionnaires completed by over 13 million airport customers representing more than 100 nationalities during the survey period extending from August 2024 to February 2025 (7-month period). Passengers evaluated airports based on their actual experiences across multiple critical airport service and product key performance indicators throughout their journey including: check-in processes (efficiency, queue lengths, staff assistance), arrivals experience (baggage claim, signage, ground transportation access), transfers (connections, wayfinding, inter-terminal transportation), shopping offerings (variety, quality, pricing, location of retail outlets), dining options (cuisine diversity, food quality, service speed, pricing), security processes (queue management, efficiency, staff professionalism), immigration procedures (processing speed, technology utilization, officer courtesy), and departure at the gate (lounge facilities, boarding efficiency, gate amenities).
• Top 10 Ranking and Global Competition: The 2025 World's Best Airport top 10 ranking showcases intense global competition among premier aviation hubs. (1) Singapore Changi Airport (Singapore) - World's Best Airport 2025 winner handling 60-70 million passengers annually, (2) Hamad International Airport (Doha, Qatar) - Former three-time winner dropped to second place but retained World's Best Airport Shopping and Best Airport in Middle East awards, (3) Tokyo International Airport Haneda (Japan) - Moved up from fourth to third place, also won World's Cleanest Airport (Major Airport category), World's Best Domestic Airport, and World's Best Airport PRM & Accessible Facilities, handling 70+ million passengers annually making it the highest-ranked airport by passenger volume, (4) Incheon International Airport (Seoul, South Korea) - Consistently strong performer maintaining fourth position, (5) Narita International Airport (Tokyo, Japan) - Japan's second major international gateway securing fifth position, (6-10) Remaining top 10 positions filled by other world-class facilities (specific rankings for positions 6-10 include Munich Airport, Paris CDG, Zurich Airport, and others though exact order requires verification.
• Regional and Category-Specific Award Winners: The 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards recognized excellence across multiple regional and specialized categories beyond the overall ranking. Asia-Pacific Region: Delhi International Airport - Best Airport in India & South Asia (repeat win), Hyderabad International Airport - Best Airport Staff Service in India & South Asia, Bangalore International Airport - Best Regional Airport in India & South Asia, Chubu Centrair International Airport (Nagoya, Japan) - World's Best Regional Airport (repeat winner). Middle East: Hamad International Airport (Doha) - Best Airport in Middle East, World's Best Airport Shopping. Europe: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - Best Airport in Europe (third successive year), World's Best Low-Cost Airline Terminal (Terminal 3), Rome Fiumicino - Best Airport in Southern Europe, Helsinki Vantaa - Best Airport in Northern Europe, Budapest Airport - Best Airport in Eastern Europe (repeat), Munich Airport - Best Airport in Central Europe, Copenhagen Airport - World's Best Airport Security Processing. Americas: Houston Airport System - World's Best Airport Art (third successive year), Cape Town Airport - Best Airport in Africa, Best Airport Staff Service in Africa. Specialized Categories: Istanbul Airport - World's Most Family Friendly Airport, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport - World's Best Airport Baggage Delivery, Hong Kong International Airport - World's Best Airport Immigration. Airport Hotels: Crowne Plaza Changi Airport - World's Best Airport Hotel and Best Airport Hotel in Asia, TWA Hotel New York JFK - Best Airport Hotel in North America (second time), Hyatt Regency Shenzhen - Best Airport Hotel in China, Taj Bangalore - Best Airport Hotel in India/Central Asia, Hilton Munich Airport - Best Airport Hotel in Europe.
• Terminal-Specific 5-Star Ratings: The 2025 awards ceremony included special Skytrax 5-Star Terminal Rating presentations recognizing terminals that achieve exceptional standards across all assessment criteria. Airports awarded 5-Star Terminal Ratings included: Vietnam's Da Nang International Terminal 2, Bangalore's Kempegowda International Terminal 2, Haikou Meilan International (China), Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, New York's LaGuardia Terminal B (representing major US infrastructure modernization), Shanghai Hongqiao International (China), Singapore Changi (multiple terminals), Italy's Rome Fiumicino, and Hamad International (Doha). Additionally, Indonesia's Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Terminal 3 and Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz International Terminal 1 were both awarded 4-Star Airport Ratings, demonstrating improved standards in developing aviation markets.

Sculptor Ram Sutar, Designer of Statue of Unity, Passes Away at 100

In the News: Renowned Indian sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, best known for designing the world's tallest statue—the 182-meter (597 feet) Statue of Unity dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Kevadia, Gujarat—passed away on December 17, 2025, at midnight at his residence in Noida at the age of 100. Sutar, who had been suffering from age-related ailments, was cremated with full state honours following a request from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. His death marks the end of a seven-decade career during which he created over 350 statues installed in 150 Indian cities and nearly 450 cities worldwide, earning him comparisons to masters like Michelangelo and Rodin and the moniker "Statue Man" of India.

Key Points:

• The Statue of Unity - Crowning Achievement: Sutar's most celebrated masterpiece is the Statue of Unity, the colossal 182-meter (597 feet) tall bronze statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel located at Kevadia in Gujarat's Narmada district near the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The statue, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, 2018 (143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel), stands as the world's tallest statue—nearly twice the height of the Statue of Liberty (93 meters) and significantly taller than China's Spring Temple Buddha (128 meters). Sutar served as the chief sculptor and conceptual designer, translating Patel's role as the "Iron Man of India" and architect of India's unification into bronze form that combines authority, realism, and restraint.
• Iconic Works at Parliament Complex and Across India: Beyond the Statue of Unity, Sutar created numerous iconic public sculptures that define India's visual and cultural landscape. At the Parliament complex in New Delhi, his masterpieces include: (1) The seated statue of Mahatma Gandhi in meditative pose (2) The equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Additionally, Sutar's collaboration with his son Anil Sutar (himself an accomplished sculptor and architect with degrees from School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and Washington University, USA) on the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district demonstrates the intergenerational continuity of his artistic legacy.
• Global Recognition and Gandhi Bust Worldwide: Sutar's artistic influence extended far beyond India, achieving genuine international recognition and impact. His bust of Mahatma Gandhi—rendered in Sutar's characteristic realistic style capturing Gandhi's distinctive facial features, expression of compassion, and philosophical depth—has been highly appreciated globally and selected for installation in over 450 cities worldwide including locations in France, USA, Italy, Argentina, and numerous other countries across continents.
• Honors, Awards and Recognition: In recognition of his monumental contributions to Indian art, culture, and public sculpture, Ram Sutar received multiple prestigious national and state honours throughout his distinguished career. The Government of India awarded him: (1) Padma Shri in 1999 (2) Padma Bhushan in 2016 (India's third-highest civilian award) (3) Tagore Award in 2018 for cultural harmony and promotion of Indian values through art.