News in Shorts: 31 December 2025

Begum Khaleda Zia

Context: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 80; her funeral in Dhaka was attended by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

About Begum Khaleda Zia

• Begum Khaleda Zia was a towering figure in Bangladeshi politics and the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, leading the country during critical democratic transitions.
• Political Legacy: Three-time Prime Minister (1991–96, 1996, 2001–06): Played a central role in restoring the parliamentary system after years of presidential rule.
• • As Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson, she shaped opposition politics and led a long-standing political rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, defining Bangladesh’s two-party system.
• Social Sector Reforms: Expanded access to education, including free primary education and free schooling for girls up to Class 10 during her first term.
• Death: Khaleda Zia died on December 30, 2025, and was laid to rest beside her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.

Significance of India’s External Affairs Minister’s Visit

• Diplomatic Outreach: EAM S. Jaishankar’s presence underscored India’s respect for Bangladesh’s democratic leadership and conveyed Prime Minister Modi’s condolences to the Zia family.
• Political Signalling: The visit reflected India’s intent to maintain engagement with all major political stakeholders in Bangladesh amid pre-election sensitivities.
• Bilateral Stability: At a time of tensions over minority rights and governance issues, the visit reinforced India’s commitment to constructive diplomacy and regional stability.

Khaleda Zia’s passing marks the end of an era in Bangladesh’s politics, with implications for domestic political realignment and India–Bangladesh relations.

2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship

Context: Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy won bronze medals at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship.

About FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship

• It is a premier international annual tournament organised by FIDE that crowns world champions in rapid time-control chess for both men and women.
  • FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) is the international governing body of chess, responsible for regulating competitions, awarding titles, and organising world championship events across formats.
• Venue: The 2025 Championship was held in Doha, Qatar, featuring elite Grandmasters from across the world.
• Winners
• Open Section: Magnus Carlsen won his sixth World Rapid title, scoring 10.5/13, marking his 19th world title across formats.
• Women’s Section: Aleksandra Goryachkina won her maiden World Rapid title, defeating Zhu Jiner in blitz tiebreaks.
• Indian Winners
• Arjun Erigaisi: Won bronze with 9.5 points, becoming only the second Indian male after Viswanathan Anand to finish on the podium.
• Koneru Humpy: Secured bronze in the women’s category, continuing India’s strong presence in elite chess.

About Rapid Chess

• Time Control: Defined by FIDE as games where each player has more than 10 minutes but less than 60 minutes, often with per-move increments.
• Format: Common formats include 15+10 or 25+10, balancing strategic depth with speed.
• Significance: Rapid chess tests quick calculation, adaptability, and endgame precision, making it popular in both professional tournaments and online platforms.
• Overall Significance: India’s podium finishes reaffirm its rising stature in global chess and highlight excellence across both men’s and women’s events.

CQB Carbines and Heavy Weight Torpedoes

Context: The Ministry of Defence signed ₹4,666 crore contracts to procure CQB Carbines for the Army and Navy and Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy.

About Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines

• CQB Carbines are compact, lightweight firearms designed for high-intensity combat in confined spaces, enhancing infantry effectiveness in modern warfare.
• Manufactured by: The carbines are being procured from Bharat Forge Limited and PLR Systems Private Limited, reflecting India’s push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
• Features
• • Compact design enables easy handling in urban and enclosed environments.
  • High rate of fire and accuracy, improving lethality in close-range engagements.
  • Modern accessories compatibility such as optics and tactical attachments.
• Applications: They are used in urban warfare, counter-terrorism operations, ship-boarding missions, and special forces operations by the Army and Navy.

About Heavy Weight Torpedoes

• Heavy Weight Torpedoes are advanced underwater weapons designed to neutralise enemy submarines and surface vessels.
• Produced By: The torpedoes are being procured from WASS Submarine Systems S.R.L. for integration into Indian platforms.
  • WASS Submarine Systems S.R.L is a leading Italian company specializing in advanced underwater defense systems
• Features
  • Long-range (over 50 km (27 nautical miles)), high-speed capability for deep-sea combat.
  • Advanced guidance and targeting systems suited for modern naval warfare.
  • High-explosive warheads ensure effective destruction of hostile targets.
• Utility: These torpedoes significantly enhance the combat readiness of Kalvari Class submarines (Project-75) and strengthen India’s underwater warfare and maritime deterrence capabilities.

The contracts boost India’s defence preparedness, promote indigenisation, and support long-term military modernisation.

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