Top news headlines of today – 3 Dec 2025

Mumbai: The rupee breached 90-levels against the greenback for the first time on Wednesday, falling 6 paise to 90.02 in early trade, as banks kept buying US dollars at higher levels and FII outflows continued.

However, a weaker dollar index and a fall in global crude oil prices cushioned against a steeper decline, according to forex traders.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 89.96 against the greenback and slipped to a record intra-day low of 90.15 before recovering some ground to trade at 90.02, down 6 paise from its previous close.

On Tuesday, the rupee settled 43 paise down at an all-time closing low of 89.96 against the US dollar, largely owing to continued short-covering from speculators and sustained importer demand for the American currency.

In another big development, the row over the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ application, which smartphone makers have been asked to mandatorily pre-install on their devices, is unlikely to end unless the government rolls back its decision.

While the Opposition has termed it “snooping” or “mass surveillance”, the government on Tuesday defended it, saying it is optional.

Put simply, forcing the pre-installation of a government-owned app is a violation of the fundamental right to privacy, and no justification for it can be accepted.

Follow this page as we track big developments of the day...

Dec 03, 2025 14:36 IST
Ready to make changes in order; snooping will never happen: Scindia on Sanchar Saathi row
Amid privacy concerns over the Sanchar Saathi app, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday asserted that snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the app.
 
Depending on the feedback, the ministry is ready to make changes to the order regarding the installation of the app in devices, he told Lok Sabha. READ MORE



Dec 03, 2025 13:23 IST
Meesho IPO subscribed 41% on Day 1; retail portion fully booked
The initial public offer of SoftBank-backed e-commerce firm Meesho Ltd received 41 per cent subscription so far on the first day of share sale on Wednesday.
 
The three-day IPO got bids for 11,50,92,360 shares against 27,79,38,446 shares on offer, as per NSE data till 11:30 hours.
 
Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) category received 1.54 times subscription while the quota for non-institutional investors fetched 48 per cent subscription.



Dec 03, 2025 13:15 IST
Snooping will never happen with Sanchar Saathi app: Scindia in LS
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi safety app, amid a row over his ministry's order asking smartphone makers to preload the state-run cybersecurity app on all new devices.
 
In Lok Sabha, Scindia said the app is for the protection of the people.
 
Sanchar Saathi app se "na snooping sambhav hai, na snooping hoga", the minister said during Question Hour. READ MORE



Dec 03, 2025 13:02 IST
Fake news threat to democracy, govt working to curb it: Ashwini Vaishnaw in LS
Terming fake news as a threat to democracy, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said there is a need to take strict action against those who create AI-generated deep fake videos and spread false information.
 
Vaishnaw also informed the Lok Sabha that the government is working on framing new rules for curbing fake news and AI-generated deep fake videos and strengthening the institutional mechanism for that. READ MORE



Dec 03, 2025 12:52 IST
Modi govt has 'nearly signed death warrant' for Aravalli hills: Sonia Gandhi
Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that since coming to power, the Modi government has displayed a particularly "venal streak of cynicism" in relation to environmental protection, while alleging that it has now "nearly signed a death warrant" for Aravalli hills.
 
She demanded that the government must withdraw the amendments it "bulldozed" through Parliament in the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 as well as the Forest Conservation Rules (2022). READ MORE



Dec 03, 2025 11:32 IST
Airport operations slow after Microsoft glitch; multiple carriers move to manual check-ins
Check-in systems at various airports faced issues on Wednesday morning due to a system outage, according to a source.
 
The source added that some flights have been delayed due to the issues.
 
"Microsoft Windows reports major service outages globally. IT services/check-in systems at airports are impacted," as per a message for the passengers at the Varanasi airport. READ MORE



Dec 03, 2025 11:27 IST
Why Govt must scrap Sanchar Saathi app pre-install order
New Delhi: The row over the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ application, which smartphone makers have been asked to mandatorily pre-install on their devices, is not going to end with one “optional” clarification from the government.
 
While the Opposition has called it “snooping” and “mass surveillance”, the government has tried to defend the move by saying the app is optional and consent-driven. That defence deliberately sidesteps the real problem.
 
Read more...



Dec 03, 2025 11:26 IST
MCD bypoll results: BJP wins 7 wards, AAP 3 including Naraina, Congress 1
New Delhi: The BJP won seven wards and AAP three, while the Congress and the All India Forward Bloc emerged victorious in one ward each in the MCD bypolls for 12 wards.
 
Read more...



Dec 03, 2025 11:20 IST
Sanchar Saathi app downloads jump 10 times on Tuesday: DoT sources
The government's cyber security and safety app Sanchar Saathi recorded a 10-fold jump in downloads on Tuesday, rising from a daily average of around 60,000 to nearly 6 lakh, DoT sources said on Wednesday.
 
The number of downloads jumped even as Opposition leaders and a section of industry experts criticised the Department of Telecom order to mandatorily pre-install the app on all mobile phones alleging that it is meant for "snooping" and violating privacy of citizens. READ MORE



Dec 03, 2025 11:13 IST
India sends mobile field hospital, over 70 medical personnel to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka
India has sent a mobile field hospital and over 70 medical personnel to Sri Lanka as part of its continuing humanitarian assistance following the devastating floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, the Indian mission here said on Wednesday.
 
Sri Lanka has been grappling with widespread flooding, landslides and severe infrastructure collapse, leaving several districts isolated and severely straining the country's disaster-response capacity. READ MORE



Dec 03, 2025 10:17 IST
MCD bypoll results: AAP candidate Ramswaroop Kannojia wins Dakshinpuri ward



Dec 03, 2025 10:15 IST
MCD bypoll results: Congress candidate Suresh Chaudhary wins from Sangam Vihar Ward 163A
Delhi: Congress candidate Suresh Chaudhary won from Sangam Vihar Ward 163A in the MCD by-election.

He says, "We are all very happy..." pic.twitter.com/uPwlOLumrp
— IANS (@ians_india) December 3, 2025



Dec 03, 2025 10:08 IST
Delhi MCD bypolls: BJP candidates win Chandni Chowk, Shalimar Bagh B wards
New Delhi: BJP candidate Suman Kumar Gupta won the Chandni Chowk ward in the MCD bypolls, while BJP candidate Anita Jain won Shalimar Bagh B Ward by 10,101 votes.
 
Read more...



Dec 03, 2025 10:05 IST
Rupee breaches 90 to a dollar finally, falls 6 paise in early trade
Mumbai: The rupee breached 90-levels against the greenback for the first time on Wednesday, falling 6 paise to 90.02 in early trade, as banks kept buying US dollars at higher levels and FII outflows continued.
 
Read more...



Dec 03, 2025 10:00 IST
MCD results: BJP candidate Anita Jain won Shalimar Bagh B Ward by 10,101 votes
Municipal Corporation of Delhi By-Election results: BJP candidate Anita Jain won Shalimar Bagh B Ward by 10,101 votes pic.twitter.com/GS9EayinMb
— IANS (@ians_india) December 3, 2025



Dec 03, 2025 09:38 IST
Delhi's air quality 'very poor' with AQI at 335
New Delhi: The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category on Wednesday morning, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
 
Read more...



Dec 03, 2025 09:38 IST
Begin by fixing system: Kiran Bedi pitches 5 reforms for pollution fight
New Delhi: Former IPS officer and former Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on Wednesday called for basic but major institutional reforms to tackle India's air pollution, saying the crisis "won't respond to half-measures" and requires institutions with "authority, clarity and staying power".
 
Read more...



Dec 03, 2025 07:48 IST
Underground fire erupts in Dhanbad; toxic gas, smoke trigger panic among villagers

In Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, an underground fire suddenly flared up near a closed mine in the Katras area. This led to a heavy leakage of toxic gas. Thick, black smoke with a sharp, foul smell has spread across the entire area, creating an atmosphere of panic among local residents. Public anger is steadily rising.



Dec 03, 2025 07:14 IST
US-Russia talks on Ukraine were productive but work remains, Putin adviser says
Talks between Russia and the US on ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine were productive, but much work remains, Yuri Ushakov, a senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin, told reporters on Wednesday.
 
Putin met US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlin in talks that began late Tuesday as part of a renewed push by the Trump administration to broker a peace deal. Both sides agreed not to disclose the substance of the talks.
 
Ushakov called the five-hour conversation “rather useful, constructive, rather substantive,” but added that the framework of the US peace proposal was discussed rather than “specific wording.”