 "Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. File image/Reuters")
It is set to be a busy Tuesday with several events lined up for the day.
Firstly, EAM S Jaishankar is set to visit Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, bidding for the privatisation of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will take place today.
The initial estimate of the US third-quarter 2025 GDP will be released today. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma is scheduled to transfer Rs 100 crore directly into the bank accounts of 18,500 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin.
Here is all that is set to take place around the world.
EAM Jaishankar to visit Sri Lanka
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with the top leadership of the island nation. The visit is a direct follow-up to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025 and is intended to underscore India’s continued support and “Neighbourhood First” policy.
Jaishankar will have a first-hand account of the recovery efforts following Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread flooding and landslides. India was the “first responder” to Sri Lanka’s appeal for assistance, launching “Operation Sagar Bandhu” immediately after the disaster.
He is scheduled to meet with Sri Lankan leadership, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, to discuss matters of mutual importance and reinforce bilateral cooperation. Indian forces have provided over 1,134 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including dry rations, tents, medicines, and surgical equipment.
Pakistan PIA bidding
The bidding for the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to take place today. This high-profile auction is a key requirement of Pakistan’s $7 billion IMF bailout program to reform or divest loss-making state-owned enterprises.
On December 22, Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited withdrew from the race by failing to deposit the required earnest money. This leaves three pre-qualified bidders competing for the national carrier namely Lucky Cement Consortium, Arif Habib Corporation Consortium and Airblue (Private) Limited.
The government is offering up to a 100 per cent stake in PIA, though the initial bidding is for a 75 per cent share. The winning bidder will have an option to acquire the remaining 25 per cent within 90 days at a 12 per cent premium. To make the deal more attractive, the state has absorbed approximately 80 per cent of PIA’s debt and scrapped sales tax on leased aircraft.
Initial estimate of US third-quarter GDP
The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will release the initial estimate for the third-quarter (Q3) 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) today.
This release is significant as it replaces the traditional three-step reporting process (advance, second, and third estimates). Due to a 43-day federal government shutdown that began on October 1, the original “advance” estimate scheduled for October was cancelled. Consequently, the report also serves as the first official government look at economic performance for the July–September period.
Rs 100 crore to be transferred to 18,500 beneficiaries
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma will transfer Rs 100 crore directly into the bank accounts of 18,500 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G). The funds will be distributed during a farmers’ conference held in Merta, Rajasthan.
The transfer will be executed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and people belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and female heads of households will be prioritised. It will follow the government’s directives that reserve approximately 60 per cent of approvals for SC/ST beneficiaries.
With inputs from agencies