The top five states in terms of increase in forest cover are Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km), Telangana (632 sq km), Odisha (537 sq km), Karnataka (155 sq km) and Jharkhand (110 sq km).
Senior rocket scientist S. Somanath has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary, Department of Space.
Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year for his sizzling spells, a sheer display of pace and swing and some magical moments during the previous calendar year.
The Navies of India and Japan conducted a major maritime partnership exercise in the Bay of Bengal to improve defence collaboration between the two nations.