December 26, 1991:
The Soviet Union officially collapsed after 69 years.

Following Gorbachev’s resignation, the Kremlin lowered the Soviet flag, and 15 new independent states emerged — ending the Cold War era.

1. United States 🇺🇸 — $2,630M
2. United Kingdom 🇬🇧 — $531M
3. Canada 🇨🇦 — $355M
4. Italy 🇮🇹 — $355M
5. Mexico 🇲🇽 — $291M
6. Germany 🇩🇪 — $237M
7. France 🇫🇷 — $237M
8. Australia 🇦🇺 — $237M
9. Brazil 🇧🇷 — $194M
10. Spain 🇪🇸 — $194M
11. India 🇮🇳 — $130M
12. Thailand 🇹🇭 — $71M
13. Greece 🇬🇷 — $47M
14. Poland 🇵🇱 — ~$40–60M
15. Netherlands 🇳🇱 — ~$40–60M
16. Colombia 🇨🇴 — ~$30–50M
17. Argentina 🇦🇷 — ~$30–50M
18. Philippines 🇵🇭 — ~$20–40M
19. South Africa 🇿🇦 — ~$20–40M
20. Japan 🇯🇵 — ~$20–40M

— Key Points to Highlight: Last date to link PAN with Aadhaar: 31 December 2025, From 1 January 2026, unlinked PAN will become inoperative.

— Impact: ITR filing blocked, refunds stopped, higher TDS/TCS, and issues in banking, investments, and property deals.

If your PAN is not yet linked, follow these steps to avoid your card becoming inoperative:

- Step 1: Visit the official Income Tax e-Filing portal: incometax.gov.in
- Step 2: On the homepage, look for the "Quick Links" section on the left side.
- Step 3: Click on the "Link Aadhaar" option.
- Step 4: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar Number.
- Step 5: Enter your Name exactly as it appears on your Aadhaar card and your Mobile Number.
- Step 6: You will receive an OTP on your mobile. Enter it to validate.
- Step 7: Pay the mandatory ₹1,000 late fee (if applicable) through the portal to complete the process.

If you are unsure about your status, follow these steps to verify:

- Step 1: Go to the official website: incometax.gov.in
- Step 2: Under the "Quick Links" section, click on "Link Aadhaar Status."
- Step 3: Enter your PAN and Aadhaar Number in the boxes provided.
- Step 4: Click on the button "View Link Aadhaar Status."
- Step 5: The screen will show a message:
- If linked: "Your PAN is already linked to Aadhaar."
- If not linked: It will prompt you to link it.