NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi Inaugurates Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu in Assam:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated
a six-lane bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Assam.The bridge is named
Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu and cost 3,030 crore.It is the 1.24 km-long bridge
that connects Guwahati with North Guwahati. It is the first extradosed bridge
in the Northeast.An extradosed bridge uses external support cables and low
towers to increase strength and span length.
2. India to Establish First National Cow Culture Museum
in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: India will set up its first National Cow
Culture Museum in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, within the campus of Pandit
Deendayal Upadhyaya Veterinary Science University.The museum aims to present a
balanced narrative by highlighting the cultural, agricultural, and economic
importance of cattle, going beyond purely religious symbolism and integrating
scientific awareness.It will showcase the spiritual and practical role of cows,
including cattle conservation, sustainable farming practices, use of draught
power, organic manure, and the role of dairy in supporting rural livelihoods.
3. Amazon India Partners with IIT Roorkee to Develop
Sustainable Non-Wood Paper Packaging from Agricultural Waste: Amazon India has partnered with
the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee to develop non-wood
paper packaging from agricultural waste like wheat straw and bagasse,
promoting recyclable and home-compostable materials.The 15-month research, led
by IIT Roorkee’s Department of Paper and Packaging Technology and INNOPAP Lab,
aims to reduce stubble burning, cut reliance on imported wood pulp, and provide
additional income to farmers.
4. Kerala CM Launches ‘Sthree Suraksha’ Scheme Providing
₹1,000 Monthly Pension: Kerala
CM Pinarayi Vijayan launched the Sthree Suraksha Scheme, providing a
monthly pension of ₹1,000 to unemployed women and transwomen in Kerala,
with the first payment disbursed to 10,18,042 beneficiaries.The scheme targets
economically backward women aged 35–60 who are not receiving benefits from
other social welfare pension schemes, along with transwomen, aiming to provide
financial support and social security.Part of Kerala’s broader gender-focused
welfare initiatives, the scheme aligns with gender budgeting, women-centric
projects, and past initiatives like the pink police wing, reinforcing the
government’s commitment to women’s safety and empowerment
5. Kerala Launches Nawodhan Scheme to Revive Fallow Land
and Boost Self-Reliance in Horticulture: Kerala has launched the Nawodhan
Scheme to bring large areas of fallow land back into cultivation and
boost self-reliance in agricultural produce, especially fruits and vegetables.The
scheme promotes modern, high-yield commercial farming through a partnership
model where landowners retain ownership, while skilled farmers, investors,
agri-startups, and farmer collectives undertake cultivation without any
transfer of land rights.Nawodhan is a key component of the KERA Project,
implemented by the Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers’ Welfare
with financial and technical support from the World Bank.
6. IIT Madras Partners with Finnish Meteorological
Institute to Establish ‘VAYYU’ Climate Research Centre: Indian Institute of Technology
Madras has partnered with the Finnish Meteorological Institute to
establish VAYYU – a Virtual Research Centre focusing on
aerosol–meteorology interactions, Himalayan atmosphere-cryosphere dynamics, and
urban air quality.The centre will conduct advanced simulations and
state-of-the-art observations to study the impact of aerosols on regional
hydro-climate, Himalayan snow and glacier melt, and air pollution in Indian
megacities.The collaboration, formalised through an MoU signed by senior IIT
Madras and FMI officials, aims to strengthen Indo-Finnish cooperation in
climate science, urban sustainability, and next-generation environmental
research.
7. GAIL (India) Limited Appoints Deepak Gupta as New CMD: GAIL (India) Limited appointed Deepak Gupta as
its new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD); he will assume charge on or
after 1 March 2026 and serve till 28 February 2029.He will succeed Sandeep
Kumar Gupta, who is set to retire on 28 February 2026.The appointment was
approved by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Reserve Bank of India Approves Rajan Bajaj as MD &
CEO of Slice Small Finance Bank: The Reserve Bank of India approved the
appointment of Rajan Bajaj as Managing Director & CEO of Slice Small
Finance Bank, following approval from the bank’s board and shareholders.Slice
had acquired North East Small Finance Bank in 2023 and later merged it to form
Slice Small Finance Bank, marking its transition from a fintech startup to a licensed
deposit-taking bank.
NHAI
Launches India’s First Bee Corridors Initiative: Reinforcing its commitment to sustainable
infrastructure, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a
pioneering initiative to develop pollinator or ‘Bee Corridors’ along National
Highways. The move marks a transition from ornamental roadside plantations to
ecologically driven green corridors aimed at supporting honeybees and other
pollinators.The initiative seeks to address rising ecological stress that has
affected pollination services, agricultural productivity and overall biodiversity.The
Bee Corridor will comprise continuous stretches of bee-friendly vegetation,
including flowering trees and plants that provide nectar and pollen throughout
the year. By ensuring staggered flowering cycles, the project aims to maintain
near-continuous blooming across seasons.Pollinators play a crucial role in food
production and ecosystem stability. Declining bee populations have raised
concerns globally, as nearly one-third of food crops depend on animal
pollination. Roadside plantations offer a unique opportunity to create long,
connected habitats that can support pollinator survival.
Kerala
Approves India’s First Comprehensive Graphene Policy: Kerala has approved India’s first
comprehensive graphene policy, aiming to position the
state as a global hub for research, development and manufacturing of the
advanced material. Graphene, often described as a wonder material,
is known for its exceptional strength, conductivity and flexibility. The policy
marks a strategic push to integrate high-technology industries into Kerala’s long-term economic growth model. As an initial step, the Union Cabinet has approved the
Grefine Park to accelerate graphene-based innovation and manufacturing. The
state government plans to establish a dedicated graphene industrial park in
Palakkad, alongside a Digital Innovation Centre backed by an investment of ₹200
crore.To attract domestic and international investors, Kerala will provide a 50
per cent subsidy on lease payments for manufacturing units set up in
government-managed parks. The initiative seeks to reduce entry barriers and create
a competitive ecosystem for advanced material production.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. NPCI Extends ‘UPI One World’ Wallet to International
Delegates at India AI Impact Summit 2026: National Payments Corporation of India has extended
its UPI One World wallet to international delegates attending the India AI
Impact Summit 2026, enabling UPI payments without an Indian mobile number or
bank account.The pilot is available to delegates from 40+ countries
participating in the summit held in New Delhi from 16–20 February, allowing
real-time P2M payments by scanning UPI QR codes during their stay.The wallet is
issued via authorised PPI issuers at New Delhi International Airport and the
NPCI Pavilion at Bharat Mandapam; users register through the
Transcorp-powered CheqUPI app using passport/visa verification and a UPI
PIN.Wallets can be loaded using international cards with limits of ₹25,000 per
transaction and ₹50,000 per month; unused balances are refundable per forex
rules, amid strong UPI growth.
2. DBS Bank Becomes First in Asia-Pacific to Pilot Visa
Intelligent Commerce for AI-Driven Payments: DBS Bank became the first issuer in the Asia-Pacific region to pilot Visa
Intelligent Commerce, in collaboration with Visa, marking
a key step toward agent-initiated, AI-driven digital payments.The pilot
validates AI-ready card credentials, authentication systems, and payment
signals, ensuring secure, consent-based transactions executed by artificial
intelligence agents within issuer-controlled safeguards. During trials, DBS and Visa successfully enabled
real-world food and beverage transactions using DBS and POSB cards; the
initiative will now expand to online shopping, travel bookings, and other digital
services.
3. BioAsia
2026 Summit Begins in Hyderabad: Telangana
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will inaugurate the 23rd edition of BioAsia
2026, an international life sciences summit, at the Hyderabad International
Convention Centre (HICC). The two-day global conference positions Telangana as
a growing centre for TechBio innovation and advanced healthcare
technologies.This year’s theme, ‘TechBio Unleashed – AI, Automation, and the
Revolutionary Changes in Life Sciences,’ reflects the rapid integration of
digital technologies with biotechnology and pharmaceutical research.The summit
will explore how artificial intelligence, automation and data-driven systems
are transforming drug discovery, biologics development and healthcare delivery.
As India strengthens its footprint in biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing,
the event will examine the role of TechBio in accelerating research and
reducing development timelines.Delegates will deliberate on next-generation
biologics, AI-driven research and development, digital transformation in
laboratories and manufacturing, and the future trajectory of pharma and biotech
industries.
4. India,
South Korea Reaffirm Special Strategic Partnership: India and South Korea have
reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their Special Strategic Partnership,
signalling sustained diplomatic momentum ahead of 2026. The pledge was made
during the 6th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) held in Seoul, reflecting
both sides’ intent to expand cooperation across political, economic and
security domains. The dialogue was co-chaired by P. Kumaran,
Secretary (East) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Park Yoon-joo,
First Vice Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea. Discussions covered the
entire spectrum of bilateral engagement, including defence, security, science
and technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges.The two sides agreed to
pursue a series of high-level visits and joint commission meetings in 2026.
These engagements are expected to inject fresh impetus into diplomatic
coordination and policy alignment under the Special Strategic Partnership
framework.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. J&K
Plans Ravi Diversion, Revives Tulbul Project:
The Jammu & Kashmir government is exploring new water management measures
following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reportedly raised with the Centre proposals to
divert surplus water from the Ravi river to the Jammu region and to revive the
long-pending Tulbul Navigation Barrage project in Kashmir.The Centre placed the
1960 treaty in abeyance in 2025 after the Pahalgam terror attack, opening policy
space for fresh hydrological planning in the Union Territory.The Tulbul
Navigation Barrage project on the Wular Lake was launched in 1984 but halted in
1987 after Pakistan objected under provisions of the IWT. The project
aimed to regulate water flow to ensure year-round navigation and maintain
minimum water depth in Wular Lake.With the treaty suspended, the J&K
government has proposed maintaining adequate water levels in the lake to
restore navigation, rejuvenate the ecosystem and benefit surrounding farmlands.
Officials believe the project could provide ecological and economic gains for
the Kashmir valley.
2. Iran
Unveils Khorramshahr-4 Amid US Tensions: Iran has released dramatic footage of its Khorramshahr-4
ballistic missile, one of Tehran’s most powerful medium-range weapons, amid
rising tensions with the United States. The
video, circulated through state-linked platforms, appears aimed at signalling
deterrence as American aircraft carriers operate near the Persian Gulf.The
display comes at a time of heightened strategic rivalry, with both sides
reinforcing their military postures in the region.The Khorramshahr-4 is
assessed to have a range of approximately 2,000 kilometres. With a heavy
payload capacity, the missile can potentially place key US military bases and
naval assets within striking distance. It forms part of Iran’s broader missile
programme designed to offset conventional limitations through long-range strike
capability.Iran has invested significantly in ballistic missile development
over the past two decades, viewing it as a core element of national defence and
deterrence strategy.
3. INS
Tarangini Anchors IFR and MILAN 2026: Sail training ship INS
Tarangini is among the prominent vessels arriving in Visakhapatnam for the
International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 and the multinational naval exercise
MILAN, commencing February 18. Around 75 naval vessels are expected to
participate in the twin maritime events, including 20 foreign warships,
underlining India’s expanding naval diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific. Commissioned in 1997, INS Tarangini serves as the Indian
Navy’s sail training ship. In 2003–2004, she became the first Indian naval
vessel to circumnavigate the globe. The ship also represented India at the
International Fleet Review during the Sri Lankan Navy’s diamond jubilee
celebrations in December 2010.On that occasion, Tarangini was the only tall
ship present and the first to be reviewed by the Sri Lankan President. Her
decks and yards were ceremonially manned by Indian naval cadets alongside
midshipmen of the Sri Lanka Navy, symbolising maritime camaraderie.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. INSA And CSIR-NIScPR Sign MoU To Advance Science
Policy Research: Indian National Science
Academy and CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and
Policy Research signed an MoU to foster collaboration in science
communication and policy research.The partnership aims to promote
evidence-based Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy research to
support informed and effective policymaking in India.
2. Dayananda Sagar University Partners with NVIDIA to
Launch India’s First AI-First Factory with ₹175 Crore Investment: Dayananda Sagar University has signed an MoU
with NVIDIA to establish India’s first AI-first factory with an investment
exceeding ₹175 crore.The AI factory will feature 20 NVIDIA DGX B200 (Blackwell)
supercomputing clusters, enabling large-scale AI model training and inference.The
initiative aims to bridge gaps in AI infrastructure, reduce dependence on
foreign AI models, promote domestic supercomputing technologies, and align
academic training with industry requirements.
3. Union Minister Jitin Prasada inaugurates STQC Lab
Automation Portal, SATYA: Jitin
Prasada, Minister of State for Electronics and Information
Technology, inaugurated the Standardisation Testing and Quality
Certification (STQC) Lab Automation Portal – SATYA, bringing STQC services onto
a single, integrated, and user-friendly digital platform.The Standardisation
Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate ensures the quality,
security, and reliability of electronic and IT products and services, and the
SATYA Portal will benefit citizens, industry, startups, MSMEs, and government
departments.The SATYA Portal aims to enhance ease, transparency,
accountability, cybersecurity, and data protection, strengthening
citizen-centric digital governance and supporting India’s growth as a trusted
global technology and manufacturing hub.
4. ZSI
Discovers New Diplura Species in Himalayas:
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new
species of Diplura in the eastern Himalayas,
marking a milestone in Indian entomology. The wingless, soil-dwelling
micro-arthropod has been named “Lepidocampa sikkimensis”. The discovery ends
nearly five decades of limited research on Diplura in India and represents the
first species of its kind to be formally described by an Indian research
team.The findings were published on 7 January in the international taxonomic
journal “Zootaxa”.Diplurans are primitive hexapods, a group of six-legged
arthropods under the class Hexapoda. They are blind, soil-dwelling organisms
commonly known as two-pronged bristletails. Researchers believe “Lepidocampa
sikkimensis” belongs to an ancient evolutionary lineage of hexapods.Until now,
17 Diplura species had been recorded in India, all identified by foreign
scientists. The new discovery signals a revival of indigenous taxonomic
research in this lesser-known invertebrate group.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI Slaps Fines on Bank of Maharashtra, DCB Bank, CSB
Bank, IIFL Finance and Navi Finserv for Non-Compliance with Norms: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary
penalties on Bank of Maharashtra (₹32.50 lakh), DCB Bank (₹29.60 lakh), and CSB
Bank (₹63.60 lakh) for non-compliance with regulatory directions.The RBI
also fined Navi Finserv (₹3.80 lakh) and IIFL Finance (₹5.30 lakh) for
regulatory lapses related to customer communication, asset classification, and
recovery practices.The penalties were imposed for violations such as failure to
report Self Help Group data, non-adherence to loan-to-value norms in gold
loans, improper arrangements with business correspondents, non-disclosure of
charges, incorrect NPA classification, and recovery calls at odd hours.
2. Assam
Grants 3% Quota to Tea Tribes, Adivasis: In a significant policy move ahead of assembly
elections, the Assam Cabinet has approved a 3%
reservation in Class I and Class II state government jobs for tea tribes and
Adivasi communities within the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota. The Cabinet
also expanded the Mission for Minority and Underprivileged Areas (MMUA) scheme
to include over one lakh additional women beneficiaries. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the
reservation for tea tribes and Adivasis was previously limited to Grade III and
Grade IV posts. The new decision extends the 3% quota to Grade I and Grade II
positions, including state civil services and professorial posts.The revised
policy will apply to higher-level recruitment from next year, while for other
posts advertised immediately, the new provision will come into force at once.
The decision marks a structural shift in employment access for historically
marginalised communities in Assam.
1. Oil India Limited Bags FIPI Award 2025 as ‘Oil & Gas Production Company of the Year’: Oil India Limited (OIL) has been awarded the FIPI Award 2025 by the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry as ‘Oil & Gas Production Company of the Year’ in the category of more than 1 MTOE.The award recognises OIL’s strong performance in boosting domestic oil and gas production, improving operational excellence, and contributing to India’s goal of a secure and self-reliant energy sector.
No comments:
Post a Comment