NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. President Murmu Unveils Rajagopalachari Bust at
Rashtrapati Bhavan: President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a bust of
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing the statue of
British architect Edwin Lutyens, as part of the government’s effort to remove
colonial-era symbols.The bust has been installed at the Grand Open Staircase
near Ashok Mandap, opposite the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, highlighting India’s
own leaders and traditions within the presidential estate.During the ‘Rajaji
Utsav’, President Murmu emphasized Rajagopalachari’s role in India’s “mental
decolonisation” and praised his contributions to law, politics, social reform,
and literature, inspiring the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
2. NIPER signs MoU with private pharmaceutical company to
advance pharmaceutical education: The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education
and Research (NIPER) signed an MoU with a private pharmaceutical company
in New Delhi to strengthen pharmaceutical education and research in India,
under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilisers.During the event, Cohort 2 of AMRITVA (Alliance for Medicinal Research,
Innovation, Translation and Value Acceleration) was launched to convert
academic pharmaceutical research into market-oriented and entrepreneurial
initiatives.
3. Jagat Prakash Nadda Launches Indigenous Td Vaccine at
CRI Kasauli: Union
Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the indigenously
manufactured Tetanus & Adult Diphtheria (Td) Vaccine at the Central
Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.The Td vaccine has been
introduced under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), with CRI set
to supply 55 lakh doses by April 2026, and production expected to scale up
in the coming years.CRI is the first government institute to manufacture
vaccines under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, showcasing
modernization of public sector vaccine units.The UIP, the world’s largest
immunisation programme, currently provides 11 vaccines against 12 diseases, and
aligns with WHO recommendations (2006, reaffirmed in 2017) to shift from
Tetanus Toxoid (TT) to the Td vaccine.
4. Digital Bharat Nidhi and Andhra Pradesh Sign MoC for
Fast-Track Implementation of Amended BharatNet Programme: A Memorandum of
Cooperation (MoC) was signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the
Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, and the
Government of Andhra Pradesh for faster implementation of the Amended BharatNet
Programme (ABP) in the state.The agreement provides a collaborative framework
where the Andhra Pradesh government will facilitate Right of Way (RoW),
infrastructure access, and coordination support to ensure expedited rollout of
the programme.The project will be funded primarily by DBN, along with state
contributions, and the created digital network will be utilized to enhance
socio-economic development across Andhra Pradesh.
5. Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan Inaugurates Tourism
Leadership Summit-2026: Vice
President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Tourism Leadership
Summit-2026, organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in New
Delhi, highlighting tourism as a driver of economic growth and soft
diplomacy.He emphasised that tourism is a major employment generator and
stressed investment in skills, entrepreneurship, and women-led enterprises for
inclusive and sustainable growth.The Vice President highlighted Tourism Vision
2029, aiming to develop at least one world-class tourist destination in every
state, promoting sustainable practices, improved connectivity, and AI-driven
solutions for better visitor experience.
6. MeitY Launches Blockchain India Challenge to Drive
Permissioned Blockchain Solutions for Digital Governance: Shri
S. Krishnan IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY), launched the Blockchain India Challenge in New
Delhi.Implemented by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
(C-DAC) with full support from MeitY, the national initiative invites
visionary Indian startups to develop and pilot permissioned
blockchain-based solutions tailored for government use cases.The challenge
prioritizes regulatory control, security, trust, auditability, and tamper-proof
records, aiming to solve real-world governance and service delivery challenges
across multiple sectors.
7. India and GCC Launch Formal FTA Negotiations with
Signing of Joint Statement in New Delhi: India and the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) formally commenced negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) following the signing of a Joint
Statement on 24 February 2026 in New Delhi.The agreement was
signed by Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry,
and H.E. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC, in the
presence of high-level delegations from both sides.The FTA aims to inject
greater predictability, certainty, and momentum into bilateral trade and investment
ties, unlocking substantial untapped potential between India and one of its
most strategic economic partners.
India and Kenya held
their first-ever Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on agriculture in
virtual mode on 25 February 2026, marking a formal step toward deepening
bilateral cooperation in the sector.The meeting focused on aligning priorities,
addressing shared challenges, and exploring collaborative opportunities in
agricultural research, market access, mechanization, capacity building, and
training.Discussions underscored the mutual interest in leveraging each
country’s strengths to enhance food security, productivity, and sustainable
agricultural development.
8. Cabinet Approves ₹9,072 Crore Multitracking Railway
Projects to Add 307 km Network Capacity Across Four States: The Cabinet Committee on
Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved three
major multitracking railway projects on 24 February 2026 at a total
cost of approximately ₹9,072 crore.The initiatives — Gondia–Jabalpur
Doubling, Punarakh–Kiul 3rd & 4th line, and Gamharia–Chandil 3rd
& 4th line — will expand Indian Railways' network by ~307
km across 8 districts in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar,
and Jharkhand.These capacity enhancements will decongest busy corridors,
boost freight by 52 MTPA, connect ~5,407
villages (serving ~98 lakh people), improve passenger services, cut
logistics costs, and deliver environmental benefits equivalent to
planting 1 crore trees through reduced CO₂ emissions and oil imports.
9. Kaziranga National Park Emerges
as Major Stronghold for Endangered Fishing Cat with 57 Individuals Recorded in
First Scientific Survey: Kaziranga
National Park and Tiger Reserve has recorded at least 57 unique fishing
cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) across more than 450 sq km,
establishing it as one of the most significant freshwater habitats for this
globally vulnerable and endangered species.The finding comes from
India’s first scientific assessment of fishing cats in the
Brahmaputra floodplains, conducted using “by-catch” camera-trap images
originally collected for tiger monitoring.The study highlights Kaziranga’s
critical role in conserving a lesser-known, wetland-specialized felid and
provides a replicable baseline methodology for monitoring non-charismatic
species. Conducted by: Tiger Cell of Kaziranga National Park in collaboration
with Tiasa Adhya, scientist and founder of the Fishing Cat Project.Data
source: Re-analysis of camera-trap images captured during the All India
Tiger Estimation exercises. Approach: Utilized “by-catch” (incidental)
captures of fishing cats to estimate minimum population size and assess
relative abundance in the floodplain ecosystem.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Jean Todt Launches UN Global Road Safety Campaign
‘Make A Safety Statement’ in India: The UN Secretary-General’s
Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, launched the UN-JCDecuax Global
Campaign for Road Safety titled “Make A Safety Statement”, aimed at promoting simple
daily measures like wearing seat belts and helmets, following speed limits, and
avoiding mobile phone use while driving.The campaign supports the UN’s Second
Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030) to reduce road deaths by 50% by
2030.A new project, “Sustainable Financing for Road Safety in India: A
Collaborative Approach,” supported by the UN Road Safety Fund and implemented
with technical support from WHO, UNICEF, and UN ESCAP, was also launched to
strengthen road safety systems and establish sustainable financing mechanisms
in India.
2. Indian Mountaineers Summit Mount Aconcagua in
Argentina: A
six-member team from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (Uttarkashi) and the
Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (Pahalgam)
successfully summited Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh ceremonially flagged off the expedition on the 5th February.Mount
Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America and the second-highest peak
outside Asia, highlighting India’s growing excellence in international
mountaineering.
3. Switzerland Announces Geneva as Host City for 2027 AI
Impact Summit: Switzerland’s
President Guy Parmelin announced that Geneva will host the AI Impact
Summit 2027, emphasising the need for smaller nations to collaborate for fair
and responsible AI governance.Switzerland will partner with the United Arab
Emirates, the host of the 2028 AI Impact Summit, to ensure continuity and
global cooperation in AI development.Since its inception in the United Kingdom
(2023), the AI Impact Summit has been hosted by South Korea, France, and India,
with Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming Switzerland as the fifth summit
host.
4. 27 February – World NGO Day: World NGO Day is
observed annually on 27 February to recognise and honour the role of
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in society.The day highlights the
contribution of NGOs in areas such as human rights, education, health,
environment, and social development.It was officially recognized in 2010 and first
celebrated in 2014 to promote collaboration between NGOs and governments.
5. Bihar Assembly Passes Four Bills in 24 Minutes,
Including Replacement of 1887 British-Era Civil Court Act: The Bihar
Legislative Assembly passed four Bills by voice vote
on Tuesday (likely 24 February 2026), completing the process in
just 24 minutes.One key legislation replaces the colonial-era Bengal,
Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887 with a modern, Bihar-specific Bihar
Civil Courts Bill, 2026.The other three Bills amend recruitment commissions and
municipal governance structures to enhance efficiency, inclusivity,
transparency, and decentralisation in state administration.Grants greater
powers to ward councillors and district board members in
local bodies.Aims to increase transparency in the constitution
of empowered standing committees of municipal bodies.Addresses
concerns of discrimination, centralisation of power, and difficulty for certain
categories of members to participate in meetings — moves toward greater
decentralisation in line with constitutional principles.
6. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International
Airport Named Asia-Pacific’s Best for Departures in 40+ Million Passengers
Category: Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai, has been
voted Asia-Pacific’s Best Airport for Departures in the over 40
million passengers per annum category at the 2025 Airport Service
Quality (ASQ) Customer Experience Awards.The award, presented by Airports
Council International (ACI), is based entirely on real passenger feedback
collected throughout 2025 under the globally recognised and independently
audited ASQ programme.CSMIA’s top ranking reflects outstanding performance across
the entire outbound journey, highlighting Mumbai’s growing stature as a
world-class aviation hub.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. 7th India–Japan Joint Military Exercise ‘Dharma
Guardian’ Begins in Uttarakhand: The 7th edition of Joint
Military Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN between India and Japan has
commenced in Uttarakhand, and will continue till 9th March.Around 120
personnel from each country are participating, with the Japanese side
represented by the 32nd Infantry Regiment and the Indian side by the Ladakh Scouts
of the Indian Army.Held alternately in India and Japan, the exercise aims to
strengthen defence cooperation and enhance joint operational capabilities,
particularly for operations in a semi-urban environment.
2. India–US 16th Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA
PRAHAR Begins in Himachal Pradesh: The 16th edition of Joint Special Forces
Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR between India and the United States has
commenced at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh (Himachal
Pradesh) and will continue till the 16th of next month.The Indian Army is
represented by 45 personnel from its Special Forces units, while the United
States has deployed 12 Green Berets from the US Special Forces.The exercise
aims to strengthen military cooperation, enhance interoperability, and improve
joint special operations capabilities between the two countries.
3. India-US Joint Special Forces Exercise Vajra Prahar
Commences at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh: The 16th edition of
the bilateral India-US Special Forces exercise Vajra Prahar began
on 24 February 2026 at the Special Forces Training School,
Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, and ran until 16 March 2026.A US Army
contingent from the Green Berets (US Special Forces) arrived in
India to join 45 personnel from Indian Army Special Forces units for
the three-week drill.Building on the previous edition held in Idaho,
USA (November 2024), the exercise reinforced military cooperation,
interoperability, and joint capabilities for special operations in mountainous
terrain.
Primary goal: Strengthen defence
partnership through enhanced interoperability, jointness, and
exchange of special operations tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
4. COAS General Upendra Dwivedi Flags In Bharat RanBhoomi
Darshan Expedition at National War Memorial : General
Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), formally flagged in
the Bharat RanBhoomi Darshan Expedition at the National War
Memorial, New Delhi, on 25 February 2026.The 3,400-kilometre SUV
expedition, led by the Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery, traversed
historic battlefields, forward areas, and border regions of Gujarat and
Rajasthan before concluding in the national capital.The journey highlighted
enhanced border connectivity and infrastructure, reinforced national
integration, and served as a meaningful outreach to Veer Naris, veterans,
youth, and border communities.
SPORTS
1. Tomas Martin Etcheverry Clinches Maiden ATP Title at
Rio Open: Tomas Martin Etcheverry won his maiden ATP Tour
title at the ATP 500 Rio Open, defeating Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4
in the final, despite playing two matches in one day due to rain delays.The
26-year-old Argentine secured his first ATP crown after three previous
runner-up finishes and also recorded his 100th tour-level match win, improving
his head-to-head record against Tabilo to 2-0. With the victory, Etcheverry
climbed 18 places to World No. 33, re-entering the Top 40; in men’s doubles,
Joao Fonseca and Felipe Melo won the title, marking Fonseca’s first home trophy
and Melo’s second consecutive title.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. MoEFCC to Host ‘Him-CONNECT’ in New Delhi to Promote
Sustainable Innovations in the Indian Himalayan Region: The Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will organise ‘Him-CONNECT’ in
New Delhi as part of TERI’s World Sustainable Development Summit.Him-CONNECT
aims to connect researchers from the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) with
start-ups, investors, and policymakers to promote scaling and real-world
implementation of research outcomes.Over 24 technologies, prototypes, patents,
and pilot projects developed under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies
will be showcased, with participation from more than 100 start-ups, incubators,
investors, and policymakers.
2. 5th National MSME Council Meeting Reviews RAMP
Programme Progress; Union Minister Launches Udyami Bharat Portal and MSME
Technology Transfer Platform: The Ministry of Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) convened the 5th
meeting of the National MSME Council on 24 February
2026 at NASC Complex, PUSA Road, New Delhi.The Council serves as the
key administrative and functional body for the World Bank-supported RAMP
Programme, overseeing inter-ministerial coordination, Centre-State
collaboration, and monitoring of MSME sector reforms.During the
meeting, Hon’ble Union Minister launched two major digital
initiatives: the Udyami Bharat Portal (UBP) — a unified one-stop shop
for MSME services — and the MSME Technology Transfer Platform
(MTTP) — designed to provide MSMEs with access to advanced technologies,
testing, skilling, and IP commercialization.
3. TEC and IIT Kharagpur Sign MoU to Advance Joint
Research and India’s Role in 6G, NTN, and Telecom Standardization: The Telecommunication
Engineering Centre (TEC), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT),
Government of India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with IIT Kharagpur to strengthen collaboration on advanced
telecom technologies, joint studies, and active contributions to global
standardization.The partnership focuses on developing India-specific
standards and solutions for next-generation networks, particularly 6G, Optical
communication, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), and other emerging
technologies.It aims to enhance India’s technical leadership and influence in
international forums such as the ITU-T (International
Telecommunication Union – Standardization Sector) and other global standards
bodies.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. PhonePe launches AI-powered search built using
Microsoft Foundry: PhonePe launches an AI-powered natural
language search feature built using Microsoft Foundry, allowing
users to perform tasks via text or voice commands.The feature uses intent-based
routing to replace traditional navigation, directly guiding users to their
desired actions, such as payments, purchases, or support.Using a hybrid model
of on-device and cloud processing, the system ensures security and privacy,
keeping all personal and transactional data within the PhonePe
environment.Founder, Whole-time Director & CTO of PhonePe – Rahul Chari
2. India’s GDP growth to ease to 7.2% in Q3FY26: ICRA: ICRA has
projected India’s GDP growth to moderate to 7.2% in Q3 FY2025-26, down
from 8.2% in Q2 FY2025-26, indicating a slowdown in overall economic
momentum.The moderation is mainly due to slower growth in the services sector
(7.8% vs 9.2%) and the agriculture sector (3.0% vs 3.5%) compared to the
previous quarter.
Despite the slowdown, the
industrial sector recorded a six-quarter high growth of 8.3% in Q3, improving
from 7.7% in Q2, partially offsetting the weaker performance in other sectors.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. PM Narendra Modi Becomes Rare Global Leader Honoured with Top Civilian Awards from Both Israel and Palestine: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred the Speaker of the Knesset Medal — the highest honour of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) — on 26 February 2026, making him the first world leader to receive this distinction.The award recognises PM Modi’s personal leadership in significantly strengthening strategic, defence, technology, and economic ties between India and Israel.This honour follows PM Modi’s earlier receipt of the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine in 2018 — the highest Palestinian civilian award given to foreign leaders — highlighting his unique position as a statesman respected by both sides in one of the world’s most complex geopolitical conflicts.Significance: The Speaker of the Knesset Medal is the Knesset’s highest honour, rarely awarded and reserved for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Israel or to Israel’s international relations. First recipient: PM Modi is the first-ever leader to be bestowed this medal. Citation: Awarded in recognition of his “exceptional contribution through personal leadership” to deepening and expanding the India–Israel strategic partnership.
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