Daily Current Affairs: 1 March 2026

T K Oommen Passes Away as Renowned Sociologist and Padma Bhushan Awardee

Key Updates:

• Renowned sociologist, writer, and former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor T K Oommen passed away in Gurugram, Haryana, at the age of 88 on 27 February 2026.
• He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in 2008.
• He served as a member of the Sachar Committee, which was appointed to study the social, economic, and educational status of Muslim communities.
• Oommen was the chairman of the advisory committee of the Gujarat Harmony Project, aimed at rebuilding Hindu-Muslim harmony after the 2002 riots.
• He served as the 12th President of the International Sociological Association (ISA).
• In 2007, he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus at JNU.
• He served as a University Grants Commission (UGC) National Sociology Lecturer and worked as a visiting professor at the University of California and Berkeley in the USA.
• He completed his BA in Economics from the University of Kerala in 1957 and his MA in Sociology from the University of Pune in 1960, followed by a PhD in 1965.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Records India's Forex Reserves Drop to $723.61 Billion

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

• India's Foreign Exchange (Forex) reserves decreased by $2.119 billion to stand at $723.608 billion for the week ending 20 February 2026.
• The reserves had reached an all-time high of $725.727 billion in the preceding reporting week following an increase of $8.663 billion.
• The Indian Steel Association (ISA) reported that India could achieve a 28% reduction in carbon emissions within the steel industry by utilizing scrap.
• Warner Bros signed a $110 billion deal with Paramount after Netflix withdrew its competing bid.
• Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) acquired assets from Macquarie AirFinance for a total value of $7 billion.
• Sri Lanka's construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to a level of 75 during the month of January.
• Pakistan's central bank recorded a $16 million increase in its foreign exchange reserves.
• Russia's recoverable oil reserves are currently estimated at 31 billion tons.
• China has abolished the risk reserve requirement ratio for forward foreign exchange sales.
• Metal Park has entered into a partnership with Frindt to digitise laser cutting operations.
• Kametstal paid approximately UAH 2 billion in taxes during the year 2025.
• Murat Ateş was appointed as the Deputy General Manager of Operations at Acarlar Vagon.
• The level of gas reserves at the Inchukalna underground storage facility has fallen below 20%.
• Shanxi Gaoyi Steel successfully completed the hot commissioning test for its 1200mm full continuous wide strip rolling line.
• The Slovak prime minister stated that Ukraine has no interest in resuming oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.

Government data shows India’s April-January fiscal deficit at ₹9.81 lakh crore, 63% of FY26 target

Key Updates:

• India’s fiscal deficit for April-January stood at ₹9.81 lakh crore, 63% of the 2025-26 budget estimate.
• The deficit narrowed from 74.5% recorded in the same period of the previous year.
• Total receipts during April-January were ₹27.09 lakh crore, 79.5% of the budget target.
• Total expenditure for April-January was ₹36.90 lakh crore, 74.3% of the budget target.
• Tax revenue receipts were ₹20.94 lakh crore, 78.3% of the budget estimate.
• Non-tax revenue receipts were ₹5.57 lakh crore, 83.5% of the budget estimate.
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a dividend of ₹2.69 lakh crore to the central government, up from ₹2.11 lakh crore last year.
• Revenue deficit was ₹1.96 lakh crore, 37.3% of the fiscal year’s budget target.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set the fiscal deficit target for 2025-26 at 4.4% of GDP.
• The fiscal deficit target for 2026-27 was set at 4.3% of GDP.
• Expenditure on major subsidies (food, fertilisers, petroleum) was ₹3.55 lakh crore, 83% of the revised annual aim.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) revises GDP base year to 2022-23 and lifts FY26 growth estimate to 7.6%

[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)]

Key Updates:

• India’s Q3 FY26 GDP growth slowed to 7.8% from the preceding quarter’s 8.4%.
• The new GDP series uses 2022-23 as its base year, replacing the earlier 2011-12 series.
• MoSPI’s second advance estimate pegs FY26 GDP growth at 7.6%, up from the first advance estimate of 7.4%.
• Manufacturing posted double-digit growth in FY2023-24 and FY2025-26.
• The ‘Trade, Repair, Hotels, Transport, Communication & Services related to Broadcasting and Storage’ segment grew 10.1% in FY2025-26.
• Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) each rose over 7% in FY2025-26.
• The series adopts double deflation for agriculture and manufacturing to improve real value-added measurement.
• Proportional Denton Benchmarking replaces the pro-rata method for quarterly national accounts to align quarterly and annual estimates.

Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) launches world's first Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered Sovereign Financial Cloud

[Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE)]

Key Updates:

• The CBUAE has launched the Sovereign Financial Cloud Services Infrastructure (SFCSI), the world’s first sovereign financial cloud for the nation’s financial sector.
• The SFCSI was developed in partnership with Core42, which is a subsidiary of the AI and technology group G42.
• The SFCSI is built on a fully isolated and centralised system to ensure data sovereignty within the legal and security perimeter of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The platform integrates advanced AI and real-time analytics to automate operational processes and enhance risk management for licensed financial institutions.
• The SFCSI provides a unified multi-cloud management framework for institutions to manage private and hybrid cloud environments seamlessly.
• The CBUAE initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign systems and strengthen the resilience of the financial sector against cyber-attacks and fraud.

Ministry of Power (MoP) records historic 52,537 MW power capacity addition in FY 2025–26

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Power (MoP) reported a record addition of 52,537 MW in power generation capacity during the financial year 2025–26 up to 31 January 2026.
• The current addition represents a growth of more than 11 per cent in the total installed capacity and surpasses the previous record of 34,054 MW set in FY 2024–25.
• Renewable energy sources accounted for 39,657 MW of the total capacity added, including 34,955 MW from solar power and 4,613 MW from wind power.
• India’s total installed power generation capacity reached 520,510.95 MW as of 31 January 2026.
• Non-fossil fuel sources now form the larger share of the total capacity base at 271,969.33 MW, while fossil fuel-based plants account for 248,541.62 MW.
• The non-fossil fuel category comprises 263,189.33 MW from renewable energy sources and 8,780 MW from nuclear power.

Three inland waterways projects on Brahmaputra inaugurated

[Dibrugarh]

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three projects on National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) on 27 February 2026 at Chowkidingee Playground, Dibrugarh.
• The projects comprise the Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel, the Customs and Immigration Complex at Dhubri, and the renovated Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at Dibrugarh.
• The Bogibeel complex integrates customs, immigration and IWAI administrative functions within a single tourist-cum-cargo terminal to facilitate trade under Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes.
• The Dhubri complex is positioned as a strategic gateway for cross-border commerce with Bangladesh and Bhutan in western Assam.
• Under the National Waterways Act 2016, twenty rivers in the Northeast have been declared National Waterways, with Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31) and Kopili (NW-57) being actively developed.

UN Road Safety Fund project launched in Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Assam

[Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, United Nations (UN)]

Key Updates:

• United Nations (UN) launched a road safety financing project in partnership with Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Assam on 24 February 2026.
• The project is funded by the UN Road Safety Fund and coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.
• It aims to build national and sub-national capacities for implementing road safety action plans and reducing road fatalities and serious injuries leading to disabilities.
• The initiative targets a 50% reduction in road traffic deaths by 2030 under the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
• Jean Todt, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, stated that India records 600 daily deaths from road crashes, costing an estimated 7% of GDP according to the World Bank.

Nationwide HPV Vaccination Drive for 14-year-old girls launched

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls from Ajmer, Rajasthan.
• The campaign uses a single-dose 'Gardasil 4' quadrivalent HPV vaccine.
• The vaccine protects against HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11.
• The Union Health Ministry directed all states on 25 February to administer the vaccine at government health facilities including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Community Health Centres, sub-district and district hospitals, and government medical colleges and hospitals.

Rajasthan Government Renames Mount Abu, Kaman, and Jahazpur to Abu Raj, Kamvan, and Yagyapur

Key Updates:

• Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM) Bhajan Lal Sharma announced the renaming of three historic destinations during Assembly discussions on the Finance Bill.
• Mount Abu, the only hill station in the state located in the Aravalli range at an elevation of 1,722 metres, has been renamed Abu Raj.
• The town of Kaman, situated in the Bharatpur district and linked to the Braj religious heritage, is officially renamed Kamvan.
• Jahazpur, located in the Bhilwara district and known for its ancient fort and Rajput-era ruins, has been renamed Yagyapur.
• The renaming initiative is aimed at preserving cultural heritage and emphasising indigenous and historical identity over colonial-era nomenclature.
• The changes will be reflected in future official maps, signboards, tourism materials, and railway announcements.

Sanjay Seth inaugurates restored Taram Chu Bridge and Chungthang-Lachen axis in Sikkim

Key Updates:

• The Minister of State for Defence (MoS), Sanjay Seth, inaugurated the restored 400-foot Bailey Suspension Bridge at Taram Chu and the 28 km-long Chungthang–Lachen road in North Sikkim on 26 February 2026.
• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored the critical Lachen Axis following damages from the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) of October 2023, Cyclone Remal in June 2024, and cloud bursts in 2025.
• Project Swastik of the BRO, led by Brigadier Amit Sakhre, cleared 96 landslides, constructed four major bridges, and performed eight kilometres of fresh formation cutting to restore the lines of communication.
• The BRO previously opened the 7.5 km Naga-Toong stretch in October 2025 as part of the efforts to enhance connectivity in the disaster-hit region.
• The restoration of these assets supports the Atmanirbhar Sikkim- Viksit Bharat Vision aimed at regional development and security.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launches first State Innovation Mission (SIM) in Tripura to strengthen State-led innovation ecosystem

Key Updates:

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog launched the first State Innovation Mission (SIM) in Tripura at the Hapania International Exhibition Centre in Agartala.
• SIM is part of the approved AIM 2.0 programme under NITI Aayog’s State Support Mission (SSM) and will be institutionalised under the Tripura Institution for Transformation (TIFT).
• T-NEST (Tripura – Nurturing Entrepreneurship and Startups), a dedicated incubation and innovation facility, was inaugurated to incubate startups and promote Make from Tripura solutions.
• Innovation Centres will be created in each of Tripura’s 8 districts and linked to T-NEST to promote innovation among women and tribal communities.
• Tripura launched one of India’s first District Innovator Fellowships (DIF) to identify and nurture grassroots innovators with structured lifecycle support.
• Tripura will formulate a State AI Policy aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of responsible and inclusive AI and establish an AI City in Agartala with support from global technology enablers.
• SIM will support Tripura in strengthening innovation education and entrepreneurial exposure from the school level and enable startups to access infrastructure, mentorship, and funding support.

Tripura Government launches T-NEST Innovation Hub in Agartala

[Tripura]

Key Updates:

• The Government of Tripura launched T-NEST, the state’s flagship incubation and innovation hub, at the International Trade Centre in Agartala.
• The hub was inaugurated by Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh, Tripura Chief Minister (CM) Dr. Manik Saha, and Information Technology (IT) Minister Pranajit Singha Roy.
• T-NEST will serve as the operational backbone for Startup Tripura and the State Innovation Mission, acting as a single-window platform for entrepreneurs.
• The initiative focuses on priority sectors including agri-technology, bamboo and forest-based enterprises, tourism innovation, health technology, digital public services, and rural enterprise solutions.
• The hub introduces a Government-as-First-Customer model, allowing startups to pilot and validate solutions by addressing real-world challenges presented by government departments.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with T-Hub to facilitate knowledge exchange, mentorship, and market access for the state's entrepreneurial framework.
• Future developments include the establishment of a Modern Incubation and Innovation Park at Chandmari and the Tripura IT & Data Economic Zone (TIDEZ).

Assam Government Launches Mission Basundhara 3.0 for Land Patta Distribution

[Assam]

Key Updates:

• Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched Mission Basundhara 3.0 at Deuri Beel in Dhemaji to provide land titles to indigenous landless families.
• A total of 1,06,905 beneficiaries across Assam received land pattas during the launch, with 44,700 individuals belonging to the Dhemaji district.
• In Dhemaji, land titles were distributed to 14,319 beneficiaries from Dhemaji constituency, 10,744 from Sissiborgaon, and 19,637 from Jonai.
• Land pattas were granted to 13,637 educational institutions, 8,406 religious institutions, and 2,213 clubs and cultural organisations across the state.
• Land settlement was initiated in 769 previously un-surveyed (NC) villages where surveys were completed under the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme.
• Forest land rights were granted to 538 individuals in the Subansiri and Jiadhal Reserved Forests under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
• The government fixed a nominal premium of ₹500 per bigha for granting land titles to poor families.
• The CM inaugurated a newly constructed Integrated District Commissioner (DC) Office in Dhemaji, involving a financial outlay of ₹49 crore.
• Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is scheduled to formally launch the distribution of land pattas to tea garden workers on 13 March.
• Urban land holding regulations in Dhemaji were revised to allow individuals to hold up to three bighas within the designated town area, up from the previous limit of one and a half kathas.
• Land rights were granted to Ahom, Chutia, and other communities residing in Tribal Belts and Blocks in areas such as Dhemaji and Dhakuakhana.
• Mission Basundhara 4.0 and 5.0 will address land reclassification and the granting of land titles to eligible non-tribal residents of forest villages.
• The state government has cleared 1.5 lakh bighas of encroached land over the past five years and aims to free another 5 lakh bighas in the future.

Tripura to pilot Nari Adalat scheme in 10 gram panchayats across 8 districts

[Tripura]

Key Updates:

• Tripura council of ministers approved rollout of the central government’s Nari Adalat scheme as a pilot in 10 selected gram panchayats.
• Scheme spearheaded by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) to function as panchayat-level arbitration forum for violence, abuse and atrocities against women.
• Each Nari Adalat committee will comprise up to nine members chosen for community reputation and standing to support and counsel women in adversity.
• Pilot covers gram panchayats from all eight districts of Tripura with village-level courts as local justice and dispute-resolution platforms for women.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Inaugurates Three Infrastructure Projects on National Waterway-2

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three major inland waterways infrastructure projects on National Waterway-2 (NW-2) on the River Brahmaputra.
• The three projects comprise the Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel, the Customs and Immigration Complex at Dhubri, and the renovated Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at Dibrugarh.
• The Bogibeel complex serves as a modern tourist-cum-cargo terminal designed to improve operational efficiency and facilitate trade under the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes.
• The Dhubri complex is designed to enhance regulatory oversight and boost export-import operations with Bangladesh and Bhutan in western Assam.
• The renovated Heritage Building at Dibrugarh will serve the administrative needs of the IWAI and promote riverine tourism.
• Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, twenty rivers in the Northeast have been declared National Waterways, including NW-2 (Brahmaputra), NW-16 (Barak), NW-31 (Dhansiri), and NW-57 (Kopili).

Telangana Police launch 'Operation Crackdown' to dismantle cybercrime network

[Telangana]

Key Updates:

• Telangana Police launched 'Operation Crackdown' on 25 February 2026 to break cybercrime networks across the state.
• Conceived by Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), the operation will run over the next few months in collaboration with Districts and Commissionerates.
• First phase targeted 1,888 suspected mule bank accounts opened in 137 bank branches spread across 16 districts/units of Telangana.
• Data analysis by TGCSB revealed 4,775 mule accounts operated in the state during 2025.
• These accounts are linked to 9,431 crime links nationwide, including 782 within Telangana.
• A total of 137 police teams comprising 512 officers visited the 137 bank branches to collect KYC details of suspicious account holders.
• One account in Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad, was linked to 496 crime complaints, while four branches in Suryapet District held 298 such accounts.
• Smaller banks lacking RTGS capability were found using national banks' RTGS for fund transfers without proper verification, a gap exploited by cyber criminals.
• Verification, financial-trail analysis, profiling, and strict legal action will continue under Operation Crackdown.

Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth Inaugurates 400-foot Taram Chu Bridge in North Sikkim

[Sikkim]

Key Updates:

• Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth inaugurated the restored 28-km Chungthang–Lachen road and a 400-foot Bailey Suspension Taram Chu Bridge in North Sikkim.
• The reconstruction was executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Swastik to restore critical Lines of Communication (LoC).
• The restoration follows damage caused by the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), Cyclone Remal in June 2024, and cloudbursts in May–June 2025.
• The BRO cleared 96 landslides, constructed four major bridges, repaired two bridges, and completed eight kilometres of fresh formation cutting during the drive.
• The initiative aligns with the Atmanirbhar Sikkim – Viksit Bharat Vision aimed at enhancing infrastructure resilience and economic growth in Sikkim.
• The 7.5 km Naga–Toong stretch was previously reopened in October 2025 as part of the same restoration effort.

Indian Air Force conducts Exercise Vayu Shakti 2026 at Pokhran Field Firing Range

Key Updates:

• Exercise Vayu Shakti 2026 was held at the Pokhran Field Firing Range with President Droupadi Murmu as Chief Guest.
• The theme of the exercise was 'From Inception to Execution'.
• A total of 77 aircraft including Rafale, Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, C-17, C-130J, IL-76, IL-78, AN-32 and Embraer participated.
• Indigenous systems Akash and SPYDER air defence systems successfully neutralised simulated aerial threats.
• Chinook helicopters airlifted M-777 Ultra-Light Howitzers in underslung mode for the first time.
• Approximately 120 tonnes of ordnance were delivered over a two-square-kilometre area in three hours.
• A first-ever drone show depicted India’s map, Air Force formations, 1965 Sargodha strike, Kargil’s Tiger Hill bombing, Balakot air strike and Operation Sindoor.

Israel deploys multi-layered missile defence umbrella against Iranian threat

[Israel, Iran]

Key Updates:

• Israel’s long-range Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors engage targets inside and outside the atmosphere and are developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) with Boeing producing the interceptors.
• David's Sling mid-range system, developed jointly by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and RTX Corp, intercepts ballistic missiles fired from 100–200 km as well as aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.
• Short-range Iron Dome, operational since 2011, uses radar-guided missiles to destroy rockets, mortars and drones in mid-air and determines whether a rocket will hit a populated area before engaging.
• A naval version of Iron Dome was deployed in 2017 to protect ships and sea-based assets.
• Ground-based high-power laser system Iron Beam, developed for over a decade and declared fully operational in late 2025, intercepts UAVs and mortars at lower cost than missile-based interceptors.
• United States (US) military deployed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to Israel in October 2024 to intercept short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase.
• US ground-based systems and a US Navy destroyer in the Eastern Mediterranean helped shoot down Iranian missiles fired at Israel in June 2025.
• Israeli combat helicopters and fighter jets have fired air-to-air missiles to destroy drones heading toward Israel.

India to evaluate Israeli 'Sky Sting' long-range BVRAAM during PM Modi visit to Israel

[Israel]

Key Updates:

• India is likely to advance discussions on procuring the Israeli-origin 'Sky Sting' long-range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel on Wednesday.
• The Sky Sting missile, with an engagement envelope of around 250 km, is pitched to plug a critical gap in the Indian Air Force's long-range air combat capability.
• The proposal is likely to follow a phased route, with an initial off-the-shelf acquisition followed by localised production with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.
• The system will undergo trials and integration validation before induction and operationalisation.
• Israel has been pitching the missile for integration on the Tejas Mk1A, with the initial tranche equipped with the Israeli ELM-2052 AESA radar.
• HAL's delivery delays of the Tejas Mk1A are partly due to integration challenges of the radar with the indigenous Astra BVRAAM.
• The Sky Sting, unveiled around three years ago, is under development and has not yet been inducted into operational service.
• India already operates Rafael-origin systems including the I-Derby ER and Python-5 air-to-air missiles, the SPYDER air defence system, and precision strike weapons such as SPICE and Rampage.
• India is a key partner in the development of the Barak-8 air defence system deployed across the three services.
• The IAF's current BVRAAM inventory includes the indigenous Astra Mk1 with a range of around 110 km, produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
• The Astra Mk2 is under development to extend range beyond 200 km, and the Astra Mk3, based on solid fuel ducted ramjet technology, is projected to reach 350 km.
• The IAF also operates Russian-origin R-77 missiles on its Su-30MKI fleet, alongside the Meteor with range exceeding 200 km, the MICA with range up to 80 km, and the I-Derby ER.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently inked between the Indian and Israeli defence ministries ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to move towards co-development and co-production of next-generation systems.

DRDO successfully completes three VSHORADS flight-trials in Chandipur, Odisha

[Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)]

Key Updates:

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted three flight-trials of the indigenously developed VSHORADS (Very Short-Range Air Defence System) from Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
• VSHORADS is a man-portable air defence system designed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.
• The missile system is intended to meet the requirements of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• All missiles intercepted and destroyed high-speed aerial targets mimicking enemy aircraft in various threat scenarios.
• Tests were carried out in final deployment configuration with target acquisition and missile firing by field operators.
• Flight data collected by Telemetry, Electro-Optical Tracking System, and Radars at ITR, Chandipur, confirmed VSHORADS effectiveness against a broad spectrum of aerial threats.
• User validation trials were witnessed by Joint Forces representatives and senior DRDO and industry officials.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Armed Forces, and industry, stating the system can soon be inducted.

UN issues first carbon credits under Paris Agreement for Myanmar clean-cooking project

[United Nations (UN), Paris Agreement]

Key Updates:

• The United Nations (UN) has approved the first credits under the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM).
• The credited project is a clean cooking initiative in Myanmar that distributes efficient biomass cookstoves, implemented with a South Korean company.
• Generated credits will count towards the climate targets of South Korea and Myanmar.
• UN Climate Change states the credited emissions reductions are 40 percent lower than under the previous scheme due to more conservative calculations.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates over two billion people globally use open fires or inefficient stoves fuelled by kerosene, coal, or biomass.
• Only 78 percent of the global population is expected to have access to clean cooking by 2030 at current rates.

PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Micron Technology ATMP plant in Sanand

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) plant of Micron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt. Ltd. (Micron) in Sanand, Gujarat, on 28 February 2026.
• The project involves a total investment of ₹22,516 crore and is expected to create 5,000 direct employment opportunities.
• The facility will manufacture Solid State Drive (SSD) storage devices as well as Random Access Memory (RAM) products, specifically Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and NAND.
• The plant will receive advanced DRAM and NAND wafers from global factories and convert them into finished memory products for the global market.
• The technical operations at the ATMP facility include chip assembly, performance testing for speed and memory capacity, marking, and final packaging.
• The facility currently employs 2,000 people and includes specially-abled citizens serving as operators and technicians.

National Science Day 2026 Theme Announced as 'Women in Science: Catalyzing Viksit Bharat' by Department of Science and Technology (DST)

[Department of Science and Technology (DST)]

Key Updates:

• National Science Day is observed on 28 February every year to commemorate C. V. Raman’s 1928 discovery of the Raman Effect.
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, declared the 2026 theme as 'Women in Science: Catalyzing Viksit Bharat'.
• Raman’s discovery earned him the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics, making him the first Asian scientist to win a Nobel in science.
• The national-level celebration will be hosted at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi under the 2026 theme.

World’s Oldest Rock Art Discovered in Sulawesi, Indonesia

[Indonesia]

Key Updates:

• Scientists have identified a 67,800-year-old hand stencil in Sulawesi, Indonesia, as the world’s oldest known example of rock art.
• The discovery was made by an international team co-led by Griffith University, Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and Southern Cross University.
• The artwork was located in the Liang Metanduno cave on the island of Muna and was dated using advanced uranium-series dating of mineral layers.
• The stencil represents a rare variation of the hand motif where the finger outlines were intentionally narrowed to create a claw-like appearance.
• The find supports the long chronology model of human migration, suggesting that ancestors of the First Australians reached the Sahul supercontinent at least 65,000 years ago.
• Evidence indicates that painting activity in the Muna cave was a longstanding tradition that continued for at least 35,000 years, lasting until around 20,000 years ago.
• The research provides direct evidence for the presence of modern humans along the northern migration route through Sulawesi and the Spice Islands into Sahul.

University of Reading study shows lethal moist heatwaves during southwest monsoon can be predicted weeks in advance

[University of Reading]

Key Updates:

• Moist heatwaves occur when high temperature combines with high humidity, preventing sweat evaporation and raising risk of fatal heatstroke within hours.
• University of Reading (UoR) scientists analysed 1940-2023 weather data and found timings and locations of moist heatwaves align with active and break phases of the southwest monsoon (SWM).
• During active SWM phase, northern plains and central India receiving rainfall face moist heatwave risk; during break phases the risk shifts to southern and eastern India.
• The large-scale weather pattern governing these events is the Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation, a 30-90 day pattern of storm movement between Indian and western Pacific Oceans from June to September.
• Forecast lead time for moist heatwaves is two to four weeks, with heatwave occurrence over northern India rising 125% above normal during a specific phase of this pattern.
• Globally accepted human survivability wet bulb temperature limit is 35°C, but November 2023 Nature Communications paper revised limits to 25.8-34.1°C for younger adults and 21.9-33.7°C for older adults.
• Between 1940 and 2023 there were 188 monsoon break periods and 261 active phases, with breaks influenced by dry desert winds from the west.

DST-backed Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) develops ghee-based biosurfactant with antibacterial action

[Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST)]

Key Updates:

• The Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), an institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), synthesised a lipopeptide biosurfactant using probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum JBC5.
• Ghee served as the lipid substrate for biosurfactant production, and optimisation employed response surface statistical analysis.
• The biosurfactant achieved a maximum emulsification index of 60% for edible oils and reduced surface tension comparably to conventional surfactants.
• It retained thermal stability up to 276°C and remained stable across a wide pH range.
• Laboratory tests showed effectiveness against Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen linked to skin infections and wound complications.
• When blended with commercial face washes, the compound improved stain-removal efficiency.
• Researchers are conducting toxicity assessments, dose standardisation studies, and industry collaborations to advance commercialisation.

ETH Zurich-led study finds Congo Basin peatland lakes emit millennia-old carbon

[ETH Zurich, Congo Basin]

Key Updates:

• ETH Zurich-led team reports in Nature Geoscience that large blackwater lakes Lac Mai Ndombe and Lac Tumba in the central Congo Basin are releasing ancient peat carbon.
• Radiocarbon dating shows up to 40 per cent of the CO₂ emitted from the lakes originates from peat accumulated over thousands of years.
• The Congo Basin peatlands cover 0.3 per cent of global land surface yet hold one third of all tropical peat carbon.
• Parallel work on Lake Mai Ndombe published in ESS Open Archive finds higher water levels enhance microbial methane breakdown, while lower dry-season levels increase methane emissions.
• Population growth and forest-to-cropland conversion in the Democratic Republic of Congo could lower lake levels and amplify greenhouse-gas release.

Rare Smew duck sighted for the first time in Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR) during 7th Waterbird Count

Key Updates:

• The Smew (Mergellus albellus), a rare diving duck, was recorded for the first time in the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR) during the 7th Waterbird Count.
• The sighting occurred at the Rowmari-Donduwa beels within the Laokhowa buffer zone of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Assam.
• A total of 105,540 waterbirds were recorded during the census, which was conducted in phases from 4 January to 11 January.
• The Smew is a winter migrant to India from the Eurasian taiga breeding grounds and is known to favour fish-rich, sheltered waters.
• The survey was a collaborative effort between the Kaziranga Park Authority and the Assam Bird Monitoring Network (ABMN).
• Kaziranga encompasses two Important Bird Areas (IBAs) recognised for their significance to waterbirds: Kaziranga National Park and the Laokhowa and Burhachapori wildlife sanctuaries.
• Previous sightings of the Smew in India have been recorded in Haiderpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP), in 2021 and earlier around Corbett.
• The Smew is globally abundant with a population of approximately 1.3 lakh mature individuals but is currently declining due to habitat loss.

Jammu and Kashmir beat Karnataka to clinch maiden Ranji Trophy title

[Jammu & Kashmir]

Key Updates:

• Jammu and Kashmir secured their first Ranji Trophy title by taking a 291-run first innings lead and ending the final in a draw against Karnataka at KSCA Stadium, Hubballi.
• Qamran Iqbal scored 160 not out and Sahil Lotra hit 101 not out in Jammu and Kashmir's second innings total of 342/4 on day five.
• Auqib Nabi took five wickets in the final, his seventh five-wicket haul of the season.
• Jammu and Kashmir had previously reached the quarterfinals in 2013-14, 2019-20 and 2024-25 seasons but never won the title until now.
• Skipper Paras Dogra became the second batter to surpass 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs during the season.

Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) names Wankhede Stadium stand after Ravi Shastri and gates after Dilip Sardesai, Diana Edulji, and Eknath Solkar.

[Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Wankhede Stadium]

Key Updates:

• Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced that Level 1 Stand below the Press Box at Wankhede Stadium will be named after former India captain and coach Ravi Shastri.
• Gate No. 3 of Wankhede Stadium will be named after Dilip Sardesai who played 30 Tests for India between 1960-61 and 1972-73.
• Gate No. 5 will be named after Diana Edulji who represented India in 20 Tests and 34 ODIs from 1976 to 1993.
• Gate No. 6 will be named after Eknath Solkar who featured in 27 Tests and 7 ODIs for India.

Goonj 2026 Youth Festival inaugurated at University of Jammu

[University of Jammu]

Key Updates:

• Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the two-day Goonj 2026 Youth Festival hosted by University of Jammu.
• The festival aims to offer a distinctive platform to youth from diverse disciplines to create one future.
• During the event, the Lieutenant Governor launched the podcast 'JU Vaachan' initiated by the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Jammu University.
• Padma Shri awardees Dr Jitendra Udhampuri, Dr SP Varma and Romalo Ram attended the inaugural ceremony.