Daily Current Affairs: 11 February 2026

Thanya Nathan C. set to become first visually challenged woman judge in Kerala.

[Kerala]

Key Updates:

• Thanya Nathan C. ranked first on the merit list of persons with benchmark disabilities in the Kerala Judicial Service examination for Civil Judges (Junior Division).
• Joyson Sajan, who has cerebral palsy, secured the second rank in the same list.
• A 2025 Supreme Court Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan ruled that visually impaired candidates are eligible for judicial service posts.
• The Kerala High Court has completed selection and forwarded the list to the State government for appointment letter issuance.
• Ms. Nathan, 24, had earlier secured first rank in her LLB examination from Kannur University.
• She began legal practice as a junior to K.G. Sunilkumar at Taliparamba in Kannur district.

Aditya Pandya became India's youngest male analog astronaut.

Key Updates:

• Aditya Pandya, 17, led hardware, IoT, and intelligence systems for AAKA Space Studio's lunar habitat simulation.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)-affiliated AAKA Space Studio conducted the mission from February 1 to 8 in Dholavira, Kutch.
• Pandya contributed to designing sensor modules, biometric systems, embedded hardware, and modular components during a six-month development phase.
• The four-member crew tested isolation, habitat living, and autonomous operations under Moon-like conditions using a digital twin framework for real-time monitoring.

MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary announces Scheduled Commercial Banks' Gross NPAs fall to record 2.15% in September 2025

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)]

Key Updates:

• Gross NPAs of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) for domestic operations declined to a historic low of 2.15% as of September 2025.
• Public sector banks (PSBs) recorded a gross NPA ratio of 2.50%, private sector banks 1.73%, and foreign banks 0.80% as on 30 September 2025.
• The slippage ratio for PSBs fell to 0.8% in September 2025, lower than the 1.8% recorded by private sector banks.
• Over 30,000 pre-admission cases involving defaults of ₹13.78 lakh crore were settled under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) as of March 2025.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiated the Asset Quality Review in 2015, followed by the government's 4R strategy: recognition, resolution, recapitalisation, and reforms.

Portulans Institute Ranks India 45th in Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025

Key Updates:

• India climbed four spots to secure the 45th rank globally in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025, released by the Portulans Institute.
• The country's overall score improved to 54.43 out of 100 in 2025, up from 53.63 recorded in 2024.
• The NRI 2025 evaluated 127 economies based on 53 indicators grouped under four pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact.
• India ranked first globally in annual investment in telecommunication services, Artificial Intelligence (AI) scientific publications, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) services exports, and e-commerce legislation.
• The report placed India second globally in fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and building internet subscriptions, mobile broadband internet traffic, and international internet bandwidth.
• India secured the third position globally in domestic market scale and income inequality metrics.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) approves USD 182 million loan for Assam flood management

[Asian Development Bank (ADB), Assam]

Key Updates:

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved USD 182 million in additional financing to strengthen Assam's resilience to chronic flooding and riverbank erosion along the Brahmaputra.
• The funding supplements the ongoing USD 200 million Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project approved in October 2023.
• The project will extend integrated risk management measures into four additional high-priority reaches of the Brahmaputra river.
• The initiative is expected to directly benefit approximately 600,000 rural residents, including poor households, women, and disadvantaged groups.
• Under the expanded scope, ADB will support the construction of 63.5 kilometres of riverbank protection and the installation of pro-siltation measures to reclaim eroded land.
• Nature-based solutions, including reed propagation and wetland restoration, will be implemented to reduce flooding and improve ecological resilience.
• The financing will enhance knowledge-based river management through flood risk maps, asset condition surveys, erosion prediction models, and early warning systems.
• The project includes community disaster preparedness programmes and the upgrading of disaster-resilient flood embankments.

Moody's Projects India Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth at 6.4% for FY27

[Moody’s]

Key Updates:

• Moody's (Moody's) forecasts India's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by 6.4% in Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY27).
• India is expected to record the fastest growth pace among the Group of Twenty (G-20) economies according to the ratings agency.
• The Economic Survey 2026 projects India's real GDP expansion to range between 6.8% and 7.2% for FY27.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised its growth projections for FY27 to 6.9% for the first quarter and 7.0% for the second quarter.
• Structural reforms including the rationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and income tax reductions are expected to boost domestic consumption.
• A trade agreement reached between India and the United States (US) in February 2026 is anticipated to improve conditions for export-linked Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Uttar Pradesh First Economic Survey: GSDP to touch Rs 36 lakh crore in 2025-26

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Uttar Pradesh tabled its first-ever Economic Survey in the Assembly on Monday.
• State’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) more than doubled from Rs 13.30 lakh crore in 2016-17 to Rs 30.25 lakh crore in 2024-25, registering a CAGR of 10.8%.
• Per capita income doubled from Rs 61,142 in 2016-17 to Rs 1,26,304 in 2024-25.
• State budget size rose from Rs 3.47 lakh crore in 2016-17 to Rs 8.33 lakh crore for 2025-26.
• Public debt-to-GSDP ratio declined to 28% in 2024-25 from 29.3% in 2016-17, staying within FRBM limits.
• Agriculture contributes 25.8%, industry 27.2%, and services 47% to the state’s GSDP.
• Over 3.22 lakh jobs generated under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.
• State signed MoUs worth over Rs 2.94 lakh crore at the World Economic Forum 2026 in sectors including data centres, renewable energy, defence manufacturing, and food processing.
• Exports more than doubled from Rs 0.84 lakh crore in 2016-17 to Rs 1.86 lakh crore in 2024-25.
• Ayushman Bharat covers 5.46 crore beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh.

SATYA Portal launched to digitise STQC certification services

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Jitin Prasada, inaugurated the STQC Lab Automation Portal – SATYA under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The SATYA portal provides a single, integrated, user-friendly digital platform for end-to-end automation of laboratory and certification processes of the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate.
• The portal reduces manual intervention, improves turnaround time, and enhances transparency across all stages of testing and certification.
• It lowers procedural and compliance burdens for startups and MSMEs, enabling quicker market entry for products meeting quality and security standards.
• SATYA aligns with Digital India, Minimum Government – Maximum Governance, and Ease of Doing Business initiatives.

Delhi govt–Bharat Taxi MoU for last-mile connectivity

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) signed an MoU with Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL), the cooperative arm of Bharat Taxi, to roll out technology-enabled taxi services across Delhi.
• The MoU was signed at the Delhi Secretariat in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra.
• Under the MoU, DTTDC will act as the tourism and branding partner and will upskill drivers in soft skills and Delhi’s culture, history, and heritage.
• Bharat Taxi, through STCL, will provide mobility services using its digital platform and cooperative driver network.
• The initiative will introduce curated taxi-based travel products for tourists, including two-hour, four-hour, and full-day sightseeing circuits covering major attractions in and around Delhi.
• The partnership will offer app-based booking, transparent pricing, no surge pricing, and standard safety protocols.
• Drivers under the cooperative ownership model retain a significantly higher share of their earnings and are stakeholders in the cooperative.

Gujarat Government and Starlink Sign Letter of Intent (LoI) for High-Speed Internet Connectivity

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

• The Gujarat Government signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (Starlink), a subsidiary of SpaceX, to enhance digital connectivity in remote and underserved areas.
• The LoI was exchanged in Gandhinagar by Industries Commissioner P. Swaroop and Head of Starlink India Prabhakar Jayakumar in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel.
• The initiative aims to provide high-speed satellite-based internet in remote, border, and tribal areas, specifically targeting Aspirational Districts such as Narmada and Dahod.
• A pilot project under the agreement plans to connect Common Service Centres (CSCs), e-Governance facilities, government schools, district disaster management control rooms, ports, and wildlife sanctuary areas.
• The LoI covers strengthening connectivity in Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) industrial parks, highway safety systems, maritime operations, and coastal police activities.
• The partnership will facilitate smart connectivity for education in state schools and tele-medicine services at Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
• A joint working group consisting of Starlink and state government officials will be formed to ensure the effective implementation of the LoI.

India and Seychelles Adopt SESEL Joint Vision and Announce USD 175 Million Economic Package

[Seychelles]

Key Updates:

• India and Seychelles adopted a comprehensive Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL) on 9 February 2026.
• The visit of Seychelles President Patrick Herminie coincides with the 50th anniversary of Seychelles' Independence and 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
• India announced a USD 175 million Special Economic Package for Seychelles, consisting of a USD 125 million Rupee-denominated Line of Credit and USD 50 million in grant assistance.
• Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed covering pharmacopoeial cooperation, meteorological collaboration, a Cultural Exchange Programme (2026-2030), digital transformation, maritime research, civil servant training, and food procurement.
• India will provide a gratis refit for the patrol ship PS Zoraster and gift 10 ambulances, 10 utility vehicles, and five Laser Radial class boats to the Seychelles Defence Force.
• The package includes the provision of 1,000 metric tonnes of grains and lentils and the establishment of a Seychelles Hydrographic Unit with Indian assistance.
• Seychelles has decided to become a full member of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC).
• President Patrick Herminie reaffirmed Seychelles' support for India's permanent membership in an expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• The partnership is framed under India's MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision for the Indian Ocean Region.
• India will support Seychelles in building Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and digitising governance systems, including digital payments and financial inclusion.

India and France to finalise ₹3,200 crore deal for SCALP cruise missiles

[France]

Key Updates:

• India and France are negotiating a defence deal worth approximately 300 million euros (₹3,200 crore) for the procurement of SCALP long-range cruise missiles for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• The SCALP missile, also known as Storm Shadow, is an air-launched cruise missile with a strike range exceeding 250 kilometres, designed for deep-penetration attacks against high-value targets.
• The IAF operationally deployed SCALP missiles during Operation Sindoor on 6-7 May to strike terrorist headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in Pakistan’s Muridke and Bahawalpur districts.
• Operation Sindoor involved the use of SCALP missiles alongside BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, HAMMER precision-guided bombs, and loitering munitions to target nine terror-linked sites.
• The IAF targeted 12 major air bases and destroyed high-value assets, including fighter jets and surveillance aircraft, during the cross-border precision strike.
• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is also in the process of ordering Meteor air-to-air missiles for the Rafale fleet, including the 26 Rafale Marine fighters ordered for the Indian Navy.
• The IAF is preparing a proposal for the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) to acquire 114 additional Rafale combat aircraft to increase its projected fleet strength to 200 aircraft over the next 15 years.
• The SCALP missile system uses a combination of Inertial Navigation, Global Positioning System (GPS), and terrain-reference navigation with an infrared imaging seeker for pinpoint accuracy.

India to Chair Kimberley Process (KP) for Global Diamond Governance in 2026

Key Updates:

• India has assumed the chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) for the year 2026 to lead reforms in the global diamond trade.
• The KP is a multinational mechanism designed to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds used by rebel groups to finance insurgencies against legitimate governments.
• The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was launched in 2003 and now comprises 60 participants representing 86 countries.
• The KP participants collectively account for approximately 99.8% of the total global production of rough diamonds.
• Six countries, namely Angola, Botswana, Canada, Congo, Namibia, and Russia, produce more than 85% of the world's rough diamonds by quantity and value.
• India is a major global hub for diamond cutting and polishing, centred in Surat and Mumbai, and imports 40% of the world's rough diamonds.
• India re-exports polished diamonds to key international markets including China, Hong Kong, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States.
• Proposed reforms under the chairmanship include the introduction of blockchain-based digital certificates and the establishment of regional technical hubs in Africa to provide Information Technology (IT) support.
• India aims to align the KP framework with Sustainable Development Goals such as decent work, poverty reduction, and responsible consumption.

French President Emmanuel Macron to visit India for AI Impact Summit and bilateral talks

[France]

Key Updates:

• French President Emmanuel Macron will pay an official visit to India from 17 February at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• During the three-day visit Macron will hold wide-ranging talks with PM Modi and attend the AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, in New Delhi.
• The leaders will discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple areas and exchange views on regional and global issues including Indo-Pacific cooperation under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
• PM Modi and President Macron will jointly inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai, aimed at deepening collaboration in innovation, technology, research and people-to-people exchanges throughout the year in both countries.
• The visit follows PM Modi’s visit to France in February 2025 and reflects the mutual trust and depth of the India-France Strategic Partnership.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) sign MoU to form shipbuilding consortium

[Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL)]

Key Updates:

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) signed an MoU in Kolkata on Monday to form a consortium for a national shipbuilding programme.
• The consortium will undertake construction of maritime platforms and support India’s maritime infrastructure and operational capability.
• The MoU was signed by Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding) at GRSE, and Capt Ganti Venkateswarlu, IN (Retd.), Officiating Chairman and Managing Director at HSL, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
• GRSE and HSL stated the consortium will leverage the strengths of both shipyards to expand indigenous shipbuilding capacity and contribute to technological self-reliance.

India named Country of the Year at BIOFACH 2026 in Germany

Key Updates:

• India has been designated as the Country of the Year at BIOFACH 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for organic products, to be held from February 10 to 13 in Nuremberg, Germany.
• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is organising India’s participation with a 1,074 square metre India Pavilion featuring 67 co-exhibitors.
• The pavilion will showcase organic rice, oilseeds, herbs, spices, pulses, cashew, ginger, turmeric, large cardamom, cinnamon, mango puree, and essential oils.
• Exhibitors from 20 states and Union Territories including Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand are participating.
• Five GI-tagged rice varieties—Indrayani, Navara, Gobindbhog, Red, and Chak Hao (Black rice)—will be served to highlight India’s heritage rice varieties.
• Live sampling of aromatic biryani prepared using premium organic basmati rice and spices will be organised at the India Pavilion.

Lancet Study Flags Inaccuracies in HbA1c Tests for Diabetes Diagnosis in India

Key Updates:

• A study published in The Lancet Regional Health found that glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) tests may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels, potentially misrepresenting India’s diabetes burden.
• The study indicates that conditions affecting hemoglobin quantity, structure, or lifespan, such as anemia, hemoglobinopathies, and red blood cell enzyme (G6PD) deficiency, can distort HbA1c values.
• Exclusive reliance on HbA1c could delay the diagnosis of Type-2 diabetes by up to four years in men with undetected G6PD deficiency.
• According to data from 2025 cited in the study, more than 50% of the population in some Indian regions are nutritionally challenged with widespread iron deficiency anemia.
• For low-resource settings, the researchers recommend the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) for diagnosis, involving two glucose values taken fasting and two hours after ingesting 75 gm of glucose.
• The study suggests Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) using glucose metres two to three times weekly, combined with basic hematologic screening, for monitoring in low-resource areas.
• In tertiary care settings, the framework suggests combining HbA1c with OGTT for diagnosis and using Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) with alternative markers like fructosamine for monitoring.

Wild Himalayan griffon vulture sighted in Maharashtra Melghat Tiger Reserve

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

• A wild Himalayan griffon vulture was sighted in the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, marking a significant milestone in vulture conservation.
• The vulture population in the region had experienced a sharp decline by 2004 due to the use of harmful Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
• The sighting follows collaborative conservation and rewilding initiatives between the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Maharashtra Forest Department.
• Captive-bred long-billed vultures were released into the wild earlier this year as part of the ongoing restoration programme.
• Technological tracking is being employed to monitor the survival and adaptation of the vultures in their natural habitat.

India ranks 2nd globally in enterprise AI usage; security risks loom

Key Updates:

• India ranks second only to the United States in enterprise AI/ML transactions according to Zscaler's ThreatLabz 2026 AI Security Report.
• Indian enterprises logged 82.3 billion AI/ML transactions between June and December 2025, accounting for 46.2 per cent of all AI activity in the Asia-Pacific region.
• The India AI Impact Summit 2026 will be held in New Delhi from 16–20 February and will host global tech leaders including NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.
• AI activity in India was led by the Technology & Communication sector with 31.3 billion transactions, followed by Manufacturing (15.7 billion), Services (12.6 billion), and Finance & Insurance (12.2 billion).
• Zscaler warns that enterprise AI systems tested under adversarial conditions show a median time to first critical failure of 16 minutes, with 90 per cent compromised in under 90 minutes.
• Globally, over 18,000 terabytes of data were funnelled into AI applications in 2025, with ChatGPT alone linked to 410 million Data Loss Prevention policy violations.

Researchers identify new dragonfly species Lyriothemis keralensis in Kerala

[Kerala]

Key Updates:

• Researchers have identified a new dragonfly species named Lyriothemis keralensis, commonly known as the Slender Bombardier, in the coastal regions of Kerala.
• The study was conducted by a team led by Dr Dattaprasad Sawant, Dr A Vivek Chandran, Renjith Jacob Mathews, and Dr Krushnamegh Kunte, and published in the International Journal of Odonatology.
• The species was first spotted in 2013 in the Varappetty area of Kothamangalam and was initially mistaken for Lyriothemis acigastra, also known as the Little Bloodtail.
• Lyriothemis keralensis measures approximately three centimetres in length and features a slimmer abdomen with a unique tail and genital structure.
• Male dragonflies of this species possess a deep blood-red abdomen with black markings, while females are broader with yellow and black colouring.
• The species thrives in human-modified irrigation landscapes such as pineapple and rubber plantations rather than protected forest areas.
• The dragonfly primarily inhabits shaded canals and seasonal pools within agricultural land and is typically active during the monsoon season.

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) signs three MoUs to strengthen drug safety

[Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC), Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC), Quality Council of India (QCI), HLL Infra Tech Services (HITES)]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with the Goa State Pharmacy Council (GSPC), Quality Council of India (QCI), and HLL Infra Tech Services Limited.
• The agreements aim to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems, enhance professional competencies, and promote uniform standards for medicine quality and patient safety across India.
• The MoU with the GSPC focuses on the professional development of pharmacists, promotion of the National Formulary of India, and strengthening adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting mechanisms.
• The collaboration with the GSPC supports the establishment of ADR Monitoring Centres and enhances systematic reporting and documentation practices across healthcare facilities.
• The IPC and the QCI will collaborate on quality promotion, public health awareness, and capacity building through joint training and awareness programmes in pharmacovigilance.
• Harsh Mangla, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, emphasised that the MoUs must translate into the achievement of objectives to improve primary and secondary healthcare.

Shikhar Dhawan appointed brand ambassador of Delhi Khel Mahakumbh by Delhi Government

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Shikhar Dhawan, former India cricketer and Arjuna Awardee, has been appointed as the brand ambassador of the inaugural Delhi Khel Mahakumbh.
• The Delhi Khel Mahakumbh is an initiative of the Directorate of Education and Sports, Government of NCT of Delhi.
• The event aims to strengthen grassroots sports participation and talent identification across Delhi.
• The inaugural edition will be held from February 13 across 16 venues in the capital.
• Sports included are basketball, football, athletics, kabaddi, wrestling, squash, and volleyball.
• Participation is expected from thousands of young athletes representing all 12 districts of Delhi.

Services beats Kerala in extra-time to lift eighth Santosh Trophy title

[Kerala, Assam]

Key Updates:

• Services defeated Kerala 1-0 in extra-time to win the Santosh Trophy 2025-26 final at Dhakuakhana Football Stadium in Assam.
• Abhishek Pawar scored the winning goal in the 109th minute of the match.
• Services received the winner’s trophy and a cheque of Rs 5 lakh, while Kerala received the runner-up trophy and Rs 3 lakh.
• This was Services’ eighth Santosh Trophy title and Kerala’s second consecutive final loss.

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 released by Transparency International

[Transparency International]

Key Updates:

• Transparency International released the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 covering 182 countries and territories.
• India improved its rank to 91st from 96th in the previous year.
• India’s CPI score rose by one point to 39 in 2025.
• The CPI scale ranges from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
• Denmark topped the index with 89 points, followed by Finland and Singapore.
• South Sudan and Somalia shared the lowest score of 9 points.
• The United States (US) was ranked 29th and the United Kingdom (UK) 20th.
• The report listed India among countries dangerous for journalists reporting on corruption.

National Deworming Day observed on February 10

Key Updates:

• National Deworming Day is observed in India annually on February 10, with a mop-up round conducted on August 10.
• The programme was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
• The initiative targets children and adolescents aged between one and 19 years through schools and Anganwadi centres.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends periodic mass deworming as a cost-effective preventive measure compared to individual screening.
• The programme utilises medicines such as Albendazole and Mebendazole to treat infections caused by roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm.
• According to the article, nearly 64 per cent of children in India are at risk of intestinal parasitic infections.
• Preventive deworming is recommended every six months in areas where worm infections are common, particularly for children up to 14 years of age.

World Pulses Day observed globally on February 10

Key Updates:

• World Pulses Day is celebrated annually on February 10 to highlight the importance of pulses in nutrition, food security, and sustainable agriculture.
• The United Nations (UN) first declared the observance of World Pulses Day in 2019.
• India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses globally.
• According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), pulses currently feed over 3 billion people worldwide.
• Pulses are defined as edible seeds from leguminous plants, including lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas, and pigeon peas.
• Pulses are known as the poor man's protein because they provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive animal-based proteins.
• These crops support environmental sustainability by naturally fixing nitrogen in the soil and requiring low amounts of water.