Daily Current Affairs: 24 February 2026

Shashi Tharoor received honorary Doctor of Letters from St Xavier's University.

[St Xavier's University]

Key Updates:

• Shashi Tharoor was conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters by St Xavier's University at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre.
• This was Tharoor's first honorary doctorate in India.
• Tharoor had earlier served as a convocation speaker at the university.
• He highlighted the role of women in academics and urged students to embrace civic responsibility.

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released coffee table book 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman' authored by Vijay Goel.

Key Updates:

• Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the coffee table book 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman' at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.
• The book is authored by Shri Vijay Goel and contains rare photographs, archival material and personal anecdotes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Shri Radhakrishnan served as a Member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha during Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister.
• The release event was attended by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, and Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti Vijay Goel.

Rob Jetten became Netherlands' youngest ever Prime Minister.

[Netherlands]

Key Updates:

• Rob Jetten, 38, was sworn in as the youngest and first openly gay Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
• Jetten leads a minority coalition of Democrats 66 (D66), People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA).
• The coalition agreement includes an extra €19 billion for defence and cuts in healthcare and benefits.
• D66 will provide seven ministers, VVD six, and CDA five, with three state secretaries each.
• Jetten succeeded Dick Schoof, who had overseen one of the shortest-lived Dutch governments.
• He was formally sworn in by King Willem-Alexander at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague.

Mukul Roy, Former Railway Minister, Passes Away at 71

Key Updates:

• Veteran politician and former Railway Minister Mukul Roy passed away at the age of 71 following a cardiac arrest in Kolkata.
• He was widely referred to as the Chanakya of Bengal politics and represented the Krishnanagar Uttar seat in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
• Roy served as the 32nd Railway Minister of India and was a two-time member of the Rajya Sabha representing West Bengal.
• He was one of the founding members of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) at the time of its formation in 1998.
• He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2017 and successfully contested the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections under the party banner.
• He held the portfolio of Railway Minister in 2011 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-2 government.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records India's forex reserves at $725.73 billion after $8.66 billion weekly rise.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

• India's foreign exchange reserves rose by $8.66 billion to a record $725.73 billion in the week ended 13 February 2026.
• Foreign currency assets increased by $3.55 billion to $573.60 billion during the week.
• Gold reserves surged by $4.99 billion to $128.47 billion on higher international gold prices.
• Special Drawing Rights rose by $0.10 billion to $18.92 billion.
• India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased by $0.02 billion to $4.73 billion.
• The latest reserve level surpassed the previous peak of $723.77 billion recorded in January 2026.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) commissions Tier IV-certified high-security data centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Odisha]

Key Updates:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has built a high-security data centre on an 18.55-acre campus at Info Valley-II, Khordha, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• The facility is RBI's second data centre; the Primary Data Centre is located in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.
• The Odisha site lies outside India's highest seismic-risk zones and away from western and northern borders, reducing exposure to cross-border missile or drone threats.
• The centre has achieved Tier IV certification for its design, ensuring the highest standards of reliability and performance.
• It will house core computing systems supporting RBI's currency management, payment and settlement operations, and regulatory data functions.
• As of 2025, RBI is also launching a pilot cloud facility with data centres in Mumbai and Hyderabad to provide local cloud storage to financial firms.

ICRA projects India’s GDP growth to moderate to 7.2% in Q3 FY26

[ICRA]

Key Updates:

• ICRA forecasts India’s YoY GDP growth at 7.2% in Q3 FY2025-26, down from 8.2% in Q2 FY2025-26.
• Services GVA growth eased to 7.8% in Q3 FY2025-26 from 9.2% in Q2 FY2025-26.
• Agriculture GVA growth slowed to 3.0% in Q3 FY2025-26 from 3.5% in Q2 FY2025-26.
• Industrial sector GVA hit a six-quarter high of 8.3% in Q3 FY2025-26 versus 7.7% in Q2 FY2025-26.
• Government of India’s gross capital expenditure contracted 23.4% YoY in Q3 FY2025-26 after 40.0% YoY growth in H1 FY2025-26.
• GoI’s gross capex fell to Rs. 2.1 trillion in Q3 FY2025-26 from Rs. 3.1 trillion in Q2 FY2025-26.
• Combined Central and state non-interest revenue expenditure rose marginally by 0.3% YoY in Q3 FY2025-26 against a 0.6% decline in Q2 FY2025-26.
• India’s services exports growth slowed to a seven-quarter low of 7.5% YoY in Q3 FY2025-26 at USD 111.2 billion.

Punjab launches 'Meri Rasoi' scheme to provide quarterly food kits to 40 lakh families

[Punjab]

Key Updates:

• Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the 'Meri Rasoi' scheme for 40 lakh families registered under the National Food Security Act.
• The scheme will distribute essential food kits quarterly through Markfed and the Department of Food and Civil Supplies.
• Each kit will contain pulses, sugar, iodised salt, turmeric, and mustard oil to address nutritional gaps beyond subsidised wheat.
• The first distribution round is scheduled for April with quality control measures in place.

10th Battalion of Assam Police Headquarters: 124-Bigha Modern Campus in Kamrup

[Assam Police, Kamrup]

Key Updates:

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the 10th Battalion of Assam Police headquarters in Kamrup, Assam, on 21 February 2026.
• The new headquarters will be constructed on a 124-bigha campus featuring barracks for 750 male and 450 female personnel, a hospital, and a training centre.
• The infrastructure project includes a firing range, a modern surveillance centre, and a large sports complex for the 10th Battalion of Assam Police.
• A proposed ₹27,000 crore semiconductor plant is being established in the state to promote industrial development in the North-East.
• The state government has provided land rights to 2.5 lakh landless indigenous people and reclaimed approximately 1.45 lakh bighas of land from encroachment.
• The Election Commission (EC) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to identify and remove the names of illegal entrants.
• The Home Minister cited the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) (IMDT) Act of 1983 as a previous legislative challenge to addressing infiltration.

Operation Demolishment targets over 200 Naxal memorials in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

[Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh]

Key Updates:

• Security forces demolished 203 Naxal memorials and monuments in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh under Operation Demolishment.
• Chhattisgarh recorded 149 demolitions from 2023 to 2026, with 130 razed in 2026 alone.
• Maharashtra reported 55 demolitions from 2023 to 2026, including 45 removed in 2026.
• Officials state the memorials were used by Naxal outfits for ideological outreach and recruitment in remote forested regions.
• Operation Demolishment is part of a broader counterinsurgency strategy to dismantle the military and ideological backbone of Naxalism.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) releases National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy (PRAHAAR)

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released the National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy, named PRAHAAR, to provide a comprehensive framework for preventing and mitigating terrorism.
• The strategy emphasizes intelligence-led operations, multi-agency coordination, and a zero-tolerance stance against terrorism while upholding human rights and the rule of law.
• The Multi Agency Centre (MAC) and the Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI) under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) serve as nodal platforms for real-time sharing of counter-terror inputs.
• The National Security Guard (NSG) functions as the nodal national counter-terror force under the MHA to assist state forces and enhance their operational capacities.
• Legal frameworks supporting the strategy include the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023.
• The policy identifies critical infrastructure for protection, including power, railways, aviation, ports, defence, space, and atomic energy.
• The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), in collaboration with state and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) training institutions, will conduct regular training for personnel.
• The strategy addresses the use of modern technology by terrorist groups, including encrypted communications, the dark web, cryptocurrency, and drones.

Badhna Hai Toh Yahan Judna Hai Campaign Launched to Promote Skill India Digital Hub

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) Jayant Chaudhary launched the nationwide awareness campaign Badhna Hai Toh Yahan Judna Hai on 23 February 2026.
• The campaign was introduced on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 to accelerate progress toward a Viksit Bharat through digital skilling.
• Actor Amitabh Bachchan has been brought on board to strengthen awareness and participation in the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), India's integrated platform for skilling and employment.
• The SIDH platform has already onboarded more than 1.5 crore registered candidates, emerging as one of the largest unified digital skilling platforms in the country.
• The mobile-first, AI-enabled platform offers industry-aligned courses and is available in more than 21 Indian languages to ensure inclusion and ease of access.
• Key features of SIDH include Aadhaar-based eKYC registration, OTP-enabled mobile access, QR-code-enabled personalised digital CVs, and digitally verified credentials.
• The campaign targets a diverse user base including youth, women, professionals, entrepreneurs, and differently-abled citizens to support the vision of Lifelong Learning for Prosperity.

Constitution of India released in Tamil and Gujarati on International Mother Language Day

Key Updates:

• Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released updated versions of the Constitution of India in Tamil and Gujarati at Uprashtrapati Bhavan on International Mother Language Day.
• The 8th Edition of the Legal Glossary (English–Hindi) was also released alongside the constitutional translations.
• In the past decade, the Constitution was officially translated for the first time into Bodo, Dogri and Santhali.
• Last year, the Constitution was released in Nepali for the Nepali-speaking population of India.
• The Legal Glossary aims to make legal terminology accessible to lawmakers, students, judicial officers, researchers, translators and policymakers.

Banglar Yuva Sathi Scheme 2026: West Bengal to provide ₹1,500 monthly allowance to unemployed youth

[West Bengal]

Key Updates:

• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the Banglar Yuva Sathi Scheme 2026 during the state interim budget to support unemployed youth.
• The scheme provides a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 to educated but unemployed individuals to serve as transitional financial support during job hunting.
• The official launch of the programme is scheduled for April 1, 2026, with applications accepted between February 15 and February 26, 2026.
• Eligible applicants must be permanent residents of West Bengal, aged between 21 and 40 years, and have passed at least the Class 10 (Secondary) examination.
• The Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) will facilitate applications through local camps in every assembly constituency and the official website (wbsportsandyouth.gov.in).
• Individuals receiving other state welfare financial assistance are ineligible, but scholarships like Aikyasree, Medhasree, Sikhasree, and the Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Scholarship are compatible.
• Required documents include a Class 10 pass certificate, Aadhaar or Voter ID, proof of residence, bank account details, and a recent passport-sized photograph.

Delhi CM launches CM Jan Sunwai Portal and app for integrated grievance redressal

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the CM Jan Sunwai Portal and mobile app for public grievance submission.
• Complaints can be registered via portal, app, call centre (1902), or offline through the Chief Minister’s Office.
• A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism—Grievance Redressal Officer, Appellate Authority, and Final Appellate Authority—has been implemented.
• Each complaint receives a unique reference ID and SMS updates at every stage.
• Negative feedback triggers automatic escalation to a higher authority.
• The system operates on 100% feedback-driven monitoring to ensure officer accountability.
• A secure, cloud-based e-admission portal for EWS, DG, and CWSN categories replaced the earlier outdated software.
• Aadhaar-based identity verification and digital birth-certificate verification are mandatory to prevent fraud.
• Income certificates will be verified through an integrated online system.
• Over 7,000 active Common Service Centre (CSC) centres across Delhi will deliver e-District services locally.
• The Delhi government is already providing 75 e-District services online, including income, caste, residence, birth and death certificates, and services related to social welfare, food and civil supplies, labour, and education.
• CM Pragati portal created the first comprehensive digital record of all Delhi government land and building assets.

Switzerland announces Geneva as host city for next AI Summit in 2027

[Geneva, Switzerland]

Key Updates:

• Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced that Switzerland will host the next AI Summit in Geneva in 2027.
• Parmelin is attending the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi along with around 20 global leaders.
• He stated that the summit will advance global dialogue on responsible AI use and its international governance and regulation.

India and United States commence 16th edition of Exercise Vajra Prahar 2026 in Himachal Pradesh

[United States, Himachal Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• The 16th edition of the bilateral Special Forces exercise, Vajra Prahar 2026, is being conducted between the Indian Army and the United States (U.S.) Army.
• The exercise is hosted at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS) in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.
• The exercise is conducted annually to enhance interoperability, operational coordination, and the exchange of advanced tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
• The 2026 edition focuses on counter-terrorism operations, precision strikes, intelligence-driven missions, and joint planning under simulated battlefield conditions.
• The drill aims to strengthen the strategic partnership and enhance the capability of Special Forces to operate in diverse environments.

India and Brazil sign critical minerals and rare earths cooperation agreement in New Delhi

[Brazil, New Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in New Delhi on Saturday.
• Both leaders signed an agreement to boost cooperation on critical minerals and rare earths.
• The agreement aims to reduce India's dependence on China for these resources.
• Brazil is the world's second-largest holder of critical minerals after China.
• Nine additional agreements were signed, covering areas such as digital cooperation and health.
• Modi stated that bilateral trade will be taken beyond $20 billion within five years.
• In 2024, Indian exports to Brazil totalled $7.23 billion, with refined petroleum as the main export.
• Brazilian exports to India in 2024 reached $5.38 billion, with raw sugar as the main export.

South Korea protests Japan’s ‘Takeshima Day’ event over disputed islands

[South Korea, Japan]

Key Updates:

• South Korea’s foreign ministry strongly objected to the ‘Takeshima Day’ event organised by Shimane prefecture and attended by a senior Japanese government official.
• The disputed islets are called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea and have been a source of tension since Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
• A South Korean coastguard detachment has been stationed on the territory since 1954.
• Shimane prefecture established ‘Takeshima Day’ in 2005, repeatedly triggering protests from Seoul.
• Seoul summoned a senior Japanese diplomat to lodge a formal protest over Tokyo’s territorial claims.
• South Korea claims the territory lies in fertile fishing grounds and may sit above substantial deposits of natural gas hydrate worth billions of dollars.

Goa hosts 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026

[Goa]

Key Updates:

• The 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 is being held in Goa from February 23 to February 26 at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
• The event is co-organised by NIO, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and Goa University.
• Goa has 193 km of coastline and thousands of families depend directly or indirectly on the ocean.
• A pollution control vessel built in Goa for the Indian Coast Guard has been commissioned to enhance maritime safety, pollution response and surveillance.
• The congress agenda includes ocean health, climate change, marine ecosystems, coastal hazard resilience and sustainable blue economy models.
• Special sessions include a fishermen’s meet and student interaction programmes with around 600 high school students.

India and Israel: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Israel and address Knesset in February 2025

[Israel]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Israel on 25 February 2025 for a two-day official visit.
• PM Modi is expected to address the Knesset (Israeli parliament) and hold meetings with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
• Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana announced that former lawmakers will occupy opposition benches if current members boycott the address.
• The Leader of Opposition (LOP) Yair Lapid has demanded that Supreme Court (SC) President Yitzhak Amit be invited to the session as per protocol.
• The political dispute is linked to Israel's judicial overhaul controversy and Justice Minister Yariv Levin's refusal to recognise the authority of SC President Amit.

Brazil's Embraer and India's Mahindra Group deepen partnership to develop C-390 MRO capabilities in India

[Brazil, Mahindra Group]

Key Updates:

• Embraer and Mahindra Group announced plans to develop Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities in India for the C-390 Millennium aircraft.
• The MRO facility is contingent on the C-390 Millennium's selection for the Indian Air Force's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program.
• The collaboration builds on a strategic partnership formed in October 2025 to produce the C-390 Millennium in India.
• The initiative supports the Indian Air Force's MTA program and aligns with the 'Make in India' initiative.
• The MRO facility will provide base and heavy maintenance, structural inspections, component overhaul, avionics support, and training.
• Embraer is exploring India as a regional MRO hub for other C-390 operators.
• The C-390 Millennium has a payload capacity of up to 26 tons and a mission completion rate above 99%.
• Embraer has nearly 50 aircraft of 11 types operating in India across commercial, defense, and business aviation.

PhonePe launches AI-powered natural language search for voice and text payments

[PhonePe]

Key Updates:

• PhonePe unveiled an AI-powered natural language search feature built with Microsoft Foundry at the AI Impact Summit 2026.
• Users can initiate and complete in-app tasks via voice or text commands such as “Pay Hemanth 20 rupees” or “Recharge FASTag”.
• The feature interprets user intent for payments, purchases, or support and automates navigation within the app.
• Processing follows a hybrid on-device and cloud model that keeps all personal and transactional data within the PhonePe environment.
• Roll-out will occur in phases across India and be accessible through the Global Search Bar, Help Center, and History tab.
• PhonePe also introduced biometric authentication for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, allowing Android users to approve payments up to ₹5,000 with fingerprint or face ID.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders restoration of Suav as a river in Uttar Pradesh official records

[National Green Tribunal (NGT), Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Uttar Pradesh government to reclassify the Suav from a drain to a river in revenue records and the Official Gazette.
• The Suav is a significant tributary of the Rapti river, which is a tributary of the Ganges, and flows for approximately 120 kilometres through Balrampur district.
• The NGT bench, led by Chairman Justice Prakash Srivastava, ordered the Balrampur district magistrate to rectify the classification within three months.
• The tribunal prohibited new construction in demarcated Flood Plain Zones until the identification and demarcation of the Active Flood Zone is completed.
• The District Ganga Committees (DGC) of Balrampur and Siddharthnagar were instructed to adopt the Sant Seechewal model to ensure people's participation in river rejuvenation.
• The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) is mandated to monitor water quality and industrial effluents from entities such as Balrampur Sugar Mill and Bajaj Sugar Mill.
• The Irrigation and Water Resources Department must identify active floodplains within six months based on guidelines from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) will review proposals related to Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) and Suav river restoration submitted by the state government.
• Failure to comply with the directives constitutes an offence under Section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.

Vaan Island artificial reef restoration yields Rs 61.67 crore socio-ecological benefits

Key Updates:

• Vaan Island in the Gulf of Mannar shrank 92% from about 20 hectares in 1969 to 1.53 hectares by 2015 due to coral mining, sea-level rise and reef degradation.
• Scientists deployed 10,600 artificial reef modules around Vaan Island starting in 2015 under the Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission.
• Post-restoration, the island area expanded to over 2.3 hectares and now supports an average of 81 coral colonies per module.
• Reef-associated fish density rose eight-fold from 106 to 875 individuals per hectare, and 26 native plant species were preserved.
• The project generated socio-ecological benefits worth Rs 61.67 crore against an inflation-adjusted cost of Rs 26.37 crore, yielding a benefit-cost ratio of 2.34.
• Mainland coastal protection contributed Rs 28.57 crore (46% of total value), sediment trapping and nutrient cycling Rs 13 crore, and fisheries gains Rs 13.43 crore.
• Tamil Nadu has begun a Rs 50 crore restoration project for Kariyachalli Island, with artificial reef deployment to finish within a month.

Boehringer Ingelheim India and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Raebareli sign MoU to advance pharmaceutical education and research

[Boehringer Ingelheim India, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)]

Key Updates:

• Boehringer Ingelheim India Private Limited and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Raebareli signed an MoU on 22 Feb 2026 at the Department of Pharmaceuticals, New Delhi.
• The MoU covers collaboration in pharmaceutical technologies, novel drug delivery systems, joint research initiatives, academic exchange, and capability-building programmes.
• Boehringer Ingelheim will provide NIPER Raebareli access to its open science portal opnMe® to accelerate healthcare innovation.
• The partnership will also explore symposia, conferences, short-term courses, and scholar engagement to strengthen scientific exchange.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) signs MoUs with research institutes for disaster policy research

[National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)]

Key Updates:

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three research institutes to enhance disaster management policy research and risk reduction.
• The collaboration involves the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) and the CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR).
• The partnership establishes a collaborative framework for academic programmes, capacity building, and effective policy communication to bridge the gap between scientific and policy communities.
• CSIR-NIScPR is tasked with spearheading academic programmes and policy research to ensure effective public engagement.
• The NDMA, AcSIR, and CSIR-NIScPR have launched a PhD programme in disaster management to nurture future experts in the field.
• The initiative aims to develop research-based solutions for disaster resilience in alignment with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Hanne Vandewinkel defeats Vaishnavi Adkar to win ITF Women’s Open Bengaluru W100 singles title

Key Updates:

• Hanne Vandewinkel defeated Vaishnavi Adkar 6-0, 6-1 in the final of the ITF Women’s Open in Bengaluru.
• Vandewinkel earned 100 WTA ranking points and $15,239, while Adkar received 65 WTA ranking points and $8,147.
• Vaishnavi Adkar became the first Indian woman since Sania Mirza in 2009 to reach the singles final of a W100 or higher event.

Norway tops 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics medal table

[Italy, Norway]

Key Updates:

• Norway finished with a record 41 medals, including 18 gold, the most golds won in any single Winter Olympics.
• Team USA secured 33 medals (12 gold), its biggest Winter Olympics team ever with 232 athletes.
• The 2026 Winter Olympics were co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, and closed on Sunday, Feb. 22.
• Brazilian-Norwegian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won South America's first Winter Games medal, taking giant slalom gold for Brazil.
• Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo became the Winter Olympian with the most gold medals (11) after adding six in 2026.
• Team USA's men's hockey beat Canada 2-1 in overtime on the final day to claim their first Winter gold since 1980.

Rashtrapati Bhavan colonial-era changes in 2024-26

Key Updates:

• Edward Lutyens statue in Rashtrapati Bhavan central courtyard to be replaced by statue of C Rajagopalachari, India’s only Indian-born governor-general (1948-50).
• Granth Kutir library inaugurated on 23 January 2026 with 2,300 books and manuscripts in 11 classical Indian languages, replacing works of Lord Curzon and William Hogarth.
• Param Vir Dirgha gallery created in January 2026 displaying 21 portraits of Param Vir Chakra awardees, replacing portraits of British aides-de-camp.
• Durbar Hall renamed Ganatantra Mandap and Ashok Hall renamed Ashok Mandap in July 2025 to remove colonial and anglicised connotations.
• Mughal Gardens collectively renamed Amrit Udyan in January 2024, covering 15 acres inspired by Mughal gardens of Jammu and Kashmir and Taj Mahal.
• Rajpath from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate renamed Kartavya Path in 2022 to symbolise shift from power icon to public ownership.

Our Lady of Grace Cathedral wins UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Merit on 21 February 2026

[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)]

Key Updates:

• The 475-year-old Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in Vasai, Maharashtra, received the Award of Merit at the 2025 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
• The conservation project was executed by architect Ainsley Lewis between 2023 and 2024 at an approximate cost of ₹4.5 crore, funded entirely by the local parish community.
• The year 2025 marked the silver jubilee of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, which were announced in Bangkok.
• The highest Award of Distinction was shared by the Iwami Ginzan Library Conservation Project in Oda, Japan, and the Sihang Warehouse Conservation Project in Shanghai, China.
• A seven-member international jury selected the winners from a record 90 entries across 16 countries based on technical achievement and sustainability.

UGC releases 2026 state-wise list of fake universities

[University Grants Commission (UGC)]

Key Updates:

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has identified 32 fake universities operating across 12 states in India.
• Delhi has the highest number of such universities with 12, followed by Uttar Pradesh with four.
• The UGC, a statutory body under the Ministry of Education, has clarified that these institutions are not recognized by the Central or State Governments and lack the authority to award valid degrees under the UGC Act.

79th British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards held on 22 February 2026

[British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)]

Key Updates:

• The 79th British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards ceremony took place on 22 February 2026 at the Royal Festival Hall within London's Southbank Centre.
• Paul Thomas Anderson's film 'One Battle After Another' won six BAFTA awards: Best Film, Director, Cinematography, Editing, Supporting Actor (Sean Penn), and Adapted Screenplay.
• British actor Robert Aramayo won the Leading Actor award for 'I Swear', beating Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Ethan Hawke, and Michael B. Jordan.
• Jessie Buckley became the first Irish performer to win the BAFTA Best Actress award for her role as Agnes Hathaway in 'Hamnet'.
• Ryan Coogler became the first Black winner of the BAFTA Original Screenplay award for 'Sinners'.
• Farhan Akhtar-backed Manipuri film 'Boong' won the BAFTA Award for Best Children's & Family Film.
• Donna Langley, UK-born chairwoman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, received the BAFTA Fellowship, presented by Prince William.

World Understanding and Peace Day observed on February 23

Key Updates:

• World Understanding and Peace Day is observed annually on February 23 to commemorate the founding of Rotary International (RI).
• The first Rotary Club meeting was held on February 23, 1905, in Chicago by Paul Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey.
• The 59th World Day of Peace, celebrated by the Vatican on January 1, 2026, features the theme Peace be with you all: Towards an unarmed and disarming peace.
• RI selects 75 scholars annually for the Rotary Peace and Conflict Resolution Program to study peacebuilding and diplomacy at Rotary Peace Centers.
• The six major humanitarian focus areas of RI include disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development, and peace and conflict prevention/resolution.

Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor fully operationalised on 22 February 2026

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the full 82.15 km Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor on 22 February 2026 at Rally Ground, Mohiuddinpur, Meerut.
• The corridor runs from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut and covers the distance in approximately 55 minutes.
• The project was built at an estimated cost of over ₹30,000 crore and comprises about 70 km of elevated track and 12 km underground.
• Meerut Metro, also flagged off on the same day, runs 23 km between Meerut South and Modipuram with 13 stations and a top speed of 120 km per hour.
• Meerut Metro has an integrated ticketing system allowing passengers to use the same ticket for both Namo Bharat and metro services within the city.

World Thinking Day observed on February 22

Key Updates:

• World Thinking Day is observed annually on February 22 to promote unity, friendship, and empowerment among girls and young women.
• The day is celebrated by members of the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in more than 150 countries.
• The origins of the observance date back to 1926, following an international conference of Girl Guide and Girl Scout organisations held in the United States (US).
• The date February 22 marks the birthdays of Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement, and Olave Baden-Powell, the World Chief Guide.
• The day encourages participants to address global challenges such as leadership, equality, environmental protection, and mental well-being.