Daily Current Affairs: 26 February 2026

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya delivers keynote at ESIC 75th Year of Service celebrations.

Key Updates:

• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, delivered the keynote address at the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) 75th Year of Service celebrations held at Bharat Mandapam.
• Ms. Vandana Gurnani, Secretary, Labour & Employment, stated that ESIC has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s social security architecture.
• ESIC signed an MoU with the National Health Authority to converge the ESI Scheme with Ayushman Bharat–PM-JAY.
• ESIC signed an MoU with the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to strengthen quality assurance in laboratories.

Jose Maria Balcazar Appointed Interim President of Peru

[Peru]

Key Updates:

• Peru’s Congress elected Jose Maria Balcazar as the interim president of the country, succeeding Jose Jeri following his removal from office.
• Balcazar is an 83-year-old former judge and professor who represents the left-wing Peru Libre (Free Peru) party.
• He secured the presidency by obtaining 60 votes out of 113 cast in the second round of voting in the Congress.
• His interim tenure is scheduled to last for 53 days until the national elections are held on 12 April 2026.
• Balcazar has been a member of the Congress since 2021 and previously served as a provisional member of the Supreme Court of Peru.
• He becomes the ninth president of Peru in the last decade, a period marked by the impeachment of four presidents and the resignation of two others.
• The National Board of Justice (CNM) had previously conducted disciplinary hearings regarding Balcazar’s judicial term on the high court’s bench.
• The outgoing president, Jose Jeri, was impeached following allegations of influence-peddling and misconduct in a scandal known as Chifagate.

Narendra Modi Conferred With Speaker of the Knesset Medal by Israel

[Israel]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was conferred with the Speaker of the Knesset Medal, which is the highest honour awarded by the Israeli parliament.
• PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to receive this distinction, which was presented during his address to the Knesset.
• The medal was awarded in recognition of his leadership in strengthening strategic and bilateral relations between India and Israel.
• During the two-day visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed the building of an iron alliance between the two nations to counter extremist Islam.
• PM Modi is among the few world leaders to hold top honours from both Israel and Palestine, having received the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine in 2018.
• The Prime Minister also held meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to discuss deepening cooperation in key strategic areas.

R. Nallakannu, Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) Leader and Freedom Fighter, Passes Away at 101

[Communist Party of India (CPI)]

Key Updates:

• Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and freedom fighter R. Nallakannu passed away at the age of 101 on 25 February 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Born on 25 December 1925 in Srivaikuntam, he joined the CPI in 1944 and later served as the State Secretary of the party in Tamil Nadu for 13 years.
• He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1949 in the Nellai conspiracy case for organising a land for tillers agitation and was released in 1956.
• The Government of Tamil Nadu conferred the Thagaisaal Tamilar (Scholarly Tamil) award upon him in 2022, which carried a cash prize of ₹15 lakh.
• He received the Ambedkar Award for the year 2007 from the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
• He donated the ₹15 lakh prize money from the Thagaisaal Tamilar award to the Chief Minister’s relief fund and returned a car and ₹1 crore gifted by party cadres to the CPI.
• At the age of 95, he successfully argued a petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court to secure a five-year ban on illegal sand mining in the Thamirabarani river.
• His body was donated for medical research in accordance with his final wishes.

Jatinder Mehra, Vice Chairman of Essar's Metals & Mining Division and former RINL chief, passes away at 86.

[Essar]

Key Updates:

• Jatinder Mehra died at the age of 86 while serving as Vice Chairman of the metals and mining division at Essar Group.
• He had a career spanning more than six decades in India’s steel and metals sector.
• Mehra was formerly the chief of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).
• He played a key role in expanding Essar’s steelmaking capacity at Hazira and in developing the Paradip steel facility in Odisha.

Hariharan Unveils Book and Album at 50 Glorious Years of Ghazal Singing Celebration

Key Updates:

• Padma Shri Hariharan marked 50 years of ghazal singing at Mavlankar Auditorium in Delhi.
• The book Ustad-e-Ghazal Hariharan, authored by Anand Kakkar, was launched during the event.
• Hariharan released a new ghazal album at the celebration.
• Doordarshan announced the ghazal-based reality show Sartaj-e-Ghazal to discover new talent.

Arvind KC appointed as OpenAI's chief people officer.

[OpenAI]

Key Updates:

• Arvind KC has been appointed as the chief people officer of OpenAI.
• He will oversee hiring, onboarding, employee development and performance management across OpenAI.
• Arvind joins from Roblox where he served as chief people and systems officer.
• He holds an MBA from Santa Clara University and a degree in chemical engineering from North Maharashtra University.
• Arvind has over 25 years of experience working in tech companies including Facebook, Palantir Technologies and Google.
• He replaces Julia Villagra who stepped down in August 2025 after less than six months in the role.
• Arvind will be based in the San Francisco Bay Area where OpenAI is headquartered.

Om Birla Constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 Nations

Key Updates:

• Lok Sabha (LS) Speaker Om Birla has constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries to deepen dialogue and exchange best practices with international legislatures.
• Each friendship group comprises 11 members, including representatives from both the LS and the Rajya Sabha (RS).
• Indian National Congress (INC) leaders appointed to chair groups include Shashi Tharoor (France), P Chidambaram (Italy), K C Venugopal (Portugal), Manish Tewari (Australia), and Gaurav Gogoi (Philippines).
• Other Opposition chairpersons include K Kanimozhi (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)) for Greece, Derek O’Brien (Trinamool Congress (TMC)) for Chile, Abhishek Banerjee (TMC) for Algeria, Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena-UBT) for Morocco, and Supriya Sule (Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP)) for Singapore.
• Additional Opposition leaders heading groups are Asaduddin Owaisi (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)) for Oman, Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party (SP)) for Japan, Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) for Egypt, Sanjay Singh (Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)) for Caribbean countries, and N K Premachandran (Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)) for Madagascar.
• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders appointed as chairpersons include Ravi Shankar Prasad (United Kingdom (UK)), Baijayant Panda (United States of America (USA)), Nishikant Dubey (Russia), Anurag Thakur (European Union (EU) Parliament, Brussels), Rajiv Pratap Rudy (Switzerland), Bhartruhari Mahtab (Israel), Hema Malini (South Africa), Ashok Chavan (Argentina), Samik Bhattacharya (New Zealand), and Aparajita Sarangi (Tanzania).
• Other group leaders include Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena) for Indonesia, Sanjay Jha (Janata Dal (United) (JD(U))) for Germany, M Thambidurai (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)) for Nigeria, and Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (Telugu Desam Party (TDP)).
• Members appointed to various groups include Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (Japan), Manickam Tagore (Indonesia), Gurjeet Singh Aujla (Italy), Hibi Eden (Singapore), Amrinder Singh Raja Warring (UK), Prashant Padole (Trinidad and Tobago), Dean Kuriakose (Saudi Arabia), C Kiran Kumar Reddy (South Korea), and S Venkatesan (Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M))) for Cuba.
• The groups are intended to facilitate discussions on trade, technology, social policy, culture, and global challenges faced by democracies.

Sagarika Chakraborty and Prof. Dr. Harpreet Kaur Establish IIRIS Chair of Infosec and Forensic Society

Key Updates:

• Ms. Sagarika Chakraborty, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IIRIS, and Prof. Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Vice Chancellor of National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the IIRIS Chair of Infosec and Forensic Society.
• The IIRIS Chair is the first of its kind in India, aimed at creating a centre of excellence for research, innovation, and industry-academia collaboration in information security and forensic science.
• The partnership includes the launch of a joint Certificate Programme on Cyber-Led Forensic Investigation and Diligence to build skills at the intersection of law, technology, and investigations.
• The certificate programme is designed under the theme Bridging Legal Theory & Investigative Practice in the Digital Age to equip participants with competencies for professional practice.
• IIRIS is a global risk, security, and intelligence firm with over a decade of operational experience in more than ten countries.
• The collaboration focuses on skilling students at NLU Jodhpur in cyber-led forensic investigations to prepare them for future litigation and legal work.
• The MoU was signed on February 24, 2026, in New Delhi, aligning with the university's focus on the interface between law and technology.

Professor B Ravindran Appointed to United Nations (UN) Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

[United Nations (UN)]

Key Updates:

• Professor B Ravindran of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has been appointed to the United Nations (UN) Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• The panel was established through a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution in August 2025 to serve as a global scientific body assessing the impact of AI on societies.
• Professor B Ravindran currently serves as the Head of the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI and is the Founding Head of the Centre for Responsible Artificial Intelligence (CeRAI) at IIT Madras.
• The appointment of the 40 leading experts to the panel was announced by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in Delhi.
• Professor B Ravindran will represent India and the voice of the Global South on this international panel of experts.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves raw jute Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹5,925 for 2026-27

Key Updates:

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of raw jute by ₹275 to ₹5,925 per quintal for the 2026-27 marketing season.
• The new MSP ensures a return of 61.8 per cent over the all-India weighted average cost of production.
• The decision follows the Budget 2018-19 principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.
• The Jute Corporation of India (JCI) will remain the central government nodal agency to undertake price support operations.
• The MSP for raw jute has risen from ₹2,400 per quintal in 2014-15 to ₹5,925 per quintal in 2026-27, representing a 2.5-fold increase.
• Total MSP payments to jute farmers reached ₹1,342 crore between 2014-15 and 2025-26, compared to ₹441 crore during the 2004-05 to 2013-14 period.
• The CCEA meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held at the new Prime Minister's Office (PMO) named Seva Teerth.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) signs USD 108 million debt financing with Aavas Financiers

[Asian Development Bank (ADB), Aavas Financiers]

Key Updates:

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a senior secured debt financing package of up to USD 108 million (approximately ₹983 crore) with Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Aavas Financiers.
• The package includes USD 8 million in concessional debt financing through the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CANPA).
• The financing aims to expand access to affordable housing loans for lower-income households and business loans for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in underserved Indian states.
• Under the agreement, at least 70 per cent of the ADB debt financing is earmarked for housing loans for lower-income borrowers.
• A minimum of 50 per cent of the housing loans will be allocated to women property owners as sole or joint owners.
• The remaining 30 per cent of the total financing will be onlent to MSMEs to support entrepreneurship and job creation.
• The transaction includes up to USD 1,50,000 in technical assistance to build institutional capacity and boost market awareness of green housing solutions.
• CANPA is a trust fund managed by ADB, established in 2024 with a commitment of 360 million Canadian dollars from the Canadian government.

Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) recommends Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi for CMD of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re)

[Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re)]

Key Updates:

• The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has recommended Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi for the position of Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re).
• The FSIB conducted an interface with five eligible candidates on 24 February 2026 before making the recommendation.
• Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi currently serves as the Executive Director with additional charge of CMD at GIC Re.
• Joshi holds a postgraduate degree in Accountancy from Mumbai University and a Master’s Degree in Financial Management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies.
• He is a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of India.

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) to Issue First Credits by October 2026

Key Updates:

• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) announced that India will issue its first carbon credits under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) in October 2026.
• The scheme consists of two primary components: a mandatory compliance component covering 800 units in nine sectors and a voluntary offset component.
• The BEE has already issued emission targets for approximately 490 units across seven sectors through notifications in October 2025 and January 2026.
• The initial phase of the carbon trading operations will exclude the steel and fertiliser sectors, despite them being among the most polluting industries.
• A dedicated portal for project registration and participation in the scheme is scheduled to be launched on 20 March 2026.
• The Ministry of Power (MoP) is overseeing the draft scheme, which aligns with global designs such as the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
• The first cycle of targets for the 2025-26 financial year will conclude on 31 March 2026, followed by a seven-month period for verification, assessment, and issuance.
• Trading of the issued carbon credits is expected to take place between November 2026 and January 2027.

NAMASTE Scheme distributes PPE kits, Ayushman Cards and sewing machines to sanitation workers in Pilibhit

Key Updates:

• The National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme awareness programme will be held on 26 February 2026 at Gandhi Prekshagrih, Gandhi Stadium, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and Ayushman Cards will be distributed to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and waste pickers during the event.
• Beneficiaries who completed skill development training will receive sewing machines to support livelihood and economic empowerment.
• B.L. Verma, Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE), will grace the event.

RAJMARG PRAVESH Portal Upgrade Launched for Faster Highway NOCs

Key Updates:

• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari launched the upgraded RAJMARG PRAVESH web portal to streamline issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for facilities along National Highways.
• The portal provides single-window online applications for permissions covering fuel stations, wayside amenities, rest area complexes, private properties, connecting roads, and industrial access points.
• It also facilitates utility permissions for water pipelines, gas pipelines, optical fibre cables, electrical transmission lines, and other infrastructure services along or across National Highways.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) redesigned the portal to ensure streamlined digital workflows, reduced approval timelines, improved transparency, and real-time application tracking.
• The portal can be accessed at http://rajmargpravesh.morth.gov.in.

Delhi High Court: Right to perform last rites is part of dignity under Article 21

[Delhi High Court]

Key Updates:

• The Delhi High Court (HC) ruled that the right to perform the last rites of a parent is an essential religious and moral duty and a component of the right to dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
• The ruling was delivered by Justice Ravinder Dudeja in the case of Ajmer Singh alias Pinka v. The State of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
• The petition for emergency parole was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
• The HC clarified that Rule 1212 of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, allows a convict to be released on parole for a maximum of eight weeks in a conviction year, with no single spell exceeding four weeks.
• The petitioner in the case was convicted under Sections 376, 354B, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 66E of the Information Technology (IT) Act.
• The Court emphasised that parole jurisprudence in India is humanitarian and reformist, aimed at maintaining family ties and social integration even in cases of grave convictions.
• The HC observed that denying parole despite verified humanitarian grounds amounts to a mechanical application of rules and defeats the objective of correctional jurisprudence.

Madhya Pradesh to extend Bhavantar scheme to mustard farmers, benefiting 80 lakh farmers

[Madhya Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the State Government’s plan to extend the Bhavantar Yojana to mustard farmers to cover the gap between market price and procurement price.
• The proposal has been sent to the Union Government; the scheme currently benefits soybean farmers in Madhya Pradesh.
• Mustard acreage rose 28% this year and estimated production is 15.71 lakh metric tonne.
• Market price of mustard is ₹5,500–₹6,000 per quintal while Union Government procurement price is ₹6,200 per quintal.
• Ladli Behna scheme, launched in March 2023, gives ₹1,500 monthly to women aged 21–60 years with annual family income below ₹2.5 lakh; 1,25,29,051 women currently receive the allowance.

Rajasthan Homestay Scheme 2026 launched to boost rural tourism and self-employment

[Rajasthan]

Key Updates:

• The Government of Rajasthan launched the Rajasthan Homestay Scheme 2026 to strengthen rural and community-based tourism across the state.
• The scheme allows local families to convert part of their homes into registered tourist accommodations offering affordable stays and authentic Rajasthani cultural experiences.
• Online registration is available through the official Rajasthan Tourism portal.
• The initiative targets villages and small towns to reduce overcrowding in Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur.
• Support includes training on hospitality, hygiene, and tourism management, plus promotional assistance via Rajasthan Tourism campaigns and digital platforms.

NCR States MoU for Road Dust Control to Cut PM10 Levels

[Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), School of Planning and Architecture (SPA)]

Key Updates:

• Four MoUs signed on 24 February 2026 between Public Works/Urban Development Departments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi.
• The agreements operationalise the Standard Framework for Paving and Greening of Urban Roads issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on 7 January 2025.
• Total road length identified: Delhi ~10,099 km, Haryana ~10,133 km, Uttar Pradesh ~6,891 km, Rajasthan ~1,747 km.
• Web-GIS-based Road Asset Management System (RAMS) will enable preventive maintenance and PCI-based evaluation using technologies like NSV, FWD, GPR and AVCC.
• MoUs valid for three years with each state to designate a nodal agency and create a dedicated Paving and Greening Cell.

Maritime Vision 2047: Rs 1,500 crore projects launched at VOC Port for green and digital modernisation.

[VOC Port, Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 1,500 crore at V. O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) in Tuticorin.
• Projects span rail and road connectivity upgrades, power infrastructure enhancement, renewable energy integration including solar, wind, battery storage and green hydrogen production, advanced safety systems and digital platforms.
• VOC Port became the first Indian port to produce and use green hydrogen on-site through a pilot project operational since late 2025, with commercial-scale development planned by 2029.
• India’s first comprehensive Digital Twin platform for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and data-driven optimisation has been deployed at VOC Port.
• From April 2025 to January 2026 cargo handling rose 6 per cent to 35.97 million tonnes and container volumes increased 9.4 per cent to more than 716,000 TEUs.

Mahila Khushhali Yojana launched for women engaged in agricultural activities with Rs 25 crore allocation in Jharkhand FY27 budget.

[Jharkhand]

Key Updates:

• The Jharkhand government tabled a Rs 1,58,560 crore budget for FY 2026-27 in the assembly.
• Finance Minister Radhishna Kishore announced the launch of the Mahila Khushhali Yojna for women farmers with an allocation of Rs 25 crore.
• The budget for FY27 is higher than the previous year's Rs 1.45 lakh crore budget presented in 2025-26.
• The state government plans to open 100 new CM schools of excellence in the next fiscal.

India hosts 7th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs at Vigyan Bhawan

Key Updates:

• The 7th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs was held at Vigyan Bhawan.
• The conference was organised by the Ministry of Railways (MoR).
• The event focused on strengthening passenger and railway infrastructure security.
• Key discussion areas included coordinated operations, speedy FIR registration and advanced surveillance technologies.

Japan to deploy surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni island by March 2031

[Japan]

Key Updates:

• Japan plans to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles to its remote western island of Yonaguni by March 2031.
• Yonaguni island is located approximately 110 kilometres from the shores of Taiwan.
• The Japanese-made missile system features a range of 50 kilometres, 360-degree capability, and the ability to track up to 100 targets simultaneously.
• An electronic warfare unit designed to disrupt enemy communications and radar is scheduled for establishment on the island in fiscal year 2026.
• The island currently hosts a coastal surveillance unit staffed by approximately 160 members of the Japan Self-Defence Force (JSDF).
• Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed the deployment timeline following export curbs imposed by China on 20 Japanese entities.
• The missile system is capable of engaging up to 12 targets at once and intercepting incoming aircraft and missiles.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to organise Him-CONNECT in New Delhi from 25th to 27th February 2026

[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is organising 'Him-CONNECT' as part of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) in New Delhi.
• The event, scheduled from 25th to 27th February 2026, aims to connect researchers in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) with start-ups, investors, and policymakers.
• More than 24 technologies, prototypes, and patents developed under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) will be showcased to over 100 start-ups and incubators.
• Participating institutions include Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at Guwahati, Roorkee, Jodhpur, Jammu, Ropar, and Mandi, and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) institutions CRRI and IHBT.
• Other innovators represent Central Agricultural University (Imphal), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) at Silchar and Arunachal Pradesh, SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir, TERI-Guwahati, Kumaon University, and G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE).
• Key innovations on display include eco-friendly road construction, treated wastewater use for hydroponic farming, and conversion of sericulture waste into burn ointments.
• The showcase also features low-cost mineralised water purifiers, pine needle-based wastewater treatment systems, decentralised wastewater reuse solutions, and yak milk cottage cheese processing technologies.
• The platform focuses on critical sectors including water security, climate adaptation, waste-to-wealth, sustainable building, renewable energy, and nature-based livelihoods.
• The NMHS has supported over 250 action-oriented initiatives in the IHR over the last decade to address conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.

India and Israel launch first round of FTA talks in New Delhi

[Israel]

Key Updates:

• India and Israel began the first round of negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in New Delhi from 23 to 26 February 2026.
• The talks follow the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) in November 2025 to formalise bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
• Technical teams are discussing trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedures, trade facilitation and intellectual property rights.
• Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal stated the negotiations coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel on 25–26 February 2026.
• India’s Chief Negotiator is Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce; Israel’s Chief Negotiator is Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director (Trade Policy and Agreements).
• Bilateral merchandise trade between India and Israel was USD 3.62 billion in FY 2024–25, traditionally dominated by diamonds, petroleum products and chemicals.
• The two countries had earlier held eight rounds of talks for a similar agreement, with the last round in October 2021, before negotiations stalled.

Indian Army conducts Exercise Agni Varsha in Pokhran

[Rajasthan]

Key Updates:

• Exercise Agni Varsha was conducted by the Southern Command of the Indian Army in Pokhran deserts, Rajasthan.
• The exercise featured unmanned aerial vehicles, counter-drone systems, precision strike rockets, modern artillery platforms and surveillance assets.
• Foreign defence journalists from 25 countries witnessed the exercise.
• The Integrated Manoeuvre Force comprised T-90 Main Battle Tanks, infantry combat vehicles, K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers, Sharang and Bofors artillery systems, rocket platforms, indigenous weapon systems, Apache attack helicopters and a range of surveillance and strike drones.

DBT-ISRO MoU pushes India into space biotechnology and space medicine.

Key Updates:

• An MoU between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has formally entered India into space biotechnology and space medicine.
• Biotechnology experiments conducted in space missions include studies related to life sciences and muscle physiology.
• The GenomeIndia Project has released whole genome sequencing data of 10,000 individuals from 99 diverse populations through the Indian Biological Data Centre.
• India’s first human gene therapy trial for Severe Hemophilia A—supported by DBT and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)—achieved sustained Factor VIII production and reduced dependence on repeated infusions.

MeitY launches Blockchain India Challenge to build permissioned blockchain platforms for transparent governance

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Blockchain India Challenge on 23 February 2026 at MeitY headquarters in New Delhi.
• The initiative is implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) with MeitY’s support.
• The Challenge targets DPIIT-recognised startups to co-create with government departments ten blockchain use cases across ten categories: e-procurement, supply chain management, public distribution systems, education, healthcare, agriculture, power, IoT-enabled governance, land records, and sustainability.
• Startups will receive stage-wise financial support to develop deployable permissioned blockchain solutions that ensure transparency, auditability, and tamper-proof record management.
• Applications are open through the official C-DAC portal with guidelines on eligibility, intellectual property rights, and use-case collaboration frameworks.

TTD installs Rs 25 crore French e-tongue and e-nose systems to test Tirupati prasadam ghee quality.

Key Updates:

• Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is establishing an ultra-modern food testing laboratory equipped with French-manufactured e-tongue and e-nose systems at a cost of Rs 25 crore.
• The e-tongue analyses taste patterns with high precision to detect subtle deterioration or adulteration in ghee and other raw materials.
• The e-nose evaluates aroma profiles to identify impurities or defects by replicating human sensory functions.
• The specialised instruments, worth around Rs 3.5 crore, are made in France and can detect microscopic variations in taste and smell not identifiable through conventional testing.
• The laboratory will test about 60 types of raw materials used in Srivari prasadam, including ghee, cashew nuts, raisins, almonds, Bengal gram, sugar, cardamom, turmeric, and chilli powder.
• It will also examine prasadam, drinking water, and food samples for pesticide residues (up to 200 types), heavy metals, microbial contamination, antibiotics, and other harmful substances.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sanctioned Rs 23 crore for the project.
• The 12,000 sq ft facility is being set up in a renovated two-storey building at the flour mill premises in Tirumala, with renovation work having begun in July last year.
• The laboratory will operate through specialised microbiology, chemistry, and sensory analysis divisions and will house about 50 advanced testing instruments.
• Around 40 personnel from the health department and TTD will be deployed to ensure smooth operations.

National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) sets Guinness World Record for most viewers of AI in healthcare live stream

[National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)]

Key Updates:

• The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) achieved a Guinness World Record for the most viewers of an AI in healthcare lesson live stream on YouTube.
• The live stream peaked at 17,999 concurrent viewers, all registered medical practitioners.
• The six-month national online training programme comprises 20 modules curated by faculty from Harvard and IIM Lucknow.
• NBEMS offers the module free of charge, aligning with India's digital innovation goals in healthcare.

National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) to host ANVESH–2026 to position India at the centre of global food dialogue

[National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM-K)]

Key Updates:

• NIFTEM-K, an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), will host the International Conference on Advanced Next Generation Vision for Emerging and Sustainable Healthy Foods (ANVESH–2026) from 26–28 February 2026.
• The conference will convene global experts from over 25 countries and is expected to host more than 1,000 delegates from academia, industry, and government.
• The Government of India has invested approximately ₹15,000 crore in the food processing ecosystem over the past four to five years.
• MoFPI has set a target to increase the processing of India’s agricultural produce from the current 12–13 percent to 25 percent within the next five years.
• The food processing sector has recorded a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 7 percent over the past decade, with processed food exports doubling in the same period.
• Annual post-harvest losses in India are estimated at nearly ₹1.10 lakh crore, and the conference will highlight the food as medicine paradigm for preventive healthcare.
• The event will feature over 50 exhibitors: startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.
• Participating global institutions are Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), McGill University, Wageningen University & Research, the Volcani Institute, and The University of Queensland.
• The conference will address emerging themes: digital compliance frameworks, food safety and traceability, alternative proteins, nutraceuticals, waste management, circular economy approaches, and agri-food entrepreneurship.
• Key speakers proposed for the event are Union Minister for MoFPI Chirag Paswan, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog Member Ramesh Chand, MoFPI Secretary Avinash Joshi, and NIFTEM-K Director Harinder Singh Oberoi.

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve records 57 unique fishing cats in first scientific assessment.

[Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve]

Key Updates:

• Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve recorded 57 unique fishing cats in its first scientific assessment.
• The fishing cat is listed as globally vulnerable and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• The assessment was conducted by Kaziranga’s Tiger Cell in collaboration with scientist Tiasa Adhya of the Fishing Cat Project using camera-trap images from previous All India Tiger Estimation exercises.
• The findings were released on Fishing Cat Day.
• The study sets a baseline for monitoring lesser-studied species beyond Kaziranga’s Big Five—Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, and Eastern Swamp Deer.

Seafood poisoning at Vizhinjam restaurant linked to tetrodotoxin in fish roe

[Vizhinjam]

Key Updates:

• Food safety authorities suspect tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent marine neurotoxin, contaminated seafood served at a Vizhinjam restaurant.
• All hospitalised patients had consumed fish roe, pinpointed as the likely source of the toxin.
• Three members of a six-member family fell seriously ill after eating seafood on the night of February 16, with two deaths reported within hours.
• A total of seven acute illness cases were reported, including two patients admitted to Government Medical College hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, and one each to two private hospitals.
• Tetrodotoxin is heat-stable, has no known antidote, and ingestion can lead to fatal paralysis.
• The fish roe served on February 16 was sourced from Muttom in Tamil Nadu on February 15 and comprised multiple species.
• Chemical analysis results of internal samples from the deceased are awaited to confirm the cause of death.

NIM and JIM&WS Joint Team Summits Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina

[Argentina]

Key Updates:

• A six-member joint team from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi and the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam successfully summited Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina on February 22, 2026.
• Mt. Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America and the second-highest peak in the world outside of Asia.
• The team was led by Col Hem Chandra Singh, Principal of NIM and JIM&WS, and was ceremonially flagged off by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on February 5, 2026.
• The team reached the summit at 14:10 hours after completing acclimatisation at Bonete Peak (5,050m).
• The expedition members included Capt G Santhosh Kumar, Shri Deep Bahadur Sahi, Shri Vinod Gusai, Nb Sub Bhupinder Singh, and Hav Ramesh Kumar.

Tomas Martin Etcheverry clinches maiden ATP title at Rio Open

[Argentina]

Key Updates:

• Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 to win his first ATP Tour title at the Rio Open.
• The Rio Open is an ATP 500 event held in Rio de Janeiro.
• Etcheverry rose 18 places to No. 33 in the ATP Live Rankings after the victory.
• Brazilian pair Joao Fonseca and Felipe Melo won the men’s doubles title, defeating Constantin Frantzen and Robin Haase 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.