National Affairs

Cabinet Approves Proposal to Rename ‘Kerala’ as ‘Keralam’

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal to officially change the name of the state of Kerala to Keralam on February 25, 2026.

The approval was given during the first Cabinet meeting held at the newly inaugurated Seva Teerth office complex in New Delhi, Delhi.

Background:
The proposal follows unanimous resolutions passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in:

• August 2023
• June 2024

Constitutional Procedure:
Under Article 3 of the Constitution of India, the President of India refers the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the State Legislature for its views before it is introduced in Parliament.

Parliamentary Approval:
The Bill must be passed by a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament and then receive Presidential assent.

Constitutional Amendment Required:
The name change requires modification of:

• First Schedule – listing of states
• Fourth Schedule – allocation of Rajya Sabha seats

Other Cabinet Approval:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Raw Jute TD-3 grade, Fair Quality at ₹5,925 per quintal for the 2026–27 marketing season.

MHA Releases India’s First National Counter-Terrorism Policy ‘PRAHAAR’

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released India’s new national counter-terrorism policy and strategy titled ‘PRAHAAR’ in February 2026.

The policy provides a comprehensive and proactive framework to deal with evolving terror threats and strengthen India’s counter-terrorism measures.

Meaning:
The term PRAHAAR means “strike”.

Core Pillars of PRAHAAR:

Approach:
The framework adopts both:

• Whole-of-government approach
• Whole-of-society approach

Key Stakeholders:

• Law enforcement agencies
• Private sector stakeholders
• Civil society organisations
• Government departments

India and France Sign Protocol to Amend Double Taxation Avoidance Convention

The Government of India and France signed a protocol to amend the India-France Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) in February 2026.

The original DTAC was signed on 29 September 1992.

Objective:
The amendment aims to modernise tax provisions and align them with global standards.

Key Amendments:

Capital Gains on Sale of Shares:
Capital gains from selling shares of a company will now be taxed in the country where the company is resident.

Removal of MFN Clause:
The Most-Favoured-Nation clause has been removed to resolve past disputes and bring clarity in taxation matters.

Dividend Tax Rates Revised:
A two-tier dividend tax system has been introduced.

Service Permanent Establishment:
A new concept of Service Permanent Establishment has been introduced, allowing certain service activities to create a taxable presence in a country.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Constitutes Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 Countries

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups (PFGs) with 64 countries in February 2026.

The initiative aims to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and legislative dialogue.

Significance:
The PFGs will enable Indian lawmakers to directly interact with their counterparts abroad and share legislative experiences.

Key Objectives:

• Promote regular parliamentary dialogue
• Exchange legislative practices
• Strengthen cooperation in trade and technology
• Enhance cultural cooperation
• Discuss shared global challenges

Structure:
Each Parliamentary Friendship Group generally consists of 11 members, led by a designated Chairperson / Group Leader.

Members:
The groups include Members of Parliament from both:

• Lok Sabha
• Rajya Sabha

PWD, CSIR-CRRI and SPA Sign MoUs for Road Asset Management System in NCR

The Public Works Departments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan signed four MoUs with CSIR-Central Road Research Institute and the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.

The MoUs were signed on February 24, 2026, to implement a Standard Framework and Road Asset Management System (RAMS) for dust-free and sustainable urban roads in the National Capital Region.

The MoUs were signed in the presence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi.

Validity:
The MoUs will remain valid for three years and can be extended.

Implementation Framework:

• Each state will appoint a Nodal Agency
• Each state will create a Paving and Greening Cell
• Coordination will focus on dust-free and sustainable roads

Road Lengths Covered:

Sarbananda Sonowal Launches ₹1,500 Crore Projects at VOC Port, Tamil Nadu

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth over ₹1,500 crore at V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.

The projects aim to modernise port infrastructure, integrate renewable energy, and improve digital security.

Alignment:
The initiatives align with Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

VOC Maritime Heritage Museum:
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the VOC Maritime Heritage Museum at VOC Port.

Purpose of Museum:
The museum is dedicated to:

• India’s maritime history
• Contributions of freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaranar
• Maritime heritage awareness

Infrastructure Projects:
Foundation stones were laid for projects related to:

• Upgraded rail connectivity
• Road connectivity
• Enhanced power infrastructure
• Solar energy
• Wind energy
• Battery storage
• Green hydrogen
• Advanced safety systems
• Digital platforms

India and GCC Sign Joint Statement on Free Trade Agreement

The Government of India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed a Joint Statement for a comprehensive India-GCC Free Trade Agreement on February 24, 2026.

The agreement marks an important step towards strengthening economic integration between India and GCC countries.

Signatories:

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of GCC

Place:
New Delhi, Delhi

Background:
The Joint Statement builds on the Terms of Reference signed on February 5, 2026, which laid out the framework for negotiations.

Areas of Cooperation:

Trade in Goods:
Focus on reducing or eliminating tariffs and improving market access for exporters.

Trade in Services:
Aims to provide greater access for Indian professionals and expand cooperation in:

• Information Technology
• Finance
• Healthcare
• Education

India-GCC Trade Relations:
GCC accounts for about 15% of India’s global trade.

Bilateral Trade:
India-GCC bilateral trade was valued at around USD 178.56 billion in FY25.

16th India-USA Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR Begins in Himachal Pradesh

The Indian Army and the United States Army commenced the 16th edition of Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR on February 24, 2026.

The exercise is being held at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

Duration:
February 24 to March 16, 2026

Aim:
The exercise aims to strengthen combined capabilities for conducting joint Special Forces operations in mountainous terrain.

Participating Forces:

Indian Army Conducts Exercise Agni Varsha in Pokhran

The Indian Army conducted Exercise Agni Varsha at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan on February 24, 2026.

The exercise tested and demonstrated operational readiness and combat capabilities in a realistic battlefield environment.

Led By:
The Integrated Fire and Manoeuvre Exercise was led by the Southern Command of the Indian Army.

Validation:
The exercise validated:

• Combined arms operations
• Precision long-range firepower
• Network-enabled command and control
• Combat readiness of mechanised forces
• Multi-domain operational synergy

Combat Elements Used:

• T-90 Main Battle Tanks
• Infantry Combat Vehicles
• K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers
• Sharang artillery systems
• Bofors artillery systems
• Rocket artillery systems
• Indigenous ALH weapon system-integrated helicopters
• Apache attack helicopters
• Unmanned Aerial Systems and drones
• Networked surveillance systems
• Counter-drone systems

Technology Focus:
The exercise highlighted the Indian Army’s emphasis on:

• Technology infusion
• Indigenisation of defence capabilities
• Network-centric warfare
• Multi-domain readiness

IIRIS and NLU Jodhpur Sign MoU to Establish Chair in Infosec and Forensic Society

IIRIS Consulting and National Law University, Jodhpur signed an MoU to establish the IIRIS Chair of Information Security and Forensic Society.

This is the first dedicated Chair in Information Security and Forensic Science at an Indian law university.

Signatories:

• Sagarika Chakraborty, CEO, IIRIS Consulting
• Professor Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Vice Chancellor, NLU Jodhpur

Place:
New Delhi, Delhi

Purpose:
The MoU aims to promote:

• Research
• Innovation
• Industry-academia collaboration
• Information security studies
• Forensic science education

Centre of Excellence:
A Centre of Excellence will be established under the initiative.

Certificate Programme:
A joint certificate programme titled Cyber-Led Forensic Investigation and Diligence (CLFID) will be launched.

Theme:
“Bridging Legal Theory & Investigative Practice in the Digital Age”

Significance:
The programme will equip participants with skills at the intersection of:

• Law
• Technology
• Digital investigations
• Cyber forensics

International Affairs

Indian Mountaineers Summit South America’s Highest Peak Aconcagua

A six-member Indian team from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, and the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Pahalgam, successfully summited Mount Aconcagua in Argentina in February 2026.

The achievement marks a major milestone for Indian mountaineering.

Flagged Off By:
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on February 5, 2026

Expedition Leader:
Colonel Hem Chandra Singh, Principal of NIM and JIM&WS

Pre-Summit Climb:
Before the summit attempt, the team scaled Mt. Bonete Peak at an altitude of 5,050 metres.

Challenges Faced:

• Extreme weather
• Strong winds
• Temperatures between -20°C and -30°C

About Mount Aconcagua:

Seven Summits:
Mount Aconcagua is one of the Seven Summits, which include:

• Mount Everest – Asia
• Aconcagua – South America
• Denali – North America
• Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa
• Mount Elbrus – Europe
• Mount Vinson – Antarctica
• Mount Kosciuszko – Australia

Banking & Finance

ADB Partners with Aavas Financiers for Affordable Housing and MSME Lending

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a senior secured debt financing package of up to USD 108 million, or about ₹983 crore, with Aavas Financiers Limited.

The funding will support affordable housing and MSME lending in India.

Purpose:
The financing will support:

• Housing loans for lower-middle-income borrowers
• Self-built homes
• Green-certified homes
• Climate-resilient housing
• Energy-efficient housing
• Business loans for MSMEs in underserved states

Capacity Support:
The package includes concessional debt financing of USD 8 million through the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia.

Technical Assistance:
The transaction also includes up to USD 150,000 in technical assistance.

Objective of Technical Assistance:

• Strengthen institutional capacity
• Promote green housing awareness
• Support climate-conscious lending

Appointments & Resignations

FSIB Recommends Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi as CMD of GIC Re

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau recommended Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the General Insurance Corporation of India in February 2026.

Final Approval:
The final appointment will be confirmed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

About Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi:

Current Position:
He is serving as Executive Director of GIC Re since 9 July 2024.

Additional Charge:
He has been holding additional charge as CMD of GIC Re since 1 October 2025, after the superannuation of Ramaswamy Narayanan.

Profile:
He is a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of India and has several decades of experience in operational and strategic functions within GIC Re.

Sachin Tendulkar Appointed UN Global Road Safety Champion

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was designated as a Global Champion for Road Safety by the United Nations on February 24, 2026.

He will support global road safety awareness efforts.

Make a Safety Statement Campaign:
Sachin Tendulkar released a video promoting safe road practices under the UN-JCDecaux #MakeASafetyStatement campaign.

Campaign Launched By:
Jean Todt, Special Envoy for Road Safety of the UN Secretary-General, launched the campaign in New Delhi.

Safety Actions Promoted:

• Wearing seat belts
• Wearing helmets
• Following speed limits
• Avoiding mobile phone use while driving
• Avoiding drunk driving
• Respecting pedestrians and cyclists

Campaign Cities in India:
Digital billboards and posters will appear in:

• New Delhi
• Mumbai
• Chennai
• Bengaluru

Sustainable Road Safety Initiative:
The UN also launched the Sustainable Financing for Road Safety in India – A Collaborative Approach project under the UN Road Safety Fund.

Technical Support By:

• World Health Organization
• UNICEF
• UNESCAP

IIT Madras Professor B. Ravindran Appointed to UN International Panel on AI

Professor B. Ravindran of IIT Madras was appointed to the United Nations Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence in February 2026.

The announcement was made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

Key Highlight:
Professor Ravindran represents India and the Global South among 40 global experts.

About the Panel:
It is the first global scientific body established by the UN to provide independent scientific assessments of AI’s impact on society.

About Professor B. Ravindran:

Current Role:
Head of the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras

Other Role:
Founding Head of the Centre for Responsible AI at IIT Madras

Experience:
He has more than 30 years of experience in AI research.

Research Areas:

• Responsible AI
• Deep reinforcement learning
• AI governance
• AI impact assessment

UN Independent Panel on AI:

Background:
The panel was set up through a UN General Assembly resolution adopted on August 26, 2025.

Objective:
The panel aims to:

• Strengthen global scientific cooperation
• Generate evidence-based information on AI deployment
• Support global AI governance
• Assess AI’s impact on lives and societies worldwide

Science & Technology

Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh Launches AI Biotech Product Data Portal ‘SUJVIKA’

Union Minister of State Independent Charge Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology, launched SUJVIKA, an AI-driven biotech product data portal, on February 24, 2026.

The launch marked the 40th Foundation Day of the Department of Biotechnology at the Civil Services Officers Institute, New Delhi.

Other Launch:
Dr. Jitendra Singh also launched the revamped DBT website, aligned with the Government of India’s Digital Brand Identity Manual framework.

About SUJVIKA:
SUJVIKA is a Trade Statistics Digital Intelligence Platform.

Purpose:
It creates a comprehensive and searchable database of biotechnology products developed across India.

Developed In Collaboration With:
The portal was developed with industry partner Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE).

Sectors Covered:

• Healthcare and biopharma
• Agricultural biotechnology
• Industrial biotechnology
• Environmental biotechnology

Significance:
The portal will support biotech product mapping, trade intelligence, innovation visibility, and policy planning in India’s biotechnology sector.

State News

Jharkhand Government Tables ₹1.58 Lakh Crore Budget for FY27

Jharkhand Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore presented a ₹1,58,560 crore budget for FY 2026–27 in the state legislative assembly in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

The budget has been named ‘Abua Dishom’, meaning “our own”, as a tribute to former Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

Budget Size:
The FY27 budget shows an increase from ₹1.45 lakh crore in FY26.

Growth:
The budget is around 9% higher than the previous year.

Revenue Receipts:
Total revenue receipts are estimated at ₹1,36,210.04 crore.

Revenue Sources:

Fiscal Deficit:
The fiscal deficit is estimated at ₹13,595.96 crore, accounting for 2.8% of the estimated Gross Domestic Product.

Major Sector-Wise Allocations:

Gender Budget:
The Gender Budget covers 232 schemes across 17 state departments.

Child Budget:
The Child Budget covers 138 schemes.

Focus Areas:
The budget focuses on:

• Social welfare
• Women empowerment
• Child development
• Education
• Healthcare
• Agriculture
• Inclusive development across Jharkhand