National Affairs

Union Cabinet Approves Major Infrastructure, Metro, Airport and Rail Projects

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved multiple major projects on 24 February 2026 to strengthen India’s infrastructure, energy, airport, metro and railway connectivity.

Key Cabinet Approvals:

POWERGRID Approval:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved enhanced delegation to POWERGRID under the Department of Public Enterprises guidelines for Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises.

Key Change:

• Equity investment limit per subsidiary increased from ₹5,000 crore to ₹7,500 crore
• Existing 15% net worth cap retained

Metro Extension:
The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the metro corridor from GIFT City to Shahpur.

Project Details:

• Length: 3.33 km
• Stations: 3 elevated stations
• Estimated cost: ₹1,067.35 crore
• Completion timeline: Around 4 years

Civil Enclave at Srinagar Airport:
The CCEA approved the development of a Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport, Budgam Airbase, Jammu & Kashmir.

Estimated Cost:
₹1,677 crore

Railway Projects:
The CCEA approved three multitracking projects under the Ministry of Railways at a total cost of ₹9,072 crore.

Approved Railway Projects:

• Gondia–Jabalpur Doubling — Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
• Punarakh–Kiul 3rd and 4th line — Bihar
• Gamharia–Chandil 3rd and 4th line — Jharkhand

MeitY Constitutes High-Level Committee for DigiLocker and Launches Blockchain India Challenge

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology constituted a high-level committee to harmonise the regulatory framework of DigiLocker.

The Ministry also launched the Blockchain India Challenge to promote startup-driven blockchain solutions for digital governance.

Committee Head:
Ajay Sawhney, Former Secretary, MeitY

Committee Members Include:

• Legal experts
• Technology specialists
• Industry representatives

About Blockchain India Challenge:

Implementation Agency:
The challenge is implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Hyderabad, with support from MeitY.

Total Prize Pool:
₹8.80 crore

Challenge Structure:

Ultimate Prize:
Top performers from each of the 10 Use Case Categories will compete for the final prize of ₹50 lakh per category.

Significance:
The initiative aims to encourage blockchain-based innovation in public service delivery and digital governance.

ESIC Begins 75th Foundation Year Celebrations

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, a statutory social security body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, began its 75th Foundation Year celebrations on 24 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The event was addressed by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Key Highlight:
The celebrations mark ESIC’s journey since its inception in 1952.

Major Launches and Initiatives:

₹75 Commemorative Coin:
The Government of India issued a ₹75 commemorative coin to mark the 75th Foundation Day of ESIC.

Coffee Table Book:
A book titled “ESIC@75” was launched to document ESIC’s legacy and key milestones.

Swasthya Rath:
A healthcare outreach initiative launched to bring essential healthcare services to the doorsteps of beneficiaries.

Special Services Fortnight:
ESIC will observe a Special Services Fortnight from 24 February to 10 March 2026 across its field offices, hospitals and medical institutions.

MoUs Signed:

India and Nepal Sign MoU to Strengthen Environmental Cooperation

India and Nepal signed an MoU on 25 February 2026 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in environmental areas.

The agreement was signed between India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment.

Signatories:

• Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister, MoEFCC
• Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, Cabinet Minister for Forests and Environment, Nepal

Place:
New Delhi, Delhi

Areas of Cooperation:

• Forests
• Wildlife
• Environment
• Biodiversity conservation
• Climate change

Purpose:
The MoU aims to promote joint efforts for protecting and sustainably managing shared natural resources, especially in cross-border ecosystems.

Significance:
The agreement will strengthen India-Nepal cooperation in conserving biodiversity and addressing climate change impacts in the Himalayan and Terai regions.

Government Mandates Sale of E20 Petrol with Minimum RON 95 from April 2026

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a notification mandating the sale of petrol with a maximum 20% ethanol blend and minimum Research Octane Number 95 across all States and Union Territories from 1 April 2026.

The move supports India’s Ethanol Blended Programme.

Key Objective:

• Reduce crude oil import dependence
• Lower carbon emissions
• Promote cleaner fuel
• Support the agricultural economy

About Ethanol:
Ethanol is a biofuel made from sources such as:

• Sugarcane
• Maize
• Grain

It is renewable and locally produced.

Why RON 95 Matters:
Research Octane Number measures a fuel’s resistance to engine knocking or pre-ignition.

Key Highlight:
Ethanol has a naturally high octane value of nearly 108 RON, and blending 20% ethanol with petrol improves knock resistance.

About Ethanol Blended Programme:
The programme was launched in January 2003 by MoPNG with an initial target of 5% ethanol-blended petrol.

7th India-Japan Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN Begins in Uttarakhand

The 7th edition of Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN, the annual joint military exercise between India and Japan, began on 24 February 2026 at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubattia, Uttarakhand.

Duration:
24 February to 9 March 2026

Indian Contingent:
The Indian Army is represented by troops from the Ladakh Scouts, known for expertise in high-altitude and rugged terrain operations.

Japanese Contingent:
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is represented by personnel from the 32nd Infantry Regiment.

Participation:
Around 120 personnel from each side are participating.

Aim:
The exercise aims to:

• Strengthen military-to-military cooperation
• Enhance interoperability
• Improve joint operational capabilities
• Promote mutual understanding and trust

Training Activities:

• Establishment of Temporary Operating Bases
• Cordon and search operations
• House intervention drills
• Close-quarter battle drills
• Mobile vehicle check posts

TEC Signs MoU with IIT Kharagpur for Advanced Telecom Research

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre, the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications, signed an MoU with IIT Kharagpur in February 2026.

The MoU aims to promote advanced telecom research and global standardisation.

Place:
IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal

Purpose:
The partnership creates a formal framework for joint research, technical studies and contributions in next-generation telecom technologies.

Focus Areas:

• 6G architecture and technologies
• Optical networks
• Non-Terrestrial Networks
• Passive Optical Networks
• Multiple Input Multiple Output technologies
• AI-based Electromagnetic Field monitoring
• Satellite systems
• Integrated emergency connectivity networks

Global Standardisation:
The collaboration will strengthen India’s role in global standard-setting bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union.

International Affairs

World Bank Releases Women, Business and the Law Report 2026

The World Bank Group released the 11th edition of the Women, Business and the Law Report 2026 in February 2026.

The report is titled “Women, Business and the Law 2026: Benchmarking Laws for Jobs and Inclusive Growth.”

Key Finding:
The report revealed that laws designed to provide equal economic opportunities for women are, on average, only half-enforced globally.

About the Report:
Women, Business and the Law is a global benchmarking project that assesses how laws, regulations and policies affect women’s economic opportunities and private sector development.

Coverage:
The report covers 190 economies.

Global Average Scores:

Key Concern:
The enforcement perception score of 53 shows that women’s rights are only partly upheld globally.

Legal Rights Gap:
Even if laws were fully enforced, women would still access only about two-thirds of the legal rights available to men.

Full Legal Equality:
Only 4% of women globally live in economies that provide nearly full legal equality.

Banking & Finance

IRFC Secures USD 400 Million ECB from Japan’s SMBC and MUFG Bank

Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited, a Schedule ‘A’ Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Railways, signed a loan agreement to raise an External Commercial Borrowing worth JPY equivalent USD 400 million.

The loan agreement was signed with a consortium of Japan’s:

• Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
• MUFG Bank

The borrowing will be routed through their GIFT City branches.

Key Highlight:
This is IRFC’s second overseas borrowing in FY26, after its USD 300 million equivalent borrowing in December 2025.

Signatories:

• Nav Goel, General Manager Finance, IRFC
• Manoj Kaushik, Executive Director, SMBC
• Parul Shah, Head IBU, MUFG

Place:
New Delhi, Delhi

Nature of Borrowing:

• Tenure: 5 years
• Benchmark: Overnight TONAR
• Facility type: Unsecured

Regulatory Disclosure:
The agreement was disclosed under Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015.

Use of Funds:
The funds will be used to finance railway sector projects, including those with forward and backward linkages, in line with ECB guidelines.

NSE IX Launches Global Access Platform for Indian Retail Investors

The NSE International Exchange launched the NSE IX Global Access platform in February 2026.

The platform allows Indian retail investors and Non-Resident Indians to directly trade in global:

• Equities
• Debt
• Exchange-Traded Funds

Initial Phase:
The platform will initially provide access to United States-listed stocks.

Expansion Plan:
NSE IX plans to expand access to more than 30 international markets over the next 3 to 6 months.

Investment Framework:
The platform operates under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of the Reserve Bank of India.

LRS Limit:
Resident individuals can remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year for overseas investments.

Key Feature:
Investors can start trading without opening a separate demat account.

Mechanism:

• Investors transfer funds in Indian rupees to an NSE IX-designated bank account
• Funds are converted into USD
• Investors can then invest in global markets

Regulator:
The platform is regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority and complies with LRS guidelines.

Economy & Business

Bengaluru Airport Signs MoU with Frankfurt Airport to Strengthen Air Cargo Connectivity

Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, signed an MoU with Frankfurt Airport, Germany, on 25 February 2026.

The agreement aims to strengthen air cargo connectivity between India and Europe.

Event:
The MoU was signed during Air Cargo India 2026, held from 25 to 27 February 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

Objective:
The MoU aims to create a seamless and efficient trade lane between Bengaluru and Frankfurt.

Key Benefits:

• Improved cargo movement
• Better access for Indian exporters to European markets
• Stronger India-Europe air cargo corridor

Focus Areas:

• Digital cargo corridor
• Pharma integrity standards
• Knowledge exchange
• Improved service predictability

Awards & Recognitions

Mangaluru Airport Wins 2025 Global ASQ Best Arrivals Award

Mangaluru International Airport, Karnataka, won the 2025 Airports Service Quality Customer Experience Award in the Best Airport at Arrivals category.

This marks the airport’s second consecutive win in the category.

Organiser:
The ASQ Awards are organised by Airports Council International in partnership with gold sponsor SITA.

Major ASQ Award Categories:

• Best Airports at Arrivals
• Best Airports at Departures
• Most Dedicated Staff
• Easiest Airport Journey
• Most Enjoyable Airport
• Cleanest Airport

Indian Airports in Best Arrivals Category:
Out of six global winners in the Best Airports at Arrivals category, four were from India:

• Mangaluru International Airport, Karnataka
• Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow
• Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad
• Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru

Indian Airports in Departures Category:

Appointments & Resignations

IAS Officer Nidhi Chhibber Gets Additional Charge as CEO of NITI Aayog

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave additional charge of Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog to IAS officer Nidhi Chhibber.

She assumed the role on 24 February 2026.

Reason:
She took charge after the completion of the tenure of B.V.R. Subrahmanyam as CEO of NITI Aayog.

About Nidhi Chhibber:

Current Role:
Director General of the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office at NITI Aayog.

Previous Roles:

• Chairperson of Central Board of Secondary Education
• Additional Secretary in NITI Aayog
• Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries

Key Contribution:
During her CBSE tenure, she oversaw examination and policy reforms at India’s largest national education board.

Sports

Indian Army Wins 6th Khelo India Winter Games 2026 Team Championship

The Indian Army successfully defended its team championship title at the 6th Khelo India Winter Games 2026.

The second leg of the Games concluded at Gulmarg Golf Course, Jammu & Kashmir, from 23 to 26 February 2026.

First Leg:
The first leg was held in Leh, Ladakh, from 20 to 26 January 2026.

Indian Army Performance:
The Indian Army secured a total of 9 gold medals, including:

• 8 gold medals from Gulmarg leg
• 1 gold medal from Leh leg

Final Medal Tally: Top 3 Teams

Host:
The Games were hosted by the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council and managed by the Sports Authority of India.

Mascot:
Sheen-E-She / Shan, the Snow Leopard, symbolised resilience and agility.

Obituary

Veteran Steel Industry Executive Jatinder Mehra Passes Away

Veteran steel industry executive Jatinder Mehra passed away in February 2026 at the age of 86 in New Delhi.

He was Vice Chairman of Essar Group’s Metals and Mining Division and had more than 60 years of experience in the steel industry.

Born:
3 March 1939 in Lahore, present-day Pakistan

About Jatinder Mehra:

Profile:
His career spanned over six decades and he played a major role in the growth and modernisation of India’s steel industry.

Career Highlights:

• Served as Executive Director at Steel Authority of India Limited
• Contributed to production systems and operational efficiency
• Served as Chairman and Managing Director of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
• Accelerated capacity expansion and modernisation at RINL
• Served as Vice Chairman of Metals & Mining Division at Essar Group

Award:
In 2022, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Steel Association.

Important Days

National Protein Day 2026 – February 27

National Protein Day is observed annually across India on 27 February to raise awareness about the importance of protein in daily nutrition.

The day educates people about the role of protein in:

• Maintaining health
• Supporting growth and development
• Improving nutrition awareness
• Promoting protein-rich dietary choices

2026 Observance:
27 February 2026 marked the 7th National Protein Day in India.

Background:
National Protein Day began in India in 2020 with the launch of the Right to Protein campaign.

First Observance:
27 February 2020

About Right to Protein Campaign:
The campaign is led by the United States Soybean Export Council.

Focus Areas:

• Protein awareness
• Plant-based