Daily Current Affairs

PM Narendra Modi completed a 2-day state visit to Israel (Feb 25–26), becoming the first Indian leader to address the Knesset (Israeli Parliament).

• Knesset Address: Reaffirmed India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism; condemned the October 7 Hamas attack.
• Medal: Received the prestigious ‘Speaker of the Knesset’ Medal for contributions to India-Israel ties.
• Agreements: Signed MoUs on innovation, agriculture, technology cooperation. Discussed AI and quantum computing.
• Yad Vashem: Visited the Holocaust memorial museum. PM Netanyahu called Modi a ‘dear friend and brother’.

On 25 February, the Union Cabinet approved officially renaming ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’ during its first meeting at the Seva Teerth complex.

• Article 3: Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to be referred to State Legislature; requires simple majority in both Houses.
• Requires amendment of First Schedule and Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Kerala Assembly passed unanimous resolutions in August 2023 and June 2024.

PM Modi inaugurated India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) — the 82 km Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor on 22 February at Meerut, UP.

• First in India: RRTS and Metro operating from the same station and track.
• Speed: Designed for 180 kmph, operational speed 160 kmph.
• Stations: Sarai Kale Khan (originating) to Meerut; 4 stations commissioned.
• Development projects worth Rs 12,930 crore dedicated. Meerut Metro also flagged off.

The Ministry of Home Affairs released India’s first national CT policy ‘PRAHAR’.

• Pillars: Prevention, swift Response, Aggregation of internal capacities, Human rights-based Approach, and Resilience.
• Zero-tolerance for terrorism; rejects linkage with any religion/nationality.
• Criminalises terrorist acts; denies funds, weapons, and safe havens.

India and France signed a protocol amending the India-France DTAC (originally 29 September 1992).

• MFN Clause Removed: Resolves past disputes; brings taxation clarity.
• Capital Gains: Taxed in the country where the company is resident.
• Dividend Tax: 5% for 10%+ shareholding; 15% for others.

India and Sweden signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) for cooperation in Artificial Intelligence in 2026.

India and Nepal signed a new MoU to deepen cooperation in forests, wildlife, biodiversity and climate change.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela at ICAR campus, Pusa, Delhi.

CCEA approved MSP for raw jute (TD-3 grade) at Rs 5,925/quintal for the 2026–27 marketing season.

• Increase of Rs 275/quintal; ensures 61.8% return over weighted average cost.
• Since 2014–15, jute MSP: Rs 2,400 → Rs 5,925 (2.5x increase).
• Disbursement since 2014: Rs 1,342 crore.

FM Radhakrishna Kishore presented Rs 1.58 lakh crore budget named ‘Abua Dishom’ (tribute to Shibu Soren); 9% over FY26.

• Revenue receipts: Rs 1,36,210 crore.
• Own tax: Rs 46,000 crore.
• Fiscal deficit: 2.8% of GDP.

Rob Jetten (38) was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Netherlands in February 2026.

• Coalition: D66 + CDA + VVD (66 of 150 seats).
• Sworn in by King Willem-Alexander at Huis ten Bosch Palace, The Hague.

The UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) launched a Sustainable Road Safety Financing Project in India.

Inaugurated in New Delhi during the visit of Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety.

INS Anjadip, the 3rd vessel of the 8-ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) project, was commissioned at Chennai Port on 27 February 2026.

• Presided by: Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff.
• Built by: GRSE, Kolkata. Length: 77 metres. Water-jet propulsion.
• Equipment: Hull Mounted Sonar Abhay, lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets.
• ‘Dolphin Hunter’: Detection, tracking, and neutralisation of submarines in coastal waters.
• Also performs coastal surveillance, LIMO, and Search & Rescue operations.

The IAF conducted Exercise Vayushakti-26 at Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range, Jaisalmer on 27 February 2026.

• Aircraft: Tejas, Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-29, Hawk, C-130J, C-295, C-17.
• Motto: ‘Achook, Abhedya aur Sateek’ (Precise, Impenetrable, Accurate).
• Full-spectrum operations: fighter, transport, helicopter platforms. Showcases Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The 7th edition of bilateral military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ between India and Japan.

• Focus: Counter-terrorism under UN mandate; ISR grid, heliborne missions, house-intervention drills.
• First time: AI-enabled sensors transmitting real-time battlefield data.
• Reinforces India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Southern Command of the Indian Army conducted Exercise Agni Varsha at Pokhran, Rajasthan — a fire-and-manoeuvre drill for desert operational readiness.

The final assembly of H125 helicopters (Airbus) will begin in India from 2027, boosting indigenous defence manufacturing.

DBT launched SUJVIKA — a Trade Statistics Digital Intelligence Platform for biotech products.

• Developed with ABLE.
• Covers healthcare/biopharma, agri-biotech, industrial & environmental biotech.

The Union Health Ministry is rolling out a nationwide HPV vaccination programme targeting 14-year-old girls.

Observed annually on 27 February to recognise NGOs’ role in human rights, education, health, and environment.

Officially recognised in 2010; first celebrated in 2014.