🇮🇳 National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Micron Technology’s semiconductor Assembly, Test, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) facility at Sanand, Gujarat, on February 28, 2026.
This is India’s first commercial semiconductor assembly and test plant, approved under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), with a combined investment of approximately USD 2.75 billion (₹22,516 crore).
- Facility Size – Over 500,000 sq ft of cleanroom space, one of the world’s largest single-floor assembly and test cleanrooms.
- Products – Converts advanced DRAM and NAND wafers into finished memory and storage products for global customers.
- First Export – Micron has commenced commercial production and shipped its first made-in-India memory modules to Dell Technologies for locally manufactured laptops.
- Production Scale – Tens of millions of chips in 2026, scaling to hundreds of millions by 2027.
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra stated the facility will produce hundreds of millions of AI-ready chips annually. Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that India has established its position on the global semiconductor map under Semiconductor Mission 2.0.
“If oil was the regulator of the last century, microchips will be the regulator of this century.” — PM Narendra Modi
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the RailTech Policy and e-Railway Claims Tribunal (e-RCT) system as Reform Numbers 3 and 4 under Indian Railways’ flagship ’52 Reforms in 52 Weeks’ initiative.
- AI-based Elephant Intrusion Detection
- Fire detection in coaches
- Drone-based rail fracture detection
- Sensor-based load calculation
The e-RCT system fully digitises the Railway Claims Tribunal across 23 benches in 21 cities, enabling 24/7 online filing of claims, petitions, and documents from anywhere in India, with AI-enabled case tracking and automated notifications.
- Digitisation Timeline – All RCT benches to be fully digitised within 12 months.
- Funding – Scale-up grants increased by over 3x; prototype funding doubled. Railways funds up to 50% of development costs for viable solutions.
- Platform – Dedicated RailTech Portal with fully digital, end-to-end innovation submission process.
INS Anjadip, the fourth vessel of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) project, was formally commissioned into the Indian Navy at Chennai Port on February 27, 2026.
- Nickname – “Dolphin Hunter”
- Displacement – 1,400 tonnes; 77 metres in length
- Indigenous Content – Over 80%
- Builder – Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata
- Named After – Anjadip Island off the coast of Karwar, Karnataka
- Speed – 25 knots via high-speed water-jet propulsion
The commissioning was presided over by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, and hosted by Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. The ship is equipped with Hull Mounted Sonar Abhay, lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, and an advanced Combat Management System. It follows predecessors INS Arnala and INS Androth.
The vessel has been placed under the Flag Officer Commanding, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area.
13 Class XI students from Ariyakudi Government Higher Secondary School in Sivagangai district, Tamil Nadu, successfully launched a 600-gram mini satellite named Vikko Sat-1.
- Purpose – Detect fungal spores in the stratosphere using five specialised sensors
- Launch Method – Helium balloon, reaching 22–25 km altitude
- Development Time – Six months
- Application – Agricultural health and environmental monitoring (fungal spores can damage crops if they descend)
Former ISRO Satellite Centre Director Mylswamy Annadurai praised the students for their innovative use of space technology for agricultural applications.
The Government of West Bengal launched the ‘Banglar Yuva Sathi’ scheme in its Budget 2026–27 to provide financial support to unemployed youth.
- Monthly Benefit – Eligible beneficiaries receive ₹1,500 per month
- Target Group – Unemployed youth of West Bengal
- Additional Benefit – Many beneficiaries may also avail the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme for women
- Announced In – Budget 2026–27
💼 Business & Economy
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released new GDP data with an updated methodology aimed at capturing the economy more accurately.
India’s GDP growth is estimated at 6.5% for FY26 (2025–26), supported by strong consumer spending, infrastructure investments, and favourable agricultural output.
🌐 International News
The Pakistan-Afghanistan military confrontation escalated sharply, with Pakistan bombing Taliban government forces in Kabul and Kandahar on February 27 — the first direct attack on Taliban forces.
The ongoing conflict is rooted in the Durand Line dispute — the historical border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistani Defence Minister declared ‘open war’ with Afghanistan, stating the “cup of patience has overflowed.”
- Pakistani Losses – Over 55 Pakistani soldiers killed in cross-border escalation
- Afghan Retaliation – Afghan drones struck targets near Peshawar
- Casualty Dispute – Both sides reported heavy losses with sharply differing figures
🔬 Science & Technology
As PM Modi visits Israel, India is advancing talks to acquire the Sky Sting — a 6th-generation Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel.
- Generation – 6th-generation BVRAAM
- Developer – Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel
- Weight – 180–200 kg
- Compatible Aircraft – Tejas Mk1A and Sukhoi Su-30MKI
- Significance – Strengthens India-Israel defence partnership and enhances IAF air-to-air combat capabilities
📅 Important Days
Zero Discrimination Day is observed annually on March 1, promoted by UNAIDS, to encourage people everywhere to promote and celebrate diversity and reject discrimination.
The day highlights the right of every individual to live with dignity and respect regardless of gender, race, nationality, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other status. Organised by: UNAIDS.
A partial lunar eclipse is expected to be visible in parts of India on March 3, 2026.
Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon’s surface. This partial eclipse will be visible across Asia, Australia, and the Pacific.
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