26th February 2026

1. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Constitutes ‘Parliamentary Friendship Groups’ with 64 Countries
2. PWD, CSIR-CRRI & SPA Sign Four MoUs for Standard Framework & RAMS Implementation in NCR
3. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates and Lays Foundation Stones for Rs 1,500 Crore Projects at VOC Port, TN
4. Indian Army Conducts ‘Exercise Agni Varsha; in Pokhran, Rajasthan
5. IIRIS and NLU Jodhpur Sign MoU to Establish Chair in Infosec and Forensic Society
6. Indian Mountaineers Summit South America’s Highest Peak Aconcagua
7. ADB Partners with Aavas Financiers to Expand Affordable Housing, MSME Lending in India
8. FSIB Recommends Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi as CMD of GIC Re
9. Legendary Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar Appointed as UN Global Road Safety Champion
10. IIT-M Prof. B. Ravindran Appointed to UN International Panel on AI
11. A Century of Struggle: CPI Veteran R Nallakannu Passes Away at 101
12. End of an Era: Steel Veteran Jatinder Mehra Passes Away at 86
13. TRAI Marks 29th Foundation Day 2026
14. PM Modi Becomes First Indian Leader to Receive Israel’s Top Parliamentary Honour
15. 7th All India Conference of GRP Chiefs Concludes at Vigyan Bhawan
16. ESIC Celebrates 75th Foundation Year at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
17. MoEFCC to Organise ‘Him-CONNECT’ at WSDS 2026 in New Delhi
18. TERI’s World Sustainable Development Summit 2026
19. India and Israel Begin First Round of FTA Negotiations in New Delhi
20. National Arogya Fair 2026 to Be Held in Shegaon, Maharashtra

National News

Lok Sabha Constitutes Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 60+ Countries

• What: Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups with more than 60 countries to strengthen inter-parliamentary dialogue and deepen India’s global engagement.
• Tell me more:
  • The initiative will help Indian lawmakers speak directly with foreign legislators, share experiences and build trust. It will support discussions on trade, technology and global issues.

United Nations Launches #MakeASafetyStatement Road Safety Campaign in India

• What: United Nations (UN) launched the Indian edition of the #MakeASafetyStatement campaign in New Delhi to promote simple road safety actions and support the global goal of reducing road crash deaths.
• Tell me more:
  • The campaign promotes seat belts, helmets, safe speeds and no distracted or drunk driving, with messages shown on billboards in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru.
  • The campaign has already been deployed in over 50 countries and will be displayed in 80 countries and 1,000 cities by 2026.
  • Sachin Tendulkar joined the campaign as one of the celebrities designated as Global Champions for Road Safety.
  • In India, road crashes cause about 153,972 deaths annually, with a rate of 15.4 per 100,000 population.
  • The initiative supports the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030) to halve road deaths by 2030. The first decade was from 2011–2020.
  • UN also launched a project titled “Sustainable Financing for Road Safety in India” in Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Assam, with support from WHO, UNICEF and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
    • The programme will improve blackspots, school zones, pedestrian and cycling facilities and post-crash care in above states that have set up institutions for road safety.
  • India’s National Road Safety Strategy 2018-2030: Sets a framework targeting a 50% reduction in road fatalities by 2030.
  • UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety – Jean Todt

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Marks 29 Years with Focus on Emerging Digital Issues

• What: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) commemorated TRAI Day 2026, marking 29 years since its establishment on February 20, 1997.
• Tell me more:
  • TRAI was created through the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, to regulate the telecom sector, which makes TRAI a statutory body.
  • In 2000, this law was changed through an ordinance. A new body called the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) was created from January 24, 2000.
  • TDSAT handles disputes between:
    • Government (licensor) and telecom companies (licensees)
    • Two or more telecom companies
    • A telecom company and a group of consumers
  • TDSAT also hears appeals against decisions or orders given by TRAI.

7th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs Concludes in New Delhi

• What: The 7th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs, convened by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), concluded at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, focusing on strengthening passenger and railway infrastructure security amid emerging threats across Indian Railways.
• Tell me more:
  • The conference was presided over by Director General, RPF, Ms Sonali Mishra.
  • Chairman-cum-CEO, Railway Board – Shri Satish Kumar

Employees’ State Insurance Corporation Celebrates 75th Year of Service

• What: Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) commenced its 75th Year of Service celebrations in New Delhi, marking seven decades of social security and healthcare support to workers and highlighting expansion under the Labour Codes.
• Tell me more:
  • ESIC was established in 1952 under the Employees’ State Insurance Act and is observed annually on February 24.
  • Services are delivered through 166 hospitals, 17 medical colleges, nearly 1,600 dispensaries, and coverage across 713 districts in 36 States and Union Territories.
  • A Commemorative Coin and ESIC@75 Coffee Table Book were released.
  • Swasthya Rath Initiative was launched to bring healthcare services closer to Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) beneficiaries.
  • ESIC signed MoUs with National Health Authority for convergence of the ESI Scheme with the Ayushman Bharat and with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories to strengthen laboratory quality standards across ESIC healthcare facilities.

25th World Sustainable Development Summit Inaugurated in New Delhi

• What: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change inaugurated the 25th World Sustainable Development Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • The Summit is organised by The Energy and Resources Institute under the theme “Transformations: Vision, Voices and Values for Sustainable Development.”
  • It marks 25 years as an independently convened international platform on sustainable development based in the Global South.
  • Him-CONNECT initiative of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was launched to connect researchers with investors, so climate-friendly and sustainable technologies can be used on the ground in mountain regions.
  • World Sustainable Development Summit Silver Jubilee Archival Pocketbook was released documenting 25 editions of the Summit.
  • Director General, TERI – Dr Vibha Dhawan

State News

• Port Projects Worth ₹1,500 Crore Launched at Tuticorin
  • What: Union Minister for Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated and laid foundation for port projects worth about ₹1,500 crore at Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu.
  • Tell me more:
    • At Tuticorin port, projects like the VOC Maritime Heritage Museum were launched, and the foundation stone was laid for an 8 MW wind farm and a 5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System.
    • Corporate Social Responsibility projects were also started.

  President Inaugurates National Arogya Fair 2026 in Maharashtra

• • President of India inaugurated National Arogya Fair 2026 in Shegaon, Maharashtra, highlighting the role of AYUSH systems in strengthening public health, environmental conservation, and global acceptance of integrative medicine.

Banking and Economy

Asian Development Bank Signs USD 108 Million Deal with Aavas Financiers

• What: Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a senior secured debt financing package of up to USD 108 million with Aavas Financiers.
• Why: The financing will help low-income families access affordable and green housing loans and support MSMEs with business credit. It will also promote women property ownership and encourage climate-resilient, energy-efficient housing solutions.
• Tell me more:
  • The package includes USD 8 million concessional debt through the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CANPA).
  • CANPA was set up in 2024 as a trust fund managed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Canadian government has committed 360 million Canadian dollars to support it.
  • This fund continues the work of two earlier funds, the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia II (CFPS II) and CFPS.

Defence News

Indian Army Conducts Exercise Agni Varsha and Dharma Guardian

• What: Indian Army conducted Exercise Agni Varsha in Pokhran to test combat readiness in the Desert Sector, while the 7th Joint Military Exercise Dharma Guardian with Japan began in Uttarakhand.
• Tell me more:
  • Agni Varsha was held under Headquarters Southern Command. It is an Indian Army exercise conducted by India alone, with no other country. Although 25 foreign defence journalists from 25 friendly countries came to witness the exercise.
  • The Japan Ground Self-Defence Force is represented by the 32nd Infantry Regiment, while the Indian Army contingent is drawn from the Ladakh Scouts.

Awards

Indian Team Summits Mt Aconcagua in Historic Mountaineering Achievement

• What: A six-member team from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi and Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam successfully summited Mt Aconcagua.
• Tell me more:
  • Mt Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America and the second-highest outside Asia, located in Argentina’s Andes Mountains near the Chilean border.
  • The team was led by Col Hem Chandra Singh, Principal of NIM and JIM&WS.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Conferred Speaker of the Knesset Medal

• What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Speaker of the Knesset Medal, the highest honour of the Israeli Parliament, becoming the first Indian leader to receive it for strengthening strategic relations between India and Israel.
• Tell me more:
  • The Indian Parliament has set up a Parliamentary Friendship Group for Israel.
  • In 2018, he received the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine, the highest Palestinian honour for foreign leaders.
  • The first round of negotiations for the India–Israel Free Trade Agreement commenced in New Delhi to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation by providing certainty and predictability to businesses, including MSMEs.

Memorandum of Understanding

NCR States Sign MoUs to Reduce Road Dust Pollution

• What: Four Memoranda of Understanding were signed between NCR State agencies, CSIR–Central Road Research Institute and School of Planning and Architecture to implement a standard framework for paving, greening and managing urban roads to reduce dust pollution.
• Tell me more:
  • The initiative will help reduce PM10 dust pollution from roads across NCR. It will improve road design, greening and maintenance using modern technology and a digital Road Asset Management System.
  • A Web-GIS-based Road Asset Management System will be developed.
  • The framework was issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management.

IIRIS and National Law University Jodhpur Sign MoU to Set Up Infosec Chair

• What: Leading risk and intelligence firm IIRIS signed an MoU with National Law University (NLU) Jodhpur to establish the IIRIS Chair of Infosec and Forensic Society, strengthening research and skill development in information security and forensic science in India.
• Tell me more:
  • The Chair will promote research, innovation and industry-academia collaboration in information security and forensic science.
  • The MoU also launched a joint Certificate Programme on Cyber-Led Forensic Investigation and Diligence.
  • The programme will help students build practical skills that connect law, technology and investigations. It will bridge legal theory with real investigative practice in the digital age.

Appointments

FSIB Recommends Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi as CMD of GIC-Re

• What: Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) recommended Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC-Re).
• Tell me more:
  • The Financial Services Institutions Bureau was set up by the Central Government from July 1, 2022. Its main job is to recommend people for top posts like whole-time directors and non-executive chairpersons in financial institutions.
  • Its secretariat has one Secretary and five officers.

IIT Madras Professor Appointed to UN Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence

• What: Professor B. Ravindran from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) was appointed to the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence set up by the United Nations to assess Artificial Intelligence’s impact on society.
• Tell me more:
  • The 40-member global panel will provide independent guidance on Artificial Intelligence’s social, economic and ethical impacts while strengthening scientific cooperation and supporting international governance under the Global Digital Compact.
    • The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the 2024 Summit of the Future, which outlined a shared vision for an open, safe, and inclusive digital future.
  • Professor B. Ravindran is Founding Head of Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) and Head of Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at IIT Madras.
  • The UN also launched a global dialogue on Artificial Intelligence governance inviting countries, private sector, academia and civil society.

Miscellaneous

Veteran CPI Leader R Nallakannu Passes Away at 101

• What: Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader R Nallakannu passed away at 101 in Tamil Nadu, marking the end of an eight-decade-long political journey that significantly shaped farmers’ movements, workers’ rights advocacy, and left politics in the state.
• Tell me more:
  • CPI supports policies related to labour rights, land reforms, and social justice. It has played an important role in trade unions, farmers’ movements, and left politics in different states of India, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Steel Industry Veteran Jatinder Mehra Passes Away

• Jatinder Mehra, Vice Chairman of the Metals and Mining Division at Essar Group and a steel industry veteran with over six decades of experience, passed away.

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