28th February 2026

1. India’s Young Adults Rank 60th in Global Mental Health Report
2. WEF President & CEO Borge Brende Resigns; Alois Zwinggi Appointed Interim CEO
3. RBI Approves SBI MF to Acquire Up to 9.99% Stake in RBL Bank and Bandhan Bank
4. Facebook Overseas Acquires 30% Stake in REIL for Rs.256.6 Crore
5. Rare Disease Day 2026
6. Chhattisgarh FM Presented Rs 1.72 Lakh Crore Budget for FY27, focus on Bastar Development, Education & Industry
7. Sikkim Renames Pakyong Airport After Freedom Fighter Trilochan Pokhrel
8. Jammu & Kashmir Win Ranji Trophy in Maiden Final After 67 Years
9. Exercise Vayu Shakti 2026: Indian Air Force Unleashes Firepower Near Pakistan Border
10. UAE Launches World’s First Sovereign Financial Cloud with AI: A New Era for Secure Digital Finance
11. Wankhede Honours Ravi Shastri Names Stand After Former India Captain
12. UN Road Safety Fund Launched Road Safety Financing Project in India
13. Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches Rail Tech Policy, Portal & e-RCT in Big Reform Push
14. India & Germany Join Forces As Climate Resilience Initiative to Save Fragile Ecosystems
15. India Smashed The Highest ever T20 World Cup Score
16. CERT-In, SIA-India Release New Space Cyber Security Framework
17. Jeevan Gaurav and Ayurveda Gaurav Samman
18. Flight-trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System

National News

Rail Tech Policy and e-RCT Phase Two Launched Under Reform Initiative

• What: Ministry of Railways launched Rail Tech Policy and second phase of e-RCT to promote technology adoption and digitise Railway Claims Tribunal processes across Indian Railways under the government’s ‘52 Reforms in 52 Weeks’ initiative
• Tell me more:
  • Rail Tech Portal was launched to invite ideas from start-ups, innovators and industry to solve problems and improve railway services.
  • e-RCT enables end-to-end digitisation of Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT). RCT is a special legal body that handles claims related to Indian Railways.
  • 24×7 e-filing, online hearings and instant access to make filing accident claims easier, faster and available at any time.

Germany Announces EUR 20 Million Climate Grant for India

• What: Germany and India strengthened climate cooperation during a Climate Talk in New Delhi, with Germany announcing a EUR 20 million project to improve adaptation and resilience in India.
• Tell me more:
  • The project is funded under the International Climate Initiative.
  • It focuses on high-risk regions including the Himalayas, island areas, Western Ghats, North-East and Lower Gangetic floodplains.
  • The project will restore forests, protect wildlife areas, control floods and improve groundwater. It will also help India track and carry out its National Adaptation Plan.
  • New funding ideas like blended finance, biodiversity credits and insurance will be used to support climate protection.

CERT-In and SIA-India release space cyber security guidelines

• What: The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), along with SIA-India, issued Space Cyber Security guidelines at DefSat Conference & Expo-2026 to protect India’s satellites and space communication systems from cyber threats.
• Tell me more:
  • CERT-In functions as the national incident response agency under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
  • The guidelines help government and private space organisations follow clear security rules, improve preparedness, manage risks better, and build stronger protection for satellites and space systems against cyber threats.

State News

Chhattisgarh Presents Rs 1.72 Lakh Crore Budget for 2026-27

• What: Chhattisgarh government presented a Rs 1.72 lakh crore budget for 2026-27 focused on inclusive growth, infrastructure development and investment promotion in the state.
• Tell me more:

Pakyong Airport to be Renamed After Freedom Fighter Trilochan Pokhrel

• What: Sikkim government announced that Pakyong Airport will be renamed as Trilochan Pokhrel Airport to honour the state’s first independence activist.
• Tell me more:
  • Trilochan Pokhrel, known as “Gandhi Pokhrel”, took part in the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and Quit India Movements, and the renaming announcement was made during the 31st Foundation Day of Akhil Sikkim Khas Chettri Bahun Kalyan Sangh (a tribal organisation).
  • Social worker Kipu Tshering Lepcha received the Sikkim Gaurav Samman award.

International News

United Arab Emirates Launches Sovereign Financial Cloud Infrastructure

• What: Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates launched the Sovereign Financial Cloud Services Infrastructure to provide secure, AI-powered and sovereign digital infrastructure for the nation’s financial sector.
• Tell me more:
  • The platform was developed with Core42, a subsidiary of G42.
  • This system keeps important financial data safely inside the United Arab Emirates, strengthens cybersecurity, and uses artificial intelligence for faster decisions. It helps financial institutions follow rules, improve services, and stay strong and secure.

United Nations Road Safety Fund Launches Road Safety Financing Project in India

• What: United Nations Road Safety Fund launched a project in New Delhi to support the Government of India in creating a national strategy for sustainable road safety financing.
• Tell me more:
  • The initiative is implemented with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, State Governments, World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund and Save LIFE Foundation.
  • The project aligns with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 and United Nations General Assembly resolution.
  • This project helps India collect and manage money better for road safety by strengthening Road Safety Funds, using new financing methods, and improving the government’s ability to use funds effectively.

Banking and Economy

Reserve Bank of India Approves SBI Mutual Fund Stake in Bandhan Bank

• What: The Reserve Bank of India approved SBI Mutual Fund to acquire up to 9.99% holding in Bandhan Bank, subject to regulatory compliance, affecting ownership structure in the banking sector.
• Tell me more:
  • The holding must not exceed 9.99% of paid-up share capital or voting rights.
  • Acquisition must follow the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, Reserve Bank of India Directions, 2025, Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, and Securities and Exchange Board of India regulations.
  • It must complete the purchase within one year, or approval will be cancelled.
  • If SBI Mutual Fund’s ownership in Bandhan Bank becomes less than 5%, and later it wants to increase its ownership back to 5% or more, it cannot do so freely.
  • It must first take fresh approval from the Reserve Bank of India before increasing its shareholding again.

Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Limited Ceases to be Wholly Owned Subsidiary

• Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Limited gave new shares to two companies, which changed its ownership.
• Reliance Intelligence Limited now owns 70%, and Facebook Overseas Inc owns 30%. Because of this, it is no longer fully owned by Reliance Industries Limited.
• All required approvals were taken.

Reports and Indices

Indian Youth Rank Low in Global Mind Health Study

• What: Indian young adults ranked 60 out of 84 countries in Mind Health Quotient scores, showing poorer mental well-being compared to older Indians in a global study conducted by US-based Sapien Labs.
• Why: The study shows that Indian young adults have lower Mind Health Quotient scores compared to older Indians and many countries, and highlights differences in family closeness, lifestyle factors and global mental health outcomes.
• Tell me more:
  • The study noted higher spending on mental health in Western countries without improved outcomes.

Defence News

Vayu Shakti–2026 Exercise at Pokhran

• President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu witnessed Vayu Shakti–2026 at Pokhran Firing Range in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, showcasing the Indian Air Force’s combat capability and operational readiness.
• The exercise was conducted by the Indian Air Force.

DRDO successfully tests very short-range air defence system

• What: Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) tested its made-in-India Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) three times successfully at Chandipur in Odisha’s Balasore district to protect India from nearby and low-flying aerial threats.
• Tell me more:
  • VSHORADS was developed by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, with other DRDO laboratories and production partners.
  • This shoulder-fired system can hit drones, helicopters and other low-flying targets within 6 km range and 3.5 km height, improving protection for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Awards

President confers Ayurveda honours at National Arogya Fair 2026

• What: The President of India conferred Jeevan Gaurav Samman and Ayurveda Gaurav Samman on eminent Vaidyas associated with Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth during National Arogya Fair 2026, recognising their contributions to Ayurveda.
• Tell me more:
  • It was organised by the Ministry of Ayush with Akhil Bhartiya Ayurved Mahasammelan at Shegaon, Buldhana, Maharashtra.
  • The awards recognised dedication, scholarship, clinical excellence and lifelong service to Ayurveda.

Important Days

1. World National Integration Day 2025 – November 19

• Theme: Embracing Unity In Diversity

Source: MB

2. World Heritage Week 2025 – November 19 to 25

• World Heritage Day was observed each year on April 18 on the theme of “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 Years of ICOMOS Actions”.

Source: MoC

3. National Cashew Day 2025 – November 23

Sports

Jammu and Kashmir Win First Ranji Trophy Title

• What: Jammu and Kashmir won their first Ranji Trophy title by defeating Karnataka on first-innings lead in the final at Hubli, marking a historic achievement in Indian domestic cricket.
• Tell me more:
  • Paras Dogra crossed 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs.

Mumbai Cricket Association to Name Wankhede Stadium Stand and Gates After Cricket Legends

• What: Mumbai Cricket Association decided to name a stand and three gates at Wankhede Stadium after Ravi Shastri, Diana Edulji, Dilip Sardesai and Eknath Solkar to honour their contribution to Indian cricket.
• Tell me more:
  • Level 1 Stand below the Press Box will be named after Ravi Shastri.

India posts highest-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup total against Zimbabwe

• India scored 256/4 in 20 overs against Zimbabwe at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Abhishek Sharma was the highest scorer with 55 runs.
• It is India’s highest-ever total in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match, not the highest in overall T20 history.

Appointments

World Economic Forum Announces Leadership Transition

• Alois Zwinggi was appointed Interim President and Chief Executive Officer while Børge Brende stepped down as President and Chief Executive Officer.

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