Current Affairs

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched SAHI and BODH at the India AI Summit, Bharat Mandapam. SAHI (Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India) provides national guidance for safe, ethical, evidence-based, inclusive AI adoption, covering governance, data stewardship, validation, deployment and monitoring, supporting States and institutions. BODH, developed by IIT Kanpur with National Health Authority, is a privacy-preserving benchmarking open data platform under ABDM, evaluating health AI models without sharing datasets to improve trust and quality assurance.

INS Tarangini arrived at Visakhapatnam for the International Fleet Review and MILAN exercise beginning February 18, participating with Indian and foreign naval vessels. Indian Navy’s first sail training ship, built by Goa Shipyard Limited, it was commissioned on 11 November 1997 and circumnavigated the globe in 2003–04. Three-masted barque, it has 20+ days endurance, crew of 8 officers and 38 sailors, and trains 30 cadets.

Warmer oceans and depleted food are affecting loggerhead turtle biology, altering reproductive and migratory patterns and size. Loggerhead (family Cheloniidae) has a large head with powerful jaw muscles; it is the world’s largest hard-shelled turtle (second-largest extant after leatherback). It navigates using Earth’s geomagnetic field; inhabits offshore/inshore bays and lagoons across Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Mediterranean; omnivorous; lives 80+ years. IUCN: Vulnerable; threats include climate change, harvest, nesting habitat loss, pollution and bycatch.

Jammu and Kashmir government is considering reviving the Tulbul Navigation Barrage (Wullar Barrage) amid discussions after suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, alongside a proposal to divert Ravi water to Jammu. The 439-ft, 40-ft lock-cum-control structure at Wular Lake outlet was started in 1984 but halted after Pakistan’s IWT objections; it targets Jhelum navigation (Oct–Feb) with 0.30 MAF storage, 4.4-ft draft to Baramulla, 20-km Baramulla–Sopore stretch, and supports Uri I/II hydropower. Wular, in Bandipore (1580 m; 200 sq km), is India’s largest freshwater lake and a Ramsar site (1990).

Union government assured enumeration of Denotified Tribes (DNTs) in Census 2027; leaders seek a separate Census column and constitutional status. DNTs were labelled “criminal tribes” under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, subjected to registration, surveillance and movement curbs, and denotified after repeal in 1952; later targeted under Habitual Offenders laws, with many in SC/ST/OBC lists. DNTs were last enumerated in 1931. Studies: Ayyangar (1949), Renke (2008) and Idate (2017), which identified ~1200 DNT communities and 268 unclassified. SEED scheme (MoSJE) supports education, livelihood, housing and health; a DNT Welfare Board exists.

Chintan Shivir 2026: Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, released “Socio-Economic Impact Analysis of Incentive Scheme for Promotion of RuPay Debit Card and low-value BHIM-UPI Transactions”. Third-party study with NPCI assessed incentives to universalise digital payments, reduce cash reliance and formalise activity. Survey of 10,000+ across 15 States/5 zones found transactions rose ~11x (2021–2025), UPI ~80%; preference UPI 57% vs cash 38%; 94% merchants adopted UPI; UPI banks 216→661; low-denomination use and ATM withdrawals fell.

Researchers discovered a new plant species, Tetrataenium paikadae (Apiaceae; genus Tetrataenium), in moist marshy high-altitude grasslands of Eravikulam National Park, Idukki district, Kerala; it is endemic to the Western Ghats. Named after Rev Fr Joseph Paikada, it occurs at 1000–2500 m, 30–80 cm tall with small white flowers (July–September) and fruits (October–November), distinguished by fruit oil-tube arrangement; threatened by habitat degradation, climate change, tourism and invasive species.

India hosted the first multilateral AI gathering in the Global South, themed “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” (welfare and happiness for all), to translate global AI deliberations into development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India, promoting ethical AI, adoption, collaboration and hub positioning. Framework: 3 Sutras and 7 Chakras. Flagships: Global Impact Challenges; AI for ALL (Startup India); AI by HER (NITI Aayog WEP); YUVAi (MyBharat, NIELIT). Context: GPAI (OECD-hosted, 29 members; India founding), UK AI Safety Summit (frontier AI risks; 29 nations+EU incl India), G7 Hiroshima AI Process (guardrails, code of conduct).

Exercise MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy. The 2026 edition is being held in Visakhapatnam with participation of more than 70 nations. It aims to promote cooperation, interoperability and maritime partnership among friendly navies worldwide. MILAN was launched in 1995 at Port Blair with four navies and has since evolved into a global multilateral exercise.

Defence Minister flagged off Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment combat systems and inaugurated the Mountain Fire Control Radar at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru. Akash is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by DRDO with BEL and Bharat Dynamics Limited, enabling simultaneous engagement of aircraft, missiles and UAVs up to 18 km altitude. Rajendra radar covers 80 km; 3D Central Acquisition Radar scans 120 km. Mountain Fire Control Radar supports high-altitude operations in thin air and complex topography.

The Defence Minister reviewed indigenous military gas turbine engine development under the Kaveri Programme at DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru, focusing on ongoing engine projects. A gas turbine engine is an internal combustion engine converting chemical energy of fuel into thermal energy through intake, compression, combustion and exhaust stages: compressor compresses air, fuel burns to produce high-temperature gas, turbine extracts power, and remaining gas exits via a nozzle.

An automated quantum risk tool has been introduced to detect quantum-vulnerable cryptographic algorithms across critical networks, devices and applications, aiding migration planning to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). It generates a report listing vulnerable algorithms, their purpose and exact device location. Core modules include a web application, security scanner agent and control software. PQC resists quantum attacks; US NIST has finalised initial PQC standards. Quantum cryptography includes quantum key distribution and quantum coin-flipping.

India and the Republic of Korea held the 6th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue, reaffirming their Special Strategic Partnership and focus on stronger political and security cooperation. Republic of Korea: capital Seoul; located on the southern Korean Peninsula; land boundary with North Korea along 38°N; bounded by East Sea/Sea of Japan (east), East China Sea (south) and Yellow Sea (west); Korea Strait separates it from Japan’s Tsushima; highest peak Mount Halla (Jeju); major rivers Han, Geum, Nakdong.

Amid rising digital payment frauds and low recovery rates, the Reserve Bank of India introduced a cyber-fraud compensation scheme to protect consumers from small-value unauthorised digital transactions and clarify liability. Compensation is capped at ₹25,000 per case or 85% of loss (lower). It covers UPI, cards and net banking, with shared liability: RBI ~70%, banks ~15%, customers ~15%. Likely funded via RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund with bank contributions. One-time compensation requires timely reporting and proof; RBI will issue draft guidelines and banks must enable fast, automatic payouts.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved India’s first underwater twin-tube road–rail tunnel in Assam over the Brahmaputra region to boost connectivity and multimodal integration in the Northeast. It will connect Gohpur (NH-15) and Numaligarh (NH-715) via a 33.7 km, 4-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor, including 15.8 km twin underwater tubes, costing ₹18,662 crore (EPC). Distance reduces 240 km to 34 km; time 6 hours to 20 minutes. It integrates Rangia–Mukongselek and Furkating–Mariani lines, generates ~80 lakh person-days, links airports, stations, inland waterway terminals, and nodes like Kaziranga and Deopahar.

ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute achieved induced breeding of mangrove clam (Geloina erosa) under captive conditions, aiding conservation and sustainable use. The mud clam is a bivalve mollusc inhabiting organic-rich muddy substrates in mangrove and estuarine ecosystems across South and Southeast Asia. It supports nutrient recycling and sediment stabilisation, and sustains coastal livelihoods and food security; locally called Kandal Kakka in parts of Kerala.

Researchers reported high-dose inhaled nitric oxide (NO) as a potential therapy for drug-resistant pneumonia. Pneumonia is lung infection with alveolar inflammation and fluid/pus; types include community-acquired, hospital/ventilator-associated and aspiration. Drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes about one in five hospital pneumonias. In a large-animal ICU model, 300 ppm NO reduced lung bacterial counts by 99% in ventilated pigs; a Phase-1 study in healthy volunteers showed no serious adverse effects. Limitations include methemoglobin elevation, lung-injury risk, and need for specialised monitoring/equipment.

In 2026, the Government launched the Pradhan Mantri Rahat Road Accident Victim Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment Scheme for cashless “Golden Hour” care to reduce deaths from delayed treatment. Nodal ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Implemented via eDAR integrated with National Health Authority’s TMS 2.0 and ERSS-112. Coverage: within 7 days, police-authenticated; up to ₹1.5 lakh for 7 days. Funding: Motor Vehicle Accident Fund/insurers/government for uninsured or hit-and-run. Claims paid in 10 days; grievances via District Road Safety Committee-designated officer.

RBI issued draft revised guidelines to strengthen district-level coordination under the Lead Bank Scheme, aimed at improving priority-sector credit flow and rural financial inclusion. The scheme, launched in 1969 on Gadgil Committee recommendations and endorsed by Nariman Committee, uses the district as the basic unit. Coordination occurs via SLBC, DCC/DLRC, LDM and BLBC, with District Credit Plans. Targets include 60% rural/semi-urban CD ratio and 100% financial inclusion.

Department of Posts released eight commemorative postage stamps on “Puppets of India” to celebrate traditional puppetry heritage. Earliest literary reference occurs in Tamil classic Silappadikaaram (1st–2nd century B.C.); archaeological evidence includes an Indus Valley terracotta doll with detachable head (c. 2500 B.C.). Traditional puppetry includes string (Kathputli, Kundhei, Gombeyatta, Bommalattam), shadow (Togalu Gombeyatta, Tholu Bommalata, Ravanachhaya), rod (Putul Nautch, Orissa Rod Puppets, Yampuri) and glove (Pavakoothu). Stamps depict Kathputli, Yakshagana Sutrada Gombeyatta, Daanger Putul, Kathi Kundhei, Benir Putul, Pavakathakali, Ravanachhaya and Tolu Bommalatta.

Karnataka estimated 1,882 childhood cancer cases in 2025 (about 2.1% of all new cancers), showing a gradual rise. Childhood cancer affects ages 0–19; globally ~400,000 children develop cancer annually, with ~10% genetic predisposition. Causes include genetic changes and infections (HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, malaria). Treatment: chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, bone marrow transplant. Cure rates: >80% (high-income) vs <30% (many LMICs). International Childhood Cancer Day: 15 February. Ayushman Bharat–Arogya Karnataka supports BPL families up to ₹5 lakh/year; prevention includes Hepatitis B and HPV vaccination.

Finance Minister unveiled an AI-driven advisory and roadmap for AgriStack, termed the “next UPI” for farmers, to strengthen agriculture digital public infrastructure via interoperable, consent-based data systems. Launched in 2024 as a Digital Agriculture Mission sub-component under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, it uses InDEA 2.0 standards; targets 11 crore Farmer IDs by 2026–27, crop registry for 30 crore plots by Kharif 2026, and geo-referencing 6.75 lakh villages by March 2027. It includes farmer/farmland and crop-sown registries, unified service interface/APIs, consent manager, sandbox, and Bharat-VISTAAR multilingual AI linked to ICAR practices.

The Sangtam community in Nagaland resolved to protect pangolins along the India–Myanmar border, strengthening community-led conservation of a highly trafficked mammal. Pangolins are scaly anteaters, the only mammals wholly covered in keratin scales; eight species exist (four Asian, four African). India has Indian and Chinese pangolins (Northeast). Threats include poaching and cross-border trade; IUCN: Endangered/Critically Endangered; CITES Appendix I; WPA 1972 Schedule I. World Pangolin Day: third Saturday of February.

The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, amends Section 104 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 to clarify repeal of the Trade Unions Act, 1926, Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 and Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. It provides deemed commencement from 21 November 2025, states repeal occurred by Parliament’s operation of law (not executive delegation), and includes a savings clause for existing rights, cases and registered trade unions. It aligns with labour reforms consolidating 29 laws into four Codes, with expanded protection for gig and platform workers.

Union Communications Minister reviewed BharatNet progress and National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 targets for 2030 to expand rural/remote broadband. BharatNet (launched October 2011) under Ministry of Communications, funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund, is a Centre–State project with free Right of Way and connectivity via optical fibre, satellite, radio, fibre over power lines and Wi‑Fi hotspots. By September 2025, over 2.14 lakh Gram Panchayats and 2 lakh villages were covered. NBM 2.0 (April 2025) seeks universal broadband by 2030: optical fibre to 2.7 lakh villages with 95% uptime, 100 Mbps average fixed broadband speed, 60 rural internet subscribers per 100 population, and Right of Way processing reduced from 455 to 30.4 days.