Current Affairs 27 February 2026

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union Cabinet Approvals on February 24, 2026: Major Infrastructure, Metro, Airport & Rail ProjectsOn 24th February 2026, the Union Cabinet of India, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved multiple projects to strengthen national infrastructure, energy, and transport connectivity.
Key Details of Approvals:
POWERGRID: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved an enhanced delegation to POWERGRID under Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under Ministry of Finance (MoF), guidelines for Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

• The permissible equity investment per subsidiary was increased from Rs. 5,000 crore to Rs. 7,500 crore, while retaining the existing 15% net worth cap.

Metro Extension: The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the metro corridor from GIFT City to Shahpur, spanning 3.33 kilometers (km) with three elevated stations. Estimated project cost is Rs. 1,067.35 crore with a completion timeline of approximately four years.
Civil Enclave: The CCEA approved the development of a Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport, Budgam Airbase, J&K at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,677 crore.
Railway projects: The CCEA approved three multitracking projects under the Ministry of Railways (MoR) at a total cost of Rs. 9,072 crore. The approved projects include the Gondia–Jabalpur Doubling (Maharashtra–Madhya Pradesh, MP), Punarakh–Kiul 3rd and 4th line (Bihar), and Gamharia–Chandil 3rd and 4th line (Jharkhand).

MeitY Constitutes High-Level Committee for DigiLocker; Launches Blockchain India ChallengeIn February 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), constituted a high-level committee to harmonise the regulatory framework of DigiLocker and also launched the Blockchain India Challenge  to promote startup-driven blockchain solutions for digital governance.

• The committee is headed by Ajay Sawhney, Former Secretary, MeitY, and includes legal experts, technology specialists, and industry representatives.

About Blockchain India Challenge:
Implementation: The challenge is implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Hyderabad (Telangana), with support from MeitY.
Prizes & Structure: It offers a total prize pool of Rs. 8.80 Crores, progressing through three stages Prototype Stage (Rs. 1.5 Lakh each, up to 40 participants), Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Stage (Rs. 4 Lakh each, up to 30 participants), and Deployment Stage (Rs. 10 Lakh each, up to 20 participants).

• Top performers from each of the 10 Use Case Categories will compete for the ultimate prize of Rs. 50 Lakh per category.

ESIC Commenced 75th Foundation Year Celebrations; Released Commemorative Coin and Coffee Table BookOn February 24, 2026, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC),  a statutory social security body under the Ministry of Labour & Employment(MoL&E), commenced the celebration of its 75th Foundation Year (Platinum Jubilee) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The event, addressed by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, MoL&E and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports(MYAS), marks ESIC’s journey since its inception in 1952.

Launch of Key Initiatives:
Commemorative Coin: The Government of India(GoI) issued a Rs.75 commemorative coin to mark the 75th Foundation Day of ESIC.
Coffee Table Book: A book titled “ESIC@75” was launched, documenting the organization’s legacy and transformative milestones.
Swasthya Rath: An outreach initiative launched to bring essential healthcare services directly to the doorsteps of beneficiaries.
Special Services Fortnight : The ESIC will observe a Special Services Fortnight from 24 February to 10 March 2026 across all its field offices, hospitals, and medical institutions nationwide.
MoUs Signed: The ESIC and the NHA signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate the ESI Scheme with Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

• The ESIC also signed an MoU with the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to enhance quality assurance and accreditation across ESIC healthcare facilities.

India and Nepal Signs MoU to Strengthen Environmental CooperationOn February 25, 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Government of India (GoI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Government of Nepal, to deepen bilateral cooperation in environmental areas such as forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation, and climate change.
Key Details of MoU:
Signatories: The MoU was signed in New Delhi, Delhi by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, MoEFCC, and Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, Cabinet Minister for Forests and Environment, Nepal.
Purpose: The MoU aims to promote joint efforts in protecting and sustainably managing shared natural resources, particularly where ecosystems overlap across borders and wildlife habitats extend into India and Nepal.
Significance: The MoU reinforces the shared commitment of India and Nepal to protect transboundary ecosystems. It is expected to deepen collaboration in tackling climate change impacts and conserving biodiversity in the Himalayan and Terai regions.

GoI Mandates Sale of E20 Petrol with Minimum RON 95 Nationwide from April 01, 2026In February 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) issued notification that mandated the sale of petrol with a maximum 20% of ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 across all states and Union Territories (UTs) from April 01, 2026.

• This move aligns with India’s ambitious Ethanol Blended Programme (EBP), which aims to reduce reliance on crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions, and support the agricultural economy.

Significance:
Ethanol: Ethanol, a bio-fuel made from sugarcane, maize, or grain, is renewable, locally produced that can be blended with petrol to create a cleaner fuel alternative.
Key Reason: RON is a measure of a fuel’s resistance to engine knocking (pre-ignition) that prevents engine damage.

• As per the MoPNG, ethanol naturally has high octane value (nearly 108 RON) which means blending 20% ethanol in petrol will increase knock resistance.

About EBP: The EBP was originally launched in January 2003 by the MoPNG, with an initial target of 5% ethanol blended petrol.

• Ethanol blending is a process which involves mixing plant-based biofuel ethanol with petrol cleaner, more sustainable fuel.

7th Edition of India and Japan Joint Military Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN Began in UttarakhandThe 7th edition of the annual joint military Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN between India and Japan, began on Feb 24, 2026 at Foreign Training Node, Chaubattia, Uttarakhand, which will be continued till March 9 2026.
About Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN 2026:
Indian Contingent: It is represented by troops of the Indian Army (IA), with soldiers drawn from the Ladakh Scouts, who are known for their expertise in high-altitude and rugged terrain operations.
Japanese Contingents: It is represented by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), with personnel from the 32nd Infantry Regiment, and approximately 120 personnel from each side are participating in the exercise.
Enhanced Interoperability: The exercise aims to strengthen military-to military cooperation, enhance interoperability between IA and JGSDF, improve joint operational capabilities, and promote mutual understanding, trust, and camaraderie.
Training Activities:
Tactical Operations: The exercise includes the establishment of Temporary Operating Bases, conduct of cordon and search operations, house intervention and close-quarter battle drills, and the setting up of mobile vehicle check posts.

TEC Signs MoU with IIT Kharagpur to Jointly Work on Advanced Telecom Research
In February 2026, The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under Ministry of Communications, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kharagpur (West Bengal, WB) to work together on advanced telecom research and global standardization, at IIT Kharagpur in Kharagpur, WB.
Key Details of the MoU:
Formal Framework: The partnership creates a formal framework for joint research, studies, and technical contributions in next-generation telecom technologies.
Purpose: The MoU aims to develop India-specific standards for future telecom technologies for 6th Generation (6G), optical and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), while advancing technologies such as Passive Optical Networks, Multiple Input Multiple Output(MIMO).

• Strengthen India’s role in global standard-setting bodies such as International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Areas of Collaboration: The collaboration will focus on research in 6G architecture and technologies, development of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Electromagnetic Field (EMF) monitoring solutions for safety and compliance.

• It also focuses on work on satellite systems and integrated networks for reliable emergency connectivity.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

World Bank’s WBL Report 2026 : Women’s Economic-opportunity Laws only Half-enforced GloballyIn February 2026, the World Bank Group (WBG)released the 11th edition of Women, Business and the Law (WBL) report titled ‘Women, Business And the Law 2026: Benchmarking Laws for Jobs and Inclusive Growth’.  The report revealed that, on average, laws aimed at providing equal economic opportunities for women are only half-enforced globally, highlighting persistent gaps in gender equality in the workplace.
About Women, Business and the Law(WBL) 2026 Report:
Overview: The report is a global benchmarking project that assesses how laws, regulations, and policies help in shaping women’s economic opportunities and private sector development across 190 economies.
Global Average Score: Legal frameworks (67 out of 100); Enforcement perceptions (53) and Supportive frameworks (47).

• It also showed that the global average score for enforcement perceptions is 53 which indicates women’s rights are only partly held and no economy scores above 90 in this pillar. The global score supportive frameworks index is 47, the lowest among all the three pillars.

Inequitable Legal Rights Access: The report noted that even if laws were fully enforced, women will be able to access just 2/3rd (66.66%) of the legal rights of men.
Negligible Full Legal Equality: As per the report, only 4% of women globally, live in economies that provide nearly full legal equality.

BANKING & FINANCE

IRFC Secures USD 400 Million ECB from Japan’s SMBC Group & MUFG Bank
In February 2026, Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC), Schedule ‘A’  Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Railways (MoR), signed a loan agreement with a consortium of Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and MUFG Bank through their Gujarat International Finance Tec-City(GIFT City) Branches, to raise an External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) of JPY equivalent USD 400 million.

• This marks IRFC’s 2nd overseas borrowing in Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) after its previous USD 300 million equivalent borrowing in December 2025.

Key Details:
Signatories: The loan agreement was signed by Nav Goel, General Manager (GM) (Finance), IRFC; and Manoj Kaushik, Executive Director (ED), SMBC; and Parul Shah, Head IBU, MUFG, in New Delhi, Delhi.
Nature of Borrowing: As per the agreement, the 5-year ECB, is benchmarked to the Overnight TONAR (Tokyo Overnight Average Rate) and has been structured as an unsecured facility.
Regulatory Disclosure: The agreement has been disclosed in compliance with Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI) (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, ensuring adherence to statutory reporting and transparency requirements.
Funds Usage: The funds raised from the latest arrangement will be used to finance projects linked to the railway sector, including those with forward and backward linkages, in compliance with ECB guidelines.

NSE IX Launches ‘Global Access’ Platform for Indian Retail Investors to Trade Overseas
In February 2026, the National Stock Exchange Limited International Exchange (NSE IX) launched a ‘NSE IX Global Access’ platform, which allows Indian retail investors and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to directly trade in Equities, Debt and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).
About ‘NSE IX Global Access’ Platform:
Initial Phase: For the initial phase, the NSE IX Global Access platform will provide access to the United States of America (USA)-listed stocks, with plans to expand  to more than 30 international markets over the next 3-6 months.
Investments: The newly launched platform has been designed to provide outbound investments under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) framework of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which allows resident individuals  to remit a maximum USD 250,000 per financial year overseas investments.

• Investors can commence trading on the platform without the need to open a separate demat account.

Mechanism: Investors will transfer funds in Indian rupees (INR) to the NSE IX–designated bank account, which will subsequently be converted into USD for investing in global markets.
Regulated: The platform is regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), complies with LRS guidelines.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Kempegowda International Airport Signs MoU with Frankfurt Airport to Strengthen Air Cargo Connectivity
On February 25, 2026, Kempegowda International Airport (BLR Airport), Bengaluru (Karnataka), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Germany, to strengthen air cargo connectivity between India and Europe.

• The MoU was signed during Air Cargo India 2026, held from 25–27 February 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Key Details of MoU:
Strengthening Cargo Corridor: The MoU aims to create a seamless and efficient trade lane between Bengaluru and Frankfurt, improving cargo movement between Indian exporters and European markets.
Focus Areas: The MoU focuses on development of a digital cargo corridor, implementation of pharma integrity standards, and knowledge exchange to improve service predictability.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Mangaluru Airport Wins 2025 Global ASQ Best Arrivals Award for Second Consecutive YearIn February 2026, Mangaluru International Airport (MIA), Mangaluru, Karnataka, was honoured with the 2025 Airports Service Quality (ASQ) Customer Experience Award in the ‘Best Airport at Arrivals’ category, marking its second consecutive win.
About 2025 ASQ Awards:
Organiser: The Airports Council International (ACI), in partnership with gold sponsor International Aeronautical Telecommunications Society (SITA), organises the ASQ Awards.
Key Categories: Awards included Best Airports at Arrivals (6 airports), Best Airports at Departures (88 airports), Most Dedicated Staff (23 airports), Easiest Airport Journey (26 airports), Most Enjoyable Airport (23 airports), and Cleanest Airport (29 airports).
Indian Airports:

• At Arrivals category: Out of six global winners in Best Airports at Arrivals, four were from India: MIA (Mangaluru, Karnataka), Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, UP), Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad, Telangana), and Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru, Karnataka).
• At Departures category: In the over 40 million passengers/year category, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai, Maharashtra) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (New Delhi, Delhi) were recognized, while Lucknow’s CCS International Airport topped the 5–15 million passengers/year segment.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

IAS Officer Nidhi Chhibber Given Additional Charge as CEO of NITI Aayog On February 24, 2026, The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi gave the additional charge of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Institute of Transforming India (NITI) Aayog to Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Nidhi Chhibber.

• She assumed the role on February 24, 2026, following the completion of the tenure of B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog.

About Nidhi Chhibber:
Career: Currently, she serves as the Director General of the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) at NITI Aayog.

• She led the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), India’s largest national education board and oversaw examination and policy reforms during her tenure.
• Earlier, she also served as Additional Secretary in NITI Aayog. She was briefly appointed Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).

SPORTS

Indian Army Won 6th Edition of Khelo India Winter Games 2026 Team Championship Title in J&KThe Indian Army (IA) successfully defended its team championship title at the 6th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026, which concluded its second leg held at Gulmarg Golf Course, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) on 23-26 February 2026, having secured a total of nine gold medals, eight from Gulmarg and one from the first leg of KIWG 2026 which was held in Leh, Ladakh from 20–26 January 2026.

• The IA emerged as overall champion with a total of 23 medals including 9 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze followed by Himachal Pradesh (HP) with a total of 14 medals including 6 gold, 7 silver and 1 bronze and Haryana secured third place with 7 total medals including 4 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze.

About Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026:
Host: The Games were hosted by the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council (JKSC) and managed by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Mascot: Sheen-E-She (Shan), the Snow Leopard, symbolizes resilience, agility,

OBITUARY

Veteran Indian Steel Industry Executive Jatinder Mehra Passed Away
In February 2026, Jatinder Mehra, Essar Group Vice Chairman(VC) (Metals & Mining) and steel industry veteran with 60+ years experience, passed away at the age of 86 in New Delhi, Delhi. He was born on 3 March 1939 in Lahore (present Pakistan).
About Jatinder Mehra:
Profile: His career spanned over six decades, playing a vital role in growth and modernization of India’s steel industry across public and private sectors.
Career: He served as Executive Director (ED) at Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), under the Ministry of Steel (MoS), where he contributed to strengthening production systems, operational efficiency, and long-term expansion planning.

• He became Chairman-and-Managing Director (CMD) of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), MoS. Under his leadership, capacity expansion projects were accelerated, operational productivity improved significantly, and strategic modernization initiatives were implemented.
• He served as Vice Chairman of the Metals & Mining Division at the Essar Group.

Awards: In 2022, he was honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Steel Association(ISA) in recognition of his impact on the steel sector.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Protein Day 2026 – February 27National Protein Day is annually observed across India on 27 February to educate people about the crucial role of protein in maintaining health, supporting growth and development, and promoting diverse protein-rich dietary options.

• 27th February 2026 marks the 7th observance of National Protein Day in India.

Background:
Establishment: National Protein Day began in India in 2020 with the launch of the “Right to Protein” (RTP) campaign, a national-level public health initiative to raise awareness about the importance of adequate protein consumption.
1st Observance: The first-ever National Protein Day was observed on 27th February 2020.
Global Campaign: RTP Campaign, led by the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC), promotes plant-based proteins, better nutrition, and public health awareness.

STATE NEWS

Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangama Presents Rs.32,023 crore Budget for FY27In February 2026, Conrad K. Sangama, the Chief Minister (CM) and Finance Minister of Meghalaya, presented his 9th consecutive State Budget of Rs.32,023 crore for the financial year 2026–27 (FY27) in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, held in Shillong.

• The Budget projected a fiscal deficit of Rs.2,672 Crore(Cr), which is around 3.5% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

Financial Indicators:
Capital Expenditure: The FY27 Capital expenditure (CapEx) is pegged at Rs.10,211 crore, a seven-fold rise from 2017–18 and the highest ever in Meghalaya’s history.
GSDP Projection: The state recording a real GSDP growth rate of 9.66% and sustaining close to 10% growth for three consecutive years.
Key Allocations: Agriculture & allied receiving Rs 1,041 Cr; Tourism(Rs 376 Cr); Sports & Youth Affairs Rs 844 Cr; Entrepreneurship & Skilling(Rs 241 Cr) for CM-Elevate schemes; Urban Development & Water(Rs 2,411 Cr); Education(Rs 3,347 Cr); Health(Rs 2,472 Cr) and Power & IT(Rs 1,272 Cr).

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