- India launched the Zero Prize in New Delhi on 26 February 2026, a ₹5 crore award. It rewards tangible, verified pollution reduction in air, water, and land. Organised by the School of Policy and Governance (SPG) with CSR and philanthropic support. Its aim is to link funding to measurable environmental outcomes.
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- India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) rolled out PRAHAAR, its first national counter-terrorism policy and strategy, on February 23, 2026. This zero-tolerance blueprint shifts from reaction to proactive disruption, targeting state-sponsored threats, jihadists, drones, crypto funding, and CBRN risks.
- India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed a joint statement on February 24, 2026, formally kicking off negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi inked it in New Delhi, building on the Terms of Reference signed earlier on February 5.
- Sachin Tendulkar has been appointed as the UN Global Road Safety Champion in February 2026. The announcement was made in New Delhi by Jean Todt, UN Special Envoy for Road Safety. The role aims to promote awareness, safe driving practices, and reduce road fatalities worldwide. Tendulkar’s global influence will help amplify the UN’s campaign #MakeASafetyStatement.
- On 24 Feb 2026, Prof. Balaraman Ravindran of IIT Madras was named to the UN International Scientific Panel on AI. He leads the Wadhwani School of Data Science & AI (WSAI) and founded CeRAI, making him a key voice in responsible AI. The panel was created under UNGA Resolution A/RES/79/325 (Aug 2025), following the Global Digital Compact (2024 Summit of the Future).
- Jharkhand's government tabled a ₹1.58 lakh crore budget for FY27 (2026-27) in the assembly on February 24, 2026. Dubbed 'Abua Disom' (Our Own State), it's up 9% from last year's ₹1.45 lakh crore, with Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore promising relief for the poor, farmers, tribals, and women.
- On 25 Feb 2026, the Ministry of Culture (MoC) signed an MoU with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to strengthen India’s Cultural & Creative Economy by promoting heritage, arts, crafts, and livelihoods.
- On 25 February 2026, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment signed an MoU in New Delhi. The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in forests, biodiversity conservation, wildlife protection, and climate change. It focuses on landscape-level conservation across the Terai Arc and Himalayan ecosystems.
- On 23 February 2026, global risk and intelligence firm IIRIS signed an MoU with National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur to establish the IIRIS Chair of Infosec and Forensic Society. This marks India’s first academic chair dedicated to information security and forensic science. The collaboration aims to create a center of excellence for research, innovation, and industry–academia partnerships in cyber forensics.
- RBI’s report Performance of Private Corporate Business Sector during Q3:2025-26 (25 Feb 2026) showed listed private non-financial companies’ sales up 10.1% y-o-y, led by manufacturing, with net profit rising 5.2%.
- South Central Railway launched the next-generation Rail Parcel App on February 25, 2026, at Rail Nilayam in Secunderabad. It's a first-of-its-kind digital platform making parcel booking as simple as ordering a cab, with door-to-door pickup and delivery.
- On 24 Feb 2026, Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the AI-driven biotech product data portal ‘SUJVIKA’ on the 40th Foundation Day of DBT, to provide authenticated trade statistics and support India’s $1 trillion bioeconomy vision by 2047.
- The Indian Army’s Exercise Agni Varsha was held on 24 February 2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan under the Southern Command. It was a one‑day, large‑scale desert warfare drill showcasing integrated combat capabilities, precision long‑range firepower, and network‑enabled command systems. Defence journalists from 25 countries witnessed the exercise.
- On 25 February 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the “Speaker of the Knesset Medal” in Jerusalem. The award was conferred by Speaker Amir Ohana following Modi’s address to the Israeli Parliament. This medal is regarded as the highest parliamentary honour of Israel, and Modi became the first leader ever to receive it.
- Prof. Tharailath Koshy Oommen, a leading figure in modern Indian sociology, passed away on February 26, 2026, in Gurugram at the age of 88. Born on October 16, 1937, in Kerala, he became a distinguished scholar, prolific author, and Professor Emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
- Actor Robert Carradine, best known for Revenge of the Nerds, The Long Riders, and Disney’s Lizzie McGuire, has died at the age of 71. His family confirmed that he passed away on February 23, 2026, after a long battle with bipolar disorder.
Questions:
Q.1 Who was appointed as the UN Global Road Safety Champion in February 2026?a) Anil Kumble
b) Rahul Dravid
c) Sachin Tendulkar
d) Kapil Dev
Answer: c) Sachin Tendulkar was appointed UN Global Road Safety Champion.
Q.2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi received which Israeli honour on 25 February 2026?
a) Israel Peace Medal
b) Jerusalem Leadership Award
c) Order of Zion
d) Speaker of the Knesset Medal
Answer: d) The Speaker of the Knesset Medal is regarded as Israel’s highest parliamentary honour. PM Modi became the first leader to receive it.
