- On Feb 24, 2026, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) commenced its 75th Foundation Year celebrations in New Delhi, where Union Labour & Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav released a commemorative coin and a coffee table book highlighting ESIC’s journey since its establishment in 1952 under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948.
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- From April 1, 2026, the Government of India mandates nationwide sale of E20 petrol (20% ethanol blend) with minimum RON 95, under BIS standards—aimed at reducing crude imports, cutting emissions, and boosting farmer incomes as part of India’s ethanol blending roadmap.
- In Feb 2026, Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) secured a USD 400 million, 5‑year External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) from Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) Bank, benchmarked to Tokyo Overnight Average Rate (TONAR), to finance Indian Railways infrastructure and diversify global funding.
- On Feb 26, 2026, the Government of India launched a pilot project in Puducherry under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)‑based food subsidy distribution, crediting programmable Digital Rupee (e₹) tokens directly into beneficiaries’ wallets to enhance transparency and efficiency in the Public Distribution System (PDS).
- On Feb 26, 2026, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) approved a ₹797 crore green hydrogen jetty project at Paradip Port, Odisha, to be developed by Paradip Port Authority on a Build‑Operate‑Transfer (BOT) basis, with 4 MTPA capacity for handling green hydrogen, ammonia, and liquid cargo.
- On Feb 26, 2026, NITI Aayog member Dr. Vinod K. Paul announced that the Government of India will launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, providing free doses to 14‑year‑old girls to prevent cervical cancer and strengthen public health equity.
- On Feb 26–27, 2026, the Uttar Pradesh Government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth ₹90,000 crore with Japanese companies during his visit to Japan, targeting investment in green energy, automobiles, logistics, MSME technology, and tourism to advance UP’s $1 trillion economy goal.
- On Feb 23, 2026, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur at its campus to jointly work on advanced telecom research including 6G, optical networks, non‑terrestrial networks, and India‑specific telecom standards.
- On Feb 24, 2026, the Public Works Departments (PWDs) of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in New Delhi with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR‑CRRI) and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) to implement a Standard Framework and Road Asset Management System (RAMS) for tackling road dust pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).
- On 25 Feb 2026 at Air Cargo India, BLR Airport signed an MoU with Frankfurt Airport to boost South India–Europe cargo connectivity through digital corridors, pharma standards, and trade lane analytics.
- On 25 Feb 2026, NSE IX launched the Global Access platform at GIFT City, enabling Indian retail investors to trade overseas under RBI’s LRS, starting with US markets and expanding to 30 global destinations
- On 26 Feb 2026 in New Delhi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled three reforms under the ‘52 Reforms in 52 Weeks’ initiative—Rail Tech Policy 2026 for AI‑based modernization, Rail Tech Portal for innovators and startups, and e‑Railway Claims Tribunal (e‑RCT) for complete digitisation of claims with 24×7 e‑filing and online hearings..
- On 27 Feb 1931 at Alfred Park, Prayagraj, Chandra Shekhar Azad embraced martyrdom, symbolizing fearless resistance against British rule. His sacrifice inspired generations of revolutionaries, keeping the flame of freedom alive.
- International Polar Bear Day 2026, observed on Feb 27, spotlighted the theme ‘Protecting Moms and Cubs’ to raise awareness about Arctic conservation and climate action. The 21st annual observance emphasized safeguarding polar bear families during their vulnerable denning period.
- World NGO Day 2026, observed on Feb 27, carried the theme ‘Restoring Dignity Through Inclusion’, spotlighting NGOs’ role in empowering marginalised groups and ensuring equal participation.
- National Protein Day 2026 was observed on 27 February 2026 in India under the theme “Project Protein Thali”. The theme promotes re‑designing the Indian meal plate to include adequate protein in every meal, both plant and animal‑based. It aims to tackle widespread protein deficiency, especially among children and low‑income groups.
- On 24 February 2026, OpenAI announced the appointment of Arvind KC as its new Chief People Officer. KC brings over 25 years of experience in engineering and people leadership, having held senior roles at Roblox, Google, Palantir Technologies, and Meta.
- On February 27, 2026, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced it would honor former India captain and head coach Ravi Shastri by naming a stand after him at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. This decision, made during an Apex Council meeting, cements Shastri's legacy in his home city.
Questions:
Q.1 Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) secured a USD 400 million External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) from which Japanese banking groups?a) Nomura & SoftBank
b) SMBC Group & MUFG Bank
c) Mizuho Bank & SBI Japan
d) JICA & JBIC
Answer: b) Indian Railway Finance Corporation raised a 5-year USD 400 million ECB from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Bank.
Q.2 The Global Access platform enabling overseas trading under RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) was launched by:
a) BSE International
b) NSE IX
c) SEBI
d) IFSCA
Answer: b) NSE International Exchange launched the Global Access platform at GIFT City, allowing Indian retail investors to invest overseas under RBI’s LRS.
