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Alwar Becomes India’s First District to Achieve 100% Insurance CoverageOn February 3, 2026, Alwar (Rajasthan) became the first district in India to achieve 100% insurance coverage under “Insurance for All by 2047”, a joint initiative by the Government of India (GoI) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) a statutory body under the Ministry of Finance.About 100% Insurance Coverage in Alwar: Overview: The achievement covers a set of nine villages where all eligible adults are now insured. Previously, 1,367 people aged over 10 were brought under insurance after door-to-door surveys, bringing coverage in the district to full saturation.Fully Insured Villages: It includes Bhulla Ka Bas, Bichpuri, Palankheda, Antapada, Hanumanta, Kalyanpura, Morodkhurd, Kodalka, and Lalpur.Premium Funding: The premiums for all eligible adults in these villages were funded by a Non-Government Organization (NGO), ensuring they receive coverage without financial burden.Issuer: The insurance policies were issued by the United India Insurance Company Limited (UIIC)
Alwar Becomes India’s First District to Achieve 100% Insurance CoverageOn February 3, 2026, Alwar (Rajasthan) became the first district in India to achieve 100% insurance coverage under “Insurance for All by 2047”, a joint initiative by the Government of India (GoI) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) a statutory body under the Ministry of Finance.About 100% Insurance Coverage in Alwar: Overview: The achievement covers a set of nine villages where all eligible adults are now insured. Previously, 1,367 people aged over 10 were brought under insurance after door-to-door surveys, bringing coverage in the district to full saturation.Fully Insured Villages: It includes Bhulla Ka Bas, Bichpuri, Palankheda, Antapada, Hanumanta, Kalyanpura, Morodkhurd, Kodalka, and Lalpur.Premium Funding: The premiums for all eligible adults in these villages were funded by a Non-Government Organization (NGO), ensuring they receive coverage without financial burden.Issuer: The insurance policies were issued by the United India Insurance Company Limited (UIIC)
Alwar Becomes India’s First District to Achieve 100% Insurance CoverageOn February 3, 2026, Alwar (Rajasthan) became the first district in India to achieve 100% insurance coverage under “Insurance for All by 2047”, a joint initiative by the Governmen...
Axis Bank Launches ‘Rooftop Solar Finance’ for MSMEsOn February 5, 2026, Axis Bank launched “Rooftop Solar Finance”, a new financing product, with an aim to help Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) adopt solar energy systems on their commercial rooftops.About Rooftop Solar Finance:Collateral-Free loans: MSMEs can avail loans from Rs.10 lakhs to Rs.2 crores without needing collateral. The product is offered through Axis Bank’s branch network across India.Flexible Repayment: The repayment tenure is around 4-7 years, helping businesses manage repayment in line with cash flow.Solar Adoption Support: The product helps firms install rooftop solar systems to lower long-term energy costs and reduce dependence on grid electricity.Partnerships: Axis Bank has partnered with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and a technology partner to improve transparency in costs.
Axis Bank Launches ‘Rooftop Solar Finance’ for MSMEsOn February 5, 2026, Axis Bank launched “Rooftop Solar Finance”, a new financing product, with an aim to help Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) adopt solar energy systems on their commercial rooftops.About Rooftop Solar Finance:Collateral-Free loans: MSMEs can avail loans from Rs.10 lakhs to Rs.2 crores without needing collateral. The product is offered through Axis Bank’s branch network across India.Flexible Repayment: The repayment tenure is around 4-7 years, helping businesses manage repayment in line with cash flow.Solar Adoption Support: The product helps firms install rooftop solar systems to lower long-term energy costs and reduce dependence on grid electricity.Partnerships: Axis Bank has partnered with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and a technology partner to improve transparency in costs.
Axis Bank Launches ‘Rooftop Solar Finance’ for MSMEsOn February 5, 2026, Axis Bank launched “Rooftop Solar Finance”, a new financing product, with an aim to help Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) adopt solar energy systems on their commercial...
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Delhi Most Affordable City for International Students: ReportIn February 2025, the Knight Frank India, Deloitte India and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) jointly released a report titled “India’s 155 Million Student Mandate”, in which it highlighted that New Delhi, Delhi has emerged as “world’s most affordable student city, ranked first globally”Key HighlightsData: The report cross-references its findings with data from the QS Best Student Cities 2026 and the QS International Student Survey 2025, which show a marked improvement in the global perception of Indian cities.QS Ranking: The QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking showcases the most attractive urban destinations for international students.Categories: The rankings are based on a diverse variety of indicators grouped under six key categoriesAround 150 cities were assessed across these equally weighted categories, namely affordability, employer activity, university ranking, city desirability, student voice and student mix.
Delhi Most Affordable City for International Students: ReportIn February 2025, the Knight Frank India, Deloitte India and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) jointly released a report titled “India’s 155 Million Student Mandate”, in which it highlighted that New Delhi, Delhi has emerged as “world’s most affordable student city, ranked first globally”Key HighlightsData: The report cross-references its findings with data from the QS Best Student Cities 2026 and the QS International Student Survey 2025, which show a marked improvement in the global perception of Indian cities.QS Ranking: The QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking showcases the most attractive urban destinations for international students.Categories: The rankings are based on a diverse variety of indicators grouped under six key categoriesAround 150 cities were assessed across these equally weighted categories, namely affordability, employer activity, university ranking, city desirability, student voice and student mix.
Delhi Most Affordable City for International Students: ReportIn February 2025, the Knight Frank India, Deloitte India and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) jointly released a report titled “India’s 155 Million Student Mandate”, in which it highlighted that N...
Airbus and GSV Inaugurate Centre of Excellence for Aerospace Research in GujaratIn February 2026, Airbus inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for aerospace studies at the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), a Central University focused on the transportation and logistics sector, in Vadodara, Gujarat to strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem through research, innovation, and skill development.The CoE was inaugurated by Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director (MD), Airbus India and South Asia, in the presence of Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad, Member of the Court of GSV, and Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor of GSV.About CoE–SAF Initiative:R&D: The Centre of Excellence (CoE) conducts Research and Development (R&D) on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and future aerospace technologies including Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-to-SAF conversion.Partnership: The Airbus–GSV partnership is developing an integrated aerospace ecosystem in India and offers 45 full scholarships to meritorious and underprivileged students, with one-third of the scholarships reserved for women.Academics: Airbus established a Chair Professor at GSV for Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), and executive aerospace programmes.
Airbus and GSV Inaugurate Centre of Excellence for Aerospace Research in GujaratIn February 2026, Airbus inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for aerospace studies at the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), a Central University focused on the transportation and logistics sector, in Vadodara, Gujarat to strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem through research, innovation, and skill development.The CoE was inaugurated by Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director (MD), Airbus India and South Asia, in the presence of Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad, Member of the Court of GSV, and Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor of GSV.About CoE–SAF Initiative:R&D: The Centre of Excellence (CoE) conducts Research and Development (R&D) on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and future aerospace technologies including Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-to-SAF conversion.Partnership: The Airbus–GSV partnership is developing an integrated aerospace ecosystem in India and offers 45 full scholarships to meritorious and underprivileged students, with one-third of the scholarships reserved for women.Academics: Airbus established a Chair Professor at GSV for Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), and executive aerospace programmes.
Airbus and GSV Inaugurate Centre of Excellence for Aerospace Research in GujaratIn February 2026, Airbus inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for aerospace studies at the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), a Central University focused on the tran...
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NTH Signs MoU with STQC–ERTL (North) for EMI/EMC Testing of DronesIn February 2026, the National Test House (NTH) entered into a Government-to-Government (G2G) with the Standardization Testing & Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate – Electronics Regional Test Laboratory (North) (ERTL North), under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), to enable Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing of drones.The collaboration aims to strengthen India’s drone testing and certification ecosystem and support compliance with national drone certification regulations.About the MoU:Objective: Partnership enables safe, reliable, and certified drone and subsystem evaluation in India.Testing: ERTL (North) conducts EMI, EMC, and immunity testing as per International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61000 and Indian Standard (IS) 14700 standards.
NTH Signs MoU with STQC–ERTL (North) for EMI/EMC Testing of DronesIn February 2026, the National Test House (NTH) entered into a Government-to-Government (G2G) with the Standardization Testing & Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate – Electronics Regional Test Laboratory (North) (ERTL North), under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), to enable Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing of drones.The collaboration aims to strengthen India’s drone testing and certification ecosystem and support compliance with national drone certification regulations.About the MoU:Objective: Partnership enables safe, reliable, and certified drone and subsystem evaluation in India.Testing: ERTL (North) conducts EMI, EMC, and immunity testing as per International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61000 and Indian Standard (IS) 14700 standards.
NTH Signs MoU with STQC–ERTL (North) for EMI/EMC Testing of DronesIn February 2026, the National Test House (NTH) entered into a Government-to-Government (G2G) with the Standardization Testing & Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate – Electronics ...
NBA Launches Digital Portal for Certificate of Origin for Cultivated Medicinal PlantsOn 5 February 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), launched a digital portal for the electronic issuance of Certificates of Origin (CoO) for cultivated medicinal plants to support Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) exemption applications.The portal provides a single-window, end-to-end online system for submission, processing, and issuance of CoO including automated Form 12 generation for eligible stakeholders. It can be accessed at https://absefiling.nbaindia.in/.About Digital Portal — Certificates of Origin (CoO):Legal Basis: The portal implements the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 passed by Lok Sabha (July 2023) and Rajya Sabha (August 2023) and notified through Rules by MoEFCC during 2024–2025.ABS: The platform supports Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) exemption claims for cultivated medicinal plants.About NBA: Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) based National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, functions through a structured framework comprising the Authority, Secretariat, State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), and Expert Committees.
NBA Launches Digital Portal for Certificate of Origin for Cultivated Medicinal PlantsOn 5 February 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), launched a digital portal for the electronic issuance of Certificates of Origin (CoO) for cultivated medicinal plants to support Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) exemption applications.The portal provides a single-window, end-to-end online system for submission, processing, and issuance of CoO including automated Form 12 generation for eligible stakeholders. It can be accessed at https://absefiling.nbaindia.in/.About Digital Portal — Certificates of Origin (CoO):Legal Basis: The portal implements the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 passed by Lok Sabha (July 2023) and Rajya Sabha (August 2023) and notified through Rules by MoEFCC during 2024–2025.ABS: The platform supports Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) exemption claims for cultivated medicinal plants.About NBA: Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) based National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, functions through a structured framework comprising the Authority, Secretariat, State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), and Expert Committees.
NBA Launches Digital Portal for Certificate of Origin for Cultivated Medicinal PlantsOn 5 February 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), launched a dig...
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Union Minister Rajnath Singh Flags Off Mount Aconcagua ExpeditionOn February 5, 2026, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), flagged off a joint mountaineering expedition to Mount (Mt) Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in South America and the tallest mountain outside Asia with an elevation of about 6,960 metre (m), from New Delhi, Delhi.About Mt Aconcagua Expedition: Organizers: The expedition was organized by Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand), in collaboration with Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM & WS), Pahalgam (Jammu & Kashmir, J&K).Expedition Team: The Indian mountaineering team comprising six members, is led by Colonel Hem Chandra Singh, Principal of NIM.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh Flags Off Mount Aconcagua ExpeditionOn February 5, 2026, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), flagged off a joint mountaineering expedition to Mount (Mt) Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in South America and the tallest mountain outside Asia with an elevation of about 6,960 metre (m), from New Delhi, Delhi.About Mt Aconcagua Expedition: Organizers: The expedition was organized by Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand), in collaboration with Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM & WS), Pahalgam (Jammu & Kashmir, J&K).Expedition Team: The Indian mountaineering team comprising six members, is led by Colonel Hem Chandra Singh, Principal of NIM.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh Flags Off Mount Aconcagua ExpeditionOn February 5, 2026, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), flagged off a joint mountaineering expedition to Mount (Mt) Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in Sou...
India and GCC Sign Terms of Reference to Resume Free Trade Agreement TalksIn February 2026, India and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) in New Delhi, Delhi, to formally restart negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), presided over by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), and the GCC Chief Negotiator Raja Al Marzoqi.India–GCC Trade Relations:ToR Significance: The ToR defines the scope, guiding principles, and modalities for the proposed India–GCC trade pact.Focus: The pact aims to ensure stable trade policies while boosting market access in the food processing and petrochemical sectors.About GCC: It is a union of six countries Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, promoting economic, security, and cultural cooperation.
India and GCC Sign Terms of Reference to Resume Free Trade Agreement TalksIn February 2026, India and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) in New Delhi, Delhi, to formally restart negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), presided over by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), and the GCC Chief Negotiator Raja Al Marzoqi.India–GCC Trade Relations:ToR Significance: The ToR defines the scope, guiding principles, and modalities for the proposed India–GCC trade pact.Focus: The pact aims to ensure stable trade policies while boosting market access in the food processing and petrochemical sectors.About GCC: It is a union of six countries Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, promoting economic, security, and cultural cooperation.
India and GCC Sign Terms of Reference to Resume Free Trade Agreement TalksIn February 2026, India and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) in New Delhi, Delhi, to formally restart negotiations for a Free T...
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India Joins BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies to Support Manufacturing and MSMEsIn February 2026, India joined the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) at an event organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi (Delhi).The initiative aims to strengthen manufacturing capabilities and support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across BRICS nations with a focus on Industry 4.0 competencies.About the BCIC Agreement:Focus: BCIC promotes Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, sustainability, productivity improvement, technology transfer, and knowledge exchange.Agreement: DPIIT, under MoC&I, and UNIDO signed a Trust Fund Agreement, signed by Economic Adviser Agrim Kaushal (DPIIT) and Dr Cristiano Pasini, Director, UNIDO, to formalize India’s participation.Support: NPC functions under DPIIT policy guidance with UNIDO technical support to strengthen MSME competitiveness and digitalization.
India Joins BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies to Support Manufacturing and MSMEsIn February 2026, India joined the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) at an event organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi (Delhi).The initiative aims to strengthen manufacturing capabilities and support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across BRICS nations with a focus on Industry 4.0 competencies.About the BCIC Agreement:Focus: BCIC promotes Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, sustainability, productivity improvement, technology transfer, and knowledge exchange.Agreement: DPIIT, under MoC&I, and UNIDO signed a Trust Fund Agreement, signed by Economic Adviser Agrim Kaushal (DPIIT) and Dr Cristiano Pasini, Director, UNIDO, to formalize India’s participation.Support: NPC functions under DPIIT policy guidance with UNIDO technical support to strengthen MSME competitiveness and digitalization.
India Joins BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies to Support Manufacturing and MSMEsIn February 2026, India joined the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) at an event organised by the De...
Travel Writer and Padma Shri Awardee Hugh Gantzer Passed AwayOn February 2, 2026, a prominent travel writer and Padma Shri Awardee Hugh Gantzer passed away at the age of 95 in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. He was born on January 9, 1931, in Patna, Bihar.He was conferred with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in the field of Literature and Education in 2025.About Hugh Gantzer:Profile: He was widely known for his travel writing, bringing India’s diverse landscapes and cultures to readers through books, articles, and travel documentaries.Career: Earlier, he served in the Indian Navy (IN) and retired as a Commander before turning to full-time travel writing with his wife Colleen Gantzer.He was associated with The Times of India(ToI) for several decades and authored the iconic weekly column “Sexes and the City”, which ran for over 40 years.Contributions: He produced 52 documentaries for Doordarshan, authored over 30 books, and contributed travel columns to several leading English newspapers.
Travel Writer and Padma Shri Awardee Hugh Gantzer Passed AwayOn February 2, 2026, a prominent travel writer and Padma Shri Awardee Hugh Gantzer passed away at the age of 95 in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. He was born on January 9, 1931, in Patna, Bihar.He was conferred with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in the field of Literature and Education in 2025.About Hugh Gantzer:Profile: He was widely known for his travel writing, bringing India’s diverse landscapes and cultures to readers through books, articles, and travel documentaries.Career: Earlier, he served in the Indian Navy (IN) and retired as a Commander before turning to full-time travel writing with his wife Colleen Gantzer.He was associated with The Times of India(ToI) for several decades and authored the iconic weekly column “Sexes and the City”, which ran for over 40 years.Contributions: He produced 52 documentaries for Doordarshan, authored over 30 books, and contributed travel columns to several leading English newspapers.
Travel Writer and Padma Shri Awardee Hugh Gantzer Passed AwayOn February 2, 2026, a prominent travel writer and Padma Shri Awardee Hugh Gantzer passed away at the age of 95 in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. He was born on January 9, 1931, in Patna, Bihar.H...
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