Daily Current Affairs & GK Updates

Dr. Jitendra Singh Launched India’s 1st State Innovation Mission in TripuraIn February 2026, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T), formally launched India’s 1st State Innovation Mission (SIM) at the Hapania International Exhibition Center in Agartala, Tripura.While addressing the event, Union MoS described the Northeast as the ‘New Engine’ of India’s growth.About SIM: This newly launched SIM is part of the approved Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) 2.0 programme, led by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog)’s State Support Mission (SSM).It is designed as a long-term institutional framework aimed to support States and Union Territories (UTs) in building robust, inclusive, and context-specific innovation ecosystems aligned with national priorities and local capabilities.Other Key Launches: During the launch event of SIM, Dr. Manik Saha, CM of Tripura, formally launched ‘T-NEST(Tripura: Nurturing Entrepreneurship and Startups)’, state’s 1st premier incubation and innovation hub.He also launched one of India’s 1st District Innovator Fellowships (DIF), designed to identify and guide grassroots innovators with structured lifecycle support and has also announced that the state will soon launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy.

28 Feb, 2026

Dr. Jitendra Singh Launched India’s 1st State Innovation Mission in TripuraIn February 2026, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T), formally launched India’s 1st State Innovation Mission (SIM) at the Hapania International Exhibition Center in Agartala, Tripura.While addressing the event, Union MoS described the Northeast as the ‘New Engine’ of India’s growth.About SIM: This newly launched SIM is part of the approved Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) 2.0 programme, led by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog)’s State Support Mission (SSM).It is designed as a long-term institutional framework aimed to support States and Union Territories (UTs) in building robust, inclusive, and context-specific innovation ecosystems aligned with national priorities and local capabilities.Other Key Launches: During the launch event of SIM, Dr. Manik Saha, CM of Tripura, formally launched ‘T-NEST(Tripura: Nurturing Entrepreneurship and Startups)’, state’s 1st premier incubation and innovation hub.He also launched one of India’s 1st District Innovator Fellowships (DIF), designed to identify and guide grassroots innovators with structured lifecycle support and has also announced that the state will soon launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy.

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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches Rail Tech Policy and e-RCT SystemIn February 2026, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) announced the launch of the Rail Tech Policy and the complete digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT).The Rail Tech Policy and the e-RCT are Reform Number Three and Reform Number Four under Indian Railways’ flagship ‘52 Reforms in 52 Weeks’ initiative.About Rail Tech Policy Reform:Purpose: The reform aims to engage innovators, startups, industry and institutions to promote innovation in Indian Railways.Portal: As part of the policy, a dedicated RailTech Portal will be launched to enable innovators to submit proposals through a fully digital, end-to-end process.Funding: The Railways will fund up to 50% of development costs for viable solutions, with large-scale orders for successful innovations.

28 Feb, 2026

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches Rail Tech Policy and e-RCT SystemIn February 2026, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) announced the launch of the Rail Tech Policy and the complete digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT).The Rail Tech Policy and the e-RCT are Reform Number Three and Reform Number Four under Indian Railways’ flagship ‘52 Reforms in 52 Weeks’ initiative.About Rail Tech Policy Reform:Purpose: The reform aims to engage innovators, startups, industry and institutions to promote innovation in Indian Railways.Portal: As part of the policy, a dedicated RailTech Portal will be launched to enable innovators to submit proposals through a fully digital, end-to-end process.Funding: The Railways will fund up to 50% of development costs for viable solutions, with large-scale orders for successful innovations.

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GoI Launches CBDC-based Digital Food Currency pilot for DBT under PMGKAY in PuducherryOn 26th February 2026, the Government of India (GoI) launched a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Digital Food Currency pilot for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Union Territory (UT) Puducherry.The pilot was inaugurated by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD), in the presence of Puducherry Lieutenant (Lt.) Governor Kuniyil Kailashnathan and Puducherry Chief Minister (CM) N. Rangasamy.About CBDC-Based PDS Pilot:CBDC Type: The pilot uses Retail CBDC as programmable tokens credited to beneficiaries’ wallets for purpose-bound subsidy transfers.Redemption: Tokens can be redeemed at Fair Price Shops (FPS) or authorized merchants, with feature phone users included for wider digital inclusion.Tracing: Integration with the Digital Rupee (e₹) enables Real-Time Tracking (RTT) of transactions, enhancing transparency.Integration: Supported by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Public Financial Management System (PFMS), and Canara Bank (CB), while addressing biometric authentication and electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) challenges.Portability: Aligns with the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) Trinity frameworks, allowing beneficiaries to locate nearby merchants via a mobile application.

28 Feb, 2026

GoI Launches CBDC-based Digital Food Currency pilot for DBT under PMGKAY in PuducherryOn 26th February 2026, the Government of India (GoI) launched a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Digital Food Currency pilot for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Union Territory (UT) Puducherry.The pilot was inaugurated by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD), in the presence of Puducherry Lieutenant (Lt.) Governor Kuniyil Kailashnathan and Puducherry Chief Minister (CM) N. Rangasamy.About CBDC-Based PDS Pilot:CBDC Type: The pilot uses Retail CBDC as programmable tokens credited to beneficiaries’ wallets for purpose-bound subsidy transfers.Redemption: Tokens can be redeemed at Fair Price Shops (FPS) or authorized merchants, with feature phone users included for wider digital inclusion.Tracing: Integration with the Digital Rupee (e₹) enables Real-Time Tracking (RTT) of transactions, enhancing transparency.Integration: Supported by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Public Financial Management System (PFMS), and Canara Bank (CB), while addressing biometric authentication and electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) challenges.Portability: Aligns with the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) Trinity frameworks, allowing beneficiaries to locate nearby merchants via a mobile application.

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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.

27 Feb, 2026

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.

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Veteran Indian Steel Industry Executive Jatinder Mehra Passed AwayIn 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.

27 Feb, 2026

Veteran Indian Steel Industry Executive Jatinder Mehra Passed AwayIn 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.

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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,

27 Feb, 2026

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,

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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).

27 Feb, 2026

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).

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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.

27 Feb, 2026

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.

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Kempegowda International Airport Signs MoU with Frankfurt Airport to Strengthen Air Cargo ConnectivityOn 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.

27 Feb, 2026

Kempegowda International Airport Signs MoU with Frankfurt Airport to Strengthen Air Cargo ConnectivityOn 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.

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NSE IX Launches ‘Global Access’ Platform for Indian Retail Investors to Trade OverseasIn 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.

27 Feb, 2026

NSE IX Launches ‘Global Access’ Platform for Indian Retail Investors to Trade OverseasIn 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.

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