Daily current affairs: 24 February 2026

Long Description : A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant intervened in a stalemate between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission. The Court authorized the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice to deploy civil judges with at least three years of experience to scrutinize voter inclusion claims. It also permitted requisitioning judicial officers from Odisha and Jharkhand if needed. The Court directed the EC to publish the final list on February 28, 2026, while declaring that supplementary lists issued later would be deemed part of the final roll. This move addresses a significant "trust deficit" in the state's electoral process.

Long Description : Prime Minister Modi and Brazilian President Lula da Silva reaffirmed their strategic partnership by setting a new trade milestone. Moving beyond the current $13 billion trade, both nations focus on energy transition, pharmaceuticals, and MSMEs. Brazil, a founding member of the India-led Global Biofuels Alliance, committed to technology transfer for essential medicines. Both leaders also reiterated their joint G4 demand for UN Security Council reforms. Additionally, India officially invited Brazil to the 18th BRICS Summit to be hosted by India later this year, cementing a multipolar diplomatic agenda for the Global South.

Long Description : ICRA’s latest economic forecast indicates a slight moderation from the 7.6% growth recorded in the previous quarter. The services sector is expected to slow to 7.8% from 9.2%, while agricultural growth may dip to 3%. However, industrial activity shows a silver lining, projected to hit a six-quarter high of 8.3%. Factors contributing to the slowdown include subdued state government spending and weak merchandise exports. Despite the moderation, India remains the fastest-growing major economy, with the forecast emphasizing the need for a revival in private consumption and government capex to sustain momentum.

Long Description : The Delhi-Meerut RRTS, now fully operational, connects Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut. Operated as "Namo Bharat" trains, the project aims to reduce travel time between the two cities to less than an hour. The corridor features state-of-the-art safety systems and integrated multimodal connectivity at major stations. During the inauguration, the PM emphasized that the RRTS is a cornerstone of the "Gati Shakti" national master plan, designed to decongest the National Capital Region and promote sustainable urban transit through high-speed, high-frequency rail services.

Long Description : This new data center acts as a strategic backup to the RBI’s primary facility in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. By choosing a location in Odisha, the central bank aims to minimize "single-point failure" risks associated with seismic activity or geopolitical strikes. The center will host core banking applications, sensitive financial databases, and the software powering the Indian payment ecosystem. This development is part of the RBI’s broader "Project Resilience," ensuring that India's digital financial services remain uninterrupted even during large-scale national emergencies or natural disasters.

Long Description : Under this partnership, India will collaborate with the US and other member nations to secure the supply of rare earth elements and critical minerals essential for EV batteries, semiconductors, and defense equipment. This alliance is a strategic extension of the iCET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology) framework. By joining, India secures access to advanced mineral processing technologies and investment for domestic mining projects. The partnership is seen as a crucial step in "friend-shoring" supply chains, ensuring that India’s green energy and digital transitions are not hampered by global geopolitical volatility.

Long Description : The schedule covers SGB series from 2018-19 to 2021-22. While these bonds have an 8-year maturity, the RBI allows premature redemption after the fifth year on interest payment dates. The first eligible tranche in this window is the 2018-19 Series II, with a redemption date of April 23, 2026. Investors must submit requests through banks, SHCIL, or the RBI Retail Direct portal 15 to 30 days in advance. The redemption price will be based on the simple average of the closing price of 999 purity gold as published by IBJA for the previous three working days.

Long Description : The ‘Badhna Hai Toh Yahan Judna Hai’ initiative is designed to integrate citizens into the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). It focuses on upskilling and reskilling the workforce to adapt to automation and generative AI. The campaign aims to demystify AI for the common man and provide accessible certifications in digital literacy. Prime Minister Modi, while inaugurating the India AI Expo, emphasized that India is rewriting the rules of AI governance by keeping the "command in human hands" while allowing the technology an "open sky" for innovation and economic growth.

Long Description : The protocol introduces the "Principal Purpose Test" (PPT) to prevent treaty abuse and ensure that tax benefits are not granted in cases where the main purpose of a transaction is tax avoidance. It also updates the exchange of information provisions to match current OECD standards. This move is expected to provide greater tax certainty to French investors in India and vice versa, while curbing the practice of base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). The agreement reflects the strengthening economic ties and shared commitment to transparent financial governance between the two strategic partners.

Long Description : Rob Jetten, 38, leads a three-party centrist and centre-right coalition government. PM Modi emphasized that India and the Netherlands share extensive ties in water management, agriculture, and high-tech sectors. The Netherlands is one of India's top trading partners in Europe and a major source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Modi expressed optimism about working with Jetten to further the "Strategic Partnership on Water" and collaborate on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement. This diplomatic outreach underscores India's focus on strengthening ties with younger global leaders and key European maritime powers.

Long Description : In a significant shift toward civic transparency, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has updated its social science curriculum. The new content discusses the "crisis of pendency" in Indian courts and the socio-economic impact of delayed justice. It also touches upon the ongoing digital transformation under the e-Courts project. The update aims to provide students with a realistic understanding of democratic institutions. Educationists suggest that highlighting these challenges encourages critical thinking among youth regarding governance reforms and the importance of an efficient, transparent legal system in a developing nation.

Long Description : The Meerut Metro operates between Meerut South and Modipuram, spanning 12 stations. Interestingly, it shares the same infrastructure as the RRTS for some sections but serves as a dedicated local transit line. The metro cars are indigenously manufactured under the "Make in India" initiative. This "hybrid" model—where a high-speed regional rail (Namo Bharat) and a local metro system share the same track and stations—is the first of its kind in India. It is expected to revolutionize local commuting in Meerut while providing seamless connectivity to the national capital.

Long Description : This collaboration is a significant boost to India’s "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" in the defense sector. The C-390 Millennium is a multi-mission aircraft capable of carrying 26 tons of payload. The new MRO facility will not only service the Indian fleet if acquired but also serve as a regional hub for other global operators of the aircraft. By localizing advanced aerospace maintenance, India aims to build a robust domestic ecosystem for military aviation. This follows a Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed last year, marking a transition from a buyer-seller relationship to deep industrial co-production with Brazil.

Long Description : Becoming a full member would require India to maintain crude oil reserves equivalent to 90 days of its previous year's net imports. Currently, India's strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) fall short of this requirement, but the government has announced plans to expand capacity. Full membership would give India a significant voice in global energy governance and access to collaborative emergency response mechanisms. The IEA has noted India's critical role in the global energy transition, though the membership process is expected to be complex due to the strict 90-day oil stock mandate.

Long Description : The advisory follows a surge in anti-government protests in several Iranian cities. Political figures in India, including former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah, have urged students from Jammu and Kashmir to comply with the advisory to avoid a difficult evacuation later. The "leave now" notice is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the nearly 4,000 Indian students currently in Iran. The Indian government is monitoring the situation closely to facilitate departures before commercial airline operations are potentially disrupted by further escalations or government-imposed restrictions within Iran.

Long Description : NMP 2.0 expands on the first version by including new sectors like urban infrastructure, renewable energy assets, and state-level assets. The program focuses on "monetising" existing government-owned assets (like roads, railways, and power lines) by leasing them to private players, while the government retains ownership. The proceeds will be redirected into the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) to create new greenfield assets. The FM emphasized that this is not "privatization" but a strategic "value unlocking" exercise to boost the economy without increasing the fiscal deficit or relying solely on taxpayer money.