Daily current affairs: 25 February 2026

Long Description : Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a red-carpet welcome by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. This high-profile visit comes at a strategic juncture, focusing on deepening the "Strategic Partnership" across defense, innovation, and trade. A primary agenda item is India's proposed Sudarshan Chakra, an indigenous all-weather air defense system. India seeks to incorporate specific interceptor elements from Israel’s Iron Dome to enhance its protective capabilities. The visit also includes a scheduled address to the Knesset and bilateral talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), addressing regional stability and technological exchange in semiconductor manufacturing and water management.

Long Description : Announced on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the SITAC framework provides a structured ecosystem for bilateral cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies. The partnership aims to connect the tech hubs of both nations, focusing on real-world industrial applications and societal outcomes. Key areas include healthcare AI, green transition technologies, and secure data governance. By leveraging Sweden’s expertise in industrial automation and India’s massive digital public infrastructure, the SITAC initiative is designed to promote trade, foster cross-border investments, and establish global standards for responsible and ethical AI deployment in line with democratic values.

Long Description : The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) introduced the enhanced RAJMARG PRAVESH web portal to improve the ease of doing business. The platform simplifies the process for obtaining NOCs for fuel stations, wayside amenities, and private properties. Crucially, it also enables government and private entities to apply for permissions to lay utility infrastructure, such as optical fiber cables, water pipelines, and gas lines, along National Highways. The revamp ensures a time-bound, transparent, and completely digital approval process, reducing bureaucratic delays and supporting the rapid expansion of India’s highway-related commercial and social infrastructure.

Long Description : During the first day of his official visit to Japan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath oversaw the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) totaling ₹11,000 crore. The deals involve major Japanese firms like Kubota Corporation, Nagase & Co., and Seiko Advance. These investments are earmarked for diverse sectors including agricultural machinery manufacturing, automotive electronics, water infrastructure, and high-performance industrial printing. The partnerships are expected to significantly boost Uttar Pradesh's manufacturing capacity and generate extensive employment opportunities, further cementing the "India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership" and supporting the state’s goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy.

Long Description : Nidhi Chhibber, a veteran IAS officer, has officially taken the helm at NITI Aayog as its CEO today. She succeeds BVR Subrahmanyam, whose tenure concluded on February 25, 2026. Chhibber’s appointment comes at a critical juncture as the premier policy think-tank prepares the roadmap for Viksit Bharat @2047 and works on the next phase of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index. Her primary focus is expected to be on strengthening cooperative federalism and accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across states. This leadership transition is viewed as vital for maintaining the momentum of India’s long-term economic reforms and policy evaluations.

Long Description : Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, presided over the culmination of the Bharat RanBhoomi Darshan Expedition at the National War Memorial, New Delhi. Led by the Regiment of Artillery, the 35-member contingent traversed the Rann of Kutch and the Thar Desert in a multi-state SUV expedition. The journey, which started in Dwarka on February 3, aimed to connect the youth with India’s military heritage and showcase improved infrastructure in border regions. The expedition also functioned as a strategic outreach program, engaging with war veterans and NCC cadets, while highlighting the Indian Army's commitment to preserving historical military narratives.

Long Description : In a recent interaction, Saugata Bhattacharya, an external member of the Reserve Bank of India’s MPC, emphasized that domestic inflation is expected to remain near the 4% target despite geopolitical volatility. While risks from crude oil and weather patterns persist, the RBI maintains a neutral policy stance. The central bank has aggressively eased rates by 125 basis points since early 2025 to support growth. Bhattacharya noted that the Indian economy shows no signs of overheating, with credit growth and consumption remains steady. For aspirants, this signals a period of interest rate stability, prioritizing economic recovery over immediate inflationary tightening.

Long Description : India has formally aligned with the Pax Silica Initiative, a strategic framework led by the U.S. to ensure resilient, secure, and diverse semiconductor supply chains. Alongside this, the newly signed India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership focuses on co-developing AI-based solutions for clean energy, agriculture, and public health. These agreements represent a significant shift toward "friend-shoring" of critical technologies. For India, this means increased access to advanced silicon technology and AI research, while the U.S. benefits from India's vast tech talent pool. The partnership aims to counter technological monopolies and establish a "Democratic Tech Bloc" for emerging digital infrastructure.

Long Description : The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has opened registration for the fourth edition of its START program, scheduled from March 11 to April 2, 2026. This online initiative aims to build a talent pipeline in space sciences. The 2026 edition focuses on "Observation from Space," covering remote sensing, satellite meteorology, and planetary exploration. The program is specifically tailored for final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students in physical sciences and technology. By providing introductory-level lectures from pan-India experts, ISRO intends to encourage students to pursue research and professional careers in the rapidly growing space sector and the burgeoning private space ecosystem.

Long Description : The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) released its consolidated report, 'Capital Flows in India’s Electric Transport Sector'. It highlights that while manufacturing capacity for Electric Vehicles (EVs) has seen massive inflows, a "cohesive investment framework" is still needed. India's 2030 goals include 30% of private cars, 70% of commercial vehicles, and 80% of two-wheelers being electric. The report identifies significant gaps in charging infrastructure and the need for dedicated green financing. For the next phase, India must mobilize capital toward battery chemistry R&D and public transport electrification to sustain its transition toward a net-zero automotive ecosystem.

Long Description : The meeting in New Delhi focused on the early conclusion of the India-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and enhancing energy security partnerships. The GCC is India's largest trading bloc, and the discussions aimed to diversify the relationship beyond traditional oil and gas to include fintech, healthcare, and education. Both sides reviewed the security situation in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This high-level interaction underscores India's "Link West" policy and the strategic importance of the 8.5 million Indian diaspora residing in GCC member countries.

Long Description : Following a thorough analysis of telemetry and simulation data, ISRO released the findings regarding the NVS-02 navigation satellite, launched on GSLV-F15. While the initial injection was successful, the orbit-raising operations failed because the drive signal did not reach the oxidizer line’s pyro valve. The committee has recommended enhancing redundancy in the pyro system operations for all future missions. ISRO confirmed that these corrective actions were already successfully implemented in the CMS-03 spacecraft launched in late 2025. This transparency is crucial for the reliability of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC) and future GSLV/LVM3 launches.

Long Description : Global leaders and tech experts at the summit unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration on Responsible AI. The declaration outlines a framework for democratizing AI access, ensuring data privacy, and mitigating algorithmic bias. It specifically focuses on the use of AI in the Global South to bridge the digital divide. India’s role as the Chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) was central to the discussions. The summit also paved the way for the "AI Seva" initiative, aimed at integrating AI into public service delivery in India, including agriculture, vernacular education, and predictive healthcare for rural populations.

Long Description : In a series of new diplomatic assignments, Neeta Bhushan, a 1994-batch IFS officer currently serving in the MEA, has been named the next Ambassador to Poland. Simultaneously, Puneet Agrawal was appointed as the next Ambassador to Thailand. These appointments are strategically significant as Poland remains a key transit hub for Indian interests in Central Europe, particularly regarding defense cooperation and the ongoing supply chain shifts. Thailand is a crucial pillar of India's "Act East" policy and the BIMSTEC framework. Both diplomats are expected to take up their respective assignments shortly, focusing on strengthening bilateral trade and strategic ties.

Long Description : Infrastructure major L&T’s Heavy Civil Infrastructure business has secured a ‘large’ contract for the construction of critical infrastructure, including bridges and tunnels. While the specific client was not named, the project is part of India’s ongoing push to modernize its transport networks. The orders also cover the development of urban transit systems and hydro-power projects. This win reflects the robust health of India's capital expenditure (CapEx) cycle. For competitive exams, L&T’s order book is often used as a bellwether for the country’s industrial and infrastructure health, indicating sustained government and private investment in physical assets.

Long Description : Gold prices in India surged by nearly 0.8% in a single day, reflecting volatility in international spot rates. The primary catalyst is the recent US decision to collect a 10% temporary tariff on all imports, which has sparked global trade uncertainty and driven investors toward safe-haven assets. Additionally, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a fluctuating US Dollar have kept prices elevated. In the Indian context, gold remains 5.15% costlier than in Dubai due to import duties. This trend is critical for students tracking fiscal policy, as high gold prices often impact India's Current Account Deficit (CAD) due to heavy import reliance.