Daily Current Affairs Feb 26, 2026 | India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership
Here is the comprehensive Current Affairs and GK brief for February 26, 2026. This update covers critical diplomatic shifts in the Middle East, a major Supreme Court ruling on educational content, and India's progress in the T20 World Cup.
National & Polity
SC Bans NCERT Textbook: A three-judge bench led by CJI Surya Kant ordered a blanket ban on a new Class 8 Social Science textbook. The court found a section titled "Judicial Accountability" to be in criminal contempt, describing it as a move to undermine the institution's integrity.
Kerala Renaming Formalities: Following the Union Cabinet's approval, the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 has been drafted. Under Article 3, it will now be referred to the state legislature for views before formal introduction in Parliament to officially change the name to "Keralam."
Eastern Nagaland Autonomy: The Centre signed a landmark tripartite agreement with the Nagaland Government and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) to establish the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), granting regional administrative autonomy.
E20 Ethanol Mandate: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) directed all oil marketing companies to ensure the nationwide sale of E20 (20% ethanol-blended petrol) starting April 1, 2026, to reduce crude oil import bills.
LIGO-India Milestone: Construction work reached a critical phase at the LIGO-India site in Maharashtra. The project, involving L&T and local industries, aims to establish India as a global hub for gravitational wave research.
International & Defence
India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership: Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a state visit to Israel. The bilateral relationship was elevated to a "Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity."
Medal of Honor: PM Modi was conferred with the 'Speaker of the Knesset Medal', the highest parliamentary honor of Israel.
Technology Pact: A new initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (CET) was launched, focusing on AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing.
India-USA 'VAJRA PRAHAR': The 16th edition of the Joint Special Forces Exercise commenced in Himachal Pradesh. The drills focus on technology infusion, network-centric command, and multi-domain warfare.
Tensions in South Asia: The UN Human Rights chief urged "urgent political dialogue" between Afghanistan and Pakistan following a sharp increase in civilian casualties during border clashes and aerial attacks near the Durand Line.
US-Ukraine Recovery Talks: President Zelenskyy met with US officials to discuss postwar recovery plans ahead of high-stakes peace negotiations scheduled for Geneva next month.
Economy & Banking
Corporate Sales Growth: Listed private non-financial companies reported a 10.1% year-on-year increase in sales for the third quarter of FY26, signaling robust industrial recovery.
Dividend Tax Revision: New tax provisions for foreign shareholders were implemented. Dividends are now taxed at 5% for those holding at least 10% capital, and 15% for all other cases, replacing the previous single-rate system.
Next-Gen 'Rail Parcel App': South Central Railway launched a revamped digital platform to streamline parcel booking, tracking, and logistics for small-scale entrepreneurs and MSMEs.
Digital Biotech Portal: The Ministry of Science and Technology launched 'SUJVIKA', an AI-driven data portal providing structured statistics on biotechnology imports to help startups identify trade gaps.
Science & Sports
T20 World Cup Super 8 (India vs Zimbabwe): India defeated Zimbabwe by 72 runs at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
Performance: Hardik Pandya was named Player of the Match for his quickfire 50 (23) and clinical bowling.
Standing: With this win, India confirmed their spot in the semi-finals, where they are likely to face either England or New Zealand.
Winter Olympics (Milano Cortina): The International Skating Union (ISU) reported record digital engagement for the games. Norway continues to dominate the speed skating world championships held alongside the main event.
Redbird Airways Investigation: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) confirmed that the air ambulance that crashed in Jharkhand was not equipped with a flight data recorder (black box), sparking new safety mandates for small aircraft.
Important Days (February 26)
February 26 is primarily recognized as the death anniversary of Indian freedom fighter Veer Savarkar (1966).Static GK & Exam Snippets
Article 3 of the Constitution: Empowers Parliament to form new states and alter the boundaries or names of existing states.
Vayam Rakshamah: The motto of the Indian Coast Guard, which recently celebrated its 50th Raising Day.
Ethanol Blending: Derived primarily from sugarcane and surplus food grains; the Panchamrit goal targets net-zero emissions by 2070.
Knesset: The unicameral national legislature of Israel, located in Jerusalem.
No comments:
Post a Comment