CURRENT AFFAIRS DESTINATION FOR UPSC & STATE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATIONS
A new scientific study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters has uncovered evidence that shorter climate cycles continued to operate even during one of Earth’s most extreme climatic phases — the “Snowball Earth” episodes, when the planet was almost entirely frozen. What is Snowball Earth? Geologists use the term Snowball Earth to describe periods in Earth’s history when global ice sheets extended from the poles to near the equator, Read More …
Drone usage in India is expanding rapidly across land and property surveys, precision agriculture, infrastructure inspection, disaster management, railway and highway monitoring, and defence operations. This growth reflects the emergence of a strong ecosystem of manufacturers, software developers, and component suppliers. Government Policy Boost The Government of India has accelerated drone adoption through liberalised regulations and digital platforms, including: These reforms have reduced compliance burdens and encouraged innovation in the Read More …
The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched two major digital health initiatives—SAHI and BODH—on February 17 during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in New Delhi. These initiatives aim to promote safe, ethical, and effective use of artificial intelligence in healthcare across India. SAHI: Strategy for AI in Healthcare SAHI (Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India) has been designed as a comprehensive framework to guide Read More …
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on February 16 cleared the ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project, citing its “strategic importance” and noting that adequate safeguards were incorporated in the environmental clearance. Project Overview Great Nicobar Island spans 910 sq km and hosts India’s southernmost point, Indira Point.The government envisions transforming the island into a major economic and defence hub built on four pillars: Initially conceptualised by NITI Aayog, the project Read More …
As India and France approach three decades of their strategic partnership, bilateral ties are moving into a more ambitious phase under the Horizon 2047 roadmap.Diplomatic relations were first established in 1947, but a major milestone came on January 26, 1998, when both countries launched a Strategic Partnership—India’s first with a Western nation and France’s first outside the European Union. Since then, cooperation has expanded into key sectors such as defence, Read More …
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a pioneering initiative to create pollinator or “Bee Corridors” along national highways as part of its sustainable infrastructure programme. The project shifts roadside plantations from ornamental plants to ecologically beneficial vegetation. Focus on Pollinator Conservation The Bee Corridors will feature continuous stretches of nectar- and pollen-rich plants and flowering trees to ensure year-round food availability for honeybees and other pollinators.The initiative Read More …
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated the Final Assembly Line (FAL) for H125 helicopters at the Vemagal Industrial Area near Bengaluru on February 17, 2026. The facility is India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing plant and is expected to initially produce 10 H125 helicopters annually for domestic use and export to neighbouring countries. Production Plans and Timeline The plant will start with 10 helicopters per year, Read More …
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on February 16, 2026.This marks the first time a global AI gathering of such scale has been organised in the Global South. Theme Focuses on Inclusive AI The Summit’s theme — “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya — Welfare for All, Happiness for All” — reflects India’s vision of using artificial intelligence for human-centric growth Read More …
Om Birla, Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha, represented the India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s new government led by Tarique Rahman. The ceremony took place five days after parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman Becomes Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, 60, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sworn in as Prime Minister on February 17, 2026. He had returned to Bangladesh on December 25, 2025, after more than Read More …
The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare launched the new digital companion Bharat-VISTAAR in Jaipur, aimed at providing farmers across India with reliable, real-time information through a single platform. What is Bharat-VISTAAR? Bharat-VISTAAR is an AI-powered, farmer-centric digital public infrastructure developed by the Government of India. The platform will deliver information on: The system integrates inputs from multiple government departments and scientific institutions to provide accurate and timely guidance. Read More …
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled Project Vault, a public-private partnership designed to create a strategic domestic reserve of critical minerals in the United States. The initiative will be financed with $10 billion from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) along with an additional $2 billion in private investment. Under the model, EXIM will provide long-term loans to purchase and store minerals within the country. Read More …
The Chhattisgarh Forest Department has initiated the process of establishing six “hornbill restaurants” in the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) located in Gariaband district. The move aims to provide a permanent habitat for the rare Malabar Pied Hornbill and support natural forest expansion in the region. The concept of “hornbill restaurants” refers to designated forest patches enriched with fruit-bearing trees to ensure an abundant supply of the bird’s primary diet—fruits. Read More …
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script, organised by the Ministry of Culture in the national capital. A Century of Ol Chiki The Ol Chiki script, invented in 1925 by Raghunath Murmu, was specifically designed for the Santhali language. Prior to its creation, members of the Santal community in India, as well as in Nepal, Bhutan, and Mauritius, used regional scripts that Read More …
An expert panel of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recommended environmental clearance for NHPC Ltd’s 1,720-MW Kamala hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh, subject to strict ecosystem restoration measures. Key Project Details The project is part of a series of hydropower developments planned in the Subansiri river basin. Environmental Concerns The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on river valley projects directed NHPC to obtain in-principle forest clearance before Read More …
The Government of India has approved the country’s first underwater twin-tube road-cum-rail tunnel project beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam, marking a major boost to connectivity and infrastructure in the Northeast. Project Details Impact on Connectivity Strategic and Economic Significance The project is expected to be the world’s second underwater road-cum-rail tunnel, highlighting India’s growing capability in large-scale infrastructure engineering. What is EPC Mode? Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) is a Read More …