Indian Polity & Governance
UIDAI Partners with Google for Aadhaar Service Visibility:
Context: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar Seva Kendras on Google Maps.
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- UIDAI was established under the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
- It functions under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
- Aadhaar provides a 12-digit unique identity number.
- Aadhaar authentication uses biometric and demographic data.
- The partnership helps citizens identify genuine service centres.
- Prevents fraud by reducing dependence on unauthorised operators.
- Supports India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework.
- Aadhaar is used in DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).
- Supreme Court (2018 judgment) upheld Aadhaar’s constitutional validity with restrictions.
- Aadhaar cannot be mandatory for private services without legal backing.
(PIB)
DNPA Conclave on Digital News & AI:
Context: The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) organised a conclave discussing AI regulation and the future of digital journalism.
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- AI governance involves transparency, accountability, fairness.
- Generative AI raises copyright and misinformation concerns.
- India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act regulates data handling.
- Algorithmic bias is a major regulatory concern.
- OECD has AI principles framework.
- Ethical AI supports democratic information ecosystems.
- Digital platforms influence news dissemination.
- Deepfakes pose election integrity risks.
- Regulatory frameworks must balance innovation and safeguards.
- Media literacy crucial in digital age.
(ET)
International Relations
PM Modi Awarded Israel’s ‘Speaker of the Knesset Medal’:
Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred India’s first-ever ‘Speaker of the Knesset Medal’, Israel’s highest parliamentary honour, during his state visit, recognising his role in bolstering bilateral ties.
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- The Speaker of the Knesset Medal is a prestigious parliamentary honour in Israel.
- Modi is the first Indian PM and first global leader to receive it.
- Reflects deepening India–Israel relations in defence, technology and innovation.
- Israel is a key partner in homeland security, IT and aerospace.
- India balances relations with Israel and Arab states in West Asia policy.
- India supported the Gaza ceasefire initiative while maintaining strategic autonomy.
- Bilateral trade stood at ~$3.6 billion in 2025.
- Cooperation includes agriculture tech, water management and cybersecurity.
- Strategic ties have grown since diplomatic relations began in 1992.
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- Parliamentary diplomacy strengthens legislative engagement.
(ET)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Visit India:
Context: Canadian PM Mark Carney will visit India from 27 Feb to 2 Mar 2026, focusing on expanding bilateral ties including trade, investment, energy cooperation and innovation.
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- Canada is a major partner in energy, minerals and education sectors.
- Bilateral trade includes goods and services.
- Collaboration on climate change, clean technology and agriculture expected.
- Strategic partnership dialogues may include security and diaspora issues.
- Canada has a large Indian diaspora.
- Trade relations governed under WTO rules.
- Investment frameworks can include FDI and joint ventures.
- Innovation partnerships cover AI, telecom and clean energy.
- Visit underscores deepening India–Canada relations.
- Enhances people-to-people and institutional linkages.
- Canada is a G7 country.
(ET)
India’s WTO Trade Facilitation Engagement:
Context: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), along with India’s Mission at the World Trade Organization, organised trade facilitation sessions in Geneva.
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- WTO was established in 1995 (successor to GATT).
- Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) came into force in 2017.
- TFA aims to simplify customs procedures.
- CBIC handles indirect taxes including customs and GST.
- Trade facilitation reduces transaction costs.
- India is a founding member of WTO.
- Special & Differential Treatment (S&DT) benefits developing countries.
- Dispute Settlement Body adjudicates trade disputes.
- Geneva is WTO headquarters.
- Trade facilitation improves export competitiveness.
(PIB)
Economy
Industrial Corridor Expansion Under Budget 2026–27:
Context: Government announced progress on new nodes under the East Coast Industrial Corridor (ECIC).
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- ECIC is part of India’s industrial corridor programme.
- Implemented through National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT).
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- Industrial corridors integrate manufacturing, logistics and ports.
- Inspired partly by the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).
- Improve ease of doing business and infrastructure quality.
- Encourage FDI inflows.
- Promote export-oriented industrialisation.
- Enhance multimodal connectivity (rail, road, ports).
- Corridor-based urbanisation leads to smart industrial townships.
- Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat manufacturing push.
(PIB+ET)
Science & Technology
PM to Launch Nationwide HPV Vaccination Drive:
Context: Prime Minister Modi will launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign from Ajmer on 28 Feb 2026, aiming to reduce incidence of cervical cancer by immunising adolescent girls.
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- HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.
- Targeted at adolescent girls (14 years and younger).
- Vaccination aligns with WHO’s Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer.
- Gardasil (quadrivalent) protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
- Cervical cancer is among the leading causes of cancer deaths in Indian women.
- The drive emphasises early preventive health intervention.
- Part of Government’s preventive healthcare strategy.
- Could integrate with existing public health infrastructure.
- Requires awareness, follow-up and community engagement for coverage.
- Reduces future treatment burden on health systems.
(TOI)
Defence
MILAN 2026 Naval Exercise Successfully Concludes:
Context: The Indo-Pacific’s premier multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026 concluded off Visakhapatnam with participation from 42 warships and submarines, and 29 aircraft, showcasing maritime cooperation.
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- MILAN is hosted biennially by the Indian Navy.
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- It aims to enhance interoperability with friendly navies.
- Participating navies include countries from Asia, Africa and beyond.
- Exercises cover seamanship, anti-submarine, air defence drills.
- India’s rising maritime profile under SAGAR doctrine.
- Strengthens regional security and anti-piracy cooperation.
- Boosts humanitarian assistance and disaster response preparedness.
- Visakhapatnam is a strategic Indian naval base on the east coast.
- Naval diplomacy supports India’s Indo-Pacific engagement.
- Participation reflects shared security interests among navies.
(TOI)
Miscellaneous
Delhi to Host First International Film Festival (IFFD):
Context: Delhi will host the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) from 25–31 March 2026, featuring 125+ Indian and global films, panels and masterclasses to promote cultural exchange and film tourism.
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- First major film festival in Delhi since IFFI moved to Goa in 2004.
- Aims to position Delhi as a cultural and creative hub.
- Includes screenings, premieres and industry expos.
- Supports film tourism and creative industries.
- Platforms like CineXchange Film Market promote industry networking.
- Encourages digital and emerging cinema formats.
- Enhances cultural diplomacy and soft power.
- Single-window facilitation for film production supply chains.
- Aligns with government’s creative economy promotion.
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- Likely to attract global filmmakers and investors.
(TOI)
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