Daily Current Affairs - 27th & 28th February 2026
- Kaushal
- Feb 28
- 23 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | India’s Expanding FTAs, PM Visit to Israel & Special Strategic Partnership, AI in Judiciary & Blockchain Governance, SC on NOTA, Article 3 State Renaming, Durand Line Tensions, LIGO-India Project, River Pollution & NGT Oversight, Peatlands Carbon Risk, CME Observations via Aditya-L1, Fishing Cat Stronghold in Kaziranga, SUJVIKA Biotech Portal, UN Road Safety Financing Initiative, National Science Day & Raman Effect, ESIC 75 Years of Service and more.
Table of Content
SECURITY / DEFENCE
FTA provide India preferential access to global trade
As of 2025, India has various active Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) providing India preferential trade access to nearly two-thirds of global trade.
About FTAs
FTAs: FTAs are legally binding treaties between two or more countries aimed at reducing or eliminating trade barriers, such as tariffs, quotas, and restrictions on imports and exports.
These agreements often include provisions for trade facilitation, intellectual property rights, and investment protections.
India’s FTA partners: US, UK, Australia, UAE, Oman, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Regional Groupings include European Union, European Free Trade Association (EFTA), ASEAN, and SAARC.
Ongoing FTA Negotiations: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Israel, Chile, Canada, Peru, Bangladesh, Maldives, Qatar, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Bahrain.
Significance of FTAs
Trade Diversification: FTAs will enable India to geographically diversify its export and import markets, increase the value of its exports, and lower import barriers.
Integration of Indian Industry: Better integrate India into global supply chains, increase the competitiveness of Indian businesses in developed markets, and create jobs.
Geopolitical Strategy: They help to build broader trust with partners and contribute to multi-aligned foreign policy.
Optimum Resource Utilization: Under FTA, each country produces those goods in which it has the best advantages.
Hierarchy of Trade Agreements
Type of Agreement | Key Features |
Economic Union (Highest Integration) | Deepest level of integration, common economic policies, institutions etc. |
Common Market | Free movements of labour and capital, harmonized technical standards etc. |
Custom Union | Zero duty trade among countries, and common tariffs against rest of the world. |
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) / Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) | Additional agreement on areas like regulatory issues, services investment, competition, government procurement, disputes etc. |
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) | Reduced tariffs on most goods |
Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) (Lowest Integration) | Reduced tariffs on the agreed number of goods |
Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Israel
During the Prime Minister’s recent visit, India and Israel agreed to further deepen and expand their bilateral cooperation across key strategic and economic sectors.
Key Outcomes of the Visit
Upgradation of ties: To a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity”.
New initiative on Critical & Emerging Technologies (CET): Led by National Security Advisors of both countries covering AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology and space.
MoU on Artificial Intelligence; launch of Horizon Scanning/Strategic Foresight Mechanism.
Labour mobility: Quota of up to 50,000 Indian workers over next 5 years.
Cybersecurity Cooperation: Developing Multi-year cybersecurity roadmap; establishment of India–Israel Centre of Excellence in Cybersecurity in India; etc.
Agriculture & Water Technology Partnership: MoU for establishment of India–Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture (IINCA); 20 Joint Fellowships in Agricultural Research; etc.
Others: Exploring UPI–Israel payment linkage; launch of India–Israel Academic Cooperation Forum; India-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group etc.
Overview of India-Israel Relations
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AI Transforming India’s Legal Ecosystem – India AI Impact Summit 2026
The transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India’s legal ecosystem was prominently showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
AI is increasingly being integrated into the Judiciary, which refers to the system of courts that interpret and apply the law.
Role of AI in Judiciary
AI enhances Courtroom Efficiency, meaning improved speed and productivity in judicial functioning.
AI tools assist in voice-to-text conversion, which automatically converts spoken words into written text.
AI supports smart scheduling, which digitally organizes court calendars to avoid delays.
AI enables case prioritization, which ranks cases based on urgency and importance.
These tools collectively help in reducing case backlogs, meaning the accumulation of pending cases.
A key example is ASR-SHRUTI, which provides voice-to-text dictation for orders and judgments.
AI strengthens Legal Research and Documentation, which involves systematic study and recording of legal information.
AI can analyze vast databases of legal precedents, meaning earlier judicial decisions that guide future cases.
AI identifies relevant statutes, which are laws formally enacted by the legislature.
AI can summarize complex judgments, meaning detailed court decisions.
An example is SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency), which assists judges in research.
Another example is Saransh, which provides concise summaries of judgments.
AI promotes Language Accessibility, meaning making legal information understandable in multiple languages.
AI-driven Multilingual Translation tools translate legal documents into regional languages.
This helps break the traditional English-language barrier in courts.
This promotes Democratization of Justice, meaning equal access to justice for all citizens.
An example is SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software), which provides AI-based judicial translation.
AI also enables Predictive Analytics, which uses data patterns to forecast possible outcomes.
Predictive tools can indicate likely case outcomes based on past judgments.
This can encourage out-of-court settlements, meaning resolving disputes without trial.
This reduces the overall burden on courts.
Challenges in AI Integration
A major challenge is Algorithmic Bias, which occurs when AI systems reflect prejudices present in training data.
AI trained on historical judicial data may reinforce biases related to caste, gender, or community.
Such bias can violate Article 14, which guarantees the Right to Equality.
It may also violate Article 21, which guarantees the Right to Life and Fair Procedure.
Another issue is the “Black Box” Problem, meaning AI systems operate without transparent reasoning.
Opaque algorithms make it difficult to understand how decisions are generated.
This undermines transparency, which is essential for judicial accountability.
There is also a risk of Hallucinations in Generative AI, which refers to AI producing false or fabricated information.
Generative AI can create fictitious judgments, meaning judgments that do not exist.
This poses a serious threat to judicial integrity, meaning trust and authenticity of court processes.
AI deployment involves handling sensitive legal data, meaning confidential case information.
This raises concerns about cybersecurity, which protects systems from digital attacks.
It also raises concerns about privacy, meaning protection of personal information.
Over-reliance on AI may compromise judicial responsibility, meaning accountability of judges for decisions.
The digital divide, which refers to unequal access to technology, can limit equitable AI benefits.
Initiatives for Integration of Technology in Judiciary
The e-Courts Project Phase III is a Central Sector Scheme, meaning fully funded by the Union Government.
It is also a Mission Mode Project, which refers to a time-bound, goal-oriented government initiative.
The project aims to create a unified technology platform for the judiciary.
It incorporates emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
The Supreme Court AI Committee oversees structured adoption of AI.
The committee is chaired by a sitting Supreme Court judge.
It ensures ethical governance of AI initiatives, meaning responsible and principled AI usage.
The eSCR (Electronic Supreme Court Reports) portal is a free digital platform.
It allows users to search Supreme Court judgments easily.
It enables reading of judgments online.
It allows downloading of judgments without cost.
It is designed to be user-friendly and accessible.
Blockchain-Based Digital Governance
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) launched the ‘Blockchain India Challenge’.
The initiative encourages Indian startups to pitch and pilot cutting-edge blockchain-based digital governance solutions.
Blockchain is a decentralized technology, meaning it operates without a central controlling authority.
Blockchain is also a distributed ledger technology (DLT), which means records are stored across multiple computers instead of a single server.
It ensures tamper-proof record-keeping, meaning data once recorded cannot be altered.
It ensures transparency, meaning all authorized participants can view transactions.
It ensures auditability, meaning records can be verified and traced.
Blockchain operates on the principle of immutability, meaning data cannot be modified once added.
It operates on consensus, meaning network participants must agree before validating transactions.
It uses cryptographic security, which protects data through encryption techniques.
These principles make data manipulation virtually impossible.
Role of Blockchain in Governance: Blockchain is being adopted to strengthen governance systems.
Certificates and Documents
Blockchain helps address the issue of fraudulent documents, meaning fake or forged records.
It also reduces administrative delays in document verification.
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) developed ‘Certificate Chain’.
Certificate Chain enables secure storage of official records.
It also enables secure retrieval of records.
Logistics and Healthcare
Blockchain improves transparency in logistics systems.
The state of Karnataka implemented the ‘Aushada’ system.
Aushada tracks the movement of medicines from manufacturers to hospitals.
The system includes quality checks during transit. Patients can verify the manufacturer details of medicines, expiry date of medicines and quality of medicines.
This reduces the circulation of spurious drugs, meaning counterfeit medicines.
This increases transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Judiciary
Blockchain is being integrated into the criminal justice ecosystem.
The Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) provides a unified digital platform.
ICJS integrates various components of the criminal justice system.
It maintains digital case records, stores evidence in digital form and manages official documents securely.
Property and Land Records
Blockchain improves transparency in property transactions.
The ‘Blockchain-powered Property Management System’ records all property transactions.
It verifies ownership details, property rights and liabilities associated with property.
This reduces property-related litigation.
It speeds up dispute resolution.
Other Emerging Use Cases
Additional Proof of Concepts (PoCs) are under development.
A Proof of Concept refers to a pilot project to test feasibility.
Blockchain-based solutions are being explored for Remote Voting.
It is being explored for GST monitoring, which tracks tax compliance under the Goods and Services Tax system.
It is being explored for Blood Banks to ensure traceability of blood units.
It is being explored for the Public Distribution System (PDS) to prevent leakages in welfare distribution.
Other Key Blockchain Initiatives by Government
National Blockchain Framework (NBF)
The National Blockchain Framework (NBF) has been developed by MeitY.
NBF provides a unified architecture for deploying blockchain solutions.
It supports blockchain deployment in public service delivery.
NBF includes the Vishvasya Stack.
The Vishvasya Stack provides blockchain infrastructure components.
NBF includes NBFLite, which offers lightweight blockchain deployment options.
NBF includes Praamaanik, which provides blockchain-based verification services.
Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology
The Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Blockchain Technology has been established by the government.
It provides Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) infrastructure.
Blockchain-as-a-Service refers to cloud-based blockchain solutions provided to users.
The CoE supports government departments in implementing blockchain solutions.
Land Records Management
Blockchain is being piloted in land title registration.
The state of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra has implemented pilot projects.
These pilots aim to improve transparency and trust in land record management.
Supreme Court on Effectiveness of NOTA in Elections
The Supreme Court of India has questioned the effectiveness of the NOTA (None of the Above) option in elections.
The Court observed that more than a decade after its introduction, NOTA has had little impact on the selection of candidates by political parties.
NOTA (None of the Above) is an electoral option that allows citizens to cast their vote without choosing any of the contesting candidates.
It enables voters to formally express dissatisfaction with all candidates while still participating in the electoral process.
In 2013, in the landmark case of PUCL vs Union of India, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to include a NOTA option in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are electronic devices used to record votes during elections in India.
NOTA was first implemented in the 2013 Legislative Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.
Challenges Associated with NOTA
One major challenge is in uncontested elections.
In constituencies where a candidate is elected unopposed, voters cannot exercise the NOTA option.
Another limitation is that NOTA has no direct impact on election results.
Even if NOTA secures the highest number of votes, the candidate with the next highest votes is declared the winner.
NOTA is also considered ineffective in addressing criminalisation of politics.
Political parties often prioritise electability over moral or ethical considerations while selecting candidates.
Electability refers to the perceived ability of a candidate to win an election.
Way Forward
One suggested reform is the 50%+1 Rule and Candidate Ban mechanism.
Under this rule, re-elections would be conducted if NOTA secures 51% of the valid votes.
Valid votes refer to votes that are legally accepted and not rejected as invalid.
Under this proposal, candidates who contested earlier would be barred from re-contesting in the re-election.
A similar system exists in Colombia.
At the state level, reforms have been attempted by the State Election Commissions of Maharashtra and Haryana.
These Commissions treated NOTA as a fictional candidate.
A fictional candidate means NOTA is treated as if it were an actual contesting candidate for result determination.
Re-elections were ordered in cases where NOTA secured a majority of votes.
Article 3 of the Constitution – Change of Name of a State
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to change the name of Kerala to Keralam.
The constitutional basis for such a change lies in Article 3 of the Constitution of India.
About Article 3
Article 3 empowers the Parliament of India to reorganise states.
It authorises Parliament to form a new State.
It empowers Parliament to increase the area of any State.
It allows Parliament to diminish the area of any State.
It authorises Parliament to alter the boundaries of any State.
It also empowers Parliament to change the name of any State.
Process Under Article 3
1. President’s Recommendation
A Bill under Article 3 can be introduced in Parliament only with the prior recommendation of the President of India.
This means the proposal must receive formal approval from the President before being tabled.
2. Reference to State Legislature
The President is required to refer the Bill to the concerned State Legislature for expressing its views.
The State Legislature must convey its opinion within the period specified by the President.
The views expressed by the State Legislature are advisory in nature.
The President or Parliament is not bound by the views of the State Legislature.
3. Parliamentary Approval
The Bill is passed by Parliament through a Simple Majority.
A Simple Majority means a majority of members present and voting in each House of Parliament.
No special majority or constitutional amendment under Article 368 is required for changing the name of a State under Article 3.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002
The Delhi High Court has held that the Directorate of Enforcement> (ED) has the power to attach the ancestral property of an accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Attachment of property refers to the legal process of temporarily seizing or prohibiting the transfer of property suspected to be connected with proceeds of crime.
Ancestral property refers to property inherited from forefathers across generations.
Directorate of Enforcement (ED)
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) was established in 1956.
It is the premier financial investigation agency of India.
It is entrusted with enforcing laws related to foreign exchange management and anti-money laundering.
Foreign exchange management refers to regulation of cross-border financial transactions involving foreign currency.
Money laundering refers to the process of disguising illegally obtained money as legitimate income.
About PMLA, 2002
The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 provides the legal framework to combat money laundering in India.
It has three main objectives.
First, it aims to prevent and control money laundering.
Second, it seeks to confiscate and seize property derived from laundered money.
Confiscation refers to permanent takeover of property by the State after due legal process.
Third, it aims to address any other issue connected with money laundering in India.
Powers under the Act
The Director of Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) has been conferred powers under relevant provisions of the Act.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has also been granted powers under the Act.
These powers are described as exclusive and concurrent powers.
Exclusive powers mean authority exercised independently by a designated authority.
Concurrent powers mean authority shared between two or more agencies under the same legal framework.
Supreme Court Reasserts the Constitutional Balance Between Fraternity and Free Expression
In Atul Mishra v. Union of India (2026), the Supreme Court (SC) dealt with a writ petition challenging the title of a proposed film, on the ground that it allegedly stereotyped against a particular community.
About the Judgement
Protection of community dignity through the value of fraternity:
SC reaffirmed that vilifying any community on the basis of caste, religion, language or region is constitutionally impermissible.
SC held that fraternity is essential for sustaining liberty and equality in a democracy.
During Constituent Assembly debates, Dr. BR Ambedkar posited that liberty, equality, and fraternity form a "union of trinity." To divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy.
Freedom of artistic and expressive speech under Article 19(1)(a):
The court recognised the right of filmmakers and artists to express their ideas through creative mediums.
However, this right is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) but they must be based on necessity and not on mere convenience or public sentiment.
Related Constitutional Provisions
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Durand Line
Pakistan has launched a major military offensive, termed ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’, against Afghanistan along the Durand Line.
The Durand Line serves as the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The border stretches for approximately 2,600 kilometres.
Afghanistan does not recognise the Durand Line as a legitimate international boundary.
This non-recognition has remained a source of long-standing tension between the two countries.
The Durand Line was proposed by the British in 1893.
It was created to formally separate British-controlled India from Afghanistan.
The boundary is named after Mortimer Durand.
Sir Mortimer Durand was a British civil servant.
He negotiated the boundary agreement with Afghan ruler Abdur Rahman Khan.
The agreement aimed to define spheres of influence between British India and Afghanistan.
The Durand Line continues to hold geopolitical and strategic significance in South Asia.
Military Exercises in News
Exercise Dharma Guardian: It is the military exercise held between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force.
Exercise Vajra Prahar: The exercise aims to enhance military cooperation between India and the United States.
LIGO-India Project
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has won the contract from India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to construct the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO-India) at Aundha in Hingoli district, Maharashtra.
About LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory)
LIGO is an interferometer-based observatory designed to detect gravitational waves.
Gravitational waves are ripples in space-time generated by extremely violent and energetic cosmic events.
Examples of such events include collisions or orbital motion of neutron stars and black holes.
These ripples travel at the speed of light.
They carry information about their origin and provide insights into the nature of gravity.
The existence of gravitational waves was predicted in 1916 by Albert Einstein in his General Theory of Relativity.
Working Principle of LIGO
LIGO exploits the physical properties of light and space to detect gravitational waves.
It uses a technique called laser interferometry. Laser interferometry measures extremely small changes in distance by analysing interference patterns of light waves.
LIGO consists of two 4-kilometre-long L-shaped vacuum tunnels.
A laser beam is split into two perpendicular arms.
The beams are reflected off mirrors placed at the ends of the arms.
The beams are then recombined to form an interference pattern.
A passing gravitational wave slightly stretches or compresses space.
This minute distortion changes the interference pattern, enabling detection.
LIGO-India
LIGO-India was approved by the Government of India in 2016.
It is part of the global network of gravitational wave observatories.
Gravitational waves were first directly detected in 2015 at LIGO Scientific Collaboration (USA).
LIGO-India is being developed by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
It is being implemented in collaboration with the National Science Foundation (NSF), USA, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Indian partner institutions include:
Institute of Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar
Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune
Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore
Other Global Gravitational Wave Observatories
Other major observatories in the global network include:
LIGO Laboratory (USA)
Virgo Collaboration (Italy)
KAGRA (Japan)
Significance for India
LIGO-India will strengthen India’s leadership in astrophysical research.
It will promote advanced technological development in precision engineering and optics.
It will enhance industrial collaboration, particularly in high-end manufacturing.
It will improve India’s international scientific prestige and diplomacy through participation in a major global scientific network.
Supreme Court shifts river pollution monitoring to NGT
After five years of near inaction, the Supreme Court closed its 2021 suo motu proceedings on remediation of polluted rivers and shifted the primary oversight responsibility to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The Court also observed that the ‘right to live in hygienic conditions with human dignity and a clean environment’ forms part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
River Pollution in India (as per CPCB’s 2025 Report)
Polluted River Stretch (PRS): Defined as stretches where the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) exceeds 3 mg/L.
BOD (key indicator of water quality) is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic microorganisms to break down organic matter in water over a specific period.
Status: 296 river stretches were polluted on 271 rivers (out of 645 rivers assessed) across 32 states and Union Territories. Highest in Maharashtra (54).
It includes Yamuna in Delhi, Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, Chambal in Madhya Pradesh, Tungabhadra in Karnataka, and Sarabanga in Tamil Nadu.
Major Sources of River Pollution
Untreated Sewage: According to the CPCB, more than 60% of untreated sewage water is released into rivers daily.
Untreated Industrial Effluents: Industries such as those producing chemicals, sugar, paper, and tanneries generate wastewater.
Others: Municipal solid waste, agricultural runoff, sand mining and illegal encroachment.
Initiatives taken for cleaning and rejuvenation of Rivers
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Peatlands
Lake Mai Ndombe and Tumba of Democratic Republic of Congo are releasing carbon that has been locked away for thousands of years in surrounding peatlands.
The swamps and peatlands of the Congo Basin cover only 0.3% of the earth’s land surface, yet hold one-third of the carbon stored in its tropical peatlands.
About Peatland
A peatland is an area of land with layers of accumulated organic surface material in a state of decay (known as peat).
Peat develops in waterlogged conditions.
Peatland drainage and fires are estimated to contribute at least 5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change.
Restoring Indigenous Fish Stocks in River Ganga through Scientific River Ranching
Under the Namami Gange Programme, the ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) carried out a programme of scientific river ranching to restock the Ganga River and to restore its ecological balance.
About River Ranching
River ranching is a sustainable aquaculture practice involving raising fish in captivity during their early life stages, then releasing them into rivers to grow in their natural habitat before being harvested as adults.
It is one of the ex-situ modes of aquatic life conservation.
Significance: Ranching is one of most crucial alternatives for reviving riverine fisheries and conserving the native threatened species.
It helps achieve sustainable fisheries, reduce habitat degradation and maximise social-economic benefits.
Namami Gange Programme (NGM)
Background: Integrated Conservation Mission approved in 2014 for a period up to March 2021 and later extended up to 31st March 2026 as NGM 2.0.
Objective: Effective abatement of pollution and rejuvenation of the River Ganga.
Main Pillars: Sewage treatment, River-Front development, River surface cleaning, Afforestation, Biodiversity, Public Awareness, Effluent management and Ganga Gram.
Implementation Agency: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its state and district counterparts under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Inland Fisheries sector in India
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Fishing Cat
The first scientific assessment has established Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve as a stronghold of the fishing cat.
About Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
It is a powerful feline, about twice the size of a house cat.
Habitat: Inhabits wetlands and mangroves in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Gulf of Thailand, etc.
In India, found mainly in Sundarbans, Himalayan foothills along Ganga & Brahmaputra valleys, and Western Ghats.
Diet & Behavior: Nocturnal hunters that prey on fish, frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and scavenged carcasses.
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List (Vulnerable); WPA, 1972 (Schedule I); CITES (Appendix II).
Recognition: State animal of West Bengal.
Indian scientists observed shock waves triggered by CME Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)
Discovery was made using Gauribidanur radio telescope of Indian Institute of Astrophysics, and Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) onboard Aditya L1.
Gauribidanur is currently India’s only dedicated low-frequency solar radio observatory.
About Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)
Coronal Mass Ejection is a massive burst of solar plasma, charged particles (such as electrons and protons) and magnetic fields ejected from the Sun's outer atmosphere (Corona).
Fast-moving CMEs generate shock waves which can compress Earth’s magnetosphere, leading to geomagnetic storms that disrupt satellites, GPS systems, radio communications, and even power grids.
They can also intensify auroras and increase radiation risks for astronauts and high-altitude flights.
Origin: CMEs occur due to changes in the Sun’s magnetic field in the corona.
When twisted magnetic field lines suddenly reconnect, they release huge energy and eject solar material into space.
CMEs are most common during solar maximum during times when the sunspot cycle is most active.
They are often linked to solar flares (bright flash of light) but can also occur independently.
About Aditya L1
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SUJVIKA
To mark the 40th Foundation Day, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launched SUJVIKA.
About SUJVIKA
An AI driven Biotech Product Data Portal, developed in collaboration with Industry partners ABLE.
It serves as a Trade Statistics Digital Intelligence Platform, providing authenticated biotechnology product import data in a structured and accessible format.
The portal provides sector-wise insights into biochemical products, industrial enzymes, and other biotechnology imports.
It enables researchers and startups to identify high-value imports, assess dependencies, and prioritize indigenous R&D.
Epstein-Barr Virus
Scientists develop promising antibodies to prevent Epstein-Barr infection.
Type: Viral infection (Human Herpesvirus-4).
Spreads mainly through saliva and body fluids.
Common Symptoms: Fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes.
Complications: Rarely associated with cancers such as Burkitt lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Treatment: No specific vaccine or cure.
UN Launches Road Safety Financing Project in India
The United Nations has launched a road safety financing initiative in four Indian states.
The project is titled “Sustainable Financing for Road Safety in India: A Collaborative Approach.”
The project is funded by the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF).
Technical support is being provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Technical assistance is also being extended by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Support is further provided by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
The project will be implemented in Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam.
The focus area is building national and sub-national capacities for effective implementation of road safety action plans.
Sub-national capacities refer to institutional and administrative capabilities at the state and local levels.
The initiative aims to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.
Serious injuries often result in long-term disabilities.
Road Safety Scenario in India
As per the latest Road Accidents in India data released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), around 1.68 lakh fatalities were reported in 2022–23.
The majority of victims belong to the 18–45 years age group.
The largest share of victims are two-wheeler users.
The leading cause of road accidents is over-speeding.
India loses approximately 3% of its GDP annually due to road crashes.
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) refers to the total monetary value of goods and services produced within a country in a given period.
Road Safety Initiatives by the Government of India
The Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019 was enacted to enhance governance, accountability, and penalties for traffic violations.
The National Road Safety Strategy 2018–2030 sets a framework targeting a 50% reduction in road fatalities by 2030.
The Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD) is a unified crash data management system.
IRAD was launched by MoRTH and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The State Support Programme for Strengthening Road Safety is a centrally sponsored six-year programme.
It is being implemented in 14 high-fatality states.
The programme is backed by ₹7,270 crore in funding.
Financial support is provided by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Government of India.
About the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF)
The UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) was established in 2018.
It was created to mobilise financing for road safety in low- and middle-income countries.
It supports evidence-based policy, legislation, and capacity-building projects.
Evidence-based policy refers to policies formulated using reliable data and research findings.
The fund works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners.
Other Global Effort: Declaration of Marrakesh
The Declaration of Marrakesh was adopted at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety (2025).
It calls for strong political commitment to road safety.
It emphasises the need for sustainable financing mechanisms.
It promotes a Safe-System Approach.
The Safe-System Approach recognises that human errors are inevitable and focuses on designing road systems that minimise the risk of fatal or serious injuries.
Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP)
The National MSME Council reviewed the progress of the RAMP.
About RAMP Programme
Genesis: It was launched as a World Bank supported Central Sector scheme in 2022.
Implemented by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) over the 5-year period 2022-23 to 2026-27.
Objective: To scale up the implementation capacity and coverage of MSMEs.
By fostering innovation, encouraging ideation, improving practices and processes, enhancing market access, promoting greening initiatives ,guarantees to women-owned micro and small enterprises etc.
It provides grants to States/UTs for implementing selected projects in the Strategic Investment Plan (SIP).
National Science Day – 28 February
National Science Day is celebrated every year on 28 February in India.
It commemorates the discovery of the Raman Effect in 1928.
The discovery was made by C. V. Raman.
About C. V. Raman (1888–1970)
C. V. Raman was born in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
He was one of India’s most distinguished physicists.
He made pioneering contributions to experimental physics.
Scientific Contributions
Discovery of the Raman Effect (1928)
C. V. Raman discovered the Raman Effect in 1928.
The Raman Effect refers to the change in wavelength (or colour) of light when a beam of light is scattered by molecules in a substance.
Scattering of light means the redirection of light in different directions after interacting with particles.
The change in wavelength provides information about the molecular structure and vibrational modes of the substance.
Vibrational modes refer to the specific ways in which atoms in a molecule move relative to each other.
The discovery laid the foundation for Raman Spectroscopy.
Raman Spectroscopy is a technique used to identify chemical composition and molecular structure.
Other Major Contributions
C. V. Raman made significant contributions to optics and spectroscopy.
Optics is the branch of physics dealing with the behaviour of light.
Spectroscopy is the study of interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation.
He conducted research on the acoustics of Indian musical instruments.
Acoustics is the science of sound and its transmission.
He also contributed to crystallography and solid-state physics.
Crystallography is the study of crystal structures and atomic arrangements.
Solid-state physics deals with the physical properties of solid materials.
Awards and Honours
C. V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for the discovery of the Raman Effect.
He became the first Asian to receive a Nobel Prize in the sciences.
He was conferred the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
He received the Franklin Medal.
He was also awarded the Lenin Peace Prize.
Core Values
C. V. Raman exemplified scientific rigour in experimentation and research.
He demonstrated fortitude in pursuing independent scientific inquiry.
He upheld standards of excellence in scholarship.
He embodied intellectual curiosity and commitment to knowledge.
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)
The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) commenced the celebration of its 75th Year of Service.
About ESIC
It is a statutory social security body established in 1952 under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948.
Ministry: Ministry of Labour and Employment
Objective: Providing comprehensive social security and health insurance to employees from the organised sector.
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