In the last 24 hours, several significant developments have emerged across India's diplomatic, scientific, and economic landscapes, providing critical updates for competitive exam aspirants.
1. Strategic Diplomacy: PM Modi’s Upcoming Israel Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Israel from February 25-26, 2026. This visit marks a significant milestone in bilateral relations, with both nations expected to upgrade their security partnership. The Prime Minister emphasized that the bond is built on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to peace. Discussions are expected to cover regional cooperation, defense technology, and Artificial Intelligence.
2. Space Research: Gaganyaan Safety Protocols and PSLV Probe
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signaled a potential delay for the first uncrewed flight of the Gaganyaan Mission (G1), originally targeted for March 2026. Following the failure of the PSLV-C62 mission in January, ISRO is conducting exhaustive safety checks on every subsystem.
Furthermore, the Centre has appointed a high-level committee chaired by K. Vijay Raghavan (former Principal Scientific Adviser) and co-chaired by S. Somanath to investigate the PSLV-C62 failure and enhance launch reliability.
3. International Trade & Technology: Pax Silica and US Tariffs
India has formally joined the Pax Silica coalition as its 12th member. This US-led strategic alliance is dedicated to securing resilient supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, and AI infrastructure.
Simultaneously, India-US trade talks have been temporarily put on hold. This follows a US Supreme Court ruling and the subsequent announcement of a 15% baseline tariff by the US administration, prompting Indian officials to reassess the impact on the proposed interim trade deal.
4. Defense: Exercise Vajra Prahar 2026
The 16th edition of Exercise Vajra Prahar, a joint Special Forces exercise between the Indian Army and the US Army, was successfully conducted at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. The exercise focused on improving interoperability and sharing advanced special operations tactics in realistic combat scenarios.
5. Environment & Biodiversity: New Species Discovery
In a notable boost to India's biodiversity records, researchers have discovered a new species of Cobra Lily, named Arisaema siahaense, in the Siaha district of Mizoram. The species is characterized by its exceptionally long spadix and unique leaf structure, highlighting the ecological richness of Northeast India.
6. Economic Policy: Base Year Revision
The Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) has revised the base year for India’s merchandise trade indices from 2012-13 to 2022-23. This move is intended to provide a more accurate and relevant measure of price changes in India’s exports and imports for policy-making.
7. Sports: T20 World Cup 2026
In the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup, India faced South Africa in a high-stakes encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The tournament continues to be a major highlight for India’s sports diplomacy and infrastructure showcase.