• Petrochemical Unit: The foundation stone for a polypropylene unit at BPCL Kochi Refinery, costing over ₹5,500 crore, was laid, which will boost the packaging, textile, and medical devices industries.
• Highway Projects (NH-66): The six-laning of the Thalapady-Chengala section at a cost of over ₹2,650 crore and the Kozhikode Bypass (Vengalam-Ramanattukara) at a cost of over ₹2,140 crore were inaugurated, strengthening connectivity between Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
• Energy Sector: The foundation stone for a 50 MW floating solar power project was laid in West Kallada, Kollam district.
• Railway Development: Redevelopment of Shoranur, Kuttippuram and Changanassery railway stations and 23 rural roads were inaugurated under the Amrut Bharat Station Scheme (PMGSY).

• This is an indigenous initiative based on a zero-commission model, unlike private aggregators like Ola and Uber, which primarily empower drivers.
• Objective: To provide fair income to drivers through cooperatives and provide safe, affordable rides.
• Model: It is a completely driver-owned network, with no middlemen or commissions.
• Launch: Launched by Amit Shah on February 5, 2026. Previously, a soft launch was held in November 2025.
• Sahyog: It is an initiative of the Ministry of Cooperation and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD).
• Expansion: Initially available in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, with plans to expand it nationwide.
• Features: It offers special incentives for women drivers (Saarthi), transparent fares, and real-time tracking.

• Foundation Stone for Gas Distribution Network in Nilgiris and Erode Districts: In the petroleum sector, the foundation stone was laid for a city gas distribution network built by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in the Nilgiris and Erode districts with an investment of over ₹3,680 crore. This project will provide PNG connections to over 8.8 lakh households, supply gas to over 200 commercial establishments, and establish over 201 CNG stations.
• Inauguration of Lube Blending Plant in Manali, Chennai: The Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation the 672 thousand metric tonnes per annum capacity lube blending plant of Indian Oil Corporation located in Manali, Chennai. Developed with an investment of approximately ₹1,490 crore, this plant will strengthen India's lubricant production capacity.
• Inauguration of 89 Rural Roads: He will also inaugurate 89 rural roads spanning 370 km in Tamil Nadu under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which will significantly improve access to markets, schools and healthcare facilities in rural areas. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for a Greenfield Bypass near Gangaikonda Cholapuram on NH-81.

• He informed that over 1,100 telecommunication towers have been installed and 767 station data centers have been established.
• Trackside equipment has been installed over 6,776 kilometers.

KAVACH System:

• This is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed by Indian Railways, designed with the goal of achieving 'zero accidents'.
• This technology prevents skipping red signals (SPADs), head-on collisions, and speeding. If the loco pilot fails to apply the brakes, KAVACH automatically applies the brakes and stops the train.
• Developer: Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) of Indian Railways
• Continuous improvement: It was adopted as the national Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system in 2020. Kavach version 4.0 was approved in 2024.
• Kavach 5.0 is planned to be included in Vande Bharat 4.0.

• Data Cost: The average cost of 1GB of data in India is between $0.08 and $0.10, while the global average is $2.59 per GB.
• Comparison with Neighboring Countries: He noted that the rate is $0.23 per GB in Bangladesh and $0.25 per GB in Sri Lanka.
• Increase in Users: The number of internet users in India has increased from 250 million in 2014 to approximately 103 million now.
• Digital Inclusion: Over the past 10 years, the government has focused on expanding internet access, making it affordable, and creating digital public infrastructure (DPI).

• Organized: New Delhi, March 2026 (by the National Solar Energy Federation of India - NSEFI)
• Objective: Connecting agricultural operations in rural India with sustainable and renewable energy
• PM-KUSUM 2.0: Focus on reducing irrigation costs through solar pumps
• Agri-Voltaic (Agri-PV): Generating solar energy alongside crop production
• Target: Achieve 500 GW of clean energy capacity by 2030
• According to Pralhad Joshi, the country's installed power generation capacity from non-fossil sources has increased significantly over the past decade.
• India's installed power generation capacity from non-fossil fuels (renewable energy, nuclear, and large hydropower) increased from 81 GW to approximately 275 GW.

• "Sujalam Bharat": A uniform national digital framework will be developed, under which each village will be assigned a unique "Sujal Gaon/Service Area ID." This will ensure digital mapping of the entire water supply system from source to tap.
• Service-centric model: The mission has been transformed from an "infrastructure-centric" to a "citizen-centric service delivery model." Its goal is to provide sustainable safe drinking water to rural households.
• Community Ownership: The participation of Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) has been mandated for 'Har Ghar Jal' certification through initiatives like 'Jal Arpan'.
• Current Status: From a baseline of 3.23 crore (17%) rural households with tap water connections in 2019, more than 12.56 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme so far. Currently, out of the 19.36 crore rural households identified by States/UTs in the country, approximately 15.80 crore (81.61%) have tap water connections.

Assessment of the impact of JJM by national and international institutions/individuals:

• According to a report by SBI Research, JJM has freed 90 million women from the burden of carrying water.
• WHO estimates that JJM has saved 55 million hours of daily labor for women, prevented 400,000 deaths from diarrhea, and saved 14 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
• Nobel laureate Professor Michael Kremer has estimated a potential reduction of 30 percent in under-five mortality, which could save 136,000 children annually.
• IIM Bangalore and the International Labour Organization (IIM) have estimated potential employment generation of 59.9 lakh direct and 22 million indirect person-years through JJM.
• JJM 2.0 aims to provide tap water connections to all 193.6 million rural households across the country by December 2028 and mandates all Gram Panchayats to provide tap water connections to all 193.6 million rural households. Will assist in the certification of 'Ghar Jal'.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti

• Objective: Enhance safety, efficiency, and emergency response on national highways by integrating the 'HighwayYatra' app with the 1033 helpline.
• Technological Integration: Aggregator platforms (such as WheelsEye, BlackBuck, etc.) will integrate NHAI's HighwayYatra app with their systems to provide drivers with real-time safety alerts (e.g., accidents, weather).
• 1033 Helpline: The app will have a 'Call 1033' feature, allowing for one-click emergency assistance and geo-location sharing.
• Driver-Centric Reporting (Jan Bhagidari): Commercial drivers will now be able to geo-tagged reporting of issues such as potholes and broken crash barriers.
• Unique Sarathi Initiative: This initiative has been launched to recognize responsible drivers to promote safe driving.
• Transparency: Systematic feedback will be collected regarding toll plaza operations, FASTag issues, and roadside amenities.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):

• Established: Under the NHAI Act, 1988
• Began operations: February 1995
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
• Current Chairman: Santosh Kumar Yadav
• The government has set a target of constructing approximately 10,000 km of national highways for the financial year 2025-26.

Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL):

• A company promoted by NHAI, it is responsible for implementing FASTag-based electronic toll collection (ETC) and intelligent transport systems (ITS) on national highways in India.
• Established: December 26, 2012 (under the Companies Act, 1956)
• Promoters: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), concessionaires, and financial institutions

Key Functions:

• FASTag Management: Implementation of the FASTag program in India
• Electronic Tolling (ETC): Digital collection of tolls on national highways
• Rajmargyatra App: An integrated app for travelers
• Intelligent Transport System (ITS): Technology to improve traffic management
• Helpline: "1033" facility for emergency assistance on highways
• Other Initiatives: FASTag payments available at forest entry points

• Historical Context: Madurai Airport is one of the oldest airports in Tamil Nadu. It was granted Customs Airport status in 2010, and now, nearly 16 years later, it has received full international status.

• More than ₹318 crore has been approved to upgrade the electric traction system on the Duvvada-Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram section of the East Coast Railway. This will increase freight capacity and improve train speeds on the Howrah-Chennai corridor.
• More than ₹259 crore has been approved to upgrade the traction system on the 126-kilometer-long Raichur-Guntakal section under the South Central Railway. This project will improve power supply capacity and facilitate faster movement of passenger and freight trains on the Mumbai-Chennai route.
• A project worth ₹187 crore has also been approved to lay 1,000 kilometers of optical fiber cable in the Vadodara and Mumbai divisions of the Western Railway. The project aims to strengthen the digital communication infrastructure and promote indigenous train accident prevention technology like Kavach.

• The fair focuses on promoting Indian agri-food exports and leveraging free trade agreements (FTAs).
• The Union Minister stated that nine free trade agreements signed over the past three and a half years have opened up vast market opportunities for Indian exporters in 38 developed and prosperous countries.
• Organized by: Indian Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) and Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)

• Established: November 1, 2000 (26th state of India)
• Capital: Raipur (Nava Raipur Atal Nagar)
• Ancient name: Dakshin Kosala
• State emblem: The state is shaped like a 'seahorse'
• Mother state: Madhya Pradesh (separated under the Madhya Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2000)
• Bordering states: It is bordered by 7 states—Uttar Pradesh to the north, Jharkhand to the northeast, Odisha to the east, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to the south, and Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to the west.
• Rivers: The Mahanadi is called the 'Ganga of Chhattisgarh'.
• Highest point: Gaurlata (1,225 meters) is located in Samari Pat.
• High Court: Bilaspur (19th High Court of the country)
• Major Temple: Devrani-Jethani Temple (Talagaon) is considered the oldest temple in the state.
• Tourism: Chitrakoot Falls (also known as the 'Niagara of India'), Mainpat (Shimla of Chhattisgarh), and Kanger Valley National Park are major attractions.
• Major Handicrafts: Famous for the production of Kosa silk (Tassar silk)

• Transparency in Property Registration: To prevent land fraud, mandatory verification of Khatauni (land records) will now be conducted before registration. The registration process will be completed only after matching the revenue records and the identity of the property owner.
• Mukhyamantri Gram Parivahan Yojana-2026: A proposal to connect all 59,163 Gram Sabhas in the state with bus services was approved. Under this scheme, buses will reach 12,200 villages that previously had no service. Private operators will be encouraged by providing tax and permit exemptions.
• Amendment to the Service Conduct Rules: The Uttar Pradesh government has further tightened the "Uttar Pradesh Government Employees Conduct (Amendment) Rules 2026" by approving it in the cabinet meeting. Under this amendment, government employees will now be required to provide details of their immovable property annually, up from every five years.
• Cashless Treatment for Teachers: A decision was taken to provide cashless medical treatment to approximately 200,000 regular and self-financed teachers and non-teaching staff of state universities and aided colleges.
• Housing Relief (OTS Scheme): A 'One Time Settlement Scheme' (OTS) was approved for defaulters of the Housing Development Board and development authorities, allowing them to pay their dues with a waiver of penalty interest.
• Ayodhya: Land transfer approved for opening a regional office of the Vigilance Establishment.
• Bundelkhand: Approval given for a new dairy plant in Banda and an expansion of the plant in Jhansi.
• Kanpur: A proposal to construct a 4-lane bridge over the Ganga River to connect the Trans-Ganga City was passed.
• Sports: A 90% fee concession was approved for UP T20 League matches at the Green Park Stadium.

• The oldest and leading specialized agency of the United Nations for information and communication technology (ICT).
• It is responsible for coordinating the global radio spectrum, satellite orbits, and setting technical standards.
• India has been a member since 1869 and an active member of the Council since 1952.
• Founded: 1865, Headquarters: Geneva
• Origin: Founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union; became a United Nations (UN) agency in 1947.

• Pipeline: This is a 131-km-long cross-border pipeline connecting India's Siliguri terminal to Bangladesh's Parbatipur depot.
• Agreement: Under this agreement, India is committed to supply approximately 180,000 tons of diesel annually.
• Supply Rate: Diesel is being shipped through this pipeline at a rate of approximately 113 tons per hour.
• Significance: This supply comes at a time when the Iran-Israel conflict is disrupting global supply chains.
• The India-Bangladesh FriBangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline:
• endship Pipeline (IBFP) is the first 131.5 km long cross-border energy pipeline, carrying diesel from Numaligarh in Assam to Parbatipur in Bangladesh.
• Inauguration and Objective: By the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh on March 18, 2023. It is for the uninterrupted supply of diesel from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Assam (India) to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC)'s Parbatipur depot in Dinajpur district.
• The project, inaugurated on March 18, 2023, built at a cost of ₹377 crore, enhances energy security, reduces transportation costs by 50%, and strengthens ties between the two countries.
• Capacity: India supplies approximately 180,000 metric tons of diesel to Bangladesh annually through this pipeline.
• Meanwhile, Bangladesh has proposed importing an additional 50,000 metric tons of diesel from India through the same pipeline over the next four months, which is under consideration.
• Length and Route: The total length is 131.5 km, of which 126.5 km is located in Bangladesh and 5 km in India.

• It will also serve as the world's cleanest refinery.
• Investment: $300 billion, touted as the largest investment in history.
• Project: Construction of "America First Refining" in Brownsville, Texas.
• Objective: A major refinery to stabilize American energy production, employment, and global oil supply (amid the Middle East conflict).
• Reliance's Role: Reliance Industries is collaborating on this project, which represents a major strategic investment for the company in the United States.
• The partnership is part of the India-US trade talks to 2025 and the 'America First' policy, which is expected to impact global energy markets.

• The government has ceased operations and a new Prime Minister will be appointed in accordance with constitutional provisions.
• Colonel Randrianirina took power in October 2025 after ousting former President Andry Rajoelina following widespread protests.
• He has promised to hold new elections within two years and to complete the elections in 2027 as part of Madagascar's "re-foundation."

Madagascar:

• An island country located in the Indian Ocean.
• Capital: Antananarivo
• Currency: Madagascar Ariary
• Official Languages: Malagasy and French

• India remains the world's second largest arms importer.
• Russia is still the main supplier (40%), but this dependence has decreased from 70% in 2011-15.
• India's arms imports have decreased by 4% compared to 2016-2020. This is primarily due to the promotion of domestic defense production (Make in India).
• Russia's share of India's arms imports has declined to 40% (from 51% in 2016-20), but it remains the largest exporter. France (29%) and Israel (15%) are the next major suppliers.
• As of January 2024, India possesses approximately 172 nuclear warheads, making it the sixth-largest nuclear-armed country in the world, surpassing Pakistan (170).
• Top 5 Importers: Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan
• Largest Arms Exporter: United States (42% share of global exports, followed by France at 9.8% and Russia at 6.8%)
• Germany surpassed China in 2021-25 to become the fourth-largest arms exporter, accounting for 5.7% of global arms exports.
• Europe emerged as the largest regional arms importer for the first time since the 1960s.

• Platform: The test was conducted from the Navy's Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft.
• Success: Four successful in-flight release trials were conducted from the aircraft, completed under varying and difficult conditions.
• Payload Capacity: The container is capable of carrying up to 150 kg of supplies (medical kits, spare parts, food, etc.).
• Operational Benefits: It will enable rapid delivery of emergency logistics to ships deployed more than 2,000 km from the coast, eliminating the need for ships to approach the coast to pick up supplies.
• Indigenous Development: It was developed by DRDO's Naval Scientific and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam. Other collaborating laboratories include ADRDE in Agra and DRDL in Hyderabad.
• Operational Role: Ensures the immediate supply of critical spare parts, medical support, and emergency logistics to naval ships deployed in deep waters.
• Certification: Flight clearance and certification are granted by CEMILAC, Bengaluru.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):

• A premier defense research organization of the Ministry of Defence.
• Established: 1958
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Motto: "Balasya Moolam Vigyanam" (Science is the source of strength)
• Current Chairman: Dr. Samir V. Kamat, term extended to May 2026

• The supreme cricketing body in India
• Founded: 1928
• Headquarters: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
• Apollo Tyres has been appointed as the jersey sponsor until March 2028

• Delhi has been awarded the hosting rights for the second edition of the Asia Cup in 2027.
• Delhi last hosted an international archery competition in 2005 during the Asian Archery Championships.
• World Archery Asia President Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol made the announcement during his three-day visit to Kolkata.
• The decision was made after discussions with Archery Association of India Secretary General Virendra Sachdeva about hosting upcoming international tournaments.