Summary
This comprehensive session covers a vast array of current affairs topics essential for competitive exams. It details recent appointments of key officials in government, military, and international organizations, including Chief Justice, Election Commissioners, Service Chiefs, and Secretaries. The session also highlights prestigious awards and honors bestowed upon prominent figures, particularly Prime Minister Modi. Furthermore, it delves into significant reports and indices like the India State of Forest Report, various international rankings, and major economic outlooks. Finally, it discusses recent sports appointments, significant bilateral agreements, and important government schemes and portals, providing a thorough update on national and international events.
Key Insights
Portal for Online Complaint Registration of Workplace Sexual Harassment: C-Box.
The C-Box portal was launched for online registration of complaints regarding sexual harassment at the workplace. The Bharat Vistaar app, Griha Lakshmi portal, and Sanchar Saathi portal are other launched initiatives.
Ancient Manuscript Digitization Portal: Gyan Bharat.
The Gyan Bharat portal was launched by the Indian government for the digitization and preservation of ancient manuscripts.
India-Egypt 'Slog' Joint Military Exercise Explores Security Cooperation.
The 'Slog' joint military exercise in 2026 was held between India and Egypt in Egypt. This exercise focuses on enhancing maritime security cooperation. Other exercises include 'Lamitie' (India-Seychelles), 'Vajra Prahar' (India-USA), 'Dharma Guardian' (India-Japan), and 'Vayu Shakti' (domestic Indian Air Force).
India AI Impact Summit 2026 Pillars: People, Planet, and Progress.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (February 16-20), focused on three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. Its objective was to move beyond the mere application of AI towards its tangible impact. The 53rd World Book Fair with Spain as the focus country and Qatar as the guest country was also held at Bharat Mandapam.
India State of Forest Report 2026: States with highest forest cover by area and percentage.
Based on the 18th India State of Forest Report 2026, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover by area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. In terms of percentage, Lakshadweep has the highest forest cover.
C-Box Portal for Online Registration of Workplace Sexual Harassment Complaints.
The C-Box portal enables online registration of complaints regarding sexual harassment at the workplace. Other portals mentioned include Bharat Vistaar app, Griha Lakshmi portal, and Sanchar Saathi portal.
Gyan Bharat Portal for Digitization and Preservation of Ancient Manuscripts.
The Gyan Bharat portal was launched by the Indian government for the digitization and preservation of ancient manuscripts. Other portals and apps mentioned include Pratibha Setu (UPSC), Sujalam Bharat app (Ministry of Jal Shakti), and Navar Alas M app (AI and Delhi).
Chhattisgarh's 'E-Shram Saathi' App Connects Unorganized Workers to Welfare Schemes Digitally.
The Chhattisgarh government initiated the 'E-Shram Saathi' app to digitally link unorganized workers with government welfare schemes. This initiative aims to streamline access to benefits and support for the workforce.
Sections
Current Appointees and Key Positions
India's 53rd Chief Justice: Suryakant Sharma, Attorney General: R. Venkataramani, Solicitor General: Tushar Mehta.
The 53rd Chief Justice of India is Suryakant Sharma. R. Venkataramani serves as the current Attorney General. Tushar Mehta holds the position of Solicitor General of India. Justice Prakash Srivastava is the head of the National Green Tribunal.
Key Parliamentary and Election Officials: Rajya Sabha Chairman, Speaker of Lok Sabha, and Chief Election Commissioner.
The Chairman of Rajya Sabha is CP Radhakrishnan. The Vice-Chairman is Harivansh Narayan Singh. The Secretary-General of Rajya Sabha is Pramod Chandra Modi. Mallikarjun Kharge is the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, and JP Nadda is the Leader of the House. Om Birla is the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. Utpal Kumar Singh is the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha. The 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India is Gyanesh Kumar. The electoral process is governed by Articles 324 to 329.
Top Defence Personnel: Unified Commander, Air Force Chief, Naval Chief, Army Chief, and CDS.
The Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces is President Droupadi Murmu, the 15th President of India. The new Air Force Chief is Ashutosh Dixit. The Naval Chief is Krishna Swaminathan (27th). The Army Chief is Dheeraj Seth. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is General Anil Chauhan. The Director General of Military Operations is Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai.
High-ranking Civil Servants: Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to PM, Foreign Secretary, and Home Secretary.
The Cabinet Secretary is TV Somnathan. The Principal Secretaries to the Prime Minister are Pramod Kumar Mishra and Nidhi Tiwari. The Foreign Secretary is Vikram Misri (35th). The Home Secretary is Govind Mohan. The Finance Secretary is Ajay Seth. The Defence Secretary is Rajesh Kumar Singh. The Revenue Secretary is Arvind Srivastava. National Security Advisor is Ajit Doval. Deputy NSA is Dyanshwari Singh. Chief Economic Advisor is V. Anantha Nageswaran. Principal Scientific Advisor is Ajay Kumar Sood.
Central Vigilance Commissioner and CBI Chief: Important appointments for ensuring accountability.
The Central Vigilance Commissioner is Praveen Kumar Srivastava. The Chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is Praveen Sood. The Chief Information Commissioner is Rajesh Kumar Goyal. Mahesh Dixit is the head of Intelligence Bureau (IB). The chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is Parag Jain. Rakesh Agrawal is the chief of National Investigation Agency (NIA). Rahul Naveen is the chief of Enforcement Directorate (ED). Anurag Garg is the chief of Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB).
Heads of Armed Forces: SSB DG, BSF, CRPF, CISF, NSG, ITBP, NCC, ICG, NDRF, RPF, Assam Rifles, and Home Guards.
Sanjay Singhal is the DG SSB, Praveen Kumar is the DG BSF. Gyanendra Pratap Singh is the DG CRPF (established in 1939). Praveen Ranjan is the DG CISF. B. Srinivasa is the chief of NSG. Shatrujit Singh Kapur is the DG ITBP. Virendra Vats is the head of NCC. M. Parmesh is the chief of ICG. Piyush Anand is the DG NDRF. Sonali Mishra is the head of RPF. Vikas Lakhera is the DG Assam Rifles. Vivek Srivastava is the chief of Home Guards.
NITI Aayog and UPSC Leadership: Chairman of NITI Aayog, Vice-Chairman, CEO, and UPSC Chairman.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chairman of NITI Aayog. Ashok Kumar Lahiri is the Vice-Chairman. Anurag Jain is the CEO of NITI Aayog. Ajay Kumar is the Chairman of UPSC. Dinesh Maheshwari is the Chairman of the 23rd Law Commission. S. Gopalakrishnan is the Chairman of SSC. Ranjana Prakash Desai is the Chairperson of the 8th Pay Commission. Assam was the first state to implement the 8th Pay Commission.
Key Constitutional Body Heads: Lokpal, National Commission for SCs, National Human Rights Commission, and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Ajay Manikrao Khanvilkar is the Chairperson of Lokpal. Kishore Makwana is the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Ramasubramanian is the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission. Priyanka Kanoongo is the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Harjit Singh Rehal is the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities.
Leaders in Railway, Aviation, and Tax Bodies: Chairman of Railway Board, DG of Civil Aviation, and Chairman of Central GST.
Satish Kumar is the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board. Vikram Yadav is the DG of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Vivek Chaturvedi is the Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. Minesh Shah is the Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board. Harpal Singh is the Chief Engineer of BRO. Anil Kumar Jain is the Chairman of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Anil Kumar Lohati is the Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Saurabh Ghal is the CEO of UIDAI. Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan is the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. K.C. Venugopal is the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. Sanjay Jaiswal is the Chairman of the Estimates Committee. Santosh Kumar Yadav is the Chairman of NHAI.
Sports Organization Leadership: ICC Chairman, ACC President, Asian Olympic Council President.
Jay Shah is the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Sanjog Gupta is the CEO of ICC. Mohsin Naqvi is the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Randhir Singh is the President of the Olympic Council of Asia.
Cricket Administration and Team Leadership: BCCI President, Test Captain, T20 Captain, and Indian Cricket Team Coach.
Mithun Manhas is the President of BCCI. Arun Mishra is the Ombudsman and Ethics Officer of BCCI. Shubman Gill is the captain of the Indian Test team and ODI team. Suresh Iyer is the captain of the T20 team. Gautam Gambhir is the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Amol Mazumdar is the coach of the women's team.
Global Sporting Body Heads: FIFA President, ASI President, Asian Weightlifting Federation President.
Gianni Infantino is the President of FIFA. P.T. Usha is the President of the Indian Olympic Association. Hemant Vishwa Sharma is the President of Badminton Association of India. Mohammad Jalood is the President of the International Weightlifting Federation. The President of the Athlete Commission of the International Weightlifting Federation is Mirabai Chanu.
Heads of Hockey, Athletics, and Football Federations: FIH, AFI, AIFF, and Hockey India presidents.
Mohammad Tayyab Ikram is the President of the International Hockey Federation. Ajay Singh is the President of the Boxing Federation of India. Devendra Jhajharia is the President of the Paralympic Committee of India. Kalyan Choubey is the President of the All India Football Federation. Bahadur Singh Shahu is the President of the Athletics Federation of India. Dilip Tirkey is the President of Hockey India.
ISRO and DRDO Leadership: Chairman of ISRO and DRDO.
V. Narayanan is the Chairman of ISRO. Rajesh Kumar Singh is the Chairman of DRDO. Nallathambi Kalaiselvi is the Director General of CSIR. Jateertha Raghavendra Joshi is the CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace. Upendra P. Rajiv is the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
Top Banking Executives: SBI Chairman & CFO, Bank of India GM, PNB Chairman.
Challa Srinivasulu Shetty is the Chairman of SBI. Kamsher Kodavary is the CFO of SBI. Rammohan Rao Amara is the MD of SBI. Rajneesh Karnataka is the GM of Bank of India. Nidhi Saxena is the GM of Bank of Maharashtra. Harideep Singh Ahluwalia is the GM of Canara Bank. Kalyan Kumar is the GM of Central Bank of India. Vinod Kumar is the GM of Indian Bank. Ajay Kumar Srivastava is the GM of Indian Overseas Bank. Ashok Chandra is the Chairman of Punjab National Bank. Swaroop Kumar Saha is the Chairman of Punjab & Sind Bank. Rajendra Kumar Saboo is the Chairman of UCO Bank. Ashish Pandey is the Chairman of Union Bank of India.
United Nations and World Bank Leadership: UN Secretary-General and World Bank President.
António Guterres of Portugal is the UN Secretary-General. Ajay Banga, of Indian-American origin, is the 13th President of the World Bank (headquartered in Washington D.C.).
International Organization Heads: UNCTAD, UNESCO, FAO, ILO, UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, SAARC.
Rebecca Grynspan heads UNCTAD. Audrey Azoulay is the Director-General of UNESCO. Qu Dongyu is the Director-General of FAO. Gilbert Houngbo is the Director-General of the ILO. Catherine Russell is the Executive Director of UNICEF. Tedros Adhanom is the Director-General of WHO. Achim Steiner is the Administrator of UNDP. Mohammad Golam Sarwar is the Secretary-General of SAARC.
Commonwealth Secretary-General and Heads of OPEC, European Parliament, NATO, ASEAN.
Patricia Scotland is the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. Haitham Al Ghais is the Secretary-General of OPEC. Roberta Metsola is the President of the European Parliament. Mark Rutte is the Secretary-General of NATO. Kao Kim Hourn is the Secretary-General of ASEAN. Avinash Kumar is the Director of Amnesty International India. Masatsuka Taka is the President of the Asian Development Bank. Vadim Volkov is the Secretary-General of Interpol. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi is the President of Interpol. Eugenio Eyas is the President of the International Court of Justice. Jared Isaacman is the Administrator of NASA. Dilma Rousseff is the President of the New Development Bank.
UNHCR High Commissioner and First Female DG of Armed Forces Medical Services.
The High Commissioner for Refugees at UNHCR is Filippo Grandi. The first female Director-General of the Armed Forces Medical Services is Aarti Schin. For comparison, Sonali Mishra was the first female DG of Railways. Hina Jaiswal is the first female flight engineer in the Air Force. Abhilasha Barak is the first female combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army.
Notable Firsts for Women in Key Roles: IGNOU VC, AMU President, Air Force Flight Engineer, Combat Pilot.
Uma Kanjilal is the first female Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU. Nama Khatoon is the President of Aligarh Muslim University. Sadhana Saxena Nair is the first female Director-General of Armed Forces Medical Services. Avani Lekhara won two gold medals in Paralympic Games. Kamya Karthikeyan is the youngest Indian woman to climb Mount Everest. Jyoti Ratri is the oldest Indian woman to climb Mount Everest. Anamika Rajiv is the first female helicopter pilot in the Indian Navy. Madhvi Manukashyap is Bihar's first transgender sub-inspector. Suman Kumari is the first female sniper of BSF.
First Female Chairman & CEO of Railway Board and India's First Female Fighter Pilot.
Jayaverma Sinha is the first female Chairman & CEO of the Railway Board. Preeti Rajak is the first female Subedar in the Indian Army. Akshata Krishnamurthy operated a rover on Mars, becoming the first Indian woman civilian to do so. Captain Geetika Kol is the first female medical officer posted in Siachen. Shivangi Singh is India's first female fighter pilot. Geeta Rana became the first female officer in the army in Ladakh.
India's First Female ADC to the President and India's First Female Air Force Officer to Receive Gallantry Award.
Yashaswini Solanki is the first female ADC to the President of India. Deepika Mishra is the first female Air Force officer to receive a gallantry award. P.T. Usha is the President of the Indian Olympic Association. Zianifer Symons became the first female President of Suriname. Shirley Chobey became the first African female Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. Christy Coughlan became the first female President of the International Olympic Committee.
First Female Presidents/PMs of Various Countries: Japan, Suriname, Thailand, Congo, Mexico.
Ms. Sanita Kaichi is the first female President of Japan. Jennifer Simons is the first female President of Suriname. Ougartran Sinavatra is the youngest Prime Minister of Thailand. Judith Suminwa is the first female Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Claudia Sheinbaum is the first female President of Mexico. Netumba Nandi is the first female President of Namibia. Roberta Metsola is the first female President of the European Parliament.
First Female Secretary-General of World Meteorological Organization and First Female President of Peru.
Celestia Savallo is the first female Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization. Dina Boluarte is the first female President of Peru. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of WTO. Maria Elena Pella is the first female President of Argentina.
Notable Indian Government Officials and Their Ministries: Road Transport, Agriculture, Finance, External Affairs.
Nitin Gadkari is the Minister of Road Transport and Highways. Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Nirmala Sitharaman is the Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs. S. Jaishankar is the Minister of External Affairs. J.P. Nadda is the Minister of Health and Family Welfare. Amit Shah is the Minister of Home Affairs. Rajnath Singh is the Minister of Defence. Manohar Lal Khattar is the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. Piyush Goyal is the Minister of Commerce and Industry. Prahalad Joshi is the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Minister of New & Renewable Energy. Jitan Ram Manjhi is the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Key Ministerial Portfolios: Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Civil Aviation, Heavy Industries, Tribal Affairs.
Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan Singh holds the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. Sarbananda Sonowal holds the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. Virendra Kumar holds the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. K. Rammohan Naidu holds the Ministry of Civil Aviation. H.D. Kumaraswamy holds the Ministry of Heavy Industries. Jual Oram holds the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Giriraj Singh holds the Ministry of Textiles. Ashwini Vaishnaw holds the Ministry of Railways. Jyotiraditya Scindia holds the Ministry of Communications. Bhupender Yadav holds the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Ministerial Portfolios: Culture, Tourism, Women & Child Development, Parliamentary Affairs, Petroleum, Labour.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat holds the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Annapurna Devi holds the Ministry of Women & Child Development. Kiren Rijiju holds the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Ministry of Minority Affairs. Hardeep Singh Puri holds the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Mansukh Mandaviya holds the Ministry of Labour & Employment and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Kishan Reddy holds the Ministry of Coal. Chirag Paswan holds the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. C. R. Patil holds the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Bilateral Maritime Security Cooperation Agreement: India and Japan.
India and Japan signed a maritime security cooperation agreement in August 2026. Agreements were also signed between Tata Power and IIT Bombay for clean energy research, and between Haryana and Rajasthan for implementing the Yamuna Water Project. India and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to promote cooperation in water management.
Technical Cooperation Agreement for Kalpsar Project: India and Netherlands.
India and the Netherlands signed an agreement for technical cooperation on Gujarat's Kalpasar Project in May 2026. Agreements were also signed between India and Vietnam for cooperation in AI and quantum technology, and between India and Sweden for studying Venus.
Bilateral Agreements: LPG Supply, AI for Smart Cities, MSME Integration, Aadhaar Data Sharing.
Agreements were signed between India and UAE for LPG supply and between India and Japan for AI-enabled smart cities. India and South Korea signed an agreement for MSME integration and development. India and Nepal signed an agreement for displaying Aadhaar centers on Google Maps. An agreement was signed between UIDAI and Google for wildlife conservation. An agreement was signed between BEL India and France for Hammer missile manufacturing. An agreement was signed between India and Oman for Green Energy Corridor.
Drug Quality Standards Cooperation Agreement: India and Liberia.
India signed an agreement with Liberia in December 2025 to enhance cooperation on drug quality standards. Other agreements include one between the speed-writing university and Autodesk, and between the speed-writing university and Autodesk.
Telangana Government's TG V (Veer) Portal for Police Martyrs' Families.
The Telangana government launched the TG V (Veer) portal to support the families of police martyrs. The TathyaKosh portal in Karnataka allows easy searching of public data. The Abhigyan app by NCRB strengthens crime control using technology. The Kaushal Setu and Sarathi portals in Uttar Pradesh aim to provide skill training and employment services to youth. The Nalamtah portal in Tamil Nadu improves access to government health services.
Various Government Portals and Apps Launched for Specific Objectives: CBI, UP Skill Development, Tamil Nadu Health.
The CBI launched the Abhay chatbot to verify CBI notices and prevent digital arrest fraud. The PM AASRA portal and app by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment monitor SC welfare schemes. The Jeevan app by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment focuses on senior citizen care. The Shram Mitra app in Haryana connects workers and employers directly. The Prashast app by NCERT supports children with 21 types of disabilities. The Bhuvan portal by the Department of Revenue, Telangana, manages land records. The E-Swasthya Dham portal in Uttarakhand manages health for Char Dham pilgrims. The Asha BahN mobile app in Gujarat aids early cancer detection. The Nivesh Mitra 3.0 in Uttar Pradesh facilitates business licenses and NOCs.
Chhattisgarh Government's E-Shram Saathi App for Linking Unorganized Workers to Welfare Schemes.
Chhattisgarh government launched the E-Shram Saathi App to digitally connect unorganized workers with welfare schemes. The Khawel app in Mizoram provides disaster information. The Sahi app by Indian Railways addresses sexual harassment complaints from women railway employees. The Pankhudi portal by the Ministry of Women and Child Development encourages contributions to women and child development initiatives.
Portal for Online Complaint Registration of Workplace Sexual Harassment: C-Box.
The C-Box portal was launched for online registration of complaints regarding sexual harassment at the workplace. The Bharat Vistaar app, Griha Lakshmi portal, and Sanchar Saathi portal are other launched initiatives.
Ancient Manuscript Digitization Portal: Gyan Bharat.
The Gyan Bharat portal was launched by the Indian government for the digitization and preservation of ancient manuscripts.
Tiger Lightning 2026 Joint Military Exercise: USA and Bangladesh.
The Tiger Lightning 2026 joint military exercise was conducted between the United States and Bangladesh. The 'Lamitie' exercise is held between India and Malaysia. 'Utkarsh' exercise was held between India and Malaysia. 'Maitri' exercise is between India and Thailand. 'Rim-Pac' is a multinational exercise held in Hawaii. 'Pragati' was a multinational exercise with 13 countries, held in Meghalaya. 'Khanquest' was a multinational exercise hosted by Mongolia. 'Balikatan' is between the US and Philippines. 'Vinvex' is between India and Vietnam.
Military Exercises and Drills
Cyclone Joint Military Exercise 2026: India and Egypt.
The Cyclone joint military exercise in 2026 was conducted between India and Egypt in Egypt's Anshas. The 4th INS Lancers exercise was held between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo. 'Dharma Guardian' is between India and Japan. 'Vajra Prahar' is between India and the US. Air Force exercise 'Vayu Shakti' was a domestic Indian exercise held in Jaisalmer. 'Vinvex' is between India and Vietnam. 'Lamitie' is between India and Seychelles. 'Surya Kiran' is between India and Nepal. 'Ekta' and 'Maldives' are between India and Maldives.
AUSINDEX 2025 Naval Exercise: India and Australia.
The AUSINDEX 2025 naval exercise was held between India and Australia in the Western Pacific Ocean. 'Malabar' is a multinational exercise involving India, USA, Japan, and Australia, held in Guam. 'Garuda' is between India and France. 'JMSDF' is between India and Japan. 'Samudra Shakti' was held between India and Indonesia in Visakhapatnam.
Key Bilateral and Multinational Military Exercises: Desert Cyclone, Harimau Shakti, Ekathra.
Desert Cyclone is between India and UAE. Harimau Shakti is between India and Malaysia. Ekathra is between India and Maldives. Other exercises include 'Khuchkhur' between India and Kyrgyzstan, 'Dosti' between India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, 'Vajra Prahar' between India and USA, 'Dharma Guardian' between India and Japan, and 'Vayu Shakti' (domestic Indian Air Force exercise). 'Milan' is a multinational exercise. 'Khanjar' is with Kyrgyzstan. 'Ekathra' is with Maldives.
India-Egypt 'Slog' Joint Military Exercise Explores Security Cooperation.
The 'Slog' joint military exercise in 2026 was held between India and Egypt in Egypt. This exercise focuses on enhancing maritime security cooperation. Other exercises include 'Lamitie' (India-Seychelles), 'Vajra Prahar' (India-USA), 'Dharma Guardian' (India-Japan), and 'Vayu Shakti' (domestic Indian Air Force).
International Summits and Conferences
Prime Minister Modi's Foreign Visits in July-December 2026: Extensive diplomatic engagements across continents.
Prime Minister Modi undertook extensive foreign travel in 2026. In July, he visited Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand (6-11 July). He visited Seychelles (27-29 June). He travelled to France, Slovakia, and other European nations (13-18 June). He visited UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy (15-20 May). He also visited Israel (7-8 February), Malaysia (7-8 February), Jordan, Ethiopia, Oman (December), South Africa and Bhutan (November), Japan and China (September), and the United Kingdom and Maldives (July).
7th BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi: Theme focused on resilience and innovation.
The 18th BRICS Summit in 2026 was held in New Delhi from September 12-13. The theme was 'Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.' The 17th summit was held in Brazil. The 2027 summit will be held in China.
2nd Global Buddhist Summit 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi.
The 2nd Global Buddhist Summit in 2026 was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The theme was 'Collective Knowledge, Harmonious Dialogue, and Mutual Coexistence.' Other international conferences included the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain; Biofach 2026 in Germany; the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Germany; and the World Government Summit 2026 in Dubai, UAE.
11th Raisina Dialogue 2026: Finnish President Alexander Stubb as Chief Guest.
The 11th Raisina Dialogue in 2026 was held in Delhi from March 5-7. The chief guest was Alexander Stubb, President of Finland. The summit's focus was on geopolitical and geoeconomic issues. Other notable events included the 37th Surajkund International Crafts Fair, with Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya as theme states and Egypt as the partner country; and Wings India 2026 at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad.
India AI Impact Summit 2026 Pillars: People, Planet, and Progress.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (February 16-20), focused on three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. Its objective was to move beyond the mere application of AI towards its tangible impact. The 53rd World Book Fair with Spain as the focus country and Qatar as the guest country was also held at Bharat Mandapam.
Reports, Indices, and Rankings
Global Liveability Index 2026: Economist Intelligence Unit ranks cities on stability and infrastructure.
The Global Liveability Index 2026, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit, ranks cities based on factors like stability, healthcare, culture, education, and infrastructure. Copenhagen ranked first globally. Delhi was ranked 120th, and Jaipur ranked 6th in the Happy Cities Index (released by Time Out).
Global Passport Index 2026: Sweden leads, India ranks 125th.
The Global Passport Index, released by Global Citizen Solutions, ranked Sweden first. India was ranked 125th. The Henley Passport Index, updated in October 2026, placed India at 84th rank (previously 81st in 2025).
Sustainable Development Report 2026: Finland leads, India ranks 94th.
The Sustainable Development Report 2026, released by SDSN, ranks countries based on their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Finland ranked first, and India was placed at 94th position.
Global Terrorism Index 2026: Pakistan tops, India ranks 13th.
The Global Terrorism Index 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, identified Pakistan as the country most affected by terrorism. India ranked 13th. Iceland topped the Global Peace Index, with India at 127th. Sweden led the Energy Transition Index, with India at 70th.
World Press Freedom Index 2026: Norway leads, India ranks 157th.
The World Press Freedom Index 2026, released by Reporters Without Borders, ranked Norway first. India was ranked 157th, a decrease from its 151st rank in 2025.
Food Security Index 2026: Iceland leads, India scores 5.31.
In the Food Security Index 2026, Iceland ranked first. India scored 5.31. In the World Happiness Report 2026, Finland ranked first, with India at 116th. India ranked 45th in the Network Readiness Index. Singapore topped the Responsible Nations Index, with India at 16th.
Women, Peace and Security Index 2026: Denmark leads, India Human Development Index ranks 130th.
The Women, Peace and Security Index 2026, released by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, ranked Denmark first. India ranked 130th in the Human Development Index. India was ranked 131st in the Global Gender Gap Index. The Global Hunger Index 2026 is not yet released, but India was ranked 102nd in 2025.
18th India State of Forest Report 2026: Released by Bhupender Yadav, highlights increase in forest cover.
The 18th India State of Forest Report 2026 was released on December 21, 2026, by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav. The report indicated an increase in forest and tree cover by 1,445 sq km. Total forest cover is 21.76%, and tree cover is 3.41%. Mangrove cover increased to 4,092 sq km, with West Bengal having the largest share. Chhattisgarh showed the highest increase in forest and tree cover, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. Lakshadweep has the highest percentage of forest cover. Mizoram recorded the highest increase in forestation.
India State of Forest Report 2026: Total forest and tree cover stands at 25.17%.
According to the 18th India State of Forest Report 2026, the total forest and tree cover in India is 25.17%. The forest cover alone is 21.76%, and the tree cover is 3.41%.
India State of Forest Report 2026: States with highest forest cover by area and percentage.
Based on the 18th India State of Forest Report 2026, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover by area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. In terms of percentage, Lakshadweep has the highest forest cover.
Festivals and Cultural Events
Shuru Festival 2026 held in Ladakh.
The Shuru Festival, an important cultural event, was celebrated in Ladakh in 2026. Other key festivals included the Chechar International Poetry Festival in Kolkata, the Chinar Book Festival in Srinagar, and the Ramayana Mass festival in Kerala.
Adi Festival and Orate Gidi Festival 2026 celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Adi Festival and the Orate Gidi Festival were celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh in 2026. The Edi Festival was also held in Arunachal Pradesh. The Gangamatra festival took place in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
Nimapara Patha Festival 2026 held in Odisha and Chapchar Kut in Mizoram.
The Nimapara Patha festival was celebrated in Odisha in 2026. Other festivals included the Subari festival (Assam), the Aowaliang Moni festival (Nagaland), and the Madhavpur Mela (Gujarat). Chapchar Kut is celebrated in Mizoram.
Sirhul Festival Celebrated in Jharkhand.
The Sirhul festival, a significant tribal festival, was celebrated in Jharkhand in 2026. Dol Yatra was celebrated in Maharashtra, and Attukal Pongal in Kerala. The Tribal Art Festival was held in Delhi.
Attukal Pongal Festival Celebrated in Kerala.
The Attukal Pongal festival was celebrated in Kerala in 2026. The Tribal Art Festival was held in Delhi. The Losar festival was celebrated in Himachal Pradesh. The 28th Saras Aajeevika Mela was held in Gurugram, Haryana.
Vaividya Kala Mela 2026 held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
The Vaividya Kala Mela (Divya Kala Mela) in 2026 was held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The 1st Jain Chadar Mahotsav was held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The Russohma and Orange festivals were celebrated in Nagaland. The 39th India International Leather Fair was held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
39th Surajkund Crafts Fair 2026 held in Faridabad, Haryana.
The 39th Surajkund Crafts Fair was held in Faridabad, Haryana. Bagru festival is from Assam. Spato Gustor Festival is from Ladakh. Imanu Eratia Festival and Ganagrahi Festival are from Manipur.
Jallikattu Festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu.
The Jallikattu festival, a traditional bull-taming sport, was celebrated in Tamil Nadu. Dhanu Yatra is celebrated in Odisha. Mangashir Babel Utsav is in Uttarakhand. Sangai Festival is from Manipur.
Roller Festival 2025 held in Kolkata.
The Roller Festival in 2025 was held in Kolkata. The 2025 Kolkata International Book Fair was held in Delhi. The Ningol Chakoba festival is from Manipur. The Bihu and Ambubachi festivals are from Assam.
Kukra Tahar Festival and Gaijatra Festival 2025 celebrated in Nepal.
The Kukra Tahar Festival and Gaijatra Festival were celebrated in Nepal in 2025. The Purple Festival and Sigmo Festival were celebrated in Goa. The Bathuk festival is celebrated in Telangana. The Bashuli festival is celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir. The Sirarak festival is from Manipur.
Geographical Indications (GI Tags)
Pithora Painting of Gujarat receives GI Tag.
Pithora painting, a traditional art form from Gujarat, was awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2026. Other GI tagged items include Sitahi Kutki herb, Bangani Arhar pulses, Chattriya rice, and Unjha Jeera (cumin) and Unjha Saunf (fennel) from Gujarat. The C-Berkhthan medicinal superfood from Himachal Pradesh also received a GI tag.
Langali Mango of Gujarat and Bawan Booti Saree of Bihar receive GI Tags.
The Langali Mango from Gujarat received a GI tag in 2026. The Bawan Booti saree from Bihar and the Patharkatti Stone Craft from Gaya, Bihar also received GI tags. The Pidiyan painting from Bhojpur, Bihar, and the Jadu Patia painting from Bihar also received GI tags. The Kuchai Silk Saree and Munda Jewellery from Jharkhand received GI tags.
Dokra Craft of Jharkhand and Deori Handloom of Assam receive GI Tags.
The Dokra Craft from Jharkhand received a GI tag in 2026. The Karbi Anglong Handloom products and Deori Handloom products from Assam, along with the Bihu Pepa musical instrument, also received GI tags. The Ratalom Baliam Kakdi (cucumber) from Madhya Pradesh also received a GI tag.
Mandarinen Oranges of Darjeeling and Sirinda Musical Instrument of Tripura receive GI Tags.
The Mandarinen Oranges from Darjeeling received a GI tag. Other GI tagged items include the Jadu Patia painting (Jharkhand), Kuchai Silk Saree (Jharkhand), Munda Jewellery (Jharkhand), Bihu Pepa musical instrument (Assam), and Sirinda musical instrument (Tripura).
Jasdan Potari Sandook of Gujarat receives GI Tag.
The Jasdan Potari Sandook (wooden chest) from Gujarat received a GI tag in 2026. Other GI tagged items include Nagari Ashwagandha from Rajasthan, Podu Khadi from Andhra Pradesh, and Vuyyuru Cotton Saree and Kavindapadi Sugar from Tamil Nadu.
Thyummali Rice and Ambasamudram Choppu from Tamil Nadu receive GI Tags.
Thyummali Rice and Ambasamudram Choppu from Tamil Nadu received GI tags in 2025. Namakkal Soft Stone from Tamil Nadu also received a GI tag. Mandarinen Oranges are from Darjeeling (West Bengal). Tangbuk and Pumteng Pulit musical instruments are from Sikkim.
Dao Blade of Arunachal Pradesh receives GI Tag.
The Dao Blade from Arunachal Pradesh received a GI tag in 2026. Ambaji Marble from Gujarat, Ojo Fen from Goa, and Sangari Veepali from Rajasthan also received GI tags.
Kannadpayya Tribal Handicrafts of Kerala receive GI Tag.
Kannadpayya Tribal Handicrafts from Kerala received a GI tag in 2025. Randiya and Khasi Handloom products from Meghalaya also received GI tags. Amal Sad Chikoo from Gujarat and Sodagiri Block Print from Ahmedabad received GI tags. Banarasi Shehnai and Banarasi Tabla from Uttar Pradesh received GI tags. Nolen Gur Sandesh from West Bengal received a GI tag.
Sports and Athletes
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Brand Ambassadors: Rohit Sharma.
Rohit Sharma was appointed as the brand ambassador for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Other sports-related appointments include Smriti Mandhana as the brand ambassador for 188, and Sudarshan Patnaik as the brand ambassador for the Census and the World 10K Bengaluru 2026.
Brand Ambassadors for Various Sports and Brands: Archer, WTA Tennis, PNB, etc.
Neeraj Chopra is the brand ambassador for Odi India. Shraddha Kapoor is the brand ambassador for Euroka. Vicky Kaushal is the brand ambassador for Tata Motors. Ayushmann Khurrana is the brand ambassador for Fit India. Kriti Sanon is the brand ambassador for Dream Technology. Harmanpreet Kaur is the brand ambassador for Punjab National Bank (PNB). Blanka Vlasic is the brand ambassador for Bhim UPI.
Sports Personalities as Brand Ambassadors: Jadeja for City Union Bank, Dhoni for Drive, Kohli for...
Ravindra Jadeja is the primary brand ambassador for City Union Bank. MS Dhoni is the brand ambassador for Drive. Shah Rukh Khan is the brand ambassador for Zomato. Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador for Policy Bazaar. Kalo Salky Raj is the brand ambassador for Infosys.
Sports Personalities as Brand Ambassadors: Serena Williams for WTA, Kohli for...
Various sports personalities hold brand ambassador roles: Haryana State Women's Commission (Shafali Verma), English Premier League India (Sanju Samson), Union Health Ministry's Mental Health Ambassador (Deepika Padukone), Viksit Bharat Multivitamins (Shubhanshu Shukla), Levi's (Alia Bhatt), Skechers (Mohammad Siraj), Namo Yuva Run (Milind Soman), International Olympic Committee Mental Health Ambassador (Abhinav Bindra), Zomato (Shah Rukh Khan), Jharkhand Tourism (MS Dhoni), Australia Tourism Campaign (Tara Tendulkar), Osag Government's Karaga Industry (Madhuri Dixit), Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador (Sukanya Sonowal), Bihar Elections (Neetu Chandra & Prajwal Kanti Jha).
Brand Ambassadors for Sports and Tourism: Katrina Kaif for Maldives, Kohli for...
Katrina Kaif is the brand ambassador for the Maldives. Anil Kumble is the brand ambassador for Karnataka Forest Department. Kangana Ranaut is the brand ambassador for World Para Athletics. MS Dhoni is the brand ambassador for Dettol.
Awards and Honors
Prime Minister Modi conferred with Guard 'Lion of the Blue Horizon' by Seychelles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with the 'Guard of Honour' by Seychelles. He also received the 'Vithang Adhipurn' award from Indonesia, the 'Order of the White Double Cross' from Slovakia, the 'Royal Order of Polar Star' from Sweden, the 'Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order' from Norway, and the 'Speaker of the Knesset Medal' from Israel.
Prime Minister Modi received 'Order of Oman' and other prestigious international honors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the 'Order of Oman' from Oman. He was also honored with the 'Great Honour Award Nishan' from Ethiopia, the 'Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross' from Brazil, and the 'Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago'.
Prime Minister Modi's extensive international awards recognized globally.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received numerous prestigious international awards, including from Bhutan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Palestine, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Maldives, Bahrain, Qatar, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, France, and South Korea, totaling over 35 awards from various nations.
Government Schemes and Portals
Telangana's TG V (Veer) Portal launched for Police Martyrs' Families.
The Telangana government launched the TG V (Veer) portal to support the families of police martyrs. The TathyaKosh portal in Karnataka allows easy searching of public data. The Abhigyan app by NCRB strengthens crime control using technology. The Kaushal Setu and Sarathi portals in Uttar Pradesh aim to provide skill training and employment services to youth.
Government Portals and Apps for Citizen Services: CBI, UP Skill Development, Tamil Nadu Health.
The CBI launched the Abhay chatbot to verify CBI notices and prevent digital arrest fraud. The PM AASRA portal and app by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment monitor SC welfare schemes. The Jeevan app by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment focuses on senior citizen care. The Shram Mitra app in Haryana connects workers and employers directly. The Prashast app by NCERT supports children with 21 types of disabilities.
Chhattisgarh's E-Shram Saathi App Connects Unorganized Workers to Welfare Schemes.
Chhattisgarh launched the E-Shram Saathi App to digitally connect unorganized workers with welfare schemes. Other apps include Khawel (Mizoram) for disaster information, Sahi (Indian Railways) for sexual harassment complaints, and Pankhudi (Ministry of Women and Child Development) for contributions to women's initiatives.
C-Box Portal for Online Registration of Workplace Sexual Harassment Complaints.
The C-Box portal enables online registration of complaints regarding sexual harassment at the workplace. Other portals mentioned include Bharat Vistaar app, Griha Lakshmi portal, and Sanchar Saathi portal.
Gyan Bharat Portal for Digitization and Preservation of Ancient Manuscripts.
The Gyan Bharat portal was launched by the Indian government for the digitization and preservation of ancient manuscripts. Other portals and apps mentioned include Pratibha Setu (UPSC), Sujalam Bharat app (Ministry of Jal Shakti), and Navar Alas M app (AI and Delhi).
Chhattisgarh's 'E-Shram Saathi' App Connects Unorganized Workers to Welfare Schemes Digitally.
The Chhattisgarh government initiated the 'E-Shram Saathi' app to digitally link unorganized workers with government welfare schemes. This initiative aims to streamline access to benefits and support for the workforce.
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