1 E-Tongue and E-Nose machines for quality check of Tirupati Prasadam
The Andhra Pradesh government is going to set up a state-of-the-art food testing lab to ensure the purity of prasadam and other food served to devotees at Tirumala . A new state-of-the-art food testing lab is being set up at the Tirumala temple complex at a cost of ₹25 crore . It will use E-Nose and E-Tongue technology to monitor the quality of prasadam and ingredients like ghee, dry fruits, and spices. This step comes after the controversy over alleged adulteration of ghee in Tirumala laddus in 2024. This initiative is supported by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) . These sensor-based systems will strengthen food safety through AI-powered analysis.
2 Historic agreement on green hydrogen technology between UP government and Yamanashi
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is on a visit to Japan , has achieved another major success. The Uttar Pradesh government has signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture regarding green hydrogen technology , under which Indian students will receive high-level training in Japan . At the UP Investment Roadshow held in Yamanashi , CM Yogi prominently presented the state’s new development policy and investment opportunities to the global industry. During the event, CM Yogi stated that a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi regarding green hydrogen technology. Under this agreement, students from Uttar Pradesh’s higher technical institutions will receive training in Japan, and this technology will be implemented in the state’s industry, public transport, and energy sectors. This initiative will prove to be a significant step towards achieving Prime Minister Modi’s net zero goal. Yogi stated that our delegation participated in several G2G (government-to-government) and G2B (government-to-business) level meetings in Tokyo, where extensive interactions were held with Japanese business groups in collaboration with the Indian Embassy.
3 Indian Railways launches Rail Tech portal and e-RCT system for major digital initiatives
Indian Railways has announced two major reforms to promote technology and transparency. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav launched the Rail Tech Policy and the e-RCT system under the ’52 Reforms in 52 Weeks’ initiative . These reforms aim to promote innovation in the Railways and digitize the entire Claims Tribunal process. Under the new Rail Tech Policy, a dedicated RailTech Portal has been launched, where startups, innovators, industries, and institutions can directly connect with Indian Railways . Now, anyone with a strong technical idea will be able to submit a proposal through the digital portal. Reform number four was announced to make the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) completely digital . Now, passengers will not need to approach the Tribunal for accident or other railway claim matters.
4 Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Google sign MoU to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps
The Unique Identification Authority of India – UIDAI and Google have signed an agreement to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps . The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has said that this move will make accessibility easier and convenient for residents across the country. The ministry has said that this will also display information related to the accessibility of the centre, including facilities like disabled-friendly infrastructure, availability of parking facilities and operating hours, thereby providing greater convenience to residents. UIDAI Chief Executive Officer Bhuvnesh Kumar said that this collaboration will make life easier for Aadhaar number holders and accessing authorised Aadhaar centres will now be faster and transparent.
5 Rajasthan Homestay Scheme 2026
The Rajasthan government has taken a major step to promote rural tourism and employment in the state . On Saturday, the Tourism Department announced the Rajasthan Home Stay Scheme 2026 , simplifying the scheme’s provisions under the Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living . Additional Chief Secretary of the Tourism Department, Praveen Gupta, stated that several provisions have been simplified to avail the scheme’s benefits. A single-window system has been implemented under the Government of India’s D-Regulation 2.0 . Now, there will be no need to run around to different departments for various permissions to start a homestay. All permissions will be issued under the department’s single-window system. Gupta stated that homestays can be started with a limit of 8 rooms and 24 beds.
6 Punjab government to provide food items to 40 lakh families under ‘Meri Rasoi Yojana’
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the launch of the ” Meri Rasoi ” scheme on February 23, 2026, under which the state government will provide essential food items to 4 million families registered under the National Food Security Act . Mann, after chairing a cabinet meeting, said the initiative aims to ensure adequate nutrition for children from poor families.
7 475-year-old Vasai Cathedral receives UNESCO award
The 475-year-old Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in Vasai (Papadi village) , Maharashtra, has been awarded the prestigious Award of Merit at the 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The announcement was made in Bangkok , bringing global recognition to the community-funded conservation work of this historic church. Built in the 16th century without cement and bricks, this stone cathedral was conserved while preserving its architectural heritage and spiritual significance from the Portuguese era . Our Lady of Grace Cathedral is considered a historical symbol of the establishment of Catholicism in Maharashtra. Built in the 16th century, this structure is an outstanding example of Portuguese colonial architecture in India.
8 The government has launched a mobile lab to check the standards of national highways.
To improve the quality of national highways, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has introduced Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) . These mobile labs are intended to provide on-site monitoring of ongoing highway construction projects. Pilot projects have already begun in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Odisha. Additionally, the government is developing a National Highway Quality Monitoring Portal, which will feature real-time GPS tracking, to enhance transparency and accountability.
9 Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar unanimously elected as the National President of NCP
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has unanimously elected Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as the party’s national president . The decision was made at the National Congress Party’s national convention in Worli, Mumbai. The party also announced Parth Pawar, son of the late Ajit Pawar, as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections.
10 IGI Airport among top 5 busiest airports in Asia-Pacific region
Delhi ‘s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) has moved up to the fifth spot among the 10 busiest airports in the Asia Pacific region . It has seen a rapid turnaround and made a significant jump after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to OAG data, Indira Gandhi International Airport is ranked the 5th busiest airport in the Asia-Pacific (Apac) region in 2025. The airport recorded 46.18 million one-way departure seats, jumping from 9th in 2019 to 5th. This jump is a result of strong demand for domestic air travel in India and aggressive capacity expansion by airlines.
11 IIT Kanpur and HCLTech to collaborate to drive deep tech innovation
In a major step towards strengthening deep tech innovation in India, HCLTech and IIT Kanpur have announced a strategic partnership. The collaboration aims to develop advanced technology solutions for Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and connect research with industry . This initiative will conduct joint research on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data science, automation, and other emerging technologies. The aim is to take new technologies from the laboratory to real industry needs. This collaboration will provide a common platform for students, researchers, and technology experts to work on innovation-based projects. HCLTech’s industry expertise and IIT Kanpur’s academic capabilities will combine to develop solutions that are globally competitive.
12 Nidhi Chibber gets additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog
Nidhi Chhibber has assumed the additional charge of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog on February 24, 2026, following the completion of BVR Subrahmanyam ‘s three-year term . Nidhi Chhibber is a senior IAS officer and currently serves as Director General of the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO). Her appointment at such a crucial time signals the beginning of a new phase of leadership at India’s premier policy think tank. This change in 2026 is expected to bring new energy and vision, while maintaining continuity in NITI Aayog’s functioning and policy direction.
13 Shashi Tharoor conferred Honorary D.Litt. degree by St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata
Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor was conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree at the seventh convocation of St. Xavier’s University in Kolkata on 21 February 2026 , which he described as his first honorary doctorate in India. The ceremony was held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town, where degrees were conferred on 1,052 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Twenty-five PhD scholars were honoured and 17 students received gold medals. Tharoor underlined the ultimate aim of education as service to society and urged students to embrace civic responsibility.
14 India Deaf Cricket Team wins first ADCA T20I Asia Cup
The inaugural ADCA T20I Asia Cup 2026 concluded on Wednesday at the historic Barabati Stadium in Cuttack , where the Indian Deaf Cricket Team defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final to win the title . The tournament was organised by the Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) , supported by the state cricket units of Odisha . This was the first edition of the Asia Cup and is considered a significant milestone in the history of deaf cricket.
15 Delhi Open 2026: Stefanos Sakellaridis creates history with thrilling singles win
The Delhi Open 2026 concluded on a thrilling note as Stefanos Sakellaridis of Greece defeated Oliver Crawford of Great Britain in a hard-fought match to win the men’s singles title. The 21-year-old Sakellaridis won 7-5, 5-6, 7-6 to claim his first ATP Challenger Tour singles title.
16 Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the demise of prominent defence expert Maroof Raza.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of prominent defense expert Maruf Raza . Major Maruf Raza, who served in the Grenadiers Regiment of the Indian Army, distinguished himself with his clear and precise understanding of national security and strategic matters during his service in uniform. Major Maruf Raza was a former officer in the Indian Army and a renowned defense analyst. After retiring from the military, he served as an expert on topics such as national security, strategic affairs, and terrorism. He regularly expressed his views on the country’s security policies in television debates, news channels, and strategic forums.