1 India-Seychelles sign 7 MoUs including on health, meteorology, IT and good governance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special economic package of $175 million for Seychelles . Speaking at a joint press conference after meeting Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Ermini in New Delhi, Mr. Modi stated that this package would provide cooperation in social housing, e-mobility, vocational training, health, defense, and maritime security. India and Seychelles signed seven MoUs in various sectors, including health, meteorology, electronics and information technology, and good governance . These agreements include technical and scientific cooperation between the Indian Meteorological Department and the Seychelles Meteorological Authority. This is President Patrick Ermini’s first visit to India since assuming office in October last year. The visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Seychelles is an important maritime neighbor of India in the Indian Ocean region.
To promote better development along the Namo Bharat Corridor, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation – NCRTC has signed an MoU with the School of Planning and Architecture. . The collaboration aims to develop neighborhoods near Namo Bharat stations that provide a seamless living, working, and essential amenities environment. The plan will create convenient and people-friendly areas around stations to facilitate easy walking and increased use of public transportation. This will improve last-mile connectivity and reduce dependence on private vehicles.
3 The central government has ordered the start of work on the Sawalkot hydroelectric project on the Chenab river.
In a major decision since the termination of the Indus Water Treaty , the central government has ordered the resumption of work on the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Udhampur and Ramban districts . The government announced the project’s resumption in October last year. The project, stalled for nearly four decades, is one of India’s largest hydroelectric projects in the Chenab Basin . The construction cost of the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project is estimated at ₹5,129 crore . The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited invited bids last week for the project’s construction in Udhampur and Ramban districts. It is to be built in two phases. It is designed as a run-of-the-river scheme located between the Baglihar Project on the Chenab River upstream and the Salal Project downstream . The project is expected to take approximately nine years to complete.
4 Global ‘Network Readiness Index 2025: India makes a big leap, improves ranking by 4 places
The government announced on Monday that India has improved its position in the global ‘ Network Readiness Index 2025 ‘. India’s ranking in the report has risen four places, placing it at 45th . Furthermore, India has also outperformed other countries in several key indicators. The report, released by the Portulance Institute, an independent, non-profit research and educational institute based in Washington, DC, assesses the digital and network-related readiness of 127 countries worldwide. The Ministry of Communications stated that India has not only improved its ranking but also its overall score. India’s score, which was 53.63 out of 100 in 2024, has increased to 54.43 in 2025.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has been ranked sixth among the world’s strongest hospital brands . The achievement, recorded in Brand Finance ‘s ‘ 2026 Global Top 250 Hospitals ‘ report, underscores India’s growing reputation in global healthcare. The report ranks AIIMS alongside Johns Hopkins Medicine and Oxford University Hospitals. . AIIMS secured a score of 79.9 on the Brand Strength Index (BSI), cementing its place among the world’s strongest hospital brands. According to the report, AIIMS’s Research Score was 79.4, reflecting the quality, quantity, and continuity of scientific research. Its Care Score was 76.1, highlighting its ability to deliver complex treatments and care for large-scale patients. The rankings are based on an assessment of over 500 academic medical centers, using the opinions of 2,500 healthcare professionals and over 30 metrics. AIIMS was also recognized as the strongest hospital brand in South Asia. The report was released on the London Stock Exchange on February 5, 2026. Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, was ranked 13th in the report, making it the first of two Indian institutions to feature in the top rankings.
6 MoU signed between Indian Army and IDFC First Bank
The Indian Army and IDFC First Bank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide specialized banking services and enhanced insurance benefits to serving and retired military personnel . The MoU is for a period of three years, until February 2029. The agreement includes personal accident insurance of ₹60 lakh, without mandatory salary or pension credits, linked to a minimum monthly credit, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army said in a social media post. It also stated that additional benefits include a nominee cover of ₹35 lakh, air accident insurance of ₹1 crore, higher education cover of ₹4 lakh, and girl child marriage cover of up to ₹2 lakh.
7 Minister of State Jitin Prasada launched Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification Lab Automation Portal ‘Satya’
Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada launched the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification Lab Automation Portal – Satya . The Directorate of Standardization Testing and Quality Certification plays a vital role in ensuring the quality, safety, and reliability of electronic and IT products and services in the country. The launch of this lab automation portal will benefit individuals, industry, startups, micro, small, and medium enterprises, and government departments.
Yotta Data Services , India’s leading sovereign cloud infrastructure and platform services provider, successfully implemented the complete sovereign AI cloud transformation of Bhashini on Yotta’s Government Community Cloud (GCC) and Shakti Cloud . The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated that with this, Bhashini now operates entirely on Indian cloud and GPU infrastructure . This ensures that the Bhasha dataset, models, and citizen interactions remain within India’s jurisdiction. This implementation is in line with the objectives of the India AI Mission and is a significant step in the country’s journey towards self-reliant and scalable AI capabilities. This was showcased at the official pre-event of the AI Impact Summit 2026.
9 NITI Aayog released three study reports on Developed India and Towards Net Zero in New Delhi.
NITI Aayog released three study reports in New Delhi titled “Developed India and the Path to Net Zero .” These studies focus on the overall framework, macroeconomic implications, and financing requirements . Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran described these reports as crucial to achieving the goal of a developed India. He said that energy transition remains a key pillar of India’s long-term development strategy. Dr. Nageswaran said that these reports will serve as benchmarks for future deliberations on the country’s development.
10 Towards Digital India, Gujarat Government signs Letter of Intent with SpaceX’s Starlink
The Gujarat government has signed a letter of intent with Starlink, the satellite internet subsidiary of Elon Musk ‘s SpaceX , taking a significant step towards achieving the Digital India goal. The agreement was signed in Gandhinagar in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi . The initiative aims to provide reliable, high-speed satellite-based internet service to the most remote, tribal, and border areas of Gujarat. Under the proposed projects, Starlink’s technology will be used to connect Common Service Centers and e-governance facilities in aspirational districts such as Narmada and Dahod.