4.5/5
Current Affairs 26th February 2026
Major Western Coast of India
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Jawaharlal Nehru Port – Maharashtra
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Kandla Port – Gujarat
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Mumbai Port – Maharashtra
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Mormugao Port – Goa
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New Mangalore Port – Karnataka
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Cochin Port – Kerala
1. South Central Railway launches ‘Rail Parcel App’
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End-to-End Logistics: The app provides a seamless "door-to-door" service, integrating first-mile pickup, mid-mile rail transit, and last-mile delivery. This allows customers to book and send parcels from their homes without visiting a railway station.
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Real-Time Transparency: It functions as a digital marketplace where users can track consignments in real-time, receive automated status updates, and view transparent charges and ratings for various logistics service providers.
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Pilot Launch in 7 Cities: The service is initially being rolled out as a pilot project in seven major cities: Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Bengaluru, and Chennai, with plans for future nationwide expansion.
2. India-Japan Joint Exercise 'Dharma Guardian' Commences
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Participation & Contingents: This edition features a 120-member contingent from each side. The Indian Army is represented by the Ladakh Scouts, while the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is represented by the 32nd Infantry Regiment.
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OperationalFocus: The exercise centers on urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban environments. Key activities include establishing a temporary operating base, developing an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) grid, and conducting heliborne missions.
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Strategic Interoperability: Held annually and rotating between India and Japan, the exercise is a cornerstone of the "Special Strategic and Global Partnership." It aims to share best practices, refine joint planning procedures, and enhance the ability of both nations to respond to regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
3. Rob Arnoldus Adrianus Jetten Sworn in as PM of Netherlands
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Historic Firsts: At 38 years old, Jetten is the youngest-ever Prime Minister in Dutch history. He is also the country's first openly gay head of government and the first from the centrist, pro-European Democrats 66 (D66) party to hold the office.
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Minority Coalition: He leads a three-party minority government consisting of D66, the center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). Since the coalition holds only 66 of the 150 seats in the lower house, Jetten will need to negotiate with opposition parties to pass any legislation.
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Policy Priorities: His administration has pledged to maintain strong support for Ukraine, increase defense spending to meet NATO targets, and focus on climate action. To fund these initiatives, the government has proposed cuts to social benefits, including reducing the duration of unemployment benefits.
Footnotes: Netherlands's Capital: Amsterdam, Official language:Dutch
4. R K Dubey selected for Director (HR), BPCL
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Successor Selected: On February 24, 2026, the PESB recommended Pushp Kumar Nayar for the post of Director (Human Resources) at BPCL. He was selected from a shortlist of 12 candidates and currently serves as the Executive Director (HRD) within the same company.
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Upcoming Retirement: R.K. Dubey is set to retire from his position on March 31, 2026, upon reaching the age of superannuation. His tenure was marked by over 36 years of industry experience, including a significant prior stint at Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL).
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Selection Process: The recommendation of Pushp Kumar Nayar is now subject to requisite clearances and final approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) before he officially takes over the mantle in April 2026.
Footnotes: BPCL's Chairman & MD: Sanjay Khanna, HQ: Mumbai, Estd: 1976
5. FSIB Recommends Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi as CMD of GIC Re
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Internal Leadership Continuity: Joshi is a veteran within GIC Re, having joined the corporation in 1991. He currently serves as the Executive Director and has been holding the additional charge of CMD since October 1, 2025, following the retirement of the previous head, N. Ramaswamy.
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Historic Selection Process: This selection marked a significant shift in policy, as it was the first time private sector candidates were allowed to apply and were shortlisted for the CMD position of the state-owned reinsurer. Joshi was chosen from a final pool of five candidates after a rigorous interview process.
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Extensive Expertise: With over three decades of experience, Joshi has handled diverse portfolios including Domestic and International Reinsurance, Retrocession, and Enterprise Risk Management. He is a postgraduate from Mumbai University and holds a Master’s in Financial Management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS).
Footnotes: GIC's Chairman & MD: Ramaswamy Narayanan, HQ: Mumbai, Estd: 1972
6. Indian Mountaineers Summit South America’s Highest Peak Aconcagua
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Joint Institute Success: The expedition was a collaborative effort between two of India's premier mountaineering bodies: the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi, and the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam. The team was led by Col. Hem Chandra Singh, the Principal of both institutes.
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Challenging Conditions: The climbers reached the 6,961-meter summit at 14:10 hours local time. They braved extreme weather conditions, including fierce winds and temperatures dropping between -20°C and -30°C, after first acclimatizing on the 5,050-meter Bonete Peak.
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National Recognition: The team was ceremonially flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on February 5. The mission aimed to showcase Indian mountaineering prowess on the global stage and enhance the professional skills of Indian instructors for training future Armed Forces personnel and adventure enthusiasts.
7. RVNL Wins Trailblazing Infrastructure award
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Award-Winning Project: The award specifically recognizes RVNL’s engineering excellence in constructing the New Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu. This is India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge, designed to allow large ships to pass through the Palk Strait by lifting a portion of the tracks vertically.
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High-Level Recognition: The award was presented by Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, to RVNL’s Director (Operations) and Principal Advisor in New Delhi. It highlights RVNL’s ability to execute complex marine engineering projects under challenging coastal conditions.
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Strategic Impact: Beyond just the award, RVNL is currently on an infrastructure "winning streak." In the same week, it secured major contracts worth over ₹650 crore from NMDC for township development and residential towers in Chhattisgarh, showcasing its diversification beyond core railway projects.
Footnotes: RVNL's Chairman & MD: Salim Ahmad, HQ: New Delhi, Estd: 2003
8. Steel Veteran Jatinder Mehra passed away
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Leadership Across Sectors: Mehra held the rare distinction of leading top-tier organizations in both the public and private domains. He served as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of RashtriyaIspat Nigam Limited (RINL) and as an Executive Director at the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) before transitioning to the private sector.
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Essar Group Visionary: He spent several decades at the Essar Group, where he was most recently the Vice Chairman of the Metals and Mining Division. He was instrumental in transforming Essar into a global steel player, overseeing the expansion of the Hazira steel complex and spearheading integrated projects like the Paradip facility.
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Lifetime Achievement: Recognized as a "Steel Veteran," he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Steel Association (ISA) in 2022. He was widely respected for his technical expertise and his ability to turn complex industrial ideas into operational reality.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
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World Trade Organization officially began operations in 1995 (replacing General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
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Membership: 164 member countries (as of 2024)
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HQ: Geneva, Founded: 1995
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