26 February 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs cover all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exams.

Blockchain-based Digital Governance

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) launched the Blockchain India Challenge to promote blockchain-based governance solutions by Indian startups.

What is Blockchain?

1. Definition:

Blockchain is a decentralized and distributed digital ledger that records transactions securely, transparently, and permanently.

2. Core Features:

• Decentralization: No single central authority controls data
• Immutability: Once recorded, data cannot be altered
• Transparency: All participants can verify records
• Cryptographic Security: Strong encryption protects data integrity
• Consensus Mechanism: Transactions validated collectively

Role of Blockchain in Digital Governance

1. Certificates and Documents:

• Prevents fake certificates and document tampering
• Example: NIC’s Certificate Chain ensures secure storage and verification

2. Healthcare and Logistics:

• Tracks medicines from manufacturer to hospital
• Example: Karnataka’s Aushada system
• Benefits: Prevents counterfeit drugs & Ensures transparency and quality

3. Judiciary and Criminal Justice:

• Integrated digital platform for criminal records
• Example: Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS)
• Improves Evidence tracking, Case transparency, Faster justice delivery

4. Property and Land Records:

• Secure recording of property ownership and transactions
• Reduces fraud, disputes, and litigation
• Used in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra

5. Electoral and Public Services:

• Under development for Remote voting, GST monitoring, Blood bank management, Public Distribution System

Key Government Blockchain Initiatives

1. National Blockchain Framework (NBF):

• Developed by MeitY to provide standardized blockchain infrastructure.
• Components: Vishvasya stack, NBFLite, Praamaanik
• Purpose: Secure and scalable blockchain deployment in governance.

2. Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Blockchain:

• Provides Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) infrastructure for government agencies.

3. Blockchain India Challenge:

• Encourages startups to develop innovative blockchain governance solutions.

Supreme Court questions effectiveness of NOTA in elections

The Supreme Court of India recently observed that more than a decade after its introduction, the NOTA (None of the Above) option has had limited impact on political parties’ candidate selection.

What is NOTA?

1. Definition:

• NOTA allows voters to reject all candidates contesting in an election while still participating in the democratic process.

2. Purpose:

• Provides voters with a formal option to express dissatisfaction
• Strengthens democratic participation and voter freedom

Legal basis of NOTA

1. Landmark Judgment:

• Introduced by the Supreme Court in PUCL vs Union of India (2013).

2. Key directions:

• Election Commission must include NOTA on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
• Protects voters’ right to secrecy even when rejecting all candidates

3. First implemented in 2013 Assembly elections in:

• Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi

Key concerns raised by the Supreme Court

1. No impact on election outcome:

• Even if NOTA receives the highest votes, the candidate with the next highest votes is declared winner
• NOTA has no legal force to cancel elections

2. No influence on candidate selection:

• Political parties continue to field candidates based on Electability and Political considerations rather than public dissatisfaction reflected through NOTA

3. Not applicable in uncontested elections:

• If only one candidate contests, voters cannot exercise NOTA meaningfully

4. Limited impact on criminalization of politics:

• NOTA has not significantly reduced candidates with criminal backgrounds

Importance of NOTA

• Protects freedom of expression
• Enables protest voting
• Improves democratic legitimacy
• Encourages political accountability (indirectly)

Suggested reforms

1. 50%+1 Rule (Re-election mechanism):

• If NOTA receives more than 50% votes Election should be cancelled, Fresh elections held and Previous candidates barred
• Example: Used in Colombia

2. State-level initiatives in India:

• States like Maharashtra and Haryana treat NOTA as a fictional candidate, triggering re-election if NOTA gets majority in local body polls.

UN launches road safety financing project in four Indian states

The United Nations has launched a road safety financing project in India, targeting Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, to reduce fatalities and strengthen road safety systems.

About the Project: Sustainable Financing for Road Safety in India

1. Funding agency:

• UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF)

2. Technical support:

• World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNESCAP

3. Target states:

• Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam

4. Focus areas:

• Strengthening national and state road safety systems
• Improving implementation of road safety action plans
• Reducing road fatalities and serious injuries
• Building institutional and financing capacity

Road safety scenario in India

According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:

• Annual road fatalities: ~1.68 lakh deaths (2022–23)
• Most affected age group: 18–45 years
• Most affected category: Two-wheeler users
• Leading cause: Over-speeding
• Economic loss: ~3% of India’s GDP annually

Major road safety initiatives by India

1. Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019:

• Increased penalties for traffic violations
• Improved governance and accountability

2. National Road Safety Strategy (2018–2030):

• Target: Reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2030
• Aligns with global road safety goals

3. Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD):

• Developed by: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways & Ministry of Home Affairs
• Provides Centralised crash data system and Evidence-based policymaking

4. State Support Programme for Road Safety:

• Covers 14 high-fatality states
• Financial support from World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Government of India

About the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF)

1. Established:

• 2018

2. Objective:

• Improve road safety in low- and middle-income countries

3. Key functions:

• Mobilises funding, Supports policy reforms, Builds institutional capacity, Promotes safe-system approach

Global road safety initiative: Declaration of Marrakesh (2025)

• Adopted at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety
• Key objectives: Strengthen political commitment, Ensure sustainable road safety financing, Promote safe-system approach globally

L&T to build LIGO-India gravitational wave observatory in Maharashtra

Larsen & Toubro has secured a contract from the Department of Atomic Energy to construct the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO-India) at Aundha in Hingoli district, Maharashtra.

About LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory)

1. Objective:

• Detect gravitational waves using laser interferometry.

2. What are gravitational waves?

• Ripples in space-time caused by violent cosmic events like Black hole collisions and Neutron star mergers
• Predicted in 1916 by Albert Einstein in his General Theory of Relativity.
• Travel at the speed of light carrying information about cosmic origins.

Working principle of LIGO

1. Core technique:

• Laser interferometry

2. Key components:

• Two perpendicular vacuum tunnels (each 4 km long) forming an “L” shape
• Laser beam split into two perpendicular paths
• Beams reflected by mirrors and recombined
• Passing gravitational waves cause extremely tiny distortions in space
• These distortions change the interference pattern, enabling detection

This allows measurement of changes smaller than the diameter of a proton.

About LIGO-India

1. Approval:

• 2016 by Government of India

2. Location:

• Aundha, Hingoli district, Maharashtra

3. Implementing agencies:

• Department of Atomic Energy
• Department of Science and Technology

4. International partner:

• National Science Foundation, USA

5. Key Indian participating institutes:

• Institute of Plasma Research
• Inter‑University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology

Global gravitational wave observatory network

• Major observatories include LIGO – USA, Virgo – Italy, KAGRA – Japan
• LIGO-India will become part of this global network.

Significance of LIGO-India

• Scientific leadership: Strengthens India’s role in astrophysics and gravitational wave research
• Enables deeper understanding of black holes, neutron stars, and universe evolution
• Improved detection accuracy: Enhances global network sensitivity and Helps precisely locate gravitational wave sources
• Technological advancement: Boosts high-precision engineering, lasers, optics, and vacuum technology
• Industrial development: Encourages participation of Indian industries like L&T in frontier science infrastructure
• Strategic and global prestige: Positions India among elite nations with gravitational wave observatories

Article 3 empowers Parliament to change State names; Centre approves renaming Kerala as Keralam

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to change the name of the State of Kerala to “Keralam”, under the provisions of Article 3 of the Constitution.

About Article 3 of the Constitution

• Article 3 empowers the Parliament of India to reorganize states. It provides the legal framework for altering India’s political boundaries and state identities.
• Powers under Article 3: Parliament can
• Form a new State
  - By separating territory from an existing State
  - Or by merging two or more States or parts of States
• Increase the area of any State
• Diminish the area of any State
• Alter the boundaries of any State
• Change the name of any State

Procedure for changing the name of a State

1. President’s Recommendation (Mandatory):

• A Bill for renaming a State can be introduced in Parliament only with prior recommendation of the President
• The President of India acts on the advice of the Union Government

2. Reference to State Legislature:

• The President refers the Bill to the concerned State Legislature
• The State Legislature can express its views within a specified period

3. Important:

• The State Legislature’s opinion is not binding
• Parliament can proceed even if the State disagrees

4. Parliamentary Approval:

• The Bill is passed by Simple Majority in both Houses of Parliament
• No special majority or constitutional amendment is required

Why Article 3 is important

• Enables flexible federal structure
• Allows peaceful and legal reorganisation of States
• Supports linguistic, cultural, and administrative adjustments
• Helps maintain national unity while accommodating regional aspirations

Examples of State name changes under Article 3

Department of Biotechnology launches SUJVIKA AI-driven biotech trade intelligence portal

The Department of Biotechnology launched SUJVIKA, an AI-driven Biotech Product Data Portal, to mark its 40th Foundation Day.

About SUJVIKA

• SUJVIKA is an AI-powered Trade Statistics Digital Intelligence Platform designed to provide reliable and structured biotechnology import data.
• Developed in collaboration with Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) (industry partner)

Key Features

1. Authenticated biotech import database:

• Provides verified data on biotechnology product imports
• Structured and easily accessible digital format

2. Sector-wise trade intelligence:

• Provides detailed insights into Biochemical products, Industrial enzymes, Other biotechnology imports

3. AI-enabled analytical insights:

• Helps stakeholders Identify high-value imported biotech products, Analyse import dependency, Track market trends and trade gaps

4. Support for startups and researchers:

• Enables Identification of areas needing indigenous manufacturing, Prioritisation of domestic R&D, Promotion of Atmanirbhar Bharat in biotechnology

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