UPSC Current Affairs 25 Feb 2026

Him-CONNECT 2026

• Why It’s News: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is hosting Him-CONNECT from February 25–27 on the sidelines of The Energy and Resources Institute’s World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2026 in New Delhi to showcase Himalayan climate and sustainability innovations.
• Purpose: To connect researchers, start-ups, investors, and policymakers for collaboration, pilot testing, and funding for climate- and sustainability-focused solutions.
• Bridge Between Science and Enterprise: Moves research from laboratories into real-world applications, showcasing over 24 technologies, prototypes, patents, and pilot projects developed under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS).
• Participants: More than 100 start-ups, incubators, investors, policymakers, and innovators from leading academic and research institutions, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), CSIR laboratories, central universities, National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and specialised Himalayan research centres.
• Innovation Areas: Water security, climate adaptation, waste-to-wealth initiatives, sustainable construction, renewable energy, and nature-based livelihoods.
• Notable Technologies: Eco-friendly road construction techniques, hydroponic farming using treated wastewater, conversion of sericulture waste into burn ointments, low-cost mineralised water purifiers, pine needle-based wastewater treatment systems, decentralised wastewater reuse solutions, and yak milk cottage cheese processing technologies.
• Collaboration & Funding: Facilitates pilot deployment, industrial partnerships, and long-term funding support between researchers, start-ups, investors, development organisations, and government agencies.
• Regional and Global Impact: Reflects India’s solution-oriented climate leadership, supports South-South cooperation, and promotes climate resilience, green growth, and sustainable development in fragile Himalayan and other mountainous regions globally.
• Himalayan Significance: The Indian Himalayan Region is a critical life-support system for millions of people, acts as a climate regulator for large parts of Asia, and holds deep ecological, cultural, and spiritual significance.
• Role of NMHS: Under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies, targeted research and innovations have addressed conservation, sustainable resource management, water security, biodiversity, livelihoods, and waste management across the Himalayan region.

Zimbabwe Ends $367 Million Health Funding Talks with the United States

• Why It’s News: Zimbabwe has pulled out of discussions on a $367 million bilateral health agreement with the United States, citing concerns over sharing sensitive health data in exchange for financial support.
• Reason for Withdrawal: The Zimbabwean government described the proposed deal as an “unequal exchange,” where the country would share biological resources and health data without guaranteed access to resulting medical innovations such as vaccines, diagnostics, or treatments.
• Government Statement: Spokesperson Nick Mangwana said the arrangement was asymmetrical and lacked reciprocity, with no offer from the U.S. to share its own epidemiological data.
• U.S. Response: The U.S. Embassy in Harare confirmed that Washington’s health assistance in Zimbabwe will now be wound down. U.S. Ambassador Pamela Tremont called it a “difficult and regrettable task.”
• Proposed Health Initiatives: The bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would have funded HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and disease outbreak preparedness over five years.
• Financial Support Concerns: Mangwana stated that tying financial assistance to concessions involving national security, data sovereignty, or strategic resources transforms the relationship from a partnership into an unequal exchange.
• Mineral Exports Suspended: Zimbabwe, a producer of gold, platinum, and lithium, announced the immediate suspension of exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates.
• Regional Context: This follows a similar situation in Kenya, where a court suspended a $1.6 billion health funding agreement with the U.S. due to concerns over citizen health data safety.
• Geopolitical Message: Mangwana emphasized that this move is not anti-American, but reflects Africa’s growth as a geopolitical actor seeking partnerships based on equality rather than patronage.

109th Network Planning Group Meeting Reviews Key PM GatiShakti Projects

• Why It’s News: The 109th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under PM GatiShakti evaluated major infrastructure projects in railways, urban transport, and aviation to enhance multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency across India.
• Objective of the Meeting: Assess projects for alignment with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP), focusing on integrated infrastructure, last-mile connectivity, and a “whole-of-government” approach.
• Railway Projects Evaluated:
  • Jalandhar Cantt – Jammu Tawi Third Line: 210.75 km spanning Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir; covers 27 stations across districts including Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kangra, Pathankot, Kathua, and Samba. Enhances passenger/freight capacity, national security logistics, and trade movement.
  • Manikpur – Itarsi Third Line: 518.53 km covering Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh districts like Chitrakoot, Satna, Maihar, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, and Narmadapuram. Decongests busy corridors, improves efficiency, and supports industrial and tourism connectivity.
• Greenfield Airport Proposal:
  • Doloo Airport in Silchar, Assam: Planned by the Ministry of Civil Aviation near National Highway 27 to meet rising air travel demand. Expected to spur socio-economic growth in Cachar district and neighbouring areas, boosting trade, tourism, logistics, hospitality, and urban infrastructure.
• Urban Transport Project:
  • Surat Metro Corridor II Extension: 4.4 km elevated extension from Saroli to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridor with three stations, provisions for two more. Provides seamless last-mile connectivity, direct metro-HSR linkages, feeder buses, and non-motorised transport for sustainable mobility.
• Focus on Multimodal Integration:
  The NPG highlighted that these projects aim to reduce travel time and cost, improve logistics efficiency, and deliver socio-economic benefits by integrating rail, metro, and aviation networks with economic and social hubs.
• Expected Outcomes:
  Strengthened connectivity, resilient transport networks, accelerated regional development, and enhanced integration of infrastructure across multiple states.

World Bank Report Highlights Large Gap Between Gender Equality Laws and Enforcement

• Why It’s News: A World Bank report warns of a “shockingly large” gap between laws promoting gender equality and their actual enforcement, with no country currently providing all legal rights necessary for women’s full economic participation.
• Key Finding: While many nations have legal frameworks supporting women’s economic rights, weak enforcement and institutional shortcomings limit real-world impact.
• Global Index Scores:
  • Legal rights: 67/100
  • Law enforcement: 53/100
  • Adequacy of supportive legal systems, policies, and institutions: 47/100
• Extent of Inequality: Less than 5% of women worldwide live in economies approaching full legal equality, and no country has secured all legal rights required for women’s economic participation.
• Restrictions Persist: Even in countries with modernized laws, women face limitations on the types of work they can perform or businesses they can start, slowing progress amid sluggish growth and aging populations.
• Regional Barriers: Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East & North Africa face the largest legal and enforcement barriers despite more young women entering the workforce.
• Categories Assessed: The report evaluated women’s economic opportunities across 10 areas: safety, mobility, work, pay, marriage, parenthood, childcare, entrepreneurship, assets, and pensions. Childcare and safety were noted as the most deficient globally.
• Data Source: Findings cover 190 economies as of October 1, 2025, with input from over 2,600 legal experts, academics, civil society representatives, and public officials.
• Progress Noted: Between October 2023 and October 2025, 68 economies enacted 113 legal reforms to expand women’s economic opportunities. Leading countries include Egypt, Madagascar, Somalia, Oman, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan.

India and GCC Launch Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

• Why It’s News: India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have formally begun negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the signing of a Joint Statement in New Delhi.
• Signatories: The Joint Statement was signed by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, in the presence of senior officials and delegations from both sides.
• Purpose of FTA: To strengthen economic engagement, build on historical, cultural, and commercial ties, and create a robust, mutually beneficial trade arrangement amidst global economic uncertainty.
• GCC Secretary General’s Statement: Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi emphasized that the FTA will enhance trade and investment ties by providing greater predictability and certainty for businesses.
• Trade Potential: The FTA is expected to unlock and expand trade between India and the GCC, India’s largest trading partner bloc, with bilateral trade of USD 178.56 billion in FY 2024–25.
• Trade Details:
  • India’s exports: USD 56.87 billion (engineering goods, rice, textiles, machinery, gems and jewellery)
  • India’s imports: USD 121.68 billion (crude oil, LNG, petrochemicals, gold)
  • Average annual trade growth over past five years: 15.3%
  • GCC accounts for over 15% of India’s total global trade
• GCC Economic Overview: Market of 61.5 million people, combined GDP of approximately USD 2.3 trillion, ranking among the top ten global economic blocs.
• Investment and People-to-People Ties: GCC is a major source of foreign direct investment for India (USD 31.14 billion cumulative as of September 2025). Nearly 10 million Indians reside in GCC countries, reinforcing strong cultural and economic links.
• Strategic Significance: The FTA aims to strengthen trade, investment, and business linkages, leveraging complementarities between India and GCC economies.