The International Energy Agency (IEA) has brought out its State of Energy Innovation 2026 report. It finds that clean-energy innovation is expanding worldwide, driven by competitiveness, energy security and climate goals. In 2025, more than 320 energy start-ups secured first-round funding, and the number of energy-related patents rose globally.
The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) has published a report titled "Healing Soils in India: For Better Crop Health and Human Nutrition". It blames soil degradation mainly on excessive urea use, intensive farming, monocropping, burning of crop residue and waterlogging in paddy fields.
India took part as an observer in the first meeting of the Board of Peace, set up by US President Donald Trump, held in Washington. The board aims to support the reconstruction of Gaza and to address conflicts around the world. India backs the Gaza Peace Plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803 but decided against full membership.
India has formally become part of the Pax Silica Alliance, a strategic coalition led by the United States, by signing the Pax Silica Declaration. The grouping concentrates on critical minerals, semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), and seeks to make global AI and chip supply chains secure.
India has entered into a five-year agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide steady rice supplies for global hunger relief. Under the pact, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will deliver up to 2,00,000 metric tonnes of rice over five years, of which up to 25% may be broken grains, for emergency food aid.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has welcomed the progress made on India's application for full membership. India has been an associate member of the agency since 2017. The IEA was set up in 1974 by member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in response to the 1973 oil crisis.
The Union Cabinet has cleared the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) for the period 2024-25 to 2028-29 with a total budget of ₹6,839 crore. The scheme will develop villages located along India's International Land Borders, leaving out the northern border, which is already covered by the first phase (VVP-I).
Rare Disease Day falls on 28 February each year, or on 29 February in a leap year. It aims to build awareness about rare diseases and about access to their diagnosis and treatment; the 2026 theme is "More Than You Can Imagine".
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