Daily Current Affairs- 26th February 2025

Daily Current Affairs 26th February 2025

NATIONAL

Prime Minister Modi Inaugurates Historic Jhumoir Ensemble in Assam

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the largest-ever Jhumoir dance performance at Guwahati’s Sarusajai Stadium, commemorating the 200th anniversary of Assam’s tea industry. The event, titled ‘Jhumoir Binandini 2025,’ featured over 8,000 artists from the tea garden community, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Assam. 

Telangana secures ₹11,000 crore investment in life sciences at BioAsia 2025

• Telangana has secured investment commitments of about 11 thousand crore rupees in the life sciences sector, with the potential to create over 22 thousand jobs. The announcements were made at the BioAsia 2025, a life sciences and healthcare forum commenced yesterday in Hyderabad. The annual BioAsia forum brings together industry representatives, scientists, innovators, and policymakers to discuss developments in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and technology. 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NASA and SpaceX to Launch Athena to the Moon

• A robotic moon lander, Athena, is set to launch into space, marking the second lunar mission for Texas-based Intuitive Machines. This mission follows the company’s historic first private moon landing in February 2024. Athena will carry scientific instruments to study the chemical composition of lunar soil and search for subsurface water in the Moon’s south polar region. It is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which fosters private-sector lunar exploration. 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Vijender Gupta is the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly

• In Delhi, BJP MLA from Rohini seat Vijender Gupta was elected as speaker of the newly constituted assembly. Mr Gupta was elected unanimously on the first day of the newly constituted Delhi assembly session. 

Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher Steps Down; Fernando Fernandez Appointed Successor

• Unilever, a leading consumer goods giant, announced a significant change in its leadership, Hein Schumacher, who has been the CEO since July 2023, will step down in March 2025. His replacement will be Fernando Fernandez, the current CFO of the company. This transition is set to take place by mutual agreement, with Schumacher leaving the company officially by May 31, 2025. 

Dan Bongino Appointed as the new deputy director of FBI

• US President Donald Trump named radio talk show host Dan Bongino as the new deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Dan Bongino will join as the deputy of Kash Patel, who recently took oath as the FBI director. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

Mahashivratri

• Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the deity Shiva, between February and March. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is observed on the fourteenth day of the first half of the lunar month of 

SUMMITS & MOUs

Punjab Health Dept signs MoU with NCDC to strengthen Integrated Disease Surveillance

• The Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to establish a state branch at the Community Health Centre (CHC) Manawala in the border district Amritsar. 

Prakriti 2025 - International Conference on Carbon Markets

• PRAKRITI 2025 (Promoting Resilience, Awareness, Knowledge, and Resources for Integrating Transformational Initiatives), the International Conference on Carbon Markets, successfully concluded on its second day, bringing together national and international experts, policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners. The conference was inaugurated on February 24, 2025, by Shri Manohar Lal, Hon’ble Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs. 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Ministry of Ayush Felicitates Ayurveda Stalwarts with National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards

• The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, conferred the prestigious National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards for the current year on three distinguished practitioners for their exceptional contributions to the field of traditional Indian medicine.
• This year’s recipients of the coveted award are Vaidya Tara Chand Sharma, renowned Nadi Vaidya and author; Vaidya Maya Ram Uniyal, a distinguished scholar of Dravyaguna Vigyana with six decades of service; and Vaidya Sameer Govind Jamadagni, founder of the Vishwa Vyakhyanmala national conference. Each recipient receives a citation, a trophy featuring the Statue of lord Dhanwantari, and a cash prize of ₹5 Lakh. 

BANKING AND ECONOMY

IndusInd Bank Becomes Official Banking Partner of PGTI

• IndusInd Bank has announced its partnership with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) as its official Banking Partner. This collaboration aims to enhance the banking experience for Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNIs) and High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs) under the PIONEER banking program.