1. MHA RELEASES INDIA’S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-TERROR POLICY ‘PRAHAAR’
SUBJECT: POLITY
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially launched PRAHAAR, India’s first-ever integrated anti-terror policy, designed to tackle evolving threats across land, air, and sea.
- The policy focuses significantly on cyber-terrorism, identifying criminal hackers and nation-states as critical threats to India’s economic sectors like power, aviation, and atomic energy.
- It mandates the development of specialized protective capacities for the space and defense sectors, marking a shift toward securing digital and high-tech infrastructure.
- The policy introduces a “Triple-Front” defense strategy, ensuring that counter-terror agencies are synchronized to handle maritime, terrestrial, and aerial infiltrations simultaneously.
- MHA has directed states to align their local police protocols with the national standards set by PRAHAAR to ensure a unified response to internal security challenges.
- Concepts: Article 355 – Duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance; Cyber Security Governance – Strengthening the legal framework under the IT Act and the New Anti-Terror Policy.
2. TAMIL NADU RELEASES FINAL ELECTORAL ROLLS; 5.67 CRORE VOTERS ENROLLED
SUBJECT: NATIONAL (TAMIL NADU)
- Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik released the final electoral rolls for Tamil Nadu on February 23, 2026, following a rigorous Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
- The state now has a total of 5,67,07,380 electors, with the revision including a significant number of first-time voters and gender-inclusive registrations.
- District Collectors (DEOs) published the localized rolls simultaneously across all districts, emphasizing transparency in the verification process.
- The revision successfully addressed concerns regarding duplicate entries and “dead voters,” ensuring a clean database for upcoming democratic processes.
- A major focus of this SIR was the inclusion of marginalized communities and ensuring accessibility at polling stations for Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
- Concepts: Representation of the People Act, 1950 – Governing the preparation of electoral rolls; Election Commission of India (ECI) – Constitutional authority under Article 324 for electoral management.
3. INDIA FORMALLY JOINS US-LED ‘PAX SILICA’ ALLIANCE FOR SEMICONDUCTOR SECURITY
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- India has become the 12th nation to sign the Pax Silica Declaration, a strategic US-led coalition aimed at securing global supply chains for critical minerals and semiconductors.
- This alliance focuses on building a “resilient silicon shield” to counter supply chain disruptions and technological monopolies, specifically in the AI and chip-making sectors.
- As part of the agreement, India will contribute its vast engineering talent and its 8.52 million tonnes of rare earth reserves to the coalition’s resource pool.
- The deal aligns with India’s National Critical Mineral Mission, ensuring that domestic industries get priority access to advanced chip design technologies, including 2-nanometre (nm) tech.
- The Pax Silica membership is expected to attract billions in foreign direct investment for the ten semiconductor plants currently under development in India.
- Concepts: Strategic Autonomy – Balancing technological alliances without compromising national interests; Pax Silica – A new-age diplomatic framework for technological hegemony and security.
4. INDIA’S Q3 GDP GROWTH PROJECTED TO MODERATE TO 7.2%
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Rating agency ICRA has projected India’s GDP growth for the third quarter (Q3 FY26) to settle at 7.2%, a moderation from the 8.2% recorded in the previous quarter.
- The slowdown is attributed to a contraction in Government capital spending and a high base effect from the previous year, despite a pick-up in the industrial sector.
- Manufacturing remains a bright spot with an estimated 8.3% growth, hitting a six-quarter high, fueled by robust domestic demand and GST rationalization.
- Agriculture and services sectors are expected to see a slight dip in momentum, growing at approximately 3.0% and 7.8% respectively.
- Economists suggest that while urban demand shows signs of softening, rural consumption remains stable, supported by a favorable monsoon and increased agricultural output.
- Concepts: Gross Value Added (GVA) – A key measure of economic activity from the supply side; Base Effect – How previous year’s high or low growth impacts the current percentage calculations.
5. BEL AND SASMOS SIGN STRATEGIC MOU FOR INDIGENOUS DEFENCE TECH
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- Navratna PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and SASMOS HET Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop advanced electronics for the Indian Armed Forces.
- The partnership focuses on high-tech domains including Fibre Optics & Photonics, Tank Electronics, and Naval Systems, aiming for 100% indigenization.
- The collaboration is a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, designed to reduce India’s reliance on imported subsystems for airborne platforms.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh witnessed the exchange, noting that such partnerships are crucial for India’s goal of reaching Viksit Bharat by 2047.
- The MoU also explores global export opportunities for Indian-made defense electronics, positioning India as a manufacturing hub for the Global South.
- Concepts: iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) – Promoting startups and R&D in defense; Positive Indigenisation List – Items banned for import to promote local manufacturing.
