Current Affairs – February 24, 2026

{GS2 – Governance} Meta Challenges CCI Penalty over WhatsApp Data-Sharing Policy

• Context (TH): India’s digital competition regime is under scrutiny as WhatsApp challenges before the Supreme Court the ₹213.14 crore penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India.

India’s Digital Competition Framework

• Competition law prohibits monopolistic conduct, cartelisation, and abuse of a dominant position to protect market contestability and consumer welfare.
• Legal Foundation: The Competition Act, 2002, governs India’s competition regulation through a reactive, ex-post framework – intervening only after market harm occurs.
• Merger Threshold: The Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 mandates prior CCI approval for acquisitions exceeding ₹2,000 crore to prevent “killer acquisitions” of nascent startups.
• Digital Bill: The proposed Digital Competition Bill aims to pre-regulate “Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises” (SSDEs) to curb predatory pricing and data monopolisation.
• New Division: The CCI has recently established a dedicated Digital Markets Division to investigate and monitor digital intermediaries.
• DPDP Supplement: The DPDP Act, 2023, serves as a supplementary regulatory pillar. It restricts data fiduciaries from cross-utilising harvested data without explicit user consent.

About Competition Commission of India (CCI)

• The CCI is a statutory body established in 2003 under the Competition Act, 2002. It functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
• Core Mandate: It is mandated to eliminate anti-competitive practices, promote market contestability, and protect consumer interests across India.
• Composition: The Commission has a chairperson and between two to six other members, all appointed by the Central Government.
• Quasi-Judicial Powers: It can penalise antitrust violations, regulate corporate combinations (mergers and acquisitions), and mandate behavioural remedies against dominant market players.
• Appellate Mechanism: Appeals against the Commission’s orders lie before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
• Extraterritorial Reach: The CCI can investigate foreign entities whose conduct causes an Appreciable Adverse Effect on Competition (AAEC) within Indian markets.

Read More > Digital Competition Bill

{GS2 – IR} India-France Amendments to the 1992 Double Taxation Avoidance Convention **

• Context (TH): India and France signed a protocol amending their 1992 Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) during the French President’s 2026 state visit.

Key Amendments in India-France DTAC

• MFN Removal: The protocol removes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause from the DTAC. Neither country is obligated to extend lower tax rates agreed with third countries to each other.
• Capital Gains: India gains exclusive taxing rights over capital gains from the sale of shares in Indian companies by French entities; no minimum ownership threshold applies.
• Dividend Tiers: Dividend tax falls to 5% for French entities holding above 10% stake in Indian companies; it rises to 15% for those holding below 10%.
• BEPS Standards: The treaty incorporates Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) standards to block multinational companies from artificially shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions.
• PE Expansion: The ‘Permanent Establishment’ definition now covers service-based presence; India can tax French entities providing services within its territory.
• FTS Certainty: Fees for Technical Services (FTS) provisions were updated to align with current international standards. This reduces disputes over classification between Indian & French tax authorities.

About Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Status

• Core Principle: MFN principle requires a country to offer every treaty partner the same tax treatment it gives any third country.
• SC Ruling:  A 2023 Supreme Court ruling established that MFN benefits require specific government notification under Section 90(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, to take effect.
• Closed Treaty: Without the MFN clause, the DTAC becomes closed-ended. All benefits are strictly limited to the text of the bilateral agreement.

Read More > Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) | India–France Relations

{GS3 – IE} National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0) Rollout **

• Context (IE | PIB | BS): The Union Finance Minister launched NMP 2.0, targeting ₹16.72 lakh crore monetisation potential over FY 2026–30, including ₹5.8 lakh crore as private investment.

• NMP 2.0 is prepared by NITI Aayog with line ministries, building on the first pipeline launched in 2021.

About NMP 2.0

• Concept: Monetises operational public infrastructure assets to unlock value and recycle capital into fresh public capital expenditure.
• Monetisation Tools: Uses transfer of assets for a limited period, securitisation of cash flows, strategic commercial auctions, and select divestment/dilution routes.
• Instrument Mix: Leverages Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concessions and capital market vehicles like Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) for scale participation.
• Governance Monitoring: Progress is monitored by an empowered Core Group of Secretaries on Asset Monetisation (CGAM) under the Cabinet Secretary.

Targets and Sector-Wise Pipeline

• Overall Scale: Aggregate monetisation value pegged at ₹16.72 lakh crore (FY26–FY30), significantly higher than NMP 1.0’s ₹6 lakh crore target.
• Highways Focus: ₹4.42 lakh crore (26%) expected from highways/Multi-Modal Logistics Parks/ropeways, including 21,300 km highways, 15 MMLPs, and 6 ropeways.
• Core Infra Sectors: Large targets include Power ₹2.77 lakh crore, Ports ₹2.64 lakh crore, and Railways ₹2.62 lakh crore, signalling emphasis on brownfield monetisation.
• Resource Sectors: Coal ₹2.16 lakh crore and Mines ₹1 lakh crore form a sizable tranche, including auctions/leasing and royalty-linked flows.
• Other Sectors: Urban infrastructure (₹52,000 crore) and civil aviation (₹27,500 crore) are included, along with telecom, warehousing, tourism, and petroleum & natural gas.

Significance of NMP 2.0

• Capital Recycling: Converts idle or underutilised public assets into investible resources, reducing dependence on pure budgetary financing for new projects.
• Investor Deepening: Encourages participation by long-term investors like pension and sovereign funds, as seen through TOT and InvIT routes under NMP 1.0.
• Service Quality Push: Private operations and maintenance can improve asset upkeep, utilisation efficiency, and user experience, especially in transport networks.
• Viksit Bharat Linkage: Aligns with accelerated infrastructure expansion goals through upgraded highways, ports, rail connectivity, logistics platforms, and airports.

Challenges Faced

• Execution Capacity: Multi-ministry pipelines need fast procurement, standardised contracts, and predictable approvals to avoid delays and value erosion.
• Sector Underperformance Risk: Sectors that lagged earlier (notably railways/aviation/telecom) face ambitious targets, increasing delivery pressure.
• Market Appetite Volatility: Successful monetisation depends on investor confidence, stable regulatory signals, and bankable concession structures.

{GS3 – IE} India’s E-Commerce Expansion **

• Context (DD): India’s e-commerce market, currently valued at approximately $120–140 billion, is projected to reach $280–300 billion by 2030, reflecting sustained structural growth.

• Despite rapid expansion, online commerce still accounts for only 7–8% of total consumer spending, signalling significant untapped potential.

Significance of India’s E-Commerce Growth

• Consumption Formalisation: E-commerce expansion strengthens transaction traceability, with India’s digital payments ecosystem processing over 100+ billion UPI transactions annually.
• Consumer Inclusion: With nearly 300 million online shoppers expected to rise to about 440 million by 2030, digital commerce is driving broader participation.
• Business Ecosystem Implications: The time required for online brands to achieve ₹100 crore annual revenue has declined from 11 years to about 7 years, signalling improved logistics efficiency.

Challenges Faced

• Digital Divide: Internet penetration in India stands near 55–60%, with rural connectivity gaps and digital literacy disparities constraining inclusive growth.
• Logistics & Last-Mile Costs: India’s logistics costs remain at roughly 7.97% of its GDP, affecting delivery efficiency and profitability for e-commerce firms.
• Data Privacy & Consumer Trust: With India generating over 20% of global data traffic, rising cybersecurity incidents intensify concerns around consumer data protection.

Way Forward

• Infrastructure Strengthening: Expand rural broadband and multi-modal logistics integration to reduce delivery inefficiencies. E.g., BharatNet expansion and Gati Shakti logistics integration.
• Regulatory Certainty: Ensure predictable policy frameworks covering data protection and consumer safeguards. E.g., Implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025.
• MSME Integration: Promote digital onboarding and logistics support for small sellers entering online marketplaces. E.g., Open Network for Digital Commerce ecosystem participation.

Read More >E-Commerce Policy

{GS3 – IE} Semiconductor Manufacturing Unit in Uttar Pradesh

• Context (NOA | HT): PM Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for India Chip Pvt Ltd., a semiconductor unit in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.

• The project is a joint venture between India’s HCL Group and Taiwan’s Foxconn. It marks North India’s first major semiconductor unit.
• It is an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) plant that packages and tests silicon wafers to produce finished chips, specifically Display Driver Integrated Circuits (DDICs).
• The unit is expected to become operational by 2028 and produce around 36 million chips per month.
• Significance: The facility strengthens technological self-reliance, advances the Viksit Bharat vision, and positions India as a trusted hub for advanced electronics manufacturing.

Read More > Powering India’s Semiconductor Ambitions via Technology Transfer

{GS3 – Agri} Access Pass for Fishing in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

• Context (PIB): The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying launched the national Access Pass for fishing in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

• The initiative aims to shift Indian fishing from nearshore to sustainable deep-sea operations, unlocking high-value resources like tuna.
• Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules 2025 establishes a legal framework for using marine fisheries resources in India’s EEZ.
• The pass mandate applies only to mechanised vessels and large motorised crafts. Traditional, non-motorised crafts are exempt to protect artisanal fishers’ livelihoods.
• It operates on the zero-fee ReALCRaft platform, which is integrated with the MPEDA to ensure end-to-end traceability for global markets.

About Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

• The 1982 UNCLOS defines an EEZ as a zone extending 200 nautical miles from a coast baseline where a nation has the right to explore and exploit natural resources.
• India has the world’s 18^th largest EEZ, covering approximately 2.4 million sq. km; the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep island chains account for 49% of this maritime area.
• India exercises jurisdiction over its EEZ under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act of 1976.

{GS3 – IS} India’s First National Counter-Terrorism Policy PRAHAAR **

• Context (TH | NDTV): Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released PRAHAAR, India’s first comprehensive national counter-terrorism policy.

• It formalises a “zero tolerance” approach and establishes a coordinated, intelligence-driven mechanism to address both traditional and emerging security threats.
• The policy aims to dismantle terror infrastructure by criminalising terrorist acts and depriving perpetrators of funding, weapons, and safe havens.
• Secular Approach: It explicitly states that India does not associate terrorism with any specific religion, ethnicity, or nationality.
• Coordination: The Multi Agency Centre (MAC) and the Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI) under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) lead intelligence sharing; NSG and NIA manage response and prosecution.
• Focus Areas: The policy targets misuse of drones, cybercrime threats, and strengthens protection of power, railways, aviation, space and atomic sectors.

Seven Pillars of PRAHAAR

1. (P) Prevention: Proactive, intelligence-led measures to disrupt threats before they materialise.
2. (R) Responses: Swift and proportionate counter-terror actions across all levels of government.
3. (A) Aggregating: Consolidation of internal capacities to enable synergy across all administrative levels.
4. (H) Human Rights: Ensuring all operations include legal safeguards and rule-of-law-based processes.
5. (A) Attenuating: Targeted de-radicalisation programs and addressing socio-economic vulnerabilities.
6. (A) Aligning: Strengthening global cooperation to counter transnational terrorism through diplomacy.
7. (R) Recovery & Resilience: A “whole-of-society” approach to community rebuilding after incidents.

{Prelims – Agri} Soybean Festival in Nagaland *

• Context (IT): A two-day Soybean Festival was organised at Chümoukedima, Nagaland, under the theme “From Field to Feast”, with emphasis on scientific cultivation practices.

• Nagaland currently contributes only about 0.1% of India’s soybean output, indicating substantial untapped production potential.

About Soybean (Golden Bean)

• Crop Profile: Soybean (Glycine max) is an important kharif crop and serves as both an oilseed and a leguminous crop.
• Agro-climatic Conditions: It grows best at 26–30°C, needs about 90 cm well-distributed rainfall, and prefers fertile, well-drained loamy soils.
• Origin & Spread: Soybean is native to East Asia and is now cultivated widely in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
• Soybean Production: Madhya Pradesh (“Soy State of India”), followed by Maharashtra & Rajasthan.
• Production Geography: Cultivation is concentrated largely in central and western India.
• Global Production: Brazil, United States, and Argentina are the top soybean producers globally. India is 5^th largest producer.

{Prelims – MNRE} PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana *

• Context (PIB): PM Modi recently stated that 30 lakh households have adopted rooftop solar under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

• PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a central sector scheme launched in 2024 to promote rooftop solar (RTS) installations across India. It is recognised as the world’s largest RTS scheme.
• Nodal Authority: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) oversees the programme.
• Key Target: To provide up to 300 units of free electricity per month to 1 crore households through rooftop solar panel installations.
• Significance: The initiative accelerates India’s renewable energy transition to meet India’s climate goals, including 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and Net Zero by 2070.

Read More About > PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

{Prelims – S&T} Tetrodotoxin (TTX) Neurotoxin

• Context (TH): Tetrodotoxin contamination is suspected after seafood consumption led to rapid neurological illness and deaths in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a non-protein neurotoxin and among the deadliest natural substances known. It is estimated to be about 1,200 times more toxic than cyanide.
• Host Animals: Pufferfish, blue-ringed octopuses, rough-skinned newts, xanthid crabs, moon snails, certain frogs, and sea stars accumulate the toxin in their tissues.
• Bacterial Origin: TTX is produced by symbiotic or ingested bacteria, not the host animal. The animals accumulate it through diet or bacterial association.
• Mechanism: The toxin selectively binds to voltage-gated sodium channels on nerve and muscle membranes. This blocks the entry of sodium ions into the cell.
• Signal Failure: Blocked channels silence nerve impulses and paralyse muscles. Respiratory failure follows in severe poisoning.
• Treatment: No antidote exists for TTX poisoning. Mechanical ventilation supports breathing until the toxin clears naturally.
• Medical Research: At ultra-low doses, it is being researched as an analgesic for chronic neuropathic and cancer-related pain.

{Prelims – S&T} Sayyad-3G Missile

• Context (OI): Iran tested the Sayyad-3G missile in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint for maritime energy transit.

• The weapon is an Iranian naval surface-to-air defence missile. It is an advanced maritime adaptation of the land-based Sayyad-3 air defence system.
• Range: The missile provides a medium-to-long-range defensive shield with an operational radius of approximately 150 km.
• Target: It can intercept multiple aerial threats, including warplanes, maritime patrol aircraft, high-altitude drones, and cruise missiles.
• Launch Mechanism: The system utilises a Vertical Launch System (VLS) to deliver a rapid 360-degree response without reorienting the ship.
• Guidance System: It features inertial mid-course guidance and radar-based terminal homing to track targets amid sea-surface clutter.
• Significance: The successful integration transitions Iranian naval strategy from point-defence systems to a layered defence umbrella to protect assets in strategic waterways.

{Prelims – Disease} Zimbabwe Rolls Out Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention *

• Context (NOA): Zimbabwe has begun a free rollout of twice-yearly lenacapavir injections to treat HIV and prevent new infections among high-risk populations.

• Lenacapavir is the first-in-class capsid inhibitor approved for HIV-1 treatment. Unlike traditional antiretrovirals that target viral enzymes, it acts directly on the capsid protein shell.
• Multi-Stage: It disrupts multiple stages of the HIV-1 viral life cycle, including nuclear entry, virion (virus particles) assembly, and capsid formation.
• Dosing Interval: This drug is administered as a subcutaneous injection into the abdomen once every six months. It is the longest-acting HIV treatment approved to date.
• Anti-Resistant: Due to its novel capsid pathway, it remains effective against multidrug-resistant HIV-1 strains where standard antiretrovirals fail.
• Fast-Track: WHO approved lenacapavir under the Collaborative Registration Procedure (CRP) to accelerate access in low-income countries.

{Prelims – PIN} President Unveils Bust of C. Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan

• Context (PIB | PIB): President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan during the ‘Rajaji Utsav’.

• Rajaji Utsav celebrates C. Rajagopalachari’s contributions as part of a national effort to shed colonial vestiges and honour Indian leaders.

About Chakravarti Rajagopalachari

• C. Rajagopalachari, widely known as Rajaji, served as the first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India.
• Freedom Struggle: He participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement, Vaikom Satyagraha, and Civil Disobedience Movement.
  • In 1930, he led the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha in Madras.
• Social Reform: He issued the Madras Temple Entry Authorisation Act (1939) to legally abolish untouchability and allow Dalits entry into Hindu temples.
• Political Resolution: He proposed the C.R. Formula (1944) to resolve the deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League over the demand for Pakistan.
• Post-Independence: He founded the Swatantra Party in 1959 to advocate a free-market economy. He also served as Governor of West Bengal, Union Home Minister, and Chief Minister of Madras State.
• Literary Works: He authored acclaimed Tamil retellings of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. He also produced English translations of ancient texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita.
• Major Awards: He was among the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna (1954). He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958.

{Prelims – Award} BAFTA Awards 2026

• Context (PIB): The Manipuri-language film Boong won the 79^th BAFTA Awards (2026) for Best Children’s & Family Film, marking the first Indian win in this category.

• The film, directed by debutant Lakshmipriya Devi, follows a young boy’s emotional journey to reunite his broken family amid social and political unrest in Manipur.

About BAFTA Award

• It is presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in London to honour excellence in British and international film, television, and video games.

• It is regarded as the British equivalent of the Academy Awards (Oscars).
• Widely regarded as the British equivalent of the Academy Awards (Oscars) (especially for film awards).
• Indian Milestone: Rohini Hattangadi (1983) became the first Indian film actor to win a competitive BAFTA, for Best Supporting Actress in Gandhi (as Kasturba Gandhi).

{Prelims – Sports} Winter Olympics 2026

• Context (AJ): The 25^th Winter Olympic Games (Milano Cortina 2026) recently concluded in Italy (6–22 February 2026).

• This was the first Olympic Games to be officially co-hosted by two cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
• New Sports: Ski Mountaineering (Skimo) made its official Olympic debut in the Winter Olympics 2026.
• Medal Record: Norway topped the medal table for the fourth consecutive time.