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Daily Current Affairs – 17 February, 2026

    Market Borrowing and Municipal Readiness in India

    Context

  • As India explores market-based urban financing through the Urban Challenge Fund, concerns have emerged over whether Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) possess the capacity required to manage debt responsibly.

    • Urbanisation and the Financing Gap

  • India’s urban population is expected to cross 600 million by 2030, increasing pressure on civic infrastructure.
  • The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) empowered Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to perform 18 functions listed in the 12th Schedule, including water supply, waste management, and public health.
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    NGT Upholds Environmental Clearance For Great Nicobar Mega Project

    Context

  • Recently, a Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) cleared the way for the Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project, noting that ‘considering the strategic importance’ of it and ‘other relevant considerations’.

    • About the Great Nicobar Project

  • It is a large-scale infrastructure initiative conceived by NITI Aayog, formally called as the Great Nicobar Island Development Project.
  • It is implemented through the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDC).
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    District Cooling: A Climate-Smart Solution for India’s Urban Future

    Context

  • In the backdrop of rising temperatures and rapid urbanisation, district cooling is emerging as a climate-responsive and urban planning solution aligned with India’s sustainability goals.

    • What is District Cooling?

  • District cooling is a centralised system that supplies air-conditioning to multiple buildings through a network of insulated underground pipes.
  • A central plant produces chilled water (around 6–7°C), which circulates to connected buildings.
  • The water absorbs heat (returning at 12–14°C) and is re-cooled at the plant in a closed-loop system.
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    Single Genome-editing Strategy Can Help Treat Multiple Disorders

    Context

  • A study in Nature recently revealed that researchers have developed a method to address many nonsense mutation diseases using a single genome-editing strategy.

    • About

  • Their approach is called Prime-Editing-mediated Readthrough of premature termination codons (PERT).
  • It reprogrammes one of the cell’s own genes into a tool to override premature stop signals, allowing the cell to ignore the faulty instruction and complete the protein.
  • The study offers a proof-of-concept for a gene-agnostic therapy that could benefit many rare diseases caused by nonsense mutations.
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    AI could be Game Changer for Distributed Renewable Energy

    Context

  • Artificial intelligence can optimise distributed renewable energy by improving grid management, forecasting, storage efficiency, and cost savings.

    • Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE)

  • Distributed renewable energy (DRE) refers to small-scale, decentralised power generation systems typically ranging from a few kilowatts to megawatts that produce electricity from renewable sources directly.
  • Unlike conventional centralized power plants that require extensive transmission infrastructure, DRE systems operate independently or connect to the local distribution network.
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    Calls For Reform of Global Trading System

    In News

  • Recently, the head of the World Trade Organization agreed with U.S. calls for reforming the global trading system, noting it is resilient but not robust.

    • Global Trading System and Role of WTO 

  • The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the sole global body governing international trade rules.
  • It is aiming to ensure smooth, predictable, and free trade through agreements negotiated and ratified by member nations.
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    News In Short 17-02-2026

    Context

  • President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebration of the Ol Chiki script in New Delhi, emphasising its importance in preserving Santhal heritage.

    • About

  • Ol Chiki was developed in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu to provide a dedicated writing system for the Santhali language.
  • It comprises 30 letters designed to capture Santhali phonetics with precision, allowing systematic documentation of its vocabulary and grammar.
  • Santhali, a member of the Austroasiatic language family, is spoken across Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar.
    • Read More
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