{"id":67677,"date":"2026-02-26T20:38:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=67677"},"modified":"2026-02-26T20:43:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:13:54","slug":"news-in-short-26-02-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/26-02-2026\/news-in-short-26-02-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 26-02-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>RAMP Programme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The 5th National MSME Council<\/strong> has reviewed the progress of the World<strong> Bank supported RAMP Programme.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP<\/strong><strong>)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>RAMP is a World Bank supported <strong>Central Sector Scheme <\/strong>aimed at improving access of MSMEs to market, finance and technology upgradation by enhancing the outreach of existing MoMSME schemes.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Objective:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Accelerating Centre- State collaboration in MSME promotion and development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enhancing effectiveness of existing MoMSME schemes for technology upgradation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthening Receivable Financing Market for MSMEs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enhancing effectiveness of Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro &amp; Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), and promoting guarantee for greening initiatives of MSEs, and women owned MSEs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reducing incidence of delayed payments to MSEs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Benefits: <\/strong>The RAMP scheme would enhance the performance of MSMEs by promoting technology upgradation, innovation, digitization, market access, credit, greening initiatives, etc through active participation of the State Governments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2232474&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=2#:~:text=The%20National%20MSME%20Council%20has\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Him-CONNECT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Government Initiative<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is organising <strong>Him-CONNECT <\/strong>in New Delhi as part of The Energy and Resources Institute\u2019s (TERI) World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2018Him-CONNECT\u2019 links researchers from the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) with start-ups, investors and policymakers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It will showcase more than 24 technologies and innovations developed under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The platform aims to facilitate commercialisation, on-ground deployment and wider adoption of Himalayan-focused solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2232096&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India-Sweden AI Partnership Through SITAC Framework<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On the sidelines of the <strong>India AI Impact Summit 2026, the IndiaAI Mission and Business Sweden<\/strong> signed a <strong>Statement of Intent (SoI) <\/strong>to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It provides a <strong>structured framework <\/strong>for collaboration on the development, application and deployment of artificial intelligence solutions, with emphasis on real-world industrial and societal outcomes.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Both countries will jointly develop a dedicated programme titled the <strong>Sweden\u2013India Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor (SITAC).\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>SITAC <\/strong>will serve as the <strong>flagship platform<\/strong> to facilitate structured engagement among <strong>government agencies, industry stakeholders, startups and academic institutions from both countries.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The partnership aligns the objectives of the<strong> IndiaAI Mission to build a comprehensive national AI ecosystem<\/strong> through access to compute, data and talent with Sweden\u2019s strengths in industrial innovation, advanced research and development and responsible AI implementation.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2232803&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Mission Sudarshan Chakra<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Defence&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Indian PM visit to Israel\u00a0 boosted defence deal on advanced weapons tech and missile defence under <strong>Mission Sudarshan Chakra<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Background and Need of Mission Sudarshan Chakra.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>During Operation Sindoor, India faced drone and missile threats from Pakistan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To strengthen national security, the Sudarshan Chakra missile shield\u2014planned for 2035 under Make in India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It aims to integrate advanced defensive systems like Iron Dome, Iron Beam, Arrow, David\u2019s Sling, along with existing S-400, Barak, and Akash systems, covering India\u2019s borders and coastline.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The upcoming India-Israel MoU may include both defensive and offensive weapon collaboration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sudarshan Chakra<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a multi-layered, home-grown air defence initiative.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is\u00a0 named after Lord Krishna\u2019s divine disc, designed to protect key sites from missiles, rockets, drones, and swarms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It combines long-range systems like S-400 and Project Kusha, medium-range MRSAM\/Barak-8, short-range Iron Dome, and future laser-based weapons like Iron Beam and DURGA-II for cost-effective drone and low-altitude threat interception.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Role of Israel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Israel is a key partner in Sudarshan Chakra, providing advanced electronics, sensors, and precision tech, with technology transfer for systems like Iron Dome and Iron Beam under a Make in India focus.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Israeli AI will integrate India\u2019s radars and sensors into a unified network for real-time threat detection and response.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :<a href=\"https:\/\/www.financialexpress.com\/business\/defence\/what-is-mission-sudarshan-chakra-how-india-israel-defence-deal-could-build-an-impregnable-missile-shield\/4155167\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>SUJVIKA Portal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy; Science &amp; Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On the 40th Foundation Day of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), <strong>\u201cSUJVIKA\u201d, an AI-driven Biotech Product Data Portal<\/strong>, was launched highlighting biotechnology as a key driver of India\u2019s future economic growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About SUJVIKA Portal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SUJVIKA is a <strong>Trade Statistics Digital Intelligence Platform <\/strong>that presents <strong>authenticated biotechnology<\/strong> product import data in a structured and accessible format.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The portal provides <strong>sector-wise insights<\/strong> into biochemical products, industrial enzymes, and other biotechnology imports.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It <strong>enables researchers, startups, and industry to identify high-value and high-volume imports,<\/strong> assess import dependency and prioritise indigenisation and R&amp;D efforts.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The portal also <strong>supports evidence-based planning and promotes public\u2013private partnerships <\/strong>for strengthening domestic biomanufacturing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bioeconomy of India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s bioeconomy grew from about USD 10 billion in 2014 to <strong>USD 165.7 billion in 2024.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biotechnology is projected to power the next industrial revolution. Biotech startups increased from fewer than 100 in 2014 to over <strong>11,000 <\/strong>at present.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The country aims to achieve a <strong>USD 1 trillion bioeconomy by 2047<\/strong> under the Viksit Bharat vision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2232332&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>International Climate Initiative (IKI)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Germany and India have launched a \u20ac20 million (approximately \u20b9180 crore) Large Grant project under the<strong> International Climate Initiative (IKI).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About International Climate Initiative (IKI)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Established in 2008, IKI serves as Germany&#8217;s primary funding mechanism for international climate projects.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It supports mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity efforts in over 150 partner countries, with 14 priority nations including India, Brazil, China, South Africa, Indonesia, and Mexico.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>New India-Germany Project: Scope and Targets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This \u20ac20 million project zeroes in on India&#8217;s high-risk ecosystems, promoting nature-based solutions for long-term resilience.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Priority regions include Himalayas (glacier melt and landslides), Western Ghats (biodiversity hotspots facing deforestation), North-East India (fragile terrains prone to erosion) &amp; Island ecosystems (e.g., Andaman &amp; Nicobar, vulnerable to sea-level rise).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Strategic Significance for India and Global Climate Goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This initiative bolsters India&#8217;s climate agenda amid escalating risks, rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and biodiversity loss.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It supports NDC targets like 50% non-fossil energy by 2030 and aligns with National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) missions such as Himalaya and Sustainable Habitat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newindianexpress.com\/nation\/2026\/Feb\/25\/india-germany-strengthen-climate-resilience-through-new-eur-20-million-initiative\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>CAFE-3 Norms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Environment&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) recently reviewed the <strong>proposed CAFE-3 carbon emission norms<\/strong> for passenger vehicles, set for 2027, but did not make a final decision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>CAFE norms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The norms were introduced by the<strong> Bureau of Energy Efficiency in 2017<\/strong> to regulate fuel consumption and carbon emissions from passenger vehicles.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These norms apply to vehicles running on petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrids, and electric vehicles (EVs) weighing less than 3,500 kg.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The norms were tightened in the beginning of financial year 2022-23, with increased penalties for non-compliance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It aims to reduce oil dependency and air pollution by encouraging automakers to lower CO\u2082 emissions and promote EVs, hybrids, and CNG vehicles, which are less carbon-intensive than conventional fossil-fuel cars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Draft Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE)-3 Norms&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The CAFE-3 norms introduce concessions for small cars and extend incentives to flex-fuel and strong hybrid vehicles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The previous 3.0\u202fg CO\u2082\/km waiver for light cars weighing upto 909 kg and with engine capacity not exceeding 1200 cc has been removed.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automakers can form pools to meet targets, and the emission slope is now flatter, tightening limits for heavier vehicles while easing them for smaller cars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Peatlands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Two large lakes in the Democratic Republic of Congo<\/strong> are releasing carbon that has been locked away for thousands of years in surrounding <strong>peatlands <\/strong>posing a <strong>threat to climate stability.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Peatlands<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Peatlands <\/strong>are<strong> terrestrial wetland ecosystems<\/strong> in which waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consequently, the production of organic matter exceeds its decomposition, which results in a<strong> net accumulation of peat.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In cool climates,<\/strong> peatland vegetation is mostly made up of <strong>Sphagnum mosses,<\/strong> sedges and shrubs, whereas<strong> in warmer climates <\/strong>graminoids and woody vegetation provide most of the organic matter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Peatlands <\/strong>occur in every climatic zone and continent and cover 4.23 million km2, which corresponds to 2.84% of the Earth\u2019s terrestrial surface.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>About 84% of the world\u2019s peatlands<\/strong> are considered to be in natural, or near-natural state.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Due to the <strong>process of peat accumulation,<\/strong> <strong>peatlands <\/strong>are carbon rich ecosystems that <strong>store and sequester<\/strong> more carbon than any other type of terrestrial ecosystem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ddnews.gov.in\/en\/congo-lakes-are-releasing-ancient-carbon-raising-climate-concerns-study-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DD<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The 5th National MSME Council has reviewed the progress of the World Bank supported RAMP Programme.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> RAMP is a World Bank supported Central Sector Scheme aimed at improving access of MSMEs to market, finance and technology upgradation by enhancing the outreach of existing MoMSME schemes.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Objective: <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Accelerating Centre- State collaboration in MSME promotion and development. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/26-02-2026\/news-in-short-26-02-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67677"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67682,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67677\/revisions\/67682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}