News of The Day : 25th February 2026

News of The Day – 25th Feb 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-1: Art & Culture)

• About Vasai Cathedral 
  • 16th-century Portuguese-era church.
  • Located in Vasai, Maharashtra.
• Recognition for heritage conservation.
• Reflects Indo-Portuguese architectural legacy.
• Important for cultural preservation & tourism.

(GS-1: Geography)

• About Aconcagua
  • Aconcagua is located in the Andes, Argentina.
  • Height: 6,961 m (highest outside Asia).
  • Part of Seven Summits challenge.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• Debate over “freebies” vs welfare — fiscal sustainability concerns.
• Linked to Articles 14 & 21 (equality & right to livelihood).
• Raises issue of populism vs productive capital expenditure.
• Finance Commission & FRBM Act relevance.
• SC earlier suggested an expert panel on freebies regulation.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• Name change under Article 3 of Constitution (Parliament’s power to alter state names).
• Requires parliamentary approval after Presidential reference to State Legislature.
• Reflects linguistic-cultural assertion.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• About Road safety financing project
• Linked to UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.
• India has a high road fatality burden (~1.5 lakh annually).
• Focus on safer infrastructure, enforcement & trauma care.
• Connected to Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
• Supports SDG 3.6 (reduce road traffic deaths).

(GS-2: International Relations)

• India–Israel ties upgraded to Strategic Partnership (2017).
• Cooperation in defence (UAVs, missiles like Barak-8), agriculture (Centres of Excellence), water tech & cybersecurity.
• West Asia balancing: India maintains ties with Israel, Palestine, UAE, Saudi Arabia & Iran.
• Linked to I2U2 grouping (India, Israel, UAE, USA).
• Implications for defence indigenisation & tech transfer under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

(GS-2: International Relation)

• Shift from multilateralism (WTO-led) to FTAs & mini-laterals (e.g., CEPA with UAE, ECTA with Australia).
• Supply-chain resilience amid US–China rivalry.
• Focus on trusted trade partners & GVC integration.
• Linked to Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes & Make in India.
• Balancing protectionism with export competitiveness.

(GS-2: International Relation)

• Bilateral army exercise between India & Japan.
• Focus on counter-terror operations in mountainous terrain.
• Strengthens India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
• Part of Indo-Pacific security cooperation.

(GS-2 : International Relations)

• About ‘Vajra Prahar’
  • Special Forces exercise between the Indian Army & US Army.
• Focus: counter-terrorism, urban warfare, joint interoperability.
• Enhances defence cooperation under COMCASA, LEMOA framework.
• Reflects deepening India–US strategic partnership.

(GS-3: Economy)

• Prevents double taxation & tax evasion.
• Aligns with OECD’s BEPS framework (Base Erosion & Profit Shifting).
• Enhances information exchange & anti-abuse provisions.
• Strengthens India–France strategic economic ties.
• Relevant for foreign investment flows.

( GS-3: Science & Tech)

• About HPV vaccination.
• Targets prevention of cervical cancer (linked to Human Papillomavirus).
• Indigenous quadrivalent vaccine (Serum Institute of India).
• Aligns with WHO goal to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.
• Gender health equity & SDG-3 relevance.

( GS-3: Internal Security)

• Concern over dilution of deterrence in serious offences.
• Victim compensation under Section 357A CrPC.
• Sentencing principles: proportionality, deterrence, reformation.
• Highlights judicial discipline & appellate jurisdiction limits.
• Important for criminal justice reforms debate.