CURRENT AFFAIRS 25 February, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 25 February, 2026

1. INDIA–GCC FREE TRADE AGREEMENT –

• India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed a Joint Statement to advance negotiations on the India–GCC Free Trade Agreement, following the Terms of Reference agreed earlier. The move aims to deepen economic cooperation and marks a significant milestone in India–GCC relations.
• India – GCC Trade: The GCC is India’s largest trading partner bloc, accounting for 15.42% of India’s global trade.
• Bilateral trade reached USD 178.56 billion in FY 2024-25 (Exports: USD 56.87 billion; Imports: USD 121.68 billion), registering a steady annual average growth rate of 15.3% over the past five years.
• Key Indian Exports: India primarily exports engineering goods, rice, textiles, machinery, and gems and jewellery to the GCC.
• Key Indian Imports: Imports from the GCC are dominated by crude oil, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), petrochemicals, and precious metals like gold.
• Economic Significance: The GCC represents a massive market of 61.5 million people with a USD 2.3 trillion GDP (9th globally), and serves as a major source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for India (cumulative investments exceeding USD 31.14 billion as of September 2025).
• Diaspora and Soft Power: The region hosts nearly 10 million Indian diaspora members, acting as a vital “living bridge” that reinforces people-to-people connections and supports the substantial presence of Indian companies in the Gulf.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

• It is a regional political and economic alliance established in 1981, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Formed in response to regional tensions such as the Iranian Revolution (1979) and the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), the GCC aims to promote economic, security, cultural, and social cooperation among its members.
• GCC headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, its organisational structure includes the Supreme Council, the highest authority composed of member state heads with a rotating presidency.

2. NATIONAL COUNTER-TERRORISM POLICY AND STRATEGY: PRAHAAR –

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) unveiled India’s first-ever comprehensive National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy, titled ‘PRAHAAR’. This marks a paradigm shift from a reactive security stance to a proactive, intelligence-driven doctrine.

What is PRAHAAR?

• PRAHAAR: The strategy is an acronym representing the core pillars of India’s proactive defense mechanism:
• Prevention of terror attacks to protect Indian citizens and interests;
• Responses, which are swift and proportionate to the threat posed;
• Aggregating internal capacities for achieving synergy in a whole-of-government approach;
• Human rights and ‘Rule of Law’ based processes for mitigation of threats;
• Attenuating the conditions enabling terrorism, including radicalization;
• Aligning and shaping the international efforts to counter terrorism;
• Recovery and resilience through a whole-of-society approach.
• Prevention of Terror Attacks: India follows a proactive, intelligence-led counter-terrorism approach anchored by the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) and Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI) under the Intelligence Bureau for real-time intelligence sharing among central and state agencies.
• Law enforcement actively counters terrorist misuse of the internet for recruitment, propaganda, and communication, while dismantling over-ground worker (OGW) support networks.
• Coordinated operations target the emerging nexus between illegal arms syndicates and terrorist groups and disrupt terror funding through legal frameworks.
• Border guarding forces and immigration authorities deploy advanced technologies to address threats across land, air, and maritime domains, alongside strengthened protection of critical infrastructure such as power, railways, aviation, ports, defence, space, and atomic energy sectors.

3. INDIA–US JOINT SPECIAL FORCES EXERCISE ‘VAJRA PRAHAR’ BEGINS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH –

• The 16th edition of the India–US Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Vajra Prahar’ is set to be conducted at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, in Himachal Pradesh from 24 February to 16 March 2026.
• The exercise will witness participation from the Indian Army and the United States Army, strengthening defence ties between the two nations.

Participating Contingents

• The Indian Army contingent comprises 45 personnel from Special Forces units.
• The United States will be represented by 12 personnel from the Green Berets.
• The previous edition of the exercise was held in November 2024 at the Orchard Combat Training Centre in Idaho, USA.

Aim of the Exercise

• The primary objective of Exercise Vajra Prahar is to:
• Enhance military cooperation
• Improve interoperability between Special Forces
• Strengthen joint operational capabilities
• Exchange expertise in special operations tactics
• The drill focuses particularly on conducting joint Special Forces operations in mountainous terrain.

4. INDIA–JAPAN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ BEGINS IN UTTARAKHAND –

• The 7th edition of the India–Japan Joint Military Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ has commenced at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubattia, Uttarakhand. The exercise will be conducted from 24 February to 9 March 2026.
• The annual drill is held between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), reinforcing defence cooperation between the two countries.

Participation and Contingents

• Each side has deployed a 120-member contingent for this edition.
• The JGSDF contingent is represented by troops from the 32nd Infantry Regiment.
• The Indian Army contingent is drawn from the Ladakh Scouts.
• The exercise is conducted alternately in India and Japan, reflecting the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.

Aim of the Exercise

• The primary objective of Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ is to:
• Strengthen military collaboration
• Enhance interoperability
• Improve combined operational capabilities
• Conduct joint operations in semi-urban environments

5. INDIAN ARMY CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL STRELA-10 VSHORADS TEST FIRING AT POKHRAN –

• The Air Defence Warriors of the Blazing Skies Brigade under the Indian Army’s Konark Corps successfully carried out a high-intensity test firing of the Strela-10 Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Pokhran Field Firing Range. The live exercise was conducted in Rajasthan’s desert sector and demonstrated strong combat readiness and operational precision in countering low-altitude aerial threats.

Direct Hits on Simulated Targets

• The Strela-10 missile, launched from a BMP-based mobile platform, successfully achieved direct hits on simulated enemy aerial targets.
• With an effective engagement range of approximately 6 to 10 kilometres, the system is capable of neutralising:
• Low-flying aircraft
• Helicopters
• Modern aerial threats such as drones
• Officials said the drill validated firing standards, strengthened crew coordination, and tested engagement protocols under realistic battlefield conditions.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  PRASHAD Scheme was launched by which ministry ?

1. a) Ministry of Culture
2. b) Ministry of Home Affairs
3. c) Ministry of Tourism
4. d) Ministry of Rural Development

Q2.  Which of the following is NOT a key objective of the Namami Gange Programme ?

1. a) Restoring biodiversity, including the conservation of the Gangetic Dolphin
2. b) Promoting afforestation to improve river ecosystem health
3. c) Regulating the use of hydroelectric dams along the Ganga River
4. d) Establishing sewage treatment infrastructure along the Ganga basin

Q3.  Which of the following best explains the ecological significance of Satkosia Tiger Reserve ?

1. a) It acts as a transitional zone between the Eastern Ghats and Deccan Plateau, supporting a unique blend of biodiversity.
2. b) Satkosia Tiger Reserve is a completely uninhabited protected area, ensuring minimal human-wildlife conflict.
3. c) It was the first Tiger Reserve in India to successfully reintroduce tigers from another state under Project Tiger.
4. d) It is located at the confluence of the Mahanadi and Godavari rivers, making it one of India’s largest riparian tiger reserves.

Q4.  With reference to PRAHAAR, India’s first comprehensive National Counter Terrorism Policy (2026), consider the following statements:

1. It replaces the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) as the primary anti-terror law in India.
2. It seeks to shift India’s approach from reactive counter-terror responses to an intelligence-driven proactive doctrine.
3. It includes provisions for international cooperation in intelligence sharing and extradition.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Incorrect: PRAHAAR does not replace the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. UAPA remains the primary legal instrument. PRAHAAR is a policy doctrine, not a statute.
• Statement 2 – Correct: It transforms India’s strategy from ad hoc and reactive practices to a proactive, intelligence-driven framework.
• Statement 3 – Correct: One of its core pillars is international cooperation, including intelligence sharing, legal assistance, and extradition.

Q5.  With reference to the National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0, consider the following statements:

1. It involves outright sale of government-owned infrastructure assets to private entities.
2. It focuses primarily on brownfield infrastructure assets.
3. The ownership of assets remains with the government after monetisation.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Incorrect: NMP 2.0 does not involve outright privatisation. It is based on asset recycling, where operational rights are leased or transferred for a defined period.
• Statement 2 – Correct: It targets brownfield (existing operational) assets, not greenfield projects.
• Statement 3 – Correct: Ownership remains with the government, ensuring strategic control.

Answer Key