Daily Current Affairs – 12-02-2026

Personalities, Awards and Events

Veerabhadran Ramanathan Wins Crafoord Prize 2026

Veerabhadran Ramanathan, an Indian-origin climate scientist, won the Crafoord Prize 2026 for his contributions to climate science. The Crafoord Prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in fields not covered by the Nobel Prize, including geosciences and astronomy. Veerabhadran Ramanathan is known for his research on Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and global warming, and for identifying the role of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other pollutants in climate change. The Crafoord Prize is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Geosciences.”

Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya Wins Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025

Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya, an Indian public health expert, won the Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025 in the “Impact Beyond Academia” category. He became the first Indian to receive this global research recognition. The Wiley Research Heroes Prize honours researchers whose work has an impact on public policy and society. Dr. Lahariya’s research focuses on vaccination programmes, maternal and child health, and primary healthcare systems. He is a former official of the World Health Organization (WHO). Other recipients of the Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025 include Dr. Namrata Pathak, Dr. Khulood Alsayegh, Dr. Nandita Garud, and Dr. Emmanuel Peprah.

Leadership Change at Akasa Air

Praveen Iyer, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Akasa Air, has stepped down from his position. Anand Srinivasan, Co-founder and Chief Information Officer (CIO), has been appointed as the new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). According to the company, Praveen Iyer will work with the leadership team to ensure a structured transition until April 30, 2026. The airline was founded by Vinay Dube, who serves as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Akasa Air recently inducted its 33rd aircraft, marking the second aircraft addition since January 2026. The airline has placed a confirmed order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with 193 aircraft yet to be delivered.

Chennai-born Scientist Selected for EU Marie Curie Fellowship

Samathmika Ravi, a scientist born in Chennai, has been awarded the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Postdoctoral Fellowship, one of the most competitive research grants of the European Union. Her proposal secured 98% marks among 17,066 applications worldwide, with only 1,610 projects selected. The European Commission has allocated a total of €404.3 million as funding for the selected researchers. Her research project titled “Bytes4Beets” focuses on developing climate-resilient crops by studying wild relatives of sugar beet that can naturally tolerate heat and environmental stress. The study involves analysing the genomes of wild sea beet populations found along the Mediterranean coast to identify adaptive genetic traits useful for future crop breeding under climate change conditions.

National News

MoSPI Launches e-Sankhyiki Portal for Official Statistics

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the e-Sankhyiki portal on June 29 to streamline the management and dissemination of official statistics in India. The portal includes a Data Catalogue Module, which provides a comprehensive listing of the Ministry’s major data assets for search and download, and a Macro Indicators Module, which offers time-series data on key macroeconomic indicators with features such as filtering, visualization and metadata. The portal incorporates data security measures, including storage in the National Informatics Centre (NIC) cloud facility, regular security audits of applications, implementation of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for domain security, and continuous vulnerability assessments.

New Rules on Vande Mataram in Government and School Events

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an order mandating that the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ must be played before the National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ in all government and school functions. The song ‘Vande Mataram’ was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on November 7, 1875, and it was declared the National Song on January 24, 1950. The year marks the 150th anniversary of the song’s composition. As per the new rules, all six stanzas, including the four lines removed in 1937, must be sung, with a total duration of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. The National Song must also be sung during official events attended by the President and Governor, at Padma Awards ceremonies, and during National Flag hoisting ceremonies. It is mandatory for all present to stand in respect when the song is sung or played. However, standing is not compulsory when the song is played as part of a newsreel or documentary in cinemas. The revised rules include provisions stating that showing disrespect to the National Song can attract a punishment of up to 3 years imprisonment.

BJP Captures Mumbai Mayor Post After 44 Years

Ritu Tawde of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed office as the 78th Mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) unopposed after 44 years. The BMC elections were held on January 15 for a total of 227 seats, in which BJP won 89 seats and its alliance partner Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) won 29 seats, securing a combined strength of 118 seats, while 114 members’ support was required to elect the Mayor. The Mayor post was reserved for women from the general category. Ritu Tawde, a Ward 132 member and former Chairperson of the BMC Education Committee, filed her nomination on the 7th and was declared elected unopposed on the 11th in a special meeting chaired by BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani. Sanjay Shankar Kadhe of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), a Ward 5 member, became the Deputy Mayor and is expected to hold the post for 15 months under a rotational arrangement. The BMC, considered the largest and richest municipal corporation in India, has a 2025–26 budget of ₹74,450 crore. This marks the first time since 1997 that a person not belonging to Shiv Sena has held the Mayor’s post, as the party had continuously occupied the position from 1997 to 2022. The last BMC election was held in 2017, and the 2022 election was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and court cases, during which the corporation was administered by the Commissioner. Previously, Prabhakar Pai of BJP served as Mumbai Mayor from 1982 to 1983, and Ritu Tawde becomes the second BJP Mayor of Mumbai and the first BJP woman Mayor of the city.

Environment News

World’s Longest Snake Recognised by Guinness World Records

A Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus) was discovered in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and has been recognised by the Guinness World Records as the longest measured snake in the world. The snake measured 7.22 metres (23 feet 8 inches) in length. It has been given the nickname “Ibu Baron” or “The Baroness”. The Reticulated Python, native to Southeast Asia, is identified as the world’s longest snake species.

Economy News

RBI Draft Guidelines on Mis-selling and Responsible Business Conduct

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued draft guidelines under the “Commercial Banks – Responsible Business Conduct (Amendment) Directions, 2026”, aimed at preventing mis-selling and compulsory bundling of financial products. The guidelines will come into effect from July 1. Banks must obtain customer feedback within 30 days of sale to ensure that customers understand the financial product purchased. If mis-selling is established, banks are required to refund the entire amount paid by the customer and provide compensation for any loss incurred. Before selling a product, banks must assess its suitability based on the customer’s age, income, financial literacy and risk tolerance. The use of “dark patterns”, such as fake countdown timers or adding services without customer consent, is prohibited. Banks must ensure that their employees and Direct Selling Agents (DSA) do not force the sale of products. Representatives selling third-party products within bank premises must be clearly distinguished from bank staff, and banks must frame a Code of Conduct for marketing and sales. From April 1, banks are permitted to act as insurance brokers, subject to ensuring that Third-Party Product and Service Providers (TPPSP) have proper customer grievance redressal mechanisms.

SBI Becomes India’s 4th Most Valued Company

The State Bank of India (SBI) became the fourth most valued company in India in terms of market capitalisation, surpassing Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). At the close of trading on Wednesday, SBI’s market capitalisation stood at ₹10.91 lakh crore, exceeding TCS’s ₹10.53 lakh crore. SBI shares closed at ₹1,183, marking a 3.45% increase, and the bank emerged as the most valued Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in India. On February 7, SBI reported an all-time high net profit of ₹21,028.15 crore, reflecting a 24.5% year-on-year growth. During the quarter, the bank’s Gross NPA ratio declined to 1.57%, and the Net NPA ratio reduced to 0.39%. Currently, the most valued companies in India are Reliance Industries (₹19.88 lakh crore), HDFC Bank (₹14.26 lakh crore), Bharti Airtel (₹11.47 lakh crore), and TCS (₹10.53 lakh crore).

R Vijay Anandh Appointed as MD & CEO of City Union Bank

R. Vijay Anandh, currently serving as the Executive Director of City Union Bank (CUB), has been appointed as the next Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank. The appointment received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday and is subject to the approval of the shareholders. His annual remuneration has been fixed at ₹2.5 crore. He has over 28 years of experience in areas such as banking, Risk Management, Portfolio Analysis, Credit Appraisal, and retail banking operations.

IOB Celebrates 90th Foundation Day with CSR Initiatives

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), a leading Public Sector Bank of India, celebrated the commencement of its 90th Foundation Day in Chennai on February 11. The event was inaugurated by the bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ajay Kumar Srivastava, who paid tribute to the founder M.Ct.M. Chidambaram Chettyar. The celebration was attended by Executive Directors Joydeep Dutta Roy and S. Dhanaraj, and Chief Vigilance Officer Rajiv Kumar. On the occasion, several welfare measures were announced under the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Financial support was extended to the Akshaya Patra Foundation to provide breakfast to 7,584 students from 43 Government Schools in Chennai. Hygiene products were distributed to 10,000 families, including 4,000 girl children across five areas in Chennai. Additionally, 23 persons with disabilities were provided with wheelchairs and tricycles to support their livelihood.

Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Brahmi Inscriptions Discovered in Egypt

Around 30 inscriptions in Tamil Brahmi, Prakrit and Sanskrit have been identified in the Valley of the Kings at the Theban Necropolis in Egypt, dating to the 1st to 3rd centuries CE. The discovery was made during research conducted in 2024 and 2025 by Charlotte Schmid, Professor at the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO), Paris, and Ingo Strauch, Professor at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. The inscriptions were documented across six tombs and are found alongside larger bodies of Greek graffiti. The study follows earlier work by French scholar Jules Baillet, who surveyed the Valley of the Kings in 1926 and published over 2,000 Greek graffiti marks. The findings were presented in a paper titled “From the Valley of the Kings to India: Indian Inscriptions in Egypt” at the International Conference on Tamil Epigraphy. The inscriptions indicate the presence of individuals from the north-western, western and southern regions of the Indian subcontinent, with the majority belonging to the southern region, identified with ancient Tamilagam, highlighting early trade links between Tamilagam, other parts of India and the Roman Empire.

Tamil Nadu Partners with UNICEF and OECD for State Innovation Policy

The Government of Tamil Nadu, through the State Planning Commission (SPC), has partnered with the UNICEF Office of Innovation and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to develop a State-level Public Sector Innovation Policy, create innovation frameworks, establish a State Innovation Index, and implement monitoring, evaluation and capacity-building systems across government departments. Sectoral working groups comprising domain experts and representatives of reputed institutions have been constituted for policy formulation and time-bound implementation. The collaboration was formalised on January 5 in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin through an exchange of letters, with technical support from the OECD’s Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (Paris). A delegation led by SPC Executive Vice Chairman J. Jeyaranjan visited the OECD Headquarters in Paris on January 21 and 22 for consultations with senior officials and experts. The SPC delegation also participated in the UNICEF COMPASS Programme at the UNICEF Innovation Office in Stockholm on January 26 and 27, along with representatives from more than 15 countries. With this initiative, Tamil Nadu became the first sub-national government globally to enter into such a strategic partnership to mainstream innovation in governance.

International News

Cyclone Gesane Hits Madagasca

A severe cyclone named Gesane made landfall near the port city of Toamasina in Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, on February 11, resulting in the death of 20 people. According to the country’s Disaster Management Agency, 15 persons are missing and more than 33 people were injured. The cyclone crossed the coast with wind speeds of 195 km per hour, causing damage to about 75% of the infrastructure in Toamasina, which has a population of around 4 lakh people. More than 2,700 people were accommodated in relief camps as a precautionary measure. A red alert was issued for several regions including the capital Antananarivo due to the possibility of landslides and flash floods. Earlier, on January 31, another cyclone named Faitia had struck Madagascar, causing the death of 14 people. Following the recent cyclone, the United Nations (UN) allocated an emergency relief fund of 3 million US dollars for rescue and relief operations.

Amendments in India–US Trade Agreement by Trump Administration

The Trump Administration in the United States has made key amendments to the ongoing India–US Trade Agreement negotiations. Earlier, the United States had imposed a 50% import duty on Indian goods, which has now been reduced to 18%, as announced by President Donald Trump. As part of the agreement discussions, India had indicated plans to procure goods worth $500 billion over five years from the United States. The initial draft mentioned procurement of energy products, telecommunications technology products, agricultural products, coal, and services. However, in the revised version released by the White House, the reference to agricultural products has been removed, and the term ‘assured’ has been replaced with ‘intended’. The earlier draft also included references to pulses and American agricultural products, especially in the context of India’s 30% import duty on US pulses, but these references were omitted in the amended version. The agreement is expected to be finalized and signed by mid-March after completion of discussions.

Sports News

Anish Bhanwala Wins Bronze at Asian Shooting Championship

At the Asian Shooting Championship held in New Delhi on February 11, India’s Anish Bhanwala won a bronze medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (Men’s Individual) event by securing 23 points and finishing third. Dai Yoshioka of Japan won gold with 31 points, while Nikita Chiryukin of Kazakhstan secured silver with 28 points. Another Indian shooter, Adarsh Singh, finished sixth with 11 points. In the junior category of the same event, Suraj Sharma won silver with 23 points, and Mukesh Nelavalli won bronze with 19 points, while Muhamad Faza of Indonesia secured gold with 29 points. In the team event, the Indian team comprising Suraj, Sahil, and Mukesh won gold with 1,729 points, and Kazakhstan won silver. In the 50m Rifle Prone (Junior Men) event, Adriyan Karmakar won gold with 621.7 points, while Oleg Noskov and Tamerlan Kabulov of Kazakhstan won silver and bronze respectively. In the team category of the same event, the Indian team of Adriyan, Rohit Kanyan, and Hemant Barman won silver with 1,847.6 points, while Kazakhstan won gold with 1,848.7 points. As of Wednesday’s conclusion, India topped the medal tally with 38 gold, 17 silver, and 16 bronze medals, totaling 71 medals.