Source: TOI Why in news? India and the United States concluded a landmark bilateral trade deal in February 2026, sharply reducing tariffs and ending a phase of intense trade friction. The agreement was jointly announced by Donald Trump and the Prime Minister of India, signalling a strategic economic reset. What is the India–USA Trade Deal 2026? Key Features of the Deal 1. Tariff Rationalisation 2. Removal of Punitive Duties 3. Energy & Commodity Pivot 4. Reciprocal Market Access 5. Sectoral Safeguards 6. Technology & Nuclear Cooperation

Source: TH Why in news? Denotified Tribes (DNTs), Nomadic Tribes (NTs) and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs) across India have demanded a separate column in the 2027 caste Census and constitutional recognition through a distinct Schedule, arguing that they are politically and administratively misclassified within existing SC, ST and OBC categories. Who are Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes? Key Demands

Source: PIB Why in news? The SabhaSaar Initiative has seen rapid adoption, with over 1.11 lakh Gram Panchayats using the AI-enabled platform for automated summarisation of Gram Sabha meetings as of January 2026, marking a major milestone in digital local governance. What is the SabhaSaar Initiative? SabhaSaar is an AI-powered voice-to-text and meeting summarisation platform that automatically generates structured Minutes of Meetings (MoM) from Gram Sabha and Panchayat meeting recordings. Institutional Framework Objective

Source: IE Why in news? India has released its first-ever national guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) to address long-standing gaps in the identification of victims in mass fatality disasters, ensuring scientific accuracy, legal certainty, and humane treatment of families. What is Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)? Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) is a scientific, structured and multidisciplinary process used to identify deceased persons in mass fatality incidents, such as: The process culminates in the dignified and lawful handover of remains to families. Institutions Involved Aims of the DVI Guidelines

Source: ET Why in news? The International Space Station (ISS) is slated for controlled de-orbiting around 2030, marking the planned end of the longest continuous human presence in low Earth orbit (LEO) and a transition toward commercially operated space stations. What is the ISS? Who Operates the ISS? A five-agency international partnership: Governance model: Shared responsibilities—each partner maintains the hardware it provides; operations rely on tight interdependence. Aims & Roles Key Features

Source: PIB Why in news? A tripartite agreement has been signed between the Government of India, the Government of Nagaland, and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) to establish the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA)—granting enhanced autonomy to six eastern districts of Nagaland. What is the FNTA? Districts Covered Aims of the Agreement Key Features 1) Creation of FNTA 2) Devolution of Powers 3) Financial Autonomy 4) Administrative Structure

Source: News on Air Why in news? India has joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) to strengthen cooperation in manufacturing, MSME development, and Industry 4.0 adoption across BRICS and BRICS Plus countries.The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as India’s nodal agency for engagement with BCIC. What is the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC)? Established: 2024–25Launched at: Headquarters of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)Institutional framework: Supported under the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) Objectives of BCIC

Source: News on Air Why in news? Bharat Taxi, a government-backed, cooperative-run ride-hailing platform, was formally launched on February 5, 2026 by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, positioning itself as a driver-owned alternative to private aggregators like Uber and Rapido. What is Bharat Taxi?