INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India–France Ties Elevated to Special Global Strategic Partnership
• India and France have upgraded their bilateral ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership,” broadening the scope of cooperation across multiple sectors.
• The decision was taken during talks between Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron, who is on an official visit to India from 17 to 19 February.
• The upgraded framework strengthens collaboration in defence and security, essential minerals, resilient supply chains, and advanced technologies.
• Climate action and clean energy partnerships form a key pillar of the enhanced engagement, reflecting shared sustainability goals.
• The expanded agenda also covers health, education, innovation, and economic security to deepen long-term strategic alignment.
• During the visit, the leaders jointly launched the 2026 India–France Year of Innovation, reinforcing cooperation in emerging technologies and research.
• The new framework builds upon the Strategic Partnership established on 26 January 1998—India’s first such partnership with a Western country and France’s first outside the European Union.
• It also advances the Horizon 2047 Roadmap adopted in 2023, marking 25 years of strategic relations and outlining future cooperation priorities.
• Both countries agreed to institutionalise an annual Comprehensive Dialogue between their Foreign Ministers to ensure sustained high-level engagement.
• Bilateral ties have steadily expanded in defence, civil nuclear energy, and space cooperation, highlighted by reciprocal honours—PM Modi attending France’s National Day in 2023 and President Macron being Chief Guest at India’s 75th Republic Day in 2024, alongside joint leadership at global AI summits.
NATIONAL NEWS
India’s First Private H125 Helicopter Assembly Line Launched in Kolar
• Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated India’s first private-sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the Airbus H125 at Vemagal in Kolar district.
• The 17-acre facility has been established by Tata Advanced Systems Limited in collaboration with Airbus.
• The first indigenously assembled H125 helicopter is scheduled for delivery in early 2027, targeting both domestic and South Asian markets.
• The project, involving an investment of over ₹1,000 crore, is expected to generate substantial employment and strengthen private participation in defence manufacturing.
• The plant will initially roll out 10 helicopters per year, with a long-term plan to produce up to 500 light helicopters over the next 20 years.
• The facility will integrate major components such as avionics, engines and hydraulic systems, along with a dedicated Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) unit.
• This marks the second major aerospace collaboration between TASL and Airbus after the C295 aircraft manufacturing programme.
• Widely used for emergency medical services, disaster response, policing and regional air connectivity under the UDAN, the H125 project positions India as a growing rotary-wing manufacturing hub in South Asia.
NHAI Launches ‘Bee Corridors’ Along National Highways
• The National Highways Authority of India has introduced Bee Corridors along National Highways, shifting from decorative plantations to ecology-focused green belts.
• The initiative is designed to support honeybees and other pollinators, addressing ecological stress that affects agriculture, biodiversity and food security.
• These corridors will feature continuous stretches of nectar- and pollen-rich vegetation with staggered flowering cycles to ensure year-round blooms.
• Since pollinators aid reproduction in over 75% of global flowering plants and nearly one-third of food crops, the project strengthens ecosystem resilience.
• Native species such as Neem and Palash, along with Mahua, Jamun and others, will be prioritised to create diverse habitats.
• The plan includes retaining flowering weeds, hollow trunks and deadwood to provide nesting and breeding spaces for bees and insects.
• Flowering clusters will be planted every 500 metres to 1 kilometre, matching the typical foraging range of honeybees and wild bees.
• For 2026–27, NHAI aims to plant 40 lakh trees, with nearly 60% under the Bee Corridor initiative, establishing at least three dedicated pollinator corridors to align highway development with environmental sustainability.
SPORTS
Paras Dogra Becomes Second Player to Cross 10,000 Ranji Trophy Runs
• Paras Dogra has become only the second batter in Ranji Trophy history to score over 10,000 runs.
• He achieved the landmark during the 2025–26 season in the second semi-final against the Bengal cricket team at Kalyani.
• The milestone was reached when he completed his 11th run in the innings, taking his tally past the five-figure mark.
• Dogra began his first-class career in the 2001–02 season and represented the Himachal Pradesh cricket team for more than a decade before joining the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team in 2024, which he now leads.
• Over 151 first-class matches, he has amassed more than 10,000 runs at an impressive average of 48.15.
• His record includes 34 centuries and 35 half-centuries, underlining his consistency in domestic cricket.
• Wasim Jaffer was the first cricketer to cross the 10,000-run mark in Ranji Trophy history.
• Dogra currently stands as the only active player among the top ten highest run-scorers in the tournament’s history.
DEFENCE
Indian Navy Launches First Indigenous Cadet Training Ship ‘Krishna’
• The first indigenous Cadet Training Ship for the Indian Navy was launched at the L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai.
• The vessel is the first of three training ships being constructed by Larsen & Toubro for naval cadet instruction.
• The launch ceremony was attended by Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff.
• The ship was formally named and launched by Anupama, President of the Defence Wives Welfare Association, following maritime traditions.
• The vessel has been christened ‘Krishna’ after the Krishna River, the third longest river in India.
• The contract for building three such ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and L&T Shipyard on 7 March 2023.
• Its core role is to provide foundational sea training to naval cadets, strengthening India’s maritime training infrastructure.
• In addition to training, the ship is designed for multi-role operations, including hospital support, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO), and search and rescue missions.
