Daily Current Affairs- 27th February 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 27th February 2026

Pakyong Airport to Be Renamed After Freedom Fighter Trilochan Pokhrel

In the News: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced that Pakyong Airport — the only airport in Sikkim — will be renamed Trilochan Pokhrel Airport, honouring the state's first freedom activist, popularly known as "Gandhi Pokhrel." The announcement was made during the 31st Foundation Day celebration of the Akhil Sikkim Khas Chettri Bahun Kalyan Sangh at Rangpo.

Key Points:

• Who Was Trilochan Pokhrel? Known as "Gandhi Pokhrel," he is considered Sikkim's first independence activist, belonging to the Khas, Chettri, Bahun community. He actively participated in three major Gandhian movements — the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22), the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34), and the Quit India Movement (1942).
• About Pakyong Airport: Located approximately 30 km from Gangtok, it is the only airport in Sikkim. It was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on September 24, 2018, as a strategic project to boost connectivity in the Himalayan region, improving tourism, trade, and regional accessibility.
• Significance of Renaming: The renaming symbolises recognition of Sikkim's contribution to India's independence movement and honours a leader who represented courage, unity, and national pride. It also reflects Sikkim's commitment to preserving its historical legacy and celebrating local heroes.
• Announcement Platform: CM Tamang made the announcement at the 31st Foundation Day of the Akhil Sikkim Khas Chettri Bahun Kalyan Sangh — an organisation recognised for preserving cultural heritage, promoting unity, and strengthening social harmony in Sikkim.
• Sikkim's Historical Context: Sikkim became the 22nd state of India in 1975 after a referendum. Despite being a small Himalayan state, freedom fighters like Trilochan Pokhrel helped connect Sikkim's people to the broader Indian independence movement, making this recognition historically significant.
• Other Highlights: MP Raju Bista (Darjeeling) noted that 12 communities in Sikkim and 11 in West Bengal are yet to receive Scheduled Tribe recognition, and the matter is in its "final stages" with the Centre. Social worker Kipu Tshering Lepcha was conferred with the Sikkim Gaurav Samman award during the event.

Kejriwal, Sisodia were acquitted in the CBI case. Now what happens to the ED case?

In the News: A Delhi Special Court discharged AAP chief and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the CBI's Delhi Liquor Policy Scam case. The 598-page order called the CBI probe a "pre-meditated and choreographed exercise" and raised questions about the fate of the linked ED money laundering case

Key Points:

• Court's Verdict: Special Judge Jitendra Singh of Rouse Avenue Court discharged all 23 accused, observing that the case relied on hearsay evidence, had major procedural lapses, and violated constitutional principles. The court also ordered a departmental inquiry against the "erring investigating officer" for framing charges without material evidence.
• Background of the Case: The case originated from a complaint by Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena alleging irregularities in Delhi's 2020 Excise Policy — including undue favours to licence holders, waiving of fees, and diversion of illegal gains. The CBI filed the initial FIR, and the ED later booked the accused on money laundering charges.
• CBI's Next Step: CBI has announced it will immediately appeal the judgment in the High Court, stating several aspects of its investigation were ignored or inadequately considered.
• Impact on ED Case — The Legal Principle: Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, an ED case must be anchored to a predicate (underlying) offence. While ED can begin inquiry even before conviction in the predicate case, it cannot sustain its case once the accused is discharged or acquitted.
• Landmark Ruling — Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary v. Union of India (2022): The Supreme Court held that ED cannot prosecute anyone on the assumption that a scheduled offence was committed. It also stated that "if the person is finally discharged/acquitted of the scheduled offence… there can be no offence of money-laundering against him."
• What Happens to the ED Case: Unless the trial court's discharge order is stayed by the High Court (which is uncommon), the ED money laundering case against Kejriwal, Sisodia, and others cannot legally continue, as the predicate offence — the CBI case — has collapsed.

India-Israel Strategic Partnership: UPI Launch & Free Trade Agreement 2026

In the News: During PM Narendra Modi's second state visit to Israel in February 2026, India and Israel officially elevated their bilateral ties to a 'Special Strategic Partnership', backed by 16 landmark agreements spanning Fintech, Defence, Trade, AI, and Green Energy. This is Modi's second state visit to Israel in nine years.

Key Points:

• Partnership Upgrade: Following delegation-level talks between PM Modi and PM Benjamin Netanyahu, India and Israel upgraded their relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership, with Modi describing it as "time-tested" and rooted in shared democratic values and deep trust.
• UPI in Israel: NPCI International (NIPL) signed an agreement with MASAV (Israel's central payment processor) to roll out UPI in Israel — enabling Indian tourists and professionals to make merchant payments and cross-border remittances. Israel joins Singapore, UAE, France, and Sri Lanka in adopting India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
• Free Trade Agreement (FTA): The first comprehensive round of FTA negotiations concluded on February 26, 2026. Current bilateral merchandise trade stands at $3.62 billion (FY 2024-25), with both sides working toward a mutually beneficial trade deal.
• Emerging Technologies: Both nations signed joint declarations on Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and Critical Minerals (for EV battery supply chains), launching a new India-Israel partnership on critical and emerging technologies.
• Energy & Cybersecurity: New frameworks established for cooperation in Civil Nuclear Energy, maritime heritage protection, agriculture, and cybersecurity.
• Gaza & Regional Peace: Modi reaffirmed India's support for the Gaza Peace Plan, stating "humanity must never become a victim of conflict." India is also implementing $170 million in development projects for the Palestinian community, with an additional $40 million in education and healthcare initiatives planned.
• Regional Frameworks Reviewed: Leaders reviewed progress on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and cooperation under the I2U2 framework (India, Israel, UAE, USA).

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq: Pakistan Declares ‘Open War’ After Strikes on Afghanistan

In the News: Pakistan declared "open war" on Afghanistan on February 27, 2026, launching Operation Ghazab Lil Haq ("Wrath for Justice") — a large-scale military offensive involving coordinated air and ground strikes targeting Taliban infrastructure across major Afghan cities and provinces.

Key Points:

• Trigger: Taliban forces allegedly opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani border positions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur sectors, prompting Pakistan's military response.
• Operation Ghazab Lil Haq: Pakistan launched precision airstrikes and ground operations targeting Taliban military infrastructure in Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar, and Paktia — including ammunition depots, brigade and corps headquarters, and logistics bases.
• Casualties Claimed (Pakistan's figures): 133 Afghan Taliban fighters killed, over 200 wounded, 27 Taliban posts destroyed, and 9 captured. Two Pakistani security personnel were also killed.
• Afghanistan's Counter-Claims: The Taliban-led government claimed it killed 55 Pakistani soldiers, captured 19 Pakistani military posts, and seized a major headquarters at Anzar Sar in Khost province. These claims could not be independently verified.
• Pakistan's Justification: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused Afghanistan of sheltering militant groups — including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — and allowing terrorism to be exported from Afghan soil. PM Shehbaz Sharif backed the military's actions, stating Pakistan's forces have full capability to counter any aggression.
• Historical Context: Tensions stem from longstanding disputes over the Durand Line — the 19th-century border demarcation disputed by Kabul — and have intensified since NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Google Launches Nano Banana 2 Powered by Gemini 3.1 Flash Image

In the News: Google has launched Nano Banana 2, the latest version of its AI-powered image generation and editing tool, powered by the Gemini 3.1 Flash Image model. It combines faster generation speeds with improved reasoning, better text rendering, and stronger visual quality.

Key Points:

• Background: The original Nano Banana launched in August 2025 for image creation and editing, followed by Nano Banana Pro in November 2025, focused on deeper reasoning and creative control. Nano Banana 2 merges the strengths of both versions.
• Faster Generation: Built on Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, the model delivers significantly faster rendering speeds while maintaining strong visual accuracy and photorealistic quality.
• Advanced World Knowledge: Uses Gemini's knowledge base alongside real-time web search data to better represent specific subjects — enabling users to create infographics, convert notes into diagrams, and generate data visualisations.
• Improved Text Rendering & Translation: Generates clearer, more accurate text within images (useful for marketing mockups, greeting cards, posters) and can translate and localise text directly inside an image.
• Subject Consistency: Maintains resemblance for up to five characters and preserves up to 14 objects in a single workflow — ideal for storyboards and multi-scene projects.
• Availability: Rolling out across the Gemini app, Google Search (AI Mode & Lens), AI Studio, Gemini API, Vertex AI, Flow, and Google Ads. Pro subscribers retain access to Nano Banana Pro for high-fidelity tasks.
• Nano Banana 2 vs Pro: Nano Banana 2 prioritises speed and instruction-following for fast creative workflows, while Nano Banana Pro remains available for enterprise-level, high-accuracy image tasks.