Short notes on Current Affairs 08.02.2026

Official Visit of Indian Prime Minister to Malaysia

Key Outcomes

1. Political & Parliamentary Cooperation

• Reaffirmed commitment to sustained high-level dialogue.
• Strengthened platforms such as Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) and Joint Commission Meetings (JCM).
• Encouraged enhanced parliamentary exchanges following recent bilateral visits.

2. Trade & Investment

• Emphasized optimal use and review of MICECA and AITIGA agreements.
• Priority sectors: semiconductors, renewable energy, AI, fintech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, startups.
• Welcomed the 10th India–Malaysia CEO Forum in Kuala Lumpur.
• Promoted local currency trade settlement (Indian Rupee–Malaysian Ringgit).

3. Digital & Financial Cooperation

• Formalised the Malaysia–India Digital Council (MIDC).
• Welcomed payment linkage collaboration between NPCI International Limited and PayNet Malaysia.
• Cooperation areas: fintech, DPI, AI, cybersecurity, e-governance.

4. Energy & Semiconductors

• Expanded renewable energy cooperation, including solar and green hydrogen.
• Malaysia acknowledged India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance.
• Strengthened semiconductor value chain collaboration, workforce development, and institutional linkages.

5. Defence & Security

• Reviewed progress under Malaysia–India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM).
• Continued joint exercises such as “Harimau Shakti”.
• Strengthened maritime cooperation and counter-terrorism collaboration.
• Condemned terrorism in all forms and committed to cooperation at the UN and FATF.

6. Food Security & Palm Oil

• Agreed to enhance cooperation in staple commodities.
• Malaysia reaffirmed commitment as a reliable sustainable palm oil supplier.
• Collaboration in palm oil value chain development and structured engagement on market access.

7. Education & Skills

• Promoted student exchanges under MTCP and ITEC.
• Invited Malaysian students under India’s “Study in India” programme.
• Expanded cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
• Operationalization of Thiruvalluvar Chair at Universiti Malaya.

8. Healthcare

• Expanded cooperation in affordable healthcare, traditional medicine, and regulatory frameworks.
• Welcomed MoU between India’s Central Council for Research in Homeopathy and University of Cyberjaya.

9. Sustainable Development & Disaster Management

• Malaysia ratified the Framework Agreement on the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA).
• Strengthened disaster management cooperation.
• Committed to biodiversity protection and climate resilience initiatives.

10. Regional & Multilateral Cooperation

• Malaysia welcomed India’s 2026 BRICS Chairmanship.
• India appreciated Malaysia’s support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UNSC.
• Reaffirmed support for ASEAN Centrality and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
• Emphasized peaceful resolution of disputes under UNCLOS 1982.

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Lokayan 26

Lokayan 26 is the ten-month trans-oceanic voyage undertaken by the Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini in 2026. The mission is designed to showcase India’s rich maritime heritage, strengthen international maritime cooperation, and promote the civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — “The World is One Family.”

Key Features of Lokayan 26:

• Platform: INS Sudarshini (three-masted barque and sail training ship).
• Duration: Approximately ten months.
• Nature of Voyage: Trans-oceanic, covering multiple international ports.
• Objectives:
  • Promote India’s maritime legacy and traditional seafaring skills.
  • Strengthen naval diplomacy and bilateral maritime partnerships.
  • Enhance people-to-people connect through ship visits and outreach events.
  • Project India’s soft power and goodwill globally.
• Engagement Activities:
  • Professional interactions with foreign navies.
  • Hosting dignitaries and naval officers onboard.
  • Opening the ship to public visitors, including students.
  • Cultural exchanges at various ports of call.

Lokayan 26 reflects India’s commitment to maritime excellence, friendship among nations, and the strengthening of global partnerships through naval diplomacy.

Overview of Voyage

• Milestone Achievement:
  • First port call of Lokayan 26 successfully completed at Salalah, Oman.
  • Marks progress in the ambitious ten-month global voyage.
• Diplomatic & Naval Engagements:
  • Commanding Officer interacted with:
    • Captain Mohammad Al Ghailani, Southern Naval Area Commander, Royal Navy of Oman.
    • Captain Mohammad Al Mahari, Commanding Officer of RNO Vessel Al Moazer.
  • Discussions focused on historic India–Oman maritime linkages.
  • Reinforced “Bridges of Friendship” and bilateral naval cooperation.
  • Hosted Royal Navy of Oman officers onboard for a professional guided tour.
• People-to-People Outreach:
  • Ship opened to the public during the port visit.
  • Over 600 visitors, including schoolchildren, toured the vessel.
  • Visitors experienced firsthand the functioning of a traditional three-masted barque.
  • Awareness generated about ocean sailing traditions and India’s seafaring legacy.
• Way Ahead:
  • INS Sudarshini proceeds to the next leg of Lokayan 26.
  • Continues to serve as a symbol of maritime excellence, cultural outreach, and international goodwill.
  • Carries forward India’s timeless maritime traditions across the oceans.

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Seven Chakras of India–AI Impact Summit 2026

India–AI Impact Summit 2026

India stands at a transformative juncture in its development journey, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerging as a strategic enabler of inclusive growth, technological democratisation, and equitable access. As India’s engagement in global technology governance expands, the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled in New Delhi from 16–20 February 2026, marks a significant milestone. It will be the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, positioning India as a leading voice in shaping responsible and development-oriented AI frameworks.

The Summit aims to translate AI potential into measurable outcomes aligned with the vision of “Welfare for All, Happiness of All” and the global principle of “AI for Humanity.” It brings together Heads of Government, ministers, CEOs, policymakers, innovators, and researchers from over 100 countries to advance collaborative and actionable AI pathways.

Core Framework: The Three Sutras

The Summit is anchored in three guiding pillars:

• People: Human-centric AI that safeguards rights, enhances trust, ensures accessibility, and delivers equitable societal benefits.
• Planet: Environmentally sustainable AI systems promoting energy efficiency, responsible resource use, and climate resilience.
• Progress: Inclusive economic advancement through innovation, skilling, productivity enhancement, and development-driven AI deployment.

The Seven Chakras (Thematic Working Groups)

The deliberations are structured into seven interconnected Chakras translating principles into action:

1. Human Capital

• Equitable AI skilling and workforce transition strategies.
• Strengthening AI research and higher education ecosystems.
• India ranks among global leaders in AI talent growth (Stanford AI Index 2025).
• IndiaAI FutureSkills supports:
  • 500 PhD scholars
  • 5,000 postgraduates
  • 8,000 undergraduates
• Collaboration with Station F (Paris) and HEC Paris under the IndiaAI Startups Global Initiative.

2. Inclusion for Social Empowerment

• Inclusive-by-design AI systems reflecting linguistic and regional diversity.
• AI integrated into Digital Public Infrastructure.
• Key initiatives:
  • BHASHINI: Supports 36+ text and 22+ voice languages with 350+ AI models.
  • Kisan e-Mitra: Voice-based AI chatbot assisting farmers in 11 languages.
  • Proposed Bharat-VISTAAR (Union Budget 2026–27): AI-enabled agricultural advisory integration.
• AI for informal workforce inclusion (490 million workers highlighted by NITI Aayog).

3. Safe and Trusted AI

• 13 Responsible AI projects focusing on bias mitigation, transparency, and accountability.
• Establishment of IndiaAI Safety Institute.
• Proposed AI Governance Group (AIGG) and Technology & Policy Expert Committee (TPEC).
• Mission Digital ShramSetu for inclusive AI access.

4. Resilience, Innovation & Efficiency

• Energy-efficient, climate-conscious AI systems.
• Data infrastructure projected to grow from 960 MW to 9.2 GW by 2030.
• India: Second-largest contributor to public generative AI projects on GitHub (2024).
• Major investments:
  • Microsoft: ₹1.5 lakh crore (AI & data centres)
  • Amazon: ₹2.9 lakh crore (cloud & AI digitisation)
  • Google: ₹1.25 lakh crore (1 GW AI hub in Vizag)

5. Science

• AI-enabled scientific research across health, agriculture, climate.
• India: 6th largest patent filer globally; GII rank improved from 81 to 38.
• ANRF allocating ₹50,000 crore (2023–28).
• IMD using hybrid AI forecasting models and MausamGPT.
• STELLAR tool (Central Electricity Authority) for energy planning.

6. Democratising AI Resources

• Sovereign AI compute cluster with 3,000 next-gen GPUs.
• IndiaAI Kosh (AIKosh): 7,400+ datasets, 273 AI models across 20 sectors.
• 570 AI Data Labs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• National Supercomputing Mission: 40+ petaflops machines deployed.
• AIRAWAT supercomputer integrated with PARAM Siddhi-AI.
• IndiaAI Compute Portal: Access to 38,000+ GPUs and 1,050 TPUs at subsidised rates (< ₹100/hour).

7. AI for Economic Growth & Social Good

• Agriculture: 30–50% productivity gains in select deployments.
• Healthcare: AI-driven early detection (TB, cancer, neurological disorders).
• Education: AI integration under NEP 2020 via CBSE, DIKSHA, YUVAi.
• Justice: AI-enabled e-Courts Phase III for translation and case management.
• AI tech sector revenue projected at US$ 280 billion (2025).
• Startup ecosystem: 1.8 lakh startups; ~89% of 2024 startups integrated AI.

Strategic Significance

• 15–20 Heads of Government, 50+ ministers, 40+ CEOs expected.
• Over 100 countries engaged through Working Groups.
• Positions India as:
  • A convenor of global AI dialogue.
  • A norm-shaper in responsible AI governance.
  • A development-focused AI leader from the Global South.

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Birth of Five Cheetah Cubs at Kuno National Park

Birth of Five Cheetah Cubs at Kuno National Park

• Five cheetah cubs were born to Aasha, a Namibian cheetah, at Kuno National Park (KNP).
• The birth was announced by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on February 7, 2026.
• All five cubs are reported to be healthy and under observation by forest officials.

Current Cheetah Population in India

• India’s total cheetah population now stands at 35.
• This includes:
  • 24 Indian-born cubs
  • 11 translocated adult cheetahs
• The increase reflects ongoing progress in India’s cheetah reintroduction efforts.

Significance of the Development

• The birth of five cubs signals:
  • Successful adaptation of translocated cheetahs to Indian conditions.
  • Improvement in habitat management and conservation practices at Kuno.
  • Strengthening of India’s long-term plan to establish a viable cheetah population.
• Aasha’s successful breeding contributes to:
  • Genetic diversification of the reintroduced population.
  • Natural population growth rather than sole reliance on translocation.

Monitoring and Conservation Approach

• Officials, including Kuno Field Director and Project Cheetah Director Uttam Kumar Sharma, confirmed that:
  • The cubs are being monitored from a distance.
  • Minimal human interference is being maintained to ensure natural behaviour.
• This reflects adaptive wildlife management practices under Project Cheetah.

Broader Conservation Context

• The cheetah reintroduction marks:
  • The return of cheetahs to India after their extinction in 1952.
  • One of the world’s first intercontinental large carnivore translocation projects.
• The steady rise in cub births strengthens the ecological restoration objectives of the programme.

Project Cheetah

Overview

• Project Cheetah is India’s ambitious wildlife conservation initiative aimed at reintroducing cheetahs into the country after their extinction in 1952.
• It marks the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore.
• The project seeks to restore ecological balance and revive grassland ecosystems.

Background

• The Asiatic cheetah became extinct in India in 1952 due to:
  • Overhunting
  • Habitat loss
  • Decline in prey base
• In September 2022, cheetahs were translocated from Namibia to India.
• In February 2023, additional cheetahs were brought from South Africa.

Location

• The primary site of reintroduction is:
  • Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
• Kuno was selected due to:
  • Adequate prey base
  • Suitable grassland and woodland habitat
  • Large protected area with low human density

Objectives

• Establish a viable, free-ranging cheetah population in India.
• Restore grassland and savanna ecosystems.
• Promote biodiversity conservation.
• Create global collaboration in wildlife management.
• Boost eco-tourism and local livelihoods.

Key Features

• Cheetahs are monitored using radio collars and satellite tracking.
• Gradual acclimatisation process: quarantine → boma enclosures → open release.
• Adaptive management strategies are followed based on health and survival data.

Current Status (as per recent update)

• India’s cheetah population stands at 35:
  • 11 translocated adults
  • 24 Indian-born cubs
• Successful births indicate growing adaptation to Indian conditions.

Challenges

• High mortality in early phases.
• Human-wildlife interface concerns.
• Genetic management and long-term sustainability.
• Need for expansion to additional sites.

Significance

Strengthens India’s global image in wildlife conservation diplomacy.

Symbolises India’s commitment to ecological restoration.

Highlights importance of grasslands, often neglected in conservation policy.

Kuno National Park

Kuno National Park is a protected wildlife area in the Sheopur and Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh, India. Encompassing 748.76 sq km within the Vindhyan Hills, it is part of the larger Kuno Wildlife Division and known for being the first Indian site to reintroduce African cheetahs after their extinction in the country. 

Key facts

• Established: 1981 (as sanctuary); upgraded to national park in 2018
• Area: 748.76 sq km (core); 557 sq km buffer
• Location: Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh, India
• Ecoregion: Kathiawar–Gir dry deciduous forests
• Notable species: African cheetah, leopard, nilgai, chinkara, striped hyena

Geography and ecosystem

Situated along the Kuno River, a tributary of the Chambal, the park’s terrain features undulating hills, grasslands, and dry deciduous forests of Kardhai, Khair, and Salai trees. It lies within coordinates 25°30′ to 26°05′ N and 76°58′ to 77°20′ E. The region supports Northern and Southern tropical dry deciduous forests and tropical riverine zones, forming a crucial corridor for large mammals across central India. 

History and conservation role

Originally declared the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary to facilitate the reintroduction of Asiatic lions, the site later became central to India’s Cheetah Reintroduction Project. Between 2022 and 2023, twenty cheetahs were translocated from Namibia and South Africa, marking the species’ return after 70 years. Earlier, 24 villages were relocated outside the park to restore habitat integrity and minimize human–wildlife conflict. 

Wildlife and flora

Kuno hosts diverse fauna including leopards, wolves, jackals, sambar, nilgai, chital, and over 200 bird species. Its mixture of grasslands and riverine vegetation supports a stable prey base of ungulates essential for large carnivores. The park’s flora includes teak, dhok, and bamboo groves that sustain both herbivores and avifauna. 

Tourism and significance

Tourism has surged since the cheetah reintroduction, with over 3,800 visitors recorded in 2024–25, a 19 % rise year-on-year. Accessible via Gwalior and Jaipur, the park offers jeep safaris and eco-lodges promoting sustainable tourism. Kuno stands as a model of habitat restoration and community-inclusive conservation, representing India’s renewed leadership in species recovery and biodiversity protection. 

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Sammakka-Saralamma Maha Jatara

Nature and Significance of the Festival

• The Sammakka-Saralamma Maha Jatara, popularly known as Medaram Jatara, is regarded as Asia’s largest tribal congregation.
• It is a biennial festival held in Medaram village, located within the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary in Mulugu district, Telangana.
• The Jatara is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Koya tribe and honours the forest goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma.
• It commemorates their valour, sacrifice, and resistance, blending tribal history with spiritual devotion.

Growth and Recognition

• Recognised as a State festival in 1998, it has evolved from a modest tribal ritual into one of the world’s largest spiritual gatherings.
• The festival attracts crores of devotees, both tribal and non-tribal.
• Pilgrims come from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and neighbouring regions.
• The transformation of a remote forest village into a massive spiritual hub highlights its socio-cultural and economic impact.

Ritual Sequence and Ceremonial Practices

• The four-day festival begins on Magha Suddha Pournami (full-moon day).
• Rituals begin with the arrival of Saralamma from Kannepally village, carried by Koya tribal priests.
• Her procession crosses the sacred Jampannavagu rivulet before she is installed on her “gadde” (holy platform).
• Prior to this, Pagididdaraju (from Ponugonda) and Govindaraju (from Kondai) are ceremonially installed.
• The spiritual climax occurs with the arrival of Sammakka from Chilakalagutta, symbolised by a vermilion casket.
• A unique ritual involves the District Superintendent of Police ceremonially firing an AK-47 into the air, symbolising the State’s formal welcome to the tribal deity.
• Thousands of devotees participate in ecstatic devotion, dancing and moving in trance-like states to traditional drum beats.

Mythological and Historical Roots

• According to legend, Meda Raju, a local ruler, found an infant girl (Sammakka) in the forest protected by wild animals.
• He adopted her and raised her alongside his daughter Nagulamma.
• Sammakka later married Pagididdaraju, and together with her children Jampanna and Saralamma, is believed to have fought against the Kakatiya dynasty.
• They are said to have been martyred in battle, symbolising resistance against oppression.
• The festival thus represents both spiritual devotion and tribal resistance history.

Cultural and Political Dimensions

• The Jatara reinforces tribal identity, autonomy, and historical memory.
• State recognition and formal participation reflect:
  • Integration of tribal traditions into mainstream cultural narratives.
  • Acknowledgment of indigenous heritage by the government.
• The presence of security forces and large-scale administration demonstrates the logistical scale of the event.

Broader Significance

• The festival represents:
  • One of the largest gatherings centred on tribal deities rather than classical Hindu temple traditions.
  • A powerful example of living indigenous faith systems.
  • Cultural continuity amidst modernization.
• It strengthens social cohesion among tribal communities while attracting national attention.

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