Prelims Current Affairs includes Henley Passport Index 2026, Kamala Hydroelectric Project, Arunachal Pradesh, Tarique Rahman Sworn In As Bangladesh Prime Minister, Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award, Bbc Indian Sportswoman Of The Year 2025, Sahi & Bodh Initiatives At India Ai Summit 2026 , Exercise Milan 2026 – Milan Village Inaugurated & North East’s First Emergency Landing Facility (Elf), Assam,

INDEX

1. HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX 2026

Current Context: India’s passport has improved by 10 positions in the Henley Passport Index 2026 and now ranks 75^th globally.

ABOUT HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX

• Released By: Henley & Partners (global residence and citizenship advisory firm)
• Basis of Ranking:
  • Measures passport strength based on the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa.
  • Includes visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and electronic visa access.
• India’s Ranking in 2026:
  • Global Rank: 75th Position
  • Improvement: Jumped 10 places compared to the previous ranking.
• Travel Access for Indian Passport Holders:
  • Indian citizens can travel to 56 countries without applying for a visa in advance.
  • Access provided through visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or electronic visa facilities.
• Data Source Used in Index: Based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

ECONOMY

2. KAMALA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT, ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Current Context: An expert panel of the Union Environment Ministry has recommended environmental clearance for the 1,720 megawatt Kamala Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh.

ABOUT KAMALA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh. Part of the Subansiri river basin.
• Capacity: Installed capacity of 1,720 megawatt.
• Project Proponent: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited.
• Environmental Impact:
  • Estimated felling of around 23.4 lakh trees.
  • Significant diversion of forest land required.GEOGRHY

APPOINTMENT

3. Tarique Rahman Sworn In as Bangladesh Prime Minister

Current Context : Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 17 February 2026, following a decisive electoral victory that reshaped the country’s political landscape.

• BOUT BANGLADESH
• Location & Boundaries
  • Region: Eastern South Asia
  • Borders: Almost entirely surrounded by India, with a short southeastern border with Myanmar
  • Coastline: Along the Bay of Bengal
• Geographical Features
  • Total Area: 148,460 square kilometres
  • Physiography: Predominantly flat alluvial plains and floodplains
  • River Systems: Formed by the Padma (Ganges), Jamuna (Brahmaputra), and Meghna rivers
  • Distinction: Part of the world’s largest river delta system
• Environmental Characteristics:
  • Extremely fertile soils due to annual sediment deposition
  • Highly vulnerable to floods, cyclones, and sea-level rise
• Political Structure
  • Official Name: People’s Republic of Bangladesh
  • System of Government: Unitary Parliamentary Republic
  • Capital City: Dhaka
  • Major Seaport: Chittagong (Chattogram)

AWARDS

4. Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award

Current Context : Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev launched the Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award during the Mahashivaratri celebrations at the Isha Yoga Center.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Launched By: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
• Purpose: Recognises exceptional contributions to India’s growth and well-being

Fields Covered:

• National security, Business & economy, Arts & culture, Sports, Science & technology, Literature & academia, Community welfare

• Notable Awardees:
  • Rajam – Renowned violinist
  • Kiran Kumar – Former Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation
• Significance:
  • Celebrates national service & excellence
  • Connects cultural heritage with modern achievements

SPORTS

5. BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025

Current Context : Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana won the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025 award at a ceremony held in New Delhi.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Award Winner: Smriti Mandhana
• Recognition Basis: Outstanding performance in 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup
• Key Records & Achievements:
  • Second-highest centuries in Women’s One Day Internationals
  • Third-highest total runs among active women cricketers
  • Fastest 50-over international century by an Indian (50 balls)
• Background:
  • Hails from Sangli, Maharashtra
  • Trained under family guidance
• Emerging Player Award:
  • Divya Deshmukh for FIDE Women’s World Cup victory
• Other Major Winners:
  • Para-Sportswoman: Preethi Pal
  • Lifetime Achievement: Anjali Bhagwat

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

6. SAHI & BODH Initiatives at India AI Summit 2026

Current Context : Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will launch SAHI and BODH at the India AI Summit 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam.

ABOUT SAHI (Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India)

• Nature: National guidance framework
• Objective: Promote safe, ethical, evidence-based AI adoption
• Focus Areas:
  • Governance & data stewardship
  • Validation & monitoring
  • Patient safety & rights
  • Public health alignment

ABOUT BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI)

• Developed By: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur + National Health Authority
• Purpose:
  • Benchmark & evaluate AI models using privacy-preserving real-world health data
• Features:
  • No direct dataset sharing
  • Digital Public Good under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

SIGNIFICANCE

• Strengthens India’s Health Artificial Intelligence ecosystem
• Balances innovation with privacy & safety
• Enhances trust in AI-driven healthcare

DEFENCE

7. Exercise MILAN 2026 – MILAN Village Inaugurated

Current Context : The Indian Navy inaugurated the MILAN Village at Visakhapatnam, marking the commencement of Exercise MILAN 2026.

ABOUT EXERCISE MILAN

• Organised By: Indian Navy
• Location: Visakhapatnam
• Duration: 15 – 25 February 2026
• Participation: 70+ countries
• Theme: Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration

MISCELLANEOUS

8. NORTH EAST’S FIRST EMERGENCY LANDING FACILITY (ELF), ASSAM

Current Context: The Prime Minister inaugurated the first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) of the North East at Dibrugarh, Assam, and conducted a historic landing on a highway airstrip.

ABOUT EMERGENCY LANDING FACILITY (ELF)

• Location: Dibrugarh district, Assam.
• Purpose:
  • Designed to enable emergency landing of Indian Air Force aircraft.
  • Can be used if airbases are damaged or unavailable during conflicts or emergencies.
• Key Feature: Developed on a 2 kilometre stretch of highway.
• Operational Capability: Supports landing of multiple aircraft types including: Fighter aircraft, Transport aircraft, Helicopters
• Strategic Significance:
  • Enhances air operational flexibility in the North Eastern region.
  • Strengthens defence infrastructure near sensitive border areas.

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