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Daily Current Affairs – 24 February 2026 (The Hindu Analysis) UPSC Prelims & Competitive Exams – Detailed Notes

 

📰 Daily Current Affairs – 24 February 2026 (The Hindu Analysis)

UPSC Prelims & Competitive Exams – Detailed Notes

Today’s newspaper covered major issues related to national security, food safety, marine toxins, energy transition, election reforms, and pesticide use. These topics are important for UPSC Prelims, Mains, and interviews.

Let’s understand each topic clearly.

1️⃣ PRHAR – India’s National Counter-Terrorism Policy

India releases PRAHAAR – a national policy to combat terrorism threats across land, air, and sea.


India has introduced a new counter-terrorism strategy called PRHAR. It is a national policy prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs to deal with modern security threats.

Earlier, India had different laws like the UAPA Act and the NIA Act to fight terrorism, but there was no single integrated national strategy. PRHAR aims to fill this gap by creating a coordinated approach among different security agencies.

Why was PRHAR needed?

Terrorism is changing in nature. Today, threats are not limited to traditional attacks. India is facing new challenges such as:

  • Cross-border infiltration

  • Drone-based weapon smuggling

  • Cyber-terrorism attacks on infrastructure

  • Online radicalisation through social media

  • Sleeper cell networks inside the country

  • Maritime terrorism through sea routes

For example, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks showed maritime vulnerability, while recent drone incidents on the Punjab border showed new threats.

Main Objectives of PRHAR

  • Prevent terrorist attacks before they occur

  • Improve coordination among intelligence agencies

  • Strengthen cyber-security systems

  • Protect critical infrastructure like power plants, railways, ports, and defence sites

  • Counter radicalisation through social programs

  • Improve international cooperation

Agencies Involved

PRHAR will involve coordination between:

  • National Investigation Agency (NIA)

  • Intelligence Bureau

  • State Police

  • National Security Guard

  • Coast Guard

  • Armed Forces (if needed)

This multi-agency approach will help faster response and better intelligence sharing.

👉 Exam Point: PRHAR is India’s National Counter-Terrorism Policy launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

2️⃣ Adulterated Milk Deaths – Food Safety Crisis

A serious incident occurred where people died after drinking adulterated milk. This highlights the growing problem of food adulteration in India.

Food adulteration means adding harmful or low-quality substances to food to increase quantity or shelf life for profit.

Common Substances Mixed in Milk

  • Urea

  • Detergent

  • Starch

  • Formalin

  • Synthetic chemicals

These chemicals are dangerous for human health and can damage kidneys, liver, and digestive organs.

Important Medical Term in News – Anuria

The victims showed symptoms of Anuria, which means absence of urine production. This happens when kidneys stop functioning properly and indicates severe kidney failure. Without immediate treatment, it can lead to death.

Related medical terms:

  • Oliguria – Very low urine output

  • Polyuria – Excess urine output

Why Food Adulteration is Dangerous

Adulterated food can cause long-term health problems such as kidney damage, liver disease, cancer risk, and poisoning in children. It also shows weak food monitoring systems.

👉 Exam Point: Anuria means absence of urine and indicates kidney failure.

3️⃣ Tetrodotoxin Poisoning – Marine Food Safety Issue



In Kerala, people fell ill after eating seafood contaminated with Tetrodotoxin, a powerful marine toxin.

Tetrodotoxin is a natural poison found mainly in puffer fish and some other marine species. It is produced by bacteria living inside these fish.

Why Tetrodotoxin is Dangerous

  • It attacks the nervous system.

  • It causes numbness, paralysis, and breathing failure.

  • Even small amounts can kill.

  • Cooking does not destroy it because it is heat-stable.

  • There is no specific antidote.

Some countries like Japan allow puffer fish only if prepared by trained chefs because it is highly poisonous.

Scientific Concept – Bioaccumulation

The toxin builds up in fish bodies over time through the food chain. When humans eat these fish, the toxin enters the body.

👉 Exam Point: Tetrodotoxin is a marine neurotoxin found in puffer fish.

4️⃣ Green Ammonia – India’s Clean Energy Future



India is focusing on Green Ammonia as part of its clean energy transition.

Green ammonia is produced by combining nitrogen from the air with green hydrogen made using renewable electricity. Unlike traditional ammonia, it does not use fossil fuels and produces very low carbon emissions.

Why Green Ammonia is Important

  • Used in fertiliser production

  • Can be used as shipping fuel

  • Helps in power generation

  • Acts as hydrogen storage

  • Supports India’s net-zero emission goal

India is promoting this through the SIGHT programme, implemented by SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India).

Benefits for India

India imports large amounts of fuel and fertiliser. Green ammonia can reduce imports, improve energy security, create jobs, and make India a global clean energy hub.

Challenges

  • High production cost

  • Need for storage technology

  • Infrastructure investment

  • Certification standards

👉 Exam Point: Green Ammonia is made from nitrogen and green hydrogen.

5️⃣ Independence of Election Commission

A debate is going on about the independence of India’s Election Commission.

The Election Commission is created under Article 324 of the Constitution and is responsible for conducting free and fair elections in India.

Free and fair elections are part of the Constitution’s basic structure, as declared in the Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain case (1975).

Why Independence Matters

If the Election Commission is not independent:

  • Voter lists can be manipulated

  • Public trust in elections will fall

  • Democracy will weaken

Appointment of Election Commissioners

A 2023 law created a selection committee consisting of:

  • Prime Minister

  • Union Minister

  • Leader of Opposition

The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed like a Supreme Court judge through a parliamentary process.

👉 Exam Point: Article 324 deals with Election Commission powers.

6️⃣ India and Global Pesticide Toxicity

A study shows India is among the top contributors to pesticide toxicity along with China, USA, and Brazil. These four countries account for about 70% of global pesticide toxicity.

Why India Uses Many Pesticides

  • Large agricultural land

  • Dependence on farming

  • Old laws like Insecticides Act 1968

  • Lack of farmer awareness

  • Use of banned chemicals

Environmental Impact

Excess pesticide use harms:

  • Soil fertility

  • Water quality

  • Bees and pollinators

  • Fish and birds

  • Biodiversity

Human Health Impact

Pesticides in food can cause:

  • Cancer

  • Neurological diseases

  • Hormonal imbalance

  • Chronic illness

Countries have promised to reduce pesticide risks by 50% by 2030.

👉 Exam Point: India, China, USA, Brazil are major pesticide toxicity contributors.

📌 Conclusion

Today’s news highlights India’s efforts to improve security, energy transition, food safety, democratic institutions, and sustainable agriculture. These topics are important for UPSC aspirants because they combine science, polity, environment, and current affairs.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS REVISION – 24 FEB 2026

1️⃣ PRHAR – National Counter Terror Policy

✔️ Basic Info

  • PRHAR = India’s National Counter-Terrorism Policy

  • Released by Ministry of Home Affairs

  • First integrated anti-terror strategy in India.

✔️ Why Needed?

India facing new-type terrorism:

  • Cross-border infiltration

  • Cyber-terror attacks

  • Drone smuggling & attacks

  • Sleeper cells

  • Online radicalisation

  • Maritime terrorism

Example:

  • 26/11 Mumbai attack → sea route

  • Punjab border drone smuggling

✔️ Main Goals

  • Prevent terrorist attacks

  • Strengthen intelligence sharing

  • Protect infrastructure

  • Improve coordination

  • Counter radicalisation

  • Handle cyber & drone threats

✔️ Agencies Involved

  • NIA

  • Intelligence Bureau

  • State Police

  • NSG

  • Coast Guard

  • Armed Forces (if needed)

👉 Prelims Trick: PRHAR = Multi-agency anti-terror policy.

2️⃣ Adulterated Milk – Food Safety Issue

✔️ What Happened?

Deaths reported due to adulterated milk.

✔️ Common Milk Adulterants

  • Urea

  • Detergent

  • Starch

  • Formalin

  • Synthetic milk chemicals

👉 Added for profit & longer shelf life.

✔️ Important Medical Term

Anuria = Absence of urine
➡ Indicates kidney failure.

Related terms:

  • Oliguria → Low urine

  • Polyuria → Excess urine

✔️ Health Effects

  • Kidney failure

  • Liver damage

  • Digestive problems

  • Death in severe cases

👉 Prelims Fact: Anuria = Kidney failure indicator.

3️⃣ Tetrodotoxin – Marine Neurotoxin

✔️ What is Tetrodotoxin?

  • Powerful marine neurotoxin

  • Found in Puffer fish

  • Produced by bacteria in fish.

✔️ Key Features

  • Heat-stable → Cooking doesn’t destroy

  • Very poisonous

  • No specific antidote

  • Small quantity can kill

✔️ Effects

  • Numbness

  • Paralysis

  • Respiratory failure

  • Death possible

✔️ Scientific Concept

Bioaccumulation → Toxin builds in fish body through food chain.

👉 Prelims Fact: Tetrodotoxin found in puffer fish.

4️⃣ Green Ammonia – Clean Energy

✔️ Definition

Green Ammonia = Nitrogen + Green Hydrogen

  • Nitrogen → from air

  • Hydrogen → from electrolysis using renewable energy.

Formula = NH₃

✔️ Uses

  • Fertilisers

  • Shipping fuel

  • Power generation

  • Hydrogen storage

  • Industrial fuel

✔️ India’s Programme

  • SIGHT Scheme

  • Implementing agency → SECI
    (Solar Energy Corporation of India)

✔️ Why Important for India?

  • Reduce fuel imports

  • Energy independence

  • Net-zero target (2070)

  • Large fertiliser demand

✔️ Challenges

  • High cost

  • Storage issues

  • Technology gap

👉 Prelims Fact: SECI = Renewable energy agency.

5️⃣ Election Commission Independence

✔️ Constitutional Articles

  • Article 324 → Election Commission powers

  • Article 326 → Universal Adult Franchise

✔️ Appointment (2023 Law)

Committee includes:

  • Prime Minister

  • Union Minister

  • Leader of Opposition

✔️ Removal

  • CEC → Same as Supreme Court judge

  • Other ECs → On recommendation of CEC

✔️ Important Case

Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain (1975)
➡ Free & fair elections = Basic Structure.

✔️ Why Important?

Strong Election Commission ensures:

  • Fair elections

  • Public trust

  • Strong democracy

👉 Prelims Fact: Free elections = Basic structure.

6️⃣ Pesticide Toxicity – India’s Role

✔️ Top Contributors

  1. India

  2. China

  3. USA

  4. Brazil

➡ Together ≈ 70% global pesticide toxicity.

✔️ Why High in India?

  • Large farming sector

  • Old laws (Insecticides Act 1968)

  • Use of banned pesticides

  • Lack of awareness

✔️ Environmental Effects

  • Soil degradation

  • Water pollution

  • Pollinator death (bees)

  • Fish & bird deaths

  • Biodiversity loss

✔️ Human Health Effects

  • Cancer risk

  • Neurological problems

  • Hormonal imbalance

  • Chronic diseases

👉 Global goal → Reduce pesticide risk by 50% by 2030.

🧠 ONE-PAGE QUICK REVISION

  • PRHAR → Counter-terror policy

  • Anuria → No urine → Kidney failure

  • Tetrodotoxin → Puffer fish toxin

  • Green Ammonia → NH₃ from renewable hydrogen

  • SECI → Solar Energy Corporation of India

  • Article 324 → Election Commission

  • India-China-USA-Brazil → Pesticide toxicity leaders


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