India in February 2026: the most important developments in society
In February 2026, accidents and disasters drew the most attention in Indian society. On February 24, an air ambulance flying from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in a forest in Jharkhand, killing all seven people on board; it had lost contact with air traffic control about 20 minutes after takeoff, reportedly after asking to deviate because of weather. Earlier in the month, at least 15 people were killed in a coal mine explosion in northeastern India, two people died in a building collapse in Kota, and twelve deaths in 15 days in Haryana's Palwal district raised concern about water contamination. A Pawan Hans helicopter crashed into the sea off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and everyone on board was rescued. Tremors from a strong earthquake led to office evacuations in Kolkata.
Health was the second theme. On February 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a nationwide HPV vaccination drive for 14-year-old girls, which an AIIMS oncologist called the beginning of the end for cervical cancer in India. A nurse infected with the Nipah virus died in West Bengal, and the WHO said the risk of spread was low. Central government teams assessed bird flu in Kerala, and the drug regulator inspected 90% of cough syrup manufacturers and found lapses in some units.
Public disputes continued through the month. Penguin Random House India said the announced and published versions of former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane's memoir were not the same, and Delhi police questioned its staff over a leak. A BJP MP filed a motion seeking to cancel Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership. Ride-hailing drivers struck on February 7, and unions and farmers held a nationwide strike on February 12 against the interim trade deal with the US. Youth Congress protesters at the AI summit in Delhi faced police action. Pakistan reversed its decision to boycott a cricket match against India after a letter from the International Cricket Council. Cardinal Poola Anthony, India's first Dalit to lead the Catholic Bishops' Conference, called on governments to reassure minorities about their safety.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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