Current Affairs 22 February 2026

UAE Launches Landmark Pediatric Gene Therapy Projects.

• Emirates Health Services unveiled 2 projects using genetic engineering to treat the root causes of autism & rare brain disorders.
• Partnering with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, UAE is developing precision gene delivery for conditions like BPAN & epilepsy.
• The initiatives leverage Emirati Genome Program & AI to identify biomarkers, track disease evolution & enable early intervention.

New 3mm Crab Species Discovered in Lakshadweep.

• Researchers from National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Kochi discovered a 3-mm crab species, Galathea balasubramaniani, in Lakshadweep's Agatti reefs.
• Named after T Balasubramanian, this reef-dwelling squat lobster plays a vital role in recycling organic matter.
• Confirmed via DNA and morphological analysis, this discovery highlights the under-explored marine biodiversity of the region.

233-Year-Old Ramayana Manuscript Gifted to Ayodhya’s Ram Katha Museum.

• A rare 233-year-old Sanskrit manuscript of Valmiki’s Ramayana was gifted to the Ram Katha museum in Ayodhya.
• The manuscript was handed over by Vice Chancellor Shrinivasa Varakhedi to Prime Ministers Museum and Library Chairman Nripendra Misra.
• Authored by Adi Kavi Valmiki with a classical commentary (tika) by Maheshvara Tirtha.
• Written in Sanskrit (in Devanagari script).

Nagaland University Honours 5 Chemists with Lifetime Achievement Award.

• At the International Conference on Chemistry in Multidisciplinary Research (ICCMR–2026), Nagaland University awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards to 5 eminent chemists.
• They are: Prof. A.K. Mallik, Prof. V.S. Raja, Prof. M.A. Quraishi, Prof. M. Indira Devi, & Prof. Nitin Chattopadhyay.
• Recognized for pioneering research in materials chemistry, nanotechnology, corrosion science etc.

IICA Sets Up High-Level Advisory Group on Ease of Doing Business.

• The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) has constituted a high-level Advisory Group on Ease of Doing Business chaired by DG & CEO Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh.
• Recommend and guide on simplifying corporate compliance, leveraging tech-driven governance, reducing duplication, & streamlining regulatory processes.
• Aim to modernize India’s business environment for Viksit Bharat @2047.