Drawing from historical archives and today's headlines, February 26 highlights a transition from early revolts and social reforms to contemporary global leadership.

Significant Historical Milestones

• The Death of Veer Savarkar (1966): Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a key proponent of the Hindutva ideology and a fiery freedom fighter, passed away in Bombay. Known for his revolutionary activities and his time in the Cellular Jail, his legacy remains a central pillar of Indian political discourse.

• The First 1857 Revolt at Berhampore: On this day in 1857, the first major signs of military rebellion against the British East India Company appeared at Berhampore (West Bengal), as the 19th Native Infantry refused to use the controversial greased cartridges.

• Passing of Anandi Gopal Joshi (1887): India lost its first female doctor of Western medicine on this day. Despite her short life, her achievement of obtaining a medical degree from the U.S. remains an inspiration for women in STEM across India.

• India's First Kite Museum (1975): The 'Shankar Kendra' Kite Museum was established in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, celebrating the cultural and artistic heritage of kite flying in India.

Notable Birthdays on February 26

• Shaktikanta Das (1957): The 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, known for steering the Indian economy through global challenges with a focus on stability and digital transformation.

• Sir B. N. Rau (1887): A brilliant jurist and statesman who played a foundational role in drafting the Constitution of India and served as the first Indian judge on the International Court of Justice.

• Bajrang Punia (1994): One of India's most celebrated freestyle wrestlers, an Olympic medalist who has brought numerous laurels to the country on the international stage.

• Sriti Jha (1986): A popular television actress widely recognized for her role in the long-running series Kumkum Bhagya.

Current Events: February 26, 2026

• ISRO's Monsoon Mastery: Today, ISRO successfully launched the INSAT-4D weather satellite, specifically designed to improve monsoon prediction accuracy—a critical tool for India's agricultural sector.

• Railway Modernization: The government announced a massive ₹2.5 lakh crore investment plan to upgrade railway infrastructure, focusing on speed, safety, and passenger amenities across the national network.

• Stock Market Milestones: Driven by robust economic indicators, the Sensex crossed the 85,000 mark for the first time, signaling high investor confidence in India's growth trajectory.