Morning Digest: India set to launch free HPV vaccination for adolescent girls; TRAI backs sale of all available spectrum, proposes lower entry barriers, and more
The Hindu
Here are the top news for the day from The Hindu's Morning Digest, on February 25, 2026
The Union Health Ministry is set to launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme targeting girls aged 14 years. The vaccination will be voluntary and free of cost, ensuring equitable access across socio-economic groups. India will use Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine, for protection from HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11. “Global and Indian scientific evidence confirms that a single dose provides robust and durable protection when administered to girls in the recommended age group,’’ a senior Health Ministry official said.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) recommended auctioning the entire available radiowave spectrum while proposing lower entry barriers for new players and a uniform 35% spectrum cap to safeguard competition in the telecom sector. While TRAI has not officially disclosed the combined base price of the entire spectrum on offer, as per industry calculations, if all the spectrum on offer across bands (excluding 600 MHz) is sold, the radiowaves could fetch nearly ₹81,000 crore at the reserve price.
The U.S. will provide on-site passport services this week in a settlement in the West Bank, marking the first time American consular officials have offered such services to settlers in the occupied territory, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. Most of the world considers Israel’s West Bank settlements illegal under international law relating to military occupations. Israel disputes that the settlements are illegal, and many on the Israeli right advocate annexing the West Bank. Palestinians have long sought the West Bank for a future independent state, alongside Gaza and East Jerusalem.
The government on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) blocked five OTT platforms for streaming obscene content, officials said. They said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has blocked MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel, and Jugnu following due procedure. Under the procedure, the government directs internet service providers to block access to OTT platforms under the Information Technology Rules 2021 and the laws against obscenity.
Nearly a month after the death of then Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded four aircraft operated by the same charter company that was flying him. The regulator also announced a slew of measures for charter companies across the country, following “a recent surge” in incidents to ensure tighter oversight, after a high-level meeting on Tuesday with several charter operators.
Online messaging platform WhatsApp appears to be preparing to comply with the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) SIM-binding directive issued late last year. The directive requires messaging platforms to ensure that a user’s registered SIM card is provisioned on the handset used to access the service, and to disable access if it is not. It also includes a potentially disruptive requirement that web-based instances, such as WhatsApp Web, be logged out every six hours.
The Clamorous reed warbler is as loud as they come, but in the urban environment, it is outshouted. Weed clearing in urban habitats brings down its home, the bulrushes. Bulrushes in wetlands are not encroachments, but ‘legal homes’ to birds in the crake and rail family and warblers, so government line agencies ought to tread on them thoughtfully
Uttar Pradesh ATS arrests a dental student for alleged connections to an ISIS online module, probing extremist recruitment activities.
Rajinikanth refutes TVK leader's claims about DMK threats preventing his political entry, expressing gratitude to supportive political figures.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin celebrates the Union government's approval for archaeological excavations, crediting DMK's persistent advocacy for the win.
Dilip Ghosh will contest Kharagpur Sadar in the 2026 West Bengal polls, aiming for increased BJP votes.
A hotel fire in Pahalgam leads to one death from a reversing fire tender; multiple LPG blasts hinder firefighting efforts.
The Clamorous reed warbler is as loud as they come, but in the urban environment, it is outshouted. Weed clearing in urban habitats brings down its home, the bulrushes. Bulrushes in wetlands are not encroachments, but ‘legal homes’ to birds in the crake and rail family and warblers, so government line agencies ought to tread on them thoughtfully
The people of at least one State will heave a sigh of relief now that the schedule for five Assembly elections — all in April — has been announced.
Four charred bodies discovered in a car near Tirunelveli; police investigate potential murder or suicide.
Five insurgents linked to PREPAK and KYKL arrested near India-Myanmar border; explosives and arms recovered in separate operation.
A.P. DGP pays tribute to Potti Sriramulu on his 125th birth anniversary, honouring his sacrifice for a separate Andhra Pradesh.
Discover the cultural and health significance of neem and jaggery during Ugadi, explained by author Ratna Rajaiah.
A minor fire at Thiruvananthapuram government hospital led to patient evacuations; no casualties reported, situation now under control.