Summary
February 2026 witnessed key appointments and notable losses: Nidhi Chhibber became CEO of NITI Aayog, while Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female PM. Notable deaths included T. K. Oommen and David J. Farber.
Detailed Analysis
1. Major Appointments (February 2026
| Name | Designation / Organization | Significance |
| Nidhi Chhibber | CEO, NITI Aayog | Succeeded B.V.R. Subrahmanyam; crucial for GS II (Governance). |
| Deepak Gupta | CMD, GAIL (India) Limited | Succeeded Sandeep Kumar Gupta; leads India’s largest gas utility. |
| Divakar Jayant | Director General of Naval Armament | Strategic leadership in India's naval defense and self-reliance. |
| Sanae Takaichi | Prime Minister of Japan | Japan’s first female PM; reappointed with a major mandate. |
2. Notable Obituaries (February 2026)
These figures are frequently featured in "Person in News" sections for UPSC Prelims.
- T.K. Oommen (88):
- Field: Sociology.
- Legacy: A pillar of modern Indian sociology and a Padma Bhushan recipient. His work on social movements and national identity is cited in GS Paper I (Indian Society).
- David J. Farber (91):
- Field: Technology.
- Legacy: Known as the "Grandfather of the Internet." He contributed significantly to the development of early networking protocols and the Domain Name System (DNS).