🇮🇳 National Affairs
• Union Cabinet approves National Urban Mobility Enhancement Scheme
Focus: Electric buses, integrated ticketing, and metro expansion in Tier-2 cities.
Financial outlay: ₹38,500 crore for 2026–2031.
Target: Reduce urban transport emissions by 25% by 2030.
• Ministry of Rural Development launches “Grameen Digital Saksharta Drive 2.0”
Aim: Digital literacy training for 3 crore rural citizens.
Priority groups: women, SHG members, and small farmers.
• India’s first Green Hydrogen-powered Inland Vessel flagged off in Varanasi
Operates on National Waterway-1 (Ganga).
Supports India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Supreme Court introduces AI-based translation system
Enables real-time translation of judgments into 18 Indian languages.
Enhances accessibility and judicial transparency.
🌍 International Affairs
• G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Focus areas: climate finance, debt restructuring, and AI governance.
Developing nations demanded increased climate funding commitments.
• European Union approves Digital Competition Act enforcement framework
Targets large tech platforms to ensure fair market competition.
• United Nations launches Global Water Security Report 2026
Projects 40% global water demand-supply gap by 2030 if conservation fails.
• India & Vietnam strengthen defence cooperation
Agreement includes maritime security training and logistics support.
💰 Economy & Banking
• RBI introduces Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot expansion
Retail digital rupee expanded to 15 additional cities.
Offline payment functionality added for low-connectivity areas.
• SEBI tightens norms for ESG disclosures
Top 1,000 listed companies must submit sustainability reports by FY 2027.
• India’s retail inflation projected at 5.1% for FY 2025-26
Forecast released in RBI’s February bulletin.
• State Bank of India launches MSME Express Credit Portal 2.0
Loan approval time reduced to under 30 minutes.
Covers loans up to ₹5 crore.
🏛 Appointments & Resignations
• Ajay Seth appointed as India’s Alternate Executive Director to IMF
Former Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs.
• Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh takes charge as Vice Chief of Army Staff
Previously headed Western Command operations.
• Anita Anand appointed President of Indo-Canada Business Council
Focus on trade expansion and technology cooperation.
🏆 Awards & Honours
• Dr. Soumya Swaminathan awarded Global Health Leadership Award 2026
Recognition for contributions to pandemic preparedness and health policy.
• ISRO scientist Dr. V. Narayanan receives Aryabhata Space Science Award
Honoured for advancements in cryogenic propulsion technology.
🛡 Defence & Security
• DRDO successfully tests next-generation anti-drone system
Capable of neutralizing swarm drones within a 5 km radius.
• Indian Navy conducts TROPEX 2026 exercise
Theatre-level operational exercise in the Indian Ocean Region.
Includes integrated operations of Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
🔬 Science & Technology
• ISRO completes semi-cryogenic engine test for future heavy launch vehicles
Enhances payload capacity for deep space missions.
• India ranks among top 5 nations in AI research output
As per Global AI Research Index 2026.
• CSIR develops biodegradable packaging from agricultural waste
Expected to reduce plastic usage by 12% in food packaging sector.
⚽ Sports News
• ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2026 preparations
Pakistan confirmed as host; security coordination underway.
India’s participation decision pending diplomatic consultations.
• Neeraj Chopra wins gold at Asian Athletics Grand Prix (Doha Leg)
Throw: 88.12 meters.
Marks strong start to Olympic preparation cycle.
• Indian women’s hockey team wins FIH Pro League match vs Germany
Score: India 3 – 2 Germany.
Vandana Katariya scored the winning goal.
• R Praggnanandhaa wins Prague Masters Chess Tournament 2026
Defeated Vincent Keymer in the final round.
📊 Reports & Indexes
• World Economic Forum releases Future of Jobs Report 2026
AI & automation expected to create 97 million new jobs globally by 2030.
• India’s renewable energy capacity reaches 196 GW
Solar accounts for over 47% of installed capacity.
📅 Important Days (19 February)
• Shivaji Jayanti
Celebrates birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630).
Observed widely in Maharashtra honoring his legacy and governance.
