NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. IICA Forms High-Level Advisory Group on Ease of Doing
Business, Signs MoU for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ Reform Study: The Indian Institute of
Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs,
has constituted a high-level
Advisory Group on Ease of Doing Business to strengthen the regulatory and
business ecosystem.The Advisory Group is chaired by Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, who serves as Director
General and CEO of IICA.IICA has signed an MoU with the Ministry of Corporate
Affairs to undertake a research study titled “Re-envisioning Ease of Doing
Business for Viksit Bharat 2047”, aligning reforms with the long-term
development vision.
2. NHAI Plans 100% Digital Toll Collection from April 1,
2026: The National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI) is considering discontinuing cash transactions at National
Highway toll plazas from April 1, 2026, with all payments proposed to be
made through digital modes such as FASTag and UPI.The initiative aims to create
a fully digital tolling ecosystem, improve ‘Ease of Commuting’, enhance lane
throughput, reduce congestion at toll plazas, and ensure greater transparency
and consistency in toll collection.FASTag penetration has crossed 98%, with
most toll payments already processed electronically through RFID-enabled
FASTags, while UPI facilities have also been operationalised to provide instant
and accessible digital payment options.
3. VP C. P. Radhakrishnan Launches Book on Sree Narayana
Guru Authored by Shashi Tharoor: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched
the book The Sage who Reimagined
Hinduism: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru in New
Delhi, authored by MP Shashi
Tharoor.He highlighted that Sree Narayana Guru emerged as a spiritual
reformer during a period of deep caste divisions and social discrimination,
promoting social justice and equality.
4. Palamu Tiger Reserve Launches ‘Vanjeevi
Didi’ Initiative: The Palamu
Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Jharkhand has launched the ‘Vanjeevi Didi’
initiative, a community-driven conservation programme aimed at empowering women
to protect forests and wildlife. Rolled out by the south division of PTR, the
project seeks to build grassroots awareness and strengthen local participation
in safeguarding biodiversity. Under the initiative, 18 educated women from each of 17 identified
villages have been selected as ‘Vanjeevi Didis’. Most of them are college
graduates or pursuing higher education, while others are experienced in
community-based environmental practices.These women will act as ambassadors of
the reserve, motivating families and neighbours to refrain from harming forests
and wildlife. Officials believe that women, given their central role in
households, can influence behavioural change and discourage illegal activities
such as poaching and deforestation.
5. Amaravati to Host India’s First Quantum
Valley: Amaravati, the upcoming capital of Andhra Pradesh, is set to host India’s first Quantum
Valley, anchored by a proposed full-scale quantum computing facility from IBM.
The initiative aligns with India’s National Quantum
Mission (NQM) and marks a
major step in building next-generation computing infrastructure within the
country. Under discussions at an advanced stage
between IBM and the Andhra Pradesh government, the Quantum Valley Tech Park in
Amaravati is expected to house an IBM Quantum System Two. The installation
would be powered by IBM’s most advanced superconducting quantum processor and
represent the most powerful quantum computer deployed on Indian soil.Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS) has joined the initiative to develop quantum
algorithms, applications and workforce skills. The facility aims to support
industry, academia and government research, positioning Amaravati as the
nucleus of a national quantum ecosystem.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India Joins U.S.-Led Pax Silica Coalition to
Strengthen Electronics and Critical Minerals Supply Chains: India joined the U.S.-led Pax Silica
coalition during the AI Impact Summit, with Union Minister for Electronics and IT
Ashwini Vaishnaw signing the agreement to formally include India in the
group.The coalition aims to build a common and resilient supply chain for
electronics and critical minerals, reducing dependence on China, especially in
refined rare earth elements.Other signatories of Pax Silica include the United
States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union, working together to
strengthen supply chain security and strategic technology cooperation.
2. India and UK Launch Offshore Wind Task Force Under
Vision 2035 at 4th Energy Dialogue: India and the United Kingdom launched
the India–UK Offshore Wind Task
Force in New Delhi under Vision 2035 to strengthen cooperation in
renewable energy and offshore wind development.The initiative was launched by
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy during
the 4th India–UK Energy Dialogue.
3. Donald Trump to Host 21st G20 Leaders’ Summit in Miami
on December 14–15: Donald
Trump will host the G20
Leaders’ Summit in Miami on December 14–15; it will be the 21st
meeting of the Group of Twenty.The 2025 G20 Summit was held in South Africa,
and the United Kingdom is scheduled to host the G20 in 2027.
4. Switzerland to Host AI Impact Summit 2027 in Geneva: Switzerland announced
that the AI Impact Summit 2027
will be held in Geneva, reinforcing its position as a global hub
for technology and multilateral cooperation.The announcement was made by Swiss
President Guy Parmelin during the AI Summit held in New Delhi.The AI Impact Summit 2028 will
be hosted by the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), continuing the summit’s global rotation.
5. 21 February – International Mother Language Day: International Mother Language
Day is observed every
year on February 21 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity
and multilingualism; the idea was approved in 1999 by UNESCO.The day highlights
the importance of languages in fostering inclusion, preserving minority and
indigenous languages, and supporting the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) through multilingual education.Theme 2026 – Youth voices on multilingual education
6. 20 February – World Day of Social Justice: World Day of Social Justice is
observed annually on February 20 to
promote social equity, inclusion, and equal opportunities for all.Theme 2026
– Renewed Commitment to Social
Development and Social JusticeThe observance was proclaimed by the
United Nations General Assembly in 2007 to highlight issues such as poverty
eradication, gender equality, unemployment, and social protection.The day
emphasizes the importance of social justice in achieving sustainable
development, human rights, and inclusive growth worldwide.
7. 22 February – World Thinking Day: World Thinking Day is
observed annually on February 22 by
members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to celebrate global
sisterhood and the shared values of the guiding and scouting movement.Theme
2026 – Our FriendshipThe
day encourages reflection on personal and community development, promoting
awareness of social issues, leadership, and global citizenship among young members.
8. Rob Jetten Becomes Netherlands’ Youngest
Prime Minister: The Netherlands is set to swear in its
youngest-ever prime minister as 38-year-old Rob Jetten takes office in The
Hague. Jetten will also become the country’s first openly gay prime minister,
marking a historic moment in Dutch political history. The new government will
be formally installed by King Willem-Alexander at the Huis Ten Bosch
Palace.Jetten’s rise follows a closely fought snap election in October, where
his centrist party overturned the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) led by Geert
Wilders. The result signals a shift in Dutch politics after months of
uncertainty.Jetten’s Democrats 66 (D66) secured a narrow victory over Wilders’
PVV, which had earlier triggered the collapse of the previous coalition by
withdrawing support. The prior government, considered the most right-wing in
recent Dutch history, lasted just 11 months.After 117 days of negotiations, D66
formed a coalition with the centre-right Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and
the liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). The alliance
controls 66 seats in the 150-member parliament, falling nine short of a
majority. This means the government will depend on opposition backing to pass
major legislation.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India Launches Prahaar Anti-Terror Policy
Framework: India has unveiled its first comprehensive
counter-terrorism policy, titled “Prahaar”, aimed at strengthening national
security against evolving threats. Released by the Ministry of Home Affairs,
the framework seeks to enhance prevention, coordination and response mechanisms
across land, air and maritime domains. The policy comes amid rising concerns
over cross-border
terrorism, cyber warfare and the misuse of emerging
technologies.Prahaar is positioned as an integrated legal, technological and
community-driven strategy to counter both traditional and non-traditional security
risks.The policy identifies cross-border terrorism as a continuing challenge, particularly from
networks operating across India’s western frontiers. It notes the increasing
use of drones in regions such as Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir for
arms and narcotics smuggling.Prahaar also flags cyber operations conducted by
hostile states and criminal hacker groups targeting critical infrastructure.
Key sectors identified as vulnerable include power grids, railways, aviation,
ports, defence installations, space assets and atomic energy facilities. The
document underlines that terrorism is not linked to any religion, ethnicity or
nationality, but warns of sustained efforts by foreign-based extremist networks
to incite violence.
SPORTS
1. Pankaj Advani Wins Inaugural Liber Win Champions Cup
2026, Named Brand Ambassador: Pankaj Advani won
the inaugural Liber Win Champions
Cup 2026, defeating Kamal Chawla 6–3 in the best-of-11 final held at the
Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA), Bengaluru.The three-day
invitational tournament featured 16 top professional cueists, with Advani
displaying tactical mastery and break-building excellence to become the
first-ever champion of the event.The 2026 edition marked the formal entry of Liber Win into the
Indian market, and Advani was officially announced as the brand’s Indian ambassador at the conclusion
of the tournament.
2. India Finishes Asian Shooting Championships 2026 in
New Delhi with 33 Medals: India concluded
the Asian Shooting Championships
2026 in New Delhi with a
total of 33 medals in senior rifle and pistol events, including 13 gold, 11
silver, and 9 bronze; seven medals were won on the final
day.Amanpreet Singh won gold in the 25m centre fire pistol with 589 points,
while Gurpreet Singh (silver, 584) and Ankur Goel (bronze, 570) completed a
clean podium sweep for India in the event.In the women’s 50m rifle prone, Sift
Kaur Samra secured silver (623.2) and Tejaswini Sawant won bronze (621.0),
while the trio of Sift Kaur Samra, Tejaswini Sawant, and Manini Kaushik
clinched gold in the women’s team event with a combined score of 1862.9.
3. Vaishnavi Adkar Reaches Historic W100
Singles Final: Indian tennis
has found a new rising star in 21-year-old Vaishnavi Adkar, who became the
first Indian woman since 2009 to reach the singles final of a W100 event. The
Pune-born player achieved the milestone at the ITF Women’s Open in Bengaluru,
marking a significant breakthrough for Indian women’s tennis. Entering
the tournament as a wildcard and ranked World No. 690, Adkar stunned
higher-ranked opponents to reach the final. She eventually finished runner-up
after losing 6-0, 6-1 to Belgium’s World No. 124 Hanne Vandewinkel.Despite the one-sided
final, Adkar earned 65 WTA ranking points and $8,147 in prize money. Her
performance has propelled her live ranking up by more than 200 places to around
World No. 466, reflecting a major leap in her career trajectory.She became the
first Indian woman to reach a W100 or higher singles final since Sania Mirza
accomplished the feat in 2009.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. PM Modi Inaugurates India AI Impact Summit 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India
AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, with participation from
over 100 countries, making it one of the largest global AI gatherings.During
the summit, he presented India’s AI governance framework “MANAV” — Moral & Ethical Systems,
Accountable Governance, National Sovereignty, Accessible & Inclusive, and
Valid & Legitimate.The summit was guided by the theme “Welfare for
All, Happiness for All,” highlighting India’s commitment to inclusive and
responsible AI development.
2. MeitY Launches ‘VoicERA’ Open-Source Voice AI Stack at
India AI Impact Summit 2026: The Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY) launched VoicERA, an open-source end-to-end Voice AI stack, at the India AI Impact
Summit 2026 in New Delhi, aimed at enabling secure and scalable
multilingual voice systems.Deployed on the BHASHINI National Language
Infrastructure, VoicERA serves as a national execution layer for multilingual
Voice and Language AI, supporting cloud and on-premises deployment across
government and research ecosystems. By modularising the voice technology stack,
VoicERA reduces duplication and vendor lock-in while expanding BHASHINI’s
capabilities into real-time speech systems, conversational AI, and multilingual
telephony at population scale.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. National Arogya Fair 2026 to Boost Ayush
and Farmers: The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India,
in collaboration with the All India Ayurvedic Congress, is organising a
four-day National Arogya Fair 2026 at Shegaon in Maharashtra’s
Buldhana district from 25 to 28 February 2026. The mega event aims to promote
Ayush systems of medicine, expand public access to traditional healthcare and
create sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers through medicinal plant
cultivation and agroforestry.The fair will be inaugurated on 25 February 2026
by President Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Visava Maidan of Sant Gajanan Maharaj
Sansthan. The ceremony will be attended by the Governor of Maharashtra, Union
Minister of Ayush Shri Prataprao Jadhav, senior state officials and other
dignitaries.Citizens will receive free
health check-ups, medical consultations and medicines under various Ayush systems,
including Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and
Homoeopathy. The event will host live therapy counters, yoga demonstrations,
expert lectures and interactive sessions focused on preventive and promotive
healthcare.Separate stalls will represent each Ayush stream under the Ministry,
enabling visitors to experience India’s diverse traditional medical heritage on
a single platform.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Jessie Buckley Wins Best Actress at BAFTA
2026: Jessie
Buckley secured the Best Actress honour at the 2026 EE British Academy of Film
and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, continuing her strong awards season run.
The ceremony took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London, marking a
significant milestone in Buckley’s career. The Irish actor’s victory came just
two days after she claimed the same title at the Irish Film and Television
Academy Awards in Dublin, cementing her dominance this season. With this win,
Buckley became the first Irish performer to receive the Best Actress award at
the BAFTAs. Her recognition reflects both critical acclaim and industry respect
for her nuanced performance. The award was presented by actor Cillian Murphy,
adding to the celebratory Irish presence at the event. Buckley’s achievement
signals a broader recognition of Irish talent within the British film
establishment.
2. ‘One Battle After Another’ Dominates BAFTA
2026: Paul Thomas
Anderson’s politically charged thriller ‘One Battle After Another’ emerged as
the biggest winner at the 2026 EE British Academy Film Awards, securing six
major honours including Best Picture and Best Director. The sweep strengthens
the film’s position as a frontrunner ahead of next month’s Academy Awards.
‘One Battle After Another’ won awards for Best Picture, Director,
Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography and Editing, along with a Supporting Actor
prize for Sean Penn. Anderson described the recognition as “overwhelming and
wonderful” while accepting the directing honour.The film, centred on a group of revolutionaries
clashing with the state, led the nominations with 14 nods. Its strong
performance at BAFTA positions it as a key Oscars contender.
3. ‘Boong’
Wins BAFTA 2026 Best Children’s Film: In a landmark achievement for Indian
cinema, ‘Boong’, a Manipuri-language coming-of-age film, has won the Best
Children’s & Family Film award at the 2026 British Academy of Film and
Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards. The victory marks a significant global
recognition for regional Indian storytelling on an international stage. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by
Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, the 2024 film secured the award ahead of
major international contenders including ‘Zootopia 2’, ‘Lilo & Stitch’, and
‘Arco’. The category featured strong competition from high-profile Hollywood
productions, making the win particularly notable. The award was presented in a memorable moment by
the fictional character Paddington Bear, who delivered a light-hearted
monologue while announcing the winner. The nominations for the
BAFTAs were revealed earlier in January.
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