🇮🇳 National News
On 13 February 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Seva Teerth’ and Kartavya Bhavan 1 & 2 in New Delhi, marking a historic shift in India’s administrative infrastructure.
- Seva Teerth: Houses the PMO, National Security Council Secretariat, and Cabinet Secretariat — previously spread across multiple locations
- Motto: ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’ (Citizens are akin to God) — citizen-centric governance approach
- Kartavya Bhavan 1 & 2: Accommodate Union Ministries including Finance, Defence, Health, Education, Law, Agriculture, and Tribal Affairs
- PM also released a commemorative postage stamp and coin on the occasion
Significance: Part of Central Vista redevelopment; PMO shifted from colonial-era South Block on Raisina Hill.
In his first set of decisions from Seva Teerth, PM Modi signed files approving key initiatives for farmers, women, youth, and vulnerable citizens:
| Scheme | Details |
|---|---|
| PM RAHAT Scheme | Road Accident Victims Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment — cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for accident victims |
| Lakhpati Didi Target Doubled | Target raised from 3 crore to 6 crore women by March 2029 (original target of 3 crore achieved a year early) |
| Agriculture Infrastructure Fund | Doubled from ₹1 lakh crore to ₹2 lakh crore for post-harvest management and cold chain facilities |
| Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 | Corpus of ₹10,000 crore to foster innovation in deep tech, advanced manufacturing, and breakthrough technologies |
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the ‘Sthree Suraksha’ scheme on 11 February 2026, providing insurance coverage for over 10 lakh women beneficiaries in the state.
Researchers from 28 medical and research institutions across six states and two Union Territories have established India’s first government-supported national biobank dedicated to Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs).
LSDs are a group of approximately 70 inherited metabolic disorders caused by enzyme deficiencies.
Odisha will introduce QR codes on land ownership documents to enable instant digital verification of property details.
Announced by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.
On 12 February 2026, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved India’s largest-ever defence acquisition.
- 114 Rafale jets: Under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme; approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore
- Manufacturing: 18 aircraft in fly-away condition; remaining approximately 96 to be manufactured in India with up to 60% indigenous content
- Additional Acquisitions: 6 P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft for Indian Navy (approximately ₹28,000 crore); High Altitude Platform Systems (approximately ₹15,000 crore)
- Timing: Ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth ₹2,312 crore with HAL (Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur) for 8 Dornier 228 aircraft with operational role equipment for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) under the Buy (Indian) category.
The Indian Navy assumed command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) at CMF Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.
- CTF 154: Established May 2023 for multinational training; focuses on maritime domain awareness, law of the sea, counter-piracy, and maritime interdiction
- Ceremony: Presided by VAdm Curt A. Renshaw, Commander CMF/US NAVCENT/US Fifth Fleet
Key results from the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka):
- Zimbabwe beat Australia by 23 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo — one of the biggest upsets in T20 WC history
- Zimbabwe posted 169/2; Australia bowled out for 146
- Blessing Muzarabani became 3rd Zimbabwean to take 100 T20I wickets
- USA beat Netherlands by 93 runs in Chennai — USA’s first T20I win over Netherlands in the tournament
- India vs Pakistan: Scheduled for 15 Feb at Colombo; Pakistan confirmed participation after earlier boycott threat
Two senior ophthalmologists from Puducherry — Dr Haripriya Aravind and Dr R. Venkatesh — were selected for the prestigious Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award 2026.
- Award Details: Instituted in 2017; grant of $100,000
- Organization: Both from Aravind Eye Care System
- Noble Gesture: Donated the prize back to the system’s charitable initiatives
🌐 International News
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Tarique Rahman won a sweeping victory in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections held on 12 February 2026.
| Party/Alliance | Seats Won |
|---|---|
| BNP and Allies | ~212 |
| Jamaat-e-Islami Alliance | ~77 |
| Total Constituencies | 299 |
- Tarique Rahman: Son of late ex-PM Khaleda Zia; returned from 17-year exile in London (December 2025); set to become PM
- PM Modi’s Response: Congratulated Rahman; pledged support for ‘democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh’
- Context: First elections since ouster of Sheikh Hasina (August 2024); Awami League did not participate
🔬 Science & Technology
A path-breaking discovery revealed close trade and cultural links between ancient Tamilagam and the Roman world.
Nearly 30 inscriptions in Tamil-Brahmi, Prakrit, and Sanskrit were identified, providing evidence of historic commercial exchanges.
17-year-old Aditya Pandya became India’s youngest analogue astronaut after completing an 8-day simulated lunar habitat mission in Dholavira, Gujarat.
Analogue astronaut missions simulate space conditions on Earth to prepare for actual space exploration. Participants live in isolated habitats and perform tasks similar to those required in space environments.
At the Bharat Bodhan AI Conclave 2026, IIT Bombay and Columbia University signed an MoU to establish the Columbia–IIT Bombay Center of AI for Manufacturing.
This collaboration aims to advance research and applications of artificial intelligence in manufacturing processes and industrial automation.
📅 Important Days
February 14 is observed globally as Valentine’s Day, celebrating love and affection.
Valentine’s Day is a celebration of romantic love, friendship, and admiration. People exchange cards, flowers, gifts, and messages with their loved ones. The day is named after Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr who lived in Rome during the 3rd century.
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