🇮🇳 National News
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 on 16 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi – the first global AI governance summit hosted in the Global South.
- Duration: February 16–20, 2026
- Participation: Over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, 500 global AI leaders, 300+ exhibitors from 30 countries
- Three Sutras: People, Planet, and Progress
- Key Output: AI Compendium of real-world AI applications to be released on 17 February
India released its first comprehensive AI governance framework ahead of the summit, marking a shift from policy discussions to structured governance.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra River in Assam at a cost of Rs 18,662 crore.
- Length: 33.7 km greenfield corridor including 15.79 km twin-tube underwater tunnel
- Connects: Gohpur (NH-15) to Numaligarh (NH-715)
- Distance Reduction: From 240 km to just 34 km
- Design: Twin-tube for traffic segregation and safety redundancy; EPC mode
This will be India’s first combined road-cum-rail underwater tunnel, featuring twin-tube design for enhanced safety and operational flexibility.
The Union Cabinet approved the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) with Rs 1 lakh crore central assistance, operational from FY26 to FY31.
- Funding Pattern: 25% Central Assistance + minimum 50% from market sources (municipal bonds, bank loans, PPPs) + remaining from States/ULBs
- Purpose: Build resilient, productive, inclusive, and climate-responsive cities
UCF = Urban Challenge Fund | Corpus: Rs 1 lakh crore | Duration: FY26–FY31 | Central Share: 25%
The Union Cabinet approved Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a Rs 10,000 crore corpus to mobilize venture capital for India’s startup ecosystem.
A Fund of Funds (FoF) doesn’t invest directly in startups but invests in SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which in turn fund startups. This multiplies the impact of government capital.
The CCEA approved three multitracking projects covering ~389 km across Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, targeting completion by FY31. Total outlay: Rs 18,509 crore.
| Route | State(s) | Project Type |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi–Ambala | Delhi, Haryana | 3rd/4th Line |
| Kasara–Manmad | Maharashtra | Multitracking |
| Ballari–Hosapete | Karnataka | Multitracking |
Budget 2026–27 announced Rs 250 crore for ‘Content Creator Labs’ under the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics) sector talent development scheme.
- Coverage: Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges
- Nodal Institution: Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai
AVGC-XR = Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality. India aims to become a global AVGC hub with this initiative targeting grassroots talent development.
The Kerala State Cabinet under CM Pinarayi Vijayan approved India’s first comprehensive graphene policy to position Kerala as a global graphene R&D hub.
- 50% land lease subsidy
- Up to 45% CAPEX support
- Exemptions from stamp duty, registration fees, and electricity duty
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the thinnest, strongest, and most conductive material known, with applications in electronics, energy storage, and medicine.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) amended the IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2021 to mandate labelling of AI-generated content and reduced content takedown timeline.
- Takedown Timeline: Reduced from 24–36 hours to 2–3 hours
- AI Labelling: Platforms must label ‘synthetically generated’ images and videos
- Effective Date: February 20, 2026
This is a significant step towards combating deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation by mandating clear labelling and faster removal of harmful content.
🔬 Science & Technology
India released its first comprehensive AI governance framework ahead of the AI Impact Summit 2026, signalling a shift from policy discussions to structured governance.
This framework establishes India’s approach to responsible AI development, covering aspects like data governance, algorithmic accountability, and ethical AI deployment. It positions India as a leader in AI governance among developing nations.
🏆 Sports
Magnus Carlsen (Norway) won the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship, defeating American Fabiano Caruana in the final.
Magnus Carlsen (born 1990) is a Norwegian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion (2013–2023). He is widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time and holds the highest FIDE rating ever achieved.
🕊️ Obituaries
David J. Farber, widely regarded as a ‘grandfather of the internet’, passed away on 7 February 2026 in Tokyo at age 91.
Farber was a pioneering computer scientist who mentored many of the engineers who built the modern internet. He served as the Chief Technologist of the FCC and was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University. His students went on to create foundational internet technologies.
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