🇮🇳 National News
On February 14, 2026, PM Narendra Modi visited Assam and inaugurated projects worth over Rs 5,450 crore.
- Dibrugarh: Historic IAF C-130J Super Hercules landing at new Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on Moran Bypass NH-37
- Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu: Six-lane bridge across Brahmaputra connecting Guwahati–North Guwahati; reduces travel from 30 min to 7 min
- NDC Northeast: National Data Centre at Amingaon, Kamrup district; IIM Guwahati temporary campus unveiled
- E-Buses: 225 electric buses flagged off under PM-eBus Sewa scheme across four cities
Named after the medieval Kamarupa king Kumar Bhaskar Varma, this six-lane bridge is a crucial connectivity project for Assam’s capital region.
Dr. Jitendra Singh (MoS Science & Technology) launched the first Rs 2,000 crore national call for the BIRAC–RDI Fund for high-risk biotech research.
- Part of: Rs 1 lakh crore national Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) initiative approved July 2025
- Sectors: Deep-tech, AI, and Biotechnology
- Eligibility: Open to startups, SMEs, and industry partners
- Deadline: Phase 1 proposals by March 31, 2026 via biracrdif.org
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit PSU under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), established in 2012 to nurture biotech innovation.
C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics, under DoT) signed an MoU with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Gandhinagar, for telecom and cyber security products.
- Innovation Hub: Innovation-cum-Experience Centre at RRU campus
- Focus Areas: Cybersecurity, Quantum Tech, AI/ML, IoT, 5G, Mission Critical Services
- Also Signed: MoU with Synergy Quantum India to detect quantum-vulnerable cryptographic algorithms
Rashtriya Raksha University is an Institution of National Importance established in 2020 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, for policing, criminal justice, and national security studies.
India added a record 52,537 MW of power capacity up to January 2026 in FY26, surpassing FY25’s 34,054 MW.
- Renewables: 39,657 MW (75.5% of total additions)
- Solar: 34,955 MW | Wind: 4,613 MW
- Total Installed Capacity: ~521 GW
Non-fossil capacity (271.9 GW) surpassed fossil fuel capacity for the first time in India’s history. The 50% non-fossil target was achieved in June 2025 – 5 years ahead of the NDC commitment.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| FY26 Capacity Addition (10 months) | 52,537 MW |
| FY25 Full Year Addition | 34,054 MW |
| Renewable Share in FY26 | 75.5% |
| Total Installed Capacity | ~521 GW |
💼 Business & Economy
On February 15, 2026, Union Minister Amit Shah launched India’s first CBDC-based Public Distribution System (PDS) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
- Mechanism: RBI-issued digital coupons (e₹) credited as programmable digital currency; redeemed at Fair Price Shops
- Phase 1 Districts: Ahmedabad, Anand, Valsad, and Surat
- Next Phase: Puducherry, Chandigarh, D&NH and Daman & Diu
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or e₹ (Digital Rupee) is a digital form of fiat currency issued by the RBI. Programmable CBDC can be designed for specific purposes like PDS subsidies.
RBI imposed Rs 1.35 crore penalties on 5 financial institutions for regulatory violations.
| Institution | Penalty | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| CSB Bank | Rs 63.60 lakh | Business Correspondents & Customer Service |
| Bank of Maharashtra | Rs 32.50 lakh | SHG credit reporting & KYC |
| DCB Bank | Rs 29.60 lakh | LTV ratio in gold loans |
| IIFL Finance | Rs 5.30 lakh | NBFC violations |
| Navi Finserv | Rs 3.80 lakh | NBFC violations |
DBS Bank (Singapore) became the first in Asia-Pacific to pilot Visa Intelligent Commerce (VIC) for AI agent-initiated payments.
AI agents successfully processed food & beverage transactions using DBS/POSB cards with customer consent.
VIC enables AI agents to make purchases on behalf of customers. This marks a significant step toward autonomous commerce where AI handles routine transactions with pre-authorized consent.
🌐 International News
Dubai-based du partnered with Cyprus-based Datawave Networks for the Singapore-India-Gulf (SING) submarine cable system.
- Route: Kalba (UAE) – Muscat (Oman) – Mumbai – Chennai – Kedah (Malaysia) – Singapore
- Capacity: 16 fibre pairs, 18 Tbps each
- Supplier: SubCom (USA)
- Ready for Service: 2030
The SING cable will enhance digital connectivity between the Gulf region, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, with Mumbai and Chennai serving as key landing points in India.
👔 Appointments
Mia Amor Mottley was re-elected as Prime Minister of Barbados; her party Barbados Labour Party (BLP) won all 30 seats with 69.83% votes on 11 February 2026.
Capital: Bridgetown | Currency: Barbadian Dollar | Became a Republic: November 2021 (removed Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State)
Gujarat Government appointed Uday Suresh Kotak (founder, Kotak Mahindra Bank) as Chairman of GIFT City. He was also awarded Padma Bhushan 2026.
- Replaces: Hasmukh Adhia
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is India’s first operational smart city and the country’s only International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), located near Ahmedabad.
🔬 Science & Technology
Space-tech startup GalaxEye signed a data reseller partnership with NSIL (NewSpace India Limited), ISRO’s commercial arm, for satellite imagery solutions.
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Space, established in 2019. It serves as the commercial arm of ISRO for satellite launches, technology transfer, and space-based services.
GalaxEye is a Bengaluru-based startup developing multi-sensor satellite payloads that combine Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical imaging for all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation.
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