🇮🇳 National News
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved highway projects worth over Rs 11,000 crore across 3 states.
- Maharashtra: Rehabilitation and upgradation of NH-160A (Ghoti–Trimbak–Jawhar–Manor–Palghar section)
- Gujarat: 4-laning of NH-56 at Rs 4,583.64 crore under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)
- Telangana: Widening of 80.01 km NH-167 from Gudebellur to Mahbubnagar to 4-lane standards
Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) is a PPP model where the government provides 40% of the project cost during construction, while the remaining 60% is arranged by the developer.
PM Narendra Modi approved two major initiatives to boost rural economy and women empowerment:
- Lakhpati Didis Target: Doubled from 3 crore to 6 crore women
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund: Outlay increased from Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 2 lakh crore
The Lakhpati Didi scheme aims to empower women in Self Help Groups (SHGs) by helping them earn a sustainable income of at least Rs 1 lakh per annum through skill development and livelihood opportunities.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated multiple defence initiatives at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru on 16 February 2026.
- Missile Integration Facility
- Mountain Fire Control Radar: Designed for mountainous and high-altitude environments
- BEL AI Policy: Integrates AI across defence products, real-time decision-making, and autonomous platforms
- CoE-AI: Centre of Excellence for AI remotely inaugurated in Pune
The Minister also flagged off Akash 3rd & 4th Regiment Combat Systems.
The International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS 2026) was held on February 13–14 at J.N. Tata Auditorium, IISc Bengaluru, under DRIP Phase II and III.
- Inaugurated by: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
- Presided by: Deputy CM K. Shivakumar
- DAMCHAT: AI-based knowledge platform for dam safety
- Jal Shakti Data Management Platform
The conference is aligned with the Dam Safety Act, 2021.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the Bharat Bodhan AI Conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on February 12–13.
- Bharat EduAI Stack: Open and interoperable architecture for AI-powered learning solutions
- Bodhan AI CoE: Inaugurated to integrate AI in India’s education ecosystem
Key Partnerships Announced:
- IIM Lucknow AI Programme
- IIM Ranchi ‘Teaching with AI’
- IIM Jammu–AIT Bangkok collaboration
Paramesh Sivamani, Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), inaugurated India’s first Waterjet Production & Testing Facility of M/s Marine Jet Power (MJP) in Goa.
India becomes the world’s 3rd country (after USA and South Korea) to host such a facility.
- ICG currently operates over 100 MJP water propulsion systems
- 42 additional systems planned for ships under construction
The Department of Posts (DoP) released 8 Commemorative Postage Stamps titled ‘Puppets of India’ with a face value of Rs 5 each.
| Puppet Form | State |
|---|---|
| Kathputli | Rajasthan |
| Yakshagana Sutrada Gombeyatta | Karnataka |
| Daanger Putul | West Bengal |
| Kathi Kundhei | Odisha |
| Benir Putul | West Bengal |
| Pavakathakali | Kerala |
| Ravanachhaya | Odisha |
| Tolu Bommalatta | Andhra Pradesh |
💼 Business & Economy
Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, released the 6th edition of Trade Watch Quarterly for Q2 FY26 (July–September), with a special focus on Electronics Trade.
- Electronics Exports: USD 42.1 billion in 2024 (5x growth since 2016)
- Electronics is now the 2nd largest export category after gems/jewellery
- India ranks among top 6 e-commerce markets globally
- Electronics accounts for ~50% of online retail
- Merchandise Exports: 8.5% YoY growth
- Services Exports: USD 102 billion (+8.7%)
- Services Surplus: USD 48 billion
On 14 February 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Bain Capital, LP to acquire joint control and up to 41.66% stake in Manappuram Finance Limited.
- Investment: Rs 4,385 crore for 18% fully diluted stake
- Price per share: Rs 236
- Final holding: 18–41.7% depending on open-offer response
Manappuram Finance is a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) specialising in gold-backed loans, with a loan book of approximately Rs 315 billion.
🛡️ Defence
The Indian Navy’s flagship multilateral exercise Exercise MILAN 2026 (13th edition) is being conducted from 18–25 February 2026 at Visakhapatnam and the Bay of Bengal.
- One of the largest multilateral naval exercises hosted by India
- Participation from dozens of countries
- Venue: Visakhapatnam and Bay of Bengal
MILAN stands for Multilateral Indian Naval Seminar. It was first held in 1995 and is conducted biennially to enhance interoperability among friendly navies.
🏆 Sports
India topped the medal table for the second consecutive year at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026 held in Delhi.
This marks India’s continued dominance in shooting sports across Asia, with the national team securing the top position in the overall medal tally for two years running.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan became the first bowler to claim 700 wickets in men’s T20 cricket during the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
Rashid Khan, one of the finest leg-spinners in modern cricket, achieved this unprecedented feat becoming the first-ever bowler to reach the 700-wicket mark in T20 cricket across all formats.
📅 Important Days
Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed annually on 17 February to promote resilient and sustainable tourism practices worldwide.
This day aims to raise awareness about the importance of building resilience in the tourism sector, especially in the face of global challenges like climate change, pandemics, and economic disruptions.
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