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📝 Revision Notes
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Geopolitics
Macron’s 4th Visit to India (Feb 17–19, 2026)
French President Macron made his 4th visit to India, attending the AI Impact Summit 2026 and launching the India–France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai. He also co-inaugurated the H-125 helicopter assembly line at Vemagal, Karnataka, deepening bilateral defence and tech ties.
Defence
Exercise MILAN 2026 – 13th Edition
Hosted by Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, MILAN 2026 ran from 19–25 February in the Bay of Bengal with the theme “Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration.” Inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, it is a biennial multilateral naval exercise. Separately, IFR 2026 carried the theme “United through Oceans.”
Governance
Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP–II)
Launched by Amit Shah in Assam, VVP–II has a total allocation of ₹6,839 crore up to FY 2028–29. It covers 1,954 border villages across 15 States and 2 UTs, spending approximately ₹3 crore per village to develop infrastructure and prevent migration near India’s borders.
Technology
Pax Silica – US-Led Silicon Stack Alliance
India joined Pax Silica, launched in December 2025 in Washington D.C., a US-led coalition securing the “silicon stack” — critical minerals, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure. Members include Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, positioning the alliance as a tech counterpart to traditional security alliances.
Technology
Stargate Initiative & TCS HyperVault
Tata Group partnered with OpenAI under the USD 500 billion Stargate initiative to set up TCS HyperVault, India’s first large-scale AI data centre starting at 100 MW, scalable to 1 GW. TCS plans to invest USD 7 billion in India; OpenAI is HyperVault’s first customer.
Science & Space
Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute Qualification Test
DRDO successfully tested the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute on 18 February 2026 at the RTRS facility, TBRL, Chandigarh. This was a joint effort by VSSC (ISRO) and ADRDE (DRDO). The drogue parachute stabilises and decelerates the crew module during atmospheric re-entry.
Defence
HELMA-P – Directed-Energy Laser System
India signed a deal with French company CILAS for HELMA-P, a directed-energy laser system for counter-drone operations. It disables drones by targeting their sensors and electronics, requiring only electrical power and cooling — making it highly cost-effective compared to missile-based defences.
Digital Infrastructure
Google AIC Initiative – Visakhapatnam Subsea Cable Hub
Under the America-India Connect (AIC) initiative announced by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Visakhapatnam will become India’s 3rd international subsea cable landing station after Mumbai and Chennai. Part of Google’s USD 15 billion plan to make India a global AI infrastructure hub.
Defence / Maritime
IONS Chairmanship – India’s 2nd Tenure
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi (CNS) assumed the IONS Chairmanship for 2026–2028 from the Royal Thai Navy at the 9th Conclave held on 20 February at Visakhapatnam. This is India’s second IONS chairmanship since its first tenure in 2008, reflecting India’s growing maritime influence in the Indian Ocean Region.
International Days
International Mother Language Day – 21 February 2026
Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and observed annually on 21 February, the 2026 theme was “Youth voices on multilingual education.” The day promotes linguistic diversity and empowers young people to protect endangered languages. It commemorates the 1952 Language Movement in (then) East Pakistan.
🎴 Revision Flashcards
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How many times has Macron visited India as of February 2026?
4 times
Feb 17–19, 2026 was his 4th visit; he attended AI Impact Summit 2026
Tap to Reveal
What is the theme of Exercise MILAN 2026?
“Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration”
13th edition; held at Visakhapatnam; Bay of Bengal; Feb 19–25
Tap to Reveal
What is the total outlay of Vibrant Villages Programme–II?
₹6,839 crore (up to FY 2028–29)
Covers 1,954 border villages; ~₹3 crore per village; 15 States + 2 UTs
Tap to Reveal
What does “Pax Silica” aim to secure?
The “silicon stack” — minerals, chips & AI infrastructure
US-led coalition; launched Dec 2025, Washington D.C.; includes Australia, Japan, S. Korea, UK
Tap to Reveal
Where was DRDO’s Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute test conducted?
RTRS facility, TBRL, Chandigarh
18 Feb 2026; joint effort of VSSC (ISRO) & ADRDE (DRDO)
Tap to Reveal
Which city will become India’s 3rd subsea cable landing station under Google’s AIC initiative?
Visakhapatnam
After Mumbai & Chennai; part of Google’s USD 15 billion India investment plan
Tap to Reveal
From which navy did India take over IONS Chairmanship in 2026?
Royal Thai Navy
9th IONS Conclave; 20 Feb 2026; Visakhapatnam; India’s 2nd tenure since 2008
Tap to Reveal
What is the theme of International Mother Language Day 2026?
“Youth voices on multilingual education”
Observed 21 Feb; proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999; promotes linguistic diversity
Think & Discuss
India’s AI Infrastructure Race: Opportunity or Overdependence?
Context from today’s quiz: India is rapidly positioning itself as a global AI infrastructure hub — joining the US-led Pax Silica coalition, hosting TCS HyperVault under the Stargate initiative with OpenAI, and now receiving Google’s USD 15 billion commitment to build subsea cable and data centre infrastructure. These developments signal India’s growing strategic importance in the global technology ecosystem.
🤔 Your Perspective Matters
India is rapidly attracting massive foreign investment in AI infrastructure — data centres, subsea cables, and semiconductor alliances — from the US, France, and global tech giants. While this accelerates India’s digital growth, it also raises critical questions about sovereignty, data security, and long-term strategic autonomy.
Should India prioritise building sovereign domestic AI infrastructure, or is deep integration with US-led tech alliances like Pax Silica and Stargate more strategically beneficial in the short to medium term?
Should India prioritise building sovereign domestic AI infrastructure, or is deep integration with US-led tech alliances like Pax Silica and Stargate more strategically beneficial in the short to medium term?
- Can India simultaneously maintain its strategic autonomy (as seen in its multi-alignment foreign policy) while being deeply integrated into a US-led silicon ecosystem?
- How does India’s dependence on foreign AI infrastructure compare to its historical experience with energy dependence — and what lessons can be drawn?
- With both Google and TCS investing heavily in Visakhapatnam, could this create a new “tech corridor” in South India — and what governance frameworks must India build to manage it?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your perspective in the comments.
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