📊 Index & Rankings
In February 2026, the Portulans Institute published the 2025 Network Readiness Index (NRI 2025), titled ‘AI Governance in a Global Context’.
India climbed 4 places to reach 45th position with a score of 54.43/100. India is now ranked 2nd among lower-middle-income economies, just behind Vietnam which stands at 40th position.
| Rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 79.13 |
| 2 | Finland | 75.82 |
| 3 | Singapore | 75.46 |
| 24 | China | — |
| 45 | India | 54.43 |
Key Highlights:
- China – Dropped 7 spots to 24th position; only middle-income economy in the top 25
- Coverage – The index evaluates 127 economies across 4 pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact
🇮🇳 National News
In February 2026, Rajasthan emerged as the largest wool producer in India with a production of 16,013.50 thousand kg, accounting for nearly 47.5% of the national output.
| Rank | State | Production (thousand kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rajasthan | 16,013.50 |
| 2 | Jammu & Kashmir | 7,770 |
| 3 | Karnataka | 6,472 |
- Source – Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS) 2024–25
- India’s Global Position – 2nd-largest sheep population globally (~77.4 million) and ranks 9th in wool output
- Total Production – India’s wool production in FY24 was approximately 33.69 million kg
Wool Grades Distribution:
- Carpet-grade – 85%
- Apparel-grade – 5%
- Coarser-grade – 10%
In February 2026, India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen defence industrial cooperation between the two nations.
Signatories:
- Rajnath Singh – Union Minister (India)
- Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias – Defence Minister (Greece)
Develop a 5-year roadmap linking India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative with Greece’s Hellenic defence reforms under Agenda 2030.
Major Announcements:
- Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan – Exchanged for 2026
- Liaison Officer Deployment – Greece to deploy a Liaison Officer at the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, Haryana
On February 9, 2026, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Goa State Pharmacy Council (GSPC), Quality Council of India (QCI), and HLL Infra Tech Services (HITES).
Details of the Three MoUs:
- GSPC MoU – Strengthen pharmacovigilance and post-marketing drug safety monitoring
- QCI MoU – Promote healthcare quality and public awareness on medicine safety
- HITES MoU – Infrastructure support for quality assurance and training initiatives
The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare responsible for setting standards for drugs in India.
Delhi became the first state in India to formally partner with Bharat Taxi’s cooperative mobility platform, marking a major shift in urban taxi services.
This partnership represents a pioneering approach to urban mobility, introducing a cooperative model that could potentially transform taxi services in metropolitan areas across India.
On February 9, 2026, Gujarat signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink to bring high-speed satellite internet to remote, tribal, and underserved areas of the state.
The pilot project will focus on Tribal and Aspirational Districts like Narmada and Dahod.
Key Applications:
- Telemedicine – Remote healthcare services
- Digital Classrooms – Online education access
- E-governance – Digital government services
- Disaster Management – Emergency communication
- Internal Security – Enhanced connectivity for security forces
On February 9, 2026, Union Minister Jitin Prasada launched the SATYA portal (STQC Lab Automation), an end-to-end digital platform under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The portal integrates testing, certification, and quality assurance services of STQC (Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification) for industry, startups, and MSMEs, providing a unified digital platform for all quality-related services.
About STQC: The Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification directorate operates under MeitY to provide quality assurance and certification services for electronics and IT products in India.
🌐 International News
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 182 million additional loan to strengthen Assam’s flood resilience along the Brahmaputra river.
USD 200 million Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project was approved in October 2023.
New Scope of Additional Loan:
- 63.5 km of riverbank protection work
- 4 additional high-priority river reaches to be covered
- Pro-siltation measures – Techniques to manage sediment deposition
Objective: The expanded project aims to protect communities and infrastructure from devastating floods and riverbank erosion along the Brahmaputra, one of India’s most flood-prone river systems.
💼 Business & Economy
Moody’s Ratings projected India’s real GDP growth at 6.4% in FY27, making India the fastest-growing G-20 economy.
This projection reinforces India’s position as the growth engine of the global economy, outpacing all other major economies in the G-20 group.
Banking Sector Projections for FY27:
- Bank Loan Growth – 11–13%
- Loan-to-Deposit Ratio – Around 80%
- NPL Ratio – Expected at 2–2.5%
- Banking ROA – Expected to rise to 1.2–1.3%
| Metric | FY27 Projection |
|---|---|
| GDP Growth | 6.4% |
| Bank Loan Growth | 11–13% |
| NPL Ratio | 2–2.5% |
| Banking ROA | 1.2–1.3% |
Defence PSUs Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Kolkata to form a strategic consortium for a large-scale national shipbuilding programme.
- Accelerate strategic shipbuilding – Fast-track defence vessel construction
- Enhance self-reliance – Reduce dependence on foreign shipbuilders
- Support Atmanirbhar Bharat – Boost indigenous capabilities in the maritime sector
Significance: This consortium represents a major step toward building indigenous naval capabilities and strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
India was named Country of the Year at BIOFACH 2026, the world’s leading organic trade fair held in Nuremberg, Germany from February 10–13, 2026.
- Size – 1,074 square metres
- Participants – 67 co-exhibitors
- Organiser – Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
Products Showcased:
- Organic rice
- Pulses
- Spices
- Herbs
- Oils
About BIOFACH: BIOFACH is the world’s largest trade fair for organic food, bringing together producers, suppliers, and buyers from across the globe to showcase organic and sustainable agricultural products.
🔬 Science & Technology
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has identified a precise landing site on the Moon for its Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample-return mission.
Location: Mons Mouton area near the Moon’s south pole
Site Selection: Site MM4 was selected from 5 evaluated candidates
Mission Timeline and Objectives:
- Launch Schedule – Approximately 2028
- Sample Collection Goal – Up to 3 kg of lunar regolith (moon soil)
- Mission Type – India’s first lunar sample-return mission
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Mission Architecture | 5 modules |
| Modules | Propulsion, Lander, Ascender, Transfer, Re-entry |
| Launches Required | 2 LVM-3 launches |
| Sample Target | Up to 3 kg |
Significance: Chandrayaan-4 will be a landmark mission demonstrating India’s capability to not only land on the Moon but also return samples to Earth for detailed scientific analysis.
Researchers confirmed the discovery of Lyriothemis keralensis (Slender Bombardier), a new dragonfly species from the low-lying coastal regions of Kerala.
- Discovered by: Dr Dattaprasad Sawant and Dr Vivek Chandran
- Research Duration: Over a decade of research
- Common Name: Slender Bombardier
Unique Habitat Preference:
Unlike most dragonfly species that prefer natural forest habitats, Lyriothemis keralensis shows a remarkable preference for irrigation landscapes such as:
- Pineapple plantations
- Rubber plantations
Significance: This discovery highlights the biodiversity of Kerala’s agricultural landscapes and demonstrates that modified ecosystems can support unique species. The finding expands our understanding of dragonfly habitat preferences and adaptation to human-modified environments.
👔 Appointments
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved R. Vijay Anandh as the new Managing Director and CEO of City Union Bank (CUB) for a tenure of 3 years, effective May 1, 2026.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | R. Vijay Anandh |
| Position | MD & CEO |
| Bank | City Union Bank |
| Tenure | 3 years |
| Effective Date | May 1, 2026 |
| Remuneration | Rs 2.50 crore per annum |
Succeeds: Dr. N. Kamakodi, who has been serving as MD & CEO since May 2011
Thanya Nathan C., a 24-year-old visually impaired lawyer, topped the Civil Judge (Junior Division) exam merit list among candidates with benchmark disabilities, set to become Kerala’s first visually challenged woman judge.
This appointment marks a significant milestone in India’s judicial system, demonstrating the success of inclusive policies and the determination of differently-abled professionals to excel in their fields.
Key Details:
- Name – Thanya Nathan C.
- Age – 24 years
- Position – Civil Judge (Junior Division)
- Category – Benchmark Disabilities Merit List
- Rank – Topped the merit list
- Historic Significance – First visually challenged woman judge in Kerala
Significance: This achievement not only represents a personal triumph for Thanya Nathan but also serves as an inspiration for persons with disabilities across India, showing that determination and ability transcend physical challenges.
🏅 Sports
On February 8, 2026, Services Football Team clinched their 8th Santosh Trophy title by defeating Kerala 1–0 in extra time at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium, Assam.
- Final Score – Services 1–0 Kerala
- Result – Won in extra time
- Venue – Dhakuakhana Football Stadium, Assam
- Date – February 8, 2026
About Santosh Trophy:
The Santosh Trophy is India’s premier national football tournament for state teams and institutional sides. Established in 1941, it is named after Santosh Trophy donated by Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhury. Services now has 8 titles, cementing their position as one of the most successful teams in the competition’s history.
Services Football Team: Represents the Indian Armed Forces and has a rich history of excellence in national football competitions.
📅 Important Days
February 11 is observed as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science to promote full and equal access to participation in science for women and girls.
This day aims to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Key Details:
- Date – February 11 (annually)
- Established – 2015
- Adopted by – United Nations General Assembly
- Resolution – UN Resolution A/RES/70/212
Why This Day Matters:
Despite progress, women and girls continue to be excluded from full participation in science. According to UNESCO data, only around 30% of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education. This day serves as a reminder to break down barriers and encourage greater participation of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Focus Areas:
- Promoting women scientists and their achievements
- Encouraging young girls to pursue STEM education
- Addressing gender bias in scientific fields
- Creating equal opportunities in research and innovation
February 11 marks Promise Day, the fifth day of Valentine’s Week (February 7–14).
Valentine’s Week is celebrated from February 7–14 each year, with each day having a special theme:
| Date | Day |
|---|---|
| February 7 | Rose Day |
| February 8 | Propose Day |
| February 9 | Chocolate Day |
| February 10 | Teddy Day |
| February 11 | Promise Day |
| February 12 | Hug Day |
| February 13 | Kiss Day |
| February 14 | Valentine’s Day |
About Promise Day:
Promise Day is dedicated to making commitments and promises to loved ones. Couples exchange promises of love, loyalty, trust, and lifelong companionship. It’s a day to strengthen relationships through meaningful commitments and reaffirm bonds of love and dedication.
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