Daily Current Affairs

India will host the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20, marking the first time this global AI governance forum is held in the Global South.

• Scale – Representatives from over 100 countries, including 15–20 heads of government, 50+ ministers, and 40+ CEOs.
• Inaugurated by – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event and host a CEO roundtable.
• Key Themes – AI’s impact on jobs, trust and safety frameworks, AI across industries, and inclusive governance.
• Background – Builds on Bletchley Park Summit (2023), Seoul Summit (2024), and Paris AI Action Summit (2025).
• India’s Focus – ‘People, Planet, and Progress’ — shifting from regulation to development outcomes.

India is in dialogue with China to explore the opening of an additional route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, including the possible use of the Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh.

• Current Routes – Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).
• Significance – Would provide a third access point, improving pilgrim convenience and reducing congestion.

The tragic suicide of three sisters in Ghaziabad, linked to screen addiction, has reignited a national debate on banning social media for minors in India.

• India’s User Base – Over 400 million users on Instagram and Facebook in 2026.
• Teen Usage – ASER Report 2025-26 indicates over 90% of Indian teenagers are active social media users.
• Economic Survey Warning – 2025-26 Survey flagged compulsive scrolling and digital addiction as a major public health concern.

The TREESCAPES 2026 Congress concluded in Delhi, highlighting agroforestry’s role in climate resilience.

• UNEP Report – State of Finance for Nature 2026 warned of a massive global investment gap in Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
• NbS Potential – Can provide up to 37% of cost-effective CO2 mitigation needed by 2030 to keep warming below 2°C.
• Mangroves – Healthy mangroves globally avert over USD 57 billion in annual flooding damages.

In February 2026, Adani Energy secured Japanese funding for developing a 6,000 MW Green Energy Corridor, boosting India’s renewable energy infrastructure.

A newly identified ant species was discovered in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, Assam.

• Highlights the rich but often overlooked biodiversity of urban-adjacent forest patches in Northeast India.

Researchers discovered two new species of marine worms along the heavily impacted coastline of West Bengal, revealing hidden biodiversity in the northern Bay of Bengal despite intense anthropogenic pressure.

A giant female reticulated python discovered in the forests of Sulawesi, Indonesia has been officially recognised as the longest measured snake in the world.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially named Mons Mouton, a large flat-topped lunar mountain massif near the Moon’s south pole.

• Location – Near the rim of the South Pole–Aitken Basin, about 160 km from the lunar south pole.
• Dimensions – Nearly 100 km wide, rises about 6,000 metres above surrounding terrain.
• Significance – Represents exposed deep lunar crust; scientifically valuable for understanding lunar history.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (10th edition) kicked off on February 7, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Group stage runs from February 7–20.

• India’s Opener – India beat USA by 29 runs at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Captain Suryakumar Yadav scored an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls.
• Pakistan vs Netherlands – Pakistan won the tournament opener at SSC, Colombo.
• West Indies vs Scotland – West Indies won by 35 runs at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Shimron Hetmyer scored 64 off 36.

February 9 marks Chocolate Day, the third day of Valentine’s Week (February 7–14).