Current Affairs 20 February 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs February 20 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

Our Current Affairs February 2026 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2026 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.

Dear Aspirants,
With effect from 26 January 2026, the Exam Hint and In-Depth Content of articles (news) will be available exclusively in our Daily PDF (DailyScoop PDF).
To access the DailyScoop PDF, please subscribe to the Crack Current Course on the CareersCloud app or website.

Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course –Click Here to Download the APP

We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert – English | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)

Click here for Current Affairs 19 February 2026

Click here for Affairscloud Hindu Free Vocabs telegram channel

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of 2nd AI Summit Held in New Delhi – Part IThe 2nd India–AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced on 16 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi, where Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026, marking the start of the five-day global summit (16–20 February 2026) as the first major Artificial Intelligence (AI) event hosted in the Global South.
About India–AI Impact Summit 2026 
Organisers: The summit is organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, and various academic institutions.
Sutras: The summit was guided by three foundational Sutras: People, Planet  and Progress.
Official Partnership: The United States of America (USA)-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) announced its role as an Official Partner of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, in collaboration with the MeitY to Advance USA–India AI Collaboration.
Key Launches: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), launched six AI Impact Casebooks covering 170+ deployed innovations across key sectors.

• Additionally, Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, MoHFW launched SAHI (a framework for safe and accountable healthcare AI) and BODH (a health AI benchmarking platform developed by Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and the National Health Authority).

Overview of 23rd Edition BioAsia 2026 Held in HyderabadThe Chief Minister (CM) of Telangana A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated the 23rd edition of BioAsia 2026, Asia’s premier life sciences and health-tech forum held at the HITEX (Hyderabad International Trade Exposition Limited) Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana.

• The two-day global summit, held on 17–18 February 2026, highlighted Telangana’s emergence as a key hub for TechBio, biotechnology, and advanced healthcare innovation.

About BioAsia 2026:
Theme: The theme of BioAsia 2026 was “TechBio Unleashed – AI, Automation and the Biology Revolution.”
Organiser: The summit was organised by the Government of Telangana, with Hyderabad as the permanent host city, globally recognised as the “Vaccine Capital of the World” contributing nearly one-third of global vaccine production.
Policy: The Next-Gen Life Sciences Policy (2026–2030), unveiled at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, seeks to attract USD 25 billion in investments and generate 5 lakh high-quality jobs by 2030.
Awardees: Five startups received the BioAsia 2026 Innovation Awards such as Achala Health Services, Exquinz Life Sciences, Helex, Natural Solutions & Nutraceuticals, Sree Guravey Life Sciences OPC.

FCI Signs MoU with WFP to Supply 2 Lakh MT of Rice for Global Hunger ReliefIn February 2026, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) which works under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Food Programme (WFP) for the  supply of rice for Global Hunger Relief, aimed to alleviate hunger.
Key Details of MoU:
Key Target: As per the newly signed MoU, FCI will supply 2 lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) of rice, with maximum 25% broken rice permissible to meet humanitarian quality standards for WFP global operations.
Time Period: The MoU will remain valid for 5 years from February 17, 2026 (date of signing) and can be extended by mutual consent of both FCI and WFP.
Price: The MoU includes annual price negotiation provisions, with current rice price fixed at Rs.2,800 per quintal until March 31, 2026 ensuring cost predictability for humanitarian aid delivery.

IICA Forms High-Level Ease of Doing Business Panel Led by Gyaneshwar Kumar SinghOn February 18, 2026, the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), set up a high-level Advisory Group on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) to strengthen and modernise India’s corporate regulatory framework, especially compliance under the Companies Act, 2013.

• The group is chaired by Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General (DG) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), IICA.

About High-Level Advisory Group on EoDB:
Secretariat: The School of Business Environment(SoBE), IICA, will serve as the Secretariat to the Advisory Group and support its research, consultations, and coordination activities.
Research Study: As part of the reform initiative, IICA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the MCA to conduct a research study titled “Re-envisioning Ease of Doing Business for Viksit Bharat 2047”.
IICA Renews MoU: IICA renewed its MoU with NALSAR(National Academy of Legal Studies and Research) University of Law, Hyderabad (Telangana) for another five years to strengthen academic collaboration and research.

• The MoU was signed by Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, DG & CEO of IICA and Srikrishna Deva Rao, Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR.

France’s CMA CGM Signs USD 360 million deal with Cochin Shipyard for six LNG-Fuelled Container VesselsIn February 2026, Compagnie maritime d’affrètement – Compagnie générale maritime (CMA CGM), a France-based global shipping major, signed a contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in New Delhi, Delhi, to purchase six 1,700 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-fuelled feeder container vessels for a total consideration of USD 360 million (over Rs 3,200 crore).

• The contract has increased CSL unexecuted order book to around Rs 23,000 crore, marking the first-ever ‘Made in India’ container ship order awarded by a global shipping major to an Indian shipyard.

Key Details of Deal :
Signatories: The contract was signed by Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CMA CGM Group, and Jose VJ, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of CSL, in the presence of Union Minister of State (MoS) Shantanu Thakur, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), and Vijay Kumar, Secretary, MoPSW.
Cost: The estimated cost per vessel is around USD 60 million.
Design: The vessels will be designed by Korea Maritime Consultants Co., Ltd. (KOMAC) and constructed at CSL shipbuilding facility in Kochi, Kerala.

GEAPP Launches USD 25 Million ‘India Grids of the Future Accelerator’ for Power Sector ModernisationIn February 2026, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) launched the India Grids of the Future Accelerator during Mumbai Climate Week 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to modernize India’s power distribution networks and accelerate renewable energy integration.

• GEAPP has committed USD 25 million (~Rs. 226.9 crore) by 2028 to mobilize USD 100 million (~Rs. 907 crore) by 2030 through blended finance combining public, private, and philanthropic capital.

D4 Framework: D1–Digitalisation for forecasting and loss reduction; D2-Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) integrating rooftop solar and storage; D3-Democratisation enabling prosumers; and D4-Development advancing storage and grid innovation.
Coverage: The platform aims to support at least 15 Distribution Companies (DISCOMs), potentially impacting nearly 300 million people across India.
Partnerships: The initiative is supported by the All India DISCOM Association (AIDA) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA), with Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed with DISCOMs in Delhi and Rajasthan as “Champion Utilities.”
Impact: The accelerator strengthens DISCOM finances, enhances grid flexibility and reliability, reduces renewable curtailment, supports coal displacement, complements the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), and advances India’s Net Zero 2070 pathway.

India–UK Launches ‘Offshore Wind Task Force’ under Vision 2035
On February 18, 2026, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE), and David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister(PM) of the United Kingdom (UK), jointly launched the ‘India–UK Offshore Wind Taskforce’ along with the ‘4th India–UK Energy Dialogue’ in New Delhi(Delhi), aiming to fast-track the growth of India’s offshore wind energy sector.

• The task force has been constituted under the India–UK Vision 2035.

Key Highlights:
Strategic Aim: The initiative seeks to provide strategic leadership and coordination for India’s offshore wind sector while promoting long-term energy security and enhancing industrial competitiveness.
Identified Offshore Wind Zones: Gujarat and Tamil Nadu(TN) have been earmarked for early development projects, paving the way for accelerated deployment of renewable energy capacity in India.
Financial Support: The Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme has allocated Rs 7,453 crore to support early-stage offshore wind projects.
Cooperation Pillars: The collaboration is structured around three key pillars: Ecosystem Planning, Infrastructure Development and Financing Framework.
India’s Renewable Energy Capacity: As of 2026, India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity has crossed 272 gigawatt (GW), including over 141 GW of solar and 55 GW of wind capacity. During the Financial Year 2025-26(FY26), India added more than 35 GW of solar and 4.61 GW of wind capacity.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

IIT Madras Global Research Foundation Launches AI Innovation Centre in Dubai, UAE
On February 18, 2026, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras Global Research Foundation launched its first international Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Centre at Dubai CommerCity in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

• The agreement to establish the Centre was signed on the sidelines of WORLDEF Dubai 2026.

About AI Innovation Centre in Dubai:
Startup Support: In its initial phase, the centre will host six applied AI startups with a combined valuation of approximately USD 118 million and projected revenues of USD 281 million over five years.
Focus Areas: The centre will emphasize product development, accelerating AI solution deployment, Intellectual Property (IP) and innovation creation, and partnerships with industry, governments, and ecosystem stakeholders.
Significance: Backed by MCA Gulf, the Centre seeks to position Dubai as a global hub for applied AI by supporting the development and scaling of innovative AI solutions through a sustainable platform.
Alignment: The initiative aligns with India-UAE cooperation frameworks, such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

India & Nepal Signs Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement on Criminal Matters
On February 18, 2026, the Government of India (GoI) signed a’Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement on Criminal Matters’ with Nepal in Kathmandu, Nepal.
About the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement on Criminal Matters:
Signatories: The agreement was signed by Binod Kumar Bhattarai, Joint Secretary, Nepal, and Naveen Srivastava, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, GoI.
Purpose: The agreement aims to strengthen cross-border law enforcement, combat transnational crimes, and facilitate smooth judicial cooperation.
Legal Framework: The agreement provides a legal framework for India and Nepal to share information and evidence relevant to criminal cases, coordinate investigations, prosecutions, and judicial proceedings in criminal matters across borders.

• It addresses various transnational crimes such as financial fraud, money laundering, terrorism-related offences, trafficking, and cybercrime.

Central Authority: Each country will designate a Central Authority to send and receive legal assistance requests, which are processed through official legal and diplomatic channels.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Mandates Unique Transaction Identifier for OTC Derivatives from January 01, 2027In January 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandated the use of Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for all Over-the-Counter (OTC) derivative transactions from January 01, 2027, instead of its previous proposed timeline i.e. from April 01, 2026.

• The new directions related to UTI have been issued by the RBI in exercise of powers given under Section 45W of the RBI Act, 1934 read with Section 45U of the Act and of all powers enabling it in its behalf.

Key Directions:
Adhere to Global Guidance: As per RBI directions, the UTI is required to be generated in line with global guidance issued by Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures and International Organisation of Securities Commissions.
UTI Structure: The RBI also specified the UTI format can maximum up to 52 characters, including the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) of the generation entity.
Lifecycle Events: RBI has clarified that modifications to contract details will be considered as updates and will not require generation of new UTI.

ASK Asset & Wealth Management Received SEBI Approval to Launch MF Business
In February 2026, ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group, a leading financial services company, received regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to start operations as an investment manager for the Mutual Fund (MF) business in India.

• This marks the 52nd fund house to join the MF business, which registered Assets Under Management (AUM) of Rs 81 lakh crore (as of January 31, 2026).

Key Details:
Background: In March 2025, ASK Asset & Wealth Management received in-principle approval from the SEBI to launch MF business.
MF: This approval allows ASK Asset & Wealth Management to formally enter the MF sector, empowering the company to design, launch, and manage MF schemes across a wide spectrum of investment products.
Expansion : The MF license will enable the ASK to expand its offering other than Portfolio Management Services (PMS), Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), private wealth, to investment solutions across active equity, passive strategies, hybrid and fixed income products.
Diverse Range of Investors: Also, the MF platform will help the company to cater to all investor categories i.e. from 1st-time retail investors and long-term savers to High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs) and institutional participants.

Axis Bank Partners with IndiGo to Launch Two Co-branded Credit Cards
In February 2026, Axis Bank Limited, India’s 3rd largest private sector bank, collaborated with IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Limited) to launch two travel and lifestyle-focused co-branded credit cards, ‘IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card’ and ‘IndiGo Axis Bank Premium Credit Card’.

• These newly launched credit cards will offer rewards to bank’s customers through IndiGo’s loyalty programme, IndiGo BluChip.

Key Details of Co-branded Credit Cards:
Key Features: IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card, priced at Rs 799 including Goods and Services Tax (GST), is specifically designed to target retail customers. It offers a balanced range of travel and lifestyle benefits across major spending categories.

• IndiGo Axis Bank Premium Credit Card, priced at Rs 5,000 including GST, is designed to cater affluent customers who are seeking enhanced travel privileges and premium lifestyle benefits.

Available on: Both these new co-branded credit cards will be available on the RuPay and Visa networks.
Key Benefits: IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Cardholders will receive a 1,200 BluChips voucher on joining, renewal. It offers certain benefits like: complementary domestic airport lounge access, and accelerated rewards on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions.

• IndiGo Axis Bank Premium Credit Cardholders will receive vouchers worth 5,000 BluChips on joining, renewal. It offers complementary domestic and international airport lounge access as well as reduced forex markup of 2.5% of international transactions.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

TVS Supply Chain Solutions Partners ALA Group for Aerospace & Defence Supply Chains
In February 2026, TVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ALA Group, an Italy-based aerospace and defence supply chain integrator, to jointly pursue opportunities in India’s rapidly expanding USD 28 billion aerospace and defence (A&D) supply chain market.
About MoU between TVS SCS–ALA Group:
Objective: Develop integrated supply chain services for A&D across production and aftermarket lifecycles, including Production Support (PS), Spare Parts Distribution (SPD), Inventory Optimisation (IO), Defence-grade Logistics (DGL), Logistics Engineering (LE) and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO).
Scope: Target India’s A&D sector, aligned with Defence Offset Programmes (DOP), with phased global expansion.
Services: Provide end-to-end certified solutions spanning complex assembly logistics, regulated procurement, digital inventory management, spare parts supply to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and defence-compliant engineering solutions aligned with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Stock Numbers (NSN) standards.
Impact: Strengthen India’s domestic aerospace and defence ecosystem through indigenisation, compliance, digitalisation, global supply chain integration, and enhanced participation in international aerospace and defence value chains.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Epilepsy Day 2026 – February 9International Epilepsy Day is observed globally on the second Monday of February each year to raise awareness about epilepsy, a neurological disorder, and to promote understanding of its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

• International Epilepsy Day 2026 was observed on February 9, 2025.
• 2026 Theme:“The Epilepsy Pledge”

Background:
Organisers: International Epilepsy Day is a joint initiative of the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
First Observance: The first International Epilepsy Day was observed on 9 February 2015 (Monday).
Symbol: Lavender, the international flower for epilepsy, symbolizes the isolation and loneliness often experienced by people living with the condition.

• The colour purple is globally recognised as the official symbol of epilepsy awareness.

Related Observance: National Epilepsy Day in India is observed annually on November 17.

International Asperger’s Day 2026 – February 18
International Asperger’s Day (IAD) is observed annually across the world on 18 February to raise awareness about Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continuum.

• The day marks the birth anniversary of Hans Asperger, the Austrian pediatrician who first described the condition in 1944.

About Asperger’s Syndrome:
Overview: Asperger’s Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition that falls under Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Characteristics: It is marked by challenges in social interaction and communication, along with restricted or repetitive interests and behaviours.

• Individuals typically have average or above-average intelligence and no major language delay.

Current Classification: It is now included under Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in modern diagnostic frameworks such as Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
UN Adoption: The day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) in 2007.

STATE NEWS

TN FM Thangam Thennarasu Presents Rs 2.55 Lakh Crore Interim Budget for FY27In February 2026, Thangam Thennarasu, Finance Minister (FM) of Tamil Nadu (TN) presented Rs 2.55 lakh crore interim budget for Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27) in the state legislative assembly at Fort St. George, in Chennai, TN ahead of the state assembly election in April 2026.
Highlights:
Key Financial Indicators: The total expenditure of the Government of TN is estimated to be Rs 4,67,264 crore in the Interim Budget for FY27, marking an increase of 7.30% over 2025-26 Revised Estimates (RE).

• The interim budget also estimated the state’s revenue expenditure is at Rs 3,93,272 crore for FY27.Rs 48,696.32 crore has been estimated as revenue deficit in Interim Budget for FY27.

Major Allocations: Among all the major sectors, the state government allocated Rs 57,039 crore for the education sector, followed by urban development (Rs 35,773 crore), rural development (Rs 28,687 crore), health (Rs 22,090 crore) and highways (Rs 21,132 crore).
Other departments: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) (Rs 1,943 crore), transport department (Rs 13,062 crore), tourism department (Rs 1,394 crore), Sports development(Rs.718 crore) and among others.

MP Finance Minister Jagdish Devda Presented Rs.4.38 Lakh Crore Budget for FY27On February 18, 2026, Finance Minister (FM) of Madhya Pradesh (MP) Jagdish Devda presented a budget worth Rs.4.38 lakh crore for Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27) in the MP Legislative Assembly.
Highlights of MP Budget for FY 27:
Framework: The MP budget for FY27 is framed under a thematic model GYANII, encompassing Garib Kalyan (Poor Welfare), Yuva Shakti (Youth Empowerment), Annadata (Farmers), Nari Shakti (Women Empowerment), Infrastructure, Industry Development.
Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare: Over Rs.1.15 lakh crores allocated for agriculture and allied sectors. The budget proposed expansion of irrigation facilities and promoted dairy sector growth and rural livelihoods.

• The budget declared 2026 as Kisan Kalyan Year (Farmers’ Welfare Year) with expanded support for farmers.

Women & Social Welfare: Around Rs.1.27 lakh crore was allocated for women-centric schemes. Around Rs.23,883 crore was earmarked for Ladli Behna Yojana which offers financial assistance of Rs.1,500 per month to over 1.25 crore women.

Delhi Government Launches ‘Bhu-Aadhaar’ Under ULPIN to Digitise Land Records
In February 2026, the Government of Delhi announced the rollout of ‘Bhu-Aadhaar’, a system that assigns a unique 14-digit identification number to every land parcel in the National Capital Territory(NCT) of Delhi.

• The initiative is part of the implementation of the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) system aimed at modernising land records and improving transparency in property ownership.

Implementation Framework:
Geo-Tagging: Each land parcel will be assigned a geo-referenced identification code to ensure accurate mapping, ownership verification, and transparent record maintenance.
Digital Mapping: Land records are being digitised through drone surveys and high-resolution ortho-imaging, with nearly 2 terabytes(TB) of geospatial data processed for precise demarcation and record accuracy.
Rollout Plan: The initiative, part of the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), has commenced in 48 villages mapped under the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) Scheme and will be expanded gradually to achieve uniform digitisation across Delhi.

*******

Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)