17th February 2026

1. Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Assam
2. C-DOT and RRU sign an MoU to jointly develop products in telecom and cyber security
3. India adds a record 52,537 MW of power capacity in the first 10 months of FY 2025–26
4. du partners with Datawave Networks to land the SING submarine cable system in the UAE
5. RBI imposes monetary penalties on three banks and two NBFCs for regulatory non-compliance
6. DBS becomes the first Asia-Pacific bank to pilot Visa Intelligent Commerce for daily payments
7. GalaxEye collaborates with ISRO’s NSIL to market satellite imagery solutions
8. International Childhood Cancer Day observed
9. Kerala approves India’s first comprehensive Graphene Policy
10. Rajnath Singh inaugurates a missile integration facility and announces an AI push at BEL
11. Rashid Khan sets a historic bowling milestone
12. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates Ol Chiki 100-year celebrations in Delhi
13. An explainer explains HAMMER precision weapon system to be co-produced with France
14. Norway’s Johannes Klaebo wins relay gold, securing his ninth Olympic medal
15. Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins the country’s first-ever Winter Olympics medal
16. Legendary Odia singer Geeta Patnaik passes away at 73
17. India’s WPI inflation rises to 1.81% in January, marking a 10-month high
18. India’s first National Cow Culture Museum to be established in Mathura
19. Magnus Carlsen crowned FIDE Freestyle World Champion 2026
20. Internet pioneer David J. Farber passes away

National News

1. India records highest-ever power capacity addition of 52.5 GW in FY 2025–26

• What:
  • India added a record 52,537 megawatts (52.5 gigawatts) of power capacity in the first 10 months of the financial year 2025–26, raising total installed capacity to 520.6 gigawatts by January 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • Over 75% of the new capacity came from renewable energy sources, marking the highest annual addition and surpassing the previous record of 34,054 megawatts in financial year 2024–25.
  • Installed capacity in March 2025 was 475.3 gigawatts, showing nearly 11% growth in 10 months.
  • The Ministry of Power released the statement on capacity addition.
  • The Central Electricity Authority publishes monthly installed capacity reports.

2. President inaugurates centenary celebrations of Ol Chiki script

• What:
  • President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script at a national event organised by the Ministry of Culture in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • The event highlighted the importance of promoting Santali language education in the Ol Chiki script to preserve linguistic identity.
  • Ol Chiki was developed in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu of Mayurbhanj district.
  • A commemorative coin and postage stamp were released to mark 100 years of Ol Chiki.

Source: IE

State News

1. Prime Minister inaugurates development projects worth ₹5,450 crore in Assam

• What:
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and flagged off development projects worth over ₹5,450 crore in Assam.
• Tell me more:
  • Several projects were launched in Assam to improve roads, education, transport, and defence facilities. A ₹3,000 crore Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu over River Brahmaputra now connects Guwahati and North Guwahati.
  • The National Data Centre for North Eastern Region was also virtually inaugurated at Amingaon. The North Eastern Region of India is referred to as Ashtalakshmi by the Prime Minister.

Source: NOA

2. Kerala approves India’s first comprehensive graphene policy

• What:
  • Kerala approved India’s first comprehensive graphene policy to position the state as a global hub for research, development, and production of graphene.
• Tell me more:
  • The Union Cabinet approved Grefine Park as the first step under Kerala’s graphene policy. The state will give a 50% lease subsidy to manufacturing units.
  • A graphene industrial park will come up in Palakkad. A Digital Innovation Centre will be set up with ₹200 crore investment and global academic collaboration.
  • The policy promotes collaboration with institutions such as Oxford University and Manchester University.

Source: ET

3. India’s first cow culture museum to be set up in Mathura

• What:
  • India’s first cow culture museum will be established in Mathura by Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad on the campus of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Veterinary Science University.
• Tell me more:
  • The museum in Mathura will show about 100 digital and physical cattle models, including major and endangered breeds.
  • It will have a permanent exhibition on cow milk and its products, explaining nutritional and Ayurvedic benefits using modern methods. A dairy parlour will offer pure products. Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad preserves Braj heritage.

Source: HT

International News

1. UAE’s du joins Singapore-India-Gulf submarine cable system

• What:
  • du partnered to land and invest in the Singapore-India-Gulf (SING) submarine cable system, a next-generation fibre-optic network linking the Middle East with South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• Tell me more:
  • SING will connect Kalba in United Arab Emirates, Muscat in Oman, Mumbai and Chennai in India, Kedah in Malaysia, and Singapore.
  • du partnered with Cyprus-based Datawave Networks to land the cable in the United Arab Emirates.
  • The SING submarine cable project, backed by Cerberus Capital Management, is planned for deployment by 2030. It will deliver very high data capacity and faster connectivity.
  • The system will support cloud and AI services, diversify routes beyond the Red Sea, and strengthen the United Arab Emirates as a global data hub.

Source: TOI

Banking and Economy

1. Reserve Bank of India imposes penalties on three banks and two NBFCs

• What:
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on various banks for non-compliance with various regulatory directions.
• Tell me more:

2. DBS Bank and Visa pilot AI-driven agent payments in Asia Pacific

• DBS Bank and Visa started a pilot under Visa Intelligent Commerce to allow artificial intelligence agents to make secure payments for customers.
• DBS became the first bank in Asia Pacific to test real agent-led transactions, helping expand safe and scalable use of artificial intelligence in digital payments.

Source: ANI

3. India’s wholesale inflation rises to 1.81% in January 2026

• India’s wholesale prices increased to 1.81% in January year-on-year, marking the highest rise in 10 months and exceeding economists’ estimate of 1.25%.
• The rise was driven by higher vegetable prices, basic metals, and increased manufacturing costs.

Source: TOI

Defence News

1. Raksha Mantri inaugurates defence and AI facilities at Bharat Electronics Limited

• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh visited Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bengaluru and inaugurated a Missile Integration Facility, flagged off Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment Combat Systems, and unveiled Mountain Fire Control Radar.
• He also inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Pune and launched BEL’s Artificial Intelligence Policy to strengthen indigenous defence technologies.

Source: PIB

2. Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran form joint venture for HAMMER system

• What:
  • Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) approved signing a Joint Venture Agreement with Safran Electronics & Defence, France, for the HAMMER weapon system project under a 50:50 equity partnership.
• Tell me more:
  • The joint venture will have its registered office in Pune or another mutually agreed location, a four-member board with two directors each from BEL and Safran, and an initial authorised share capital of ₹1,00,000, extendable up to ₹10,00,00,000.
  • It will be incorporated as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 2013, to manufacture, supply, maintain, and repair the Guidance Kit of the HAMMER system for Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
  • HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a guided bomb system with modular kits. It uses inertial navigation, Global Positioning System (GPS), infrared, or laser guidance.

Source: TOI

Important Days

1. International Childhood Cancer Day – February 15

• Theme – “Demonstrating Impact”, focusing on showing progress made through global efforts to reduce inequalities in cancer care.
• ICCD was first recognised in 2002 by the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parents Organisations.

Source: N18

Sports

1. Rashid Khan becomes first player to take 700 T20 wickets

• What:
  • Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan became the first cricketer to reach 700 T20 wickets during a group-stage match against United Arab Emirates at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • Rashid Khan took his 700th T20 wicket after earlier reaching 699 against South Africa.
  • He gave 24 runs in four overs. He leads T20 International wickets with 191. Afghanistan won by five wickets.

Source: N18

2. Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo wins ninth Olympic gold at Milan Cortina Games

• Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won his ninth Olympic gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, leading Norway to victory in the men’s 4×7.5 kilometre relay and becoming the most successful athlete in Winter Olympic history.
• Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has won nine Olympic gold medals, including this one.
• Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won gold in giant slalom at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, securing Brazil’s first Winter Olympic medal and the first medal for any South American country at the Winter Olympics.

Source: TOI BBC

3. Magnus Carlsen wins 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship

• What:
  • Magnus Carlsen won the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship by defeating Fabiano Caruana 2.5–1.5 in Weissenhaus, Germany.
• Tell me more:
  • This was the first official FIDE-recognised Freestyle Chess World Championship and Carlsen’s 21st world title across formats.
  • Both Carlsen and Caruana qualified for the 2027 championship.
  • Hans Niemann came fifth after winning 2–0 against Arjun Erigaisi.
  • Bibisara Assaubayeva won the women’s exhibition match against Alexandra Kosteniuk.

Source: FIDE

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Rashtriya Raksha University and Centre for Development of Telematics sign MoU

• What:
  • Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) signed an MoU to work on telecom and cybersecurity research.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership supports indigenous 5G, cybersecurity tools, and secure communication systems. This will strengthen India’s digital security, protect critical infrastructure, and promote self-reliance in telecom technology.

Source: PIB

2. GalaxEye signs data reseller agreement with NewSpace India Limited

• What:
  • GalaxEye signed an agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to help sell Indian satellite products globally.
• Tell me more:
  • GalaxEye became the first private Indian satellite operator to collaborate with NSIL under a data reseller partnership.
  • NewSpace India Limited will resell GalaxEye’s satellite products, including SyncFused OptoSAR imagery. This technology provides clear and accurate satellite data.

Source: HBL

Miscellaneous

1. Eminent Odia Singer Geeta Patnaik Dies At 73
2. Internet pioneer David J. Farber passes away at 91

• David J. Farber, known as the “grandfather of the internet,” died in Tokyo.

Source: TOI

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