20th February 2026

1. France’s CMA CGM signs a USD 360 million agreement with Cochin Shipyard for six LNG-fuelled container vessels
2. India and the UK launch an ‘Offshore Wind Task Force’ under Vision 2035
3. IIT Madras Global Research Foundation establishes an AI Innovation Centre in Dubai
4. ASK Asset & Wealth Management receives SEBI approval to start a mutual fund business
5. Axis Bank collaborates with IndiGo to introduce two co-branded credit cards
6. TVS Supply Chain Solutions partners with ALA Group to strengthen aerospace and defence supply chains
7. International Asperger’s Day observed
8. Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presents a ₹2.55 lakh crore Interim Budget for FY27
9. Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presents a ₹4.38 lakh crore Budget for FY27
10. Delhi Government rolls out ‘Bhu-Aadhaar’ under ULPIN for digitisation of land records
11. World Day of Social Justice observed with renewed global commitment
12. VoicERA AI Stack debuts on BHASHINI as an open-source, India-focused platform
13. India and France establish a new AI Centre at AIIMS Delhi
14. India gifts the Maldives its first high-speed ferry, enhancing maritime cooperation
15. A list highlights the top 10 under-40 billionaires, led by an Indian entrepreneur
16. India joins over 100 countries in a collective stance against Israel’s actions in the West Bank
17. Andhra Pradesh secures India’s largest ₹8,175 crore lithium battery gigafactory project
18. International Paralympic Committee lifts ban, allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at Milan-Cortina 2026
19. GalaxEye announces ‘Mission Drishti’, an AI-powered OptoSAR satellite aimed at advancing earth data analytics
20. Assam Cabinet approves a 3% job reservation for Tea Tribes and expands MMUA coverage to benefit one lakh additional women
21. DRDO successfully conducts high-speed drogue parachute test, strengthening the Gaganyaan mission preparations

National News

India and United Kingdom Launch Offshore Wind Energy Task Force

• What: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi and UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy launched a task force under India-UK Vision 2035 to develop offshore wind energy, strengthening clean energy cooperation and supporting India’s renewable power expansion.
• Tell me more:
  • The task force was formed under India-United Kingdom Vision 2035 and the Fourth Energy Dialogue.
  • The United Kingdom is the second-largest offshore wind market and secured 8.4 gigawatts capacity in Europe’s largest auction.
  • India has an offshore wind potential of 70 gigawatts.
  • Initial projects are planned off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

IIT-Madras Global Research Foundation to Set Up Applied AI-Innovation Centre in Dubai

• What: Indian Institute of Technology Madras Global Research Foundation will establish an Applied AI Innovation Centre at Dubai CommerCity to promote applied artificial intelligence innovation and support technology-driven economic growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU was signed on the sidelines of WORLDEF Dubai 2026, the Middle East region’s largest global gathering dedicated to digital commerce, held from February 12-14, 2026.
  • The centre will support six artificial intelligence startups worth $118 million, expected to earn $281 million in five years.
  • IIT-Madras Global Research Foundation will guide the project to turn research into market-ready products, create skilled jobs, support key sectors, and strengthen India-UAE technology cooperation.

Digital India BHASHINI Division Launches VoicERA Open Source Voice Artificial Intelligence Stack

• What: Digital India BHASHINI Division, under Digital India Corporation and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, launched VoicERA, an open source end-to-end Voice Artificial Intelligence stack, strengthening India’s Digital Public Infrastructure for multilingual voice-based public services.
• Tell me more:
  • VoicERA was launched at the India Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit 2026.
  • It was developed with EkStep Foundation, COSS, International Institute of Information Technology Bengaluru, and AI4Bharat.
  • The platform runs on the BHASHINI National Language Infrastructure.
  • VoicERA is an open and flexible Voice AI platform that works on cloud and local systems. It supports real-time speech, multilingual calls, and conversational services for agriculture, education, and public schemes.

India and France Inaugurate Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS Delhi

• What: Union Health Minister J P Nadda and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Health at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • The centre is a joint initiative to advance artificial intelligence-based research, medical education, and clinical innovation. It aims to address complex healthcare challenges through technology.
  • The launch coincided with Rencontres Universitaires Et Scientifiques De Haut Niveau (RUSH) meetings held on February 18–19, 2026.
    • Rencontres Universitaires Et Scientifiques De Haut Niveau (RUSH) is a high-level academic meeting between India and France.
  • An Indo-French Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Brain Health and Global Healthcare was organised.

India Assists Maldives in Launching High-Speed Ferry Services under High Impact Community Development Project Phase III

• What: India assisted the Maldives in building high-speed ferries to launch Raajje Transport Link services in Faafu and Dhaalu Atolls, strengthening maritime connectivity and reinforcing cooperation under India’s Neighbourhood First policy.
• Tell me more:
  • India will provide 12 high-speed ferries under the High Impact Community Development Project Phase III Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2025.
  • Two ferries have been built to begin services in Faafu and Dhaalu Atolls.
  • In May 2025, 13 Memorandums of Understanding worth Maldivian Rufiyaa 100 million were signed to enhance ferry services.
  • The purpose of this project is to help people in the Maldives live better lives by improving roads, transport, schools, hospitals, sports facilities and coastal safety, making communities safer, stronger and more connected.

State News

Tamil Nadu Presents Interim Budget 2026–27 with Higher Deficit and Rising Debt

• Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented the Interim Budget for 2026–27, highlighting higher fiscal and revenue deficits due to lower receipts and higher spending, while promising to reduce the fiscal deficit to 3% of Gross State Domestic Product.

Madhya Pradesh Presents ₹4.38 Lakh Crore Budget with Welfare and Infrastructure Focus

• Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented a ₹4.38 lakh crore budget in the Legislative Assembly, increasing allocations for welfare, rural development, and infrastructure, while projecting a revenue surplus and reducing fiscal deficit to 3.87% of Gross State Domestic Product.

Bhu-Aadhaar System Introduces Unique Land Parcel Identification Number for Digital Land Records

• What: The Bhu-Aadhaar system, known as Unique Land Parcel Identification Number, assigns a 14-digit digital identity to each land parcel using geo-coordinates, aiming to reduce disputes, improve title clarity, and strengthen transparency in India’s real estate sector.
• Tell me more:
  • ULPIN connects revenue, registration, survey, and mutation records under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme, improving title clarity, bank lending confidence, and exposing record inconsistencies across states.

Waaree Energies to Set Up India’s Largest Lithium-Ion Battery Gigafactory in Andhra Pradesh

• What: Andhra Pradesh approved Waaree Energies’ ₹8,175 crore investment to establish a 16 gigawatt-hour integrated lithium-ion battery gigafactory, strengthening domestic energy storage manufacturing and supporting India’s clean energy transition.
• Tell me more:
  • The facility will manufacture battery cells, packs, and energy storage systems to support solar, wind, electric vehicle infrastructure, and power utilities under Andhra Pradesh’s integrated clean energy policy linking generation, equipment manufacturing, and storage.

Assam Cabinet Approves 3% Reservation for Tea Tribes

• Assam Cabinet approved 3% reservation in Class I and Class II state government jobs for tea tribes and Adivasi communities within Other Backward Classes quota and expanded Mission for Minority and Underprivileged Areas to include over one lakh additional women beneficiaries.

International News

India Joins Over 100 Nations in Condemning Israel’s Measures in West Bank

• What: India joined over 100 countries and organisations in condemning Israel’s unilateral measures aimed at expanding its presence in the West Bank, reinforcing its support for international law and the two-State solution.
• Tell me more:
  • India recognised the State of Palestine in 1988.
  • The Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations issued a joint statement signed by over 100 countries.

Banking and Economy

SEBI Approves ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group Mutual Fund Launch and Various IPOs

• SEBI has approved ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group to launch its mutual fund business, while XED Executive Development, Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions, and Gaudium IVF and Women Health announced initial public offerings, strengthening India’s capital markets activity.

Axis Bank and IndiGo Launch Co-Branded Credit Cards Linked to BluChip Programme

• Axis Bank and IndiGo have launched two co-branded credit cards linked to the BluChip loyalty programme, enabling customers to earn airline rewards on daily spending while expanding travel and lifestyle payment options in India’s credit card market.
• The cards are available in two variants – IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card and IndiGo Axis Bank Premium Credit Card.
• BluChip is IndiGo’s loyalty programme that allows customers to earn reward points on flight bookings and eligible spending, which can later be used for travel benefits.

Reports and Indices

Forbes 2025 List Shows 71 Self-Made Billionaires Under 40 Led by Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneurs

• What: Forbes 2025 World’s Billionaires List records 71 self-made billionaires aged 39 or younger, with many building wealth in artificial intelligence and technology, highlighting rapid global growth in innovation-driven industries.
• Tell me more:
  • The four Indians together hold a combined net worth exceeding $11 billion.

• World’s top 10:
  

Defence News

Cochin Shipyard Secures USD 360 Million LNG Vessel Order from France-Based CMA CGM Group

• What: Cochin Shipyard Limited has secured a USD 360 million contract from France-based CMA CGM Group to build six liquefied natural gas-powered container vessels, strengthening India’s global shipbuilding presence and expanding the company’s commercial order book.
• Tell me more:
  • The vessels will be designed by Korea Maritime Consultants Co., Ltd. and built at Cochin Shipyard Limited’s facility in Kerala.
  • The first vessel is targeted for February 2029, followed by delivery of two vessels every year.

TVS Supply Chain Solutions Signs MoU with ALA Group

• TVS Supply Chain Solutions has signed an MoU with Italy-based ALA Group to jointly pursue aerospace and defence supply chain opportunities in India, supporting the country’s $28 billion market and strengthening regulated logistics capabilities.

Science and Technology

GalaxEye to Launch Mission Drishti Satellite with NVIDIA Jetson Orin and SyncFused OptoSAR Technology

• What: Bengaluru-based GalaxEye announced that Mission Drishti will carry NVIDIA Jetson Orin and SyncFused OptoSAR technology, enabling faster artificial intelligence-based Earth observation data processing and improving satellite-based insights for multiple sectors.
• Tell me more:
  • GalaxEye plans to expand to a 10-satellite constellation by 2030.
  • Mission Drishti will process satellite data directly in space using artificial intelligence, giving faster and clearer information. By combining day, night, and all-weather imaging, it can improve farming, disaster response, and resource planning.
  • Testing Orbital Data Centres and expanding to 10 satellites can increase reliability and data access.

Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute Clears Qualification Load Test at DRDO Rail Track Rocket Sledge Facility

• What: India achieved a milestone in the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme with successful qualification load testing of the drogue parachute at Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Rail Track Rocket Sledge facility, strengthening mission safety and indigenous capability.
• Tell me more:
  • The successful test shows that the drogue parachute can handle forces even stronger than actual flight conditions, increasing safety for astronauts in the Gaganyaan mission.
  • It proves India can design and manufacture strong space equipment on its own, strengthening self-reliance and boosting confidence in the human spaceflight programme.

Important Days

International Asperger’s Day – February 18

• Asperger’s Syndrome is a type of Autism Spectrum Disorder. It affects how a young person understands and connects with others.
• They may find social situations confusing, repeat certain behaviours, and focus deeply on a few specific interests instead of many different activities.

World Day of Social Justice – February 20

• It was first designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007.
• In 2026, the commemorative event is convened by the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations.

International Day of Families – May 15

• The United Nations will observe the International Day of Families on 15 May 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York under the theme “Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing.”

Sports

International Paralympic Committee Allows Russian and Belarusian Athletes Under National Flags at Milano-Cortina 2026

• International Paralympic Committee confirmed Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete under their national flags at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, marking a policy shift from earlier bans and restoring full national representation at the Games.

Start Quiz of 20th February 2026 on Mobile

Start Quiz of 20th February 2026 on Desktop