Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 21 February, 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
21 February, 2026

1. M.A.N.A.V. Vision for Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence

Source: PIB

Context:

• The Prime Minister of India presented the M.A.N.A.V. vision at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
• It outlines India’s human-centric framework for artificial intelligence governance.

About M.A.N.A.V. Vision

• M.A.N.A.V. (PM Narendra Modi’s Human-Centric AI Odyssey) is India’s guiding framework for AI development.
• It places human values, ethics, inclusivity, and trust at the core of technological advancement.

Objectives

• Ensure AI development is ethical, inclusive, and accountable.
• Balance innovation with human dignity, safety, and legal safeguards.
• Democratise AI access across sectors such as governance, education, healthcare, and agriculture.

Five Pillars of M.A.N.A.V.

1. Moral and Ethical Systems
   • Focus on fairness, transparency, and human oversight in AI systems.
   • Promotes AI literacy and ethics through the National Education Policy 2020.
2. Accountable Governance
   • Transparent oversight through IndiaAI Mission and governance guidelines.
   • Encourages explainable, lawful, and responsible AI deployment.
3. National Sovereignty
   • Emphasis on secure data, domestic computing capacity, and indigenous AI models.
   • Supported by initiatives such as the India Semiconductor Mission and trusted digital infrastructure.
4. Accessible and Inclusive AI
   • Democratization of AI through Digital Public Infrastructure.
   • Platforms like IndiaAI Compute Portal, MeghRaj Cloud, and IndiaAI Kosh support affordable access for innovators.
5. Valid, Safe and Legitimate Systems
   • Ensures AI systems are trustworthy, legal, and verifiable.
   • Supported by IT Amendment Rules 2026 regulating synthetic media and deepfakes.

2. Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute Successfully Tested

Source: News on Air

Context:

India achieved a major milestone in its human spaceflight programme as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a qualification-level load test of the Drogue Parachute for the Gaganyaan mission.

What is the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute?

• A critical component of the Crew Module deceleration system in India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
• Deployed during atmospheric re-entry to stabilise the crew module and reduce its velocity before the main parachutes deploy.

Developed and Tested By

• Developed jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and DRDO.
• Tested at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh.
• Testing conducted using the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility.

3. Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion ( SANKALP Scheme)

Source: TH

Context:

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has criticised the government for slow and weak implementation of the SANKALP scheme. The committee reviewed a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit report highlighting delays and financial underutilisation.

About SANKALP Scheme

• Full form: Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion.
• Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Approved: October 2017 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
• Launched: 2018.
• Objective: Improve short-term skill training through institutional strengthening, industry linkage, and inclusion of marginalised groups.
• Total outlay: ₹4,455 crore.
• Funding sources:
  • World Bank loan: ₹3,300 crore
  • State leverage: ₹660 crore
  • Industry leverage: ₹495 crore
• Timeline: Initially up to March 2023; extended to March 2024.

4. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) — 23rd Foundation Day

Source: PIB

Context:

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day in New Delhi. The occasion highlighted its role in protecting tribal rights and promoting inclusive development.

About National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

• A constitutional body established under Article 338A of the Constitution of India.
• Mandate: Protect, monitor and promote the rights and welfare of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• Functions as a watchdog to ensure implementation of constitutional safeguards and address tribal grievances.

Establishment

• Created in 2004 through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
• Formed by separating tribal affairs from the earlier combined commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to ensure focused attention.

Composition

• Chairperson
• Vice-Chairperson
• Three Members
• Appointed by the President of India.
• Members typically have expertise in tribal administration, social justice, or policy.

5. Bela Gram — India’s First Net-Zero Panchayat

Source: TH

Why in News?

Bela Gram, India’s first net-zero panchayat, was highlighted at Mumbai Climate Week 2026 as a model of grassroots climate action led by local governance.

Key Highlights:

• Bela Gram became Maharashtra’s first net-zero village.
• Led by Sarpanch Sharada Gaydhane through community participation and sustainable practices.
• Received the 2024 Rashtriya Panchayat Puraskar.

Measures Taken to Achieve Net Zero

• Plantation of 90,000+ trees during social events.
• Transition from traditional smoky chulhas to LPG cooking fuel.
• Solar panels installed in homes, anganwadis, and panchayat buildings.
• Waste segregation at source and elimination of single-use plastics.
• Promotion of circular economy — “waste to wealth” approach.

How a Village Becomes Net Zero

A village can achieve net zero by:

• Using renewable energy (solar, wind, biogas) instead of fossil fuels.
• Planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide.
• Managing waste properly (reduce, reuse, recycle).
• Using clean cooking fuel (like LPG or biogas).
• Saving water and electricity.
• Promoting eco-friendly farming.

6. Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP-II)

Source: PIB

Context:

• The Union Home Minister launched the Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP-II) in Nathanpur village, Cachar district, Assam.
• The programme focuses on comprehensive development of villages located along India’s international land borders.

What is VVP-II?

• A Central Sector Scheme aimed at developing villages in blocks adjoining India’s International Land Borders (ILBs), excluding northern border areas already covered under Vibrant Villages Programme-I.
• Designed to improve infrastructure, livelihoods, and integration of border communities.

Launch and Duration

• Approved for implementation during FY 2024-25 to 2025-26, with financial support up to FY 2028-29.
• Officially launched in February 2026 in Assam.

Background

• 1986-87: Border Area Development Programme (BADP) launched to address infrastructure gaps.
• Persistent issues of migration, livelihood insecurity, and underdevelopment in border regions.
• 2023: Vibrant Villages Programme-I launched for northern border areas.
• VVP-II: Extends the model to other international land borders such as Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Nepal, Indo-Myanmar, Indo-Bhutan, and Indo-Pakistan.

Objectives

• Bridge infrastructure gaps and improve living standards in border villages.
• Generate sustainable livelihood opportunities.
• Integrate border communities with mainstream development.
• Strengthen border security by empowering local populations as “eyes and ears” of border guarding forces.

Key Features

• Total outlay: ₹6,839 crore up to FY 2028-29.
• Coverage: 15 States and 2 Union Territories.
• Identification of 1,954 strategic villages for intensive development.
• Saturation-based approach to ensure all eligible households benefit from government schemes.
• Convergence model integrating multiple flagship schemes.

Banking/Finance

1. SMS-Less UPI Signup Likely to be Introduced by 2026–27

Source: BS

Context:

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is working on a new system that may allow users to sign up for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) without sending SMS for verification. The new system may be implemented within the next 12–18 months, subject to technical feasibility and testing.

Present System (Device Binding)

• UPI registration currently requires sending an encrypted SMS from the user’s SIM-linked mobile number.
• This process verifies the device and mobile number before activation.

Proposed Change

• Move towards SMS-less or “silent” mobile verification.
• Device binding will shift largely to the back end and become invisible to users.
• May use tokenised verification and telecom network-based authentication instead of SMS.

Reasons for the Change

• Reduce dependency on SMS infrastructure.
• Improve security by preventing risks like SMS auto-forwarding.
• Simplify onboarding and improve user experience.
• Enable large-scale onboarding of new users (including the next 150 million users).

2. ICICI Launches Swasthya Pension Scheme Combining Retirement and Health Needs

Source: TOI

Context:

ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company has launched the Swasthya Pension Scheme. The scheme has been introduced under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) regulatory sandbox framework.

Objective of the Scheme

• Help subscribers build a retirement corpus.
• Provide flexibility to meet healthcare and medical expenses.
• Address rising healthcare costs during retirement.

Key Features

• Integrates long-term retirement savings with health-related financial needs.
• Designed to supplement health insurance, not replace it.
• Provides financial flexibility for medical contingencies during retirement.

Regulatory Aspect

• Introduced under the PFRDA regulatory sandbox, which allows testing of innovative financial products in a controlled environment.
• The regulator may consider linking account opening to existing health insurance coverage to ensure the scheme remains supplementary.

Agriculture

1. Shalimar Wheat Varieties Developed for Kashmir

Source: TH

Context:

Scientists at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) have developed two new early-maturing wheat varieties to support the rice–wheat cropping system in Kashmir.

What is Shalimar Wheat?

• A set of early-maturing wheat varieties developed through conventional breeding.
• Designed specifically for Kashmir’s climatic conditions and cropping cycle.
• Enables timely wheat harvest before paddy transplantation.

New Varieties

• Shalimar Wheat-4 (SW-4): Matures by the last week of May.
• Shalimar Wheat-3 (SW-3): Matures by the first week of June.

Key Features

• Early maturity: Allows timely preparation of fields for rice cultivation.
• Climate adaptation: Suitable for mid-altitude regions up to about 1,850 metres.
• Rice–wheat cropping compatibility: Supports smooth crop rotation without delaying paddy transplantation.
• Disease resistance: Resistant to yellow rust, a major fungal disease in Kashmir.
• High productivity: SW-3 yields up to about 38 quintals per hectare.
• Biofortification: SW-3 contains higher iron and zinc (over 40 ppm) and around 12% protein.
• Conventional breeding: Developed through cross-breeding, pedigree selection and long-term field trials.

2. Salem Sago (Javvarisi) Exported to Canada

Source: PIB

Context:

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first direct export consignment of GI-tagged Salem Sago from Tamil Nadu to Canada. The export marks a significant milestone for producer-led exports of traditional Indian food products.

About Salem Sago (Javvarisi)

• A starch-based food product made from tapioca (cassava) roots.
• Wet starch is processed into small pearl-like granules.
• Widely used as a staple food and in industries such as food processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals and construction.

Origin and Production

• Originates from Salem district, Tamil Nadu, often called the “Land of Sago.”
• The region offers ideal conditions including high tapioca yield, favourable climate and established processing infrastructure.
• Over 80% of India’s sago production comes from Salem and nearby districts such as Erode, Namakkal and Dharmapuri.

Geographical Indication (GI) Status

• Received GI tag in March 2023.
• Registered by The Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers’ Service Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd (SAGOSERVE), under the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Facts To Remember

1. Bengali author Shankar passes away in Kolkata at 92

Veteran Bengali author Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay, popularly known as Shankar, passed away on Friday at the age of 92.

2. Indian Navy Hosts IFR 2026, MILAN 2026 & IONS Conclave at Visakhapatnam

Exercise MILAN 2026, inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was conducted from 19–25 February in the Bay of Bengal with the theme “Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration.” IFR 2026 was held on 18 February under the theme “United through Oceans,” presided over by President Droupadi Murmu.

3. Amit Shah Launches Vibrant Villages Programme–II in Assam

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP–II) at Nathanpur village in Cachar district, Assam, to boost border development and security. The scheme has an outlay of ₹6,839 crore till FY29 and will cover 1,954 border villages across 15 states and 2 UTs, focusing on basic services, livelihoods, and strategic border infrastructure aligned with Viksit Bharat@2047.

4. Ministry of Power Sets Oversight Panels for PFC–REC Merger

The Ministry of Power constituted a high-level committee and a Working Group to oversee the proposed merger of Power Finance Corporation and REC Limited. The panel will monitor progress, resolve policy issues, and ensure integration of personnel, pay scales, and service conditions.

5. Mizoram Inaugurates Lengtekai ‘Faith Bridge’ over Tlawng River

Mizoram CM Lalduhoma inaugurated the 100-metre Lengtekai Bridge over the Tlawng River in Aizawl, built at a cost of ₹43.83 crore with funding from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The bridge enhances connectivity between Aizawl, Lengpui Airport, and Mamit district, replacing old Bailey structures and improving transport safety.

6. UP Govt & IOCL Sign MoU for International Cricket Stadium in Gorakhpur

The Government of Uttar Pradesh signed an MoU with Indian Oil Corporation Limited to build a ₹339 crore international cricket stadium in Gorakhpur with a seating capacity of 30,000. The project will be funded through CSR contributions from IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL and is expected to be completed by December 2027.

7. India–Israel Sign MoU on Defence Industrial Cooperation

India and Israel signed an MoU in Tel Aviv to deepen defence industrial collaboration through joint seminars, technology sharing, co-development, and industrial partnerships. The agreement was facilitated by SIBAT and SIDM, focusing on strengthening interoperability and defence manufacturing under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2026.

8. GIFT City & AJNIFM Sign MoU for FinTech and Finance Talent

GIFT City signed an MoU with the Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management to build talent in international finance and FinTech. The partnership includes PG programmes, research collaboration, and industry immersion aligned with India’s IFSC ecosystem.

9. Tata Group Partners OpenAI for India’s First Large-Scale AI Data Centre

The Tata Group partnered with OpenAI to establish an AI-ready data centre under the Stargate initiative. TCS HyperVault will begin with 100 MW capacity scalable to 1 GW, supported by green energy and AI-optimised hardware, with plans to deploy ChatGPT Enterprise across Tata operations.

10. DRDO Conducts Drogue Parachute Test for Gaganyaan

The Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully conducted a qualification-level load test of the drogue parachute for the Gaganyaan mission at the TBRL facility in Chandigarh, in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation and VSSC. The test validated structural strength, reliability, and safety margins for crew module stabilisation during re-entry.

11. Pankaj Advani Wins Liber Win Champions Cup 2026

Pankaj Advani won the inaugural Liber Win Champions Cup 2026 by defeating Kamal Chawla 6–3 in the final at Bengaluru and was also named Liber Win’s Indian Brand Ambassador.

12. IPC Lifts Ban on Russia & Belarus for Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympics

The International Paralympic Committee lifted the ban on Russia and Belarus, allowing athletes to compete under national flags at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics (6–15 March 2026) in Italy, with allocated quota slots in para-alpine, cross-country skiing, and para-snowboard events.

13. VP C.P. Radhakrishnan Releases Book on Sree Narayana Guru

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book “The Sage who Reimagined Hinduism: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru” authored by Shashi Tharoor at India International Centre, New Delhi. The book highlights the philosophy and reformist legacy of Sree Narayana Guru promoting equality and social justice.

14. World Day of Social Justice 2026 – February 20

World Day of Social Justice is observed annually on 20 February to promote awareness on poverty reduction, employment, gender equality, and inclusive social development. The 2026 theme was “Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice,” as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007.

15. India’s First Private-Sector Helicopter Assembly Line for Airbus H125 Inaugurated

India’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the Airbus H125 has been set up at Vemagal, Karnataka by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd in partnership with Airbus. The facility was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron.

16. Kerala Approves India’s First Graphene Policy

Kerala has approved India’s first comprehensive Graphene Policy to position itself as a global hub for graphene research and manufacturing. The Union Cabinet has also cleared the Graphene (Grefine) Park to boost advanced material innovation.

17. India Sets Guinness World Record for AI Responsibility Campaign

India secured a Guinness World Record for the “Most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours,” with 250,946 valid pledges during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

18. Uttar Pradesh Launches ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’ for Manuscript Digitisation

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a district-level manuscript digitisation drive under the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’. The initiative aims to preserve and digitise rare handwritten texts, palm-leaf manuscripts, and historical documents.

19. Delhi Launches India’s First AI-Driven CM Shri School

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated the first AI-driven CM Shri School at Sarojini Nagar. The project aims to modernise school education through advanced infrastructure and AI-enabled learning models.

20. FAO Recognises West Bengal’s ‘Matir Srishti’ Programme

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) awarded an international certificate to West Bengal for its ‘Matir Srishti’ programme, launched in 2020 to convert barren land into cultivable farmland. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the recognition. FAO also acknowledged three aromatic rice varieties—Gobindobhog, Tulaipanji, and Kanakchur—for their unique agricultural value.

21. NIGRANI App Launched to Monitor PMJVK

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launched the NIGRANI App at Nalanda University to strengthen monitoring of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK). The app ensures real-time tracking of infrastructure development in minority-concentrated areas. The Ministry of Minority Affairs also introduced a digital Haj Wrist Band to improve management of Indian pilgrims.

22. Airtel Money Receives RBI Approval

A subsidiary of Bharti Airtel has received RBI approval to operate as a Type II NBFC-ND (ICC), enabling non-banking financial operations without accepting deposits.

23. IDFC FIRST Bank Launches Hello Cashback Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank introduced the Hello Cashback Credit Card offering up to 5% cashback on online spends. The card targets young digital users and supports credit history building.

24. Pramod Bhagat Wins Gold at BWF Para World Championships

Indian shuttler Pramod Bhagat won the SL3 gold at the BWF Para World Championships in Bahrain, securing his fourth consecutive singles gold.