Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 19 February, 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
19 February, 2026

International Affairs

1. G7 Summit 2026

Source: Mint

Context:

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the 52nd G7 Summit 2026, to be held in Évian, France.

India is not a member but is often invited as an outreach partner due to its global economic and geopolitical significance.

What is the G7 Summit?

An annual meeting of leaders of major advanced economies to discuss:

• Global economic stability
• Security and geopolitics
• Climate change
• Development and global governance

About the G7

The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal forum of leading industrial democracies.

Members

• United States
• United Kingdom
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Japan
• Canada

European Union participates as a non-enumerated member.

Origin and Evolution

• 1975: Established at Rambouillet Summit (France).
• Formed to address global economic instability after the 1973 oil crisis.
• 1976: Canada joined → G6 became G7.
• 1997–2014: Russia joined (G8), later suspended after Crimea annexation.
• Agenda expanded from economic coordination to global governance, climate, and security.

National Affairs

1. Beat the Heat Programme

Source: Indian Express

Context:

Maharashtra announced that 30 cities have joined the global Beat the Heat Programme during Mumbai Climate Week 2026.

What is the Beat the Heat Programme?

• A global climate initiative focused on tackling extreme heat through sustainable cooling and urban resilience measures.
• It operationalises the Global Cooling Pledge by translating it into practical city-level action.
• Launched under the COP30 Presidency (Brazil) and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through the Cool Coalition.

Objectives

1. Climate Mitigation

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cooling systems.
• Promote energy-efficient and low-carbon cooling technologies.

2. Climate Adaptation

• Protect vulnerable populations from heat stress.
• Integrate cooling and heat resilience into urban planning.

2. India–France Special Global Strategic Partnership

Source: News on Air

Context:

French President Emmanuel Macron visited India to attend the India AI Impact Summit and launch the 2026 India–France Year of Innovation. During the visit, India and France elevated ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership”, a long-term framework guiding cooperation till 2047.

What is the Special Global Strategic Partnership?

A major diplomatic upgrade that expands the relationship into a comprehensive global alliance, focusing on:

1. Strategic Autonomy

• Strengthening independent decision-making and sovereignty of both nations.

2. Global Governance

• Cooperation on global challenges such as climate change, economic imbalances, and geopolitical stability.

3. Security & Innovation

• Co-development of advanced technologies (AI, space, nuclear).
• Building trusted and resilient supply chains.

Evolution of India–France Relations

• 1947: Early diplomatic relations after India’s independence.
• 1998: France became the first Western country to sign a Strategic Partnership with India and did not impose sanctions after nuclear tests.
• 2008: First country to sign a civil nuclear agreement with India after the NSG waiver.
• 2023: Adoption of Horizon 2047 Roadmap (25-year cooperation plan).
• High-level symbolism:
  • Indian PM invited as Bastille Day Guest of Honour (2023).
  • Macron attended India’s Republic Day (2024).

Key Agreements Under the New Partnership

Innovation & Technology

• Year of Innovation 2026: Joint initiatives in AI, healthcare, and sustainability.
• AI-driven health research collaboration (AIIMS–Paris Brain Institute).

Defence Cooperation

• Co-production of fighter jet engines (Safran–HAL).
• Procurement of Rafale Marine jets.

Nuclear Energy

• Joint development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors.

Indo-Pacific Cooperation

• Triangular development cooperation in third countries (health, digital public infrastructure).

Space Collaboration

• Expanded cooperation between ISRO and CNES:
  • Human spaceflight
  • Satellite launch systems
  • Space situational awareness

Mobility & Education

• Visa-free transit for Indians through French airports (pilot).
• Target: 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030.

3. Sarvam Launches Made-in-India Large Language Models (LLMs)

Source: BS

Context:

Indian artificial intelligence (AI) startup Sarvam launched two indigenous large language models (LLMs) specifically trained on Indian languages

What Happened?

• Indian AI startup Sarvam launched two indigenous Large Language Models (LLMs) trained specifically on Indian languages.
• Models announced:
  • 30-billion parameter model (efficient, low-cost, real-time use)
  • 105-billion parameter model (advanced reasoning and complex tasks)

Key Technical Features

• Real-time conversational abilities.
• Multilingual performance (e.g., Hindi, Punjabi).
• Designed for mathematical reasoning, coding, and problem-solving.

Large Language Models (LLMs)

Large Language Models (LLMs) are advanced artificial intelligence systems trained to understand, generate, and interact using human language.

They are called “large” because they are trained on massive amounts of text data and contain billions (or even trillions) of parameters — the internal settings that help the model learn patterns. Most modern LLMs use Transformer architecture (introduced in 2017).

4. AI-Preneurs of India

Source: PIB

Context:

The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog launched AI-Preneurs of India at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

What is AI-Preneurs of India?

• A flagship coffee table book documenting journeys of 45 pioneering AI startups in India.
• It is the 7th edition of AIM’s Innovations For You series.
• Highlights India’s expanding AI and deep-tech startup ecosystem.

Objectives

• Showcase purpose-driven AI innovation addressing real societal challenges.
• Position India as a responsible global contributor in AI entrepreneurship.
• Promote inclusive, ethical, and impact-oriented AI development.

5. Indian Navy Launches Cadet Training Ship INS Krishna

Source: TOI

Context:

• The Indian Navy launched INS Krishna, the first in a new series of indigenous Cadet Training Ships (CTS).
• Designed as “floating classrooms and living labs” to provide naval cadets hands-on training at sea.
• Built at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli (near Chennai).
• Expected to be operational by the end of 2026.

What is INS Krishna?

• A dedicated cadet training ship designed as a “floating classroom and living lab.”
• Provides hands-on sea training to naval cadets after basic shore training.
• First of three indigenous Cadet Training Ships planned.

Purpose of Cadet Training Ships

• Provide real-world sea training after basic shore training.
• Enhance practical learning in:
  • Navigation
  • Seamanship
  • Watchkeeping
• Will form the core of naval sea training infrastructure for next 30 years.

6. Government Launches SAHI & BODH Initiatives

Source: TH

Context:

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Union Health Minister launched two major digital health initiatives:

• SAHI – Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India
• BODH – Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

These initiatives aim to ensure safe, ethical, transparent and accountable use of AI in healthcare.

What is SAHI?

A national governance framework and policy roadmap for responsible AI adoption in India’s healthcare sector.

It acts as a policy compass guiding ethical and people-centric AI deployment.

Objectives

• Promote responsible and ethical AI in healthcare.
• Align AI innovation with public health priorities.
• Ensure patient data protection and transparency.

Key Features

1. Governance Framework

• Standardised policy guidelines at Union and State levels.
• Uniform regulatory approach to health AI deployment.

2. Ethical AI Standards

• Consent-based data usage.
• Algorithmic transparency.
• Accountability and audit mechanisms.
• Bias prevention safeguards.

3. Interoperability

• Integration with India’s digital health ecosystem.
• Alignment with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) platforms.

4. Multi-Stakeholder Model

• Collaboration among:
  • Government agencies
  • Academia
  • Startups
  • Health-tech industry

5. Long-Term Policy Roadmap

• Scalable AI adoption with public trust safeguards.

What is BODH?

A national benchmarking and validation platform for health AI tools.

Developed by:

• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
• National Health Authority

Objectives

• Evaluate AI tools before large-scale deployment.
• Ensure safety, reliability, and fairness.
• Reduce algorithmic bias using real-world datasets.

Key Features

1. Open Data Benchmarking

• Uses anonymized real-world health datasets.
• Ensures fairness and broader applicability.

2. Performance Validation

• Tests accuracy and clinical robustness.
• Assesses operational reliability.

3. Bias & Risk Assessment

• Detects discrimination risks.
• Prevents inequitable healthcare outcomes.

4. Clinical Relevance Testing

• Aligns AI tools with medical standards.
• Ensures public health relevance.

5. Standardised Evaluation Norms

• Establishes national quality benchmarks for health AI.

7. Bee Corridor (India’s First Pollinator Highway Initiative)

Source: ET

Context:

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced the development of India’s first dedicated “Bee Corridors” along National Highways.

What are Bee Corridors?

• Linear stretches of pollinator-friendly vegetation developed along highways.
• Designed with flowering plants and trees that provide year-round nectar and pollen.
• Support honeybees and other pollinators essential for agriculture and biodiversity.

Aim

• Reduce ecological stress on pollinators.
• Ensure continuous nectar availability.
• Strengthen agricultural productivity and ecological balance.
• Promote climate-sensitive highway plantation planning.

Key Features

1. Native Nectar-Rich Plant Species

Examples include:

• Neem
• Karanj
• Mahua
• Palash
• Jamun
• Siris

Supports biodiversity and local ecosystems.

2. Staggered Blooming Cycle

• Different species flower in different seasons.
• Ensures continuous food supply for pollinators.

3. Strategic Spacing

• Flowering clusters every 500 m to 1 km.
• Based on average bee foraging range.

Banking/Finance

1. Banks Take Cautious Approach to Acquisition Financing Under RBI Norms

Source: BS

What Happened?

After the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued final guidelines on acquisition financing, banks are preparing to enter the segment gradually and cautiously.

What is Acquisition Financing?

• Loans provided by banks to companies to purchase or acquire another company or asset.
• Common in mergers, takeovers, and corporate restructuring.

Key RBI Guardrails (Risk Control Measures)

1. Exposure Limits

• Earlier draft: 10% of Tier-I capital.
• Final rule: Up to 20% of eligible capital.
• Still counted within overall capital market exposure limits.

2. Corporate Eligibility Conditions

Acquiring company must have:

• Minimum ₹500 crore net worth.
• Net profit for 3 consecutive years.
• Investment-grade rating (if unlisted).

3. Leverage Control

• Post-acquisition Debt–Equity ratio capped at 3:1 (continuous basis).

4. Financing Structure

• Banks can fund maximum 75% of acquisition value.
• Remaining 25% allowed via bridge finance, repayable within 1 year.

Purpose of Safeguards

• Ensure only financially stable companies access funding.
• Prevent excessive leverage and risky lending.
• Limit systemic risk to banking sector.

2. NPCI–Nvidia Partnership for Sovereign AI in Payments

Source: ET

Context:

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) partnered with Nvidia to strengthen sovereign AI infrastructure for India’s payment ecosystem. Aim: Develop a payments-focused foundational AI model aligned with India’s regulatory and data sovereignty requirements.

Key Features of the Partnership

1. Payments-Native AI Foundation

• AI designed specifically for high-volume, real-time digital payments.
• Supports:
  • Trust and security
  • Operational intelligence
  • Fraud monitoring and resilience
  • Faster grievance redressal

2. Use of Nvidia Nemotron Models

• NPCI will use Nemotron open AI models to build domain-specific systems.
• Capabilities include:
  • Advanced reasoning
  • Agentic AI systems
  • Multilingual processing
  • Information retrieval

3. Scalable AI Architecture

• May use Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture.
• Designed for:
  • Low latency
  • High transaction volumes
  • Population-scale payment systems

3. RBI mandates Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for OTC derivatives

Source: BL

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated the use of a Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for all Over-the-Counter (OTC) derivative transactions.

What is a UTI?

• A Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) is a globally recognised data element used to uniquely identify each OTC derivative transaction.
• Helps in accurate reporting and monitoring of derivative trades.

Purpose of mandating UTI

• Enables policymakers and regulators to obtain a comprehensive and transparent view of the OTC derivatives market.
• Improves:
  • Risk monitoring
  • Market surveillance
  • Data consistency
  • Financial stability oversight

UTI will now be mandatory for all these transactions.

OTC (Over-the-Counter) derivatives

OTC (Over-the-Counter) derivatives are financial contracts that are traded directly between two parties, without going through a formal stock exchange. They are privately negotiated contracts.

Agriculture

1. Circular Economy in Agriculture: Waste to Wealth

Source: PIB

Context:

India is promoting a circular economy in agriculture by converting agricultural waste into energy, organic inputs, and economic value — aligning environmental sustainability with rural development.

What is Circular Economy in Agriculture?

A system that treats waste as a resource, not a disposal problem.

Core Principles (6Rs)

• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle
• Refurbish
• Recover
• Repair

Goal: Keep materials in use, minimise resource extraction, and eliminate waste.

Types of Agricultural Waste

1. Crop residues / stubble → often burned, causing pollution.
2. Animal manure and carcasses → requires safe disposal and reuse.
3. Post-harvest losses → quantity and quality losses in supply chain.
4. Food waste → from retail and households.

Value Conversion Technologies

• Biomass energy
• Organic fertilisers
• Biogas production
• Biochar / engineered biochar (soil fertility + carbon sequestration)

Major Government Initiatives

1. GOBARdhan Scheme

• Converts dung, crop residues, and food waste into:
  • Compressed biogas (CBG)
  • Organic manure
• Supported by carbon credits, tax incentives, and digital portal.

2. Crop Residue Management (CRM)

• Promotes in-situ and ex-situ residue use.
• Reduces stubble burning.
• Improves soil health and farm productivity.

3. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

• Credit support for post-harvest infrastructure.
• ₹66,000+ crore sanctioned across projects like:
  • Warehouses
  • Cold storage
  • Processing units

4. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)

• ₹15,000 crore fund.
• Supports dairy, meat processing, and waste-to-wealth systems.

5. Water Reuse Initiatives (Jal Shakti)

• Treated wastewater used for agriculture and landscaping.
• Promotes water conservation and groundwater recharge.

Link to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Circular agriculture supports:

• SDG 2: Food security and sustainable farming
• SDG 12: Responsible consumption
• SDG 13: Climate action

Helps address 1.05 billion tonnes of global food waste (2022).

2. Bharat VISTAAR: Farmers’ Digital Companion

Source: News on Air

Context:

On 17 February 2026, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Bharat VISTAAR in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Full name: Bharat – Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources
It is an AI-driven digital platform for farmers.

What is Bharat VISTAAR?

A digital companion for farmers that integrates agricultural data, schemes, and advisory services into a single platform to improve access to government support and farm guidance.

Core Integration

Bharat VISTAAR connects:

• AgriStack — India’s agricultural digital public infrastructure
• Farmer registries
• Land records
• Crop data
• Farm practice packages of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Access Modes

✔ Toll-free helpline 155261
✔ AI voice assistant Bharati (works on basic phones)
✔ Web portal of Ministry of Agriculture
✔ Chatbot services (English and Hindi)

Phase-1 Implementation States

• Maharashtra
• Bihar
• Gujarat
• Rajasthan

Integrated with state platforms such as:

• Vasudha / MahaVistaar (Maharashtra)
• BiharKrishi (Bihar)
• Sarlaben (Gujarat)

Major Schemes Integrated (10)

• PM-KISAN
• PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
• Soil Health Card (SHC)
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
• PM-AASHA
• PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
• Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
• Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

Facts To Remember

1. India Signs UN Statement on West Bank

India joined 100+ countries and international organisations in a UN joint statement condemning Israel’s actions in the West Bank. The statement criticises efforts to consolidate control and expand presence in the occupied territory. It says such actions violate international law and undermine peace efforts.

2. GoI Unveils India’s First Comprehensive AI Governance Framework

In February 2026, the Government of India introduced the country’s first comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Framework under the IndiaAI Mission to promote safe, trusted, and innovation-driven AI across sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, and public administration without a standalone law.

3. Supreme Court Declares Menstrual Health a Fundamental Right

In January 2026, the Supreme Court of India, in the case of Dr. Jaya Thakur v. Government of India & Ors., recognised Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) as a Fundamental Right under Article 21 (Right to Life and Dignity), mandating free sanitary napkins in schools, proper MHM infrastructure, and compliance monitoring by authorities.

4. President Inaugurates Centenary Celebrations of Ol Chiki Script

On 16 February 2026, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script in New Delhi, marking 100 years of the script devised in 1925 by Raghunath Murmu for the Santhali language.

5. Indian Army Hosts First UN SALW Fellowship Programme in Jabalpur

The Indian Army hosted the first-ever UN Fellowship Training Programme on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Control in Asia at the Military College of Materials Management, Jabalpur, from 16 February to 6 March 2026, with participation from 13 Asia-Pacific countries under UN disarmament frameworks.

6. NHAI to Develop India’s First ‘Bee Corridors’ Along National Highways

In February 2026, the National Highways Authority of India launched an ecological initiative to create bee corridors along National Highways using pollinator-friendly vegetation to support biodiversity, honeybee conservation, and agricultural productivity.

7. Tamil-Brahmi Inscriptions Discovered in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings

Archaeologists identified around 30 ancient inscriptions, including about 20 in Tamil-Brahmi script, inside royal tombs at the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, dating from the 1st to 3rd century CE and possibly linked to ancient trade or merchant markings.

8. India’s First National Biobank for LSDs Launched in Ahmedabad

The Government of India launched the first national biobank for Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) at the Foundation for Research in Genetics and Endocrinology (FRIGE), Ahmedabad, to support diagnostics, genomic research, and therapy development for rare genetic diseases.

9. Air India and Lufthansa Group Sign MoU

In February 2026, Air India and the Lufthansa Group signed an MoU to deepen India–Europe air connectivity through joint route planning, schedule coordination, loyalty integration, and enhanced commercial cooperation under the Star Alliance framework.

10. Vice President and PM Modi Pay Tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Birth Anniversary

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary.

11. PM Modi to Formally Inaugurate India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

12. Google Announces $15 Billion ‘America-India Connect’ Subsea Cable Initiative at India AI Summit

At India AI Impact Summit, Google has announced that it will connect India with the US through new subsea cables as part of a 15 billion dollar investment spread over five years. 

13. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launches AI Impact Startup Book

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched the AI Impact Startup Book at the India Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. 

14. UP Govt launches District-Level Manuscript Digitisation initiative under ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’

The Uttar Pradesh government has issued directives to all districts to identify and document manuscripts at the district level and present them digitally on a global platform.

15. MeitY launches VoicERA at India AI Impact Summit 

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched VoicERA, an open-source, end-to-end Voice AI stack, at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. 

16. First-ever European Legal Gateway Office inaugurated in New Delhi 

The first-ever European Legal Gateway Office in New Delhi was inaugurated in the presence of External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen and Director General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Sussane Raab.