Current Affairs 21 February 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs February 21 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.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of French President Emmauel Macron’s Visit to India from February 17 to February 19, 2026Emmanuel Macron, President of France undertook  a 3-day visit to India from February 17 to February 19, 2026, at the invitation of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India. This marked French President Macron’s 4th visit to India.

• During his visit, he participated in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Summit 2026.

Key Highlights of Macron’s Visit to India:
Inauguration of H125 Helicopter Assembly Line: PM Modi along with French President Emmanuel Macron, virtually inaugurated the final assembly line of H-125 helicopters, developed jointly by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus at Vemagal in Karnataka.
6th Annual Defence Defence Dialogue: Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) along with his French counterpart Catherin Vautrin co-chaired the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
India-France Year of Innovation 2026: PM Modi and French President jointly inaugurated the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Indian Navy Hosts IFR 2026, MILAN 2026 &  IONS Conclave of Navy Chiefs 2026 at Visakhapatnam, APThe Indian Navy (IN) hosted three major international engagements at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP): Exercise MILAN 2026, the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Ninth Conclave of Navy Chiefs from 15 to 25 February 2026.
About Exercise MILAN 2026: Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) inaugurated the 13th edition of Exercise MILAN-2026 at Visakhapatnam, AP, which was conducted from 19–25 February 2026 in the Bay of Bengal as a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by IN.

• Theme: The theme of MILAN 2026 was “Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration.”

About International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026: IFR 2026 was held on 18 February 2026 off Visakhapatnam, AP, under the theme “United through Oceans,” and was presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
About Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave 2026: The 9th Conclave of Chiefs of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) was held on 20 February 2026 at Visakhapatnam, AP.

• Tenure: India will lead the IONS for the 2026–2028 term, marking its second tenure as Chair since the forum was launched in 2008 in New Delhi (Delhi).
• Chairmanship: Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy (IN), assumed the Chairmanship of IONS from the Royal Thai Navy (RTN).

About Indian Navy (IN):
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Established-1950
Motto – “Sam no Varunah”

Union Minister Amit Shah Launches Vibrant Villages Programme-II in Assam to boost border development and securityIn February 2026, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and Ministry of Cooperation, launched the Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP–II) at Nathanpur village in Cachar district, Assam, to strengthen development in border regions.

• The initiative focuses on improving access to basic services, generating sustainable livelihoods, enhancing border security, and supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

About Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP–II): 
Outlay: The scheme has a total financial allocation of Rs 6,839 crore up to Financial Year 2028–29 (FY29), with an estimated expenditure of around Rs 3 crore per village.
Coverage: It will cover 1,954 border villages across 15 States and 2 Union Territories (UTs), including Arunachal Pradesh (AR), Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and West Bengal (WB).

MoP Constitutes Oversight Panels for PFC-REC MergerOn February 19, 2026, the Ministry of Power (MoP) constituted a three-member high-level committee and a three-member Working Group to oversee and steer the proposed merger of Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and REC Limited (formerly known as Rural Electrification Corporation Limited), under MoP.
About High-Level Committee:
Members: It comprises Parminder Chopra, Chairman and Managing Director (MD) of PFC; Jitendra Srivastava, CMD, REC along with Shashank Mishra, Joint Secretary (Distribution), MoP as convenor.
Functions: It will oversee and track the overall merger process, review weekly progress reports, address policy-level and structural issues, ensure alignment with government objectives, and coordinate between stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
About Working Group on Merger Modalities: 
Members: It is headed by Pranav Tayal, Director (Distribution), MoP, with one Executive Director (ED) from PFC and REC as members.
Role: The Working Group will review and recommend measures for personnel integration, including the harmonisation of pay scales, service conditions, and promotion policies.

Mizoram CM Lalduhoma Inaugurates Lengtekai Bridge Over Tlawng River in Aizawl
On February 17, 2026, Chief Minister (CM) of Mizoram, Lalduhoma inaugurated the Lengtekai Bridge, named ‘Faith Bridge’, over the Tlawng River in Aizawl, Mizoram, designed to strengthen the road connectivity network in Mizoram.
About Lengtekai Bridge:
Funding: The bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs.43.83 crore, is financed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Structure: It is a 100-metre (m)-long and 7.5m wide steel bridge including 1.5m footpaths on both sides and can carry loads up to 385 metric tons(MT), enhancing transport capacity and safety.
Replacement: It replaces aging Bailey structures which previously limited roads were prone to frequent damage, ensuring continuous and safer traffic flow.
Connectivity: The new bridge enhances connectivity between Aizawl, Lengpui Airport, and the Mamit district near Tripura, strengthening movement of people, goods, and services.

UP Government and IOCL Sign MoU for International Cricket Stadium in Gorakhpur
In February 2026, the Government of Uttar Pradesh(UP) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a proposed International Cricket Stadium in Gorakhpur, UP.

• The agreement was formalised in the presence of Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister(CM) of UP, in Lucknow, UP.

Project Highlights:
Overview: The project, estimated at Rs.339 crore, includes a 30,000‑seating capacity venue equipped with modern facilities such as pitches, practice areas, floodlights, advanced dressing rooms and media infrastructure under international norms.
Funding Structure: The project has a total oil sector commitment of Rs 100 crore, including Rs 60 crore from IOCL through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, Rs 30 crore from Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), and Rs 10 crore from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).
Completion Timeline: The project is scheduled for completion by December 2027.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India and Israel Sign MoU to Deepen Defence Industrial CooperationIn February 2026, India and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen defence ties and advance joint initiatives, including future seminars, collaborative industrial programmes, and technology sharing.

• The agreement was formalised during a strategic seminar and series of Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings facilitated by the International Defence Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) under Israel Ministry of Defence (IMOD), in collaboration with Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Tel Aviv, Israel.

About India–Israel Defence Industry Seminar:
Seminar: A strategic seminar led by Brigadier General (Reserve) Yair Kulas, Director of the SIBAT, brought together representatives from 30 Indian and 26 Israeli defence companies for Business-to-Business (B2B) engagements.
Delegation: The Indian delegation was headed by Ramesh K, Director General (DG) of the SIDM, and included J P Singh, Ambassador of India to Israel, and Group Captain Vijay Patil, Defence Attaché.
Focus: Discussions centred on India’s defence industrial ecosystem and the updated Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2026, aimed at strengthening co-development, co-production, technology sharing, and interoperability.

BANKING & FINANCE

GIFT City and AJNIFM Sign MoU to Build FinTech and International Finance Talent for IFSC
In February 2026, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM), Faridabad (Haryana) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• The MoU facilitates joint postgraduate (PG) and executive programmes, collaborative research, and academic exchanges in International Finance and Financial Technology (FinTech), strengthening capacity building under the GIFT International FinTech Institute.

Key Details of MoU:
Objective: The partnership aligns advanced financial education with the evolving needs of India’s only International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City to build a future-ready talent pipeline for global and cross-border finance.
Immersion: A five-day Industry Immersion Programme was launched for second-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) students of AJNIFM, offering exposure to regulatory frameworks, capital markets, cross-border financial services, and digital finance innovations.
Capacity: AJNIFM trains officers of Government Financial and Accounts Services (GF&AS) and delivers postgraduate and executive education, while GIFT City offers a dynamic global financial ecosystem for applied learning.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Tata Group and OpenAI Partner to Build India’s 1st Large-Scale AI Data Centre
In February 2026, Tata Group partnered with OpenAI to establish India’s first large-scale Artificial Intelligence (AI)-ready data centre under the global Stargate initiative, with OpenAI becoming the first customer of Tata Consultancy Services(TCS) HyperVault data centre business.
About Tata–OpenAI AI Infrastructure Partnership:
Infrastructure: TCS HyperVault data centre unit will host AI-ready systems beginning with 100 megawatts (MW) capacity scalable to 1 gigawatt (GW), powered by green energy and AI-optimised hardware to support large-scale training and inference workloads.
Investment: TCS plans to invest up to USD 7 billion to build 1 GW data centre capacity in India as part of the USD 500 billion Stargate global initiative.
Enterprise: Tata Group also intends to roll out ChatGPT Enterprise, a product offered by OpenAI, across the organisation over the coming years, initially covering hundreds of thousands of employees.
Certification: OpenAI will expand its certification programme in India, with TCS becoming the first participating organisation outside the United States of America (USA), and plans to establish offices in Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Bengaluru (Karnataka) in 2026.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO Conducts Successful Qualification Test for Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute in ChandigarhIn February 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which works under the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), Ministry of Defence (MoD), successfully conducted a qualification-level load test of the drogue parachute for Gaganyaan, India’s 1st human spaceflight mission, at its Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.

• The successful test demonstrates India’s expertise in the design and manufacture of high-strength ribbon parachutes.

Key Details of Test:
Key Agencies Involved: As per the MoD, the test was conducted with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) of DRDO alongside various TBRL’s dedicated teams.
Qualification Test: The RTRS dynamic test simulated qualification-level loads exceeding maximum flight conditions, validating the parachute’s structural strength, safety margins, and reliability for stabilising and decelerating the crew module before main parachute deployment.
Gaganyaan Mission: It is an ambitious space programme of ISRO, which aims to send 3-member Indian crew into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 400 kilometer (km) for a 3-day expedition and ensure safe re-entry and recovery in the Indian Ocean.

SPORTS

Padma Awardee Pankaj Advani Wins Inaugural Liber Win Champions Cup 2026In February 2026, Pankaj Advani, Indian billiards, snooker player and Padma awardee, won the inaugural Liber Win Champions Cup 2026 by defeating Kamal Chawla 6–3 in a best-of-11 final at the Karnataka State Billiards Association (KSBA)  in Bengaluru (Karnataka).

• Following his victory,  Pankaj Advani was named Liber Win’s Indian Brand Ambassador, joining global stars Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Selby, and Shaun Murphy.

About Liber Win Champions Cup 2026: 
Overview: It is a professional invitational snooker tournament sponsored by Liber Win Cloth that features top cue sport players while promoting elite competition and supporting the growth of cue sports in India.
Highlights: The three-day invitational event featured 16 top professional cueists, Kamal Chawla registering the highest break of 140, and both finalists staging 5–4 comeback wins in the semi-finals against Laxman Rawat and Sourav Kothari respectively.

IPC Lifts Ban on Russia & Belarus for Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics
In February 2026, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) lifted the ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus, confirming that they will be allowed to compete under their national flags at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, scheduled from 6–15 March 2026 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

• The decision permits the display of national flags and the playing of national anthems if athletes win medals.

Key Highlights:
Background : Russian athletes were initially banned in 2022 due to the Ukraine conflict and previously competed only as neutrals. This marks the first return of Russia’s flag at the Winter Paralympics since 2014, following earlier doping and geopolitical bans.
Russia Quota: The IPC allocated six quota slots to Russia, including one male and one female athlete each in para-alpine skiing and para-cross country skiing, along with two male athletes in para-snowboard.
Belarus Quota: The IPC allocated four quota slots to Belarus, comprising one male and three female athletes in cross-country skiing.
Scope: The IPC ruling applies only to the Winter Paralympics and does not automatically extend to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

OBITUARY

Shillong MP Ricky Andrew J Syngkon Passed Away
On February 19, 2026, Ricky Andrew J Syngkon, Member of Parliament (MP) from the Shillong constituency in Meghalaya, passed away at the age of 54 in Shillong. He was born on 6 January 1972 in Shillong.
About Ricky Andrew J Syngkon:
Profile: He was an assistant professor in Economics at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
Political Entry: He began his political journey with the Voice of the People Party (VPP), a Meghalaya-based regional party focused on local issues, community development, and grassroots empowerment.
Parliamentary Role: In the 2024 General Elections, he contested from the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency and defeated Vincent H. Pala of the Indian National Congress (INC), entering the 18th Lok Sabha as a first-time MP.
Key Focus Areas: During his tenure, he prioritised connectivity development, tribal welfare, youth empowerment, and inclusive governance.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan Releases Book on Sree Narayana Guru
In February 2026, Vice-President (VP) of India, Chandrapuram Ponnusami (C. P.) Radhakrishnan, released the book titled ‘The Sage who Reimagined Hinduism: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru’ authored by Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Shashi Tharoor, at the India International Centre (IIC) in New Delhi (Delhi).

• The book was published by Aleph Book Company.

About Book on Sree Narayana Guru:
Subject: The book presents a detailed biography and analytical study of Sree Narayana Guru, the 19th-century spiritual leader and social reformer from Kerala who led a movement against casteism and social discrimination.
Philosophy: It highlights his core message, ‘One Caste, One Religion, One God for humankind,’ advocating equality, self-respect, social justice, and universal brotherhood.
Reforms: The work explores his inclusive temple consecrations, promotion of education for disadvantaged communities, and the establishment of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam in 1903 to advance socio-economic upliftment.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Day of Social Justice 2026 – February 20 The United Nations (UN’s) World Day of Social Justice is annually observed across the globe on February 20 to promote awareness of social justice issues, including poverty alleviation, employment, gender equality, and equitable access to education, healthcare, and social services.

• 2026 Theme: “Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice”.

Background:
Resolution: On 26th November 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/62/10 during its 62nd session, declaring 20 February as World Day of Social Justice.
First Observance: Held on 20th February 2009.
2026 Events: 
Global Event: On 20 February 2026, a commemorative meeting was hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN in collaboration with the ILO and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in New York, United States of America (USA).
Event in India:  The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment (DoSJE) under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE), organised the World Day of Social Justice 2026 in collaboration with National Law University (NLU), Dwarka, New Delhi (Delhi).

STATE NEWS

Gujarat FM Kanubhai Desai Presents Budget Worth Rs.4.08 Lakh Crore for 2026-27On February 18, 2026, Kanubhai Desai, Finance Minister of Gujarat, presented the Gujarat state budget for 2026‑27 in the Legislative Assembly, Gandhinagar, with a total outlay of Rs.4,08,053 crore, marking an increase of 10.2 % compared to the 2025‑26 budget.
Highlights:
Deficit: The capital account shows a deficit of Rs.34,358 crore, balanced by net inflows from public account transactions.
Roads & Connectivity: An allocation of Rs.10,008 crore was made for the development of roads and bridges, with additional provisions included to strengthen tribal, rural, and freight connectivity projects across Gujarat.
Urban Infrastructure: Around Rs.16,116 crore was made under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Saheri Vikas Yojana (SJMSVY) to upgrade urban infrastructure.
Rural Development: For rural infrastructure, Rs.5,600 crore has been allocated under the Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana (MGSY) for village roads and bridges.
Others: Allocations have been made for Agriculture and allied sectors (Rs.24,022 crore), Education(Rs.63,184 crore), and Health (iHealth) expenditure(Rs.25,403 crore) and other key sectors such as housing, tribal welfare, and employment-linked programmes to promote balanced socio-economic development across Gujarat.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Launches ‘PMS Portal’ for Venture Schools
On February 18, 2026, Chief Minister (CM) of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the ‘Provincialization Management System (PMS) portal’, a digital platform to streamline and accelerate the provincialization of venture educational institutions and their staff, at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati, Assam.
About PMS Portal:
Framework: It was under the Assam Education (Provincialisation of Services of Teachers and Re‑Organisation of Educational Institutions) Act, 2017, amended in 2025.
Purpose: The portal creates a central database where venture schools and colleges and their teaching and non-teaching staff can submit and track provincialization applications.

• : The portal is designed to ensure transparency in applications, minimize delays, and cut down on paperwork and manual interventions.

Eligible Institutions: The current provincialization phase using the PMS portal applies to venture educational institutions established before January 1, 2006, including Lower Primary (LP) schools, Upper Primary (UP) or Middle English (ME) schools, High schools, Higher Secondary schools, and Venture Degree Colleges.

• The applicants must submit documentation such as recognition certificates, land records, staff list, academic records, etc.

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