Current Affairs 22 & 23 February 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs February 22 & 23 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

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Launches 7 additional interventions under EPM to Boost MSME Exports and Strengthen Global CompetitivenessIn February 2026, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), launched seven additional interventions under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), aimed at empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for global markets.

• With the recent launch, 10 of the 11 proposed interventions under EPM are operational, including Market Access Support (MAS); Interest Subvention for Pre- and Post-Shipment Export Credit (ISPEC); and Collateral Support for Export Credit (CSEC).

About 7 New Interventions: 
The seven newly introduced interventions under the Export Promotion Mission are organised into two pillars
Niryat Protsahan, covering Alternative Trade Instruments (ATI–Export Factoring), Credit Assistance for E-Commerce Exporters (CAE), and Support for Emerging Export Opportunities (EEO).
Niryat Disha, which includes Trade Regulations, Accreditation & Compliance Enablement (TRACE), Facilitating Logistics, Overseas Warehousing & Fulfilment (FLOW), Logistics Interventions for Freight & Transport (LIFT), and Integrated Support for Trade Intelligence & Facilitation (INSIGHT).

MoMA Organizes ‘Chintan Shivir’ at Nalanda University in Rajgir, BiharThe Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) organized ‘Chintan Shivir’, a strategic platform to review and strengthen minority welfare policies and programmes, held from 18 to 19 February 2026 at Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar.
About ‘Chintan Shivir’:
Lead: The event was led by Union Minister Kiren Rijju, MoMA, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA); Union Minister of State (MoS) George Kurian, MoMA.
Digital Initiatives Launched:

• NIGRANI App: During the event, the NIGRANI digital application was launched under the PMJVK scheme to enable real-time monitoring and enhance transparency of infrastructure projects.
• AI-Powered Chatbots: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots to enhance service delivery, provide information access, and improve citizen engagement with MoMA.
• Haj Wrist Band: During the event, Haj Wrist Band, a smart wearable device, was launched as part of Haj modernization measures.

India Joins US-led Pax Silica to Strengthen AI and Semiconductor Supply ChainsIn February 2026, India formally joined as the 12th Country in the United States of America (USA)-led Pax Silica coalition, a strategic alliance of nations aimed at building secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
India’s Strategic Role in Pax Silica:
Security: The initiative builds resilient supply chains in critical minerals, rare earth elements (REE), semiconductors, and AI, while promoting public-private collaboration and technology transfer.
Sovereignty: It aims to reduce global dependence on China in rare earth processing and semiconductor manufacturing, reinforcing technological and economic security.
Contribution: As a signatory, India contributes a large engineering talent base, advanced chip design capabilities including 2-nanometre (nm) technology, ten semiconductor plants under development, and 8.52 million tonnes (MT) of rare earth reserves aligned with the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
Launch: Pax Silica was launched on 12 December 2025 in Washington, District of Columbia (DC), as a USA-led strategic coalition with founding members including the USA, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK), Singapore, United Kingdom (UK), Israel, and Australia.

• The coalition later expanded to include Greece, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Netherlands, and India, strengthening its trusted technology partnership network.

2026 Marks 50th Anniversary of Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, 1976
In February 2026, the Government of India (GoI) marked the Golden Jubilee (50 years) of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, a landmark legislation enacted to eliminate bonded labour and debt bondage in India.
About Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976:
Background: The Act was passed in 1976 during the tenure of former Prime Minister (PM) of India, Indira Gandhi. It came into force on February 9, 1976.
Implementation: The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E) oversees implementation at the national level.
Labour System Abolishment: The act abolished the bonded labour system across India, cancelled all bonded debts, liberated bonded labourers from exploitative obligations, and prohibited forced labour arising out of debt or social customs.
Framework: The act provides for District Magistrates to ensure enforcement, Vigilance Committees at district and sub-divisional levels, and identification, rescue, and rehabilitation of bonded labourers.

BANKING & FINANCE

World Bank’s MIGA Provides USD 197.67 Million Guarantee to Citibank to Refinance SBI Rooftop Solar ProgramIn February 2026, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the guarantee arm of the World Bank Group (WBG), issued a USD 197.67 million five-year guarantee to Citibank N.A. for its non-shareholder loan to the State Bank of India (SBI) to support the refinancing of investments in India’s Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (GRPV) systems.
About MIGA Guarantee for SBI:
Background: The SBI launched the GRPV systems programme in 2016 with financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the WBG.
Refinance: The facility enables refinancing of the remaining principal of a USD 500 million IBRD loan for GRPV systems.
Headroom: By transferring exposure to Citibank’s balance sheet, the transaction frees lending capacity for additional World Bank financing to the Government of India (GoI).

ICICI Launched Swasthya Pension Scheme Blending Retirement &  HealthcareIn February 2026, ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company Limited launched India’s 1st Swasthya Scheme named “ICICI PF NPS Swasthya Equity Plus”, integrating retirement and healthcare benefits, under the National Pension System (NPS).

• This newly launched scheme is structured as a Proof of Concept (POC) under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) regulatory sandbox framework.

Key Features of Scheme:
Developed by: The new scheme has been developed in collaboration with Apollo HealthCo Limited (healthcare network partner) and KFin Technologies Limited (digital partner).
Withdrawal Limit: The scheme will enable the subscribers to make multiple withdrawals of maximum 25% of their own contributions for medical expenses.

NPCI Extends ‘UPI One World’ Wallet Service at India AI Impact Summit 2026In February 2026, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) extended the ‘UPI(Unified Payments Interface)- One World’ wallet for foreign delegates from more than 40 countries who participated at India Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Summit 2026 held from February 16 to February 20, 2026 in New Delhi, Delhi.

• This new initiative enables the foreign visitor to make UPI-based payments without any need of an Indian mobile number or bank account.

Other Key Launches:
FiMI: NPCI has also launched the Finance Model for India (FiMI), an AI-based small language model, designed to resolve UPI-related disputes, customer service, regulation and ecosystem queries.
Key Collaborations: NPCI has collaborated with Razorpay to launch AI-powered UPI pilot, enabling  the users to order food, groceries, and daily essentials from Zomato, Swiggy, and Zepto using the UPI within the same conversation.

• NPCI entered into a strategic partnership with Nvidia to boost and advance its sovereign AI model capabilities purpose-built for India’s payments ecosystem.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

MoCI Revised Base Year of India’s Merchandise Trade Indices to 2022-23
In February 2026, the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), revised the base year of India’s merchandise trade indices from 2012-13 to 2022-23, to measure changes in the unit values (prices) of India’s exports and imports over time.

• The revised base year aimed to enhance relevance, reliability and analytical usefulness for policy-makers, researchers and other stakeholders.

Key Details:
Recommended by: The revision of base year was made on the recommendations of DGCI&S-constituted committee, headed by Professor (Prof.) Nachiketa Chattopadhyay, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, West Bengal (WB).
Key Indices: The updated series features: Monthly, quarterly and annual indices;

• Principal Commodity (PC) classification wise trade indices; Standard International Trade Classification-wise (SITC) trade indices;
• Broad Economic Category-wise (BEC) trade indices;
• Bilateral and region-wise trade indices of top 20 export and import partner nations of India
• Terms of trade (gross terms of trade, Net terms of trade and Income terms of trade).

Key Applications: Merchant Trade Indices are widely used by key government institutions for economic analysis and policy formulation for instance:

• The National Accounts Division (NAD) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)uses the export and import unit value indices as deflators for projecting real exports and imports in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compilation.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Rajan Bajaj Appointed as MD & CEO of Slice SFBIn February 2026, Slice Small Finance Bank (Slice SFB) appointed its founder Rajan Bajaj as its Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective February 17, 2026.

• He succeeds Satish Kumar Kalra as the bank moves from a fintech startup to a fully licensed SFB.

About Rajan Bajaj:
Profile: He began his career in the financial services and startup ecosystem, gaining exposure to digital lending, consumer finance and technology-driven models.
Previous Role: He previously worked on the product team at Flipkart and, before his appointment as MD & CEO, served as the Executive Director (ED) of Slice.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IA’s Konark Corps Tests Strela-10 Air Defence Missiles in Pokhran, Rajasthan
In February 2026, the Indian Army’s (IA)’s Konark Corps, specifically the Air Defence Warriors of the Blazing Skies Brigade, successfully conducted a high-intensity test firing of the Strela-10 Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in the desert sector of Pokhran, Rajasthan.
About Live Firing Test of Strela-10 VSHORADS:
Accuracy & Operational Readiness: The missile system demonstrated precision targeting capabilities by accurately engaging aerial targets, reinforcing the Army’s operational readiness and air defence preparedness in challenging terrain
Crew Coordination: The exercise objectives included sharpening crew coordination, validating firing standards, and reinforcing air defence preparedness in demanding environments.
Effective Air Defence: The test also demonstrated the seamless coordination between target surveillance, acquisition systems, and missile deployment units, a significant factor in effective air defence.
About Strela-10 system: The Strela-10 is a very short-range air defence missile system designed to counter low-altitude aerial threats such as helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The successful test underscored the Indian Army’s capability to enhance battlefield air defence, validating the system’s effectiveness under live-fire conditions.
Range: The Strela-10 air defence missile system has an engagement range of approximately 6–10 kilometres (km)

OBITUARY

Renowned Bengali Novelist Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay Passed AwayOn February 20, 2026, Renowned Bengali novelist and writer Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay, known as Shankar, passed away at the age of 93 in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB). He was born on 7 December 1933 in Jessore (present Bangladesh).

• In 2021, he was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award for his autobiographical work ‘Eka Eka Ekashi’.

About Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay:
Profile: His writing spanned novels, short stories, biographies, and philosophical works, combining sharp observation, rich characterization, and empathy for ordinary people.
Literary Works: His debut was the semi-autobiographical Kato Ajanare (The Many Unknowns), which drew on his experiences working as a clerk. His works include Chowringhee (1962), Samrat O Sundari (1961), Charan Chhuey Jai (1960).

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Mother Language Day 2026 – February 21 The United Nations (UN’s) International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is annually observed across the globe on 21 February to promote linguistic diversity, preserve cultural heritage, and encourage multilingual education, highlighting the role of mother tongues in cultural identity, inclusion, peace, and sustainable development.

• 21 February 2026, marks the 27th observance of the IMLD.
• 2026 Theme: “Youth voices on multilingual education”

Background: 
Proclamation: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day (IMLD) on 17 November 1999.
Observance: The first International Mother Language Day (IMLD) was observed on 21 February 2000.
Recognition: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) formally recognised the observance through Resolution 56/262 in 2002.

World Pangolin Day 2026 – February 21World Pangolin Day is observed every year on the third Saturday of February to celebrate pangolins, the scaly anteaters, and raise awareness about their conservation.

• In 2026, World Pangolin Day falls on 21st February 2026 marking the observance of the 15th World Pangolin Day.

Background:
Inception: The first-ever World Pangolin Day was celebrated in February 2012 and has since earned global recognition from animal welfare organizations and wildlife enthusiasts.
Report 2025: The 2025 report Conservation Status, Trade and Enforcement Efforts for Pangolins revealed that over half a million pangolins, around 530,978 individuals, were involved in 2,222 illegal trade seizures from 2016 to 2024.

STATE NEWS

Waaree Energies to Establish India’s Largest Battery Gigafactory in AP
On February 19, 2026, Waaree Energies announced its plan to set up India’s largest integrated lithium-ion battery gigafactory at Rambilli in Anakapalli district in Andhra Pradesh(AP), marking a major boost to the country’s energy storage and clean-energy manufacturing ecosystem.
About Lithium-ion battery Gigafactory:
Budget: The project involves a total planned investment of approximately Rs. 8,175 crore (USD 890 million) and is expected to have a production capacity of around 16 gigawatt-hours (GWh).
In-Principle Approval: The project has received in-principle approval from the AP State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), chaired by Chief Minister (CM) of AP N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Facility: The factory will be a greenfield facility covering the full battery manufacturing chain, from lithium-ion cell production to battery packs and large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

Bihar Cabinet Approves Greenfield International Airport in Sonpur
In February 2026, the cabinet of Bihar government, chaired by Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar approved the construction of a Greenfield International Airport in Sonpur, Saran district of the state.

• The newly approved airport will be the 24th Greenfield airport in India.
• The proposed greenfield airport is part of 35 key proposals including major infrastructure and flood-control projects approved by the state cabinet.

Key Details:
Estimated Cost: The state government has sanctioned funds worth Rs 1,302 crore for land acquisition for the project, which is expected to be completed by 2030.
Location: The newly approved airport will be developed on an area of about 4,200 acres in the Dariyapur Chanwar area, located between Hajipur and Dumaria (Gaya).
Significance: Once completed, the Sonpur airport will be India’s 5th largest airport, after Delhi, Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai and Noida (Jevar) International Airports.

• The airport is expected to give a major boost to regional connectivity in Bihar.

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