Current Affairs 18 February 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs February 18 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

PM Narendra Modi Approves Launch of ‘PM RAHAT Scheme’ for Road Accident VictimsIn February 2026, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the launch of the ‘ Pradhan Mantri(PM) RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) scheme’, to provide immediate, life-saving medical care to road accident victims across India, from his newly inaugurated office Seva Teerth, New Delhi (Delhi).

• He also approved doubling the Lakhpati Didis target to 6 crore and increasing the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund outlay from Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 2 lakh crore.

About PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) scheme:
Purpose: The scheme focuses on delivering cashless treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh per victim for 7 days from the date of accident.
Integration: This new scheme is integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112 helpline ensures victims reach hospitals within the Golden Hour.
Implementation: 

• Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH): Policy oversight and integration via Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) platform.
• National Health Authority (NHA): Claims processing through Transaction Management System (TMS 2.0).

CCEA  Approved Rs 11,000 Crore Highway Projects in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and TelanganaIn February 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved a series of Highway projects worth more than Rs 11,000 crore in 3 states namely, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Telangana.

• The CCEA also approved the construction of India’s 1st underwater twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel project with estimated Cost of Rs 18,662 crore under Brahmaputra river in Assam.

Key Approvals:
Upgradation of NH-160A in Maharashtra: It includes the rehabilitation and upgradation of the Ghoti-Trimbak (Mokhada)-Jawhar-Manor-Palghar section of NH-160A in Maharashtra.
4-lanning of Key NH-56 Stretches in Gujarat: The upgradation of NH-56 will be done at a cost of Rs 4,583.64 crore under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
Widening of NH-167 to 4-Lanes in Telangana: It includes the widening of the 80.01 km-long NH-167 stretch from Gudebellur to Mahbubnagar to 4-lane standards in Telangana.

International Conference on Dam Safety 2026 Held in Bengaluru, KarnatakaThe International Conference on Dam Safety 2026 (ICDS 2026) was held from February 13 to 14, 2026, at the J.N. Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru (Karnataka), under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II and III.
Highlights of ICDS 2026:
Inauguration: The conference was inaugurated by Chief Minister (CM) of Karnataka Siddaramaiah and presided over by Dr. K. Shivakumar, Deputy CM (Dy CM) of Karnataka.
Organizers: The conference was organized by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD&GR), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS); Water Resources Department, Government of Karnataka; Central Water Commission (CWC), IISc Bengaluru, and the World Bank.
Key Initiatives Launched:During the event, DAMCHAT, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based knowledge platform and Jal Shakti Data Management Platform.
Alignment: The initiatives align with Government of India (GoI)’s dam safety norms such as the Implementation of the Dam Safety Act, 2021.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurates Mountain Fire Control Radar & BEL’s AI PolicyOn February 16, 2026, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), inaugurated a Missile Integration Facility,  flagging off Akash 3rd & 4th Regiment Combat Systems, unveiling the Mountain Fire Control Radar and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy at BEL in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

• He also remotely inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for AI (CoE-AI) in Pune, Maharashtra.

About Mountain Fire Control Radar: It is a new radar system designed to operate effectively in mountainous and high-altitude environments, which are traditionally challenging for surveillance and tracking systems.
About BEL’s AI Policy: It is a formal AI policy introduced by BEL to integrate AI across defence products, platforms, and development processes. It focuses on embedding AI into real-time decision-making systems, supporting autonomous and semi-autonomous platforms, and enhancing data analytics, threat prediction, and early-warning tools.
About CoE-AI: CoE-AI will serve as a dedicated hub for Research and Development (R&D) in AI technologies, collaboration between BEL, start-ups, academia, and industry partners, and prototyping and field-testing of AI-driven systems.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Addresses Bharat Bodhan AI Conclave 2026 in New Delhi; Launches Bodhan AI CoEUnion Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE), addressed the Bharat Bodhan AI Conclave 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi(Delhi), held from 12–13 February 2026.
Highlights:
Focus: The Conclave focused on advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education through Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), AI platforms, emerging technologies, skills, and higher education.
Bharat EduAI Stack: The conclave marks the initiation of the Bharat EduAI Stack, an open and interoperable architecture designed to build, integrate, and scale AI-powered learning solutions throughout India’s education ecosystem.
Launch: During the event, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Bodhan AI CoE, marking a step towards integrating AI in India’s education ecosystem.
MoUs & Partnerships: During the session, several key launches and collaborations were announced to strengthen AI integration in education.

• Launch of Uttar Pradesh(UP) based Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow AI Programme and IIM Ranchi, Jharkhand Initiative – Teaching with AI.
• Institutional collaborations involving IIM Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir(J&K) and Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand.

President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates All-India Conference and Launches ‘Karmayoga for Empowered Bharat’ Campaign
On February 13, 2026, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, inaugurated an All-India Conference organised by the Brahma Kumaris and launched a nationwide campaign titled ‘Karmayoga for Empowered Bharat.’

• The event also marked the commencement of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Om Shanti Retreat Centre in Gurugram, Haryana.

About Karmayoga for Empowered Bharat:
Objective: A value-based national movement that encourages citizens to integrate spiritual and ethical principles into everyday actions and public life to support India’s overall development journey.
Philosophy: Rooted in Karmayoga, it promotes selfless duty, integrity, compassion, non-violence, and service, drawing inspiration from Rajayoga teachings of the Brahma Kumaris.

DoP Releases 8 Commemorative Postage Stamps titled ‘Puppets of India’
In February 2026, Department of Posts (DoP), (also known as India Post), under the Ministry of Communications, released a set of 8 Commemorative Postage Stamps titled ‘Puppets of India’ at the Indian Habitat Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The stamps were released by Vandita Kaul, Secretary of DoP, in the presence of artists and cultural experts.

About Commemorative Postage Stamp:
Overview: The commemorative stamp set showcases eight traditional puppetry forms from different regions of India, with each unique art form featured on an individual stamp.
Features: It includes,

• Kathputli (Rajasthan), a string puppet tradition
• Yakshagana Sutrada Gombeyatta (Karnataka), a string puppet tradition
• Daanger Putul (West Bengal, WB), a rod puppet tradition
• Kathi Kundhei (Odisha), a traditional string puppet style
• Benir Putul (WB), a glove puppet tradition
• Pavakathakali (Kerala), a glove puppet
• Ravanachhaya (Odisha), a shadow puppet tradition
• Tolu Bommalatta (Andhra Pradesh, AP), a shadow puppetry tradition.

Denomination: The stamp bears a face value of Rs.5.
Design: The stamps, along with the First Day Cover (FDC), Brochure, Miniature Sheet, Sheetlets, and Special Cancellation, were designed by designer Sankha Samanta.

NITI Aayog’s Vice Chairman Released 6th Edition of TWQ for Q2FY26
In February 2026, Suman Bery, Vice-Chairman(VC) of the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) released the 6th edition of ‘Trade Watch Quarterly (TWQ)-Thematic Analysis: Electronics Trade’ for the 2nd Quarter (Q2: July to September) of Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The report provides a comprehensive data-driven assessment of global and domestic trade trends.

Key Highlights of Report:
Focus Areas: The edition examines electronics exports, international demand patterns, tariff structures, and global value chain participation.
Electronics Sector Dominance: India’s electronics exports reached USD 42.1B in 2024 (5x growth since 2016), emerging as 2nd largest category after gems/jewellery.
India’s E-commerce Sector: The report highlighted that India is now among the top 6 e-commerce markets in the world, with the electronics sector accounting nearly 50% of online retail.

• The report further projected that e-commerce exports could contribute 20-30% of India’s merchandise exports by 2030, supported by ongoing enhancements in logistics efficiency, regulatory facilitation, among others.

Merchandise Exports and Imports: The report showed that Indian merchandise exports registered  8.5% year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth, outpacing import growth in both merchandise and services.
Services Sector: Drove trade performance with USD102B exports (+8.7%) and USD 48B surplus.

ICG DG Paramesh Sivamani Inaugurated Waterjet Production & Testing Facility in Goa
In February 2026, Paramesh Sivamani, Director General (DG) of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) inaugurated the india’s first Waterjet Production & Testing Facility of M/s Marine Jet Power (MJP) in Goa.

• The newly inaugurated facility has been developed under a Manufacturing and Transfer of Technology (ToT) framework, making India the world’s 3rd country after the United States of America (USA) and South Korea to host such a facility.

About New Facility:
Significance: The new facility will bolster India’s  domestic supply chain, enable indigenous testing of waterjet systems and emerge as a regional hub catering to South Asia and adjoining regions.

• It is also expected to generate employment, support the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem and improve technology absorption in the country.

Current MJP Capacity: At present, ICG operates over 100 MJP water propulsion systems onboard its vessels, with 42 additional systems for ships under construction.
Other Key Highlight: During the visit, DG ICG reviewed the progress of 06 indigenously developed Air Cushion Vehicles (with approximately 50% of local content) at Chowgule & Company Pvt. Ltd. The 1st vessel is expected to be delivered in May 2026.
About MJP:  MJP, a Sweden-based design and manufacturing firm specialising in waterjet propulsion systems for high-speed naval, coast guard, and commercial vessels, opened its first production and testing facility in India.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Approves In-Solutions Global to Operate as Payment Aggregator
On February 16, 2026, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted regulatory authorization to In-Solutions Global (ISG) to operate as a Payment Aggregator (PA) in three categories, including Online Payments (PA-O), Physical or Offline Payments (PA-P), and Cross-Border Payments (PA-CB).
About Regulatory Authorization to ISG:
Framework: The authorization was granted under the RBI Master Directions on the Regulation of Payment Aggregators for 2025-26.
Payment Facilitation: With all three licenses, ISG joins a select set of non-banks fintech players permitted to facilitate unified payments stack across domestic online, physical, and global transactions.
Single Onboarding: With this move, ISG can provide a unified onboarding and settlement platform, enabling it to onboard merchants, collect payments, and settle funds on their behalf, thereby simplifying multi-channel digital payment processing for businesses, banks, and marketplaces.
Other Full PA License Holders: Airpay Payment Services and Pine Labs are among the select organisations in India that have received full RBI PA approval.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Smriti Mandhana Named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025In February 2026, the 6th edition of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Indian Sportswoman of the Year (ISWOTY) Awards 2025 was held in New Delhi, Delhi recognising the outstanding achievements of Indian sportswomen across various disciplines.

• Star cricketer Smriti Mandhana was honoured with the BBC ISWOTY 2025 for playing a key role in India’s 2025 International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup triumph with 434 runs as vice-captain and for captaining Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title.

Other Significant Awards from the Ceremony:
BBC Emerging Player of the Year 2025: Divya Deshmukh was awarded the BBC Emerging Player of the Year 2025 in recognition of her landmark Women’s World Cup triumph.
BBC Para-Sportswoman of the Year 2025: Preethi Pal was recognised as the BBC Para-Sportswoman of the Year 2025 for her outstanding Paralympic performance.
BBC Lifetime Achievement Award 2025: Anjali Bhagwat was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 in recognition of her trailblazing contributions to Indian shooting.
 
About British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC):
Director-General (DG) – Timothy Douglas Davie
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom (UK)
Established – 1922

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

RBI Approves Bain Capital’s Acquisition of Up to 41.66% Stake in Manappuram Finance
On February 14, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted final approval to Bain Capital, LP, to acquire joint control and up to 41.66% stake in Manappuram Finance Limited, a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).
Investment Overview:
Agreement Terms: In March 2025, Bain Capital signed agreements to invest Rs 4,385 crore for an 18% fully diluted stake at Rs 236 per share, with its final holding expected to range between 18% and 41.7% depending on open-offer acceptance.
Promoter Holding: On a fully diluted basis, the existing promoters will retain a 28.9% stake in the company.
About Manappuram Finance: It is an NBFC specialising in gold-backed loans with an approximate loan book of Rs 315 billion, primarily focused on the expanding gold loan segment in India.

SPORTS

India Tops Medal Tally at Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026 in DelhiIndia topped the medal table for the second consecutive year with a remarkable haul of 94 medals, comprising 51 gold, 23 silver, and 20 bronze across senior and junior events at the 17th edition of the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026, held from February 2 to 14, 2026 at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi (Delhi).

• Kazakhstan secured the position of second rank with 26 medals (3 Gold, 16 Silver, 7 Bronze), while Uzbekistan finished as the third with 4 medals (3 Gold, 1 Silver).

About Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026:
Organisers: The championship, organized by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) under the supervision of the Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC).
Participants: Featured over 300 athletes from 20 countries.
Events: Senior & Junior categories, individual & team competitions in Rifle and Pistol

Magnus Carlsen Wins Inaugural FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 in GermanyNorwegian Grandmaster (GM) Magnus Carlsen won the the first-ever International Chess Federation or Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 held in Weissenhaus, Germany from 13–15 February 2026, by defeating United States of America (USA) GM Fabiano Caruana in the final with a score of 2.5–1.5.

• This victory marks Magnus Carlsen’s 21st world title across various formats (Classical, Rapid, Blitz, and Freestyle/Chess960), further consolidating his position as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

About FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026:
Overview: Freestyle Chess, also known as Chess960 or Fischer Random, randomizes the starting positions of the back-rank pieces to reduce opening memorization and emphasize creativity, adaptability, and over-the-board calculation.
Recognition: The format was invented in 1996 by former World Champion Bobby Fischer and is officially recognized by FIDE.
Organiser: International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Freestyle Chess Operations GmbH
Prize Fund: The total prize fund was USD 300,000, with Magnus Carlsen receiving USD 100,000 for first place, Fabiano Caruana receiving USD 60,000 for second place, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov receiving USD 40,000 for third place.
Third Place: Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) secured third place by defeating Vincent Keymer (Germany) 2.5–1.5.
Fourth Place: Vincent Keymer (Germany) finished fourth after losing to Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) 1.5–2.5 and earned USD 30,000.
Fifth Place: Hans Niemann (USA) claimed fifth place by defeating Arjun Erigaisi

OBITUARY

Oscar-Winning Actor Robert Duvall Passes AwayIn February 2026, legendary American actor Robert Selden Duvall, best known for his iconic roles in the Godfather and Apocalypse Now, passed away at the age of 95 in Middleburg, Virginia, the United States of America (USA).

• He was born on January 05, 1931 in San Diego, California, the USA.

About Rober Duvall: 
Profile: He was a legendary American actor and filmmaker, regarded as one of the finest performers in Hollywood history, with a career spanning over six decades.
Breakthrough Role: In 1962, he got his 1st film role as the mysterious Boo Radley in the adaptation of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.
Notable Work: Network (1976), The Great Santini (1979), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), The Natural (1984), among others.
7-time Oscar Nominee: During his 60 years-long career in the film industry, he was nominated 7-time for Oscars (Academy Awards).

• In 1983, he won the Award in the ‘Best Actor’ category for his performance in Tender Mercies.

Other Nominations: He also received a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and Primetime Emmy Awards.
Awards/Accolades: He also won 4 Golden Globe award and was awarded a National Medal of Arts in 2004.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Global Tourism Resilience Day 2026 – February 17The United Nations(UN’s) Global Tourism Resilience Day (GTRD) is observed annually on February 17 to underline the need for a resilient tourism sector, highlighting its vulnerability to crises and the importance of preparedness and adaptability.

• February 17, 2026 marks the third observance of GTRD.

Background:
Declaration: On February 6, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/77/269, officially declaring February 17 as GTRD.
First Observance: The inaugural GTRD was observed on February 17, 2023.
International Year: In February 2024, the UNGA decided to proclaim 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism.
2026 Event: The 4th GTRD Conference and Expo is being held from February 16–18, 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi(Kenya), bringing together global tourism leaders to discuss key challenges facing the sector.

STATE NEWS

TN Government Signs MoUs worth Rs.5,980 Crores in Semiconductor & Aerospace SectorsIn February 2026, Government of Tamil Nadu (TN) signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) worth Rs.5,980 crores (USD 59.8 million), aimed at strengthening TN’s position in high-technology manufacturing.

• The MoUs were signed in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) of TN M.K. Stalin at an event held in Chennai, TN.

Key MoUs Signed:
Semiconductor & Precision Manufacturing Project: MinebeaMitsumi (Japan), through its Indian subsidiary NMB Minebea India Private Limited signed an MoU worth Rs.1,980 crores to set up a semiconductor and electronics manufacturing facility in Tiruvallur, TN.
Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing Cluster: Aequs Group, Bengaluru (Karnataka), signed an MoU worth Rs.4,000 crores to develop an aerospace and defence manufacturing cluster at the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO)-Shoolagiri Industrial Park at Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri, TN.

• The facility will produce aerospace components such as aircraft engine parts, gearboxes, and precision-engineered products.

Alignment: The initiatives align with the Government of India (GoI)’s vision of semiconductor self-reliance, defence indigenisation, and advanced manufacturing growth.

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