Daily Current Affairs: 12 February 2026

Om Birla faces no-confidence motion as Lok Sabha Speaker.

Key Updates:

• Opposition moved a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on 10 February 2026.
• Removal of Speaker requires a resolution passed by majority of all then members of Lok Sabha under Article 94(c).
• Notice for removal must be in writing to Lok Sabha Secretary-General and needs at least 14 days’ notice.
• Motion needs minimum 50 members to rise in favour for leave to be granted.
• Previous no-confidence motions against Speakers occurred in December 1954, November 1966 and April 1987.
• During consideration of removal, Speaker can speak and vote only in first instance, not in case of tie.

Dr Haripriya Aravind and Dr R Venkatesh Selected for Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award 2026

Key Updates:

• Dr Haripriya Aravind and Dr R Venkatesh from the Aravind Eye Hospital in Puducherry have been selected for the Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award for 2026.
• The award is presented by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation to recognise service and compassion in the field of cataract blindness and disability.
• The presentation ceremony will be held during the ASCRS Foundation’s conference in Washington DC on 11 April 2026.
• The award includes a prize of $100,000, which is donated to the non-profit organisation of the awardee's choice.
• The doctors have earmarked the $100,000 cash prize for the Aravind Eye Care System.
• The Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award was instituted in 2017 and is endowed by a gift from David and Victoria Chang.
• Dr Haripriya Aravind serves as the chief of cataract and intraocular lens services, and Dr R Venkatesh is the chief medical officer at the hospital.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to release new GDP, CPI, IIP series with revised base years

[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)]

Key Updates:

• The government will release the new GDP series on 27 February 2026, the new CPI series on 12 February 2026, and the new IIP series on 28 May 2026.
• The GDP base year has been revised to 2022-23 to reflect current economic structures.
• The CPI base year has been revised to 2024, updating the consumption basket and weights for rural and urban households.
• The IIP base year has been revised to 2022-23 and aligned with the new national accounts series.
• Base year revision is guided by respective Technical Advisory Committees comprising experts from Academia, Central and State governments, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• CPI and GDP follow the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) covering coverage, periodicity, timeliness, public access, integrity, and quality of data.

MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary reports Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) Gross NPAs at historic low of 2.15%

[Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs)]

Key Updates:

• The Gross Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) ratio of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) for domestic operations declined to a historic low of 2.15% as of September 2025.
• According to provisional data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Gross NPA ratio stood at 2.50% for Public Sector Banks (PSBs), 1.73% for Private Sector Banks (PVBs), and 0.80% for foreign banks.
• The slippage ratio for PSBs improved to 0.8% in September 2025, compared with 1.8% for private sector banks, indicating stronger underwriting standards.
• The government and RBI implemented the 4R’s strategy involving transparent recognition of NPAs, resolving and recovering value, recapitalising PSBs, and reforms in the financial ecosystem.
• As of March 2025, over 30,000 cases involving underlying defaults of ₹13.78 lakh crore were settled at the pre-admission stage under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016.
• Recovery measures include amendments to the SARFAESI Act, expansion of Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs), and enhanced oversight of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs).
• Public sector banks have adopted automated Early Warning Systems (EWS) with nearly 80 triggers and established specialised stressed asset management verticals.
• The Asset Quality Review (AQR) initiated by the RBI in 2015 and mandatory registration of security interests with CERSAI were cited as key regulatory contributors to asset quality improvement.

All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) signs MoU with General Insurance Council (GIC) for cashless treatment

[All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), General Insurance Council (GIC)]

Key Updates:

• The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, signed a Common Empanelment Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Insurance Council (GIC) on 10 February 2026.
• AIIA has become the first Ayush institution in India to enter into a formal empanelment with the GIC to provide cashless treatment facilities.
• The agreement enables AIIA to be empanelled with all 32 general insurance companies under the GIC for eligible Ayurveda-based healthcare services.
• The Ministry of Ayush has launched India’s first dedicated Ayush Health Insurance Helpline with the toll-free number 1800-11-0008 to assist beneficiaries.
• The GIC is a statutory body established under the Insurance Act, 1938, and has been functioning since 2001 under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
• The MoU was signed by Prof. (Vaidya) P. K. Prajapati, Director of AIIA, and Shri Segar Sampathkumar, Director (Health) of the GIC.
• AIIA is the apex institute for Ayurveda established under the Ministry of Ayush and operates a 200-bed referral hospital with 25 specialty departments.

National Statistics Office (NSO) reports India's unemployment rate falls to 4.8 per cent in Q3 FY26

Key Updates:

• The National Statistics Office (NSO) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for the third quarter (Q3) of 2025–26, covering the October–December period.
• India's unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above eased to a three-quarter low of 4.8 per cent in Q3 FY26.
• The unemployment rate in rural areas fell to 4 per cent from 4.4 per cent in Q2, while the urban unemployment rate declined to 6.7 per cent from 6.9 per cent.
• The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose to 55.8 per cent in Q3 from 55.1 per cent in the second quarter (Q2), driven by higher women participation.
• Youth unemployment for the 15–29 age group declined to 14.3 per cent from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter.
• Joblessness among young women fell to 16.6 per cent from 17 per cent, while unemployment among young men dropped to 13.5 per cent from 14.1 per cent.
• The share of self-employed workers rose to 56.3 per cent in Q3, while the proportion of regular salaried workers declined to 24.9 per cent.
• Employment in the agriculture sector increased to 43.2 per cent, whereas the share of workers in the secondary sector edged down to 24 per cent.
• The NSO uses the Current Weekly Status (CWS) framework, classifying a person as unemployed if they did not work for even one hour during the reference week.
• The survey methodology employs a rotational panel sampling design where selected households are surveyed four times across rural and urban areas.

Department of Posts (DoP) and National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) partner to expand mutual fund access

[Department of Posts (DoP), National Stock Exchange of India (NSE)]

Key Updates:

• The Department of Posts (DoP) and the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) have signed a pact to expand mutual fund access through the NSE MF Invest platform.
• The partnership leverages the network of over 1.64 lakh post offices and the zero-cost NSE MF Invest platform to provide mutual fund products.
• The initiative will be rolled out in a phased manner, with the first phase focusing on Do-It-Yourself (DIY) investments with small, flexible amounts.
• The second phase will expand to the full mutual fund ecosystem, offering access to all open-ended schemes across 55 Asset Management Companies (AMCs).
• The second phase also includes goal-based investing, portfolio analytics, vernacular support, and enhanced advisory services.
• The initiative aims to bridge the gap in mutual fund penetration, which remains low at approximately 10 per cent of Indian households.
• The mutual fund industry in India has recorded Assets Under Management (AUM) surpassing ₹81 lakh crore with strong Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) inflows.

Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) and Startup Policy Forum (SPF) sign MoU to accelerate fintech and digital innovation.

[Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)]

Key Updates:

• Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) and Startup Policy Forum (SPF) signed an MoU at Black Swan Summit India 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• GFTN is a Singapore-headquartered platform established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and spans more than 130 countries.
• SPF represents over 65 high-growth Indian startups collectively valued at more than USD 100 billion.
• The collaboration focuses on strengthening global-India innovation corridors, enabling structured policy dialogue, and supporting international expansion of Indian startups.
• Priority areas include digital finance infrastructure, responsible AI, digital assets, cross-border payments, and regulatory innovation.
• GFTN is chaired by Ravi Menon, former Managing Director of MAS.
• SPF works closely with DPIIT, the MeitY Startup Hub, and the IndiaAI Mission.

Ministry of Finance reports FDI equity inflow in banking sector fell to $115 million in FY25

Key Updates:

• Foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflow in the banking sector dropped from $898 million in FY23 to $115 million in FY25.
• Total FDI inflow comprises equity inflow, equity capital of unincorporated bodies, re-invested earnings, and other capital.
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Master Directions require its prior approval for any share acquisition giving a person 5% or more of a bank’s paid-up capital.
• Foreign holding in State Bank of India (SBI) stood at 11.07% at end-March 2025, the highest among public sector banks.
• Canara Bank recorded 10.55% foreign holding, Bank of Baroda 9.43%, Union Bank of India 7.48%, and Punjab National Bank 5.85% at end-FY25.
• Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), over 56.31 crore loan accounts amounting to ₹37.31 lakh crore have been disbursed as on 2 January 2026.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has disgorged ₹665.26 crore through enforcement orders against unregistered investment advisers since 2024.

BOBCARD Limited (BOBCARD) launches Braille-enabled Premier Credit Card

[Bank of Baroda (BOB)]

Key Updates:

• BOBCARD, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda (BoB), introduced the Braille-enabled BOBCARD PREMIER Credit Card.
• The launch event was held at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) campus to promote accessibility in financial services.
• The initiative coincided with the felicitation of the Indian Blind Women’s Cricket Team, winners of the inaugural Blind Women’s Cricket T20 World Cup.
• The card provides accelerated reward points on travel, international, dining, and lifestyle spending, along with select airport lounge access.
• BOBCARD was established in 1994 and offers a range of credit products including shopping, co-branded, professional, and premium travel cards.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Payment Aggregator licence to PB Pay Private Limited

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a Payment Aggregator licence to PB Pay Private Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of PB Fintech.
• The Certificate of Authorisation was issued by the RBI on 6th February and became effective immediately.
• The final approval follows an in-principle nod granted by the central bank to the subsidiary in early 2024.
• PB Fintech is the parent organisation of the online insurance marketplace Policybazaar and the lending platform Paisabazaar.

Uttar Pradesh Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 9.13 lakh crore with focus on education, urban growth

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Khanna presented a Rs 9,12,696.35 crore budget for 2026-27, registering a 12.2% rise over the previous year.
• Capital expenditure accounts for 19.5% of the total outlay.
• Fiscal deficit capped at 3% in line with the 16th Finance Commission's recommendations till 2030-31.
• All primary schools to be upgraded into 'Smart Schools' under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
• Rs 580 crore earmarked to establish girls' schools in blocks without Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.
• Nearly 50 lakh tablets and smartphones distributed under Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana.
• Rs 3,500 crore allocated under Chief Minister's Urban Expansion and New City Promotion Scheme for planned urbanisation.

Delhi replaces Ladli scheme with Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana, promises ₹1 lakh support for girls’ education

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana effective from April 1, replacing the 2008 Ladli Yojana.
• The scheme will deposit ₹56,000 in stages during a girl’s academic journey, projected to grow to ₹1 lakh with interest.
• Deposits are ₹11,000 at birth, ₹5,000 on entry to Classes 1, 6, 9, 10 and 12, and ₹20,000 after completing graduation or diploma.
• Eligibility requires the girl to be born in Delhi, family residence in Delhi for at least three years, annual family income not exceeding ₹1 lakh, and a maximum of two daughters per family.
• The final payout is available when the girl turns 21 or completes graduation or diploma, whichever is earlier, even if studied outside Delhi.
• The Ladli Yojana is being discontinued and the government is clearing pending payments under the earlier scheme.

World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan gains momentum after Balaghat pilot completion

Key Updates:

• The World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector completed its pilot with a 500 metric tonne godown at Bahudeshiya Prathamik Krishi Saakh Sahakari Society Maryadit Parswada in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the pilot facility on 24 February 2024 and the Madhya Pradesh Warehousing and Logistics Corporation has hired it.
• The plan converges Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI), Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) and Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME).
• Under AIF, Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) get interest subvention on loans for warehouses and loan repayment period for PACS has been extended from 2+5 years to 2+8 years.
• AMI scheme reduced margin money for PACS from 20 percent to 10 percent and raised eligible project costs to ₹7,000 per metric tonne for plain areas and ₹8,000 per metric tonne for northeastern states.
• Government enhanced subsidy for PACS under AMI from 25 percent to 33.33 percent and allows an extra one-third subsidy for ancillary infrastructure like internal roads, weighbridges and boundary walls.

India reaffirms 2019 e-cigarette ban rejecting Philip Morris lobbying

Key Updates:

• India banned e-cigarettes including heat-not-burn devices in 2019 and will not revoke, amend or relax the ban.
• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated the law explicitly prohibits heat-not-burn products and the situation will stay.
• Philip Morris International lobbied Indian officials and a parliamentary panel from 2021 to 2025 to exempt its IQOS heated tobacco device from the ban.
• India is the seventh-largest cigarette market by volume with over 100 billion cigarettes sold annually and tobacco kills more than a million people each year in the country.
• Philip Morris holds 76% of the global heated tobacco market and IQOS has more than 35 million users across 79 markets.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research told Reuters it is not considering or undertaking any research on heated tobacco products.

Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill 2026 introduced in Lok Sabha to clarify repeal continuity

Key Updates:

• Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill 2026 in Lok Sabha through supplementary agenda.
• The Bill seeks to avoid future confusion over repeal of Trade Unions Act 1926, Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act 1946 and Industrial Disputes Act 1947 by section 104 of Industrial Relations Code 2020.
• Section 104 and February 2026 notification confirm repeal occurred by operation of the Code itself, not by executive delegation.

Delhi Metro Magenta Line Extension approved under Phase V(A) to become NCR’s longest corridor with 21 interchange stations.

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) stated that Phase V(A) extension of Magenta Line from Ramakrishna Ashram Marg to Indraprastha via Central Vista was approved on 24 December 2025.
• The extended Magenta Line will run 89 km from Botanical Garden to Inderlok, making it the longest corridor in the Delhi Metro network.
• The corridor will have 65 stations in total, including 40 underground stations.
• Upon completion, the Magenta Line will have 21 interchange stations, up from the current four operational interchange stations: Kalkaji Mandir, Botanical Garden, Janakpuri West, and Hauz Khas.
• Triple interchange stations on the extended Magenta Line will be Central Secretariat, Azadpur, New Delhi, and Inderlok.
• DMRC announced that the entire Magenta Line will operate as a driverless metro corridor once fully operational.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) launches India's first Melody Road in Mumbai

Key Updates:

• The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has installed India's first Melody Road on a 500-metre stretch of the Mumbai Coastal Road.
• The musical track is situated between Priyadarshini Park and Amarsons Garden at the northbound exit of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) tunnels.
• The technology uses rumble strips to play the song Jai Ho through vehicle wheel friction when motorists exceed a speed of 60 kmph.
• The project was executed by a team of Hungarian experts, making Mumbai the fifth city in the world to adopt this technology.
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the pilot initiative on 11 February 2026.
• Signboards have been placed at distances of 500 metres, 100 metres, and 60 metres ahead of the stretch to alert motorists.
• The technology has previously been implemented in Hungary, Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) mandates six stanzas of Vande Mataram for schools and government events

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram will now be sung at schools and official government events.
• The official version of the national song, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, has been fixed at a duration of 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
• The move coincides with the 150th anniversary of the creation of Vande Mataram and restores the original composition.
• Audience members must stand in an attention pose when the national song is played, though this is not mandatory inside cinema halls.
• The song is required to be played during Civil Investitures, the arrival and departure of the President or Governors at formal State functions, and when the National Flag is brought on parade.
• Schools are instructed to begin the day's work with community singing of the national song to promote respect among students.
• When performed by a band, the song must be preceded by a roll of drums lasting seven paces in slow march.

Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign Launched to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027

Key Updates:

• Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) by the end of 2027.
• The national goal aims to eliminate LF as a public health problem three years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 2030.
• The current campaign is being implemented across 719 blocks in 124 districts across 12 identified LF-endemic States to bring microfilaria prevalence below 1%.
• From February 2026, the National LF Programme has transitioned to a single unified annual MDA campaign, replacing the previous biannual rounds held alongside National Deworming Day.
• Hydrocele surgery for affected patients has been included under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to ensure financial protection.
• The MDA coverage in India has improved from 75% in 2014 to 85% in 2025, while districts stopping MDA after clearing the Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS-1) rose from 15% to 41%.
• Online reporting for the elimination programme is being strengthened through the Integrated Health Information Portal (IHIP).
• The initiative involves multi-sectoral mobilisation with ministries including Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Women and Child Development, Education, Youth Affairs, Tribal Affairs, and Agriculture.

Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana replaces Ladli Yojana with ₹1 lakh support for girls’ education

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana effective from 1 April 2026, replacing the 2008 Ladli Yojana.
• The scheme deposits ₹56,000 in stages and with interest the corpus is projected to reach ₹1 lakh when the girl turns 21 or completes graduation/diploma, whichever is earlier.
• Instalments: ₹11,000 at birth, ₹5,000 on admission to Classes 1, 6, 9, 10 and 12, and ₹20,000 after completing graduation or diploma.
• Eligibility: girl must be born in Delhi, family must have resided in Delhi for at least three years, annual family income must not exceed ₹1 lakh, and only two daughters per family can receive benefits.
• Beneficiaries pursuing graduation or diploma outside Delhi remain eligible for the final payout.
• Pending Ladli Yojana dues are being cleared through a government campaign to identify unclaimed accounts.

NATO launches Arctic Sentry military effort to improve High North security

[North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)]

Key Updates:

• NATO launched Arctic Sentry to coordinate national military exercises in the High North.
• Arctic Sentry is not a military operation and does not involve permanent NATO troop deployment.
• The effort will initially label exercises such as Denmark’s Arctic Endurance and Norway’s Cold Response.
• Coordination for Arctic Sentry will be through NATO’s U.S. headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.
• The United Kingdom will double its troops in Norway from 1,000 to 2,000 over three years.
• France, Germany and Denmark have confirmed participation without specifying troop numbers.
• NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte cited Russia’s increased activity and China’s growing interest as reasons for the initiative.

Indonesia preparing to deploy up to 8,000 soldiers to Gaza

[Indonesia]

Key Updates:

• Indonesia is preparing up to 8,000 soldiers for deployment to Gaza, the first country to do so as part of phase two of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States late last year.
• Army chief of staff General Maruli Simanjuntak said training for the soldiers had already begun and they would focus on medical and engineering roles in Gaza.
• Indonesia has joined President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, announced last month, which has a mandate from the United Nations Security Council to establish an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to secure border areas in Gaza and ensure demilitarisation including disarmament of Hamas.
• The Board of Peace is due to have its first meeting in Washington on 19 February and will also oversee a new technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza and post-war reconstruction.
• An area in southern Gaza between Rafah and Khan Younis has already been designated for use by the Indonesian army to build a barracks for several thousand troops, according to Israel's public broadcaster Kan.
• Other Muslim countries like Turkey and Pakistan are also considering sending troops as peacekeepers only and would not participate in the planned disarmament of Hamas.

South Korea and United States Air Forces hold 2025 first Buddy Squadron exercise at Osan Air Base

[South Korea, United States]

Key Updates:

• The South Korean Air Force and the United States Air Force began their first Buddy Squadron exercise of 2025 on Monday at Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province.
• The exercise runs through Friday and is the 26-1 iteration under a revised framework reducing annual iterations from eight to four while more than doubling participating aircraft and sorties.
• Participating aircraft include South Korean KF-16 fighters, F-35A stealth fighters, FA-50 light attack aircraft, and United States F-16 fighters.
• The Buddy Squadron exercise, renamed from Friendship Training in 1997, started in 1991 to enhance combined operational capabilities through joint training.

Indian Air Force (IAF) and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) conduct joint in-situ air exercise from 9-13 February 2026

[Indian Air Force (IAF), Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Thailand]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) are undertaking a joint in-situ air exercise from 9-13 February 2026.
• IAF Su-30MKI, IL-78 refuelling aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C platforms are participating alongside RTAF Gripen aircraft.
• The exercise aims to enhance operational coordination and interoperability between the two air forces and strengthen Indo-Thai defence cooperation.

Union Budget 2026-27 allocates over ₹500 crore for four mega-telescope projects

Key Updates:

• The Union Budget 2026-27 announced funding for four mega-telescope facilities to be spearheaded by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).
• The National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) is a 2-metre class Gregorian multi-purpose telescope to be located in Merak, near Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh.
• The NLST is designed to study the Sun's magnetic fields and atmospheric processes with a spatial resolution of approximately 50 kilometres.
• The National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope (NLOT) will be a 10-12 metre class facility situated at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Hanle, Ladakh.
• The NLOT will utilise segmented mirror technology to observe star births, early galaxies, and chemical signatures of distant exoplanets in the deep infrared.
• The 2-metre Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) at Hanle, operational since 2001, will receive an upgrade to its sensors and backend instrumentation for transient astronomy.
• The COSMOS-2 Planetarium will be established in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, as a Cosmology Education and Research Training Centre featuring an 8K LED dome.
• The Union Government has allocated a combined investment of over ₹500 crore specifically for these space science infrastructure projects.

Researchers identify 5,300-year-old metal bow drill in Egypt as earliest rotary tool

[Egypt]

Key Updates:

• Researchers from Newcastle University and the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna identified a tool from a Predynastic cemetery in Badari, Upper Egypt, as the oldest known metal drill in the country.
• The artifact dates to the late fourth millennium BCE and measures 63 millimetres in length with a weight of approximately 1.5 grams.
• Portable X-ray fluorescence analysis revealed the tool is composed of a copper alloy containing arsenic, nickel, silver, and lead to increase hardness.
• Microscopic inspection of the tip showed fine parallel lines and rounded edges, confirming its function as a rotary tool rather than a piercing instrument.
• The presence of dried leather coils on the shaft indicates the tool was part of a bow drill system where a cord was used to spin the shaft.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India launches Goa's first biodiversity and cultural map

[World Wildlife Fund (WWF)]

Key Updates:

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India has developed the first biodiversity and cultural features map of Goa to be used as an educational tool in schools.
• The map features 48 commonly found species in Goa, covering birds, mammals, reptiles, sea animals, mangroves, and insects.
• Cultural aspects represented on the map include Kaavi art, the dressing of Kunbi women, the folk dance of Ghoddemodni, and the practice of crocodile worship known as manngetapnni.
• The map was created by artist Sudarshan Shaw using a folk indica art style to interest students.
• The initiative is integrated with the National Education Policy (NEP), under which WWF has trained approximately 450 teachers in government and government-aided schools starting from Class VI.
• The map was released by Stephen Alter at the Goa Art and Literature Festival.

Sansha Yongle Blue Hole loses deepest-blue-hole record yet remains key natural archive

Key Updates:

• The Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, also called the Dragon Hole, sits in the South China Sea and was once confirmed as the deepest known blue hole at 301.19 metres.
• In 2017 scientists deployed a high-grade underwater robot with precise navigation tools to produce the first full three-dimensional map and confirm the depth of 301.19 metres.
• The hole’s interior bends and tilts so that its deepest point lies more than 100 metres sideways from the surface entrance.
• Rock ledges inside the hole align with ancient lower sea levels and contain fossilised shells and coral fragments.
• Oxygen nearly vanishes below 90–100 metres and hydrogen sulphide becomes detectable, leaving deeper water layers largely undisturbed.

Esha Singh claims India’s maiden gold at Asian rifle and pistol championship

Key Updates:

• Esha Singh won the 10m air pistol women’s final at the Asian rifle and pistol championship held in New Delhi.
• India secured gold in the women’s 10m air pistol team event.
• Samrat Rana won individual bronze in the men’s 10m air pistol event.
• Indian men’s air pistol team of Samrat Rana, Sharvan Kumar and Varun Tomar secured team silver.
• Vladimir Svechnikov of Uzbekistan won the men’s individual gold and Valeriy Rakimzhan took silver.
• Uzbekistan won the men’s team gold in 10m air pistol.
• Vietnam took silver and Chinese Taipei bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol team event.

Aakriti Dahiya wins silver medal at Asian Championship

Key Updates:

• The Asian Championship for rifle and pistol events was held in New Delhi.
• Aakriti Dahiya won the silver medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event.
• Olympian Anjum Moudgil secured the bronze medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event.
• Sofiya Shulzhenko of Kazakhstan won the gold medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions with a new world record score of 358.2.
• The Indian women’s team, comprising Aakriti Dahiya, Anjum Moudgil, and Aashi Chouksey, won the silver medal with a total score of 1756-86x.
• Prachi Gaikwad won the gold medal in the junior women’s 3P final with a score of 353.3.
• Tomiris Amanova of Kazakhstan won the silver medal in the junior women’s 3P final with a score of 351.4.
• Anushka Thokur won the bronze medal in the junior women’s 3P final with a score of 341.1.
• Vidarsa Kochalumkal Vinod, a Ranking Points Only (RPO) athlete, topped the qualification chart with 590 points.

National Productivity Day observed on 12 February 2026 with theme Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximizing Productivity in MSMEs

Key Updates:

• National Productivity Day is observed annually in India on 12 February to promote awareness about productivity, economic growth, and efficiency.
• The day marks the founding anniversary of the National Productivity Council (NPC), which was established on 12 February 1958.
• The NPC is a premier autonomous organisation functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
• The theme for National Productivity Day 2026 is Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximizing Productivity in MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises).
• The observance of this day initiates the National Productivity Week, which is held from 12 February to 18 February.

CM unveils two books by Bishwabhushan Harichandan

Key Updates:

• Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi unveiled the Odia book 'E Mati Katha Kahe' and the English book 'Buxi Jagabandhu: The Great Commander' written by former Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan on 8 February 2026 in Bhubaneswar.
• The English book highlights the 1817 Paika Rebellion, which the state wants recognised as India’s First War of Independence.
• The Odia book contains 30 essays on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, world peace, and the Jagannath Nabakalebara Yatra.

Safer Internet Day observed on 10 February 2026 with theme Smart Tech, Safe Choices

Key Updates:

• Safer Internet Day is observed globally on the second Tuesday of February, which falls on 10 February in 2026.
• The theme for Safer Internet Day 2026 is Smart Tech, Safe Choices: Exploring the Safe and Responsible Use of AI.
• The initiative began in 2004 under the European Union (EU) SafeBorders project and was later adopted by the Insafe network in 2005.
• Safer Internet Day is currently observed in more than 160 countries and territories across the world.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will organise the India AI Impact Summit 2026 from 15 to 20 February in New Delhi.
• The Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) project will conduct a large-scale awareness campaign involving workshops and public awareness drives.

World Unani Day observed on 11 February 2026

Key Updates:

• World Unani Day was observed on 11 February 2026 at the Mini-Secretariat in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir.
• The event was organised by the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in collaboration with the Information Department.
• The theme for the 2026 observance was Innovation and Evidence in Unani Practice, focusing on scientific validation and quality assurance.
• A publication titled Handbook of Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Care was released during the occasion.
• A Kashmiri skit titled Aalow was presented by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) to promote traditional healthcare systems.
• Clinical kits were distributed to Multipurpose Health Workers of Ayush Centres to enhance healthcare delivery in the Shopian district.
• The event was attended by the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Shopian, Dr Nasir Ahmed Lone, and the District Ayush Officer, Dr Javid Ahmed.