📰 Daily Briefing Monday, Feb 16

Daily Current Affairs: 16 February 2026

Analysis for 16 February 2026

CA Prasanna Kumar D elected President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for 2026–27, CA Mangesh Kinare elected Vice-President.

[Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)]

Key Updates:

  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) elected CA Prasanna Kumar D as its 74th President for the 2026–27 term.
  • CA Mangesh Pandurang Kinare was elected as Vice-President of ICAI for 2026–27.
  • Prasanna Kumar D served as Vice-President of ICAI during 2025–26.
  • He was a member of the ICAI Central Council in its 24th, 25th, and 26th Councils.
  • He chaired the Visakhapatnam Branch of ICAI in 2001–02 and the Southern India Regional Council in 2013–14.
  • As President, he will chair ICAI’s Executive, Finance, Disciplinary, and Examination Committees and serve as Editor in Chief of The Chartered Accountant journal.

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Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty elected first woman President of Press Club of India (PCI) (Mid of December) ▼
  • Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty secured 1,019 votes to become the first woman President of PCI.
  • Her team swept all office-bearers and managing committee positions, winning 21-0 in the elections.
  • Afzal Imam was elected Secretary General with 948 votes, defeating Gyan Prakash who got 290 votes.
  • Jatin Gandhi won the vice-president post with 1,029 votes, defeating Prahlad Singh Rajput by over 900 votes.
  • Aditi Rajput (Treasurer) and PR Sunil (Joint Secretary) were elected unopposed.
  • The 16-member managing committee was led by Niraj Kumar with 932 votes.
President approves gallantry and service medals for Indian Coast Guard personnel on 77th Republic Day (End of January) ▼
  • President of India approved Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for ADG Donny Michael, PTM, TM.
  • DIG KS Sitaram received the Vishisht Seva Medal.
  • P/Nvk ME Saumyaranjan Behera was awarded the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak.
  • IG Iqbal Singh Chauhan and IG Datwinder Singh Saini received the President's Tatrakshak Medal for Distinguished Service.
  • Late Comdt Rakesh Kumar Rana, Late Comdt JG Vipin Babu and Late P/Nvk RP Karan Singh were posthumously conferred the Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry).
  • Comdt JG Shailendra Singh Bisht, P/Nvk RP Gautam Yadav and P/Nvk RP Banti Kumar received the Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry).
  • Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service) was awarded to DIG Vinod Kumar Parmar, DIG Arun Kumar Bhardwaj, DIG Sudhakar Patil, Comdt Indu P and Adh RO Tapas Kumar Banerjee.
Indian AI Research Organisation (IAIRO) to be set up at GIFT City through PPP model (End of December) ▼
  • Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel gave in-principle approval for the establishment of the Indian AI Research Organisation (IAIRO) to strengthen research and development in artificial intelligence.
  • The facility will be set up through a tripartite partnership involving the state and Central governments, and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance under the PPP model.
  • IAIRO will be constituted as a non-profit institute under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.
  • An estimated budget of approximately ₹300 crore has been earmarked for the first five years, with equal contribution of 33.33% each from the state government, the Centre, and the private partner.
  • The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) has joined as the anchor private partner and will contribute ₹25 crore for the year 2025-26.
  • IAIRO will function under a hybrid compute model, integrating on-premise GPU infrastructure along with national platforms such as the IndiaAI Cloud.
Gyanesh Kumar to assume Chair of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) on December 3 (End of November) ▼
  • Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is set to assume the Chair of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the year 2026.
  • Kumar will take over as the chair of IIDEA on December 3 in Stockholm.
  • As Chair, he will be presiding over all council meetings during 2026.
  • International IDEA, established in 1995, is an inter-governmental organisation committed to strengthening democratic institutions and processes across the world.
  • The organisation has a current membership of 35 countries, with the United States and Japan as observers.
  • India, a founding member of IIDEA, has consistently contributed to the organisation's governance, democratic discourse and institutional initiatives.

Deepak Gupta appointed Chairman and Managing Director of GAIL

[GAIL]

Key Updates:

  • Deepak Gupta, Director Projects, GAIL (India) Ltd, has been appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).
  • The appointment is effective from the date he assumes charge on or after 1 March 2026.
  • He will serve as CMD until his superannuation on 28 February 2029 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

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Divakar Jayant assumed charge as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA) at Naval Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (MoD). (Start of February) ▼
  • Divakar Jayant, a 1991-batch Indian Naval Armament Service (INAS) officer, took over as DGONA on 2 February 2026.
  • He succeeded P. Upadhyay, who superannuated on 31 January 2026.
  • Jayant joined the Naval Armament Organisation of the Indian Navy on 28 December 1992.
  • He is an Electrical Engineering graduate from IIT Delhi and specialises in torpedo life-cycle management.
  • He has served as Chief General Manager and General Manager/Principal Director at Naval Armament Depots in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, and Alwaye.
Ganesh Lakshminarayanan appointed CEO-designate of Tata Communications (End of January) ▼
  • Ganesh Lakshminarayanan has been named CEO-designate of Tata Communications and will take over as Managing Director & CEO after regulatory approvals.
  • He will succeed AS Lakshminarayanan, who is retiring on April 13, 2026.
  • Ganesh previously served as Managing Director and Group Vice President for ServiceNow India & SAARC.
  • Earlier, he was CEO of Airtel Business in India and led the enterprise business unit to 50% growth over three years.
Sadanand Vasant Date took charge as Director General of Police, Maharashtra (Start of January) ▼
  • Sadanand Vasant Date succeeded Rashmi Shukla, the first woman DGP of Maharashtra.
  • Date, a 1990-batch IPS officer, will occupy the post for two years in line with Supreme Court guidelines.
  • He has earlier served as chief of the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad and as the first commissioner of the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar police Commissionerate.
GAIL-Chhattisgarh MoU for 12.7 LMT gas-based urea project (End of December) ▼
  • GAIL signed an MoU with the Chhattisgarh government to undertake detailed techno-economic studies for a greenfield gas-based fertiliser project.
  • The project includes a 12.7 lakh metric tonne urea plant proposed along GAIL’s Mumbai–Nagpur–Jharsuguda natural gas pipeline corridor.
  • The state government will support feasibility studies, land identification and allocation, statutory approvals, and enabling infrastructure.

Henley Passport Index (HPI) Ranks India 75th with Visa-Free Access to 56 Countries

Key Updates:

  • India has secured the 75th position in the latest Henley Passport Index (HPI), improving from the 85th rank recorded last year.
  • Indian passport holders can now access 56 countries without a prior visa, through either visa-free or visa-on-arrival arrangements.
  • Singapore leads the global ranking in the first position, providing visa-free access to 192 destinations.
  • Japan and South Korea share the second rank with access to 187 countries, while Sweden and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are placed third with 186 destinations.
  • France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland hold the fourth position with access to 185 countries.
  • Austria, Greece, Malta, and Portugal are ranked fifth, allowing entry to 184 destinations without a prior visa.
  • India previously held the 80th position in 2024 before slipping to 85th, with its historical best rank being 71st in 2006.
  • Other nations featuring in the top 10 include Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and New Zealand.

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Henley Passport Index 2026: Singapore ranks 1st and India ranks 80th (Mid of January) ▼
  • Singapore remains the strongest passport in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations.
  • Japan and South Korea follow closely in the second position with access to 188 destinations.
  • India’s passport improved to 80th position, tied with Algeria, climbing five spots from last year’s ranking of 85th.
  • Indian citizens can now travel to 55 countries without a prior visa through visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) arrangements.
  • The United Arab Emirates emerges as a new standout at fifth place with 184 destinations.
  • The United States is ranked 10th on the list with access to 179 destinations.
LSEG–Ipsos PCSI places India second globally in consumer confidence for January 2026 (End of January) ▼
  • India’s LSEG–Ipsos Primary Consumer Sentiment Index (PCSI) rose 1.4 points to 60.7 in January 2026, ranking it second among 30 countries.
  • Indonesia led the index at 62.6, with India and Indonesia the only markets above 60 points.
  • India’s PCSI Economic Expectations Sub-Index increased 6.6 points and the Employment Sub-Index climbed 6.3 points.
  • The Current Personal Financial Conditions Sub-Index for India slipped 0.6 points and the Investment Climate Sub-Index declined 2.0 points.
  • The Global Consumer Confidence Index (GCCI) improved 0.5 points to 49.9 in January 2026, up 1.3 points year-on-year.
  • Survey covered over 21,000 adults under 75 across 30 countries from 24 December 2025 to 9 January 2026.
Portulans Institute Ranks India 45th in Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025 (Mid of February) ▼
  • India climbed four spots to secure the 45th rank globally in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025, released by the Portulans Institute.
  • The country's overall score improved to 54.43 out of 100 in 2025, up from 53.63 recorded in 2024.
  • The NRI 2025 evaluated 127 economies based on 53 indicators grouped under four pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact.
  • India ranked first globally in annual investment in telecommunication services, Artificial Intelligence (AI) scientific publications, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) services exports, and e-commerce legislation.
  • The report placed India second globally in fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and building internet subscriptions, mobile broadband internet traffic, and international internet bandwidth.
  • India secured the third position globally in domestic market scale and income inequality metrics.
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 released by Transparency International (Mid of February) ▼
  • Transparency International released the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 covering 182 countries and territories.
  • India improved its rank to 91st from 96th in the previous year.
  • India’s CPI score rose by one point to 39 in 2025.
  • The CPI scale ranges from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
  • Denmark topped the index with 89 points, followed by Finland and Singapore.
  • South Sudan and Somalia shared the lowest score of 9 points.
  • The United States (US) was ranked 29th and the United Kingdom (UK) 20th.
  • The report listed India among countries dangerous for journalists reporting on corruption.

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partners with PayNet to enable UPI acceptance in Malaysia.

[NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), PayNet, Malaysia]

Key Updates:

  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) signed an agreement with Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) to enable QR-based merchant payments between India and Malaysia.
  • Indian travellers will scan DuitNow QR codes using UPI-enabled apps during the first phase of the rollout.
  • Malaysian travellers will scan UPI QR codes using DuitNow apps in a subsequent phase.
  • The integration will give Indian users access to millions of DuitNow QR acceptance points across Malaysia, including restaurants, retail outlets and tourist establishments.
  • Malaysian visitors will gain acceptance across millions of UPI QR-enabled merchant locations in India.
  • NPCI International Payments was incorporated in April 2020 as a wholly owned subsidiary of NPCI to deploy UPI and RuPay systems overseas.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants EximPe PA-CB licence for cross-border UPI collections. (Mid of February) ▼
  • Mumbai-based fintech EximPe received final PA-CB authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • The licence enables global merchants and payment platforms to collect payments from India via UPI and other local payment methods.
  • Before the authorisation EximPe facilitated over USD 500 million in bank-led cross-border trade payments across key Asia corridors.
  • EximPe targets USD 1 billion in annualised UPI payments within the next 24 months.
  • EximPe raised USD 5 million in a 2022 seed round led by Leo Capital.
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and ACLEDA Bank Plc. enable UPI & KHQR acceptance across India and Cambodia. (Start of December) ▼
  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partners with ACLEDA Bank Plc., Cambodia's first publicly listed commercial bank, to interconnect UPI and KHQR networks.
  • Indian travellers can use UPI-enabled apps at over 4.5 million KHQR merchant touchpoints in Cambodia.
  • Cambodian tourists can scan more than 709 million UPI QR codes in India using Cambodian payment apps.
  • ACLEDA Bank Plc. operates Cambodia's national QR network, Bakong (KHQR), as nominated by the National Bank of Cambodia.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and NTT Data to launch Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Japan (End of January) ▼
  • The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has partnered with Japanese IT services firm NTT Data to roll out Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Japan on a trial basis in fiscal 2026.
  • The initial phase of the service will be available to Indian tourists visiting Japan, allowing payments to be debited directly from their bank accounts in India.
  • Japan will join eight other countries that have already adopted the UPI platform, including Bhutan, Singapore, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sri Lanka, Qatar, Mauritius, and France.
  • UPI transactions in India grew by 42 percent in fiscal 2024, reaching a total of 185.8 billion transactions.
  • A June 2025 report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) described UPI as the world’s largest real-time payment system.
  • Data from 2023 shows that 49 percent of all instant-payment transactions worldwide were processed through the UPI network.
  • NTT Data provides payment terminals and processing services to approximately six million stores in India and plans to promote UPI adoption among merchants in Japan.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB) license to Skydo (Start of January) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted final authorisation to Bengaluru-based Skydo to operate as a Payment Aggregator–Cross Border (PA-CB).
  • The license enables the company to offer cross-border payment services to Indian MSMEs, freelancers, and startups across multiple currencies and markets.
  • Skydo currently serves over 30,000 Indian MSMEs, freelancers, and startups across more than 50 cities.
  • The platform supports payment collections in over 32 currencies.
  • The company recently raised USD 10Mn in Series A funding led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, with participation from Elevation Capital.
  • The total funding raised by Skydo to date stands at USD 20Mn.

Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode (IIM-K) and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) sign MoU for customised executive training programmes.

[Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K), Indian Overseas Bank (IOB)]

Key Updates:

  • Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode (IIM-K) and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) signed an MoU to design, deliver, and certify customised training programmes and workshops for IOB’s senior leadership and executives.
  • The MoU was signed during IOB’s 90th Foundation Day celebrations.
  • IOB announced the establishment of a dedicated centre of excellence (CoE) for training and capacity building.
  • IIM-K will operate through its Kochi campus (IIMK-Kochi) and IOB through its staff college and the newly inaugurated CoE to jointly develop high-impact learning interventions.
  • The programmes will target IOB’s top executives, senior management, and selected officers, aligned with the bank’s strategic priorities and vision of becoming a leading institution anchored in sound and prudent banking principles.

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Prof. Dheeraj Sharma Conferred With Exemplary Governance Leadership Award (Mid of January) ▼
  • Prof. Dheeraj Sharma, the Director of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Rohtak, was conferred with the Exemplary Governance Leadership Award at the 46th World Management Congress.
  • The award ceremony was held at the India International Centre in New Delhi following a selection process involving over 1,400 global nominations.
  • He was one of only seven individuals shortlisted for the honor by the Congress’s Awards and Appreciation Committee.
  • Under his leadership, IIM Rohtak secured international accreditations from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Business Graduates Association (BGA).
  • He spearheaded the launch of the Integrated Programme in Management and the Integrated Programme in Law, the latter being the first such law programme among IIMs.
  • He was recognized in a 2023 Stanford University list as being among the world’s top 2% researchers.
  • IIM Rohtak shifted to its permanent campus in 2018, with the project completed below estimated costs during his tenure.
Skills Accelerator MoU to bridge workforce skill gaps (End of January) ▼
  • Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed an MoU with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to launch and implement a Skills Accelerator in India.
  • The Accelerator is a multistakeholder platform aimed at identifying, scaling, and accelerating innovative solutions and public–private partnerships to address critical skills gaps in the workforce.
  • It will strengthen India’s technical and vocational education and training ecosystem by aligning skilling initiatives with industry and global economy demands.
International Day of Education observed on January 24 with theme The power of youth in co-creating education (End of January) ▼
  • The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will celebrate the International Day of Education 2026 on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
  • The theme for the International Day of Education 2026 is The power of youth in co-creating education.
  • UNESCO will host key activities and hybrid events for the observance at its headquarters in Paris, France.
  • The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 73/25 on December 3, 2018, proclaiming January 24 as the International Day of Education.
  • The first observance of the International Day of Education took place on January 24, 2019.
  • The day aims to promote Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all.
  • Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore is the only Indian institute to feature in the global top 100 of the Times Higher Education (THE) Subject Rankings 2026.
  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories (UTs) as part of its 2025 achievements.
Gyanesh Kumar to assume Chair of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) on December 3 (End of November) ▼
  • Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is set to assume the Chair of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the year 2026.
  • Kumar will take over as the chair of IIDEA on December 3 in Stockholm.
  • As Chair, he will be presiding over all council meetings during 2026.
  • International IDEA, established in 1995, is an inter-governmental organisation committed to strengthening democratic institutions and processes across the world.
  • The organisation has a current membership of 35 countries, with the United States and Japan as observers.
  • India, a founding member of IIDEA, has consistently contributed to the organisation's governance, democratic discourse and institutional initiatives.

MoES-Puducherry MoU to boost Blue Economy and marine research

[Puducherry]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Puducherry, signed an MoU to strengthen marine research, coastal resilience and Blue Economy initiatives in the Union Territory.
  • The MoU outlines cooperation across six strategic pillars: sustainable marine fisheries, offshore wind energy, desalination technologies, ocean climate advisory and real-time monitoring, permanent coastal management, and marine spatial planning.
  • The agreement will remain in effect for five years and includes designated Nodal Officers, Joint Working Groups, and annual progress reviews.

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Bharat Container Shipping Line MoU signed with ₹15,000 crore joint funding for port capacity expansion (Start of February) ▼
  • The Union Government signed an MoU on 4 February 2026 to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
  • The MoU was signed among Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), Chennai Port Authority, and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL).
  • A separate tripartite MoU was signed between VOCPA, Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC), and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) to finance the Outer Harbour Project at Tuticorin.
  • The agreements provide for joint funding of up to ₹15,000 crore for eligible projects to expand port capacity under the Sagarmala Programme and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
  • The financing framework will use a Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) focusing on debt funding for breakwater construction and allied onshore-offshore facilities.
  • The initiatives align with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) announced in Union Budget 2026-27 and support the Maritime Amrit Kaal 2047 vision.
Reliance Industries Ltd and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) sign MoU for sharing offshore resources. (End of January) ▼
  • Reliance Industries Ltd and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) signed an MoU on the sidelines of India Energy Week (IEW) to share offshore supply vessels and other resources.
  • The pact targets enhanced operational efficiency, faster execution of offshore projects, and stronger synergies between India's largest oil and gas producer and the nation's most valuable company.
  • The collaboration aims to allow a vessel approved by authorities to move between adjacent blocks, such as ONGC’s KG-DWN-98/2 and Reliance-BP’s KG-DWN-98/3 in the Krishna Godavari basin, without fresh approvals.
  • Currently, securing fresh approvals for a foreign-flagged offshore supply vessel from the ministries of defence and home affairs and the director general of shipping takes 45 days and is area- and duration-specific.
  • The companies will jointly approach the government to permit use of any fully-approved vessel anywhere in the Indian sedimentary basin.
  • This is the second recent collaboration between ONGC and Reliance after they partnered with BP in 2024 to bid for the 5,454-sq-km Block GS-OSHP-2022/2 in the Saurashtra Basin under Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) bid round IX.
India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives Conduct 17th Edition of DOSTI Exercise in Male on January 17, 2026 (Mid of January) ▼
  • The 17th edition of the trilateral exercise 'DOSTI' is being held in Male, involving the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Sri Lanka Coast Guard, and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
  • The harbour phase of the exercise includes collaborative Marine Pollution (MARPOL) exercises, joint Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) drills, and pollution response demonstrations.
  • A four-member delegation from the ICG, led by Director General Paramesh Sivamani, is participating in the exercise to foster reciprocal learning and capacity augmentation.
  • The exercise features tabletop exercises and the implementation of cross-boarding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance interoperability.
  • Originally started as a bilateral exercise between India and the Maldives in 1991, DOSTI transitioned into a trilateral framework in 2012 with the addition of Sri Lanka.
  • The trilateral engagement reflects India's 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' (SAGAR) vision and its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.
India and Brazil sign tripartite MoU to boost Scorpène submarine maintenance and defence ties (Mid of December) ▼
  • A landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Navy, Brazilian Navy, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
  • The MoU focuses on the exchange of information related to the maintenance of Scorpène-class submarines and other naval vessels.
  • The agreement aims to enhance life-cycle support, enable experience sharing in maintenance, logistics, and training, and strengthen cooperation between government agencies and industry of both nations.
  • The MoU will further boost Defence Research and Development (R&D) collaboration and drive technological innovation in sustaining Scorpène-class submarines and other naval platforms.
  • The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi visited Brazil.
  • In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Brazil, where he and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva decided to charter a strategic roadmap to strengthen bilateral ties, including defence and security.
  • India and Brazil recognized convergent views and strategic complementarities in defence and security matters.
  • An Agreement on the Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information was signed, enabling deeper cooperation in various strategic areas.
  • A Bilateral Cybersecurity Dialogue was established to deepen cooperation through the exchange of information, experiences, and national perspectives on cybersecurity issues.

Kerala Urban Policy: First comprehensive state-level urban roadmap for 2050

[Kerala]

Key Updates:

  • Kerala became the first state in India to frame a comprehensive Urban Policy, approved by the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
  • The Nava Kerala Urban Policy envisions Kerala in 2050 as 'a continuous network of climate-smart cities and towns, ensuring scientific planning and good governance.'
  • The Kerala Urban Policy Commission, constituted in December 2023, submitted its report to the Chief Minister in March 2025.
  • The policy projects Kerala to be nearly 80 per cent urbanised by 2050 with decentralised urban growth between the high ranges and the coastal belt.
  • Key thematic areas of the policy include reforms in laws and institutional systems, capacity building, people-centric services, infrastructure development, and spatial and strategic planning.

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Tamil Nadu Urban Greening Policy 2026 mandates 15% green cover in ULBs (Start of February) ▼
  • Tamil Nadu government released its first Urban Greening Policy 2026 to integrate trees, urban forests, parks, wetlands and blue-green infrastructure into city planning.
  • Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) must strive to maintain at least 15% of their total municipal area under green cover.
  • Funding will be mobilised through convergence of existing schemes such as AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission and the Green Tamil Nadu Mission.
  • A state-level Urban Greening Coordination Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary will ensure convergence among departments.
  • The Municipal Administration and Water Supply department will set up a dedicated urban forest wing for greening initiatives.
  • ULBs are encouraged to adopt the 3-30-300 Urban Green Liveability Guideline and improve city biodiversity index scorecards (Singapore Index).
  • Urban local bodies may explore levying a green fee linked to building permissions and development approvals.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces Amaravati as India's first integrated Financial City (End of November) ▼
  • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Amaravati will become India's first integrated Financial City, housing major financial institutions.
  • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation for construction of nationalized banks and financial institutions in Amaravati.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently moved to a rented building in Vijayawada.
  • Many banks are handling Andhra Pradesh’s operations from Hyderabad.
  • Institutions that began construction activities in Amaravati include State Bank of India (SBI), Union Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank (PNB), IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of India, Indian Bank, Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank, AP Cooperative Bank, NABARD, LIC, and New India Assurance.
  • The financial hub in Amaravati will generate direct employment for more than 6,500 people.
  • Fifteen state-owned banks and insurance companies are setting up their headquarters in Amaravati.
  • 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty nationwide.
  • The Centre is establishing training hubs in districts for Quantum Valley and AI-related projects.
16th Finance Commission retains states’ tax share at 41% (Start of February) ▼
  • The sixteenth Finance Commission recommended retaining the state’s share in the divisible tax pool at 41% for the five-year period beginning April 1, 2026.
  • The commission recommended ending revenue deficit grants for the states.
  • The commission added states’ contribution to GDP among its horizontal devolution criteria.
  • The commission recommended stricter fiscal discipline for states and annual disclosure of net proceeds of Union taxes certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
  • States are required to disclose their off-budget borrowings.
  • The commission enhanced disaster grants and enforced stricter timelines for fund transfers to local governments with higher penalties for failure.
  • For horizontal devolution, the commission will give 15.5% weightage to population based on 2011 census, 10% to demographic performance, 10% each to area and forest cover, 42.5% on per-capita income distance, and the rest on states’ contribution to GDP.
  • Of total grants of Rs 7.91 lakh crore to rural and urban local bodies, 60% is earmarked for rural local bodies and 40% for urban local bodies, with 20% grant to be performance-linked.
  • Half of the basic grant is tied to sanitation, solid waste management, and water management.
  • The commission proposed an urbanisation premium of ₹10,000 crore to incentivise merger of peri-urban villages into larger urban local bodies.
  • A ₹56,100-crore special infrastructure window is proposed for comprehensive wastewater management in select urban growth centres.
  • States must transfer funds to local bodies within 10 working days of receipt from the centre, failing which interest will be payable.
  • The commission recommended a combined ₹2.04 lakh crore corpus for State Disaster Response and Mitigation Funds over five years with an 80:20 split between response and mitigation.
  • The centre’s share is capped at ₹1.56 lakh crore for disaster management.
  • The commission proposed separate allocations of ₹79,406 crore for the National Disaster Response and Mitigation Funds.
  • From 2027-28 onwards, states must fully upload and validate data on the National Disaster Management Information System portal to access disaster grants.
  • The commission called for strict enforcement of a 3% gross state domestic product (GSDP) cap on states’ fiscal deficits and discontinuation of off-budget borrowings.
  • The centre accepted the borrowing cap for states in principle and will examine other fiscal recommendations separately.
Kerala Budget 2026-27: ₹10 Crore Allocated for Project on Religious and Cultural Fraternity (End of January) ▼
  • Kerala Finance Minister (FM) K.N. Balagopal presented the state Budget 2026-27 in the state Legislative Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram.
  • The Kerala government has earmarked ₹10 crore for a project to analytically record the history of the religious and cultural fraternity of the state.
  • The project aims to showcase Kerala's history of harmony to people of other lands and serve as a defence against communal division and polarisation.
  • The FM stated that tariffs imposed by the United States (US) have adversely affected India and Kerala, specifically impacting the export of marine products.
  • The state government expressed concern that a free-trade agreement between India and the European Economic Community (EEC) may negatively impact dairy farmers and industries.

NITI Aayog projects India’s technology services sector to reach $750–850 billion by 2035

Key Updates:

  • NITI Aayog released a 10-year roadmap projecting India’s $265 billion technology services sector to scale to $750–850 billion by 2035.
  • The roadmap by NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub identifies five priority growth levers: Agentic AI, Software and Products, Digital Infrastructure, Innovation-led Engineering, and India-for-India solutions.
  • Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the government is building an enabling ecosystem combining progressive policy, industry partnership, and inter-ministerial coordination to accelerate innovation.
  • MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said India is pursuing a full-stack, impact-driven AI strategy covering energy, infrastructure, chips, models, and applications.
  • NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam described the AI transformation as a generational opportunity to create new value pools and strengthen global leadership.

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NITI Aayog–NIIT Foundation MoU for 100% Aspirational Blocks coverage (End of January) ▼
  • NITI Aayog has partnered with NIIT Foundation to achieve 100% coverage in digital literacy, financial inclusion and employability across select Aspirational Blocks.
  • The collaboration targets approximately 1.2 lakh beneficiaries with at least 40% women participation.
  • NIIT Foundation will lead on-ground implementation through trained mobilisers, trainers, and by building capacity of community facilitators, self-help group leaders and peer educators.
Union Budget 2026-27: Focus on Manufacturing, MSMEs, and Fiscal Consolidation (Start of February) ▼
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27, targeting an economic growth of approximately 7% with a focus on the goal of Viksit Bharat.
  • The government announced the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 and the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme to strengthen domestic high-value manufacturing.
  • New sector-specific initiatives include Biopharma SHAKTI for biotechnology, three dedicated chemical parks, and a scheme for rare earth permanent magnets.
  • The budget proposed the revival of 200 legacy industrial clusters and the establishment of hi-tech tool rooms in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
  • For Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the government announced a ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund and a ₹2,000 crore top-up to the Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund.
  • The Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) will be mandatory for all CPSE purchases from MSMEs and will be linked with the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
  • The existing ₹10 lakh per consignment value cap on courier exports for small firms has been removed to encourage international trade.
  • The government will support states to set up five hubs for medical value tourism and establish three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIA).
  • A new National Institute of Design (NID) will be established in eastern India, and AVGC content creator labs will be set up in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges.
  • The Bharat-VISTAAR initiative will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to integrate AgriStack portals with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) practices.
  • Infrastructure projects include 20 new National Waterways and a Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) connecting Dankuni in the east to Surat in the west.
  • The government allocated ₹2 lakh crore to states under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).
  • The fiscal deficit for 2026-27 is estimated at 4.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with a target to bring the debt-to-GDP ratio to 50% by 2030.
  • The budget provided ₹1.4 lakh crore as Finance Commission grants to states.
Budget 2026–27 Mega Infra Push: Seven High-Speed Rail Corridors, City Economic Regions and Rs 10,000 Cr SME Growth Fund (Start of February) ▼
  • Capital expenditure for 2026–27 raised to Rs 12.2 lakh crore.
  • Seven new high-speed rail corridors announced: Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri.
  • City Economic Regions to get Rs 5,000 crore per region over five years.
  • New Dedicated Freight Corridor to link Dankuni in the East with Surat in the West.
  • 20 National Waterways to be operationalised in five years, starting with NW-5 in Odisha connecting Talcher, Angul, Kalinga Nagar to Paradeep and Dhamra ports.
  • Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund to provide partial credit guarantees to lenders for private developers.
  • Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund launched to incentivise small and medium enterprises based on select criteria.
  • Self-Reliant India Fund topped up with Rs 2,000 crore to support micro enterprises.
  • Three dedicated Chemical Parks to be established with central support to States.
  • Rare Earth Corridors to be set up in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for mining, processing, research and manufacturing.
  • Mega Textile Parks to be developed in challenge mode, including focus on technical textiles.
  • Ship repair ecosystem for inland waterways to be set up at Varanasi and Patna.
  • Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to raise share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6 % to 12 % by 2047.
  • Seaplane Viability Gap Funding Scheme introduced to support seaplane operations.
Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur (IIMU) Hosts Third Edition of D'Future India Digital Conclave 2026 (Start of February) ▼
  • The Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur (IIMU) successfully hosted the third edition of the D'Future: India Digital Conclave at the T-Hub in Hyderabad.
  • The conclave focused on technology-led growth, resilient systems, and building an inclusive nation through digital technologies.
  • Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary of the Government of Telangana, highlighted the state's commitment to digitising governance, including providing optical fibre connectivity to households.
  • Prof. Ramayya Krishnan from Carnegie Mellon University discussed the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare applications and the importance of AI governance.
  • Kamlesh Gosai, Executive Director at the Ministry of Railways, shared insights into the GatiShakti programme and the Tech Vision 2035 roadmap for integrated infrastructure planning.
  • The event featured student-led innovations from the IIMU 1-Year MBA (GSCM) programme, including AI-powered inventory management and demand forecasting tools.
  • Start-up companies presented pitches in advanced fields such as quantum computing, high-speed devices, low-cost sustained energy systems, and rocket launching.
  • Viren Rasquinha, CEO of Olympic Gold Quest, discussed the increasing role of data analytics and wearable devices in enhancing sports performance.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Columbia University partner to establish AI Centre for Manufacturing

[Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Columbia University]

Key Updates:

  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Columbia University have signed an agreement to establish the Columbia-IIT Bombay Centre of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Manufacturing.
  • The centre is a joint research and translation facility designed to build robust, scalable, and human-centric AI systems for real-world factory applications.
  • The Ministry of Education (MoE) has initiated four different AI centres so far, including this new collaborative project.
  • The centre aims to address diverse sectors including semiconductors, robotics, pharmaceuticals, food processing, refining, petrochemicals, construction, transport, and logistics.
  • The initiative will develop interoperable industrial AI infrastructure to manage shop-floor realities such as legacy equipment, noisy data, real-time constraints, and multilingual workforces.
  • The project focuses on supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), nurturing startups, and releasing foundational datasets and models as public goods.

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Coromandel International and IIT Madras Research Park sign MoU for Corporate Research Centre (Mid of January) ▼
  • Coromandel International Ltd signed an MoU with the IIT Madras Research Park to establish a Corporate Research Centre.
  • The centre will foster advanced collaboration in agriculture, sustainability and emerging technologies.
  • It will act as a hub for joint research programmes, technology incubation, talent development and international collaboration.
India joins BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies to promote manufacturing sector (Start of February) ▼
  • India joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) on 4 February 2026.
  • BCIC was launched by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in 2025.
  • The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the India Centre for BCIC.
  • A trust fund agreement formalising India’s participation was signed between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and UNIDO.
  • The agreement was signed by Economic Adviser, DPIIT, Agrim Kaushal, and Director, UNIDO, Cristiano Pasini.
  • NPC will operate under DPIIT’s policy direction to support capacity building and manufacturing-related initiatives for MSMEs within the BRICS framework.
  • The launch event was presided over by Secretary, DPIIT, Amardeep Singh Bhatia.
  • Attendees included senior officials from DPIIT, the Ministry of MSME, the Ministry of External Affairs, UNIDO representatives, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
TEC and IIT Kanpur ink MoU to craft India-specific telecom standards and drive 6G, AI, NTN, IoT, Digital Twin, Metaverse and Quantum Communication research (Start of January) ▼
  • The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) will jointly develop 'India-specific standards and testing frameworks for emerging and future communication technologies, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence in Telecom, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twin, Metaverse, and Quantum Communication.'
  • The collaboration will 'enhance India's active participation and leadership in global standard-setting and radiocommunication bodies such as ITU-T, ITU-R, 3GPP, and other relevant international forums.'
  • Joint research will target 'AI/ML for network automation, optimization and intelligent management, with a roadmap towards AI-native capabilities for future networks.'
  • Studies will cover 'satellite communication systems, NTNs, HAPS and satellite-terrestrial integration, including disaster-resilient and emergency connectivity solutions.'
  • The partnership strengthens 'indigenous research, design and manufacturing in telecom... developing India-specific standards, test frameworks and home-grown solutions that bolster national self-reliance, secure critical communications infrastructure and reduce dependence on imports.'
Adani Group partners Vidya Pratishthan to launch Sharadchandra Pawar Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence in Baramati (End of December) ▼
  • The Sharadchandra Pawar Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence has been established under Vidya Pratishthan, Baramati, Maharashtra with funding from Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani.
  • An MoU has been formally signed between Adani Group and Vidya Pratishthan to enhance AI collaboration.
  • This partnership is a commitment to build applied technological capability, where AI research, engineering, and execution move together in an integrated fashion.

India thrash Pakistan by 61 runs in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

[Pakistan, International Cricket Council (ICC)]

Key Updates:

  • India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup group stage match on 15 February 2026.
  • India scored 175 for 7 in 20 overs with Ishan Kishan top-scoring with 77 runs off 40 balls.
  • Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
  • India won the toss and elected to bat first.
  • India topped Group A with three wins out of three matches.
  • Pakistan remained second in Group A and need to beat Namibia to qualify for the Super 8s.

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Zimbabwe defeats Australia in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (Mid of February) ▼
  • Zimbabwe secured a 23-run victory over Australia in Match 19 of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
  • The match was held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 13 February 2026.
  • Zimbabwe scored 169/2 in 20 overs, while Australia was dismissed for 146 runs in 19.3 overs.
  • Blessing Muzarabani was named Player of the Match for his bowling performance of 4 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs.
  • Blessing Muzarabani achieved his 100th T20 International (T20I) wicket and recorded his career-best bowling figures during this match.
  • Matt Renshaw was the top scorer for Australia with 65 runs, sharing a 77-run partnership with Glenn Maxwell.
  • With this win, Zimbabwe moved to the second position in the Group B points table.
  • Zimbabwe now leads Australia 2-0 in the history of Men's T20 World Cups, having previously defeated them in 2007.
India defeats Kenya to win Roll Ball World Cup 2025 (End of January) ▼
  • India clinched the gold medal at the 7th Roll Ball World Cup 2025 in Dubai.
  • Yash Anil Rashiya scored the match-winning goal in the final against Kenya.
  • The tournament was held in Dubai.
Pakistan U19 defeat India U19 to win ACC U19 Asia Cup 2025 (End of December) ▼
  • Pakistan U19 lifted the Under-19 Asia Cup title after outplaying India U19 by 191 runs at Dubai’s ICC academy ground.
  • Pakistan posted 327/8, propelled by Sameer Minhas’ 172-run knock; India were bowled out for 156 in reply.
  • Deepesh Devendran top-scored for India with 36 off 16 balls at No. 10.
India beats England to win record-extending sixth ICC Under-19 World Cup (Start of February) ▼
  • India defeated England by 100 runs in the ICC Under-19 World Cup final.
  • India set a total of 411 for 9 in 50 overs, the highest in the final.
  • Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 175 off 80 balls with 15 sixes and 15 fours.
  • Sooryavanshi’s 150 came in 71 deliveries, the fastest 150 in Under-19 cricket.
  • England were bowled out for 311 in 40.2 overs.
  • Caleb Falconer hit 115 off 66 balls and Ben Dawkins made 66 for England.
  • India’s earlier Under-19 titles came in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022.

Darwin Days 2026 celebrated from February 10 to February 14 with theme on mollusk evolution.

Key Updates:

  • Darwin Days 2026 is scheduled from February 10 to February 14.
  • The 2026 edition highlights mollusk evolution linked to the Museum of the Earth exhibition 'Marvellous Mollusks: The Secret World of Shells'.
  • Darwin Day commemorates Charles Darwin, born on February 12, 1809, and author of 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection'.
  • The first organised Darwin Day events were held in 1995 by the Humanist Community of Palo Alto, California.
  • The first official Darwin Days, a five-day series of events, took place in 2006 in Ithaca, New York, organised by the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) and its Museum of the Earth in collaboration with Cornell University and Ithaca College.

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International Day of Women and Girls in Science observed on February 11 (Mid of February) ▼
  • The United Nations (UN) designated 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
  • The 2026 theme is 'Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls'.
  • Women currently make up less than one third of the world’s researchers.
International Day of Human Fraternity observed on 4 February 2026 (Start of February) ▼
  • International Day of Human Fraternity is observed on 4 February 2026.
  • The 2026 message was delivered by the UN Secretary-General.
  • The day celebrates equality, dignity and mutual understanding.
  • The Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together declaration was co-authored by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb.
World Philosophy Day 2025 observed on November 20 (End of November) ▼
  • World Philosophy Day is observed every year on the third Thursday of November.
  • The day was first celebrated by the United Nations (UN) in 2002.
  • In 2005, the UNESCO General Conference dedicated the day to promote critical thinking, dialogues and discussion around the world.
World AIDS Day on December 1 (Start of December) ▼
  • Theme 2025: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,”
  • World AIDS Day is the first global day dedicated to a health issue.
  • World AIDS Day was created by the World Health Organization in 1988.
  • The U.S. has marked World AIDS Day since 1988.
  • President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was launched in 2003.