Daily Current Affairs: 19 February 2026

Frederick Wiseman Dies at Age 96 as Honorary Academy Award Winning Filmmaker

[United States]

Key Updates:

• Frederick Wiseman, the celebrated director of Titicut Follies and dozens of other documentaries, died at the age of 96.
• He was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 2016 and completed more than 35 documentaries during his career.
• His filmography includes notable works such as High School, Hospital, Public Housing, Basic Training, Boxing Gym, High School II, At Berkeley, Monrovia, Indiana, and Crazy Horse.
• His documentaries are preserved by the Library of Congress and were produced through his production company, Zipporah Films.
• He was an alumnus of Williams College and Yale Law School and served in the United States (US) Army in 1955.
• Beyond filmmaking, he had a career in theatre and appeared as an actor in the 2025 films Jane Austen Wrecked My Life and Eephus.
• His filmmaking style was unique for avoiding narration, title cards, and prerecorded soundtracks, often serving as his own sound engineer.

Government raises allocation for women-centric schemes by 11.55% to Rs 5.01 lakh crore in 2026-27

Key Updates:

• Allocation for women and girls under various schemes increased by 11.55% to Rs 5.01 lakh crore in 2026-27 from Rs 4.49 lakh crore in the previous year.
• Gender budget share in the Union Budget rose to 9.37% in 2026-27 from 8.86%.
• 53 ministries/departments and five Union territories reported allocations in the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) for 2026-27.
• Rs 1,07,688.42 crore (21.50%) reported under Part A by nine ministries and one UT for 100% women-specific schemes.
• Rs 3,63,412.37 crore (72.54%) reported under Part B by 28 ministries and one UT for schemes with 30-99% allocation for women.
• Rs 29,777.94 crore (5.95%) reported under Part C by 37 ministries and five UTs for schemes with less than 30% allocation for women.
• Ministry of Women & Child Development allocated 81.73% of its budget to gender-specific schemes.
• Department of Rural Development allocated 69.92% of its budget to gender-specific schemes.
• Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region allocated 48.60% of its budget to gender-specific schemes.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases draft Directions on Foreign Exchange Dealings of Authorised Persons

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the draft Directions on Foreign Exchange Dealings of Authorised Persons on Tuesday.
• The draft aims to ease reporting obligations and provide greater flexibility to Authorised Persons for hedging exposures, balance sheet management and market-making.
• The format for reporting net open position limits has been updated.
• Comments and feedback on the draft directions are invited by March 10, 2026.

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) launches Online Death Claim Settlement Portal for claims up to ₹15 Lakh

[Indian Overseas Bank (IOB)]

Key Updates:

• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has launched an Online Death Claim Settlement Portal to provide a simplified digital solution for families and legal heirs.
• The bank has implemented a simplified procedure for death claims up to ₹15 lakh, which requires no third-party surety.
• IOB has committed to ensuring that these death claims are processed within a strict timeline of 15 days.
• The portal features a real-time tracking system allowing claimants to monitor the progress of their application at every stage.
• IOB also unveiled its new corporate website powered by the enterprise-grade Liferay Digital Experience Platform (DXP).

Department of Financial Services (DFS) report shows UPI overtakes cash with 57% share of transactions

Key Updates:

• Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, released the report titled 'Socio-Economic Impact Analysis of the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of RuPay Debit Card and low-value BHIM-UPI (Person-to-Merchant) transactions' during Chintan Shivir on 13-14 February 2026.
• Survey covered 10,378 respondents across 15 States: 6,167 users, 2,199 merchants, and 2,012 service providers.
• UPI accounts for 57% of surveyed user transactions, surpassing cash at 38%.
• 65% of UPI users report multiple digital transactions per day.
• Report recommends targeted interventions to boost RuPay debit card usage in rural and semi-urban areas through merchant enablement programmes, UPI Lite for low-value transactions, and investment in connectivity, digital literacy, and fraud risk mitigation.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Certificate of Registration to Airtel Money as Type II non-deposit taking NBFC

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Airtel Money]

Key Updates:

• Airtel Money, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, received the Certificate of Registration dated 13/02/2026 from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The certificate allows Airtel Money to commence business as a Type II non-deposit accepting Non-Banking Financial Company under Section 45-IA of the RBI Act, 1934.
• The RBI does not guarantee the financial soundness of Airtel Money or the repayment of deposits/discharge of liabilities.

IDFC First Bank launches secured RuPay credit card with up to 5% cashback and no income proof requirement.

[IDFC First Bank, RuPay]

Key Updates:

• IDFC First Bank has launched the Hello Cashback secured RuPay credit card backed by a minimum fixed deposit of Rs 10,000.
• The card offers 3% cashback on the first Rs 10,000 of online spends per statement cycle and 5% beyond that, capped at Rs 1,000.
• A flat 1% cashback applies to UPI payments via the bank’s app, in-store swipes, and essentials including utilities, rent, education, insurance, jewellery, FASTag, Government payments, and wallet loads, raising the monthly cap to Rs 1,500.
• The credit limit is set at 100% of the fixed deposit, and users continue to earn fixed deposit interest alongside cashback.
• Joining fee of Rs 1,000 is waived until 31 March 2026; annual fee of Rs 1,000 is waived at Rs 2 lakh spends and halved at Rs 1 lakh spends.
• The card provides Rs 2 lakh personal accident cover, Rs 25,000 purchase protection, and fuel surcharge waivers.

Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) forms Joint Venture with TGI Group for Nigeria market expansion

[Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), TGI Group, Nigeria]

Key Updates:

• Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) arm of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has signed a definitive agreement to form a majority-owned joint venture with Nigeria-based Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group.
• The partnership aims to introduce the FMCG portfolio of RCPL to the Nigerian market by leveraging the manufacturing and distribution network of TGI Group.
• The joint venture is intended to expand the global footprint of RCPL, which already maintains a presence across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.
• TGI Group operates a diversified portfolio including food, agricultural inputs, industrial chemicals, homecare products, and pharmaceuticals.
• The agreement is subject to customary legal and regulatory clearances before commencement.

Bharat-VISTAAR AI Tool Launched for Farmers with ₹150 Crore Outlay

[Rajasthan]

Key Updates:

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) in Jaipur.
• The AI-powered multilingual tool was announced by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2026-27 with an allocation of ₹150 crore.
• It is a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative designed to provide farmers with a single digital doorway for information on crop planning, agricultural practices, and weather forecasts.
• Farmers can access the AI Assistant, named Bharati, by dialling the dedicated telephone number 155261 or through a mobile application.
• At launch, the tool provides information on 10 major central schemes: PM-KISAN, PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Soil Health Card (SHC), Modified Interest Subvention Scheme, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation, Per Drop More Crop, PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), PM Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), and Kisan Credit Card (KCC).
• The platform integrates scientific knowledge from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to offer advice on crops, livestock, and pest alerts.
• The service is initially available in English and Hindi, with plans to expand to 11 languages, including Tamil, Bengali, Assamese, and Kannada, within six months.
• Regional access is provided through specific interfaces: Vasudha for Marathi, Sarlaben for Gujarati, and the Bihar Krishi App for Hindi speakers in Bihar.

Assam Interim Budget 2026-27: Rs 62,294.78 Crore Outlay and ULFA Peace Package

[Assam]

Key Updates:

• Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog tabled an interim budget of ₹62,294.78 crore for the financial year 2026–27 to seek a Vote on Account.
• The 16th Finance Commission increased the inter-se share for Assam to 3.258 per cent, which is expected to result in a devolution exceeding ₹50,000 crore.
• The Government of India (GoI) earmarked ₹500 crore as the first tranche of a ₹5,000 crore special development and rehabilitation package under the 2023 United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) peace accord.
• The Assam government committed ₹3,000 crore from its own resources for infrastructure and development projects linked to the ULFA peace agreement.
• A 69-kilometre Kokrajhar–Gelephu new railway line has been sanctioned under the India–Bhutan connectivity initiative.
• The budget proposes the construction of 40-km underground railway tracks along the Siliguri corridor to fortify the Chicken’s Neck region.
• A highway project is planned from the semiconductor plant at Jagiroad to the Bhutan border via Udalguri, including a new bridge over the Brahmaputra river.
• The state government requested a feasibility study for five new airports in Nagaon, Diphu, Umrangso, Majuli, and Manas.
• The government reported providing over 1.58 lakh transparent appointments, surpassing the initial target of 1 lakh government jobs.
• The state is finalising discussions with tea associations to announce enhanced wages for tea garden workers within the current year.

India and France upgrade bilateral ties to Special Global Strategic Partnership during Mumbai talks

[France]

Key Updates:

• India and France elevated their relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership after talks in Mumbai between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
• The meeting produced 21 outcomes covering defence, critical minerals, technology, startups, advanced materials, health and skilling.
• Modi and Macron virtually inaugurated the H125 light utility helicopter final assembly line of Tata-Airbus in Karnataka.
• The first 'Made in India' H125 helicopter is scheduled for delivery in early 2027 and will be exported within the South Asian region.
• The two leaders launched the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics.
• An annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue was established to review implementation of the elevated partnership and Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
• India and France renewed their defence cooperation agreement and agreed on a joint venture between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran to produce Hammer missiles in India.
• Both countries decided on reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments.
• A Joint Advanced Technology Development Group on Critical and Emerging Technologies including defence was constituted.
• A Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in Critical Minerals and Metals was issued.
• The Protocol on the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between India and France was amended.
• Letters of Intent were signed between T-Hub and Nord France on startup ecosystems and between Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and ANRS on infectious disease research.
• An agreement established the Indo-French Centre for Metabolic Health Sciences and a Letter of Intent launched the National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics.
• The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the French Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty on Renewable Energy Cooperation was renewed.

Iran temporarily closes Strait of Hormuz during live-fire drills amid indirect US-Iran talks in Geneva

[Iran, United States]

Key Updates:

• Iran announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday for live-fire exercises conducted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
• The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil passes, was stated to be closed for several hours for safety and maritime concerns.
• Indirect talks between the United States and Iran over Iran’s nuclear programme took place in Geneva on Tuesday, marking the second round of such negotiations.
• US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner led the US delegation at the indirect talks held at the residence of the Omani envoy to Geneva.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed optimism, stating a new window has opened for reaching a negotiated solution.
• US Vice President JD Vance said the talks went well in some ways but noted Iran had not yet acknowledged US red lines.
• Iran last closed the strait during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s by mining the waterway.
• Oil prices fell after the talks, with US oil down 1.3% at $62.06 per barrel and Brent crude down 2.3% at $67.03 per barrel.
• The US has increased its military presence in the region, with aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford deployed towards the Middle East.

BioAsia 2026 begins in Hyderabad with record 4,000 delegates

Key Updates:

• BioAsia 2026, Asia's premier life sciences and health-tech forum, commenced in Hyderabad on 17 February 2026.
• The two-day event drew over 4,000 delegates and more than 500 companies, marking its largest edition to date.
• Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy inaugurated the forum at 9:30 am on 17 February at HITEX Hall 4.
• The 2026 edition theme is 'TechBio Unleashed: AI, Automation & the Biology Revolution'.
• The exhibition footprint expanded to 9,000 square metres, up from 7,000 square metres in 2025.
• 175+ exhibitors span pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medtech, digital health and advanced manufacturing.
• Startup Pavilion hosted 40 emerging startups, Innovation Pavilion featured 16 exhibitors, and 22 MSME exhibitors participated.
• Keynote speakers included Prof. Bruce Levine (University of Pennsylvania), Dr. Howard Y. Chang (Amgen) and Pushmeet Kohli (Google DeepMind).
• Global firms Novartis, Eli Lilly, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Sanofi, MSD and Miltenyi Biotec, alongside Indian leaders Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and Biocon Biologics, featured prominently.

India and South Korea conduct 6th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue in Seoul

[South Korea]

Key Updates:

• The 6th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) between India and South Korea was held in Seoul.
• The dialogue was co-chaired by P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Park Yoon-joo, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea.
• Both nations reviewed bilateral relations including security and defence cooperation, science and technology collaboration, and economic issues.
• The two sides agreed to work towards enhancing their Special Strategic Partnership and reaffirmed commitments to global cooperation.
• The engagement followed parliamentary talks between the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and South Korean legislators to reinforce strategic ties.

Indian Army hosts inaugural United Nations Fellowship Training Programme on small arms control in Jabalpur

[United Nations]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Army is hosting the inaugural United Nations (UN) Fellowship Training Programme on small arms and light weapons (SALW) control for the Asia-Pacific region.
• The three-week training programme is being conducted at the Military College of Materials Management (MCMM) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and will culminate on 6 March.
• The fellowship is organised by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through its Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD).
• Delegates from 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region are participating in the programme held under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• The programme is designed to build technical and operational capacity for implementing the UN Programme of Action (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI).
• The initiative aims to enhance regional cooperation, improve tracing systems, and strengthen responsible stockpile management practices to counter illicit SALW proliferation.
• Deepayan Basu Ray, Director of UNRCPD, and Lieutenant General Sanjay Sethi addressed the strategic importance of the fellowship in addressing security challenges posed by illicit arms flows.

Air India and Lufthansa Group sign MoU to expand India–Europe connectivity

[Air India, Lufthansa Group]

Key Updates:

• Air India and Lufthansa Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 17 February 2026 to establish a framework for a joint business agreement.
• The agreement covers Air India, Air India Express, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines.
• The MoU targets passenger traffic between India and the Lufthansa Group’s core European markets of Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.
• The partners currently codeshare on 145 routes across 15 Indian and 29 European cities in 20 countries.
• Lufthansa Group carried over 131 million passengers in 2024 and operates five national airlines in Europe.
• Bilateral trade in goods between the European Union (EU) and India exceeded €120 billion in 2024, with the EU being India’s largest trading partner for goods.
• Since its privatisation in 2022, Air India has expanded to 24 codeshare partnerships and nearly 100 interline agreements, providing access to more than 800 destinations globally.

Mumbai Climate Week 2026 inaugurated; Maharashtra targets over 50% green energy by 2030

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the three-day Mumbai Climate Week (MCW) 2026.
• MCW 2026 is India’s first platform dedicated to accelerating transformative, citizen-driven climate action in the Global South.
• Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on ‘Urban Heat Mitigation, Passive Cooling and Nature-based Resilience systems, Climate adaptation frameworks’ with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Resources Institute (WRI), C40, and Urban Land Institute (ULI).
• Fadnavis stated Maharashtra aims for more than 50% of its energy from green sources by 2030, up from 21% renewable share in its current 48 GW installed capacity.
• Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi announced 1 lakh additional solar pumps for Maharashtra under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM Kusum) scheme.
• Under PM Kusum in Maharashtra, energy production cost is Rs 3 with Rs 5 savings, and excess power is fed into the grid.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) extends Demwe Lower hydel project clearance till 2037

[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has extended the environmental clearance (EC) for the 1,750 MW Demwe Lower Project in Arunachal Pradesh until 2037.
• The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on river valley and hydroelectric projects granted the 11-year extension by treating time lost to litigation as a zero period.
• The project is located on the Lohit River across the Anjaw and Lohit districts and involves the construction of a 162.12-metre-tall concrete gravity dam.
• Greenko Demwe Power Limited (GDPL), part of the Greenko Group, is the current developer after the original developer, Athena Demwe Power Ltd, entered insolvency proceedings.
• The project requires the diversion of 1,416 hectares of forest land and will result in the submergence of 1,589.97 hectares.
• The Lohit basin and Kamlang Tiger Reserve, situated upstream of the project, are identified as crucial habitats for the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had previously ordered the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to reconsider the project due to its potential impact on the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Assam.
• The project is situated upstream of Parshuram Kund, a significant Hindu pilgrimage site located within the Lohit riverine ecosystem.

Kuno National Park records ninth cheetah litter as Gamini births three cubs, raising India’s cheetah total to 38.

[Kuno National Park]

Key Updates:

• Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced that South African cheetah Gamini delivered three cubs at Kuno National Park.
• The births coincide with the third anniversary of the arrival of South African cheetahs in India.
• Gamini is a second-time mother within the project.
• The litter is the ninth successful cheetah birth in India, lifting the count of surviving Indian-born cubs to 27.
• With these cubs, India’s total cheetah population has reached 38.
• Project Cheetah, launched on 17 September 2022, is the world-first intercontinental translocation initiative to re-establish cheetahs in India after their 1952 extinction.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to create bee corridors along national highways in 2026–27

[National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)]

Key Updates:

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will develop pollinator corridors along selected highway stretches during 2026–27.
• Native species to be planted include Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun and Siris.
• Each NHAI field office will develop at least three pollinator corridors in 2026–27.
• NHAI targets planting about 60 per cent of its 4 million trees under the bee corridor initiative.

Indian Navy launches first indigenous cadet training ship Krishna in Chennai

Key Updates:

• The first of three indigenous cadet training ships, named Krishna, was launched at the L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai.
• The ship is named after the River Krishna, which is the third longest river in India.
• The vessel was launched in the presence of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and DWWA president Anupama.
• The Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed the contract for the three cadet training ships with M/s L&T Shipyard in March 2023.
• The ship is designed to accommodate a crew strength of 20 officers, 150 sailors, and 200 cadets.
• The primary role of the ship is to provide basic sea training to Navy cadets, while secondary roles include hospital ship, non-combatant evacuation, HADR, and SAR operations.

Tejaswin Shankar wins heptathlon gold at Asian Indoor Athletics Championships (AIAC) 2026

Key Updates:

• Tejaswin Shankar won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the AIAC 2026 with a championship record total of 5993 points.
• Tejaswin Shankar broke his own national record of 5650 points, set in 2021 in the United States of America (USA), and recorded the second-best score ever by an Asian athlete.
• Tejaswin Shankar’s victory ended a 16-year wait for an Indian heptathlon medal at the AIAC, the last being PJ Vinod’s bronze in 2010.
• India finished sixth in the overall medal standings with five medals, comprising one gold, two silver, and two bronze.
• Tajinderpal Singh Toor secured the silver medal in the men’s shot put with a season’s best throw of 20.05m, finishing behind Chen Chengyu of China who recorded 20.07m.
• Pooja won the silver medal in the women’s high jump with an indoor national record of 1.87m, sharing the rank with Nadezhda Dubovitskaya of Kazakhstan.
• Ancy Sojan, who won silver at the Asian Athletics Championships (AAC) last year, claimed the bronze medal in the women’s long jump with a 6.21m leap.
• J Aadarsh Ram opened India’s medal account at the AIAC 2026 by winning a bronze medal in the men’s high jump event.
• Tejaswin Shankar also holds the outdoor national records in the decathlon and men’s high jump.

Gyalpo Losar 2026: Tibetan New Year celebrated on February 17

[McLeod Ganj]

Key Updates:

• Gyalpo Losar 2026 falls on February 17 and marks the Year of the Fire Horse.
• Known as the "King's New Year," Gyalpo Losar is the most significant New Year for Tibetan, Sherpa, and other Himalayan communities.
• The term "Losar" means "New Year" in the Tibetan language and follows a lunisolar calendar.
• On the eve, families share guthuk, a nine-ingredient stew with dough balls that symbolically predict fortune for the coming year.
• The first day begins with monastery visits, hoisting new prayer flags (lung ta), and exchanging the greeting "Tashi Delek."
• Essential festive foods include khapse (deep-fried pastries) and dresi (sweet buttered rice with raisins and nuts).

Ramakrishna Paramahansa Jayanti celebrated on 19 February 2026

Key Updates:

• Ramakrishna Paramahansa Jayanti falls on 19 February 2026.
• Dwitiya Tithi begins at 04:57 PM on 18 February 2026 and ends at 03:58 PM on 19 February 2026.
• The day marks the 190th birth anniversary of Ramakrishna Paramahansa.
• Ramakrishna was born on dwitiya tithi of shukla paksha in the month of Phalguna, Vikram Samvat 1892.
• He was a 19th-century spiritual leader who practised Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.
• His guru was Bhairavi Brahmani, a tantric teacher.
• He guided Swami Vivekananda and established the Ramakrishna Mission.