Current Affairs One - Liner : 13th February 2026

National:

• On 11 February 2026, the Indian Navy took command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 at CMF Headquarters in Bahrain, succeeding the Italian Navy. Commodore Milind M. Mokashi, Shaurya Chakra, assumed leadership. CTF 154, created in May 2023, focuses on multinational training and maritime security.

• India unveiled its first musical road on the Mumbai Coastal Road Corridor on 11 February 2026, inaugurated by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Specially designed grooves on the northbound lane near Worli tunnel play the tune of “Jai Ho” when vehicles pass at 70–80 kmph, making India the fifth country after Japan, Hungary, South Korea, and the UAE to adopt this technology.
• On 13 February 2026, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Prime Minister’s Office ‘Seva Teerth’ along with modern central secretariat buildings (Kartavya Bhavan‑1 & 2) in New Delhi, marking a major shift from the British‑era South Block and centralizing key ministries under one integrated governance hub.
• On 12 February 2026, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved proposals worth ₹3.60 lakh crore to strengthen the armed forces. Key procurements include 114 Rafale fighter jets, missiles, P8I aircraft, AS‑HAPS drones, and T‑72 tank upgrades. Covering the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, the plan emphasizes indigenous manufacturing.
• On 12 February 2026, Parliament passed the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, introduced by Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. It amends the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 to clarify repeal provisions of older labour laws like the Trade Unions Act (1926), Industrial Employment Act (1946), and Industrial Disputes Act (1947).

Banking:

• On 12 February 2026, Punjab National Bank (PNB) announced the second edition of its Soldierathon half‑marathon, scheduled for 5 April 2026 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, to honour the Indian Armed Forces and mark the bank’s 132nd Foundation Day.
• On 12 February 2026, the RBI approved ICICI Prudential AMC (along with ICICI Bank group entities) to acquire up to 9.95% stake in eight private sector banks – HDFC Bank, Federal Bank, Bandhan Bank, City Union Bank, Equitas SFB, IDFC First Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, and RBL Bank – with approval valid for one year.
• On 11 February 2026, Bengaluru‑based EximPe received final RBI authorisation for the Payment Aggregator – Cross Border (PA‑CB) licence. This allows global merchants to collect payments from Indian customers via UPI, cards, wallets, and netbanking, with settlement abroad. EximPe is among the first firms to secure this licence without a domestic aggregator gateway.

Economy:

• India’s retail inflation for January 2026 stood at 2.75% year‑on‑year under the newly revised Consumer Price Index (CPI) framework with 2024 as the base year. This was the first release under the updated CPI basket, which reduced the weight of food and beverages to 36.75% (from 45.86%) and gave more emphasis to services and urban consumption.

MoUs:

• The Agneevasthraa–Indian Army MoU was signed on 11 February 2026 in New Delhi. The agreement aims to provide the Army with advanced carbon fabrics and composite materials for critical defence applications. Its highlights include the use of these materials in missiles, rockets, and protective gear, enhancing operational strength.
• On 12 February 2026, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the Government of Puducherry signed a landmark MoU in New Delhi to boost the Blue Economy, marine research, and coastal resilience. Signed by Dr. M. Ravichandran (Secretary, MoES) and Dr. Sharat Chauhan (Chief Secretary, Puducherry), the pact falls under the Deep Ocean Mission and covers six strategic areas.
• On 10 February 2026, the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and CSIR–NIScPR signed an MoU in New Delhi to strengthen science communication and policy research. The agreement aims to promote evidence‑based STI policymaking and enhance academic engagement.

Science & Technology:

• On 11 February 2026, IN‑SPACe selected three Indian start‑ups – Astrome (Bengaluru), Azista (Hyderabad), and Dhruva Space (Hyderabad) – to build indigenous satellite bus platforms under the Satellite Bus as a Service (SBaaS) initiative, each receiving a ₹5 crore grant to boost private participation in India’s space sector.

Defence:

• On 11 February 2026, the DRDO and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) signed an agreement in New Delhi to jointly pursue R&D activities. The collaboration focuses on developing survival technologies, human performance solutions, and sustainable energy systems for extreme environments, especially high‑altitude regions.

Govt.Schemes:

• On 11 February 2026, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launched the ‘Sthree Suraksha’ scheme in Thiruvananthapuram, offering a ₹1,000 monthly pension to over 10.18 lakh women (aged 35–60) and trans women from economically weaker sections, ensuring financial security and empowerment.

Important Days:

• The United Nations observes this day on 12 February, following Resolution 77/243 of the General Assembly. In 2026, the theme was “Preventing Violent Extremism in the Age of New and Emerging Technologies,” highlighting both risks and opportunities of digital tools.

Appointments:

• On 13 February 2026, veteran banker and industrialist Uday Kotak was appointed Chairman of Gujarat International Finance Tec‑City (GIFT City) by the Government of Gujarat. He succeeds Hasmukh Adhia (IAS Retd.), who had served as non‑executive chairman since June 2023.

Awards & Honours:

• On 11 February 2026, it was announced that Dr Haripriya Aravind and Dr R Venkatesh of Aravind Eye Care System, Puducherry were selected for the award. They will be honoured at the ASCRS Foundation Conference in Washington DC on 11 April 2026.
• Oil India Limited (OIL) was conferred the FIPI Award 2025 as “Oil & Gas Production Company of the Year” (more than 1 MTOE). The award was presented during India Energy Week in Goa by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Secretary Dr Neeraj Mittal.

Obituaries:

• Veteran Doordarshan news reader Sarla Maheshwari passed away in Delhi on 12 February 2026 at the age of 71. She was among the most recognised faces of Indian television news in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a newsreader from 1976 to 2005.
• Actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the hit 1990s teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has passed away at the age of 48 on 11 February 2026 in Austin, Texas, after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer.
• On 13 February 2026, veteran Kannada filmmaker Joe Simon (aged 80) suffered a cardiac arrest during an emergency executive committee meeting at the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) in Bengaluru.

Questions:

Q.1 India’s first musical road was inaugurated on 11 February 2026 in:
a) Ahmedabad Coastal Highway
b) Chennai Outer Ring Road
c) Mumbai Coastal Road Corridor
d) Delhi-Meerut Expressway

Answer: c) India unveiled its first musical road on the Mumbai Coastal Road Corridor on 11 February 2026.

Q.2 India’s retail inflation for January 2026 stood at:
a) 3.25%
b) 2.75%
c) 4.10%
d) 5.00%

Answer: b) India’s retail inflation for January 2026 stood at 2.75% year‑on‑year under the newly revised Consumer Price Index (CPI) framework with 2024 as the base year.