Current Affairs One - Liner : 14th 15th & 16th February 2026

National:

• Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched India’s first CBDC-based Public Distribution System (PDS) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 15 February 2026. The system uses Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) for transparent grain distribution. Annapurti machines can instantly dispense up to 25 kg of food grains to beneficiaries.

• On 14 February 2026, the Union Cabinet approved ₹1 lakh crore for the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) in New Delhi, aiming to drive market‑linked, reform‑driven urban transformation, with highlights including 25% central assistance, mandatory 50% market funding, and a projected ₹4 lakh crore investment in high‑quality urban infrastructure over the next five years.

International:

• Mia Amor Mottley’s Barbados Labour Party (BLP) won all 30 seats in the 2026 general elections. This marks her third consecutive clean sweep after similar victories in 2018 and 2022. She was sworn in again as Prime Minister of Barbados before President Jeffrey Bostic.
• The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a two‑thirds majority in the 2026 general elections, marking a dramatic political shift. Led by Tarique Rahman, the party is set to form the new government after nearly two decades out of power.

Banking:

• Between April 1, 2025 and February 10, 2026, India’s net direct tax collections rose by 9.4% year‑on‑year. Collections stood at ₹19.43 lakh crore, after accounting for refunds of about ₹3.34 lakh crore. Corporate tax receipts grew by 14.5%, while personal income tax rose by 5.9%. This marks over 80% achievement of the revised FY26 target of ₹24.21 lakh crore.
• On 12 February 2026, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) signed an agreement with Malaysia’s PayNet in Kuala Lumpur. The deal enables cross‑border QR payments between India and Malaysia. Phase 1: Indian travellers can pay via UPI apps at DuitNow QR merchants in Malaysia. Phase 2: Malaysians visiting India will use local apps linked to UPI, boosting fintech cooperation.

MoUs:

• On 12 February 2026, the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) and IIM Kozhikode signed an MoU at the Kochi campus during IOB’s 90th Foundation Day, aiming to boost executive education and capacity building, with highlights including the launch of a Centre of Excellence and joint customised leadership programmes.
• On 13 February 2026, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Gandhinagar signed an MoU. Its aim is to boost strategic innovation in telecom and cybersecurity, focusing on AI/ML, 5G, quantum, IoT. An Innovation‑cum‑Experience Centre will be set up at RRU for joint research and training.
• On 12 February 2026, IIT Bombay and Columbia University signed an MoU in New Delhi to establish the Columbia–IIT Bombay Centre of AI for Manufacturing, aimed at advancing AI‑driven innovation in industrial manufacturing.

Science & Technology:

• On 12 February 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), developed by Biological E. Limited, Hyderabad, making it a more genetically stable vaccine to reduce risks of vaccine‑derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) and strengthen global polio eradication efforts.

Sports:

• The Indian hammer throw medals at Abu Dhabi Masters were won on 14 February 2026. At this international veterans athletics meet, Kishorakumar Chandira Mogan clinched gold with a throw of 37.92 metres, while Mohammad Ansar secured the bronze in the 30+ age category. The event was part of the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi, showcasing India’s growing presence in global athletics.

Summits & Conferences:

• International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS) 2026, held on Feb 13–14 at IISc Bengaluru, focused on “Safe Dams, Resilient Communities, Sustainable Water & Energy Security” under the Dam Safety Act 2021, with highlights like DAMCHAT (AI tool by IIT Roorkee), Water Informatics Data Platform, aging dam warnings, Tungabhadra case study, and global participation (750 delegates from 12 nations).
• The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, in collaboration with UNDP India and the Gates Foundation, organized the CSR Conclave on Feb 14–16, 2026 at New Delhi, themed “Leveraging PM Dhan‑Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (DDKY) for Farmer Prosperity,” aiming to mobilize corporate partnerships for farmer welfare.

Defence:

• On 12 February 2026, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a ₹2,312 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of eight Dornier 228 aircraft along with Operational Role Equipment for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The deal was formalized in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Govt.Schemes:

• On 12 February 2026, the Delhi Cabinet led by CM Rekha Gupta approved the Chief Minister Skill Development Scheme to modernize traditional crafts, starting with 18,000 tailors, with a budget jump from ₹8.95 crore to ₹57.50 crore.
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 on 14 February 2026. With a ₹10,000 crore corpus, it will channel investments into Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) that back startups. The scheme aims to strengthen India’s venture capital ecosystem, especially for deep‑tech and innovative manufacturing.

Important Days:

• National Productivity Day 2026 was celebrated on 12 February, organized by the National Productivity Council (NPC). The theme was “Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximizing Productivity in MSMEs”, highlighting the role of MSME clusters in driving efficiency and competitiveness.

Appointments:

• Uday Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, was appointed Chairman of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Ltd. (GIFT City) on 13 February 2026. He replaces Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, who had held the position since June 2023. The appointment was made by the Gujarat Urban Development & Urban Housing Department.
• On 12 February 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) appointed Deepak Gupta as the new Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL (India) Limited. He was earlier serving as Director (Projects) at GAIL. His tenure will continue until 28 February 2029, or until further orders.
• CA Prasanna Kumar D has been elected as the 74th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the 2026–27 term, effective 12 February 2026. Alongside him, CA Mangesh Pandurang Kinare has been chosen as the Vice-President.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of AU Small Finance Bank for a further period of three years, effective April 19, 2026.
• On 11 February 2026, Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova appointed Andrey Gyurov, Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, as acting Prime Minister. He will lead a caretaker government tasked with steering the country toward parliamentary elections scheduled for 19 April 2026.

Questions:

Q.1 Who was appointed Chairman of GIFT City Company Ltd. in February 2026?
a) Aditya Puri
b) Shaktikanta Das
c) Chanda Kochhar
d) Uday Kotak

Answer: d) Uday Kotak was appointed to head the GIFT City development company, signalling stronger financial sector leadership.

Q.2 India’s first CBDC-based Public Distribution System (PDS) was launched in February 2026 in which city?
a) Jaipur
b) Lucknow
c) Gandhinagar
d) Bhopal

Answer: c) The pilot was launched in Gandhinagar to enable transparent foodgrain distribution using Central Bank Digital Currency, marking a major step in digital governance.