Current Affairs One - Liner : 20th February 2026

National:

• On 19 February 2026, GEAPP launched the USD 25 million “India Grids of the Future Accelerator” in New Delhi to modernise India’s power sector with smart grids, renewable integration, and digital innovation.

• On 18 Feb 2026, India and the UK launched an Offshore Wind Task Force under Vision 2035 during the Fourth Energy Dialogue to accelerate offshore wind deployment, strengthen policy, infra, and financing frameworks, and boost clean energy transition—dubbed a “Trustforce” by Pralhad Joshi.
• The IIT Madras Global Research Foundation’s Applied AI Innovation Centre in Dubai was officially launched on 18 February 2026 at Dubai CommerCity, UAE. The inauguration was carried out by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee.
• On 18 Feb 2026 at Kathmandu, India and Nepal signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement on Criminal Matters to strengthen cooperation in investigations, terrorism, cybercrime, and trafficking, updating the 2005 framework for regional security.
• In Feb 2026, the Delhi Government launched ‘Bhu‑Aadhaar’ under ULPIN, giving each land parcel a unique 14‑digit ID to digitise records, prevent disputes, and ensure transparent property ownership.
• On 18 February 2026, the first‑ever European Legal Gateway Office was inaugurated in New Delhi, aiming to promote safe legal migration and ICT talent mobility, marking a milestone in Indo‑EU strategic cooperation.
• The Gujarat Shops and Establishments Amendment Bill 2026, passed on 17 February, extends daily work hours to 10 hours and permits women to work night shifts (9 PM–6 AM) with consent, modernizing labour laws and expanding opportunities.

International:

• On 18 Feb 2026, India and France inaugurated the Indo‑French Centre for AI in Health (IF‑CAIH) at AIIMS New Delhi, led by JP Nadda and Emmanuel Macron, to advance AI‑driven healthcare research in brain disorders, neurodegeneration, and medical innovation.

Banking:

• ASK Asset & Wealth Management, majority‑owned by Blackstone since 2022, received SEBI approval on 17 Feb 2026 to launch its mutual fund arm—expanding from PMS & AIFs into equity, debt, hybrid, and passive funds—marking a strategic shift from HNI focus toward India’s booming retail investor base.
• On 18 February 2026, Axis Bank partnered with IndiGo to launch two co-branded credit cards—IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card and IndiGo Axis Bank Premium Credit Card—offering travel rewards via IndiGo’s BluChips loyalty program.

Economy:

• On 17 Feb 2026, TN Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented a ₹2.55 lakh crore Interim Budget. Key allocations: ₹4,000 cr for women’s free bus travel (Vidiyal Payanam) & ₹13,062 cr for transport. State recorded 11.19% GSDP growth (2024‑25), with fiscal deficit pegged at 3% of GSDP. Debt projected at ₹10.71 lakh crore by March 2027, with criticism of Union finance policies.
• On 18 Feb 2026, Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented a ₹4.38 lakh crore FY27 budget, prioritising women (₹1.27 lakh cr, incl. ₹23,882 cr Ladli Behna Yojana), rural development, farmers, and youth, framed as a welfare-driven, no-new-taxes budget amid debt concerns.

Defence:

• On 18 February 2026, France’s CMA CGM signed a USD 360 million deal with Cochin Shipyard Limited to build six LNG-fuelled container vessels, marking India’s first major foreign order for green shipping.

Committees:

• Haryana’s State Level Sanctioning Committee, chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, cleared ₹402.41 crore for four solar‑powered micro‑irrigation projects across Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Kurukshetra, and Mahendragarh—set to benefit 8,926 farmers in 94 villages by irrigating 11,040 hectares between 2026‑29.
• Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) formed a High-Level Ease of Doing Business Panel chaired by Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh to simplify compliance through rationalised e‑Forms, integrated digital systems, and event-based filings, supporting Viksit Bharat @2047.

Important Days:

• On 18 February 2026, the world observed International Asperger’s Day, marking Hans Asperger’s birthday and promoting awareness, acceptance, and inclusion of neurodiverse individuals under the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) framework.

Appointments:

• On 20 Feb 2026, Harsharan Kaur Trehan, a Delhi College of Engineering alumna, was appointed as the first woman Director (Commercial) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for a two‑year tenure.

Questions:

Q.1 The ‘Bhu-Aadhaar’ initiative launched by the Delhi Government is linked with which system?
a) AgriStack
b) BharatNet
c) DigiLocker
d) ULPIN

Answer: d) ‘Bhu-Aadhaar’ assigns a unique 14-digit ID to land parcels under ULPIN (Unique Land Parcel Identification Number).

Q.2 Who became the first woman Director (Commercial) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL)?
a) Alka Mittal
b) Harsharan Kaur Trehan
c) Meenakshi Lekhi
d) Ritu Maheshwari

Answer: b) Harsharan Kaur Trehan was appointed on 20 February 2026 for a two-year tenure.