Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (18th February 2026)

National News

Highways That Help Honeybees? NHAI’s ‘BeeCorridors’ Plan Could Change India’s Green Future

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched the first-of-its-kind BeeCorridors initiative to develop pollinator-friendly stretches along National Highways.
• Announced on 17 February 2026, the plan shifts from ornamental to ecological plantations, focusing on nectar- and pollen-rich native species to support honeybees and biodiversity.
• Around 40 lakh trees will be planted in 2026–27, with nearly 60% under the BeeCorridors program, ensuring year-round flowering and ecological balance.
• The initiative strengthens sustainable highway development, boosts pollinator conservation, and promotes environmentally responsible infrastructure across India.

NGT Gives Nod to ₹81,000 Crore Great Nicobar Project-With Strict Green Rules!

• The Great Nicobar Project has received clearance from the National Green Tribunal on 16 February 2026, dismissing challenges to its environmental approvals while imposing strict safeguards.
• The ₹81,000 crore project, conceptualized under NITI Aayog’s Maritime Vision 2030, includes an international container transshipment terminal, greenfield airport, township, and 450 MVA gas- and solar-based power plant.
• NGT directed protection of coral reefs, sandy beaches, and endangered species like Leatherback turtles and Nicobar macaques, ensuring compliance with environmental and tribal welfare norms.
• Strategically located near the Malacca Strait, the project enhances India’s Indo-Pacific security, maritime surveillance, and reduces dependence on foreign transshipment hubs like Singapore and Colombo.

Gender Budgeting In India Jumps 11.55%: What ₹5.01 Lakh Crore Means for India

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹5.01 lakh crore Gender Budget allocation in the Union Budget 2026–27, an 11.55% rise from ₹4.49 lakh crore last year.
• The Gender Budget now accounts for 9.37% of the total Union Budget, up from 8.86%, reflecting stronger commitment to women’s welfare and empowerment.
• A record 53 Ministries and Departments, along with five Union Territories, have reported allocations, marking the highest participation since gender budgeting began in 2005–06.
• The enhanced allocation supports gender-responsive schemes in health, education, skill development, safety, and economic empowerment for inclusive growth.

State News

Arunachal Pradesh’s Mega Hydel Project Now Set to Run Through 2037

• The 1,750 MW Demwe Lower Hydel Project on the Lohit River has received an 11-year extension of its environmental clearance, now valid until 2037, sixteen years after its initial approval.
• The Ministry of Environment’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) cited prolonged litigation before the NCLT and NGT as justification, counting the delay as “zero period” under a 2025 Office Memorandum.
• The extension has reignited concerns over legal compliance, as a 2017 NGT ruling had set aside the project’s wildlife clearance, which is crucial for forest approval.
• Environmentalists warn of ecological risks to the Lohit basin, Kamlang Tiger Reserve, and critically endangered White-Bellied Herons, with no fresh biodiversity studies mandated despite 16 years of delay.

Devendra Fadnavis Flags Off First-Ever Mumbai Climate Week in Grand Style

• Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the first Mumbai Climate Week at the Jio World Convention Centre, marking a major step toward actionable climate dialogue.
• Organised by Project Mumbai in partnership with the Government of Maharashtra and supported by the BMC, the three-day conclave focuses on sustainable solutions for the Global South, urban resilience, and renewable energy.
• Union Minister Prahlad Joshi announced 1 lakh additional solar pumps under the PM Kusum scheme to strengthen agricultural energy security.
• Leaders emphasized balancing economic growth with climate responsibility amid rising heatwaves and extreme weather challenges.

Losar Festival 2026 Begins! McLeod Ganj Welcomes the Fire Horse Year in Grand Style

• The Losar Festival 2026 is being celebrated from 18–20 February in McLeod Ganj, marking the beginning of the Fire Horse Year in the Tibetan lunar calendar.
• The Tibetan exile community has gathered for prayers, rituals, and cultural festivities, with the presence of Dalai Lama adding spiritual significance to the celebrations.
• Homes and monasteries are decorated, incense is offered, and traditional dishes like khapse are prepared to welcome the New Year.
• The festival symbolizes renewal, spiritual growth, and hopes for peace, prosperity, and freedom for Tibet.

International News

Modi & Macron Launch H125 Project – India Enters Elite Helicopter League

• Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated India’s first private helicopter manufacturing facility on 17 February 2026 at Vemagal, Karnataka.
• The plant will produce 10 Airbus H125 helicopters annually, with plans to scale up to meet a projected demand of 500 units over 20 years.
• The H125, known for its high-altitude performance, will serve civil, tourism, emergency, and defense needs, with a military variant also planned.
• Alongside Airbus C295 production in Gujarat, the project strengthens the India–France defense partnership and advances the Aatmanirbhar Bharat aerospace mission.

What Is a ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership’? India-France Move Explained

• Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron elevated bilateral ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership during Macron’s 17–19 February 2026 India visit.
• The upgrade strengthens defence, AI, nuclear energy, climate, and Indo-Pacific cooperation under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, alongside launching the India-France Year of Innovation 2026.
• Defence collaboration includes procurement of 26 Dassault Rafale M jets and continued work on Scorpene-class submarine projects, boosting co-development and technology sharing.
• Both nations reaffirmed support for a free Indo-Pacific, UN reforms, civil nuclear expansion, and deeper multilateral engagement, signaling long-term strategic alignment.

Macron Visit 2026: India, France Seal Key Minerals Cooperation Deal

• India France critical minerals cooperation was formalised through a Joint Declaration of Intent. Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron held talks in Mumbai.
• The agreement covers exploration, extraction and recycling of rare earths.
• A Centre on Advanced Materials will be set up with CNRS. Both leaders supported peace in Ukraine.
• They backed a two-state solution for Gaza. Indo-Pacific cooperation was strengthened.
• The deal supports green economy supply chains. The India France strategic partnership expanded further.

Modi–Macron Launch India-France Year of Innovation to Boost Tech Collaboration

• Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron launched the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 during Macron’s 17–19 February India visit.
• The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital technology, defense, and Indo-Pacific engagement, building on the India-France Strategic Partnership.
• A highlight includes joint participation at the AI Impact Summit, promoting ethical, human-centric AI and bridging the global AI divide while fostering research and start-up collaboration.
• Defense ties remain central, with India set to procure 114 Dassault Rafale aircraft, combining flyaway imports and in-country manufacturing to boost air combat capabilities.

Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Shutdown: A Drill or a Global Warning?

• Iran briefly restricted navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during live-fire naval drills, calling it a short safety measure lasting only a few hours.
• The move involved missile launches and maritime advisories, but coincided with rising Iran–US tensions and nuclear talks in Geneva, amplifying global concern.
• Though temporary, the restriction rattled markets because the strait handles nearly a third of global seaborne crude oil trade.
• The episode highlighted how geopolitical tensions in West Asia can quickly disrupt energy flows, shipping routes, and global oil prices.

Banking News

What Is a Type II Non-Deposit NBFC? Airtel Money’s New Role Decoded

• Airtel Money has received a Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a Type II, non-deposit accepting NBFC.
• The approval allows the Bharti Airtel subsidiary to expand regulated financial services, including lending and payment solutions, under RBI supervision.
• As a Type II NBFC, Airtel Money cannot accept public deposits but can engage in credit and other financial activities within compliance norms.
• Bharti Airtel also issued the RBI-mandated disclaimer clarifying that the regulator does not guarantee financial soundness or assume liability, marking a key step in telecom-fintech integration.

RBI Releases Draft Directions on Foreign Exchange Dealings & Announces Major Regulatory Reforms

• The Reserve Bank of India has issued Draft Directions on Foreign Exchange Dealings of Authorised Persons under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, inviting public comments until March 10, 2026.
• The draft framework proposes greater flexibility for Authorised Dealers in foreign exchange products, hedging, and trading platforms, aligning regulations with global practices and strengthening risk management.
• The move follows RBI’s February 6, 2026 Developmental and Regulatory Policies statement, which outlined reforms across financial markets, digital payments, NBFC norms, and corporate bond development.
• Stakeholders can submit feedback to RBI’s Financial Markets Regulation Department in Mumbai, reflecting the central bank’s consultative and market-responsive regulatory approach.

Indian Overseas Bank Launches Online Death Claim Settlement Portal

• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has launched an Online Death Claim Settlement Portal to provide a simplified, transparent, and time-bound process for families and legal heirs.
• The secure platform enables online submission of claimant details, document uploads, and real-time tracking, eliminating repeated branch visits and ensuring smoother processing.
• For claims up to ₹15 lakh, IOB has introduced a simplified procedure with no third-party surety, reduced documentation, and a strict 15-day settlement timeline.
• Alongside this, the bank unveiled a new corporate website powered by Liferay DXP, reinforcing its digital transformation with a compassionate, customer-centric approach.

Agreements News

Why the Adani-Marseille Pact Could Be a Game-Changer for Global Shipping

• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Port of Marseille Fos to boost India–EU trade via the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• The partnership focuses on trade facilitation, port innovation, energy transition, and proposes an IMEC Ports Club to coordinate major ports along the corridor.
• Marseille Fos, Europe’s Mediterranean gateway, adds multimodal connectivity and 70 million tonnes of cargo capacity, complementing Adani Ports’ eastern hubs at Mundra and Hazira.
• The MoU strengthens end-to-end logistics, enabling more efficient, sustainable, and integrated India–Europe trade flows through the IMEC corridor.

Ranks & Reports News

US vs Russia vs Asia: The Nuclear Stockpile Race You Need to Know

• As of early 2026, the world’s nine nuclear-armed states collectively possess 12,321 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists (data updated October 2025).
• Russia leads with 4,309 active warheads, followed by the United States with 3,700, together controlling about 86% of global nuclear inventory.
• Other countries, including China, India, and Pakistan, are gradually expanding their stockpiles, slowing global reductions.
• Despite overall decline since the Cold War, nuclear weapons remain central to strategic security, with major powers continuing modernization alongside dismantling retired arsenals.

Sports News

India’s Tejaswin Shankar Strikes Gold in Men’s Heptathlon

• Tejaswin Shankar won a historic gold medal in the men’s heptathlon at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2026 in Tianjin, China, scoring 5,993 points.
• His performance set a new national indoor record, surpassing his previous best of 5,650 points achieved in 2021, and was India’s only gold at the event.
• The heptathlon, a seven-discipline multi-event contest, showcased Shankar’s consistency and international competitiveness, highlighting India’s growing strength in athletics.
• India finished with five medals, including silvers for Pooja and Tajinderpal Singh Toor and a bronze for Ancy Sojan, securing sixth place overall.

Important Days News

Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti 2026: A Tribute to India’s Great Spiritual Master

• Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa Jayanti 2026 marks the birth anniversary of the saint born on 18 February 1836.
• He was born as Gadadhar Chattopadhyay in Kamarpukur.
• He preached devotion and self-realisation. He believed all religions lead to one truth.
• He inspired Swami Vivekananda. Ramakrishna Mission continues his legacy. His message promotes unity and service. His teachings remain relevant today.

Obituaries News

Veteran Actress Pravina Deshpande Passed Away in Mumbai at 60

• Veteran actress Pravina Deshpande passed away on 17 February 2026 in Mumbai at the age of 60 after battling multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.
• She had been undergoing treatment since 2019 but kept her illness private, and was cremated in Andheri the same day, leaving behind her husband and two children.
• Deshpande was known for films like Ready, D-Day and Ek Villain, along with several popular TV shows.
• Her final screen appearance was a cameo in the Netflix series Taskaree, reflecting her dedication to acting despite health challenges.

18 February 2026 Current Affairs | Current Affairs Today | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam