Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (20th February 2026)

National News

PM-SETU Gets Wings: India–France Aeronautics Excellence Centre Coming Up

• Narendra Modi announced the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence in Aeronautics and Defence at Kanpur under the PM-SETU scheme, strengthening India–France cooperation.
• The Centre, to be set up at NSTI Kanpur under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, will focus on aeronautics, MRO, defence manufacturing, and space sectors.
• Backed by the ₹60,000 crore PM-SETU initiative to upgrade 1,000 ITIs, it aims to build globally competitive skills, boost defence indigenisation, expand aviation capabilities, and enhance youth employability through international collaboration and industry-aligned training.

New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments Launched at India AI Summit 2026

• At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments to promote inclusive, multilingual, and responsible AI.
• The initiative brings together Indian innovators such as Sarvam AI, BharatGen, Gnani.ai, and Soket AI with global frontier firms.
• India’s AI strategy focuses on democratisation, population-scale deployment, and sovereignty across applications, models, compute, talent, and energy.
• The commitments emphasize real-world impact studies and multilingual AI evaluation, positioning India as a Global South leader in ethical AI governance.

How Two Engineers Built Sarvam AI from an Idea to a Summit Showcase

• At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Bengaluru-based startup Sarvam AI showcased its made-in-India large language models and AI hardware, including Sarvam Kaze spectacles worn by Narendra Modi.
• Founded in 2023 by Pratyush Kumar and Vivek Raghavan, the company focuses on sovereign AI rooted in Indian languages, datasets, and real-world governance needs.
• Backed by major funding and partnerships, Sarvam AI developed multilingual models, speech systems, OCR tools, and foundational AI tailored for India’s diverse linguistic ecosystem.
• Its rise reflects India’s push for digital sovereignty, linguistic inclusion, and reduced dependence on foreign AI platforms.

FCI Signs Landmark MoU with WFP to Supply 2 Lakh MT Rice Annually

• India strengthened global food security as the Food Corporation of India signed a five-year MoU with the World Food Programme on 18 February 2026 to supply 200,000 metric tonnes of rice annually for humanitarian operations.
• The agreement, signed by Rabindra Kumar Agarwal and Carl Skau, fixes the price at ₹2,800 per quintal (until March 31, 2026) and supports vulnerable populations facing hunger and malnutrition worldwide.
• The partnership advances the UN’s Zero Hunger goal, reinforcing India’s role as a stable agricultural producer and reliable contributor to global food supply chains.
• Beyond humanitarian impact, the five-year deal enhances India’s diplomatic goodwill and leadership in international food security efforts.

State News

Andhra Pradesh Bags India’s Largest ₹8,175 Crore Lithium Battery Gigafactory

• Waaree Energies will set up India’s largest integrated lithium-ion battery Gigafactory in Rambilli, Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh, with an investment of ₹8,175 crore and 16 GWh production capacity.
• The greenfield facility will cover the full battery value chain, including cell manufacturing, battery pack assembly, and large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), creating around 3,000 direct jobs.
• Approved by the state investment board under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the project aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s Integrated Clean Energy Policy.
• The Gigafactory will strengthen India’s renewable energy and EV ecosystem, reduce import dependence, and boost domestic energy storage manufacturing.

International News

U.S. Department of State Launches $200 Million Edge AI Package for the Indo-Pacific

• On February 19, 2026, the United States Department of State launched the Edge AI Package, a foreign assistance initiative worth up to $200 million to deploy secure, AI-enabled smartphones across the Indo-Pacific.
• The program promotes trusted operating systems like Android and iOS, supporting open and interoperable digital ecosystems.
• Aligned with the Pax Silica vision, it aims to strengthen secure semiconductor supply chains, counter high-risk vendors, and expand digital inclusion.
• The initiative blends strategic technology diplomacy with developmental goals, reinforcing U.S. influence in Indo-Pacific digital governance and AI infrastructure.

India Joins 100+ Nations in Strong Stand Against Israel’s West Bank Actions

• India joined over 100 countries in a joint statement at the United Nations condemning Israel’s unilateral measures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, calling them violations of international law and threats to peace efforts.
• The statement opposed changes to the demographic composition and status of Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and reaffirmed support for UN resolutions and the two-State solution framework.
• Though not an initial signatory, India later added its name, reinforcing its longstanding support for a sovereign and independent Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel.
• The move reflects India’s commitment to multilateralism, international law, and a balanced diplomatic approach in West Asia.

India Joins Trump’s Gaza Peace Board as Observer Amid Global Diplomacy Push

• India participated as an observer at US President Donald Trump’s inaugural Board of Peace meeting on Gaza reconstruction, represented by Namgya C Khampa, Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington DC.
• Over 40 countries and the EU attended, focusing on post-conflict stabilisation, reconstruction, and international funding for Gaza.
• India’s observer status reflects its balanced diplomatic approach, engaging in dialogue without formal alignment, consistent with its support for a two-state solution and humanitarian assistance.
• The move preserves strategic autonomy while signaling active participation in evolving regional peace initiatives.

India Signs On to US-Led Pax Silica Partnership for Critical Minerals and Chip Security

• India has joined Pax Silica, a US-led coalition aimed at building secure and resilient supply chains for semiconductors, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and critical minerals.
• The declaration was signed in the presence of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and US Ambassador Sergio Gor, marking a key milestone in India–US strategic technology cooperation.
• Pax Silica seeks to create a trusted “full silicon stack” ecosystem by reducing dependence on unreliable sources and strengthening innovation-driven industrial partnerships.
• India’s role is strategic, with growing semiconductor manufacturing capacity and advanced chip design capabilities, including progress toward two-nanometer technology.
• The move enhances AI hardware security, boosts global supply chain resilience, and positions India as a major hub in the evolving global technology ecosystem.

Business News

2026 Business Milestone: Amazon Dethrones Walmart in Revenue Race

• In 2026, Amazon surpassed Walmart to become the world’s largest company by annual revenue, reporting $717 billion in FY2025 compared to Walmart’s $713.2 billion. Walmart had held the top revenue position for over a decade before being overtaken.
• Amazon’s rise was driven not only by e-commerce growth but significantly by Amazon Web Services, which boosted revenues through cloud computing and AI-powered data centre demand. Without AWS, Amazon’s revenue would have been substantially lower.
• While Walmart remains the world’s largest physical retailer with over 10,000 stores, Amazon dominates digital retail with billions of monthly visits. The shift highlights technology-led growth over traditional retail expansion.
• However, revenue leadership differs from market valuation, where Nvidia currently leads globally by market capitalisation.

Defense News

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurates 13th Edition of Exercise MILAN-2026

• Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 13th edition of Exercise MILAN-2026 at Visakhapatnam, hosted by the Indian Navy under the Eastern Naval Command.
• With participation from 74 nations, it is the largest edition since MILAN began in 1995.
• The biennial multilateral exercise enhances interoperability, professional exchanges, and coordinated responses to maritime threats like piracy and disasters.
• Reflecting India’s SAGAR vision and commitment to UNCLOS, MILAN-2026 reinforces India’s role as a trusted maritime partner and net security provider in the Indo-Pacific region.

Schemes News

Assam Cabinet Grants 3% Job Quota to Tea Tribes, Expands MMUA for 1 Lakh More Women

• The Assam Cabinet, led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved 3% reservation for tea tribes and Adivasi communities in Class I and II government jobs within the OBC quota ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
• The move extends reservation benefits to higher administrative and academic posts.
• Additionally, the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA) scheme has been expanded to include over 1 lakh new women beneficiaries, with 32 lakh women already receiving ₹10,000 each.
• The decisions aim to boost social inclusion, employment access, and women-led entrepreneurship in the state.

Science & Technology News

Big Boost for Gaganyaan! DRDO Nails High-Speed Drogue Parachute Test

• Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully conducted the qualification-level load test of the Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute on February 18, 2026, at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory.
• The test, carried out with Indian Space Research Organisation and its Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, validated safety margins for crew module descent.
• The drogue parachute stabilizes and slows the spacecraft before main parachute deployment, ensuring safe splashdown.
• This milestone strengthens India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and advances indigenous aerospace capabilities under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

GalaxEye’s AI-Powered OptoSAR Satellite ‘Mission Drishti’ to Transform Earth Data Analysis

• Bengaluru-based startup GalaxEye is set to launch Mission Drishti, an AI-enabled OptoSAR satellite powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin for in-orbit data processing.
• The satellite will use SyncFused OptoSAR technology, combining Electro-Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar sensors to deliver high-resolution, all-weather Earth observation imagery.
• By processing data directly in space and testing Orbital Data Centres, the mission aims to provide faster, actionable insights for agriculture, disaster management, and resource monitoring.
• GalaxEye plans to expand this initiative into a 10-satellite constellation by 2030, strengthening India’s private space and AI ecosystem.

Reliance Announces ₹10 Trillion AI Investment to Build India’s Sovereign Compute Power

• At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Mukesh Ambani announced a ₹10 trillion AI investment over seven years through Reliance Industries and Jio Platforms.
• The plan includes sovereign compute infrastructure, multi-gigawatt AI data centres in Jamnagar, and an edge-compute network integrated with Jio’s telecom ecosystem to deliver affordable AI services nationwide.
• Ambani stressed that India cannot “rent intelligence” and must build domestic AI capacity to ensure strategic resilience and cost-efficient access to compute power.
• The initiative will be powered by up to 10 GW of renewable energy, aligning AI expansion with sustainability goals.

Sports News

IPC Lifts Ban: Russian and Belarusian Athletes to Compete at Milan-Cortina 2026

• The International Paralympic Committee has lifted the ban on Russian athletes for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, allowing competitors from Russia and Belarus to participate under their national flags with anthem recognition.
• Russia has been allocated six quota slots across para-alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and para-snowboard, while Belarus received four slots in cross-country skiing.
• The earlier ban followed the 2022 Ukraine conflict and previous doping controversies, during which athletes competed only as neutrals without national symbols.
• The decision marks a major policy shift ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026, though restrictions for the Winter Olympics remain separate.

Harmanpreet Kaur Creates History: Becomes Most-Capped Player in Women’s Cricket

• India captain Harmanpreet Kaur became the most-capped player in women’s international cricket on 20 February 2026, during the second T20I against Australia in Canberra.
• With her 356th international appearance, she surpassed New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who held the record at 355 matches.
• This milestone highlights Harmanpreet’s longevity, fitness, and leadership across formats since her 2009 debut.
• Her achievement cements her legacy as one of the greatest in women’s cricket, with 6 Tests, 161 ODIs, and 189 T20Is to her name.

Important Days News

World Day of Social Justice 2026: Renewed Commitment in the Post-Doha Context

• 20 February is observed as the World Day of Social Justice by the United Nations, and the 2026 theme is “Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice.” The observance follows the Doha Political Declaration and calls for stronger action on poverty eradication, decent work, full employment, and social inclusion.
• The day urges governments to translate global commitments into measurable policies, including universal social protection, gender equality, youth employment, and inclusive digital and green transitions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
• The International Labour Organization plays a key role through its 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, reinforcing the Decent Work Agenda.
• Overall, the 2026 observance highlights the need for policy coherence and multilateral cooperation to achieve equitable and sustainable development worldwide.

Mizoram Foundation Day: A Tribute to Culture, Courage, and Identity

• Mizoram will celebrate its Foundation Day on 20 February 2026, marking 39 years since it became India’s 23rd state in 1987 after the historic peace accord.
• The day commemorates the 1986 Mizoram Accord that ended years of insurgency and granted full statehood following its Union Territory status in 1972.
• Celebrations in Aizawl and across the state will feature parades, cultural performances, and official ceremonies highlighting development achievements.
• Observed with pride and unity, the occasion reflects Mizoram’s journey of peace, high literacy, strong community values, and rich cultural heritage.

Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day 2026: Pride, Culture, and Progress

• Arunachal Pradesh will celebrate its Foundation Day on 20 February 2026, marking 39 years since it became India’s 24th state in 1987.
• The day commemorates Arunachal Pradesh’s transition from a Union Territory to full statehood under the 55th Constitutional Amendment Act.
• Celebrations in Itanagar and across the state will include cultural programs, parades, and ceremonies showcasing the heritage of its 26 districts and diverse tribal communities.
• Observed as a symbol of pride and unity, the day highlights the state’s strategic importance, cultural richness, and development achievements since statehood.

Current Affairs Today | 20 February 2026 Current Affairs | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam