Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (21st February 2026)

National News

8-Year-Old Ranvir Sachdeva Becomes Youngest Speaker at India AI Impact Summit 2026

• Eight-year-old Ranvir Sachdeva became the youngest speaker at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam, astonishing global tech leaders with his keynote on artificial intelligence.
• The young prodigy, who began coding at age three, spoke about ethical and inclusive AI, urging that technology be built for everyone.
• During the summit, he met Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman, with their interaction quickly going viral on social media.
• Ranvir’s confident message positioned India as a potential leader in responsible AI innovation guided by accessibility and values.

From April 1, Toll Booths Go Fully Digital – Cash Out, FASTag In

• The Government of India will discontinue cash payments at all National Highway toll plazas from 1 April 2026, mandating digital-only transactions nationwide.
• According to the National Highways Authority of India, toll payments will be processed exclusively through FASTag and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
• The move aims to speed up traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance transparency by minimizing revenue leakages and manual intervention.
• With over 1,150 toll plazas across highways and expressways, the shift supports India’s broader digital infrastructure and smart mobility goals.

Railways Goes Smart! AI-Enabled Apps to Fix Grievances & Manage Crowds Before Chaos

• Indian Railways has integrated AI into seven passenger-facing apps to improve grievance redressal, ticket confirmation prediction, housekeeping, and crowd management.
• RailMadad now prioritizes complaints and analyses passenger sentiment, while RailOne predicts waiting ticket confirmation rates more accurately, and Coach Mitra enhances onboard services.
• CRIS plans to expand AI to 15 more applications, including loco link automation, crew management, and track operations for efficiency and safety.
• AI-driven crowd management predicts platform congestion hourly, adjusts for festivals and peak travel, ensuring smoother passenger flow and safer railway operations nationwide.

State News

Historic Approval: State Cabinet Clears Landmark Airport Project in Bihar

• The Bihar cabinet led by Nitish Kumar has approved a new international airport at Sonepur in Saran district, featuring a 4,200-metre runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft like the Airbus A380.
• Spread across 4,228 acres between Hajipur and Dumaria, the project is targeted for completion by 2030, with ₹1,302 crore allocated for land acquisition.
• The airport is expected to ease congestion at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport and boost direct international connectivity.
• Officials say the project will drive trade, tourism, employment, and overall economic growth across north Bihar.

L&T Vyoma to Study 250 MW Green AI Data Centre at Dholera SIR

• At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Gujarat government signed an MoU with L&T Vyoma to explore a 250 MW green AI-ready data centre at Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR).
• The ₹25,000 crore project aims to make Dholera a hub for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and sustainable digital infrastructure, with operations expected by 2028.
• Under the MoU, L&T Vyoma will conduct feasibility studies on land suitability, infrastructure, availability zones, and sustainability, while the Gujarat government provides policy and infrastructure support.
• The initiative aligns with Gujarat’s IT/ITeS Policy (2022–27) and India’s broader digital and renewable energy goals.

International News

Trump Slaps 10% Global Tariff on All Imports After Supreme Court Setback

• Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 10% tariff on imports from all countries, effective 25 February 2026, after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down his earlier sweeping tariffs under IEEPA in a 6–3 ruling.
• Invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, Trump introduced the temporary levy for up to 150 days, citing trade deficit concerns.
• The blanket tariff is expected to raise import costs in the US and heighten global trade tensions, with potential retaliatory measures from major economies.
• India’s key export sectors, including textiles, steel and engineering goods, may face added pressure as no country has been granted exemptions.

Banking News

ICICI’s New Swasthya Pension Scheme: A Smart Blend of Retirement Planning and Healthcare Security

• ICICI Prudential Pension Fund has launched the Swasthya Pension Scheme under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) sandbox to combine retirement savings with healthcare flexibility.
• The digital-first product allows multiple partial withdrawals of up to 25% for medical needs, with emergency closure options, and is integrated with Apollo Hospitals via Apollo 24/7 during its pilot phase.
• Designed to complement health insurance, the scheme aims to address India’s health financing gap, where insurance penetration is about 38%.
• Officials say the initiative blends pension discipline with healthcare access, supporting long-term financial security amid rising medical costs.

Economy News

India’s Core Sector Growth Slows to 4% in January 2026 & Steel and Cement Shine

• India’s eight core industries grew 4% in January 2026, easing from December’s revised 4.7%, according to data under the Index of Core Industries (ICI) released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry.
• Steel (+9.9%) and cement (+10.7%) led growth on strong infrastructure demand, while crude oil (-5.8%) and natural gas (-5%) remained in contraction.
• The core sectors—coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity—carry 40.27% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• Despite the moderation, overall industrial output rose 7.8% year-on-year, marking a 26-month high driven by manufacturing and mining activity.

India Revises Base Year of Merchandise Trade Indices to 2022-23

• The Government of India has revised the base year of India’s merchandise trade indices from 2012-13 to 2022-23, effective 20 February 2026, to improve the relevance and accuracy of trade data.
• The update by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics reflects structural changes in the economy, export diversification, and new trade partnerships since 2012-13.
• The revised indices feature updated commodity coverage, recalculated weights, alignment with international trade classifications, and expanded breakdowns by monthly, quarterly, bilateral, and economic category indices.
• It also enhances analysis of terms of trade gross, net, and income helping policymakers assess India’s gains in global trade.

Appointments News

Who Is Asha Sharma? Indian-Origin Leader Takes Charge of Microsoft Xbox

• Microsoft has appointed Asha Sharma as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming and head of Xbox in 2026, succeeding longtime chief Phil Spencer, who is retiring.
• Sharma, of Indian origin, brings experience in AI, product leadership at Meta Platforms, and operations at Instacart, returning to Microsoft to lead AI initiatives.
• Her priorities for Xbox include delivering great games, reviving the console experience, and shaping the future of play, while cautioning against “soulless AI slop” in gaming.
• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella praised Sharma’s consumer and AI expertise as critical for balancing gaming innovation with artificial intelligence integration.

Harsharan Kaur Trehan Becomes PSPCL’s First Woman Director (Commercial)

• Harsharan Kaur Trehan has been appointed Director (Commercial) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, becoming the first woman technocrat to reach board level at PSPCL.
• The appointment, issued on 20 February 2026, is for a two-year tenure, with Trehan assuming charge at the Patiala headquarters.
• Her career spans over three decades, including roles as Engineer-in-Chief (Material Management) and Deputy Chief Engineer, contributing to transmission design, substation planning, and procurement operations worth over ₹1,000 crore.
• The appointment marks a significant milestone for women leadership in India’s public sector power utilities.

Ranks & Reports News

Global AI Brain Race 2026: US Takes Crown, India Eyes Faster Growth

• The United States has topped the Global AI Brain Race Report 2026, followed by China and Singapore, while India ranks sixth, according to a new international study by essayhumaniser.io.
• The report evaluated over 100 countries on AI R&D, infrastructure, talent readiness, governance, economic integration, academic strength, and public opinion.
• The U.S. leads with strong innovation ecosystems, advanced infrastructure, and deep AI adoption in business, while India excels in talent but lags in digital infrastructure and governance frameworks.
• The study highlights that integrated AI ecosystems combining research, education, infrastructure, governance, and economic adoption are crucial for global AI leadership.

Science & Technology News

Made in India: Nadda Launches Indigenous Td Vaccine at Kasauli Centre

• Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda launched India’s indigenously manufactured Tetanus and Adult Diphtheria (Td) vaccine at the Central Research Institute, Kasauli, strengthening public health infrastructure and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals.
• The Td vaccine will replace the Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine under the Universal Immunization Programme, with 55 lakh doses supplied by April 2026 and production scaling up in subsequent years.
• The transition follows WHO and NTAGI recommendations, offering protection against both tetanus and diphtheria for all age groups, including pregnant women.
• India now achieves nearly 99% vaccine coverage through its UIP, the world’s largest immunization programme, benefiting millions of children and women annually.

Sports News

USA Stuns Canada in Overtime! Hilary Knight & Megan Keller Deliver Olympic Gold in Milan Thriller

• The U.S. women’s national hockey team won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan by defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime on 19 February 2026.
• Canada led for most of the game until Hilary Knight scored a dramatic equalizer with under three minutes left, forcing overtime.
• In sudden-death overtime, Megan Keller scored the winning goal, securing Team USA’s third Olympic gold in women’s hockey and first since 2018.
• The victory adds a new chapter to the historic USA–Canada rivalry, widely regarded as the greatest in international women’s hockey.

Norway Breaks Winter Olympics Record! 17th Gold Seals Historic Milestone in Milan

• Norway made Winter Olympics history at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics by winning its 17th gold medal, breaking its own record set in Beijing 2022.
• Johannes Dale-Skjevdal clinched the historic biathlon men’s 15km mass start gold with perfect shooting (20/20) in 39 minutes 17.1 seconds.
• Silver went to Sturla Holm Laegreid and bronze to Quentin Fillon Maillet, highlighting fierce competition in biathlon events.
• With 405 total Winter Olympics medals, Norway remains the most successful nation in Winter Games history, ahead of the United States (330) and Germany (267).

Important Days News

International Mother Language Day 2026: Youth Voices on Multilingual Education

• International Mother Language Day 2026 will be observed on 21 February to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education worldwide.
• Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and later adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, the day underscores the need to preserve endangered languages and cultural identity.
• The 2026 theme, “Youth voices on multilingual education,” highlights the role of young people in revitalising languages amid globalisation and digital change.
• With nearly 40% of learners lacking education in their mother tongue, the observance calls for inclusive policies aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4.

Obituaries News

Legendary Bengali Author Shankar Passes Away at 92, Leaves Behind Timeless Literary Legacy

• Renowned Bengali author Moni Shankar Mukhopadhyay, popularly known as Shankar, passed away at 92 in south Kolkata, marking the end of a literary era.
• Born in Howrah, he overcame early hardships to become one of Bengal’s most influential writers, authoring nearly 100 novels and short stories depicting urban India’s moral dilemmas and ambitions.
• His iconic works, including Chowringhee, Simabadhya, and Jana Aranya, were adapted into landmark films by directors like Satyajit Ray.
• Awarded the Sahitya Akademi in 2021, Shankar’s legacy bridges literature and cinema, capturing the socio-economic shifts of post-independence India and continuing to inspire writers and readers alike.

Current Affairs Today | 21 February 2026 Current Affairs | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam