February 2026 Current Affairs

FEBRUARY 2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS SUMMARY

A. IMPORTANT DAYS - FEBRUARY 2026

World Wetlands Day

• - Date: February 2
• - Theme: "Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage"

Arignar Anna's 57th Memorial Day

• - Date: February 3
• - Born: September 15, 1909
• - Died: February 3, 1969

World Cancer Day

• - Date: February 4
• - Theme: "United by Unique"

International Epilepsy Day 2026

• - Date: February 9

World Pulses Day 2026

• - Date: February 10
• - Theme: "Pulses of the World: From Modesty to Excellence"

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

• - Date: February 11
• - Theme: "Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science"

World Unani Day 2026

• - Date: February 11
• - Theme: "Innovation and Evidence in Unani Practice"

World Radio Day

• - Date: February 12

Pulwama Attack Remembrance Day (2019)

• - Date: February 14

Tamil Literary Renaissance Day

• - Date: February 19

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti

• - Date: February 19

Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day 2026

• - Date: February 20

International Mother Language Day

• - Date: February 21
• - Declared by UNESCO in 1999
• - Theme: "Youth Voices on Multilingual Education"

Central Excise Day 2026

• - Date: February 24
• - February 24, 1950: Vande Mataram adopted as National Song by Constituent Assembly

World NGO Day

• - Date: February 27
• - Theme: "Empowering Grassroots Movements for a Sustainable Future"

National Protein Day 2026

• - Date: February 27

B. APPOINTMENTS

Manipur Chief Minister

• - Yumnam Khemchand (sworn in)

Maharashtra Deputy CM

• - Sunetra Pawar

Lok Sabha Speaker

• - Om Birla (step-down notice by opposition)

Bangladesh Prime Minister

• - Tarique Rahman

Peru President (removed)

• - Jose Jerry (removed from office)

Japan LDP Leader

• - Sanae Takaichi (64)

Netherlands PM (young, new)

• - Rob Jetten (38)

UN Global Road Safety Champion

• - Sachin Tendulkar

Madras HC Chief Justice (rec.)

• - Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari (SC Collegium recommended)

WEF President (resigned)

• - Borge Brende
• - WEF: Established 1971 | Founder: Klaus Schwab | HQ: Geneva, Switzerland

NITI Aayog CEO (new)

• - Nidhi Chhibber

DAC Developers Brand Ambassador

• - A. R. Rahman (music composer)

C. SPORTS

Asian Shooting Championship

• - Held in Delhi (India won multiple medals)

Squash On Fire Open

• - United States

Thailand Masters Badminton

• - Tournament results

Int'l Badminton (Azerbaijan)

• - Devika Sihag represented India

Women's Premier League (WPL)

• - Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (champions)

Dream Sports U-15 Table Tennis

• - Chennai | Winner: Aditya Das

Under-19 Cricket World Cup

• - Held in Zimbabwe

10th ICC Men's T20 World Cup

• - Co-hosted by India & Sri Lanka

Indian Street Premier League (T10)

• - Season 3 | Winner: Chennai Singams

WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026

• - India won Silver

Dallas Open Tennis

• - Winner: Ben Shelton

Qatar Open Tennis (Doha)

• - Winner: Elena Rybakina

FIH Pro League Hockey

• - Tournament updates

Delhi Open ATP 75 Challenger

• - New Delhi

Rio Open Men's Tennis (Brazil)

• - Tournament held

25th Winter Olympic Games

• - Milan & Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

1st: Norway (41 medals)

2nd: USA (33 medals)

3rd: Netherlands (20 medals)

4th: Italy

72nd National Men's Kabaddi

• - Vadodara, Gujarat

D. AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Grammy Award (Best Audiobook)

• - Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader)

Ramsar Site (98th)

• - Chhari-Dhand Wetland, Gujarat (newly added)

Global Teacher Prize

• - Rouble Nagi (Indian teacher)

Poompuhar State Award

• - 10 Best Artisans recognized (Tamil Nadu)

Kalaignar Memorial Kalaithurai Vithagar Award

• - Announced

BAFTA Award

• - Indian film 'Boong' won

Speaker of the Knesset Award

• - Conferred on PM Modi (Israel's highest Parliament honour)

E. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NASA Artemis II Mission

• - Postponed due to technical issue
• - Mission: Send humans toward Moon

IIT Bombay (Coal India funded)

• - Project to produce silk without killing silkworms

Bharat Taxi App

• - Launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah

India Space Station

• - Bharatiya Antariksha Station: target 2035 at 400 km altitude

Agni Missile Ranges

• - Agni-1: 700 km
• - Agni-2: 2,000 km
• - Agni-3: 3,000 km
• - Agni-4: 4,000 km
• - Agni-5: 5,000 km
• - Agni-3 tested at Chandipur

UTS Mobile App

• - Unreserved Ticketing System | launched Dec 2014

NISAR Satellite

• - Joint ISRO & NASA Earth observation satellite

India's First Electric Air Taxi

• - E200X

Union Health Minister

• - J. P. Nadda

F. STATE & SCHEME

First District with 100% Insurance

• - Alwar, Rajasthan

Bastar Pandum Festival

• - Chhattisgarh

Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana

• - Delhi

India's First Musical Road

• - Mumbai Coastal Road, Maharashtra

India's First Underwater Road

• - Assam

Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu Bridge

• - Guwahati, Assam

India's First Cow Culture Museum

• - Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

Matru Sneha Kaksha

• - Maharashtra (mother support centres)

India Chip Private Limited

• - Chip manufacturing plant; Jewar, Greater Noida
• - PM Modi laid foundation; HCL Group + Foxconn

Kerala renamed as "Keralam"

• - Approved by Central Govt under Article 3

G. TAMIL NADU SCHEMES

En Kanavu - En Ethirkalam

• - Student dream/career initiative

Nalam Kaakkum Stalin Scheme

• - Free health screenings (Started Aug 2, 2025)

Sanitation Workers Food Scheme

• - Hygienic food scheme expanded statewide

Pudhumai Penn Scheme

• - Higher education support for girls
• - Payments: Feb 10 & Aug 10 every year

National Deworming Day

• - TN participation

Kalaignar Kanavu Illam Scheme

• - Housing scheme updates

Thervukalam App

• - Competitive exam services (TNPSC, TRB, TNUSRB)

Thaaymai App Scheme

• - Reducing maternal mortality rate

Women's Entitlement Allowance

• - Rs.5,000 credited to 1.31 crore women beneficiaries

TN-SHORE Scheme

• - Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resources and Blue Economy (Neithal Meetchi Iyakkam)

Vizhuthugal Centres

• - Integrated service centres for persons with disabilities

Electricity to Farmers

• - 2 lakh farmers given new electricity connections

CM's Breakfast Scheme

• - Free breakfast; updates

Anbukkarangal Scheme

• - Senior citizens support (started 2025)

Annal Ambedkar Overseas Scholarship

• - For SC/ST students for higher education abroad

H. TAMIL NADU

"Uyir Nigar Tamil" Webpage

• - Language Struggle Martyrs memorial page

Pennaiyar River

• - Water sharing news

Global Tourism Summit 2026

• - Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu

Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

• - Rs.84 crore project to fit satellite trackers

Sea Turtle Conservation Centre

• - Guindy, Chennai

Omandur Ramasamy Reddy

• - Freedom fighter; Omandurar Govt Medical College named

AC Manufacturing Plant

• - Gummidipoondi, Thiruvallur district

India's First Anti-Drone Port

• - V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Thoothukudi

Video Conferencing for Prisoners

• - In force in TN courts since 2004

SIPCOT Automobile Plant

• - Panapakkam, near Arakkonam (major project)

TN Leads in Electronics

• - 1st in India in electronics manufacturing & exports

India Manufacturing Growth

• - 4.5%

Tamil-Brahmi Inscriptions in Egypt

• - 2,000-year-old inscriptions found in pyramids

Keeladi Open-Air Museum

• - Established under CM M.K. Stalin

TN Ranks 1st

• - Electronics, Textile & Leather exports (in India)

Centre-State Relations Report

• - 1st part submitted to CM Stalin

"Tamilar Thadam" Website

• - For welfare of Tamil diaspora

Madurai Flyover

• - Named after Netaji by CM Stalin

TN Economic Survey 2025-26

• - Released by CM Stalin (State Planning Commission)

Climate Summit 4.0

• - Chennai

Indian Grey Hornbill

• - Declared district bird of Tirupathur

Fairpro 2026 Exhibition

• - Inaugurated by Udhayanidhi Stalin

India's First Green Port

• - Thoothukudi Port

Highest Voter District in TN

• - Tiruvallur

Highest Voter Constituency in TN

• - Sholinganallur

TN Total Voters

• - 5,67,07,380

Male: 2,77,38,925

Female: 2,89,60,838

Thiruvalluvar Statue Silver Jubilee

• - Arch inaugurated by CM Stalin, Kanyakumari

TIDEL Neo Parks

• - Foundation stone: Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Erode

Anjalai Ammal Knowledge Centre

• - Cuddalore; Rs.98.26 crore; CM Stalin

ECINET App

• - Real-time polling and vote counting

I. TAMIL NADU BUDGET 2026-27

TN Economic Growth (FY 2024-25)

• - 11.19%

TN Agriculture Budget

• - Announced separately (Agri Budget 2026-27)

TN in Textile Trade

• - 33% of India's total textile trade

TN Electronics

• - Ranks 1st in manufacturing & exports

J. WORLD & INTERNATIONAL

Walmart

• - World's 1st retail company to reach $1 trillion valuation

Spain

• - Banned children under 16 from social media

Madagascar

• - Island nation in Indian Ocean

Albania

• - AI Virtual Minister named "Dielle" launched

H-1B Visa Fee Hike

• - Increased to Rs.88 lakh (from Rs.1.32 lakh)

Pakistan vs Afghanistan

• - Pakistan launched airstrikes; declared direct war

US Tariff on India

• - Reduced to 18%

Trump Peace Committee

• - 1st meeting held in Washington D.C. (Israel-Hamas ceasefire)

GCC

• - Gulf Cooperation Council (6 member countries)

Horizon Europe

• - EU Research & Innovation Programme

K. DEFENCE

KHANJAR Exercise

• - India-Kyrgyzstan joint military exercise

India to Nepal

• - 50 military vehicles supplied

114 Rafale Jets

• - Defence Ministry approved procurement from France

H125 Helicopter

• - Made by Airbus, France

MILAN 2026

• - Multinational naval exercise

CM-302 Missile

• - Manufactured by China

Vajra Prahar

• - India-USA joint special forces exercise

Dharma Guardian

• - India-Japan joint exercise

Vayushakti Air Force Exercise

• - Pokhran, Rajasthan

Prachand Helicopter

• - India's first indigenous attack helicopter
• - President Droupadi Murmu flew in Prachand

India's First All-Female UN Unit

• - India: first country to deploy all-female police in UN mission

PAX Silicon

• - US-led strategic alliance

L. CENTRAL SCHEMES

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

• - Free electricity via solar rooftop

PM JANMAN

• - Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan

PMFME

• - PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises

FASTag Annual Pass Scheme

• - Digital toll collection (FASTag or UPI only)

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan

• - Launched Nov 11, 2014

PM MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)

• - Shishu: up to Rs.50,000
• - Kishor: Rs.50,000–Rs.5 lakh
• - Tarun: Rs.5–10 lakh
• - Tarun Plus: Rs.10–20 lakh

PM-Rahat Scheme

• - Cashless medical treatment for accident victims

Samagra Shiksha Scheme

• - 2018 | Ministry of Education

Bhu Aadhaar / SVAMITVA

• - Land digitization
• - SVAMITVA: Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

• - Launched 2020

Export Promotion Scheme

• - 7 new measures announced

Free Cervical Cancer Vaccination

• - For girls below 14 years

PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• - LPG connections to underprivileged women

TPDS

• - Targeted Public Distribution System (started 1997)

Poshan Abhiyan

• - Nutrition mission

M. NATIONAL

UIDAI

• - Deactivated Aadhaar of 2.5 crore deceased persons

Central Tax Revenue to States

• - 41% share

WHO Salt Recommendation

• - Less than 2 grams sodium per day

Monazite Mineral

• - 1.31 crore tonnes found across 8 states incl. TN

FDI in PSU Banks

• - Govt considering increase to 49%

Pariksha Pe Charcha (9th Ed.)

• - PM's interaction on exam stress

India-Malaysia Agreements

• - 11 signed

EPFO Founded

• - 1952

New Crab Species

• - Discovered in Lakshadweep

India-Seychelles

• - Rs.1,587 crore development assistance

Vande Mataram National Song

• - Adopted Feb 24, 1950 by Constituent Assembly

Elephantiasis Elimination

• - India target: 2027

PM's New Office

• - "Seva Teerth", New Delhi

Airports in India (operational)

• - 165

Cancer Outpatient Centres

• - 466 across India

Article 93

• - Lok Sabha Speaker & Dy Speaker election

India-France Agreements

• - 21 signed

India-Israel Agreements

• - 17 signed

PAX Silicon Alliance

• - US-led strategic grouping

Union Commerce Minister

• - Piyush Goyal

Toll Fee Collection

• - Digital only (FASTag or UPI; no cash)

First RRTS

• - Delhi-Meerut route (Regional Rapid Transit System)

India in Rice Production

• - Ranks 1st globally

C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)

• - First & last Indian Governor-General of India

Universal Immunization Programme

• - 11 vaccines administered

Parliamentary Friendship Group

• - 64 countries (by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla)

Tourist Destination Target

• - One world-class destination per state by 2029

E20 Petrol

• - 20% Ethanol + 80% Petrol

PRAHAAR

• - India's New National Counter-Terrorism Policy

MSME Contribution to GDP

• - 33.31%

MSME Collateral-free Loan

• - Doubled from Rs.10 lakh to Rs.20 lakh

SEBI

• - Established April 12, 1988 | HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra

8 Cheetahs from Botswana

• - Brought to India (6 male + 2 female)

Asiatic Lions (2025 census)

• - 891 total

Article 3

• - State renaming provision (Kerala to Keralam)

N. ECONOMY

Fiscal Deficit 2026-27

• - 4.3% of GDP (down from 4.4% in FY 2025-26)

Income Tax Exemption

• - Up to Rs.12.75 lakh (no tax)

IOB 90th Foundation Day

• - Indian Overseas Bank
• - Founded: Feb 10, 1937 | Founder: M. Ct. M. Chidambaram Chettiyar
• - HQ: Chennai

Climate Change Allocation

• - 5.6% of Total GDP

India GDP Growth (EY projection)

• - 6.8%-7.2% for FY 2026-27

India GDP Growth (Q3 FY 2025-26)

• - 7.8% (October-December 2025)

India in Agriculture

• - 2nd in world (by production value)

India in R&D Expenditure

• - 7th globally (2024)
• - WIPO: Formed Jul 14, 1967 | HQ: Geneva | Members: 194 | Head: Daren Tang

India's Largest Wool Producer

• - Rajasthan

Corruption Perception Index

• - India ranked 91st (improved 5 places)

O. UNION BUDGET FY 2026-27

Presented by

• - Nirmala Sitharaman (9th consecutive time; historic record)

Total Budget Size

• - Rs.53.47 lakh crore
• - (FY 2025-26: Rs.49.64 lakh crore | 7.7% increase)

Total Revenue Estimated

• - Rs.36.5 lakh crore

Net Tax Revenue

• - Rs.28.7 lakh crore

Capital Expenditure

• - Rs.12.2 lakh crore
• - (up from Rs.11.2 lakh crore in FY 2025-26)

Fiscal Deficit Target

• - 4.3% of GDP (reduced from 4.4%)

Government Borrowing

• - Rs.17.2 lakh crore

Nominal GDP Estimate

• - Rs.393 lakh crore (~10% above Rs.357 lakh crore)

Income Tax Exemption

• - Up to Rs.12.75 lakh (no tax payable)

Central Tax Share to States

• - 41%

3 Key Duties (Kartavya)

1. Accelerate economic growth amid global volatility

2. Strengthen human capital, skills and institutional capacity

3. Ensure equal access to opportunities for all regions and communities

MSME Collateral-free Loan Limit

• - Doubled to Rs.20 lakh

Budget Theme

• - Youth-driven growth; demographic dividend to productivity

Budget Duration

• - Approx. 85 minutes (speech by Nirmala Sitharaman)

P. INDEX & REPORT

Corruption Perception Index

• - India: 91st rank (improved 5 places)

India's Largest Wool Producer

• - Rajasthan

Global R&D Expenditure 2024

• - India 7th

Journalists Killed (2025)

• - 129 globally; 75%+ in conflict zones (CPJ)

India in Domestic Air Transport

• - 3rd largest in world

Q. OBITUARY

Mukul Roy (71)

• - Former Railway Minister; Senior TMC leader

CPI Senior Leader

• - Communist Party of India leader passed away

R. SUMMITS

38th Kerala State Science Congress

• - Ernakulam, Kerala

National Agriculture Conference

• - Delhi

AI Impact Summit

• - New Delhi Declaration released

International Vallalar Conference

• - 2026 edition held

Global Security Affairs Conference

• - Munich, Germany

BioAsia 2026

• - Theme: "TechBio Unleashed: AI, Automation and Biology Revolution"

Trump Peace Group Meeting

• - Washington D.C. (1st consultative meeting; Israel-Hamas)

AI Summit 2027

• - To be held in Switzerland

S. BOOKS & AUTHOR

"Four Stars of Destiny"

• - Author: Manoj Mukund Naravane
• - (Former Chief of Army Staff)

T. MISCELLANEOUS (KEY POINTS)

Union Budget 2026-27

• - Rs.53.47 lakh crore | Fiscal Deficit: 4.3%

Nirmala Sitharaman

• - 9th consecutive Budget (record); 1st full-time woman FM

Income Tax Exemption Limit

• - Up to Rs.12.75 lakh

MSME Loan Limit Doubled

• - Rs.10 lakh to Rs.20 lakh (collateral-free)

25th Winter Olympics

• - Norway 1st | USA 2nd | Netherlands 3rd | Milan-Cortina

WPL Cricket Champion

• - Royal Challengers Bangalore Women

Dalai Lama

• - Grammy Award (Best Audiobook)

Prachand Helicopter

• - India's 1st indigenous attack helicopter; Pres. Murmu flew

114 Rafale Jets

• - Approved by Defence Ministry (from France)

Agni-3 Missile tested

• - Range: 3,000 km | Chandipur test

Sachin Tendulkar

• - UN Global Road Safety Champion

NISAR

• - ISRO + NASA joint Earth observation satellite

India's First Air Taxi

• - E200X (Electric)

India Space Station

• - Bharatiya Antariksha Station | Target: 2035

India-France Agreements

• - 21 signed

India-Malaysia Agreements

• - 11 signed

India-Israel Agreements

• - 17 signed

Asiatic Lions (2025 census)

• - 891

8 Cheetahs from Botswana

• - Brought to India (6M + 2F)

SEBI Est.

• - April 12, 1988 | HQ: Mumbai

First RRTS

• - Delhi-Meerut

India Ranks 1st in Rice Production

Elephantiasis Elimination Target

• - 2027

PM's New Office

• - "Seva Teerth", New Delhi

UIDAI

• - Deactivated Aadhaar of 2.5 crore deceased

Kerala renamed

• - "Keralam" (Central Govt approved; Article 3)

Keeladi Open-Air Museum

• - Established in TN

Tamil-Brahmi Inscriptions

• - Found in Egyptian pyramids (2,000 years old)

V.O. Chidambaranar Port

• - India's 1st port with anti-drone system

TN's First Green Port

• - Thoothukudi Port

IOB Founded

• - Feb 10, 1937 | Founder: M. Ct. M. Chidambaram Chettiyar

Corruption Index

• - India: 91st (improved 5 places)

PRAHAAR

• - India's new Counter-Terrorism Policy

MSME GDP Contribution

• - 33.31%

Walmart

• - World's 1st retail company to reach $1 trillion market cap

Albania's AI Virtual Minister

• - "Dielle"

India's First Musical Road

• - Mumbai Coastal Road, Maharashtra

India's First Underwater Road

• - Assam

India Chip Plant

• - Jewar, Greater Noida (HCL + Foxconn)