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Home Archive February 18, 2026

February 18, 2026

134 articles published on this date

18

3 more cheetah cubs born in Kuno

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the birth of three new cheetah cubs at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh on February 18, 2026 T...

GS3 (Environment Conservation) Environment & Ecology 3m
18

Reciprocal airspace closure to enter 11th month as Pakistan extends ban on Indian airlines, aircraft till March 24

Pakistan extended its ban on Indian airlines and aircraft over its airspace until March 24, 2026 (subsequently further extended to April 24, 2026), marking t...

GS2 International Relations 4m
18

India must institutionalise human control over AI systems for military use, test them rigorously like weapons: Lt Gen Shinghal

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Lt Gen Vipul Shinghal stated that India must institutionalise human control over AI systems deployed for military purpose...

GS Paper 3 Internal Security Science & Technology 4m
18

WATCH: Cheetah Gamini delivers 3 cubs at Kuno National Park, India’s count rises to 38

South African cheetah Gamini delivered three cubs at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, her second litter in India. India's cheetah count has risen ...

GS Paper 3 Environment & Ecology 2m
18

Why a massive Arunachal power project got an 11-year green nod extension

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted an 11-year extension of Environmental Clea...

GS3 (Environment Infrastructure) GS2 (Governance) Environment & Ecology Polity & Governance 5m
18

Baby boom at Kuno: India’s cheetah population grows to 38 as ‘Gamini’ becomes mother for second time

Cheetah Gamini, originally translocated from South Africa, gave birth to three cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This is Gamini's second litter i...

GS Paper 3 Environment & Ecology 3m
18

‘Weaponised’ vs ‘terrorised’: Supreme Court adjourns hearing on ED plea against I-PAC, Mamata Banerjee

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the Supreme Court alleging obstruction during its January 8, 2026 raid at the Kolkata office of I-PAC (Indian Pol...

GS2 Polity & Governance Internal Security 5m
18

‘We welcome summit focus, need to shield democracies, rule of law against AI threat’

India hosted the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16–20, 2026 — the fourth in the global series of AI governance summits and the first held in the Global ...

GS2 GS3 Science & Technology Polity & Governance 5m
18

EU opens legal gateway office in Delhi; Jaishankar says ‘mobility with purpose’

The European Union inaugurated the first-ever European Legal Gateway Office (ELGO) in New Delhi, representing the first such office established in any partne...

GS Paper 2 (IR India-EU Relations Migration) GS Paper 1 (Population and Migration) International Relations Polity & Governance 5m
18

International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam: Indian Navy vigilant in safeguarding country’s maritime interests, promoting goodwill around globe, says Murmu

India conducted the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 off the coast of Visakhapatnam on February 18, 2026 — the third such review hosted by India. Presid...

GS2 GS3 International Relations Internal Security 4m
18

In final push against Maoists, forces zero in on last pockets

With the Centre's March 2026 deadline to eliminate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) approaching, CRPF has identified only about 300 active Maoist operatives remaini...

GS3 (Internal Security) Internal Security 4m
18

Bangladesh has a new PM, government. It’s time for a Delhi-Dhaka recalibration

Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was sworn in as Bangladesh's new Prime Minister on February 17, 2026, after the BNP secured a landsl...

GS Paper 2 International Relations 4m
18

From India, a climate warning for Europe

India has raised strong objections to the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), framing it as a climate warning that could reshape glob...

GS2 (International Relations) GS3 (Environment Economy) Environment & Ecology International Relations 4m
18

Who are the architects of AI, and what are the ties that bind them?

A close look at the global AI ecosystem reveals that a small group of researchers and entrepreneurs — often termed the "architects of AI" — simultaneously sh...

GS3 (Science & Technology Internal Security) Science & Technology 5m
18

Can India’s power system keep up with the explosion in data centres?

India's data centre sector is experiencing explosive growth, with installed capacity expected to rise from 1.4 GW to 9 GW by 2030, potentially consuming abou...

GS Paper III (Infrastructure: Energy Science & Technology) Science & Technology Economics 5m
18

Climate to civic bodies, how Kerala’s pioneering Urban Policy looks to define its urbanisation journey

Kerala's Cabinet approved India's first state-level comprehensive Urban Policy on February 13, 2026, making it the pioneering state to formally frame such a ...

GS2 GS1 Polity & Governance Geography 4m
18

Can Indian IT bridge the AI ‘deployment gap’? Infosys chief says that’s possible, as software major ties up with Anthropic

Infosys and Anthropic (maker of Claude AI) announced a strategic collaboration on February 17, 2026, to develop and deliver advanced enterprise AI solutions ...

GS3 (Science & Technology Indian Economy IT Sector) Science & Technology Economics 4m
18

SC resumes hearing challenges to Places of Worship Act: The legal battle, explained

The Supreme Court indicated it will shortly take up final hearings on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (...

GS Paper 2 Polity & Governance 4m
18

Curtains on Maharashtra Muslim quota: Court once upheld it, so what happened?

The Maharashtra government issued a fresh Government Resolution (GR) in February 2026 formally withdrawing the 5% reservation for Muslims in government educa...

GS2 (Indian Polity Reservation Policy Social Justice Constitutional Law) Polity & Governance Social Issues 5m
18

SC to hear review petitions to 2018 Sabarimala judgement in April: A timeline of the case

The Supreme Court of India has scheduled a nine-judge Constitution Bench to begin hearing review petitions against the 2018 Sabarimala judgment from April 7,...

GS2 Polity & Governance 6m
18

As NGT clears Great Nicobar project, a look at its strategic importance and ecological fallout

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) cleared the Rs 92,000 crore Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project on February 16, 2026, upholding environmental ...

GS Paper 3 Environment & Ecology Internal Security Geography 5m
18

Higher area under summer crops may offset lower kharif pulses output

Area sown under summer (Zaid) crops crossed 36.2 lakh hectares in early 2026, with pulses and oilseeds registering acreage gains that could help offset the m...

GS3 Economics 4m
18

India relaxes Chinese equipment import curbs for power, coal amid project delays

India has relaxed its five-year-old restrictions on Chinese equipment imports, allowing state-run power and coal companies to begin limited procurement from ...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 5m
18

​Troubled waters: On the Great Nicobar Project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on February 16, 2026 upheld the 2022 environmental clearance for the ₹81,000 crore Great Nicobar Island Development Project...

GS2 GS3 Environment & Ecology Polity & Governance 5m
18

Nvidia, OpenAI partner Indian industry, educational institutes

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 (held February 18, 2026), Nvidia and OpenAI announced major partnerships with Indian industry and educational institutions...

GS3 Science & Technology Economics 5m
18

Trade deal with US, EU to rake in growth capital: Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that trade deals with the US and the EU will attract significant growth capital into India, describing the...

GS2 (India's bilateral relations international trade) GS3 (Indian economy trade policy) Economics International Relations 4m
18

India’s moment to restoring balance to copyright

India's Copyright Act, 1957 is under review to address the tension between rigid copyright protections and the emerging needs of AI development, public acces...

GS2 GS3 Science & Technology Polity & Governance 5m
18

India’s taxpayer base more than doubled in the last decade

India's individual taxpayer base more than doubled from 3.26 crore in Assessment Year 2013-14 to 7.26 crore in AY 2024-25, reflecting sustained expansion ove...

GS Paper III (Indian Economy Mobilisation of Resources) Economics Polity & Governance 4m
18

SEBI Constitutes Working Group to Review ESG Rating Providers (ERPs) Regulatory Framework

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) constituted a multi-stakeholder working group on February 18, 2026 to review the regulatory framework gover...

GS3 Economics Environment & Ecology 4m
18

Assembly passes two Bills removing ‘leprosy’ references from State Laws

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly unanimously passed two Bills removing discriminatory references to persons affected by or cured of leprosy from exist...

GS1 GS2 Social Issues Polity & Governance 4m
18

India AI Summit 2026 Day 3 Highlights: India well-positioned, no impediments, says Sundar Pichai

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from February 16-21, 2026 — India's first major multilateral summit on Artificial Inte...

GS3 Science & Technology International Relations 4m
18

India adds its name to list of countries criticising Israel’s unilateral measures on West Bank

India belatedly added its name to a group of countries criticising Israel's unilateral measures in the occupied West Bank, having initially not joined the or...

GS Paper 2 International Relations 4m
18

APSEZ signs MoU with French port to deepen cooperation on trade facilitation

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of Marseille Fos, France's largest port, to deepen...

GS2 (India's foreign policy) GS3 (Infrastructure ports trade) International Relations Economics 4m
18

India discussing age restrictions with social media platforms

The Union Government confirmed it is in active discussions with major social media platforms to introduce age-based access restrictions, likely barring or li...

GS2 (Government Policies & Interventions Social Justice) GS3 (Cyber Security IT) Polity & Governance Science & Technology 4m
18

From automated farm tractors to exam paper grading, AI boosts efficiency for some in India

Artificial intelligence is being adopted across India's agriculture and education sectors, with real-world deployments ranging from autonomous tractor operat...

GS Paper 3 (Science & Technology) Science & Technology Economics 5m
18

Historic trade deals put India on global stage - but challenges remain

India concluded two landmark trade agreements in quick succession in early 2026: the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (signed January 27, 2026) and the India-US...

GS2 (India's Foreign Policy Bilateral Groupings) GS3 (Indian Economy Trade Policy) Economics International Relations 5m
18

Above 5,300 acres set for exclusion from Kolleru Lake in West Godavari

The Andhra Pradesh government has moved to exclude more than 5,300 acres of land spread across 10 villages in West Godavari district from the protected bound...

GS3 (Environment Conservation Biodiversity) Environment & Ecology Polity & Governance 5m
18

India may find it tough to export 2.5 million tonnes of wheat this year

After nearly four years of wheat export restrictions, India eased its ban in early 2026, allowing export of 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and 500,000 tonnes of...

GS3 Economics 5m
18

CMA CGM signs $360 million deal for six LNG vessels with Cochin Shipyard

French shipping giant CMA CGM signed a $360 million contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) to build six LNG-powered feeder container vessels — India's f...

GS2 (Infrastructure) GS3 (Indian Economy infrastructure maritime sector) Economics International Relations 5m
18

Nearly 2,000 security personnel launch anti-Maoist operation along Chhattisgarh-Telangana border

Approximately 2,000 security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Police launched Operation KGH-2 (Kilo Green Hunter-2) al...

GS Paper 3 Internal Security 4m
18

Europe squares up to Big Tech, risking ire of Washington

The European Union moved ahead with aggressive enforcement of its Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) in 2026, targeting major US techno...

GS2 (International Relations bilateral groupings) GS3 (Science and Technology digital economy) International Relations Science & Technology 5m
18

No reason to believe change in India's stance on Russian oil: Russian Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Russia has "no reason to believe" India has changed its position on buying Russian hydrocar...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 4m
18

India-EU now natural and preferred partners, says Jaishankar at mobility gateway office launch

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar launched the European Legal Gateway Office in New Delhi, describing India and the EU as "natural and preferred partne...

GS Paper 2 International Relations 4m
18

Alliance Bioversity, CIAT promoting over 20 native Indian crop varieties

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (International Centre for Tropical Agriculture) is actively promoting over 20 native Indian crop varieties,...

GS3 (Agriculture biodiversity food security) Environment & Ecology Economics 4m
18

It’s time the old perception of the JVP’s India stance changed: Tilvin Silva

Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of Sri Lanka's Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the ideological compass of the ruling National People's Power (NPP) allian...

GS2 (International Relations India and its neighbourhood bilateral agreements) International Relations 5m
18

Three cubs born to South African cheetah in Kuno National Park; second litter this month

South African cheetah Gamini gave birth to three cubs at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh on 18 February 2026, marking her second successful litter...

GS Paper 3 Environment & Ecology 5m
18

India, UK launch offshore wind task force

India and the United Kingdom launched an Offshore Wind Task Force on 18 February 2026 as a new platform under the India–UK Vision 2035 bilateral framework to...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics Environment & Ecology 4m
18

Look into plea for special law on hate crimes: SC to Attorney General

The Supreme Court of India asked Attorney General R. Venkataramani to examine a PIL seeking guidelines and a special law to address hate crimes and racial vi...

GS2 (Judiciary constitutional provisions social justice) Polity & Governance Social Issues 4m
18

ITC uses AI to empower 10 million Indian farmers through ITCMAARS

ITC Limited announced plans to expand its ITCMAARS (Metamarket for Advanced Agriculture and Rural Services) platform to reach 10 million farmers across India...

GS3 Science & Technology Economics 4m
18

The world according to Marco Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, delivering a major address at the Munich Security Conference in February 2026, articulated a foreign policy vision centred...

GS2 (International Relations bilateral agreements US foreign policy and its implications for India) International Relations 5m
18

India’s ‘Third Way’ for AI governance

A policy analysis circulating in Indian strategic and technology circles articulated India's emerging "Third Way" for AI governance — a framework distinct fr...

GS2 (Governance international organisations) GS3 (Science and Technology AI policy) Science & Technology International Relations 4m
18

After 465% spike in 2024, MHA data shows digital arrest scams are on a decline in India

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) data reveals that Indians lost Rs 1,918 crore to digital arrest scams in 2024, following a 465% spike in reported cases during...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 Internal Security Polity & Governance 4m
18

Military AI and the urgency of guardrails

Global debate over the regulation of military artificial intelligence has intensified, with multiple international institutions and states pressing for bindi...

GS Paper 3 (Security Science & Technology) Science & Technology Internal Security 5m
18

Afghanistan says it has released 3 Pakistani soldiers captured during October cross-border fighting

Afghanistan's Taliban government announced the release of three Pakistani soldiers who had been captured during fierce cross-border fighting along the Afghan...

GS2 (India's Foreign Policy — Neighbourhood South Asian Geopolitics) International Relations Internal Security 5m
18

Google announces direct subsea cable link between India, U.S.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the America-India Connect Initiative at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 18 — a new infrastructure effort to bo...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 Science & Technology International Relations 4m
18

Can India overtake Bangladesh in textile exports to the European Union?

On January 27, 2026, India and the European Union concluded a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), eliminating duties on nearly 99.5% of Indian exports — inc...

GS2 (International Relations) GS3 (Indian Economy Trade) Economics International Relations 5m
18

Indo-U.K. offshore wind task force launched, India crosses 272 GW non-fossil fuel power capacity

India and the UK launched the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce to provide strategic leadership and coordination for India's offshore wind ecosystem. Union Ne...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Environment & Ecology Economics 4m
18

Top Israeli Minister pushes for 'emigration' of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly advocated for the "emigration" of Palestinians from both the occupied West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and Ga...

GS2 (International Relations India's foreign policy international humanitarian law) International Relations 4m
18

AI to revolutionise science, medicine; societal challenges need global cooperation: DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis

Scientists and policy experts have highlighted AI's transformative potential in scientific research and medicine — including drug discovery, climate modellin...

GS3 (Science & Technology) GS2 (International Relations Global Governance) Science & Technology 5m
18

PM to address AI summit on February 19, world leaders gather

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — the world's largest AI summit to date The ...

GS Paper 3 (science & technology AI governance) GS Paper 2 (India's foreign policy multilateral diplomacy) Science & Technology International Relations 5m
18

Decision on agreed 18% U.S. tariffs expected within ‘3–4 days’, sources say

The US had reduced tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 25% on 7 February 2026, as an interim step following the India-US trade framework announcement. The fi...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 4m
18

Kremlin says neither China nor Russia have carried out secret nuclear tests

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied that either Russia or China had conducted any secret nuclear tests, rejecting recent US accusations. The United Sta...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Internal Security 4m
18

Police, CRPF raze 44 Maoist-built monuments in Gadchiroli

Security forces comprising approximately 800 personnel from 18 teams — including C-60 commandos, CRPF, and district police — demolished 44 Maoist-built monum...

GS Paper 3 (Internal Security) Internal Security 4m
18

Centre to bring 1,954 border villages under development scheme

The Central Government announced the expansion of the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) to cover 1,954 border villages, extending beyond the original China bor...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 Polity & Governance International Relations Geography 4m
18

Spanish government seeks probe into X, Meta, TikTok over AI child abuse content

The Spanish government asked its public prosecutor on February 17, 2026 to investigate TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Meta for allegedly spreading AI-gene...

GS3 GS2 Science & Technology Polity & Governance 6m
18

Govt planning regulatory sandboxes for pharma sector to fast-track approvals & drug development

The Indian government is planning to introduce regulatory sandboxes for the pharmaceutical and medical devices sector to accelerate drug and device approval ...

GS3 GS2 Science & Technology Polity & Governance 6m
18

India eases curbs on Chinese equipment imports for power, coal as projects delayed: Reports

India has begun easing five-year-old restrictions on procurement of Chinese equipment, allowing state-run power and coal companies to undertake limited impor...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 4m
18

Venezuela crude returns to India’s oil basket. But only as ‘supplementary’ supply

Indian refiners have begun testing Venezuelan crude barrels as Russian crude supply to India declines, following the India-US trade deal framework. Venezuela...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 Economics International Relations 4m
18

India tells global tech platforms to follow constitution after tougher content rules

Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that global technology platforms including Google's YouTube, Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), X ...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 Polity & Governance Science & Technology 5m
18

The explosive rise and inherent risks of prediction markets | Explained

Prediction markets — platforms that allow participants to bet on the probability of future events — have grown explosively, from less than USD 100 million pe...

GS3 Economics Polity & Governance 5m
18

INOX India’s LNG systems power Indian Railways’ LNG fuel trial for DEMU trains

Indian Railways operationalised the country's first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and diesel dual-fuel Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train at Sabarmati,...

GS3 Science & Technology Economics 5m
18

India-EU FTA the ‘starting point’, Ireland looking to India to sell its goods & services—Irish minister

Ireland's government has expressed strong interest in leveraging the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) — concluded on January 27, 2026 — as the "starting p...

GS Paper 2 (India's international relations bilateral trade) GS Paper 3 (Indian economy trade policy services sector) International Relations 5m
18

Corteva, BASF introduce non-GM herbicide-tolerant mustard technology in India

BASF India and Corteva Agriscience India jointly introduced the Clearfield Production System for mustard cultivation in India on February 18, 2026, offering ...

GS3 Economics Science & Technology 5m
18

PM Modi meets President of Spain, PM of Finland; says India-EU FTA ushers in golden era

PM Modi held separate meetings with President of Spain Pedro Sanchez and PM of Finland Petteri Orpo on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Expo 2026 in New ...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 4m
18

Concessions under every FTA have been given only after private sector’s approval, Piyush Goyal says

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that concessions under every Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed by India have been given only after private sector appro...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 4m
18

Polish army bans Chinese vehicles from military premises

Poland's army has banned Chinese-made vehicles from entering all military facilities, citing fears that onboard sensors and connected systems can collect and...

GS Paper 2 (international security tech nationalism) GS Paper 3 (cybersecurity science & technology) International Relations Internal Security Science & Technology 5m
18

Jamaat’s big wins along the Bangladesh border & what they mean for India

In the 2026 Bangladesh general election, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its allies secured significant victories in constituencies along the India-Bangladesh ...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 Internal Security International Relations 4m
18

Cochin Port unions against Centre’s move to withdraw cabotage relaxation

Port worker unions at Cochin Port have come out against the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways' proposal to withdraw the cabotage relaxation that was ...

GS3 Economics Polity & Governance 5m
18

India sugar output seen lower than forecast, curbing exports

India's sugar output estimate for the 2025-26 season (October–September) has been revised sharply downward, with the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA...

GS3 Economics Geography 4m
18

Delhi High Court seeks Centre’s stand on plea challenging provisions of data protection law

The Delhi High Court issued notice to the Central Government on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutionality of key provisions of the...

GS Paper 2 Polity & Governance Social Issues 5m
18

Biden era official cautions Washington—US can’t expect India to walk away from Russia unless…

A former Biden administration official has publicly cautioned Washington against expecting India to abandon its ties with Russia The statement reflects the B...

GS Paper 2 (India's foreign policy India-US relations India-Russia relations strategic autonomy) International Relations Internal Security 4m
18

Congress MP Manish Tewari questions alleged 2020 China Nuclear Test amid COVID-19, Galwan tensions

Congress MP Manish Tewari raised questions in Parliament about a Washington Post report alleging that China conducted a low-yield nuclear explosive test on J...

GS2 (International Relations nuclear treaties India's security doctrine) International Relations Internal Security 5m
18

Simultaneous polls panel weighs bar on no-confidence motions in final year of government’s term

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 on simultaneous elections is considering a proposal to bar no...

GS Paper 2 Polity & Governance 5m
18

Intense U.S. naval, air power buildup sets stage for potential Iran war

The United States assembled its largest concentration of naval and air power in the Middle East in decades, deploying two aircraft carrier strike groups — US...

GS2 (International Relations India's security interests) GS3 (Internal Security — maritime security) International Relations 5m
18

California builds AI oversight unit and presses on xAI investigation

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the creation of an AI oversight, accountability, and regulation program within his office — one of the first ...

GS3 GS2 Science & Technology Polity & Governance 6m
18

Zelenskyy says Trump exerting undue pressure on him

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly stated that the US was applying undue pressure on Ukraine over the terms of a potential ceasefire and minera...

GS2 (International Relations bilateral agreements geopolitical dynamics) International Relations 4m
18

What the scrapping of reservation means for Muslims in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government cancelled the 2014 decision that had granted 5% reservation to socially and educationally backward Muslims in the State — a quota ...

GS1 GS2 Polity & Governance Social Issues 6m
18

Iran, Russia to conduct joint drills in the Sea of Oman

Iran and Russia announced and subsequently launched joint naval exercises in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, hosted by Iran's First Naval Regi...

GS Paper 2 (international security India's neighbourhood Indian Ocean region) GS Paper 3 (internal security maritime security) International Relations Internal Security 4m
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In new flip, Trump attacks U.K. on base deal as U.S. mulls Iran attack

US President Donald Trump publicly challenged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to proceed with the Chagos Islands sovereignty deal with Mauritius, d...

GS2 (International Relations bilateral groupings effect of policies of developed countries on India's interests) International Relations 4m
18

NIMHANS study demonstrates promise in intranasal therapy for Parkinson’s disease

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, have demonstrated a novel intranasal therapy strategy for Par...

GS Paper 3 Science & Technology 5m
18

U.S. energy chief says IEA must 'drop' focus on climate change

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright urged the International Energy Agency (IEA) at its ministerial meeting in Paris to abandon its work on climate change and re...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Environment & Ecology 4m
18

Iran upbeat after U.S. talks but Vance says 'red lines' not met

Iran and the US concluded a round of Omani-mediated nuclear talks in Geneva, with both sides reporting some progress but diverging on the outcome. Iran said ...

GS Paper 2 International Relations 5m
18

Bangladesh reform agenda wins voters’ backing, but rifts remain among parties

Bangladesh held a constitutional referendum alongside the February 12, 2026 general election, with 68% voting "Yes" on a turnout of 60%, approving the reform...

GS Paper 2 International Relations Polity & Governance 5m
18

Bill passed allowing voter registration in PR institutions four times a year

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly unanimously passed an amendment to the Andhra Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, allowing voter registration in Panchayat Ra...

GS2 (Panchayati Raj Elections Democratic Participation) Polity & Governance 5m
18

NGT Orders joint probe into quarry impact on Tata Cancer Hospital due to illegal mining

The National Green Tribunal's (NGT) Western Zone Bench — comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr. Sujit Kumar Bajpayee — ordered a joint f...

GS3 (Environment) GS2 (Governance) Environment & Ecology Polity & Governance 5m
18

PRESIDENT OF INDIA WITNESSES INTERNATIONAL FLEET REVIEW AT VISAKHAPATNAM

President Droupadi Murmu, in her capacity as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, reviewed the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 off the coast of Visak...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Internal Security 4m
18

Iran 'drafting framework to advance' future U.S. talks: FM tells IAEA chief

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi that Iran is "focused on drafting an initial and coherent framework to advan...

GS Paper 2 International Relations 6m
18

U.S. and Uzbekistan sign critical minerals pact

The US and Uzbekistan signed a "Joint Investment Framework" between the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Uzbekistan to advance stra...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 5m
18

Maharashtra govt cancels Muslim quota: AIMIM alleges discrimination in jobs, education

The Maharashtra government formally cancelled the administrative framework for a 5% reservation for socially and educationally backward Muslim communities (S...

GS2 (Reservation Fundamental Rights Social Justice Governance) Polity & Governance Social Issues 5m
18

Bengaluru firm unveils two AI language models

Bengaluru-based AI startup Sarvam AI launched two large language models -- Sarvam-30B (30 billion parameters) and Sarvam-105B (105 billion parameters) -- at ...

GS Paper 3 Science & Technology 4m
18

Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh to launch Access pass for Fishing in Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) at Veraval, Gujarat

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, launched the digital Access Pass for Fishing in India's Exclusive Econo...

GS3 Economics Polity & Governance 4m
18

Biennial Elections to the Council of States to fill the seats of members retiring in April, 2026

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced biennial elections to fill 37 seats in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), as the terms of 37 members from ...

GS2 (Parliament Constitutional Provisions Electoral System) Polity & Governance 5m
18

Trade liberalization to boost India’s farm exports, says Niti Aayog’s Ramesh Chand

NITI Aayog Member Ramesh Chand stated that the India-US trade deal will enhance India's agriculture exports, increase farmer income, and help India maintain ...

GS Paper III (Indian Economy Agriculture External Trade) Economics 4m
18

Watch: Iran partially shuts Strait of Hormuz, State media broadcasts military drills

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted live-fire military drills in the Strait of Hormuz on February 17, 2026, partially closing parts of ...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Internal Security 4m
18

WAVES 2025

The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, organized by India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB), was held from 1 to 4 May ...

GS Paper 1 GS Paper 3 Art & Culture Economics 5m
18

Allocation of Rs. 5.01 lakh crore reported for welfare of women and girls in the gender budget statement of FY 2026-27,an increase of Rs. 11.55% over the GBS allocation of Rs. 4.49 lakh crore in FY 2025-26

The Gender Budget Statement (GBS) for FY 2026-27 reports an allocation of Rs 5.01 lakh crore for welfare of women and girls, an increase of 11.55% over the R...

GS Paper I (Social Issues) GS Paper III (Government Budgeting) Social Issues Economics 4m
18

President of Serbia meets Prime Minister

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 18, 2026 The meeting took place on the sideli...

GS Paper 2 (India's foreign policy bilateral relations multilateral diplomacy) International Relations 4m
18

India–UK Offshore Wind Taskforce Launched; Shri Pralhad Joshi Calls It a ‘Trustforce’ for Accelerating Strategic Clean Energy Cooperation

India and the United Kingdom jointly launched the India–UK Offshore Wind Taskforce on 18 February 2026, with Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pral...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Environment & Ecology Economics 4m
18

Maharashtra scraps Muslim quota, opposition protests

The Maharashtra government formally cancelled the 5% reservation for Muslims in government and semi-government jobs as well as educational institutions throu...

GS Paper 2 Polity & Governance Social Issues 5m
18

India’s merchandise imports from Russia plunge over 40% in January as crude purchases slump

India's merchandise imports from Russia fell 40.48% to $2.86 billion in January 2026, down from $4.81 billion in January 2025. Petroleum crude, which typical...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 4m
18

India's sugar output likely to reduce

India's sugar production for the 2025-26 season has been revised downward by 4.4% to approximately 28.3 million tonnes (from an earlier estimate of 29.6 mill...

GS3 (Agriculture Food Security Government Regulation) Economics Geography 5m
18

Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi Visits ISA Pavilion at India AI Impact Summit

Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi visited the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Pavilion at the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat...

GS3 (Environment Energy International Relations) Science & Technology International Relations 4m
18

Power Minister Shri Manohar Lal inaugurates Ministry of Power Pavilion at AI Impact Summit 2026

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the Ministry of Power Pavilion at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (16-21 February ...

GS Paper 3 Science & Technology Polity & Governance 5m
18

Tamil Nadu report wants governors 'defanged'

A high-level committee led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph submitted a 387-page report to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on 16 Feb...

GS Paper 2 Polity & Governance 5m
18

Pahalgam attack fallout: CRPF sets up 43 temporary bases in J&K

Following the April 22, 2025 terror attack at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam — which killed 26 tourists — the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has establis...

GS3 (Internal Security Insurgency Border Management) Internal Security 5m
18

AI summit sees rollout of P2P power trading

India's first interstate peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading platform was launched at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on February 18, 2026. The Po...

GS Paper III (Infrastructure: Energy Science & Technology) Science & Technology Economics 5m
18

Expanding strategic partnership between Finland and India across advanced technology domains highlighted at India AI Impact Summit 2026

A session titled "Building Sovereign Deep Tech for a Resilient Future" at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 highlighted the expanding India-Finland partnership...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Science & Technology 4m
18

Modi-Macron meet: PM says no boundaries to partnership with France

India and France elevated their bilateral relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership during President Macron's fourth visit to India on February ...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics Science & Technology 4m
18

FCI signs MoU with WFP to supply rice to support eradication of global hunger

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to supply 2 lakh ton...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 5m
18

India–US deal under fire as kisan bodies call it ‘anti-farmer’, urge President to stop it

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a coalition of over 100 farm organisations, condemned the India-US Interim Trade Agreement framework as a "total surrender" o...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 Economics International Relations 5m
18

Prime Minister of Finland meets Prime Minister Modi

Finnish PM Petteri Orpo met PM Modi on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Expo 2026 in New Delhi. Both leaders set a target to double bilateral trade betwe...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Science & Technology 4m
18

Ukraine war talks in Geneva end without agreement on territory

Trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US concluded in Geneva on 18 February 2026 after two days of negotiations, ending without a breakthrough on...

GS Paper 2 International Relations 5m
18

Google unveils India-US subsea cable initiative, USD 30 mn AI science challenge, new skilling push

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the "America–India Connect" initiative at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi — a new strategic subsea cable to improve...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 Science & Technology International Relations Economics 4m
18

India-Canada FTA: Countries may finalise terms of reference for trade pact talks next month

India and Canada are expected to finalise Terms of Reference (ToR) for initiating free trade agreement negotiations during Canadian PM Mark Carney's upcoming...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 4m
18

India keen to diversify crude oil, coking coal sources; eyes high-quality US supplies: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated India's intent to diversify its crude oil and coking coal import sources, expressing specific interest in ...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 Economics International Relations 4m
18

Indo-US trade deal may hurt Punjab's farmers: Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa

Opposition political leaders and farmer unions in Punjab raised concerns that the proposed India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) could expose Punjab's far...

GS2 (International Relations Social Justice) GS3 (Agriculture Trade Policy Employment) Economics International Relations 6m
18

Niramala Sitharaman pitches India as a growth hotspot to Norwegian CEOs, eyes deeper trade ties

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Oslo on 17-18 February 2026 and met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold ...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Economics 5m
18

Opposition targets govt over Chinese robot row, slams IT Minister

Galgotias University (Greater Noida) was ordered to vacate its pavilion at India's AI Impact Summit 2026 after one of its representatives publicly claimed a ...

GS Paper 3 Science & Technology Polity & Governance 5m
18

India well positioned, no impediments: Pichai on when next global AI champion can emerge from India

At the India AI Impact Summit (February 18, 2026, Bharat Mandapam), Google CEO Sundar Pichai asserted that India is "well positioned" with "no impediments" t...

GS3 (Science & Technology Indian Economy) Science & Technology Economics 4m
18

Gujarat govt presents Rs 4.08 lakh crore Budget; big push to tourism, sports infrastructure

Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai presented the state's Budget for 2026-27 with a total outlay of Rs 4,08,053 crore — an increase of Rs 37,803 crore (1...

GS2 (Federalism State Finances) GS3 (Infrastructure Sports) Economics Polity & Governance 5m
18

Exclusion of “New India Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai” from the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934

The Reserve Bank of India excluded New India Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai from the Second Schedule to the RBI Act, 1934, via Notification CO.DOR.RAUG.No.S7...

GS Paper III (Indian Economy Banking) Economics 5m
18

Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlights India’s AI potential, announces US-India connectivity initiative

Google CEO Sundar Pichai addressed the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (February 18, 2026) and met Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines....

GS3 (Science & Technology Indian Economy Infrastructure) Science & Technology Economics 4m
18

Text of PM’s speech during inauguration of India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated the India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai on 17 February 2026, declar...

GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3 International Relations Science & Technology 5m
18

Unique Transaction Identifier for OTC Derivative Transactions

The Reserve Bank of India issued notification RBI/2025-26/222 on 18 February 2026, mandating the use of a Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for all over-th...

GS Paper 3 Economics 5m
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