February 19, 2026
75 articles published on this date
'After World War II..., AI will shape the new world order': PM Modi at AI Impact Summit
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, held from February 16–20, 2026, drawing participation from over 1...
India pitch at AI impact summit 2026: Democratising AI, respecting sovereignty
India hosted the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from February 16–21, 2026 — the first global AI summit held by a Global South nation The...
India to produce rare-earth magnets by year-end, four states identified for critical mineral processing
India is in discussions with the US and France to build alternative critical minerals supply chains, reducing dependence on China Rare-earth permanent magnet...
Govt forms panel for PFC, REC merger
The Ministry of Power constituted two oversight panels on February 19, 2026, to guide the proposed merger of Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and REC Limited ...
India AI Impact Summit: Flood alerts, speech synthesis to waste segregation, IITs focus wide and deep
The India AI Impact Summit was held in New Delhi from February 16–20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 19 al...
‘Right-sizing’ federalism: Tamil Nadu panel headed by Justice Kurian Joseph calls for changes in language policy, Governor post
A high-level committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph has submitted a comprehensive report to the Tamil Nadu Government recommending ...
Bihar’s ‘last Naxal’: Surrender that ‘brought Maoist activity to end’ in the stats
Suresh Koda (alias Mustakim), described as Bihar's last active armed Maoist, surrendered before the Bihar Police's Special Task Force (STF) and the DIG of Mu...
At Delhi AI Impact Summit 2026, PM Modi unveils ‘MANAV’ vision for artificial intelligence
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from February 16–20, 2026, drawing over 20 heads of state and more than 500 AI leaders...
As terrorists shift base to mountains and dense forests, a weekly security review to bring Jammu and Kashmir closer
A Joint Control Centre has been established to conduct weekly security review meetings in Jammu and Kashmir, chaired by the Northern Army Commander (Lt Gen P...
Right to life includes dignity: Gauhati High Court tells Assam govt to help 600 evicted families
The Gauhati High Court (Justice Devashish Baruah) directed the Assam government and Goalpara district administration to immediately provide basic amenities —...
The chemistry, economics and strategic convergence of Delhi’s tango with Paris
India and France elevated their bilateral relationship to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership" during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Mumb...
Kunal Kamra summoned by Privileges Committee: Why, what are its powers?
Comedian Kunal Kamra was summoned by the Privileges Committee of the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) in connection with a breach of privilege notice fi...
Former South Korean President Yoon receives life sentence for imposing martial law
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison on February 19, 2026, by a Seoul court for rebellion — the most serious criminal ...
Tehran reenters the global geopolitical spotlight
Iran has re-emerged as a central actor in global geopolitics in early 2026, simultaneously facing US military pressure, nuclear negotiation deadlines, and ac...
Privacy and transparency: On the RTI Act amendment, petitions
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, through Section 44(3), has amended Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, removi...
FCI to supply 200,000 tonnes of rice to World Food Programme
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the World Food Programme (WFP) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 18, 2026, for the sup...
India joins 100 countries in signing statement criticising Israel’s West Bank plans
India formally endorsed a joint statement signed by over 100 countries and international organisations criticising Israel's unilateral measures in the West B...
Chinese walnuts in the guise of Afghan in dry fruit container ship detained by Indian Customs at Nhava Sheva Port
Indian Customs at Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai) detained the Comoros-flagged vessel MV WIV Reyfa on February 1, 2026, carrying 309–310 containe...
Maize now accounts for close to half of ethanol produced in India
Maize has become the single largest feedstock for India's ethanol production, accounting for approximately 48% of total ethanol output during the Ethanol Sup...
Concerns over South-West monsoon outlook as APEC Climate Centre issues El Nino watch
The APEC Climate Centre (APCC), the apex climate prediction body for the Asia-Pacific region, has issued an El Nino watch, warning that drought-bearing El Ni...
Are Indian firms intent on moving to Venezuelan oil? | Explained
Following President Trump's public claim that India would shift from Russian oil to Venezuelan crude, Indian firms have begun evaluating Venezuelan oil impor...
Fishing in India’s EEZ to require Access Pass; framework launch at Veraval in Gujarat
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh launched the Access Pass for Fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on February 20, 2026, at Veraval, Gujarat — f...
Russia urges restraint as U.S. builds up military assets near Iran
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called on Iran and "all parties in the region" to exercise restraint and caution as US military assets moved toward the Middl...
From silence to statement: India’s stand on Israel’s West Bank actions
India added its name to a joint statement by over 100 countries and international organisations condemning Israel's unilateral measures in the West Bank The ...
India attends Trump's Board of Peace meeting as observer nation
India attended the inaugural meeting of Trump's Board of Peace in Washington D.C. on February 19, 2026, choosing the status of observer rather than full memb...
India AI Summit 2026 Day 4 Highlights: Switzerland looks forward to hosting 2027 AI Summit in Geneva, says President Parmelin
PM Modi unveiled the "MANAV Vision" for human-centric AI at the summit's Day 4, urging global leaders to work on a roadmap for responsible AI impact. Swiss P...
Satellite images show Iran repairing and fortifying sites amid U.S. tensions
Satellite images obtained by analysts and reported widely in mid-February 2026 show Iran conducting active repair and fortification work at multiple sensitiv...
Rafale deal: Macron backs Indian manufacturing, job creation
India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France in a deal estimated at Rs 3.25 lakh crore (~$40 bil...
The ASHA worker’s mental health paradox
ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers are being trained to identify depression and prevent suicides in rural communities — but there is no systema...
India likely to join US-led strategic alliance 'Pax Silica' on Friday
India formally joined the Pax Silica initiative, a US-led strategic alliance aimed at building secure, resilient supply chains for semiconductors, critical m...
Storage in all Indian regions drops below 75% of capacity
Storage levels in all five Indian regions (Northern, Eastern, Western, Central, Southern) have dropped below 75% of their combined capacity, according to Cen...
Iran, U.S. boost military posture as West Asia remains on edge
The US has deployed an unprecedented dual-carrier military force in the West Asia region, with the USS Abraham Lincoln operating in the Arabian Sea and the U...
Integral Coach Factory rolls out India’s first 15-car EMU rake
The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai has rolled out India's first 15-car Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) rake The new rake is designed for the Mumbai sub...
‘Technology with humanity’: French President Macron pitches for inclusive AI future
French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, called for inclusive and cooperative development of artificial int...
Supreme Court takes up suo motu case to strengthen Bar bodies
The Supreme Court has directed stakeholders to formulate agreed terms of reference in suo motu proceedings titled "Re: Strengthening and Enhancing the Instit...
Embraer and Mahindra eye India MRO hub if C-390 wins IAF contract
Brazil's Embraer and India's Mahindra Group announced plans to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India for the C-390 Millennium ...
In Delhi for AI Summit, Dutch PM Schoof calls for global collaboration on AI, minus US & China
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, called for worldwide AI collaboration that deliberately excludes th...
Macron asks India to join the coalition to make the internet and social media safe for children, pitches for inclusive AI
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, urged India to join a growing coalition of natio...
Iran says no country can deprive it of enrichment rights
Iran's atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami stated that "no country can deprive Iran of the right to peacefully benefit from nuclear technology" and that Iran...
RE to account for over one-fourth of India’s power generation by March 2026
Infomerics Ratings projected that renewable energy will account for 26% of India's total power generation by the end of FY2026 (March 2026) Electricity deman...
IEA Meeting Ends Without Unity as US Pushes to Scrap Net Zero
The 2026 IEA Ministerial Meeting in Paris ended without a unified communique for the first time in nine years, issuing only a "chair's summary" instead. US E...
Govt identifies L1 insurers for Restructured Weather Crop Insurance Scheme in J&K
The government has identified L1 (lowest bidder) insurers for the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) in Jammu & Kashmir In Kashmir div...
SC criticises freebie culture, says might hamper economic growth
The Supreme Court delivered a rebuke against the prevalent culture of indiscriminate welfare distribution by state governments The judges observed that such ...
India to commence production of rare-earth permanent magnet within this year: Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy
Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy announced that India will commence production of Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs) by the end of 2026 The government plans ...
Pakistan issues demarche to Taliban regime over use of Afghan soil for terror attack
Pakistan's Foreign Office summoned the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission on February 18 and delivered a formal demarche to the Taliban regime over a terror attac...
Government to upskill, reskill IT workforce amid AI challenges: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 (February 19-20, New Delhi) that the government is working with industry and ...
Koraput tribal farmers send ginger and Kalajeera rice to Karnataka, Punjab and Haryana
Tribal farmers from Koraput district, Odisha, have sent consignments of ginger and GI-tagged Kalajeera rice to Karnataka, Punjab, and Haryana The initiative ...
Trump ‘Board of Peace’ opens with money and troops for Gaza
The inaugural meeting of Trump's "Board of Peace" was held on February 19, 2026, with over 20 leaders or foreign ministers of member nations attending Trump ...
PM Tarique Rahman vows to turn Bangladesh into safe land for people of all faiths
Newly elected Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in his first televised address to the nation, vowed to make Bangladesh "a safe land for every citizen...
Embraer, Mahindra Grp plan to set up MRO facility for C-390 Millennium aircraft in India
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer and the Mahindra Group announced plans to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India for the C-390...
Trying to bridge the gap between warring communities: Manipur CM
Manipur CM attended a programme to distribute benefits worth Rs 33 crore to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by ethnic violence since May 2023 Th...
UN Sudan probe finds 'hallmarks of genocide' in El-Fasher
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan found that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed acts bearing "hallmarks of genocide" duri...
India's agri products, auto exports making greater inroads in EU
India's automotive exports to the EU surged from USD 1.6 billion to USD 2.2 billion in April-December 2025, with the EU's share rising from 9.8% to 11.6% of ...
Israeli forces and Hamas committed atrocity crimes in Gaza, UN report says
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report finding that both Israeli forces and Hamas committed atrocity crimes during...
Trump presses Iran to make ‘meaningful’ deal, appears to set 10-day deadline
US President Donald Trump set a 10-15 day deadline for Iran to reach a "meaningful" nuclear deal, warning that "bad things" would happen if no agreement mate...
Discussions for India's full membership of IEA underway
Discussions for India's full membership of the International Energy Agency (IEA) are under way, following India's formal request in October 2023. India joine...
Trump ‘grasping for excuses' to slap ‘outrageous’ tariffs on India — US lawmaker says ‘ally’ singled out
US Congressman Brad Sherman (Democrat, California), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Financial Services Committee, accused Pr...
A temporary relief from bonded labour
The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 has completed 50 years since its enactment, prompting a reassessment of its effectiveness An investigation in ...
Nothing but appeasement: SC slams freebies before polls
The Supreme Court on February 19, 2026, sharply criticised state governments for rolling out freebie schemes on the eve of elections, calling it "nothing but...
India calls for deeper cooperation in R&D, biotech, pharma with Switzerland
India called for enhanced collaboration with Switzerland in research and development, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical innovation during high-level bilatera...
India-France to set up National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Kanpur
PM Modi announced the establishment of an India-France National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at the National Skill Tra...
No reason to believe India has changed stance on purchasing crude oil: Russia’s foreign ministry
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on February 18 that Moscow sees "no reason to believe" India has changed its stance on purchasi...
Spotlight: Sandalwood: An expensive fragrance
India, once the world's leading producer of sandalwood, has been displaced by Australia as the top producer The Union Budget 2026-27 announced that the Centr...
Access pass for fishing in India's EEZ to be launched in Gujarat's Veraval
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying) launched the Access Pass for fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zon...
Major FTAs done; focus now on their effective utilisation
India has signed over 18 comprehensive Free Trade Agreements, with six concluded in the past four years alone (UAE, Australia, EFTA, UK, Oman, and New Zealan...
India-EU FTA to open new avenues for trade, investment: PM Modi, Greek counterpart
PM Modi met Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Both leaders agreed that the India-EU Free Trade A...
EC asks 22 states, UTs to prepare for next phase of SIR expected in April
The Election Commission of India (ECI) directed Chief Electoral Officers of 22 states and Union Territories to finalise preparations for the next phase of th...
Ambani, Adani pledge USD 210 bn for India’s AI push
At the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Mukesh Ambani announced a Rs 10 lakh crore (~USD 110 billion) investment in AI infrastructure over seven years, i...
EC directs 23 states, UTs to prep for SIR rollout
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed Chief Electoral Officers across 23 states and Union Territories to expedite preparatory work for a Specia...
In Srinagar, Himachal CM Sukhu warns India-US trade deal to hit apple growers in J&K, HP
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, speaking in Srinagar, warned that the India-US interim trade deal will adversely affect apple, almond...
Modi calls for inclusive AI, unveils MANAV framework
Prime Minister Modi unveiled India's "MANAV Vision" at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, presenting a five-point framework for ethical, inclusive...
Leading AI firms, Indian innovators make ‘New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments’: Vaishnaw
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the "New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments" at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Leading global AI comp...
1st time after Manipur violence, CM gets Kukis and Meiteis on 1 platform
Manipur's Chief Minister virtually addressed displaced Meitei and Kuki-Zo families simultaneously for the first time since ethnic violence erupted in May 202...
Labour codes: Nearly two dozen employer compliances listed
The Labour and Employment Ministry has prepared a list of nearly two dozen compliances for employers under the four new labour codes The compliances are cate...
Terror, new challenges need all navies to join hands, says Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 13th edition of Exercise MILAN 2026 at Visakhapatnam on February 19, with participation from 74 nations The ex...