Current Affairs — 17 February 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Tue, 17 Feb 2026
India and France elevate ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership; Modi and Macron launch Year of Innovation in Mumbai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron elevated India–France relations to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' and jointly inaugurated the 2026 India–France Year of Innovation in Mumbai on 17 February 2026.
NHAI to develop first-of-its-kind 'Bee Corridors' along National Highways
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced on 17 February 2026 a first-of-its-kind initiative to develop pollinator or 'Bee Corridors' along National Highways.
Om Birla represents India at swearing-in of Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman; hands over PM Modi's invitation
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla represented India at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on 17 February 2026.
PM announces India–France National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics at NSTI Kanpur under PM-SETU
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Kanpur, with France, during the joint press statement with President Macron in Mumbai on 17 February 2026.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches AI-based Bharat-VISTAAR Phase 1 for farmers in Jaipur
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Phase 1 of the AI-based 'Bharat-VISTAAR' scheme for farmers in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 17 February 2026.
Rajnath Singh and Catherine Vautrin co-chair 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue; defence pact renewed for 10 years
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin co-chaired the 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 17 February 2026.
Modi and Macron virtually inaugurate H125 helicopter final assembly line at Vemagal, Karnataka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated, from Mumbai, the Tata Advanced Systems final assembly line of the Airbus H125 light utility helicopter at Vemagal, Karnataka, on 17 February 2026.
J. P. Nadda launches SAHI and BODH initiatives for responsible AI in healthcare
Health Minister J. P. Nadda launched two digital health initiatives, SAHI and BODH, at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 17 February 2026.
Amit Shah holds Manthan Meeting with Cooperation Ministers of all States and UTs in Gandhinagar
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah chaired a Manthan Meeting with the Cooperation Ministers of all States and Union Territories in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 17 February 2026, under the theme 'Sahkar se Samriddhi'.
India to add 20,000 GPUs to its existing 38,000 under the IndiaAI Mission, says Ashwini Vaishnaw
Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on 17 February 2026, the second day of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, that India will add 20,000 GPUs to its existing 38,000 in the coming weeks.
Vice President Radhakrishnan pays tributes to Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur on his death anniversary
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan paid floral tributes to Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur on his death anniversary at Uparashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on 17 February 2026.