Current Affairs One-liners — Last 12 months

Sat, 21 Feb 2026

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) concluded SANVAD 2026, its first Scholars' Assembly for Next-gen Ventures to Advance their Development, at ICMR–National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, on 21 February 2026.

Fri, 20 Feb 2026

• The India AI Impact Summit 2026 concluded at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 20 February 2026 with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact and over $250 billion in AI infrastructure investment pledges.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the ₹6,839-crore Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) at Nathanpur village in Cachar district, Assam, on 20 February 2026.
• The Indian Navy assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) from the Royal Thai Navy at the 9th Conclave of Chiefs in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 20 February 2026, returning to the helm after 16 years.
• Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh launched the Access Pass for fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for all 13 coastal states and UTs at Veraval, Gujarat, on 20 February 2026.
• The National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government at the India AI Impact Summit on 20 February 2026 to set up India's first dedicated Quantum and AI university campus in Amaravati.
• India formally joined the Pax Silica coalition with the United States on the fifth day of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on 20 February 2026.
• Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal launched seven additional interventions under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) for MSME exporters in New Delhi on 20 February 2026, making 10 of its 11 proposed interventions operational.
• The Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) revised the base year of India's Merchandise Trade Indices from FY 2012-13 to FY 2022-23, the Commerce Ministry announced on 20 February 2026.
• Manipur BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte, who was injured in May 2023 during the ethnic violence in the state, died at a hospital in Gurugram on 20 February 2026.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka in New Delhi on 20 February 2026, on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) issued Statutory Direction No. 97 on 20 February 2026 to strengthen dust control and demolition waste management at construction sites across Delhi-NCR.

Thu, 19 Feb 2026

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 19 February 2026 and set out the M.A.N.A.V. vision for artificial intelligence.
• A study led by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, using fossils from the Ashoka Coal Mine in Jharkhand's North Karanpura Basin, has reconstructed a Gondwanan ecosystem of about 300 million years ago, the Department of Science and Technology announced on 19 February 2026.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Indian Navy's multilateral Exercise MILAN 2026 at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 19 February 2026, with navy chiefs and delegations from 74 countries.
• Researchers at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, have developed a sulfur-vacancy-induced 1T-phase molybdenum disulfide (1T-MoS₂) cathode for aqueous zinc-ion batteries, the Department of Science and Technology announced on 19 February 2026.
• Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments at the opening ceremony of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 19 February 2026.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the leaders of Greece, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Abu Dhabi in New Delhi on 19 February 2026, on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit, and welcomed Switzerland's initiative to host the next AI summit, to be followed by the UAE.
• The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day in New Delhi on 19 February 2026, where Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram released the NCST Handbook.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation said on 19 February 2026 that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has downloaded the flight data recorder of the Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) that crashed at Baramati, Maharashtra, on 28 January 2026.
• Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released Shashi Tharoor's book 'The Sage who Reimagined Hinduism: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru' at the India International Centre, New Delhi, on 19 February 2026.
• Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon, Lok Sabha MP from Shillong, Meghalaya, died on 19 February 2026 after a cardiac arrest, having collapsed while playing football on the outskirts of Shillong.
• President Droupadi Murmu received Estonian President Alar Karis at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 19 February 2026, on his first visit to India as President, for the India AI Impact Summit.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti on 19 February 2026, calling him a visionary leader, exceptional administrator, strategic thinker and champion of Swarajya.

Wed, 18 Feb 2026

• President Droupadi Murmu reviewed the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 off Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 18 February 2026, with participation from 74 countries.
• Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on 18 February 2026 that Gamini, a South African cheetah, had given birth to three cubs at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, taking India's cheetah population to 38.
• The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding on 18 February 2026 for the supply of rice for global humanitarian operations.
• The Election Commission of India announced on 18 February 2026 biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats from 10 states, with polling and counting on 16 March 2026.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in New Delhi on 18 February 2026 on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit.
• Health Minister J. P. Nadda and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH) at AIIMS, New Delhi, on 18 February 2026.