Asia Current Affairs One-liners — All time

Thu, 19 Feb 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.
• French shipping major CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) signed a contract in New Delhi on 18 February 2026 for six 1,700 TEU LNG-fuelled feeder container vessels to be built in Kochi, Kerala.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful qualification level load test of the drogue parachute for the Gaganyaan programme at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of TBRL, Chandigarh, on 18 February 2026.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain, in New Delhi on 18 February 2026 during his official visit for the AI Impact Summit.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the 152nd birth anniversary celebrations of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur as chief guest in Nadia, West Bengal, on 18 February 2026.
• The Digital India BHASHINI Division launched VoicERA, an open-source, end-to-end voice AI stack, on the BHASHINI National Language Infrastructure at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 18 February 2026.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Sub-Committee on GRAP revoked all Stage-II actions across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect on 18 February 2026 as Delhi's air quality improved.
• Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 18 February 2026 that India had set the Guinness World Records title for the most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours.
• New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi addressed the launch of the India–UK Offshore Wind Taskforce on 18 February 2026, in the presence of UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.

Tue, 17 Feb 2026

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Phase 1 of the AI-based 'Bharat-VISTAAR' scheme for farmers in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 17 February 2026.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.