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13 February Current Affairs

Feb 13, 2026

🔶 State Finances & Fiscal Policy

Uttar Pradesh Budget 2026–27

  • Total Outlay: ₹9.13 lakh crore

  • Growth: 12.2% increase over previous FY

  • Signals continued emphasis on infrastructure, welfare expenditure, and capital formation .

Exam Relevance:

  • State fiscal expansion strategies

  • Budget size comparison (large states)

  • Growth vs fiscal deficit dynamics

🔶 Governance, Culture & National Identity

First Formal Protocol for National Song – Vande Mataram

  • Issued by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

  • Establishes official guidelines governing usage, rendition, and ceremonial treatment .

Significance:

  • Institutionalisation of national symbols

  • Cultural governance & constitutional sensitivity

Exam Angle:

  • Difference: National Anthem vs National Song

  • Role of executive guidelines in symbolic governance

🔶 Institutions & Productivity

National Productivity Council (NPC) – 68th Foundation Year

  • Highlights focus on efficiency, competitiveness, industrial productivity .

Exam Linkage:

  • Productivity in economic growth

  • Role of advisory institutions

🔶 Transport & Infrastructure Development

Seven New High-Speed Rail Corridors

  • Announced in Union Budget 2026–27

  • Expansion beyond Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor

Strategic Importance:

  • Logistics efficiency

  • Economic corridor integration

  • Regional development acceleration

Exam Relevance:

  • Infrastructure-led growth

  • Multimodal transport policy

🔶 Global Indices & Governance Metrics

Women, Peace & Security (WPS) Index 2025–26

  • Released by Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security + PRIO

  • Measures women’s inclusion, justice, security

Exam Focus:

  • Gender & development indicators

  • Human security frameworks

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025

  • Released by Transparency International

  • Assesses perceived public sector corruption across 182 countries

Exam Relevance:

  • Governance quality metrics

  • Global ranking-based questions

UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report

  • Global Wealth: $15.8 trillion (2025)

  • Growth: 13% YoY increase

Exam Angle:

  • Wealth inequality debates

  • Capital concentration trends

🔶 Banking & Financial Regulation

RBI – UCB Lending Rule Review

  • Focus on:

    • Housing loans

    • Unsecured loan limits

Conceptual Relevance:

  • Cooperative banking risk management

  • Financial stability

RBI Committee – Business Correspondents (BCs)

  • Objective: Strengthen regulatory framework

Exam Linkage:

  • Last-mile financial inclusion

  • Banking correspondents model

Recovery Agent Regulations – RBI Harmonisation

  • Applies to:

    • Banks

    • NBFCs

    • Digital lenders

Significance:

  • Borrower protection

  • Ethical debt recovery practices

Revised Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Guidelines

  • Aim: Strengthen farm-sector credit flow

Exam Relevance:

  • Priority sector lending

  • Agricultural credit architecture

PB Pay –

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