17 February 2026 Current Affairs

Delhi CM Skill Development Scheme

Targets artisans linked to:

• Khadi

• Handloom

• Cottage industries

Core objective:

• Traditional sector modernisation.

• Livelihood & MSME support.

Exam relevance:
✔ Informal sector skilling
✔ Heritage industries & employment
✔ Inclusive growth policies

Administrative Reforms

Seva Teerth Inauguration – New Delhi

Launched by Prime Minister.

Significance:

• Focus on governance modernisation.

• Institutional capacity & public service delivery.

GS-II linkage:
✔ Administrative reforms
✔ Governance efficiency initiatives

Women Empowerment & Social Welfare

Kerala – Sthree Suraksha Scheme

Aims at women’s safety & social security.

Exam relevance:
✔ Gender-sensitive governance
✔ Welfare-state innovations
✔ Social protection architecture

Financial Inclusion & Digital Payments

DFS Report – RuPay & BHIM-UPI Incentive Scheme

Evaluates socio-economic impact of promoting:

• RuPay Debit Cards

• Low-value UPI transactions

Key relevance:
✔ Digital payments adoption
✔ Cashless economy policy tools
✔ Financial behaviour shifts

Banking & Institutional Capacity Building

IOB – IIM Kozhikode Partnership

Customised executive training programmes.

Why important:

• Strengthens managerial capacity in PSBs.

Exam angle:
✔ Banking governance reforms
✔ Human capital development

Key Appointments & Leadership

✔ ICAI President → Prasanna Kumar D
✔ GAIL CMD → Deepak Gupta
✔ GIFT City Chairman → Uday Kotak
✔ AU Small Finance Bank MD & CEO → Sanjay Agarwal (Reappointed)
✔ Bulgaria Interim PM → Andrey Gyurov

Exam relevance:

• Institutional leadership questions

• Banking & corporate governance