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19 February 2026 Current Affairs

Feb 19, 2026

Economy & Finance

  • According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) by the National Statistics Office, India's urban unemployment rate climbed to a three-month high of 5% in January 2026.

  • The wholesale price-based inflation in India accelerated to a 10-month peak of 1.81% in January 2026, a significant jump from 0.83% recorded in December 2025.

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a proposal mandating that AD Cat-I banks report all OTC foreign exchange and interest rate derivative contracts.

  • SEBI has granted approval to the National Stock Exchange (NSE) for the launch of futures contracts based on Indian Natural Gas.

  • The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the establishment of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0), allocating a substantial corpus of ₹10,000 crore.

  • Final guidelines for External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) were released by the RBI, with the aim of streamlining and rationalizing the fundraising process through this route.

  • A significant 230% increase in grants to Urban Local Bodies was announced by the 16th Finance Commission, allocating ₹3.56 trillion for the 2025-30 period.

Government Schemes & Policy

  • The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the PM RAHAT scheme, designed to provide guaranteed treatment and hospitalization for road accident victims.

  • A new Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) with a massive outlay of ₹1 lakh crore was approved by the Union Cabinet to bolster and strengthen urban infrastructure across the country.

  • The Ministry of Education is planning to integrate AI tools into the school curriculum, spanning from pre-primary to higher secondary levels, starting the next academic session.

Infrastructure & Development

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated a series of key infrastructure projects in Assam, with a total investment exceeding ₹5,450 crore, to enhance connectivity in the Northeast.

International Relations & Events

  • The inaugural global AI summit hosted by the Global South, the AI Impact Summit 2026, is currently underway at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

  • At the India Artificial Intelligence Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda is set to unveil two new initiatives named SAHI and BODH.

  • Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla traveled to Dhaka to represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh's newly formed government on February 17, 2026.

  • The Henley Passport Index for 2026 has been released by Henley & Partners, ranking the strength of 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

Sports News

  • India secured a victory against Pakistan in a crucial Group A match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

  • Star Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has been honored with the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025 award, recognizing her pivotal role in India's Women’s World Cup triumph.

  • J&K's captain, Paras Dogra, achieved a monumental feat in domestic cricket, becoming the latest player to surpass 10,000 runs in his Ranji Trophy career during the semi-final match against Bengal.

Appointments, Resignations & Passings

  • Ramalingam Sudhakar has concluded his tenure and demitted office as the President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

  • The film industry mourns the loss of renowned Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall, who passed away at the age of 95 in Middleburg.

Science, Defence & Environment

  • Debris identified as belonging to ISRO, marked with the agency's logo and the national emblem, was discovered on Kunahandhoo island in the Maldives back in December 2025.

  • The Indian Navy's iconic sail training ship, INS Tarangini, is among the key vessels participating in the International Fleet Review 2026 and the multinational MILAN exercise, which began in Visakhapatnam on February 18.

  • For the prototype development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), DRDO has selected Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and a consortium of Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Forge.

  • A new species of Diplura, named  Lepidocampa sikkimensis , was discovered by scientists from the Zoological Survey of India in the Eastern Himalayas.

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