Economy & Finance
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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.
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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.
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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.
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SEBI has granted approval to the National Stock Exchange (NSE) for the launch of futures contracts based on Indian Natural Gas.
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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.
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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.
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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
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The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the PM RAHAT scheme, designed to provide guaranteed treatment and hospitalization for road accident victims.
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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.
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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
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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
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The inaugural global AI summit hosted by the Global South, the AI Impact Summit 2026, is currently underway at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
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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.
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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.
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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
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India secured a victory against
Month: Current Affairs - February 19, 2026
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