Daily Current Affairs and GK | 20 February 2026

Topic: National News

1. The first-ever European Legal Gateway Office was inaugurated in New Delhi.

• It was inaugurated in the presence of External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen and Director General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Sussane Raab.
• Dr Jaishankar stated that the initiative reflects the growing depth, confidence and maturity of the India–European Union strategic partnership.
• India and the EU are emerging as natural and preferred partners with increasing strategic convergence.
• The roadmap for a shared future was strengthened through progress on the India–EU FTA negotiations and the Security and Defence Partnership.
• The adoption of the “Towards 2030: Joint India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda” was said to have opened a new chapter in bilateral ties.
• The establishment of the Legal Gateway Office was described as a concrete step translating broader understandings into action.
• India’s large young population and rapidly growing skilled workforce were emphasised as major strengths.
• It was observed that India is increasingly contributing to global talent pools in digital, scientific and emerging technologies.
• The initiative was aligned with India’s belief that global challenges require connected societies and cooperative solutions.
• The Legal Gateway Office is expected to further facilitate mobility, legal cooperation and deeper India-EU engagement.

Topic: Personality in News

2. Veteran Actress Pravina Deshpande passed away at 60.

• On 17 February 2026, veteran actress Pravina Deshpande passed away after battling cancer at the age of 60.
• She had built a long and diverse career across Hindi and Marathi films, television, theatre and web series.
• She was known for impactful supporting roles in films such as Ready, Ek Villain, and Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran.
• On television, she became a familiar face through shows like Ghar Ek Mandir, Kumkum, Karam Apnaa Apnaa, and Kulfi Kumar Bajewala.
• Her performances were widely appreciated for emotional depth and quiet strength.
• Her final screen appearance was made in the web series Taskaree.
• She is remembered as a versatile performer who left a lasting mark across multiple entertainment platforms.

Topic: International Appointments

3. Tarique Rahman sworn in as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

• Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh following parliamentary elections.
• The oath of office was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at the Jatiyo Sangsad.
• The ceremony took place hours after the newly elected BNP members were administered the parliamentary oath by Chief Election Commissioner A. M. M. Nasir Uddin.
• Soon after the swearing-in, Prime Minister Rahman met foreign guests, including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
• Rahman, aged 60, had returned to Bangladesh on 25 December 2025 after over fifteen years of exile.
• During his years abroad, he remained based in the United Kingdom while mobilising international support for his party.
• As Prime Minister, he will lead a cabinet consisting of 25 ministers and 24 ministers of state.
• The new government was formed after the BNP’s electoral victory in the February 2026 polls.

Topic: National News

4. Indo-French Centre for AI in Health inaugurated at AIIMS New Delhi.

• On 18 February, the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH) was jointly inaugurated at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
• The Centre was jointly inaugurated by Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare J. P. Nadda and French President Emmanuel Macron.
• The inauguration took place during the high-level Rencontres Universitaires et Scientifiques De Haut Niveau (RUSH) meetings held on 18–19 February 2026.
• The centre was established through a joint MoU involving AIIMS New Delhi, Sorbonne University and Paris Brain Institute, with academic collaboration from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and leading French institutions.
• It has been designed to promote interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence, brain health and global healthcare systems.
• The initiative builds upon ongoing Indo-French cooperation in digital health, antimicrobial resistance and responsible health data use.
• A dedicated session during RUSH, “Indo-French Forum: AI in Brain Health and Global Healthcare”, brought together scientists, clinicians and policymakers from both countries.
• President Macron emphasised the importance of developing sovereign and trusted AI systems.
• He stressed that artificial intelligence must serve humanity with transparency and protection against bias.
• The centre is expected to strengthen medical education, research collaboration and capacity building.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

5. AI-MET White Paper launched at India AI Impact Summit 2026.

• On 18 February, a White Paper Concept on “AI for Manufacturing Engineering Technology (AI-MET) was launched by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
• The document outlines a strategic framework for integrating artificial intelligence into Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MET).
• The high-level convening of industry leaders, global academicians and policymakers was organised by NAMTECH under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Representatives from leading global institutions and technology companies participated in the discussions.
• The white paper proposes coordinated pathways for industry, academia and policymakers to accelerate responsible AI adoption.
• It was emphasised that AI is a foundational pillar in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.
• The initiative aims to enhance productivity, sustainability and global competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.
• Stakeholders highlighted the need for strong industry-academia collaboration and workforce skilling.
• Cybersecurity and shop-floor deployment were identified as critical factors for successful AI integration.
• The discussions positioned AI-driven manufacturing as a key enabler of India’s long-term industrial transformation.

Topic: State News/Haryana

6. Haryana cleared ₹402 crore solar-powered micro-irrigation projects.

• On 18 February, four community-based solar-powered integrated micro irrigation projects worth ₹402.41 crore were approved by Haryana’s State-Level Sanctioning Committee under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
• In a major step towards sustainable farming and scientific water management, projects were approved under the Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA).
• The projects will be implemented across four districts — Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Kurukshetra, and Mahendragarh.
• A total of 61 canal outlets covering 20 blocks will be brought under the initiative.
• The projects are scheduled for completion between 2026–27 and 2028–29.
• Around 11,040 hectares of culturable command area will be covered under advanced micro-irrigation systems.
• Nearly 8,926 farmers across 94 villages are expected to benefit from the scheme.
• The benefit-cost ratio ranging from 1.21:1 to 1.65:1 indicates strong economic viability.
• The initiative aims to improve water-use efficiency through drip and sprinkler irrigation within canal command areas.
• The scheme will run under a beneficiary-driven DBT/in-kind model, letting farmers choose suppliers while subsidies stay within approved limits for flexible and transparent implementation.
• To improve transparency, the MICADA portal will be linked with the GST portal for digital invoice verification, preventing fake or inflated subsidy claims.

Topic: State News/Gujarat

7. Gujarat Shops and Establishments Amendment Bill passed extending work hours and permitting night shifts for women.

• The Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed by the Gujarat Legislative Assembly to extend daily working hours and permit women to work in night shifts.
• This law amends the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019.
• It was stated that the move has been aimed at creating additional employment opportunities while improving overall working conditions in shops and commercial establishments.
• The amendment was adopted unanimously after discussion, and support was extended by the opposition following assurances regarding worker safety and safeguards.
• The Bill was introduced to replace the earlier ordinance that had been promulgated when the House was not in session.
• Under the new provision, women have been allowed to work between 9 pm and 6 am with their consent, subject to strict safety and dignity measures by employers.
• Employers have been mandated to provide facilities such as rest rooms, night crèches, separate toilets and protection against sexual harassment for women employees.
• It has also been made compulsory that transportation from the workplace to residence must be arranged for women working night shifts.
• Another amendment permits employees to work up to 10 hours a day including breaks, replacing the earlier nine-hour limit.
• The overtime ceiling in a quarter has been increased to 144 hours from the previous 125-hour limit to provide operational flexibility.
• The state government has been empowered to regulate or prohibit night employment of women in specified areas through official notification if required for safety.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

8. Mumbai selected to host the Earthshot Prize 2026 in November.

• Mumbai was announced as the host city for the Earthshot Prize 2026, marking the first time the prestigious environmental award will be held in India.
• The decision was revealed during the ongoing Mumbai Climate Week, highlighting India’s growing role in global climate action.
• In 2020, Britain’s Prince Prince William founded the Earthshot Prize to spark collective ambition and action to save the planet.
• It was emphasised that the multi-day event will celebrate global environmental leaders delivering impactful and scalable solutions.
• The 2026 edition will spotlight 15 breakthrough solutions across five categories including Protect and Restore Nature, Clean our Air, Revive our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix our Climate.
• 2025 Earthshot Prize winners (Previous year):

Topic: Sports

9. 6^th National Rafting Championship launched at Shibnote in Jammu and Kashmir.

• The 6th National Rafting Championship titled “The Ultimate River Battle” is being organized at Shibnote in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir from 19 to 22 February.
• The event has been organised to showcase top rafting talent from across the country while simultaneously promoting adventure tourism in the region.
• It was stated that the championship is being conducted against the scenic backdrop of the Chenab River, known for its challenging rapids.
• The competition is expected to attract professional rafting teams, adventure enthusiasts and tourists from different parts of India.
• The Chenab River has been recognised as providing ideal natural conditions for high-level competitive rafting events.
• The championship will test participants on endurance, teamwork and advanced river navigation skills.
• Hosting the national event is being viewed as a major step toward positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a premier adventure tourism destination.
• The initiative has been aligned with broader efforts to promote sustainable and responsible tourism in the Union Territory.

Topic: Important Days

10. World Day of Social Justice 2026: 20 February

• Every year on 20 February the World Day of Social Justice is observed.
• “Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice” is the theme of World Day of Social Justice 2026.
• The day's main aim is to make social justice the primary goal of all national and international policies.
• It reminds us of the need to build fairer, more equitable societies.
• The United Nations General Assembly declared February 20 as the World Day of Social Justice in 2007.
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization on June 10, 2008.
• According to the UN, social development and social justice are necessary for achieving and maintaining peace and security within and among nations.
• Today, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in collaboration with National Law University organised a special programme to observe the World Day of Social Justice.