1) 🇮🇳National Delhi Declaration Adopted: At the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, world leaders formally adopted the 'Delhi Declaration', positioning India as a global leader in responsible AI governance. Bee Corridors on Highways: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched a unique initiative to establish "Bee Corridors" along national highways to promote biodiversity and support pollination. Mizoram Rail Connectivity: The Northeast Frontier Railway announced the commencement of the Silchar–Sairang passenger train service, significantly enhancing rail links to Mizoram. New Species Discovered: Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new species of wingless soil-dwelling micro-arthropod named Lepidocampa sikkimensis in the Eastern Himalayas (Sikkim). Uttarakhand Solar Milestone: Uttarakhand has officially surpassed the 1 GW milestone in installed solar energy capacity, marking a major step in the state's green energy transition. 2) 🌍International Japan’s Leadership: Sanae Takaichi has been formally reappointed as the Prime Minister of Japan following a landslide victory in the snap lower house elections. UN AI Scientific Panel: The UN General Assembly appointed a 40-member Independent International Scientific Panel on AI to assess global risks; IIT Madras professor Balaraman Ravindran is a key member. Poland Security Ban: Poland has banned Chinese-made vehicles from entering its military installations, citing national security concerns regarding modern automotive data technology. India at UN: India endorsed a United Nations statement alongside 100 other countries condemning certain actions in the West Bank, reaffirming its stance on regional stability. 3) 💰Economy India’s 2047 Vision: Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India is on track to add USD 26 trillion to its economy by 2047, highlighting the "India Opportunity" as the most significant global growth driver. GDP Base Year: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) announced 2022-23 as the new base year for calculating GDP and the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). Digital Banking Portal: Indian Overseas Bank launched an 'Online Death Claim Settlement Portal' to digitise and expedite the process for legal heirs, covering claims up to ₹15 lakh. 4) 🗓️Date’s importance Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti: 19 February marks the birth anniversary of the legendary Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, celebrated widely for his bravery and administrative skills. Historical Event (1878): Thomas Edison received a patent for the phonograph on this day, the first machine capable of recording and reproducing sound. Space History (1986): The Soviet Union launched the 'Mir' space station, the world’s first modular space station. 5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day Gyanesh Kumar: Highlighted in recent appointments as India’s 26th Chief Election Commissioner, leading the constitutional body responsible for conducting national and state elections. 6) 🏅Sports Project Cheetah Success: Three new cubs were born to a South African cheetah named 'Gamini' at Kuno National Park, taking the total cheetah population in India to 38. Olympic Hockey: In a thriller, the U.S. defeated Sweden 2-1 in overtime to reach the semifinals, with Quinn Hughes scoring the winning goal. Chennai Open: Kyrian Jacquet clinched the men's singles title at the Chennai Open Tennis tournament. 7) 🏆Awards WGA Laurel Award: Legendary filmmaker James Cameron has been named the recipient of the 2026 Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Stone Award 2026: Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey has been named the recipient of the Stone Award for Literary Achievement by Oregon State University. 8) ⭐️Other important significance Guinness World Record: The India AI Impact Summit 2026 set a new Guinness World Record for the highest number of 'Responsible AI Pledges' taken by citizens in a single day. Ancient Rock Art: A 2,300-year-old rock art site at Kumittipathi in Coimbatore gained national attention as calls for its preservation intensified following its protected status declaration. 📚Word of the day Meticulous (Adjective) Meaning: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise. Usage: The researchers conducted a meticulous study of the new species discovered in the Himalayas.  

1) 🇮🇳National   IMACC 2026 Begins: The Indian Army is hosting the inaugural International Military Adventure Challenge Cup (IMACC) 2026 starting today, 18 February, in the Eastern Himalayas. Military teams from seven friendly nations, including Bhutan, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, are competing alongside Indian forces. AI Impact Summit 2026: Day 3 of the summit continues at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The focus today is on "Safe & Trusted AI" and "Inclusion for Social Empowerment," featuring global tech leaders discussing the responsible deployment of AI in the Global South. New PMO "Seva Teerth": The Prime Minister’s Office has officially completed its transition to the new Seva Teerth complex on Dara Shikoh Road. This facility also houses the National Security Council and Cabinet Secretariats. Menstrual Health Ruling: In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court has held that menstrual health is a fundamental right under the Right to Dignity (Article 21), mandating all states to ensure free sanitary products in government schools. 2) 🌍International Bangladesh Swearing-in Ceremony: Following the general elections, Tarique Rahman was officially sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. India was represented at the ceremony by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, signaling a focus on regional stability. Annular Solar Eclipse: A spectacular "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse was observed today primarily over Antarctica and the Southern Hemisphere. This is the first of two solar eclipses scheduled for 2026. India-France Year of Innovation: PM Modi and President Emmanuel Macron jointly launched the "India-France Year of Innovation 2026" at the Gateway of India, Mumbai, to boost startups and deep-tech research. 3) 💰Economy New CPI & GDP Base Year: The government has officially transitioned to 2024 as the new base year for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and 2022-23 for GDP calculations to better reflect modern consumption patterns. Deepfake Regulation: A strict three-hour deadline has been mandated for social media intermediaries to remove flagged AI-generated deepfake content or face legal penalties under the updated IT Rules. Airbus H125 Facility: India’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) has been operationalised at Vemagal, Karnataka, through a partnership between Tata and Airbus. 4) 🗓️Date’s importance National Battery Day: Observed on 18 February to celebrate the birthday of Alessandro Volta (born 1745), the Italian physicist who invented the electric battery. Historical Significance (1930): On this day, American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto while examining photographs taken at the Lowell Observatory. Discovery of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's Tomb (1923): Anniversary of the unsealing of the burial chamber by archaeologist Howard Carter. 5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day Alessandro Volta: The scientist behind the invention of the chemical battery (Voltaic pile). The unit of electric potential, the Volt, is named in his honour. Tarique Rahman: The newly appointed Prime Minister of Bangladesh, who is under international spotlight as he begins his tenure during a period of political transition. 6) 🏅Sports T20 World Cup 2026: South Africa secured a thrilling victory against Afghanistan after two Super Overs, one of the most intense matches in the tournament's history so far. Ranji Trophy Milestone: Paras Dogra (Himachal Pradesh) has become the second-highest run-scorer in Ranji history, joining the elite 10,000-run club alongside Wasim Jaffer. Winter Olympics 2026: Competition intensifies in Milano-Cortina; the Women’s Monobob and Mixed Team Snowboard Cross events are the highlights for today. 7) 🏆Awards Vikramaditya International Award: The Madhya Pradesh government has announced this new honour with a prize of ₹1.01 crore to recognize global excellence in Indian culture and heritage. 68th Grammy Awards: Recognition continues for the best in global music, with a strong focus on "Best Global Music Performance" where several Indian fusion artists were nominated. 8) ⭐️Other important significance ZSI Discovery: Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new wingless, soil-dwelling species of Diplura in the Eastern Himalayas. National Productivity Week: Concluding events for the week (12-18 Feb) are being held, focusing on the theme of "Maximizing MSME Productivity through Industrial Clusters." 📚Word of the day Equanimity (Noun) Meaning: Calmness and composure, especially in a difficult or stressful situation. Usage: "An aspirant must maintain equanimity while appearing for highly competitive exams like UPSC."  

🇮🇳National AI Impact Summit 2026: India is hosting the summit in New Delhi from 16 to 20 February. This is the first time the event is being held in the Global South with the theme "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (Welfare for all, happiness for all). PMO Relocation: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has officially shifted from the colonial-era South Block to the new office at the Seva Teerth complex. AI Robocop "ASC Arjun": Indian Railways has deployed a locally built AI-powered facial recognition robot at Visakhapatnam railway station for night surveillance and patrolling. Sabarimala Case: The Supreme Court has announced that a nine-judge bench will commence final hearings on petitions related to religious discrimination against women from 7 April. 🌍International Annular Solar Eclipse 2026: The first solar eclipse of the year occurs today, 17 February. Known as the "Ring of Fire," it is primarily visible over Antarctica and parts of the Southern Hemisphere; it is not visible from India. India-Canada Cooperation: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand at the Munich Security Conference to discuss deepening bilateral partnerships. India-Greece Defence Ties: Both nations signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen defence industrial cooperation and develop a five-year strategic roadmap. 💰Economy Trade Deficit Widens: India's merchandise trade deficit rose to $34.68 billion in January, driven significantly by a surge in gold and silver imports. New CPI Base Year: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has updated the Consumer Price Index (CPI) base year to 2024 (from 2012), with January retail inflation recorded at 2.75%. Norway’s Wealth Fund: Financial experts have highlighted Norway’s $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund as a global model for fiscal responsibility and long-term resource management. 🗓️Date’s importance 17 February: Historically significant as the day the first ship passed through the Suez Canal in 1867, revolucionising global maritime trade. Global Tourism Resilience Day: Observed today to emphasize the need for sustainable and resilient tourism infrastructure worldwide. 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day Michael Jordan: Born on 17 February 1863, the legendary basketball icon and businessman is celebrated today for his global impact on sports and brand marketing. Michiaki Takahashi: Born on this day in 1928, the Japanese virologist is famous for inventing the first chickenpox vaccine. 🏅Sports Ranji Trophy Milestone: Himachal Pradesh batter Paras Dogra became only the second player in history, after Wasim Jaffer, to complete 10,000 runs in the Ranji Trophy. T20 World Cup: West Indies became the first team to qualify for the Super Eights stage after a dominant nine-wicket victory over Nepal. 🏆Awards International Military Adventure Challenge Cup (IMACC) 2026: The Indian Army is set to host the inaugural trophy in the Eastern Himalayas (18-23 Feb), featuring teams from seven countries including Bhutan, Brazil, and Kazakhstan. ⭐️Other important significance CBSE Board Exams 2026: The Class 10 and 12 board examinations for approximately 46 lakh students begin today, 17 February, incorporating new rules aligned with NEP 2020. Deepfake Regulation: The Centre has mandated a three-hour deadline for social media platforms to remove AI-generated deepfake content flagged by authorities or courts. 📚Word of the day Abstain: (Verb) To restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something. Usage: Candidates must abstain from using electronic gadgets during the examination.