21 February 2026 Current Affairs
21 February 2026 Current Affairs: Daily Analysis
Read the most comprehensive 21 February 2026 Current Affairs analysis for UPSC, SSC, Bank & State Exams. Stay updated with the latest headlines covering National and International events.
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TOP ANALYSIS: 21 FEBRUARY 2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Below are the top questions and detailed explanations for 21 February 2026 Current Affairs.
Q1. Recently, in which state’s Cachar district will the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme-II’ be launched?
Answer: Assam
- Launch: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch it in Cachar district, Assam.
- Objective: Improving border villages, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, and fostering secure border communities aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047.
- Scale: Worth over ₹6800 crore up to FY 2028-29, implemented across 15 States and 2 UTs.
- Security Update: Amit Shah will also visit the BSF’s Natunpur border outpost (India-Bangladesh) to review fencing and security.
Q2. Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI unveiled two new Large Language Models (LLMs) named ‘Vikram’ at which event?
Answer: India-AI Impact Summit 2026
- Launch: ‘Vikram’ was unveiled at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026.
- Models: Developed indigenously, including a 30-billion-parameter (30B) model and a 105-billion-parameter (105B) model.
- Context: This comes amid OpenAI’s introduction of IndQA, a benchmark to assess AI understanding of Indian languages and contexts.
Q3. The AI-powered OptoSAR satellite ‘Mission Drishti’ is being developed by which Indian company?
Answer: GalaxEye
- Development: Bengaluru-based GalaxEye is developing this Earth observation satellite for launch in 2026.
- Features: Powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Orin platform for onboard AI analytics, allowing processing in orbit rather than on the ground.
- Payload: Will carry the world’s first “SyncFused OptoSAR” payload, combining electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar sensors.
Q4. Under the ‘PM-SETU’ initiative, India is setting up an Aeronautics Excellence Centre in collaboration with which country?
Answer: France
- Initiative: PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs).
- Purpose: The India–France Aeronautics Excellence Centre will impart advanced skills training in aeronautics and defence.
- Budget: Part of a massive ₹60,000 crore scheme by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Q5. India’s first Jain Chadar Mahotsav, showcasing 872-year-old garments, will be hosted in which city?
Answer: Jaisalmer (Rajasthan)
- Event: Scheduled from 6 to 8 March 2026. Over 30,000 devotees are expected to participate.
- Significance: Will worship the 872-year-old garments of Dada Shri Jindatt Suri Maharaj, preserved in the Gyan Bhandar library.
- History: The garments date back to Vikram Samvat 1211 and were brought from Patan (Gujarat) to Jaisalmer 145 years ago during an epidemic.
Q6. Where did the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) celebrate its 23rd Foundation Day recently?
Answer: New Delhi
- About NCST: A constitutional body established under Article 338A to protect and promote ST rights and welfare.
- Establishment: Formed in 2004 following the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
Q7. Where was the successful qualification test of the drogue parachute related to the ‘Gaganyaan’ mission conducted?
Answer: Chandigarh
- Execution: Conducted by DRDO along with ISRO, VSSC, ADRDE, and TBRL teams.
- Facility: Conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS), a specialised dynamic test facility for high-speed aerodynamic evaluations.
Q8. World Day of Social Justice is observed every year on which date?
Answer: 20 February
- 2026 Theme: “Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice.”
- Context: Follows the Second World Summit for Social Development and the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration.
Q9. After lifting the ban, in which event will Russian and Belarusian athletes compete according to the IPC?
Answer: Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics
- Decision: The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) lifted years of restrictions on these nations.
- Impact: Athletes will be allowed to compete under their national flags, and if they win, their national anthems will be played.
WORLD & INDIA UPDATES: 21 FEBRUARY 2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Banking & Economy
- SBI: Reached a market cap of $100 billion, launched COE ‘Chakra’, and announced ₹4 lakh loans for Agniveers.
- IDFC First: Launched an FD-backed ‘Hello Cashback’ credit card.
- PNB: First PSU bank to migrate to the bank.in domain.
International Relations
- BRICS 2026: India will host the proposed 18th BRICS Summit.
- New Zealand: Held a joint working group meeting with India on horticulture. Also announced social media ban for < 16.
- Maldives: Received India’s first high-speed ferry. Pres. Muizzu held a record 15-hr press conference.
Defense & Records
- Navy: Defence Minister inaugurated the 13th edition of the ‘Milan 2026’ naval exercise in Vizag.
- China Intel: Pentagon estimates China had 600 nuclear warheads in 2024, tracking to 1,000 by 2030.
- Global Supply: India to supply 2 lakh tons of rice globally to combat world hunger.
Awards & Honours
- Global Teacher Prize 2026: Awarded to Rubal Nagi.
- CEO of the Year 2026: Subodh Gupta (Lords Mark Micro Biotech).
- Crafoord Prize: Won by Indian-origin scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan.
- Grammy: The Dalai Lama won his first-ever Grammy award.
STATE-WISE DEVELOPMENTS
Explore the regional updates covered in today’s 21 February 2026 Current Affairs.
Himachal Pradesh
- Celebrated the Losar festival (Tibetan community).
- Declared fully literate with a 99.3% literacy rate.
- 1st state to distribute rations using facial scanning.
- Raja Khasa village became the first solar model village.
Andhra Pradesh
- Secured India’s largest Lithium Battery Giga Factory (₹8175 cr).
- Hosting the world’s largest green ammonia project.
- Launched ‘Pillo AI’ and ‘Thalli Vandanam’ education scheme.
- Ponduru Khadi recently received a GI tag.
Assam
- The Kopili Hydro Project to be completed in 10 days.
- Officially recorded zero rhino poaching.
- Dehing Patkai NP referred to as the “Amazon of the East”.
India’s Global Position
- UPI System: Surpassed Visa, recognized by IMF as world’s largest real-time payment system.
- Henley Passport: India ranks 75th (Singapore is 1st).
- Press Freedom: India ranked 151st in World Press Freedom Index 2025.
IMPORTANT DATES (FEB & REVISION)
Important dates and events highlighted in the 21 February 2026 Current Affairs revision.
| Date | Occasion | Context / Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 20 | World Social Justice Day | Theme: Renewed Commitment to Social Dev… |
| Feb 20 | State Foundation Days | Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram |
| Feb 19 | World Anthropology Day | 3rd Thursday of February |
| Feb 17 | World Human Spirit Day | – |
| Feb 13 | World Radio Day | Also National Women’s Day |
| Feb 10 | World Pulses Day | – |
| Feb 07 | Nat. Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day | – |
| Feb 04 | World Cancer Day | – |
| Feb 02 | World Wetlands Day | – |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
Why is the 21 February 2026 Current Affairs update crucial for exams?
What is ‘Vikram’ recently mentioned in the news?
Which company is developing the ‘Mission Drishti’ satellite?
When is World Day of Social Justice observed?
Which states celebrate their Foundation Day on 20 February?
Trending Search Topics: Elevate your competitive exam prep with our 21 February 2026 Current Affairs breakdown. Major updates include Amit Shah launching the Vibrant Villages Programme-II Assam and cutting-edge tech news like the Sarvam AI Vikram LLM and GalaxEye’s Mission Drishti GalaxEye OptoSAR satellite. Learn about the strategic PM-SETU France Aeronautics partnership and the cultural celebration of the Jain Chadar Mahotsav Jaisalmer.
Keep up with important national bodies celebrating the NCST Foundation Day and pivotal defense milestones like the Gaganyaan Parachute Test in Chandigarh. Discover global trends with the lifting of the IPC ban for Milan-Cortina. Don’t forget to use the Daily Current Affairs PDF Download link. An indispensable resource for Daily GK for UPSC SSC Banking, featuring state updates from Himachal Pradesh to Andhra Pradesh.