Daily Current Affairs Brief: February 14, 2026

Authored By: K Shiva

1. International Current Affairs

Bangladesh Election Victory: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, has secured a sweeping victory in the landmark parliamentary elections with more than a two-thirds majority.

New Bangladesh PM: Tarique Rahman, son of former PM Khaleda Zia, is set to become the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh after living in exile for 17 years.

Constitutional Reforms in Bangladesh: A referendum held alongside the elections saw a clear "yes" vote for an 84-point reform package, including a 10-year term limit for Prime Ministers and increased judicial independence.

US Climate Policy Rollback: President Donald Trump's administration has repealed scientific findings that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health and eliminated federal tailpipe emission standards for vehicles.

Venezuela Oil Re-opening: Following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, the US has signaled plans to ease energy sanctions and facilitate a $100 billion reconstruction plan for Venezuela's oil industry.

Nikhil Gupta Pleads Guilty: Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a US court to charges related to a foiled plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

2. National Current Affairs

Seva Teerth Inauguration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated "Seva Teerth," the new Prime Minister's Office (PMO) complex, marking a shift from the colonial-era South Block.

Major Welfare Approvals: In his first decisions from the new PMO, the Prime Minister signed files doubling the "Lakhpati Didi" target to 60 million and doubling the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to ₹2 trillion.

PM RAHAT Scheme: A new cashless treatment scheme for accident victims, PM RAHAT, has been launched, providing immediate medical help of up to ₹1.5 lakh.

India-US Trade Impact: The government has introduced 44 new tariff lines to track market access granted to the US for products like pecan nuts, cranberries, and blueberries under recent trade agreements.

Spectrum Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that telecom spectrum is a sovereign resource and cannot be treated as a corporate asset subject to insolvency proceedings under the IBC.

3. Science & Technology

AI Impact Summit: New Delhi is set to host the AI Impact Summit next week, with 20 heads of state and 300+ exhibitors showcasing real-world AI deployment and scaling.

AI in Healthcare: Researchers at IIIT-Hyderabad are utilizing AI-driven imaging and genomics for earlier cancer detection and personalized treatment.

Biopharma Hub Focus: The government is prioritizing India as a global biopharma hub with a ₹10,000 crore allocation under the Biopharma Shakti project.

Semiconductor Innovation: KLA Corporation has signed an MoU with Tamil Nadu to invest ₹3,600 crore in a new R&D and AI-led semiconductor innovation campus in Chennai.

New CPI Series: The Ministry of Statistics has released a revised Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with 2024 as the base year to better reflect contemporary consumption patterns.

4. States Current Affairs

Andhra Pradesh State Budget: Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav is scheduled to present the state budget for 2026-27 with an expected outlay of ₹3.45–₹3.5 lakh crore.

Telangana Municipal Polls: The Congress party secured nearly 75% of municipalities and municipal corporations in the recent Telangana civic polls.

Tamil Nadu Welfare Credits: The DMK government has credited ₹5,000 each to over 13 million women under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam as a pre-poll measure.

Uttar Pradesh Pharma Investment: UP has logged pharmaceutical sector investment proposals exceeding ₹38,000 crore following recent global summits.

Assam Bridge Inauguration: Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a 6-lane bridge connecting Guwahati and North Guwahati.

5. District & Local News

Elephant Attacks in Jharkhand: At least six people, including four members of one family, were killed by a herd of wild elephants in Hazaribag district.

Delhi Schools Bomb Scare: Several schools in Delhi received fresh bomb threat emails, leading to security sweeps across campuses.

Fatal Accident in Bengaluru: Six students were among seven killed in a high-speed SUV crash in Hoskote taluk near Bengaluru.

Museum Project in Mussoorie: A stretch of National Highway 707A near Mussoorie caved in due to alleged illegal excavation work on an adjoining property.

6. Sports & Games

ISL Relegation: The Indian Super League (ISL) will implement relegation for the first time this season, despite objections from participating clubs.

India-Pakistan Ad Rates: Spot advertising rates for the upcoming India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash have soared to ₹70 lakh for a 10-second slot.

ISL Kick-off: The much-delayed Indian Super League season begins today at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

T20 World Cup Rivalry: New Zealand and South Africa are set for a crucial unbeaten clash in Ahmedabad to decide their group leadership.

7. Cinema & Entertainment

Ragini 3 Announcement: Actors Tamannaah Bhatia and Junaid Khan are set to star in "Ragini 3," a "date-night horror" film directed by Shashanka Ghosh.

Deepika in 'The White Lotus': Actress Deepika Padukone is confirmed to join the cast of the popular series "The White Lotus".

Security Threats to Bollywood: Actor Ranveer Singh and director Rohit Shetty have reportedly received new threats allegedly linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Asia Jewels Show: The 62nd edition of the Asia Jewels Show opened in Hyderabad, featuring premium creations and gracing by popular actresses.

8. General Knowledge Points

1. Which significant historical site in India was recently reported by archaeologists to potentially date back 8,000 years, making it older than previously thought? Answer: Bhirrana (Haryana) (New radiocarbon dating suggests this Indus Valley site is much older than the established timeline.)

2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Northeast’s first "Emergency Landing Facility" (ELF) in which state? Answer: Assam (specifically at Moran in the Dibrugarh district).

3. According to the Henley Passport Index update for February 2026, what is India's current global rank? Answer: 75th (India showed an improvement of 5 positions since January, now granting visa-free access to 56 countries.)

4. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) recently cleared the procurement of "AS-HAPS" for the Indian Air Force. What does HAPS stand for? Answer: High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (These are solar-powered airships that can stay in the stratosphere for months for surveillance.)

5. India finished atop the medal standings at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026. How many total medals did India win? Answer: 94 Medals (including 51 Gold).

6. Which Indian state government recently launched the "Sthree Suraksha Scheme" to provide monthly pensions to unemployed women and transwomen? Answer: Kerala

7. Following the early elections on 12 February, which leader is positioned to become the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh? Answer: Tarique Rahman (leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party - BNP).

8. The National Board for Wildlife recently approved the "Capital Ring Road" project, which will pass through which sanctuary in Odisha? Answer: Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary (Dhenkanal district).

9. Which international sports event will the Indian Army host from February 18 to 23 in the Eastern Himalayas? Answer: International Military Adventure Challenge Cup (IMACC) 2026.

10. Who has been appointed as the new Director General of Naval Armament in February 2026? Answer: Divakar Jayant

11. Uday Kotak: Appointed as the new chairman of Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City.

12. Lakhpati Didi: A central government initiative aimed at empowering women in self-help groups to earn at least ₹1 lakh annually.

13. CAFE-3 Norms: Upcoming Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency norms (FY28-FY32) that will tighten carbon dioxide emission limits for carmakers.

14. Reits Lending: The RBI has proposed new guidelines allowing banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits) up to a 10% exposure limit.

9. Do You Know?

• The 8,000-Year Secret: If the dating of the Bhirrana site is officially accepted, it would make the Indus Valley Civilisation older than the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilisations.

• The "Lovebird" Legend: While we celebrate Valentine’s Day today, the 14th-century poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to link this day to romantic love, based on an old folk belief that birds began their mating season on February 14.

• Shani Pradosh Vrat: Today is spiritually significant in India as it is Shani Trayodashi. It is considered a rare and powerful day when Saturn's day (Saturday) coincides with the Pradosh Vrat dedicated to Lord Shiva.

• Pangolin Protection: In a unique community move today, the Sangtam community in Nagaland adopted a resolution to completely ban the hunting and trafficking of Pangolins to protect them from extinction.

• The "0% Tariff" Deal: India is currently negotiating a landmark "0% Tariff" trade deal with the US specifically for textiles, which could significantly boost Indian garment exports in 2026.

• Sustainable Tech: The new Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu in Assam uses "Friction Pendulum Bearings" for enhanced seismic safety.

• Urban Growth: India's urban areas are projected to contribute 70% of the national GDP by FY26.

10. Job & Educational Topics

Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0: A new ₹10,000 crore corpus has been approved to support deep-tech startups and early-stage innovative ideas.

Teachers Recruitment: Walk-in interviews are being announced for PGT, TGT, and PRT positions for the 2026-27 academic session in various regional institutions.

Entrepreneurship Centers: New "Rural Incubation Skilling and Entrepreneurship Centers" are being highlighted to train women as industrial leaders.

11. Day Special: February 14

Black Day (Pulwama Anniversary)

• The Incident: On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Lethapora in Pulwama district.

• The Sacrifice: 40 brave soldiers were martyred in the blast, making it one of the deadliest attacks on Indian security forces in decades.

• Nationwide Observance: Every year, the day is marked with wreath-laying ceremonies at the Pulwama Memorial and across various CRPF camps to honor the "Bravehearts."

• Tributes: The Prime Minister and top leaders lead the nation in paying homage, reiterating that the soldiers' sacrifice will never be forgotten.

• Symbolism: For many in India, the day serves as a reminder of the price paid for national security, often trending on social media with the hashtag #BlackDay.

• Legacy: The attack led to a significant shift in India’s counter-terrorism policy, including the Balakot airstrikes that followed shortly after.

Valentine’s Day: Celebrated globally as a day of love; markets in India saw a 60% surge in e-commerce and gifting volumes for the occasion.

Sarojini Naidu Birth Anniversary: Tributes were paid in Parliament to the "Nightingale of India" on her birth anniversary.

Parents' Worship Day: Some regions and organizations observed this day alongside Valentine's Day to honor parental bonds.