Daily Current Affairs (15 & 16 February 2026) for Government Exams: Key Updates for UPSC, SSC, Banking & More
Stay updated with the latest Current Affairs of 15 & 16 February 2026 covering Defence, Economy, International Relations, Banking, Appointments and State News. These updates are highly important for UPSC, SSC, Banking, IBPS, RBI, Railways, Defence and State PSC exams.
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- 📰 Introduction
- 1️⃣ Defence Acquisition Council Approves ₹3.25 Lakh Crore Rafale Deal
- 2️⃣ NITI Aayog Releases 10-Year Tech Roadmap
- 3️⃣ Henley Passport Index – February 2026
- 4️⃣ NIPL & PayNet Agreement for Cross-Border QR Payments
- 5️⃣ CA Prasanna Kumar D Elected ICAI President
- 6️⃣ RBI Approves Reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal
- 7️⃣ Kerala Approves Comprehensive Urban Policy
📰 Introduction
The Current Affairs of 15 & 16 February 2026 focus on major developments in defence procurement, international rankings, banking partnerships, key appointments, and state policies. These topics are crucial for prelims and mains examinations, especially in General Awareness, Economy, International Relations, and Government Schemes sections.
Staying updated through reliable sources like Daily Current Affairs helps aspirants build strong conceptual clarity and revision-ready notes.
🏛 NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1️⃣ Defence Acquisition Council Approves ₹3.25 Lakh Crore Rafale Deal
Why in News?
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved a proposal worth ₹3.25 lakh crore for procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
About DAC
- Chaired by: Defence Minister
- Ministry: Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- Role: Highest decision-making body for defence procurement
Key Highlights
- Total Cost: ₹3.25 lakh crore (~USD 40 billion)
- 18 jets: Delivered in fly-away condition
- 96 jets: Manufactured in India under Make in India
- Additional approval: 6 Boeing P-8I aircraft for Indian Navy
About Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| CEO | Eric Trappier |
| Headquarters | Saint-Cloud, France |
| Established | 1929 |
Significance
- Boost to indigenous defence manufacturing
- Strengthening Indian Air Force (IAF) combat capability
- Enhances maritime security through P-8I aircraft
2️⃣ NITI Aayog Releases 10-Year Tech Roadmap
NITI Aayog
Report Title
“Technology Services – Reimagination Ahead”
Key Targets
| Current Sector Size | Target by 2035 |
|---|---|
| USD 265 Billion | USD 750–850 Billion |
Growth Levers Identified
- Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Software & Products
- Digital Infrastructure
- Innovation-led Engineering
- India-for-India Solutions
Importance for Exams
- Questions on India’s digital economy
- AI policy and R&D initiatives
- Vision 2047 – Viksit Bharat
For revision of static economy topics, refer Static GK for Competitive Exams.
🌍 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
3️⃣ Henley Passport Index – February 2026
Henley & Partners
Why in News?
Release of Henley Passport Index (HPI) 2026
India’s Performance
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 85 |
| Jan 2026 | 80 |
| Feb 2026 | 75 |
Visa-Free Access: 56 destinations
Top & Bottom Countries
| Rank | Country |
|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore |
| Last (101) | Afghanistan |
Exam Relevance
- International rankings
- Global mobility indicators
- Passport power comparison
💳 BANKING & FINANCE
4️⃣ NIPL & PayNet Agreement for Cross-Border QR Payments
NPCI International Payments Limited
Payments Network Malaysia
Objective
Enable QR-based cross-border payments between India and Malaysia.
Implementation Phases
Phase 1:
- Indian tourists use UPI apps (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm)
- Scan Malaysia’s DuitNow QR
Phase 2:
- Malaysians scan UPI QR in India
Countries Supporting UPI
- Malaysia
- UAE
- Nepal
- Mauritius
- Singapore
- France
- Bhutan
Significance
- Strengthens fintech diplomacy
- Boosts tourism & digital payments
Practice related MCQs at Daily Current Affairs Free Quizzes.
👤 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
5️⃣ CA Prasanna Kumar D Elected ICAI President
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
- 74th President of ICAI
- Term: 2026–27
- Qualified as CA: 1984
- Previous Role: Vice-President (2025–26)
6️⃣ RBI Approves Reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal
Reserve Bank of India
AU Small Finance Bank
- Position: MD & CEO
- Term: 3 years (from April 19, 2026)
- Founder of AU SFB
- AU SFB transitioning into Universal Bank
🏛 STATE NEWS
7️⃣ Kerala Approves Comprehensive Urban Policy
Kerala
Key Highlights
- First Indian state with comprehensive Urban Policy
- Vision 2050: 80% urban population
- Focus: Climate-smart cities
- Emphasis on sustainability & governance
📌 Important Days (15–16 February Context)
Though key observances fall on 12–13 February, they remain important for revision:
| Date | Day |
|---|---|
| 12 Feb | National Productivity Day |
| 12 Feb | International Darwin Day |
| 13 Feb | World Radio Day |
🔑 Key Points for Quick Revision (One-Liners)
- DAC approved ₹3.25 lakh crore deal for 114 Rafale jets.
- 96 Rafale jets to be manufactured under Make in India.
- NITI Aayog roadmap targets $850B tech sector by 2035.
- India ranked 75th in Henley Passport Index 2026.
- Singapore tops HPI 2026.
- NIPL & PayNet enable India–Malaysia QR payments.
- CA Prasanna Kumar D is 74th President of ICAI.
- RBI reappointed Sanjay Agarwal as MD & CEO of AU SFB.
- Kerala becomes first state with comprehensive Urban Policy.
- UPI now operational in multiple foreign countries.
For structured preparation:
- 📘 Daily Current Affairs
- 📅 Weekly Current Affairs
- 📆 Monthly Current Affairs
- 📝 Daily Current Affairs Free Quizzes
- 📚 Static GK for Competitive Exams
- 💼 Latest Government Jobs Notifications
Staying updated with JobsMe’s Daily, Weekly and Monthly Current Affairs ensures you build a strong repository of exam-focused knowledge for UPSC IAS, SSC CGL, IBPS PO, SBI Clerk, RRB NTPC, Railways, Defence and State PSC exams.
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