Daily Current Affairs (21 February 2026) for Competitive Exams: Key Updates for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Defence & More
The Daily Current Affairs of 21 February 2026 covers major national, international, defence, banking, science, sports and state developments including French President Emmanuel Macron’s India visit, MILAN 2026, Tata–OpenAI AI Data Centre partnership, DRDO’s Gaganyaan parachute test, Gujarat Budget 2026-27 and more. These updates are highly relevant for UPSC, SSC, Banking, IBPS, RBI, Railways, Defence and State PSC examinations.
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- Introduction
- 🇫🇷 French President Emmanuel Macron’s Visit to India (17–19 Feb 2026)
- ⚓ Indian Navy Hosts MILAN 2026, IFR 2026 & IONS Conclave
- Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP–II)
- PFC–REC Merger Oversight Panels
- Lengtekai Bridge in Mizoram
- 🇮🇳–🇮🇱 India–Israel Defence MoU
- GIFT City & AJNIFM MoU
- Tata Group–OpenAI AI Data Centre Partnership
- DRDO Tests Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute
- 🏆 Pankaj Advani Wins Liber Win Champions Cup 2026
- IPC Lifts Ban on Russia & Belarus
- 🌍 World Day of Social Justice – 20 February
- Gujarat Budget 2026-27
- Assam PMS Portal
Introduction
Staying updated with Current Affairs Today is essential for success in UPSC, SSC CGL, IBPS PO, RBI Grade B, RRB NTPC, Defence and State PSC exams. The 21 February 2026 current affairs highlight important diplomatic visits, defence exercises, financial sector reforms, AI infrastructure expansion, space mission testing, sports achievements and state-level developments.
You can also explore more updates in our Daily Current Affairs and attempt Daily Current Affairs Free Quizzes for better retention.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
🇫🇷 French President Emmanuel Macron’s Visit to India (17–19 Feb 2026)
Why in News?
President of France, Emmanuel Macron visited India from 17–19 February 2026 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was his 4th visit to India.
Key Highlights
- Participated in AI Impact Summit 2026
- Inaugurated H125 helicopter assembly line at Vemagal, Karnataka
- Jointly developed by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus
- Co-inaugurated India-France Year of Innovation 2026
- 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue held in Bengaluru
Significance
- Strengthens India–France Strategic Partnership
- Boosts indigenous defence manufacturing under Make in India
- Expands cooperation in AI, innovation and aerospace
⚓ Indian Navy Hosts MILAN 2026, IFR 2026 & IONS Conclave
Events Held at Visakhapatnam (15–25 Feb 2026)
| Event | Date | Theme | Key Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| MILAN 2026 | 19–25 Feb | Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration | Rajnath Singh |
| IFR 2026 (International Fleet Review) | 18 Feb | United through Oceans | President Droupadi Murmu |
| IONS Conclave | 20 Feb | Naval Cooperation | Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi |
Important Points
- MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise
- India assumed IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium) Chairmanship (2026–28)
- Enhances maritime security in Indo-Pacific
Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP–II)
Launched by Amit Shah in Assam.
Key Details
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Outlay | ₹6,839 crore (till FY29) |
| Villages Covered | 1,954 |
| States/UTs | 15 States & 2 UTs |
| Aim | Border development & security |
Objective
- Improve infrastructure in border villages
- Prevent migration
- Strengthen national security
PFC–REC Merger Oversight Panels
Ministry of Power constituted:
- High-Level Committee
- Working Group
Objective
- Oversee merger of Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and REC Limited
- Harmonisation of pay scales & service conditions
Lengtekai Bridge in Mizoram
Inaugurated by CM Lalduhoma.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | ₹43.83 crore |
| Length | 100 m |
| Load Capacity | 385 MT |
| River | Tlawng |
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
🇮🇳–🇮🇱 India–Israel Defence MoU
India and Israel signed MoU to deepen defence industrial cooperation.
- Seminar in Tel Aviv
- Focus on co-development & technology sharing
- Discussions on Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2026
BANKING & FINANCE
GIFT City & AJNIFM MoU
GIFT City signed MoU with Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM).
Objective
- Develop FinTech & International Finance talent
- Support India’s only IFSC (International Financial Services Centre)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Tata Group–OpenAI AI Data Centre Partnership
Key Facts
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 100 MW scalable to 1 GW |
| Investment | USD 7 Billion |
| Initiative | Stargate Global Initiative |
| First Customer | OpenAI |
Importance
- India’s first large-scale AI-ready data centre
- Boost to AI ecosystem
- Green energy powered infrastructure
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DRDO Tests Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute
- Conducted at TBRL Chandigarh
- Validates structural strength & safety margins
About Gaganyaan Mission
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 Members |
| Orbit | 400 km LEO |
| Duration | 3 Days |
| Agency | ISRO |
SPORTS
🏆 Pankaj Advani Wins Liber Win Champions Cup 2026
- Defeated Kamal Chawla (6–3)
- Named Indian Brand Ambassador of Liber Win
IPC Lifts Ban on Russia & Belarus
- Athletes allowed to compete under national flags
- Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics 2026
IMPORTANT DAY
🌍 World Day of Social Justice – 20 February
Theme 2026: Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice
| Adopted By | UNGA |
| First Observed | 2009 |
| Resolution | A/RES/62/10 |
STATE NEWS
Gujarat Budget 2026-27
Presented by Kanubhai Desai.
| Sector | Allocation |
|---|---|
| Total Outlay | ₹4.08 Lakh Crore |
| Education | ₹63,184 Cr |
| Health | ₹25,403 Cr |
| Agriculture | ₹24,022 Cr |
Assam PMS Portal
Launched by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Purpose:
- Streamline provincialization of venture schools
- Reduce paperwork
- Improve transparency
📌 One-Liner Revision Points
- Macron’s 4th visit to India – Feb 2026.
- MILAN 2026 theme – Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration.
- India to chair IONS (2026–28).
- VVP–II outlay – ₹6,839 crore.
- Tata–OpenAI AI Data Centre – 1 GW scalable.
- DRDO tested Gaganyaan drogue parachute in Chandigarh.
- Pankaj Advani won Liber Win Champions Cup 2026.
- IPC lifted ban on Russia & Belarus for Winter Paralympics 2026.
- World Day of Social Justice – 20 February.
- Gujarat Budget 2026–27 outlay – ₹4.08 lakh crore.
For complete exam-focused updates, explore our Weekly Current Affairs and Monthly Current Affairs sections.
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