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Current Affairs 15th February 2026
Public Sector Banks Tagline
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SBI - The Banker to Every Indian
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PNB - The Name You Can Bank Upon
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Union Bank of India - Good People to Bank With
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BOI - Relationships beyond Banking
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Indian Bank - Your Own Bank
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CBI- Central to You Since 1911
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Indian Overseas Bank - Good People to Grow With
1. Oil India Limited Wins FIPI Award 2025
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Production Excellence: Oil India Limited won the prestigious award for "Oil & Gas Production Company of the Year" in the category of companies producing more than 1 MTOE (Million Tonnes of Oil Equivalent).
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National Recognition: The award was presented by the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, and received by OIL’s Chairman and Managing Director, Dr. Ranjit Rath. The honor recognizes the company’s "outstanding performance and sustained contribution" to India’s energy security.
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Strategic Milestone: The award highlights OIL's success in enhancing domestic hydrocarbon production and its commitment to the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative through the adoption of innovative technologies and expanding exploration in mature fields.
2. EximPe gets RBI approval for PA-CB Licence
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Direct UPI Acceptance for Global Merchants: The license allows EximPe to enable international businesses to collect payments from Indian customers using UPI, cards, and net banking without needing a local Indian entity. Funds can be settled directly into the merchants' offshore accounts in their preferred foreign currencies.
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Transition to Licensed Infrastructure: Previously, EximPe operated only as a Technology Service Provider (TSP) for banks. With this final approval, it transitions into a fully regulated aggregator, allowing it to manage end-to-end cross-border "pay-ins" and "pay-outs" independently under the RBI framework.
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Targeting $1 Billion in Transactions: Following the approval, EximPe has set an ambitious goal to process $1 billion in annualized UPI-led cross-border transactions by 2028. The company is primarily focused on trade corridors such as India-China, India-Singapore, and India-ASEAN.
3. Mia Mottley Secures Historic Third Term in Barbados
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Third Consecutive "Clean Sweep": For the third election in a row (2018, 2022, and 2026), Mottley led the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to a total victory, winning all 30 seats in the House of Assembly. This leaves the country without an official elected opposition in parliament for yet another term.
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Historic Leadership Milestone: Mottley is the first woman in Barbadian history to serve three terms as Prime Minister. She also remains one of the longest-serving female heads of government globally, further cementing her status as a powerhouse in Caribbean and international politics.
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Mandate for "Global-Facing" Policy: Her victory is seen as a strong public endorsement of her dual focus: tackling domestic issues like infrastructure and the cost of living, while continuing her high-profile international advocacy for climate justice and global financial reform for developing nations.
4. Kishorakumar wins gold in Open Masters Games 2026
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Gold in Hammer Throw: Kishorakumar secured the gold medal in the men’s Hammer Throw (30+ age category) with a winning distance of 37.92 meters.
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India’s Double Podium: His victory was part of a strong showing for India in the event, as he shared the podium with fellow countryman Mohammad Ansar, who clinched the bronze medal.
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Historic Event Debut: His win occurred during the inaugural Open Masters Games in Abu Dhabi, which is the first major multi-sport masters event ever hosted in West Asia, featuring over 25,000 competitors.
5. Uday Kotak appointed Chairman of GIFT City
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Succession of Leadership: Uday Kotak, the founder and former CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, succeeds Hasmukh Adhia, a retired IAS officer and former Union Finance Secretary. Adhia had held the position since June 2023.
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Industry-Led Strategy: The appointment marks a shift toward industry-veteran leadership for India's first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). Kotak is expected to use his decades of experience in building financial institutions to enhance GIFT City’s global competitiveness against hubs like Dubai and Singapore.
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Expansion Mandate: This leadership change coincides with significant growth for GIFT City, including a recent 20-year tax holiday extension in the Union Budget 2026 and banking assets exceeding $100 billion. Kotak’s role will focus on attracting global capital and scaling sectors like aircraft leasing, fintech, and offshore banking.
6. Puneet Agrawal appointed as Ambassador to Kingdom of Thailand
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Senior Diplomatic Profile: Puneet Agrawal is a seasoned diplomat and a 1997-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. Before this appointment, he served as the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.
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Strategic Experience: He brings extensive international experience to the role, having previously served in high-profile positions such as Consul General of India in Hong Kong and as Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in Geneva.
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Focus on Regional Connectivity: His appointment comes at a time when India and Thailand are deepening ties through the convergence of India’s "Act East" policy and Thailand’s "Act West" policy. He is expected to lead efforts in maritime security, trade, and regional cooperation within frameworks like BIMSTEC and ASEAN.
7. GAIL appoints Shri Deepak Gupta as Chairman & MD
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Official Succession: Shri Deepak Gupta will take charge on March 1, 2026. He succeeds the incumbent CMD, Sandeep Kumar Gupta, who is scheduled to retire on February 28, 2026.
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Established Tenure: His appointment, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), is set for a term lasting until his superannuation on February 28, 2029, or until further government orders.
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Strategic Internal Promotion: Gupta is currently GAIL's Director (Projects). With over 35 years of experience in the oil and gas sector—including a significant stint at Engineers India Limited (EIL)—his elevation is seen as a move to prioritize large-scale infrastructure execution, such as pipeline expansions and the transition to green energy.
8. Doordarshan News Reader Sarla Maheshwari passed away
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Icon of the "Golden Era": Sarla Maheshwari was one of the most recognized faces of Indian television in the 1980s and 1990s. She was a pioneer who helped define the "retro era" of Doordarshan, known for her calm, dignified presentation and impeccable Hindi pronunciation during a time when DD was the nation's primary news source.
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Three-Decade Career: Her broadcasting journey spanned nearly 30 years, from 1976 to 2005. She joined Doordarshan as an announcer while pursuing her PhD at Delhi University and witnessed the historic transition of Indian television from black-and-white broadcasts to color programming.
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Academic and Global Footprint: Beyond her iconic role at Doordarshan, she was a scholar who served as a lecturer at Hansraj College, Delhi University. She also had international experience, having worked briefly as a newsreader for the BBC in the United Kingdom during the mid-1980s before returning to India.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
International Epilepsy Day: 14th February
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Theme 2026: Turning Stories into Action
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The 4 Pillars of the #EpilepsyPledge: Awareness, Safety, Inclusion & Action
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