4.5/5
Current Affairs 16th February 2026
चीन की सीमा से लगने वाले भारतीय राज्य
Trick – “JHUSA” (चीनमेंJHUSA)
-
J → जम्मूकश्मीर
-
H → हिमाचलप्रदेश
-
U → उत्तराखंड
-
S → सिक्किम
-
A → अरुणाचलप्रदेश
1. AP Legislative Assembly became 1stlegislature to adopt AI-based attendance system
-
Facial Recognition & Precision Seating: The system uses nine advanced AI cameras equipped with facial recognition. Crucially, attendance is only recorded once a member is actually seated in their designated seat inside the House, preventing "proxy" signatures or members signing and immediately leaving.
-
Real-Time Tracking & Transparency: Beyond just marking presence, the AI monitors the duration each legislator remains in the Assembly. This data is displayed digitally within the premises to ensure transparency regarding the active participation of elected representatives.
-
"No Work, No Pay" Policy: The initiative reinforces legislative discipline by supporting a potential "no work, no pay" rule. Under existing rules, continuous absence (recorded by the AI) for 60 days can also lead to the disqualification of a member.
Footnotes: AP's Governor: Syed Abdul Nazeer, CM: N. Chandrababu Naidu, Capital: Amaravati
2. India’s Passport Climbs 10 Ranks in 2026
-
Significant Rank Jump: The Indian passport climbed 10 places, rising from 85th in 2025 to 75th in the February 2026 update. This is India’s best ranking in over a decade, driven by new bilateral agreements and the rollout of advanced chip-embedded e-passports.
-
Access to 56 Destinations: Despite the jump in rank, the number of visa-free/visa-on-arrival destinations for Indians settled at 56. While India lost easy access to Iran and Bolivia due to new security restrictions, it gained fresh access to destinations like The Gambia and extended 60-day visa-free stays in Thailand.
-
Regional Dominance: India now holds the strongest passport in South Asia (excluding the Maldives), significantly outperforming neighbors like Bhutan (83rd), Sri Lanka (91st), and Pakistan (97th). This reflects India’s growing "soft-power footprint" and its expanding influence in international travel and trade.
3. NIPL Signs Agreement with Malaysia’s PayNet
-
Cross-Border QR Interoperability: The agreement enables travelers to make seamless merchant payments using their domestic apps. Indian travelers in Malaysia can now pay at over 2.9 million DuitNow QR touchpoints using UPI, while Malaysian travelers in India will eventually be able to scan UPI QR codes using their local DuitNow apps.
-
Phased Implementation: The rollout is happening in two phases. The first phase (currently active) focuses on Indian tourists visiting Malaysia—aligning with the "Visit Malaysia 2026" campaign. The subsequent phase will open up the reciprocal service for Malaysian visitors in India.
-
Economic Connectivity: Beyond tourism, this partnership strengthens the digital and economic ties between the two nations. It provides a low-cost, secure, and real-time alternative to traditional currency exchange or international credit cards, supporting small businesses and the wider financial ecosystem in both markets.
4. Bulgaria appoints Andrey Gyurov as acting PM
-
Technocratic Mandate: Gyurov, a 50-year-old economist and former lawmaker, was chosen as a neutral, "non-partisan" figure to lead a caretaker government. His primary responsibility is to maintain macroeconomic stability—critical as Bulgaria recently adopted the euro at the start of 2026.
-
Preparation for Snap Elections: The main task of this interim government is to organize and oversee free and fair national elections, which are scheduled for April 19, 2026. This will be Bulgaria's eighth parliamentary election in just five years, reflecting the country's deep political fragmentation.
-
Response to Civil Unrest: His appointment follows the resignation of the previous coalition government (led by Rosen Zhelyazkov) in December 2025, which was triggered by widespread nationwide protests over corruption, social injustice, and the influence of oligarchs.
Footnotes: Bulgaria's President: Iliana Iotova, Capital: Sofia
5. Hoesflot Klaebo wins 9th gold in cross-country skiing
-
All-Time Winter Record: With this win, the 29-year-old Klæbo now stands alone as the most successful Winter Olympian in history. He broke the long-standing record of eight gold medals previously shared by Norwegian legends Marit Bjørgen, Bjørn Dæhlie, and Ole Einar Bjørndalen.
-
The Decisive Race: The record-breaking ninth gold came in the men’s $4 \times 7.5\text{ km}$ relay. Klæbo anchored the Norwegian team (including Emil Iversen, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, and Einar Hedegart), crossing the finish line 22.2 seconds ahead of France to secure his fourth gold medal of the 2026 Games alone.
6. India Beat Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026 Thriller
-
Biggest Winning Margin: India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs, marking their largest-ever victory by run margin against their arch-rivals in T20 World Cup history. This win took India's head-to-head record against Pakistan in T20 World Cups to a staggering 8–1.
-
Kishan's Batting Masterclass: After the early loss of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan played a blistering "Player of the Match" innings, scoring 77 off 40 balls (including 10 fours and 3 sixes). His performance powered India to a competitive total of 175/7 on a challenging, slow surface.
-
Clinical Bowling & Super 8 Qualification: India’s bowling unit dismantled the Pakistan lineup, bowling them out for just 114 in 18 overs. The attack was led by Hardik Pandya (2/16) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/17), who rattled the top order early. With this win, India became the second team (after West Indies) to officially qualify for the Super 8 stage.
7. CA Prasanna Kumar D Elected as President of ICAI
-
74th President of ICAI: CA Prasanna Kumar D has been elected as the 74th President of the ICAI, succeeding CA Charanjot Singh Nanda. A Fellow Member since 1984, he brings over four decades of experience and previously served as the Vice-President during the 2025–26 term.
-
New Vice-President: Alongside the President, the 26th Council elected CA Mangesh Pandurang Kinare as the Vice-President for the 2026–27 term. Kinare is a seasoned professional with over 33 years of experience and is currently serving his third term as a Central Council Member.
-
Strategic Vision: Under this new leadership, the ICAI aims to position India as a "Global Accounting Hub." Their mandate includes strengthening professional standards, enhancing member welfare through funds like the Chartered Accountants Benevolent Fund (CABF), and fostering digital innovation within the profession.
Footnotes: ICAI's President: CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, HQ: New Delhi, Estd: 1949
8. Prof. Charu Gupta won Anand Kentish Coomaraswamy Prize 2026
-
Award-Winning Work: The prize was awarded for her book, "Hindi Hindu Histories: Caste, Ayurveda, Travel, and Communism in Early Twentieth-Century India" (published by Permanent Black and SUNY Press). The work explores the plurality of Hindu life in North India through the lens of vernacular print culture and autobiographies.
-
Prestigious Global Recognition: Conferred by the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), this international award is considered one of the highest honors in the field of South Asian Studies. It recognizes distinguished scholarly works that "define or redefine" the understanding of major subject areas.
-
Focus on Marginalized Narratives: Prof. Gupta's research was lauded for uncovering a dynamic, pluralistic "Hindi Hindu universe." By examining diverse figures—such as anti-caste crusaders, women Ayurvedic practitioners, and Leftist journalists—she challenged monolithic perspectives on religious and national identity during a transformative period of Indian history.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
-
International Innovation Day: 16thFebruary
-
Theme 2026: "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (Welfare for all, happiness for all)
-
The summit is anchored on three foundational pillars: People, Planet & Progress.
0 like |
0 comment
