🗞️ Why in News India signed defence industrial cooperation agreements with Greece and unveiled the SESEL Joint Vision with Seychelles; Gujarat inked a Letter of Intent with Starlink (SpaceX) for satellite internet in tribal districts; and shooter Manu Bhaker won silver at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026 in New Delhi.

Defence & Security

India-Greece Defence Industrial Cooperation Agreement

India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent for Defence Industrial Cooperation, establishing a 5-year roadmap for co-development and co-production of defence equipment. Key elements:

  • Aligns India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence initiative with Greece’s Defence Industry Agenda 2030
  • A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026 was exchanged alongside the declaration
  • Greece will deploy a liaison officer to the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), Gurugram — India’s maritime domain awareness hub covering the IOR

Significance: Greece is a NATO member and EU partner with advanced naval and aerospace defence industries. The cooperation opens avenues for India to access European-standard defence technology while offering Greece access to India’s cost-competitive manufacturing base.

DAC Approves 114 Rafale Jets — Rs 3.25 Lakh Crore Deal

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation — India’s largest ever defence deal at Rs 3.25 lakh crore (~USD 40 billion). Breakdown: 18 fly-away (direct delivery) + 96 manufactured in India (HAL–Dassault partnership). India’s total Rafale fleet will reach 176 jets (36 IAF + 26 Navy Rafale-M + 114 new).

MoD–HAL Dornier 228 for Coast Guard — Rs 2,312 Crore

The Ministry of Defence contracted with HAL Kanpur Transport Division for 8 Dornier 228 aircraft with Operational Role Equipment for the Indian Coast Guard. The Dornier 228 is a 19-seater STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) twin-turboprop powered by the Garrett TPE 331 engine, manufactured domestically at Kanpur. The Coast Guard aims to grow its air fleet from 80 to 100 aircraft by 2030.

Indian Navy Assumes Command of CTF-154

The Indian Navy assumed command of Combined Task Force 154 (CTF-154) for the first time. Commander: Commodore Milind M. Mokashi, Shaurya Chakra (taking over from the Italian Navy). CTF-154 operates under Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) — a 44-nation multinational partnership headquartered in Manama, Bahrain (established May 2023). Focus: Maritime training, counter-piracy, trafficking prevention, and Maritime Domain Awareness.

International Relations

India-Seychelles SESEL Joint Vision

India and Seychelles announced the SESEL Joint Vision — an acronym for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages — during Seychelles President Patrick Herminie’s State Visit to India (February 9, 2026), marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Key focus areas of SESEL:

  • Maritime security — coast guard cooperation, surveillance sharing
  • Digital infrastructure — submarine cable connectivity, digital governance
  • Renewable energy — solar and ocean-based energy cooperation
  • Climate action — shared vulnerability as island/coastal nations
  • Trade and economic linkages — facilitating bilateral commerce

Strategic context: Seychelles is critical to India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine. India has established a naval base at Assumption Island (Seychelles) and regularly conducts joint patrols under bilateral agreements. India has extended multiple Lines of Credit to Seychelles for development.

Henley Passport Index — India 75th

India improved to 75th rank in the Henley Passport Index (February 2026) with 56 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations — up from 80th in January 2026 and 85th in 2025. Top rank: Singapore (192 destinations); Japan and South Korea ranked second and third (187 destinations). Lowest: Afghanistan (24 destinations, rank 101).

Science & Technology

Gujarat–Starlink LoI for Satellite Internet

The Gujarat government signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink (SpaceX) for satellite broadband deployment in underserved regions, particularly tribal and Aspirational Districts including Narmada and Dahod. Use cases: e-governance, healthcare, education, disaster management, and industrial connectivity. Aligns with the Digital India vision of last-mile broadband access.

About Starlink: Starlink is SpaceX’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation — as of 2026, over 6,000 satellites in orbit, providing high-speed (50–200 Mbps), low-latency broadband. TRAI has been finalising the regulatory framework for satellite communications in India; spectrum allocation for satellite broadband is a contested area between LEO operators (Starlink, OneWeb/Eutelsat) and traditional terrestrial telecom operators (Reliance Jio, Airtel).

IIT Bombay–Columbia University AI Centre for Manufacturing

The “Columbia–IIT Bombay Centre of AI for Manufacturing” was signed at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (Education). Focus sectors: semiconductors, robotics, pharmaceuticals, food processing, petrochemicals, and construction. Deliverables include applied research, talent development, and public AI datasets.

NITI Aayog — Technology Services Roadmap

NITI Aayog Frontier Hub released “Technology Services — Reimagination Ahead”, targeting growth of India’s tech sector from USD 265 billion to USD 750–850 billion by 2035. Five levers: Agentic AI, Software & Products, Digital Infrastructure, Innovation-led Engineering, India-for-India solutions. Presented by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

Economy & Banking

NIPL–PayNet Malaysia — UPI–DuitNow Interoperability

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) signed a cross-border QR payment agreement with PayNet (Malaysia), enabling Indian visitors to use UPI apps at Malaysian merchants via DuitNow QR (Phase 1) and Malaysians to pay via UPI QR in India (Phase 2). UPI is now active in: UAE, Nepal, Mauritius, Singapore, France, Bhutan, and Malaysia.

IOB–IIM Kozhikode MoU for Executive Education

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) partnered with IIM Kozhikode for leadership and executive training, signed during IOB’s 90th Foundation Day (February 10, 2026). A dedicated Centre of Excellence will be established at IIM-K’s Kochi campus + IOB staff college for senior executive customised programs.

Rajasthan Budget 2026–27 — Key Figures

Presented by Deputy CM and Finance Minister Diya Kumari. Total outlay: Rs 6,10,956 crore. Fiscal deficit: Rs 79,492 crore (3.69% of GSDP). Key allocations: Rs 5,000 crore for Jal Jeevan Mission–Urban (6,245 villages); Rs 1,800 crore for roads; Rs 600 crore for DMIC Jodhpur–Pali–Marwar (3,600 hectares); Rs 500 crore for Atal Pragati Paths.

Appointments

City Union Bank — R Vijay Anandh as MD & CEO

RBI approved the appointment of R Vijay Anandh as MD & CEO of City Union Bank, effective May 1, 2026 (3-year term). Annual remuneration: Rs 2.50 crore. Previously Executive Director of the bank with 28+ years in risk management, credit appraisal, and retail assets.

Other Appointments (February 14–16 window)

  • Deepak Gupta — CMD of GAIL (effective March 1, 2026; term until February 28, 2029); succeeds Sandeep Kumar Gupta
  • CA Prasanna Kumar D — 74th President of ICAI (2026–27); Visakhapatnam-based; VP: CA Mangesh Pandurang Kinare
  • Sanjay Agarwal — MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank reappointed (from April 19, 2026, 3 years); AU SFB received in-principle universal bank approval in 2025

Governance

Seva Teertha — New PMO Complex (February 13)

The Seva Teertha integrated complex was inaugurated by PM Modi on February 13 — housing the PMO (Seva Teertha-1), NSCS (Seva Teertha-2), and Cabinet Secretariat (Seva Teertha-3). Designed by Dr. Bimal Patel; inscription: “Nagrik Devo Bhava”. First policy decision: PM RAHAT Scheme — cashless hospitalisation up to Rs 1.5 lakh for road accident victims within 7 days. North and South Blocks will be converted into the “Yuge Yugeen Bharat” National Museum.

Ministry of Earth Sciences–Puducherry MoU

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) signed a 5-year MoU with the Puducherry government (February 12) covering six pillars: sustainable marine fisheries, offshore wind energy, desalination, ocean climate services, coastal erosion management, and maritime spatial planning. Signatories: Dr. M. Ravichandran (MoES Secretary) and Dr. Sharat Chauhan (Puducherry Chief Secretary).

Sports

Manu Bhaker — Silver at Asian Shooting Championships 2026

Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker won the silver medal in the 25m Pistol event at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026, held in New Delhi. Qualification score: 584; Final score: 35 points (including two shoot-offs). She also competed in 10m Air Pistol (finished 7th). Manu Bhaker is the first Indian to win two medals at the same Olympic Games (Paris 2024 — bronze in 10m Air Pistol individual and 10m Air Pistol mixed team).

Social Justice

Thanya Nathan — Visually Impaired Lawyer Tops Civil Judge Merit List (Kerala)

Thanya Nathan, a visually impaired lawyer from Kannur district, Kerala, topped the Civil Judge (Junior Division) merit list among candidates with disabilities in Kerala. She had previously topped her LLB at Kannur University. Study aids used: Braille materials, screen-reading software, and audio resources.

Constitutional/legal significance: The achievement aligns with a Supreme Court ruling affirming that visual impairment does not disqualify a candidate from judicial posts — upholding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and the principle of reasonable accommodation in public employment. Article 16 of the Constitution guarantees equality of opportunity in public employment; the RPwD Act 2016 mandates 4% reservation for persons with disabilities in government posts.

Important Days (February 12–14 Window)

National Productivity Week — February 12–18

The 68th Foundation Day of the National Productivity Council (NPC) launched National Productivity Week (February 12–18, 2026). Theme 2026: “Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximising Productivity in MSMEs”. Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. NPC was established in 1958 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

World Radio Day — February 13

UNESCO proclaimed World Radio Day in 2011; the UN General Assembly adopted it in 2012. First observed: February 13, 2012. Theme 2026: “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a tool, not a voice”. The 2026 event was hosted by Akashvani Raipur (All India Radio). Radio remains the single most accessible mass medium globally, reaching 95%+ of the world’s population.

International Darwin Day — February 12

Darwin Day commemorates the birth anniversary of Charles Darwin (February 12, 1809) and celebrates evolutionary science and scientific thinking. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection (1859, “On the Origin of Species”) is the foundational framework of modern biology.

📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia

India-Greece Defence Pact:

  • Agreement: Joint Declaration of Intent for Defence Industrial Cooperation
  • Framework: 5-year co-development/co-production roadmap
  • India link: Aatmanirbhar Bharat | Greece link: Defence Industry Agenda 2030
  • Greece will post liaison officer to: IFC-IOR, Gurugram (maritime domain awareness hub)

India-Seychelles SESEL:

  • SESEL = Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages
  • Occasion: 50 years of India-Seychelles diplomatic relations
  • Context: Seychelles President Patrick Herminie State Visit, February 9, 2026
  • India’s SAGAR Doctrine: Security and Growth for All in the Region (PM Modi, 2015, Mauritius)
  • India’s naval facility: Assumption Island, Seychelles

Gujarat-Starlink LoI:

  • Satellite: LEO (Low Earth Orbit) constellation; 6,000+ satellites
  • Target districts: Narmada and Dahod (tribal/Aspirational Districts)
  • Regulator: TRAI — finalising satellite broadband spectrum allocation framework
  • Speed: 50–200 Mbps, low latency (unlike geostationary satellites at 600ms latency)

Manu Bhaker — Asian Shooting Championships 2026:

  • Event: 25m Pistol; Silver medal; Venue: New Delhi
  • Qualification: 584; Final: 35 points (two shoot-offs)
  • Paris 2024: Won two bronze medals (10m Air Pistol individual + 10m Air Pistol mixed team with Sarabjot Singh)
  • First Indian to win two medals at same Olympics since Norman Pritchard (1900)

Thanya Nathan — Civil Judge Merit List:

  • From: Kannur district, Kerala
  • Achievement: Topped Civil Judge (Junior Division) exam among PwD candidates
  • Legal basis: RPwD Act 2016 (4% reservation PwD in Govt jobs) + SC ruling on disability non-disqualification for judiciary
  • Article 16: Equality of opportunity in public employment

Other Relevant Facts:

  • IFC-IOR: Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region; HQ Gurugram; India’s maritime surveillance hub covering 21 countries
  • CTF-154: Established May 2023 under CMF (Combined Maritime Forces) — 44-nation body; HQ Manama, Bahrain
  • City Union Bank: Tamil Nadu-based; R Vijay Anandh as new MD (May 1, 2026; Rs 2.50 cr p.a.)
  • NPC (National Productivity Council): Founded 1958; under Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • World Radio Day: Proclaimed by UNESCO 2011; adopted by UNGA 2012; first observed February 13, 2012
  • Darwin Day: February 12 = Charles Darwin’s birth (1809); “On the Origin of Species” published 1859

Sources: IndiaBix, AffairsCloud