Today’s current affairs for 20 February 2026 are important for competitive exams because they cover fresh developments in Indian polity, economy, foreign policy, science, and sports that often appear in MCQs and descriptive questions. This 20 February 2026 current affairs roundup focuses on the latest national and international news for competitive exams in India in a concise, exam-oriented format.
India – National Current Affairs
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The Supreme Court has scheduled final hearings on petitions challenging the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) from 5 May 2026, nearly five years after the law came into force, making it important for questions on constitutional provisions and citizenship.
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The 2nd India–AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 16–20 February 2026, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting India’s push for artificial intelligence policy and digital economy initiatives.
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The Election Commission of India has asked 17 states and 5 Union Territories to prepare for the next phase of the Statewide Indexing and Revision (SIR) drive expected from April, relevant for exam questions on electoral reforms and the role of the ECI.
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The Supreme Court has strongly criticised the “freebies culture”, stressing that states should prioritise employment generation and economic stability, a key issue for questions on fiscal policy and Centre–state relations.
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Former Army Chief General Manoj Naravane stated that the unresolved India–China boundary dispute continues to pose serious diplomatic and security challenges, relevant for questions on India’s defence and foreign policy.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for open-source artificial intelligence and criticised countries and firms that develop AI systems in secrecy, underlining India’s stance on responsible AI governance.
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Security agencies report that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has shifted from the Valley to dense forested border areas, with weekly reviews of the security grid, significant for internal security and terrorism-related topics.
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The Rishikesh–Karnaprayag railway project in Uttarakhand is reported to be progressing at full speed and is likely to be completed within two years, important for infrastructure and connectivity questions.
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Several schools in Delhi received bomb threat emails during the CBSE Class 12 Board Exams 2026, leading to evacuations and police investigations, highlighting issues of school safety and emergency response.
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The Haryana Assembly budget session is set to begin with an expected political confrontation between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, relevant for state politics and legislative procedure questions.
International Current Affairs
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In the ongoing Russo–Ukrainian war, Russian drone strikes have hit civilian and infrastructure targets including transport vehicles and energy facilities in Ukraine, leading to emergency power cuts across the country, important for questions on global security and energy markets.
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Pakistan’s security forces have arrested four suspects linked to the Khorasan branch of the Islamic State in connection with the 2026 Islamabad mosque bombing, a key development in South Asian counterterrorism.
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In Sudan’s civil war, multiple bombings and drone strikes in South and North Kordofan have killed dozens of civilians, highlighting the humanitarian and security crisis in the region.
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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on allegations of fuel smuggling, affecting maritime security and global oil supply routes.
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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces in North Kivu killed at least 20 people, reflecting ongoing instability in Central Africa.
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Armenia has hosted United States Vice President JD Vance, and both countries have agreed on a nuclear cooperation framework that could involve up to 9 billion USD in nuclear energy-related exports, important for nuclear diplomacy and energy questions.
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Nigeria has announced that a senior Boko Haram commander known as Abu Khalid and several fighters were killed in a raid in Borno State, and the United States plans to deploy around 200 soldiers to support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, relevant for questions on international security cooperation.
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Landmine incidents in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo regions have killed and injured civilians, underlining post-conflict risks and international humanitarian law issues.
Economy & Banking
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The Reserve Bank of India, in its February 2026 Monetary Policy, has kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 percent with a neutral stance, indicating a balance between controlling inflation and supporting growth, which is crucial for banking and monetary policy questions.
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RBI projects India’s real GDP growth at around 7.4 percent and real GVA growth at about 7.3 percent for FY25–26, citing strong domestic demand and a revival in manufacturing and services.
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The RBI notes that headline CPI inflation is currently within its 4–6 percent tolerance band and is expected to remain around 4.0 percent in Q1 FY27 and 4.2 percent in Q2 FY27, important for inflation and macroeconomy-related MCQs.
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Recent trade deals with the United States and the European Union have reduced tariffs on several Indian goods, with US tariffs reportedly cut from around 50 percent to about 18 percent on select products, supporting exports and external sector performance.
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Market commentators highlight that global risks from the Russia–China axis and energy prices remain key factors for Indian markets, influencing RBI decisions and foreign portfolio flows.
Science, Technology & Environment
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The 2nd India–AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, described as the first major AI event hosted in the Global South, includes the India AI Impact Expo 2026 and showcases India’s AI startups, policy frameworks, and global partnerships, useful for science and tech questions.
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Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has unveiled “New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments” at the summit, indicating India’s efforts to create norms for safe and responsible AI development and deployment.
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Google CEO Sundar Pichai has remarked that he “never imagined” Visakhapatnam would emerge as a global AI hub, reflecting India’s growing importance in the artificial intelligence ecosystem.
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Discussions at the AI summit focus on ethical AI, open-source models, and digital infrastructure, which are likely to be tested in exams under topics like emerging technologies and digital governance.
Sports & Important Days
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As the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 continue in Italy, events scheduled for 20 February include the men’s 15 km biathlon mass start and the men’s curling bronze-medal match, relevant for questions on major international sports events.
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Various Indian news and education platforms highlight “today’s current affairs” for 20 February 2026 for students and competitive exam aspirants, underlining the importance of regular current affairs preparation.
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No major internationally recognised UN observance is specifically listed for 20 February 2026 in the cited sources, so candidates should focus on recurring days around this period such as World Day of Social Justice (20 February) as a static GK fact.
