TODAYS TOP NEWS
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1. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated 75 CM Shri Schools across New Delhi. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the 75 new CM Shri schools were built as model government schools to match private institutions in quality and facilities.
2. The Election Commission of India has officially released the final electoral roll for Gujarat following a rigorous three-and-a-half-month Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign. Based on the qualifying date of January 1, 2026, the state’s total voter strength now stands at 4 crore 40 lakh 30 thousand and 725, resulting in the net addition of 5.60 lakh voters since the publication of the draft roll.
3. Districts of Telangana need to get ready for the first unseasonal rains and hailstorms of 2026, apart from India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted misty conditions. Thunderstorms are expected across Telangana on February 22, 23, and 24.
4. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday inaugurated the first edition of Mumbai Climate Week at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra, marking the formal start of a three-day global climate-focused gathering aimed at translating dialogue into tangible action.
5. Delhi Airport authority advises passengers to use metro for convenient access ahead of India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam
6. The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections will be held on April 10. The schedule was approved by the Meghalaya Cabinet at a meeting held in Shillong.
7. Himachal Pradesh: Losar Festival from 18–20 February Marks Start of Fire Horse Year.
The festival will begin on the 18th and will be celebrated until 20 February. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has also arrived in McLeod Ganj, creating an atmosphere of joy among devotees and local residents.
8. The seven-day International Shivratri Festival of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh began and will continue till 21 February 2026.
9. The Assam Cabinet has approved a 3% reservation in Class I and Class II state government jobs for tea tribes and Adivasi communities within the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.
10. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated the 23rd edition of BioAsia 2026 international summit yesterday. The two-day global conference will be held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC).
11. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) capture of the mayoral post in Karimnagar Municipal Corporation (KMC) marks a significant political milestone for the party’s future in Telangana. This is the first time since the formation of Telangana in 2014 that the BJP will head a Municipal Corporation in the State.
12. Sadhguru Shri Jaggi Vasudev inaugurated the Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Award during Mahashivaratri in Coimbatore. The new national honour recognises excellence in national security, science, sports, arts, business, and social service, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attending as chief guest.
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LEGAL REPORT
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1. The Jharkhand High Court, while hearing the dispute between the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Ranchi Police, has upheld the stay on police entry and investigation inside the ED office. The case is linked to an alleged irregularity in the Drinking Water Department, in which Santosh Kumar filed an FIR at Airport Police Station.
2. Rs 900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam: Anti Corruption Bureau raids 15 locations across India, ACB teams carried out searches in Jaipur, Barmer, Sikar and Jalore within Rajasthan. Officials scrutinised documents, electronic records and financial transactions connected to the allocation of tenders under the scheme.
3. A Delhi court formally framed charges against former Railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi in the alleged land-for-jobs scam.
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1. In Dhanbad district of Jharkhand, a major fire broke out late at night at the Steel Gate vegetable market in the Saraidhela police station area, reducing more than 12 shops to ashes. Four fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after sustained efforts.
2. In Rajasthan, eight people have died after a massive fire broke out in a factory in Tapukara of Khairthal-Tijara district. The incident is reported to have occurred at a cardboard factory in the Khushkhera industrial area.
3. The Civil Aviation Ministry has said that the Digital Flight Data Recorder of the Learjet 45 aircraft, which crashed in Baramati last month, has been successfully downloaded by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau flight recorder laboratory. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is carrying out a detailed investigation into the accident in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, along with four others, was killed.
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DEFENCE News
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1. The Indian Army is advancing its counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) capabilities with a dedicated Drone Catcher System, prompted by the growing threat of small, low-radar-cross-section (RCS) drones.
2. The Ministry of Defence has granted approval for the Indian Navy to procure state-of-the-art 4-megawatt marine gas turbine-based electric power generators. This decision marks a significant step in enhancing the operational endurance and electrical self-sufficiency of naval warships.
3. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has received approval to procure state-of-the-art electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems tailored for its Dornier-228 aircraft.
4. Indian Navy launches cadet training ship ‘Krishna’; induction by year-end.
Krishna is the first in the series of three Cadet Training ships that are being built in India by private firm L&T Shipbuilding. The ship launch took place at the L&T shipyard in Kattupalli, near Chennai, in the presence of India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, and senior officials.
5. Assam’s newly inaugurated emergency landing strip on the Dibrugarh-Moran stretch of National Highway represents a pivotal advancement in India’s defence infrastructure. Located just 60 kilometres from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, this 4-kilometre reinforced highway section transforms ordinary tarmac into a vital airstrip capable of handling advanced fighter jets like the Rafale and Su-30MKI.
6. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has pioneered a ground breaking Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) capsule, transforming naval warfare capabilities for the Indian Navy.This innovative watertight launch container enables cruise missiles to be fired from submerged submarines via torpedo tubes or vertical launch systems.
7. Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), received an honorary doctorate from SRM University-A.P. during a special convocation in Amaravati on Saturday, 14 February 2026.
FINANCE
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INDIAN RUPEE VALUE
💷 GBP ₹123(Approx)
€ Euro : ₹107(Approx)
USD ₹ 91(Approx)
🇨🇦 Canada :CAD ₹66
🇦🇺 Australia : ₹ 61
🇦🇪 UAE Dirham : ₹ 25
🇨🇳 China Yuan ¥ : ₹ 13
🇲🇻 Maldives Rufiya : ₹ 5.88
🇧🇹 Bhutan ngultrum : ₹ 1.00
🇳🇵 Nepal Rupee : ₹a 0.63
🇧🇩 B’desh Taka* : ₹ 0.70
🇵🇰 Pak Rupee : ₹ 0.32
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Rupee : ₹ 0.29
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BSE SENSEX
83,450.96 +173.81 (0.21%)🌲
NIFTY
25,725.40 +42.65 (0.17%)🌲
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Rates in Financial Capital Mumbai
GOLD : ₹ 15,500/ 01gm (24 krt)
SILVER : ₹ 265,000/KG
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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1. Veteran actress Pravina Deshpande passed away on February 17 after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 60.
2. Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, on Tuesday (February 17, 2026). The exact medical reason for his hospitalisation has not been officially disclosed by the family, and further updates on his condition are awaited.
Salim Khan, who celebrated his 90th birthday in November 2025, remains one of the most influential figures in the history of Indian cinema.
Among his most celebrated works are Sholay, Zanjeer and Deewar, films that not only achieved massive commercial success but also left a lasting cultural impact.
18 Feb(Wednesday)
Vedic Ritu/ Shishir
Drik Ritu : Shishir (Winter)
पक्ष :: Krishnapaksh
(In Purnimanta calendar)
Vikram Samvat – 2082
Month : Phlguna 17,
(In Amanta calendar)
Shaka Samvat – 1947
Month : Phlguna 01
Tithi : Pratipada (up to 4:58 pm)Dwitiya
Nakshatra:Shatabhisa
Rahu : 12:40 PM – 02:05 PM
Yamaganda : 08:26 AM – 09:51 AM
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Ms. Pooja, |
