This monthly summary of current affairs for February 2026 is designed to assist aspirants preparing for various competitive exams at the state and national levels. We have compiled all the crucial updates from national, international, economic, and sports sectors to strengthen your general knowledge. Regularly following these updates will serve as a complete guide for your preparation.
Table of Contents
National News
New Ramsar Sites and Environmental Updates
India has reached a new milestone in wetland conservation. The ‘Patna Bird Sanctuary’ in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, and the ‘Chhari Dhand Wetland’ in Kutch, Gujarat, have been awarded the status of Ramsar sites. This brings the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 98.
Related Static GK
- The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for wetland conservation, signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
- India signed this treaty on February 1, 1982.
16th Finance Commission and Administrative Announcements
Dr. Arvind Panagariya has been appointed as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission. The recommendations of this commission will remain in effect from April 1, 2026, to 2031. Additionally, Sumitra Pawar has been appointed as the first female Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Punjab’s Adampur Airport has been renamed ‘Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Airport’, and Yumnam Khumchand Singh has become the new Chief Minister of Manipur.
Related Static GK
- The President constitutes the Finance Commission under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution.
- The first Finance Commission was established in 1951 under the chairmanship of K.C. Neogy.
Infrastructure and Security Initiatives
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has shifted from the South Block to the new ‘Seva Teerth’ complex. India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel is being constructed between Gohpur and Numaligarh under the Brahmaputra River in Assam. Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has launched ‘Prahar’, India’s first national counter-terrorism policy.
Related Static GK
- The Bogibeel Bridge in Assam is the longest rail-cum-road bridge in India.
- The Brahmaputra River is known as ‘Tsangpo’ in Tibet.
International News
Global Politics and Indices
India ranks 91st out of 182 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2025, with Denmark topping the list. Tarique Rahman has taken charge as the head of government in Bangladesh, and Sanae Takaichi has assumed office as Japan’s first female Prime Minister. Furthermore, 38-year-old Rob Jetten has become the youngest Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
Related Static GK
- Transparency International, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, publishes the Corruption Perception Index.
- The NATO headquarters is located in Brussels, Belgium.
Alliances and Summits
The first BRICS Sherpa meeting under India’s presidency was held in New Delhi. Meanwhile, the 39th African Union Summit concluded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. India has joined the strategic ‘Pexilica’ alliance, which will focus on AI and semiconductor supply chains.
Related Static GK
- The BRICS group currently consists of ten members (after Argentina chose not to accept membership).
- The African Union (AU) became a permanent member of the G-20 group in 2023.
Sports
Tennis and Cricket Updates
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain has won the Australian Open 2026 men’s singles title. On the cricket field, India won its 6th Under-19 men’s cricket World Cup by defeating England. In football, Services defeated Kerala to emerge as champions of the 79th Santosh Trophy.
Related Static GK
- The Australian Open is held annually in January-February at Melbourne Park.
- The Santosh Trophy is a prestigious national football competition in India that began in 1941.
Olympics and Other Sports
Norway secured the top spot in the medal tally with 41 medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Italy. In the Khelo India Winter Games 2026, the Indian Army topped the charts with 23 medals. India also maintained the top spot in the Asian Rifle Pistol Championship with 94 medals.
Related Static GK
- The headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- The Khelo India project was launched in 2018 to improve grassroots sports in India.
Economy and Business
Union Budget 2026-27
The Government of India has set a total expenditure target of 53.5 lakh crore rupees for the upcoming fiscal year. A target has been set to keep the Fiscal Deficit at 4.3% of the GDP. Notably, it has been proposed to change the Base Year for calculating GDP and IIP from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
Related Static GK
- James Wilson presented India’s first budget in 1860.
- R.K. Shanmukham Chetty presented the first budget of independent India.
State-wise Economic Success
Gujarat currently ranks first in India in renewable energy production (42.58 GW). Alwar district in Rajasthan has become the first district in India to achieve 100 percent insurance coverage. Uday Kotak has been appointed as the new Chairman of Gujarat’s GIFT City.
Related Static GK
- GIFT City stands for Gujarat International Finance Tec-City.
- India’s largest solar park is located in the Kutch region of Gujarat.
Environment and Geography
Natural Disasters and Disputes
The Kerala government has declared ‘tidal flooding’ as a state-specific disaster. The Pennar river water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has come back into the spotlight. Meanwhile, the Shahpurkandi Dam on the Ravi River is located on the border of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
Related Static GK
- India’s only active volcano, Barren Island, is located in the Andamans.
- The Pennar River originates from Nandi Hills in Karnataka.
Appointments and Miscellaneous
Nivedita Dubey has become the first female board member of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Military exercises ‘Khanjar 13’ (India-Kyrgyzstan) and the 16th ‘Vajra Prahar’ (India-USA) were conducted recently. The ‘Ol Chiki’ script of the Santali language has completed 100 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the oral polio vaccine ‘nOPV2’ manufactured by the Indian company Biological E Limited.
Related Static GK
- The Ol Chiki script was discovered by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925.
- The World Health Organization was established on April 7, 1948.
Among the important books released this month, Shashi Tharoor’s ‘The Sage Who Reimagined Hinduism’ and Chhattisgarh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan’s ‘E Mati Katha Kahe’ are noteworthy. Those who regularly follow current affairs should make a note of these facts. Participate in the quiz below to test your preparation.
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