IMPORTANT DAYS
World Radio Day 2026- 13 February
• World Radio Day is celebrated annually on 13 February to recognise the importance of radio as a powerful medium of communication.
• The date marks the establishment of United Nations Radio in 1946.
• The theme for 2026 is “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a tool, not a voice.”
• This year’s observance highlights the expanding role of Artificial Intelligence in modern broadcasting systems.
• A special World Radio Day Conclave is being organised by Akashvani Raipur in collaboration with UNESCO.
• The conclave will examine how AI can enhance content creation in radio broadcasting.
• Discussions will also focus on improving audience engagement and accessibility through technology.
• At the same time, the theme reinforces that human creativity and voice must remain central to radio communication.
APPOINTMENT
Uday Kotak Appointed Chairman of GIFT City Company
• Industrialist and veteran banker Uday Suresh Kotak have been named Chairman of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Limited (GIFT City Co. Ltd.).
• The appointment was formalised through a Government of Gujarat resolution dated 13 February 2026 and takes effect immediately until further orders.
• He succeeds Hasmukh Adhia, who had been serving as Non-Executive Chairman since June 2023.
• Uday Kotak is the founder and director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, having steered the group’s expansion for nearly four decades.
• He served as Managing Director and CEO of the bank until 1 September 2023.
• From 2 September 2023 onward, he transitioned into the role of Non-Executive Non-Independent Director at the bank.
• GIFT City is India’s first operational smart city and a major financial hub.
• It is also home to India’s first and only International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), reinforcing its strategic importance in global finance.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US National Science Foundation Announces First Grants Under Quad AI Agriculture Initiative
• The U.S. National Science Foundation has unveiled the first round of grants under a Quad-backed programme focused on integrating artificial intelligence into agriculture.
• The initiative, titled “Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen Agriculture (AI-ENGAGE)”, seeks to modernize farming systems in the United States and across the Indo-Pacific region.
• A total funding allocation of US$2.4 million has been set aside for the programme.
• This funding cycle will support six international research projects aimed at leveraging AI-driven solutions in agriculture.
• The programme is being implemented in partnership with agencies from Australia, India, and Japan, reflecting Quad collaboration.
• Selected projects are led by prominent universities in the United States.
• Each research project includes participation from scientists representing at least three Quad nations, ensuring cross-border cooperation.
• The initiative underscores the Quad’s commitment to technology-driven agricultural transformation and regional food security.
NATIONAL NEWS
New PMO ‘Seva Teerth’ and Central Secretariat Buildings Inaugurated
• The Prime Minister inaugurated the new Prime Minister’s Office complex, ‘Seva Teerth’, on 13 February 2026.
• The newly constructed Central Secretariat buildings — Kartavya Bhavan 1 and Kartavya Bhavan 2 — were also formally opened.
• The final Union Cabinet meeting was held at the historic South Block before the relocation of offices.
• With the move, the iconic North Block and South Block buildings have been vacated, marking the end of a historic administrative era.
• The North and South Blocks were originally designed by British architect Herbert Baker and served as key administrative centres during the pre-Independence period.
• The Prime Minister’s Office, along with major ministries, will now function from the Seva Teerth complex, which will also house the National Security Council Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat.
• Kartavya Bhavan 1 and 2 will accommodate ministries such as Finance, Defence, Health, Education, and Agriculture under one integrated setup.
• The new complexes feature digitally enabled workspaces and have been developed in line with 4-Star GRIHA sustainability standards, ensuring energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
DEFENCE
Indian Navy Assumes Command of CTF 154
• The Indian Navy has taken command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154, a multinational training task force operating under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
• Commodore Milind M Mokashi assumed leadership of CTF 154, succeeding the outgoing commander from the Italian Navy.
• The change-of-command ceremony was held at the CMF Headquarters in Manama.
• The event was presided over by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, with Vice Admiral Kurt A. Renshaw, Commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, also in attendance.
• CTF 154 focuses on maritime security training and capacity building among CMF member nations.
• India’s assumption of command reflects growing global confidence in its naval capabilities and reinforces its role as a preferred security partner.
• The CMF, established in February 2002, comprises 47 member countries and operates five task forces:
• CTF 150 – Maritime Security Operations outside the Arabian Gulf
• CTF 151 – Counter-Piracy
• CTF 152 – Maritime Security Operations inside the Arabian Gulf
• CTF 153 – Red Sea Maritime Security
• CTF 154 – Maritime Security Training
• India’s leadership of CTF 154 enhances its strategic presence in regional and global maritime cooperation frameworks.
ECONOMY NEWS
India’s Retail Inflation at 2.75% in January Under Revised CPI Framework
• India’s retail inflation stood at 2.75% year-on-year in January, based on the revised Consumer Price Index (CPI) series.
• This marks the first comprehensive revision of the CPI framework in over a decade, with the base year updated from 2012 to 2024.
• Under the earlier series, inflation for December was recorded at 1.33%, indicating a rise in January figures.
• Despite the increase, inflation remained within the tolerance band set by the Reserve Bank of India.
• Data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed rural inflation at 2.73%, while urban inflation was marginally higher at 2.77%.
• Food inflation was reported at 2.13% as per the All India CPI, following a decline of 2.7% in food prices in December.
• The revised CPI structure assigns a lower weight to food items, thereby moderating their influence on overall headline inflation.
• The uptick in January inflation was largely driven by higher prices in personal care products, social security services, education, clothing and footwear, as well as restaurant and accommodation services.
