LEGAL NEWS
Supreme Court Affirms Menstrual Health as a Constitutional Right
• The Supreme Court of India has ruled that menstrual health is integral to dignity and falls within constitutional protection, strengthening the fight against period poverty.
• The judgement shifts menstrual health from being viewed merely as a welfare concern to a matter of equality, rights and public accountability.
• Despite expanded sanitation and water access, many facilities remain non-functional, revealing gaps between infrastructure creation and actual usability.
• Several states and Union Territories failed to submit required reports on menstrual hygiene policies, reflecting weak implementation and limited administrative focus.
• The Court emphasised that even if menstruation affects only a section of society, the right to dignified care must be safeguarded under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
• Inadequate menstrual care can impact health, school attendance, work participation and overall well-being, with conditions like PMS, PMDD and endometriosis often going undiagnosed.
• A systemic healthcare approach is needed to promote awareness, enabling individuals to recognise normal cycles and seek timely medical support when required.
• Comprehensive and gender-inclusive menstrual education in schools is essential to eliminate stigma and promote informed product choices.
• The Court highlighted environmentally sustainable options such as reusable products, supported by quality standards from the Bureau of Indian Standards.
• Achieving real change will require coordinated efforts between governments and civil society, aligning with national programmes like Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram and global Sustainable Development Goals on health, gender equality and sanitation.
APPOINTMENT
Bangladesh Enters New Political Phase as Tarique Rahman Set to Become Prime Minister
• Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is set to be sworn in as Prime Minister following a decisive electoral mandate in the February 12 general elections.
• The transition follows the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, marking Rahman’s formal return to national leadership after 17 years in exile.
• The BNP secured over 151 seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, while its broader alliance won 212 seats, ensuring a stable governing majority.
• Jamaat-e-Islami, contesting independently, emerged as the second-largest party with 77 seats, while the Awami League did not participate in the elections.
• The swearing-in ceremony for Members of Parliament will be held at the Parliament Bhaban in Dhaka, followed by the oath-taking of the Council of Ministers later in the day.
• India will be represented at the ceremony by Om Birla, highlighting continued diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Dhaka.
• Debate continues over a proposed constitutional reform council linked to the July National Charter, with legal experts questioning the need for any additional oath beyond constitutional provisions.
• Bangladesh operates a unicameral parliamentary system, where the Prime Minister heads the government and the President serves as the constitutional head of state.
• The country, which gained independence from Pakistan in 1971 after a nine-month Liberation War, has long been politically shaped by competition between the BNP and the Awami League.
• Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, now faces the challenge of stabilising governance, managing economic concerns, and restoring institutional confidence amid high public expectations.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
PM RAHAT Scheme Launched to Support Road Accident Victims
• The PM RAHAT Scheme (Road Accident Victim Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) has been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The initiative aims to provide immediate financial relief and medical support to victims of road accidents.
• Under the scheme, eligible victims can receive cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh.
• The benefit applies to accidents occurring on any category of road and covers treatment for up to seven days from the date of the incident.
• According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, hospitals will be reimbursed through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.
• The programme was formally launched at Seva Teerth on 14 February 2026.
• The scheme addresses India’s high rate of road accident fatalities, many of which are preventable with timely medical intervention.
• Studies indicate that nearly 50% of road accident deaths could be avoided if victims receive treatment within the critical first hour.
Union Health Minister Launches Two National AI Initiatives at India AI Summit 2026
• Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, launched two major national AI initiatives in healthcare at the India AI Summit 2026.
• The first initiative, Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India (SAHI), has been introduced as a comprehensive national framework to guide AI adoption in the healthcare sector.
• SAHI promotes the safe, ethical, evidence-based and inclusive use of AI technologies and provides direction on governance and regulatory oversight.
• It also offers structured guidance on the deployment and continuous monitoring of AI tools to ensure accountability and effectiveness.
• The second initiative, Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI (BODH), has been developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in collaboration with the National Health Authority.
• BODH enables evaluation of AI models using diverse real-world health data while preserving privacy and ensuring rigorous testing standards.
• The platform has been designated as a digital public good under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
• Together, SAHI and BODH aim to strengthen trust, transparency and innovation, building a responsible and globally competitive health AI ecosystem in India.
DEFENCE
India Hosts First UN SALW Fellowship Programme in Asia-Pacific
• India is hosting the first-ever United Nations Fellowship Training Programme on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control in the Asia-Pacific region.
• The three-week course is being conducted by the Indian Army at the Military College of Materials Management in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, from 16 February to 6 March 2026.
• The initiative is organised under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.
• The fellowship is being implemented by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs through its Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific.
• Delegates from 13 Asia-Pacific countries are participating in the specialised capacity-building programme.
• The inaugural address was delivered by Deepayan Basu Ray, while the keynote speech was given by Sanjay Sethi, emphasising multilateral action against illicit arms trafficking.
• The training aims to strengthen implementation of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI), key global frameworks to curb illegal arms trade and diversion.
• The initiative seeks to enhance regional cooperation, improve tracing mechanisms, and promote responsible stockpile management, reinforcing India’s role as a responsible security partner and regional training hub.
President to Review Naval Strength at International Fleet Review 2026
• Droupadi Murmu will review naval strength during the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 as part of her two-day visit to Andhra Pradesh on 17 and 18 February.
• She will attend the event in her capacity as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and will be received in Visakhapatnam by the Governor and the Chief Minister of the state.
• The fleet review will feature an impressive display of ships, submarines and aircraft off the Visakhapatnam coast.
• The event is being organised by the Indian Navy under the theme “United Through Oceans, Strengthening Bridges of Friendship.”
• The review aims to showcase maritime capability and strengthen cooperation among friendly navies.
• The event is being held alongside the 13th edition of the MILAN, a major multilateral naval exercise.
• The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave is also being conducted to deepen strategic collaboration among participating nations.
• Through these engagements, participating navies are expected to enhance interoperability and professional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.
ECONOMY NEWS
India’s Exports Rise by 13.17% in January 2026
• India’s total exports of goods and services increased by 13.17% in January 2026 compared to the same month last year.
• According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, overall exports (merchandise and services combined) reached 80.45 billion US dollars in January 2026, up from 71.09 billion US dollars in January 2025.
• However, overall imports rose at a faster rate of 18.76%, reaching 90.83 billion US dollars in January 2026, compared to 76.48 billion US dollars in January 2025.
• As a result, India’s overall trade deficit (merchandise and services combined) widened to 10.38 billion US dollars in January 2026, nearly doubling from 5.39 billion US dollars a year earlier.
• Both merchandise and services segments recorded growth:
• Merchandise exports increased slightly from 36.34 billion US dollars to 36.56 billion US dollars.
• Services exports rose significantly from 34.75 billion US dollars to 43.90 billion US dollars in January 2026.
• The data reflects strong growth in services exports, even as higher import growth contributed to a widening trade deficit.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
23rd BioAsia 2026 International Summit Inaugurated in Hyderabad
• The 23rd edition of BioAsia 2026 was inaugurated by A. Revanth Reddy on 17 February 2026.
• The two-day international life sciences summit is being held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre.
• This year’s theme is “TechBio Unleashed – AI, Automation, and the Revolutionary Changes in Life Sciences.”
• The summit highlights the integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and automation with biotechnology and healthcare, reinforcing India’s growing position as a global TechBio innovation hub.
• The Chief Minister also inaugurated an international exhibition featuring leading life sciences organisations from around the world.
• The conference brings together global experts, scientists, and industry leaders to deliberate on next-generation biologics and AI-driven research shaping the future of healthcare.
• Bruce L. Levine, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is participating as a speaker at the summit.
• The discussions align with the broader vision of “Telangana Rising 2047 – World-Class Life Sciences Ecosystem,” aimed at positioning the state as a leading global centre for life sciences innovation.
Amit Shah Chairs ‘Manthan’ Meet on Cooperative Reforms
• A high-level “Manthan” meeting of State and Union Territory Cooperation Ministers was held on 17 February in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of Amit Shah.
• Conducted at Mahatma Mandir, the meeting focused on advancing legal, institutional, and technological reforms in the cooperative sector.
• The primary aim was to empower cooperatives and accelerate rural economic development through coordinated action.
• Ministers and senior officials from all States and UTs reviewed progress on ongoing initiatives and prepared a joint roadmap for future reforms.
• Discussions covered the rollout of 2 lakh new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), along with expansion of dairy and fisheries cooperatives.
• The expansion of a modern nationwide warehouse network under the grain storage plan was also assessed to improve agricultural infrastructure.
• States were encouraged to participate in new national-level cooperative bodies such as National Cooperative Exports Limited, National Cooperative Organics Limited, and Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited to boost exports, organic farming, and quality seed distribution.
• Key sectoral challenges—including amendments to state cooperative laws, revival of sugar mills, and long-term sustainability of the dairy industry—were also examined during the deliberations.
6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue Held in Bengaluru
• The 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue was held in Bengaluru and co-chaired by Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin.
• The ministerial-level meeting reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral defence cooperation between India and France.
• This year’s discussions placed strong emphasis on expanding defence industrial collaboration, including renewal of a long-standing defence cooperation agreement for another ten years.
• An MoU on a joint venture to manufacture Hammer missiles in India is expected to be signed, boosting indigenous defence production.
• The ministers are also expected to witness the virtual inauguration of the H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly Line of Tata Airbus at Vemagal, Karnataka, by Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron.
• Bilateral ties have seen high-level exchanges in recent years. PM Modi attended the Bastille Day Parade in July 2023 as Guest of Honour, while President Macron was the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day Parade in 2024.
• Military-to-military cooperation continues to expand through regular joint exercises such as Exercise Shakti (Army), Exercise Varuna (Navy), and Exercise Garuda (Air Force).
• This marks the first visit to India by Catherine Vautrin since assuming office on 12 October 2025. The previous (5th) edition of the dialogue was held in France from 11 to 13 October 2023.
