Daily Current Affairs February 19

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Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly current affairs pdf.

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February 19 | Daily Current Affairs 2025

Sports – Daily Current Affairs February 19

1. Jammu & Kashmir reached their first-ever Ranji Trophy final after defeating which team in the semifinal?
A) Mumbai
B) Karnataka
C) Delhi
D) Bengal
E) Kerala
Answer: D) Bengal

Event and Location:

• Event: Jammu & Kashmir reaching their first-ever Ranji Trophy final
• Location: Kalyani, West Bengal
• Date: February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Jammu & Kashmir secured a six-wicket victory over Bengal in the semifinal of the Ranji Trophy through a successful run chase led by Abdul Samad and Vanshaj Sharma.
• Objectives: The objective was to qualify for the Ranji Trophy final, marking a historic breakthrough for J&K cricket and strengthening their position in Indian domestic red-ball cricket.

Important Terms Explained:

• Ranji Trophy: India’s premier domestic first-class cricket championship played between state and regional teams, serving as a platform for selection into the national team.
• First-Class Cricket: A format of the sport played over multiple days with two innings per side, recognized as the highest standard of domestic cricket.
• Semifinal: The knockout stage preceding the final in a tournament, where winners qualify for the championship match.
• All-Round Performance: A contribution by a player in multiple aspects of the game, such as batting and bowling, as demonstrated by Abdul Samad’s crucial first-innings 82 and match-sealing cameo.

Tabular Summary:

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Ranking – Daily Current Affairs February 19

2. Who topped the Forbes Richest Self-Made Billionaires Under 40 List 2025 with a net worth of $18 billion?
A) Nikhil Kamath
B) Wang Ning
C) Edwin Chen
D) Patrick Collison
E) Justin Sun
Answer: C) Edwin Chen

Event and Location:

• Event: Release of Forbes Richest Self-Made Billionaires Under 40 List 2025
• Location: Global Ranking
• Date: December 2025 (Assessment Year)

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Forbes published its annual ranking of 71 self-made billionaires under the age of 40, assessing their net worth and identifying sector-wise wealth trends globally.
• Objectives: The list aims to track emerging global wealth creators, highlight sectoral trends such as artificial intelligence and fintech, and showcase young entrepreneurs driving global economic transformation.

Top 10 Self-Made Billionaires Under 40 (Forbes 2025)

Important Terms Explained:

• Forbes World’s Billionaires List: An annual global ranking published by Forbes that estimates the net worth of the world’s wealthiest individuals across industries.
• Self-Made Billionaire: An individual who built their wealth independently through entrepreneurship or investments rather than inheriting it.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Technology that enables machines to perform tasks requiring human intelligence such as learning, decision-making, and data analysis, and a major driver of new wealth creation in 2025.
• Fintech: Technology-driven financial services sector that includes digital trading platforms, payment software, and brokerage services such as Zerodha.

Tabular Summary:

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Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs February 19

3. From which date has the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandated the use of a Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for all OTC derivative trades?
A) January 1, 2026
B) April 1, 2026
C) July 1, 2026
D) January 1, 2027
E) March 31, 2027
Answer: D) January 1, 2027

Event and Location:

• Event: RBI mandates Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for all OTC derivative trades
• Location: India
• Date: Effective from January 1, 2027

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The RBI has made it compulsory for all over-the-counter derivative transactions entered on or after January 1, 2027 to carry a Unique Transaction Identifier. The rule applies to rupee interest rate derivatives, foreign currency derivatives, foreign currency interest rate derivatives, credit derivatives, and forward contracts in government securities.
• Objectives: The measure aims to improve trade reporting accuracy, enhance transparency in OTC markets, strengthen systemic risk monitoring, prevent duplication of trade records, and align India with global derivatives reporting standards.

Important Terms Explained:

• Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI): A globally recognized alphanumeric code assigned to each OTC derivative transaction to ensure unique identification, prevent duplication, and enable effective regulatory tracking.
• Over-the-Counter (OTC) Derivatives: Financial contracts such as interest rate swaps and currency derivatives that are privately negotiated between parties and traded outside formal exchanges.
• Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): A unique 20-character code used worldwide to identify legally distinct entities participating in financial transactions.
• CCIL-TR: The Trade Repository operated by Clearing Corporation of India Limited that collects and maintains records of OTC derivative transactions for regulatory oversight.

Tabular Summary:

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Business and Economy – Daily Current Affairs February 19

4. What is the total investment announced by Google under the America-India Connect subsea cable initiative?
A) $5 billion
B) $10 billion
C) $12 billion
D) $15 billion
E) $20 billion
Answer: D) $15 billion

Event and Location:

• Event: Announcement of Google’s America-India Connect subsea cable initiative
• Location: India AI Impact Summit 2026, India
• Date: February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Google announced a $15 billion investment over five years to establish new subsea cable routes, including an international subsea gateway in Visakhapatnam, three new subsea cable paths linking India to Singapore, South Africa and Australia, and four strategic fibre-optic land routes.
• Objectives: The initiative aims to enhance AI connectivity between India and the United States, increase global bandwidth capacity, strengthen redundancy in digital networks, support cloud computing and AI model training, and improve India’s digital public infrastructure.

Important Terms Explained:

• America-India Connect: A $15 billion infrastructure initiative by Google to expand subsea cable connectivity between India, the United States and the southern hemisphere to strengthen AI and digital networks.
• Subsea Cables: Fibre-optic cables laid under the ocean that transmit over 95% of international internet and telecommunications data traffic between countries.
• Subsea Gateway: A cable landing station where international submarine cables connect to domestic terrestrial networks, enabling global data exchange.
• Fibre-Optic Network: A high-speed data transmission system using light signals through optical fibres to provide internet, cloud and AI connectivity.
• India AI Impact Summit: A technology summit focused on artificial intelligence development, digital infrastructure, and AI-driven innovation in India.

Tabular Summary:

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5. Which organization signed a data reseller partnership with GalaxEye to globally market its SyncFused OptoSAR satellite imagery solutions?
A) DRDO
B) IN-SPACe
C) NSIL
D) Antrix Corporation
E) ISRO Satellite Centre
Answer: C) NSIL

Event and Location:

• Event: Data reseller partnership between GalaxEye and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)
• Location: India
• Date: February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Under the agreement, NSIL will resell GalaxEye’s complete satellite imagery portfolio globally, including its flagship SyncFused OptoSAR technology, expanding access to Indian Earth observation data.
• Objectives: The partnership aims to strengthen India’s New Space economy, promote commercialization of private satellite technologies, enhance global outreach of Indian space products, and support Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the space sector.

Important Terms Explained:

• NewSpace India Limited (NSIL): A Government of India enterprise incorporated in 2019 under the Department of Space, serving as the commercial arm of ISRO to market space products and services.
• SyncFused OptoSAR: A proprietary satellite imaging technology developed by GalaxEye that combines optical imagery with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to enable all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation.
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): A radar-based remote sensing technology capable of capturing high-resolution images regardless of weather conditions or lighting.
• New Space Economy: A growing commercial space sector driven by private companies engaged in satellite manufacturing, launch services, Earth observation, and space-based data services.

Tabular Summary:

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6. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) partnered with which global technology company to build India’s first gigawatt-scale AI factory infrastructure?
A) Intel
B) Microsoft
C) NVIDIA
D) Google
E) AMD
Answer: C) NVIDIA

Event and Location:

• Event: Strategic partnership between Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and NVIDIA to build India’s first gigawatt-scale AI factory
• Location: India (Chennai and Mumbai data centres)
• Date: February 2026 (Announced at AI Impact Summit)

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The partnership will develop sovereign gigawatt-scale AI factory infrastructure, expand NVIDIA GPU clusters in Chennai and Mumbai, and create production-grade AI capacity to support enterprise and national-scale workloads.
• Objectives: The initiative aims to strengthen India’s sovereign AI computing infrastructure, enable secure and scalable AI model development, align with the IndiaAI Mission, and position India as a global hub for accelerated computing and AI services.

Important Terms Explained:

• AI Factory: A next-generation data centre infrastructure specifically designed for high-density GPU clusters, accelerated computing, AI model training, and inference at scale.
• Gigawatt-Scale Infrastructure: Ultra-large data centre capacity measured in gigawatts, indicating massive computing power and energy-intensive AI workloads.
• GPU Cluster: A group of Graphics Processing Units interconnected to handle parallel computing tasks essential for AI model training and deep learning.
• IndiaAI Mission: A Government of India initiative aimed at developing domestic AI capabilities, sovereign infrastructure, and secure data ecosystems.
• Accelerated Computing: High-performance computing powered by GPUs and specialized processors to process complex AI and data workloads faster than traditional CPUs.

Tabular Summary:

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Appointments – Daily Current Affairs February 19

7. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured what majority in the February 8 snap lower house elections?
A) Simple majority
B) Absolute majority
C) Two-thirds majority
D) Coalition minority
E) One-third majority
Answer: C) Two-thirds majority

Event and Location:

• Event: Reappointment of Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister of Japan
• Location: Japan
• Date: 18 February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Following a two-thirds majority victory in the February 8 snap lower house elections, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to strengthen defense policies, revise the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, introduce a National Intelligence Agency, pursue anti-espionage legislation, and implement fiscal reforms.
• Objectives: The government aims to enhance national security, modernize intelligence capabilities, strengthen regional maritime strategy, manage fiscal pressures, and address economic challenges such as inflation, aging demographics, and rising public debt.

Important Terms Explained:

• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP): Japan’s major political party that secured a two-thirds majority under Sanae Takaichi’s leadership in the 2026 snap elections.
• Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP): A strategic framework led by Japan promoting maritime security, supply chain resilience, free trade, and rule-based order across the Indo-Pacific region.
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP): A multilateral free trade agreement among Asia-Pacific nations aimed at promoting economic integration and high trade standards.
• Snap Election: An early election called before the end of the regular parliamentary term, typically to seek a fresh political mandate.
• National Intelligence Agency (Proposed): A proposed centralized body to enhance intelligence coordination, cybersecurity oversight, and national security operations in Japan.

Tabular Summary:

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Awards – Daily Current Affairs February 19

8. India created a Guinness World Record by collecting how many AI responsibility pledges within 24 hours?
A) 50,000
B) 1,00,000
C) 1,75,000
D) 2,50,946
E) 3,00,000
Answer: D) 2,50,946

Event and Location:

• Event: Guinness World Record for most AI responsibility pledges in 24 hours
• Location: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
• Date: 16–17 February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Under the IndiaAI Mission, a nationwide AI responsibility pledge campaign was conducted in collaboration with Intel India, collecting 2,50,946 valid pledges within 24 hours through an online platform.
• Objectives: The initiative aimed to promote ethical, inclusive, and responsible use of artificial intelligence by encouraging citizens, especially students, to commit to principles such as transparency, accountability, data privacy, and combating misinformation.

Important Terms Explained:

• IndiaAI Mission: A Government of India initiative focused on strengthening AI innovation, infrastructure, research, and responsible adoption across sectors.
• Responsible Artificial Intelligence: The ethical development and deployment of AI systems ensuring fairness, transparency, accountability, privacy protection, and prevention of bias or misinformation.
• Guinness World Records: An international authority that verifies and certifies record-breaking achievements across various categories worldwide.
• AI Governance: A framework of policies and regulations designed to ensure that artificial intelligence technologies are developed and used safely and ethically.

Tabular Summary:

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International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs February 19

9. Under which initiative did India gift Maldives its first high-speed ferry to strengthen maritime connectivity?
A) SAGAR Policy
B) HICDP Phase III
C) BIMSTEC Maritime Plan
D) SAARC Connectivity Project
E) BBIN Initiative
Answer: B) HICDP Phase III

Event and Location:

• Event: India gifts Maldives its first high-speed ferry under HICDP Phase III
• Location: Faafu and Dhaalu Atolls, Maldives
• Date: February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: India delivered the first of 12 high-speed ferries under the High Impact Community Development Project Phase III to launch Raajje Transport Link (RTL) services in Maldives, funded through grant assistance.
• Objectives: The initiative aims to strengthen maritime connectivity, enhance public transport between atolls, boost tourism and fisheries, improve access to healthcare and education, and reinforce India-Maldives ties under the Neighbourhood First Policy.

Important Terms Explained:

• High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP): A grant-based development cooperation framework through which India funds community-focused infrastructure projects in partner countries, including Maldives.
• Raajje Transport Link (RTL): A nationwide ferry network initiative in Maldives designed to improve inter-island connectivity and affordable public transport.
• Neighbourhood First Policy: India’s foreign policy approach prioritizing engagement, connectivity, and development cooperation with immediate neighboring countries.
• Vision MAHASAGAR: An initiative promoting Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Indian Ocean Region (IOR): A strategically important maritime region crucial for global trade, energy security, and geopolitical cooperation.

Tabular Summary:

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10. Under which framework was the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce launched to enhance clean energy cooperation?
A) SAGAR Vision
B) Vision 2047
C) Vision 2035
D) Net Zero 2070 Plan
E) International Solar Alliance
Answer: C) Vision 2035

Event and Location:

• Event: Launch of the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce
• Location: Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue
• Date: 18 February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: India and the United Kingdom launched a joint Offshore Wind Taskforce under Vision 2035 to provide strategic coordination for developing India’s offshore wind ecosystem, focusing on ecosystem planning, supply chains, financing, and risk mitigation.
• Objectives: The initiative aims to accelerate offshore wind deployment in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, strengthen clean energy cooperation, enhance energy security, support green hydrogen production, and create a stable investment framework for renewable energy growth.

Important Terms Explained:

• India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce: A bilateral platform under Vision 2035 designed to accelerate offshore wind development in India through strategic planning, infrastructure support, and financing collaboration with UK expertise.
• Vision 2035: A long-term India-UK cooperation framework focused on deepening strategic partnerships in areas such as energy, trade, and climate action.
• Viability Gap Funding (VGF): A government financial support mechanism that provides grants to make economically desirable but financially unviable infrastructure projects attractive to private investors.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission: An Indian government initiative to promote production, use, and export of green hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy independence.
• Offshore Wind Energy: Renewable energy generated by wind turbines installed in sea waters, offering stronger and more consistent wind speeds compared to onshore wind projects.

Tabular Summary:

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11. The Indo-French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH) was inaugurated at which institution?
A) IIT Delhi
B) AIIMS New Delhi
C) NITI Aayog
D) IISc Bengaluru
E) PGIMER Chandigarh
Answer: B) AIIMS New Delhi

Event and Location:

• Event: Inauguration of the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH)
• Location: AIIMS New Delhi, India
• Date: 18–19 February 2026 (During RUSH 2026 Meetings)

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: India and France jointly launched IF-CAIH to promote interdisciplinary research in AI-driven healthcare, brain health innovation, clinical decision-support systems, and responsible health data governance.
• Objectives: The initiative aims to strengthen AI-based medical research, enhance academic collaboration, promote sovereign and ethical AI systems, support medical education, and deepen Indo-French cooperation in digital health innovation.

Important Terms Explained:

• Indo-French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH): A joint India-France research centre established at AIIMS New Delhi to advance Artificial Intelligence applications in healthcare, neuroscience, and clinical innovation.
• RUSH 2026 (Rencontres Universitaires Et Scientifiques De Haut Niveau): A high-level Indo-French academic and scientific dialogue platform focusing on collaboration in research, innovation, and higher education.
• Sovereign AI: The development of independent national AI ecosystems with domestic computing infrastructure, talent development, and algorithmic transparency to ensure security and strategic autonomy.
• Clinical Decision-Support Systems (CDSS): AI-enabled systems that assist healthcare professionals in diagnosis and treatment decisions using patient data and predictive models.
• Responsible AI in Health: Ethical use of artificial intelligence ensuring transparency, fairness, privacy protection, and accountability in healthcare systems.

Tabular Summary:

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National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs February 19

12. What is the total outlay of the Madhya Pradesh Budget 2026-27 presented in the State Assembly?
A) ₹3.25 trillion
B) ₹4.38 trillion
C) ₹5.12 trillion
D) ₹2.90 trillion
E) ₹6.00 trillion
Answer: B) ₹4.38 trillion

Event and Location:

• Event: Presentation of Madhya Pradesh Budget 2026-27
• Location: Madhya Pradesh
• Date: 18 February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The budget proposes a total outlay of ₹4,38,317 crore focusing on women welfare, rural development, youth employment, infrastructure development, renewable energy, and religious tourism, while imposing no new taxes.
• Objectives: The budget aims to promote women empowerment, strengthen rural livelihoods, boost infrastructure, enhance tourism through Simhastha Kumbh 2028, and align development goals with the vision of inclusive growth under the GYANII model.

Important Terms Explained:

• GYANII Model: A development framework representing Garib Kalyan, Yuva Shakti, Annadata, Nari Shakti, Infrastructure, and Industry, forming the core focus areas of the MP Budget 2026-27.
• Ladli Behna Yojana: A women welfare scheme launched in 2023 under which eligible women receive ₹1,500 per month as financial assistance to ensure economic security and empowerment.
• Simhastha Kumbh 2028: A major religious gathering scheduled in Ujjain for which ₹3,600 crore has been allocated to improve infrastructure, sanitation, and civic facilities.
• Jal Jeevan Mission: A centrally sponsored scheme aimed at providing functional household tap water connections to rural households.
• PM Janman: A central initiative targeting the development and welfare of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Tabular Summary:

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13. What is the total outlay of the Gujarat Budget 2026-27, the largest in the state’s history?
A) ₹3.75 lakh crore
B) ₹4.08 lakh crore
C) ₹5.20 lakh crore
D) ₹2.95 lakh crore
E) ₹4.50 lakh crore
Answer: B) ₹4.08 lakh crore

Event and Location:

• Event: Presentation of Gujarat Budget 2026-27 with record outlay
• Location: Gujarat
• Date: 18 February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The budget proposes a total outlay of ₹4,08,053 crore focusing on tourism development, AI-driven policing, Olympic-ready sports infrastructure, green mobility expansion, highway development, police housing, and enhanced health coverage for state employees.
• Objectives: The budget aims to position Gujarat as a global tourism and sports hub, modernize governance through artificial intelligence, strengthen infrastructure and transport networks, promote green growth, and enhance social security coverage.

Important Terms Explained:

• Gujarat Tourism Year 2026: A state government initiative declaring 2026 as a dedicated year to promote tourism, pilgrimage, heritage conservation, and civil aviation growth with targeted financial allocation.
• AI-Driven Policing: A technology-based law enforcement system involving a Data Fusion Centre and Centre of Excellence for AI in Policing to enable predictive analysis, real-time data monitoring, and improved crime prevention.
• Olympic Ready Ahmedabad: A strategic initiative to develop world-class sports infrastructure in Ahmedabad in preparation for international sporting events such as the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
• Garvi Gujarat High-Speed Corridor: A proposed development of 1,155 km of state highways aimed at enhancing connectivity, logistics efficiency, and economic growth.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): A central health insurance scheme providing cashless treatment coverage, under whose framework Gujarat extended up to ₹10 lakh medical cover for state employees and pensioners.

Tabular Summary:

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14. What does the “N” stand for in PM Modi’s M.A.N.A.V vision unveiled at the India AI Impact Summit 2026?
A) National Innovation
B) Network Governance
C) National Sovereignty
D) New Age Verification
E) Neutral Algorithms
Answer: C) National Sovereignty

Event and Location:

• Event: Inauguration of India AI Impact Summit 2026 and unveiling of M.A.N.A.V vision
• Location: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
• Date: February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit and unveiled the M.A.N.A.V framework for AI governance, promoting ethical standards, global cooperation, AI safety mechanisms, and democratized access to artificial intelligence technologies.
• Objectives: The summit aims to position India as a global leader in responsible AI governance, promote inclusive and human-centric AI, empower the Global South, and advance AI as a Global Common Good.

Important Terms Explained:

• M.A.N.A.V Vision: A governance framework for Artificial Intelligence introduced by India where M stands for Moral and Ethical Systems, A for Accountable Governance, N for National Sovereignty, A for Accessible and Inclusive AI, and V for Valid and Legitimate AI systems.
• Global Common Good: A principle advocating that AI technologies should benefit all humanity rather than remain concentrated among a few nations or corporations.
• Deepfakes: AI-generated synthetic media that manipulates audio or video content, posing risks to authenticity and digital trust.
• India AI Impact Summit 2026: An international summit hosted by India bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss AI governance, innovation, and responsible deployment.

Tabular Summary:

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15. Under the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2026, what is the revised maximum daily working hour limit?
A) 8 hours
B) 9 hours
C) 10 hours
D) 11 hours
E) 12 hours
Answer: C) 10 hours

Event and Location:

• Event: Passage of the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2026
• Location: Gujarat
• Date: February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The amendment permits women to work night shifts between 9 pm and 6 am with safeguards, increases daily working hours from 9 to 10 hours, raises the overtime limit from 125 hours to 144 hours per quarter, and replaces the earlier ordinance issued in December 2025.
• Objectives: The legislation aims to expand women’s workforce participation, provide operational flexibility to establishments, strengthen safety measures for women employees, and ensure proper regulation of working hours and overtime compensation.

Important Terms Explained:

• Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2026: A state legislation amending working hour regulations, overtime provisions, and night shift permissions in commercial establishments across Gujarat.
• Night Shift Provision: Legal permission allowing women to work between 9 pm and 6 am subject to safeguards such as consent, transport facilities, restrooms, creche facilities, and protection against sexual harassment.
• Overtime Limit: The maximum number of extra working hours permitted beyond regular hours, revised from 125 hours to 144 hours over a three-month period, payable at twice the ordinary wage rate.
• Ordinance: A temporary law promulgated by the Governor when the legislative assembly is not in session, which must later be approved by the legislature.

Tabular Summary:

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16. Which Indian city will host The Earthshot Prize 2026, founded by Prince William?
A) New Delhi
B) Bengaluru
C) Mumbai
D) Ahmedabad
E) Hyderabad
Answer: C) Mumbai

Event and Location:

• Event: Announcement of Mumbai as host city for The Earthshot Prize 2026
• Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Date: February 2026 (Announced during Mumbai Climate Week)

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Mumbai will host The Earthshot Prize 2026 ceremony, where five global innovators will be awarded £1 million each for breakthrough environmental solutions aligned with the five Earthshots.
• Objectives: The initiative aims to promote scalable climate solutions, encourage global environmental innovation, strengthen India’s climate leadership, and support sustainable development across the Global South.

Important Terms Explained:

• The Earthshot Prize: A global environmental award founded by Prince William in 2020 that grants £1 million each to five winners annually for innovative solutions to repair the planet.
• Earthshots: Five environmental goals guiding the prize: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.
• Net-Zero Emissions: A target where a country balances the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with the amount removed from the atmosphere, which India aims to achieve by 2070.
• Mumbai Climate Week: An environmental summit hosted in Mumbai to promote climate dialogue, green investments, and global sustainability partnerships.

Tabular Summary:

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17. The open-source VoicERA Voice AI Stack was launched by MeitY on which national digital infrastructure platform?
A) DigiLocker
B) Aadhaar
C) UPI
D) BHASHINI
E) UMANG
Answer: D) BHASHINI

Event and Location:

• Event: Launch of VoicERA Voice AI Stack on BHASHINI infrastructure
• Location: India AI Impact Summit 2026, New Delhi
• Date: February 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched VoicERA as an open-source, modular Voice AI stack deployed on the BHASHINI National Language Infrastructure to enable secure, scalable, and multilingual voice-based services across government and public sectors.
• Objectives: The initiative aims to strengthen India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, promote sovereign AI capabilities, enable population-scale multilingual voice services, avoid vendor lock-in, and improve inclusive citizen access to digital governance systems.

Important Terms Explained:

• VoicERA: An open-source, interoperable Voice AI stack designed to support real-time speech recognition, conversational AI, and multilingual telephony services at scale for government and enterprise use.
• BHASHINI: India’s National Language Translation Mission platform serving as language-based Digital Public Infrastructure to enable translation and multilingual digital access across services.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Open, scalable digital systems such as Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and BHASHINI that provide foundational public digital services at national scale.
• Conversational AI: Artificial intelligence systems that enable natural language interaction between humans and machines through voice or text interfaces.
• Vendor Lock-in: A situation where dependence on a single technology provider limits flexibility, which VoicERA aims to avoid through open architecture.

Tabular Summary:

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Over All Review

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