Daily Current Affairs – 18-02-2026

Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Nadu Interim Budget 2026-27

The Tamil Nadu Interim Budget 2026-27 presents the structure of revenue and expenditure under the concept of “One Rupee – Receipts and Expenditure.” In the revenue composition, State’s Own Tax Revenue accounts for 44.6%, Public Debt constitutes 33%, Share in Central Taxes stands at 12.1%, State’s Own Non-Tax Revenue forms 5.4%, Grants-in-aid from Central Government account for 4.8%, and Recovery of Loans and Capital Receipts contribute 0.1%. On the expenditure side, Grants and Subsidies form the largest share at 30.1%, followed by Salaries at 18.2%, Interest Payments at 15.1%, Capital Outlay at 11.5%, Repayment of Debt at 10%, Pension and Retirement Benefits at 8.7%, Operations and Maintenance at 3.6%, and Disbursement of Loans at 2.8%, reflecting the fiscal allocation pattern of the State for the financial year 2026-27.

Tamil Nadu Interim Budget 2026-27 – ₹2.55 Lakh Crore Allocation

The Tamil Nadu Government presented the Interim Budget for 2026-27 amounting to ₹2.55 lakh crore in Chennai on February 17, which was tabled by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu. The major sector-wise allocations include Education – ₹57,039 crore, Urban Development – ₹35,773 crore, Rural Development – ₹28,687 crore, Health and Welfare – ₹22,090 crore, Highways – ₹21,132 crore, Energy – ₹18,091 crore, and Police – ₹13,583 crore. The budget estimates the revenue deficit at ₹48,696 crore and projects the total outstanding debt at ₹10.71 lakh crore for the financial year 2026-27. The State has allocated ₹3,500 crore for the Chennai Metro Rail Project. The Finance Minister also stated that due to actions taken following the report of the 15th Finance Commission, the State incurred a financial loss of ₹3.17 lakh crore, and reference was made to the upcoming 16th Finance Commission.

National News

Bharat VISTAAR – AI-Based Scheme for Farmers

The Central Government launched an artificial intelligence-based scheme called Bharat VISTAAR to provide agriculture-related guidance and solutions to farmers. The scheme was inaugurated in Jaipur by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday. Farmers can access the service by calling the helpline number 155261 from their registered mobile number. The system will be integrated with AgriStack, enabling automatic access to farmer data such as land size, crops cultivated, and fertilizers purchased to respond to queries. The scheme is currently available in Hindi and English and will be expanded to nine additional regional languages within six months. It provides information on mandi prices, weather reports, and Central Government schemes, and can be accessed through an Android application or the official website.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Dabur India – Appointment of CEO for India Business

Dabur India announced the appointment of Herjit S Bhalla as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – India Business, effective from April 15. The company also designated Mohit Malhotra as Whole Time Director and Global Chief Executive Officer (Global CEO) with effect from February 17. Herjit S Bhalla will report to Mohit Malhotra. Bhalla joined The Hershey Company in 2018 as Managing Director for India and has previously held senior positions at Metro Cash & Carry and Unilever.

AI Tool Used by Indian Army in Arunachal Pradesh

In New Delhi, Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana, Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Forces Command, stated at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 that India used a small Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to anticipate and counter a Chinese attempt along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Yangtse, Arunachal Pradesh. During the December 2022 physical face-off between the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA, the AI software helped predict the movement of Chinese soldiers, enabling successful troop deployment near the LAC and preventing casualties. At the summit, the Army showcased indigenous dual-use AI technologies including AI Examiner, an automated evaluation system, SAM-UN, a web-based situational awareness platform for UN operations, EKAM, a secure indigenous AI cloud platform for chat, translation and document generation, and PRAKSHEPAN, India’s first hybrid AI-based military climatology and disaster prediction system capable of forecasting landslides, floods and avalanches three to seven days in advance. Other systems displayed included a Facial Recognition System, Driver Fatigue Detection System, Vehicle Tracking System, and Deepfake Video Detection System.

International News

Infosys Signs Agreement with Anthropic for Enterprise AI Solutions

In Bengaluru, Infosys announced an agreement with AI startup Anthropic, backed by Amazon and Alphabet, to develop enterprise AI solutions. Anthropic recently launched Claude Cowork, an AI agent designed to perform computer-based tasks for white-collar workers, and its revenue run-rate in India has doubled within four months. The startup has existing partnerships with Indian companies such as Air India. Under this agreement, Infosys and Anthropic will jointly develop and deploy AI agents, initially focusing on the telecom sector and later expanding into financial services, manufacturing, and software development sectors.

India’s First Private Helicopter FAL in Kolar

In Bengaluru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated the Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the Airbus H125 helicopter set up by Tata Advanced Systems Limited in Vemagal, Kolar district, Karnataka. This facility is India’s first private-sector helicopter FAL, marking the first time the Indian private sector undertakes manufacturing, integration, testing and maintenance of a rotary-wing platform. The civil H125 will initially be produced at this facility, and the military variant may be manufactured in future. The first locally manufactured H125 is expected to be delivered in early 2027 and will be available for export across South Asia. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the investment in the H125 programme is expected to exceed ₹1,000 crore. Catherine Vautrin, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of France, attended the event. Karnataka Large and Medium Industries Minister M. B. Patil stated that 500 H125 light helicopters will be manufactured over the next 20 years, and 17 acres of land have been allotted for the project.

SAHI and BODH Launched to Strengthen Health AI Ecosystem

In New Delhi, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J. P. Nadda launched two digital health initiatives, SAHI (Secure AI for Health Initiative) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI), during the India AI Impact Summit. The initiatives aim to promote the safe and structured deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector. The Minister referred to the National Health Policy, 2017, which envisaged the creation of a comprehensive and interoperable digital health ecosystem, and noted that the Government launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission in 2020 to establish a digital public architecture for healthcare. SAHI serves as a governance framework and national roadmap for the responsible use of AI in healthcare, while BODH provides a structured mechanism to test and validate AI solutions before large-scale deployment.

Indian Army Showcases Indigenous Dual-Use AI Systems

In New Delhi, the Indian Army unveiled a suite of indigenous dual-use Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems at the India AI Summit held at Bharat Mandapam. These platforms are designed for both defence operations and civilian applications such as disaster management, cybersecurity and governance. The systems showcased include AI Examiner, an automated assessment and feedback platform for education and training; SAM-UN, a geospatial and AI-enabled situational awareness system for mission planning and disaster response; EKAM (AI-as-a-Service), a secure indigenous AI cloud platform ensuring data sovereignty; PRAKSHEPAN, an AI-based disaster prediction system providing early alerts for landslides, floods and avalanches; XFace, an AI-powered facial recognition system along with Deepfake Detection and advanced AI Cyber Security systems; Nabh Drishti, a real-time reporting and visualisation platform; Driver Fatigue Detection, an AI-enabled drowsiness alert device; AI-in-a-Box, a portable AI solution for remote areas; and an AI-powered Vehicle Tracking System for fleet monitoring and logistics optimisation.

Training Ship ‘Krishna’ Launched at Kattupalli Shipyard

At Kattupalli, Ennore near Chennai, the private shipbuilding yard of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) launched the training ship ‘Krishna’ on February 17 for the defence forces. The contract to build three training ships was signed with the Ministry of Defence on March 7, 2023. The first vessel, now completed and named ‘Krishna’, was launched in the presence of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, who received the guard of honour. The ship is named after the Krishna River, the third-longest river in India. The vessel has facilities to accommodate 20 officers, 150 sailors, and 200 trainees. The event was attended by Sanjay Sadhu, senior official of the warship production division, Ubal Kundu, Tamil Nadu–Puducherry naval officer, and Arun Ramchandani, Director of the L&T Shipyard.

Tamil Nadu Tops in Ragi Productivity

In Chennai on February 17, Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam stated in the Agriculture Budget that Tamil Nadu has secured the first rank in ragi productivity at the national level, while ranking second in ragi production and fifth in small millet production. The Tamil Nadu Millet Mission, implemented as a five-year plan from 2023–24, has benefited 12.84 lakh farmers with a fund allocation of ₹178 crore, covering cultivation in 20 lakh acres, establishment of cluster demonstration plots in 3.36 lakh acres, and setting up of 90 millet value-addition centres. The area under pearl millet (cumbu) cultivation increased from 1.18 lakh acres to 1.33 lakh acres. Over the past five years, the Pulse Production Scheme was implemented at a cost of ₹174 crore, benefiting 9.44 lakh farmers across 24 lakh acres, while schemes such as Expansion of Red Gram Cultivation Area and Transplanted Red Gram Cultivation were carried out with an allocation of ₹66 crore covering 2.52 lakh acres and benefiting 1.48 lakh farmers. Under the Oilseeds Mission, ₹229 crore was allocated over five years to promote oilseed cultivation in 14 lakh acres, benefiting 7.54 lakh farmers. To promote maize cultivation due to increased demand for ethanol and fodder, schemes worth ₹78 crore were implemented over five years, benefiting 1.50 lakh farmers, resulting in an increase in maize cultivation area from 10 lakh acres to 12 lakh acres and production from 26 lakh metric tonnes to 27 lakh metric tonnes.

Tamil Nadu Ranks First in Safe Childbirth

Tamil Nadu ranks first at the national level in safe deliveries due to measures implemented by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in the state stands at 35 per one lakh live births, and the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) stands at 12 per 1,000 live births, both of which are lower than the national average. To promote women’s participation in economic development and ensure empowerment, the Tamil Nadu Women’s Employment and Safety Scheme is being implemented with the assistance of the World Bank.

160 Books Released under Muthamizh Arignar Translation Scheme

In Chennai on February 17, the Interim Budget reported that 160 books have been published under the Muthamizh Arignar Translation Scheme, which focuses on translating educational and reference books in subjects such as medicine and engineering into Tamil. Under the Thisaithorum Dravidam Scheme, which translates notable Tamil works into foreign languages such as English, 74 books have been published so far. In efforts to publish the thoughts of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy in foreign languages, books have been released in 21 languages, including English, French, Arabic, Hindi, and Gujarati. The works of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar have been translated into simple Tamil and published as a people’s edition, with 27 volumes released so far. An International Mathematics Conference was conducted to promote Tamil in mathematics. Over the past five years, the Sangamam – Namma Ooru Thiruvizha festival has been organised in Chennai and other major cities of Tamil Nadu to support folk artists, and the Samathuva Pongal festival is celebrated in all districts.

Tarique Rahman Sworn in as Bangladesh Prime Minister

In Dhaka on February 17, Tarique Rahman (60), leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for a term of five years after the BNP won 209 out of 299 seats in the 13th Parliamentary Elections held on February 12, 2026. He took oath before President Mohammed Shahabuddin, bringing an end to the 18-month interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which had been in power since August 2024 following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina amid student-led protests in 2024. Along with him, 25 Cabinet Ministers and 24 Ministers of State were sworn in, and Moeen U Ahmed, former army chief and BNP Vice Chairman, assumed charge as Defence Minister. Representing India, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the ceremony, accompanied by Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and conveyed greetings on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Karnataka Imposes 1% Welfare Cess for Gig Workers

In Bengaluru on February 17, the Karnataka Government ordered the collection of a 1% welfare cess on every service provided by companies employing gig workers such as Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, and Uber to ensure their social security. Under the Karnataka Gig Workers Welfare Act, introduced last year, the cess could range from 1% to 5%, and the government has fixed it at the minimum of 1%. The cess is subject to upper limits, with a maximum of 50 paise per transaction for food and grocery delivery services, 50 paise for two-wheelers, 75 paise for auto-rickshaws, and ₹1 for four-wheelers in vehicle services, and up to for professional services such as Urban Company. The cess must be calculated based on quarterly revenue and paid within five working days after each quarter through a dedicated government website. The funds collected will be utilised through the Gig Workers Welfare Board for medical and social welfare schemes, and details of fund management will be published on the Labour Department website.

Tamil Nadu Interim Budget 2026 – ₹3.44 Lakh Crore Presented

In Chennai, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented the ₹3.44 lakh crore Interim Budget in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. An allocation of ₹47,248.24 crore has been made for the Agriculture Department, and the interim agricultural budget was presented by Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam. The Magalir Urimai Thogai Scheme has benefited 1.31 crore women. Tamil Nadu ranks first in higher education enrolment, with 17 institutions placed among the top 100 institutions nationally. The State’s real growth rate for 2025–26 is projected at 9%, with an average inflation rate of 5.5%, and growth is expected to reach 14% by 2027–28. The revenue deficit in the interim budget is estimated at ₹48,696.32 crore, and the total outstanding debt of the State is projected at ₹10,71,770.34 crore as on March 31.

Protein-Rich ‘Designer Rice’ Developed by CSIR-NIIST

In New Delhi, it was announced that the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), functioning under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has developed a protein-rich ‘Designer Rice’ variety. This rice contains three times more protein than regular rice and is enriched with iron, folic acid, and Vitamin B12. The variety has a low Glycemic Index (GI), making it suitable for diabetic patients. The technology has been transferred to Tata Consumer Products and SS Soul Foods, Tiruppur, and the agreement exchange event is scheduled to be held in Delhi on February 18.

TCS to Establish World’s Largest AI Data Center in India

In Mumbai, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced its plan to set up the world’s largest Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center in India during the AI Impact Summit held in Delhi. The announcement comes as business enterprises, government organisations and technology companies increasingly adopt AI technologies, highlighting the need for strong data infrastructure. At present, India’s data centre capacity stands at 1.5 gigawatts, and it is projected to increase to more than 10 gigawatts by 2030.

Sports News

Yuvraj Samra – Youngest Centurion in T20 World Cup

During the T20 World Cup, Canada’s Yuvraj Samra, aged 19, scored a century in 58 balls against New Zealand at Chepauk. With this achievement, he became the youngest player to score a century in T20 World Cup history. He broke the previous record held by Ahmed Shehzad of Pakistan, who had scored a century at the age of 22 in the 2014 T20 World Cup.

India–France Defence Cooperation Extended for 10 Years

At the Sixth India–France Annual Defence Dialogue held in Bengaluru, India and France renewed their defence cooperation agreement for 10 years. The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin. India requested France to increase the indigenous content in Rafale fighter jets up to 50% and to expand the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for Rafale aircraft in India. Both countries announced the appointment of Reciprocal Deployment Officers in the Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments. The ministers discussed bilateral security issues including co-development and co-production of military equipment. An MoU was signed between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics and Defence for the manufacturing of Hammer missiles in India.