NATIONAL NEWS

India Creates Guinness World Record for Responsible Artificial Intelligence Pledges

India created a Guinness World Record by collecting 2,50,946 valid pledges for responsible Artificial Intelligence use within 24 hours.

The achievement was announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during the India Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The pledges were recorded between February 16 and February 17, 2026, and officially verified by a Guinness World Records adjudicator at the venue.

India secured the Guinness World Record for Most pledges received for an Artificial Intelligence responsibility campaign in 24 hours.

A total of 2,50,946 valid pledges were recorded, significantly exceeding the initial target of 5,000 pledges.

The campaign was launched under the India Artificial Intelligence Mission in collaboration with Intel India.

Participants pledged commitment towards ethical, inclusive and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence through an online platform.

The pledge campaign included awareness on data privacy, transparency, accountability and combating misinformation.

Citizens completing the pledge received a digital certificate and access to Artificial Intelligence learning resources.

More than 5 lakh students and educational institutions actively participated, making it a major youth driven initiative.

The achievement highlights India’s emphasis on responsible Artificial Intelligence governance, public awareness and ethical technology adoption.

India France Launch Indo French Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Health

India and France jointly inaugurated the Indo French Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Health at All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi during the Rencontres Universitaires Et Scientifiques De Haut Niveau 2026 meetings

The centre was launched by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and President of France Emmanuel Macron, marking a major step in Artificial Intelligence powered healthcare collaboration between the two nations.

The Indo French Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Health will function as a specialised hub for interdisciplinary research in Artificial Intelligence and healthcare.

Core focus areas include Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, brain health and neuroscience, clinical decision support systems, global healthcare innovation and responsible use of health data.

The centre has been established under a Joint Memorandum of Understanding between All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi with Sorbonne University and Paris Brain Institute.

The collaboration will promote joint research programmes, academic exchange, mobility of students and faculty and knowledge sharing in Artificial Intelligence and health sciences.

The inauguration took place during the Rencontres Universitaires Et Scientifiques De Haut Niveau 2026 meetings, featuring a session on Artificial Intelligence in brain health and global healthcare.

Discussions focused on Artificial Intelligence applications in mental health, brain disorders and global health challenges involving scientists, clinicians and policymakers.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Switzerland to Host 2027 AI Summit in Geneva

Switzerland will host the 2027 AI Summit in Geneva, while the UAE is set to host the 2028 edition, demonstrating global continuity in AI governance efforts.

The announcement was made by Swiss President Guy Parmelin during his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

Switzerland is coordinating with India, South Korea, France, and Sweden to promote inclusive and balanced AI governance frameworks.

India–Switzerland relations have strengthened following the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which came into effect in October 2025, accelerating economic cooperation.

President Parmelin highlighted the potential of a bilateral Investment Treaty to promote Swiss investment in India and support sustainable job creation.

India–Switzerland ties have been celebrated for 25 years (2024), with TEPA further reinforcing cooperation in AI and research.

The announcement underscores Switzerland’s focus on AI, research collaboration, and deepening economic relations with India.

India and Israel Signed Memorandum of Understanding

India and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen defence cooperation, focusing on joint seminars, industrial collaboration, and technology sharing.

The agreement was facilitated during a strategic defence seminar and Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings organised by SIBAT (International Defence Cooperation Directorate) under the Israel Ministry of Defence (IMOD), in collaboration with Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and Ministry of Defence (MoD), India, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The India–Israel Defence Industry Seminar was led by Brigadier General (Retd.) Yair Kulas, Director of SIBAT, who facilitated interactions between 30 Indian defence companies and 26 Israeli defence companies through B2B meetings.

The Indian delegation was headed by Ramesh K, Director General (DG) of SIDM, along with J P Singh, Ambassador of India to Israel, and Group Captain Vijay Patil, Defence Attaché.

Discussions focused on strengthening India’s defence industrial ecosystem, including co-development, co-production, technology transfer, and interoperability.

The discussions also highlighted the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2026, aimed at modernising defence procurement processes and promoting indigenous defence manufacturing.

The initiative aims to boost bilateral defence industrial cooperation, strengthen strategic partnerships, and enhance defence technology innovation between India and Israel.

 

BANKING

Reserve Bank of India Imposes ₹38.60 Lakh Penalty on UCO Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a ₹38.60 lakh monetary penalty on UCO Bank for non-compliance with regulatory directions.

The penalty pertains to violations related to interest payment periodically on savings deposits, locker rent refunds, and credit information reporting for Self Help Group (SHG) members.

UCO Bank failed to pay interest on certain savings accounts, did not report SHG member-level credit data to Credit Information Companies (CICs), and did not refund proportionate locker rent on premature locker surrender.

The penalty was imposed under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.

National Payments Corporation of India Launches UPI One World Wallet

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched the ‘UPI One World’ Wallet for international delegates attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

The pilot programme targets visitors from 40+ countries, enabling real-time UPI person-to-merchant (P2M) payments without requiring an Indian bank account or local mobile number.

The wallet can be linked to an international mobile number and used at any UPI-enabled merchant across India, including metros, small towns, and rural areas.

The wallet is being issued through authorised Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) providers and is currently available at Indira Gandhi International Airport and the NPCI Pavilion at Bharat Mandapam.

Delegates can activate the wallet through the CheqUPI app (Transcorp) by completing KYC verification using passport, visa, selfie authentication, and UPI PIN setup.

The system allows a maximum load of ₹25,000 per transaction with a monthly cumulative limit of ₹50,000.

The initiative promotes digital payments inclusion, strengthens tourism-friendly financial services, and enhances India’s global digital payment infrastructure.

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City City Signs MoU with AJNIFM

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM), Faridabad, under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The MoU aims to promote joint postgraduate (PG) and executive programmes, collaborative research, and academic exchanges in International Finance and Financial Technology (FinTech).

The partnership supports capacity building under the GIFT International FinTech Institute, aligning financial education with the needs of India’s only International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).

The collaboration aims to create a future-ready talent pipeline for global and cross-border finance operations.

A five-day Industry Immersion Programme was launched for second-year MBA students of AJNIFM, providing exposure to regulatory frameworks, capital markets, cross-border financial services, and digital finance innovations.

AJNIFM trains officers of Government Financial and Accounts Services (GF&AS) and provides postgraduate and executive-level financial education.

GIFT City provides a global financial ecosystem for practical and applied financial learning, strengthening India’s international finance and FinTech capabilities.

Axis Bank Partners with IndiGo

Axis Bank Limited, India’s 3rd largest private sector bank, partnered with IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Limited) to launch two co-branded travel and lifestyle credit cards — IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card and IndiGo Axis Bank Premium Credit Card.

The credit cards provide rewards through IndiGo’s loyalty programme – IndiGo BluChip.

The IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card is priced at ₹799 (including GST) and is targeted at retail customers, offering a balanced mix of travel and lifestyle benefits across major spending categories.

The IndiGo Axis Bank Premium Credit Card is priced at ₹5,000 (including GST) and is designed for affluent customers seeking enhanced travel privileges and premium lifestyle benefits.

Both credit cards are available on the RuPay network and Visa network.

IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Cardholders will receive a 1,200 BluChips voucher on joining and renewal, along with benefits such as complimentary domestic airport lounge access and accelerated rewards on UPI (Unified Payments Interface) transactions.

IndiGo Axis Bank Premium Credit Cardholders will receive vouchers worth 5,000 BluChips on joining and renewal, along with complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access.

The Premium Credit Card also offers a reduced forex markup of 2.5% on international transactions, making it suitable for frequent international travellers.

 

DEFENCE

Indian Navy Hosts Exercise MILAN 2026

The Indian Navy (IN) hosted three major international engagements at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP) from 15–25 February 2026, including Exercise MILAN 2026, International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, and the 9th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave.

Exercise MILAN 2026 was inaugurated by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and conducted from 19–25 February 2026 in the Bay of Bengal as a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy.

The theme of MILAN 2026 was “Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration.”

International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 was held on 18 February 2026 off Visakhapatnam, under the theme “United through Oceans”, presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The 9th IONS Conclave 2026 was held on 20 February 2026 at Visakhapatnam, AP.

India will lead IONS for the 2026–2028 term, marking its second tenure as Chair since the forum’s launch in 2008, New Delhi.

Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy, assumed the Chairmanship of IONS from the Royal Thai Navy (RTN).