Current Affairs 20/02/2026
1. Which country will host the 52nd G7 Summit in 2026?
Answer : France
The 52nd G7 Summit (2026) will be hosted by France, reaffirming its longstanding role as one of the founding members of the Group of Seven (G7). The summit is scheduled to take place in Évian-les-Bains, a renowned lakeside town in the Haute-Savoie region, from 15 to 17 June 2026.
The G7 comprises seven of the world’s most advanced economies — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States — along with the European Union. The forum serves as a platform for high-level dialogue on global economic stability, geopolitical developments, climate change, sustainable development, digital transformation, and international security.
France’s presidency in 2026 is expected to focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation, promoting climate resilience, advancing clean energy transitions, and addressing global economic uncertainties. Given the current international landscape, discussions are also likely to include geopolitical tensions, supply chain resilience, technological innovation, and development partnerships with emerging economies.
Hosting the summit provides France an opportunity to shape the global agenda, reinforce transatlantic and Indo-Pacific partnerships, and emphasize its diplomatic priorities within the G7 framework. The choice of Évian-les-Bains, known for hosting international diplomatic engagements in the past, reflects France’s intention to provide a secure and symbolically significant venue for global deliberations.
The 52nd G7 Summit is anticipated to play a crucial role in coordinating policy responses among leading economies at a time of evolving global challenges and opportunities.
2. Under India AI Mission 2.0, how many new GPUs has the government announced to add?
Answer : 20,000
Under India AI Mission 2.0, the Government of India has announced the addition of 20,000 new Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to strengthen the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) compute infrastructure. This significant expansion aims to enhance India’s capacity to develop, train, and deploy advanced AI models across sectors.
The move builds upon the foundation laid under the broader IndiaAI Mission, which seeks to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence. High-performance GPUs are essential for training large language models, machine learning systems, and generative AI applications. By increasing GPU availability, the government intends to democratize access to AI computing power for startups, research institutions, academia, and public sector agencies.
The expansion is expected to:
• Boost domestic AI research and innovation
• Support the development of indigenous AI models
• Strengthen India’s semiconductor and digital ecosystem
• Reduce dependency on foreign AI infrastructure
• Encourage AI adoption in governance, healthcare, agriculture, and education
India AI Mission 2.0 aligns with the country’s broader digital transformation agenda, including initiatives promoting self-reliance in emerging technologies. The enhanced GPU infrastructure will play a critical role in enabling scalable AI solutions and fostering a robust AI startup ecosystem.
By adding 20,000 GPUs, India is taking a strategic step toward building sovereign AI capabilities and ensuring competitiveness in the rapidly evolving global AI landscape.
3. India’s first private helicopter final assembly line has been inaugurated as a joint venture of which companies?
Answer : Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus
India’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) marks a significant milestone in the country’s aerospace and defence manufacturing journey. The facility has been inaugurated as a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus, combining domestic industrial capability with global aviation expertise.
The assembly line has been established to manufacture and assemble Airbus helicopters in India, strengthening the country’s indigenous aerospace ecosystem. This development aligns closely with the Government of India’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives, which seek to enhance self-reliance in critical defence and aviation technologies.
Under this partnership, Tata Advanced Systems will leverage its advanced manufacturing infrastructure and skilled workforce, while Airbus will contribute cutting-edge helicopter technology, global quality standards, and supply chain integration. The project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, promote technology transfer, and foster the growth of ancillary industries within India’s aerospace sector.
The establishment of the helicopter final assembly line also reinforces India’s position as an emerging hub for aerospace manufacturing in the Indo-Pacific region. Beyond meeting domestic demand, the facility has the potential to support exports, thereby integrating India more deeply into the global aviation value chain.
Overall, this joint venture represents a strategic advancement in India’s defence industrial base and underscores the increasing role of private sector participation in high-technology manufacturing.
4. Who has become the youngest player to score a century in Men’s T20 World Cup history?
Answer : Yuvraj Samra
Yuvraj Samra Becomes Youngest Centurion in Men’s T20 World Cup History
In a landmark achievement at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Yuvraj Samra etched his name into cricketing history by becoming the youngest player ever to score a century in the Men’s T20 World Cup. The 19-year-old prodigy accomplished this remarkable feat with a scintillating hundred against the New Zealand national cricket team, representing the Canada national cricket team on the global stage.
Samra’s innings was a blend of composure, aggression, and technical precision. Displaying maturity beyond his years, he countered a disciplined New Zealand bowling attack with fearless stroke play, combining elegant drives with powerful boundary-hitting. His century not only anchored Canada’s innings but also showcased the rising standard of associate cricket nations in international tournaments.
This achievement underscores the expanding competitive landscape fostered by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has increasingly provided opportunities for emerging cricketing nations to shine on the world stage. Samra’s performance is being hailed as a defining moment for Canadian cricket, inspiring a new generation of players and fans alike.
By setting this record, Yuvraj Samra has not only achieved personal glory but also strengthened Canada’s presence in international cricket, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of the T20 format.
5. Who inaugurated the ‘Waves Creators Corner’ at the India AI Impact Summit?
Answer : Ashwini Vaishnaw
Ashwini Vaishnaw Inaugurates ‘Waves Creators Corner’ at India AI Impact Summit
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the ‘Waves Creators Corner’ at the prestigious India AI Impact Summit, marking a significant step toward strengthening India’s digital and creative technology ecosystem. The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to fostering innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence and creative industries.
The ‘Waves Creators Corner’ has been conceptualized as a dynamic platform to showcase the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence across sectors such as animation, visual effects (VFX), gaming, comics, and extended reality (XR). By bringing together startups, developers, content creators, and technology leaders, the platform aims to encourage collaboration and accelerate AI-driven content creation.
During the inauguration, the minister emphasized India’s rapidly expanding AI landscape and the need to empower creators with cutting-edge tools and infrastructure. He highlighted how AI is not only enhancing productivity but also opening new avenues for storytelling, immersive experiences, and digital entrepreneurship. The initiative aligns with the broader national vision of positioning India as a global hub for AI innovation and digital creativity.
The India AI Impact Summit serves as a strategic forum for policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to deliberate on AI’s evolving role in governance, industry transformation, and inclusive growth. The launch of the ‘Waves Creators Corner’ further reinforces the government’s focus on integrating advanced technologies into India’s creative economy while nurturing talent and innovation.
6. Which nuclear power plant’s Unit-1 has India successfully restarted recently using indigenous technology?
Answer : Narora
Narora Nuclear Power Plant’s Unit-1 Successfully Restarted Using Indigenous Technology
India has recently achieved a significant milestone in its civil nuclear energy programme with the successful restart of Unit-1 of the Narora Atomic Power Station — a reactor brought back online using fully indigenous technology.
Located in the Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh, the Narora plant is operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Unit-1, a 220 MW pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR), had been temporarily shut down for scheduled maintenance. Its restart marks a key demonstration of India’s growing self-reliance in nuclear technology design, execution, and commissioning — a strategic objective aligned with the nation’s broad energy security goals.
The successful restart builds on decades of expertise developed within India’s nuclear establishment, reflecting robust indigenous capabilities in reactor operation, safety systems, fuel design, and manufacturing. This accomplishment not only enhances the reliability of India’s nuclear power infrastructure but also strengthens the country’s capacity to meet expanding electricity demands with low-carbon energy sources.
The revival of Unit-1 underscores a continued commitment to leveraging domestically developed scientific and engineering solutions in the energy sector, reinforcing India’s position as a responsible and self-sufficient nuclear power.
7. With which French company has Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed an agreement to manufacture Hammer missiles in India?
Answer : Safran Electronics & Defence
BEL Partners with Safran Electronics & Defence for Indigenous Manufacture of HAMMER Missiles
In a significant boost to India’s defence manufacturing capabilities, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed an agreement with French defence major Safran Electronics & Defence to manufacture HAMMER missiles in India. The collaboration marks a major step forward in strengthening indigenous production under the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
The HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a precision-guided, air-to-ground weapon system known for its modular design and operational flexibility. It is capable of engaging a wide range of targets under varied combat conditions and is already integrated with advanced fighter aircraft platforms.
Under the agreement, BEL and Safran will cooperate in the local production, integration, and lifecycle support of the missile system in India. The partnership is expected to enhance technology transfer, build domestic expertise in advanced weapon systems, and reduce dependency on imports in critical defence segments.
The collaboration not only strengthens India-France strategic defence ties but also reinforces India’s ambition to emerge as a global defence manufacturing hub. By leveraging BEL’s established infrastructure and Safran’s technological expertise, the joint initiative aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for advanced missile production within the country.