CURRENT AFFAIRS 18 February, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 18 February, 2026

1. EXERCISE MILAN 2026 –

• The Indian Navy has established a dedicated MILAN village in Visakhapatnam to facilitate cultural and social exchanges among delegates participating in 13th Exercise MILAN 2026 (15th to 25th February 2026).
• 13th Exercise MILAN 2026 features participation from over 70 countries, including first-timers like Germany, the Philippines, and the UAE.

Exercise MILAN

• About: MILAN is a biennial (once every two years) multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy. Launched in 1995 under the Andaman and Nicobar Command with participation from just four foreign navies—Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—it has since grown into one of the largest maritime engagements in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Core Objectives: Aims to foster mutual understanding, trust, and professional interaction among maritime partners to promote a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based maritime order.
• Structural Phases: Comprises two main phases: the Harbour Phase (seminars, subject-matter expert exchanges, etc.) and the Sea Phase (focusing on interoperability, HADR, anti-submarine warfare, and tactical manoeuvres).
• Policy Alignment: The exercise serves as a key platform for India’s Act East Policy 2014, the MAHASAGAR vision, and its role as a preferred security partner in the Indo-Pacific.

2. IRAN’S STRAIT OF HORMUZ SHUTDOWN: A DRILL OR A GLOBAL WARNING ? –

• Iran briefly shut down parts of the Strait of Hormuz during live-fire naval drills, instantly drawing global attention. Tehran described the restriction as a short safety measure, lasting only a few hours. However, the timing alongside escalating Iran-US tensions and renewed nuclear talks in Geneva amplified market anxieties. Even temporary disruptions in this narrow waterway can ripple through global oil flows, shipping costs, and energy prices. The episode underscored a critical reality: the world’s energy arteries remain highly vulnerable to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

What Exactly Did Iran Do? – Iran Military Drills Explained

• Iranian authorities temporarily restricted navigation,
• Conducted live surface firing exercises
• Launched missiles at designated targets
• Issued maritime safety advisories
• Shutdown lasted only several hours
• Iran framed the move as a routine safety precaution, yet its rarity intensified global scrutiny.

3. NGT GIVES NOD TO ₹81,000 CRORE GREAT NICOBAR PROJECT-WITH STRICT GREEN RULES! –

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has cleared the ₹81,000 crore Great Nicobar Project, stating it found no valid ground to interfere with the environmental clearance granted earlier. The decision was delivered on February 16, 2026, by a six-member bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava. While acknowledging the strategic importance of the Great Nicobar Project, the tribunal imposed strict environmental safeguards to protect coral reefs, sandy beaches, wildlife, and tribal communities. The project will now proceed under stringent monitoring and compliance conditions.

NGT Approval for Great Nicobar Project: What the Tribunal Said

• The Great Nicobar Project received NGT approval after fresh pleas challenging its environmental and coastal clearances were dismissed.
• The tribunal upheld the Environmental Clearance (EC) granted in November 2022, noting that adequate safeguards were incorporated.
• The bench emphasised that national interest and strategic needs must be balanced with environmental protection.
• It directed that all conditions attached to the clearance are legally binding and must be strictly followed.
• This marks the second round of litigation, reinforcing the tribunal’s view that the Great Nicobar Project holds significant geopolitical and economic importance.

4. MODI & MACRON LAUNCH H125 PROJECT – INDIA ENTERS ELITE HELICOPTER LEAGUE –

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated India’s first private-sector helicopter manufacturing facility on 17 February 2026. The Final Assembly Line (FAL) for H125 helicopters has been set up at Vemagal Industrial Area in Kolar, Karnataka, near Bengaluru. The facility will initially produce 10 H125 helicopters per year and cater to domestic as well as export markets. The project marks a major milestone in India-France defence partnership and strengthens India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission in aerospace manufacturing.

H125 Helicopter India: First Private Helicopter Manufacturing Facility

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron launched the H125 helicopter India facility virtually.
• Located in Karnataka’s Vemagal Industrial Area, this is India’s first private helicopter manufacturing plant.
• The plant will initially manufacture 10 H125 helicopters annually, with plans to scale up production to meet a projected demand of 500 helicopters over the next 20 years.
• The first “Made in India” H125 helicopter is expected to fly by early 2027, marking a historic step in Aatmanirbhar Bharat aerospace.

5. TARIQUE RAHMAN TAKES CHARGE! BNP CHIEF SWORN IN AS BANGLADESH’S NEW PRIME MINISTER –

• Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on February 17 2026, following a landslide victory in the 13th Parliamentary Elections. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad in Dhaka. The ceremony marked a departure from tradition, as it was held outside Bangabhaban to accommodate nearly 1,200 guests.

Tarique Rahman Sworn In as Bangladesh Prime Minister 2026

• Tarique Rahman officially became Bangladesh Prime Minister 2026 after taking oath at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.
• The oath was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin in a ceremony attended by national and international dignitaries.
• This swearing-in ceremony was unique as it was conducted outside Bangabhaban, breaking traditional practice.
• The event symbolised a fresh political chapter in Bangladesh politics.
• Tarique Rahman’s leadership begins at a critical time when the country faces economic pressure, institutional challenges and the need for political reconciliation.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Kerala recently approved India’s first comprehensive policy focused on which advanced nanomaterial ?

1. a) Silicon
2. b) Lithium
3. c) Graphene
4. d) Titanium

Q2.  Recently, the Union Cabinet approved ₹1 lakh crore for a new initiative aimed at supporting urban development. What is the name of this initiative ?

1. a) National Urban Renewal Fund
2. b) Smart Cities Infrastructure Fund
3. c) Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)
4. d) Atal Urban Development Fund

Q3.  In the Union Budget 2026-27, the government sanctioned new telescopes in Ladakh to boost observational astronomy. Hanle village in Ladakh, known for hosting major telescopes, has been designated as India’s first and only what ?

1. a) Biosphere Reserve
2. b) Geo-heritage Park
3. c) Astronomical Heritage Site
4. d) Dark Sky Reserve

Q4.  With reference to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, consider the following statements:

1. The CEC can be removed from office by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of a three-member committee.
2. The grounds for the removal of the CEC are the same as those for the removal of the President of India.
3. The removal process requires a simple majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

         Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 and 3 only
3. c) 1 and 3 only
4. d) None of the above

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect because the CEC is a constitutional authority and cannot be removed by the Prime Minister. The CEC is appointed by the President, and the removal can only be effected through a parliamentary process similar to that of a Supreme Court judge.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. According to Article 324(5), the CEC can be removed from office “in like manner and on like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.” The grounds for the removal of a Supreme Court judge (and thus the CEC) are “proved misbehaviour” or “incapacity,” as per Article 124(4). This is distinct from the grounds for the removal of the President, which is “violation of the Constitution” (Article 61).
• Statement 3 is incorrect because the removal process is much more rigorous than a simple majority. It requires a constitutional special majority in each House of Parliament. This means the motion must be supported by a majority of the total membership of the House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting. Only after such a motion is passed in both Houses is it presented to the President for the formal order of removal. These stringent protections are designed to ensure the independence and impartiality of the Election Commission of India, preventing the executive from removing the CEC for political reasons.

Q5.  The Great Nicobar Project, recently cleared by the NGT, is strategically significant due to its proximity to:

1. a) The Strait of Hormuz
2. b) The Malacca Strait
3. c) The Suez Canal
4. d) The Bab-el-Mandeb

Explanation-

• The Great Nicobar Project is a massive infrastructure plan located on the southernmost island of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. Its location is of immense strategic importance because it lies very close to the Malacca Strait, which is one of the world’s busiest and most critical shipping lanes.
• Nearly one-third of global trade passes through this channel. By developing an International Transshipment Port at Galathea Bay, India aims to tap into this global logistics network and reduce its dependence on foreign ports like Singapore or Colombo.
• The project also includes a dual-use civil-military airport, which will enhance India’s maritime surveillance and security presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Answer Key