Daily Current Affairs Digest for UPSC & Competitive Exams |20th February 2026

Daily Current Affairs Digest for UPSC & Competitive Exams |20th February 2026

1. Supreme Court to Hear CAA Petitions

The Supreme Court will begin hearing petitions challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 from May 5, 2026.

About CAA 2019

The Act fast-tracks Indian citizenship for persecuted minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians) from:

  • Pakistan

  • Bangladesh

  • Afghanistan

Why in News

  • Constitutional validity under scrutiny

  • Linked to debates on secularism and equality

  • Major political and legal significance

Exam Relevance

  • Citizenship provisions in India

  • Article 14 and reasonable classification

  • India’s refugee policy

 2. INS Aridhaman to Strengthen Nuclear Deterrence

India is set to commission INS Aridhaman, the third Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), by April–May.

Key Features

  • Nuclear-powered SSBN

  • Part of India’s nuclear triad

  • Long-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs)

  • Enhanced stealth capability

Strategic Importance

  • Strengthens sea-based deterrence

  • Improves second-strike capability

  • Boosts Indo-Pacific strategic posture

Exam Focus

  • Nuclear triad components

  • SSBN vs SSN

  • India’s maritime deterrence

3. Lake Victoria Faces Toxic Algal Bloom Crisis

Lake Victoria, the world’s largest tropical lake (shared by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda), has turned toxic green due to harmful algal blooms.

Causes

  • Fertiliser runoff

  • Untreated sewage

  • Industrial discharge

  • Nutrient enrichment (eutrophication)

Impact

  • Threat to ~47 million people

  • Fisheries decline

  • Drinking water contamination

  • Ecosystem degradation

Exam Relevance

  • Eutrophication

  • Transboundary lakes

  • Inland water pollution

 4. Meghalaya Showcases Organic Strength at BIOFACH 2026

Meghalaya made its debut at BIOFACH 2026 (Nuremberg, Germany), projecting itself as an organic sourcing hub from Northeast India.

Highlights

  • Integrated organic ecosystem

  • Certification and branding focus

  • Export promotion strategy

  • Farmer-centric organic model

Significance

  • Boost to Northeast agriculture

  • Promotes organic value chains

  • Enhances India’s agri-exports

Exam Angle

  • Organic farming in India

  • BIOFACH importance

  • Northeast development

 5. Gaganyaan Mission Advances with Drogue Parachute Test

India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission achieved a milestone with the successful qualification load test of the drogue parachute.

Conducted By

  • ISRO

  • DRDO

  • Test location: Chandigarh

Why Important

  • Critical for crew module safe landing

  • Strengthens mission reliability

  • Major step toward human spaceflight

Exam Focus

  • Gaganyaan components

  • Crew escape and recovery systems

  • India’s human spaceflight roadmap

 6. Ancient Port Charax Spasinou Rediscovered Digitally

The ancient port Charax Spasinou (on the Tigris River, Iraq), founded during Alexander the Great’s era, has been digitally mapped.

Key Findings

  • Settlement larger than previously known

  • Important Indo-Mesopotamian trade node

  • Revealed via advanced digital mapping

Historical Importance

  • Hellenistic trade networks

  • Persian Gulf commerce

  • Ancient maritime routes

Exam Relevance

  • Alexander’s eastern campaigns

  • Ancient trade geography

  • Archaeological technologies

 7. MeitY Launches VoicERA Voice AI Stack

The Ministry of Electronics and IT launched VoicERA, an open-source Voice AI stack, at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

Key Features

  • Multilingual voice capability

  • Open-source architecture

  • Part of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

  • Supports Indian language ecosystem

Significance

  • Boosts AI inclusivity

  • Strengthens Bharat language tech

  • Promotes indigenous AI ecosystem

Exam Angle

  • Digital Public Infrastructure

  • Voice AI technologies

  • MeitY initiatives

 8. New Pistol Shrimp Species Discovered in Kochi

Researchers from Cochin University discovered a new pistol shrimp species Alpheus madhusoodanai in the Kochi backwaters.

Key Facts

  • First alpheid shrimp recorded in this estuary

  • Published in Journal of the Marine Biological Association

  • Found in Kerala’s brackish ecosystem

Ecological Importance

  • Enhances marine biodiversity records

  • Indicates estuarine health

  • Important for crustacean taxonomy

Exam Relevance

  • New species discovery

  • Estuarine ecosystems

  • Marine biodiversity

 9. World Day of Social Justice Observed

World Day of Social Justice is observed today focusing on:

  • Poverty reduction

  • Social inclusion

  • Gender equality

  • Decent work

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is hosting a special programme.

Exam Focus

  • Important UN observance days

  • Social justice indicators

  • Inclusive development

10. 9th IONS Conclave of Chiefs in Visakhapatnam

The 9th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs is being held in Visakhapatnam.

About IONS

  • Voluntary naval cooperation forum

  • Established: 2008 (New Delhi)

  • Promotes maritime security cooperation

Latest Development

  • India assumes chairmanship for 2026–2028

Significance

  • Strengthens Indian Ocean cooperation

  • Enhances naval diplomacy

  • Supports SAGAR vision

Exam Relevance

  • IONS vs IORA

  • Maritime security architecture

  • Indo-Pacific cooperation

11. Vibrant Villages Programme-II Launched

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched Vibrant Villages Programme-II in Cachar district, Assam.

Key Features

  • Outlay: ₹6,800 crore

  • Coverage: 15 States + 2 UTs

  • Focus on border villages

  • Saturation-based development

Objectives

  • Improve border infrastructure

  • Create livelihood opportunities

  • Strengthen internal security

  • Prevent migration from border areas

Exam Angle

  • Border area development

  • Internal security strategy

  • Northeast connectivity