TODAY NEWS HIGHLIGHT
➤ PM Modi announces PM Relief Scheme for accident victims from Seva Tirtha
➤ India to host the first-ever Global South AI Impact Summit 2026
➤ Major improvement in Indian passport ranking, visa-free entry to so many countries (rank & report)
➤ Assam gets Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, the Northeast's first emergency landing facility (state in news)
➤ Union Cabinet approves ₹10,000 crore Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (national)
➤ Game-changer project: Road-rail tunnel under this river approved (national)
➤ Digital PDS launched under 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance' (national)
➤ Cabinet approves Mega Urban Challenge Fund with 50% market finance mandate (national)
1. PM Modi announces 'PM Rahat Yojana' for accident victims from Seva Tirtha
On February 14, 2026, the central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the 'PM Rahat (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment)' scheme, which aims to provide prompt and cashless treatment to road accident victims within the golden hour.
2. India will host the Global South AI Impact Summit 2026 for the first time.
The AI Impact Summit 2026 was inaugurated on February 16, 2026, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This five-day conference is the first comprehensive global AI summit held in the Global South, aiming to shape the global governance of artificial intelligence and international cooperation.
3. Indian passport ranking sees significant improvement, visa-free entry to more countries
The Henley Passport Index 2026, released by Henley & Partners, has recorded a significant improvement in India's passport ranking. Although India's total visa-free access declined slightly, it still rose from 85th in 2025 to 75th in 2026. This indicates that the Henley Index is based on a relative ranking system, where countries' positions are determined relative to other countries.
4. Assam gets Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, the Northeast's first emergency landing facility
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated key infrastructure projects worth over ₹5,450 crore in Assam, aimed at strengthening regional connectivity, strategic preparedness, and urban development. These include the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu built over the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati and the Northeast's first highway Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Moran bypass in Dibrugarh district.
5. Union Cabinet approves ₹10,000 crore Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0) with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore, aimed at encouraging venture capital investment in India's startup ecosystem. The scheme specifically focuses on deep tech, innovative manufacturing, and early-growth stage ventures.
6. Game-changer project: Road-rail tunnel under this river approved
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a 4-lane access-controlled Greenfield Corridor project in Assam, with a total length of 33.7 kilometers and an estimated cost of ₹18,662 crore. The project's key feature is a 15.79-kilometer-long twin-tube TBM-based underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra River, touted to be India's first such tunnel.
7. Digital PDS launched under 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the CBDC-based Public Distribution System (PDS) in Gandhinagar, aiming to make the food security system more transparent, efficient, and accountable. This initiative promotes technology-driven governance by integrating the Digital India campaign with the ration distribution system and is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" vision.
8. Cabinet approves Mega Urban Challenge Fund with 50% market finance mandate
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), which aims to shift India's urban development model from traditional grant-based funding to market-linked and reform-based financing. This centrally sponsored scheme will operate from 2025-26 to 2030-31,
QUIZ – WITH EXPLANATION (EXACT)
1. What is the maximum amount of cashless treatment provided under the PM Rahat Yojana?
A - ₹50,000
B - ₹1 lakh
C - ₹1.5 lakh
D - ₹2 lakh
On February 14, 2026, the central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the PM Rahat Yojana, which aims to provide prompt and cashless treatment to road accident victims within the golden hour.
2. What three principles is the AI Impact Summit 2026 based on?
A - Peace, Power, Progress
B - People, Planet, Progress
C - Policy, Partnership, Profit
D - Planning, Production, Protection
The AI Impact Summit 2026 was inaugurated on February 16, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. It is the first comprehensive global AI conference held in the Global South, aiming to shape global governance and cooperation in Artificial Intelligence.
3. What was India's rank in the Henley Passport Index 2026?
A - 65
B - 70
C - 75
D - 80
According to the Henley Passport Index 2026, India's passport ranking has improved from 85th in 2025 to 75th in 2026. Although India's overall visa-free access declined slightly, its ranking improved due to its improved position compared to other countries.
4. Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu is built over which river?
A - Ganga
B - Yamuna
C - Brahmaputra
D - Godavari
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated infrastructure projects worth over ₹5,450 crore in Assam, including the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu over the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati and the Northeast's first highway Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh.
5. What is the total corpus of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0?
A - ₹5,000 crore
B - ₹7,500 crore
C - ₹10,000 crore
D - ₹15,000 crore
The Union Cabinet has approved the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0) with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore, aimed at boosting venture capital investment in India. The scheme focuses on deep tech, innovative manufacturing, and early-growth stage startups.
6. What is the total length of the Assam Greenfield Corridor Project?
A - 15.79 km
B - 33.7 km
C - 240 km
D - 80 km
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a 33.7 km long, 4-lane Greenfield Corridor in Assam, costing ₹18,662 crore. Its key feature is a 15.79 km long twin-tube TBM-based underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra, connecting Gohpur to Numaligarh.
7. In which city was CBDC-based PDS launched?
A - Ahmedabad
B - Gandhinagar
C - Surat
D - Vadodara
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the CBDC-based Public Distribution System (PDS) in Gandhinagar, aiming to make the food security system more transparent and technology-driven.
8. What is the total corpus of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)?
A - ₹50,000 crore
B - ₹75,000 crore
C - ₹1 lakh crore
D - ₹2 lakh crore
The Union Cabinet has approved the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), which aims to shift urban development from a grant-based model to market-linked and reform-based financing.
ONE LINER (EXACT)
What is the total corpus of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0? - ₹10,000 crore
What is the maximum amount of cashless treatment an accident victim will receive under the PM Relief Scheme? - ₹1.5 lakh
What is the minimum percentage of funds required to be raised from market sources under the Urban Challenge Fund? - 50 percent
Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu is built on which river? - Brahmaputra River
The underwater road-cum-rail tunnel approved in Assam will be built under which river? - Brahmaputra River
What is the total approved corpus of the Urban Challenge Fund? - ₹1 lakh crore
Where was the AI Impact Summit 2026 held? - Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
In which district of Assam has the Highway Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) been developed? - Dibrugarh District (Moran Bypass)
Who issues the digital currency in the CBDC-based PDS? - Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
What was India's rank in the Henley Passport Index 2026? - 75th place