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Current affairs

Current affairs February 16 – February 22, 2026 for CUET

3 stories from the week of February 16 – February 22, 2026, in the order they happened, then a quiz on the week.

February 2026 in current affairs: eleven stories for CUET

Science & Space

Gaganyaan's drogue parachute passes a qualification test

Gaganyaan's drogue parachute passed a qualification load test on the rocket sled at TBRL, Chandigarh, on 18 February 2026.

On 18 February 2026 the drogue parachute for India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme passed a qualification-level load test on the Rail Track Rocket Sled at DRDO's Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh. The test loads were higher than the maximum expected in flight, to show the design's safety margin.

The drogue is the parachute that slows and steadies the crew module before the main parachutes open. The test was run by ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre with DRDO's Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment and TBRL.

Test yourself

Question 1

MediumOriginal question

Where was the Gaganyaan drogue parachute qualification test of February 2026 carried out?

  1. AOn the Rail Track Rocket Sled at TBRL, Chandigarh
  2. BAt the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur
  3. CIn a wind tunnel at IISc, Bengaluru
  4. DAt sea, off Sriharikota
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

  1. The test used the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of DRDO's TBRL in Chandigarh.

  2. A rocket sled lets a parachute be loaded at high speed on the ground.

Concept
Gaganyaan parachute test
Typical time
50 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 2

HardOriginal question

What does the drogue parachute do in the Gaganyaan crew module's descent?

  1. ACarries the module all the way to splashdown alone
  2. BSeparates the crew module from the rocket
  3. CSlows and stabilises the module before the main parachutes open
  4. DProtects the module from heat during re-entry
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

  1. Drogues are the first parachutes out: they slow and steady the module so the main parachutes can open safely.

  2. Heat protection is the job of the heat shield, not a parachute.

Concept
Role of the drogue parachute
Typical time
65 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in
Read the releasePractise this: Science & Space

Month →

International

The AI Impact Summit and the New Delhi Declaration

India hosted the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam on 18–19 February 2026; 92 parties endorsed the New Delhi Declaration.

India hosted the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with the leaders' summit on 18–19 February. It closed with the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact, endorsed by 92 countries and international organisations and guided by the principle 'Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya' — welfare for all, happiness for all.

The Declaration rests on seven pillars, which India called chakras, from democratising AI resources to resilient and efficient AI systems. Among the deliverables were a Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI and a Global AI Impact Commons for sharing use cases. It was the first such global AI summit hosted in the Global South.

Test yourself

Question 1

EasyOriginal question

The AI Impact Summit of February 2026 closed with the adoption of which document?

  1. AThe Bletchley Declaration
  2. BThe Paris Statement on AI
  3. CThe New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact
  4. DThe Seoul Declaration
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

  1. The summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact.

  2. Bletchley (2023), Seoul (2024) and Paris (2025) were the earlier summits in the series.

Concept
AI Impact Summit 2026 outcome
Typical time
40 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 2

MediumOriginal question

By how many countries and international organisations was the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact endorsed?

  1. A20
  2. B92
  3. C100
  4. D193
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

  1. The Declaration was endorsed by 92 countries and international organisations.

  2. 193 is the UN's membership, not the number of endorsers.

Concept
Endorsement of the New Delhi Declaration
Typical time
50 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 3

MediumOriginal question

Which principle guides the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact?

  1. AVasudhaiva Kutumbakam
  2. BSatyameva Jayate
  3. CSabka Saath, Sabka Vikas
  4. DSarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

  1. The Declaration is guided by 'Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya' — welfare for all, happiness for all.

  2. 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' was the theme of India's G20 presidency in 2023.

Concept
Guiding principle of the New Delhi Declaration
Typical time
50 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 4

HardOriginal question

The New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact is built on how many pillars, which India called chakras?

  1. A3
  2. B5
  3. C7
  4. D9
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

  1. The Declaration rests on seven pillars, or chakras, of action.

  2. They run from democratising AI resources to resilient, efficient and innovative AI systems.

Concept
Pillars of the New Delhi Declaration
Typical time
65 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in
Read the releasePractise this: International

Month →

International

India joins Pax Silica

India joined Pax Silica, a US-led coalition to secure the chip and AI supply chain, on 20 February 2026.

On 20 February 2026, during the AI Impact Summit, India formally joined Pax Silica, a US-led coalition of trusted countries for securing the 'silicon stack' — from critical minerals and chip fabrication to AI systems and the infrastructure they run on. Its stated aims are to reduce overconcentration in supply chains and to prevent economic coercion.

Test yourself

Question 1

MediumOriginal question

Pax Silica, which India joined in February 2026, is a coalition concerned with what?

  1. AProtecting silica-rich coastal sand dunes
  2. BA peacekeeping force for the Pacific
  3. CSecuring the supply chain from critical minerals and chips to AI systems
  4. DSolar glass manufacturing in the Global South
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

  1. Pax Silica aims to secure the 'silicon stack', from critical minerals and semiconductor fabrication to AI deployment.

  2. India signed on during the AI Impact Summit, deepening technology ties with the United States.

Concept
Pax Silica
Typical time
50 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in

Question 2

HardOriginal question

With which country's technology cooperation does India's joining Pax Silica chiefly deepen ties, according to the government?

  1. AJapan
  2. BThe United States
  3. CThe European Union
  4. DTaiwan
Your answer
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

  1. The government described joining Pax Silica as deepening strategic technology cooperation with the United States.

  2. The signing ceremony brought together senior leaders of both countries.

Concept
Pax Silica and India–US ties
Typical time
65 seconds
Written from
pib.gov.in
Read the releasePractise this: International

Month →

Take the week's quiz

8 questions from this week's stories, untimed, with the answer after each.

Take the week's quiz

Every item on this page, and the document it came from

Sources on this page · Last verified:

  1. DRDO conducts successful qualification test for Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute — Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence
  2. AI Impact Summit 2026 Concludes with Adoption of New Delhi Declaration — Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  3. India Joins Pax Silica at India AI Impact Summit 2026, Deepens Strategic Technology Cooperation with United States — Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology