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Daily Current Affairs – 20 February, 2026

    Google’s America-India Connect Initiative

    Context

  • At India AI Impact Summit, Google has announced that it will connect India with the US through new subsea cables as part of a 15 billion dollar investment spread over five years.

    • About

  • Google announced the collaborative infrastructure initiative named America-India Connect.
  • A new international subsea gateway will be established in Vizag.
  • It will house a gigawatt-scale compute facility and an international subsea cable gateway.
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    SC Questions States Over Indiscriminate Distribution of Freebies

    Context

  • Recently, the Supreme Court questioned State governments for distributing freebies and expressed concern that such measures, particularly ahead of elections, resemble an ‘appeasement’ policy that disregards the health of the public exchequer.

    • What Are ‘Freebies’?

  • These refer to goods, services, or financial benefits distributed by governments at no direct cost to beneficiaries. 
  • These may include free electricity, water, farm loan waivers, laptops, scooters, cash transfers, free bus travel, or subsidised food grains.
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    Gender Budget Allocation Rises in Union Budget 2026–27

    Context

  • An allocation of 5.01 lakh crore rupees has been earmarked for the welfare of women and girls in the Gender Budget Statement for the current financial year.

    • What is Gender Budgeting (GB)?

  • GB is an approach that integrates gender equality into government’s planning and budgeting processes and analyses how budgets can promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.
  • It was first introduced in 2005-06.
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    ISA Launches Global AI-for-Energy Mission

    In News

  • The International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched the Global Mission on AI for Energy at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 to accelerate AI adoption in clean energy across 120+ member countries, emphasizing digital infrastructure like India's Energy Stack.

    • International Solar Alliance 

  • It is a global initiative launched in2015 by India and France at COP21 in Paris.
  • It has over 120 member countries and works across Africa, Asia, and island nations.
  • It works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide and promotes solar power as a sustainable transition to a clean energy future.
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    News In Short 20-02-2026

    In News

  • The Vibrant Villages Programme–II (VVP-II) is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Union Home Minister at Nathanpur village in Assam's Cachar district.

    • About

  • VVP-II aims to fill infrastructure gaps, reverse out-migration, and improve livelihoods in border areas, fostering secure communities aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047.
  • It builds on VVP-I by targeting comprehensive development in border villages along India's international land borders (excluding northern borders covered earlier), spanning 15 states and 2 UTs with a ₹6,839 crore outlay until FY 2028-29.
    • Read More
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