1 French President Macron to visit India, attend AI Impact Summit
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit India on a three-day official visit from February 17th to 19th . According to the Ministry of External Affairs, President Macron is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi . During this visit, he will also participate in the India-AI Impact Summit 2026. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that during the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Macron will discuss further strengthening cooperation in several key areas under the ” Horizon 2047 Roadmap .” The two leaders will inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation in Mumbai . This event will be celebrated in both India and France during the year 2026 and aims to give a new direction to cooperation in the fields of innovation, technology, and startups. President Macron will participate in the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 19th. This summit will be held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16th to 20th. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate this global summit.
India has been named the ” Country of the Year ” at Biofach 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for organic products, which is being held in Nuremberg, Germany , from February 10 to 13, 2026. Biofach , held in Germany, is the world’s largest and most influential exhibition dedicated to organic food and agriculture . APEDA has been participating in Biofach for over a decade and continues to maintain a strong presence. India’s National Pavilion at Biofach 2026, created by APEDA, will span an area of 1,074 square meters and will feature 67 co-exhibitors, including organic product exporters, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, organic laboratories, state government organizations, and commodity boards. The Indian Pavilion will showcase a wide range of organic products, including rice, oilseeds, herbs, spices, pulses, cashews, ginger, turmeric, large cardamom, cinnamon, mango puree, and essential oils.
3 India signed a Social Security Agreement with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland relating to social security contributions
India has signed a social security agreement with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland relating to social security contributions . Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron signed the agreement in New Delhi. The ministry said it aims to avoid double social security contributions for employees of both countries who are on temporary assignments of up to 36 months in each other’s territories . The ministry said the agreement will ensure mobility and continued social security coverage of employees on short-term overseas assignments. The ministry said the agreement is part of India’s trade agreement with the United Kingdom and will come into effect simultaneously with the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement.
4. Delhi government announces Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana, to be implemented from April 1st
The Delhi government has decided to implement the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana from April 1st . During a press conference held at the Delhi Secretariat, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta informed that under this scheme, two daughters from every household in Delhi will be provided an amount of up to Rs. 56,000 for their education . Mrs. Gupta said that this scheme will be implemented till graduation, under which at least Rs. 100,000 will be given upon maturity of the amount . Apart from this, Mrs. Gupta said that for the application, the daughter’s vaccination and studying in a recognized school are mandatory. Mrs. Gupta said that under this scheme, the government will spend an amount of Rs. 160 crore.
5 Thanya Nathan C. will become the country’s first 100% blind woman judge
Thanya Nathan C. will become the first 100% blind judge in Kerala . Nathan topped the Persons with Disabilities list in the judicial examination . Before becoming a judge, Thanya was a practicing lawyer in Taliparamba, Kannur district . The 24-year-old will be the first 100% blind judge in Kerala and the second in the country . In 2013, Brahmanand Sharma of Rajasthan became the first blind judge . The world’s first 100% blind judge is considered to be Sir John Anthony Wall. Sir John Anthony was appointed Deputy Master of the High Court in the Chancery Division in the United Kingdom in 1991. In October 2025, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, while ruling on a case, stated, “Blindness cannot diminish a candidate’s eligibility to become a judge.” The Supreme Court on November 25, 2024, allowed 100% blind law students to appear in the Common Law Entrance Test (CLAT) Post Graduate Examination 2024-25 to be held on December 1.
7 Department of Posts and National Stock Exchange of India Limited sign MoU for investment in mutual funds through India Post
The Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications , Government of India , announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE), India’s leading stock exchange . The objective is to enable the distribution of mutual fund products through India Post’s extensive postal network . The Department of Posts will collaborate with NSE, leveraging its vast network of over 164,000 post offices across the country. NSE has a robust online system for handling mutual fund transactions. This system covers all processes from order placement to settlement and complies with SEB regulations. This collaboration aims to significantly increase the accessibility of mutual fund products to all, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.