Start your day informed with the most important developments shaping India and the world on February 16, 2026. From key political statements and diplomatic engagements to major security updates and global AI discussions, here is a crisp and student-friendly round-up for today’s school assembly.

National News

  • PM Modi says Viksit Bharat in sight, urges pvt sector to do its bit 

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the latest Budget and a spate of global trade deals signed by his government as foundations for Viksit Bharat, and urged the private sector to step in "more aggressively" and "boldly" now.

  • 'Carefully scripted, desperate PR exercise': Congress slams PM Modi's PTI interview

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interview with PTI was "no interview" and claimed that it was a "carefully scripted" as well as "desperate PR exercise".

  • PM to inaugurate India AI Impact Expo on February 16

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Expo 2026 on Monday at the Bharat Mandapam, his office said.

  • Witnessing betrayal of Indian farmers in name of US trade deal: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Upping the ante against the government over the India-US interim trade deal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday posed a string of questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that "we are witnessing a betrayal" of Indian farmers.

  • Rahul Gandhi spreading lies over India's trade deals with US, EU; farmers fully protected: Shah

Gandhinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of spreading "lies" and misleading farmers over India's trade pacts with the US, UK and the EU, asserting the government has fully safeguarded the country's agriculture and dairy sectors.

  • India, France to hold key dialogue to boost defence cooperation on Feb 17

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold talks with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin in Bengaluru on February 17, with some key outcomes expected from the bilateral dialogue to boost defence cooperation.

  • Debate, vote on motion to remove Birla to be taken up on March 9: Rijiju

Tawang: The debate and subsequent vote on the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be taken up on March 9, when the House reassembles after the recess, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said here on Sunday.

  • LS Speaker Birla to represent India at Tarique Rahman's oath ceremony in Bangladesh

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh's next prime minister, Tarique Rahman, on February 17.

  • Security agencies bust massive 'mule account' network in J-K; fear misuse by terror groups

New Delhi/Srinagar: Security agencies have busted an ever-growing ecosystem of "mule accounts" in Jammu and Kashmir that serves as the financial backbone of global scam networks, with officials fearing that the funds routed through these accounts could be used for separatist and anti-national activities.

  • 'White-Collar' terror probe: Doctors formed terror group 'Ansar Interim' for J-K, hinterland attacks

New Delhi/Srinagar: The 'white-collar' terror module recently busted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police indicates that the doctors arrested in the case had been radicalised since 2016 and formed a new terror organisation named "Ansar Interim" to carry out subversive activities in the Union Territory as well as in the hinterland, officials said on Sunday.

  • Women's entry into Sabarimala rekindled ahead of SC hearing; opposition seeks clarity from govt

Thiruvananthapuram: After a brief hiatus, the women's entry issue at the Sabarimala temple resurfaced on Sunday, sparking a political debate in Kerala, with the opposition urging the LDF government to clarify its stand on the entry of young women into the shrine.

International News

  • Got India's commitment to stop buying Russian oil: US Secretary of State Rubio

Munich: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that India has committed to stop buying Russian oil, days after New Delhi reiterated that "national interests" will be the "guiding factor" for India's energy procurement.

  • Top Putin aide to lead Russian delegation for AI Impact Summit in New Delhi

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin's senior aide Maxim Oreshkin will lead a large delegation for the AI Impact Summit being held in New Delhi from Monday.

  • India 'very successful' emerging economy; right place to host AI summit: UN Chief Guterres

United Nations: India is a "very successful" emerging economy with a bigger influence in global affairs, and is the "right place" to host the AI summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said.

  • B'desh seeks reset in India ties, onus on New Delhi to recognise changed reality: Tarique's Advisor

Dhaka: Bangladesh wants to reset ties with India on a fresh footing now that ousted premier Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party no longer hold power, Humayun Kabir, adviser to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, has said, asserting that the two nations should work together for "mutual benefit".