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| Jan 01, 1970 | Daily Report |
| RISING BHARAT | News Count (102140) | |
141. PM Inaugurates India’s First Bamboo-Based Ethanol Plant In Assam
- Prime Minister inaugurated India’s first-ever bamboo-based ethanol plant in Assam’s Golaghat district, marking a major push towards clean energy and rural economic upliftment.
- The facility, developed by Assam Bio-Ethanol Private Limited (ABEL), is claimed to be the world’s first zero-waste bioethanol plant using green bamboo as a raw material.
- The facility, built near Numaligarh Refinery, will produce 48,900 MT of ethanol annually and use bamboo sourced from across the Northeast.
Click here to find 816 similar incidents of Focus on States -> North East India
142. India, France join hands to advance AI in Health
- On 18–19 February 2026, India and France inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS, New Delhi, launching a joint initiative to advance AI-driven medical research and healthcare innovation.
- The centre was launched by Union Health Minister of India and French President Emmanuel Macron, under an MoU between AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and the Paris Brain Institute, with IIT Delhi and French institutions supporting interdisciplinary research.
- The initiative focuses on AI-based brain-health research, medical education, and global healthcare solutions, strengthening India-France cooperation in digital health, data science, and innovation capacity building
143. India's Tata signs up OpenAI as customer for data centre business
- On 19 February 2026, India’s Tata Consultancy Services signed up OpenAI as the first customer for its new data-centre business in India, starting with 100 MW AI infrastructure capacity.
- TCS and OpenAI partnered under the global Stargate AI infrastructure initiative, with Tata investing up to $7 billion to build scalable data centres that could expand to 1 GW capacity.
- The deal reflects booming AI-data-centre investment in India, where firms like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Reliance are expanding infrastructure, and Tata plans to deploy ChatGPT Enterprise across its workforce.
Click here to find 29 similar incidents of Government Initiatives for Business -> Business
144. Uttarakhand crosses historic milestone of 1 gigawatt in solar energy installation
- On 18 February 2026, Uttarakhand crossed the 1 GW solar installation milestone in the state, reaching about 1,027.87 MW capacity, marking rapid progress in renewable energy adoption.
- The Uttarakhand Government, led by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, achieved this through rooftop solar, ground-mounted plants, and incentives under central schemes like PM Surya Ghar and state solar policies.
- The milestone boosts clean energy, reduces fossil-fuel dependence, creates jobs, and strengthens energy security, positioning Uttarakhand among India’s fast-growing solar-energy states.
145. DRDO conducts successful qualification test for Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute
- On 18 February 2026, DRDO conducted a successful qualification-level load test of the Gaganyaan drogue parachute at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility, TBRL Chandigarh, marking a key milestone for India’s human spaceflight mission.
- The test was carried out by DRDO with ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and ADRDE teams, simulating loads higher than flight conditions to validate parachute safety and performance before astronaut missions.
- The drogue parachute stabilises and slows the crew module before main parachutes deploy, ensuring safe astronaut return; Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the success a major step toward Atmanirbhar Bharat and Gaganyaan readiness.
146. Indian Army’s Konark Corps tests Strela-10 air defence missiles in Pokhran, hits targets with precision
- On 19 February 2026, the Indian Army’s Konark Corps conducted successful Strela-10 air-defence missile test-firings at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, accurately hitting aerial targets.
- Air Defence Warriors of the Blazing Skies Brigade, under Konark Corps, fired the Strela-10 Very Short-Range Air Defence System during a high-intensity exercise to demonstrate precision targeting and improve air-defence readiness.
- The drill showed the Army’s operational preparedness and combat capability in desert terrain, part of continuous training to enhance firepower proficiency and strengthen air-defence systems against aerial threats.
147. Ahead of Modi's visit, India and Israel sign another MoU deepening defence ties
- On 19 February 2026, India and Israel signed a new defence MoU in Tel Aviv ahead of the Prime Minister of India upcoming visit to Israel to deepen bilateral defence cooperation.
- The MoU was facilitated by Israel’s SIBAT with India’s Ministry of Defence and SIDM, through seminars and B2B meetings between Indian and Israeli defence companies to expand joint projects.
- About 30 Indian and 26 Israeli defence firms joined discussions on technology sharing and India’s updated Defence Acquisition Procedure 2026, aiming for stronger industrial partnerships and future cooperation initiatives.
148. Indian army advances AI-enabled engineering support to 'smartise kill chain'
- On 18 February 2026, the Indian Army held an AI-focused seminar during the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi to develop AI-enabled engineering support to “smartise” the military kill chain.
- The Indian Army, with industry and academia experts, explored AI-based predictive maintenance, logistics optimisation, and modernisation of legacy equipment to improve operational precision and mission effectiveness.
- The initiative aims to enhance equipment readiness, faster decision-making, and integrated operations, helping the Army become a data-centric, AI-enabled force aligned with India’s defence-modernisation goals.
149. BPCL Commissions 71 MWp Solar Power Plant in Prayagraj to Boost Renewable Portfolio
- On 18 February 2026, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited commissioned a 71 MWp solar power plant in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, expanding its renewable-energy portfolio.
- The project was virtually inaugurated by Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri during India Energy Week, with BPCL developing the facility using about 1.29 lakh solar modules connected to the grid.
- The plant will generate about 103.61 million units annually, cut 75,150 tonnes CO₂, supply power to BPCL refineries in Mumbai, Bina, and Kochi, and support India’s clean-energy transition.
150. Adani Ports and France's Marseille Fos Sign IMEC Partnership To Strengthen India-Europe Trade Corridor
- On 18 February 2026, Adani Ports signed an MoU with France’s Port of Marseille Fos to strengthen India-Europe trade connectivity through the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
- Adani Ports & SEZ and Marseille Fos agreed to cooperate on trade facilitation, port innovation, and energy transition, proposing an IMEC Ports Club to coordinate key ports along the corridor.
- The pact links Indian ports like Mundra and Hazira to Europe, adds about 70 million-tonne capacity, and supports a 6,000-km multimodal IMEC route to boost India-EU trade and supply-chain resilience.