Current Affairs 20 February 2026

India’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 5% in January 2026.

• India’s unemployment rate (age 15+) increased to 5% in January 2026, up from 4.8% in December 2025, with a marginal rise in both rural and urban regions.
• Rural joblessness rose from 3.9% to 4.2%, urban from 6.7% to 7.0%, while labour force participation and worker population ratios fell.
• Reasons: post-harvest lull, winter slowdown in construction and trade—as key reasons for the increase.

DRDO Successfully Tests Gaganyaan Drogue Parachute.

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a major milestone for India’s Gaganyaan mission with a successful qualification test of the drogue parachute at TBRL’s Rail Track Rocket Sled facility in Chandigarh.
• The test simulated loads higher than flight conditions, proving the safety margins and capabilities in high-strength parachute design and manufacturing.

IDFC FIRST Bank Launches FD-Backed "Hello Cashback" Credit Card.

• IDFC FIRST Bank introduced the Hello Cashback Credit Card, secured against a fixed deposit, to help young, tech-savvy customers build credit history.
• Offers tiered cashback: 5% on online spends above ₹10,000, 3% on lower-value online spends, and 1% on other transactions including UPI and essentials.
• Travel bookings via bank app get a total 6% cashback, with a monthly cap of ₹1,500 cashback.

Indian Army Hosts First UN SALW Control Training in Jabalpur.

• Indian Army is hosting the inaugural UN Fellowship on Small Arms & Light Weapons (SALW) control at MCMM Jabalpur, MP with delegates from 13 Asia-Pacific nations.
• The 3-week program, organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through its Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD).
• Aim at enhancing India’s global peacekeeping role.

Reliance Consumer Forms JV with Nigeria’s TGI Group to Expand FMCG.

• Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL) formed a majority-owned joint venture with Nigeria’s TGI Group to enter the African FMCG market.
• Aims to leverage TGI’s manufacturing and distribution strengths to introduce RCPL’s portfolio to Nigerian consumers.
• Builds on RCPL’s growth in India, Middle East, South Asia, &Africa, furthering its mission to deliver affordable products globally.