Current Affairs 21 February 2026

Andhra Pradesh Host India’s Largest ₹8,175 Cr Li-Battery Gigafactory.

• Waaree Energies is set to invest ₹8,175 crore to build a 16 GWh lithium-ion gigafactory in Rambilli, Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh making it India’s largest integrated battery facility.
• Handle advanced cell manufacturing, battery pack assembly, and BESS production, creating ~3,000 direct jobs.
• Backed by the Andhra Pradesh State Investment Promotion Board, supports clean energy ambitions.

IIT Madras Opens Applied AI Innovation Hub at Dubai CommerCity.

• IIT Madras launched its first Applied AI Innovation Centre in Dubai CommerCity, fostering technology-driven growth and startup scaling in the Gulf region.
• Set up via IITM Global Research Foundation and MCA Gulf, will incubate 6 AI startups (combined value: $118M; projected 5-year revenue: $281M).
• Aims to make Dubai, base for developing, deploying, & scaling global applied AI solutions.

India, Switzerland Deepen Ties under TEPA for Trade, Tech, and R&D.

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Swiss President Guy Parmelin reaffirmed strategic cooperation under the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), India’s first with a European bloc.
• TEPA grants India improved market access on 92.2% of EFTA tariff lines, covers 99.6% of Indian exports.
• It aims to channel $100 billion investment and generate 1 million jobs.

India, Kenya Sign Agreement for DigiLocker Pilot Project in Kenya.

• India and Kenya signed an Implementation Framework Agreement for a DigiLocker pilot project in Kenya.
• Enable secure digital storage, real-time verification, and streamlined access to services for Kenyan citizens, students, and businesses.
• DigiLocker, with 500M+ users in India, will support Kenya’s move to paperless, presence-less digital governance & boost bilateral digital collaboration.

India, UK Launch Offshore Wind Taskforce for Vision 2035 Clean Energy.

• India and UK established the Offshore Wind Taskforce under Vision 2035 to drive time-bound bilateral clean energy action & scale India’s nascent offshore wind sector.
• Focus pillars: ecosystem planning & market design, supply chains (ports, vessels, local manufacturing), and blended risk mitigation.
• The partnership will support green hydrogen clusters & India’s ambitious clean energy targets.