Local Roundup: Global AI Summit Starts in Delhi, Supreme Court Directs FSSAI on Food Labels, and New PM RAHAT and Lakhpati Bitiya Scheme

India takes center stage as a global AI hub while advancing public health regulations and infrastructure connectivity. February 2026 witnesses unprecedented international collaboration with over 3,000 speakers, judicial interventions for consumer protection, and discoveries highlighting ancient trade networks spanning continents.

AI Impact Summit 2026: 3,000+ Speakers, 2.5 Lakh Visitors Expected

India hosts the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16-20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with PM Modi inaugurating on February 16 at 5 PM. The first major global AI summit in the Global South features over 3,000 speakers across 500+ sessions, with 2.5 lakh expected visitors. Key attendees include French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, and Microsoft President Brad Smith. The expo features 300+ exhibitors from 30+ countries across 10+ thematic pavilions and 13 country pavilions.

Supreme Court Directs FSSAI on Front-of-Pack Food Warning Labels

On February 10, 2026, the Supreme Court bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan directed FSSAI to seriously consider implementing front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods high in sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. The court expressed dissatisfaction with FSSAI's progress, warning that consumer health cannot be outweighed by food industry resistance. FSSAI must respond within four weeks or face judicial intervention for protecting public health against lifestyle diseases.

New Vande Bharat Train to Link Coastal Region with Rajasthan

A new Vande Bharat Express route will connect India's coastal region with Rajasthan, the country's largest state by area spanning 342,239 square kilometers. The expansion of the semi-high-speed train network aims to improve inter-state connectivity and boost tourism and business travel between coastal areas and the desert state, reinforcing India's ongoing railway modernization program under the Vande Bharat initiative.

Odisha Introduces India's First Automated Visitor Management System at Lok Bhavan

Odisha became the first Indian state to introduce a fully automated appointment and visitor management system at Lok Bhavan, the state secretariat in Bhubaneswar. The digital system streamlines citizen access to government offices, reducing wait times and improving administrative efficiency through technology-driven governance, eliminating manual processes and setting a digital transformation precedent for other states to follow.

Tamil Brahmi Inscriptions Found in Egypt's Valley of the Kings

Tamil Brahmi inscriptions discovered in Egypt's Valley of the Kings shed new light on ancient trade links between South India and Mediterranean civilizations dating back over 2,000 years. The archaeological findings provide concrete evidence of extensive maritime commerce and cultural exchanges, highlighting Tamil traders' remarkable reach across ancient trade routes and their successful integration into Egyptian commercial networks, demonstrating the sophistication of ancient Indian Ocean trade.

Mumbai Metro Collapse: 1 Dead, 3 Injured; 5 Arrested, Rs. 5 Crore Fine

On February 14, 2026, at approximately 12:15 PM, a 6×4 feet parapet segment from Mumbai Metro Line-4's under-construction viaduct collapsed on LBS Road near Mulund Fire Station (Pier P196), crushing an auto-rickshaw and car. Ramdhan Yadav was declared dead, while Rajkumar Indrajeet Yadav (45, critical condition), Mahendra Pratap Yadav (52), and Deepa Ruhiya (40, both stable) were injured. Authorities arrested five officials and imposed Rs. 5 crore fine on the contractor, with MMRDA forming a high-level inquiry committee.

PM Modi Launches PM RAHAT Scheme: Rs. 1.5 Lakh Cashless Road Accident Treatment

On February 14, 2026, from Seva Teerth, PM Modi launched the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) Scheme providing cashless treatment up to Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim for 7 days from accident date. Integrated with Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112 helpline and combining eDAR platform with National Health Authority's TMS 2.0, the scheme addresses the critical "Golden Hour" as studies show nearly 50% of road deaths are preventable with timely hospital admission.

Union Cabinet Approves North and South Blocks Conversion into Museum

The Union Cabinet approved converting the historic North and South Blocks in New Delhi into the Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum, envisioned as the world's largest museum spanning 1.55 lakh square meters. The transformation of these iconic colonial-era secretariat buildings will create a comprehensive showcase of Indian civilization spanning 5,000 years, featuring eight thematic galleries with over 20,000 artifacts, surpassing Paris's Louvre in size.

49 Sea Turtles Found Dead Along West Godavari Coast

Forty-nine sea turtles (Olive Ridley and Green turtles) were found dead along the West Godavari coastline in Andhra Pradesh over 48 hours spanning January-February 2026, concentrated along a 19-kilometer stretch. Wildlife officials suspect the turtles died after getting trapped in fishing nets deployed illegally close to breeding grounds. The incident highlights persistent conservation challenges and enforcement gaps in protecting endangered marine species along India's eastern coast.

Centre Directs States to Play Vande Mataram Before Jana Gana Mana

The Centre issued directives to state governments and government bodies to play Vande Mataram before Jana Gana Mana at official functions and events. The advisory aims to give equal prominence to both national songs, with Vande Mataram holding special historical significance in India's freedom struggle. The directive applies to all government programs, state functions, and official ceremonies nationwide, reinforcing the song's constitutional status.

Odisha High Court: 3-Month Deadline for Jagannath Temple Treasure Inventory

The Orissa High Court directed the Odisha state government to complete tallying the Jagannath Temple treasure with the 1978 inventory within three months. The court emphasized "there cannot be any dormant valuables" without proper accounting in its order. The directive aims to ensure complete transparency and accountability in managing the centuries-old Puri temple's vast collection of gold, silver, precious stones, and religious artifacts worth potentially thousands of crores.

India's Retail Inflation Reaches 2.75% in January Under New CPI Series

India's retail inflation reached 2.75% in January 2026, marking an eight-month high and the first print under the revised Consumer Price Index (CPI) data series with base year 2024=100. The new methodology reflects updated consumption patterns and basket weights based on the 2022-23 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey. Despite the increase, inflation remains within the Reserve Bank of India's 2-6% comfort zone, with the 4% target considered optimal for growth.

Delhi Revives 2008 Scheme as Lakhpati Bitiya for Girls' Education

The Delhi government revived a 2008 conditional cash transfer scheme under the rebranded "Lakhpati Bitiya Scheme" to fund girls' education from economically disadvantaged families. The initiative provides financial assistance at key educational milestones to encourage families to keep daughters in school, targeting improved female literacy rates and women's empowerment through education. The scheme aims to reduce gender gaps in educational attainment across the capital's underserved communities.

Supreme Court Halts Haryana Jungle Safari Over Aravalli Definition Clarity

The Supreme Court stayed Haryana's ambitious jungle safari project near Gurugram, stating "no clearance until clarity on Aravalli Hills definition." The court's intervention addresses environmental concerns about the project's potential impact on the ecologically sensitive Aravalli mountain range, one of the world's oldest geological features. The matter hinges on determining precise boundaries of protected Aravalli terrain requiring special conservation measures before any tourism or commercial development can proceed.