Daily Current Affairs- 14th February 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 14th February 2026

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority Secures IGBC Platinum & Shunya Certifications for Sustainable Infrastructure

In the News: The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (Tuticorin/Thoothukudi) announced that it has become India’s first Major Port to receive the Indian Green Building Council’s IGBC Platinum Rating, and that multiple campus buildings have also received the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s Shunya and Shunya Plus certifications.

Key Points:

• About the Certification Bodies: The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) issues green building ratings, while the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power administers the Shunya certification framework for high‑performance energy buildings.
• IGBC Platinum Achievement: The Port Authority’s Administration Building received the IGBC Platinum Rating, which is IGBC’s highest certification category, making VOC Port the first Indian Major Port to achieve this distinction.
• Energy Efficiency Measures: The Administration Building uses rooftop solar panels and a high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) reflective roof coating, which helps reduce the Urban Heat Island effect and supports overall energy efficiency.
• Water and Resource Management: The building uses IoT‑enabled water meters, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) monitoring systems, rainwater harvesting, and water‑saving plumbing fixtures, resulting in a reported 37% reduction in potable water use; wastewater is treated via an on‑site sewage treatment plant and reused.
• Renewable Energy Use: The Administration Building reportedly operates on 100% renewable energy, with 89% of electricity generated through on‑site solar power and the remaining 11% sourced from off‑site renewable energy sources of the port.
• Inclusivity and Health Features: The building follows a no‑smoking policy, uses eco‑friendly housekeeping chemicals, and includes non‑slippery ramps, differently‑abled‑friendly toilets, electric wheelchairs, and lifts with braille and audio assistance.
• Shunya and Shunya Plus Explained: Under BEE’s Shunya system, a Shunya (Net Zero Energy) building meets its annual energy demand through on‑site or off‑site renewable energy and has an Energy Performance Index (EPI) between 0 and 10 kWh/m²/year, while Shunya Plus (Net Positive Energy) buildings generate more renewable energy than they consume and have an EPI below 0 kWh/m²/year.
• Buildings Covered: VOC Port’s Hospital and CISF Barracks were awarded Shunya Plus, while the Administration Building and Guest House were awarded Shunya.
• Policy Alignment: The Port Authority linked these achievements to Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Harit Sagar – Green Port Guidelines, presenting them as part of its broader decarbonisation and green‑infrastructure agenda.

Reliance Industries Limited Secures U.S. License to Import Venezuelan Oil

In the News: Media reports stated that the United States issued a general licence to Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) that would allow it to buy Venezuelan oil without violating U.S. sanctions.

Key Points:

• Nature of the Licence: A U.S. general licence authorises specified transactions, including the purchase, exportation, sale, and refining of Venezuelan‑origin oil that has already been extracted.
• Purpose and Business Impact: Direct access to discounted heavy Venezuelan crude could reduce feedstock costs for Reliance’s large refining operations and enable diversification of crude sourcing.
• Application and Reporting: According to the report, Reliance applied for the authorisation in early January 2026 and the licence was issued in February 2026.
• Replacement of Russian Supply: The report linked the licence to Reliance’s ability to replace Russian crude purchases with Venezuelan supply, amid expectations that Indian refiners would avoid some Russian deliveries.
• Reliance’s Refining Capacity: Reliance operates two refineries with a combined capacity of about 1.4 million barrels per day, and it has historically processed heavy sour crudes.
• Prior Trade Pattern: Reliance had earlier been a regular buyer of Venezuelan oil, but reportedly stopped purchases in early 2025 due to U.S. sanctions.
• Broader Policy Context: The report connected the licence to wider U.S. decisions on Venezuela’s energy sanctions and to U.S.–India trade and energy discussions.

NITI Aayog Releases Sixth Edition of “Trade Watch Quarterly”

In the News: NITI Aayog released the sixth edition of “Trade Watch Quarterly” (Quarter 2 of FY 2025–26: July–September 2025), presenting an assessment of global and domestic trade trends along with a thematic focus on India’s electronics trade.

Key Points:

• Release Details: The publication was released on 13 February 2026 in New Delhi by Suman Bery (Vice‑Chairman, NITI Aayog) in the presence of Arvind Virmani (Member, NITI Aayog).
• Scope of the Quarterly: The edition assesses global and domestic trade trends at a time when global trade growth is described as moderated but still positive, with services outperforming goods and developing regions becoming key drivers.
• India’s Q2 FY26 Trade Signal: The analysis states that India’s Q2 FY26 trade performance was driven by export‑led momentum, with services and merchandise exports growing by around 8.5% and outpacing import growth in both segments.
• Developing‑Economy Trade Rebalancing: The publication highlights that trade among developing economies has expanded nearly four‑fold since 2005, and it situates India’s trade trajectory within a broader “Global South” rebalancing through regional value chains and new trade corridors.
• E‑Commerce as an Export Enabler: The edition notes India’s position among the world’s top six e‑commerce markets and projects that e‑commerce exports could scale and contribute about 20–30% of India’s merchandise exports by 2030, supported by logistics and regulatory improvements and higher MSME participation.
• Thematic Focus on Electronics: The quarter’s thematic section examines India’s electronics trade across mobile phones, consumer electronics, industrial electronics, and components, and analyses participation in global electronics value chains along with structural constraints and policy interventions.
• Electronics Export Facts: The edition states that electronics is now the second‑largest item in India’s export basket; it also reports that electronics exports rose nearly fivefold between 2016 and 2024 to USD 42.1 billion, while global electronics trade is valued at about USD 4.6 trillion.
• Policy Reference: The publication references a ₹40,000 crore allocation under an Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme as a policy support for component manufacturing and higher value addition.
• Competitiveness Priorities: The edition points to deeper integration into global value chains, improvements in logistics efficiency and tariff rationalisation, and industry‑aligned skill development as key drivers of sustained competitiveness in electronics.

Vast Space Signs Deal with NASA for Private ISS Mission

In the News: NASA signed an order with Vast for the sixth Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) to the International Space Station, with the mission targeted to launch no earlier than summer 2027.

• Key Points:
• Programme Context: NASA’s Private Astronaut Missions are part of its strategy to enable commercial use of low‑Earth orbit while the International Space Station remains operational.
• Mission Identification: Vast was selected for the sixth private astronaut mission to the ISS, marking Vast’s first private astronaut mission in partnership with NASA.
• Target Timeline and Duration: The mission is targeted for launch no earlier than summer 2027, and the crew is expected to spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS; an exact date will depend on spacecraft traffic and planning considerations.
• Launch and Spacecraft: The crew will fly on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida, under NASA’s order and Vast’s announced arrangements.
• Research Portfolio: Vast indicated that the mission will focus on science and research, including biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, human research, and technology demonstrations.
• Commercial Space Station Transition: Both NASA and Vast framed the mission as supporting the transition from the ISS to commercially operated stations, with Vast positioning it as preparation for its proposed multi‑module Haven‑2 station concept.
• Operational Learning: Vast stated that operating a PAM to the ISS is expected to generate insights into infrastructure and processes required for safe human spaceflight operations in future commercial station missions.

World Health Organization Prequalifies New nOPV2 Vaccine to Strengthen Global Polio Eradication

In the News: The World Health Organization (WHO) granted prequalification status to a novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) produced by India’s Biological E Limited, expanding the global supply base for outbreak response against type 2 variant poliovirus.

Key Points:

• What WHO Prequalification Means: WHO prequalification is a quality‑assurance listing that enables United Nations agencies and countries to procure vaccines that meet WHO standards for quality, safety, and efficacy.
• Why nOPV2 Matters: nOPV2 is used for outbreak response against type 2 variant (vaccine‑derived) poliovirus, aiming to stop outbreaks while reducing the risk of seeding new vaccine‑derived strains compared with older monovalent OPV2 formulations.
• New Manufacturer Added: With prequalification, Biological E becomes the second full manufacturer of nOPV2, alongside Indonesia’s PT Bio Farma, supporting diversified and more reliable global supply.
• Shift from Fill‑Finish to Full Manufacturing: Biological E’s role expands from fill‑finish activities using bulk vaccine supplied by PT Bio Farma to full manufacture of the vaccine.
• Supply Scale‑Up: The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) stated that since March 2024, Biological E added 700 million doses to the global stockpile, and it is expected to produce about 600 million doses per year after prequalification.
• Evidence Base and Scale of Use: GPEI reported that more than 2 billion doses of nOPV2 have been administered globally since 2021, and that evidence from large‑scale use shows effectiveness in stopping variant poliovirus outbreaks.
• Risk Reduction Claim: GPEI cited estimates that the risk of new variant polio outbreaks is nearly 80% lower than expected if monovalent OPV2 were used at the same scale.
• GPEI Partnership: GPEI is a public‑private partnership led by national governments with partners including WHO, Rotary International, the U.S. CDC, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and Gavi.

Nikhil Gupta Pleads Guilty: How the US Drew Links Between Pannun Plot and Nijjar's Killing

In the News: U.S. authorities announced that Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, pleaded guilty in New York to offences related to an alleged murder‑for‑hire plot targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun; U.S. filings also pointed to statements and timing that prosecutors say connect the plot’s planning to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Key Points:

• Charges and Court Process: The U.S. Attorney’s Office (Southern District of New York) stated that Gupta pleaded guilty to murder‑for‑hire, conspiracy to commit murder‑for‑hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and that sentencing is scheduled for 29 May 2026.
• Who Was the Target: U.S. authorities described the intended target as a U.S. citizen attorney and political activist associated with a U.S.-based organisation advocating for a sovereign Sikh state (Khalistan); Reuters identified the intended target as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice.
• Alleged Coordination with an Indian Official: According to the DOJ release, prosecutors allege that co‑defendant Vikash Yadav, described as an Indian government employee, recruited Gupta in 2023 to orchestrate the assassination; the release states Yadav was employed by India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses the Research and Analysis Wing.
• Role of Undercover Operation: The DOJ release states that Gupta contacted an individual he believed to be a criminal associate who was actually a DEA confidential source, and that he was introduced to a purported hitman who was in fact a DEA undercover officer.
• Payments Alleged: Court documents cited by U.S. authorities state that $100,000 was agreed as payment to the purported hitman, and that $15,000 in cash was arranged as an advance payment.
• Timing Around the Prime Minister’s Visit: According to the DOJ release, Gupta instructed that the killing should not be carried out around the time of the Indian Prime Minister’s official state visit to the United States scheduled to begin around 20 June 2023.
• How the Link to Nijjar Was Drawn: The DOJ release notes that masked gunmen killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia on 18 June 2023, and states that Gupta told the undercover officer the next day that Nijjar “was also the target” and that there was “now no need to wait” to kill the intended U.S. victim.
• Diplomatic Sensitivity: Reuters reported that India has dissociated itself from any plot against Pannun, stating that such actions are against government policy, and that the allegations have tested India’s relations with the United States and Canada.