Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 19th February 2026

Dibang Multipurpose Project: : In News

The under-construction 2,880 MW Dibang multipurpose hydel project in Arunachal Pradesh recently achieved a significant milestone with the successful daylighting of Diversion Tunnel-3 (DT-3).

• Dibang Multipurpose Project is a flood control cum hydroelectric power project to be developed on the Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, in Arunachal Pradesh.
• At 2,880 MW installed capacity, it will be the country’s biggest hydropower facility.
• It is being developed by India’s state-run National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
• The project is designed as an energy storage project, with flood moderation as one of the key objectives, besides power generation.
• The project envisages the construction of a concrete gravity dam, which will be the highest concrete gravity dam of India.
• The dam is planned to be constructed with the Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) technique, and it will be the highest RCC dam in the World.

CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite:

ESA’s CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS) recently revealed a four-planet system whose outermost world is a small and rocky planet — not a gas giant.

• It is a European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft.
• It is the first space mission dedicated to studying bright, nearby stars that are already known to host exoplanets, in order to make high-precision observations of the planet’s size as it passes in front of its host star.
• It focuses on planets in the super-Earth to Neptune size range.
• Orbit: Sun-synchronous, dusk-dawn orbit at 700 km above Earth.
• The spacecraft has a single science instrument: a specialized camera called a photometer.
• CHEOPS observes transits of Earth-to-Neptune-sized exoplanets and measures their diameters.
• When combined with mass data from ground telescopes, it helps calculate planet density.
• A planet’s density provides vital clues about its composition and structure, indicating, for example, if it is predominantly rocky or gassy, or perhaps harbours significant oceans.

Lymphedema:

A newly discovered cellular mechanism shows promise for treating painful lymphedema.

• Lymphedema is swelling in various areas of body that happens when something affects the lymphatic system.
• The lymphatic system collects excess fluid, proteins, and toxins from the cells and tissues and returns them to the bloodstream.
• When the lymphatic system doesn’t work well, the body accumulates fluid and may begin to swell.
• The swelling typically affects the arms and legs, but it can affect other areas of the body, too.
• Lymphedema can happen after certain surgeries or because of certain medical conditions or genetic conditions.
• It can be caused by cancer treatments that remove or damage the lymph nodes.
• One may develop lymphedema spontaneously, meaning it happens for no known reason.
• Lymphedema symptoms may be mild, causing minor swelling and discomfort.
• Severe cases of lymphedema can affect the ability to move the affected limb, increase the risks of skin infections and sepsis, and can lead to skin changes and breakdown.
• Once lymphedema develops, it is a chronic condition that cannot be cured but can be treated to relieve swelling and improve the ability to function day to day.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve:

The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently directed the Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to submit a detailed report on recent tiger fatalities in the reserve and surrounding areas.

• It is located in Madhya Pradesh.
• It is spread over the Vindhya hills.
• It Varies between steep ridges, undulating forests, and open meadows.
• The reserve features caves with Pali inscriptions and animal depictions.
• It also contains ancient structures, including stupas and statues from the 1st century BCE.
• The vegetation of Bandhavgarh is specially filled with Sal forest in the valleys, and bamboo stretches on the lower slopes of the region.
• Some of the most famous floral species include Saj, Dhaora, Tendu, Arjun , Amla, Palas, etc.
• It is known to have one of the highest density of tigers in the world.
• It also hosts other notable mammals such as leopards, Indian bison (gaur), sambar deer, spotted deer, nilgai, wild boar, sloth bears, Indian wolves, jackals, and both langur and rhesus macaque monkeys.
• It also has over 250 bird species, including the crested serpent eagle, Malabar pied hornbill, white-rumped vulture, and Indian roller.

Galathea balasubramaniani:

Researchers recently discovered a tiny crab species named Galathea balasubramaniani from the coral reefs of Agatti in the Lakshadweep Islands.

• It is a new species of crab.
• It was discovered from the coral reefs of Agatti in the Lakshadweep Islands.
• It belongs to the genus Galathea, a group of small, reef-dwelling anomuran crabs commonly called squat lobsters.
• Resembling tiny lobsters, these crabs have the ability to hide among coral and rocky crevices.
• They play an important role in coral reef ecosystems by recycling organic matter and serving as food for fish and other marine organisms.
• It differs from its closest relative, G. mauritiana, in several body characteristics, including the structure of its legs and other morphological features, alongside clear genetic distinctions.

AI-Preneurs of India:

The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under NITI Aayog, launched “AI-Preneurs of India”,a flagship coffee table book, at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.Chronicles the entrepreneurial journeys of 45 pioneering AI startups selected from a nationwide network of Atal Incubation Centres (AICs). Employs a “founder-first” storytelling approach highlighting motivations, perseverance, and challenges faced by entrepreneurs, rather than focusing solely on technical achievements.The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) , launched by NITI Aayog in 2016, is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.It fosters a problem-solving mindset in students and strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem in schools, universities, and research institutions.

Exercise MILAN 2026:

The Indian Navy has established a dedicated MILAN village in Visakhapatnam to facilitate cultural and social exchanges among delegates participating in 13th Exercise MILAN 2026 (15th to 25th February 2026).13th Exercise MILAN 2026 features participation from over 70 countries, including first-timers like Germany, the Philippines, and the UAE.MILAN is a biennial (once every two years) multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy. Launched in 1995 under the Andaman and Nicobar Command with participation from just four foreign navies—Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—it has since grown into one of the largest maritime engagements in the Indo-Pacific region.Aims to foster mutual understanding, trust, and professional interaction among maritime partners to promote a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based maritime order.Comprises two main phases: the Harbour Phase (seminars, subject-matter expert exchanges, etc.) and the Sea Phase (focusing on interoperability, HADR, anti-submarine warfare, and tactical manoeuvres).The exercise serves as a key platform for India’s Act East Policy 2014, the MAHASAGAR vision, and its role as a preferred security partner in the Indo-Pacific.

Kerala government declared tidal flooding as a state specific disaster:

Tidal flooding, also known as sunny day flooding, king tide flooding, and nuisance flooding, is the temporary flooding of low-lying areas near a coast.It occurs through the combination of winds, offshore storms, and full moon cycles during high tide events such as full moons and new moons. Unlike cyclone-induced storm surges, tidal flooding happens twice in a day and is more severe during full or new moons.It is a common phenomenon along Kerala’s coastline, where the Arabian Sea level temporarily rises above an identified threshold for a brief period, inundating low-lying coastal areas.
Kerala government declared financial assistance, similar to that provided to victims of natural disasters under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), to victims of floods caused by tidal rise.This is the first time in the country that a State has declared tidal flooding a State-specific disaster.