Famous Personalities Current Affairs – February 2026

Famous Personalities Current Affairs – February 2026

Important personalities, birth anniversaries, death anniversaries, awards and notable achievements for APSC, UPSC, ADRE, SSC, Banking, Railway, CUET PG and UGC NET.

### 1\. The 14th Dalai Lama Wins a Grammy Award

Announcement: 2 February 2026

The 14th Dalai Lama received the 2026 Grammy Award in the category Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The award was announced at the 68th Grammy Awards.

### About the Dalai Lama

The 14th Dalai Lama, born Tenzin Gyatso in 1935, is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. He left Tibet in 1959 and subsequently lived in India.

He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his advocacy of peaceful solutions and his efforts concerning Tibet. His public teachings emphasise compassion, non-violence, interfaith understanding and human responsibility.

### Why was he in the news?

His Grammy recognition brought international attention to the audiobook's reflections on compassion, peace, mindfulness and humanity.

Exam facts

* Name: Tenzin Gyatso.

* Position: 14th Dalai Lama.

* Grammy year: 2026.

* Winning work: Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

* Category: Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording.

* Nobel Peace Prize: 1989.

Source: Official website of the Dalai Lama and the Recording Academy.

### 2\. Sarojini Naidu Birth Anniversary

13 February 2026

India commemorated the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, popularly known as the Nightingale of India or Bharat Kokila, on 13 February 2026. The Lok Sabha Speaker and other parliamentary dignitaries paid floral tributes to her.

### Early life and education

Sarojini Naidu was born on 13 February 1879 in Hyderabad. She was a gifted poet, political activist and prominent participant in India's freedom struggle. She pursued higher studies in England before returning to India and becoming involved in nationalist politics.

### Contribution to the freedom movement

Naidu worked with leading nationalists, including Mahatma Gandhi and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. She participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and became an important advocate of women's political participation and education.

In 1925, she became the president of the Indian National Congress at its Kanpur session.

### Major achievements

* First Indian woman to become president of the Indian National Congress.

* First woman Governor of the United Provinces, now Uttar Pradesh, after independence.

* Prominent poet whose works include The Golden Threshold, The Bird of Time and The Broken Wing.

* Advocate of women's rights and Indian independence.

Exam facts

* Born: 13 February 1879.

* Died: 2 March 1949.

* Popular title: Nightingale of India.

* Congress presidency: 1925.

* Governorship: United Provinces.

Source: Press Information Bureau and official parliamentary records.

### 3\. Chandrashekhar Azad Death Anniversary

27 February 2026

Chandrashekhar Azad was remembered on 27 February 2026, the anniversary of his death in 1931. The Prime Minister and Union Home Minister paid tribute to the revolutionary who played an important role in India's armed struggle against British rule.

### Early life

Chandrashekhar Azad was born on 23 July 1906 in Bhavra, in present-day Madhya Pradesh. He became involved in the national movement at a young age and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement.

After the suspension of the movement in 1922, he became associated with revolutionary organisations seeking to overthrow British colonial rule.

### Revolutionary activities

Azad was associated with the Hindustan Republican Association, which later became the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). He worked alongside revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh, Ram Prasad Bismil and other members of the revolutionary movement.

He was involved in organising revolutionary activities and became known for his determination to avoid capture by the British authorities.

He died at Alfred Park, Allahabad, on 27 February 1931, during a confrontation with colonial police. The park was subsequently renamed Chandrashekhar Azad Park.

Exam facts

* Born: 23 July 1906.

* Died: 27 February 1931.

* Birthplace: Bhavra, Madhya Pradesh.

* Associated organisation: Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.

* Popular name: Azad.

* Death anniversary: 27 February.

Source: Press Information Bureau and official government tributes.

### 4\. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti

19 February 2026

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti was observed on 19 February 2026. Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha state and a major figure in early modern Indian history. Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to him on his birth anniversary.

### Historical contribution

Shivaji Maharaj established a powerful regional state through military strategy, fortifications, administrative reforms and alliances. He was crowned at Raigad Fort in 1674.

His administration included the Ashta Pradhan, a council of eight ministers responsible for different aspects of governance. His military strategy made effective use of forts, mobile forces and knowledge of local terrain.

### Legacy

Shivaji's legacy is important in studies of regional state formation, military administration, coastal defence and early modern Indian political history.

Exam facts

* Birth year: 1630.

* Coronation: 1674.

* Coronation venue: Raigad Fort.

* Associated council: Ashta Pradhan.

* Birth anniversary observed: 19 February.

### 5\. Veerabhadran Ramanathan Wins the 2026 Crafoord Prize

Announcement: January 2026; in the news during February

Indian-born climate scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan was selected for the 2026 Crafoord Prize in Geosciences. The award recognises his fundamental contributions to understanding how aerosols and other climate pollutants affect the atmosphere, Earth's energy balance and climate change.

### Scientific contribution

Ramanathan's research has helped scientists understand the role of small particles and gases in atmospheric warming and changes in air quality. His work has contributed to climate science and research on the environmental consequences of human activity.

The Crafoord Prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in partnership with the Crafoord Foundation. Its disciplines rotate, covering fields including mathematics, astronomy, geosciences and biosciences.

Exam facts

* Name: Veerabhadran Ramanathan.

* Field: Climate science and geosciences.

* Award: Crafoord Prize in Geosciences, 2026.

* Recognised contribution: Research on aerosols and climate pollutants.

* Awarding institution: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, in partnership with the Crafoord Foundation.

### 6\. Morarji Desai Birth Anniversary

29 February 1896 • Leap-year anniversary observed on 28 February in 2026

Morarji Desai was born on 29 February 1896. As 2026 was not a leap year, his birth anniversary was marked on 28 February in the parliamentary calendar.

### Political career

Morarji Desai was an Indian independence activist and senior political leader. He served as Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979, becoming the first Prime Minister from a non-Congress party.

His government followed the Emergency period of 1975–1977 and was associated with restoring civil liberties and reviewing the constitutional and political consequences of the Emergency.

Exam facts

* Born: 29 February 1896.

* Died: 10 April 1995.

* Prime Minister: 1977–1979.

* Political association: Janata Party.

* Historical significance: First non-Congress Prime Minister of India.

Source: Digital Sansad.

### 7\. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur

152nd birth anniversary celebrations • 18 February 2026

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was an influential Hindu religious reformer and spiritual teacher associated with the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. His 152nd birth anniversary celebrations were addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Nadia, West Bengal, on 18 February 2026.

### Contribution

He was born in 1874 and became known for promoting the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and strengthening the organised dissemination of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. In 1918, he established the Gaudiya Math, which became an important institution for religious teaching and missionary activity.

His work influenced later Vaishnava organisations and teachers, including A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

Exam facts

* Birth year: 1874.

* Religious tradition: Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

* Important institution: Gaudiya Math.

* Associated with the teachings of: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

* February 2026 event: 152nd birth anniversary celebrations in Nadia, West Bengal.

### 8\. Yumnam Khemchand Singh

February 2026 • Manipur

Yumnam Khemchand Singh became Chief Minister of Manipur on 4 February 2026, following the end of President's Rule in the state. His appointment was a significant political development in Northeast India.

### Why he was in the news

His assumption of office marked the return to an elected state government after a period of central administration.

Exam facts

* Name: Yumnam Khemchand Singh.

* State: Manipur.

* Office: Chief Minister.

* Date of taking office: 4 February 2026.

* Relevance: Indian polity and Northeast Indian current affairs.

### 9\. Sunetra Pawar

Sunetra Pawar was reported in February 2026 current-affairs summaries for becoming Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister. Her appointment was notable for women's representation in the political leadership of the state.

Exam facts

* Name: Sunetra Pawar.

* State: Maharashtra.

* Office: Deputy Chief Minister.

* Importance: A notable development in state-level political leadership.

For exam preparation, candidates should verify the precise appointment date and official portfolio allocation from Maharashtra government notifications.

### 10\. Sarojini Naidu, Morarji Desai and Other February Personalities: Quick Revision

| Personality                            | Important date                                   | Key association                                             |

| -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- |

| Sarojini Naidu                         | 13 February                                      | Poet, freedom fighter, Congress president in 1925           |

| Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj            | 19 February                                      | Founder of the Maratha state                                |

| Chandrashekhar Azad                    | 27 February                                      | Revolutionary in India's freedom struggle                   |

| Morarji Desai                          | 29 February; commemorated on 28 February in 2026 | Former Prime Minister of India                              |

| 14th Dalai Lama                        | Grammy recognition in February                   | Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama |

| Veerabhadran Ramanathan                | 2026 Crafoord Prize announcement                 | Climate science and geosciences                             |

| Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur | Birth anniversary celebrations on 18 February    | Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual teacher                         |

| Yumnam Khemchand Singh                 | 4 February                                       | Chief Minister of Manipur                                   |

| Sunetra Pawar                          | February 2026                                    | Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra                        |

### 11\. Multiple-Choice Questions

1\. Who won the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for Meditations?

A. Trevor Noah B. The 14th Dalai Lama C. Barack Obama D. Ketanji Brown Jackson

Answer: B. The 14th Dalai Lama.

2\. Sarojini Naidu was popularly known as:

A. Punjab Kesari B. Nightingale of India C. Grand Old Man of India D. Frontier Gandhi

Answer: B. Nightingale of India.

3\. Chandrashekhar Azad died on which date?

A. 23 March 1931 B. 27 February 1931 C. 8 April 1929 D. 17 December 1928

Answer: B. 27 February 1931.

4\. Who was the first Prime Minister of India from a non-Congress party?

A. Atal Bihari Vajpayee B. Morarji Desai C. Charan Singh D. V. P. Singh

Answer: B. Morarji Desai.

5\. Veerabhadran Ramanathan received the 2026 Crafoord Prize in which field?

A. Literature B. Geosciences C. Economics D. Mathematics

Answer: B. Geosciences.

6\. Shivaji Maharaj was crowned at which fort?

A. Raigad B. Shivneri C. Sinhagad D. Pratapgad

Answer: A. Raigad.

7\. Who became Chief Minister of Manipur in February 2026?

A. N. Biren Singh B. Yumnam Khemchand Singh C. Conrad Sangma D. Neiphiu Rio

Answer: B. Yumnam Khemchand Singh.

8\. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was associated with which religious tradition?

A. Gaudiya Vaishnavism B. Sikhism C. Jainism D. Theravada Buddhism

Answer: A. Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

### Sources and further reading

* Press Information Bureau, Government of India — [Official press releases]

* Digital Sansad — [Floral tributes and birth anniversaries of dignitaries]

* The Office of the Dalai Lama — [Dalai Lama's 2026 Grammy recognition]

* Recording Academy — [Dalai Lama Grammy record]

* National Academy of Sciences — [Veerabhadran Ramanathan and the 2026 Crafoord Prize]

* President of India — [Official presidential announcements]