News In Shorts: 20 February 2026

Global AI-for-Energy Mission

Context: ISA launched a Global AI-for-Energy Mission at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 to scale AI-driven clean energy systems across 120+ countries.

About Global AI-for-Energy Mission

• It is an  ISA mission unveiled at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in partnership with the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC)Limited.
• Objective: To fast-track AI adoption in clean energy systems by aligning policy, digital infrastructure, finance and citizen-centric platforms across member countries.
• Focus: The initiative seeks to transform grids, accelerate rooftop solar, enhance decentralised renewables and build interoperable digital public infrastructure for energy governance.

Need of AI in Energy Sector

• Energy Savings: AI can optimize and potentially reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
  • Widespread adoption of existing AI applications could save around 8 EJ (exa joules) of industry energy demand by 2035.
    • An exajoule (EJ) is an SI unit of energy equal to one quintillion ( 10^8) joules.
• Cost Reduction: AI-enabled platforms have demonstrated lower operational costs in off-grid pilots in India.
• Grid Optimisation: AI tools forecast demand, simulate power flows and reduce transmission losses.
• Predictive Maintenance: AI-based energy management systems enhance reliability in EV charging and distribution networks.

About International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• ISA is a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation established by India and France at COP21, Paris (2015).
• Headquarters: Gurugram, India.
• Objective: ISA aims to mobilise over USD 1 trillion by 2030 for large-scale solar energy deployment and climate action.
• Membership: The alliance comprises over 120 members (125 after US Withdrawal in Jan 2026) and signatory countries, primarily from the Global South.
• Key Initiatives: Major initiatives include One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), Global Solar Facility (GSF), and Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) for technology cooperation.

First Meeting of the Board of Peace

Context: The first meeting of the Board of Peace took place in Washington, D.C., at the facility now known as the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace (formerly the U.S. Institute of Peace). 

Key Highlights of the First Meet

• Launch of Reconstruction Framework: Formal kick-off of the Gaza rehabilitation programme under the Board of Peace.
• Attendance and Participation: Representatives from nearly 50 countries, including 27 full members and observers (e.g., EU, India, some European nations).
• Major Financial Commitments for Gaza: 
• • Nine countries jointly pledged $7 billion for Gaza relief and reconstruction.
  • The United States separately pledged $10 billion, significantly increasing total funding commitments.
• International Stabilisation Force: Proposal to create an armed force to maintain security and oversee disarmament of Hamas.
  • Indonesia pledged 8,000+ troops while Kazakhstan committed military and medical units.

About the Board of Peace

• It’s a new international organisation launched by the U.S. President Donald Trump to promote peacebuilding, starting with the stability of the Gaza Strip after years of conflict. 
• Establishment: The board was formally established in January 2026 and its charter was signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos. 
• Mandate: Coordinate reconstruction, restore governance, and secure lasting peace in conflict-affected areas, initially focusing on Gaza but potentially beyond. 
  • It is tied to the UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which welcomed its creation to help administer Gaza’s reconstruction and stability framework. 
• Leadership: Donald Trump is the Chairman, with no term limits and exclusive authority over invitations and key decisions. 
• Structure: The Board includes an Executive Board and specific Gaza-focused entities, such as a Gaza Executive Board and a technocratic governance team.
• Members: Roughly 27 countries have joined as founding members, including Gulf states and other nations. 
  • Membership rules in the charter state that countries must contribute funds (e.g., US $1 billion) for certain benefits like permanent status. 
• Concerns: Some critics fear the Board may undermine the United Nations or operate as an alternative global peace institution. 
• India in Board of Peace: India has not joined as one of the 27 founding/full members. 
  • India attended the new organisation’s first meeting as an observer country.

America-India Connect

Context: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Google announced a $15-billion ‘America-India Connect’ subsea cable initiative to strengthen AI-driven digital connectivity between India and the United States.

• A subsea cable (also called an undersea or submarine cable) is a fibre-optic cable laid on the ocean floor to transmit data between countries and continents.

About ‘America-India Connect’

• ‘America-India Connect’ is a collaborative infrastructure initiative led by Google, anchored by a five-year $15 billion AI infrastructure investment to establish a new international subsea gateway at Visakhapatnam (Vizag).
  • Currently, India’s international sea cable gateways are primarily concentrated in Mumbai and Chennai.
• Features
  • East Coast Connectivity Corridors: Direct fibre paths linking Vizag to Chennai, Singapore, South Africa, and Australia.
    • Connecting the US East and West Coasts via southern hemisphere routes.
  • West Coast Linkages: Direct fibre-optic connection between Mumbai and Western Australia, strengthening Indo-Pacific digital integration.
  • Integration with Existing Cables: Complements other subsea systems such as Blue, Raman and Sol  forming a resilient data corridor from Europe and the US East Coast to Mumbai. the US East Coast through the Red Sea to Mumbai.
    • Blue (connecting Italy–Israel–Jordan–Saudi Arabia–Oman–India)
    • Raman (connecting Jordan–Saudi Arabia–Djibouti–Oman–India), and 
    • Sol (connecting Spain–Italy–Greece–Israel–Cyprus–Egypt–Saudi Arabia–Oman–India)
• Purpose
  • Enhance AI-driven data transfer capacity between India, the US, and the southern hemisphere.
  • Strengthen India’s role in global digital trade and cloud infrastructure.
  • Support high-speed, low-latency connectivity for AI, healthcare, fintech, and governance applications.

Significance

The initiative positions Vizag as a strategic global digital gateway, transforming traditional maritime trade routes into high-capacity AI-enabled data corridors.

DOWNLOAD PDF