Daily Current Affairs Quiz: February 18, 2026

Notes:
Forest officials in Kerala recently rescued a critically endangered White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) found weak and grounded at Mampad near Nilambur. The White-rumped vulture, also known as the Indian or Oriental White-backed Vulture, is a small Old World vulture native to South and Southeast Asia. It primarily feeds on carcasses, locating them by soaring high in thermals and observing other scavengers. Its distribution spans Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam, with a preference for plains habitats. The White-rumped vulture is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
Iran recently released dramatic footage of its Khorramshahr‑4 ballistic missile amid rising tensions with the United States of America (USA). The Khorramshahr‑4, also called the Kheibar missile, is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM). It is developed by the Iranian state-owned defence company Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO). The missile uses liquid fuel for propulsion. It has an operational range of around 2,000 kilometers. The missile travels faster than the speed of sound. It is considered one of Iran’s most powerful medium-range missiles.

Notes:
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of Diplura named Lepidocampa sikkimensis in the eastern Himalayas. The species was found in Ravangla, Sikkim. Diplura are small, wingless, soil-dwelling arthropods. This is the first time an Indian research team described a species in this primitive hexapod group. The study provides the first DNA barcode data globally for an Indian Lepidocampa species.

Notes:
The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) government is considering diverting water from the Ravi River in Punjab to the Jammu region. This move comes amid the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan. J&K is also pushing to revive the Tulbul Navigation Barrage Project, also called the Wular Barrage. The barrage is a navigation lock-cum-control structure at the outlet of Wular Lake in J&K. It was designed to facilitate navigation on the Jhelum River during lean winter months. The project regulates Wular Lake water to maintain minimum river draft up to Baramulla in winter.

Notes:
The sail training ship (STS) INS Tarangini arrived in Visakhapatnam for the International Fleet Review (IFR) and MILAN exercise starting February 18. INS Tarangini is the Indian Navy’s first sail training ship. It became the first Indian naval ship to circumnavigate the globe in 2003‑2004. Its primary role is to instill courage, camaraderie, and endurance in officer cadets starting a naval career. The ship provides hands-on training in sailing, setting and furling sails, watch-keeping, and sail manoeuvres.