Daily Current Affairs Quiz: February 8-9, 2026

Notes:
INS Arnala marks India’s shift from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy” by strengthening indigenous defence capability. It is the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC) built for the Indian Navy. It is the Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and built ASW-SWC. It was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. It was commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command on 18 June 2025. It is named after the historic Arnala Fort near Vasai, Maharashtra.

Notes:
The National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the beta version of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the eSankhyiki portal. Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a technology that allows users to directly connect datasets with their own Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and applications. It provides a standard method to make official data accessible to Large Language Models (LLMs).

Notes:
Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two new marine worm species, Namalycastis solenotognatha and Nereis dhritiae, from the West Bengal coast. Namalycastis solenotognatha is named from Greek words meaning “channeled jaw,” referring to its unique jaw with many canals. This species survives in extreme, sulfide-rich, foul-smelling mudflats, mainly on decomposing mangrove wood and hardened clay. Nereis dhritiae is named after Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman Director of ZSI. It lives inside wooden dock piles on sandy beaches submerged during high tide.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Bilaspur district initiative “Padhai with Artificial Intelligence (AI)” at Barthin. It is an AI-based digital learning platform for Bilaspur students preparing for competitive examinations. The initiative ensures equal learning opportunities, a fully digital system, and continuous academic counselling. It provides modern, technology-driven quality education with support from National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

Notes:
Wool is an important fibre for winter clothing, carpets, floor coverings, and industrial products. India has the second-largest sheep population globally with 77.4 million sheep and ranks ninth in wool production. In Financial Year 2023–24, total wool production was 33.69 million kilograms. Rajasthan led with 16,013.50 thousand kg, contributing about 47.5% due to its arid climate and native sheep breeds. Jammu and Kashmir followed with 7,770 thousand kg, known for fine wool from cold-climate sheep. Other major producers were Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh. Punjab recorded the highest annual growth rate in wool production.