Current Affairs [Top Questions]

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Mumbai will host India’s first city-led climate action initiative, Mumbai Climate Week 2026, from 17 to 19 February 2026. The initiative highlights that climate action is a fundamental child rights issue. UNICEF India and YuWaah are official youth engagement partners, collaborating with Project Mumbai. The event empowers children and youth to become agents of change, linking grassroots participation with civic leadership. The Youth Green Innovation Challenge for ages 16–24 will showcase sustainable solutions in food systems, urban resilience, and energy transition.

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The Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX) held at ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi. The events bring together international participants to showcase advances in unmanned systems, robotics, simulation, and training technologies. The seventh edition is the largest since 2015, with 375 companies from 38 countries; 10 are first-time participants. International firms make up 55% of exhibitors; UAE pavilion is the largest.

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Dhamtari district became the first in India to launch online tax collection through the SAMARTH Panchayat portal. The initiative was rolled out at Sankara Gram Panchayat in Nagri block, Chhattisgarh. A resident successfully paid property tax using a Unified Payments Interface (UPI)–linked online gateway. The system allows rural citizens to pay taxes from home, reducing arrears and easing administration. It will cover nearly 400 gram panchayats in the district. Sankara became India’s first gram panchayat with end-to-end digital tax payment.

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22 states and Union Territories have requested the Centre to increase honorarium for cooks and helpers under the PM-POSHAN scheme. PM-POSHAN, formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme run by the Ministry of Education. It provides one hot cooked meal per school day to children in Balvatikas (pre-primary) and Classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools.

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Gujarat leads India’s renewable energy sector with 42.583 gigawatt installed capacity, contributing 16.50 percent of the national total as of December 2025. The state ranks first in total renewable and wind power capacity and second in solar power capacity. Renewable energy includes 14,820.94 megawatt wind power and 25,529.40 megawatt solar power, with hybrid and off-grid sources. Gujarat accounts for over 25 percent of India’s rooftop solar installations with 6,412.80 megawatt capacity. Major solar parks operate at Charanka, Radhanesda, and Dholera, while Khavda hosts the world’s largest renewable park under development.

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NeophyteID is an Artificial Intelligence powered mobile application launched by the Chief Minister of Kerala. It is designed to identify invasive plant species across Kerala and support biodiversity conservation. The app is developed by the Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences (MBGIPS). The application is citizen friendly and helps communities, students, and ecologists monitor invasive plants. It uses image recognition and geospatial tracking through camera or gallery images.

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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) launched new Arctic mission named Arctic Sentry to strengthen regional security. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a political and military alliance formed in 1949 after signing the North Atlantic Treaty. It currently has 32 member countries and headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Arctic Sentry is led by Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk). Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk) connects North America and Europe within NATO structure. The main aim is to safeguard member nations, protect territory and maintain Arctic stability.

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The lost city of Charax Spasinou has been discovered in the deserts of Iraq. It was an ancient port city located at the meeting point of the Tigris and Choaspes rivers near the Iraq–Iran border. It was founded in 324 Before Common Era during the Hellenistic period, initially by Alexander the Great. Later, Hyspaosines rebuilt it and founded the Kingdom of Characene with Charax as its capital. Its strategic location made it a major trade hub between Mesopotamia and India through the Persian Gulf. Its importance declined around 224–228 After Death with the rise of the Sassanian Empire.

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Mount Kanlaon, also called Kanlaon Volcano, recently erupted and released heavy ash and smoke over Negros Island in the Philippines, leading to safety warnings. It is a stratovolcano located on Negros Island, Philippines, and is the tallest peak in the Visayas region, about 2,465 metres above sea level. It is one of the active volcanoes of the Philippines and forms part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. It has many pyroclastic cones and craters with a broad caldera and crater lake at the summit. Its slopes have lava flows, lahar deposits and rich biodiversity, and act as major river headwaters.

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The three-day International Conference ANVESH 2026 (Advanced Next Generation Vision for Emerging and Sustainable Healthy Foods) was organized at the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) in Kundli, Sonipat, Haryana. The conference focuses on emerging advancements in food processing, value addition, sustainable supply chains, export-oriented innovation, food safety, and building future-ready agri-food entrepreneurial ecosystems. Delegates from 25 countries are participating in ANVESH 2026, reflecting its international significance.