Current Affairs Quiz - February 2026

Notes:
A new orchid species named Diplocentrum papillosum was discovered in Kanthalloor, Marayoor, in the Idukki district of Kerala. It belongs to the Diplocentrum genus, which is found only in the southern part of the Western Ghats. The orchid grows on rocks and tree branches and has strong roots to survive high winds. The name papillosum refers to the papillose, or small bump-like, texture of its flowers. It has unbranched flower clusters with pink and white, fragrant, and eye-catching blooms.

Notes:
Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) is a proposed multilingual Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered platform for farmers, announced in Union Budget 2026-27 by Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. It will integrate AgriStack portals and ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) agricultural practices with AI systems. The platform aims to enhance farm productivity and reduce risks for farmers by providing customised, real-time advisory support to improve decision-making based on local conditions.

Notes:
The 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2026 was inaugurated on 31 January at Surajkund in Faridabad, Haryana. The Mela Sathi App was launched to improve visitor support and experience. The event highlighted artisans as custodians of traditional knowledge and key contributors to a sustainable and inclusive economy. The central theme is “Local to Global”, promoting traditional crafts on an international platform. Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya are the theme states, and Egypt is the partner nation.

Notes:
The Union Finance Minister announced the Biopharma SHAKTI initiative in the Union Budget 2026–27 initiative to strengthen India’s biopharmaceutical sector. Biopharma SHAKTI stands for Strategy for Healthcare Advancement through Knowledge, Technology and Innovation. It aims to make India a global hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The initiative will support domestic production of biologics and biosimilars. It will build a biopharma-focused network with three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER).

Notes:
Gyan Bharatam is a flagship Ministry of Culture initiative announced in Union Budget 2025–26 to preserve India’s manuscript heritage. It aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by linking cultural preservation with human capital development. The Standing Finance Committee approved ₹491.66 crore for 2025–2031. The programme works on survey, conservation, digitisation, translation, research, and outreach. More than 7.5 lakh manuscripts have been digitised, with 1.29 lakh available on the Gyan Bharatam portal.

Notes:
Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) scheme was launched in 2018 under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen). It focuses on solid waste management in villages by converting bio-waste like cattle dung, kitchen waste, crop residue, and market waste into biogas and bio-slurry. The scheme incentivizes Gram Panchayats to recover biodegradable waste and supports rural cleanliness. State/UT-wise details of functional Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and community/cluster biogas projects are available on the GOBARdhan portal as of 27 January 2026. Information provided by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri V. Somanna in Rajya Sabha.

Notes:
Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open men’s singles tennis title 2026, completing his career Grand Slam. He defeated Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the final at Rod Laver Arena. This is Alcaraz’s first Australian Open win at the age of 22. Novak Djokovic, 38, was aiming for a record 25th major and to become the oldest man in the Open era to win a Grand Slam. Djokovic was defeated in the Australian Open final for the first time in his 11 appearances.

Notes:
The Cities of Care Conference was inaugurated at IIT Madras Research Park by the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF), IIT Madras School of Sustainability, and University of Toronto School of Cities. The conference brings together global universities, research institutions, policymakers, and practitioners to advance climate action and sustainable urban development in India. The Sustainable India 2025 report, released during the conference with REVOLVE, highlights India’s progress and challenges in energy transition, waste management, urban resilience, and decarbonising industries.

Notes:
Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new flowering plant species named Dicliptera pakhalica. The discovery was made in Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary located in Warangal district of Telangana. The sanctuary is dominated by mixed deciduous forest vegetation. The area has rich plant diversity including bamboo and teak trees.

Notes:
Iran has used cloud seeding by spraying chemicals over the Urmia Lake basin to induce rainfall amid the worst drought in decades. Lake Urmia, also called Lake Oromeeh, is located in the Azerbaijan region of northwestern Iran. It is the largest lake in the Middle East. The lake is a terminal lake, meaning it has no outlet and is highly saline. It receives water mainly from the Talkheh River in the northeast.