Current Affairs Quiz - February 2026

Notes:
Archaeologists in Mexico found a 1,400-year-old tomb of the Zapotec culture with an owl sculpture holding a man, colorful murals, and calendar carvings. The Zapotec civilization lived in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, using irrigation from the Atoyac River. They shifted from hunting to farming and developed weaving, pottery, and stone building skills. By 200 Before Common Era to 100 Common Era, they formed a centralized state with Monte Albán as capital. Society had nobles, commoners, priests, rituals, human sacrifice, writing, and calendars. Decline began around 900 Common Era, but Zapotec culture still survives today.

Notes:
The Indian Micro-Fertilizers Manufacturers Association will host the 6th National Crop Nutrition Summit and Business-to-Business Expo on 5–6 February 2026 in Mumbai. The event will be held at the National Stock Exchange, Bandra Kurla Complex, Maharashtra. It will bring together policymakers, scientists, startups, industry leaders, and global experts. The theme is “Converge, Collaborate and Co-create” to strengthen India’s agri-input sector.

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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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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.

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The National Career Service (NCS) Portal is a digital platform providing career services such as job listings, job fairs, career counselling, vocational guidance, and skill development information. It is an initiative under the Ministry of Labour and Employment It aims to connect jobseekers and employers, offering decent employment opportunities and career development assistance. As of 20 January 2026, more than 2.23 crore jobseekers have been shortlisted. The portal offers online employability and digital skill enhancement programmes.

Notes:
Young Indian shuttler Devika Sihag won her first Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 title at the Thailand Masters in Bangkok. She was leading 21-8, 6-3 in the women’s singles final when Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei retired due to a hamstring injury. Devika Sihag is 20 years old and hails from Haryana. Goh Jin Wei, world No. 68, is a two-time former World Junior Champion. This victory marks the biggest title of Devika Sihag’s career.

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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.

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Tripura has achieved top ranks in the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0, highlighting excellence in its Panchayati Raj system. Three Tripura Panchayats among the top four reflect strong grassroots governance and efficiency in the state. The recognition sets a benchmark for rural development, inclusive governance, and public service delivery in Tripura. It reinforces Tripura’s reputation as a model state in decentralized governance and village-level administration.

Notes:
Indian teenage squash player Anahat Singh became the youngest Asian to enter the PSA World Top 20, breaking Nicol David’s record. She achieved this after winning her first PSA Bronze-level title at the Washington Fire Open. In the tournament, she defeated world number 17 in the quarterfinal, world number 23 in the semifinal, and world number 10 Georgina Kennedy in the final (12-10, 11-5, 11-7).

Notes:
More than 26 lakh households in India have benefited from PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY) since its launch in February 2024. 20,85,514 rooftop solar (RTS) systems have been installed nationwide, providing clean energy access. Rs 14,771.82 crore in Central Financial Assistance (CFA) has been disbursed up to December 2025. The scheme allows eligible grid-connected residential consumers to install solar panels via the national portal. Gujarat leads with 5.15 lakh installations benefiting 7.41 lakh households, followed by Maharashtra (3.92 lakh) and Uttar Pradesh (3.26 lakh). The programme promotes affordable household solar energy and supports India’s clean energy transition.