Current Affairs Quiz - February 2026

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.

Notes:
Multiple major disasters in 2025 highlighted serious gaps in India’s disaster victim identification and management systems. In response, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) released India’s first comprehensive SOP for Mass Fatality Incidents (MFIs). The guidelines are titled “National Disaster Management Guidelines on Comprehensive Disaster Victim Identification and Management.” They aim to standardise procedures for identification, documentation, and dignified handling of victims during large-scale disasters.

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The Department of Pharmaceuticals launched the Revised Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (RPTUAS) in March 2024 to help existing pharmaceutical units upgrade technology. The scheme aims to ensure compliance with Revised Schedule-M and World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) quality standards. The total financial outlay of the scheme is ₹300.10 crore for the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. Under RPTUAS, pharmaceutical units are eligible for incentives ranging from 10% to 20% of investment, with a maximum of ₹2 crore, based on their turnover.

Notes:
India successfully test-fired the Agni-III ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha. The launch was conducted under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) as a routine training exercise. The test aimed to validate the operational readiness and technical performance of the missile system. All mission objectives were met, and all parameters were successfully validated, according to defence officials. Agni-III is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is a two-stage, solid-fuelled intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range exceeding 3,000 kilometres.

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).

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Delhi became the first state to partner with Bharat Taxi’s cooperative mobility platform to improve safe, reliable, and transparent taxi services. The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL). Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL) is the cooperative, driver-owned arm of Bharat Taxi providing technology-enabled mobility services. Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) will act as tourism and branding partner and train drivers in soft skills, culture, and heritage. The initiative will offer point-to-point travel and curated sightseeing circuits for tourists.

Notes:
India improved its rank by four places to 45th in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025, released on 4 February 2026. The index assesses 127 economies across four pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact, using 53 indicators. The report is prepared by the Portulans Institute, a non-profit research body based in Washington DC. India’s score increased from 53.63 in 2024 to 54.43 in 2025 out of 100. India ranked 1st in telecom investment, Artificial Intelligence (AI) publications, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) exports, and e-commerce laws. It ranked 2nd in Fibre to the Home (FTTH) subscriptions and internet traffic, showing strong digital growth.

Notes:
Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology, inaugurated the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Lab Automation Portal – SATYA. SATYA is a digital initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to improve transparency and service delivery. The portal brings all STQC certification services onto a single, user-friendly digital platform. It ensures faster, predictable, and transparent certification for citizens, industry, startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and government bodies.

Notes:
A two-day National Conference on “Tackling Cyber-Enabled Frauds & Dismantling the Ecosystem” has been inaugurated at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 10 February 2026. The conference, organised by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), focuses on tackling cyber-enabled frauds involving finance, telecom misuse, and human exploitation. It brings together law enforcement, banks, regulators, technology platforms, and experts to strengthen coordination, technology use, and victim protection.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister objected to Karnataka’s proposal to raise the height of Almatti Dam on Upper Krishna River. Almatti Dam is built on Krishna River in Karnataka for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and flood control. It is 52.5 meters high and about 3.5 kilometers long. It has annual power generation capacity of about 713 million kilowatts. It is main reservoir of Upper Krishna Irrigation Project.