Current Affairs Quiz - February 2026

Notes:
The Esports World Cup Foundation included chess among 16 titles at the first Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2–29 November 2026. The chess event will run from 2–8 November 2026 with 128 players representing nations, maximum two per country. The tournament starts with 16 round-robin groups of eight players, with top four advancing to knockouts.

Notes:
International Epilepsy Day is observed every year on the second Monday of February. In 2026, it is marked on 9 February. It is a global awareness initiative organised jointly by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). It is also supported by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). The day aims to spread awareness about epilepsy and reduce social stigma. It brings together individuals, organisations, and communities worldwide.

Notes:
The Jiyo Parsi Scheme has supported the birth of over 490 Parsi children across India. It has provided financial assistance of ₹35.05 crore to Parsi couples. Jiyo Parsi is a unique Central Sector Scheme launched in 2013–14. The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It aims to arrest the declining population of the Parsi community. The scheme uses scientific protocols and structured interventions. Its goal is to stabilise and gradually increase the Parsi population in India.

Notes:
Researchers confirmed a new dragonfly species named Lyriothemis keralensis from the low-lying coastal regions of Kerala. It is commonly called the Slender Bombardier and belongs to the genus Lyriothemis. It was identified as a separate species after detailed comparison with its Northeast Indian relative Lyriothemis acigastra. The species has a slender abdomen, uniquely shaped tail, and distinct genital structures. It appears during the monsoon season and disappears as rainfall decreases.

Notes:
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) strengthened India–Netherlands cooperation by launching the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme and enabling an academic partnership in green energy. The fellowship is a national capacity-building initiative open to Indian doctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty researchers. It focuses on hydrogen system integration, safety, techno-economic analysis, life-cycle assessment, and indigenisation. DST also hosted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Groningen and 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Notes:
Researchers discovered a new marine worm species named Paraleocrates indica in the muddy banks of the Champa Estuary in the Bay of Bengal. It is the first record of this rare genus from Indian waters and only the third species worldwide in this genus. The worm belongs to the Hesionidae family, known for colourful bristle worms that often live symbiotically with other marine organisms like starfish. It appears reddish, measures 14–35 millimetres, and has a unique eye structure with front eyes five times larger than the back ones.

Notes:
Kotak Mahindra Bank became the first custodian in India to issue a Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) licence using only electronic signatures. It also completed the entire FPI account-opening process digitally, without any physical documents. The bank has already issued two FPI licences fully based on digitally signed papers. This marks a major step towards fully digital onboarding for overseas investors in India. The move follows the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) operationalising a unified digital workflow in January 2026. The initiative improves ease of doing business, speeds up compliance, and enhances transparency for foreign investors.

Notes:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), with Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog as knowledge partner, launched Swavalambini – Women Entrepreneurship Programme. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) allocated Rs 40,46,016 for training to National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Noida and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati., of which Rs 10,11,504 has been released to implementing institutes. Swavalambini – Women Entrepreneurship Programme is currently in pilot phase in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana. Information was provided by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Notes:
A third tigress was recently released into the wild at Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR), boosting tiger conservation in western Maharashtra. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) is located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, and is the northernmost tiger habitat in the Western Ghats. It is the first tiger reserve of Western Maharashtra and the fourth in the state.

Notes:
National Deworming Day (NDD) 2026 is observed on 10 February across India. It targets intestinal worm infections in children and adolescents aged 1–19 years. Coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it provides free albendazole tablets in government schools, private schools, and Anganwadi centres. National Deworming Day (NDD) ensures coverage in remote villages, urban slums, and suburban areas simultaneously. The day was launched in 2015 under the National Health Mission, initially in 11 states/UTs, targeting 140 million children. By 2018, it expanded nationwide, making it the world’s largest single-day school-based deworming program.