Current Affairs Quiz - February 2026

Notes:
India entered the quantum era with the launch of the Amaravati Quantum Valley on 8 February 2026. It is supported by the ₹6,000 crore National Quantum Mission to make India a global deep-tech power. The Amaravati Quantum Valley is India’s first integrated quantum ecosystem spread over 50 acres. It brings together government, universities, and companies like International Business Machines (IBM) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). It is located in Andhra Pradesh. It will support healthcare, finance, defence, secure communication, and create jobs while strengthening national security.

Notes:
The Uttarakhand Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the Sharda River Corridor at Tanakpur in Champawat district. The Sharda River is a transboundary river flowing through northern India and western Nepal. It originates as the Kali River in far northern Uttarakhand in the Great Himalayas. The river rises on the eastern slopes of the Nanda Devi massif. Its major tributaries include the Dhauliganga, Goriganga, and Sarju rivers.

Notes:
A new ant species named Polyrhachis garbhangaensis was discovered in Garbhanga Reserve Forest near Guwahati, Assam. It is named after its place of discovery and is proposed to be called the “Assamese Spiny Ant.” The species belongs to the rare mucronata group of spiny ants. It is only the third species of this group ever recorded in India. Unlike related species that are black, it has a bright yellow-orange abdomen. The ant has distinctive curved spines on its body. These spines likely help protect it from predators and aid survival in the wild.

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:
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) will launch three new ocean services: Jellyfish Artificial Intelligence Information Platform (JellyAIIP), SAMUDRA 2.0 Mobile Application, and Seamless Information Visualization and Analysis System (SIVAS) along with a new logo. It was established as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is located in Hyderabad, Telangana. It provides ocean information and advisory services through continuous ocean observations and focused research. It runs the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), issuing tsunami alerts within 10 minutes for India and 28 Indian Ocean countries.

Notes:
The Himalayan Griffon Vulture was recently sighted in Melghat, Maharashtra, influenced by the presence of captive-bred vultures released in the area. It is one of the nine vulture species found in India and belongs to the Old World vultures group. It is mainly found in the Himalayan and Tibetan regions and Central Asian mountains, with limited altitudinal migration into northern India. It is a huge vulture weighing up to 12 kilograms, with long wings adapted for soaring on wind thermals. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is listed as Near Threatened.

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.

Notes:
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), a statutory body under Ministry of Cooperation, implements Ayushman Sahakar Scheme to promote cooperative healthcare. The scheme aligns with National Health Policy 2017 to provide affordable and holistic healthcare through cooperatives. Financial assistance is given as term loan or investment loan after technical and financial appraisal. The scheme supports hospitals, AYUSH, medical colleges, telemedicine, digital health and insurance services. Loan period is up to 8 years with moratorium, and women-majority cooperatives get 1% interest rebate. The initiative promotes community participation and sustainable cooperative healthcare delivery.

Notes:
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) implements Yuva Sahakar – Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme under Start-up India and Stand-up India. The scheme promotes newly formed cooperatives with innovative ideas and supports societies operational for at least three months. NCDC provides easy financing with 2% interest subvention on term loans. Funding is project-based and provided after application; no proposal was received from Jharkhand. Cooperatives must contribute 30% of project cost as equity.

Notes:
Directorate General of Training (DGT) under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implements Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). Training is offered in 169 trades through 14,688 ITIs and 32 NSTIs, with 14.70 lakh trainees enrolled in 2025–26. Curriculum is regularly updated with industry and State/Union Territory (UT) consultation. 31 New Age trades include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), renewable energy and 3D printing. PM SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) will upgrade 1,000 ITIs with ₹60,000 crore support.