Current Affairs Quiz - February 2026

Notes:
Union Budget 2026–27 announced the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative to strengthen traditional rural industries. It focuses on khadi, handloom, and handicrafts sectors across India. The initiative aims to improve global market access, branding, and strong market linkages. It seeks to make traditional industries more competitive and economically sustainable. The programme ensures stable livelihoods for artisans and weavers. It targets weavers, village industries, rural youth, and beneficiaries of One District One Product (ODOP).

Notes:
Gujarat leads India’s renewable energy sector with 42.583 gigawatt installed capacity, contributing 16.50 percent of the national total as of December 2025. The state ranks first in total renewable and wind power capacity and second in solar power capacity. Renewable energy includes 14,820.94 megawatt wind power and 25,529.40 megawatt solar power, with hybrid and off-grid sources. Gujarat accounts for over 25 percent of India’s rooftop solar installations with 6,412.80 megawatt capacity. Major solar parks operate at Charanka, Radhanesda, and Dholera, while Khavda hosts the world’s largest renewable park under development.

Notes:
Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day is observed every year on 2 February to spread awareness about rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease affecting millions of people worldwide. The day was started in 2013 by the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation to educate the public and break myths. The organisation is now inactive, leading to limited global observance of the day. The awareness day highlights the need for early diagnosis and timely treatment. It promotes advocacy, support systems, and research for better care.

Notes:
India will host the first Global Big Cat Summit this year. Leaders and ministers from 95 big cat range countries will participate. The summit will focus on collective and coordinated strategies for big cat conservation. It aims to strengthen international cooperation and protect natural habitats. The initiative will promote sustainable wildlife tourism and habitat protection. India plays a leading role as it has the world’s largest wild tiger population.

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:
The third edition of the tri-services Future Warfare Course held at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, from 2–25 February 2026. It is conducted under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in partnership with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS). The course features an enhanced curriculum on technology-driven changes in war, doctrines, strategies, and tactics. The program aligns Armed Forces operational priorities with indigenous defence industry capabilities.

Notes:
The Supreme Court directed the Centre to set up a tribunal for the long-pending Pennaiyar River water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Tamil Nadu filed the case in 2018 against Karnataka’s construction of check dams and diversion works. Tamil Nadu argued that water in an inter-state river is a national asset and cannot be claimed exclusively by any state. Pennaiyar River, also called South Pennar, Dakshina Pinakini, Thenpennai, or Ponnaiyar, flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Notes:
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.