Current Affairs Quiz - February 2026

Notes:
The under-construction Dibang Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh recently achieved a major milestone with the successful daylighting of Diversion Tunnel-3 (DT-3). The project is being developed on the Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, and is designed as a flood control-cum-hydroelectric power project. With an installed capacity of 2,880 MW, it will become India’s largest hydropower facility. The project is being executed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). It is conceived as an energy storage project with flood moderation as a key objective in addition to electricity generation.

Notes:
NITI Aayog launched a report titled “Revitalizing Apprenticeship Ecosystem: Insights, Challenges, Recommendations and Best Practices.” The report analyses India’s apprenticeship system and suggests reforms to strengthen skilling and employment. It gives 20 action-oriented recommendations with clear responsibilities and performance metrics. Recommendations are grouped under five pillars including policy reforms, regulatory strengthening, state-level action, industry engagement and apprentice support. It aligns apprenticeship growth with Viksit Bharat 2047 and global best practices to build a skilled and competitive workforce.

Notes:
Scientists at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir developed two early-maturing Shalimar Wheat varieties to strengthen the rice–wheat cropping system. Shalimar Wheat includes Shalimar Wheat-4, which matures by the last week of May, and Shalimar Wheat-3, which matures by the first week of June. These varieties are specially bred for Kashmir’s climate and are suitable for mid-altitude areas up to about 1,850 metres. Early maturity allows timely harvesting of wheat and smooth transplantation of paddy. They help maintain proper crop rotation without delays in rice cultivation. The varieties show resistance to yellow rust, a major fungal disease in the region.

Notes:
“Healing Soils in India: For Better Crop Health and Human Nutrition” report released by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). It highlights soil degradation as major threat to agriculture and nutrition security in India. Main cause is distorted fertilizer subsidy where urea (Nitrogen) gets over 80% subsidy, causing imbalance of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. Faulty practices like monocropping, intensive tillage, rice water stagnation and stubble burning reduce soil carbon.

Notes:
The Indian Army’s Southern Command conducted Exercise Vajra Ghaat at Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. The exercise focused on testing the K9 Vajra self-propelled artillery gun system in desert warfare conditions of the Thar Desert. It was spearheaded by the White Tiger Division. The objective is to validate refined Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) for better survivability and operational effectiveness. The drill demonstrated swift deployment of heavy artillery in harsh terrain. K9 Vajra carried out high-intensity, precise fire missions.

Notes:
An Right to Information (RTI) activist filed an online petition to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking criminal, departmental and regulatory action over pollution of the Bhavani River. Bhavani River is a major tributary of the Cauvery River. It flows through Kerala and Tamil Nadu and is the second largest river of Tamil Nadu. It originates in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. It passes through Silent Valley National Park in Kerala, then re-enters Tamil Nadu. It merges with the Cauvery at Bhavani near Bhavani Sangameshwarar Temple.

Notes:
Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda launched indigenous Tetanus and Diphtheria vaccine at Central Research Institute, Kasauli in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh. Vaccine supports vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in health sector. India is known as Pharmacy of the World. Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is world’s largest immunization programme. Central Research Institute will supply 5.5 million vaccine doses by April 2026 to strengthen immunization coverage.

Notes:
The south division of Palamu Tiger Reserve launched ‘Vanjeevi Didi’ in 17 villages to train educated women as reserve ambassadors. The objective of initiative is to prevent forest destruction and illegal wildlife activities by fostering local, women-led conservation efforts. It is located on the Chhotanagpur Plateau in Jharkhand. It is part of Betla National Park. It was among the first nine tiger reserves under Project Tiger.

Notes:
National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Brazil and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India signed a cooperation arrangement for access to the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). TKDL was established in 2001 by Government of India through CSIR and Ministry of AYUSH. Its main objective is to prevent wrongful patents on Indian traditional knowledge and protect knowledge heritage. It documents Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga from authoritative texts.

Notes:
Zimbabwe has started rolling out Lenacapavir for HIV prevention. It is the first twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). PrEP is a medicine taken by HIV-negative individuals to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Clinical studies show it prevents about 99.9 percent of HIV transmission. It is developed by Gilead Sciences and marketed as Yeztugo. Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor that blocks the virus’s protein shell needed for replication.