Current Affairs Quiz - February 2026

Notes:
India ranked 75th in the latest Henley Passport Index by Henley and Partners, improving 10 places from 85th in 2025. Indian passport allows visa-free travel to 56 countries, one less than last year’s 57. India shares its rank with Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Madagascar, and Mauritania. The index ranks 199 passports and 227 destinations using data from International Air Transport Association. It reflects a country’s foreign policy strength and global standing. Singapore tops the list with visa-free access to 192 countries. Japan and South Korea rank second with 187 access. Maldives ranks 49th among neighbours, while Pakistan and Afghanistan are lowest ranked.

Notes:
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda launched two initiatives at India Artificial Intelligence Summit at Bharat Mandapam. The first is Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India, called SAHI. SAHI provides national guidance for safe, ethical, evidence based and inclusive use of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare. It focuses on governance, data management, validation, deployment and monitoring of Artificial Intelligence solutions. The second is Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health Artificial Intelligence, called BODH. BODH is developed by Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur with National Health Authority. It enables secure evaluation of Artificial Intelligence models without sharing raw health data.

Notes:
Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, called Ghost of the Forest, was recently photographed in Corbett Reserve, Uttarakhand. Scientific name is Ketupa nipalensis and it is a large forest eagle owl. It is found in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and parts of Southeast Asia. It lives in tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands and savannas. It is one of the longest owls in the world with chocolate brown body and white spots. It is listed as Least Concern in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list.

Notes:
Kerala approved India’s first comprehensive graphene policy to become a global hub for research, development, and production of graphene. The Union Cabinet approved Grefine Park as the first major step. The state offers a 50% subsidy on lease payments for manufacturing units in government parks. Plans include a graphene industrial park in Palakkad and a Digital Innovation Centre with ₹200 crore investment. The policy promotes collaboration with University of Oxford and University of Manchester.

Notes:
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Bharat VISTAAR scheme in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The scheme is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based initiative by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Farmers can dial 155261 to get instant solutions, scheme details, and mandi prices. A Farmer Identity Card (ID) will store complete farmer data. Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Soil Health Card are integrated. The goal is to enhance production, provide one-platform information, and promote Viksit Kisan for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Notes:
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book The Sage who Reimagined Hinduism The Life Lessons and Legacy of Sree Narayana Guru in New Delhi. The book is authored by Shashi Tharoor. It highlights life and teachings of Sree Narayana Guru who worked against caste discrimination and social injustice.

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:
China recently showcased the CJ-1000, a land-based scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile, during a military parade in Beijing. It is developed indigenously by China and is considered the world’s first operational land-based scramjet-powered hypersonic missile. It is road-mobile and mounted on a 10-wheel diesel-electric hybrid transporter erector launcher for quick deployment. It has an estimated range of at least 2,500 kilometres. It is more advanced than hypersonic glide vehicles like China’s DF-17 and Russia’s Avangard.

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:
Indian Army and United States Army conducted 16th edition of Exercise Vajra Prahar at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. It is a joint Special Forces exercise between India and United States. The objective is to strengthen defence cooperation and improve interoperability and joint operational readiness. It promotes exchange of advanced Special Operations Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). Year 2026 marks the 16th edition of this exercise. Training is conducted in realistic combat situations.