Current Affairs Quiz - February 2026

Notes:
The 7th Para Archers National Championship 2026 was inaugurated at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, Punjab. It is a national-level para sports event showcasing top talent in para archery. The championship is hosted by the Punjab Archery Association under the Archery Association of India. It is supported by the Sports Authority of India. The championship is being held from 30 January to 3 February 2026.

Notes:
Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open men’s singles tennis title 2026, completing his career Grand Slam. He defeated Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the final at Rod Laver Arena. This is Alcaraz’s first Australian Open win at the age of 22. Novak Djokovic, 38, was aiming for a record 25th major and to become the oldest man in the Open era to win a Grand Slam. Djokovic was defeated in the Australian Open final for the first time in his 11 appearances.

Notes:
Union Budget 2026–27 launched a new Khelo India Mission to transform India’s sports sector over the next decade. The focus areas are talent development, sports infrastructure creation, and manufacturing-led employment generation. Mission builds on the earlier Khelo India programme with a mission-mode approach to nurture talent and strengthen the sports ecosystem. ₹500 crore allocated for promotion of sports goods manufacturing, research, and innovation to boost domestic capability and global competitiveness. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ budget increased by ₹1,133 crore, from ₹3,346 crore to ₹4,479.88 crore, supporting athlete development, coaching, sports science, and infrastructure.

Notes:
NeophyteID is an Artificial Intelligence powered mobile application launched by the Chief Minister of Kerala. It is designed to identify invasive plant species across Kerala and support biodiversity conservation. The app is developed by the Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences (MBGIPS). The application is citizen friendly and helps communities, students, and ecologists monitor invasive plants. It uses image recognition and geospatial tracking through camera or gallery images.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Minority Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha about the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme. PM VIKAS is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2025. It focuses on the socio-economic empowerment of six notified minority communities. The scheme aims to ensure inclusive growth for minority and artisan communities, especially youth and women. The Ministry of Minority Affairs is the nodal ministry for implementation. It promotes skill development through need-based training and employment support. The scheme preserves cultural heritage by promoting traditional arts, crafts, literature, and manuscripts.

Notes:
Paradip Port Authority (PPA) won First Prize at Swachhata Pakhwada Awards 2025 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). Paradip Port Authority (PPA) was recognised for excellence in cleanliness, sustainability, and community participation. The achievement reflects commitment to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and inclusive development. Paradip Port Authority (PPA) implemented three pillars: Jan Bhagidari, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, and Safai Mitra Suraksha.

Notes:
Iran has used cloud seeding by spraying chemicals over the Urmia Lake basin to induce rainfall amid the worst drought in decades. Lake Urmia, also called Lake Oromeeh, is located in the Azerbaijan region of northwestern Iran. It is the largest lake in the Middle East. The lake is a terminal lake, meaning it has no outlet and is highly saline. It receives water mainly from the Talkheh River in the northeast.

Notes:
Operation Kiya is a joint counter-terrorism operation launched by Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. It is currently in news due to an intense encounter in the forested Basantgarh area of Udhampur. The operation aims to track, contain, and eliminate infiltrated terrorists while protecting civilian areas. It also seeks to prevent terrorist movement across districts and infiltration corridors. The operation is carried out by the Army’s White Knight Corps, Counter Insurgency Force (Delta), Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It uses a cordon-and-search strategy to trap terrorists in forests and hilly terrain.

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct its largest day-and-night air power exercise, Vayu Shakti-2026, on 27 February at the Pokaran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The exercise will test operational strategy, precision strikes, and weapon systems against simulated enemy targets like bunkers, bridges, and operation rooms. It will be held at the Chandan Field Firing Range near Pokaran, with a full dress rehearsal on 24 February. Operations will be showcased during day, dusk, and night phases.

Notes:
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has launched a digital portal for issuing Certificates of Origin for cultivated medicinal plants. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The portal enables stakeholders to obtain Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) exemptions through an end-to-end online, single-window system.