Daily Current Affairs MCQs 17 February 2026: Best For Competitive Exams
Daily Current Affairs MCQs 17 February 2026: Best For Competitive Exams
Q1. With reference to the “Bharat-VISTAAR” initiative launched on 17 February 2026, consider the following statements:
- It is an AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) designed as a single gateway for farmers.
- The platform operates on a “Voice-First AI” model to assist feature phone users through telephony.
- It integrates data from AgMarkNet, IMD, and the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS).
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: D
Explanation: – Statement 1 is correct: Bharat-VISTAAR is a farmer-centric AI companion launched by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Jaipur.
- Statement 2 is correct: It uses Voice-First AI to bridge the digital divide for farmers without smartphones.
- Statement 3 is correct: It acts as a “plug-and-play” model integrating weather (IMD), market prices (AgMarkNet), and pest management (NPSS).
STATIC LINKAGE: This is a part of the Digital Agriculture Mission aimed at achieving the objectives of the National Policy for Farmers.
Q2. The Union Cabinet recently approved the “Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)” with a ₹1 lakh crore outlay. What is the unique funding feature of this scheme?
A) 100% funding by the Central Government as a grant.
B) Mandatory 50% funding mobilization from market sources like municipal bonds and PPPs.
C) Funding is provided only to Aspirational Districts.
D) It replaces the Finance Commission’s grants for local bodies.
Answer: B
Explanation: – The UCF is a reform-linked fund where Central Assistance covers 25%, while cities must mobilize at least 50% from market sources (bonds, PPPs, bank loans) to encourage fiscal autonomy.
STATIC LINKAGE: This aligns with the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission to improve the financial health and creditworthiness of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
Q3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron recently established a “Special Global Strategic Partnership” (17 February 2026). In which city did the leaders virtually inaugurate the H-125 helicopter assembly line?
A) Mumbai, Maharashtra
B) Vemagal, Karnataka
C) Hyderabad, Telangana
D) Vadodara, Gujarat
Answer: B
Explanation: – Both leaders virtually inaugurated the H-125 helicopter final assembly line at Vemagal, Karnataka, set up by Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus.
STATIC LINKAGE: This is a milestone under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020‘s Strategic Partnership (SP) model to promote indigenous manufacturing.
Q4. Who represented India at the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 17 February 2026?
A) S. Jaishankar
B) Om Birla
C) Rajnath Singh
D) Droupadi Murmu
Answer: B
Explanation: – Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was designated to represent India at the oath-taking ceremony in Dhaka, signaling parliamentary diplomacy.
STATIC LINKAGE: Parliamentary diplomacy is a subset of Soft Power, where the presiding officers of legislatures engage in international relations to strengthen bilateral ties.
Q5. With reference to the “India AI Impact Summit 2026,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the creation of an “AI ka UPI” platform. What is the primary purpose of this platform?
A) To facilitate digital payments for AI subscriptions.
B) To provide a trusted, unified interface for developers and citizens to access AI solutions.
C) To regulate the export of AI chips from India.
D) To replace the existing Aadhaar-based authentication.
Answer: B
Explanation: – The “AI ka UPI” (formally known as the Unified AI Interface) aims to democratize AI by providing a common, trusted layer for developers and users, similar to how UPI transformed payments.
STATIC LINKAGE: This is a core pillar of the IndiaAI Mission, which follows the principle of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
Q6. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently gave a “green signal” to the Great Nicobar Mega Project (17 February 2026). Which of the following is NOT a component of this mega project?
A) International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT)
B) Green Field International Airport
C) Gas and Solar-based Power Plant
D) World’s largest Marine National Park
Answer: D
Explanation: – The Great Nicobar project includes an ICTT, a Greenfield International Airport, a Power Plant, and a Township. It does not include a new Marine National Park; rather, it has faced criticism for impacting the existing Galathea Bay.
STATIC LINKAGE: Great Nicobar is home to the Shompen (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group – PVTG) and the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
Q7. “Vayyu Research Centre,” inaugurated in February 2026, is a collaboration between which Indian institution and the Finnish Meteorological Institute?
A) IIT Bombay
B) IIT Madras
C) IISc Bangalore
D) IIT Delhi
Answer: B
Explanation: – IIT Madras collaborated with the Finnish Meteorological Institute to launch the Vayyu Research Centre, focusing on atmospheric and climate research.
STATIC LINKAGE: This supports the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) by enhancing local expertise in climate modeling.
Q8. As of February 2026, India’s installed energy capacity reached 521 GW. Which of the following statements is historically significant regarding this data?
A) Hydro power became the largest source of energy.
B) Non-fossil fuel capacity surpassed fossil fuel capacity for the first time.
C) Nuclear energy reached 10% of the total mix.
D) All thermal plants were successfully retired.
Answer: B
Explanation: – For the first time, India’s non-fossil fuel capacity (271.9 GW) surpassed fossil fuel capacity, contributing roughly 52% of the total installed capacity.
STATIC LINKAGE: This fulfills one of India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement (reaching 50% non-fossil capacity before 2030).
Q9. Paras Dogra, who was in the news on 17 February 2026, achieved a historic feat in which tournament?
A) ICC T20 World Cup
B) Ranji Trophy
C) Santosh Trophy
D) Pro Kabaddi League
Answer: B
Explanation: – Paras Dogra, the J&K captain, reached a historic milestone (9,000+ runs) in the Ranji Trophy, becoming one of the most prolific run-getters in the tournament’s history.
STATIC LINKAGE: The Ranji Trophy is India’s premier first-class cricket championship, named after Ranjitsinhji, the first Indian to play international cricket.
Q10. The “Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0” (FoF 2.0), approved in February 2026, is managed by which institution?
A) SEBI
B) SIDBI
C) NITI Aayog
D) RBI
Answer: B
Explanation: – Like the original version, the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) 2.0 is managed by SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India). It does not invest directly in startups but in SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
STATIC LINKAGE: SIDBI was established in 1990 under an Act of Parliament as the principal financial institution for the MSME sector.
Q11. Smriti Mandhana was named the “BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year” for 2025 on 17 February 2026. Who won the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the same ceremony?
A) Anjali Bhagwat
B) P.T. Usha
C) Mithali Raj
D) Karnam Malleswari
Answer: A
Explanation: – While Smriti Mandhana won the top honor, veteran shooter Anjali Bhagwat was conferred with the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Indian shooting.
STATIC LINKAGE: Anjali Bhagwat was a world number one in 10m Air Rifle and is a recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna).
Q12. What is the design capacity per fiber pair for the new East-West digital corridor (submarine cable) connecting UAE, India, and Singapore?
A) 10 Tbps
B) 18 Tbps
C) 50 Tbps
D) 100 Tbps
Answer: B
Explanation: – The new submarine cable system features 16 fiber pairs, each with a minimum design capacity of 18 Terabits per second (Tbps).
STATIC LINKAGE: Submarine cables are the backbone of the global internet, carrying over 95% of international data traffic.
Q13. The “SAHI” and “BODH” initiatives, launched at the India AI Summit on 17 February 2026, are primarily related to which sector?
A) Space exploration
B) Public Health and Nutrition
C) Financial Inclusion
D) Border Security
Answer: B
Explanation: – SAHI and BODH are national AI initiatives for Public Health, launched by the Union Health Minister to use AI in diagnostics and healthcare delivery.
STATIC LINKAGE: These initiatives support the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
Q14. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar interacted with “Sherpas” in New Delhi (February 2026) for the first meeting of which multilateral group under India’s chairship?
A) G20
B) BRICS
C) SCO
D) BIMSTEC
Answer: B
Explanation: – India is the Chair of BRICS for 2026. The first meeting of BRICS Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas was held in New Delhi to discuss priorities for the 2026 summit.
STATIC LINKAGE: BRICS recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (BRICS+).
Q15. According to the latest report by the Ministry of Finance (17 February 2026), which payment method has seen a significant socio-economic impact through the government’s incentive scheme?
A) Credit Cards
B) RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI (P2M)
C) Cryptocurrency
D) Foreign Currency Notes
Answer: B
Explanation: – The report titled “Socio-Economic Impact Analysis of Incentive Scheme for Promotion of RuPay Debit Card and low-value BHIM-UPI Transactions (P2M)” was released at the Chintan Shivir 2026.
STATIC LINKAGE: This incentive scheme aims to promote the usage of indigenous payment systems and reduce the cost of digital transactions for small merchants.
Q16. The “MILAN Village” was recently inaugurated in which city to host participants of the Exercise MILAN 2026?
A) Kochi
B) Visakhapatnam
C) Port Blair
D) Goa
Answer: B
Explanation: – The MILAN Village was inaugurated at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam to support the 2026 edition of the biennial multilateral naval exercise.
STATIC LINKAGE: Exercise MILAN started in 1995 with only four foreign navies; it has now grown into a major international event under India’s SAGAR initiative.
Q17. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at which venue in New Delhi?
A) Vigyan Bhavan
B) Bharat Mandapam
C) Yashobhoomi
D) Indira Gandhi Arena
Answer: B
Explanation: – The summit took place at Bharat Mandapam (IECC complex), the same venue that hosted the G20 Summit in 2023.
STATIC LINKAGE: Bharat Mandapam is India’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination.
Q18. Rashid Khan, who became the first bowler to take 700 T20 wickets on 17 February 2026, plays for which national team?
A) Pakistan
B) Afghanistan
C) West Indies
D) Bangladesh
Answer: B
Explanation: – Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan created history by becoming the first bowler to reach the 700-wicket mark in T20 cricket during his stint in global leagues/T20 World Cup.
STATIC LINKAGE: Rashid Khan is widely considered the pioneer of modern leg-spin in the shortest format.
Q19. The “Seva Teerth” and “Kartavya Bhavans” were in the news today as the new locations for:
A) All State Legislative Assemblies.
B) Key Central Ministries shifting from North and South Blocks.
C) New diplomatic residential colonies.
D) National War Memorial expansion.
Answer: B
Explanation: – The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to shift key ministries from the colonial-era North and South Blocks to the newly built Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavans as part of the Central Vista redevelopment.
STATIC LINKAGE: The North and South Blocks were designed by Herbert Baker (not Edwin Lutyens alone) on Raisina Hill.
Q20. “Ol Chiki” script, which was mentioned in PIB releases today (17 February 2026), is associated with which language?
A) Gondi
B) Santali
C) Bodo
D) Maithili
Answer: B
Explanation: – Ol Chiki is the official script of the Santali language. It was featured in the news context of cultural preservation and AI-enabled language models at the AI summit.
STATIC LINKAGE: Santali is one of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
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