{"id":3662,"date":"2026-02-17T11:10:58","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T11:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/?p=3662"},"modified":"2026-02-17T11:10:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T11:10:59","slug":"daily-current-affairs-17-02-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/daily-current-affairs-17-02-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS \u2013 17.02.2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. With reference to the Great Nicobar Island Mega Project, consider the following statements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\">1. The project includes development of an international transshipment port and a greenfield airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\">2. The project site is located near the Malacca Strait, giving it strategic maritime importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Both 1 and 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) Neither 1 nor 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-10 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS:<\/strong> NGT gives clearance to Great Nicobar project<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"649\" height=\"494\" src=\"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-18.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3663\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-18.png 649w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-18-300x228.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-12 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Great Nicobar Island Mega Project:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-13\">\n<li>The Great Nicobar Island mega project is a \u20b992,000-crore infrastructure initiative of strategic and defence importance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project includes an international transshipment port, a greenfield airport, a power plant, and township development. <strong>Hence statement 1 is correct<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project site is located near the Malacca Strait, giving it strategic maritime importance. <strong>Hence statement 2 is correct<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The National Green Tribunal (NGT) cleared the project and directed strict compliance with environmental clearance (EC) conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A High-Powered Committee (HPC) was formed to examine issues related to coral reefs, leatherback turtle nesting sites, and ecological concerns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The NGT noted that adequate environmental safeguards have been incorporated in the EC norms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coral regeneration measures and shoreline protection were mandated to prevent erosion and protect biodiversity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project was conducted using one-season data, which was defended by the government.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The tribunal observed that no part of the project area falls within Coastal Regulation Zone-IA (CRZ-IA).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project has faced opposition from local Scheduled Tribes such as the Nicobarese and Shompen over land rights issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While environmental clearance has been upheld by the NGT, forest clearance issues are under challenge before the Calcutta High Court.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#ffcfb37d\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2014)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the \u2018Ten Degree Channel\u2019?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) Andaman and Nicobar <br>(b) Nicobar and Sumatra <br>(c) Maldives and Lakshadweep <br>(d) Sumatra and Java<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-14 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#1500ff\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/congress-says-ngt-clearing-great-nicobar-project-is-deeply-disappointing\/article70638963.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/congress-says-ngt-clearing-great-nicobar-project-is-deeply-disappointing\/article70638963.ece<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-15 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Consider the following pairs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>S.no<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Scheme<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Primary Objective<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1.<\/td><td>AMRUT<\/td><td>Universal rural electrification<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2.<\/td><td>Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0<\/td><td>Garbage-free cities and solid waste management<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3.<\/td><td>Smart Cities Mission<\/td><td>Technology-driven urban development and smart governance<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4.<\/td><td>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)<\/td><td>Improvement of water supply and sewerage infrastructure<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the pairs given above is\/are correctly matched?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-17 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1, 2 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 1 and 4 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-19 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 2 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-21 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-22 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-23 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>Cities of debt<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-24 wp-block-paragraph\">ULBs need more administrative capacity before they can tap the market<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-25\">\n<li>\u200b\u200bThe government\u2019s updated \u2018Urban Challenge Fund\u2019 has rendered the attention of urban local bodies (ULB) an even more precious resource as they struggle to complete unfinished work under other schemes, including AMRUT, Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, \u2018Smart Cities\u2019, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which also suffer from chronic underutilisation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-26 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-27\">\n<li>AMRUT was launched in 2015 by the <strong>Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The mission aims to improve basic <strong>urban infrastructure such as water supply and sewerage systems. Hence pair 1 is incorrect<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AMRUT focuses on cities with a population of more than one lakh.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AMRUT 2.0 aims to provide universal water supply coverage and improve sewerage management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-28 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission \u2013 Urban (SBM-U 2.0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-29\">\n<li>SBM-Urban 2.0 was launched in 2021 to achieve <strong>garbage-free cities. Hence pair 2 is correct<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The mission focuses on scientific solid waste management and source segregation of waste.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sustaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status is one of its objectives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It includes plastic waste management and landfill remediation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-30 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Smart Cities Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-31\">\n<li>Smart Cities Mission was launched in 2015 to improve <strong>urban quality of life through smart solutions. Hence pair 3 is correct<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It promotes area-based development such as retrofitting and redevelopment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pan-city solutions using ICT-based governance are a key feature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One hundred cities were selected under the mission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-32 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana \u2013 Urban (PMAY-U)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-33\">\n<li>PMAY-Urban aims to achieve <strong>\u201cHousing for All\u201d. Hence pair 4 is incorrect<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It targets Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low Income Groups (LIG), and Middle Income Groups (MIG).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Components include in-situ slum redevelopment and credit-linked subsidy scheme (CLSS).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scheme promotes affordable housing through partnerships and beneficiary-led construction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-34 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#000cff\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/cities-of-debt-on-the-urban-challenge-fund\/article70639119.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/cities-of-debt-on-the-urban-challenge-fund\/article70639119.ece<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-35 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. With reference to the types of volcanic eruptions, consider the following pairs :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>S.No<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Type of Eruption<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Low viscosity lava<\/td><td>Effusive eruption<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Pyroclastic flows<\/td><td>Explosive eruption<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Violent eruption<\/td><td>Effusive eruption<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>Easy gas escape<\/td><td>Explosive eruption<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-36 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-37 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) Only one<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-38 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) Only two<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-39 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Only three<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-40 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) All four<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-41 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) Only two<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-42 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-43 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>The Piton de la Fournaise volcano erupts in the southeast of the French overseas island of La Reunion on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-44 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>MainTypes of Volcanic eruptions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-45 wp-block-paragraph\">Volcanic eruptions are generally classified as either effusive (gentle lava flows) or explosive (violent fragmentation of magma) based on magma viscosity and gas content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Effusive Eruption<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Explosive Eruption<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Magma Type<\/td><td>Basaltic (Mafic)<\/td><td>Andesitic\/Rhyolitic (Felsic)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Viscosity<\/td><td>Low (Runny)<\/td><td>High (Sticky)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Gas Escape<\/td><td>Easy<\/td><td>Trapped<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Energy<\/td><td>Gentle, oozing<\/td><td>Violent, blasting<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hazards<\/td><td>Lava flows<\/td><td>Ash clouds, pyroclastic flows<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-46 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hence only two pairs are correctly matched.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-47 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Main Types of Volcanic Eruptions (Least to Most Explosive)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-48\">\n<li><strong>Icelandic: <\/strong>Fissure eruptions with very thin, runny lava, covering large areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hawaiian: <\/strong>Effusive eruptions of low-viscosity basaltic lava, often producing lava fountains and flows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strombolian:<\/strong> Moderate bursts of expanding gases that eject clots of incandescent lava, forming cinder cones.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vulcanian: <\/strong>Moderate to violent explosions, ejecting ash, blocks, and bombs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pelean (or Pel\u00e9an):<\/strong> Characterized by large, fast-moving pyroclastic flows caused by the collapse of a lava dome.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plinian: <\/strong>The most explosive type, involving sustained, violent ejection of gas and ash, creating massive eruption columns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-49 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Other Eruption Classifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-50\">\n<li><strong>Phreatic: <\/strong>Steam-driven explosions caused by hot rock interacting with water, with no new magma involved.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Phreatomagmatic: <\/strong>Direct interaction between magma and water (e.g., Surtseyan), producing fine ash.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Submarine\/Subglacial: <\/strong>Eruptions occurring underwater or under ice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-51 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Piton de la Fournaise Volcano:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-52\">\n<li>Piton de la Fournaise (&#8216;Peak of the Furnace&#8217;) is a <strong>shield volcano on the eastern side of R\u00e9union island,<\/strong> a French overseas department and region, in the Indian Ocean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Piton de la Fournaise is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since 2010, it has been part of the<strong> R\u00e9union National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As of February 17, 2026, the volcano is currently in a state of active eruption, marking its <strong>second eruptive event of the year.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#ffcfb37d\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2024)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following :<\/strong> <br><br>1. Pyroclastic debris <br>2. Ash and dust <br>3. Nitrogen compounds <br>4. Sulphur compounds <br><br><strong>How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) Only one <br>(b) Only two <br>(c) Only three <br><strong>(d) All four<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-53 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#000cff\"><strong>Source: The Hindu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-54 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Consider the following statements with respect to the UPI One World Wallet Service:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-55\">\n<li>It allows international travellers to make UPI payments in India without an Indian bank account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The service requires foreign travellers to have an Indian mobile number.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It has a maximum limit of \u20b925,000 per transaction.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-56 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-57 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-58 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 1 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-59 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 2 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-60 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) 1, 2 and 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-61 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-62 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-63 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS:<\/strong> NPCI extends \u2018UPI One World\u2019 wallet service to visitors from 40 countries to AI Summit<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-64 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2018UPI One World\u2019 wallet service:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-65\">\n<li>The UPI One World wallet is<strong> a digital prepaid payment instrument (PPI) launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) <\/strong>for international travellers and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) visiting India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It enables foreign travellers to <strong>make real\u2011time Person\u2011to\u2011Merchant (P2M) UPI payments across India without requiring an Indian bank account or an Indian mobile number. Hence statement 1 is correct and 2 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Users can pay merchants by scanning UPI QR codes, just like Indian residents do, using the \u201cMade in India\u201d UPI digital payment system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u2018UPI One World\u2019 wallet service is available to visitors and delegates from over<strong> 40 countries <\/strong>attending the AI summit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visitors can register via authorised prepaid payment instrument (PPI) issuers, such as through the CheqUPI app by Transcorp downloaded from the Play Store\/App Store.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They complete a simple KYC process (passport, visa details, selfie).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After setup, a unique UPI ID is generated, and users can load money using international debit\/credit cards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each load is capped at a certain limit per transaction and per month under RBI\/foreign\u2011exchange norms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transaction Limits:<\/strong><ul><li>Max per transaction: \u20b925,000. <strong>Hence statement 3 is correct.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Monthly cap: \u20b950,000.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any unused balance can be refunded to the original payment source when the trip ends.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This pilot showcases India\u2019s digital payment infrastructure and makes cashless payments easier for global visitors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It aims to reduce dependence on cash and simplify foreign travellers\u2019 spending in India during major events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#ffcfb37d\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2017)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Which of the following is a most likely consequence of implementing the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)?<\/strong> <br><br><strong>(a) Mobile wallets will not be necessary for online payments.<\/strong> <br>(b) Digital currency will totally replace the physical currency in about two decades. <br>(c) FDI inflows will drastically increase. <br>(d) Direct transfer of subsidies to poor people will become very effective.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-66 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#3a00ff\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/Industry\/npci-extends-upi-one-world-wallet-service-to-visitors-from-40-countries-to-ai-summit\/article70639061.ece#google_vignette\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/Industry\/npci-extends-upi-one-world-wallet-service-to-visitors-from-40-countries-to-ai-summit\/article70639061.ece#google_vignette<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-67 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. The Andromeda Galaxy was recently in the news because:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-68 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) It was observed undergoing a supernova explosion before forming a neutron star<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-69 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) It collapsed directly into a black hole without a supernova explosion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-70 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) It formed a new planetary system similar to the Solar System<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-71 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) It was the first exoplanet detected outside the Milky Way<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-72 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) It collapsed directly into a black hole without a supernova explosion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-73 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-74 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>Scientists capture clearest evidence yet of star collapsing into black hole<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-75\">\n<li>Scientists observed a massive star in the <strong>Andromeda Galaxy<\/strong> collapsing directly into a black hole. <strong>Hence option (b) is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The star disappeared without undergoing a typical <strong>supernova explosion<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The phenomenon is known as <strong>direct collapse<\/strong>, where a massive star turns into a black hole without a visible explosive event.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The event was identified using archival infrared data from NASA\u2019s <strong>NEOWISE telescope<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The star showed gradual infrared brightening for about three years before fading and disappearing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The collapse left behind a shell of dust, indicating stellar material ejection without a supernova.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Andromeda Galaxy is located approximately <strong>2.5 million light-years<\/strong> away from Earth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The findings were published in the journal <strong>Science (February 2026)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Direct collapse events provide rare observational evidence for alternative black hole formation pathways.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-76 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Andromeda Galaxy:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-77\">\n<li>The Andromeda Galaxy is the <strong>nearest large spiral galaxy<\/strong> to the Milky Way.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is also known as <strong>Messier 31 (M31)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Located about <strong>2.5 million light-years<\/strong> from Earth. Visible to the naked eye under dark sky conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Part of the <strong>Local Group of galaxies<\/strong>, which includes:<ul><li>Milky Way<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Triangulum Galaxy (M33)<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Several dwarf galaxies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Andromeda is slightly <strong>larger than the Milky Way<\/strong> and contains hundreds of billions of stars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is moving toward the Milky Way and is expected to <strong>collide\/merge<\/strong> with it in about 4\u20135 billion years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#ffcfb37d\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2015)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. The term &#8216;Goldilocks Zone&#8217; is often seen news in the context of<\/strong> <br><br>(a) the limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth <br>(b) regions inside the Earth where shale gas is available <br><strong>(c) search for the Earth-like planets in outer space<\/strong> <br>(d) search for meteorites containing precious metals<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-78 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#2a00ff\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/science-technology\/scientists-capture-clearest-evidence-yet-of-star-collapsing-into-black-hole\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/science-technology\/scientists-capture-clearest-evidence-yet-of-star-collapsing-into-black-hole<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-79 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. Which of the following government initiatives are related to promoting circular economy in agriculture and allied sectors?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-80 wp-block-paragraph\">1. GOBARdhan Scheme<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-81 wp-block-paragraph\">2. Crop Residue Management (CRM)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-82 wp-block-paragraph\">3. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-83 wp-block-paragraph\">4. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-84 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Select the correct answer using the code given below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-85 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 and 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-86 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 1, 2 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-87 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 2, 3 and 4 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-88 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-89 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-90 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-91 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>Circular Economy in Agriculture: Waste to Wealth<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-92 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Government Initiatives Driving Circular Agriculture:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-93\">\n<li>Circular agriculture promotes converting agricultural and allied sector waste into valuable resources such as energy, organic manure, and bio-inputs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The \u201cwaste-to-wealth\u201d approach focuses on resource recovery, reuse, recycling, and value addition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Circular agriculture aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 related to food security and sustainable agriculture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-94 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. GOBARdhan (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-95\">\n<li>GOBARdhan aims to convert cattle dung, crop residues, and food waste into compressed biogas (CBG) and organic manure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Unified GOBARdhan Portal was launched to improve transparency and monitoring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compressed biogas (CBG) under the scheme has been included in carbon credit trading mechanisms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ICAR has developed crop-specific guidelines for using biogas slurry to improve soil health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-96 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Crop Residue Management (CRM)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-97\">\n<li>CRM promotes both in-situ and ex-situ management of crop residues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In-situ management includes incorporating residues directly into soil or using them as mulch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ex-situ management involves using residues for composting, bioenergy, or biogas production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) provide farmers access to crop residue management machinery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-98 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-99\">\n<li>AIF was launched in 2020-21 to provide medium to long-term credit for post-harvest infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beneficiaries include FPOs, PACS, agri-entrepreneurs, and organic farmers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Infrastructure supported includes warehouses, cold storage, sorting and grading units, and processing centres.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-100 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-101\">\n<li>AHIDF was launched under Atmanirbhar Bharat with a corpus of \u20b915,000 crore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It promotes investments in dairy processing, animal feed manufacturing, and waste-to-wealth initiatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scheme encourages converting livestock waste into organic fertilizers and biogas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-102 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Jal Shakti Mission &amp; Water Reuse<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-103\">\n<li>The Ministry of Jal Shakti promotes reuse of treated wastewater for agriculture, landscaping, and horticulture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jal Shakti initiatives include watershed development, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide functional household tap water connections supplying 55 LPCD of drinking water in rural areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-104 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hence all the statements are correct.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#ffcfb37d\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2025)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following statements:<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Statement I:<\/strong> Circular economy reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases.\u00a0\u00a0 <br><strong>Statement II:<\/strong> Circular economy reduces the use of raw materials as inputs.\u00a0\u00a0 <br><strong>Statement III:<\/strong> Circular economy reduces wastage in the production process.\u00a0\u00a0 <br><br><strong>Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?<\/strong> <br><br><strong>(a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 <br>(b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I\u00a0\u00a0 <br>(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I\u00a0\u00a0 <br>(d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-105 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#1100ff\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2228963&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2228963&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-106 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. How many of the following are the features of&nbsp; Bhirrana, one of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) sites?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-107 wp-block-paragraph\">1. Subterranean dwelling pits<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-108 wp-block-paragraph\">2. Evidence of bead manufacturing<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-109 wp-block-paragraph\">3. Planned streets and early drainage systems<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-110 wp-block-paragraph\">4. Hakra Ware pottery<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-111 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Select the correct answer using the code given below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-112 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) Only one<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-113 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) Only two<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-114 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Only three<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-115 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) All four<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-116 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (d) All four<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-117 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-118 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>Indus Valley Civilisation May Date Back 8,000 Years<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-119\">\n<li>The Indus Valley Civilisation may be far older than previously thought, with cultural layers dating back to ~8000 years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This evidence comes from <strong>Bhirrana<\/strong>, one of the earliest Indus\u2011related archaeological sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This could reshape understanding of the evolution of urban societies in South Asia relative to other early civilisations like ancient Egypt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-120 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bhirrana:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-121\">\n<li>Bhirrana, located in <strong>Haryana\u2019s Fatehabad district along the dried-up Sarasvati River<\/strong>, is a critical Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated site, recognized as the oldest (&gt;7500 BCE) Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) site, <strong>predating Mehrgarh.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is excavated by the ASI under the direction of L.S. Rao, revealing a 4.20-meter-thick deposit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cultural Sequence:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Period I-A (Hakra Ware Culture): Features <strong>subterranean dwelling pits<\/strong>, <strong>Hakra pottery<\/strong>, beads, copper bangles, and bone points. <strong>Hence 1 and 4 are correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Period I-B (Early Harappan): Characterized by mud-brick houses (ratio 1:2:3), Kalibangan-I pottery, and a four-foil shaped seal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"464\" height=\"363\" src=\"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-20.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-20.png 464w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-20-300x235.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-122 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Finds:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>&#8220;Dancing Girl&#8221; Graffiti:<\/strong> A pottery shard with a drawing similar to the famous bronze statue from Mohenjo-daro.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Early evidence of <strong>bead manufacturing, copper\/bronze tools, and advanced, fired bricks. Hence 2 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evidence of <strong>planned streets and early drainage systems. Hence 3 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The site provides evidence of, indigenous evolution from the Hakra culture to the mature Harappan phase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#ffcfb37d\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2013)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Which of the following characterizes\/ characterize the people of Indus Civilization?<\/strong> <br><br>1. They possessed great palaces and temples.<br>2. They worshipped both male and female deities. <br>3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare. <br><br><strong>Select the correct statement\/ statements using the codes given below.<\/strong> <br><br>(a) 1 and 2 only <br><strong>(b) 2 only<\/strong> <br>(c) 1, 2 and 3 <br>(d) None of the statements given above is correct<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-123 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#3300ff\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/rest-of-world\/8000-year-old-indus-valley-civilisation-could-be-older-than-the-first-egyptian-pharaohs\/articleshow\/128337748.cms#:~:text=The%20research%20suggests%20the%20Indus,stretch%20back%20around%208%2C000%20years\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/rest-of-world\/8000-year-old-indus-valley-civilisation-could-be-older-than-the-first-egyptian-pharaohs\/articleshow\/128337748.cms#:~:text=The%20research%20suggests%20the%20Indus,stretch%20back%20around%208%2C000%20years<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-124 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>8. Consider the following statements with reference to the K\u20119 Vajra-T howitzer:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-125 wp-block-paragraph\">I. It is manufactured in India with technology transfer from South Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-126 wp-block-paragraph\">II. It can operate in diverse terrains, including deserts and high-altitude areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-127 wp-block-paragraph\">III. It can engage targets up to about 40\u202fkm with standard ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-128 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above are correct?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-129 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) I and II only\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-130 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) II and III only\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-131 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) I and III only\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-132 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) I, II and III\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-133 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (d) I, II and III<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-134 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-135 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>K-9 Vajra tanks showcase their artillery capabilities during the \u2018Vajra Ghaat\u2019 exercise, conducted by the Southern Command&#8217;s White Tiger Division in the Pokhran Field Firing Range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-136 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>k-9 vajra Tanks:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-137\">\n<li>The K9 Vajra-T is a 155 mm\/52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer customized by Larsen &amp; Toubro for the Indian Army<strong> from the South Korean K9 Thunder. Hence statement I is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is designed for long-range, high-accuracy precision fire in diverse terrains, <strong>including deserts and high-altitude areas. Hence statement II is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Following successful deployment of the first 100 units, India ordered additional units in 2024, enhancing the army&#8217;s firepower and mobility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is capable of engaging targets <strong>up to ~40 km with standard and specialized ammunition. Hence statement III is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It features a <strong>semi-automatic feeding system<\/strong>, capable of a 3-round burst in 30 seconds or 15 rounds in 3 minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is equipped with a 1,000 HP engine, achieving speeds up to 67 km\/h with a 480 km operating range.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is engineered to operate effectively in sub-zero temperatures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The K\u20119 Vajra provides mobile artillery support that can keep pace with mechanised armoured formations, something towed artillery cannot do effectively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its mobility and firepower make it a crucial component for modern artillery doctrine, enhancing India\u2019s ability to conduct deep fires and rapid manoeuvre.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-21.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-21.png 768w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-21-300x195.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#ffcfb37d\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2025)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. With reference to India\u2019s defence, consider the following pairs:<\/strong> <br><strong>Aircraft Type<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>Description<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 <br>I. Dornier-228\u00a0\u00a0&#8211;  Maritime patrol aircraft\u00a0\u00a0 <br>II. IL-76\u00a0\u00a0&#8211;  Supersonic combat aircraft\u00a0\u00a0 <br>III. C-17 Globemaster III\u00a0\u00a0 &#8211; Military transport aircraft\u00a0\u00a0 <br><br><strong>How many of the pairs are correctly matched?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) Only one\u00a0\u00a0 <br><strong>(b) Only two <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<br>(c) All three\u00a0\u00a0<br>(d) None<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-138 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#2701ff\"><strong>Source: The Hindu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-139 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9. Consider the following statements regarding applications of drones in India:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-140 wp-block-paragraph\">1. Drones are used for land and property surveys under the SVAMITVA Scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-141 wp-block-paragraph\">2. Drones assist in precision agriculture including spraying fertilisers and pesticides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-142 wp-block-paragraph\">3. Drones are used for infrastructure monitoring such as highways and railway tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-143 wp-block-paragraph\">4. Drones help in disaster management through aerial surveillance and real-time assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-144 wp-block-paragraph\">5. Drones are used for delivery of medicines and healthcare logistics in remote areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-145 wp-block-paragraph\">6. Drones are used for security surveillance and crowd monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-146 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How many of the statements given above are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-147 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) Only three<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-148 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) Only four<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-149 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Only five<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-150 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) All six<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-151 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (d) All six<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-152 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-153 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>India\u2019s Drone Ecosystem &#8211; From Policy to Public Service Transformation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-154 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>India\u2019s Drone Ecosystem:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-155\">\n<li>India has developed a regulated drone ecosystem supported by policy reforms and digital governance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As of February 2026, more than <strong>38,500 drones<\/strong> have been registered with Unique Identification Numbers (UIN).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Around <strong>39,890 DGCA-certified remote pilots<\/strong> are operational in India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The DGCA has approved <strong>244 Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-156 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Policy and Regulatory Framework<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-157\">\n<li>The <strong>Drone Rules, 2021<\/strong> simplified procedures and reduced regulatory barriers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Application forms were reduced from <strong>25 to 5<\/strong>, and approval requirements reduced from <strong>72 to 4<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nearly <strong>90% of Indian airspace<\/strong> has been designated as Green Zone allowing flights up to 400 feet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Civilian drone operations are permitted for drones weighing up to <strong>500 kg<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Traditional pilot licence requirements were replaced with Remote Pilot Certificates issued by DGCA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Digital Sky Platform<\/strong> provides a single-window system for drone operations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regulatory services such as registration and certification have migrated to the <strong>eGCA platform<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-158 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Applications of Drones in India:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-159\">\n<li>Drones are used for <strong>precision agriculture<\/strong> including crop monitoring and pesticide spraying.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones support <strong>PMFBY crop damage assessment<\/strong> and yield estimation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones enable <strong>SVAMITVA land surveys<\/strong> for property mapping and issuing property cards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones assist in <strong>infrastructure monitoring<\/strong> such as highways, bridges, and railway tracks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones help in <strong>disaster management<\/strong> through real-time aerial surveillance and rescue coordination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones are deployed for <strong>border surveillance and defence reconnaissance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones assist law enforcement in <strong>crowd monitoring and traffic management<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones are used in <strong>railway security surveillance<\/strong> by the Railway Protection Force (RPF).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones support <strong>environmental monitoring<\/strong>, including forest cover and wildlife tracking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones enable <strong>urban planning and smart city mapping<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones assist in <strong>mining inspection and monitoring illegal activities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones are used for <strong>delivery of medicines and healthcare logistics<\/strong> in remote areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones help in <strong>powerline inspection and energy infrastructure monitoring<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones support <strong>aerial photography, surveying, and geospatial mapping<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drones enhance <strong>coastal security and maritime surveillance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-160 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hence all the statements are correct.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#ffcfb37d\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2020)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following activities:<\/strong> <br><br>1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field <br>2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes<br>3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis <br><br><strong>At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) 1 and 2 only <br>(b) 2 and 3 only <br>(c) 1 and 3 only <br><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-161 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0400ff\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2228954&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2228954&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-162 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>10. Consider the following statements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-163 wp-block-paragraph\">1. There are no parables in Upanishads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-164 wp-block-paragraph\">2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-165 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-166 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-167 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-168 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Both 1 and 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-169 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) Neither 1 nor 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-170 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) 2 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-171 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-172\">\n<li>The <strong>Upanishads frequently use parables<\/strong>, allegories, and illustrative stories to explain complex philosophical concepts like Atman and Brahman.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Famous examples include the parable of the &#8220;Two Birds&#8221; (Mundaka Upanishad), the story of Nachiketa and Yama (Katha Upanishad), and the dialogue of Svetaketu (Chandogya Upanishad). <strong>Hence statement 1 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chronologically, the principal Upanishads were composed during the<strong> Late Vedic period <\/strong>(c. 800\u2013400 BCE).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In contrast, the Puranas were compiled and reached their current form much later, primarily between the<strong> 3rd and 16th centuries CE.<\/strong> <strong>Hence statement 1 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With reference to the Great Nicobar Island Mega Project, consider the following statements: 1. The project includes development of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,68,71,41,25,26,33,11,42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-daily-current-affairs","category-good-morning-test","category-gs-1","category-gs-2","category-gs-3","category-gs-4","category-prelims","category-prelims-current-affairs-gmt"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3662"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3667,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3662\/revisions\/3667"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}