Indian Polity (Questions 1-5)

1. The Election Commission of India on 18 February 2026 announced biennial elections to fill how many Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant in April 2026 across 10 states?
(A) 27
(B) 37
(C) 47
(D) 57
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: The vacancies arise as terms of 37 members end in April 2026; polling is scheduled for 16 March 2026 with notification on 26 February.

2. Polling for the 37 Rajya Sabha seats announced on 18 February 2026 is scheduled on:
(A) 5 March
(B) 10 March
(C) 16 March
(D) 26 February
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Voting will be held on 16 March with counting the same day; the process concludes by 20 March.

3. The last date for filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections announced on 18 February 2026 is:
(A) 26 February
(B) 5 March
(C) 6 March
(D) 16 March
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Scrutiny is on 6 March as per the schedule released by ECI on 18 February.

Geopolitics & World News (Q1–10)

Q1. On 17 February 2026, who led the US delegation for the second round of indirect nuclear talks with Iranian officials in Geneva?
A) Mike Pompeo and John Bolton
B) Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff
C) Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan
D) Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: President Trump’s trusted envoys—son-in-law Jared Kushner and real-estate developer Steve Witkoff—held the talks focusing on Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. Iran’s Foreign Minister termed the discussions as making “good progress”.

Q2. On the same day in Geneva, the US delegation also engaged which two parties for Ukraine peace negotiations?
A) China and North Korea
B) Germany and Poland
C) Russian and Ukrainian leaders
D) Turkey and Qatar
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: After the Iran track, Kushner and Witkoff sat with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in a separate trilateral format to broker a peace deal.

Q3. Who was sworn in as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 17 February 2026, five days after parliamentary elections?
A) Sheikh Hasina
B) Muhammad Yunus
C) Tarique Rahman
D) Khaleda Zia
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman took oath along with a 49-member council of ministers administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin in Dhaka.

Indian Polity & Judiciary (1–9)

Q1. On 16 February 2026, the Supreme Court referred a batch of petitions to a Constitution Bench concerning which provision of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023?
A) Section 8(1)(j) of RTI Act (original)
B) Section 44(3) of DPDP Act (amending RTI)
C) Section 23 of DPDP Act
D) Section 12 of RTI Act
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Section 44(3) imposes a blanket exemption on disclosure of “personal information” under RTI, even in larger public interest, which petitioners argue dismantles the right to know and transparency.

Q2. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 16 February 2026 cleared the ?92,000 crore Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project, citing its:
A) Purely economic benefits
B) Complete absence of ecological concerns
C) Strategic importance and adequate safeguards in EC conditions
D) Only tourism potential
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: NGT disposed of challenges, directed strict compliance with 2022 EC conditions (coral reefs, leatherback turtles, ICRZ), and noted a High-Powered Committee had addressed earlier issues.

Q3. Which project did the Union Cabinet/CCEA approve on/around 16 February 2026 as India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel?
A) Under Ganga near Patna
B) 33.7 km twin-tube under Brahmaputra (Gohpur–Numaligarh, Assam)
C) Under Hooghly in Kolkata
D) Under Godavari in Andhra Pradesh
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Cost ? ?18,662 crore; 15.79 km twin-tube section; reduces travel time from ~6 hours to 20 minutes; fully funded by Centre.

Geopolitics (Questions 1-10)

Q1. According to the Geopolitics Markets Brief on February 15, 2026, what is the probability of US strikes on Iran by June 30?
A) 30%
B) 44%
C) 50%
D) 68%
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: The brief highlighted US-Iran tensions with a 44% probability and high trading volume.

Q2. Which Venezuelan leader’s capture influenced leadership markets, boosting Delcy Rodríguez to 68% as per February 15 reports?
A) Hugo Chavez
B) Diosdado Cabello
C) Juan Guaido
D) Nicolas Maduro
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Post-Maduro capture, markets shifted toward Rodríguez amid oil discussions.

Q3. At the Munich Security Conference on February 15, 2026, what dominated US lawmakers’ talks with allies?
A) Climate change
B) Greenland sovereignty
C) Ukraine aid
D) Trade tariffs
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Trump’s threats to seize Greenland strained US-Europe ties.