Geopolitics & World News (1–10)
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.
Q4. During bilateral talks in Mumbai on 17 February 2026, India and France discussed procurement of how many Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government deal?
A) 36
B) 114
C) 83
D) 126
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: The long-pending proposal for 114 Rafale jets was cleared just before French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit.
Q5. What key bilateral initiative was launched by PM Modi and President Macron on 17 February 2026?
A) India-France Year of Tourism
B) Indo-French Green Hydrogen Alliance
C) India-France Defence Industrial Corridor
D) India-France Year of Innovation
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Macron attended the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation after the Mumbai talks and before the AI Impact Summit in Delhi.
Q6. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning on 17 February 2026 regarding a US warship in the Gulf. What was the warning?
A) It would be boarded
B) It could be sunk
C) It would face sanctions
D) It would be denied passage
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: The remark came amid the ongoing second round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva and Iranian maritime drills.
Q7. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated on 17 February 2026 at the Global Economic Cooperation Summit that:
A) Economics will always trump politics
B) India will pursue only bilateral deals
C) Multilateralism is dead
D) Political and strategic considerations will overshadow economic ones
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: He described the current global period as possibly “the most turbulent in living memory”.
Q8. Rev. Jesse Jackson, the iconic US civil rights leader, passed away at the age of:
A) 78
B) 84
C) 91
D) 76
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: News of his death at 84 featured prominently in global headlines on 17 February 2026.
Q9. A major TTP suicide attack on 16–17 February 2026 in Pakistan’s Bajaur district killed how many security personnel and a child?
A) 5 security personnel
B) 3 security personnel
C) 11 security personnel + 1 child
D) 22 security personnel
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: An explosive-laden vehicle rammed a joint checkpost; TTP (termed Khwarij by Pakistan) claimed responsibility.
Q10. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, ahead of his visit to the AI Impact Summit, praised India’s contribution to the UN as being of:
A) Enormous importance
B) Marginal importance
C) Declining relevance
D) Only economic value
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: He highlighted the “positive mega trend” of enhanced roles for developing economies like India.
Indian Polity & Governance (11–19)
Q11. On 17 February 2026, a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that political leaders and high constitutional functionaries must:
A) Prioritise electoral gains
B) Avoid public statements
C) Remain neutral on social media
D) Foster fraternity and live up to constitutional morality
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: The court was hearing a petition on statements stigmatising communities.
Q12. Four AAP MLAs—Gopal Italia, Chaitar Vasava, Hemant Khava and Sudhir Vaghani—raised slogans on the second day of the Gujarat Assembly Budget session demanding:
A) Resignation of the Speaker
B) Live-streaming of House proceedings
C) Immediate tabling of the budget
D) Discussion on farm laws
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: They argued it was essential to prevent “killing of democracy”.
Q13. The Karnataka High Court on 17 February 2026 quashed a criminal defamation case filed by the BJP state unit against:
A) Rahul Gandhi
B) Mallikarjun Kharge
C) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
D) Arvind Kejriwal
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: The case related to alleged defamatory advertisements during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.
Q14. Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal stated on 17 February 2026 that J&K statehood would be restored:
A) Immediately
B) Soon through a due process
C) After delimitation only
D) Never
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: CM Omar Abdullah welcomed the assurance.
Q15. Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra appeared before the Maharashtra Legislative Council privileges committee on 17 February 2026 regarding remarks against:
A) Uddhav Thackeray
B) CM Devendra Fadnavis
C) Deputy CM Eknath Shinde
D) Ajit Pawar
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: The hearing was adjourned to March 10 as the main complainant was absent.
Q16. Nine senior engineers were arrested by Rajasthan ACB on 17 February 2026 in a corruption case involving the Jal Jeevan Mission worth:
A) ?468 crore
B) ?960 crore
C) ?225 crore
D) ?1,200 crore
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Raids were conducted across multiple districts including Jaipur, Barmer and Udaipur.
Q17. Bihar government signed MoUs worth ?468 crore on 17 February 2026 that will create how many new tech jobs and establish an AI research park at which institute?
A) 5,000 jobs at IIT BHU
B) 10,000 jobs at IIT Patna
C) 15,000 jobs at NIT Patna
D) 8,000 jobs at IIM Ahmedabad
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: This marks Bihar’s biggest AI leap.
Q18. 51 Kuki students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Ukhrul district, Manipur, were evacuated on the night of 16 February 2026 and shifted to Kangpokpi due to tensions between which two communities?
A) Meitei-Kuki
B) Kuki-Zo
C) Naga-Meitei
D) Kuki-Naga
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: The move followed an assault case and community clash; board exam centres were also relocated.
Q19. Over 1,000 anganwadi teachers and helpers in Tamil Nadu continued their protest on the 15th consecutive day on 17 February 2026 demanding:
A) Higher DA
B) Transfer to other departments
C) Pension benefits only
D) Regularisation of services
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: They are currently on temporary basis with salaries of ?15,000 (teachers) and ?6,000 (helpers).
Sports – Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 (20–25)
Q20. On Day 11 (17 February 2026) of the Winter Olympics, who won gold in the Men’s Freeski Big Air final (event delayed due to weather)?
A) Mac Forehand (USA)
B) Tormod Frostad (Norway)
C) Alex Hall (USA)
D) Henrik Harlaut (Sweden)
Correct Answer: B.
Q21. Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro claimed his second gold of the Games in which event on 17 February 2026?
A) Biathlon Sprint
B) Cross-Country 15km
C) Alpine Super-G
D) Nordic Combined Individual Gundersen Large Hill/10km
Correct Answer: D.
Q22. Which country upset pre-race favourite Norway to win gold in the Men’s Biathlon 4×7.5 km Relay on 17 February 2026?
A) Germany
B) Sweden
C) France
D) Italy
Correct Answer: C.
Q23. Canada defended its Beijing 2022 title by winning gold in which speed-skating event on 17 February 2026?
A) Men’s Team Pursuit
B) Women’s Team Pursuit
C) 500m Individual
D) Mass Start
Correct Answer: B.
Q24. In the Women’s Figure Skating Short Program, Japan occupied the top two spots while USA’s Alysa Liu (who had retired earlier) stood at which position?
A) 1st
B) 5th
C) 3rd
D) 13th
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Liu staged an emotional comeback and remains in medal contention ahead of the free skate.
Education, Arts, Culture & Miscellaneous Current Affairs (25–27)
Q25. Was the annular solar eclipse of 17 February 2026 visible in India?
A) Fully visible across northern India
B) Partial in southern states only
C) Visible only in Andaman & Nicobar
D) Not visible anywhere in India
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: The path of annularity passed over Antarctica; hence no Sutak Kaal was observed in India and normal activities continued.
Q26. At the AI Impact Summit in Delhi on 17 February 2026, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the addition of how many more GPUs in the coming week (beyond the existing 38,000)?
A) 5,000
B) 10,000
C) 20,000
D) 50,000
Correct Answer: C.
Q27. Bihar’s ?468 crore AI initiative includes establishment of a landmark research park at:
A) IIT Patna
B) IIT Bombay
C) IIT Delhi
D) IISc Bengaluru
Correct Answer: A.
