Category: Current Affairs

Geopolitics & World News (Questions 1-12)

Q1. On 21 February 2026, the Indian government stated it is studying the implications of a new U.S. global tariff measure. What is the temporary import surcharge rate now applicable to Indian goods entering the U.S.?
A) 18%
B) 15%
C) 10%
D) 5%
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down earlier country-specific tariffs, President Trump imposed a temporary 10% ad valorem surcharge effective 24 February 2026 for 150 days. India’s rate dropped from the previous 18% level under the interim trade agreement.

Q2. Which U.S.-led initiative for resilient supply chains in electronics, AI, and critical minerals did India formally join, as reported on 21 February 2026?
A) Quad Critical Minerals Forum
B) Pax Silica
C) Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
D) Minerals Security Partnership
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: India became a signatory to the Pax Silica initiative (along with Australia, Japan, South Korea, UAE, UK etc.) to counter non-market practices and diversify supply chains.

Q3. India assumed the Chairmanship of which multilateral naval forum for the 2026-28 term during the 9th Conclave of Navy Chiefs held in Visakhapatnam?
A) MILAN
B) ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus
C) Quad Maritime Dialogue
D) Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi took over as Chairman of IONS from the Royal Thai Navy.

Geopolitics & World News Involving India (Questions 1–10)

Q1. On 20 February 2026, India signed an agreement to join which U.S.-led coalition aimed at building resilient supply chains for critical minerals, electronics and AI?
A) Quad Critical Minerals Forum
B) Pax Silica
C) Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Supply Chain Pillar
D) Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Pax Silica (signed by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw with U.S. Under Secretary Jacob Helberg at the AI Impact Summit) counters China’s dominance in rare earth refining and economic coercion. Members include US, Canada, Japan, South Korea and EU.

Q2. What is the primary objective of Pax Silica as stated by U.S. Under Secretary Jacob Helberg on 20 Feb 2026?
A) Military alliance against China
B) Joint space exploration programme
C) Reclaiming sovereignty over economic security and rejecting “weaponised dependency”
D) Global climate finance mechanism
Correct Answer: C.

Q3. At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 (concluding phase on 20 Feb), Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced which initiative involving three new subsea cable corridors to make India a global AI hub?
A) India Stack 2.0
B) Indo-Pacific Cable Initiative
C) Digital Silk Road
D) America-India Connect (AIC)
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: AIC includes India–South Africa, India–Singapore and India–Australia corridors with Visakhapatnam as the third international landing station; part of Google’s $15 billion India AI plan.

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.

Geopolitics (Questions 1-10)

Q1 On February 14, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the Munich Security Conference. What was the key message he conveyed regarding U.S.-Europe relations?
A) The end of the transatlantic alliance
B) The U.S. and Europe belong together despite tensions
C) Withdrawal from NATO
D) Increased tariffs on European goods
Answer: B. The U.S. and Europe belong together despite tensions
Explanation: Rubio reassured European allies that the Trump administration supports the transatlantic partnership, countering recent frictions like the Greenland dispute.

Q2 Which country deployed a second aircraft carrier to West Asia amid tensions with Iran on February 14, 2026?
A) Russia
B) China
C) United States
D) India
Answer: C. United States
Explanation: President Trump confirmed the deployment as part of potential military action against Iran if diplomatic talks fail.

Q3 What priority issues did Bangladesh’s incoming BNP government highlight regarding India on February 14, 2026?
A) Border killings, Ganga waters treaty, and Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India
B) Trade tariffs
C) Military alliances
D) Nuclear cooperation
Answer: A. Border killings, Ganga waters treaty, and Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India
Explanation: BNP sources emphasized these as key deliverables for improving bilateral relations post-election victory.

Geopolitics (Questions 1-5)

1. At the Munich Security Conference on February 13, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to become what?
A) A military superpower
B) A geopolitical power
C) An economic union
D) A cultural hub
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Macron emphasized Europe’s need to assert itself as a geopolitical power, including reassessing its nuclear deterrent against Russia.

2. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, en route to the Munich Security Conference, described the current global situation as entering a what?
A) Time of alliances
B) Period of economic recovery
C) New era in geopolitics
D) Phase of isolationism
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Rubio warned allies of changes due to a “new era in geopolitics,” requiring reassessment of roles.

3. During the Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized U.S. President Trump’s approach to what?
A) Transatlantic alliance
B) Climate change
C) Trade tariffs
D) Immigration policy
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Merz appealed for a stronger Europe to confront Russia while working with the U.S., amid Trump’s threats on NATO and Greenland.

Geopolitics (Questions 1-8)

Q1. Which U.S. President met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 12, 2026, to discuss potential strikes on Iran’s nuclear and missile facilities?
A) Joe Biden
B) Donald Trump
C) Barack Obama
D) George W. Bush
Correct Answer: B. Donald Trump
Explanation: The meeting focused on Iran’s ballistic missile program, with Netanyahu pushing for U.S. action amid threats of regional war.

Q2. On February 12, 2026, NATO announced the launch of which mission to counter Russian and Chinese ambitions in the Arctic?
A) Arctic Shield
B) Northern Guard
C) Arctic Sentry
D) Polar Defense
Correct Answer: C. Arctic Sentry
Explanation: The mission responds to geopolitical competition in the high North, including Trump’s threat to annex Greenland.

Q3. Which country’s acting president toured an oil facility with the U.S. Energy Secretary on February 12, 2026, signaling warming ties post-Maduro ouster?
A) Iran
B) Russia
C) Saudi Arabia
D) Venezuela
Correct Answer: D. Venezuela
Explanation: Delcy Rodriguez and the U.S. official visited amid efforts to stabilize oil production in Venezuela.

Geopolitics

Q1. Which country did the U.S. affirm its commitment to in response to rising European security concerns on February 10, 2026?
A) Russia
B) Ukraine
C) NATO allies
D) Iran
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Reports highlighted the U.S. affirming commitment to NATO amid high regional tensions with Iran and Russia.

Q2. What initiative was highlighted as a U.S.-led effort to secure global silicon supply chains on February 10, 2026?
A) Pax Americana
B) Pax Silica
C) Silicon Alliance
D) Tech Shield
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Pax Silica aims to cut reliance on China in tech competition, involving several countries but excluding the EU and Canada.

Q3. On February 10, 2026, what was reported about Iran’s nuclear facility in Isfahan?
A) It was opened for inspections
B) It was dismantled
C) All access points were sealed
D) It received international funding
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Iran sealed the facility, preparing for potential U.S. attacks amid ongoing nuclear diplomacy.