Weekly Current Affairs Test : 8th to 14th February 2026

INS Arnala marks India’s shift from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy” by strengthening indigenous defence capability. It is the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC) built for the Indian Navy. It is the Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and built ASW-SWC. It was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. It was commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command on 18 June 2025. It is named after the historic Arnala Fort near Vasai, Maharashtra.

The National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the beta version of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the eSankhyiki portal. Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a technology that allows users to directly connect datasets with their own Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and applications. It provides a standard method to make official data accessible to Large Language Models (LLMs).

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two new marine worm species, Namalycastis solenotognatha and Nereis dhritiae, from the West Bengal coast. Namalycastis solenotognatha is named from Greek words meaning “channeled jaw,” referring to its unique jaw with many canals. This species survives in extreme, sulfide-rich, foul-smelling mudflats, mainly on decomposing mangrove wood and hardened clay. Nereis dhritiae is named after Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman Director of ZSI. It lives inside wooden dock piles on sandy beaches submerged during high tide.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Bilaspur district initiative “Padhai with Artificial Intelligence (AI)” at Barthin. It is an AI-based digital learning platform for Bilaspur students preparing for competitive examinations. The initiative ensures equal learning opportunities, a fully digital system, and continuous academic counselling. It provides modern, technology-driven quality education with support from National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

Wool is an important fibre for winter clothing, carpets, floor coverings, and industrial products. India has the second-largest sheep population globally with 77.4 million sheep and ranks ninth in wool production. In Financial Year 2023–24, total wool production was 33.69 million kilograms. Rajasthan led with 16,013.50 thousand kg, contributing about 47.5% due to its arid climate and native sheep breeds. Jammu and Kashmir followed with 7,770 thousand kg, known for fine wool from cold-climate sheep. Other major producers were Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh. Punjab recorded the highest annual growth rate in wool production.

Researchers confirmed a new dragonfly species named Lyriothemis keralensis from the low-lying coastal regions of Kerala. It is commonly called the Slender Bombardier and belongs to the genus Lyriothemis. It was identified as a separate species after detailed comparison with its Northeast Indian relative Lyriothemis acigastra. The species has a slender abdomen, uniquely shaped tail, and distinct genital structures. It appears during the monsoon season and disappears as rainfall decreases.

The European Space Agency (ESA) released a high-resolution satellite image through the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission. The image captures the venues planned for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The image highlights land features, terrain, and human-made infrastructure in great detail. The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission is an Earth observation satellite mission developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). It is part of Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth observation programme. The mission focuses on monitoring changes and variability in land surface conditions.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) will launch three new ocean services: Jellyfish Artificial Intelligence Information Platform (JellyAIIP), SAMUDRA 2.0 Mobile Application, and Seamless Information Visualization and Analysis System (SIVAS) along with a new logo. It was established as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is located in Hyderabad, Telangana. It provides ocean information and advisory services through continuous ocean observations and focused research. It runs the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), issuing tsunami alerts within 10 minutes for India and 28 Indian Ocean countries.

Scientists warned that the Thwaites Glacier is melting rapidly due to human-induced climate change. It is a massive glacier in West Antarctica, often called the Doomsday Glacier. The glacier is very wide and fast-flowing, roughly the size of Florida or Great Britain. It is extremely important because it already contributes about 4% to global annual sea-level rise. Studies show it is thinning, retreating, and adding more meltwater to the oceans. If it collapses, it could destabilise the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, causing severe sea-level rise.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) strengthened India–Netherlands cooperation by launching the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme and enabling an academic partnership in green energy. The fellowship is a national capacity-building initiative open to Indian doctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty researchers. It focuses on hydrogen system integration, safety, techno-economic analysis, life-cycle assessment, and indigenisation. DST also hosted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Groningen and 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

A new study shows that glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), widely used in India to detect type-2 diabetes, may not always show the true blood glucose level. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a blood test that tells the average blood sugar level of the last two to three months. The test measures the percentage of red blood cells (RBCs) whose hemoglobin is coated with glucose. This works because glucose sticks to hemoglobin for the full life of RBCs, which is about three months. A high HbA1c value means long-term high blood sugar, indicating diabetes. Diabetes can lead to heart, kidney, and nerve diseases.

India and France are discussing a major deal to procure SCALP cruise missiles after their successful use by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in precision strikes during Operation Sindoor. SCALP, also called Storm Shadow, is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile developed jointly by France and the United Kingdom. It is used by several North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and allied air forces.

Scientists from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Space Applications Centre (SAC) have selected Mons Mouton as the landing site for Chandrayaan-4, India’s first lunar sample return mission. Mons Mouton is a 6,000-metre-high mountain near the Moon’s South Pole with a largely flat peak suitable for safe landing. It lies in the South Circumpolar Region (SCR) and is named after NASA mathematician Melba Roy Mouton. The site is located on the rim of the South Pole–Aitken basin, the Moon’s oldest and largest impact basin. The region receives long-duration sunlight and has clear radio communication with Earth.

India has taken over as Chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) for the year 2026. The Kimberley Process is a global partnership of governments, civil society, and the diamond industry to stop the trade in conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process has 60 participants representing 86 countries and covers over 99% of global rough diamond trade. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) ensures each rough diamond shipment carries a conflict-free certificate in tamper-proof containers.

The Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, known as the Dragon Hole, is a massive underwater sinkhole in the South China Sea studied for over a decade. Blue holes are deep, steep underwater cavities formed in limestone areas and later filled by rising sea levels. Dragon Hole is the deepest known underwater sinkhole in the world at about 301.19 meters, deeper than Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas. It lies around 25 kilometers from Discovery Reef and is called the “eye” of the South China Sea by local fishermen. The hole is almost vertical, with 130 meters width at the surface and 36 meters at the bottom.

In Financial Year 2024–25, PM-SURAJ portal disbursed ₹1,389.61 crore loans to 1.39 lakh entrepreneurs, exceeding its target. PM-SURAJ means Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan portal. It was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The objective is to provide credit support to entrepreneurs from disadvantaged sections. It is a centralized online platform to apply and track loan and credit schemes.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister objected to Karnataka’s proposal to raise the height of Almatti Dam on Upper Krishna River. Almatti Dam is built on Krishna River in Karnataka for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and flood control. It is 52.5 meters high and about 3.5 kilometers long. It has annual power generation capacity of about 713 million kilowatts. It is main reservoir of Upper Krishna Irrigation Project.

Minister of State for Finance informed Rajya Sabha about Public Financial Management System. Public Financial Management System is a web-based online transaction platform for fund management and e-payment to agencies and beneficiaries. It provides end-to-end financial management services as a centralized transaction system. It is developed and implemented by Controller General of Accounts under Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It ensures efficient fund flow and payment-cum-accounting network.

India’s expanding space programme is inspiring young students to join space research activities. Aditya Pandya, a 17-year-old student, became India’s youngest male analog astronaut. He completed a simulated lunar habitat mission under Moon-like conditions. The mission was organised by AAKA Space Studio, a space research and simulation organisation. It was conducted at Dholavira in Gujarat. The mission duration was from 1 February to 8 February 2026. It aimed to simulate isolation and operational challenges similar to real space missions.

Services won the 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy. The final was played at Dhakuakhana Stadium in Assam. Services defeated Kerala by 1–0 in a closely fought match. The winning goal was scored in the 109th minute of extra time. Striker Abhishek Pawar scored from a cross delivered by Shubham Rana. This victory marked Services’ eighth Santosh Trophy title. Services had also defeated Kerala in the 2023–24 season final.

Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) approved diversion of 4.68 hectares forest land from Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary for 111 kilometre six-lane Capital Region Ring Road (CRRR) project. Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Dhenkanal district of Odisha. Forest type is Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forest. Sanctuary supports reptiles and unique species such as pangolins and porcupines.

Indian Air Force (IAF) is conducting joint in-situ air exercise with Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to improve coordination and interoperability. Indian Air Force (IAF) is deploying Su-30MKI, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) and IL-78 mid-air refuelling aircraft. Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is participating with Gripen fighter aircraft. Exercise strengthens Indo-Thai defence cooperation and regional security synergy.

World Unani Day is observed annually on February 11th to commemorate the birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan, an eminent Indian Unani physician, scholar, and social reformer. The theme for World Unani Day 2026 is “Innovation and Evidence in Unani Practice,” highlighting the integration of classical Unani wisdom with modern scientific research. The Ministry of Ayush, through the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), is organizing a two-day national conference in Mumbai on February 14–15, 2026, in hybrid mode.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) launched new Arctic mission named Arctic Sentry to strengthen regional security. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a political and military alliance formed in 1949 after signing the North Atlantic Treaty. It currently has 32 member countries and headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Arctic Sentry is led by Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk). Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk) connects North America and Europe within NATO structure. The main aim is to safeguard member nations, protect territory and maintain Arctic stability.

Idukki Hydroelectric Project in Kerala completed 50 years and Moolamattom power plant generated 115,852.672 Million Units (MU) in five decades. It is built across Periyar River in Idukki district of Kerala. It is the largest hydroelectric project in Kerala. Moolamattom powerhouse is the longest underground power station in India and has the largest pressure shaft.

The Kerala government has launched the Sthree Suraksha Scheme to provide a monthly pension of ₹1,000 to unemployed women and transwomen. The first installment was transferred to 10,18,042 beneficiaries whose applications have been approved so far. Women aged between 35 and 60 years who are economically backward and not receiving any other social welfare pension are eligible for this scheme. Transwomen are also included as beneficiaries under this pension scheme.

India ranks 3rd in Stanford University’s 2025 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Vibrancy Ranking. Data infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and demography are identified as key drivers for AI adoption in India. According to the Stanford Global AI Index Report, AI skill penetration in India is 2.5 times higher than the global average across similar occupations. As per the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) AI Adoption Index, 87% of enterprises in India are actively using AI solutions. The government states that India is among the first group of AI-ready nations, progressing across applications, models, chips, infrastructure, and energy layers.

National Women’s Day in India is observed every year on 13 February to mark the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, known as the “Nightingale of India.” She was a renowned poet, social activist, and a prominent leader in India’s freedom struggle. The Government of India celebrates this day to honour her contribution to women’s empowerment and the national movement. The day promotes gender equality and encourages women to make independent decisions and become leaders in their own lives.

Andhra Pradesh introduced an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based face-recognition attendance system for Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in February 2026. The system was launched on 11 February 2026 at the beginning of the State Budget Session. Andhra Pradesh became the first State Legislature in India to use AI-powered face-recognition technology to mark MLA attendance. Nine AI-enabled cameras have been installed inside the Assembly to record attendance only when members sit in their allotted seats. The main objective is to prevent proxy attendance and ensure real participation in proceedings.

Assam Rifles is planning to induct two indigenous dog breeds, Tangkhul Hui from Manipur and Kombai from Tamil Nadu, to reduce long-term dependence on foreign breeds. Assam Rifles, India’s oldest paramilitary force, operates the Assam Rifles Dog Training Centre (ARDTC) at Jorhat for training service dogs. Tangkhul Hui (Haofa) is a rare indigenous breed from Ukhrul district, Manipur, traditionally reared by the Tangkhul community for hunting. Kombai, also called the Polygar dog, is an indigenous guard breed from Theni district, Tamil Nadu, named after Kombai town.