Daily Current Affairs Quiz 15th February 2026 Check Important Questions Here

Practice Current Affairs Quiz to stay updated with national, international, economic, and banking news. This quiz is based on the previous day’s current affairs and is designed to boost your exam readiness, improve speed and accuracy, strengthen memory, and build confidence for competitive exams and interviews.

Q1. With reference to the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), approved by the Union Cabinet in February 2026, consider the following statements:

1. It provides ₹1 lakh crore as Central Assistance.
2. At least 50% of project financing must come from market sources.
3. The Fund will be operational from FY 2025–26 to FY 2027-28.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(e) 1 and 3 only

Answer: b

Solution:

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the launch of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) with a total Central Assistance of ₹1 lakh crore. Hence 1 statement is correct.
• The Central Assistance will cover 25% of the project cost, provided that at least 50% of the project cost is mobilized from market sources. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The Fund is expected to generate a total investment of about ₹4 lakh crore in the urban sector over the next five years.
• The UCF will encourage market financing, private sector participation, and citizen-centric reforms to deliver high-quality urban infrastructure.
• The main objective of the Fund is to build resilient, productive, inclusive, and climate-responsive cities, making them key drivers of economic growth.
• The Fund will be operational from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31, with a possible extension up to FY 2033–34. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
• It implements the Union Budget 2025–26 vision related to Cities as Growth Hubs, Creative Redevelopment of Cities, and Water and Sanitation.
• At least 50% of project financing must come from market sources such as municipal bonds, bank loans, and Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs), while the rest may be contributed by States, UTs, ULBs, or other sources.
• Projects will be selected through a transparent, competitive, challenge-based process, focusing on high-impact and reform-oriented proposals.
• The Fund emphasizes reforms in urban governance, financial systems, operational efficiency, and urban planning.
• Private sector participation will be promoted through risk-sharing mechanisms and service delivery benchmarks.
• A ₹5,000 crore corpus has been created to improve the creditworthiness of 4,223 cities, including Tier-II and Tier-III cities, especially for first-time access to market finance.
• The Fund aims to position Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as bankable asset classes in the financial market.

Q2. In February 2025, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) signed an agreement with Synergy Quantum India Pvt. Ltd. to develop an automated tool aimed at strengthening cybersecurity. What is the primary objective of this collaboration?

(a) Developing new quantum computers
(b) Building satellite-based encryption systems
(c) Detecting quantum-vulnerable cryptographic algorithms
(d) Launching a national cyber insurance scheme
(e) Establishing new telecom infrastructure

Answer: c

Solution:

• In February 2025, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the telecom R&D body under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), signed an agreement with Synergy Quantum India Pvt. Ltd.
• The collaboration aims to strengthen India’s cybersecurity against emerging threats from quantum computing.
• The two organizations will jointly develop an automated tool to detect, classify, and report cryptographic algorithms that are vulnerable to quantum attacks.
• The primary objective is to create a system that can scan devices and identify the cryptographic algorithms and security mechanisms they use.
• The tool will detect all security vulnerabilities and clearly differentiate between quantum-safe and quantum-vulnerable algorithms.

Q3. The International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS 2026), organised under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, was held on 13–14 February 2026 at which of the following locations?

(a) IIT Delhi
(b) IISc Bengaluru
(c) IIT Bombay
(d) NIT Trichy
(e) Anna University

Answer: b

Solution:

• The International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS) 2026 is being held from 13–14 February 2026 at the J.N. Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
• The conference is organised under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II & III.
• It is jointly organised by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD&GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, and the Water Resources Department, Government of Karnataka.
• The event is conducted in collaboration with the Central Water Commission (CWC), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and the World Bank.
• ICDS 2026 serves as a global platform for sharing experiences, research developments, case studies, and best practices in dam safety governance and management.
• The conference brings together engineers, regulators, academicians, and industry experts to discuss emerging challenges, harmonised safety standards, and international cooperation.
• Representatives from 12 countries participated: India, Austria, Australia, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Canada, Zambia, Zimbabwe, France, Japan, Philippines, and the United States.

Q4. The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) celebrated its 18th Foundation Day on 13 February 2026 with a theme focused on strengthening official statistics to support India’s long-term development vision. What was the official theme of the celebration?

(a) Data for Development: Statistics for All
(b) Strengthening Statistical Systems for Digital India
(c) Reimagining Capacity Building for Official Statistics to achieve vision of Viksit Bharat@2047
(d) Transforming Data Governance for Atmanirbhar Bharat
(e) Statistics for Inclusive Growth and Sustainability

Answer: c

Solution:

• The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) celebrated its 18th Foundation Day on 13 February 2026.
• The event was held at the Mahalanobis Auditorium, NSSTA, Knowledge Park-II, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
• The theme for the 2026 celebration was “Reimagining Capacity Building for Official Statistics to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.”
• The occasion highlighted NSSTA’s journey as a premier Central Training Institute for strengthening India’s official statistical system.
• NSSTA focuses on developing a skilled, ethical, and future-ready statistical workforce.
• It also aims to improve the quality, timeliness, and credibility of official statistics in the country.
• The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) was established on 13 February 2009.

Q5. On 13 February 2026, the Prime Minister announced a revised target under the Lakhpati Didi initiative. What is the new target set to be achieved by March 2029?

(a) 4 crore Lakhpati Didis
(b) 5 crore Lakhpati Didis
(c) 10 crore Lakhpati Didis
(d) 6 crore Lakhpati Didis
(e) 8 crore Lakhpati Didis

Answer: d

Solution:

• On 13 February 2026, the Prime Minister announced a new target of 6 crore Lakhpati Didis to be achieved by March 2029.
• This new goal doubles the earlier scale and ambition of the programme.
• The government has already crossed the milestone of 3 crore Lakhpati Didis.
• This achievement was reached more than a year ahead of the original target of March 2027.