Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Daily Quiz — February 9, 2026
Question 1 of 10
The Malaysia-India Digital Council (MIDC) was formally established during the operationalisation of which bilateral framework?
MIDC was formally established as part of the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, operationalised during PM Modi's visit to Kuala Lumpur on February 7-8, 2026, when 11 MoUs and cooperation documents were signed. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was originally established in August 2024.
💡 Concept Note
Malaysia is India's 3rd largest ASEAN trading partner, with bilateral trade at approximately USD 18.6 billion (2024-25). India and Malaysia also hold three bilateral military exercises: Harimau Shakti (Army), Samudra Lakshmana (Navy), and Udara Shakti (Air Force). Malaysia welcomed India's 2026 BRICS Chairmanship during the visit.
Question 2 of 10
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which Malaysia acceded to in February 2026, was founded at whose initiative and in which year?
IBCA was founded in 2023 at India's initiative. It covers 7 big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, puma, and jaguar. Malaysia's critically endangered Malayan tiger has fewer than 200 individuals remaining in the wild. IBCA extends India's conservation leadership globally.
💡 Concept Note
India has been at the forefront of big cat conservation. Project Tiger (1973) helped the Indian tiger population recover from around 1,800 to 3,167 (2022 census). Project Cheetah (2022) reintroduced African cheetahs at Kuno National Park. The IBCA aims to coordinate conservation efforts across all range countries for all 7 big cat species.
Question 3 of 10
Under which US law can sanctions be imposed on countries making significant defence purchases from Russia, and in which year was it enacted?
CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) was enacted in 2017. India's S-400 Triumf air defence system purchase (USD 5.5 billion, contracted 2018) triggered CAATSA applicability, but the US has issued waivers to India given the strategic partnership. CAATSA targets Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
💡 Concept Note
India is in a strategic bind: approximately 60% of its active military inventory is of Russian/Soviet origin (Su-30 MKI, T-90 Bhishma, S-400). India-Russia total trade reached USD 68.72 billion in 2024-25, predominantly driven by discounted crude oil imports worth USD 63.84 billion. India has been diversifying defence imports towards the USA, France, and Israel.
Question 4 of 10
What is the doubled collateral-free loan limit for MSMEs announced by RBI in February 2026?
RBI doubled the collateral-free loan limit for MSMEs from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, with amended directions issued on February 9, 2026, effective from April 1, 2026. The Rs 10 lakh limit had been in place since 2010. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra described it as indexation for inflation. Banks may further relax collateral for loans up to Rs 25 lakh for MSEs with satisfactory repayment records.
💡 Concept Note
MSMEs contribute approximately 30% of India's GDP and over 45% of exports. The collateral-free loan enhancement applies under CGTMSE (Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises), which provides guarantees to banks. The February 2026 MPC meeting also included extension of bank finance to REITs and the launch of Mission SAKSHAM for urban cooperative banks.
Question 5 of 10
Mission SAKSHAM, launched by RBI, targets capacity building in which type of banking institution?
Mission SAKSHAM (Sahakari Bank Kshamta Nirman) was launched for Urban Cooperative Banks with approximately 1.40 lakh participants. It provides training in regional languages and aims for sector-wide capacity building and certification to strengthen governance and operational efficiency in UCBs.
💡 Concept Note
Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) are regulated by RBI under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. They number around 1,500 across India and serve urban and semi-urban populations, particularly small traders and middle-income groups. UCBs have historically faced governance challenges, and SAKSHAM aims to professionalise their management.
Question 6 of 10
The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses targets production of which three crops by 2030-31?
The mission targets Tur (Pigeon Pea/Arhar), Urad (Black Gram), and Masoor (Red Lentil) — the three crops accounting for the majority of India's pulse imports and highest price volatility. The mission (Rs 11,440 crore outlay, 2025-26 to 2030-31) targets production of 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31 on an expanded area of 310 lakh hectares.
💡 Concept Note
India is the world's largest producer AND consumer of pulses (~25% of global production) yet imports 47.38 lakh tonnes (2023-24) due to a demand-supply gap. Pulses are nitrogen-fixing crops (via Rhizobium bacteria) that enrich soil and reduce fertiliser requirements. NAFED and NCCF are the two procurement agencies responsible for 100% assured MSP procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor under this mission.
Question 7 of 10
The SATHI Portal, associated with the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, stands for:
SATHI stands for Seed Authentication, Traceability and Holistic Inventory. It is an automated seed life-cycle management platform that tracks seed from production to certification, licensing, inventory, and distribution to dealers and farmers — ensuring quality, authenticity, and full traceability to prevent sub-standard seed sale.
💡 Concept Note
Seed quality is a critical bottleneck in pulse productivity. The mission also includes distribution of 88 lakh free seed kits to farmers, creation of 1,000 processing units to reduce post-harvest losses, and 100% assured MSP procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor for 4 years under PM-AASHA (PM Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan).
Question 8 of 10
The National Large Solar Telescope (NLST), announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, is planned to be located near which water body?
The National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) is located near Pangong Lake in Ladakh, specifically at Merak village at an altitude of approximately 4,200 metres on the southern shore of Pangong Lake. The Department of Space was allocated Rs 13,416.20 crore in Union Budget 2026-27. Finance Minister Sitharaman announced plans to set up or upgrade four telescope infrastructure facilities for astronomy and astrophysics.
💡 Concept Note
High-altitude locations like Ladakh offer superior astronomical seeing conditions (less atmospheric disturbance, low humidity). India already operates the Indian Astronomical Observatory at Hanle, Ladakh — one of the world's highest optical telescope sites at 4,500 metres. The nodal agency for NLST is the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, in collaboration with ISRO, TIFR, and IUCAA.
Question 9 of 10
The Thwaites Glacier, often called the Doomsday Glacier, drains into which sea?
The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica drains into the Amundsen Sea. It is approximately the size of Florida and is classified as one of 16 global climate tipping elements. Full destabilisation could contribute up to 65 cm of global sea-level rise. Its collapse would also destabilise neighbouring glaciers, potentially raising sea levels by up to 3 metres.
💡 Concept Note
Climate tipping elements are parts of the Earth system that, if pushed past a threshold, undergo self-sustaining change. The 16 identified tipping elements include the Amazon rainforest dieback, Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) disruption, and Arctic summer sea ice loss, alongside the West Antarctic Ice Sheet destabilisation.
Question 10 of 10
The first NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) is located in which city, and where was a second one announced in Budget 2026-27?
The first NIMHANS is in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Union Budget 2026-27 announced a second NIMHANS for north India. Existing institutions at Ranchi (Central Institute of Psychiatry) and Tezpur (LGBRIMH — Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health) are also to be upgraded.
💡 Concept Note
NIMHANS is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), functioning as a national centre for mental health education, research, and patient care. The Economic Survey 2025-26 flagged rising digital addiction and screen-related mental health problems among children, contextualising the increased focus on mental health infrastructure.