Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 10 February, 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
10 February, 2026

International Affairs

1. India–Malaysia IMPACT Framework

Source: Mint

Why in News?

During his visit to Malaysia, the Prime Minister of India articulated IMPACT as the guiding framework for India–Malaysia relations while addressing the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur.

What is the IMPACT Framework?

IMPACT stands for India–Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation.

It is a strategic vision to deepen bilateral cooperation by aligning:

• Economic growth
• Digital integration
• Cultural–civilisational ties
• People-centric development

Aims of the Framework

• Accelerate the pace and scale of bilateral cooperation
• Deliver tangible outcomes for citizens of both countries
• Position India–Malaysia ties as a driver of Asia’s collective growth

Key Pillars of IMPACT

1. Economic & Technology Cooperation

2. Digital Connectivity

3. People-to-People & Diaspora Linkages

4. Cultural & Civilisational Bonds

5. Strategic & Regional Outlook

2. USGBC LEED List 2025

Why in News?

In February 2026, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) released the Annual List of 10 Countries and Regions for LEED in 2025 (outside the USA).

India climbed to 2nd position, while Mainland China topped the list.

What is LEED?

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a globally recognised green building certification system that evaluates buildings on sustainability parameters such as:

• Energy efficiency
• Water conservation
• Sustainable site development
• Material selection
• Indoor environmental quality

Key Highlights of the 2025 Ranking

Top Countries (Outside USA)

1. China (Mainland China)
   • 1st Position
   • 26,645,737 Gross Square Meters (GSM)
   • 1,939 projects
2. India
   • 2nd Position (up from 3rd in 2024)
   • 16,111,512 GSM
   • 611 projects
3. Canada
   • 3rd Position
   • 8,450,146 GSM
   • 288 projects
4. South Korea (Republic of Korea)
   • 3,879,192 GSM
   • 100 projects
5. Mexico
   • 3,294,953 GSM
   • 144 projects
6. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
   • 3,158,950 GSM
   • 96 projects
7. Brazil
   • 2,933,631 GSM
   • 171 projects
8. Vietnam
   • 2,602,797 GSM
   • 100 projects
   • Debuted in Top 10
9. Sweden
   • 2,564,921 GSM
   • 183 projects
10. United Arab Emirates

• 2,251,714 GSM
• 174 projects

National Affairs

1. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Focus after TREESCAPES 2026 Congress

Why in News?

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) gained prominence at the TREESCAPES 2026 Congress (New Delhi), which highlighted agroforestry’s role in climate resilience. This coincided with the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – State of Finance for Nature 2026 report, warning of a large global investment gap in nature-positive actions.

What are Nature-based Solutions (NbS)?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):

• NbS are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems
• They address societal challenges such as:
  • Climate change
  • Food and water security
  • Disaster risk reduction
• Core feature:
  • Simultaneous benefits for human well-being and biodiversity

Key Data & Global Significance

• Climate mitigation:
  NbS can deliver up to 37% of cost-effective CO₂ mitigation needed by 2030 to keep warming below 2°C.
• Economic value:
  Mangroves avert $57 billion annually in global flood damages, protecting 18+ million people.
• Finance gap:
  For every $1 invested in nature, nearly $30 is spent on nature-negative activities (UNEP, 2026).
• Investment need:
  NbS funding must triple to $571 billion/year by 2030.
• India’s status:
  India ranks 9th globally in forest area; forest & tree cover = ~25.17% of geographical area.

Why NbS are Critical for India

1. Climate Change Mitigation

• Forests, wetlands, and soils act as carbon sinks.
• Example: Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (2025) → 262.4 crore saplings, strengthening India’s carbon sink.

2. Disaster Risk Reduction

• Ecosystems buffer extreme events.
• Example: MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) protects coastal Odisha & West Bengal from cyclonic surges.

3. Water Security

• Restored watersheds enhance groundwater recharge.
• Example: Jakkur Lake rejuvenation (Bengaluru) improved water tables and reduced floods.

4. Sustainable Livelihoods

• NbS generate jobs in:
  • Eco-tourism
  • Sustainable forestry
  • Organic agriculture
• Example: MGNREGS increasingly funds natural resource management.

5. Food Security & Agroforestry

• Trees on farms improve:
  • Soil fertility
  • Crop resilience
• TREESCAPES 2026 insight:
  Agroforestry contributes ~20% of India’s national carbon stocks, supporting marginal farmers.

2. Seven Chakras of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026

Source: PIB

Context:

India is hosting the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI summit in the Global South, with participation from 100+ countries.
The summit is guided by Three Sutras: People, Planet, Progress, and operationalised through Seven Chakras.

India–AI Impact Summit 2026

• Held from 16–20 February 2026 in New Delhi
• Organised under the IndiaAI Mission of the Government of India
• Venue: Bharat Mandapam
• First major global AI summit hosted by a Global South country
• Focus shifts from AI discussion to AI implementation and real-world impact

What are the Seven Chakras?

• The Seven Chakras are thematic Working Groups.
• They convert high-level AI principles into:
  • Policy frameworks
  • Governance norms
  • Implementation pathways
• Objective:
  • Enable responsible, inclusive, and development-oriented AI at a global scale, especially for developing countries.

Seven Chakras of AI

Chakra	Focus Area	Key Significance
1. Human Capital	Workforce transition, reskilling & upskilling	Prevents job displacement shocks; positions India as a global AI talent hub
2. Inclusion for Social Empowerment	Women, farmers, informal workers, PwDs, linguistic minorities	Ensures equity in AI systems; prevents elite-centric adoption
3. Safe & Trusted AI	Transparency, accountability, bias mitigation	Builds public trust; protects democracy, privacy & fundamental rights
4. Science	Health, climate, energy, agriculture	Accelerates innovation; reduces Global North–South research divide
5. Resilience, Innovation & Efficiency	Energy-efficient AI, sustainable compute infrastructure	Aligns AI growth with climate commitments; reduces carbon footprint
6. Democratising AI Resources	Access to data, compute & models	Bridges digital divide; supports startups & academia
7. AI for Economic Development & Social Good	Agriculture, healthcare, education, justice delivery, productivity	Converts AI capability into development outcomes

3. India–Greece Sign Joint Declaration of Intent on Defence Cooperation

Source: The Indian Express

Why in News?

India and Greece have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) to strengthen defence and defence-industrial cooperation, signalling deeper strategic engagement between the two countries.

What was agreed?

• India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on defence cooperation.
• The agreement aims to:
  • Deepen defence industrial collaboration
  • Enhance military-to-military engagement
  • Promote long-term strategic cooperation
• The JDI provides a framework for a five-year roadmap for defence industrial ties.

Key Areas of Cooperation

1. Defence Industrial Collaboration: India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and Greece’s Agenda 2030 defence modernisation plan

2. Military Cooperation: Exchange of a Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan (BMCP) for 2026

3. Maritime Security Cooperation: Greece to post an International Liaison Officer at India’s
Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram.

4. Government Forms Expert Groups to Upgrade Project Tiger

Source: The New Indian Express

Why in News?

The Union Government has constituted four expert working groups to review and modernise Project Tiger, marking 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of India’s flagship wildlife conservation programme.

What is Project Tiger?

Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at conserving tigers and their habitats through a scientifically designed core–buffer approach.

• Launched: 1973
• Significance: One of the earliest large-scale species conservation programmes in the world

Institutional Framework

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• Implementing Authority:National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
  • Statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

5. PM Internship Scheme

Source: BS

Why in News:

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has proposed changes to the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) to improve participation and effectiveness, including easing the age limit and internship duration.

What changes are being proposed?

• The MCA has submitted a note to the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) proposing:
  • Reduction in age limit for eligibility
  • Shortening of internship duration
• Rationale:
  • Make the scheme more attractive and accessible
  • Address issues identified during the pilot (dry run) phase
• The government intends to test these changes during the pilot stage before full-scale rollout.

About the PM Internship Scheme (PMIS)

• Announced in Union Budget, July 2024
• Objective:
  • Provide internship opportunities to 1 crore (10 million) youth
  • Over five years
  • Across top 500 companies
• Aim:
  • Enhance employability
  • Bridge gap between education and industry
  • Promote corporate participation in skilling

Banking/Finance

1. RBI Directs Banks to Offer Collateral-Free Loans up to ₹20 Lakh to MSMEs

Source: Mint

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India has issued revised directions asking banks not to insist on collateral security for loans up to ₹20 lakh to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), enhancing access to formal credit.

What has the RBI decided?

• RBI directed banks to:
  • Extend collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh to all Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) units.
  • Provide collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh to units financed under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
• The decision was notified through:
  • Lending to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector (Amendment) Directions, 2026

Additional Flexibility for Banks

• Banks may:
  • Increase the collateral-free limit to ₹25 lakh
  • Condition:
    • Good repayment track record
    • Sound financial position of the MSE
    • As per the bank’s internal credit policy
• Banks can also:
  • Avail coverage under Credit Guarantee Schemes, where applicable

Important Clarification by RBI

• Voluntary pledging of:
  • Gold or silver
• For loans within the collateral-free limit:
  • Will NOT be treated as a violation of RBI’s directions
• This ensures:
  • Borrower flexibility
  • No coercive collateralisation by banks

Coverage under PMEGP

• PMEGP is administered by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
• RBI mandated:
  • Universal collateral-free lending up to ₹20 lakh for all PMEGP-financed units

2. RBI Consumer Confidence Survey, January 2026

Source: RBI Consumer Confidence Survey, January 2026

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the results of the January 2026 round of its Bi-monthly Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS).

About Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS)

• Conducted bi-monthly by RBI.
• Measures households’ perceptions about:
  • General economic situation
  • Employment scenario
  • Price levels
  • Own income
  • Spending
• Captures both:
  • Current perceptions (vis-à-vis one year ago)
  • One-year ahead expectations
• Latest round conducted during January 2–11, 2026.
• Covered 5,933 respondents across 19 major cities.

Key Findings:

• According to the Reserve Bank of India’s Consumer Confidence Survey (January 2026), rural consumers remain relatively optimistic, while urban consumers continue to be cautious.
• Urban consumers show negative sentiment regarding:
  • Overall economic situation
  • Employment opportunities
  • Price levels
• Their Consumer Confidence Index remains in the negative zone, with pessimism deepening compared to the previous survey round.

Current Situation Index (CSI)

• January 2026: 98.1
• Previous round: 98.4
• Marginal decline.
• Below 100 → Indicates pessimistic sentiment about present economic conditions.

Future Expectations Index (FEI)

• January 2026: 123.4
• Declined by 2.2 points from previous round.
• Still above 100 → Indicates optimism about future.
• Decline mainly due to weaker expectations regarding:
  • General economic conditions
  • Income
  • Price levels

3. Taxpayers to Continue Using Existing ITR Forms for FY26

Source: BS

Why in News?

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has clarified that taxpayers will continue using existing Income Tax Return (ITR) forms for FY 2025–26, even as new simplified transactional forms and rules are set to be notified by early March 2026.

What is the clarification by CBDT?

• Existing ITR forms will remain applicable for:
  • Income earned in FY26
  • Assessment Year (AY) 2026–27
• Returns filed in July–August 2026 will continue under the current ITR format.
• This addresses concerns about:
  • Transitional overlap
  • System readiness for taxpayers and intermediaries

What is changing from April 1, 2026?

From April 1, 2026, certain transactional and reporting forms will move to the new simplified framework, including:

• TDS statements
• Foreign remittance reporting
• Form 60
• Form 15G / Form 15H
• Forms for lower or nil withholding applications

These changes will apply immediately, even before new ITRs come into effect.

4. EPFO to Appoint New Partner Agencies; Custodian Likely to Change After 15 Years

Source: BS

Why in News:

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has initiated steps to appoint new partner agencies, including a new custodian for its funds, marking the first such change in nearly 15 years.

About EPFO

• Statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• Administers retirement savings schemes such as:
  • Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF)
  • Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS)
  • Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI)
• One of the world’s largest social security organisations.

Role of a Custodian

A custodian:

• Safeguards financial securities (government bonds, equities, etc.).
• Handles settlement of trades.
• Ensures compliance and record maintenance.
• Facilitates smooth investment operations.

Who is the current custodian?

• Standard Chartered Bank is the current custodian of EPFO funds.
• Appointed in November 2011
• Responsible for:
  • Holding
  • Safeguarding
  • Settling transactions of EPFO’s ₹31 trillion corpus

5. RBI Streamlines Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) for FPIs

Source: BS

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has streamlined the Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) by removing the overall investment cap and effectively merging VRR investments with the general investment route.

What has the RBI changed?

• Removed the overall VRR investment cap of ₹2.5 trillion
• Existing VRR investments will:
  • Automatically migrate to the general route from April 1
  • Not require unwinding or fresh approvals
• This eliminates:
  • Parallel investment limits
  • Dual-track regulatory frameworks for FPIs in debt markets

What does this mean for FPIs?

1. Unified Investment Framework

• All foreign investments made earlier under VRR:
  • Government securities
  • Treasury Bills
  • State Development Loans (SDLs)
  • Corporate bonds
• Will now be counted under general route limits

2. Greater Exit Flexibility

• Minimum retention requirement remains
• However:
  • FPIs who voluntarily opted for longer lock-in periods can now:
    • Exit fully or partially
    • After completing the minimum holding period
• Earlier, such investors were compelled to remain invested for the entire extended lock-in.

What is the VRR?

• The Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) is a special investment channel introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2019 to encourage stable, long-term investments by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in India’s debt markets.
• Objective:
  • Attract stable, long-term foreign capital into India’s debt market
• Incentive:
  • Regulatory relaxations in return for:
    • Commitment to retain investments for a specified period
• Earlier features:
  • Minimum retention period: 3 years
  • Mandatory retention: 75% of committed portfolio
  • Overall cap: ₹2.5 trillion
    • Government securities: ₹40,000 crore
    • Corporate debt: ₹35,000 crore

6. SEBI Proposes Sharp Cut in Minimum Investment for Social Impact Funds

Source: ET

Why in News:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed reducing the minimum investment amount for individual investors in Social Impact Funds (SIFs) to ₹1,000, from the existing ₹2 lakh.

What is SEBI proposing?

• Minimum investment by individuals in SIFs:
  • Proposed: ₹1,000
  • Current: ₹2 lakh
• Objective:
  • Enable retail participation
  • Broaden the investor base for social-sector securities
• The proposal is part of SEBI’s consultation framework on expanding access to social finance.

What are Social Impact Funds (SIFs)?

• A category under Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)
• Purpose:
  • Channel capital towards:
    • Non-profit organisations
    • Social enterprises
    • Projects with measurable social outcomes
• Investments typically focus on:
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Livelihoods
  • Financial inclusion
  • Climate and sustainability-linked social projects

Agriculture

1. Nationwide Pulse Self-Reliance Mission

Source: News on Air

Why in News?

On February 7, 2026, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Nationwide Pulse Self-Reliance Mission at the Food Legumes Research Centre (FLRP), Amlaha in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh.

About the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission

The mission has been launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare with the objective to:

• Achieve self-reliance in pulse production.
• Transform India into a global exporter of pulses.
• Strengthen farmer livelihoods and the domestic pulses value chain.

Key Features

1. Cluster-Based Production Model
   • Focused cultivation in identified clusters to increase productivity and efficiency.
2. Establishment of Seed Villages
   • Local production and distribution of high-quality seeds.
   • Ensures availability of improved crop varieties.
3. Establishment of 1,000 Pulse Mills
   • 55 mills to be set up in Madhya Pradesh.
   • Government subsidy up to ₹25 lakh per mill.
   • Encourages local processing, value addition, and employment generation.
4. Strengthening Research–Farmer Linkages
   • Promotes adoption of scientific methods and improved technologies.

Facts To Remember

1. Ajith wins elite men’s 71kg gold with new mark in snatch

N. Ajith created a new snatch record while totalling 320kg to take the elite men’s 71kg gold medal at National weightlifting championships in Modinagar.

2. Manu Bhaker Misses Gold in Shoot-off; Esha Singh Wins 25m Pistol Bronze

Manu Bhaker narrowly missed the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol after losing to Nguyen Thuy Trang in a double shoot-off. Esha Singh secured the bronze medal, her second individual medal of the championship.

3. Moody’s Projects India’s GDP Growth at 6.4% in FY27

Moody’s Ratings has projected India’s GDP growth at 6.4% in FY27, the highest among G-20 economies, highlighting strong domestic fundamentals and banking sector resilience.

4. Zetwerk Electronics Inaugurates New Manufacturing Facility in Bengaluru

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated Zetwerk Electronics’ ₹100 crore advanced manufacturing facility at KIADB Hi-Tech, Bengaluru. The unit will serve defence, aerospace, automotive, IT hardware, medical devices, and telecom sectors, and is equipped with SMT and FATP capabilities; he also launched Qualcomm’s 2nm chip design.

5. Foundation Stone Laid for India’s First Quantum Valley in Amaravati

Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh and AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation for Amaravati Quantum Valley under the National Quantum Mission. The project will host a 133-qubit quantum computer with partners like IBM and TCS, aiming to boost R&D, innovation, and skill development in quantum technologies.

6. Rail Projects and New Train Service Inaugurated in West Bengal

Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually inaugurated the Siuri and Kumarpur Road Over Bridges and flagged off the Asansol–Bokaro train. The projects aim to improve regional connectivity, ease traffic congestion, and strengthen interstate economic links between West Bengal and Jharkhand.

7. ‘iLive Connect’ AI-Powered Home Healthcare Ecosystem Launched

India launched ‘iLive Connect’, a doctor-led AI-powered home healthcare system for continuous remote monitoring. Using certified wearable devices, it tracks vital health parameters and connects patients to a central medical command centre for 24/7 supervision.

8. Transcorp International Gets RBI’s In-Principle Approval for CPS

Transcorp International received RBI’s in-principle approval to participate in Centralized Payment Systems. The authorisation enables RTGS and NEFT access, enhancing its payment infrastructure, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

9. Japan’s Ruling Party Wins Snap Elections

Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party led by PM Sanae Takaichi secured a landmark victory in snap elections. The LDP won 316 seats in the 465-member lower house, achieving a strong majority along with its coalition partners.

10. Anutin Charnvirakul Wins Thailand’s General Election

Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party led by Anutin Charnvirakul won the 2026 general election. The party secured 194 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, emerging as the largest party to form the government.

11. New Marine Worm and Dragonfly Species Discovered

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India discovered two new marine worm species in West Bengal and a new dragonfly species in Kerala. The findings highlight India’s rich biodiversity and ongoing taxonomic research efforts.

12. India Wins SAFF U-19 Women’s Football Championship

India defeated Bangladesh 4–0 to win the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship 2026 in Nepal. The victory marked India’s third title in the tournament’s history.

13. Odisha Governor Releases Two Books by Former AP Governor

Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati released two books authored by Biswabhushan Harichandan. The books highlight Odisha’s historical legacy and reflections on democracy and cultural identity.

14. International Day of the Arabian Leopard – February 10

The International Day of the Arabian Leopard is observed annually on 10 February to promote conservation of the endangered subspecies. The day was officially recognised by the UN General Assembly in 2023.

15. India, UK sign Social Security Agreement for Temporary Employees

India today signed an Agreement on Social Security relating to Social Security Contributions with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in New Delhi.

16. 10.5 lakh govt servants trained under Rashtriya Karmayogi Large Scale Jan Seva Programme

Capacity Building Commission’s Rashtriya Karmayogi Large Scale Jan Seva Programme (Phase-II) concluded.

17. National Conference on Tackling Cyber-Enabled Frauds and Dismantling the Ecosystem inaugurated in New Delhi

Home Minister Amit Shah today inaugurated the National Conference on Tackling Cyber-Enabled Frauds and Dismantling the Ecosystem in New Delhi. 

18. India Showcases Defence Prowess at World Defence Show in Riyadh

India showcased its indigenous defence capabilities at the World Defence Show 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

19. National Medicinal Plants Board to Hold Chintan Shivir in New Delhi Tomorrow

The National Medicinal Plants Board will organise a Chintan Shivir on Medicinal Plants tomorrow to deliberate on key policy, research, and implementation-related issues concerning the medicinal plants sector in the country in New Delhi.

20. NITI Aayog releases 4 study reports on Scenarios towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero

NITI Aayog today released four study reports on Scenarios towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero in New Delhi, focusing on sectoral insights in power, transport, industry, and critical mineral assessment on demand and supply.  

21. India conferred with ‘Country of the Year’ at BIOFACH 2026 in Germany

India has been conferred the prestigious ‘Country of the Year’ honour at BIOFACH 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for organic products, held in Nuremberg, Germany. 

22. Russia supports India’s BRICS Chairship agenda on counter-terrorism and energy security

Russia has said it will actively support India’s chairmanship of BRICS, describing New Delhi’s agenda as modern and highly relevant, with a strong focus on counter-terrorism and energy security.