Daily Current Affairs Quiz
14 February, 2026
National Affairs
1. Henley Passport Index (HPI) February 2026
Source: TH
Why in News?
Henley & Partners released the Henley Passport Index (HPI) – February 2026, ranking passports worldwide based on travel freedom.
About Henley Passport Index (HPI)
- Published by Henley & Partners, a global investment migration consultancy.
- Ranks passports based on number of destinations accessible without prior visa.
- Includes:
- Visa-free travel
- Visa-on-arrival
- Electronic travel authorisation (e-visa)
- Based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Purpose → Measures global mobility and travel freedom of citizens.
India’s Position
- Rank: 75th globally
- Earlier ranks:
- 80th in January 2026
- 85th in 2025
- Visa-free / visa-on-arrival access: 56 destinations
- Shares rank with:
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Gabon
- Madagascar
- Mauritania
Top Countries — HPI 2026
| Rank | Country / Countries | Visa-Free Access |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 destinations |
| 2 | Japan, South Korea | 187 |
| 4 | Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland | 185 |
| 5 | Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal | 184 |
Lowest Ranked Country
- Afghanistan — Rank 101
- Access to only 24 destinations
- Reflects severe global mobility restrictions.
2. Cabinet Approves ₹10,000 Crore Startup India Fund 2.0
Source: TH
Why in News?
The Union Cabinet has approved the second tranche of the Startup India Fund of Funds Scheme (FFS 2.0) with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore to support startups, especially in manufacturing and high-technology sectors.
Key Highlights:
- Corpus: ₹10,000 crore
- Announced in Union Budget 2025–26
- Focus sectors:
- Deep technology
- Advanced manufacturing
- Early-stage innovation
- Breakthrough technologies
- Objective: Provide long-term funding support to innovation-driven startups.
About Fund of Funds Scheme (FFS)
- Launched: 2016 under Startup India initiative.
- Purpose: Catalyse venture capital investment in startups.
- Operating agency: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
- Mechanism:
- Government invests in SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
- AIFs then invest in startups.
- AIFs must invest at least twice the amount received from FFS into startups.
3. Privilege Notice Against Leader of Opposition
Source: News on Air
Why in News?
The Union Government has announced that it will move a Privilege Notice against the Leader of Opposition for allegedly making baseless and misleading statements during the Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha.
What is a Privilege Notice?
- A formal complaint by a Member of Parliament alleging breach of parliamentary privilege or contempt of the House.
- Parliamentary privileges are special rights and immunities that allow MPs to perform their duties without obstruction or intimidation.
Constitutional Basis
- Article 105 — Privileges and immunities of Parliament and MPs.
- Article 194 — Similar provisions for State Legislatures.
- Article 122 — Courts cannot question parliamentary proceedings on procedural grounds.
- Article 105(2) — MPs have immunity for anything said or any vote given in Parliament.
When Can It Be Moved?
- Misleading the House with false information
- Obstructing a member from performing duties
- Defaming Parliament or its members
- Publishing distorted or expunged proceedings
- Any act lowering the authority of the House
The Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha) decides whether to admit the notice.
4. Dal Lake Conservation Plan Revised in Jammu & Kashmir
Source: TH
Why in News?
The Jammu & Kashmir government has shelved the ₹416.72-crore Dal Lake restoration plan and proposed an in-situ conservation strategy, allowing residents to remain within the lake ecosystem.
About Dal Lake
- A famous urban freshwater lake and wetland ecosystem in Srinagar.
- Known as the “Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir.”
- Vital for tourism, fisheries, floating agriculture, and local livelihoods.
Location
- Situated in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir.
- Surrounded by Mughal gardens like Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh.
Origin & Formation
- Part of the Kashmir Valley lacustrine system.
- Formed due to tectonic and glacial processes shaping the Himalayan basin.
- Belongs to a larger interconnected wetland complex.
5. India to Procure Dornier 228 Aircraft for Indian Coast Guard
Source: IE
Why in News?
The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹2,312 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure eight Dornier 228 aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard.
What is the Dornier 228?
- A twin-engine turboprop Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) utility aircraft.
- Used for:
- Maritime patrol
- Border surveillance
- Search and rescue
- Transport and logistics
Manufacturing
- Originally developed by Dornier GmbH (Germany) in the early 1980s.
- Manufactured in India by HAL at Kanpur under licence.
Major Variants
- Dornier 228-100 / 200 — Early passenger variants
- Dornier 228 NG — Upgraded version with glass cockpit
- Hindustan-Dornier 228 — Civilian and military versions by HAL
- Maritime patrol version — Equipped with surveillance systems
- Air ambulance / VIP transport versions
Banking/Finance
1. RBI to Revamp Lead Bank Scheme (LBS)
Source: ET
Why in News?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued draft revised guidelines to overhaul the Lead Bank Scheme (LBS) to improve district-level credit delivery, coordination, and financial inclusion across the country.
Objective of the Revamp
- Enhance effectiveness of the scheme introduced in 1969.
- Strengthen institutional coordination among banks, governments, and development agencies.
- Improve monitoring and delivery of credit at the district level.
- Reduce regional disparities in banking access and lending.
Key Proposed Reforms
- Clearer roles and responsibilities of stakeholders under LBS.
- Strengthening of:
- State Level Bankers’ Committees (SLBCs)
- Lead District Manager (LDM) offices
- Improved data reporting and monitoring mechanisms.
- Stronger institutional framework for district-level planning.
- Greater focus on credit flow to underserved regions.
About the Lead Bank Scheme (LBS)
- Introduced: 1969
- Purpose: Improve financial inclusion and banking development across districts.
- Under the scheme:
- Each district is assigned a Lead Bank.
- The Lead Bank coordinates banking services and credit expansion in that district.
- Focus areas include priority sector lending, financial inclusion, and regional development.
2. RBI Allows Bank Loans for Takeovers of Listed and Unlisted Companies
Source: BS
Why in News?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued final norms permitting banks to finance acquisitions (takeovers) of both listed and unlisted non-financial companies, with safeguards to ensure prudent lending and long-term value creation.
Key Provisions
- Funding cap: Banks can finance up to 75% of the total acquisition value.
- Objective: Support acquisitions that create long-term strategic value, not short-term financial restructuring.
- Loans may also fund acquisitions through:
- Non-financial subsidiaries of the acquirer
- Step-down Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)
Eligibility Criteria for Acquiring Companies
- Minimum net worth: ₹500 crore
- Must have reported net profit in each of the last 3 financial years
- If unlisted → must have investment-grade rating (BBB– or above)
Control and Ownership Rules
- Acquisition must result in control of the target company within 12 months.
- If the acquirer already has control, funding allowed only when ownership crosses key thresholds:
- 26%, 51%, 75%, or 90% voting rights
- Acquirer and target cannot be related parties.
Financial Safeguards
- Acquirer must fund at least 25% from own resources (equity, internal accruals).
- Corporate guarantee from acquirer / parent / group entity is mandatory.
- Post-acquisition debt-to-equity ratio capped at 3:1 (consolidated level).
- For unlisted targets → valuation for financing based on the lower of two independent valuations.
Bridge Financing
- Banks may provide secured bridge loans to meet the 25% own-fund requirement.
- Must be replaced with equity within 12 months from a clear repayment source.
Change from Draft Proposal
- RBI removed earlier proposal that limited a bank’s acquisition finance exposure to 10% of Tier-1 capital.
3. 60% Credit-Deposit Ratio for Rural & Semi-Urban Branches
Source: BS
Why in News?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its draft revised guidelines for the Lead Bank Scheme (LBS), has proposed that banks maintain a 60% credit-deposit (C/D) ratio for rural and semi-urban branches to improve credit flow and financial inclusion.
Key Proposal
- Banks must aim for a 60% C/D ratio in rural and semi-urban areas.
- Requirement is not mandatory at each branch or district level, but banks must avoid large regional disparities.
Monitoring Based on C/D Ratio
- 40%–60%: Monitored by the District Consultative Committee (DCC).
- Below 40% or declining credit: Special DCC sub-committee to create improvement plans.
- Below 20%: Classified as special category districts.
- State governments must improve infrastructure.
- Banks must increase lending.
- Progress closely monitored and reported.
Expansion of Banking Infrastructure
- Banks to prioritise opening core banking solution (CBS)-enabled outlets in Tier-V centres.
- At least 25% of new outlets must be in Tier-V and Tier-VI unbanked rural centres (URCs).
- Focus on unbanked villages with population above 5,000.
- State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) convenor banks must maintain a list of all URCs.
Credit–Deposit Ratio (C/D Ratio)
Credit–Deposit Ratio (CDR) measures how much of the deposits collected by banks are used for lending. It is the percentage of total bank deposits that are given out as loans (credit).
Formula
Credit–Deposit Ratio = {Total Loans (Credit)×100} / Total Deposits
4. RBI Proposes to Allow Bank Loans to REITs from July 1
Source: TOI
Why in News?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued draft regulations proposing to allow banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), with safeguards to manage risk and ensure proper use of funds.
Key Provisions
- Banks may lend only to SEBI-registered REITs.
- Proposed implementation date: July 1.
- Aggregate bank exposure cap:
- Up to 49% of the REIT’s asset value (as of March 31 of the previous financial year).
- Lending must be fully secured (mortgage of identified assets).
- Banks must monitor end-use of funds strictly.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are companies or trusts that own, operate, or finance income-generating real estate and allow investors to earn returns from real estate without directly buying property.
A REIT pools money from many investors and invests it in commercial real estate, such as:
- Office buildings
- Shopping malls
- Warehouses and logistics parks
- Hotels
- Hospitals
- Data centres
5. SEBI Proposes Easing Reporting Norms for Stockbrokers
Source: Mint
Why in News?
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a consultation paper proposing to ease reporting requirements for stockbrokers, especially those that also function as primary dealers, to improve ease of doing business.
Key Proposal
- Relax rules related to naming, tagging, and reporting of bank and demat accounts.
- Extend exemptions already given to brokers that are also banks to brokers that are also primary dealers.
- Aim: Reduce operational burden for entities performing multiple regulated roles.
Background
- SEBI’s Master Circular for Stock Brokers (June 17, 2025) strengthened supervision by requiring:
- Clear nomenclature of bank and demat accounts.
- Mandatory reporting of account opening and closure to stock exchanges.
- However, market institutions flagged operational overlaps for firms with multiple financial functions.
What Will Change?
- Currently, brokers must report all bank and demat accounts.
- Brokers that are also banks only report accounts used for stockbroking.
- Proposed change: Extend the same reporting relief to brokers that are also primary dealers.
Facts To Remember
1. BNP secures landslide victory in Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by chairman Tarique Rahman, is set to return to power in Dhaka after two decades, following a landslide victory in the February 12 parliamentary election, winning an absolute majority of seats, according to the Election Commission of Bangladesh.
2. Tissa Vitarana, Sri Lanka’s LSSP leader, dies at 91
Tissa Vitarana, leader of Sri Lanka’s leftist Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and a key figure in the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) formed in 2006 to develop a political solution to the island’s civil war, died in Colombo early Friday. He was 91.
3. India ends Asian championship on a high, tops table
India topped the standings in commanding fashion in the Asian rifle/pistol championship, securing a total of 94 medals, including 51 gold, 23 silver and 20 bronze, as the event concluded at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.
4. MoES Signs MoU with Puducherry for Marine Cooperation
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) signed an MoU with the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Puducherry, on 12 February 2026 to strengthen marine research, coastal development, and Blue Economy activities in Puducherry.
5. PM Inaugurates Seva Teerth Complex in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Seva Teerth Complex’ in New Delhi on 13 February 2026. The integrated complex will house the Prime Minister’s Office, National Security Council Secretariat, and Cabinet Secretariat, which were earlier located separately, and reflects administrative integration and citizen-centric governance with the motto “Nagrik Devo Bhava”.
6. NITI Aayog Releases 10-Year Roadmap on Technology Services
NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub released a 10-year roadmap titled “Technology Services – Reimagination Ahead” to scale India’s USD 265 billion technology services sector to USD 750–850 billion by 2035. The roadmap highlights priority areas such as Agentic AI, digital infrastructure, innovation-led engineering, and India-for-India solutions, along with large-scale reskilling and R&D investment.
7. Indian Navy Assumes Command of CTF-154 in Bahrain
The Indian Navy assumed command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 under the Combined Maritime Forces during a ceremony in Manama, Bahrain, marking the first time India has led the multinational training task force focused on maritime security, anti-piracy, and capacity building.
8. IIT Bombay Signs MoU with Columbia University for AI in Manufacturing
IIT Bombay signed an MoU with Columbia University to establish the Columbia–IIT Bombay Centre of AI for Manufacturing. The centre will focus on applied AI research in sectors such as semiconductors, robotics, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and infrastructure.
9. MoD Signs ₹2,312 Crore Deal with HAL for Dornier Aircraft
The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,312 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for procurement of eight Dornier 228 aircraft with operational role equipment for the Indian Coast Guard, under the Buy (Indian) category to strengthen maritime surveillance and fleet capacity.
10. NIPL Partners with PayNet for Cross-Border QR Payments
NPCI International Payments Limited signed an agreement with Malaysia’s PayNet to enable cross-border QR-based payments between India and Malaysia, allowing UPI users to pay at DuitNow-enabled merchants and enhancing global UPI acceptance.
11. ICAI Elects CA Prasanna Kumar D as President
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India elected CA Prasanna Kumar D as its 74th President for the 2026–27 term, succeeding CA Charanjot Singh Nanda.
12. RBI Reappoints Sanjay Agarwal as MD & CEO of AU SFB
Reserve Bank of India approved the reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal as MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank for a three-year term effective from April 19, 2026.
13. National Productivity Day 2026 – 12 February
National Productivity Day is observed on 12 February to mark the foundation day of the National Productivity Council, promoting productivity, efficiency, innovation, and MSME competitiveness. National Productivity Week 2026 is observed from 12–18 February with the theme “Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximizing Productivity in MSMEs”.
14. World Radio Day 2026 – 13 February
World Radio Day is observed annually on 13 February, proclaimed by UNESCO and adopted by the UNGA, to highlight the role of radio as a trusted communication medium. The 2026 theme is “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a tool, not a voice”.
15. Rajasthan Budget 2026–27 Presented
Rajasthan Deputy CM and Finance Minister Diya Kumari presented the ₹6.11 lakh crore budget for FY27, focusing on infrastructure, social security, digital transformation, green growth, and agricultural development, with a fiscal deficit of 3.69% of GSDP.
16. Kerala Approves Comprehensive Urban Policy
Kerala became the first Indian state to approve a comprehensive Urban Policy aimed at managing urbanisation, climate resilience, infrastructure development, and inclusive governance, with a long-term vision of climate-smart and sustainable cities by 2050.
