Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 08 & 09 February, 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
08 & 09 February, 2026

International Affairs

1. Mount Aconcagua

Source: News on Air

Context:

Indian mountaineer Kabak Yano from Arunachal Pradesh successfully summited Mount Aconcagua in Argentina as part of her Seven Summits expedition.

What is Mount Aconcagua?

• Highest mountain in South America
• Highest peak in the Western Hemisphere
• Tallest mountain outside Asia
• Elevation: ~22,831 feet (6,959 metres)
• Part of the Seven Summits (highest peaks on each continent)

Location

• Country: Argentina
• Province: Western Mendoza Province
• Geographical setting:
  • Near the Argentina–Chile border
  • Part of the Southern Andes mountain range

National Affairs

1. Agni-3 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile

Source: News on Air

Context:

India successfully test-fired the Agni-3 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, validating its operational readiness and reliability, according to PIB

What is Agni-3?

Agni-3 is an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) with a strike range of about 3,000 km, forming a critical component of India’s land-based nuclear deterrent under the Agni missile family.

It strengthens India’s ability to deter long-range strategic threats and contributes to credible minimum deterrence.

Developed and Operated By

• Developer: Defence Research and Development Organisation
• Operational Command: Strategic Forces Command

Key Features of Agni-3

Feature	Details
Range	~3,000 km
Category	Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)
Propulsion	Two-stage, solid-fuel
Launch Platform	Road-mobile launcher (canisterised variants tested earlier)
Payload	Conventional or nuclear warhead
Guidance	Advanced inertial navigation system with high accuracy
Operational Status	Successfully validated in 2026 test

2. Dal Lake

Source: TH

What is the news?

The Jammu and Kashmir government has officially abandoned the ₹416.72-crore Dal Lake resettlement project after 17 years, citing only 27% progress since its approval in 2009. The information was shared in the J&K Assembly in response to a question by Tanvir Sadiq.

Dal Lake

• Situated in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
• Lies in the Zabarwan range foothills of the western Himalayas
• Fed by the Telbal Nallah (from Dachigam catchment)
• Nicknamed: “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir”

3. India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme

Source: PIB

Context:

On 6 February 2026, Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme in New Delhi. The launch was led by DST Secretary Abhay Karandikar, under the Ministry of Science & Technology.

DST also hosted the signing of an MoU between the University of Groningen and 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to establish an academic cooperation framework in green energy and hydrogen (H₂) research.

About the Fellowship Programme

A bilateral research fellowship programme aimed at building human capital and advanced research capacity to support the scale-up of green hydrogen technologies in India through collaboration with the Netherlands.

Scheme Launch Details

• Scheme Guidelines & Call for Proposals (CFP) released by DST
• Application process formally opened from the launch date

Who can apply?

The programme is open to:

• Indian PhD scholars
• Post-doctoral researchers
• Faculty members
  across Indian academic and research institutions

3. VOC Port becomes India’s first port to deploy an advanced Anti-Drone System

Source: TH

Context:

In February 2026, V.O. Chidambaranar Port at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, became the first port in India to initiate installation of an advanced Anti-Drone System, significantly strengthening maritime and coastal security.

Key Features of the Anti-Drone Project

Technology & System Design

• Integrated Radio Frequency (RF) and radar-based system
• Components include:
  • Drone detector
  • Drone detection radar
  • Man-pack jammer
• Together form a comprehensive counter-UAS (C-UAS) system

Capabilities

• 360-degree coverage
• Omnidirectional bearing
• Effective range: Up to 5 km
• Enables:
  • Real-time detection
  • Tracking
  • Classification
  • Neutralisation of unauthorised drones

4. NSO launches beta version of ‘MCP Server’ on eSankhyiki Portal

Source: PIB

Context:

In February 2026, the National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), launched the beta version of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server on the eSankhyiki portal.

This initiative allows users to directly connect official government datasets with their own Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and applications.

What is the MCP Server?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server is a data-access interface that enables:

• Machine-readable access to official statistics
• Direct integration of NSO datasets into AI models, analytics tools, and applications
• Secure, standardised, and real-time data consumption

It represents a shift from static data downloads to API-driven, AI-ready statistical infrastructure.

What is eSankhyiki?

eSankhyiki is the official digital data dissemination portal of the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

It provides open, standardised, and machine-readable access to India’s official statistics.

Datasets Available in the Beta Version

The MCP Server currently hosts seven key datasets:

• Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
• Consumer Price Index (CPI)
• Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)
• Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
• National Accounts Statistics (NAS)
• Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
• Environment Statistics

5. Cybersecurity biggest risk for enterprises: Ficci–EY Report

Source: BS

Context:

A joint report by FICCI and EY finds that cybersecurity has emerged as the single biggest risk shaping organisational performance in India’s corporate sector. The findings are based on a survey of senior executives across sectors and reflect how risk perception in enterprises is rapidly evolving.

Key risks identified:

• Cybersecurity breaches – 61%
  • Ranked as the top organisational risk
  • Includes:
    • Data breaches
    • Ransomware
    • Insider fraud
  • No longer an IT issue alone — now a boardroom priority
• Limited adoption of emerging technologies – 59%
  • Slow or inadequate adoption of AI and advanced digital tools
  • Directly impacts:
    • Productivity
    • Operational efficiency
    • Competitive advantage
• AI governance and ethical risks – 54%
  • Executives feel AI-related risks are not effectively managed
  • Concerns include:
    • Bias
    • Lack of transparency
    • Weak governance frameworks
• Potential data theft and insider fraud – 57%
  • Highlights human vulnerability alongside technical threats
  • Insider risk now seen as nearly as serious as external attacks
• Changing customer demands – 49%
  • Rapidly evolving expectations around:
    • Digital experience
    • Personalisation
    • Speed and reliability
• Geopolitical events – 48%
  • Global conflicts, trade disruptions, sanctions
  • Affect:
    • Supply chains
    • Data localisation
    • Cyber threat intensity
• Difficulty tackling sophisticated cyber threats – 47%
  • Organisations struggling to keep pace with:
    • AI-driven cyberattacks
    • Advanced persistent threats (APTs)

Banking/Finance

1. Why borrowings are now biting govts despite RBI rate cuts

Source: IE

Context:

Even as the Reserve Bank of India has cut policy rates, borrowing costs for the Centre and States have risen. Government bond yields are climbing, making debt servicing more expensive.

This shows that fiscal and liquidity dynamics are now overpowering monetary easing.

What is driving higher borrowing costs?

1. Debt overhang effect

• Pandemic-era borrowing sharply raised public debt
• Though debt ratios are declining, they remain well above pre-COVID levels
• Markets now price in:
  • Higher future borrowing
  • Greater refinancing risk

A large stock of debt itself pushes yields up, regardless of repo rate cuts.

2. Liquidity withdrawal

Earlier:

• Strong foreign inflows
• RBI’s forex purchases injected rupee liquidity

Now:

• Capital inflows have weakened
• RBI is selling dollars to stabilise the rupee
• This drains systemic liquidity

Less liquidity + large government borrowing = higher bond yields.

3. Weak monetary transmission

• Repo rate mainly affects short-term money market rates
• Government borrowing depends on long-term G-sec yields
• When liquidity is tight:
  • Rate cuts do not transmit fully
  • Yield curve remains elevated

Monetary easing loses traction in the bond market.

4. Crowding-out pressure

• Governments absorb a large share of domestic savings
• Leaves fewer funds for:
  • Private investment
  • Corporate borrowing

This can raise economy-wide interest rates and dampen growth.

Why does this matter?

Fiscal stress

• Rising interest payments consume a larger share of budgets
• Shrinks space for:
  • Capital expenditure
  • Social sector spending

Growth risk

• Higher yields discourage private investment
• Slows credit-led growth momentum

Policy lesson

• Monetary policy cannot offset fiscal stress indefinitely
• Debt management and liquidity conditions matter as much as repo rates

Way forward

• Gradual but credible fiscal consolidation
• Better coordination between:
  • Debt management
  • Liquidity operations
• Deepening bond markets to absorb borrowing without yield spikes

2. India Signs DPI Cooperation MoUs with 23 Countries

Context:

In February 2026, the Government of India (GoI) signed MoUs/agreements with 23 countries to share and promote India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and components of the India Stack.
This was informed to Parliament by Jitin Prasada, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

What is the initiative about?

India is exporting its DPI model—open, interoperable, population-scale digital systems—to partner countries to strengthen digital governance, financial inclusion, and service delivery.

Key Areas of Cooperation

The MoUs focus on:

• Digital identity
• Digital payments
• Data exchange frameworks
• Public service delivery platforms

Countries that signed DPI MoUs (23)

• Armenia
• Sierra Leone
• Suriname
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Papua New Guinea
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tanzania
• Kenya
• Cuba
• Colombia
• Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Ethiopia
• Jamaica
• Gambia
• Fiji
• Guyana
• Venezuela
• Sri Lanka
• Brazil
• Lesotho
• Maldives
• Mongolia

Global Expansion of UPI

India’s flagship digital payments system, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), is now operational in 8 countries:

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Singapore
• Bhutan
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka
• France
• Mauritius
• Qatar

3. Kotak Mahindra Bank issues India’s first fully digital FPI licence

Source: BS

Context:

In February 2026, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) became the first custodian in India to issue a Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) licence and complete the entire onboarding process digitally using e-signatures.

What is the significance?

This marks a major step in:

• Digitisation of capital market processes
• Ease of doing business for foreign investors
• Faster, paperless regulatory compliance

It reflects India’s shift towards end-to-end digital financial infrastructure.

Key Details of the Digital FPI Process

1. SEBI’s Unified Digital Workflow

• Implemented by Securities and Exchange Board of India in January 2026
• Enables:
  • Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs)
  • Electronic signatures (e-signatures)
• Operates through the FPI Common Application Form (CAF) portal

2. Legal Compliance

• As per SEBI directions:
  • DSCs must be issued by Indian certifying authorities
  • Must comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000

3. Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Milestone

• Issued its first two FPI licences using:
  • Fully digitally signed documents
• Eliminated:
  • Physical paperwork
  • Wet signatures
• Reduced onboarding time and operational friction

4. India shifts to Risk-Based Deposit Insurance Premiums

Source: ET

Context:

From 1 April, India will overhaul its deposit insurance premium framework, moving from a flat-rate system to a risk-based pricing model.
The reform was announced by the Reserve Bank of India and will be implemented by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).

What was the earlier system?

• In place since 1962
• Flat premium rate for all banks, irrespective of risk
• Current rate:
  • 12 paise per ₹100 of assessable deposits
• Advantage:
  • Simple and uniform
• Limitation:
  • Did not differentiate between well-managed and weak banks
  • Created no incentive for prudent risk management

What is changing now?

1. Risk-based premium framework

Banks’ deposit insurance premiums will now depend on:

• Capital adequacy
• Asset quality
• Earnings
• Liquidity
• Supervisory assessment
• Potential loss their failure could impose on the insurance fund

Stronger banks pay lower premiums, riskier banks pay higher premiums.

2. Two risk assessment models

• Tier-1 model
  • For scheduled commercial banks
  • Excludes Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
• Tier-2 model
  • For RRBs and cooperative banks

3. Caps on premium variation

• Risk-based adjustment capped at ±33.33% of the base (“card”) rate
• Prevents:
  • Excessive burden on weaker banks
  • Abrupt shocks to the banking system

4. Vintage incentive

• Additional incentive of up to 25% reduction
• For banks with:
  • Long contribution history
  • No major claim payouts
• Final premium = Card rate ± risk incentive ± vintage incentive

5. Special treatment of certain banks

• Payments banks & local area banks
  • Continue to pay flat card rate
  • Reason: limited data availability
• Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)
  • Under supervisory or corrective action:
    • Brought into new framework only after exiting restrictions

5. RBI issues draft norms for Corporate Bond Index Derivatives & TRS

Source: ET

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued draft guidelines for derivatives trading in:

• Corporate bond indices
• Total Return Swaps (TRS)

These measures were announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget to deepen India’s corporate bond market.

Why this move?

RBI aims to:

• Improve credit risk management
• Enhance liquidity and price discovery
• Facilitate corporate bond issuance across ratings
• Broaden India’s credit risk transfer toolkit

What is a Total Return Swap (TRS)?

A TRS is a derivative where:

• One party receives the total return of a bond (coupon + price movement)
• Without owning the underlying bond
• The provider (typically a bank) holds the bond and receives a fixed or floating payment

Enables synthetic exposure to credit risk.

Key Provisions in the Draft Norms

1. Eligible Participants

• Residents (non-individuals):
  • TRS permitted without restriction on purpose
• Individuals:
  • Not allowed to participate in TRS
• Non-residents:
  • TRS allowed only for hedging

2. Reference / Underlying Assets

Derivatives may reference indices comprising:

• Money market debt instruments
• Rated corporate bonds and debentures
• Unrated bonds/debentures issued by SPVs of infrastructure companies

3. Interest Rate Benchmark

• Floating leg of TRS / index derivatives must be linked to:
  • Benchmarks published by financial benchmark administrators

4. Settlement Norms

• To be specified by Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India (FIMMDA)
• After consultation with market participants

Agriculture

1. What India has conceded on agriculture in the India–US trade framework

Source: IE

Context:

India’s concessions on agriculture under the India–US interim trade framework are selective and calibrated, not a wholesale opening. The strategy reflects a balance between trade diplomacy and domestic political economy of farming.

India has opened non-sensitive segments of agriculture while ring-fencing staple crops and livelihood-critical sectors.

What India has agreed to open

India has committed to reducing or removing tariffs on a limited basket of US agricultural and food products, including:

• Animal feed inputs
  • Distillers’ Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)
  • Red sorghum
• Edible oils
  • Soybean oil
• High-value / non-staple products
  • Tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios)
  • Fresh and processed fruits
  • Wine and spirits

Why these were chosen

• These items:
  • Are not central to India’s food security
  • Have limited farmer footprint
  • Support downstream sectors (poultry, dairy, food processing)
• Cheaper feed inputs can lower costs for livestock and aquaculture, aligning with protein-consumption goals.

What India has protected

India has explicitly kept out key sensitive agricultural sectors from tariff concessions:

• Food staples: rice, wheat, sugar
• Feed and oilseed crops: maize, whole soybean
• Dairy and poultry
• Fuel ethanol
• Meat and other politically sensitive farm products

Who gains and who faces pressure

Likely gainers

• Poultry and dairy industries (cheaper feed)
• Food processors and beverage industry
• Urban consumers (greater variety, price competition)

Potentially affected

• Domestic oilseed processors
• Certain feed manufacturers
• Farmers in niche crops facing import competition

What this tells us about India’s trade strategy

• India is not anti-trade, but risk-averse on agriculture
• Liberalisation is:
  • Product-specific
  • Input-oriented
  • Politically sequenced
• Reflects a shift from:
  • “All-or-nothing” stance
    → to managed openness

2. GM Crops

Context:

The issue has resurfaced after the India–US interim trade framework released by the White House, where genetically modified (GM) crops are central to American agriculture.

Rather than being a threat, the editorial argues this moment offers India a policy reset opportunity — to revisit long-standing biases against GM technology and reassess its role in food security, sustainability, and competitiveness.

What are GM crops?

Genetically Modified (GM) crops are plants whose genetic material has been artificially altered using biotechnology to introduce desirable traits such as:

• Pest resistance
• Herbicide tolerance
• Improved nutrition
• Stress tolerance (drought, salinity)

This is done through recombinant DNA technology, unlike conventional breeding.

Why does India need GM crop technology?

1. Food security pressures

• Rising population
• Climate stress
• Stagnating yields
• Shrinking land and water availability

GM crops can:

• Improve yields
• Enhance pest resistance
• Reduce chemical pesticide use
• Increase resilience to climate variability

India’s refusal to even test many GM crops risks making agriculture uncompetitive and resource-intensive.

2. Global reality vs Indian hesitation

• GM crops are now widely adopted worldwide
• Even the developing world is embracing biotech
• India — despite its strong scientific base — has become an unlikely holdout

The paradox: India needs the technology but refuses to scientifically evaluate it.

What has caused the policy logjam?

The editorial identifies three core reasons:

1. Wrong categorisation of GM crops

GM crops have been politically framed as environmentally hazardous, rather than being evaluated case-by-case on scientific evidence.

This blanket suspicion ignores:

• Crop-specific impacts
• Differences between traits (pest resistance vs herbicide tolerance)
• Potential environmental benefits

2. Regulatory paralysis

Environmental “protection” has been enforced via administrative orders, not legislation.

This has:

• Rendered India’s GM regulator ineffective
• Created uncertainty for researchers
• Prevented field trials and evidence generation

An indefinite moratorium on testing means policy decisions are being made without data.

3. Centre–State conflict

• GM regulation is driven by the Centre
• Field trials are resisted by States
• This federal tension blocks experimentation

The result is a system where no authority can decisively act, leading to policy drift.

What does the editorial recommend?

1. Let scientists decide

• Regulatory decisions must be science-led
• Politicians should not substitute evidence with ideology

2. Restore regulatory credibility

• Replace ad-hoc administrative bans with clear legislation
• Enable transparent testing and risk assessment

3. Build informed public choice

• Allow data-based debate
• Let consumers and farmers decide, backed by evidence

4. Use the US trade deal as a re-entry point

• The trade framework offers diplomatic cover to restart GM evaluation
• India can reassess without appearing to “concede”

3. Central Sector Scheme of Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)

Source: PIB

Context:

The Government of India has completed the formation of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) under this central sector scheme. Notably, 21.96 lakh women farmers are members, underlining the scheme’s strong gender inclusion focus (PIB).

What is the Scheme?

The Central Sector Scheme of Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs aims to collectivise small and marginal farmers into formal producer organisations so they can:

• Aggregate produce
• Access credit and technology
• Undertake processing and value addition
• Gain stronger market bargaining power

Launch Details

• Launched on: 29 February 2020
• Nature: Central Sector Scheme (100% funded by Centre)

Implementing Agencies (IAs)

• Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC)
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
• National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
• National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)

Aim of the Scheme

To build a sustainable, income-oriented farming ecosystem by:

• Strengthening farmer collectives
• Improving access to inputs, institutional credit, technology
• Integrating farmers with value chains and markets
• Enhancing farmers’ bargaining power and resilience

Key Features of the Scheme

1. Cluster & Commodity-Based Approach

• FPOs formed around produce clusters
• Aligned with One District One Product (ODOP)
• Encourages scale, specialisation, and efficiency

2. Financial Support

a) Handholding Support

• Up to ₹18 lakh per FPO
• For 3 years
• Covers professional management, accounting, compliance, and business planning

b) Equity Grant

• Matching equity grant up to ₹15 lakh per FPO
• Limited to ₹2,000 per farmer
• Strengthens FPO balance sheets

c) Credit Guarantee

• Credit guarantee cover up to ₹2 crore per FPO
• For institutional project loans
• Reduces lending risk and improves credit access

3. Market Linkages

• NAFED-led forward linkages
• Integration with:
  • Input suppliers
  • Processors
  • Bulk buyers
  • Export markets
• Focus on value-chain participation, not just aggregation

4. Capacity Building

• Structured training programmes through:
  • BIRD, Lucknow
  • LINAC, Gurugram
• Training for:
  • Board members
  • CEOs
  • Farmer shareholders

5. Inclusion Focus

• High participation of women farmers
• Coverage of:
  • Aspirational districts
  • Tribal and backward regions
• Promotes social and regional equity

Facts To Remember

1. Soraya Aghaei Hajiagha Elected as Iran’s First Female IOC Member

In February 2026, Soraya Aghaei Hajiagha was elected as the 107th member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the 145th IOC Session in Milan, Italy. She is the first Iranian woman and the youngest current IOC member. A former badminton Olympian (Tokyo 2020), she previously served on the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

2. Agni-3 Missile Successfully Test-Fired

On 6 February 2026, India successfully test-fired the Agni-3 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile from Chandipur, Odisha. Developed by DRDO, the missile has a range of 3,000–3,500 km and strengthens India’s strategic deterrence. The test was conducted under the Strategic Forces Command.

3. India Wins ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026

India won its record sixth ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup by defeating England by 100 runs in the final held in Harare, Zimbabwe. Vaibhav Suryavanshi starred with a historic 175 runs and was named Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament.

4. Goa Publishes State-Level Bird Atlas

In February 2026, Goa became the second Indian state after Kerala to publish a comprehensive Bird Atlas. Released during the 9th Bird Festival of Goa, the atlas supports biodiversity conservation and citizen-led research.

5. NeVA Launched at Bihar Assembly

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) at the Bihar Assembly in Patna, marking a key step towards paperless and digital legislative functioning.

6. India Joins BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies

India joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) at an event organised by DPIIT in New Delhi. The centre, launched with UNIDO, will support manufacturing firms and MSMEs with Industry 4.0 capabilities, with the National Productivity Council designated as India’s nodal centre.

7. MSDE Partners with IPE Global for Women-Centric Skilling

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship signed an MoU with IPE Global to strengthen women-focused skilling initiatives. The partnership aims to improve programme design, boost women’s participation in emerging job roles, and enhance employability linkages.

8. Delhi Ranked World’s Most Affordable City for International Students

Delhi was ranked the world’s most affordable city for international students in the QS Best Student Cities 2026 report. The study by Knight Frank, Deloitte India, and QS assessed 150 cities across affordability, education quality, and student experience.

9. President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates Bastar Pandum 2026

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Bastar Pandum-2026 tribal cultural festival in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. The festival showcases tribal art forms, folk traditions, and indigenous culture, with participation from over 700 artists.

10. Government Sanctions Over 3.87 Crore Houses Under PMAY-G

The Government of India has sanctioned over 3.87 crore houses under PMAY-Gramin. As of February 2026, more than 2.95 crore houses have been completed, advancing the target of 4.95 crore rural houses by March 2029.

11. RBI Approves Blackstone’s Investment in Federal Bank

The RBI approved Blackstone’s ₹6,196 crore investment to acquire up to 9.99% stake in Federal Bank. The move makes Blackstone the largest shareholder and reflects rising foreign interest in India’s banking sector.

12. India and GCC Sign ToR for Free Trade Agreement

India and the Gulf Cooperation Council signed the Terms of Reference to begin negotiations for an India–GCC Free Trade Agreement. The proposed FTA is expected to deepen trade ties, with India–GCC trade valued at USD 178.56 billion in FY25.

13. Axis Bank Launches Rooftop Solar Finance for MSMEs

Axis Bank introduced Rooftop Solar Finance to help MSMEs adopt solar energy. The scheme offers collateral-free loans of ₹10 lakh to ₹2 crore with flexible repayment periods of 4–7 years.

14. Equitas SFB Partners with Bharti AXA Life

Equitas Small Finance Bank partnered with Bharti AXA Life Insurance to offer life insurance products through its nationwide branch network. The initiative aims to improve insurance penetration and long-term financial security.

15. RBI Imposes Compounding Fee on Paytm for FEMA Violations

The RBI imposed a ₹18.76 lakh compounding fee on Paytm for FEMA-related violations. Paytm clarified that the issue has been resolved through the compounding process without operational impact.

16. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Win WPL Title

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their second Women’s Premier League title by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final. Smriti Mandhana starred with a match-winning innings in the chase.

17. India Successfully Test-Fires Agni-III Missile

India successfully test-fired the Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile from Odisha. The test validated operational readiness and strengthened India’s strategic deterrence capability.

18. International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is observed annually on 6 February. The UN-led observance aims to eliminate FGM and promote women’s human rights worldwide.