CURRENT AFFAIRS 11 February, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 11 February, 2026

1. NEW DRAGONFLY SPECIES DISCOVERED IN KERALA –

• Researchers have identified a new dragonfly species, Lyriothemis keralensis, in Kerala, extending its known range beyond northeast India and highlighting the State’s rich biodiversity.
• About: Although present in Kerala since 2013, it was misidentified for over a decade as Lyriothemis acigastra, until detailed microscopic and museum specimen comparisons confirmed its distinct identity.
• Features: The species exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism, with males being bright blood-red with black markings and females yellow with black markings.
• Seasonality: It is seasonally visible during the Southwest Monsoon (late May to August) and persists as aquatic larvae during the rest of the year.
• Concerns: It thrives in human-modified irrigation landscapes such as pineapple and rubber plantations and shaded canals, with most populations occurring outside protected areas, underscoring the need for biodiversity-sensitive land-use practices in plantation-dominated regions.

2. P-8I ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE –

• The Defence Procurement Board (DPB) has cleared the proposal to acquire six additional Boeing P-8I Poseidon from the US to bolster the Indian Navy’s surveillance and combat capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region.
• No Offsets Clause: The deal is being pursued through an India–US Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) framework.
• The procurement is being processed under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, which removed offset requirements for Inter-Governmental Agreements. As a result, this deal will not include technology transfer or co-production provisions.
• Unlike several acquisitions aligned with Make in India, this purchase prioritizes strategic and operational urgency over domestic industrial participation.
• Boeing P-8I: A multi-mission, long-range maritime patrol aircraft designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Maritime Domain Awareness, and Search and Rescue operations.
• The Indian Navy currently operates 12 P-8I aircraft stationed at INS Rajali (INAS 312) and INS Hansa (INAS 316).
• Other US Deals: Defence engagements with the US also include procurements of M982A1 Excalibur projectiles, Javelin missiles, and sustainment support for MH-60R helicopters.

3. RELEASE DATES ANNOUNCED FOR INDIA’S NEW GDP, CPI, AND IIP SERIES –

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has announced a comprehensive revision of the base year for Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Consumer Price Index (CPI), and Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The new base year for GDP and IIP will be 2022-23, while for CPI it will be 2024. The updated series is scheduled for release on 12 February 2026 (CPI), 27 February 2026 (GDP), and May 2026 (IIP). The move aims to improve accuracy, relevance, and international comparability of India’s official statistics.

What Is Base Year Revision and Why Is It Important?

• A base year is the reference year against which economic indicators are measured. Over time, economic structures change due to technological progress, new industries, and shifting consumption patterns. Therefore, periodic base year revision ensures,

1. Updated weightage of sectors
2. Inclusion of new data sources
3. Improved methodology
4. Better global comparability

• The new GDP base year revision 2026 reflects structural changes in India’s economy since the last update.

New Base Years Announced

• MoSPI has proposed,
• GDP – Base Year 2022-23
• IIP – Base Year 2022-23
• CPI – Base Year 2024

The release schedule is as follows,

• CPI New Series – 12 February 2026
• GDP New Series – 27 February 2026
• IIP New Series – May 2026

4. DENMARK TOPS, AFGHANISTAN LAST! PEACE AND SECURITY INDEX 2025/26? –

• The Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26 has once again highlighted the global condition of women’s rights and safety. According to the latest report, nearly 676 million women were exposed to conflict in the past year a 74% rise since 2010. The index ranks 181 countries based on women’s inclusion, justice, and security. While Denmark retains the top position, Afghanistan ranks at the bottom in the Index List.

What is the Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26?

• The Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26 is published by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
• The WPS Index 2025 measures women’s well-being across three key dimensions inclusion (economic and political participation), justice (legal equality and discrimination) and security (freedom from violence and conflict).
• Each country is given a score between 0 and 1, where higher scores reflect better conditions for women.
• The index is important for policymakers and competitive exam aspirants because it gives a clear global comparison of women’s status and progress.
• In the Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26, India ranks 131st with a score of 0.607.

5. GLOBAL CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2025 SHOWS DECLINE IN AVERAGE SCORE –

• The Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 released by Transparency International presents a worrying picture. The global average score has declined, and fewer countries now fall into the “very clean” category. In the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, Denmark once again leads, while conflict-affected nations dominate the bottom ranks.
• Corruption Perceptions Index 2025: Global Trend Turns Negative
• The Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 evaluated 182 countries based on perceived public sector corruption.
• Scores range from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
• This year’s findings indicate a global average score of 42, the lowest in more than a decade.
• Notably, 122 countries scored below 50, highlighting that corruption concerns remain widespread.
• Transparency International also observed that the number of countries scoring above 80 has sharply declined over the years.
• This signals governance challenges even in traditionally strong democracies.
• Least Corrupt Countries in Corruption Perceptions Index 2025
• According to the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, Denmark retained the top rank with a score of 89, extending its impressive streak. The top performers include,
• Denmark – 89 (Maintaining Its 8 Years Streak to Sit at Top)
• Finland – 88
• Singapore – 84
• New Zealand – 81
• Norway – 81
• In the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, India ranked 91st globally, securing a CPI score of 39 out of 100. This marks a slight improvement compared to the previous year. While India remains below the global average of 42, the ranking suggests incremental progress in governance and transparency reforms.
• India Rank: 91
• India Score: 39
• Scale: 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean)

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   HbA1c test, that was recently seen in news, is commonly used in India for diagnosing which disease?

1. a) Type-2 diabetes
2. b) Dengue
3. c) Tuberculosis
4. d) Cholera

Q2.   Mons Mouton has been identified as a potential landing zone for which Indian mission ?

1. a) Chandrayaan-2
2. b) Chandrayaan-3
3. c) Chandrayaan-4
4. d) LUPEX Mission

Q3.   What is the primary objective of the Kimberley Process ?

1. a) Eliminate trade in conflict diamonds
2. b) Regulate global trade practices under the United Nations framework
3. c) Promote sustainable mining standards across resource-rich countries
4. d) None of the Above

Q4.   Regarding Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs), consider the following statements:

1. They operate on the principle of mutual help and local participation.
2. The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020 decreased the RBI’s powers over UCB governance.
3. UCBs primarily serve small borrowers, traders, and MSMEs in urban areas.

          How many of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) Only one
2. b) Only two
3. c) All three
4. d) None

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct; UCBs are member-owned and function on co-operative principles like mutual help and democratic control.
• Statement 3 is correct, as their core mission is providing credit to MSMEs, small traders, and salaried employees who may be excluded from mainstream commercial banking.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020 actually increased and strengthened the RBI’s powers over UCBs, particularly regarding their management, audit, and resolution. This was done to address governance failures and protect depositors’ interests. The recent proposal to reopen licensing reflects a shift towards a more regulated and professionalized co-operative banking sector.

Q5.   With respect to soaps and detergents, which of the following statements is/are correct ?

1. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids, while detergents are primarily derived from petrochemicals.
2. Detergents are more effective cleaning agents in hard water compared to soaps.
3. The manufacturing process of both soaps and detergents involves a step called ‘saponification’.

          How many of the above statements are incorrect ?

1. a) Only one                                         b) Only two
2. c) All three                                         d) None

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct. Soaps are produced from natural sources like vegetable oils or animal fats, and are chemically sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids. In contrast, detergents are synthetic cleaning agents, with their primary raw materials being hydrocarbons derived from petroleum.
• Statement 2 is also correct. Soaps react with the calcium and magnesium ions present in hard water to form an insoluble precipitate (scum), which reduces their cleaning efficiency. Detergents, on the other hand, do not form such precipitates and thus maintain their cleaning action in hard water.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. Saponification is the chemical reaction used to produce soap, where fats or oils react with an alkali (like NaOH). The manufacturing process for detergents involves different chemical reactions, such as sulphonation, and does not use the saponification process.

Answer Key