CURRENT AFFAIRS 17 February, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 17 February, 2026

1. TARIQUE RAHMAN TAKE OATH AS BANGLADESH PM –

• Bangladesh is set for a significant political transition as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman prepares to take oath as Prime Minister following a decisive general election victory. The swearing-in ceremony comes after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 and marks Rahman’s return to formal leadership after 17 years in exile. The February 12 parliamentary elections have reshaped the country’s political landscape, delivering a clear mandate to the BNP and its allies.

BNP’s Landslide Victory in General Elections

• The BNP secured more than 151 seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, while the BNP-led alliance won a commanding 212 seats, according to the Bangladesh Election Commission. The scale of the victory ensures a stable parliamentary majority for the incoming government.
• Jamaat-e-Islami, which contested independently after previously aligning with the BNP, emerged as the second-largest party with 77 seats. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, was barred from contesting the elections, significantly altering the competitive landscape.

2. INDIA’S FIRST NATIONAL COW CULTURE MUSEUM IN MATHURA –

• India is set to establish its first National Cow Culture Museum in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The project will be developed within the campus of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Veterinary Science University. Conceived as a blend of tradition and scientific awareness, the museum aims to highlight the cultural, agricultural and economic significance of cattle in Indian society. Authorities state that the initiative seeks to present a comprehensive understanding of cattle beyond religious symbolism.

Blending Tradition With Scientific Perspective

• Officials have indicated that the museum will showcase both the spiritual and practical importance of cows. It will explain cattle conservation, sustainable farming practices and the contribution of bovines to rural livelihoods. The project intends to demonstrate how cattle support agriculture through draught power and organic manure, and how dairy production sustains millions of households.
• The initiative also aims to educate visitors about the economic link between cattle-based activities and rural development, thereby presenting a balanced narrative rooted in culture and science.

3. BRAHMAPUTRA RAIL-ROAD TWIN TUNNEL GETS CABINET APPROVAL –

• The Union Cabinet has approved a major infrastructure project featuring India’s first underwater rail-cum-road tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra river. The 33.7-kilometre greenfield corridor will connect Gohpur on NH-15 with Numaligarh on NH-715 in Assam at an estimated cost of ₹18,662 crore. Executed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, the project aims to transform connectivity across the Northeast.

Project Design and Key Features

• The centrepiece is a 15.79-kilometre twin-tube tunnel under the Brahmaputra. One tube will accommodate rail provision, while the other will serve a four-lane access-controlled highway. The design also includes a 1.26-kilometre road cut-and-cover section and a 4-kilometre rail cut-and-cover stretch.
• Once completed, it will be India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel and only the second such structure globally. The corridor will significantly shorten travel between Gohpur and Numaligarh, which currently spans nearly 240 kilometres via the Kaliabhomora bridge route and takes around six hours.

4. INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION MAY DATE BACK 8,000 YEARS –

• Fresh archaeological research suggests that the Indus Valley Civilisation could be far older than previously believed. New radiocarbon dating from the site of Bhirrana in northern India indicates that organised settlement in the region may date back nearly 8,000 years. If confirmed, this would place its origins well before the era of Egypt’s earliest pharaohs, potentially reshaping long-held assumptions about the chronology of ancient civilisations.

New Evidence from Bhirrana

• Researchers examined pottery fragments and animal remains recovered from deep cultural layers at Bhirrana. Radiocarbon analysis suggests human occupation stretching back almost 9,000 years before present. The findings, published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, indicate that early agrarian communities may have developed in the region thousands of years before the mature urban phase of the Indus civilisation.
• The Indus Valley Civilisation, also known as the Harappan civilisation, is traditionally dated between 2600 and 1900 BC. The new evidence pushes its formative phase much earlier, suggesting gradual cultural evolution rather than a sudden urban emergence.

5. NORTHEAST’S FIRST EMERGENCY LANDING FACILITY INAUGURATED IN ASSAM –

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) at Moran in Assam’s Dibrugarh district. The strategic infrastructure, located on the Moran Bypass, marks a major boost to India’s defence preparedness and disaster response capability in the region. The Prime Minister made a historic landing at the facility and witnessed a 40-minute aerial display by the Indian Air Force, showcasing fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters.

What is the Emergency Landing Facility?

• The Emergency Landing Facility is a specially designed highway airstrip constructed in coordination with the Indian Air Force. It enables the landing and take-off of military and select civil aircraft during emergencies. This is the first such facility in Northeast India, a region of high strategic importance due to its proximity to international borders. The ELF enhances rapid deployment capability and strengthens national security infrastructure in the region.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Futala Lake, that was recently seen in news, is located in which state ?

1. a) Gujarat
2. b) Odisha
3. c) Karnataka
4. d) Maharashtra

Q2.   What is the rank of India in Henley Passport Index 2026 ?

1. a) 65th
2. b) 75th
3. c) 85th
4. d) 89th

Q3.   Which institution has become the first in India to announce the launch of a face transplant programme ?

1. a) All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
2. b) Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
3. c) Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry
4. d) Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai

Q4.   With reference to the ‘Brahmaputra River’, consider the following statements:

1. It originates from the Chemayungdung Glacier near Lake Mapam in Tibet.
2. The drainage basin of the river in India is limited to the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
3. It flows through the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, which is among the deepest gorges globally.

          Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 and 3 only
3. c) 1 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct; the river begins its journey in the high altitudes of Tibet.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because while the main stem of the river flows primarily through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, its drainage basin (the area from which it collects water through tributaries) is much wider. It covers parts of Nagaland, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Sikkim.
• Statement 3 is correct; the river is famous for cutting through the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, a massive geological feature created as the river turns south to enter India. This region is characterized by extreme descent and massive water volume, contributing to the river’s status as one of the world’s highest discharge rivers.

Q5.   With reference to Project Kusha, consider the following statements:

1. It is an indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile system.
2. It is being developed by Bharat Electronics Limited.
3. It is designed to engage aerial threats up to approximately 400 km.

          Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Correct: Project Kusha is an indigenous long-range SAM system.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: It is led by DRDO, while BEL handles radars and integration.
• Statement 3 – Correct: The M3 interceptor variant is expected to reach 350–400 km range.

Answer Key