Daily Current Affairs (13 – Feb – 26)

Daily Current Affairs  (13 – Feb – 26)

1. GNPA of Banks Falls: Historic Low in India  –

• The Finance Ministry has informed that Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) declined to a historic low as of September 30, 2025, lower than the level seen in 2010–11.

Trends in Gross NPAs

• Historic Decline: The GNPA ratio of SCBs has fallen to 2.15%, representing the lowest level in over a decade.
• Public Sector Banks:PSBs reported a GNPA ratio of 2.50%, with a sharper decline since March 2018 compared to other bank groups.
• Private Sector Banks: Private banks recorded a lower GNPA ratio of 1.73%, indicating stronger asset quality.
• Foreign Banks:Foreign banks reported the lowest GNPA ratio at 0.80%
• Decline in Fresh NPAs:The slippage ratio, measuring fresh accretion of NPAs, has improved consistently over the last six years  

2. Chandrayaan-4: ISRO Selects Mons Mouton Near Lunar South Pole –

About Selected Landing Site: Mons Mouton (MM-4)

• Mons Mouton (MM) lies in the lunar South Polar region, an area of high scientific interest due to potential water ice and ancient geological records.
• Scientific Evaluation:Four candidate sites MM-1, MM-3, MM-4 and MM-5 were analysed using Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC) multi-view datasets for terrain safety and feasibility.
• Safety Parameters:MM-4 was chosen as it has a minimal hazards percentage around one km by one km area, an average slope of about 5 degrees, a mean elevation of 5,334 metres, and the highest number of safe landing grids.

About Chandrayaan-4 Mission

• Chandrayaan-4 is India’s first lunar sample-return mission, aimed at achieving soft landing, collecting lunar samples, and returning them safely to Earth.
• Expected Launch: The mission is targeted for launch around 2028, subject to final readiness and approvals.
• Key Components:The mission comprises five modules:
• Propulsion Module (PM)
• Descender Module (DM)
• Ascender Module (AM)
• Transfer Module (TM) and
• Re-entry Module (RM)
• Key Mission Objectives: The mission seeks to achieve safe soft landing and sample collection from the lunar surface.
• It also aims to demonstrate lunar lift-off, orbital docking, sample transfer, and safe re-entry to Earth.

3. New MHA Guidelines on Vande Mataram: Protocol, Order and Legal Status –

• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued new guidelines standardising the protocol for singing and playing India’s National Song Vande Mataram at official events, educational institutions, and ceremonial occasions.

Key Guidelines

• Order of Playing: When both are played at an event, Vande Mataram shall precede Jana Gana Mana.
• Duration: The government has prescribed a six-stanza official version of Vande Mataram with a total duration of 3 minutes and 10 seconds (190 seconds).
• Mandatory Standing:All citizens present are required to stand at attention whenever the National Song is sung or played in official settings.

Occasions of Official Playing:

• Flag unfurling ceremonies.
• Arrival/departure of President/Governors.
• Before/after Presidential/Governors’ addresses.
• National parades, investiture ceremonies (e.g., Padma Awards).

4. 16th Finance Commission: Balancing Equity, Efficiency and Fiscal Federalism-

• The Union Government has accepted 16th Finance Commission recommendations on the devolution of funds from the Centre to the States 2026–31.

About 16th Finance Commission

• The 16th Finance Commission was constituted by the President of India under Article 280 of the Constitution of India

Tenure:

• The 16th Finance Commission was constituted on 31 December 2023.
• Period:It is responsible for recommending the distribution of financial resources for the five‑year award period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031.
• Nature: Finance Commission recommendations are advisory in nature, but are conventionally accepted by the Union Government.
• Chairman: Arvind Panagariya (Chairman) – former Vice‑Chairman of NITI Aayog and distinguished economist.

Members:

• Annie George Mathew – Full‑time Member.
• Manoj Panda – Full‑time Member.
• Shri Ajay Narayan Jha – Full‑time Member.
• Soumya Kanti Ghosh

5. White Revolution 2.0: Boosting Milk Production and Women-Led Dairy Cooperatives –

• Union Minister for Home and Cooperation discussed White Revolution 2.0 in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

About White Revolution 2.0

• It is an initiative aimed at boosting milk production while promoting women’s empowerment and addressing malnutrition.

White Revolution 2.0 focuses on four priority areas:

• Women’s Empowerment
• Aims to empower women milk farmers by integrating them into formal economic systems.
• Strengthen women-led dairy institutions and Self-Help Group (SHG) linkages.
• Enhancing Local Milk Production
• The initiative aims to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50 per cent over the next five years.
• Target to increase cooperative-led milk procurement from 660 lakh kg per day to 1,007 lakh kg per day.
• Strengthening Dairy Infrastructure
• Large-Scale Cooperative Development: White Revolution 2.0 includes setting up and strengthening around 1.20 lakh new and existing cooperative institutions, including
• Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS)
• Multipurpose Dairy Cooperative Societies (M-DCS)
• Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS)

MCQ Quiz

Q1. The Indian Air Force conducted a joint in-situ air exercise with which country in February 2026 ?

1. a) Vietnam
2. b) Indonesia
3. c) Thailand
4. d) Malaysia

Q2. Idukki Hydroelectric Project is located in which state ?

1. a) Kerala
2. b) Andhra Pradesh
3. c) Karnataka
4. d) Odisha

Q3. Recently, the PMO informed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that questions related to PM CARES are not admissible under Lok Sabha rules. The PM CARES Fund was established in which year ?

1. a) 2018
2. b) 2019
3. c) 2020
4. d) 2021

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency:

1. It originated in Naxalbari village of West Bengal in 1967.
2. It seeks to overthrow the Indian state through armed struggle inspired by Maoist ideology.
3. The insurgency is primarily concentrated in urban metropolitan regions.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – The movement began in 1967 in Naxalbari, West Bengal.
• Statement 2 – It is driven by Maoist ideology, aiming to establish a communist state through armed revolution.
• Statement 3 – It mainly affects tribal-dominated rural regions in the “Red Corridor,” not metropolitan cities.

Q5. Consider the following features of the Ken–Betwa Link Project:

1. Construction of the Daudhan Dam
2. A 221 km canal including a tunnel section
3. Generation of thermal power
4. Annual water sharing between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

Which of the above are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Correct: Includes Daudhan Dam (77 m high).
• Statement 2 – Correct: 221 km canal including a 2 km tunnel.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect:Power generation includes 103 MW hydro + 27 MW solar, not thermal.
• Statement 4 – Correct: Water-sharing:
• MP – 2,350 MCM
• UP – 1,700 MCM