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18 February 2026 Current Affairs MCQ

MCQ 1 – Infrastructure & Economy

Q1. The recently approved 4-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor in Assam was sanctioned by which body?

A) NITI Aayog
B) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
C) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
D) Finance Commission

Answer: B) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)

Explanation:
Major infrastructure projects involving large capital outlays are typically approved by the CCEA. The corridor reflects infrastructure-led growth and North-East connectivity priorities.


MCQ 2 – Cultural Governance

Q2. India’s first National Cow Culture Museum will be established in:

A) Varanasi
B) Mathura
C) Haridwar
D) Ujjain

Answer: B) Mathura

Explanation:
Mathura’s selection aligns with its deep civilisational and cultural significance. Such questions often appear as location-based prelim facts.


MCQ 3 – Heritage Infrastructure

Q3. The ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat’ National Museum involves the adaptive reuse of which buildings?

A) Rashtrapati Bhavan
B) Parliament House
C) North Block & South Block
D) Red Fort

Answer: C) North Block & South Block

Explanation:
Adaptive reuse of administrative heritage buildings is an important governance and conservation theme. Expect conceptual + factual questions.


MCQ 4 – Tribal Linguistic Heritage

Q4. The Ol Chiki script, whose centenary was celebrated, is associated with which language?

A) Bodo
B) Santhali
C) Mundari
D) Ho

Answer: B) Santhali

Explanation:
Ol Chiki is the official script for the Santhali language. Tribal scripts are a favourite UPSC prelim topic.


MCQ 5 – Digital Public Infrastructure

Q5. The Aadhaar App, recently in news for large downloads, is managed by:

A) NPCI
B) UIDAI
C) MeitY
D) RBI

Answer: B) UIDAI

Explanation:
UIDAI administers Aadhaar and identity-based digital services. DPI-related institutional questions are common.


MCQ 6 – Banking & Regulation

Q6. Default Loss Guarantees (DLGs), recently restored, primarily relate to:

A) Deposit insurance coverage
B) Credit risk-sharing in digital lending
C) Foreign exchange management
D) Capital adequacy norms

Answer: B) Credit risk-sharing in digital lending

Explanation:
DLGs allow fintech entities to share default risk with regulated lenders like NBFCs. This is a GS-III financial stability concept.


MCQ 7 – Priority Sector Lending

Q7. Bank loans to NCDC for on-lending to cooperative societies are classified under:

A) External Commercial Borrowings
B) Priority Sector Lending
C) Directed Credit Programme
D) Development Finance Lending

Answer: B) Priority Sector Lending

Explanation:
PSL classification incentivises credit flow into priority areas like agriculture and cooperatives.


MCQ 8 – CBDC & Welfare Innovation

Q8. The CBDC-based Digital Food Currency pilot is linked with:

A) DBT transfers
B) Public Distribution System (PDS)
C) MNREGA wage payments
D) Fertiliser subsidy

Answer: B) Public Distribution System (PDS)

Explanation:
This represents a landmark intersection of CBDC + welfare delivery — high exam value.


MCQ 9 – Telecom Regulation

Q9. TRAI’s revamped apps ‘TRAI DND’ and ‘TRAI MySpeed’ primarily aim at:

A) Spectrum auctions
B) Telecom consumer protection
C) 5G infrastructure planning
D) International roaming regulation

Answer: B) Telecom consumer protection

Explanation:
DND → spam control
MySpeed → service quality measurement
Classic regulator-function question.


MCQ 10 – Digital Infrastructure

Q10. The SING submarine cable system primarily enhances:

A) Defence communications
B) International data connectivity
C) Satellite navigation
D) Coastal surveillance

Answer: B) International data connectivity

Explanation:
Submarine cables form the backbone of global internet & data traffic.


MCQ 11 – Defence & Strategic Affairs

Q11. The AUKUS partnership is primarily associated with cooperation in:

A) Space exploration
B) Nuclear-powered submarines
C) Missile defence systems
D) Cyber warfare

Answer: B) Nuclear-powered submarines

Explanation:
AUKUS = Australia, UK, USA → Strategic Indo-Pacific defence alliance.


MCQ 12 – Disaster Geography

Q12. Piton de la Fournaise, recently in news, is:

A) A mud volcano
B) A stratovolcano
C) One of the world’s most active shield volcanoes
D) A dormant volcano

Answer: C) One of the world’s most active shield volcanoes

Explanation:
Located on Reunion Island. Volcano type questions are very common in prelims.

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