Question 1

What topics are covered in the 16 February 2026 current affairs quiz?

Accepted Answer

The 16 February 2026 quiz covers Polity, Governance, Environment, Infrastructure with 25 MCQs sourced from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Question 2

How to use 16 February 2026 daily quiz for UPSC preparation?

Accepted Answer

Attempt the quiz after reading the daily current affairs. Focus on understanding the explanation for each question. Link each topic to your static GK notes for comprehensive preparation.

Question 3

How many MCQs should I practice daily for competitive exams?

Accepted Answer

Experts recommend 10-20 current affairs MCQs daily. This takes only 5-7 minutes but significantly improves retention through active recall, which is more effective than passive reading.

Question 4

Are these quiz questions based on The Hindu and Indian Express?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All questions are derived from important news articles published in The Hindu and Indian Express, filtered and ranked by AI for exam relevance across UPSC, MPSC, SSC, Banking & Teaching exams.

Question 5

Which part of the Indian Constitution contains the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions?

Accepted Answer

Part III (Fundamental Rights), Article 30, which grants minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions, is enshrined in Part III of the Constitution, which deals with Fundamental Rights. This is a foundational fact for polity.

Question 6

Under which Article of the Constitution was the Right to Privacy recognized as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

Article 21, In the landmark Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs Union of India case (2017), the Supreme Court held that the Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Question 7

Under which Act was the National Green Tribunal (NGT) established?

Accepted Answer

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, The NGT was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The other Acts are important environmental laws, but the NGT derives its specific statutory authority from its own dedicated Act of 2010.

Question 8

Which department under the Government of India is primarily responsible for administering the fertiliser subsidy and preparing the 'agreed supply plan' for fertiliser distribution?

Accepted Answer

Department of Fertilizers, The Department of Fertilizers (DoF) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers administers the fertiliser subsidy regime and prepares the state-wise, season-wise supply plan for subsidised fertilisers. The Department of Agriculture assesses requirements, but the DoF handles the subsidy and distribution logistics.

Question 9

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE is primarily implemented under the purview of which ministry?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) related to trade and commerce are negotiated and implemented under the Department of Commerce, which falls under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Question 10

Under which Article of the Indian Constitution is the 'Freedom of Religion' guaranteed, which is central to the Sabarimala review case?

Accepted Answer

Article 25, Article 25 guarantees the freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion, subject to public order, morality, and health. The Sabarimala case involves the interpretation of this Article concerning the restriction on women's entry based on religious practice.

Question 11

The Finance Commission of India is a constitutional body established under which article?

Accepted Answer

Article 280, Article 280 of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of a Finance Commission every five years. Its primary function is to recommend the distribution of net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the States.

Question 12

Which constitutional article empowers the Supreme Court to pass orders for doing 'complete justice', a principle relevant to its power to set guidelines in cases like this?

Accepted Answer

Article 142, Article 142 of the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or order necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it. This inherent power is often invoked to issue guidelines or directions, as seen in this bail disclosure case.

Question 13

The committee to examine the policy on regulation of refurbished medical devices has been constituted by which Union Ministry?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), As per the news, the Department of Pharmaceuticals informed the Rajya Sabha that the MoHFW has constituted the committee. While the Department of Pharmaceuticals is under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the committee itself was formed by the MoHFW, which is the nodal ministry for health regulations.

Question 14

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) operates under which Union Ministry?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW). It is responsible for setting standards for food and regulating their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import.

Question 15

Consider the following statements regarding the Calcutta High Court judgment on minority school recruitment:

1. The court held that the government can prescribe both minimum qualifications and the exact recruitment procedure for teachers in minority institutions.

2. The judgment stated that a minority institution cannot prescribe eligibility qualifications higher than those set by the government.

3. The case pertained to the appointment of a Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) of Biology.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only 3, Statement 1 is incorrect: The court explicitly barred the government from dictating the recruitment procedure, limiting its role to prescribing minimum qualifications. Statement 2 is incorrect: The court said minority institutions can prescribe higher qualifications. Statement 3 is correct: The case was about appointing a PGT (Biology).

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding the legal dispute mentioned in the news:

1. The Supreme Court has stayed the implementation of Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act, 2023.

2. Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act amends Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

3. The petitioners argue that the amendment removes the role of Public Information Officers in balancing privacy and public interest.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 2 and 3, Statement 1 is incorrect. The CJI-led bench refused to stay the implementation of Section 44(3). Statement 2 is correct as per the article. Statement 3 is correct; petitioners contend the amendment grants unguided discretion to deny information, bypassing the PIO's balancing act.

Question 17

Consider the following statements regarding the Great Nicobar Island project:

1. The project involves the diversion of 130 sq km of forest land for the development of a transhipment port and an airport.

2. The environmental clearance for the project was granted by the National Green Tribunal in 2023.

3. The project's strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region was a key factor cited by the NGT in its recent ruling.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect; the environmental clearance was granted by the MoEFCC in November 2022, not by the NGT in 2023. The NGT only reviewed and upheld this clearance. Statement 3 is correct as the NGT explicitly noted the project's strategic importance.

Question 18

Consider the following statements regarding India's fertiliser policy:

1. The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of Urea has remained unchanged at ₹266.5 per 45-kg bag since November 2012.

2. Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) is a fully decontrolled fertiliser where companies are free to set any market-determined price without any government intervention.

3. The movement and district-wise allocation of all subsidised fertilisers is controlled by the Centre through the Department of Fertilizers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect. While DAP is technically decontrolled, the Centre's subsidy is conditional upon companies charging a fixed MRP (₹1,350/bag), making it practically controlled. Statement 3 is correct; the DoF controls the movement and allocation via an 'agreed supply plan'.

Question 19

Consider the following statements regarding the India-UAE economic corridor:

1. The $100 billion bilateral trade target was achieved in 2025, which was the original target year set under the CEPA.

2. Non-oil trade between the two countries witnessed a decline last year, despite the overall growth in total trade.

3. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) was the first sovereign wealth fund to establish a base in India's GIFT City.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only 3, Statement 1 is incorrect: The original target was 2030, but it was achieved in 2025 (5 years early). Statement 2 is incorrect: Non-oil trade grew by nearly 20% last year to reach $65 billion. Statement 3 is correct as mentioned in the article.

Question 20

On which date did Justice Arijit Banerjee of the Calcutta High Court deliver the judgment barring government interference in minority school recruitment?

Accepted Answer

February 10, 2026, The article states that Justice Arijit Banerjee made the observations on February 10. The publication date is February 16, 2026, confirming the year. This tests precise date recall, a common Prelims trap.

Question 21

Which Supreme Court judgment, cited in the petitions, had previously applied the 'proportionality test' to balance the right to information with the right to privacy under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act?

Accepted Answer

Central Public Information Officer vs Supreme Court of India (2019), The article mentions that a five-judge Constitution Bench in its November 2019 judgment in 'Central Public Information Officer versus Supreme Court of India' examined Section 8(1)(j) to apply the proportionality test. Puttaswamy (2017) recognized privacy but did not deal with the RTI balance specifically.

Question 22

What is the total estimated cost of the Great Nicobar Island mega infrastructure project as cleared by the NGT?

Accepted Answer

₹80,000 crore, The article explicitly states the project cost is 'over Rs 80,000-crore'. This is a direct factual recall question. The other figures are plausible distractors given the scale of similar projects.

Question 23

According to the article, what is the fixed subsidy amount provided by the Centre per 50-kg bag of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP)?

Accepted Answer

₹1,490, The article explicitly states that the Centre pays a flat subsidy of ₹1,490 per 50-kg bag of DAP. The MRP of DAP is ₹1,350, but this is a separate figure. The subsidy amount is a key data point for prelims.

Question 24

According to the article, what is the new bilateral trade target set by India and the UAE for the year 2032?

Accepted Answer

$200 billion, After achieving the initial $100 billion target five years early, the leaders set a new target of $200 billion in bilateral trade to be achieved by 2032.

Question 25

What is the primary constitutional basis for the Calcutta High Court's ruling that the government cannot dictate recruitment procedures in minority schools?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental right of minorities under Article 30, The core of the judgment is the protection granted by Article 30 of the Constitution, which gives minorities the right to administer their educational institutions. The court ruled that dictating recruitment procedures infringes upon this fundamental right. While Article 226 was the procedural route, the substantive right is under Article 30.

Question 26

What is the primary constitutional concern raised by the petitioners against Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act, as per the news article?

Accepted Answer

It extends the fundamental right to privacy to the state, which is unconstitutional., The petitioners argue that the provision accords the government 'unguided discretion to deny personal information' and that 'the fundamental right to privacy has been extended to the state.' Privacy is a right available to individuals/citizens against the state, not to the state itself.

Question 27

The NGT's clearance of the Great Nicobar project, citing its 'strategic importance', primarily highlights the conflict between which two core objectives?

Accepted Answer

Environmental conservation and national security imperatives, The core tension in this case is between adhering to stringent environmental norms (conservation) and pursuing infrastructure deemed critical for national security and strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific. The NGT's ruling leaned on the latter while asserting the former was addressed via safeguards.

Question 28

What is the primary rationale cited by the Uttar Pradesh government for banning the sale of non-subsidised fertilisers by urea manufacturers?

Accepted Answer

To prevent alleged 'tagging' where companies force farmers to buy premium products with subsidised ones, The article mentions that the UP government's move follows allegations of companies resorting to 'tagging' – forcing farmers to buy non-subsidised fertilisers along with subsidised ones. The other options are not supported by the article's content.

Question 29

What is a key strategic objective behind establishing the 'Bharat Mart' wholesale hub in the UAE, as mentioned in the article?

Accepted Answer

To serve as a hub for Indian goods targeting markets in Africa and West Asia, The article states that 'Bharat Mart' will serve as a wholesale hub for Indian goods targeting Africa, West Asia and Eurasia, aiming to help double India's exports to these regions. This reflects the corridor's evolution into a platform for third-market access.

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