TODAY NEWS HIGHLIGHT
➤ R Vijay Anand appointed CEO of City Union Bank
➤ Indian banks' NPAs hit record lows, signaling financial stability
➤ Manu Bhaker won the silver medal in the 25m pistol event at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026
➤ India and Greece sign defence pact with five-year game plan
➤ India jumps four places in the Network Readiness Index 2025
➤ Kerala's first differently-abled woman judge: Thanya Nathan tops civil judge exam
➤ India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme launched
➤ National Productivity Day
1. R. Vijay Anand Appointed CEO of City Union Bank
The Reserve Bank of India has approved the change in the top leadership of City Union Bank, appointing R. Vijay Anand as the bank's new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. This approval was given through an RBI letter dated February 9, 2026. R. Vijay Anand's tenure will be for three years, effective May 1, 2026, although, as per regulatory provisions, his appointment will be subject to shareholder approval.
2. Indian Banks' NPAs Hit Record Low, Signaling Financial Stability
According to information provided to Parliament on February 9, 2026, the gross non-performing asset ratio of India's scheduled commercial banks declined to 2.15 percent by the end of September 2025, the lowest level since 2010–11. This represents one of the strongest recoveries ever witnessed in the Indian banking system.
3. Manu Bhaker Wins Silver Medal in 25m Pistol at Asian Shooting Championships 2026
India's star shooter Manu Bhaker made a remarkable comeback by winning the silver medal in the 25m pistol event at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026 in New Delhi. This achievement, achieved just five days after finishing seventh in the 10m air pistol, demonstrates her mental strength and competitive spirit.
4. India and Greece Sign Defence Agreement with Five-Year Game Plan
On February 10, 2026, India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen defence industrial cooperation, setting out a five-year roadmap between the defence industries of the two countries. The agreement aims to institutionalize cooperation between the indigenous defence industries of India and Greece, promoting joint development, co-production, and technology sharing.
5. India Jumps Four Places in the Network Readiness Index 2025
According to the Network Readiness Index 2025, released on February 4, 2026, India has achieved a significant jump of four places compared to the previous year, ranking 45th out of 127 countries. India's overall score in the index has increased from 53.63 in 2024 to 54.43 in 2025, reflecting the continued strengthening of the country's digital capabilities.
6. Kerala's First Disabled Woman Judge: Thanya Nathan Tops the Civil Judge Exam
Thanya Nathan, a young visually impaired lawyer from Kerala, has achieved a historic milestone by securing first place in the benchmark disability category in the Civil Judge (Junior Division) exam. She is poised to become Kerala's first visually impaired woman judge, marking a significant step towards inclusion in the Indian judiciary.
7. India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme Launched
On February 10, 2026, India and the Netherlands launched the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme, expanding academic collaboration in green hydrogen research. This initiative aims to strengthen skills development, research capacity, and knowledge exchange in emerging hydrogen technologies.
8. National Productivity Day
National Productivity Day is celebrated every year on February 12th, with the primary objective of raising awareness in the country about the importance of productivity, efficiency, quality, and innovation for sustainable economic growth. This day is organized by the National Productivity Council, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
QUIZ – WITH EXPLANATION (EXACT)
1. Who has been approved by the RBI as the new MD & CEO of City Union Bank?
A - N. Kamakodi
B - R. Vijay Anand
C - Sanjay Malhotra
D - Shashidhar Jagdishan
The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of R. Vijay Anand as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of City Union Bank. This approval was given on February 9, 2026, and his three-year term will be effective from May 1, 2026, subject to shareholder approval.
2. What was the gross NPA ratio of scheduled commercial banks at the end of September 2025?
A - 3.15%
B - 2.85%
C - 2.15%
D - 1.75%
On February 9, 2026, Parliament was informed that gross NPAs of India's scheduled commercial banks had declined to 2.15 percent by the end of September 2025, the lowest level since 2010–11. This reflects a strong recovery and improved asset quality in the Indian banking system.
3. In which event did Manu Bhaker win the silver medal at the 2026 Asian Shooting Championships?
A - 10m Air Pistol
B - 25m Pistol
C - 50m Rifle
D - Mixed Team Pistol
India's star shooter Manu Bhaker made a remarkable comeback by winning the silver medal in the 25m pistol event at the 2026 Asian Shooting Championships in New Delhi. This achievement, just days after finishing seventh in the 10m air pistol, demonstrates her mental strength and competitiveness.
4. How long is the roadmap set under the India–Greece Defence Industrial Cooperation?
A - Three years
B - Four years
C - Five years
D - Ten years
On February 10, 2026, India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to Strengthen Defence Industrial Cooperation, setting out a five-year roadmap between the defence industries of the two countries.
5. What rank did India receive in the Network Readiness Index 2025?
A - 42nd
B - 43rd
C - 45th
D - 47th
According to the Network Readiness Index 2025, India has ranked 45th out of 127 countries, an improvement of four places compared to last year. India's overall score has also increased to 54.43, indicating continued progress in its digital capabilities and technology adoption.
6. Thanya Nathan is set to become the first visually impaired woman judge from which state?
A - Tamil Nadu
B - Karnataka
C - Kerala
D - Andhra Pradesh
Thanya Nathan, a young visually impaired lawyer from Kerala, has created history by securing first place in the benchmark disability category in the Civil Judge (Junior Division) examination. She is set to become Kerala's first visually impaired woman judge.
7. Who launched the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme?
A - Prime Minister
B - Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog
C - Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Abhay Karandikar
D - Environment Minister
On February 10, 2026, India and the Netherlands launched the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme, giving new impetus to bilateral academic cooperation in green hydrogen research.
8. Which organization organizes National Productivity Day?
A - NITI Aayog
B - National Productivity Council
C - Planning Commission
D - Reserve Bank of India
National Productivity Day is celebrated every year on February 12th to raise awareness about productivity, efficiency, quality, and innovation in the country to foster sustainable economic growth.
ONE LINER (EXACT)
In which event did Manu Bhaker win the silver medal at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026? – 25 meter pistol
How many years have India and Greece set for defence industrial cooperation? – Five years
Who has the RBI approved as the new MD and CEO of City Union Bank? – R. Vijay Anand
What was the RBI's key initiative that laid the foundation for NPA reforms in public sector banks? – Asset Quality Review (AQR), 2015
Greece has announced the deployment of a liaison officer at which center in India under maritime security cooperation? – IFC-IOR, Gurugram
What is the name of the lawyer who is set to become Kerala's first visually impaired woman judge? – Thanya Nathan
R. Vijay Anand's tenure at City Union Bank will be effective from what date? – May 1, 2026
What global rank has India achieved in the Network Readiness Index 2025? – 45th
National Productivity Day is celebrated on which date every year in India? – February 12th
By the end of September 2025, what percentage of gross NPAs have been reached for scheduled commercial banks in India? – 2.15 percent