TODAY NEWS HIGHLIGHT
➤ AIIA signs MoU with General Insurance Council for cashless Ayurveda coverage
➤ Delhi government launched ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’
➤ Corruption Index 2025: India’s ranking improves in terms of corruption
➤ New dragonfly species named ‘Liriothemis keralensis’ discovered in Kerala
➤ ADB approves $182 million loan to enhance flood management along the Brahmaputra
➤ The government has tightened its grip on AI-based content, requiring social media platforms to remove it within three hours
➤ How the new India-UK agreement will ease the social security burden for workers
➤ World Radio Day
1. AIIA Signs MoU with General Insurance Council for Cashless Ayurveda Coverage
The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, has signed a common empanelment agreement with the General Insurance Council, providing cashless Ayurveda treatment across the country. With this agreement, AIIA has been listed with 32 general insurance companies affiliated with the General Insurance Council, enabling eligible patients with insurance policyholders to receive Ayurvedic treatment without any upfront payment.
2. Delhi Government Launches ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’
With the aim of long-term empowerment of girls in the national capital, Delhi, the Delhi Government has launched the ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’ in the year 2026, which was announced by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The main objective of this scheme is to ensure the education of girls and promote gender equality by providing continuous financial assistance from birth to graduation.
3. Corruption Index 2025: India’s Ranking Improves on Corruption
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, released by Transparency International, assesses the perception of corruption in the public sector globally. The index scores countries on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 representing highly corrupt and 100 representing extremely clean governance. A total of 182 countries were evaluated in 2025, making it one of the most comprehensive global indices on corruption.
4. New Dragonfly Species Named ‘Liriothemis keralensis’ Discovered in Kerala
Scientists have formally described a new dragonfly species, Liriothemis keralensis, from the Western Ghats region of Kerala, marking a significant addition to India’s endemic insect species list. The species belongs to the order Odonata, and the word “keralensis” in its name refers to its discovery, Kerala, thus indicating its regionally limited distribution.
5. ADB Approves $182 Million Loan to Enhance Flood Management Along the Brahmaputra
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an additional $182 million loan to strengthen flood and riverbank erosion management in Assam. This amount is an extension of the $200 million Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project approved in October 2023.
6. Government Tightens Restrictions on AI-Generated Content, Social Media Platforms Must Remove Content Within 3 Hours
The Government of India has notified amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which will come into effect from February 20, 2026. The primary objective of these amendments is to establish effective controls on deepfakes, misinformation.
7. How the New India-UK Agreement Will Ease the Social Security Burden for Workers
India and the United Kingdom have signed a social security agreement to provide temporary workers with relief from double social security contributions. The agreement was signed on February 10, 2026, in New Delhi by India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and UK High Commissioner Lindy Cameron.
8. World Radio Day
World Radio Day is celebrated every year on February 13th to highlight the importance of the radio medium and its role in information, education, and democratic dialogue. This day was proclaimed by UNESCO and later recognized by the United Nations General Assembly. February 13th was chosen because it was on this day, in 1946, that United Nations Radio was established.
QUIZ – WITH EXPLANATION (EXACT)
1. With which organization has AIIA signed an MoU for cashless Ayurveda treatment?
A - IRDAI
B - General Insurance Council
C - WHO
D - NITI Aayog
The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, has signed a common empanelment agreement with the General Insurance Council, providing cashless Ayurveda treatment across the country.
2. Which state government has launched the ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’?
A - Uttar Pradesh
B - Haryana
C - Delhi
D - Rajasthan
The Delhi government has launched the ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’ for the long-term empowerment of girls in the year 2026, as announced by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
3. Which country was the least corrupt in the CPI 2025?
A - Finland
B - Singapore
C - Denmark
D - New Zealand
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, released by Transparency International, assessed 182 countries, with the global average score dropping to 42. Most countries scored below 50, indicating a serious state of corruption globally.
4. Liriothemis keralensis belongs to which class of organisms?
A - Butterfly
B - Beetle
C - Dragonfly
D - Bee
Scientists have identified a new endemic dragonfly species, Liriothemis keralensis, from the Western Ghats region of Kerala. This species belongs to the order Odonata and is found only in the Kerala region.
5. How much additional loan has ADB approved for flood and riverbank erosion management in Assam?
A - US$100 million
B - US$150 million
C - US$182 million
D - US$200 million
The Asian Development Bank has approved an additional US$182 million loan to address flood and riverbank erosion in Assam, an extension of the previously approved Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Project.
6. When will the amended IT Rules, 2021, come into effect?
A - January 1, 2026
B - February 20, 2026
C - August 15, 2026
D - January 26, 2027
The Government of India has notified amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which will come into effect from February 20, 2026. These rules aim to enhance control over deepfakes.
7. What is the main objective of the Social Security Agreement between India and the UK?
A - Increasing pensions
B - Avoiding dual social security contributions
C - Extending visa duration
D - Fixing minimum wages
India and the United Kingdom have signed a Social Security Agreement to relieve temporarily employed employees from dual social security contributions.
8. The selection of February 13th is associated with which historical event?
A - The establishment of All India Radio
B - The launch of BBC Radio
C - The establishment of United Nations Radio
D - The establishment of UNESCO
World Radio Day is celebrated every year on February 13th to highlight the role of radio in information, education, and democratic dialogue.
ONE LINER (EXACT)
With which organization has AIIA signed an MoU for cashless Ayurveda treatment? – General Insurance Council
How many million dollars has ADB approved an additional loan for flood management in Assam? – US$182 million
World Radio Day is celebrated on which date every year? – February 13th
With how many general insurance companies is AIIA empanelled? – 32 general insurance companies
Which state government has launched the ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’? – Delhi Government
From which region has a new dragonfly species named ‘Liriothemis keralensis’ been discovered? – From the Western Ghats region of Kerala
How many points did India score in the CPI 2025? – 39 points
What is the general timeframe for removing illegal content under the amended IT Rules 2021? – 3 hours
What is the approximate amount one can receive upon completing graduation under the Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana? – More than ₹1 lakh
Which organization released the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025? – Transparency International