TODAY NEWS HIGHLIGHT
➤ Uday Kotak appointed chairman of GIFT City
➤ NITI Aayog releases 6th edition of “Trade Watch Quarterly”
➤ National Statistical Systems Training Academy celebrates its 18th Foundation Day
➤ WHO grants prequalification approval to new nOPV2 vaccine to strengthen global polio eradication
➤ RBI grants 3-year extension to Sanjay Agarwal as MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank
➤ Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026: India tops medal tally with 94 medals
➤ Indian Army to host first International Military Adventure Challenge Cup (IMACC) 2026
➤ Which state is the largest producer of cloves in India?
1. Uday Kotak Appointed Chairman of GIFT City
The Gujarat government has appointed Kotak Mahindra Bank founder Uday Kotak as the new chairman of GIFT City, located in Gandhinagar. He replaces Hasmukh Adhia, who previously served as non-executive chairman. The appointment order was issued by the Gujarat government's Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, although it is not yet clear whether the position will be executive or non-executive.
2. NITI Aayog Releases Sixth Edition of "Trade Watch Quarterly"
NITI Aayog released the sixth edition of its flagship publication, "Trade Watch Quarterly," for the second quarter of FY 2025–26 (July–September 2025). The sixth edition was released in New Delhi by Vice President Suman Beri in the presence of Member Arvind Virmani. The report analyzes global and domestic trade trends, with a special focus on India's electronics trade.
3. National Statistical Systems Training Academy Celebrates 18th Foundation Day
The National Statistical Systems Training Academy, under the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, celebrated its 18th Foundation Day at the Mahalanobis Auditorium in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. This year's theme was "Reimagining Capacity Building in Official Statistics to Achieve the Vision of a Developed India @ 2047."
4. WHO Grants Prequalification Approval to New nOPV2 Vaccine to Strengthen Global Polio Eradication
The World Health Organization has granted prequalification to an additional novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), which will strengthen the global response to outbreaks caused by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2. The WHO prequalification process ensures that a vaccine meets international safety, quality, and efficacy standards.
5. RBI Grants 3-Year Extension to Sanjay Agarwal as MD and CEO of AU Small Finance Bank
AU Small Finance Bank has announced that the Reserve Bank of India has approved the reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for a period of three years. His new term will be effective from April 19, 2026, to April 18, 2029. This reappointment was first approved by the bank's Board of Directors and then by shareholders, after which the RBI granted final regulatory approval.
6. Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026: India Tops Medal Tally with 94 Medals
India performed brilliantly at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026, winning a total of 94 medals and securing the top spot in the medal tally. The competition was held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi, where Indian shooters took full advantage of the home conditions.
7. Indian Army to host first International Military Adventure Challenge Cup (IMACC) 2026
The Indian Army will host the International Military Adventure Challenge Cup 2026 for the first time from February 18 to 23, 2026. The event will be held in the rugged and challenging terrain of the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. According to the Ministry of Defense, the competition aims to strengthen cooperation between the armies of India and friendly countries and test the endurance and operational capabilities of soldiers in difficult conditions.
8. Which state is the largest producer of cloves in India?
Cloves are a highly aromatic spice widely used in Indian cuisine, sweets, and traditional medicines. It is actually the dried flower bud of the tree, plucked before the flowers bloom. Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of cloves in India, with a production of approximately 0.99 thousand tons, according to horticulture data for 2021–22.
QUIZ – WITH EXPLANATION (EXACT)
1. Who has recently been appointed as the new chairman of GIFT City?
A - Hasmukh Adhia
B - Sanjay Kaul
C - Uday Kotak
D - Shaktikanta Das
The Gujarat government has appointed Kotak Mahindra Bank founder Uday Kotak as the new chairman of GIFT City in Gandhinagar. He replaces Hasmukh Adhia.
2. Which organization released the sixth edition of Trade Watch Quarterly?
A - Ministry of Finance
B - NITI Aayog
C - RBI
D - Ministry of Commerce
NITI Aayog has released the sixth edition of the Trade Watch Quarterly for the second quarter of FY 2025–26, covering trade trends in India and the world, with a special focus on the electronics sector.
3. Where was the 18th Foundation Day of NSSTA celebrated?
A - New Delhi
B - Lucknow
C - Greater Noida
D - Bhopal
The National Statistical System Training Academy celebrated its 18th Foundation Day in Greater Noida, emphasizing capacity building in official statistics to achieve the vision of a “Developed India @ 2047.”
4. Which vaccine has been prequalified by the WHO?
A - IPV
B - OPV type 1
C - nOPV2
D - mRNA vaccine
The World Health Organization has prequalified an additional novel oral polio vaccine type 2, strengthening global capacity to combat vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 outbreaks.
5. Who has been reappointed as MD and CEO of AU Small Finance Bank?
A - Aditya Puri
B - Sanjay Agarwal
C - Shashidhar Jagdishan
D - Shaktikanta Das
Sanjay Agarwal has been reappointed by the Reserve Bank of India as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AU Small Finance Bank for a period of three years.
6. How many medals did India win in total at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship?
A - 84
B - 90
C - 94
D - 100
India won 94 medals at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026, securing the top spot in the medal tally.
7. Who will host IMACC 2026?
A - Indian Navy
B - Indian Air Force
C - Indian Army
D - Indo-Tibetan Border Police
The Indian Army will host the International Military Adventure Challenge Cup for the first time in February 2026, to be held in the rugged terrain of the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
8. Which state is the largest producer of cloves in India?
A - Kerala
B - Karnataka
C - Tamil Nadu
D - Assam
Clove is an aromatic spice obtained from the dried flower buds and is used in food and medicine.
ONE LINER (EXACT)
Which state is the largest producer of cloves in India? - - Tamil Nadu
How many medals did India win in total at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championships 2026? - 94 medals
According to the Trade Watch Quarterly report, approximately what percentage growth was recorded in India's exports? - Approximately 8.5 percent
GIFT City is India's first center of what type? - The first International Financial Services Center (IFSC)
Who has recently been appointed the new chairman of GIFT City in Gandhinagar? - Uday Kotak
The RBI has granted a three-year extension to whom as MD and CEO of AU Small Finance Bank? - Sanjay Agarwal
The sixth edition of "Trade Watch Quarterly" released by NITI Aayog pertains to which quarter? - The second quarter of FY 2025–26 (July–September 2025)
Which company is manufacturing the recently prequalified nOPV2 vaccine in India? - Biological E Limited
The National Statistical System Training Academy (NSSTA) celebrated its foundation day on which date? - Its 18th foundation day
Which new polio vaccine has been prequalified by the WHO? - Novel Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2 (nOPV2)