TODAY NEWS HIGHLIGHT
➤ Rashid Khan created history, becoming the first bowler to do so in T20 cricket (sports)
➤ Norway's Johannes Klebo wins a stunning relay gold to claim his 9th Olympic medal (sports)
➤ PM Modi inaugurates India AI Impact Expo 2026 (summits) in New Delhi
➤ Country's sugar exports to reach 2.01 lakh tonnes in marketing year 2025-26 till February (economy)
➤ India's trade deficit widens to $34.68 billion in January 2026 due to increased gold and silver imports (economy)
➤ President Draupadi Murmu flags off the centenary celebrations of Ol Chiki in Delhi (national)
➤ 14 million downloads, 1 million mobile updates: The tremendous growth story of the Aadhaar app (national)
➤ World Anthropology Day (imp. day)
1. Rashid Khan creates history, becomes the first bowler to achieve this in T20 cricket
Rashid Khan set a historic world record by taking 700 wickets in T20 cricket. He achieved this feat during the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, becoming the first bowler in the world to take 700 wickets in this format. Previously, in February 2025, he surpassed Dwayne Bravo's record of 631 wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket.
2. Norway's Johannes Klæbo wins his 9th Olympic medal with a stunning relay gold win
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won his ninth Winter Olympic medal on February 15, 2026, by winning gold in the men's 4x7.5 km relay at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. With this historic achievement, he became the most decorated athlete in Winter Olympic history. The competition was held in Tesoro, Italy, where Norway performed brilliantly, surpassing France and Italy.
3. PM Modi Inaugurates India AI Impact Expo 2026 in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, describing it as a confluence of ideas, innovation, and resolve. He stated that India's artificial intelligence journey is not limited to domestic transformation but will also significantly contribute to global technological progress.
4. India's sugar exports projected to reach 201,547 tonnes by February in the 2025-26 marketing year
According to the All India Sugar Trade Association, India's sugar exports exceeded 201,547 tons through February in the 2025-26 marketing year. This marketing year runs from October to September, and India is among the world's leading sugar producers and exporters.
5. India's trade deficit widens to $34.68 billion in January 2026 due to increased gold and silver imports
India's trade deficit widened to $34.68 billion in January 2026, significantly higher than $23.43 billion in January last year and nearly $25 billion in December 2025. Merchandise exports during this period stood at $36.56 billion, while imports rose to $71.24 billion. A 19 percent annual increase in imports and a meager 0.6 percent increase in exports led to a significant widening of the export-import gap.
6. President Draupadi Murmu flags off Ol Chiki's 100th anniversary celebrations in Delhi
President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebrations of Ol Chiki script organized by the Ministry of Culture in New Delhi on February 16, 2026. To mark the centenary of this script, developed by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925, the President honored the cultural heritage of the Santal community by issuing a commemorative coin and a special postage stamp.
7. 14 Million Downloads, 1 Million Mobile Updates: The Aadhaar App's Explosive Growth Story
According to the Unique Identification Authority of India, the new Aadhaar app, dedicated to the nation on January 28, 2026, has been downloaded nearly 14 million times to date and is registering an average of 100,000 downloads daily. More than 1 million residents have updated their mobile numbers through the app, reflecting its growing utility and public trust.
8. World Anthropology Day
Initiated by the American Anthropological Association, World Anthropology Day is celebrated every year on the third Thursday of February. Its purpose is to highlight the importance of anthropology and raise awareness about the study of human society, culture, and evolution.
QUIZ – WITH EXPLANATION (EXACT)
1. In how many matches did Rashid Khan reach 700 wickets?
A - 450
B - 500
C - 518
D - 550
Rashid Khan set a world record by taking 700 wickets in T20 cricket, becoming the first bowler to take 700 wickets in this format. He achieved this feat during the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
2. In which event did Klebo win a gold medal?
A - 50 km Classic
B - Team Sprint
C - 4x7.5 km Relay
D - 10 km Freestyle
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won his ninth Winter Olympic medal on February 15, 2026, by winning gold in the men's 4x7.5 km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. With this achievement, he became the most decorated athlete in Winter Olympic history.
3. Who inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026?
A - President Draupadi Murmu
B - Narendra Modi
C - Amit Shah
D - Rajnath Singh
Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and linked India's AI journey to global technological progress, calling it a tool for public welfare.
4. What was India's sugar exports through February in the 2025-26 marketing year?
A - 150,000 tons
B - 201,547 tons
C - 300,000 tons
D - 500,000 tons
According to the All India Sugar Trade Association, India's sugar exports have exceeded 201,547 tons by February in the 2025-26 marketing year. The central government has approved exports of 2 million tons this year.
5. What was India's trade deficit in January 2026?
A - $25 billion
B - $30 billion
C - $34.68 billion
D - $40 billion
India's trade deficit widened to $34.68 billion in January 2026, as imports reached $71.24 billion while exports stood at $36.56 billion. This gap widened due to a 19% increase in imports and a mere 0.6% increase in exports. A sharp increase in gold and silver imports was the main reason for this widening deficit.
6. Who invented the Ol Chiki script?
A - Birsa Munda
B - Pandit Raghunath Murmu
C - Rabindranath Tagore
D - Gopabandhu Das
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script, organized by the Ministry of Culture, in New Delhi. This phonetic script, developed by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925, gave the Santali language an independent identity.
7. How many profiles can be managed on a single device under the "One Family – One App" feature?
A - 2
B - 3
C - 4
D - 5
According to the Unique Identification Authority of India, the new Aadhaar app, launched on January 28, 2026, has received approximately 14 million downloads so far. More than 1 million people have updated their mobile numbers through the app.
8. World Anthropology Day was initiated by which organization?
A - UNESCO
B - Indian Council of Anthropology
C - American Anthropological Association
D - United Nations
World Anthropology Day, initiated by the American Anthropological Association, is celebrated every year on the third Thursday of February. Its purpose is to raise awareness about the importance of anthropology and the study of human society, culture, and evolution.
ONE LINER (EXACT)
When is World Anthropology Day celebrated each year? - The third Thursday of February
Approximately what was India's sugar exports in the 2025-26 marketing year until February? - 201,547 tons
How many crore downloads has the new Aadhaar app crossed? - Approximately 14 million downloads
Who invented the Ol Chiki script? - Pandit Raghunath Murmu
During which tournament did Rashid Khan take his 700th wicket? - T20 World Cup 2026
In which year was the Santali language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution? - 2003
Where was the India AI Impact Expo 2026 inaugurated? - Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Who became the first bowler in the world to take 700 wickets in T20 cricket? - Rashid Khan
What was India's trade deficit recorded in January 2026? - $34.68 billion
Which player won the 9th Winter Olympic medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics? - Johannes Hoesflot Klebo