This is the current affairs of 20 February 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. In the Epstein case, the brother of which country’s King and former Prince Andrew was arrested?
a. Britain
b. Thailand
c. Saudi Arabia
d. Oman
Answer: a. Britain
– In Britain, King Charles’s brother Andrew was arrested on 19 February 2026.
– In fact, Virginia Giuffre, who was a victim in the Epstein case, had alleged that in 2001, when she was 17 years old, Prince Andrew sexually abused her.
– However, Andrew had denied all the allegations made by Giuffre.
– Giuffre died in April 2025. It was reported as a suicide.
– In England, misconduct while holding public office is considered a serious crime.
– The maximum punishment for this offense can be life imprisonment.
– King Charles said regarding the arrest of his younger brother Andrew that the law will be allowed to take its course.
The case dates back to 2001
– The case is related to the time when Andrew was Britain’s Trade Envoy.
– He was appointed to this position in 2001, but resigned ten years later.
– At that time, his name surfaced in controversies regarding his association with American criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
– Documents released by the U.S. Justice Department stated that Andrew was in contact with Epstein while holding office.
Andrew got entangled after Virginia Giuffre’s revelations
– In 2011, Virginia Giuffre exposed a high-profile prostitution network in the United States, shocking the world.
– She said that when she was just 15 years old, she became trapped in Epstein’s network.
– She was forced to have sexual relations with several influential and high-profile individuals.
– In the same interview, Virginia also mentioned her meetings with Britain’s Prince Andrew.
– Virginia had been living in Australia for several years.
– She had become an advocate for women who had faced sexual abuse.
– Her memoir ‘No Body’s Girl’ was published on 21 October 2025.
Andrew was stripped of royal titles
– In October 2025, King Charles stripped his younger brother Andrew of the title ‘Prince’ and all royal honors.
– He was also ordered to vacate his luxurious residence ‘Royal Lodge’ in Windsor.
– The 65-year-old Andrew is the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth.
– He was also barred from using the title ‘Duke of York’.
– After losing his royal titles, Prince Andrew is now known as ‘Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’.
– Although King Charles stripped Prince Andrew of his titles and other royal honors, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne.
Case filed against Prince Andrew in 2021
– Andrew had served as an officer in the British Navy.
– He served during the war with Argentina in the 1980s.
– However, after his name surfaced in connection with Virginia, his reputation suffered greatly.
– In 2019, he stepped down from all royal duties.
– Virginia filed a lawsuit against Britain’s Prince Andrew in 2021.
– Later, Andrew and Virginia settled the dispute for about 12 million pounds (approximately ₹125 crore).
– However, Andrew refused to admit any wrongdoing.
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2. Which of these organizations announced the development of Bee Corridors near National Highways?
a. NHAI
b. ISRO
c. HUDCO
d. Ircon
Answer: a. NHAI
– NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) announced this eco-friendly initiative on 17 February 2026.
– Under this plan, pollinator-friendly corridors will be developed around highways.
– Flowering trees and plants will be planted in these corridors to promote the conservation of bees and other pollinators.
– The objective is to strengthen biodiversity.
– In the year 2026–27, the target is to plant 4 million trees, of which about 60% will be under the Bee Corridor initiative.
– Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that three such corridors are expected to be developed in the next financial year.
– NHAI’s regional offices across the country will identify highway stretches where clusters of flowering trees can be planted at intervals of about 500 meters to 1 kilometer, in line with the average foraging distance of bees and wild bees.
How will Bee Corridors be developed?
– Under this plan, a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses will be planted. Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun, and Siris like native species will be given priority.
– Flowering will be staggered across different seasons to ensure nectar availability throughout the year.
– Clusters of flowering trees will be planted at intervals of 500 meters to 1 kilometer, keeping in mind the average flying distance of bees.
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3. Which state has declared tidal flooding as a state-specific disaster?
a. Andhra Pradesh
b. Kerala
c. Bihar
d. Tamil Nadu
Answer: b. Kerala
– This is the first time in India that a state has officially recognized tidal flooding as a disaster category.
– Victims are now entitled to receive financial assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
– Section 2(d) of the Disaster Management Act states that if flooding caused by rising tides adversely affects a community, resulting in loss of life and property and deterioration of living standards, such a natural event may be considered a disaster.
– This step was taken after repeated incidents of loss of life, property, and livelihoods in vulnerable coastal areas due to sea water intrusion.
– At least 10% of the state’s population is affected by tidal flooding.
What is tidal flooding?
– In Kerala, tidal flooding occurs when the water level of the Arabian Sea temporarily rises above a specified limit.
– As a result, low-lying coastal areas get submerged.
– Unlike storm surges caused by cyclones, this event occurs twice a day and becomes more intense during full moon and new moon phases.
– The situation worsens further during coastal storms and high tides.
– Sea water enters inland areas through rivers, backwaters, and canals, increasing the depth of flooding.
– Nine coastal districts are particularly vulnerable to repeated sea water intrusion.
Why is Kerala vulnerable?
– Kerala’s coastal topography increases the risk of sea water intrusion.
– Some parts of Alappuzha district, including the Kuttanad region, lie below sea level.
– Kochi city is only slightly above sea level.
– This makes it vulnerable to sea water intrusion beyond the high tide line.
– Areas such as Vypin, Chellanam, Edakochi, Perumbadappu, and Kumbalangi frequently face tidal flooding.
– Silt accumulation in rivers, reduced carrying capacity of water bodies, and construction in floodplains further aggravate the problem.
– Unlike monsoon floods, tidal flooding can occur throughout the year.
Other state-specific disasters in Kerala
– Coastal erosion, lightning, strong winds, soil erosion, heatwave/sunstroke/sunburn, and human-wildlife conflict have already been declared state-specific disasters.
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4. Which country banned Chinese cars at its military sites?
a. Belarus
b. Slovakia
c. Poland
d. Ukraine
Answer: c. Poland
– The Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces announced this decision following concerns about risks associated with increasingly integrated digital systems in vehicles.
– Officials said the move aims to reduce the risk of uncontrolled data acquisition and usage and to strengthen the security of sensitive defense infrastructure.
– The Polish Army stated that cars capable of recording location, video, and sound will be prohibited from entering secure military zones.
– It is also prohibited to connect official army phones to infotainment systems in any vehicle manufactured in China.
– Commanders have been instructed to arrange alternative parking facilities outside military premises for restricted vehicles.
Balancing trade and national security
– Poland remains a member of NATO.
– It maintains active trade relations with China.
– Chinese automobile brands such as MG, BYD, and Chery have recorded significant sales in the Polish market.
– Despite this, the Polish Army emphasized that the new measures align with security standards adopted by NATO allies.
Poland
President: Tomasz Slomka
Prime Minister: Donald Tusk (Donald Franciszek Tusk)
Population: 39 million
Currency: Zloty
Language: Polish
Neighboring countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia.
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5. The police headquarters of which of these states claimed the state to be Naxal-free?
a. Jharkhand
b. Bihar
c. Andhra Pradesh
d. Chhattisgarh
Answer: b. Bihar
– Suresh Koda alias Mustaqeem, a Naxalite with a bounty of three lakh rupees, surrendered in Munger on Wednesday.
– After this, the police headquarters claimed that Bihar has become completely Naxal-free.
– The announcement was made through a press release.
– Suresh Koda was leading the last armed Naxal squad active in the Munger region.
– Now no armed Naxal squad remains in Bihar. In 2012, 22 districts of the state were Naxal-affected.
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6. When is World Hippo Day celebrated?
a. 12 February
b. 13 February
c. 14 February
d. 15 February
Answer: d. 15 February
– The hippopotamus is one of the most endangered large mammals.
– Today, the global hippopotamus population is estimated to be between 115,000 and 130,000.
Note – World Environment Day is celebrated worldwide on 5 June.
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7. FCI has signed an agreement with which UN agency for a five-year supply of rice to combat global hunger?
a. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
b. World Food Programme (WFP)
c. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
d. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Answer: b. World Food Programme (WFP)
– Under the five-year agreement between India and UN-WFP, continuous supply of rice will help provide relief from hunger globally.
– This step has been taken amid growing humanitarian crises in Africa, West Asia, and conflict-affected regions.
– A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
– Under this agreement, India will supply up to 200,000 metric tonnes of rice over five years to support emergency food assistance operations.
– Fortified rice is enriched with essential nutrients such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, which are highly effective in addressing hidden hunger caused by micronutrient deficiencies.
– The supplied rice may include up to 25% broken grains.
– The current price of rice has been fixed at ₹2,800 per quintal until 31 March 2026.
– As one of the largest rice producers, India plays a central role in stabilizing international grain markets.
– With India’s support, WFP’s capacity to deliver nutritious food to crisis-affected communities is expected to increase.
– WFP is the food assistance branch of the United Nations and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
– FCI functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
World Food Programme (WFP)
– Headquarters: Rome, Italy
Important facts about rice
– In 2024–25, India surpassed China to become the world’s largest rice producer.
– India is the world’s largest rice exporter. In 2025, rice exports reached 21.55 million metric tonnes.
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8. The government amended the Information Technology Rules, 2021 to make it mandatory for which media platforms to label content generated by artificial intelligence (AI)?
a. Print media
b. Electronic media
c. Video games
d. Social media
Answer: d. Social media
– The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has notified amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021.
– Under this amendment, social media platforms must label content generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
– The time limit for removing all types of content (not just AI-generated posts) has been reduced from 24–36 hours to two to three hours in certain cases.
– These rules will come into effect from 20 February 2026.
The new rules were notified on 10 February.
– These rules are being implemented at a time when the use of deepfakes, misinformation, and synthetic media in fraud, harassment, and other illegal activities is increasing.
Changes under the new rules
– AI-generated and edited content must carry a clearly visible label.
– This label cannot be removed or tampered with.
– Platforms must assign unique identifiers to content to enable tracing of synthetic content.
– Social media platforms must obtain information from users at the time of upload regarding whether their content is AI-generated.
– They must also deploy tools to verify user declarations.
– Earlier, social media platforms were given 36 hours to remove objectionable content, but in some cases this timeline has been reduced.
– Now, platforms must delete objectionable content within three hours of a legal order or user complaint.
Further changes in the rules
– The new rules clarify that if AI-generated content is used in unlawful activities, it will be treated like other illegal content.
– Platforms must ensure that their services are not used for any unlawful activities.
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9. Who was declared the country’s first ‘Kinnar Shankaracharya’ at the Kinnar Dharma Conference?
a. Himangi Sakhi
b. Kajal Thakur
c. Sanjana
d. Sonal
Answer: a. Himangi Sakhi
– Himangi Sakhi was consecrated at the Kinnar Dharma Conference held on Mahashivaratri on 15 February 2026 in Bhopal.
– Himangi Sakhi is the head of the Maa Vaishno Kinnar Akhada.
– She is known as a religious leader in the Kinnar community.
– She has previously held the positions of Mahamandaleshwar and Jagadguru.
– She has now been conferred the title of Shankaracharya.
– Pushkar in Rajasthan was also declared the first Kinnar Shankaracharya Peeth.
– The program was organized by the Kinnar Vaishnav Akhada.
– It was attended by saints and representatives of the Kinnar community from various states, including the founder of the Kinnar Akhada, Rishi Ajay Das.
– The conference announced four Jagadgurus and five Mahamandaleshwars under the Kinnar tradition.
According to traditional belief regarding Shankaracharyas
– Traditionally, there are four Shankaracharyas. They are the heads of four major monasteries established by Adi Shankaracharya.
– These four Peethas are known as the “Char Amnaya Peethas” — established in four directions.
– East: Location – Puri, Peeth – Govardhan Math, Associated Veda – Rigveda
– South: Location – Sringeri, Peeth – Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Associated Veda – Yajurveda
– West: Location – Dwarka, Peeth – Dwarka Sharada Peeth, Associated Veda – Samaveda
– North: Location – Jyotirmath (Badrinath region), Peeth – Jyotir Math, Associated Veda – Atharvaveda, Shankaracharya – Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati
Note – Some traditions also consider Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham (Kanchipuram) as a Shankaracharya Peeth. However, historically and scripturally, the tradition of four Peethas is more widely accepted. Recognition of Shankaracharyas beyond the four is not traditionally accepted.
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10. When is Soil Health Card (SHC) Day celebrated?
a. 19 February
b. 20 February
c. 21 February
d. 22 February
Answer: a. 19 February
– Every year, India celebrates Soil Health Card Day on 19 February to mark the launch of the Soil Health Card Scheme.
– The objective of this scheme is to issue Soil Health Cards to all farmers every two years.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Soil Health Card Scheme on 19 February 2015 in Suratgarh, Rajasthan.
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11. When is World Social Justice Day celebrated?
a. 18 February
b. 19 February
c. 20 February
d. 21 February
Answer: c. 20 February
– World Social Justice Day is celebrated every year on 20 February.
– It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007.
– It was first observed in 2008.
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