Daily Current Affairs – 13 February 2026 | ExamCare
✅ Fact-Checked & Verified🏛️ Sources: PIB, RBI, Ministries📰 10 Topics Analyzed✍️ 10 Practice MCQs🖨️ Print / Save PDF
📌 Important-days Item #1 of 10
National Women's Day Observed Across India and Globally
National Women's Day is observed on 13 February. Commemorates birth anniversary of Nightingale of India Sarojini Naidu (born 13 Feb 1879), first Indian woman President of INC.
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
Date of Observance: 13 February.
Significance: Commemorates birth anniversary of Nightingale of India Sarojini Naidu (born 13 Feb 1879), first Indian woman President of INC.
Celebrated nationwide with seminars, community awareness drives, and official government campaigns.
📌 Defence Item #2 of 10
Indian Army Inducts Indigenous 'Zorawar' Light Tank for High-Altitude Warfare
The Indian Army successfully conducted rigorous desert and high-altitude field trials of the indigenous 'Zorawar' Light Tank developed jointly by DRDO and Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Weighing approximately 25 tonnes, Zorawar is specifically tailored for deployment across rugged terrain and extreme freezing temperatures in eastern Ladakh and Sikkim.
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
Tank Name: Zorawar (named after legendary 19th-century military general Zorawar Singh Kahluria).
Weight category: 25 tonnes (amphibious and air-transportable via C-17 Globemaster and Il-76).
Developed by: Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) of DRDO and L&T.
Features: Active protection system, integrated loitering munitions, and artificial intelligence-enabled situational awareness.
📌 Sports Item #3 of 10
India to Host ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 and Asia Cup
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed the schedule of major cricketing tournaments, with India set to host the prestigious ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. Venues across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata are undergoing world-class upgrades.
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
Governing Body: International Cricket Council (ICC), headquartered in Dubai, UAE.
Indian Board: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), headquartered at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Tournament: ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 (8 teams, 31 matches).
Defending Champions: Australia.
📌 Environment Item #4 of 10
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Notifies Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla as 56th Tiger Reserve
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officially notified the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh as the 56th Tiger Reserve of India. Spanning over 2,829 sq km across Koriya, Manendragarh, and Surajpur districts, it provides a vital wildlife corridor connecting Bandhavgarh (MP) and Palamau (Jharkhand).
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
Project Tiger was launched on 1 April 1973 at Corbett National Park.
NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
India hosts 3,682 tigers (over 75% of global tiger population) as per the 5th cycle All India Tiger Estimation.
State with maximum tigers: Madhya Pradesh (785 tigers - 'Tiger State of India'), followed by Karnataka (563).
📌 Awards Item #5 of 10
President Confers Bharat Ratna on Veteran Statesman L.K. Advani and Former PMs
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, on former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, socialist icon Karpoori Thakur (posthumous), former Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh (posthumous), and agricultural scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (posthumous).
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
Bharat Ratna was instituted on 2 January 1954 by first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
First recipients in 1954: C. Rajagopalachari, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and Sir C.V. Raman.
Non-Indians awarded: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987) and Nelson Mandela (1990).
Decorations carry a Sanad (certificate signed by President) and a bronze Peepal leaf-shaped medallion; no monetary grant is attached.
📌 Appointments Item #6 of 10
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi Assumes Command as 26th Chief of the Naval Staff
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi formally assumed command as the 26th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy, succeeding Admiral R. Hari Kumar upon his superannuation. An alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and National Defence Academy Khadakwasla, Admiral Tripathi previously served as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
Designation: 26th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).
Headquarters: Integrated Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy), New Delhi.
Specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare; commanded INS Vinash, INS Kirch, and INS Trishul.
Key priority: Realizing the Indian Navy's vision of a 100% Atmanirbhar force by 2047.
📌 International Item #7 of 10
BRICS Summit Formally Welcomes New Full Members and Finalizes Kazan Declaration
The 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia concluded with the formal adoption of the Kazan Declaration under the theme 'Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security'. Leaders endorsed expanding bilateral local currency trade and introducing partner country status.
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
BRICS founded in 2006 (BRIC); South Africa joined in 2010 to form BRICS.
New full members officially admitted in 2024: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
New Development Bank (NDB) established by BRICS in 2014, headquartered in Shanghai, China (Current President: Dilma Rousseff).
Account for over 45% of the world's population and roughly 28% of global nominal GDP.
📌 Reports-indexes Item #8 of 10
India Ranks 39th in Global Innovation Index (GII) Published by WIPO
According to the Global Innovation Index (GII) published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), India climbed to the 39th position among 133 global economies. India continues to lead the Central and Southern Asia region and ranks 1st among lower-middle-income economies in innovation performance.
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
Published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized UN agency based in Geneva.
Switzerland was ranked 1st globally for the 14th consecutive year, followed by Sweden and the United States.
India moved up dramatically from 81st position in 2015 to 39th position, reflecting vibrant startup growth and patent filings.
India ranks 1st globally in ICT services exports as a percentage of total trade.
📌 National Item #9 of 10
Union Cabinet Approves Major Infrastructure Corridor Under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved new multi-modal economic corridors spanning five states under PM Gati Shakti. The project aims to eliminate multi-modal freight bottlenecks, enhance logistics efficiency, and reduce transit turnaround times across high-density industrial corridors.
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan was launched in October 2021 with ₹100 lakh crore outlay.
Integrates 16 Central Ministries and State planning departments on a unified GIS platform (BISAG-N).
Aims to reduce India's logistics costs from 13-14% of GDP down to global benchmark of around 8-9%.
Includes dedicated freight rail tracks, multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs), and industrial clusters.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced that the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has crossed 1.3 crore household registrations on its national portal. The scheme provides substantial capital subsidies up to ₹78,000 for installing residential rooftop solar panels, providing up to 300 units of free electricity monthly.
💡 KEY EXAM TAKEAWAYS & FACTS
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was launched in February 2024 with an outlay of ₹75,021 crore.
Target: Solarize 1 crore residential households across urban and rural India.
Benefits: Up to 300 units of free electricity per month and surplus power feed-in tariffs.
Subsidy structure: ₹30,000 for 1 kW systems, ₹60,000 for 2 kW systems, and ₹78,000 for 3 kW and above.
Ready to Test Your Retention?
Solve all 10 practice questions with instant evaluation and detailed solutions.
📊 Your Score: 0 / 10(Attempted: 0/10)
Question 1 of 10Important Days & Dates
On which date is 'National Women's Day' observed annually?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
National Women's Day is observed every year on 13 February. Commemorates birth anniversary of Nightingale of India Sarojini Naidu (born 13 Feb 1879), first Indian woman President of INC.
🎯 Exam Relevance: SSC CGL, Railway NTPC, Banking
Question 2 of 10Indigenous Defence Hardware
The indigenous light tank 'Zorawar' developed by DRDO and L&T is named after which legendary historical military commander?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
The light tank is named after General Zorawar Singh Kahluria, the famed military general of Dogra King Gulab Singh who led daring campaigns in Ladakh, Baltistan, and Western Tibet.
🎯 Exam Relevance: CDS, NDA, AFCAT, SSC CGL
Question 3 of 10Cricket & Sports Governance
Where is the headquarters of the International Cricket Council (ICC) located?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
The headquarters of the International Cricket Council (ICC) is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (transferred from Lord's, London in 2005).
🎯 Exam Relevance: SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, IBPS Clerk
Question 4 of 10Wildlife Conservation & Project Tiger
Which state in India recorded the highest population of wild tigers as per the latest All India Tiger Estimation census?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers in India with 785 tigers, retaining its status as the 'Tiger State of India', followed by Karnataka with 563 tigers.
🎯 Exam Relevance: UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, State PSCs
Question 5 of 10Civilian Honours & Bharat Ratna
Who among the following was the pioneer of India's Green Revolution conferred with the Bharat Ratna in 2024?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
Eminent geneticist and agricultural scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, widely hailed as the Father of India's Green Revolution, was posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna.
🎯 Exam Relevance: SSC CGL, UPSC Prelims, Banking PO
Question 6 of 10Defence Appointments
Who was appointed as the 26th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi assumed office as the 26th Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, succeeding Admiral R. Hari Kumar.
🎯 Exam Relevance: CDS, NDA, AFCAT, SSC CGL
Question 7 of 10International Organizations & Summits
Where is the permanent headquarters of the New Development Bank (NDB) established by BRICS nations located?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, has its permanent headquarters in Shanghai, China.
Which organization publishes the annual 'Global Innovation Index' (GII) ranking global economies?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
The Global Innovation Index (GII) is published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in partnership with the Portulans Institute.
What is the primary target for reducing logistics cost in India as a percentage of GDP under the National Logistics Policy?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
The National Logistics Policy aims to reduce the logistics cost in India from the existing 13-14% of GDP to single digits (around 8-9%) to match global standards, boosting export competitiveness.
What is the total number of residential households targeted for rooftop solarisation under 'PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana'?
💡 Detailed Explanation & Analysis:
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana targets the solarisation of 1 crore (10 million) residential households across India, providing capital subsidies and up to 300 units of free solar power per month.
🎯 Exam Relevance: UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, RRB NTPC
⚡ Executive Summary for 13 February 2026
Daily current affairs compilation for 13 February 2026 featuring in-depth analysis of national, banking, defense, and science developments with 10 practice MCQs for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and State PSC exams.
📋 Consolidated High-Yield Facts for Quick Revision
1. National Women's Day Observed Across India and Globally
Date of Observance: 13 February.
Significance: Commemorates birth anniversary of Nightingale of India Sarojini Naidu (born 13 Feb 1879), first Indian woman President of INC.
Celebrated nationwide with seminars, community awareness drives, and official government campaigns.
2. Indian Army Inducts Indigenous 'Zorawar' Light Tank for High-Altitude Warfare
Tank Name: Zorawar (named after legendary 19th-century military general Zorawar Singh Kahluria).
Weight category: 25 tonnes (amphibious and air-transportable via C-17 Globemaster and Il-76).
Developed by: Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) of DRDO and L&T.
Features: Active protection system, integrated loitering munitions, and artificial intelligence-enabled situational awareness.
3. India to Host ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 and Asia Cup
Governing Body: International Cricket Council (ICC), headquartered in Dubai, UAE.
Indian Board: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), headquartered at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Tournament: ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 (8 teams, 31 matches).
Defending Champions: Australia.
4. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Notifies Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla as 56th Tiger Reserve
Project Tiger was launched on 1 April 1973 at Corbett National Park.
NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
India hosts 3,682 tigers (over 75% of global tiger population) as per the 5th cycle All India Tiger Estimation.
State with maximum tigers: Madhya Pradesh (785 tigers - 'Tiger State of India'), followed by Karnataka (563).
5. President Confers Bharat Ratna on Veteran Statesman L.K. Advani and Former PMs
Bharat Ratna was instituted on 2 January 1954 by first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
First recipients in 1954: C. Rajagopalachari, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and Sir C.V. Raman.
Non-Indians awarded: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987) and Nelson Mandela (1990).
Decorations carry a Sanad (certificate signed by President) and a bronze Peepal leaf-shaped medallion; no monetary grant is attached.
6. Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi Assumes Command as 26th Chief of the Naval Staff
Designation: 26th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).
Headquarters: Integrated Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy), New Delhi.
Specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare; commanded INS Vinash, INS Kirch, and INS Trishul.
Key priority: Realizing the Indian Navy's vision of a 100% Atmanirbhar force by 2047.
7. BRICS Summit Formally Welcomes New Full Members and Finalizes Kazan Declaration
BRICS founded in 2006 (BRIC); South Africa joined in 2010 to form BRICS.
New full members officially admitted in 2024: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
New Development Bank (NDB) established by BRICS in 2014, headquartered in Shanghai, China (Current President: Dilma Rousseff).
Account for over 45% of the world's population and roughly 28% of global nominal GDP.
8. India Ranks 39th in Global Innovation Index (GII) Published by WIPO
Published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized UN agency based in Geneva.
Switzerland was ranked 1st globally for the 14th consecutive year, followed by Sweden and the United States.
India moved up dramatically from 81st position in 2015 to 39th position, reflecting vibrant startup growth and patent filings.
India ranks 1st globally in ICT services exports as a percentage of total trade.
9. Union Cabinet Approves Major Infrastructure Corridor Under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan was launched in October 2021 with ₹100 lakh crore outlay.
Integrates 16 Central Ministries and State planning departments on a unified GIS platform (BISAG-N).
Aims to reduce India's logistics costs from 13-14% of GDP down to global benchmark of around 8-9%.
Includes dedicated freight rail tracks, multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs), and industrial clusters.
