17 February 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs cover all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exams

Quantum-Safe Security Tool: Centre for Development of Telematics (C‑DOT) & Synergy Quantum Collaboration

India has taken a major step toward quantum-resilient cybersecurity as the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) partnered with Synergy Quantum to develop an automated quantum-safe security assessment tool. This initiative will help critical sectors such as defence, telecom, banking, and digital infrastructure prepare for the risks posed by quantum computing.

About the Quantum-Safe Automated Tool

1. Objective

• To detect cryptographic vulnerabilities in networks, devices, and applications that could be exploited by future quantum computers.
• Enables organizations to transition safely to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) before current encryption becomes obsolete.

2. Key Functions

Generates a comprehensive vulnerability report containing:

• Quantum-vulnerable cryptographic algorithms
• Their function and usage
• Exact location within the system

Helps organizations develop migration plans to quantum-safe encryption

3. Core Modules

• Web Application Module: Analyzes network traffic, Performs vulnerability assessment, Identifies quantum risks
• Security Scanner Agent: Scans systems and devices, Detects vulnerable cryptographic implementations
• Control Software: Central coordination and reporting system and Supports monitoring and mitigation planning

Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)

1. Definition

• A class of cryptographic algorithms designed to remain secure even against quantum computer attacks.

2. Need for PQC

• Quantum computers can break widely used encryption such as RSA and ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography)

3. Global Standardisation

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized initial PQC standards to guide global adoption.

Quantum Cryptography – Concept

1. Definition

• Uses principles of quantum mechanics to securely encrypt and transmit information.

2. Key Technologies

• Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Enables secure exchange of encryption keys
• Any interception attempt is immediately detectable
• Quantum Coin-Flipping: Enables two untrusting parties to agree on parameters securely
• Used as a cryptographic primitive

Importance for India (Strategic Significance)

• National Security: Protects defence communications and classified information
• Digital Economy Protection: Secures banking, telecom, fintech, and critical infrastructure
• Future-Ready Cybersecurity: Helps India prepare for the post-quantum era
• Supports India’s Quantum Mission: Aligns with India’s push under the National Quantum Mission

CBDC-Based Digital Food Coupons Pilot Launched in India

The Union Government has introduced a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Digital Food Coupons pilot under the Public Distribution System (PDS), marking a major step toward transparent, efficient, and leak-proof subsidy delivery.

About the Pilot Project

1. Key Feature:

Programmable Digital Rupee (e₹)

• Digital Rupee (e₹) is credited directly into beneficiaries’ digital wallets.
• It can be used only to purchase entitled foodgrains at Fair Price Shops.
• Transactions occur via QR codes or digital coupons.

2. Major Benefits

• Ensures real-time, secure, and traceable transactions
• Eliminates need for repeated biometric authentication
• Reduces leakages and fraud
• Strengthens last-mile delivery of food subsidies
• Enhances beneficiary empowerment and transparency

What is CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency)?

CBDC is the digital form of sovereign fiat currency issued by the central bank.

1. Key Characteristics

• Issued and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India
• Legal tender under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
• Liability of the central bank (appears on its balance sheet)
• Equivalent in value to physical currency (₹)

2. Types of Digital Rupee in India (launched December 2022)

• e₹-W (Wholesale): For interbank settlements
• e₹-R (Retail): For public use

Significance of CBDC-Based Food Coupons

1. Improves Transparency:

• Digital ledger enables complete transaction traceability
• Reduces corruption and diversion of subsidized food

2. Enhances Financial Inclusion:

• Enables direct transfers to unbanked or underbanked populations
• Promotes digital payments adoption

3. Reduces Leakages in PDS:

• Eliminates intermediaries and ghost beneficiaries
• Ensures subsidies reach intended recipients

4. Improves Governance and Efficiency:

• Real-time monitoring and Faster delivery of welfare benefits

5. Strengthens India’s Digital Economy:

• Supports Digital India and fintech ecosystem
• Promotes secure and sovereign digital currency usage

Need to Reform Global Trading System: WTO Chief Calls for Multilateral Renewal

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization emphasized the urgent need to reform the global trading system to address geopolitical tensions, protectionism, technological disruption, and climate challenges, while preserving the core principles of multilateral cooperation.

Key Issues Facing the Global Trading System

1. Dispute Settlement Crisis

• The WTO’s Appellate Body, central to its two-tier dispute resolution mechanism, has been non-functional since December 2019.
• This has weakened enforcement of trade rules and reduced confidence in the system.
• Countries increasingly rely on unilateral measures or bilateral agreements instead of WTO arbitration.

2. Unresolved Core Trade Issues

• Agriculture: Disagreements over Agricultural subsidies, Market access and Public stockholding for food security
• Special and Differential Treatment: Debate over whether large emerging economies like India and China should continue receiving special concessions meant for developing nations.
• Doha Development Agenda Stalemate: Doha Round (launched 2001) aimed to prioritize development concerns but remains largely unresolved.

3. Rise of Protectionism and Geopolitical Rivalries

• Increasing use of Reciprocal tariffs (e.g., US tariff measures), Trade wars and economic nationalism, Regional and bilateral trade agreements instead of multilateral frameworks
• This undermines WTO’s role as a universal trade regulator.

4. Emerging New-Age Trade Challenges

• Digital Trade Issues: Cross-border data flows, Data privacy regulations, Digital taxation frameworks
• Climate Change Measures: Carbon border taxes and Environmental standards affecting trade
• Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Disruptions due to pandemics, wars, and geopolitical tensions & Increasing focus on supply chain resilience and strategic autonomy

Measures Suggested to Strengthen the Global Trading System

1. Reaffirm Multilateralism:

• WTO must remain the primary forum for global trade governance.
• Multilateral cooperation prevents fragmentation and trade chaos.

2. Restore Dispute Settlement System:

• Revive and reform the Appellate Body.
• Ensure timely, credible, and enforceable dispute resolution.

3. Use Plurilateral Agreements Carefully:

• Smaller group agreements can help where consensus is difficult.
• However, these should complement—not replace—multilateralism.

4. Align Trade with Climate and Technology Realities:

• Integrate trade rules with Climate commitments, Digital economy requirements, Sustainable development goals

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Front-of-Pack Labelling

The Supreme Court of India has urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider implementing Front-of-Pack (FoP) warning labels on packaged foods containing high levels of sugar, fat, and sodium, to promote healthier consumer choices and address rising lifestyle diseases.

What is Front-of-Pack (FoP) Labelling?

1. Definition:

• Front-of-Pack labelling is a simple, interpretive nutrition labelling system displayed prominently on the front of food packages, designed to help consumers quickly assess the nutritional quality of a product.

2. Key Features:

• Provides clear and easy-to-understand nutrition information
• Focuses on critical nutrients of concern High sugar, High salt (sodium), High saturated fat
• Uses simplified formats such as Warning symbols, Colour codes, Star ratings or traffic-light systems

3. Objective:

• Enable informed food choices, Encourage healthier eating habits, Reduce risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease

Draft FSS (Labelling and Display) Amendment Regulations, 2025

• Proposed strengthening of nutrition information disclosure requirements
• Aimed to improve transparency in packaged food labelling
• However, consensus on mandatory FoP warning labels was not reached

This reflects ongoing debate between:

• Public health advocates (support strict warning labels)
• Food industry stakeholders (concerned about business impact)

Mandate and Functions of FSSAI

1. Standard Setting:

• Develops science-based food safety standards
• Defines permissible limits of additives, contaminants, and nutrients

2. Regulatory Oversight:

• Regulates food across entire value chain – Manufacturing, Processing, Storage, Distribution, Sale, Import

3. Licensing and Certification:

• Issues licenses to food businesses and Ensures compliance with safety standards

4. Consumer Awareness:

• Promotes safe and healthy eating habits

Governing Structure

• Food Authority consists of Chairperson and 22 Members
• Representation includes Government officials, Food industry, Consumer organizations, Scientists
• One-third of members must be women

Key Initiative:

Eat Right India

1. Eat Right India Movement:

• Promotes Safe food, Healthy diets, Sustainable food practices

2. Major components:

• Eat Right Campus, Eat Right School, Clean Street Food initiative

G4 Grouping and UN Security Council Reform

The G4 grouping has once again emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive reform and expansion of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to make it more representative of contemporary global realities.

About G4 Grouping

• Definition: G4 is an alliance of four countries seeking permanent membership in a reformed UNSC.
• Members: India, Brazil, Germany, Japan

Objectives of the G4 Group

1. Expansion of UNSC Membership:

• G4 advocates expansion in both categories Permanent members and Non – permanent members
• This expansion aims to better reflect modern geopolitical and economic realities.

2. Permanent Membership for G4 Nations:

• Each G4 country seeks permanent membership based on Economic strength, Population size, Contributions to UN peacekeeping, Role in global governance
• India, for example, is one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions.

3. Greater Representation for Developing Regions:

• G4 strongly supports increased representation for Africa, Latin America, Asia
• This would correct historical under-representation of the Global South.

4. Making UNSC More Democratic and Representative:

• Current UNSC structure reflects the post-World War II power structure, not present realities.
• The G4 argues reforms are needed to ensure Greater legitimacy, Improved effectiveness, Inclusive global governance

Why UNSC Reform is Needed

1. Outdated Structure:

• Reflects 1945 geopolitical realities
• Does not reflect rise of emerging powers like India, Brazil, etc.

2. Underrepresentation of Developing Countries

• Africa and Latin America lack permanent representation

3. Legitimacy and Effectiveness Issues

• Limited representation reduces global acceptance of decisions

4. Rising Role of Emerging Economies:

• Countries like India and Brazil play major roles in Global economy, Peacekeeping, Climate negotiations

Challenges to UNSC Reform

• Opposition from Existing Permanent Members: Reform requires approval of current permanent members, who may resist dilution of power.
• Opposition from Regional Rivals: Examples – Pakistan opposes India's bid, Italy opposes Germany’s bid, South Korea opposes Japan’s bid
• Charter Amendment Requirement: Requires Two-thirds majority in UN General Assembly and Ratification by all permanent members

Twin Tube Road-Cum-Rail Tunnel Project under River Brahmaputra

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved India’s first underwater twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel project, aimed at significantly enhancing connectivity and strategic mobility in Northeast India.

About the Project

1. Location:

Under the Brahmaputra River in Assam

2. Total Length:

• Overall project length: 33.7 km
• Underwater twin tube tunnel length: 15.79 km

3. Connectivity:

• Connects Gohpur (NH-15) with Numaligarh (NH-715)
• Provides faster connectivity across the Brahmaputra, reducing travel time and improving transport efficiency

Key Features

1. Twin Tube Tunnel Design

• Two parallel tunnels for efficient traffic management
• Dedicated lanes to ensure uninterrupted movement

2. Road-Cum-Rail Integration

Supports both:

• Road transportation
• Railway transportation
• Enhances multimodal transport capability

3. Four-Lane Access-Controlled Greenfield Corridor

• Fully access-controlled highway
• Improves safety, reduces congestion, and enables faster travel

4. Underwater Tunnel Engineering

• First underwater tunnel of its kind in India combining road and rail infrastructure
• Designed to operate safely beneath a major river system

Kamala Hydroelectric Project

The Expert Appraisal Committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recommended environmental clearance for the Kamala Hydroelectric Project, a major multipurpose hydroelectric initiative in Northeast India.

About Kamala Hydroelectric Project

• Type: Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project
• Objectives: Power generation and Flood moderation (flood control and river flow regulation)
• Developer: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC)
• State: Arunachal Pradesh (Lower Subansiri district)
• River: Built on the Kamla River
  Kamla River is a right-bank tributary of the Subansiri River
• River System Hierarchy: Kamla River → Subansiri River → Brahmaputra River

Installed Power Capacity

1.Total Capacity:

• 1800 MW

2. Breakup:

• Underground powerhouse: 1728 MW
• Surface powerhouse: 72 MW

This makes it one of the major hydroelectric power projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

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