Today’s Current Affairs: 17th February 2026 for UPSC IAS exams, State PSC exams, SSC CGL, State SSC, RRB, Railways, Banking Exam & IBPS, etc
Chincha Kingdom
Chincha Kingdom: New archaeological evidence reveals that seabird guano – nutrient-rich bird droppings – may have been a major factor in the rise of Peru’s precolonial Chincha Kingdom. The ‘Chincha Kingdom,’ which was established in the coastal region of modern-day Peru, was a powerful ancient state that flourished before the rise of the Inca Empire. […]
White-Rumped Vulture
White-Rumped Vulture: Forest officials recently rescued a critically endangered White-rumped vulture found weak and grounded at Mampad near Nilambur, Kerala. It is a small Old World vulture native to South and Southeast Asia. Scientific name: Gyps bengalensis It is also known as Indian White-backed Vulture or Oriental White-backed Vulture. Like other vultures, it feeds mostly […]
Army Ant Species
Army Ant Species: Researchers from Karnataka and Odisha have discovered two new species of army ants namely Aenictus chittoorensis and Aenictus lankamallensis in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Army ants are defined as a nomadic species of ants that lack a permanent nest. They belong to one of the subfamilies of ants called the […]
PM-DAKSH scheme
PM-DAKSH scheme: Data released in the Lok Sabha revealed that Less than half of the students trained under the PM-DAKSH scheme between 2021 and 2024 were placed. The Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalata Sampanna Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana, is a Central Sector Scheme. Aim is to provide skills through good quality institutions so that candidates from […]
Cheer Pheasant
Cheer Pheasant: It is observed that hunting and habitat degradation remain the biggest threats of ground-dwelling Cheer Pheasant. It is also known as Wallich’s pheasant or chir pheasant and belongs to the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is found in steep, rocky hillsides studded with scrub, stunted trees and grassy slopes. Distribution: Western Himalayas from northern […]
PM RAHAT Scheme
PM RAHAT Scheme: Government of India launched the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) Scheme. It has prioritized life-saving intervention, financial certainty for hospitals, and a structured emergency response system for accident victims. It will be integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) enabling victims, Good Samaritans to locate the nearest […]
Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0
Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0: The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India approved the establishment of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (Startup India FoF 2.0). It is launched under the Startup India initiative. It is designed to accelerate the next phase of India’s startup journey by mobilising long-term domestic […]
Urban Challenge Fund
Urban Challenge Fund: The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India approved the launch of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF). It is a new centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Fund aims to build resilient, productive, inclusive and climate-responsive cities, positioning those as key driver of the […]
Phoenicia
Phoenicia: Archaeologists excavating near ruins on the island of Sardinia discovered an Iron Age scarab amulet that originated from ancient Phoenicia. Phoenicia was an ancient region at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It covered the land where the present day Lebanon is located. The Phoenicians lived on the seacoast and were skilled shipbuilders […]
