Current affairs for 20 Feb 2026 | RBI Grade B , Banking , UPSC , SSC
📌 Economy & Inflation
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The new base year of CPI is 2024.
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CPI inflation in January stood at 2.75%.
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Rural inflation was 2.73%, while urban inflation was 2.77%.
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WPI inflation in January was 1.81% (10-month high).
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Food weight in rural CPI declined from 50.9% to 42%.
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Housing is now included in rural CPI weight.
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India’s earlier CPI base year was 2011-12.
📌 Renewable Energy & Climate
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India aims to achieve 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
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₹7,453 crore VGF is proposed for offshore wind projects.
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A 500 MW offshore wind project is planned in the Gulf of Khambhat (Gujarat).
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CUF stands for Capacity Utilization Factor in energy projects.
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El Niño affects monsoon and global climate patterns.
📌 Digital Economy & UPI
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NPCI functions under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
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Recurring UPI payments have doubled in the past year.
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926 million autopay transactions were processed by top 10 banks in November.
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57% of merchants reported increased sales due to digital payments.
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37% of merchants reported improved operational efficiency.
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30% of merchants reported reduced dependence on cash.
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TPAP stands for Third Party Application Provider in UPI ecosystem.
📌 Trade & Industry
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India plans to start manufacturing rare earth permanent magnets by year-end.
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Rare earth magnets are crucial for EVs, defence systems, and electronics.
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India’s 5% broken parboiled rice was quoted at $350–356 per tonne.
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EU tariffs on leather & footwear range between 2.5%–17%.
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India aims to reduce import dependence on critical minerals.
📌 Stock Market & Finance
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FPI stands for Foreign Portfolio Investment.
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FPI ownership fell to a 15.5-year low of 16.7%.
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Record FPI outflows in 2025 amounted to $18.9 billion.
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Domestic mutual fund holdings reached ₹52.2 trillion.
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Fuel accounts for 45–55% of airline revenue in India.
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A 4% drop in fuel cost improves airline operating margin by about 2%.
📌 AI & Technology
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OpenAI’s latest funding round is expected to cross $100 billion.
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ByteDance is expanding its AI team in the United States.
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Google Gemini uses the Lyria 3 model for AI music generation.
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AI investment is increasingly shifting toward infrastructure and data centres.
📌 ECONOMY & INFLATION
Q1. The new base year for the revised Consumer Price Index (CPI) series is:
A) 2011-12
B) 2015-16
C) 2022-23
D) 2024
Answer: D
(As per revised CPI series)
Q2. Inflation (CPI) for January under the new series was:
A) 3.75%
B) 2.75%
C) 4.10%
D) 1.81%
Answer: B
Q3. Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation in January stood at:
A) 2.75%
B) 3.10%
C) 1.81%
D) 0.95%
Answer: C
Q4. Which of the following is TRUE regarding CPI revision?
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Food weight has declined in both rural and urban baskets.
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Housing has been included in rural CPI weight.
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The previous base year was 2004-05.
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
📌 RENEWABLE ENERGY & CLIMATE
Q5. India aims to achieve how much non-fossil energy capacity by 2030?
A) 300 GW
B) 450 GW
C) 500 GW
D) 600 GW
Answer: C
Q6. The government has planned ₹7,453 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) mainly for:
A) Solar rooftops
B) Offshore wind projects
C) EV charging stations
D) Nuclear plants
Answer: B
Q7. El Niño primarily affects:
A) Stock markets
B) International trade
C) Climate and monsoon patterns
D) Currency exchange
Answer: C
📌 DIGITAL ECONOMY & UPI
Q8. NPCI operates under the supervision of:
A) SEBI
B) Ministry of Finance
C) RBI
D) NITI Aayog
Answer: C
Q9. Which issue was raised regarding UPI Autopay?
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Involuntary recurring mandates
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Difficulty in cancellation
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Direct taxation on autopay
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Q10. According to the merchant survey, what percentage reported increased sales due to digital payments?
A) 37%
B) 57%
C) 30%
D) 28%
Answer: B
📌 TRADE & INDUSTRY
Q11. India plans to start domestic manufacturing of rare earth permanent magnets mainly to:
A) Boost exports
B) Reduce import dependence
C) Increase GST revenue
D) Support agriculture
Answer: B
Q12. Rare earth permanent magnets are crucial for:
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Electric vehicles
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Defence equipment
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Electronics
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Q13. India’s 5% broken parboiled rice was quoted approximately at:
A) $300–320 per tonne
B) $350–356 per tonne
C) $400–420 per tonne
D) $280–300 per tonne
Answer: B
📌 STOCK MARKET & FINANCE
Q14. FPI stands for:
A) Foreign Public Investment
B) Foreign Portfolio Investment
C) Fiscal Policy Instrument
D) Financial Planning Index
Answer: B
Q15. Record FPI outflows in 2025 were approximately:
A) $10 billion
B) $15 billion
C) $18.9 billion
D) $25 billion
Answer: C
Q16. Fuel accounts for approximately what percentage of airline revenue in India?
A) 20–30%
B) 30–40%
C) 45–55%
D) 60–70%
Answer: C
📌 AI & TECHNOLOGY
Q17. OpenAI’s latest funding round is expected to cross:
A) $10 billion
B) $50 billion
C) $100 billion
D) $200 billion
Answer: C
Q18. Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) is associated with:
A) Banking sector
B) Renewable energy plants
C) Stock exchanges
D) Agriculture irrigation
Answer: B
📌 STATEMENT-BASED (UPSC LEVEL)
Q19. Consider the following statements:
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CPI measures retail inflation.
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WPI measures inflation at the wholesale level.
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RBI uses CPI as a key indicator for monetary policy.
Which of the above are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Q20. Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is:
A) A subsidy to make infrastructure projects financially viable
B) A tax imposed on loss-making firms
C) A loan provided by RBI
D) A foreign investment scheme
Answer: A
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