Asia Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Which of the following was launched at the National Conference on Safety of Women at Workplace on 14 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — SHe-Box logo and PoSH Voluntary Compliance Checklist
Union Minister Annpurna Devi launched the SHe-Box logo, the PoSH Voluntary Compliance Checklist and other integrations at Vigyan Bhawan.
As stated at the SHe-Box conference on 14 February 2026, how many workplaces had been onboarded on the SHe-Box portal?
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Correct answer: A — Over 1.5 lakh
WCD Secretary Anil Malik said over 1.5 lakh workplaces had been onboarded, with Local Committees active in every district.
Consider the following statements about the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013: 1. An Internal Committee is mandatory in workplaces with 10 or more employees. 2. At least one-half of the members of an Internal Committee must be women. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Workplaces with fewer than 10 employees are covered by Local Committees set up in every district.
Where was the 29th Divya Kala Mela inaugurated on 14 February 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Chandigarh
Dr Virendra Kumar inaugurated the 29th Divya Kala Mela at the Exhibition Ground, Chandigarh.
The Divya Kala Mela, whose 29th edition opened in Chandigarh in February 2026, is a platform for:
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Correct answer: B — Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs
The Divya Kala Mela links the products of Divyang (persons with disabilities) artisans and entrepreneurs to markets.
Where was the two-day Chintan Shivir of the Department of Financial Services held on 13–14 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Coorg, Karnataka
The DFS Chintan Shivir was held at Coorg, Karnataka, and concluded on 14 February 2026.
The Coimbatore serial bomb blasts, whose victims the Vice-President remembered on 14 February 2026, took place in which year?
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Correct answer: C — 1998
The Coimbatore serial bomb blasts occurred on 14 February 1998, while L. K. Advani was visiting the city.
Under the PM RAHAT scheme approved on 13 February 2026, accident victims will get cashless treatment of up to:
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Correct answer: B — ₹1.5 lakh
PM RAHAT provides cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh to accident victims.
To what number was the Lakhpati Didi target raised on 13 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 6 crore
The target was doubled to 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by March 2029.
The loan target of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund was raised on 13 February 2026 to:
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Correct answer: D — ₹2 lakh crore
The AIF loan target was doubled from ₹1 lakh crore to ₹2 lakh crore.
What is the corpus of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 approved by the PM on 13 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹10,000 crore
Startup India FoF 2.0 has a corpus of ₹10,000 crore, aimed at deep tech, early-stage ideas and advanced manufacturing.
Consider the following statements about Startup India as on 31 December 2025: 1. DPIIT had recognised over 2.07 lakh entities as startups. 2. Funds supported under the Fund of Funds for Startups had invested over ₹25,000 crore in 1,371 startups. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: 2,07,135 startups were recognised, and AIFs supported under FFS had invested ₹25,547.98 crore in 1,371 startups.
What is the total Central Assistance under the Urban Challenge Fund approved by the Cabinet in February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — ₹1 lakh crore
The Central Assistance is ₹1 lakh crore; it is expected to unlock total investment of ₹4 lakh crore.
Under the Urban Challenge Fund, Central Assistance covers what share of project cost, subject to a minimum share being raised from the market?
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Correct answer: A — 25% CA; at least 50% from market
Central Assistance covers 25% of the project cost, subject to at least 50% being raised from the market.
Consider the following statements about the Urban Challenge Fund: 1. It gives effect to proposals announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, including Cities as Growth Hubs. 2. Its Credit Repayment Guarantee Scheme offers a central guarantee of up to ₹7 crore or 70% of a first-time loan, whichever is lower. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The UCF implements the Budget 2025-26 vision on Cities as Growth Hubs, Creative Redevelopment and Water and Sanitation, and the ₹5,000 crore guarantee scheme covers up to ₹7 crore or 70% of a first loan.
What is the name of the new Prime Minister's Office complex inaugurated by PM Modi in New Delhi on 13 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Seva Teerth
The new PMO complex was named Seva Teerth; Kartavya Bhavan-1 & 2 were inaugurated along with it.
Consider the following offices: 1. Prime Minister's Office 2. National Security Council Secretariat 3. Cabinet Secretariat Which of the above are housed in Seva Teerth?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
Seva Teerth houses all three: the PMO, the National Security Council Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat, which were earlier at different locations.
From which building did the Prime Minister's Office function for nearly eight decades before moving to Seva Teerth?
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Correct answer: B — South Block
The PMO functioned from the colonial-era South Block for nearly eight decades.
Consider the following statements recalled at the Seva Teerth inauguration: 1. The British shifted the capital from Kolkata to Delhi in 1911. 2. 13 February 2026 marked 95 years since the formal inauguration of New Delhi as the capital in 1931. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The PM recalled the 1911 shift of the capital after the 1905 Bengal Partition, and the move came 95 years after New Delhi's formal inauguration in 1931.
Which party, led by Tarique Rahman, won the Bangladesh parliamentary election whose results were declared on 13 February 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Bangladesh Nationalist Party
The BNP-led alliance under Tarique Rahman won a two-thirds majority.
How many seats did the BNP-led alliance win in the February 2026 Bangladesh election?
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Correct answer: C — 212
The BNP-led alliance won 212 seats, a two-thirds majority; the Jamaat-led alliance won 77.
Who headed Bangladesh's interim government as Chief Adviser at the time of the February 2026 election?
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Correct answer: B — Muhammad Yunus
Power was to pass from the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Consider the following statements: 1. Tarique Rahman is the son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. 2. The February 2026 election was the first in Bangladesh since the 2024 uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina's government. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Rahman is the son of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, and this was the first election since the 2024 student-led uprising.
How many stamps were in the 'Puppets of India' commemorative set released by the Department of Posts on 13 February 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 8
The set has eight stamps, each showing a traditional puppetry form.
Match the puppetry form with its state as shown on the 'Puppets of India' stamps: 1. Tolu Bommalatta 2. Pavakathakali 3. Kathi Kundhei Select the correct option:
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Correct answer: A — 1-Andhra Pradesh, 2-Kerala, 3-Odisha
Tolu Bommalatta is from Andhra Pradesh, Pavakathakali from Kerala and Kathi Kundhei from Odisha.
How much wheat did the Government of India approve for export on 13 February 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 25 LMT
The government approved 25 LMT of wheat exports, plus an additional 5 LMT of wheat products.
Consider the following statements about the sugar export decision of 13 February 2026: 1. An additional 5 LMT of sugar exports was allowed for the 2025-26 season. 2. Mills must export at least 70% of their allocated quantity by 30 June 2026 to get the additional quota. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The extra 5 LMT is on top of 15 LMT allowed in November 2025, for mills exporting at least 70% of their allocation by 30 June 2026.
Which of the following rail sections was NOT among the three multitracking projects approved by the CCEA in February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Sainthia–Pakur
The three projects were Kasara–Manmad, Delhi–Ambala and Ballari–Hosapete 3rd and 4th lines.
By about how many kilometres will the three multitracking projects approved on 13 February 2026 increase the Indian Railways network?
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Correct answer: C — 389 km
The three projects will add about 389 km across 12 districts.
Where was the Waterjet Production & Testing Facility of Marine Jet Power India inaugurated by the DG of the Indian Coast Guard on 13 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Goa
DG ICG Paramesh Sivamani inaugurated the facility in Goa.
With the waterjet facility in Goa, India became the third country to host such a facility after:
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Correct answer: D — The US and South Korea
India became the third country after the United States and South Korea.
Between which two places in Assam will the road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra, approved in February 2026, provide connectivity?
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Correct answer: A — Gohpur and Numaligarh
The corridor runs from Gohpur on NH-15 to Numaligarh on NH-715.
What is the approved capital cost of the Gohpur–Numaligarh corridor with the Brahmaputra tunnel?
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Correct answer: B — ₹18,662 crore
The CCEA approved the project at a total capital cost of ₹18,662 crore on EPC mode.
Consider the following statements about the Gohpur–Numaligarh project: 1. Its tunnel under the Brahmaputra is about 15.79 km long, within a total project length of 33.7 km. 2. Both tubes of the tunnel will carry railway lines, with no road traffic. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. It is a twin-tube road tunnel with two lanes in each tube, and railway infrastructure is provided in one of the tubes.
The NH-167 Gudebellur–Mahabubnagar widening approved in February 2026 lies on which economic corridor?
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Correct answer: A — Hyderabad–Panaji
The NH-167 stretch in Telangana is on the Hyderabad–Panaji Economic Corridor.
Which highway section in Maharashtra, approved by the CCEA on 13 February 2026, links Ghoti and Trimbak with Jawhar, Manor and Palghar?
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Correct answer: B — NH-160A
The 154.635-km Ghoti–Trimbak (Mokhada)–Jawhar–Manor–Palghar section is part of NH-160A.
Consider the following statements about the highway projects approved on 13 February 2026: 1. The NH-56 project in Gujarat will be built on Hybrid Annuity Mode. 2. The NH-160A project in Maharashtra will be built on Hybrid Annuity Mode. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The NH-56 (Gujarat) and NH-167 (Telangana) projects are on HAM, while NH-160A (Maharashtra) is on EPC mode.
What was the theme of World Radio Day 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Radio and Artificial Intelligence
UNESCO's theme for World Radio Day 2026 was 'Radio and Artificial Intelligence'.
World Radio Day is observed on 13 February because on that date in 1946:
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Correct answer: A — United Nations Radio was established
13 February is the anniversary of the creation of United Nations Radio in 1946.
Consider the following statements about World Radio Day: 1. It was proclaimed by UNESCO's General Conference at its 36th session in 2011. 2. It was adopted as a UN international day by the UN General Assembly in 2012. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. UNESCO proclaimed it in 2011 at its 36th General Conference, and the 67th session of the UN General Assembly adopted it in 2012.
Sarojini Naidu, whose birth anniversary was marked on 13 February 2026, became after Independence the first woman Governor of:
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Correct answer: A — United Provinces
Sarojini Naidu became the first woman Governor of the United Provinces, now Uttar Pradesh.
What is the size of the BIRAC–RDI Fund whose first national call was announced on 13 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹2,000 crore
The BIRAC–RDI Fund is ₹2,000 crore, under the ₹1 lakh crore RDI initiative.
The Noida Metro extension approved by the Cabinet in February 2026 will run from Noida Sector 142 to:
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Correct answer: D — Botanical Garden
The 11.56-km corridor runs from Sector 142 to Botanical Garden, with eight elevated stations.
What was India's all-India CPI inflation for January 2026 in the first release on base 2024=100?
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Correct answer: C — 2.75%
Year-on-year CPI inflation for January 2026 was 2.75% (provisional) on the new base.
In the first CPI release on base 2024=100, food inflation (CFPI) for January 2026 was:
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Correct answer: B — 2.13%
All-India CFPI inflation was 2.13%; rural 1.96% and urban 2.44%.
How many divisions does the new CPI (2024=100) use, in line with COICOP 2018, in place of the earlier 6 groups?
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Correct answer: C — 12
The new series has 12 divisions in place of 6 groups, following COICOP 2018.
Consider the following statements about the item basket of the new CPI (2024=100): 1. Online media/streaming services and rural housing have been added. 2. Radio and tape recorders have been removed. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Streaming services, rural housing, pen drives and exercise equipment were added; radio, tape recorders, VCR/DVD players and second-hand clothing were removed.
What was the total value of proposals cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council on 12 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — About ₹3.60 lakh crore
The DAC accorded AoN to proposals worth about ₹3.60 lakh crore.
Which aircraft was cleared as the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) for the IAF by the DAC on 12 February 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Rafale
The DAC cleared MRFA (Rafale) for the IAF, most of which will be manufactured in India.
Which aircraft did the DAC clear for the Indian Navy on 12 February 2026 for long-range anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance?
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Correct answer: D — P8I
AoN was cleared for P8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the Navy.
Consider the following statements about the DAC decisions of 12 February 2026: 1. The Defence Acquisition Council is chaired by the Raksha Mantri. 2. 'Vibhav', cleared for the Army, is an air defence missile system. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The DAC is chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. Vibhav is an anti-tank mine, to be laid as an obstacle against enemy mechanised forces.
What penalty did the CCI impose on Intel Corporation on 12 February 2026 over its India-specific warranty policy?
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Correct answer: B — ₹27.38 crore
The CCI imposed a penalty of ₹27.38 crore on Intel.
Intel was penalised by the CCI for contravening Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002. What does Section 4 deal with?
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Correct answer: C — Abuse of dominant position
Section 4 prohibits abuse of dominant position. Section 3 covers anti-competitive agreements and Sections 5–6 cover combinations.
Which state received the largest share of the ₹3,324 crore XV FC untied grants released on 12 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh received ₹1,559.40 crore for all 75 district panchayats, 826 block panchayats and 57,694 gram panchayats.
Fifteenth Finance Commission untied grants to panchayats can be used for local needs under the subjects listed in which Schedule of the Constitution?
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Correct answer: A — Eleventh Schedule
Untied grants are used under the 29 subjects of the Eleventh Schedule, except salaries and establishment costs. The Twelfth Schedule lists municipal subjects.
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, remembered by PM Modi on 12 February 2026, founded which organisation?
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Correct answer: B — Arya Samaj
Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj.
In which year did Dayanand Saraswati found the Arya Samaj?
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Correct answer: C — 1875
He founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 to counter the social inequities of the time.
What was the theme of National Productivity Week 2026, which began on NPC's 68th Foundation Day?
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Correct answer: D — Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximizing Productivity in MSMEs
The theme was 'Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximizing Productivity in MSMEs'.
Who is the Chairman of the National Productivity Council, as stated at its 68th Foundation Day?
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Correct answer: A — The Secretary, DPIIT
DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia is the Chairman of NPC.
Which fighter aircraft did the Royal Thai Air Force field in its in-situ exercise with the IAF in February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Saab Gripen
The RTAF flew Saab Gripen jets from bases in Thailand; the IAF flew Su-30MKI fighters.
From where did the IAF's participating forces operate during the February 2026 in-situ exercise with the Royal Thai Air Force?
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Correct answer: A — Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The IAF operated from airbases in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, supported by IL-78 tankers and AWACS.
Consider the following statements about India–Thailand air force engagement: 1. In the February 2026 in-situ exercise, IAF IL-78 tankers enabled extended-range operations over the maritime domain. 2. 'Siam Bharat' is an India–Thailand exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. IL-78 tankers supported the IAF's extended-range flying, and Siam Bharat is listed among India's bilateral HADR exercises with Thailand.
How many blocks are offered in the second tranche of Exploration Licence auctions launched on 12 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 11
Tranche-II has 11 blocks of critical and deep-seated minerals across eight states.
The Exploration Licence regime for critical and deep-seated minerals was introduced through which law?
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Correct answer: B — MMDR Amendment Act, 2023
The EL regime was introduced under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, along with the Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2023.
For which service is the MoD's February 2026 contract with HAL for eight Dornier 228 aircraft?
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Correct answer: A — Indian Coast Guard
The eight Dornier 228 aircraft are for the Indian Coast Guard.
Which HAL division will supply the eight Dornier 228 aircraft under the ₹2,312 crore contract signed on 12 February 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur
The contract was signed with HAL's Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur.
In the BPaL regimen for drug-resistant TB, found cost-effective by an ICMR study in February 2026, 'P' stands for:
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Correct answer: D — Pretomanid
BPaL is bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid; BPaLM adds moxifloxacin.
With which Union Territory did the Ministry of Earth Sciences sign an MoU on blue economy and coastal resilience on 12 February 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Puducherry
The MoU was signed with the Government of Puducherry's Department of Science, Technology and Environment.
According to NITI Aayog's 'Technology Services – Reimagination Ahead' roadmap of February 2026, India's technology services sector can reach what size by 2035?
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Correct answer: B — $750–850 billion
The roadmap projects growth from about $265 billion to $750–850 billion by 2035.