{"id":66845,"date":"2026-02-16T18:38:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T13:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=66845"},"modified":"2026-02-17T11:56:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:26:55","slug":"news-in-short-16-02-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-02-2026\/news-in-short-16-02-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 16-02-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Chincha Indians<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Agriculture&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A recent study shows that the Chincha Indians used <strong>nitrogen-rich seabird guano<\/strong> to significantly boost maize production in coastal Peru and strengthened the pre-Inca <strong>Chincha Kingdom.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chincha Indians<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Chincha were a <strong>pre-Inca civilisation<\/strong> located in the <strong>Chincha Valley<\/strong> on the southern coast of present-day <strong>Peru.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They flourished between <strong>1000\u20131400 CE.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At their peak, their population is estimated to have reached nearly <strong>100,000.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Seabird guano<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Seabird guano is a natural, <strong>highly effective fertilizer<\/strong> composed of accumulated, nutrient-rich excrement, carcasses, and eggshells from seabirds.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is <strong>exceptionally rich in nitrogen<\/strong> due to birds\u2019 marine diets of fish and seafood.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Chincha harvested guano<\/strong> from the nearby Chincha Islands and transported it to mainland fields.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>fertiliser restored soil nutrients <\/strong>in the dry coastal environment, where soils lose fertility quickly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/wildlife-biodiversity\/along-perus-desert-coast-the-chincha-indians-built-a-powerful-state-preceding-the-inca-their-secret-was-poop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DTE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Inhaled Nitric Oxide: A Potential Tool Against Drug-Resistant Pneumonia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Health, GS3\/ Science &amp; Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A recent study by researchers has explored that the <strong>high-dose inhaled nitric oxide can significantly reduce multidrug-resistant bacteria.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the discovery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India faces a <strong>high burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)<\/strong> and hospital-acquired infections where drug-resistant pneumonia is a serious threat in <strong>Intensive Care Units (ICUs)<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A significant contributor is <strong>Pseudomonas aeruginosa<\/strong>, a bacterium responsible for nearly <strong>one-fifth <\/strong>of hospital-acquired pneumonias.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The research shows that at <strong>high concentrations (around 300 ppm)<\/strong>, inhaled nitric oxide can act as a direct <strong>antimicrobial agent.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Nitric Oxide?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nitric oxide (NO) is a <strong>colorless, gaseous free radical<\/strong> molecule composed of one nitrogen and one oxygen atom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Production: <\/strong>It is a<strong> gas naturally produced by the human body from <\/strong>the amino acid L-arginine, a process that can be boosted by dietary intake of nitrate-rich foods like leafy greens, beets, and garlic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Functions:<\/strong> It acts as a neurotransmitter, immune system regulator, and aids in angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In clinical practice<\/strong>, it is used at <strong>low doses (20\u201380 ppm)<\/strong> as a <strong>selective pulmonary vasodilator in patients<\/strong> with acute respiratory failure, particularly in neonatal care.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It improves oxygenation by widening blood vessels in the lungs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Toxicity Risks:<\/strong> High doses can lead to <strong>methemoglobinemia <\/strong>and <strong>potential lung injury.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/can-a-common-hospital-gas-help-fight-drug-resistant-pneumonia\/article70607199.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>First Road-cum-rail Tunnel Under Brahmaputra River<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the Union cabinet has approved the construction of the c<strong>ountry\u2019s first underwater twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel project<\/strong> under the <strong>Brahmaputra River <\/strong>in Assam&nbsp; at an estimated cost of Rs 18,662 crore.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Project&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a around&nbsp; 34 kilometre-long four-lane access-controlled G<strong>reenfield connectivity project.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It will feature two parallel tunnels, designed to facilitate smooth and high-capacity movement of both road and rail traffic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The stretch will connect <strong>Gohpur on NH-15 and Numaligarh on NH-715 in Assam<\/strong>, cutting short the distance between the two Assam cities to just 34 kilometres from the current 240 kilometres.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The travel time will be reduced to just 20 minutes from six hours now.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Importance:&nbsp; <\/strong>The project will provide significant benefit to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and other North -Eastern States.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This will enhance the efficiency of freight movement, reducing logistics cost and driving socio-economic growth in the region.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It&nbsp; will enhance connectivity, reduce logistics costs and accelerate growth across Assam and the entire Northeast.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It will play a pivotal role in strategic considerations, regional economic growth, strengthening connectivity between major economic centers and opening new avenues for trade and industrial development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>About Brahmaputra River<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Brahmaputra is a major<strong> transboundary river in Asia<\/strong>. It originates from the Chemayungdung Glacier near Lake Manasarovar (Mapam Yumco) in Tibet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is known variably as<strong> Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet (its longest upper stretch), Siang or Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam &amp; Jamuna in Bangladesh<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It flows east through Tibet&#8217;s plateau, enters India via Arunachal Pradesh, widens in Assam&#8217;s plains, and merges with the <strong>Ganges in Bangladesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;Source :<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsonair.gov.in\/ccea-approves-construction-of-countrys-first-underwater-road-cum-rail-tunnel-project-under-brahmaputra-river-assam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Air<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the<strong> establishment of the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/11-04-2025\/deeptech-innovation-ecosystem-india\"><strong>Startup <\/strong><\/a><strong>India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0)<\/strong> with a corpus of \u20b910,000 crore to mobilise venture capital for the country\u2019s<strong> rapidly expanding <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/28-06-2025\/india-start-up-ecosystem-exponential-growth-meta\"><strong>startup ecosystem<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Venture capital<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is funding provided to emerging companies by wealthy individuals or institutional investors (venture capitalists) seeking long-term growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is high-risk but potentially high-return and can be provided through equity, debentures, or conditional loans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/11-04-2025\/deeptech-innovation-ecosystem-india\"><strong>Startup <\/strong><\/a><strong>India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0) <\/strong>&nbsp;follows the success of the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS 1.0), launched in 2016 to address funding gaps and catalyse domestic venture capital investments.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was launched under the <strong>Startup India initiative<\/strong>. Under FFS 1.0, the entire \u20b910,000 crore corpus was committed to 145 <strong>Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)<\/strong>, which have collectively invested over \u20b925,500 crore in more than 1,370 startups across sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, clean technology, fintech, healthcare, manufacturing, biotechnology and space technology, among others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first phase played a key role in <strong>nurturing first-time founders<\/strong> and crowding in private capital to build a strong venture capital ecosystem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Objectives&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The scheme aims to<strong> expand investment beyond major metropolitan centres <\/strong>to ensure that innovation thrives across the country.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is expected to play a critical role in <strong>advancing India\u2019s innovation-driven growth agenda<\/strong> by supporting startups that develop globally competitive technologies, products and solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is aligned with the <strong>government\u2019s vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047<\/strong> and is expected to contribute to economic resilience, enhanced manufacturing capabilities, job creation and India\u2019s emergence as a global innovation hub.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The startup has grown from fewer than 500 startups to more than 2 lakh startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), with 2025 recording the highest-ever annual startup registrations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With the approval of Startup India FoF 2.0, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and unlocking the full potential of India\u2019s startup ecosystem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The new fund aims to accelerate the next phase of India\u2019s startup journey by mobilising long-term domestic capital, strengthening the venture capital landscape and supporting innovation-led entrepreneurship across sectors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2227988&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PIB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>LHS 1903<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Space<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, astronomers found a rocky planet orbiting beyond its gaseous neighbors, challenging current planet formation theories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the discovered planetary system&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The system was&nbsp; observed using the European Space Agency\u2019s Cheops space telescope.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It consists of four planets, two rocky and two gaseous, orbiting a relatively small and dim star called a<strong> red dwarf about 117 light-years from the earth.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The star, named LHS 1903, is about <strong>50% as massive and 5% as luminous as our sun.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>LHS 1903 is a small red M-dwarf star <\/strong>that is cooler and shines less brightly than our Sun<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The innermost planet is rocky, the next two are gaseous and the fourth, which current planetary formation theory suggests should be gaseous, is rocky.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The two rocky planets are superearths, meaning rocky like the earth but two to ten times more massive. The two gas planets are categorised as mini-Neptunes: gaseous and smaller than Neptune but larger than the earth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :TH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>\u2018Anupam\u2019 model of Waste Management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Waste Management<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Following the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) decision to eliminate the need to transport household waste, <strong>Anupam Colonies now segregate and process waste within their own premises.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Anupam Model<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Segregation at Source:<\/strong> Under the Anupam model, waste is segregated at source into wet, dry and sanitary waste.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Further Segregation:<\/strong> Dry waste is further sorted into many categories, including paper, metal, glass, e-waste, and non-recyclables.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Compost Generation:<\/strong> Wet waste is composted on site, along with horticultural waste, using wire-mesh composting bins placed in parks and green belts, eliminating the need to transport the waste to NDMC plants.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>E-waste is sent to Central Pollution Control Board-authorised recyclers, the compost generated is distributed free of cost to residents, with surplus used by NDMC\u2019s horticulture department.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each Anupam Colony has dedicated <strong>sanitation inspectors and additional NDMC staff<\/strong> for composting work and operating mechanical sweeping machines.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Together, these complexes generate <strong>around 300 kg of wet waste daily.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Thirteen wire-mesh composters and 10 horticulture pits have been installed, producing around 800 kg of compost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/cities\/Delhi\/how-waste-management-works-under-new-anupam-model\/article70636394.ece#:~:text=Under%20the%20Anupam%20model%2C%20waste,waste%2C%20and%20non%2Drecyclables.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> A recent study shows that the Chincha Indians used nitrogen-rich seabird guano to significantly boost maize production in coastal Peru and strengthened the pre-Inca Chincha Kingdom. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Chincha Indians <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The Chincha were a pre-Inca civilisation located in the Chincha Valley on the southern coast of present-day Peru. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> They flourished between 1000\u20131400 CE. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> At their peak, their population is estimated to have reached nearly 100,000. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-02-2026\/news-in-short-16-02-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66845"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66845\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66871,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66845\/revisions\/66871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}