Daily Current Affairs Quiz: February 19, 2026

Under Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese established fortified naval bases at strategic points such as Goa, Malacca, and Hormuz. These bases allowed them to control key choke points in the Indian Ocean. Alongside this, they implemented the cartaz system—a naval trade license that required all merchant ships to obtain Portuguese passes to sail safely. Ships without a cartaz risked being seized. This combination of military presence and licensing effectively gave Portugal dominance over Indian Ocean trade, rather than agricultural expansion, spice cultivation, or religious alliances.

1. The Rigveda, the oldest of the four Vedas, contains hymns that mention practices related to meditation, control of the mind, and union with the divine—concepts that later evolved into the philosophy of Yoga.
2. While the Atharvaveda and Yajurveda also contain references to rituals and spiritual practices, the foundational ideas of Yoga—discipline, concentration, and union—are first seen in the Rigveda.
3. The Samaveda is primarily concerned with chants and musical recitations, not Yoga.
4. This makes the Rigveda the earliest textual source where Yoga is referenced.

1. The battle was fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad Ghori near Tarain (modern Taraori, Haryana).
2. In the First Battle of Tarain (1191), Prithviraj defeated Ghori. But in the Second Battle (1192), Ghori decisively won.
3. This victory opened the way for the establishment of Muslim rule in northern India, beginning with the Ghurid foothold and later consolidated by the Delhi Sultanate.
4. It did not unite Rajput kingdoms (in fact, Rajput disunity was a major factor in defeat), nor did it end Ghurid invasions—it marked their success. The Mughal rule came much later (16th century).
5. So, the turning point here is Ghori’s triumph, which laid the foundation for centuries of Turkish and Afghan political dominance in India.

1. Originally started as Mitra Mela in Nasik (1899), later renamed Abhinav Bharat in 1904.
2. It was a secret revolutionary organization that believed in overthrowing British rule through armed struggle, not constitutional reform or Gandhian non-violence.
3. Members carried out revolutionary activities, including assassinations of British officials.
4. The society inspired later revolutionary groups and played a role in shaping militant nationalism.
5. It was formally disbanded in 1952.

1. The Chalukyas carefully assessed land revenue based on soil fertility, irrigation facilities, and crop type.
2. This differentiated system meant that fertile, irrigated land was taxed more heavily than dry or less productive land.
3. They also levied taxes on trade and professions, but the hallmark of their system was the nuanced land revenue assessment.
4. This approach reflects a sophisticated understanding of agrarian economics, distinguishing them from earlier Mauryan uniform taxation.