Current Affairs 02 February 2026

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Supreme Court on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in schools

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that the right to menstrual health and access to Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in schools is an integral part of the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The Court held that lack of MHM facilities leads to stigma, absenteeism, unsafe practices, and violates privacy, bodily autonomy, and the right to education of girl children.

Supreme Court directed States and Union Territories to ensure:

• Functional, gender-segregated toilets in all schools (government and private, urban and rural).
• Free access to oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins, preferably through vending machines in toilets.
• Establishment of “MHM corners” with all essentials related Menstrual hygiene.

Maharashtra’s First Woman Deputy Chief Minister

• Sunetra Pawar, Rajya Sabha MP and wife of late Ajit Pawar, is set to become the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
• The decision follows the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar in an air crash at Baramati.
• The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Legislature Party will elect her as the new leader.

Green Steel

Green Steel refers to steel produced using low-carbon or near-zero carbon technologies by replacing coal-based processes with clean energy sources like green hydrogen, renewable electricity, and recycled scrap.

Why is it important?

• Steel sector = ~12% of India’s total carbon emissions.
• Backbone of infrastructure, railways, housing, defence, automobiles.
• India plans to expand production from 125 MT to 400+ MT by 2050.
• Needed for:
  • Climate goals (Nationally Determined Contributions targets)
  • Net-zero transition
  • Export competitiveness (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CABM) rules)

How is Green Steel Produced?

• Hydrogen-Based Direct Reduction (H-DRI).
• Electric Arc Furnace (EAF).
• Renewable Energy Integration.
• Solar / wind power for steel plants.
• carbon capture, utilisation & storage.

UGC Equity Rules and Article 15

The University Grants Commission (UGC) introduced the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 to address caste-based discrimination on college campuses. The issue is currently under review by the Supreme Court of India, where some petitioners argue that the rules lead to “reverse discrimination.”

The Regulations were prompted by incidents of caste harassment in universities, including the deaths of students like Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, which highlighted systemic exclusion faced by marginalised communities.

What the Regulations aim to do

• Prevent caste-based discrimination on campuses
• Create grievance redress mechanisms
• Establish anti-discrimination/monitoring cells
• Ensure safe and inclusive learning spaces

Constitutional basis

• Article 15(1): Prohibits discrimination on grounds of caste
• Article 15(2): Ensures equal access to public institutions
• Supports substantive equality (correcting historical injustice, not just equal treatment)

Petitioners claim:

• Definition is restrictive
• Only SC/ST/OBC are protected
• May cause reverse discrimination

The current acting Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) is Dr. Vineet Joshi.

Patna Bird Sanctuary and Chhari-Dhand added to Ramsar Sites List

Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh and Chhari-Dhand in Kutch district of Gujarat have been included in the Ramsar sites list.

Ramsar Site

• Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance recognized under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
• As of January 2026, India has 98 Ramsar Sites, covering a total area of ((13,60,719)) hectares. 
• The highest number of Ramsar sites are located in Tamilnadu.
• Andhra pradesh have one Ramsar site Kolleru Lake till date.

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Tops Times B-School Ranking 2026

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has secured Rank 1 in the Times B-School Ranking 2026, reinforcing its status as one of India’s leading institutions for management education with a specialised focus on international trade and global business. The Institute functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

The IIFT currently operates campuses at Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada, and GIFT City, and is planning its first offshore campus in Dubai.

Bharat Parv 2026

Bharat Parv 2026 was organised by the Ministry of Tourism as part of the Republic Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort, New Delhi. The festival serves as a national platform to showcase the culture, tourism, cuisine, handlooms, handicrafts, and heritage of various States and Union Territories under the theme “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.” The event brought together different states to present their unique traditions and promote domestic tourism and cultural exchange.

During the celebrations, Andhra Pradesh Day featured a grand Kuchipudi classical dance performance by 46 artists along with tourism, food, and handloom displays. Karnataka showcased its rich folk and classical heritage through Dollu Kunitha (drum dance), Pooja Kunitha (ritual dance), and Yakshagana (dance-drama theatre), captivating large audiences.

• Kuchipudi – a classical dance performance (Andhra Pradesh)
• Dollu Kunitha – energetic drum dance of Kuruba community (Karnataka)
• Pooja Kunitha – ritualistic devotional dance with decorated structures (Karnataka)
• Yakshagana – a 400+ years old dance-drama blending music, theatre, and mythology (Karnataka)

Lakshya: Zero Dumpsite – India’s Mission to Eliminate Urban Dumpsites

Union Government has launched an ambitious nationwide initiative called “Lakshya: Zero Dumpsites” to scientifically eliminate old garbage mountains across cities under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

To accelerate this effort, the Government introduced the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) in November 2025, led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The objective is to clear most legacy dumpsites by October 2026 and ensure that no new dumpsites are created.

Current status:

• 2,479 dumpsites identified nationwide
• ~ 25 crore metric tonnes of legacy waste
• Spread across 15,000 acres
• 62% waste already processed
• 214 high-impact sites contain 80% of remaining waste
• Remediation underway at 1,428 sites

How Remediation is Done? (Biomining Process)

Waste is separated into:

• Inert material – Road construction/filling
• Construction & Demolition waste – Bricks, paver blocks
• Recyclables – Plastic, metal, paper
• RDF (Refuse-Derived Fuel) – Cement plants/WtE
• Biodegradable – Compost/biogas
• Only rejects – Scientific landfill

El Nino May Develop After July – IMD Warns of Possible Weak Monsoon

India may witness the development of El Nino conditions after July 2026, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It is frequently associated with weak monsoon rainfall in India. Historically, 6 out of 10 El Nino years have resulted in below-normal rainfall, affecting agriculture and water resources.

Megalithic Dolmen Burials Discovered at Pedda Anupu, Andhra Pradesh

A distinctive cluster of megalithic burials has been discovered at Pedda Anupu in Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh. Archaeologists identified rare dolmens with deliberately sloping capstones, indicating a locally evolved burial style within South India’s megalithic culture.

Dolmens are stone burial chambers made of large vertical slabs supporting a capstone, typically associated with Iron Age–Early Historic South India (c. 1200 BCE–300 CE). However, the sloping capstone design at Pedda Anupu is unusual and may represent regional architectural innovation rather than standard flat-roofed dolmens.

PRIYA Trial Links Vitamin B12 Intake to Long-Term Health in Babies

The Pune Rural Intervention in Young Adolescents (PRIYA) Trial has provided new evidence that vitamin B12 supplementation during adolescence can improve long-term health outcomes in babies, linking maternal nutrition with gene regulation in newborns.

During the PRIYA trial, Vitamin B12 was supplemented to adolescent girls and followed them till first child birth and analysed cord blood cells of newborns.

India has a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency, especially among vegetarians, since the vitamin is largely found in animal-based foods. B12 deficiency during pregnancy is known to cause:

• Neural tube defects
• Poor foetal growth
• Higher risk of insulin resistance & obesity later in life (“diabesity”)

SBI Launches CHAKRA Centre to Finance Sunrise Sectors

The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched CHAKRA – Centre of Excellence (CoE) to strengthen financing for sunrise sectors that are crucial for India’s future economic growth and energy transition.

The initiative aims to provide specialised funding, policy support, and project structuring expertise to industries that are expected to drive next-generation development. According to estimates, sunrise sectors may attract capital investment of over ₹100 lakh crore by 2030.

Sunrise sectors in India include semiconductors, Electric Vehicles, renewable energy, agro-processing, and healthcare supported by PLI, FDI reforms, and Make in India.

Australian Open

The Australian Open 2026, the first Grand Slam of the tennis calendar, concluded with exciting finals in Melbourne.

• Carlos Alcaraz defeated Djokovic to win Men’s single title.
• Elena Rybakina clinched Women’s singles title.

APAAR & SAMARTH for Higher Education

India is accelerating the digital transformation of higher education through a unified academic identity system under the ‘One Nation One ID’ initiative. At a workshop in Vijayawada, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) highlighted that platforms like APAAR and SAMARTH improve transparency, portability, and efficiency in managing student records.

APAAR – Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry

• Unique lifelong academic ID for each student
• Stores marksheets, credits, certificates digitally
• Enables seamless credit transfer & mobility
• Prevents duplication and document loss

SAMARTH – Smart Automated Management of Academic Resources for Transforming Higher Education

• Improves governance & efficiency
• Digital ERP platform for universities
• Manages admissions, exams, results, finance, HR

Chittoor Sets Guinness Record with 5,555 E-Cycles Distribution

In a major push towards sustainable and low-carbon transport, Chittoor district entered the Guinness World Records by distributing 5,555 electric cycles within 24 hours in the Kuppam Assembly constituency.

Adampur Airport Renamed as Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport

The Government has renamed Adampur Airport in Punjab as Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport to honour the legacy and teachings of Guru Ravidass. The move recognises his contribution to the Bhakti movement and his message against caste discrimination and social inequality.

Guru Ravidass was a Bhakti movement saint, poet, and social reformer who preached equality, social justice, and devotion to God, and strongly opposed caste discrimination and untouchability. He was born at Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). His devotional hymns (padas) are widely respected, with 41 hymns included in the Guru Granth Sahib

Disclaimer: This article is prepared for competitive exam preparation using publicly available information.