Weekly Current Affairs (February 2026 – Week 1) – Exam Revision Notes

BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC)

• India recently joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC).
• BCIC is launched in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
• It acts as a one-stop centre providing integrated support services to manufacturing companies and MSMEs across BRICS nations.

First-ever Mummified Cheetah Remains Discovered

Scientists have discovered seven naturally mummified cheetahs and skeletal remains of 54 cheetahs inside caves in Saudi Arabia.

New START Treaty

• New START (New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) — the last remaining bilateral nuclear arms-control treaty between the U.S. and Russia expired on 05 February 2026.
• This ended its legally binding ceilings and verification regime.

Kerala to Start South India’s First Statewide RRTS

• Kerala has granted in-principle approval for a 583-km Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor.
• Route: Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod covering 583 km.
• Total estimated cost: ₹1,92,780 crore, expected to complete in 12 years.

SabhaSaar – AI Tool

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched SabhaSaar, an AI-enabled voice-to-text meeting summarisation tool, on 14 August 2025 to strengthen digital governance at the grassroots level.

Chief Minister of Manipur

• President’s Rule was imposed due to prolonged ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
• Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as Chief Minister of Manipur, ending the one-year Presidential rule.

First State to Ban Mobile Phones in School

• The Himachal Pradesh government announced a statewide ban on mobile phones in schools, effective March 1, 2026.
• Applies to both government and private schools across the State.
• Aims to improve academic environment, discipline, and overall well-being of students.

Adampur Airport Renamed as Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport

• The government renamed Adampur Airport in Punjab to honour Guru Ravidass.
• Guru Ravidass was a Bhakti movement saint who preached equality, social justice, and opposed caste discrimination.

Bharat Taxi

• Country’s first cooperative-based taxi service, ‘Bharat Taxi’, was launched by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
• Flagship effort of the Ministry of Cooperation, aligned with PM’s vision of empowering workers in the unorganised and gig economy.
• Implemented through an ownership-rights model.

Megalithic Dolmen Burials Discovered at Pedda Anupu

• A distinctive cluster of megalithic burials discovered at Pedda Anupu in Palnadu district.
• Archaeologists identified rare dolmens with deliberately sloping capstones, indicating a locally evolved burial style.
• 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).
• The sloping capstone design is unusual and may represent regional architectural innovation.

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

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

APAAR & SAMARTH for Higher Education

• Workshop in Vijayawada by APSCHE highlighted platforms like APAAR and SAMARTH.
• APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) – Unique lifelong academic ID for each student, stores marksheets, credits, certificates digitally.
• SAMARTH (Smart Automated Management of Academic Resources) – Digital ERP platform for universities managing admissions, exams, results, finance, HR.

Union Budget 2026 Allocation for Andhra Pradesh

• Andhra Pradesh identified as one of four mineral-rich States for Rare Earth Corridors.
• Two major high-speed rail corridors: Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai.
• Key stations: Kurnool, Dhone, Guntakal, Anantapur, Dharmavaram, Hindupur, Tadipatri, Yerraguntla, Kadapa, Rajampet, Renigunta.
• Google hyperscale data centre in Visakhapatnam announced.
• Bird-watching trails at Pulicat Lake and Ecotourism trail at Araku Valley.

Bharat Parv 2026 – Andhra Pradesh Day

• Organised by Ministry of Tourism at Red Fort, New Delhi under theme ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
• Andhra Pradesh Day featured grand Kuchipudi classical dance performance by 46 artists.
• Showcased tourism, food, and handloom displays from the state.

Pilloo AI

• AP Chief Minister launched Pilloo AI, a next-generation voice-based billing and accounting system.
• Target users: Small and Medium Businesses (SMEs).

British-Era Irrigation Locks

• AP plans to open British-era irrigation locks in Godavari Delta for tourism development.
• Initiative led by District Tourism Promotion Council of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
• Locks built in the 1850s during British period.

New Semiconductor Facility in Andhra Pradesh

• India accelerating semiconductor ecosystem under ‘Semicon India Programme’.
• Aligned with vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, Make for the World.
• Government launched programme with ₹76,000 crore outlay.

AI4AP Police

The Director-General of Police launched the AI4AP Police project at AP Police Headquarters to modernize policing through Artificial Intelligence.

Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs)

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through TRIFED, strengthened tribal livelihoods in AP.
• Sanctioned 488 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras under Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) and PM-JANMAN schemes.

Supreme Court on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in Schools

• Supreme Court ruled that right to menstrual health and access to MHM in schools is integral part of Article 21 of the Constitution.
• Lack of MHM facilities leads to stigma, absenteeism, unsafe practices, violates privacy, bodily autonomy, and right to education.
• SC directed States and UTs to ensure: Functional gender-segregated toilets, Free oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins (preferably through vending machines), Establishment of ‘MHM corners’.

UGC Equity Rules and Article 15

• UGC introduced Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 to address caste-based discrimination.
• Currently under Supreme Court review; some petitioners arguing it leads to ‘reverse discrimination’.
• Constitutional basis: Article 15(1) prohibits discrimination on caste grounds, Article 15(2) ensures equal access to public institutions.
• Current acting Chairman of UGC: Dr. Vineet Joshi.

Budget Allocation for Census 2027

• Union Budget 2026–27 allocated ₹6,000 crore for Population Census 2027.
• Total MHA Budget increased by 9.44% from ₹2,33,210 crore to ₹2,55,233.53 crore.
• ₹300 crore allocated for Vibrant Villages Programme (Phase II).

Acting Director General Police

• Supreme Court flagged States appointing ‘Acting’ DGPs instead of regular DGPs with fixed tenure.
• Called it a violation of its landmark 2006 judgment in Prakash Singh case.
• In Prakash Singh case (2006), SC invoked Article 142 powers to ensure meaningful police reforms.

SBI Launches CHAKRA Centre to Finance Sunrise Sectors

• State Bank of India launched CHAKRA – Centre of Excellence (CoE) to strengthen financing for sunrise sectors.
• Sunrise sectors may attract capital investment of over ₹100 lakh crore by 2030.
• Sunrise sectors include semiconductors, Electric Vehicles, renewable energy, agro-processing, and healthcare.

Green Steel

• Green Steel is produced using low-carbon or near-zero carbon technologies by replacing coal-based processes with clean energy sources.
• Steel sector accounts for ~12% of India’s total carbon emissions.
• India plans to expand production from 125 MT to 400+ MT by 2050.
• Production methods: Hydrogen-Based Direct Reduction (H-DRI), Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), Renewable Energy Integration, Carbon Capture.

Rare Earth Corridors to Reduce Import Dependence

• India announced creation of Rare Earth Corridors in mineral-rich States: Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu.
• India’s imports increased from $14.1 million (2014) to $17.5 million (2024); 45% imports from China.
• Rare Earth Elements (REEs) consist of 17 metallic elements: 15 Lanthanides + Scandium + Yttrium.
• Classified into Light Rare Earths (LREEs) and Heavy Rare Earths (HREEs).

Seven High-Speed Rail Corridors Approved

• Union Budget announced seven high-speed rail corridors spanning 4,000 km with total outlay of ₹16 lakh crore.
• Corridors: Mumbai–Pune, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, Chennai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi, Varanasi–Siliguri.

₹20,000 Crore Allocated for Carbon Capture (CCUS)

• Union Budget earmarked ₹20,000 crore for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies towards India’s net-zero target (2070).
• CCUS involves capturing CO₂ emissions from industries, either reusing CO₂ in products or permanently storing it underground.

Union Budget 2026 Allocation for Neighbouring Countries

• No funds allocated for Chabahar Port in Iran (previous year: ₹400 crore) amid U.S. tariff warnings.
• Allocations: Bangladesh ₹60 cr (reduced), Bhutan ₹2,288.55 cr (increased), Myanmar ₹300 cr (reduced), Sri Lanka ₹400 cr (increased), Nepal ₹800 cr (increased).

16th Finance Commission Grants to Urban Local Governments

The Finance Commission in its 16th Finance Commission Report recommended ₹3.5 lakh crore allocation for Urban Local Governments (ULGs) for next five years. Total grant to local governments: ₹7.9 lakh crore.

Eligible cities from Andhra Pradesh: Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam are eligible under special infrastructure component of Urban Local Body grants.

16th Finance Commission Recommended 41% Tax Devolution

• 16th Finance Commission retained vertical tax devolution rate at 41%.
• Divisible pool excludes cesses and surcharges.
• Centre increasingly relies on cess & surcharges, which are non-sharable with States.
• Result: Even though rate remains 41%, actual money transferred to States reduces.

Defence Budget is the Highest Among All Ministries

• Ministry of Defence allocation: ₹7.85 lakh crore.
• Highest among all Ministries.
• 15.19% increase over FY 2025–26.

Capital Goods Sector

• Union Government capital outlay for Capital Goods Sector: ₹11.21 lakh crore in FY26 (BE).
• ₹10,000 crore allocated for Container Manufacturing Scheme.

Biopharma SHAKTI

• Union Budget 2026 launched Biopharma SHAKTI with ₹10,000 crore outlay over five years.
• Target: Capture 5% of global biopharma market.
• Biopharma refers to medicines developed using living organisms or biological systems (vaccines, biosimilars, monoclonal antibodies, gene & cell therapies).

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

• The Pune Rural Intervention in Young Adolescents (PRIYA) Trial linked vitamin B12 supplementation during adolescence to improved long-term health outcomes in babies.
• India has high prevalence of B12 deficiency, especially among vegetarians.
• B12 deficiency during pregnancy causes neural tube defects, poor foetal growth, higher risk of insulin resistance & obesity.

DRDO Successfully Tested Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)

• DRDO conducted flight demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology.
• India joined elite group of nations having SFDR technology, crucial for developing long-range air-to-air missiles.
• Solid Fuel is mixture of Ammonium Perchlorate (oxidizer) + Aluminium powder (fuel) + HTPB rubber (binder).

Affordable Dipstick Test to Track Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

• Scientists from THSTI, Faridabad developed low-cost dipstick-based diagnostic assay to detect AMR genes in sewage.
• Cost: ~₹500 per test (vs Shotgun sequencing ₹9,000).
• AMR testing helps detect drug-resistant microbes early, guides correct treatment, prevents spread of dangerous infections.
• Sewage testing shows resistance trends in entire populations.

Lakshya: Zero Dumpsite – India’s Mission

• Union Government launched ‘Lakshya: Zero Dumpsites’ to scientifically eliminate old garbage mountains under Swachh Bharat Mission.
• Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) introduced in November 2025 by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Current status: 2,479 dumpsites identified, ~25 crore metric tonnes of legacy waste, 62% waste already processed.
• Biomining Process separates waste into: inert material (road construction), recyclables, RDF (fuel), biodegradable (compost), rejects (landfill).

Patna Bird Sanctuary and Chhari-Dhand Added to Ramsar Sites

• Patna Bird Sanctuary (Etah, UP) and Chhari-Dhand (Kutch, Gujarat) included in Ramsar sites list.
• As of January 2026, India has 98 Ramsar Sites covering 13,60,719 hectares.
• Highest number of Ramsar sites in Tamil Nadu; Andhra Pradesh has one (Kolleru Lake).

El Nino May Develop After July – IMD Warns

• India may witness El Nino conditions after July 2026, according to IMD.
• El Nino is frequently associated with weak monsoon rainfall; 6 out of 10 El Nino years result in below-normal rainfall.
• El Nino is abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Pir Panjal Range

• Recently, some parties demanded separate divisional status for Pir Panjal Region.
• Mountainous region between Jammu and Kashmir Valley, mainly includes Rajouri and Poonch districts.
• Region is often said to be less developed compared to other districts.

SHE Marts & Girls’ Hostels for Women Empowerment

• Union Budget 2026 introduced major initiatives for women’s education and entrepreneurship.
• Girls’ Hostels: One per district for safe accommodation, beneficial for science, technology, laboratory-intensive courses.
• SHE Marts (Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts): Community-owned retail outlets run by women SHGs, helps women transition from credit-linked livelihoods to enterprise ownership.

NAMASTE Scheme

• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in convergence with Ministry of Housing launched National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme in July 2023.
• Ensures safety and dignity of sanitation workers.
• Focus: Prevention of hazardous cleaning, promotion of safe cleaning practices through training.
• First nationwide enumeration data: 84% Waste-Pickers from SC, ST, OBC Groups.

PRITHVI Scheme

• Ministry of Earth Sciences implementing PRITHVI (Prithvi Vigyan) Scheme from 2021–2026 with total outlay of ₹4,797 crore.
• Strengthens India’s weather, climate, ocean, cryosphere, and geoscience services.
• Addresses five components of earth system: atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, cryosphere and biosphere.

Yantra India Limited Gets ‘Miniratna Category-I’ Status

• Government granted ‘Miniratna Category-I’ status to Yantra India Limited (YIL).
• YIL is Defence Public Sector Undertaking formed after corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board in October 2021.
• Functions under Department of Defence Production.

Exercise KHANJAR 2026

• 13th edition of India–Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR commenced from 04 to 17 February 2026 in Assam.
• Annual bilateral military exercise conducted alternately between India and Kyrgyzstan.

Agni-III Missile Test

• India successfully test-fired Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni-III on February 6, 2026, from ITR, Chandipur, Odisha.
• Two-stage, solid-fuelled, indigenously developed ballistic missile.
• Strike range: 3,000–3,500 km.
• Payload capacity: up to 1,500 kg.
• Crucial component of India’s credible minimum nuclear deterrence.

Australian Open 2026

• First Grand Slam of the tennis calendar concluded in Melbourne.
• Carlos Alcaraz defeated Djokovic to win Men’s singles title.
• Elena Rybakina clinched Women’s singles title.

PSA Bronze Squash Title

Anahat Singh won the PSA Bronze-level Squash on Fire Open title.

ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup

• India won ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup title for the sixth time, defeating England by 100 runs in final.
• India is most successful team in U19 World Cup history.
• Vaibhav Suryavanshi won Man of the Match in final and Man of the Series Awards.
• Hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Maharashtra’s First Woman Deputy Chief Minister

• Sunetra Pawar, Rajya Sabha MP and wife of late Ajit Pawar, is set to become first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
• Decision follows demise of Ajit Pawar in air crash at Baramati.
• NCP Legislature Party will elect her as new leader.

Costa Rica – Presidential Election 2026

Costa Rica elected Laura Fernandez as President in 2026 elections.

Sociologist Andre Beteille (1934–2026) passes away

• Renowned Indian sociologist Andre Beteille, one of India’s most respected social science scholars, passed away.
• Famous book: Caste, Class and Power.
• Awarded Padma Bhushan in 2005.

Grammy Awards 2026

IIFT Tops Times B-School Ranking 2026

• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) secured Rank 1 in Times B-School Ranking 2026.
• Functions as autonomous institution under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Campuses at Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada, GIFT City; planning first offshore campus in Dubai.