Daily Current Affairs Brief: February 1, 2026

Authored By: K Shiva

1. International Current Affairs

• U.S. Government Shutdown: A partial government shutdown began in the United States after the House of Representatives went on recess without passing a stop-gap funding bill. While the Senate passed a $1.1 trillion package (71-29), the legislative deadlock continues.

• Congo Mining Disaster: A tragic landslide at a coltan mine in the Ruhaya region of eastern Congo has resulted in the deaths of over 200 miners following heavy rainfall.

• Explosion at Iranian Port: A massive blast occurred at the Bandar Abbas port near the Strait of Hormuz, killing five people and causing significant structural damage to nearby buildings.

• Terror Attack in Nigeria: Armed insurgents attacked workers in Borno State, Nigeria, killing 36 people. The victims included 25 laborers and several security personnel.

• UK-China Trade Ties: British PM Keir Starmer’s visit to China concluded with export deals worth £220 million, signaling a push for stronger bilateral economic relations.

2. National Current Affairs

• Union Budget 2026-27: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget today (Feb 1) in Parliament. This marks her 9th consecutive budget presentation.

• Indian Coast Guard 50th Raising Day: Established on February 1, 1977, the ICG is celebrating its Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) today with a major event in New Delhi.

• New Ramsar Sites: India has added the Palna Bird Sanctuary (UP) and Wand (Gujarat) to the Ramsar list of wetlands, bringing the total count of internationally recognized wetlands in India to 85.

• India-Arab Ministerial Meeting: During the 2nd India-Arab Senior Officials Meeting in Delhi, both sides discussed counter-terrorism and India reaffirmed its support for a peaceful resolution for Palestine.

• AI for Railway Safety: Indian Railways is deploying the 'Intrusion Detection System' (IDS) across 1,158 km in elephant-prone zones to prevent train-animal collisions using AI sensors.

3. Science & Technology

• Eco-friendly PCB Recycling: Researchers at IIT Madras have developed a new method to recover precious metals like gold and copper from printed circuit boards (PCBs) without using toxic chemicals.

• Radiation-Resistant Electronics: Scientists have designed ultra-thin electronics using Molybdenum Disulfide capable of surviving harsh space radiation, which is crucial for long-term satellite missions.

• Viral Manipulation Study: A new study revealed how a specific virus manipulates the brains of Cotton Bollworm caterpillars, forcing them to climb to the top of plants to die, thereby maximizing viral spread.

4. States Current Affairs

• Maharashtra’s First Female Deputy CM: Sunetra Pawar took the oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious post in the state's history.

• Guinness Record in Kuppam: The Chittoor district administration (Andhra Pradesh) entered the Guinness World Records by distributing 5,555 e-cycles to SHG women in a single day.

• Kerala Tourism Conclave: A two-day summit titled ‘Kerala for All’ began in Kochi, focusing on making tourism more inclusive and accessible for persons with disabilities.

• New DGP for West Bengal: Senior IPS officer Piyush Pandey has been appointed as the new Director General of Police (DGP) for West Bengal.

5. District & Local News (Andhra Pradesh)

• Ambati Rambabu Arrested: YSRCP leader Ambati Rambabu was arrested by Guntur police for allegedly making provocative remarks against the Chief Minister and obstructing police duties.

• Gunadala Mary Matha Festival: The 102nd annual festival of Gunadala Matha in Vijayawada commenced with a ceremonial flag hoisting.

• Subsidized Wheat Flour: The AP government has started providing wheat flour at ₹20 per kg through Fair Price shops across the state starting today.

• 'Computer Didi' in Guntur: Under a central scheme to empower women, the 'Didi Ka Dukaan' initiative has been launched in Tadikonda to provide digital services through local women.

6. Sports & Games

• Australian Open Women’s Final: Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka to clinch her second Grand Slam title in a thrilling final at Melbourne.

• Men’s Singles Final: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic faces Carlos Alcaraz today. Djokovic is eyeing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.

• India vs New Zealand T20: India secured the T20 series 4-1 against New Zealand, with Ishan Kishan playing a pivotal role in the final victory.

• Tata Steel Chess: Indian prodigies Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa settled for draws in their respective rounds at the Tata Steel Masters in the Netherlands.

7. Cinema & Entertainment

• 'Amaravathi ki Aahvanam': The teaser for this film, starring Shiva Kuramaneni and Murali Mohan, was released. The movie is scheduled for an eleventh February release.

• Arijit Singh Spotlight: Features on the life of singer Arijit Singh highlighted his humble roots in Murshidabad, Bengal, despite his global superstardom.

8. General Knowledge (GK) for Competitive Exams

1. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her 9th consecutive Union Budget today. What is the historic significance of this presentation date? Answer: First-ever Sunday Budget. (This is the first time in Indian history that the Union Budget has been presented in Parliament on a Sunday.)

2. Who became the youngest man to complete a "Career Grand Slam" by winning the Australian Open 2026 today? Answer: Carlos Alcaraz. (The 22-year-old Spaniard defeated Novak Djokovic in a four-set thriller to win his first Australian Open and 7th Major title overall.)

3. The Union Budget 2026–27 is based on which "Three Kartavyas" (Duties) to guide India toward prosperity? Answer: Accelerate growth, Fulfill aspirations, and Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.

4. Which new initiative was announced in the Budget with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore to make India a global biopharma hub? Answer: Biopharma SHAKTI. (SHAKTI stands for Strategy for Healthcare Advancement through Knowledge, Technology, and Innovation.)

5. Which two wetlands in India were officially added to the Ramsar List today, bringing the total count to 98? Answer: Patna Bird Sanctuary (UP) and Chhari-Dhand (Gujarat).

6. Who was sworn in as the first-ever woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on the eve of 1 February? Answer: Sunetra Pawar. (She succeeds the late Ajit Pawar and will oversee Excise, Minority Affairs, and Sports portfolios.)

7. Which defense organization is celebrating its 50th Raising Day (Golden Jubilee) today, 1 February 2026? Answer: Indian Coast Guard (ICG). (The ICG was established on this day in 1977; its motto is "Vayam Rakshamah" - We Protect.)

8. Which Indian state recently launched a first-of-its-kind "Exclusive Industrial Park for Women Entrepreneurs"? Answer: Andhra Pradesh.

9. Which new plant species was recently discovered in the community forests of Nagaland by researchers? Answer: Hoya nagaensis.

10. At the 68th Grammy Awards held today, which artist made history as the most awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history? Answer: Kendrick Lamar. (He surpassed Jay-Z's record by winning five awards today.)

11. Budget Records: While Morarji Desai holds the record for presenting the most budgets (10), Nirmala Sitharaman now holds the record for the longest streak of 9 consecutive budgets.

12. Strait of Hormuz: Known as the world's most important oil transit chokepoint, it connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

13. Ahimsa Silk: Also known as 'Eri Silk,' it is produced without killing the silkworm, making it a cruelty-free textile.

9. Do You Know?

• The 105mm Salute: Today’s Republic Day-linked traditions saw the 21-gun salute performed using 105 mm Indian Field Guns, emphasizing the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-reliant India) theme.

• The "River of Blood": The Lohit River (a tributary of the Brahmaputra) made headlines today. It is called the "River of Blood" because the laterite soil in the region gives its water a distinct red tinge.

• Sunday Budget Secret: The decision to present the Budget on a Sunday was made to ensure markets were closed during the speech, preventing immediate volatile fluctuations in the stock market.

• V-BAT Drones: The Indian Army has begun testing the V-BAT, a unique "Vertical Take-off and Landing" (VTOL) drone that doesn't need a runway and can hover like a helicopter while flying like a plane.

• Why Satellites Don't Fall: Satellites stay in orbit because their forward velocity is perfectly balanced by Earth's gravitational pull. They are essentially in a state of perpetual "free fall" around the curve of the Earth.

• Social Media Impact: Recent studies suggest that excessive social media consumption in children leads to decreased cognitive focus and productivity due to "dopamine looping."

10. Job & Educational Topics

• NEET PG Counseling: The MCC has resumed the Round-3 counseling process; candidates must report to their allotted colleges by February 11.

• IIT Madras Summer Fellowship: Applications are open for the 2026 Summer Fellowship for Engineering and Science students to conduct research under IIT faculty.

• CCRS Recruitment: The Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) has issued a notification for Research Officers and Lab Attendants.

11. Day Special: February 1

• Indian Coast Guard Day: Celebrated to honor the maritime force that protects India’s 7,517 km coastline.

• Adampur Airport Renaming: PM Modi is visiting Punjab today to officially rename Adampur Airport as "Sri Guru Ravidas Airport" on the occasion of the saint's 649th birth anniversary.