Daily Current Affairs Brief: February 5, 2026

Authored By : K Shiva

1. International Current Affairs

India-U.S. Trade Deal: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington to welcome the new trade agreement.

Tariff Reduction: The deal includes a reduction in U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, down from 50%, and the cancellation of a 25% penalty tariff for purchasing Russian oil.

Critical Minerals Cooperation: Both nations agreed to formalize cooperation on critical minerals and advance their economic partnership.

Russian Oil Imports: India's imports of Russian crude declined by 9% in January as New Delhi moved to halt purchases as part of the U.S. trade agreement.

Quad Cooperation: Jaishankar and Rubio discussed expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad to ensure a prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

2. National Current Affairs

Manipur President's Rule Ends: President's Rule in Manipur was revoked after nearly a year, with Yumnam Khemchand Singh sworn in as the new Chief Minister.

New Manipur Cabinet: Nemcha Kipgen (Kuki-Zo) and Losii Dikho (Naga) were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers to ensure inclusive governance.

Mamata Banerjee in Supreme Court: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee appeared in the Supreme Court to appeal against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, citing a threat to democracy.

Parliamentary Logjam: Proceedings in Parliament were disrupted as the Opposition demanded the Leader of the Opposition be allowed to speak on the India-China conflict and other sensitive issues

Caste Census Notification: The Union Home Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that questions on caste for the 2027 Census will be notified before the second phase of operations.

3. Science & Technology

NASA Moon Mission Delay: NASA delayed the launch of its first crewed flyby mission to the moon (Artemis 2) until March due to hydrogen leaks during final tests.

Undiagnosed Disease Hackathon: India’s first 'Undiagnosed Disease Hackathon' began in Hyderabad, with 100 experts analyzing complex patient cases using whole-genome data.

AI for Policing: The Andhra Pradesh DGP launched the 'AI4AP Police' project, integrating eight AI tools to address challenges like grievance redressal and data analysis.

Quantum Education Milestone: Over 1.04 lakh students in Andhra Pradesh have enrolled in the Quantum Programme under NPTEL, marking a major milestone in tech education

Mummified Cheetahs Discovery: Scientists discovered seven naturally mummified cheetahs in Saudi Arabian caves, providing insights into the historical distribution of the species.

4. States Current Affairs

Andhra Pradesh Water Policy: The A.P. government is set to launch the Water Policy 2026-27 to make the state drought-resilient and ensure equitable water allocation.

Telangana Rythu Bharosa: CM Revanth Reddy announced that ₹29,000 crore would be disbursed to farmers under the Rythu Bharosa scheme after the municipal elections.

Kerala Assembly Resolution: The Kerala Assembly passed a resolution slamming the Centre for neglecting the state's demands, including an AIIMS and a high-speed rail corridor, in the Union Budget.

Karnataka MGNREGA Resolution: The Karnataka government passed a resolution opposing the repeal of the MGNREGA Act and its replacement with the VB-GRAM G Act.

Inter-State Staff Transfers: Updates by the A.P. government on inter-state staff transfers have raised concerns among Telangana employees regarding seniority and promotion chances.

5. District & Local News

Ghaziabad Tragedy: Three minor sisters jumped to their deaths from a ninth-floor balcony in Ghaziabad after their parents restricted their mobile phone usage.

Tiger Menace in Telangana: A wandering tiger has killed eight cattle in three weeks across the Yadadri, Siddipet, and Janagaon districts.

Child Labour Crackdown: 674 children were rescued and 189 persons arrested during 'Operation Smile-XII' in the Malkajgiri area of Hyderabad.

Fake Currency Busted: Police in Machilipatnam busted a counterfeit currency racket, arresting four people and seizing notes with a face value of ₹76 lakh.

Heritage Run in Hyderabad: A 21k half marathon and heritage run are scheduled for February 22 in Hyderabad to celebrate the city’s cultural legacy.

6. Sports & Games

T20 World Cup Countdown: Group D is identified as highly competitive with South Africa, New Zealand, and Afghanistan vying for top spots in the upcoming tournament.

U-19 World Cup: Aaron George's century and fifties from Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre propelled India into the ICC Under-19 World Cup final

Asian Shooting Championship: Hyderabad shooter Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 10m air pistol event at the Asian meet.

National Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu set three new national records in the women's 48kg category on the opening day of the championships.

WPL Title Decider: Jemimah Rodrigues’ Delhi Capitals are set to face Smriti Mandhana’s Royal Challengers Bangalore in a crucial title match.

7. Cinema & Entertainment

Gaddar Film Awards: The screening process for the Gaddar Film Awards begins on February 6, with the ceremony scheduled for March 19.

Actor Chiranjeevi’s Outreach: On World Cancer Day, actor Chiranjeevi interacted with survivors, emphasizing that early detection enables a return to normal life.

Padma Shri Recognition: Actor G. Rajendra Prasad was congratulated by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan for his selection for the Padma Shri award.

Cinema Hub Aspirations: The Telangana government aims to transform Hyderabad into the country’s leading hub for cinema production.

8. General Knowledge for Competitive Jobs

1. Union Minister Amit Shah officially launched which cooperative-led ride-hailing platform in New Delhi today? Answer: Bharat Taxi (It is India's first cooperative-based taxi service where drivers, called 'Sarathis', are the owners. It operates on a zero-commission and surge-free pricing model.)

2. Who has been appointed as the new Chief Minister of Manipur, taking the oath on 4-5 February 2026? Answer: Yumnam Khemchand Singh (His appointment follows the end of President's Rule in the state, succeeding N. Biren Singh.)

3. Which major international exhibition, themed "Bharat Next," was inaugurated at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, today? Answer: PLASTINDIA 2026 (It is one of the world's largest plastics exhibitions and is uniquely organized as a "Zero-Waste" global event.)

4. A historic tripartite agreement was signed today in Delhi for the creation of which administrative authority in Nagaland? Answer: Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) (The agreement was signed between the Union Home Ministry, the Nagaland Government, and the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation - ENPO.)

5. India and the United States recently announced a major trade deal. By how much has the US reduced tariffs on Indian goods? Answer: From 50% to 18% (Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced that the legal agreement for this "Mother of all deals" will be finalized by mid-March 2026.)

6. Which Indian shooter won the gold medal in the women's individual 10m air pistol event at the Asian Championship today? Answer: Esha Singh (The Olympian also helped the Indian home team secure another top-podium finish in the team event.)

7. Which international nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia is set to expire today, 5 February 2026? Answer: New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) (Its expiration without a replacement raises global concerns about a potential new nuclear arms race.)

8. Who made history this week by becoming the first person to reach a personal net worth of $800 billion? Answer: Elon Musk (The surge is linked to the soaring valuations of his companies, specifically SpaceX and XAI.)

9. Which Indian mountaineer recently achieved the milestone of summiting Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Southern and Western Hemispheres? Answer: Kabak Yano (She is a renowned climber from Arunachal Pradesh.)

10. Who secured a landslide victory in the Japanese general elections on 8 February (preceded by news today), becoming the first female Prime Minister of Japan? Answer: Sanae Takaichi

11. Article 15 of the Constitution: This article prohibits discrimination by the State on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.

12. Fiscal Consolidation: The Union Budget 2026-27 targets a fiscal deficit to GDP ratio reduction, with an ultimate goal of reaching 3%.

13. Critical Mineral Supply Chains: India is working to join international groupings to de-risk supply chains and secure semiconductor routes.

14. National Security Act (NSA): This law empowers the government to detain individuals to prevent actions prejudicial to national defense.

15. Quantum Technology: Fields like quantum computing and communication are predicted to be major global influences in the coming years.

9. Do You Know?

• The "Sarathi" Model: Unlike traditional apps like Uber or Ola, Bharat Taxi doesn't take a commission from drivers. Instead, it prioritizes the social security of drivers, including health and accident insurance for their families.

• The Zero-Waste Milestone: PLASTINDIA 2026 is the first time a global exhibition of this scale has committed to being "Zero-Waste," meaning every bit of solid waste generated will be recycled or reused.

• World Nutella Day: Today, 5 February, is globally celebrated as World Nutella Day! It was started in 2007 by an American blogger living in Italy.

• A "Light-Day" Closer: As NASA's Voyager 1 speeds away, scientists noted today that it is getting closer to the historic milestone of being one "light-day" (26 billion km) away from Earth.

• Meghalaya Mine Tragedy: In a somber note, a blast at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, claimed 18 lives today, highlighting the ongoing dangers of "rat-hole" mining.

• Indian Time Zone: The meridian for Indian Standard Time (IST) passes through a fort in Uttar Pradesh.

• Time Zone Record: France holds the record for the country with the most time zones (12) due to its overseas territories

• Asiatic Cheetah Status: The Asiatic cheetah is critically endangered, with a very small surviving population in Iran.

10. Job & Educational Topics

UGC Regulations Stayed: The Supreme Court has stayed the UGC’s revised equity framework due to concerns over the definition of caste-based discrimination.

TGPSC Protests: Hundreds of aspirants protested in Hyderabad demanding the immediate announcement of a recruitment job calendar.

Contractual Teacher Issues: Nearly half the staff in 1.5 lakh schools nationwide are contract teachers, leading to protests for job regularization in places like Puducherry.

Higher Education Internships: Uttar Pradesh has introduced paid internships (CMAPS-HE) for final-year students with a dedicated budget of ₹100 crore.

Consulting Job Openings: The A.P. Economic Development Board (APEDB) has invited applications for various senior consulting positions.

11. Day Special: February 5

World Cancer Day Follow-up: Hospitals across Hyderabad and Vijayawada continued activities following World Cancer Day (Feb 4), focusing on early detection and screening.

Historical Milestone (1926): Exactly 100 years ago today, a new method for fruit storage was discovered to allow tropical fruits to be imported into England without quality loss.

Atomic Energy Progress (1976): 50 years ago, India's Atomic Energy Commission highlighted the integrated program that led to the successful peaceful underground nuclear experiment in 1974.