Daily Current Affairs Brief: February 6, 2026

Authored By: K Shiva

1. International Current Affairs

Trump-India Trade Breakthrough: Following a significant bilateral deal, reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods have been slashed from 50% to 18%, potentially unlocking unprecedented opportunities for "Make in India" initiatives.

Russian Oil Shift: As part of the new U.S.-India trade terms, India has reportedly agreed to transition away from Russian oil imports in favor of energy from the U.S. and potentially Venezuela.

U.K. Diplomatic Apology: British PM Keir Starmer issued a formal apology to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for the controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as the U.K. ambassador to Washington.

Netherlands Military Move: Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has officially enlisted in the Dutch army as a reservist, signaling a broader European trend to strengthen local armed forces.

U.S.-Russia Security Dialogue: The Pentagon announced that the U.S. and Russia have agreed to re-establish high-level military-to-military dialogue hours after the expiry of their last nuclear arsenal limit treaty.

Missing Merchant Navy Cadet: A massive search is underway for Sarthak Mohapatra, an Indian merchant navy cadet from Odisha who went missing from a vessel in international waters near Mauritius.

2. National Current Affairs

Frontier Nagaland Authority: A landmark tripartite pact was signed between the Centre, the Nagaland government, and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation to create a separate "Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority" for six districts.

PM Slams Opposition in RS: During a 97-minute speech in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Modi heavily criticized the Congress party, particularly regarding a "traitor" comment directed at a Sikh MP, terming it an insult to the entire community.

Meghalaya Mining Tragedy: A suspected dynamite blast at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in East Jaintia Hills killed 18 miners and left several others trapped.

Customs Duty Tweaks: The Centre has revised customs duties on various inputs, a move expected to lower costs and scale up production for India Inc. in sectors like aviation, durables, and nuclear power.

DA Payment Directive: The Supreme Court directed the West Bengal government to pay pending Dearness Allowance (DA) to its employees for the 2008–2019 period, stating lack of funds is not a valid excuse.

Bharat Taxi Launch: Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated "Bharat Taxi," India’s first cooperative-led, zero-commission, and surge-free mobility platform starting in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat.

3. Science & Technology

Google AI Dominance: Reports for 2025 show Google Cloud growing by 48%, outpacing its rivals and pulling ahead of OpenAI in terms of enterprise AI adoption.

Non-Animal Drug Testing: A new report indicates that shifting to non-animal methods (NAMs) like organ-on-chip and AI models could reduce drug development costs by up to 90%.

SpaceX-xAI Merger: Elon Musk is reportedly in advanced discussions to merge his aerospace firm, SpaceX, with his artificial intelligence venture, xAI.

Nuclear Manufacturing PLI: The government is finalized a ₹20,000 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme specifically for the localization of nuclear power components.

Boeing Safety Concern: Air India grounded a Dreamliner (VT-ANX) following an uncommanded fuel switch cut-off at London Heathrow, leading to a new probe into the aircraft’s systems.

Battery Energy Storage in Telangana: TGGENCO has invited bids for the selection of developers for 1000 MW standalone Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at various locations.

4. States Current Affairs

Andhra Pradesh Water Governance: CM Chandrababu Naidu announced that irrigation associations will now be partners in water management, allowing them to collect water tax and perform maintenance without GST.

UP AI Mission: Uttar Pradesh launched a specialized mission with a ₹2,000 crore outlay to set up 65 Data & AI labs focused on healthcare and governance.

Kerala Waqf Board Reconstitution: The Kerala government reconstituted its Waqf Board but notably left two seats reserved for non-Muslims vacant to signal a cautious approach to recent legislative changes.

Manipur Total Shutdown: Kuki-Zo tribal groups enforced a dawn-to-dusk "total shutdown" in the hills to protest the participation of certain tribal MLAs in the newly formed state government.

Telangana Asiatic Lion Count: The population of Asiatic lions in India has reportedly increased from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, with new habitats identified in river corridors and forest areas.

Maharashtra Solar Tender: MSRDC has invited tenders for 44 MW cumulative solar PV plants to be installed along the Samruddhi Mahamarg highway.

5. District & Local News

Rajamahendravaram Tiger Alert: A sub-adult male tiger was spotted wandering on the outskirts of the city, causing panic and prompting a high alert from forest officials.

Hyderabad Traffic Blasting: The next stage of a major road project near the Trident Hotel in Hyderabad will involve controlled blasting of stone outcrops during night hours to create new lanes.

Rajghat U-Turn Trial: The PWD plans a trial U-turn on Ring Road from Rajghat to alleviate persistent traffic congestion in the national capital.

Surat Bullet Train Accident: A man and his nine-year-old daughter were killed near Surat after a heavy metal plate fell from an under-construction bullet train bridge.

Dundigal Arrest: Police arrested a domestic worker based on CCTV footage for the murder of an elderly woman and the theft of gold ornaments in Church Gagillapur.

Guntur Tender Eligibility: The state government clarified that small hot-mix plant owners are now eligible for road repair and manual maintenance tenders to encourage local contractors.

6. Sports & Games

Anurag Thakur SC Reprieve: The Supreme Court annulled its nine-year-old order, allowing former BCCI president Anurag Thakur to once again involve himself in the board's affairs.

WPL Title Winner: RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore) defeated Delhi Capitals to win their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title.

Australian Open Record: Carlos Alcaraz reached his 14th Grand Slam quarterfinal, becoming the first man under 23 years of age to achieve this feat.

U19 World Cup Final: Indian skipper Ayush Mhatre expressed confidence ahead of the summit clash against England following India’s semifinal victory over Afghanistan.

Ranji Trophy Results: Andhra moved to the top of the Group table after a commanding 8-wicket victory over Vidarbha.

BCCI Contract Grading: Reports suggest the BCCI may remove the 'A+' grade in player contracts, transitioning to a simplified A, B, and C system for the 2025-26 season.

7. Cinema & Entertainment

Actor Chandrahas Booked: Madhapur police registered a case against actor Chandrahas following a complaint regarding social media threats issued to a journalist.

Oscars Nominations Record: The film Sinners by Ryan Coogler has set a new record by securing 16 nominations for the 98th Academy Awards.

Space Zen Chandrayaan: A new documentary series titled Space Zen Chandrayaan is set to premiere on JioHotstar.

Visakha Utsav Begin: The annual cultural festival "Visakha Utsav" kicked off in Visakhapatnam, celebrating the region's diverse heritage.

8. General Knowledge (Competitive Exams)

1. Which joint military exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan recently commenced in Misamari, Assam? Answer: Exercise KHANJAR-XIII (This is the 13th edition of the annual exercise focusing on special forces operations in urban and counter-terrorism scenarios.)

2. Which state's Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary recorded over five lakh birds in its latest 2026 census? Answer: Gujarat (The sanctuary saw a 21% rise in bird population due to reduced human noise and no boating activities over the last two years.)

3. India recently joined which BRICS body to support industrial manufacturing and MSMEs? Answer: BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) (An agreement was signed between the DPIIT and UNIDO to formalize India’s participation.)

4. Which district has become the first in India to achieve 100% insurance coverage across a set of villages? Answer: Alwar (Rajasthan) (The achievement covers nine villages where all eligible adults are now insured following saturation surveys.)

5. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently launched "Bharat Taxi." What is unique about this platform? Answer: It is India’s first government-backed cooperative ride-hailing platform. (The model follows the slogan "Sarathi hi malik," making the drivers owners of the cooperative.)

6. India recently signed the "Terms of Reference" (ToR) to resume Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with which six-nation group? Answer: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) (The group includes Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.)

7. Which Indian space organization is readying the launch of "Gisat-1A" (EOS-05) to enhance geo-imaging capabilities? Answer: ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)

8. Who inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for aerospace studies at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya in Vadodara? Answer: Airbus (The partnership offers scholarships to underprivileged students, with a focus on women in aerospace.)

9. Which bank launched "Rooftop Solar Finance" to provide collateral-free loans up to ₹2 crores for MSMEs? Answer: Axis Bank

10. Who has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, triggering recent news discussions? Answer: Nemcha Kipgen

11. Article 160: This Constitutional provision empowers the President to issue directions for the discharge of a Governor's functions in specific contingencies.

12. Asiatic Lion Population: The count has reached 891 as of 2025, showing significant growth from the 2020 figure of 674.

13. PET Bottle Livelihoods: In India, PET bottle collection accounts for over 50% of daily earnings for an estimated 3-4 million informal waste pickers.

9. Do You Know?

• The $800 Billion Man: This week, Elon Musk officially became the first individual on Earth to cross a net worth of $800 billion, rewritten the global wealth rankings.

• The "Nal" in Nalsarovar: The name "Nalsarovar" literally translates to "Tap Lake." It is a natural shallow lake with 36 small islands (islets) that host over 200 species of birds.

• Dubai's Underground Loop: Dubai is set to become the second city (after Las Vegas) to launch the "Dubai Loop," an underground high-speed transport system developed by Elon Musk's Boring Company.

• Winter Olympics: The 2026 Winter Olympics are currently ongoing in Milan and Cortina, Italy, showcasing elite athletes in snow and ice sports.

• Broken Arrow Incidents: This is the U.S. military term for accidents involving nuclear weapons, such as the 1956 loss of a hydrogen bomb off the coast of Georgia.

• Sonic Boom Seismometers: Scientists have successfully used seismic sensors on the ground to track and analyze the reentry of space debris into the atmosphere.

• Deep Tech Startup Definition: The government has introduced a new official recognition for "Deep Tech Startups" that work on cutting-edge, breakthrough technologies.

10. Job & Educational Topics (New Updates)

AP Entrance Exam Dates: Applications for AP EAPCET (Engineering/Agriculture) must be submitted by March 7, with results on June 1. The deadline for ECET and ICET is March 2, 2026.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Vacancies: There are currently 787 vacancies at the DGCA, largely due to a massive restructuring between 2022 and 2024.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) Hiring: A total of 2,645 positions are vacant across the AAI and other aviation regulators.

SAIL CMD Post: The government headhunter (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Chairman and Managing Director of SAIL.

AI Job Outlook: A Bain & Company report estimates that India could face over 2.3 million AI job openings by 2027, against a supply of only 1.2 million qualified professionals.

UP Data & AI Labs: As part of the new AI Mission, the UP government is establishing 65 Data & AI labs which will require specialized technical staff.

Viksit Bharat Rural Jobs: The new VB-GRAM G Act, 2025, now provides a legal guarantee for 125 days of wage employment for rural households.

11. Day Special: 6 February

Historical Figure: Today is the birth anniversary of Zsa Zsa Gabor (born February 6, 1917), the famous Hungarian-American socialite and actor.

Centenary of Makwar Dam: February 2026 marks 100 years since the opening of the Makwar Dam on the Blue Nile, which revolutionized irrigation in Sudan.

Global Solar Expo: The two-day Global Solar Expo begins today (Feb 6-7) at the Hitex Exhibition Center in Hyderabad, focusing on decarbonization and net-zero goals.

Nanda Devi Plutonium Mission Anniversary: Historical records highlight a 1965 secret mission by the CIA and Indian Intelligence to install a plutonium-powered device on Nanda Devi.