Current Affairs: February 1 and 2, 2026

National Affairs

NSO to Launch India’s First-Ever NHIS & ASISSE from April 2026

The National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), announced the launch of India's first-ever National Household Income Survey (NHIS) and Annual Survey of Incorporated Service Sector Enterprises (ASISSE). Both surveys will run for a duration of one year.

• The Announcement: Made during the two-day All-India Workshop of Trainers (AIWOT) held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• NHIS Focus: Gathers comprehensive data on household income, living standards, and wealth distribution to assist regional policy design.
• ASISSE Focus: Tracks the incorporated services sector using Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) data to gauge state- and industry-level Gross Value Added (GVA), employment, and capital formation.
• Digital Survey: Both exercises will transition away from paper, utilizing Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI).
• Coverage: Pan-India deployment, excluding only the highly inaccessible villages of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

IR Launches 1st-Ever LNG-Diesel Dual-Fuel DEMU Train in Ahmedabad

Indian Railways (IR) hit a green milestone by successfully rolling out India’s first-ever Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-diesel dual-fuel Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train at Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

• Dual-Fuel System: The Integrated Coaching Depot (ICD) at Sabarmati modified two 1,400 Horse Power (HP) Driving Power Cars (DPCs) with a 2,200-liter LNG tank, allowing for up to 40% diesel substitution with clean LNG.
• Operational Capability: Completed over 2,000 km of field trials; the train can now cover up to 222 km daily on a single full refill.
• Economic Significance: Estimates indicate an annual savings of ₹11.9 lakh per DPC and roughly ₹23.9 lakh annually for an 8-coach DEMU rake.
• Environmental Impact: Drastically reduces emissions of Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$), Nitrogen Oxides ($NO_x$), and fine particulate matter.

Union MoS Jitendra Singh Inaugurates ₹32 Crore CSIR-NIO Regional Centre in Visakhapatnam

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh (Ministry of Science & Technology & Ministry of Earth Sciences) inaugurated a state-of-the-art Shore-Based Laboratory for the CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Regional Centre at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

• Infrastructure: Built by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) at Yendada Village, Rushikonda, involving an investment of ₹32 crore over a built-up area of 4,550 sq m.
• Research Focus: Prioritizes marine geological/geophysical surveys of the Eastern Continental Margin of India (ECMI), deep-sea exploration, and monsoon dynamics in the Bay of Bengal.
• Blue Economy Impact: Designed to boost national energy security (offshore oil/gas exploration) while aiding coastal communities with seaweed cultivation, fisheries, and harmful algal bloom forecasting.

MoMA Launches Two Additional Modules on UMEED Platform

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) expanded its central tech capabilities by launching two brand-new digital modules on the UMEED central portal. The modules were unveiled by MoMA Secretary Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar in New Delhi.

• The New Modules:
  • Survey Module: Provides a digital layout to record, update, and track the physical survey of Waqf properties nationwide.
  • Waqf Property Lease Management Module: Facilitates end-to-end, transparent tracking of leasing data, including tenure tracking, lease amounts, and renewals.
• About UMEED Portal: Launched in June 2025 under the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Act, 1995 to serve as India's real-time centralized registry for Waqf property verification.

Odisha to Establish National UAV Test & Innovation Corridor at Rangeilunda Airport

During the Wings India 2026 airshow in Hyderabad, the Government of Odisha signed a pact with BonV Aero to establish India's very first National UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Test & Innovation Corridor.

• Why it's a game-changer: Marks India's first operational commercial airport (Rangeilunda Airport in Ganjam district) to be repurposed as a live drone testing facility within dynamic airspace up to 1,000 meters.
• Testing Mandate: Supports Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) testing, swarm drone simulations, AI-driven autonomous navigation, and airspace management.
• Scheme Aligned: Developed under the Central Government's Building and Management of Aviation Assets and Network (B-MAAN) infrastructure scheme.

Banking & Finance

India Partners with World Bank on USD 8-10 Billion-a-Year Plan for Jobs

The Government of India (GoI) and the World Bank Group (WBG) launched a massive new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to scale up job creation and sustainable economic growth.

• The Funding: Involves USD 8 to 10 billion in annual financing over the next 5 years, starting January 2026.
• Vision: Aligns with India's "Viksit Bharat" vision targeting fully developed nation status by 2047.
• The Three Pillars: Focuses on infrastructure investment (physical and human capital), ease of doing business via regulatory predictability, and risk-mitigation tools to crowd-in private investments.

SBI Boosts Global Banking Infrastructure with GTFC in Kolkata

India's largest public sector lender, the State Bank of India (SBI), strengthened its trade processing wings by setting up a new Global Trade Finance Centre (GTFC) in Kolkata, West Bengal.

• Centralized Processing: Streamlines domestic trade, imports, and export transactions, supporting branches across East and North India to quicken turnaround times.
• Tech Deployment: Completely moves away from paper heavy-trails by employing Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Blockchain technology.
• Workforce Profile: Operates with 277 personnel (61% locally hired from West Bengal). It has already generated ₹1.40 crore in GST revenue for the state since initial operations began in a phased manner.

Economy & Business

IOCL Signs LoI with Akasa Air to Jointly Explore SAF Supply

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and commercial airline Akasa Air signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) at the Wings India 2026 aviation summit to collaborate on the future infrastructure of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

• The Framework: Outlines a joint evaluation strategy to determine viable SAF production volumes, feedstocks, supply timelines, and delivery locations.
• What is SAF? A clean, lower-carbon alternate fluid engineered to blend with traditional jet fuel, drastically cutting down lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in commercial aviation.

Awards & Recognitions

Patna Bird Sanctuary & Chhari-Dhand Designated as India’s 97th & 98th Ramsar Sites

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the inclusion of two new wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, pushing India's total tally to 98 sites.

• Ramsar Milestones in India:
  • First Sites: Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were designated first in 1981.
  • Top State Leader: Tamil Nadu leads India with 20 Ramsar sites, followed by Uttar Pradesh (11) and Odisha (6).
  • Size Extremes: Sundarban Wetland (WB) is the largest ($4,230\text{ km}^2$), while Renuka Lake (HP) remains the smallest ($0.2\text{ km}^2$).

SAIL Earns 'Great Place to Work' Certification for Third Consecutive Time

Maharatna public sector undertaking Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has secured the prestigious 'Great Place to Work' certification for another consecutive year (valid February 2026 to February 2027).

• Key Driving Tool: High employee marks were driven by SAIL DARPAN, an internal progressive HR platform ensuring objective performance metrics, transparent target setting, and employee empowerment.

Obituary

Former CBSE Chairman and Padma Shri Father Thomas V. Kunnunkal Passes Away

Prominent Jesuit educator and architect of post-independence schooling Father Thomas V. Kunnunkal (affectionately known as Father Stany) passed away at the age of 99 in New Delhi.

• Key Achievements: Served as the Chairman of CBSE from 1980 to 1987.
• Open Schooling Architect: Played an instrumental role in establishing the National Open School (now NIOS) in November 1989 in compliance with the National Education Policy (NEP 1986).
• Awards: Honored with the Padma Shri in 1974 for his stellar contributions to Literature and Education.
• Famous Literature: Authored the book ‘The Role of Teachers on National Regeneration’ (2005).

Important Days & Events

Overview of India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 Held in Goa

The 4th edition of India Energy Week (IEW 2026) concluded at the Advanced Training Institute of ONGC in Goa.

• Organizers: Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) and dmg events under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).
• Theme: "Energizing Growth, Securing Economies, and Enriching Lives."
• Key Strategic Partnerships Signed at IEW 2026:
  • India + Canada: Joint statement inked to deepen bilateral energy security cooperation.
  • GAIL + Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL): Long-term shipping charter agreement for the specialized LNG carrier “GAIL BHUWAN”.
  • ONGC + OIL: MoU to launch collaborative upstream oil and gas exploration blocks.
  • BPCL + Tata Motors: Strategic partnership to deploy India’s largest Mega Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging and Engagement Hubs.

Important Days at a Glance

State News

Gujarat CM Launches ‘Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana’ for Rural Areas

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched a major rural development drive called the ‘Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana (MGY)’ from Bhadran in Anand district.

• The Vision: Designed to equip rural panchayats with urban-equivalent civic infrastructure and high-quality services.
• Phase 1 Targets: 114 villages operating as Taluka Headquarters will receive smart underground drainage networks, premium asphalt roads, solar-powered street lighting, and e-Gram (electronic-Gram) digital connectivity.
• Grassroots Funding: Laid foundational stones for 2,666 Gram Panchayat Ghar-cum-Talati Awas facilities valued at ₹663 crore. The scheme will gradually scale to encompass every Gujarat village with a population exceeding 10,000.

Current Affairs: February 1 and 2, 2026

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