🇮🇳 National News
The Union Budget 2026-27 has announced two targeted schemes aimed at empowering persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) through skill development and enhanced access to assistive technologies.
Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana – Industry-relevant training in IT, AVGC, hospitality, and food services.
Divyang Sahara Yojana – Improved access to high-quality assistive devices for Divyangjan and senior citizens.
Under Divyang Sahara Yojana, the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) will receive government support to expand production and integrate AI-enabled technologies into product design.
PM Divyasha Kendras will be strengthened, and Assistive Technology Marts will be established as modern retail-style centres where persons with disabilities can view, test, and purchase assistive products.
President Droupadi Murmu commenced a six-day visit to Odisha from February 2, 2026, scheduled to attend official, academic, and cultural programmes across multiple districts.
The President will visit Khordha, Jajpur, Balasore, Puri, and Mayurbhanj districts during this visit.
Key engagements include:
- Offering prayers at Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur
- Attending the 12th Convocation Ceremony of Fakir Mohan University in Balasore as Chief Guest
- Visiting Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri
- Inaugurating a holiday home at Rairangpur and unveiling the statue of tribal leader Bhanjbir Sunaram Soren in Mayurbhanj (February 4)
- Visiting Simlipal National Park
- Attending the Black Swan Summit India in Bhubaneswar (February 5-6, 2026)
She will depart for Chhattisgarh on February 7.
The Union Budget 2026-27 announced the launch of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 with a budgetary provision of ₹1,000 crore for FY 2026-27.
Supporting production of equipment and materials, developing full-stack Indian intellectual property (IP), fortifying semiconductor supply chains, and establishing industry-led research and training centres.
ISM 2.0 builds on the foundation of ISM 1.0, which expanded India’s semiconductor manufacturing and design capabilities, aligning with the nation’s goals of technological self-reliance and digital transformation.
Haryana Thunders were crowned champions of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 after defeating Delhi Dangal Warriors in a closely contested final held at Noida Indoor Stadium on February 2, 2026.
| Award | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Player of the Tournament | Turan Bayramov | Delhi Dangal Warriors |
| Highest Point Scorer | Chandermohan | Punjab Royals |
| Player of the Match | Neha Sangwan | Haryana Thunders |
| Fighter of the Match (125 kg) | Ronak | Delhi Dangal Warriors |
| Impact Player of the Match (57 kg) | Akshay Dhere | Haryana Thunders |
Turan Bayramov won 7 out of 7 bouts in the 57 kg men’s category with 59 points.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain won the Men’s Singles title at the Australian Open 2026, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne.
At 22 years of age, Alcaraz completed a Career Grand Slam, having now won all four major tennis tournaments. Final score: 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
The victory ended Novak Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title. Djokovic (38) suffered his first-ever defeat in an Australian Open final after previously winning all 10 of his finals at the tournament.
💼 Business & Economy
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced expansion of its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot to 15 additional cities, bringing the total coverage to 28 cities across India.
Over 5 million users and 500,000 merchants onboarded.
The expansion is part of RBI’s efforts to promote digital payments and test the functionality of India’s sovereign digital currency in real-world scenarios.
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection for January 2026 reached ₹1.87 lakh crore, marking the 15th consecutive month of collections above ₹1.5 lakh crore.
The robust collection reflects economic buoyancy and improved tax compliance across the country.
🌐 International News
The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act came into full effect on February 1, 2026, establishing the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for AI governance.
The regulation categorizes AI systems by risk levels and sets specific compliance requirements for each category.
This landmark legislation is expected to influence AI governance frameworks globally and impact how technology companies develop and deploy AI systems.
🔬 Science & Technology
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the third unmanned test flight of the Gaganyaan crew module on January 29, 2026.
The test validated life support systems and crew escape mechanisms, bringing India closer to its first crewed space mission planned for late 2026.
Gaganyaan aims to make India the fourth nation to achieve independent human spaceflight capability.
India’s total installed renewable energy capacity crossed the 200 GW mark in January 2026, a significant milestone in the country’s clean energy transition.
| Energy Source | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Solar Energy | 95 GW |
| Wind Energy | 48 GW |
| Other Renewables | 57+ GW |
| Total | 200+ GW |
India has set an ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 as part of its climate commitments.
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