NATIONAL NEWS

Airbus Inaugurates CoE for Aerospace Studies at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya

Airbus inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for aerospace studies at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), Vadodara, Gujarat.

GSV is India’s industry-driven Central University dedicated to the transportation and logistics sector.

The CoE marks a major milestone in the long-term collaboration between Airbus and GSV to strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem.

The Centre will focus on research, innovation, and talent development in the aerospace sector.

A key focus area of the CoE is Research and Development on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The Centre will also support student-led innovations in future aerospace technologies.

The CoE was announced in 2024 and inaugurated by Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia.

Airbus highlighted its commitment to cutting-edge technologies, including converting Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Airbus–GSV collaboration aims to empower students with industry-relevant skills and support India’s future aviation ecosystem.

Under the partnership, 45 meritorious and underprivileged students are supported through a full scholarship programme.

One-third of the scholarships are reserved for women.

Airbus has also established an Airbus Chair Professorship for Aerospace Studies at GSV.

The Chair supports undergraduate, postgraduate, and short-term executive programmes.

A Joint Study Agreement (JSA) has been signed to promote high-impact research.

PLASTINDIA 2026 to be Held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

PLASTINDIA 2026, one of the world’s largest plastics exhibitions, will be held from 5 February to 10 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The six-day global exhibition will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, start-ups, and international exhibitors on a single platform.3

PLASTINDIA 2026 highlights India’s growing role in global manufacturing, sustainability, and innovation, especially in the plastics sector, a key contributor to the national economy.

PLASTINDIA is a globally recognised exhibition showcasing advancements in plastics processing, machinery, raw materials, and sustainable solutions.

The 2026 edition is organised with support from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Over the years, PLASTINDIA has served as a major global meeting point for manufacturers, suppliers, and buyers, helping Indian industries connect with international markets and advanced technologies.

The theme of PLASTINDIA 2026 is “Bharat Next”.

The theme aligns with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The exhibition focuses on manufacturing-led growth, export promotion, and employment generation, built around the four pillars of Men, Material, Machine, and Markets.

The vision of PLASTINDIA 2026 also revolves around five strategic elements: Trade, Technology, Talent, Tradition, and Tourism.

NITI Aayog Drafts Blueprint to Make Andhra Pradesh a Clean Energy Hub by 2035

NITI Aayog released a draft clean energy blueprint to transform Andhra Pradesh into a major renewable energy hub by 2035.

The draft plan was presented by BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog, to the Andhra Pradesh Government in Vijayawada.

The blueprint focuses on clean power generation, energy storage, grid modernisation, and affordable electricity, under the ASSET (Accelerating Sustainable State Energy Transition) platform.

The plan proposes massive investments of around ₹7.5 lakh crore to support Andhra Pradesh’s clean energy transition.

Of this, ₹3.3–₹3.4 lakh crore is earmarked for domestic energy transition, while ₹4–₹4.2 lakh crore is planned to develop Andhra Pradesh as a renewable energy export hub.

Nearly 90% of the total investment is expected from private sector players, highlighting strong private participation.

The investment push is expected to generate 5–6 lakh new jobs, significantly boosting the State’s economy.

Currently, about 47% of Andhra Pradesh’s power generation comes from renewable sources.

By 2035, the State aims to add 35 gigawatt solar power, 12 gigawatt wind power, and 55–60 gigawatt hour energy storage for domestic consumption.

For national-level renewable energy exports, targets include 30 gigawatt solar, 25–30 gigawatt wind, and 10–12 gigawatt pumped storage capacity.

A major highlight of the blueprint is the promise of low-cost electricity.

Power purchase costs are estimated at ₹3.90–₹4 per unit, while overall supply costs are expected to remain below ₹6 per unit.

Lower power costs are expected to benefit households, farmers, and industries, improve farm incomes, enhance industrial competitiveness, and reduce subsidy burdens on the State government.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Member of World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network

New York City,United States of America (USA) joined the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), strengthening global public health cooperation.

Earlier, Illinois (USA) became part of GOARN on 3 February 2026.

GOARN is a WHO-coordinated global network, established in 2000, comprising 360+ institutions

It functions under the United Nations (UN) Health Network framework, coordinated by WHO.

The primary objective of GOARN is early detection, monitoring, and rapid response to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.

GOARN surveillance mechanisms aggregate global disease reports, signals, and alerts from WHO Member States, hospitals, laboratories, and partner institutions.

The network supports capacity building by providing training, technical guidance, and expert support to strengthen national and local public health systems.

GOARN promotes best practices in outbreak preparedness and response across regions.

Indian partner institutions under GOARN include Empower School of Health, ICMR–National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Manipal Institute of Virology, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), National Institute of Virology (NIV), Population Council Institute, and The INCLEN Trust International.

 

BANKING

RBI Announces Compensation Framework of Up to ₹25,000 for Victims of Small-Value Digital Frauds

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a compensation framework for victims of small-value digital frauds, offering relief of up to ₹25,000 per customer.

The scheme provides a once-in-a-lifetime benefit for bank customers who lose money in small-value fraudulent transactions, including cases involving shared OTPs.

Under the framework, RBI will bear 70% of the loss (up to ₹25,000), while the remaining 30% will be shared equally by the customer (15%) and the bank (15%).

The compensation will be paid from the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF), which has a current corpus of around ₹85,000 crore.

The announcement was made by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra after the 59th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting

The framework aims at enhancing customer protection and addressing the surge in digital frauds, particularly those below ₹50,000, which form a large share of fraud cases.

RBI plans to issue three draft guidelines for customer protection: mis-selling of financial products, recovery of loans and engagement of recovery agents, and limiting liability of customers in unauthorised electronic banking transactions.

The extant instructions on limiting liability of customers in unauthorised transactions were issued in 2017 and have now been reviewed in view of rapid adoption of technology.

RBI also plans to publish a discussion paper on measures to enhance the safety of digital payments, including lagged credits and additional authentication for specific users such as senior citizens.

Reserve Bank of India to Double Collateral-Free Loan Limit

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced plans to double the limit for collateral-free loans for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh, effective April 1, 2026, to boost credit access for the micro, small, and medium sector.

MSME collateral-free loans are provided under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) with a current limit of up to ₹10 lakh, covering manufacturing, services, and related sectors.

The loans under PMMY are divided into four categories (including the new addition):

Shishu: up to ₹50,000

Kishore: ₹50,001–₹5 lakh

Tarun: ₹5 lakh–₹10 lakh

Tarun Plus: ₹10 lakh–₹20 lakh (for those who have successfully repaid previous Tarun loans).

An enterprise is classified as micro, small, or medium based on investment in plant and machinery or equipment and turnover:

Micro enterprise: Investment ≤ ₹2.5 crore, Turnover ≤ ₹10 crore

Small enterprise: Investment ≤ ₹25 crore, Turnover ≤ ₹100 crore

Medium enterprise: Investment ≤ ₹125 crore, Turnover ≤ ₹500 crore

Collateral-free loans provide instant funds for businesses without risking assets with the financial institution.

India Contributes USD 35.18 Million to UN 2026 Regular Budget, Enters ‘Honour Roll’

The Government of India (GoI) paid USD 35.18 million to the United Nations (UN) Regular Budget for 2026.

Following this payment, India joined the UN’s ‘honour roll’ alongside 51 member states who paid their regular budget dues in full and on time.

India’s total assessed contribution to the UN budget stands at USD 38.223 million, with USD 3.091 million offset against staff income taxes.

India contributed 1.016% to the UN’s regular budget of USD 3.45 billion.

This contribution supports core UN operational expenses, excluding peacekeeping activities.

The 193-member UN General Assembly (UNGA) approved the USD 3.45 billion regular budget for 2026 in December 2025.

The UN budget covers the organisation’s three main pillars: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.

As of February 4, 2026, 51 member states have paid their regular budget assessments in full, within the 30-day due period specified in the UN financial regulations.

 

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

QS Best Student Cities 2026

Delhi has been ranked 1st globally as the world’s most affordable city for international students.

The ranking is based on a joint report by Knight Frank, Deloitte India, and QS.

The report is titled “India’s 155 Million Student Mandate” and was released on Wednesday.

Mumbai secured the 11th position, while Bengaluru ranked 15th globally.

The ranking forms part of the QS Best Student Cities 2026 assessment.

A total of 150 cities worldwide were evaluated in the ranking.

Cities were assessed across six equally weighted categories: Affordability, Employer activity, University rankings, City desirability, Student voice and Student mix

India holds a strong competitive advantage in the affordability parameter.

The report stated that affordability is a decisive factor for international students and parents.

Tuition fees, living costs, and purchasing power in Indian cities compare very favourably with major education hubs in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, and Australia.

Lower costs result in reduced student debt and a better return on investment due to strong employability outcomes.

Global universities are increasingly viewing India both as a source of students and as a destination for academic expansion.

India has the world’s largest 18–23 age population, with nearly 155 million young adults.

The country is shifting from being a traditional outbound student market to a core destination for offshore university campuses.

According to Knight Frank India, India is poised to become a strategically critical global destination for higher education expansion.

This growth is driven by policy reforms, demographic scale, and urban readiness.

 

DEFENCE

Indian Coast Guard Commemorates 50 Years of Dedicated Service on Raising Day

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is commemorating its 50th Raising Day on 1 February 2026, marking five decades of dedicated service to the nation.

The ICG was raised on 1 February 1977 with just seven surface platforms and has grown into a formidable maritime force.

Currently, the ICG operates 155 ships and 80 aircraft, with a target to reach 200 surface platforms and 100 aircraft by 2030.

The force is popularly known as Bharatiya Tatrakshak and safeguards India’s maritime interests.

The ICG is responsible for maritime law enforcement, coastal security, search and rescue, marine environmental protection, and humanitarian assistance.

It maintains surveillance over two million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and more than 11,000 kilometres of coastline.

The ICG aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives by inducting indigenously built ships, aircraft, helicopters, and advanced surveillance systems.

Over five decades, the ICG has evolved into a versatile and highly respected maritime organisation.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Indian Educator Rouble Nagi Wins Global Teacher Prize 2026

Indian educator and social activist Rouble Nagi won the Global Teacher Prize 2026 at the World Government Summit held in Dubai.

She received a cash award of USD 1 million, making it one of the highest-value awards in the education sector globally.

The award is presented by GEMS Education and was handed over by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Rouble Nagi was honoured for her grassroots education work through the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, focusing on children from slum and marginalised communities.

She has established more than 800 learning centres across India, supporting children who are out of school as well as school-going children.

Her unique “Living Walls” learning model uses educational murals painted on walls to teach literacy, mathematics, science, and history.

These murals convert public spaces and slum walls into open classrooms, making education accessible, visual, and inclusive.

Rouble Nagi began her journey 24 years ago with just 30 children in a small workshop.

Over the years, her initiative has expanded to reach over one million children across various regions.

The Global Teacher Prize was launched in 2015 and is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for Teaching”.

Rouble Nagi is the 10th recipient of the Global Teacher Prize.

Previous winners include teachers from Kenya, Palestine, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, known for impactful education work in challenging environments.

 

SPORTS

Para Throwball National Federation Cup 2026

Jharkhand women’s team won the gold medal at the Para Throwball National Federation Cup 2026, delivering a disciplined and confident performance at the national level.

The women’s final of the Para Throwball National Federation Cup 2026 was a closely contested match between Jharkhand and Rajasthan.

Playing against the host team Rajasthan, Jharkhand displayed composure and tactical discipline under pressure.

Jharkhand defeated Rajasthan by a 21–17 scoreline, reflecting consistent attack and strong defensive play.

Structured gameplay throughout the tournament helped Jharkhand overcome crowd pressure and strong opposition to emerge as champions.

Jharkhand’s women’s team followed a well-planned and composed campaign in the tournament.

The players demonstrated teamwork, discipline, adaptability, and match awareness in every round.

Their ability to adapt to different opponents and remain focused in crucial moments proved decisive in winning the gold medal.

The victory highlights Jharkhand’s growing strength in para sports and reflects effective preparation at both grassroots and competitive levels.

In the men’s category of the Para Throwball National Federation Cup 2026, Andhra Pradesh emerged as champions.