Daily GK Update- 9th Feb, 2026

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NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Black Swan Summit India Begins in Bhubaneswar to Boost AI and Digital Finance Ecosystem: The two-day Black Swan Summit India has begun in Bhubaneswar, organised by the Odisha Government under the BharatNetra initiative, aiming to position the state as a hub for AI, FinTech and InsurTech.Held for the first time in India, the summit has drawn 1,700+ delegates from 24 countries and nearly 100 speakers from five continents, highlighting its global significance.Skill development and employment are key focuses, with a job fair for youth, and President Droupadi Murmu scheduled to attend on the second day along with Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi.

 

2. Alwar Becomes India’s First District to Achieve 100% Insurance Coverage Under ‘Insurance for All by 2047’: Alwar district has become India’s first to achieve 100% insurance coverage, marking a major milestone under the Centre’s ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ vision of a Secure India–Insured India.The initiative is a joint effort of the Government of India and IRDAI under the Ministry of Finance, aiming for universal, affordable, and inclusive insurance coverage by the centenary of Independence.Complete saturation was achieved through door-to-door surveys, bringing all identified uninsured residents across nine villages under formal insurance coverage and creating a model for nationwide replication.

 

3. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches Nationwide Pulse Self-Reliance Mission: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the nationwide Pulses Self-Reliance Mission from the Food Legumes Research Centre (FLRP), Amlaha (Sehore), Madhya Pradesh, in the presence of senior central and state leaders.The mission’s roadmap focuses on cluster-based pulse production, seed villages, setting up 1,000 pulse mills, and strengthening research–farmer linkages across the country.

 

4. PLASTINDIA 2026 Kicks Off in New Delhi: PLASTINDIA 2026, one of the world’s largest plastics exhibitions, is being held in New Delhi as a 6-day event focusing on building a self-reliant industrial base, boosting manufacturing-led growth and large-scale employment. The exhibition provides a major platform for youth, innovators and start-ups to showcase sustainable plastic solutions; companies like ExxonMobil are displaying advanced chemicals and lubrication solutions and collaborating with OEMs. With the theme “BHARAT NEXT”, aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat, PLASTINDIA 2026 is being organized as a zero-wastage exhibition at Bharat Mandapam, concluding on the 10th of this month.

 

5. 8 February – National Opera Day: National Opera Day is observed on 8 February to celebrate the rich tradition and cultural significance of opera as a performing art.The day highlights the role of opera in storytelling through music, drama, and vocals, and promotes appreciation of classical and contemporary opera forms.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India-US Trade Deal Opens $118 Billion Global Textile Market: Government: The India–US Trade Agreement has opened access to a $118 billion global import market for textiles, apparel and made-ups, significantly boosting India’s textile export potential.The US remains India’s largest textile export destination with exports worth about $10.5 billion, of which nearly 70% is apparel and 15% made-ups; the agreement strengthens bilateral textile trade ties.With 18% reciprocal tariffs, India gains a competitive edge over rivals, helping reduce costs, diversify sourcing from the US, promote value-added textile manufacturing, and support the $100 billion textile export target by 2030.

 

2. Spain Becomes First European Nation to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16: Spain has imposed a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16, becoming the first European country and the second globally after Australia to take this step.

 

3. Look Inside the US-India Interim Trade Framework Deal: Tariffs, Tech, and Trust.: India and the United States have taken a decisive step to reshape their economic ties by announcing a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement on February 7, 2026.The move supports ongoing BTA talks and focuses on reducing tariffs, easing market access, and strengthening supply chains across goods, agriculture, technology, and energy.Both sides agreed on reciprocal tariff adjustments, relief for key sectors like aircraft, pharma, and auto components, and steps to improve trade predictability.By addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory issues, the framework signals deeper trust, balanced trade, and long-term economic alignment between the two countries.

 

4. PM Modi’s Visit To Malaysia Sees India, Malaysia Ink Key Pacts on Trade and Energy: During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuala Lumpur, India and Malaysia signed 11 agreements strengthening trade, technology, payments, and security ties.A key highlight was promoting local currency trade settlement using the Indian rupee and Malaysian ringgit, reducing dependence on third currencies and lowering transaction costs.The two nations also agreed on NPCI-PayNet digital payment linkage, semiconductor and energy cooperation, disaster management, and palm oil trade, alongside measures to ease worker and professional mobility.These initiatives signal a new momentum in India–Malaysia relations, expand trade beyond $18.6 billion, and enhance bilateral resilience amid global economic uncertaint.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Rajnath Singh Flags Off Joint Indian Expedition to Mount Aconcagua: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off a joint expedition to Mount Aconcagua in Argentina from South Block, New Delhi, led by the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (Uttarkashi) and the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (Pahalgam).The expedition begins on 6 February 2026 and concludes by month-end, aiming to scale Mount Aconcagua (6,960 m), the highest peak in South America and the highest mountain outside Asia.

 

2. Swan Defence Secures Oman Navy Training Ship Export Contract: Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has secured a defence export contract from the Government of Oman to supply a training ship for the Royal Navy of Oman, to be delivered within 18 months.The 104.25-metre training vessel will feature classrooms, training offices, an auditorium for 70 officer cadets, advanced navigation and communication systems, and helicopter operation capability.The order marks a major boost to India’s defence shipbuilding exports, aligning with the Amrit Kaal Vision, as SDHI showcases its world-class shipbuilding capacity at its Pipavav facility in Gujarat.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Esha Singh Strikes Gold as India Dominates Women’s 10m Air Pistol at Asian Championship: Esha Singh won gold in the women’s individual 10m air pistol event on the opening day of the Asian Rifle and Pistol Championship at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, New Delhi.The 21-year-old scored 239.8 points, finishing ahead of Cheng Yen-Ching (silver, 235.4) and Yu Ai-Wen (bronze, 217.7) of Chinese Taipei.India also clinched team gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event with a total score of 1,726, led by Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, and Suruchi Singh.

 

2. India to Host Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2027 in New Delhi: India will host the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2027 after the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) secured the hosting rights through a successful bid.This marks the second consecutive time India will host the prestigious continental shooting championship, to be held from 1–10 December 2027 at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, New Delhi.The 2027 championship will double as an Olympic qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with eight Olympic quota places up for grabs for Asian shooters.

 

3. India Crush Bangladesh 4–0 to Win SAFF Under-19 Women’s Football Championship: India clinched the SAFF Under-19 Women’s Championship title by defeating Bangladesh 4–0 in the final at the Pokhara Rangasala Stadium, Nepal.Captain Julan Nongmaithem opened the scoring, followed by goals from Elizabeth Lakra, Pearl Fernandes, and substitute Anwita Raghuraman, as the Young Tigresses delivered a dominant performance.The emphatic win helped India avenge their earlier round-robin defeat and served as key preparation, with the Under-17 women’s team participating ahead of the AFC Under-17 Women’s Asian Cup later this year.

 

 

 

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. IIT Madras Research Park Launches ₹600 Crore Unicorn Frontier Fund for Deep-Tech Startups: IIT Madras Research Park has launched the ₹600 crore IIT Madras Unicorn Frontier Fund, a deep-tech–focused venture capital fund, with Unicorn India Ventures appointed as the fund manager and a ₹400 crore greenshoe option.The fund will invest ₹5–10 crore per startup, targeting frontier domains aligned with India’s strategic priorities such as defence, climate tech, quantum computing, and semiconductors.

 

2. Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches Qualcomm’s This Advanced Chip In Bengaluru.: India marked a major milestone in deep-tech innovation with the launch of Qualcomm’s 2 nm semiconductor chip in Bengaluru on February 7, 2026.Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the achievement reflects India’s rising role in cutting-edge chip design as the 5th Industrial Revolution unfolds.The launch highlights India’s shift from a back-end IT hub to a global centre for advanced semiconductor engineering and design.Backed by the India Semiconductor Mission, new fabs, and a strong university-led talent pipeline, India is positioning itself as a key player in global semiconductor value chains.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI Doubles Collateral-Free Loan Limit for Micro and Small Enterprises to ₹20 Lakh: RBI has doubled the limit of collateral-free loans for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh, giving a major boost to small businesses.The enhanced limit will apply to all MSE loans sanctioned or renewed on or after April 1, aimed at improving access to formal credit, encouraging entrepreneurship, and strengthening last-mile credit delivery.RBI data shows strong credit growth in the industry segment, with 13.3% year-on-year growth as of December 31, 2025, compared to 7.5% a year earlier, highlighting rising credit demand.

 

2. China Beats the US in R&D Spending! See India’s Rank in the Global Top 10: Global R&D spending hit a record $2.87 trillion in 2024, according to the Global Innovation Index 2025, reflecting nearly 3% annual growth and a long-term shift toward innovation-led development.China overtook the United States to become the world’s largest R&D spender, investing $785.9 billion, driven by focus on AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.The US ranked second, while Japan and major European economies saw declining global shares as Asia’s contribution rose to about 45%.India ranked seventh with $75.7 billion in R&D spending, highlighting its growing emphasis on science, technology, startups, and long-term innovation capacity.