Daily GK Update- 6th Feb, 2026

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Karnataka Approves Ballot Papers For Panchayat Elections: The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the use of ballot papers and ballot boxes for forthcoming panchayat elections, marking a significant shift away from Electronic Voting Machines. The decision reflects growing concerns within the state government about the credibility and public trust in electronic voting systems at the grassroots level. The approval clears the path for amending the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj framework to enable traditional voting methods. State Minister “HK Patil” confirmed that the existing law does not explicitly permit ballot papers and ballot boxes. The proposed Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, will introduce the required legal provisions. Once enacted, it will formally allow panchayat elections to be conducted through paper ballots. The decision follows an earlier policy stance taken in September last year, when the government resolved to recommend the use of ballot papers for panchayat and urban local body elections. 

 

2. India, GCC Formalise Start of Free Trade Talks: India has moved closer to a comprehensive free trade agreement with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) by signing the Terms of Reference for negotiations, marking a renewed push to deepen economic ties with one of its most critical trading partners amid global uncertainty. The signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) formally outlines the scope, structure and modalities of negotiations for a proposed India–GCC free trade agreement. This step enables both sides to begin structured discussions on tariff reduction, market access and regulatory cooperation. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, collectively forming India’s largest regional trading bloc. The GCC is a key trade and investment partner for India, accounting for over 15% of India’s total global trade. India’s exports to the bloc are valued at nearly $57 billion, while imports, largely driven by crude oil, gas and petrochemicals, stand at around $122 billion. Bilateral trade with the GCC has grown at an average annual rate of about 15% over the past five years, highlighting the region’s strategic economic importance.

 

3. Manipur Deputy CM Appointment Triggers Delhi Protests: The appointment of Nemcha Kipgen as Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur has triggered sharp protests in New Delhi, exposing deep fractures within the Kuki-Zo community amid the state’s unresolved ethnic conflict. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has projected the move as inclusive governance, sections of the Kuki-Zo population view it as a political betrayal at a time when demands for justice and separate administration remain unaddressed. Nemcha Kipgen, 60, became the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur and the first leader from the Kuki-Zo tribal community to hold the post. She took oath virtually from Manipur Bhawan in New Delhi, administered by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, shortly after Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as Chief Minister at Lok Bhavan, Imphal. The new government includes three Deputy Chief Ministers, representing the Kuki-Zo, Naga and Meitei communities, in what the BJP has termed a “popular government”.

4. Indian Researchers Develop Low-Cost Biosensor For Early Heart Attack Detection: Researchers have developed a flexible and economical biosensor capable of rapidly detecting myoglobin, a critical cardiac biomarker linked to the early stages of a heart attack. The innovation is expected to significantly improve early diagnosis, particularly in resource-limited healthcare settings, by enabling faster and more accessible cardiac screening. The newly developed sensor is graphene-based and detects myoglobin, a protein released into the bloodstream soon after cardiac muscle injury. Early identification of myoglobin is clinically important, as it allows physicians to diagnose cardiac events much earlier than many conventional diagnostic methods. Rapid detection can be crucial for timely medical intervention and improved patient outcomes. Unlike traditional laboratory-based cardiac tests that are costly, time-consuming, and infrastructure-dependent, the new biosensor is lightweight, flexible, and low-cost. Its design makes it suitable for portable and point-of-care testing. An Indian patent has been filed for the technology, highlighting its potential for real-world deployment. Lead investigator Sanket Goel noted that the focus is on translating advanced sensing technology into affordable cardiac diagnostics.

 

5. India Develops Lead-Free Self-Powered Photodetector: Researchers in India have developed a novel, lead-free and environmentally friendly photodetector that operates without external power and offers stable long-term performance. The innovation opens new possibilities for applications in consumer electronics, industrial monitoring, security systems, and biomedical imaging, while addressing key environmental and durability concerns linked to existing technologies. The research has been carried out by scientists at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad. ARCI is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology. The findings have been published in the international journal “Solar Energy” by Elsevier. Photodetectors convert light into electrical signals and are critical components in cameras, environmental sensors, smart wearables, and imaging systems. Many high-performance devices currently rely on lead-based perovskites, which raise environmental and health concerns due to lead toxicity and also suffer from performance degradation under real-world conditions. The Indian team addressed these issues by developing a device based on the lead-free double perovskite material Cs₂AgBiBr₆.

 

6. Indian Railways Deploys AI System To Prevent Elephant Deaths: Indian Railways has introduced an artificial intelligence-enabled Intrusion Detection System to prevent accidents involving elephants on railway tracks, addressing a long-standing wildlife safety concern. The initiative aims to reduce elephant fatalities in forested and wildlife-sensitive regions where railway lines intersect traditional elephant corridors. The system has been developed by the Indian Railways in coordination with the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. It uses Distributed Acoustic Sensors installed along optical fibre cables laid near railway tracks. These sensors are pre-fed with acoustic signatures of elephant movement, enabling the system to detect elephant locomotion close to tracks with high precision. Once elephant movement is detected, the system generates real-time alerts for loco pilots, station masters, and railway control rooms, allowing trains to slow down or halt in time. The Intrusion Detection System is currently operational over 141 route kilometres in critical locations under the Northeast Frontier Railway. Further expansion has been sanctioned across multiple railway zones, including East Coast, Southern, Northern, South Eastern, North Eastern, Western, and East Central Railways, covering several hundred additional route kilometres.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Iran’s First Female Member Elected To IOC: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has elected its first female member from Iran, marking a historic milestone for both the country and the global Olympic movement. Soraya Aghaei was elected on February 4, 2026, becoming not only the first Iranian woman to join the IOC but also its youngest current member. Soraya Aghaei was elected as the 107th member of the “International Olympic Committee” by an overwhelming 95–2 vote. She is only the third-ever Iranian representative to be part of the IOC and the first since 2004. Her election reflects the IOC’s continued push towards inclusivity, generational renewal, and broader geographic representation within its ranks. At 30 years of age, Aghaei is a member of the Iranian Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission. She made history earlier as Iran’s first female badminton Olympian, competing at the “Tokyo Summer Olympics”. Her sporting background and athlete-centric experience position her as a key voice in deliberations concerning athlete welfare and governance reforms within the Olympic system.

 

2. Trump Unveils Project Vault to Secure US Mineral Supplies: US President Donald Trump has announced a $12 billion initiative aimed at building a strategic stockpile of critical minerals, seeking to shield American industries from supply disruptions and reduce dependence on China. The programme, named Project Vault, reflects growing concern in Washington over vulnerabilities in defence, technology and manufacturing supply chains. Project Vault is designed as a public–private partnership to purchase and store critical minerals and rare earth elements essential for modern industry. Announced by Donald Trump at the White House, the initiative will combine $1.67 billion in private seed funding with up to $10 billion backed by the US Export-Import Bank. Minerals targeted include cobalt and gallium, which are vital for batteries, semiconductors, defence electronics and jet engines. Under the scheme, participating companies will commit in advance to buying minerals at a fixed inventory price and pay upfront fees. Based on these commitments, Project Vault will procure and store the required materials.

 

3. Visa Expiry Leaves Hakki Pikki Tribe Members Stranded in Africa: Eight members of Karnataka’s Hakki Pikki tribal community are facing a grave crisis in Central Africa after their visas expired, leaving them at risk of arrest and unable to return home. The incident has triggered appeals for urgent intervention by the Indian government, reviving memories of earlier overseas distress faced by the community. The Hakki Pikki community, largely based in Davanagere, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts of Karnataka, traditionally travels abroad to sell herbal medicines and indigenous products. As part of this long-standing practice, eight members travelled to Central Africa in 2025. However, their visas expired on December 22, pushing them into legal trouble with local authorities. In a video message released from abroad, the stranded individuals appealed directly to the Ministry of External Affairs, urging immediate diplomatic intervention. They said they lacked the money to pay fines and requested help for the return of their passports and safe repatriation to India.

 

4. Dubai To Launch Underground Dubai Loop Transport: Dubai is set to become the second city in the world after Las Vegas to introduce the Dubai Loop, an underground high-speed transport system developed by The Boring Company. The project, announced at the World Government Summit, marks a major step in Dubai’s efforts to modernise urban mobility and reduce congestion in high-density corridors. The Dubai Loop was unveiled by the Roads and Transport Authority at the World Government Summit. RTA Director General Matar Al Tayer described the project as an iconic initiative designed to connect densely populated and high-traffic areas through one-directional underground tunnels, enabling faster and more efficient city travel. The full Dubai Loop network will span 22.2 kilometres and include 19 stations, with an estimated total cost of around $681 million. The first phase will connect the Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Mall, covering 6.4 kilometres with four stations. This phase is expected to cost about $163 million and is projected to be completed within one to two years.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Exercise Khanjar Begins At Missamari In Assam: The annual India–Kyrgyzstan joint special forces exercise ‘Khanjar’ commenced on February 4 at Missamari in Assam, reinforcing defence cooperation between the two countries. The bilateral drill underscores the shared commitment of India and Kyrgyzstan towards enhancing counter-terrorism capabilities and promoting regional peace and stability. The exercise will be conducted from February 4 to February 17 and involves a 20-member contingent from the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and an equal-strength team from the ILBRIS Special Forces Brigade of Kyrgyzstan. The training is being held at Missamari, a key military station in Assam, known for hosting joint exercises and operational readiness activities. According to the Ministry of Defence, the primary aim of Exercise Khanjar is to exchange best practices and operational experiences in counter-terrorism and special forces missions. The training focuses on urban and mountainous terrain, reflecting real-world operational environments. Key skill areas include sniping, complex building intervention, and advanced mountain craft, enhancing the tactical proficiency of participating troops.

 

2. DRDO Successfully Demonstrates SFDR Missile Technology: India has achieved a major milestone in advanced missile propulsion with the successful demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology by the Defence Research & Development Organisation. The test marks a critical step towards strengthening India’s long-range air-to-air missile capabilities and enhancing its aerial combat edge. All critical subsystems, including the nozzle-less booster, solid fuel ducted ramjet motor, and fuel flow controller, performed as per expectations. The system’s performance was validated using comprehensive flight data captured by multiple tracking instruments deployed along the Odisha coast over the Bay of Bengal. The test was monitored by senior scientists from key DRDO laboratories such as the Defence Research & Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Research Centre Imarat, and ITR.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Esha Singh Wins Gold At Asian Shooting Championship: Olympian Esha Singh clinched the gold medal in the women’s individual 10m air pistol event on the opening day of the Asian Rifle and Pistol Championship in New Delhi. Competing at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, the 21-year-old produced a strong comeback in the final to reaffirm India’s dominance in the discipline. Esha Singh scored 239.8 in the final to secure her second individual senior Asian Championship gold medal. She finished ahead of shooters from Chinese Taipei, overcoming a stiff challenge from Cheng Yen-Ching, who won silver with 235.4, and Yu Ai-Wen, who took bronze with 217.7. Esha’s composed shooting under pressure proved decisive in the later stages of the final. In the women’s team 10m air pistol event, India struck gold with a combined score of 1,726. The Indian trio comprised Esha Singh, Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, and Suruchi Singh. Vietnam finished second to claim silver, while Chinese Taipei secured the bronze medal, completing a strong team showing for India on the opening day.

 

2. Suruchi Singh, Samrat Rana Win Silver At Asian Championship: Indian shooters Suruchi Singh and Samrat Rana clinched the silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Championship on Thursday, continuing India’s strong showing at the continental meet. The pair delivered a record-breaking performance but narrowly missed gold against a dominant Uzbek team. Suruchi Singh and Samrat Rana finished with a score of 479.6 in the final, setting a new world and Asian junior record. However, Uzbekistan’s duo of Nigina Saidkulova and Mukhammad Kamalov secured gold with 481.3. The Indian team began strongly, leading after the first series with 100.5, but the Uzbek shooters overtook them by the third series and maintained the advantage through the elimination rounds. In the qualification round, Suruchi Singh and Samrat Rana posted a combined score of 583, identical to the Vietnamese pair of Vinh Thu Trinh and Minh Cong Lai. India advanced to the final due to a higher count of Inner 10s. The second Indian team, featuring Manu Bhaker and Sharvan Kumar, scored 571 to finish ninth and missed out on the final.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Chichón Volcano Shows Fresh Signs of Hydrothermal Activity: Unusual physical and chemical changes inside the crater of Mexico’s Chichón volcano have drawn renewed scientific attention, raising concerns about a dynamic hydrothermal system beneath its crater lake. While no imminent eruption is expected, researchers say the volcano is no longer geochemically stable and requires closer monitoring. Scientists monitoring the crater lake detected a series of anomalies between June and December 2025. Surface temperatures in the lake repeatedly reached up to 118°C, well above typical geothermal levels. Field teams also observed visible gas bubbling, with increased emissions of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. These gases, though common in volcanic systems, can accumulate to dangerous levels in confined crater environments. Researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico reported the appearance of floating hollow sulfur spheres, formed when volcanic gases rise through pools of molten sulfur beneath the lakebed.

 

2. Isro Readies Gisat-1A Launch After Past Setbacks: More than four years after a failed mission derailed India’s geo-imaging ambitions, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is preparing to launch Gisat-1A, also designated EOS-05, as a replacement for the lost Gisat-1 satellite. The spacecraft is expected to reach India’s spaceport shortly, marking a critical step in restoring near real-time Earth observation capability. Gisat-1A follows the unsuccessful GSLV-F10 mission of August 12, 2021, when a cryogenic upper stage anomaly prevented the original Gisat-1 (EOS-03) from reaching orbit. That failure came after two earlier launch postponements in 2020 and early 2021 due to technical issues. Since then, Isro has undertaken multiple design reviews and validation exercises to ensure mission readiness. The 2.2-tonne class Gisat-1A satellite is designed to provide frequent, near real-time imaging of large regions of interest. While primarily a civilian Earth observation satellite, it holds strategic value by enabling all-weather, cloud-free monitoring of the Indian subcontinent. Its data will support agriculture, forestry, mineral exploration, disaster management, oceanography, snow and glacier studies, and cloud property analysis, while also aiding operational planning by India’s armed forces.

 

3. New Flowering Plant Species Discovered In Pakhal Sanctuary: Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India have identified a new species of flowering plant in Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary in Telangana’s Mahbubabad district, highlighting the region’s rich and still-unfolding plant diversity. The species has been named “Dicliptera pakhalica” and was formally described in the international botanical journal “Brittonia” on January 29. The discovery was made during systematic floristic surveys conducted by scientists of the Botanical Survey of India in the Pandem East Beat of the Gangaram Range inside Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary. The research team comprised BSI scientist L. Rasingam, botanist P. Harikrishna, research scholar A. Parthiban, and forest divisional officer V. Chandra Sekhara Rao. The plant was found along stream banks and rocky areas near waterfalls, habitats known for supporting diverse native flora.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI Holds Repo Rate At 5.25% After Union Budget: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% in its first monetary policy decision after the Union Budget 2026, signalling confidence in growth while remaining cautious on inflation amid global uncertainty. Announcing the decision after the three-day meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the decision was unanimous. The central bank also retained its monetary policy stance at “neutral”, indicating that interest rates are likely to remain stable in the near term unless macroeconomic conditions change sharply. The RBI assessed the Indian economy to be on a firm footing despite global volatility. Real GDP growth for the current financial year has been pegged at 7.4%. For the next financial year, growth is projected at 6.9% in the first quarter and 7% in the second quarter. The central bank noted that underlying data suggests growth momentum could be sustained over a longer period.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Bhutan Queen Mother Receives Upendra Nath Brahma Award: Gyalyum Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, was conferred the 22nd Upendra Nath Brahma ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award, 2025, at a special ceremony held at Bodoland University in Kokrajhar, western Assam. The award recognises her lifelong commitment to humanitarian service, social development, and inclusive growth, reinforcing cross-border bonds rooted in compassion and community welfare. The Queen Mother is the founder-president of the “Tarayana Foundation”, which has spearheaded comprehensive rural development initiatives across Bhutan. The foundation works in areas such as poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, education, healthcare delivery, and preservation of cultural heritage. Its community-centric model emphasises self-reliance, sustainability, and respect for indigenous traditions, making it a flagship institution in Bhutan’s social sector.

 

2. Rouble Nagi Wins Global Teacher Prize In Dubai: Indian teacher and social activist Rouble Nagi has won the prestigious Global Teacher Prize, earning international recognition for transforming education access among children living in urban slums. The award was presented in Dubai on February 5, honouring her efforts to bring structured learning to children who had never attended school and to support those at risk of dropping out. Rouble Nagi has pioneered an unconventional yet impactful approach to education by setting up over 800 learning centres across India. Alongside these centres, she has painted educational murals in slum settlements, turning walls into classrooms. These murals cover literacy, mathematics, science, and history, making learning visually engaging and accessible to children from underserved communities. Nagi travels extensively to work directly with children at these centres and mentors the teachers who manage daily instruction. She has recruited and trained more than 600 volunteer and paid educators. Her teaching model adapts to the realities of poverty, child labour, early marriage, and irregular attendance by offering flexible schedules, practical lessons using recycled materials, and skill-based learning relevant to family livelihoods.