4 February 2026 Current Affair

🔶 Trade, Customs & Economic Reforms

Baggage Rules, 2026

• Simplifies passenger clearance; improves ease of travel & compliance.

• Prelims-friendly: Customs rules, trade facilitation.

IBC (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (proposed)

• Signals continued insolvency reforms to improve credit discipline & resolution timelines .

• GS-III: Banking reforms, NPA resolution.

PSB Alliance Strategy Meet

• Shows PSBs moving towards tech-driven, data-backed collaboration .

• Exam angle: Banking modernisation, public sector reform.

🔶 Banking, Finance & Digital Assets

Central Bank of India–HSBC MF Tie-up

• Expands bancassurance/bancinvestment model.

• Banking exams: Distribution partnerships.

Matrixport – Bhutan Approval

• Highlights Gelephu Mindfulness City as emerging fintech hub.

• Global finance: Regulated digital asset ecosystems.

🔶 Defence, Security & Strategic Affairs

Miniratna Status to Yantra India Ltd (YIL)

• Enhances operational autonomy of defence PSU.

• GS-III: Defence manufacturing, Atmanirbhar Bharat.

New START Treaty Expiry (Feb 5, 2026)

• Raises concerns over global nuclear arms control vacuum .

• IR + Security: Strategic stability, great power rivalry.

Appointments (Railways & Navy)

• Continuity in operational leadership.

• Prelims: Service cadre & defence administration.

🔶 Science, Technology & Energy Security

Japan’s Deep-Sea Rare Earth Recovery

• Breakthrough in critical mineral security .

• Reduces dependence on land-based mining.

• Exam angle: Critical minerals, green transition geopolitics.

DST Solar Energy Storage Device

• Integrated capture + storage in one unit.

• Boosts decentralised renewable energy systems .