6 February 2026 Current Affairs

🔶 Governance, Democracy & Parliamentary Affairs

National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) 2.0

• Upgraded digital portal launched by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

• Expands youth participation, inclusivity, and civic engagement .

• Strengthens constitutional literacy, democratic values, and parliamentary culture .

• Exam relevance: GS-II (Democracy, Institutions), Youth engagement, e-governance.

16th Finance Commission Report Tabled

• Presented along with Union Budget 2026–27.

• Critical for Centre–State fiscal relations , tax devolution, grants, and demographic considerations.

• Exam angle: Fiscal federalism, Finance Commission roles (Articles 280).

🔶 Economy, Growth & Financial Markets

Goldman Sachs GDP Forecast Upgrade

• India’s CY26 growth revised to 6.9% (from 6.7%) .

• Signals global investor confidence in India’s macro fundamentals.

• Useful for growth comparison questions (IMF, World Bank, private forecasts).

Walmart – USD 1 Trillion Market Capitalisation

• First retail company globally to reach this milestone.

• Highlights scale economics, supply-chain dominance, and platform retail .

• Essay relevance: Market concentration, global capitalism.

🔶 Banking, Insurance & Financial Regulation

RBI Penalty on One97 Communications (Paytm Group)

• Compounding fee under regulatory compliance norms.

• Reinforces RBI’s strict supervisory stance on fintech governance .

• Exam focus: RBI powers, payments regulation, compliance culture.

Equitas SFB – Bharti AXA Bancassurance Tie-up

• Expands insurance penetration via small finance banks .

• Example of bank–insurance convergence .

• Banking exams: Bancassurance models, financial inclusion.

🔶 Defence, Security & Strategic Affairs

India–Kyrgyzstan Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XIII

• Conducted at Missamari, Assam.

• Enhances counter-terrorism, special operations, and joint tactical capabilities .

• GS-III relevance: Defence diplomacy, military exercises.

INS Sudarshini – Lokayan 26 Voyage

• First international port call at Salalah, Oman .

• Strengthens maritime diplomacy and cultural outreach .

• Linked to Act West + Indian Ocean engagement .

US Security Assistance to Baltic States

• $200 million amid Russian military pressure.

• Reflects NATO deterrence strategy and European security dynamics.

• IR relevance: Ukraine conflict spillover, NATO eastern flank.

🔶 Science, Technology & Innovation

ANRF–TDB Open Call under RDI Fund

• Supports deep-tech, indigenous R&D, and commercialisation of research .

• Strengthens innovation pipeline beyond startups .

• GS-III relevance: Research ecosystem, Atmanirbhar innovation.

🔶 Agriculture, MSMEs & Regional Development

NE-RACE Portal Fully Operational

• Connects farmers, FPOs, SHGs, cooperatives of NER with national buyers.

• Improves market access, price discovery, and agri-value chains .

• Exam angle: Digital agriculture, North-East development.

🔶 Environment, Data & Public Administration

Two New Ramsar Sites Added

• Strengthens India’s wetland conservation commitments .

• High-frequency Prelims topic (Ramsar Convention, ecosystem services).

National Household Income Survey (NHIS)

• India’s first-ever comprehensive income survey .

• Improves data on inequality, consumption, welfare targeting .

• GS-III relevance: Evidence-based policymaking.

Excise Duty Withdrawal on Unmanufactured Tobacco

• Revenue + public health implications.

• Relevant for sin taxes, fiscal policy, health economics .

🔶 Minority Affairs & Digital Governance

UMEED Portal – Waqf Management Modules

• Introduces survey & lease management for Waqf properties.

• Enhances transparency, accountability, and digitisation .

• GS-II relevance: Minority administration, governance reforms.

🔶 International Relations & Diplomacy

2nd India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

• Strengthens ties with West Asia .

• Focus on energy, trade, diaspora, regional security.