Daily Current Affairs Quiz February 2 2026

1. Ukraine conflict: A Russian drone struck a bus carrying coal miners in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region on Feb 1, killing at least 12 passengers. This attack underscored ongoing Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine.

2. Middle East (Syria/Gaza/Iran): As part of a ceasefire deal, Syrian government forces entered the Kurdish-held city of Hasakah on Feb 2, beginning integration of the region under Damascus’ control. In Gaza, Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt, allowing sick and wounded Palestinians to exit under limited quotas. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei warned on Feb 1 that any U.S. attack on Iran would provoke a “regional war”. Meanwhile, the U.S. reopened its embassy mission in Venezuela, with a charge d’affaires arriving in Caracas after seven years of broken ties.

1. Manufacturing growth: India’s January PMI edged up to 55.4 (from 55.0 in Dec), indicating continued factory expansion, though new export orders remained weak and business confidence slipped to a 3½-year low. The data suggest steady but cautious domestic demand amid easing price pressures.

2. Gold markets: After a brief pullback, analysts expect gold’s bull run to continue into 2026, possibly reaching new record highs later in the year. The recent sell-off was partly blamed on U.S. Fed signals and profit-taking, but long-term bullish factors (low real rates, geopolitical risks) remain intact.

3. Trade agreements: India and the U.S. announced an interim trade framework on Feb 2 aimed at lowering duties and boosting two-way trade. This may pave the way for deeper economic ties and reduced tariffs on key items like certain gems, fertilizers and wine.

1. Space – Artemis II delay: NASA conducted a simulated launch for the Artemis II mission (first crewed lunar flyby), after delaying the actual launch due to a rare Arctic cold snap. Engineers identified a hydrogen leak during wet dress rehearsals, pushing the crewed launch to “early March”.

2. Solar activity: Solar physicists note a highly active sunspot group is now turning toward Earth. It is the most active sunspot in years and may produce strong geomagnetic storms, potentially causing spectacular auroras in mid-February.

3. Geoscience – Hawaii hotspot: Researchers revealed an enormous “mega-blob” beneath Hawaii’s Big Island composed of solid rock and iron. This massive structure (tens of km across) likely feeds the volcanic hotspot, helping sustain eruptions at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

4. Quantum breakthrough: Experimental physicists created a collective quantum “Schrödinger’s cat” state involving thousands of atoms. By entangling the atoms’ quantum states, they demonstrated macroscopic-scale quantum behavior, advancing control over large quantum systems.

1. Climate warning: A new international study warns the world is nearing irreversible climate “tipping points” that could drive Earth into a permanent hothouse state. The report cautions that loss of polar ice, forests and other feedbacks could lock in runaway global heating if emissions aren’t curbed.

2. Circular economy: The EU passed new rules banning destruction of unsold consumer goods (like clothing and electronics), as part of waste-reduction efforts. Companies must instead recycle or donate excess inventory, a move aimed at tackling fashion waste and promoting sustainability.

3. Wildfires: Extreme heat and drought fueled devastating wildfires in Argentina and Chile in January. Scientists linked the intensity of these Andean fires to human-caused climate change, noting they were driven by record-breaking summer heat and prolonged dry conditions.

1. Military infrastructure: Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed a historic landing aboard a C-130J transport aircraft on a newly built emergency runway (highway segment) in Moran, Assam. This is India’s first such highway landing zone, designed for both military rapid deployment and disaster relief.

2. Joint exercises: The Indian Army’s Special Forces are hosting the 13th edition of Exercise KHANJAR in Assam (Feb 1–17) with Kyrgyzstan’s elite units. The drills enhance joint counter-terrorism capabilities between India and Central Asian partners.

Cardinal Poola Anthony: Church leader Poola Anthony (64) became the first Dalit to be elected President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). The Syro-Malabar Catholic prelate (Archbishop of Trivandrum) is the first person from a Scheduled Caste background to head India’s Catholic Church organization.

1. Tennis – Grand Slam: Carlos Alcaraz (age 22) defeated Novak Djokovic to win the 2026 Australian Open, becoming the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam (all four major titles).

2. Cricket – T20 World Cup: Pakistan’s government announced its team will boycott the Feb 15 T20 World Cup match against India. The move ensures Pakistan will forfeit that fixture, intensifying political tensions around the tournament.

3. Other sports: India’s Devika Sihag won the women’s singles title at the Thailand Open (BWF Super 300 badminton). In cricket, India’s U-19 men’s team clinched their sixth U-19 World Cup title. (In women’s cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore won the 2026 Women’s Premier League.)

1. Global Teacher Prize: Kashmiri artist-turned-educator Rouble Nagi was named the winner of the $1 million Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2026, often called the “Nobel Prize for teachers”. She was recognized for her innovative art education initiatives and rural outreach programs.

2. Grammys: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (age 90) won his first Grammy Award in the Best Spoken Word Album category for his audiobook Meditations: A Path to Peace. Other top Grammy awards went to Bad Bunny (Album of the Year), Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA (Record of the Year) and Billie Eilish (Song of the Year).

1. World Wetlands Day (Feb 2): The UN’s World Wetlands Day was observed globally to raise awareness of wetland conservation. The 2026 theme is “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” highlighting how Indigenous and local practices sustain wetland ecosystems.

2. Groundhog Day (Feb 2): In North America, Feb 2 is also celebrated as Groundhog Day – a folk tradition of weather prediction by a groundhog’s shadow.

Ravi Mital – IBBI: Senior bureaucrat Ravi Mital assumed charge as Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) in Feb 2026. The appointment was made under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code framework, giving him oversight of India’s bankruptcy regulations.

1. International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit: The IRF 2026 Summit was held Feb 1–3 in Washington, D.C., bringing together diplomats and experts to strengthen commitments by democracies to protect global religious liberty.

2. India AI Impact Summit & Expo: New Delhi hosted the India AI Impact Summit and Expo (Feb 16–20) – India’s flagship AI conference. PM Modi inaugurated the Expo on Feb 16, and the summit featured 500+ sessions with 3,250 speakers. Over 300 pavilions showcased AI applications (e.g. precision farming, e-education) and 16 country delegations participated.

3. World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS): TERI organized the 2026 WSDS in New Delhi (Feb 25–27). The summit’s theme was “Transformations: Vision, Voices, and Values for Sustainable Development,” focusing on global sustainability solutions. It assembled leaders and experts to discuss climate action, renewable energy, and SDGs.

1. Maharashtra polls: In municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra, the ruling BJP-led coalition won a decisive lead, capturing over 900 out of the total seats contested. This gave the BJP-Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance control of many civic bodies ahead of state polls.

2. Kerala education reform: The Kerala government announced a 25% reduction in the school syllabus for Class 10 students for the current academic year, aiming to ease exam pressure in the pandemic’s aftermath. The cut will apply to 10th grade across science, social studies and languages.

3. Himachal Pradesh Assembly: The Himachal Pradesh legislature convened its budget session on Feb 16 amid heated debate over the Centre’s decision to discontinue the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) for states. The session (planned for ~3 days) opened with the Governor’s address, but was expected to see sharp exchanges over the finance commission’s move.

IS Bindra (84): Former cricket administrator Inderjit Singh “I.S.” Bindra, a past president of the BCCI (1993–96), died on Jan 25, 2026 at age 84. Bindra was credited with modernizing Indian cricket administration and helping bring the 1987 and 1996 Cricket World Cups to the Indian subcontinent. His passing was mourned across the cricket community.

1. Responsible Nations Index: India was ranked 16th globally on the 2026 Responsible Nations Index, which measures countries by ethical governance, social welfare, environmental stewardship and global accountability. India’s score (0.5515) reflected strong progress in healthcare, equity and environmental initiatives. The top-ranked countries were Singapore, Switzerland and Denmark.

2. Passport strength: The Henley Passport Index 2026 placed India at 75th in the world for global mobility. Indian passport holders can travel to 56 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival (up from 55 destinations in Jan 2026), marking a jump of 10 places from 85th in 2025. The improvement came despite losing visa-free access to Iran and Bolivia.

New releases: February saw several high-profile book launches. Mexican novelist Cristina Rivera Garza’s Autobiography of Cotton (Feb 3) drew acclaim, as did works by Michael Pollan (A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness, Feb 24) and Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa (I Give You My Silence, Feb 24). Other anticipated titles included Tayari Jones’s Kin (Feb 3) and Lauren Groff’s Brawler (Feb 3).

1. U.S. immigration clashes: A U.S. federal judge denied a Minnesota request to halt “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale deployment of immigration agents, despite local protests over federal raids. The judge found no legal basis to enjoin the operation, a decision sharply criticized by Minneapolis officials.

2. Journalists arrested: Former CNN anchor Don Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort were released from federal custody after being indicted for “disturbing a church service.” They had been covering a peaceful protest inside a St. Paul church (where an ICE official is a pastor) and were accused of interrupting the service. Both reporters vowed to continue their work as they prepare to fight the charges.