Daily Current Affairs: 1 February 2026

State Bank of India (SBI) launches CHAKRA to finance sunrise sectors with ₹100 trn investment potential over 5 years

[State Bank of India (SBI)]

Key Updates:

• State Bank of India (SBI) launched CHAKRA - Centre of Excellence (CoE) for financing sunrise sectors on 31 January 2026.
• CHAKRA targets eight sunrise sectors: renewable energy, advanced cell chemistry and battery storage, electric mobility, green hydrogen, semiconductors, decarbonisation, smart infrastructure and data centres.
• SBI Chairman CS Setty estimates the combined investment potential of these sectors at ₹100 lakh crore over the next five years.
• The estimated debt opportunity within this potential is ₹20–22 lakh crore.
• Over 20 domestic and global financial institutions, including Japanese lenders SMBC and MUFG, have joined CHAKRA.
• CHAKRA will collaborate with multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and AIIB for long-tenure capital of 15–30 years.
• The platform will explore consortium financing, co-lending, take-out financing, mezzanine debt, equity participation and viability gap funding.
• CHAKRA will produce sector reports, white papers, policy dialogues and industry roundtables to engage banks, NBFCs, DFIs, multilateral lenders, corporates, startups and policymakers.

Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights India's pharma shift to value-driven innovation

Key Updates:

• India's pharmaceutical industry is the world's third-largest by volume, meeting approximately 20 per cent of global generics demand.
• In FY25 the sector's annual turnover reached Rs 4.72 lakh crore, with exports growing at a CAGR of 7 per cent over the last decade (FY15 to FY25).
• India exports pharmaceuticals to 191 countries in FY25, with over 50 per cent of exports directed to highly regulated markets such as the US and Europe.
• India ranks 11th globally in pharmaceutical exports by value, with a 3 per cent share.
• Medical devices exports have grown from USD 2.5 billion in FY21 to USD 4.1 billion in FY25.
• India provides a majority of the world's diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DPT), Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and measles vaccines.
• India's medical devices sector exports to 187 countries in FY25 and now manufactures high-end equipment including MRI and CT scanners, linear accelerators, cardiac stents, and ventilators.

Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana (MGY) launched with ₹663 Crore outlay for 2,666 village panchayat offices

Key Updates:

• Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana (MGY) at Bhadran village in Anand district on 30 January 2026.
• The scheme involves the construction of new panchayat offices-cum-talati residences across 2,666 villages at a total cost of ₹663 crore.
• Under the first phase of the MGY, villages under 114 taluka headquarters will be covered.
• The scheme aims to provide urban equivalent facilities including road infrastructure, water, sanitation, solar street lights, e-grams, and community halls to rural areas.
• The MGY is planned to eventually expand to all village panchayats in Gujarat with a population exceeding 10,000.
• Each Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the state has been allocated a special grant of ₹50 lakh for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge under the Catch the Rain campaign.
• The launch event coincided with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to honour his message of gram swaraj.

Indian Railways (IR) launches first LNG-diesel dual-fuel DEMU at Sabarmati ICD

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

• The Integrated Coaching Depot (ICD), Sabarmati, has successfully modified a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) to operate on a dual-fuel system using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and diesel.
• Each Driving Power Car (DPC) is fitted with a 2,200-litre LNG tank, supporting a daily operation of up to 222 km on a single refill.
• The conversion of two 1,400 HP DPCs allows for the replacement of up to 40% of diesel consumption with LNG, aiming to lower emissions and operating costs.
• The technology is estimated to provide annual savings of ₹11.9 lakh per DPC and approximately ₹23.9 lakh per year for an eight-coach DEMU rake.
• Following field trials of over 2,000 km and emission tests by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), IR plans to convert eight more DEMU DPCs under this programme.

United States clears $3.8 billion Apache helicopter sale to Israel

[United States, Israel]

Key Updates:

• The United States Department of State approved a $3.8 billion sale of 30 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Israel.
• The overall $6.67 billion arms package is the third approval by the Trump Administration bypassing Congressional oversight.
• The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the proposed sale aimed at strengthening Israel’s aerial combat capabilities.
• Israel will receive 70 T700-GE 701D engines, 30 AN/ASQ-170 M-TADS/PNVS targeting systems, 30 AN/APG-78 Longbow Fire Control Radars, 30 AN/APR-48B Radar Frequency Interferometers, 30 AN/AAR-57 Missile Warning Systems, 30 AN/ARC-231A radios, 60 M36E8 training missiles, 72 EAGLE-M GPS/INS units, and 36 infrared countermeasure systems.
• The deal includes $1.98 billion for 3,250 light tactical vehicles plus Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) capabilities, Link-16 terminals, simulators, spares, and five-to-eight temporary US personnel in Israel for up to five years.
• Boeing Company, Arlington, Virginia and Lockheed Martin, Orlando, Florida are the principal contractors.

OpenAI to retire GPT-4o on 13 February 2026; GPT-5.2 becomes new standard

[OpenAI]

Key Updates:

• OpenAI will retire GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini and o4-mini on 13 February 2026.
• GPT-5.2 has replaced GPT-4o as the default model for creative writing, casual conversations and problem-solving tasks.
• GPT-5.1 and 5.2 allow users to select tones such as "Friendly" and to adjust warmth and enthusiasm without complex prompts.
• OpenAI cited a sharp usage drop in GPT-4o and said GPT-5.1 and 5.2 cover most previous use cases.
• An age-prediction safeguard for under-18 users has been introduced alongside the model updates.

Delhi man develops Stevens-Johnson syndrome after taking AI-advised HIV drugs

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• A 45-year-old man in Delhi was admitted to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML Hospital) in critical condition after self-administering HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.
• The patient developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare and life-threatening reaction that causes extensive skin and mucosal damage.
• The medication was purchased over the counter from a local chemist without a prescription, based on advice generated by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chat platform.
• National guidelines stipulate that HIV post-exposure prophylaxis must be initiated within 72 hours of potential exposure and requires a strictly monitored medical regimen.
• Doctors at RML Hospital stated that the specific drugs consumed by the patient are no longer routinely prescribed due to revised treatment protocols.

Novak Djokovic beats Pedro Martinez to set new all-time record at Australian Open

[Australia]

Key Updates:

• Novak Djokovic defeated Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round at Rod Laver Arena.
• The match marked Djokovic's 81st men's Grand Slam main draw appearance, equalling the all-time record held by Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez.
• Djokovic became the first male player to win 100 or more matches at three separate Grand Slam events: French Open (101), Wimbledon (102), and Australian Open (100).
• He now has the chance to surpass Federer's record of 102 Australian Open wins and become the first man to reach 400 Grand Slam match wins overall.

SAIL Great Place to Work Certification for February 2026 to February 2027

[Steel Authority of India (SAIL)]

Key Updates:

• Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), has been certified as a Great Place to Work for the period February 2026 to February 2027.
• This recognition marks the third consecutive year that SAIL has received this certification following an assessment by the Great Place To Work Institute, India.
• The assessment process involved a company-wide survey measuring the TRUST INDEX© score, which evaluates parameters such as credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.
• SAIL has implemented the SAIL DARPAN initiative to establish a transparent and performance-driven work environment focused on objective evaluation and accountability.
• The organisation has partnered with several institutions for capability enhancement, including Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode, IIM Bangalore, IIM Jammu, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, XLRI, and Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI).
• Shri Amarendu Prakash currently serves as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SAIL.

5th Rüsoma Orange Festival 2026 on Jan 30 & 31

[Nagaland]

Key Updates:

• The 5th edition of the Rüsoma Orange Festival 2026 will be held on January 30 and 31 at Rüsoma Local Ground.
• The festival is organised under the aegis of the Rüsoma Village Council in partnership with the Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department, and Rural Development Department.
• The theme for 2026 is 'Abundance of Rüsoma', celebrating Rüsoma oranges, organic produce, and local handicrafts.
• The first orange tree in Rüsoma is believed to have been planted during 1941–1942.
• Rüsoma was adopted and declared a Gardening Village in 1986.
• The first edition of the Rüsoma Orange Festival was launched in 2020.
• The inaugural function on January 30 at 10 am will be graced by MLA and Advisor, Department of Tribal Affairs & Election, H Tovihoto Ayemi, as the special guest.
• During the festival, the price of oranges will be capped at Rs 140 per kg based on quality.

World Leprosy Day 2026 observed on 25 January

Key Updates:

• World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday of January every year.
• In 2026, World Leprosy Day falls on 25 January.
• The theme for World Leprosy Day 2026 is 'Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma'.
• In India, World Leprosy Day is celebrated on 30 January, marking the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.