Daily Current Affairs: 9 February 2026

Anutin Charnvirakul Wins Thailand General Election as Prime Minister

[Thailand]

Key Updates:

• Anutin Charnvirakul and the Bhumjaithai Party secured a victory in the Thailand general election held on 8 February 2026.
• The Bhumjaithai Party won approximately 192 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, according to preliminary results from the Election Commission (EC).
• Anutin Charnvirakul assumed the role of Prime Minister following the ousting of Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai party over a border crisis with Cambodia.
• The People's Party, led by Natthaphong Rueangpanyawut, secured 117 seats and announced it would serve as the opposition.
• A survey conducted by the National Institute for Development Administration (NIDA) correctly projected the Bhumjaithai Party as the winner of the election.
• Voters also approved a referendum to replace the 2017 military-backed constitution by a margin of nearly two to one.
• The Bhumjaithai Party campaign included pledges to implement a consumer subsidy programme and cancel a maritime claims agreement with Cambodia.

Sanae Takaichi wins Japan general election as Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secures supermajority.

Key Updates:

• Sanae Takaichi is the Prime Minister of Japan and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
• The LDP won 316 of the 465 seats in Japan’s lower house of parliament.
• The victory gives the LDP a supermajority, exceeding the 233 seats needed for a majority.
• Takaichi called the snap election after three months in office to consolidate political support.
• She has pledged to suspend the 8 percent sales tax on food to ease household burdens.
• US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Takaichi and announced her White House visit on March 19.
• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Takaichi’s win as a 'big victory' for Japan–US relations.
• Japan–US trade was valued at $317 billion in 2024, with around 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan.

Arjun Ram Meghwal launched 'The Medicolegal Guidebook'.

Key Updates:

• Union minister of state for law and justice Arjun Ram Meghwal launched 'The Medicolegal Guidebook' in New Delhi.
• The guidebook is co-authored by Deepak Singla, medical director of Maharaja Agrasen Hospital; Aarushi Singla, pediatric endocrinologist at ESIC Medical College & Hospital; senior advocate Rakesh Malhotra; and advocate Kushal Malhotra.
• The book aims to bridge the interface between medicine and law to ensure patient safety, ethical practice, and legal compliance in healthcare.
• The launch event was attended by senior figures from the legal and medical fraternity, including Meena Subash Gupta, Sushil Gupta, Anil Agarwal, former Supreme Court judge Justice Hima Kohli, and high court judge Justice Madhu Jain.

Queensland (Australia) government to ban pro-Palestinian slogan under new hate speech law.

Key Updates:

• Queensland will introduce legislation on Tuesday to ban the pro-Palestinian slogan 'from the river to the sea'.
• The slogan ban carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
• The phrase 'globalise the intifada' will also be proscribed under the same law.
• Displaying the Hamas flag, Islamic State flag, Hezbollah emblem and Nazi symbols will attract up to two years in prison.
• Impeding religious services will be a new offence with a three-year prison term.
• Assaulting or threatening a religious officiant will carry a penalty increased from two to five years.
• Intentionally damaging a place of worship will carry a maximum seven-year sentence.
• The reforms follow the 14 December 2025 Bondi Beach attack that killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration.

Poola Anthony Elected President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI)

[Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI)]

Key Updates:

• Cardinal Poola Anthony, the Archbishop of Hyderabad, has been elected as the new President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI).
• He was elected during the 37th general body meeting of the CBCI held on 7 February 2026.
• The 64-year-old is the first Dalit prelate to head the Catholic Church in India, which represents nearly 2 crore Catholics.
• He succeeds Archbishop Andrews Thazhathu from Kerala as the president of the bishops' body.
• Poola Anthony was appointed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad on 19 November 2020 and was proclaimed a cardinal by Pope Francis on 27 August 2022.
• Born on 15 November 1961 in Poluru, he was ordained as a priest on 20 February 1992 and previously served as the Bishop of Kurnool from 2008 to 2020.
• He served as the Director of the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging from 2004 to 2008 and holds a Master’s degree in pastoral care from Loyola University, Chicago.

India secures 2nd rank globally in LEED-certified green building space outside United States in 2025.

[United States]

Key Updates:

• India ranked second outside the United States with 16 million gross square meters of LEED-certified space in 2025.
• United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) released the annual country rankings.
• China led the non-US list with 26 million GSM, while Vietnam entered the top 10 for the first time.
• Over 7,500 commercial projects worldwide achieved LEED certification in 2025, totaling more than 147 million GSM.
• India recorded the highest growth in LEED Operations and Maintenance (O+M) certification, surpassing new and interior construction projects.
• LEED certification in India is expanding beyond offices into industrial manufacturing, warehousing, hospitality, retail, and education sectors.

India and United States (US) reach framework for first phase of bilateral trade agreement

[United States]

Key Updates:

• India and the United States (US) have announced a framework for the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement to reduce import duties on various goods.
• The legal agreement is expected to be signed by mid-March, with duty concessions taking effect on the day of implementation.
• India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on US industrial goods and agricultural products including dried distillers' grains, red sorghum, tree nuts, soybean oil, wine, and spirits.
• Specific US goods such as walnuts, almonds, pistachios, lentils, high-end cars, and motorcycles will enjoy duty concessions in India.
• Duty benefits will be extended to American medical devices including pacemakers, X-ray valves, diagnostic reagents, hearing aids, and artificial joints.
• American aircraft, semiconductor chips, and high-quality machinery will be allowed into India under the pact.
• India has fixed minimum import prices on products like apples to protect the interests of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers.
• Indian exports including spices, tea, coffee, cashew, mango, pineapple, and cocoa products will attract zero reciprocal tariffs in the US market.
• The agreement aims to address non-tariff barriers affecting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods and medical devices.

IIT Madras and Unicorn India Ventures launch Rs 600-crore deeptech fund with Rs 400-crore greenshoe option

[IIT Madras]

Key Updates:

• IIT Madras and Unicorn India Ventures have launched the IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund I with a corpus of Rs 600 crore and an additional Rs 400 crore greenshoe option.
• The fund will invest Rs 8-10 crore each in over 25 early-stage, IP-led deeptech startups.
• Target sectors include robotics, space technology, defence tech, semiconductors, and medical technology.
• Most investments will target startups at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3-4, with some follow-on backing up to TRL 7-9.
• The 10-year fund, with a two-year extension option, will deploy around 60% of the corpus for initial portfolio and 40% for follow-on rounds.
• A large portion of investments will focus on startups emerging from the IIT Madras ecosystem, including those incubated at the IIT Madras Research Park and the IIT Madras Incubation Cell.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) keeps repo rate at 5.25% and caps fraud-hit customer compensation at ₹25,000 or 85% of amount

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% after the sixth bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee meeting of FY26 concluded on 4 February.
• The policy stance remains 'neutral'.
• Since February 2025 the RBI has cumulatively cut the repo rate by 125 basis points.
• The Standing Deposit Facility rate stays at 5%, while the Marginal Standing Facility rate and Bank Rate remain at 5.5%.
• Consumer price inflation stood at 1.33% year-on-year in December 2025 (provisional).
• Fraud-hit bank customers will be compensated up to ₹25,000 or 85% of the lost amount, whichever is lower.

Sharda River Corridor Project launched in Uttarakhand with ₹3,300 Crore Investment

[Uttarakhand]

Key Updates:

• Chief Minister (CM) Pushkar Singh Dhami laid the foundation stone for the Sharda river corridor project at Tanakpur in the Champawat district of Uttarakhand.
• The project involves a total proposed investment of ₹3,300 crore and will cover an area of nearly 200 sq km in the Champawat district.
• The first phase of the project includes the redevelopment of Sharda Ghat at a cost of ₹10.7 crore and the Tanakpur city drainage system costing ₹66 crore.
• Infrastructure developments under the first phase also include a helipad at Chuka and a multi-storey parking facility.
• The corridor aims to promote adventure tourism through facilities for river rafting on the Sharda river and paragliding.
• The state government plans to extend the Purnagiri mela beyond its current three-month schedule to attract visitors throughout the year.
• The project focuses on the conservation and development of cultural heritage sites, including temples at Devidhura, Bageshwar, Jageshwar, Patal Bhuvaneshwar, and the Goljyu temple in Champawat.

Union minister announces comprehensive development of Kondaveedu Fort

Key Updates:

• The Union minister of state recently announced plans for the comprehensive development of the historic Kondaveedu Fort.
• Kondaveedu Fort is located at Kondaveedu village in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
• The fort is spread across a range of hills at around 1,050 feet elevation and is the largest hill fort in present Andhra Pradesh.
• It was constructed during the time of the Telugu Chodas, strengthened by the Kakatiyas, and occupied by Prolaya Vema Reddy who shifted his capital from Addanki to Kondaveedu in 1323 AD.
• The fort was later taken over by the Gajpathis of Orissa and ravaged by the Bahmani Sultans in 1458.
• It came under the control of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Golconda Sultanate, the Mughals, the French, and the British.
• The architecture displays a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles and was mainly constructed with granite stones and lime mortar.
• The fort features 23 bastions connected by defensive walls and two main entrances called Kolepalli Darwaza and Nadella Darwaza.
• Inside the fort are ruins of temples, pillared halls, granaries, water tanks, and a mosque.
• The fort is known for its ancient water conservation system with several ponds supplying water to inhabitants.
• Recent archaeological findings include Buddhist stupa remains dating back to the 1st or 2nd century CE.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Government proposes Shipki La Pass as additional pilgrimage route

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is in dialogue with China to explore opening the Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh as an additional route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
• The MEA successfully organised the pilgrimage between June and August 2025 through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.
• The programme is conducted in coordination with the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
• The yatra is managed on a self-financing basis, providing pilgrims with transportation, accommodation, food, medical tests, and guides.
• Safety protocols for the pilgrimage include provisions for airlifting pilgrims by helicopter on the Indian side in the event of medical emergencies.
• The pilgrimage is of spiritual significance to followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon.

Padhai with AI App Launched to Provide Digital Learning for Competitive Exams

Key Updates:

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Padhai with AI app, an initiative of the Bilaspur district administration.
• The AI-based digital learning platform is designed for students in Bilaspur district preparing for various competitive examinations.
• The initiative ensures a fully digital learning system and provides continuous academic counselling to students.
• The programme is supported by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to provide technology-based and quality educational facilities.
• The Himachal Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s Geotropy India Pvt. Ltd. for geothermal energy exploration.
• The MoU aims to harness green energy sources to transition Himachal Pradesh into a Green Energy State.
• The agreement was signed by the Chief Engineer of the Directorate of Energy, D.P. Gupt, and the Chairperson of Iceland-based GEOTROPY ehf, Tomos Otto Hansson.
• The Ambassador of Iceland to India, Benedikt Hoskuldsson, and Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi were present during the signing of the agreement.

India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme and University of Groningen–19 IITs MoU launched

[Netherlands, University of Groningen]

Key Updates:

• Department of Science and Technology (DST) released the Scheme Guidelines and Call for Proposals for the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme.
• The fellowship is open to Indian doctoral researchers, postdoctoral scholars and faculty members across institutions.
• University of Groningen signed an MoU with 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for cooperation in hydrogen and green energy research.
• The MoU enables faculty and student exchange, joint research programmes and knowledge sharing without automatic financial commitments.
• The initiatives support India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, Energy Independence 2047 vision and Net-Zero 2070 objectives.

Free Online Coaching Initiative by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) for 5,000 candidates annually

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) signed an MoU with Physics Wallah (PW) Foundation to deliver free online coaching.
• The scheme covers Civil Services Examination, Staff Selection Commission Examination and Banking Examinations.
• 5,000 Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Class and Pradhan Mantri CARES for Children Scheme beneficiaries will be selected each year through a merit-based online portal.
• Selected candidates receive live and recorded classes, test series, previous year question papers, study material, mentorship, doubt-solving support and counselling.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has not signed any similar MoU for Scheduled Tribe students.

Ministry of Mines notifies Offshore Areas Mineral Prevention of Illegal Mining and Transportation Rules, 2026

[Ministry of Mines]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Mines notified the Offshore Areas Mineral Prevention of Illegal Mining and Transportation Rules, 2026, which came into force on February 3, 2026.
• The rules are framed under the Offshore Areas Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 2002 (OAMDR Act) to regulate all offshore minerals except mineral oils and hydrocarbons.
• Operating right holders are mandated to deploy real-time electronic monitoring systems for vessel tracking, weight recording, and continuous video capture of offshore operations.
• A digitally signed transit permit issued via a regulation portal is required for dispatching minerals, with the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) sharing these permits with state governments.
• Companies exporting minerals directly from offshore areas must obtain clearance from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) at least seven days before export.
• Mandatory weighment systems must be installed at the first onshore point of discharge to match weight records against dispatch data.
• Penalties for illegal mining include imprisonment up to five years and fines ranging from ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore, plus an additional daily penalty of ₹5 lakh for continuing offences.
• Proceeds from the public auction of seized minerals and property will be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.

National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) launched for Paperless Legislative Processes

[National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)]

Key Updates:

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) at the Bihar Assembly to transition to paperless legislative processes.
• NeVA is a workflow system deployed on the National Informatics Centre (NIC) cloud designed to facilitate the digital conduct of legislative business.
• The application enables members to access rules of procedures, the list of businesses, notices, bulletins, bills, questions and answers, and committee reports via hand-held devices.
• The project aims to integrate all legislatures across India to establish a massive centralised data depository.
• The launch event was attended by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

India commissions first indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft INS Arnala

Key Updates:

• INS Arnala, the Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam on 18 June 2025.
• The 77-metre, 1,490-tonne vessel was designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) under a Ministry of Defence programme and incorporates over 80 per cent indigenous content.
• Powered by a diesel engine–waterjet propulsion system, INS Arnala is the largest Indian naval warship using this technology, enabling high manoeuvrability and shallow-draught operations.
• The warship is equipped with advanced underwater sensors, mine-laying capability, modern command-and-control systems and stealth features to reduce radar, acoustic and infrared signatures.
• Named after Arnala Fort off Vasai, Maharashtra, the vessel is optimised for coastal anti-submarine warfare, underwater surveillance, search and rescue, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations.

India signs MoUs with 23 countries for Digital Public Infrastructure cooperation

Key Updates:

• India has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)/agreements with 23 countries for sharing and cooperation on India Stack / Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
• The MoUs focus on digital identity, digital payments, data exchange and service delivery platforms under India Stack framework.
• The countries are: Republic of Armenia, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Cuba, Republic of Colombia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Gambia, Fiji, Guyana, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Lesotho, Maldives, Mongolia.
• UPI is now live in over eight countries: UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius and Qatar.
• MoUs for Digilocker have been signed with Cuba, Kenya, United Arab Emirates and Lao People's Democratic Republic.
• India Stack Global portal (www.indiastack.global) showcases 18 key digital platforms for global adoption.
• Global DPI Repository (www.dpi.global) was launched during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, with India contributing the highest number of DPI solutions.
• Key DPI platforms include Aadhaar, UPI, CoWIN, API Setu, DigiLocker, Aarogya Setu, GeM, UMANG, DIKSHA, e-Sanjeevani, e-Hospital, e-Office, eCourts, POSHAN Tracker, National NCD Platform, Skill India Digital Hub, PFMS and PM GatiShakti.
• The information was provided by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada in Rajya Sabha on 06.02.2026.

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovers two new polychaete worm species in Bay of Bengal

[Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Bay of Bengal]

Key Updates:

• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) researchers identified two new marine worm species, Namalycastis solenotognatha and Nereis dhritiae, in Digha and Bankiput regions of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal.
• Namalycastis solenotognatha inhabits sulfide-rich, foul-smelling mudflats and decomposing mangrove wood, and possesses a channeled jaw structure with multiple pulp-cavity canals.
• Nereis dhritiae was found inside wooden dock piles on sandy beaches submerged at high tide and is named after ZSI’s first woman director Dhriti Banerjee.
• Both species tolerate heavy human activity and industrial pollution, highlighting their resilience and potential as bioindicators for monitoring coastal health.

Guinness World Records confirms 7.22 m reticulated python Ibu Baron as longest measured snake

[Guinness World Records]

Key Updates:

• Guinness World Records verified the female reticulated python Ibu Baron at 7.22 metres (23 ft 8 in) from Maros County, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
• Under anaesthesia the snake could relax to an estimated 7.9 m (26 ft), but Guinness World Records does not permit anaesthesia solely for measurement.
• Conservationist Budi Purwanto acquired the snake in December 2025 to protect her after local discovery.
• Wildlife guide Diaz Nugraha and natural-history photographer Radu Frentiu measured the snake on site.
• Reticulated pythons have killed and swallowed humans in Indonesia, with South Sulawesi recording two such fatalities in mid-2024.

New trapdoor spider species Titanidiops kolhapurensis discovered in Maharashtra

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

• A new species of trapdoor spider, named Titanidiops kolhapurensis, has been discovered in the grasslands of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra.
• The discovery was made by a joint research team from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation and Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK).
• The findings were published in the Journal of Natural History, an international research publication based in the United Kingdom (UK).
• The spider is nicknamed darkari koli in Marathi because of its unique ability to craft hinged doors for its burrows.
• The species was classified under the Titanidiops genus based on its specific tooth structure and the arrangement of its eight eyes.
• The spider has been recorded in specific locations including the SUK campus, Shenda Park, Kolhapur Chitranagari area, and Puikhadi hill.
• Researchers found the species is absent in areas overtaken by exotic tree plantations such as Gliricidia sepium, commonly known as Undirmari.
• The research team included Satpal Gangalmale, Sunil Gaikwad, Tejas Thackeray, and Akshay Khandekar.

New Ant Species Polyrhachis garbhangaensis Discovered in Assam

[Assam]

Key Updates:

• Scientists have identified a new ant species named Polyrhachis garbhangaensis in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, Assam.
• The species belongs to the rare mucronata group of spiny ants and represents only the third species of this group ever recorded in India.
• The discovery was led by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and the formal description was published in the journal Asian Myrmecology on 30 January.
• The ant measures approximately 5.6 millimetres in length and is distinguished by a bright yellow-orange abdomen and curved spines on its body.
• Assam is a major centre of diversity for this genus, accounting for 21 of the more than 70 known Polyrhachis species recorded in India.
• The research team also recorded an ant-mimicking spider in the same area, suggesting complex predator-prey relationships within the urban-adjacent forest ecosystem.

Eurasian Otter Sightings Confirmed in Jammu and Kashmir After 50 Years

[Jammu and Kashmir]

Key Updates:

• The Forest Department of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) recorded the first direct photographic evidence of the Eurasian Otter in Sindh Nalla, Ganderbal, in nearly 50 years.
• Range Officer Faizan Anwar Mir captured an image of a sub-adult otter in Gutlibagh, suggesting the existence of a breeding group in the area.
• The Kishenganga river acts as a natural corridor for the species to move across the Line of Control (LoC) between Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and North Kashmir.
• Evidence indicates that the otters swim freely between PoK and villages in North Kashmir, crossing the frontier at Keran and Teetwal.
• Earlier camera-trap records had confirmed the presence of the species in the Kishenganga and Rambiara Nalla regions before the recent direct sighting.
• The high-altitude, cold-water streams along the LoC provide a vital sanctuary for the species due to minimal civilian industrialisation.
• Environmental experts noted that pollution and encroachment in Wular Lake and Jhelum waters remain major obstacles to the species' full ecological recovery.

International Epilepsy Day 2026 to be observed on 9 February with theme 'Turning Stories into Action'

Key Updates:

• International Epilepsy Day 2026 falls on Monday, 9 February, the second Monday of February.
• The 2026 theme 'Turning Stories into Action' is led by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
• The #EpilepsyPledge invites individuals, workplaces, schools, and organisations to commit to actions such as learning seizure first-aid, challenging myths, or sharing accurate information.
• Purple is the global colour of epilepsy awareness.
• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
• With proper treatment, seizures can often be managed or controlled.

Azista Space demonstrates India's first indigenous in-orbit snooping capability

Key Updates:

• Azista Space has become the first Indian aerospace firm to demonstrate in-orbit snooping by capturing images of the International Space Station (ISS) from another satellite.
• The demonstration was conducted using the ABA First Runner (AFR), an 80-kg indigenous earth-observation satellite.
• The AFR satellite was launched into space on 13 June 2023, by the Falcon-9 rocket of SpaceX as part of the Transporter-8 mission.
• The company successfully tracked the ISS at ranges of approximately 250 km and 300 km, capturing 15 distinct frames with 2.2m sampling.
• Azista Space operates a satellite and payload manufacturing facility in Sanand, Gujarat, which is capable of producing 50 satellites annually.
• This achievement is a significant step towards strengthening India's Space Situational Awareness (SSA), which involves monitoring and tracking man-made satellites and space debris.
• Personnel from the firm have been involved in over 12 missions of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

India U-17 blanks Bangladesh 4-0 to win SAFF U-19 Women's Championship

[Bangladesh]

Key Updates:

• India's U-17 women's team defeated Bangladesh 4-0 in the SAFF U-19 Women's Championship final at Pokhara.
• Captain Julan Nongmaithem scored in the 42nd minute to give India the lead.
• Elizabed Lakra converted a 63rd-minute penalty to double India's advantage.
• Pearl Fernandes added the third goal in the 68th minute after dispossessing the goalkeeper.
• Substitute Anwita Raghuraman completed the scoring in the 83rd minute.
• India had earlier lost 0-2 to Bangladesh in the round-robin stage of the tournament.

Magnus Carlsen wins inaugural Esports World Cup 2025 chess title

Key Updates:

• The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) confirmed chess as one of 16 competitive titles for the first-ever Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC).
• The ENC is scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2 November to 29 November 2026.
• The chess tournament will feature 128 players and take place from 2 November to 8 November 2026.
• Qualification for the event includes 64 players from Champions Chess Tour (CCT) rankings, 56 from online regional tournaments, and 8 Wildcard invitations.
• The tournament format consists of 16 groups of eight players, leading to a 64-player knockout playoff using a Rapid 10+0 time control.
• Regional qualifiers will be managed by Chess(dot)com in June 2026 across eight zones, including Middle East + India + Central Asia.
• Magnus Carlsen won the first Esports World Cup chess title in 2025 representing Team Liquid.

Meghana Sajjanar wins Bronze at Asian Championships

Key Updates:

• Indian shooter Meghana Sajjanar clinched the individual bronze medal and team gold in the 10m air rifle competition at the Asian Championships held in New Delhi.
• The 32-year-old athlete from Bengaluru achieved the podium finish while in the eighth month of her pregnancy.
• Elavenil Valarivan won the individual gold medal in the event with a score of 252.0, while Misaki Nobata of Japan secured the silver medal.
• Meghana Sajjanar maintained a score of 104.1 after the first ten shots and defeated compatriot Arya Borse to confirm her bronze medal.
• This achievement follows her previous bronze medal win at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup held in Ningbo, China, in September 2025.
• The athlete is scheduled to participate in the 10m mixed air rifle team event alongside Rudrankksh Patil before taking a competitive break.

Top 10 wool producing states in India listed for FY24

Key Updates:

• Rajasthan led India’s wool production in FY24 with 16,013.50 thousand kg, accounting for 47.53% of national output.
• Jammu & Kashmir ranked second with 7,770 thousand kg (23.06%), followed by Karnataka third with 6,472 thousand kg.
• The complete top 10 list is: Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana.
• India’s total wool production in FY24 was 33.69 million kg, with Carpet Grade comprising 85%, Apparel Grade 5%, and Coarser Grade 10%.
• Punjab recorded the highest annual growth rate at 22.04%, followed by Tamil Nadu at 17.19% and Gujarat at 3.20%.
• India has 77.4 million sheep, the world’s second-largest sheep population, and ranks ninth globally in wool production.
• Around 1.2 million people work in the organised wool sector and nearly 2 million in related industries, with carpet weaving alone employing about 0.3 million.