Daily Current Affairs: 10 February 2026

Rohit Kumar Singh appointed Chair of Global Value Chains Committee of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF)

Key Updates:

• Rohit Kumar Singh, 1989-batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed Chair of the Global Value Chains Committee of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).
• He has also been appointed advisor to the USISPF Board of Directors.
• Singh formerly served as Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Government of India.
• He led India’s first AI-enabled grievance redressal ecosystem, bringing a paradigm shift to consumer protection.

Biswabhusan Harichandan releases two books in Odisha

[Odisha, Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Biswabhusan Harichandan, former Odisha Cabinet Minister and former Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, authored the Odia book 'E Mati Katha Kahe' and the English book 'Buxi Jagabandhu: The Great Commander'.
• Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati released both books at a function in Bhubaneswar.
• Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the book release event.
• Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Sambad Group founder Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, and Professor Bhagaban Jayasingh (translator of the English book) also addressed the gathering.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) inks MoU with Bharat Taxi for surge-free last-mile connectivity at 10 airports

[Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bharat Taxi]

Key Updates:

• Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed an MoU with Bharat Taxi, a driver-owned cooperative taxi service promoted by National Cooperative Development Corporation.
• Services will begin at Rajkot, Vadodara, Surat, Bhuj, Pune, Aurangabad, Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj, and Agra airports.
• Bharat Taxi guarantees transparent pricing with no surge charges and operates under Sahakar se Samriddhi and Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
• MoU exchanged by AAI chairman Vipin Kumar on 9 February 2026.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) Mundra Port records highest-ever monthly automobile exports and liquid cargo volumes in January 2026.

[Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ)]

Key Updates:

• Mundra Port shipped 25,762 vehicles in January 2026, its highest-ever monthly automobile export figure.
• The port loaded 5,701 vehicles onto a single vessel, setting a new single-vessel loading record.
• The liquid terminal processed 1.120 million tonnes of liquid cargo in January 2026, its highest monthly throughput.
• Automakers including Maruti Suzuki and Toyota routed exports through Mundra during January 2026.
• Vehicle shipments were destined for Africa, Europe, East Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
• Mundra Port is operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ).

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves R. Vijay Anandh as MD & CEO of City Union Bank for three years.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), City Union Bank]

Key Updates:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conveyed approval through a letter dated 9 February 2026.
• Appointment effective 1 May 2026 for a period of three years.
• R. Vijay Anandh is currently Executive Director of City Union Bank.
• Appointment subject to approval by City Union Bank shareholders.
• City Union Bank Q3 net profit rose 16% year-on-year to ₹332 crore.
• Net interest income increased 28% to ₹752 crore in Q3 from ₹587.7 crore a year ago.
• Gross non-performing assets declined to 2.17% from 2.42% quarter-on-quarter.
• Net NPAs eased to 0.78% from 0.90% sequentially.
• City Union Bank shares closed 1.25% lower at ₹288.80 on NSE.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Transcorp International Limited in-principle approval for Centralized Payment Systems (CPS)

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Transcorp International Limited]

Key Updates:

• Transcorp International Limited received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to participate in Centralized Payment Systems (CPS).
• The approval enables the company to build and operate its payment ecosystem with RTGS and NEFT capabilities.
• Transcorp will hold and operate a bank account at RBI and be allotted its own IFSC Code.
• The Board of Directors reviewed the development at its meeting held on 04 February 2026.
• The company recorded 49% growth in profitability during the quarter ended 31 December 2025 compared to the previous quarter.
• Profitability for the nine-month period ended 31 December 2025 grew 67% over the corresponding period of the previous year.
• Transcorp fully repaid all public Fixed Deposits under its Public Fixed Deposit scheme and has NIL outstanding public Fixed Deposits.
• The company operates with the lowest average debt utilisation, resulting in reduced finance costs.
• Digital payments and Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) business achieved record high payment volumes monthly.

Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates Zetwerk Electronics’ ₹100-crore facility in Bengaluru

[Zetwerk Electronics]

Key Updates:

• Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated Zetwerk Electronics’ ₹100-crore manufacturing facility in Bengaluru.
• The facility targets high-end electronics manufacturing for defence, aerospace, automotive, medical devices, telecom and IT hardware.
• It is expected to create more than 1,200 jobs at full capacity within 18 to 36 months.
• The unit builds on Zetwerk’s defence electronics capabilities after its 2022 acquisition of Pinaka Aerospace.
• Zetwerk partners with Indian and global firms, public sector units like HAL and BHEL, and directly with the armed forces.
• Confirmed orders are projected to almost double the company’s EV-related production in the next one to two quarters.

Pulse Self-Reliance Mission launched to make India world’s largest pulse exporter

[Madhya Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the nationwide Pulse Self-Reliance Mission at Sehore, Madhya Pradesh.
• The mission mandates every state to prepare a customised regional roadmap for expanding pulse cultivation based on local needs.
• Farmers will receive seed kits and Rs 10,000 per hectare support for model cultivation under a cluster-based approach.
• Up to Rs 25 lakh subsidy per unit will be given to establish 1,000 dal mills across the country, including 55 in Madhya Pradesh.
• Seed release ceremonies will now be held in states among farmers instead of Delhi.

Seven High-Speed Rail Corridors Project and ₹16 Lakh Crore Investment

[West Bengal]

Key Updates:

• The Government of India announced seven new high-speed rail corridors: Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri.
• The new corridors will span approximately 4,000 km and involve an estimated investment of ₹16 lakh crore.
• The Ministry of Railways (MoR) will utilise indigenous technologies for the development of track works, slabs, viaducts, signalling systems, and overhead electricals.
• Future Bullet trains for these corridors will be manufactured in India by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).
• The MoR is currently manufacturing 200 Vande Bharat Sleeper trains and plans to implement 52 commodity-wise reforms in the freight sector this year.
• An East-West dedicated freight corridor is being planned to connect industrial hubs in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha to ports on the East and West coasts.
• The propulsion systems for these trains, including converters, inverters, and motors, are already being manufactured in India and exported to Europe and the United States.

India and Greece sign Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen defence industrial cooperation

[Greece]

Key Updates:

• India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen defence industrial cooperation.
• The agreement was signed after bilateral talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Greek counterpart Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias at the Manekshaw Centre.
• The declaration will pave the way for developing a five-year roadmap for India-Greece defence partnership.
• Greece will position an International Liaison Officer at the Information Fusion Center-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), Gurugram, to enhance maritime cooperation.
• A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026 was exchanged to chart military engagements between the armed forces of both countries.
• Both ministers reaffirmed that the India-Greece Strategic Partnership is based on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect.
• The countries agreed to expand their indigenous defence industries through partnership between India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and Greece’s ‘Agenda 2030’ defence reforms.

Somalia signs defence pact with Saudi Arabia amid Gulf rivalries in Horn of Africa

[Somalia, Saudi Arabia]

Key Updates:

• Somali defence minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Saudi defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman signed a military cooperation agreement on 9 February 2026 on the sidelines of the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh.
• The Somali defence ministry stated the pact focuses on cooperation in training, technical assistance and defence support to strengthen the Somali National Armed Forces and protect Somalia’s airspace and territorial integrity.
• The agreement was signed around six weeks after Israel recognised Somaliland, the self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 and is still claimed by Mogadishu as part of its sovereign territory.
• Somalia has terminated defence and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while expanding cooperation with other partners including Qatar.
• The UAE firm DP World is developing the Berbera port in Somaliland, a project Mogadishu says operates with little regard for Somalia’s federal government.

Saudi Arabia to observe International Day of the Arabian Leopard on 10 February 2026

[Saudi Arabia]

Key Updates:

• The International Day of the Arabian Leopard is observed annually on 10 February to raise global awareness about the critically endangered big cat.
• The official theme for the 2026 observance is Protecting the Pride of Arabia.
• The day was officially established by Saudi Arabia to spotlight conservation challenges including habitat loss, illegal hunting, and declining prey populations.
• The initiative aligns with regional biodiversity goals and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which prioritises environmental sustainability and wildlife protection.
• The Arabian leopard is native to the mountainous regions of the Arabian Peninsula, with fewer than a few hundred individuals estimated to survive in the wild.
• The species plays a vital ecological role in regulating prey populations and serves as a symbol of natural and cultural identity in the region.

China overtakes US as world’s top R&D spender in 2024; India ranks 7th

[China, United States]

Key Updates:

• Global R&D expenditure reached an estimated $2.87 trillion in 2024, up 3% year-on-year, according to World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) data from the Global Innovation Index Database released in December 2024.
• China led with $785.9 billion R&D spending in 2024, marking a 20-fold rise since 2000 and a 23 percentage point gain in global share.
• The United States (US) ranked second with $781.8 billion R&D spending in 2024, doubling since 2000 but losing 9.7 percentage points in global share.
• Japan placed third with $186.0 billion R&D spending in 2024, recording a 7.2 percentage point decline in global share.
• Germany was fourth at $132.2 billion, Republic of Korea fifth at $126.4 billion, and United Kingdom sixth at $86.5 billion in 2024 R&D spending.
• India ranked seventh globally, spending $75.7 billion on R&D in 2024, tripling since 2000 and equalling roughly one-tenth of China’s expenditure.
• France, Türkiye, and Brazil occupied eighth, ninth, and tenth positions with $65.8 billion, $43.2 billion, and $38.4 billion R&D spending respectively in 2024.
• Asia accounted for about 45% of total global R&D spending in 2024, with China, Japan, and Republic of Korea among the top 10 spenders.
• Emerging economies Turkey, Egypt, India, Thailand, Poland, and Saudi Arabia increased their global R&D presence during 2024.
• Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Russia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom recorded declines in their shares of global R&D spending.

ICMR–NIV and Indian Immunologicals Limited advance indigenous two-dose KFD vaccine into Phase I trial

[Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Immunologicals Limited]

Key Updates:

• Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also termed monkey fever, is endemic to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, and Maharashtra.
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) initiated next-generation vaccine development on request of Government of Karnataka.
• The project partners are Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) and ICMR–National Institute of Virology (NIV).
• The vaccine is a fully indigenous, adjuvanted, inactivated two-dose regimen given 28 days apart.
• Preclinical milestones completed include animal challenge studies, toxicity studies, and manufacture of GLP-grade material.
• Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved Phase I human clinical trial now underway.

Qualcomm completes 2-nm chip tape-out at Bengaluru Development Centre

[Qualcomm]

Key Updates:

• Qualcomm Technologies announced the tape-out of its 2-nanometre semiconductor design at its Bengaluru Development Centre.
• Tape-out is the final design stage before sending the chip to a fabrication facility for manufacturing.
• Union electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated the next target is to build 2-nanometre fabs in India.
• The milestone follows the government’s announcement of India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 in Union Budget 2026.
• Qualcomm’s India president Savi Soin noted the achievement as the outcome of over two decades of sustained effort in India.
• Qualcomm’s largest engineering workforce outside the US is based in India, contributing across design implementation, validation, system integration, and AI optimisation.
• Qualcomm president and CEO Cristiano R Amon will keynote the India AI Impact Summit scheduled from 16 to 20 February.

Scientists discover new frog Oreobates shankusacha in Peru's San Martin cloud forest, flag habitat loss threat.

Key Updates:

• Scientists discovered the new frog species Oreobates shankusacha in Peru's San Martin cloud forest region.
• The frog measures about an inch long and has golden eyes.
• The species is nocturnal and inhabits the forest floor among leaves, moss, and ferns.
• Nature Conservation Action and the Ararancha Association - Ecology and Conservation reported the discovery in the journal Salamandra.
• The name shankusacha derives from the Kichwa-Lamista phrase meaning "heart of the forest".
• Cloud forests where the frog lives exceed 4,430 feet above sea level.
• Approximately 60 percent of the regional forest has been destroyed by coffee cultivation, cattle grazing, and illegal logging.
• Scientists classify Oreobates shankusacha as endangered due to deforestation and its limited range.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Identifies Landing Site for Chandrayaan-4 Mission

[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has identified a landing site near Mons Mouton in the Moon’s south polar region for the Chandrayaan-4 mission.
• Researchers at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) selected the specific site labelled MM-4, located at 84.289 degrees south latitude and 32.808 degrees east longitude.
• The MM-4 site was chosen for its manageable average slope of approximately 5 degrees, minimal large rocks, and continuous sunlight exposure for 11 to 12 days.
• Chandrayaan-4 is India’s first lunar sample return mission and is currently scheduled for launch around 2028.
• The mission architecture includes five distinct components: a propulsion module, descender, ascender, transfer module, and re-entry module.
• The landing site discovery was made by analysing high-resolution images from the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and using digital elevation models.
• The mission aims to collect lunar soil and rock samples using robotic systems and return them to Earth via the ascender module.

India launches world’s first doctor-led AI healthcare ecosystem iLive Connect

Key Updates:

• iLive Connect is the world’s first doctor-led, AI-powered healthcare ecosystem providing 24/7 home medical monitoring.
• Developed by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Rahul Chandola and senior interventional cardiologist Dr Viveka Kumar.
• System uses FDA- and CE-approved wearable biosensor patch on chest and wristband to track two-lead ECG, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature, blood pressure trends, physical activity, and heart rate variability.
• Data transmitted to secure cloud platform monitored round-the-clock by specialised doctors at central medical command centre.
• Doctors alert patient and family within two minutes at first sign of harmful physiological change and provide immediate medical guidance.
• 10-week observational study of 410 patients showed 76% reduction in hospital readmissions with early detection of cardiac, metabolic, and post-discharge complications.
• Technology especially beneficial for senior citizens, high-risk patients, elderly living alone, and recently discharged patients.

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, from Digha and Bankiput regions of Purba Medinipur.
• Namalycastis solenotognatha inhabits sulfide-rich, foul-smelling mudflats and decomposing mangrove wood, distinguished by its channeled jaw structure.
• Nereis dhritiae, named after ZSI’s first woman director Dhriti Banerjee, lives inside wooden dock piles on sandy beaches submerged at high tide.
• Both species tolerate heavy human activity and industrial pollution, highlighting their resilience and potential as bioindicators for coastal health monitoring.

India defeats England to win 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup

[England]

Key Updates:

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a cash reward of ₹7.5 crore for the Indian Under-19 cricket team following their 2026 Under-19 World Cup victory.
• India defeated England by 100 runs in the final at Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe, to secure their sixth International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup title.
• India posted a total of 411/9 in the final, featuring an innings of 175 runs off 80 balls by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
• Captains Ayush Mhatre and Abhigyan Kundu contributed to the total before the bowlers dismissed England for 311 in 40.2 overs.
• Caleb Falconer scored 115 runs off 67 balls for England in the final match.
• BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the reward includes the players, coaching staff, support staff, and the Junior Cricket Committee.
• BCCI President Mithun Manhas noted that India currently holds both the men’s and women’s Under-19 World Cup titles.

Manu Bhaker wins silver medal at Asian Shooting Championships 2026

Key Updates:

• Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker won the silver medal in the 25m pistol final at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026 held in New Delhi.
• Thuy Trang Nguyen of Vietnam secured the gold medal after defeating Bhaker in a shoot-off, following a tied score of 35.
• India's Esha Singh finished the competition in the third position to claim the bronze medal in the 25m pistol event.
• Meghana Sajjanar won a bronze medal at the same championships while competing in her eighth month of pregnancy.
• Bhaker qualified for the final with a score of 584 and used a new pistol from the Italian manufacturer Pardini.
• Bhaker previously won two bronze medals in the 25m pistol event at the 2021 and 2023 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cups.
• Bhaker finished in seventh place in the 10m air pistol final five days prior to winning the silver medal.
• The qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics is scheduled to commence on 31 July 2026.
• The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was the body associated with the event's documentation.

Chess joins Esports Nations Cup 2026 line-up

Key Updates:

• Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced Chess as an official competitive title of Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026.
• Chess joins Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, and Trackmania in the ENC 2026 line-up.
• The Chess tournament runs from Nov. 2 to Nov. 8, featuring 128 players in a round-robin group stage of 16 groups of eight players.
• Top four players from each group advance to a 64-player single-elimination playoff bracket.
• All group stage and round-of-64/32 matches are best-of-two; quarterfinals onward are best-of-four.
• Armageddon games serve as tie-breakers and the event uses Rapid 10+0 time control.
• Direct invites use official CCT rankings with one player per nation; Titled Tuesday Spring Split acts as additional tie-breaker.
• Cut-off date for direct invites to ENC 2026 is May 26.
• Two regional qualifiers per region on June 6-7 and June 13-14; four players per qualifier advance, totalling eight players per region.
• Regions hosting qualifiers are North America, South America, Africa, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East + India + Central Asia, and East Asia + Southeast Asia + Oceania, each receiving 8 slots.
• Each nation can field up to two representatives; if one player is directly invited, only one more can qualify through regional qualifiers.