• 04 Feb 2026

Bihar Budget 2026–27

Why in News? 

On 3 February 2026, Bihar Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav presented the ₹3,47,589.76 crore budget for the financial year 2026–27 in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.  

• The budget was presented under the Saat Nischay-3 vision emphasizing inclusive growth, employment, education, women empowerment, agriculture, infrastructure and welfare for common people.  

Key Points 

• Key Provisions of the Budget: 
  • Total Budget: ₹3,47,589.76 crore — the largest in Bihar’s history. 
  • Budget size increased by ~₹30,694 crore over FY 2025-26. 
  • Revenue & Committed Expenditure: ₹2,25,434 crore (≈65%). 
  • Capital Expenditure: ₹63,455.84 crore (~18.26% of total). 
  • Scheme Expenditure: ₹1,22,155 crore (≈35%).  
  • Fiscal deficit estimated at around ~2.99% of GSDP. 
  • Budget guided by Saat Nischay-3 roadmap with aim to double per-capita income and create 1 crore jobs. 
• Education: The education sector receives the highest allocation of ₹68,216 crore, showing priority for schooling, teacher support, infrastructure and learning quality. 
  • Model schools at every Panchayat to boost quality education. 
• Women Empowerment & Social Welfare:The budget emphasises support for 1.56 crore women through self-help group assistance and related welfare schemes.  
  • Social welfare provisions include ₹7,724 crore for schemes benefiting women, children, elderly and weaker sections.  
• Agriculture & Farmers: Enhanced support: ₹9,000/year to eligible farmers under “Jananayak Karpoori Thakur Kisan Samman Nidhi” — ₹3,000 more than earlier. 
• Employment & Jobs:Under Saat Nischay-3, the goal is to create 1 crore employment opportunities by 2030.  
  • Special provisions under the Chief Minister Women Employment Scheme with financial support up to ₹2 lakh per eligible woman. 
  • Skill development hubs under hub-and-spoke model for employment -ready skills.  
• Infrastructure & Connectivity: Major infrastructure projects including five new expressways, improved road networks and urban development were announced. 
  • Development of airports and regional air connectivity projects underway. 
• Health & Medical Services:The budget enhances healthcare provisioning with funds for hospital upgrades and expanded medical access.  
  • Expansion of PMCH beds and establishment of new medical colleges across additional districts. 
• Industry & Investment:The new industrial policy aims to attract large scale investment and deepen private sector participation. 
  • Measures to attract private investment up to ₹50 crore in the industrial sector. 
  • Revival of closed sugar mills under industrial support mission. 

Read More: Women empowerment, Agriculture, Inclusive growth 

B R Ambedkar Advocate Training and Research Centre in Maharashtra

Why in News? 

The Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar Advocate Training and Research Centre (BBATRC) was inaugurated in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. 

Key Points 

• Inauguration: The Advocate Training and Research Centre was inaugurated by former Chief Justice of India Bhushan R. Gavai in the presence of Bombay High Court Justice Shree Chandrashekhar.  
• Organisers: The centre has been established by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa (BCMG) to provide structured training for advocates.  
• Objective: The Centre aims to bridge the gap between classroom legal education and actual court practice, enhancing the court craft skills of young lawyers. 
  • Significance: First dedicated advocate training and research centre of its kind in India.  
• Focus Areas: The academy will help prepare lawyers and prosecutors to handle evolving legal frameworks, criminal laws, and technology‑driven changes including the use of artificial intelligence in legal processes. 

Read More:  Chief Justice of India,  High Court,  Bar Council,  Artificial intelligence 

Odisha to Launch First Commercial Airport Drone Test Corridor

Why in News? 

The Government of Odisha has announced to establish the first commercial airport drone test corridor at Rangeilunda Airport in Ganjam district. 

Key Points 

• Objective: The corridor aims to create regulated and dynamic airspace for comprehensive testing of commercial drones and UAV systems under real‑world conditions, enabling advanced research and applications. 
  • It includes support for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), swarm drone testing, AI-based navigation, and autonomous airspace management scenarios. 
• Partnership: The project involves a collaboration with BonV Aero, a local deep‑tech startup. 
• Scope: The test corridor is designed to support real‑world UAV trials, including navigation systems, autonomous operations, payload tests, and applications like logistics, agriculture, surveillance, and disaster response. 
  • Odisha’s initiative complements other developments in the state’s aviation and aerospace sectors, including drone training centres and flying training organisations being planned at regional airports. 
• Importance: The corridor is expected to boost the startup ecosystem, attract investments in drone technology, enhance skill development, and position Odisha as a hub for unmanned aviation innovation in India. 

Read More:  UAV, Aviation sectors,  Startup ecosystem 

Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana Launched in Gujarat

Why in News? 

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana to strengthen rural governance and infrastructure. 

Key Points 

• Launch venue: Foundation stones laid at Bhadran village, Anand district, Gujarat. 
• Coverage: 2,666 villages to receive Gram Panchayat buildings-cum-Talati residences for strengthening local governance. 
  • Funding: Project sanctioned at ₹663 crore to provide functional panchayat infrastructure at the village level. 
• Urban‑Like Facilities: Scheme includes modern amenities such as roads, water, sanitation, solar street lights, e-Gram digital services, and community halls. 
• Focus: Initial development targets 114 villages functioning as taluka headquarters without municipal status. 
  • Aims to reduce rural‑urban divide by bringing essential services closer to rural citizens. 
• Future Expansion: Planned to cover other large gram panchayats (population >10,000) across Gujarat. 
• Significance: Enhances rural governance capacity, improves service delivery, and creates infrastructure parity with urban areas. 

Read More:  Rural governance, 

Adampur Airport Renamed as Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji Airport in Punjab

Why in News? 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the new name of the Adampur Airport in Punjab as Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji Airport on 1 February 2026. 

Key Points 

• Location: The Adampur Airport in Jalandhar district of Punjab. 
• Occasion: The renaming was done on the 649th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas. 
  • A revered 15^th-century saint and social reformer known for his teachings on equality and human dignity. 
• Strategic and Civil Use: Originally an Indian Air Force base, the airport also functions as a domestic civil airport, facilitating commercial flights and enhancing regional connectivity under schemes like UDAN. 
  • PM Modi also virtually inaugurated the new civil terminal building at Halwara Airport in Ludhiana, part of broader efforts to improve aviation infrastructure in Punjab. 
• Tribute: The renaming was described as a fitting tribute to Guru Ravidas Ji’s timeless ideals of equality, compassion, and human dignity, which continue to inspire social harmony. 
• Significance: Reflects government’s effort to honour saints and social reformers and promote inclusive cultural recognition. 

Read More:  Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji,  UDAN 

Australian Open 2026

Why in News? 

The 2026 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year held in Melbourne, Australia, concluded with Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina crowned as the men’s and women’s singles champions respectively. 

Key Points 

• Men’s Singles Winner: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) won the men’s singles title at the 2026 Australian Open by defeating Novak Djokovic (Serbia) in the final. 
  • Runner-Up: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) finished second after losing to Alcaraz in the final clash. 
• Historic (Men’s): This victory was Alcaraz’s first Australian Open title and his seventh major singles title overall.  
• Women’s Singles Winner: Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) clinched the women’s singles title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus).  
  • Runner-Up: Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) was the runner-up, losing to Rybakina in the championship match. 
• Women’s Achievement: The victory marked Rybakina’s second Grand Slam singles title, her first Australian Open crown, showcasing her ability to triumph over the world No. 1. 
• Venue: The tournament was played on the hard courts of Melbourne Park, attracting top tennis talent from around the world.

Exercise Agni Pariksha: Army-ITBP Joint Initiative

Why in News?

The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) recently concluded a six-day joint training exercise named “Agni Pariksha” in Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at strengthening inter-force operational synergy along border regions.

Key Points: 

• Location: The exercise was conducted at Sigar in the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. 
• Objective:The primary purpose of the drill was to familiarise non-artillery personnel — including infantry and ITBP troops — with artillery procedures, fire control systems, coordination mechanisms, and the execution of firing missions under realistic field conditions. 
• Participants: Spearhead Gunners of the Indian Army’s Spear Corps alongside infantry regiments and personnel from the ITBP. 
• Significance: Improves coordination between the Army and paramilitary forces for border security and combat operations. 
  • Operational readiness: Ensures troops are better prepared for complex battlefield scenarios, especially in high-altitude border sectors.

Read More: ITBP 

India at the 64th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development

Why in News?

India is participating in the 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD64) at the UN Headquarters in New York. 

Key Points 

• Leadership: India’s delegation to the 64th Session of CSocD at the UN Headquarters in New York was led by Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur.  
• Commission: The Commission for Social Development (CSocD) is a key United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) body that focuses on international cooperation for social development, including poverty eradication, social inclusion, equity, and welfare policies.  
• Chair: The 64th session was presided over by Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn (Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN) and saw participation from over 100 UN member states. 
  • India is an elected member of the 64th session, which brings together member states to assess progress and share lessons on social development issues. 
• India’s Statement: India highlighted that social justice and social protection are firmly anchored in constitutional guarantees and aligned with the country’s long-term vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047”. 
  • The guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” was emphasised as reflecting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to ensure no one is left behind. 

Read More: Viksit Bharat 2047, ECOSOC, UN 

CSIR-NIO Shore-Based Lab Inaugurated in Visakhapatnam

Why in News?

Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences,Dr. Jitendra Singh, recently inaugurated the Shore-Based Laboratory of the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Regional Centre at Visakhapatnam.

Key Points: 

• Infrastructure: Built at a cost of ₹32 crore by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the state-of-the-art facility covers 4,550 square metres on a 4-acre campus  located in Yendada village, Rushikonda. 
• Regional Mandate: The lab will focus on systematic marine geological and geophysical surveys of the Eastern Continental Margin of India (ECMI). 
• Strategic Research: It aims to map bathymetry and identify resource potential for hydrocarbons, seabed minerals, oil, and natural gas, influenced by sediment deposits from Himalayan river systems. 
• Sectors Supported: The centre collaborates with stakeholders like ONGC and Oil India to support pharmaceuticals, ports, thermal power, and the fisheries sector.  
• Significance for the Blue Economy:The lab will project tropical cyclone tracks and forecast harmful algal blooms to protect coastal livelihoods. 
  • Self-Reliance: By exploring deep-sea resources, it strengthens India’s energy security and supports the national Blue Economy vision.

Read More: Blue Economy 

Chittoor District Achieves Guinness World Record for E-Cycle Distribution

Why in News?

The Chittoor district administration in Andhra Pradesh has officially entered the Guinness World Records by distributing 5,555 electric bicycles within a single 24-hour period.

Key Points: 

• The Record: The event secured the title for the "Most electric bicycles distributed in 24 hours," surpassing previous global benchmarks in green mobility initiatives. 
• Target Beneficiaries: The e-cycles were primarily provided to government school students (specifically girls and those from marginalized communities) to improve educational accessibility and reduce dropout rates. 
• Logistics: The distribution was spearheaded by the district collectorate at the Police Parade Grounds in Chittoor. 
• Sustainability Focus: The initiative promotes decarbonization of rural transport and aligns with India's commitment to climate action by reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based commuting. 
• Social Empowerment: By providing clean transport to students, the program addresses the "last-mile" connectivity issue that often hinders rural education.