Entrance & Scholarship Current Affairs — Last 12 months

🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 Bahrain Must know

Indian Navy assumes command of Combined Task Force 154 for the first time

The Indian Navy took command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 of the Combined Maritime Forces for the first time at a ceremony in Manama, Bahrain, on 11 February 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 5 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Seychelles Must know

India and Seychelles announce Joint Vision 'SESEL' and a $175 million Special Economic Package

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie announced a Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL) and a $175 million Special Economic Package after talks in New Delhi on 9 February 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 5 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Malaysia Must know

Modi and Anwar Ibrahim hold talks in Malaysia; India to open its first Consulate in Malaysia, Malaysia joins IBCA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held official talks at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 8 February 2026, during Modi's official visit to Malaysia on 7–8 February.

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💹 Trade & Industry 📍 India Must know

India and the US agree on a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement; US reciprocal tariff on Indian goods set at 18%

India and the United States announced a framework for an Interim Agreement on reciprocal trade in a joint statement released on 7 February 2026 (IST), which Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the same day.

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🏅 Cricket 📍 India Must know

India win record sixth ICC Under-19 World Cup, beating England by 100 runs in Harare final

India won the ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup for a record-extending sixth time by beating England by 100 runs in the final at Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe, on 6 February 2026.

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📊 Reports & Indices 📍 India Must know

India rises four places to 45th in the Network Readiness Index 2025

India rose four places to 45th among 127 economies in the Network Readiness Index 2025, released on 4 February 2026 by the Washington DC-based Portulans Institute.

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💹 Economy 📍 India Must know

Government notifies Baggage Rules, 2026, raising duty-free allowance to ₹75,000

The Central Government notified the Baggage Rules, 2026 on 2 February 2026, raising the general duty-free allowance for residents to ₹75,000 and adding a weight-based jewellery allowance.

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🌐 International Relations 📍 United States Must know

Trump cuts US tariff on Indian goods to 18% after call with PM Modi

US President Donald Trump announced on 2 February 2026 that the US tariff on Indian goods would fall to 18% from 25%, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked him in a phone call the same day.

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🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 India Must know

Defence gets record ₹7.85 lakh crore in Budget 2026-27, 15.19% above last year's BE

The Ministry of Defence was allocated a record ₹7.85 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2026-27 on 1 February 2026, 15.19% higher than the 2025-26 Budget estimate.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 4 MCQs

💹 Budget & Taxation 📍 India Must know

Budget 2026-27: Income Tax Act 2025 from April 2026, TCS cut to 2%, IT safe harbour widened

The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, confirmed that the new Income Tax Act, 2025 takes effect from April 2026 and cut TCS on overseas tour packages and on LRS remittances for education and medical treatment to 2%.

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💹 Budget & Taxation 📍 India Must know

Budget 2026-27 launches Biopharma SHAKTI, ISM 2.0, Rare Earth Corridors and container scheme

The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, announced Biopharma SHAKTI with ₹10,000 crore over five years, India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, dedicated Rare Earth Corridors in four states and a ₹10,000 crore container manufacturing scheme.

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🏛️ Polity & Governance 📍 India Must know

Government accepts 16th Finance Commission's recommendation to keep states' share at 41%

Presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 on 1 February 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government had accepted the 16th Finance Commission's recommendation to retain the states' vertical share of devolution at 41%.

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💹 Budget & Taxation 📍 India Must know

Budget 2026-27 raises public capex to ₹12.2 lakh crore, sets up Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund

The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, raised public capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore and announced an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund and CPSE REITs.

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🚄 Railways, Roads & Aviation 📍 India Must know

Budget 2026-27: record ₹2.93 lakh crore rail capex, seven high-speed corridors, Dankuni–Surat freight corridor

The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, gave Indian Railways a record capital expenditure of ₹2,93,030 crore and announced seven high-speed rail corridors and a new Dankuni–Surat dedicated freight corridor.

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💹 Budget & Taxation 📍 India Must know

Budget 2026-27 halves duty on personal imports to 10%, exempts 17 cancer drugs from customs duty

The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, proposed cutting the tariff on all dutiable goods imported for personal use from 20% to 10% and exempting 17 drugs, mainly for cancer, from basic customs duty.

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💹 Budget & Taxation 📍 India Must know

Union Budget 2026-27 sets fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP; debt-to-GDP at 55.6%

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament on 1 February 2026, estimating the fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP and total expenditure at ₹53.5 lakh crore.

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🌐 International Organisations 📍 India Must know

India hosts 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi; Delhi Declaration adopted

On 31 January 2026 New Delhi hosted the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting, co-chaired by India and the UAE, ten years after the first meeting in Bahrain (2016).

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💹 GDP, Inflation & Economic Data 📍 India Must know

Economic Survey 2025-26: GDP growth for FY26 estimated at 7.4%; FY27 projected at 6.8–7.2%

The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 29 January 2026, estimates real GDP growth of 7.4% in FY26 and projects 6.8–7.2% for FY27, with potential growth around 7%.

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🌿 Pollution & Conservation 📍 India Must know

Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 notified; four-stream segregation mandatory from 1 April 2026

The Environment Ministry notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, replacing the 2016 rules; they make four-stream segregation at source mandatory and come into force on 1 April 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 3 MCQs

💹 Trade & Industry 📍 India Must know

India and EU announce conclusion of Free Trade Agreement at 16th India–EU Summit

PM Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the conclusion of the India–EU FTA at the 16th India–EU Summit in New Delhi on 27 January 2026; over 99% of Indian exports by value get preferential entry into the EU.

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🌐 Summits & Conferences 📍 India Must know

16th India–EU Summit: 'Towards 2030' strategic agenda, Security and Defence Partnership adopted

The 16th India–EU Summit on 27 January 2026 produced the 'Towards 2030' Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda, a Security and Defence Partnership, a mobility MoU and a Green Hydrogen Task Force, alongside the FTA.

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📅 Important Days & Themes 📍 India Must know

77th Republic Day: Kartavya Path parade features first-ever phased Battle Array of the Army

India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on 26 January 2026 with President Droupadi Murmu taking the salute at Kartavya Path and EU leaders António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen as Chief Guests; the parade showcased a phased Battle Array Format of the Army for the first time.

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🏆 National Awards 📍 India Must know

Republic Day 2026: Ashoka Chakra for Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla among 70 gallantry awards

President Droupadi Murmu approved gallantry awards to 70 Armed Forces personnel, including six posthumous, with the Ashoka Chakra going to IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.

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🏆 National Awards 📍 India Must know

Padma Awards 2026 announced: 131 awards including 5 Padma Vibhushan

On the eve of Republic Day, the President approved 131 Padma Awards for 2026 — 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri.

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🏆 National Awards 📍 India Must know

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026: Sikkim SDMA and Lt Col Seeta Ashok Shelke

The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (institutional) and Lt Col Seeta Ashok Shelke (individual) were selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026.

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🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 India Must know

CDS releases Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan released the Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework on 22 January 2026, a roadmap for bringing quantum technologies into the armed forces.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 3 MCQs

🚄 Energy & Power 📍 India Must know

Draft National Electricity Policy 2026 released for consultation

The Ministry of Power released the Draft National Electricity Policy 2026 on 21 January 2026; once final, it will replace the policy notified in 2005.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 3 MCQs

💹 Banking & RBI 📍 India Must know

Cabinet approves ₹5,000 crore equity support to SIDBI

The Union Cabinet on 21 January 2026 approved equity support of ₹5,000 crore to the Small Industries Development Bank of India, to be infused in three tranches up to FY 2027-28.

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📋 Central Schemes 📍 India Must know

Cabinet extends Atal Pension Yojana up to 2030-31

The Union Cabinet on 21 January 2026 approved continuing the Atal Pension Yojana up to FY 2030-31, with funding support for promotion, development and gap funding.

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🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 United Arab Emirates Must know

UAE President's India visit: trade target of US$200 billion by 2032, defence and LNG deals

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India on 19 January 2026; the two sides agreed to double bilateral trade to US$200 billion by 2032 and signed letters of intent on defence, space and Dholera.

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