Current Affairs Today – Latest Current Affairs - 5 February 2026

Stay ahead in your exam preparation with our daily-updated Current Affairs 2026 portal. We simplify your study routine by consolidating critical news from authoritative sources like PIB (Press Information Bureau), The Hindu, and News on Air.

Instead of browsing multiple news apps, find everything in one place—from national policy changes to international summits. Our curated questions and answers are designed specifically for aspirants of UPSC, Banking, SSC, and Railways, ensuring you spend less time searching and more time mastering the facts.

Current Affairs Today - 5 February 2026

1. RBI to hold Monetary Policy Committee Meeting today

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is holding its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting from 4 February to 6 February 2026.
• The six-member MPC, chaired by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, makes decisions on India’s monetary policy, including the key repo rate.
• Economists expect the MPC to pause further repo rate cuts while focusing on managing liquidity, stabilising bond markets, and addressing currency risks. RBI has already reduced the repo rate by 125 basis points since February 2025.
• The Monetary Policy Committee meets regularly — typically every two months, with six meetings in a financial year — to review inflation, growth, and economic conditions.
• The MPC was established through an amendment to the RBI Act in 2016 to enhance transparency and accountability in monetary policy decisions.
• The main objective of the MPC is to maintain price stability by targeting a 4 % CPI inflation, within a tolerance band of 2 % to 6 %, while supporting economic growth.

2. EAM S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington

• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC on 3 February 2026, ahead of the Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by the United States.
• The meeting took place during Jaishankar’s three-day visit to the United States (2-4 February 2026), where he will also participate in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by Secretary Rubio.
• Jaishankar and Rubio held wide-ranging talks covering key areas of the India-US strategic partnership, including trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals, and technology.
• Both leaders welcomed the recent India-US trade deal reached between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, which involves a reduction in reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods.
• They discussed formalising bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining and processing — important for securing supply chains and clean energy technologies.
• Jaishankar and Rubio emphasised the importance of democratic cooperation and also expressed their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral ties, including through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) framework.

3. India and Kyrgyzstan’s joint military exercise KHANJAR begins in Assam

• The 13th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Military Exercise “Khanjar” began on 4 February 2026 at Misamari in Sonitpur district of Assam, India.
• The exercise is a bilateral special forces military drill between the Indian Army and the Kyrgyz Armed Forces aimed at enhancing interoperability and cooperation between the two countries’ special forces.
• Exercise Khanjar focuses on joint operations in urban warfare and counter-terrorism scenarios conducted under the United Nations mandate framework to improve coordination, tactical skills, and readiness for complex missions.
• Since its inception in 2011, Exercise Khanjar has evolved into an annual training event that alternates between India and Kyrgyzstan, reflecting the strong defence partnership between both nations.
• The previous edition (12th) was held in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025, reinforcing long-standing military cooperation and strategic ties between India and Kyrgyzstan.

4. DRDO carries out successful demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out a demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on 3 February 2026.
• The successful demonstration of SFDR technology places India among a small group of countries possessing this advanced missile propulsion capability and reinforces India’s defence technological prowess.
• SFDR technology enables the development of long-range air-to-air missiles with enhanced range, speed and manoeuvrability, providing a significant tactical edge over adversaries.
• During the demonstration, all major subsystems including the nozzle-less booster, solid fuel ducted ramjet motor, and fuel flow controller worked as expected after initial acceleration by a ground booster to the required Mach number (speed greater than the speed of sound).
• The performance of the system was validated through data captured by multiple tracking instruments deployed along the Bay of Bengal coast by the ITR.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and its industry partners for the successful demonstration, highlighting the collaborative effort behind this achievement.
• SFDR technology uses air-breathing ramjet principles, where the missile engine draws oxygen from the atmosphere during flight, unlike traditional rocket motors that carry their own oxidiser.

5. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announces successful breakthrough of 2nd mountain tunnel of MAHSR project

• Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the successful breakthrough of the second mountain tunnel of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project in Palghar district, Maharashtra. This breakthrough is a significant milestone in India’s first bullet train corridor.
• The second mountain tunnel, known as MT-6, is 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide. It will accommodate both the up and down tracks for the Bullet Train project.
• This tunnel breakthrough was achieved within a month of the first mountain tunnel breakthrough (MT-5), demonstrating rapid progress in the project’s construction.
• The MT-6 tunnel was excavated from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a controlled drilling and blast technique suitable for complex geological conditions.
• The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, spanning approximately 508 km, passes through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is India’s only high-speed rail project designed for bullet trains to run at up to 320 km/h.
• Construction work on the MAHSR project includes tunnels, viaducts, river bridges, stations, and a long underground section. This shows the wide range of engineering activities occurring simultaneously on the corridor.

6. India and Bhutan discuss measures to deepen cooperation in power sector

• India and Bhutan held discussions on measures to deepen cooperation in the power sector, reaffirming their longstanding partnership and exploring ways to strengthen collaboration in hydropower and power transmission planning.
• Bhutan’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lyonpo Gem Tshering, met with India’s Union Minister of Power, Manohar Lal, along with other senior officials, to focus on expanding cooperation in hydropower output, transmission infrastructure, and commercial optimisation of power projects.
• During the talks, both sides emphasised commercial optimisation of power output from the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (1020 MW) as well as the early commissioning of the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project (1200 MW).
• Plans for transmission infrastructure up to the year 2040 were also discussed, which included consultations on cross-border transmission and streamlined power scheduling during lean months.
• Both countries appreciated their mutual friendship and looked forward to further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the power and energy sectors.
• India and Bhutan already have a longstanding cooperation in the hydropower sector, with major joint projects such as Chukha (336 MW), Kurichhu (60 MW), Tala (1020 MW), and Mangdechhu (720 MW), and are working towards complete commissioning of all units of the Punatsangchhu-II project.

7. 6th Badminton Asia Team Championships begins in Qingdao, China

• The championship includes participation from national men’s and women’s badminton teams from Asian countries.
• The Indian women’s team is the defending champion, but two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has withdrawn from the tournament.
• The Indian women’s team has been placed in Group Y, along with Thailand and Myanmar.
• Key players in the Indian women’s squad include Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, Malvika Bansod, and doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand.
• The Indian men’s team is placed in Group C along with Japan and Singapore.
• Prominent Indian men’s players in the tournament include Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, and doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.

8. J&K Govt revises minimum wages across skill categories to address rising inflation

• The Jammu & Kashmir Government revised minimum wages for workers across all skill categories, including unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled workers.
• The revision was done in line with notifications issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.
• The revised wages are based on changes in the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), which is linked to the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW).
• The wage revision aims to protect workers from inflation and rising cost of living. The revision applies to workers in the unorganised sector and scheduled employments.
• The Code on Wages, 2019 has come into force across India, including Jammu & Kashmir, and provides for a national floor wage and periodic revision of minimum wages.
• The revised wage structure is expected to remain operative until October 2027.

9. President’s rule revoked in Manipur

• The Government of India revoked President’s Rule in Manipur on 4 February 2026 with immediate effect.
• The revocation restored the normal constitutional process and enabled the formation of a new elected government.
• Senior BJP leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Manipur after the revocation of President’s Rule.
• The decision followed consensus among NDA legislators to form a new government in the state.
• President’s Rule was initially imposed on 13 February 2025 after the resignation of the Chief Minister amid political instability and law-and-order issues.
• The state assembly was kept under suspended animation during the period of President’s Rule.
• The rule was later extended until February 2026 due to ongoing security and governance challenges.
• Article 356 allows the President to assume control of state administration when the constitutional machinery fails.
• During President’s Rule, legislative powers of the state are exercised by Parliament.

10. Patna Bird Sanctuary, Chhari-Dhand get Ramsar tag

• Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah (Uttar Pradesh) and Chhari-Dhand in Kutch (Gujarat) have been included in the Ramsar Sites list.
• The Ramsar tag is an international recognition given to wetlands that are important for ecological balance and biodiversity conservation.
• These wetlands provide habitat for many migratory and resident bird species, along with mammals such as chinkara, wolves, desert foxes, caracal, and desert cats.
• The recognition of these sites was announced ahead of World Wetlands Day, highlighting the importance of wetland conservation.
• India’s Ramsar network has expanded significantly, increasing from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 sites at present.
• Ramsar site recognition helps strengthen environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.
• These wetlands also support local livelihoods and ecosystem services, including water conservation and climate balance.