Current Affairs 8 & 9 February 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs February 8 & 9 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

Our Current Affairs February 2026 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2026 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.

Dear Aspirants,
With effect from 26 January 2026, the Exam Hint and In-Depth Content of articles (news) will be available exclusively in our Daily PDF (DailyScoop PDF).
To access the DailyScoop PDF, please subscribe to the Crack Current Course on the CareersCloud app or website.

Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course –Click Here to Download the APP

We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert – English | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)

Click here for Current Affairs 7 February 2026

Click here for Affairscloud Hindu Free Vocabs telegram channel

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

India-USA Agree on Framework for Interim Trade AgreementOn February 7, 2026, India and the United States of America (USA) agreed on a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement(ITA), marking a significant step towards a full USA-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
Key Elements of the Framework for India-USA Interim Trade Agreement:
Tariff Reduction: India will reduce or remove tariffs on all industrial goods and many agricultural and food products, including Animal feed such as Distillers’ Dried Grains (DDGs), Red Sorghum, tree nuts, fruits (fresh and processed), soybean oil, and wine and spirits, from the USA.
USA’s Reciprocal Tariffs: USA will impose an 18% reciprocal tariff under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices That Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits) on Indian exports such as textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastics and rubber, chemicals, handicrafts, home decor, and some machineries.
Aircraft & Auto parts: The USA will remove security-related tariffs on Indian aircraft and aircraft parts, grant preferential access (quota-based) for auto parts exports, and determine outcomes for pharmaceuticals based on the findings of national security review of the USA.
India’s Trade Purchases: India plans to buy USD 500 billion worth products over 5 years from the USA, including energy products, aircraft and parts, technology products, precious metals, and coking coal.
Digital Trade: Trade in advanced technology products, including Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and data-center equipment, will be expanded.
About United States of America (USA):
President – Donald John (J) Trump
Capital – Washington D.C.
Currency – United States Dollar (USD)

DST Launches ‘India-Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme’ in New DelhiOn February 6, 2026, Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), launched ‘India-Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme’ in New Delhi, Delhi.

• DST also hosted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, and 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to establish an academic cooperation framework in green energy and hydrogen(H₂) research.

About India-Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme:
Scheme Launch: During the event, the DST released the Scheme Guidelines and Call for Proposals (CFP), officially opening the application process.
Access: The fellowship programme is open to Indian Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members across Indian institutions.
Purpose: The programme is designed to enhance human capacity and research expertise essential for scaling up green hydrogen (H₂) technologies in India.
Focus Areas: It includes hydrogen system integration, safety standards, techno-economic analysis, life-cycle assessment, and indigenization and deployment pathways.
Alignment: The initiative aligns with the Government of India (GoI)’s vision of National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), Energy Independence by 2047, and Net-Zero emissions by 2070.
About Netherlands:
Prime Minister (PM) – Dick Schoof
Capital – Amsterdam
Currency – Euro (EUR)

India Signs DPI Cooperation MoUs with 23 Countries; UPI Goes Live in 8 CountriesIn February 2026, the Government of India (GoI) signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)/agreements with 23 countries to share and promote its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and components of the India Stack framework.

• This information was shared by Union Minister of State(MoS) Jitin Prasada, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) in Parliament.

Key Details of MoUs/Agreements:
Focus Areas: These MoUs primarily focus on boosting cooperation in areas like: digital identity, digital payments, data exchange, and service delivery platforms.
Countries Signed: The list of countries which have signed MoUs on DPI cooperation are: Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, Papua New Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago, Tanzania, Kenya, Cuba, Colombia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Gambia, Fiji, Guyana, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Lesotho, Maldives and Mongolia.
Global Presence of UPI: Under this initiative, India’s flagship digital payments platform, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now operational in eight countries including ,the United Arab  Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius, and Qatar.
MoUs on Digilocker: In addition, the GoI signed certain MoUs with countries like: Cuba, Kenya, the UAE, and LPDR for cooperation on Digilocker, India’s 1st digital document storage and verification platform.
Key Measures Promoting Digital Governance:
India Stack Global portal: It facilitates access to 18 key digital platforms (such as: Aadhaar, UPI, CoWIN, Digilocker, among others)that are part of India’s DPI solutions, serving as a gateway for partner countries to adopt and explore these platforms.
Global DPI Repository: It was formally launched during India’s Group-20 (G20) Presidency in 2023. It acts as a global knowledge platform, with India contributing the highest number of DPI solutions.

VOC Port Becomes 1st Port in India to Deploy Advanced ‘Anti-Drone System’In February 2026, V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC)Port located in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu (TN), becomes the 1st port in India to initiate installation of an advanced ‘Anti-Drone System’, marking a major step in the protection of critical port infrastructure.

• This development also marks a significant step towards strengthening maritime and coastal security.

Key Details of Project:
Aim: The initiative aims to bolster airspace surveillance, ensuring adherence with emerging coastal defence norms, and enhancing emergency response preparedness at the port.
Signatories: The agreement for the proposed project was signed by A. Ganesan, Chief Mechanical Engineer, VOC Port Authority (VOCPA) and Anurag Agarwal, who represented the Central Electronics Limited (CEL).
Timeline: The project is expected to be completed within the next 3 months.
Deployment: The project includes the deployment of a comprehensive, integrated Radio Frequency (RF) and radar-based drone detection and jamming system, specifically designed for complex port environments.
Coverage: The advanced ‘Anti-drone’ system provides 360 degree coverage, omnidirectional bearing, with an effective range of up to 5 kilometer (km).

DoSJE, PW Foundation Signs MoU to Provide Free Online Coaching for Competitive Exams
In February 2026, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Physics Wallah (PW) Foundation to provide free online coaching to 5,000 aspirants annually from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) for Children Scheme across India.
About the Scheme:
Coaching: Under this collaboration, the PW Foundation will provide high-quality online coaching for exams including the Civil Services Examination (CSE), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exams, and various Banking examinations.
Selection Process: Beneficiaries will be chosen on a merit basis through a dedicated online portal.
Learning Support: Under this initiative, eligible beneficiaries receive free access to structured online courses, which include live and recorded classes, test series, previous year question papers, study material, mentorship, doubt‑solving support, and counselling.
About PM CARES: PM CARES for Children Scheme , launched by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on 29 May 2021, aims to ensure sustained care, protection, and overall well-being of children through comprehensive support measures.

NSO Launches Beta Version of ‘MCP Server’ on eSankhyiki Portal
In February 2026, the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the beta version of its Model Context Protocol (MCP) server which enables users to directly connect to official datasets their own Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and applications,  for eSankhyiki portal.

• The MCP Server is a major step towards building the data infrastructure required for Viksit Bharat.

About MCP Server:
Datasets: The beta version of the server now features seven data sets i.e. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), Index of Industrial Production (IIP), National Accounts Statistics (NAS), Wholesale Price Index (WPI), and Environment Statistics.

• The MoSPI is planning to expand the portal with additional datasets in the upcoming months.

Significance: The MCP server will enable the users to access verified information and insights in real-time. It will also help the data users complete their work faster, enable businesses to make informed decisions, and give policymakers immediate access to the numbers they require.
Aligns with: This new initiative aligns with the objectives of Working Group 6 on Democratising AI headed by Dr. Saurab Garg, Secretary of MoSPI.
eSankhyiki Portal: Launched in June 2024, it is India’s national platform for official statistics, offering a centralised gateway to diverse socioeconomic and macroeconomic data.

IIT Madras & UIV Launches ‘IITM-Unicorn Frontier Fund I’ worth Rs.600 crores
On February 6, 2026, IIT(Indian Institute of Technology) Madras Research Park(IITMRP), in partnership with Unicorn India Ventures (UIV), launched a ‘IITM-Unicorn Frontier Fund I’, a venture capital fund, worth Rs.600 crores to support deep-technology startups in India.
About IITM-Unicorn Frontier Fund I:
Purpose: The fund aims to promote Intellectual Property (IP)-driven, engineering-intensive startups by providing patient capital to bridge the gap from lab prototypes to commercial products, boosting India’s strategic technology self-reliance.
Fund Structure: The fund includes greenshoe option of Rs.400 crores, bringing the total of Rs.1000 crores, for a tenure of 10 years extendable by 2 years.

• It plans to invest in over 25 startups and will allocate about 60% for initial investments and 40% for follow-on funding.

Focus Sectors: It includes robotics, space technology, defence technology, semiconductors, medtech and other strategic technologies.
Investment Stages: It will be primarily invested in startups at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3-4 (validated technology ready for scaling efforts), TRL 5-7 (mid-stage development), TRL 7-9 (market-ready technologies).

Mines Ministry Notifies Rules to Curb Illegal Offshore Mineral Mining
On 3 February 2026, the Ministry of Mines (MoM) notified the Offshore Areas Mineral (Prevention of Illegal Mining and Transportation) Rules, 2026, which came into immediate effect to regulate and prevent illegal mining, storage, transportation, and export of all offshore minerals except hydrocarbons.

• The rules are issued under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (OAMDR Act 2002), exempt non-commercial scientific or research activities, and extend the powers of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) to the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) for threshold-grade atomic minerals.

About Offshore Mining Rules 2026:
Coverage: The rules regulate offshore minerals excluding mineral oils and hydrocarbons, apply to all operators and entities, exempt non-commercial scientific activities, and define illegal mining as operations without valid rights or beyond approved limits.
Monitoring: Operating right holders and carrier owners must install real-time Electronic Monitoring (EM) Systems, ensure registration of all carriers and machinery, and avoid using unregistered equipment.
Transit: Mineral movement outside lease areas requires uploading dispatch details for digital transit permits, mandatory weighment at discharge points, and prior Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) export clearance.
Penalties: Aggrieved persons may appeal to the Central Government within 3 months, while violations can lead to imprisonment up to 5 years, fines from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore with daily penalties up to Rs 5 lakh, along with seizure of equipment and possible cancellation of licenses, leases, or registrations.

BANKING & FINANCE

Highlights of RBI’s 6th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy FY2025-26The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted the 59th and 6th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) from February 4 to 6, 2026 under the chairmanship of Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, RBI.

• The meeting was attended by the MPC members Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Saugata Bhattacharya, Prof. Ram Singh, Dr. Poonam Gupta and Indranil Bhattacharyya.

RBI MPC reduces Repo Rates by 25 bps to 5.25%, Maintains ‘Neutral’ Stance
Rate Cut: The MPC voted unanimously to reduce the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) to 5.25%.

• Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate shall stand adjusted to 5.00% and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 5.50%.
• The MPC also decided to continue with the neutral stance, indicating rates may go up or reduce further.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Issues India’s 1st Fully Digital FPI Licence
In February 2026, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL), an Indian private sector bank, became the 1st custodian in India to issue a Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) licence and complete the entire onboarding process using electronic signatures(e-signature).
Key Details:
Digital Workflow: This development comes after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) operationalised a unified digital workflow in January 2026, enabling the use of Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) and electronic signatures through the FPI Common Application Form (CAF) portal.

• As per SEBI’s directions, DSCs must be issued by Indian certifying authorities in compliance with the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.

Digital Licence: Earlier, KMBL issued its first two FPI licences using fully digitally signed documents, eliminating the need for physical paperwork and wet signatures.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

IOC Elects Soraya Aghaei Hajiagha as Iran’s First Female IOC Member
In February 2026, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) elected Soraya Aghaei Hajiagha, youngest current IOC member, as its 107th member with 95 votes during the 145th IOC Session in Milan, Italy.

• She became the first Iranian woman and the third Iranian overall to be elected to the IOC, ending a more than 20-year absence of Iranian representation.

About Soraya Aghaei Hajiagha: 
Profile: She is a professional badminton player from Iran. She represented Iran in badminton at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (Japan), where she became the first Iranian female badminton Olympian.
Leadership: She has served on the Athletes’ Commission of the Iranian National Olympic Committee and was previously a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
About IOC: It was founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin in Lausanne, Switzerland. IOC governs the Olympic movement, organizes the games, selects host cities, promotes Olympic values, and supports athletes.

• It comprises 107 members and ensures fair play, global sports development, and gender equality worldwide.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile ‘Agni-3’ Successfully Test-Fired in OdishaOn 6 February 2026, India successfully test-fired the Agni-3 missile, an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. 

• The launch, conducted under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), validated all operational and technical parameters, strengthening India’s strategic deterrence capabilities.

About Agni-3 Missile:
Developer: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Type:  Surface-to-surface missile
Propulsion: The missile uses a two-stage, solid-fuelled propulsion, where the second stage ignites after the first stage burn, enhancing range, stability, and targeting accuracy.
Dimensions: The Agni-3 missile measures 16.7 metres (m) in length, 2 metres (m) in diameter, and has a launch weight of 48,300 kilograms (kg).
Range: 3,000–3,500 kilometer(km)
Payload: Up to 1,500 kg; capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads
Launch Platform: Road and rail-mobile
Navigation: Uses a Strapdown Inertial Navigation System (INS) supported by the Global Positioning System (GPS) for enhanced guidance accuracy.
Speed: Mach 15 (~18,522 km per hour km/h)
About Strategic Forces Command (SFC):
Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) – Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2003

SPORTS

India Wins Sixth ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Title 2026 by Defeating England In February 2026, India’s Under-19(U19) men’s cricket team clinched their record sixth International Cricket Council (ICC) U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup(CWC) title by defeating England by 100 runs in the final at Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe, as the 16th edition of the tournament was held from 15 January to 6 February 2026 across Zimbabwe and Namibia.

• India’s victory was highlighted by Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s remarkable 175-run knock off 80 balls, the highest individual score ever achieved in a U19 World Cup final, reaching 150 in 71 deliveries and ending the tournament with 439 runs and 30 sixes.

Overview of ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026:
Leadership: Captain Ayush Mhatre scored 53 off 51 balls and shared a 142-run second-wicket partnership with Vaibhav Suryavanshi to rebuild the innings.
India Innings: India posted 411/9 in 50 overs, the highest total ever recorded in a U19 World Cup final, with contributions from Abhigyan Kundu (40), Kanishk Chouhan (37), Vedant Trivedi (32) and Vihaan Malhotra (30).
Bowling Effort: RS Ambrish led India’s bowling with 3/56, supported by Deepesh Devendran (2/64) and Kanishk Chouhan (2/63).
England Chase: Led by captain Thomas Rew, England Under-19s were bowled out for 311 in 40.2 overs despite notable contributions from Caleb Falconer (115), Ben Dawkins (66) and Ben Mayes (45).
Player of the Match (Final): Vaibhav Suryavanshi (India)
Player of the Tournament: Vaibhav Suryavanshi (India) – 439 runs, 30 sixes, average 62.71, strike rate 169.49
Leading Run-Scorer: Ben Mayes (England) – 444 runs in 7 matches
Leading Wicket-Taker: Manny Lumsden (England) – 16 wickets in 7 matches
Highest Score of the Tournament: Viran Chamuditha (Sri Lanka) – 192
Best Bowling Figures: Shaquan Belle (West Indies) – 6/40
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sanjog Gupta
Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Established – 1909

STATE NEWS

Goa Becomes 2nd State in India to Publish State-level Bird Atlas
In February 2026, the government of Goa published “Bird Atlas of Goa” during the 9th Bird Festival of Goa held at Valpoi (in Goa), becoming  the 2nd state in India after Kerala, to publish a comprehensive state-level  bird atlas.

• The Bird Atlas of Goa, an ambitious citizen science driven initiative, has been completed in a single year effort, covering 370 square kilometers (sq. kms) of area and nearly 1,400 km of transact distance.

Key Highlights of Bird Festival of Goa:
Inaugurated by: The festival was formally inaugurated by C. Candavelou, Chief Secretary(CS) and Principal Secretary(PS) (Forests), Government of Goa, as the Chief Guest.
Theme: The festival carried the theme “Majestic Mhadei”, highlighting the ecological importance of the Mhadei river basin.
Other Key Release: Release of ‘Birds of Goa: Konkani Nomenclature-Olakh Suknayanchi’, documentation and popularisation of avifauna in the local language.
Key MoU Signed: The festival also saw the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Goa forest department and ResQ Charitable Trust, aimed at enhancing coordination for the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife across the state.
Significance of the Atlas: The atlas is expected to support biodiversity conservation, scientific research, and informed policymaking related to wildlife and habitat protection. By involving citizens, it also promotes community participation and awareness in conservation efforts.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Launched NeVA at Bihar Assembly
In February 2026, Om Birla, Speaker of Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Parliament) launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) at the Central Hall of the state legislature assembly of Bihar in Patna, marking a major step towards digitizing and paperless legislative functioning.

• The event coincided with Bihar Assembly’s 105th Foundation Day celebrations.

About NeVA:
Key Dignitaries Present: The launch ceremony was attended by Prem Kumar, Speaker of Bihar Assembly; Harivansh Narayan Singh, Chairman of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Parliament); and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA), among others.
Developed by: It is a cloud-based digital platform developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) which works under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
Key Function: This newly launched app will facilitate paperless conduct of legislative business, enabling legislators to access essential documents like: rules of procedure, the list of business, notices, and bulletins, among others on their electronic devices.
Key objective: To integrate all the legislatures of the country on a common digital platform, thereby creating a massive data depository.

*******

Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)