1) 🇮🇳National

• Bureaucratic Reforms: The Central Government has introduced a new performance evaluation framework for senior bureaucrats. Union Secretaries will now be assessed through measurable outcomes and individual report cards rather than traditional file movements.
• PM CARES Transparency: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) informed the Lok Sabha that questions regarding PM CARES and certain defence funds cannot be admitted, citing existing parliamentary rules.
• IIT Madras Innovation: IIT Madras has launched an online BS degree in Aeronautics and Space Technology. Notably, admissions will be based on JEE Main 2026 scores, providing a pathway without requiring JEE Advanced.
• Mental Health Initiative: The Rajasthan government has announced the establishment of dedicated mental health cells and wellbeing centres for medical students to combat academic pressure.

2) 🌍International

• Education Trends: A shift in preference is noted among Indian students, with the United States losing its status as the default destination for higher education due to rising costs and visa uncertainties. The UK, Germany, and Australia are gaining significant ground.
• Trilateral Peace Talks: The second round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US commenced in Abu Dhabi to explore ceasefire mechanisms and humanitarian access.
• Global Student Cities: Delhi has been ranked as the world's most affordable city for international students in a joint report by Knight Frank and QS.

3) 💰Economy

• Stock Market Surge: Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty saw strong gains, with the Sensex crossing the 84,000 mark and Nifty settling above 25,850, driven by optimism over the India–US trade deal.
• Currency Update: The Indian Rupee (INR) strengthened significantly, reaching approximately 90.44 against the US Dollar, supported by the return of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs).
• Trade Tariffs: Following bilateral negotiations, US import duties on Indian products are expected to fall to an effective rate of 12–16% from the previous 35–36%, providing a massive boost to the gems, jewellery, and textile sectors.

4) 🗓️Date’s importance

• World Pulses Day: Observed annually on 10 February to recognise the importance of pulses (dried beans, lentils, and peas) as a global food source and their role in sustainable food systems.
• National Deworming Day: India observes this day to combat soil-transmitted helminths (worms) in children aged 1–19 years.

5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day

• Sudip Gharami: The Bengal batter made history in domestic cricket by becoming the first Indian to be dismissed for 299 runs in a first-class match, missing a triple century by just one run.

6) 🏅Sports

• WPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were crowned champions of the Women's Premier League (WPL) for the second time, joining Mumbai Indians as the most successful team in the tournament's history.
• T20 World Cup Controversy: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has signaled a potential boycott of their match against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, citing "Force Majeure" in response to ICC sanctions.
• BWF Reforms: The Badminton World Federation announced an expanded 11-day format for the World Championships to improve player recovery.

7) 🏆Awards

• Grammy Awards 2026: Recent announcements highlighted a strong showing for global fusion and Indian classical collaborations in the "Best Global Music Album" category.

8) ⭐️Other important significance

• Chandrayaan-4: ISRO has officially selected a South Polar site for the Chandrayaan-4 lander mission, focusing on sample return capabilities.
• Vande Bharat Expansion: Indian Railways has formalised plans to manufacture 260 Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets to modernise overnight long-distance travel.

📚Word of the day

• Venust
• Meaning: Beautiful, graceful, or elegant; typically describing a refined or classical beauty.
• Usage: The dancer's venust movements captivated the entire audience at the national festival.