05th February 2026

1. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways signs MoUs to set up Bharat Container Shipping Line and to finance an outer harbour project
2. NGEL and Assago sign an MoU to establish India’s first indigenous green urea plant in Andhra Pradesh
3. Equitas Small Finance Bank partners with Bharti AXA Life Insurance to widen access to life insurance
4. RBI imposes a compounding fee of ₹18.76 lakh on One 97 Communications for FEMA violations
5. Walmart becomes the world’s first retail company to achieve a market valuation of USD 1 trillion
6. Goldman Sachs revises India’s CY26 GDP growth forecast upward to 6.9%
7. Bhutan’s Queen Mother is honoured with the 22nd Upendra Nath Brahma “Soldier of Humanity” Award
8. HMG Stones secures ISO 9001:2015 certification along with a 5S Gold Grade rating
9. Renowned travel writer and Padma Shri awardee Hugh Gantzer passes away
10. World Interfaith Harmony Week
11. The International Olympic Committee elects its first female member from Iran, marking a milestone in Olympic governance
12. Spain becomes the first European country to ban social media access for children below 16 years
13. Russia launches the nuclear-powered submarine Khabarovsk, capable of carrying the Poseidon underwater drone
14. PLASTINDIA 2026 is set to showcase global innovations in the plastics sector
15. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform
16. NSIC marks 71 years of supporting MSMEs and strengthening the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission
17. Andhra Pradesh plans to establish a dedicated women’s industrial park to promote women entrepreneurship

National News

1. PLASTINDIA 2026 Begins at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

• What
  • PLASTINDIA 2026 will begin on February 5 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, showcasing global plastics innovation, supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, and highlighting India’s manufacturing strength and employment potential.
• Tell me more
  • Organizers – Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Theme – “Bharat Next”
  • PLASTINDIA 2026 focuses on Trade, Technology, Talent, Tradition, and Tourism.
  • The Indian plastics industry is valued at about ₹3–3.5 lakh crore.

Source: PIB

2. Amit Shah to Launch Bharat Taxi, India’s First Cooperative Ride-Hailing Service

• What
  • Amit Shah will launch Bharat Taxi at Vigyan Bhavan as India’s first cooperative ride-hailing platform, operating on a zero-commission and surge-free model where drivers are owners and share profits under the ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ vision.
• Tell me more
  • Bharat Taxi is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 and was established on June 6, 2025.
  • Drivers, called Sarathis, are shareholders who can also work on other platforms, with six top Sarathis receiving share certificates and ₹5 lakh accident and health insurance.

3. NSIC Marks 71st Foundation Day with Focus on MSME Growth

• National Small Industries Corporation celebrated its 71st Foundation Day on 4 February 2026 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

Source: PIB

State News

1. Andhra Pradesh to Set Up Exclusive Industrial Park for Women Entrepreneurs

• What
  • Andhra Pradesh government signed a MoU with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry – Ladies Organisation (FLO) to set up a women-only industrial park, aiming to support women entrepreneurs, promote inclusive growth, and create jobs across the state.
• Tell me more
  • The initiative follows the “one family, one entrepreneur” vision of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
  • Andhra Pradesh plans to establish 175 micro, small and medium enterprises parks, one in each assembly constituency.

Source: TOI

International News

1. Spain Plans Social Media Ban for Children Below 16 Years

• Spain plans to ban social media for children under 16 to protect them from harmful online content.
• Australia has already introduced such a ban, while several European countries and the United Kingdom are considering similar steps.

Source: BBC

2. Russia Launches Nuclear Submarine Khabarovsk Capable of Carrying Poseidon

• Russia launched its new nuclear submarine Khabarovsk, built to carry the Poseidon underwater nuclear drone, at the Sevmash shipyard.
• Poseidon can travel long distances underwater and cause massive destruction, marking a major step for Russia’s navy.

Source: NOA

Banking and Economy

1. Bharti AXA Life Insurance Partners with Equitas Small Finance Bank for Bancassurance

• What
  • Bharti AXA Life Insurance signed a strategic bancassurance partnership with Equitas Small Finance Bank to distribute life insurance products, aiming to increase insurance adoption and strengthen long-term financial preparedness, especially in semi-urban and rural markets.
• Tell me more
  • Bharti AXA Life Insurance is a subsidiary of Bharti Life Ventures Private Limited, part of the Bharti Group.

Source: ET

2. RBI Resolves FEMA Violations Linked to Paytm Through Compounding

• What
  • Reserve Bank of India imposed a ₹18.76 lakh compounding fee on Paytm for Foreign Exchange Management Act violations related to earlier investment transactions, and the issue will be closed after payment.
• Tell me more
  • The violations relate to investments made between 2016 and 2017 in Little Internet Private Limited by its overseas entity.
  • The Reserve Bank of India also imposed a ₹4.28 lakh compounding fee for matters linked to Nearbuy India Private Limited.

Source: BS

3. Walmart Becomes World’s First Retail Company to Reach $1 Trillion Valuation

• What
  • Walmart became the first retail company globally to reach a $1 trillion market value, reflecting strong share performance and placing a non-technology firm among the world’s highest-valued companies.
• Tell me more
  • Walmart partnered with OpenAI and Google to integrate shopping services into Artificial Intelligence chatbots.
  • Walmart opened its first retail store in Arkansas in 1962 and now operates about 4,600 stores across the United States.

Source: BS

4. HMG Stones Becomes First in India’s Natural Stone Industry to Achieve Dual Global Certifications

• What
  • HMG Stone LLP became the first company in India’s natural stone industry to receive ISO 9001:2015 and 5S Gold Grade certifications together, showing strong focus on quality systems, organised workplaces, and reliable processes for customers.
• Tell me more
  • ISO 9001:2015 certification was awarded by M/s TUV India Private Limited, a subsidiary of TUV NORD Germany, with DAkkS accreditation. It sets standards for quality control and customer satisfaction.
  • The 5S Gold Grade certification was given by ABK-AOTS DOSOKAI, headquartered in Japan. The 5S system stands for Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardise, and Sustain.

Source: BS

GDP Forecasts

1. Goldman Sachs Raises India’s CY26 GDP Growth Forecast After US Tariff Cut

• Goldman Sachs raised India’s 2026 growth forecast to 6.9% after the United States cut tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%.
• Lower tariffs improve export conditions, reduce trade uncertainty, and place India closer to other Asian economies, supporting stronger economic growth prospects.

Source: ET

Awards

1. Bhutan Queen Mother Receives ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award in Assam

• What
  • Bhutan’s Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck received the 22nd Upendra Nath Brahma ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award 2025 in Kokrajhar, Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region.
• Tell me more
  • The award honoured her humanitarian service and compassionate leadership, and highlighted strong and long-standing ties between India and Bhutan, with Assam playing a key role.
  • The ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award honours Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma’s ideals of sacrifice, courage, and service, and is carried forward by the Upendra Nath Brahma Trust, established in 1999 to promote social justice and uplift marginalised communities.

Source: HT

Important Days

1. World Interfaith Harmony Week – February 1-7

• UN Focus: Uniting for peace

Source: UN

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Union Government Signs MoU to Establish Bharat Container Shipping Line

• What
  • The Union Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line to build an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem across shipping, ports, and rail-linked logistics in India.
• Tell me more
  • Signing Parties – Shipping Corporation of India, Container Corporation of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Chennai Port Authority, and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • The initiative operationalises the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–27.
  • A separate tripartite MoU was signed between V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited, and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited to finance the Outer Harbour Project at Tuticorin.
  • The agreement enables joint funding up to ₹15,000 crore for eligible port capacity expansion projects under the Sagarmala Programme and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan through a Hybrid Annuity Model.

2. NGEL–Assago MoU for India’s First Large-Scale Green Urea Ecosystem

• What
  • NTPC Green Energy Ltd signed an MoU with Assago Industries Private Ltd to develop India’s first large-scale green urea ecosystem at the Pudimadaka Green Hydrogen Hub, supporting sustainable fertiliser manufacturing and reducing dependence on imported urea.
• Tell me more
  • NTPC Green Energy Limited will supply green ammonia, captured carbon dioxide, renewable power, and utilities to Assago Industries Private Limited to make green urea.
  • The Pudimadaka Green Hydrogen Hub will produce 2.5 million tonnes of green chemicals annually, making Assago among the first private firms to produce green urea at scale.
  • India consumes about 35–40 million tonnes of urea annually and imports 8–10 million tonnes each year.

Source: ET

Appointments

1. Iran Gets First Female Member in International Olympic Committee

• What
  • The International Olympic Committee elected Soraya Aghaei as its first female member from Iran, making her the youngest current representative in the global Olympic body.
• Tell me more
  • Soraya Aghaei became the 107th International Olympic Committee member and is the third Iranian member of IOC.
  • Her eight-year International Olympic Committee term includes voting for the host of the 2036 Summer Games, and she earlier competed in badminton at the Tokyo Summer Games 2021.

Source: ESPN

Miscellaneous

1. Padma Shri Awardee Travel Writer Hugh Gantzer Passes Away

• He shaped India’s travel writing through books, newspaper columns, and Doordarshan documentaries.
• Along with his wife Colleen Gantzer, he promoted Indian tourism, served the Indian Navy, and worked on environmental issues in Doon Valley.

Source: TOI

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