04 February 2026 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

GS–1 | INDIAN SOCIETY & BHARTIYA SANT PARAMPARA

1. Guru Ravidas

Subtopic: Bhakti Movement, Social Reform

Value Addition:

• Historical Period: Lived c. 1377–1527 CE, during the peak of the medieval Bhakti movement.

• Birthplace: Sir Gobardhanpur village near Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh); now revered as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan.

• Alternative Names: Raidas, Rohidas, Ruhidas, reflecting regional and linguistic traditions.

• Spiritual Lineage:

  • Traditionally regarded as a disciple of Ramananda.

  • Contemporary of Kabir, sharing similar egalitarian themes.

• Literary Contributions:

  • Composed devotional hymns in local languages for mass reach.

  • 41 hymns included in Guru Granth Sahib, giving him pan-religious significance.

  • Also featured in Panch Vani (Dadu Panthi tradition).

• Philosophical Core:

  • Rejection of caste hierarchy and ritualism.

  • Advocacy of human dignity, equality, and inner spiritual freedom.

  • Emphasis on nirguna bhakti (formless divine).

• Beghumpura Concept:

  • Ideal society free from sorrow, fear, inequality, and discrimination.

• Social Impact:

  • Strong symbol of resistance against untouchability.

  • Influenced Meera Bai, who regarded him as her spiritual mentor.

• Ravidassia Religion:

  • Teachings later crystallised into the Ravidassia religious tradition.

  • Sacred text: Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-1 relevance for Bhakti movement, social reform, and caste critique in medieval India.

• Frequently used in mains answers on social equality, religious syncretism, and anti-caste thought.

GS–2 | HEALTH GOVERNANCE & INDUSTRIAL POLICY

2. Biopharma SHAKTI Initiative

Subtopic: Biopharmaceutical Ecosystem, Public Health Innovation

Value Addition:

• Full Form: Strategy for Healthcare Advancement through Knowledge, Technology and Innovation.

• Announced In: Union Budget 2026–27.

• Core Objective:

  • Position India as a global hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

• Focus Areas:

  • Biologics: Complex medicines derived from living organisms.

  • Biosimilars: Safe and effective alternatives to biologics developed through rigorous testing.

• Public Health Rationale:

  • Improves affordability and access to advanced therapies.

  • Addresses rising burden of NCDs like cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.

• Institutional Support:

  • Creation of 3 new NIPERs.

  • Upgradation of 7 existing NIPERs.

• Clinical Infrastructure:

  • Network of 1,000+ accredited clinical trial sites nationwide.

• Financial Outlay:

  • ₹10,000 crore over 5 years.

• Strategic Impact:

  • Boosts innovation, manufacturing capacity, and skilled employment.

  • Reduces import dependence in high-value medicines.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-2 relevance for health governance, industrial policy, and innovation-led development.

• Strong example for answers on Make in India in healthcare.

GS–2 | WOMEN EMPOWERMENT & LIVELIHOODS

3. SHE Marts

Subtopic: Women Entrepreneurship, Market Access

Value Addition:

• Full Form: Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts.

• Nature: Community-owned retail outlets at cluster-level SHG federations.

• Target Group: Women entrepreneurs, especially SHG-linked women.

• Core Objectives:

  • Direct market access.

  • Improved branding and product visibility.

  • Sustainable and stable income generation.

• Policy Significance:

  • Builds on Lakhpati Didi programme.

  • Marks transition from micro-credit dependency to enterprise ownership.

• Functional Features:

  • Permanent retail spaces for SHG products.

  • Reduced intermediaries.

  • Support for value-added and processed goods.

  • Backed by innovative financing mechanisms.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-2 relevance for women empowerment, SHG-led development, and inclusive growth models.

GS–2 | EDUCATION & SOCIAL JUSTICE

4. PM-POSHAN Scheme

Subtopic: Nutrition Security, School Education

Value Addition:

• Earlier Name: Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Education.

• Coverage:

  • Balvatikas (pre-primary) and Classes 1–8.

  • Government and government-aided schools nationwide.

• Core Objectives:

  • Improve nutritional status.

  • Enhance enrolment, retention, and attendance.

• Nutritional Norms:

  • Primary/Balvatika: 20 g pulses, 50 g vegetables, 5 g oil.

  • Upper Primary: 30 g pulses, 75 g vegetables, 7.5 g oil.

• Inflation Indexation:

  • Based on CPI-Rural Labourers, using data from ~600 villages.

• Funding Pattern:

  • 60:40 (Centre:State).

  • 90:10 for NE & Himalayan states.

  • 100% Centre for UTs without legislature.

• Current Issue:

  • States demanding higher honorarium for cooks and helpers.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-2 relevance for right to nutrition, welfare delivery, and cooperative federalism.

GS–2 | RURAL DEVELOPMENT & GANDHIAN ECONOMY

5. Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative

Subtopic: Rural Industries, Traditional Crafts

Value Addition:

• Announced In: Union Budget 2026–27.

• Sector Focus: Khadi, handloom, and handicrafts.

• Target Groups:

  • Artisans, weavers, ODOP beneficiaries, rural youth.

• Key Challenges Addressed:

  • Fragmented supply chains.

  • Quality inconsistency.

  • Limited market access.

• Strategic Measures:

  • Branding and quality upgradation.

  • Integration with organised retail and exports.

  • Adoption of modern techniques without eroding tradition.

• Policy Alignment:

  • Vocal for Local.

  • Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-2 relevance for Gandhian thought, rural livelihoods, and MSME-centric development.

GS–3 | ADVANCED MATERIAL SCIENCE

6. Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS₂)

Subtopic: Nanomaterials, Semiconductor Physics

Value Addition:

• Material Type: Transition Metal Dichalcogenide (TMDC).

• Structure: Hexagonal layered lattice similar to graphite.

• Thermal Stability:

  • Operates up to 350°C (oxidising) and 1100°C (non-oxidising) environments.

• Lubricating Properties:

  • Excellent solid lubricant.

  • Does not depend on moisture like graphite.

  • Used in aerospace, engines, firearms.

• Electronic Properties:

  • Acts as a semiconductor at atomic thickness.

• Recent Breakthrough:

  • Atom-thin MoS₂ electronic systems allow high-energy particles to pass without damage.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 relevance for advanced materials, electronics, and strategic technology.

GS–3 | ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & DIGITAL SOCIETY

7. Moltbook

Subtopic: AI-Only Platforms, Emergent Behaviour

Value Addition:

• Platform Nature: AI-exclusive social media network.

• Participation Rule: Only verified AI agents; humans are observers.

• Structure: Reddit-like communities called submolts.

• Operational Model:

  • AI agents interact via APIs, not keyboards.

  • Powered by GPT, Claude, Gemini-class models.

• Emergent Phenomena:

  • Creation of mock religions, political systems, currencies.

  • Development of humour, norms, and philosophical debates.

• Key Insight:

  • No consciousness or intent, only probabilistic pattern generation.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 relevance for AI ethics, emergent systems, and digital governance debates.

GS–3 | AGRICULTURE & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

8. Bharat-VISTAAR

Subtopic: AI in Agriculture, Decision Support Systems

Value Addition:

• Full Form: Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources.

• Nature: Multilingual AI-based digital tool.

• System Integration:

  • AgriStack portals.

  • ICAR-recommended agricultural practices.

• Core Objectives:

  • Improve productivity.

  • Provide customised advisories.

  • Reduce production and market risks.

• Key Feature:

  • Location-, crop-, and farmer-specific recommendations.

• Inclusivity:

  • Designed for diverse linguistic and regional contexts.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 relevance for digital agriculture, AI-led extension services, and risk management.