05 Februray 2026 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

GS–1 | WORLD GEOGRAPHY & GEOPOLITICS

1. Rojava Region (Syria)

Subtopic: De-facto Autonomous Regions, West Asia Geopolitics

Value Addition:

• Meaning of Name: Rojava means “West” in Kurdish, referring to western Kurdistan.

• Political Status:

  • A de facto autonomous Kurdish-administered region in northern and northeastern Syria.

  • Governed largely by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

• Geographical Setting:

  • Lies mainly within the Euphrates river basin.

  • Contains oil- and gas-rich zones, making it strategically important.

• Administrative Spread:

  • Parts of Hasakah, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Aleppo provinces.

  • Includes Kobane, a symbol of Kurdish resistance against ISIS.

• Boundaries:

  • North: Türkiye

  • East: Kurdistan Region of Iraq

  • West & South: Syrian government-controlled territories

• Physical Geography:

  • Predominantly flat to gently undulating plains and steppe lands.

  • Mount Abdulaziz (Mount Kezwan) is a notable elevated feature in Hasakah.

• Climate:

  • Arid to semi-arid climate.

  • Very hot summers and cold winters.

• Agricultural Base:

  • Fertile river plains support large-scale wheat cultivation.

• Hydrology:

  • Located between Tigris (east) and Euphrates (west) river systems.

  • Khabur River is a critical tributary supporting agriculture.

Subject Analysis:

• High-value GS-1 topic combining political geography, resource geography, and conflict zones.

• Useful for prelims mapping questions and mains answers on autonomy movements and West Asian geopolitics.

GS–1 | ART & CULTURE / ARCHAEOLOGY

2. Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha

Subtopic: Buddhist Archaeology, Cultural Diplomacy

Value Addition:

• Archaeological Site:

  • Located at Devnimori, near Shamlaji in the Aravalli region of Gujarat.

• Excavation History:

  • Systematically explored in 1957 by archaeologist Prof. S. N. Chowdhry.

• Cultural Importance:

  • Confirms the spread of Buddhism in western India during the early historic period.

• Stupa Context:

  • Relics discovered from a Buddhist stupa, highlighting ritual significance.

• Relic Casket Details:

  • Made of green schist stone.

  • Found 24 feet above the stupa base.

• Inscription:

  • Written in Brahmi script and Sanskrit.

  • Reads “dashabala sharira nilay” meaning “abode of the bodily relics of the Buddha.”

• Relic Contents:

  • Copper box containing sacred ashes, silk cloth, beads.

  • Included a gold-coated silver-copper bottle with amphora-like design.

• Preservation:

  • Stored inside a desiccator sealed in an airtight glass enclosure.

• Diplomatic Significance:

  • Display in Sri Lanka strengthens Buddhist diplomacy and cultural soft power.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-1 relevance for Buddhist heritage, archaeology, and India’s cultural diplomacy.

• Useful for mains answers on soft power and civilisational outreach.

GS–2 | SOCIAL JUSTICE & INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT

3. Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana

Subtopic: Skill Development, Disability Empowerment

Value Addition:

• Announced In: Union Budget 2026–27.

• Target Group: Persons with disabilities (Divyangjan).

• Core Objective:

  • Enable dignified and sustainable livelihoods through skill training.

• Financial Outlay: ₹200 crore (FY allocation).

• Training Design:

  • Customised, industry-relevant modules adapted to diverse disability needs.

• Sectoral Focus:

  • Information Technology

  • Animation, VFX, Gaming & Comics

  • Hospitality

  • Food & Beverages

• Employment Rationale:

  • Focus on task-oriented and process-driven roles suitable for inclusive workplaces.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-2 topic linking social justice, skill policy, and labour market inclusion.

• Strong case study for mains on rights-based empowerment of PwDs.

4. Divyang Sahara Yojana

Subtopic: Assistive Technology, Welfare Infrastructure

Value Addition:

• Budget Allocation: ₹100 crore.

• Implementing Agency:

  • Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO).

• Key Objectives:

  • Expand production of high-quality assistive devices.

  • Promote R&D and AI-based innovation in assistive technologies.

• Infrastructure Push:

  • Strengthening PM Divyasha Kendras.

  • Setting up Assistive Technology Marts as modern retail-style centres.

About PM Divyasha Kendra:

• Service Model: One-stop centres for assessment, counselling, distribution, and post-care.

• Beneficiaries: Divyangjan and senior citizens.

• Administrative Status: ALIMCO operates under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-2 relevance for welfare delivery systems, assistive tech, and ageing population needs.

GS–3 | ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

5. SAKSHAM 2026

Subtopic: Energy Conservation, Public Awareness

Value Addition:

• Full Form: Samrakshan Kshamatha Mahotsav.

• Nature: Annual nationwide energy conservation campaign.

• Nodal Ministry:

  • Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

• Duration (2026): 2–16 February 2026.

• Core Objective:

  • Promote fuel conservation and responsible energy use.

• Outreach Methods:

  • Cyclothons, walkathons, debates, workshops, wall paintings, seminars.

• Target Groups:

  • School children, youth, farmers, LPG consumers, fleet operators, industries.

• Theme 2026:

  • “Conserve Oil and Gas, Go Green” (Tel aur Gas Bachao, Harshit Urja Apnao).

• Strategic Message:

  • Reduce fossil fuel dependence while accelerating renewables and efficiency.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 relevance for energy transition, behavioural change, and climate action.

GS–3 | CLIMATE CHANGE & INDUSTRY

6. Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

Subtopic: Decarbonisation Technologies, Climate Mitigation

Value Addition:

• Budget Proposal: ₹20,000 crore over five years.

• Definition:

  • Technologies that capture CO₂ from large point sources or directly from air and either store or reuse it.

• Three Core Stages:

  1. Capture

  2. Transport

  3. Storage or Utilisation

• Capture Techniques:

  • Post-combustion: CO₂ removed from flue gases.

  • Pre-combustion: CO₂ separated before fuel combustion.

  • Oxy-fuel combustion: Fuel burned in pure oxygen producing CO₂-rich exhaust.

• Sectoral Importance:

  • Critical for hard-to-abate industries like cement, steel, chemicals.

• Energy Linkage:

  • Enables low-carbon hydrogen and clean electricity.

• Climate Role:

  • Supports net-zero goals and long-term atmospheric carbon removal.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 topic linking industrial policy, climate technology, and net-zero pathways.

GS–3 | FINANCIAL MARKETS

7. Securities Transaction Tax (STT)

Subtopic: Capital Market Taxation

Value Addition:

• Nature:

  • A direct tax on purchase and sale of securities on recognised exchanges.

• Introduced: Finance Act, 2004.

• Objective:

  • Simplify taxation.

  • Reduce tax evasion and improve transparency.

• Collection Method:

  • Deducted at source at the time of transaction.

  • Remitted via stock exchanges/intermediaries.

• Coverage:

  • Equities, derivatives, equity-oriented mutual funds.

  • Certain IPO-linked transactions.

• Exclusions:

  • Commodities, currency derivatives, off-market trades.

• Rate Revision:

  • Government empowered to revise rates.

  • Recent proposal: up to 150% increase on F&O trades.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 relevance for capital markets, fiscal policy, and market regulation.

GS–3 | PUBLIC HEALTH & TOXICOLOGY

8. Aluminium Phosphide

Subtopic: Chemical Poisoning, Public Health

Value Addition:

• Trade Name: Celphos.

• Nature:

  • Yellow/dark grey crystalline solid with garlic-like odour.

• Use:

  • Highly toxic fumigant pesticide for stored grains.

• Toxic Mechanism:

  • Reacts with moisture or stomach acid to release phosphine gas.

  • Phosphine causes:

    • Mitochondrial dysfunction.

    • Inhibition of cytochrome C oxidase.

    • Severe cellular hypoxia and oxidative stress.

• Health Risk:

  • Extremely lethal even in small doses.

• Recent Breakthrough:

  • Successful use of intravenous lipid emulsion therapy in treatment.

• Industrial Use:

  • Semiconductor manufacturing, including LEDs.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 topic linking toxicology, pesticide regulation, and emergency medical response.